US3263459A - Clutch mechanism for a washing machine - Google Patents

Clutch mechanism for a washing machine Download PDF

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US3263459A
US3263459A US399158A US39915864A US3263459A US 3263459 A US3263459 A US 3263459A US 399158 A US399158 A US 399158A US 39915864 A US39915864 A US 39915864A US 3263459 A US3263459 A US 3263459A
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sleeve
shaft
basket
spring clutch
hub
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US399158A
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Bochan John
Eugene A Pottinger
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General Electric Co
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General Electric Co
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    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06FLAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F37/00Details specific to washing machines covered by groups D06F21/00 - D06F25/00
    • D06F37/30Driving arrangements 
    • D06F37/36Driving arrangements  for rotating the receptacle at more than one speed
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16DCOUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES
    • F16D67/00Combinations of couplings and brakes; Combinations of clutches and brakes
    • F16D67/02Clutch-brake combinations

Definitions

  • One mechanism that is often used is a unitary basket which is wobbled to cause the relative motion between the liquid and the fabrics contained therein.
  • Other machines utilize separate agitators which are mounted within the liquid and clothes receiving basket, some of these agitators being provided with a wobble action while others execute an orbital type of motion.
  • Another object of our invention is to provide such a clutch which is constructed from a minimum number of low cost, reliable parts.
  • a Washing machine having a container including a tub for receiving liquid and a perforated basket within the tub for receiving fabrics to be washed in the liquid.
  • the basket is eccentrically mounted on the upper end of a drive shaft which extends upwardly within the tub.
  • a hollow sleeve or spin shaft is also provided and extends upwardly Within the tub around the drive shaft and is connected to the basket.
  • a woundspring type clutch mechanism also known in the art as an L.G.S.-clutch mechanism which connects the 'ice drive shaft and spin shaft to a drive motor.
  • the drive shaft rotates while the clutch mechanism holds the spin shaft stationary so that a wobble-type motion is imparted to the basket for cleaning the fabrics.
  • the clutch mechanism rotates the spin shaft with the drive shaft in order to spin the basket for centrifugal extraction of liquid from the fabrics.
  • the clutch mechanism quickly stops the rotation of the basket.
  • FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a fabric washing machine which includes one embodiment of my improved structure, the view being partially broken away and partially in section to illustrate details;
  • FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, sectional, side elevational View of a portion of the structure included in FIGURE 1.
  • FIGURE 1 there is shown an automatic fabric washing machine 10 having a basket 11 to receive fabrics to be washed.
  • the basket 11 includes an annular, upwardly extending outer wall 12, a curved lower wall 13 and an annular, upwardly extending center wall 14.
  • the basket 11 is provided over a portion of its outer wall 12 with perforations 15 and additional perforations 16 are provided in the bottom wall 13.
  • the basket is disposed within an outer imperforate tub 17 which also forms an appearance cabinet.
  • the tub 17 includes upwardly extending side walls 18, a bottom wall 19 and an upper wall 20.
  • a cover 21 is hingedly mounted on the upper wall 20 to provide access through an opening 21a to the basket 11.
  • the basket 11 is mounted for both a wobble-type motion and for a spin or centrifugal extraction type motion.
  • a stub shaft 22 is securely received in the upper end of annular center wall 14 and is mounted on the upper portion 23 of a drive shaft 24 which extends upwardly within tub 17 through an opening 25 in bottom wall .19.
  • the upper portion 23 of drive shaft 24 is offset or canted relative to the remainder of the shaft, which is disposed generally vertically.
  • the connection between stub shaft 22 and drive shaft 24 is effected through bearings 26 and 27 so that basket 11 is free to rotate with respect to upper portion 23.
  • a generally cylindrical sleeve or spin shaft 28 extends upwardly within tub 17 around drive shaft 24 and the upper end of the sleeve 28 is connected to the basket by means of an annular resilient member 29.
  • the lower end 30 of the resilient member fits closely about sleeve 28 while the upper end 31 is securely received between stub shaft 22 and annular inner wall 14 of basket 11.
  • the drive shaft 24 and sleeve 28 are connected by a clutch mechanism generally indicated at 32 which is mounted on a pedestal 33.
  • the lower end of the pedestal 33 is mounted on the bottom wall 19 of tub 17 by means of a number of bolts 34 and a gasket 35 is secured between the pedestal 3 3 and bottom wall 19 to seal the opening 25 so that fluid will not escape from the tub 17.
  • a motor 36 is connected to the drive shaft 24 through a system including a pulley 37 and belt 38
  • the clutch mechanism functions so that when motor 36 is rotated in one direction the drive shaft 24 is rotated while the sleeve or spin shaft 28 is held stationary to impart a wobble motion to the basket. Conversely, when motor 36 is driven in the opposite direction, the drive shaft and spin shaft are rotated together in order to spin the basket 11 at high speed for centrifugal liquid extraction.
  • motor 36 provides a direct drive through a resilient member 36a to a pump structure 39.
  • the pump 39 has an inlet which is connected to the interior of tub 17 and a pair of outlets and 41.
  • Outlet 40 is connected by a suitable conduit (not shown) to the upper portion to tub 17 while outlet 41 is connected by a suitable conduit (not shown) to a drain.
