US2317117A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Description

A ril 20, 1943. A. c. SCHMELZER WASHING MACHINE Filed Nov. 29, 1939 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. HNTUN C. SCHMELZER MNBR April 20, 1943. A.v c. SCHMELZER WASHING MACHINE Filed Nov. 29, 1939 9 heets-Sheot 2 0 mg m Nb 8 v INVENTOR flNTU/V C. SOW/[LZER BY AITO P Q 1943- A. c. SCHMELZER 2,317,117

WASHING MACHINE flNTO/V C SCHNELZER April 20, 1943- A. c. SCHMELZER I 2,317,117

WASHING MACHINE flNTON 6- SCHMELZE'R Y ATTO EY.

April 20, 1943. A. c. SCHMELZER WASHING MACHINE Filed Nov. 29,1939:

9 SheetsSheet 5' om mw 5 WM. mm nu p fi 3 m mm MM 3 mN. mm in 1 I: J \|rU E Q M k mm Y mw a 6 4? Q Q. 3 mm v R @w W m mi m J. N Ln INVENTOR. HNTON C- SGHNELZER 5 4 44. ATTO BY.

April 20, 1943. A. c. SCHMELZER WASHING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Nov. 29, l 39 J INVEOR.

mm M n 6 A G N m n A ril 20, 1943. A. c. SCHMELZER WASHING MACHINE Filed Nov. 29, 1939 9 Sheets-Sheet "r Lk-LE 22W Q3 c E x N I v Q MATH) April 20, 1943. A, c; SCHMELZER 2,317,117

WASHING MACHINE Filed Nov. 29, 1959 9 Sheets-Sheet s IHH . INVENTOR.

IY/YTON C. SJHHEL'ZER L I ATTO EY.

April 20, 1943. A, c. SCHMELZER 2,317,117

WASHING MACHINE Filed Nov. 29, 1939 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 R. R 1 Y. mm mi m M a 1. x1ll N A 1 1 E w 3w Wk) 1 W w wmowhw 3N IH A mm 3 x 1 a Q 1 \1 b5 m: Hm N w w Nb m H N. +9 +ww$k +3 m8 X H M 1 1 QH .OWN PNW &\ 1 pwm w Patented Apr. 2( 1943 WASHING momma Anton'C. Schmelzer, Cleveland, Ohio c Application November 29, 1939, Serial No. 306,590

4 Claims.

This invention relates in general to washing machines for domestic use and more particularly to so-called combination washing machines embodying a washing compartment anda drying compartment for centrifugally extracting water from. articles washed in the washing compartment, and has for its principal objects the provision of a compact, economically constructed and highly eflicient washing machine of the type referred to, which machine embodies new,,improved and simplified operating mechanism for effecting washing and drying operations, new, improved and simplified mechanism for starting the operating mechanism for both the washing and drying operations, and new and improved construction of the washing and drying compartments permitting connection of these compartments to .a unitary structure of utmost rigidity and simplicity.

In addition theinvention has other marked improvements and superiorities which radically distinmiish it from presently known combination washing machines. These improvements-or superior characteristics embodying certain novel features of construction and combination of parts and certain new steps in uniting specifically built washing and drying compartments to a unitary structure are clearly set forth in the following specification and the appended claims; and a preferred form of embodiment of the invention is hereinafter shown with reference to the accompanying drawings forming part of the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a combination washing machine according to the invention, the section being taken on line l--l of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the combination washing machine shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view through one end of the combination washing machine, the section being taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view through the middle portion of the combination washing machine, the section being taken on line 4-.4 of Fig. 2.

Figs. 5 through '7 are fragmentary sectional views of the upper portions of the washing and drying compartments and the bracket interconnecting these compartments, thus Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view through the washing compartment,

Fig. 6 a sectional view through the connecting bracket, and I Fig.7 a fragmentary sectional view through the drying compartment.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view through the flanged upper portion of the washing compartment, the section being taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a stiffening bracket for the flanges of the washing and drying compartments.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the connecting bracket for the washing and drying compartments.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view through the gear box structure of the washing machine shown in Fig. 1, the section being taken on line ll.ll of said'Fig. 1.

Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view through the gear box structure of the washing machine, the section being-taken on line I2-i2 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is another. vertical sectional view throughthe gear box structure of the combination washing machine, the section being taken on line 13-43 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 14 is a horizontal sectional view through a somewhat modified and simplified gear box structure for the combination washing machine.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary sectional view partly in elevation showing the adjustable attachment of the modified gear box structure of Fig. 14 to the frame or base member of the combination washing machine.

Fig. 16 is a vertical sectional view through the modified gear box structure shown in Fig. 14, the section being taken on line 16-46 of said Fig. i'l shows'a diagrammatic view of the operating mechanism for the washing compartment and Fig. 18 a similar diagrammatic view of said mechanism in another working position.

Figs. 19 and 20 are sectional views through the clutch mechanism for effecting a slip cou- Fig. 22 is a plan view of a one lever operated mechanism for both the washing machine and dryer mechanism.

Fig. 23 is a front view of the one lever operated controlling mechanism shown in Fig. 22, and

Fig. 24 is a fragmentary side view of the opcrating handle member and its coupling with the on lever operated controlling mechanism shown in Figs. 22 and 23.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, reference numeral 2 denotes a flanged base member supported on legs 3 riveted or otherwise suitably secured to the peripheral flange or wall 4 of said base member. Base member 2 has arranged in its top face 5 circular recesses 6 and. supports in these recesses cylindrically shaped,

flanged tubs 1 and 8, which tubs form the washer and dryer compartments and are rigidly secured to each other and base member 2 in a manner hereinafter to be described.

Washing operations in the washing compartment are effected by means of an oscillatory agitator 9 mounted-for movement about a vertical shaft 8, and drying operations in the drying compartment are effected by means of a coneshaped clothes basket I6 rotatably mounted in said compartment upon a basket drive shaft H' in said compartment and consisting of upper and lower portions l2 and l3 respectively. Portions l2 and '3 are formed with outwardly extending flanges l4 and I6 secured together in slightly spaced relation by means of rivets l6 so as to form arcuate slots l1 between said portions and permit of escape of water from basket l during drying operations. The vertical shaft 6' and the basket drive shaft II are driven by a motor l8 supported below base member 2 and ber, has its lower end 2| joumaled in ball bearings 22 mounted in acup-shaped extension 23 of said gear box, and has its upper portion 24 journaled in ball bearings 25 mounted on a tube 26, which tube is rigidly secured to the gear box I! and the base member 2.

The upper end of the thus rotatably mounted basket drive shaft I l mounts a cone-shaped male adapter 21, rigidly fixed to said shaft, and this adapter co-operates with a cone-shaped female adapter 28 suitably secured to lower portion i3 of basket [0 and adapted to sleeve over and snugly receive male adapter 21. As the skirt portion 29 of adapter 21 is outwardly flared or beveled similarly to the adapter 28,- a tight removable fit between the parts can be had by merely pressing the clothes basket and its adapter 28 down over the upper end of the shaft l I and its adapter 21. The 'lower portion l3 of basket [0 is enclosed within an inner tank or apron 36 which substantially conforms to the configuration of and is spaced from ,the basket. This apron is fluid tightly secured at its lower, inwardly flanged end 3| to the top of the base member 2 and the upper end 32 of the apron terminatw within the downwardly extended flange i of clothes basket l6.

Rotation of the basket causes the water to ride up the outwardly flared sides of the lower half i3 d the bolket and out through the arcuate slots I! and then down into tub 8, downwardly extended flanges I4 and I5 effectively preventing any water from entering the space 33 between the apron and the basket, and in consequence all danger of water reaching the ball bearings 22 and 25 is eliminated. Furthermore, the rotation of basket I6 is not retarded by contact with the water and suds'extracted from the clothes.

