US2645917A - Combined washing and extracting machine - Google Patents

Description

July 21, 1953' J. B. KIRBY 2,645,917

COMBINED WASHING AND EXTRACTING MACHINE Filed July 12, 1947 5 Sheets-$11901. 1 V

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MVLit/ A TT P/VE'YS 121/755 3- xnery y 21, 1953 J. B. KIRBY COMBINED WASHING AND EXTRACTING mcnma 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 12, 1947 INVENTOR. 371M515 .B- K/EBY ATTORNEYS July 21, 1953 J. B. KIRBY comamno WASHING AND EXTRACTING MACHINE iled July 12, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. JAMES .B. K/IPBY MWMQ A TTOPNEYS J. B. KIRBY I CONBINED WASHING AND EXTRACTING MACHINE July 21, 1 953 Filed July 12, 1 947 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

74/755 5- KNEE) W? Y M 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 July 21, 1953 J. B. KIRBY COMBINED WASHING AND EXTRACTING MACHINE Filed July 12, 1947 3 M a 1 s W 6 cl m W. M -4 2 F 4 W M N 1U: 3-H M K H 0 m m/ W W 1 2 4 7 W .1 7 WW f V a w M, Z a M? a. Mm 1 A F. 5 I): F es W/ 5 m E I. k W m I Il I /W M I: H m wv I 2 I m w J a -l- I I v A H W Y l 3 :u m w 8 J- 4 R ,I n. lll H m a n 0 w a 6 r 1. l VI 1 a7 4 m 0 Ma ,5 m 7 /M w MM 8 5 ,6 5 1| T b I 1 n M I I m U h. N m a. 3 a L 7 F. 3 M LI 4 1 I 3 1 w v F 4 Z 1 6 4 Mf M a w 1 7 Q M 4 H ,r 0 .2 M W w w I .0 lfl l/m 7 A x Patented July 21, 1953 COMBINED WASHING AND EXTRACTIN MACHINE James B. Kirby, West Richfield, onio, assignor to The Apex Electrical Manufacturing 00., Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio, as trustee Application July 12, 1947, Serial No. 760,555

4 Claims.

This invention relates to washing machines and more particularly to combined washing and extracting machines of the general type disclosed in my copending applications, Serial Numbers 619,- 849 filed October 2, 1945, and 671,779 filed May 23, 1946, and is a continuation-in-part of my application Serial Number 500,945 filed September 2, 1943, which became abandoned November 2'7, 1947. These machines are characterized by an annular container which is given a wobbling or jigging motion to wash and rinse clothes therein, and is given a rapid rotating movement to extract water from the clothes by centrifugal action.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention, described herein, is a portable washing machine. Although many aspects of this invention are directed to the provision of a portable washing machine, many of the features are not restricted to portable washing machines, but are of general application to washing machines,'cen trifuges, and the like.

One object of this invention is to impart to the tub or basket of a washing machine a wobbling motion for washing, while holding the basket against rotation about its own axis, and a rotating movement about the axis of the basket for extracting, while the axis is held inclined to the vertical.

Another object is to support the basket rotatably within a bearing and to drive alternately the bearing with respect to the basket or the basket with respect to the bearing to produce washing and extracting motions, respectively.

Another object of the invention is to prevent excessive vibration in a light weight machine by driving the basket with a wobbling motion for washing, while rotating eccentric weights to create a couple to balance and react against the thrust of the washing action, and combining this arrangement with a flexible vibration absorbing support for the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple light-weight, portable washing and extracting machine cap-able of washing a small load of clothes with a minimum amount of water and requiring a minimum amount of effort and attention from the operator.

Another object is to provide supporting means for a washing machine which is held in gripping engagement with the supporting surface during operation of the machine, and which automatically releases the machine from the surface when the operation is terminated.

Another object of this invention is to provide a secure but flexible support for a washing'maprincipally the clutch mechanism;

chine by means of vacuum cups having vertical and lateral flexibility and sufiicient grip on the supporting surface to prevent lateral movement of the machine from vibration.

1 Another object of this invention is to securely fasten a machine to its supporting surface during operation, while permitting removal of the mathe second is driven, and in another position both pulleys are braked.

Another object of theinvention is to utilize lateral vibration of the machine during extracting to release the driving clutch and thereby reduce the extractor speed and the vibration.

