US2416611A

US2416611A - Clothes washing machine

Info

Publication number: US2416611A
Application number: US647565A
Authority: US
Inventors: John A Castricone
Original assignee: ALTORFER BROS CO
Current assignee: ALTORFER BROS CO
Priority date: 1946-02-14
Filing date: 1946-02-14
Publication date: 1947-02-25
Anticipated expiration: 1964-02-25

Description

Feb. Z, 1947. J. A. cAs'rlcONE .2,415,611

CLOTHESv WASHING MACHINE Filed Feb. 14, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb; 25, 1947. J. A. cAsrnlcoNE 2,416,611

CLOTHES WASHING IIACHINE Filed Feb. 14, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 www @ige/zic.

Feb. 25, 1947. J. A. cAsTRlcoNE 2,416,611

CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE Filed Feb. 14, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 QQQQQQQOO ooo'ooooooo IN V EN TOR.

J. A. CASTRICONE CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE Feb. 25, 1947.

- 5 shees-sheet s Filed Feb. 14, 1946 Patented Feb. 25, 1947 y 4UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE John A. Castricone, Peoria, Ill., asslgnor to Altorfer Bros. Company, Peoria, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application February 14, 1946. Serial No. 647,565

22 Claims. l

This invention relates to domestic washing machines, and particularly to a washer incorporating a new washing principle or process wherein a. unldirectionally movable displacement dasher creates the washing action without any axial rotation or oscillation as commonly used 1in vanedagitator or impeller-type machines.

Although axially rotating or oscillating vanedagitator machines are the most popular type of washers on the market at the present time. it is recognized that they .are hard on clothes because of the heavy axial rotating contact of the vanes on the clothes. This is particularly true under large-batch loading conditions when one or two garments riding on the vanes may transmit the Another object is to provide an improved high full force of the driving mechanism on practically the full load of clothes. Under such conditions, the power transmitted is often doublethe normal power input. Furthermore. whenlarge or long garments are loaded and on'e end or section is caught on an axially rotating vane while the balance of the garment is entwlned through the a batch, the pull on sucha garment often tears it. For instance, careful housewives do not wash lace curtains with batches of clothes in axially rotating vane washers.

Because ofthe uneven power requirements of agitator-type washers due to the clothes riding the vanes, sucli'fwashers must. employ heavy expensive gear cases, back-geared for speeds be#v tween 50 to 100 R. P. M. and capable of' transmitting 100% overloads for short periods of time. The standard 1/4 H. P. washing machine motor employed on such a machine must be capable of transmitting 1/2 H. P. periodically.

It is the particular object of the present invention to provide a thoroughly effective washing action wherein cyclic toroidal rolling water cur- .f rents are created in a throbbing action-inwardly toward the .dasher. at the upper portion thereof and downwardly therealong and outwardly and upwardly at the lower portion thereof, and by a unidirectionally movable dasher having no fixed axial rotation which causes the clothes to be forced outward at the lower end of the dasher and to be drawn inward and downward at the upper end of the dasher. y

I designate the clothes contacting and water circulating means as a "dasher to differentiate it from thel conventional agitator or impeller, in order to divorce its displacement action without powered axial rotation from the power-driven pump-like radially-rotating vaned-impeller or its similarly powered axially-rotated oscillating agitator.

having projecting vanes or the like for contacting clothes but without power-driven axial movements which would injure the clothes.

A further object isto provide a unidirectionally movable washer mechanism whereiny the clothes arev distributed evenly around the tub by an orbital movement of the dasher with respect to the tub wall and while they are being slowly rotated relative thereto in loose condition floating ,in the wash water. i

The machine is designed to incorporate a unidirectional driving means actuating a dasher in an orbital path producing reactionary forces within the wash water that cause a predetermined continuous action or' cyclic toroidal current flow` of such wash water together with the clothes therein, and wherein such currents are produced by throbbing pulsations of the water,depending upon the rotary speed of the unidirectional drivingmeans.

In addition to the reclrculating wash-water currents, it is an object of the invention to pro-v vide such recirculation in a predetermined direction and selected path. This is accomplished in one way by the character of movement imparted to the vanes on the dasher, which will produce a throbbing action in the bottomy of the tubcausing an outward and upward cyclic motion of the clothes and a reactionary inward and Adownward movement along the upper portion of the dasher, producing a greatly improved washing action.

In its preferred form, the dasher surface contour is so shaped as to provide a continuous imperforate circumferential wall at the base portion of the dasher and with the vanes thereabove, making the most effective pumping action generic to the bottom zone of the tub at the area of greatest hydrostatic pressure, whereby the currents of wash water are`forcefully directed radially outwardly from the base portion ofthe dasher and upwardly out of the space between the dasher base and the tub Wall.

To augment the washing action and to prevent clothes directly in the recirculating zone of they water without impairing the displacement dasher action.

