US2513844A - Washing machine with centrifugal extractor and stabilizer therefor - Google Patents

Description

July 4, 1950 G. P. CASTNER ETAL sums MACHINE wrm CENTRIFUGAL EXTRACTOR 7 AND STABILIZER THEREFOR Filed Aug. 14, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 glvwem/toz 65020:- P CASTNER. v Alarnoz D. LUND 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 G. P. CASTNER ET AL WASHING MACHINE WITH CENTRIFUGAL EX'I'RACTOR AND STABILIZER THEREFOR July 4, 1950 Filed Aug. 14. 1946 Qvwvwbou 650265 I? cnamm An'rnuz l2 LUND July 4, 1950 a. P. CASTNER ETA L 2,513,844

WASHING CHINE WITH CENTRIF'UGAL EXTRACTQR I AND STABILIZER THEREFOR Filed Aug. 14. 1946 6 She ets-Sheet 5 Elma/"bow 65-0205 1? CASTIVEAZ Azruuz D. Lump July 4, 1950 e P. cAsTNER ETAL Q 2,513,844

ialll 4- all! IASHING WITH CENTRIFUGAL'EXTRACTOR AND 'STABILIZER THEREFOR riled Au 14. 1946 s Sheets-Sheet e' 32 v 3-22-5111 2 3M v 65020; I? Cnsrn/E'a Ann/a2 D. Lu/vo OMEMM/M Patented July 4, 1950 WASHING MACHINE WITH CENTRIFUGAL EXTRACTOR AND STABILIZER THEREFOR- George P. Castner, Webster City, Iowa, and

Arthur D. Lund, Hennepin County, Minn signors to Solar Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Application August 14, 1946, Serial No. 690,532

14 Claims. 1

This invention relates to clothes washing machines, particularly of the general type used for. domestic purposes, and the main object is to provide a comparatively simple, efficient, and practical machine for washing, rinsing, and drying the clothes and other articles to be laundered.

A further and more specific object is to provide a novel construction of machine in which, when properly adjusted and set, the various operations can be carried out automatically and in predetermined, time sequence.

A further object is to provide a washer of the agitator type with means for introducing water to the washing tub in such manner as to increase the washing and rinsing efilciency while also removing the sediment and scum from the cleansing and rinsing fluids.

A further object is to so design the washing machine that the entire operating structure, including the tub, agitator, and operating mechanism, will be supported on a cushioned center pivot construction, with supplemental means for supporting such operating structure in yieldable, balanced, operating position.

A further object is to provide a machine in which the washing receptacle may be rapidly rotated to centrifugally dry the clothes, and a spinning mechanism, including a fluid drive coupling, that will not only prevent overloading of the spinner motor during the starting operation, when load resistance is greatest, but will also function to retard spinning speed of the receptacle when the same is subjected to eccentric vibration due to unbalanced load condition in the clothes receptacle.

Still further and more specific objects will be disclosed in the course of the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, and in which drawings:

Fig. l is a top or plan view of the machine with various parts broken away for purpose of illustration.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail section of our improved spray nozzle, as on line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation through the machine on line 3-3 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the machine, as seen on line 4-4 on Figure 3, or with the major portion of the front housing wall broken away to expose the interior mechanism, and with some parts in section for purpose of illustrating certain details of construction.

Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view on line 5-4 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail sectional elevation on line 66 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a sectional plan view on line in Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail section on line 8-2 in Fig. 7. i

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional detail elevation through the fluid drive transmission, or as seen substantially on the line 99 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail elevation of the baflle tube removed from the agitator assembly.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged diametrical section through the center cushion support for the operating assembly.

