US3042772A - Safety device for washing machines - Google Patents

Description

July 3, 1962 R. R. STEINBERGER 3,042,772

SAFETY nEvIcE EOE WASHING MACHINES VIII',

ings.

nite States This invention relates to safety devices, and with regard `to certain more specific features, to safety devices for automatic washing machines.

Among the Aseveral objects of lthe invention may be noted the provision of a safety device which will signal otherwise-hidden conditions of Water leakage into the transmissions of washers in which this can occur; the provision of a safety device of the class described which will not only produce the desired-signal but which will prevent hazardous leakage around ythe washers; the provision of a device of the class described which alvoids the contingency that leakage (unknown to a user) will remain in the .transmission of the washing machine to rust, gall, or otherwise damage it; `andthe provision of a device of the class described which is of .simple and lowcost construction. `Otherobjects and features will be in part apparent and in `part pointed out hereinafter..

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the structures hereinafter described, `and the :scope of which will be indicated in the following `claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which certain embodiments of the invention are illustrated inconnection with the following text,

FIG. l is a vertical section, parts being shown broken away 'and in elevation of a typical washing machine to which the invention is attached;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the new safety device, shown partly in section; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross section taken on line 3 3 of FIG. 2.

Corresponding reference Acharacters indicate corre-v sponding parts throughout the several views of the .draw- In FIG. l is `illustrated a typical automatic washing machine to which t-he invention is applicable. 'Ilhe exact details of the washer are not critical but a brief description of the one shown will 'be given in order to set-forth the background of the invention. The washer consists of a housing 1 forming a lower compartment 3 for a vertically mounted motor 5 and an upper compartment 7 for a rotating and pulsating transmission 9. The upper compartment l7 is vdivided from the lower compartment 3 by a pan member 1-1 which forms a sump at the bottom of compartment 7. This is for holding a quantity of oil 13, carried up to Ia `normal level 15. By means of a suitable pump (not shown) this oil is circulated through the parts of transmission I9.

Attached to the upper compartment 7 is a sleeve 17 which carries a support 19. Support l1-9 is carried on a water container 21. The transmission 9 has a bracket 23 forming 'a center bearing for a motor drive shaft 25. The bracket 23 is rotatable in the compartment 7 and by means (not shown) may be locked either to the motor shaft 25 or unlocked therefrom and locked with respect to the stationary compartment 7.l In the former event,

3,042,772 Patented July 3, 1962 lCC all parts carried on the bracket 23 as drivenl by the shaft 25 rotate as a unit. In the latter event, vshaft 25 rotates with 4respect tothe then-stationary bracket. This rotates a pinion 29 carried on shaft 25. The pinion 29 is meshed with a gear 31 which `is rotatable in the bracket 23. The gear 31 is `connected by shaft 33 with a member 35 which carries an angled pin 37 around which is located a sleeve 39. The-latter extends into an oscillator pin 41. y'Ihus when the bracket 23 is locked tothe compartment 7 and pinion`29 drives gear 31, the assembly 35, v37, 39, 41 will alternate lbetween its solid-*line and dotted-'line positions shown. Pin 41 extends into a knuckle 43 located in a yoke 45, carried yat the 'lower .end of a pulsator shaft 47. When the assembly 35,37, v39, 41 rocks between the two positions shown, the pulsator .shaft moves up and down as suggested by the two positions shown of the yoke 45.

Carried on the bracket 23 is Ia support 27 for an up-V stationary sleeve 17 land rotates when the bracket 23 and motor :shaft v24 are locked together. 0n the` upper end of the sleeve 49 is a tub support '55 for a tub 57. It will be understood that the parts '5,5 and 57 form a rigid assembly inthe usual way, although their connection is not shown, being in the broken-away parts of the drawing. Attached to the upper end of the shaft 47 is ,a pulsator cone 59. A vflexible boot or bellows 61 forms a connection'between the pulsator 59 and the upper .end of the sleeve 49", thus guarding against water leakage into the space between pulsator shaft 47 and said Vsleeve 49.

