US2350218A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Description

May 30, 1944. J 35 REMER 2,350,218

WASHING MACHINE Filed March 18, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Jay firazzi'flefiemen ATTORNEY Patented May .30, 1944 WASHING MACHINE Jay Grant De Remer, Darien, Conn., assignor to G. De Remer Research Corporation, Union City, N. J., a. corporation of New Jersey Application March 18, 1939, Serial No. 262,652

23 Claims. The invention relates to washing machines having centrifugal separating apparatus for drying and represents an improvement over Motycka Patent No. 2,137,540, dated November 22, 1938.

When a basket, supported by a universal joint under it, is rotated about a vertical axis at cen-- trifugally discharging spinning speed, under certain conditions, it tends to pre'cess, that is, the basket axis rotates about a true vertical axis through the universal joint, following a spiral l path, swinging. further and further away from the true vertical position. To overcome this action, according to the prior patent, an accelerating force is applied to the basket, tangential to its path of precession, to cause the rotating'bas- 16 ket to move toward true vertical position so that the center of mass of the basket and its contents will lie directly in line with the central point of support. One form of washing and drying ma chine embodying the above principles may com- Y prise a tank having a basket driven by a vertical spin shaft having a universal joint and joumalled in the tank bottom.

According to the present invention, the gyratv ing motion may be applied to the basket by a 2 5 sleeve surrounding the spin shaft and spaced therefrom to permit the precessing movement of the spin shaft. Suitable coaction may be provided between the gyrating shaft and the spin shaft for the washing and drying operations. In

one form, a spherical plate or cup is journalled on .the spin shaft and a ring having a spherical surface is secured to the gyrating shaft. These surfaces frictionally engage during the drying operation to provide the corrective force above referred to. For the washing operation, a socket in a ring on the gyrating shaft engages a hub journalled on the spin shaft, this hub being movable into said socket by elevation of the spin shaft.

Suitable driving connections may be provided for the spinning and gyrating shafts. The gyrating shaft may have a large friction gear. secured thereto and the spinning shaft a somewhat smaller friction gear. suspended from the tank bottom, having a friction gear on each end engaging the gyrating and spin shaft friction gears. For shifting between washing and drying operations, a. stationary brake element is moved up 50 A drive motor may be and down by suitable devices. When the brake I element is moved upwardly, it engages the spinner shaft friction gear, disengaging the spinner shaft gear from the motor gear and positively engaging the hub on the spinner shaft with the recess in the gyrating shaft ring. Thus, when the shifting element is in upper position, the spinner is prevented from rotating on its own axis,- but is positively gyrated by the gyrating shaft,

The laundry machine, according to the invention, is particularly adapted for full automatic operation and, if desired, the shifting element may be operated by a suitable nut and screw mechanism driven by a small reversible control motor. Suitable contact and circuit devices may be provided for controlling hot and cold water and the control motor, whereby the clothes may be washed, rinsed and dried entirely automatically, each operation being timed without further attention from the operator after the clothes have been placed in the basket.

The invention also consists in certain new and original features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and advantages, and the manner in which it may be carried out, may be better understood by refer ring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical elevation of the laundry machine with parts shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the main drive shaft assembly;

Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a completely automatic'operation;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;...

Fig. 5 is a detail of the gyrating ring used for the washing operation; and

Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating the operation" of the vibration correction device.

In the following description and in the claims, various details will be identified by specific names for convenience, but they are intended to be as generic in their application as the art will permit.

Like reference characters denote like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification. certain specific disclosure of the invention is made for purposes of explanation, but it will be understood that the details may be modified in various respects without departure from the bi'oad aspect of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings and, more particularly, to Figs. 1 and 2, the laundry machine comprises, in general, an outer tank I enclosing an imperforate type of clothes basket II. The basket H is supported by a drive shaft assembly, including a spin shaft l2 and gyrating sleeve shaft l3. Main electric motor [4 drives both the spin shaft l2 and gyrating shaft l3, and control motor I5 automatically shifts the'machine back and forth between washing and drying operations. Pump It is for the purpose of emptying the tank into a sink or the like.

The basket I l is made of suitable material, such as sheet metal and comprises a dished bottom 28 running into an upwardly and outwardly flaring side wall 24'. An annular ring 25 having aper- 25 tures 26 is secured to side wall 24. Ring 25 has an inturned flange 21 for retaining the laundry during the washing and drying operations. A pluralityof bames 28 are secured to the side wall 24 to assist in agitating the laundry during 30 the washing operation. Two diametrically opposed baffles may be used, as shown, or any larger number. The basket I! is supported by stub shaft 2| having a top plate 22. The bottom wall 20 of the spinner is secured between plate 22 and cooperating plate 23 by welding, brazing, or in any other suitable way.

