US2726530A - Wringers - Google Patents

Description

1955 D. F. FAIRGRIEVE 2,726,530

WRINGERS Filed NOV. 13, 1951 3 Sheecs-Sheet l II: 2. INVENTOR DONALD F, FAIRG-RIEVE HTTK Dec. 13, 1955 Filed Nov. 13, 1951 I9 I Ummmmmm I &4: I

D. F. FAlRGRlEVE WRINGERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I ZBI INVENTUR DONALD F. FAlR'G-RIEVE Dec. 13, 1955 Filed Nov.

D. F. FAIRGRIEVE 2,726,530

WRINGERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 I NV ENTOR DONALD F. FA! RG'RIEVE United StatesPatent O" WRINGERS Donald F. Fairgrieve, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, assignor to Fairgrieve & Son, Limited, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Application November 13, 1951, Serial No. 256,049

11 Claims. (Cl. 68-263) This invention relates to improvements in wringers of the type comprising a base having side stiles extending upwardly therefrom, wringing rolls mounted in the side stiles, a top bar, means carried by the top bar exerting pressure on the rolls and a toggle for operating the top bar to and releasing the top bar from pressure-exerting position, together with a means for locking the toggle with the top bar in pressure-exerting position, and safety means for releasing the toggle and hence pressure on the rolls, and the principal object of the invention is to improve and simplify the means for effecting toggle re lease and its subsequent resetting.

A further object is to provide a wringer of improved and simplified design and appearance which wringer will be easier and safer to operate than present wringers.

The principal feature of the invention resides in locking the toggle on the release side of an over-centre position by a latch member, and operating the latch member to release the toggle, which will then open under pressure on the rolls, by a rocker member pivoted adjacent its centre and extending transversely of the latch to engage same on opposite sides of the rocker pivot to operate the latch to release for either direction of rocker rotation, whereby safety releases arranged on opposite sides of the wringer and engaging the rocker member can be each operated either up or down to rock the rocker member in either direction at will, facilitating release and thus greatly increasing the safety of operation with an extremely simple and inexpensive mechanism.

Another feature resides in having the release bars engage the ends of the rocker member in a manner to multiply release motion, increasing the sensitivity of release.

A further important feature resides in forming the latching connection between the-toggle mechanism and the latch member in a manner such that there will be no looking or unlocking component acting on the latch nor any extraneous bending forces due to the pressure exerted on the toggle by the rolls forcing against the top bar.

Still a further feature resides in arranging the range of latch movement between locking and release position to swing an equal distance either side of the horizontal whereby maximum latch movement is effected for minimum rocker movement and minimum binding between the latch and rocker surfaces.

Another feature resides in providing a simple link control and stop arrangement to control and limit upward movement of the top bar-under wringer release.

Again another feature resides in the novel construction of the release bars from sheet metal to enhance the appearance and decrease the cost of the wringer.

Again a further feature resides in forming the lever of the toggle mechanism of a corrugated design for improved appearance and increased strength and safety in handling when wet.

These and other objects will become apparent from the 2,726,530 Patented Dec. 13, 1955 2 following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan View of a wringer embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation with the rolls omitted for the-sake of clarity showing the toggle held in pressure-applying position.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical section of the side stile at the end of the wringer opposite the toggle.

Figure 4 is a part elevational part vertical sectional detail of the release end of the wringer.

Figure 5 is an end elevation of the side stile carrying the toggle setting and releasing mechanism showing the parts in the set position ready for latching the toggle which is shown raised with the lever broken away.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 but showing the toggle latching mechanism operated to a release position.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 but showing the mechanism operated to an alternative release position.

Figure 8 is a part side elevational part vertical sectional detail on an enlarged scale of the toggle latch and its pivotal mounting.

Figure 9 is a longitudinal mid-vertical sectional detail through the wringer with the top bar broken away.

With reference to Figures 1, 2 and 9, the wringer comprises the usual side stiles 1 and 2 mounted on a suitable base 3 and retaining rolls 4 journalled in bearing blocks 5 sliding in suitable guides 6, Figure 9.

Applying pressure to the rolls is the usual spring 7 seated on the upper of the bearing blocks 5 and adjusted by the screw 8 operating, through the threaded boss 9 carried by a top bar 16. The top bar is detachably connected to one side stile by means of a lip 11 turned out from the side stile engaging a shoulder 12 formed by punching the metal of the end of the top bar.

Securing the opposite end of the top bar to its adjoining side stile is a toggle mechanism which permits the top bar to be drawn down to a pressure-applying or set position and when released permits the top bar to swing upwardly, releasing pressure on the rolls. This toggle comprises a lever 13 pivoted to the end of the top bar, and a link 14 pivoted to the side stile at 15 and to the lever intermediate its length, by means of a pivot pin 16.