Referring to the drawings more particularly and by reference characters A designates a lower housing chamber formed by an upwardly concaved base plate l2, vertical corner irons l3, and a surrounding wall plate M, the latter of which may be in whole or part readily removed to give access to the mechanism contained within the chamber. This lower construction also includes a four sided angle iron frame I5 providing inwardly projecting ledges I 6 and Ilia.

u The upper housing structure comprises an upwardly concaved bottom plate 11, secured as at l8, to the ledge. lBa, and sealed at its upstanding peripheral flange ill to the casing walls 20 to provide a fluid tight receptacle or chamber B. Extending upwardly from a center opening in the plate I! is anupstanding sleeve 2|, also sealed to the plate, so as to provide the annular water chamber B between itself and the walls 20. The

upper edge of the lower casing wall I4 is preferably maintained in fltting contact with the flange I9 by a sealing strip 2| (Figs. 3 and 4). At its upper end the casing 20 has an inwardly curved flange member 22 upon which is seated the circular, removable lid or cover 23.

The washer is supported on four floor jacks which are so designed that they may be adjusted to properly level the machine on an uneven or irregular floor, and will also prevent creeping of the machine due to vibration. Each of these Jacks (see Figs. 3, 4, '7, and 8) consists of a vertical bolt 24 threaded in a nut 25 fixed on the base plate l2 and secured by a lock nut 26. The lower end of the bolt has. a ball-socket connection to an inverted cup or foot 21 permitting the latter to adjust itself to floor surface irregularities. This cup 21 has a serrated flange resting on and imbedding itself in a rubber or resilient pad 28 which is preferably cemented in proper selected position on the floor. With this construction it will be seen that the machine can be' adjusted sembly of frame, operating mechanism,

3 for equalized four point floor support, while also being cushioned to absorb vibration and millciently anchored to prevent creeping.

The washing, rinsing, and centrifimlns assembly is supported within the chamber B upon a spindle element projecting upwardly through the sleeve 2| from the operating and transmission assembly contained within chamber A. Both assemblies are primarily supported, as a single unit, upon a single central bearing or cushioned support. This support (Figs. 3 and '11) includes a cup 29, mounted in the plate l2, which, because of its inversely disced shape, provides rigid support, and within the cup there i is a rubber block or pad 30 having an inner socket element 3| which releasably receives the lug 32 of a block 33 mounted on the frame 34 of the operating mechanism.

The frame 34 is composed of rigidly connected parts including a generally U-shaped member 35 (Fig. 3), to which the block is directly fastened, an'irregularly shaped plate 38 (Figs. 3, 4, 5, 7, 9), and an upper but also irregularly shaped plate 31 which is secured to the lower plate (36) by three spacers 38 and top screws 39. The plate 31 has an integral, tube extension 40, which projects up within the sleeve 2|, with freedom 'for ample clearance with respect thereto, and this tube 40 has upper and lower antifriotion bearing rings 4| and 42, respectively, for centering a spindle 43 (Figs. 3 and 5) having an internal shaft 44. v

The frame 34 directly supports the power and transmission mechanism, while the spindle 43 and shaft 44 further and additionally support the tub and washing elements, all of which will presently be described.

'As will be evident, the entire combination asand upper, washer unit will be primarily supported leather, fiber or other composition material, have direct face contact with the plate 5|, their surfaces adjacent the bars 49 have flanged metal covers 0): washers 51 to insure proper retention of the disks with respect to the bolts 53 and bars The clothes receptacle, C, comprises an axial sleeve 58- terminating, at its lower end, in a conical section 59 that is rigidly secured to the top of the spindle 43 by bolts 80. The receptacle wall, 8|, is imperforate throughout and has a slightly tapered, downwardly curved bottom flange 62 that is secured in tight sealing engagement upon the outer rim 83 of the conical part 59. The base portion of the cone 59 has an elliptical trough or sediment trap 54 (Figs. 1 and 3), into which sand and other sediment from the tub C will settle,'and this sediment is carried off by the tubes 65, during the centrifuging operation as shown and claimed more specifically in application Serial No. 636,304, flied Dec. 21, 1945, by the present applicant George P. Castner and now Patent Number 2,470,140, May 17, 1949.

