US2859877A - Suspension system for spinner type washing machine - Google Patents

Description

Nov, M 195% K. 0. SlSSON mww SUSPENSION SYSTEM FOR SPINNER TYPE WASHING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 30, 1,954

I I l 1 576 "INVENTOR.

E. W222 u lf i I H l 26 Fig. 3

Kennet/r 0; Sisson B His Aframey Novyll, 1958 K. o. SISSON 2,859,877

SUSPENSIONSYSTEM FOR SPINNER TYPE WASHING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 30, 1954 \\\\"r INVENTOR.

I 1 1% 4 Kenneth 0. S/ssan 35 23s BY 9- 4 v His Attorney Nov. 11, 1958 K. o. SISSON 2,859,377

I SUSPENSION SYSTEM FOR SPINNER TYPE WASHING MACHINE Filed Aug. 30, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet S Fig; .3

K. o. ISISSION Nov. 1 1, 1958 SUSPENSION SYSTEM FOR SPINNER TYPE WASHING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 30, 1954 CONTACT TIME IN MINUTES Ig 15 [8 a l g4 27 CIRCUIT MOTOR PHASE LINE SWITCH MOTOR PHASE Fig. 8

RINSE-FILL MOTOR MAIN WASH FILL WATER HOT WATER COLD 6 l w -H 7 mm T 3 3 m3. o 5 I I I a r' 3 1| H r 6 8 8 5 J h M M g a w a m/ m l a 6 a A 2 7 K s 6 4 9 Ya. I .(J \lwb B H 6 4 .4 8 5 8M 4 United States SUSPENSIONSYSTEM non SPINNER TYPE WASHING MACHEJE Application August 30, 1954, Serialv-Nov452fl72 1 Claim. (Cl. Mil-3:65)

This application is .a continuation impart of lmy "co,- pending application S. N. 281,062 filed April 8, 71952 whichissued on August 14, 1956 asPatent 2,758,685.

This invention relates to adornestic appliance and more particularly to automatic washing machines having means for agitating the clothes within the tub and .for rotating the tub to centrifugally dry the clothes.

At the present time, automatic washingmachines cost much more to manufactureand sellthan the best wringer washers. These automatic washers have agitatingmech anisms involving a number of large expensive and complicated parts.

.It is another object of my invention to provide an improved suspension system for the tub .and agitating mechanism which is more simpleand inexpensive and which reduces the transmission of vibrations and limits their amplitude.

.It is anotherobjectof my invention to provide an improved support and snubber arrangement for the .tub agitator and .mechanism assembly of a centrifuging type automatic washer having a rotatable lower housing portion.

These andother objects are attained by providing'a washingmachinerin which the catch-basin surrounds the tub. The housing which'supports-th'e tub andagitator isresiliently mounted upon a conical-rubber member supported by the catch basin. The tub is rotatably mounted .upon the housing. At the bottom-zof thethousing, the tub .is connected by alternate two-way overrunning clutch mechanisms either connected :through ".a normally stationary friction device to theihousingzor connected -to a second housing, rotatably mounted upon the first housing. This second housing is reversibly r tatedabya reversible-motor through a pulley and ia'belt which surrounds the-second'housing. An agitator' within the tub is connected by a shaft zexten'ding through "the first housing "into the second :housing "where it is :conn'ectedrbyan vangularly mounted .bearing 'to a pivoted member connected to'the rotatable second housing.

:The drive motor rotates "in one direction to -rotate the 'second housing while the tub :is kept stationary atentO ice Figure .-2 is a top horizontal sectional view of the machine taken substantially along the lines 2-2 .of Figure .1;

Figure 3 .is an enlarged view of the mechanism within the rotatable housing with the wound spring clutch members shown in position for the agitating operation;

Figure 4 is a sectional view through the rotatable pump drive shaft and the driving pulley;

Figure 5 is a miniature sectional view of the .purnp taken substantially along the lines 5- 5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view of the snubber arrangement provided at the bottom of the rotatable hous- Figure '7 is a wiring diagram; and

