US2723737A

US2723737A - Clutch and fluid drive units for clothes washing machines and the like

Info

Publication number: US2723737A
Application number: US196917A
Authority: US
Inventors: Kemper M Hammell; John D Warhus
Original assignee: General Electric Co
Current assignee: General Electric Co
Priority date: 1950-11-21
Filing date: 1950-11-21
Publication date: 1955-11-15
Anticipated expiration: 1972-11-15
Also published as: GB704643A

Description

Nov. 15, 1955 Filed Nov. 21, 1950 M. HAMMELL ET AL CLUTCH AND FLUID DRIVE UNITS FOR CLOTHES WASHING MACHINES AND THE LIKE 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS Kemper M. Hammell BY John D. Warhus J/mw, M W

v- 1955 K M. HAMMELL ET AL 2,723,737

CLUTCH ANE FLUID DRIVE UNITS FOR CLOTHES WASHING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 21, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 (\l 9' LL.

INVENTORS Kemper M. Hammell BY John D. Warhus Jmu, MM

1955 K. M. HAMMELL ETAL 2,723,737

CLUTCH AND FLUID DRIVE UNITS FOR CLOTHES WASHING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 21, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet I5 1- S O) 8 K: N

IO 8 81w 0 o0 1N 5 E]: N 2 III N r: 10W .0 N l!) L N h) N 1 N N 4 5m i v a a [\I .1 ML,

N S m N 8 "u? N '5 0| N o N u:

m a f 3 n INVENTORS a Kemper M. Hammell BY John D. Warhus 1955 M. HAMMELL ETAL 2,723,737 CLUTCH AND FLUID DRIVE UNITS FOR CLOTHES WASHING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 21, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Hulk.

INVENTORS Kemper M. Hammell John D. Warhus MpMM Affys.

United States Patent Ofiice 2,723,737 Patented Nov. 15, 1955 CLUTCH AND FLUID DRIVE UNIrs FOR CLOTHES WASHING MACHINES AND run LIKE Kemper Hammell, Harrisburg, Pa., and John D. Warhus, Hinsdale, IlL, assignorsto General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application November 21, 1950, Serial No. 196,917

9 Claims. (Cl. 192-12) The present invention relates to clutch and fluid drive units for clothes washing machines of the type in which the clothes are washed, rinsed and centrifugally dried in a receptacle or tub, and more particularly to such a unit that is adapted to be arranged between the tub and the associated electric drive motor in the clothes washing machine.

In a clothes washing machine of the type noted, the tub is arranged in an upstanding position and mounted for rotation, and an upstanding agitator is arranged in the tub and mounted for oscillation. The agitator is selectively oscillated to effect washing and rinsing of the clothes, and the tub is rotated or spun to effect the centrifugal discharge therefrom of the wash water and the rinse water. Rotation or spinning of the tub foliowing the final rinsing of the clothes not only effects the centrifugal discharge of the rinse water from the tub, but it also effects the centrifugal discharge from the clothes of a great proportion of the absorbed rinse water, whereby the clothes are partially dried by this final spinning operation of the tub. 7

Since this final spinning operation of the tub is carried out at a fairly high speed, considerable mechanical difliculties have been experienced in clothes washing machines of this type, due primarily to excessive vibration of the tub as a consequence of uneven distribution of the load of clothes in the tub.

In order to minimize the vibration of the tub during the final spinning operation thereof, a clothes washing machine has been proposed that incorporates a fluid drive unit arranged between the tub and the associated electric drive motor so that the slippage in the fluid drive unit may automatically compensate for the unbalance of the tub and its load of clothes. Specifically, the fluid drive unit effects a very gradual acceleration of the tub and the load of clothes when operation f the associated electric drive motor is initiated and establishes a variable spinning speed of the tub that is dependent upon the amount of unbalance of the tub and its load of clothes. As the rinse water is centrifugally discharged from the clothes, the amount of unbalance of the tub and its load of clothes is inherently reduced so that the fluid drive unit automatically increases the spinning speed of the tub, whereby the desired final spinning speed of the tub may be ultimately obtained, notwithstanding the initial excessive amount of unbalance of the tub and its load of clothes, and without excessive vibration of the tub. In this proposed washing machine, the agitator in the tub is selectively oscillated by a first electric drive motor through an associated motion-translating mechanism and a clutch, and the tub is selectively rotated by a second electric drive motor through the associated fluid drive unit.

While the proposed clothes washing machine is satisfactory in operation, it is considerably more expensive to manufacture than is desirable, due primarily to the provision of the two separate electric drive motors and the independent transmission arrangements respectively extending therefrom to the agitator and to the tub.

2 Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved clutch and fluid drive unit that is adapted to be incorporated in a clothes washing machine of the type described so that a single electric drive motor may be employed selectively to operate both theagitator and the tub of the machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a clutch and fluid drive unit of improved construction and arrangement. v A further object of the invention is to provide a clutch and biake and fluid drive unit.

v A still further object of the invention is to provide a fluid drive unit that incorporates an improved fluid baffle arrangement which insures a positive initial pick-up between' the relatively rotatable bladed elements of the unit.

Further features of the invention pertain to the particular arrangement of the elements of the clutch and fluid drive unit, whereby the above-outlined and additional operating features thereof are attained.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best beunderstood by reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a front perspective view, partly broken away, of a clothes washing machine incorporating a clutch and fluid drive unit embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the clutch and fluid drive unit incorporated in the clotheswashing machine shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, of a clutch and brake and fluid drive unit embodying the present invention that may be 7 incorporated in the clothes washing machine shown in Fig. l; and Fig. 4 is a plan view, partly broken away, of the clutch and brake and fluid drive unit shown in Fig. 3;,

Referring now to Fig. 1 of the drawings, there is generally illustrated a clothes washing machine 10 of the oscillating agitator and rotating tub type embodying a cabinet and drain tub arrangement of the character of that disclosed in the copending application of John C. Sharp and Walter P. McCarty, Serial No. 190,144, filed October 14, 1950, now Patent No. 2,687,633 issued August 31, 1954. Specifically the machine 10 comprises a substantially rectangular base 11 that is supported upon independently adjustable feet 12 arranged to engage the floor or other supporting surface. A casing 13 is removably carried by the base 11 and includes rear and side walls defining both a front opening and a top opening. A front wall 14 is removably carried by the front of the casing 13 in order to close the front opening mentioned, and a top wall 15 is removably carried by the top of the casing 13 in order to close the top opening mentioned. The lower portions or rear and side walls of the casing 13 join theupper portions of the rear and sides of the base 11; while the lower portion of the front wall 14 joins the upper portion of the front of the base 11 so as to provide a toe receiving recess 16 disposed below and rearwardly of the front wall 14 and forwardly of the front of the base 11. The. sides of the front wall 14 are disposed substantially flush with thc side walls of the casing 13. The sides of the topwall 15 are disposed substantially flush with the side walls of the casing 13, and the front of the top wall 1 5,is' disposedsubstantially flush with the upper portion of the front wall 14. The top wall 15 projects rearwardly fromthe rear wall of the casing 13 in order to provide an upstanding space 17 disposed below the rear of the top wall 15 and behind the rear wall of the casing 13, which upstanding space 17 is adapted to receive plumbing conri ections not shown. I More specifically, the rear of the topwall 15 terminates in an upwardly directed backsplash 18 that projects over the top of the upstanding space 17, and a substantially centrally disposed top opening 19 is provided in the top wall in order to render the interior of the casing 13 accessible from the exterior. A door is provided for the purpose of selectively closing the top opening 19, the rear edge of the door 20 being hinged to the top wall 15 and movable toward and away from the backsplash 18 into respective open and closed positions with respect to the top opening 19.

