US2321090A

US2321090A - Driving mechanism

Info

Publication number: US2321090A
Application number: US421683A
Authority: US
Inventors: Max J Keltz
Original assignee: Perkins Machine & Gear Co
Current assignee: Perkins Machine & Gear Co; PERKINS MACHINE AND GEAR Co
Priority date: 1941-12-04
Filing date: 1941-12-04
Publication date: 1943-06-08
Anticipated expiration: 1960-06-08

Description

June 8, 1943. J KELTZ 2,321,090

DRIVING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 4, 1941 44 Z 7; 0 0 J o -L\o oi g o do 1% W0 W 0 0 0 a;

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Patented June 8, 1943 DRIVING MECHANISM Max J. Keltz, Springfield, Masa, assignor to Perkins Machine and Gear Company, West Springfield, Mass., a corporation of, Massachusetts Application December 4, 1941, Serial No. 421,683

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in a mechanical motion or driving mechanism for anoscillatable shaft or the like.

The principal objects of the invention are directed to improvements in driving mechanism for an oscillatable shaft that is characterized by positively and continually engaged elements and means to vary the angle through which said shaft is oscillated.

The novel mechanism of the invention is adapted for broad application but for purposes of disclosure will be described in connection with the paddle or agitator shaft of a washing machine.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a partial inverted plan view of a washing machine tub having the mechanism of the invention associated therewith;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevational view on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional elevational view on the line 3-3 of Fig. l; and

Figs. 4 and 5 are plan and side elevational views respectively of the slide of the mechanism shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Referring to the drawing more in detail, the invention will now be fully described.

A portion of a washing machine tub is shown at 2 which has a lower wall 4 and a side wall 6. A shaft 8 extends upwardly into the tub through the lower wall and carries a paddle or agitator,

not shown. This shaft 8 is oscillatable back and.

forth so that the paddle is oscillated and its lower end is journalled in a casing H].

The said casing is secured to the tub or the lower wall thereof in any convenient manner and it, together with a closure I2 therefor, is adapted to contain the mechanism to be described, it being so constructed as to be oil-tight so the mechanism may operate in lubricant. The shaft 8 is oscillated in opposite directions by the mechanism to be described and said mechanism is arranged and adapted to impart oscillatory movements of any desired angle to the shaft between zero and a maximum which depends on the specific construction of the mechanism.

A pinion M is secured to the shaft 8 and a segment I6 oscillatable on a stud I8 secured to the casing is in mesh therewith. The shaft 8 will be oscillated through an angle bearing some relation to that through which the segment is oscillated and the angle through which the segment is oscillated may be varied.

A motor or other prime mover is represented by 22 which has its shaft 24 connected to a shaft 28 by a coupling 26. The shaft 28 is. journalled in the casing H! and carries a worm 3i].

A shaft 32 has its lower end journalled in the casing and it carries a worm gear 36. with which the worm 30 is in mesh. Said shaft extends upwardly along side of the tub for driving a wringer as is usual with washing machines. As the motor 22 is operated the worm gear 34 is rotated.

A member All is pivoted at one end between the members 42 of the member i6 by means of a pivot 44. as shown in Fig. 1. A pivot member Miis associated with the worm wheel 3 3 and has an upper slotted end. in which the member 40 is slidable and a retainer 48 of the pivot member extends over the member 40, all as shown.

.As the member 34 rotates, the end of member 40 is carried around through a circular path. So that the segment [6 is oscillated back and forth fulcrum means is provided for the member 40.

This is accomplished by means of a block 56.

that. is slidable on ledges 52, provided in the casing which support said blockand surface 54. at its opposite sides, guide the member 48, see Fig. 3. A fulcrum member has a lower stud-likemember 5.2 which, together with the main body of member 60, is oscillatable in said block 56.

The member 40 is slidably guided in the member 60 so that there may be relative. movements. of said members as the block 50 is moved back.

and forth. towards and away-from the segment. By moving the block 59 and fulcrum member 60 the greatest distance from. the segment, the said segment is oscillated through the greatest angle since the outer free end of member 40. is. rotated through a circular path of constant diameter.