Water thrown from basket l6 passes through a drain 34 of tub 8 to and through a two-way valve 35, the inlet 36 of which is coupled with said drain and the outlet 33 of which is coupled with a pump 40 (a propeller pump being shown, however, any other conventional pump, such as a centrifugal pump, may be used), to

said pump and is discharged from the pump through a hose (not shown), all as now generally practiced. Two-way valve 35 has its other inlet 31 coupled with the drain 39 of tub I to permit of proper discharge of water from each of the two compartments in accordance with the position of the valve. A horizontal shaft 4! (see Figs. 14 and 16), carrying at its inner end a bevel gear 42, in turn meshing with a bevel gear on the stem 44 of the valve 88, eflects proper setting of the valve and such shaft may readily be rotated by a handle (not shown).

The described washing and drying apparatus of the combination washing machine is driven by motor I 8 by means of a driving mechanism arranged in flanged gear box I9 so as to efiect actuation of the washing and drying apparatus singly or combined. Thus, motor i8, by means of a'flexible coupling 45, is coupled with one end of a drive shaft 46, which shaft extends its other end through gear box 19 into-a housing 41 of pump 40 and carries a propeller 48 for said pump. Drive shaft 46 is mounted in a bearing 49 and a sleeve member 50, which member is fixedly supported in gear box l9 and carries two bearings 52 and 53 for said shaft 46. In addition, drive shaft 46 mounts a male release clutch member 64 of a release clutch 54' slidably and non-rotatably secured to said shaft and co-opcrating with a female release clutch member 66 forming an integral part of a spiral gear 56 rotatably mounted on sleeve member 56 by means of -bearings 51, 68. A coiled spring 69, compressed between a cup 66 fixed to shaft 46 and the flange 6| of the male release clutch member 64, forces said latter clutch member toward and into engagement with the female release clutch member 55, and thrust washers 62 take up any end thrust on spiral gear' 56. This spiral gear meshes with a spiral gear 64 fixed to one end of an idler shaft 65, which latter shaft is mounted at a right angle to shaft 46 and extends below said shaft. Spiral gear 64 is provided with a hub, shaped to form one claw momber 66 of a claw clutch 61, and the other end of the idler shaft has fixedly secured thereto the one claw member 68 of a second claw clutch 69.

When motor i8 is running, the drive shaft 46 through release clutch 54 and spiral gears 66 and 64 effects continuous rotation of idler shaft 65, which shaft may be selectively coupled with the mechanism for driving shaft 9' for agitator '9 and drive shaft II for double cone-shaped clothes basket Ill. The mechanism for driving shaft 9' includes a worm gearing 10 having a worm 1| axially aligned with idler shaft 65 and mounted in bearings I2, 73 anda worm wheel 14 Journaled upon a stud shaft 15, which shaft in turn is fixedly secured to bottom wall 18 of gear box I8. This worm wheel actuates upon a segmental gear 11 having a roller pin 18 fixedly secured to said gearand engaging with its roller 19 an elongated, inverted channel 80 in an extension 8I of segmental gear 11, thus effecting working engagement between worm wheel 14 and segmental gear 11. The teeth 82 of segmental gear 11, which is pivotally mounted on a stud shaft 83 secured to gear box I9, mesh with the teeth 83 of a gear 85 integrally formed at thejlower portion of shaft 9'. This shaft is pivotally mounted on a stud shaft 84 secured to gear box I9 and guided in a bearing 84' arranged at the top of a tubing 85, which tubing is rigidly secured to the top plate 81 of said gear box. It should be noted that the channeled extension 8I of segmental gear 11 is angularly related to a line interconnecting the pivot points of worm wheel 14 and segmental gear 11 and that movements of segmental gear 11 in opposite directions are unlike, so that shaft 8' moves with two unlike strokes during each revolution of worm wheel 14. 'This will best be understood from inspection of the diagrams shown in Figs. 17 and 18. In these diagrams Fig. 17 indicates at A the size of the angle of rotation of worm wheel 14 necessary to effect one of the two opposite movements of segmental gear 11 and Fig. 18 indicates at B the size of the angle of rotation of worm wheel 14 to effect the other one of the two opposite movements of segmental gear 11. It will be seen, that while segmental gear 11 moves through an angle C, theangle of rotation of worm wheel 14 is much larger in Fig, 11 than the angle of rotation B in Fig. 18, so that worm wheel 14, when rotating at constant speed, effects two difierent movements of segmental gear 11, one being faster than the other. Such movements effect different rotary speed of agitator 8 and materially influence washing operations, as oscillatory movements of different speed and time ratios effect washing action of an agitator and break up'undesirable harmonic oscillations of the washing liquid set in motion by the agitator.

