US3603118A - Plastic tub assembly for use with clothes washer - Google Patents

Plastic tub assembly for use with clothes washer Download PDF

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US3603118A
US3603118A US33237A US3603118DA US3603118A US 3603118 A US3603118 A US 3603118A US 33237 A US33237 A US 33237A US 3603118D A US3603118D A US 3603118DA US 3603118 A US3603118 A US 3603118A
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Prior art keywords
inner tub
tub
rim
plastic
sidewall
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US33237A
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Byron L Brucken
Ronal H Whyte
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Motors Liquidation Co
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Motors Liquidation Co
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    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F37/00—Details specific to washing machines covered by groups D06F21/00 - D06F25/00
    • D06F37/26—Casings; Tubs
    • D06F37/261—Tubs made by a specially selected manufacturing process or characterised by their assembly from elements
    • D06F37/262—Tubs made by a specially selected manufacturing process or characterised by their assembly from elements made of plastic material, e.g. by injection moulding
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F23/00—Washing machines with receptacles, e.g. perforated, having a rotary movement, e.g. oscillatory movement, the receptacle serving both for washing and for centrifugally separating water from the laundry 
    • D06F23/04—Washing machines with receptacles, e.g. perforated, having a rotary movement, e.g. oscillatory movement, the receptacle serving both for washing and for centrifugally separating water from the laundry  and rotating or oscillating about a vertical axis
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F37/00—Details specific to washing machines covered by groups D06F21/00 - D06F25/00
    • D06F37/02—Rotary receptacles, e.g. drums
    • D06F37/12—Rotary receptacles, e.g. drums adapted for rotation or oscillation about a vertical axis
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F37/00—Details specific to washing machines covered by groups D06F21/00 - D06F25/00
    • D06F37/26—Casings; Tubs
    • D06F37/261—Tubs made by a specially selected manufacturing process or characterised by their assembly from elements
    • D06F37/263—Tubs made by a specially selected manufacturing process or characterised by their assembly from elements assembled from at least two elements connected to each other; Connecting or sealing means therefor
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F37/00—Details specific to washing machines covered by groups D06F21/00 - D06F25/00
    • D06F37/26—Casings; Tubs
    • D06F37/264—Tubs provided with reinforcing structures, e.g. ribs, inserts, braces
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F37/00—Details specific to washing machines covered by groups D06F21/00 - D06F25/00
    • D06F37/26—Casings; Tubs
    • D06F37/267—Tubs specially adapted for mounting thereto components or devices not provided for in preceding subgroups
    • D06F37/269—Tubs specially adapted for mounting thereto components or devices not provided for in preceding subgroups for the bearing of the rotary receptacle