With the top bar and toggle in set position the lever 13 and link 14 are on the release side of an over-centre or aligned position, that is, the pivot pin 16 lies outwardly of a line joining the link pivot 15 and-the pivotal connection 17 between the lever and top bar.

The lever 13 is of channel form and its end surface is corrugated as at 18 to increase its strength and prevent a wet and soapy hand from slipping on the lever. A spring 19 engaging between the link 14 and lever 13 serves to urge the toggle to release position as shown in Figure 4.

Mounted on the side stile 2 is a latch hook 2%) formed as a channel formed with a hooked outer end to engage the pivot pin 16. In latched position, as shown in Figure 2, the link pivot 15, pivot pin 16 and latch pivot 21 define a right angle so that the releasing force 'on the toggle under spring and roll pressure is in a direction longitudinally or axially of the latch, simplifying the latch design and eliminating extraneous bending stresses, while at the same time eliminating any looking or unlocking component working on the latch. I

Additionally, the surface 22 of the hook portion of the latch engaging pivot pin 16 is struck as a curve having a centre on the latch pivot 21, so that to release the latch from toggle-locking position of Figure 2 a force sufl'icient only to overcome the friction-between surface 22 and pin 16 need be exerted. Once the latch nd pin 16 are eng ged the releasin fierc o h toggle will serve to maintain engagement in the absence of any locking or unlocking component.

However, in order to position the latch to engage the pivot pin a U-bracket 23 transmits the pressure of a spring 24 connected between an abutment 25 and the bracket to urge the latch upwardly. It will be appreciated that this spring serves no function in the holding of the toggle and latch in latched or set position.

Extending across the end face of the side stile 2 is a rocker member 26 pivoted intermediate of its length on a pivot pin 27. This rocker member is of channel form and is arranged to engage the sides of the channel of the latch 20 on opposite sides of its pivot 27 with the latch in the locked position.

Referring to Figure 8, the latch in locked position with the rocker member 26 horizontal is at an angle a above the horizontal, while when moved to a release position it forms an angle a below the horizontal. With this movement of the latch hook an equal distance either side of the horizontal maximum latch movement for a given rocker movement is obtained. This arrangement also provides for a minimum relative motion between the edges 20' of the latch hook channel and the contacting edge 26 of the rocker member as the rocker member is rocked to effect latch release since these edges 20 and 26 are maintained close to a 90 relation throughout release movement, thereby reducing the pressure required to release the wringer.

The means for elfecting rocking of member 26 comprise the release bars 28 pivoted on lugs 29 carried by the side stiles and formed with crank ends 30 engaging in slots 31 in the ends of the rocker member, as shown in Figures 5 and 7.

The bars 28 are formed of sheet metal bent into U or channel shape, as shown particularly in Figure 4, giving an improved appearance from the standard round rods and decreasing the cost.

The cranks 30 are secured within the ends of the channels 28 and present circular portions extending into the slots 31.

The operation of the rocker 26 to release the latch 20 will be understood with reference to Figures 5 to 8. With the latch in the upper position, as shown in Figure 8, and the rocker member 26 horizontal the portions 32 of the release bar cranks are also horizontal and the release bars 28 are both inclined at the same angle.

In Figure 6 the left-hand release bar has been operated downwardly or alternatively, the right-hand release bar has been operated upwardly. The result is the same in that the right-hand end of the rocker member 26 is depressed and this portion engaging the latch 20 depresses same to a toggle releasing position.

Figure 7 shows the same result obtained with the lefthand release bar swung upwardly or alternatively, the right-hand release bar swung downwardly. In this instance the left-hand end of rocker member 26 engages the latch 20 to effect its depression. Thus either release bar may be operated either up or down to effect toggle release and once the latch has been forced downwardly from position engaging the pivot pin 16 the toggle is free to open and release under pressure from the rolls and also under pressure from the spring 19, although this is very secondary serving merely to hold the pivot pin 16 against the surface 22 of the latch to hold the. toggle in set position in the absence of pressure on the rolls.

When wringing is being carried out; water expressed by the rolls 4 passes through a central hole 33 in the base 3 to a drain pan 34.

To control the motion of the. top bar 10 under sudden release through the operator moving the. release bars 28 a pair of links 43 and 44. are provided pivoted respectively to the top bar and to the side stile 1. The pivot connection 45 between the links is spacedfrom the. lower end of link 43, and link 44 carries a laterally extending stop 4. 46, Figure 3, with which the lower end of link 43 engages to prevent swinging of the links beyond the position of Figure 3. This arrangement provides an effective stop preventing the wild swinging of the top bar under release and also maintains the top bar in a position from which it can be conveniently reset.

