US3709368A

US3709368A - Centrifugal extractor mounting

Info

Publication number: US3709368A
Application number: US00118766A
Authority: US
Inventors: Cartney E Mc
Original assignee: Maytag Corp
Current assignee: Maytag Corp
Priority date: 1971-02-25
Filing date: 1971-02-25
Publication date: 1973-01-09
Anticipated expiration: 1990-01-09
Also published as: CA966785A

Abstract

A mounting of a centrifugal extractor spinner on a base member includes an intermediate panel removably attached to the base member with the spinner adjustably mounted on the intermediate panel for centering the spinner on a substantially vertical axis. The spinner and panel may be removed from the base member without disturbing the centering of the spinner to the intermediate panel. A resilient member is interposed between the spinner and the base member to permit nutational movement of the spinner.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 11 3,709,368 McCartney [451 Jan. 9, 1973 s41 CENTRIFUGAL EXTRACTOR 115x37 gn is ..2l0/365 x 9 9 l 0 e MOUNTING 2,665,007 1/1954 Hallander...... ..2l0/364 [75] Inventor: Edward 0. McCartney, Newto Iowa Primary Examiner-Samih N. Zehnrna Assistant Examiner-F. F. Calvetti [73] Ass'gnee? 'lrhe Maytag Cmnpuy' "Wi t" Attorney-William G. Landwier and Richard L. Ward owa n [22] Filed: Feb. 25, 1971 ABSTRACT [21] APPL 118,766 A mounting of a centrifugal extractor spinner on a base member includes an intermediate panel Related US. Application Data removably attached to the base: member with the spinner adjustably mounted on the intermediate panel [63] fgg a g of for centering the spinner on a substantially vertical a axis. The spinner and panel may be removed from the base member without disturbing the centering of the [52] US. Cl ..2l0/365, 68/23 spinner to the intermediate paneL A resilicm member Cl. "807', is interposed between the spinner and the base [58] Fleld of Search ..68/23;210/364,365 member to permit nutafiona] v movement of the spinner. [56] References Cited "20 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,083,558 4/1963 Douglas .l ..68/23.3

PATENTED AH 9 ms 3.709.368

SHEET 3 [IF 3 CENTRIFUGAL EXTRACTOR MOUNTING CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation in part of application Ser. No. 886,184 filed Dec. 18, 1969 by Edward O. McCartney, now abandoned and assigned to the assignee of the instant application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a centrifugal extractor and more particularly to a resilient mounting system for a spinner and including an intermediate member to facilitate the adjustable centering of the spinner on the base and removal of the spinner from the base without disturbing the centering.

2. Description of the Prior Art Prior art disclosures have shown a centrifugal extractor spinner adjustably attached directly to a base member. In prior art belt-driven devices of this type, however, it is sometimes necessary to disassembly the spinner from the base to replace the drive belt causing the centering adjustment to be lost. The spinner must then be recentered upon reassembly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the instant invention to provide an improved mounting for a centrifugal extractor spinner.

It is a further object of the instant invention to provide an improved mounting for a centrifugal extractor spinner and including a resilient member.

It is a further object of the instant invention to provide an improved mounting for a centrifugal extractor spinner including adjustable means to achieve a centering on a vertical axis.

It is a still further object of the instant invention to provide an improved mounting for a centrifugal extractor spinner including means to permit adjustable assembly to achieve centering while permitting disassembly from the base without disturbing the centering of the spinner.

These objects are achieved in a mounting for a centrifugal extractor spinner as included in a laundry machine wherein the centrifugally rotatable fabric container is mounted on a base member through resilient means. In a preferred embodiment the mounting system includes a removable intermediate member secured to the base member in a predetermined position and adjustably associated with the spinner. This arrangement permits the centering of the spinner to the base member through the intermediate means and then permits the removal of the spinner from the base assembly in a manner that the spinner may then be reassembled to the base without disturbing the previous centering or requiring further centering.

Operation of the device and further objects and advantages thereof will become evident as the description proceeds and from an examination of the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention with similar numerals referring to similar parts throughout the several views wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a simplified perspective view of a laundry machine including a centrifugal extractor apparatus;

FIG. 2, shown on the second sheet of drawings, is a vertical section view of the centrifugal extractor portion of the laundry machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3, shown on the sheet with FIG. 1, is a fragmentary section view showing the upper portion of the spinner mounting for the extractor portion of the laundry machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4, shown on the sheet with. and below FIG. 1, is a fragmentary section view showing further details of the lower portion of the spinner mounting system. of the instant invention; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary section view similar to FIG. 4 and showing an alternate construction for a centrifugal extractor mounting system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a laundry machine 10 including washing and

centrifugal extraction portions

11 and 12 enclosed within atub 13 and in turn in a cabinet structure 14 wherein the washing and

centrifugal extraction portions

11 and 12 are individually accessible through a pair of panels or lids l5 and 16. The instant invention is primarily directed to the centrifugal extraction portion 12 of the laundry machine 10 and to the mounting of the perforated fabric containerl9 within the cabinet structure 14.