Definitions

  • a plastic tub assembly for a clothes washer includes a rotatable plastic inner tub nested inside a nonrotatable plastic outer tub.
  • the inner tub has an integral central agitator and outer scrubbing ribs and is adapted for a driving connection with an oscillation or spinning mechanism.
  • Strengthening the inner tub is provided by a reinforced bottom wall and a metal circumscribing ring, the ring also preventing spin welding of the plastic tubs.
  • the outer tub has an overflow channel at the top and an integral pump housing and antidrip flange at the bottom.
  • This invention relates to domestic appliances and, more particularly, to a plastic tube assembly for a clothes washer.
  • the prior art in clothes washers discloses nested tub assemblies, plastic tubs and tubs with integral agitators.
  • This invention is directed to a novel assembly of plastic tubs which are light in weight, yet sturdy enough to withstand the oscillating forces of clothes being washed, the centrifugal forces of clothes being spun and the temperature effect of 180 F. washing fluid.
  • Another object of this invention is the provision in a pair of nested plastic tubs of integral clothes agitating means in one of said tubs and integral pump housing means in the other of said tubs.
  • Another object of this invention is the provision of improved means for assembling plastic clothes washer tubs.
  • Still another object of this invention is the provision in a clothes washer of a pair of plastic tubs which have integrally formed as a portion thereof agitating means, clothes guard means, pump housing means and strengthening means.
  • FIG. 1 is a sectional view, partly in elevation, of a domestic clothes washer provided with the plastic tub assembly of this invention
  • FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 22 in FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 33 in FIG. 2 to show a metal strengthening ring for the inner tub;
  • FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 4--4 in FIG. 2 to show an arrangement for attaching the strengthens g;
  • FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 2 to show an overflow arrangement
  • FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the inner and outer tub assembly to show the arrangement for fastening portions of the asembly;
  • FIG. 7 is an elevational view of one fastening arrangement taken in the direction of line 7-7 in FIG. 6;
  • FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating a preferred arrangement for locating and supporting plastic tubs.
  • a clothes washer I0 is shown having an outer tub assembly or water container I2 and an inner tub assembly or spin tub 14.
  • the outer tub assembly I2 is mounted on a suspension system having a support plate 16 which is located by a plurality of support braces 18 as described more fully in US. Pat. No. 3,493,l l8 granted Feb. 3, I970.
  • an oscillating and spinning drive mechanism 20 for the clothes washer which may be of the type described in copending application Ser. No. 798,298 also assigned to the assignee of this invention.
  • Extending upwardly from the oscillating and spinning drive mechanism 20 is the tub drive shaft 22.
  • the tub drive shaft 22 extends through the support plate 16 and the outer tub assembly 12.
  • the tub drive shaft 22 is rotatably mounted with respect to the support plate I6 by sleeve bearings 23.
  • Located on the upper end of the tub drive shaft 22 is a spin tub support 24 which extends into a mortiseand tenon-driving relationship with the inner tub assembly 14 as will be explained more fully hereinafter.
  • the outer tub assembly I2 is comprised of a plastic outer tub having a preformed bottom wall 32 and a sidewall 34.
  • the bottom wall is formed with an integral depending pump housing 36 which has merging therewith a generally arcuate channel 37 (FIG. 2).
  • the pump housing 36 is closed on the top side by a pump cover 38 having an inlet opening 40 facing the channel 37 to receive the swirling water within the outer tub 30 during a pumpout cycle.
  • the pump housing and cover enclose an impeller 39 on the upper end of a motor shaft 41 driven by a Bis-horsepower reversible motor 43. With the motor operating, water will be pumped to drain through a con duit 42 attached to the integral outlet 44 of the pump housing.
  • the bottom wall 32 of the outer tub includes several depending struts 46 and a collar 47 adapted for attachment to and supported by the support plate 16.
  • an antidrip flange 48 is integrally formed as a downward extension of the sidewall to divert fluids which overflow the top of the outer tub 30 from running under the tub and dropping on the components of the oscillating and drive mechanism 20.
  • a pressure tap 52 may 1 also be formed integrally with the outer tub alongside the pump housing 36. The tap connection 52 can be connected in the conventional manner with a pressure switch to terminate a fill cycle when the presence of water is sensed in the sump formed by the pump housing 36.
  • a plastic outer tub rim 56 At the top of the outer tub 30 is a plastic outer tub rim 56.
  • the rim includes a pair of spaced upstanding walls 58, 60 forming a circular trough 62 and a collar 64 depending from the trough and nesting within the top of the sidewall 34.
  • a butyl rubber seal 66 (FIG. 6) is compressed by the nesting of the outer tub rim 56 with the outer tub 30 to form a sealed jointure between.
  • the trough wall 58 overlies the inner tub assembly I4 in a manner to receive overflow from the inner tub assembly.
  • the trough leads to a basin 70 (FIG. 2) having an opening collar 72 to which a conduit 74 may be attached.
  • the conduit directs the overflow water from the trough to a portion of the clothes washer near the floor and below the electrical components of the clothes washer.
  • the method of assembling the outer tub is best understood with reference to FIGS. 2, 6 and 7.
  • the outer tub rim 56 is provided with a plurality of lugs 78 spaced 45 apart about the periphery of the rim.
  • Each of the lugs 78 form with the nested flange 64 a recess or annular groove 80 of 0.080 inches width to receive the seal ring 66.
  • each of the lugs 78 extend a distance of 0.080 inches below the uppermost portion of the recess 80 and include a shoulder 84 which rests on the top of the sidewall 34. Between the lugs (FIG.
  • the seal is trapped by the 0.040 inch by 45 chamfer on the top of the sidewall and the 20 back draft on the top of the recess 80.
  • This arrangement allows the assembly and disassembly of the outer tub rim, the outer tub, and the seal ring without damaging the seal. Moreover, the arrangement maintains the seal in spite of the physical movement of the tub and rim brought about by the periodic exposure of the parts to hot and cold washing fluid.
  • the top edge of the sidewall 34 outboard of the chamfer should be smooth and flat.
  • Each lug has a groove 88 in the top thereof.
  • a retaining spring 90 of 0.054-inch spring wire and zinc plated to a minimum 0.00015 inch is formed with a top hook end 92 and a bottom hook end 94.
  • the top end 92 of the spring hooks over each of the lugs 78 in the groove 88 thereof while the bottom end hooks over the antidrip flange 48.
  • a bias capability is imparted to the elongated spring by crimping the wire at its lower end with a 0.48-inch radius at 96 and a 0.62-inch radius at 98.
  • the seal 66 is fitted around the depending collar 64 of the outer tub rim and pressed into the groove 80. Then the outer tub rim is positioned on top of the outer tub 30 until the shoulder 84 of the lug rests flnnly and squarely on the top edge of the outer tub sidewall. A spring 90 is snapped over each of the lugs 78 and the antidrip flange 48 to complete the fastening of the components in the assembly.
  • the material for the outer tub plastic portions should be polypropylene. At the top of the sidewall 34 the tub diameter is 20.64 inches while the diameter at the antidrip flange 13.45 inches below is 19.19 inches.
  • the wall thickness of the outer tub and the outer tub rim is substantially all 0.120 inch. Substantially all fillet radii should be 0.06 inch. It is important to minimize the section of the outer tub rim at the location of each lug 78. In this way there will be less shrinkage at the lug locations after removal of the part from the mold.
  • the inner tub assembly 14 is adapted for rotation and oscillation by the mechanism 20.
  • the inner tub assembly nests within the outer tub assembly in spaced relation-thereto and includes a plastic inner tub 110 having a slightly outwardly tapered outer sidewall 112 and a central reentry portion 114 forming a generally star-shaped pedestal in the central portion of the tub.
  • the pedestal 114 is formed in two portions-an agitator portion 115 and a circulator and attachment portion 117.
  • the portion 115 is an integral agitator having three hollow agitator vanes 115a, b and c which extend upwardly into three solid agitator fins or ribs 115a, b and c spaced 120 apart.
  • Each rib is about 0.10 inch thick and 0.50 inch deep at the top but the thickness varies from 0.10 inch to 0.18 inch as the rib merges with the pedestal eight inches below.
  • the vanes 1 15a, b and c when oscillated produce a toroidal flow of washing fluid in the tub.
  • the other portion 1 17 is for attachment to the support portion 24 of the drive mechanism and includes three connecting drive sockets 117a, b and c spaced 120 apart.
  • the portion 117 aids in producing toroidal flow of washing fluid in the tub and in preventing clothes from clinging to the agitator.
  • the pedestal 114 is joined to the sidewall 112 by a bottom wall 116 of thickened cross section.
  • the sidewall blends in a LIZ-inch outside radius from a sidewall thickness of 0.090 inch to a bottom wall thickness of 0.180 inch.
  • the pedestal blends in a 0.62-inch outside radius from a pedestal thickness of 0.120 inch to a bottom wall thickness of 0.180 inch.
  • In between the bottom wall expands to a central thickness of 0.280 inch.
  • the expanding thickness of the tub bottom allows, during injection molding, the fluid plastic fiber mix, flowing from the pedestal area to the outer wall, to slow down, i.e. reduce velocity.
  • the change in velocity allows the glass fibers percent by weight) to concentrate in the area of the tub bottom where the velocity is lowest. This glass fiber concentration gives added stiffness to the tub bottom in the area requiring greatest stiffness to support the wash load and to resist deflection during spin extraction, by unbalanced loads.
  • the outer wall 112 is formed with 45 inwardly directed tub scrubbing ribs 120 spaced 8 apart from the inside of the tub and generally above the drive sockets 117a, b and c and opposite the agitator ribs 115a, b and c.
  • the tub ribs 120 starting at a point 121, 2.58 inches below the top of the outer sidewall 112, taper in the vertical direction to runout from a cross-sectional thickness of 0.180-inch to a 0.090-inch wall thickness 4.56 inches below merging smoothly with the sidewall of the inner tub.
  • each rib is formed at the top with a radius of 0.
  • the number of scrubbing ribs 120 depends on the diameter of the tub and the size of the drive mechanism motor. Thus the 45 scrubbing ribs 120 provide for acceptable washing results in a tub of about 20 inches. in diameter oscillated by-a iii-horsepower motor.
  • Circumscribingthe top of the sidewall 112 are a plurality of attachment fingers.
  • the tub diameter at the joint is 19.12 inches and the tub depth is about 13 inches.