Other objects and advantages of the invention more or less ancillary in'nature will beapparent to those skilledin the art from the description herein of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is avertical section of a washing machine taken on the plane indicated in Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on the plane indicated in Fig.1;

Fig. 3 is a detailview of the control knob taken on the plane indicated in Fig, 1;

. Fig. 4 isa partial sectional view illustrating the clutch operating mechanism, taken on the plane indicated in Fig. 5;

Fig. 5 is a partial sectional view illustrating the clutch operating mechanism, taken on the plane indicated in Fig. 4;

Fig. .6 is a partial vertical section, illustrating Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional chine modified to incorporate a vibration-responsive control for the centrifuge drive;

Figs. 8 and 9 are vertical sections taken on the planes indicated in Fig. '7;

Fig. 10 is a vertical section taken onthe same plane as Fig. 8, showing the vibration control in operation; and

Figs. 11 and 12 are partial vertical sections taken on the planes indicated in Fig. 8.

Referring to Fig. 1, the machine is mounted on view of a maa sheet metal base 4 formed with a downwardly directed peripheral flange. The laundering mechanism comprises a generally spherical tub formed in two sections l5 and I6 and an annular basket therein, the tub and basket being supported on a column |8 formed with an integral conical apron IS. The apron is secured to the base by screws 2| entering the apron near its edge, and the bottom of the tub, which fits against the apron and the base, is secured by screws 22 and 23. The upper part l5 of the tub is-expanded at its lower edge to form a bead 24 which fits over the bottom portion I6, a sealing ring 25 of rubber or the like being fitted between the two portions.

A hollow shaft 21 extends through the column l8 and is supported by ball bearings 28'and- 29. The upper end of the hollow shaft 2! is formed with a head 3| within which is fixed a ball'bearing 32, the axis of which is at a small angle, prefbetween the inner surface of the hub and the flange 34 of a universal joint member 36. The member 36 is threaded into the base of the hub 33 and retained by a jam nut 31 and a pin 38. The hub 33 may thus rotate about the slightly inclined axis. A hub cap 39 retained by a screw covers the hub.

The basket I! is formed of an upper and a lower section welded together along the line 40. The peripheries of the two portions which are welded are notched slightly, the notches being opposed to provide narrow outlets 4 for discharge of fluid from the basket. The inner bottom periphery of the basket is secured to the flange of the hub 33 by screws 42. The basket is thus mounted on the hub adjacent its center of mass. Ridges 43 in the bottom of the basket inclined to the radii of the basket with their outer ends advanced in the direction of rotation serve to impart a roll-over motion to the contents during the washing operation. The side wall portion 44 of the basket I! inclines slightly outward (about four degrees) from its axis, so that fluid will climb the wall during centrifuging and-escape through the vents 4|. The upper margin of the basket is provided with an inwardly rolled flange 45,

A central shaft 46 concentric'with the column l8 and hollow shaft 2! is formed with a spherical head 41 received in a bore 48 in the member 36 and fitted with a transverse pin 49 engaging in slots 5| in the wall of the member 36. A universal joint driving connection is thus provided between the shaft 46 and the hub 33. A driving pulley 52 is fixed on the lower end of the hollow shaft 21 and retains within its hub a ball bearing 53 which supports the lower end of the shaft 46. A drive pulley 54 is fixed to the lower end of the shaft 46.

By selectively driving and braking the shafts 21 and 46 the basket I! may be given either a wobbling motion for washing or a rotating movement for centrifuging. When the shaft 46 is braked and the hollow shaft 21 is driven, the basket is given a wobbling motion, the axis of the basket following two conical paths, the apices of the cones being at the center of the bearing 32. This motion of the basket, when the shaft 21 is driven at the proper speed, agitates and distributes the clothes and water about the basket l1, and rapidly and thoroughly washes them, as described in 4 the aforementioned copending application Serial No. 619,849 filed October 2, 1945.

When the shaft 21 is braked and the shaft 46 is rotated, the basket is given a simple rotational movement about the axis of the bearing 32, which motion serves to extract the water from the clothes through centrifugal action, the excess water climbing the lower wall of the basket and escaping through the openings 4| into the tub I5, I6. A drain opening or spout 56 is formed at the bottom of the tub.

