US2800009A - Folding wringer interlock - Google Patents

Description

R. A. BARRETT FOLDING WRINGER INTERLOCK July 23, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 10, 1955 FlG.i

INVENTOR. RALPH A. BARRETT ATTORNEY July 23, 1957 BARRETT 2,800,009

FOLDING WRINGER INTERLOCK Filed Aug. 10, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m M r 7? FIG.4

INVENTOR.

RALPH A. BARRETT ATTORNEY United States Fatent eeann FOLDING wnnsonn mrnnrocn Ralph A. Barrett, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor, by mesne assignments, to White Sewing Machine Corporation, Lakewood, Qhio, a corporation of Delaware Application August 10, 1955, Serial No. 527,459

1 Claim. (Cl. 6822) This invention relates to washing machines of the type having a wringer adapted to be disposed in upright operative position or folded within the machine tub when not in use, and more particularly to a washing machine of this type wherein the wringer may be rotated or indexed to a plurality of upright operative positions and inter-lock means are provided whereby the wringer can only be folded from a pre-determined upright position.

The invention to be described is particularly adaptable to a washing machine of the general type illustrated and described in U. S. Patent 2,679,151 which was issued in the name of Gerald I. Cockerill et al. on May 25, 1954. In said patent .a wringer is illustrated which is adapted to pivot about a horizontal axis adjacent the upper end of a drive shaft for the wringer whereby when the wringer is manually rocked to upright position it is automatically latched in such position and the drive shaft is adapted to operatively connect with a stub shaft on the wringer for driving the wringer rolls. A shelf or supporting portion is formed on the machine tub and upon manual release of the latch means the wringer may be rocked to folded position to engage and be supported by the shelf.

The wringer disclosed in the aforesaid patent cannot be rotated about a vertical axis or indexed to a plurality of operative positions. It is highly desirable that the wringer be movable to a plurality of operative positions which is common practice in washing machines having non-foldable wringers. The present invention discloses a foldable type wringer which can be indexed to a plurality of operative positions but I have found that there is a tendency by some users to disengage the latch means and attempt to move the. wringer to folded position when the wringer is not in a position to be supported by the tub shelf. Under these circumstances and since a wringer is relatively heavy, damage may result to the wringer and/ or tub or injury to the fingers or hand of a user. Accordingly, I have developed an inter-lock whereby the latch means can only be manually released to permit folding of the wringer when the wringer is in position to be supported by the tub shelf.

It is desirable that the wringer be easily detachable from the washing machine for various reasons such as shipment, repair or replacement and in a conventional non-foldable wringer type machine this is usually effected by having a depending tube on the wringer housing telescope with an upstanding tubular portion of the machine which permits the wringer to rotate on a vertical axis relative to the machine. The wringer drive shaft on the machine and the wringer stub shaft usually have a tongue and groove connection and the weight of the wringer keeps the parts in operative relationship and no supplemental locking means is required. In removing the wringer it is merely lifted to clear the telescoping parts.

The wringer of the present invention when in folded position preferably has the wringer stub shaft inclined downwardly from the pivotal axis for maximum disposition of the wringer within the tub and it is necessary to provide supplemental lock means to prevent any tendency of the wringer towards sliding or detaching movement. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the indexing means also functions as supplemental lock means when the wringer is in folded position.

It is a primary object of the invention to provide in a washing machine having a wringer adapted to be folded into and supported by the machine tub means whereby the wringer may be indexed to a plurality of upright operative positions.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a washing machine of the above type inter-lock means whereby the wringer can only be moved to folded position from a predetermined upright position.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a washing machine of the above type a safety inter-lock preventing folding movement of the wringer except from a predetermined upright position and which also functions to prevent detaching movement of the wringer as it is moved to folded position.

Other objects of the invention and the invention itself will become increasingly apparent from a consideration of the following description and drawings wherein:

Figure l is a fragmentary View, partially in section, showing a folding type wringer embodying the invention in upright or operative position;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the wringer support means in folded position;

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken along the line 33 of Figure l; and

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the wringer shown in Figure 1 mounted in upright position in a washing machine tub.

