US3298525A

US3298525A - Washing machine system

Info

Publication number: US3298525A
Application number: US367652A
Authority: US
Inventors: Roy W Houser
Original assignee: Robertshaw Controls Co
Current assignee: Robertshaw Controls Co
Priority date: 1964-05-15
Filing date: 1964-05-15
Publication date: 1967-01-17
Anticipated expiration: 1984-01-17
Also published as: FR1436933A

Description

Jan. 17, 1967 Q R. w. HOUSER 3,298,525

y WASHING MACHINE SYSTEM Filed May 15, 1964 INVENTOR. ROY W. HOUSER dawfwa HIS ATTORNEYS 3,2as,52s WASHING MACHINE SYSTEM .Roy W. Houser, Orange, (Ialifl, assignor to Rohertshaw Controls Company, Richmond, Va, a corporation of Delaware Filed May 15, 1964-, Ser. No. 367,652 9 Claims. (Cl. 210144) This invention relates to an improved washing machine or the like having means to terminate the operation thereof should the unbalanced condition of the spinning washing compartment thereof exceed a predetermined value.

This invention also relates to an improved method for operating such a washing machine or the like and to improved parts for such a washing machine or the like.

It is Well known that many automatic washing machines or thelike have a Washing compartment which is rotated or spun at a relatively high speed to centrifuge the water out of the clothes contained in the spinning washing compartment, such a spinning action normally taking place after wash and rinse cycles of the machine.

However, itis also Well known that the distribution of the clothes in the washing compartment sometimes is not uniform whereby there is an unbalanced condition in the washing compartment so that when the same is subsequently spun, the washing compartment rotates in an eccentric manner which is not only detrimental to the parts of the washing machine, but also creates adverse noise and walking of the machine.

Therefore, some means must be provided for turning off the washing machine when such unbalanced condition exceeds a predetermined value.

According to the teachings of this invention, such improved means are provided in a simple and effective manner as will be apparent hereinafter.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved washing machine having one or more of the novel features of this invention as set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved means for operating such a washing machine or the like.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved parts for such a washing machine or the like.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from a reading of this description which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic view illustrating the improved washing machine system of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary top view of the program member of this invention.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view of the on-oif member of FIGURE 1 in one of the operating positions thereof.

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 and illustrates another operating position thereof.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view illustrating another embodiment of this invention.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter described and illustrated as being particularly adaptable for controlling the operation of a washing machine or the like, it is to be understood that the various features of this invention can be utilized singly or in any combination thereof to provide structures and methods for other devices as desired.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized to illustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, an improved washing machine system of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 10 and comprises a frame means 11 suitably supporting a rotatable washing compartment or tub 12 in a conventional manner whereby the desired quantity of clothes can be placed in the washing compartment 12 to be washed in a conventional manner.

The complete cycle or cycles of operation of the wash- .ing machine system 10 is controlled by a rotatabie program member 13 movable relative to a reading head 14 having a plurality of passage means 15 formed therethrough and interconnected to various devices in a manner hereinafter set forth, the program member 13 comprising a flexible reading sheet 16, a rigid backing member 17 and a porous resilient material 18 disposed between the backing member 17 and the reading sheet 16.

As illustrated in FIGURE 2, the reading sheet 16 has a plurality of raised blisters 19 formed therein in a pre- 1 determined pattern whereby each blister 19 defines a channel means 20 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 1 to respectively interconnect two or more passage means 15 together when the reading sheet 16 is rotated relative to the reading head 14.

In this manner, one of the passage means 15 illustrated .in FIGURE 1 can be interconnected to the inlet side of a vacuum pump 21 by a flexible conduit means 22 while an adjacent passage means 15-can be interconnected to a vacuum operated actuator 23 by a flexible conduit means 24, the actuator 23 comprising a flexible bellows having one end 25 fixed from movement relative to the frame means 11 and the other end 26 thereof movable relative to the frame means 11 in a manner hereinafter set forth.

Thus, when a particular blister 19 of the reading sheet 16 is disposed in the position illustrated in FIGURE 1, it can be seen that the interior of the vacuum operated actuator 23 is interconnected to the inlet side of the vacuum pump 21 by the channel 20 of the reading sheet 16 whereby the vacuum pump 21 is adapted to evacuate the actuator 23 and cause the movable wall 26 thereof to move toward the fixed wall 25 thereof in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 3 to operate any suitable device.

