US2893230A - Washing machine agitator and pump drive means - Google Patents

Description

July 7, 1959 G. M. GIBSON 2,893,230 WASHING MACHINE AGITATOR AND PUMP DRIVE MEANS Filed July a, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 fgjf IN VEN TOR.

2,893,230 WASHING MACHINE AGITATOR AND PUMP DRIVE MEANS Filed July a, 1955 G. M. GIBSON July 7, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 4 II- II- INVENTOR. 61902396 M Gibsoxz United States Patent WASHING MACHINE AGITATOR AND PUMP DRIVE MEANS George M. Gibson, Bellevue, Iowa Application July 8, 1955, Serial No. 520,671

20 Claims. (Cl. 68-131) The present invention relates to a selective drive mechanism and associated cooperative structures connected therewith for the operation of a washing machine.

More specifically, the present invention is directed to and has as one of its objects the provision of new and novel mechanism including a bodily shiftable power unit with power transmission means so constructed and arranged to provide selective operation according to the particular established routine of the washing machine or according to the desires of the operator in carrying out the washing cycle and the associated manipulational func tions necessary for completing the washing process.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a selective drive mechanism and connected or associated driving transmission means which are all closely related and efiiciently operable to provide an inexpensive and easily manipulated power transmission means for operating the agitator or pump of a Washing machine.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a motor as a power means which is carried upon vertically disposed guides and which power means is resiliently suspended for functional shifting or displacement in a given plane and between selected locations wherein such power means is capable of driving certain mechanisms of a washing machine or the like such as the agitator or the pump.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a resiliently suspended motor which can be moved between predetermined locations to provide a drive to the agitator when disposed in one position and to provide a drive to the pump of the washing machine tub when disposed in a different location.

Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide simple control means for the operator connected with the drive mechanism and with the power means thereof to shift such power means into the selected drive positions of the pump or agitator of a washing machine with this particular control mechanism including a neutral position wherein no power is transmitted to any of the working parts of the washer.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a power drive mechanism including various transmission members all of which are mounted in positions behind a panel that may be removed for easy access to service the power means and the transmission means and to replace various parts of the mechanism such as belts, etc., or portions of the control means for operating this particular drive.

Other objects and benefits of the present invention will hereinafter appear in the following detailed description having reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a front elevational view of a washing machine incorporating the selective power drive mechanism and the associated transmission means with portions thereof broken away and in section to show further details of construction;

. Figure 2 is a vertical cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 indicated in Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a transverse cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 33 in Figure l and looking in,

' show other details of construction of the present invention; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view of a portion of Figure 2 showing the control means thereof and showing several other positions thereof in respect to the position shown in Figure 2.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 1, the washing machine comprises a tub I mounted upon a suitable base 2 by means of a shouldered ledge such as 3 shown in Figure 2 with the downwardly dished portion 4 of the tub including a drain 5 that communicates with the interior 6 of a pump generally shown at 7 in Figures 1 and 2.

With further reference to Figures 1 and 2, one side of the tub 1 is recessed as shown at 8 to carry a uni-directionally operable rotary agitator 9 to carry out the washing operation of this machine. Agitator 9 is secured to shaft 10 that is mounted in a suitable bearing 11 secured into an opening 12 in the recessed portion 8 of the tub 1. Shaft 10 extends outwardly of bearing 11 and is secured to a pulley 13.

In general, the outer contour of the machine includes a forwardly extending panel or cover 14 as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, which houses a greater portion of the driving mechanism of the present invention and which extends vertically of the machine as best shown in Figures 1 and 2 including an appropriate opening 15 which is supplied for access by the operator to the control mechanism of the drive. Thus, the pulley 13 of the agitator 9 extends laterally outwardly from the tub 1 and is positioned within this panel or cover 14 and in line with the power mechanism to be described.

Referring back to Figures 1 and 2, the pump 7 includes a drive shaft 16 that is connected with a friction wheel 17 suspended outwardly of the pump structure in a cantilever bearing 18 and the opposite end of shaft 16 is connected with an impeller 19 which is adapted for withdrawing washing solution from within the tub into the chamber 6 and discharging the same outwardly therefrom through a lateral conduit 20 into a flexible hose or tube 21 that terminates in a hook end 22 which is adapted for hook connection with a stationary washing service tub or with the washing tub I of the particular washing machine in the usual conventional fashion. This hose 21 leads from the lateral duct 20 through a suitable opening 23 formed in the apron or base portion 2 of the washing machine.

