US2255505A

US2255505A - Washing machine

Info

Publication number: US2255505A
Application number: US291599A
Authority: US
Inventors: George W Dunham
Original assignee: General Electric Co
Current assignee: General Electric Co
Priority date: 1937-11-11
Filing date: 1939-08-23
Publication date: 1941-09-09
Anticipated expiration: 1958-09-09

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet l f4 JJ 44 FIM 4f Sept. 9, 1941.

.Sept 9, 1941. G. w. DUNHAM 2,255,505

WASHING MACHINE v Original Filed Nov. 11, 1957 2 Shees-Sheerl 2 fr x:

Inventor: 680132@ w. Dunham,

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Patented Sept. 9, 1941 General Electric Co New York Original application November 11, 1937, Serial No. 173,987. Divided and this application August 23, v1939, Sem! N0. 291,599

(ci. sa-ss) Clalms.

The object of my invention is to provide' an k improved construction and arrangement in washing machines and for a consideration of what I which formthe intermediatemember of the universal joint. The lower end of the shaft Ill is believe to be novel and my invention, attention is directed to the following description and the claims appended thereto.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of -a washing machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the driving connections for the agitator and the rotatable receptacle as shown in Fig. 1; Fig. l3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2 showing the clutch between the shaft and the receptacle in the disengaged position; Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the clutch i in the engaged position; Fig. 5'is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1; 6 is a sectional elevation of the driving mechanism for the washing machine; Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 3 8 of Fig. 6 and Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the operation of the agitator.

provided with diametrically opposed pins I6 which rare spaced between the pins,i2 and are likewise journaled in bearings .carried between the plates I5 of the universal joint. .With this construction, the vertical shaft I0 may have a gyratory movement with respect to the driving shaft 8. The sleeve li extends above the normal water level in the stationary tub I. The upper end of the sleeve is provided with a spherical seat for a self-lubricating sleeve bearing I1 which guides the vertical shaft I9. This spherical seat comprises a flared portion I3 of the sleeve and a ring Ita fixedtherein. This-spherical seat permits alinement of the bearing I1 with the shaft III so that the bearing pressure is uniform regardless -of the inclination of the shaft.

,a hollow post 20 which .extends through central openings in the top' wall of the base and the bot- Referring to the drawings, the washing machine comprises a stationary tub I ywhich is supported on a base 2. The upper end of the tub is partially closed by an annular cover 3 having a ange 4 which fits within the upper edge of the tub. Between the ange l and the tub is a suitable gasket 5. `A cover 6 rests on the inner edge ofjt'he annular cover 3 and completes the closing of the top of the stationary tub. When clothes are to be inserted or removed from the washing machine, only the cover 5 need be removed. The cover 3 is removed when the inside of the stationary tub is to be cleaned. The base 2 is provided with a skirt 1 which extendsabove the bottom of the stationary tub and covers the abutting edges of the tub and the base.

W thin the base 2 is supported a driving mechani hereinafter described, for the washing tom wall of., the stationary tub., The post 20 is 'secured to thebottom wall kof the tub and to the base by means of screws 2| which are threaded through a clamping ring 22 into a iiange 23 which is integral with the post 20. Suitable gaskets are arranged between .the ange 23 and the base and between the base and the bottom wall of the tub. Leakage from the bottom of the tub is prevented by means of a rubber sleeve 24 which has its lower edge-clampedbetween the ring 22 and the bottom of the tub and which has its upper edge clamped to the sleeve II above the post 20 by means of a clamp 25. YWithin the post 20 is a resilient mounting for the lower .end of the sleeve II which comprises two annuluses 26 of rubber or other resilient material. The lower annulus is arranged between an inwardly extending flange 21 at the lower end of the post and a flange 28 projecting from a sleeve 29 secured to the sleeve II.` 'I'he upper annulus is arranged between the upper side of the flange 28 and a machine which drives a vertical shaft 8. Keyed vwasher 30. The inner edge of the upper annulus 26 rests against a sleeve 3| which is xed to the sleeve il. The sleeve 3i is of the same dimensions as the sleeve 29 and is used so that the annuluses 26 may be of the same size. The resilience of the mounting is Aadjusted by means of anut 32 which is threaded into the upper end of the post 20. This nut varies the compression of the rubber and thereby varies the stiiness of the mounting. With this mounting, the sleeve I I is resiliently held ina central position and is free to tilt in all directions in order'that the shaft I3 which is guided in the sleeve may have a gyratory movement.

