US2533722A

US2533722A - Balancing centrifugal drying and washing machine

Info

Publication number: US2533722A
Application number: US494598A
Authority: US
Inventors: Remer Jay Grant De
Original assignee: J G DE REMER RES CORP
Current assignee: J G DE REMER RES CORP; J G DE REMER RESEARCH Corp
Priority date: 1943-07-14
Filing date: 1943-07-14
Publication date: 1950-12-12
Anticipated expiration: 1967-12-12

Description

1950 J. G. DE REMER 2,533,722

BALANCING CENTRIFUGAL DRYING AND WASHING MACHINE Filed July 14, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 70 DRAIN 1 W 1 I33 XNVENTOR ,4? m J? Y im/w DE FEMER ATTORNEY Dec. 12, 1950 J, 3, DE REMER 2,533,722

BALANCING CENTRIFUGAL DRYING AND WASHING MACHINE Filed July 14, 1943 Sheets-Sheet 2 58/ 76 77 4 g y 9.? 5 7f 86 gi J 83' f W I 46 52 ,9 45

44 //6 I! 45 k, M I55 z/ I .95 Ill 94 A11 17 95 W 1/2 7 .52 I72 I04 J4 M 66' :3? 7y 64 I Z5 72 7/ J/ f I: 7 H24 K .9 68 i 48 .45 .fi'0 F "5'5 J l w /06 .55 m6? by 6/ Jr i ""iggitg jifij gf /0/ mg 7 A 1'05 57 a? y INVENTOR A I53 m w J2) 61m NT DE. REMER I08 BY mm W 1W1;

ATTORNEY Dec. 12, 1950 J. G. DE REMER 2,533,722

BALANCING CENTRIFUGAL DRYING AND WASHING MACHINE Filed July 14, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR .721) GRANT 125 R040? BY W m QL;

ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 12, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BALANCING CENTRIFUGAL DRYING AND WASHING MACHINE Jay Grant De Remer, Darlen, Conn., assignor to G. De Remer Research Corporation, Union City, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application July 14, 1943, Serial No. 494,598

1 28 Claims.

This invention relates to balancing centrifugal drying and washing machines and more parsupported from a point beneath the basket. so

as to be capable of partaking of a spinnlnginovement about its own axis and a gyrating movement in which the basket axis-describes a conical surface about the universal support. Concentric drive shafts are provided, the inner shaft constituting the spin shaft and the outer shaft con- 2' vantageous when operating at the lower spin shaft speeds, as for example, when the basket is being accelerated at the beginning of a centrifug'al drying operation.

If desired, the centering spring may be utilized in combination with the frictional stabilizing 1 members to stabilize the basket during centrifugal extraction with a stationary gyrator shaft.

stituting the gyrator shaft. Frictional stabilizi f members are interposed between thebasket and the gyrator shaft, these friction membersconating on a frictional surface on the gyrator shaft.

stituting a, plate journaled on the spin shaft oper- I For washing, the spin shaft is held stationaryj description which follows, accompanied by draw ings'showing for purely illustrative purposes preand the gyrator shaft is rotatedto impart 'a gyrating motion to the basket and its contents.

For centrifugal drying, the spin shaftisdriven at drying speed and the gyrator shaft is drivenin the same direction as the spin shaft to im-- With such a construction, fordrying, the gyrator shaft will be held stationary while the spin shaft is rotated, and for washing the gyrator shaft will be rotated with the spin shaft held stationary. 1 The invention also provides for the use of a universal joint in the spin shaft having lateral flexibility to permit the .foot of the upper sectionof the spin shaftto be displaced laterally when the spinning mass is in dynamic unbalance. Such a universal maybe either in the form of a helical spring or in the form of a block or tube of-rubber. T

'Theseand other features and improvements will-,appear-from a consideration of the detailed fer'red embodiments of this invention.

The invention also consists in'certainnew and original features of construction and combinapart to the basket a force tangential to the path a -tion of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Although the novel features which are believed to be-'characteristic of this invention will be par-" ticularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself, its objects and ad- J vantages and the manner in which it may be acting between the gyrator shaft;and the spinshaft. If desired, the same spring may be used for applying frictional force between the frictional stabilizing members. With the use of a centering spring, I have been able to increase the lifting torque acting to move the basket toward central position at all useful be improved by deliberately reducing the gyrator shaft speed at the beginning of a centrifugal drying period while the spin speed is low. ,Ac-

vided special constant ratio devices to insure com stant ratio between the speeds of "the gyrator cording to the present invention, I.have-pro- 1' and spin shafts. This constant ratio relationship is attained by special slip clutches which also have the advantage of reducing the starting torque on the motor. The improved operationdue to the centering spring is particularly ad-' carried out,v may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, in which:

1mg". 1 is an elevation partly insection of a washing machine embodying features of this invention, the position of the parts being that oc- ,cupiedat the-beginning of the drying operation; 2 isan enlarged sectional elevation showingin greater detail elements of thedrive of the machine shown in Fig. 1;.

Fig'. 3 is an enlarged sectional elevation of a fn'iodified form of shaft assembly; a

dis a detail showing a modified form of universal'j int which may be used inthe modiflcation 0 Fig. 3-in place I-slio'wn t erein;

of the universal joint Fig. 5 is-a section taken o njthe line 15-5 Fig. 2, but showing the projection 'on' the gyrator shaft-engaged against the-roller on the spin shaft for gyrating the basket for the washing operation; and

Fig. 6 is a vertical view of a modified pedestal assembly with provision for holding the gyrator shaft stationary during the centrifugal drying operation.

In the following description and in the claims.

various details will be identified by specific names for convenience. The names, however, are intended to be as generic in their applica tion as the art will permit.

Like reference characters denote like parts in the several figures of the drawings. I

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification, certain specific disclosure of the invention is made for the purpose of explanation, but it will be understood that the details may be modified in varius respects without departure from the broad aspect of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings and more par.- ticularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the laundry machine according to the invention comprises. in genera], a tank l6 containing a clothes basket 21. The basket is centrifugally driven by a spin shaft made up of vertical drive shaft 48 and rotor shaft 40 connected by a universal joint. The basket is gyrated by a gyrator shaft indicated in general by 66. Electric motor 98 drives the gyrator shaft 66 through gyrator gears 94, H2.

and the spin shaft through spin shaft gears 55.

I86. Pump |5| circulates water from the bottom of tank l into filter l4 and thence the water may be delivered either into the basket 21 or into a drain pipe I66. The details of the above apparatus will be described more in detail hereinafter.

Referring now further to Figs. 1 and 2, the washing machine has an outer tank or casing iii closed by a cover H. The cover H has a central lid |2 hinged at 3. The lid l2 serves as a support for a filter l4 and may be closed during nonuse of the machine causing the filter to move into a horizontal position inside the casing Hi.

The casing ID has an outer wall I5 connected to a tapered bottom It at H. The bottom, in turn, is connected to a substantially cylindrical inner wall |8 at l9 and has an annular trough or depression 20 about the inner wall l6 forming a sump 2|.

The casing is supported by a base 22 consisting of an annular member 23 of L-shaped cross section and a plurality of legs 24, preferably three or four. A spider 25 is connected to the base by screws 26 and supports various shafts and bearings for a basket or receptacle 2'! in which laundry and other articles are washed and centrifugally dried.

The basket or receptacle 2'! has a tapered side wall 28 provided with an inturned fiange 29 at its upper and narrow end. The wide end of the side wall 28 is connected to a relatively heavy bottom wall 38 at 3|. The bottom wall 30 has a raised central portion 32 surrounded by an an nular trough 33 which is bordered at the outside by a raised peripheral portion 34 forming a ledge at 35. Adjacent the ledge and at the widest part of the receptacle 2'! a plurality of bleeder holes 36 are provided in the side wall 28. The bleeder holes are preferably 6 in number and have a diameter of about .18 inch for a household washing machine of the specifications given below.

Helical blades. are mounted on the inside of the wall 28 in order to impart, in connection with the ledge 35 and trough 33, a certain desir-- able vortex motion to the contents of the receptacle, as will be later described. The blades are preferably of triangular cross section as shown at 38. A balance ring 39 is secured to the recep- The rotor shaft 40 is made in two

telescoping parts

43 and 44 for convenient assembly. The

inner part43 of the rotor shaft 40 is forked at 45 to receive a pin 46 in the outer part 44. The pin 46 prevents turning between the two parts 43 p and 44 of the rotor shaft 40 which at its upper end is closed bya plug 41.

