US3621730A - Washing machine with dual speed cycle control means - Google Patents

Washing machine with dual speed cycle control means Download PDF

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Publication number
US3621730A
US3621730A US887190A US3621730DA US3621730A US 3621730 A US3621730 A US 3621730A US 887190 A US887190 A US 887190A US 3621730D A US3621730D A US 3621730DA US 3621730 A US3621730 A US 3621730A
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United States
Prior art keywords
drive
cam
basket
rotary cam
motor
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Expired - Lifetime
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US887190A
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English (en)
Inventor
Gresham N Jennings
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General Electric Co
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General Electric Co
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Publication date
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Publication of US3621730A publication Critical patent/US3621730A/en
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    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F34/00—Details of control systems for washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • D06F34/08—Control circuits or arrangements thereof
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F34/00—Details of control systems for washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • D06F34/06—Timing arrangements
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T74/00—Machine element or mechanism
    • Y10T74/19—Gearing
    • Y10T74/19219—Interchangeably locked
    • Y10T74/19358—Laterally slidable gears
    • Y10T74/19367—Swinging carriage

Definitions

  • a motor-driven cam-operated switch having a rotary cam adapted to selectively open and close at least one switch means in response to the rotation of the cam and having a drive motor adapted for connection to a source of electrical energy, is provided with a two-speed drive train adapted to selectively transmit low or high speed rotational motion to the rotary cam.
  • the two-speed drive train comprises first and second drive pinions adapted to engage and drive the rotary cam, means to selectively engage one of the drive pinions with the rotary cam, and drive means adapted to connect each of the drive pinions to the drive motor such that the first drive pinion may be operative to drive the rotary cam at high speed and the second drive pinion may be operative to drive the rotary cam at low speed.
  • This invention relates generally to a dual speed motordriven cam-operated switch of the type which may be employed as the cycle control timer for such major appliances as domestic automatic fabric washing machines.
  • auxiliary basket removably mounted on the agitator.
  • Such an auxiliary basket will enable the small fabric load to be laundered in a reduced quantity of water and without being subjected to the operation of the agitator, the washing action instead being obtained by water movement resulting from the motion of the agitator-carried auxiliary basket.
  • the cycle control means which is provided to control the washer operation include a capability for reducing the rinse and centrifugal extraction times as well as the washing time. It is also desirable when washing small loads of lightly soiled fabrics to reduce the wash time significantly below the common 20-minute limit usually provided.
  • a motor-driven cam-operated switch having at least one switch means, a rotary cam adapted to selectively open and close the switch means in response to the rotation of the cam, and a drive motor adapted for connection to a source of electrical energy, the improvement of a two-speed drive train adapted to selectively transmit low or high speed rotational motion to the rotary cam.
  • the drive trains comprises first and second drive pinions adapted to engage and drive the rotary cam, means to selectively engage one of the drive pinions with the rotary cam, and drive means adapted to connect each of the drive pinions to the drive motor such that the first drive pinion may be operative to drive the rotary cam at high speed, and the second drive pinion may be operative to drive the rotary cam at low speed.
  • the rotary cam can be selectively driven at high or low speed by selectively engaging either the first drive pinion or the second drive ninion therewith.
  • FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a washing machine incorporating one embodiment of my invention
  • FIG. 2 is a plan view of the cam-operated switch of my invention, the view being partly broken away to illustrate details;
  • FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 44 of FIG. 2, the view being partly broken away to illustrate details;
  • FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the drive mechanism of the switch of FIG. 2, partially in schematic form.
  • an agitator-type vertical-axis automatic clothes washer having an outer supporting cabinet 11.
  • the washer may include the various operational components conventionally utilized in a domestic automatic washing machine, for instance, an imperforate tub 12 rigidly mounted within structure 11.
