GB1562543A

GB1562543A - Clothes washing machine agitator assembly

Info

Publication number: GB1562543A
Application number: GB2055977A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Whirlpool Corp
Current assignee: Whirlpool Corp
Priority date: 1976-06-16
Filing date: 1977-05-16
Publication date: 1980-03-12
Also published as: AU2579477A; AU512667B2; JPS5325072A; CA1095734A; BR7703906A

Description

(54) CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE AGITATOR ASSEMBLY (71) We, WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIOl,a Corporation organised and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, United States of America, of, Benton Harbor, Michigan 49022, United States of Amercia, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to washing machines employing vertical axis agitators which oscillate to provide a washing action on clothes contained within the machine.

It has long been appreciated that the most efficient clothes movement pattern for washing clothes within an automatic washing machine having a vertical axis agitator is a pattern which provides a rollover of the clothes which involves moving the clothes down the agitator barrel, then radially outward from the oscillating agitator vanes, upward along the wall of the tub, and inward to the barrel. Conventional washing machines are reasonably proficient in achieving this type of rollover pattern when light loads are being washed, but not with heavy loads. When the washing basket is tightly packed with clothes, the load crowds the agitator and the basket area. A conventional oscillating agitator has difficulty in attaining any kind of a rollover to the clothes load under these conditions. The conventional-type agitator then scrubs merely the bottom portion of a tightly-packed heavy load, resulting in a very poor uneven cleaning action.

There are a few examples in prior patents of agitators which move in separate paths during a washing operation. For example, U.S. Patent Specification No. 1,834,936 suggests dual agitator members which are reciprocated in opposite directions within the tub, the object being to create a violent water action.

Our U.S. Patent Specification No. 3,678,714 describes a washing machine assembly including a pair of agitators, the two agitators being coupled together for mutual oscillation, but having cam means or the like provided between the two agitators to effect a vertical reciprocation of one with respect to the other during such oscillation.

Prior art patents disclose agitators with spiral vane elements. For example, U.S. Patent Specification No. 2,331,897 discloses a washing machine having an agitator provided with a spiral vane on an upper portion, the agitator rotating at motor speed during washing.

U.S. Design Patent No. 196,194 shows an agitator for a laundry machine wherein the ornamental design for the agitator includes a spiral vane arrangement.

U.S. Patent Specification No. 2,734,367 shows an agitator for a laundry machine wherein the agitator includes spiral vanes which extend in the form of radial vanes on their lower edges with radial projections or vanes extending intermediate the spiral vanes.

Flexible agitator vanes have been used in combination with an agitator skirt portion as in U.S. Patent Specification No. 3,307,383. That patent psecification shows flexible vanes attached to the center agitator post and spaced above a skirt to reduce tangling of fabrics on the agitator vanes.

U.S. Pat- Specification No.3,112,632 discloses an agitator having a ribbed and grooved agitator barrel and flexible vanes for reducing tangling of clothing on such vanes during oscillation of the agitator.

U.S. Patent Specification No. 3,381,504 shows flexible vanes attached to the center agitator post and spaced above a skirt with the spacing increasing toward the outer periphery of the skirt.

U.S. Patent Specification No. 3,608,110 shows an agitator assembly having small upper vanes connected to lower vanes by helical vane sections, the lower vanes being substantially flexible. The entire agitator having the three classes of vanes oscillates back and forth together with the skirt lying beneath but unattached to the lower vanes, in an attempt to achieve a toroidal movement of clothing and washing fluid in the washing tub.

The following additional U.S. Patent Specifications are part of the prior art for consideration in connection with the present invention.

Altorfer 1,704,932 Maus 2,021,097 Skinner 2,253,989 Castner 2,502,702 Byrd et al. 3,117,434 Bochan 3,285,040 In general, the prior art has provided agitators having only oscillatory motions, attempting to achieve good rollover of clothing in the washing tub by increasing the vigor of the agitation.

In the specification of our British Patent No. 1,469,330 we describe and claim, inter alia, an agitator assembly for a clothes washing machine comprising: a lower agitator element, an upper agitator element positioned above the lower agitator element, drive means for driving the lower agitator element in an oscillatory manner and the upper agitator element in a unidirectional manner, and means associated with the upper agitator element for urging articles adjacent thereto in a downward direction during use of the assembly. Thus washing machines using such an agitator assembly operate in a manner effective to promote the desired continuous rollover movement of the clothes and fabrics undergoing washing, resulting in improved and more uniform washability of the clothes load.

