US3252357A - Transmission for a domestic appliance - Google Patents

Description

May 24, 1966 R. F. SMITH 3,252,357

TRANSMISSION FOR A DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Filed May 4, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 TIME IN MINUTES 2 4 6.91011 14 1618202! I NVEN TOR Robe)? .F 52221??? H16 ATTORNEY May 24, 1966 R. F. SMITH TRANSMISSION FOR A DOMESTIC APPLIANCE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 4, 1964 211 A l M INVENTOR- Ro21er1 1: 5222:??? BY H15 ATTORM'Y May 24, 1966 R. F. SMITH 3,252,357

TRANSMISSION FOR A DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Filed May 4, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTQR.

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TRANSMISSION FOR A DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Filed May 4., 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 iii Z w //o w M Z! M 7 if V I INVENTOR.

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TRANSMISSION FOR A DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Filed May 4, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOK R0220) H 5222. 2): BY

HIS ATTORNEY United States Patent 3 252,357 TRANSMISSION FOR A DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Robert F. Smith, Grosse Point Woods, Mich., assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 4, 1964, Ser. No. 364,553

8 Claims. (Cl. 74-810) This invention relates to domestic appliances and more particularly to an improved drive arrangement for use in a compact combination washerairyer appliance or the like.

The usual combination washer-dryer unit of the horizontal drum type is similarly sized or of larger dimensions than a separate washer or dryer unit. While such units are suitable for their intended purpose, in many cases their size is such as to require fairly substantial work space.

Furthermore, in some cases, a particular user may not desire the relatively large capacity of present-day laundry appliances and would be satisfied with a substantially smaller capacity. Such a limited capacity laundry appliance should be of reduced size to solve space problems and, hence, can be used in trailers, motels and the like where work area is often relatively limited.

An object of the present invention, therefore, is to extend the use of automatic laundry applicances by the provision of a compact combination washer-dryer unit that is portable and suitable for use in extremely limited work spaces.

A further object of the present invention is to reduce the outer cabinet dimensions of a laundry applicance by the provision of a plurality of relative speed responsive unidirectional clutch means on the drive shaft of a reversible electric motor wherein the clutch means serve, in combination with suitable belt pulley means, to selectively drive operative portions of the machine at variable speeds necessary for wash, spin and dry cycles of operation.

A still further object of the present invention is to improve a multiple-speed drive arrangement for rotating a horizontally disposed drum at first and second speeds of rotation by the provision of means including a reversiblev electric motor and a plurality of relative speed responsive, one-way clutch means operatively associated with first and second belt-pulley systems for effecting plural speed operation of a driven shaft on the rotatable drum and wherein a third magnetic clutch means is disposed between the beltpulley systems to prevent drum speed feedback to the motor during certain phases of operation thereof.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective of a combination washer-dryer including the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged view in elevation of the rear of the machine with the back plate removed therefrom;

FIGURE 3 is a view in vertical section taken along the line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a view in horizontal section taken along the line 44 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a view in horizontal section taken along the line 55 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged view in vertical section taken along the line 6--6 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary View in elevation looking in the direction of arrow 7 in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged view in vertical section taken along the line 88 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 9 is a diagrammatic electrical circuit for controlling the operation of the improved machine; and

3,252,357 Patented May 24, 1966 FIGURE 10 is a cam switch program chart showing the cycles of machine operation.

Referring now to the drawings, in FIGURE 1, a combination washer-dryer 20 is illustrated having an outer casing 22 with an opening 24 in the front wall thereof closed by an outwardly and downwardly opening door 26 hingedly connected to the front of casing 22 by suitable hinge means including pivot pin-s 28 on either side thereof. The illustrated arrangement in FIGURE 1 is approximately shown at one-tenth scale and it will, therefore, be apparent that the overall dimensions of the subject appliance are little more than those found in many portable television units presently on the market.

The reduced dimensional characteristics of the improved machine are in part made possible by a reduced clothes capacity which will, however, meet the needs of many users, for example, a single person. In the illusv is an annular seal 36 having an S-shaped rear portion 38 secured to the outwardly projecting flange 34 by clamps 40 and an enlarged somewhat bulbous forward portion 42 turned radially outward at 44 where it is supportingly received by a portion 46 of the outer casing 22. As best seen in FIGURE 3, the seal portion 42 is biased into sealing engagement with the rear surface of the door 26 when the door is in its closed position for preventing fluid leakage outwardly of the machine.