In the upper part of the stationary tub is a rotatable tub or receptacle 33 for receiving liquid and material to be washed. The space between the bottom of the receptacle 33 and the bottom of the stationary tub I is sufficient to provide a storage space for all the liquid which .can be placed in the receptacle. At the center of the receptacle is a vertical sleeve 34 which serves as the hub for the receptacle. The upper end of the sleeve 34 projects above the water level in the receptacle. The lower end of the sleeve 34 fits into an opening in the bottom wall of the receptacle and an opening in a stiifening disk 36, both of which are held in position between a shoulder and a spun-over portion, as shown at 36. The lower end of the sleeve 34 is provided with a circular flange 31 which extends over the upper side of the bottom wall of the receptacle. The flange 31 and the stiffening disk 36 are secured to the bottom wall of the receptacle by means of rivets 33. The lower end of the sleeve 34 is guided by a self-lubricating bearing 33 which is fixed to the vertical shaft III. The upper end of the sleeve 34 is guided on the shaft I3 by a self-lubricating sleeve bearing 43 which is pressed within the upper end of the sleeve against an inwardly extending flange 4| (see Fig. 2) formed thereon. The lower end of the sleeve bearing 43 bears on a hardened steel thrust collar 42 which is keyed to the shaft I3. The thrust collar is supported on the shaft by means of a shoulder 43 on the shaft. The weight of the receptacle and the material contained therein is transmitted to the thrust collar 42 by the bearing 43 and through the shoulder 43 to the shaft III. From the shaft i3 the weight is transmitted through the universal joint to the shaft 3. f

The shaft I projects above the sleeve 46 and the projecting end is provided with splines 44 into which fit complementary teeth formed in a bushing 45 which is fixed in the upper end of a sleeve 46. 'I'he sleeve depends around the hub 34 of the receptacle and has a bearing 41 in its lower end which bears on the hub. At the lower end of the sleeve 46 is a disk 46 having a hub 43 fixed to the sleeve 46. Eccentrically located in the upper surface of the disk is a circular depression having vretical walls 50 and bottom walls l inclined upward and merging into the hub 43. From the upper end of the vertical walls 66 the upper surface 62a of the disk flares downward and outward toward the bottom of the receptacle terminating in an inwardly rolled edge 62 adjacent the inner surface of a vertical flange 53 of a ring 54 secured to the bottom walls of the receptacle. Projecting from the sleeve 46 are upper and lower arms 55 and 66 in which are fixed bearings 61 and 63 in which a pin 63 is rotatably carried. The upper end of the pin 53 is fixed in a boss 63 on a plate 6I secured to the top wall of a cylindrical agitator 62. The arms 66 and 56 and the pin 53 journaled therein constitute an eccentric means supporting the agitator. The lower edge of the boss 60 bears on a chamfered. seat 63 formed in a thrust bearing 64 fixed to the upper side of the arm 66.. The chamfered seat 63 serves las a guide opening which facilitates the insertion of the pin 53 into the bearing' 61. The side walls of the agitator are corrugated to form vertical ribs 65. The lower end of the agitator is cylindrical and projects within the circular depression formed in the top oi' the disk 4I. The lower end of the agitator terminates in an inwardly rolled edge 66. Upon rotation of the shaft i3 the disk 46 and the arms 66 and 66 are rotated. This causes the agitator 62 to have an orbital movement in the receptacle, squeezing the clothes between the agitator and the side walls of the receptacle. Since the agitator is freely rotatable in the bearings 61 and 63 it is held relatively stationary by the resistance offered by the clothes. 'I'he agitator may have some slight rotating movement due to variations in the resistance offered by the clothes. Since the disk is rotating relative to the agitator there is no tendency for clothes to move beneath the lower end of the agitator. Clothes which are accidentally moved into the space between the agitator and the vertical walls 56 on the disk move outward as the disk revolves. The downwardly flaring upper surface 52a of the disk also tends to move the clothes outward along the bottom wall of the receptacle. This outward movement tends to force the clothes upward along the side walls of the receptacle inducing a circulation of clothes diagrammatically shown by the arrows 61. From one aspect the disk 43 with the recess formed by the walls 50 constitutes a guard ring surrounding the lower end of the agitator. The flange 63 cooperates with the edge 62 of the disk to prevent the movement of the clothes underneath the disk.

While the agitator is being operatedfor washing, there is some tendency for the receptacle 33 to be rotated in the same direction as the shaft I0. In the construction illustrated, this direction of rotation is counterclockwise viewed from the top of Fig. 1. If this rotation of the receptacle were permitted there would be less relative movement of the agitator in the receptacle and the washing action would therefore be less. This counterclockwise rotation of the receptacle 33 is prevented by an over-running clutch arranged between a cylindrical flange 66 depending from the sleeve 34 and a collar 63 threaded into the upper end of the sleeve Il and loosely surrounding the shaft Ill. There is suilicient clearance between the collar and the shaft so that the shaft and collar do not come in contact in any position of the shaft. In the side walls of the collar 63 are notches 16 (Fig.'5) in which are carried rolls 1|. Vertical movement of the rolls in the notches is prevented by a washer 13a at the top and by bottom walls 10b of the notches. The sides of the notches 16 are inclined s0 that when the receptacle 33 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction as viewed from the top in Fig. l (a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 5) the rolls 1I are jammed between the inclined surfaces of the notches 13 and the inner walls of the flange 66, holding the receptacle against rotation. When the receptacle is rotated, in the reverse direction. the rolls occupy the position shown in Fig. 5, and offer no resistance to the rotation of the receptacle.

