Patent GB-1096902-A (GB)
Title: Washing machines
Inventor: HASEGAWA EIICHI
IPC: D06F37/36
Filed: 1964-12-14
Abstract: 1,096,902. Washing machines. HITACHI Ltd. Dec. 14, 1964, No. 50861/64. Heading D1A. [Also in Division F2] A washing machine comprises a basket 2, made up of two parallel walls 101, 102 connected by arcuate walls 103, 104, and an impeller 3 at the centre of the basket mounted on a shaft 49 rotatable at high speed within a hollow shaft 46 secured to the vertical basket which is rotatably mounted in a water tank 1 resiliently mounted in a frame and during washing and rinsing a first or a second coil spring 72 or 90 applies a braking force to a member 67 according to which direction the impeller shaft is being rotated to stop rotation of the hollow shaft and a third coil spring 52 connects the hollow shaft to the impeller shaft during spin drying, means being provided to release each end of at least two of the springs. Tank 1 is drained through a pipe 20 comprising a flexible member 22 attached to a plate 21 against which it is pressed by a rod 19 which may be retracted by electromagnet 18 to drain the tank 1. Rod 19 also operates clutch 13 through a lever 25 pivoted to a cover 56 secured to a sleeve 44 secured by flange 45 to tank 1 and having bearings 47, 47<SP>1</SP> to receive shaft 46. A pulley 16 secured on impeller shaft 49 by a bolt 48 through a collar 51 is driven through belt 17 by motor 14 which is periodically reversed. Spring 52 is wound counter-clockwise round collar 51 and shaft 46 and has its upper end 53 secured to shaft 46 and the lower end 54 secured to coil case 55. When electromagnet 18 is energized a lever 25 pivoted on cover 56 is rotated counter-clockwise and its end 59 is disengaged from an engagement piece 58 secured to coil case 55 to release case 55 and spring 52. Thus, when collar 51 is rotated counter-clockwise, spring 52 secures shaft 46 and collar 51 together. When electromagnet 18 is de-energized, and 59 engages piece 58 to rotate case 55 so that spring 52 is expanded and disengaged from collar 51 which is thus disconnected from shaft 46. Discs 61, 62 secured to cover 56 apply a braking force through linings 63 on disc 64 which has a sleeve 67 rotatable round shaft 46 and sleeves 70, 71 are keyed on shaft 46 above and below sleeve 67. A spring 72 wound counter-clockwise has its lower end secured to sleeve 71 and its upper portion encircling and spaced from sleeve 67, the upper end being fixed to case 55. When case 55 is moved to expand spring 52, spring 72 is tightened and, if shaft 46 and sleeve 71 are rotated counterclockwisely, spring 72 connects sleeves 67 and 71 so that the braking force on disc 64 stops the rotation of shaft 46. Sleeves 67, 70 are encircled by a coil spring 90 which when shaft 46 and sleeve 70 are going to rotate clockwisely is tightened inwardly to fix sleeves 67, 70 together. Motor 14, electromagnet 18, water-supply electromagnet valve 7 and pilot lamp 9 are under the control of pressure switch 8, automatic/non-automatic change-over switch 10 and cam groups (79A), (80A), (81A), (82A), (83A) and (84A) driven by a timer motor (78) Fig. 3 (not shown) and a safety switch 77. Safety switch 77 opens when tank 1 vibrates too violently. Water supply valve 7 is connected to pressure switch 8. In operation, the articles to be washed and the washing agent are placed in basket 2 and, the automatic operation having been initiated, water is supplied up to the level as determined by pressure switch 8 and then the timer motor is energized. Meanwhile, electromagnet 18 is not energized so that basket 2 will not be driven. Rotation of basket 2 as a result of the rotation of shaft 49 is prevented, when the latter rotates clockwise, by spring 72 engaging sleeve 67 and, when it rotates anticlockwise, by spring 90 engaging sleeve 67.