  • Alternating are inverted T-shaped fingers 124 and triangular-shaped fingers 126.
  • the cross of the inverted T forms a shoulder 128 for positioning the inner tub rim 132 thereon as will be described more fully hereinafter.
  • the inner tub rim 132 is molded and formed with a radial flange 134 including alternating relatively large arcuate slots 136 and small arcuate slots 138 for cooperating respectively with the fingers 1-24 and 126 at the top of the inner tub 110.
  • the leg of the inverted T-shaped finger 124 has a right-angle grip portion 140 at the end thereof which snaps through the slot 136 (FIG. 3) to retain the rim on the tub.
  • the triangular fingers extend into the slots 138 and define with the radial flange 134 and the inverted T-shaped fingers 124 outflow ports 142 through which washing fluid is centrifuged when the inner tub assembly 14 is rotated.
  • the rim 132 includes a depending collar portion 146 which lies in spaced juxtaposition to the outflow ports and thereby acts as a clothes guard to prevent clothes from blocking the outflow ports during tub rotation.
  • the inner tub assembly is provided with two means for strengthening the assembly in view of potential stresses brought about in a clothes centrifuging operation.
  • One method is ,to impregnate the polypropylene of the inner tub 110 with glass fibers. Glass fibers during molding will settle into the thickened portion of the bottom wall of the tub for strengthening the tub as described hereinbefore.
  • Another arrangement for strengthening the inner tub assembly is to encircle the inner tub rim with a stainless steel channel member or ring 150.
  • the ring has an additional function useful with plastic tubs. Its outer peripheral edge in occasionally hitting the collar 64 provides a stainless steel bumper to prevent any tendency to spin weld a spinning inner tub 14 to the outer tub 12.
  • locking lugs 152 are formed in the rim above the radial flange 134.
  • the ring includes a ii-inch X V4- inch tang 154 which extends into a slot 156 in the radial flange to prevent the ring from turning relative to the inner tub rim.
  • a pair of take up springs 160 are spaced l20 apartbetween the inner tub rim and the strengthening ring 150.
  • the support portion 24 of the mechanism 20 includes three drive tenons 24a, b and c.
  • Each tenon 24 (FIG. 8) has a rib 25 which extends radially from a hub 26.
  • a tub support portion 28 At the outer end of each rib is a tub support portion 28 which faces the rib on the top and bottom thereof and exactly confonns to the inside of the sockets 1 17. It is the three support portions 28 that form tenons on which the inner tub 14 is mortised, thereby to nest snugly within the drive socket 1 17 of the star-shaped pedestal and to locate the inner tub.
  • a connecting rod 166 extends upwardly from the drive shaft 22 and through a top opening 167 in the pedestal where it receives a lock nut 168.
  • This top opening 167 during injection molding, may also contain the sprue for the mold.
  • a plastic cap 170 may decoratively cover the lock nut and seal the top of the agitator from the washing fluids.
  • the outer tub 30 is critically positioned in the center on a mechanism support housing 184.
  • the outer tub has a tubular reentry portion 186 and the mechanism support housing has an upstanding collar 188.
  • the inside of the collar 188 supports the sleeve bearings 23.
  • the outside of the collar has three guide ribs 190 spaced 120 apart and firmly anchored as at 191 to the support plate l6.'With the inner tub firmly positioned on the drive tenons 24 and the outer tub firmly positioned on the collar of the mechanism support housing 184 and the mechanism support plate 16, there is assurance that the plastic tubs will remain aligned at the seal members 180, 182 for the life of the product.
  • the alignment of the movable pump seal member 194 with the fixed ring and gasket assembly member 196 is maintained by a depending plastic collar 198 on the pump housing 36.
  • a bearing retainer 200 for the motor shaft 41 is firmly anchored as at 201 to the support plate 16.
  • the collar 198 provides a socket which overlies the bearing retainer 200 and in so doing cooperates with the outer tub reentry portion 186 and the guide ribs 190 to permanently and properly locate the plastic outer tub.
  • the mechanism 20 is operated in one fashion to oscillate the shaft 22 and thus the inner tub assembly 14.
  • the level of the washing fluid is about 1.50 inches below the outflow ports 142.
  • a slightly toroidal flow of washing fluid is initiated by the oscillations of the vanes 115a, b and c on the agitator portion 1 and by the vanes 117a, b and c on the circulator portion 117.
  • the ribs 115a, b and c, along with the vanes 117a, b and c distribute the clothes load by pushing the clothes off the pedestal.
  • the mechanism is operated in another manner, such as by reversing motor 43 to rotate the drive shaft 22 and the inner tub assembly 14. Water will be centrifuged from the inner tub assembly to the outer tub assembly through the outflow ports 142. Once in the outer tub, the water will swirlingly enter the pump housing 36 through its inlet 40 and will be pumped to drain through the conduit 42.
  • the outer tub assembly 12 is nonrotatable and the inner tub assembly is rotatable, both assemblies are adapted for movement as a unit with the support plate 16 in response to unbalance.
  • said inner tub assembly comprising a plastic inner tub having a slightly outwardly tapered outer wall, a central reentry portion forming a radial-vaned pedestal within said inner tub and a bottom wall of expanded cross section therebetween, the side of said pedestal facing outside said inner tub being adapted for connection with an oscillating and rotating mechanism for selectively oscillating or rotating said inner tub, the side of said pedestal facing inside said inner tub being adapted by the oscillating thereof to agitate clothes in said inner tub, said outer wall having formed inwardly thereof a plurality of vertical ribs, said ribs cooperating with the side of said pedestal facing inside when said inner tub is oscillating in agitating clothes, said outer wall having formed around the upper edge as a projection thereof alternating longand short-spaced fingers, said long fingers having an intermediate shoulder portion, a plastic inner tub rim fast
  • said inner tub assembly comprising a plastic inner tub having as integral portions thereof a slightly outwardly tapered outer wall, a central reentry portion forming a radial-vaned pedestal within said inner tub and a bottom wall of expanded cross section therebetween, the side of said pedestal facing outside said inner tub forming a socket on a lower portion thereof for connection with an oscillating and rotating mechanism for selectively oscillating or rotating said inner tub, the side of said pedestal facing inside said inner tub forming an agitator on the upper portion thereof, said outer wall having formed inwardly thereof opposite the agitator portion of said pedestal a plurality of vertical ribs tapered toward their lower ends to merge at a point with said outer wall, said ribs cooperating with the agitator portion of said pedestal when said inner tub is oscillating to agitate clothes, said outer wall having
  • a nonrotatable outer tub assembly and a rotatable inner tub assembly of substantially the same size nested within said outer tub assembly and in closely spaced relation thereto saidinner tub assembly comprising a plastic inner tub having an outer wall between l7 inches and inches in diameter, a central reentry portion forming a radial-vaned pedestal within said inner tub and a bottom wall of expanded cross section therebetween, the side of said pedestal facing outside said inner tub forming a socket on a lower portion thereof for connection with an oscillating and rotating mechanism for selectively oscillating or rotating said inner tub, the side of said pedestal facing inside said inner tub forming an agitator on the upper portion thereof, said outer wall having formed inwardly thereof substantially 45 equally spaced vertical ribs, said ribs cooperating with the agitator portion of said pedestal when said inner tub is oscillating to agitate clothes, the socket portion of said pedestal facing inside said inner tub effecting a toroidal movement of said clothes when said inner tub is oscillating
  • the plastic for said inner tub includes a 20 percent by weight glass fiber fill
  • said outer wall has a cross-sectional thickness of substantially 0.090 inch
  • said reentry portion has a cross-sectional thickness of substantially 0. l 20 inch
  • the expanded cross section of said bottom wall is substantially 0.280 inch.
  • said outer tub assembly comprising a plastic outer tub having a preformed bottom wall and a sidewall, said bottom wall formed with an integral depending pump housing, said sidewall having at its lower terminus an antidrip flange depending below the jointure of said sidewall with said bottom wall for diverting overflow from said bottom wall, an integral plastic outer tub rim on top of said sidewall and includinga pair of spaced upstanding walls forming a circular trough and a collar depending from said trough and nesting within the top of said sidewall, the innermost of said pair of spaced walls overlying said inner tub assembly in a manner to receive overflow therefrom and to direct said overflow to said trough, conduit means connected to said trough and extending to a lower portion of said clothes washer for draining the overflow, said outer tub rim including a plurality of lug
  • inner tub support means including radial tenons solidl affixed to said drive shaft, a pump impeller solidly afiixe to said power shaft
  • said drive mechanism support means including an upstanding guide portion, a plastic outer tub having integrally formed therein a reentry portion snugly interfitting with said guide portion and a pump housing enclosing said pump impeller, said pump housing having an integral depending collar interfitting with said power shaft means, first water seal means between said reentry portion of said outer tub and said inner tub support means, second water seal means between said pump housing and said pump impeller, said guide portion of said drive mechanism support means and said collar of said pump housing locating and permanently positioning said outer tub with respect to said drive mechanism support means thereby to maintain the alignment of said first and second water seal means, a plastic inner tub having integrally formed therein a central reentry portion defining a socket having radial cavities mortised onto the radial tenons of said inner tub support means whereby to locate said inner tub vertically and horizontally
  • said outer tub assembly including a plastic rim circumscribing said inner tub assembly
  • said inner tub assembly comprising a plastic inner tub adapted to contain water and having an imperforate outer wall, a central reentry portion forming a pedestal within said inner tub and a bottom wall therebetween, the side of said pedestal facing outside said inner tub forming a socket for connection with an oscillating and rotating mechanism for selectively oscillat ing or rotating said inner tub, an inner tub rim fastened to the top of said outer wall and forming thereat a plurality of outflow ports, said inner tub rim having a plastic flange sufficiently close to said plastic rim when said inner tub is rotating for centrifuging water through said outflow ports to tend to occasionally engage said plastic rim and spin weld said plastic flange to said plastic rim, and a stainless steel