In our earlier patent No. 1,469,329 we describe and claim an agitator accessory for a washing maching having an oscillatory vertical axis agitator with a barrel portion, said agitator accessory comprising: a sleeve proportioned to be received over and in coaxial alignment with the barrel portion, at least one vane associated with the sleeve for urging items in the vicinity of the vane in a downward direction when the agitator accessory is being used in a washing machine, and one-way clutch means for operably connecting the sleeve with the agitator.

The present invention provides improvements in or modifications of the agitator assembly and washing machine of our prior patent No. 1,469,330, and is especially concerned with the provision of flexible vanes on the lower agitator element and/or the provision of a continuous rotational drive to the upper agitator element.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an agitator assembly for a clothes washing machine comprising: a first lower agitator element, a second upper agitator element, drive means for driving said first agitator element in an oscillatory motion and for concurrently driving said second agitator element in a unidirectional rotary motion, said first and second agitator elements cooperating in use of the assembly to circulate the contents of the machine in a toroidal rollover pattern within the washing machine, and means being associated with said second agitator element for forcing articles adjacent thereto in a downward direction in use of the assembly into the oscillatory path of said first agitator element and into said rollover pattern, said first agitator element having formed thereon flexible vanes which are free to flex in response to oscillatory motions of the agitator element, thereby yieldingly to engage articles deflected downwardly and lessening high impact loading of the first agitator element in use of the assembly.

Another aspect of the invention provides a clothes washing machine having a washing receptacle for containing washing liquid and articles to be washed, agitator means within said receptacle for imparting a rollover motion to said articles to be washed, and drive means for driving said agitator means, said agitator means comprising: a lower agitator element driven by the drive means in an oscillatory manner about a vertical axis, an upper agitator element mounted above the lower agitator element and coaxial therewith, said upper agitator element being positively rotationally driven by the drive means in one direction only, means associated with the upper agitator element for imparting a downward motion to the articles to be washed for urging articles and wash liquid in the washing receptacle toward said first agitator member in a generally toroidal fluid circulatory path to effect a scrubbing of said articles by said first agitator member in use of the machine, and flexible vanes associated with the lower agitator element yieldingly to flex under heavy wash load conditions in use of the machine to minimize tangling of articles to be washed due to the movement of said upper agitator element in said one direction only.

A further aspect of this invention provides a clothes washing machine of the vertical axis type having a washing receptacle for receiving washing liquid and articles to be washed, agitator means within said receptacle for washing articles and for generating a rollover motion to said articles during washing of the articles, and drive means for driving said agitator means, said agitator means comprising: a lower agitator element driven by said drive means in an oscillatory motion on said vertical axis for scrubbing said articles during washing of said articles, an upper agitator element mounted on said vertical axis above said lower agitator element, said upper agitator element being positively and continuously rotated in one direction on said vertical axis by said drive means in operation of the machine, and means on said upper agitator element for deflecting said fabrics downwardly toward said lower agitator element on rotation in one direction of said upper agitator element so as to generate a continuous rollover motion of said fabrics by the coaction of said upper and lower agitator elements.

Thus the continuously rotatable upper agitator element modification of the invention of Patent No. 1,469,330 can be braodly considered as providing a washing machine of the vertical axis type having an agitator assembly comprising a skirt and vane portion oscillatable about an axis and having a plurality of radial vanes spaced about said axis and an auger portion rotatable in one direction about said axis and having a radially extending vane forming a helix about said axis to provide positive toroidal rollover of the clothing in the machine, wherein a continuous unidirectional driving means is provided for continuously rotating said auger portion during a washing operation.

