US1569267A - Wringer-controlling device - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 12 1926.

Original Filed July 28. 1922 l Hull Patented Jan. 12, 1926.

UNITED STATES 1,569,26r PATENT OFFICE.

` HARRY J. CRINER, or cLArriNnA, IOWA.

WRIN GER-CONTROLLIN G DEVICE.

Application led July 28, 1922, ferial No. 578,644. Renewed September 19, 1925.

To @ZZ whom t may concern.:

Be it known that I, HARRY J. CRINER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Clarinda, in the county of Page and State of Iowa, have inventedrertain new and useful Improvements in lVringer-Controlling Devices, of which the following is a specification. y

My invention relates to wringer controlling devices, and has special reference to that cla-ss of wringers which are mounted on a washing machine frame, and which are known as swinging wringers. This class of wringers are supported so as to be capable of adjust-ment in a horizontal plane, so that the wringer can be brought into different positions for operation. Means is also provided for lockingsuch wringers from movement, when in such adjusted positions, and releasing the same, when desired. By means of other mechanism, the wringer can be started or stopped, and the direction of movement thereof reversed.

One of the purposes of the present in` vention is to simplify the control mecha-v nism, so that by the use of a single operating device the wringer frame can be released, so as to be moved to a new position, or the operation of the wringer mechanism can be controlled.

Another purposev of the invention is to provide means associated with "said controlling element, for locking the wringer frame aga-inst movement when the mechanism thereof is in operation, and also for preventing any action of the wringer devices when the position of the wringer frame is being changed.

The particular construction, arrangement, and operation of the parts by means of which the above objects may be attained will be more fully apprehended from the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows t-he invention in front elevation, in its preferred embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the broken line 2-2 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a plan view, partly in section.

The reference number 1 represents a cylindrical casing, preferably formed in two sections, one of which is removed in the drawings. At one of its ends said casing is fitted with a plate 2, for attachment thereto of the frame of a wrnger of usual construction, v,and projected downwardly from said casing is a cylindrical member 3, provided at its lower end with an annular flange el, having aV sliding bearing on a similar flange 5 on the upper part of. a column 6, which is rigidly supported in any suitable manner lon the vmain frame of the machine. In the upper end of the partB is a be ring 7, upon which is rotatably mounted a collar 8, fixed to a vertical shaft 9, extending downwardly through the column 6, and forming the main driveshaft of the wringer-mechanism.

The member 3 has an extension 3a, pro- `iected a little distance into the column 6, and giving greater strength to the joint between such parts. On the upper end of the shaft 9 is fixed a bevel-gear wheel 10, above which is rotatably supported a shaft 11, upon which is loosely mounted a pair of similar gear-wheels 12 and 13, in mesh with the wheel 10, and constantly driven thereby, in opposite directions, whenever the shaft 9 is in movement. Between the wheels 12 and 13 a clutch member 14 is feathered on the shaft Il, so as to be capable of alternative engagement with the wheels 12 and 13, such engagement serving to turn the. shaft 11 in one direction or the other, as desired, it being understood that the shaft 11 is connected with, or an extension of, one of the roller shafts of the wringer. l/Vhen the clutch member le is mid-way the wheels 12 and 13 it is in engagement with neither one thereof, and the shaft 1l is idle.

In the upper part of the casing 1 is a sleeve 15, through which passes a rod 16,

provided on its upper end with an operators knob 17, which knob bears aga-inst the sleeve 15, and limits the downward movement of the rod. By means of said knob the rod can be rotated upon its axis, and can also be raised for a little distance in its seat. The lower end of said rod passes through an opening in the flange el, and is adapted to enter any one of a series of perforations 18 in the flange 5, so as to lock the part 3 from rotation on thecolumn 6. The openings 18 are preferably four in number, so as to permit the casing 1 to be locked from movement upon each quarter-turn thereof, which is the usual arrangement of such devices.

Fixed to the rod 16, at a point opposite to the shaft l1, is a dog 19, the free end of which is positioned between the flanges of the clutch 14:, whereby a partial rotation of the rod 16 in either direction will operate to move the clutch in the same direction, into engagement with one or other of the wheels 12 and 13. Fixed in said rod, at a. point just above the dog 19, is a pin 20, adaptedI to enter a slot 21 in the sleeve 15, when the rod is moved upwardly. Such upward movement of the rod serves to form a coupling between the rod and casing 1, locking such rod from rotation. The upward movement of the rod also frees the lower end thereof from the flange 5, and permits the wringer mechanism to be swung upon the shaft 9 as a center', until it occupies a new operative position. As soon as such swinging movement commences, the rod 16 is released, the end thereof sliding upon the flange 5, until it comes to another of the openings 1S, which it enters, again locking the wringer frame from movement.

The slot 21 is so positioned that the pin 2O can enter the same only when the dog 19 is at a right angle with the shaft 11, and with the clutch 111 at a neutral point on said shaft. lt will be evident, therefore, that with the rod 16 elevated, and held from rotation by said pin and slot arrangement, a swinging movement of the dog 19 will be impossible, and it will likewise be impossible to start the wringer devices, or cause the same to operate in either direction, so long as Ythe rod is locked from rotation. lt will also be noted that a complete release of the pin 2O from the slot 21 can not loe had until the end of the rod 16 has entered one of the openings 18. The casing 1 and wringer frame are therefore locked against a swinging movement at such times as the wringer devices are in operation. This precludes any danger of the operator becoming confused in the operation of the machine, such as might result in injury to such operator or the mechanism.

Attention is called to the fact that by means of the rod 16, and appurtenant devices, the control of the wringer devices can be effected by one of the hands of the operator, the other hand being left free to swing the wringer frame, or perform other acts in connection with the running of the machine.

lf desired, the sleeve 15 can be made an integral part of the casing 1, and other changes in the construction and arrangement of the parts of the invention can loe made, without departing from the purpose and scope thereof.

Vhat l claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

ln a wringer controlling device, a support, provided with a series of locking means, at regular intervals thereon; a casing having a pivotal mounting on said support, and provided with means for the attachment of a wringer frame thereto; a wringer operating shaft contained in said casing; reverse gearing mounted on said shaft, and provided with shifting devices for imparting the movement of said gearing to said shaft to rotate the same, alternately, in Opposite directions; an operators rod vertically supported in said casing, so as to be capable of a limited longitudinal movement, and also rotatable therein, the end of said rod beingl engageable with the locking means on said support, to hold said casing in adjusted positions; means connected with said rod for engagement with said shifting devices, to actuate the same upon the rod being suitably rotated; and means for holding said rod from rotation, with said gearing out of action, when said rod is disconnected from said locking means.

In testimony whereof I afiX my signature.

HARRY J. CRINER.

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