US3162734A

US3162734A - Combination discharge valve and switch assembly

Info

Publication number: US3162734A
Application number: US148667A
Authority: US
Inventors: Geoffrey A Mansell
Original assignee: Robertshaw Controls Co
Current assignee: Robertshaw Controls Co
Priority date: 1961-10-30
Filing date: 1961-10-30
Publication date: 1964-12-22
Anticipated expiration: 1981-12-22

Description

Dec. 22, 1964 A. MANSELL 3,162,734

COMBINATION DISCHARGE VALVE AND SWITCH ASSEMBLY Filed Oct. 50, 1961 INVENTOR Geoffrey A. Mansell BY VAMMJWQPM ATTORNEY v United States Patent 3,162,734 COMBINATION DISCHARGE "ALVE AND SWITCH ASSEMBLY Geofirey A. Mansell, San Juan Capistrano, Caiifi, as-

signor to Rohertshaw Controls Company, Richmond, Va., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 30, 1961, Ser. No. 148,667 11 Claims. (Cl. ZOO-61.86)

The present invention relates to automatic washing machines utilizing pneumatic control systems and more particularly to control means for such pneumatic systems operatively associated with a washing machine tub access cover or lid.

Heretofore safety controls operated by the washing machine tub access cover or lid have been provided for on and off control of automatic washing machines, but these safety controls have usually been solely electrical and do not involve the problems attendant a pneumatic washing machine control system. For example, in automatic washing machines utilizing the the pneumatic control system, it is desirable when the washing machine cover or lid is raised to shut down the main motor of the system, which is electrical and dump the vacuum from the control system to release all the pneumatic controls of the system..

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a novel combined discharge valve and switch assembly adapted to be simultaneously actuated by the access door or lid of an automatic electro-pneumatic washing machine, when the door is opened to de-energize or shut down the main motor and to dump the vacuum from the control system by permitting air at atmospheric pressure to enter the system, to thereby release the pneumatic controls of the system.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel unitary device comprising a valve and switch assembly operable simultaneously, to thereby eliminate the necessity of synchronizing a separate valve and switch, as in the prior art.

A further object is to provide a valve structure as the push button actuator of a switch.

Still another object is to provide in combination with the valve portion of said unit, an air filter means, whereby all air entering the pneumatic system when the washing machine cover is opened is filtered.

With the above and other more specific objects in view which will become apparent as the invention is fully understood, the same resides in the novelty of construction, combination and arrangement of elements hereinafter described in detail and distinctly claimed in the appended claims. A

The description is intended to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views:

FIGURE 1 is a side cross section view of the present novel combination discharge valve and switch assembly as it appears in the closed position of the washing machine cover with the valve and switch both in closed position;

FIGURE 2 is a side cross section view similar to FIG- URE 1, but with the valve and switch in their respective open positions, as occurs when the washing machine cover is in open position;

FIGURE 3 is a partial cross section view of a portion of the mounting frame and a washing machine tub access cover, illustrating the mounting of the novel discharge valve and switch assembly on the washing machine cover frame, and also showing the valve and switch actuator engaged by a lever extending from operative connection with the washing machine cover;

FIGURE 4 is a cross section view of the present invention novel valve and switch actuator means and the associated connecting nipple for connection to a pneumatic conduit of the pneumatic system of the machine, as it appears apart from the assembled unit, and

FIGURE 5 is a section view of the valve disk, as it appears removed from the assembly.

Referring in detail to the drawing and first with particular reference to FIGURE 1, there is shown a switch housing 10 formed of two half-sections of suitable insulating material having end walls 11 and 12, side walls 13 and 14, a top wall 15 and a bottom wall 16, respectively, so as to serve as a support housing for an electric switch S.

Preferably the housing 10 is made in two upper and lower sections A and B secured together by suitable adhesive, as well-known. The top wall 15 is preferably closed and each of the end walls 11 and 12 are aperturcd to provide for

circuit connecting leads

17 and 18 from the main motor, not shown. These leads are of fiat conducting semi-rigid spring material to form the support means for the snap acting members of the switch S, hereinafter described in detail. The end wall 12, also, is formed with a lower aperture to mount the yieldable spring arm 19 to support a stop means 20 positioned adjacent the inner surface of the top wall 15, which means 20 is spaced in superimposed vertical alignment above the hot or live line contact 21 connected to the lead 18. Secured by suitable means, such as rivet 22, to the flat semi-rigid spring metal lead 17 at the end 11 inside the housing 10 is the switch lever arm 23 of switch S.

