US3275146A - Laundry machine with improved balancing mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Sept' 27, 1966 G. R. sEvERANcl-z ETAL 3,275,146

LAUNDRY MACHINE WITH IMPROVED BALANCING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 1, 1964 Sept 27,` 1956 G. R. sEvERANcE ETAL 3,275,146

LAUNDRY MACHINE WITH IMPROVED BALANCING MECHANISM Filed May 1, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 TTORNE Ys Unted States Patent O 3,275,146 LAUNDRY MACHINE WITH IMPROVED BALANCING MECHANISM Glen R. Severance, Benton Harbor, and Keith D. Salis bury, St. Joseph, Mich., assignors to Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 1, 1964, Ser. No. 364,114

17 Claims. (Cl. 210-144) The present invention relates to laundry apparatus and more particularly concerns improvements in the balancing lmechanism for washer-dryers.

In washer-dryers of the horizontal aXis drum type, it is desirable to have the rotative cylinder speed during eX- traction -as high as practicable. However, any unbalanced condition in the load within the drum causes serious vibration conditions. Means for overcoming any such imbalance and vibration have been disclosed and claimed in the application of Albert D. Ishoy and William F. Scott, Serial No. 128,070 filed July 31, 1961 now Patent 3,151,067 and assigned to the same assignee as the present application. In that application control means are provided operatively connected between the rotative drum or basket mounting means and the support means of the lmachine including a relatively thin leaf spring member which is alternately placed in tension and compression to control Water balancing and clutch control functions. With that arrangement, however, careful installation adjustment is required in order to assure proper operation. In other words, the -linkage aorded by the leaf spring must be properly adjusted at the particular installation, rather than preadjusted at the factory.

According to the objects of the present invention, new and improved means are provided for connecting the drum or basket mounting means and the relatively stationary part of the machine support or frame which can be fully assembled and adjusted at the factory and which will be self-adjustable to meet installation conditions automatically.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel self-centering means in an acceleration control system for use with counterbalance control means.

A still further object of the invention is to provide new and improved sef-centering means to prevent excessive, damaging motion to the balancing mechanism of a washer-dryer combination.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a laundry machine of the washer-dryer type embodying principles of the present invention, but with the outer cabinet removed and with parts broken away, and partially schematic;

FIGURE 2 is a diagrammatic representation of certain hydraulic circuitryV incorporated in the illustrated machine;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view disclosing in better detail the sensing mechanism for controlling the load counterbalancing means and transmission speed ratio means of the machine and embodying the new and improved device of this invention for preventing excessive damaging motion to the balancing means of the sensing mechanism; and

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional detail view taken on substantially the line IV-IV of FIG- URE 3.

In FIGURE 1 is depicted a representative domestic laundry appliance in the form of a combination washerdryer 5 including a substantially imperforate casing 7 3,275,146 Patented Sept. 27, 1966 having attached to its front wall as by means of welding or the like a supporting place 8 secured as by means of screws 9 to a bracket plate 10 attached xedly to a base frame 11 of a housing 12 supported by front legs 13 and a rear leg 14 and adapted, as is well known, to be adice justed for levelling the machine in service. Suitable supporting bracket structure also connects the `rear portion of the casing 7 to the base frame 11.

Within the casing 7 is rotatably mounted on a front-torear horizontal axis a perforate drum or cylinder 15, also sometimes referred to as a rotary basket, Vfor receiving fabrics to be washed and centrifugaliy dried. In its front wall the drum 15 has a central opening 17 which registers with a` suitable access opening in the casing 7 adapted to be closed by an openable closure or door (not shown). In its rear wall, the drum 15 is provided with angularly spaced reinforcing ribs 18 radiating from a hub 19 from which extends rearwardly a shaft 20 suitably journalled in a supporting bearing assembly of any preferred construction. Driving of the drum 15 rotatably is effected V in any preferred or known manner as motivated by a prime mover comprising an electrical motor 21 under the control of any preferred cycling control system, as is known in this art. In such a system, the machine is operated through a program including washing, rinsing, extracting and drying periods.