When it is desired to terminate the actuation of the actuator. 23, a suitable aperture means 27 formed through the reading sheet 26 is brought into alignment with the left hand passage means 15 in the reading head 13 whereby air is adapted to enter the interior of the actuator 23 through the aperture 27, passage means 15, and conduit means 24 so that the bellows construction 23 can return to its normal position as illustrated in FIGURE 4, the other passage means 15 leading to the vacuum pump 21 being sealed off by an unblistered portion of the reading sheet 16 adjacent the aperture means 27.

In this manner, it can readily be seen that the program member 13 can be driven by a suitable electrical timer .motor at a substantially constant rate relative to the reading head 14 whereby the blisters 19 and aperture means 27 of the reading sheet 16 effectively and sequentially control various vacuum operated actuators for controlling the particular operating means of the washing machine system 10 in the manner previously described.

In order to start the operation of the washing machine system 10, a suitable electrical switch 23 must be closed to interconnect together the

leads

29 and 30 thereof so that electrical current can be supplied to all of the electrical devices of the washing machine system 10, the

terminals

29 and 30 being electrically interconnected together by suitable switching structure when a movable plunger 31 is depressed inwardly in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 1 and are electrically disconnected from each other when the plunger 31 is permitted to extend outwardly to the position illustrated in FIGURE 4.

The electrical switch 28 is suitably mounted to a con- 'pression spring 37 is disposed between the knob 36 and the control panel 32 to tend to urge the shaft 34 from its ON position illustrated in FIGURE 1 to its OFF position illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4.

The other end of the shaft 34 has an annular recess 33 defined therein and disposed adjacent a camming beveled surface 39 at the end 40 thereof for a purpose hereinafter described.

A latch member 41 has an end 42 hinged to the control panel 32 and has a looped latching portion 43 intermediate the end 42 and the other end 44 thereof, the other end 44 being directly interconnected to the movable wall 26 of the actuator 23 by a member 45.

With the system disposed in its OFF position as illustrated in FIGURE 4, the operator makes a selection of the particular cycle for the washing machine system 10 by positioning the program member 13 in the desired position in any suitable manner and, thereafter, pushes inwardly on the knob 36 of the on-otf means 33 in opposition to the force of the compression spring 37 to cause the camming surface 39 of the end 40 thereof to cam against the looped portion 4.3 of the latching member 41 and cause the same to move downwardly in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 1 and move the plunger 31 of the switch means 28 inwardly to electrically interconnect the

terminals

29 and 30 thereof whereby the washing machine system 1%) is turned on. on-off means 33 has been pushed inwardly to the position illustrated in FIGURE 1, it can be seen that the looped vportion 43 of the latching member 41 is snapped into the recess 38 thereof to hold the shaft 34 in the position illustrated in FIGURE 1 even though the compression spring 37 is tending to return the on-off means 33 from the ON position illustrated in FIGURE 1 to the OFF position illustrated in FIGURE 4.

Thus, it can be seen that when the on-oif means 33 is moved inwardly relative to the control panel 32 in the above manner, the entire electrical system for the washing machine system 10 is energized so that the washing machine can proceed to operate through its entire cycle of operation as the program member 13 is continuously rotated relative to the reading head 14 by the now energized electrical timer means that drives the program member 13 relative to the reading head 14.

However, when the program member 13 comes to the end of the selected cycle thereof, a particular blister 19 of the reading sheet 16 comes into the position illustrated in FIGURE 1 and interconnects the vacuum source 21 with the interior of the bellows construction 23 to cause the same to be pulled downwardly in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 3 whereby the looped portion 43 of the latching member 41 is withdrawn from the annular recess 33 of the shaft member 34 so that the shaft member 34 can be axially moved to the left to its OFF position by the force of the compression spring 37 as illustrated in FIGURE 3 while the lowered latch member 41 maintains the switch 28 in its closed position.

Subsequently, an aperture means 27 of the program sheet 16 comes into communication with the left hand passage of the reading head 14 to interconnect the atmosphere to the interior of the bellows construction 23 so that the same can return to its normal atmospheric conditions as illustrated in FIGURE 4 and permit the plunger 31 of the switch 28 to extend outwardly to the position illustrated in FIGURE 4 whereby the electrical connection between the

leads

29 and 30 is terminated by suitable switching structure so that the entire electrical system of the washing machine 10 is terminated until the on-off means 13 is again actuated in the above manner.

Therefore, it can be seen that once the washing ma- When the shaft 34 of the chine system 10 is turned on by the on-off means 33, the electrical system of the washing machine remains energized until the program means 13 causes movement of the on-olf means 33 to its OFF position by the actuation of the actuator 23 in the manner previously described.

