US3102408A - Laundry apparatus - Google Patents

Description

SePf- 3, 1963 J. PELENSKY 3,102,408

LAUNDRY APPARATUS Filed March 2, 1962 O O O 0 6 72 E w 66 56 e a 12v 4/ .BAV d? 7 6J 5, 4d 53 JJ 52 0 22 3 L J4 "mum 37.35 J5 a @aad P/Q.2. ZI

INVENTOR.

United States Patent O 3,162,408 LAUNDRY APPAU-LTUS .loseph lelenslry, Philadeiphia, la., assigner to Philco Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 2, 1%2, Ser. No. 177,938 l' Claims. (Ci. dniltl) This invention relates to laundry apparatus, and more particularly to laundry apparatus Lutilizing wobble-type agitators.

ln laundry machines generally, it is the practice to achieve washing by imparting vigorous movements to the articles being laundered. in wobble-type laundry machines,` the washing action is accomplished by freely journalling an agitator of suitable conliguration on an obliquely disposed member, such as an inclinedportion of `a rotatable drive shaft, the Iagitator being prevented from rotating with respect to the tub by suitable restraining means. Continuous unidirectional rotation of the drive shaft, acting through the eccentric inclined shaft portion, imparts a nonrotational undulatory or wobbling motion to the agitator7 producing circulation fof the washing fluid land causing articles being washed to be brought into intimate contact with the turbulent streams of -water generated by movement of the agitator.

It is, an objective of the present invention to provide improved wobble-type agitator structure.

It is a further objective of the invention to provide an improved combination of `a stationary column and wobble-type agitator apparatus through which the number of linkages and seals may be reduced, and which combination achieves an optimum washing action.

It is a further object of the invention to provide irnproved means for achieving rotation free undulatory movements of a wobble-plate agitator.

lt is a still further object of the invention to provide improved agitator means for creating turbulent streams of Wash fluid eifeictive both to iwash clothes and to accommodate a filtering action for the wash fluid.

In achievement of lthe foregoing and other objectives, the invention, in a preferred embodiment thereof, comprises a wobblefplate agitator supported by spider bracket means aiiixed to a suitable bearing mounted upon inclined shaft means extending into the :tub and spin basket of a washing machine. Hollow, generally cylindrical column means is supported concentrically with the tub and basket by bracket means comprising a shroud aiixed to the basket and including circumferentially spaced apertures through which arms of the spider bracket means extend, in interdigitating relation therewith. 'I'he construction and arrangement is such that arms of the agitator support bracket means may nndulate within the apertures of the shroud. The apertures within the shroud advantageously accommodate unidirectional dow of Wash iiuid downwardly through the hollow column and the shroud and outwardly therefrom .fthroughjthe apertures, which unidirectional flow is created through the novel cooperative action fof the shroud and means including an impeller disposed Within the latter and movable with the spider bracket means. Conveniently, suitable strainer means is provided in the upper region of the shroud whereby positive iii-tering of the unidirectionally flowing wash duid is achieved.

In further accordance with the invention the lagitator comprises a main hollow cylindrical body portion concentric with the spider bracket means, said body portion including: an upper flexible sleeve portion aflixed to the column; a flange adjacent thereto extending transversely of said body portion; a plurality of iiipper means extending transversely of said body portion and disposed adjacent the lower portion of the latter; and an undulatory "ice lid flexible ilange extending outwardly from said. body por tion in `ya region intermediate said upper flange `and said flipper means, peaks of said undulatory flange being disposed iabove said flipper means and dips thereof being disposed intermediate said ilipper means.

it is a feature of the invention that the flow of iiuid through the hollow shroud not only accommodates a filtering action but also prevents fabrics from becoming lodged beneath the agitator and hindering its washing action.

