Patent GB-1508575-A (GB)
Title: Washing and like clothes or fabric treating machines
IPC: D06F34/20
Filed: 1975-06-02
Abstract: 1508575 Machinery safety devices HOTPOINT Ltd 2 June 1975 [9 July 1974] 30395/74 Heading F2J The lid 9 (or door) of a rotary drum washing machine, spin dryer or like clothes or fabric treating machine, is prevented from opening while the clothes drum 4 is rotating at a speed in excess of a predetermined safe speed (e.g. in excees of 2 R.P.M.) by a lever/latch assembly 30, 43, 49, 56 whose release although initiated by a push-button 10 and rod 55 is controlled by a rotation sensing device comprising a pivoted finger 22 arranged adjacent the drum 4 and carried by a pivoted lever 17 connected to the lever/latch members 43, 49 by a Bowden cable 26 which is rendered ineffective, i.e. has free movement, whilst the tip of the finger 22 is deflected by the rotating drum 4, when rotating above 2 R.P.M., such deflection angularly turnning the finger 22 to allow free pivotal movement of the lever 17, and thus under the Bowden cable 26 ineffective. When the speed of the drum 4 is below 2 R.P.M. or the drum is stationary, the finger 22 is no longer deflected and is positioned closely adjacent the drum 4 whereby the lever 17, to which the core 25 of Bowden cable 26 is connected, becomes immovable and forms a reaction member for the Bowden cable 26 which is now operative to release the lever/ latch assembly. An additional Bowden cable 59 is arranged between a brake band 13, arranged around a brake drum 14 on the clothes drum 4, and the free end of the lever 56 which is in camming engagement with a roller carrying finger 31 pivotally carried at the lower end of the lever 30 connected at 29 to the lid 9, the lever 56 being arranged to operate a microswitch 64 controlling an electric motor 5 for rotating the drum 4. Operation.-Closing the lid 4 turns the lever 30 to downwardly cam (via roller 34) the lever 56 to release the bond brake 13 via the Bowden cable 59 and, via the microswitch 64 energize the drum motor 5. To stop the drum rotating, the button 10 is pressed to downwardly rock lever 49 about pivot 65, the lever 49 having a forked extension 53 which is in engagement with and horizontally moves a slidable member 36 having an end 40 arranged to engage and turn the pivoted finger 31, via an extension 35 thereon, whereby the roller 34 rides along the lever 56 allowing it to move upwards to de-energize the drum motor 5 and via Bowden cable 59 apply the bond brake 13 to stop the drum 4. During this initial braking period i.e. whilst the drum 4 is still rotating above the safe speed, the lid 9 cannot be opened because the end 42 of lever 43 engages a locking abutment 41 on the lever 30 to thus baulk anticlockwise movement of the lever 30 and hence prevent opening movement of the lid 9. When the speed of the drum is at the safe level of below 2 R.P.M. or is stationary and the motion sensing finger is adjacent the brake drum 14, further operation of the push button 10 now acts via the lever 49 and the Bowden cable 26 to downwardly turn the lever 43 to free the abutment 41 for full opening of the lid 9. In Figs. 7 and 8 (not shown), the lid 9 closes into a recess from which it can only be released by a lug (67) on the arm 43. As before, when the speed of the drum is below 2 R.P.M. the button 10 operates the lever 49, and, via Bowden cable 26, the lever 43 which is rotated clockwise about pivot 48 to engage the lug (67) with the back of lever 30 to thus turn the lever 30 and hence the lid 9 to raise the lid 9 from its recess so that it is then free to be gripped by hand for further full opening thereof. Figs. 9 to 14 and 15 to 19 (not shown) illustrate further embodiments, for both front loading and top loading rotating clothes drum machines, which use similar arrangements of motion sensing fingers arranged closely adjacent the drum for sensing the rotary movement thereof to prevent opening of the door or lid until the drum speed is reduced to a low i.e. safe level.