US2067603A - Wringer release mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 12, 1937. B. E. GETZ 'awRINGER RELEASE MECHANISM Original Filed Jan; 28, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet l INYEN'I' DE...

Jan. 12, 1937. E, GETZ 2,067,603

WRINGER RELEASE MECHANI SM Original Filed Jan. 28, 1933 3 sheets -sheet 2 .BITTE Jan. 12, 1937. B. E GETZ WRINGER RELEASE MECHANI SM Original Filed Jan. 28, 1933 'i Sheets-Sheet s INYENTEE Patented Jan. 12, 1937 WRINGER RELEASE MECHANISM Benjamin E. Getz, Morton, Ill.

Application January 28, 1933, Serial No. 653,995 Renewed November 20, 1936 2 Claims.

This invention relates to control and release mechanism for roll wringers and has for its principal object the provision of a mechanism whereby the operation of a roll wringer may be controlled and release of the roll tensioning means accomplished by manipulation of a single handle.

Another object is to provide a unit release and control mechanism whereby rotation of the wringer rolls may be started in either direction or stopped by manipulation of a single handle.

Still another object is to provide a control mechanism having manually operable handle means for engaging clutching devices adapted to connect power driving means with the wringer rolls, the manually operable means being adapted, when placed in one position, to retain the clutching devices out of engagement, when placed in another position to engage the driving means to rotate the rolls in one direction and when placed in an opposed position to engage the driving means to rotate the rolls in an opposite direction.

A further object is to provide a control mechanism as above which also includes means for retaining or releasing the roll tensioning means, the retaining means being connected with the handle means in such a manner that when the handle is operated to release the tensioning means, the clutching mechanism is automatically disengaged.

A still further object of the invention lies in the provision of a swinging wringer head having locking means so connected with the aforementioned handle mechanism that rotation of the head upon its support is rendered impossible except when the roller drive clutching means is in neutral position.

Other objects will appear in the following description and accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a wringer head and the mechanism embodying my inven tion, also a fragmentary view of supporting means therefor, the mechanism and portions of the supporting means being shown in section to facilitate description;

Fig. 2 is a sectional detail view of the mechanism similar to that shown in Fig. 1, showing certain parts in operated position, as will be described;

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the mechanism and wringer support as the same would appear with housing in place, the view also showing the wringer head locking device to be described;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the mechanism showing details of the releasing mechanism in section, also details of operating parts to be described;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 4, showing parts in operated position 'to be described;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view similar to that shown in Figs. 4 and 5, showing parts in operated position to be described, and

Fig. '7 is a view of the release and lock operating cam to be described, as the same might be viewed from line 7-1 in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 will disclose a conventional roll wringer mechanism comprising a lower transverse frame portion l0, upstanding end portions II and I2, a removable upper transverse member I3 and upper and lower rolls I4 and I5.

The lower roll I 4 is supported in the frame portions H and i2 by means of its shaft l6 journalled in bearing blocks I! which are rockably supported upon pins l8.

The upper roll I5 is supported by means of its shaft I 9 journalled in bearing blocks 20 which are slidably mounted in frame portions H and 82.

Upper transverse member I3 is removably supported upon end frame portions I l and 12, on the left hand end, by means of a hook portion 2| extending from frame portion H engaging the lower edge of an opening 22 formed in the body of transverse member l3, as shown. Member I3 is retained in suitable alignment with hook 2! by the upper extending end of portion II which projects within the hollow shell of member I3 as shown.

The right hand end of member 43 is supported upon end portion l2 by means of the end thereof projecting within the shell of member H3 in a manner similar to the opposite end, and is retained thereon by means of an extending strap member 23 engaged by a slidable bolt or pin member 2d. This retaining mechanism will be referred to shortly.

Rolls l4 and I5 are retained in pressure contact by means of a flat spring member 25, the same being supported within the transverse member l3 by a hand screw member 26 threadedly retained in a nut fixture 21 secured to member [3, as shown.