The upper ends of the tubes I5, in the present instance, discharge into outwardly flared deflector pockets 68 (Figs. 3 and 4), in what is designated as a balancing ring 51. This ring is preferably of heavy cast material and is secured by top screws 68 to the flange rim is of the tub c on the central bearing cushion 3|, and, as a resuit, it becomes necessary to provide means for balancing such assembly in its perpendicular or vertical position. This is done by the devices now to be described and which also permit limited radial vibration and gyratory deflection,

which is of paramount importance, particularly 'during the starting and spinning operations, as

it operates to absorb vibrations and accommodates the machine to unbalanced load conditions that results when the clothes are not uniformly distributed in the drying receptacle. To yieldably restrain the assembly in its normal, true'vertical position, and to restore it thereto, we provide a series of radial springs 45,

the inner ends of which are attached to the plate 31, at points 44, while the outer ends are atto the ledge, Ii, through the medium of snubber disks 52. These disks are held in frictional contactwith the plates 5| by bolts 53 which also extend through the bars 49, and each bolt has a compression spring 54 disposed between the lower bar 49 and an adjusting nut on the bolt. It

will be seen that the bolt opening, 55, in the plate 5| (Fig. 6) is relatively large so as to permit horizontal movements of the bars 49, disks 52, and plate 31 with respect to the plates 5|, and it may further be noted that while the disks 52, of

(Figs. 1 and 4). The ring is also provided with inset lugs 10, to engage the inner surface of the tub wall (Fig. 3), and between these lugs are openings 1| through which the fluid is expelled from the tub into the chamber B during the centrifuging operation. The ring 51 hasan inwardly directed flange 12 to prevent the upward escape of clothes from the tub during the drying or spinning action thereof. Another and very important function of the ring is to counteract the tendency of the tub to rotate eccentrically, with respect to a true vertical axis,under an unbalanced load. Thus the weight of the ring not only in itself tends to stabilize the rotation but will furthertend to correct throw" because of the fact that any tilting of the spindle axis from bearing center 32 will correspondingly tilt or wobble the ring, and, as is well known, the centrifugal force or momentum imparted will set up a gyroscopic action and tend to restore the body to its correct axis of rotation. This effect is enhanced by the height at which the ring is located above the point 32, since the ring is on top of the receptacle and as far above point 32 as the size of the casing will permit.

In addition to its important balancing function the use of the ring 61 actually greatly facilitates the manufacturing process since the tub or receptacle C need not have its walls perforated, thus adding an operation which has frequently given trouble due to distortion of the metal etc., nor need the tub walls be turned or formed in to hold the clothes. Instead the ring as it is cast is formed in the one single operation with the water escape openings H and the flange 12 to hold the clothes with a considerable saving in expense and time.

The tub C isrotated by the spindle 44, on which it is mounted, and the latter is provided, at its-lower end, with a pulley l3 driven by a belt 14 from a pulley 15 on the driven member 16 of "a fluid coupling which also includes a driving member 11 (Fig. 9). The member 11 is mounted on the vertical shaft 18 of an electric motor 19 carried by a bracket 8|) that is adjustably secured, as at 8|, to the frame plate 35.

The fluid coupling 16-11 is. of the Fottinger or turbine type, through which power is hydraulically transmitted by opposed, annularly spaced series of blades 02 and 03, but since the axis of the unit is vertically disposed, in the present instance, it will be seen that when the coupling is idle (as in Fig. 9) the power transmission fluid B4 is contained entirely within the driven member, 18, and does not therefore contact the vanes or blades 02 of the driving member as would normally occur when the coupling axis is horizontal. Consequently rotation of the driving member I1 would not initiate the fluid turbulence or circulation that is essential to this type of power transmission. For that reason the driving member 11 is provided with paddle extensions 85 that project down-into the fluid body within the inner edges of the blades 03 so as not to contact the latter. With this arrangement it will be seen that rotation of the member 11 will cause the extensions 05 to act on the fluid sufiicient to initiate and maintain the toroidal circulation required for power transmission. In addition to this novel feature the fluid coupling cooperates as a unit to reduce throw or eccentric vibration during centrifuging in a manner later to be set forth.