Abstract

A plastic tub assembly for a clothes washer includes a rotatable plastic inner tub nested inside a nonrotatable plastic outer tub. The inner tub has an integral central agitator and outer scrubbing ribs and is adapted for a driving connection with an oscillation or spinning mechanism. Strengthening the inner tub is provided by a reinforced bottom wall and a metal circumscribing ring, the ring also preventing spin welding of the plastic tubs. The outer tub has an overflow channel at the top and an integral pump housing and antidrip flange at the bottom.

Description

United States Patent Byron L. Brucken;
Ronal H. Whyte, both of Dayton, Ohio 33,237
Apr. 30, 1970 Sept. 7, 1971 General Motors Corp.
Detroit, Mich.
Inventors Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee PLASTIC TUB ASSEMBLY FOR USE WITH CLOTHES WASHER 8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.
US. Cl 68/23, 68/174, 68/233 Int. Cl D06f 23/04, D06f 37/14, DO6f37/38 Field of Search 68/23, 174,
References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,887,887 5/1959 Jennings 68123.7 X 3,029,623 4/1962 Morey 68/174 X 3,069,887 12/1962 Gould 68/236 X FOREIGN PATENTS 928,374 6/1963 Great Britain 68/232 Primary Examiner-William I. Price Attorneys-William S. Pettigrew and Frederick M. Ritchie ABSTRACT: A plastic tub assembly for a clothes washer includes a rotatable plastic inner tub nested inside a nonrotatable plastic outer tub. The inner tub has an integral central agitator and outer scrubbing ribs and is adapted for a driving connection with an oscillation or spinning mechanism. Strengthening the inner tub is provided by a reinforced bottom wall and a metal circumscribing ring, the ring also preventing spin welding of the plastic tubs. The outer tub has an overflow channel at the top and an integral pump housing and antidrip flange at the bottom.
PATENTEDSEP 7mm 3.603118 SHEET 1 [IF 4 i II :I 'i 1 :I i I [3 2022 BY 252242/ b4 [2% ie A TTORNEY PATENIEDSEP 71am SHEET 2 0F 4 A TTORNEY PLASTIC TUB ASSEMBLY FOR USE WITH CLOTHES WASHER This invention relates to domestic appliances and, more particularly, to a plastic tube assembly for a clothes washer.
The prior art in clothes washers discloses nested tub assemblies, plastic tubs and tubs with integral agitators. This invention is directed to a novel assembly of plastic tubs which are light in weight, yet sturdy enough to withstand the oscillating forces of clothes being washed, the centrifugal forces of clothes being spun and the temperature effect of 180 F. washing fluid.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a nested plastic tub assembly with means to withstand the forces of oscillation and spinning by strengthening and separating the tubs.
Another object of this invention is the provision in a pair of nested plastic tubs of integral clothes agitating means in one of said tubs and integral pump housing means in the other of said tubs.
Another object of this invention is the provision of improved means for assembling plastic clothes washer tubs.
Still another object of this invention is the provision in a clothes washer of a pair of plastic tubs which have integrally formed as a portion thereof agitating means, clothes guard means, pump housing means and strengthening means.
Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.
IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a sectional view, partly in elevation, of a domestic clothes washer provided with the plastic tub assembly of this invention;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 22 in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 33 in FIG. 2 to show a metal strengthening ring for the inner tub;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 4--4 in FIG. 2 to show an arrangement for attaching the strengthens g;
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 2 to show an overflow arrangement;
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the inner and outer tub assembly to show the arrangement for fastening portions of the asembly;
FIG. 7 is an elevational view of one fastening arrangement taken in the direction of line 7-7 in FIG. 6; and
FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating a preferred arrangement for locating and supporting plastic tubs.
GENERAL In accordance with this invention and with reference to FIG. I, a clothes washer I0 is shown having an outer tub assembly or water container I2 and an inner tub assembly or spin tub 14. The outer tub assembly I2 is mounted on a suspension system having a support plate 16 which is located by a plurality of support braces 18 as described more fully in US. Pat. No. 3,493,l l8 granted Feb. 3, I970.
Supported beneath the support plate 16 is an oscillating and spinning drive mechanism 20 for the clothes washer which may be of the type described in copending application Ser. No. 798,298 also assigned to the assignee of this invention. Extending upwardly from the oscillating and spinning drive mechanism 20 is the tub drive shaft 22. The tub drive shaft 22 extends through the support plate 16 and the outer tub assembly 12. The tub drive shaft 22 is rotatably mounted with respect to the support plate I6 by sleeve bearings 23. Located on the upper end of the tub drive shaft 22 is a spin tub support 24 which extends into a mortiseand tenon-driving relationship with the inner tub assembly 14 as will be explained more fully hereinafter.
OTHER TUB ASSEMBLY The outer tub assembly I2 is comprised of a plastic outer tub having a preformed bottom wall 32 and a sidewall 34. The bottom wall is formed with an integral depending pump housing 36 which has merging therewith a generally arcuate channel 37 (FIG. 2). The pump housing 36 is closed on the top side by a pump cover 38 having an inlet opening 40 facing the channel 37 to receive the swirling water within the outer tub 30 during a pumpout cycle. The pump housing and cover enclose an impeller 39 on the upper end of a motor shaft 41 driven by a Bis-horsepower reversible motor 43. With the motor operating, water will be pumped to drain through a con duit 42 attached to the integral outlet 44 of the pump housing.
The bottom wall 32 of the outer tub includes several depending struts 46 and a collar 47 adapted for attachment to and supported by the support plate 16. At the juncture of the bottom wall 32 with the sidewall 34, an antidrip flange 48 is integrally formed as a downward extension of the sidewall to divert fluids which overflow the top of the outer tub 30 from running under the tub and dropping on the components of the oscillating and drive mechanism 20. A pressure tap 52 may 1 also be formed integrally with the outer tub alongside the pump housing 36. The tap connection 52 can be connected in the conventional manner with a pressure switch to terminate a fill cycle when the presence of water is sensed in the sump formed by the pump housing 36.
At the top of the outer tub 30 is a plastic outer tub rim 56. The rim includes a pair of spaced upstanding walls 58, 60 forming a circular trough 62 and a collar 64 depending from the trough and nesting within the top of the sidewall 34. A butyl rubber seal 66 (FIG. 6) is compressed by the nesting of the outer tub rim 56 with the outer tub 30 to form a sealed jointure between. The trough wall 58 overlies the inner tub assembly I4 in a manner to receive overflow from the inner tub assembly. The trough leads to a basin 70 (FIG. 2) having an opening collar 72 to which a conduit 74 may be attached. The conduit directs the overflow water from the trough to a portion of the clothes washer near the floor and below the electrical components of the clothes washer.
The method of assembling the outer tub is best understood with reference to FIGS. 2, 6 and 7. The outer tub rim 56 is provided with a plurality of lugs 78 spaced 45 apart about the periphery of the rim. Each of the lugs 78 form with the nested flange 64 a recess or annular groove 80 of 0.080 inches width to receive the seal ring 66. Moreover, each of the lugs 78 extend a distance of 0.080 inches below the uppermost portion of the recess 80 and include a shoulder 84 which rests on the top of the sidewall 34. Between the lugs (FIG. 5) the seal is trapped by the 0.040 inch by 45 chamfer on the top of the sidewall and the 20 back draft on the top of the recess 80. This arrangement allows the assembly and disassembly of the outer tub rim, the outer tub, and the seal ring without damaging the seal. Moreover, the arrangement maintains the seal in spite of the physical movement of the tub and rim brought about by the periodic exposure of the parts to hot and cold washing fluid. In order to assure a proper mating of the outer rim, the outer tub and the seal ring, the top edge of the sidewall 34 outboard of the chamfer should be smooth and flat. Each lug has a groove 88 in the top thereof. A retaining spring 90 of 0.054-inch spring wire and zinc plated to a minimum 0.00015 inch is formed with a top hook end 92 and a bottom hook end 94. The top end 92 of the spring hooks over each of the lugs 78 in the groove 88 thereof while the bottom end hooks over the antidrip flange 48. A bias capability is imparted to the elongated spring by crimping the wire at its lower end with a 0.48-inch radius at 96 and a 0.62-inch radius at 98.
To assemble the outer tub assembly, the seal 66 is fitted around the depending collar 64 of the outer tub rim and pressed into the groove 80. Then the outer tub rim is positioned on top of the outer tub 30 until the shoulder 84 of the lug rests flnnly and squarely on the top edge of the outer tub sidewall. A spring 90 is snapped over each of the lugs 78 and the antidrip flange 48 to complete the fastening of the components in the assembly.
The material for the outer tub plastic portions should be polypropylene. At the top of the sidewall 34 the tub diameter is 20.64 inches while the diameter at the antidrip flange 13.45 inches below is 19.19 inches. The wall thickness of the outer tub and the outer tub rim is substantially all 0.120 inch. Substantially all fillet radii should be 0.06 inch. It is important to minimize the section of the outer tub rim at the location of each lug 78. In this way there will be less shrinkage at the lug locations after removal of the part from the mold.