In the bottom of the casing 7 is a sump 22 (FIG. 2) for receiving iluids in the washing, rinsing and extraction operations of the lmachine cycle. Communicating with the sump is a pump 23 delivering to a two-way valve 24 for directing uid either to drain or a second two-way valve 25. The latter valve may direct washing fluid through a conduit 27 in a recirculating cycle to the drum 15 by way of a recirculation nozzle (not shown). The valve 25 may also selectively direct fluid through `a conduit 28 having its discharge end porttion (FIGS. l and 3) attached to a bracket plate 29 mounted on the outer side of the front wall of lthe tank casing 7 over an opening 30 therein and secured thereto as by means of screws 31 and Y expansion nuts 32, with a gasket 33 providing a liquidtight seal between the casing wall and the bracket member (FIG. 4).

On the bracket plate 29, the conduit 2S terminates in a nozzle portion 34 which discharges through a port 35 at the inner side of .the bracket plate and through the opening 30 to direct liquid through a limited size opening 36 in a splash and deector plate 37'mounted on the inner side of the front wall of the tank casing 7 in alignment with the opening 30 and between the tank frontwall and the adjacent front wall of the basket drum 15. This liquid delivered through thesplash plate opening 36 is utilized for balancing the drum 15 and for this purpose is received in respective collector segments 38 of which there are in the present instance three of equal size mounted on the front wall of the drum and each of which has associated therewith recess means in the form of a liquid-receiving balancing receptacle 39 mounted on the perimeter of the drum. Through this arrangement,

when balancing is required as when there is an un-V balanced load in the rotating drum 15, liquid delivered by the conduit 28 ythrough the nozzle 34 and directed into the appropriate balancing receptacle 39 will effect substantial balancingof the drum. This is especially desirable during the `iuid extraction portion of the machine cycle.

In order to control the introduction of balancing liquid into the balancing receptacles 39, there is utilized as a controlling variable, vibratory movements of the basket drum 15 and the tank casing 7 generated by rotation of acentric loads in the drum and relative to the base frame 11, as permitted by the means mounting the casing 7. To this end, a water diverter flag, stream interrupter or deorder ofabout 0.010 inch from a normal centered position relative to a stationary upright frame member 41, the dellector comprises a plate member of substantial length with a free end portion in controlling relation to the port 35 `and an opposite end portion secured as by means of a screw 42 to one end of a spindle shaft 43 journalled by means such as needle bearings 44 through a hub 45 on the bracket plate 291. Suitable sealing means including a washer 47 and a fluid seal 48 are providedrabout Vthe shaft 43 at the inner end of the hub 45 and a liner,

, bushing l49.

ment 38 for loading the balancing receptacle 39 generally opposite the -unblancing load. For this purpose, the outer end portion of the shaft 43 carries on a preferably re-.

duced diameter, defining a stepped shoulder 50, a motion transmissionmechanism 51 interconnected with or coupled to the upstanding stationary pylon-like frame mem-- ber 41 by means of a rigid link arm 52 serving as'a re-` action member. As lthe mounting housing plate memat that moment in the revolution of the drumI 15, WhileY 4 notches on a pinion 62 forming part of the transmission mechanism. Through this arrangement, since the rigid arm 52 is held against reciprocations by virtue of its mounting on the stationary frame member 41, when the transmission mechanism 51 is caused to move in a generally horizontally oscillatory path with oscillationsl of the drum and tank, the pinion 62 will ride along the Vrack portion of the arm 52 for effecting corresponding rotary movement of the shaft 43 and thus swinging of the liquid diverter ag 40. Inasmuch as Voscillatory movement of the tank casing 7 toward the left as viewed in FIGURES i l and 3 is caused by the unbalanced load being at the left the balancing device isA mounted on the right-hand side ber 29 oscillates with the tank casing 7, the coupling arm 52 held against such oscillation through its mounting on the stationary frame member 41. causes the motion transmission mechanism 51 to effect corresponding oscillatory rotations of the balancing liquid control flag shaft 43.

