US2389774A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 27, 1945. A. H. HABERSTUMP WASHING MACHINE Original Filed May 19, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 1945- v A. H. HABERSTUMP 2,

- WASQING MACHINE ori ihal Filed May 19, 19:59- 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNE Y3.

Nov. 27, 1945}. A. H. HABERSTUMP WASHING MACHINE Original Filed May 19, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Nov. 27, 1945. A. H. HABERSTUMP' 2,389,774

' WASHING MACHINE Original Filed May 19, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 I I I0 /Z&

I i l I IN VEA T OR 0v. 27 1945. A; HABERSTUMP 2,339,774

WASHING MACHINE Original Filed May 19, 19259 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 11v VENTOR I fiymz/w/al fiz z .1521 .15.

A 7TORNE Ya PatentedNov. 2?, 1945 wasnme moms Alfred B. Haber-stump, Detroit, Mich, assignor to The Murray Corporation of America, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Original application May 19, 1939, Serial No.

274,478. Divided and this application December 31, 1941, Serial No. 425,059

'1 Claims. (01. 220-111) and particularly to a washing machine having a horizontal rotor mounted in a tub which is supported on a cabinet and provided with unique driving and control means.

While various forms of washing machines have been invented and sold in the trade, applicant believes that for simplicity in construction, efliciency in operation and uniqueness of operation and control, the present device is a materially improved product. A base frame is mounted on rollers and supports a driving motor, and locking means for preventing the movemenfof the frame on the floor. Two side stampings and a front and rear stamping when assembled on the frame form a cabinet forming the support for a tub having a drain outlet closed by a valve. The tub is supported on the inwardly disposed flanges oi the side, front and back cabinet panels, while a lid is hinged to the back panel forming a cover for the cabinet which is of box form. A pair of V-belt change speed pulleys having an axially movable central disc forming adjacent sides of the adjacent pair of pulleys are mounted on a crank arm supported by the motor. The pulley on the motor shaft isconnected by a belt to one of the V-pulleys on the crank arm while a belt on the other V- pulley of the crank arm is connected to a V-ipulley attached to a stub shaft which supports a drum within the tub. The opposite side of the drum is likewise connected by a stub shaft to a bearing on the tub wall.

Two operating handles are provided on the front panel of the cabinet, one operating the drain valve, the other connected to the crank arm of the pair of V-pulleys to change the position of the arm. Cam means are {provided between the two levers, 50 that the valve lever must first be operated before the lever raising the crank arm is operated. Interlocking means is also available to prevent the closing of the drain before the operating mechanism is actuated to lower the crank arm to decrease the driving speed of the rotor. After the drum is again rotating at slow speed the valve lever maybe actuated to close the valve, which movement of the cam interlocks the operating handle for the drive means to prevent itsactuation until the valve is again opened.

The drum is provided with a plurality of aperchangeable? to interconnect the drive of a motor tures throughout its circumferential face, which is inwardly projected at spaced points to tumble the clothes being washed therewithin. An opening is provided on one portion of the cylindrical surface of the rotor or drum over which a door slides to form a closure. The door is also provided with a plurality of apertures to increase the free flow of water through the clothes within the drum.

The driving mechanism for the drum is unique in that no gears are employed and the change from a low to a high speed for washing and then drying the clothes is produced through the raising of the pair of v-pulleys, which are mounted on the crank arm. Whenralsing the pulleys, the belt from the motor thereto provides a tension inthe v-slot while the tension on the belt in the adjacent pulley to the driving drum is reduced so that the upward force causes the central slidable element between the pulleys to shift, thereby decreasing the radius on the pulley driven by the motor belt and increasing the radius of the pulley driving the drum belt. After a high speed operation the lowering of the crank arm applies stress t o the belt driving the drum of the rotor while slacking the tension on the motor belt which causes the central element of the pulleys to shift to decrease the radius on the drum belt pulley and increase the radius on the driving belt pulley to thereby reduce the rotation of the drum to lowspeed operation.