The actual clothes washing operation within the tub C is accomplished in somewhat conventional manner, by an oscillating agitator D (Fig. 3), made up of a tubular sleeve 86, flared out at its bottom, in a skirt 81, and having integrally formed, radial agitator blades 00. The skirt edge 86 is spaced above and extends beyond the trap 64 so that sediment may escape downward and inwardly to the trap.

The upper end of the sleeve 06 has an integral hub 89 with an axial socket which is upwardly tapered and square or hexagonal in cross section to flt snugly upon a similarly shaped plug 00 that is secured upon the upper end of shaft 44 by a pin 9|. Between the plug 00 and spindle 58 is a flanged bushing 92 that serves as a bearing between the shaft 44 and spindle 50. The agitator D is held down in place upon the plug 00 by a cap 93 having a shank threaded into the end of the shaft. By removing the cap 93 the agitator can, of course, easily be removed and replaced.

The lower end of the shaft 44 has a vertically stationary clutch part 04 adapted to be engaged and disengaged by a complemental clutch member 95, which is slidably keyed to a shaft 00 jour naled in a transmission casing 01. The shaft 96 is oscillated by a linkage mechanism 00 which is not shown in detail but may be of the type shown and described in Patch Patent No. 1,964,440, issued June 26, 1934. This mecha nism is actuated by a shaft 99 which is rotated in the housing, and which mechanism converts the rotary motion to the shaftto reciprocating motion of the shaft 96. The shaft 90 projects upwardly from the casing 91 to support a pulley I00, driven by V-belt IOI from a smaller pulley, I02, on the shaft I03 of a motor I04. This motor is adjustably secured, as by bolts I08 and slots I06, to the plate 36, in a manner permitting tension adjustment of the belt.

The clutch 94-95 is normally open or separated, as in Fig. 3, but is closed or engaged by energization of a solenoid I01 that operates a shipper lever I08. This is done automatically by an electric timer I00 as will presently be described.

a The shaft I03, of motor I04, carries a second pulley, H0, which operates a V-belt III to drive a pulley II2 on the shaft II3 of a centrifugal pump Ill. This pump is adjustably secured to the plate 06 by bolts H5, in slots IIB, which are.

so arranged that adjustments can be made to slacken or tighten the belt III as may be required. The inlet side of the pump is connected by a conduit I II to a drain spout I I8 of the chamber B, and since the pump is subject to vibration with respect to the casing this conduit is preferably of flexible tube or hose material. The outlet side of the pump is connected to a flexible conduit II! for discharging used fluid to a convenient point outside the casing.

Washing and rinsing water is introduced to the machine by a pipe or tube I20 which preferably extends in through a side wall of the casing I4, and thence upwardly through the bottom plate I1 and to a coupler I2I (Figs. land 4). A second pipe I22, is detachably secured to the coupler I2I and extends inwardly and slightly upwardly, terminating in a spray head I23 which it'supports in an axial position over the tub C and slightly spaced above the cap 93. Exteriorly of the machine the pipe I20 is adapted for connection with one or more mixing valves (not shown) so that water of desired temperature and volume may be supplied to the spray head I23.

The spray head I23 is of hollow form and has two annular series of perforations I24 and I25. The circle of perforations I24 produces a wide conical spray I24a (Figs. 2 and .3), while the circle of perforations I25 produces a generally cylindrical form of downward spray I25a. The

purposes of the sprays will be set forth in the description of the operation of the machine.

