US2121431A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Description

June 21, 1938. K, p, HAMM 2,121,431

WASHING MACHINE Filed Feb. 19. 1955 7 sheetssheet. 1

Flai 4 2.2 BY yww' ATTORNEY June 21, 1938. K.- P. HAMM 2,121,431

I WASHINGl MACHINE Filed Feb. 19, 1935 '7 Sheets-'Sheet 2 FIG. 4

ATTORNEY JunevZl, 1938. K P, HAMM I 2,121,431

Vv'ASNG'` MACHINE Filed Feb. 19, 1955 v 7 SheetS-Sheet 5 INVENTOR KARL P. HAMM Bf jw ATTORNEY June 21, 1938. K. HAMM 2,121,431

WASHING MACHINE Filed Feb. 19, 1955 7 sheets-sheet 4 FIGS as 911i 90 :NVENTOR KARL. P. HAMM BY j' df/WW ATTORNEY hun@ 3933. K. P. HAMM 2,121,431

WASHING MACHINE Fileg Feb. 19, 1935 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR 26 KARL. P. HAMM ATTORNEY June 21, 1938. K, P, HAMM 2,121,431

WASVHING MACHINE Filed Feb. 19,. 1935 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 2 2 N N 4 \N f l W MA Y ii\| R E mM m A mmf A K w mm I l Y B o o c o o o o o uw@ o mmf, m oo o o ooo oooo o c o omwo \ww uw l ,n o !0 ,0 0 n v M/Jqm m8 !)NQN i \m ,\\N

June21,193s. j P HAMM l '2,121,431`

WASHING MACHINE Filed Feb. 19, 1935 7 Sheets-Sheet `7 INVENTOR f- KARL E' HAMM BY ATTORNEY Patented June 21, 193s UNITED` STATES PATENT OFFICE WASHING MACHINE Karl P. Hamm, New York, N. Y. Application February 19, 1935,`Serial No. 7,162 3 clanes. (el. ss-1s) the washed articles, is had.

The above and other objects will become apparent in the description below, in which characters of reference refer to like-named parts in the accompanying drawings.

Referring briefly to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective 4view of the complete machine, showing the means for operating the machine as well as the inspection glasses and the various pipes to be connected to the sources of Water, gas, drainage, and electricity.

Figure 2 is a top plan View of the complete machine as shown in Figure 1, with the tops re-u moved and the frame and tumbler in a horizontal position (the position of oscillation), the oscillating mechanism being in engagement.

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the complete machine as shown in Figure 1 and partly in Figure 2, with the front wall for the larger part removed and the reservoir partly in section, the tumbler being in the position of oscillation.

Figure 4 is an enlarged 4front elevational view ofl the engagement mechanism for oscillation (forming part of Figure 3), partly in section, showing the journal in the upper part of4 the frame, the means for centrifugally rotating' the tumbler .through the spiral gears, as well as partly the means or mechanism for oscillating the tumbler, and the means for engaging and disengaging the jaw-coupling.

Figure 5 Vis a front elevational view of the complete machine as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, with the front walls partly removed, the tumbler and frame being in the vertical position or the position for centrifugally rotating the tumbler; the oscillating mechanism is partly shown in a disengaging position, and some of the controls and inspection glasses are omitted. v

Figure Gis a side elevational view `of the oscillating mechanism along the line a-a in Figure 3, showing the mechanism for sliding the rack bar toand fro; which results inthe oscillating motion of the engaging pinion.

Figure 7 is an enlarged elevational view of the journal in the lower part of the frame as indicated in Figure 2, showing in enlarged scale and partly in section, parts of the `tumbler and the hollow shaft, the shaft end being mounted therein. Figure 7 also shows the shaft end mounted in the combination bearing housing, its hot air inlet and water inlet, as well as part of the lower portion of the frame to which it is secured.' Figure 8 is a bottom plan view of the combination ball bearing housing,` partly in section, which is-shown in Figure '7. c

` Figure 9 is an enlarged side elevational view,

partly in section, of the handle and frame bearving pin connection, showing the upper and lower part ends of the frame; this gure also shows the bearing pin of the connection member between `said upper and lower ends of the frame, resting in the cup-shaped member which is secured to the front wall and the head member, in which combined bore the handle and bearing pin are mounted.

