US3011079A - Automatic control device - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 28, 1961 .1. c. MELLINGER AUTOMATIC CONTROL DEVICE Filed May s1, 196C HAP/UAUMA/cf Mann/wam I E W. Y R .m H m E ,0 a N d m .im E 4 .fwd .MM WM MH M/ W ww M w H W /J E w L w 5 m y 5 w M 0 W M @m lc /5 Ml; wfmhnl I I H H m C 0h m m o 'Kaw I R A A; a Q 2 Z f n n@ naif w W 4 N @H /U ./u U Mu w U jg m L M w @M M A M um United States Patent Oiiice 3,011,079 `Patented Nov. 28, 1961 3,011,079 AUTOMATIC CONTROL DEVICE John C. Melliuger, Newton, Iowa, assigner to The Maytag Company, Newton, Iowa, a corporation of Delaware t Filed May 31, 1960, Ser. No. 32,881 Claims. (Cl. 307-141.4)

matic washing machine control.

lt is an object of the present invention t-o provide a selection system by which the operator of `an automatic washing machine merely pushes a button in order to select a cycle, or a group of operations, suitable for the fabrics to be treated. It is another object of the invention to provide a selection device that utilizes cam controls and thereby simplifies the control system. It is yet another object of the invention to provide a selection control device that is inexpensively manufactured, and is, at the same time, reliable in service. IFurther objects 4and advantages of this invention will become evident `as the description proceeds and from an eX- amination of the accompanying drawing which illustrates one embodiment of the invention and in which similar numerals refer to similar` parts throughout the several views.

In the drawing:

FIGURE l is a diagram illustrating the selection trol of the present invention. t

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged view of one of the cams.

Referring now to FIGURE l in the drawing, there is selector shown diagrammatioally a timing cam stack 10 for controlling the cycles of operation in any automatic washing machine. The usual cycles of operation include washing, rinsing and spin drying of the fabrics to be cleaned. The cam stack 10 is driven by a timing motor 12at a slow normal timing speed. When the cam stack is under the control of the timer motor, rthe washing machine is operated through the usual washing cycles.

In order t-o accomplish selection of any specific cycle, the cam stack 10 is advanced at high speeds by the rapid advance motor 13. When the rapid advance motor is energized, the shaft 15, to which are connected the timer motor 12 kand cam stack 10, is rotated at high speeds through the advance motor, rotor 14 and gear box 16. The speed of the shaft 15 when rotatedsby the advance motor is high enough `in order that ythe operations controlled by the cam stack 10 are effectively and quickly selected. i f n The rotor armature 14 of the advance motor is capable of yrotary and translatorypmovement, and is normally biased by coil spring 18 along its longitudinal axis away from the gear box 16. When 'the advance motor is energized, the rotor moves toward the gearbox 16 as indicated by the arrow, so that the pinion 19 mounted on the rotor shaft engages ,and drives the gear train to spin shaft `15 at a high speed. However, when the rapid advance motor -13 is de-energized, spring'18 separates the gear 19 from the gear train and the rotation of the shaft 15 Vis immediately discontinued. A n i p Contact 230i switch 21` is mounted kon amovable f into two groups.

contact 23 against contact 22 to supply power tothe advance mot-or through the selection switches until 1t moves to the desired position, as hereinafter described.`

Energization of timer motor 12 and advance motor 13 is controlled by switch 2'1 having contacts 22, 23 and 24. When co-ntacts 22 and 23 of switch 21 are closed, a circuit is completed for energizing the advance motor 13, providing the switches in series with contact 22, 23 are also closed, -as will be described hereinafter. If contacts 23, 24 of switch 21 are closed the timer motor 12 is energized by completing a circuit to'power lines L1 and L2. y

Terminal 31 of advance motor 13 is connected to line L1 of the power source. Terminal 30 of the advance motor is connected to line L2 of the power source through contacts 22, 23 and the other switches in `the selection system to be described hereinafter. Timer motor 12 has terminals 33, 34 of which yterminal 33 is directly connected to power line L1 and terminal 34 is connected to power line L2 when the circuit is completed through closing of contacts 23, 24.

The selection system of the invention is characterized by a number of cams which control corresponding cam switches. The cams of the selector device, and the respective switches which they control, may be divided In the first group is the master cam 40 and the switch i40(a) controlled by it. The second group includes slave cams 41y to 45 and their corresponding slave switches 41(11) to 45(a). The slave group may include a greater or lesser number, depending upon the desired number of selection positions in the washing machine operation. In order to illustrate the invention, tive selection positions are shown the push button preselection of which are yobtained by five slave circuits containing slave switches 41(a) to 45(a).

