US1236547A - Gearing for washing-machines. - Google Patents

Description

G. L. DAVIS. GEARING FOR WASHING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED MAYI9, 191s.

Patented Aug. 14, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET lm 1 0 PI M 7 mm Inventor Witnesses Attqrneys G. L. DAVIS.

GEARING FOR WASHING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED MAYIQ, 1916.

1,236,547. Patented Aug. 14, 1917. n

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Inventor r 1/ Attorneys GEORGE L; DAVIS, or. BINGHAMYTON, new YORK;

'G-EARTNG FOR WASHING-MACHINES.

mascara To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE citizen of the United States, residing at Binghamton, in the county of Broome and State of New York, have invented'a new and useful Gearing for Washing-Machines, of which the following isa specification. This invention relates to washing ma- DAVIS, a

chines and more particularly to means whereby either or both the washing mechanism and. the wringing mechanism can be driven from a single motor, the driving mechanism being simple and compact'in construction and easily controlled,

A further object is to provide wringer mechanism including means whereby the wringer can be adjusted to any desired angle relative to its drive shaft without in any ,wayinterfering with the operation of the drivingmechanism.- With he foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the com bination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter de-' scribed and claimed, being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed,- can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

, In the accompanying drawings the pre ferred form of the invention has been'shown.

In said drawings Figure 1 is a plan view .ofa machine embodying the present improvements, a portion of the tub being broken away and the wringer being shown by dotted lines in the dlfierent positions to which it may be moved.

Fig. 2 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation of the base of the wringer structure and showing the means employed for fastening the structure in any positionwto which it may be adjusted angularly.

Fig. 4 is a section on line A-B Fig. 1.

Referring to the figures b characters of reference '1 designates the tu ofa washing machine, the same being provided, in'the present instance, -with a fixed segmental cover section 2 and a movable vcover section, 3. Fixedly mounted on the cover section 2 is a structure 4 in which is journaled a drive shaft 5 to which is secured a worm wheel Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug. 141, 191'? Application filed May 19, 1916. Serial No. 98,624. I

through a belt 10 from a motor 11.

A shaft 12 is journaled in the structure 4 and alines with shaft 5. and secured to this shaft 12 is a crank arm 13 which works within a portion of the structure 4 and engages the enlarged transversely slotted end of a rack bar 14, said bar working within a transverse slot 15 in the housing or structure 4. The rack bar is designed to ,reciprocate within a guide 15 secured upon the tub cover 3, and a gear 16 constantly meshes with the rack, this gear engaging the stem 17 of the washing element 18 located in the tub. Thus when the rack bar is recipro cated during the rotation of shaft 12, the

stem 17 and the parts carried thereby will be rotated back and forth within the tub. The cover section 3 has hinge members 19 and 20 extending therefrom and engaging the shafts 12 and 5 respectively.

' Feathered on the shaft 5 is a cluth member 21 and another clutch member 22 is secured to the shaft 12 A stem 23 is journaled within the structure 4 and has a crank arm 24 at its lower end which works within an annular groove 25 in the clutch member 21.

A handle 26 or the like is provided at the outer end of the stem 23 whereby said stem can be rotated readily. A coiled spring 27 is mounted on the stem and serves to press the. crank arm 24 yieldingly into engagement with the clutch member 21. It will be apparent that by-providing the crank arm 24 and the parts for actuating it, the clutch member 21 can be shifted into or out of engagement with the clutch member 22, thus either coupling the two shafts 5 and 12 or uncoupling them. When the shafts are coupled, motion willbe transmitted from motor 11 to the washing-member 18 whereas, should the two'clutch membersbe disconnected, the

washing member 18 will remain stationary while shaft 5 continues to revolve.

The structure 4 is provided at one end with an'extension 28 provided with an upstanding cylindrical hollow bearing '29 which projects into the enlarged lower end 30 ofa housing 31. The lower end portion of this housing is split longitudinally as at 32, and ears 33 and 34 are extended outwardly fromthe housing close to the opposed edges of the slit. A stem 35 extends loosely through the car 34 but has a threaded portion which engages the car 33. This stem is provided with a collar 36 which bears against car 34 and any suitable means, such as an arm 37 may be provided on the stem 35 to facilitate rotation thereof. Obviously when the stem is rotated in one direction it will be unscrewed from the ear 33 and will thus permit the housin 31 to rotate readily upon the bearing 29. owever, by reversing the rotation of stem 35, said stem will be screwed into the ear 33 and will cause collar 36 to press against ear 34, thus pressing the edges of the slit 32 toward each other and binding the housing on the bearing 29. The housing 31 is thus held against rotation relative to the bearing. With this fastening means, housing 31 can be adjusted angularly through one or more degrees and can then be secured so to be held against further movement.