In applying pressure through the spring 7 the screw 8 is formed with a head 47, Figure 1, which is formed with indentations 48 to receive the middle finger of the operators hand while the head or knob is formed with a smooth exterior 49 contoured to fit the shape of the thumb to enable rotation to be effected with facility and without danger of the hand slipping off the knob.

The clothes guides 50 leading the clothes to the nip of the rolls are suitably mounted from the base 3 and are provided with the rolled ends 51 which provide an attractive appearance and an effective guide to maintain the clothes therebetween.

The simplicity of the design and particularly the safety afforded by enabling the operator to release the toggle by striking the release bars either up or down at will, will be apparent. Further, the fact that the toggle when unlatched is free to swing to a pressure-releasing position under pressure of the rolls ensures pressure release upon operation of the latch.

Further, the particular relation of the latch and pivots of the toggle and formation of the latch-engaging toggle surface 22 and the relation of the rocker member to the latch as well as the arrangement of the release bars to multiply release motion through the rocker member to the latch provides for extremely easy release.

Variations in modifications in the actual structural details may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a wringer, a base having side stiles extending upwardly therefrom, rolls mounted in the side stiles, a top bar, means carried by the top bar exerting pressure on the rolls, and an over center toggle for operating the top to, and releasing the top from, pressure-exerting position comprising a lever pivoted to said top bar and a link pivoted to one of said stiles and to said lever, the combination with the base, side stiles, rolls, top bar, pressure-exerting means and toggle, of a pivotal channel-shaped latch presenting spaced walls and a hook end adapted to engage said toggle at the point of pivotal connection of said link and lever with said toggle on the release side of an overcentre position and urged to release said top bar under pressure from said rolls, a pivotal normally horizontal latch-releasing member engageable with said latch upon motion in either of two directions, and release means for operating said latch-releasing member in either of said two directions, said release means comprising at least one release bar pivoted to said side stiles and having a portion lying in a plane and a portion formed with a cranked end bent out of said plane and loosely engaging said latchreleasing member, the cranked end of said released bar being inclined to said plane to incline said release bar upwardly at an acutev angle to the side stiles with said cranked end substantially horizontal, said cranked end engaging said normally horizontal latch-releasing member and imparting pivotal motion to said latch=releasing member under a force pushing said release bar towards or pulling it away from said side stiles to swing said cranked end out of its horizontal position.

2. A device. as claimed in claim 1 in which said latchreleasing member is a horizontally extending member mounted. to swing in a vertical plane about a horizontal pivot and the cranked end of said release bar engages in a slot in said latch-releasing member.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 in which the cranked end of said release bar is of circular cross section.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which said latch comprises a hook pivoted at one end and engaging said toggle at the hooked end and said latch-releasing member engages said hook at a point adjacent its pivot and remote from the hooked end.

5. In a wringer, a base having side stiles extending upwardly therefrom, rolls mounted in the side stiles, a longitudinal top bar, means carried by the top bar exerting pressure on the rolls and a toggle for operating the top bar to and releasing the top bar from pressure exerting position comprising, a lever pivoted to one end of said top bar and a link pivoted to the adjacent side stile and to the lever intermediate its length by a pin extending transversely of the lever and link, said lever and link when swung to pressure applying position being urged to a top bar releasing position by said means carried by the top bar exerting pressure on the rolls; the combination with the base, side stiles, rolls, top bar, pressure means and toggle, of a latch member pivoted to, on an axis transversely of, and extending outwardly from, the side stile to which said link is pivoted, said latch engaging said toggle to hold same in pressure applying position, a rocker member pivoted intermediate its length to said latter side stile for rotation in either a clockwise or a counter-clockwise direction and positioned to extend transversely of said latch member, and adapted to engage said latch member on opposite sides of the pivot of said rocker member and between the pivot point of said latch member and its point of engagement with said toggle to operate said latch member to toggle-releasing position for either direction of rotation of said rocker, and a pivotal release bar on each side of said top bar engaging said rocker member in a loose connection and swingable to rock said rocker member in either direction, said rocker and latch members being of channel shape with one flange of said rocker member adapted to engage the edges of the flanges of said latch member.