The power means of the present invention is best illusstrated in Figures 2 and 3 and comprises an electric motor 24 receiving its electrical energy through an electrical cord 25 that connects with the coils 26 of the motor and leads outwardly from within the apron or base 2 of the machine through an opening 27 terminating with the usual electrical plug 28 which is adapted for connection with a suitable electrical outlet. The motor in general is constructed with suitable frames 29 carrying a stator 30 and a rotor 31 with the latter being mounted upon a motor shaft 32 carried in bearings 33 and 34 supported by the frames 29. One end of the motor shaft 32 is splined for fixed connection with a motor cooling fan 35 that is formed to include a friction rim or wheel 36 adapted for contact engagement with and for driving the friction wheel 17 of the pump 7, and the other end of the motor shaft 32 is keyed or otherwise secured to a drive pulley 37 adapted for driving a belt 38 that is trained over the pulley 37 and also over the pulley 13 connected to the agitator shaft 10.

The motor 24 is carried for bodily shiftable vertical movement within the panel 14 and below the drain portion 4 of the tub 1. The shiftable means or guide mechanism for supporting the motor for vertcial movement includes a pair of angle brackets 39 and 49 that are spaced apart and guided between the spaced structural means such as the end walls 41 and 42 of the cover or panel 14. The motor frames 29 include sleeve structures 43 and 44 carrying bolts 45 and 46 that project forwardly through resilient mountings 47 and 48 which straddle the two coplanar legs 49'and 50 of the spaced angle brackets 39 and 40. With this arrangement including two bolt structures 4343 joined with the angle bracket 39 and two other bolt structures 4444 spaced therefrom and connected with the angle bracket 40 the entire motor frame and motor parts are rigidly connected with the two vertically disposed angle brackets forming a single bodily movable guide construction.

The two spaced angle brackets 39 and 48 are connected with the structural end walls 41 and 42 of the cover 14 through lower bolt guide means 51-51 and upper bolt guide means 5252, with each of the bolt means being fixed to the reentrant legs 53 and 54 of the apron or base 2 and also to the adjacent joining edge walls 41 and 42 of the cover 14. Each of the angle brackets 39 and 40 include lower and upper slots 55 and 56 that are guided upon the sleeve portions 57 and 58 of the stepped spacing washers 59 and 60, see Fig. 4. With this arrangement the motor 24 and its associated angle brackets 39 and 40 are vertically guided upon the bushing members of the respective screw means 51 and 52 for predetermined vertical movement in a given path and between certain limits made possible by the slots 55 and 56 in the angle brackets.

The power unit comprising the motor as well as its associated parts are resiliently suspended by means of the springs 61 and 62 with the upper ends of the springs being secured to the bolts 63 of the upper screw means 52 and with the lower ends of the springs being looped about depending ears 64 carried by the angle brackets 39 and 40.

Suitable control means is provided for selectively controlling the shiftable and guided movements of the power unit comprising the motor and its associated parts whereby it is possible to drive the agitator of the washing machine or the pump thereof as the case may be with this particular control means including an intermediate neutral setting wherein the power unit is disconnected from the operative mechanism of the washing machine. This control unit is best illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and and comprises an operating knob 65 having a stem 66 screw threaded into a sleeve 67 of a bracket 68 which includes a lower channel 69 that encircles a U-shaped rod 70. Channel 69 is spot welded or otherwise secured to the upper leg 71 of the U-shaped rod 70 so that the knob 65, stem 66 and the bracket 68 are integrally formed with the U-shaped rod 70. The U-shaped rod 70 includes spaced depending legs 72 and 73 that extend through suitable openings 74 and 75 formed in the upper ends of the angle brackets 39 and 40. This is accomplished by providing the spaced legs 72 and 73 with oifset terminal ends 76 including substantially horizontal portions 77 that fit through the respective openings 74 and 75 thus permitting limited rocking movement of the entire U-rod 70 and the control knob 65. It should be noted that the control knob 65 is positioned for easy access through the opening 15 in the panel 14 of the machine so that the operator may take hold of the knob and provide the necessary manipulations to operate and shift the driving mechanism into the selected positions needed to obtain a power drive to the agitator or to the pump as the case may be.

