US2384903A - Domestic appliance - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 18, 1945.v D. K. FERRls 2,384,903

DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Filed Aug. 1, 1942 e Sheets-sheet 1 IFI llllnl Sept. 18, 1945. D. K. Fr-:RRls 2,384,903

DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Filed Aug. l, 1942' 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY Q46/ www Sept. 1s, 1945. K FERms 2,384,903.l

DOMESTIC APPLIANGE Filed Aug. l, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Sept- 18, 1945 D. K FERRls l 2,384,903

DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Filed Aug. 1, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 sept. 1s, 1945. D. K FERR@ 2,384,903

DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Filed Aug. l, 1942 6 Sheebs--Sheei'P 5 384 :j: A568 366 s3; 3'Iseo FIEI.

,2;- H al 327 Ilz Sept. 18, 1945. D K FERRIS 2,384,903

DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Filed Aug. l, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented Sept. 18, 1945 i DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Donald K. Ferris, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application August 1, 1942, Serial No. 453,223

claims.

'I'his invention relates to a domestic appliance and more particularly towashing machines.

It has long been recognized that it is highly vdesirable that in washing machines the washing and drying operations be accomplished successively in the same receptacle. By such an arrangement the manual eflort` required is greatly reduced, and this arrangement also makes automatic operation practical. and use of such washing machines has been impeded by the rather complicated, unreliable and expensive mechanism used to provide agitation, drying and changing from agitation to drying in such a machine.

It is an object ofV my invention to provide a simple, reliable and inexpensive mechanism for agitating the contents of a washing machine.

It is another object of my invention to provide a simple, reliable and inexpensive means for connecting the tub to the driving means for spinning the tub to dry the clothes.

The sale It is another object of my invention to provide an interlocking control between the connecting means and the means for stopping the tub upon completion of the spinning.

It is another object of my invention to provide a self-energizing braking means for stopping the tub and a simple means which requires comparatively little power for applying and releasing the braking means. t

It is another object of my vinvention to provide a simple eillcient lubricating means for washing machines.

These and #other objects are attained by providing a Washing machine with an agitating means connected through a simple cylindrical cam means to an electric motor for reciprocating the agitating means relative to the tub. The tub is connected\by a wound spring clutch mechanism to the electric motor. 'I'he wound spring clutch mechanism is controlled by a selfenergizing brake means which also stops the tub and which includes a movable brake drum having a limited amount of movement with respect to the tub for operating the wound spring clutch mechanism. The self-energizing brake means is in the form of a band brake which is applied through a spring and released by a cam -operated by a solenoid.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred form of the present invention is I.clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top portion of a vertical sectional cluding the tub and the agitatlng means;

Fig. 2 is the lower portion of the vertical sectional view of the washing machine mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a. horizontal sectional view taken along the lines 3--3 of Fig. 2 showing the brake released and clutch engaged for spinning purposes;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary View of the brake control cam holding the brake in released position;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3 showing the brake applied to hold the tub stationary and to release the wound spring clutch. for the agitating period;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view showing the brake operating cam in position for applying the brake;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view snowing the cam with the dual cam follower in its upper position;

' Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the lines 8-8 of Fig. '7;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken along the lines 9-9 of Fig. '7; ,g

Fig. l0 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view somewhat similar to Fig. 7 but showing a cylindrical cam attached to the agitator with a single cam follower connected to a driving motor;

Fig. ll is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line H-ii of Fig. 12 showing an internal cylindrical cam connected to a driving motor; and a single cam follower connected to the agitator;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line |2-i2 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of another form of washing machine mechanism employing the movable brake drum and wound spring type clutch mechanism; and

Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken along the line M-H of Fig. 13 through a. portion of the brake drum adjacent its connection with the wound spring clutch mechanism.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly Fig. 1, there is shown a washing machine tub generally designated by the reference character 20 and including an inner tub 22 provided with perforations 2l in its lower DOrtion. Surrounding the inner tub 22 is an outer tub or flume member 2l which prevents the escape cf water through the perforations in the inner tub 22 as long as the tub 20 is stationary.' The inner and outer tubs v22 and 2l areprovided with bosses fastened together by rivets 28 to form a flume 30 between the inner and outer tubs 22 and 26. The inner flange of the'inner tub extends to a sealing ring 32 which is in sealing engagement; with an annular shoulder 34 upon the bottom of the flume r outer tub member 26. This shoulder 36 is supported by a ring 36 which is fastened to a cup-shaped member 38 which in turn is fastened to a hub d0. This hub l0 is mounted upon the upper end of a rotatable sleeve l2 which is supported by a ball bearing dit.

