US2647387A - Clothes-washing machine - Google Patents

Description

Aug. .4, 1953 Original Filed lay 26. 1947 A. D. LUND CLOTHES-WASHING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY Aug. 4, 1953 A. D. LuNn 2,647,387

CLOTHES-WASHING MACHINE Original Filed lay 26. 194'? 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 iii,

l l l n l l ad 23 azz* 5 Q I' y, I 32 *2635 l2 INVENTOR 9am/ua 7. 0A/o 3l` 31 3l Fiss I BY @QAM ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 4, 1953 CLOTHES-WASHING MACHINE Arthur D. Lund, Minneapolis, Minn., assignor to Solar Corporation, ration of Delaware Milwaukee, Wis., a corpo- Original vapplication May 26, 1947, Serial No. 750,584. Divided and this application February 21, 1951, Serial N0. 212,161

This invention relates to improvements in clothes washing machines for home laundry use and of the type wherein the clothes are washed and rinsed and then partially dried by centrifugally extracting the water. The present application is a division from my prior application, Serial No. 750,584, for Washing Machine, filed May 26, 1947.

The ordinary machine of the type here in mind includes a receptacle for the clothes and a dasher-type agitator in the receptacle for agitating the washing or rinsing liquid along with the clothes, and with separate power transmission elements connected to the container and to the agitator for oscillating the latter during the washing cycle and then spinning the receptacle to extract the washing liquid. It is well known to all skilled in this art that great diiiiculty arises in the operation of such machines due to the fact that the clothes are almost always unevenly distributed about the spinning axis of the container so that unbalanced load conditions are set up and vibration frequently takes place to such extent as to make is necessary to bolt the machine to its supporting surface. Many attempts have been made to solve this vibration problem, and while some of these are quite effective as applied to centrifugal extractors per se, the problem is complicated where the dolly-typeagitator is used for washing the clothes, and this type of agitator is very desirable due to its effective washing action and simplicity. v

It is the primary object of my present invention to provide an improved driving and supporting arrangement for a contrifuging clothes container,

and agitator, and which will permit Igradual acceleration of the container along with a gyratory motion thereof as it starts up with an unbalanced load, so that a true dynamic balance may be obtained to prevent injurious vibration. It is a further particular object of this invention to provide a supporting and driving mechanism or arrangement such that the gyratory motions of the container may take place without in any way being interfered with by the necessary drive connection for the agitator and so that said agitator may, as it must, tilt along with the container freely in all radial directions.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a supporting and bearing arrangement wherein the container or receptacle is provided with a parti-spherical bearing support about which it may tilt in all radial directions and above which there is provided a heavy balancing ring operative to gyroscopically balance the container 11 Claims.

as it rotates with an unbalanced load, there being also a suitabledrive clutch by which torque is transmitted to the container in all positions thereof. Extending up through the center of this bearing arrangement, then, is a shaft for operating the agitator and this shaft is provided with a universal joint in the same plane as the aforesaid bearing for the container whereby the agitator drive will have a flexibility such as to permit the gyratory motions of the container as will be understood.

These and other more detailed and specific objects will be disclosed in the course of the following specication, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a washing machine embodying my invention, showing the receptacle in dotted lines in a position assumed under an unbalanced load condition.

. Fig. 2 is a similar but enlarged vertical sectional view through-the receptacle and associated parts, also showing the container in a tilted position.

Fig. 3 is a further enlarged sectional detail view through a preferred form of receptacle support bearing.

Referring now more particularly and by reference characters to the drawing, the machine shown therein asan example of one embodying my present invention comprises a stationary housing A having an upper washing chamber B separated from a lower chamber C by a water tight tub bottom D. A clothes receptacle E is supported within the chamber'B, as is also an agitator F, and these elements as here shown are powered by separate electric motors G and H located in the lower chamber C. Access to the upper chamber B for placing clothes into or removing them from the receptacle E is had by a cover I at the top of the housing.