INNER TUB ASSEMBLY The inner tub assembly 14 is adapted for rotation and oscillation by the mechanism 20. The inner tub assembly nests within the outer tub assembly in spaced relation-thereto and includes a plastic inner tub 110 having a slightly outwardly tapered outer sidewall 112 and a central reentry portion 114 forming a generally star-shaped pedestal in the central portion of the tub. The pedestal 114 is formed in two portions-an agitator portion 115 and a circulator and attachment portion 117. The portion 115 is an integral agitator having three hollow agitator vanes 115a, b and c which extend upwardly into three solid agitator fins or ribs 115a, b and c spaced 120 apart. Each rib is about 0.10 inch thick and 0.50 inch deep at the top but the thickness varies from 0.10 inch to 0.18 inch as the rib merges with the pedestal eight inches below. The vanes 1 15a, b and c when oscillated produce a toroidal flow of washing fluid in the tub. The other portion 1 17 is for attachment to the support portion 24 of the drive mechanism and includes three connecting drive sockets 117a, b and c spaced 120 apart. The portion 117 aids in producing toroidal flow of washing fluid in the tub and in preventing clothes from clinging to the agitator. The pedestal 114 is joined to the sidewall 112 by a bottom wall 116 of thickened cross section. At the outside of the bottom wall, where the tub is 17.54 inches in diameter, the sidewall blends in a LIZ-inch outside radius from a sidewall thickness of 0.090 inch to a bottom wall thickness of 0.180 inch. At the inside the pedestal blends in a 0.62-inch outside radius from a pedestal thickness of 0.120 inch to a bottom wall thickness of 0.180 inch. In between the bottom wall expands to a central thickness of 0.280 inch. The expanding thickness of the tub bottom allows, during injection molding, the fluid plastic fiber mix, flowing from the pedestal area to the outer wall, to slow down, i.e. reduce velocity. The change in velocity allows the glass fibers percent by weight) to concentrate in the area of the tub bottom where the velocity is lowest. This glass fiber concentration gives added stiffness to the tub bottom in the area requiring greatest stiffness to support the wash load and to resist deflection during spin extraction, by unbalanced loads.
The outer wall 112 is formed with 45 inwardly directed tub scrubbing ribs 120 spaced 8 apart from the inside of the tub and generally above the drive sockets 117a, b and c and opposite the agitator ribs 115a, b and c. The tub ribs 120, starting at a point 121, 2.58 inches below the top of the outer sidewall 112, taper in the vertical direction to runout from a cross-sectional thickness of 0.180-inch to a 0.090-inch wall thickness 4.56 inches below merging smoothly with the sidewall of the inner tub. In the lateral direction each rib is formed at the top with a radius of 0. I 8 inch from the outer surface of the sidewall and tapers or runs out to a point where the rib merges into the wall thickness of 0.090 inch. The number of scrubbing ribs 120 depends on the diameter of the tub and the size of the drive mechanism motor. Thus the 45 scrubbing ribs 120 provide for acceptable washing results in a tub of about 20 inches. in diameter oscillated by-a iii-horsepower motor.
Circumscribingthe top of the sidewall 112 are a plurality of attachment fingers. The tub diameter at the joint is 19.12 inches and the tub depth is about 13 inches. Alternating are inverted T-shaped fingers 124 and triangular-shaped fingers 126. The cross of the inverted T forms a shoulder 128 for positioning the inner tub rim 132 thereon as will be described more fully hereinafter.
The inner tub rim 132 is molded and formed with a radial flange 134 including alternating relatively large arcuate slots 136 and small arcuate slots 138 for cooperating respectively with the fingers 1-24 and 126 at the top of the inner tub 110. The leg of the inverted T-shaped finger 124 has a right-angle grip portion 140 at the end thereof which snaps through the slot 136 (FIG. 3) to retain the rim on the tub. The triangular fingers extend into the slots 138 and define with the radial flange 134 and the inverted T-shaped fingers 124 outflow ports 142 through which washing fluid is centrifuged when the inner tub assembly 14 is rotated. The rim 132 includes a depending collar portion 146 which lies in spaced juxtaposition to the outflow ports and thereby acts as a clothes guard to prevent clothes from blocking the outflow ports during tub rotation.
The inner tub assembly is provided with two means for strengthening the assembly in view of potential stresses brought about in a clothes centrifuging operation. One method is ,to impregnate the polypropylene of the inner tub 110 with glass fibers. Glass fibers during molding will settle into the thickened portion of the bottom wall of the tub for strengthening the tub as described hereinbefore.
Another arrangement for strengthening the inner tub assembly is to encircle the inner tub rim with a stainless steel channel member or ring 150. The ring has an additional function useful with plastic tubs. Its outer peripheral edge in occasionally hitting the collar 64 provides a stainless steel bumper to prevent any tendency to spin weld a spinning inner tub 14 to the outer tub 12. For snap fastening the ring 150 over the inner tub rim 132, locking lugs 152 are formed in the rim above the radial flange 134. The ring includes a ii-inch X V4- inch tang 154 which extends into a slot 156 in the radial flange to prevent the ring from turning relative to the inner tub rim. A pair of take up springs 160 are spaced l20 apartbetween the inner tub rim and the strengthening ring 150.
TUB MOUNTING The interconnection between the outer tub assembly 12 and the inner tub assembly 14 with the oscillating end-spinning mechanism 20 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 8. In order that there be alignment between the movable -seal members 196 and the fixed seal members 182,
' 194, the plastic tubs must be fixed at critical locations. For this reason the support portion 24 of the mechanism 20 includes three drive tenons 24a, b and c. Each tenon 24 (FIG. 8) has a rib 25 which extends radially from a hub 26. At the outer end of each rib is a tub support portion 28 which faces the rib on the top and bottom thereof and exactly confonns to the inside of the sockets 1 17. It is the three support portions 28 that form tenons on which the inner tub 14 is mortised, thereby to nest snugly within the drive socket 1 17 of the star-shaped pedestal and to locate the inner tub. A connecting rod 166 extends upwardly from the drive shaft 22 and through a top opening 167 in the pedestal where it receives a lock nut 168. This top opening 167 during injection molding, may also contain the sprue for the mold. A plastic cap 170 may decoratively cover the lock nut and seal the top of the agitator from the washing fluids.
In addition to the struts 46 and collar 47 the outer tub 30 is critically positioned in the center on a mechanism support housing 184. The outer tub has a tubular reentry portion 186 and the mechanism support housing has an upstanding collar 188. The inside of the collar 188 supports the sleeve bearings 23. The outside of the collar has three guide ribs 190 spaced 120 apart and firmly anchored as at 191 to the support plate l6.'With the inner tub firmly positioned on the drive tenons 24 and the outer tub firmly positioned on the collar of the mechanism support housing 184 and the mechanism support plate 16, there is assurance that the plastic tubs will remain aligned at the seal members 180, 182 for the life of the product. Moreover, the alignment of the movable pump seal member 194 with the fixed ring and gasket assembly member 196 is maintained by a depending plastic collar 198 on the pump housing 36. A bearing retainer 200 for the motor shaft 41 is firmly anchored as at 201 to the support plate 16. The collar 198 provides a socket which overlies the bearing retainer 200 and in so doing cooperates with the outer tub reentry portion 186 and the guide ribs 190 to permanently and properly locate the plastic outer tub.
OPERATION In operation, the mechanism 20 is operated in one fashion to oscillate the shaft 22 and thus the inner tub assembly 14. The level of the washing fluid is about 1.50 inches below the outflow ports 142. A slightly toroidal flow of washing fluid is initiated by the oscillations of the vanes 115a, b and c on the agitator portion 1 and by the vanes 117a, b and c on the circulator portion 117. As the clothes turn over, the ribs 115a, b and c, along with the vanes 117a, b and c, distribute the clothes load by pushing the clothes off the pedestal. As the clothes turn over in the washing fluid, they are flexed and thereby scrubbed on the inside by the pedestal 114 and on the outside by the scrubbing ribs 120. At the conclusion of a washing cycle the mechanism is operated in another manner, such as by reversing motor 43 to rotate the drive shaft 22 and the inner tub assembly 14. Water will be centrifuged from the inner tub assembly to the outer tub assembly through the outflow ports 142. Once in the outer tub, the water will swirlingly enter the pump housing 36 through its inlet 40 and will be pumped to drain through the conduit 42. Although the outer tub assembly 12 is nonrotatable and the inner tub assembly is rotatable, both assemblies are adapted for movement as a unit with the support plate 16 in response to unbalance.
While the embodiments of the present invention as herein disclosed constitute preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted.
We claim:
1. In combination with a clothes washer, a nonrotatable outer tub assembly and a rotatable inner tub assembly nested within said outer tub assembly and in spaced relation thereto, said inner tub assembly comprising a plastic inner tub having a slightly outwardly tapered outer wall, a central reentry portion forming a radial-vaned pedestal within said inner tub and a bottom wall of expanded cross section therebetween, the side of said pedestal facing outside said inner tub being adapted for connection with an oscillating and rotating mechanism for selectively oscillating or rotating said inner tub, the side of said pedestal facing inside said inner tub being adapted by the oscillating thereof to agitate clothes in said inner tub, said outer wall having formed inwardly thereof a plurality of vertical ribs, said ribs cooperating with the side of said pedestal facing inside when said inner tub is oscillating in agitating clothes, said outer wall having formed around the upper edge as a projection thereof alternating longand short-spaced fingers, said long fingers having an intermediate shoulder portion, a plastic inner tub rim fastened to the top of said outer wall and forming therewith a plurality of outflow ports, said inner tub rim having a radial flange overlying said outer wall, said radial flange including alternating large and small ports overfitting, respectively, said long and short fingers and resting on the intermediate shoulder portion of said long fingers to form the top of said outflow ports, a channel-shaped metal ring encircling said rim above said radial flange and snap fastened thereto over ramp-shaped lugs on said rim, said ring including an antiturn tang extending into said radial flange and an antirattle spring between said ring and said rim, said outer tub assembly comprising a plastic outer tub having a preformed bottom wall and a sidewall, said bottom wall formed with an integral depending pump housing and arcuate channel leading to said pump housing, said sidewall having at its lower terminus an antidrip flange depending below the jointure of said sidewall with said bottom wall for diverting overflow from said bottom wall, an integral plastic outer tub rim on top of said sidewall and including a pair of spaced upstanding walls forming a circular trough and a collar depending from said trough sealingly nesting within the top of said sidewall, the innermost of said pair of spaced walls overlying said inner tub rim in a manner to receive overflow from said inner tub assembly and to direct said overflow to said trough, conduit means connected to said trough and extending to a lower portion of said clothes washer for draining the overflow, and means for connecting said outer tub rim to said outer tub, said last named means including an elongated spring having one end connected to a lug on the outside of said outer tub rim and another end connected to said antidrip flange, said spring having an intermediate crimped portion to bias the outer tub rim toward said top of said sidewall.