The rotor shaft 48 is mounted for rotation with, and freedom to tilt relatively to, a substantially vertical drive shaft 48 mounted in oilless bearing 49 in gyrator shaft 66 and in oilless bearing 50 in the hub 5| of the spider 25. The rotor shaft 46 and drive shaft 48 are connected by a universal joint 52 secured to the shafts by pins 53 and 54 respectively. The flexible shaft for rotating the basket on its own axis including the rotor shaft 40, and drive shaft 48 with universal joint therebetween is sometimes referred to, for convenience, as the spin shaft.

At its lower end the drive shaft 48 carries a beveled friction gear 55 secured thereto by a key 56 and set screw 51. The hub 5| of the spider 25 is sealed at its lower end by a packing ring 56 compressed by a washer 59 and ring-nut 60 threaded on the hub 5| at 6|.

The universal joint 52 has a fiange 62 resting on an oilless thrust ring 64 supported by a shoulder 65 of gyrator shaft 66. The gyrator shaft 66 carries oilless bearing 49 for the drive shaft 48. The gyrator shaft 66 is journaled in

radial bearings

67 and 68 in the hub 5| of the spi er 25. The gyrator shaft 66 has also a shoulder 69 resting against oilless thrust rings 10 and H on a corresponding shoulder I2 in the hub 5|. Thus the weight of the basket and clothes is taken by the hub 5| and has no effect on the pressure between the friction plate 11 and friction head 15 described more in detail hereinafter.

I The gyrator shaft 66 has an upper fiared portion 13 which is connected to the main portion of the gyrator shaft at 14 and carries a spherically curved frict on ring 15 at its widest portion. The surface of friction ring 15 has its center of curvature at the center of the universal joint 52. A ring 16 of friction material such as clutch or brake-lining is secured to the friction ring 15 and is acted upon at the other s de by a corresponding spherically curved friction plate 11. The friction plate 11 is secured to a sleeve having self-lubricating or oilless bearings 6| rotatable and axially slidable on the outer part 44 of the rotor shaft 40. A collar 18 overhanging flange 19 secures friction plate 11 and sleeve 60 together.

The sleeve 80 has a lower flange 82 welded to it against which a tapered helical compression spring 83rests whose other end is secured to the clutch disks I and upper flared portion I3 of the gyrator shaft 66 by clamps 84.

The spring 83 through the sleeve 80 exerts a combined vertical and horizontal thrust on the frictional erection assembly 15, I6, 11. The thrust against the friction surfaces may be of the order of to pounds for an average family size washing machine of the specification given below. The centering force measured at the level of the friction plate Il may be of the order of 20 to 25 pounds when the basket is in its extreme tilted position with the machine at rest. In general, the spring 83 may exert a centering force sufllcient to maintain the basket 21, filled with laundry and water, upright with the machine at rest, but insufficient to prevent the basket from tipping over when the gyrator shaft is rotated for washing. The action of the centering spring will be discussed more at length hereinafter.

The sleeve carries a further flange forming an abutmment against which the hub 86 of a resilient roller 81 rests, the roller being held in place by the plate 11. The roller 8'! serves to cushion the shock when the rotor shaft 40 of the loaded receptacle 21 tilts against the flared portion of the gyrator shaft 66.

A projection or lug 89 is provided on the flared portion I3 of the gyrator shaft 66 in the path of the roller 81. When the gyrator shaft 66 is rotated while-the rotor shaft 40 supporting the loaded receptacle 2! is in a tilted position, the projection 89 rests against the side of the roller 81 carrying the rotor shaft 40 along and producing a gyrating or wobbling motion of the receptacle and its contents.

In order to prevent washing liquid from entering the space inside theflared portion I3 of the gyrator shaft 66, a cup-shaped splash ring is secured to the hub M of the receptacle. Under certain conditions, depending upon the type of water or soap, considerable foam or froth may be formed by the agitation. To prevent this foam or froth from getting inside wall I8, a bell-shaped skirt or body 92 is connected to the friction member I1 at 93 extending into the sump 2I below the level of the liquid normally filling the sump during the soaking, washing and rinsing periods of the machine.

M otor drive The gyrator shaft 66 carries a beveled friction gear 94, the hub of which is secured to the shaft by akey '96 and held in place by a-set screw 91.

Motive power is supplied to the beveled friction gears 55 and 94 on the drive shaft 48 and the gyrator shaft 66, respectively, by a motor 98 having a hollow armature shaft 99 carrying fixed IOI secured thereto by keys I02 and I03. An inner shaft I04 extends through the hollow armature shaft 99 and has secured thereto, at its'lower end, the thimble I05 of a small friction gear I06 held in place by a pin I 01. The gear I 06 is provided with a complementary clutch disk I08 bearing against a friction ring I09 secured to one of the clutch disks I08 or IOI. The thimble I05 is rigidly secured to a sleeve I05, to a disk I08, and to clutch disk I 08.. these parts forming a unitary hub structure to support the relatively soft friction gear I06 to insure it turning with thimb'e I05. This structure is .iournaled on hollowshaft 89 by an oilless bearing I06.

Theother end of the inner shaft I04 is squared as at II 0 and carries the thimbie III of a second friction gear II2, having a square hole permitting the thimble I I I to move axially of. but not to turn relatively to. the shaft I04. The second friction gear is also provided with a clutch disk I I3 bearing against a friction ring II; securedto one of the clutch disks I00 or I I3. A compression spring I I5 bearing against a collar I I6 on the inner shaft I04 and against the thimble III of the friction gear I I 2 forces the clutch elements of both gears I06 and H2 together. Since bothgears I06 and H2 are fixed on the shaft I04 against rotation, they rotate equiangularly regardless of the slip of the spin shaft clutch IOI, I09, I08 and of the gyrator shaft clutch I00, III, H3. The thimble III is rigidly secured to a sleeve III which in turn is rigidly secured to clutch disk I I3 to form a unitary hub structure to support and hold the relatively soft friction gear 2 to insure the gear IIZ turning with thirnble III. This structure is journaled on hollow shaft 99 by oilless bearings II2.

Thus, arrangement is made for a cooperative action between the spin shaft clutch- IOI, I08 and the gyrator shaft clutch I00, H3. The clutch plates I00 and IM. being rigidly secured to the hollow shaft 99, must rotate together. Similarly, the clutch plates I08 and H3 being rotatively secured to the inner shaft I04 must rotate together. This means that one clutchcannot slip without the other also slipping. This insures, a constant predetermined relationship between the speeds of the gyrator gears. 94, H2 and of the spin gears 55, I06 during acceleration of the spin shaft 48, the friction gears 94, H2 and 55, I06 being so constructed and arranged that no substantial slippage takes place between the gears themselves, but all of the slippage takes place in the clutches. The amount of slippage in the clutches is controlled by theten'sion of spring I I5.

Thus the spin shaft andgyrator shaft clutches might be termed constant ratio clutches. These clutches have the advantage of reducing the load on the motor while the spin shaft 48 isbeing accelerated and also assist in increasing the lifting torque on the basket at thebeginning of the spin-drying period when the basket is being accelerated from zero to spin drying speed, as will be hereinafter explained: more in detail. The hollow motor shaft on which the motor gears are journaled provides the necessary strength to press the sets of friction gears together to obtain friction driving without slipping of the gears,

The motor 98 is mountedona-tiltablesupport II'I hinged at II8 to a channelrlikelink I-IB. as shown in Fig. 1. The link I I.9lj is pivoted-at- I20 to the hub 5I of the spider 25. Aibrack'et I2| is secured to the link I I9 between the pivots H8 and I20. A pair of drawbars I22 are fastenedto the bracket I2I at I23, the open ends of which are hooked to coil springs I24 connected to, brackets nected at I29 to.the center of af substantially U-sha ed doub e armed lever I30, The-lever is p vot lly mounted at .I3I; t'o ;a pair of brackets I32secured to the hub 5I by .bolts' I39". In Fig. 1 onlv one of the brackets I32.is;.visible. The lever' I30 supportsa cradle I33 in'trunnionsflil. The

cradle is fitted with a brake lining I35 bearing against the periphery of the gear 55 when the solenoid I21 is energized and the cradle I33 is lifted. The free end I36 of the lever I30 bears against a pair of adjustable studs I31 on a pair of arms I38 secured to the tiltable support I I1 at I39. If the armature I28 is drawn into the solenoid I21, the free end I36 of the lever I30 moves clockwise about the pivot I3I, disengaging spin gears 55 and I06 without, however, disturbing the engagement of gyrator gears 94 and H2. The solenoid I21 is mounted on a bracket I40 secured to the spider 25.

Cold and hot water is supplied to the washing machine from a suitable source (not shown) through conduits I42 and I43 respectively. The cold water conduit I42 is equipped with a valve I44 operated by a solenoid I45 of conventional construction. The hot water conduit I43 is controlled by a valve I46 operated by a solenoid I41. The conduits I42 and I43 lead into a mixing manifold I48 equipped with a thermostatically operated switch I49 for controlling the proper water temperature. The manifold I48 leads to the intake I50 of a centrifugal pump II which is also connected to an outlet I52 of the sump 2I through a duct I53.

