Patent GB-764256-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to washing machine
Inventor: GASTRICONE JOHN ANGELO
IPC: D06F13/02
Filed: 1955-01-28
Abstract: 764,256. Vllashing-machines. ALTORFER BROS. CO. Jan. 28, 1955, No. 2692/55. Class 138 (2). A washing-machine comprises a tub 9 for clothes, water and soap, the tub being substantially imperforate up to its top edge, a washing device or dasher 10 movably mounted in the tub, and means for operating the washing device or dasher in an orbital motion after filling the tub to the top edge thereof for splashing over the top edge of the tub the floating soap material and foreign matter. Drive mechanism.-The dasher 10 is mounted on a drive shaft 11 which is supported at its lower end by a ball bearing 14 (Fig. 6) seated in a recess 15 in the end of the shaft and mounted on a supporting disc 16 carried by a cup 17 suspended from a cross member 13. A rubber ring 20 interposed between the cup 17 and a bearing sleeve 19 permits gyration of the lower end of the shaft 11. A pulley 21 on the shaft 11 is connected by a belt 23 with a double-drive pulley 24 on the shaft of a reversible electric motor 25 carried by a support 26 pivoted at 27 to a machine casing 1. The pulley 24 is also connected by a belt 28 to a pulley 29 which drives through a one-way clutch a sleeve 12 connected to the tub 9. The clutch comprises three shoes 35 mounted on pins 37 on the pulley 29 and adapted by centrifugal action to engage a clutch drum 34 on rotation of the pulley 29 in one direction but allowing free turning motion when the pulley 29 rotates in the opposite direction. The clutch drum 34 has a hub portion 341 on which is wound a helical spring 40 the lower end 41 of which engages in a hole 42 in the hub portion 34<SP>1</SP>. The upper half of the spring 40 encircles a sleeve 43 keyed to the sleeve 12. A second spring 46 of opposite hand to the spring 40 encircles a second sleeve 50 keyed to the sleeve 12, the upper end 47 of this spring 46 engaging in a hole 48 in a bearing support 49. When the pulley 29 rotates in one direction the spring 40 transmits drive from the clutch drum 34 to the drive sleeve 12, the spring 46 being released from gripping engagement with the sleeve 50. When the pulley 29 rotates in the opposite direction the spring 46 will resist rotation of the drive sleeve 12. The pivotal mounting 27 of the drive motor 25 allows the belts 23, 28 to be tightened by means of a belt tightener 53 (Fig. 1 and Fig. 11, not shown). The upper end of the bearing support 49 is held in position by four springs 60 connected to rods 62 adjustably connected to the casing 1. Lubricant absorbing waste 65 may be inserted into contact with a bearing sleeve 59 through openings 64. Gyration control means (Fig. 7).-A strip 68 of friction material is secured in a recess 67 in a plate 66 formed at the top of the bearing sup. port 49. This material 68 frictionally engages a part-spherical surface of a member 69 which may be coated with a vitreous enamel and is secured by bolts 70 to the bottom 4 of a tub 5. Four tension springs 71 extend between ears 72 on the bearing support 49 and brackets 73 which may be adjusted by bolts 74. A flexible boot 77 extends between the driving sleeve 12 and a collar 78 formed in the bottom 4 of the tub 5. A spring 75 presses the upper end of the boot 77 against a washer 80, e.g. a carbon disc, which bears in water-tight relation against a casting 81 keyed to the shaft 12 and connected with the tub 9. Tub and dasher construction.-The tub 9 is provided with a row of perforations 82 near its upper edge, these perforations being normally closed by an elastic band 83 extending around the tub. One edge of the band 83 is secured directly to the tub the free edge of the band being forced outwardly during centrifuging by water discharging into the main tub 5. The upper edge of the tub 9 is provided with a rim 85 and a balancing weight 86. The dasher 10 is secured by a hand nut 99 (Fig. 5) to a connecting rod 98 secured by screws 97 to a casting 94. This casting 94 is journalled on a crank pin 92 carried by a crank member 88 secured to the drive shaft 11. The dasher 10 is provided with a plurality of vanes 101, some of which are preferably provided with flexible ribbed rubber fins 102. The motion of the casting 94 is controlled by a spider 105 (see Fig. 13, not shown) provided with two radial slots 109 engaged by a pair of slides 110 mounted by pins III on the casting 94. A second pair of slots (not shown) arranged at right angles to the slots 109 are engaged by further slides secured by pins to the casting 81. These parts are enclosed by a flexible boot 112. Operation.-The motor 25 and a hot and cold water mixing valve (not shown) may be controlled either manually or automatically by an electromagnetic timer. Operation of the dasher automatically distributes the clothes around the tub 9. The washing action is preferably started when the water is at a level between one third and one half the normal water level. During the washing operation the motor 25 drives the shaft 11 at e.g. 300 r.p.m., the tub 9 being held stationary by the coiled spring 46. To remove the wash water the motor 25 is reversed thereby driving the pulley 29 in the reverse direction and causing engagement of the clutch 34, 36 to drive the shaft 12 e.g. at a speed of 550 r.p.m. The shaft 11 is again driven at 300 r.p.m., the difference in speeds being due to the difference in size of the pulleys 21, 29 and serving to reduce vibration. The wash water is ejected through the perforations 82 by forcing back the band 83 and is removed from the tub 5 by means of a pump (not shown) operated by a pulley bearing against the belt 23. This is followed by a splash rinse in which the tub 9 is filled with water which flows over the rim 85, operation of the dasher splashing away the soapy material &c. over the rim 85. The rinse water is then removed by spinning the tub 9, the drying operation being assisted by the fan effect of the blades of the dasher 10.