. In alconvenient construction, the Ypylon frame member 41 may be constructed as a suitably reinforced plate having its lower'end portion secured as'by means Vof screws 53 `to the supporting base frame 11, with a lanced and struck-out lapping stabilizer flange 54 on the pylon frame member gripping the contiguous base frame bar. On its head end portion, which is suitably adjacently disposed in spaced relation to the mounting plate 29, means are provided for mounting the coupling arm 52,` compris- Y ing a pivot 55 on which the arm is pivotally secured with a short rear end portion of the arm having suitably at-V tached thereto as by means of a suitably notched lug 57 a hooked end portion of a coiled tensionspring 58 which has its opposite hooked end suitably att-ached to the frame member 41' as `to a struck-out integral lug 59 thereon. Through this arrangement, the coupling arm 52 is nor,- mally resiliently biased in a clockwise direction as viewedY in FIGURES l and 3 to maintain the longer portion of the arm Vfirmly but yieldably yin coupled relation'to the motion transmission mechanism 51.. t According to the present invention, a projection and notch coupling relationship between` the transmissionk mechanism 51 and the arm 52 is aiorded. In the present instance, this comprises mating projections and notches on both of the structures effecting the coupling, an advantageous construction providing'a suitable 'seriesk of rack teeth 60 providing projections with intervening notches on one edge, herein the upper edge, of the free end portion of the arm 52 meshing with complementary gear teeth 61 providing projections and intervening of thetank casing, the arrangement is such that swinging Y of thediverter flag 40 to uncover the balancing liquid derk livery nozzle orice 35 occurs only during such left-hand oscillatory motion, that is, motion away from the stationary pylon frame member 41 wherein the transmission pinion 62 running along the rack teeth 60` causes the shaft 43 to rotate counterclockwise and swing the ilang 40 to-Y ward non-blocking rela-tion to the -nozzle orice 35.3 The reverse action is effected in the balancing control mechanism during oscillating movements of the tank casing 7 toward the right, and toward the stationary pylon frame member 41. The width and relation of the diverter flag 40 to the nozzle orifice 35 are such that although the flag 40 is swung clockwise during such right-hand oscillating movement of the tank casing the flag will remain in blocking, diverting relation to the orifice. As a result, balancing liquid is, in effect, squirted into the balancing re-l ceptacle or receptacles 39 generally opposite to the acentric'load in each revolution of the drum 15 during which the unbalanced relationship persists and until a substantially balanced condition has been attained. Normal slight side-to-side` vibrations do not effect suicient swinging movement of the diverter flag 40 to permit escape of balancing liquid therepast into the balancing system of the drum, although the balancing mechanismdoes permit sufficiently close adjustment to attain highly eicient balancing and close to elimination of unbalancing effects of even maximum loading of the drum 15.

Means are provided enabling bench adjustment `of the balancing meohansim at the .factory and avoiding any need 'for further adjustment` or any servicing of thebal-:

ancing mechanism when installed for service and 'also ,to

the tarnsmission mechanism 51 includes an overload'release clutch and overtravel stop device including a clutch i plate disk ange 63 carrying a fractionalfacing 64A frictionally grippingly opposing a complementary friction facing 65 on an opposing clutch plate 67 engaged xedly on the reduced diameter outer end portion of the shaft 43 against the shoulder 50. l An integral radiallyY extending limit finger 68 on the clutch plate 67 hasits free end Y to have the pointer-like limit finger 68 slightly uncentered ment of the motion transmission mechanism.

portion between a pair of stop lug anges 69 which are Y in predetermined spaced relation and are integral with a t mounting plate 70 having lan arcuate transverse slot 71 receiving attaching screws r72 by which the plate isl se`v cured in adjusted relation on the mounting bracket` plate 29. VIn the` initial adjustment, with the liquid diverter flag 40 properly oriented .with respect to the nozzle'orifice 35, the stop lugs 69 4are adjustablyk relatedto and secured in the space between the l-ugs.

