US2030257A - Hydraulic actuating mechanism for domestic laundry appliances - Google Patents

Description

J Feb. 11, 1936. J. T. HUME 2,030,257

HYDRAULIC AGTUATING MECHANISM FOR DOMESTIC LAUNDRY APPLIANCES Filed May 10, 1933 a Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 11, 1936.

HYDRAULIC J. T. HUME 2,030,257

ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR DOMESTIC LAUNDRY APPLIANCES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 10, 1955 Feb. 11, 1936. J M 2,030,257

HYDRAULIC ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR DOMESTIC LAUNDRY APPLIANCES Filed May 10, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 reswted at. -11, i936 UNITED STATE PATENT OFFICE assess: I I i.i... sf.i zwzlf ministers Household Utilities '03 a corporation of Illinois Application May 10, 1933 Serial No'.-670,264

rporation, GMMQ, mu,

Claim- (CI. 88-42) My invention relates to improvements in domestic laimdering appliances such as ironing machines and wringers for domestic washing machines. I

Domestic laundering appliances employ pressure elements between which the clothes are placed and by which pressure is applied to the clothes in accordance with the particularoperation. In the wringers of washing machines, these pressure elements are in the form of parallel rolls which are relatively rotatable for squeezing the water from the clothes placed therebetween and which are relatively movable toward and from each other whereby the rolls can be separated during normal operating conditions or under emergency conditions as when the operator's fingers "or harids become caught between the rolls. In domestic ironing machines the pressure elements are represented by a rotating roll and a shoe movable towards and from the roll and adapted to apply ironing pressure to the clothes placed between the roll and the shoe. Inv

both types of machine one of said pressure elements is rotatably' driven and the other is bodily 'movabie towards and from the driven element.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide hydraulically actuated mechanism for driving the rotatable element and for actuating the movable element to apply pressure between said elements.

A further object is to provide a combined unitary hydraulically actuated mechanism for both operations of the pressure elements which are capable ofindependent control, preferably from a plurality of easily accessible points on the machines.

Other objects of the invention will appear nism of a domestic washing machine,

Referring to the drawings, Fig. l is a view in'elevation of a portion of the wringer and hydraulic actuating mechanism,

the housing of the hydraulic mechanism being broken away and interior operating parts being shown in section to better illustrate the construction and operation thereof;

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section of the structure shown in Fig. l, substantially on the line 2-! thereof; g

Fig. 3 is a fractional view of a portion of Fig. l, illustratingthe parts in a diii'erent position;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, illustrating the construction of the control valve; and 5 Fig. 5 is a horizontal detail section on theline H of Fig. 1,-illustrating the interior of the pressure pump.

In the structure shown in the drawings, the wringer, including its frame, may be of the type 19 generally associated with domestic washing machines. 'lhe wringer frame A extends laterally from a standard B positioned vertically alongside of the tub C of the washing machine, this wringer frame A being mounted on the upper 15 end of the standard B to swing to diilerent positions relatively to the tub. The lower frame member I of the wringer frame has two upright channeled standards or members 2 spaced apart and between which the rolls D and E are posi- 20 tioned, although the drawings illustrate only one end of the horizontal member I of the wringer 2s frame. The uprights 2 have bearings 3 in which the shaft 4 of the lower wringer roll E is mounted. This shaft extends into the head or housin 5 which is formed as a part of the wringer frame.

The upper roll D has a shaft 6 which is iournaled at its ends in the hanger members 1 of a yoke 8, and this roll, by means of the yoke 8, is adapted to be bodily moved into and out of pressure relation with the lower roll E, whereby the rolls can be widely separated. The end portions of the yoke l and the hanger members 1 are guided vertically by means of the channeled uprights 2 of the wringer frame.