Figure 8 is a timechart applicable to the wiring diagram to show'the various operations and connections throughout the washing cycle. p I

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly tojF-igure '1 there is shown an outer cabinet shell 20 provided withbox-shaped front and side walls having their lower edges .inturned to provide a mounting for the adjustablefeet '26. Within the cabinet 20 there is provided a catch basin 'having a vertical tubular portion 28, extending substantially .to the top of the cabinet. The vertical tubular portion .'28 connects to a bottom portion 3'0having araised center providedwith an opening. The vertical tubular portion 28 is provided with inverted L- shaped support brackets '31 adjacent its upper edges which'extend over and are supported by gussets L33 provided at the corners of the outer cabinet shell 2%. The

- outer shell '20 may be coated with porcelain enamel bethrough the vwindingtup and gripping of a "wound'spring clutch extending between a member connected to the tubrandtheifriction device connected'to the firsthousing. When 'the'fdrive motor is reversed this wound spring clutch is releasedand a second wound springclutclris wound an'dgrips to provide a connection' between the-rotatable second housing and the shafts connecting with thetub. p

Further objects and advantages of the present inventionwillbe apparent from the following description, reference being'had to the accompanying drawings wherein a; preferred form or the inventionis' clearly shown.

*In the drawings: 7

Figure .1 is a vertiealsectional view, partly diagrammatic, through an automatic washing rnaliine embodying pne' form of my invention;

fore the catch basin is assembled J'therein.

Extending over the opening in'the raised center-of the bottom portion 30 of the .catchbasin is a truncated coneshaped rubber-'likevmember 34 of ,a suitably compounded synthetic rubber. The upper end of this member 34 .is provided with a supporting ,fiange 36 fastened upon the supporting tubular housing 38. ,The 'tubularfhousing 38 is provided with a-concentrically located stop collar 37 within and spaced from the lower portion of the truncated coneshaped rubber-like member "34. This collar 37 upon'extreme lateralniovement of 'the housing 38 .engagesthe adjacent portions "of'the member 34 to limit the lateral ,movement of the housing '38. Rotatably mounted within this supporting "tubular housing 38 upon alower'bearing fitiand 'a suitable upper ball bearing 41 is a tubular shaft"42,1theupper'end of which connects-to alhub'm'em'ber 44' to'which the'tub e is connected'and sealed. "The tub 46 is provided; with a series of apertures'48' adjacent-itsupper periphery-and also an upper rim 500ireduced-diameter which-prevents the loss of the clothes duringthe spinning or-eentri-fuging operation. Toreduce the vibrations of the mechanism during the spinning of the'tub, the upper rim is provided with a spaced housing 52 so'asto hol'dmetalparticles '-5 3"between it'and' therim 50 to form a-suitable fiywheel.

Within 'the tub there is provided a flared agitatori5 4 which -is bell=shaped an d has' an' inner metal reinforcement-SS 'in its upper portion. *On top-of'the flared agitator 54is *a pilot 56 extending above thewa-ter level to prevent'clothes train-being caught'whenthe agitator "54; operates up anddown througha stroke of about -'/s'of an inch with a clearance ofabout l /'4 inches between the bottor'n'ofits"fiardskirt and the bottom of thetub" 46. Thepilot is"providedwith integralfianger'in'gs or annular ribs 57 .an'd 59'which agitateandiaeratethe liquid in theupper portion of the clothes and during the rinse-cycle to disperse and "dissolve any lightforeign mat ter on the top oif the liquid; The pilotis= fastened by a long screw 58 extending downwardly through its" top shaped cap nut clamps the central portion of the flared agitator member 54 and the top portion of the flexible rubber bellows seal 64 to a washer 65 on the top of the agitator shaft 62. The bottom of the bellows seal 64 is connected to a nut 45 threaded .onto the top of thetubular shaft 42 on top of the hub member 44. The seal between the bellows 64 and the nut 45 is made by a wire ring 66. The bellows 64 extends downwardly below the nut 45 and is clamped to an outwardly curled inner neck portion 68 of the tub 46. This bellows seal 64 prevents any leakage of the fluid in the tub into the mechanism and also into the catch basin.