  • motor 36 when motor 36 is operated in the first or Wash direction pump 39 is effective to withdraw liquid from the tub and discharge it through outlet 40 so that it may be returned to the tub 17 through a suitable filter arrangement (not shown).
  • motor 36 when the motor 36 is operated in the second or extraction direction pump 39 withdraws liquid from the tub 17 and discharges it through outlet 41 to drain.
  • a control panel 42 which may also be referred to as a backsplasher, is mounted on upper wall 20 of tub 17 and may have suitable manually-operated members such as that shown at 43. Member 43 may be used to control, for instance, water temperature, water level within tub :17 and basket 11, etc., and for initiating a cycle of operation of the machine.
  • the clutch mechanism 32 is provided in order to control the operation of the machine so that rotation of drive shaft 24 selectively causes the basket to wobble for washing fabrics and to rotate or spin for centrifugal extraction of liquid from the fabrics.
  • the clutch mechanism 32 is constructed as a wound-spring type clutch mechanism.
  • An input hub 44 is mounted around the drive shaft 24 in spaced relationship with the lower end 45 of sleeve 28.
  • Input hub 44 may be mounted on drive shaft 24 in any conventional manner which will result in input hub 44 turning with shaft 24.
  • the input hub and shaft are joined by means of a pin 46 which extends through mating openings 47 and 48 in the hub and shaft.
  • Sleeve 28 is formed with a recess 49 and the hub 50 of a brake member 51 is mounted in the recess 49 so that the outer surface 52 of the upper portion of brake hub 50 is coextensive with the outer surface 53 of sleeve 28 and the outer surface 54 of the lower part of brake hub '50 is co-extensive with the outer surface 55 of sleeve 28 adjacent lower end 45 thereof.
  • a first wound-spring type clutch mechanism 56 is mounted on outer surfaces 52 and 53 respectively and wound-spring clutch 57 is mounted on outer surfaces 54 and 55 respectively.
  • Brake member 51 also includes a generally cylindrical sleeve portion 58 which extends outwardly from hub 50 and then downwardly to form a mounting surface for friction members 59 and 60.
  • the friction members 59 and 60 bear against the inner surface 61 of the clutch housing 62 so that the brake member 51, friction members 59 and 60 and clutch housing 62 form a preloaded brake mechanism that provides a large drag on brake member '51 when it is rotated in either direction.
  • housing 6'2 forms a liquid-proof enclosure for the clutch mechanism 32.
  • T 0 this end the upper end of housing 62 is connected to spin shaft 28 by a resilient gasket 62a and the lower end is securely bolted to pedestal 33 by bolts 62]).
  • the joint between housing 62 and pedestal 33 is sealed by a gasket 62c.
  • An intermediate member 63 is mounted around drive shaft 24 between input hub 44 and the lower end 45 of sleeve 28 and includes a cylindrical arm portion 64 which extends upwardly between wound-spring clutch 57 and sleeve portion 58 of brake member 51. Arm 64 is provided with a notch or recess 65 that receives a tab 66 formed at one end of spring clutch 57. A third woundspring clutch 67 is mounted around a hub portion 68 of intermediate member 63 and input hub 44.
  • drive shaft 24 is rotated in a first direction by pulley 37 and belt 38.
  • drive shaft 24 rotates in the first direction the friction between input hub 44 and spring clutch 67 causes spring clutch 67 to expand and slip with respect to input hub 44 and hub portion 68 of intermediate member 63.
  • drive shaft 24 rotates in the first direction without applying any appreciable torque to sleeve or spin shaft 28.
  • the upper end 23 of drive shaft 24 rotates within bearings 26 and 27 to cause the basket 11 to have a wobble type motion.
  • the rotation of drive shaft 24 also causes basket '11 to tend to precess or rotate slowly in the first direction.
  • spring clutch 57 and sleeve 28 causes sleeve 28 to rotate with drive shaft 24 so that basket 11 is rotated for centrifugal extraction.
  • the rotation of basket 11 by use of the friction between spring clutch 57 and sleeve 28 is a result of utilizing a different type of wound-spring clutch for spring clutch 57 than is utilized for spring clutches 56 and 67.
  • Spring clutches 56 and 67 are of a low torque or unloaded type. That is, they are made from relatively light spring material and their inner diameter at rest is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the members on which they are mounted.
  • Spring clutch 57 is formed from a heavier spring material and is preloaded so that its inner diameter at most is somewhat smaller than the outer diameter of the members on which it is mounted. Thus, it is necessary to provide a substantial unwinding force on the spring before it is slipped and, even when it slips, it exerts a substantial frictional force on its associated members.
  • This frictional force between spring 57 and outer surface 55 of sleeve 28 rotates sleeve 28 to spin basket 11 and at the same time allows relative motion between sleeve 28 and clutch 57 so that basket 11 may slowly come up to speed and not overload motor 36 when motor 36 initially rotates in the second or centrifugal extraction direction of rotation. In this second direction of rotation the force on spring clutch 56 tends to unwind it so that it slips with respect to outer surfaces 52 and 53 so that spin shaft is effectively uncoupled from brake member 51.