The door 26 is held in its closed position by a door latch assembly 48 including a downwardly spring biased shaft 50 that holds a roller element 52 on one end thereof in engagement with a stop shoulder 53 on a bent guide arm 54 secured to the door 26 on each side thereof. When the door is opened, the guide arms 54 are moved there-by into a position where a book 56 on one end thereof is engaged by the roller 52 for preventing downward movement of the door below a horizontal, open position.

When the door is open, clothes may be inserted through openings 24, 34 and through an opening 58 formed in the front wall of a perforated, inner drum 60 rotatably supported on the rear wall 62 of the outer drum 32 by means including a tubular bearing assembly 64 and a reinforcing member 66 secured to wall 62 to supportingly receive assembly 64. Supported within assembly 64 is a rotatable shaft 68 and an annular seal 70 preventing leakage outwardly of drum 32 along shaft 68. The inner end of shaft 68 connects to a bracket '72 that is secured .to the rear wall of inner drum 60 by suitable fastening means, for example, screws 74. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention within the compact outer casing 22 is a machinery or drive as sembly space 76 located rearwardly of the outer and inner drums 32, 60. An improved drive assembly 78 located within space 76 is operatively associated with a reversible electric motor 80 located at a point to one side and below the outer drum 32 for driving the inner tumbling drum 60 at two speeds for carrying out predetermined cycles of operation, [for example, a washing cycle, a spin dry cycle and a drying cycle. In one working embodiment of the invention, it was found that suitable washing of a two pound load of clothes could be carried out at approximately 55 rpm. and that the clothes could be spun dry at approximately 240 rpm. and finally dried at a rotative speed of 55 rpm.

In accordance with certain principles of the present invention, in order to obtain such two-speed drive of the rotatable tumbling drum 60, a rearwardly directed drive shaft 82 from the reversible electric motor 80 extends intov the machinery compartment 76 and has the terminal end thereof supported in a suitable bearing bracket 84 supported on a floating base 86 mounted on the bottom of casing 22 by a plurality of resilient shock mount assemblies 88 as best illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 5. In addition to the assemblies 88, damping assemblies 8-9 are located on either side of the outer drum 32 to resiliently support :it on the bottom of casing 22 so as to prevent vibration transfer therebetween. The details of both assemblies 88, 89 and the support arrangement form no part of the present invention but are the subject of the copending application to Paul F. Powder, Serial No. 364,455 filed May 4, 1964. Between the motor 80 and the bearing 84 a first drive pulley 90 is locatedforwardly of compartment 76 on shaft 82 and a like drive pulley 92 is located on the shaft 82 rearwardly of pulley 90. The drive pulley 90 is secured to an outer race 94 of a righthand clutch '96 of the sprag type having an inner race portion 98 thereof secured for rotation with the shaft 82 by suitable means, for example, a pin 100.

Between the inner and outer races 98, 94 are located a plurality of sprag elements (not shown) for carrying out a one-way clutching action. The sprag elements are arranged to produce a free wheeling action between inner and outer races 94, 98 upon counterclockwise rotation of shaft 82 and engagement between the respective races upon clockwise rotation of shaft 8-2 to cause drive pulley 90 to rotate therewith in a clockwise direction. The aforementioned and subsequent referenc'es to directions of rotation are as viewed in FIGURE 2.

The pulley 92 is secured to an outer race 102 of a sprag clutch 104 that has the inner race 186 thereof secured 'for rotation with shaft 82 by a pin 108. The clutch 104 is otherwise identical to clutch 96 but is operable upon counterclockwise rotation of the shaft 82 to interconnect the free wheeling pulley 92 for rotation therewith.

For purposes of this specification, the illustrated clutches 96, 104 will be referred to as relative speed responsive one-way clutching mechanisms with it being understood that other unidirectional speed responsive clutches having clutch rollers or the like that overrun would be equally suited for practicing the invention.

