US1310558A - Washinc-machine mechanism - Google Patents

Description

A. BOHY.

WASHING MACHINE MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 8. 1918.

Patented July 22, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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WASHING MACHINE MECHANISM.

APPLICATION -F|LED MAY 8. 19M].

. 1 ,8 1 0,558. Patented July 22, 1919.

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THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPII 120., WASHING TON, D. C.

ALFRED BOHY, or ALBI'A, IOWA.

WASHING-MACHINE MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 22, 1919.

Application filed May 8, 1918. Serial No. 233,299.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED Born, a citi- Zen of the United States, residing at Albia, in the county of Monroeand State of Iowa, have invented certain new and: useful Improvements in Washing-Machine Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification, reference being hadi to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in washing machine mechanism, and has for its primary object to provide a hand operated means for actuating the agitator of a washing machine which may be conveniently operated from a sitting position with a minimum of exertion.

It is another and more particular object of the invention to provide, in combination with the agitator shaft, a gear, a fly wheel, and a pinion on the fly wheel shaft meshing with said gear, and a simple and effective lever arrangement operatively connected to the gear and the agitator shaft whereby an oscillating rotary movement may be imparted to the agitator shaft with a relatively short operating stroke of the power lever. 7 It is also another important object of the invention to provide improved means for operatively connecting the agitator to' the agitator shaft to aflord a limited relative axial movement of the agitator in the rotation thereof whereby the contents of the tub or receptacle will be more thoroughly agitated and the cleansing fluid caused to permeate all parts thereo It is also an object of my invention to 'provide improved means for mounting the agitator which is of such construction that frictional contact between metal parts in the relative movement of the agitator is avoided, whereby wear of the metal surface obviated.

It is also a further general Ob180t of the invention to improve and slmplifythe construction of washing machine mechanisms 'whereby the same are rendered strong and durable, eflicient and serviceable in practical use, and capable of manufacture at relatively small cost.

.With the above and other objects in View, the invention consists in the improved construction,, combmation and relative .ar- -rangement of the several parts as will be partly in section;

hereinafter more fully described, subsequently claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein Figure l is a side elevation of a washing machine equipped with my improved operating mechanism, the tub or receptacle being Fig. 2 is a top plan View;

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the operating mechanism for the agitator looking at right angles to Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detail section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; i a

Fig. 5 is ahorizontal section taken on the line 55 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 is a detail vertical section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Referring in detail to the drawings, 5 designates the tub or receptacle to receive the clothes or other articles to be washed,

and 6 the top or cover therefor.

Upon the cover 6 a plate 7 extends radially from the center thereof to its periphery, and said plate adjacent to its inner end is formed with an arm, 8 extending laterally from one side of the plate. The plate 7 and its arm 8 are securely fixed to the top or cover 6 by meansof the bolts shown at 9.

10 designates the agitator shaft, which is rotatably mounted in a bearing sleeve 11 formed upon the plate 7, said sleeve extending through anopeningin the cover 6. This shaft extends above the plate and to the same one end of an arm 12 is securely fixed by means of the transverse pin 13. To the lowerendof the shaft 10 the agitator, to be hereinafter described in detail, is connected. The shaft 10 is located in line with the laterally projecting, arm 8 of the plate 7 resulting in the formation of rust will be The base plate 7 is also provided at its inner end in spaced relation to. the shaft 10 with a second bearing sleeve 14. engaged in the opening in the top or cover 6 of the receptacle, and in this sleeve the'lower end of a shaft 15 is rotatably mounted. A gear 'wheel' 16 .is fixed to the upper end of this baseplate, an upstanding bearing boss 19 is formed, in which the lower end of the fly wheel shaft 20 is rotatably mounted. 21 designates the flywheel fixed upon the upper end of the shaft, said fly wheel having a hub extension 22 which is recessed at diametrically opposite sides as at 23 to receive key lugs 25 formed upon a pinion 24 engaged upon the shaft 20. Suitable ball bearings 26 are also engaged between this pinion and the bearing boss 19. The fly wheel 21, as well lower end of the sleeve and the boss 27. Upon the upper end of the sleeve, at diametrically opposite sides thereof, the keys 32 are formed. A power lever 33 is centrally provided with an opening to receive the sleeve 29 and grooves 34 at opposite sides of said opening to receive the keys 32. The lever 33 is held against vertical movement on the sleeve by means of a set screw 35. A nut 36 threaded upon the upper end of the rod 25 prevents upward vertical movement of the sleeve thereon.

To one of the arms 30, on the lower end of the sleeve 29, a rod 37 is pivotally connected at one of its ends, the other end of said rod being eccentrically connected as at 38 to the gear wheel 16. A similar relatively short rod 39 is pivotally connected to the other of the arms 30 at one of its ends and has its other end pivotally connected to the extremity of the arm 12 which is fixed to the upper end of the agitator shaft 10. The power lever 33 is provided at its opposite ends with suitable handles 40 whereby said lever may be conveniently actuated.

