US2309617A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Description

1943 B. A. BENSON 2,309,617

WASHING MACHINE Original Filed April 14. 1938 1 fl H n I H /I/lIi/IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIA INVENTOR.

Patented Jan. 26, 1943 WASHING MACHINE Bernhart A. Benson, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Chicago Electric Manufacturing Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Original application April 14, 1938, Serial No. 201,947. Divided and this application October 30, 1940, Serial No. 363,449

6 Claims.

The present invention relates to a washing machine and particularly to a device of the class wherein the removal of dirt from the articles to be washed is accomplished through the creatio of a turbulence in the washing fluid.

The present invention more specifically comprehends the provision of a washing machine of the class wherein an agitator is supported within a washing compartment or container and is mounted for oscillation preferably being actuated in a rotary movement from a source of power disposed above the agitator.

The present invention yet further comprehends the provision of a washing machine having a washing compartment with .a generally superposed, removable cover, comprising power means for actuating the agitator.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved frictional engaging means for supporting and sealing the cover with respect to the washing compartment, said engaging means comprising a structure of frictional material, adapted to operatively center the cover, and, accordingly. the drive means with r spect to.the parts driven thereby and to engage the cover and the tub in such a manner as to prevent the relative movement between the tub and cover under the reactive influences of the agitator driving forces. The present invention accomplishes this object by rendering the coverfreely removable at all times.

Numerous other objects and advantages will more fully appear during the course and progress of the following specification.

The present application is a division of my copending application, Serial No. 201,947, filed April 14, 1933, for an improvement in a Washing machine, now matured intoPatent No. 2,224,806.

Referring to th drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a washing machine constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation taken central- 1y through the/washing machine of Figure 1, on the line 2-2 thereof;

.Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view in in which the articles to be washed are immersed.

I0 comprises a cylindrical, upstanding wall l2, open at the upper end, closed at the lower end by the transverse bottom wall l4. It should be noted that the upper edgeof the wall I2 is turned over to form an annular, rounded bead l6, providing a supporting foundation for the annular friction sea] H! which supports and retains the removable cover assembly 20 against movement relative to the tub l0. g

The agitator 22 of the washing machine is mounted and positioned for rotation upon a pivot pin or pintle 24, which is rigidly secured centr'ally of the bottom wall l4 ofthe tub or vessel I0 by means of the nut 26. v The pivot pin 24 further comprises a radially extending shoulder or flange 28 for taking the thrust resulting from the weight of the agitator and for spacing the agitator from the bottom wall of the vessel sufliciently to permit rotation. The agitator may comprise three agitating blades 30, secured to a central column 3|. The column is provided at its lower end with a downwardly opening, axially extending bearing 32, providing a recess adapted to receive the pivot or pintle 24. In other words, the fixed pin 24 is in effect journaled within the recess 32, the inner wall of which provides the bearing surface. v It will be noted that the journal provided by the pivot 24 and the recess 32 is within the normal washing zone, and for this reason it is not desirable to lubricate the removable parts thereof in the usual manner. Since the agitator 22 may be operating under a relatively heavy load, it is important to reduce the friction at this point and to this end there is provided an aperture 34 in the side of the column 3|. The apertureestablishes connection sectional elevation for better illustrating the tub and cover sealing construction; and

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, but showing a modified form of tub andcover sealing construction.

The device shown for the purpose ofillustrating the present invention, comprises a suitable vessel, tub or container forming a washing compartment for enclosing a body of washing fluid between the recess 32 and the washing zone exteriorly of the column. As a result, the soapy fluid normally employed in the washing operation passes freely through the aperture 34 as indicated by the arrow in Figure 2, and may, due to the influence of normal turbulence, circulate about the pintle 24, as well as the upper bearing surfaces of the flange 28, in order to reduce the friction. The upper end of the column 3| of the agitator has pinned thereto as at 36 the sleeve or bushing 38, engageable with a hexagonal stub drive shaft 40 of the drive mechanism, to be hereinafter described more in detail.

The cover 20 of the washing vessel I 0 has a convex-concave central portion with the convex surface facing upward. The central portion of the cover extends gradually downwardly to a lowermost flat, horizontal annular portion 42, which merges into an upwardly extending, inclined, an-