However, during the conventional working cycle of the system 10, it has been found that if the clothes are unevenly distributed in the washing compartment 12 thereof during a subsequent spinning operation of the washing compartment 12, the washing compartment 12 rotates in an eccentric manner because of the unbalanced condition thereof and such eccentric movement of the washing compartment 12 is detrimental to the washing machine if the same exceeds a predetermined limit.

Therefore, this invention provides means for terminating the operation of the washing machine system 10 should the unbalanced condition of the spinning washing compartment 12 exceed a predetermined value, such means being generally indicated by the reference numeral 46 in FIGURE 1 and now to be described.

As illustrated in FIGURE 1, a metallic bracket memher or means 47 is suitably fastened to the frame means 11 of the washing machine by suitable fastening means 48, the bracket means 47 having a movable portion 49 integrally interconnected thereto by a looped portion 51) which forms a resilient means to tend to normally hold the movable portion 49 in the position illustrated in full line in FIGURE 1. i

A flexible bellows construction 51 has an end 52 thereof fixed to the bracket means 47 and an opposed end 53 thereof fixed to the movable portion 49 of the bracket means 47. The interior of the bellows construction 51 is interconnected to the conduit 24 by a flexible conduit means 54 whereby the interior'of the bellows construction 51 is interconnected to the interior of the, bellows construction 23.

The end 53 of the bellows construction 51 has a suitable opening formed therein and normally covered by a poppet type or flapper type valve member 55.

The movable portion 49 of the bracket means 47 is so constructed and arranged that the same is adapted to be engaged by the spinning washing compartment 12 if the same is spinning in an eccentric manner whereby the spinning washing compartment 12 is adapted to strike the movable portion 49 of the bracket means 37 and move the same to the dotted line position illustrated in FIGURE 1 whereby the bellows construction 51 is collapsed and the air therein is adapted to be expelled out through the flapper valve 55.

However, when the movable portion 49 is adapted to spring back from the dotted line position illustrated in FIGURE 1 to or beyond the full line position illustrated in FIGURE 1 by the resilient means 50 of the bracket means 47, the bellows construction 51 subsequently eX- pands and since the bellows construction 51 has the opening in the wall 53 thereof closed by the valve 55, the expanding bellows construction 51 is adapted to evacuate the bellows construction 23 with a pumping action.

Thus, should a repeated pumping action of the bellows construction 51 be so produced by the spinning washing compartment 12 having an unbalanced condition thereof exceeding the predetermined value, the bellows construction 23 is suitably evacuated by the pumping action of the bellows construction 51 whereby the latch member 41 is unlatched from the on-off means 33 to permit the same to turn to its OFF position as illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4 to completely terminate the cycle of the operation of the washing machine system 10 regardless of the position of the program means 13 relative to the reading head 14.

Therefore, it can be seen that the sensing means 46 of this invention is adapted to sense when the spinning washing compartment 12 has an unbalanced condition thereof exceeding a predetermined value and will, thereafter, automatically terminate the operation of the washing machine system 10 independent of the normal means for terminating the operation of the washing machine systerm 10.

While the sensing means 27 has been described as having a particular configuration thereof, it is to be understood that the same can be modified in any desired manner and still fall within the scope of the appended claims.

For example, reference is made to FIGURE wherein another sensing means of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 56 and comprises an L- shaped bracket member 57 having a mounting plate 58 thereon for mounting the same to the suitable frame means of the washing machine or the like.

A movable member 59 is hinged to an arm 60 of the mounting bracket 57 by suitable hinge means 61 and is normally held in the position illustrated in FIGURE 5 by a tension spring 62 having one end 63 fastened to the bracket member 57.

A bellows construction 65 is disposed between the arm 66 of the mounting bracket 57 and the movable portion 59 and has the opposed ends thereof respectively secured to the arm 66 and the movable portion 59 whereby movement of the movable portion 59 relative to the arm 66 of the stationary member 57 by an unbalance spinning washing compartment causes a pumping action of the bellows construction 65 in the same manner as the bellows construction 51 previously described and for the same purpose.

Therefore, it can be seen that not only does this invention provide an improved washing machine and method for operating the same, but also this invention provides improved parts for such a washing machine or the like.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed as required by the statutes, other forms may be used, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In a washing machine having a washing compartment, means for spinning said washing compartment and manually operated movable on-oif means for operating said washing machine, the improvement comprising remotely controlled single actuator means for causing movement of said on-off means from its on position to its off position when said actuator means is actuated, remote control means for actuating said single actuator means, and sensing means operatively interconnected to said single actuator means and being responsive to the unbalanced condition of said spinning washing compartment to actuate said actuator means independently of said remote control means when said unbalanced condition exceeds a predetermined value.