Accordingly, the main objects of my invention are: to provide a washing machine embodying a tub having a rotor journalled in the sides thereof; to mount a tub having a rotor therein on a cabinet attached to a base frame; to construct a washing machine cabinet having an opening in the top and flanged edges for supporting a tub;

to drive the rotor of a washing machine through a change-speed mechanism, embodying a pair of pulleys the effective diameters of which are to that of a washing machine through a pair of V-belts and pulleys, theecentral portion between interlock the valve of the drain for the tub with the change-speed mechanism, so that the valve 1 valve actuating handle and the change-speed actuating handle which prevents the closing of the valve until the speed of the rotor has been changed from high to low speed; to mount awashing machine in a box-like cabinet having rollers with locking means provided thereon, rendering the rollers inoperative to thereby lock the cabinet in position; and in general, to provide a washing machine which is simple in construction, positivein operation, and economical of manufacture.

Other objects and features ofnovelty of my invention will be specifically pointed out or will become apparent when referring, for a better understanding of my invention, to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a washing machine embodying features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an exploded view'of the washing machine illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1, taken on the line 2-- 3 thereof;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 3, taken on the line 4-4 thereof Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 4, taken on the line 5-5 thereof;

Fig. 6 is a broken sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 4, taken on the line 6--'2 thereof;

Fig. 7 is anenlarged broken sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 6, taken on the linev 11 thereof;

Fig. 8 is a broken view of the operating mechanism illustrated in Fig. 4, when the rotor of the washing machine is being operated at high ed;

Fig. 9 is a view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 8, as viewed from line 9-! thereof;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 9, taken on the line |2-|2 thereof Fig. 11 is an enlarged broken sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 4, taken on the line thereof;

Fig. 12 is a top plan view of a corner of the cabinet illustrated in Fig. 1

Fig. 13 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 11, taken on the line |2-|2 thereof;

portion of the angle frame 24 providing a support for the opposite end of the motor.

The side panels 2| of the cabinet have frontwardly directed flanges 4| over which inwardly directed flanges 42 at the side of the front panel 22 and rear panel 22 extend to form enclosed flnished corner edges. The side panels 2| are first flanged inwardly at 44 to provide shoulders 45 at each corner over which the top flange 42 of the front and back panels 22 and 22 extend, having a downwardly projecting flange 41, which projects downwardly over the inwardly flanged portion 44 of the side panels 2| when the panels 22 and 22 are forced downwardly thereover.

An interlocking relation is provided against the outward spreading of the panels through the outwardly projecting flange 4| on the side panels 2|, being disposed within the inwardly projecting flange 42 on the front and back panels, while the front panels are prevented from moving outwardly fromthe side panels by the flange 41 projecting over the corner extension 45 of the side panel. Inwardly directed flanges 42 are provided slightly below the top edge of the panels forming the cabinet, to provide a supporting edge for the tub 2|. 0n the side panels the flanges 42 at the end extend outwardly at 42 and are provided with an aperture 5|. as illustrated more clearly in Fig. 12.

A slotted rubber sealing element 52 is disposed about the outwardly directed flange 52 on the tub 2|, which rests upon the flanges 42 of the cabinet and is retained in position by a bolt 54. The top portion of the rubber strip 52 forms a sealing element for the cover 55 which is herein illustrated as being pivoted to the back panel by hinges 52. It is to be understood that this cover may be a separate element which may be bodily removed from the cabinet.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged sectional view of the' front corner of the cabinet illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig: 15 is a view of the interlock mechanism embodying like side panels 2|, front panel 22 and rear panel 22, which are also of like configuration. A base 24, mounted on rollers 22, engages and supports the lower edges of the side, front and 'rear panels. A motor 22 is also mounted'on the base for driving through a pair of change-speed pullaws 21, a v-pulle 22, which, drives s rotor 22 -within a tub 2|. The tub has a, drain outlet 22 all of which will be more fully described hereinafter.

