US2236319A - Clothes wringer - Google Patents

Description

March 25, 1941. T. J. LlTLE, JR

CLOTHES WRINGER Filed July 26, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l INYENTUR v ww TT U'R HEY Marah 25, 1941. T. J. LlTLE, JR

CLOTHES WBINGER Filed July 26, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEHT UR ATT URNEY ll] z9 BY Patented Mar. 25, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLOTHES WRINGER Application July 26-, 1937, Serial No. 155,664

9' Claims.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in clothes wringers to be used preferably in connection with washing machines.

An object of my invention is to provide a simplified wringer construction wherein means are provided for automatically latching the topbar or upper frame to the lower wringer frame during the operation of restoring pressure between the rolls.

Another object of my invention is to provide, in a clothes wringer wherein the wringer rolls are normally spring held in pressure engagement, a top bar pivoted to the wringer assembly in such manner that the latch, which normally retains the spring in effective condition, is automatically engaged by the weight of the top bar,

without exerting manual pressure on the top of the bar, during the operation of restoring pressure between the rolls.

A further object of my invention is to provide, in a clothes wringer, means for readily varying the pressure between the rolls, said means being readily accessible for adjustment, and means for indicating the pressure between the rolls, said rolls the weight of the upper frame element causes automatic engagement of the latch 'between the lower frame element and the upper frame element, and further, the'provision of a spring for aiding the effect of gravity on said upper frame element.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be more apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure '1 is a front elevation -of a clothes wring 1 er embodying the novel' features of my invention and showing the clothes wringer mounted adjacent the side of the vat of a washing machine. Figure 2 is a view taken on the line 2-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view taken on the line 33 of FigureZ showing: the means for adjusting the.

spring pressure between-the rolls.

Figure 4 is a view taken on the line 44 of Figure 6 is a view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 2.

Figure 7' is a view taken on the line l'! of Figure 2.

Figure 8 is a view taken on the line 88 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8 indicating the rolls in their dropped position.

Figure 10 is a view showing the latch between the major portion of the wringer frame and the wringer head or top bar of the frame.

Figure 11 is a View similar to that of Figure 1 showing the position of the top bar when pressure between the rolls has been released.

Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 11 showing the wringer rolls in their dropped position with the top bar latched to the major portion of the wringer frame.

The clothes wringer of my invention, generally indicated by-the numeral II, is supported on a tubular housing [2 concentric with and through which the drive shaft l3 extends. The shaft I3 is preferably driven from the motor of the washing machine. The tubular housing l2 may be supported at its lower end and may, in

addition, be supported by a bracket l4 tied to the side walls Hi of the washing machine vat. A boss 11, integral with the wringer gear casing l8, has a bore for receiving the tubular housing and the lower end of the boss rests on a flange l9 formed near the top of the tubular housing I2. A hand-set plunger 2| registerable with any one of a series of apertures 22 formed in the upper end of the tubular housing l2, enables the wringer as a whole to be swung around the housing as an' axis and set in. any desired position as is common practice in the art. The shaft l3 extends into the gear casing and is suitably journaled therein.

The wringer gear casing l8, as shown in Figure 7,'h0uses a'pair of bevel gears 23 which are loose on the shaft 13. The bevel gears 23, as is common practice in the art, mesh with a bevel gear 24 which, 7 through suitable connections presently described, drives the shaft 26 of the lower wringer roll 21. A reversing clutch 28, fixed but slidab-le along the shaft and suitably connected to ahandle 29 by which it may be operated, enables-either of the bevel gears 23 to be to the coupling part 3|, extends.

driven from the shaft I3 to cause the roll 21 to be driven in one direction or the other. The bevel gear 24 is integrally connected to one part 3| of a coupling member. The other part 32 of the coupling member has a U-shaped slot in the end thereof through which a pin 33, connected The coupling part 32 lies loosely in the coupling part 3| so as to permit some movement of the coupling part 32 with respect to the part 3|. The end of the shaft 26 has a pin 34. The end of the coupling part 32 has a slot into which the pin 34 loosely fits. A driving connection is thus provided between the shaft I3 and the shaft 26 of the roll 21.

A bearing 36 for the shaft 26 is pivoted at 31 in the wringer frame 38 which supports the wringer rolls. The opposite end of the shaft 26 is supported in a bearing 39 mounted on a plate 4| extending between the sides of the wringer frame 38. One pair of links 42 of a toggle is connected at 43 to the plate 4| and, at 44, to the other links 46 of the toggle. A shaft 41 is rigidly connected to the links 46 by flattening one side of the shaft 41 and conforming the opening through the links 46 to the shape of the shaft, as indicated at 48. The links 42 are connected together by a cross part 49, and the links 46 are connected together by a cross part 5|. A ledge 52 is formed on the cross part 49 so that the cross parts will engage each other and limit the movement of the toggle in one direction. The outer end of the shaft 41 extends through the wringer frame and is provided with a handle 53 by which the shaft 41 may be rotated to make or break the toggle 42, 46.