The housing 5 forming a part of the wringer frame is positioned directly above and is mounted 40 upon the standard 13 in such manner that the entire wringer may be swung about a vertical pivot on the standard B for the purpose of adthe upper wringer roll D. Mounted upon the so upper end of the housing is a cylinder III in which a fluid-operated piston is contained for the operating mechanism of the upper wringer roll D, as hereinafter explained. A power shaft I I extends upwardly in the standard B into the lower end of the housing 5, and drives the fluid pump G. This shaft II may be driven by any suitable means, such as an electric motor (not shown) which is generally used for machines of this type and which is generally positioned beneath the tub C. The fluid pressure pump may be of any suitable type for the pur pose. In the present structure it is shown as of the gear type and comprises a horizontally disposed casing I2 in which a pair of meshing gears I3 are rotatably mounted in close fitting relation to the walls of the casing, the ends of the pump casing being rounded to conform to the periphery of the gear members. The pump casing has an inlet port I4 (Fig. 5) and an outlet port I5. The pump gears are both mounted upon shafts journaled in the pump casing, the shaft for the driving gear being the main power shaft I I the upper end of which extends into the pump casing and carries the gear I3. The inlet port I4 of the pump communicates directly with the interior of the housing 5 whereby the pump will withdraw the oil from the supply thereof in the housing 5 and discharge it under pressure from the outlet I5. The pump is of sufllcient capacity to supply the fluid under the proper pressure both to the lower roll driving motor F and the upper roll. actuating mechanism, even when both of these mechanisms are in operation simultaneously. The pump, as before mentioned, is contained within the lower portion of the housing 5 and disposed in a substantially horizontal plane- The lower portion I6 of the housing 5 is extended laterally to accommodate the pump.

In the present structure the lower roll driving motor F is positioned within the housing 5 and is directly connected to the shaft 4 of the lower roll which extends through the housing and is journaled in suitable bearings I1 and I8 in the opposite walls thereof. The motor includes a cylindrical casing I9 forming a cylindrical chamber which is positioned in eccentric relation to the cylindrical rotor on the shaft 4 of the wringer roll, as shown more clearly in Fig. 2. The rotor carries a plurality of radially disposed vanes 2| which are disposed in radial slots in the rotor so that they can move in and out to maintain their outer edges in contact with the wall cylindrical chamber 20, as is well known in motors of this character. The vanes are yieldingly urged radially outwardly by the springs 22 in the slots of the rotor.

The motor housing is provided with two passages 23 and 24 on opposite sides which lead to ports 25 and 26 communicating with the interior of the motor chamber I9, and both of these ports are circumferentially elongated so as to extend into communication with several of the compartments formed between the vanes in the rotor, as is the usual practice in motors of this type. The motor herein shown is of the reversible type which can be rotated in either direction as desired, so that the ports 25 and 26 become inlet and outlet ports, or vice versa, depending upon which direction the pressure fluid is supplied to the motor.

The control of the fluid to the motor is accomplished by means of a valve which is provided with a push button 21 at each end, these push buttons being located on opposite sides of the housing so that they will be conveniently accessible from either side of the wringer.

The housing 5 is provided with an elongated cylindrical valve chamber 33 which extends the width of the housing and is provided witha plurality of cylindrical slide valve members 3I, 32, 33, and 34, all mounted in fixed relation upon the vvalve stem or rod 35 the outer ends of which carry the push buttons 21. The passages 23 and 24 leading to the motor ports communicate with the valve chamber 30, and the valve members 3| and 32 are so arranged that they control the flow of fluid to and from the passage 23. The valve members '33 and 34 control the flow of fluid to and from the passage 24. The valve members of each pair are spaced apart on the valve rod so that when these spaces between the valve members of a pair are in alignment with a port communicating with the valve chamber 33, the fluid will flow through those ports, and when the valve members are shifted to block the ports communieating with the valve chamber the ports will be closed against the flow of fluid therethrough.

