US2144473A - Wringer control - Google Patents

Description

F. s. WHEELER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 WRINGER CONTROL Filed Sept. lO, 193'? lNvEmoR Whse/elf WITNESSYES: dmm.

F/oya S BYl Jan. 17, 1939. F. s. WHEELER l 2,144,473

WRINGER CONTROL Filed'Sept. 1.0, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR y Jan;17,1939.- E. WHEELER 2,144,473

' wRINER CONTROL I y Filed Sept. 1o, 1937 4 sheets-sheet 4 Patented Jan. 17, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE WRINGER CONTROL Pennsylvania Application September 10, 1937, Serial No. 163,194

12 Claims.

My invention relates to power-driven wringers and more particularly to the control of the reversing mechanism and the locking device for such Wringers.

With those wringers now known to the art, it is customary to mount them upon supporting means in such a manner that the wringer may be adjusted or swung into a'plurality` of working positions about a'vertical axis which is usually the wringer drive shaft. It is necessary to lock such wringers to prevent them from rotating about the vertical axis when such wringers are connected to the wringer drive shafts. If the wringer should not be locked while having a Working connection with the drive shaft, such Wringer is liable, While under load, to swing about the vertical axis and seriously injure-an operator.

It is, therefore, an object of my invention to provide a locking device which cannot be unlocked when the wringer rolls are operatively connected withthe power shaft.

To prevent the wringer swinging about the vertical axis, it has been necessary with most wringers known to the art to use two'handles 0r controls, one to regulate the transmission between the wringer rolls and the power shaft and the second to regulate the loclnng device. With such Wringers it is possible for the operator to accidentally disconnect the locking device while the wringer is under load, under which circumstances the wringer would rotate about the vertical axis and cause serious injury to the operator if she were struck by such rotating wringer.

With those wringers having a single handle to control both the transmission and the locking device, it has been necessary to have the locking device unlocked while the transmission has been in a neutral position. This requires the wringer to be very accurately lined up with a locking plate to permit the cooperation of the locking device therewith before the wringer can be operatively associated with the power shaft.

It is, therefore, a further object of my invention to provide a single-handle controlling device which will selectively operate either the transmission or the locking device, only when the transmission is in a neutral position, and will permit the handle and the transmission to be in a neutral position without unlocking the locking device.

A further object of my invention is to provide a wringer control mechanism which will be simple to operate and inexpensive to manufacture and which will be fool-proof and positive in action.

Other objects of my invention will either be pointed out specifically in the course of the following description of a device embodying my invention, or will be apparent from such description.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is anl elevational View partly in sectionV of a wringer embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a partial end elevational View of the wringen, with. the control mechanism in one of its operative positions;

Fig. 3 is a partialU sectional view taken along line III-III of Fig. 5;

Fig; 4 is an enlarged'sectional view of the device shown in Fig. 1;V

Fig. 5 is a partial sectional View similar to Fig. 4, with the control mechanism in one of its operative positions;

Fig. 6V is a partial sectional View taken along the-line VI--VI' of Fig. 4;

Fig. '7 is a partial sectional view similar to Fig. 3, but with the operative mechanism in. a second. operative position, as shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a partial sectional view of a modified form. of a portion of the operating mechanism embodying' my invention; A

Fig. 9 isa sectionalv View taken along line .IX- IX of Fig. 8, with the operating mechanism in one of its operative positions;

Fig. 10 is a.sectional view similar to Fig. 9 with the operatingmechanism in a second operating position; and

Fig. 11 is a partial sectional View similar to Fig. 4, showing a modification of the control mechanism.

Referring to the accompanying: drawings, 1 show a wringer II having'a housing I2 with rolls I3v and I4- therein', a transmission housing or head I5 having a suitable reversing transmission I6 therein, a control mechanism I'I, a locking device I8 and a power shaft I9 operatively associated with the transmission I6.