  • spring clutch 57 is required in the embodiment shown because the initial load placed on motor 36 by basket 11 and its load of wet fabrics is very high at the beginning of centrifugal extraction. Therefore, if our improved clutch mechanism were utilized in applications in which the initial load on the motor is low, spring clutch 57 could be omitted.
  • an automatic washing machine including a basket to receive liquid and clothes to be washed in the liquid, wash means for effecting washing of the clothes, a drive shaft, a sleeve concentric with the drive shaft and connected to the basket, and drive means for selectively rotating the drive shaft in opposite directions to selectively produce a wash period of operation and a centrifugal extraction period of operation; a clutch mechanism including therewith and extending axially thereof in spaced relationship with said sleeve,
  • brake means including an elongated brake hub mounted around said sleeve for rotation relative thereto,
  • said first spring clutch includes an outwardly extending tab and said intermediate member includes an arm extending longitudinally of said shaft to contact said tab for effecting the driving engagement between said intermediate member and said first spring clutch when said shaft is driven in said second direction.
  • a mechanism as set forth in claim 1 further including a third spring clutch mounted on said sleeve and said brake hub, said third spring clutch firmly seizing upon said sleeve and said brake hub when said shaft rotates in said first direction to lock said sleeve to said brake hub so that said brake means prevents rotation of the basket during the wash period of operation.
  • An automatic washing machine including:
  • brake means including an elongated brake hub mounted around said sleeve for rotation relative thereto,
  • a washing machine as set forth in claim 4 wherein a third spring clutch is mounted on said sleeve and said brake hub, said third spring clutch firmly seizing upon said sleeve and said brake hub when said shaft rotates in said first direction to lock said sleeve to said brake hub so that said brake means prevents rotation of said basket during the wash period of operation.
  • An automatic washing machine including:
  • brake means including an elongated brake hub mounted in said recess in said sleeve for rotation relative thereto,

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Main Body Construction Of Washing Machines And Laundry Dryers (AREA)
  • Centrifugal Separators (AREA)

Description

Aug. 2, 1966 v J. BOCHAN ETAL 3,263,459
CLUTCH MECHANISM FOR A WASHING MACHINE 1 Filed Sept. 25, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS ITOHN BOCHAN 8: EUGENE. POTTNUGER THElR ATTORNEY g- 2, 1966 J. BOCHAN ETAL 3,263,459
CLUTCH MECHANISM FOR A WASHING MACHINE Filed Sept. 25, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,263,459 CLUTCH MECHANISM FOR A WASHING MACHINE John Bochan and Eugene A. Pottinger, Louisville, Ky., assignors to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed Sept. 25, 1964, Ser. No. 399,158 7 Claims. (Cl. 68-23) Our invention relates to an improved automatic fabric washing machine and, more particularly, to an improved clutch mechanism for such a machine.
Automatic fabric Washing machines have been available for several years which wash fabrics by causing relative motion between the various portions of the fabrics and between the fabrics and the liquid in which they are immersed followed by a centrifugal extraction of the liquid from the fabrics. These machines produce this relative motion by means of a number of different structures; however, virtually all of them produce the relative motion by agitating liquid and fabrics contained therein.
One mechanism that is often used is a unitary basket which is wobbled to cause the relative motion between the liquid and the fabrics contained therein. Other machines utilize separate agitators which are mounted within the liquid and clothes receiving basket, some of these agitators being provided with a wobble action while others execute an orbital type of motion.
With any of these types of washing machines it is desirable to prevent the basket from rotating during the agitation or wash period of operation since rotation of the basket at this time reduces the cleaning effect of the agitation. However, with all of these types of washing machines it is desired to rotate the basket at the conclusion of the washing period of operation to provide a centrifugal extraction period of operation in which a large portion of the liquid is removed from the clothes. At the end of the centrifugal extraction period of operation it is desirable to bring the basket quickly to a halt so that the total elapsed time of the washing operation may be held to a minimum. It is necessary, therefore to provide a clutch mechanism with any of these washing machines which is effective to hold the basket against rotation during the wash period of operation, to spin the basket (or the basket and agitator together in those machines having an agitator) during the centrifugal extraction period of operation and quickly stop the spinning of the basket at the end of the centrifugal extraction period of operation.
Accordingly, it is an object of our invention to provide an improved automatic washing machine for washing fabrics in a body of liquid and then centrifugally extracting the liquid from the fabrics.
More particularly, it is an object of our invention to provide an improved clutch mechanism for use in such a washing machine.
Another object of our invention is to provide such a clutch which is constructed from a minimum number of low cost, reliable parts.
In one form of our invention, we provide a Washing machine having a container including a tub for receiving liquid and a perforated basket within the tub for receiving fabrics to be washed in the liquid. The basket is eccentrically mounted on the upper end of a drive shaft which extends upwardly within the tub. A hollow sleeve or spin shaft is also provided and extends upwardly Within the tub around the drive shaft and is connected to the basket. In order to drive the basket in the various modes of operation we provide a woundspring type clutch mechanism (also known in the art as an L.G.S.-clutch mechanism) which connects the 'ice drive shaft and spin shaft to a drive motor. When the motor rotates in a first direction, the drive shaft rotates while the clutch mechanism holds the spin shaft stationary so that a wobble-type motion is imparted to the basket for cleaning the fabrics. When the drive motor rotates in the opposite direction, the clutch mechanism rotates the spin shaft with the drive shaft in order to spin the basket for centrifugal extraction of liquid from the fabrics. When the motor is turned off at the end of centrifugal extraction, the clutch mechanism quickly stops the rotation of the basket.