Turning now to details of the construction, the receptacle E comprises a tub-like shell having an upwardly flaring outer wall I0 and the inwardly turned lower edge Il thereof is secured to the skirted lower end of an yaxial hollow center post or casting l2 Thus, an annular chamber is formed around the post I2 in which may be placed the clothes. It may here be noted that the receptacle E is of the imperforate type to contain both the clothes and the washing or rinsing liquid but I do not, of course, limit myself to the precise construction here shown.

i Some distance from its upper end the receptacle post l2 has a cylindrical bearing portion I3 which contains a universal bearing I4 by which the receptacle is tiltably and rotatably supported upon the upper end of a tubular drive shaft or sleeve I5. This shaft I5 is vertically journaled in a bearing housing IB secured to and through the center of the bottom plate D (Fig. l) and the shaft runs in suitable anti-friction bearings I'i in said housing. It lwill be noted that the shaft I5 is reduced where it passes through the upper bearing Il' so that a shoulder I3 is formed to support the weight of the shaft and supported receptacles, said upper bearing being supported upwardly against this weight by a collar 19 in the housing I6, in turn held in place by one or more screws 2G. Upward displacement of shaft I5 is prevented by the attachment thereto, below the housing l of a beit pulley ZI over which runs a V-belt 22 driven by the motor I-I.

The construction of the bearing i4 is preferably that shown in Fig. 3 which will now be described. This bearing comprises an inner ball race 2B which is pres-sed on the upper end 24 of the tubular shaft l5 down against a shoulder 25 thereon and this race carries two rows of bearing balls Z6 inthe conventional cages 2. In fact, thus far the bearing is a standard unit. An outer race 28 is provided and is secured in the aforesaid cylindrical portion I3 of the receptacle post I2, and this outer race for convenience in assembling the bearing and inserting the balls is split and made in two sections, 23a and 28". These bearing sections are held together and forced upwardly against an annular shoulder 29 inside the post by a ring nut 30 threaded up into the portion I3 and having Spanner wrench slots SI. This bearing structure permits the receptacle E to not only rotate with respect to its drive shaft I5 but to tilt with respect thereto in vertical planes in al1 directions or universally about a center point designated at 32. For this purpose the inner surface 33 of the outer race 28 is curved or concaved vertically, or from top to bottom, on radii centered at this point 32 as clearly shown. A seal or wiper ring 34 is secured to the shaft I5 below the inner bearing race 23 and has a circular upwardly7 turned edge 35 which wipes the inner, curved surface 33 of the outer race 28 and forms a grease tight seal below the bearing. As shown in Figs. l and 2 the outer race 23 is in one piece pressed onto the post and I may, of course, use this construction if desired.

The upper part of the receptacle shaft I5 has a hollow end 35 in which is located a conventional `univer-sal joint 3'! having its pivots centered about the point 32. This universal joint connects the upper and lower sections 38 and 35 of an agitator drive shaft the lower part of which is journaled down through the tubular receptacle shaft l5 and projects therebelow. One section d of a jaw clutch is secured on this lower end of the shaft 39 and cooperates with a clutch section 4i which is driven from the motor G through a conventional transmission unit 42. The clutch may be engaged and disengaged either manually or automatically and, when engaged, the transmission 42 oscillates the shaft 29 and, of course, the upper shaft 38 through the universal joint 31. It will be noted that the motor and transmission assembly is all supported from a lower part Ita of the bearing housing I6 and upon a center bearing 33 above the bottom 44 of the housing A as clearly shown in Fig. l, but this support assembly is but one example of the many which might be used.

Above the bearing I4 the receptacle center post i2 has a reduced tubular portion 45 receiving bushings 46 wherein the upper shaft section 38 is jcurnaled and this shaft extends above the post and is equipped with a collar il which prevents downward displacement of the shaft parts. The clutch jaw section 14B, of course, holds the entire shaft assembly against upward displacement.

The agitator F' comprises a hollow, skirted center casting 48 which lits loosely over the receptacle center post I2 and closely follows the contour thereof. The upper end of the casting 48 is closed and has a recess to accommodate the upper end of the shaft 38 to which the agitator is then fastened in any suitable manner, as by a pin 49. The agitator has three, more or less, radially projecting vanes, one of which appears at 5U.

The foregoing construction forms a tight chamber 5I about the bearing and universal joint which may be packed with grease for long service as will be understood.

Below the bearing I4 the receptacle center post I2 iiares outwardly and downwardly in the form of an angular, downwardly opening skirt 52 and pressed upwardly into the lower part thereof is a clutch lining or band 53 tapered to properly fit and held in place by peening over its lower edge adjacent portions 5t of the center post casting. This clutch band 53 has an inner hardened surface against which bears clutch shoes 55 of brake lining or other suitable material. There are four more or less of such clutch shoes, equally spaced apart, and they are secured at the lower ends of spring arms or clutch fingers 56 fastened `at their upper endsy at 5l to the shaft I5 below bearing Iii. These arms 56 are loaded to spring radially outward at their lower ends to thus yieldably press the shoes 55 against the clutch band, and in addition weights 58 are secured to the lower ends of the arms to cause centrifugal force to exert further outward pressure upon the band.