The lower portion of the tubular shaft 42 is provided with a key 70 fitting into a slot 72 in the inner shaft 62 connecting with the agitator to provide .a slidable nonrotatable connection between the inner and outer shafts 62 and 42. The key 70 also provideda connection with the clutch member 74 mounted upon the outside of the shaft 42. This clutch member 74 is lockedon its upper side by a ring 76 fitting in a notch provided in the outer surface of the shaft 42 and lodged within a recess in the member 74. The bottom of the clutch member 74 rests against a second clutch member 78 surrounding the shaft 42 in engagement with a spacing sleeve 80 resting upon the inner race 82 of a ball bearing 84. This assembly of the members 74, 78, 8G and 82 is locked in place against the ring 76 by the nut 86 which is threaded upon the bottom of the shaft 42 and locked in place by a suitable lock washer 88. The key 70 also engages a notch in the member 78. The member 78 holds the turned in end'portion 90 at the upper end of a wound spring clutch member 92 which is wound in such a direction that the spring 92 will be unwound as shown in Figure 3 when the hub 94 is turned in the direction for the agitating operation. The hub 94 rests upon the outer race of the ball bearing 84 which is held in place by a cup member 96 riveted to the plate 98.

The outer periphery of the plate 98 is notched and its projections are fastened to the rotatable housing member 121. This rotatable housing member 121 surrounds the clutch mechanism shown in Figure 3 and has a plain hearing 123 at its upper end supported by the lower portion of the tubular housing support 38.

The rotatable housing member 121 is provided with a V groove pulley 112 which is fixed to its outer surface. This V groove pulley receives a V belt 131 by which the housing 121 is rotated in either direction. The housing 121 at one side is provided with aninwardly extending projection 129 which receives an inner spherical socket member 135 and an adjacent similar but oppositely turned outer spherical socket member. These spherical socket members hold the spherical bearing member 145 which has an inner cylindrical bearing and provides a pivotal and sliding connection between the housing member 121 and an extending pin 147 which slides within the cylindrical bearing provided in the spherical hearing I member 145.- The unbalance of these parts may be balanced by a suitable external counterweight. The extending pin 147 is in the form of a projection from the ringshaped member 149 to which is clamped by three bolts .151 the outer race 153 of a ball bearing 155. The inner race 157 of the ball bearing 155 is mounted upon the angular support member 159 against the shoulder pro vided by a reduced end portion of the inner shaft 62. The inner race 157 is also held in place by a complementary lower angular support member 161 set at the same angle to the axis of the shaft 62 as the support member 159. It is keyed to the shaft 62 by the key 163 and locked in place by a nut (not shown) threaded onto the bottom of the stub end of the inner shaft 62. The shaft 62 is centrally located within the tubular shaft 42 by a plain bearing 167 loctaed in the vicinity of the nut 86.

The clutch mechanism includes a second wound spring clutch member 171 which is wound so as to grip internally. The upper end of this wound spring clutch mem-'' her 171 is supported upon an outer spring engaging surface of the clutch member 74 while the lower end of this wound spring clutch member 171 is supported upon an outer spring engaging surface of an element 173 of a friction device. This element 173 is bonded directly to a friction disc 175 having friction facings 177 and 179 upon its upper and lower surfaces. Below the friction surface 179 there is provided a friction disc 180 having notcheson its periphery which are engaged by tongues 183 extending downwardly from an inverted flanged cupshaped member 185. A plurality of C-shaped spring members 187 having a projection 189 extending into the inner periphery of the friction ring disc 180 are provided for applying a limited pressure to the ring disc 180 to hold the facing 177 against the lower surface of the inverted cup-shaped member and to hold the friction ring disc 180 against the facing 179.' The upper portion of the inverted cup-shaped member 185 is provided with a plurality of inwardly extending tongues 191 engaging notches provided at the lower end of the tubular housing member 38. This arrangement therefore provides a friction device in which the elements 185, 187 and 180 are locked to the normally stationary housing 38 so that they do not turn.