It is a further feature of the present invention to provide a dasher that ls mounted for oating additional washing action.

` provide, when needed, for maintaining the dasher against appreciable rotation on its axis while beihiS'maChlIiel ing moved inv an orbit. This is accomplished 3o Fig. 15 1s a partial perspective view .of the tinually but slowly rotated around the tub which 4 i further effects the equal distribution of the is confined between a tubular sleeve I4 and an clothes in the tub.

this specification.

when removed from the machine;

fview of the main working parts of the machine and more specifically throughthe dasher` structure and its mounting;

l or restrained axial rotation upon its supporting lustrate the details of a preferred design of slip bearings and which moves bodily in'an orbit with clutch mechanism employedjin the present respect to its` driving axis, the dasher being washer; i shaped to perform the displacement action which i 1, produces radially circulating toroidal water cur- 5 dasher diagrammatically illustrating certain rents that definitely drive the clothes radially principles of operation thereof; i and in tumbling fashion within the water and in y 1 a direction toward the upper surface of the dashtaken substantially along the line 6--6 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a. plan view of the.I machine tub and Fig. 6 is a horizontal cross-sectional view a er and the vanes with the clothes sliding down- Fig. 7 is a horizontal cross-sectional view as wardly along the edges of the vanes of the dasher, taken substantially along the line I-1 in Fig. 3,

The action of vthe clothes and water moving to illustrate further details of construction of the generally radially toward the dasher and lightly dasher;

contacting the same act normally to restrain it l i against substantial radial movement relative to l i the wall of the tub While turning on its own bearl5 tion 0f Washing machine, but wherein the dasher I ings. The dasher normally stands still on its l iS Provided With apertures capable of Creating i axis while being moved in an orbit about its drivl ing shaft, but upon contacting bunched clothes throbbing action in the lower portion 0f the tub; may rotate slowly to effect uniform disposition of 1 the clothes'around the tub wall. In this connec- 20 tively. 0f a rosette type 0f a dasher which may i tion, the dasher may be constructed in various be used in place 0f Other dashers for producing i shapes having predetermined contours and a prethe Washing aCtiOn:

Fig. 8 is a sectional view through a dasher of the kind illustratedA in the preferred construcwater jets to assist vanes in creating the desired Figs. 9 and 10 are plan and vside views, respecdetermined arrangement of vanes. Also, the Figs. 11 and 12 are plan and side views, respec- 1 dasher' may include apertures in the body thereof l tively, of another modified construction of dasher to produce water-current puffs or jets effecting that-1S usable in the Washing machine 0f the present design; .K y

Figs. 13 and 14 are plan and side views, respec- Another object of the present invention is to tively, of still another form of dasher for use in preferably by providing a Slip clutch meohanism dasher illustrating diagrammatically the water i operatively connected with the dasher and car- Currents Produced; and ried upon the fixed column providing the bearing structure forV the dasher.` This slip clutch i mechanism acts normally to restrain the dasher porting a tub 2 DIOVided with the usual lid 3. from turning upon its mounted bearing axis while The tub has dasher mechanism 4 of the present l moving about the drive shaft. However, with this design diagrammaticlly illustrated as mounted snp clutch mechanism, the dasher may assume for operation substantially centrally of the wash- Fig. 16 is a diagrammatic plan view thereof. Fig. 1 illustrates a washer having a base I, supf various new operative axial positions with reing tub 2 l spect to its own axis anywhere within the 360 4o A motor 5 1S convemently mounted within the degrees ofuotivity within the tub. Such autobase I 0f the Washmg machine to drive directly matically selected axes of operation normally will the dasher 4 through a belt drive 6 connecting .depend upon the loading of the machine which l the motor pulley 1 wlth the dasher driving pu11ey directly affects the washing action as determined 8, and the latter is secured to the main drive by the number of articles oi' clothing within the 45 shaft 9 of the dasher. Obviously, it is tobenoted tub and upon the Sizes yand VWeights thereof and Vthat thel entire drive is unidirectional and exi their grouping during the operation of the washtremely simple. with n0 reduction gearing or gear ing machine. This restrained rotation `of the box.v and only a minimum number of moving ,dasher is specified as oatable." It will be ob- Parts.

vious that heavy loads will be subjected to more Referring now to Fig. 3, the shaft9 isrotatabiy 1 squeezing action than light loads. It' is also mounted in bearings I I) and II Seeured'inspaced relationship in a center post I2. This center post I2 ls provided with an annular crimp 'I3 that worthy of careful note that the clothes are cono annular base plate I5, such'sleeve and plate be- A11 other objects and advantages inherent in p ins conveniently secured to lthe base of the tub 3 the washing process andmachine of the present in any desired manner. design hereinafter shall be referred to in the fol- The upper end of the shaft 9 is fixed rigidly lowing detailed description having reference to t0 a Cap I6 that is secured to and forms a Dart the accompanying drawings forming a part of of a depending driving sleeve I1 which is conn centrically disposed with respect to the shaft 9 Inthe drawings: and rotates upon a` bearing I8 secured to and Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevational view surrounding a. portion of the sleeve I4. A crank of the washing machine ofthe present invention pin I9 is secured to the cap I6 in oifset relation i having certain parts broken away and in section to the axis of the shaft 9, producing an eccentric tg illustrate the general details of construction drive, but with the axis of said crank pin I9 prefereof;