The pump I5I is mounted in trunnions I54 in brackets I55 secured to the spider 25 and has a friction gear I56 on the pump rotor shaft I51. A spring I58 connected to a pin I59 in the pump housing I5I and to the hub 5| of the spider 25 tends to tilt the pump about its pivot axis so as to maintain the friction gear I56 on the pump shaft in engagement with the gear 94 of the gyrator shaft. The pump I5I has an outlet I60 to which a hose I6I is connected leading to an intake duct I62 of the filter I4 having a hose coupling I63. The filter has an outlet spout I66 for discharging filtered washing liquid into the receptacle and an outlet duct I65 for discharging liquid and impurities into a 'hose I66 leading to a point of liquid disposal such as a drain (not shown).

It will be understood that this invention may be applied to any size machine either for household purposes or for commercial laundry purposes and that the various dimensions and the proper speeds of the spin and yrator shafts will be determined by those skilled in the art depending upont the particular size and design desired.

However, for purposes of disclosure, a specific example of house laundr machine is given. This example applies to the type in which the gyrator shaft rotates during the drying period. The spinner basket may be approximately 20 to 22 inches in diameter at the bottom and its height may be approximately to 12 inches. The weight of the empty basket including balance ring may be 30 to 40 pounds. The weight of the clothes and water remaining in the clothes, when maximum spinning speed is reached, may be approximately 20 pounds. The distance between the center of the universal joint and th center of mass of the basket may run about Or 16 inches. The spinning speed of the spin shaft may run about 900 to 1100 R. P. M. and the gyrating speed of the gyrator shaft may run about 110 to 115 R. P. M. The maximum amplitude of gyration (diameter of the path of basket axis) measured at the top of the basket may be 4 to 5 inches. The machine may hold 6 to 8 gallons of water with about 8 pounds of dry clothes and the machine may circulate water at the rate of 12 to 15 gallons of water per minute.

Operation The operation of the washing machine so far described, is as follows:

After opening the lid I2 and placing the filter in an uprightposition laundry is placed in the receptacle 21. Cold and hot waters are admitted from the supply lines I42 and I43 through the solenoid controlled valves I44 and, I46. The water flows through the manifold I48 to the intake I50 of the pump I5I and also into the sump 2I of the tank or casing I0. Soap flakes or powder may be placed in the casing I0 where it mixes with the water, or into a receptacle through which water flows, such as the filter I4. The motor 98 is then started which in the starting phase of the operations is tilted about the pivot .II8,such that only gyrator gears H2 and 94 are in engagement while spin gears I06 and 55 are disengaged. The motor 98 is held in this adjustment by the lever I30 bearing with its free end I38 against the arms I38 of the tiltable motor support II1. At the same time the cradle I33 carrying the brake lining I35 rests firmly against the periphery of the spin gear 55 arresting the same.

The motor 98 driving the gear 94 also drives the pump I5I the friction gear I56 of which rests against the periphery of the gear 94. The pump I5I feeds the washing liquid from the sump 2I of the casing I0 through the hose IBI to the filter I4. The washing liquid passes through the filter I4 and is directed into the receptable 21 through the outlet spout I64.

At the same time washing motion is imparted to the receptacle 21 through the gyrator shaft 66. Due to rotation of the gyrator shaft and under the weight of the laundry placed into the receptacle 21 and of the washing liquid flowing into it through the outlet spout I64 of the filter I4, the rotor shaft 40 of the receptacle 21 tilts about the center of the universal joint 52 against the centering action of the spring 83. In this tilted position the roller 81 rests against the flared portion 13 of the gyrator shaft 66 and the roller 81 comes to rest against the projection 89 on the inside of the gyrator shaft 66, 13 causing the rotor shaft 40 with the receptacle 21 to make a wobbling or gyrating motion about the universal joint 52.

The washingliquid fed by the pump I5I fills the basket 21 faster than the liquid drains oil through the bleeder holes 36 causing excess washing liquid constantly to spill over the inturned flange 29. The speed of gyration during washing may be sufficiently high to prevent the basket from retaining much water because the centrifugal force, due to gyration of the basket. causes the water to bank up along the side wall of the basket and move around the basket in the direction of basket movement. This excess liquid carries with it floating impurities such as lint, curd and other matter which otherwise would adhere to the laundry. The excess liquid overflows into the casing II) where it collects in the sump and is recirculated through the filter I4 which removes the impurities.

The laundry inside the receptacle 21 is thoroughly agitated and partakes of two distinct major motions imparted to the contents due to the novel shape of the inside surface of the receptacle. Firstly the clothes move continuously about the rotor axis in a direction opposite to the movement of water and the direction of gyration. In addition, the baiiles or helical blades 31 together with the troughv II and the ledge 35, set ups vortex motion on the clothes as indicated by arrows 201 in Fig. 2. During these two major movements the laundry is further agitated by moving past the ledge 35 and the edge 2 of the raised central portion 32.

The conical shape of the basket, the inclined baffles 31 and the raised central disk 32 assistin giving the clothes the vortex :movement. The central disk tends to shove the clothes to the outer edge of the, smooth bottom 33 of the basket. The bailies -31 serve togknock the clothes. up the side of the basket and :the outer ledge 35 at the bottom of the basket serves to boost the clothes every time it hits them. The-inertia of the clothes tends to hold the mass more nearly in a central position while thegyrat gbask'et moves under it, battingth'e clothes to obtain the vortex action- At the end of the washing cycle the machine is shifted from'the washing to the dryingposition. For this purpose the solenoid l21.controlling the brake arrangement I30, I35 for the drive shaft -l8-andthe 'tilt of the motor 58 is deenergized, causing the brake to release the drive shaft 48 for free. rotation and further causing engagement between the gear 55 onIthe drive shaft'and'the corresponding gear I06 on the motor shaft. Thedri'veshaft 4B driven by the motor 98 through the torque limiting clutch HM, I09, I08 is gradually. accelerated and causes the rotor shaft 40 and the receptacle 21 to spin. The high spinning speed of the receptacle 2! causes the washing liquid to be discharged therefrom through thebleeder holes 36 by centrifugal force leaving the contents in a semi-dry state.

Simultaneously .with the shifting-of the machine to the centrifugaldrying position, the filter solenoid ZM-is energized, closing the outlet spout I 64 and-causing the washing liquid fed by the pump todrainthrough drain pipes I65, lit. After the spin-drying the laundry may be rinsed in one or several changes of hot or cold rinse water. For this purpose the machine is shifted to the washing position in which the drive shaft 48 is arrested, the spin'gears I06 and 55 disengaged, and the valves of the" filter I adjusted so as to cause the rinse water supplied by conduits I42 and I 43 to how into the receptacle 2! through the spout ISL. During the rinsing the receptacle 21 When the basket and its contents are spinning for centrifugal extraction, they act as the rotor of a gyroscope. Normally, the contents of the basket are not evenly distributed, giving the basket a certain'unbalance. Hence, the center of mass of thespinning mass, including the basket, its contents and everything spinning therewith, will not always coincide with the geometrical axis of the basket. Therefore, the

spinning massrotates about its actual center of mass and not necessarily about its geometrical axis. The rotatinggyroscope, which is the spinning mass, under'certain conditions will tend to precess, that is,-1tsaxis will move in a spiral path departing more and more away from vertical. Upon departure of the basket axis from. vertical, the rotating gyrator shaft, through the spherical friction members, exerts an accelerating force on the basket tangential to the path. precession of the basket, causing the basket to move toward vertical.

Thus, the basket and its contents is free to spin about its actual center of 'massand the stabilizing devices maintains the basket in. upright position. The action of the centering spring, in balancing the dead weightof the basket and its contents, assists in the stabilizing action. The centering spring operates to increase the lifting torque or restoring torque under all conditions of operation, that is to say, both while the spin shaft is accelerating for a centrifugal drying operation and after the spin shaft has acquired centrifugal drying speed; and the machine is also enabled to handle increased. out-of-balance forces due to an undistributed load or other causes. The centering spring increases the lifting force caused -by the rotating gyrator shaft at all usable gyrator shaft speeds, or in other words, causes the gyrator shaft to exert any given value of lifting torque at lower gyrator shaft speeds. The amount of centering torque exerted by the centering spring depends upon the design of the machine and the results it is desired to accomplish. With the use of a rotating gyrator. shaft for both drying and washing, the centering spring should not exert too great a centering force or else the basket will notv take an of!- center position for the gyrating washing action. Furthermore, if the centering spring exerts too much centering action, considerable vibration may be transmitted to the outer tank from the basket during centrifugal drying. Thus, with a machine of the type of Figs. 1 and 2, the centering spring may exert a sufliciently strong centering torque to hold the basket and its contents stably in central position with spin and gyrator shafts stationary, provided the centering torque exerted by the centering spring is sufliciently weak to enable the centrifugal force caused by the rotation of the gyrator shaft for washing to throw the basket outwardly so that the roller engages the gyrator shaft.

