US1417656A - Pivoted wringer structure for washing machines - Google Patents

Description

R. J. ANDERSON.

PIVOTED WRINGER STRUCTURE FOR WASHING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED AUG-22,1917.

1,417,656. v ten ed May 30,1922.

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R.J.A NDERSON. PIVOTED WRINGER STRUCTURE FOR WASHING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED AUG 22 1 917. I 1,417,656, I r Patented May 30,1922.

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R. J. ANDERSON.

PIVOTED WHINGER STRUCTURE FOR WASHING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED Aue 22.1917.-

Patented May 30, 1922.

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T LLJ a3 8.1 ANDERSON. v PIVOTED WRINGER STRUCTURE FOR WASHINGMACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-22,1917.

Patented May 30, 1922.

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in a e @5014 UNITED STTES ROBERT J. ANDERSON, OF SIDNEY, OHIO.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Ma 30, 1922'.

Application filed August 22, 1917. Serial No. 187,598.

T 0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, Romain J. ANnnRsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sidney, in the county of Shelby and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements Structures for W'ashing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

It is the object of my invention to provide awashing machine comprising a plurality of tubs arranged in side by side relation, to provide nove] wringer mechanism "for tubs so arranged comprising a standard'located between said tubs and a bracket arranged to support the wringer so pivoted as to locate the wringer in position to coact with either of said tubs; further, to provide novel means for rotating the wringer-rollers so that the wringer may be placed in coactive relation with either of said tubs which is stationarily positioned and the wringerrollers rotated selectively in either direction; further, to provide novel means whereby the wringer-rollers are rotated selectively in either direction; further, to provide novel means whereby the wringer is positioned selectively and for maintaining the wringer in such relation.

The invention will be further readily un-, derstood from the following description and claims, and from the drawings, in which latter: a

Fig. 1 is an end elevation of my improved device.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the same, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3, and partly broken away;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of my improved device. 3

Fig. 41 is a rear elevation of the same. Y

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the tub and its supporting means, the latter partly broken away, and showing the tub in assumed rocked positions in dotted lines.

Fig. 6 is a cross section of the same, taken on the line 66 of Fig. 5

r Fig. 7 is a plan sectional detail of the shiftingmea'ns for the tub-operatii ig clutches. on the line 77 of Fig. 2.

Fig. Sis a cross-section of the driving means, taken on the irregular line 8-8 of Fig. 2. c

9 is a vertical section of the same, taken in the plane of the line 9-9'ot' Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a sectional detail of the'same, taken on' the line 1010 of Fig. 8.

in Pivoted Wringer my invention, shown the tubs as of substantially elliptical form and as provided'with balance springs arranged about the pivotal axis of the tub, ai'idhave shown the tub'pivoted at a point slightly belowthe center of the tub or center of the substantial ellipse on which the tub is formed, the pivotal axis of the tub being within the balance springs, but I do not herein claim the tub structure,

plane of the line 1313-ot' having shown described and claimed said structure in my co ending application, filed Aug. 16, 1917fas erial hl o. 186,622, nor do I herein claim the manner of mounting the tub, or of the means for resiliently balane ing the tub, or of pivoting the tub, having shown, described and claimed the same in my copending application filed Aug." 16, 1917, as Serial No. 186,623.

In the present exemplification of my invention I have instaneed two washing tubs I and a wringer arranged to be swung in position for use with either tub, it being understood that'the wringing of the clothes may be accomplished from or into either tub into or from a suitable tub or basket at the outside the tubs of the machine, or the wringer may be swung into intermediate'position for wringing the laundry tromone tub into the otherof the mechanism exemplified.

The tubs are shown at 21,22, respectively, andare instanced asoscillating tubs, being mounted upon trunnions 23, fixedly extending from spiders 24 secured to theheads 25 of the tubs, and jo'urnaled in suitablebearings 26, 27. (See Figs. 3, 4 and 6). 'The bearings are on asupp'orti'ng frame 28, comprising end frame- pieces 29, 30, and an intermediate frame-piece 31. The end framepieces comprise upwardly inwardly sloping sides 32, sloping toward each other, a'ndconnected by atop 33, to which the bearing 26 is secured; The intermediate 'frame 'p'iec'e comprises similarly sloping sides 34 connected by a top 35 to which a bearing-block 36 is secured, forming part of bearing 27 The end frame-pieces and intermediate fra1ne-piece are spaced apart and suitably connected as by means of brace- rods 41, 42, exemplified as bolted to said end framepieces and intermediate frame-piece, form ing tub-receiving spaces between said framepieces and brace-rods.