7 The control positions necessary to obtain a drive to the agitator or to the pump are determined by a detent clip 78 which is best shown in Figures 2 and 5 and which comprises a latch member that is fixedly secured to the stem 66 of the control knob 65. This detent includes two spaced and upwardly and outwardly inclined latch legs 4 79 and 80 which may be selectively engaged beneath the terminal edge 81 of the bead 82 which is formed in the forward portion of the wall or cover 14 and which surrounds the access opening 15.

When the control lever is in the full line position as shown in Figure 5 with the lower latch leg 80 in contact with the stop or terminal edge 81 of the bead 82 the motor occupies a neutral position spaced vertically upward from the full line position shown in Figure 2 with the friction wheel substantially in the broken line position shown at 83. When the motor is located in this par ticular position the pulley 37 has been raised out of the lower bight of the belt 38 so that no drive will be transmitted from the motor to the belt or to the rotary agitator.

The shifting function of the manual control means is eificiently and feasibly accomplished through the operators hand grasp on the knob 65 through the opening 15 in the front panel 14 of the machine and it should be noted that the entire latching unit is normally controlled by the cooperative spring means 61 and 62. As previously described, the suspension springs 61 and 62 are fixed to the washing machine by means of the bolts 63 and the springs 61 and 62 coact to suspend the motor 24 and its mounting brackets 39 and 40 from the guided structural units of the machine. The springs are, how ever, tensioned to the extent that the motor is normally urged upwardly and with sufiicient pressure to maintain the friction wheel 36 in driving contact with the drive wheel 17 of the pump 7. Through this same action of the springs wherein the entire shifta'ble motor and its associated parts are urged upwardly, this same motion is transmitted through the U-rod 70 and into the latch control mechanism so that either one of the legs 79 or 80 may be hooked underneath the fixed stop or terminal edge 81 of the bead 82. Thus, the springs 61 and 62 comprise one of the spring means which also functions with the latch control mechanism. The second spring means comprises a spring 84 that is interposed between the bracket 68 and the adjacent wall of the tub I and is maintained in this particular position by means of a guide member or wing 85 that is secured to the sleeve 67 of the bracket 68. With this arrangement the spring 84, which is normally compressed between its adjacent confining parts, will always act to urge the upper end of the control mechanism outwardly with respect to the tub and at the same time this spring will keep the latching parts engaged as particularly shown in Figures 2 and 5. To further prevent accidental disengagement of the latching parts, each of the legs 79 and 80 of the detent clip 78 are upwardly and outwardly inclined with respect to the stop 81 so that slight downward movement of the knob 65 will be necessary to disengage the latching parts from the fixed stop.

It should also be noted that the U-rod 70 is pivotally carried upon the mounting brackets 39 and 40 and that this U-rod may swing fore and aft with respect to an upright plane between the fixed latching stop 81 and release positions as best comprehended from inspection of Figure 2.

Obviously, the purpose of the U-rod 70 is to provide a compact and rigid reactionary member that is substantially located in the same vertical plane with the motor mounting and which by its particular shape will also provide sulficient clearance to prevent interference with the belt and drive mechanism particularly at the agitator location of this power transmission means. At the same time, the entire arrangement may be easily confined Within a narrow vertical chamber as defined by the panel or cover 14 and between this cover and the adjacent wall 86 of the tub I as best shown in Figure 27 As previously indicated, the full line position of the control mechanism as shown in Figure 5 provides the neutral relationship of the motor with respect to its associated drives and the driven elements communicating with the agitator and the pump respectively. If the operator wishes to start the washing operation, it is only necessary to grasp the knob 65 and to push the same inwardly and downwardly to release leg 80 from the stop 81 and to bring the upper leg 79 of the detent clip 78 underneath the fixed stop 81 and into the position indicated by the parts in Figure 1. When this has been accomplished, the friction wheels 17 and 36 will be widely and further separated than they were during the neutral. position of the motor. In this lowered position of the motor, the pulley 37 will engage into the lower bight of the belt 38 to transmit the power drive of the motor through the belt through pulley 13 and to the ro tary agitator 9 by means of the shaft 10. In this connection, it might also be stated that the knob 65 and its attached stem 66 may be vertically adjusted through the threaded engagement of the stem with the bracket 68 to provide for a certain amount of vertical displacement of the detent clip 78 so as to obtain the proper tension between the pulley 37 and the belt 38 when the parts are in the full line position as shown in Figure 2 with the upper leg 79 of the clip beneath the stop 81.