The agitator 36 is threaded upon the upper end of a vertical rod or tube i8 which is slidable within the bearing sleeve $2. The agitator 66 is generally bell-shaped and contains the upperend of a flexible bellows 50 which has its lower edges sealed to the flange 52 of the flume or outer tub 26. Also connected to the hub l0 is a flywheel t for minimizing the vibration during the spinning of the tub.

Heretofore, mechanism of considerable complication has been used to reciprocate the agitator. According to my invention I provide a very simple means to accomplish this. The lower end of the agitator rod i8 is provided with a cam follower member 56 containing the cam follower thimbles 60 and 62 which at their inner end carry the cam follower projections extending into the opposite figure 8 shaped grooves 8d and 66 of the cylindrical cam 68. The cam follower thimbles 60 and 62 are cylindrical in shape and are movable within the cylindrical bore Tl! which extends through the cam follower member 58. The cam follower thimbles 5|) and 52 are yieldingly pressed inwardly so that their cam follower projections are at all times held within the grooves 6ft and 65 of the cylindrical cam t8. This is done by the coil springs 'l2 and 'ld which are held in place bythe cotterpins 'i6 and 18.

In order to prevent the cam follower member 58 from rotating with the cam 68, when it is desired to reciprocate the agitator Q6, the bearing sleeve d2 is provided with a yoke member 8|? having a vertical slot 82 which receives the roller 8G extending from the rear of the cam follower member 58. To lubricate the bearing sleeve ft2 and the ball bearing M, the interior of the cylindrical cam 63 is drilled to provide a cylinder 85 of a lubricant pump which includes a hollow piston 88 threaded into the center of the cam follower 58 and connecting directly with the lubricant passage Sil leading to the bearing sleeve 42 and the ball bearing lill. The upper end of the cylindrical cam E2' is provided with a flared mouth @2 so that the oil which is splashed around within the frame Sli of the washing machine mechanism will fill the cylinder 8S within the cam 68 between each downward stroke of the cam follower 58 and the agitator shaft d8. On each downward stroke of the cam follower 58 and the hollow piston 88, oil will be forced from the bottom of the cylinder 85 up through the passage in the hollow piston and up through the lubricant passage 9U to the bearing sleeve d2 and the ball bearing dll.

The bottom of the yoke member 80 is provided with a disk 96. Supported upon this disk 96 is a lflanged brake drum 98 which is held on the disk 96 by three pins |0|. These pins are xed to the disk 95 and extend into horizontal slots |03 in the brake drum so that, according to the length of these slots, the brake drum is allowed a limited amount of rotation upon the disk 9B. The brake drum 98 cooperates with a self-energizing band brake member including a metal band |05 fastened by the rivets l'l to the housing or frame 955 provided upon its inner face with suitable brake lining |09. The other end of the band |05 is turned outwardly to provide a flange to which is hooked one end of a tension coil spring H3 which has its other end anchored to the opposite end of the brake band |05. It will be understood that this brake is self-energizing when the disk 96 is rotating in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 3 and 5. The spring ||3 is used to apply the brake and apply the proper pulling force to the ange l l to cause the brake band |05 to grip the brake drum 98.

In order to Arelease the brake, a cam H5 is mounted upon the inner end of a rotatable shaft which extends through a bushing |l9 provided in the wall of the housing or frame member 96. The cam H5 is operated through a lever arm |2| by an electromagnet or solenoid |23. When the cam H5 is turned so that it does not engage the ange l l the brake will be applied to the brake drum. When, however, the solenoid |23 is energized, the cam ||5 will engage the flange and lift the brake band |05 and its brake lining away from the brake drum 98 to release the disk 96 and the tub 20.