The drive pulley 9t) cooperates with suitable belt and pulleys to effect a counterclockwise rotation of drum 60 at the 55 rpm. washing and drying speeds and more particularly has a belt no running thereover and also over the outer periphery of a larger diameter pulley 112 on an intermediate pulley assembly 114, best illustrated in FIG- URE 6 as including a shaft 116 having one end thereof fixedly secured to a fixed bracket 118 by means of a ferrule 119 welded thereto that receives a pin 120 directed therethrough and through shaft 116 to prevent rotation thereof. The opposite end of shaft 116 is supported by a suitable fixed portion of the casing of the machine at 122 and sleeve bearings 124, 126 are supported adjacent opposite ends of shaft 116 for rotatably supporting the large diameter pulley 112 and a rearwardly located integrally formed small diameter pulley portion 128 thereon. Between the drive pulley 90 and the large diameter pulley portion 112 of intermediate pulley system 114 is located a first idler pulley 138 adjustably mounted on an idler bracket 132 for providing a desired belt tension between the drive pulley and the intermediate pulley assembly.

A belt 134 is directed over the small pulley portion 128 of the intermediate pulley assembly to pass around the outer periphery of a low-speed driven pulley 136 having a centrally located hub portion 138 connected thereto by spokes 139 and hub 138 is mounted on a bearing 140 on an extension of shaft 68 for free wheeling rotative movement relative thereto. Between the small diameter intermediate pulley 128 and the low-speed driven pulley 136, an adjustably mounted idler pulley 141 is supported on bracket 143 for controlling the tension in belt 134. Connected to'the extension of shaft 68 by means of a key 160. A ring 162 surrounding the clutch 150 is connected to a support plate 164 by screws 166 and a strap 168 best illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3 holds the plate 164 and ring 162 in a supported fixed relationship with the fixed outer drum 62. Within the support ring 162 is supported a ball bearing 17 0 for supportingly receiving the hub 154 of pulley 156 whereby pulley 156 will freely rotate so as to drive shaft 68 upon counterclockwise motor rotation. Supportingly secured to the :plate 164 is a magnet body 172 in the clutch 150 in spaced relationship to the inner body 152. An energizable coil 173 is wound on body 172. Upon the rear face of armature plate 148 are located a plurality of face teeth 174 adapted to be engaged with like face teeth 176 on the forward face on inner body 152. When clutch 150 is de-energized, the armature plate 148 is released by spring means (not shown) and held in the position shown in FIGURE 8. During low speed clockwise drive clutch 150 is energized to cause engagement between face teeth 174, 176 whereby drive from shaft 82 and clutch is transmitted through clutch to shaft extension 68 so as to cause drum 60 to rotate clockwise at 55 r.p.m.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, in order to effect an intermediate high spin speed cycle of 240 r.p.m., the outwardly located drive pulley 92 is selectively connected to drive shaft 82 by means of clutch 1114 upon counterclockwise rotation of motor 80 to cause a belt 178 directed thereover to be driven around the outer periphery of high-speed driven pulley 156 with the tension in the belt being controlled by an adjustably mounted idler pulley 180 on idler bracket 182. Upon the counterclockwise rotation of drive shaft 82 by motor 80, and the resultant high-speed spin of shaft 68, the clutch assembly 151) is de-energized by suitable control means todisconnect the low-speed driven pulley 136 from shaft 68. By virtue of the disconnect action of clutch 150, there is no high-speed feedback from shaft 68 to pulley 136 that would cause the-clutch 96 to have a relative rotative speed between inner and outer races 94, 98 thereof that would cause the otherwise free-wheeling pulley 90 to be locked to the shaft 82 and thus interfere with the highspeed driving action of drive pulley 92 and associated belt pulley components.

By virtue of the above-illustrated belt, pulley and clutch interrelationship, a highly compact and reliable drive system will produce desired drum rotation necessary to carry out a wash, spin dry and dry cycle of operation suitable for producing desired cleaning results in an inner drum having the limited dimensional characteristics of that of the present invention.