For la better understanding of the foregoing, as well as other objects and features of the invention, reference may be had to the following description taken in light of the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE l is a perspective showing of a laundry machine embodying the invention and with parts broken away;

HGURE 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the machine illustrated in FiGURE l, partly in section and with parts broke naway;

FIGURE 3 is `a sectional View of apparatus shown in FIGURE 2, looking generally in the direction of arrows 3 3 applied thereto and showing additional features of the invention; and p `FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional showing, with parts removed, illustrating apparatus seen in FIGURE 2.

With more particular reference to the drawing, and first to FIGURES 1 and 2, the invention is embodied in la washing machine of the type including a cabinet l@ having a top wall l1 provided with an access opening l2, and a door i3 hingedly mounted over the opening.

Means for controlling the machine comprises 4a control element mounted upon an escutcheon plate 16.

An upwardly presented tub 17 is housed within cabinet lil, and is supported upon a tubular column 21 that is resiliently mounted upon suitable base means (not shown) forming part of the cabinet. There is also housed Within the cabinet suitable motor `and transmission means, such for example as is disclosed and claimed in my copending disclosure entitled Drive Mechanism, tiled December 26, 1961, bearing Serial No. 161,962, and yassigned to the assignee of the present invention. The relation which the motor and transmission means bear to the invention, while not necessary to an understanding thereof, will be discussed briefly later in this description.

An 'upwardly presented rotatable basket 22 is nested coaxially within tub 17 and supported upon hub means 23 journalled within bearing means 2dprovided in the bottom of non-rotatable tub 17, in the region of the upper end of column 21. A hollow shaft 25 extends downwardly from hub means 23 concentrically with column 2l, and is connected to the output drive of the transmission which provides high speed spin of basket 22. A solid shaft 26 is disposed concentrically with hollow shaft 25. Shaft 26 is journalled by bearing means 27 `for rotation within hub means `2.3 and its extension 25, and is adapted to be rotated by the output drive of the transmission providing for operation of the agitator 3l which will be described in detail in what rfollows.

With reference also to FIGURE 4, the. upper end of shaft 26 includes an inclined portion 32, and base 33 for `agitator 3l is journalled to the inclined shaft portion by bearing means `3d which is coaxial with the latter.

An `annular face seal 28 is 'mounted coaxially upon the bottom of tub 17 and :seals against an annular sealing member 29 provided in hub means 23.

.More particularly, the inclined shaft portion 32 comprises a pair of sleeves il and 42 carried by agitator shaft 26S. Sleeves il and 42 comprise axially aligned portions 'd3 and dit, respectively. The `axis along which portions d3 and @t are yaligned is disposed with angularity Ias respects the axis of the agitator shaft. The inner race of bearing means Siis mounted upon portions 43 and 44 and is held in place by shoulders 45 and 46 thereof, through a clamping lforce exerted |`by the latter elements upon the inner race. This clamping force is provided by a lnut 48 threaded onto the upper end of agitator shaft 26 and `forcibly engaging upper sleeve 43. The outer race of bearing 34 is coniined within the cup shaped hub portion -47 of agitator base 33.

With reference also to FIGURE 3, base 33 includes a spider of three arms 51 spaced 120 apart and extendying radially from hub portion 47. Arms `51 extend with clearance through `apertures 53 provided in bracket means comprising a generally Icylindrical shroud 52 mounted concent-rically with `the bottom of basket 22 by Screws. The apertures 53 -divide the shroud into generally vertically extending tripod 4leg or support portions disposed in interdigitating relation with arms 51. Shroud 52 tape-rs somewhat at its upper end Ito a lesser diameter cylindrical portion 54.

As seen in FIGURES 1 and 2, a generally cylindrical wash aid dispenser 55 is mounted upon the lesser diameter portion 4 of shroud `52 and includes Ia lint screen 56 in the lower portion thereof, and in the upper region of the shroud. Additional structural details of the dispenser v5'5 will not be described, inasmuch as such details are not necessary to an understanding of the invention. It should be mentioned, however, that the side wall of dispenser 55 includes slots 57 and the bottom -is open, whereby wash flu-id may flow, sequentially, through slots 57, `screen 56, and the open bottom of the dispenser. These and other yfeatures .of a dispenser `of this kind may be more `fully understood by making reference to my US. Patent No. 2,982,420, entitled Laundry Aid Dispensing IMeans for Clothes Washing Machines, and assigned to the assigneeV of the present invention.