The subject matter which we regard as our invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims which form the concluding portion of this specification. The invention itsel-f, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
In the drawings, FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a fabric washing machine which includes one embodiment of my improved structure, the view being partially broken away and partially in section to illustrate details; and
FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, sectional, side elevational View of a portion of the structure included in FIGURE 1.
Referring now to FIGURE 1, there is shown an automatic fabric washing machine 10 having a basket 11 to receive fabrics to be washed. The basket 11 includes an annular, upwardly extending outer wall 12, a curved lower wall 13 and an annular, upwardly extending center wall 14. The basket 11 is provided over a portion of its outer wall 12 with perforations 15 and additional perforations 16 are provided in the bottom wall 13.
The basket is disposed within an outer imperforate tub 17 which also forms an appearance cabinet. The tub 17 includes upwardly extending side walls 18, a bottom wall 19 and an upper wall 20. A cover 21 is hingedly mounted on the upper wall 20 to provide access through an opening 21a to the basket 11.
The basket 11 is mounted for both a wobble-type motion and for a spin or centrifugal extraction type motion. To this end a stub shaft 22 is securely received in the upper end of annular center wall 14 and is mounted on the upper portion 23 of a drive shaft 24 which extends upwardly within tub 17 through an opening 25 in bottom wall .19. The upper portion 23 of drive shaft 24 is offset or canted relative to the remainder of the shaft, which is disposed generally vertically. The connection between stub shaft 22 and drive shaft 24 is effected through bearings 26 and 27 so that basket 11 is free to rotate with respect to upper portion 23. A generally cylindrical sleeve or spin shaft 28 extends upwardly within tub 17 around drive shaft 24 and the upper end of the sleeve 28 is connected to the basket by means of an annular resilient member 29. The lower end 30 of the resilient member fits closely about sleeve 28 while the upper end 31 is securely received between stub shaft 22 and annular inner wall 14 of basket 11.
The drive shaft 24 and sleeve 28 are connected by a clutch mechanism generally indicated at 32 which is mounted on a pedestal 33. The lower end of the pedestal 33 is mounted on the bottom wall 19 of tub 17 by means of a number of bolts 34 and a gasket 35 is secured between the pedestal 3 3 and bottom wall 19 to seal the opening 25 so that fluid will not escape from the tub 17.
A motor 36 is connected to the drive shaft 24 through a system including a pulley 37 and belt 38 The clutch mechanism functions so that when motor 36 is rotated in one direction the drive shaft 24 is rotated while the sleeve or spin shaft 28 is held stationary to impart a wobble motion to the basket. Conversely, when motor 36 is driven in the opposite direction, the drive shaft and spin shaft are rotated together in order to spin the basket 11 at high speed for centrifugal liquid extraction. In addition to operating the drive shaft 24, motor 36 provides a direct drive through a resilient member 36a to a pump structure 39. The pump 39 has an inlet which is connected to the interior of tub 17 and a pair of outlets and 41. Outlet 40 is connected by a suitable conduit (not shown) to the upper portion to tub 17 while outlet 41 is connected by a suitable conduit (not shown) to a drain. Thus, when motor 36 is operated in the first or Wash direction pump 39 is effective to withdraw liquid from the tub and discharge it through outlet 40 so that it may be returned to the tub 17 through a suitable filter arrangement (not shown). Conversely when the motor 36 is operated in the second or extraction direction pump 39 withdraws liquid from the tub 17 and discharges it through outlet 41 to drain.
Other conventional elements such as a water supply system for providing hot and cold water to the machine and a water level control arrangement are provided so that a predetermined amount of water of a proper temperature may be provided to the machine. Such elements are well known in the art and do not form a part of my invention. They have, therefore, been omitted from FIG- URE l for ease of illustration.
A control panel 42, which may also be referred to as a backsplasher, is mounted on upper wall 20 of tub 17 and may have suitable manually-operated members such as that shown at 43. Member 43 may be used to control, for instance, water temperature, water level within tub :17 and basket 11, etc., and for initiating a cycle of operation of the machine.
Referring now specifically to FIGURE 2, the clutch mechanism 32 is provided in order to control the operation of the machine so that rotation of drive shaft 24 selectively causes the basket to wobble for washing fabrics and to rotate or spin for centrifugal extraction of liquid from the fabrics. The clutch mechanism 32 is constructed as a wound-spring type clutch mechanism. An input hub 44 is mounted around the drive shaft 24 in spaced relationship with the lower end 45 of sleeve 28. Input hub 44 may be mounted on drive shaft 24 in any conventional manner which will result in input hub 44 turning with shaft 24. In the embodiment shown the input hub and shaft are joined by means of a pin 46 which extends through mating openings 47 and 48 in the hub and shaft.