The centering spring improves operation when the basket mounting is unstable and also when it is stable. It will be understood that, where the centering force exerted by the spring is suflicient to prevent the basket and its contents from tipping over from central upright position or is sufiicient to return the basket and contents to central position from its maximum off-center position, these results being obtained with spin shaft and gyrator shaft stationary, and with the spherical'iriction members exerting no friction, the basket mounting is referred to as a stable mounting. Where the centering force exerted by the centering spring is insufli H cient to. accomplish this result, the mounting will be referred to as unstable. It will be understood that the spring may exert a centering force of such value as to obtain a stable mounting when the basket is empty and unstable when the basket is filled with clothes and water; or, stable when the basket is filled with clothes holding residual water remaining after draining and unstable when the basket is filled'with clothes and undrained water. In all of these cases, the spring improves gyrcscopic stabilization. In the preferred case, the centering spring should exert'a centering force sufficiently strong to make the mounting stable with the basket filled with clothes and excess undrained water, the spring exerting centering torque approximately fifty percent more than the tipping torque caused by the weight of the basket and contents acting through the distance from central position to full off-center position.

The constant ratio motor clutches IOI, I03 and I00, H3 improve the operation of the machine at the beginning of a centrifugal drying period. These slip clutches not only reduce the load torque on the motor caused by accelerating the basket and its contents from zero spin, but also act to increase the lifting or restoring torque on the basket during this period. At the end of a rinsing or washing operation, wherein the spin shaft is held stationary and the gyrator shaft rotates, when the machine is shifted to the drying position, the gyrator shaft continues to rotate and the stationary spin shaft begins to accelerate. This substantially increases the load torque on the motor and for this reason the gyrator shaft would ordinarily slow down somewhat. However, I have found that greatly improved operation can be obtained by deliberately slowing down the gyrator shaft to a predetermined extent during the acceleration of the spin shaft. By the use of the constant ratio clutches the spin drive gear and gyrator drive gear are coupled together and must rotate as a unit. This imposes a predetermined speed ratio between the spin and gyrator shafts which exists, regardless of the speed of the motor or the slippage of the motor clutches. This slows down the gyrator shaft to a more eflicient stabilizing speed while the spin shaft is accelerating.

In practice this speed ratio may be taken to be about 10 to 1 on the basis of about 1100 R. P. M. spin speed and a 110 R. P. M. gyrator shaft speed during the centrifugal drying period with a full load and after the basket has acquired drying speed.

This improved operation results from the relationship between the various gyroscopic forces set up. If the gyrator shaft speed be too high as compared with the spin shaft speed, the lifting or restoring force, available to move the spinning mass toward central position, is considerably reduced so that, in some cases at the beginning of the drying operation, where there is considerable out-of-balance, the restoring force may be so small as to cause bumping of the roller against the inside of the gyrator shaft. With the gyrator shaft speed kept down within the proper relation to the spin shaft speed, the restoring or lifting torque generated is considerably increased and will effectively prevent bumping of the roller and cause the basket to approach centering position even when the load in the basket is considerably unbalanced and the spin shaft is rotating at a relatively low speed.

It will be understood that suitable electrical control devices, commonly known as timers, may be provided for energizing and de-energizing the solenoids to give any desired sequence of operations.

The features and advantages of structure and operation of the washing machine hereinbefore described are numerous.

The construction of the movable receptacle 21 for the articles to be washed results in a highly efiicient washing action. During the washing, soaking or rinsing process the laundry is vigorously agitated without the use of a mechanical agitator in the receptacle which are commonly found in conventional washing machines. In the receptacle 21 the contents are agitated by currents or turbulence of the liquid produced by the peculiar wall and bottom configurations of the receptacle, more particularly the helical blades 31, the ledge 35, the circular trough 33 and the raised central portion 32.

By providing bleeder holes 36, large enough for quick and eflicient draining during the spin drying phase, but small enough in relation to the amount of washing liquid circulated and fed into the receptacle during the washing, soaking or rinsing periods, there is a constant overflow of washing liquid during said phases. The overflow effectively removes from the receptacle scum, curd, lint and other floating impurities which otherwise would be caught in the laundry during the spin drying following each of the washing, soaking and rinsing phases. The advantage of thus removing impurities will be apparent when it is seen that during the spin drying, the laundry is thrown against the side walls of the receptacle covering the bleeder holes 36 and acts in this position as a filter for the liquid which is being drained therethrough by centrifugal force.

The effectiveness of the washing action of the is notable that the filter I4 is extremely compact, does not interfere with the placing into or removing of laundry from the receptacle 2'! and that at all times the delicate filtering screen IBI is enclosed and protected against Quietness of operation and freedom from vibration are achieved by the peculiar mass distribution of the receptacle 21, more particularly by the arrangement of the heavy weight bottom wall 30 having a trough 20 therein and the balance ring .39, the mass distribution being such that center of gravity of the empty receptacle lies substantially in the same horizontal plane as the center of the mass of the normal full charge of the laundry placed therein. Hence, the center of mass of the loaded basket does not shift very much vertically with diil'erent amounts of laundry nor does it shift very much horizontally due to uneven distribution of the laundry.

A high degree of quietness and smoothness of operation of the washing machine is further attained by the hereinbefore described frictional erection device l5, l6, 11 in connection with the centrally arranged spring 83. The central spring 83, it will be noted, serves a double purpose. It firstly tends to maintain the rotor shaft 40 vertical, counteracting a tipping of the same, and cushioning the impact of the rotor shaft 40, tipping against the flared end 13, of the gyrator shaft 66, at the end of the spinning period. Secondly, the spring 83 forces the spherically curved friction plate 11 into engagement with the friction ring 16.

The rotation of the gyrator shaft in the same direction as the direction of rotation of the spin shaft exerts a force on the basket tangential to its path of precession and in a direction tending to accelerate or hurry the precession, causing the basket to approach vertical until the center of the rotating mass comprising basket assembly and contents is directly over the universal joint .243 clamped 'to zan upper, plate, thy a .s'eries mm v 52. when the friction members It and II are concentric, no erecting torque is exerted on the,

rotor shaft '40, 40 by the frictional erecting.

means.

Pedestal assembly of Fig. 3

Referring now to Fig. 3, a. modified shaft 8 sembly is shown employing a tension springqin the friction erecting device and an elastic or resilient universal joint in the spin. shaft. In- Fig. 3 certain elements corresponding to those v in Fig. '2. will bev identified by primed reference" characters for convenience.

in Fig. 3, the basket 21 is carried by the as.

shaft 40' consisting of the stem 43 connected to the basket2l and'a sleeve 44' secured tothe universaljoint 52'. The stem and sleeve are held against relative rotation bya pin 45' inthe sleeve 44' engaging ,the slotted end. ofthe stem- 43',

whereby the basket and stem may be but of the machine for cleaning-and other purposes.

.The sleeve .44 is connected to drive shaft through an elastic universal vjoint ,52 '*so';-that the spin shaftcomprising' drive shaft--48', s1 eeve 4.4" and stem 43- mayrotate for'the-spinjdrying" operation while permitting the upper section .43.; f of the spinshaft .totilt. relative to thelowe sectionlB'fofthe'spin shaft.

The

'versal faint 52' comprises helicalspring;

of hooked clamps 2 45 holding theend conyolu tion of the spring in a recessed :seat ZIiin' the] plate 2. The, lower end' convolution ofsprin'g- 243 is clamped in a similar .manner, to lower plate 241.

to drive s aft 48. v

The drive shaft 48' and-jthe'rotor ins st? are surrounded by the gyrator shaft 65' having a wide cylindrical portion 258 flared at 13? and;

carrying a washing torque block 89'. The drive shaft 48" is journaled m gyrator shaft at" by v self-lubricating bearing 255 fixed to the g'yrator; shaft. A self-lubricating thrust washer 256;is-

interposed between plate 241 and the adjacent shoulder formed by gyrator shaft 65''. The gyrator shaft 66' is journaled in hub 5| in a manner similar to the corresponding parts in Fig. 2 and the weight of the basket and contents is taken by the hub 5| and has no effect on the pressure between friction plate 11 and pressure head 15' described hereinafter.

