US3128615A - Automatic washing machine having a two-speed electric motor - Google Patents

Description

April 14, 1964 w. E. MAHAFFAY 3,128,615

AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINE HAVING A Two-SPEED ELECTRIC MoToR INVENTOR.

WILLIAM E. MAI-IAFI-AY l BY ' f l ATToR EYs A 14, 1964 w. E. MAHAFF'AY AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINE HAVING A TWO-SPEED ELECTRIC MOTOR Filed; March 28, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. w|\ |AM E. MAHAFFAY United States Patent O AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHENE HAVING A TWO-SPEED ELECTRIC MOTOR Wiiliam E. Mahatfay, Benton Harbor, Mich., assigner, by

mesne assignments, to Whirlpool Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 28, 1955, Ser. No. 497,959

8 Claims. (Cl. 68--12) This invention relates generally to laundry machines and more particularly relates to a laundry machine wherein a mass of materials and a pool of laundry liquid may be mechanically actuated and the materials subsequently Acentrifuged for liquid extraction at selectively different .speeds corresponding to a iirst speed for heavier washing of ordinary fabrics and at a second slower speed for gentle washing of delicate fabrics.

Domestic laundering equipment has been provided heretofore wherein presettable means controls the operation of an automatic washing machine through a programing schedule of washing, rinsing and extracting periods. In such machines, there is also conventionally provided means for confining the mass of materials such as clothes or other fabrics in a restricted pool where they are agitated and thereafter the pool is drained while the clothes are rotated in a rotatable extractor for the extraction of liquid therefrom.

In contemporary times, however, there have been developed woven fabrics which are far more delicate than the usual cotton, linen and wool fabrics widely utilized by the users of automatic washing machines. For example, the use of modern fabrics women of nylon, Daeron or acetate items of wearing apparel has frequently made it necessary, heretofore, to wash such articles by hand rather than subject the fabrics to the risk of damage in an ordinary washing machine.

The risk of machine washing delicate fabrics is sometimes reduced in some degree by an attempt on the part of the user to reduce the duration of the cycle periods frequently established in an automatic-type washing machine by a sequential controller. If almost continual manual intervention does not attend the operation of such a machine, however, only the duration of the washing cycle can be so adjusted, whereupon the fabrics will be subjected to rinsing and extraction periods of regular duration. Moreover, the rinsing and extraction operations as well as the washing operation will be carried out under ordinary operating conditions and speeds and, consequently, the user of the machine may frequently be frustrated in attempting to modify the operation of the machine to adapt to the varying laundering requirements encountered in an average household or domestic laundering practice.

Furthermore, most automatic washing machines embody a mixing apparatus for blending a supply of hot water and a supply of cold water and the water is delivered into the machine in distinct temperature ranges. Frequently, it is desirable that the temperature range of the laundry liquid be considerably modified depending upon the type of materials being washed. For example, delicate fabrics usually require a much cooler laundry liquid than ordinary cotton, linen and wool fabrics.

According to the principles of the present invention, a laundry machine is provided wherein a laundry machine is automatically operated through a series of washing, rinsing and extraction periods. Presettable means are employed to selectively and automatically actuate a driving means at regular speed through a first programing schedule of washing, rinsing and drying periods of regular duration. The temperature of the water may also be selected to supply water to the treatment zone of the machine in a plurality of distinct temperature ranges. A twospeed motor is provided, however, so that the presettable means may be actuated to selectively and automatically actuate the driving means at a slow speed through washing, rinsing and drying cycles of short duration. Moreover, the means in control of the water supply are so interlocked with the presettable control means operating the electric motor that only water in a predetermined temperature range may be supplied to the machine when the driving means is actuated at slow speed.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide an improved laundry apparatus.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a laundry apparatus wherein different types of fabrics may be scheduled through washing, rinsing and extraction periods specifically customized with regard to the physical characteristics of the fabric.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine which operates at regular speed for washing ordinary fabrics and at slower speed for washing delicate fabrics.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a two-speed laundry machine having control means for operation of the machine and for the supply of different temperature water which are interlocked, thereby conditioning the temperature of the water to suit the speed of operation of the machine.

