Patent GB-718836-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to washing machines
IPC: D06F34/06
Filed: 1952-05-23
Abstract: 718,836. Centrifugal machines. BORGWARNER CORPORATION. May 23, 1952 [Sept. 14, 1951],.No. 13112/52. Class 23 [Also in Groups VIII, XXIV, XXXII and XXXIV] A washing and spin-drying machine comprises a tub B mounted for rotation in an upwardly open receptacle 95, an oscillatable agitator C mounted in the tub, power transmission means D in a housing secured to and forming a part of the bottom of the tub, an upright drive tube 218 (Fig. 3) connected to the housing, a shaft 203 disposed within the tube 218 and operatively connected through the transmission to the agitator, means connected to the shaft 203 to drive the agitator, means connected to the tube 218 to drive the tub, brake means F for the tube 218, spring means 332 (Fig. 4) urging the brake means to one position of adjustment and a device connected to the brake means to move it to its other position of adjustment. The tub B has an inclined wall 105 with a peripheral flange 106 which supports a throat element 111 having a corrugated flange 116 providing a series of apertures 118 through which liquid may pass during spin-drying. Sedimentladen water is prevented from being strained through the clothes by providing the bottom of the tub with a ring of apertures 120 and an annular cup-shaped structure 125 connected to an open ended conduit 130. The outer wall of the structure 125 is made eccentric to its inner wall so that on high speed rotation the sedimentcontaining water will be expelled through the conduit 130 into the outer receptacle 95. A balancing mass 60 is secured to the exterior of the wall 105 adjacent the annular flange 106. The supporting structure H comprises a base formed of angle members 40, 41 having four adjustable legs 42 and bent steel elements 45 with an enclosing cover-like member 46 having a large central aperture 47 (Fig. 4). The lower portions of an outer cabinet A are secured to the angle members 40, 41. Gyration suppression means I. Surrounding the tube 218 is stationary sleeve 50 to which are secured arms 51, 52 arranged in criss-cross fashion and extending towards the four corners of the machine. The outer ends of the arms 51, 52 are as shown in Fig. 11 and carry a friction lining 53 in sliding engagement with a plate 54 secured to the upper surface of the member 46. A spring 56 extends between the arms and the elements 45, and the four springs permit a limited offcentre movement of the driving mechanism and tub. Gyration control switch J. A switch 61 (Fig.' 10) in the main supply Line is operated by means of an arm 81 engaged by stops 79, 80 carried by a rod' 77 which can be depressed by means of a button 78 (Fig. 2) on its upper end to close the switch 61. The rod 77 is secured to a dog 73 pivoted on a bracket 66 and formed with a flange 72 adapted to engage a lip 71 on a latch 65 also pivoted on the bracket 66. When the gyration of the tub becomes excessive an arm 63 carried by the arm 52 engages with the end portion 64 of latch 65 and disengages lip 71 from flange 72. A tension spring 74 operatively disposed between the dog 73 and latch 65 causes the dog 73 to pivot and move rod 77 upwardly, thereby opening the switch 61 and stopping all operations of the machine. The operator must then distribute the clothes more evenly in the tub before the mechanism can be reset. The drive mechanism E. A brake drum 256 is mounted for rotation with the tube 218 by means of a key 255, while the shaft 203 is free to rotate in a bearing 258 in the drum 256. A clutch hub 266 is connected by a set screw 265 to a reduced diameter portion 225 of the shaft 203. A thrust bearing 271 is located between the brake drum and clutch hub, and the peripheral surfaces of the hub 266 and drum 256 are surrounded by a one-way clutch spring 270. When the hub 266 is rotating in one direction the spring tends to grip and wrap itself about the peripheral surfaces of the hub and drum to transmit drive therethrough. When the hub 266 is rotating in the opposite direction the spring 270 tends to upwrap itself from the peripheral surfaces and no drive is transmitted. The hub 266 is driven by a reversible motor G and can therefore be made to drive the shaft 203 to oscillate the agitator or to drive the tube 218 to spin the tub B and its contents. according to its direction of rotation. A flexible coupling 300 is provided to permit the tub and drive shafts to gyrate relatively to a drive shaft 285 mounted for rotation in a fixed hub 288. The flexible coupling comprises a sleeve 301 press fitted to the shaft 285 and having a rubber bushing 302 mounted thereon, a cover 303 encircling the bushing 302 being received in a counterbore in the hub 266. A pulley 315 on the shaft 285 is connected by a belt 316 to a pulley 317 on the motor shaft 318. A water-tight, seal 230 is provided between the tube 218 and sleeve 50 by means of telescoping segments 231, 232 urged apart by means of a spring and having a flexible cover 235, e.g. of rubber enclosing the joint between the segments. The bottom wall of the outer tub 95 is provided with a flanged opening carrying a rubber or like bumper 241 to permit limited lateral movement of the sleeve 50. An encircling rubber boot 250 prevents water escaping from the outer tub 95. The clutch spring 270 is protected from water and foreign matter by a rubber boot 272 which extends over a ring 273 slidably engaging the periphery of the brake drum 256. The lower end of the boot 272 has a lip 274 adapted to encircle and snugly engage the periphery of the clutch hub 266. The brake mechanism F (Fig. 9) comprises an annular brake band 325 carrying a brake lining 326 and provided at one end with a lip 327 which is engageable in a slot 328 in a latch 329 pivoted at 331 on a bracket 330 secured to the sleeve 50. When the shaft 203 is rotating in the direction of the arrow 336 the parts are as shown in Fig. 9, with the brake band 325 preventing the drum 256 and tube 218 from rotating, thereby holding the tub B stationary while the agitator is being oscillated. After the agitation cycle, sequential control mechanism M causes reversal of the motor G and a solenoid 335 is energized and through an arm 334 the latch 329 from the lip 327, against the action of the spring 332. The brake band 325 then rotates with the brake drum 256 in the direction of arrow 338. For the next agitation cycle the solenoid is de-energized and under the influence of the spring 332, the surface 345 of the latch 329 guides the lip 327 home to its position in the slot 328. Tub draining means L. The outer tub 95 has a sump 380 connected by a flexible hose 382 to a pump 385 whose impeller is driven by the motor G and is operative to discharge water through a flexible hose 396 irrespective of its direction of rotation. Semi-automatic machine. Figs. 17 ... 19 (not shown) illustrate a simplified machine wherein a manually operable control replaces the sequence controller M. Specification 710,541, [Group XXXVII] is referred to.