In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, plumbing necessary to carry out the washing cycle of operation includes an inlet water valve 184 having a pair of inlet fittings 186, 188 adapted to be connected to suitable exteriorly located sources of hot and cold Water or the like and an outlet fitting 190 connected to a hose 192 terminating at a nozzle fitting 194 secured to the outer drum 32 where water from the inlet valve is directed across an air gap shown in FIGURE 4 through a header 196 formed as part of the outer drum 32, thence through an opening 198 in the drum 32 and thence through the perforations in the inner drum 60 into the interior thereof. Following a predetermined cleaning operation, water is drained from the interior of the drum 68 through a sump 200' shown in FIGURE 7 as communicating with a lower portion 202 of the outer drum 32 with the sump being fluidly communicated through a solenoid valve 204 and drain conduit 206 with the inlet 208 of a rotary drain pump 210 operatively connected to the motor 80 and driven by a forwardly directed shaft extension 212 therefrom to pump fluid from sump 200 and discharge it through an outlet 214 and a discharge conduit 216 to a suitable drain located exteriorly of the machine. The water level in the drum 60 is controlled by a suitable water level switch 217 and tube 219 to sump 200 supported within the outer casing 22 to the right of drum 32 and forwardly of the enclosing space therearound for terminating water fill through inlet valving 184 following a predetermined passage of water into the machine. In one working embodiment of the invention, the water necessary to carry out a desired cleaning action on two pounds of articles to be cleaned was five gallons of water which compares with thirty gallons of water in a standard domestic washing appliance.

The machine further includes an air circulation system, best shown in FIGURES 2, 4 and 5 and operative during the drying cycle of the washer-dryer combination. The circulation system includes a blower 218 having a screened inlet opening 220 within the machinery compartment 76 and an outlet222 connected to one end of an air inlet pipe 224 extending upwardly in the compartment 76 where the opposite end thereof is connected to a header 226 communicating with an opening 228 in the outer drum 32 through which air is discharged to circulate through the perforated inner drum 60 and outwardly thereof through suitable means including an opening 230 in the upper portion of the drum 32 on the opposite side thereof from opening 228 and thence through an air filter-2G2 slidably supported within a header 234 located transversely across a portion of the outer periphery of the outer drum 32. Following passage across filter 232, the discharged air passes exteriorly of the machine through a vent opening 236 formed in the rearward end of header 234 and thence exteriorly of casing 22. The filter 232 has a rotatable handle 238 for locking it in place and in order to replace the filter, the machine includes an access door 240 mounted on the top front of the outer casing 22 by suitable means to permit downward pivotal opening movement thereof. Within the air inlet pipe 224 is a suitable electrical resistance element 242 that serves to heat the circulating air during the drying cycle of operation of the machine.

A timer control 246 is representatively illustrated as being mounted in the upper right-hand front portion of the outer casing 22. One suitable timer is more particularly set forth in copending application of Norman R. Clark, Serial No. 364,703, filed May 4, 1964, directed to a particular timer and circuit structure for controlling a drive motor such as reversible electric motor 80 and other energizable components of the system in order to obtain the programmed cycle of operation illustrated in FIGURE 10. For purposes of this specification, it will only be necessary to indicate that the timer advances through a thirty minute controlling cycle during which time cam switch portions 248a-248l thereof open and close in a controlling circuit to condition the motor, drain solenoid, and drive reversing clutch 146 in a stepwise fashion and heater and blower motor to provide a desired sequential operation of the machine.

Now, by virtue of the circuit in FIGURE 9, when a door switch 250 is closed and the timer is in an on position, a line switch 251 and a cam switch 248a are closed to complete a circuit between lines L and L of a l-volt, 60 cycle A.C. source for energizing a timer motor 252. A cam switch 248b is also closed to complete a circuit between lines L L through a conductor 254 that includes the water level switch 217 and fill solenoid 184 whereby a predetermined water fill cycle is initiated, which, in the representatively illustrated program shown in FIGURE 10, is of a forty-five second duration providing approximately a three-gallon water fill within the interior of the outer drum of the machine 20 which quantity has been found suited for cleaning a clothes load in the range of two .to three pounds.