nular flange 44, the flange 44 terminating in the horizontal, outwardly projecting flange 46. The seal I8 is composed of a resilient, frictional material and has a U-shaped, annular portion 48, which engages and fits about the flange 46, as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3. The lower branch of the U-shaped, annular portion 48 merges into the downwardly inclined, annular portion or section 50, which fits about and resides against the lower surface of the inclined annular portion or flange 44. The downwardly inclined, annular section or wall 50 of the resilient sealing member has projecting therefrom a pair of outwardly extending, spaced annular ribs, flanges or lips 52. The ribs, flanges or lips 52 have an annular periphery of greater diameter than the inner wall or surface of the tub l and therefore, when the cover is brought into operative position with respect to the tub ID the lips serve to center the cover with respect to the tub. This feature is of considerable importance in connection with devices of the present class because it permits greater manufacturing tolerances between the cover and tub and hence permits the tubs and covers to be manufactured much more expeditiously than prior devices of this type in which the permissible tolerances between the cover and the tub were necessarily small. In spite of relatively large variations in the relative size of the parts, the annular, outwardly extending, resilient ribs, flanges or lips will flex sufficiently to adjust themselves to the space between the cover and the inner wall surface of the tub. It is moreover important to note that since these lips 52 extend completely about the periphery of the cover and the inner wall of the tub, they can compress resiliently against the inner wall of the container at all points, so that when the cover is placed on the tub these lips center the cover with respect to the container with considerable accuracy and prevent the escape of washing fluid from between the cover and the tub, even though the dimensional tolerances between the annular flange 44 of the cover and the inner wall surface of the tub may be relatively great. The resilient, frictional engagement of the lips 52 with the inner wall surface of the tub, and the frictional engagement of the lower branch of the U-shaped portion 48 with the bead l6 restrain the cover against rotation relative to the tub due to the reactive forces generated by the oscillation of the agitator in the body of washing fluid in the tub.

The cover 20 is provided with a pair of steam or vapor vents comprising apertures 54, in which are loosely mounted valve or closure members 56 (Figure 2). Each closure member comprises a central body portion of a smaller diameter than the diameter of the associated aperture 54, and a head portion of greater diameter than the associated aperture, so as to cover the aperture as shown in Figure 2. The head portion of the closure member therefore extends for a relatively great distance beyond the edge of the aperture, so as to cause the steam or vapor to be directed along the outer surface of the cover. In other words, as opposed to liberating steam vapors directly outwardly of the cover and possibly toward the operator, the enlarged head portions of the valve members direct the escaping vapors in a direction radially of the cover, thereby to expend the force of the steam harmlessly against the cover.

The driving unit for. the washing machine is indicated generally by the reference numeral 58 and comprises an electric motor 60, arranged within a housing 62, the drive shaft of the motor being alined in generally vertical relationship above the central column 3| of the agitator when the cover is in normal, operative, centralized relationship with the tub. The housing 62 is cylindrical and enclosed at its upper end as at 64, the lower end being open and provided with an outwardly projecting flange 66, bolted to the central portion of the cover about a central opening in the cover.

The housing 62 also encloses a transmission unit 68 which is secured to the central portion of the cover as by screws III. This transmission unit 68 may be the same as that disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 175,450, filed No vember 19, 1937 now matured into Patent No. 2,203,664, and its specific structure forms no part of the present invention. The purpose of this transmission unit 68 is to convert the radial movement of the shaft I6 into an oscillating movement suitable for driving the agitator, preferably in a short, reversing, arcuate motion. The hexagonal stub shaft hereinbefore described delivers the power transmitted through the transmission unit directly to the agitator by interlocking with the hexagonal recess in the bushing 38.

The upper end of the motor shaft is provided with a fan 12, which supplies a draft of air to the motor through a plurality of slits or louvres 14 (Figure l) in the top wall 64 of the housing 62.

In use the agitator is driven through the agency of power originating in the motor 60 and transmitted through the transmission unit 68 to the stub shaft 40. The cover, and the driving I mechanism therewith, can be removed at any time by merely lifting the assembly as a unit so that the stub shaft 40 is retracted from the recess in the sleeve 38. Thereupon the agitator may be freely lifted from the pivot or pintle 24 to complete disassembly of the apparatus for storage or cleaning. For operation the parts may be assembled in reverse order, with a body v of soapy liquid and the articles to be washed arranged within the compartment formed by the vessel It. Electrical power is supplied to the motor through the agency of the electrical conduit 15 until the turbulence produced by the agitator has sufficiently carried out the washing process.

In a modified form of cover sealing structure, shown in Figure 4, an annular strip 18 of highly resilient material, such as sponge rubber, is mounted as by vulcanizing upon the downwardly inclined wall portion or section of the friction sealing member i8. Accordingly, when the cover 20 is placed on the washing container or the tub, as hereinbefore mentioned, the highly resilient sponge rubber annular strip 18 flexes upwardly and is compressed against the inner surface of the container to seal the opening between the cover and the container and center the cover with respect to the container, so that the drive mechanism, including the stub shaft 40, will be properly centralized for engagement with the recess of the sleeve 38 of the agitator.

It will be understood'that the sealing member l8 may be formed of rubber or any other suitable resilient frictional material.