Seam welded or otherwise secured at 59 to the inside of the receptacle is a large annular collar or ring designated at B which curves inwardly as at 6I from a point Well below the upper edge of the receptacle wall and then angles inwardly and upwardly at 62 and. terminates in a short upper straight portion 63 well above the receptacle. A ring-shaped weight 64 is secured around the upper end of the collar and is thus considerably smaller than, but located well above the receptacle as a whole. The collar 6B has three rows of openings, one row above the other, as indicated at 65, 66 and 8l' and the normal operating liquid level, indicated at L in Fig. l, falls near the center row 65.

In operation, the machine insofar as the washing action per se is concerned, operates as any other machine of this type, the agitator F being osoillated by the shafts 38 and 39 from the motor to thoroughly cleanse the clothes. It will be noted, however, that the agitator Vanes 56 are quite narrow- (radially) to provide the greatest possible room thereabout for the clothes and I nd that this is made possible, without a sacri- :dce in washing efficiently, merely by operating the small agitator at a slightly higher speed than usual.

To centrifugally extract the washing (or rinsing) liquid from the clothes, the motor H is set in operation and it drives the tubular shaft I5 at a speed proportional to the motor speed according to the belt pulley diameters. However,

as here shown, the shaft I is driven atmotor -speed since I contemplate-high speed centrifug- `ing loperation of thev receptacle,v as will later appear. With the shaft I5 in motion, the torque 'or power will be transferred through the spring clutch arms56 and shoes 55 to the clutch band 53 and thence to the receptacle to set it in'motion but, as vwill be clearly evident, a high initial slippage between `shoes and-band will'occurfat `first and until the motor hashad time' to` pickup the load and momentumvhas been built up.

Thus, I achieve the very ydesirable effect fof cushioning the starting load on the motor and reducing the electrical load'to'the point that no motor starting troubles can'occur. As the speed builds up, the' centrifugal force effective on the clutch shoes 55 will increase until they in effect establish a positive mechanical clutching action -thei axis of the receptacle, and' as a matter of fact perfect distribution` of 'the clothes and weight around the receptacle is a practical'impossibility. vAs aresult, the receptacle and load are far from dynamically/balanced and the rotation of the receptacle under such `conditions causes severe vibration'and other injurious if not dangerous effects too we'll known to'those skilled in the' art to require further description herein. f

My receptacle mounting' permits the receptacle to'tiltA about the'bearing I4 in any radial direction, asshown in dotted lines Fig. 1 and in full lines in Fig. 2,'wh`en the load is unbalanced thus allowing the receptacle-load mass as,l a whole to move freely intoV balanced relation with -the plane of rotation. The mass, of course, as it starts up in an unbalanced condition thu'sftakes on an initial gyratory motion and Vassumes a conditionof true dynamic balance so that vibra tion iseliminated. Asthe speed builds up the receptacle gradually tilts yback toward a normal position, and the gyratory motion diminishes in amplitude, due bothvto the gradual reduction in the Aload unbalance by the extraction of water i and to the gyroscopic action of the balancing ring. 'I'he height at which the balancing ring 64 is located, well above 'the top of the receptacle, increases the effective leverage with which it acts lon-the receptacle as will be apparent and both the size andweight ofthe ring maybe comparatively small. e i

I The just described dynamic balancing effects are obtained without disturbing the drive to the receptacle, the spring .clutch arms 56 flexing freely to accommodate themselves to the angular positions assumed by the receptacle with respect to the axis of the shaft I5 as clearly shown.

y This clutch mechanism in fact performs three functions since it is the only drive and torque transmitting connection between the shaft I5 and the'receptacle. First of all the clutch provides for an initial high rate of slippage to allow the motor to pick up the receptacle load gradually as previously pointed out. Further, the clutch has a frictional vsnubbing effect such as to absorb vibrations, and nally the clutch approaches apositive driving or clutching effect as the speed nears the maximuml so that the receptacle isrnally driven without vany appreciable power loss due to slippage. f r

Under a condition of maximum load unbala-nce the receptacle may tilt at times leven slightly beyond the position of Fig. 2 and for this reason I fasten a snubbing or braking member 68 upon the upper part of the bearing. housing 'I6 and provide it with a friction surface 69 against which may ruban adjacent complementarily shaped portion 10 of the clutch band 53.1k Thus as the receptacle momentarily tilts to the maximum angle it will rub at 'I0 uponl surface 69 Awith a `snubbingV effect to slightly retard the receptable speed until it becomesr better balanced: It will also be notedv from an inspection of Fig. 2 that the universal joint connection 3'I for the agitator drive shaft, being located on the center about whichfthe entire assembly tilts, will permit such tilting motion without interference,

and this enables me to use' the dolly-type agitator as` here illustrated and described. vThus I am enabled to construct a practicaltype of clothes washing andl drying machine and to use the very desirable oscillating agitator which is so widely favored at present for its gentle but thorough washing of the clothes. l