Sleeve 28 is formed with a recess 49 and the hub 50 of a brake member 51 is mounted in the recess 49 so that the outer surface 52 of the upper portion of brake hub 50 is coextensive with the outer surface 53 of sleeve 28 and the outer surface 54 of the lower part of brake hub '50 is co-extensive with the outer surface 55 of sleeve 28 adjacent lower end 45 thereof. A first wound-spring type clutch mechanism 56 is mounted on outer surfaces 52 and 53 respectively and wound-spring clutch 57 is mounted on outer surfaces 54 and 55 respectively. Brake member 51 also includes a generally cylindrical sleeve portion 58 which extends outwardly from hub 50 and then downwardly to form a mounting surface for friction members 59 and 60. The friction members 59 and 60 bear against the inner surface 61 of the clutch housing 62 so that the brake member 51, friction members 59 and 60 and clutch housing 62 form a preloaded brake mechanism that provides a large drag on brake member '51 when it is rotated in either direction.
In addition to providing a portion of the brake mechanism, housing 6'2 forms a liquid-proof enclosure for the clutch mechanism 32. T 0 this end the upper end of housing 62 is connected to spin shaft 28 by a resilient gasket 62a and the lower end is securely bolted to pedestal 33 by bolts 62]). The joint between housing 62 and pedestal 33 is sealed by a gasket 62c.
An intermediate member 63 is mounted around drive shaft 24 between input hub 44 and the lower end 45 of sleeve 28 and includes a cylindrical arm portion 64 which extends upwardly between wound-spring clutch 57 and sleeve portion 58 of brake member 51. Arm 64 is provided with a notch or recess 65 that receives a tab 66 formed at one end of spring clutch 57. A third woundspring clutch 67 is mounted around a hub portion 68 of intermediate member 63 and input hub 44.
-When motor 36 rotates in a first direction to cause a wash period of operation drive shaft 24 is rotated in a first direction by pulley 37 and belt 38. When drive shaft 24 rotates in the first direction the friction between input hub 44 and spring clutch 67 causes spring clutch 67 to expand and slip with respect to input hub 44 and hub portion 68 of intermediate member 63. Thus, drive shaft 24 rotates in the first direction without applying any appreciable torque to sleeve or spin shaft 28. The upper end 23 of drive shaft 24 rotates within bearings 26 and 27 to cause the basket 11 to have a wobble type motion. As a result of the bearing friction of bearings 26 and 27 the rotation of drive shaft 24 also causes basket '11 to tend to precess or rotate slowly in the first direction. This precessional or slowly rotating movement of basket 11 is transmitted to spin shaft 28 through the resilient member 29 which is mounted around spin shaft 28 by means of a hub 69. Thus this movement of basket 11 also causes spin shaft 28 to tend to rotate in the first direction and the movement of spin shaft 28 causes spring clutch 56 to contract so as to firmly seize upon the outer surfaces 52 and 53 of sleeve 28 and brake hub 50. This occurs because spring clutch 56 is wound in the opposite direction than spring clutch 67, spring clutch 56 thus locks spin shaft 28 to brake member 51 so that the friction between friction members 59 and 60 and the inner surface of clutch housing 62 prevents any rotation of sleeve 28 and brake member 51. Therefore basket 11 is effectively held against rotational movement while drive shaft 24 causes a wobble-type motion to be imparted to the basket for washing fabrics contained therein.
When motor 36 rotates drive shaft 24 in the opposite or second direction for centrifugal extraction operation the friction between input hub 44 and spring clutch 67 causes spring clutch 67 to contract and firmly seize upon input hub 44 and hub portion 68 of intermediate member 63. Thus spring clutch 67 locks intermediate member 63 to drive shaft 24 so that intermediate member 63 also rotates in the second direction. Since tab 66 of spring clutch 57 is received in notch 65 in arm portion 64 of intermediate member 63, tab 66 will be rotated in the second direction so as to tend to unwind spring clutch 57 and cause it to slip with respect to brake hub 50 and sleeve 28. However, the friction between spring clutch 57 and sleeve 28 causes sleeve 28 to rotate with drive shaft 24 so that basket 11 is rotated for centrifugal extraction. The rotation of basket 11 by use of the friction between spring clutch 57 and sleeve 28 is a result of utilizing a different type of wound-spring clutch for spring clutch 57 than is utilized for spring clutches 56 and 67. Spring clutches 56 and 67 are of a low torque or unloaded type. That is, they are made from relatively light spring material and their inner diameter at rest is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the members on which they are mounted. Because of this construction, a slight tightening frictional force causes them to firmly seize upon the members on which they are mounted to securely lock them together while a slight loosening frictional force causes them to slip with respect to the members on which they are mounted with very little frictional drag between the spring clutch and its associate-d members. Spring clutch 57 is formed from a heavier spring material and is preloaded so that its inner diameter at most is somewhat smaller than the outer diameter of the members on which it is mounted. Thus, it is necessary to provide a substantial unwinding force on the spring before it is slipped and, even when it slips, it exerts a substantial frictional force on its associated members. This frictional force between spring 57 and outer surface 55 of sleeve 28 rotates sleeve 28 to spin basket 11 and at the same time allows relative motion between sleeve 28 and clutch 57 so that basket 11 may slowly come up to speed and not overload motor 36 when motor 36 initially rotates in the second or centrifugal extraction direction of rotation. In this second direction of rotation the force on spring clutch 56 tends to unwind it so that it slips with respect to outer surfaces 52 and 53 so that spin shaft is effectively uncoupled from brake member 51.