The panels 2|, 22 and 22 have downwardly ex-- tending flanges 22 which engage the vertical flange of an angle element 24 forming the frame of the base and are secured thereto by a plurality of bolts 22. Comer gusset plates 22 form, with the'horizontal flange of the angle element 24, ,a support for the stud 21 on the caster rollers 22. A brace 22 interconnects the sides of the frame 24 and provides support forthe motor 22st one The drum 22 has a plurality of apertures 51 disposed in the cylindrical surface thercof,-and is also provided with an opening 52 covered by a slide 52 which is likewise provided with a plurality of apertures 51. The slide is supported in a slot in guide elements II which may be made of metal, but preferably is made from a resinous material which is unaffected by moisture, Stub shaft supporting hubs 62 are welded or otherwise secured to the sides of the drum for su porting stub shafts 22 which are journalled in hearing 24, supported in cups 2i riveted or otherwise secured to the sides of the tub and sealed from the interior thereof by a sealing element 22. The stub shaft 22 on the lefthand side of the tub as viewed in Fig. -3, has pinned thereto the V-pulley 22 interconnected by a belt 21 to the outermost V-pulley 22 of the change-speed element 21. 1 A pulley 22 on the motor-is interconnected by a V belt 1| to the inner pulley portion 12 of the change-speed pulleys 21.

The change-speed pulleys are of conventional form, the central element 12 being axially shiftable on its shaft to change the effective radius of the groove of the pulley 22 and 12 thereof. The pulleys are mounted on a crank arm 14 for pivotal movement in s. sleeve 12 mounted on the motor 22. A link 12 is pivotally secured. to the end ofthecrankarm 14andtotheendofallnk11 seciucdtoastubshaft 12 whichispivotedona bracket 12 secured to the side oftlre tub 2|. The opposite end of the link 11 is flanged outwardly at 2| to bedisposed in the path of the cam element- 22 secured to s stub shaft 22 which is likewise pivotally carried by the'bracket 12. A handie 24 is rempvably keyed to the shaft 22 while end while a. bracket 22 is attached to the front a handle 22 is removably keyed to the shaft 12.

the sequence of operation of which is controlled by the cam plate 82. The interlock thus provided prevents the handle 85 from being moved until the handle 88' is moved to produce high speed operation of the rotor while the handle 85 must first be actuated to produce low speed operation before the handle 4 can be moved.

To render the rotor more eflective for rolling the clothes through the water when centrifugally drying the clothes, the material forming the cylindrical-face of the drum is deflected inwardly at 88 at substantially right angles on the side 81 and at substantially 45 degrees on the side 88. The drum, while rotating in a clockwise direction, carries the clothes, gathered in the pockets formed by the side 51, upwardly from which they are tumbled and rolled down the inner face of the drum through the apertures of which'the water is agitated when working or thrown ofl when drying.

The drain 82 on the bottom of the tub BI is sealed to the wall of the truncated conical opening 8! by a plate 82 which draws the drain in abutted sealed relation therewith when secured by bolts 83. A valve 8d is mounted in the wall of the conical opening 8| interconnected by a link 85 to a crank 88 on a shaft 81 having a crank arm 88 extending from one side thereof. Suitable means 88 seal the shaft to the walls of the drain 82. An encased wire it! interconnects the cam plate 82 to the arm 88 of the shaft 81 for actuating the valve 84 to open or closed position. When in closed position, the cam plate 82 is in the position illustrated in Fig. 4 that to intercept the flange ti on the link II. By this arrangement, the cam plate must first be operated to open the valve es and move out of interlocking relation with the link ll before the handle 88 may be operated to increase speed on the drum.

The position of the cam plate and link I1 in the high speed operation of the drum is illustrated in Fig. 15. As is well known, through the movement of the handle 85 and, therefore, the crank arm It, the tension on one belt is increased while that on the other belt is decreased causing the element I3 to shift from one side to the other to change the effective diameters of the pulleys 88 and I2 and thereby change the driving relation of the belts and the speed of operation of the drum. The washing operation is effected at low speed while a speed of three hundred revohinges in position to actuate a limit switch II8 when the cover is raised to interrupt the current to the motor 28 and prevent its operation when the drum is exposed.

A shaft III extends across the frame near the front end, disposed in slots in the vertical flange of the base element 84, having crank portions H2 in each of which a foot I I3 is mounted. Brackets illustrated clearly in Figs. 3, 4 and 16 in solid and broken lines.

