US2411654A - Clothes washing machine - Google Patents

Description

N0 25 1945- l h L .,J. Go'rTscHALK. 2,411,654

- CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE Filed oct'. so, 194s 2 sheets-sheet 1 'fig-f2 y '8;

f NOV 26, 1946' l.. GoTTscHALK K CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE Filed oct. so, 194s 2 sheets-sheet 2 Jnvenor:

- the tub.

" "Paiemeduov, 2s, 1946 UNITED s'rArr-:s PATENT oFFl'cE 16 Claims. (Cl. 68-23) l My invention relates to washing machines. Included in the objects of the invention is ,the

basket for holding articles to be washed in combination with means so constructed and arranged as to furnish a balanced and counterbalanced construction whereby wear and tear on such articlesis kept at a minimum with an even distribution thereof, and whereby Wear` on the machine and noise thereof and power required for operation is kept at a minimum.

An important object 'of the invention is to provide a machine of this character embodying a tub in which is supported a foraminous torus or anchor-ring shaped basket for holding clothes and other articles to be washed in combination with means for causing a progressive circular undulating motion of the basket continued around through 360 without rotation oi the basket with this motion based on e. point having a central position with relation to an annular wall with which the basket is provided. The accepted deniticn oi the term anchor-ring according to Geometry of Solids is: Anchor-ring is a surface generated by the revolution oi any closed plane curve, as a circle or ellipse, about an axis outside its body. See for instance Standard Dictionary.

nother obiect is to provide means for preventing free rotation oi the basket during the undulating motion.

Another 'object is to provide e closure for the an up and down surging action of the washing liquid contained in the tub. These cups are permanently iixed to the top of the basket and are termed suction oups because they exert suction in the basket during a portion ci the undulating motion thereof.

Another object is to provide a shiitable device whereby one position oi said device will cause the basket to have a relatively slow undulating motion forv washing the articles therein and another position of said device will cause the basket .to have a relatively high speed rotary motion for drying thel articles Vby centrifugal action after the Washing liquid has been drained from Anotherobject is to providemeans for ing the washingliquid'from the operating mechexcludprovision of means for supportingin a tub, a

. top ci thebasket so that articles while being anism of the machine while at the same time permitting the undulating motion o! the basket.

Another object is to provide a basket ofV such shape and construction as will best serve for holding the articles to be washed therein.

Another object is to provide means for subjecting the articles while being washed to a mild tumbling and rubbing action not injurious to y delicate fabrics.

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic oi my invention are set forth with par- Y-ticularity in the appended claims. The invention, however, both as to organization and method of operation, together with additional objectsjand n advantages thereof. will be bestunderstood from the following description of a specic embodiment thereof, when it is read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which,

Fig.' i is a top plan view oi the machine. Fig. 2 is a view in vertical section on Z-Zof Fig. 1 showing the tub and basket portion of the machine.

Fig. 3-is a vertical section on an enlarged scale taken on the line 3-'3 of Fig. 1 and showing operating mechanism for the machine.

Fig. 4 is a view in vertical section on the line E-E of Fig. 3 and showing a lug.

Fig. 5 is a top pian view on a reduced scale showing a gear and cam carried thereby and with these detached from the machine.

Fig. is a detail view for indicating that when desired the basket may be made oi rust-proof woven wire.

Referring to the construction 'shown in thev accompanying drawings in order to illustrate the principles involved in this invention, the numeral nected with a plate 22 by three upwardly extendsecured to theuppcr side oi the gear 34! byscrew the une bolts 38, a roller 40 being mounted in the periphery of the cam. The gear 34 carrying the cam 36 is on account of the construction just describedA capable of rotating freely around the fixed post I0. lA cap member 42 is secured to the upper end ytwo sleeves 50 `and 86 permit easy undulating motion of the basket when the cam 36 is in lifted of the shaft I2 by a nut 44, A tube 46'is secured to the upper end of the post I and loosely surrounds the shaft I2. .A stumng box'48 is secured to the upper end of the tube 46 and is inside of the cap member 42. A flexible sleeve 50 is secured at its upper end to the box 48 and at its lower end is secured to a flanged ring 52 which in turn is secured to the upper end of a bell shaped member 54. This latter member near its upper end is provided with an" annular flange 56. Between this flange and the ange of the ring 52 is held a ring shaped water proof bearing 58 which may consist of laminated synthetic rubber. An annular basket attaching member 60 surrounds the bearing 58. Secured to the member 60 there is a flanged member 6| provided with internal gear teeth 62 with which external gear teeth 63 on the depending flange of the cap 42 are adapted `to mesh when this cap and the .shaft I2 are in' lowered position as shown in Fig. 3.

