US2086498A - Control mechanism for wringer rolls of a washing machine - Google Patents

Description

`Iuly 6, 1937. P. E. GELDHOF CONTROL;K MECHANISM FOR WRINGER ROLLS OF-A WASHING MACHINE Filed NOV. 27, 1933 a 2 z w JM/vk w 4 7.3M M U .n .M m f 7 K2/w ou lill 2 l H WN I] n f ,am f 2` m z.. w, m, m z O 7 *L /lwf/v ron.

rra nueva July 6, 1937. P. E. GELDHOF CONTROL MECHANISM FOR WRINGER ROLLS OF A WASHING MACHINE Filed Nov. 27, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 l ld TTRNEYS July 6, 1937w CONTROL MECHANISM FOR WRlNGER ROLLS OF A WASHING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 27, 1933 2 0 Hm M .om s u ,771 /z M Y 7 s r m 9 N. w M E M M N Y l 9 7 f m 0 0./ m 9 M H A 4M l M M Patented July 6, 1937 PATENT OFFICE CONTROL MECHANISM FOR WRINGEB ROLLS F A WASHING MACHINE Peter Eduard Geldhof, Syracuse, N. Y., assignor to Easy Washing Machine Corporation, Syracuse, N. Y., a corporation oi.' Delaware Application November 27, 1933,'ser1a1N0. 699,938

, 10 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful im-v a drive mechanism for the rolls of a wringerv whereby the starting, stopping and reversing of the direction of rotation o! the rolls may be accomplished with but slight physical effort.

Another object of the invention is to provide a roll wringer with means controlled by the conventional safety roll release device for disconnecting the wringer rolls with the drive mechanlsm whereby the rolls will cease torotate when the rolls are released from pressure engagement. l5 In carrying out the above-mentioned objects, I have provided a drive mechanism for a roll wringer device comprising a drive shaft, two drive pinions arranged in opposed relation for driving the rolls inreverse directions and a planetary gear system for operably connecting each of said gears with the drive shaft. The planetary gear systems include control means whereby the operation thereof may be governed with a mini- I mum amount of physical effort. This control 25 means includes a power-operated means for controlling the operation of the planetary gear systems as well as means for manually controlling these systems. Each of these instrumentalities may be operated independently of the other and are so constructed and arranged that they may be manually manipulated with the fingertips and with equal ease from both sides of the wringer.

Further, I have provided means whereby the action of the drive mechanism upon the wringer 3;, rolls is automatically discontinued when the rolls are released from pressure engagement.

Other objects and advantages pertaining to the details of the structure and the form and relation of the parts thereof will more vreadily `appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is .a side elevation of a roll wringer embodying the various features of this invention, together with'a portion of the upper end of a 4.-, washing machine vat, with parts thereof broken l,

away and shown in section. y

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view taken on line 2 2, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional 5o view illustrating the manner of connecting one end of the wringer head with the side of the wringer frame..

Figure 4 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken through the gear case and adjacent end portion of the wringer.

(Cl. (iS- 32) Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 are detail horizontal sectional views taken respectively in the plane of the lines 5 5, 6 6, 1 1, 8 8, and 9 9, Figure 4.

Figure 10 is a detail sectional view taken on line I0 I0, Figure 8.

Figure 11 is a detail vertical sectional view taken on line Il I I, Figure 8. As illustrated in the drawings, my improved device comprses a wringer I secured at one side t0 a transmission case 2 which embodies substan- 10 tially all of the mechanism comprising my invention. 'Ihe case 2 is mounted upon the upper end of a tubular drive shaft housing 3 adapted to contain the usual drive shaft 4. The housing I may be connected at its lower end to the frame 15 (not shown) of the washing machine in any wellknown manner, and as illustrated more particularly in Figure 1, has the upper end thereof secured to the washing machine vat 5 by a bracket 6.

The wringer I is of a conventional type comprising a pair of rollers 1 and 8 mounted one upon the other in the frame. The wringer frame is composed, in this instance, of sheet metal stampings and comprises two vertically disposed end members 9 and IU substantially U-shaped in cross-section and which are tied together at their lower ends by a suitable cross member II.