The washing machine-constructed in this manner is exceedingly efficient in washing clothes without damaging the fabrics during low speed operation and which functions, when the water has been drained from the tub, as a centrifugal drier for the clothes. The cabinet of the machine is unique in that four panels are so interrelated as to be in locked relation when secured at the bottom to the base with a projecting flange at the top on which the tub is secured. The rotor containing the clothes is Journalled in both walls of the tub to prevent gyration while the aperture in the rotor is closed by a slide operating in slotted guides 'of a material which is impervious to moisture. The cabinet is mounted on wheels and suitable means are provided for rendering the wheels inoperative to prevent the 4 movement of the machine on the floor. The drive mechanism for the rotor is not only exceedingly simple, but extremely eflicient while eliminating gears ordinarily employed in driving systems. V-belts are connected to a pair of change-speed puileys,'the driving ratios of which are changelutions or more is provided for the centrifugal drying operation.

As illustrated in Fig. 14, a sealing strip of felt, rubber or the like may be provided'between the outwardly projecting flange 4| on the side panels 2| and the inwardly directed flange 42 on the front and rear panels 22 and 28, respectively. Th

strip preferably is provided with a slot into which the flange 4! rojects for retaining the strip in fixed relation thereto, while the flanged portion I83 extending outwardly therefrom provides abutment for the end of the flange 42.

' The aperture 58 inthe circumference of the drum has the edges rolled to provide abutments I04 while an offset I" in the slide 58 limits the movement of the slide on the guideway between said abutments. The hinge 88, as illustratedin Fig. 11, is of the offset type, having an arcuate portion I88 struck about the pintle III! which nests imder the inwardly disposed portion I08 of the rear panel 28. A slot I88 is provided in the vertically directed flange 88 on the back panel to provide clearance for the arcuate portion of the hinge. A cam I I0 is provided on one of the able. Through the raising or lowering of the shaft of the pulleys the change in speed of rotation of the drum is obtained. Interlocking means are provided to prevent the driving of the drum at high speed when the drain valve of the tub is closed.

What I claim is:

l. A cabinet including in combination a base frame, side panels having inwardly directed edges which are flanged outwardly supported thereon, front and rear panels interlocked over said edges and flanges at the sides and top and also secured to said frame to form a unit self-supporting con struction, and a tub supported on the said panels which comprises the sole support therefor on said tion a base frame, side panels having inwardly directed edges which are flanged outwardly supported thereon, front and rear panels interlocked over said edges and flanges at the sides and top and also secured to said frame to form a unit self-supporting construction, inwardly directed flanges on said panels, a tub having an outwardly directed flange. a slotted sealing strip disposed over the flange of said tub, and means for securing the tub flange on the inwardly directed flanges of said panels with the sealing strip disposed in sealing relation thereto providing an exposed seal for the cover of the cabinet and supporting said tub on said base solely by said panels.

4. A washing machine including, in combina- 'tion, a base frame, side panels having inwardly directed edges which are flanged outwardly supported thereon, front and rear panels interlocked over. said edges and flanges and also secured to posed portion of the sealing strip for enclosing the tub.

5. In a cabinet, a base, side panels having downwardly extending flanges secured to said base, the sides of said panels being deflected in- 'wardly and flanged outwardly, frontand rear panels having the sides' directed inwardly and Q projecting over said flanges of the side panels and further deflected inwardly and downwardly at the top to extend over the top of the inwardly deflected portions of the side panels to be in locked relation therewith, means for securing the bottoms of said panels to said base frame, a cover for the top opening formed by said panels.

8. In a washing machine, a base, side panels having downwardly extending flanges secured to said base, the sides of said panels being deflected inwardly and flanged outwardly, front and rear panels having the sides directed inwardly and projecting over said flanges of the side panels and further deflected inwardly and downwardly at the top to extend over the top of the inwardly deflected portions of the side panels when forced downwardly thereover, means for securing the bottoms of said panels to said base frame, a tub having an outwardly directed flange supported on said panels, and a cover for enclosing said tub.

7. In-a washing machine, a base. side panels having downwardly extending flanges secured to said base, the sides of said panels being deflected inwardly and flanged outwardly, front and rear panels having the sides directed inwardly and projecting over said flanges of the side panels and further deflected inwardly and downwardly at the top to extend over the top of the inwardly deflected portions of the side panels when forced downwardly thereover, means for securing the bottoms of said panels to said base frame. in-

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