Following the fil'l cycle of operation, the synchronous timer motor 252 advances cams so that cam switch 24812 opens and cam switch 248d closes to initiate a twominute wash cycle wherein the circuit through conductor 254 is opened to terminate water fill and a motor start circuit through switch 248d, a conductor 256, a jog switch 258, a conductor 260, motor 80, a capacitor 262, normally closed relay contacts 263 and a conductor 264 is completed between L L so as to condition the motor for rotation in a clockwise direction to produce a tub rotation of fifity-five r.p.m. whereby the clothes load therein is tumbled to carry out a desired cleaning action. During mo-' tor rotation clockwise the running circuit therethrough passes from jog switch 258 through condulctor 266, a pair of cam reversing switches 248g, 248k, thence to conductor 268, a relay coil 270 and conductor 264. By virtue of this arrangement the relay contacts 263 are opened following start to open the start winding. To reverse motor rotation in this type of motor, it is necessary to slow the motor substantially before the reversing switches- 248g, 24811 are thrown. Whenever the motor is conditioned for clockwise rotation, cam switch 248k is closed to complete a circuit [between L L including conductor 272, a fullwave rectifying bridge 274 having the output terminals connected across the coil 173 and paralleled capacitor 276 in the electrical clut'ch 150 of the drive 78. v

In the illustrated program the washing cycle is of a two-minute duration following which time the timer motor 252 advances the cams so as to cause the cam switch 2481' to close a circuit through a conductor 278, conne ct ing the drain solenoid 204 between lines L and L to thereby produce a drain cycle of one and three-quarters minutes in duration.

Following one minute of the drain cycle, fill solenoid 184 is re-energized by closing the ca m switch 248a for one and one-quarter minutes. One minute following reenengiziation of fill solenoid 184, the drain solenoid cam switch 248i is opened to de-energize the drain solenoid during one quarter of a minute of the fili for rinse cy cle whereby a slight amount of rinse water is retained in the clothes. Following n'nse fill the motor clockwise cam switch 248d and clutch cam switch 248k are closed and the drum thereby is tumbled at the fifty-tfiye r.p.-m. speed for one minute and then drain cam switch 248i is closed to drain water from the drumduring the last minute and fifteen selconds of the rinse and drain cycle and thereafter for the rest of the operation of the machine. Following the drain, fil l for rinse, rinse and rinse-drain cycles described above, the motor clockwise cam switch 248d is opened to de-energize the motor for a ten second dwell period necessary to stoy the motor for reversal of rotation thereof. During the ten second dwell, motor reversing cam switches 248g and 248 are moved to their motor counterclockwise rotation position and motor counterclockwise carn' switch 248a is moved to energize motor 80 and de-energize the clutch coil 173. Such motor drive produces the two hundred forty rpm. drum turnbling speed to carry out a desired spin dry cycle during which time the magnetic clutch of drive 78 is deenergized to prevent high speed feed back to the drive shaft of the motor.

The spin dry cycle in the illustrated program is of a threeaminute' duration at the end of which time the motor counterclockwise cam switch 248:: is positioned to tieenergize motor 80 and a ten second dwell occurs before the motor clockwise cam switch 248] closes to condition the motor for reverse rotation. During the ten-second dwell period between motor counterclockwise and clockwise rotation, the motor reversing cam switches 248g and 24811 are positioned to effect the desired reversal of rotation.

Following the spin dry cycle the motor clockwise cam switch 248 drain solenoid cam switch 248 magnetic clutch cam switch 248k and a heater and blower cam switch 2 48l are closed whereby a drying cycle of twenty and three-quarters minutes duration is carried out during which time the drum is rotated clockwise at fifty I.p.rn. and air heater 242 and a blower motor 280 in conductor 282 across lines L L are energized to effect a desired circulation of heated air through the slowly tumbling clothes for removing any moisture therefrom that remains following the spin dry cycle.

By virtue of the above-described control arrangement, a complete washing, spin dry and drying cycle of operation can he carried out with a clothes load of around two pounds in a relatively short period of time. In the illustrated arrangement, if all moisture is not removed from the clothes during a first drying cycle, a portion of the drying cycle can be reset by the timer mechanism to obtain complete drying.

