US2092954A - Washing machine agitator - Google Patents

Description

R. W. CARTER Sapt. 14, 1937.

WASHING MACHINE AGITATOR Filed Deo. l5, 1954 Q lNVE NTLJR W 7() CMA/@ El r Q74# v W- T TUEQNEYE Patented *Sept 14, 1937 UNITED sTA'rEs PATENT OFFICE l 2,092,954 WASHING MACHINE AGITATo-R H aussen W.Cartel-,A1bia,10wa' application December 13, 1934, serial 757,257

3 Claims.

This invention has reference to agitators for washing machines, more particularly to an agitator having means for adjusting the effective area of the fluid agitating portions whereby the agitator may be adjusted to suit the particular use to which it is to be put.

It is well known that the majority of modern washing machines are equipped with an agitator or dolly of the so-called submerged type, which conventionally comprises a base portion having a central upstanding stem or conical portion, the same having a. plurality of vanes disposed thereon in such a manner that when the agitator is alternately rotated in opposite directions in water the vanes cause more or less Violent agitative movements in the water.

Washing machines of the type using the form of agitator here considered are thought suiiiciently well known to make description unnecessary further than to say that the present agitator is adapted to be used with any of the conventional types.

In practical use the agitator is disposed adjacent the bottom of the tub and alternately rotated in opposite directions to agitate the liquid in the tub whereby garments placed in the liquid are agitated therein and washed.

Obviously, during ordinary washing activity there are times when the garments being washed consist of comparatively light, small pieces and to agitate and wash these in the most efficient manner a certain type or magnitude of agitation is required, whereas at other times it may be desired to wash heavy articles such as work trousers,

rugs, quilts or the like and for this latter purpose another type or magnitude of agitation is required for best washing results.

Since all agitation produced by a washing mechanism is provided by the Varies on the agitator, it is but logical to assume that the simplest and most effective way to render an agitator capable of most efliciently washing articles of different kinds is to provide means for adjusting the area of the vanes which act upon the liquid and articles.

The object of this invention is to provide means for adjusting the area of the Vanes for the purpose above noted.

Referring to the accompanying drawing;

Fig. 1 is an elevational View of my agitato-r with portions broken away and certain associated parts removed;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the same showing dotted outline of interior parts and a small portion broken away to permit clearer description;

(Cl. 25g-R101) Interior of the stem I5 is a threaded portion II, Fig. 3 andv disposed between stem I5 and tubular portion I3 is a sleeve member I8 having an external threaded portion I9 engaged with threads I1 and an enlarged shoulder portion 20 at its upper end.

The lower end of sleeve I8 rests upon the upper edge of vanes I2 and it is confined in this position by means of a, collar 2| aflixed to the upper end of tubular portion I3.

By means of the shoulder 20, sleeve I8 is mant ually rotated whereupon threads I9, engaged with threads II, bring about vertical movement of member I4 to elevate the vane portions I6 as indicated in .dotted lines in Fig. 3. Such movement obviously extends the effective working area of the vanes and by adjusting the position of member I4 the agitative action of the mechanism may be modified to suit the conditionsl of practical use.

To permit free movement of member I4 upon the vanes I2 without excessive looseness, I preferably so proportion the portions I6 as to leave a space 23, Figs. 3 and 4, between the interior walls of portions I6 and the surfaces of vanes I2. Adjacent the interior lower edge of at least one. of members I6 the material thereof is fashioned to have inwardly directed portions '24 having a relatively small area in contact with the surface of the vane. The relatively small contacting surfaces are easily tted to operate with a minimum of friction which would obviously not be the; case if the entire surface areas were in contact.

Interiorly of the upper end of stem I3 there is provided an opening 22 of any desired form What I claim is:

1. An agitator of the class described having in combination a member comprising a base portion, a centrally disposed upstanding tubular portion and a plurality of upstanding vanes, a second member having Vane portions fashioned to telescopically fit over the rst named vanes and having a central upstanding tubular portion adapted tosurround the rst mentioned tubular member, the latter having threads formed in its interior surface, a sleeve member surrounding the first tubular portion and disposed between the rst and second tubular portions, said sleeve having a threaded portion engaging the threads of the second tubular portion whereby rotation of said sleeve brings about telescopic movement of the second named vane portions upon the rst named vane portions.

2. In a submerged washing machine agitator,

a base member, vertical vanes on said base, a central drive post attached to said base extending above the water line, a rotatable sleeve over said drive post, a hand grip on the top of said sleeve, a threaded lower section on said sleeve, an adjustable vane member mounted on the threaded section of the sleeve with vanes telescoping the vanes on the base member whereby the height of the vanes may be adjusted by the hand grip on the top of the sleeve member.

3. In a submerged washing machine agitator, a submerged base, vanes on said base adjustable in height, a drive stem on said base extending above the water line, a hand grip mounted near the top of the stem above the water line, and means to adjust the height of the vanes by rotation of the hand grip.

RUSSELL W. CARTER.

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