As is seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, mounting of the agitator 31 upon `arms 51 is made by means of a rigid cyliny drical liner 61 to which the main body portion 65 of the yllexible and resilient agitator vanes is adherent. Liner 61 includes open-ended grooves 62 within which end portions 63 of arms 51 are received. Mounting is maintained by screws 64 lthat extend through agitator 31, liner 61, and into threaded engagement with ends 63 of arms 51.

As best seen in FIGURES 1 and 2, agitator 31 comprises a main cylindrical body portion `65, this being the above described portion closely engaging liner 61. A flattened ring or flange portion 66 extends outwardly from the upper region of agitator body portion 65, and an undular ange portion l67 extends outwardly trom portion 65 Iand has much the shape of the brim of an inverted three-cornered hat l(see FIGURE l). Beneath each of the peaks `of flange 67 there is disposed a flipper or vane Gil (see also lFIGURE 3) that extends radially lfrom the lower edge of agitator body portion 65. The lower edge of agitator portion `65 includes a bead 71 tha-t extends slightly inwardly and over the lower rim of liner 61, and assists in maintaining `attachment of the agitator to its liner.

Agitator 31 further includes a sleeve portion 7,2 that extends upwardly yfrom Iupper ange 66. Agitator portion 72 includes a bead portion '73 that is clamped Ibetween a lower rim portion of dispenser 55 and an upper rim portion of `shroud 52. A bellows-like -exible and resilient sleeve 58 is provided to seal 'the eccentric mechanism. Sleeve 58 is clamped by screws between basket 22 land its `hub 23, at one end, and by screws between the portion of agitator base 33 mounted on bearing 34 and its spider hub portion 47, at the other end.

The upper clamped region of sleeve 58 comprises a circumferential annular flange 4or vane 59 that extends radially from the sleeve `and ytoward shroud '52. Vane 59 includes tab portions 6l)` that are disposed `for movements within the slot-like apertures 53, as lagitator base 33 is caused to undulate. A similar, but rigid and perforate,

circumferential annular llange 38 extends radially from hub portion 4-7 of agitator base 33, and closely overlies vane 59. The novel function -of this vane and flange structure will be set forth later in the description.

Unlike certain prior mechanisms, the sealing sleeve 5S is not relied on to prevent rotation of the 4agitator with respect to the basket. This function is performed 'by three pins 35 that are spaced 120 apart, and which extend into apertures 36 and 37 provided in hub means 23 and in agitator base 33, respectively. For the sake of convenience, only lone of pins 35 is shown. Each pin is mounted securely within an aperture 36 and extends with some clearance into an aperture 37. Each of apertures 37 comprises `a generally cylindrical bore that is slightly flared from its central region toward its upper and lower ends. The liaring accommodates substantially continuous engagement of the walls of each aperture 37 with 4an inserted pin 35 as the agitator base 33 wobbles during the washing operation, which pins also relieve sleeve 58 from relative twisting forces between agitator 31 land basket 22.

ln the operation of the above described apparatus, continuous unidirectional rotation of shaft 26 is provided by suitable transmission means while hollow shaft 25, and basket 22 attached thereto, is held from rotating Iby suitable brake means. Rotation of shaft 26 effects nonrotative undulatory movements .of the agitator base 33, and agitator 31 supported thereon. Rotation of agitator base relative to shroud 52 and the basket 22 is prevented by the interengagement of pins 35 with the tapered Walls of lapertures 37.

As the agitator 31 undulates, a generally annular current of wash fluid is created, as indicated by the arrows in VFIGURE 2, by the cooperative pumping action of llange 66, undular flange 67, and flippers 63.