Through a novel interlocking arrangement the application and release of the brake is used to disconnect and connect the driving motor from and to the tub. This feature also cooperates perfectly with the cylindrical cam reciprocating mechanism for the reason that when the motor is connected to the tub for spinning purposes, the reciprocation of, the agitator will be prevented, because it is necessary that there be relative rotation between the cylindrical cam 68 and the cam follower 58 to provide reciprocation of the agitator.

When the brake is applied to prevent rotation of the tub and the cam follower 58, reciprocation of the agitator will take place upon rotation of the driving means and the cylindrical cam 8S. To accomplish this purpose, the brake drum 98 is urged in a counterclockwise direction by the tension coil spring |25. The spring |25 causes the brake drum 98 to be rotated relative to the disk 96 and the tub 2t until the pins |0| each engage one end of their respective slots IBS.

Provided on the bottom of the disk S6 is a wound spring type clutch |21 having its one end fastened by a screw |29 tothe disk 96 and its other end |3| extended through an aperture in an ear |33 extending downwardly from an edge cf the brake drum 98. The wound spring clutch l2? extends'v in a counterclockwise direction around the drive shaft |35 of an electric driving motor |37. This drive shaft has a bearing |39 within the disk @6 and is threaded to the cylindrical cam 68 at its upper end. The drive shaft |35 is supported at its upper and lower ends by the ball bearings lili and M3. The bearing |39 constitutes the lower` bearing for the bearing sleeve l2 of which, of course, the upper bearing is the ball bearing M. When the motor |37 and the solenoid |23 are energized, the brake band |65, the brake drum 98 and the wound spring clutch mechanism |21 will be in the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Operation To agitate the contents of the tub, the solenoid |23 as well as the electric motor |31 are energized. This will cause the brake release cam to turn in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 6 to the position shown in Fig. 6, to release the brake band ll5 and permit the spring ||3 to apply the selfenergizing band brake |05 to the brake drum 98,

as shown in Fig. 5. The application of the brake band to the brake drum 98 vwill=cause the brake drum 98 to be held, but the disk 96, the yoke member 80, the tub 20 and the cam follower 58 will continue to rotate through a limited angle relative to the brake drum 98 and the brake band |05 until the wound spring clutch |01 is unwound sufficiently to lose its grip upon the drive shaft |35 against its own spring tension and the tension of the spring |25 which will be stretched as shown in Fig. 5. 'I'he drive shaft |35 will then rotate freely while the cam follower member 53 will be prevented from rotating, but the follower 58 will reciprocate vertically between the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and the positions shown in Figs. 'I and 8.

In order to terminate the agitating or washing period and to start drying the clothesy the s oleniod |23 is deenergized to cause its return spring |45 to turn the cam ||5 in a counter# clockwise direction to the position shown in Fig. 4 as viewed in Fig. 4, so that the flange will be raised against the tension of the spring ||3 to release the brake band IUS-from the brake drum 98. The releasing of the brake drum 98 will allow the tension coil spring |25 to rotate the brake drum 98 relative to the disk 96 to cause the wound spring clutch |21 to grip the drive shaft |35 to cause the tub 20, the yokemember l0, the bellows follower 58, the disk 96 and the brake drum 98 to rotate with the cylindrical cam 68 and the electric motor |31, so that the washing fluid within the tub will be thrown over the rim of the flume or outer tub 26 and drawn from the inner tub 22 through the apertures 24 and the fiume passage 30.

Second form In Fig. is shown a modification in which the agitator shaft 248 has connected to its lower end a cylindrical cam 268 provided with a single cam groove 266 in the form of a figure 8. This cylindrical cam 268 is rotatably mounted within a socket 2|0 forming part of the cam follower member which carries the single cam follower thimble 2|2 provided with a cam follower projection held in engagement with the cam groove 266 by the compression type coil spring 2|4 which is held by the cotterpin 2|6. A key 2|8 is provided for preventing relative rotation between the agitator shaft'248 and the yoke member 220 which connects to the tub. This figure illustrates brake drum member 330 is supported by three pins' 30| which extend into three'` longitudinal slots 303 in the brake drum.