The collar 60 has` the function of retaining and locating the clothes during extraction and in this regard, and consideredin combination with the high extraction speed made possible by my balancing of the driving arrangementythe location of the three rows of openings 65, 66 and 61 is important. rIhe lower row of openings 65, of course, allows the liquid to escape upwardly over the edge of the receptacle as the extraction proceeds while, due to the curvature at 6I of the collar, it is found that the clothes will quickly bunch immediately over the second row of lopenings 66 which then allow the liquid toescape freely and prevent it from becoming trapped in the clothes as would bethe case were only the lower openings depended on alone for this purpose. The uppermost row of openings 1,61 are useful mainly in rinsing at which timea socalled deep rinseV is used in whichwater is caused to overflow thereceptacle and gush out -through these openings. The second-and third -rows 66 and E'I of ,openings also provide a def scumming action allowing the lwater during washing, at the outset of the extraction and. dur'- ing rinsing, toiiushsurface scum andimpurities out through these openings away from vthe clothes. .f,

Many advantagesnow from my machine rand from the well nign perfect extraction possible with the spinning of thev receptacle at a high speed, such as forexample, 1800 R; P. M. Due to-this high speed the extraction of the washing liquid is so complete thatv the soap and calcium referred to as-calcium soap, etc., are thoroughly removed, and itis the incomplete removal of these impurities k which causes the popularly called tattletale gray color to beassumed by the clothes In some cases, this condition reaches the point that it can only be cured by bleaching and hanging the clothes in the sun for several washings. In turn, the complete removal of soap, etc., fromthe clothes obviates the necessity for hot rinses asv required in present day machines and I find that I am able to obtain a perfect rinse using only cold water, particularly since during the deep rinse the water is allowed to 'overflow while the agitator is run and the lint 'and scum are thusiiushed away. A considerable savingfi'n the volumeofhot water required for the` complete wash thus results and the requirement for large quantities of hot water is one of the drawbacks of the present automatic or centrifugally drying machine wherein hot water is used both for washing and rinsing.

It is understood that suitable modications may be made in the structure as disclosed, provided such modifications come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Having now therefore fully illustrated and described my invention, what I claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a clothes washing machine of the character described, a rotary receptacle for the clothes and cleansing liquid, means in the receptacle for agitating the liquid for washing the clothes, an upright supporting assembly for the receptacle and agitating means and including a rotary element having a bearing means supporting the receptacle for universal tilting movements in radial directions, said assembly also including a supporting and actuating part for the agitating means and having a joint in the same plane as the said bearing means to accommodate the agitating means to the same tilting movements as the receptacle, a clutch for rotating the receptacle, and a balancing ring on the receptacle.

2. In a clothes washing machine of the character described, a rotary receptacle for the clothes and cleansing liquid and an agitating means for washing the clothes, an upright supporting and driving assembly for the receptacle and agitating means and having separate flexible joints about which the receptacle and agitating means are tiltable in radial, upright planes, means for rotating the receptacle and means for operating the agitating means, and a balancing mass on the receptacle.

3. In a clothes washing machine of the character described, a rotary receptacle for the clothes and cleansing liquid and an agitating means for washing the clothes, an upright supporting and driving assembly for the receptacle and agitating means and having separate flexible joints about which the receptacle and agitating means are tiltable in radial, upright planes, means for rotating the receptacle and means for operating the agitating means, and an annular balancing mass in the receptacle above the said flexible joints.

4. In a clothes washing machine of the character described, a rotary receptacle for the clothes and a cleansing liquid,- means in the receptacle for agitating the clothes and liquid for washing, a balancing ring on the receptacle, a tubular upright rotary drive shaft for the receptacle, means supporting the receptacle on said shaft for universal tilting movements about a point on the axis of the shaft, means for transmitting torque from the shaft to the receptacle, a two part rotary shaft journaled up through the tubular receptacle drive shaft and connected by a universal joint centered on the point on the axis about which the receptacle tilts, and the upper part of the two part shaft being operatively connected to the said agitating means.