Upstanding supporting structure 21 is arranged in the lower portion of casing 13 and carried by the base 11; which supporting structure 21 carries an upstanding substantially cylindrical drain tub 22 arranged in the upper portion of the casing 13. The drain tub 22 is provided with an inwardly directed annular marginal throat 23 that terminates in a top opening 24 disposed below the top wall 15; and the top edge of the throat 23 carries a substantially annular sealing gasket 25 surrounding the top opening 24 and engaging the lower surface of the top wall 15 for the purpose of sealing the top opening 24 in the drain tub 22 to the top wall 15, the bottom wall of the drain tub 22 being spaced above the base 11 to define machinery compartment 26 arranged in the lower portion of the casing 13. The base 11 carries additional supporting structure 27 upon which the principal machinery disposed in the machinery compartment 26 is mounted. Specifically an upstanding support 28 is pivotally mounted at the lower end thereof to the structure 27, which upstanding support 28 comprises, among other structure, two vertically spaced-

apart plates

29 and 30 arranged substantially centrally in the machinery compartment 26. The plate 30 is operatively connected to the upstanding structure 21 by a plurality of resilient springs 31 and associated snubber devices 32, whereby the upstanding support 28 is normally centered along a substantially vertical axis, but is capable of gyratory movement about its pivotal mounting upon the structure 27. The plate 30 carries an upstanding bearing bracket 33 that projects through a substantially centrally disposed opening 34 provided in the bottom wall of the drain tub 22. which bracket 33 is sealed to the portion of the bottom wall of the drain tub 22 surrounding the opening 34- by an arrangement including an upstanding flexible boot 35 formed of rubber, or the like.

An upstanding spin tub 36 is arranged within the drain tub 22 and supported by a tub sleeve, not shown, that is mounted in the bearing bracket 33 for rotation about a substantially vertical axis; and an upstanding agitator 37 is arranged within the spin tub 36 and supported by an agitator shaft, not shown, that is mounted in the tub Sleeve for oscillation about the subst ntially vertical axis mentioned. The spin tub 36 is provided with an upwardly and outwardly flared side wall that terminates in an open top disposed below the top wall 15 and arran ed in substantial alignment with the

top openings

19 and 24. whereby the interior of the spin tub 36 is readily accessible from the exterior through the

top openings

19 and 24 when the associated door 20 occupies its open position. The top rim of the spin tub 36 carries an annular balance ring 38 that is provided with n inwardly directed annular clothes retaining flange 39. Also the bottom wall of the spin tub 36 is provided with an annular sediment trap 40 disposed below the base of the agitator 37, the sediment trap 40 communicating with the interior of the drain tub 22 by an arrangement including two upstanding drain conduits 41 disposed substantially diametrically opposite each other and carried by the spin tub 36.

An electric drive motor 42 is mounted upon the plate 29 and provided with an upwardly directed operating shaft 43, upon the upper end of which there is mounted a clutch and fluid drive unit 109 embodying the features of the present invention and including two independently rotatable pulleys 103 and 111. Also a drain pump 45 is mounted upon the plate 29 and provided with an upwardly directed operating shaft 46, upon the upper end of which are mounted two pulleys 47 and 48. Further a motiontranslating mechanism 49 is mounted upon the plate 29 and provided with an upwardly directed drive shaft 50,

4 upon the upper end of which there is mounted a pulley 51.

The pulley 103 of the unit 1th! is directly belted by a flexible V-belt 52 to the pulley 47 that is carried by the operating shaft 46 of the drain pump 45; and the pulley 48 that is carried by the operating shaft 46 of the drain pump 45 is directly belted by a flexible V-belt 53 to the pulley 51 that is carried by the drive shaft 50 of the motion-translating mechanism 49. As explained more fully hereinafter, the clutch and fluid drive unit E comprises a housing 105 that carries the pulley 111 that is directly belted by a flexible V-belt 54 to a pulley 55 that is carried by the tub sleeve, not shown, that is supported within the bearing bracket 33 and directly connected to the spin tub 36. Moreover the motiontranslating mechanism 49 includes a driven shaft, not shown, that is selectively connectable by a clutch mechanism 56 to the agitator shaft, not shown, that is arranged in the tub sleeve mentioned and directly connected to the agitator 37. Also as explained more fully hereinafter, the clutch and fluid drive unit comprises an operating member that is adapted to be selectively operated for clutch control purposes by an associated electromagnet 57. Further the clutch mechanism 56 is adapted to be selectively operated for clutch control purposes by an associated electromagnet 58.

The drain pump 45 is provided with an inlet conduit 59 that communicates with the lower portion of the drain tub 22, and a discharge conduit 60 that projects through the rear wall of the casing 13 and communicates with drain plumbing, not shown. Also an electric timer and control switch, not shown, is arranged within the casing 13 below the backsplash 18 and adjacent to the junction between the rear wall and the right-hand side wall of the casing 13 and provided with an upstanding control shaftthat projects through an opening, not shown, provided in the backsplash 18, the upper end of the control shaft mentioned carrying a rotary control knob 61. Also inlet valve mechanism, not shown, is arranged within the casing 13 below the backsplash 13 and adjacent to the junction between the rear wall and the left-hand side wall of the casing 13 and provided with a hot water inlet valve connection, a cold water inlet valve connection, and a discharge connection communicating with the open top of the spin tub 36, whereby hot water or cold water or warm water may be selectively admitted into the spin tub 36. In view of the foregoing general description of the construction and arrangement of the machine 10, it will be understood that clothes may be placed within and removed from the spin tub 36 through the opening 19 provided in the top wall 15 when the door 29 occupies its open position. Moreover the complete cycle of operation of the machine 10 may be readily established by the control knob 61 under the control of the associated electric timer, not shown. Specifically washing and rinsing and centrifugal drying steps may be readily carried out upon the clothes in the spin tub 36 in a well-known manner. More particularly, when operation of the electric drive motor 42 is initiated, the operating shaft 43 thereof rotates the operating shaft 46 of the drain pump 45 through the drive connection including the belt 52 and the pulleys 103 and 47, whereby the operating shaft 46 of the drain pump 45 rotates the drive shaft 50 of the motion-translating mechanism 49 through the drive connection including the belt 53 and the pulleys 48 and 51. The operating drain pump 45 pumps to the exterior through the inlet conduit 59 and the discharge conduit 6 any liquid that may accumulate in the lower portion of the drain tub 22. When the drive shaft 50 of the motion-translating mechanism 49 is thus rotated, the driven shaft thereof, not shown, extending to the clutch mechanism 56 is oscillated; however, the agitator 37 is not oscillated at this time since the clutch mechanism 56 normally occupies its declutched position.