The fluid flows generally upward adjacent the vertical Walls of basket 22 and downwardly in the region of hollow column 55 and agitator 31, as shown by the arrows appearing in FIGURE 2. A portion of the downwardly moving fluid flows through slots 57, screen 56, and outwardly through slots 53 Vin shroud 52, after which it is forced vigorously youtwardly by flippers 63 disposed in the regions of the slots. Propulsion of the liuid through the interior of shroud 52 is advantageously enhanced by the undulatory movements of vane 59 and llange 38. In undulating, downward movements of vane 59 impel the uid downwardly, and llange 38 engages the upper `surface of the vane to rigidity the latter in its downward, fluidpumping movement. In moving upwardly, vane 59 is deflected downwardly by the relative force lof the fluid, thereby flexing away from flange 38, and the liquid passes outboard of the edge of the vane and also through the perforations in flange 33. This condition creates little or no downward pumping action so that, at most, the lluid inside the shroud will cease to flow. Since, however, undulatory movements of flange 38 and vane 59 are continuous, the net efect is a steady llow of lluid downwardly through the screen, interiorly of the shroud, and outwardly thro-ugh the apertures. t

Another portion of the downwardly moving wash fluid flows downwardly over the flanges 66 and 67 yand rejoins the lllipper-directed lluid. This lower, horizontal lluid current flow is further assisted by the dip portions of flange 67, such horizontal ow preventing clothes .from becoming lodged beneath the Kagitator 31.

It will .be appreciated that the invention provides an improved combination of a stationary column and wobble-type agitator apparatus `by virtue of which the number of linkages and seals are reduced and which cornbination achieves an `optimum washing action. The invention also provides improved wobble type agitator means which creates turbulent streams of Wash duid effective both to wash clothes land to accommodate a filtering action for the ywash fluid.

While but `a :single preferred embodiment `of the invenarcanos tion has been illustrated and described, it `will be understood .that modifications are contemplated by the scope of the appended claims. i

I claim:

1. Ina laundry machine, the combination comprising: basket means within which may be disposed clothes to be washed; bracket means including generally vertically extending support members spaced from one another and mounted within said basket means, and including an open central portion generally concentric with the axis of said basket means, through which portion wash 'duid may flow; hollow column means extending generally -coaxially with said open central portion of said bracket means and having apertures through which wash iiuid may flow; screen means extending transversely of said column means and disposed at a level `below the level of said apertures of said column means; hub means disposed and adapted -for undulatory movements within said basket means, including radially extending arm-s disposed in interdigitating relation with said vertically extending members of said bracket means; land agitator vane means mounted for movement by said hub means and said arms7 the construction and arrangement being such that undulatory movement of said agitator vane means effects flow of wash iuid inwardly through apertures of said column means, downwardly through said screen means and through said open central portion lof said bracket means, thence outwardly rfrom beneath said agitator means.

2. A laundry machine in accordance with claim l and further including a iiexible annular flange structure moving with said hub means and disposed and adapted to enhance the downward low of wash duid by inhibiting retrograde upward liow of the wash fluid through said bracket means.

3. The combination according to claim 1, and further characterized in that said bracket means comprises 'a generally cylindrical member having apertures and said arms extend through said apertures, said cylindrical member having its base portion aixed to said basket means.

4. The combination according to claim l, yand further characterized in that said vanen means comprise: a generally cylindrical body portion supported by said radially extending arms and substantially enclosing said bracket means; iand a iiexible and resilient undular flange extending radially from surface portions of said body portion.

5. The combination according to claim 4, andfurther characterized in that said vane means includes radially extending vanes disposed below the peaks of said undular iiange, the construction and arrangement being such that upon undulatory movements of said agitator vane means, wash Huid within said basket is caused to be pumped, by the cooperative action of said vane means and said column, through said screen in the region of the central opening of said bracket means and column and outwardly lthrough spaces between members of said bracket means.

