US3807201A

US3807201A - Flexible diaphragm clothes washer

Info

Publication number: US3807201A
Application number: US00318797A
Authority: US
Inventors: H Gorsuch
Original assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
Current assignee: CBS Corp
Priority date: 1972-12-27
Filing date: 1972-12-27
Publication date: 1974-04-30
Anticipated expiration: 1991-04-30
Also published as: CA981476A; AU6353373A; AR200041A1

Abstract

The invention provides a top loading automatic washing machine with a clothes tub having a flexible bottom, preferably molded of a synthetic rubber material, that includes on its outside face a plurality of integral wedge-like cams which cooperate with rotatively driven cam followers to lift and drop the flexible bottom as the cam followers traverse the path of the cams. This motion is permitted by the inherent resiliency of the bottom and produces a turbulent washing action in the water supported therein. The cam followers are driven by a shaft connected to a reversible motor so that reversal of the followers places them in a driving relationship with abrupt shoulders on the cams to drive the clothes tub in a high speed centrifuging operation. The space immediately under the flexible bottom and in which the integral cams and cam followers reside is enclosed by a bottom pan which supports a track and oppositely facing similar cam surfaces upon which the cam followers ride to provide additional lift to the flexible bottom. The enclosed volume between the bottom pan and the flexible bottom of the tub can either be open to ambient pressure to accommodate the changes in volume in this space as the diaphragm is raised and lowered or can be sealed to permit pressurization of this volume in a manner to affect the degree of agitation induced by the cams.

Description

Gorsuch 111 3,807,201 1451 Apr. 30, 1974 FLEXIBLE DIAPHRAGM CLOTHES WASHER V [75] Inventor: Harold-F. Gorsuch, Mansfield, Ohio [73] Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation,

Pittsburgh, Pa.

[22] Filed: Dec. 27, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 318,797

4/1967 Bentov. 68/190 x Primary Examiner-William 1. Price Attorney, Agent, or FirmF. A. -Winans 571 7 ABSTRACT The invention provides a top loading automatic washing machine with a clothes tub having a flexible bottom, preferably molded of a synthetic rubber material, that includes on its outside face a plurality of integral wedge-like cams which cooperate with rotatively driven cam followers to lift and drop the flexible bottom as the cam followers traverse the path of the cams. This motion is permitted by the inherent resiliency of the bottom and produces a turbulent washing action in the water supported therein. The cam followers are'driven by a shaft connected to a reversible motor so that reversal of the followers places them in a driving relationship with abrupt shoulders on the cams to drive the clothes tub in a high speed centrifuging operation. The space immediately under the flexible bottom and in which the integral cams and cam followers reside is enclosed by a bottom pan which supports a track and oppositely facing similar cam surfaces upon which the cam followers ride to provide additional lift to the flexible bottom. The enclosed volume between the bottom pan and the flexible bottom of the tub can either be open to ambient pressure to accommodate the changes in volume in this space as the diaphragm is raised and lowered or can be sealed to permit pressurization of this volume in a manner to affect the degree of agitation induced by the cams.

10 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures Pmmmm o m4 330?.201

SHEET 3 OF A FLEXIBLE DIAPHRAGM CLOTHES WASHER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the'lnvention This invention relates to a top loading automatic washing machine having a reversible motor capable of imparting in one direction an agitation mode of operation and in the opposite direction a spin-centrifuging operation. More particularly, in this machine the agitation is attained through repeated flexure of a flexible. bottom of the clothes tub of the machine, imparted by rotating a cam follower immediately adjacent the undersurface of the flexible bottom and in the path of lifting cams to cause the flexible member to be stretched upwardly. The cam members have an abrupt terminal shoulder which drops the cam follower and'thus the flexible bottom to complete the upward and downward agitation stroke. Driving the motor in the reverse direction causes the cam follower to engage the terminal shoulder on the cams, in a driving relationshipto spin the clothestub in a centrifuging operation.