Worm H can readily be coupled with claw clutch member 85 on the hub of spiral gear 84 by means of its extension 88 mounting the outer end of a collar 89 which is shaped to form the second claw member 90 for claw clutch 81. Collar 89 is slidably and non-rotatably engaged with extension 88 and can readily be shifted by means of a fork 9| pivotally mounted at 92.

The mechanism for driving ,basket drive shaft II includes a shaft 93 axially." aligned with idler shaft 85 and mounted in bearings 94 and 85. Shaft 93 carries at its outer end a spiral gear 88 meshing with a spiral gear 91 on basket drive shaft II, and, in addition, carries at its inner end a collar 98, the outer side of which is shaped to form the'second claw member 98 for claw clutch 89. Collar 98 is slidably and non-rotatably engaged with shaft 93 and can readily be shifted for engagement with claw member 68 by means of a fork I pivotally mounted at IOI.

When motor I8 is running, the described driving mechanism for agitator 9 and clothes basket I0 continuously operates pump 40 and permits of selectively oscillating agitator 9 and rotating clothesbasket I0 singly or combined. Shocks caused by coupling operations of claw clutches 81 and 88 or in any other way effect a disengagement of release clutch 54'. so as to avoid means of screws III.

strain on motor I8. The arrangement also permits of low rotary starting speed of clothes basket I0, as the elastic form of coiled spring 59 is chosen to permit release of clutch 54 at any overload. It should be stated that any other type of clutches and release clutch may be used for structures shown, provided that such clutches are released in case of shocks or overload.

The cylindrically shaped tubs 1 and 8 are rigid- ,ly secured to base member 2, all as generally practiced. These tubs, see Figs. 2 to 10, have their top portions bent outwardly to provide skirtings I02, I03 respectively, which partly surround the tubs and are shaped between the tubs to table-like straight edge top portions I04, I05 respectively, provided with downwardly extended, oppositely arranged flanges I06, I01. A T- shaped bracket member I08 having'its web I09 extended between flanges I08, I01 and following at its end IIO the outline of the shape of the skirting covers the gap between top portions I04, I05 and is secured to flanges I06 and I01 by The described arrangement permits of the construction of a unitary combination machine of utmost rigidity and simplicity, unites the tubs in a simple and economic manner and, additionally, provides a most desirable top plate with very small additional cost.

If desirable, as shown: skirtings I02, I03 can be stiffened by small brackets II! which preferably are riveted to the skirtings and, in addition, skirting I03 at the outer end of tub 8 may be laterally extended to form an enlarged table-like top I,I3, preferably ending in a straight edge H4 and covered by an angle bracket or molding II5 secured to the table-like top II3 by means of rivets IIB.