The flat metal lever arm 23 of the switch at its outer extremity carries an electric contact 24 for cooperating with the fixed live contact 21 mounted on the said lead 18. Adjacent the outer extremity of the flat switch arm 23, there is provided an inverted C-shaped spring 25, which engages the snap plate or tongue 27 to provide for over center snap action thereof. This snap plate or tongue is formed from the flat metal lever arm 23 and exends from the hinged or rivet end of the lever arm 23 short of the movable contact end, to thereby leave an open slot to permit the inverted free ends of the spring 25 to engage the terminal end of the snap plate or tongue 27 and the oppositely facing end wall which defines the end of the slot of the lever arm 23, respectively.

The bottom wall 16 of the switch housing 10 is bored through to provide a cylindrical bore 29. The bore 29 is counterbored slightly to form an annular land 30, see FIGURE 1, which land surface serves as a stop means in cooperation with the slightly smaller annular flange 32 formed on an elongated combined valve and switch actuator means 31, see FIGURES 1, 2 and 4. This actuator means is formed on one end with a thrust button 33, which extends into the housing 10 into constant engagement with the snap plate or tongue 27 adjacent the connection of the same with the snap spring 25 of the switch S.

The combined valve and switch actuator 31 has its opposite end extending from the bore 29 in the bottom wall 16 of the housing 10 and terminates into an outer bevelled rim to form a valve seat 34. Also, the actuator 31 is formed with a bored socket 35 having an enlarged portion 36 and a relatively smaller portion 37 in which is mounted a coiled spring 38. One end of the spring 38 seats snugly in the relatively smaller portion 37 of the bore 35, see FIGURE 4, while the other end of the spring snugly embraces the valve stud 40 of a disk valve 39, see FIGURES l, 2 and 5, formed with a complementary annular bevelled valve surface 42 adapted to seat over the bevelled end or seat 34 of the actuator 31.

The disk valve head is formed with a rounded thrust button 43. This thrust button is biased into a constant engagement with a lever 45 by the spring 38. The lever 45 is operatively controlled by the washing machine tub access door 44. Thus the washing machine cover lever 45 when the tub access door is closed is moved into a position, to thereby hold the disk valve 39 closed or seated over the end of the seat 34 of the actuator 31, see FIG- URE 1.

The actuator 31 through a side wall thereof is formed with a threaded aperture in which is threadedly mounted a hollow nipple 47. The nipple 47 connects by tubing to the pneumatic control mechanisms, not shown, of the washing machine. Also, the nipple 47 extends through a lateral opening in the side wall of a compressible porous filter ring or sleeve 48 encircling snugly around the outer diameter of the elongated actuator 31. The filter ring rim at one end is engaged against the surface of the bottom wall 16 and at the opposite end the peripheral rim of the filter ring or sleeve 48 is seated on an annular land 50, see FIGURE 5, formed around the outer edge surface of the disk valve 3% adjacent the valve seating portion of the same. The filter ring or sleeve 48 is of'expansible and compressible porous material, such as an open celled flexible foamed plastic to provide constant air filter means. For example, when the valve 39 is moved from its open position of FIGURE 2 to its closed position of FIGURE 1 by the tub cover or access door lever 45, the filter ring 48 is compressed between the annular land 50 and the under surface of the bottom wall 16, and when the tub cover or access door lever 45 is lowered to the open valve position of FIGURE 2, the filter ring expands to admit atmospheric air, whereby all air entering the system when the disk valve 39 is unseated to open position by raising the tub cover is filtered.

FIGURE 3 shows an end View of the novel combination discharge valve and switch assembly mounted on a portion of a washing machine frame 52 by means of a bracket 53, a spacer means 54 and securing bolts 55. The thrust button 43 of the valve disk 39 is also shown in engagement with the washing machine cover or access door lever 45.