DESCRIPTION 'OF THE PRIOR ART Most top-loading automatic washers utilizing a reversible motor for selectively imparting an agitation operation or a spin-dry centrifuging operation require a rather heavy and expensive transmission primarily used to change the continuous rotative motion of the motor shaft to short oscillating or reciprocating strokes of an agitator structure disposed within the clothes tub. Such a washing machine is commonly referred to as a center-post agitator and has earned general acceptance because of its inherent features including ease of loading and readily apparent agitation of the clothes. Further, the to-and-fro motion of the agitator does not.

have the same tendency to bunch the clothes as unidirectional agitation such as is found in the common tumbler washer or in a top loading wash'er having a continuously rotating impeller agitator. However, the transmission requiredby an oscillating agitator of the type described is quite heavy and expensive, adding substantially to the cost of the washer, in addition to effecting the overall stability, of the machine, especially when operating in the spin mode. Further, the agitator itself is in contact with the clothes in the basket so that in addition to imparting turbulence to the water, which mainly contributes to the washing action, causes wear of the clothes and, in the-process, produces lint which preferably is removed from the wash water.

Therefore, it is obviously beneficial to agitatethe clothes and wash water in a manner that provides turbulencetherein without directly contacting the clothes.

Prior patents such as (1.8. Pat. Nos. 2,203,479 and.

2,499,162 disclose a clothes tub having at least one flexible wall and means for externally flexing this wall to impart agitation. However, neither of the above pa-' tents discloses an automatic washing machine in the sense that they permit a spin dry centrifuging operation also. The present inventionutilizes a flexible wall and SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION tioned between the flexible bottom and the platform and are connected to the shaft through a hinge permitting vertical movement of the arm relative to the shaft. The outer end of each arm terminates in a pair of rolling cam followers, each respectively on a radius coincident with the wedge cams. The driven shaft is operatively connected to a drive shaft of a reversible motor, and, when driven in a direction such that the rolling cam followers ride on the inclined surface of the wedge-shaped cams, cause the arms and flexible bottom to be raised to an elevated position at that point. Once the cam followersreach the end of the cam they drop to the platform permitting the bottom to return to its normal position. The intermittent rising and falling of opposite areas on-the bottom flexible member imparts an agitating turbulence to the water within the tub. Conversely, driving the cam followers in the opposite direction causes themto contact an abrupt terminal shoulder on appropriate wedge cams in a driving relationship whereby thetub, including the platform, is driven in the spin dry mode. A space formed between the flexible bottom and the platform can be vented to atmosphere to maintain it at substantially constant pressure as the volume-changes or, can be pressurized ,over a range of pressures to affect the degree of agitation induced.

DRAWING DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a washing machine incorporating the invention with parts in cross section and parts broken away for clarity;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional elevational view of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 with the flexible bottom of the invention in raised position;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the bottom of the clothes tub with parts broken away;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of part of the bottom showing the opposing cams and the cam follower; and

FIG. 6 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 1 showing a modification.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The washing machine of the present invention resembles in many respects the well known center-post agitator washing machine such as shown for instance in US. Pat. No. 3,475,928 in that it includes'an outer cabinet or housing 12 having a top member 14 defining an access opening and hingedly supporting door structure 16. As in the center-post agitator washer, the housing enclosesan outer generally stationarily supported tub 18 mounted for limited pivotal movement about a contoured bearing surface 20, formed in the bottom pan 22 of the housing, as by a plurality of struts 24 (only one being shown) having one end welded to the outer tub and the other end attached to a contoured plate member 26 in facing relationship to the bearing surface and separated therefrom by a strip of frictional material 28. Stabilizing springs 30 are attached between the struts and the bottom pan 22 to resiliently maintain the structure supported by the struts in a generally centered upright position. A rotatable clothes tub 32 is disposed within the stationary tub 18 on a common axis and includes an upper cylindrical wrapper 34 having a plurality of apertures therein and a lower pan 36 attached to the upper wrapper as through mating peripheral flanges 38 secured together as through a plurality of bolts.