A common supply passage 40 is formed in the housing and connects directly with the outlet I5 of the pressure pump, as shown more clearly in Fig. 2. This common passage has a port 4| communicating with the valve chamber 30 adjacent the passage 23, and a port 42 communicating with the valve chamber 30 adjacent the passage 24. The valve chamber 30 has an outlet port 43 adjacent the passage 23 and communciating with the interior of the housing. It also has another outlet port 44 adjacent the passage 24 and communicating with the interior of the housing. The valve chamber 30 also has a third port 45 between the passages 23 and 24 and communicating with the interior of the housing.

These ports and passages are all disposed in such relation that the shifting of the valve controls the flow of fluid through the passages and the housing in the direction corresponding to the direction in which it is desired to rotate the lower roll E; In Fig. 2 the valve mechanism is shown in a neutral position in which the flow of fluid to the motor is closed off in either direction and the roll E remains idle. In this neutral position the valve member 3| closes the passage 23 to the motor and the valvermember 34 closes the passage 24 to the motor. In this position of the parts the pump is running and discharging fluid under pressure into the passage 40 and taking its supply of fluid from the reserve in the housing through its inlet I4. In this neutral position, the space between the valve members 3I and 32 opens the ports M and 43 and the fluid from the passage 40 simply returns to the supply in the housing through the port 43. In like manner the space between the valve members 33 and 34 opens the ports 42 and 44 and the fluid discharges through port 44 into the housing. Thus, although the pump is running, the fluid is simply circulated within the passages and the housing 5.

If the motor is to be rotated in a left-hand direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, the valve members are shifted to the right by means of the rod, until the passages 23 and 24 are both uncovered. The port 4I will be closed by valve member 3I and the port 44 closed by valve member 33. The fluid under pressure therefore will flow from the common passage 40 through port 42, the space between valve members 33 and 34, into passage 24, and thence into the motor, rotating the motor in a left-hand direction. The fluid leaves the motor through passage 23 and flows into valve chamber of oil in the housing 5.

5 If the. motor is to be run in the opposite direc tion, the valve is shifted to the left of the neutral position shown in Fig. 2, so that the port 42 will be covered by valve member 34 and .the passage 25 will be uncovered by the valve member 3 I. When the roller is to be stopped, the valve is shifted to the neutral or off position shown in Fig. 2, in which case both passages to the motor are closed and the fluid circulated within the housing, as hereinbefore described; In order to prevent pressure being built up in the extreme end portions of the valve chamber 30, which pressure would interfere with the shifting of thevalve, there is pro-.

vided ports 45 connecting the valve chamber end portions with the interior ofthe housing whereby the fluid can flow in and out of these portions freely as the valve is shifted.

As before mentioned, an upright cylindrical casing i0 is mounted on the upper end of the housing 5 and forming a cylinder in which a vertically movable piston is positioned. This piston is provided with suitable sealing rings Hand forms a movable partition which divides the cylinder easing into upper and lower compartments or chambers 5| and 52, the lowercompartment 52 comprising a pressure compartment and the upper one an overflow or reserve compartment for the fluid.

A conduit pipe 53 is connected at its upper end to a port in the wall of the upper compartment of the cylinder and forms an outlet for said upper compartment. I The lower end of the conduit connects with the port 55 in the wall of the housing 5 so thatthe upper cylinder compartment becomes in effect a part of the housing 5 so far as containing the reserve body of fluid is concerned.

The lower cylinder compartment or chamber 52 is supplied .with fluid under pressure from the pump G, by means of a pipe 55, the upper end of which connects with the cylinder chamber 52 through port 56, and the lower end of which connects with the passage 40 through port 51, these connections being independent of the valve, hereinbefore described, which controls the motor F. Pressure from the pump thus forces the piston upwardly in thecylinder. However, a by-pass passage 58, formed in an enlargement at the side of the cylinder casing l0, connects with the upper and lower compartments through the ports 59' and 50, respectively, these ports communicating with the respective compartments beyond the range of movement of the piston so that they will not be covered at any time by the piston.