I erably spaced inwardly from the periphery of Fig. 21s a plan view of the dasher per se as seen the major portion of the length of the sleeve I1. y rI'he dasher 4 has a main body 20 provided with an Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse 4cross-sectional 70 upper bearing bushing 2| journaled on the crank pin I9 supporting the dasher 4 thereon for relative rotation about the axis of the pin I9.

The depending end of the driving sleeve I1 ter- Fig. 4 is a horizontal cross-sectionalview taken minates in an eccentric 22 having` a conically f substantially along the line 4-4 in Fig, 3, to il- 75 tapered bearing surface 23. A plurality of rollers 24 are journaled upon pins 25 mounted in a ring 21 to the body 20 of the dasher. These rollers 24 are conically positioned to engage properly the surface 23 of the driving eccentric 22, and the central a'xis of the eccentric 22 is positioned in direct alignment with the axis of the crank pin 9 thereby determining the axial eccentricity of the entire dasher 4 in relation to the axial center of the drive shaft 9.

Figs. 6 and 7 better illustrate certain details of construction showing the eccentric mountings of the dasher with respect to the drive shaft. It is to be noted in Fig. 6 that there are three rollers 24 preferably equally spaced onv 120 degree radial plane positions.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, the dasher body 29 is shown as provided `further with a bracket 2l having a roller 29 rotatably carried upon a pin 39 supported by the bracket 29. This roller engages a side face of an arm 3| forming a portion of the slip clutch mechanism indicated generally at 32 in Figs. 3 and 4. This slip clutch mechanism comprises a pair of oppositely disposed friction straps 33 and 34 which encircle and frictionally engage a stationary nanged brake sleeve 35 that is secured to the tubular sleeve 4 so as normally to be fixed against rotation. The strap 33 former an integral portion of best seen in Fig. 4.

A pair ofnadiustable spring tensioning units 39 and 3l connect the

straps

33 and 34 yieldably to urge such straps into a predetermined frictional contact with the brake sleeve 35, the

spring units

33 and 31 having adjustable means to increase or decrease the spring tension or frictional resistance offered between the surfaces of the straps the arm 3| as 33 and 34 and the brake sleeve 35 encircled by such straps. i 1

With this construction, the arm 3| extends radially outwardly from the fixed slip clutch mechanism that oii'ers a predetermined reactionary force through the arm 9| against the roller 29 of the dasher 4. This slip clutch mechanism 32 normally should be tightened sufilciently on the sleeve 35 so as to hold the dasher 4 against any appreciable axial rotation while, nevertheless, moving through its orbit on rotation of the drive shaft 9. If loosened slightly, the mechanism 32` will allow very slow axial .rotation of the dasher.

The direction of rotation of the drive shaft 9 is indicated in Fig. 3, and this direction is such as to floatably abut the roller 29 against arm 3|. The maximum movement of the roller 29 parallel to the arm 3| is determined by the amount of eccentricity of the dasher 4, which is from the full line position in Fig. 4, to the dotted line position. This restrains the normal back-and-forth travel of the bracket 28 and the adjacent portion of the dasher-supported roller 29. The other part of the body of the dasher performs a compound motion somewhat as shown in Fig. 5, which may be summed up as comprising a bodily eccentric or orbital motion of the entire dasher, accompanied by a non-rotation thereof relative to the tub under normal operation as floatably governed by the slip clutch mechanism.

As stated belfore, the slip clutch can allow the arm 3| to move in either direction, and the arm 3| is shown in Fig. 5 as shifted from the dotted line position to the dash-and-dot position at 49. This latter position is only anarbitrary angular displacement, it being obvious that the displacement of arm 3| may taken any `radial position about the 360 degrees of operation of the dasher slip clutch combination described or may revolve slowly therearound. Normally, through driving friction between the parts, the direction of pressure of the dasher against the arm 3| is clockwise.

one position, 4|, which coincides with the position that the dasher 4 occupies in Figs. l and 3. Other successive positions at 9 degree displacements are indicated in Fig. 5, by the reference characters a, b and c, respeptively. The corresponding roller positions of the roller 29 are indicated at 4|', a', b' and c, respectively. f e