In addition to supporting the outer tub 18, the struts 24 also support bracket members 40 (only one being shown) which in turn support a base plate 42. A single speed reversing motor 44 is attached to the base plate 42 with the motor shaft 46 in a generally vertical orientation and driving a pulley 48v mounted on one end .of the motor shaft and a reversible water pump 50 secured to the opposite end of the motor.

The washing machine is automatically controlled through a timer mechanism 52 to operate through a complete washing cycle as is well known in the art .and-

which includes an agitation mode of operation wherein the clothes and water contained in the clothes tub are agitated by operation of the motor in one direction and a spin dry operation wherein reversal of the motor drives the clothes tub in a high speed spin to centrifuge the water from the clothes.

Reference will now be made to FIGS. 2-5 to describe the' particular drive means for imparting the agitation mode and the spin dry mode of operation to the clothes is drivingly attached to the lower end of drive shaft 64 in alignment with the drive pulley 48 on the drive motor 44 for receiving a V belt to transmit the drive from the motor to the pulley 66. The upper end of the drive shaft 64 is drivingly engaged by a driven hub 68 disposed within the rotatable clothes tub as will be fully explainedlater. I

The lower end of the stub shaft 60 is drivingly engaged by a collar member 70 whose periphery is concentric with the adjacent reduced periphery of the stationary hub 54. An LGSclutch spring 72 engages the concentric peripheral surfaces of the hub 54 and the collar memberv 70 respectively and terminates in an inwardly directed tang 73 received in an appropriate ap-, erture in the stationary hub for a purpose that will be more fully. disclosed. The upper end of the stub shaft 60 drivingly engages a spinner hub 74 which in turn is attached through a sealing engagement to the bottom 36 of the clothes tub 32 as by bolts 76. In this manner, when the pulley member 66 is rotated in a direction to impart a wash mode to the clothes tub (in a direction as shown by arrows in FIG. 4) the rotation is directly transmitted to rotatable hub 68 through the drive shaft 64. As the rotatable tub 32 is drivingly engaged by the stub shaft which in turn is drivingly engaged by the collar 70, any tendency of the tub 32 to rotate in the direction of the rotatable hub 68 is prevented by the LGS spring clutch which is attached between the stationary hub 54 and the collar in a manner that prevents any relative movement between the two in this direction. Thus the LGS spring 72 acts as a brake on the tub 32 when the pulley member 66 is rotated in a direction to impart clockwise rotation of the rotatable hub-68 as viewed in FIG. 4. However, the well known LGS spring clutch permits opposite relative rotational movement of the collar 70 with respect to the stationary hub 54 such that when the driven pulley 66 is rotated in the opposite direction the rotatable hub 68 is again directly driven however the rotatable tub 32 is then free to also rotate in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 4.

- Still referring primarily to FIG. 2, it is seen that the rotatable clothes tub 32 includes a diaphragm member 78 preferably molded of a suitable plastic or rubber and sealingly attached around its peripheral edge to the sides of thetub 32 as by engagement between the mat ing flanges 38 of the cylindrical wall 34 of the tub and the bottom pan 36. The rotatable hub 68 is disposed within this space defined between'the bottom pan 36 and the diaphragm 38 and hingedly supports diametri- Cally-opposed radiating arms 80 (only one being completely shown) which, at the distal end, rotatively supports two cam following

roller members

82, 84. A bearing plate 86 is stationarily attached to the underside of theldiaphragm 78 immediately above the rotatable hub 68 (as by cementing) to prevent wear on the diaphragm as the hub rotates. I

The surface of the diaphragm 78 facing the bottom pan 36 has a pair of diametrically opposed integrally molded arcuate cams 88 having a wedge-shaped profile and radially disposed so as to be concentric with the path of the'radially outermost roller members84. Also,

the remaining area of the diaphragm in the arcuate path of the roller members 84 has an increased thickness, as at 90, to accommodate wear where the diaphragm 78 is contactedby the roller 84.