2. In combination with a clothes washer, a nonrotatable outer tub assembly and a rotatable inner tub assembly of substantially the same size nested within said outer tub assembly and in closely spaced relation thereto, said inner tub assembly comprising a plastic inner tub having as integral portions thereof a slightly outwardly tapered outer wall, a central reentry portion forming a radial-vaned pedestal within said inner tub and a bottom wall of expanded cross section therebetween, the side of said pedestal facing outside said inner tub forming a socket on a lower portion thereof for connection with an oscillating and rotating mechanism for selectively oscillating or rotating said inner tub, the side of said pedestal facing inside said inner tub forming an agitator on the upper portion thereof, said outer wall having formed inwardly thereof opposite the agitator portion of said pedestal a plurality of vertical ribs tapered toward their lower ends to merge at a point with said outer wall, said ribs cooperating with the agitator portion of said pedestal when said inner tub is oscillating to agitate clothes, said outer wall having formed around the upper edge as a projection thereof alternating longand short-spaced fingers, said long fingers having an intermediate shoulder portion and a radially outwardly turned terminal grip portion, a plastic inner tub n'm fastened to the top of said outer wall and forming therewith a plurality of outflow ports, said inner tub rim having a radial flange overlying said outer wall, said radial flange including alternating large and small ports overfitting, respectively, said long and short fingers and resting on the intermediate shoulder portion of said long fingets to form the top of said outflow ports, said inner tub rim being snap fastened to said inner tub by the interference fit of said large port with said grip portion, a channel-shaped metal ring encircling said rim above said radial flange and snap fastened thereto over ramp-shaped lugs on said rim, said ring including an antiturn tang extending into said radial flange and an antirattle spring between said ring and said rim, said outer tub assembly comprising a plastic outer tub having a preformed bottom wall and a sidewall, said bottom wall formed with an integral depending pump housing and arcuate channel leading to said pump housing, said sidewall having at its lower terminus an antidrip flange depending below the jointure of said sidewall with said bottom wall for diverting overflow from said bottom wall, an integral plastic outer tub rim on top of said sidewall and including a pair of spaced upstanding walls forming a circular trough and a collar depending from said trough and nesting within the top of said sidewall, the in' nerrnost of said pair of spaced walls overlying said inner tub rim in a manner to receive overflow from said inner tub assembly and to direct said overflow to said trough, conduit means connected to said trough and extending to a lower portion of said clothes washer for draining the overflow, said outer tub rim including a plurality of lugs at the jointure of said walls with said collar, each lug having a shoulder spaced from said collar and resting on an outer portion of the top of said sidewall to form a cavity circumscribing said outer tub where said outer tub rim nests within said outer tub sidewall, a soft butyl rubber seal in said cavity, and means for connecting said outer tub rim to said outer tub, said last named means including an elongated spring having one end connected to at least one of said lugs and another end connected to said antidrip flange, said spring having an intermediate crimped portion to bias the outer tub rim toward said top of said sidewall.
3. In combination with a clothes washer, a nonrotatable outer tub assembly and a rotatable inner tub assembly of substantially the same size nested within said outer tub assembly and in closely spaced relation thereto, saidinner tub assembly comprising a plastic inner tub having an outer wall between l7 inches and inches in diameter, a central reentry portion forming a radial-vaned pedestal within said inner tub and a bottom wall of expanded cross section therebetween, the side of said pedestal facing outside said inner tub forming a socket on a lower portion thereof for connection with an oscillating and rotating mechanism for selectively oscillating or rotating said inner tub, the side of said pedestal facing inside said inner tub forming an agitator on the upper portion thereof, said outer wall having formed inwardly thereof substantially 45 equally spaced vertical ribs, said ribs cooperating with the agitator portion of said pedestal when said inner tub is oscillating to agitate clothes, the socket portion of said pedestal facing inside said inner tub effecting a toroidal movement of said clothes when said inner tub is oscillating thereby to present the clothes repeatedly to said ribs and said agitator portion for agitation, and a plastic inner tub rim having a radial flange fastened to the top of said outer wall and forming therewith a plurality of outflow ports, said inner tub rim having a collar depending into said inner tub in sufficiently closely spaced relationship to said outflow ports to act as a clothes guard preventing clothes from blocking said outflow ports.
4. The combination of claim 3 wherein the plastic for said inner tub includes a 20 percent by weight glass fiber fill, said outer wall has a cross-sectional thickness of substantially 0.090 inch, said reentry portion has a cross-sectional thickness of substantially 0. l 20 inch, and the expanded cross section of said bottom wall is substantially 0.280 inch.
5. In combination with a clothes washer, a nonrotatable outer tub assembly and a rotatable inner tub assembly of substantially the same size nested within said outer tub assembly and in closely spaced relation thereto, said outer tub assembly comprising a plastic outer tub having a preformed bottom wall and a sidewall, said bottom wall formed with an integral depending pump housing, said sidewall having at its lower terminus an antidrip flange depending below the jointure of said sidewall with said bottom wall for diverting overflow from said bottom wall, an integral plastic outer tub rim on top of said sidewall and includinga pair of spaced upstanding walls forming a circular trough and a collar depending from said trough and nesting within the top of said sidewall, the innermost of said pair of spaced walls overlying said inner tub assembly in a manner to receive overflow therefrom and to direct said overflow to said trough, conduit means connected to said trough and extending to a lower portion of said clothes washer for draining the overflow, said outer tub rim including a plurality of lugs at the jointure of said walls with said collar, each lug having a shoulder spaced from said collar and resting on an outer portion of the top of said sidewall to form a cavity circumscribing said outer tub where said outer tub rim nests within said outer tub sidewall, a soft butyl rubber seal in said cavity, and means for connecting said outer tub rim to said outer tub, said last named means including an elongated spring having one end connected to at least one of said lugs mechanism support means supporting said drive mechanism,
inner tub support means including radial tenons solidl affixed to said drive shaft, a pump impeller solidly afiixe to said power shaft, said drive mechanism support means including an upstanding guide portion, a plastic outer tub having integrally formed therein a reentry portion snugly interfitting with said guide portion and a pump housing enclosing said pump impeller, said pump housing having an integral depending collar interfitting with said power shaft means, first water seal means between said reentry portion of said outer tub and said inner tub support means, second water seal means between said pump housing and said pump impeller, said guide portion of said drive mechanism support means and said collar of said pump housing locating and permanently positioning said outer tub with respect to said drive mechanism support means thereby to maintain the alignment of said first and second water seal means, a plastic inner tub having integrally formed therein a central reentry portion defining a socket having radial cavities mortised onto the radial tenons of said inner tub support means whereby to locate said inner tub vertically and horizontally with respect to said outer tub and to provide the sole support for said inner tub during oscillation and rotation thereof, the radial cavities of said socket defining on the inside of said inner tub a radial-vaned agitator portion aiding in the initiation of flow of washing fluid within said inner tub when said inner tub is oscillated.
7. The arrangement of claim 6 wherein the plastic for said inner and outer tubs is polypropylene and the cross-sectional thickness of the reentry portions of said inner and outer tubs.
and the collar of said pump housing is substantially 0.120 inch.
8. In combination with a clothes washer, a nonrotatable outer tub assembly and a rotatable inner tub assembly of substantially the same size nested within said outer tub assembly and in closely spaced relation thereto, said outer tub assembly including a plastic rim circumscribing said inner tub assembly, said inner tub assembly comprising a plastic inner tub adapted to contain water and having an imperforate outer wall, a central reentry portion forming a pedestal within said inner tub and a bottom wall therebetween, the side of said pedestal facing outside said inner tub forming a socket for connection with an oscillating and rotating mechanism for selectively oscillat ing or rotating said inner tub, an inner tub rim fastened to the top of said outer wall and forming thereat a plurality of outflow ports, said inner tub rim having a plastic flange sufficiently close to said plastic rim when said inner tub is rotating for centrifuging water through said outflow ports to tend to occasionally engage said plastic rim and spin weld said plastic flange to said plastic rim, and a stainless steel ring circumscribing said inner tub assembly adjacent said plastic flange for strengthening said inner tub assembly, said ring extending closer to said plastic rim than said plastic flange for preventing the occasional engagement of said plastic flange with said plastic rim and thus the spin welding thereof.