To the lower end of the shaft 10 a yokeshaped casting 41 is securely fixed by means of the pin or bolt 42 extending transversely through said shaft and a sleeve centrally formed on the casting. The parallel depending arms 43 of this casting terminate in horizontally disposed inwardly projecting lugs 44. These arms 43 are preferably of substantially semicircular form in cross section as clearly shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

The agitator proper is of cruciform shape in plan, and consists of two intersecting wood bars 45 having their central portions halved for interlocking engagementin the usual and well known manner. Each of these bars 45 is provided at its ends with the angular lugs or extensions 46, preferably of cylindrical form and slightly inclined in an outward direction. One of the bars 45 is provided at points equi-distantly spaced from its center with the circular openings with 47 extending vertically therethrough. These openings are of suflicient diameter to pernnt of the passage of the inwardly projecting lugs 44 on thearms of the casting 41 through the same. The upper face of this bar 45 is formed with a longitudinally extending recess or countersink 48 to receive a stop bar 49 which is also constructed of wood. The ends of this bar project over the respective openings 47 and have rounded or convex end edges, indicated at 50, contacting with the inner concave faces of the casting arms 43. Such contact, however, is not sufficiently tight to prevent the free vertical sliding movement of the agitator with respect to the arms of the casting. The bar 49 is re tained by means of a metal plate 51 which is disposed at right angles to the bar 49 and extends longitudinally upon the other of the agitator bars 45. This plate at its opposite ends is formed with flanges 52 which are seated in grooves provided in the surface of the agitator bar. The agitator bars 45, the bar 49 and the plate 51 are all centrally formed with coinciding openings to receive the fastening bolt 53 whereby the several parts may be rigidly secured together and held against "relative movement by the clamping nut 54 threaded on the lower end of said bolt.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and manner of operation of my improved washing machine mechanismwill'be clearly and fully understood. The operator, firmly grasping the handles 40, turns the lever 33 and the sleeve 29 on the rod 28, the ends of the lever being 'forcedin relatively opposite directions by short strokes with the arms.

In this oscillating movement of the lever bar, the rods .37 and 39 are alternately moved in opposite directions. In such movement, the agitator shaft 10 is rotated to impart an oscillating rotary movement to the agitator. The momentum of the fly wheel 21, materially assists in this operation and enables the agitator to be actuated with a'relatively short stroke of the lever bar 33 and a minimum of manual exertion. This advantageous result is also greatly enhanced by the provision of the long rod 37 connecting the .gear 16 driven from the fly wheel to the power lever and the relatively short rod 39 which connects said lever to the arm 12 on the upper end of the agitator shaft.

In the rotary oscillating movements of the agitator, it likewise moves vertically upon the casting 41, the downward movement of the agitator being limited by the engagement of the ends of the stop bar 49 with the terminal lugs 44 on the arms of the casting and its upward movement being limited by the enga ement of the agitator the horizontal barof the casting.

Thus, there is obtained a thorough agitation of the articles within the tub or receptacle 5 so that the cleansing fluid may permeate all portions thereof. The improved mechanism may be conveniently actuated manually from a sitting position, though it will be readily seen that by the use of simple mechanical expedients, the mechanism may be operated from a motor or other source of power. The several parts of the device, are of very simple form, strong and durable in their construction, and not liable to get out of order. The surfaces of the casting 41 are galvanized or otherwise finished to prevent rusting and by eliminating frictional wearing contact between metal parts in the vertical movement of the agitator, these metal surfaces will not become worn. Thus, the possibility of rusting of the metal parts with consequent injury to the clothes 1s obviated.

While I have herein shown and described the preferred construction and arrangement of the several elements employed, it is to be understood that the mechanism is susceptible of considerable modification therein and I, therefore, reserve the privilege of adopting all such legitimate changes as may be fairly embodied within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim 1. In combination with a receptacle having a removable top and a shaft rotatably mounted in said top, operating gearing for said shaft including a rotatably mounted power transmitting member, an arm fixed to the shaft, a gear element having its axis spaced from said shaft, operating connections for the gear element and said arm connected to said power transmitting memher at points equi-distant from its axis and on relatively opposite sides thereof, and a fly Wheel geared to said gear element.

2. In a washing machine mechanism, in combination with an agitator shaft, means for imparting a rotary oscillating movement to said shaft and including a member rotatably mounted intermediate of its ends, a gear wheel having its axis disposed in the same plane with the axis of the agitator shaft and with the axis of said member, said agitator shaft being disposed intermediate of said member and the gear wheel, means operatively connecting said member at one of its ends to the agitator shaft, means operatively connecting the other end of said member to the gear wheel, a fly wheel, and a pinion operatively connected to the fly wheel and meshing with said gear wheel.

3. In a washing machine mechanism, in combination with an agitator shaft, means for imparting a rotary oscillating movement to said shaft including a rotatably mounted sleeve having oppositely projecting arms at one end, means on the other end of said sleeve to oscillate the same upon its axis, an arm fixed to the agitator shaft, a rod connecting one of the arms on said sleeve to the arm on said shaft, a gear wheel, a relatively long rod connecting said gear wheel to the other arm on the sleeve, a fly wheel, and a pinion operatively connected to the fly wheel and meshing with said gear wheel.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ALFRED BOHY.

Witnesses:

GEO. E. MASON. THOS. HIcKnNnoorER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

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