US2684137A - Clutch and brake for washing machines - Google Patents

Description

July 1 w.- G. LANDWIER 2,684,137

CLUTCH AND BRAKE FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed July 20, 1959 0 [NT/ENTER WILLIAM G. LANIIIWIBR ATTUENEY Patented July 20, 1954 CLUTCH AND BRAKE FOR WASHING MACHINES William G. Landwier, Fayetteville, N. Y., assignor to Easy Washing Machine Corporation, Syracuse, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application July 20, 1950, Serial No. 174,979

6 Claims.

This invention relates to washing machines, and more particularly to a control for an agitator type washing machine.

In Geldhof Patent 2,111,143, and also application Serial No. 792,363, filed December 18, 1947, now Patent No. 2,627,175, there is shown a transmission and a control mechanism for applying power at will to a vertical oscillatory agitator such as is commonly used in washing machines. The control as shown acts to shift a constantly meshing pinion having a castellated end upon a vertical agitator shaft, the castellated end being adapted in one position to engage a transverse clutch pin mounted in the shaft. In the arrangement shown, the control rock shaft is held in either one or the other of two end positions by an over-center tension spring, and acts through a lost-motion crank arm and a vertically slidable rod on which the pinion engaging shifter yoke is positioned. Such arrangement comprises a number of parts, and has required for assembly purposes that the rock shaft be made in two pieces coupled together at a point adjacent to the lostmotion crank arm.

The present invention utilizes substantially the same principle of operation, but is specifically directed to a substantia1 reorganization of the parts, whereby the number of parts is reduced and the assemblage thereof is simplified. One feature of the invention is the utilization of a one-piece rock shaft so constructed as to enable quick assembly thereof in the mechanism. Another feature of the invention is the utilization of an over-center compression spring acting directly upon an arm forming an integral part of the rock shaft.

The above and other novel features of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is expressly understood that the drawings are employed for purposes of illustration only and are not designed as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts:

Figure l is a fragmentary transverse sectional view showing the transmission housing and the vertical agitator shaft emerging therefrom with the control rock shaft in position;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken through the rock shaft on the line 22 of Figure 1; V

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the broken line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially on the broken line 4-4 of Figure 1, showing the rock shaft in drive position;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, showing the rock shaft in disengaged or non-driving position; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a member forming an integral part of the rock shaft.

In the drawings, ther is shown a transmis sion casing l0 having a main housing structure l2 which may be of a casting, and a top closure pedestal member [4, the latter being secured and seated in a large aperture in the top wall of the housing structure i2. Such pedestal member includes a substantially circular plate I6 adapted to cooperate with and form a closure for a corresponding enlarged aperture on the top wall of the casing structure l2, and has formed as a' part thereof upstanding spaced members 13 and 2t which support a shouldered seat 22. The seat 22 has an upwardly extending threaded sleeve 24 which is adapted to project through a central aperture in a wash tub bottom wall 26, the threaded sleeve having a jam nut 28 adapted to clamp the tub bottom 26 between opposite washers 39 and 32. The sleeve 24 may be extended integrally or by a second sleeve 34 at the upper end of which is a sleeve bearing for the agitator drive shaft 36, such bearing being shown at 31. The agitator shaft 36 extends into a bearing boss 38 in the lower wall 49 of the transmission casing structure I2, and rests upon an end thrust ball :22. The plate id is provided with a clearance aperture 44 through which the shaft 36 extends, and the shaft is provided with a split thrust ring 46 lying in a groove 48, which ring bears against spacing washers 513 located thereabove and immediately below the plate 16.

Mounted upon the shaft 36 is a driven pinion 52 which is adapted to be constantly in mesh with a sector gear 54 that is given a to and fro motion by an eccentric or other mechanism. Such sector gear would be pivoted upon a vertical shaft journaled in a top bearing boss such as 55 in Fig ure 1, as is shown in the Geldhof patent or the application referred to. The pinion 52 is of sufficient breadth whereby it may be moved axially upon the shaft 36 without becoming disengaged, the pinion having a castellated end 56 adapted to engage the cross bar 58 passing through the shaft 36. Such castellated end engages the cross bar 58 for driving the shaft 38 when in the lower position shown, but by means of a yoke Ell riding in a groove 62 in the pinion hub, such pinion 52 may be lifted a sufiicient distance whereby to clear the cross pin 58 and thereby permit the pinion 52 to oscillate freely upon the shaft without driving the same. The yoke 65) is rigidly secure to a laterally spaced, vertically extending shifter rod 54 extending through a boss 56 in the plate it. A compression spring is threaded upon the rod 6 3 and positioned between the boss 56 and the yoke 66, whereby to urge the yoke and the pinion 52 normally to a lower engaged position as is shown in Figure 3.

