Patent GB-721224-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to washing machines and the like
IPC: H01H43/10
Filed: 1951-11-06
Abstract: 721,224. Washing-machines. DE MARNEFFE ET CIE. SOC. EN COMMANDITE SIMPLE, E. Nov. 6, 1951 [Dec. 9, 1950], No. 25941/51. Class 138 (2). [Also in Group XXIV] In apparatus for automatically controlling the succession and duration of repeated operations in a washing machine, comprising ratchet wheels driven by two pawl plates, the ratchet wheels are arranged in two interdependent groups, in such a way, that the ratchet wheels belonging to one group, act upon cams which control the operations which are repeated at each stage, and the ratchet wheels of the other group, act upon cams which control the operations which are repeated once only at each complete cycle of washing, each group of ratchet wheels being associated with a locking plate acting upon the pawl plate which actuates the ratchet wheels of the other group. To a shaft 3 are keyed cams 16, a ratchet wheel 14 and a plate 10. A ratchet wheel 11 having one tooth 11a in every three (or more) teeth, of greater depth, is rotatably mounted on the shaft 3. A shaft 13 concentrically mounted on the shaft 3, has keyed thereto a cam 17, a ratchet wheel 15, and a plate 9. A ratchet wheel 12 having one tooth 12a of greater depth than the remainder, is rotatably mounted on the shaft 13. Pawl plates 5 and 6 are carried by a rod 4 on an arm 2 which is pivotally mounted on the shaft 3 and is adapted to receive a to-and-fro movement. Both plates 5, 6 may be raised by lowering a handle 8 rigid with plates 7 which act on pawls 5<SP>4</SP> and 6<SP>4</SP>. Alternatively, the plate 5 may be raised by the engagement of a pawl 5<SP>3</SP> by high portions of the plate 9. Similarly the plate 6 may be raised by the engagement of a pawl 6<SP>3</SP> by high portions of the plate 10. The cam 16 acts on members which are to be operated during each stage in the complete washing cycle. The cam 17 acts on members which are to be operated during each complete cycle. In a modification, Fig. 2 (not shown), the outer shaft 13 is carried on an end of the shaft 3 which projects beyond one of the two brackets 18 by which the shaft 3 is supported. The plate 9 and cam 17 are carried on the outermost end of the shaft 13, so that they may be replaced by cams and plates of different contour in order to alter the washing process. In operation, before the washer is switched on, the pawl 5<SP>3</SP> rests in a recess in the plate 9. The pawl 6<SP>3</SP> rests in the recess of the plate 10, but near one end, so that as soon as the shaft 3 commences to rotate, the pawl plate 6 is lifted. The pawl 5<SP>2</SP> advances the wheel 14 one tooth each time the tooth 5<SP>1</SP> drops into a deep tooth of the wheel 11. After one rotation of the shaft 3, the pawl 6<SP>3</SP> drops into the recess on the plate 10, and the wheel 12 is in position for the pawl 6<SP>1</SP> to drop into the deep tooth of the wheel 12. The wheel 6<SP>2</SP> is thus advanced one tooth, and the pawl 5<SP>3</SP> is moved on to the high portion of the plate 9. This stops the drive to the shaft 3. The length of each notch in the plate 9 may however be lengthened, so that the shaft 3 makes a second revolution before the pawl plate 5 is lifted. The pawl plate 6 is lifted again by the plate 10 since the lengthened notch 9a enables the pawls 5<SP>1</SP>, 5<SP>2</SP> to maintain the drive to the shaft 3. This may enable, for example, several successive rinsing operations to be effected. When the plate 5 has been lifted, the pawl 6<SP>2</SP> advances the wheel 15 by one tooth for every revolution of the wheel 12 until the pawl 5<SP>3</SP> drops into the next notch on the plate 9 in order to enable further operations to be effected by the cams 16. Pawls 11<SP>1</SP>, 14<SP>1</SP>, 12<SP>1</SP>, 15<SP>1</SP> prevent reverse rotation of the ratchet wheels. In the modified construction (described above) a further pawl is provided in association with a mutilated ratchet wheel keyed to the shaft 13, which has teeth corresponding only to the portion of the plate 9 which has to be covered after the various operations have been completed. This enables the plate 9 to be turned on, comparatively quickly, to its initial position, ready for the commencement of a further complete washing cycle. The shafts 3 and 13 may be disposed in parallel, instead of concentric, relation.