The lower end of screw 26 has a ball form which adapts it to be loosely secured in a block s'lidable bearing blocks 26 of roll I whereby resilient pressure may be applied to the roll by means of suitable adjustment of the screw 26.

The wringer mechanism is rotatably supported upon any suitable support such as a washing machine tub which is here fragmentariiy indicated and designated as 29.

A bracket bearing member 36 having an upper flanged portion 3| is secured to tub 29. In the upper peripheral face of flange 3| indents 32 are formed, the arrangement being best shown in Fig. 3.

Referring again to Fig. 1 it will be noted that a housing member 33 is adapted to be rotatably supported by bracket bearing member 36 by means of a downwardly extending stem. portion 34, the same having a flanged portion 35 adapted to rest upon the flanged portion 3Ii, and a portion 36 extending downwardly and within a circular opening in bearing member 30.

From the left hand side of housing 33, as viewed in Fig. 1, there extends a bracket portion 31 to the outer extremity of which is attached the Wringer frame. Attachment obviously may be made in any manner which affords suitable strength, the means being here shown as comprising extending portions 38, formed integrally with bracket portion 31, which are disposed between ear portions 39, see Fig. 4, extending from the frame end portion I2. Screws 40, passing through ears 39 and portions 38 provide secure attachment.

The foregoing has described the wringer mechanism and the means whereby it is rotatably supported upon any suitable support such as a tub 29.

The driving and control mechanism, which embodies my invention, may now be described.

As indicated in Fig. l, a driving shaft 4| is journalled in bearings formed within the body of extension 3436 as shown. This shaft forms means whereby power for driving the wringer rolls is transmitted from a source not here shown; It will be sufficient to say that the lower end of shaft 4I- is provided with a coupling means whereby shaft 4| is removably coupled with a power driven shaft 42. It will be apparent that the method of supporting the wringer head as described, together with the means of coupling shafts 4| and 42, provides an arrangement whereby a simple upward lift of the wringer head will permit removal of the head from the support and driving means.

To the upper end of shaft 4|, within the housing 33, is secured a mitre gear 43 meshed with which are two similar gears 44 and 4 5, the latter being rotatably mounted upon a horizontal shaft 46. Integrally formed tooth portions 44' and 45 extend inwardly from the inner faces of the gears.

Shaft 46 is journalled in bearings 41 and 48 formed in the body of housing 33, and has secured to its inner end a coupling collar 49, the collar having an extending slotted portion 56 adapted to receive the flattened end of shaft l6 of roll I4.

Slidably keyed to shaft 46, and disposed between gears 44 and 45 is a clutch member 5| having an annular groove 52 about its central portion and tooth portions 53 and 54 extending from either side thereof, these teeth being adapted, when clutch 5| is slid upon shaft 46 from a neutral or intermediate position toward aoezecs either of gears 44 or 45, to engage teeth 44 or 45' to transmit motion from gears 44 or 45 to shaft 46 and thus to wringer roll l4.

Clutch member 5| is operated, as above noted, upon shaft 46 by means of a mechanism including a block member 55 which is adapted to float in groove 52. The block member is rotatably supported upon a pin 56 eccentrically secured to a flange or disk portion 51 of a vertical stub shaft 59. Outline views of block 55 and pin 56 may be seen in Figs. 4, 5, and 6. A spring ball click mechanism 59 housed in a cavity in housing cap member or head 66 is adapted to engage suitably disposed indents in the upper surfaceof disk portion 51 to retain the eccentric mechanism in any one of several working positions which will be later referred to.

\ .Stub shaft 58 is rotatably mounted in a hearing 6| formed in the body of the housing cap member or head 60, which cap is secured to housing member 33 by means of screws 62.