A pair of diametrically opposed similar arcuate cams 92 are securely attached on the bottom pan 36 as by being integrally molded on an annular track 94 having a radius concentric with the radially innermost roller 32 as by cementing the collar to the pan. The relative position and profile of the cams can be best seen with reference to FIG. 5 wherein it is clearly shown that both the radially outermost diaphragm .cam 88 and the innermost cam 92 secured to the vpan have increasing height in the same direction and terminating in generally adjacent

abrupt shoulders

96, 98 respectively. However, it is apparent the shoulders 98 on the pan cam is slightly angularly displaced beyond the shoulder 96 of the diaphragm cam for a reason to be discussed later.

Other details of the construction which have a specific purpose to be explained in the Description of Operation include a pad member 100 on the pan immediately under each shoulder of the diaphragm cam 88,

and a breather hole 102 throughout the length of the drive shaft 64 terminating in a groove 104 in the drive hub 68'so that the volume defined by the diaphragm 7 8 and the bottom pan 36 is open to ambient air pressure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE OPERATION As previously stated, the automatic complete washing cycle of the washing machine includes at least an agitation or wash mode and an extraction or spin mode as controlled'by the timer and determined by the direction of operation of the motor 44. Thus, assuming the motor is energized to run in a clockwise direction as viewed from above, the driven pulley member 66 is also driven'in the clockwise direction. The clothes tub 32 is prevented from moving in that direction by the LGS spring clutch as previously explained and therefore the tub 32 remains stationary while the driven hub 68 rotates and in turn drives the radial arms 80 in the direction of the wash arrow of FIG. 4.

This direction of rotation of the radial arms 80 causes the

rollers

82, 84 to approach the

cams

88, 92 in a direction so as to contact the wedge face associated with each respective roller. Thus, inner roller 82 will contact cam 92 and ride up its surface. This causes outer roller 84 to begin lifting the diaphragm 78 and upon the outer roller contacting the outer cam 88, induces a substantial lift, ultimately flexing the diaphragm upwardly to the extreme distended position shown in FIG. 3. Further, rotation of the arms 80 beyond this point causes the outer roller 84 to pass the shoulder 96 of the outer cam 88 permitting the diaphragm 78 to suddenly drop an initial distance so that the outer roller 84 is again riding on the thickened annular area 90 of the diaphragm. Further continued rotation of the arms results in inner roller 82 passing the abrupt shoulder 98 of the cam 92, whereupon the arms 80 drop so that the inner roller 82 strikes the annular collar. 94 and the diaphragm drops the remaining distance causing the outer cam 88 to strike the pad 100 on the pan 36. Thus, the pad 100 acts somewhat like a shock absorber but more importantly deadens the sound of the cam 88 striking the pan 36. The annular collar 94 provides the same effect for the-inner roller 82 in that it dampens the sound of the roller as it 'runs on the pan plus deadens the sound when the roller drops from the inner cam 92 to the pan.

The induced sudden rise and abrupt fall of the flexible bottom diaphragm 78 of the tub 32 produces violent turbulent action in the water within the tub so that the clothes can be washed when the motion is present.

Reversing the direction of the motor 44 causes the hub 68 and therefore the direction of the arms 80 and

rollers

82, 84 to reverse. Also, as has previously been explained, the LGS spring clutch 72 releases the tub 32 in this reverse direction so the tub is free to spin.

Therefore, the rollers 82, when reversed, contact the abrupt shoulders 98 of the inner cam 92. It is noted that the abrupt shoulders 96 of the outer cam 88 are not contacted in that they are recessed somewhat from the shoulders of the inner cam as previously explained. The

rollers 82 positively engagethe abrupt shoulders 98 of the inner cams 92 and provide a driving engagement with the tub 32 without any torque or twist being placed on the flexible diaphragm 78 because of the inability of the roller 84 to contact shoulder 96. In-this manner, the tub 32 is driven at a relatively high rate of speed to centrifuge water from clothes contained therein.

-a positive pressure (greater than ambient) within the volume defined by the diaphragm and the bottom pan 36.

