WO2007114712A1 - Laundry machine with lost motion clutch - Google Patents
Laundry machine with lost motion clutch Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2007114712A1 WO2007114712A1 PCT/NZ2007/000064 NZ2007000064W WO2007114712A1 WO 2007114712 A1 WO2007114712 A1 WO 2007114712A1 NZ 2007000064 W NZ2007000064 W NZ 2007000064W WO 2007114712 A1 WO2007114712 A1 WO 2007114712A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- spin basket
- laundry machine
- lug
- drive assembly
- pair
- Prior art date
Links
- 238000013019 agitation Methods 0.000 claims description 18
- 239000000725 suspension Substances 0.000 claims description 8
- 238000004804 winding Methods 0.000 claims description 7
- 239000006096 absorbing agent Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 230000035939 shock Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 13
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 9
- 238000005406 washing Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000010412 laundry washing Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000012544 monitoring process Methods 0.000 description 2
- RPNUMPOLZDHAAY-UHFFFAOYSA-N Diethylenetriamine Chemical compound NCCNCCN RPNUMPOLZDHAAY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910000639 Spring steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 230000006978 adaptation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000295 complement effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001747 exhibiting effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007667 floating Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002452 interceptive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000149 penetrating effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000007306 turnover Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- 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
- D06F37/30—Driving arrangements
- D06F37/40—Driving arrangements for driving the receptacle and an agitator or impeller, e.g. alternatively
Definitions
- the present invention relates to laundry machines and in particular to laundry washing machines having a spin basket and an independently rotating agitator within the spin basket.
- the spin basket was supported by the shaft at a lower position, was free to rise on the shaft to an upper position.
- the spin basket included downwardly facing hollow chambers.
- Vertical support of the spin basket on the shaft in the lower position included inter-engagement of a downwardly facing castellated clutch on the spin basket and an upwardly facing castellated clutch fixed to the shaft. Accordingly without sufficient wash liquid in the tub for the spin basket and any associated load to float the spin basket remained rotationally fixed to the shaft. With sufficient wash liquid in the tub the float chambers of the spin basket would provide for the basket and load to float and disengage from the shaft such that the spin basket and shaft would rotate.
- This arrangement is described in US Patent 5,353,613. This direct drive electronically controlled laundry machine has been very successful. A number of competing companies have sought to devise alternative arrangements for selectively transmitting power of the motor to the spin basket.
- US Patent 6,212,722 proposes an improved laundry washing machine for domestic use.
- This machine is of the top loading type having an outer bowl, a wash basket within the outer bowl and access to the wash basket through a top opening.
- a motor is provided to drive rotation of the wash basket within the outer bowl.
- a wash plate is provided in the lower portion of the wash basket to be rotated by the motot with the wash basket or independently of the wash basket.
- the patent proposes a combination of water level control, wash plate design, wash basket design and movement pattern for the wash plate which leads to an inverse toroidal movement of the laundry load during a wash phase.
- the sodden wash load is dragged radially inward on the upper surface of the wash plate and progresses upward in the region of the centre.
- the sodden wash load then progresses radially outward to the wall of the wash basket and downward to the base of the wash basket. This has been found to provide an effective wash action with low water consumption.
- US Patent 4,803,855, Kennedy describes an agitate and spin drive for a washing machine.
- the mechanism includes a pair of concentric shafts extending through the lower wall of die wash tub.
- the upper end of the inner shaft is connected to drive the agitator.
- the upper end of the outer shaft is connected to drive the wash basket.
- a pulley at the lowest end of the inner shaft is driven by an electric motor.
- a lost motion mechanism or clutch in the form of a plurality of stacked disks is mounted on. the agitator shaft.
- a lower end of the lost motion clutch is driven by the pulley.
- An upper end of the lost motion mechanism drives the lower end of the wash basket shaft.
- the lost motion clutch mechanism is located in the area between the base of the wash tub and the drive pulley.
- the overall arrangement requires both the wash basket shaft and agitator shaft to penetrate the wash tub.
- US Patent 2,273,566 illustrates a washing machine with an agitator housed within a wash basket.
- the wash basket includes a central hub 41 extending up inside the post of the agitator.
- a lost motion clutch acts between the inner surface of the agitator and the outer surface of the hub. The clutch allows less than one revolution of relative movement between the wash basket before the agitator begins to drive the wash basket.