The rotation of the basket about its own axis during extracting, which is a feature with respect to which the present application is a continuation-in-part of the aforesaid co-pending application, Serial No. 500,945, filed September 2,

1943, permits the machine to be more compactly constructed and arranged, with a more rapid and efficient extracting operation, since less inclination of the wall 44 is required to obtain centrifugal discharge of water around the entire periphery of the basket than is required when the basket rotates about the axis of the hollow shaft 21. In the present construction a small angle of inclination of the wall 44, which may be and preferably is less than angle of inclination of the bearing 32, causes the water to climb the side wall and be discharged around the entire periphery of the basket during extracting, whereas in machines in which the basket spins about the axis of the vertical shaft 21 the inclination of the side wall of the basket must exceed the inclination of the bearing to obtain a similar extracting operation. The present arrangement therefore provides a smaller and more compact machine for a given weight of clothes.

In the preferred embodiment of the machine as disclosed herein, the basket I! is imperforate below the openings 4|, which are arranged at the point of maximum diameter of the basket, well above the level of the clothes and water. In washing, the clothes and the proper amount of water are placed in the basket and the water remains in the basket throughout the washing cycle except for insignificant amounts which may be splashed out. Good results are obtained by the use of water in the proportion of about 1 gallon of water to one pound of clothes, although this proportion may be varied substantially.

The tub is provided with a lid 51 to return any water which may be splashed from the basket. The lid is formed with'a depending flange 58 received within the mouth of the tub and against an annulus 59 of rubber-like material. A skirt 6| depends slightly into the mouth of the basket so that any water splashed out of the basket near its periphery will normally strike the skirt and fall into the basket. A central hole 62 in the cover with a rolled margin serves as a finger hole for removing the cover, and a shallow cone 63 spot-welded to the underside of the cover prevents ejection of fluid through the hole 62.

A drive motor 66 is mounted on the base adjacent the tub in any convenient manner, as by feet 61 with its shaft 68 extending through the base. A carrying handle 69 is bolted to the upper end bell of the motor and to the upper section l5 of the tub.

The machine is supported by four feet 1| of novel construction, one of which is shown in section in Fig. l. The feet include large rubber suction cups to grip a smooth surface such as the bottom of a bathtub to prevent crawling of the machine during operation and at the same time provide a mounting which is flexible both vertically and laterally. Each leg comprises a flanged metal cup I2 secured to the under surface of the base plate I4 by a bolt 13 and a rubber suction cup I4 with a base which extends into the cup 12 with a flange I5 bearing against the flange of the cup I2. The suction cups are of the usual concavo-convex cross section, generally as shown, and are of relatively large size, preferably two inches or more in diameter. The elasticity of the rubber of the cups tends to maintain the lower face concave despite the weight of the machine unless they are pressed against a surface to force air out. A very small bleed hole 16 is formed in each suction cup, a satisfactory way of forming the hole being to drill through with a inch drill, making a substantially invisible hole.

The bleed holes make it possible to remove the washing machine from the bathtub or other supporting surface without difiicul'ty, since air bleeds into the space between the cups and the supporting surface. However, the bleed holes, because of the mode of operation of the machine, do not interfere with adhesion of the suction cups during the operation of the machine. The reason for this is that in operation, both in washing and in extracting, any vibrations that tend to move the machine on its supporting surface have vertical components which tend alternately to force the suction feet down and lift them up. When the foot is forced downward by vibration, if it is not firmly seated, air or water will be pumped out around the margin of the cup. When the vibratory movement is upward the tendency is to draw air in through the bleed hole, but since the orifice is so small, air can enter only very slowly relative to the speed at which it can be expelled at the rim of the suction cup. Thus, due to the vibration of the machine, a vacuum is maintained within the cup. When the operation of the machine is ended, however, sufficient air will enter through the bleed hole to destroy the vacuum in the suction cup within a short time and permit the machine to be lifted. The suction cups are formed with an intermediate stem portion 11 to give them lateral and vertical flexibility so that the machine has a limited freedom of movement sufficient to permit it to vibrate with respect to the surface on which it is mounted and thus minimize transmission of vibrations to the supporting surface.

