Patent ID: 7107798

Claim:
A drive mechanism for a vertical axis automatic washer, the washer having a rotatable wash basket, a rotatable agitator concentrically mounted in the wash basket and a drive motor, the drive mechanism comprising: a first drive shaft driven by the motor at a first rotational speed and with a first torque, a second drive shaft arranged to rotatingly drive the agitator, a mechanism arranged between the first drive shaft and the second drive shaft to convert the first rotational speed and first torque to a second rotational speed and a second torque at the second drive shaft, a first clutch arranged between the wash basket and the first drive shaft to allow for selective engagement and disengagement between the wash basket and the first drive shaft, a second clutch arranged between the wash basket and the second drive shaft to allow for selective engagement and disengagement between the wash basket and the second drive shaft, and to allow for the wash basket to rotate with the second drive shaft when the wash basket is disengaged from the first drive shaft, but engaged with the second drive shaft, wherein the drive mechanism is configured to effect higher speed and lower torque during a water extraction mode and lower speed and higher torque during an agitation mode.