US1849631A - Churn attachment for washing machines - Google Patents

Description

I 7 March 5 J. MIKULASEK 1,349,631

CHURN ATTACHMENT FOR WASHING IACHINES.

Fi1ed Sept. 20, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 WINNIE March 15, 1932. ,1. MIKULASEK 1,349,63T

CHURN ATTACHMENT FOR WASHING ACHINES v Filed Sept. 20, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. :15, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN MIKULLSEK, OF NEWTON, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO THE MAYTAG COMPANY, 01 i i NEWTON, IOWA-{A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE I OHURN ATTACHMENT FOR "WASHING MACHINES Application filed September 20, 1929. Serial No. 398,880.

' The present invention relates to churn devices and more 1n partlcular to churn devlces for use w1th washing machlnes.

Among, the objects of the invention is to provide a novel churn device adapted for ready attachment to the drive shaft of a washing machine. v

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel churn device adapted to be placed within the tub of a washing machine and to be driven by the drive shaft of the washing machine, the positioning of the device in the tub being such as to provide a compartment around the churn for the retention of water for varying the temperature of the material being churned.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel churn device having a container provided with acentral tubular portion for receiving the gyrator shaft of a washing machine, the shaft carrying at 1ts end novel churn mechanism associated with the material being churned.

The invention comprehends, the provision of a novel churn mechanism comprising a drive head removably connected with the end of the washing machine drive'shaft, which is adapted to carry paddles disposed in parallel spaced planes in the container.

The invention further comprehends the idea of providing a novel churn drive head carrying paddles, the head andpaddles being driven by the drive shaft of a washin machine and adapted to be readil, remove therefrom for proper cleansing o the various parts of the device.

Another feature of the invention 1s to provide centering means, this centering means,

for reinovably coupling the head to a drive element connected to the drive shaft of a washing machine.

The invention further comprehendsthe idea of providing a novel removable churn drive head adapted to be coupled with the 7 drive shaft of a washing machine, the head having a projecting portion or lug adapted to be associated with the drive shaft for supporting and positioning the head on the shaft. I

.As another novel feature of the invention, means are provided for holding the churn container stationary within the tank of a washing machine. Such means may be in the form of a projecting finger, the end of which may contact the corner of the crown of the wash tub to prevent rotation of the churn container. Y Other objects, advantages, capabilities and features are comprehended by the invention as will later appear, and as are inherently possessed thereby.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical cross sectional view of a washing machine, as likewise the embodiment of the novel churn selected to illustrate the invention, the churn being operatively connected to the drive shaft of the washing machine. a

Fig. 2 is a topplan view of the washing machine and'ehurn showing in Fig. 1', with parts I taken in the plane represented by line of Fig. 1 of the drawings. I

Referring now more in detail'to the drawings, the' embodiment selected to illustrate the invention is shown as connected to a washing machine 1, having a tub 2, provided with a crown 2 and supporting legs 3. The tub 2 at the bottom thereof is provided with a central plate 4to which is connected a mem her 5 having suitable bearings f 6- through which extends a vertical drive shaft 7 This shaft has mounted on its lower end and within the member 5, a pinion S'meshing with a rack or pitman (not shown) for driving the shaft. The center plate 4 is provided with an annular flange portion 9 adapted to receive a tubular casing or housing 10, this casing or housing having mounted therein at its upper end a bearing 11 having a bushing 12 to provide suitable journallingmeans for the upper end of this drive shaft.

The churn device comprises a container 13 having a tubular central portion 14 adapted to receive or fit over the housing 10 of the drive shaft of the washing machine, this container adapted to rest upon the bottom of the tub 2. The container 13 is provided with an upper annular flange 15 having a beaded or rolled periphery 15 for strengthening the container, as likewise to provide means for facilitating the easy handling of the churn when it is desired to lift the same in or out of the washing machine, or for carrying from place to place. In the lower side of the container is a drain nipple 16 having external threads adapted to engage with the internal threads of a screw cap 17, this cap being removable for draining fluid from the container such as butter milk when cream has been agitated within the container for makin butter, etc.

Tn order that the container 13 may be properly centered about the shaft 7, an annular collar or hearing 18 is provided about the housing 10, the ends of this collar being adapted to contact or seat with the ends of the flange 9 for its proper positioning. Further means for centering the container 13 about the shaft 7 are provided in the form of an annular collar or bearing 19 which is connected to the upper portion of the tubular portion 14 and is adapted to fit around the upper end of the drive shaft housing 10.

Upon the upper end of the shaft 7 is mounted a non-circular driving element 20 adapted to be coupled with an easilv removable drive head 21 for carrying paddles 22 of the churn device. This drive head 21 is provided with an inverted cup-shaped body portion 23 having oppositely disposed flange elements 24 to which are connected the paddles 22 by any suitable means such as rive'ts 25 or the like, these paddles being spaced from the shaft 7 and disposed in parallel vertical. planes.