The invention will be further apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a view partly broken away, of a conventional automatic washing machine assembly provided with an agitator means as described in the specification of our British Patent No. 1,469,300; Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the agitator means of Figure 1 during a washing cycle showing the manner in which the clothes are rolled over to ensure efficient contact with the wash liquid; Figure 3 is a view in elevation of the upper agitator element shown in the assembly of Figure 2; Figure 4 is an elevational view of a modified form of upper agitator element as described in our British Patent Specification No. 1,469,330; Figure 5 is a view in elevation of a preferred form of agitator assembly according to the present invention; Figure 6 is a top plan view of the agitator assembly of Figure 5 mounted in a perforated basket positioned within an imperforate fluidretaining tub with an arrow adjacent the agitator, axis indicating the direction of rotation of the auger agitator, and arrows indicating the movement of clothes about the axis of rotation of the auger agitator of the present invention; Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view through the vertical axis of the washing machine tub and agitator assembly, on line VII-VII of Figure 6, and indicating movement of the clothes, fabrics and washing fluid within the tub; Figure 8 is a perspective view of the structure of Figure 7 with a wall portion of the basket being removed to better illustrate the movement of clothes about the axis of rotation of the auger agitator; and Figure 9 is a fragmentary vertical crosssectional view of a modified form of the invention providing a continuous rotary motion for the auger element of the agitator and an oscillatory motion for a skirt portion of the agitator having scrubbing vanes attached thereto.

In Figure 1, reference numeral 10 indicates generally a washing machine of the automatic type which is to be improved or modified by the present invention and including a frame 11 carrying vertical panels 12 forming the sides, front and back of the cabinet for the washing machine 10. A hinged lid 13 is provided in the usual manner to provide access to the interior of the washing machine. The washing machine 10 has the usual console 14 including a timer dial 15 and a program selector 16.

Internally of the machine 10 there is disclosed an imperforate fluid retaining tub 17 which is supported within the washing machine cabinet by means of a base support plate 18. A plurality of suspension rods 19 having resilient spherical end portions 20 and 21 are positioned about the tub 17 in the usual manner to suspend the tub 17 freely within the interior of the cabinet for the washing machine.

A perforate washing receptacle or basket 22 is positioned concentrically within the tub 17.

Centrally of the perforate washing basket 22 is an agitator means which has been designated generally in the drawings by the reference numeral 23.

Liquid is introduced into the washing machine by means of a solenoid controlled inlet valve 24 which directs the liquid through a conduit 25 and through an anti-siphon device 20a into the washing machine. A filter 27 is positioned along a tub ring 28a disposed between the tub 17 which receives the washing fluid and the basket 22 which receives the clothing or other fabrics to be cleaned therein.

A conduit 28b connects the outlet port of a pump 29 to the filter 27, and a second conduit 28c provides fluid communication between the inlet port of pump 29 and the clothes washing zone within basket 22 of the washing machine.

During the agitate portion of the wash cycle wash water is circulated by the pump 29 through conduit 28b to filter 27, from the filter into the washing zone, and from the washing zone through a second conduit 28c back to the pump 29. A filtering of the wash water is thus accomplished.

The pump 29 as well as the other movable parts of the assembly are driven by means of a motor 30 which operates through a transmission 31. A clutch and brake assembly generally indicated by the reference numeral 32 is provided for energizing the agitator means 23 during washing, and for disengaging the agitator and engaging a basket spin tube, subsequently to be described, for spinning the basket 22 during the liquid extracting portion of the washing phase. All of the drive elements and hydraulic units described thus far are conventional in vertical-axis automatic washing machines, and the improvements of the present invention are centered in the agitator means 23, which is described specifically below.

As seen in Figure 2, the agitator means 23 has a lower agitator element 33 with skirt portion 34 which carries a plurality of spaced, generally vertical agitator vanes 35. An agitator drive shaft 36 extends through the lower agitator element 33 and an upper agitator element 33a and is threadedly received within an agitator cap 37. The shaft 36 has a splined portion 38 which is rigidly connected to an agitator drive coupler 39 for oscillating the lower agitator element 33 in the usual manner.

A spin tube 40 surrounds the shaft 36 over a portion of its length and is received between spaced bearings 41 and 42. A pulley 43 is provided about the spin tube 40 for mechanical connection to a drive motor and transmission in the usual manner. The upper end of the spin tube is received within a basket drive block 44 and its associated nut 45 to drive the basket 22 at high speed during the extraction cycle when wash liquid is removed from the clothes by centrifugal force.

The upper agitator element 33a is composed of a synthetic resin material and, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 is hollow and has a largerdiameter end portion 46a in the area adjacent to the lower agitator element 33, and a smallerdiameter upper portion 46b at the upper end thereof. As best illustrated in Figure 2, the lower end of the upper agitator element 33a is received in overlapping relationship with the upper portion of the lower agitator element 33.

