Patent GB-695927-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to clothes washing machines
IPC: D06F37/40
Filed: 1951-10-03
Abstract: 695,927. Clothes-washing machines. BRITISH THOMSON-HOUSTON CO., Ltd. Oct. 3, 1951. [Oct. 3, 1950] No. 23040/51 Class 138 (ii). A washing-machine comprises a rotatable spin basket 4 and a washing device 3 operable within the basket, driving means including a common driving motor for the basket 4 and device 3, clutch means 32, 36 normally connecting the motor to the washing device 3 and hydraulically actuated means for transferring drive from the washing device 3 to the basket 4, a motor driven pump 50 for operating the hydraulically actuated means, means for supplying the pump 50 from a reservoir of lubricating oil, a passage for conducting oil from the pump discharge to the hydraulically actuated means, another passage 57 for conducting oil for circulation through the driving means for lubrication purposes, a valve in the passage 57 which when closed causes a rise in oil pressure to actuate the hydraulically actuated means and means for maintaining or resuming the circulation of lubricating oil to the driving means after actuation of the hydraulically actuated means. The washing device 3 is an agitator which is oscillated within the spin basket 4 for washing purposes, the basket 4 being held stationary during this operation by a brake 43, 44 and rotated at high speed for spin drying by a clutch 41, 43. Both the agitator 3 and the basket 4 are driven by an electric motor which is connected to them through a rotatable gear frame 16. When the frame is held stationary by the brake 43, 44, the agitator is oscillated through the clutch 32, 36 and gearing contained in the frame. When the frame is rotated through the clutch 41, 43 the basket 4 is spun since the frame 16 is connected to the basket by a hollow shaft 10 which is concentric with a shaft 8 from the agitator. This element 43 which is common to the brake and clutch is also connected to the frame. The basket clutch member 41 is connected by a torque responsive spring and link system 42 as disclosed in Specification 625,325 and by an expansible bellows 34 to the driving member 32 of the agitator clutch and hence to the motor. Both the agitator clutch 32, 36 and the basket clutch and brake system 41, 43, 44 are operated by oil pressure. The bottom end of the motor shaft is formed as the pump 50 of vane type, which sucks oil from a sump forming the reservoir at the bottom of the motor casing through a pipe 52 and feeds it through an axial passage 56 in the motor shaft into a distributing chamber above the motor. This chamber also contains reduction gearing 28, 30 for the motor. From the distribution chamber the oil feeds either through the passage 57 and a solenoid operated valve to lubricate the mechanism or through an orifice 60 to effect the change from agitation to spin drying. When the valve is open the oil pressure is insufficient to effect the change and the oil flows through the valve and pipes 62, 63 to lubricate the lower bearing of the frame 16 and thence through a pipe 65 to lubricate the drive shaft 22 for the gears in the frame and is finally sprayed through a spud 70 to lubricate the gears ; the oil drips back to the sump, flowing over the motor to cool it. When the valve is closed the oil is forced through the aperture 60 and its pressure then rises until it is able to lift the clutch plate 36 against the pressure of a spring 38 to disconnect the agitator drive. The oil then flows past the periphery of the clutch plate and through a small aperture 61 within it, through apertures 72 in a retaining cup for the spring 38 and into the bellows 34 to expand it. This raises the clutch part 41 which engages the part 43 and lifts it from engagement with the brake part 44. The basket 4 is thus connected to the motor for spinning. The clutch part 41 is biased downwardly by a spring 46. The valve, Fig. 5, comprises an armature 86 within which a stem 85 is slidably mounted. A spring 87 is positioned between the armature and a valve disc 84 formed on the stem and when the armature is moved downwardly by current in a solenoid coil 81, the disc 84 closes an aperture 76, being actuated through the spring 87. When the change'to spin drying has taken place the oil pressure builds up further and lifts the disc 84 from its seat against the pressure of the spring 87 to allow the flow of oil to resume through the lubricating system, so that the lubrication is only interrupted while the change over is taking place. In a modification, Fig. 6, the valve stem and armature are made as a single unit but the valve disc has a passage 91 through it on which a disc 93 having a restricted orifice is positioned. This orifice causes the oil pressure to increase when the valve is closed so as to be sufficient to effect the change from agitation to spin drying while at the same time maintaining a flow of oil through the lubricating system.