Master cam switch y40(a) is normally closed except for a small increment of time at the beginning of each desired cycle. When the master cam switch 4001) is closed and contact 23 is against contact 22 of switch 2K1, the advance motor is energized by circuit from L2 switch contacts 23, 22, master cam switch 40(a), and

advance moto-r terminal 30. IThe other terminal 31 of t the advance motor is connected to power line L1.

Slave `cam switches 41(a) `and 45(a) are normally open, except one switch is closed 'at a time for a small increment at the beginning of each desired cycle corresponding to the incrementat which the master cam switch 40(61) is opened. It will be noted that the rise on each of slave cams 141 to 45 corresponds to a dwell on master cam 40,`so that, when the master cam switch 400i) is opened, one of the slave cam switches 41(a)- to 45(4) will be closed.

Pushbutton switches 41(b) to 45(b) are normally closed. The push button switches `are manually operated lby their own push buttons 41(c) to 45(c) each of which bears the legend of a particularcycle selection.

Each of the slave cam switches 4101) yto 45(a), is connected in series with its respective push button switch, 41(b) to 450)), between switch Contact 22 and advance motor terminal 3l). When switch Contact 23 engages contact 22 of switch 21, and `slave cam switch 41(a) is closed, the advance motor is energized by a circuit from power line L2, switch contacts 23, 22, slave cam switch `43M), push button switch 41(b) and terminal 30 of advance motor 13.'y The other terminal 31 of the'advance spring arm engaged lby pin 25 of the rotor1`4. `It will n be noted'that the rotor is biased by spring 18 to normally position contact 23 against contacty24, soas to energize the timer motor 12. In the eventthe advancev motor is energized, rotorr 14 moves toward the gear box toclose motor is connectedv to power line L1. Similarly', each of the slave cam switches will energize the advance motor taining a slave switch and push button switch in series) is in parallel to the master cam switch 40(11). The ren sult is that the rapid advance motor will be energized if any slave switch circuit, or the master switch circuit is completed, provided contacts 23, 22 of switch 21 are closed.

The advance motor will be de-energized at the point in the cycle at which'the corresponding slave switch is closed, and the master cam switch open. By way of illus tration, if push butt-on switch 4:1(b) is opened, as shown in the drawing, and the advance motor 13 is energized closing vcontacts 23, 22, the advance motor will continue to rotate the selector cams 4i) to 45 until the interval at which the master cam switch 4001) is opened and the slave cam'switch 4501) is closed by their respectivev cams. At this point, the advance motor will be de-energized since the power circuit to the advance motor is broken by the open slave circuit which has in series push button switch 45(b).

All of the push button switches are biased to closed position by springs (not shown). When a push button is depressed by the operator it travels to an innermost position and closes one of the momentary contact switches 51 to 55. As the push button is released by the operator the spring urges it toward closed position, but it is latched by a device (not shown) to hold it and maintain it in `an open position, so that both the momentary contact switch and push button switchare open, as illustrated by the full line position of switch 45(b) in FIGURE 1 of the drawing.

In FIGURE l, each push button switch 41(b) to 4S (b) has a corresponding momentary contact switch 51 to 55 vwhich is lclosed yfor a brief period of time when its respective push button is manually depressed. Referring to'push button switch 45(b), there is illustrated in dotted lines the closing of the momentary contact switch 55 which occurs when push button 45(0) is manually depressed. The closing of any momentary contact switch 51 to 55 energizes the advance motor by a circuit from power line L2 through the closed switch, such as 55, thence through line 56, master cam switch 4001), to terminal 3l). The other terminal 31 of the advance motor is connected topower line L1.

`If at the closing of the momentary contact switch the master carn switch 40(a) is open, the circuit for momentarily energizing the advance motor 13 is completed through the slave switch I41(a) to 45(a) that is closed at that instant and its corresponding preselection switch ,4l-(b) to 45(b). The rapid advance motor 13 is energized by the momentary contact switch through the master cam switch, or one of the slave switches, as a safety feature, in order to discontinue energization of the rapid advance motor if the operator inadvertently keeps the momentary contact switch closed. It will be clear thattherapid advance motor may be directly energized by thel momentary contact switch.