- US Patent 2,609,697 describes a washing machine with an agitator housed within a wash basket.
- the wash basket is rotatably supported on the drive shaft.
- the agitator is fixed to the drive shaft.
- a downward extending lug on the agitator skirt is positioned to engage against an upward lug on the floor of the wash basket.
- the clutch allows less than one revolution of relative movement between the wash basket before the agitator begins to drive the wash basket.
- the invention consists in a laundry machine comprising: a tub, a spin basket in said tub, a drive assembly comprising a shaft and agitator, the shaft passing through a wall of the spin basket, said agitator being located within said spin basket, a lost motion clutch physically located in the tub, interconnecting between the drive assembly and the spin basket and absorbing greater than one revolution of relative rotation.
- clockwise rotation of said agitator relative to said spin basket ends at a first end condition wherein said drive assembly is engaged to drive said spin basket in a clockwise direction
- anticlockwise rotation of said agitator relative to said spin basket ends at a second end condition wherein said drive assembly is engaged to drive said spin basket in an anticlockwise direction
- said first end condition and said second end condition being greater than one revolution of relative rotation between said agitator and said spin basket apart.
- said lost motion clutch includes a rotation member mounted for rotation about said shaft, said rotation member having a first pair of stop surfaces, one facing clockwise and one facing anticlockwise, and a second pair of stop surfaces, one facing clockwise and one facing anticlockwise, said drive assembly has a pair of stop surfaces, one facing clockwise and one facing anticlockwise, said spin basket has a pair of stop surfaces, one facing clockwise and one facing anticlockwise, and in said first end condition said first pair clockwise surface engages against said drive assembly counter clockwise surface, said second pair anticlockwise surface engages against said spin basket clockwise surface, and in said second end condition said first pair counter clockwise surface engages said drive assembly clockwise surface, and said second pair clockwise surface engages against said spin basket counter clockwise surface.
- said rotation member includes a lug, with, said clockwise facing surface of said first pair and of said second pair being on one side surface of said lug and said counter clockwise surface of said first pair and of said second pair being on another side surface of said lug.
- said drive assembly includes a lug, and said pair of stop surfaces of said drive assembly comprise opposite faces of said lug.
- said spin basket includes a lug, and said pair of stop surfaces comprise opposed faces of said spin basket lug.
- said drive assembly lug and said spin basket lug do not share the same axial and radial position relative to the rotation, such that said lugs pass by one another with relative rotation of said agitator and said spin basket in the absence of any intervening clutch member.
- said drive assembly lug and said spin basket lug overlap in the axial direction but are separated in the radial direction, and the radial extent of said lug of said rotating member overlaps with the outer of the drive assembly lug and the spin basket lug.
- said drive assembly but for said lost motion clutch, would be free to rotate relative to said spin basket.
- said spin basket is supported for rotation at a fixed, axial position on said shaft.
- said shaft rotates around a vertical axis, and said tub and said spin basket are accessible through a top opening.
- said shaft of said drive assembly protrudes from below a base portion of said tub, a stator of an electric motor is fixed to said tub, and a rotor of said electric motor is fixed to said shaft.
- the laundry machine includes a cabinet, and a plurality of suspension members extending between an upper portion of said cabinet and a lower portion of said tub, said suspension members supporting said tub, spin basket, drive assembly and motor within said cabinet.
- said motor is of the external rotor type.
- said lost motion clutch includes a shock absorber for absorbing engagement impacts at one or both ends of the relative motion.
- At least one said stop surface is elastically supported relative to the respective rotation member, drive assembly or spin basket.
- said laundry machine includes a power supply circuit connected with windings of said motor, and a microcomputer having outputs connected to said power supply circuit for controlling the application of power to said windings of said motor, said microcomputer being programmed to drive said drive assembly in at least a first mode involving strokes of short duration in alternate directions, and a second mode involving continuous running for many revolutions in the same direction.
- said microcomputer is programmed to limit the angular rotation of any single agitation stroke of said drive assembly to be less than about 1.5 revolutions.
- said microcomputer is programmed to detect any occasional end condition that occurs during agitation and to terminate the drive of motor in that agitation stroke as soon as the collision is detected.
- said microcomputer is programmed to monitor the load on the motor and detect said end condition by an increase in the motor load. According to a further aspect of the invention said microcomputer is programmed to detect any directional bias in any residual rotation of the spin basket during agitation.