The inverted cup-shaped friction element 185 through the friction facings 177 and 179 is connected to the member 173. The member 173 will be connected to the ele'' ment 74 when the element 74 moves in such a direction as to wind the wound spring clutch member 171 tightly upon the spring engaging surfaces of the members 74 and 173. The member 173 is also connected to the member 74 when the wound spring clutch member 92 is unwound by the spring engaging surface of the member 94 so that the outer surface of the wound spring clutch member 92 then engages the inner spring engaging surface of the member 173 as shown in Figure 3. The wound spring clutch members 171 and 92 are both wound so that their natural tendency is to engage the inner spring engaging surfaces. They are arranged so that when the element 94 is turned in such a direction as to unwind the spring 92, the wound spring clutch member 171 will be wound tight: ly on its clutch engaging surfaces. At the same time,"the unwinding of the wound spring clutch 92 will cause it to engage the inner spring engaging surface of the element 173. This will connect the tub shaft 42 and the agitator shaft 62 through the key 70, the element 74, the wound spring clutch members 171 and 92, the member 173, the friction elements 175, 180 and 185 with the tubular h0us ing member 38.

The tub shaft 42 and the agitator shaft 62 are thereby V prevented from rotating while the housing 121 is being rotated in this direction. This rotates in a circle the pivot point for the pivot member 149 thereby forcing the free end of this pivoted member 149 downwardly to the position shown in Figure 3 and thence upwardly to a position in which the inner race 159 has moved /s of an inch closer to the nut 86. A complete stroke occurs every revolution. This is caused by the fixed angular mounting of the inner race 157 of the ball bearing 155 on the agitator shaft 62. The upward and downward movement of the pivoted member 149 reciprocates the agitator shaft 62 and the agitator 54 through a stroke of about of an inch for agitating the washing liquid in the tub 86.

When the member 94 is turned in the direction to unwind the wound spring 92 and to wind the wound spring clutch member 171, the tubular tub shaft 42 will be connected through the key 70, the element 74, the wound spring clutch members 171 and 92 to the friction disc 175 When the member 94 is turned in the opposite direetion to Wind inwardly the wound spring clutch member 92 upon the outer spring engaging surfaces of the members 94 and-7'5, there is provided a connection'with the member 78 which is keyed by the key '70 to the tubular tub shaft 42 as well as to theagitator 'shaft 62. At the same time the wound spring clutch member 171 is unwound to disengage the members 74 and 173. This is the position the clutches assume duringthe spinning or centrifuging operation.

When the driving motor is stopping for terminating the spinning operation the wound spring clutch 92 will be unwound to provide a connection from the tub shaft 42 throughthe key 76, the clutch. member 74 and both woundspring clutch members 171and92 to :the friction elements 173 and .175 which rotate relatively to 'the elements 1869 and 185 to permit the tub 46 to .continueits rotation at a continuously reducing speed .as its inertia is gradually absorbed by the friction upon th friction surfaces 177 and 179.

Therotatable housing 121 is filled with liquid lubricant oil in the amount of between fourteen andtwenty ounces. This amount fills the lower portion when the housing is not rotating. When the housing is rotating the centrifugal fo-rce throws the lubricant against the inner surfaces of the outer wall of the housing 12-1. To supply lubricant to the bearings 40 and123 and the bearing surfaces below them, the inverted cup-shaped friction member 185 is provided with an oil scoop 193 extending out into the lubricant rotating with the housing so that the lubricant is scooped and splashed inwardly so as to supply lubricant to all the bearings in the housing. Anaperture 195 is provided at the base of the scoop 193 Ito direct the lubricant to flow into the portion where the wound spring clutch elements 171 and 92 are located.