At the end of the centrifugal extraction step or period of operation, motor 36 is turned off and the force exerted on tab 66 by arm 64 disappears. However, the basket, loaded with wet fabrics, tends to continue to rotate, carrying with it spin shaft or sleeve 28. The frictional force exerted on spring clutch 57 by spin tube 28 causes spring clutch 57 to contract and firmly seize upon sleeve 28 and brake hub 50 so as to lock sleeve 28 to brake member 51. Thus, basket 11 is connected to the brake mechanism .so that :the friction between friction members 59 and 6t and the inner surface of clutch housing 62 quickly brings the basket to a stop.
We have thus provided an improved clutch mechanism which holds the basket 11 against rotational movement when the drive shaft 24 is rotated in a first direction to produce a wobble-type washing action and which rotates drive shaft 24 and spin shaft 28 together in the other direction to spin the basket for centrifugal extraction. Additionally the clutch mechanism allows the basket to come up to spin speed slowly so as to not overload the motor and the clutch mechanism quickly stops rotation of the basket at the end of the centrifugal extraction operation.
It will be understood that spring clutch 57 is required in the embodiment shown because the initial load placed on motor 36 by basket 11 and its load of wet fabrics is very high at the beginning of centrifugal extraction. Therefore, if our improved clutch mechanism were utilized in applications in which the initial load on the motor is low, spring clutch 57 could be omitted.
While in accordance with the patent statutes we have described What at present is considered to be the preferred embodiment of our invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the invention, and we therefore aim in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of our invention.
What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:
1. In an automatic washing machine, including a basket to receive liquid and clothes to be washed in the liquid, wash means for effecting washing of the clothes, a drive shaft, a sleeve concentric with the drive shaft and connected to the basket, and drive means for selectively rotating the drive shaft in opposite directions to selectively produce a wash period of operation and a centrifugal extraction period of operation; a clutch mechanism including therewith and extending axially thereof in spaced relationship with said sleeve,
(b) brake means including an elongated brake hub mounted around said sleeve for rotation relative thereto,
(c) first wound spring clutch mounted on said sleeve and said brake hub,
(d) an intermediate member mounted on said shaft for rotation relative thereto between said sleeve and said input hub, and
(e) a second wound spring clutch mounted on said input hub and said intermediate member,
(f) said second spring clutch slipping with respect to said input hub and said intermediate member when (a) an input hub mounted on said shaft for rotation 6 the drive means rotates said shaft in a first direction to effect relative motion of said shaft with respect to said sleeve to provide a wash period of operation,
(g) said second spring clutch firmly seizing upon said input hub and said intermediate member when the drive means rotates said shaft in a second direction to lock said input hub to said intermediate member and said intermediate member drivingly engaging said first spring clutch to cause said first spring clutch to slip with respect to said sleeve and said brake hub, the friction between said sleeve and said first spring clutch causing said sleeve to rotate with said shaft for spinning the basket to provide a centrifugal extraction period of operation,
(h) said intermediate member ceasing to drivingly engage said first spring clutch at the conclusion of the centrifugal period of operation so that said first spring clutch will firmly seize upon said sleeve and said brake hub to lock sleeve to said brake hub whereby the basket is connected to said brake means for terminating spinning of the basket.
2. A mechanism asset forth in claim 1 wherein said first spring clutch includes an outwardly extending tab and said intermediate member includes an arm extending longitudinally of said shaft to contact said tab for effecting the driving engagement between said intermediate member and said first spring clutch when said shaft is driven in said second direction.
3. A mechanism as set forth in claim 1 further including a third spring clutch mounted on said sleeve and said brake hub, said third spring clutch firmly seizing upon said sleeve and said brake hub when said shaft rotates in said first direction to lock said sleeve to said brake hub so that said brake means prevents rotation of the basket during the wash period of operation.
4. An automatic washing machine including:
(a) a rotary drive shaft,
(b) a basket eccentrically mounted on said shaft for movement relative thereto, said basket being adapted to receive liquid and clothes to be washed in the liquid,
(c) a sleeve concentric with said shaft and connected to said basket,
(d) drive means for selectively rotating said drive shaft in opposite directions to selectively produce a wash period of operation and a centrifugal extraction period of operation,
(e) an input hub mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith and extending axially thereof in spaced relationship with said sleeve,
(f) brake means including an elongated brake hub mounted around said sleeve for rotation relative thereto,
(g) a first wound spring clutch mounted on said sleeve and said brake hub,
(h) an intermediate member mounted on said shaft for rotation relative thereto between said sleeve and said input hub, and
(i) a second wound spring clutch mounted on said input hub and said intermediate member,
(j) said second spring clutch slipping with respect to said input hub and said intermediate member when said drive means rotates said shaft in a first direction to effect relative motion of said shaft with respect to said sleeve so that said basket will wobble to provide a wash period of operation,
(k) said second spring clutch firmly seizing upon said input hub and said intermediate member when said drive means rotates said shaft in a second direction to lock said input hub to said intermediate member and said intermediate member drivingly engaging said first spring clutch to cause said first spring clutch to slip with respect to said sleeve and said brake hub, the friction between said sleeve and said first spring clutch causing said sleeve to rotate with said shaft for spinning said basket to provide a centrifugal extraction period of operation,
(I) said intermediate member ceasing to drivingly engage said first spring clutch at the conclusion of the centrifugal extraction period of operation so that said first spring clutch will firmly seize upon said sleeve and said brake hub to lock said sleeve to said brake hub whereby said basket is connected to said brake means for terminating spinning of said basket.