Figure 10 is a front elevational view of Figure 9.

Figure 1-1 is an enlarged side elevational view, partly in section, of the frame bearing pin connection as seen diametricallyopposite to Figure `9 in Figure 2. AFigure 11 alsoshows the arrangement for conveying water through the bearing pin into the water pipe which terminates near lthe upper journal as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 12 is a front elevational view"of Figure 11. l Y

Figure 13 is a horizontal cross-sectional vview of the washing compartments only, showing a fraction of the pinion shaft |02. the outline of the machine compartment 19, the Irame, the frame connection and its bearing, as well as the two trunnions of the tumbler, and the water and hot air supply mechanism. Y

Figure 14 is a .vertical crossfsectional view taken at right angles to Figure 13, showing the frame, the complete Itumbler and its driving mechanism, the reservoir, the two water tanks andthe gas burners, all enclosed in the casing. The driving mechanism housingis partly omitted.

Referring in detalto the drawings, the numeral I indicates the iront wall of the tumbler housing which is a box-like casing (Figure l).l This casing (Figure l) has a'bottom 2`(Figure 3), a rear wall 3 (Figure 2), and a'cover 4 provided with hingesi so thatthe same maybe lifted upward to expose the tumbler mechanism and the reservoir contained in the casing; The

, casingis also enclosed by the side wall 6 and the dividing wall l (Figures 2, 3, and 5). To the left of the tumbler housing (Figures 2, 3, and 5) the casing is further enclosed by the floor 8, the dividing wall 1, outside wall 9, rear wall I (Figure l), top II, and front wall I2 (Figures 1 and 2) containing a hinged door I3, the compartment thus formed containing the motor and its mechanism. 'I'he tumbler housing walls I, 3, 5, and 1 have mounted thereon intermediate their length, an L-shaped rail I4 (Figure 5) upon the horizontal flange of which a ledge I5 of an inverted bowl-shaped reservoir I6 is mounted. On the front wall I (Figur-e2), on the inside of the casing in the region of the rail I4, a cup-shaped member I1 is secured to a head I8 which is located in the same region as the member I1 but` on the outside of the front wall I. Diametrically opposite and mounted on the inside of the rear wall 3 (Figure 2) of the tumbler. casing, a second cup-shaped member I9 is firmly anchored thereon. The member I1 and the head I8 as well as the member I9 are provided with an internal bore in which register the rotatable bearing pins 20 and 2I and the handle member 22, respectively (Figures 9 and 11). The rotatable pins 20 and 2| are an integral part ofthe U-shaped connection members 23 and 24 (Figures 13, 9, 10, 11, andA 12) to which are firmly anchored the two halves 25 and 25 of a continuous or girt-like frame member 21 substantially-,square in outline. `Connecting thehandle member 22 rotatablein head I8, and the bearing pin 28 rotatable in the member I1 (Figure 9) .by means of a tongue and groove28 on handle member 22 and bearing pin 20, respectively, and a bolt 28, it is now possible to tilt the frame 21 (Figure-2) by means-of the handle 22. This tilting of the frame 21 is mechanically restricted to an arc of 9i). degrees by limit stops 29a and 29h (Figure 10). The'two halves 25 and 25 of the frame 21 are provided with bearingsr 38 -and 5I, respectively (Figures 2, 4, and '1) for a rotatable tumbler barrel 32 which is perforated over its entire expanse as indicated by the numeral 33. The bearing 35 consists of a ball bearing 34 placed into the combination ball bearing and gear housing 35 which in turn is firmly anchoredto the half 25 of the frame 21 (Figures 4 and 13). The bearing 3| (Figure 7) consistsof a combination ball bearing 35 placed into' the combination ball bearinghousing 31 which again is firmly anchored to the half 25 of the frame 21. 'I'he combination ball .bearing housing or cap 31 is provided with an inlet 35 to receive a hot air pipe 35, and a water pipe 45 to receive a water pipe 4I (Figures 7 and). The rotatable tumbler 32 is provided with a perforated hollow shaft 42 (Figures 2, 4, and 7) whose solid end 43 passes through the ball bearing 34 and the combination ball bearing and gear housing 35, also through'a spiral gear 44' (Figure-4) firmly secured to the solid shaft end 43, and terminates in one half 45 of a jaw coupling. 'I'his half 45 engages and disengages with the other 'half 45 of a jaw coupling which is slidably mounted on a pinion shaft, described below. I'he other end 41 of the shaft 42 is' hollow itself (Figure '7) in-order. to 'provide a passage for the partly perforated water pipe 45 and the passage of hot air. This hollow shaft end terminates in the combination ball bearing 35. Water enters by means of a water pipe 45 (Figures 11 and A12) which penetrates the rear wall 3 of the tumbler housing and terminates in the restricted internal bore 45 of the rotatable bearing pln 2|. Outside the bearing area of the (Figure 11) and extending into ,and ter-l minating in the restricted internal bore 48, the pin 2I has a bore 50. Firmly secured in the bore 50 (Figure 11) is the water pipe 4I which passes around the half 26 of the frame 21 and is firmly secured to the water pipe 40 (Figures 7, 8, and 13). The latter penetrates (Figure '7) the combination ball bearing housing 31 and is firmly anchored thereto, then follows the center axle of the shaft end 41 and the center axle of the shaft 42, and terminates in the solid shaft end l43 'of the hollow shaft 42 (Figure 4) where it is sealed.