Although a separate momentary contact switch is shown for-each push button alternative constructions may be employed. For example, a mechanical connection may bemade with each push button, so that only a single momentary contact switch is closed by the depression of any of the tive push buttons. namely, the advance motor is momentarily energized.

At the instant the advanceA motor is energized by the closing of a momentary contact switch through the depressionvof .a push button, the rotor 14 is moved longitudinally to clutch pinion 19 to the gear train of gear box 16, and at the same time closes contact 23 against contact 22 of switch 21. This completes holding circuits by which the continued energization of the advance motor is under control of the selector cams dit to 4S and their respective circuitry, explained hereinabove.

Referring `now tofFlGURE 2 of the drawing which illustrates the master cam 40, it will be noted that the cam maybe divided into sections corresponding to cycles of The result is the same,

l the automatic washing operation, since the selector cams, including cam 49, are mounted on shaft 15 which drives the timing cam stack 10, the latter of which controls the cycles of the washing operation. The various cycles are indicated by the dot and dash lines corresponding to the washing operation controlled by the cam stack 1t). For example, `the rst part of the washing operation begins with a fill and agitation period indicated by I which may continue to the dot and dash line past II. This is followed by a soak period, a spin period, a rinse III, and a final spin dry IV. While in previous devices the cycle desired was selected by rotating the shaft on which the cams were mounted to the particular position, in the present invention by merely depressing a push button, a momentary contact switch is closed which energizes a `rapid advance motor under the control of the selector cams and automatically advances the cam stack to the desired cycle I, II, III, or IV. The push buttons have legends corresponding to the desired cycles. The master cam 40 has a dwell period for opening the master cam switch for a short interval of time at the Ibeginning of each desired cycle, as indicated at I, Il, III, IV, and V in FIG- URE 2. It will be noted that the dwell at I, for instance, would start the washing operation at the earliest point and allow it to proceed for the maximum time. The selection of II for delicate fabrics starts the washing operation at the end of the timed period for short agitation period and then allows the washing operation to proceed to the remaining cycles. Similarly, if rinse III is selected, the cams are advanced by the rapid advance motor to that point and then the timer motor drives the cam stack 10 through the remaining cycles. The washing cycle is ended for regular fabrics at olf-l at which the power supply is interrupted by a switch in the cam `stack 11i' (not shown). For wash and wear fabrics V, a separate section of the cams is devoted to their washing operation, the start of which is indicated by (V) and the end at oil-2.

From the foregoing, the operation of the timing control device should be apparent. As shown in FIGURE l of the drawing, the cam stack 10 is driven through all the cycles of the washing operation by the timer motor 12. The timer motor 12 is energized by power line L1 to timer motor terminal 31, and by power line L2 through switch contacts 23, 24 to timer motor terminal 34.

Let it be assumed that it is desired to wash the wash and wear type'of fabric. The clothes are inserted in lthe machine (not shown) and the push button 45(c) is manually depressed to the dotted line position indicated in FIGURE l which closes the momentary contacts 55. This energizes the rapid advance motor by a circuit from power line L2 through momentary contact switch 55 and cam switch 40(a) to the advance motor terminal 30. The other terminal 31 of the advance motor is connected to power line L1.

Upon energization of the advance motor by the momentary contact switch, the rotor 14 is moved longitudinally against the bias of spring 18 to engage clutch pinion 19 with the gear train in box 16 to rapidly rotate the shaft 15 on which is mounted the timer motor, selector cams, and the timing cam stack 10. Axial movement of the armature rotor 14 toward the gear box 16 separates contact 23 from contact 24 in switch 21 to de-energize the timer motor. At the same time switch contact 23 engages contact 22 to maintain the rapid advance motor energized under the control of the selector cams. Since the master cam switch 40(11) is normally closed, the advance motor will keep rotating the cam stack 10 at a high rate of speed until the circuit is broken. At the beginning of each desired cycle, the master cam switch 4002) is opened for a short interval of time. At the same interval, one of the slave cam switches is closed to maintain a rapid advance motor energized, providing its corresponding push button switch is closed. For ex ample, if the masterV cam switch has rotated to start point I'then the slave cam switch 4101) will be closed by cam41 and the timer motor will be operated by a circuit rfrom power line L2, switch contacts 23, 2'4, slave cam switch 41(a) push button switch 41(b), to the advance motor terminal 30. If, however, switch 41(12) is opened by depression of the push button 41(c)`the advance motor will be de-energized at that point in the cycle. But if the push button 41(b) is closed, the ad since push button 45 (c) was depressed the rapid advance motor operates until the master cam has opened master cam switch 40(a) at point V. At this same interval the slave cam switch 45(a) is closed, however, the advance motor is not supplied with power because of the broken circuit due to the opening of the push button switch 45(b). When the advance motor is de-energized, the armature rotor 14 is moved axially by spring 1S away from the gear box to break contacts 22, 23 and make contacts 23, 24. This opens the circuit to the advance motor and completes the circuit to the timer motor which then advances the timing cam stack through the washing cycle operations remaining.

