Patent GB-890431-A (GB)
Title: Transmission for automatic washing machines and the like
IPC: D06F37/40
Filed: 1960-03-08
Abstract: 890,431. Washing - machines. BEATTY BROS Ltd. March 8, 1960 [Dec. 23, 1959], No. 8100/60. Class 138 (2). [Also in Groups XXIV and XXXIV] In a toothed gear drive for a washing-machine enabling a single drive motor 43, Fig. 1, to be used selectively either for oscillating an agitator 23 or for spinning a washing-tub 16, the tub 16, which contains a basket (not shown) and has discharge slots at its upper end, is rotatable with a case 27 containing rack gearing for oscillating the agitator, and the change from agitation to spinning is effected by releasing a solenoid-controlled brake 59 acting on the case 27. The tub 16 is secured on a tubular spindle 18 journalled in a bearing 15 carried by fixed bars 13, the spindle 18 being fixed to the gear-case 27. A balance weight 67 is adjustably mounted on the case 27. The agitator 23 is secured to a shaft 21 mounted within the tubular spindle 18 and supported by an upper bearing 22 in a tube 19 secured on the spindle 18. The lower end of spindle 21 is coupled by a member 35, Fig. 3, to a pinion 34 rotatably mounted on the spindle 18. A resilient strip member 70 acts on the member 35 to hold the pinion 34 against a shoulder on the spindle 18. The case 27 supports a gear 47 having in its face an eccentric bore 52 receiving a boss on a rack 53 meshing with the agitator pinion 34. The rack bears against the face of gear 47 and is held in alignment by the teeth of pinion 34. When the case 27 is held stationary the orbital movement of the rack 53 as the gear 47 rotates causes oscillation of the agitator pinion 34. The gear 47 is driven through an intermediate gear spindle 46, Fig. 5, by a worm 44 on the driving pulley shaft 38, Fig. 3. The case 27 carries a drum 56 engaged by a spring-loaded brake shoe 59 which may be retracted by manual or automatic timecontrolled energization of a solenoid 66. When the brake 59 is released the inertia of the agitator drive causes the case 27 and tube 16 to start rotating. The drive is thus gradually changed from agitation to spinning. As the spinning speed increases a weighted lever, Fig. 4 (not shown), which is mounted in the case 27 on the spindle 46, Fig. 5, and has its lower end formed with cam faces, is moved centrifugally against a spring to cam the end of a bracket 71 against the worm pinion 45 to brake the agitator drive, and thus increase spinning speed. When the motor 43 is switched off to stop the spinning cycle deceleration may be assisted by simultaneously applying brake 59. In a modification the brake drum 56 is replaced by a clutch-brake plate 90, Fig. 6, slidably keyed to the tube 28 of the gear case 27. The plate 90 is shaped as shown and frictionally engageable alternatively with a fixed plate 93 or with a groove in the drive pulley 97 on shaft 38. The brake is engaged by a spring 107 acting on a lever 104 carrying spaced rollers, Fig. 7 (not shown), straddling the pulley 97 to press the plate 90 against the plate 93. Energization of solenoid 66 to start a spinning operation releases the brake lever 104 and allows a spring 101 to move the plate 90 to clutch the case 27 and tub 16 direct to the drive pulley 97. This modification dispenses with the centrifugally acting brake in the gear-case 27.