Patent GB-782976-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in control means for clothes washers
IPC: D06F39/08
Filed: 1954-01-20
Abstract: 782,976. Washing-machines. GENERAL ELECTRIC CO. Jan. 20, 1954 [Jan. 21, 1953], No. 1732/54. Class 138 (2). [Also in Group XXXVII] An automatic washing machine having a rotatable substantially imperforate basket 9 resiliently mounted within a stationary tub 8, and agitating means 12, comprises drive mechanism operable to drive the agitator 12 and rotate the basket 9, water fill means discharging into the basket, overflow means 10 discharging from the basket into the tub, and control means for sequentially operating the fill means and drive mechanism and comprising a manuallycontrolled switch for the fill means and drive mechanism, a water level switch 55 carried by the tub and having a first position rendering the water fill means effective and a second position de-energizing the water fill means and energizing the drive mechanism following operation of the manual switch, resilient means 67 normally biasing the switch 55 to the first position regardless of water level within the tub, and a flexible connection 70 between the resilient means 67 and the resiliently supported basket operable in response to a predetermined weight of the basket and contents to counteract the biasing force on the switch, whereby the switch 55 operates to the second position in response to water level within the tub. General arrangement.-The basket 9, a drive motor 14 and a drive mechanism housing 24 are supported by means of three or more springs 41 secured to a base frame 37 and brackets 39. Friction pads 42 on the frame 37 co-operate with spring-biased yokes 43 on the brackets 39 to act as friction dampers during spin drying. The machine may be levelled by means of adjustable feet 4. The motor 14 is reversible and drives the basket 9 or the agitator 12 through a bi-directional clutch 16, 20, e.g. as described in Specification 706,500, [Group XXIV]. Liquid supply and discharge.-Hot and cold supply pipes have a common discharge line (not shown) extending over the lip of the basket 9. On reaching the level of ports 32 or 35 (depending on the position of a level selector 33 slidable within the agitator 12) the liquid overflows into the tub 8 to operate the liquid level switch 55. This switch is operated by a diaphragm 59 having a projection 61 bearing on a switch operating arm 62 pivoted at 63 and biased to the position shown in Fig. 1 by a spring 64. A spring 67 acting on a lever 65 pivoted at 66 prevents downward movement of the diaphragm 59 unless there is sufficient water in the basket 9 to depress the basket and associated mechanism and allow the lever 65 to be rotated to the Fig. 2 position (not shown) by means of an arm 71 fixed to the housing 24 and connected to the lever 65 by a nylon cord 70. Switch 55 is a snap-action switch operated in one direction by a button 57 and in the other direction by a pin 58. The tub 8 is emptied by means of a pump having an impeller 46 on the shaft of the motor 14, an inlet 47 and outlet hose 48. The pump empties the tub 8 when rotated in either direction. Flexible connections 49, 53 allow movement of the pump and basket relatively to the tub. Control circuit.-This comprises six switches 90, 93, 95, 96, 97, 98 (Fig. 4) operated by six cams (not shown) driven by a control motor 105. The water level switch comprises a double pole double throw switch having contacts 101 ... 104 and a movable blade 100. Hot and cold water lines 106, 107 respectively include solenoid-operated valves 108, 110 respectively. A cam 87 can be manually adjusted to select hot water or a mixture of hot and cold water. The motor 14 comprises a main winding 112, start winding 113, a centrifugallyoperated switch 114 and a rotor 115. Operation.-Closure of a line switch 86a completes a circuit through switch 95, a hot water solenoid 109, contacts 101, 102 and then through motors 105, 14 in parallel. The impedance of either or both of the water solenoids 109, 111 greatly exceeds the impedance of the drive motor so that the valves are actuated to admit water to the machine but neither of the motors 105, 14 is operated. Water flows into the basket 9, depresses the basket, overflows into the tub and operates the water level switch to bridge contacts 103, 104, and stop the water supply. Motors 105, 14 are then operated to drive the cams and agitator respectively. After 12¢ minutes of agitation a cam raises arm 98 to close contacts 88, 89, 99, and 1¢ minutes later switch 93 opens, thereby stopping the motor 14, while motor 105 continues to run. Switches 95, 96, 97 change over and when switch 93 recloses, the motor 14 is driven in reverse to spin the basket 9. Approximately 45 seconds after commencement of spin, switch 93 opens for e.g. 45 seconds to avoid " suds lock." In addition, a short cold water spray is provided early in the spin period by a changeover of switch 90. Just before 22 minutes from the beginning of rotation of the cams switch 93 opens for approximately two minutes to allow the basket to coast to a standstill. The water level switch has moved to its upper position during the spin period so that when switch 93 recloses, the water valves are opened as before to supply mixed water for rinsing. Rinse agitation continues until the 27 minute point and then after 1 minute's pause a final spin takes place for approximately six minutes. Specification 619,422 also is referred to.