A gear-housing 46 is secured to the intermediate frame-piece, by providing the same with lugs 47, through which bolts 48 pass into the frame-piece. The gear-houslng acts as an oil-container for containing a body of on their shafts between shoulders 60 on the respective shafts and one of the bearings I thereof.

Arms 61, 62, are secured at opposite ends of said respective shafts and form crankarms respectively provided with crank- pins 63, 64. Connecting- rods 65, 66, respectively have bearings 67, 68 about said crank-pins,

the other ends of said connecting-rods being provided with bearings 71, 72, received about stud-pins 73, 74, secured to the spiders 24. (See Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 8).

A clutch 81 is located between each of the respective gears 54, 55, and its shaft to which thecrank-arm is fixed, for placing either tub or both tubs in operative connection with its driving mechanism. (See Figs. 8 and 9). This clutch is instanced as comprising a collar 82, having spline-connection 83 with its shaft, for causing rotation of the shaft with the clutch and permitting axial movement of the collar, so as to engage the teeth of the clutch on the collar with the teeth of the clutch on the gear.

These teeth 84 are preferably fiat-sided teeth, soas to move the shaft in either direction of movement of the gear, and the teeth are so aranged, as by providing two irregularteeth and corresponding recesses 85, that the'gear and crank-arm are connected only in one relation, so as to insure the proper timed oscillation of the tub or tubs. (See Fig. 10), This timed oscillation is preferably such that when both tubs are in motion they will oscillate together, the fronts of the tubsdescending together and rising together, avoiding confusion of and consequent injury to the operator. The clutch is preferably received in a hood 86 extending from the gear-housing.

The clutch'is operated by means of a lever 87 pivoted by a pin 88 in lugs 89 of the cover 90 of the gear-housing and having a fork-end 91, the tines of which are received in an annular groove 92 of the collar 82. The cover 90 is secured to the housing by screws 93. v

The crank-arms and clutches for the respective gears 54, 55, are respectively at opposite sides of said gears, locating a crankarm for one gear and a clutch for the other gear at one side of said gears, in substantially the same vertical plane perpendicular to the axes of rotation of said gears, the remaining crank-arm and clutch being similarly placed at the other side of said gears, thus providing compact arrangement of the parts between. the tubs.

The respective levers 87 are operated from the front of the machine by means of handles 96, 97. (See Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 and 9). The handle 96 has a rod 98 extending therefrom, which rocks in bearings 99 on the intermediate frame-piece, and has an arm 100 extending therefrom. A link 101 is articulated with the arm at 102 and with the clutch-lever 87 for the gear 54 at 103 for operating the latter.

The handle 97 has a rod 105 extending therefrom, arranged to rock in bearings 106 on the intermediate frame-piece, The rod 105 has an arm 107 extending therefrom, a link 108 being articulated with the arm at 109 and with the clutch-lever for gear 55 at 110. The handles are arranged to selectively operate either or both clutches for selectively causing operation of either or of both tubs. The clutches are so arranged that they can be connected only in. one relation to cause both tubs to move in unison, when both clutches are in operative connection, the forward ends of the tubs moving up or down together. I

A column 11.1 extends upwardly with relation to the housing 46. It is secured to the main frame. by means of lugs 112 thereon which are bolted to the upright 113 of the intermediate frame-piece.

Brace-rods 11.4, 115, extend between the column and the end frame-pieces, being bent rearwardly, to avoid contact with the tubs. The respective ends of the brace-rods are seczured to the column and frame by bolts 11 The column. has a bearing 120 at its lower end for an upright shaft 121. (See Fig. 11). The upper end of the column is provided with. a bushing 122, forming a trunnion, a shoulder 123 being located proximate to the lower end of said trunnion. A wringer-arm 126 is journaled by a bearingslee-ve 127 about the bushing and has a bean ing 128 therein for the upright shaft- The upright shaft has a bevel-gear 129, fixed to its upper end. The bevel-gear supports the upright shaft in its bearings.-

A shaft 131 is journaled in bearings 132 in the housing and has thereon a gear 133 and a bevel-gear the gears Li -53, 1.34, rotating together. Gear 133 meshes with gear 54,

The upright shaft has a. bevel-gear 135 fast at its lower end, meshing with the bevelgear 134. The upper end of the hub of bevel-gear 135 is arranged to contact the lower end of the hearing 120 for maintaining meshing relation between the bevel- gears 134 and 135.