Extending around the brake drum 393 is a self-energizing band brake 305 which is anchored to the housing by the rivets 301 at one end and provided with a. flange 3|| at the opposite end t0 whichis connected the tension coil spring 3|3. The band brake is faced with brake lining 309 and it -grips the brake drum in a self-energizing manner when the tension spring 3|3 is allowed to exert its force upon the fiange at the loose end of the band brake. The brake is released by a cam 3I5 operated by the solenoid 323 through the arm 32| and the shaft 3|1 for lifting the flanged end 3|| of the band brake against the tension of the spring 3|3 to release the brake.

Operation of third form This modification operates in substan-tially the same manner as the first modification. When the solenoid 323 and the driving motor are energized, the cam 3 5 will move away from the flange 3| to cause the spring 3|3 to apply the self-energizing brake 305 to the brake drum 388. This application will cause the brake drum 398 to be held stationary by the brake band 305 and the yoke member 380 will then rotate with respect to the brake drum 398 until the pins 30| reach the opposite ends of the slot 303 from the position they are shown in Fig. 12. This action will cause the wound spring 321 and its, anchoring screw 329 to turn in a counterclockwise direction relative to the ear 333 which holds the other end of the wound spring clutch member so that the wound spring clutch member will be unwound to release its grip from the outside of the cylindrical cam 3 68. This release will allow the main driving shaft to turn relative to the yoke member 380 to cause the cam follower member 349 to traverse the cam groove 366 to reciprocate the agitator shaft 348.

When it is desired to terminate the agitating period, the solenoid 323 is deenergized to cause the came 3|5 to engage the flange 3| at the end of the band brake 305 to release the brake 305. Upon the release of the brake 305, the tension spring 325 will turn the brake drum 398 in a counterclockwise direction relative to the yoke 380 until the pins 30| reach the end of the slot that Ithere are a number of different ways to use A In Figs. 11 and 12 is illustrated the use of the internal cylindrical cam. There is shown the agitator shaft 348 provided with a cam follower 349 extending into the cam groove 366 of the sininternal cylindrical cam is connected at 'its lower end directly to the drive shaft 335 of the driving motor. 'I'he agitator shaft 348 is prevented from rotating relative to the yoke member 380 by the pin 384 provided with a roller extending into a vertical slot 382 in the yoke member 380. The outside of the internal cylindrical cam 366 is provided with a wound spring type of clutch 321 which has its lower end anchored to the screw 329 xed to the lower end of -the yoke member 380. The upper end of the Wound spring clutch member is extended until it passes through an aperture in the ear 333 extending upwardly from the brake drum 398 which is rotatably mounted ,upon the lower end of the yoke member 380. The

303, as shown in Fig. 12. At the same time the ear 333 will move the extended end of theA wound spring clutchv member 321 in a counterclockwise direction to cause it to wrap tightly and grip the outside of the cylindrical cam 368. It should be noted that the wound spring typevclutch member is self-energizing in the direction of rotation of the driving motor and in the same direction as the band brake 305. Thus, in this arrangement which is used in all the forms illustrated, the driving energy of the motor is used to tighten the Wound spring clutch member 321. 'I'his engagement causes the brake drum, the yoke 380.

der the force provided by the rotational inertia of the spinning tub.

Fourth form In Figs. 13 and 14 I have shown how my wound spring clutch and movable brake drum type of control can be applied to a washing machine using another form of agitator operation: In this form, the agitator shaft 448 reciprocates within a bearing sleeve 442 supported at its upper end by the ball bearings 444. The lower end of the agitator shaft 448 holds a wrist pin 450 which receives in sliding engagement a pin 462 extending from the .y hub 454 which is rotatably mounted upon the inclined pin 456 andfis tightly held between the head 458 of the pin 456, and a rotatable member band brake 405 is applied by the spring 413 thereby assuring the smooth swift stop to the rotation of the tub. This also causes the release of the yoke 490 from the drive shaft 435 by the wound spring clutch member 410.

The self-energizing character of the brake makes it possible to operate the brake with a small amount of power. The application of the brake by means of a spring provides smoothness and uniformity in stopping the tub. The use of the operation of the brake to control the operation of the self-energizing wound spring clutch provides an interlocking arrangement which insures the release of. the clutch upon application of the brake and the release of the brake prior to engagement of the clutch.

