US2517088A - Gear and clutch mechanism for spinner type clothes-washing machines - Google Patents

Description

Aug. l, 1950 c; s. DAYTON GEAR AND CLUTCH MECHANISM FOR SPINNER TYPE cLofmEs WASHING MACHINES med Nov. 2o. 1947 His Attorney.

3 jllllf--- u wm l0 d u wwauumw o. m OW. a MoMoMoM GMF. w t d u .a oMoMoob .J ....Qlnkolm L, 4o o o Aw. ...s 1|! bil O .Il F u .l r O O 010 o 0 nw, y. d o 0 O v u 6 sin o o o 0000000 Uff C #MNHN mu. m18 |||||s| V. nO

Patented Aug. l, 1950 GEAB AND CLUTCH MECHANISM FOR SPIN- NER TYPE CLOTHES-WASHING MACHINES Carl S. Dayton, Bridgeport, Conn., assigner to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application November 20, 1947, Serial No. 787,228

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to clothes washing machines of the type wherein washing is performed in a basket by an agitator, the basket afterwards being rotated to centrifugally extract the water from the clothes.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved construction and arrangement in a washing machine of this type which is simple in structure. reliable in operation and capable of being manufactured at low cost. The invention is especially well adapted for small portable machines adapted to be readily lifted manually and placed on a drain board. for example, when the machine is being used. However, the invention is not limited thereto necessarily.

For a consideration of what I believe to be novel and my invention, attention is directed to the following specification and to the claims appended thereto.

In the drawing. Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a washing machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view on a larger scale of the operating mechanism, the section of certain parts being on the irregular section, line 2 2, Fig. 4: Fig. 3 is a detail view taken on line 3 3, Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a detail view taken on line 4 4. Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a detail view taken on line 8 5, Fig. 2 and Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the upper end of the agitator showing parts in a position difierent from that of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing, I indicates the tub of the washing machine which may be supported on a base 2 provided with feet or casters I. In the tub is a unitary structure comprising a spin basket l in which the clothes are washed, an agitator I for performing the washing operation, and a sealed casing I in which is an electric motor and mechanism operated by it for oscillating the agitator to perform the washing operation, the basket being then stationary, and for spinning the basket and the agitator to extract the water from the clothes. This unitary structure may be supported in the tub in any suitable way, the specific supporting means forming no part oi' my present invention. In the present instance, it is shown as being supported by a base spring 'I and three side springs l. Base spring I is positioned between a strap 9 iixed to the bottom Il of tub I and the bottom of casing l. The lower end of casing i projects through an opening II in bottom wall III. The space between the edge of opening II and casing l is sealed by a suitable flexible diaphragm I I attached at one edge to the wall surrounding opening II and at the other edge to casing I.

Springs 8 are tension springs and are connected at one end to ears I3 on casing l and at the other ends to ears I4 xed to the inner surface of the side wail of tub I. This arrangement serves to provide a yielding resilient mounting for the unitary structure comprising casing t. the mechanism therein, the basket ,Vand the agitator I. Tub I has an open top closed by a suitable cover I5 and handles It on its sides by which it may be lifted.

Casing I is shown as being formed in two sectiom, an upper section I1 and a lower section Il. The sections are provided with meeting flanges I! which may be clamped together in sealing relation by studs 2l. The motor for operating the mechanism is located in lower casing section Il. It comprises a suitable iield structure 20a carried by casing section Il and an armature 2I iixed on a shaft 22. Shaft 22 is supported in an upper bearing 23 carried by a diaphragm 2l which. at its edges, is supported on a shoulder 25 in casing section Il, and by a bearing in lower section I8 which may be in the form of a suitable step bearing (not shown). Casing l is suitably sealed to make it liquid tight to prevent leakage either to or from the casing.

On the upper end of motor shaft 22 is a pinion 2l which may be formed integral with the shaft and which meshes with a gear wheel 21 mounted on a shaft 28 which in turn is carried by upper and lower walls 29 and Il of a gear frame 3|. Formed integral with gear wheel 21 is an eccentric 32 surrounding which is an eccentric strap 33 provided with an arm 34 which in turn is connected to an arm il xed to a hub Il. Hub Il is supported on the upper end of pinion 2B which forms a step bearing for it. It is connected to the lower end of a vertical agitator shaft 31. Shaft 3T is Journaied in lower and upper bearings Il and 3B at the lower and upper ends of a vertical tubular spin shaft Il. The lower end of spin shaft III is fixed in a collar II by a pin IIa or other suitable means. Collar 4I forms a part of gear trarne ll. Spin shaft l! is Journaled in a bearing I2 carried in the top wall of casing section I'I. At 42a is a bearing pressed into an opening in lower wall III in which motor shaft I2 is positioned. Motor shaft 22 has a deep socket Il in which is located an extension 4I which forms the lower end of shaft 31. Between the lower end of shaft extension 44 and the bottom of socket 43 is a coiled compression spring I5 which biases shaft 31 in an upward direction.