Although the' balance mechanism is adjusted at `the factory, this adjustmentV may be altered by the moving of the mac 'ne and the difference in the important feature of this invention is in Ithe self-adjust- This se1f` adjustment 1s accomphsheld` during the tumbling of the 4clothes during the washing and rinsing periods prior: to

positioning of the: base frame 11 when installed in the home; therefore,` an

the centrifugal extraction period. As the cylinder rotates in the clockwise direction, Vthe clothes are picked up and carried into the upper left quadrant and dropped into the lower right quadrant. The clothes are in the undistributed condition during the tumbling operation; therefore, a side-to-side oscillatory motion is imparted to the tank casing 7 due to the tumbling load. The limit finger 68 is positioned so that it is slightly to the left of the center line of the space between the legs 69. Having the limit finger 68 positioned in this manner allows for the difference in the amplitude of movement of the pointer in each direction due to the impact of the clothes during the tumbling. Since the impact of the clothes in the lower right quadrant causes a motion of the tank casing 7 to the right more than to the left, the limit finger 68 will oscillate further to the right than to the left within the space between the lugs 69.

If the mechanism is misaligned by moving the machine or by a severe o balance load, the oscillation of the, finger 68 against t-he stop lugs 69 during the tumbling operation will cause the automatic positioning of finger 68 and thereby accomplish a self-adjustment.

By having the slot 71 substantially conformed to a segment of a circle concentric with the axis of the shaft 43 and located on the radius of such a circle, any lateral adjustment as permitted within the range of the slot 71 in relation to the securing screws 72 will present the stop surfaces of the lugs 69 substantially square t-o the limit finger 68 for eicient limit abutment with minimum stress or wear.

For overload clutch slippage, the combination pinion clutch member 62, 63 is provided with a concentric bearing bore 73 therethrough through which is received a journal stud 74 mounted to project concentrically from the outer end of the shaft 43. To maintain the clutch plate flange 63 in normally clutching grip of its friction clutch facing 64 with the friction clutch facing 65 of the clutch and motion limiting member 67, axial thrust biasing means are provided, desirably comprising a thrust washer 75 bearing against the outer end of the pinion 62 and carried by an outer end portion of the stud 74 which Y projects sutiiciently beyond the washer to receive thereon adjustable compression means conveniently comprising a wave spring washer 77 clampingly thrust with adjustable pressure against the thust washer 75 by means of a nut 78 threaded onto the outer end portion of the stud 74 and adapted to be locked in any incrementally adjusted position as by means of a set screw 79. Through this arrangement, clutch pressure is suitably adjusted to maintain a normal working coupling between the pinion 62 and the balancing control ag shaft 43, but should there be lany overtravel of the pinion 62 with respect to the range of iiag shaft oscillations permitted by the limit finger 68, the overload clutch will slip and thus relieve the mechanism of damaging forces or stresses. Further, by virtue of the yieldable friction clutch, automatic reestablishment of the zero adjustment of the balance mechanism is provided for since an overtravel in one direction causing sliding of the clutch plate 63 relative to the clutch plate hub 67 within the limits defined by the limit finger 68 and the stop `lugs 69 will be corrected by the opposite reactionary travel of the pinion 62 onthe rack 60 during the oscillatory cycle involving the overtravel. By having the rack arm 52 resiliently yieldably biased toward the pinion 62, continuous driving engagement is maintained.

In addition to the diverter flag actuating function of the trans-mission mechanism 51, it also functions to control and limit the rotative speed of the drum 15 to a safe optimum speed in the presence of acentric loads, and more particularly during the drying or centrifuging cycle. To .this end, there is provided as an integral extension portion of the inner clutch hub place member 67 a radially projecting cam arm 80, desirably extending in the opposite radial direction from Ithe pointer-like limit linger 68. On its free end, the cam arm extension 80 has a pair of cam lobes 81 nestably engaging a follower roller 82 mounted intermediately on a lever plate 83 having a pivotal connect-ion 84 adjacent one end thereof with the mounting plate 29 and carrying on its opposite end portion a valve actuating flange 85. A biasing tension spring 87, anchored at one end to the mounting plate 29 and at its opposite end engaging the actuating ange 85, normally biases the rockably mounted follower lever toward 4the cam and more particularly urges the follower roller 82 into the bight betweenV the cam lobes 81. This functions in one respect to tend to center the cam in the zero adjusted position of the limit finger 68, and as a major function returns the valve actuating flange 85 to neutral position relative to a valve stem 88. Depending on `the construction of the machine and the direction of rotation, the cam lobes I81 may be of an unsymmetrical design to allow for the differences in the magnitude of vibration due to the impact of the clothes on one side yof the drum 15 as described above.