Also rotation of the operating shaft 43 of the electric drive motor 42 conditions the clutch and fluid drive unit ate-arse 100 for selective operation; however the housing 105 of the unit 100 and the pulley 111. carried thereby are not rotated-at this time as the unit 100 normally occupies its declutched position.

In order to operate the agitator 37, the electromagn'et 58 is energized, whereby the clutch mechanism 56 is Operated into its clutched position so that the driven shaft, not shown, of the motion-translating mechanism 49 is clutched to the agitator shaft, not shown, that is connected to the agitator 37. spin tub 36, the electromagnet 57 is energized, whereby the clutch and fluid drive unit 100 is operated into its clutched position so that the housing 105 thereof is gradually accelerated to a given speed of rotation determined by' the normal slippage between the bladed ele-' ments of the unit 100 in a manner more fully explained hereinafter. The rotating housing 105 of the clutch and fluid drive unit 100 effects rotation of the tub sleeve, not shown, that is connected to the spin tub 36 through the drive connection including the puiley 111 carried by the housing 105 of the unit 100, the belt 54 and the pulley 55. In passing, it is noted that prior to initiating aspinning operation of the spin tub 36, the electro-' magnet 58 is de-ene'rgized in order to bring about the return of the clutch mechanism 56 into its declut'ched position as it is undesirable to effect a spinning operation of the spin tub 36 while the agitator 37 is being oscillated.

When the spin tub 36 is thus rotated, the principal portion of the wash water contained therein is centrifugally discharged adjacent to the upper portion of the spin tub 36 through a plurality of holes arranged between theupper edge of the spin tub 36 and the associated balance ring 38; while the wash water Eontained in the sediment trap 40, along with any sediment contained therein, is

discharged through the upstanding conduits 41 by the f centrifugal forces produced incident to the rotation of the spin tub 36'. Accordingly the wash water is centrifugally discharged from the spin tub 36, while the flange 39 provided on the balance ring 38 prevents the discharge of the clothes from the spin tub 36. The wash water that is oen'trifug'ally discharged from the spin tub 36 is caught in the drain tub 22 and pumped by the drain pump 45 to the exterior. Following the final rinsing operation of the machine 10, the spin tub 36 is rotated during a substantial time interval in order that a considerable portion of the rinse water absorbed by the clothes contained in the spin tub 36 may be centrifugally discharged therefrom so as to obtain centrifugal drying, atleast to this extent, of the clothes contained in the spin tub 36.

It will be understood that the cycle of operation of the machine isautomatically established by the timer, not shown, and that the initial filling of the spin tub 36 with hot water or cold water or warm water may be selectively controlled by the combination timer and control switch under the manual control of the control knob 61. After the spin tub 36' has been appropriately filled with wash water by manipulation of the control knob 61, the control knob 61- is further manipulated to initiate the automatic cycle mentioned. As previously noted, the timer, not shown, effects the operation of the machine 10 through the timed cycle, including a washing step and two rinsing steps, followed'by the final centrifugal drying step; whereupon the timer arrests further operation of the machine 10 so that the clothes contained in the spin tub 36 may be removed through the top opening 19 provided in the top wall after the door hasbee'n moved into its open position. A suitable electric control circuit of the character described that may be incorporated in the machine 10 is disclosed in the copending' application of Walter P. McCarty, Serial No. 122,321, filed October 19, 1949, now Patent No. 2,646,673 issued'July' 28, 1953.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the clutch and fluid drive unit 100 there illustrated, and enibodyingthe'features" of the present invention, that is incorporated in'the machine" 10 described above, comprises an upstanding operating In order to rotate the element or shaft 101 that is directly carried by the upper end of the operating shaft 43 of the electric drive motor 42, as previously explained. More particularly, the lower end of the operating element 101 has a substantially cen-' trally disposed cylindrical bore 102 formed therein that is adapted directly to receive the upper end of the operating shaft 43; whereby the operating element 101 is mounted for rotation about a substantially vertical axis. Also the lower end of the operating element 101 carries a pulley 103 that is preferably formed integrally therewith and is adapted to receive the V-belt 52 in order to provide the direct drive connection between the operating shaft 43 of the electric drive motor 42 and the operating shaft 46 of the drain pump 45, as previously explained. A threaded opening is provided between the upper and lower flanges of the pulley 103 that receives a set screw 104 that is employed for the purpose of holding the operating element 101 securely in place upon the upper end of the operating shaft 43 of the electric drive motor 42.

Also the unit comprises an upstanding housing 105 including complementary upper and lower sections 106 and 107 that are detachably secured together by an annular series of screws 108, the screws 108 extending through openings provided in an annular flange 109 carried by the lower section 107 and being threaded into openings provided in an annular flange 110 carried by the upper section 106. Also a packing ring, or the like, not shown, may be provided between the adjacent flanges 109 and 110 or between the engaging annular portions of the upper and lower sections 106 and 107 so as to render the interior of the housing 105 fluid tight. The lower section 107 carries a pulley 111 that is preferably formed integrally therewith and is adapted to receive the V-belt 54 in order to provide the direct drive connection between the housing 105 and the tub sleeve that is connected to the spin tub 36, as previously explained.

The upper and lower sections 106 and 107 have subs'tantially centrally disposed upper and

lower openings

112 and 113 respectively formed therein that are arranged in alignment along the vertical axis of the operating element 101 and the housing 105. Also the lower section 107 is provided with an upstanding sleeve 114 disposed concentric with the lower opening 113 and projecting upwardly into the lower portion of the upper section 106. The upper portion of the operating element 101 extends into the lower opening 113 and into the sleeve 114 and mounts the housing 105 for rotation about the centrally disposed vertical axis. More specifically upper and lower bearing elements 115 and 116 are arranged between the adjacent walls of the operating element 101 and the sleeve 114 so that the operating element 101 and the housing 105 may be rotated independently of each other about the centrally disposed vertical axis. Further a suitable packing ring or gland 117 is arranged in the lower opening 113 in order to provide a fluid seal between the operating element 101' and the lower section 107.

The upper and lower sections 106 and 107 are hollow; and a substantially annular reservoir 118 is provided in the lower section 107 in surrounding relation with respect to the upstanding sleeve 114, whereby the upper end of the upstanding sleeve 114, as well as the upper end of the operating element 101, project above the reservoir 118 and into the lower portion of the upper section 106. The upper end of the operating element 101 carries an annular plate 119 disposed above the reservoir 118 and arranged within the upper section 106. I More specifically, the upper end of the operating element 101 and the plate 119 are secured together by a threaded connection therebetween, indicated generally at 120, whereby the plate 119' is rigidly secured to the upper end of the operating element 101 and is rotatable therewith about the centrally disposed vertical axis.

