US2422395A - Domestic appliance - Google Patents

Description

Junel7, 1947. K CLARK v2,422,395

DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Original Filed March 31, 1942 3 SheetsSheet J wan-.9,

/ r/WOR.

June 17, 1947.

KJCLARK DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Original Filed March 31, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 17, 1947. K. CLARK DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Original Filed March 31, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented June 1 7, 1947 UNITED STATE s PATENT onca DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Kendall ours, Oakwood, Ohio. assignor to General Motors Corporation, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Original application March 31, 1942, Serial No.

437,076. Divided and this application November- 24, 1948, Serial No. 511,515

Claims. 1

This invention relates to domestic appliance,

pable of imparting rotation to the tub which contains the clothes and liquid, and reciprocation to the agitator.

Another object of this invention is to provide a driving mechanism for imparting rotary motion to a rotatable driven member, and reciprocating motion to a reciprocable driven member from a unidirectional rotating driving member.

Another object of this invention is to provide a driving mechanlsmin which a spiral spring claimed in my copendingapplication Serial No. 358,871, filed Sept. 28, 1940, for Domestic appliance.

The driving mechanism ismore fully disclosed in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, in which a.unidirectionai motor 28 cooperates with the transmission mechanism to rotate the rotatable sleeve 21 and to vertically reciprocate the shaft 22, which are connected respectively with the tub l8 and agitator ii. 'The motor rotor 28 is carried by a unidirectional rotating drive shat 24 which has a bearing connection 24a with the rotatable cage 28 at the upper end. The shaft 24 is supported on bearings 28, carried by the stationary portions of housing I2.

The rotatable cage 28 hassecured thereto combined brake and driven clutch discs 21, which clutch is contracted and expanded to make a driving connection and to apply a braking action. Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accom- D nying drawings, whereina preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown. 7

1n the drawings: Fig. 1 is a vertical ing mechanism; I

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section of the tub and agitator to ,be drivenby the mechanism Fig.1; I

. Fig. 3 is an enlarg'edview' in perspective of the central portion of Fig. 1; and j Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vi jw-of Fig. 1, showing the reciprocating shaft in its uppenposition,

Thewashing machine tub'l'il, vertically reciprocable agitator ii and driving mechanism therefor contained in housing 12, The tub 18 may include an'inner perforated basket i3" and anouter imperforate cup 14, the

construction being such cross-section of the drivthat clothes andliquid may be placed within the tub i0, andthe agitator l l vertically reciprocated while the tub remains stationary. This. producesv -a washing action, after. which the tub 18 may be rotatedat sufllcient speed to cause the liquid to be discharged over the rim ii. 7 During this'rotation, the tub l8 i's1 ',counterbalanced. by, ,a' weighted ring 5 may include a rotatable supported on aresilient rubber collar carried by vthe extension I8 secured on the tub l0. '-Details of the operation and construction of the foregoing parts are more fully described and cooperate with a combined brake and driving clutch disc 28. .The arrangement is suchthat when the driving clutch'disc 28 is rotated, the driven clutch discs 21 rotatably drive the cage 25 through the medium of pins 28 on which they are axially movable, butrotationally keyed.

The combined brake and driving clutch disc 28 is connected tothe upper end of a spiral spring clutch .88 insuch a manner that the disc 28 is maintained stationarywhen the lever 3| is moved into engagement with the lower end of the spring 30, and in suchv a manner that the disc 28 is rotatably 8| is moved away. sprin 3 The spring 88' holdsthe disc 28 stationary by expanding against the outer stationary cylindrical wall: or sleeve 82. This expansion is caused by the fact that fcollar 83, which carries the disc 28 and is-s upported by the upper end .of sleeve 32, is rigidly secured to the upper end 34 of the spring 30. When the cage 25 is rotatfromthelowe'r end of the 'ing, and the lever 8i is brought into engagement with the lower end of the spring 30,'the lower end of the spring 38 is, prevented from rotating while the upper end is rotated in an unwinding direction. The resulting to expand against the outer cylindrical wall 32, which stops rotation of the disc 28. Thereafter there is a sliding brake engagement be-.

driven by the shaft 24 when the lever action causes the spring by compression springs 38, held in place by the washer and cotter-pin construction 39.

The disc 28 imparts rotation to the cage 25 when the motor 20 is energized, and when the lever 3! is moved away from the spring 30. Under these conditions, the spring 4!! acts as a oneway clutch, and wraps around the surface 40, which is keyed to the shaft 24, and thus the rotation of the shaft 24 is imparted to the disc 28 through the medium of spring 20 and collar 34. Under these conditions the motor 20 drivingly rotates the sleeve.2l and tub It.