Many other features, advantages and additional objects of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description which follows and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment of a washing machine capable of practicing the steps of the methods herein disclosed is shown by Way of illustrative example.

On the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of a laundry apparatus with parts broken away and with parts shown in crosssection and embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a diagram illustrating the cycle of operation of the machine of the present invention and specifically illustrating the two separate program schedules which may be obtained by the actuation of presettable means provided in accordance with the principles of the present invention; and

FIGURE 3 is an electrical circuit diagram of the machine illustrated in FIGURE 1 and operable in accordance with the programing schedules illustrated in FIG- URE 2.

As shown on the drawings:

It will be understood that the principles of the present invention are of general applicability to washing machines per se as well as to combination washers and extractors or to combination washer-extractor-driers. For purposes of illustrating the principles of the present invention, however, there is shown in FlGURE 1 an automatic washing, rinsing and extracting machine t@ having'a cabinet il forming an enclosure for a tub l2 which is adapted to confine a pool of liquid such as water or laundry liquid, thereby restricting the pool of laundry liquid within the contines of a treatment Zone.

A pump is indicated at 13 for withdrawing liquid from the tub i2 or for returning liquid thereinto, if desired.

A receptacle or container indicated at 14 is rotatably mounted within the tub t2.

The tub l2 is carried on a floating base i6 suspended from the top portion of the cabinet on suspension links 17 encased in rubber at their ends and carried in sockets 19 in the base i6 and in similar sockets at the upper part of the cabinet (not shown) for damping oscillatable movement which may occur between the base and the cabinet.

Suspended from the base 16 on a hanger bracket 2d is an electric motor 21 which operates as the drive motor for the machine. The structural and functional characteristics of the motor 21 are important to the principles of the present invention and will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

A gear casing is indicated at 22 through which an oscillatable drive mechanism actuates an independently operable washing element or agitator 23 located interiorly of the container or receptacle 14 and, hence, interiorly also of the tub 12.

The gear casing 22 is also suspended from the base 16 on a plurality of bolts 24 threaded into a corresponding plurality of studs 26 fastened in firm assembly to the base 16 as by welding or the like, thereby to maintain the gear casing 22 in iixed parallel spaced relation with respect to the base 16.

The gear casing 22 is of a form similar to that shown and described in Patent No. 2,625,248, dated January 13, 1953, and is in two parts, a lower part housing an oscillatable drive gearing for oscillatably driving the washing element or agitator 23 and an upper part housing operating and control mechanism of the machine, the details of which are not necessary to a proper understanding of the principles of the present invention.

With respect to the actuation of the washing element or agitator 23, however, there is shown an oscillatable drive shaft at 27 rotatably carried in the gear casing 22 in a boss 28 at the lower part of the gear casing 22. The shaft 27 is also journaled within a rotatable drive sleeve indicated at 29 which extends within a stationary sleeve 30 concentrically disposed relative to a hollow center post 31.

The hollow center post 31 forms a closure for the central part of the bottom of the tub 12 and extends upwardly from the bottom of the tub 12.

The sleeve 30 is carried in the hollow center post 31. The rotatable sleeve 29 provides a support for a hollow upright support member 32 attached in firm assembly with the container or receptacle 14. Thus, the container or receptacle 14 is supported near its upper end for spinning in the same manner as is more fully described in the aforementioned Patent No. 2,625,248.

The washing element or agitator 23 is locked to the upper end of the shaft 27 as at 33 and will be oscillatably driven upon corresponding oscillatable movement of the shaft 27.

The rotatable sleeve 29 is driven by a drive sheave 34 mounted on the lower portion of the sleeve 29 through a clutch indicated at 36 comprising a friction disk clutch having an annular friction surface engaging an upper face portion on the sheave 34, which engagement is controlled by suitable actuating mechanism more particularly described in Patent No. 2,625,248.

The motor 21 has a power take-off shaft 37 to which is attached a driving pulley 38. A driving belt indicated at 39 is trained over the pulley 38 and over the drive sheave 34, whereupon the container or receptacle 14 will be rotated at a speed suitable for extracting liquid from clothes contained therein upon actuation of the clutch 36.