The present invention provides a highly simplified washing machine, capable of being produced at low cost, and in which frictional engaging means support and seal the cover with respect to the washing compartment, so that the loss of washing fluid is prevented, the cover sealed against movement due to the reactive influences of the agitator drive forces, and com- 1. An appliance of the class described com-' prising a washing vessel having an aperture defined by an upper rim of a vertically extending wall, a cover for sealing said aperture comprising outstanding flange portions adapted to rest upon a rim of the aperture and a downwardly extending flange disposed inwardly, of said first named flange adapted to reside in spaced relation to the wall of said vessel just below said rim, resilient frictional means mounted on said cover and embracing said first named flange,

said resilient frictional means having a section extending downwardly and contacting the surface of said downwardly extending flange, said downwardly extending section being provided with an outwardly extending peripheral projection of flexible material disposed in spaced relation below said flange embracing portion constructed and arranged to flex and yield radially inwardly and having its outer margin extending outwardly a sufficient distance to engage the inner wall of the vessel foryieldably centering the. cover and frictionally resisting relative rotation.

2. An appliance of the class described comprising a washing vessel having an aperture defined by an upper rim of a vertically extending wall, a cover for sealing said aperture comprising outstanding flange portions adapted to rest 'upon a rim of the aperture and a downwardly extending flange disposed inwardly of said first named flange adapted to reside in spaced relation to the wall of said vessel just below said rim, resilient frictional means mounted on said cover and embracing said first named flange, said resilient frictional means having a section extending downwardly and contacting the surface of said downwardly extending flange, said downwardly extending section being provided with an outwardly extending peripheral flange-like projection of flexible material disposed in spaced relation below said flange embracing portion constructed and arranged to flex and yield radially inwardly and having its outer margin extending outwardly a sufficient distance to engage the inner wall of the vessel for yieldably centering the cover and frictionally resisting relative rotation.

3. An appliance of the class described comprising a washing vessel having an aperture defined by an upper rim of a vertically extending wall, a cover for sealing said aperture comprising outstanding flange portions adapted to rest upon a rim of the aperture and a downwardly extending flange disposed inwardly of said first named flange adapted to reside in spaced relation to the wall of said vessel just below said rim, resilient frictional means mounted on said cover and embracing said first named flange, said resilient frictional means having a section extending downwardly and contacting the surface of said downwardly extending flange, said downwardly extending section being provided with a plurality of vertically spaced outwardly extending peripheral flange-like projections of flexible material disposed in spaced relation below said flange embracing portion construc-ted and arranged to flex and yield radially inwardly and having their outer i margins projecting outwardly a sufficient distance to engage the inner wall of the vessel for yieldably centering the cover and frictionally 'resisting relative rotation,

4, An appliance of the class described comprising a washing vessel having an aperture defined by an annular upper rim of a vertically extending wall, a cover for sealing said aperture comprising outstanding annular flange portions adapted'to rest upon the rim of the aperture and a downwardly extending annular flange disposed inwardly of said first named flange and adapted to reside in spaced relation to the wall of the vessel just below the rim, resilient frictional means mounted on said cover and embracing said first named flange, said resilient frictional means having an annular section extending downwardly and contacting the surface of said downwardly "extending flange, said downwardly extending sectionbeing provided with outwardly extending peripheral flange-like projection means of flexible material disposed in spaced relation below said flange embracing portion constructed and arranged to flex and yield radially inwardly and having annular outer margin extending outwardly for compr ssive engagement with the wall of said washing vessel for engaging the inner surface of said wall and yieldably centering the cover and frictionally resisting relative rotation.

5. An appliance of the class described comprising a washing vessel having an aperture defined by an upper rim of a vertically extending wall, a cover for sealing said aperture comprising outstanding flange portions adapted to rest upon a rim of the aperture and a downwardly and inwardly inclined flange disposed inwardly of said first named flange adapted to reside in spaced relation to the wall of said vessel just below said rim, resilient frictional means mounted on said cover and embracing said first named flange, said resilient frictional means having a sec-tion extending downwardly and contactingv the surface of said downwardly extending flange, said downwardly extending section being provided with an outwardly extending peripheral flangelike projection of flexibl material disposed in spaced relation below said flange embracing portion constructed and arranged to flex and yield radially inwardly and having its outer margin extending outwardly a suflicient distance to engage the inner wall of the vessel for yieldably centering the cover and frictionally resisting relative rotation.

6. An appliance of the class described comprising a washing vessel having an aperture defined by an upper rim of a vertically extending wall, a cover for sealing said aperture comprising outstanding flange portions adapted to rest upon a rim of the aperture and a downwardly extending flange disposed inwardly of said first named flange adapted to reside in spaced relation to the wall of said vessel just below said rim, resilient frictional means mounted on said cover and embracing said first named flange, said resilient frictional means having a section extending downwardly and contacting the surface of said downwardly extending flange, said downwardly extending section being provided with an outwardly xtending peripheral projection of flexible material disposed in spaced relation below said flange embracing portion constructed and arranged to flex and yield radially inwardly and having its outer margin extending outwardly a sutficient distance to engage the inner wall 01 the vessel for yield-

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