To actuate the shifter rod 6 5 and lift the same to an elevated position against the compression spring 83, there is provided a rock shaft Ell, having thereon a rock arm 12, the latter extending into a bifurcated end is of the shift rod 6d. Such rock arm 12 is provided with an elongated arcuate aperture it, the end walls "is and 88 of which are adapted to engage a transverse pin 82 extending across the bifurcated ends of the rod tit and through the aperture it. The rock arm '52 may be a part of a formed stamping, an arm 3 of which is provided with double bends 8t and 88, and a rock arm 90, both the rock arms 12 and having apertures $2 and 9 3 through which the rock shaft it extends and to which the rock shaft is securely fixed as by welding, keying or otherwise.

The arm is angularly directed so as to engage a cup 98 having a concave center section as and an annular skirt its within which one end of a compression spring 1%2 is seated. The other end of the compression spring W2 is seated upon a perch in the form of convex inclined projection it which may be formed integrally in the plate wall it. The angle of the arm 9i! is so disposed as to occupy an over-center position with respect to a line Hi8 extending from the center of the projection [fi l and the center of the rock shaft it, one over-center position being shown in Figure 4 and the other being shown in Figure 5. The lost-motion resulting from the arouate aperture it, and the over-center compression spring, provides snap action in engaging or disengaging the pinion with the cross bar 55.

Movement of the rock shaft iii in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 5 is limited by the brake portion W8 between the bends and 38 of the arm 84, such brake portion its being adapted to rest upon the shaft 35 and provides sufiicient but lightfriction upon the shaft 36 whereby when the pinion 52 is disengaged from the cross arm 58, and oscillating freely upon the shaft, the shaft 35 will be held substantially stationary. The degree of friction resulting from the brake surface 38 may be controlled by the extent of the over-center position taken by the arm 96 when in the braking posi tion as shown in Figure 5.

The rock shaft iii, as has previously been de scribed, has positioned thereon the rock arms 12 and so, the same being keyed or welded so as to form a unitary structure with the shaft it. in order to position the shaft in the pedestal members l8 and Ell, the member 21] may have a bearing aperture Hi and the member it an open half bearing slot H3 (see Figure 2). By such an arrangement, the shaft it may have its end is? readily inserted into the aperture lit, the shaft being rested in the bearing recess HS, it appearing that the open bearing recess l 13 permits such assembly with the rock arms "52 and is already rigidly secured to the shaft lil. It will be observed that the force exerted by the com pression spring 'ifiZ is so directed as to hold the rock shaft it in the open bearing recess H3,

thereby permitting the assembly of the unitary rock shaft structure described. The end of the shaft It may project through an outer wall or skirt ll l4 having an aperture lit in which there is fitted a grommet H8. The shaft may have a right angle bend as at iZt forming an offset means tending to prevent the threading of the shaft through a closed bearing, and a handle extension l22 to which may be applied a convenient knob 82d, the latter being applied after assembly if desired, or being of a size suh'iciently small to pass through the aperture H6 prior to the insertion of the grommet H8.

The shaft 35 is provided with a split ring E25 resting in a groove l28 above the plate it, there being secured in position thereby an umbrella or slinger l3!) to prevent entrance under any circumstances of water into the transmission it.

It Will thus be seen that the structure described is relatively simple and composed of few parts which may be quickly assembled and which, in assembly position, act directly upon the control mechanism for engaging or disengaging the eastellated pinion from the cross bar of the agi tator shaft. The strength of the compression Spring N32 is such as to overcome at all times the strength of the compression spring 68 upon the rod ea. By reason of the toggle action between the compressi n spring Hi2 and the arm 33, the effectiveness of the spring its to overcome the spring 58 readily accomplished.

Although a single embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it is to be run derstood that the invention is not limited thereto. As various changes in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, reference will be had to the appended claims for a definition of the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a control for a washing machine agitator drive, a vertical agitator shaft, a b ""ing mem ber therefor, clutch means comprising an element affixed to and an element axially movable on the shaft for controlling operation of the agitator shaft, a slidable member connected to said movable element for actuating the same, transverse rock shaft having integral spaced arms and friction means adapted to engage said drive shaft, one being connected to sai slidable member and the other adapted to engage a col pression spring, said rock shaft and arms being formed as a rigid unit, a compression spring lying on a line bisecting the normal angle of move ment of the last-named arm having one end in engagement therewith and the other end engagement with said bearing member, spaced bearings for said rock shaft on said bearing member on opposite sides of said spaced arms, one of said bearings being radially open on a side toward said compression spring whereby said spring holds said rock shaft seated in said open bearing.