Secured to the upper end of shaft 58 is a hand lever member 63 having an integrally formed flange portion 64, the lower face of which rests upon the upper surface of the boss portion of bearing 6|. It will be apparent that shaft 58, together with handle lever 63 and disk 51, are all properly retained in bearing 6| by reason of disk 51 and flange portion 64 bearing upon either end of the body of bearing 6|.

Upon the under side of flange 64 is a groove 65 adapted to slidably receive an upstanding lug portion 66 of the sliding bolt member 24.

With reference to the bolt 24, it will be noted that the same is slidably supported at its rounded outer end, in a circular opening in a projecting portion 61, and at its central squared portion between upstanding portions 68 extending from the body of cover member 66. A pin 69 retains the bolt in position between the portions 68;

It may also be noted here that the strap member 23, already noted, is so dimensioned and formed as to extend downwardly when parts are disposed as in Fig. l, to be received between the projecting portion 61 and the outer wall of frame portion I2. As best shown in Fig. 2, a circular opening I6 is formed in the lower portion of strap member 23. Reference to Fig. 1 will indicate that with parts in position as shown, the opening 10 registers with the opening in portion 61 and thus with the end of bolt 24, the bolt, when propelled forward to engage in the opening 10 as shown, forming a locking means whereby the upper transverse member I3 is retained in working position as will be referred to shortly.

Figs. 1 and 2 disclose one of link members I3 of which there are two, one on either side, pivotally supported upon a pin I3 secured to the transverse member I3. Links I3 depend into and adjacent the sides of frame portion I2 as may be observed in Figs. 4 and 5.

Pins I2 secured to frame portion I2 engaging a slot- I2 formed in the lower portion of links I3 are adapted to slidably retain links I3 in such a manner that transverse member I3 may be removed a certain distance from frame portion I 2 without becoming entirely separated therefrom. The relative movement of transverse member I3 is clearly indicated in Fig. 2 as compared with Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 7, it will be noted that the groove 65, above referred to, is so shaped as to form a cam whereby the lug 66, together with bolt'member 24, may be, upon rotation of hand lever 63, propelled toward or away from the axis of shaft 58 to insert or withdraw the end of bolt 24 from engagement in opening ill of strap member 23. The utility of this movement will be explained later.

Fig. 3 will disclose a lever member H, pivoted at 12 upon brackets extending from the side of housing 33. The lower end I3 of lever 1|. is slidably retained between extensions 14, the same being integral with flange portion 35 of stem 34, and is adapted to engage in indents 32 of bracket bearing member 30.

A spring 15, anchored at 16 upon housing 33 and hooked upon a pin 11 secured to lever ii, tends to urge the end 13 toward engagement with indents 32 as described.

An upper angulated portion of lever ll terminates in a rounded end 18 which is adapted, when the lower end 13 is engaged in an indent 32, to rest adjacent the periphery of flange portion 64 of lever 63. 1

Referringto Fig. '7, also Figs. 4, 5, and 6, it will be noted that flange portion 64 has indents l9 and 80 disposed upon either side, which indents are adapted to receive the end 58 of lever ii when handle $3 is suitably positioned, as will now be described in connection with the general operation of the above described mechanism.

It has already been noted that the entire wringer mechanism is rotatably mounted upon a tub or other support by means of the flange portion 35 and stem portion 35 resting upon and within bracket bearing member 30. Dotted lines in Fig. 3 and the views shown in Figs. 4 and 5 will indicate that when hand lever 63 is rotated to position either of indents l9 or 80 opposite the end 18, lever H may be manually rocked upon the pivot 12 to place the end 18 in one of the indents and withdraw the lower end 13 thereof from engagement in indents 32.

With lever H in this. position, the wringer mechanism may be freely rotated upon its support to any new position desired, whereupon removal of manual pressure will permit spring 15 to replace lever H as shown in solid lines in Fig. 3, when end 13 will be engaged with a corresponding indent 32 thereby firmly locking the wringer mechanism against further movement relative to its supporting means.