Spaced openings 22 are provided in these paddles to cause the material in the churn to be agitated and caused to be turbulently whirled about within the container 13 when the paddles are rotated or driven by the shaft 7. The body portion 23 is provided with an internal bore 26 and a larger bore 27, the smaller bore 26 adapted to receive a member 28 for coupling with the driving element 20 on the end of the shaft 7. A dowel pin 29 is provided and extends through an opening in the head and member 28 for holding the latter against rotation in the head. The lower portion of the member 28 forms with the walls of the larger bore 27 an annular slot or grooved portion 30 into which projects the end of the central tubular portion 14 of the container l3, the diameter of the bore 27 being suflicient to provide clearance between the head and tubular end portion, yet effecting a seal between the interior of the container and the end of the shaft 7 and connected parts. A lug 31 depending from the upper portion of the body portion 23 is provided and is adapted to contact the top surface of the driving element 20 for positionin I and supporting the head 23 on the drive sha t and to prevent contact between the ends of the tubular portion 14 and upper edge 32 of the annular groove or recess 30.

The churn container 13 is provided with a tight fitting lid or cover 33 having an annular depressed portion 34 to provide a substantially vertical annular surface 35 for contacting the upper end of the container. The cover is likewise provided with an annular peripheral flange 36 having a beaded or rolled edge 37 this annular flange being a'd pted to contact the flange of the container and to provide a tight fit between the cover and container.

' The central portion of the cover is provided with a splash cup indentation for reinforcing the cover and likewise providing means for retaining the splashed fluid which may find its way through the vent 38 provided in the bottom of this indentation.

In order that the churn containermay be held substantially stationary when the churn is operated, a finger or arm 39 is provided having a flange 40 connected by rivets or any other suitable means to the top ofthe side wall of the container, the other end adapted to contact the corner surface of the tub crown 2*. A handle 41 is provided for lifting the cover 33.

Ordinarily the drive shaft of the washing machine is coupled by means of the drive element 20 to a gyrator for agitatin the water in the tub 2 and for washing the clothes. When it is desired to churn cream or the like for making butter, this gyrator may be readil slipped off the drive shaft and drive sha t housing after which the churn container may be easily slipped thereover. The drive head carrying the churn paddles may then be readily and easily slipped over the driving element 20 at the end of the shaft 7 the cream poured into the container, the lid placed thereon and the washing machine driving mechanism started for churning the cream into butter. During this churning action, water of any desired degrees of temperature may be poured into the Washing tub and about the churncontainer to aid in churning. When the. cream has been churned, the container 13 may be easily removed from the washing machine, after which the gyrator may be replaced on the drive shaft for 'wasliing purposes.

While I have herein described and upon the drawings shown an illustrative embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the latter is not limited. thereto, but may comprehend other constructions, details, arrangements of parts, and features without departing from the spirit thereof.

Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

1. In a churn device for use with a washing machine having a drive shaft, a container of, said container having a central, axially disposed tubular portion adapted to receive the driving shaft of the washing machine, a removable drive head adapted to engage said shaft and having means between the driving shaftand its outer wall for receiving the upper end of'said tubularmember,and approximately fiat paddles spaced radially from said tubular member and suspended at one end from said drive head, said paddles being arranged substantially tangential with respect to said tubular portion.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name to this specification;

JOHN MIKULASEK.

therefor adapted to be placed within the m tub of the machine, paddles in said container, and means for driving said paddles from said drive shaft, said means including a driving element mounted on said shaft, a sleeve adapted to receive said element and be nonrotatably positioned thereon, and a driving head connected'to said sleeve whereby said element, sleeve and head are adapted to be rotated as a unit.

2. In a churn device for use with a washing machine having a drive shaft, a container therefor, adapted to be placed within the tub of the machine and provided with a central upstanding tubular portion, a driving element mounted on said shaft, a driving head carried by said element and provided with paddles, and a sleeve member carried by said head, said sleeve member and head'forming an annular recess therebetween for the reception of said tubular portion to efiect a seal between said container and shaft.

3. In a churn device for use with a washing machine having a driving shaft,'a container adapted to be placed within the tub of the machine and having a tubular member con centric with the shaft, a driving element mounted on one end of said shaft, a driving head of approximately circular cross section engaging and'supported by said driving element, said head having paddle supporting means, and paddles rigidly secured at one end to said supporting means and depending therefrom and spaced from said tubular member. Y

4. In a churn device for use with a washing machine having ardriving shaft, a container adapted to be placed within the tub of the machine, va'driving element mounted on one end of said shaft, a driving head of approximately circular cross section engag ing and supported by said driving element, sald head having rigid flanges, and paddles rigidly secured at one end to said flanges and depending therefrom, said paddles being irralnged tangentially with respect to said 5. A churn device comprising a container adapted to be placed within the tub of a wash-

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