US2354208A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Description

July 25, 1944.

A. H. HABERSTUMP WASHING MACHINE Filed Feb. 25, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet l u q 2" m (2 it; J 1

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July 25, 1944. A. H. HABERSTUMP 2,354,208

WASHING MACHINE Filed Feb. 23, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 IVBY ATTOR Y July 25; 1944. A. H HABERS'ILUMP WASHING MACHINE Filed Feb. 23, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR v HZ/rai li fiaierszzorlp.

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ATTOR July 25, 1944. A. H. HABERSTUMP WASHING MACHINE Filed Feb. 23, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 July 25, 1944.

A. H. HABERSTUMP I 2,354,208

WASHING MACHINE Fi led Feb. 25, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 11 Ill] l a vzw. ATTORN July 25, 1944-. HABERSTUMP 2,354,208

WASHING MACHINE Filed Feb. 25,4940 e Sheets-Sheet 6'' INVENTOR H ZJ /7- flak-r5210;

ATTOR Y Patented July 25, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WASHING IVIACHINE Alfred H. Haberstump, Detroi,Mich., assignor to The Murray Corporation of America, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Appiication February 23, mo, Serial No. 320,348 Y 13 Claims.

improvements could still be made in the art of washing clothes, particularly in machines of the domestic or household type.

I have developed a principle of washin clothes which combines the tumbling action of the clothes within the rotor, with a squeezing action which forces the water "through the pores of the articles being washed. While I mention specifically the application of the machine to the domestic or household use, it is to be understood that the principle involved in the machine may be employed in commercial laundry structures, in which instance the machine would be made heavier, larger, and of. greater structural strength, and would stand the continuous use to which it is subjected.

The machine illustrated, and to be described, is of such proportion and structural strength as would be required for home use, and it was for this reason that reference was made specifically to machines of the domestic type.

The machine comprises a casing of unique construction by which a tub, open at the top, is supported. The tub is of U-shape in lateral section and contains a rotor which is supported for oscillating movement. A cover, which is mounted in ways for sliding movement or otherwise secured to an opening in the periphery of the drum, permits access to its interior and provides means for closing the peripherial opening after the clothes have been placed within the drum. The peripheral wall of the drum and the closure therefor is pierced with a plurality of apertures to permit the flow of the wash water through the drum. One portion of the periphery is offset inwardly to provide a shoulder from which the Wall slopes to the periphery which is preferably adjacent to the opening therein.

Within the drum, a vane or squeezing paddle is mounted on a pair of shafts which project through the hollow bearing of the drum. The shafts may be fixed to the tub or one end of one of the shafts may be secured to a spring loaded reduction gear unit is employed for driving the rotor in oscillatiqn through a rack and pinion connection. A direct drive is preferably provided but it is within the purview of my invention to have the rack operate through a spring, which connection takes the place of the spring load heretofore referred to as applied to the vane. When the spring is employed in the rack drive the vane is anchored in fixed "position relative to-the tub and rotor.

Preferably a special pinion is provided having its axis off center to form a cam which is so related to the rack that the major effort is applied to the rack and pinion at the point at which the clothes are squeezed between the vane and shoulder of the drum. A special shaped gear sector may be employed to mate with the cam gear or the rack may float relative to the gear, the teeth thereof being urged into engagement with the teeth on the cam gear by spring means.

The principle of washing embodies, as pointed out hereinabove, the tumbling and the squeezing of the clothes. Preferably, the squeezing op eration is effected under increased pressure produced by various means, one heretofore referred to being the use of a cam gear. Another method which I have contemplated employing embodies the use of a cylinder having a piston with a bypass valve which moves freely within the cylinder of the rack, as the rotor moves away from the clothes squeezing position and which, after the rack moves the clothes into position to be squeezed, has its movement in the cylinder resisted to increase the load applied during the pressing operation.

The cabinet for the machine is of unique'construction, embodying an angle-shaped frame to which the two side panels of like shape are welded at the bottom. The front and back panels arm which permits the vane to move if too great a squeezing pressure is applied to the clothes. The vane is positioned to be engaged by the clothes being washed which have been picked up by the shoulder and advanced against the vane. A 5

are screwed to the base and to the side panels forming therewith a continuous ledge at the top to which the tub is attached and secured in fixed position. The motor, drain, and operating mechanism along with the rotor and vane are supported on the tub, separated from the panels of the cabinet. The rear panels are provided with hinges for supporting a lid for the cabinet in position to engage a lever arm having a switch thereon. The arm is mounted on the cabinet and is movable when the lid is closed out of the path of the rack or other operating part of the machine to permit the operation of the machine only when the lid is closed.