The'wringer rolls I Sand I4 are movably and rotatably supported within the wringer housing l2 in any suitable manner and are driven through a shaft 21 which may be operatively associated with the driven gear 29 by means of any. suitable coupling means 28. As my invention will work equally well with any wringer structure, the exact method of construction and operation of the wringer rolls and of av pressure device therefor are not shown.

The transmission gearing I6 located within the transmission housing or head I5 may comprise a well-known reversing mechanismV such as driven 53 located on the pin 5I.

may have a tapered snout 51 on the end thereof gear 29 and driving pinions 33 and 34. The pinions 33 and 34 may be rotatably mounted upon the drive shaft I9 which may be rotatably journaled within the sleeve 30 and the depending hollow boss 3l, both of which may be an integral part of the housing I5. A suitable clutching member 32 may be splined to the shaft I9 .and

may have teeth or protruding portions 36 tooperatively engage the corresponding slotted or notched portions 3S of the pinions 33 and 34,

respectively. Y

the stub shaft 43. The irregularly slotted portion 45 comprises a main slotted portion 41 and a tapered slotted portion 48. The main slotted portion 41 extends through the stub shaft 43 and within the shoulder portion 45, and is of such a shape that it will readily'permit the access and free operation of the linger portion 42 of the bell crank lever therein. The bell crankV operating lever 40 may be swingably mounted.Y

within the stub shaft 43 by means of a. pin 43. The operating handle portion 4I will then be vertical while the nger portion 42'will be horizontally supported within the stub shaft 43.

A pin 31 may be'eccentrically mounted upon the shoulder portion of the stub shaft 43 and may be operatively associated with clutch member 32, by being engaged within an annularY groove 35 located within such clutch member. A loosely tting sleeve V38 may be placed over the pin 31 to act as a bearing between such pin and the clutch member 32.

`The locking device I8 comprises a yoke member and a locking pin 5I. The yoke member 50 may have a lipY portion 54 Vand a shoulder located on the inner Vportion thereof. The locking pin 5I may be removably attached to the yoke member 50 by means of a cotter pin V52 and maybe biased downwardly by the re-V silient spring member 53 which may operate between' a portion of the housing I5 and a shoulder The locking pin '5I to facilitate such locking pin in cooperating with a locking plate V25 which may be rigidly attached to a washing tub 24 by means .of support 25, or in any other suitable manner.

The yoke member 5D of the locking device I8 may be mounted within the annular notch 44 of stub shaft 43. With Vthe operating lever 40 and yoke memberV 50 mounted as hereinabove described, the finger 42 will be located'within the yoke member SEI.` With the handle in a normal position, the yoke member 50 will remain within the notched portion 44 and will be biased'downwardly by the action of the resilient member 53 which operates upon the locking pin 5I. Should the handle 4I be actuated or forced inwardly laway from a vertical position, as shown in Fig. 5,

the finger portion 42 will be swung arcuately upward about the pin 49 within the tapered notch portion 48. As the linger member 42 movesup-V wardly, the yoke member 50 is carried along device I8 and the finger 42 downwardly. Should the locking pin 5I be located over an aperture 23 Ylocated within the latching plate 25, the resilient member 53 will force the locking pin 5I within the aperture 23 and the yoke 50, being operatively associated with the locking pin 5I, will likewise be biased downwardly. Due to the downward action of the yoke 5U, the finger 42 of the bell crank member 40 will be biased downwardly causing the handle 4I to return to a vertical position.

It is, therefore, obvious that the handle 4I, swingably mounted upon the stub shaft 43, will readily operate the locking device I8V and that such handle 4I will bein a vertical position when the locking pin 5I is operatively associated with the locking plate `25.