An upper cross member or head I2, also of substantially U-shaped formation, is mounted upon the upper end of the end members 9 and I0 and is detachably connected at one end with one of the end members as 9 by a catch arrangement indicated at I3 in the manner shown more clearly in Figure 3. The other end of the head I2 is pivotally connected by a bolt I4, as clearly shown in Figures 1, 2, and 4, to the upper end of a U- shaped lock bar I5 positioned in the end member III and which is designed to releasably secure the head in place in a manner hereinafter more fully explained. 40

The rollers 1 and 8 are mounted in the usual manner in bearings provided in the end members 9 and Ili, and as shown in Figure 4, one of the bearings as I1 for the lower roll 1 is mounted in a swinging bracket I8 supported on a transverse rod I8 mounted in the frame end I0 above the shaft of said roll. 'I'he upper roll is yieldingly pressed into engagement with the lower roll with greater or less pressure, as determined by a. pressure spring 2| which extends longitudinally through the head I2, with the ends thereof resting upon the bearing for the upper roll and a tension screw 26 screw-threaded in the head I2 intermediate the ends thereof, as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 4.

The wringer I is secured. to the case 2 by a pair of screws 21 which pass through registering holes formed in a contracted portion of the case 2 and a pair of outwardly bent flanges 28 formed upon the wringer frame end I0 (see Figures 4, 5, and '1). The case 2 is comprised of a substantially rectangular box-like body member 38 having the upper and lower sides thereof open, and end caps 3| and 32 secured in any wellknown manner as by screws 33 to the upper and lower sides respectively of the body 38.

As hereinbefore stated, the case 2 is mounted upon the upper end of the tubular housing 3, and for this purpose, the lower end cap 32 is provided with a pendent boss 34 provided with a shaft opening 35 which rotatably receives the upper end of the tubular housing 3. The downward movement of the case 2 upon the housing 3 is limited by the lower end of the'boss 34 abutting against an outwardly extending annular flange 3 provided near the upper endof the housing 3 adjacent the upper side of the bracket 6.

It will now be observedthat the case 2 and wringer are rotatably supported by the housing 3 inv a plane above the washer vat 5 in such a manner that the wringer may be readily swung in a horizontal plane about the housing 3 as a pivot from a position over the vat 5 to anyone of a plurality of predetermined positions at one side of the vat. The case and wringer may be releasably secured in the adjusted position by any suitable means as the spring-actuated lock pin 31 mounted on the boss 34 for engagement with a selected one of a plurality of circumferentially spaced holes 38 provided in the upper end portion of the housing 3.

The hereinbefore-mentioned drive shaft 4 may consist, as shown in Figure 1, of two parts, a lower section 48 which may be driven in the conventional manner from the motor (not shown) usually mounted beneath the Washer vat 5 for operating the washing mechanism, and an upper section 4| which is releasablyvconnected at its lower end with the upper end of the lower section 48 by a pin and slot arrangement, as indicated at 42, Figure 1. The drive shaft section 4| extends upwardly into the case 2, as shown in Figure 4, and is journaled at its upper end in a hollow boss 44 provided on the end cap 3| in a manner presently described, while the lower end portion of the shaft is journaled in a bearing member 45 secured to the lower cap 32 so that the Wringer case Z'andfth'e mechanism mounted in the case including the shaft section 4|, may be readily removed from the housing 3' by a vertical movement thereof after the lock pin 31 has been withdrawn from holding engagement with the housing 3.

Rotatably mounted upon the shaft 4| is a pair of opposed beveled pinions 41 arranged in longitudinal spaced relation and which are in constant mesh with a beveled gear 48 journaled in the case 2. The manner of mounting the gear 48 in the case 2 consists, in this'instance,

in providing the gear with an extended hollowhub'49 and rotatably mounting the same in a hollow boss 58 provided ina vertical Wall or partition 5| formed in the case body 30. gear 48 is operably connected with the lower roll 1 for driving the same by means of a flexible drive coupling 52 positioned in the gear hub 49 and which has a pin and slot connection as at 53 and 54 With the lower roll shaft 20 'and the gear 48 respectively. It will be noted that'l this TheA particular connection between the gear 48 and the roll 1 not only permits relative lateral movement, within limits, of the roll and gear, but provides for the ready removal of the wringer from the housing 2.