- 15' securedsto secured to the spherically curved friction head the flared end 13' of the gyrator shaft 65'.

A1b'ell -shaped skirt or'body' 92'. is secured to the friction plate 11 by bolts 2'; it surrounds. 'w'ell l8. andextends with its lower end into .the Y sump-2 I to prevent froth and water from reaching the friction surfaces or parts enclosed by 552' :The radius of curvature of the inner sub-.

Parts lying thereunder.

In this -assembly the spring 259 pulls the s'leeve'80" and the friction plate I1 attached f'there'to downwardly with a certain force which The upper plate. 244' is pinned .or'. otherwise rigidly secured to sleeve 44; Thelofwer plate 2" is pinned or otherwise rigidly washing machine'of family-size.

bca'pproximately to pounds for a In addition, thespring .259 applies a centering force tendingiat'o maintain the rotor shaft 40' in alignnient with the-axis of the gyrator shaft 66', 258 he' 'centeringforce being approximately 18 to 20 pounds 'forythe same machine, measured at the frictionalarerection device 15', 16', 11' with the rotor-shaft [0' in its extreme tilted position. A

rticularyadvantage of the assembly employtensionispring 259 is that it permits apply- :injgthe centering force of the spring to the rotor 'shaftiat a point above the universal joint higher thanwiththe compression spring assembly of Spring 259 also prevents upper friction disk: 1.' |".'from"turning on lower friction ring 15',

.and'the corresponding parts in Fig. 2 cooperate inthe same way.

-. Due touneven distribution of the laundry and.

,topo'ssiblejimperfections in manufacture, the basket may be unbalanced during the spin drying operation. This unbalance may be a static -uhbalanceior a dynamic unbalance, or both. During the spin drying operation, the dynamic unbalance sets up a couple tending to tilt the basket axis and this tends to cause the foot of r axis of the driveshaft 48'. The lateral flexithe rotorshaft M to move away from the vertical bility of the universal joint- 52 permits this lateral movement which may be, for example,

The lower end of a tapered helical tension spring 259 is connected to the cylindrical por-' tion 258 by clamps 84'. The upper end of the spring 259 is connected to a sleeve 80' rotatably mounted On the rotor shaft 40' by a ball hearing 260 axially slidable on the rotor shaftlflfif Thesleeve 80' consists of a lower portion'25l and an upper portion 262 spun over at 283 after 264. The lower portion 26| of the sleevelim' carries a flange ring 255 bearing against the uppermost coil of the spring 259, the flange ring being held in place by a snap ring 266 set in a groove in lower portion 26L The lower sleeve say one-eighth or one-quarter of an inch. This resultant tilt inangularity of the spinner axis creates a counter dynamic moment sufficient to neutralize that caused by the original dynamic unbalance. This outward movement of theioot of the rotor shaft occurs regardless of whether the couple I due. to dynamic unbalance acts to tip the basket 0. insertion of the bearing 26!! and a spacer ring T clockwise or. counter-clockwise in Fig. 3. This displacement of the foot of therotor shaft 44 acts to prevent vibrations of spin speed frequency from being transmitted to the frame of the ma- -chine.

The slight angular tilt of the basket changes the intersection of the spinner axis and of the portion 2H is further provided with a1self-j lubricating bearing 251.

The 'upper sleeve portion 262 also carries a ring 268 held in place by a, snap ring 269 set in a groove in sleeve 262. The ring 269 bears against a flexible ring 210 of yieidable material, such as rubber, resting in a seat formed by a flange 252 onfriction'plate 11'. The frictionplate -|'I' bears against a ring 15 of friction material "axis of drive shaft 48' which may cause binding betweenthe friction plate 11' and the friction head 16' butfor flexible ring 210. The flexible ring 210 eliminates this binding by permitting a slight angular play between the friction plate 11 and the axis of the basket. The edge of friction plate 11' is sleeve rounded at its engagement with A laundry machine having the shaft assembly l of Fig. 3 may be used in a manner similar to that described in connection with the shaft assembly of Fig. 2, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. The assembly of Fig. 3 has certain advantages, however, over that of Fig. 2, particularly when the spinning mass is in dynamic unbalance.

Referring now to Fig. 4, instead of using a helical spring for the universal joint 52, a universal joint of molded rubber bonded to metal plates may be substituted. In Fig. 4 the metal plate 244 is rigidly secured to sleeve 44' and metal plate 241' is rigidly secured to drive shaft 48'. A hollow rubber cylinder 251 of suitable construction is surface-bonded to the metal discs 244' and 241 in such manner as to permit tilting between the upper and lower sections of the spin shaft 44', 48 and also the radial movement of the lower end of the rotor shaft described in connection with Fig. 3.

In some cases with elastic universal joints of the type shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the centering spring 259 acting between gyrator and spin shafts may be omitted entirely. The elastic universal joint may be used to perform any one or more of the following functions: (a) provide the desired universal joint for relative angular movement of the rotor shaft and basket and transmit torque thereto with respect to the high speed shaft; (b) permit the lower end of the rotor shaft to move sideways sufliciently to cushion or dampen out vibrations set up in the spinner basket due to dynamic unbalance; (0) supply suitable friction pressure between friction disk 11' and gyrator head 15' by placing suflicient tension in the helical spring or rubber universal;

(d) supply the desired centering force to the spinner basket.

Pedestal assembly of Fig. 6

Referring now to Figure 6, a modified pedestal assembly is illustrated having separate pressure and centering springs for the spherical stabilizing members; this form of the invention also provides for holding the gyrator shaft stationary for the centrifugal drying operation.

In this figure the spin shaft 36! and gyratorshaft 362 are constructed and journaled in the spider 363 in a manner similar to that of the corresponding parts in Figures 1 and 2. The fricof tank l8. Secured to flange 383 are a series of radial arms 368, four being shown in the drawing. Disposed between the radial arms 368 are depending arms 369 also secured to flange 383. The vertical tension springs 365 connect the ends of the depending arms 369 and the periphery of the friction plate 366 to urge the upper and lower friction members together. The radial tension springs 364 connect the outer ends of radial arms 368 and the edge of the friction plate 366 to apply a centering force to the basket. v

By adusting the tension of the separate horizontal and vertical springs, the centering force may be controlled independently of the friction force.

16 For driving and controlling the spin shaft 36l and gyrator shaft 362, a modified driving and control mechanism is provided. Friction gear 318 is carried by gyrator shaft 362 and friction gear 31l is carried by spin shaft 361. The drive motor 312 supports friction wheels 313, 314 and drives them through constant ratio clutches 316,

316 which may have a construction similar to the construction of the corresponding parts in Figures 1 and 2. However, constant ratio clutches are not necessary here, and as will be apparent from the following description, if desired, the slip clutches 315, 316 may operate independently of each other.

The motor 312 is mounted between brackets 311 secured to either side of the hub 318, the brackets being provided with pintles 319 passing through arms of a U-shaped saddle 38! rigidly secured to the base of the motor. A forked control arm 388 straddling hub 318 is also secured to the saddle 38!. Movement of arm 388 operates to engag either gyrator gears 318, 313 or the spin gears 3", 314 selectively, never both sets of gears together.

For arresting rotation of the spin shaft 36| dur-- ing washing, the spin shaft gear 31! is surrounded by a semi-annular brake cradle 384 supported by a U-shaped lever 385- through pivots 386. The U-shaped lever 385 in turn is pivotally supported at 381 by depending brackets 388 secured to the hub 318 one on either side of the spin shaft gear 311. The brake cradle 384 is shown disengaged from spin shaft gear 3'. However, when the U-shaped lever 385 is raised, the brake cradle 384 will engage the spin shaft gear 31! to arrest its movement.

For holding the gyrator shaft 362 stationary during centrifugal drying, a brake shoe 389 is mounted on a bell-crank spring member 398 which in turn is mounted on a pin 39I secured to the spider 363. The bell-crank member 398 is controlled by a brake rod 392 which also helps control the movement of motor arm 388 and spin-drying position with the spin gears 31!, 314

engaged and the gyrator gears 318, 313,disengaged and the gyrator gear brake 389 engaged.

The engagement and disengagement of the gyrator gears, spin gears, spin shaft brake and the gyrator shaft brake are controlled by a solenoid 395 having a stator mounted upon the motor arm 388 and having a plunger 396 connected to a rod 39'! passing through the brake arm 385. and secured thereto by a nut 398 on one side and a spring 399 and nut 488 on the other. The spring bell crank 398, motor arm 388- and brake arm 385 are also connected together by the control rod 392 passing freely through an opening in the spider 363. Rod 392 is connected to the bell crank spring 398 by having a nut 48f engaging the upper side of the bell crank spring. The rod 392 also passes through the brake arm 385, being provided with a threaded nut 402 engaging the lower side of the brake arm. A coil compression spring 483 surrounds the rod 392, this spring being urged against the upper side of the motor arm 388 by l1 solenoid "I being energized. This is in contrast to Figure 1 where the energization of solenoid III holds the parts in washing position. The energization of the solenoid lli'spreads apart the motor arm ill and the brake arm 38!, the spring Ill pushing down on the brake arm "I. The reaction on the winding of solenoid "Ipushes motor arm, up. The brake arm 38! pulling the rod 382 down applies the gyrator brake 389.