Another ilexible boot -or bellows 63 forms `a sealing connection between the pulsator 59 and the tub part 57. Between the stationary support 19 and the rotatable tub support 57 is located Ia running rotary seal 65, adapted .to restrict water leakage into the space between the sleeves 49 and 17, `and to prevent it from reaching the bearing 51 therebetween. Theseals 61, 63 and 65 normally prevent leakage of water between members 17, 47 and .49. However, such vseals due to neglect are subject to damage, with resulting leakage into the transmission casing 7. If the leakage is through la rotary seal such as 65, it is usually slow. vOn the other hand, leakage through stretchable bellows-.type seals such as 61 and 63 is .often voluminous, due to such seals developing substantial cracks.

Conditions of either slow or fast leakage are disadvantageous. In the case of slow leakage it may take a long period or" time to discover that it is occurring, resulting in rusting, `galling Iand other damage occurring to the parts of the transmission, and thus requiring reh placement of many costly parts. Heretofore, leakage has been signalled only by Adelayed overflow -along with mixed Voil ,through a Vconventional breather pipe.

In the case of rapid leakage, as through one or both bellows r61 and 63, the rise in oil-water level would be more rapid, and while not so much time would elapse within which damage could occur to the transmission, on .the other hand there would be `a rapid spilling of the mixture of oil and -water on the floor around the machine.

This produced a hazard, since :a mixture of oil and Water is slippery and flammable. Thus in general, considerable damage has heretofore been caused by the conditions described above.

Vlevel of carried-over fluid.

The present invention obviates the mentioned difliculties. in the side wall of the transmission casing 7 which is downwardly located but above'the normal oil level 15. It is this port to which heretofore `a conventional upstanding breather pipe was attached and through which the former hazardous overflow conditions occurred. These conventional breather pipes were employed primarily to assure atmospheric pressure in the compartment 7 for proper oil pump operation.

According to the present invention, port 68 receives a lower inlet 67 of a special breather pipe 69 which extends therefrom to an upper breather opening 71.

My breather pipe 69 is specially provided with a downwardly extending connection 74. This is located below a spill-over level 93 between the inlet 67 and the` outlet 71. The connection 74 leads to a container 73, composed of a closed cylinder of suitable electrical insulating material. Extending centrally from the bottom 75 of the container 73 is an insulating pillar 77, through which extend molded-in insulated conductors 79. These extend from outside terminals 81 to inside transversely extending contacts 83. The ends 85 of contacts 83 are for purposes of strength molded into the sides of the container 73. The outside terminals 81 are wired into a circuit 85 across which is connected the motor 5 and in which is a fuse 87.

Optionally, there is located in the container 73 a movable annular float 89 which is preferably also made of plastic and which carries an upper conductive metal ringshaped plate 91. Normally, as shown in PIG. 2, when the float 89 is down, the conductive plate 91 is separated from the insulated contacts 83. When the float rises, the plate 91 contacts the terminals 83. This short-circuits and b-lows the fuse 87, thus stopping the motor 5.

Operation is as follows:

Assume that the motor is running and the transmission 9 is operating in either of i-ts two modes, i.e., rotating the members 55, 57, 59 as an assembly (without pulsation of shaft 47) or without rotation of these members and pulsation only of shaft 47. Assume also leakage through -any one or more of the seals 61, 63 or 65. In time, the spill-over level 93 of oil and water in the `casing 7 will be reached. Spill-over occurs through the lower parts of the breather pipe 69 and down through connection 74 and into the container 73.