Spin basket I is iixed to tubular spin shaft 40. In the present instance the bottom wall of the basket is shown as having a conical upwardly projecting portion 45 which terminates in a sleeve 41 surrounding shaft 40. At its lower end sleeve 41 has a at surface which rests on a collar 4B keyed to shaft 40. Collar 45 is fastened to sleeve 41 by a pin 48 thus connecting the basket to spin shaft 4I.

Agitator 5 is of known construction comprising a tubular center post 55 and blades Il. It is fixed to turn with shaft 21 by means of a noncircular opening at the upper end of post l which fits over a non-circular tapered nut l2 fastened on the upper end of shaft 51 and is held on the shaft by a knurled nut 52a which threads onto the upper end of the shaft. At its lower end. post 55 is journaled on a bearing BI pressed on sleeve 41.

During washing, gear frame 2| is stationary and the motor oscillates the agitator through pinion 26, gear wheel 21. the eccentric connection and shaft 21. During spinning of the basket the motor is connected directly to gear frame 3| to rotate the gear frame, the tubular shaft 40 and the spin basket, shaft 31 and the agitator 5 being rotated along with the basket.

One feature of my invention is the mechanism for connecting the motor shaft directly to gear frame 3i for spinning the basket. Fixed to the underside of gear frame 3| is a depending clutch ring 55 adapted to be engaged by suitable clutch facings 55 on the outer ends of a pair of clutch arms 51. The clutch arms are pivotally mounted on pins B carried by opposed ears which project from a collar 55 xed to motor shaft 22 by sultable means such as the pin 60. The inner ends of clutch arms 51 stand adjacent to collar 55 on opposite sides of the collar and in collar 59 and shaft 22 are holes in which are located sliding pins BI. The inner ends of pins 5I terminate in shaft socket 43 and normally engage the surface of shaft extension 44 as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. In this position, the outer ends of the pins engage the inner ends of clutch arms 51, as shown in full lines in Fig. 4 to hold positively clutch facings 58 out of engagement with clutch ring 55. In the lower end of shaft extension 44 is an annular groove 62. When the motor shaft is to be connected to gear frame 5|, shaft 51 and the agitator along therewith is lifted to bring groove 62 into line with the inner ends of pins 6| whereby when the motor rotates the cuter ends of arms 51, being no longer held by pins 5i, are thrown out by centrifugal force to bring the clutch facings 55 into engagement with clutch ring 55, whereby the motor armature is connected directly to gear frame 3i by the centrifugal clutch. At this time pins 8i move radially inwardly, their inner ends moving into groove 52.

Shaft 31 has two positions with respect to shaft 40. a lower or agitate position as shown in Fig. 2, wherein pins 6| lock centrifugal clutch arms 51 against movement, and an upper or spin position wherein groove 52 is in line with the ends of pins BI to release the clutch arms. To lock shaft 31 in these two positions, I provide a detent mechanism comprising a socket 6l in the upper end of shaft 31 in which is positioned a shift pin e4 biased upward by a spring B5, upward movement being limited by a stop pin 5I driven across shaft 31 which extends through a vertical slot i1 in shift pin 64. In the wall of socket 55 are several circumferentially spaced holes in which are detent balls 88 adapted to engage in annular detent grooves B9 and lll in the inner surface of bearing 55. In shift pin B4 is an annular groove 1l having beveled ends, the groove being normally positioned above balls 55. Shift pin 54 holds the balls in either groove or groove 11| to lock shaft 21 against vertical movement. In Fig. 2 shaft 51 is shown as being locked in its lower or agitate position, balls 55 projecting partly into groove B9 and being so held by the outer surface of shiftI pin 54. To move the shaft to spin position, shift pin 54 is pressed down to bring groove 1I into line with balls 55 to release them, whereupon shaft 31 may be moved up to spin position. The balls are carried along with shaft 31 and as soon as they come into line with the other groove 10, spring 65 will move shift pin 54 (pressure on it having been removed) back to its normal position to force the balls into such other groove to lock the shaft in its spin position as shown in Fig. 6. The beveled end of groove 1I serves to cam the balls outward. In similar manner shaft 31 may be moved back to agitate position. This detent construction has the advantage that it is positive in action, and no amount of end thrust will cam the balls out of groove 59 or 1li because their movement is blocked by the shift pin. By the use of balls I avoid any interference with the relative rotation of shafts 21 and 40. Shaft 51 can be moved only when shift pin 64 is pressed down. The upper end of groove 62 is beveled to act as a cam for forcing pins 6i outward when shaft 11 is moved down from spin to agltate position.