While minor vibrations will not cau-se such swinging of the cam arm 80 as will motivate the valve actuator operatively, detinite acentric load deiiections of the casing 7 to each side of a vertical center line through the machine will result in an amplitude of oscillation of the cam arm to cause the respective cam lobes 81 to swing the valve actuator 83 downwardly so that .the valve stem 88 is depressed. This results in bleeding 4a conduit 89 leading from a solenoid air valve 90 (FIG. l) communicating by way of a conduit 9,1 with pneumatic clutch means forming part of a transmission 92 associated with the electrical motor 21. The air valve 90 als-o communicates by way of a conduit 93 with a compressor 94. As more fully described in the copending application of Ishoy and Scott, Serial No. 128,070, referred to hereinabove, this regulates the supply of pressure to the clutch means of the transmission 92 and thereby limits the rotation of the basket drum 15 to those speeds which produce only minimal basket vibrations at a predeternined amplitude, and concurrently with balancing the rum.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that by the present invention there has been provided a substantially improved compensator for balancing mechanism for combination washer-dryers wherein .the auto-matic, selfadjusting clutch in combination with the means for converting oscillations of the basket drum into corresponding oscillations of the balancing control means, enables prime factory adjustment of the balancing mechanism iwhich thereafter automatically compensates for excessive or potentially damaging motion, and is self-centering, that is, reconditions itself for optimum continuing operatron.

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

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive proper-ty or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. Laundry apparatus including a support, a rotary basket drum and means mounting the drum on the support providing for limited oscillating deflections of the drum relative to the support toward opposite sides of a center line transversely through the axis of rotation of ,the drum in response to acentric loads in the rotating drum,

means for counterbalancing the acentric loads mounted .to oscillate with the drum,

'and means for automatically cont-rolling the balancing means comprising a pinion mounted t-o oscillate about its own axis and also to oscillate with the acentric loading oscillations of the drum and a rack member mounted on a stationary portion of said support and meshing with the pinion to effect on said suppont in a manner to permit limited oscillations of the casing .responsive to acentr-ic loads in the rotating drum, said drum having balancing water receptacles thereon,

means for balancing the drum comprising a balancing -Water controlling member carried by a shaft pivotallyu mounted on said casing, said shaft having a pinion,

and means 'for controllingV pivotal movement of said shaft responsive to oscillations of the drum and casing comprising a rack member attached to said support'and meshing with said pinion.

3. In a laundry machine including a stationary suppont .and a rotary drum mounted in a tank casing mounted on said support in a manner to permit limited oscillations of the casing responsive .to acentric loads in the rotating drum, said drum having balancing Water receptacles thereon,

means for balancing the drum comprising a balancing water controlling member carried by a shaft pivotally mounted on said casing, said shaft having a pinion,

means for controlling pivotal movements of said shaft -responsive to oscillations of the drum and casing comprising a rack member attached to said support land meshing with said pinion,

and means mounting saidV rack member against longitudinal movement thereof relative to said suppont but kenabling yieldable pivotal movement of the rack member.

4. In a laundry machine including a stationary suppont and a rotary drum mounted in a tank casing mounted on said support'in a manner to permit limited oscillations of the casing responsive to acentric loads in the rotating drum, said drum having balancing water receptacles thereon,

means for balancing the drum-compressing a balancing f water controlling member carried by a shaft pivotally mounted on said casing, said shaft having a pinion,

means for controlling `pivotal movements of said shaft responsive to oscillations of the drum and casing` comprising a rack member attached t-o said support and meshing with said pinion,

means 'mounting' said rack member against longitudinalmovement thereof relative to said support but enabling yieldable pivotal move-ment of the rack member,

and biasing spring means normally biasing the rackY member into meshing engagement with the pinion.