- said microcomputer is programmed to adjust the respective agitator stroke lengths to try to reduce this bias and preferably to reverse the estimated accumulated relative creep in one direction.
- a laundry machine comprising: a tub, a spin basket in said tub, a drive assembly comprising a shaft and agitator, the shaft passing through a wall of the spin basket, said agitator being located within said spin basket, and
- Figure 1 is a cutaway perspective view of a laundry machine according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
- Figure 2 is a block diagram of a control system for a laundry washing machine.
- Figure 3 is a cross-sectional side elevation of a lower part of the tub and spin basket, the agitator and an upper part of the drive shaft according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
- Figure 4 is a perspective view of a rotating clutch member and spin basket support bush according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
- Figu ⁇ e 5 is a cross-sectional plan view through line AA in Figure 3 of the components of Figure 4 and agitator end stop 300.
- Figures 6A to 6D show a sequence of cross-sectional plan views of the type illustrated in Figure 5 illustrating the range of freedom of relative movement between the spin basket and agitator.
- a laundry machine that may incorporate a clutch according to the present invention is illustrated in Figure 1.
- the laundry machine includes a cabinet 100 with a lid 102 and a user console 104.
- a controller 106 is located within the body of the user console.
- the controller 106 includes a power supply and a programmed microcontroller.
- the power supply receives power from the mains supply and supplies power to the microcontroller, to a power supply bridge for the electric motor and to ancillary devices within the machine such as a pump and valves. Delivery of power to the motor 114 and the ancillary devices is at the control of the microcontroller.
- the microcontroller receives inputs from a user interface on console 104.
- a tub 120 is supported within the cabinet.
- the tub is preferably suspended from the upper edge of the cabinet, for example by suspension rods 121.
- the tub may alternatively be supported from below or from the sides of die cabinet.
- a wash or drain pump is fitted to the lower portion of the tub. The pump is preferably located at a sump portion of the tub.
- a wash basket 122 is supported for rotation within the tub. Opening the Hd 102 provides user access to an upper open end of the wash basket.
- An agitator 124 is mounted in the lower portion of the wash basket.
- the agitator may be of a central post type, with or without additional moving parts, such as augers, or of a wash plate type, such as illustrated in US Patent 6,212,722, or of a pulsator type, or of any other type having independent movement from wash basket 122.
- the illustrated agitator is of wash plate type, intended for facilitating low water level wash exhibiting inverse toroidal rollover patterns.
- the improvements and adaptations of the present invention are preferably implemented in a laundry machine of a direct drive type with motor fixed directly to the lower end of a single drive shaft.
- a direct drive type with motor fixed directly to the lower end of a single drive shaft.
- other drive systems involving for example gearbox or belts driving a single drive shaft may alternatively be used.
- a motor 114 below the tub directly drives single shaft 128.
- the single shaft 128 extends through the lower face of the tub, where it is supported in a pair of bearings 130.
- a seal 360 prevents water escaping the tub at the interface between the tub and shaft.
- the wash basket 122 is mounted on the shaft within the tub.
- the wash basket may typically comprise a base 132 and a perforated cylindrical skin 134.
- the perforated cylindrical skin extends up from the base to define an open ended drum.
- the wash basket may include a balance ring at the upper edge of the cylindrical skin.
- the wash plate 124 is also fitted to the shaft, within the wash basket 122.
- a clutch arrangement 142 is provided to enable the motor 114 to selectively drive either the wash plate 124 independently of the wash basket 122, or drive the wash basket 122. In driving the wash basket the motor may also drive the wash plate.
- Various mechanisms have been proposed to accomplish, this selective drive.
- the present invention relates to an improved mechanism which promotes low water consumption while retaining a drive assembly where a single shaft penetrates the tub 120. This mechanism is described in detail below.
- the controller is part of a control system for coordinating the operations of the laundry machine.
- the control system is illustrated in the block diagram of Figure 2.
- the controller includes a microcontroller 800.
- the microcontroller may include a microcomputer and ancillary logic circuits and interfaces.
- the microcontroller receives user input commands on user interface 802.
- the user interface may include, for example, a plurality of touch controls such as switches or buttons, or may include a touch screen, or may include rotary or linear selection devices.
- the microcontroller may include a display device 804 to provide feedback to a user.
- the display device may comprise a plurality of indicators, such as lights or LEDs, or may include a screen display.