The section view of FIG. 2 shows generally the overall construction of the centrifugal extraction portion and the mounting system and] drive system of the rotatable fabric container 19. The cabinet structure 14 is mounted on a base member 20 that is in turn supported on a horizontal surface 21 by a plurality of casters 22. The. tub 13 within the cabinet structure 14 defines a compartment or fluid container 23 in which is disposed the rotatable fabric container 19. A substantially horizontal divider or bulkhead 24 is positioned below the tub 13 and defines a lower chamber 25 for the drive system and supporting system for the container 19. The bulkhead 24 serves primarily as a barrier between the plastic tub l3 and the lower chamber 25 and is not considered a support member for the tub 13.

The overall system for supporting the container 19 on the base member 20 is shown generally in FIG. 2 and more specifically in FIGS. 3 and 4. Referring to FIG. 3, the fabric container 19 is fixed to a hub 33 by a plurality of threaded fasteners such as the nut and bolt assembly 34. The hub 33 includes a stainless steel insert 35 fixed thereto and having a lower annular flange portion 36. A shaft 39 is fixed to the hub 33 by a press fit into the insert 35. i

A seal assembly 40 is positioned adjacent the bottom opening 41 of the fluid container 23 and is operable for sealing the bottom of the container 23. The seal assembly 40 includes a molded resilient member 43 including an annular outer portion 44 engageable with the tub wall 45 around the opening 41, an inner portion 46 in which is molded a rigid sleeve 49, and a convoluted portion 50 extending between the inner and outer

annular portions

46 and 44 for permitting nutational movement of the fabric container 19 relative to the fluid container23 during centrifugal operation of the fabric container 19. A retainer 51 includes an outer annular flange 53 extending into a groove of the outer annular portion 44 of the molded member 43. The retainer 51, securely attached to the tub member 13 with a plurality of screws 54, retains the molded resilient member 43 in a sealing engagement with the wall 45 surrounding the opening 41 in the bottom of fluid container 23.

A spring member 55 operates between the retainer 51 and the inner portion 46 of the resilient molded member 43. The lowermost coil of the spring is captured by the inner flange 56 of the retainer and by a plurality of tabs 59 formed upwardly at the inner periphery of the retainer 51. I

A molded plastic seal member 65 includes a relatively large lower surface engageable with the upper face of the molded member inner portion 46 and further includes a relatively small upper surface engageable with the lowerface of the hub insert flange 36. The seal member 65 is assembled in a loose condition initially free for rotational and axial movement relative to the shaft 39. The spring member 55, however, effects and maintains engagement of the lower surface 69 with the upper face of the resilient member 43 to provide a static seal and engagement of the relatively smaller upper surface 66 with the insert flange 36 to provide a static seal when the spinner 19 is at rest and a dynamic seal when the spinner 19 is centrifugally rotated.

The seal assembly 40 supports a bearing 70 having a press fit within the sleeve 49 and engageable with the shaft 39. The nutational movement of the shaft 39 is transmitted to the bearing 70 so that, as the rotating spinner 19 moves from a vertical axis under unbalanced loading, the seal assembly 40 and seal member 65 will move together and maintain, with proper spring biasing, engagement between the seal member 65 and the hub insert flange 36.

Selection of the proper spring characteristics require consideration of the loading of fluid between the fluid container 23 on the seal assembly 40 and the side-toside movement of the seal assembly 40 under unbalanced loading of the spinner 19. The spring 55 must permit the side-to-side movement while insuring sufficient loading on the seal member 65 to maintain a proper static or dynamic sea] at all times.

Referring to FIG. 2, the mounting of the centrifugally rotatable fabric container 19 further includes a weighted coupling member 73 fixed to the shaft 39 by a pair of setscrews 74 and urethane plugs 75. Generally, it may be stated that the container 19, hub 33, shaft 39, and coupling 73 comprise a spinner assembly 81. Referring also to FIG. 4, a driven pulley 79 is attached to the lower end of the weighted coupling member 73 by a plurality of threaded members such as 80.