Should the stub-shaft 43 be rotated and bellcrank operating lever 40 be slightly rotated about the stub shaft 43 as an axis, so that the operating handle 4I will be rotated slightly from the vertical position, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 3, the nger 42 will be inrsuch a position that it may become operatively associated with the upper portion aof the yoke 50. With Vthe bell-crank member located in such a position, it is obvious that should an inward application of force be applied to the control handle 4I, the nger 42 will tend to force the yoke 55 upwardly, as hereinabove' described. However, the upward movement of the yoke member 50 will be limited bythe lip member 54 which will contact the stubshaft 43 beforerthe yoke 50 has moved such a distance Vas to permit the locking pin 5I to become disengaged from the locking plate 25.

VThe stub-shaft 43 and the operatively associated Ybell-,crank operating lever 4U may be rotated about the stub-shaftV as anaxis until the operating handle 4I Yis substantially horizontal, Vas shown in Figs. 2 and 3. With the stub-shaft 43 and bell-crank operating lever 40 thus rotated, the nger 42 of the bell-crank operating lever 40 will be in contact with a side portion 50h of the yoke member 50, as shown in Fig. 3. The lip portion 54 of Yyoke 50 will then be substantially in contact with the stub-shaft 43 and will prohibit any upward movement of the yoke member 50. Should the operating handle 4I be actuated inwardly, thenger 42 will tend to rotate aboutv the pin 48. However, due to the presence of the lside portion 50h of the yoke member 50, the iinger 42 will be prevented from rotation about the pin .49. Y

With the operating bell-crank member 4U in any position other than vertical, as hereinabove described, it is` obvious that it will be impossible to rotate such bell-crank member about the pin 49,.due to the cooperating action of the linger 42 with the portion 50a of yoke member 50 and the lip portion 54 with the stub-shaft 43, or the single cooperating action of the finger 42 with Vthe portion 50h of yoke 50.

When the bell-crank operating lever 40 is in the vertical position, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the eccentrically mounted pin 31 will be ih the the stub egizia-173 normal horizontal position and the clutch` member 32; of the-transmissionv I6 will be disengaged from both driving pinions 33 and 34. When the stub-shaft 43 is rotated counterclockwise substantially as shown in Fig. 2, the eccentrically mounted pin 31 will be movedy vertically above such horizontal position, and the operatively associated clutch memberv 32 will likewise be moved upwardly. Asy the clutch memberv 32 moves up.- wardly, the upper protruding lip portion 36 of the clutch member 32 will engage the cooperating notched portion 39 of theupper pinion 33. Since the clutch member 32 is splined to the power shaft I9, it is obvious that with the vertical movement of the clutch member 32, such clutch member 32 will provide an operative connection between the pinion 33 and the power. shaftA I9 and'cause the wringer rolls I3 and I4 to rotate in one direction. To have the wringer rolls rotate in an opposite direction, it is merely necessary to manually rotate the stub-shaft 43 and operatively associated control bell-crank member 40 in the clockwise direction. The clutch member 32 will then become operatively engagedwith thev pinion v34y connecting such pinion with the powery shaft I9 as hereinabove described.

It is, therefore, obvious that with the operating handle 4I in a vertical position, the clutch member 32 of the transmission I6 will be disengaged from both pinions 33 yand 34A and the power shaft I9 will be disconnected from-such pinions, and the bell-crank operating lever 4l]V will be in such a position that the locking device I8 may be readily operated to unlock such device and permit the wringer to be swung about the Vertical axis, as hereinabove described.

Likewise, it is obvious that, as the operating handle 4I and operatively associated stub-shaft 43 are rotated, the clutching member 32 ofthe tranmission I6 will be moved from a neutral or inoperative position to an operative position, and that the lip portion 54 of the yoke member 50 and the finger 42 will become operatively associated with the stub-shaft 43 and the side portion 50h of the yoke member 50, respectively; and, therefore, that the power shaft I9 will become operatively associated with either pinion and the locking device I8 will be in an inoperative position, as hereinabove described.