The agitator drive shaft 36 extends up through the upper agitator element 33a and is mechanically coupled thereto through one-way drive mechanism such as a one-way clutch 47 (which may be for example, a Torrington (Registered Trade Mark) positive grip one-way roller clutch model RCB-101416) located at the upper end of the shaft 36. A sleeve bearing 48 provides for relative movement between the lower agitator element 33 and the upper agitator element 33a.

The outer periphery of the upper agitator element 33a is provided with vane means 49 for urging clothes downwardly. A coninuous helical vane 49 is shown extending outwardly from the conical wall of the upper agitator element 33a down the length of the upper agitator element 33a and terminating short of the vertical agitator vanes 35 for urging or deflecting clothes downwardly. With the arrangement shown, the upper agitator element 33a is positively driven through one-way clutch 47 only when the agitator drive shaft 36 is moved in a counter-clockwise direction. Under very light loads, which may tend to be submerged adjacent the lower agitator element 33 and not in sufficient contact with the upper element 33a, the upper agitator element 33a will tend to oscillate with the lower agitator element 33.

However, as basket 22 is loaded with increasingly larger fabric loads, these larger bulk loads consistently come into greater contact with agitator vanes 49 so that when the agitator drive shaft 36 moves in a clockwise direction, the one-way clutch 47 allows the upper agitator element to remain relatively stationary due to the frictional drag placed thereon by the water and clothes within the basket. Thus there is substantially automatic sensing of the magnitude of the clothes load to provide incremental rotation under clothes load conditions. This incremental or intermittent rotation of the upper agitator element 33a with a clothes load provides a double action agitator and causes the helical vane 49 to act as an auger and thus auger or urge the clothes identified at reference numeral C downwardly along the upper agitator element 33a into the oscillating vertical agitator vanes 35 which move the clothes out radially toward the periphery of the basket 22, thence upwardly and inwardly toward the upper agitator element 33a, all as indicated by the arrows shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. This creates a highly desirable generally toroidal rollover movement or action which subjects the clothes to intimate contact with the washing liquid and to effective scrubbing action from the lower agitator element 33.

(In Figure 2, the washing liquid has been omitted, and only a partial clothes load has been illustrated for purposes of clarity.) A modified form of upper agitator element 50 for use in the present invention is illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings. This figure illustrates an upper agitator element 50 having two helical vanes 51 and 52 each having a pitch differing somewhat from the pitch of the helical vane 49 shown in detail in Figure 3 which advantageously may have one and one quarter(l-1/4) turns over the length of upper agitator element 33a. The pitch of these helical vanes affects the rate at which clothes are moved downwardly along the upper agitator element 33a into the oscillatory path of the lower agitator element 33. A greater pitch of these helical vanes increases the rate at which fabrics are fed into the path of the lower agitator element.

In the development and evaluation of dual action agitators which, as disclosed herein, employ an upper unidirectional auger element in mutual cooperation with a lower oscillating agitator element it has been determined that the operational efficiency of, and uniformity of washability by, such agitators are substantially directly related to the magnitude of the rollover of the fabrics in a generally toroidal path during an average washing operation as produced by the cooperation of these upper and lower agitator elements. The cooperative relationship between these upper and lower agitator elements is important since the upper auger or helical portion continually forces or deflects the fabrics in a downwardly direction into the oscillatory path of the lower agitator element which is thereby enabled to better clean and scrub such fabrics.

However, since there are other fabrics which have already been previously gravitationally positioned adjacent this same lower agitator element, the continual forcing of fabrics toward the bottom portion of the agitator assembly tends to produce a concentrated mass or bulk of fabrics in the lower central portion of the washing receptacle and ultimately in and around the entire oscillatory lower vaned agitator element 33.

Since the torque loads sensed by the oscillatory agitator drive shaft 36 are dependent upon the nature and mass of the fabrics engaged by the lower agitator element 33, a compacted fabric mass engaging that agitator may tend to increase the torque loads sensed by drive shaft 36 and ultimately by the motor 30 powering that drive shaft. In addition, the creation of the relatively immobile, or at least slowly moving, fabric mass tends to retard or interfere with a continually progressing fabric rollover pattern which is desirable for the more uniform scrubbing of all fabrics placed within the clothes basket 22.

It is therefore important that the fabrics fed by the helical vane means 49 downwardly toward the lower agitator element 33 during a first portion of the toroidal rollover pattern for such fabrics also be moved radially outwardly from said agitator and upwardly along the inner sidewalls of the basket 22 in the second half portion of the desired toroidal cycle or rollover pattern within that basket. The helical pitch design and dimensions of the upper agitator element are therefore important in determining the downward feed rate of the upper agitator element.

