US2534194A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Description

Dec. l2, l950 Filed Nov. 9, 1946 C. F. EMMERT ET AL WASHING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dc. l2, 1950 c. F. EMMERT Erm.

WASHING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 9. 1946 INVENmRs: 62a, Ifo/z FE//zmff Wi', a2/2z ffoadcf Patented Dee. l2, 1950 i uNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE mismo melma:

Clayton l". Emmert and William Il. Stouder, Newton, Iowa, assignors to Automatic Washer Company, Newton, Iowa, a corporation of Dela- Application November 9, 1946, Serial No. 709,050

` cnam. (ci zio-s3) 'I'he present invention relates to washing machine and apparatus in general utilizing relatively high speed tubs or baskets particularly in the water extraction cycle thereof and provides a means for counterbalancing off center and unbalanced loads which produce vibration and structural strains which are both troublesome and annoying. The present design may be applied to any apparatus adapted for relatively high speed rotation carrying mixed loads including fiuids and wherein the loads are capable oi' shifting to cause an unbalanced relationship introducing offset inertia stresses which introduce the unwanted vibration.

One of the main objects, therefore, is to provide a washer, preferably of the automatic cycle type having a high speed rotating tub or basket adapted forwater extraction during a certain period oi' the cycle, and to provide means which reduces the vibration in the main frame and cabinet of the machine to a minimum under loaded conditions during acceleration, full spinning speed, and during deceleration.

`Another object of the present invention is to provide a means which is capable oi' counterbalancing varying oil' center loads up to the capacity of the load handled by the tub or basket of any type of spinner regardless of the kind of apparatus used for agitation or whether such apparatus is present or not. With the proposed construction, the counterbalancing force varies with the olf-center loads as the latter vary so that the counterbalancing means and mechanism is adapted to exert a relatively small offset counterbalancing force when the machine load is relatively well balanced, and by the same token, if the machine load is greatly out of balance, the counterbalancing apparatus also exerts a proportionately greater counterbalancing force reducing the offset and out of balance loads to a minimum.

It is another object of the present invention to utilize a portion of the liquid load in the tub or basket to provide the necessary counterbalancing means, and in the quantities which are directly proportional to the magnitude of the unbalanced load, using only an additional jacket, chamber, or other receptacle for confining such counterbalancing fluid which adds substantially nothing to the total weight of the machine considering the entire weightaof the unit as a whole in contrast with the additional jacket used for the counter- Y 2 employed in some washers, and also the load upon the braking mechanism to slow down and stop the spinning tub or basket is also considerably lessin that the rotational inertia is not as great in the present light weight construction as it would be in machines using heavy rings or other additional shiftable weights for counterbalancing purposes. All this tends to reduce the time cycle since the acceleration to spinning speed is accomplished in less time and the deceleration of the rotating mechanism from spinning speed to a full stop is also accomplished in less time reducing this portion of the time cycle.

It is another object of the present invention to mount the tu'b structure lupon a rotating shaft fectively in counteracting any extreme oribtal movements of the shaft and tub or basket.

- Y All other objects and advantages shall hereinafter appear in the following detailed description having reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical axial cross sectional view of a preferred construction of washing machine embodying theprinciples set forth by the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan sectional view of the washer illustrated in Fig. 1 and substantially as viewed along the plane of the line 2 2 in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the spinning mechanism including v,the tub, drive shaft and resilient supporting mechanisms therefor.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, the machine is illustrated somewhat diagrammatically as an automatic cycle machine of the cabinet type having an outer decorative and ornamental cabinet l supported upon suitable legs 2 having non-skid pads or feet 3 for steadying the cabinet upon a surface supporting the same. The power means comprises a motor 4 suitabh' supported upon the cabinet walls and adapted for driving a belt 5 by means of the shaft 6 carrying a pulley 1, the belt 5 being connected to a pulley 8 forming the driving element of a transmission 9 which is pf a conventional type adapted for either oscillating the tub shaft lll or for driving the same unidirectionally at a relatively high speed for water extraction purposes. A brake band II encircles the housing of the transmission 9 and 'is controlled by an electrical solenoid i2.