If it be desired, a die-cast cap 65 may be rigidly attached to the transmission housing I5 and operatively associated with the control mechanism I1 so as to prevent the oil, located in the transmission housing, from leaking out along the operating handle 40. The cap 65 may'have an oil tight fit with the shoulder 45A and may have a bearing 68 within which the yoke 50' may be slidably mounted. However, it is to be understood that the cap 65 may be of any shape or size desired and may be operatively associated with the control mechanism I1 in any suitable manner so as to provide an effective oil seal for such control mechanism.

Referring to Figs, 8, 9 and 10, I show a modified form of the stub-shaft 43 comprising a sleeve member 60 and a stub-shaft 43a which is journaled within the sleeve 68. The outside diameter of the sleeve 60 is substantially equal to the diameter of the stub-shaft 43. The sleeve 6U has the tapered slot 48 cut therein, whilethe main slotted portion 41 is located within the stub-shaft 43a. The open portion comprisingl the main slotted portion 41 and the tapered slot portion 4'8- are substantially equal in. sizeandshape to the. slotted portion 46. located within the: stub shaft 43 as hereinabove described.

The stub-shaft 43a. comprises a shaft portion 431) and the shoulder 45. With the stub-shaft 43 located in operative engagement within the sleeve 69, the annular notched portion 44 is located between the shoulder 45 and the sleeve 60. Since the outside diameter ofthe sleeve 89 is substantially equal to the diameter of the stub-shaft 43, the sleeve 60 may be readily placed within the aperture 39 located in the housing I5. Thelip 6I integral with the sleeve 69 will then prevent the sleeve 60 from sliding out of the housing I5 and permits the sleeve 60 to be rigidly atttached to the housing in any suitable manner.

The bell-crank operating lever 40 may be mounted within the stub shaft 43a by inserting the pin 49 within the aperture 49a of stub shaft 43d. With the bell-cranky operating lever 40 located within the stub shaft 43a, the finger 42 thereof will, as the handle 4 I is actuated inwardly, move upwardly within the tapered slot 48 located within the sleeve 60. It is therefore apparent that the bell-crank operating lever 40 will readily swing about the pin 49 solong as finger 42 is in line with the tapered slot portion 48 of the sleeve 60.

Should the bell-crank operating lever 49 and the operatively associated stub shaft 43a be rotated substantially as shown in Fig. 10, with the finger 42 located within the slotted portion 41, the finger will be prevented from rotating about the pin 49 by the presence of the sleeve 60. It is, therefore, apparent that should the operating lever 49 and operatively associated stub-- shaft 43a be rotated about the stub-shaft as an axis, to even a small degree, the sleeve 30 will prohibit the inward movement of the operating handle 4I and will prevent any binding of parts between the operating mechanism I1 and the locking device I8.

A flange 19, shown in Fig. 11, may be associated with the transmission housing I5 as a further modication for preventing the inward movement of 'the operating handle 4I, except when such handle is in a vertical position. The flange 10 may be cast integral with the housing I5 or may be a separate piece rigidly attached thereto. The flange will extend outwardly in such a manner that the upper inner surface of the handle 4I will contact the flange with a slight inward movement of such handle. The handle 4I will then be prevented from any further inward movement, and, therefore, when in such a position, will not be capable of operating the locking device I8.

A notch 1I may be located within the flange 19 at a lower central position to permit the handle 4I to be moved inwardly, when such handle is in a substantially vertical position. The notch 1I should be slightly larger than the width of handle 4I to permit easy access of such handle therein. By so limiting the width of the notch 1I, the handle 4I will be prohibited from any inward movement except when it is directly in line with such notch, or in substantially a Vertical position.

It is, therefore, obvious that the flange 10 with notch 1I will prevent the operation of the locking device I8 except when the operating handle 4I is in a vertical position, and, accordingly prevent the operation of the locking device I8 except when the power shaft I9 is disconnected from wringer rolls I3 and I4.