The belt 39 is also trained over a drive pulley 40 fastened to a shaft 41 extending out of the oscillatable drive mechanism housed within the gear case 22. It will be understood that the shaft 27 will be oscillatably driven by the motor 21 through the oscillating mechanism and a detailed description of the driving mechanism does not appear to be necessary to a proper explanation of the invention.

It is contemplated according to the principles of the present invention to supply a stream of hot water from a domestic supply through a conduit 42 to a mixing zone established by a liuid mixing chamber indicated at 43. In like manner, a stream of cold water from a domestic supply is conducted to the mixing zone established by the iiuid mixing chamber 43 by a conduit 44.

4 The conduits 42 and 44 and the uid mixing chamber 43 can conveniently comprise a temperature control valve and it will be understood that the water mixed in the iiuid mixing chamber 43 is discharged through an outlet conduit 46 which extends upwardly and discharges into the tub 12 through a nozzle indicated at 47.

The temperature control valve unit is indicated generally by the reference numeral 48 and in addition to the elements 42, 43, 44, 46 thus far described, the unit 48 also includes a pair of solenoids 49 and 50, respectively, which solenoids may be referred to as a mix water solenoid 49 and a hot water solenoid 50. As will be explained presently, the solenoids 49 and 50 are electrically connected to control switches and are mechanically connected to suitable valving elements which are not illustrated in detail herein but which are for the purpose of controlling the admission of hot and cold water from the conduits 42 and 44 into the iiuid mixing chamber 43. Thus, when electric current is caused to flow through the mix water solenoid 49, a movable plunger is raised by the magnetic forces associated with the current flow and a iluid operated valve in the unit 48 connects the conduits 42 and 44 to the conduit 46 through the tluid mixing chamber and the relative quantities of iiuid owing are regulated by temperature-sensitive elements in the valve 48 to a relatively low temperature to cause relatively cool water to flow into the tub 12.

When the hot water solenoid 50 is energized with electric current, a movable plunger is raised by the magnetic forces associated with the current ow and the fluid operated valve in the unit 48 causes hot water to iiow through the outlet 46 and into the tub 12.

When both the mix water solenoid 49 and the hot water solenoid 50 are energized, water of an intermediate temperature passes into the tub 12.

It will be appreciated, therefore, that the steps of controlling the supply of the respective streams of hot and cold water into and through the mixing zone eects delivery of water from the mixing zone to the treatment zone prescribed by the tub 12 in three distinct temperature ranges, namely, (l) a hot water temperature range, (2) an intermediate or warm temperature range and (3) a cool temperature range.

In ordinary automatic washing machines, a single speed motor is provided and such motor operates at a constant speed in order to effect a driving of the washing element or agitator 23 as well as a selective rotation of the receptacle or container 14 when extraction action on the materials being laundered is required. In such a machine, operation of the motor at so-called regular speed results in an oscillation of the washing element or agitator 23 at a rate of approximately 68-72 oscillations per minute. The container or receptacle 14 rotates at approximately 500 revolutions per minute at regular speed.

According to the principles of the present invention, the machine 10 is specially equipped with a motor 21 having improved structural and functional characteristics which permits the machine to satisfactorily launder delicate fabrics as well as regular fabrics such as the usual cotton, linen and wool materials which are very satisfactorily washed at regular washing speeds. The motor 21 of the present invention is preferably of the induction-type with a xed field structure and a squirrel cage armature or rotor within the eld structure. Windings on the field structure define a first winding connected between a terminal B and a terminal C (FIGURE 3) and a second winding connected between a terminal D and the terminal C, the first Winding being arranged to be energized to provide a first plurality of poles on such field structure and the second Winding being arranged to be energized to provide a second plurality of magnetic poles on such field structure so that connection of the terminals B and C to a source of alternating current will result in a rotation of the armature at one speed and connection of the terminals D and C to the alternating source will result in a rotation of the armature at a slower speed.

