US2870834A - Two speed timer - Google Patents

Description

K. O- SISSON TWO SPEED TIMER Jan. 27, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 51, 1955 [NI/EN TOR. Kenneth O. S/ssan His Attorney K. O- SISSON TWO SPEED TIMER Jan. 27, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 31, 1955 TORI $0 IN Kenneth 0.

His Ahorney United States Patent 9 TWO SPEED TIMER Kenneth 0. Sisson, Dayton, Ohio,

Motors Corporation, Delaware assignor to General Detroit, Mich, a corporation of This invention relates to a domestic appliance and more particularly to control systems for automatic washing machines.

When introduced, automatic washing machines provided the same amount of water and the same time periods for agitation and drying regardless of the amount or types of clothes. Since then some washers have been provided with means for shortening the agitation periods and some have been provided with means for reducing the amount of water used for small loads.

It is an object of this invention to provide a simple effective means for reducing the amount of water used for small loads.

It is another object of this invention to not only reduce the amount of water used but also to reduce the other operating times for small loads.

It is another object of this invention to provide a simple means for reducing the amount of water used during the rinsing cycle only.

It is another object of this invention to provide simple means for changing the temperature of the water provided for the tub of the washing machine with or without changing other portions of the operating cycle.

These and other objects are obtained in the form shown in the drawings in which the timing drive means is connected to the cam operated switch means through two different sets of gearing providing two different operating speeds for the cam operated switch mechanism. A selective control is provided so that the switch means may be operated to make effective either of said gear connection during either the entire cycle or during any desired period in the cycle.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,

wherein a preferred form of the present invention is r clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly diagrammatic, of an automatic timing and control system embodying one form of my invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view in elevation of a portion of the controls shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of the control knob arrangement for changing the length of the periods; and

Figure 4 is a view in elevation of a modified form of control.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Figure 1, there is shown a timing drive motor 20 connected through the conductors 22 and 24 to the supply conductor L and connected through the conductor 26, the switch contact members 28 and 3t and the conductor 32 and the safety switch 34 to the second supply conductor L The timing drive motor 2% drives a small pinion 36 meshing with a gear 38. This gear 33 is connected through a normally connected wound spring clutch 40 with a gear 42. The gear 42 drives a gear 44 connected Patented Jan. 2?, 1359 directly to the small pinion 46 which drives a large gear 48 at a normal slow speed.

The large gear 48 is connected to a spring 50 which in turn is connected to a stop plate 52 coaxial with the gear 48 and the spring 50. This stop plate 52 is held from rotation by a slidable detent 54 which is moved to releasing position every one-half revolution of the gear by a cam 56 which is fixed to the gear 48. The stop plate 52 is connected to the pinion 58 which drives the gear 60. This mechanism provides an intermittent move ment of the pinion 58 and gear 60 and is similar to the mechanism in Patent 2,227,133, issued December 31, 1940.

The gear 613 intermittently drives a pinion 62. The pinion 62 is the only portion of this gear train whicl protrudes from the enclosing casing. This pinion 62 meshes with a large gear 64 upon the cam shaft Mounted upon this cam shaft 66 is the spring contact member 30. This contact member 30 may be moved to closed position with the contact 28 by pushing the dial knob 68 on the outer end of the shaft inwardly toward the timer motor 2% The cam shaft 66 moves axially a limited distance with the knob 68 and the spring contact member 30. The cam shaft 66 has a first cam 79 thereon. At the side of this cam 70 is a second or fioating cam 72 connected to the first cam 70 by a pin 1'4 which rides in the long notch 76 in the cam 70 to provide a limited lost motion connection between the cams 7 9 and 72. The floating cam 72 is connected by a sleeve 78 surrounding the shaft 66 directly to a sector gear When the shaft 66 is pushed in the sector gear 2th will mesh with the pinion 62. A spring finger 67 determines the initial position of the sector gear 80. When the pinion 62 is in mesh with both the sector gear 8t and the gear 64 the cams iii and 72 are driven in unison. A tension type coil spring 82 connects the sector gear and the gear 70 to hold the pin 74 normally against one end of the knob '76. Further description and disclosure of this mechanism may be found in the Sisson iPatent 2,549,025, issued April 17, 1951.