Each of the pinions 41 has associated therewith a planetary gear system which comprises a composite member or housing 56 'rotatably mounted on the shaft 4| adjacent the outer face of-a respective pinion 41. 'Ihe upper housing 56 is journaled, as shown in FigureA 4,' in the bearing boss 44 and rotatably supports the upper end of the shaft 4|. Within each housing 58 is an epicyclic gear train consisting of a central gear 51 splined to the shaft 4| to be rotated thereby, a plurality of, in this instance three, pinions 58 rotatably mounted on studs 59 secured to thel respective pinion 41 in uniform circumferential spaced relation and an internal gear 60 made integral with or" secured to the corresponding housing member 56. The pinions. 58 of each train are in constant mesh with the central gear 51 and the internal gear 80.

In order that motion may be transmitted'lfrom the drive shaft 4| to the pinions 41 through the respective planetary gear system, I employ a sim'- ple clutch control mechanism for releasably maintaining one or the other of the internal gear members 6|) againstI rotary movement.. This plurality of clutch teeth 62 on the periphery thereof and a pair of pawls 63 and 64, one for each housing. These pawls are secured to a vertically disposed rock shaft 65 which extends through the case body 30 adjacent theo'uter end thereof and is journaled at its ends in the end caps 3| and 32, as shown in Figure 4.vv These pawls 63 and 64 extend from opposite sids'of the rock shaft 65 4so that one of the 'pawls as the upper pawl 63 is an abutting pawl and the other pawl as 64 a catch pawl. and these pawls are so related to each other and to the housings 56 that by oscillatingthe shaft 65, the pawls maybe brought alternately into holding engagement withthe housings. 1

In order` that the pawls 63'and 64 may be'quickly and positively operated with vvery little physical effort for controlling the operation of the planetary gear systems, I have devised means whereby the shaft 65 may be oscillated by a man- A -vmeans for manually operating these members di'- rectly: This llatter means consists, in this instance, of a horizontally disposed rock plate 61 which, as illustrated in Figures'4 and 5, is mounted on the upper end cap 3| and is secured at' one end to the upper end of the shaft 65, as illustrated at 68. The plate extends inwardly from the shaft 65 and has an aperture 69 adapted to receive therethrough the bearing boss 44, said aperture being of suiicient size to permit the required swinging movement of the plate 61 to oscillate the shaft 65.

The inner end of the arm 61 is provided with :an inwardly extending slot 10 arranged in symmetrical relation with the plate-*and adapted to receive therein an outwardly' extending'lug or flange 1| provided at the center of a. horizon'- tfally disposed control rod 12. -"I'his'-co ntro1 rod 12 is positioned at the upperI end of the case-2 'a short distance`v from' the adjacent end of thel cap 3|, with the outer ends thereof extending beyond the side walls of the case 2.

The outer ends of the rod are each provided with a finger-piece 13 by which the rod may be 5 reciprocated in either direction from either side of the case. A U-shaped stop member 14 is secured to the adjacent portion of the cap 3| as by screws 15, with the ends of the legs or side members thereof arranged in the path of movement of the flange 1| for limitingthe inward movement of the control rod 12 in either direction.

The hereinbefore-mentioned power operated means for oscillating the shaft 65 consists, in this instance, of a bifurcated neutralizing arm 11 `15 which, as shown more clearly in Figures 4 and 9,

is mounted in a horizontal plane in the lower end cap 32 and has one end thereof secured as at 18 to the adjacent portion of the shaft 65. This neutralizing arm 11 extends inwardly from the 2o shaft 65 andhas the forked ends as 11' of the inner end thereof arranged one at either side of the shaft 4| in spaced relation thereto to permit the required swinging movement of the arm.

In order that the neutralizing arm 11 may be swung about the axis of the shaft 65 as a pivot by power means, I have provided a clutch member as 80 mounted on the shaft 4| between the lower housing 56 and the bearing member 45. This clutch member is comprised of a ratchet collar 8| which issplined to the shaft 4| adjacent the lower end of the lower housing 56 to be driven by the shaft. A clutch plate 82 is loosely mounted on the shaft 4| between the clutch collar 80 and the bearing member 45. The clutch plate 82, in this instance, is circular in plan view and has the peripheral edge thereof provided with a groove 83 which receives one end portion of a spring member 84 which has the other end thereof secured to the lower cap 32 by means of a bolt 85. 'I'he spring 84 is tensioned inwardly toward the clutch plate 82 for yieldingly engaging said plate and frictionally maintaining the same against rotary movement.