The motor 20 reciprocates the shaft 22 and agitator II when the motor is energized, and when the lever 2| is brought into engagement with the lower end of the spring 10. Under th'ese conditions the spring ill tends to'expand against the outer stationary surface 22 and thus maintains stationary the discs 21 and 28and the cage 25. Under these conditions, the gear wheel 44, which is keyed to the shaft 24, drives the gear 44 and shaft 41 to rotate the head 44 at the upper end of shaft 41. An obliquely disposed pin 42 cooperates with the sleeve ll to rock the extension ll about a vertical arc. The extension ll cooperates with the ball or cylinder 52 which has a bearing in the head 53 of th lower end of shaft 22. This construction causes vertical reciprocation of the shaft 22 when the motor 20 is energized with the lever 3| in contact with the lower end of spring 30.

The lever II is fulcrumed at "I and is urged in a clockwise direction by the spring II. A solenoid 62 cooperates with the end 43 of the lever 2i, so that when the solenoid is energized, the lever 63 is moved in a counterclockwise direction. Th construction is such th'at, when the solenoid 52 is deenergized, the lever fl is in engagement with the lower end of spring 30 and thus either applies a stopping force to the rotation of the basket, when the motor is also deenergized, or imparts a vertical reciprocation to the shaft 22 when the motor 20 is energized. When both the solenoid 62 and the motor 20 are energized, the cage 25 and tub ll are rotated.

In an operation of the device, clothes and liquid are placed in the tub l0, and the motor 24 is energized while the solenoid 82 remains unenergized. Under these conditions the tub I is maintained stationary and the agitator II is vertically reciprocated because the spring It is brought into engagement with the stationary surface 32, thus maintaining the cage 2! stationary while causing the rotary-reciprocating transmission to operate. After a sufiicient length of time, the solenoid 42 is energized along with the motor 20. This causes the lever Ii to be moved away from the spring 30, and allows me spring III to wrap tightly around the shaft 24 and to impart rotation to the tub it through the medium of discs 21, 28 and cage 25. After a sufficient length of time to extract the liquid from the clothes, both the motor and solenoid 42 are deenergized. This applies a brake action to the tub II and brings it to a stop. because the lever II is brought into contact with the lower end of spring II. causing the spring to expand against the stationary surface 32 to stop the disc 2| and thus apply a braking action on the disc 21, cage and tub ll.

Other features listed in the drawings are more fully described in my copending application, to which reference is made, if necessary, for a more detailed description thereof.

Lubrication is produced by the gear pump action between the gears 45 and 44, which forces lubricant through the passageway 10 to the chamber 4| from whence the lubricant flows through spiral grooves 12 and through passageway II in shaft 41 to the passageways 14 in sleeve 5 I0 and from thence through passageway 15 through a plug It having a small passageway to the interior of the shaft 22 from whence openings may be provided to the various rotating surfaces in the upper part of the transmission. The passageway 14 is plugged at 11.

The operation of the device may be controlled by a single rotatable switch of the type which may be automatically driven by a timing device, or may be manually rotated, or both. Thus the motor 20 and solenoid 82 may be controlled by a rotatable timer switch or hand switch Bl, well known in the art. This switch may have a stop" position, in which all electrical connections from the lines 84 are opened. In the "1511 position the solenoid valve II is opened so that water fiows through the pressure reducing valve 48 and out of the nozzle 41 into the tub [0 where the clothes and soap have been placed. If the switch 44 is automatically timed, the energization of solenoid II is oi the correct duration to fill the tub I. to the proper level. Thereafter the switch ills automatically or manually turned to the "agitation" position to energize the motor 20 and deenergize the solenoid valve 45 and stop the filling operation. Sinc the lever II is in contact with the lower end of spring 30, the tub III is maintained stationary and the agitator H is reciprocated to wash the clothes. Thereafter, the switch 4| may be automatically or manually turned to the spin position to energize the solenoid l2 and motor 24. Under these conditions the lever ll is moved away from the spring Ill and the tub II is rotated to extract the liquid from the clothes. If desired the timing mechanism which drives the switch I may repeat the cycle automatically one or more times to fill, agitate and spin the clothes one or more times with rinse waters.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form. it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted as may come within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A driving mechanism comprising a rotatable member. a rotary driving sh t. p al sprint clutch means, means to cause said spiral spring clutch means drivingly to connect said rotatable member and driving shaft, and means to cause said spiral spring clutch means to disconnect said rotatable member and driving shaft and to apply a braking action to said rotatable member.

2. A driving mechanism comprising a rotatable member, a rotary driving shaft, a spiral spring clutch, a stationary part. means to cause said spiral spring clutch to connect said rotatable member and driving shaft. and means to cause said spiral spring clutch to disconnect said rotatable member and driving shaft and to apply a braking action between said rotatable memher and stationary part.

3. A driving mechanism comprising a rotatable driven member, a frictional clutch member drivingly connected to said rotatable driven member, a driving member, a stationary part. and a two-way clutch member fixed to'said frictional clutch member and selectively connectible to said driving member and to said stationary Part.

7s 4. A driving mechanism comprising a cylinamazes drical stationary sleeve, a rotatable member, a driving member coaxial with said sleeve. a Spring clutch within said. cylindrical stationary sleeve, means to cause said spring clutch drivingly to connect said driving member and rotatable member. while being disconnected from said stationary member and means to cause said spring clutch to connect said rotatable member and stationary sleeve while being disconnected from said driving member.