Referring to FIG. 6, a modified form of the invention is shown which permits pressurization of this volume. For this purpose a bellows member 104 is sealingly secured to the lower end of shaft 64 as by a clamp 106, with the opposite end of the bellows 104 being closed but supporting a bearing 106. Also a pilot rod 108 extends from this closed end to be received in a guide column 110 attached to the bearing plate 26 to maintain thebellows in proper vertical alignment. A lever arm 112 pivotally supported on a bracket 114 extending from a strut 24 has one end 116 abutting the closed end of the bellows and the other end 118 connected to a control rod 120 extending to the exterior of the housing for manipulation thereof.

Thus, pushing down on the control rod 120 would compress the bellows member 104 pressurizing the air in the volume between the pan and the flexible bottom and, depending on the volume of the bellows, elevating the flexible bottom a certain amount. The amount lifted by the pressurized air would decrease the amplitude of the flexing of the diaphragm between its extreme up position and its lowermost position and in turn reduce the degree of agitation induced by the cam followers. It is apparent that pressurization of this volume to an extreme position of elevating the cams on the flexible bottom to a position such that they are not contacted by the cam followers would eliminate any agitation. Thus, through the drive arrangement described and by virtue of the flexible diaphragm, rotation of the motor in one direction provides an agitation or wash mode and rotation of the motor in the opposite direction provides a spin dry operation with both operations being directly driven from the motor without the use of the heretofore necessary transmission.

I claim as my invention:

1. An automatic washing machine includinga clothes containing tub having a flexible bottom wall and drive means for selectively imparting either an agitation mode of operation or a spin dry mode of operation to clothes within said tub, said drive means including a reversible motor and means operatively connected thereto for flexing said flexible bottom wall when said tend and release said flexible bottom wall to impart said agitation mode of operation. I

3. Structure according to claim 2 wherein said stationary cam means define an inclined face for lifting 'said cam follower means when said means are rotated 4. Structure according to claim 3 wherein said flexible bottom wall is preferably molded of a resilient material and includes integrally molded cam members in generally opposed facing relationship to said cam means on said pan and defining a generally similarly shaped profile in the path of said rotating cam follower means for providing increased distention of said flexible bottom wall as said carn follower means lift said integrally molded cam members when rotated in said one direction.

5. Structure according to claim '4 wherein said means drivingly coupling said rotatable cam follower to said reversible motor includes a drive shaft driven by said motor and hub structure drivingly connected to said shaft, and said cam follower means includes arms hingedly connected at one end to said hub structure permitting verticalrotational movement of said arms with respect to said hub structure, said arms extending generally radially from said hub structure and supporting at the distal end rollers for engaging the respective surfaces of said cam means and cam members.

6. In an automatic washing machine having an outer generally stationary water retaining tub; a concentric rotatable inner tub; drive means for selectively driving saidmachine through various modes of operation including a washing mode and a spin dry mode; wherein the improvement comprises:

said inner tub comprising a flexible bottom wall; and,

said drive means comprises; a reversible motor;

wedge-shaped cam means attached to said rotatable tub and disposed subadjacent said flexible wall and defining an inclined surface terminating in an abrupt shoulder; and,

rotatable cam follower means operatively driven by said drive means in a path traversing said cam means whereby,

rotation of said cam follower means in one direction causes said cam follower means to be cammed to a first positiondeforming said flexible wall and drop to a second position releasing said flexible wall to impart a turbulent washing action in the water within said inner tub, and rotation of said cam follower means in a reverse direction causes said cam follower means to drivingly engage said cam means and thereby rotate said tub in a spin dry mode. g 7. Structure according to claim 6 wherein said drive means includes means for frictionally engaging said tub to prevent its rotation when said cam follower means are rotated in one direction and releasing said tub for rotation when said cam follower means are rotated in said reverse direction.

8. Structure according to claim 6 wherein said inner tub includes a bottom pan member subadjacent said flexible bottom wall for supporting said wedge-shaped cam means and defining a generally closed chamber between said bottom wall and said pan member.