5. A washing machine as set forth in claim 4 wherein said first spring clutch includes an outwardly extending tab and said intermediate member includes an arm extending longitudinally of said shaft to contact said tab for efiecting the driving engagement between said intermediate member and said first spring clutch when said shaft is driven in said second direction.
6. A washing machine as set forth in claim 4 wherein a third spring clutch is mounted on said sleeve and said brake hub, said third spring clutch firmly seizing upon said sleeve and said brake hub when said shaft rotates in said first direction to lock said sleeve to said brake hub so that said brake means prevents rotation of said basket during the wash period of operation.
7. An automatic washing machine including:
(a) an elongated, generally vertical rotary drive shaft,
(b) a basket eccentrically mounted on the upper end of said shaft for movement relative thereto, said basket being adapted to receive liquid and the clothes to be washed in the liquid,
() an elongated sleeve concentric with said shaft, the upper end of said sleeve being connected to said basket, said sleeve including a recessed portion intermediate its ends,
(d) drive means connected to the lower end of said shaft for selectively rotating said shaft in opposite directions to selectively produce a wash period of operation and a centrifugal extraction period of op eration,
(e) an input hub mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith and extending axially, said input hub being spaced below said sleeve,
(f) brake means including an elongated brake hub mounted in said recess in said sleeve for rotation relative thereto,
(g) a first wound spring clutch mounted on said sleeve and the upper portion of said brake hub,
(h) a second wound spring clutch mounted on said sleeve and the lower portion of said brake hub, said second spring clutch including an outwardly extending tab,
(i) an intermediate member mounted on said shaft for rotation relative thereto between said sleeve and said input hub, said intermediate member including an upwardly extending arm portion, and
(j) a third wound spring clutch mounted on said input hub and said intermediate member,
(k) said third spring clutch slipping with respect to said input hub and said intermediate member when said drive means rotates said shaft in a first direction to effect relative motion of said shaft with respect to said sleeve so that said basket will wobble to provide a wash period of operation.
(1) said first spring clutch firmly seizing upon said sleeve and the upper portion of said brake hub when said shaft rotates in said first direction to lock said sleeve to said brake hub so that said brake means prevents rotation of said basket during the wash period of operation,
(m) said third spring clutch firmly seizing upon said input hub and said intermediate member when said drive means rotates said shaft in a second direction to lock said input hub to said intermediate member and said arm portion of said intermediate member drivingly engaging said tab of said second spring clutch to cause said second spring clutch to slip with respect to said sleeve and the lower portion of said brake hub, the friction between said sleeve and said second spring clutch causing said sleeve to rotate with said shaft for spinning said basket to provide a centrifugal extraction period of operation,
(11) said arm portion of said intermediate member ceasing to drivingly engage said tab of said second spring clutch at the conclusion of the centrifugal extraction period of operation so that said second spring clutch will firmly seize upon said sleeve and said lower portion of said brake hub to lock said sleeve to said brake hub whereby said basket is connected to said brake means for terminating spinning of said basket.