If the operator now wishes to discontinue the washing operation by stopping the agitator, the control mechanism may again be moved into the full line position shown in Figure 5 or the control mechanism must be held slightly inwardly by means of the knob 65 to cause the leg 80 to clear the stop 81 so that the latch mechanism and the knob 65 may then move into the broken line position shown in Figure 5. When the control mechanism shown in Figure 5 is in such broken line position, the spring 84 will be slightly compressed and at the same time the suspension springs 61 and 62 will hold the motor upwardly into a raised position which is determined by the driving engagement of the friction wheel 36 with the pump drive wheel 17.

To maintain the detent clip 78 in proper relation with respect to the fixed stop 81 and for reengagement of either one of the legs 79 or 80 with the fixed stop 81, leg 80 is provided with a depending ear 87 adapted for sliding engagement with the adjacent face of the stop 81 as best shown in the Figure 5 illustration.

When the motor and its associated parts are shifted vertically upwardly into either a neutral position or with the motor in driving engagement with the pump drive, the pulley wheel 37 will be actuated out of driving engagement with the lower bight of the belt 38 so that belt 38 will be free adjacentthe motor end. In order to insure proper reengagement of the pulley 37 with the lower bight of belt 38, a guard 88 is provided with coacting channels 89 and 90 that are spaced apart to either side of the belt runs and which channels then terminate in laterally extending apertured ears 91 and 92 to be secured over the motor frame bolts 45 and 46 as shown in Figure 3. normally maintain the belt in proper position when free and to be reengaged 'by the power drive pulley 37 of the motor 24 after driving separation thereof.

It must also be understood that the manipulation of the particular control means which is brought about by the manual actuation of knob 65 requires very little effort since the entire weight of the motor and its associated parts and the control mechanism are all suspended by the springs 61 and 62 which are properly tensioned to substantially carry this weight and to also include enough excess tension to bring the friction wheels 36 and 17 into driving engagement and that it is only necessary to exert a slight downward pressure upon knob 65 to bring the motor into the lower position indicated in Figure 2 wherein the agitator 9 is being driven and wherein the motor is firmly latched in this position by the engagement of the leg 79'of the detent clip 78 under the fixed stop 81.

It should also be understood that although the motor drive may be interrupted and selectively changed by the With this arrangement the guard 88 will stiff legged or reactionary control means with the multiple latch arrangement and although not illustrated, that the present washing machine may be provided with an on and off switch of a conventional character interposed in the electrical supply line to the motor. With such a switch the motor may be stopped at any time in the cycle of operation regardless of the particular driving position thereof as may be independently determined by the control mechanism of this invention.

The foregoing description has been directed to a preferred construction of the power drive mechanism for selectively running a washing machine agitator and washing machine pump which includes a movably mounted motor that is spring suspended and wherein easily operable control means has been interposed to bring about the various positions of the motor according to the desired running of the washing machine mechanisms; 'It is obvious that certain changes and modifications may be made in the particular arrangement shown and described Without departure from the fundamental concept of the invention. However, the latitude of such changes and modifications shall be governed by the breadth and scope of the language contained in the appended claims directed to the invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a washing machine having a tub, a clothes agitator in said tub, a first drive member connected to drive said agitator, a pump having communication with said tub to handle the tub washing solution, a second drive member connected to drive said pump, and operative means to selectively drive said agitator and pump comprising a power unit having drive means to transmit motive power to said first and second drive members respectively, said power unit being carried for motion in a given relation with respect to said tub, and drive control mechanism connected with said power unit to bodily shift the position thereof and to selectively cause said drive means of said power unit to contact said first drive member to operate the agitator when shifted into one location with respect to the tub and to contact said second drive member to operate the pump when said unit is shifted into another location with respect to the tub.

