US2391718A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 25, 1945. Q A LlNDEMANN 2,391,718

WASHING MACHINE Filed Dec. l2, 1942 Charles A. Lndemarm,

His Attorneg.

Patented Dec. `25, 1945- Charles A.

tion of New York WASHING MACHINE Lindemann, Bridgeport, Conn., assignor to General Electric Company,

a.A corpora- Application December 12, 1942, Serial No. 468,798

' 9 Claims.

The present invention relates to a control for washing machines having provisions for causing a cycle of washing operations in timed sequence.

In such machines the complete automatic cycle usually includes operations which the operator may under some circumstances wish to omit. For example, the operation of soaking the clothes in cold water to remove various stains will be unnecessary with some clothes. emptying the machine may sometimes be omitted if the operator Wishes to savethe Water for use with a succeeding batch of clothes. If themachine includes a Water softener the operation of regenerating the softener need not be performed every wash day.

'I'he operation of The object of my invention is to provide a ilexible automatic control which will enable'the op-` erator to select the desired operations. For la consideration of what I believe novel and my invention, attention is directed to the following description and the claims appended thereto.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is an elevation, partly broken away, of a washing machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a front view of the control panel on which the operator selects the desired operations; Fig. 3 is a control diagram; and Fig. 4 is a detail of a modification.

Referring to the drawing there is shown a washing machine of the construction disclosed in application Serial No. 391,113, Dunham, filed April 30, 1941, to which reference may be had for a more complete description of the details of the construction. This machine comprises an outer tub or casing I in the upper part of which is a spinner basket 2 having tapered side walls provided at the region of greatest diameter with centrifugal discharge openings 3 which during Washing also serve as overow openings defining the liquid level. During washing, the spinner basket is filled with liquid and the clothes are washed by oscillation of an agitator 4. At the end of the washing operation the spinner basket is rotated to centr fugally dry the clothes, and the liquid disch rged through the discharge openings 3 is collected in the bottom of the tub I where it may be 'either stored for use in a succeeding washing operation or pumped to a drain. The machine has suitable provisions (not shown) for filling the spinner basket either from the liquid in the bottom of the tub or from a. Water supply, and f or emptying the tub. The machine also includes a water softener (not shown) vtol 'gether with provisions for regenerating the water softener.- The above described operations, which are typical of the operations performed in an automatic washing machine, are under the control of a cam stack, indicated by the block 5, which may bethat described more in detail in the aforesaid application.

The cam stack is driven at its normal timing speed, for example, one revolution an hour, by a shaft 6 connected through an overrunning clutch 1, 1a and reduction gearing 8 to an electric motor 9. The inner member 'l of the overrunning clutch lis driven by the reduction gearing in a counterclockwise direction. 'I'he outer member 1aV of the overrunning clutch, which is fixed to the shaft 6, has tapered slots I0 containing rollers I I which are wedged into the driving position at the narrow jends of the tapered slots by counterclockwise rotation of the clutch member lvrelative to the clutch member la.. The shaft 6 also has a high speed drive, for example one revolution a minute, through bevel gears l2, I3, I4, and l5, and a clutch I6 which is normally disengaged and is moved to the engaged position upon energizing a solenoid I1. When the solenoid is energized, the shaft 6 and the clutch member 1a fixed thereto are driven at the high speed in a counterclockwise direction. 'Ihe clutch member 'l at the same time is driven in a counterclockwise direction at the timing speed through the reduction gearing 8. The relative movement between the clutch members 'l and 'la is such that the rollers Il are dragged toward the wide ends of the tapered slots I0, and the clutch member 'la accordingly freely rotates relative to the clutch member 1.

By controlling the solenoid Il the cam stack can be quickly shifted between the high and low speeds. The high speed is fast enough so that the operations controlled by the cam stack are effectively skipped during the high speed rotation. In the case of the shorter operations such as Empty, the time lag in the starting of the pump may be such that the operation will not start at all during the high speed rotation of the cams. With longer operations, such as Wash, the agitator may start to oscillate but there will be no substantial washing.

The solenoid is controlled by a commutator I8 driven by the cam stack and carrying segments I9, 20, 2|, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, and 21 carrying legends indicating the respective functions. The segments cooperate with brushes Isa, 20a, Zla, 22a, 23a, 24a, 25a, 26a, and 21a. Brushes |9a, 20a, Zia, 22a, and 23a are in series with normally open switches lSb, 20h, 2lb, 22h, and 23h each oi which is associated with a push button Isc, 20c, 2|c, 22e, and 23o carrying a legend cor- I resn to the legend ci the respective segments. The brush 25a is in series with aY switch 24h under the control of a lever 28. The brush 25o is in series with a switch 25h also under the control of the lever 28. The brush 23a is connected to one ofthe motor.- terminals 28. 'I'he other motor terminal 3@ is connected to one side of the power supply which for convenience is labeled the other side being labeled The brush 21a is connected to one side of the solenoid I1, the other side of the solenoid being connected to the side of the power supply.

