US2013387A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Description

H. 1.. JOHNSTQ WASHING MACHINE Sept 935.

Original Filed Au 50, 1950 ATTORN EYS W T N F- V I WW Patented Sept. 3, 1935 HTE WASHING MACHINE Herbert L. Johnston,

Hobart Manufacturin a corporation of Ohio Original application Au 478,978. Divided and 1932, Serial No. 626,06 1931 Troy, Ohio, assignor to The g Company, Troy, Ohio,

gust 30, 1930, Serial No. this application July 29, 0. In Canada August 25,

20 Claims. (Cl. 141-9) This invention relates to washing machines.

One of the principal objects of the invention is the provision in a washing machine having a rotatable wash arm of an improved bearing mounting for the rotatable wash arm, which is economical in construction, highly efiective in operation, has long life, and which is protected against leakage liquid and the damp atmosphere within a washing machine while at the same time adequate lubrication of the bearing is aiforded.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a washing machine of a rotatable wash arm mounted within the washing compartment, and supported upon a bearing positioned on the exterior of the washing compartment and effectively sealed from the atmosphere of the washin'g compartment.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawing and the appended claims.

This is a division of my copending application Serial No. 478,978, filed August 30, 1930.

In the drawing, in which like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views thereof Fig. 1 is a partial side elevational view of a washing machine having a. rotatable wash arm and exterior bearing support therefor, constructed in accordance with this invention, the washing machine casing being broken away and shown in section for clearness in illustration;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the wash arm and its supporting structure shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the plane of the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing, which discloses a preferred embodiment of the invention, the casing of a washing machine for the washing of dishes and other articles, is illustrated generally at 28. It will be understood that the washing machine is provided with means for supporting dishes or other articles within the casing, where they are subjected to sprays of washing liquid from the rotatable wash arm 98. The wash liquid is supplied to the wash arm through the conduit 91 mounted entirely within the washing machine casing, and connected to the elbow I05. The latter has a downwardly directed opening 99 which communicates with an upwardly directed opening I in the central or hub portion of the wash arm, so that the wash liquid supplied to the elbow by the conduit 91 is in turn directed into the hollow branches of the wash arm 98. The wash arm may be of conventional construction, having, two or more radially extending arms which branch ofi of the hub portion, each arm having downwardly directed spray ports I III for the discharge of the washing liquid. Certain of the spray ports'are inclined, so that the wash arm is rotated by the reactive force of the discharge liquid. The wash arm is rotatably supported in closely spaced relationship with the downwardly extending end of the elbow I05, so as to provide for the free rotation of the wash arm, while restraining liquid leakage. As shown, the wash arm is provided with an inwardly extending annular flange I02 which is spaced just beneath the lower end of the elbow I05, and also an upwardly extending annular flange I03 which surrounds this lower end of the elbow.

Elbow I05 is formed with an annular flange I06 which is bolted to the interior side of the casing 28 about a circular opening provided in this casing. A bearing supporting member I08 is positioned on the exterior of the casing 28 in substantial alignment with member I05, and carries a cylindrical attaching flange II 0 on the outer side of the casing 28 opposite the flange I06. The casing 28 is securely bolted between flanges I06 and III! by the bolts I09.

The member I08, as shown, comprises the attaching flange IIIl, upwardly extending ribs III, and a cylindrical bearing retainer or sleeve II2 within which are mounted suitable bearings for the support and free rotational movement of the upper wash arm 98. The interior of the downwardly extending cylindrical sleeve II 2 is provided with a step H4 for the support of the outer race N4 of a ball bearing H5. The inner race 5' for bearing 5 is carried upon a shaft II 8 which is removably attached toand supports the wash arm. 98. The bearing is constructed to sustain the thrust loads on the shaft II6. A cap member 1 secured to the portion II2 has a downwardly extending cylindrical flange II8 which is adapted to bear against and position the outer race 4' of this bearing. The inner race I I5, a spacing sleeve I and the inner race I2I of a second bearing I2I are secured to the shaft II6 by being clamped between a collar I22 shown formed as an integral part of the shaft, and a washer I23 which is held in clamped engagement against the bearing assembly by means of a nut I 24 threadedly engaging the end of the shaft H6. The outer race of the lower bearing I2I contacts with the interior cylinthe elbow I05 and at its lower end is engaged by a sleeve I21 which is provided on the wash arm 98 and extends upwardly upon the axis thereof to within the area of the member I05. The lower end of the shaft H6 is threaded to receive a nut I30 which holds the member 98 in position upon the shaft. Upon assembling the wash arm 98 upon the shaft H6 and drawing the nut I30 tight the wash arm 98 is held securely in location by contact of the sleeve I21 against a. collar I32 which is held to the shaft as by means of a pin I33. The collar I32' is provided with downwardly extending tongues I34 which fit within corresponding grooves I34 in the upper end of the sleeve I21 to'form a positive driving connection between the wash arm 98 and the shaft II6.