Tank I8 is made up of a structural base ring 3| supporting an annular side wall 32 and in turn supported by legs 33, three legs being shown for purposes of illustration. The bottom of the tank is made up of an annular trough 34 secured to the sleeve or pedestal 35. An annular flared bracing member 38 is secured to sleeve 35 and to the bottom of trough 34, as indicated particularly in'Flg. I. The sheet metal members 32, 34, 35 and 38 may be secured together by welding or brazing, or in any other way well known in the art.

The cover for tank I0 comprises a flat ring 31 seated within the upper edge of the tank and having an annular seat 42. Seated on this seat is central'lid 38 having 9. depending flared wall 38. Secured to the top of wall 39 is a flat wall 40. Walls 39 and 48 provide a chamber and acts as baffles to prevent water from being thrown out of the machine during the washing operation.

'At the same time, walls 39 and w have aligned openings for feeding wash water through supply hose I38.

The drive shaft assembly comprises sleeve 35 which journals sleeve shaft l3. which in turn journals spin shaft I2. The sleeve or pedestal 35 carries a lower shoulder ring 44 providing a radial bearing for gyrating shaft I3 and a collar 45 is secured to shaft l3 to provide a vertical t'hrust bearing operating against. ring 44.

The spin shaft l2 comprises a lower section and upper section 5| connected by a universal joint 52, permitting the upper section 5| to spin with the lower section 50 and also to execute a conical precessing movement about the center of universal joint 52, as will be explained more in detail hereinafter. Ring 53 is secured to for journalling lower section 50. Bearing washers 55 act between ring 53 and the shoulder on universal joint 52 to take the vertical thrust of spin shaft l2.

The upper section 5| has a sleeve 56 fixedly secured thereto, this sleeve being splined to receive a complementary splined end 51 of basket stub shaft 2|. Spring 58 acts between a recess in upper section 5| and the bottom of stub shaft 10 2| for a purpose hereinafter described.

To overcome precession, the gyrating shaft l3 applies an accelerating force to the precessing basket shaft made up of shafts 5| and 2| above universal joint 52. To impart, this acceleratin 15 force, friction rings 88 are secured to the upper edge of gyrating shaft l3. Friction rings 60 cooperate with a spherical cup or plate 6| which is secured to sleeve 82, which in turn supports bearing bushing 83 Journalled on sleeve 56. The

20 bushing 63 is flared at both ends for a purpose hereinafter described. The spherical friction surfaces on cup 8| and friction rings 88 are laid out about the center of universal joint 52 when in its lower or drying position.indicated in Fig. 2.

For transferring weight from the basket H to the spherical cup 8|, a sleeve 84 is provided, journailed on cup 6| by bearing ring 85. A shield 88 is secured to cup 8| and carries a felt washer 81 hearing against ring 84 for the purpose of retaining lubricant within the shield 86 and for ,preventing water from getting into the bearing mechanism. Shield 58 is secured to gyrating sleeve |3 to prevent water getting into the drive shaft assembly.

In the position shown in Fig. 2, the parts are in their drying position and the drying operation has Just begun. Spin shaft l2 rotates at a centrifugally extracting speed and at the same time gyrating shaft |3 rotates in the same direc- 0 tion at a slower speed. The friction members '58 and GI carry the basket shaft 2|, 5| journalled in bearing 83 in a conical path.

For washing, a gyrating ring H is secured to gyrating shaft l3. Ring ll, shown in detail in 5 Fig. 5, has on off-center recess I2 adapted to receive a ring or bushing 13 tapered to seat easily within recess 12. Spin shaft 12 is raised in a manner hereinafter described to cause ring 13 to seat in recess 12. Ring 13 is journalled radially 50 by bearing 16 and axially between collars l4 and I5 fixed on shaft 58.

For driving the machine, an electric motor l4 is bolted to saddle I9. Saddle 19 has side ears 1'! pivoted at 8| to side walls 18 of hanger 88. 5 Hanger 88 is suspended from pivot 82 secured to base ring 3|.