Accordingly, the main objects of my invention are; to provide a machine for washing clothes with a combined tumbling and squeezing method: to provide a cabinet for a washing machine, having inwardly directed flanges for Supporting a tub on which the rotor and operating parts of the machine are mounted; to provide a tub with a rotor having a shoulder in the peripheral wall and a vane between which the clothes are squeezed at the end of each cycle of oscillation of the rotor; to provide means for operating the rotor in such manner that an increase of pressure is obtained during the squeezing operation; to provide spring means for limiting the pressure applied to the clothes between the vane and the shoulder; to provide an eccentric gear and means for driving the gear to reduce the speed of movement and increase the applied pressure during the clothes squeezing operation; and in general, to provide a method for washing, and a machine for performing the method, which is simple in construction, positive in operation and economical to manufacture.

Other objects and features of novelty of my invention will be specifically pointed out or will become apparent when referring, for a better understanding of my invention, to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a reduced view in perspective of a washing machine, embodying features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1, taken on the line 2-2 thereof;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 2, taken on the line 3-3 thereof;

Fig. 4 is a broken view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 3, illustrating the squeezing operation performed on the clothes;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 2, taken on the line 55 thereof Fig. 6 is a broken view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 5, showing a modified form thereof;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 5, taken on the line 1-! thereof;

Fig. 8 is a view of a structure, similar to that illustrated in Fig. 3, showing a modified form thereof;

Fig. 9 is a broken end view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 8, taken on the line I-i0 thereof;

Fig. 11 is a view of a structure, similar to that illustrated in Fig. 8, showing a further form which my invention may assume;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged sectional view of structure illustrated in Fig. 11, taken on the line i2-l 2 thereof Fig. 13 is a view of a structure, similar to that illustrated in Fig. 11, showing a further form which my invention may assume;

Fig. 141 is an enlarged sectional view of structure illustrated in Fig. 13, taken on the line 14- thereof; and,

Fig. 15 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fi 13, taken on the line 15-45 thereof.

In Fig. 1, I have illustrated a washing machine which embodies a cabinet I! having fixed side panels l8 and removable front and rear panels 19 and 2|. A cover 22 is hinged to the rear panel to provide access to the rotor and tub.

Referring more specifically to Figs. 2 to inclusive, I have illustrated the operating parts by a flexible drive connection 55.

of the machine in detail. A frame 23 of angle section, supported on casters 24, has the flanges 25 of the side panels i8 welded thereto. The side panels are rabbetted at the top at 26 to form an inner ledge. The front and rear panels I! and 2| are secured to the frame by suitable means, herein illustrated as by screws 21. This permits the front and rear panels to be removed to expose the driving mechanism.

The side panels are also provided with inwardly presented rabbets 26 at the top forming a continuous ledge with the rabbet 26 of the side panels on which a tub 28 is supported. The tub is open at the top and is of U-shape in lateral section, as illustrated in Fig. 3. An outwardly deflected flange 29 at the top of the tub projects into a slot in a rubber sealing element 3| which seals the top to the rabbet 26, retained by a plurality of screws 32. The tub forms the top securing means for the four side panels and forms a rigid construction. Hinges 33 are secured to the back panel and to the cover 22 which form a closure for the cabinet and the tub.