5. In a laundry machine including a stationary support and a rotary basket drum for receiving fabrics to be treated,

means. mounting the drumon-the support to accommodate .oscillating deflections of the drum as produced by rotation of acentric loads in the drum,

means for drivingthe drum rotatably, l

means for balancing the drum comprising mechanism a pivoted member,

Vmeansfor limiting pivotal imovement .of theV pivoted member,`

a member mounted on said support,

and motion transmission means connecting said members including an overtravel friction clutch.

6. In a laundry machine including a stationary support anda rotary basket drum for receiving fabrics to be treated, Y

means mounting the drum on the support to accom- Ymodate oscillating deflections of the drum as produced by rotation of acentr-ic loads in the drum,

mounted to oscillate with the drum and including f means for driving the drumrotatably, means for balancing the drum comprising mechanism mounted to oscillate with the drum and including and means for controlling the speed of lrotation of said drum concurrently with balancing of the drum includinga control element carried by said pivotal member.

7. In a laundry machine including a rotaryV basket` mounted on a stationaryy support and drive `means for rotatably actuating the basket,

means mounting the basket on the support to accom-4 Y modate limited oscillatory movements of the Vbas-y ket as produced by the rotation of acentric loadsinthe basket, v Y means for counterbalancing the basket including mechanism mounted on said mounting means andcomprising a pivoted member having means for 'limiting pivotal movement to a predetermined range, an arm mounted on said support projecting into adjacent relation to said pivoted member but held against oscillation with the mounting means,

and motion transmission means comprising an over-V travel friction clutch coupling said pivoted member with said arm for effecting pivotal movements of the pivoted member -when it moves oscillatably with` the basket. n 8. A laundry machine as defined `in claim 7,`where in said motion transmission friction clutch includes a pinion and said arm has a rack portion meshing with said pinion.

9. A laundry machine as defined in claim 7,1wherein said friction clutch includes a coupling having opposed friction faces and means forY adjusting the pressure of said friction faces against one another.

10. A laundry machine as defined in claim 7, whereinsa-id pivotal movement limiting means` comprises a limit linger fixed on the pivoted member. and stop means v rigid with respect to said mounting means and limiting j the swinging .movements of the finger with the pivotedV member. 11.A laundry machine as defined in claim 10, wherein said stop means include adjusting means for centering the stop means VWith respect tor the finger in a neutral position of the pivoted member...

12. For use 'in' a laundry machine, balancing mechanism'including a mount-ing plate, a shaft pivotally mounted through said plate and rying a flag member on one end, n a stop finger mounted on the opposite end of the shaft,U Y stop means on said plate limiting swinging movement of vthe stop linger with pivoting of .the shaft,

Car-

and transmission means for connecting the shaft toV means forfpivoting the shaftzand includinga friction' f clutch. 13. For use in arlaundry machine, balancing mechanism including a mounting plate, a .shaft pivotally mounted through said plate and carrying a flag member on one end, i

a stop finger mounted on the opposite end of thel y shaft, stop means on said'plate limiting swinging movement of the stop finger with pivoting of the shaft,

clutch kmotion transmission `means carried by said other end of the shaft and including a clutch member, a pinion and a rack, said pinion being engageable with said rack lfor effecting pivotal movements of the..

shaft.

14. Balancing mechanism Yfor laundry apparatus which 9, includes a rotary `drum subject to vibratory movements resulting from rotation of acentric loads and equipped with balancing water receptacles,

means for directing balancing water into the receptacles,

means for controlling delivery of balancing water to the receptacles,

means including pivoted member for controlling said controlling means,

said pivoted member including a limit finger swingable in an arc with pivotal movements of the pivoted member,

means for pivoting the pivoted member responsive t vibratory movements of the drum requiring balanclng,

and means comprising adjustable spaced stops to limit swinging movements of the limit finger and thus the amplitude of pivotal movements of said pivoted member.