The side walls of the receptacle are provided with ribs 12 which tend to prevent rotational movement of the clothes around the receptacle during washing. The ribs also key the clothes and liquid to the side walls of the receptacle at the start of extracting. The clothes are prevented from falling over the upper edge of the receptacle by means of an annular guard ring 13 which is located slightly below the lower edge of the receptacle. During washing, water may be continuously discharged into the top of the receptacle. The excess water will flow through On-the hub 95 is cu t a pinion 91 established. When the gear The top and side walls of th'e gear casing are formed from a casting. the lower end of which is closed by a plate 18. Extending across the side walls of the casting is a strut 19 in which is flxed a sleeve bearing 80 guiding the lower end of the shaft`8. In the upper side of the strut 19 is a seat 8| in which is arrangeda ball thrust bearing 82. A shoulder83 on the shaft 8 transmits the thrust from the shaft through the ball bearing 82 to the strut 19. 'I'he ball bearing therefor carries the weight of the receptacle 33 and contents, th'e weight being transmitted through the universal joint between the shafts 8 and I0. The

bearings

80 and 82 are located within the gear casing and are therefore easily lubricated.

In the top wall of the gear casing is a boss 84 in which is fixed a sleeve bearing 85. Journaled in the bearing 85 is a sleeve 86 the upper end of which projects outside the gear casing and has keyed thereto a pulley 81 which is driven through a V-belt 88 by a reversible` electric motor 89. The motor is suitably supported, in a manner not shown, from the base 2. Integral with the lower end of the sleeve 88 is a pinion 90 which meshes with a gear 9| rotatably carried on a shaft 92 fixed in a boss 93 integral with the top wall of the gear casing. The gear 9| is supported on the shaft 92 by a thrust washer 94 bearing against the lower end of the hub 95 of the gear. The thrust washeris held in place 'by a snap ring 96.

with a gear 98 rotatably surrounding sleeves 99 and fixed to the shaft 8. Projecting from the lower side of the gear 98 is a hub |0| which bears on the ball thrust bearing 82.v

Between the gear 98 and the shaft 8 is an overrunning clutch (Fig. 8) which comprises rolls |02 confined between the adjacent ends of sleeves 99 and shaft 8. When the gear 98 is rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 8, the rolls are in the position shown and there is no connection between the gear and the shaft. This may be termed the free" position of the clutch, i. e. the position in which no driving connection is 98 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 8, the rolls are wedged between the inner surface of the hub |0| and the inclined surfaces of the notches |03, establishing a driving connection between the gear and a driving connection between the gear and the shaft. In this condition, thev clutch is in its engaged or driving position.

Between the sleeve 86 and the shaft 8 is an over-running clutch which comprises rolls |04 confined between sleeves |05 andl |06 fixed to the shaft 8 and arranged in notches |01 in the shaft. When the sleeve 8B is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 7, the rolls are in the position shown, this being the free" position in which no driving connection is established between the sleeve and the shaft. When the sleeve 88 is rotated in a clockwise direction the rolls |04 are wedged between the inner surfaces of the sleeve 88 and the inclined surfaces of the which meshes notches |01 establishing a driving connection to the shaft.

When the motor 89 rotates in the direction to vrotate the pulley 81 in a counterclockwise direc tion, as viewed from the top of Fig. 6, the overrunning clutch between the sleeve 88 and the shaft 8 is in the free position, i. e., the position in which no driving connection is established between the sleeve and the shaft. while the overrunning clutch between the gear`98 and the shaft 8 is in the engaged or driving position establishing a driving connection to the shaft. Under these circumstances the shaft 8 is rotated at a relatively slow speed in a counterclockwise direction through the reduction gearing which comprises the pinion 90, the gear 9|, the pinion 91,

and the gear 98. This causes the sleeve 45 to be rotated giving the agitatorf 62 an orbital movement in the receptacle which enects the washing action. The over-running clutch between the flange 68 of the receptacle and the collar 69 fixed to the sleeve (Fig. 5) holds the receptacle stationary, as explained above.

When the motor is rotated in the direction to cause rotation of the pulley 81 in a clockwise direction,.as viewed from the top of Fig. 6, the over-running clutch betweenl the sleeve 86 and the shaft 8 is in the position to establish adriving connection to the shaft 8 and the shaft is accordingly rotated at the same speed as the pulley. Under this condition the over-running clutch between the gear 98 and the shaft 8- is in the free position so that no'drivng connection is established between -thevgear 98 and the shaft 8. Since no reduction gearing is interposed between the pulley and the shaft 8, the shaft is rotated at a relatively high speed and in a clockwise direction. During this rotation of the shaft, the clutch between the flange 68 and the collar 85 is in its free position.