If the water is of hard variety, i.e., carrying sal-ts favoring a condition of electrical conductivity of the water, the water descending at the gap 97 between contacts 83 will immediately short-circuit the fuse 87 so as to stop motor 5. Such hard-water operation does not require, or always bring into operation, the float 89. Thus for hard-water operation the float can be `dispensed with, since the operation described does not depend upon it. Moreover, under such hard-water conditions, with or without the float 89, any mixture of oil and water in the container 73 will separate out with the water on the bottom and the water level will rise to the level of the contacts 38, thus assuring short-circuiting if overflow is slow, as for example drop-,by-drop which might not eiliciently close the -gap 97. Normally, however, short-circuiting will Occur simply by the hard water in the wateroil mixture reaching the gap 97 as it ilows in from connection 74.

yConditions are met with in which the leakage water is soft and is therefore an inferior conductor. In such event the operation of the float 89 is a necessity. Spillover at level 93 of the oil-water mixture through connection 74 into the container 73 causes a rising liquid This causes the ilOat to rise and, by means of the conductive ring 91, to form a `connection through contacts `83 which blows the fuse The container 73 is provided with internal vertical slots 95 which assure a `free downward flow of liquid from the This is accomplished in connection with a port 68` top to the bottom of the container 73 in order to obtain a rapid iniilling and rise of the liquid level therein for elevating the float 89.

It will be seen from the above that the washer is always shut oii under leaking conditions before any external overflow can occur from outlet .71, and that the shut-off event is a signal that leakage is collecting. Moreover, the shut-off is timed by the comparatively low spillover level 93 to occur before any substantial damage has occurred -to the transmission parts. Thus, instead of replacements being required of expensive transmission parts, these need only be drained of the oil-water mixture and dried, the pan 11 relled with oil and any broken seal or seals replaced.

According to the above description, the safety device is connected to the container 7 at port 68 above the liquid level 15, so that it is applicable as a replacement for` conventional breather pipes which heretofore have been attached to such a port. It is to be understood, however, that the device may be connected to the casnig 7 through a port such as 68, located in the pan 11 below the liquid level 15 of the charge of oil 13, provided the arrangement is such that the spill-over level 93 is above the normal oil level 15. Except for the matter of interchangeability, such a connection is preferable because it shortens the time required for the level 15 under conditions of leakage to reach the spill-over level '93 and, `as will be apparent from the above description, any reduction in this time is an advantage in preventing the accrual of water damage in the transmission.

The oil levels above referred to will be understood to be those assumed by liquid when the washer is at rest, but it will be understood that spill-over may occur either when the washer is operating or at rest.

In View of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departingfrom the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

l. A safety device for a motor-driven washing machine transmission having a casing containing a normal operating level of oil therein, wherein the casing is connected with a water-containing washing structure from which water leakage mayy occur into the transmission andk raise said operating level; comprising a transversely extending over above said operating level, an air breather pipe having a downward inlet below said spill-over pipe adapted to form a connection with said casing at a point adjacent to but above the normal operating oil level and beneath abnormal levels caused by water leakage, said breather pipe having a lirst portion extending upward from said connection and connecting with said liquid spill-over pipe and also having a second portion forming an upward extension above said liquid spill-over pipe, said second portion of the breather pipe having a free outlet to the atmosphere outside of the casing and above the liquid spillover pipe, a container located below the liquid spill-over pipe, a pipe connection extending up from the container and to said liquid spill-over pipe, insulated ycontacts in said container, said contacts being adapted for location in a circuit which contains means adapted to de-excite the motor in response to an electrical connection established between said contacts such as by entry into said container of liquid from said casing when the liquid level in the casing reaches the level of the inside of -said liquid spill-over pipe. 4

2. A safety device according to claim l, wherein said container is shaped to provide a space beneath said contacts, a float in said space and conductive means carried by the float adapted electrically to connect said contacts their endwise portions in said Walls, said conductive memupon a rise in level lof such liquid in the container as may bers forming terminals exteriorly of the container. resch thrfoitighdsaid spill-ovr pilote rrn thi? trawmssitol- References Cited in the file of this patent sa e y evice accor ing o c aim wn rem e container is composed of insulating material and has an 5 UNITE? STATES PATENTS insulating pillar therein, conductive members extending 1,187,148 HlltChlSOn June i3, 1916 through said pillar from outside to inside of the container 1,768,446 GTO Jun@ 24, 1930 and having interior portions extending transversely from @14011476 Geldhof et al June 4, 11946 the pillar to the walls of the ycontainer and anchored at 21531159 Rowell NOV- 21 1950 10 2,586,449 Whitten Feb. i9, 1952'

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