US1379732A - Eccentric driving mechanism for power washing-machines - Google Patents

Description

H. H. TOLL AND F. C. DUI-'F.-

MACHINES.

EccENmIc omvl NG MECHANISIVI FOR POWEfIA WASHING APPLICATION FILED FEB. 23. 191B. RENEWED OCT. 22, I pm m 9.732.

Patented May 31, LQZL.

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APPLICATION FILED FEB..23| 1918-' RE H. H. TOLL AND F. C. DUFF. NG MEcHANlsM FOR POWER WASHING MACHINES.

NEWED'OCT. 22, 1920.

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HERMAN H. TOLL AND FRANK C. DUFF, OF CLARINDA, IOWA.

ECCENTRIG DRIVING vMECI-1'ANISlVl FOR POWER TTASHINGJVIACHINES.

Specification ofvLetters Patent.

Patented May 31, 1921.

Application filed February 23, 1918, Serial No. 218,746. Renewed October 22, 1920. Serial No. 418,764.

T 0 all whom/ may concern.'

Be it known that we, HERMAN H. TOLL and F RANK C. Dori, citizens of the United States of America, and residents of Clarinda, Page county, owa, have invented a new and useful Eccentric Driving Mechanism for Power lashing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

rlhe object of this invention is to provide an improved driving mechanism especially designed for use on power washing machines.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved means for transforming continuous rotary motion into oscillatory rotary motion.

A further object of this invention is to provide means for transmitting power from a continuously rotating` horizontally arranged driving shaft to a vertically arranged follower adapted to be alternately rotated or oscillated in opposite directions, through the use of oppositely arranged eccentrics on said driving shaft.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved means for operatively connecting oppositely arranged eccentrics on j a driving shaft with a follower shaft.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved means for adjusting the connecting devices between the eccentrics and the followe'r.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved means for automatically disconnecting the follower device from the driving shaft when the movable member on which the follower is mounted is turned to a certain position, as for instance, open position of a movable cover member of a washing machine.

A further object of this invention is to provide a driving mechanism for power washing machines which shall combine simplicity of construction with ease and quietness in operation, which mechanism is adapted for ready and quick application to a washing machine.

" With these and other objects in view, our

invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of elements hereinafter set forth, pointed out in our claims and illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a plan illustrating the application of our improved mechanism to a power washing machine. Fig. 2 is a vertical section substantially on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail elevation, partly in section and on an enlarged scale, on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a similar view on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line 5 of Fig. 3.

In the construction of the mechanism as shown the numeral 10 designates a suitable support such as a washing machine tub, formed with a fixed cover member 11 and a movable cover member 12 adapted to overlie the major portion of the top of the tub. A supporting plate 13 is mounted on and suitably fixed to the fixed cover member 11, and said plate is formed with spaced, integral, upstanding bearing brackets 14, 15 near its ends. A driving shaft 16 is journaled for rotation in the brackets 14, 15 and extends longitudinally of and above the Xed cover member 11. Hinge members 17, 18 are secured to the top of the movable cover member 12, as by bolts 19, extend upwardly and outwardly beyond the margin of said cover member, and have bearings at their opposite ends on the driving shaft 16, preferably adjacent the brackets 14, 15. Thus 'a pivotal connection of the cover member 12 to the support is provided, the axis of articulation being removed laterally and vertically from the joining line between the cover members 11, 12. Any suitable means may be provided to limit outward movement of the movable cover member 12 on its hinged supports.

A motor bracket 20 is mounted on the side ber 12 and a housing and bearing memberV 29 is mounted on said plate, said plate and housing being conjunctively secured to the cover member as by bolts 30, ywhich bolts preferably pass through slots 31 in said cover member. A dolly post 32 is mounted for rotary oscillation and has its end portions journaled in the bearing plate 28 and upper portion of the housing 29. A dolly shaft 33 is formed angular in cross-section and is mounted through the post 32 and is adapted for sliding movement relative to and for rotary oscillation with said post. The dolly shaft 33 projects through the plate 28 and through a slot 34 in the cover member 12 and carries on its lower end a dolly or agitator 35. The dolly shaft 33 also projects through the top of the housing 29 and has a head or knob 36 fixed to its upper end, adapted to contactv with the top of the housingand limit downward movement of the shaft and dolly and also adapted to be grasped manually to raise the dolly by sliding movement of the shaft 33 in the post 32. This sliding movement permits an adjustment of the dolly devices to the quantity of clothes contained in the tub.