References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,758,685 8/1956 Sisson 6823 X 2,897,665 8/1959 Miller 6823 2,921,459 1/1960 Long 6823 2,976,746 3/1961 Flannery 68-43 X WILLIAM I. PRICE, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. IN AN AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINE, INCLUDING A BASKET TO RECEIVE LIQUID AND CLOTHES TO BE WASHED IN THE LIQUID, WASH MEANS FOR EFFECTING WASHING OF THE CLOTHES, A DRIVE SHAFT, A SLEEVE CONCENTRIC WITH THE DRIVE SHAFT AND CONNECTED TO THE BASKET, AND DRIVE MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY ROTATING THE DRIVE SHAFT IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS TO SELECTIVELY PRODUCE A WASH PERIOD OF OPERATION AND A CENTRIFUGAL EXTRACTION PERIOD OF OPERATION; A CLUTCH MECHANISM INCLUDING: (A) AN INPUT HUB MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT FOR ROTATION THEREWITH AND EXTENDING AXIALLY THEREOF IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID SLEEVE, (B) BRAKE MEANS INCLUDING AN ELONGATED BRAKE HUB MOUNTED AROUND SAID SLEEVE FOR ROTATION RELATIVE THERETO, (C) FIRST WOUND SPRING CLUTCH MOUNTED ON SAID SLEEVE AND SAID BRAKE HUB, (D) AN INTERMEDIATE MEMBER MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT FOR ROTATION RELATIVE THERETO BETWEEN SAID SLEEVE AND SAID INPUT HUB, AND (E) A SECOND WOUND SPRING CLUTCH MOUNTED ON SAID INPUT HUB AND SAID INTERMEDIATE MEMBER, (F) SAID SECOND SPRING CLUTCH SLIPPING WITH RESPECT TO SAID INPUT HUB AND SAID INTERMEDIATE MEMBER WHEN THE DRIVE MEANS ROTATES SAID SHAFT IN A FIRST DIRECTION TO EFFECT RELATIVE MOTION OF SAID SHAFT WITH RESPECT TO SAID SLEEVE TO PROVIDE A WASH PERIOD OF OPERATION, (G) SAID SECOND SPRING CLUTCH FIRMLY SEIZING UPON SAID INPUT HUB AND SAID INTERMEDIATE MEMBER WHEN THE DRIVE MEANS ROTATES SAID SHAFT IN A SECOND DIRECTION TO LOCK SAID INPUT HUB TO SAID INTERMEDIATE MEMBER AND SAID INTERMEDIATE MEMBER DRIVINGLY ENGAGING SAID FIRST SPRING CLUTCH TO CAUSE SAID FIRST SPRING CLUTCH TO SLIP WITH RESPECT TO SAID SLEEVE AND SAID BRAKE HUB, THE FRICTION BETWEEN SAID SLEEVE AND SAID FIRST SPRING CLUTCH CAUSING SAID SLEEVE TO ROTATE WITH SAID SHAFT FOR SPINNING THE BASKET TO PROVIDE A CENTRIFUGAL EXTRACTION PERIOD OF OPERATION, (H) SAID INTERMEDIATE MEMBER CEASING TO DRIVINGLY ENGAGE SAID FIRST SPRING CLUTCH AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE CENTRIFUGAL PERIOD OF OPERATION SO THAT SAID FIRST SPRING CLUTCH WILL FIRMLY SEIZE UPON SAID SLEEVE AND SAID BRAKE HUB TO LOCK SLEEVE TO SAID BRAKE HUB WHEREBY THE BASKET IS CONNECTED TO SAID BRAKE MEANS FOR TERMINATING SPINNING OF THE BASKET.
US399158A 1964-09-25 1964-09-25 Clutch mechanism for a washing machine Expired - Lifetime US3263459A (en)

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Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3521730A (en) * 1968-06-21 1970-07-28 Precision Specialties Inc Clutch brake having positive output position selection
US3710947A (en) * 1971-03-04 1973-01-16 Chicago Allis Mfg Corp Shaft seal for use in washing machines
US3918830A (en) * 1972-06-06 1975-11-11 Sulzer Ksb Kernkraftwerkspumpe Motor-pump aggregate for use in nuclear reactors
FR2456803A1 (en) * 1979-05-15 1980-12-12 Gen Electric VERTICAL AXIS LAUNDRY WASHING MACHINE
US4328600A (en) * 1979-05-15 1982-05-11 General Electric Company Washing machine
US4440004A (en) * 1981-07-31 1984-04-03 General Electric Company Wobble washer
US4549643A (en) * 1983-09-26 1985-10-29 Dana Corporation Self adjusting device for a friction clutch
WO2003027376A1 (en) * 2001-09-28 2003-04-03 Delphi Technologies, Inc. Wobble joint

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2758685A (en) * 1952-04-08 1956-08-14 Gen Motors Corp Agitating and spinning mechanism
US2897665A (en) * 1954-06-29 1959-08-04 Gen Motors Corp Washing machine
US2921459A (en) * 1955-02-23 1960-01-19 Gen Motors Corp Combined clothes washer and extractor
US2976746A (en) * 1957-01-28 1961-03-28 Murray Corp Washing machine transmission

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2758685A (en) * 1952-04-08 1956-08-14 Gen Motors Corp Agitating and spinning mechanism
US2897665A (en) * 1954-06-29 1959-08-04 Gen Motors Corp Washing machine
US2921459A (en) * 1955-02-23 1960-01-19 Gen Motors Corp Combined clothes washer and extractor
US2976746A (en) * 1957-01-28 1961-03-28 Murray Corp Washing machine transmission

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3521730A (en) * 1968-06-21 1970-07-28 Precision Specialties Inc Clutch brake having positive output position selection
US3710947A (en) * 1971-03-04 1973-01-16 Chicago Allis Mfg Corp Shaft seal for use in washing machines
US3918830A (en) * 1972-06-06 1975-11-11 Sulzer Ksb Kernkraftwerkspumpe Motor-pump aggregate for use in nuclear reactors
FR2456803A1 (en) * 1979-05-15 1980-12-12 Gen Electric VERTICAL AXIS LAUNDRY WASHING MACHINE
US4328600A (en) * 1979-05-15 1982-05-11 General Electric Company Washing machine
US4440004A (en) * 1981-07-31 1984-04-03 General Electric Company Wobble washer
US4549643A (en) * 1983-09-26 1985-10-29 Dana Corporation Self adjusting device for a friction clutch
WO2003027376A1 (en) * 2001-09-28 2003-04-03 Delphi Technologies, Inc. Wobble joint
US6604389B2 (en) * 2001-09-28 2003-08-12 Delphi Technologies, Inc. Wobble joint

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