During the high speed rotation of the shaft 8, a driving connection between vthe shaft I0 and the receptacle 33 is effected by means of a centrifugal clutch which is carried in the thrust collar 42. 'I'his clutch comprises two .shoes |08 which are held against a squared cam"surface |09 on the thrust collar by means of two split rings IIO. During washing, when the shaft |0 is rotated at a relatively slow speed, of the order of a magnitude of 60 revolutlonsper minute, the split rings |I0 are strong enough to hold the shoes |08 against the squared portion |09. During extracting, the shaft l0 is rotated at a speed of the order of 1200 R. P. M. As soon as the speed of rotation of the shaft I0 exceeds a few hundred R. P. M. the clutch shoes |08 move outward under the action of centrifugal force and touch the inner surface of the sleeve 84 which forms the hub of the receptacle 33. As soon as the shoes |08 contact the inner surface of the sleeve 34, rotation of the shoes is retarded and the squared surface |09 of the clutch 42 cooperates with the inner surface of the shoes |08 and wedges the shoes tightly against the inner surface of ,the sleeve 84 to the position shown in Fig. 4. The pressure between the sleeve and the shoes is proportional to :he torque exerted on shaft l0. This effects a positive driving connection between the shaft l0 and the receptacle which causes the receptacle to be rotated. Similarly, when the speed of the shaft is retarded by the brake in stopping, the shoes release and immediately wedge in the opposite direction. During thehlgh speed (clockwise) rotation of the shaft I0, the overrunning clutch between the receptacle and the sleeve Il (Fig. 5) is in the free position, permitting the rotation of the receptacle. g

In the use of the washing machine, the receptacle is nlled with liquid and clothes and the motor is rotated in the direction to cause rotation of the pulley 81 in a'counterclockwise direction, as viewed from the top of Fig. 6. This causes the shaft 8 to be rotated at a relatively slow speed through the reduction gearing which comprises the pinion 90, the gear Si, the pinion 91, and the gear 98, causing the agitator 62 Ato be given an orbital movement in the receptacle squeezing the clothes between the sides of the receptacle. During washing, the over-running clutch between the flange 68 and the collar 69 holds the receptacle stationary. At the conclusion of the washing operation the direction of the rotation of the motor is reversed causing the shaft 8 to be rotated at a relatively high speed through the clutch between the sleeve 86 and the shaft 8. During the high speed rotation the liquid is centrifugally extracted from the clothes in the receptacle. The overrunning clutch between the flange 68 and the collar 68 is in its free position during the high speed rotation of the receptacle, and accordingly, offers no resistance. With this construction, the shift from washing to extracting is obtained by reversing the direction of rotation of the motor.` Since the motor must come to a standstill before reversing its rotation, it is not possible to simultaneously operate both the washing and extracting mechanism and vthere is no need for interlocks or other safety devices to prevent the simultaneous operation of the washing and extracting mechanism.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a washing machine, a tub, a rotatable agitator therein, the lower end being adjacent the bottom of the tub, a guard ring surrounding the lower end of the agitator, and means for rotating the guard ring relative to the tub and to the agitator.

2. In a washing machine, a tub, eccentric means, an agitator rotatably carried thereby, the lower end being adjacent the bottom of the tub, means for rotating the eccentric means whereby the agitator is moved orbitally in the tub, and a guard ring carried by the eccentric means surrounding the lower end o! the agitator.

3. In a washing machine, a tub, a disk adjacent the bottom of the tub, eccentric means, an agitator rotatably carried thereby, the lower end thereof being adjacent the bottom of the tub, means for rotating the disk and the eccentric means whereby the agitator is moved orbitally in the tub, and walls on the disk surrounding the lower end of the agitator for preventing ingress of clothes beneath the lower en'd of the agitator.

4. In a washing machine, a tub, eccentric means having a disk connected thereto and located adjacent the bottom of the tub, an agitator rotatably mounted on the eccentric means, means for rotating the eccentric means whereby the agitator is moved orbitally in the tub, and walls on the disk surrounding the lower end of the agitator.

5. In a washing machine, a tub, a disk adjacent the bottom of the tub, eccentric means connected to the disk, an agitator rotatably carried by the eccentric means, the lower end thereof being adjacent the upper surface of the disk, the upper surface of the disk flaring downwardly and outwardly toward the bottom of the tub from the agitator, walls on the disk surrounding the lower end of the agitator, and means for rotating the eccentric means whereby the agitator is moved orbitally in the tub.

GEORGE W. DUNHAM.