The belt 131 connects to a V groovedrive pulley 226* provided upon the bottom of a reversible electric motor 222. The motor 222 is supported by the arms-223 and 224 clamped to opposite sides of thelower portion of the tubular housing member '38 by suitable bolts. Below the pulley 224) the motor shaft is provided with an impeller 234 of a centrifugal pump 236. This pump 236 is supported by the rods 237 from the motor 222. The impeller 234 includes a disc-shaped portion 233 and four radial blades 235. The die-cast impeller of soft metal has a sintered bronze ring 42% tightly fitted about its hub. This ring 42% rests upon a ring 421 of rubber-like material which in turn rests upon the annular beads beneath the impeller so that the ring 420 will align itself to the tight bearing provided upon its inner surface with the hub of the impeller 234. A non-metallic type of seal ring 422 or a seal ring of sintered powdered metal has its lower face in sealing relatively rotating engagement with the ring 420. The outer periphery of this ring 422 is sealed to a bellows type sealing member 424 of flexible plastic or rubber which is sealed into an inverted cup 426 tightly fitted into the shaft opening in the top wall 423 of the reversible pump 234. A coil spring 43% holds the adjacent faces together with sealing rings 422 and 42 The hub of the impeller 234 has a recess into which fits the lower end of the motor shaft 432. The impeller 23% is fastened to the lower end of the motor shaft 432 by a suitable screw 434.

The pump 236 is made reversible in an eflicient manner by providing converging tangential outlet walls 436 and 438 between which there is provided a trapezoidalshaped island 440. The pump has an inlet 435 connecting to the outlet tube 238 for the catch basin. The inlet 435 directs the how of liquid to the center of the pump. The impeller 234 rotates in either direction with the operation of the motor 222 and causes the principal charge flow on one side or the other of the island 44% depending upon the direction of rotation. A discharge tube 439 connects to the outlet 437 and extends to a suitable drain.

A flanged supporting framework 442 and 444 extends around the rotatable housing 121 and has its upper portion fastened to thetubular housing member GS immediatelybeneath the arms' 223 and 224. "The bottom portion oft-his framework includes a transverse portion 446 having a 'fiat smooth bottom'surface. Engaging-this flat bottom surface is a t grooved -'bear-ing -ring 448 of graphited -sintered bronze or other suitable material; These surfaces arekept free of lubricant-excepting "the lubricant which might be obtained from the contacting sur'facesthemselves such as powdered graphite. The ring 448 is riveted at three points to an inverted hat=shaped member 452 having its crown :portion 4'52 inserted in the center of a circular-ring 454 -;of-I=natura1-- or "synthetic rubber. This ring 454 is held in place by a flanged metal member 456 which is fastened to the dia'gonaltcross brace 458. This diagonal brace 458 is fastened at-its 'ends to the inturned flanges at the bottoms of'the outer walls: A pin 46% is fastened to the plate 446 and extendsadown wardly through a large aperture in the ring 448. .The lower end .of this pin 460 extendsinto the interior of the crown portion of the hat-shaped .member 450. Extreme lateral movement is limited by the engagement of the pin 460 with the inner surface ofthe crown "452 of the member 448. To apply a proper loadfto the adjacentfriction surfaces of the members 446 and 448 there is provided a conical compression type coilispring 462 which surrounds the ring 454 and has its lower end supported upon the cross brace '458andv its upper end supported within'the rim of the inverted hatrshaped member 450.

The washer is supplied withhot andrcold'water through the hot and cold water supply pipes .250 and :252. The valves 251 and 253 control the how of water from the supply pipes 25d and 252 into :a mixing tchamberr254. The mixing chamber 254 connects to a pipe .256'which directs a streamof water across an air gapzto anozz'le 258 for discharging water intothe tub:4.6. .The selection of either initial hot or initial mixed water ifill is :made by a switch 548 controlled by the knob 549 .-npon=.the top 21 of the cabinet 20. .The cabinet 20 is ialso'provided with a timing control 511 having its knob shaft 576 conected to a knob 578 also provided upon the cabinet top 21. This timing control 511 may be like the control shown in Figure 4 of my copending application S. N. 320,598 filed November 14, 1952, now Patent No. 2,748,585, but modified as shown in Figures 7 and 8 to provide for motor reversing.