Claims (8)

1. In combination with a clothes washer, a nonrotatable outer tub assembly and a rotatable inner tub assembly nested within said outer tub assembly and in spaced relation thereto, said inner tub assembly comprising a plastic inner tub having a slightly outwardly tapered outer wall, a central reentry portion forming a radial-vaned pedestal within said inner tub and a bottom wall of expanded cross section therebetween, the side of said pedestal facing outside said inner tub being adapted for connection with an oscillating and rotating mechanism for selectively oscillating or rotating said inner tub, the side of said pedestal facing inside said inner tub being adapted by the oscillating thereof to agitate clothes in said inner tub, said outer wall having formed inwardly thereof a plurality of vertical ribs, said ribs cooperating with the side of said pedestal facing inside when said inner tub is oscillating in agitating clothes, said outer wall having formed around the upper edge as a projection thereof alternating long- and short-spaced fingers, said long fingers having an intermediate shoulder portion, a plastic inner tub rim fastened to the top of said outer wall and forming therewith a plurality of outflow ports, said inner tub rim having a radial flange overlying said outer wall, said radial flange including alternating large and small ports overfitting, respectively, said long and short fingers and resting on the intermediate shoulder portion of said long fingers to form the top of said outflow ports, a channel-shaped metal ring encircling said rim above said radial flange and snap fastened thereto over ramp-shaped lugs on said rim, said ring including an antiturn tang extending into said radial flange and an antirattle spring between said ring and said rim, said outer tub assembly comprising a plastic outer tub having a preformed bottom wall and a sidewall, said bottom wall formed with an integral depending pump housing and arcuate channel leading to said pump housing, said sidewall having at its lower terminus an antidrip flange depending below the jointure of said sidewall with said bottom wall for diverting overflow from said bottom wall, an integral plastic outer tub rim on top of said sidewall and including a pair of spaced upstanding walls forming a circular trough and a collar depending from said trough sealingly nesting within the top of said sidewall, the innermost of said pair of spaced walls overlying said inner tub rim in a manner to receive overflow from said inner tub assembly and to direct said overflow to said trough, conduit means connected to said trough and extending to a lower portion of said clothes washer for draining the overflow, and means for connecting said outer tub rim to said outer tub, said last named means including an elongated spring having one end connected to a lug on the outside of said outer tub rim and another end connected to said antidrip flange, said spring having an intermediate crimped portion to bias the outer tub rim toward said top of said sidewall.
2. In combination with a clothes washer, a nonrotatable outer tub assembly and a rotatable inner tub assembly of substantially the same size nested within said outer tub assembly and in closely spaced relation thereto, said inner tub assembly comprising a plastic inner tub having as integral portions thereof a slightly outwardly tapered outer wall, a central reentry portion forming a radial-vaned pedestal within said inner tub and a bottom wall of expanded cross section therebetween, the side of said pedestal facing outside said inner tub forming a socket on a lower portion thereof for connection with an oscillating and rotating mechanism for selectively oscillating or rotating said inner tub, the side of said pedestal facing inside said inner tub forming an agitator on the upper portion thereof, said outer wall having formed inwardly thereof opposite the agitator portion oF said pedestal a plurality of vertical ribs tapered toward their lower ends to merge at a point with said outer wall, said ribs cooperating with the agitator portion of said pedestal when said inner tub is oscillating to agitate clothes, said outer wall having formed around the upper edge as a projection thereof alternating long- and short-spaced fingers, said long fingers having an intermediate shoulder portion and a radially outwardly turned terminal grip portion, a plastic inner tub rim fastened to the top of said outer wall and forming therewith a plurality of outflow ports, said inner tub rim having a radial flange overlying said outer wall, said radial flange including alternating large and small ports overfitting, respectively, said long and short fingers and resting on the intermediate shoulder portion of said long fingers to form the top of said outflow ports, said inner tub rim being snap fastened to said inner tub by the interference fit of said large port with said grip portion, a channel-shaped metal ring encircling said rim above said radial flange and snap fastened thereto over ramp-shaped lugs on said rim, said ring including an antiturn tang extending into said radial flange and an antirattle spring between said ring and said rim, said outer tub assembly comprising a plastic outer tub having a preformed bottom wall and a sidewall, said bottom wall formed with an integral depending pump housing and arcuate channel leading to said pump housing, said sidewall having at its lower terminus an antidrip flange depending below the jointure of said sidewall with said bottom wall for diverting overflow from said bottom wall, an integral plastic outer tub rim on top of said sidewall and including a pair of spaced upstanding walls forming a circular trough and a collar depending from said trough and nesting within the top of said sidewall, the innermost of said pair of spaced walls overlying said inner tub rim in a manner to receive overflow from said inner tub assembly and to direct said overflow to said trough, conduit means connected to said trough and extending to a lower portion of said clothes washer for draining the overflow, said outer tub rim including a plurality of lugs at the jointure of said walls with said collar, each lug having a shoulder spaced from said collar and resting on an outer portion of the top of said sidewall to form a cavity circumscribing said outer tub where said outer tub rim nests within said outer tub sidewall, a soft butyl rubber seal in said cavity, and means for connecting said outer tub rim to said outer tub, said last named means including an elongated spring having one end connected to at least one of said lugs and another end connected to said antidrip flange, said spring having an intermediate crimped portion to bias the outer tub rim toward said top of said sidewall.
3. In combination with a clothes washer, a nonrotatable outer tub assembly and a rotatable inner tub assembly of substantially the same size nested within said outer tub assembly and in closely spaced relation thereto, said inner tub assembly comprising a plastic inner tub having an outer wall between 17 inches and 20 inches in diameter, a central reentry portion forming a radial-vaned pedestal within said inner tub and a bottom wall of expanded cross section therebetween, the side of said pedestal facing outside said inner tub forming a socket on a lower portion thereof for connection with an oscillating and rotating mechanism for selectively oscillating or rotating said inner tub, the side of said pedestal facing inside said inner tub forming an agitator on the upper portion thereof, said outer wall having formed inwardly thereof substantially 45 equally spaced vertical ribs, said ribs cooperating with the agitator portion of said pedestal when said inner tub is oscillating to agitate clothes, the socket portion of said pedestal facing inside said inner tub effecting a toroidal movement of said clothes when said inner tub is oscillating thereby to Present the clothes repeatedly to said ribs and said agitator portion for agitation, and a plastic inner tub rim having a radial flange fastened to the top of said outer wall and forming therewith a plurality of outflow ports, said inner tub rim having a collar depending into said inner tub in sufficiently closely spaced relationship to said outflow ports to act as a clothes guard preventing clothes from blocking said outflow ports.
4. The combination of claim 3 wherein the plastic for said inner tub includes a 20 percent by weight glass fiber fill, said outer wall has a cross-sectional thickness of substantially 0.090 inch, said reentry portion has a cross-sectional thickness of substantially 0.120 inch, and the expanded cross section of said bottom wall is substantially 0.280 inch.
5. In combination with a clothes washer, a nonrotatable outer tub assembly and a rotatable inner tub assembly of substantially the same size nested within said outer tub assembly and in closely spaced relation thereto, said outer tub assembly comprising a plastic outer tub having a preformed bottom wall and a sidewall, said bottom wall formed with an integral depending pump housing, said sidewall having at its lower terminus an antidrip flange depending below the jointure of said sidewall with said bottom wall for diverting overflow from said bottom wall, an integral plastic outer tub rim on top of said sidewall and including a pair of spaced upstanding walls forming a circular trough and a collar depending from said trough and nesting within the top of said sidewall, the innermost of said pair of spaced walls overlying said inner tub assembly in a manner to receive overflow therefrom and to direct said overflow to said trough, conduit means connected to said trough and extending to a lower portion of said clothes washer for draining the overflow, said outer tub rim including a plurality of lugs at the jointure of said walls with said collar, each lug having a shoulder spaced from said collar and resting on an outer portion of the top of said sidewall to form a cavity circumscribing said outer tub where said outer tub rim nests within said outer tub sidewall, a soft butyl rubber seal in said cavity, and means for connecting said outer tub rim to said outer tub, said last named means including an elongated spring having one end connected to at least one of said lugs and another end connected to said antidrip flange, said spring having an intermediate crimped portion to bias the outer tub rim toward said top of said sidewall.
6. An arrangement for positioning and permanently locating nested inner and outer plastic tubs with respect to a clothes washer mechanism and comprising, a drive mechanism having an oscillatable and rotatable vertical drive shaft and a vertical power shaft means laterally spaced from said drive shaft and adapted to selectively oscillate or rotate said drive shaft, drive mechanism support means supporting said drive mechanism, inner tub support means including radial tenons solidly affixed to said drive shaft, a pump impeller solidly affixed to said power shaft, said drive mechanism support means including an upstanding guide portion, a plastic outer tub having integrally formed therein a reentry portion snugly interfitting with said guide portion and a pump housing enclosing said pump impeller, said pump housing having an integral depending collar interfitting with said power shaft means, first water seal means between said reentry portion of said outer tub and said inner tub support means, second water seal means between said pump housing and said pump impeller, said guide portion of said drive mechanism support means and said collar of said pump housing locating and permanently positioning said outer tub with respect to said drive mechanism support means thereby to maintain the alignment of said first and second water seal means, a plastic inner tub having integrally formed therein a central reentry portion defining a socket having radial cavities Mortised onto the radial tenons of said inner tub support means whereby to locate said inner tub vertically and horizontally with respect to said outer tub and to provide the sole support for said inner tub during oscillation and rotation thereof, the radial cavities of said socket defining on the inside of said inner tub a radial-vaned agitator portion aiding in the initiation of flow of washing fluid within said inner tub when said inner tub is oscillated.
7. The arrangement of claim 6 wherein the plastic for said inner and outer tubs is polypropylene and the cross-sectional thickness of the reentry portions of said inner and outer tubs and the collar of said pump housing is substantially 0.120 inch.
8. In combination with a clothes washer, a nonrotatable outer tub assembly and a rotatable inner tub assembly of substantially the same size nested within said outer tub assembly and in closely spaced relation thereto, said outer tub assembly including a plastic rim circumscribing said inner tub assembly, said inner tub assembly comprising a plastic inner tub adapted to contain water and having an imperforate outer wall, a central reentry portion forming a pedestal within said inner tub and a bottom wall therebetween, the side of said pedestal facing outside said inner tub forming a socket for connection with an oscillating and rotating mechanism for selectively oscillating or rotating said inner tub, an inner tub rim fastened to the top of said outer wall and forming thereat a plurality of outflow ports, said inner tub rim having a plastic flange sufficiently close to said plastic rim when said inner tub is rotating for centrifuging water through said outflow ports to tend to occasionally engage said plastic rim and spin weld said plastic flange to said plastic rim, and a stainless steel ring circumscribing said inner tub assembly adjacent said plastic flange for strengthening said inner tub assembly, said ring extending closer to said plastic rim than said plastic flange for preventing the occasional engagement of said plastic flange with said plastic rim and thus the spin welding thereof.
US33237A 1970-04-30 1970-04-30 Plastic tub assembly for use with clothes washer Expired - Lifetime US3603118A (en)