As indicated in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, the peripheral face of flange fit 'is adapted to prevent un-.

locking movement of lever II. as described when handle 63 is in any position other than in line with the axial center of the wringer rolls. that is, in either of the positions shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, in which positions either of indents 79 or 80 is so disposed as to receive the lever end "It to pem iit suflicient movement of lever ii to withdraw' 'the lower end 13 as described.

It will be noted that indents 19 and 80 are so disposed with relation to the operating mechanism of clutch ii that unlocking of lever H is permitted only when the clutch is in neutral position. Thus, the wringer head may not be unlocked when the clutch is in engagement with the driving means, regardless of whether or not the driving means are in motion.

Referring to Fig. 1, it has already been noted that shaft M is adapted to be rotated by any suitable power means, whereby gear 43 is rotated to impart unitary rotation of clutch gears 44 and 45 in opposite directions.

Rotation in either direction is imparted to the wringer rolls by means of engagement of the teeth of clutch 5| with the teeth of clutch gears 44 or 45.

Movement of clutch II from u neutral position intermediate the gears 44 and 45, into engagement with gears 44 or 45 as described, is controlled by movement of handle 63 through the eccentricaily mounted block 55 operating in clutch slot 52, as described, the movement of clutch 5i relative to handle 63 being such that when the handle is placed in either of dotted line positions, see Fig. 5, clutch BI is retained in neutral position, whereas with handle 63 placed in either position intermediate the two neutral positions, that is, toward either side of the wringer structure, clutch 5! is moved into engagement with gears 44 or 45 to cause rotation of the wringer rolls in either direction, as described. Thus, rotation of the rolls in predetermined direction is controlled by simple manipulation of handle 53.

The foregoing has described means by which the wringer mechanism is made movable and locked on its support, and means for controlling rotation of the ringer rolls.

A further important feature of my invention resides in a means for quickly releasing the contact pressure between the wringer rolls. The mechanism for accomplishing such release has already been described and will not be here explained, further than. to say that manipulation of handle 63 is eifective not only to control the roll clutch means, but also the movement of bolt 24.

Reference to Fig. 7, also to dotted outlines of the corresponding part in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, will indicate that the cam slot 65 is so shaped and disposed relative to handle 63 and to the wringer roll clutching mechanism that during movement of the handle to the position shown in Fig. 6 to rotate the rolls in one direction, or a diametrically opposite position to rotate the rolls in the opposite direction, or to the position shown in Fig. 4, to retain the clutch in neutral position, the lug 66 of bolt 24 is engaged in the part of slot 65 having substantially a circular form whereby the bolt is retained in engagement with the band member 23 as already described.

Thus, handle 63 may be manipulated to control all normal operation of the wringer without disturbance of the roll tensioning mechanism. However, should an emergency arise during practical operation of the wringer, in which it became necessary to quickly release the roll tensioning means, a slight movement of handle 63, from either forward or backward roll operating position, toward the wringer frame will bring into play a portion of slot 65 which is designed to propel bolt 24 toward the axial center of the handle to withdraw it from engagement with strap 23, thereby releasing the upper transverse member i3, allowing it to move upward to relax spring 25 and thus remove the pressure of the spring from bearing blocks 20 and consequently from roller iii.

The foregoing, together with the drawings referred to, will illustrate that all operating functions of my wringer are controlled through manipulation of a single control means such as the handle 53.

What I claim is:

1. In a power wringer .of the type having a head, a reverse gear in the head and a manual control member for the reverse gear, a frame provided with a freely releasable top portion and and rollers; a longitudinally movable latch bolt on the head and having means to engage and restrain the top portion of the frame and also having an angularly projecting lug, said control member having a continuous groove receiving said mg and having means to advance and retract the latch bolt with respect to the top portion of the frame, and a guide for the latch bolt on said head and having means restricting the movement of the latch bolt to a longitudinal one so that the lug of the bolt re- 19 mains constantly in said continuous groove.

nan-mum E. om.

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