The upper roll 54 is driven from the lower roll by the pressure between them and the shaft 56 of the upper roll is supported in bearing blocks 51 and 58. The bearing blocks 51 and 58 are freely slidable in guides 59 mounted in the wringer frame 38. A pair of slotted links 68 are pivoted to the guides and a pin 6|, extending through the bearing block 58, registers in the slots. The upward movement of the bearing block is thus limited by the links 68. A bow-shaped spring 63 bears on the top of the bearing blocks, as indicated at 64, and normally holds the rolls in pressure engagement.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the spring 63 has a threaded opening 66 at its center into which is threaded an adjustment screw 61. The end of the adjustment screw has a pin 68 which engages a bracket 69 supported from the under side of the upper wall of the top bar 1| of the wringer frame. The end of the adjustment screw 61 is rectangular and is fitted in a rectangular opening 12 formed in a fingerwheel 13. A slot 14 is provided in the top bar 1| through which a portion of the circumference of the finger wheel 13 extends, as indicated at 16. An arm '11, pivoted at 18 to the top bar 1| of the wringer frame, has one end provided with a bent forked portion 19 which straddles the spring 63, as shown in Figure 3 at 8|. Beyond the pivot 18, the arm 11 extends upward at an angle and is provided at its end with indicia 82-low, "medium and high--which indicate low spring pressure, medium spring pressure and high spring presure. The top bar 1| is provided with an opening 83 through which the indicia on the end of the arm 11 may be viewed.

It will now be appreciated that upon rotating the finger wheel 13, the adjustment screw may be threaded into or out of the threaded'opening in the spring 63 to adjust the pressure of the spring. By reason of the pivotal connection of the arm 11 to the top bar 1|, the outer end of the arm will move in accordance with the spring pressure so that the tension of the spring, whether high, medium or low, will register in the opening 83, as indicated in Figure 1.

The top bar 1| of the wringer frame, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, is pivoted on a pair of lugs 84 at the extreme outer end of the gear casing I8 by means of pivot pins 86. The top bar is U-shaped in cross section, extends across the top of the gear casing I8 and the major portion 38 of the wringer frame, and is of sufficient width and length so as to fit down over the top of the gear casing I8 and the wringer frame portion 38.

At its opposite end, the top bar is provided with a latch opening 81. Below the opening 81 the metal of the top bar is bent outward to form a cam surface 88 on the inside of the top bar.

A'latch, generally indicated by the numeral 89, more clearly shown in Figure 10, comprises a stop piece 9|, a pivot pin 92 for the stop piece, a latch arm 93 and a latch cam 94. A spring 96, extending around the pivot pin 92, having one end bearing against the stop piece 9| and the other end bearing against the Wringer frame 38, normally urges the latch arm. 93 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 10. The latch cam 94 has a cam surface 91 and a cam surface 98. The latch arm extends above the latch cam 94 and has a portion 99 bent at right angles to the arm and an upwardly extending portion I8I. When the top bar 1| is down in position and pressure is on the rolls, the latch cam 94 lies in the opening 81 in the top bar.

Means are provided for releasing the latch to enable the top bar of the wringer frame to move upward around its pivot 86. As shown in Figures 1, 2, 5 and 6, the release means comprises a pair of release bars I82, one on each side of the top bar, so that pressure between the rolls may be released from either side of the wringer. Since each of the release bars I82 and its associated mechanism is the same, a description of one will suflice.

The release bar I82 has an inwardly extending portion I83 which, as shown in Figure 5, is sup ported on a pivot pin I84 mounted on a bracket I86 rigidly supported from the top bar 1|. A trip arm I81 is pivoted at I84 to the bracket I86 and is pivoted at I08 to the release bar I82. An inwardly extending part I89 of the trip arm I81 engages the lower edge of a latch keeper III. The opposite end of the release bar I82 is provided with an inwardly extending portion II2 which houses a pin I I3 which extends through the wall of the top bar 1|. The inner end of the pin has a pin and washer assembly 4 by which the pin H3 is retained in position. The end of the pin has a head I I6 for forming a backing for a spring I|1 which normally presses on the release bar so as to retain the release bar in the position shown in Figure 6. Upon depressing the release bar I82 against the action of the spring II1, the end I89 of the trip arm I81 is moved upward around its pivot I84 to move the latch keeper I II upward, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 5. The two arms of the latch keeper III extend across the top of the wringer rolls at the sides thereof and the ends thereof are pivoted at I28 to the side walls of the top bar. The