At the end of the cycle of washing operations the control stops when the segments 23 and v25 move from under the brushes- 23a and 25a, thus opening the circuit to the motor. The machine stops in this position at the end of any cycle of operations. To condition the control for a succeeding cycle of operations, the operator rst moves the lever 28 to the position marked Reset. This closes the switch 24h and lifts a rod 3l carrying projections 32 which cooperate with,

latches 33 to release any of the push buttons I9c, 20c, 2Ic, 22e, or 23e which may have been previously operated.

The closing of theswitch 24h completes a circuit to the solenoid I1 which shifts to the high speed drive for the control cam stack 5. The switch 24h also completes a circuit to the motor through the brush 24a, reset segment 24, jumper 24d connecting the reset segment with the segment 25, and jumper 25d connecting the segment 25 with the motor segment 26. When the segment 24 moves from under the brush 24a, the circuit to the motor is broken and the @am stack comes to rest with the brushes I9a and 25a on the leading endsof the segments I9 and 25. Because the solenoid I1 is energized whenever the lever 28 is in the reset position, the lever is preferably biased away from the reset position by a spring 34 so that the lever cannot be left in the reset position when the machine is not in use. The operator next moves the lever 28 to the o position and pushes buttons corresponding to the Washing operations to be performed in the next cycle of operations. If a mistake is made in operating the push buttons, the lever 28 is merely moved to the Reset position, releasing all of the buttons and returning to the oi position so that a new selection may be made. When the selection is completed, the operator moves the lever 28 tothe on position, closing the switch 25h in series with the brush 25a and the segment 25. The segment 25 is connected by the jumper 25d to the segment 26 connected to the motor terminal 29 through brush 26a so the closing of the switch 25h starts the operation of the machine. If the lever 28 is moved to the on" position before any of the push buttons have been operated, the solenoid I1 is energized through a circuit which extends from the positive side of the power supply through the solenoid to the brush 21a and segment 21 and through jumpers I9d, 20d, 2Id, 22d, and 23d to the segments I9, 20, 2|, 22, and 23 and the respective brushes |90.. 20a, 2Ia, 22a, and 23a and switches |91), 20hy 2lb, 22h, and 2317 to the negative side of the power supply. Since each of the segments occupies a different arc, at any particular instant the circuit to the solenoid will be completed through only one of the segments and its correspondingr brush and switch. At all times, the position of the cam stack is shown by an indicator comprising a dial 35 driven by the cam stack and a cooperating arrow 36. Through these successive f these operations.

assiste K positions in which the solenoid ris energized, thel cam stack is advanced at its high speed and finally comes to rest at the position in which the brush 23a ceases to make contact with the empty segment 23. 1f one or more of the push 'buttons had been operated prior to moving the lever 28 to the on position, the solenoid would have been deenergized at the positions corresponding to the operated push buttons, and in these positions the cam stack would have been advanced at its slow, or timing, speed. With the push buttons as illustrated inFig. 3, after moving the lever 28 to the on position the cam stack would be advanced at the high speed through the soak segment I9, at its slow, or timing, speed through the wash segment 20, and at its high speed through the rinse, dry, and empty segments 2l, 22 and 23.

After the machine has started to perform the selected cycle of operations, the operator is not precluded from making another selection. If an operation in the subsequent sequence is to be omitted, the operator merely moves the lever 28 to Reset, releasing-.all of the push buttonsand stopping the control, then moves the lever 23 to off while operating push buttons corresponding to the desired operations =in the subsequent sequence, and then to on starting the automatic operation as described above. If an operation in the subsequent sequence is to be added, the operator merely operates the corresponding push button without touching the lever 28.

It is obvious that the push buttons have been arbitrarily labeledto illustrate the operation of the control and that the control is not limited to Instead of selecting single operations it might under some circumstances be preferable that each push button select a group of operations suitable for a particular type of clothes.

The control has the advantages of automatic timing of the washing opera-tions with the added advantage of being able to select at any time the particular operations to be automatically performed.