The shaft of electric motor i4 carries bevel friction gears 83 and 84, engaging respectively gears 88 and 85 on lower section 58 and gyrating 60 shaft l3. Spring 81 acts between the adjacent leg 33 and an ear 1! of saddle 19 to yieldably urge friction gears 83 and 84 into engagement with friction gears 88 and 85. A stop 88 is secured to a leg 33 and an adjustable screw 88 is secured to saddle 18 to limit the upward movement of gear 83 when it is disengaged from gear 86 for the purpose hereinafter described.

Referring to Fig. 2, the pump l6 comprises a casing 9| having an impeller 82 pinned to lower 7 v section 58. The casing 8| is iournalled on shaft 50 and has inlet 83 and outlet 84. Flexible hose 85 connects inlet 93 with a drain tube 91 connected to the tank bottom (Fig. 1). Flexible hose 88 connects discharge outlet 84 with a goosegyrating sleeve 3 and supports bearing sleeve 54 neck 88 adapted to be hung over the edge of a sink, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. The water flows in the direction of the ar rows and the flexible hose 95 resists the torque on casing 9| caused by the pumping action.

The position of the parts shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is the drying position at the beginning of the drying operation. To shift from drying position to washing position, the spin shaft I2 is elevated, this disengaging drive gears 33 and ing gyrating bushing 13 with the recess in gyrating ring 1|.

The shifting mechanism is as follows: A brake collar I engages gear 86 to elevate spin shaft I2, to disengage gears 33 and 06 and to stop the spin of shaft I2. The brake collar has trunnions I02 supported between arms I0 I. The raising and lowering of arms MI is done by control motor I which is supported on plate I04 (Figs. 1 and 4).

Plate I04 .is supported by the hangers I03 and by the adjacent leg 33 of the machine. Plate I04 also supports a worm gear reduction unit II 2 made up of a worm I05 on the drive shaft of motor I5, which meshes worm wheel I06 on screw shaft I01. Screw shaft I01 engages nut I00 having trunnions I03 connected to the forked end of arm I00 which is secured to pivot shaft III. Pivot shaft III is supported by hangers II3 from the bottom of plate I04 and carries the arms IOI.

It will be apparent from Fig. 1 that when current is supplied-to control motor I5, it will rotate screw shaft I01, causing nut I03 to move downwardly, which in turn imparts upward movement to brake collar I00 which shifts the machine from the drying to the washing position in the manner described above. Reversal of the control motor I0 shown in Fig. 1.

The above described machine is especially adaptable for full automatic operation. with such operation, it is only necessary for the operator to place the clothes in the basket and make certain settings and thereafter all washing, rinsing and drying is done entirely automatically, each operation being timed, and no further 'attention from the operator is necessary until it is time to remove the clothes from the basket for hanging out to dry or for ironing.

86 and engagwill bring the parts back to the position Referring now to Fig. 3, a circuit arrangement is shown for controlling the automatic operation. The arrangement comprises a dial having a clock shaft II6 which may be the minute shaft of any suitable clock or spring driven. Secured to minute shaft H6 is a contact arm II! which may be secured to shaft IIS byany ordinary friction clutch commonly used in clocks, whereby the contact arm I I1 may be rotated by the operator independent of the clock mechanism. Arranged in the path of the contact arm are sector rings II8, II9, and contacts I20-I3I.

The several sector rings and contacts are connected to a source of power II4 which may be any ordinary A. C. or D. C. household power line, which power is controlled by a switch II5. Connected in circuit is the main drive motor I4 of the machine and the control motor I5. Also connected in circuit is a solenoid operated water valve I35 connected in a hot water supply line H and a second solenoid operated water-valve I36 connected in a cold water supply line C. Connected in the hot water line H is a soap box I31 in which may be placed soap chips or soap powder which is carried into the machine by the flow of hot water. Pipes H and C are connected to mechanism, either electric hose I33 which passes through the cover of tank I0. 1

It will be understood that, if desired, the solenoid valves I35 and I 36, soap container I31, contact dial and control switch II5 may be suitably built into the machine.

Operation The drying operation will first be described since the machine is shown in position at the beginning of this operation. The nut I03 has just reached its uppermost position on screw shaft I01 and the brake ring I00 has just permitted friction gear 86 to engage motor friction gear 03 and has just released gear 86 from brakin action. Gyrating shaft I3 is already moving at washing speed and spin shaft I2- is beginning to rotate at drying speed. In explaining this operation, it will be first assumed that the clothes and everything spinning with the basket II are perfectly balanced with respect to the basket axis. In actual practice this condition will rarely or seldom occur and the basket will spin about a theoretical center of mass spaced from the geometrical basket axis, but the correcting action is substantiall the same in both cases.