Within the tub 28 a rotor 34 is mounted on stub shafts 35 and 36 which project within the rotor and support a U-shaped vane 31 which is secured thereto. The shaft 35 supports the bearing 34 mounted on one side of the rotor. The end of the shaft is keyed to a bracket 39 which is secured to a sealing element 4| by bolts 42. The stub shaft 35 projects through the bearing 43 on the opposite side of the rotor 2'4 and projects into a sealing chamber 44 enclosed by a. nut 45 which may be removed to permit the removal of the shaft. Suitable sealing material 46 is provided in the chamber 44 to prevent the lubricant from escaping. The bearing '43 is supported in the bearing 41 and a spur gear 48 is attached to the bearing 43 by a key 49. An element 5| seals the bearing 43, while a washer 52 on the stub shaft 36 seals the bearing and shaft against the passage of the washing fluid. The drive means for the pinion 43 is enclosed in a housing 53 and comprises a sector 54 operated by a link 55. The link 55 is of the telescoping type enclosing a spring 56 of predetermined strength for limiting the pressure which may be applied to the rotor for squeezing the clothes against the fixed vane 31. A gear 51 has one end of the link 55 secured thereto on a pivot 58 mounted in eccentric relation to produce the reciprocating movement to the link and oscillating movement to the sector. A suitable gear train 53 forms reduction gearing from the pinion ii to a motor 52. The shaft 63 of the motor is attached in driving relation to the shaft 64 of the pinion 3| A plate 68 reinforces a side of the..tub 28 and provides a support for the housing 53. The bottom of the tub is provided with a flanged opening 61 of truncated conical shape, connected to a drain pipe 63 by a plate 69 and bolt"! I. A rubber valve 12 closes the mouth of the opening and is controlled by a link 13 and an eccentric shaft Tl4 operated by a rod 15 and a removable handle 76 to open or closed position. A bracket 11 is mounted on the base of the tub to which the motor bracket 78 is attached by suitable means herein illustrated as by bolts 19. It will thus be seen that the tub forms the support for the driving mechanism, the rotor, the vane, the motor, and the drain. The tub is of sturdy construction, being formed of side panels 3! interconnected by an intermediate portion 32.

The rotor is preferably constructed of two end dish-shaped panels 83 which are flanged inwardly at 84 and joined by a central portion 85 having a plurality of outwardly flanged openings 86.

An opening 81 is provided in the top of the periphery of the rotor while'a shoulder portion 88 also containing a plurality of openings 86 projects inwardly of the periphery in a position to engage the vane 31. The portion of the peripheral sheet extending from the shoulder 88 to the flange 84 is indicated by the numeral 89. This portion is devoid of apertures 86 provided in the other portions of the periphery. A cover 9I containing the apertures 86 is removably secured to the rotor to have the interior of the tub accessible. No particular securing means are herein illustrated, but it is to be understood that slide ways, hinges, or other means, accompanied with a suitable locking device, may be utilized for this purpose.

In operation the rotor is driven in oscillation by the mechanism within the housing 53 when actuated by the motor 62. The vane 31 is disposed in fixed position and the degree of oscillation has been selected to have the shoulder 88 substantially contact the vane 31. During the clockwise movement of the rotor the clothes will be engaged by the shoulder and carried upwardly into contact with the vane 31, as illustrated in Fig. 4. The gear 51 operates through the spring 56 of the link 55 to control the amount of pressure employed for the squeezing operation. It will thus be seen that a tumbling action will agitate the clothing within therotor during each oscillation and at the end of each cycle of which certain of the clothes will be squeezed between the shoulder and vane. Accordingly, a combined squeezing and agitating method obtains for washing the clothing in my new and novel washing machine.

In Fig. 6, I have illustrated a modified form of structure, wherein a sector 94 is of predetermined curved form to mate with a pinion 95, the shaft 96 of which is mounted in ofi-center or eccentric relation to provide a cam type of gear. When employing this particular construction the movement to the rotor is slowed down at the time of the pressing operation and the increase in mechanical advantage, due to decreased radius, provides a greater force to produce the squeezing of the clothes.

In Figs. 8, 9, and 10, I have shown a further modified form of my invention. In this construction a plate IOI is attached to the tub 28 and is employed for supporting a reduction speed mechanism I02 which is driven by the motor 62. An arm I03 is secured to the shaft I04 of the reduction unit, employed to reciprocate a rack I05 disposed in extension of a tube I06 which is pivoted to the arm I03 by a pin I01. A pin I08 extends through the rack I05 and slots I09 disposed in the wall of the tube I06. This retains the rack within the tube and permits a relative longitudinal movement therebetween. A spring I I I is disposed within the tube I06 to abut against the end of the rack for the purpose of limiting the force applied to squeeze the clothes between the shoulder 88 of the rotor and the vane 31.

The rack I05 meshes with a pinion II2 attached to the shaft 36 which oscillates the rotor. The bearing on the arm of the vane 31 is supported on the shaft 36, the end of the other arm being locked against movement as described above. The teeth of the. rack are held in mesh with those of the gear by a roller II3 engaging the side of the rack opposite to that having the teeth. The roller H3 is mounted on a bracket II4 which projects within a housing II5 having a rubber block II6 therein to provide resiliency to the mounting and the roller. The housing I I5 is mounted on a plate II1 which is welded or otherwise secured to the side of the tub 28.