In Fig. 4 is shown a modification for use in the previously described control to replace any of the push buttons I9c, 20c, 2Ic, 22e, or 23c in case it is desired that the length of the operation be adjustable. It is illustrated as applied to the control of the Washing operation since it is frequently ,desirable that the washing time be adjusted to trol diagram of Fig. 3, the wash segment 20 is replaced by an arcuate segment 31 (shown in elevation in Fig. 4) of the same length as the segment 20 but inclined away from the face of the commutator I8, and the brush 20a., the switch 20h, and the push button 20c are replaced by a brush 38 adjustable toward and away from the inclined face of the segment 31 by a knob 39 fixed to a metal sleeve 40. The sleeve 40 is threaded in a metal bushing 4I connected to the side of the power supply and carried by a support 42 of insulating material. All of the other parts and connections remain as shown in Fig. 3. The brush 38 slidably projects through a cap 43, closing the lower end of the sleeve 40, and is spring biased toward the segment 31 'by a spring 44, The brush 38 first makes contact with the segment 31 at a'point which depends upon the separation of the brush and segment which is determined by the adjustment of the sleeve 4U. When the knob 39 is turned to the position in which the pointer 45 is opposite zero on the scale 48, the brush 38 is in a position to contact the left-hand end of the segment 31, the end of the segment corresponding to the start of the washing operation. 'I'his closes a circuit to the solenoid I1, causing the automatic shifting to the high speed drive so that the washingoperation is skipped as described above. The spning 44 permits the necessary-yielding of the brush. When the knob 39 is adjusted so that thepointer 45 is opposite the legend Maximum on the scale 48, the brush 38 is moved to a position in which it does not contact the segment 31, and the cam stack is accordingly driven at the timing speed throughout the washing which will take place for the maximum period for which the machine is designed. At intermediate positions of the knob 39, the brush 38 will contact the segment 31 at an intermediate position and cause the shifting to the high speed drive of the cam stack at the end of the selected period. The washing time is determined by the portion of the segment 31 which does not make contact with the brush 38. By the Fig. 4 construction, the operator can preset the control to perform the desired operations for the selected time interval.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a washing machine, a control means movable to positions causing corresponding washing operations, timing meansfor advancing the control means through sequential positions and thereby causing a timed sequence of operations, selector means operable to select in advance operations corresponding to part of the positions of the control means within the subsequent sequence, and means effective atthe positions corresponding to the unselectedoperations for advancing the control means relative to the timing means through the positions corresponding to the unselected operations.

2. In a washing machine, a control means movable to sequential positions causing corresponding washing operations, alternative means for' automatically advancing the control means through its sequential positions respectively at slow and high speeds, and selector means operable to select in advance positions within the subsequent sequence at which the advancing of.

the control means shall be shifted from one to the other of said alternative means.

3'. In a washing machine, a controllexans movable to sequential positions causing corresponding washing operations, a timer drive for advancing the control means through the sequential positions and thereby cause a timed sequence of operations, a high speed drive for advancing the control means relative to the timer drive, and selector means operable in advance to select positions within the subsequent sequence at which the low speed drive shallbe eifective.

4. In a washing machine, a control means mov-l able to sequential positions causing corresponding washing operations, high and low speed drives for advancing the control means. means for shifting to one or the other of said drives, and selector means operable in advance to disable said shifting means at certain of the positions within the subsequent sequence.

5. In a washing machine, an automatic control means, means for advancing the control means at a timing speed to cause a sequence of washing operations, selector means operable in advance to select ldesired operations within the subsequent sequence, and means for automatically advancing the control means through positions corresponding to the unselected operations at a high speed relative to the timing speed.

6. In a washing machine, a control means movable to positions causing corresponding washing operations, timing means for advancing the control means through sequential positions and thereby causing a timed sequence of operations, said control means including a commutator having segments corresponding to the operations, an alternative drive for advancing the control means at a high speed relative to the timing speed, a solenoid for shifting from one to the other of said drives, and manually presettaole selector means in circuit with the solenoid and said segments for determining the operation of the solenoid.

'1. In an automatic control for a washing machine, a control member having segments corresponding to tne operations to be performed, brushes cooperating with the respective segments. means for driving the control member at timing speed, alternative means. for driving the control member at a high speed relative to tne timing speed, means controlled by a circuit through one of said brushes and its corresponding segment i'or shifting from one to the other of said drives, and manually operable selector means presetting the point at which the circuit is closed.

8. In apparatus for performing operations in timed sequence, a control having a brush and a cooperating segment corresponding to one of the operations, alternative drives for the control for eecting relative movement of the brush and segment respectively at timing speed and at a higher speed, means for adjusting the length of the segment brush contacting surface, and means for shifting from one to the other of said drives for the duration of the contact of said brush with said surface whereby said adjustment determines the length of the corresponding operation.

9. In apparatus for performing operations in timed sequence, a control having a brush and a cooperating segment corresponding to one of the operations, the shape of the segment being such that the length of the brush contacting surface is dependent upon the position of the brush, alternative drives for the control for eecting relative movement of the brush and segment respectively at timing speed andy at a higher speed, means for adjusting the position of the brush, and means for shifting from one to the other of said drives for the duration of the contact of said brush with said surface whereby said adjustment determines the length of the corresponding operation.

CHARLES A` LUIDEMANN.

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