2. In a control for a washing machine agitator drive, a vertical agitator shaft, a bearing member therefor, clutch means comprising an element affixed to and an element axially movable on the shaft for controlling operation of the agitator shaft, a slidable member connected to said movable element for actuating the same, a transverse rock shaft having integral spaced arms formed from a double bent element having a braking surface adapted to engage said agitator shaft, one arm being connected to said slidable member and the other arm being adapted to engage a compression spring, said rock shaft and double bent element being formed as a rigid unit, a compression spring lying on a line bisecting the angle of normal movement of the last-named arm having one end in engagement therewith and the other end in engagement with said bearing member, spaced bearings for said rock shaft on said bearing member on opposite sides of said spaced arms, one of said bearings being radially open on a side toward said compression spring whereby said spring holds said rock shaft seated in said open bearing.

3. In an agitator drive shaft and control assembly, a housing cover plate, an agitator drive shaft extending through said cover plate, said shaft having a drive pinion on one side of said cover plate, and said cover plate having spaced Walls extending therefrom on the other side, on either side of said shaft, and supporting a bearing for said shaft, a pinion sliding mechanism including a sliding member extending through said plate substantially parallel to and spaced from said drive shaft, a rock shaft journaled in said walls, extending transversely of said agitator shaft and between said agitator shaft and sliding member, rock arms integrally secured to said rock shaft between said walls forming an integral one-piece unit with the rock shaft, one of said arms being connected to said sliding member, a compression spring bearing against said other arm and a perch on said plate, and extending substantially along a center line between said perch and rock shaft intermediate the angle of movement of said other arm, whereby to provide a toggle-like over-center resilient means, and a brake member secured to said rock shaft and adapted to bear against said agitator shaft to brake said shaft, and limit movement of said rock shaft in one direction to define one limit of said angle of movement, means for limiting movement of said sliding member in one direction to define the other limit of said angle of movement of said rock shaft in the other direction, and bearings in said spaced walls for said rock shaft, one bearing being radially open on the side toward said compression spring, whereby assembly of the integral rock shaft and arms is facilitated and said rock shaft is held seated in said open bearing by said compression spring.

4. In an agitator drive shaft and control assembly, a housing cover plate, an agitator drive shaft extending through said cover plate, said shaft having a drive pinion on one side of said cover plate, and said cover plate having spaced walls extending therefrom on the other side, on either side of said shaft, and supporting a bearing for said shaft, a pinion sliding mechanism including a sliding member extending through said plate substantially parallel to and spaced from said drive shaft, a rock shaft journaled in said walls, extending transversely of said agitator shaft and between said agitator shaft and sliding member, rock arms integrally secured to said rock shaft between said walls, one of said arms being connected to said sliding member, a compression spring bearing against said other arm and a perch on said plate, and extending substantially along a center line between said perch and rock shaft intermediate the angle of movement of said other arm, whereby to provide a.

toggle-like over-center resilient means, and a brake member secured to said rock shaft and adapted to bear against said agitator shaft to brake said shaft, and limit movement of said rock shaft in one direction, said arms and brake member formed of a single double bent stamping, the brake member lying between the adjacent bends, means for limiting movement of said sliding member in one direction to limit movement of said rock shaft in the other direction, and hearings in said spaced walls for said rock shaft, one bearing being open on the side toward said compression spring, whereby assembly of the integral rock shaft and arms is facilitated and said rock shaft is held seated in said open bearing.

5. A control rock shaft for an agitator drive control, comprising a shaft, a double bent stamping comprising spaced parallel arms lying in parallel planes transverse to said shaft, and an intervening integral connecting portion extending parallel with the shaft and spaced therefrom and having a braking surface adapted to extend substantially parallel to the shaft, said arms each having an aperture for said shaft spaced from said braking surface, and means for integrally securing at least one of said arms to said shaft.

6. In a control for a washing machine agitator drive, a vertical agitator shaft, a bearing member therefor, clutch means comprising an element affixed to and an element axially movable on the shaft for controlling operation of the agitator shaft, a slidable member connected to said movable element for axially actuating the same, a transverse one-piece rock shaft having an integral radial arm thereon located short of one end thereof, said arm being connected to said slidable member, said rock shaft having its other end extended from said arm and of substantially greater length than the first-named end, spaced bearings for said rock shaft on said bearing member, located on opposite sides of said arm, one of said bearings being radially open on one side for the lateral placing of a portion of the extended end of said shaft therein, and the other being closed and adapted to receive said one end of said shaft by endwise insertion thereinto, an integral radial arm on said shaft between said bearings projecting in a direction generally that of the radially open bearing, a compression spring aligned generally in the direction of said radially open bearing, and having one end bearing against the end of said last-named arm, and the other end bearing under compression against said bearing member to provide a resilient over-center knee action, and stop means for limiting rotation of said rock shaft, said stop means being adapted to limit rotation of the shaft to an angle including the over-center position of said last-named arm with respect to the compression spring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,858,947 Aitken May 17, 1932 2,040,034 Tatter May 5, 1936 2,111,143 Geldhof Mar. 15, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 431,267 France Nov. 7, 1911

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