Operalion It is believed the operation of the present novel combination discharge valve and switch assembly is clear from the foregoing description, however, briefly summarizing, the usual conventional washing machine construction generally includes the lever 45, see FIGURES 1 and 2, which is movable between the two closed and open positions illustrated when moved by the opening or closing of the washing machine tub cover or access door 44. Thus, closing or opening of the cover moves the lever 45 upward to seat the valve disk 39, compress the valve spring 38 and compress porous filter sleeve 48. Such upward movement of the access door actuated lever 45 causes the disk valve 39 to seat on the valve seat 34 on the end of the push button actuator 31, thereby moving the actuator upward from the land 30 in the switch housing to effect the circuit closing of the snap switch S. Conversely, opening or closing of the wash access door 44 lowers the lever 45, relieves the bias of the valve spring 38 and the compressed state of the filter sleeve 48, and permits the valve disk 39 to move away from the seat 34 of the actuator 31, thereby permitting the actuator to move outward from the housing 10 to cause return snap action of the snap switch S to open circuit position. Also, movement of the valve disk 39 away from the valve seat 34 expands the filter sleeve 48 and permits atmospheric air to enter the system through the filter wall into the hollow nipple 47 and release all the pneumatic actuators of the system while the tub access door is raised or opened.

Thus there is provided a simple and economical unitary article of manufacture for safety control of automatic washing machines of the pneumatic control type, whereby the opening and closing of the wash tub access door serves to stop and start the machine, such two operations being effected simultaneously by one unitary valve and switch combination without the need of the more compleX synchronizing of a separate valve and a separate switch for the same purpose.

Without further description it is believed that the advantages of the present invention over the prior art is apparent and while only one embodiment of the same is illustrated, it is to be expressly understood that the same is not limited thereto as various changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of the parts illustrated, as will likely appear to others and those skilled in the art. For a definition of the scope or limits of the invention, reference should be had to the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Control means for an electro-pneumatic machine comprising a housing, a snap action electric switch in said housing, said housing having a switch actuator in a wall thereof, said actuator being formed with a bore portion opening at one end thereof and a side outlet opening from the bore portion, a valve seat defining the open bore end of said actuator, a valve for engagement with said seat, and movable valve actuator means engaged with said valve.

2. Control means for an electro-pneumatic machine comprising a housing, a snap action electric switch in said housing, said housing having a switch actuator in a wall thereof, said actuator being formed with a bore portion opening at one end thereof and a side outlet opening from the bore portion, a valve seat defining the open bore end of said actuator, a valve for engagement with said seat, said bore portion having a reduced counterbore portion, a coil spring having an end snugly fitted in said reduced counterbore portion and the opposite end concentrically positioned in compressed engagement with said valve, and valve actuator means in engagement with said valve against the biasing action of said spring.

3. The control means as described in claim 2, wherein the said valve is a disk valve.

4. Control means for an electro-pneumatic machine comprising a housing, a snap action electric switch in said housing, said housing having a switch actuator in a wall thereof, said actuator being formed with a bore portion opening at one end thereof and a side outlet opening from the bore portion, a valve seat defining the open bore end of said actuator, a valve for engagement with said seat, movable valve actuator means engaged with the opposite side of said valve from said seat engagingside of the valve, and a porous air filter mounted around said switch actuator contractible and expansible between a wall of said housing and the valve seat side of said valve upon the seating and unseating of said valve.

5. A valve and switch assembly comprising a housing enclosing and supporting an electric switch, an actuator for said switch extending from said housing, said actuator having a switch actuating thrust button on one end and having a cylindrical bore defined by a valve seat on the opposite end, valve means engageable with said seat, and movable means for simultaneously controlling the seating and unseating of said valve and the closing and opening of said switch.

6. Control means for an electro-pneumatic machine comprising a housing, a snap action electric switch in said housing, said housing having a switch actuator in a wall thereof, said actuator being formed with a bore portion opening at one end thereof and a side outlet opening from the bore portion, a valve seat defining the open bore end of saidactuator, a valve for engagement with said seat, spring means in said bore compressed in said bore between said valve means and said actuator, said valve having a head with a thrust button, said spring serving to bias said valve toward open position, and movable means in constant engagement with said valve thrust button resisting the biasing action of said spring, said movable means being movable upon raising or lowering the tub cover of a washing machine, to thereby displace said actuator and said valve to simultaneously operate said switch and said valve.