As an important element of the present invention we have provided what may be conveniently referred to as a baiile unit E, as shown in Figs. 2. 3, 4, and 10. This unit consists of a cylindrical tube I26 the top end of which is flared, as at I21, while the lower portion is longitudinally slotted, at I20, to permit the unit to be moved vertically down into place about the sleeve 86 and with the slots I28 receiving the agitator blades 80. The unit is releasably secured to the sleeve hub by a set screw I29 which holds the tube in annularly spaced position with respect to the sleeve for the passage of water downwardly therebetween. The upper section of the unit E is further provided with a series of radial fins or vanes I30, the function of which will presently be set forth.

The timer I09 which controls the electric current to the two motors I9 and I04 and to the solenoid switch I01 is of conventional or standard design, well known in the art, and consequently neither it nor the wiring diagram is shown in detail. It is suflicient to note that in the present instance a start and stop switch for the timer may conveniently take the form of a dial I3I, mounted on top of the machine and connected to the timer by rod I32. This dial (Fig. 1) can be set to control the duration of the washing operation but thereafter the extracting, rinsing and drying operations automatically follow at predetermined time intervals. It will also be understood that the timer may operate to control the sequence and supplies of hot and cold water in synchronism with the motor actuating so that once started the machine can function to complete the entire operation without manual adjustment or intervention.

gether with the various advantages flowing from the present construction, may be described as follows:

The desired amount of clothes and soap are placed in the tub C, and water of the required temperature is then filled in (under manual valve control) through the pipes i2. and I22, and

spray head I23, until it reaches the predetermined water level line I33 (Fig. 3). The lid or cover 23 is then closed and the dial ill is set, by turning it to the desired number of wash minutes.

, The dial is then lifted to start the timer which closes the circuit to motor I and solenoid II! to close clutch 9l95. The motor I then drives the pump Ill through belt connection HI, and operates belt Hll, transmission mechanism 98 and clutch 94-85, to oscillate the shaft 44 and agitator D secured thereon. The resulting washing process, as such, is of the well known action in which the agitator impellers 88 impart a turning r toroidal movement to the suspended clothes to subject the latter to constant contact with currents of the soapy water until clean.

During this step of the process any grit. sand or other heavy foreign matter will find its way into the sediment trap it, while any fluid or suds splashing over the tub and into the casing chamher B will be drawn off through the drain III by the pump Ill-which is constantly running.

A feature prefer-ably reserved for the rinsing operation but which may also be used in the washing step consists of opening the water supply to the spray head I23 toward the end of the washing period. When this is done the water surface is raised above the level of line I33 and up to that of the openings 'II. The water from spray l2ia fiows up from the lower edge of the bailie tube E, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 3, and the wider spray, l2la. acts outwardly against the upper surface. The combined spray action has a tendency to stop or retard the normal rolling or tumbling rotation of the clothes and the spray l24a acts to push the surface scum outwardly through the holes II and thus remove it from further contact with the clean clothes. This action is supplemented by the fins I30, of the baflle unit, which fins are now operating below the level of the increased body of water and tend -to fan or impel outwardly the scum disposed within the spray I24a. This descumming step maybe by either manual or automatic control.

When the washing operation is completed the solenoid Ill! is deenergized to disconnect the clutch 94-95 which in turn stops the oscillations of the agitator D, while the motor I continues to operate the pump I ll.

The motor- 18 is then energized and has as its sole function to spin the receptacle C through belt ll, pulley l3 and spindle 43, to partially dry the clothes. It will be understood that under this centrifuging action the water will be forced outwardly to the wall 6| of the receptacle and will then fiow upwardly along the tapered wall until it reaches the escape ports II from which it will be discharged into the chamber B for prompt removal by the pump I It. It will also be noted that the inner flange I2 of the balancing ring will prevent the upward escape of clothes during the centrifuging, while the elliptical form of the sediment trap and the arrangement of pipes OI will cause centrifugal flushing and discharge of any foreign matter that has settled in the trap.