In the modified form of driving mechanism for agitator 9 and clothes basket I0 disclosed in Figs. 14 and 16, motor H1 is arranged in axial alignment with and between a worm shaft H8 and a shaft II9 which carries spiral gear 96 meshing with the spiral gear 91 on basket drive shaft II. Motor H1 is mounted on an elongated U-shaped bracket I20, the two end walls I2I and I22 are secured to individual gear boxes I23, I24 respectively, by means of slots I25. A flexible coupling I28 connects shaft I21 of motor II1 with an extension I28 on worm shaft H8, and this worm shaft drives the driving mechanism for agitator 9. Such driving mechanism is substantially similar to the one described above and is therefore not described. However, in the present case the shaft mounting agitator 9 is split and has arranged between its split shafts I29 and I30 a clutch mechanism for selectively coupling split shaft I30 with split shaft I29. Such clutch mechanism embodies a housing I3I' which is mounted on top of gear box I23 by means of screws I32 and has extended thereinto split shaft I29 formed at its lower end with teeth meshing with segmental gear 11. At its top end split shaft I29 has rigidly attached a slotted female coupling member I33 co-operating with a collar-like male coupling member I34 slidably and non-rotatably mounted on split shaft I30 supporting agitator 9. A yoke member I35, fixedly mounted on a shaft I38, in turn pivotally mounted in ear portions I31 on housing I3I', effects shifting of collar-like male coupling member I34 toward and away'from the female coupling member I33 and thus controls actuation of agitator 9.

The other end of shaft I21 of motor II1 mounts shiftably and non-rotatably connected therewith a release clutch arrangement I38 including the female clutch member I39 of a cone-' consisting of a circular housing I42, a rotor I43 in housing I42 and brake shoes I44 radially arrangedwithin housing I42opposite rotor I43. Brake shoes I44 are forced into frictional engagement with rotor I43 when housing I42 is rotated and mercury within said housing enters by centrifugal force behind these brake shoes. The housing I42 is rigidly attached to a hub I45 which is provided with an enlarged head I46, and head I46 has fixedly secured thereto'a collar I41 pressed uponsaid head. The hub I45 and collar I41 are slidably and ,non-rotatably secured to shaft I21 by means of a key I48 sliding in a keyway I49 of shaft I21. Rotor I43 of clutch MI is formed with a laterally extended hub I50 mounting female clutch member I38 which is rigidly fastened to said hub by means of a pin II Clutch member I39 co-operates with a male cone clutch member I52 pinned to shaft I I9 and this shaft which extends into gear box I24 has secured to its inner end spiral gear 96 meshing with spiral gear 91 on basket drive shaft II. In operation collar I41 effects shifting of release clutch arrangement I38 toward and away from male cone clutch member. I52 and effects throwing in and out of cone clutch I40. When said cone clutch is thrown in, the sudden load on mercury release clutch I4I effects slippage between rotor I43 and housing I42, thus causing slow starting of rotation of the basket and thereafter gradual increase in the rotation of the clothes basket without excessive load on motor II1,

Automatic gradual starting of the rotation of clothes basket I0 is of utmost importance in proper drying operations and avoids overloading of motor II1. Such starting of rotation of basket I0 can be accomplished by any suitable type of clutch, for example by a friction clutch, disc clutch, planimeter drive, etc., the main object of all such release devices being to obtain slowstarting of rotation of basket I0 and thereafter gradual increase of the rotary speed of said basket until the speeds of shaft I I9 and motor shaft I21 are synchronized.

Preferably, as shown, the driving mechanism is connected to flange 4 of base member 2 by means ofribbed spider arms I54, which arms at their inner endsare secured to gear boxes I23, I24 by means of rivets I55 and carry at their outer ends angle plates I56 adjustably secured to said spider arms and fixedly connected to flange 4 by means of screws I51. Rubber pads I58 arranged between angle plates 156 and wall 4 of base member 2 serve as sound deadening means to eliminate excessive vibration of base member 2. The driving mechanism for agitator 9 and clothes basket I0 is actuated by a single lever operating mechanism, see Figs. 22 and 23. Such operating mechanism is mounted on a plate I59 secured to two of the spider arms I54 by means of bolts I60. The single lever operating mechanism consists of two oppositely arranged symmetrically constructed actuating devices I6I, I6I', each of which includes a bracket member I62 secured to plate I59 by means of screws I63. Bracket ratchet wheel I89 pivotally supported upon a shaft I10 and a substantially inverted T-shaped ratchet lever I1I also pivotally supported upon said shaft I10. The one horizontal arm I12 of said T-shaped ratchet lever carries a spring pressed atchet pin I13, the other horizontal arm I14 of lever I1I is yieldingly coupled with bracket I62 by means of a spring I15 and cooperates with a stop post I16 to avoid undesired rangement I68, so as to effect simultaneous rotation of the ratchet wheelI 69 and cam I19 when ratchet lever "I is actuated by operating lever I18. Cam I19 which is slightly larger than ratchet wheel I69 has its peripheral surface pro,- vided with a plurality of alternately arranged shallow and keep curved recesses I and.I8I equal in number to the teeth of ratchet wheel I69 and aligned therewith. The recesses I80, I8I seat a roller I 82 on arm I83 of a rocking lever I84, which lever is pinned at I85 to a, shaft I86, in turn pivotally mounted in bearing I66 and thus impart oscillatory movements to said shaft I86 when cam I19 is rotated together with Y ratchet wheel I69 and roller I82 enters from yoke member I35 of clutch mechanism I3I, and