The cams '70 and '72 are provided with portions 3 and 556 which together present portions of reduced diameter to the double throw spring contact member 85; for the purpose of holding it in engagement with the initial fill contact 9?. The initial fill contact is connected by a conductor 92 to a double throw selector switch 94 having one contact connecting to a conductor 96 which in turn connects to a conductor 98 for providing an initial fill of all hot water. This conductor 98 connects to the soienoid operating means of a hot water valve 121 provided with a constant flow control. This hot water valve 121 controls the flow of hot water at a constant rate into the tub. This control may be used with many types of automatic washing machines. One example of a washing machine to which this control may be applied is disclosed in the Clark Patent 2,618,241, issued No vember 18, 1952. This automatic washer includes a drive motor 21 and a spin solenoid therein designated by the reference character 24. The hot water valve 121 controls the discharge of hot water at a constant rate into the washing machine tub. This hot water may come directly from a hot water heater which may supply water at a temperature of about 140 F. The solenoid of this. hot water valve 121 is connected to the conductor 24.

For an initial fill of mixed hot and cold water, the selector switch 94 may be moved as shown in Figure l to an alternate or second Contact connecting with a conductor 123. This conductor 123 connects with a spring type double throw switch member 125. This switch member is operated by a cam 127 directly connected to a gear 129 meshing with the large gear 43. This earn 127 continuously moves the switch member between the with. either of the contacts 153 or 155.

newness C ntact. .131 connected. .to .a. co'nductor133. connecting .to

the solenoid operating coil of the hot water valve 121 and a contact 135 connecting through a conductor 137 .with the solenoid operating; coiL-of 1 .a. coldwater valve 139. This operating coil connects -=to.the.:conductor 24.

This cold rwaterevalve :l39-controlsthersupply of :cold

,pliedis ,directly proportional .tonther-elapsed time the valves areopen.

By this arrangement, awhen 'the..contact 83 is in-engagement .Withthe. contact 290, .the :selector switch 94 when in its lowermost position will controlzthe valves 121 and 139 tosupply all hot water-.todhetub while in its upper alternate position, the alternate positioning of the contact 125-.will cause .the valves 121 and 139 to alternately open and..to alternately .supply hot and cold water .to the tubof:thetwashing machine. The cams 7t) and '72 also control the engagement of the'contact 88 with the contact 141 connected by the conductor 143 to the drive motorl45. of the automatic washing machine. This motortis also connected by the conductor 147 to the conductor .24. .The cam shaft 66 is provided with another cam 149 which operates the double throw switch member 151 either to arneutral positionor into contact The contact 153 is connectediby the -conductors 157 and 159 to the cam operated doublesthrow contact member 125 to provide normal rinse:fills.of alternating hot and cold water. The contact 155 is connected by the conductor 161 to the spin solenoid .163 .in'turn connected by the conductor 165 to the conductor 24. The spin solenoid controls the spinning of the .tub to-centrifuge the water out of the tub and out ofthe clothes in the tub. Additional description and disclosure maybe found in my copending application S. N. 320,598, filed November 14, 1952, now Patent No. 2,748,585.

According to this invention I provide a second gear train which includes a pinion 167 meshing with a small gear 169 connecting directly with the gear 171 which meshes with the gear 129. The gears 167, 169 and 171 are mounted upon a movable plate 173 which is pivoted on the axis of the gear 129. This plate 173 is provided with a notch 175 within which is located a rotatable cam 177. This rotatable cam 177 is connected to a rotatable shaft 179 provided with a dial lznob 181. This dial knob in Figure l is shown in the regular load position. it may also be turned clockwise 90 to a small load position. notch 133 which may be moved inwardly into engagement with a stationary pin 135 to latch it in the small load position as indicated in Figure 3. The movement of the knob 181 and the cam 177 and the plate 173 to the small load position moves the gear 167 into meshing engagement with the gear 38. This provides a second gear train in-between the gear 38 and the gear 48 which drives the gear 48 at about a 50% higher rate of speed than is provided by the gears 42, 44 and 46 The overrunning clutch releases to allow the second train gear to take precedence and drive the gear 48 and the remainder of the gear train connection with the cam shaft 65 at a higher rate of speed. This reduces all ,the fill periods and all the agitation periods and all the spin periods in the same proportion in light loads.