During the first spinning operation, which may be maintained for approximately five minutes it may be found desirable to give the clothes one spray flushing with hot water. In any event, and when the cleaning fluid has been substantially removed, the spinning motor (19) is deenergized, cold rinse water is supplied to the tub, and the clutch "-95 is re-eng'aged to again activate the agitator D. After rotational tumbling of the clothes is now sufilcient to insure proper rinsing the clutch is again disengaged and the spinning motor is again operated to dry the clothes. for h n ing or ironin In all washing machines employing centrifugal drying a substantial problem arises because of vibration resulting from unbalanced loads in the centrifuging process. To prevent tipping, creeping, noise, wear, etc. resort has been made to various cures" including that of bolting the machine to the floor, which is frequentl impractical and expensive. In the present instance a combination of features complement each other to absorb and prevent vibration to a point where it is sumciently,

controlled to be unobjectionable from a practical and operative standpoint. Thus it will first be noted that the adjustable corner Jacks 24-26 provide means for initially leveling the machine while the serrated foot and pad arrangement 21-28 is such as to provide a resilient pad on which the feet 21 cannot creep.

0f greater importance, however, is the single, cushioned, pivot support 32 for the entire operating assembly coupled with the radial balancing springs 45, and the snubbers 52, connected by the flexible arms 49, the balancing ring 61. and the hydraulic drive coupling IS-ll, all of which cooperate to reduce vibration to an unoblectionable minimum.

The single point support (32) for the entire asse lnbly is such that gyratory deflections of the clothes receptacle C will not be directly transmitted laterally to the casing 20, and, since the pivot connection 32 acts as a fulcrum for such deflectiqns, the amount of transmitted vibration at this low point is negligible. The elf-center or eccentric vibrations that are imparted to the frame plate 31 are frictionally retarded b the snubbers, while the centering springs 45 immediately tend to restore the assembly to its true vertical condition. In this manner the spring and snubber devices yieldably transmit only such vibration forces to the outer frame and easing as the latter can easily resist or absorb, and it may be noted that since the snubber arms II are flexible the disks 52 will always have fiat friction contact with the bracket plates 51. It is further to be noted that the snubbers and springs are equally effective to absorb torsional stresses about a vertical axis to which the assembly is subjected in starting and stopping operations.

The stabilizing effect imparted b the weight and momentum of the ring 61 has already been described, and, of course cooperates with the other anti-vibration factors to provide a smooth running of the machine even with out-of-balance load conditions.

The fluid drive coupling It-TI not only permits the motor to attain full speed and thus avoid overloading, when starting the relatively heavy clothes receptacle spinning, but also provides slipcreased load on the fluid drive which is set up when the tub load becomes unbalanced, and which increased load increases slippage in the fluid drive. This slippage may in turn be governed or determinded by the amount of fluid '84 in the coupling, as the slippage between driving and driven members l1 and 1-6, will increase or decrease by respectively decreasing or increasing the amount of fluid. Thus, it will be apparent, that with any load an increase in speed will result in greater eccentric throw, and increased frictional resistance, orincreased driving power, so that the slippage of the fluid drive can be set to limit the receptacle rotation below that which might otherwise be objectionable.

The construction of the parts forming the chamber B is such that there is ample room to accommodate a complete receptacle load of fluid and particularly so with the pump drawing it off during the rapid discharge of fluid from the upper edge of the receptacle. Thus the chamber i in effect open-topped, and the sleeve 2| renders unnecessary any seal between the chamber and spindle, while also being sufliciently large to permit full clearance for the sleev 40 even under maximum vibration conditions.

It is understood that suitable modifications may be made in the general design and structural details of the machine as hereinabove set forth without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Having now therefore fully illus: trated and described our invention what we claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent 1. In a washing machine, a clothes receptacle mounted for rotation about a vertical axis and having an upwardly flared, imperforate outer wall whereby water will rise, upon spinning of the receptacle, and escape outwardly over the upper edge of the wall, means for rotating the receptacle, and a heavy balancing ring mounted upon the upper edge of the receptacle, said ring projecting inwardly to restrain clothes in the receptacle from escaping upwardly therefrom during the spinning operation, the said ring having openings to pass the water outward during the spinning operation.