A substantially annular member 121 is arranged within the upper section 106 and mounted for rotation independent of both the operating element 101 and the housing 105. Also the member 121 is mounted for longitudinal sliding movement along the centrally disposed vertical axis toward and away from the plate 119 into respective clutched and declutched positions. More specifically a substantially centrally disposed cylindrical bore 122 is formed in the upper end of the operating element 101; and an upstanding downwardly projecting shaft 123 is rigidly secured within a substantially centrally disposed hole formed in the member 121. The downwardly projecting shaft 123 extends into the bore 122 and is retained in place by a bearing sleeve 124 arranged between the wall of the bore 122 and the wall of the shaft 123. Moreover the lower end of the shaft 123 is supported by a ball 125 arranged in the lower portion of the bore 122, which ball 125 is supported upon a compression coil spring 126 arranged in the lower end of the bore 122. Thus it will be understood that the member 121 is rigidly secured to the shaft 123 and that the shaft 123 is mounted for rotation and sliding movement longitudinally of the centrally disposed vertical axis within the hearing sleeve 124. The ball 125 and the associated com pression spring 126 not only support the lower end of the shaft 123, out also urge it upwardly, whereby the member 121 is normally biased away from the cooperating plate 119. More particularly, a substantially annular tapered bore or clutch surface 127 is provided in the lower portion of the member 121; and a cooperating substantially annular tapered clutch surface 128 is provided upon the periphery of the annular plate 119. The cooperating clutch surfaces 127 and 128 respectively provided in the member 121 and on the plate 119 are tapered upwardly so that when the member 121 is moved upwardly the clutch surfaces 127 and 128 are disengaged and so that when the member 121 is moved downwardly the clutch surfaces 127 and 128 are engaged.

A ball bearing structure 129 is arranged in the upper opening 112 formed in the upper section 106 and receives and supports an upstanding substantially cylindrical barrel 130 that is disposed in alignment with the centrally disposed vertical axis of the operating element 101 and the housing 105. More specifically, the outer race of the ball bearing structure 129 is suitably secured to the wall of the upper section 106 surrounding the upper opening 112; and tl inner race of the ball bearing structure 129 receives and supports the cylindrical barrel 130. Thus is will be understood that the housing 105 may be rotated about the centrally disposed vertical axis independent of the cylindrical barrel 130 upon the ball bearing structure 129. the sealed variety in order to provide a fluid seal about the upper opening 112 around the cylindrical barrel 130. More particularly the cylindrical barrel 130 may be suitably secured in place by a split ring 131 disposed in an annular groove provided in the lower end of the cylindrical barrel 130 and engaging the lower surface of the inner race of the ball bearing structure 129. The cylindrical barrel 130 receives a cylindrical plunger 132 that is mounted for sliding movement longitudinally of the centrally disposed vertical axis. The upper end of the plunger 132 projects out of the upper end of the upper opening 112, and the lower end of the plunger 132 engages a head 133 provided on the upper end of the shaft 123. The extreme upper end of the cylindrical barrel 130 is bifurcated to provide two laterally spaced-apart ears 134 having a slot therebetween that receives the inner end of an operating member 135, the inner end of the operating member 135 being pivotally mounted to the ears 134 upon a laterally extending pin 136 extending therebetween. The outer end of the operating member 135 is operatively connected through a suitable coil spring, or the like, to the armature of the electromagnet 57, as previously explained, and the lower intermediate portionof the operating member 135 engages the upper end of the plunger 132. Accordingly, it will be under- Preferably the ball bearing structure 129 is of stood that when the electromagnet 57 is energized, the outer end of the operating member 135 is pulled downwardly, whereby the operating member 135 pivoting about the pin 136 forces the plunger 132 downwardly in the cylindrical barrel 130. As the plunger 132 is thus moved downwardly in the cylindrical barrel 130, the lower end of the plunger 132 engaging the head 133 of the shaft 123 forces the shaft 123 and the member 121 downwardly against the bias of the compression spring 126, whereby the clutch surfaces 127 and 128 are engaged. On the other hand, when the electromagnet 57 is de-energized, the outer end of the operating member 135 is released, whereby the compression spring 126 may return the shaft 123 and the member 121 upwardly returning the plunger 132 upwardly and pivoting the operating member 135 upwardly about the pin 136, whereby the clutch surfaces 127 and 128 are disengaged.

The reservoir 118 contains a body of fluid 137, such, for example, as a quantity of oil or other hydraulic medium. The upper level of the body of fluid 137 is disposed slightly below the junction between the upper and lower sections 106 and 107 so that the member 121 is disposed above and normally entirely out-of-contact with the body of fluid 137 arranged in the reservoir 118. The lower section 107 carries a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart main driven blades 138 disposed interiorly of the reservoir 118 and substantially completely submerged in the body of fluid 137 contained therein; and likewise the member 121 carries a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart main drive blades 139 disposed above and exteriorly of the reservoir 118 and cooperating with the main driven blades 138. Thus the drive blades 139 carried by the member 121 are disposed above and out-of-contact with the driven blades 138 carried by the lower section 107, an annular space 140 being provided between the sets of

blades

138 and 139. The arrangement described above permits free rotation of the member 121 and the drive blades 139 carried thereby with respect to the lower section 107 and the driven blades 138 carried thereby.

A pair of diametrically opposed start blades or projections 141 are carried by the member 121 and extend downwardly into the reservoir 118, whereby the lower ends of the start blades 141 are submerged in the body of fluid 137 arranged in the reservoir 118. Further an upstanding substantially cylindrical baffle 142 is provided in the reservoir 118 in surrounding relation with respect to the sleeve 114 and disposed intermediate the sleeve 114 and the driven blades 138 carried by the lower section 107. The start blades 141 bring about the deflection of the fiuid 137 from the reservoir 118 into the space 140 between the drive blades 139 and the driven blades 138 when the member 121 is operated into its clutched position with respect to the plate 119 as explained more fully below.