The shaft 5 is extended into extension 28 and has a bevel gear 38 which meshes constantly with a gear 39 secured to the lower end of a vertical shaft 40 journaled in the top bearing 29. Secured to the upper end of shaft 40 is a gear 41 and this gear constantly meshes with opposed bevel gears 42 and 43 loosely mounted on a shaft 44 which is journaled in the housing 31. This shaft is extended into a wringer frame 45 supported by and beyond the end of extension 28 and a roller 46 is carried by the shaft and coiiperates with another roller 47 parallel therewith.

A clutch member 48 is feathered on the shaft 44 and, when in an intermediate position, is out of engagement with both of the gears 42 and 43. This clutch member has an annular groove 49 intowhich projects a crank arm 50 provided at the lower end of a stem 51 which is journaled in the top of the housing 31. A handle 52 is connected to the upper end of the stem and by means thereof the crank arm 50 can be shifted to move the clutch member 48 into enga ement with either of the gears 42 or 43, t us to couple said gear tothe stem 44. A spring 53 is mounted on stem 51 and bears downwardly against crank arm 50, thus to press said crank arm into engagement with the clutch member.

It will be obvious that by shifting crank arm 50 so as to brin clutch member 48 to an intermediate positlon, gear 41 can rotate 'both of the gears 42 and 43 without actuating shaft .44 and the rollers of the v wringer. However, by shifting clutch mem- 60 heme into engagement with gear 42, motion will be transmitted through said gear to shaft 44 andthe rollers of the wringer will be actuated tocarry fabrics in one direction. By shifting clutch member 48 into engagement with gear 43, the rollers of the wringer will be actuated to carry thefabrics in the opposite direction. Obviously this actuation of the wringer mechanism will be effected irrespective of any degree of angular adjustment of the wringer relative to its supporting structure.

Importance is attached to the simple and efficient means whereby the wringer is locked in any position to which it may be adjusted even though such adjustment should only be through a fraction of a degree. By adjustably mounting the wringer 1n this manner it can be brought to any position most convenient to the operator and will at all times be properly coupled to the driving mechanism so as to be operated to carry fabrics in either direction or to be uncoupled from the driving mechanism.

What is claimed is 1. In a washing machine the combination with a supporting structure and a drive shaft journaled thereon, of a cylindrical bearing member carried by said structure, a concentric shaft journaled within said member, means for transmitting motion'to said shaft from the drive shaft, a housing mounted for rotation upon the bearing member, said housing embracing the bearing member, a wringer structure movable with the housing'and lncluding a shaft extending into said housing, a gear upon the shaft in the bearing member, gears upon the wringer shaft and constantly meshing with the first named gear, said gears being loose on the wringer shaft, means for coupling either of the gears to the wringer shaft, said housing being adjustable angularly upon the bearing member, and means for contracting the housing to bind upon the bearing member.

2. In a washing machine the combination with a bearing member circular in cross section, a gear concentric with said member,

and means for rotating the gear, of a housing embracing and supported by the bearing member, a wringer movable with the housing, means within the housing for transmitting motion in either of two directions from'said gear to one of'the rolls of the wringer, and means for binding the housing upon the bearing member to hold said housing against rotation.

3. The combination with a bearing member circular in cross section and a gear concentric therewith, of a housing bearing upon and embracing the bearing member, said housing having a split contractible end, a wringer movable with the housing, means for transmitting motion in either of two directlons from said gear to one of the rolls of the wringer, and means for contracting the spllt end of the housing to bind it upon the bearing member.

4. The combination with a bearing member circular in cross section, of a housing embracing and supported by the bearing member, the lower portion of that part of the housing embracing the bearing member being split, a wringer structure movable with the housing, means for actuating the 'rollers of the wringer structure-independently-of the angular adjustment of said rollers and housing relative to the bearing member, and means for contracting the housing upon the bearing member to hold ing against rotation.

5. In a washing machine, a bearing mem-' ber circular in cross section, a housing em-' bracing andsupported by the bearing member,a wringer structure movable with the housing, operating mechanism within the housing and bearing member, means for shifting a portion of the operating mechanism to operate the wringer rolls to feed fabrics in either of two directions, or to uncouple said rolls from the driving mechanism, and means for binding the housing 'upon the bearing member to hold said housing against rotation.

6.v In awashing machine, a bearing member circular in cross section, a housing embracing and supported by the bearing memher, a wringer structure movable with the housing, operating mechanism within the housing and bearing member, .means for shifting a portion of the operating mechathe houstilt 'nism to operate the wringer rolls to feed fabrics. in either of two directions, or to uncouple said rolls from the driving mechan sm, said housing having its lower portion split, and means for contracting the split a portion of said combined. housing and clutch to bind it upon the bearing member and hold the housing against rotation a wringer fixedly connected to and movable,

with the housing, a shaft journaled within the housing for actuating the wringer, and

gearing within the housing for transmitting motion from one shaft to the other.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE L. DAVIS.

Witnesses:

M. R. CHRISTIAN, O. A. BRAZIE.

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