2. In a washing machine, a casing having an upper chamber, a clothes receptacle in the chamber and adapted upon being rotated to discharge fluid into the chamber, an agitator in the receptacle, a pump for draining the chamber, a motor and a fluid drive coupling for spinning the receptacle, a second motor for operating the agitator and pump, and a clutch for controlling the power connection from the second motor to the agitator.

3. In a clothes treating machine, a rotary and gyratory receptacle for clothes and treating liquid, the said receptacle having an upwardly flaring imperforate wall, means for spinning the receptacle to drive the fluid up the wall and to extract the fluid from the clothes, a balancing mass mounted around the upper edge of the receptacle wall, and the said balancing mass having openings therein to pass the liquid outwardly as it moves up the receptacle wall.

4. In a clothes treating machine, a rotary and gyratory receptacle for clothes and treating liquid, the said receptacle having an upwardly flaring imperforate wall, means for spinning the receptacle to drive the fluid up the wall and to extract the fluid from the clothes, a balancing mass mounted around the upper edge of the receptacle wall, and the said balancing mass having openings therein to pass the liquid outwardly as it moves up thereceptacle wall, the said balancing mass also having an inwardly turned tannular part to hold the clothes in the recepacle.

5. In a clothes treating machine, a rotary and gyratory receptacle for clothes and treating liquid, the said receptacle having an upwardly flaring imperforate wall, means for spinning the receptacle to drive the fluid up the wall and to extract the fluid from the clothes, a balancing mass mounted upon the upper edge of the receptacle wall, and the mass having notches in its underside forming openings above the receptacle edge for the escape of the liquid.

6. In a washing machine, a main frame, a second frame supporting a clothes receptacle for rotation about a vertical axis, means for mounting the second frame on the main frame with freedom for gyratory deflection with respect to said vertical axis induced by rotation of the receptacle when the latter is out of balance, means yieldably restraining such gyratory deflection and tending to restore the second frame and receptacle from deflected to normal operating positions, and at least one pair of cooperating friction producing members for frictionally resisting the aforesaid gyratory deflection, one of the members of said pair being attached to a point fixed with respect to the main frame and the other member of the pair being attached to the second frame.

"I. In a washing machine, a frame, a rotatable clothes receptacle, means for mounting the receptacle with respect to the frame for rotation about a vertical axis but with freedom for limited gyratory deflection with respect to the axis, means yieldably resisting said gyratory deflection and tending to restore the receptacle, when deflected, to operating position coincident with said vertical axis, additional means for resisting said gyratory deflection comprising a first member fixed with respect to the receptacle axis but non-rotatable with the receptacle, a second member anchored to an element fixed with respect to the frame, said flrst and second members having opposed friction surfaces and bein connected together by means permitting the members to move relatively to each other when pressure on such flrst member produced by gyratory deflection exceeds the resistance produced by such friction.

8. In a washing machine having a main frame, a clothes receptacle having a spindle supporting the receptacle for rotation about a. vertical axis, a second frame forming a bearing support for the spindle, means for mounting the lower end of the second frame on the main frame for limited tilting action whereby the second frame may gyrate in response to gyratory deflection of the clothes receptacle about said vertical axis, a first friction member attached to and extending outwardly from the second frame at anelevation below the clothes receptacle and above the lower end of the second frame, a second friction member connected with and extending inwardly from a stationary point of the main frame to frictionally overlap a surface of the first friction member, and resilient means urging the two friction members into yieldable contact with each other.

9. In a washing machine having a main frame, a clothes receptacle having a spindle supporting the receptacle for rotation about a vertical axis, a second frame forming a bearing support for the spindle, means for mounting the lower end of the second frame on the main frame for limited tilting action whereby the second frame may gyrate in response to gyratory deflection of the clothes receptacle about said vertical axis.

a first friction member attached to and extending outwardly from the second frame at an elevation below the clothes receptacle and above the lower end of the second frame, 'a second friction member connected with and extending inwardly from a stationary point of the main frame to frictionally overlap a surface of the first friction member, and adjustable means for controlling the degree of frictional resistance be-' tween the two friction members.