The particular type of transmission herein disclosed is more or less diagrammatically shown since it actually forms no part of this invention excepting. to furnish a means for driving the shaft I in one direction or acting to oscillate the same. A brief explanation of the working functions thereof is submitted. The solenoid I2 normally sets the band into operative braking position holding the casing of the transmission 9 in fixed position. When this condition prevails, the motor 4 is energized to rotate in one direction driving the belt 5 and pulley 9 to operate the internal mechanism of the transmission which is designed to oscillate the shaft I0 at this time. The spinning cycle is started by releasing the brake band and by simultaneously reversing the 'direction of operation of the motor 4. The transmission 9 contains an overrunning type of clutch coacting with the pulley shaft and which is adapted to actively engage the shaft when the motion of the latter is in one direction. This acts to rotate the pulley shaft and the transmission 9 bodily so that the same rotate together at the same speed and at a speed at which the motor 4 drives such elements through the means of the belt drive 5. The overrunning clutch is of a centrifugal type which eliminates initial shock or torque so as to permit the entire transmission and the drive shaft of the tub to reach a gradual spinning speed without overloading the driving motor 4. The various operations of the motor 4 and the solenoid I2 and the other working parts of the machine such as the mixing valves for hot and Coldwater and the draining valves are all solenoid controlled and operated from a -suitable master timer which automatically controls the entire cycle of operation of the machine and its individual operating mechanismsi Obviously, such cyclic functions may be manually controlled or such manual controis may be interposed into the automatic timing system for flexible operation of the machine.

The tub or basket I3 is suitably secured and carried upon the upper end I4 of shaft I0 by the securing means I5. The lower end of shaft I0 is supported'and rides in a bearing I6 suitably carried in a flexible rubber mounting |1 secured to the casing I8 which is flxedly supported by a spider I9 having its ends secured to the walls of the cabinet I. With this particular arrangement, the shaft I0 together with its supported tub I3 may flex out of the normal vertical position thereof although the bearing means supporting the lower end thereof is normally capable of maintaining the shaft I0 and tub in a vertical relation with respect to the bala-nce of the machine as indicated in full lines in Fig. 3. The dot and dash axis 65 also signifies this true vertical relationship while the dotted lines 66 angling with respect to the bearing I9 show olf-center axis to which the tub, etc., may lean in rotating an out of balance load without counterbalancing. This structure actually is analogous to a spinning top and gyroscopic action would tend to hold this unit vertical or tend to move same into a vertical position as a direct aid to the counterbalancing mechanism.

Referring again to Figs. 1 and 2, a peripheral sump or drain chamber is formed beneath the tub I3 by means of the annular base 2| having the inner peripheral upstanding flange 22 and an outer peripheral upstanding flange 29, the

assai latter being suitably welded or otherwise secured to the walls of the cabinet I. Any convenient type of drain conduit such as 24 which is suitably valve controlled communicates with the chamber 20 for draining the Water out of the sump into suitable connections to discharge such water into the normal house water draining system.

A snubbing mechanism generally indicated at 25 connects at a point near the upper end of the shaft I0 and cooperates with the under surface of the annular base 2| of the sump for counteracting any forces which would tend to throw shaft I0 oil of its normal vertical axis of rotation as permitted by the bottom bearing I6 and its mounting I1.

This snubbing mechanism may be of various designs and may be constructed to best fit the problems of a particular machine. In the present design, as illustrated in Fig. 1, this snubbing device is made in the form of a cross providing a spider, two of its arms 26 and 21 being shown in Fig. l, and such arms having depending ends 28 and 29 respectively. Springs 90 are connected at 9| between the lower portions of the depending arm ends 28 and 29 and are fastened to the under side of the annular base 2| to normally hold and urge the snubbing means upwardly and in the vertical direction of the machine. Each of the spider arms such as 26 and 21 are provided with studs 92 carrying pads 99 faced with antifriction material such as 94 which is adapted to press against the under surface of the annular base 2| for frictional contact therewith and are so maintained through the instrumentality of the springs 99.

The central portion of the cross or spider providing the arms 26 and 21 of the snubbing device 25 includes aA housing 95 which confines an annular rubber bearing 96 that is molded to the shaft bearing 91 so that a flexible connection is established between the bearing 91 and the arms of the snubbing/device 25. l

Thus, with the above described snubbing device 25, the latter is capable of maintaining the shaft I0 in substantially vertical position rendering opposition to any lateral forces which would tend to move such shaft out of coincidence with its normal vertical axis of rotation which action is. of course, supplemented by the inherent resiliency and tendency of the lower flexible bearing I6 to maintain the shaft I0 in vertical position at al1 times.