As the block and fulcrum are moved. towards the. segment. the angle of oscillation. thereof and consequently the angle of oscillation of shaft 8 is decreased.

It is desired that the axis of the fulcrum member 60 b disposed in alignment with the axis of pivot M in which case the segment will remain stationary although the end of member 40 is being carried around the circular path.

To accomplish this the side of the block adjacent the segment is cut away at H! and the fulcrum member 68 is cut away at E2 so as not to interfere with the parts 42 of the fulcrum. Thus it is possible to adjust the block and fulcrum member so that the member 40 is at rest or is oscillated through various angles up to the maximum.

The block may be adjusted in various ways but for purposes of disclosure a rack 14 carried therebyis in mesh with a gear 16 of a shaft 18 jourmeans shown in U. S. Patent to Oakley 2,225,249..

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. Hence, the present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects merely as being illustrative and not as being restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all modifications and variations as fall within the mean ing and purview and range of equivalency of the appended claims are therefore intended to embraced therein.

' What it is desired to claim and secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

, 1. The combination with an oscillatable, shaft of operating means therefor comprising, an oscillatable driven member fixed on said shaft, a rotatable driving member, a member pivoted at one end to said oscillatable memberand having a free end, means on the rotatable member slidably guiding and acting on the free end of the pivoted member to swing it back and forth as the rotatable member rotates, and means acting on the pivoted member to hold the same for swing-v ing movements whereby the swinging of the free end thereof brings about movements of the oscillatable member.

2. The combination with an oscillatable shaft of a washing machine or the like operating means therefor comprising, an oscillatable member fixed on said shaft, a rotatable driving member, a member pivoted at one end to said oscillatable member and having a free end, driving means on the rotatable member slidably guiding and act ing on the free end of the pivoted member to swing it back and forth as the rotatable member rotates, means between the oscillatable member and the driving means on driving member acting on the pivoted member to hold it from swinging movements whereby the oscillatable member is oscillated.

3. Th combination with relatively spaced drive and driven shafts rotatable and oscillatable therein of means for oscillating the latter from th former comprising, an oscillating member operatively connected to said driven shaft, a drive member fixed to said drive shaft, a connecting member pivotally connected at one end to said oscillating member and having a free end extending towards th drive shaft, means on the drive member slidably and operatively receiving the free end of said connecting member, and fulcrum means pivotally and slidably receiving said connecting member guided for movements back and forth between said shafts.

4. The combination with relatively spaced drive and driven shafts rotatable and oscillatable therein of means for oscillating the latter from the former comprising, an oscillating member operatively connected to said driven shaft, a drive member fixed to said drive shaft, a connecting member pivotally connected at one end to said oscillating member and having a free end extending towards the drive shaft, means on the drive member slidably and operatively receiving the free end of said connecting member, fulcrum means pivotally and slidably receiving said connecting member guided for movements back and forth between said shafts, and means for actuating said fulcrum means.

5. The combination with relatively spaced drive and driven shafts rotatable and oscillatable therein of means for oscillating the latter from the former comprising, an oscillating member operatively connected to said driven shaft, a drive member fixed to said drive shaft, a connecting member pivotally connected at one end to said oscillating member and having a free end extending towards the drive shaft, means on the drive member slidably and operatively receiving the free end of said connecting member, fulcrum means slidable in said support between said shaft slidably and pivotally receiving said connecting member intermediate its ends, and means for operating said fulcrum means.

6. The combination with relatively space drive and driven shafts rotatable and oscillatable therein of means for oscillating the latter from the former comprising, an oscillating member operatively connected to said driven shaft, a drive member fixed to said drive shaft, a connecting member pivotally connected at one end to said oscillating member and having a free end extending towards the drive shaft, means on the drive member slidably and operatively receiving the free end of said connecting member, a member slidable on said support between said shafts, a guide member slidably receiving said connecting member intermediat its ends pivotally connected to said member, and means for actuating said slidable member, all adapted and arranged whereby said slidable member may be moved to position the pivotal connection of the guide mem her and slidable member in coincidence with the pivotal connection of the connecting member and oscillatable member.

MAX J. KELTZ.