Vibration of the machine during the washing operation is minimized by the provision of rotating weights in static balance and dynamic unbalance which set up a force in opposition to the reaction from the wobbling movement of the container I1. These counterbalancing weights are a weight 8| fixed to the head 3| of the hollow shaft 21 by a screw 82, and a diametrically opposed weight 83 secured to the hollow shaft pulley 52 by a bolt 84. When the hollow shaft 21 is rotated from the position shown in Fig. 1, and

the shaft 46 is held stationary, the basket I! is I moved clockwise about an axis perpendicular to the plane of Fig. 1 passing through the center of the ball 41. The force applied through the bearing 32 to produce this motion of the basket reacts on the machine as a whole and tends to move it counterclockwise about the same axis. At the same time, the rotating weights 8I and 83 generate centrifugal forces which are displaced lengthwise of the axis of rotation of the shaft 21. These centrifugal forces constitute a couple which, at the instant the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1, tends to move'the machine in a clockwise direction. By properly propor- 'tates with the shaft 21 so that these forces remain in opposition to each other during the washing action. Preferably the magnitude of the couple created by the weights 8| and 83 is sufficient to balance substantially the mass of the basket I! and the reaction force of an average load of clothes and water. j

The weights 8| and 83 may be mounted on the hollow shaft 21 because of the fact that thisshaft is rotated only during the washing operation and is'held stationary during the extracting operation. It will be apparent that the weights would create an erratic operation if they were mounted on a member which rotates during extracting.

In respect to thisfeature of driving the outer shaft during washing and holding it stationary during extracting, the present application is' a continuation-in-part of my said application Serial No. 500,945, filed September 2, 1943.

It will be recalled that the hollow shaft 21 is rotated and the central shaft 46 is held stationary during the washing operation,'and that the shaft 46 is rotated and shaft 21 is held stationary during the extraction operation. These motions are supplied from the single motor 66 by means of a novel drive mechanism which, in addition, provides for braking both the hollow shaft and the central shaft. The novel clutch and brake mechanism is shown generally in Figs. 1 and 2 and in greater detail in Figs. 4 to 6. A pulley 86 (Fig. 5) on the motor shaft 68 drives the pulley 52 fixed to the hollowshaft by a belt 81. A second drive pulley 88 on the motor shaft drives the central shaft pulley 54 by a belt 88. The pulleys 86 and 88 are mounted to float on the motor shaft 68, as will be seen most clearly in the sectional view of Fig. 6, and are of identical construction,

being formed with a central opening 9| for clearance of the motor shaft and counterbored at 92 to receive a ball bearing 83 which is slidable'on the motor shaft. A spring 94 compressed between a terial I 82, the flanges being on the adjacent faces of the two pulleys. A driving clutch disk I83 is fixed to the shaft 68 intermediate the pulleys 86 and 88 by a pin I84. The upper and lower faces of the clutch disk I83 may coact with the clutch facings I82 .of the pulleys 86 and 88 to couple either pulley to the motor shaft 68.

The clutching and unclutching as well as braking of the pulleys is accomplished by a nonrotat ing ring I86 disposed around the clutch disk I83 between the outer portions of the flanges I8I of the pulleys. The ring I86 is supported between two arms I81 of a clutch operating lever I88 by means of pointed cap screws I 89 received in conical holes III at the opposite ends of a diameter of the ring I86. The ring I86 is of greater thickness parallel to the axis of the shaft 68 than the disk I 83; With the ring I86 in theposition shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the lower pulley is heldout of engagement with the clutch disk I 03 and is braked by engagement with the ring I06, the brake engaging force being supplied by the spring 81. If the ring I06 is elevated slightly, it picks up the upper pulley 86, slightly compressing the spring 94, and maintaining both pulleys clear of the driving disk I03. Still further vertical movement of the ring I06 permits the lower pulley 8-8 to engage the disk I03 and be driven thereby while the pulley 86 is still braked.

Control of the position of the brake and clutch lever I08 is effected by a handwheel H3 (Figs. 1 and 3) fixed to the upper end of a vertical control shaft I I4 by a screw I I6; The upper end of the shaft H4 is guidedby a bracket I I1 extending from the handle 69, and the lower end is guided by a bearing H8 (Figs. 1 and secured to the base I4. Indicia H9, I and I2I on the knob H3 identify Wash," Off, and Dry positions of the control shaft, being read against 1 an index I22 fixed to the upper casing I5 of the tub. The lower end portion I23 of the control shaft I I4 is threaded and bears thereon in tightly assembled relation, a nut I24, a bushing I25 within, and slightly longer than, the bearing H8, a thrust nut I26, a lock nut I21, a threaded member I28, and two lock nuts I28.