" Since the by-pass connects the upper and lower compartments of the cylinder, the fluid under pressure in the lower compartment will flow through the by-pass to the upper compartment and simply circulate around the piston without applying pressure to the piston. Howeve when pressure is to be applied to the piston'to force it upwardly in the cylinder, the by-pass 55 can,

be closed and the fluid thereby prevented from circulating into the upper compartment. The pressure developed in the lower compartment therefore causes the piston to rise in the cylinder and, through the medium of mechanism hereinafter described, operates to bring the upper wringer roll D down into pressure relation with the lower roll E. s

The control of the by-pass passage 58 is'accomplished by means of a slide valve H shown more 11 on the wringer frame upright 2.

a clearly in Fig. 4. This control valve is similar to the valve hereinbefore described and comprises two small cylinders ll' mounted upon a control cylindrical valve chamber 53 formed in an enlargement 54 of the cylinder casing III, The valve members 5| are spaced apart on the valve rod 62 so that when said valve members are positioned' as shown inFlg. 4, with the space 55 in alignment with the by-pass 58, it forms a' continuation forthe by-llflfl-whereby the fluid can circulate through said by-pass. The valve is provided with two valve members 5| so that it will close the by-pass when it is shifted in either direction. The valve rod 52 extends at either end beyond the valve casing, and at each end is pro-- vided with a push button 66. These buttons are positioned on opposite sides of the wringer to be convenient for the operator. They are positioned relatively close to the wringer roll so that for norrod 62 and arranged to slide horizontally in 'a mal control of .the wringer or in the event of an emergency the valve is immediately accessible from either side of the wringer. --'I'he end portions of the valve chamber 63 are provided with outlets I its upper side with a boss 68 which is engaged by a central boss 69 formed'on the piston and serves as a stop for the lower position of the piston. The upper-end of the piston carries a hollow piston rod 10 which extends to the exterior of the cylinder casing l0 through suitable packing glands H in the upper head of the casing. The upper end of the piston is pivotally connected at 12 with an operating lever 13 the opposite end of which is pivotally connected at I4 with the lugs 15 extending upwardly from the center of the rollcarrying yoke 8, for thepurpose of transmitting the power from the piston -to the roll-carrying yoke 8. This lever-is fulcrumed at 16 intermediate itsends on a fixed upstanding bracket pressure is applied to the underside of the'piston, the upward movement'of the piston will be transmittedthrough the operating lever 13 to the rollcarrying yoke 8 and press the upper roll D downwardly into pressure relation with the lower roll E, as indicated in Fig. 3, and this pressure will be maintained on the rolls.

- Means are provided by which the pressure may be adjusted as desired, and this means also acts as a pressure relief device in the event that the pressure exceeds that for which the mechanism is adjusted. The central boss '59 of the piston has a passage 80 which communicates at its lower end with the pressure compartment 52 of the cylinder. At its upper end, it communicates with the upper compartment SI of the cylinder through the ports 8| which are provided in the hollow pisbe adjusted by means of the screw plug 86 in the Thus, when upper end-of the piston rod 10. Thus the ball valve member will maintain the passage closed to the extent to which the pressure on the ball is adjusted, and this adjustment can be made to correspond to the normal operating pressure required between the wringer rolls. If for any reason, such as an extra wad of clothes being positioned between the wringer rolls, causing the pressure on the piston to become excessive, the valve 83 will unseat and relieve this excess pressure by permitting the oil to flow into the upper cylinder compartment until the pressure between the rolls is restored to normal. This relief device thus makes it' impossible to jam the wringer rolls or impose an undue load thereon and at the same time automatically restores the normal operating pressure as soon as the abnormal condition is removed.

A breather pipe 81, open to the atmosphere, is provided for the upper cylinder compartment. This pipe is curved and its end opens downwardly to permit ingress and egress of air, but to prevent entrance of dirt or water to said compartment. A guard 88 prevents oil from leaving the compartment through the breather pipe.