The shifting of the slip clutch mechanism 32 and the axial position of the dasher, as judged by the location of the bracket 29 land itsroller 29, will be determined under different conditions of loading as they arise during the operation `of the washing machine. Excessive bunching of clothes in one portion olf the tub, producing a crowding or overloading condition, will tend to force the dasher and its roller against the slip clutch arm 3|,l which restrains rotation ofthe dasher, to relieve the` stressedv condition. This displacement will occur continually to shift the dasher about its own axis as the latter is being moved bodily through the unidirectional movement of the main driven shaft 9 and theeccentric driving arrangement. Under normal evenloaded conditions ofthe tub the mechanism will operate almost independently of the slip clutch. n Referring to Figs. 1 and 3. it will be noted that the dasher 4 is shown as provided with a smoothsurfaced portion 42 forming a continuous imperforate circumferential wall substantially verticallyv disposed and having a relatively large'diameter with respect to the internal diameter oi' the tub 2. However, the enlarged portion 42 is spaced an appreciable distance from'the wall of the tub'so as not, to interfere with the free cyclic movement oli the clothes therebetween. At the same time this portion 42 extends down close to the bottom of the tub. The upper portion of the dasher 4 forms a'column 43 of considerably smaller diameterthan the diameter of the base portion 42. l a

'Ihe general contour and shape of the dasher, as lviewed in Fig. 3, includesa vplurality of radial vanes 44 extending from the Abase 42 to the 50 upper end of the columny 43giilling in the valley portion of the middle part ofi-the dasher.. These rate determinedl by the rotationalspeed of the shaft 9. the base portion 42 of the dasher4 imparting continuous radial water currents in va. pref v determined progression moving. outwardly toward the tub walls at the bottom portion of thedasher and creating aninward suctionand downwardly therealong at the `upper portion olf the-dasher, to recirculate radially inwardly toward thefdasher and downwardly along the varied columns `and through the valley of the same, such currents sub- Vstantially following the pathsof the arrowsk indie cated in Figs. 1, 3 and 15. I i .l

This action has been observed in actual operation not only Vwith a dasher-*ofthe character In Fig. 5, the dasher is outlined as occupyingv force downwardly along is because there is described above, construction but. to be immersed in the water. and moved through an orbit at a relatively high velocity but of con-s nned magnitude less than that which would cause a radial discharge uof the clothes therefrom by centrifugal force. The preferred stroke is of the order of one-half inch from the center axis of the shaft 9 to the center axis of the bearing I9. The speed of the shaft 9 is preferably of the orde;` of 180 to 240 R. P. M. These characteristics are described, however, merely as illustrative, and may be varied so long as the desired throbbing action is obtained without appreciable centrifugal force that would tend to force the clothes outward in the tub.

The action observed appears to be caused by the'action of the vanes moved in the water byl the orbital motion lof the dasher. The character of the water action that appears to result therefrom is indicated by the arrows in Fig. 15. The action of the vanes moved'in the orbit, as shown in full lines and in dotted lines ln Fig. 16, acts on the water to cause a throbbing in the lower portion of the tub which will imparta suction the dasher and inwardly at the top thereof. This is observed to have the effect in actual use of drawing the clothes inwardly toward the upper portion of the dasher and downwardly therealong, thence outwardly and upwardly, in toroidal action and in loose condition, obtaining the maximum washing eiect. At the same time the clothes are not wrapped around the dasher, nor hang on the vanes.

The orbital movement of lthe dasher 4 will act within the ring of clothes that forms therearound to-cause a turn-over of the ring at the bottom portion of the dasher, constantly pushing out on the clothes at the lower inner sector of the ring, as the vanes 44 and the cylindrical portion 42 are moved outward and inward at any particular portion of the dasher by the orbital movement thereof.: This action tends to turn-over the clothes in the, ring and at the same time, due to the relatively narrow spacing of the vanes 44, not more than 90 from each other, to create-the downward and inward circulation of water therebetween, as pointed out above, to increase this turnover of the clothes, substantially in a continuous progressive manner around the dasher as the latter. is moved through its orbit. l

This produces a steady overturning of the clothes in the same direction as indicated by the arrows, and the wash water is forced through the clothes by reason of the high speed throbbing pulsationsimparted to the water by the dasher, making the movement of the than the movement, of f the clothes to produce a very effective relative washing action to clean the clothes quickly in a short interval of time and with a minimum amount of wear upon such clothes to further enhance the intrinsic value of this washing process. The power input requirements of the mechanism are substantially uniform and lower than impeller-type washers. This no heavy riding of radially moving vanes and the elimination of inertia loads inherent in reversing mechanism.