The tub structure I9 is divided into two chambers 99 and 99 of which the former is the washing chamber of the machine and the latter is the chamber utilized for counterbalancing off-center loads. Chambers 38 and 39 are defined and formed by means of a double tub comprising an inner tub 40 and an outer tub 4| concentrically arranged and fabricated to be connected concentrically with respect to the vertical drive shaft I0 and to be rigidly supported and connected thereto.

The inner tub 49 is riveted at 42 to an annular coving 49 providing a central opening 44 disposed beneath and in line with the opening 45 in the cabinet I, clothing and other articles to be washed or removed from the machine being passed through the openings 44 and 45. Coving 49 has an annular depending flange 49 which is adapted to engage a rubber sealing ring 41 carried by the upper edge 49 of the outer tub 4| so that the inner and outer tubs 40 and 4| through the sealing means 41 actually form a assai Jacket which has been previously donned as the counterbalancing chamber 8l.

A plurality of vanes ll, Il and Il. as seen in Figs. 1 and 2, are secured to the inner wall of the tub 4l and in spaced relationship about the axial center of the tub Il and axially thereto. 'l'hese vanes may be separate pieces or may be integrally formed to be secured by the fastening means II adjacent the bottom of the tub while the upper edges of the vanes are provided with ears l! which coincide with and extend into bulges or bosses Il shaped and formed to snusly receive the ears as best shown in Figs. 1 and 2. It should also be noted that the outer tub Il is provided with a conical depending baille il connected with a bearing ring 5l for engginggthe shaft il to provide further stability between shaft Il and the tub structure.

Referring to Fig. l, it should be noted that the inner tub III is provided a plurality of openings Il adjacent the upper edge thereof and beneath the annular coving Il. Openings I6 therefore form communicating means providing passageways between the inner washing chamber of the' tub ll and the outer annular jacket chamber 3i. As seen in Fig. 2. a plurality of openings Il are located annularly in the bottom of the outer tub Il and substantially in the positionsV indicated in Pigs. l and 2.

In the machine illustrated in Figs. l and 2. it is contemplated using six pounds of dry clothes and nine to ten gallons of water for performing the washing cycle. It is further anticipated that the oscillation of the washing tub should be approximately sixty strokes per minute and the tub should oscillate in a sixty to seventy degree arc. Obviously, the number of strokes and the degree of oscillation are both variables but the f example given works well with a normal washing cycle of this kind. Also, during the washing operation, the opening 45 in the cabinet is normally closed by a suitable cover. While the tub is agitating the clothes through the action of the vanes 49, 50 and li. the water and articles of clothing are washed in their normal fashion and any splashing out of the tub structure il is normally counteracted by the downturned lip il of the coving 43 merely as a means to conserve'the suds and wash water inasmuch as any water passing through the opening Il or splashing therefrom will mereLv run over the sides of the tub structure I3 and back into the sump or chamber 2l which is annularly disposed in proper location as indicated in Fig. 1 for easily receiving and catching all of such accidently discharged water or suds.

During the washing cycle, it is obvious that counterbalancing will be unnecessary and that for all normal indications the rotational oscillation of shaft iii and the basket or tub I3 will be about the normal vertical axial center line of the shaft II. It is only during the high speed spinning cycle of the machine that unbalanced forces are encountered by reason of the unequal distribution of the articles of clothing within the tub Il.

Assuming the tub isfully balanced, as would be the case in Fig. 1 with only water therein with the water indicated by the reference numeral 63. the beginning of the spinning cycle will cause the surface of the water to assume the parabolic shape shown in Fig. l with the water building up along the outer peripheral edges of the tub 4l due to centrifugal force. Ihis action is accentuated by an upward nare of the walls of tub 6 Il. This brings the water to a level where it will spill through the openings 56 and be ejected into the jacket or counterbalancing chamber 3l `shown in Fig. l.

