Patent GB-483953-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to washing machines
IPC: D06F37/24
Filed: 1937-07-24
Abstract: 483,953. Centrifugal machines. BRITISH THOMSON-HOUSTON CO., Ltd. July 24, 1937, No. 20534. Convention date, July 24, 1936. [Class 23] [Also in Group VIII] In a washing and centrifugal drying-machine wherein an agitator A, Fig. 1, is oscillated within a receptacle R which remains stationary during the washing but is rotated unidirectionally at high speed for the centrifuging, a resilient mounting is provided for the receptacle for decreasing vibration due either to static or dynamic unbalance during centrifuging. The mounting is so resilient that there is a tendency, due to unbalanced load, for the receptacle to tilt and remain tilted during washing which tendency is decreased, however, by the provision of a stabilizing device. The agitator is removably secured to a vertical drive shaft 14 which is connected to a shaft 7 by a universal joint 11 and the shaft 7 may be driven from below by the gear described in Specification 452,402. The receptacle, which is imperforate except for a perforated overhanging guard ring 41 is removably supported on a carrier comprising a comparatively heavy annular wall 42 and radial arms 43 secured to a disc 44 having an upstanding elongated hub 45 fitting within the hub 62 of the agitator and surrounding the shaft 14. The hub 45 is freely mounted on a sleeve 56, Fig. 2, splined to the shaft and the receptacle remains stationary, due to its inertia, during washing when the shaft is slowly oscillated, but the receptacle becomes clutched to the shaft, by the centrifugal clutch described in Specification 472,149, when the latter is unidirectionally rotated at high speed for centrifuging. The shaft passes through a bearing 17, Fig. 1, having a spherical outer surface received in a spherical seat formed in the upper end of a stationary sleeve 16 whereby the shaft may tilt somewhat relatively to the sleeve. The resilient mounting for the receptacle comprises rubber rings 26, Fig. 4, mounted within a hollow post 20 extending up from the gear casing 6, one ring being positioned above, and the other below, a flange 28 projecting from a spherical collar 29 secured to the sleeve 16 surrounding the shaft 14. A friction ring 31 housed below the flange engages at its outer periphery with the lower ring 26 and its spherical inner periphery is formed with a seat for friction material 32 engaging the spherical collar. A similar ring 33 above the flange 28 is provided with friction material 35 and its outer periphery engages the inside of an adjustable sleeve 34. A rubber sleeve 24 is secured at its upper end to the sleeve 16 and at its lower end to the bottom of the stationary casing 1. To prevent tilting of the receptacle during washing a ring 76 is secured beneath the flange 27 of the post 20 and pins 77 are slidably mounted radially therein. The inner ends of the pins engage the sleeve 16, Fig. 6, and the outer ends engage a groove in a collar 75 rotatable about the ring 76. When the collar is in the position shown in full lines there is no play for the pins and the sleeve 16 is locked. When, however, the collar is rotated by an externally accessible handle 80 to the position shown in dotted lines the pins can enter depressions 81 in the groove in the collar thereby unlocking the sleeve 16 and permitting the resilient mounting, to become operative during centrifuging. In another form, Fig. 11, in place of the friction surfaces being formed in members positioned within the rubber rings 26 for engagement with the spherical sleeve, they are provided by a disc 98 spring-pressed against the nut 97 holding the rubber rings 94 and provided with a spherical seat engaging a spherical collar 103 on the sleeve 16. The skirt 3, Fig. 1, of the machine is also resiliently supported on caster carriages 85 by springs 82 and links 86 in parallel therewith. The links are freely supported on tongues 87 secured to the skirt 3 and the lower ends of the links are slotted to fit freely over studs 90 on which spring actuated friction washers 91 are mounted. This resilient mounting is provided for damping the vibrations of large amplitude which occur during the building up of the centrifuging speed and will decrease the transmission to the floor of any vibrations due to imbalance at normal running speed.