In order that the plate 82 may be driven by the ratchet collar 80, I have provided a pawl 81 which is slidably mounted in a radially extending slot 88 provided in the upper surface of the plate 82 for movement into and out of engagement with a plurality of, in this instance four, circumferentially spaced teeth 8 I provided on the clutch collar 8|. An arcuate actuating arm 90 is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends as at 9| to the clutch plate 82 in spaced relation to the slot 88 so that one side of the arm 90 will extend across the pawl 81.

The ends of the arm 90 terminate at substantially diametrically opposite sides of the clutch plate 82 and are provided with a lateral projection or abutment member 93 and 94 respectively which extends upwardly above the clutch plate 82. l'I'he pawl 81 is provided with an .elongated slot as 81' in the upper face thereof adapted to receive the adjacent portion of the control arm 90. This slot 81' is of somewhat greater length than the width of that portion of the arm 90 contained therein to permit a limited amount of lost motion ofr said arm in said slot for a purpose which will hereinafter more readily appear.

The end of the arm mounted in the slot 81 v-7n is yieldingly urged inwardly toward the clutch collar 8| by means of a tension spring 96 which has one end hooked into the abutment member 93 and the other end secured to the plate 82 as at 91. It is now obvious thatthe spring 96 acting '72, upon the arm 90 to rock that side of the arm adjacent the pawl 81 inwardly about the pivot 9| normally causes said arm to maintain the pawl in clutching engagement with the ratchet collar 8|. In order to cause the pawl to be moved' out of clutching engagement with4 the ratchet collar, 5 I have provided a detent 98 positioned in a slot 32' provided in the lower cap 32 at the inner end thereof. The detent 98 is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends upon a pin or rod 99 mounted in the lower cap 32 with one end of the detent 'I0 as 98' positioned for movement into and out of the path of movement of the abutment members 93 and 94 on the actuating arm 90.

The end 98' of the detent 98 is yieldingly urged downwardly into the path of the abutment mem- 15 bers 93 and 94 by a helical spring |00 secured at one end to the detent and having the other end secured to the wall 5| of the case as at |0|. The downward movement of the end 98 of the detent is limited by a horizontally disposed con- 20 trol rod |04 which extends transversely through the lower cap 32, with the ends thereof terminating outside said cap.

The control rod |04 is mounted for sliding movement in guide openings formed in the side 25 walls of the cap 32 and in a pair of spaced inwardly extending lugs |05 formed integral with the cap 32 and arranged one at either side of the slot 32' (see Figures 8 and 10). The control rod |04 is provided with a cam section substantially 30 midway between its ends and which consists of a pair of opposed axially spaced outwardly tapered or conical cam surfaces |06 which are connected by an' intermediate flat or cylindrical surface |01. The rod is yieldingly maintained in the nor- 35 mal position with the intermediate surface |01 in alignment with the detent 98 by a pair of relatively light compression springs |09 mounted on the rod one at 'either side of the lugs |05 between a respective lug and a washer |0 which abuts 40 against a shoulder I formed on the rod at a corresponding end portion thereof. lThe intermediate surface |01 is so proportioned that when the control rod is in the normal position, said surface will be engaged-by the detent 98 and"'co 45 act with the spring |00 for maintaining the detent in the path of movement of the end flanges or abutment members 93 and 94 of the clutch con-v trol arm '90, and obviously, when the control rod 1 |04 is moved axially in either direction from the 50 normal position, the detent will be rocked against the action of the spring |00 out of the path of y movement of the arm 90 by the corresponding cam surface |06.