It is desi'. able (although not necessary) during an agitate cycle to lock gear frame 5| against turning movement. In so far as my present invention is concerned, any suitable means may be used for this purpose. In the present instance, I have shown a means invented by John H. Palmer and which forms subject matter of his application Serial No. 787,114, now Patent No. 2,487,685, issued February 14, 1950, filed of even date herewith, and assigned to the same assignee as the instant application. Such locking means comprises a collar 12 on shaft 45 in which is a radial hole in which is positioned a releasing pin 13. Any suitable means may be provided for limiting radially outward movement of pin 15 under the action of centrifugal force. For example, it may be provided with a peened over inner end or a head as shown in Figs. l and 5. In collar 12 in line with the hole is a notch 14 with which engages the inner end of a locking pin 15. Pin 15 is positioned in a socket 15 in casing wall i1 and is biased to a position toward notch 14 by a spring 11. In shaft 31 is an annular groove 15 having beveled ends in which the inner end of pin 15 normally stands. thus permitting locking pin l5 to engage notch 14 to lock shaft 40 and gear frame Il, to which it is attached, against turning. This is its position during an agitate cycle. When shaft 31 is lifted to spin position to release the centrifugal clutch so that it may connect the motor to gear frame 5i, releasing pin 13 is cammed outward by the lower beveled edge of groove 1B to move locking pin 15 out of notch 14, the releasing pin being moved to a position where it is Just flush with the surface of collar 12. This releases shaft 4I. When shaft 40 is turning, the inner end of pin 15 rides on the surface of collar 12.

If desired. the arrangement may be such that shaft 51 is disconnected from the gearing carried by frame Il during the spin cycle. To this end shaft I1 is shown as being provided with a tapered non-circular clutch head l0 which dts in a socket Il in a hub 3B so that when shaft 31 is raised to spin position to release the centrifugal clutch locking mechanism, clutch head l0 is lifted free of socket lll, hub 36 being then free to oscillate on shaft 31. This arrangement is of advantage in that in shifting from agitate to spin it prevents any agitation of the shaft during the period required for the motor to reach a speed suniclently high to effect actuation of clutch arms 51 to ccnnect the motor shaft to frame 3|. At 82 is a pipe which during operation of the machine directs oil to parts requiring lubrication.

While I have shown and described a particular embodiment of my invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from my invention in its broader aspects and I, therefore, aim in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. For use in a clothes washing machine or the like of the type disclosed, concentric agitator and spin shafts movable axially relative to each other, and means for actuating the agitator shaft or rotating the spin shaft comprising a casing into which ends of the shafts project, a gear cage rotatably mounted in the casing to which the spin shaft is connected, an electric motor, gearing carried by the cage which connects the motor to the agitator shaft, a clutch for connecting the motor to the gear cage, and means actuated by movement of said shafts axially relative to each other for rendering said clutch effective to connect the motor to the gear cage.

2. For use in a clothes washing machine or the like of the type disclosed, concentric agitator and spin shafts movable axially relative to each other, and means for actuating the agitator shaft or rotating the spin shaft comprising a rotatably mounted gear cage, a motor, gearing carried by the cage through which the motor actuates the agitator shaft, a normally open clutch, and means actuated by the movement of said shafts axially relative to each other for rendering said clutch effective to connect the motor to the gear cage and spin shaft for rotating the spin shaft.

3. For use in a clothes washing machine or the like of the type disclosed, mechanism comprising a tubular spin shaft, a rotatable gear cage to which lt is connected, a motor, a clutch ring carried by the gear cage, pivoted clutch arms carried by the motor shaft movable by rotation of the motor shaft for connecting them to the clutch ring, an agitator shaft positioned inside said tubular shaft, gearing carried by the gear cage through which the motor shaft is connected to the agitator shaft, and means actuated by axial movement of the agitator shaft for holding said clutch arms against movement.

4. For use in a clothes washing machine or the like of the type disclosed, mechanism comprising a tubular spin shaft, a rotatable gear cage to which it is connected, a motor, a clutch ring carried by the gear cage. pivotcd clutch arms carried by the motor shaft movably by rotation of the motor shaft for connecting them to the clutch ring, transversely movable pins positioned in openings in said tubular spin shaft, the outer ends of which are adapted to engage ends of said clutch arms to hold them out of clutching engagement with the clutch ring, an agitator shalt positioned inside said tubular shaft, gearing carried by the gear cage through which the motor shaft is connected to the agitator shaft, and means carried by the agitator shaft for holding said pins in engagement with the clutch arms to hold the clutch arms out of engagement with the clutch ring, said means being released by movement of the agitator shaft with respect to the spin shaft.

CARL S. DAYTON.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,947,033 Bush Feb. 13, 1934 2,361,767 Hays Oct. 3i, 1944 2,40U,835 Levin May 21, 1946

Images