5. In a clothes washing machine, an upright tubular and rotary shaft, a rotary receptacle for the clothes and cleansing liquid, said receptacle having a hollow center part positioned over the upper end of the shaft, a bearing member supporting the receptacle on the shaft for rotation thereon and for universal rocking movements about a point on the rotary axis of the part, means for transmitting torque from the shaft to the receptacle, a balancing ring on the receptacle, an agitator movably supported over said center part of the receptacle, a lower shaft section journaled through the tubular shaft, an upper shaft section journaled through the center part of the receptacle and connected to the agitator, a universal joint connecting adjacent ends of the shaft sections on a plane coincident with the point about which the receptacle rocks, and means for actuating the shaft sections and agitator.

`6. In a clothes Washing machine of the character described, a rotary receptacle for clothes and cleansing liquid, a dolly-type oscillating agitator in the receptacle, an upright supporting and actuating mechanism for the receptacle and agitator and including a hollow rotary element having a bearing supporting the receptacle for universal tilting movements in radial directions, a drive shaft for the agitator extending up through said hollow rotary element and having a universal joint in the same plane as said bearing, a clutch for driving the receptacle, and a balancing mass on the receptacle above the plane of the bearing and universal joint.

7. In a washing machine having an agitator and a rotary centrifugal extractor for centri fuging cleansing liquid from the clothes, mechanism for operating the agitator and dynamically balancing and rotating the receptacle which comprises, in combination, a bearing support for the receptaclev upon which the receptacle may tilt and gyrate in universal radial planes when subject to uneven loads, the said bearing support being located above the bottom and below the top of the receptacle, a friction clutch operatively arranged for transmitting torque to the receptacle and rotating it on said support, a heavy balancing mass upon the receptacle evenly distributed as to weight about the axis of the bearing support and located in a plane spaced vertically with respect to that support, and a drive shaft for the agitator having a flexible joint in the same plane as said bearing support.

8. In a washing machine having an agitator and a rotary centrifugal extractor forcentrifuging the cleansing liquid from the clothes, the mechanical arrangement for driving the agitator and dynamically balancing and rotating the receptacle which comprises, in combination, an upright hollow shaft, a bearing supporting the receptacle on the shaft in such manner that the receptacle may tiltand gyrate in universal radial planes when subject to uneven loads, the said bearing support being located above the bottom and below the top of the receptacle, spring means operating between the shaft and receptacle for transmitting torque to the receptacle, an annular mass on the top of the receptacle, and an agitator drive shaft extending up through the hollow shaft and having a universal joint in the same horizontal plane as said bearing.

9. In a clothes washing machine, a receptacle for the clothes and cleansing liquid, a rotary upright and hollow drive shaft, a bearing mounting the receptacle on the shaft for rotation independently thereof and for tilting movement in all radial directions about a point on the axis of the shaft, yieldable means on the shaft engaging the receptacle for transmitting torque from the shaft to the receptacle, a balancing ring `upon the receptacle above the level of the upper edge thereof, an agitator in the receptacle, and an agitator drive shaft extending up through the hollow drive `shaft and having a universal joint within said bearing.

10. In a clothes Washing machine of the character described, a hollow upright rotary drive shaft, a receptacle for the clothes and cleansingr liquid, said receptacle having a hollow downwardly Baring center part loosely mounted down over the shaft, a bearing supporting the center part on the shaft and mounting the receptacle for independent rotation and universal rocking movements with respect thereto, a clutch member inside the center part, clutch shoes cooperating with the clutch member, spring means attached at one end to the shaft and at their other ends to the shoes, said spring being ten sioned to yieldably -urge the shoes radially out- Ward against said clutch member, a balancing mass on the receptacle, an agitator in the receptacle, an agitator drive shaft extending up through the hollow shaft, and said agitator drive shaft having upper and lower parts and a connecting universal joint in the same horizontal plane as said bearing.

11. In a Washing machine, inner and outer l0 upright upright shafts, a receptacle having a bearing journaling it on the outer shaft and said bearing having means permitting gyraton of the receptacle, means for transmitting torque from the outer shaft to the receptacle, an agitator in the receptacle and connected to the upper end of the inner shaft, the said inner shaft having a exible portion permitting its upper end to gyrate as the tub gyrates on its bearing, and means for operating the shafts.

ARTHUR D. LUND.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,718,261 Sinellie June 25, 1929 2,137,540 Motyeka Nov. 22, 1938 2,186,263 Morganstern Jan. 10, 1940 2,520,366 Kirby Aug. 29, 1950 2.555.400 De Remer June 5, 1951

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