- the display device 804 and the user interface 802 may be mounted to a single module incorporating the microcontroller.
- the microcontroller receives power from a power supply 806.
- the microcontroller also controls power switches 808 applying power from supply 806 to drive motor 810.
- the microcontroller controls further power switches 812 applying power from supply 806 to a pump 814.
- the microcontroller also controls a power switch 830 applying power to a cold water inlet valve 832 and a power switch 834 applying power to hot water inlet valve 836.
- the microcontroller preferably receives feedback from position sensors 816 associated with the motor. These sensors may for example be a set of digital Hall sensors, sensing changes in rotor position, or may be any suitable encoder. Alternatively rotor position and movement may be sensed from motor drive current or EMF induced in unenergised motor windings.
- the microcontroller also preferably receives input from a water level sensor 818, which detects the level of water in the tub of the machine, and from a temperature sensor 820 which detects the temperature of water being supplied to the wash tub.
- the preferred controller applies an initial wash plate drive profile to initiate the inverse toroidal motion.
- the initial drive profile is characterised by higher angular velocity and longer stroke length to start the clothes movement. This movement is subsequently maintained by a maintenance drive profile with lower angular velocity and stroke length.
- Many drive systems are possible for controlling wash plate drive profiles.
- One example is described in US Patent 5,398,298.
- the initial drive profile is varied according to load size.
- the profile is more vigorous for larger load sizes.
- Load size may be determined from a user entry or selection, or by monitoring the inlet flow and recirculation pump activity, or by one of the many methods described in the prior art.
- the maintenance drive profile is also varied according to load size. Again the profile is more vigorous for larger load sizes.
- Acceptable wash performance is considered a compromise between achieving regular inverse toroidal turnover of a wash load within the spin basket and wear and tear associated with wash profiles that are too vigorous (and speeds that are too high) or entanglement (angular strokes that are too long).
- agitator wash strokes are between 0.5 revolutions and 1.5 revolutions. In each wash stroke the relative rotation between agitator and wash basket is generally less than 1.5 revolutions.
- an improved clutch mechanism is disposed within the tub of the laundry machine.
- the mechanism is provided in the space between the wash plate 124 and the upper side of the base 322 of the spin basket.
- the spin basket is rotatably supported on the shaft 128, for example by a pair of bearings 318.
- the spin basket is vertically supported on the shaft 128, for example by a thrust bearing 310.
- the bearings 318 are fitted within bearing tube 320 of the base portion 322.
- the bearings 318 are preferably of a sliding seal type.
- the bearings 318 provide radial support of the spin basket relative to the shaft.
- the bearings are vertically spaced on the shaft to provide torsional stability.
- the thrust bearing 310 is fitted to the shaft 128 above the upper radial bearing 318.
- the thrust bearing 310 preferably engages over a spline 313.
- the thrust bearing 310 has an upwardly facing thrust surface which supports the weight of the spin basket.
- the lower edge of the thrust bearing 310 is supported on a shoulder 317 of the shaft 128.
- a support hub 308 rests on the thrusts surface of thrust bearing 310 and is secured to an upper face of the spin basket base 322.
- a lower surface 332 of the support hub 308 bears on thrust surface 334 of thrust bearing 310.
- a drive ring 302 is mounted to rotate around the axis of shaft 128.
- the drive ring includes a drive lug 304 extending radially.
- An end stop 306 extends, preferably upwardly, from the outer surface of base 322 of the spin basket.
- An end stop 300 extends, preferably downwardly, from the underside of wash plate 124.
- the end stop 306 and end stop 300 are positioned and configured such that they move past each other when the agitator rotates relative to the spin basket.
- the spin basket end stop 306 is radially inside the inner most extent of agitator end stop 300.
- the end stops could alternatively be vertically separated, or have other non-interfering complementary shape and location.
- the drive lug 304 of drive ring 302 extends outwardly sufficient to interfere with both end stop 306 and end stop 300.
- Either end stop may be in the form of a free standing lug.
- the end stop may be an end portion of a ridge or other formation, so long as the end stops and the drive lug meet the interference requirements of the clutch.
- the agitator 124 is fixed to the upper end of drive shaft 128.
- the agitator 124 rotates with drive shaft 128.
- the drive will operate in a wash mode where the shaft is reciprocated in alternate directions, and a continuous rotation mode in which the shaft is rotated for longer periods in a single direction.