By way of illustrative example, and not by way of limitation, the field structure may have four poles when the terminals B-C are connected to a source of alternating current and six poles when the terminals D-C are connected to the source of alternating current. With a source of standard 60 cycle current, the synchronous speeds will be 1800 revolutions per minute and 1200 revolutions per minute and if the motor is of the induction-type, the actual speed of the motor under load will be somewhat less than synchronous speed, for example, 1750 revolutions per minute and 1150 revolutions per minute.

Because of the provision of the motor 21, it is possible to operate the machine of the present invention so that the washing element or agitator 23 will oscillate at a rate of approximately 45-48 oscillations per minute whenever delicate fabrics are being laundered in the machine and at the regular rate of 68-72 oscillations per minute for ordinary fabrics. Likewise, if a centrifuging extraction operation is to be performed on the materials contained within the container or receptacle 14, the present machine will effect a rotational speed of the container or receptacle 14 of approximately 330 revolutions per minute when delicate fabrics are being laundered and the regular speed of 500 revolutions per minute will be available for laundering of ordinary materials.

It should be noted that a single speed motor could be used in conjunction with a gear changing or other speed changing mechanism. The two-speed motor of the present invention, however, is particularly advantageous not only because of the simplicity obtained thereby, but also because the optimum load for maximum efficiency on a motor of this pole changing type decreases as the number of poles increases and hence as the speed decreases. Since the load on the agitator or washing element 23 decreases as its speed decreases, the motor 2i is operated at optimum load conditions for both rated speeds.

The present invention further contemplates the provision of a sequential controller for automatic operation of the machine through a series of washing, rinsing and extraction periods. The sequential controller is particularly characterized by the utilization of presettable means to selectively and automatically actuate the driving means of the machine at a first regular speed or at a second slow speed through a corresponding first programing schedule and a corresponding second programing schedule of washing, rinsing and extraction.

Moreover, it is further contemplated according to the present invention that the washing, rinsing and extraction periods of the rst programing schedule will be of a corresponding first duration and the washing, rinsing and extraction periods of the second corresponding programing schedule will be of a corresponding second .shorter duration. It should be understood however that, if desired, the schedules may be of equal duration, altering only the speed of the operation. This aspect of the present invention can best be understood by considering the operational schedule illustrated in FIGURE 2 in conjunction with the sequential controller and the electrical circuitry associated therewith illustrated in FIGURE 3.

The diagram of FIGURE 2 indicates the condition of the cam actuated switches controlling the energization of the various elements identified thereon at the various times in the operating cycle, these times being identified by the indication in the minutes line of the diagram. It will be understood, of course, that an element may be indicated as energized in the diagram of FIGURE 2, when in fact, some other portion of the energizing circuit is open and for that reason the element does not operate.

The sequential controller or cycle control switch, shown diagrammatically in FIGURE 3, for example, comprises a plurality of cams which are indicated by the reference numerals C-l through C-8, inclusive, with the associated switches S-1 through S-8, inclusive, in cooperative engagement therewith for opening and closing movements as the cams are rotated.

The cams are mounted on a common insulated shaft 51 which is driven by a timer motor 52 which, for the particular embodiment of the present invention herein described, is a synchronous alternating current motor capable of rotating the shaft 51 one revolution in 60 minutes.

The cams C-I through C-S are aligned relative to the shaft 51 to provide the desired sequence of control and a knob 53 is provided with suitable markings to indicate the point on the operating cycle to which the shaft 51. has been aligned or set.

As will be clearly evident upon inspecting the diagram of FIGURE 2, there are two distinct programing schedules identified as the normal washing cycle and the modern fabrics cycle. This arrangement is afforded by providing cams C-l through C8 which have high and low and intermediate camming surfaces engageable with the switch means S-1 through S-S on opposite circumferentially spaced portions of the shaft 51. Thus, whenever the shaft Si is adjusted through a sector of movement corresponding to approximately 220 of arc, all of the electrical equipment will be conditioned in accordance with the programing specifications of the normal Washing cycle. Moreover, whenever the shaft 51 is aligned and positioned in a different sector covering approximately all of the electrical devices are conditioned in accordance with the programing schedule determined in the modern fabrics cycle.