The member I28 is formed with threads of large pitch on its outer surface. A nut I3 I, which may be of octagonal form, travels on the screw I28. The nut I3I is formed with slots I32 in opposite faces, in which are engaged the edges of a slot I33 in the clutch operating lever I08. An enlarged portion I34 of the slot provides for assembly of the nut I32 into the slot I33. arm I36 of the lever I08 is pivoted by a pin I31 in a clevis of a bracket I38 which is fixed to the under side of the base plate I4. Rotation of the shaft H4 by the knob H3 raises and lowers the nut I3I through action of the screw I28, rotating the lever I08 about its fulcrum I31. The brake ring I06 is thus moved axially of the motor shaft 68, as previously described. The position of the ring I06 in Figs. 5 and 6, in which the upper pulley 86 is rotated, is the Wash position,

causing rotation of the hollow shaft 21. When the handwheel H3 is turned 90 degrees to the Off" position both pulleys are braked and the motor runs idle. When the knob is turned further to the Dry position the pulley 86 isbraked and the pulley 86 is rotated to effect the centrifuging action.

Figs. 7 to 12 illustrate the incorporation, in the machine just described, of means to decelerate the basket upon the occurrence of excessive vibration during the extracting operation. In general, this is accomplished by substituting, for the fixed pin I31 of Fig. 5, a movable fulcrum for the clutch lever I08, and providing mechanism to move the fulcrum so as to declutch and brake the pulley 88. Apart from this feature the machine may be the same as previously described. Certain parts which are unmodified are identified in Figs. 7 to 12 by the same reference characters as in Figs. 1 to 6 for purposes of identlflcation.

Fig. 8 illustrates the mechanism in the normal position for extraction with the ring I06 braking the pulley 86 and permitting the pulley 88 to engage the driving clutch disk I03. The clutch lever I08a is formed to coact with the brake ring I06 and the traveling nut I3I in the manner previously disclosed, but the fulcrum end is bifurcated as shown in Figs. 7 and 11, the fulcrum pin I31a passing through the legs I5I and I52 of the lever and being retained in place by cotter keys or the like I53. The pin I31a passes through the outer end of the arm I54 of a bellcrank lever which is disposed between the legs I5I and I52 of the clutch lever. The second arm I55 of the bellcrank is in the form of a depending pin at right angles to the leg I54. The bellcrank lever is fulcrumed on a pivot pin I56 (Figs. 7 and 12) which is mounted in a U-shaped bracket I 51 formed with flanges which are secured to the under surface of the base plate I4 by machine screws I58. The lower portion of the bracket I51 is cut away at I59 for clearance of the arm I55 of the bellcrank. The arm I54 of the bellcrank lies within and extends beyond the vertical portions of the bracket I51. An extension I6I of the lower portion of the bracket underlies the end of the arm I54 which normally rests thereon. A coiled compression spring I62 disposed between the bellcrank arm I54 and the base plate I 4 urges the outer end of the arm downwardly. The lower end of the spring is received in a blind bore I63 in the end of the arm and the upper end is inserted in a blind bore I64 in the base plate I4.

The force of the spring I62 is greater than that of the spring 94 so that normally the bellcrank arm I54 is held against the projection I6I of the bracket I51 when the arm I08a is raised, and the action of the clutch and brake mechanism is the same as previously disclosed. However, if the arm I55 is forced to the right from the position of Fig. 8 to that of Fig. 10, the pin I31a will be raised and the lever I08a will be rotated about the nut I3I as a fulcrum. This lowers the braking ring I06 against the clutch facing I02 of the lower pulley 88, braking and declutching the pulley and decelerating the basket.

This actuation of the arm I55 is effected by a vibration-control plate I66 parallel to the base plate I4 and supported by modified suction cups 14a adjacent the bottom of the legs H. The suction cups 14a are formed with ears I61 extending horizontally therefrom near the lower surface, which are pierced for machine screws I68 received in tapped holes in slightly dished portions I69 at the margin of the plate I66. The plate I66 is formed for clearance from the feet 1I except where it engages the ears I61.