  • a perforate washing basket 13 for washing and rinsing clothes therein and for centrifugally extracting liquid therefrom.
  • an agitator 14 which includes a centerpost 15 having a plurality of curved water circulating vanes 16 joined at their lower end to form an outwardly flared skirt 17.
  • Both clothes basket 13 and the agitator 14 are rotatably mounted.
  • the basket is mounted on a flange 18 of a hub 19 and the agitator 14 is mounted on a shaft 20 which extends upwardly through the hub 19 and through the centerpost 15 and is secured to the agitator so as to drive it.
  • the agitator is then oscillated back and forth about its axis to wash the clothes within the basket.
  • basket 13 is rotated at high speed to centrifugally extract the washing liquid from the fabrics and discharge it to a drain (not shown).
  • a supply of clean liquid is introduced into the basket for rinsing the fabrics and the agitator is again oscillated.
  • the basket is once more rotated at high speed to extract the rinse liquid.
  • the basket 13 and agitator 14 may be driven by any suitable means.
  • I have shown them as driven from a reversible motor 21 through a drive mechanism including a clutch 22 mounted on the motor shaft.
  • the motor is tailored so as to be used to its full extent when it accelerates the basket 13 to spin speed.
  • clutch 22 allows the motor to start without a load and to then accept the load as it comes up to speed.
  • a suitable belt 23 transmits power from clutch 22 to a transmission assembly 24 through a pulley 25.
  • the pulley 25 of transmission 24 is driven in opposite directions.
  • the transmission 24 is so aranged that it supports and drives both the agitator drive shaft 20 and the basket mounting hub 19.
  • That patent discloses in detail the structural characteristics of the transmission assemblies suitable for use in the illustrated machine.
  • motor 21 also provides a direct drive through a flexible coupling 26 to a pump structure 27, which includes two separate pumping units 28 and 29 which are operated simultaneously in the same direction by motor 21.
  • Pump unit 28 has an inlet connected by conduit 30 to an opening 31 formed in the lowermost part of tub 12 and an outlet connected by a conduit to a suitable drain (not shown).
  • Pump 29 has an inlet connected by a conduit 33 to the interior of tub 12 and an outlet connected by conduit 34 to a nozzle 35 which is positioned to discharge into a suitable perforate bottomed filter pan 36 which may be secured to the top portion of agitator 14 so as to be easily removable therefrom.
  • pump unit 29 draws liquid in through conduit 33 from tub 12 and discharges it through conduit 34 into filter pan 36, and then down through the small openings provided in the bottom of filter pan back into the basket.
  • pump unit 28 will draw liquid in from opening 31 through conduit 30 and discharge it through conduit 32 to drain.
  • Each of the pump units is substantially inoperative in the direction of rotation in which it is not used.
  • Basket 13, agitator 14, motor 21, clutch 22 and transmission 24 form a suspended washing and centrifuging system which may be supported by the stationary structure.
  • a suspension structure which includes a bracket member 37 with transmission 24 mounted on the top thereof and motor 21 mounted to the underside thereof.
  • a counterweight 38 is mounted on the bracket member 37 opposite motor 21 to aid in balancing the weight distribution of the various components of the suspended system.
  • the bracket member 37 is secured to upwardly extending members 39 and each of the two upwardly extending members 39 is connected to a cable 40 supported from the top of the machine. While only a portion of the suspension system is shown in the drawing, such a suspension system is fully described and claimed in US. Pat. No. 2,987,190, issued June 6, 1961, to John Bochan and assigned to the assignee of the instant invention.
  • Hot and cold Water may be supplied to the machine through conduits 42 and 43 which are adapted to be connected respectively to sources of hot and cold water (not shown).
  • Conduits 42 and 43 extend into a conventional mixing valve structure 44 having solenoids 45 and 46 being connected to a hose 37.
  • solenoids 45 and 46 will provide the passage of hot, cold or warm water from the mixing valve 44 through the hose 47.
  • Hose 47 is positioned to discharge into the basket 13 so that when one or both of solenoids 45 and 46 are energized, water enters basket 13 and tub 12.
  • the machine 10 may be provided with a small auxiliary basket 48 removably mounted on centerpost 15 of agitator 14 so that the washing action within this small basket is obtained by water movement resulting from the motion of the agitator 14 carrying with it the basket 48.
  • Filter pan 36 may serve as a lid for basket 48 while the openings on the bottom of the filter pan provide an entrance for liquid into basket 48.
  • Liquid egress openings 49 are provided in the peripheral wall of basket 48 at such a height as to assure the maintenance of a small volume of washing liquid in basket 48.