the movement of shaft I86 of actuating device I6I' effects shifting of cone clutch I40 by means of a forked lever I90 secured to shaft I86, which lever engages with its forked end I9I a pin I92 at the end of a lever I93 fixed to a shaft I94, which shaft is mounted in ears I95 on bracket I20 and has fixedly secured thereto a yoke I96 engaging with its rollers I91 the recess I98 in collar I41.

Actuation of ratchet lever III by operating lever vI18 efiects connection and disconnection of clutch mechanism I3I and therewith starting and stopping of agitator 9, clutch mechanism I3I being engaged when roller I82 rests in one of the deep recesses I8I and disengaged when roller I82 rests in one of the shallow recesses I80 in cam I19, and actuation of ratchet lever I1I' by said operating lever I18 effects connection and disconnection of cone clutch I40 and therewith starting and stopping of rotation of clothes basket I0, cone clutch I40 being engaged when roller I82 rests in one of the deep recesses I8I' and disengaged when roller I82 rests in one of the shallow recesses I80 in cam I19. To'effect individual actuation of the actuating devicesIGI and I6I' the operating lever I 18, pivotally mounted at I 99 (see Fig. 24), embodies at its lower end a cross member 200 provided with slots 20I, 20I, which slots engage with pins 202, 202' on ratchet levers I1I, I1I' respectively. It should be noted, that pins 202 and 202 engage the slots MI and 20I' in symmetrical places, so as to permit individual actuation of each of the levers HI and HI without disturbance of the other ratchet lever and that the rollers I82, I 82' on rocking levers I84, I84 are yieldingly forced into engagement with the recesses in cams I19, I19 by springs 203, 203 connected to the ends of rocking levers I84 I84 and plate I59.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a transmission for washing machines two parallel shafts, a gear box including gearing for one of said shafts, a second gear box including gearing for the other one of said shafts, an elongated U-shaped bracket having its flanges secured to said gear boxes, and an electric motor supported by said bracket, the opposite ends of the shaft of said motor being extended toward the flanges of said bracket and coupled with one of the elements of each of the two gearings.

2. In a transmission for washing machines a gear box including a driven shaft, 8. second gear box including a driven shaft, an elongated U-= shaped bracket with perforated flanges secured to said gear boxes so as to axially align their driven shafts and extend their shafts through the perforations in said flanges, an electric motor supported by said bracket so as to align its shaft with said driven shafts, and means coupling the ends of said motor shaft with the driven shafts.

3. In a transmission for washing machines two parallel shafts, a gear box with gearing coupled with one of said shafts, a second gear box with gearing coupled with the other one of said shafts, an elongated U-shaped bracket spacing said gear boxes and attached with its flanges thereto, an electric motor supported by said bracket to extend its shaft lengthwise of said bracket between said gear boxes, a slip coupling having its two coupling members secured to one end of said motor shaft and a gearing element of the first gear box, and means coupling the other end of the motor shaft with a gearing element of the second gear box.

4. A transmission for washing machines as described in claim 2, wherein the driven shaft of one of the gear boxes extends with its both ends through the wall of the gear box for coupling said shaft with said motor and providing a power- 20 take off for said gear box.

ANTON C. SCHMELZER.

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