The arm I55 extends through an opening I1I in the plate I66 which is partially closed by a plate I12 adjustably mounted on the plate I1I by bolts I13 which pass through slots I14 in the plate I1I. The plate I12 is formed with a central opening I16 in which is fitted a rubber grommet I11. When the machine is not operating the grommet I11 is slightly out of contact with the left hand side of the arm I55 as shown in Fig. 8. If extraction is started and the material in the basket is unbalanced, as the centrifuge gains speed, the entire machine will vibrate laterally as a result of the centrifugal forces and the resilience of the stems of the suction cups. The body of the machine including the plate I4 will vibrate with respect to the control plate I66 which will remain substantially stationary, since it is mounted near the bottoms of the suction cups. If the vibration is excessive, the grommet I 11 will engage the arm I55 and hammer against it rapidly, rotating the bellcrank as in Fig. 10, and releasing the clutch so as to reduce the speed of rotation. The sensitiveness of the vibration control may be varied by shifting the plate I12 to the right or left in Figs. 8 and 10. The mechanism here disclosed for controlling the acceleration of the spinning basket during the extracting phase of the operation is also disclosed and is claimed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 325,646 filed December 12, 1952,

during extraction is disclosed and claimed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 6,911 which was filed February 7, 1948.

Preferably the shaft 21 is driven during washing ata speed such that the bottom surface of the container I7 is accelerated upwardly and downwardly at accelerations exceeding the acceleration of gravity. For this purpose the shaft 21 may be driven at a speed of about 600 R, P. M. in the embodiment illustrated, in which the bearing 32 is inclined at about seven degrees and the container 11 has a diameter of about twelve inches. The resulting rapid wobbling motion imparted to the container gives a jigging motion to the clothes and water with a relativelyslow progression of the mass of clothes and Water about the container and a roll-over motion, with the outer portions of the mass of clothes and Water rising along the side wall 44 and moving inwardly over the top and the mass and downwardly around the central member 33. This washing motion is more fully described in my co-pending applications Serial No. 619,849 filed October 2,

1945, and 671,779 filed May 23, 1946.

The shaft 46 maybe, and preferably is, rotated for extracting at the same speed that the shaft 21 is rotated for washing. It will be apparent, however, that the relative speeds of the two shafts may be modified as desired by changing the sizes of the driving pulleys.

To operate the machine it may be set in a. bathtub, sink, Wash tub, or the like. Preferably the supporting surface is one on Which water may be permitted to drain from the outlet 56. propriate quantity of water, in the proportion of about one gallon of water to one pound of clothes, is poured into the container I1 and soap or a detergent is added. The clothes to be washed are dumped into the container, the motor is energized, and the control knob is turned to the Wash position. The container is thus wobbled, agitating the clothes and water, the clothes being given a rapid jigging motion and also a relatively slow rotation around the container and a roll-over motion, as described in my aforementioned copending applications. When the clothes have been washed a sufficient time, the control may be turned to Dry, spinning the container about its axis and expelling the wash Water, soap and dirt by centrifugal force. Clean water is then added, and the Washing and extracting cycles are repeated to rinse the clothes and extract the rinse water. A second rinse may be performed if desired. It will be noted that when the control is turned to Off, the rotation of the basket is braked so that it soon comes to a stop, permitting convenient removal of the clothes. Water expelled from the container is caught by the tub I6, I! and drain d into the sink or bathtub from the outlet 56.

Vibration of the machine during the washing operation is minimized by the balancing weights BI, 83 and any residual vibration is exhibited as free vibration of the entire machine, which is permitted by the vertical and lateral resilience of the rubber feet. ,Excessive vibration of the machine during the extracting operation is prevented by the vibration-sensitive speed control for the extractor illustrated in Figs. 7 to 12.

An ap- Crawling of I the. machine is prevented by the adhesion of the suction cups to the surface of the tub. Upon completionof the washing operation, air enters the suction feet through the bleed holes 16 and the machine may be readily removed and stowed away.

Many modifications of the machine disclosed herein may be made Within the compass of the invention, and certain features may be employed without theemployment of others. For example, a flexible shaftmay be substituted for the central shaft 46 and its universalioint, as in my aforementioned application Serial Number 500,945, filed September'2, 1943.

Separate motors may be employed to drive the shafts 27 and 4B alternately or concurrently, in general as disclosed in said application Serial Number 500,945. Such modification need not eliminate the vibration control during extraction. The pulley 86 may be removed without affecting the extractor drive, and may be driven by a second motor.

'In such case, the operation of the shafts 21 and 46 may be controlled by selectively or, concurrently energizing the two motors, or by providing a clutch between each motor and its shafts. Brakes for the shafts may be provided, which may, for example, be combined with a clutch as in the form specifically disclosed herein, or 'may be separate from the clutch, as in said application Serial Number 500,945.