It will be noted in Fig. 9 that the bracket IOI is of U-shape, being projected inwardly at the base H8 and upwardly at H9 and provided with a flange I2I which mates with and is secured to the bottom or intermediate plate 82 of the tub. Further strength may be provided by the side walls I22 which are joined to the projecting portions of the bracket to form a dish-like enclosure at the bottom. It is within the purview of my invention to substitute a spring for the rubber block H6 and employ an eccentric or cam gear in place of the pinion II2 so as to vary the speed and pressure exerted by the device when the squeezing operation is performed thereby.

Referring to Figs. 11 and 12, I have shown a 7 still further modified form of my invention, that wherein a rack I23 is pivoted directly to the arm I03 on the pin I01 for operating a pinion gear H2, or a cam gear 95 as the case may be. In this arrangement, the vane 31 has one or both of its axles 35 and 36 attached to an arm I24 having guide rods I25 which project through apertures in angle brackets I26 which are secured to the tub 28. A spring I21 is disposed on each of the guide rods I25 between the brackets and the end of the arm I24. The vane 31 is maintained in position by the springs to resist movement in either direction and thereby regulates the pressure exerted during the squeezing operation;

In Figs. 13, 14, and 15, I have illustrated a still further form which my invention may assume,

that wherein a piston rod I3I is attached by a bracket I32 and the pin I01 to the arm i03. The piston rod extends through a cylinder I33 hav ing rack teeth I34 on one face. The teeth are engaged with the teeth of the pinion H2 or the cam type of pinion 95 herein referred to. The cylinder is retained in position by a roller I35 mounted on a bell crank I36 which is pivoted on a bracket I31 attached to the side of the tub 28. A spring I39 has one end hooked to the arm of the bell crank and the other to a bracket I39 which is also secured to the side of the tub. The spring urges the bell crank in a counterclockwise direction to force the teeth.I34 of the cylinder into mesh with the teeth of the pinion H2 or the cam gear 95. This piston rod I3I projects within the cylinderI33 and is attached to a bypass type of piston I4I intermediate the rod ends.

A passageway I42 is provided in the wall of the cylinder, the size of the orifice at one point therein being regulated by a needle valve I43. The piston is hollow and has a plurality of apertures I44 at the top and a plurality of apertures I45 at the bottom. A spring pressed plunger I46 closes the apertures I45 assisted by the pres sure of oil when the valve is moved upwardly in the cylinder and when moved downwardly the pressure of oil overcomes the pressure of the spring to lift the plunger and by-pass fluid through apertures I44 and I45.

During an upward stroke of the piston the resistance to the passage of fluid ofiered by the spring-pressed plunger I46 limits the relative movement between the piston and rack and thereby rotates the pinion to oscillate the rotor. When the clothes are in a position to be squeezed between the shoulder 88 and the vane 31, the continued upward movement of the rod I3I will apply additional load for the squeezing operation.

Due to the sealing of the aperture I45 by the plunger I46, the fluid is forced to flow through the passageway I42, the amount of applied pressure being regulated by the adjustment of the needle valve I43. Upon the reverse or downward stroke of the rod I4I, the piston freely moves to the lower end of the cylinder and the rack is moved downwardly thereby to produce the other half cycle of oscillation away from the vane 31.

The various structures which have been illustrated and described refer more particularly to the operating mechanism for producing the new and novel method of washing clothes. This, as pointed out hereinabove, embodies the combined agitating and squeezing of the clothes during each cycle of oscillation of the rotor. While I have mentioned hereinabove that the method is employed for washing clothes, it is to be understood that rinsing and drying operations are also performed thereby. The portion of the peripheral sheet of the rotor projecting toward the periphery from the shoulder 88 is a solid surface so that during the drying operation the drops of water squeezed from the clothes will not drain into the lower part of the rotor. The squeezing operation forces the water through the pores of the clothing in the washing, rinsing and drying operations.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 8, I have illustrated a bell crank arm I5I urged in a clockwise direction by a spring I52 for moving a spring I53 in position to be contacted by an operating arm I34 provided on the end of the rack I05. When the lid 22 of the cabinet I1 is open the spring I52 moves the switch downwardly in a position to be engaged by a finger I54 on the rack I05. The finger moves the switch to open position and interrupts the operation of the machine. The machine will remain inoperative so long as the cover is in open position. A plunger I55 is engaged by a block I56 on the lid which moves the switch out of position to be engaged by the finger I54 and the machine may then be operated.