The type, configuration and size characteristics of the lower vaned agitator element 33 are also significant in promoting an optimum movement of fabrics away from the lower central washing zone within basket 22. Whereas the embodiments of our earlier Patent No. 1,469, 330 shown in Figures 1 to 4 herein illustrate the use of a rigid agitator vaned element, the embodiments of the present invention shown in Figures 5-9 utilize agitator vanes of the flexible type or of a combination of flexible and rigid vanes.

The use of flexible agitator vanes on the lower agitator element allows such flexible vanes yieldingly to engage the fabrics deflected downwardly and thereby lessens the imposition of somewhat instantaneous high impact loading of the agitator, the agitator drive shaft and ultimately the motor driving it. These vanes also flex upon engagement with fabrics so as to unload fabrics which might otherwise catch on and be carried by the upper helically vaned auger element itself. This unloading of the vanes tends to avoid tangling of fabrics on the agitator which might otherwise lead to increased agitator shaft torque, increased motor wattage, reduced rollover as well as unbalanced spin loads and generally tangled clothes loads.

In Figures 5 to 8 an agitator assembly 23a is shown that comprises four flexible vanes 35a attached integrally to the oscillatory skirt portion 34a and centerpost 70 along the transition area 60 and a portion 61 of the skirt 34a.

Further, each flexible vane 35a has an upper edge 135 extending generally radially outwardly and inclined slightly from the horizontal. An outer or vertical edge 235 extends generally vertically and terminates in a lower edge 62 which extends generally radially inwardly and which is separated from a skirt 34b for a substantial portion of the length of the vane so that the free end of each vane 35a is free to flex when subjected to oscillatory forces.

It will be noted that the skirt 34b extends under each of the flexible vanes 35a and is disposed generally in a subjacent relation thereto. Moreover, each of the vanes 35a is separated from the skirt 34b along a greater portion of its length by a space between the skirt 34b and the lower edge 62 of the vane 35a, thereby to allow flexing of the vane during a washing action. By virtue of the free or detached upper, outer and lower edges 135, 235, and 62, free flexing of the vanes 35a is facilitated. Therefore, under heavy wash load conditions the flexible vanes 35a yieldingly engage fabrics deflected downwardly thereby lessening high impact loading of the skirt portion 34a of the agitator assembly.

A generally cylindrical bead 80 which is greater in diameter than the thickness of the flexible vane 35a is provided on the edges 135, 235 and 62 and provides some resistance to formation of nicks and gouges in the vane which could tend to snag or catch the fabrics being washed.

Four small rigid vanes 63 are provided on the upper surface of the skirt 34b of the agitator assembly 23a. The rigid vanes 63 are spaced equidistantly about the circumference of the skirt 34b, approximately 45C offset from the four flexible vanes 35a. Each rigid vane 63 has a generally horizontal upper edge 64, and a generally vertical edge 65 which is spaced radially outwardly from the axis of the agitator assembly 23a at a slightly smaller distance than the outer part of the skirt flange 66. The vanes 63 may be hollow with cavities opening from the lower surface of the skirt 34b.

Each rigid vane 63 is integrally attached along its lower edge portions to the skirt 34b.

The edges 64 and 65 of the rigid vanes 63 are rounded, as shown. The flexible vanes 35a and the rigid vanes 63 extend radially with respect to center post 70 of the skirt and constitute the main scrubbing vanes of agitator assembly 23a.

Coaxial with the center post 70 of the skirt and vane portion of the agitator assembly 23a is an auger tube 33b of the auger portion of the agitator assembly 23a. The dual action agitator assembly 23a is closed at the top of the auger barrel portion or tube 33b by a cap 135a. The auger tube 33b is driven about the axis of the washing machine tub 7a through a type of clutch 75 (Figure 7) at the top of the centre post 70 of the skirt portion 34a, which, in turn, is driven by an oscillating drive shaft 36a.

Associated with the clutch 75 are a machine screw 43a to clamp the stem 73 of the center post 70 of agitator skirt portion 34a to the upper end of the drive shaft 36a. The clutch 75 includes a coil spring 64a which bears between an upper surface of clutch member 75a of the clutch 75 and an under surface of a plate 44a which is clamped atop the stem 73 by the machine screw 43a.