The collar I32 is provided with a. disk like extension I35 having attached to its peripheral edge an upstanding cylindrical collar I36 which encircles the portion II2 of the member I08. The disk I35 and collar I36 form a substantially cup shaped retainer for the retention of oil supplied to the bearings H5 and I2I; a suitable oil feeding means such as the oil cup I38 being provided upon the cap member I I1. The cup shaped retainer cooperates with a disk like member I which is positioned between theflanges I06 and H0 to prevent the passage of washing fluid fro-m the interior of the casing through the opening provided in the casing cover 28 through which the supporting shaft of the wash arm passes to the extween which are openings which provide communicating passages to the interior of the casing. The flange I06 is provided with an upstanding collar I46 which is adapted to be received within the cylindrical groove I41 provided in the flange portion IIO"of the member I08. The disk like retaining member I40 is positioned within the groove M1 and is held in place by the sleeve I46 when the members I05 and I08 are clamped in position. The member I40 is provided with an opening of such size that a small clearance space, indicated at I50, is provided between the disk like member I40 and the sleeve I36. Suitable peripheral ridges I52 and I53 are provided on the sleeve I36 adjacent the member I40 to prevent the passage of washing fluid between these members and to direct back into the washing compart-' and efiectively prevented from splashing to the exterior through the opening in the casing receiving the wash arm. Any steam or water vapor that tends to pass through the passages between the body portion and flange I06 of the member I05 is restrained from reaching the exterior of the washing machine casing by the close fittingand overlapping relationship between the disk I46 and the flange I53. This construction which positions the wash arm bearings on the exterior of the housing thus not only provides an effective means of retaining the bearing lubricant, but.

also protects, by the close fitting relationship between the stationary disk I40 and the flange I53 of the rotatable lubricant retainer, against the passage of washing liquid to the exterior of the housing and tends to prevent the escape of the damp atmosphere and steam from the interior of the washing compartment housing through this small clearance space. However, if any steam or water vapor should escape between the disk I40 and flange I53 this is promptly dissipated into the outer atmosphere by the normal circulation of air accessible to this area by the ribbed construction of the bearing supporting member I08 which thus forms a vent for the space surrounding the bearing retainer. The damp atmosphere of the washing compartment does not, therefore, have an opportunity to come into contact with the wash arm bearings. The bearing lubricant retainer sleeve I36 terminates in close fitting relationship to the portion II2 of the bearing support and thus functions not only as a lubricant retainer but also as a protecting enclosure to further minimize the likelihood of the ingress of dampness or steam from the washing compartment into the bearing enclosure.

While the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of th invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is: l

1. In a washing machine, a casing providing a washing compartment and having an opening therein, a movable nozzle within said casing, a shaft fixed to and extending from the nozzle through the casing at the opening to the casing exterior, said shaft passing through the casing at the opening in friction free relationship therewith, shaft supporting bearing means positioned exteriorly of the casing and adjacent the opening, said exterior bearing means affording the sole guide and support for said nozzle and shaft, and means on the shaft adjacent the opening for isolating'the bearing means from the atmosphere of the washing compartment, said isolating means being spaced from the casing and afiording a venting gap for the casing at the opening.