2. In a washing machine as set forth in claim 1, said remote control means comprising program means for actuating said actuator means at the end of a cycle of operation of said washing machine.

3. In a washing machine having a washing compartment, means for spinning said washing compartment and manually operated movable on-ofi? means for operating said washing machine, the improvement comprising a re motely controlled pneumatically operated actuator means I for causing movement of said on-oif means from its on position to its off position when said actuator is actuated, remote control means to pneumatically actuate said actuator means, and sensing means operatively interconnected to said actuator means and being responsive to the unbalanced condition of said spinning washing compartment to pneumatically actuate said actuator means independently of said remote control means when said unbalanced condition exceeds a predetermined value.

4. In a washing machine as set forth in-claim 3, said remote control means comprising program means for pneumatically actuating said actuator means at the end of a cycle of operation of said washing machine.

5. In a washing machine having a washing compartment, means for spinning said washing compartment and manually operated movable on-olfs means for operating said washing machine, the improvement comprising a remotely control vacuum operated actuator for causing movement of said on-off means from its on position to its off position when said actuator is evacuated, remote control means for evacuating said actuator, and sensing means operatively interconnected to said actuator and being responsive to the unbalanced condition of said spinning washing compartment to evacuate said actuator independently of said remote control means when said unbalanced condition exceeds a predetermined value.

6. In a washing machine as set forth in claim 5, a vacuum source, said remote control means comprising means to interconnect said vacuum source with said actuator at the end of a cycle of operation of said Washing machine.

7. In a washing machine as set forth in claim 6, said last-named means comprising a program member.

8. In a washing machine having a washing compartment, means for spinning said washing compartment and movable on-off means for operating said washing machine, the improvement comprising a vacuum operated actuator for causing movement of said on-off means from its on position to its off position when said actuator is evacuated, and sensing means operatively interconnected to said actuator and being responsive to the unbalanced condition of said spinning washing compartment to evacuate said actuator when said unbalanced condition exceeds a predetermined value, said sensing means including an expansible and collapsible element adapted to pump air from said actuator by the action of the eccentric motion of said unbalanced washing compartment.

9. In a washing machine having a washing compartment, means for spinning said washing compartment and movable on-olf means for operating said washing machine, the improvement comprising a vacuum operated actuator for causing movement of said on-off means from its on position to its off position when said actuator is evacuated, and sensing means operatively connected to said actuator and being responsive to the unbalanced condition of said spinning washing compartment to evacuate said actuator when said unbalanced condition exceeds a predetermined value, said sensing means including an expansible and collapsible element adapted to pump air from said actuator by the action of the eccentric motion of said unbalanced washing compartment, said sensing means including a bracket means interconnecting one end of said element to said machine and having a movable portion interconnected to the other end of said element.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,624,464 1/1953 Morrison 210--144 2,990,705 7/1961 Bochan 6812 3,043,328 7/1962 Taylor 6812 X 3,048,026 8/1962 Bochan et al 6823 X 3,112,630 12/1963 Anderson et al 6812 3,145,818 8/1964 Stelli 210l44 X FOREIGN PATENTS 920,374 1/ 1947 France.

REUBEN FRIEDMAN, Primary Examiner.

J. DECESARE, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. IN A WASHING MACHINE HAVING A WASHING COMPARTMENT, MEANS FOR SPINNING SAID WASHING COMPARTMENT AND MANUALLY OPERATED MOVABLE ON-OFF MEANS FOR OPERATING SAID WASHING MACHINE, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING REMOTELY CONTROLLED SINGLE ACTUATOR MEANS FOR CAUSING MOVEMENT OF SAID ON-OFF MEANS FROM ITS ON POSITION TO ITS OFF POSITION WHEN SAID ACTUATOR MEANS IS ACTUATED, REMOTE CONTROL MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID SINGLE ACTUATOR MEANS, AND SENSING MEANS OPERATIVELY INTERCONNECTED TO SAID SINGLE ACTUATOR MEANS AND BEING RESPONSIVE TO THE UNBALANCED CONDITION OF SAID SPINNING WASHING COMPARTMENT TO ACTUATE SAID ACTUATOR MEANS INDEPENDENTLY OF SAID REMOTE CONTROL MEANS WHEN SAID UNBALANCED CONDITION EXCEEDS A PREDETERMINED VALUE.