6. In a laundry machine, the combination comprising: basket means within which may be disposed clothes to be washed; bracketmeans within said basket means, including an open central portion generally concentric with the axis of `said basket means and leg portions mounting said bracket means ito said basket means; hollow column means extending generally coaxially with said open central portion of said bracket means and having apertures through which wash fluid may iiow; screen means extending transversely of said column means and disposed at a level below the level of said apertures of said column means; hub means disposed and adapted for undulatory movements within said basket means, including radially extending arms disposed in interdigitating relation with leg portions of said bracket means; and an agitator including vane means extending from said hub and mounted for movements by said hub, the construction and arrangement being such that undulatory movement of said agitator and vane means effects ilow of wash fluid inwardly through apertures of said column means, downwardly through said screen means and through :said open central portion of said bracket means, thence outwardly from beneath said agitator means.

7. `In a laundry machine, the combination comprising: basket means within which may be disposed clothes to be washed; bracket means comprising a hollow generally cylindrical member generally concentric with the axis of said basket means and having a plurality of apertures in the walls thereof; hollow column means extending generally coaxially with said open central portion of said bracket means and having apertures through which wash fluid may How; hub means disposed and adapted for undulatory movements within said basket means, including radially presented arms extending through the apertures' of said bracket means; and an agitator including Y vane means extending from and moving with said hub means and said arms, the construction and arrangement being such that undulatory movements of said agitator Vane means effects flow of wash fluid inwardly through apertures of said column means, downwardly through the open central portion of said cylindrical bracket means, thence outwardly through apertures thereof and from beneath said agitator means.

8. The combination according to claim 7 and further characterized'in that said vane means comprise: a generally cylindrical body portion supported by said radially presented arms 4and substantially enclosing said bracket means; and a exible `and resilient undular ange extending radially from surface portions of said body portion.

9. The combination according to claim 8 and further characterized by the inclusion of: a perforate, radially presented rigid flange extending about the periphery of said hub means; and la radially presented, imperforate liexible and resilient flange disposed beneath said perforate ilange `and extending beyond the outer periphery of the latter while spaced from the cylindrical wall portion of said bracket means, the construction and arrangement being such that said liexible and resilient iiange upon moving downwardly is engaged by the perforate iange and prevented from flexing whereby to impel water downwardly through said open central portion of the bracket means, .and upon moving upwardly said imperforate flange is disengaged by said pertorate ange and is exed downwardly by the iiuid' and permits the latter to ow past.

l0. In a laundry machine, wobble type agitator means i comprising: an Iagitator base comprising radially presented arms; generally cylindrical shroud means having apertures through which said arms extend; a generally cylindrical member generally concentric with said base, supported by said arms, and disposed about said shroud means; vane means supported by said cylindrical member; and eccentric means coupled with said agitator base and operative to impart undulatory movements to the latter, the construction and arrangement being such that wash uid is caused to iiow downwardly through said shroud means, outwardly through said apertures, and from beneath said cylindrical member.

l1. A laundry machine in :accordance with claim l0, and further including a liexible annular ange structure moving with said eccentric means and disposed and adapted to enhance the downward flow of wash uid by inhibiting retrograde upward ow of the wash tluid through said shroud means.

12. Agitator means according to claim l0, and further characterized in that said vane means comprises: a radially presented flange extending along an upper peripheral portion of said cylindrical member; 1an undular, radially presented liange extending from a peripheral region of said member below said ilange; a plurality of radially presented flippers, each disposed beneath and spaced from a peak of said undular flange; and ange means extending radially from said agitator base toward inner surface portions of said shroud means, and adapted to impel wash fluid solely downwardly upon undulatory movements of said base means.

13. The combination according to claim l2, and further including: Ihollow column means, including slotted wall portions concentrically supported upon said shroud means; and screen means extending transversely oi said column means in a relgion below said slotted wall portions, said screen meansbeing adapted to strain wash iluid as it iiows downwardly into said shroud means.