2. In a washing machine, a casing providing a washing compartment and having an opening therein, a movable nozzle within said casing, a nozzle supporting shaft extending through the opening to the exterior of the casing, a bearing supporting member positioned exteriorly of the casing over the casing opening and extending to the casing, said member having an opening therein affording a free venting passage from the casing opening, a shaft supporting bearing carried by said member, and means on the shaft cooperatively related to and spaced from the bearing supporting member for isolating the bearing from the atmosphere of the washing compartment.

3. In a washing machine, a casing having an opening therein, a rotatable wash arm positioned within said casing, a shalt attached to said wash arm and providing a pivotal axis therefor, said shaftpassing through said opening. a supporting member positioned on the exterior of said cas- Iii shaped retainer and the bearing supporting means having closely spaced cooperating surfaces to further restrain ingress of damp atmosphere from within said casing into said bearing.

12. In a washing machine, a casing providing a washing compartment and having an opening therein, a rotatable wash arm within said washing compartment for spraying liquid therein, a conduit for supplying liquid to said wash arm, a shaft for rotatably supporting said wash arm extending through said opening to the exterior of said casing, a bearing for said shaft on the exterior of said casing, means for supporting said bearing overlying said opening, a lubricant retainer carried by said shaft and surrounding said bearing, and a sealing member carried by said bearing supporting means and cooperating in closely spaced relationship with said lubricant retainer to restrain leakage from within said casing to the exterior thereof between said retainer and said bearing supporting means, said retainer having an extending flange positioned on the inner side of said sealing member to provide a liquid flinger for returning liquid leakage to the interior of said casing.

13. In a washing machine, a casing providing a washing compartment and having anopening therein, a rotatable wash arm within said washing compartment for spraying liquid therein, a conduit for supplying liquid to said wash arm, a shaft for rotatably supporting said wash arm extending through said opening to the exterior of said casing, a bearing for said shaft on the exterior of said casing, means for supporting said bearing overlying said opening, said conduit having an annular flange extending about'said opening on the inner side of said casing, said bearing supporting means having an annular flange extending about said opening on the outer side of said casing, and means for clamping said flanges together with said casing therebetween.

14. In a washing machine, a casing providing a washing compartment and having an opening therein, a rotatable wash arm within said washing compartment for spraying liquid therein, a conduit for supplying liquid to said wasli arm, a shaft for rotatably supporting said wash arm extending through said opening to the exterior of said casing, a bearing for said shaft on the exterior of said casing, means for supporting said bearing overlying said opening, said conduit having an annular flange extending about said opening on the inner side of said casing, said bearing supporting means having an annular flange extending about said opening on the outer side of said casing, means for clamping said flanges together with said casing therebetween, and a sealing an annular flange extending about said opening on the inner side of said casing, said bearing supporting means having an annular flange extending about said opening on the outer side of said casing, means for clam ing said flanges together with said casing therebetween, and a sealing member for restraining leakage through said opening, said conduit flange having an opening therethrough inwardly of said sealing member to provide for the return oi. leakage liquid to the interior of said casing.

16. In a washing machine, a casing providing a washing compartment and having an opening therein, a rotatable wash arm within said washing compartment for spraying liquid therein, a conduit for supplying liquid to said wash arm, a shaft for rotatably supporting said wash arm extending through said opening to the exterior of said casing, a bearing for said shaft on the exterior of said casing, means for supporting said bearing overlying said opening, said conduit having an annular flange extending about said opening on the inner side of said casing, said bearing supporting means having'an annular flange extending about said opening on the outer side of said casing, means for clamping said flanges together with said casing therebetween, a sealing member for restraining leakage through said opening, said conduit flange having an opening therethrough inwardly of said sealing member to Y provide for the return of leakage liquid to the interior of said casing, and a flinger carried by said shaft inwardly of said sealing member for positively returning liquid leakage through said flange 3 therein, a rotatable wash arm within said washing compartment for spraying liquid therein, a conduit for supplying liquid to said wash arm, a shaft for rotatably supporting said wash arm extending through said opening to the exterior of said casing, a bearing for said shaft on the exterior of said casing, means for supporting said bearing overlying said opening, said conduit having a portion positioned within said casing adjacent said opening and surrounding said shaft, a flange on said conduit fastened to said casing, a sealing member forrestraining leakage through said opening, said conduit flange having an opening therethrough inwardly of said sealing member to provide for the return of leakage liquid to the interior of said casing, and a bearing lubricant retainer carried by said shaft, said retainer having a liquid flinger means and within the space enclosed by said conduit flange for both positively returning liquid leakage through said flange opening to the interior of said casing and preventing leakage into said bearing while confining lubricant therein.