2. In a washing machine having a tub, an agitator in said tub, a first drive member arranged externally of said tub and connected to drive said agitator, a pump carried by said tub and having communication with said tub to handle the washing solution, a second drive member carried externally of the tub and connected to drive said pump, and operative means to selectively drive said agitator and pump comprising a power unit, guide means connected with said tub to support said power unit for sliding movement in a given relation with respect to said tub and in relation to said agitator and pump drive members, and power transmission means connected with said power unit and arranged to selectively transmit power to said first and second drive members responsive to the prepositioning of said power unit in given locations, and a drive control mechanism to bodily shift said power unit into said locations whereby one of said power transmission means is rendered operative to actuate one of said drive members when said power unit is moved into one location, and another of said drive means is rendered 0perative to actuate another of said drive members when said power unit is moved into another location.

3. In a washing machine having the selective drive arrangement as set forth in claim 2, wherein said drive control mechanism and said power transmission means are cooperatively arranged to interrupt the drive to either of said drive members through the positioning of said power unit in a third location, and stop means is associated with said drive control means to interrupt the bodily movement of said power unit when said unit is moved into such third location.

4. A power drive mechanism for selectively running a washing machine agitator and washing machine pump comprising a belt driven agitator drive member, a friction wheel providing a pump drive member, and a motor, said motor having pulley drive means and a friction drive means, said pulley drive means including a belt connected with said belt driven agitator drive member and said friction drive means being arranged for connection with said friction wheel pump drive member, and guide mechanism to slidably support said motor for bodily shifting movement toward or away from said respective drive members, and control means to bodily actuate said motor into two selective predetermined locations, one of said locations of said motor causing tension on said belt to transmit the drive from said motor through said belt to said belt driven agitator drive member, and another of said locations of said motor causing release of tension on said belt and contact of said motor friction drive means with said friction wheel pump drive member to transmit the drive from the motor to said pump.

5. In a power drive mechanism for selectively running a washing machine agitator and washing machine pump as set forth in claim 4, wherein the axes of said agitator and pump drive members are disposed for operation in a common plane coincident with the axes of said respective motor drive means, and wherein said guide mechanism directs said motor for bodily movement along the aforesaid plane toward and away from the agitator and pump drive members through the instrumentality of said control means.

- 6 A power drive mechanism for selectively running a washing machine agitator and washing machine pump comprising a belt driven agitator drive member, a friction element providing a pump drive member, and a motor, said motor having pulley drive means and a friction drive means, a belt connecting said pulley drive means with said belt driven agitator drive member and said friction drive means being arranged for connection with said friction element pump drivev member, and guide mechanism to slidably support said motor for bodily shifting movement toward or away from said drive members, and control means to bodily actuate said motor into two selective predetermined locations, one of said locations of said motor causing tension on said belt to transmit the drive from said motor through said belt to said belt driven agitator drive member, and another of said locations of said motor causing release of tension on said belt and contact of said motor friction drive means with said friction element pump drive member to transmit the drive from the motor to said pump, said agitator and pump drive members being vertically spaced with respect to said motor and said motor guide mechanism permitting displacement of said motor in a vertical plane toward and away from said drive members, lowering of said motor into one of the aforesaid selected locations by said control means causing said pulley drive means of said motor to engage said belt to drive said belt driven agitator drive member, and raising of said motor into another of the aforesaid selected locations by said control means causing separation of said pulley drive means of said motor from said belt and the engagement of said friction drive means of said motor with said friction element of the pump drive member.

7. In a power drive mechanism of the character set forth in claim 6 wherein detent mechanism is provided for cooperation with said control means to establish said two predetermined stop positions of the motor for transmitting power to either of the drive members respec, tively, said cooperative detent mechanism including an intermediate reference position to suspend said motor in another location wherein both the pulley drive means and said friction drive means of said motor are disconnected from the driven members of said agitator and pump.

v.8. Axdrive mechanism for the agitator means and pump meansofa washing machine, said drive mech-' anism comprising a rotary agitator and a pump, a drive pulley for saidrotary agitator, a motor positioned in spaced relation below said agitator pulley, a power pulley driven by said motor, a belt connecting said pulleys to ransmit driving power between said pulleys to actuate said agitator, guide means including a slidably carried mounting to support said motor for bodily movement toward or away from saidagitator drive pulley, and operable mechanism to bodily shift said motor mounting upwardly to disengage said power pulley from the lower bight of said power transmission belt to thereby interrupt the drive from said motor to the agitator, and a drive unit connected to drive the pump, said pump drive unit being positioned intermediate the agitator drive pulley and said motor power pulley, said motor further including a drive mechanism to engage and drive said pump drive unit upon upward movement of said motor toward said agitator drive pulley.