. The introduction of the

radial vanes

44 and 45 prevents the clothes from hugging the dasher column and maintains sufficient clearance for the recirculation of the wash water downwardly along the columns of the dasher and toward the strong displacement throbbing action zone adjacent the base 42 that sends its rapidly radiating water but also with' dashers of other having radial vanes in position water considerably faster currents outwardly as described. A Obviously, the vanes contribute to the washing action to produce a light rubbing action during the eccentric motion of the dasher. The clothes immediately adjacent the dasher are carried downwardly and around to follow the contour of the dasher as they move from the upper level toward the lower level with the recirculating water currents gon-q .stantly changing during the eccentric action of the dasher relative to the tub wall. p

Thus, the washing machine embodies a dasher having eccentric motion to move bodily the entire dasher in the path of the eccentric movement, and such dasher is restrained vor floatably supported to rotate independently. The high speed frequency ofthe eccentric motion produces the diverging water currents off of the surface of the dasher and due to the character of the vanes thereon, the currents recirculate to move the clothes toward the tub wall for movement upwardly therealong and back toward the center portion of the machine and the .dasher, Whereat the currents again reverse themselves to move downwardly along the surface of the dasher carrying the clothes downwardly in a position somewhat straddling the individual ns for rubbing therealong while such clothes travel downwardly near the body of the dasher. Inasmuch as theA pulsations are generally radially and evenly distributed, the clothes and wash water acquire only a slow circular motion within the tub.

Therefore, it is worthy of careful note that thecombination of the radial vanes and rapidly pulsating water currents have thedesirable effect of distributing the clothes evenly around the dasher so that all portions of the clothes batch are subjected to practically uniform washing treatment. With this in mind, the mechanism 32 illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, might be entirely omitted, if desired, to eliminate any form of mechanical control means. Without the slip clutch mechanism 32, the dasher is only acted upon by the clothes so that the loading and proximity of the clothes alone will control the movements of the dasher upon its own axis of rotation. Such clothes, however, have no effect whatever upon the bodily orbital motion of ,the dasher as the latter is positively driven by the unidirectional power drive means.

Other dashers may be substituted for the dasher body 20 illustrated as the preferred construction. Fig. 8 represents such a modified construction wherein the dasher body 20 is provided with a plurality of apertures 46 extending along certain 55 sections thereof, as shown, leaving the lower pump action portion 42 of the dasher continuous and imperforate, as shown. The apertures 46 in this form produce a multitude of jets at one side of the dasher as indicated in Fig. 15. Thus,l d0 the washing action is further aided by the jets produced by the openings in the dasher and the radial fiat vanes on opposite sides thereof. Obviously, the location and direction of the openings ymay be changed to suit certain conditions of 65 operation and to obtaina predetermined result in conjunction with the main washing action produced by the eccentrically moving dasher as previously described.

The dasher illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10 is in the form of'a rosette wherein the general contour thereof includes the radially-formed vanes 41. This dasher shows the vanes 41 as curving upwardly and inwardly from the base 48 of such dasher so that the greatest pressure area thereof exists near its bottom.

slip clutch i The dasher in Figs. 11 and 12 provides a cylindrical body 49 having the apertures 50 therein which terminate intermediate the length thereof to provide a solid base portiontl which introduces the greatest pump action as hereinbefore referred to, the current water pressure being decreased along the'apertured area thereof. This dasher is provided with vanes 52 shaped as shown and radially positioned as in the other forms of dasher.

'Another modiiled construction of dasher appears in Figs. 13 and 14 which is generally provided with a conical body 53 having an enlarged base portion 54 tapering towardv the reduceddiameter top portion. A plurality of radially disposed surface vanes 56 cover the surface portion of the dasher for enhancing the washing action as previously described. With this latter type of dasher, the greatest displacement pump action portion will be adjacent the base 54 creating a greater pressure zone than can be y established along the upper portions of the same unit. The more forceful water current zone cre-U ated bythis dasher is enhanced by the fact that the hydrostatic head of the wash water varieswith the depth thereof, placing the greatest water pressure adjacent the lower portion of the dasher body to be acted thereon for producing the recirculating water currents that act so emciently to wash the clothes in the presentmachine and in a relatively shortA interval of time.

For removal of the dasher for replacement purposes, the upper end of the dasher body Il is covered with a closure cap 51 which normally covers and houses a hand nut Il which screws.

upon the upper threaded end of the stud is normally to hold the dasher in operative positionv with respect to its eccentric driving .mechanism and to the tub. Removalv of the vcap l1 and loosening of the hand nut llzwill allow `lifting the dasher body Il out .of .the machine vwhenever removal is desired., Replacementlth cof To summarize the actionof uple herein presented; r-ine includes. af tub that may be round, square or yof other shape l in contour, la vaned Adasher.inisaid tub, a drivel ymechanism having eccentricsupportin'g bearings4 to carry the dashenwith dasher being freely or. iloatably supported upon such bearingsto seek its ownangular positionsrelative to its own axis. and. wherein, the drive mechanisrnyforcesl the dasher to move about the `dri've'anorbit at a predetermined rate of speedi-i-generally much y faster than axia ly rotating impellers `or agitators. l 'I n f In eii'ect, the dasherjactually rotatesv upon its own bearings at a rate *of speed which causes e it normally to stand still'relative to the tub while l the eccentric drivingarrangement, moves the dasher bodily throughpthe' orbit aboutithe' drive shaft. The action ofthe-vclothesmoving vradially inwardly toward and against-the dasher andv moving alongl the vanes' thereon *normally prevents rotation of the dasher relatively ltoits assumed angular placement upon vits;sur'iportingl bearings.