Considering now the operation of the clutch and fluid drive unit 100, it will be understood that the member 121 normally occupies its declutched position with respect to the plate 119, the clutched position of the member 121 with respect to the plate 119 being illustrated in Fig. 2. At this time, the operating electric drive motor 42 effects rotation of its operating shaft 43 and the consequent rotation of the operating element 101 that is rigidly secured thereto, whereby the pulley 103 is directly rotated with the operating element 101 in an obvious manner. However, at this time, the member 121 occupies its declutched position with respect to the plate 119, whereby the plate 119 rotating with the operating element 101 does not effect rotation of the member 121 or of the housing so that the member 121 and the housing 105 remain stationary at this time. Now when it is desired to rotate the housing 105, the electromagnet 57 is energized so that the operating member is moved downwardly pivoting about the pin 136 and forcing the plunger 132 downwardly so that the shaft 123 and the member 121 are moved downwardly against the bias of the compression spring 126. As the member 121 is thus moved downwardly, the clutch surf ces 127 and 128 are engaged, whereby the member 121 is rotated with the plate 119. As the member 121 is thus rotated, the start blades 141 deflect the fluid 137 contained in the reservoir 118 outwardly into the annular space 140 disposed between the drive blades 139 and the driven blade 138, whereby the drive blades 139 exert a torque through the fluid 137 upon the driven blades 138 causing rotation of the housing 105 to be initiated. Also any of the fluid 137 in the reservoir 118 that is deflected inwardly toward the cylindrical baflfle 142 is deflected thereby upwardly and outwardly toward the drive blades 139 and thence into the annular space 140 in order further to improve the drive through the fluid 137 between the

blades

139 and 138. In passing, it is pointed out that the normal level of the fluid 137 is slightly above the upper end of the cylindrical bafile 142 and slightly below the junction between the upper and lower sections 106 and 107, as previously noted. Thus the arrangement of the cylindrical baflle 142 further insures that the drive blades 139 exert torque through the fluid 137 upon the driven blade 138.

When rotation of the housing 105 is thus initiated, the fluid 137 contained in the reservoir 118 is flung outwardly by centrifugal force into the annular space 140 thereby further to insure the drive relationship between the

blades

139 and 138. Accordingly the housing 105 is gradually accelerated and ultimately rotates at a speed somewhat below that of the member 121 and the operating shaft 43 of the electric drive motor 42, in view of the fact that there is always some slippage between the drive blades 139 and the driven blades 138. Moreover, the rotating housing 105 effects rotation of the pulley 111 carried thereby and the consequent rotation of the spin tub 36.

Further it will be understood that the arrangement of the clutch and fluid drive unit 100 between the operating shaft 43 of the electric drive motor 42 and the spin tub 36 not only provides for very gradual acceleration of the spin tub 36 when the member 121 is moved into clutched relation with respect to'the plate 119, but the unit 100 also compensates for any unbalance of the spin tube 36 and the contained load of clothes since the slippage between the drive blades 139 and the driven blades 138' is dependent upon the load that is imposed upon the pulley 111 carried by the housing 105. Thus in the event of an uneven distribution of the clothes in the spin tub 36, the resultant unbalanced load imposed upon the housing 105 will be greater than normal, whereby the amount of slippage between the drive blades 139 and the driven blades 138' will be greater than normal so that the electric drive motor 42 will spin the spin tub 36 at a lower than normal speed. However, as the rinse water is centrifugally discharged from the load of clothes contained in the spinning spin tub 36, the unbalance of the spin tub 36 and the load of clothes contained therein is reduced effecting a corresponding reduction in the load imposed upon the housing 105, whereby the amount of slippage between the drive blades 139 and driven blades 138 is decreased so that the electric drive motor 42 spins the spin tub 36 at a greater speed. This automatic compensation for unbalance of the spin tub 36 and the load of contained clothes that is brought about by the unit 100 is very advantageous as it prevents excessive vibration of the spin tub 36, notwithstanding an initial abnormal unbalance of the spin tub 36 and the contained load of clothes.

Subsequently when it is desired to arrest a spinning operation of the spin tub 36, the electromagnet 57 is deenergized, whereby the compression spring 126 returns the shaft 123 and the member 121 upwardly so thatthe member 121 is moved into its normal declutched position disengaging the clutch surfaces 127 and 123. When the member 121 is thus declutched from the plate 119, continued rotation of the operating element 101 by the operating shaft 43 of the electric drive motor 42 is not effective to transmit any torque to the member 121, whereby no torque is transmitted to the housing 105 so that the member 121 and the housing 105 consequently assume a rest position along with the spin tub 36. In fact, the frictional forces that are normally exerted upon the spin tub 36 arrest rotation thereof shortly after the member 121 is declutched from the plate 119 and the spin tub 36 in its rest position arrests rotation of the housing 105 by virtue of the drive connection therebetween including the flexible belt 54.

Finally it is noted that the clutch and fluid drive unit may be readily filled with the fluid 137 after the parts have been assembled by virtue of the arrangement of a threaded filling opening 150 that is provided in a centrally disposed boss 151 carried upon the upper portion of the upper section 106, the threaded opening 150 normally receiving a cooperating threaded plug 152. Also an annular series of holes 153 are formed in the central portion of the member 121, and an annular series of holes 154 are formed in the plate 119, so as to permit the direct and ready return of the fluid 137 from the upper portion of the housing back into the reservoir 118 when rotation of the housing 105 is arrested. In the construc tion of the unit 100, the upper and lower housing sections 106 and 107 may be formed of die-cast aluminum, or the like; while the plate 119, the operating element 101, the shaft 123 and the plunger 132 are preferably formed of steel.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, the clutch and brake and fluid drive unit 200 there illustrated, and embodying the features of the present invention, may be substituted in the machine 10 for the clutch and fluid drive unit 100. The unit 200 embodies fundamentally the same construction as the unit 100 with the addition of the associated brake structure. In the interest of brevity, only'the basic outline of the unit 200 will be described since the principal elements thereof perform the essential functions of the corresponding elements in the unit 100. Thus the unit 200 comprises the operating element 201, the plate 219, the member 221, the housing 205 including the upper and

lower sections

206 and 207, the shaft 223, the plunger 232, the compression spring 226, the reservoir 218 containing the body of fluid 237, the drive blades 239, the driven blades 238, and the start blades 241.

Also in the unit 200, the upper portion of the upper section 206 is provided with an annular brake surface 260 that surrounds a centrally disposed thimble or collar 261 that supports the plunger 232. Operatively associated with the brake surface 260 provided on the upper portion of the upper section 206 is a brake shoe 262 that is provided with a lower brake lining 263.

In this case, the upstanding structure 21 provided in the machine 10 also comprises an upstanding standard 264 that may be in the form of a tube, which standard 264 carries a bracket 265 that projects over the housing 205. Preferably the bracket 265 is hollow, and arranged therein is an operating member 266, the inner end of the operating member 266 being pivotally mounted upon the bracket 265 by a pivot pin 267, and the outer end of the operating member 266 being connected by an associated coil spring, or the like, to the armature of the electromagnet 57. Also the lower portion of the bracket 265 carries a pair of depending tabs 268, upon which an operating lever 269 is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends upon a pivot pin 270. The inner end of the operating lever 269 is pivotally connected by a pivot pin 7.71 to a pair of upstanding lugs 272 that are secured to the upper portion of the brake shoe 262, whereby the brake shoe 262 is supported by the operating lever 269. The outer end of the operating lever 269 cooperates with the upper end of a compression coil spring 273 that is arranged in the upper end of the standard 264; and an adjustable screw 274 is carried by'the operating lever 269 and arranged in abutting relation with respect to the operating member 266. Finally the operating member 266 carries 11 a pivot plate 275 that engages the upper end of the plunger 232 that is slidably supported in the collar 261.