  • the peripheral wall of basket 48 may be so tapered as to assure an upward movement of the liquid within the basket and discharge thereof through openings 49 during centrifugal extraction.
  • control means such as 50, 51, 52 and 53 may be provided within an upstanding control console 54.
  • control means 52 and 53 may be associated with a cycle control timer 55 adapted to sequentially operate the mechanism of the machine 10 through such an operating cycle as may be preselected by setting control means 50, 51, 52 and 53.
  • cycle control timer 55 includes a drive motor 56 adapted for connetcion to a source of electrical energy (not shown).
  • a drive pinion 57 extends from motor 56 and is adapted to engage a first gear 58 of a drive train indicated generally by the numeral 59.
  • Drive train 59 is adapted to selectively transmit low or high speed rotational motion from drive motor 56 to a rotary cam 60.
  • drive train 59 includes a first output pinion 61 and a second output pinion 62 adapted to engage a toothed circumferential surface 63 on rotary cam 60 so as to drive the cam.
  • cam 60 which shows drive train 59 and cam 60 somewhat schematically, it may be seen that the lower surface of rotary cam 60 may be provided with at least one cam operating surface 64 adapted to open and close the contacts 65 and 66 of at least one switch means 67.
  • the lower surface of cam 60 may, for example, incorporate thirty or more cam operating surfaces adapted to open and close as many as twenty or more pairs of switch contacts to control washer operation.
  • FIGS. 3 and 4 in conjunction with FIG. 5. It should be noted at the outset, however, that while FIGS. 3 and 4 are taken from FIG. 2 looking substantially from left to right, FIG. 5 is taken looking substantially from right to left. For this reason, output gears 61 and 62 appear, respectively, on the right and left of FIGS. 3 and 4, but are positionally reversed in FIG. 5.
  • First gear 58 comprises an integral stacked change gear having a first circumferential toothed surface 70 in engaging contact with drive pinion 57, and having second and third circumferential toothed surfaces 71 and 72 respectively engaging a first input gear 73 and a second input gear 74.
  • Gears 73 and 74 are rigidly secured, respectively, to first clutch input shaft 75 and second input shaft 76.
  • Output pinions 61 and 62 are rotatably mounted respectively on shafts 75 and 76 for rotation relative thereto and are held axially in position on their upper side by snap rings 77.
  • first clutch 78 Interposed between first input gear 73 and first output pinion 61 is a first clutch indicated generally by the numeral 78.
  • second input gear 74 and second output pinion 62 is a second clutch indicated generally by the numeral 79.
  • the relative gear ratios between gear 58 and each of gears 73 and 74 are such that first input shaft 75 is rotated at a relatively high speed while second input shaft 76 is rotated at relatively low speed.
  • first and second clutches 78 and 79 can be better understood with reference to FIG. 4, wherein it may be seen that first and second output pinions 61 and 62 have formed integrally therewith first and second shaft portions, 80 and 81, respectively. As was previously mentioned, pinions 61 and 62 are rotatably mounted on the shafts 75 and 76, respectively. Interference wound coil springs 82 and 83 are respectively pressed onto first and second shaft portions 80 and 81 and also respectively onto portions 84 and 85 of input shafts 75 and 76.
  • first and second clutches 78 and 79 are enabled to transmit rotational motion from their respective input shafts to their output shafts only in the direction of arrows 86 and 87.
  • each of the springs 82 and 83 are so wound that when its associated input shaft is rotated in the direction of the aforementioned arrows 86 and 87, the frictional engagement between the spring and the input shaft will cause the spring coils to tighten about the associated input and output shafts and cause simultaneous rotation thereof.
  • clutches 78 and 79 are to permit the operator to rotate the control means 53 (which as seen in FIGS. 2 and 5 may be connected to cam 60 by shaft 89) to an initial starting position without causing a corresponding rotation of the drive motor 56.
  • toothed surface 63 will cause one of the output gears 61 or 62 to rotate so as to overdrive one of the clutches 78 or 79, thereby loosening the grip of either coil spring 82 or 83, consequently transmitting no rotational motion to either shaft 75 or 76, or to the drive motor 56.
  • means are provided to selectively engage one of the drives pinions 61 or 62 with toothed surface 63 of the rotary cam 60.
  • such means comprises member 90 pivotally mounted on the upper end 91 of a shaft 92 which carries first gear 58.
  • Member 90 is connected by means of a control rod 93 and an actuating arm 94 to control means 52 such that control means 52 is operable to pivot member 90 about shaft end 91.
  • Holes 95 and 96 are formed within member 90 so as to receive and carry the upper end of shafts 75 and 76.
  • shafts 75 and 76 carrying pinions 61 and 62, respectively may be pivoted toward or away from toothed cam surface 63 so as to move one of the pinions 61 or 62 into engagement with toothed surface 63 while moving the other of the pinions out of engagement with the toothed surface 63.