Bunching or off-balance groupingof' .clothes which may occur only during the initial loading ci' the machine, will act upon the dasher to automatically adjust themselves about lthe dasher under uniform water current pulsations to equally` surround the dasher, thereby distributing the washing load. With this construction. the clothes actually maintain their equally distributed posh anden I. tions through the washing operation while the machine subjects all the clothes to `the ysame cleansing action, which is a combination of slowrotation around the tub.. and cyclic toroidal roil.

s ing in relatively faster water. currents.

Changes in the exact lconstruction and combination of parts of the washing machine and its embodied mechanism are contemplated. All such modifications and substitution of yequivalent 10 means in the design of the preferred construction shown and described shall be governed by. `the breadth and scope o1 the appended claims submitted herewith and deilnlng the fundamental structure of the present invention. 15 What I claim is:

1. In a washing machine, a receptacle adapted to contain a kbody of liquid for washing fabrics I therein, a dasher'extending upwardly in the re-l ceptacle,` said dasher having upwardly extending vanes on the periphery thereof, and means for operating said dasher in an orbital motion of small magnitude and relatively high velocity such that a cyclic toroidal rolling action is created in the liquid inwardly and downwardly at the upper portion ofthe dasher and outwardly and upwardly at the lower portion thereof, said vanes comprisf ing relatively thin flat blades projecting radially from theperiphery of the dasher and extending throughout the maior portion of the length thereof, said dasher having perforations in the upper portion thereof between the blades.- p

' 2. In a washing machine, a receptacle adapted `to contain a body of liquid for washing fabrica therein. a dasher extending upwardly in the re- `ceptacle, said dasher being approximatelybellabovev and oi' appreciably smaller diameter than 40 said rim portion, vanes extending upwardly along 5 motion;

` 3.. Ina washing machina] tub, a drivcfshaft y y projecting within the tub, a dasher'eccentrically jmormted on the drive shaft andhaving clothes l clearanceproiections thereon' to provide vertical 5o water passageways adjacent the body of the dasli-` y er and'assceiated with the' shaftiorjbodily vtating movement around the shaft, and vmesnil tation lduring its orbital 'movement to yieldably restrain the dasher against axial rov I* 4. Ina washing machine, a tub,"`a dasherin 4 said tub, and drive mechanism for said dasher' comprising a unidirectional drive shaft.v driving means connected between said drive shaft and said dasher to bodily move thev latter in an orbito about said drive shaft, and reactionary ymeans connected `with said dasher normallyv to holdth'c f same in 'a predetermined angular position with' said tub during operation, said reactionary means] comprising ay support, an arm projecting therefrom, andl alrollerron said dasherin position forl abutting contact withsaidarm.

yed with said dasher normally to hold the same in a predetermined angular position within Z5 tubv during operation,` said reactionary means shapedy with an outwardly flaring imperforate rim portion at the lowerA end thereof and with an inwardly tapering side walll portion there il. In a washing machine, fa tub,fadasher tub, and .drive mechanism'.`for saiddasher g comprising a Aunidirectional drive shaft, driving means connected between said drive shaft andsaid dasher to bodily move thelatter in an orbit about v M said drive shaft, and reactionary means connecthaving'- Derforationsv in the upper portion thereof vbetween the blades. 7. In awashingmachine, a

tending upwardly in-fthej tub, a.v drive-sleeve tele- 1 scoped'overf`the 4shaftjin V-the tub concentrically-- i thereof and secured thereto for rotation with. the lshafta dasher v"ext ending about the drive sleeve; jfl meansl journaling'g'theylower end portion of the] I .tending upwardly yin the tub, adrive' sleeve telescoped' -over the shaftinthe tub jconcentrimlly'` '1 L thereof and's'ecuredtheret'o for rotation with the V shaft, a dasher .extending about thel drive sleeve, I means: journaling ,theA lower -end portion of the L 10. In ja' ,washing machine, a

contain a -bodyof' liquid for` 'washing yclothes Q comprising'a;fixedl support,an. arm, a roller conl nected with said dasher and having abutting engag'ement with said arni,v and releasable slipvclutch y mechanism for mounting said arm on said support I to allow automatic angular shifting of said arm 5 and saidA dasher under unbalanced load conditions Y during the operation of said washer.