9. A drive mechanism for the agitator means and pump means of a washing machine, said drive mechanism comprising a rotary agitator and a pump, a drive pulley for said rotary agitator, a motor positioned in spaced relation below said agitator pulley, a power pulley driven by said motor, a belt connecting said pulleys to transmit driving power between said pulleys to actuate said agitator, guide means including a slidably carried mounting to support said motor for bodily movement toward or away from said agitator drive pulley, and operable mechanism to bodily shift said motor mounting upwardly to disengage said power pulley from the lower bight of said power transmission belt to thereby interrupt the drive from said motor to the agitator, and a drive unit connected to drive the pump, said pump drive unit being positioned intermediate the agitator drive pulley and said motor, said motor further including a drive mechanism to engage and drive said pump drive unit upon upward movement of said motor toward said agitator drive pulley, and spring suspension means connected with said motor supporting mounting to normally urge said motor upwardly and to hold the pump drive mechanism of the motor in driving contact with said pump drive unit.

10. In a power drive mechanism of the character set forth in claim 9 wherein selective control means is connected with said operable mechanism to actuate said motor mounting bodily downwardly to interrupt the drive to said pump and to cause reengagement of said motor power pulley with said agitator drive belt.

11. In a washing machine having a tub, an agitator for said tub and a pump for the tub, and operative means to drive said agitator and pump comprising a motor having power drive means, driven mechanisms connected with said agitator and pump respectively to drive each of the latter, guide structure to carry said motor for shifting movement between predetermined spaced locations, said power drive means and said driven mechanisms being arranged for alternate power transmission to said agitator or pump respectively as said motor is shifted into either of said spaced locations, and control mechanism to shift said motor including detent means comprising a movable rod element connected to shift said motor, and cooperative latch members comprising a bracket on said rod element and a fixed stop positioned adjacent said bracket, said bracket having reference extensions thereon to selectively engage said fixed stop in predetermined relations to thereby establish given oriented positions of said rod element to dispose said motor in either one of its driving locations for operating the driven mechanisms for said agitator or pump respectively.

12. in a washing machine having the combination of mechanisms set forth in claim 11, wherein said bracket is provided with a further reference extension thereon for coaction with said fixed stop to provide further means to position said motor with said rod element in a location intermediate the aforesaid spaced locations of said motor to thereby interrupt the drive from said motor power drive means to either of the driven mechanisms of said agitator or pump.

13. A power drive mechanism for a washing machine having a tub, an agitator and a wash water pump, said agitator and pump being supported by and connected with said tub, said power drive mechanism comprising structural wall means connected with said tub and arranged in a predetermined fixed relation with respect to said tub to provide a guideway thereon, a guide unit movably connected with and guided by said structural wall means, a motor having a mounting supported upon said guide unit to permit bodily shiftable movement of said motor along said wall means guideway toward or away from said tub, a drive member connected with said agitator and carried by said tub, another drive member carried by and connected to drive said pump, and independent power transmission means carried by said motor and adapted for selective operative driving engagement with one or the other of said drive members as selectively determined by the bodily shifting of said motor and guide unit relative to said structural wall means and said tub.

14. A power drive mechanism for a washing machine having a tub, an agitator and a wash water pump, said agitator and pump being supported by and connected with said tub, said power drive mechanism comprising structural wall means connected with said tub and arranged in a predetermined fixed relation with respect to said tub to provide a guideway thereon, a guide unit shiftably connected with and guided by said structural wall means, a motor having a mounting supported upon said guide unit to permit bodily shiftable movement of said motor along said wall means guideway toward or away from said tub, a drive member connected with said agitator and carried by said tub, another drive member carried by said pump and arranged to drive the pump, and independent power transmission means carried by said motor and adapted for selective operative driving engagement with one or the other of said drive members as selectively determined by the bodily shifting of said motor and guide unit relative to said structural wall means and said tub, and spring suspension means connected with said motor to normally urge the motor into operative driving relation with one of said drive members, and shiftable control means connected with said motor to bodily actuate the motor in an opposite direction and against the tension of said spring suspension means and into operative driving contact with the other of said drive members.