9. Structure according to claim 8 wherein said drive means includes a drive shaft drivingly coupled to said reversible motor and connected to a hub structure within said closed chamber, said hub structure drivingly connected to said cam followermeans also disposed within said chamber, said drive shaft defining an air passageway having one end open to said chamber and the otherend open exteriorly of said chamber to accommodate ingress and egress of air from said chamber as the volume of said chamber varies as said bottom wall flexes.

10. Structure according to claim 9 including means on said drive shaft cooperating with said exteriorly open end of said air passage for pressurizing the air within said chamber, said means for pressurizing said air being selectively manually operable from exteriorly of said washing machine.

Claims

1. An automatic washing machine including a clothes containing tub having a flexible bottom wall and drive means for selectively imparting either an agitation mode of operation or a spin dry mode of operation to clothes within said tub, said drive means including a reversible motor and means operatively connected thereto for flexing said flexible bottom wall when said motor is rotated in one direction and rotating said tub when said motor is rotated in the opposite direction.

2. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said drive means includes stationary cam means and rotatable cam follower means disposed sub-adjacent said flexible bottom wall and means drivingly coupling said rotatable cam follower means to said reversible motor, whereby rotation of said cam follower means by said motor in one direction causes said cam followers means to traverse the path of said cam means in accordance with the profile of said cam means and alternately distend and release said flexible bottom wall to impart said agitation mode of operation.

3. Structure according to claim 2 wherein said stationary cam means define an inclined face for lifting said cam follower means when said means are rotated in said one direction, with said cam means terminating in an abrupt shoulder, and said drive means further includes a pan member attached to said rotatable tub and supporting said cam means sub-adjacent said flexible bottom wall and brake means for frictionally engaging said pan member for preventing rotation of said tub when said cam follower means are rotated in said one direction and releasing said tub to permit rotation thereof when said cam follower means are rotated in an opposite direction so as to engage said abrupt shoulder of said cam means.

4. Structure according to claim 3 wherein said flexible bottom wall is preferably molded of a resilient material and includes integrally molded cam members in generally opposed facing relationship to said cam means on said pan and defining a generally similarly shaped profile in the path of said rotating cam follower means for providing increased distention of said flexible bottom wall as said cam follower means lift said integrally molded cam members when rotated in said one direction.

5. Structure according to claim 4 wherein said means drivingly coupling said rotatable cam follower to said reversible motor includes a drive shaft driven by said motor and hub structure drivingly connected to said shaft, and said cam follower means includes arms hingedly connected at one end to said hub structure permitting vertical rotational movement of said arms with respect to said hub structure, said arms extending generally radially from said hub structure and supporting at the distal end rollers for engaging the respective surfaces of said cam means and cam members.

6. In an automatic washing machine having an outer generally stationary water retaining tub; a concentric rotatable inner tub; drive means for sElectively driving said machine through various modes of operation including a washing mode and a spin dry mode; wherein the improvement comprises: said inner tub comprising a flexible bottom wall; and, said drive means comprises; a reversible motor; wedge-shaped cam means attached to said rotatable tub and disposed subadjacent said flexible wall and defining an inclined surface terminating in an abrupt shoulder; and, rotatable cam follower means operatively driven by said drive means in a path traversing said cam means whereby, rotation of said cam follower means in one direction causes said cam follower means to be cammed to a first position deforming said flexible wall and drop to a second position releasing said flexible wall to impart a turbulent washing action in the water within said inner tub, and rotation of said cam follower means in a reverse direction causes said cam follower means to drivingly engage said cam means and thereby rotate said tub in a spin dry mode.

7. Structure according to claim 6 wherein said drive means includes means for frictionally engaging said tub to prevent its rotation when said cam follower means are rotated in one direction and releasing said tub for rotation when said cam follower means are rotated in said reverse direction.

9. Structure according to claim 8 wherein said drive means includes a drive shaft drivingly coupled to said reversible motor and connected to a hub structure within said closed chamber, said hub structure drivingly connected to said cam follower means also disposed within said chamber, said drive shaft defining an air passageway having one end open to said chamber and the other end open exteriorly of said chamber to accommodate ingress and egress of air from said chamber as the volume of said chamber varies as said bottom wall flexes.