Patent GB-625328-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to clothes washing machines
IPC: D06F37/30
Filed: 1946-07-12
Abstract: 625,328. Washing-machines. BRITISH THOMSON-HOUSTON CO., Ltd. July 12, 1946, No. 20926. Convention date, July 13, 1945. [Class 138 (ii)] [Also in Groups II and XXIV] Relates to motor-driven washing-machines of the kind comprising a spinner basket 108 for receiving clothes to be washed and centrifugally dried, an agitator 75 in the basket for effecting the washing operation, a rotatable frame 32 connected to the spinner basket, mechanism including a clutch 22, 24 and brake 28, 29, whereby the frame may alternatively be held stationary or clutched to the motor rotor, and mechanism for operating the agitator by relative rotation between a drive shaft 14 and the frame, the clutch and brake mechanism being arranged to engage the clutch and release the brake to rotate the basket for centrifugal drying and to disengage the clutch and engage the brake to hold the frame stationary for operating the agitator. According to the invention, the drive shaft 14 is connected to the motor rotor during the operation of the agitator by means of a further clutch positively connected with the first-mentioned clutch 22, 24, so that the rotor cannot be connected to the frame by way of the first-mentioned clutch until the further clutch is disengaged. The machine, which is constructed generally as described in Specifications 625,324 and 625,325, is driven by an electric motor and gearing enclosed in a two-part casing 1, 2. This casing is mounted below the basket 108 which is disposed in a tub. The motor is carried by a frame 9 in the casing, and comprises, as shown in Fig. 1, a tubular rotor shaft 15, in which is journalled the shaft 14 adapted to oscillate the agitator 75. The upper end of the shaft 14 is journalled in the lower member 61 of a twopart gear frame 32, which is supported in a bearing 80 in the upper part of the motor frame. The gearing in the frame 32 for oscillating the agitator comprises a pinion 64 on the upper end of the shaft 14, a gear wheel 65, and a crank 66 connected through crankarms 67, 68 with the agitator shaft 63. The hollow post 74 of the agitator 75 fits over the upper end of the shaft 63, as shown in Fig. 2, and is secured thereto by a nut 77. The basket 108 is mounted in a carrier frame 109 which is bolted to a flanged collar 100 formed on a tubular shaft 90. This shaft, which extends up to the nut 77, is fixed at its lower end by a collar 91 to the upper portion of the gear frame 32. A rubber ring 112 seals the space between the basket 108 and collar 100. A fluid-pressure pump 40 of eccentric-blade type is mounted in the bottom wall of the motor frame, the blades of the pump being mounted in a head 40 formed on the lower end of the tubular rotor shaft 15 and adapted to pump oil from a sump through an inlet pipe 42 and discharge it through an outlet pipe 43. A solenoid-controlled valve 49 is normally closed so as to prevent the flow of fluid from the pipe 43 to a chamber 47; which communicates through an axial passage 46 in the shaft 14 with the interior of bellows 19. These bellows are fastened between a movable clutch member 20 on the shaft 14 and a collar 17 secured to the rotor of the motor, being urged to collapsed position by compression springs 57. The clutch member 20 is provided with a clutch ring 22, which is adapted to co-operate with either a ring 23 on a clutch member 25 fixed to the shaft 14 or a ring 24 fixed to the underside of a clutch member 27. The clutch member 27 has a brake surface 28 which is urged by a spring 30 into engagement with a stationary brake ring 29, this clutch member being carried by spring arms 84 attached to a disc 31 on the lower end of the gear frame 32. Operation.-When the machine is used for washing, the clutch ring 22 is urged by the springs 57 into engagement with the clutch ring 23, and the brake surface 28 is held by the spring 30 into contact with the brake ring 29. The gear frame 32 is thus held stationary, and the gearing therein oscillates the agitator. For drying, the solenoid valve 49 is opened so that some of the fluid, which normally passes through a pipe line 53 in order to lubricate the gearing, is diverted to the bellows 19, whereby the latter is expanded against the springs 57. The clutch member 27 is then lifted from the brake ring 29, and the clutch rings 22, 24 are engaged so as to disconnect the agitator drive and rotate the basket. On closure of the valve 49, the bellows 19 are again collapsed, fluid escaping therefrom through openings 59.