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

What is claimed is as follows: 1. In combination, a rotatable driving means. a rotatable driven means provided with a movable braking member provided with a-braking surface,

- a reciprocable driven means rotatable coincidenthe drive shaft 435. A wound spring type clutch member 410 surrounds the drive shaft 435 and has one end anchored by a screw to the yoke 480 while the other end is provided with a projection which extends through, the ear 412 projecting downwardly from the brake drum 496 which is rotatably mounted upon the yoke 480 and supported by three pins projecting from the yoke into circumferential slots provided in the brake drum 498. A self-energizing band brake 405 extends around the brake drum and is pulled into engagement with the brake drum by the tension coil spring 4l3 and released by a cam 4|5 under the control of the solenoid 423. A tension coil spring 425 extends between the ear 412 and an anchoring screw 429 to rotate the drum 498 relatively to the yoke 480 in such a direction to wind the wound spring clutch member 410 upon the drive shaft 435 when the band brake 405 is released.

Operation of fourth form When the band brake 405 is applied to the brake drum 498 the yoke member 364 will turn relative to the brake drum 498 until the pins extending from the yoke member into the slots in the brake drum 498 reach the end of the slots. This will cause the unwinding and release of the Wound spring clutch member from the drive shaft 435 and will also prevent the further rotation of the yoke member 480 and the further rotation of the washing machine tub which is connected to the upper end of the bearing sleeve 442. The rotation of the drive shaft 435 will cause the pinion 460 to rotate the gear 466 and to revolve the pin456. The angularity of the pin 456 with respect to the shaft 462, upon whose axis the member 460 ro- -tates, will cause the pin 452 to move up and down thereby reciprocating the agitator shaft 448.

tally with said rotatable drivenmeans, an anchored braking means for engaging said braking surface, a reciprocating mechanism connecting said rotatable driving means and said reciprocable driven means, a clutch means for connecting said driving means and said rotatable driven means, means responsive to the relative movement 4between the braking member and the rotatable driven means for controlling the clutch the driving means With respect to the driven means, a brake means having one element provided with a stationary anchorage and a cooperatingelement connected to the driven means, means providing a limited amount of movement between the cooperating element and the driven means, a wound spring clutch means wound into coaxial contact relationship with a portion of the driving means and having one end of the spring connected to said driven means and the other end connected to said cooperating element for clutching together and unclutching the driving and driven means by the relative movement between said cooperating element and the driven means.

contact relationship with a portion of the driving means and having one end of the spring connected to said driven means and the other end connected to said cooperating element lfor clutching together and unclutching the'drivig and driven means by the relative movement between said cooperating'element and the driven means, and a second spring means connecting said cooperating element :and said driven means and having a greater spring force with respect to the cooperating element and the driven means for overcom- 4 ing spring reaction of the wound spring clutch means to cause the clutch means to engage the driving means.

4. In combination, a rotatable driving means,

, transmittinglubricant from said pump to said a rotatable driven means, a' reciprocable driven means, means for causing said reciprocable driven means to rotate coincidentally with said rotatable driven means, means operated bythe relative rotation of said driving and rotatable driven means for reciprocating said reciprocable means, a movable brake means for preventing rotation of said rotatable driven means and causing the driving means to reciprocate the reciprocable means, a clutch means movable into engagement with a portion of said driving means and having one portion connected to said rotatable driven means and the other portion connected to and operated by said brake means for causing the driving means to rotate both driven means, said rotatable driven means being provided with bearings, a lubricant reservoir for lubricating said clutch means, a plunger type lubricant pump including piston and cylinder members located in said reservoir, means for tol pump lubricant.

' 5. In combination, a rotatable driving means.'

a rotatable driven means, a reciprocable driven means, means for lcausing said reciprocable driven means to rotate coincidentally with said rotatable driven means, means operated by the relative rotation ofsaid driving and said rotatable driven means for reciprocating said reciprocable means. a movable brake means for preventing rotation of said rotatable driven means and causing the driving means to reciprocate the reciprocable means, and a wound spring type clutch means movable into wrapping engagement Witha portion of said driving means and having one end connected to said rotatable driven means and the other end connected to and operated by said brake means for causing thedriving means to'rotate both driven means.

DONALD K. FERRIS.

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