The wringer-arm is provided with a bracket 136 which may be provided with suitable means for the attachment of a suitable wringer, exemplified at 137. The wringer is instanced as having a pair of rollers'188, 139, the roller 138 being the operated roller, instanced as having connection with the driving mechanism of the machine by means of a cross-shaft 140, instanced as the shaft to which the lower roller is suitably secured, so as to be rotated thereby.

A yoke 141 is located above the bearing 128 of the wringer-arm, and has bearings 142 therein for the cross-shaft 140. (See Figs. 11 and 12.) Bevel- gears 143, 144, received about the cross-shaft, are normally loose thereon,

and mesh with opposite sides of the bevel gear 129. - Clutches 145, 146 are arranged to connect the cross-shaft and the respective bevel- gears 143, 144. The teeth of the respective clutches at opposite ends of a collar 147 are arranged to coact with coacting teeth on said respective bevel-gears. The collar 14. has spline-connection 148 with said cross-shaft. In practice said bevel- gears 143, 144, are continually rotating during operation of the machine, The respective clutches communicate. motion to said crossshaft and rotate said cross-shaft in opposite directions, whereby rotation of the wringer-rollers is eilected in opposite directions 'lor causing movement of the laundry therethrough from either tub into the other or into or from either tub from or into a. suitable receptacle, such as an auxiliary tub or l'iasket, from or into which the clothes are passed from the wringer. I

The clutches are preferably toothedclutches and the teeth preferably have flat sides, so that the cross-shaft will be revolved regardless of the direction of rotatlon oi the bevel-gear 129, it being understood that the drive-shaft may be rotated in either direction for operating the tubs and wringerrollers.

The clutch-collar 147 is arranged to be op era-ted by means of a lever 149 having a fork 150, the tines of which are in an annular groove 151 in said clutch-collar. (See lhgs. 11 and 12.) The lever 149 is pivoted on a bolt 152 in a gear-cover153 having an upright plate 154 extending therefrom. V A spring 155 urges the upper endof the lever toward the plate. The lever is provided with a positioning knob 156 coacting with positioning recesses 157 in said plate. The lever is i'ulc-rumed on a rib 158' on the lever, so that the spring pushes the knob and recesses into coaction for holdingthe lever in position for maintaining engagement of either clutch or 7 neutral position of the lever, when the lever has been operated for desired position of the clutch. A link 159 is articulated with the lever 149 and with an operating handle 160, pivoted to the wringer-frame. (see Figs. 3 and 4.) i p j i The wringer-arm is arranged to be placed in a position between. the'oscillating tubs or inav position crosswise of either tub and may,'i1" desired, be swung entirely out of range of the tubs. It is arranged to be clamped in place in any'of its assumed positions by means 01 a clamp, instanced as acting between the bearingasleeve 127 and the bushing 122. *(See Figs. 13, and 14.) The clampis shown as a plug 161 received in a bore 162 in the wringer-arm and pro-- vided with a concave face 163, concentric with the axis of rotation of the shaft 121, to form 'a' shoe-bearing against the bushing.

The plug is provided with cam-faces 164.

(Jo-acting can'1 fa'ces 165 are-on a collar 166,

turn the collar for moving the cam faces 165 I thereon across the cam-faces 164, the clamping; action being released upon opposite movement of the clamp-arm. The means described'torms a cheap and simple clamping device readily assembled for the purpose stated: The adjustment of the bolt may be such that full clamping force maybe ap-- plied by a movement of the clamp-arm through a comparatively small arc of the circle., y

'Me'ans are provided for operating the clamp from a position at the outer end of the wringer-bracket, as by providing an endwisemovablerod 172, (see Figsgil and 4), articulated at 173 with the arm 167 movable endwise in a bearing 174 on the wringer- The tubs have openings 191 closed by suitable covers 192 having suitable handles 193. A drip-board 1941 has ends 195, 196, and is located. between the side-posts 197 of the wringer and between a cross-piece 198 and the bracket 136, stops 200 coacting with the bracket. Deflecting pieces 201 having defleeting faces 202 coact with the respective ends of the drip-board to lead the same to the tub-openings.

By means of the caring mechanism, a compact, simple and effective arrangement of gearing is provided for operating either one or both tubs, the operation of the tubs, when both tubs are operated, being in unison. Durable means are provided for positioning the wringer-arm into desired radial relations and clamping the wringer-arm in assumed radial positions, and for operating the wringer-rollers in either direction in any of its assumed positions and for controlling the rotation or non-rotation of the wringerrollers by novel and effective mechanism suitably placed in convenient position. for the operator distanced from the gearing.