By virtue of the abovediscussed improved drive arrangement, a combination (washer-dryer is able to be dimentionally reduced to a point 'where the machine is substantially portable and adaptable for use in environments where conventional single or combination appliances for cleaning or drying clothes would (be completely unsuitable. The drive produces a desired two-speed operation in the sequence of operation of the machine Without requiring bulky transmissions or the like.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In a cleaning device, a drum for containing articles to be cleaned, means for supporting said drum for rotation, a driven shaft drivingly connected to said drum, reversible motor means including a drive shaft end portion, first belt-pulley means operatively relating said drive and driven shafts for rotating said drum in a first predetermined manner, second belt-pulley means operatively associating said drive and driven shafts for reversely rotating said drum in a second predetermined manner, said first belt-pulley means including first clutch means on said shaft end portion operable upon a first rotation of said drive shaft to produce said first predetermined rotation of said drum, said second belt-pulley means including second clutch means on said shaft end portion for disconnecting said second belt-pulley means from said driven drum shaft upon said first rotation of said drive shaft, said second clutch means operable upon rotation of said drive shaft opposite to said first rotation to produce said second predetermined drum rotation, and third clutch means in said first belt-pulley means for disconnecting said driven drum shaft said first belt-pulley means as said driven drum shaft is being driven by said second belt pulley means.

2. In a cleaning device, a drum for containing articles to be cleaned, means for rotatably mounting said drum, a driven shaft drivingly connected to said drum, motor means including a drive shaft end portion rotatable in opposite directions, first and second drive pulleys, first and second relative speed responsive clutch means on said end portion for connecting and disconnecting said first and second pulleys to said drive shaft upon rotation thereof in opposite directions, first and second driven pulleys on said driven shaft, third clutch means for connecting and disconnecting one of said driven drum pulleys on said driven shaft in accordance with the direction of rotation thereof, means for operatively connecting said first drive pulley to said one of said driven pulleys and means for operatively connecting said second drive pulley to the other of said driven pulleys, said first relative speed responsive clutch means being operable upon a first rotation of said drive shaft to connect said first drive pulley to sponsive clutch means being operable during such rotation of said drive shaft to disconnect said second drive pulley from said drive shaft, said first and second relative speed responsive clutches operable upon reverse rotation of said drive shaft to connect and disconnect said second and first drive pulleys on said drive shaft respectively, for effecting a reverse rotation of said drum, said third clutch means for connecting and disconnecting said one of said driven pulleys on said driven shaft .being operable upon such reverse rotation of said drive shaft to disconnect said one of said driven pulleys from said driven drum shaft to prevent a high speed drive feedback to said first drive pulley capable of conditioning said first relative speed responsive clutch to lock the drive pulley associated therewith to said, drive shaft.

3. In a cleaning device, a drum for containing articles to be cleaned, means for supporting said drum for rotation, a driven shaft drivingly connected to said drum reversible motor means including a drive shaft end portion, first power transmission means operatively associated with said drive and driven shafts including a first clutch on said shaft end portion vfor producing a first predetermined rotation of said drum, second power transmis sion means operatively associated with said drive and driven shafts including a second clutch on said shaft end portion operable to cause reverse rotation of said drum said drive shaft for effecting a first predetermined low in excess of said first predetermined rotation thereof, said first and second clutches being operable to effect the transmission of power from said drive shaft to said driven shaft upon reverse rotation of said drive shaft with rotation thereof in a first direction producing said first predetermined drum rotation and rotation thereof in an opposite direction producing said second predetermined direction of rotation of said drum, and third clutch means on said driven shaft disposed between said first and second power transmission means for preventing drive interference therebetween during their respective operations.

4. In a cleaning device, a drum for containing articles to be cleaned, means for supporting said drum for rotation, a driven shaft drivingly connected to said drum, reversible motor means including a drive shaft end portion, first belt-pulley means for rotating said drum at a first predetermined speed of rotation, second belt-pulley means operatively associated with said driven shaft for rotating it at a second predetermined speed in excess of said first predetermined speed, said first belt-pulley means including first clutch means on said shaft end portion operable to effect the first predetermined rotation of said driven shaft upon rotation of said drive shaft in a first predetermined direction of rotation, said second belt-pulley means including second clutch means on said shaft end portion for effecting the'high speed rotation of said drum upon rotation of said drive shaft opposite to said first direction, and third clutch means on said driven shaft disposed between said first belt-pulley means and said drum to prevent drive feedback to said first clutch means during rotation of said drum at said second predetermined speed.

5. In the device of claim 4, said first and second clutch means each being relative speed responsive, said first and second clutch means each being arranged coaxially on said drive shaft.

6. In the device of claim 4, said third clutch means being included as an operative part of both said first and second belt-pulley means.