It will now be readily understood that when the 55 shaft 4| and clutch collar 8| are rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as indicated by arrow X in Figure 8 and the clutch control arm 90 is positioned as illustrated by full lines in said gure, with the pawl 81 out of clutching engage- 00 ment with the clutch collar 8|, as soon as the actuating arm 90 is released by the movement of the detent 98 out of engagement with one of the abutment members as 83, the pawl-engaging end of said arm will be drawn inwardly by the spring 6'5 96 and the pawl 81 will be moved thereby into clutching engagement with the ratchet collar after which the clutch plate 82 and arm'90 will be driven by the ratchet collar. This movement of the clutch elements in unison will continue '7b until an object, asvthe detent 98, appears in the path of one or the other of the abutment members 93 or 94 to interrupt the rotation of the actuating arm. As the end of the arm is thus held by the detent, the continued rotation of the clutch *15 plate 02 will cause the pawl-engaging end of the arm 90 to swing outwardly against the action of the spring 96 and withdraw the pawl from engagement with the clutch collar. The instant the driving connection is broken between the pawl and ratchet collar, the clutch plate will stop rotation and be maintained against any rearward movement which might otherwise be produced by the actlonof the spring 96 by the drag produced by the spring member 84.

In order that the pawl 81 will be moved out of the path of movement of the teeth 8| of the ratchet collar 8| after the driving connection between the pawl and said collar is broken, the

inner end as 81" of the pawl is made flat and arranged normal to the longitudinal axis of the pawl so that inasmuch as the rotary movement of the pawl and plate 82 is discontinued the instant the rear side or edge of the pawl i's out of contact with the driving front face of the tooth, the outer peripheral face of the tooth during the continued rotation of the collar will engage the centerof the end 81" of the pawl and cause said pawl to move radially outwardly a slight distance independently of the actuating arm 90 which action is permitted due to the fact that the pawl slot 81' is of greater length than the width of the adjacent portion of the arm 90.

The manner of transmitting motion from the clutch member 80 to the neutralizing Aarm 11 consists in providing the clutch plate 82 with a cam member ||3 arranged at the underside of the plate in the plane of the inner end of the neutralizing arm 11. This cam ||3 is an oblong member arranged symmetrically with the clutch plate and having the longitudinal axis thereof normally lying in the vertical plane passing through the shafts 4| andl 65 when the clutch plate is held in the stationary or at-rest position by the detent 98, as illustrated in Figure 9. The relation of the cam 3 and theY forked ends 11 of the neutralizing arm is such that the arm is free to swing in either direction a sufllclent distance to permit the corresponding pawl 68 or 64 to engage the respective housing 56 when the clutch is in the at-rest position and the cam will engage the forked ends 11 and restore the neutralizing arm to the neutral position during one-half revolution of. the cam and clutch plate.

The hereinbefore-mentioned means for automatically controlling the rotation of the wringer rolls as the pressure lon the rolls is released, may consist of any suitable means for operatively connecting the clutch mechanism 80v with the pressure-release mechanism incorporated in the wringer mechanism, and for this purpose, I have illustrated a well-known type of safety control mechanism for the wringer rolls which is readily adapted to control the operation of the clutch 80 and which is more clearly illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 4, and 8. Briefly, this safety mechanism consists of the hereinbeforementned U-shaped lock bar I5 which extends down ardly through the wringer frame end I0 from the pivot I4 between the rod I9 and a similarly disposed rod I I5, with the lower transverse portion ||6 of the bar positioned near the bottom of. the wringer frame.

Each vertical arm as ||1 of the lock bar has a longitudinal slot ||8 in a vertical edge thereof for receiving ythe pin I9 therein and a cam face 9 in the opposite edge adapted to engage the rod |I5 as the lock bar I5 is moved downwardly to the lowermost position to produce a swinging 75 movement of the bar toward the rod I9 so that y er end thereof.

`A substantially horizontally disposed catch plate |20 is pivotally mounted at one end as at |2| to the cross member of the wringer frame in spaced relation tothe lock bar I5. 'I'he other lor free end of the catch plate extends beneath the transverse portion ||6 of the lock bar and is yieldingly maintained in contact therewith by a compression spring |22 mounted on a guide rod |23 which is connected with the latch plate and cross member for also limiting the upward movement of thecatch plate. The catch plate |20 is provided with upwardly extending flanges |24 adjacent each longitudinal side thereof adapted when the plate is in its uppermost position in contact with the transverse portion I I6 of the lock bar, to abut against the inner side of said transverse portion and prevent inward swinging movement of the lock bar.