The spinner assembly 81 is rotatably and nutationally supported on the base member 20 by mounting means 83 having a lower end portion 86 mounted on the base 20 and an upper end portion 84 rotatingly engageable with the spinner assembly 81 through a ball bearing 85. The upper end portion 84 includes a rigid plate 89 and a stub shaft 90 fixed thereto and extending upwardly therefrom for receiving the inner race of the ball bearing 85. The bearing 85 has a press fit on shaft 90 and is further retained thereon by a retaining ring 91. The lower portion 86 of the mounting means 83 includes a base member 20 by a plurality of screws 100, such as the one shown. The panel 99 is limited to a predetermined assembly position on the base 20 by the upwardly turned tab 101 indexing with a recess 103 in the panel 99. This panel 99 may be attached to the base 20 therefore in only one predetermined orientation. The panel 99 hasan aperture 104 significantly larger than the bolt 94 to permit adjustment of the mounting means 83 relative to the panel 99. The mounting means 83 is connectable to the removable panel 99 by a clamping arrangement including the plate 93 and domed washer 105 engageable with the removable panel 99, and a nut 107 engageable with the bolt member 94 for securely clamping the plate 93 and washer 105- to the intermediate panel 99. In the preferred embodiment in plan view, the outlines of the panel 99, aperture 104, plate 93, washer 105, plate 89 and resilient portion 95 are substantially circular.

This mounting arrangement permits the movement of the mounting means 83 in a horizontal plane relative to the base member 20 so that, during the centering procedure, the spinner assembly 81 tends to pivot about the general area of the seal assembly 40. The movement of the mounting means 83 permits the selective centering of the spinner assembly 81 on a substantially vertical axis. The nut 107 may then be tightened onto the bolt 94 to securely clamp the mounting means 83 in the selected position. When disassembly of the spinner assembly 81 from the base 20 is necessitated, by the need to replace the drive belt 109 for example, the intermediate panel 99 may be removed from the base 20 and then be replaced in its predetermined orientation. Thus the spinner assembly 81 assumes its previously centered position.

The drive system for the centrifugal extractor is shown generally in FIG. 2 and includes an electrically energizable motor 110 rigidly mounted to the base 20 through the mounting bracketry 111. A drive pulley 113 is disposed at the lower end of the motor 110 in substantially the same horizontal plane as the spinner assembly pulley 79 and is drivingly connected thereto by the belt 109. The laundry machine further comprises fluid pumping means 114 operable for controlling fluid fiow in the fluid system of the laundry machine and including a pulley 115 substantially aligned in the horizontal plane of the driving pulley l 13 and the driven pulley 79. The pump pulley 115 is driven by the motor 110 for operating the pump but in addition the pumping means 114 is pivotally mounted on the base 20 so that the pump pulley 115 is operable as an idler in the drive system of the extractor to maintain proper driving tension on the endless driving belt 109.

Further details of construction and mounting of the drive system and pumping system of the centrifugal extractor and also a control system for centrifugal extractor are shown in the copending application Ser. No. 886,l l7 filed Dec. 18, 1969 now US. Pat. No,

3,621,963 entitled Spinner Control for a Laundry Apparatus and assigned to the assignee of the instant invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, there is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing an alternate mounting system for a centrifugally rotatable fabric container. This mounting system may be used in place of that shown in FIG. 4 for axially and nutationally supporting a fabric container such as 19. In the construction of FIG. 5, the shaft 39 is connected to a weighted coupling 125 by a pair of setscrews 74 and urethane plugs 75. The weighted coupling 125 includes an enlarged lower portion 126 to effectively lower the center of mass of the weighted coupling 125.

Also shown in FIG. 5 is a fragmentary portion of the base member and removable panel 99 fixed to the base member 20 by a plurality of screws 100 as in FIG. 4. Panel 99 is limited to a predetermined assembly position on the base 20 by the upwardly turned tab 101 indexing with a recess 103 in the panel. As in FIG. 4, the panel 99 has an aperture 104 significantly larger than the bolt 94 to permit adjustment of the axis of the spinner assembly 81 relative to the panel 99 and base member 20. The bolt 94 is an integral part of a hub member 129 and is connectable to the removable panel 99 by a clamping arrangement including the domed washer 105 engageable with the removable panel 99 and a nut 107 engageable with the bolt member 94 for securely clamping the hub member 129 to the intermediate panel 99. A relatively resilient member 130 is disposed between the hub member 129 and removable panel 99 for vibration cushioning.