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Cited By (27)

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JPS4859671A (en) * 1971-11-26 1973-08-21
JPS5091961A (en) * 1973-12-19 1975-07-23
JPS5563984U (en) * 1979-11-21 1980-05-01
US4252005A (en) * 1979-12-26 1981-02-24 General Electric Company Symmetrical opposed motion basket for an orbital clothes washer
US4328600A (en) * 1979-05-15 1982-05-11 General Electric Company Washing machine
US4332152A (en) * 1980-10-14 1982-06-01 General Electric Company Washing machine
US4651542A (en) * 1983-08-17 1987-03-24 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Washing machine
US4711105A (en) * 1984-12-18 1987-12-08 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Washing machine having rotary basket in washing tub
US4835994A (en) * 1983-06-09 1989-06-06 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Washing machine
US4837883A (en) * 1983-06-07 1989-06-13 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Method of washing clothes using a washing machine
US4941333A (en) * 1989-01-31 1990-07-17 Levi Strauss & Co. Centrifugally draining single drum washing machine
US5287989A (en) * 1992-03-05 1994-02-22 Triangle Tool Corporation Molded plastic tub
US5297403A (en) * 1992-12-03 1994-03-29 Whirlpool Corporation Rotatable wash basket for an automatic washer
US5373715A (en) * 1992-12-03 1994-12-20 Whirlpool Corporation Rotatable wash basket for an automatic washer
US5377508A (en) * 1994-02-09 1995-01-03 Maytag Corporation Apparatus and method for providing dual washing capacity
US5881909A (en) * 1993-02-01 1999-03-16 Maytag Corporation Plastic washing machine basket
US6351974B1 (en) * 1998-08-18 2002-03-05 Lg Electronics Inc. Penetration type washing machine, method for controlling the same, and tub cover for the same
US20040040346A1 (en) * 2002-08-29 2004-03-04 General Electric Company Ribbed washing machine basket
US20050138971A1 (en) * 2002-03-26 2005-06-30 Ozturk Umut E. Drum
CN100562621C (en) * 1998-08-18 2009-11-25 Lg电子株式会社 Barrelhead of washing machine
US20100251781A1 (en) * 2009-04-03 2010-10-07 Lg Electronics Inc. Washing machine
US9010159B2 (en) 2010-04-13 2015-04-21 Whirlpool Corporation Laundry treating appliance with tub ring
US20180305852A1 (en) * 2016-02-15 2018-10-25 Wilson VARGHESE Automatic washing machine which simultaneously agitates, squeezes and spins water soaked clothes to wash and dehydrate
US10240272B2 (en) * 2016-05-13 2019-03-26 Whirlpool Corporation Laundry treating appliance with drive attachment mechanism
US10358758B2 (en) * 2015-03-10 2019-07-23 Qingdao Haier Washing Machine Co., Ltd. Inner tub of water-saving washing machine
US10563336B2 (en) * 2015-09-22 2020-02-18 Qingdao Haier Washing Machine Co., Ltd. Inner tub of washing machine
US10676852B2 (en) 2017-10-31 2020-06-09 Haier Us Appliance Solutions, Inc. Tub for a washing machine appliance

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JPS53154057U (en) * 1977-05-11 1978-12-04

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Cited By (39)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS4859671A (en) * 1971-11-26 1973-08-21
JPS5211146B2 (en) * 1971-11-26 1977-03-29
JPS5091961A (en) * 1973-12-19 1975-07-23
JPS5617118B2 (en) * 1973-12-19 1981-04-20
US4328600A (en) * 1979-05-15 1982-05-11 General Electric Company Washing machine
JPS5563984U (en) * 1979-11-21 1980-05-01
JPS561349Y2 (en) * 1979-11-21 1981-01-13
US4252005A (en) * 1979-12-26 1981-02-24 General Electric Company Symmetrical opposed motion basket for an orbital clothes washer
US4332152A (en) * 1980-10-14 1982-06-01 General Electric Company Washing machine
US4837883A (en) * 1983-06-07 1989-06-13 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Method of washing clothes using a washing machine
US4835994A (en) * 1983-06-09 1989-06-06 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Washing machine
US4651542A (en) * 1983-08-17 1987-03-24 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Washing machine
US4711105A (en) * 1984-12-18 1987-12-08 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Washing machine having rotary basket in washing tub
US4941333A (en) * 1989-01-31 1990-07-17 Levi Strauss & Co. Centrifugally draining single drum washing machine
US5287989A (en) * 1992-03-05 1994-02-22 Triangle Tool Corporation Molded plastic tub
US5297403A (en) * 1992-12-03 1994-03-29 Whirlpool Corporation Rotatable wash basket for an automatic washer
US5373715A (en) * 1992-12-03 1994-12-20 Whirlpool Corporation Rotatable wash basket for an automatic washer
US5881909A (en) * 1993-02-01 1999-03-16 Maytag Corporation Plastic washing machine basket
US5377508A (en) * 1994-02-09 1995-01-03 Maytag Corporation Apparatus and method for providing dual washing capacity
US7263864B2 (en) * 1998-08-18 2007-09-04 Lg Electronics Inc. Penetration type washing machine, method for controlling the same, and tub cover for the same
US6351974B1 (en) * 1998-08-18 2002-03-05 Lg Electronics Inc. Penetration type washing machine, method for controlling the same, and tub cover for the same
AU761962B2 (en) * 1998-08-18 2003-06-12 Lg Electronics Inc. Penetration type washing machine, method for controlling the same, and tub cover for the same
US6668410B2 (en) 1998-08-18 2003-12-30 Lg Electronics Inc. Penetration type washing machine, method for controlling the same, and tub cover for the same
US20040000014A1 (en) * 1998-08-18 2004-01-01 Lg Electronics Inc. Penetration type washing machine, method for controlling the same, and tub cover for the same
US20040168482A1 (en) * 1998-08-18 2004-09-02 Lg Electronics, Inc. Penetration type washing machine, method for controlling the same, and tub cover for the same
CN100562621C (en) * 1998-08-18 2009-11-25 Lg电子株式会社 Barrelhead of washing machine
US7263862B2 (en) 1998-08-18 2007-09-04 Lg Electronics, Inc. Penetration type washing machine, method for controlling the same, and tub cover
US20050138971A1 (en) * 2002-03-26 2005-06-30 Ozturk Umut E. Drum
US20040040346A1 (en) * 2002-08-29 2004-03-04 General Electric Company Ribbed washing machine basket
US7254969B2 (en) * 2002-08-29 2007-08-14 General Electric Company Ribbed washing machine basket
US20100251781A1 (en) * 2009-04-03 2010-10-07 Lg Electronics Inc. Washing machine
US9010159B2 (en) 2010-04-13 2015-04-21 Whirlpool Corporation Laundry treating appliance with tub ring
US10196770B2 (en) 2010-04-13 2019-02-05 Whirlpool Corporation Laundry treating appliance with tub ring
US10358758B2 (en) * 2015-03-10 2019-07-23 Qingdao Haier Washing Machine Co., Ltd. Inner tub of water-saving washing machine
US10563336B2 (en) * 2015-09-22 2020-02-18 Qingdao Haier Washing Machine Co., Ltd. Inner tub of washing machine
US20180305852A1 (en) * 2016-02-15 2018-10-25 Wilson VARGHESE Automatic washing machine which simultaneously agitates, squeezes and spins water soaked clothes to wash and dehydrate
US10240272B2 (en) * 2016-05-13 2019-03-26 Whirlpool Corporation Laundry treating appliance with drive attachment mechanism
US11053624B2 (en) 2016-05-13 2021-07-06 Whirlpool Corporation Laundry treating appliance with drive attachment mechanism
US10676852B2 (en) 2017-10-31 2020-06-09 Haier Us Appliance Solutions, Inc. Tub for a washing machine appliance

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