'I'he water pipe 40 is perforated over its length inside the hollow shaft 42 (Figure 2) only. Hot air flows from a conventional hot air unit 5I (Figures 3 and 5) located in the motor mechanism housing, by means of a hot air pipe 52. This pipe passes through the wall 1 and through the side lof the bowl-shaped reservoir I5 located in that region. When the frame 21 and with it the tumbler 32 are in vertical or upright position,

(Figure 5)', as described below, the pipe 52 contacts with the hot air pipe 39. The latter runs parallel with the pipe 4I (Figure 2) and its end is connected to the hot air inlet 38 of the housing 31 (Figures 7 and 8)', thereby conveying hot air through the perforated hollow shaft 42 into the In order to impart centrifugal rotation at high speed to the tumbler 32 a mechanism is provided which is releasably coupled to a motor 53. A flexible shaft casing end 54 is firmly anchored to the combination housing 35 (Figures 3 and 5) This shaft casing and the shaft 55 follow the half 25 of the frame 21, penetrate the reservoir I 5 in the region of the front wall I, and terminate in the flexible shaft casing en`d 55 which is firmly anchored to the free-wheeling clutch housing 51 (Figures 3 and 5). On the rotating end 55 (Figure 44) of the flexible shaft 55, a pinion or spiral gear 58 is mounted which meshes with the spiral gear 44 which in turn is firmly anchored to the solid shaft end 43. 'I'he other rotating'end of the shaft 55 is securely anchored to one part of the free-wheeling clutch located in the housing 51 (Figures 3 and 5).

A drain pipe 6I is firmly anchored to the side near the bottom of the reservoir I5 in the region of the front wall I, whose other end terminates on the inside of the front wall I (Figure 3) and is securely anchored to the fiange 52. The latter has securely anchored to it the end of another drain pipe 53 which conveys through a valve 54 the liquid from the reservoir I5 to a source of disposal not shown. In'or'der to freely and at any time inspect the liquid from the reservoir I5, two openings ofthe same size and shape as the'two drain pipes 5I and 53 are provided in the front wall I of the tumbler housing, these openings facing the s aid pipe ends anchored to the fiange 52. Both. pipes 5I and 53 communicate by means of a glass or transparent connection mem; ber 55 (Figure 1) whoseledge is securely anchored to the fiange 52 by means of bolts which penetrate the front wall I. Mounted aboven the bottom 2 ofthe tumbler casing and secured thereto. are two water supply tanks 55 and 51 means of pipe 68, overiiows into the tank 61 by `means of the pipe 69, and is further forced under Aso pressure into the bearing pin 2| by means of pipe 48 (Figure 11). A gas pipe 10 connected to `a gas supply main not shown, supplies the gas burner 1| (Figure 3) to heatthe-contents of the reservoir I6, and the pipe 10 also supplies the two gas burners 'I2 and 13. The latter heat the contents of the tanks 66 and 61, respectively. The three burners 1|, 12, and 13 are controlled by valves 14 located inl recesses 15 (Figure 3) in the front wall I.