The general control arrangement is shown in Figure 7 in which a supply conductor 540 through a push-pull switch 541 actuated by the knob 578 is connected by the conductor 543 to the switch terminal 3. The switch terminal 3 is adapted to be connected by the switch 592 to the timer motor 584 having its other terminal connected by a conductor 594 to a switch terminal 2. The conductor 594 is connected by the conductor 586 to the second supply conductor 598. This conductor 598 connects to the terminal 5. The terminal 5 is adapted to be contacted by the switch 568 connected to one terminal of the phase winding 528 of the motor 222. The' other terminal of the phase winding 528 is connected by the switch contact 569 either to the terminal 2 or the terminal 1 which is connected to one terminal of the main winding 529 of the motor 222. A second terminal of the main winding 529 is connected to the supply conductor 598. The terminal 1 is also connected by the conductor 587 to the terminal 4.

The terminal 4 and the conductor 587 are connected by the conductor 621 to the terminal 7. The terminal 7 is adapted to be engaged by a double throw switch 623 connected to the conductor 625 which connects to the terminal 6 as well as to one terminal of the timer motor 584 which connects to the switch 592. The switch 623 is also adapted to contact the terminal 8 which is connected to the water control switch 548. This switch 548 is adapted to engage the terminal 627 connected by the conductor 629 to one terminal of the hot water valve 251 while its other terminal is connected 7 by the conductor 631- to the supply conductor 598. The switch 548 is also adapted to contact the terminal 633 connecting to a conductor 635 which connects to a switch 639 adapted to make engagement with the terminal 6. The conductor 635 also connectsto a switch 641 adapted to: make contact with either of the'terminals 9 or The terminal 9 is connected by a conductor 643 with one terminal of the hot Water valve 251 while the terminal 10 'is connected by the conductor 645 to one terminal of the cold water valve 253. The other terminal of the cold water valve 253 is connected by the conductor 647 to the supply conductor 598.

The various terminals numbered 1 to it are connected in circuit by their respective switch members in the timer 511 asshown in the time chart, Figure 8. The'contacts 9 and 10 are alternately engaged to provide mixed hot and cold water which is effective when the switch 548 is in contact with the terminal 633 during the initial fill. This is also effective during the rinse fills when the switch 639 engages the terminal 6. An initial hot water fill is obtained when the switch 548 engages the terminal 627. Asjshown by the chart, Figure 8, the motor operates in one direction when the contacts 2 and 4 are engaged by their switches 568 and 569 to hold the tub shaft 42 stationary While the agitator 54 reciprocates. During the initial period the contact 8 is also engaged to provide either a hot or mixed water initial fill. Toward the end of this agitating phase, rinse water is added by having the switch 639 engage the terminal 6 as shown by the chart causing the tub to overflowto carry away scum. The motor is then reversed by causing the switch members 569 and 568 to'engag'e the terminals 1 and 5. This causes the housing 121 to'be coupled to the tub shaft 42 to spin thetub 46 to extract water therefrom. After the termination of this spinning period there follows a rinse fill with agitation followed by a second spin period or the final spin dry period as shown in Figure 8. v i V I In accordance with the provisions of Rule 780, reference is made to the following prior filed application: S. 'N.

316,375 filed October 23, 1952, now Patent 2,795,126, June 11, 1957.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, as may come within the scope of the claim which follows.

What is claimed is as .follows:

A Washing machine including a tubular supporting means, a centrifuging tub rotatably mounted upon one end of the supporting means, a rotatable housing enclosing a rotatable mechanism rotatably mounted at the opposite end of said supporting means having means connected to the tub for rotating the tub, a second supporting means connected to the tubular supporting means and extending around said rotatable housing to a point in alignment with the axis of said tubular supporting means, a cabinet sur rounding said tub and housing and supporting means, a member extending transversely across the bottom portion of said cabinet beneath said point, and a snubber having one portion in the form of a ring of resilient material with its periphery held by said member and a second portion in the formof a projection extending loosely into the interior of said ring but normally spaced a substantial distance from said ring and connected to said second supporting means, said second supporting means being provided with a friction contact surface, said member being provided with a friction contact surface in contact With the friction contact surface of said second supporting means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS McCarty July 28, 1953

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