The basket II partakes of two movements, (1) a spinning movement about its own axis, and (2) a gyrating movement about the center of universal joint 52, the basket axis describing a conical surface. Friction rings 60 carry friction cup I in acircular path, the basket shaft 2I spinning within cup 6| by means of bearings 63 and 65.

It will thus be seen that the gyro-stabilizer including gyrating shaft I3 exerts a force on the basket II tangential to its conical precessional movement. The direction of rotation of gyrating shaft I3 is the same as thedirection of spin shaft I2 and gyrating shaft I3 impresses an accelerating force on the precessional movement of the basket. The tangential accelerating force causes the basket to move in a direction at right angles to the force or toward true vertical position, the friction surfaces and SI permitting the basket II to take a true central position in which the vertical axis of drive shaft section 30 coincides with the basket axis, assuming the clothes are evenly distributed and everything secured to and partaking of the same movement as the basket II is perfectly balanced about the basket axis.

In case the clothes are not evenl distributed, the gyro-stabilizer will center the entire whirling mass about the theoretical center of mass which will differ slightly from the axis of the spinner basket and shaft 2|. In this case, there will be a slight circular motion of the spherical cup or disc 6| on ring 60, but the correcting force acting toward true vertical due to the correcting action of gyrating shaft I3 will nevertheless continue to exist.

After the basket II has been spun at centrifugally extracting speed a suflicient length of time to expel the water from the clothes. the automatic'control operates cont'roLmotor I5 in such direction as to drive nut I08 downwardly on screw shaft I01. This causes brake ring Hill to engage spin gear 86, disengaging it from drive gear 83 and arresting the spinning movement of spin shaft I2. Further downward movement of nut I08 elevates spin shaft I2, raising the universal joint 52 off thrust bearing 55, compressing spring 58 and moving sleeve shaft 56 and gyrating ring 13 upwardly to engage in the socket 12 ofuniversal joint 52 in elevated position,

of gyrating ring 1|, the tapered surface of these members facilitating seating of these parts.

It will be noted that the basket I I partakes of no upward movement, but that the basket shaft 2I telescopes down within sleeve shaft 58, compressing spring 58. Friction members SI! and 6| maintain contact, the flaring ends of bearing bushing 63 accommodating the upward shift of universal joint 52 which places it slightly off center with respect to the center of curvature of the spherical surface of friction members 50, BI.

This is the washing position. The gyrating shaft I3 carrying gyrating ring II positively moves ring I3 in a circular path, but the basket shaft 2| partakes of no rotation about its own axis because spring 53 provides sufficient contact pressure between gear 38 and brake ring I to hold these members in non-slipping relation during washing.

Thus the basket II with its measured contents of water and clothes is gyrated about the center the agitator blades 28 helping to tumble the clothes, opening them up and exposing all parts to the washing action of the water. The ring 25 and will now wash for a predetermined flange 21 on the basket prevent the water from sloshing out during washing, the baffles 39 and ll on the tank cover directing any water which might spout upwardly back into the basket and preventing this .water from discharging out of the machine.

After the clothes are washed for a sufficient length of time, the control motor I driva the nut Ill upwardly to the position shown in Fig. 1, this movement disengagin gyratin rings II and I3, engaging the universal joint 52 with thrust bearing 55, engaging spin gear 55 with motor gear 23 and disengaging the brake ring I00 from the spin gear 35. The frictional surfaces of gears 53 and 38 permitthe necessary slippin to drive spin shaft I2 up to centrifugally discharging speed. Here again spring 58 helps supply the necessary downward pressure to spin gear 56. Most of the weight of basket II and contents during drying is borne by spherical friction membars 50 and GI.

The automatic control functions as follows: Assume the contact arm I I1 is resting off all contacts in position X from a previous run and the switch H5 is open. The machine is in the wash ing position. The clothes will be placed in the basket and the soap container I31 will be filled. It is only necessary then to close power switch I: and to start the clock driving minute shaft Engagement of arm III with contact button I operates cold water solenoid I36 to deliver a measured amount of cold water into basket II. The moving arm II'I contacts sector rings II8, I I9, thereby starting the one-quarter horse power main driving motor I4. The machine being in the washing position, the clothes are then given a pre-rinse in cold water of, say, five minutes until the contact arm III hits button I2I.- This causes control motor I5 to shift the brake ring I00 to the drying position. The machine now spins the water out of the clothes for, say, five minutes until arm III reaches buttons I22, I23.

