US1507416A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 2. 1.924.

W. V. ORR

WASHING MACHINE Filed June 10 1918 a l y 3 Sheets-Shut W. V. ORR

WASHING MACHIN! Sept. 2 1924.

Filed June 10 .91B 3 Shuts-Shut 2 w a a w a z 0 T. fl wfi a n w w a w a; a le w I T 5% 0% Z 4% Q 0 Sept. 2. 1924. 1,507,416

W. V. ORR

WASHING MACHINE Filed June 10 1918 3 Shuts-Shoat 5 Patented Sept. 2, 1924.

WILLIAM v. one, or CLEVELAND, OHIO.

WASHING MACHINE.

Application filed June 10, 1918.

To aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that 1, WILLIAM V. ORR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the count of Cuyahoga and State of ()hio, have invented certain new and useful Improvement in Washing Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to washing machines and especially to machines adapted for the cleansing of clothing and fabrics either in commercial establishments or for domestic use. The objects of the invention are the provision of simple, strong and reli' able devices for moving the washing mechanism a predetermined number of revolutions, first in one direction and then in the other; the provision of new and simplified means for starting and stopping the mecha nism; the provision of new and improved means for connecting the washin mechanism and wringer selectively to the rive shaft; while further objects and advantages .iwill become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this application I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention although it will be understood that these drawings are illustrative only and do not limit my machine to the constructions disclosed since numerous modifications may be made within the scope of my invention.

In these drawings Fig. 1 represents an end elevation of a domestic type of washing machine having my improvements applied thereto, a portion of the casing being broken to show one type of washing mechanism; Fig.2 is a detail section taken on the line 2- 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 represents a side elevation of the gear box shown in Fig. 1, the cover being removed and the mechanism being. in washing position; Fig. l is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the washing mechanism disconnected; Fig. 5 represents a horizontal sectional View through the driving mechanism corresponding to line 5-5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the broken line 6-6 of Fig. 5, and looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. "7 is a perspec tive view of part of the timing mechanism taken from the inside; and Fig. 8 is a detail view taken on the line 88 of Fig. 4.

Describing the parts by reference characters, 1 represents the casing or container of the washing machine; 2, 2 the legs of the Serial No. 239,107.

chines, both the rotating drum type and the dolly type, it is found that if the washing part be rotated continually in one direction the clothing or fabrics become snarled up so as greatly to impede the washing and cause great inconvenience in wringing. It is further found that if the mechanism be oscillated first in one direction and then in the other, this balling and snarling is'avoided, although if oscillation takes place only through an angle less than one revolution, only incomplete washing is effected. Accordingly the best washing effect is produced when the washing mechanism is operated in one direction for a small number of complete rotations, say sin to ten, and then automatically reversed to perform similar number of turns in the opposite direction; and my invention relates particularly to new, simplified and reliable structure for producing a motion of this type. The particular washing mechanism employed is not important nor "s the position of the axis of rotation as regards the horizontal. Thus the washing mechanism might be either a dolly rotating around vertical axis, a drum rotating about a horizontal axis, or any other suitable or desired type.

The washing mechanism in the present instance consists of a horizontal drum 4 detachably connected by the squared socket 5 to the horizontal shaft 6 journaled in a bushing T rigidly attached to the case 1. Journaled in an upright position outside of the casing is a drive shaft 88 suitably geared to the motor 3 as by means of a worm drive 9. The shafts 6 and 8 are thus arranged perpendicularly to each other and traverse the opposite ends of the gear box 10 carried by the casing 1, said box having a removable cover 11 closing its outer face. The shaft 8 is'shown as journaled in bearings l212 inthe side of this box, and also as extending through a suitable bearing 13 carried by the casing for the purpose of driving the wringer lt, to which it is geared in any suitable manner, the operation of such wringer being controlled by means of a shifting lever 15. While I have not shown the gearing operated by this lever, it will be understood that the same is so arranged as to enable the shaft to be connected to or disconnected from the wringer at will.

Sleeved upon the exterior of the bushing 7 is a beveled ear whose hub 21 is formed at its forwar end with a reduced cylindrical portion 22 defining an abrupt shoulderv 23. This portion 22 thus constitutes a collar which is pinned or keyed to the shaft 6 in driving relation. Meshing with the gear 20 is a beveled pinion 25 carried by a counter-shaft 26 journaled in a bearing 27 and extending to a point adjacent to the shaft 8, where it carries the miter gear 30, which meshes with the two opposed miter gears 31 and 32, loosely sleeved upon the shaft 8 on opposite sides of the gear 30. Slidably mounted upon shaft 8 between the gears 31 and 32 is a clutch spool 33 splined to shaft 8 so as to rotate therewith and having clutch teeth 34 and 35 upon its opposite sides arranged to engage with the teeth 36-37 carried by the faces of gears 31 and 32 respectively. The exterior of "the spool 33 is formed with the groove 10, receiving the shifting yoke 41 carried by the slide bar 42, whereby the spool can be slid into engagement with either gear so as to determine the direction of rotation of the shaft 26.