The driving means employed are further extremely simple employing few gears and requiring a substantially minimum amount of power for operating the same.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a main frame, a column extending upwardly therefrom, said column comprising an upwardly extending journal bushing, a sleeve-bearing about said journal bushing having a central bearing-bore rotating about said journal bushing, the said bearing-bore extending upwardly beyond said journal bushing, the upper end of said sleeve-bearing being reduced in cross-section, said reduced portion spaced from the upper end of said journal bushing by a section of said bearing-bore, and a laterally extending wringer-bracket on said sleeve-bearing, the lower end of said sleeve-bearing and said column at the lower end of said journal bushing respectively provided with coacting laterally extendingannular flanges having mating bearing faces forming a step-bearing between said sleeve-bearing and said journal bushing, and the upper end of said journal bushing being spaced from the upper end of said bearing bore for locating said upper end of said journal bushing free of endcontact with said sleeve-bearing in said bearing-bore, and a friction-clamp between said sleeve-bearing and said journal bushing to frictionally hold said sleeve-bearing and said journal bushing together.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a column, a wringen supporting bracket swingable thereon, a drive-shaft in said column about which said bracket swings, a bevel-gear at the upper end of said drive-shaft, a cr0ss-shaft for op,- erating the wringer-rollers,' opposed bevelgears loose thereon meshing with said firstnamed bevel-gear, a clutch between said cross-shaft and said pair of bevel-gears for operatively connecting either of said last named bevelears with said cross-shaft for operating said wringer rollers selectively in reverse directions, a clamp for clamping said bracket to said column in adjusted positions comprising a shoe on said bracket having a concave clamping face concentric with said shaft coacting with said column, and a lever on said bracket, said shoe and lever provided with coacting cam-faces having axes at right angles to said shaft, whereby to clamp said shoe t said bracket.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a column, a wringer supporting bracket swingable thereon, a driveshaft in said column about which said bracket swings, a bevel-gear at the upper end of said drive-shaft, a cross-shaft for operating the wringer-rollers, opposed bevelgears loose thereon meshing with said firstnamed bevel-gear, a clutch between said lastnamed shaft and said pair of bevel-gears for operatively connecting either of said lastnamed bevel-gears with said cross-shaft for operating said wringer-rollers selectively'in reverse directions, a clamp for clamping said bracket to said column in adjusted positions comprising a shoe on said bracket having a concave clamping face concentric with said shaft coacting with said column, a lever on said bracket, said shoe and lever provided with coacting cam-faces having axes at right angles t said shaft whereby to clamp said shoe to said bracket, a stem connecting said lever, shoe and bracket, and adjusting means therefor whereby to regulate the clamping effect of said shoe.

1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a frame, a column ex tending upwardly therefrom, said column comprising a bushing, a sleeve-bearing about said bushing extending upwardly above said column, a laterally extending wringerbracket on the latter, the lower end of said column and the upper end of said sleeve bearing provided with shaft-bearings, an upright shaft in said shaft-bearings, a bevelgear fixed to the upper end of said shaft, continuously rotating driving means fixed to the lower end f said shaft, a cross-shaft j ournaled in said wringer-bracket, a pair of bevel-gears normally loose thereon meshing with said first-named bevel-gear, an axially movable clutch about said cross-shaft be- 25 tween said bevel-gears for operatively connecting either of said bevel-gears with said cross-shaft, arranged to rotate said crossshaft selectively in reverse directions, an axially movable bearing-plug between said sleeve-bearing and said bushing provided with an;arc-face coacting with said bushing, said arc-face being concentric to the axis of rotation of said shaft, and cam means for clamping said plug to said bushing.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of a main frame, a column extending upwardly therefrom, said column comprising an upwardly extending journal bushing, a sleeve-bearing about said bushing having a central bearing-bore; the said bearing-bore extending upwardly beyond said journal bushing, a laterally extending wringer-bracket on said sleeve-bearing the lower end of said sleeve-bearing and said column at the lower end of said journal bushing respectively provided with coacting laterally extending annular flanges having mating bearing faces forming a stepbearing between said sleeve-bearing and said journal bushing, the upper end of said journal bushing being free of end-contact with said sleeve-bearing in said bearing-bore, a bearing-plug between said sleeve-bearing and said journal bushing, said bearing-plug provided with an arc-face concentric with said j ournal'bushing and coacting with said journal bushing and cam means on said sleevebearing arranged to press said bearing-plug axially for clamping said sleeve-bearing and said journal bushing together.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT J l ANDERSON. I

Witnesses:

ANDREWJ. HEss, PERCY A. Hnss.

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