When the solenoid '39! is de-energized, the spring 403 acting downwardly on the motor arm I and upwardly on the nut 4 brings the motor arm Ill and brake arm I" together. The downward movement of the motor arm 3 engages the gyrator gears "I, 313 and disengages the spin gears "I, 314. The upward movement of the brake arm 38! engages the spin shaft brake ill. The moving together of the motor arm 380 and brake arm 385 permits spring 403 to raise the rod 392 which also releases the gyrator gear brake 389. Thus the machine is in the washin position with the gyrator gears 310, 313 driving the gyratorshaft I82 and the spin shaft I being held stationary.

In the operation of the stationary gyrator type machine, it will be understood that to obtain gyroscopic stabilization the centering force exerted by springs I must be strong enough to hold the basket and its contents upright when the gyrator and spin shafts are stationary and with the spherical friction members exerting no friction. In other words, the basket mounting must be stable. not be strong enough to prevent the basket from tipping over when the gyrator shaft is rotated for the washing action. The washing operation occurs with rotation of the gyrator shaft but with the spin shaft stationary, resulting in the washing movement described above in connection with Figure 1.

For spin-drying, the solenoid 395 will be energized and the parts will be in the position shown in Figure 6, the gyrator brake "9 holding the gyrator shaft stationary and the spin shaft gears being engaged to drive the spin shaft at centrifugally discharging speed. The lifting torque exerted by the centering spring and the action of the spherical frictional members, exerting a retardingforce on the basket tangential to the path of precession of the basket axis applies an eflicient corrective action to overcome negative precession and stabilize the machine.

It is only necessary that the basket mounting be stable at the time the basket is accelerating for the drying operation. When the basket is i carrying a load of clothes and free water as during or just after washing, the mounting may be unstable; so long as the mounting becomes stable after the free water drains out of the basket through the drain holes, gyroscopic stabilization will be obtained.

Comments The following explanation is given to further assist in understanding the action of the centering spring and its cooperation with the g ator I absence But the centering force should 18 direction as the spin shaft will be referred to as forward rotation and movement of the gyrator shaftin a direction opposite to that of the spin shaft will be referred to as backward' rotation. Radial torque tending to cause the basket axis to depart further away from vertical will be referred to as a falling torque. The torque tending to move the basket axis to ard vertical will be referred to as restoring or 1' g torque.

Where the centering force exerted by the centering spring is sufllcient to prevent the basket and contents from tipping over from central upright position, with spin shaft and gyrator shaft stationary and with the spherical friction members exerting no friction, the basket mounting will be referred to as a stable mounting. Where the centering force is insufficient to accomplish this result, the mounting will be referred .to as unstable.

For purposes of simplicity, the basket axis will be assumed tube the same as the center of the spinning mass, although in practice, due to unequalities of manufacture and uneven distribution of the clothes, this condition will not usually exist. However, in actual use this ideal condition will be sufficiently closely approached to cause the behavior of the machine to be substantially the same as ifideal conditions were obtained. v

The centering spring coacts with the gyrator shaft and the friction members thereof to substantially improve the self-balancing action. The

size and arrangement of the centering spring to be chosen and the centering force exerted thereby depends upon the balancing action desired and a the method by which it is desired to operate the washing and drying machine.

To assist in understanding. the role played by the centering spring, six different conditions of gyroscopic action will be considered: (A) unstable mounting with centering spring exerting no centering force and gyrator shaft stationary; (B) unstable mounting with centering spring exerting no centering force and forward rotation of gyrator shaft; (C) unstable mounting with centering spring exerting centering force with forward rotation of y ator shaft; (D) stable mounting with forward rotation of gyrator shaft; (E) stable mounting with gyrator shaft stationary: (F) stable mounting with backward rotation of gyrator shaft. The friction surfaces are engaged in all cases. Condition A forwards departing further away from center 1 until the bumper roller hits the gyrator shaft after which the basket will precess backwards and the bumper roller will remain in continuous contact with the gyrator shaft. Thus, no stabilization is achieved in this condition.

Condition B If now, with the centering spring still exerting no centering force, the gyrator shaft be rotated forward, the falling torque decreases with increase in gyrator shaft speed until a certain minimum speed of the gyrator shaft is reached. This point may be called the lower natural precession rate at which the falling torque is zero.

19 At this point the basket will precess forwardly but will neither depart further from true verticalv nor approach true vertical.

If the gyrator shaft speed be further increased forwardly, a restoring torque will be generated, tending to move the basket to vertical position. This restoring torque will increase with further increase in the speed of the gyrator shaft until a maximum restoring torque is obtained, after which the restoring torque decreases until the speed of the gyrator shaft attains its upper natural precession rate. At this point the restoring torque is again zero. A further increase in the speed of the gyrator shaft generates a falling torque tending to move the basket further away from vertical.

Condition B above described represents the conditions of operation in the above-mentioned application, Serial No. 262,652, filed March 18, 1939, now Patent No. 2,350,268, dated May 30, 1944, and according to that prior application, the speed of the gyrator shaft is taken between the lower and upper critical limits, preferably where the restoring torque is maximum.

Condition C If now the centering spring be adjusted to apply a centering force insufficient to make the mounting stable, restoring torques will be generated at lower forward gyration shaft speeds than under Condition B. As the gyrator shaft 'speed is increased, the restoring torque will also increase to a certain maximum, after which with further increase in gyrator speed, the restoring torque will decrease until an upper critical limi of gyrator shaft speed is reached.

Condition D If the centering spring be adjusted to apply a suiilcient force to make the mounting stable, the behavior of the machine will follow that discussed under Condition C. With forward rotation of the gyrator shaft, the centering force exerted by the centering spring improves the operation regardless of whether the centering force is sufficient to make the mounting stable.

The above Conditions C and D represent the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures l and 2. It will be noted that the forward movement of the gyrator shaft of Condition D also retards the tendency of the basket to precess backwardly just the same as the stationary gyrator performs this function under Condition E, below.

Condition it With a stable mounting and the gyrator shaft driven backwards, the restoring torque will decrease with increase in gyrator shaft speed to a point where the restoring torque becomes zero.

In general, spring centering force, either sufficient or insufllcient to make the mounting stable, increases the restoring torque generated by the forward rotation of the gyrator shaft at any speed and increases the range of gyrator shaft speed over which a restoring torque is generated. This spring centering force also causes a restoring torque to be generated at lower gyrator shaft speeds than without this centering force. In addition, this centering force makes it possible to obtain an appreciable restoring torque with a stationary gyrator shaft or even with the gyrator shaft rotating backwardly.

Reference is made to copending divisional application, Serial No. 553,761. filed September 12, 1944, which contains claims to the washing action.

While certain novel features of the invention have been disclosed and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A combined washing and drying machine comprising in combination, a receptacle adapted to receive articles to be washed and centrifugally dried; a rotor shaft supporting said receptacle; a universal support for said rotor shaft; a hollow gyrator shaft surrounding said rotor shaft; a pair of friction members mounted on said rotor shaft and gyrator shaft, respectively; and a spring urging said friction members together.

2. 1n a centrifugal machine, a rotatable basket, a universal joint for supporting the basket, a support under said basket, a spin shaft rotatably mounted upon said support and connected to said universal joint, means for driving said spm shaft to spin the basket for the spin drying operation, a stabilizing device including a second drive shaft for supplying to said basket while it is spinning, an accelerating corrective force tangential to the path of precession of the basket, and yieldable devices acting between said support and said basket for applying a centerin force to said basket.

3. In a bottom mounted washing machine, an open top basket, a spin shaft under said basket comprising upper and lower sections and having a universal joint therebetween, said upper section being connected to said basket, means for driving said lower section at centrifugally extracting speed, a stabilizing member surrounding said spin shaft and having a friction element, a friction element joumaled on said upper section, elastic means for holding said friction elements in engagement with each other, means for controlling said stabilizing member to cause said friction elements to apply to said basket a force tangential to the path of precession of said basket to stabilize said basket, a tank for said basket, said friction elements being disposed above the overflow level of liquid in said tank.