Rotatably mounted upon the exterior of the reduced neck 22 are a plurality of flatsteel collars 15, each shownasprovided at one point with a projecting finger &6. Secured to each finger is a laterally projecting pin 47 adapted to engage the similar pin of the adjacent collar. The outermost collar 48 is formed with a radial arm 49 having at its end the elongated slot 50; This arm is also shown as provided with a lateral pin 51 adapted to be engaged by the finger of the collar adjacent thereto, while the hub 21 is shown as provided with a pin 52 adapted to engage the finger of the last collar. All of the collars are held in place upon the neck 22 by means of the ring 53. I

Pivoted inside the gear box, as at 55, is

a lever 56, having at one point a pin 57 engaging in the slot 50 and having at its other end the transverse slot 58 loosely receiv- 'ing the pin 59 carried by the yoke 4C1. The

arm 49 is turned in the direction of the shaft 8, so that the pin 57 lies between the shaft 6 and the pivot 55. The arm 56 is extended past the shaft 6 where it is articulated as shown at 60 to the spring-pressed, expansible, telescoping member 61, whose opposite end is articulated as shown at 62 to a suitable support in alignment with the tion.

shaft 6 and pivot 55. Mounted on the same pivot 55 is a second lever 65 having at one end a longitudinal slot snugly receiving in a lateral direction the pin 59 and having at its opposite end a laterally projecting pin 66. Pivoted to the wall of the gear box near the pin 66 is a plate 67 movable by means of a handle 68 and having a flaring slot 69 adapted to receive the pin 66.

The operation of the device shown is as follows: Starting with the parts in the position as shown in Fig. 3, the rotation of shaft 8 is transmitted through clutch spool 33 and gear 32 to gears 30, 25 and 20, thereby rotating the shaft 6 in a clockwise direc The collar a8, being held against ro tation by means of the arm 19, the continuance of this rotation during 'a number of revolutions equal to the number of collars 15 causes all of the fingers 46 to come into contact with each other and with the pins 51 and 52, whereupon the continued rotation of wheel 20, swings the arm a9 downwardly carrying with it the arm 56. Owing to the lost-motion produced by the slot 58, the first part of the movement of the lever is effected without disengaging the clutch spool 33 and with a storage of energy'in the member 61, but as soon as the dead center has been passed the member 61 operates to throw the lever 56 abruptly to the opposite limit of its travel as shown in Fig. 6, (wherein the dotted lines show the position of parts corresponding to Fig. 3). This action serves to throw the clutch spool 33 out of engagement with the gear 32 and into engagement with the gear 31, whereupon the rotation of gears 30, 25 and'20 is reversed, and such re versed movement proceeds to the same num ber of complete revolutions, whereupon the. parts resume the position shown in Fig. 3.

The clutch teeth 34, 35, 36, and 37 are preferably sufliciently narrow so as to leave con siderable play between the parts, and besides are so arranged relatively to each other that under no possibility can there be any failure of meshing. The number of revolutions of the container 4 or other washing device, be-

moved to position intermediate: the gears 31 and 32 and out of engagement with both,

this being effected by movin' the handle 68 into engaging position, wiereupon the flaring sides of notch 69engage the pin 66, whatever its position may be and draw it forcibly to central position. Owing to the lost motion produced by slot 58, the lever 56 is not brought simultaneously to central position, but only part way as shown in Fig. 4, so that, upon releasing the plate 67 member 61 reasserts itself by throwing the clutch spool back into engagement with the gear from which it was last disengaged. During the neutral position of lever 68 it Will be clear that the shaft 8 continues to rotate unless the motor 3 be intentionally disconnected, thus permitting the operation of the wringer.

It will be understood that numerous changes can be made within the scope of my invention, some of which have been pointed out, and others of which will readily occur to those skilled in the art; wherefore I do not limit myself to the constructions and arrangements herein illustrated and described except as may have been specifically recited in the claims hereto annexed or rendered necessary by the prior state of the art. One of the gears or is preferably secured to the shaft 26 in such a manner as to permit a considerable amount of lost motion. I have shown gear 525 as loosely sleeved on the shaft and driven by the tooth 43 of its securing collar which engages the projection M on the gear. This permits the heavy drum to come to rest of its own accord and without imposing upon the motor the task of instantaneous reversal.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. In mechanism of the character de scribed, in combination an oscillating part, a countershaft geared thereto, a driving shaft, a pair of opposed bevel gears loosely sleeved on said driving shaft, a gear on said counter shaft meshing with said first gears, a clutch member slidab le on said driving shaft, and adapted to engage said first gears selectively, a lever having one end operatively attached to said clutch member, and a plurality of rings journaled upon the axis of said oscillating part, each ring having a projection adapted to engage a projection of the adjacent ring, and the projections of the terminal rings being ar ranged, one to engage a projection on said oscillating part and the other to engage the opposite end of said lever.

2. In mechanism of the character described, in combination, a driving shaft, a countershaft, and an oscillating shaft connected to said countershaft, means for gearing said countershaft to said driving shaft either in direct or reverse driving relation,

means for gearing said counter shaft to said oscillating shaft, a plurality of rotatable members journaled upon said oscillating shaft adjacent to each other and each having a finger adapted to engage the adjacent member in driving relation, means movable with said oscillating shaft adapted to drive the first of said members, and means operated by the last of said members for reversing the direction of rotation of said gearing whenever movement is transmitted thereto.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature.

WILLIAM V. ORR.

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