The hub member 129, therefore, is securely fixed to the supporting structure of the appliance and includes an upwardly facing opening 131 for receiving a bearing 133 and in turn the lower end of a stub shaft 134 for rotationrelative to the hub member 129 and the supporting structure. The upper end of the stub shaft 134 is fixed to a rigid plate 135 that also supports a drive .pulley 136 operable for receiving a drive belt (not shown) and effecting rotation of the spinner assembly 81.

The rigid plate 135 to which the upper end of the stub shaft 134 is fixed also serves as the lower end plate of a flexible member 139 disposed between the weighted coupling 125 and the appliance supporting structure. More specifically, the flexible member 139 is bonded to the rigid plate 135 and to a second plate 140 that is fixed to the weighted coupling 125 and transmits torque from the pulley 136 to the coupling 125.

It is therefore seen that the spinner assembly 81 is effectively mounted on the base assembly 20 for rotational and nutational movement relative thereto through the resilient member 139. The mounting of the pulley 136 on the hub member 129 that is effectively secured to the base 20 provides a construction in which the pulley 136 is not subject to nutational movement during operation of the spinner. The pulley 136 therefore remains stable during operation so that the belt tension is substantially constant and independent of the motion of the spinner assembly 81 when an unbalance is present. Furthermore spinner centering is independent of belt tension adjustment so that centering would be more easily obtained and belt tension could be more accurately controlled.

The foregoing description therefore clearly shows that the instant invention provides an improved mounting system for a centrifugal spinner. More specifically,

the mountingsystem provides an improved nutational support of the spinner and adjustable assembly of a spinner on a supporting base through an intermediate panel to achieve spinning on a substantially vertical axis and permits disassembly of the spinner from the supporting base without disturbing the centering of the spinner so that, upon reassembly of the spinner to the base, the need for further or additional centering is obviated.

In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and although specific terms are employed, these are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Changes in form and the proportion of parts as well as the substitution of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggestor render expedient without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. In a centrifugal apparatus, the combination comprising: a rotatable spinner assembly; structure means for said apparatus; mounting means connected to said spinner assembly and disposed between said spinner assembly and said structure means for rotatably supporting said spinner assembly; and means removably attached to said structure means and adjustably attached to said mounting means whereby said spinner assembly is adjustably mounted on said structure means and is removable from said structure means independently of the adjustable attachment of said mounting means.

2. In a centrifugal apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the last-named means includes an intermediate member adjustably connected to said mounting means and removably attached to said structure means in a predetermined position.

3. In a centrifugal apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said mounting means includes resilient means operatively disposed between said spinner assembly and said structure means for transmitting torque to said spinner assembly and for accommodating nutational movement of said spinner assembly during centrifugal rotation thereof.

4. In a centrifugal apparatus, the combination comprising: a rotatable spinner assembly; structure means for said apparatus; mounting means disposed between said spinner assembly and said structure means and rotatably supporting said spinner assembly; intermediate means disposed between said mounting means and said structure means and removably attached to said structure means; and connecting means for adjustably attaching said mounting means to said intermediate means whereby said spinner assembly is adjustably mounted on said structure means and is removable from said structure means at said intermediate means independently of the adjustable attachment of said mounting means to said intermediate means.

5. In a centrifugal apparatus as defined in claim 4 and further including indexing means disposed between said structure means and said intermediate means to limit attachment of said intermediate means to said structure means to a predetermined orientation.

6. In a centrifugal apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said mounting means includes resilient means operatively disposed between said spinner assembly and said structure means to provide nutational support of said spinner assembly on said structure means.

7. In a centrifugal apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said intermediate means is in the form of a sheet metal panel attached to said structure means in a predetermined position.

8. In a centrifugal apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said connecting means includes clamping means engageable with the two sides of said sheet metal panel.

9. In a centrifugal apparatus, the combination comprising: a spinner assembly rotatable on a substantially vertical axis; structure means for said apparatus, said structure means including a first portion providing a support for the downwardly directed substantially axial forces of said spinner assembly and further including a second portion spaced upwardly from said first portion; means juxtaposed to said second portion providing a resilient radial support for said spinner assembly; mounting means disposed between said spinner assembly and the first portion of said structure means for nutationally and rotationally supporting said spinner assembly on said structure means; intermediate means removably attached to the first portion of said structure means; and connecting means for attaching said mounting means to said intermediate means, said connecting means being adjustable relative to said intermediate means for substantially centering said spinner assembly on said vertical axis whereby said spinner assembly is adjustably mounted on said structure means and is removable from said structure means independently of the adjustable connection between said mounting means and said intermediate means.