Referring now to Fig. 2, it willlbe seen that the i attaching member 60 is provided with a peripheral flange to which the inner wall of a foraminous torus or anchor-ring shaped basket 64 is firmly secured. 'Ihis basket may be constructed of any suitable sheet material provided with perforations 665 In place of sheet material, I also contemplate making the basket of rust-proof wire mesh as indicated at 64 in Fig. 6. In such case the interstices inthe mesh serve as perforations for producing a foraminous basket.

Referring now to Fig. 3, the post I0 near its upper end is provided with an annular groove 68 for receiving an annular downward projection of the bell member 54. It will now be understood that the member 54 constitutes a support for the basket and that the wall of the groove 68 serves as a bearing. The groove 68 contains a recess 12 for y receiving a tapered lug 14 secured to the member 54 by screw bolts 16 passing through openings 187 in the upper portion of said lug. The purpose of this lug is to xedly gear the support 54 to said bearing and prevent rotation of the said support when the cam 38 is in raised position while at the same time permitting undulating motion of the basket now to be referred to. The lower end y of the bell member 54 is provided with an internal annular flange 80 adapted to be engaged by the roller 40 of the cam 36 when the plate I6 and the assembly carriedlthereby is lifted. Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, it will be understood that an annular tub 82 provided at its top with a bead 84 is xedly supported in such position that it will contain the basket 64 without the latter striking the wall and bottom of the tub whenthe basket is given a progressive circular undulating motion continued around through 360 without rotation of the basket, this undulating motion being based on a point C located centrallywith relation to the inner annular wall of the basket. One of the tilted positions of the basket during its progressive motion is indicated by the dotted line 65 in Fig. 2. The position of the flange 80 is indicated at 8| in Fig. 3. The dotted line 83 'in Fig. 3 indicates the position of the ange 80 at the time when the basket has been undulated around to a diametrically opposite position from that indicated in Fig.

2 by the dotted line 65. y

In Fig. 2, the numeral 85 indicates the bottom position and these sleeves together with the stuiiing box 48 constitute means for excluding washing liquid from the shaft I2 and mechanism associated therewith.

The basket as indicated in Fig. 1 ls provided with two diametrically opposite posts 88 and 90 which are secured to the walls and bottom thereof and these posts have hinges 82 secured thereto. These hinges serve for attachment of two opposite leaves 94 of a closure adapted to close the top of the basket so that the articles in the basket are entirely enclosed therein. The two leaves when lifted permit clothes, etc., to be placed all the way around in the annular basket. The leaves are provided with inverted downwardly open suction cups 96 which constitute a series thereof all the'way around the top of the basket. A series of perforations 91 are formed around the periphery of the cup ring,

The intermediate concentric portion of the basket bottom has secured thereto as shown in Fig. 2, an upstanding ring like projection 98 provided with openings I00, the top of this projection being rounded. This projection causes the articles to be subjected to a combined and mild tumbling and rubbing action which is not severe enough to injure delicate fabrics during the undulating motion of the basket. Furthermore, during this motion, the suction cups cause the washing liquid to surge up and down through the articles.

Referring to Fig. 3, a gear |02 is rigidly secured to the'shaft I2 near its lower end and this gear meshes with a gear |04 when a shifting mechanism has caused the plate I6 and mechanism carried thereby to be in lower position as shown. The teeth of the gear |04 are chamfered on their upper edges in order to be more easily meshed with the teeth of the gear |02 which are chamfered on their lower edges. In this position of the assembly carried by the plate I6, the gearing I04, |02 causes the shaft I2 to be rotated ata comparatively high speed for rotating the basket through the cap 42 at this speed in order t0 dry the articles by centrifugal action when the washing liquid has been drained from the. tub. The basket during the centrifugal action is given only horizontal rotary motion and not its undulating motion.