Attention is alsodirected to the chamber I! and its capacity for carrying the counterbalancing fluid in relation to the load capacity of the tub. Such counterbalancing chamber must have a capacity to retain enough water by weight normally required to offset the maximum amount of off center load which could possibly occur during the normal operation of a tub loaded to capacity and throughout the spinning cycle. When the tub gradually begins to slow down thewater which has moved to the outer periphery of the chamber 39 in tub 4I shown in Fig. l will gradually drain downwardly through the openings 51 and will be thrown diagonally downwardly and outwardly into the sump or chamber 2|! prior to the draining of the tub 40. No drain means has been shown but any suitable valve controlled mechanism may be provided for draining the tub 40 at a predetermined-time.

Whenever the articles comprising the load in the tub 4'0 are thrown oi balance, the center of gravity of such load shifts and shaft i0 is moved against the retarding action of the snubbing device 25 and against the natural resiliency of its support and off of the normal vertical' axial center of rotation thereof. This will cause the upper end Il of the shaft i0 to gyrate through an orbital path as a natural accommodation of the oi center load. The water in the tub will be centrifugally passed or ejected through the openings 56 by the vortex action obtained and shown in Fig. l, such water automatically spilling into chamber 39. The water will then concentrate in chamber 39 and occupy a certain arcuate portion thereof to counterbalance the uneven distribution of clothes in chamber 40. v

It is to be understood that other modifications of the design and construction of the present washing machine are possible and that equivalent mechanisms may be substituted in carrying out the principles of the main concept of the inven-v tion; All such changes in the exact form, construction, and combination of parts, shall, therefore, be governed by the language of the appended claims which define the invention disclosed and described.

What we claim is:

l. In a washing machine, a casing having fluid outlets, a rotatable tub in said casing, a jacket surrounding said tub and having communication therewith for receiving iluid therefrom for counterbalancing unbalanced loads in said tub, a base secured to said casing beneath said tub, a driving shaft for said tub extending through said base, a spider having a hub with a yielding bushing surrounding said shaft and having arms yieldingly connected to said base and friction pads between said arms and base.

2. In a washing machine, a casing, a tub mounted in said casing, a driving shaft secured to the bottom of the tub, means for mounting said shaft for gyratory movements, a stationary base beneath said tub. means freely surrounding said shaft beneath said base and having arms frictionally engaging said base and yielding means connecting said arms and base for the purpose set forth.

3. In a washing machine, a casing, a rotary tub mounted in said casing, means associated with said tub for counterbalancing unbalanced loads in said tub, a stationary member secured to said casing beneath said tub, a driving shaft secured to said tub and extending through said member. a housing surrounding said shaft adjacent said member, yielding bearing means betweensaid shaft and housing, arms extending from said housing, yielding means for attaching said arms to said member and friction pads between said arms and member. I

4. In a washing machine, a casing, a rotary tub mounted in said casing, means associated with said tub for counterbalancing unbalancedloads vln said tub, a base member secured in said casing beneath said tub and defining a sump chamber, said tub having outlets to said sump chamber, a fiexiblebearing in said casing beneath said base member, a shaft having its lower end seated in said bearing, said shaft extending through said base member and being connected to said tub, means for rotating said shaftfor oscillating said tub, and snubbing means between said shaft and base comprising a spider having a hub surrounding said shaft, a flexible bushing in said hub, arms on said spider, yielding means connecting said arms'with said base member and friction pads between said arms and base member.

5. In a washing machine, a casing having fluid outlets, la rotary tub mounted in said casing,

.tion with said base member and yielding means @means associated with said tub for counterbaimechanism having yielding engagement with saidl shaft adjacent said base member and a drag relafor controlling the intensity of said drag.

CLAYTON F. EMMERT. lWILLIAM H. STOUDER.

The following references are lof record in the file of. this patent:

. UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 7,455 Fesca Jan. 2, i877 198,346 Cairns Dec. 18, 1877 '766,261 Jebsen Aug. 2, 1909 1,483,326 Bock Feb. 12, 1924 1,743,441 Dunham Jan. 14, 1930 2,375,635 Dyer May 8, 1945 i Disclaimer Y. 2,534,194.-Ulayt0n F. Emmev't and William H. Stoudee, NeWtn,.-Iewa.

WASHING MACHINE. Patent dated Dec. 12, 1950. Disclaimer filed Dec. 17, 1951, by the inventors; the assignee, Automatic Washer O'om` pany, agreeing and consenting. Hereby enter this disclaimer to cla-im 2 of said pat/ent.

[Oficial Gazette January 15, 1.952.]

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