Patent GB-709738-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to domestic washing machines
IPC: D06F45/18
Filed: 1951-06-06
Abstract: 709,738. Wringers. LIGHTBOURNE, R. C. Sept. 8, 1952 [June 6, 1951], No. 13375/51. Class 138 (2) A wringer mounted on the top of a washing machine is driven by an electric motor or other power unit (not shown) carried by the 'hollow body 10 of the machine, the drive being transmitted through a driving member 23 (Fig. 3) rotatably mounted on the body and drivingly connected to one of the wringer rollers (19), and the wringer is mounted for pivotal movement about the axis of rotation of the driving member from an upright operative position to an inoperative position in which the wringer rollers are housed completely within the interior of the washing compartment, means being provided for securing the wringer in its operative position. Wringer mounting, means. The wringer has integral depending portions 21, 22 supported by brackets 12, 13 mounted on the cylindrical wall 10 of the washing machine, the brackets 12, 13 having bearing portions 14, 15 respectively arranged on a line parallel to but displaced from a diameter of the cylinder 10. The wringer is held in its operative position by the engagement of a transversely extending seating 43 on the portion 21 'with a similar seating 44 on the bracket 12. In order to pivot the wringer downwardly it must first be moved axially to disengage the seatings 43. 44 and this axial movement takes place against the action of a spring 48 in a recess 49 in the bracket 13 (Fig. 7). A pivot pin 46 is rigidly mounted within the bearing portion 15 of the bracket 13 and extends through the depending portion 22 of the wringer. An operating lever 51 formed with a cam end 52 is pivoted to the pin 46 and can be moved from the full line to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 7 in order to displace the wringer to the right. During this movement a clutch 27, 28 in the drive mechanism is automatically disconnected. Roller drive means. The driving member 23 comprises a shaft mounted for rotation and axial sliding movement in bearings 24 in the portion 21, and carries a gear wheel 25 which meshes with a gear wheel 26 on the lower roller 19 in both axial positions of the gear 25. The shaft 23 is connected through the dog clutch 27, 28 (referred to above) with a shaft 29 carrying a worm wheel 33 meshing with a worm (not shown) on the upper end of a vertical shaft 35 (Fig. 1) connected to the motor. A clutch operating fork 37 rides in an annular groove in a sleeve 36 formed. on the gear wheel 25, and can be actuated by means of a handle 41 (Fig. 1 and Fig. 5, not shown) through cam means Fig. 6 (not shown) to withdraw the shaft 23 out of driving engagement with the shaft 29 against the action of a spring. Roller-separating means. The wringer has vertical end members 20 consisting of upper and lower hollow castings 54, 55 connected by frame members 56, 57. The castings 54, 55 are connected by a pair of hinge bars 60 (Fig. 9), each bar 60 being hinged at one end to the upper edge of a side wall 58 of the lower casting and hinged at the other end to the lower edge 61 of the opposite wall of the upper casting 54. The lower castings carry one roller and the upper castings the other so that the rollers can be separated by pivoting the upper part about either axis of the hinge bars 60. The rollers are normally maintained in operative engagement by pivoted catch levers 62, 63, the lever 62 engaging with an abutment 65 on the lower side of the hinge bar 60, and the other lever 63 engaging with an abutment 66 on the casting 55. Each upper casting 54 has two trip arms 69 pivoted to it, the arms 69 projecting through slots 71 in the. castings and being connected by horizontal trip bars (as 72 in Fig. 1) provided one at each side of the wringer. Each trip bar preferably comprises a number of closely spaced parallel rods, to prevent the user passing the clothes between the trip bar and the upper wringer, instead of beneath the trip bars. By pushing either trip bar upwardly against the action of a tension spring 70 connecting the trip arms 69, a surface 74 of a recess 68 in the associated arm 69 engages with a nose piece 67 of the adjacent catch lever 62 or 63 and disengages the lever. The pressure of the upper roller springs (not shown) moves the upper part of the wringer to the position shown in chain lines in Fig. 9 or to a corresponding position on the other side, depending on which of the trip bars was displaced. The separation of the rollers is limited by slotted links 75 connected by studs 76, 77 to the castings 54, 55 respectively. A projection 78 on each trip arm 69 is adapted to engage with the nose piece 67 when it is desired to return the catch lever 62 or 63 into retaining engagement with its associated' abutment 65 or 66. Modifications. A clutch (not shown), may be arranged between the driving member 23 and the roller, instead of between the driving member and the shaft 29, e.g. by arranging that axial displacement of the gear wheel 25 moves it out of engagement with the gear wheel 26. In a further alternative the driving member 23 is in line with or integral with one of the rollers. Specification 683,909 is referred to.