In the preferred embodiment of Figures 5-8, the drive shaft 36a rotates the center post 70 in either direction through shaft spline 71 and a cooperatively splined interior surface on center post stem portion 73. A ratchet surface (not shown) of the clutch member 75a mounted at the top of the center post 70 engages a corresponding ratchet surface on an internal cylinder of the auger tube 33b. When the drive shaft 36a rotates to the left as shown in Figure 7, teeth (not shown) of the ratchet surface of the clutch 75 engage the valleys of the ratchet surface (not shown) in the auger tube 33b, forcing the auger tube 33b also to rotate to the left. On the return stroke of the oscillatory drive shaft 36a and center post 70, to the right, the ratchet surface on the auger tube 33b will rise vertically and slip from tooth to tooth of the ratchet rather than rotate in the reverse direction against its own momentum and the resistance of the washing fluid and articles undergoing washing about its exterior.

The outer portion of the auger tube 33b has a single helical vane 49a beginning above the normal maximum water line 39a in the tube 1 7a and progressing downwardly in a counterclockwise direction in the orientation of Figure 5, so that when the auger tube 33b is rotated to the left in the orientation of Figure 6, washing liquid and fabric articles C in the clothes basket 22a will be forced downwardly adjacent the agitator assembly 23a.

In operation, articles undergoing washing such as clothes and fabrics C will be placed within the clothes basket 22a within the imperforate tub 1 7a and the tub 1 7a filled with water to the level 39a as indicated. In a washing cycle, the drive shaft 36a will rotate back and forth, in clockwise and counterclockwise directions, alternately, oscillating the skirt and vane portion 34a of the agitator assembly 23a through the driving connection formed by the engagement of the splined segment 71 of the drive shaft 36a with the splined interior surface on center post stem portion 73, onto which the center post 70 of the skirt and vane portion 34a is non-rotatably keyed or attached. Thus, the skirt and vane portion 34a oscillates within the clothes basket 22a, establishing a generally radial flow pattern at the bottom of the clothes basket 22a and providing scrubbing and flexing action to the clothing C passing adjacent the skirt 34a. Simultaneously with oscillation ventional clothes washing machines. The entire clothes load was uniformly washed with only very narrow differences between soil removal results for various parts of the load. The test results showed less clothes tangling than would normally be expected, with no objectionable high agitator shaft torque or high motor wattage. Thus the present construction provided an improved dual action auger agitator substantially free of any clothes tangling or related problems.

Figure 9 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the invention in which the upper helical auger agitator element is rotated continuously in one direction rather than being driven in an intermittent unidirectional rotary motion such as illustrated in the embodiments of Figures 1-8. The embodiment of Figure 9 represents a modified auger mechanism for feeding clothing and fabrics downwardly into the path of the lower oscillatable agitator element which is oscillated in a manner and rate similarly to that for the lower agitator elements of the embodiment shown in Figures 5 to 8.

In Figure 9, the washing machine 110 (only partially shown) includes a basket or receptacle 111 provided with perforations (not shown) and positioned within an imperforate fluid retaining tub 112. A transmission housing 113 located beneath tub 112 encloses a transmission generally identified by numeral 114. The transmission housing 113 is connected at its upper end to receptacle 111 by tubular shaft 115 and is connected at its lower end to a hollow transmission input drive shaft 116.

Journalled for oscillation within the hollow shaft 115 is a tubular shaft 117 which is directly connected to the lower vaned oscillatable agitator element 1 20b which is similar in size, function and configuration to the lower agitator element 34a shown in the embodiment of Figure 5. Lower agitator element 1 20b includes four flexible vanes 118 attached to the central hub and skirt portion 118a of agitator element 120b. One or more rigid vanes, not shown but similar to the embodiment of Figure 5 herein, may also be carried on element 1 20b between vanes 118.

Journalled for rotation within tubular shaft 117 is the rotatable agitator input drive shaft 119 which extends upwardly to the top of the agitator assembly positioned within receptacle 111 and generally designated by numeral 120.

The agitator assembly 120 includes an upper agitator auger agitator element 120a, a lower agitator vaned agitator element 120b, and an agitator cap 1 20c threaded on the upper end of agitator shaft 119. As in the prior embodiments, the lower vaned agitator element 1 20b is intended for oscillation about its vertical axis at an optimum rate within a range of approximately 50 to 200 oscillations per minute depending upon the characteristics of the drive system desired.