The gear |04 is secured tothe lower end of a shaft |06 which is freely rotatable in bearings |08 on the upper and lower sides of the plate 8 which has a bored opening I0 for passage of the shaft. This shaft is held in position by collars I I2 secured thereto. Also firmly. secured to the shaft |06 is a belt pulley ||4 which may be driven from any suitable motor or source of power not necessary to show. Secured to the upper end of the shaft I 06 is a gearI I6 with which the gear 34 is brought into lrrlesh when the plate I6 and assembly carried thereby islifted by any suitable means the specific construction of which does not constitute a part of the present invention since the plate I6 might be lifted and lowered manually at the proper times. As one means for movingI the plate I6 up and down, I have shown a jack screw II8, it being noted that this plate is cut away as indicated at |20 in order that it may move past the gear I04Vboth upwardly and downwardly. The jack screw may -be operated through the medium 'of thewellknown "torque" motor sodesigned as to make a predetermined number of revolutions in one direction and subsequently when reversed will revolve the same number o! times in the opposite direction. The "torque 'motor may turn a gear which is free to rotate in both directions but is prevented from any vertical movement. The

tion will be readily understood in` connectionwith the foregoing description and the accompanyingdrawings and toa largeV extent have -already been set forth. After the articles to be washed have been placed in the basket while the mechanism of the machine is in the posi-l tion shown in Fig. 3, the torque motor is started to lift the jack screw H8 in the manner previously described. This operation.` disengages the gear |02 from the gear |04, disengages the gear teeth S3 from-the gear teethv 62, engages the lroller Il! of the cam member 3E with the lower dulating motion onsaid bearing based on a point located cena-any within sani inner annular wan. l

and means positively gearing said support to said bearing for preventing any rotation of said sup- -portarounditsaxia end 80 Vof the bell shaped member 54 and en- A gages the gear 34 with the gear Iliwhich is now rotated by means of the belt pulley lil driven from any suitable source of power. On account of the gear H6 being smaller than the gear 3l,

` the basketsupported from the top of the bell member 54 will be given a relatively slow circular undulating motion of the character previously described in detail. After the material in the basket has been properly washed and rinsed, the

torque motor will be started in reverse Adirec-4 the gear me, all as shown in Fig. 3. With the. pulley H operated from the source of power, the basket will new be rotated to dry the material therein by centrifugal action. On account oi the gear lil? heling smaller than the gear, ills, the basket will be given a relatively high speed rotar? motion. Upon stopping this rotary motion, the machine will be in condition for removing the washed and dried articles from the basket and then placing more articles therein to be crashed.

i. in a washing machine, the combination ci a tub, a bearing mounted within said tub, a ioraniinous anchor-ring shaped basket, a sup@ port for said basket mounted on said bearing, means for giving y said support and basket a progressive circular undulating motion on said hearing, and means positively gearing said support to said bearing for preventing any rotation of said support around its axis.

2. in a washing machine, the combination oi a tub, a bearing mounted within said .tun a jiorazninous anchor-ring shaped basket, a support for said basket mounted on said bearing, means for giving said support and basket a progressive circular undulating motion on said .bearing said bearing containing a recess, and

a tapered lug secured to said support and extending into said recess for positively gearingfsaid support to said bearing for preventing any rotationl oi said support around its axis. v.

3. 1n a washing machine, the combination o 4. In a washing machine, the combination o! a tub, a foraminous anchor-ring-shaped basket supported in said tub, means for giving said basket a progressive circular undulating motion, a closure for the top of said basket whereby the articles being washed are enclosedin said basket, and a.' plurality of 'inverted downwardly open suction cups carried by said closure.

5. In a washing machine, the' combination of a tub, a post` secured to and extending up from the base of the machine into the interior of said tub, a bearing on the upper end of said post, a foraminous anchor-ring shaped basket supported on said bearing, and means for giving said basket a progressive circular undulating motion upon said bearing.