6. In a washingmachine, a receptacle adapted l to contain a'body'of liquid for washing fabrics i 1 therein, a dasher lextending upwardly in the receptacle, said dasher having upwardly extending vanes, on vthefperiphery thereof,v and means for operating'said' 4vdasher in an orbital motion of smallmagnitude andrela'tively high velocity such 3 that acyclicgtoroidalrolling action is created in l the liquid inwardly `and downwardly at the upper portion of the dasheria'nd" outwardly'and -upwardlyat the lower portion thereof, said dasher 2o tub, a shaft extending upwardly in the tub and rotatably mountof the dasherf-ecc'en- 8. Ina washing machine-1a'tub,-aivshaft'ex z drive sleeve :.i'n tl'ieftiib,l and means journaling' the dasher on; the d rivsleeve on" an axis, spaced '.in- 4 wardly of vthefperiph'eryV o i the major 'portion, ofv 1 i-b'earings', land saidv lower bearing having' al be'ar--vingsurfaceextending about v the' driv e sleeve.; r;-

9L` a washing machine, a ztnb,fa shaft exvj drive fsleeve in thetub, and means Journalingthe thelengthoffthe' drive sleeve and eccentrically.

of th'e-axisfofA the drive shaft for causing orbital' movement ofythedasher about the drive shaft, f said journaling means'gincluding upper and lower bearings, and s 'aidlower bearing having a bearing a surfaceextending about the drive sleeve adjacent the lower end, of the dasher.

ltub adapted to thereinf2 a drive shaft extending lupwardlyin said Zt-ub, "and a 'dasher. surrounding said shaft and i journaled for free and independent rotation rela-` tive lto said shaft vand-tub; said shaft being connected with the dashereccentrically of the shaft for moving the'dasher bodily in an orbit relative `l:to thejaxis'ofthe shaft, said dasher having a -diametric'aily reduced upper portion and a dia- 1 -meti'ically relatively enlarged lower portion joined 75 dasher en theidrive 'sleeve on an axis spacedi'n-V xwardlylofithe periphery of the majorl portion 'of 11. In a. washing machine. a tubi. adapted to contain a body of liquid for washing. clothes therein, a drive shaftexte'ndng upwardly in said tub. anda dasher'surrounding said shaft and journaled for free andindependent rotation" rela-- tive to said shaft and tub, said shaft being connected with the dasher eccentrically of the shaft for moving the dasher bodily in an orbit relative tothe axis ofthe shaft, said dasher having an enlarged substantially cylindrical base portion of appreciable height with a diametrically reduced y upper portion thereabove and rigid therewith and having inwardly inclined connecting portions therebetween. f 12. In a washing contain a. -body of water for Washing clothes therein, a drive shaft extending upwardly in said tub, and a dasher surrounding said shaft and journaled for free and independent rotation relative to said shaft and tub, said shaft being connected with the dasher eccentrically of the shaft for moving the dasher bodily in an orbit relative to the axis of the shaft, said dasher having a y body with a diametrically enlarged base' portion with a diametrically reduced upper portion thereabove and rigid therewith, and meansV projecting outwardly from the body and spaced at intervals around the body for holding the clothes spaced yfrom the body during said orbital movement. f' y ,j 13. In a washing-(machine, a, tub adapted to contain a body of Water for washing clothes therein,`a drive shaft extending upwardly in said tub, and agdasher: surrounding said shaft and journaled yfor-free and independent rotation relative.tosaid'sljlaftv and tub, said shaft being com .e nectedwithfth'e dasher eccentrically of the shaft for 'moving` the. dasher bodily in an orbit relative tothe axis of the shaft, said dasher having a diametrically enlargedf substantially. cylindrical base portion of 'appreciableheight with a diametrically reduced vupper portionthereabove and rigid therewith, and'vanes spaced at intervals around-said uppery portion and extending downwardly substantially .to the base portion and having inward- .ly inclined outer edges, said vanes being spaced .apart circumferentially of the dasher not more than from each other.

14.111 awashing machine, a tub adapted to f contains, bodyof water for washing clothes therein,` a drive shaft extending upwardly in said tub,

anda dasher surrounding said shaft and jour- 'n'aled for freeand independent rotation relative to said shaft and tub, said shaft being connected with the dasher eccentrically of the shaft for mov- "ing the dasher bodily in an orbit relative to the l axis of theshaft, said dasher being substantially bell-shaped and having outwardly extending relatively fiat vanes on the periphery thereof, and

spaced apart. circumferentially of the dasher not f more than 90 from each other, whereby thel clothes are caused to move outwardly at the bottom of the dasher and inwardly at the top thereof during said orbital movement.