In operating a wringer embodying, my invention, in whichrthe wringer is controlled by means of a single operating lever 4l, as hereinabove dethis change, the Wringer remainsV locked in its Y set position due to the cooperation of Vthe locking pin 5l and the locking plate 25. VIf the operator should wish to swing the wringer from one position to another, it becomes necessary to move the operating lever d! to a vertical position, where, as hereinabove described, ,the wringer Il may be disconnected from the power shaft I9.

With the operating lever di in the vertical position, it is merely necessary to push such lever inwardly, whereupon the locking pin 5l will become disengaged from the looking plate 25, in a manner hereinabove described, permitting the wringer to be swung about the power shaft I9 as an axis. When the wringer has been Yswung into the desired position, the operator merely withdraws the pressure from the operating lever 4l, permitting the resilient spring 53 to bias the locking pin 5l downwardly. Should the wringer be slightly away'from a predetermined adjustable position, the locking pin 5i will rest upon the locking plate 25. vThewringer may then be moved slightly until the snoutV 5l of locking pin 5l becomes engaged Within the aperture 23. It

is to be understood that the operatingV lever il can be moved from the verticalposition only when the locking pin 5Iv is operatively engaged with the locking plate 25, as hereinabove described. With Vthe wringer located'in its newly adjusted position, the operator may then rotate the operating handle ii in whichever direction desired about the stub shaft 133 as an axis to engage the wringer rolls with the power shaft.

It is, therefore, obvious that the Yoperating mechanism embodying my invention may selectively operate either the transmission or the locking device and will permit the transmission to be in a neutral position without'unlocking the wringer. However, it is to be understood that the locking device can be operated only when Vthe transmission is in a neutral position, or, in other words, when the operating handle is in a vertical position.

Various modications may be madeV in the device embodying my invention withoutdeparting fromV the spirit and scope thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereon as are imposed by the prior art and by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. A wringer adapted for adjustment to vdii4 ferent working positions, a roll-driving and reversing mechanism including a clutch, locking means for holding said wringer in its adjusted positions, a rotatably mounted hollow stub-shaft having means thereon for operating the clutch, an operating member comprising a handle and a finger swingably mounted in a substantially vertical plane within the hollow stub-shaft, means comprising the finger for actuating the locking means when the handle is biased inwardly and for rotating the stub-shaft as the handle is rotatively biased, and means for preventing the actuation oi the locking means except when the clutch is in a neutral position.

2. In a wringer adapted for adjustment to different Working positions, a roll-driving and reversing mechanism including a clutch, locking means including a yoke member and a locking pin for holding said wringer in its adjusted position, a rotatably mounted stub-shaft having means thereon for Voperating the clutch, an operating member` swingably ,mounted within the stubshaft, said yoke member operatively associated with the stub-shaft and the operating member, and means comprising the operating member for selectively actuating either the clutch or the locking means.

3. In a Wringer adapted for adjustment to different working positions, a roll-driving and reversing mechanism including a clutch, locking means including a yoke member and a locking pin for. holding said wringer in its adjusted position, a rotatably mounted stub-shaft having means thereon for operating the clutch when said stub-shaft is rotated, an operating member comprising a handle and a finger swingably mounted within the stub-shaft, said yoke member operatively associated with the stub-shaft and the finger, means comprising the finger for actuating the locking device when the handle is biased inwardly and for rotating the stub-shaft as the handle is rotatively biased, and means comprising the yoke for preventing the actuation of the locking means except 'when the clutch is in a neutral position. Y

4. In combination, a wringer mounted for adjustment in different working positions, a rolldriving and reversing mechanism including a clutch, means for operating said clutch, locking means comprising a yoke member operatively associated with saidY clutch operating means and a locking member for holding the wringer in one of its adjusted positions, and interlocking means including said yoke for actuating the locking member when said clutch is in a neutral position.