4. In a centrifuge, an open top basket, a. spin shaft under said basket comprising upper and lower sections and having a universal joint therebetween, said upper section being connected to said basket, means for driving said lower section at centrifugally extracting speed, a stabilizing sleeve surrounding said spin shaft and having a friction head at its upper end, a spherical friction plate joumaled on said upper section, spring means for holding said friction plate in engagement with said friction head, and means for controlling said stabilizing sleeve to cause said friction plate to apply to said basket a force tangential to the path of precession of said basket stabilize said basket.

5. A combined washing and drying machine comprising in combination, a receptacle adapted 21 I to receive articles to be washed and centrifugally dried; a rotor shaft supporting said receptacle; a universal support for said rotor shaft; 9. hollow gyrator shaft surrounding said rotor shaft; a pair of friction members mounted on said rotor shaft and gyrator shaft, respectively; and a spring device acting between said rotor shaft and said gyrator shaft for urging said friction members together and urging said rotor shaft towards a central position with respect to said gyrator shaft.

6. A combined washing and drying machine comprising in combination, a receptacle adapted to receive articles to be washed and centrifugally dried; a rotor" shaft supporting said receptacle; a universal support for said rotor shaft; 9. hollow gyrator shaft surrounding said rotor shaft;

a rotatable sleeve on said rotor shaft; a pair of spherically curved friction members on said gyrator shaft and said sleeve, respectively, said friction members bein concentrically arranged with respect to said universal support; and a spring device acting between said sleeve and said gyrator shaft for urging said friction members together and for urging said rotor shaft towards a central position with respect to said gyrator shaft.

7. In a centrifugal machine, an open top clothes basket, a support under said basket, a spin shaft having a drive section journaled on said support and a rotor section secured to said basket, a universal joint disposed between said sections, a gyrator shaft surrounding said spin shaft, a stabilizing member comprising a friction plate. a bearing sleeve journaled on said rotor section and secured to said friction plate, a friction head on said gyrator shaft engageable by said friction plate, a tapered helical centering spring having its larger end disposed upwardly and secured to the inside of said gyrator shaft, the lower end of said spring engaging said bearing sleeve, said spring being in compression and drawing saidsaid gyrator shaft and said sleeve, respectively;

and a helical spring surrounding said rotor shaft and acting between said sleeve and said gyrator shaft for urging said rotor shaft towards a central position with respect to said gyrator shaft and for urging said friction members together.

9. A combined washing and drying machine comprising in combination, a receptacle adapted to receive articles to be washed and centrifugally dried; a rotor shaft supporting said receptacle; a universal support for said rotor shaft; a hollow gyrator shaft surrounding said rotor shaft; a pair of friction members mounted on said rotor shaft and gyrator shaft, respectively; a spring device, acting between said rotor shaft and said gyrating shaft for. urging said friction members together and for urging said rotor shaft towards a central position with respect to said gyrator shaft; a prime mover connected to said gyrator 22 arresting said rotor shaft or for connecting said rotor shaft to said primer mover, respectively; and means for engaging said rotor shaft and said gyrator shaft to cause the receptacle to gyrate with the gyrator shaft when the rotor shaft is in a tilted position.

10. A combined washing and drying machine comprising in combination, a substantially vertical drive shaft; a receptacle adapted to receive articles to be washed and centrifugallydried; a rotor shaft supporting said receptacle; means for mounting said rotor shaft for rotation with, and

universal tilt relatively to, said drive shaft; a

hollow substantially vertical gyrator shaft surrounding said rotor shaft; a rotatable sleeve on said rotor shaft; a pair of friction members on said gyrator shaft and said sleeve, respectively; a helical spring surrounding said rotor shaft and acting between said sleeve and said gyrator shaft for urging said rotor shaft towards a central position with respect to said gyrator shaft and for urging said friction members together; means for engaging the rotor shaft and the gyrator shaft for gyration with the latter when the rotor shaft is in a tilted position; a prime mover connected to said gyrator shaft to drive the same; and means for selectively arresting said drive shaft or for connecting said drive shaft to said prime mover, respectively.

11. In a laundry machine, a supporting structure including a tank, laundry devices including a basket in said tank, operating drive shafts passing. through the bottom of said tank including an inner shaft and an outer shaft for operating said laundry devices, a large horizontally disposed friction bevel gear on said outer shaft, a second horizontally disposedfriction bevel gear on said inner shaft, an electric motor having its main drive shaft arranged at an angle between horizontal and vertical, said'motor drive'shaftcomprising an outer hollow shaft and an inner shaft, friction clutch elements fixedly secured to either end of said hollow shaft, upper and lower motor friction bevel gears journaled on said hollow shaft and secured to either end of said motor inner shaft, each said motor bevel gear having a clutch element engaging its respective hollow shaft clutch element, said lowerimotor gear engaging said second operating drive shaft gear, said upper motor gear engaging said first operating drive shaft gear.

12. A combined washing and drying machine comprising in combination, a substantially vertical drive shaft; a receptacle adapted to receive articles tobe washed and centrifugally dried; a rotor shaft on said receptacle; means for mounting said rotor shaft for rotation with, and universal tilt relatively to, said drive shaft; a hollow substantially vertical gyrator shaft surrounding said rotor shaft; a pair of friction members on said rotor shaft and said gyrator shaft, respectively; a friction wheel on said drive shaft; a friction wheel on said gyrator shaft; aprime -mover having two friction wheels, one wheel permanently engaging the frictionwheel on the gyrator shaft; and a tiltable mount for said prime mover for engaging and disengaging, by tilting oftheprime mover, the other friction wheel on the prime mover with the wheel on the drive shaft.

13. In alaundry machine, a supporting structure including a tank, laundry devices including a basket in said tank, operating drive shafts passing through the bottom "of said tankincluding an inner shaft and an outer shaft for operating said shaft to drive the same; means for selectively l6 laundry devices, a large horizontally disposed 23 friction bevel gear on said outer shaft, a second horizontally disposed friction bevel gear on said inner shaft, an electric motor having its main drive shaft arranged at an angle between horizontal and vertical, said motor drive shaft having a friction bevel gear on its lower end adapted to engage said inner shaft gear and afriction bevel gear on its upper end adapted to engage said outer shaft gear, a support secured to said motor, a link pivoted to said support and to said structure, a brake for said inner shaft gear, a lever pivoted to said structure and to said brake for engaging said brake and last mentioned gear, said lever having a portion engageable with said motor support to disengage the lower motor gear from the inner shaft gear whenever said brake is applied.

14. A combined washing and drying machine comprising in combination, a substantially vertical drive shaft; a receptacle adapted to receive articles to be washed and centrifugally dried; a rotor shaft on said receptacle; means for mounting said rotor shaft for rotation with, and universal tilt relatively to, said drive shaft; a hollow substantially. vertical gyrator shaft surrounding said rotor shaft; a pair of friction members on said rotor shaft and said gyrator shaft, respectively; a friction wheel on said drive shaft; a friction wheel on said gyrator shaft; a motor having two friction wheels, one wheel permanently engaging the friction wheel on the gy-.

rator shaft; a brake for said drive shaft; a tiltable mount, for said motorfor engaging and disengaging by tilting of the motor the other fric tion wheel on the motor with the wheel on the drive shaft; and an actuator for jointly operating said brake and tilting said mount.

15. A combined washing and drying machine comprising in combination, a substantially vertical drive shaft; a receptacle adapted to receive articles to be washed and centrifugally dried; a rotor shaft on said receptacle; means for mounting said rotor shaft, for rotation with, and universal tilt relatively to, said drive shaft; a hollow substantially vertical gyrator shaft surrounding said rotor shaft; frictional erecting means between said gyrator shaft and said rotor shaft; and an internal projection on said gyrator shaft for engaging said rotor shaft for gyratorymovement with said gyrating shaft when said rotor shaft is in a tilted position, and means for supporting said drive shaft and gyrator shaft in substantially fixed axial relation.

16. In a combined washing and drying machine, a receptacle in which laundry is washed,

and centrifugally dried; a substantially vertical rotor shaft supporting said receptacle; a universal support for said rotor shaft; a hollow gyrator shaft surrounding said rotor shaft; and a resilient roller on said rotor shaft to cushion the shock when the rotor shaft tilts against the E!- rator shaft.

17. In a combined washing and drying machine, a receptacle in which laundry is washed and centrifugally dried; a substantially vertical rotor shaft supporting said receptacle; a universal support for said rotor shaft; a hollow gyrator shaft surrounding said rotor shaft; a roller on said rotor shaft to contact the inner wall of the gyrator shaft when the rotor shaft tilts against the gyrator shaft; and a projection on the inside of the gyrator shaft in the path of saidn'oller to engage the rotor shaft for gyrating movement with said gyrator shaft.