15. A power drive mechanism in combination with a washing machine having a tub, a skirt to support said tub including an enclosure panel arranged in spaced rela tion to one wall of said tub with an access opening formed through said panel, an agitator for said tub, and a pump communicating with said tub, said power drive mechanism comprising a motor, guide means carried by said washing machine panel including a mounting to support said motor for sliding movement relative to said tub, belt means confined with said enclosure panel to connect said motor to drive said agitator, and selective motor shifting mechanism connected with said motor and including an operating member disposed for manual operation adjacent said panel access opening whereby actuation of said motor in one direction by said operating member interrupts the drive through said belt means to said agitator, and spaced cooperative drive means connected with said motor and pump respectively to provide means for pump actuation during the interval of drive interruption to said agitator and as manually brought about by the operating member.

16. In a power drive mechanism as set forth in claim 15, wherein said selective motor shifting mechanism and said panel are provided with cooperative detent means to positively establish the various selected positions of said motor shifting mechanism and to orient said motor in predetermined locations along the panel guide means.

17. In a washing machine, in combination with an agitator and a pump of said washing machine, a drive mechanism comprising a bodily movably mounted motor, agitator operating means, pump operating means, and se lective independent cooperative drive means for transmitting the drive from said motor to one of said operating means when said motor is moved into one position and to transmit the drive to the other of said operating means when said motor is moved into another position, and control means to shift said motor into the respective positions noted comprising a push rod having one end con nected with said motor for movement therewith, the other end of said rod having a latch means thereon, a fixed stop on said machine for said latch means, and cooperative spring means connected with said latch means and with said motor respectively and arranged to maintain the aforesaid latch means in operative adjusted engagement with said fixed stop when said motor is shifted into either of its selected positions with said control means.

18. In a washing machine of the character defined in claim 17, wherein the spring means connected with said motor is connected with a fixed portion of said washing machine and arranged to spring suspend the motor with respect to said machine and to normally urge the motor into one of its operative driving positions with one of said operating means.

19. In a washing machine of the character defined in claim 17, wherein the spring means connected with said motor is connected with a fixed portion of said washing machine and arranged to spring suspend the motor with respect to said machine and to normally urge the motor into one of its operative driving positions with one of said operating means, and wherein said rod is swingably connected at said motor end to permit movement of said latch means toward and away from said fixed stop, and said other spring means being arranged and adapted to normally urge said latch means in the direction of said fixed stop on said machine.

20. A drive mechanism to actuate the agitator means and pump means of a washing machine, said drive mechanism comprising a rotary agitator and a pump, a drive pulley for said rotary agitator, a motor positioned in spaced relation below said agitator pulley, a power pulley driven by said motor, a belt connecting said pulleys to transmit driving power between said pulleys to actuate said agitator, guide means including a slidably carried mounting to support said motor for bodily movement toward or away from said agitator drive pulley, operable mechanism to bodily shift said motor mounting upwardly to disengage said power pulley from the lower bight of said power transmission belt to thereby interrupt the drive from said motor to the agitator, a drive unit connected to drive the pump, said pump drive unit being positioned intermediate the agitator drive pulley and said motor power pulley, said motor further including a drive mechanism to engage and actuate said pump drive unit upon upward movement of said motor toward said agitator drive pulley, and a belt guard connected with said motor supporting mounting and movable therewith, said belt guard comprising means encircling the lower bight of said power transmission belt to catch and retain said belt during the separation of the power pulley of the motor from the belt when said motor is shifted into operative driving relation with respect to said pump drive unit, said guard permitting proper subsequent reengagement of said belt by said power pulley.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,337,586 Bowen Dec. 28, 1943 2,533,722 De Remer Dec. 12, 1950 2,537,795 Sheahan Jan. 9, 1951 2,554,672 Johnston May 29, 19 51

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