It is obvious that changes in the construction, arrangement and operation of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is understood that I contemplate such changes as are fairly embraced within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a self contained wringer operating mechanism of theclass described, the combination of a swingable wringer head having a wringer frame, including wringer rolls mounted thereon, one of said members being rotatable and the other being separable therefrom for the passage of material therebetween, a fluid motor mounted within said head for rotating one of said rolls, a fluid actuated mechanism mounted within said head for applying pressure to said other roll a pump within said head for supplying fluid under pressure independently to said motor and said fluid actuated mechanism, a support for the head, and a power shaft associated with said support for driving said pump.

2. In a self-contained wringer operating mechanism of the class described, the combination of a swingable wringer head having a frame including wringer rolls mounted thereon, one of said rolls being rotatable and the other being separable therefrom for the passage of material therebetween, a fluid motor mounted within said head for rotating one of said rolls, a fluid actuated cylinder and piston mechanism within said head for applying pressure to said other roll, a pump within said head for supplying fluid under pressure independently to said motor and said fluid actuated mechanism, independent control valves associated with said head for controlling the fluid pressure to said motor and said fluid actuated mechanism, a support for the head, and a power shaft associated with said support for driving said pump.

3. In a wringer mechanism of the class described, the combination of a frame, a pair of wringer rolls mounted in said frame and separable under pressure, a supporting standard, a wringer head swingably mounted thereon and supporting said frame, a shaft for one of said rolls extending into the head, a fluid actuated motor within the head, including a casing and a rotor therein directly connected with said shaft, a pump within the head having its inlet communicating directly with the interior of the head, means forming passages connected with the outlet of the pump for conducting fluid under pressure to the motor, and a valve controlling the passages.

4. In a wringer mechanism of the class described, the combination of a supporting standard,

a wringer head swingably mounted on said standard and having a wringer frame mounted there- 'on, a pair of wringer rolls mounted in said frame,

a shaft for one of said rolls extending into the head, a fluid actuated motor within the head, including a casing and a rotor therein connected with said shaft, a pump within the head having its inlet communicating directly with the interior of the head, means forming passages connected with the outlet of the pump for conducting fluid under. pressure to the motor, a fluid actuated piston in said head, lever mechanism connecting said piston with said other roll, a valve mounted in said head controlling the flow of fluid under pressure to said piston, and an independent valve controlling the flow of fluid under pressure through said passages to the motor.

5. The combination of a supporting column, a wringer head swingably mounted on said column, a wringer frame mounted on said head and having wringer rolls mounted therein, a cylinder formed within said head, a piston movable in said cylinder, means connecting the piston with one of said wringer rolls for applying pressure thereto, a fluid motor within said head for rotating said other wringer roll, and a pump within said head for supplying fluid under pressure to actuate the piston therein and to said motor for driving the motor.

6. In a self-contained wringer operating mechanism of the class described, the combination of a wringer head having a wringer, including wringer rolls mounted therein, said rolls being separable under pressure of material passed therebetween, a rotary fluid actuated motor within said head having a rotor directly connected to one of said rolls for driving same, a. fluid actuated reciprocable piston in said head for applying pressure to the other wringer roll, a fluid pump within the head for supplying fluid under pressure to said motor and to said piston, means in said head forming by-passes around said motor and piston communicating with the interior of said head for directing the fluid under pressure around the motor and piston, an independent valve in said head for each by-pass for controlling the fluid therethrough, a support on which said head is swingably mounted, and a power shaft associated with said support for driving said pump.

'7. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a supporting member, a wringer head swingably mounted thereon, a wringer including wringer rolls supported by said head, a fluid actuated mechanism in said head for effecting movement of one of said wringer rolls toward the other for the purpose of applying pressure thereto, a fluid actuated motor in said head for rotating the other wringer roll, and a pump for supplying fluid pressure to said fluid actuated mechanism and said fluid actuated motor.

8. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a supporting member, a wringer head swingably mounted thereon, a wringer including wringer rolls supported by said head, a fluid actuated mechanism in said head for effecting movement of one of said wringer rolls toward the other for the purpose of applying pressure thereto, a fluid actuated motor in said head for rotating the other wringer roll, a pump for supplying fluid pressure to said fluid actuatedmechanism and said fluid actuated motor, and means in said head for controlling the fluid to said motor to reverse the direction of rotation thereof.

9. In a structure of the class described, the

a combination of a supporting member, a wringer head swingably mounted thereon, a wringer including wringer rolls supported bysaid head, a fluid actuated mechanism in said head for effecting movement of one of said wringer rolls toward the other for the purpose of applying pressure thereto, a fluid actuated motor in said head for rotating the other wringer roll, a pump for supplying fluid pressure to said fluid actuated mechanism and said fluid actuated motor, and manually actuated means associated with said head for independently controlling the fluid to said fluid actuated mechanism and to said fluid actuated motor.

. 10. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a unitary swingabie wringer head forming a housing, a fluid actuated piston within the housing, a wringer including a pair of cooperating wringer mils mounted on said head, one of said rolls being movable toward and from the other, means connecting the fluid actuated piston with the movable roll, whereby said piston moves said movable roll toward the other roll for the purpose of applying pressure thereto, a fluid actuated motor within the housing connected to said other roll for rotating said other roll, a fluid pump within the housing for supplying fluid under pressure to said fluid actuated piston and said fluid actuated motor, and a supporting column having a power drive shaft extending into the head for driving said fluid pump. 11. The combination of a swingabie wringer head having a pair of wringer rolls extending laterally therefrom and having a cylinder formed therein and a fluid actuated piston in said cylinder, means connecting the piston with one of said wringer rolls to apply pressure thereto, a fluid actuated motor carried by said head and connected with said other wringer roll for rototing said roll, a support for said head, a fluid pump associated with said head for supplying fluid under pressure to the cylinder and motor, and means associated with said support for driving said pump.

12. The combination of a swingable wringer head having a pair of wringer mils extending laterally therefrom and having a cylinder formed therein and a fluid actuated piston in said cylinder, means connecting the piston with one of said 50 wringer rolls to apply pressure thereto, a fluid actuated motor carried by said head and connected with said other wringer roll for rotating said roll, a support for said head, a fluid pump associated with said head for supplying fluid under pressure to the cylinder and motor, means associated with said support for driving said pump, and means assoicated with said head for independently controlling the fluid to said cylinder and motor.

13. The combination of a support having a power drive shaft associated therewith, a wringer head swingably mounted upon said support and having wringer rolls extending laterally therefrom, a fluid actuated reciprocable motor carried by said head and connected with one of said rolls for applying pressure thereto, a fluid actuated rotary motor within the head and connected with another of said wringer rolls for rotating the same, and a fluid pressure pump within said head and driven by said power shaft for applying fluid under pressure to both of said motors.

14. The combination of a support having a power drive shaft associated therewith, a wringer 'head swingably mounted upon said support and having wringer rolls extending laterally therefrom, a fluid actuated reciprocable motor carried by said head and connected with one of said rolls for applying pressure thereto, a fluid actuated rotary motor within the head and con-v nected with another of said wringer rolls for rotating the same, a fluid pressure pump within said head and driven by said power shaft for applying fluid under pressure to both of said motors, means carried by the head for reversing the flow of fluid to said rotary motor to reverse the direction of rotation thereof, and independent means for controlling the flow of fluid to the reciprocable motor.

15. The combination of a support, a wringer head swingably mounted upon said suppo'rt and forming a housing and containing a fluid actuated reciprocable motor, a fluid actuated rotary motor and a fluid pressure pump, a pair of wringer rolls carried by said swingabie head, one of said rolls having its shaft extending into the head and connected with said rotary motor to be rotated thereby, means connecting the other roll with said reciprocable motor to be actuated thereby, and a power shaft associated with said support and extending into the housing and connected with said pump for driving the pump.

JOHN T. HUME.

Images