18. In a laundry machine, a framework comring aspider having radial arms secured to said ring, said spider having a central hub, .a hollow gyrator shaft journaled in said hub, a spin shaft comprising a drive section journaled in said gyrator shaft and a rotor section disposed in said gyrator shaft for tilting movement with respect thereto, a universal coupling connecting said spin shaft sections, said rotor section comprising a sleeve connected to said universal joint and a stem disposed within said sleeve, an open top basket having a bottom connected to said stem, a bearing sleeve surrounding said rotor sleeve and journaled thereon, a' spherical stabilizing plate secured to said bearing sleeve, a friction head on the upper end of said gyrator shaft having frictional engagement with said friction plate, a helical spring surrounding said spin shaft and secured to said gyrator shaft and to said rotor sleeve, said spring urging said frictional stabilizing plate and head together and also exerting centering action on said basket, a high speed drive connected to said drive section and a low speed drive connected to said gyrator shaft.

19. A combined washing and drying machine comprising in combination, a substantially vertical drive shaft; a receptacle adapted to'receive articles to be washed and centrifugally dried; a rotor shaft supporting said receptacle; a universal joint for mounting said rotor shaft for rotation with, and universal tilt relatively to, said drive shaft, a hollow substantially vertical gyrator shaft surrounding said rotor shaft; a rotatable and axially movable sleeve on said rotor shaft; a pair of spherically curved friction members on said gyrator shaft and said sleeve, respectively; concentric with said universal joint; a helical tension spring of conical shape connected to said sleeve and said gyrator shaft respectively; and a member projecting on the inside of said gyrator shaft for engaging the rotor shaft in a tilted position for gyrating movement.

20. In a centrifugal machine, an open top sections, a gyrator shaft surrounding said spin shaft, a stabilizing member comprising a friction plate, a bearing sleeve journaled on said rotor section and secured to said friction plate, a friction head on said gyrator shaft engageable EU! said friction plate, a tapered helical centering spring having its larger end disposed downwardly and secured to the inside of said gyrator shaft, the upper end of said spring being secured to said bearing sleeve, said spring being in tension and drawing said frictional stabilizing plate and head together, said spring also exerting a centering force on said basket. 21. In a centrifugal machine, an open top clothes basket, a support under said basket, a spin shaft having a drive section journaled on said support and a rotor section secured to said basket, a universal joint incorporated between said sections, said universal joint permitting tilting of the basket and also lateral movement of the foot of the rotor shaft caused by dynamic unbalance, a gyrator shaft surrounding said spin shaft, a stabilizing member comprising a friction plate, a bearing sleeve journaled on said 15 rotor section, a resilient ring disposed between assspsa said plate and said bearing sleeve and yieldably securing said plate and bearing sleeve together, a friction head on the upper end of said gyrator shaft engageable by said friction plate, a tapered,

helical, centering spring surrounding said rotor shaft and having its larger end disposed downwardly and secured to the inside of said gyrator shaft, the upper end of said spring engaging an abutment on said bearing sleeve, said spring being in tension and drawing said frictional stabilizing plate and head together, said spring also exerting a centering force on said basket.

22. In a drying machine, a supporting sleeve, a hollow gyrator shaft journaled in said sleeve, a spin shaft journaled in said gyrator shaft, said spin shaft comprising an upper rotor section and a lower drive section connected by a universal joint, a basket connected to said rotor section, a friction head on said gyrator shaft, a friction plate Journaled on said rotor shaft adapted to engage said friction head, separate horizontal springs acting between said friction plate and gyrator shaft to apply a centering force to said basket, separate vertical springs acting between said friction plate and gyrator shaft to apply friction pressure between said friction plate and gyrator head, and means for driving said shafts.

23. In a combined washing and drying machine, a supporting sleeve, a hollow gyrator shaft joumaled in said sleeve, a spin shaft joumaled in said gyrator shaft, said spin shaft comprising an upper rotor section and a lower drive section connected by a universal joint, a basket connected to said rotor section, a friction head on said gyrator shaft, a friction plate journaled on said rotor shaft adapted to engage said friction head, spring means to apply a centering force to said basket, means to apply friction pressure between said friction plate and gyrator head, drive means for driving said drive shaft and brake means for concurrently holding said gyrator shaft stationary for centrifugal drying, and drive means for driving said gyrator shaft and brake means for concurrently holding said drive shaft stationary for washing.

24. In a centrifuge, a basket assembly comprising an open top basket and a spin shaft connected to said basket, a support under said basket, a flexible connection between said support and said basket assembly to permit the basket to precess, means for driving said spin shaft at centrifugal extracting speed. a sleeve surrounding said spin shaft and having a friction head, a friction member journaled on said basket assembly and engaging said head, elastic means for applying a centering force to said hasket, and means for driving said sleeve whereby said friction member applies to said basket an accelerating force tangential to the path of precession of said basket to stabilize said basket.

25. In a centrifugal drying machine, a rotatable basket, a support under said basket, a spin shaft connected to said basket to spin it for the centrifugal drying operation, means 'for uni-- versally mounting said spin shaft on said support to permit the basket to precess, a stabilizing device, including a stabilizing shaft, for applying to the basket, while it is precessing during drying, a corrective force tangential to the path of precession of the basket, speed ratio devices between said spin and stabilizing shafts for maintaining a substantially fixed ratio between the speeds of said spin and stabilizing/shafts 26 whilesaidspinshaftisbeingdrivenatfullmin drying speed, and means to accelerate said basket from a condition of substantial rest while maintaining said substantially fixed ratio between the speeds of said spin and stabilizing shafts.

26. In a washing and centrifugal drying machine, a rotatable basket, a support under said basket, a spin shaft connected to said basket to spin it for the centrifugal drying operation, means for universally mounting said spin shaft on said support to permit the basket to precess, a stabilizing device, including a gyrator shaft, for applying to the basket, while it is precessing during drying. a corrective force tangential to the path of precession of the basket, a prime mover, a slip clutch driven by said prime mover, drive mechanism connected to said slip clutch and to said gyrator shaft for driving said gyrator shaft during both drying and washing operations, a substantially non-slipping interruptable drive mechanism connected to said slip clutch and to said spin shaft to drive said spin shaft during the drying operation and to discontinue drive of said spin shaft during the washing operation, substantially non-slipping speed ratio devices between said spin and gyrator shafts for maintaining a substantially fixed ratio between the speeds of said spin and gyrator shafts while said spin shaft is being driven, whereby the en gagemen't of said interruptable drive mechanism for the drying operation acts to decelerate said gyrator shaft at the initiation of the spin drying operation, after which the prime mover acts to acelerate the gyrator shaft while accelerating the spin shaft to full spin drying speed.

27. In a centrifugal machine, an open top basket, 9. support under said basket, a spin shaft secured to said basket, means including a uni versal elastic mounting at the foot of said spin shaft for joumaling said spin shaft on said support, said universal elastic mounting permitting precession of the spin shaft, means including a rotatable stabilizing member surrounding said spin shaft for app to said basket a net corrective accelerating force in a direction substantially tangential to the path of precession of the basket, said universal elastic mounting having lateral flexibility permitting lateral movement of the foot of the spin shaft caused by dynamic unbalance of the basket and its contents, means for driving said spin shaft and means for driving said stabilizing member.

28. In a centrifugal machine, an open top has ket, a support under said basket, a spin shaft secured to said basket, means including a universal elastic mounting at the foot of said spin shaft for journaling said spin shaft on said sup port, said universal elastic mounting permit ting tilting of the spin shaft, said universal elastic mounting having lateral flexibility per mitting lateral movement of the foot of the spin shaft caused by dynamic unbalance of the basket and its contents, a stabilizing shaft surrounding said spin shaft, a stabilizing device comprising a friction plate, a bearing member journaled on said spin shaft, a flexible connection between said friction plate and said bearing member to allow said friction plate to tilt with respect to said spin shaft, a friction head on said stabilizing shaft engageable by said friction plate, centering spring means secured to said stabilizing shaft and to said bearing member, said spring means drawing said friction plate and head together, said JAY GRANT DE REMER.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Leaman Oct.'12,' 1886 Jebsen Aug. 2, 1904 Daft June 12, 1917 Number 28 Name Date Ge1dho1f July 15, 1930. Lee Dec;'17,1935 Kirby Mar. 1, 1938 Motycka Nov. 22, 1938 Morgenstern Jan. 9, 1940 Dunham Dec. 30, 1941 Dunham Oct. 6, 1942 Dyer Dec. 1, 1942 Clark Apr. 11, 1944 DeRemer May 30, 1944 Dyer Apr. 11, 1944 Hays Oct. 31, 1944 Kirby Dec. 16, 1947