15. Balancing mechanism for laundry apparatus which includes a rotary drum subject to vibratory movements resulting from rotation of acentric loads and equipped with balancing water receptacles,

means for directing balancing water into the receptacles,

means for controlling delivery of balancing water to the receptacles,

means including a pivoted member for controlling said controlling means,

said pivoted member including a limited nger swingable in an arc with pivotal movements of the pivoted member,

means for pivoting the pivoted member responsive to vibratory movements of the drum requiring balancfing,

means comprising spaced stops to limit swinging movements of the limit finger and thus the amplitude of pivotal movements of said pivoted member,

and means for adjusting said stops relative to the limit linger on an arc having its radiusl on the axis of said pivoted member.

16. Laundry apparatus comprising a rotary basket for receiving fabrics to be washed and centrifugally dried and support means therefor and drive means for the basket,

means mounting said basket on said support means to accommodate vibratory movements of said basket as produced by the rotation of acentric loads in said basket,

transmission means for said drive means including fluid pressure controlling means and a source of fluid pressure,

conduit means interconnecting said source of iluid pressure with the transmission pressure controlling means,

valve means in said conduit means,

valve actuator means connected to said basket mounting means,

a movable cam pivotally mounted on said mounting means,

reaction means interconnected between said cam and said support means for moving said cam in response to vibratory movements of said basket,

said cam including a plurality of lobes engageable with said valve actuator means for actuating said valve means in response to said vibrations for regulating the supply of pressure to said transmission controlling means and thereby limiting the rotation of said basket to those speeds which produce only minimal basket vibrations of a predetermined amplitude,

means for counterbalancing said acentric loads in said basket and operatively -connected to said cam for actuation thereby,

means for limiting the range of operative pivotal movements of the cam,

and overtravel friction disk clutch means between said reaction means Iand said cam.

17. Laundry apparatus comprising a rotary basket for receiving fabrics to be washed and centrifugally dried and support means therefor and drive means for the basket,

means mounting said basket on said support means to accommodate vibratory movements of said basket as produced by the rotation of acentric loads in said basket,

transmission means for said drive means including uid pressure controlling means and a source of uid pressure,

'conduit means interconnecting said source of fluid pressure with the transmission pressure controlling means,

valve means in said conduit means,

valve actuator means connected to said basket mounting means,

a movable cam pivotally mounted on said mounting means,

reaction means interconnected between said cam'rand said support means for moving said cam in response to vibratory movements of said basket,

said cam including a plurality of lobes engageable with said valve actuator means for actuating said valve means in response to said vibrations for regulating the supply of pressure to said transmission controlling means land thereby limiting the rotation of said basket to those speeds which produce only minimal basket vibrations of a predetermined amplitude,

means for limiting the range of pivotal movement of the cam,

and overtravel friction disk clutch means between the reaction means and the cam.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,151,066 9/1964 Brenner et al 210-144 3,151,067 9/1964 Ishoy et al. 210-363 X REUBEN FRIEDMAN, Primary Examiner.

D. M. RIESS, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. LAUNDRY APPARATUS INCLUDING A SUPPORT, A ROTARY BASKET DRUM AND MEANS MOUNTING THE DRUM ON THE SUPPORT PROVIDING FOR LIMITED OSCILLATING DEFLECTIONS OF THE DRUM RELATIVE TO THE SUPPORT TOWARD OPPOSITE SIDES OF A CENTER LINE TRANSVERSELY THROUGH THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF THE DRUM IN RESPONSE TO ACENTRIC LOADS IN THE ROTATING DRUM, MEANS FOR COUNTERBALANCING THE ACENTRIC LOADS MOUNTED TO OSCILLATE WITH THE DRUM, AND MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLING THE BALANCING MEANS COMPRISING A PINION MOUNTED TO OSCILLATE WITH THE ABOUT ITS OWN AXIS AND ALSO TO OSCILLATE WITH THE ACENTRIC LOADING OSCILLATIONS OF THE DRUM AND A RACK MEMBER MOUNTED ON A STATIONARY PORTION OF SAID SUPPORT AND MESHING WITH THE PINION TO EFFECT OSCILLATIONS OF THE PINION ABOUT ITS OWN AXIS DURING OSCILLATION MOVEMENTS OF THE PINION WITH THE DRUM.

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