  • cam 60 may be driven at high or low speed, respectively, by engaging pinions 61 or 62 with cam surface 63.
  • auxiliary basket 48 may be installed on agitator 14 and fabrics to be washed placed within basket 48.
  • Filter pan 36 may then be installed as a cover for the auxiliary basket 48 and detergent placed therein for the washing process.
  • Control means 50, 51, 52, and 53 may then be positioned so as to provide the desired washing action.
  • control means 52 may be so rotated as to cause pinion 61 to engage cam surface 63 thereby making first clutch 78 operative to drive the cam 60 at high speed.
  • Control 53 may then be positioned so as to start the laundering cycle at a position on cam 60 that will result in a wash time of the desired length.
  • Machine operation then proceeds through the washing cycle with the cam operated switch 67 being driven at high speed so as to substantially shorten the centrifugal extraction and rinse operations which follow the washing operation.
  • auxiliary basket 48 is removed from the machine.
  • the fabrics are placed within basket 13, and such detergent as may be required is placed within the filter pan 36.
  • Controls 50, 51, 52, and 53 are then actuated to carry out the desired washing cycle.
  • control 52 is positioned so as to cause pinion 62 to engage cam surface 63 thereby making second clutch 79 operative to drive cam 60 at low speed.
  • Control means 53 is then positioned to select a desired laundering time, whereafter cam operated switch 67 will run at low speed resulting in centrifugal extraction and rinse operations of normal length.
  • the cam operated switch of my invention is particularly adapted for use in connection with automatic clothes washers wherein it is desirable to provide for the washing of small loads of lightly soiled fabrics with a washing cycle having reduced centrifugal extraction and rinse times as Well as a reduced washing cycle.
  • a motor-driven cam-operated switch having at least one switch means, a rotary cam for selectively opening and closing the switch means in response to the rotation of the cam, and a drive motor
  • a two-speed drive train for selectively transmitting low or high speed rotational motion from the drive motor to the rotary cam, comprising:
  • first and second drive pinions for engaging said toothed surface to drive said cam
  • drive means connecting each of said drive pinions to said drive motor such that said first drive pinion is operative to drive the rotary cam at high speed and said second drive pinion is operative to drive the rotary cam at low speed.
  • a first uni-directional spring clutch for transmitting rotational motion in a driving direction only from the drive motor to said first drive pinion
  • a second uni-directional spring clutch transmitting rotational motion in a driving direction only from the drive motor to said second drive pinion;
  • said first clutch connects a first input shaft to a first output shaft coaxially aligned therewith;
  • said second clutch connects a second input shaft to a second output shaft coaxially aligned therewith;
  • said first drive pinion is operatively connected to said first output shaft for rotation therewith;
  • said second drive pinion is operatively connected to said second output shaft for rotation therewith;
  • said pivotally mounted member engages said output shafts.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Detail Structures Of Washing Machines And Dryers (AREA)
  • Control Of Washing Machine And Dryer (AREA)
US887190A 1969-12-22 1969-12-22 Washing machine with dual speed cycle control means Expired - Lifetime US3621730A (en)

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Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US88719069A 1969-12-22 1969-12-22

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US3621730A true US3621730A (en) 1971-11-23

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US887190A Expired - Lifetime US3621730A (en) 1969-12-22 1969-12-22 Washing machine with dual speed cycle control means

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CA (1) CA927124A (de)
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Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3711065A (en) * 1970-02-09 1973-01-16 C Lawrence Marine winch
US3765259A (en) * 1971-02-25 1973-10-16 600 Machine Tools Ltd Forward and reverse drive mechanism for a machine tool
US3809368A (en) * 1972-03-07 1974-05-07 Knowsley Eng Ltd Marine winch
US20070084254A1 (en) * 2005-10-14 2007-04-19 Messina John C Combination washer/dryer laundry basket

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3711065A (en) * 1970-02-09 1973-01-16 C Lawrence Marine winch
US3765259A (en) * 1971-02-25 1973-10-16 600 Machine Tools Ltd Forward and reverse drive mechanism for a machine tool
US3809368A (en) * 1972-03-07 1974-05-07 Knowsley Eng Ltd Marine winch
US20070084254A1 (en) * 2005-10-14 2007-04-19 Messina John C Combination washer/dryer laundry basket

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA927124A (en) 1973-05-29
DE2060543A1 (de) 1971-06-24

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