The upper auger agitator element 1 20a, which includes a helical vane 120d, is intended to rotate continuously in one direction so as to urge or force its adjacent clothing and fabrics downwardly into the path of the lower agitator element 120b. The rotational rate of the upper auger agitator element 1 20a is dependent upon the size, shape, and helical pitch of the auger agitator element 1 20a itself but may be in the range of approximately 60 r.p.m. or less.

The function of transmission 114 is to provide a continuous rotary motion to the agitator drive shaft 119 while simultaneously providing an oscillatory motion to the tubular agitator drive shaft 117 during the agitation portion of the washing cycle of washing machine 110 in addition to providing a rotary motion to the clothes basket spin tube 115 during the fluid extraction portions of that washing cycle.

The mechanical power for producing the -desired movements of agitator elements 120a and 1 20b is supplied to the rotary transmission input drive shaft 122 which is journalled within the tubular transmission input drive shaft 116 and coaxially aligned with shaft 119. Input drive shaft 122 is keyed to pinion gear 123 which drives a spur gear 124 keyed to a jack shaft 125 suitably mounted for rotation on the bottom wall of transmission housing 113. Jack shaft 125 is keyed to a gear 126 which provides two power paths to agitator 120. The first power path is provided through a gear 127 which meshes with gear 126 and which, in turn, is keyed to the agitator drive shaft 119.

The second power path is provided through a crank pin 128 which is carried by gear 126 and which journals one end of a toothed rack 129 which meshes with and drives the gear 130 which in turn is keyed to the tubular agitator drive shaft 117.

In operation during the agitation portion of the washing cycle when tubular shaft 116 and transmission housing 113 are stationary, rotation of transmission input shaft 122 in a clockwise direction, as viewed from the bottom of Figure 9, causes gears 123, 124, 126 and 127 to rotate in a direction so as to cause the upper auger agitator element 1 20a to force its surrounding fabrics and clothing downwardly toward and into the path of agitator element 120b.

Rotation of shaft 122 and gears 123, 125, and 126 also causes crank pin 128 to reciprocate rack 129 back and forth so as to produce an oscillatory motion of pinion gear 130 and the tubular shaft 117 to which gear 130 is keyed. Oscillation of shaft 117 produces a similar oscillatory motion of the lower vaned agitator element 120b.

During the extraction portions of the washing cycle, the rotation of shaft 116 causes transmission housing 113, shaft 115 and ultimately receptacle 111 to rotate to effect the desired centrifuging operation.

While transmission 114 has been shown and described herein for illustrative purposes in driving agitator 120, it should be understood that other continuous driving mechanism can be utilized. It can be seen from this embodiment of Figure 9 that an auger agitator assembly has been provided wherein the upper auger agitator element is continuously rather than intermittently rotated.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. An agitator assembly for a clothes washing machine comprising: a first lower agitator element, a second upper agitator element, drive means for driving said first agitator element in an oscillatory motion and for concurrently driving said second agitator element in a unidirectional rotary motion, said first and second agitator elements cooperating in use of the assembly to circulate the contents of the machine in a toroidal rollover pattern within the washing machine, and means being associated with said second agitator element for forcing articles adjacent thereto in a downward direction in use of the assembly into the oscillatory path of said first agitator element and into said rollover pattern, said first agitator element having formed thereon flexible vanes which are free to flex in response to oscillatory motions of the agitator element, thereby yieldingly to engage articles deflected downwardly and lessening high impact loading of the first agitator element in use of the assembly.

2. An agitator assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first agitator element is provided with a skirt spaced subjacent said flexible vanes and extending under each of said flexible vanes.

3. An agitator assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of said flexible vanes is separated from said skirt along a major portion of its length by a space between said skirt and said vane, thereby to allow flexing of said flexible vane during washing action.

4. An agitator assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein said flexible vanes each have free or detached upper, outer, and lower edges to facilitate free flexing of said flexible vane during washing action.

5. An agitator assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said drive means is constructed and arranged intermittently to drive said second agitator element.

6. An agitator assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said drive means is constructed and arranged continuously to drive said second agitator element.

7. An agitator assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the second agitator element is in the form of an auger with the means associated therewith comprising a radially extending vane forming a helix about the axis of rotation of said element.

8. An agitator assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein smaller rigid vanes are provided on said first agitator element intermediate said flexible vanes.