Before proceeding with a description of the operation of the sequential controller and the machine of the present invention, several additional structural units should be identiied. First of all, it will be noted that there is shown on FIGURE 3 an agitator control solenoid 54. It will be understood that the solenoid 54 controls mechanical means Afor selectively actuating the washing element or agitator 23 through the oscillatable drive mechanism contained in the housing 22. There is also provided a two-way valve control solenoid 55 which controls a two-way valve indicated at 57 in FIGURE 1 and associated with the pump 13 by means of a conduit S8. By effecting actuation of the two-way valve 57 with the solenoid 56, soap suds can be pumped out of the tub 12 and into a suds storage receptacle or pumped back again from the receptacle into the tub 12.

There is further provided an extractor control solenoid indicated at 59. It will be understood that this solenoid controls actuation of the clutch 36, thereby to selectively initiate rotational operation of the container or receptacle 14 whenever extraction is required.

A pressure-type three position water lever selector switch is indicated at 60, thereby making the control of the machine responsive to the water level conditions established in the tub 112.

In connection with the circuitry for the mixed water solenoid 49 and the hot water solenoid 50, there is also provided water temperature switches 61 and 62, which are manually selectively adjustable as by the means indicated at 63 to select one of the three distinct water temperature ranges described hereinbefore.

It may also be noted that a separate carn C-7a is provided for the so-called spray rinse and a corresponding switch S-7a is associated therewith. By means of such provision, a contact is effected of very short duration several times during the cycle and coincident with extraction to assist in rinsing the materials contained within the container or receptacle 14.

In the view of FIGURE 3, the shaft 51 and the associated cams are rotated by the motor 52 in the direction indicated by the arrow 53 and the shaft is shown as rotated to the position corresponding to the beginning of the period identified in FIGURE 2 by the legend suds, this period being the preliminary period during which the used suds are returned to the tub 12 to provide wash water for a subsequent cycle of operation.

Assuming that the laundering machine 10 is to be started from an unenergized condition and that the storage reservoir provided to retain used suds is empty, the knob 53 is rotated to the position corresponding to the beginning of the fill period also labeled by legend on FIGURE 2 and is then depressed to close the single pole switch indicated at 63.

Without further manual intervention, the entire programing schedule illustrated in the normal washing cycle in FIGURE 2 will be carried out. It will be noted that the duration of the wash cycle can be as long as 14 minutes and the duration of the rinse period can be as long as S minutes. Moreover, the drying period can be as long as 8 minutes also during the normal washing cycle.

Although these periods may be selectively shortened, by manual intervention during the course of the cycle, automatic operation without manual intervention will normally result in the full rinsing and drying periods with the washing period being selectively varied within the limits prescribed by that portion of the cycle identified by the legend fill, a variable amounting to approximately 7 minutes.

If delicate fabrics are being laundered, a completely separate programing schedule may be effected by adjusting the knob 53 and the shaft 51 to a corresponding annular alignment suitable for scheduling the modern fabrics program. It will be noted that in the modern fabrics cycle, the wash period is only of 4 minutes duration and even this period can be cut down within the limits prescribed by the period of fill which amounts to 2 minutes. Furthermore, the rinse period is of 5 minutes duration and the dry period is of 4 minutes duration, both the rinsing and drying periods being considerably shorter in duration than the normal rinsing and drying periods established in the normal Washing program.

The double cycle arrangement in the sequential controller of the present invention is effected because the opposite sides of the cams C-1 through C-S are, in effect, separate presettable means, each of which prescribe independently of the other a complete programing schedule of different characteristics.

According to the principles of the present invention, the operation of the washing and extracting means and the regulation of the mixing of the hot and cold water streams is interlocked to prevent the supply of extremely hot water into the treatment zone when the washing and extracting means is operated at a slow speed and during which time it is contemplated that delicate modern fabrics will be contained within the container or receptacle 14.

This is effected specifically in the sequential controller by means of the cam C-7 and the switch S-7 which provides an electrical override in circuit with the mix water solenoid 49. Thus, even if a hot water selection is indicated by adjustment of the control 63, the mix water solenoid will be energized so that only relatively cool water will be supplied to the treatment zone thereby safeguarding against any damage which might be caused to delicate modern fabrics through an inadvertent setting of the controls.

