US2208249A - Wringer - Google Patents

Description

Jy 16, 1940. N. L. ETTEN 8, 9 l

WRINGER Filed April 26, 1939 2 Shee'ts-Sheet 1 July 16, 1940. N, ET 2,208,249

\ WRINGE;

Filed April 26, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 16, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to wringers for domestic washing machines and particularly to a safety device for stopping rotation of the wringer rolls when roll pressure is released. Such devices have heretofore been provided but in various ways have proven faulty and troublesome in actual service.

In the present invention the applicant has provided a simplified form of roll clutching device for a safety roll stop and one less liable to disarrangement and failure under actual working conditions. In carrying out the invention the applicant has developed a structure wherein misalignment of parts, binding, and like faults are largely avoided and thus a positive long-lived safety roll stop is provided.

The novel features and details of the invention will be disclosed in the following description and drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a broken elevation view showing the wringer rolls under normal roll pressure and the safety roll stop clutch in engagement: and

Fig. 2 is a similar broken elevation view showing the roll pressure released and the roll stop clutch disengaged.

Now referring to the drawings in which I show a preferred embodiment of the invention, I designate the lower frame of the wringer by the numeral ill, and by the numeral i I the upper frame. The assembled wringer structure is mounted on a conventional wringer head i2 driven by a coupling it which connects to a vertical drive shaft from the wringer drive mechanism. The wringer head is controlled in a conventional manner by the control handle it.

An upper roll i5 and a lower roll it are mounted in the wringer frame. The top frame is held on the lower frame by a conventional integral latch i! on its outer end and by an unstable latching device on its inner end. This unstable latch consists of a rounded projection I8 on the top frame held by a latch i 9 hinged to the lower frame as shown. A retaining latch 20 retains the hinged latch i9 and is controlled by a conventional release device (not shown) through the release button 2i. The rolls are held in pressure engagement by a conventional spring means 23 (not shown) having a pressure adjustment screw 22.

The upper roll is joumaled in bearings 24 and 25. The inner end of the lower roll is journaled on a bearing 26 pivotally mounted on a cross rod 21. The purpose of this construction is to provide means whereby any slight misalignment of the bearing coupling 32 will be compensated for by tilting of the bearing 28 on the cross rod 21.

The outer end of the lower roll is iournaled in a bearing 28 mounted in a steel shoe 29 having a curved upper lip 28' abutting the outer end of the lower roll shaft IS. The bearing 28 and its shoe 29 is supported on a cross member 30 having an 5 upturned lip 3| abutting the lower edge of the shoe 29. The purpose of this construction will later be apparent. The inner end of the lower roll it is supported in a journal coupling 32 pinned'to the wringer head drive shaft 33 by a 10 cross pin 34. I provide a loose fit between the shaft 33 and the coupling 32 in order to provide a slight pivotal movement of the coupling 32 and a good contact with the bearing 26. I have found in practice that these slight adjustments are necl8 essary in order to guard against binding in the parts. Similarly, I provide a rather loose fit between the inner end roll shaft and the journal coupling 32. The Journal coupling 32 drives the lower roll i6 through a cross slot 36 normally enm veloping a pin 31 in the lower roll shaft. A compression spring 35 is placed between the ends of the shafts as shown, and is of such length and strength to normally force the lower roll it outwardly, as will later be explained. 5

Now referring to Fig. 2, I show the top frame just after having been released, the operator having touched the release button 2i, which permits the retainer latch 20 to slide endwise, thus releasing the hinged latch l9 and permitting the top 30 frame to move upward. This upward movement of the top frame ii is accomplished in a dual movement wherein the upper frame is tilted upward and then slides outwardly to release the integral latch i1. With roll pressure released 35 the spring 35 now forces the lower roll outwardly, tilting the outer bearing 28 in its shoe 29 pivoting about the vertical lip 3! of the supporting member 30. It will be appreciated that in this movement the entire lower roll and shaft is the sliding member and it is of such length in relation to the bearing coupling 32 that no binding friction will be developed. This is quite a different structure from small, short clutch couplings wherein such binding action is much more liable to occur than 45 in my structure where the entire lower roll shaft is the movable member. Further, it will be appreciated that the upward tilting movement of the bearing 23 has very little binding effect on the clutch proper, and this likewise contributes to the 50 effectiveness of my device.

It will further be appreciated that this outward movement of the lower roll is in the same direction as the movement of the upper frame and upper roll when it is released from roll pres- 55 sure, and, therefore, this movement of the lower roll is accomplished with a minimum of interference from the upper roll.

When the upper frame is again latched on the lower frame and roll pressure restored, it will readily be appreciated that the lower roll, pivoting inward on the tilted bearing 28, will move easily with a minimum of interference to again place the pin 31 in clutching engagement with the slot 36.

In general, I have provided a structure wherein the fewest possible number of parts are employed and the moving element of my clutch is the entire lower roll shaft. This long element is very much less liable to bind than a shorter element and be moved, as it is, by a tilting outer hearing at its opposite end, far removed from the clutching mechanism which is thereby simplified. Thus I have provided a simple, positive and long-lived safety roll stop mechanism.

Having thus described my invention,

I claim:

1. In a wringer, a frame, a pair of cooperative rolls, pressure means for the rolls, roll pressure release means, driving means for the driven roll, clutch means on the driven roll operable by longitudinal movement of the roll, means to move the driven roll to effect disengagement of the clutch when roll pressure is released and to engage the clutch when roll pressure is restored.

2. In a wringer, a frame, a pair of cooperative rolls, pressure means for the rolls, roll pressure release means, driving means for the driven roll, clutch means on the driven roll operable by longitudinal movement 01 the roll, spring means on the inner end of the driven roll shaft to move the roll outward to eflect disengagement of the clutch when roll pressure is released, and a tilting outer bearing on the roll shaft to move the roll inward to eflect clutch engagement when roll pressure is restored.

3. In a wringer, a frame, a pair of cooperative rolls, Pressure means for the rolls, roll pressure release means, driving means for the driven roll, said driving means including a clutch bearing coupling supporting the inner end of the roll, a pivotal bearing supporting said coupling, clutch means on the driven roll operable by longitudinal movement of the roll, means to move the driven roll to eifect disengagement of the clutch when roll pressure is released and to engage the clutch when roll pressure is restored.

4. In a wringer, a frame, a pair of cooperative rolls, pressure means for the rolls, roll pressure release means, driving means for the driven roll, said driving means including a clutch bearing coupling supporting the inner end of the roll, a pivotal bearing supporting said coupling, clutch means on the driven roll operable by longitudinal movement of the roll, spring means on the inner end of the driven roll shaft to move the roll outward to efiect disengagement of the clutch when roll pressure is released, and a tilting outer bearing on the roll shaft to move the roll inward to effect clutch engagement when roll pressure is restored.

' NICHOLAS L. ETTEN.

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