To provide other options for certain periods of the complete cycle, the shaft 179 is provided with an arm 189 and a link 191 connecting with the armature 193 of a solenoid operating coil 195. The armature 193 is normally held in the retracted position by the spring 197 which also tends to turn the shaft 179 and the earn 177 into the position keeping the movable gear 167 out of mesh with the gear 38. The solenoid operatingcoil 195 is connected by the conductor 220 to the supply conductor 24 and is also connected by the conductor 222 The dial knob -18'1is provided with a to the normally. open switch-mombers224,-226"and-223. The double throw switch228 has one closed position connecting with the conductor 230 for energizing the solenoid operating coil 195 during all periods of energization of the operating coil of the hot water valve 121. This will reduce the time the hot water valve 121 is opened during any of its timed fill periods so that a reduced supply .ofihot-water is provided while the same amount of cold wateris used. This is useful When the cold water supply isrelatively warm or the hot water is abnormallyhot. The double throw switch n may be moved to its other closed position to connect to the conductor 232 which connects with' the cold water-valve 139. When in this position, the timed periods for the opening of the cold water valve 139 will be reduced.

This will reduce the amount of cold water supplied during each filling period of the cold water valve 139. This are closed :to provide .the rinse fills.

isuseful 'whenthe cold water is abnormallycoldbr the hot water .is .abnormally low in temperature.

contact as. This :reduces both the hot and cold water fills during the first 01 Wash fill. The switch 226 may be closed to connect to the conductor 159 connecting with the conductor .157. This will cause the-solenoid 195 to be energized whenever the contacts 151 and- 153 This reduces the total amount of water providedifor t'he rins'e fill's.

Thus by these additional controls either the hot or 'the cold water supplies may be reduced-or -the water supplied either during the initial hot Wash fill or -the rinse fill or both may be reduced without reducing the agitation or the spin periods during either the initial Washing or during rinsing. The knob 68 and the cam shaft 66 may be pulled out to set-the sector gear and the cam 72 in different relationships 'to the gear'64 and the cam 70 as to shorten or lengthen the initial fill period as explained and disclosed in the Simon Patent 2,549,025, issued April 17, 1951. The cam shaft 66 is provided with a pin 2% cooperating with the cam proiection 242 upon the front plate 244 by which at the end of the final drying period the engagement of the pin 240 with the cam surface 242 will move the cam shaft 66 outwardly upon its axis to separate the switch contact members 28 and 30 to stop the operation of the entire timing and control system as well as the washing machine.

in Figure 4 there is shown a modified form of two speed gearing arrangement in which an eight tooth drive pinion 321 drives a fifteen tooth gear 323. The fifteen tooth gear 323 drives a sixteen tooth gear 325 which through a wound spring clutch is connected to a twelve tooth gear 327 in engagement with a large sixty-four gear 329 corresponding to the gear 48 in Figures 1. and 2. This sixty-four tooth gear 329 is connected by a torsion spring to the stop plate 331 normally held by the hold member 333. This mechanism is like that shown in the Hall Patent No. 2,227,133, issued December 31, 1940. The stop plate 331 is provided with gear 335 meshing with a large gear 337 provided with a drive pinion 339 corresponding to the drive pinion 62 in Figure 1. This drive pinion 339 drives the gear 64 and the sector gear 8i} in a manner similar to that shown in Figure 1. The gear 337 also meshes with a pinion 349 connected to a ratchet Wheel 351 controlled by an escapement mechanism 353 to prevent reverse rotation of the gear mechanism.