- the end stop 300 of the agitator drives around the drive lug 304 of drive ring 302 when it is rotating and in contact with the lug 304.
- Lug 300 continues to drive around the drive lug 304 until drive lug 304 contacts the end stop 306 of die spin basket.
- Drive lug 304 dien drives rotation of the spin basket by end stop 306. In this condition with rotation of the end stop 300 against lug 304 against end stop 306, rotation of the drive shaft drives rotation of the agitator and spin basket together.
- the drive shaft may rotate relative to the spin basket through almost two full revolutions before meeting a second end condition where it drivingly engages the spin basket for rotation in the other direction.
- the agitator end stop 300 moves nearly one full revolution around the drive shaft 124 before engaging drive lug 304 on the same side as end stop 306.
- End stop 300 continues to drive drive lug 304 for almost one further complete revolution before the opposite side of drive lug 304 engages against end stop 306 of the spin basket.
- rotation of the agitator would proceed to drive rotation of the spin basket via the first end stop, drive lug 304 and second end stop 306. However this point of rotation is nearly two full relative revolutions away from the other end condition, and so in a typical agitation stroke of up to 1.5 revolutions this condition is not reached.
- end stop 306 is an upwardly extending lug at the perimeter of support hub 308.
- Support hub 308 includes a raised hub portion with an outwardly facing wall 338 and a perimeter flange 330.
- the lug 306 extends upward at the periphery of perimeter flange 330.
- the annular body 331 of drive ring 302 fits over the hub portion of die support hub 308, occupying the region inward of lug 306. Inner face 336 of ring 331 slides against outwardly facing surface 338 of support hub 308.
- the support hub 308 is fixed to the upper face of the spin basket base 322, for example by fasteners 312. Practically, this allows assembly of the spin basket onto the drive shaft by first fitting the radial support bearings over the drive shaft, then fixing the thrust bearing 310 over the lower spline 313, then support hub 308 is fitted over the drive shaft and fastened to the spin basket base to support the spin basket on thrust bearing 310, then agitator 124 is fitted to the upper spline on the drive shaft and secured in place by fastener 350.
- Typical agitator motion during the agitation mode is between 0.5 and 1.5 revolutions. So the almost two revolutions provided by the clutch of the present invention will generally be sufficient to absorb the agitation movement of the drive shaft without engaging to drive the wash basket at the end of each stroke.
- an upper limit can be applied to the agitator motion, for example an upper limit of 1.5 revolutions.
- the preferred electronically commutated drive system we propose to detect any such occasional end condition and to terminate the drive of motor in that agitation stroke as soon as the collision is detected. It is possible for the microcontroller to monitor the load on the motor with reasonable accuracy and frequency by monitoring, for example, the motor current. The end condition may be detected by an increase in the motor load.
- any directional bias in the residual rotation of the spin basket we propose to detect any directional bias in the residual rotation of the spin basket. For example we may detect a difference in the motor load while driving the agitator in one direction compared to the other direction, and assume that this indicates greater dragging of the spin basket in the higher load direction. Or, for example, we may detect greater load at the point of reversal of the drive direction, which may indicating that the spin basket is coasting for longer into the new stroke direction. The respective agitator stroke lengths may then be adjusted to try to reduce this bias and preferably to reverse the estimated accumulated relative creep in one direction.
- die clutch construction may be modified so that the impact at the end condition may be reduced.
- either end stop may be formed to be soft or springy.
- one end stop may have a buffer on each side, or each end stop may have a buffer on one side.
- the buffer may be a spring arrangement, preferably elastically absorbing the impact to release the energy in the new stroke direction.
- the drive lug on the drive ring may be flexible, for example an outwardly extending leaf of spring steel, which may bend elastically with the impact between the end stops.
- either end stop may have a friction clutch engagement to the respective support part (the spin tub or the drive assembly). This is less preferred as the absorbed energy is dissipated as heat. It is expected that with the range of movement available and the control available in the electronically controlled drive system the any pick up at the end condition will be relatively light, and so an elastic shock absorber that returns energy to the system should be sufficient to absorb the impact.
- the drive arrangement according to the present invention allows driving of the agitator in alternate directions through a useful length of stroke with only a single shaft penetrating the tub, and without relying on water level for disengagement.