It will be understood that the time that ar'm III remains in contact with any of the buttons I2 Il-I3I depends upon the width of the buttons. with any given width of arm. The widths of the various buttons may, therefore. be selected to allot the proper times to carry out the functions controlled by the widths of these contacts.

opens hot water valve For example, contact button I20, operating cold water solenoid I36, may cause cold water to how for one and one-half minutes, assuming the water supply is adjusted to four gallons per minute and the capacity of the basket is six gallons. The width of button I2I may be selected to operate control motor I5 just a little longer than is necessary to drive nut I08 from its lower to its upper position.

Upon contacting button I22, the control motor I5 will be reversed, thereby returning the machine to washing position. At the same time, contact with button I23 opens hot water valve I35, causing hot water to pass through the soap box I31 and fill the basket with a predetermined amount of hot water and soap. The machine time, say, ten to twenty-minutes, until contact arm I I1 engages button I24 which again shifts the machine to the drying position.

The machine will dry for a predetermined time, say, five minutes, until contact arm III contacts button I25 which causes the machine to shift to washing position. Contact with button I25 I35 to give the clothes a hot rinse. a

The hot rinsing will take place for, say, five minutes, until contact arm II'I touches button I2T which shifts the machine to drying position, after which the machine may dry for, say, fivc minutes. The drying operation continues until contact arm III- touches button I29 which shifts the machine to washing position. Contact with button I28 again opens hot water valve I35 which fills the basket with hot water for a second hot rinse.

This hot rinse may continue for, say, five minutes, until contact'arm III hits button I30 which shifts the machine to the drying position. This drying operation will continue for, say, ten or fifteen minutes, if it is desired to spin the clothes dry enough for ironing, or until contact arm III engages button ISI which shifts the machine to washing position, or ready for the next batch of J clothes. As the arm III passes off of sector rings H8, H9 to position X, main drive motor It stops and, if desired. the clockwork may also have been set to stop automatically.

The machine is now at rest and in the starting position. The clothes have been spun dryand may be removed from the machine by the operator. The new batch of clothes may be placed in the basket; the soap box I31 filled again, and the automatic control set to operate upon this batch of laundry in the same manner as above described.

Comments and advantages I have found that the corrective or gyrating speed of shaft I3 must lie between certain limits with any given set of conditions for proper corrective action to take place. The behavior of a spinning basket supported by a universal joint under the center of mass of the basket obeys Equation #1 set forth below.

In the explanation of the various quantities below, the term spinning mass" means the basket and everything attached thereto and partaking of a spinning and gyrating movement, including the shafts 2| and 5I. If the basket is loaded with clothes, the load is also included.

The operation will be better understood by referring to Fig. 6 in which the same reference characters indicate the same parts as in the other figures. The true vertical axis passing through section 50 is denoted by I50; axis of basket II is denoted by by I52 and the effective diameter gyroscopically equivalent, to the mass is denoted by I53.

The Equation #1 is as follows:

(1) A cos-a 9 C 2+mgh=0 Where, referring to'Fig. 6,

A=the moment of inertia of the spinning mass with respect to the center of the universal joint 52.

C=the moment of inertia of the spinning mass the center of shaft the geometrical iii; the clothes of a fiywheel entire spinning with respect to its own axis of rotation, which,

' seventy-five pounds as there will be about six galh=the distance from the center of the universal joint 52 to the center of mass of the spinning mass, or radius of gyration. A then equals mh and C equals mr where r=the radius of gyration of a ring shaped flywheel having equivalent performance of the spinning mass.

It will be noted that the above Equation #1 is a quadratic equation. Solving the equation,

6 Ca: iVWuF- lA cos amgh 2A cos or The quantities in the above equations, A, C, m, y and h, are fixed for any installation with the basket carrying any given load. .Assuming that the spin speed is also fixed, and the angle with the vertical is also fixed, Equation #2 has two solutions for the gyratlng speed, one of which -may be called the "lower critical gyration speed and the other of which may be calledthe "upper critical gyration speed.