In view of the foregoing description of the unit 200, it will be understood that the member 221 normally occupies its declutched position with respect to the plate 219 and the brake shoe 262 normally occupies its engaged position with respect to the brake surface 260 provided on the upper section 2% of the housing 205, the member 221 being illustrated in its clutched position with respect to the plate 219 and the brake shoe 262 being illustrated in its disengaged position with respect to the brake surface 260 in Fig. 3. When it is desired to rotate the spin tub 36, the electromagnet 57 is energized, whereby the outer end of the operating member 266 is moved downwardly, the operating member 266 pivoting about the pin 267, whereby the pivot plate 275 engaging the upper end. of the plunger 232 moves the plunger 232 downwardly in order to effect movement of the shaft 223 and the member 221 downwardly so as to clutch the member 221 to the plate 219. Also when the outer end of the operating member 266 is moved downwardly, the intermediate portion thereof engages the upper end of the screw 274 in order to rotate the operating lever 269 in the clockwise direction about the pin 27%, as viewed in Fig. 3, against the bias of the compression spring 273. When the operating lever 269 is thus pivoted in the clockwise direction about the pin 270, the inner end thereof is moved upwardly, whereby the pin 271 lifts the brake shoe 262 through the lugs 272 into disengaged relation with respect to the brake surface 260. Accordingly at this time, the member 221 rotating with the operating element 2% effects rotation of the housing 295 through the fluid 237 coupling the drive blades 239 and the driven blades 238, the housing 205 being free to rotate at this time since the brake shoe 262 occupies its disengaged position with respect to the brake surface 260. Hence the electric drive motor 42 rotates the spin tub 36 through the unit 209.

When it is desired to arrest spinning of the spin tub 36, the electromagnct 57 is de-energized, whereby the compression spring 273 returns the operating lever 269 in the counterclockwise direction about the pin 270, as viewed in Fig. 3, so that the inner end of the operating lever 269 is moved downwardly causing the brake shoe 262 to engage the associated brake surface 260 provided on the upper portion of the upper section 206 of the housing 205. Also as the operating lever 269 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction about the pin 27%, the screw 274 engages and forces the operating member 266 upwardly so that the operating member 266 is pivoted about the pin 26:? in order to cause the pivot plate 275 to disengage the upper end of the plunger 232 so that the compression spring 226 may return the shaft 223 and the member 221 upwardly causing the member 221 to be moved into declutched position with respect to the plate 219. At this time, the member 221 is not only declutched with respect to the plate 219 so that no torque is exerted between the operating element 201 and the housing 205, but the brake shoe 262 occupies its engaged position with respect to the bralze surface 260. Thus the kinetic energy of the spin tub 36 is dissipated in the brake lining 263 of the brake shoe 263 in direct engagement with the brake surface 260 provided on the upper section 206 of the housing 295 by virtue of the drive connection between the housing 295 and the tub sleeve that is attached to the spin tub 36. This arrangement positively insures that spinning of the spin tub 36 is arrested in an extremely short interval of time following the de-energizaticn of the electromagnet 57.

In view of the foregoing, it is apparent that there had been provided in a clothes washing machine of the type in which the clothes are washed, rinsed and centrifugally dried in a receptacle or tub, an improved clutch and fluid drive unit or alternatively an improved clutch and brake and fluid drive unit, each of the units being of improved and simplified construction and arrangement.

While there has been described What is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A clutch and fluid drive unit comprising an upstanding enclosing housing including a bottom wall having a first substantially centrally disposed opening formed therein and a top wall having a second substantially centrally disposed opening formed therein and mounted for rotation about a substantially vertical axis extending through said openings, an upstanding drive element having an upper end extending through said first opening into said housing and mounted for rotation about said vertical axis independently of said housing, upstanding bearing structure arranged between said housing and said drive element, structure defining a substantially annular and horizontally disposed reservoir in the lower portion of said housing surrounding and out of contact with said drive element, a substantially annular and horizontally disposed member arranged in said housing above said reservoir and mounted for rotation about said vertical axis independently of said housing and said drive element, upstanding bearing structure aranged between said drive element and said member, an upstanding operating element having a lower end extending through said second opening into said housing and mounted for movement along said vertical axis, upstanding bearing structure arranged between said housing and said operating element, means responsive to movement of said operating element into a first position for clutching said member to said drive element and responsive to movement of said operating element into a second position for declutching said member from said drive element, said member rotating with drive element when it is clutched thereto, a plurality of annularly disposed upstanding drive blades carried by said member above said reservoir, a plurality of annularly disposed upstanding driven blades carried by said housing within said reservoir, said drive blades being disposed in cooperating relation with said driven blades and spaced thereabove a short distance, a fixed charge of fluid confined in said housing and arranged in said reservoir in contact with said driven blades and normally out of contact with said drive blades to permit free rotation of said drive blades with respect to said driven blades, and means including start blades carried by said member and depending into said reservoir and responsive to rotation of said member with said drive element for deflecting the fluid from said reservoir into the space between said drive blades and said driven blades in order to cause said drive blades to exert a torque through the fluid upon said driven blades so as to effect rotation of said housing.

2. A clutch and fluid drive unit comprising an upstanding enclosing housing including a bottom wall having a first substantially centrally disposed opening formed therein and a top wall having a second substantially centrally disposed opening formed therein and mounted for rotation above a substantially vertical axis extending through said openings, an upstanding drive element having an upper end extending through said first opening into said housing and mounted for rotation about said vertical axis independently of said housing, upstanding bearing structure arranged between said housing and said drive element, structure defining a substantially annular and horizontally disposed reservoir in the lower portion of said housing surrounding and out of contact with said drive element, a substantially annular and horizontally disposed member arranged in said housing above said reservoir and mounted for rotation about said vertical axis independently of said housing and said drive element, upstanding bearing structure arranged between said drive element and said member, an upstanding operating element having a lower end extending through said second opening into said housing and mounted for movement along said vertical axis, upstanding bearing structure arranged between said housing and said operating element, means responsive to movement of said operating element into a first position for clutching said member to said drive element and responsive to movement of said operating element into a second position for declutching said member from said drive element, said member rotating with drive element when it is clutched thereto, a spring normally biasing said operating element into its second position, means including an operating member for moving said operating element against the bias of said spring from its second position into its first position, a plurality of annularly disposed upstanding drive blades carried by said member above said reservoir, a plurality of annularly disposed upstanding driven blades carried by said housing within said rese1- voir, said drive blades being disposed in cooperating relation with said driven blades and spaced thereabovea short distance, a fixed charge of fluid confined in said housing and arranged in said reservoir in contact with said driven blades and normally out of contact with said drive blades to permit free rotation of said drive blades with respect to said driven blades, and means including start blades carried by said member and depending into said reservoir and responsive to rotation of said member with said drive element for deflecting the fluid from said reservoir into the space between said drive blades and said driven blades in order to cause said drive blades to exert a torque through the fluid upon said driven blades so as to effect rotation of said housing.