5. A driving mechanism comprising a cylindrical stationary sleeve, a rotatable member, a frictional clutch connected to said rotatable member, a spring clutch connected to said frictional clutch and extending into said sleeve, a drive shaft coaxial with said sleeve, means to cause said spring clutch to contract on said drive shaft to rotate said rotatable member, and means I to cause said spring clutch to expand against said sleeve member to apply a braking action to said rotatable member.

6. A driving mechanism comprising a rotatable member, a frictional clutch member driv ingly connected to said rotatable member, a driving member, a stationary part, a two-way clutch selectively connectible to said driving member and to said stationary part. and a solenoid controller for controlling said two-way clutch to connect said clutch selectively to said driving member or to said stationary part.

'7. A driving mechanism comprising a rotatable member rotatable about an axis, a driven frictional surface carried by said member, a driving frictional surface cooperating with said first named surface and rotatable about said axis, a driving member rotatable about said axis, a oneway clutch connecting said driving member and said driving frictional surface, and brake means automatically effective when said rotatable member is rotating and said driving member is disconnected by said one-way clutch.

8. A driving mechanism comprising a rotatable member rotatable about an axis, a driven frictional surface carried by said member, a driving frictional surface cooperating with said first named surface and rotatable about said axis, a driving member rotatable about said axis, a stationary part, and a two-way clutch selectively connectible to said driving member and to said stationary part.

9. A driving mechanism comprising a rotatable member rotatable about an axis, a driven frictional surface carried by said member, a driving frictional surface cooperating with said first named surface and rotatable about said axis, a driving member rotatable about said axis, a cylindrical stationary wall coaxial with said axis. a spiral spring having one end secured to said driving frictional surface and engageably surrounding said driving member, and a stop member movable into engagement with said spring to disengage said spring from said driving member and to expand said spring against said cylindrical stationary wall.

10. A driving mechanism comprising a rotatable memberrotatable about an axis, a driven frictional surface carried by said member, a driving frictional surface cooperating with said first named surface and rotatable about said axis, a driving member rotatable about said axis, a cylindrical stationary wall coaxial with said axis, a spiral spring having one end secured to said driving frictional surface and engageably surrounding said driving member, and a solenoid operated stop member movable into engagement member secured to said rotatable member, a driving frictional clutch member cooperating with said driven clutch member, a rotatable driving shaft disposed coaxially within said sleeve, a spiral spring secured to said driving frictional clutch member, and having a free end extending into said sleeve and engageably surrounding said driving shaft, and a movable stop member mov-f able into engagement with said free end of said spiral spring.

12. A driving mechanism comprising a cylindrical stationary sleeve, a rotatable member coaxial with said sleeve, a driven frictional clutch member secured to said rotatable member, a driving frictional clutch member cooperating with said driven clutch member, a rotatable driving shaft disposed coaxially within said sleeve, a spiral spring secured to said driving frictional clutch member and having a free end extending into said sleeve and engageably surrounding said driving shaft, an electric motor connected to said,

driving shaft, a solenoid operated movable stop member movable into engagement with said free end of said spiral spring, and common switch means controlling the energization and deenergization of said motor and solenoid operated movable stop member.

13. In combination, a driving means provided with an annular surface, a rotatable means rotatable relative to said driving means comprising a wound spring clutch member, a normally stationary restraining means provided with an annular surface, said annular surfaces being located ad- Jacent said wound spring clutch member, said clutch member being inherently sprung into frictional engagement with one of said annular surfaces, and a second normally stationary restraining means for engaging one end of said clutch member to cause it to move into frictional engagement with the other annular surface.

14. In combination, a driving means provided with an annular surface, a rotatable means rotatable relative to said driving means comprising a wound spring clutch member, a normally stationary restraining means provided with an annular surface, said annular surfaces being.lo-

cated adjacent said wound spring clutch member,

engagement with the other annular surface, one

of said means being provided with a friction slip arrangement. for limiting the sudden load upon the engagement of the clutch member.

15. In combination, a driving means provided with an annular surface, a rotatable means rotatable relative to the driving means comprising a wound spring clutch member coiled around said annular surface with a spring tension, a normally stationary restraining means having an annular surface surrounding a portion of said clutch member, and a second normally stationary restraining means for engaging an end coil of said clutch member to unwrap said clutch member from the annular surface of said driving means and to expand said clutch member into engagement with said annular surface of said first restraining means.

16. In combination, a driving means provided with an annular surface, a rotatable means rotatable relative to the driving means comprising 6 A vr ing the sudden load upon engagement of the clutch member,

KENDALL CLARK. REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 1

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 677,961 Lindsay Mar. 2-, 1897 1,855,057 Karsten et al Apr. 19, 1932 1,962,219 Starkey June 12, 1934 1,576,996 Radcliil'e Mar. 16, 1926 1,186,745 Callaway June 13, 1916 1,990,015 Allen Feb. 5, 1935 1,990,038 Lansing Feb, 29, 1932 2,134,202 Racklyeit Oct. 25, 1938

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