A level indcatorgauge 16 is mounted upon the front Wall I (Figures 1 and 2) and communicates with the reservoir I6. 'I'he tumb1er32 is'provided with aplurality' of doors 11 to serve as Adividing wall 1, the motor mechanism compartment 19 is formed by the oor 8, the wall 1, outside wall 9, rear wall I0, top Il and front wall I2, the latter containing the hinged door I3 (Figures 1, 3, and 5). In this compartment the mechanism for oscillating the tumbler 32, the motor 53 for driving the mechanism, and the exible shaft 55 for centrifugally rotating the tumbler32, are mounted as a unit. This unit in turnL is firmly anchored to the dividing wall 1 and the outside wall 9 by means of fasteners 80 (Figure 3). The unit consists of sidel 'plates 8| and 92, spacer plates 483 and 84, and the combination spacer plate and split collar bearings 05. A reversible electric motor 53 is firmly anchored to the spacer plate 84, and an insulating platel 96 is secured to the motor-(Figures 5 and 6), the

plate 86 having three contact points 01, 88, and

both sides has mounted on the end facing theside plate 3| a free-wheeling clutch 9| which;

serves at,the same time as ay spur gear (Figures 3 andv 6). The motor shaft end carrying the clutch 9| is also supported by the bearing 92 (Figure 3) iirmly anchored to the plate 9|. 'Ihe spur gear of the clutch 9| meshes with the gear 93, having its bearing on the pivot 94 anchored to the plate 8|. The spur gear 93 drives the spur gear 95 which is secured to the axle of a standard speed reducer 96 anchored to the spacer plate 03. The speed reducer axle, having secured thereto the spur gear v95, is also supported by the bearing 91 anchored to the plate 8|. other axle ofthe speed reducer 96 (Figures 3 and 6) a circular disk 98 is secured having a pivot 99 engaging the arm and lrack bar |00. 'Ihe upper. face of the rack bar |00 is .provided with teeth which mesh with the pinion gear |0| an-v chored to the pinion shaft |02 having its bearing between ,the split collars 05. The lower faceA of the rack bar |00 slides inthe guide piece |03 which has itsv bearingvon the shaft |02 and is allowed to swing freely thereon. The shaft |02 has by a fork |05 which receives on its lower ends i the pivots |06 (Figure 4) lol? avring |01 in a groove in the half 46 of thev jaw-coupling. The fork itself is supportedfin a lug |08 anchored to the element 95, and has in its end a hole to receive a spring |09 which on its other end is also secured to the element 85.

As seen in Figures 2 and, the switch lever 90 is held in one position by a spring |I0 and a rod secured t'o the plate 0|. In -this position theswitch lever, connects the contact points 81 and 89, which gives the motor 53 (connected to a power source not shown) acounter clockwise direction of rotation, thus giving os-` cillating motion, as above set forth, to the half 46 of the jaw-coupling. This half 46 (Figure 4),

ures 2 and 3) which passes around a roller II3 secured to the wall 1 and terminates in a handle |I4 located outside the front wall I2 (Figures 1 and 2) and is slidable therein. By meansof this handle ||4 'the interlocking and unlocking of the mechanism and the frame 21, including the tumbler 32, are controlled.