3. A clutch and fluid drive unit comprising an upstanding enclosing housing including a bottom wall having a first substantially centrally disposed opening formed therein and a top wall having a second substantially centrally disposed opening formed therein and mounted for rotation about a substantially vertical axis extending through said openings, an upstanding drive element having an upper end extending through said first opening into said housing and mounted for rotation about said vertical axis independently of said housing, upstanding bearing struc ture arranged between said housing and said drive element, structure defining a substantially annular and horizontally disposed reservoir in the lower portion of said housing surrounding and out of contact with said drive element, a substantially annular and horizontally disposed member arranged in said housing above said reservoir and mounted for rotation about said vertical axis independently of said housing and said drive element, upstanding bearing structure arranged between said drive element and said member, an upstanding bearing sleeve arranged in said second opening, an upstanding operating element arranged in said bearing sleeve and mounted for movement along said vertical axis, the lower end of said operating element projecting into said housing and the upper end of said operating element projecting out of said housing, means including an operating member cooperating with the upper end of said operating element for moving said operating member, means responsive to movement of said operating element into a first position for clutching said member to said drive element and responsive to movement of said operating element into a second position for declutching said member from said drive element, said member rotating with driveelement when it is clutched thereto, a plurality of annularly disposed upstanding drive blades carried by said member above said reservoir, a plurality of annularly disposed upstanding driven blades carried by said housing within said reservoir, said drive blades being disposed in cooperating relation with said driven blades and spaced thereabove a short distance, a fixed charge of fluid confined in said housing and arranged in said reservoir in contact with said driven blades and normally out of contact with said drive blades to permit free rotation of said drive blades with respect to said driven blades, and means including start blades carried by said member and'depending into said reservoir and responsive to rotation of said member 14 with said drive element for deflecting the fluid from said reservoir into the space between said drive blades and said driven blades in order to cause said drive blades to exert a torque through the fluid upon said driven blades so as to effect rotation of said housing.

4. A clutch and fluid drive unit comprising an 1113* standing enclosing housing including a bottom 'wall having a first substantially centrally disposed opening formed therein and a top wall having a second substantially centrally disposed opening formed therein and mounted for rotation about a substantially vertical axis extending through said openings, an upstanding drive element having an upper end extendingthrough said first opening into said housing and mounted for rotation about said vertical axis independently of said housing, upstanding bearing structure arranged between said housing and said drive element, structure defining a substantially annular and horizontally disposed reservoir in the lower portion of said housing surrounding and out of contact with said drive element, a substantially annular and horizontally disposed member arranged in said housing above said reservoir and mounted for rotation about said vertical axis independently of said housing and said drive lement, upstanding bearing structure arranged between said drive element and said member, an upstanding bearing sleeve arranged in said second opening, upstanding bearing structure arranged between said housing and said bearing sleeve, an upstanding operating element arranged in said bearing sleeve and mounted for movement along said Vertical axis, the l'owe'r end of said operating element projecting into said housing and the upper end 'of said operating element projecting out of said housing, an upstanding bracket carried by said bearing sleeve, means including an operating member pivoted to said bracket and cooperating with the upper end of said operating element for moving said operating element, means responsive to movement 'of said operating element into a first position for clutching said member to said drive element and responsive to movement of said operating element into a second position for declutching said member from said drive element, said member rotating with drive element when it is clutched thereto, a plurality of annula'rly disposed upstanding drive blades carried by said member above said reservoir, a plurality of annularly disposed upstanding driven blades carried by said housing within said reservoir, said drive blades being disposed in cooperatin'g' relation with said driven blades and spaced thereabove a short distance, a fixed charge o'f fl uid een'finedin said housing and arranged in said reservoir in contact with said driven blades and normally out of contact with said drive blades to permit free rotation of said drive blades with respect to said driven blades, and means including start blades carried by said member and depending into said reservoir and responsive to rotation of said member with said drive element for deflecting the fluid from said reservoir into the space between said drive blades and said driven blades in order to cause said drive blades to exert a torque through the fluid upon said driven blades so as to effect rotation of said housing.

5. A clutch and fluid drive unit comprising an upstanding enclosing housing including a bottom wall having a first substantially centrally disposed opening formed therein and a top wall having a second substantially centrally disposed opening formed therein and mounted for rotation about a substantially vertical axis extending through said openings, an upstanding drive element having an upper end extending through said first opening into said housing and mounted for rotation about said vertical axis independently of said housing, upstanding bearing structure arranged between said housing and said drive element, structure defining a substantially annular and horizontally disposed reservoir in the lower portion of said housing surrounding and out of contact with said drive element, a substantiallyannular and horiZontally disposed member arranged in said housing above said reservoir and mounted for rotation about said vertical axis independently of said housing and said drive element, upstanding bearing structure arranged between said drive element and said member, said member also being mounted for movement along said vertical axis into clutched and declutched positions with respect to said drive element, said member being rotated with said drive element when it is moved into its clutched position with respect thereto, an upstanding bearing sleeve arranged in said second opening, an upstanding operating element arranged in said bearing sleeve and mounted for movement along said vertical axis, the lower end of said operating element projecting into said housing and the upper end of said operating element projecting out of said housing, means including an operating member cooperating with the upper end of said operating element for moving said operating member, the lower end of said operating element cooperating with said member and moving it between its declutched and clutched positions with respect to said drive element, a plurality of annularly disposed upstanding drive blades carried by said member above said reservoir, a plurality of annular disposed upstanding driven blades carried by said housing within said reservoir, said drive blades being disposed in cooperating relation with said driven blades and spaced thereabove a short distance, a fixed charge of fluid confined in said housing and arranged in said reservoir in contact with said driven blades and normally out of contact with said drive blades to permit free rotation of said drive blades with respect to said driven blades, and means including start blades carried by said member and depending into said reservoir and responsive to rotation of said member with said drive element for deflecting the fluid from said reservoir into the space between said drive blades and said driven blades in order to cause said drive blades to exert a torque through the fluid upon said driven blades so as to effect rotation of said housing.

