Patent GB-649232-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to clothes washing machines
IPC: D06F37/40
Filed: 1948-11-19
Abstract: 649,232. Washing and drying machines. BRITISH THOMSON-HOUSTON CO., Ltd. Nov. 19, 1948, No. 30152. Convention date, Nov. 20, 1947. [Class 138 (ii)] [Also in Group II] A clothes washing machine wherein washing is performed in a basket 4 by an agitator 5, the basket being afterwards rotated to centrifugally extract the water from the clothes, has a tubular shaft 37 and means for either oscillating or rotating it comprising a casing 6 into which an end of the shaft projects, a gear cage 31 rotatably mounted in the casing, gearing carried by the cage which connects an electric motor to the shaft for oscillating the shaft, brake means for holding the cage stationary, a clutch for connecting the cage to the tubular shaft, and rod 66 which extends down through the tubular shaft for actuating the brake means and the clutch, and has one operative position in which the brake means holds the cage stationary so that the motor oscillates the shaft and another operative position in which the brake means is released and the clutch is engaged so that the motor rotates the cage and the tubular shaft as a unit. The shaft 22 of the motor carries at its upper end an integral pinion 26 which meshes with a gear wheel 27 mounted on a shaft 28 carried by the gear cage 31. An eccentric 32 is formed integral with gear wheel 27 and is surrounded by an eccentric strap 33 provided with an arm 34 connected to an arm 35 formed integral with a sleeve 36 fixed on the lower end of the shaft 37. Shaft 37 is closed at its lower end by a bearing plug 38 whose head engages the upper surface of pinion 26 which forms a thrust bearing for shaft 37. A nut 43 having a triangular tapered outer surface is threaded on the upper end of shaft 37, and a tapered opening 47 in the agitator post 46 fits over the nut 43, the agitator being held thereon by a nut 48. A brake and clutch ring 51 having oppositely tapered surfaces 52, 53, is carried by the outer ends of spring arms 50 connected with a hub 49 on the top wall of gear cage 31. Clutch surface 52 is forced against the tapered surface of a brake ring 55 on the inner surface of casing 6, by means of compression springs 54, beneath each arm 50. Slidably mounted on the shaft 37 is a clutch disc 60 having a tapered rim 61 adapted to engage the inner surface 53 of the ring 51. The clutch disc 60 is provided at its central portion with a flange 62 through which extends a pin 63 passing through an elongated slot 64 in the shaft 37. The pin 63 and clutch disc 60 may be pressed downwardly against the action of a spring 65 by means of the rod 66, which carries at its top a nut 67 secured thereto by a nut 70. The nut 67 engages threads 68 on the top of the agitator post 46. A pin 77 attached to the agitator 5 and provided with a sleeve 78 of suitable resilient material such as rubber is located in a slot 76 in the bottom wall of the spin basket 4. The spin basket 4 is provided with perforations 8 and rotates within a tub provided with two drain hoses, one connected with the bottom of the tub and the other at a point somewhat below the bottom of the basket 5. Operation. The nut 67 normally stands in its upper position as shown in Fig. 2, permitting spring 65 to hold pin 63 against the upper edge of slot 64 whereby clutch disc 60 is held from engagement with brake and clutch ring 51, and springs 54 hold the ring 51 in engagement with brake ring 55. Springs 54 hold gear cage 31 stationary. The motor turns pinion 26, gear wheel 27 and eccentric 32, and the eccentric 32 oscillates shaft 37 to effect back and forth movement of the agitator 5. During washing, pin 77 moves in slot 76 which is longer than the stroke of the agitator. The spin basket is held substantially stationary by its inertia and water friction, being positioned initially by pin 77 engaging an end of the slot 76. Before drying is commenced the tub is partially drained, so as to leave water in the bottom of the tub to act as ballast but leaving sufficient space below the basket to hold the water extracted from the clothes. The nut 67 is now screwed down to lower rod 66, pin 63, and clutch disc 60 against the action of spring 65. The ring 51 is thus moved out of engagement with brake ring 55 and its surface 53 forced tightly into engagement with a tapered rim 61 of the clutch disc. This releases the brake and connects gear cage 31 directly to clutch disc 60 and thus through shaft 37 to the agitator 5. Thus, when the motor is operated, gear cage 31, brake and clutch ring 51, clutch disc 60, shaft 37 and agitator 5 are turned as a unit through the engagement of the teeth of pinion 26 and gear 27. The pinion and gear are held from relative rotation since gear 27 is held stationary relative to the gear cage due to shaft 37 being connected to the gear cage by the clutch. When the agitator is turning, the pin 77, on reaching the end of slot 76 carries the spin basket along with it. Fig. 4 shows a modification in which the friction brake ring 55 of Fig. 2 is replaced by a brake disc 85 attached to a hub 86 and having circumferentially spaced slots or openings 87 in its edge which engage plugs 88 carried by a clutch ring 89 to hold gear cage 31 stationary during washing. During spinning a clutch disc 90 is lowered to move plugs 88 down out of slots 87 and connect the clutch disc to clutch ring 89.