US3459461A - Washer-extractor unitary frame structure with parallel plates - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 5, 1969 T. w. BANNON, JR 3,459,461

WASHER'EXTRACTOR UNITARY FRAME STRUCTURE WITH PARALLEL PLATES Filed Oct. 2, 1967 2 LL N \W w 1 h 1% a y: t,

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ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,459,461 WASHER-EXTRACTOR UNITARY FRAME STRUC- TURE WITH PARALLEL PLATES Thomas W. Bannon, Jr., 927 39th Ave.,

East Moline, Ill. 61244 Filed Oct. 2, 1967, Ser. No. 672,364 Int. Cl. F26b 11/04; D06f 23/02 US. Cl. 312-214 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A cabinet for a laundry machine having front, intermediate and rear vertical panels with side panels at the edges thereof. A tubular shell is mounted between an opening in the front panel and the bulkhead panel. Between the bulkhead panel and the rear panel there is mounted a drive support comprising a pair of spaced, horizontal, parallel panels with a pair of parallel, vertical panels welded therebetween.

The present invention relates to a cabinet construction for a laundry machine of the washer-extractor type and more particularly to a drive support panel assembly forming a unitary structure with the other frame elements.

In one form of laundry machine, the basket is rotatably mounted on a horizontal axis upon a frame structure enclosed within a cabinet. Such laundry machines, particularly of the washer-extractor type and commercial units, generally required rigid, expensive structural frame members to absorb the load resulting from the operation of the rotating basket and the basket driving mechanism. The frame members are generally separate from the housing or cabinet which is itself incapable of absorbing any load incidental to the operation of the machine. As the capacity of the laundry machine is increased, various forms of A-frame constructions have generally been employed to withstand the severe loads generated by the operation of such machines. While these various structures are satisfactory in absorbing the loads, the cost of manufacturing such substantial structures is generally out of proportion to the cost of the other components of the machine. This increased cost is generally due to the large number of structural elements required and to the complexity in assembling the elements to form a rigid and substantial frame structure.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved frame structure for a laundry machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a frame structure for laundry machines which is inexpensive to manufacture yet is simple and rugged in construction.

In one aspect of the invention, there "may be provided in a laundry machine cabinet a front panel, a rear panel and an intermediate bulkhead panel between the front and rear panels with the three panels being in spaced parallel relationship. Side panels are at the edges of these three panels. A tubular sheel has one end mounted in an opening in the front panel with a slip fit and its other end attached to the bulkhead panel so as to define a basket securing chamber within the cabinet. A pair of spaced parallel horizontal panels is fixed to the bulkhead and rear panels at an elevation above the bottom edges of said panels and below the centerline of the tubular shell. A pair of spaced parallel vertical panels is attached between the parallel horizontal panels. The horizontal and vertical panels define an H-shaped panel assembly to form a support for the drive for the basket rotatably mounted within the basket-receiving chamber.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings which are merely exemplary.

3,459,461 Patented Aug. 5, 1969 In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of the cabinet and frame construction of a laundry machine according to the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference symbolts indicate the same parts throughout the various views, a specific embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

The structure according to the invention may be incorporated in a laundry machine cabinet indicated generally at 10 and comprising a front panel 11 and side panels 12 and 13 which may be formed from a single sheet of material. The front panel is provided with a circular opening 14.

The cabinet is supported by a base assembly 15 which may comprise four base angles, such as 16 and 17, which are welded into a rectangular shape. The cabinet is enclosed by a top panel 18 and a rear panel 19.

An intermediate bulkhead panel 20 having flanges 21 is mounted between the front and rear panels and substantially parallel thereto, as may be seen in FIG. 1. A tubular shell 22 is mounted with its one end 23 received in front panel opening 14 and its other end 24 being connected to the bulkhead panel 20. The centerline of the tubular shell 22 is indicated at 25 and the shell thus defines a basket-receiving chamber within the cabinet.

The drive support assembly for the basket driving mechanism is indicated generally at 26 and is substantially H-shaped. The assembly comprises a pair of spaced parallel horizontal panels 27 and 28 having flanges along their edges, the horizontal panels being attached, such as by spot welding, to bulkhead panel 20, rear panel 19, and side panels 12 and 13.

A pair of spaced parallel vertical panels or support members 29 and 30 having flanges along their edges is welded between the horizontal panels in substantially the position shown in FIG. 2.

As may be seen from the drawings, the drive support assembly 26 is mounted at a substantial elevation above the bottom of the cabinet but just below the centerline of the basket shell. The drive shaft for the basket is substantially coextensive with centerline 25 and may be driven through a suitable electric motor and gear drive mounted on the upper panel 27. The H-shaped drive support assembly comprising the parallel, horizontal panels interconnected by parallel, vertical panels thus provides a rugged yet relatively simple support for the drive of the laundry machine.

Thus, it can be seen that the present invention provides a cabinet structure for laundry machines and the like which is simply constructed yet is able to withstand the vibrations and stresses of constant operation of the machine. The construction of the drive support assembly and its mounting between the bulkhead and rear panels provides a substantial platform for the drive mechanism of the laundry machine.

It will be understood that changes in various details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention except as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a laundry machine cabinet, the combination of a front panel and a rear panel; an intermediate bulkhead panel between said front and rear panels, said panels being in spaced, parallel relationship; side panels at the edges of said panels, there being an opening in said front panel; a tubular shell having one end thereof secured to said opening and the other end thereof secured to said bulkhead panel to define a basket receiving chamber within said cabinet; and an H-shaped panel assembly attached between said bulkhead, rear and side panels said H-shaped panel assembly comprising a pair of spaced, parallel, horizontal panels fixed to said bulkhead and rear panels at an elevation above the bottom edges of said panels, and a pair of spaced, parallel, vertical panels fixed between said parallel horizontal panels, said horizontals and vetrical panels defining a support for the drive for the basket within the basket receiving chamber.

2. In a laundry machine cabinet as claimed in claim 1 wherein said horizontal panels have flanges on the edges thereof for attaching to said bulkhead, rear and side panels.

3. In a laundry machine cabinet as claimed in claim 1 wherein said vertical panels have flanges on their upper 15 and lower edges for attaching to said horizontal panels.

4 4. In a laundry machine cabinet as claimed in claim 1 wherein said horizontal panels are below the centerline of said tubular shell.

5. In a laundry machine cabinet as claimed in claim 1 wherein said horizontal and vetrical panels are welded to their respective panels.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 3,206,267 9/1965 Gruner et a1 312-228 3,211,505 10/1965 Storie 312-213 X 3,277,584 10/1966 Krolzick 34-133 CASIMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,L;59,h6l Dated Au ust 5. 1969 Inventorfli) Thomas W. Bannon, Jr.

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

r Column 1, line 11,6, "the" should be --these--; Column 1, line 58, "sheel" should be -shel1-;.Column 2, lines 7 end 8, "symbolts" should be --symbols--; Column 3, line 2, lnsert a comma after "panels"; Column 3, lines 7 and 8, "horizontals" should be --horizontal.

SIGNED AND SEALED APR281970 Attest:

WILLIAM E. soHuYmR.

Edward M. Fletcher, 51"

Commissioner of was: Attestmg Offncer

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