6. A clutch and fluid drive unit comprising an upstanding enclosing housing including a bottom wall having a first substantially centrally disposed opening formed therein and a top wall having a second substantially centrally disposed opening formed therein and mounted for rotation about a substantially vertical axis extending through said openings, an upstanding drive element having an upper end extending through said first opening into said housing and mounted for rotation about said vertical axis independently of said housing, upstanding bearing structure arranged between said housing and said drive element, structure defining a substantially annular and horizontally disposed reservoir in the lower portion of said housing surrounding and out of contact with said drive element, the upper end of said drive element having a substantially centrally disposed longitudinally extending bore formed therein, a substantially annular and horizontally disposed member arranged in said housing above the upper end of said drive element and said reservoir, an upstanding bearing shaft rigidly secured to said member and projecting downwardly into said bore, upstanding bearing structure arranged in said bore between said drive element and said bearing shaft mounting said member for rotation about said vertical axis'independently of said housing and said drive element and mounting said member for movement along said vertical axis into clutched and declutched positions with respect to said drive element, said member being rotated with said drive element when it is moved into its clutched position with respect thereto, an upstanding bearing sleeve arranged in said second opening, an upstanding operating element arranged in said bearing sleeve and mounted for movement along said vertical axis, the lower end of said operating element projecting into said housing and the upper end of said operating element projecting out of said housing, means including an operating member cooperating with the upper end of said operating element for moving said operating element, the lower end of said operating element cooperating with said bearing shaft and moving said member between its declutched and clutched positions with respect to said drive element, a plurality of annularly disposed upstanding drive blades carried by said member above said reservoir, a plurality of annularly disposed upstanding driven blades carried by said housing within said reservoir, said drive blades being disposed in cooperating relation with said driven blades and spaced thereabove a short distance, a fixed charge of fluid confined in said housing and arranged in said reservoir in contact with said driven blades and normally out of contact with said drive blades to permit free rotation of said drive blades with respect to said driven blades, and means including start blades carried by said member and depending into said reservoir and responsive to rotation of said member with said drive element for deflecting the fluid from said reservoir into the space between said drive blades and said driven blades in order to cause said drive blades to exert a torque through the fluid upon said driven blades so as to effect rotation of said housing.

7. A clutch and fluid drive unit comprising a housing having a first substantially centrally disposed opening formed in the bottom thereof and a second substantially centrally disposed opening formed in the top thereof and mounted for rotation about a substantially vertical axis extending through said openings, a drive element having an upper end extending through said first opening into said housing and mounted for rotation about said vertical axis independently of said housing, bearing structure arranged between said housing and said drive element, structure defining a substantially annular reservoir in the lower portion of said housing surrounding and out of contact with said drive element, the upper end of said drive element having a substantially centrally disposed longitudinally extending bore formed therein, a member arranged in said housing above the upper end of said drive element and said reservoir, a bearing shaft rigidly secured to said member and projecting downwardly into said bore, bearing structure arranged in said bore between said drive element and said bearing shaft mounting said member for rotation about said vertical axis independently of said housing and said drive element, a ball and a supporting spring arranged in said bore between the lower end of said bearing shaft and said drive element mounting said member for movement along said vertical axis into clutched and declutched positions with respect to said drive element, said supporting spring normally biasing said member into its declutched position with respect to said drive element, said member being rotated with said drive element when it is moved into its clutched position with respect thereto, a bearing sleeve arranged in said second opening, an operating element arranged in said bearing sleeve and mounted for movement along said vertical axis, the lower end of said operating element projecting into said housing and the upper end of said operating element projecting out of said housing, means including an operating member cooperating with the upper end of said operating element for moving said operating element, the lower end of said operating element cooperating with said bearing shaft and moving said member against the bias of said spring from its declutched position into its clutched position with respect to said drive element, a plurality of annularly disposed drive blades carried by said member interiorly of said reservoir, a plurality of annularly disposed driven blades carried by said housing exteriorly of said reservoir, said drive blades being disposed in cooperating relation with said driven blades and spaced thereabove a short distance, a body of fluid arranged in said reservoir and normally out of contact with said drive blades to permit free rotation of said drive blades with respect to said driven blades, and means responsive to rotation of said member with said drive element for deflecting the fiuid from said reservoir into the space between said drive blades and said driven blades in order to cause said drive blades to exert a torque (harm 17 through the fluid upon said driven blades so as to effect rotation of said housing.

8. A clutch and brake and fluid drive unit comprising a housing having a substantially centrally disposed opening formed therein and mounted for rotation about a substantially vertical axis, a drive element extending through said opening into said housing and mounted for rotation about said vertical axis independently of said housing, structure defining a substantially annular reservoir in the lower portion of said housing surrounding and out of contact with said drive element, a member arranged in said housing above said reservoir and mounted for rotation about said vertical axis independently of said housing and said drive element, said housing having a brake surface formed thereon, a brake shoe cooperating with said brake surface, mechanism operative to a first position to clutch said member to said drive element and to disengage said brake shoe from said brake surface and operative to a second position to declutch said member from said drive element and to engage said brake shoe with said brake surface, said member being rotated with said drive element when it is clutched thereto, means for selectively operating said mechanism into its first and second positions, a plurality of annularly disposed drive blades carried by said member exteriorly of said reservoir, a plurality of annularly disposed driven blades carried by said housing interiorly of said reservoir, said drive blades being disposed in cooperating relation with said driven blades and spaced thereabove a short distance, a body of fluid arranged in said reservoir and normally out of contact with said drive blades to permit free rota tion of said drive blades with respect to said driven blades, and means responsive to rotation of said member with said drive element for deflecting the fluid from said reservoir into the space between said drive blades and said driven blades in order to cause said drive blades to exert a torque through the fluid upon said driven blades so as to eifect rotation of said housing.

9. A clutch and brake and fluid drive unit comprising a housing having a first substantially centrally disposed opening formed in the bottom thereof and a second substantially centrally disposed opening formed in the top thereof and mounted for rotation about a substantially vertical axis extending through said openings, a drive element having an upper end extending through said first opening into said housing and mounted for rotation about said vertical axis independently of said housing, bearing structure arranged between said housing and said drive element, structure defining a substantially annular reservoir in the lower portion of said housing surrounding and out of contact with said drive element, a member arranged in said housing above the upper end of said drive element and said reservoir and mounted for rotation about said vertical axis independently of said housing and said drive element, bearing structure arranged between said drive element and said member, an operating element having a lower end extending through said second opening into said housing and mounted for movement along said vertical axis, bearing structure arranged between said housing and said operating element, means responsive to movement of said operating element into a first position for clutching said member to said drive element and responsive to movement of said operating element into a second position for declutching said member from said drive element, said member rotating with drive element when it is clutched thereto, said housing having a brake surface formed thereon, a brake shoe cooperating with said brake surface, an operating member having a first position disengaging said brake shoe from said brake surface and a second position engaging said brake shoe with said brake surface, mechanism operative to a first position to operate both said operating element and said operating member into their first positions and operative to a second position to operate both said operating element and said operating member into their second positions, means for selectively operating said mechanism into its first and second positions, a plurality of annularly disposed drive blades carried by said member exteriorly of said reservoir, a plurality of annularly disposed driven blades carried by said housing interiorly of said reservoir, said drive blades being disposed in cooperating relation with said driven blades and spaced thereabove a short distance, a body of fluid arranged in said reservoir and normally out of contact with said drive blades to permit free rotation of said drive blades with respect to said driven blades, and means responsive to rotation of said member with said drive element for deflecting the fluid r from said reservoir into the space between said drive blades and said driven blades in order to cause said drive blades to exert a torque through the fluid upon said driven blades so as to effect rotation of said housing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,897,414 Baldner Feb. 14, 1933 2,082,581 Kiep June 1, 1937 2,485,623 McNairy Oct. 25, 1949 2,494,466 Wolf Jan. 10, 1950 2,513,845 Castner July 4, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 449,819 Great Britain July 6, 1936 452,922 Great Britain Sept. 1, 1936 643,379 Germany Apr. 7, 1937