Referring now to the drawings, the type washing machine to which the invention is particularly adapted is more fully illustrated and described in the aforesaid U. S. Patent 2,679,151 and the present description will be primarily directed to the indexing and inter-lock means for the wringer. A wringer generally indicated at 10, has a stub shaft 11 adapted to actuate the wringer rolls through gearing encased by a housing or shield 14. In upright or operative position, a groove 16 in the lower end of wringer shaft 11 is adapted to receive the upper end or tongue 17 of a drive shaft 18 adapted to be operatively connected to the washing machine motor (not shown). As more fully explained in the aforesaid patent, drive shaft 18 is adapted to move a limited amount axially whereby when tongue 17 is in alignment with groove 16 shaft 18 will be forced upwardly under spring pressure to operatively connect shafts 11 and 18. The wringer rolls are adapted to be selectively reversibly rotated in a conventional manner upon driving engagement between the shafts.

One side Wall of the tub is formed to provide a generally horizontal shelf 62 adapted to support the wringer in folded position. At one end the shelf terminates in an elevationed portion 19 forming a perforated horizontal seat for a member 21, preferably formed of cast metal, which is rigidly secured to the tube in any suitable manner as by projecting bolts through lugs 22 formed on member 21. Spaced bearings 23 are formed on member 21 which receive therebetween a hinge formed on a cooperating member 24, preferably a casting, and the mem bers 21 and 24 are pivotally inter-connected by a pin 26 extending through the hinge and bearings 23. Member 21 receives the upper end of a tubular wringer column 27 which encircles drive shaft 18 and member 24 has a relatively short tube 23 secured thereto which encircles the. lower portion of wringer shaft 11. Member 24 has a flange 29 forming a seat for wringer 10, the flange having a radial slot 31 therein for a purpose to be described.

' illustrated'in Figure 1.

A pair of spaced lugs 32 are formed on member 24 and 'a latch pin 33 extends between the lugs.

Mounted on member 21' is a generally L-shaped latch 34 adapted to be rocked about apin 36in a counterclockwise direction against the force of a spring 37. The latch has a slot, indicated at 38, adapted to receive pin 33 when member 24 and. associated parts including the wringer 10 are manually rocked to upright position or the 3 position indicated in Figure 1.. In rocking the wringer t upright position pin 33 first engages an inclined lip 39 on .the latch thereby forcing the latch in a counter-clockwise direction about pivot pin 36 until latch pin 33 is in alignment with slot 38 whereby spring 37 will force the latch V clockwise to hold members 21and 24 in engagement and extending latch portion 41 will'disengagethe latch member '34 from pin 33.. The latch member is provided with an upstanding pin 42 adapted to be receivedin slot 31 of member 24 when member 24 seats on member 21. V For various reasons as for shipment, repair or replacement it is common practice to have the wringer detachable by merely lifting the wringer out of engagement with an upstanding tube aflixed to the washing machine such as tube 28. The wringer is formed witha depending generally tubular portion, indicated at 43, forming part of the wringer head which supports the rolls and gear mechanism.' I secure a perforated disc 44 to wringer portion '43, preferably. by screws 46, and disc 44 is formed with an annular groove 47 which is generally semi-circular in cross-section as indicated at 48. It is understood that disc 44 may be integral part of portion 43 rather than a separate part if desired but for convenience of manufacture I have found a separate part to be more practical. Disc 44 is formed with a slot'49 extending radially outwardly from groove 47 adapted to permit swinging movement of pin 42 as latch 34 is rocked. In this manner pin 42 may enter groove 47 and permit rotation of wringer about the axis of shaft 11 to a plurality of relatively rotated operating positions for the wringer. It will be apparent that the wringer can only be rocked to folding 7 position when slot 49 is radially aligned'withpin 42 as inter-lock preventing folding of the wringer at other than the desired'position insures that the wringer will not contact the agitator or tub sides which might result in damage and minimizes any danger of the fingers or hand of an operator being caught between the wringer and the tub or agitator since only the wringer head contacts the tub supporting portion and it is natural to grasp the wringer for rocking movement at the central zone of the wringer top, indicated at 51, or at a point spaced from the wringer head.