The catch plate |20 is moved downwardly against the action of the spring |22 by one or the other of a pair of safety release `bars |26. These bars are U-shaped members, as illustrated in Figure 1, arranged one adjacent either side of the wringer frame and have the legs thereof pivotal- 1y connected to said frame as at |21, while one of the legs of each bar, as |26', is extended inwardly from the pivot |21 over the'top of the catch plate flanges |24, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 4. g

The extensions |26' are so related to the side members of the respective safety release bar |26 that when the catch plate |20 is in its uppermost position in engagement with the lock bar I5, the upper or transverse side of the safety release bars will be maintained in spaced relation to the wringer framelso that a slight inward pressure on either one of the release bars will rock the catch plate |20 downwardly out of holding engagement with the lock bar I5.

As the catch plate I 20 releases the lower end of. the lock bar, said lock bar will then be caused to swing inwardly out of holding engagement with the rod I9 due to the action of the pressure spring 24 and thereby permit the upward movement of the lock bar and head I2, and release the tension of said spring upon the upper roll 8.

The downward movement of the catch plate |20 to release the lock barA I5 is utilized for actuating the detent 98 to bring the same out of holding engagement with the abutment members on the clutch actuating arm 90. In order to effect this action of the detent 98, said detent is extended rearwardly from the pivot 99 as at 98- to a position beneath the free end of the catch plate 20, as clearly illustrated in Figure 4.

It will now be readily understood that when the lock bar I5 is maintained in its lowermost holding position beneath the rod I9 by the catch plate |20, as illustrated in Figure 4 and the desired pressure is maintained upon the upperv roll 8 through the medium of tension screw 26 and spring 24, the rolls 1 and 8 may be rotated in either of two directions by the drive shaft 4 through the medium of one or the other of the planetary gear systems by manually-manipulating the u'pper control rod 12 to bring one or the other of the pawls 63 or 64 into holding engagement with the corresponding housing 56 depending upon the desired direction of rotation of the wringer rolls.

plished with slight physical effort by merely pressing the control rod |04 inwardly against the action of a spring |09 which may be effected from either side of the case 2 to move the detent 38 upwardly out of holding engagement with one or theother of the abutting members of the clutch actuating arm 90.

As the detent releases said arm, the clutch will be engaged by the action of thespring 96 inthe manner hereinbefore-described so that the clutch plate 82 and the cam 3 will be driven by the ,shan 4|.. As the clutch plate 82 begins rotation, the cam member I I3 will engage the neutralizing arm 11 which will have been swung to one side or the other of vthe, normal position vas a pawl 63 or 64 is brought into holding engagement with the corresponding housing and restore said neutralizing arm and the/pawls 63 and 64 to the neutral position and thereby discontinue any drive action of the planetary gear systems upon the wringer rolls 1 and 8 by permitting the free rotary movement of the housing members 56.

As the clutch actuating arm 90 is provided with abutment members at each end thereof, it is obvious that the clutch plate 82 will make but one-half of a revolution when said plate will come to an at-rest position due to the engagement of the detent 98 with the .approaching abutment member so that the cam H3 will normally lie with its longer axis in the vertical plane passing between the drive shaft section 4| and the control shaft 65 and thereby permit the free rocking movement of the neutralizing arm 11 when it is Aagain desired to move one or the other oi' the pawls 63 or 64 into clutching ensagement with a corresponding planetary gear housing 56.

It will also be obvious that the pawl 63 or 64 will be as readily returned from clutching engagement with a corresponding housing 56 to the neutral position by pressure upon one or the other of the safety release bars |26 due to the action of the clutch plate upon the detent 30 in the manner hereinbefore described, and although I have shown and particularly described the preferred embodiment. of my invention, I do not wish to be limited to the exact construction shown as various changes in the form and relation of the parts thereof may readily be made, without departing from the spirit of this invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a roll wringer mechanism for a washing machine, means for driving the rolls of said mechanism comprising, a drive shaft, mechanical means for transmitting motion from the drive shaft to said rolls including .a pair of planetary gear systems, clutch means for selectively controlling the operation of said gear systems for rotating the rolls in reverse directions, and manually controlled means adapted to be driven by the drive shaft for operating the clutch means. 2. In a roll wringer mechanism for a washing machine, means for driving the rolls of said mechanism comprising a drive shaft, mechanical means for transmitting motionlfrom the drive shaft to said rolls including a pair of planetary gear systems, manually operated clutch means for selectively controlling the operation of said gear systems for rotating the rolls in reverse directions, power driven cam means connected with the clutch means for operating said clutch means, and manually controlled meansv assoelated with the cam for operatively connecting the cam to the shaft to elect the operation thereof.