Although various minor structural modifications might be suggested by those versed in the art, it should be understood that I wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all such modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of my contribution to the art.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a washing machine of the type having an agitator and a rotatable clothes receptacle for washing and spinning clothes, drive means including a twospeed electric motor to actuate said agitator and said receptacle at one speed for washing and spinning ordinary fabrics and presettable sequential control means operating said machine through two separate series of washing, and spinning periods and automatically regulating the speed of said motor during each series of period for actuating said agitator and said receptacle at an appreciably slower speed during the series of periods used for washing and spinning delicate fabrics.

2. A laundry machine comprising, a receptacle adapted to receive fabrics, means for introducing fluid into said receptacle -for laundering operations', means for mechanically agitating said fabrics for washing and for rotating said receptacle and the fabrics therein for fiuid extraction during the laundering operations including an electric driving motor comprising, a field structure of magnetic material, an armature rotatable relative to said field structure, windings on said field structure defining a first winding arranged to be energized to provide a first plurality of magnetic poles on said field structure and a second winding arranged to be energized to provide a second plurality of poles greater than said first plurality of poles, whereby said armature is rotated at one speed when said first Winding is energized and at a slower speed when said second winding is energized, and presettable sequential control means controlling said motor and having means selectively operating said motor at said one speed for effecting washing and fluid extraction of said fabrics during an ordinary fabrics laundering operation and at said slower speed for effecting washing and fiuid extraction of said fabrics during a delicate fabrics laundering operation.

3. A laundry machine comprising a receptacle adapted to yreceive fabrics, means for introducing fiuid into said receptacle for laundering operations, means for mechanically agitating said fabrics for washing and for rotating said receptacle and the fabrics therein for centrifugal extraction including an electric driving motor having a field structure of magnetic material, an armature rotatable relative to said field structure, windings on said field structure defining a first winding arranged to be energized to provide a first plurality of magnetic poles on said field structure and a second winding arranged to be energized to provide a second plurality of poles greater than said rst plurality of poles, whereby said armature is rotated at one speed when said first winding is energized and at a slower speed when said second winding is energized and presettable sequential control means controlling said motor and having separate ordinary fabrics and delicate fabrics programming schedules and including means selectively operating said motor at said one speed for effecting washing and fluid extraction of said fabrics during said ordinary fabrics cycle or at said slower speed for effecting washing and fluid extraction of said fabrics during said delicate fabrics cycle.

4. In a combination washing and extracting machine, a sequential controller having a timer motor and plural cam means driven thereby controlling automatic operation of said machine through two separate programming schedules each including a series of washing and extracting periods, driving means including an electrical driving motor having a field structure of magnetic material, an armature rotatable relative to said field structure, windings on said field structure defining a first winding arranged to be energized to provide a first plurality of magnetic poles on said field structure and a second winding arranged to be energized to provide a second plurality of poles greater than said first plurality of poles, whereby said armature is rotated at one speed when said first winding is energized, and at a slower speed when said second winding is energized and a presettable means for said sequential controller including means to selectively and automatically actuate said driving means at a first regular speed co-ordinated with the washing and extracting periods of a first one of said programming schedules or at a second slow speed co-ordinated with the washing and extracting periods of a second of said programming schedules.

5. In a combination washing and extracting machine, a sequential controller having a timer motor and plural cam means driven thereby automatically operating said machine through two separate programing schedules each including a series of washing, rinsing and extracting periods of different duration, driving means including an electrical motor having a field structure of magnetic material, an armature rotatable relative to said eld structure, windings on said iield structure defining a rst winding arranged to be energized to provide a rst plurality of magnetic poles on said ield structure and a second winding arranged to be energized to provide a second plurality of poles greater than said first plurality of poles, whereby said armature is rotated at one speed when said tirst winding is energized and at a slower speed when said second winding is energized, presettable means for said controller including means to selectively and automatically actuate said driving means at a iirst regular speed or at a second sloW speed through a corresponding rst programming schedule or a second programming schedule of washing, rinsing and drying periods, means to supply hot and cold Water to a mixing zone, control means to regulate the temperature of the water delivered to the machine from the mixing zone, and interlocking means between said control means and said presettable means to prevent the supply of water above a predetermined temperature to said machine when the driving means is operated at said slow speed.