The housing 29 is formed with an opening 37 in one side and a chain or other flexiblemember, designated by the numeral 38, is fixed intermediate of its ends to the dolly post32 as by a pin 39, on the side of said post opposite to the opening 37 in the hous` ing, and has its ends projected on opposite sides of said post through said opening. Eccentric rods 40, 41 are fixed to end portions of the chain 38 and said rods are formed at their opposite ends with integral eccentric straps 42, 43 embracing the eccentrics 24, 25 respectively. The eccentric straps 42, 43 preferably are formed with hooks 44 at their ends connected by clamps 45 to the respective rods on which said straps are formed. The rods 40, 41 and straps 42, 43 preferably are circular in crosssection, and the eccentrics 24, 25 are peripherally grooved to receive said straps. When the shaft 16 is operated and the sleeve 23 is clutched thereto, alternating rotary motion is imparted to the dolly post and devvices carried thereby by alternate draft in opposite directions on the chain 38, through the oppositely arranged eccentrics 24, 25,

eccentric straps 42, 43 and eccentric rods 40, 41. The operation of the dolly devices in this manner is exceedingly quiet as there are no intermeshing gears between the driving shaft and dolly shaft, few places where friction can occur, and a small number of movable parts.

A brace 46 has a bearing 47 at one end on the sleeve 23 and is connected at its opposite end to the bearing plate 28 by a bolt 48, which bolt passes through a slot 49 in said brace. The bearing 47 of the brace 46 engages the sleeve 23 between the eccentrics 24, 25 and braces and reinforces said sleeve against the lateral strain through said eccentrics, and also maintains the desiredrelation between said sleeve and the bearing plate 28 and members connected therewith. The bearing plate 28 may be adjusted toward or away from the sleeve 23 and other driving members by loosening the bolts 30, the slots 31 permitting the required movement of said bolts and the slot 34 permitting a similar movement of the dolly shaft 33. In this operation the bolt 48 is also loosened, the slot 49 permitting a movement of said bolt relative to the brace 46. The slots 31 and 34 are covered and concealed by the bearing plate 28. The adjusting operation above described provides a means for tightening or loosening the chain 38 relative to the members with which lit is connected, and the bolts 30 and 48 maintain such adjustment when tightened.

The eccentrics 24, 25 are substantially in line with diametrically opposite points on the dolly post 32, and the opening 37 in the housing 29 is of sufficient width to permit a free movement of the chain 38 therethrough. By means of the oppositely arranged eccentrics a full half revolution is imparted to the dolly post and shaft in each direction.

A shifting lever 50 is pivoted on the supporting-plate 13 and engages, as by a'yoke 51, with a peripheral groove I52 in the sliding clutch member 27, thus providing means for engaging and disengaging said clutch member relative to the clutch member 26 on the sleeve 23, for operative or inoperative condition of the sleeve and eccentrics. An automatic shifting arm 53 is pivoted at one end to the lever 50 and extends laterally therefrom and slidingly through the bearing bracket 15'.

The automatic shiftingarm 53 is formed with an upwardly opening notch 54 in its Y through the notch lof the'automatic shifting arm 53, shortly after such movement of the cover member is `initiated, and .ion case the shifting lever 50 1s 1n position Io-r en .gagement of the clutch member 27 with the clutch member 26 of the driving mechanism,

an inclined face of said cam wedge engages a varm 53, to inoperative position. As the movement of the cover member l2 is continued the cam wedge `56 passes through and beyond the notch 54, so that after such movement is completed the shifting lever 50 may .be operated manually in either direction. Opening or closing movement of the cover member 12, however, always results in a disconnection of the driving mechanism through the means described, so that thereafter a definite selective conscious act of the operator is required to place the mechanism in operation. By this means injury to the operator, to the mechanism or to the work objects, such as clothing, is prevented, which might result from inadvertently opening or closing the tub while the dolly is being operated.

We claim as our invention- 1. A driving mechanism, comprising a support, a driving member ournaled on said support and formed with oppositely arranged eccentrics, a bearing plate carried by said support, a housing on said plate, a member mounted for rotary oscillation in said bearing plate and housing, said housing being formed with an opening directed toward said driving member, a flexible connector fixed intermediate of its ends to said oscillatory member and extending through the opening in said housing, and driving connections between the ends of said connector and the respective eccentrics.

