GB719750A - Drive mechanism for washing machines - Google Patents

Abstract

719,750. Friction clutches; operating clutches. SOLAR CORPORATION. Sept. 17, 1952, No. 23370/52. Class 80 (2) [Also in Group VIII] A washing machine has means on the shaft 13 of a motor A for driving an agitator (not shown). a liquid coupling D mounted on the shaft 13 and having driving and driven elements, the driven element 39 having means for driving a clothes receptacle (not shown), and a clutch 18, 21 mounted on the shaft and arranged exteriorly of the coupling D for connecting the shaft 13 and. the driving element 31 of the coupling D. The drive to the agitator is by means of a pulley 14, belt C and a suitable clutch and oscillating mechanism (not shown). The pulley 14 has a flange 17 within which is secured a clutch lining 18 adapted to co-operate with a tapered clutch disc 21 in which is fitted a bushing 23 rotatable and slidable on the motor shaft 13. The bushing 23 is a press fit in an axial bore 24 in the drive shaft 25 of the coupling D. The inner race 27 of a ball bearing 26 is slidable axially on the shaft 25, while the outer race 28 is a press fit in a collar 29 having an inturned flange 30 overlying the race 28. The clutch 18, 21 is operated by means of a lever 62 made up of two side bars 63, 64 spread apart near one end to loosely embrace the clutch mechanism. The collar 29 is provided with diametrically opposed radial bosses, Fig. 4 (not shown), into which are threaded two screws, each screwed into one of the side bars 63, 64. The lever 62 is pivoted at 66 and biased upwardly by a spring 68. It is pulled downwardly to cause engagement of the clutch 18, 21 by means of a solenoid 76 whose plunger 77 is connected by an 'L-shaped link 84, and spring 78 to the lever 62. The lower end (not shown) of the spring 78 is connected to the short arm 83 of the link 84 as seen in Fig. 1 (not shown). The lever 84 is pivoted to the plunger 77 at 86, and has a slot 87 in its upper end to receive the lever 62. The tension of the spring 78 holds the upper end of the link 84 firmly against a lug 88 provided on the side bar 63 which is foreshortened. The use of the link 84 enables high initial tension to be produced in the spring 78 without high tension in the spring in its free state. The driving element or impeller 31 of the coupling D is keyed to the upper end of the shaft 25 and provided with a plurality of radial blades 38 and a starting vane 94. The driven element 39 comprises a two-part fluidtight housing 40, 41 provided with radial blades 49. A pulley 57 is formed integral with the lower section 41 of the housing and drives a belt B for driving the clothes receptacle for spin-drying purposes. When the solenoid 76 is de-energized the spring 68 swings the lever 62 upwardly and the collar 29 is moved upwardly until a flange 61 or a series of spaced lugs thereon contacts the underside of the pulley 57 so as to lift the entire coupling D and disengage the disc 21 from the clutch lining 18. Specification 713,056, [Group XXIX], is referred to.