18. In a washing machine, a casing providing a washing compartment and having an opening therein, a rotatable wash arm within said washing compartment for spraying liquid therein, a conduit for supplying liquid to said wash arm, a shaft for rotatably supporting said wash arm extending through said opening to the exterior of said casing, a bearing for said shaft on the exterior of said casing, means for supporting said bearing overlying said opening, said conduit having a portion positioned within said casing adjacent said opening and surrounding said shaft, a flange on said conduit fastened to said casing, a sealing member for restraining leakage through said opening, said conduit flange having an opening therethrough inwardly of said sealing member to provide for the return of leakage liquid to the interior of said casing, and a bearing lubricant retainer carried by said shaft, said retainer having an offset portion and having opening.

- arm shaft, a bearing carried thereby, and'means carried by the shaft adjacent the opening and free of contact with any part other than the shaft for isolating said hearing from the casing 4. In a washing machine, a casing having an. opening therein, a rotatable wash arm positioned within said casing, a member positioned on the interior of the casing adjacent the opening and comprising a fluid conduit to supply washing fluid to said wash arm, said interior member having passages providing communication between the exterior and interior of the casing through said opening, supporting means for said wash arm comprising a member positioned on the exterior of said casing in cooperative relationship with said interior member, and meansassociated with said members to-restrain the passage of washing fluid from the casing through said passages and opening.

5. In a washing machine, a casing having an opening therein, a rotatable wash arm within said casing, an axially mounted member on said wash arm, supporting means for said wash arm comprising a member positioned on the exterior of said casing,- overlying the opening, said supporting member comprising a bearing for said axially mounted member, a member positioned on the interior of the casing adjacent the opening in cooperative relationship with said supporting member, said interior member providing a liquid conduit and having a passage for said axially mounted member and a passage providing communication between the interior and the exterior of said casing through said opening, and means for directing into the casing leakage liquid passing between the axially mount-ed member and the interior member.

6. In a washing machine, a casing having an opening therein, a rotatable wash arm positioned within said casing, a shaft for said wash arm extending through said opening, a supporting member for said wash arm shaft, said supporting member beingpositiorled exteriorly of said casing and comprising -a downwardly extending bearing, retainer, and an upwardly extending cup shaped lubricant retainer on said shaft surrounding said bearing retainer and isolating said bearing retainer from the casing opening.

7. In a washing machine, a casing providing a washing compartment and having a venting opening therein, a rotatable wash arm within said washing compartment for spraying liquid therein, a conduit within said casing having an open end communicating with said wash arm for supplying liquid, to said wash arm and having an opening for passage of a shaft, a shaft fixed to and rotatably supporting said wash arm and extending from the wash arm through the conduit open end and shaft passage and the casing opening to the exterior of said casing, a bearing for said shaft on the exterior of said casing, said exterior bearing affording the sole guide and support for said shaft, means for supporting said bearing overlying said casing opening, and means associated with the shaft substantially closing the conduit shaft passage and easing opening to restrain liquid leakage through said opening and for isolating said bearing against ingress of damp atmosphere from within said casing.

8. Ina washing'machine, a casing providing a washing compartment and having an opening therein, a rotatable wash arm within said washing compartment for spraying liquid therein, a

conduit for supplying liquid to said wash arm, a shaft for rotatably supporting said wash arm extending through said opening to the exterior of said casing, a bearing for said shaft on the exterior of said casing, means for supporting said bearing overlying said opening, and a lubricant retainer carried by said shaft and surrounding said bearing for isolating said bearing against ingress of damp atmosphere from within said casing.