7. In a cleaning device, a drum for containing articles to be cleaned, means for supporting said drum for rotation, a driven shaft drivingly connected to said drum, reversible motor means including a drive shaft end portion, first belt-pulley means for rotating said drum at a first predetermined speed of rotation, second belt-pulley means operatively associated with said driven shaft for reversely rotating it at a second predetermined speed in excess of said first predetermined speed, said first beltpulley means including first clutch means operable to effect the first predetermined rotation of said driven drum shaft upon rotation of said drive shaft in a first predetermined direction of rotation, said second belt-pulley means including second clutch means for effecting the high speed rotation of said drum upon rotation of said drive shaft opposite to said first direction of rotation, and third clutch means having a first rotatable part driven by said first belt-pulley means and a second rotatable part secured to said driven drum shaft, said first and second rotatable parts releasably connecting one to the other for disconnecting said first belt-pulley means from said driven drum shaft upon actuation thereby by said second belt-pulley means for preventing high-speed feedback through said first belt-pulley means.

v 8. In a cleaning device, a drum for containing articles to be cleaned, means for supporting said drum for rotation, reversible motor means including a drive shaft end portion, a first and a second drive pulley, first clutch means on said drive shaft operative to connect said first drive pulley to said drive shaft upon rotation of said drive shaft in a first direction, a second clutch on said drive shaft end portion operative to connect said second drive pulley to said drive shaft upon rotation thereof in an opposite direction, a driven shaft drivingly connected to said drum, belt pulley means for connecting said first drive pulley to said driven shaft for rotating said drum in a first direction, second belt-pulley means for connecting said second drive pulley to said driven shaft for rotating said drum in an opposite direction at a higher speed of rotation and a third clutch having a first rotatable part driven by said first belt-pulley means and a second rotatable part secured to said driven shaft, said first and second rotatable parts being selectively releasably connected one to another and operative to disconnect said first belt-pulley means from said driven shaft upon rotation thereof by said second belt-pulley means for pre venting high-speed feedback through said first belt-pulley means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,060,764, 10/1962 Si'bbald 74810 DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner.

DON A. WAITE, Examiner.

R. J. BIRD, H. S. LAYTON, Assistant Examiners.

Claims (1)

1. IN A CLEANING DEVICE, A DRUM FOR CONTAINING ARTICLES TO BE CLEANED, MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID DRUM FOR ROTATION, A DRIVEN SHAFT DRIVINGLY CONNECTED TO SAID DRUM, REVERSIBLE MOTOR MEANS INCLUDING A DRIVE SHAFT END PORTION, FIRST BELT-PULLEY MEANS OPERATIVELY RELATING SAID DRIVE AND DRIVEN SHAFTS FOR ROTATING SAID DRUM IN A FIRST PREDETERMINED MANNER, SECOND BELT-PULLEY MEANS OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATING SAID DRIVE AND DRIVEN SHAFTS FOR REVERSELY ROTATING SAID DRUM IN A SECOND PREDETERMINED MANNER, SAID FIRST BELT-PULLEY MEANS INCLUDING FIRST CLUTCH MEANS ON SAID SHAFT END PORTION OPERABLE UPON A FIRST ROTATION OF SAID DRIVE SHAFT TO PRODUCE SAID FIRST PREDETERMINED ROTATION OF SAID DRUM, SAID SECOND BELT-PULLEY MEANS INCLUDING SECOND CLUTCH MEANS ON SAID SHAFT END PORTION FOR DISCONNECTING SAID SECOND BELT-PULLEY MEANS FROM SAID DRIVEN DRUM SHAFT UPON SAID FIRST ROTATION OF SAID DRIVE SHAFT, SAID SECOND CLUTCH MEANS OPERABLE UPON ROTATION OF SAID DRIVE SHAFT OPPOSITE TO SAID FIRST ROTATION TO PRODUCE SAID SECOND PREDETERMINED DRUM ROTATION, AND THIRD CLUTCH MEANS IN SAID FIRST BELT-PULLEY MEANS FOR DISCONNECTING SAID DRIVEN DRUM SHAFT SAID FIRST BELT-PULLEY MEANS AS SAID DRIVEN DRUM SHAFT IS BEING DRIVEN BY SAID SECOND BELT PULLEY MEANS.

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