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AU2007232558A AU2007232558A1 (en) | 2006-03-31 | 2007-03-28 | Laundry machine with lost motion clutch |
CA002647557A CA2647557A1 (en) | 2006-03-31 | 2007-03-28 | Laundry machine with lost motion clutch |
US12/294,160 US20090145173A1 (en) | 2006-03-31 | 2007-03-28 | Laundry machine with lost motion clutch |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
NZ546328 | 2006-03-31 | ||
NZ546328A NZ546328A (en) | 2006-03-31 | 2006-03-31 | Laundry machine with lost motion clutch |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2007114712A1 true WO2007114712A1 (en) | 2007-10-11 |
Family
ID=38563905
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/NZ2007/000064 WO2007114712A1 (en) | 2006-03-31 | 2007-03-28 | Laundry machine with lost motion clutch |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20090145173A1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN101432479A (en) |
AU (1) | AU2007232558A1 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2647557A1 (en) |
NZ (1) | NZ546328A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2007114712A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US9290882B2 (en) | 2009-08-26 | 2016-03-22 | Fisher & Paykel Appliances Limited | Speed dependent clutch |
Families Citing this family (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US10087566B2 (en) | 2016-03-09 | 2018-10-02 | Whirlpool Corporation | Laundry treating appliance with indexing tang clutch |
US10364524B2 (en) * | 2016-04-08 | 2019-07-30 | Whirlpool Corporation | Laundry treating appliance with helical clutch |
US10570550B2 (en) * | 2017-02-21 | 2020-02-25 | Haier Us Appliance Solutions, Inc. | Washing machine appliance and shifter assembly therefor |
US10907293B2 (en) * | 2017-11-30 | 2021-02-02 | Whirlpool Corporation | Structural block for supporting a rotating drum within a laundry appliance |
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US2161604A (en) * | 1935-04-06 | 1939-06-06 | Gen Electric | Washing machine |
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US4328600A (en) * | 1979-05-15 | 1982-05-11 | General Electric Company | Washing machine |
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US5297403A (en) * | 1992-12-03 | 1994-03-29 | Whirlpool Corporation | Rotatable wash basket for an automatic washer |
WO2000006819A1 (en) * | 1998-07-29 | 2000-02-10 | Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha | Pulsator system for electric washing machines |
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US4170882A (en) * | 1977-12-19 | 1979-10-16 | Whirlpool Corporation | Agitator having vanes adjustable to provide different stroke lengths |
NZ215389A (en) * | 1986-03-06 | 1992-02-25 | Fisher & Paykel | Washing machine: spin tub connected to drive at low water level |
US4803855A (en) * | 1987-08-10 | 1989-02-14 | Whirlpool Corporation | Single shaft agitate and spin drive for automatic washer |
US5398298A (en) * | 1990-12-19 | 1995-03-14 | Fisher & Paykel Limited | Acceleration controller for laundry machine motor |
US6212722B1 (en) * | 1999-07-13 | 2001-04-10 | Whirpool Corporation | Apparatus and method for rolling clothes in an automatic washer |
US6415469B1 (en) * | 1999-12-30 | 2002-07-09 | Mabe Mexico S. De R.L. De C.V. | Control system and process for automatically controlling agitator motion patterns in a washing machine |
US7069752B2 (en) * | 2002-07-23 | 2006-07-04 | Maytag Corporation | Auger agitator assembly |
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2006
- 2006-03-31 NZ NZ546328A patent/NZ546328A/en unknown
-
2007
- 2007-03-28 WO PCT/NZ2007/000064 patent/WO2007114712A1/en active Application Filing
- 2007-03-28 CN CNA2007800156431A patent/CN101432479A/en active Pending
- 2007-03-28 AU AU2007232558A patent/AU2007232558A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2007-03-28 CA CA002647557A patent/CA2647557A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2007-03-28 US US12/294,160 patent/US20090145173A1/en not_active Abandoned
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US5033278A (en) * | 1990-04-12 | 1991-07-23 | Raytheon Company | Washing machine brake and release mechanism |
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Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US9290882B2 (en) | 2009-08-26 | 2016-03-22 | Fisher & Paykel Appliances Limited | Speed dependent clutch |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CN101432479A (en) | 2009-05-13 |
US20090145173A1 (en) | 2009-06-11 |
AU2007232558A1 (en) | 2007-10-11 |
CA2647557A1 (en) | 2007-10-11 |
NZ546328A (en) | 2008-04-30 |
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