At these critical speeds of 'gyration, the basket axis will precess about its universal joint and at the given angle with vertical, the system will be in complete equilibrium, the angle or neither increasing nor decreasing. If, however, the gyrating speed be increased above its lower critical speed, the condition of equilibrium is changed and the restoring force tending to place the hasket axis in true vertical position moves the basket axis toward true vertical position. On the other hand, if the gyratlng speed be decreased below its lower critical speed, the basket axis will depart further away from true vertical position. At the upper critical speed of gyration. I hav found a contrary behavior. Here, increasing the gyratlng speed above the upper critical speed causes the basket axis to move further away from vertical, while decreasing the gyratlng speed below the'upper critical speed causes the basket axis to move toward vertical.

lying between the upper and lower critical speeds. It will be understood that the above invention of the spin and gyratlng shafts will occur to those skilled in the tio'n.

However, for purposes'of disclosure, aspecific example is given. The spinner basket may be approximately eighteen inches in diameter. The weight of the spinning mass including basket and art from the above descripspeed is reached, may be approximately forty pounds. During the washing operation the total weight wil be nearer ions of water, plus the clothes weight; The distance between the center of .uni-

gyrating shaft l3 may run bout 1'20'R. P. M.

Thus, it will be seen that a combined washing and drying machine is provided that is simple in construction and operation. I Both spin and gyratlng shafts'are located below the basket to permit easy access to the top of the basket.

Since the basket spills no water during washing,

will be about This type ablyfor full automatic operation, as both washing and drying operationsmay be carried on with the clothes in the same container. No water is required since water is prevented from sloshing out of the basket during washing and the tank I0 may be made of minimum capacity since it does not have to store water. The

even with the'hoies 26.

to be expelled during drying. v

The washing action is achieved by the gyratlng shaft rotating at the same speed as is used for correction purposes during'the drying operation,

A positive gyratlng drive is achieved for the washing operation. V

The machine may be almost completely made of pressed metal parts and impregnated oilless bearings may be used. Due to-the absence of either spinning or washing.

I have found that at any speed of gyration in axis always toward true vertical position. Fur:

sthermore, l have iormd that all speeds suitable The frictional engagement between cup BI and rings 60 is established by the weight of the ing them from the basket. The ring 31 normally stays in place and acts as a guard to prevent water discharged from the basket H'during drying from splattering out of the tank ID.

fo h washing operation fall within this zone, 76 The guard ring 31 is completely removable from of machine also lends itself admirthe tank for cleaning purposes and to permit the spinner basket to be removed. This member may be easily lifted out of the machine, the splined basket shaft 2i lifting out the sleeve shaft 56 and being easily replaceable therein.

It will be understood that the above theory of operation is given for the sole purpose of assisting in an understanding of the invention and is'not given in any limiting sense. So far as known at the present time, this theory is correct, but it will be understood that, regardless of theory, the machine will operate in the manner described if built according to the teachings of the invention.

Reference is made to. my co-pending divisional application, Serial No. 329,069, filed April 11,

i940, which contains claims to certain-features of the tank and of the basket.

Reference is also made to my co-pending divisional application, Serial No. 379,238, filed February 17, 1941, which contains claims to the mechanism for shifting between washing anddrying positions and to the electrical contact mechanism for controlling the sequence of operations.

While certain novel features of the invention have been disclosed and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

i. In a centrifugal machine, a rotatable basket, a stationary support under, said basket, a drive shaft having an upper section connected to said basket and a lower section rotatably mounted upon said support, a riniversal connection between said sections, means for driving said lower section at centrifugally discharging speed, a hollow gyrating shaft surrounding said first drive shaft and spaced therefrom to permit said upper section to precess, a spherical frictional member journalled on said upper section, said hollow gyrating shaft having a member having frictional engagement with said spherical member.

I 2. In a laundry machine, a shaft assembly comprising a supporting sleeve, a hollow shaft rotatably mounted within said sleeve, a shaft rotatably mounted within said hollow shaft and having a lower section and an upper section with a universal joint therebetween, a basket, a detachable connection between said upper section and said basket, and cooperating elements on said hollow shaft and on said upper section, whereby to impart a gyrating motion to said basket.

3. In a laundry machine, a shaft assembly comprising a, supporting sleeve, a hollow shaft within said sleeve, spaced upper and lower radial bearings between said sleeve and hollow shaft, an axial thrust bearing between said sleeve and said hollow shaft, a shaft within said hollow shaft having a lower section and an upper section with a universal joint therebetween, axial and radial bearings between said lower section and said hollow shaft, said upper section ending in a coupling element, a basket having a stub shaft with a coupling element detachably engaging said'flrst coupling-element, a spherical member journalled on said upper section, a spherical member secured to said hollow shaft engaging said first spherical member.