6. In a wringer, a base having side stiles extending upwardly therefrom, rolls mounted in the side stiles, a longitudinal top bar, means carried by the top bar exerting pressure on the rolls and a toggle for operating the top bar to and releasing the top bar from pressure exerting position comprising, a lever pivoted to one end of said top bar and a link pivoted to the adjacent side stile and to the lever intermediate its length by a pin extending transversely of the lever and link, said lever and link when swung to pressure applying position being urged to a top bar releasing position by said means canied by the top bar exerting pressure on the rolls; the combination with the base, side stiles, rolls, top bar, pressure means and toggle, of a pivotal latch member extending outwardly from the side stile to which said link is pivoted in a direction lengthwise of the wringer, said latch engaging said toggle to hold same in pressure applying position, a rocker member pivoted intermediate its length to said latter side stile for rotation in either a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction and positioned to extend transversely of said latch member and adapted to engage said latch member on opposite sides of the pivot of said rocker member to operate said latch member to toggle releasing position for either direction of rotation of said rocker, and a pivotal release bar on each side of said top bar engaging said rocker member in a loose connection and swingable to rock said rocker member in either direction, said rocker member being formed with slotted ends and said release bars being pivoted tosaid side stiles and formed with crank ends engaging in said slotted rocker ends to form said loose connection.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6 in which said release bars are sheet metal formed to channel shape and said crank ends are rods mounted in the ends of the release bar channels.

8. In a wringer, a base having side stiles extending upwardly therefrom, rolls mounted in the side stiles, a longitudinal top bar, means carried by the top bar exerting pressure on the rolls and a toggle for operating the top bar to and releasing the top bar from pressure-exerting position comprising, a lever pivoted to one end of said top bar and a link pivoted to the adjacent side stile and to the lever intermediate its length by a pin extending transversely of the lever and link, said lever and link when swung to pressure-applying position being urged to a top bar releasing position by said means carried by the top bar exerting pressure on the rolls; the combination with the base, side stiles, rolls, top bar, pressure means and toggle, of a channel shaped latch member having spaced side walls pivoted to the side stile to which said link is pivoted on an axis extending transversely of said last-mentioned side stile, said latch member extending outwardly of said lastmentioned side stile and engaging said toggle at the point of pivotal connection of said link and lever to hold said link and lever in top bar pressure-applying position with the pivots of said link and the pivot of said latch defining a right angle, a rocker member pivoted intermediate its length to said latter side stile for rotation in either a clockwise or a counter-clockwise direction and positioned to extend transversely of said latch member, and adapted to engage the spaced walls of said latch member on opposite sides of the pivot of said rocker member and between the pivot point of said latch member and its point of engagement with said toggle to operate said latch member to toggle-releasing position for either direction of rotation of said rocker, and a pivotal release bar on each side of said top bar engaging said rocker member in a loose connection and swingable to rock said rocker member in either direction.

9. A wringer as claimed in claim 8 in which said latch member is formed with a hooked end engaging the pin pivotally connecting said toggle lever and link to hold said toggle in pressure-applying position, the disposition of the pivots of said link and said latch being such that the link and latch pivots to the side stile define with said pivot pin said right angle with said pin at the apex of said right angle and engaged by the hooked end of said latch member by a surface of the latch member hook tangential to said pin at its point of contact with said pin, eliminating locking and unlocking components from being applied to said latch member by said toggle.

10. A wringer as claimed in claim 9 in which the surface of said latch hook engaging said pin is curved, said curved surface comprising an arc of a circle with centre coinciding with the centre of the pivot of said latch member.

11. A wringer having a base, side stiles, a top bar mounted on the stiles, rolls mounted in theside stiles, means exerting pressure from the top bar to the rolls, and a toggle comprising a lever pivoted to said top bar and a link pivoted to one of said side stiles and to said lever for drawing said top bar down to operative position from which the pressure means is adapted to exert pressure on the rolls; a pivotal latch member carried by one side stile engaging said toggle at the point of pivotal connection of said link and lever with said toggle urged by said pressure means to release said top bar under pressure from said rolls and with the pivots of said link and latch member defining exactly a right angle to eliminate any locking or unlocking components being applied to said latch by said toggle, a pivotal rocker member carried by said latter stile for rotation in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction and positioned to extend substantially parallel to the pivot of said latch member in position to engage said latch member at points on opposite sides of the rocker pivot and between the pivot point of said latch member and its point of engagement with said toggle to operate said latch member for toggle release upon either direction of rocker movement about its pivot, and release means operable at will to rock said rocker member in either direction to effect toggle release.

(References on following page) 7 References Citedin the file of this patent ED S ATES PA EN S Pomrmt July 6,. 22. Bt m S p .2, 9 16 5 Gcldhqf. ly 9 Mincr V Jan- 27,, 1.942

8 Etten Sept. 22, 19,42 Kauifman Oct; 19, 1943 Fields Oct. 10; 1944 Iantz- Sept. 3., 1946 OREIGN PATENTS n-r--. .-.a--a-.-.-.,.m

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