While the washing machine structure has been claimed broadly in the present patent, it is to be understood that the method of producing the washing by the machine, the specific driving mechanism, the support of the mechanism on the tub, the interruption of the operation at a predetermined point in its operating cycle, and other specific features of the invention herein disclosed, form the subject matter of additional applications copending with the application of the present patent.

What I claim is:

l. The combination in a clothes washing machine, of a rotor, a radially disposed rib extending inwardly from the periphery of the rotor,

means for oscillating the rotor, and a vane within the rotor for engaging and squeezing the clothes against the said rib during each cycle of oscillation.

2. The combination of a clothes washing machine, of a tub for holding washing or rinsing water, a rotor mounted for oscillating movement within the tub, a vane within the rotor, a shoulder on the periphery of the rotor projecting inwardly thereof in a position to engage the vane when the rotor is oscillated, and means for oscillating said rotor.

3. The combination in a clothes washing machine, a tub for holding washing or rinsing water, a rotor mounted for oscillating movement within the tub, a vane within the rotor about which the rotor oscillates, a shoulder on the periphery of the rotor projecting inwardly therein in a position to engage said vane when the rotor is oscillated, means for oscillating said rotor, and additional means for cushioning the pressure applied between the vane and the shoulder when the clothes are squeezed therebetween.

4. In a clothes washing machine, a rotor having an inwardly projecting radially disposed shoulder, a vane within the rotor positioned to engage said shoulder when the rotor is oscillated thereabout, means for oscillating said rotor, and means for increasing the efiective force exerted by the rotor near the end of its cycle of oscillation at the time of squeezing the clothes between the shoulder and vane.

5. In a clothes washing machine a rotor having an inwardly projecting radially disposed shoulder, a vane within the rotor positioned to engage said shoulder when the rotor is oscillated thereabout, means for oscillating said rotor, means for increasing the efiective force exerted by the rotor near the end of its cycle of oscillation at the time of squeezing the clothes between the shoulder and vane, and additional means for controllingthe effective pressure between said shoulder and vane during said squeezing operation.

6. In a washing machine, a rotor having an inwardly projecting shoulder across its periphery, a vane within the rotor cooperating with said shoulder to squeeze the washing therebetween, drive means for producing relative oscillating movement between said rotor and vane, at least part of said relative oscillation resulting from the operation of said rotor, and cam means for decreasing the speed of oscillation at the time of application of pressure for squeezing the clothes between the shoulder and vane.

7. In a washing machine, a rotor having an inwardly projecting shoulder across its periphery, a vane within the rotor cooperating with said shoulder to squeeze the washing therebetween, drive means for producing relative oscillating movement between said rotor and vane, at least part of said relative oscillation resulting from the operation of said rotor, and a gear means including a member having a periphery of variable distance from its axis of rotation for varying the speed of relative oscillation during the application of pressure at the time of squeezing the clothes between the shoulder and vane.

8. In a washing machine, a rotor having an inwardly projecting shoulder across its periphery, a vane within the rotor cooperating with said shoulder to squeeze the washing therebetween, driving means for producing relative oscillating movement between said rotor and vane, at least part of said relative oscillation resulting from the operation of said rotor, said driving means including a piston within a cylinder conchine, of a tub, a. rotor within said tub having a substantially radial surface, an element within said tub for squeezing the clothes against said 1 surface, means for relatively oscillating said tub and element, and means for increasing the mechanical advantage of said oscillating means as the surface and element approach each other during the squeezing operation.

11. The combination in a clothes washing ma-.

chine, of a rotor, a substantially radial rib extending inwardly from the periphery of the'rotor,

. a 'vane within the rotor for engaging and squeezing the clothes against said rib during each cycle across the axis of the rotor from all directions, a vane supported on the axis of the rotor and extending to the periphery thereof for engaging and squeezing the clothes against said shoulder during each cycle of oscillation therebetween, and means for producing relative oscillation between said rotor and vane, at least part of said relative oscillation resulting from the operation of said rotor.

13. The combination in a clothes washing machine, of a tub, a rotor mounted within the tub, a vane within the rotor having a shaft mounted on the rotor axis and a portion extending across the peripheral wall of the rotor which is movable relative thereto, a shoulder on the peripheral wall of the rotor projecting inwardly in spaced relation to the rotor axis in position to be engaged by the vane portion disposed adjacent to the peripheral wall of the rotor when the rotor and vane are relatively oscillated, and means for producing relative oscillation be veen said rotor and vane, at least part of said relative oscillation resulting from the operation of said rotor.

ALFRED H. HABERSTUMP.

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