Patent GB-827159-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to clothes wringers
Inventor: SIBBALD FREDERIC ROY
IPC: D06F45/06
Filed: 1955-03-25
Abstract: 827,159. Wringers. HOOVER Ltd. March 8, 1956 [March 25, 1955; Aug. 26, 1955], Nos. 8862/55 and 24652/55. Class 138 (2). In a power-driven wringer comprising upper and lower rollers 14, 16 having bearings 12, 13, 15 rigidly mounted in frame members 10, 11 which are hinged together about an axis parallel to the axes of the rollers to separate the rollers against the action of a torsion bar 25, one end 30 of the torsion bar is anchored to one frame member whilst the other end 29 or a part secured to it is connected to the second frame member through a quick-release connection, this connection being automatically released by separation of the frame members, against the action of the torsion bar, beyond a predetermined distance. As shown, the invention is applied to a power wringer for a washing- machine. The torsion bar 25 constitutes the hinge between the frame members 10, 11, and passes through pairs of lugs 26 and 27 on the frame members 10 and 11, respectively. The end 30 of the bar 25 is keyed to a stressing arm 32 which is forked at 34 to receive an adjusting bolt 35 threaded into the lower frame member 11. In one example (Figs. 1 and 2) spring pressure is applied to the upper frame member 10 through a roller 61 which is adapted to be engaged under the slightly sloping end 62 of the operating arm 29 of the torsion bar 25. The roller 61 is rotatably supported in the sides of a U-section link 60 which is pivotally connected at 59 to a block 54 mounted on the member 10. The position of the block 54 can be adjusted by inserting one or more shims 56 between stepped portions of the member 10 and block 54. The block 54 is held in its adjusted position by a clamping screw 58. The roller 61 can be disengaged from the arm 29 of the torsion bar by means of a push-bar 65 rigidly connected to the link 60. The other end of the bar 65 carries a pin 69 (Fig. 7) extending into a hole in one wall of a recess 70 in the frame member 10. This end of the bar 65 also includes an extension 68 which is adapted to engage a stud 71 on the lower frame member 11 if the rollers are forced apart beyond a predetermined distance. The resulting movement of the extension 68 of the bar 65 by the stud 71 will disengage the roller 61 from the arm 29 and allow the frame members and rollers to be separated under the action of a spring 63 (Fig. 1) surrounding the tosion bar 25. In a second example (Fig. 9) spring pressure is applied to the upper frame member 10 through a foot 82 extending radially from a shaft 81 carrying at its upper end an operating lever 79. The foot 82 can be turned so as either to extend underneath the end of the operating arm 29 of the torsion bar 25 or to be retracted clear of it. The foot 82 has an inclined cam surface adapted to raise the arm 29 when brought into engagement therewith so as to lift the arm 29 slightly to transfer pressure from a stop 80 to the upper frame member. The end of the foot extends under an inclined edge of a cam-plate 85 so that when the rollers are separated beyond a predetermined distance the cam edge 84 forces the foot 82 to a position clear of the end of the operating arm 29. The upper frame member is thus released from the lower frame member and is forced open by a spring as in the first example. A knee-operated switch may be provided for switching off the motor which drives the wringer. Specifications 778,170 and 827,160 are referred to.