15. In a washing machine', a tub adaptedto` contain a body of water for washing clothes therein, a drive shaft journaled for rotation relative to the tub, an upwardly extending dasher-sur'- rounding the axis of the shaft and having a di` ametrically enlarged lower portion and a diametrically reduced upper portion, said shaft being connected with lthe dasher eccentrically of the shaft for moving the dasher bodily in an orbit relthereto and tapered inwardly to said reduced up- `per portion.

machine, a tubadapted to anden ative to the. axisof'the shaft, and means for holding the dasher against rotation about its ownl axis during the movement thereof through `the orbit, said holding means including means fixed'. relative to the tub with an outwardly extending portion, and means connected with the dasherj and bearing laterally against said outwardly extendingportion. a

f 16. In a washing machine,a tub adapted lto contain abody of water for-washing clothes th re- '-rotation during the movement thereof throughy in, a drive shaft iournaled' for rotation rela ive to the tub, an upwardly extending dasher eccentrically connectedwith the drive' shaft for movement thereby in an orbit relative to the axis of y ment of the dasher'bodilyfin an orbit relative to the axis of the shaft, said'l'dasgher having a di- ,ametrically enlarged lowe'rlportion and a di- -f ametrically reduced'upperportion andsurroundland'means connected with the dasher and bearing laterally against said outwardly extending por-l tion.

17. In a washing machine, a tub adapted to contain a body of water for washing clothes therein, a drive shaft journaled for rotation in the tub, a dasher surrounding the shaft and extending throughout the maior portion of the height of the tub, said dasher having a body with a diametrically enlarged base portion and a diametrically reduced upper portionthereabove and rigid therewith and extending upwardly throughout the major portion of the height of the tub, and means spaced at intervals around said dasherand projecting outwardly from the body for holding the clothes away from the body, said shaft being connected with the dasher eccentrically of the shaft for moving the dasher bodily in an orbit relative to the axis of the shaft, and means for holding the dasher against rotation during the movement thereof through the orbit, said holding means including means fixed relative to the tub with an outwardly extending portion, and means connected with the dasher and bearing laterally against said outwardly extending portion.

18. In a washingl machine, a tub adapted to contain a body of water for washing clothes therein, a drive shaft journaled for rotation in the tub, an 4upwardly extending dasher surrounding the axis of the shaft, said .dasher being substantially bell-shaped and having downwardly l extending relatively flat vanas on the periphery thereof and 4spaced apart circumferentially of the dasher not more 'than 90 from each other, said shaft being connected with the dasher eccentrically ofthe shaft for moving the dasher bodily lin an orbit relative to the axis of the shaft, and means for holding the -dasher against rotation about -its own axis during the movement thereof through the orbit, whereby the clothes are caused to move outward at the bottom of the dasher and inward at the top thereof during said' orbital movement, said holding means including means fixed relative to the tub with an outwardly extending portion, and means connected with the dasher and bearinglaterally against said outwardly extending portion.

19. In a washing machine, a tub adapted to contain a body of water for washing clothes therein, a drive shaft journaled for rotation relative to the tub, a dasher surrounding the shaft and having a diametrically enlarged 10Wer portion and a diametrically reduced 4uppeiportion, said shaft being connected with the dasher eccentrically of the shaft for moving the dasher bodily vin an orbit relative tov the axis of the shaft, and means` for yieldably holding the dasher against the orbit.

20.'In a washing machine, a tub adapted to contain a body of water for washing clothes therein, a drive shaft journaled for rotation relative -to the tub, a' dasher in the tub and eccentrically connected` with the drive shaft for movethe shaft, and-means substantially fixed relative to the tub and forming an kabutment in the 4 .patr of movement of the dasher through the orbit for restraining .the dasher against rotation about its own axis during` movement thereof through the orbit.

21. In 4a. washing machine, a-'tub adapted to Y contain a body of liquid for washing clothes thererelative to the axis rof the shaft, means to rotate said shaft at a speed of approximately between 180 and 240 cycles per minute, said dasher naving a diametrically reduced upper portion and a diametrically relatively enlarged lower portion Joined theretoY and tapered inwardly to said reduced upper portion.

22. In a washing machine, a tub adapted to contain a body of liquid for washing clothes therein, a driv shaft extending upwardly in said tub, and a dasher surrounding. said shaft and Journaled for free and independent rotation relative to said shaft and tub, said shaft being 'connected with the dasher eccentrically of the shaft for moving the dasher bodilyin a circular orbit relative to the axis of the shaft. said orbit having a radius approximately one-half inch in any div rection from the center of the (orbit, and-means to rotate said drive shaft ata speed of approximately between and 240 cycles per minute, said dasher having a diametrically reduced upper portion and a diametrically relatively enlarged lower portion Joined thereto and tapered inwardly to said reduced upper'portlon. JOHN A. CASTRICONE.

REFERENCES CITED The followingreferences are of record in the me of this patent:

' UNITED STATES PMA'IENTS Practical Treatise on Gearing. 24th edition, 4th printing, April 1944, Brown -lx Sharpe Mfg Co.. Providence, R. I., Chapter XX, Internal Gears. pages 157 to 160 inclusive.