5. InVV combination, a wringer mounted for adjustment in different Working positions, a rolldriving and reversing mechanism Vincluding a clutch, a stub-shaft having means thereon for operating the clutch, locking means comprising a yoke member operatively associated with said stub-shaft and a locking member for holding the wringer inrone of vits adjusted positions, an operating member operatively associated With the stub-shaft and the yoke'member for selectively actuating either the clutch or thelocking member, and interlocking means including said yoke member for preventing the actuation of the locking Ymember-except when the Yclutch is in a neutral position. Y

6. Ina wringer adapted for adjustment to different working positions, a roll-driving and reversing mechanism including aV clutch, a locking member for holding said wringer in its adjusted position, a hollow stub-shaft havingmeans thereon for operating the clutch,.a bell-crank lever comprising an operating handle and a nger, said finger being operatively associated with said stubshaft within the hollow thereof and with the locking member, and means comprising said operating handle for selectively actuating eitherV the clutch or the locking member. v

7. In a wringer adapted for adjustment to different working positions, a roll-driving and reversing mechanism including a clutch, a locking device comprising a yoke memberand a locking pin for holding said Wringer inits adjusted position, a slotted stub-shaft having means thereon for operating the clutch, a bell-crank member Y comprising an operating handle and a finger, said member, and means comprising said operating handle for selectively actuating either the clutch or the locking device.

8. In a Wringer adapted for adjustment to different Working positions, a roll-driving and reversing mechanism including a clutch, a locking device comprising a yoke member and a locking pin for holding said wringer in its adjusted position, a stub-shaft having a slot and having means thereon for operating the clutch, a bellcrank member comprising an operating handle and a finger, said finger being operatively associated With said slot and with the yoke member, means comprising said operating handle for selectively actuating either the clutch or the locking device, and means comprising the yoke member for preventing the actuation of the locking means except when the clutch is in a neutral position. l

9. In combination, a structure mounted for adjustrnent in different Working positions around a substantially vertical axis, a reversing mechanism including a clutch operable along said axis, means for operating said clutch, locking means operatively associatedwith said clutch-operating means 'and comprising a locking member for holding said structure in one of its adjusted positions, manually operable means rotatable around a substantially horizontal axis for actuating said clutch from a neutral to a Working position, said manually operable means being rotatable around a second substantially horizontal axis for actuating said locking member when said clutch is in a neutral position.

l0. In combination, a structure mounted for adjustment in diierent working positions around a substantially vertical axis, a reversing mechanism including a clutch operable along said axis, means for operating said clutch, locking means operatively associated with said clutch-operating means and comprising' a locking member for holding said structure in one of its adjusted posii tions, manually operable means rotatable around a substantially horizontal axis for actuating said clutch from a neutral to a Working position, said manually operable means being rotatable around a second substantially horizontal axis at substantially right angles to the first-named horizontal axis for actuating said locking member when said clutch is in a vertical position.

1l. In combination, a structure mounted for adjustment in different working positions around a substantially vertical axis, a reversing mechanism including a clutch operable along said axis, means for operating said clutch, locking means operatively associated with said clutch-operating means and comprising a locking member for holding said structure in one of its adjusted positions, an operatingdevice pivoted at substantially right angles to said axis and adapted When moved in one direction around the pivot to correspondingly move said locking member when said clutch is in a neutral position; said operating device When moved in another direction actuating said clutch from a neutral tov a working position. e

12. In combination, a structure mounted for adjustment in different working positions around a substantially vertical axis, a reversing mechanism including a clutch operable along said axis, means for operating said clutch, locking means operatively associated with said clutch-operating means and comprising a locking member for holding said structure in one of its adjusted positions, an operating device pivoted at substantially right angles to said axis and adapted when moved in one direction around the pivot to correspondingly move said locking member when said clutch is in a neutral position; said operating device when moved` about an axis at substantially right angles to the first-named axis and also to said pivot actuating said clutch from a neutral to a Working position.

FLOYD S. WHEELER.

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