What is claimed is: I 1. A washing and extracting machine comprising a base provided with a vertically disposed supporting column projecting upwardly with respect to the base, a first shaft mounted for rotation about a vertical axis within said column, a

container mounted on the upper end of the first shaft for rotation relative thereto about an axis inclined with respect to the vertical axis of said first shaft, a second shaft concentrically mounted for rotation Within said first shaft, flexible means coupling the upper end of said second shaft to the container for rotation therewith during extraction, drive means carried by the base operatively connected to the lower end of the first shaft for rotating said first shaft relative to the second shaft to effect washing movement of the container, drive means carried by the base operatively connected to the lower end of said second shaft for rotating said second shaft relative to the first shaft to effect centrifugal extraction.

2. A washing and extracting machine comprising a base having a vertically arranged tubular supporting column mounted thereon, a first shaft mounted for rotation about a vertical axis Within said supporting column, a container mounted at the upper end of said first shaft for rotation relative thereto about an axis inclined with respect to the vertical axis of said first shaft, a second shaft concentrically mounted for rotation within said first shaft, universal joint means operatively connecting the upper end of the second shaft to the container for rotation therewith for centrifugal extraction, electric motor means carried by the base, a first drive means operatively connecting said motor means to said first shaft to rotate said first shaft relative to the second shaft to effect washing, a second drive means operatively connecting said motor means and said second shaft for rotating said second shaft relative to the first shaft to effect centrifugal extraction by rotation of the container on said inclined axis, and means for arresting the 11 rotation of one of said shafts during rotation of the other.

3. A washing machine comprising a base resiliently supported on a rigid supporting structure, said base provided with a vertically disposed supporting column, a tubular shaft mounted for rotation within said column about a vertical axis, a washing container mounted at the upper end of the said tubular shaft for rotation relative to said tubular shaft about an axis inclined with respect to the vertical axis of the shaft, rotating drive means at the lower end of the tubular shaft operatively connected thereto to rotate said tubular shaft, a spin shaft within said tubular shaft, universal joint means connected to said container and spin shaft to prevent rotation of the container about said inclined axis to impart thereto a wobbling movement for washing when the-spin shaft is restrained and in response to rotation of said tubular shaft, and counterbalancing weight means mounted on said tubular shaft to generate a couple opposing the inertial reaction of the wobbling movement of said container, said resilient support being laterally flexible to accommodate the wobbling movement imparted to the said column.

4. A washing machine comprising a base, means resiliently supporting said base with respect to a rigid supporting structure, said base provided with a vertically disposed tubular supporting column, a tubular shaft mounted for rotation within said column about a vertical axis, a washing container mounted at the upper end of said tubular shaft for rotation with respect to the tubular shaft about an axis inclined with respect to the vertical axis of the shaft, an electric motor carried by said base operatively connected to the lowerend of said tubular shaft to rotate 1'2 said'tubular shaft, a spin shaft within said tubular shaft, universal joint means connecting the spin shaft and said container to prevent rotation of the container about said inclined axis to effect a wobbling movement of the container for washing in response to rotation of said tubular shaft while the spin shaft is restrained, a counterbalance weight fixed to said tubular shaft near the upper end thereof and rotatable therewith to generate a couple in response to said tubular shaft rotation opposing the inertial reaction of the said wobbling movement of the container, said resilient supporting means being laterally flexible to accommodate the movement imparted to said column. JAMES B. KIRBY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,330,801 Greenberg Feb. 17, 1920 1,461,800 Lewis July 17, 1923 1,480,646 Waller Jan. 15, 1924 1,652,488 Lunblad Dec. 13, 1927 1,688,555 Rankin Oct. 23, 1928 1,718,261 Smellie June 25, 1929 1,840,400 Le'bherz Jan. 12, 1932 1,911,630 Lenning May 30, 1933 1,946,725 Andrewset a1 Feb. 13, 1934 2,035,481 Hume Mar. 31, 1936 2,057,896 Hume Oct. 20, 1936 2,136,787 Dunham Nov. 15, 1938 2,168,068 Loweke Aug. 1, 1939 2,331,700 Kirby Oct. 12, 1943 2,350,218 De Remer May 30, 1944 2,533,722 De Remer Dec. 12, 1950 2,574,617 Bryant Nov. 13, 1951

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