7. Control means for an electro-pneumatic machine comprising a housing, a snap action electric switch in said housing, said housing having a reciprocatable switch actuator in a wall thereof, said actuator being formed with a bore portion opening at one end thereof and a side outlet opening from the bore portion, a valve seat defining the open bore end of said actuator, a valve for engagement with said seat, spring means in said bore compressed in said bore between said valve means and said actuator, said valve having a head with a thrust button, said spring serving to bias said valve toward open position, movable means in constant engagement with said valve thrust button resisting the biasing action of said spring, said movable means being movable upon opening or clos ing the tub cover of a washing machine, to thereby displace said actuator and said valve to simultaneously operate said switch and said valve, and a sleeve of porous plastic mounted around said actuator contractible and expansible between said housing and said valve upon the seating or unseating of said valve and the closing or opening of said switch by movement of said movable valve controlling means. I

8. Control means for automatic washing machines including a movable wash tub cover, said cover being provided with a lever in operative engagement, with said control means, said control means comprising a disk valve having a thrust button in contact with said lever, an electric snap switch in circuit with said motor, a switch actuator positioned intermediate the said valve and the said switch, said actuator containing a bore defined by a valve seat at one end and having a switch operating thrust member at the opposite end thereof, a valve spring in said bore normally biasing said valve thrust button toward open position and in contact with said lever, and a hollow nipple extending laterally from said actuator bore for suitable connection to the control means of the washing machine.

9. A combined control device for an electro-pneumatic Washing machine comprising a housing with a cylindrical bottom opening, an electric snap acting switch in the housing above said bottom opening and a disk valve assembly reciprocatable in said bottom opening comprising an elongated switch thrust means, said means being formed in one end with a bore portion defined with a valve seat, the said valve seat being adjacent the said valve for engagement therewith, a lateral opening from said bore, a spring in said bore in biasing engagement with said valve to normally urge the valve toward open position, and a valve follower lever mounted on a movable part of the washing machine, whereby movements imparted to said follower lever simultaneously operate said switch and said valve.

10. A combined control device for an electro-pneumatic Washing machine as described in claim 9, wherein the said reciprocatable elongated switch thrust means is enclosed by an air porous plastic sleeve compressed between the bottom of said housing and the opposing face of said disk valve.

11. A combined electro-pneumatic control for an elec tro-pneumatic washing machine, said control having an access door, a discharge valve, said valve having a valve head and a hollow body with a valve seat on one end for said valve head, a first thrust button on the head, a second thrust button on the end of the body opposite to said valve seat end, an electric switch assembly engaged with said valve body, and pivoted lever means having one end engaged with said valve head thrust button, and a third movable thrust means on the washing machine engageable with the opposite end of said lever means movable by closure of said door, for simultaneously actuating said valve and said switch through movement of the said respective first and second thrust buttons.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,458,211 Scinta Jan. 4, 1949 2,465,078 Fitzgerald Mar. 22, 1949 2,540,420 Bordelon Feb. 6, 1951 2,818,476 Mueller et al Dec. 31, 1957 2,921,158 Taylor Jan. 12, 1960 2,939,927 Kozel et a1. June 7, 1960 2,973,009 Kazyaka Feb. 28, 1961 2,986,910 Bochan June 6, 1961 2,988,100 Coulrer June 13, 1961

Claims

1. CONTROL MEANS FOR AN ELECTRO-PNEUMATIC MACHINE COMPRISING A HOUSING, A SNAP ACTION ELECTRIC SWITCH IN SAID HOUSING, SAID HOUSING HAVING A SWITCH ACTUATOR IN A WALL THEREOF, SAID ACTUATOR BEING FORMED WITH A BORE PORTION OPENING AT ONE END THEREOF AND A SIDE OUTLET OPENING FROM THE BORE PORTION, A VALVE SEAT DEFINING THE OPEN BORE END OF SAID ACTUATOR, A VALVE FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SEAT, AND MOVABLE VALVE ACTUATOR MEANS EGAGED WITH SAID VALVE.