9. In a washing machine, a casing providing a washing compartment and having an opening therein, a rotatable wash arm within said washing compartment for spraying liquid therein, a conduit for supplying liquid to said wash arm, a shaft for rotatably supporting said wash arm extending through said opening to the exterior of said casing, a bearing for said shaft on the exterior of said casing, means for supporting said bearing overlying said opening, a lubricant retainer carried by said shaft and surrounding said bearing, and a sealing member carried by said bearing supporting means and cooperating in closely spaced relationship with said lubricant retainer to restrain leakage from within said casing to the ext rior thereof.

10. In a washing machine, a casing providing a washing compartment and having an opening therein, a rotatable wash arm within said washing compartment for spraying liquid therein, a conduit for supplying liquid to said wash arm, a shaft for rotatably supporting said wash arm extending through'said opening to the exterior of said casing, a bearing for said shaft on the exterior of said casing, means for supporting said bearing overlying said opening, acup-shaped lubricant retainer carried by said shaft and surrounding said bearing, and a sealing member carried by said bearing supporting means and cooperating in closely spaced relationship with said cup-shaped lubricant retainer to restrain leakage from within said casing to the exterior 1 thereof between said cup-shaped retainer and said bearing supporting means, said bearing supporting means having ventilating openings communicating with atmosphere surrounding said cup-shaped retainer and on the outer side of said scaling member to thereby provide a vent to atmosphere for the space surrounding said cupshaped retainer. v

11. In a washing machine, a casing providing a washing cempartment and having an opening therein, a rotatable wash arm within said wasning compartment for spraying liquid therein, a conduit for supplying liquid to said wash arm, a shaft for rotatably supporting said Wash arm extending through said opening to the exterior of said casing; a bearingfor said shaft on the exterior of said casing, means for supporting said bearing overlying said opening, means for lubrieating said bearing, an outwardly opening cupshaped lubricant retainer carried by said shaft and surrounding said bearing, a sealing member ca ried by said bearing supporting means and cooperating in closely spaced relationship with said cup-shaped lubricant retainer to? restrain leakage from within said casing to the exterior thereof between said cup-shaped retainer and' a liquid flinger positioned inwardly of the sealing means and within the space enclosed by said conduit flange for both positively returning liquid leakage through said flange opening to the interior of said casing and preventing leakage into said bearing while confining lubricant therein, said sealing member cooperating in closely spaced relationship with the offset portion of the lubricant retainer to restrain passage of the damp atmosphere within said casing to the exterior thereof.

19. In a washing machine, a casing having a cover portion provided with an opening therein, a rotatable wash arm suspended from said cover portion for spraying liquid within said casing, said wash arm having a centrally arranged upper opening, a conduit having'a down-turned elbow provided with an opening communicating with said opening in the wash arm for supplying liquid to said wash arm, said conduit having an upper opening aligned with said opening in the cover portion of the casing, a shaft for rotatably supporting said wash arm extending through the aligned openings in said conduit and casing to the exterior of the casing, a bearing for said shaft on the exterior of said casing,'a bearing supporting member on the exterior of said casing mounted about said casing opening and having a downwardly depending sleeve for confiningsaid bearing, an upwardly opening cup-shaped lubricant retainer carried by said shaft and surrounding said depending sleeve in closely spaced relationship, said bearing supporting means having a ribbed portion with intermediate openings positioned about the upper portion of said cup-shaped lubricant retainer to vent the space surrounding the upper portion of said lubricant retainer, and a sealing member arranged between said bearing supporting member and the exterior of said cup-shaped lubricant retainer inwardly of said ribbed portion of the bearing supporting member.

20. In a washing machine, a casing providing a washing compartment and having an opening therein, a rotatable wash arm within said washing compartment for spraying liquid therein, said wash arm having a shaft member extending through the casing opening, means for supplying liquid to said wash arm comprising a conduit having an opening for passage of the shaft member, an anti-friction bearing positioned on the exterior of said casing opposite said casing opening for rotatably supporting said shaft member and wash arm, means cooperatively related to and out of contact with said shaft member for restraining the passage of liquid and damp atmosphere from within said casing through said opening tothe exterior thereof about said shaft member, and means on the shaft member for returning liquid leakage from the conduit opening at the shaft passage to the interior of said casing and for sealing said bearing against ingress of both liquid leakage and the damp atmosphere from within said casing.

HERBERT L. JOHNSTON.

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