As previously explained, it is desirable that the wringer be quickly removable and in conventional arrangements wherein the wringer is always in upright position it is not necessary to have any locking means between the wringer and a part such as tube 28. However, in the present instancewhere the wringer 'is adapted to 'be folded into the tub it is desirable to provide locking means to prevent "movement of the wringer axially relative to tube 28.

. means when the wringer is rotated about a horizontal axis to folding position.

Tube 28 at its upper, end, Figure 1, isprovided with a It will be noted that in such -position the axes of the wringer rolls are substantially plurality of holes 52, four being illustrated, and tubular portion 43 depending'from the wringer head is provided with a hole 53 adapted to selectively be aligned with any of the holes 52 in tube 28 by rotation of the wringer about the axis of shaft 1 1. A generally L-shaped indexing lever 54 is pivotally supported by a pin or the like 56. The upstanding portion of the lever is provided with a pin 57 adapted to project through holes 52 and 53 to lock the wringer in a plurality of indexing positions.

The substantially horizontal or finger engaging portion of lever 5 is generally of inverted U-form in cross-section and one end of a compression'spring 58 abuts the underside of this portion, the other end of thespring abutting tubular portion 43 and being held centered by an upstanding finger 59.

the wringer to tube 28 by pin 57 when holes 52 and 53 are aligned. When it is desired to rotate the wringer. from one operative indexed position toanother downward 7 pressure on lever 54 withdraws pin 57 from a hole 53 of tube 28. It will be noted that when the wringeris rotated to foldableposition, as illustrated in Figure l, the wringer is locked against axial movement relative to tube 23 by pin 57 so that no axial movement of the wringer occurs relative to the tube as the-wringer is rocked into folding position. wringer when it is in upright position'it is merely necessary to disengage pin 57 from tube 28, rotate the wringer so the pin is out of alignment with tube holes 52, and lift the wringer out of contact with tube 28.

It will now be understood that I have provided a folding type wringer for a washing machine which can is rocked to folded position, the wringer being adapted to be indexed to a plurality of operative positions, and the wringer being easily removable from its support means.

When the wringer is in folded position the wringere head housing 14 rests upon shelf .62 and the wringer is held above or clear of the agitator indicated at 64. Shelf. '62 is preferably inclined slightly downwardly towards the central zone of the tub for drainage I preferably employ push rod type'controls as indicated at 66 and '68, one control being adapted to operate a pump clutch or the like and the other control being adapted to operate a clutch for agitator 64.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be 7 limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

What I claim is: g

In a washing machine of the type having a tub, an upright drive shaft, a wringer having a relatively short drive shaft extending therefrom, and the wringer being adapted to be folded within the tub or disposed in upright operative position with the wringer shaft engaging the upright shaft, of means for rotating the wringer about a vertical axis to a plurality of indexed operative positions, said means comprising a member pivoted to the machine adjacent the tub' top and adapted to be locked in a position providing a horizontal seat for the-wringer,

the member including a tubular portion extending at right angles to said seat, the locking means including a pivoted latch member having a pin adapted to extend upwardly from said seat when the member is in locked Spring 58 constantly tends to rotate lever 54 in a ciockwise direction and will automatically lock If it is desiredto remove the plurality of relatively rotated operative positions, the latch member being manually releasable to permit folding of the wringer within the tub, and the said flange having a radial slot extending from the annular groove therein to the flange periphery whereby the latch member can only be released when the latch member pin is in radial alignment with said slot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Getz Jan. 22, 1918 Dessert et al. Apr. 10, 1928 Wise Aug. 14, 1928 Cockerill et al May 25, 1954

Images