10. In a, washing machine having a main 'frame, a clothes receptacle having a spindle supporting the receptacle for rotation about avertical axis, a second frame forming a bearing support for the spindle, means for mounting the lower end of the second frame on the main framefor limited tilting action whereby the second 12 means connecting the two frames and tending to* yieldably resist such deflection of the second frame, at least one pair of friction resistance elements, one of which is attached to the main frame and the other of which is attached to the second frame, said elements having coacting friction surfaces, and means for urging said surfaces into frictional contact with each other. 13.-In combination, an outer main frame, a second frame disposed within the main frame and supporting a clothes receptacle for rotation about a normally'upright axis, means for mounting the second frame in the main frame with freedom for gyratory deflection with respect to .said axis induced by rotation of the receptacle when the latter is out-of-balance, resilient means connecting the two frames and tending to yieldably resist such deflection of the second frame, at least one pairof friction resistance elements, one of which is attached to the main frame and the other of which is attached to the second frame, said elements having coacting fricframe may gyrate in response to gyratory deflecmember.

11. In a washing machine, a main frame, a bearing frame tiltably supported at its bottom on the main frame so that the upper part of the bearing frame may gyrate, a spindle journaled in the bearing frame for rotation about an upright axis, a clothes receptacle carried by the upper end of the spindle, a motor carried by the bearing frame and connected to the spindle to rotate the spindle and receptacle, 9. series of elements fixed with respect to the main frame at spaced locations about the bearing frame and presenting generally horizontalbearing faces, a second series of elements attached to the bearing frame and having portions disposed adjacent to said bearing surfaces, said second element portions having linings for frictionally engaging the bearing surfaces, and means for controlling the frictional resistance between said linings and bearing surfaces.

12. In combination, an outer main frame, a

second frame disposed within the main frame and supporting a clothes receptacle for rotation about a normally upright axis, means for mounting the second frame in the main frame with freedom for gyratory deflection with respect to said axis induced by rotation of the receptacle when the latter is out-of-balance, resilient a for surface engagement with the other friction tion surfaces, and adjustable spring means for squeezing said friction resistance elements to-- gether.

14. In a washing machine, an outer frame, an inner frame mounted in the outer frame with freedom for limited gyratory movements about a bottom support in the outer frame, a clothes receptacle mounted for rotation on the inner frame, and a motor for driving the receptacle,

a series of bracket plates mounted on the outerv frame at spaced points around the inner frame,

a series of members secured to the inner frame and extending outwardly over the surfaces of the bracket plates for frictional engagement with surfaces thereof and for movement thereover to resist the aforesaid gyratory movements of the.

inner frame, and means for controlling the degree of frictional resistance between said members and bracket plates.

GEORGE P. CAS'INER. ARTHUR D. LUND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PA'I'ENTS Number Name Date 1,647,992 Hartman Nov. 8, 1927 1,886,112 Luarde Nov. 1, 1932 1,932,246 Kirby Oct. 24, 1933 2,091,536 Van Impe Aug. 31, 1937 2,222,329 Watts Nov. 19. 1940 2,282,847 Barim May 12, 1942 2,291,088 Morganstern July 28, 1942 2,303,979 Blake Dec. 1, 1942 2,331,897 Dyer Oct. 19, 1943 2,334,858 Beattie Nov. 23, 1943 2,356,818 Bruckman Aug. 29, 1944 2,380,595 Hertrich July 31, 1945 2,408,509 Clark Oct. 1, 1946 2,421,803 Neal June 10, 1947 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,513,844 July 4,1950

IGEORGE P. CASTNER ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column '5, line 61, for the word to after motion read f;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 19th day of September, A. D. 1950.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents.

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