9. A clothes washing machine having a washing receptacle for containing washing liquid and articles to be washed, agitator means within said receptacle for imparting a rollover motion to said articles to be washed, and drive means for driving said agitator means, said agitator means comprising: a lower agitator element driven by the drive means in an oscillatory manner about a vertical axis, an upper agitator element mounted above the lower agitator element and coaxial therewith, said upper agitator element being positively rotationally driven by the drive means in one direction only, means associated with the upper agitator element for imparting a downward motion to the articles to be washed for urging articles and wash liquid in the washing receptacle toward said first agitator member in a generally toroidal fluid circulatory path to effect a scrubbing of said articles by said first agitator member in use of the machine, and flexible vanes associated with the lower agitator element yieldingly to flex under heavy wash load conditions in use of the machine to minimize tangling or articles to be washed due to the movement of said upper agitator element in said one direction only.

10. A clothes washing machine as claimed in claim 9, wherein the flexible vanes have relatively free end portions positioned outwardly from said vertical axis, and the lower agitator element comprises a skirt portion closely positioned beneath said end portions whereby said end portions may flex relative to said skirt portion upon oscillation of said lower agitator element and yieldingly propel said fabrics away from said vertical axis and into a second portion of said toroidal rollover patten so as to be reengaged by said upper agitator element and thereby generate a continuous rollover motion of said fabrics.

11. A clothes washing machine as claimed in claim 9 or 10, wherein said drive means includes a drive member which is directly connected to said upper agitator element and constructed and arranged such that said upper agitator element is continuously rotated in one direction about said vertical axis during use of the machine.

12. A clothes washing machine as claimed in claim 9 or 10, wherein said drive means is adapted to provide an intermittent unidirection rotational drive to said second agitator element.

13. A clothes washing machine of the vertical axis type having a washing receptacle for receiving washing liquid and articles to be washed, agitator means within said receptacle for washing articles and for generating a rollover motion to said articles during washing of the articles, and drive means for driving said agitator means, said agitator means comprising: a lower agitator element driven by said drive means in an oscillatory motion on said vertical axis for scrubbing said articles during washing of said articles, an upper agitator element

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. described herein for illustrative purposes in driving agitator 120, it should be understood that other continuous driving mechanism can be utilized. It can be seen from this embodiment of Figure 9 that an auger agitator assembly has been provided wherein the upper auger agitator element is continuously rather than intermittently rotated. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. An agitator assembly for a clothes washing machine comprising: a first lower agitator element, a second upper agitator element, drive means for driving said first agitator element in an oscillatory motion and for concurrently driving said second agitator element in a unidirectional rotary motion, said first and second agitator elements cooperating in use of the assembly to circulate the contents of the machine in a toroidal rollover pattern within the washing machine, and means being associated with said second agitator element for forcing articles adjacent thereto in a downward direction in use of the assembly into the oscillatory path of said first agitator element and into said rollover pattern, said first agitator element having formed thereon flexible vanes which are free to flex in response to oscillatory motions of the agitator element, thereby yieldingly to engage articles deflected downwardly and lessening high impact loading of the first agitator element in use of the assembly.

mounted on said vertical axis above said lower agitator element, said upper agitator element being positively and continuously rotated in one direction on said vertical axis by said drive means in operation of the machine, and means on said upper agitator element for deflecting said articles downwardly toward said lower agitator element on rotation in one direction of said upper agitator element so as to generate a continuous rollover motion of said articles by the coaction of said upper and lower agitator elements.

14. A washing machine as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the upper agitator element is in the form of an auger having a radially extending vane forming a helix about said vertical axis.

15. A washing machine of the vertical axis type having an agitator assembly comprising a skirt and vane portion oscillatable about an axis and having a plurality of radial vanes spaced about said axis and an auger portion rotatable in one direction about said axis and having a radially extending vane forming a helix about said axis to provide positive toroidal rollover of the clothing in the machine, wherein a continuous unidirectional driving means is provided for continuously rotating said auger portion during a washing operation.

16. An agitator assembly for use in a vertical axis washing machine, such agitator assembly being constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and illustrated in Figures 5 to 8 or Figure 9 of the accompanying drawings.

17. A washing machine having a washing receptacle for containing washing liquid and articles to be washed and an agitator as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 or claim 16.

18. A washing machine constructed and arranged to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 5 to 8 or Figure 9 of the accompanying drawings.