6. In a washing machine of the type having a rotatable receptacle and an agitator therein for washing and centrifuging clothes, drive means including a two-speed electric motor for driving said agitator at either a first agitating speed suitable for ordinary fabrics or a second slower agitating speed suitable for delicate fabrics, and for rotating said receptacle at either a first centrifuging speed suitable for ordinary fabrics or a second slower centrifuging speed suitable for delicate fabrics, control mechanism including presettable sequential control means controlling said drive means and having separate ordinary fabric and delicate fabric programming schedules and including presettable means for selectively presetting the speed of said motor for effecting a sequential operation of said agitator and receptacle at their respective rst speeds during said ordinary fabric programming schedule or at said second slower speeds during said delicate fabric programming schedule.

7. The invention as dened in claim 6 and in which said presettable sequential control means includes means for limiting said delicate fabric cycle to sequential operating periods of a shorter time duration than in said ordinary fabrics cycle.

8. The invention as dened in claim 6 and further including iiuid supply means for selectively supplying said 10 receptacle with liquid in a iirst temperature range or with liquid in a second higher temperature range, and means coordinating operation of said iluid supply means with the operation of said drive means and permitting delivery of fluid in said second higher temperature range to said receptacle only when said presettable sequential control means is conditioned to operate said two-speed motor at said rst higher speed.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 18,010 Schuyler Mar. 24, 1931 1,935,145 Davis Nov. 14, 1933 2,082,108 Hume June 1, 1937 2,225,144 Bassett Dec. 17, 1940 2,253,842 Brotman Aug. 26, 1941 2,269,069 Werner Jan. 6, 1942 2,282,332 Kuhn May 12, 1942 2,292,815 Barif Aug. 11, 1942 2,331,897 Dyer Oct. 19, 1943 2,447,848 Edwards Aug. 24, 1948 2,508,948 Hovermale May 23, 1950 2,561,187 Elliott July 17, 1951 2,579,066 Codling Dec. 18, 1951 2,608,252 Candor Aug. 26, 1952 2,635,446 Smith Apr. 21, 1953 2,841,003 Conlee July 1, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 299,413 Great Britain Oct. 26, 1928 625,926 Great Britain July 6, 1949 OTHER REFERENCES Here Is A Washer to Fit Every Load, publication by Prosperity Co., Inc., Syracuse, New York. Received Apr.

Claims (1)

1. 6. IN A WASHING MACHINE OF THE TYPE HAVING A ROTATABLE RECEPTACLE AND AN AGITATOR THEREIN FOR WASHING AND CENTRIFUGING CLOTHES, DRIVE MEANS INCLUDING A TWO-SPEED ELECTRIC MOTOR FOR DRIVING SAID AGITATOR AT EITHER A FIRST AGITATING SPEED SUITABLE FOR ORDINARY FABRICS OR A SECOND SLOWER AGITATING SPEED SUITABLE FOR DELICATE FABRICS, AND FOR ROTATING SAID RECEPTACLE AT EITHER A FIRST CENTRIFUGING SPEED SUITABLE FOR ORDINARY FABRICS OR A SECOND SLOWER CENTRIFUGING SPEED SUITABLE FOR DELICATE FABRICS, CONTROL MECHANISM INCLUDING PRESETTABLE SEQUENTIAL CONTROL MEANS CONTROLLING SAID DRIVE MEANS AND HAVING SEPARATE ORDINARY FABRIC AND DELICATE FABRIC PROGRAMMING SCHEDULES AND INCLUDING PRESETTABLE MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY PRESETTING THE SPEED OF SAID MOTOR FOR EFFECTING A SEQUENTIAL OPERATION OF SAID AGITATOR AND RECEPTACLE AT THEIR RESPECTIVE FIRST SPEEDS DURING SAID ORDINARY FABRIC PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE OR AT SAID SECOND SLOWER SPEEDS DURING SAID DELICATE FABRIC PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE.

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