In the drawing and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specitc terms are employed, these are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not for purposes of limitation. Changes in form and the proportion of parts, as well as the substitution of equivalents are contemplated, as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention as further detined in the following claims.

I claimz- 1. In an automatic control for washing machines the combination comprising a sequential timer including timing control means for controlling selectable cycles of operation and a timing motor for driving said timing control means through the selected cycle at a slow speed, a rapid advance means for advancing said timing control means at a high speed, manually operable momentary contact switch means, circuit means under the control of said momentary contact switch means to initiate operation of said rapid advance means for a short period, manually operable preselection means for choosing a desired cycle, cam switches operable by said rapid advance means,

holding circuit means for maintaining said rapid advance means energized under the control of said cam switches and said manually operable preselection means after ksaid momentary contact switch means has been operated.

2. In an automatic control for washing machines the combination comprising a sequential timer including timing control means for controlling selectable cycles of operation and a timing motor for driving said timing control means through the selected cycle at a slow speed, a rapid advance mechanism for advancing said timing control means at a high speed, manually operable preselection means for registering a desired cycle, preselection switches controlled by said preselection means, momentary contactswitch means operable by saidpreselection means, cam switches controlled by said rapid advance mechanism, circuit means under the control of said momentary contact switch means to initiate operation of said rapid advance mechanism for a short period, and holding circuit means having said cam switches and said preselection switches for maintaining said rapid advance mechanism energized under the direct control of said cam switches after said momentary contact switch means has been operated. y y

3. In an automatic control for washing machines the combination comprising a sequential timer including a timing control means for controlling selectable cycles of operation and timing motor for driving said timing control means through the selected cycle at a `slow speed, a rapid advance mechanism for advancing said timing control means at a high speed, a plurality of preselectiony buttonsimanually operable to choose a desired cycle, momentary contact switch means operable by said preselection buttons, circuit means under the control of said momentary contact switch means to initiate operation of said rapid advance mechanism for a short period, preselection switches controlled by said preselection buttons, cam switches operable by said rapid advance mechanism, and holding circuit means for maintaining said rapid advance mechanism energized under the control of said cam switches in series with said preselection switches after said momentary contact `switch means has been operated until the rapid advance mechanism has rotated said sequential timer to the cycler registered by a pre# selection switch.

4. In anpautomatic control for washing machines the combination comprising a sequential timer including time ing control means for controlling selectable cycles of operation and a timing motor for driving said timing control means through the selected cycle at a slow speed, a plurality of manually operablefpreselection members to choose a desired cycle, a rapid advance means for advancing said timing control means at a high speed, momentary contact switch means operable by said preselection members, circuit means under the control of said momentary contact switch means to initiate operation of said rapid advance means for a short period, and holding circuit means for maintaining said rapid advance means energized after said momentary contact switch means has been operated, and cam switch means for placing said holding 'circuit means successively and separately under the control of each of said preselection members, whereby the rapid advance means is energized until a cycle is reached at which the preselection member has been manually operated in order to break the holding circuit and de-energize said rapid advance means.

5. In an automatic control for washing machines the combination comprising a sequential timer including timing control means for controlling selectable cycles of operation and a timingr motor for `driving said timing control means through the selected cycle vat a slow speed, a rapid advance means for advancing said -timing control means at a high speed, preselection buttons manually operable to choose la desired cycle, preselection switches controlled by said buttons, momentary contact switch means operable by said preselection buttons, circuit means under the control of said momentary contact switch means to initiate operation of said rapid' advance means for a short period, and holding circuit means for maintaining said rapid `advance means energized after said momentary contact switch means has been operated, and can switch means for successively placing said holding circuit means under the separate control of each of said preselection swi-tches at certain points during operation whereby the rapid advance means, remains energized until a' cycle is reached at which the preselection switch has been operated by a said preselection button.