10. In a centrifugal apparatus as defined in claim 9 and further including indexing means formed in said structure means and associated with said intermediate means to limit attachment of said intermediate means to said structure means to a predetermined position.

11. In a centrifugal apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said mounting means includes resilient means operatively disposed between said spinner assembly and said structure means to achieve the nutational support of said spinner assembly.

12. In a centrifugal apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said connecting means includes clamping means rigidly engageable with said intermediate means in a selectable position to effect a centering of said spinner assembly for rotation on said substantially vertical axis.

13. In a centrifugal apparatus, the combination comprising: a spinner assembly rotatable on a generally vertical axis; structural support means for said apparatus including a generally horizontal base member; a drive pulley for effecting centrifugal rotation of said spinner assembly; means for mounting said pulley on said base member in a generally fixed plane adjacent to said base member for rotation substantially on said vertical axis; and resilient means rotationally connected to said pulley and disposed between said pulley and said spinner assembly for accommodating rotational and nutational movement of said spinner assembly about a pivot point juxtaposed to said base member. during centrifugal rotation of said s inner assembl b said ulle 14. In a centrifugal apparatus as defingd in claim 13 for adjusting the axis of rotation relative to said support means.

16. In a centrifugal apparatus as defined in claim 13 and further including intermediate means adjustably connected to said pulley mounting means and removably connected to said base member.

17. In a centrifugal apparatus, the combination comprising: a spinner assembly rotatable on a generally vertical axis; structural support means for said apparatus including a generally horizontal base member; a drive pulley for effecting centrifugal rotation of said spinner assembly; means for mounting said pulley on said base member in a generally fixed plane for rotation substantially on said vertical axis; and resilient means disposed at a position juxtaposed to said base member and rotationally fixedto and supported by said pulley and connected to said spinner assembly for axially supporting said spinner assembly, for transmitting torque from said pulley to said spinner assembly, and for accommodating nutational movement of said spinner assembly about a pivot point juxtaposed to said base member during centrifugal rotation of said spinner assembly.

18. In a centrifugal apparatus as defined in claim 17 and further including means between said pulley mounting means and said base member comprising an intermediate member adjustably connected to said pulley mounting means and removably connected to said base member whereby said spinner assembly is adjustably mounted on said structural support means and is removable from said structural support means at said intermediate member independently of the adjustable attachment of said pulley mounting means to said intermediate member.

19. In a centrifugal apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein said pulley mounting means includes bearing means for supporting said spinner assembly and said pulley for centrifugal rotation relative to said structural support means.

20. In a centrifugal apparatus as defined in claim 19 wherein an intermediate member is removably connected to said structural support means in a predetermined location and wherein said pulley mounting means is adjustably connected to said intermediate member to facilitate the adjustment of the axis of rotation of said spinner assembly relative to said structural support means.

Claims

13. In a centrifugal apparatus, the combination comprising: a spinner assembly rotatable on a generally vertical axis; structural support means for said apparatus including a generally horizontal base member; a drive pulley for effecting centrifugal rotation of said spinner assembly; means for mounting said pulley on said base member in a generally fixed plane adjacent to said base member for rotation substantially on said vertical axis; and resilient means rotationally connected to said pulley and disposed between said pulley and said spinner assembly for accommodating rotational and nutational movement of said spinner assembly about a pivot point juxtaposed to said base member during centrifugal rotation of said spinner assembly by said pulley.

14. In a centrifugal apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein said resilient means is coaxially fixed to said spinner assembly and said pulley for rotation therewith and for axial support of said spinner assembly whereby said spinner assembly is rotatable about said vertical axis and nutationally movable relative to said vertical axis.

15. In a centrifugal apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein said means for mounting said pulley is effectively fixed to said base member and adjustable thereto for adjusting the axis of rotation relative to said support means.

17. In a centrifugal apparatus, the combination comprising: a spinner assembly rotatable on a generally vertical axis; structural support means for said apparatus including a generally horizontal base member; a drive pulley for effecting centrifugal rotation of said spinner assembly; means for mounting said pulley on said base member in a generally fixed plane for rotation substantially on said vertical axis; and resilient means disposed at a position juxtaposed to said base member and rotationally fixed to and supported by said pulley and connected to said spinner assembly for axially supporting said spinner assembly, for transmitting torque from said pulley to said spinner assembly, and for accommodating nutational movement of said spinner assembly about a pivot point juxtaposed to said base member during centrifugal rotation of said spinner assembly.