To provide a second gear train when the plate 357 is in the full line position the eight tooth pinion 321 meshes with a twenty tooth gear 359 mounted upon the movable plate 357. The twenty tooth gear 359 meshes with a thirty-two tooth gear 361 which in turn meshes with the largc sixty-four tooth gear 329. The drive from the pinion 321' through the gears 359 and 361 to the large gear 329 provides a faster speed of rotation than the drive through the gears 323, 325 and 327 to the gear 329 which is efiectively declntched by the wound spring clutch between the gears 325 and 327. The gear 361 meshes with the gear 363 operating the cam 365 which corresponds to the cam 127 in Figure l. The cam 365 operates the double throw switch member 367 which corresponds to the switch member 125. The switch member 367 is adapted to cooperate with the stationary switch contacts 369 and 371 corresponding to the contacts 137 and 135 in Figure l. A coil spring 373 acts to urge the movable plate about its pivot pin 375 to move the gear 359 into engagement with the pinion 321. The plate 357 is moved to its dotted line position by a cam 375 corresponding to the cam 177 in Figure 2. This cam is mounted upon a rotatable shaft 379 corresponding to the shaft 179 in Figures 1 and 2. This shaft 379 is provided with an arm 381 connected by a link 383 to the armature 385 of a solenoid 387 corresponding to the armature 193 and solenoid 195 in Figure 1. In moving the plate 357 from the full-line position to the dotted-line position, the gear 359 is moved away from and disengaged from the gear 321 and the gear 361 is moved away from and disengaged from the gear 329. This second form provides a slightly different gearing arrangement than is shown in Figure 1 but the method of changing the speed is essentially the same.

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 claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. An automatic washing machine control system including a timing drive means, a cam shaft provided with cam means, means operated by the cam means for controlling the filling and operation of an automatic washing machine, a first train of gears connecting said drive means and said cam shaft, a second train of gears having a different speed ratio than said first train of gears, a movable mounting for said second train of gears, control means for moving said mounting to move two different gears of said second train into meshing engagement with two different gears of said first train, said first train having clutch means between said two different gears.

2. An automatic washing machine control system including a timing drive means, a cam shaft provided with cam means, means operated by the cam means for controlling the filling and operation of an automatic washing machine, a first train of gears connecting said drive means and said cam shaft, a second train of gears having a different speed ratio than said first train of gears, a movable mounting for said second train of gears, control means for moving said mounting to move said second train into a positive meshing drive connection with and between two different gears of said first train to provide a different speed ratio drive, said first train having clutch means between said two different gears.

3. An automatic washing machine control system including a timing drive means, a cam shaft provided with cam means, means operated by the cam means for controlling the filling and operation of an automatic washing machine, a first train of gears connecting said drive means and said cam shaft, a second train of gears having a different speed ratio than said first train of gears, a movable mounting for said second train of gears, control means for moving said mounting to move said second train into a positive meshing drive connection with and between two different gears of said first train to provide a different speed ratio drive, said first train having an overrunning type clutch means between said two different gears.

4. An automatic washing machine control system including a timing drive means, a cam shaft provided with cam means, means operated by the cam means for controlling the filling and operation of an automatic washing machine, a first train of gears connecting said drive means and said cam shaft, a second train of gears having a different speed ratio than said first train of gears, a movable mounting for said second train of gears, control means for moving said mounting to move said second train into a positive meshing drive connection with and between two difierent gears of said first train to provide a different speed ratio drive, said first train having clutch means between said two ditferent gears, said control means including a rotatable cam and manually operable means for rotating said cam.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,960,508 Poole .a May 29, 1934 2,521,159 Geldhof et a1. Sept. 5, 1950 2,543,032 Laviana Feb. 27, 1951 2,646,673 McCarty July 28, 1953 2,670,794 Gallagher Mar. 2, 1954 2,776,009 Tamburr Jan. 1, 1957

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