As further seen in Figures 3 and 5,. the switch lever 90 has also secured to it the end of a steel wire cable` H5y which` is guided around a roller |I6 and' over a roller4 Ill both secured to the wall 1, passes through this wall 1, and has its end secured to a lug IIB anchored in the frame 21. Thus, pulling the handle Ill (Figure 2) disengages the halves 45'-46 of the jaw-'coupling and leaves the frame 21 and the tumbler 32 free to be rotated into vertical position by means of the handle member 22. 'I'his will automatically change the position of the switch lever 90,` and the lever will then contact on points 83 and 89 (Figure 5). which willresult in reversing the direction of rotation of the motor 53. As indicated above, this will result in free-wheeling of the gear clutch SI and in engaging of the motor axle with the flexible shaft 55'through the clutch 60.

Obviously, modifications in form and struclture may be made without departing from the spirit'and scope. of the invention as dened in the claims.

- I claim; l y y 1,. In a washing machine, a casing having a substantially bowl-shaped reservoir mounted therein,'said casing having oppositely disposed bearingsmounted thereon on a horizontal axis extending from the front to the rear of said casing, a rigid frame having oppositely disposed vrtrunnions rotatable in said bearings, said frame being normally upright and of substantially greater depth than theA depth of said reservoir and normally having the upper portion thereof Vprojecting above the mouth of saidreservoir and the lower portion contained within said reservoir, a tumbler rotatablyv mounted within said frame and being girted by said frame,said tumbler also being normally upright in said reservoir and having an axial shaft extending therethrough'at right angles to said horizontal axis of said casing bearings in the same plane as said frame, saidV frame having oppositely disposed bearings supporting said shaft, a gear mounted at one endof said shaft for rotating said tuin@ lbler, means for rotating said gear, means for tilting said frame and tumbler vthrough a 90 shafts, means for shifting said horizontal shaft end into or out of engagement with said axial shaft endrafter said frame and tumbler have been tilted to horizontal position, means foroscillating said horizontal shaft to oscillate said tumbler in horizontal position, said tumbler shaft being hollow and. perforated, a perforated tube .axially mounted within and spaced from said tal axis extending from the front to the rear of said casing, a rigid frame having trunnions rotatable in said bearings about said horizontal axis, a tumbler mounted within said frame, said frame and tumbler being normally upright in said reservoir, said tumbler having an axial shaft extending therethrough at right `angles to said horizontal axis of said casing bearings in the same plane as said frame, said frame having oppositely disposed bearings supporting said shaft, meam for rotating said tumbler shaft, a horizontal shaft lying in the same plane as and at right angles to said horizontal axis of said casing bearings, interlocking means partly on the, end of each of said shafts, means for tilting said frame and tumbler from the upright to the hori* zontal position. means for shifting said horizontal shaft end into or out of engagement with said axial shaft end after said frame and tumbler have beentiited to horizontal position, means for oscillating` said horizontal shaft to oscillate said tumbler in horizontal position, said tum'- bler shaft being hollow and perforated, a perforated tube axially4 mounted within and spaced from said hollow shaft, one end of said hollow shaft and tube being closed,'a cap surmounting the other end thereof and mounted on said frame, said `cap having a Water inlet pipe joined to said tube, said cap enclosing an air chamber opening into said hollow shaft about said pipe and having a hot air inlet thereinto.

3. In a washing machine, a casing having a reservoir therein, said'casing having opposi'tely disposed bearings mounted thereon on a horizontal axis extending from the front to the rear of said casing, a frame having trunnions rotatable in said vbearings about said horizontal axis, a tumbler mounted within said frame, said frame and tumbler being normally upright in said reservoir, saidu tumbler having -an axial shaft extending therethrough at right angles to said horizontal axis in the same plane as said frame, said frame having oppositely disposed bearings receiving the ends of said tumbler shaft, means for rotating said tumbler shaft, means for tilting said frame and tumbler from the upright to the horizontal position, means for oscillating said tumbler shaft in horizontal position, said tumbler shaft being hollow and perforated, a perforated tube axially mounted within and spaced from said hollow shaft, 'ne end of said hollow shaft and tube being Iclosed, a cap surmounting the other end thereof and mounted on said frame, said cap having fa water inlet pipe joined to said tube, said cap enclosing an air chamber opening linto said hollow shaft about said pipe and having a hot air inlet thereinto.

KARL P., HAMM.

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