4. In a laundry machine, a shaft assembly comprising a supporting sleeve, a hollow shaft within said sleeve, spaced upper and lower radial bearings between said sleeve and hollow shaft,

said lower bearing also including a thrust bearing with said hollow shaft, a shaft within said hollow shaft and having a lower section and an upper section with a universal joint therebetween,

an axial and radial'bearing between saidlower basket, 9. drive shaft having an upper section secured to said basket and having a lower section jo'urnalled to rotate about a vertical axis with a universal joint therebetween, a hollow gyrating shaft surrounding said drive shaft and spaced from said upper section, permitting said upper sectionto execute conical movement, a spherical frictional member journalled on said upper section, said gyrating shaft having a spherical surface secured thereto and adapted to engage said spherical member during the drying operation,

said gyrating shaft having an off-center abutmentvand a hub membe journalled on said upper section adapted to engage said abutment for washing.

6. In a washing and drying machine, a basket, 8. drive shaft having an upper section secured to said basket and havinga lower section journalled to rotate about a vertical axis with a universal joint therebetween, a hollow gyrating shaft surrounding said drive shaft, permitting said upper section to execute conical movement, a spherical frictional member journalled on said upper section,.a spherical ring secured to said gyrating shaft and adapted to engage said spherical member during the drying operation. a gyrating ring having an off-center recess, and a hub member journalled on said upper section adapted to engage in said recess for washing.

'7. In a laundry machine, a supporting structure including a tank, drive shafts passing through the bottom of said tank including an inner spin shaft and an outer gyrating shaft, a large horizontally disposed bevel gear on said gyratingshaft, a smaller bevel gear on said spin shaft, an electric motor having its main drive shaft arranged at an angle between horizontal and vertical and having a larger bevel gear on its lower end engaging said spin shaft bevel gear and a smaller bevel gear on its upper end engaging said gyrating shaft bevel gear, a hanger pivotally suspended from said supporting structure. a saddle pivotally mounted on said hanger, said motor being mounted on said saddle, and spring means operating between said motor and supporting structure to yieldably hold said motor gears in engagement with said shaft ears.

8. In a laundry machine. a tank, laundry devices located in the tank, first and second drive shafts for operating said laundry devices, gears on said shafts, an electric motor having gears on opposite ends directly enga ing said drive shaft gears, and means for yieldably holding said gears in engagement.

9. In alaundry machine. a suppo ting structure including a tank. operatin drive shafts passing through the bottom of said tank and including an inner shaft and an outer shaft, a larger bevel gear on one of said shafts, a smaller bevel gear on said other shaft, 0. motor assembly comprising anelectric' motor having its main drive shaftarranged'at an angle between horiwhich is axially movable, bevel gears on said' gyrating-and spin shafts, an electric motor having-bevel gearsonopposite ends, one of which engages said. .gyrating bevel gear continuously and the other of which engages said spin shaft bevel gear only during drying, a brake ring under said spin shaft bevel gear having two positions, the lower position releasing-said-spin shaft bevel gear and permitting it to engage its motor drive gear for drying, the upper position raising said spin shaft. bevel gear and said lower element and holding them stationary for washing.

11. In a washing anddrying machine, arotatable basket assembly, a stationary support under said basket assembly, a spin shaft rotatably mounted upon said support, a universal connection between said spin shaft and said basket assembly, a hollow shaft surrounding said spin shaft, connections between said hollow shaft and said basket assembly for applying a corrective force thereto during extraction, means for driving both said shaftsfor the extracting operation, and. means-for arresting movement of said spin shaft but continuing movement of said hollow shaft for the washing operation.

12. In a laundry machine, a basket assembly including a basket closed at one end of. its axis and open at'its other end .for insertion and removal of articles, a plurality of driving members engaging said basket assembly adjacent said closed end, means for imparting spinning speed to said basket through one of said members for drying, means for imparting a translatory movement to the axis of saidbasket through the other of said members for washing.