2. A driving mechanism, comprising a driving member formed with oppositely ar ranged eccentrics, a member mounted for rotary oscillation, a flexible connector xed intermediate of its ends to said oscillatory member, eccentric rods fixed to opposite ends of said flexible connector, each of said rods being formed with an eccentric strap engaging one of said eccentrics, each of said straps being formed with a hook on its end, and a clamp connecting each of said hooks to the corresponding eccentric rod.

3. A driving mechanism, conpr1sing a driving shaft, a sleeve loosely mounted on said shaft and formed with oppositely arranged eccentrics, a member mounted for rotary oscillation, a flexible connector fixed intermediate of its ends to said oscillatory member, operative connections between opposite ends of said flexible connector and said eccentrics, and means for operatively connecting said sleeve to said shaft.

4. A driving mechanism for power washing machines formed with a fixed and a' movable cover member,pcomprising a driving shaft journaled on said fixed. cover member, a sleeve loosely mounted on said shaft and formed with a pair of oppositely arranged eccentrics, a dolly device mounted for rotary oscillation on said movable cover member, a flexible connector fixed intermediate of its ends to said dolly device, operative connections between each of said eccentrics and an end portion of said flexible connector, and means for operatively 4connecting said sleeve to said shaft.

5. A driving mechanism for power washing machine formed with fixed and moving able cover members,`comprising a driving shaft ournaled on said fixed. cover member, a sleeve vloosely mounted on said shaft and formed with'a pair of oppositely arranged eccentrics, a dolly device mounted for rotary oscillation on the movable cover member, a flexible connector fixed intermediate of its ends to said dolly device, operative connections between each of said eccentrics and one end of said flexible connector, said sleeve being formed with a clutch member, a coacting clutch member feathered to said shaft and adapted to engage the first mentioned clutch member, and means for shifting said feathered clutch member.

6. A driving mechanism for power washing machines having fixed and movable cover members, comprising a driving shaft journaled on said fixed cover member, a sleeve loosely mounted on said shaft and formed with a pair of oppositely arranged eccentrics, a dolly device mounted for rotary oscillation on the movable cover member, a flexible connector fixed intermediate of its ends to said dolly device, operative connections between each of said eccentrics and an end portion of said flexible connector, said sleeve being formed with a clutch member, a coacting clutch member feathered to said shaft and adapted to engage the first clutch member, a lever for shifting said feathered clutch member, and means on said movable cover member for engaging said lever when said cover member is moved to open position for disengaging said clutch members.

7. A driving mechanism for power washing machines having fixed and movable cover members, comprising a driving member on the fixed cover member formed with a pair of oppositely arranged eccentrics, a housing carried by the movable cover member and adjustable relatively to said driving member, a dolly device journaled for rotary oscillation in said housing, a flexible connector fixed intermediate of its ends to said dolly device and extending outside of said housing, operative connections between each of said eccentrics and an end portion of said flexible connector, and a brace having a bearing on said drivingmember betweenthe pair of eccentrics and having adjustableconnected thereto, a driving member carried by saidsupport, a driven member carried by said hinged member7 clutch-controlled` driving connections between said driving and driven members, a shifting lever for controlling said clutch connections, and means connected with said shifting lever and acted upon by said hinged member for disengaging the clutch connections when said hinged member is moved in either direction.

v9. A Vdevice of the class described, comprising a support, a member hingedly connected thereto, a driving member carried by said support, a driven member carried by said hinged member, clutch-controlled driving connections between said driving and driven members, a shifting lever for controlling said clutch connections, an automatic shifting arm secured to said shifting lever and formed with aA notch, and a cam described, com- Wedge carried by said hinged member and adaptedto traverse said-notchrto operate said shifting lever and disconnect the clutch connections when said hinged member is moved to open position.

10. A device of the class described, comv prising a support, a member hingedly connected thereto, a driving member carried by said support, a driven member carried by said hinged member, clutch-controlled driving connections between saidy driving and driven-members, a shifting lever for controlling said clutch connections, anV automatic shifting arm secured to said lever and formed with a notch, and a cam wedge formed with oppositely inclined aces,sa1d cam wedge being carried by saidV hinged member and adaptedV to travel through said notch when said hingedmember vis moved' in either direction. Y

Signed at Clarinda, in the countyof Page and State` of Iowa, this 12th day of February, 1918. Y Y

' .HERMAN H. TOLL- FRANK C. DUFF.,A

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