' 6. In a washing machine, the combination of a tub, a post secured to and extending up irom 'the base of. the machine into the interior of said tub and having an annular groove '1n-its upper.

end the wall of which provides a bearing, a foraminous anchor-ring shaped l basket, a support for said basket having ais/annular projection mounted in said groove, xand means' for giving Vsaidbasket'a progressive circular undulating motion upon said bearing. I x

7. In a washing' machine, the combination of a tub, a hollow post secured to and extending up from the base of the machine into the interior of l said tub, a shaft extending up through said nolcarried 'sysaid gearmeans whereby sai-d gear and cam :member and shaft may be simultaneously raised and lowered, said cam member when raised being brought vinto engagement with the lower end of said support, means for rotating said gear when in its raised position to givelssid basket a relatively slow progressive circular un dula'ting motion for uvashing articles in said basket, means for rotating said shaft when nl its lowered position, and means operated by said shaft in its lowered position for giving said haake; a relatively high sed rotary motion for drying the ,articles icy centrifugal action.

B. En a washing machine, the combination a tub, a post secured to and extending@ from the case oi' the machine into the interior ci said tub, a hearing on the upper lend oi said post, a ioramincus anchor-ring shaped basket, a, support ier said basket mounted on said ing, said support seing hollow and extending helow said tub in spaced relation around Vsaid post, e gear lmounted around said post, a cam niemher ser ricci by said gear and adapted to engage the lower end ci said support, and means for rotating said gear around said postte give sai-ii desk i av progressive circular unduiating motion' for washing articles in said basket,

9.`Ina washing machine, the combination ci a tub, a craminous anchor-"ing shaped haset 7 10.111 a washing machine, the combination of a tub, a foraminous anchor-ring shaped Abasket supported in said tub, means forgiving said basket a progressive circular undulating motion based on a point located centrally within said ring, and means for preventing any rotation of .the basket support during the undulating motion.

11. In a washing machine, the combination of a tub, a foraminous anchor-ring shaped basket, a support for mounting the basket in said tub, means for giving said support agyrating motion, and means associated with said support whereby said gyrating motion is translated into a progressive circular undulating motion of said basket lbiased on a point located centrally within said 12. In a washing machine, the combination of a tub, a foraminous anchor-ring shaped basket supported in said tub, means for giving said basket a progressive circular undulating motion based on a point located centrally within said ring, and means for causing the washing liquid to surge up and down through the articles being washed during said undulating motion.

13. In a washing machine, the combination of a tub, a foraminous anchor-ring shaped basket supported in said tub, means for giving said basket a progressive circular undulating motion based on a point located centrally within said ring, and a plurality of inverted downwardly open suction cups around the top of said basket for causing the washing liquid to surge through the articles being washed during said undulating motion.

14. In a washing machine. the combination of a tub, a foraminous anchor-ring shaped basket supported in said tub, operating means for said basket, and a shiftable device in said operating means which in one of its positions causes said basket to have a progressive circular undulating motion based on a point located centrally within said ring for washing the clothes and which in another of its positions causes said basket to have a rotary motion for centrifugally drying the clothes.

15. In a washing machine, the combination oi a tub, a hollow post secured to and extending up from the base of the machine into the interior of said tub, a vertically slidable shaft extending up through said hollow post, a bearing on the upper end of said post, a foraminous anchor-ring shaped basket, a support forsaid basket mounted on said bearing, means for giving said basket a progressive circular undulating motion around said bearing for washing articles in the basket when said shaft is in its raised position, a second bearing on the upper end of said support, and interengaging means between said basket .and

-said shaft in its lowered position for giving the basket a rotary motion only around said second bearing for drying the articles by centrifugal action. v

16. In a washing machine, the combination of a tub, a hollow post secured to and extending up from the base of the machine into the interior of said tub, a vertically slidable shaft extending up through said hollow post, a bearing on the upper end ofsaid post, a foraminous anchor-ring shaped basket, a support for said basket mounted on said bearing, means for giving said basket a progressive circular undulating motion around said bearing for washing articles in the basket when said shaft is in its raised position, a second bearing on the upper end of said support, a cap secured to the upper end of said shaft, and interengageable means carried by said cap and said basket in its lowered position for giving the basket a rotary motion only around said second bear-

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