13. A washing machine comprising a container for holding the clothes to be washed, an upright shaft to support said container with its axis substantially vertical, a universal mounting for said shaft,'means to effect centrifugal'extraction of the washing fluid from the clothes, means-opersleeve adapted to engage said member to tilt said member and basket about said universal joint to effect washing and a second drive means necting said power unit and sleeve to rotate the shaft at high speed to extract the washing fluid from'the clothes. V

16.- In a combined washer and extractor, a basket adapted to contain clothes and washing fluid, a supporting structure comprising a vertically extending tube, a low speed driving sleeve rotatably mounted in said tube, a high speed driving shaft rotatably mounted in said sleeve, a member depending downwardly from the cen tral portion of said basket, a, universal joint connecting said member andshaft to mount said member for tiltin about ,said universal joint during washing and extracting, means, operatively connectin said sleeve and member to progressively tilt said member about said joint in response to sleeve rotation to effect washing,

means to restrain the rotation of said shaft during washing and means to release said restraining means and rotate said shaft at a highspeed to effect extraction, the release .of said restraining means and the high speed rotation of said atively connected to said shaft to gyrate the same in an orbital path to effect washing, control mechanism for said two means effecting a continued operation of said second-named means, at least during. the initial operation of saidfirst-named means, whereby said secondnamed means decreases the magnitude of the gyration of said shaft during the acceleration thereof by said first-named means.

14.111 a combined washer and extractor, a basket adapted to contain clothes and washing fluid, a member secured at its upper'end to the central portion of said basket'and secured at its lower end by means of a universal joint to a vertical shaft, a power unit, drive means connecting said power unit and shaft to rotate the basket at high speed to effect extraction, a sleeve surrounding said member, means carried by said shaft being effective to interrupt the connection provided by said first-named means.

17. In a combined washing and drying machine, a shaft assembly comprising an outer supporting sleeve, a hollow shaft rotatabl mounted within said sleeve, an inner shaft rotatably mounted within said hollow shaft and having a lower section and an upper section with a universal joint therebetween, said sleeve and hollow shaft permitting conical movement of said upper section, a basket assembly secured to said upper section, cooperating elements between said shafts and said basket assembly, means for driving said inner shaft to rotate said basket at centrifugally drying speed, means for driving said hollow shaft to impart a slow speed motion to said basket.

18. In a centrifugal machine, a, basket rotatable about a vertical axis, means for supporting said basket below its center of mass including concentric inner and outer shafts, said inner shaft having a universal joint to permit lateral move-' ment of its axis with respect to the axis of the outer shaft, connecting devices between said shafts and said basket, means for driving said inner shaft for centrifugal extraction, and means for driving said outer shaft to control the transrational movement of the basket axis.

19. In a centrifugal machine, an open top basket, means forsupporting said basket for rotation about a vertical axis and to permit precession about a point under the center of mass Of the basket, a plurality of driving devices applied to the underside of said basket, one Of said driving devices spinning said basket substantially about its own axis, the other of said driving devices imparting a circular movement to said I basket axis about a true vertical line whenever the basket axis departs from true vertical.

20. In a laundry machine, an open top basket rotatable upon a vertical axis, concentric inner and outer shafts under said basket and having driving relation therewith, a universal joint incorporated in said inner shaft to permit it to partake of a movement transverse to the axis of said outer shaft, means for driving said inner shaft for centrifugal extraction, means to drive said outer shaft for washing.

21. In a laundry machine, a supporting structure including a tank, laundry devices in said tank, operating drive shafts passing through the bottom of said tank including an inner shaft and an outer shaft for operating said laundry devices, a horizontally disposed bevel friction gear on said outer shaft, a second horizontally disposed bevel friction gear on said inner shaft, an electric motor having its main drive shaft arranged at an angle between horizontal and vertical, said motor drive shaft. having a bevel friction gear on its lower end adapted to engage said inner shaft bevel gear and a second bevel friction gear on its upper end adapted to engage said outer shaft bevel gear, and means holding said motor shaft gears in engagement with their respective operating drive shaft gears.

22. In a laundry machine, a supporting structure including a tank, laundry devices in said tank, operating drive shafts passing through the bottom of said tank including an inner shaft and an outer shaft for operating said laundry,

devices, a large horizontally disposed friction bevel gear on said outer shaft, a second horizontally disposed friction bevel gear on said inner shaft, an electric motor having its main drive shaft arranged at an angle between horizontal and vertical, said motor drive shaft having a friction bevel gear on its lower end adapted to engage said inner shaft gear and a second friction bevel gear on its upper end adapted to engage said outer shaft gear, means yieldabl holding both said motor gears in engagement with their respective operating shaft gears for one laundry operation, and means disengaging said lower motor shaft gear and its respective operating shaft gear while maintaining engagement of said upper motor shaft gear and its respective drive shaft gear for the other laundr operation.

means for selectively separating and engagin a set of said operating shaft and motor shaft gears to control the movement of the laundry devices driven'thereby.

JAY GRANT DE REMER.

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