14. In a clothes washing machine the combination comprising: a basket; a :generally cylindrical agitator fhaving an open upper portion, a generally vertically extending cylindrical main body portion, the lower portion of which main body portion is spaced above the bottom of said basket, undulatory -vane means extending radially trom peripheral pontions of said main body portion, and a plurality of iiipper means each :disposed below and spaced from a peak of said nndullatory vane means; and means for moving the agitator to ondulato the same and effect a washing action, the construction and arrangement bein-g such that `disposition of said ippers relative to said basket as they move is such as to create an outward pumping action between adjacent portions of the agitator main body portion and the basket.

15. The combination according to claim l14 and further characterized in that said means for moving the agitator 'to eiect a washing action comprises: unidirectionally rotatable shaft means extending into the main body portion of said agitator; a pair of axially spaced sleeves supported upon said sha-ft and including axially aligned surface portions concentric with an axis disposed with angularity as respects the agitator shaft; bearing means supported coaxially with said angularly disposed surface portions of said sleeves; agitator support means carried by said bearing means and including a plurality of arms extending radially lfrom the latter, said arms dulatory flexible vane means extending radially from peripheral regions of said main body portion; a plurality of flexible vane means exten-dingI radially from peripheral regions of said body portion, each disposed below and spaced vertically from a peak region of said nndulatory vane means; a llexible concentric sleeve portion extending from an upper region of said generally cylindrical main body portion; and an annular flexible tiangeextending radially from a region of said main body pontion above said .undulatory vane means and spaced from the latter.

17. Algitator assembly according to claim 16 and fur-y ther including a relatively rigid, cylindrical liner adapted to provide for support of the agitator -assembly and frictionallyengaging interior regions of said main body portion. l

References Cited in the ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Fields Sept. 8, 1959 Hubbard Apr. 5, 1960

Claims (1)

1. IN A LAUNDRY MACHINE, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING: BASKET MEANS WITHIN WHICH MAY BE DISPOSED CLOTHES TO BE WASHED; BRACKET MEANS INCLUDING GENERALLY VERTICALLY EXTENDING SUPPORT MEMBERS SPACED FROM ONE ANOTHER AND MOUNTED WITHIN SAID BASKET MEANS, AND INCLUDING AN OPEN CENTRAL PORTION GENERALLY CONCENTRIC WITH THE AXIS OF SAID BASKET MEANS, THROUGH WHICH PORTION WASH FLUID MAY FLOW; HOLLOW COLUMN MEANS EXTENDING GENERALLY COAXIALLY WITH SAID OPEN CENTRAL PORTION OF SAID BRACKET MEANS AND HAVING APERTURES THROUGH WHICH WASH FLUID MAY FLOW; SCREEN MEANS EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF SAID COLUMN MEANS AND DISPOSED AT A LEVEL BELOW THE LEVEL OF SAID APERTURES OF SAID COLUMN MEANS; HUB MEANS DISPOSED AND ADAPTED FOR UNDULATORY MOVEMENTS WITHIN SAID BASKET MEANS, INCLUDING RADIALLY EXTENDING ARMS DISPOSED IN INTERDIGITATING RELATION WITH SAID VERTICALLY EXTENDING MEMBERS OF SAID BRACKET MEANS; AND AGITATOR VANE MEANS MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT BY SAID HUB MEANS AND SAID ARMS, THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT BEING SUCH THAT UNDULATORY MOVEMENT OF SAID AGITATOR VANE MEANS EFFECTS FLOW OF WASH FLUID INWARDLY THROUGH APERTURES OF SAID COLUMN MEANS, DOWNWARDLY THROUGH SAID SCREEN MEANS AND THROUGH SAID OPEN CENTRAL PORTION OF SAID BRACKET MEANS, THENCE OUTWARDLY FROM BENEATH SAID AGITATOR MEANS.

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