6. In an automatic control for washing machines the combination comprising a sequential timer having a timing control means for controlling selectable cycles of operation and a timing motor for driving said timing control means through the selected cycle at a slow speed, a

rapid advance mechanism for advancing said timing con-k trol means at a high speed, manually operable preselection ymembers for choosing a desired cycle, normally. closed preselection switches opened by said preselection members upon manual operation, a momentary contact y l switch means operable by said preselection members, cirp cuit means under the control of said momentary contact operation whereby the rapid advance' mechanism remains energized until a preselection Vswitchlis reached which has been opened.

7. In an automatic control for washing machines the combination comprising a sequential timer having timing control means for controlling selectable cycles of operation and a timing motor Vfor driving said'timing control means through the selected cycle at a slow speed, rapid advance means for advancing said timing control means at a high speed, manually operable preselection means for choosing a desired cycle, rmomentary contact switch means operable by said preselection means, circuit means under the control of said momentary contact switch means for initiating operation of said rapid advance means for a short period, holding circuit means for maintaining said rapid advance means energized after said momentary contact switch means has initiated operation, switch means for energizing said holding circuit means after said momentary contact switch means has been operated, master cam switch means for breaking said holding circuit means a vshort time period `at the beginning of each selectable cycle, and slave cam circuit means in parallel to said master` cam means for maintaining said rapid advance means energized when said master cam switch means breaks said holding circuit means until the desired cycle registered by manual preselection means has been reached.

8. In an automatic control for washing machines the combination comprising a sequential timer having timing control means for `controlling selectable cycles of operation and a timing motor for driving said timing control means through the selected cycle at a slow speed, rapid advance means for advancing said timing control means at a high speed, manually operable preselection means for choosing a desired cycle, momentary contact switch means operable by said preselection means, circuit means under the control of said momentary Contact switch means for initiating operation of said rapid advance means `for a short period, holding circuit means for maintaining said rapid advance means energized after said momentary contact switch means has initiated operation, switch means for energizing said holding circuit means after said momentary contact switch means has been operated, cam switch means including master cam switch means for breaking said holding circuit means a short time period vat the beginning of each desired cycle and slave cam switch means under the control of said preselection means and'in parallel to said master cam means for maintaining said rapid advance means energized when said master cam means breaks said holding circuit means until the desired cycle registered by manual preselection means has been reached.

9. In an automatic control for washing machines the combination comprising a sequential timer having timing control means for controlling selectablecyclesof 'opera tion and `a timing motor for driving said timing-control means through the selected cycle at a Vslow speed, rapid advancve means for advancingsaid timing controlmeans at a high speed, manually operable preselection means for choosing a desired cycle, momentary contact switch means operable by said preselection means, circuit means under the Vcontrol of said momentary contact switch means yfor initiating operation of said rapid advance means for a short period, selector cam switch means, holding circuit means for maintaining said rapid advance means energized under the control of said selector cam switch means and said manual preselection means after said momentary contact switch means has initiated operation, switch means for energizing said holding circuit means after said momentary contact switch means has `,been operated, said selector cam switch means including first master cam switch means forbreaking a circuit to said rapid advance means and said holding circuit means a short time period at the beginning of the selectable cycles and second cam switch means in parallel to said irst cam switch means for maintaining said rapid advance means and holding circuit means energized when said master cam switch means breaks until the desired cycle registered by manual preselection means has been reached.

10. In an automatic control for washing machines the combination comprising a sequential timer having timing control means for controlling selectable cycles of operation and a timing motor for driving said timing control means through the selected cycle at a slow speed, rapid advance means for advancing said timing control means at a high speed, manually operable preselection means for choosing a desired cycle, momentary contact switch means operable bysaid preselection means, circuit means under the control of said momentary contact switch means for initiating operation of said rapid advance meansvfor a short period, selector cam switch means, holding circuit means for maintaining said rapid advance means energized after said momentary contact Vswitch means Ahas initiated operation, switch means in said holding circuit means for energizing said holding circuit means yafter. s aid momentary Contact switch means has been operated, cam switch meansoperable by said rapid advance means for successively placing said holding circuit means andrapid advance means under the control ofsaid manually operable preselection means .to maintain saidrapid advance means energized until the desired cycle registered -by manually operable preselection means has beenreached.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED VSTATES PATENTS

Images