3. In a roll wringer mechanism for a washing machine, means for driving 'the rolls of said mechanism comprising a drive shaft, mechanical l means for transmitting motion from the drive shaft to said rolls including a pair of planetary gear systems, clutch means associated with each gear system, means for manually controlling the operation of the clutch means for selectively effecting the rotation of the rolls in either of two directions, and manually controlled power-operated means associated with the clutch means lwhereby the drive action of said shaft on the rolls is discontinued.

4. In a roll wringer mechanism for a washing machine, means for driving the rolls of said mechanism comprising means for holding the rolls in pressure engagement, a drive shaft, mechanical means for transmitting motion from the drive shaft to said rollsA including a pair of planetary gear systems, clutch means associated with each gear system, means for manually controlling the operation of the clutch means for selectively effecting rotation of the rolls in either of two directions, means for releasing the rolls from pressure engagement, and power-operated means associated with the clutch means and actuated upon operation of the pressure releasing means for discontinuing the action of the drive shaft on the rolls.

5. In a roll wringer mechanism having means for releasably holding the rolls in pressure engagement and a drive shaft, means including a pair of planetary gear systems associated with the drive shaft for rotating the rolls in reverse directions, and power-operated means adapted to be driven by the drive shaft and actuated upon operation of the pressure releasing means for automatically rendering the planetary gear systems inoperative.

6.- In a roll wringer mechanism for a washing machine, means for holding the rolls in pressure engagement, a drive shaft, means including a pair of planetary gear systems associated with the drive shaft for rotating the rolls in reverse directions, means for releasing the rolls from pressure engagement, power-operated means adapted to be driven by the drive shaft and actuated upon operation of the pressure releasing means for automatically rendering the planetary gear systems inoperative, and separate manually operated control means for governing the action of the power operated means independently of the pressure release means.

7. The combination with a safety device for the pressure rolls of a wringer mechanism, of a driving and reversing mechanism for said rolls, said mechanism comprising a pair of planetary gear systems and a drive shaft for rotating said gear systems, manually operated means for selectively connecting said drive shaft with either of said gear systems, means for applying the power of the drive shaft to either of said planetary gear systems to render them inoperative and stop rotation of the rolls, and means operated upon actuation of the safety device for operating said power applying means.

8. The combination with a safety device for the rolls of a Wringermechanism of a. driving and reversing 'mechanism for said rolls, said mechanism comprising a pair of planetary gear systems and a drive shaft for operating said gear systems, a control member extending between said planetary gear systems, manually operated means for moving said control member to al position in engagement with either of said planetary gear systems to enable rotation of the rolls in either direction, and means for moving said control member out of engagement with either of said planetary gear systems to stop the rotation of said rolls, said means comprising means actuated upon operation of said safety device.

9. The combination with a safety device for the pressure rolls of a wringer mechanism, of a driving and reversing mechanism for said rolls.'

said mechanism comprising a pair of planetary gear systems and a drive shaft for operating said gear systems, a control member extending between said planetary gear systems, manually operated means for moving said control member to a. position in engagement with either of said planetary gear systems to enable rotation of the rolls in either direction, means for applying the power of the drive shaft for moving said control member out of engagement with either of said planetary gear systems to stop the rotation of the rolls, said means comprising means actuated upon operation of said safety device.

10. The combination with a safety device for the pressure rolls of a wringer mechanism. of a driving and reversing mechanism for said rolls, said mechanism comprising a pair of Vplanetary gear systems and a drive shaft for operating said gear systems, a control member extending between said Dlanetary gear system, manually operated means for moving said control member to a position in engagement with either of said planetary gear systems to enable the rotation of the rolls in either direction, means for applying the power` of the drive shaft for moving said control member out of engagement with either of said planetary gear systems to stop the rotation of the rolls. and manually operated means for operating said power applying means.

v PETER EDUARD GELDHOF.

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