- opposite ends of the arms are joined together The cross bar has a forby a cross bar I2I. I wardly extending lug I22 which, as shown in latch keeper is then supported by the latch 89 until the latch cam enters opening li'L'whereupon the latch extension passes outwardly beyond the lug I22 out of supporting engagementtherewith;

Figure 7, normally'lies on topof thebent portion 99 of the latch arm 93 and'retainsi the .latch'in the position shown in Figure 7. V a

When the rolls are in the: position shown in ,1Figure.7 and the operator is wringing clothes, if

end of the trip arm I01 intoengagement with the latch keeper I] I so that the lugul22 on the end of the latch keeper H! is raised upwardout of engagement with the end IOI of latch arm 93.

The full pressure of the spring 63 is. then placed upon the latch cam 94 so that the latch is cammed in a clockwise. direction, as: viewed in Figure '7, and thetop bar of'the =wringer frame flies upward. As soon'as the top .bar'is in its upper position, as shown in Figure 11, the upper roll is free to raiseupward and there is no pressure. between the rolls. As :soon as! the latch cam '94 iso-ut of the opening 81, the spring 96 moves the latch arm 93 to the position shown in Figure 10. qWhen'the operator desires to restore the pressure between the rolls, she moves the handle 53 from the position shownin Figure '7 to that shown in Figure 12. This breaks the toggle 42, 46 and moves the lower roll down from its normal position to the position shown in Figure 9. When the lower roll is lowered, the upper roll follows it and moves to the position shownin Figure 9, whereupon the top bar .liS free to move downward under the action of a gravity around the pivot point 86 as a center."

The weight of the upper frame or top bar is such that when it moves down,'xthefllatch. .89 is cammed aside until the opening 81 registerswith 95. During the initial downward movement of the top bar H, the latch keeper [H will be,

maintained in its lowermost position withw'relatch arm extension [01.x Thev outer'end of the As the cam 54 enters opening 81 the latch keeper will be maintained by the latch 89 ha raised" position so that. when released by the latch-'89- the latch keeper Hi falls down so as to hem the ".positiOil'ShOWh 'in'Figure'l to retain the latch in latched condition. 1

It will, of course, be appreciated'that' considerable force is required to cause'the latch cam 94 to engage in theopening 81. This force-is supplied by the weight of the wringer head or top bar 'HQthe efiect of whichdsflappreciablyi increased by pivoting it at the extreme end "oi" the gear casing [8, as shown in the drawings.

Moreover, in order to reduce the weight of the the spring H6 shown in Figure '7 is convenient since it may be easily mounted in this position and a heavy spring is not required to cause automatic latching. This eliminates the necessity of the operatorepressing on; tophof thetop bar in order 'to latch thertopcbar to the-wringerframe portion 138; After the. top bar is latched in position,-.1-,he handleifi-is'moved from the position shown -in Figure:.12 to that shown in Figure 7. The. toggle 42, 46, during. this movement of the hand lever 1 53, is "brought from the position shown 'lin Figure 9 to that shown in Figure 8 Where itis past dead center. and locked. in position-by the engagement of the parts '49 and 5|. This movement of the toggleraises the outer endlof the roll 2'! carrying upward with it the upper roll 54 so that the rolls are brought tothe position shown in Figure '7, in which position the rolls are under the full compression of the spring63'. Y

It will be appreciated that I have provided a simple means of adjusting and indicating the simple'means' forcausing the wringer head tobe brought into operative latching engagement with the wringer frame sothat pressure may be applied between the rolls; apparent that various modifications may be made in theform and relation of the parts without departing from'the spirit of my invention asset forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a clothes wringer of theltype wherein a pair ofv wringer rolls mounted in a wringer frame are normally held in pressure engagement by a spring and wherein a gear casing mounted adjacent the wringer frame houses mechanism for drivingeand. reversing the rolls, a top bar pivoted to said gear casing. at. its. extreme outer end away from the rolls, a latch connected between said wringer frame and said: top bar at the opposite' end of said wringer head, means for releasing said latch to enable said top bar to move'upwa'rd' about its pivot and to enable separation of the rolls, means'for lowering and raising'said rolls to first allow the weight of the top bar to beeffective by virtue of its pivotal connection to cause automatic reengagement of said latch and subsequently restore the pressure betweenthe rol1s.=:

2. In a'clothes wringer of the type wherein a pair of wringer rolls mounted in a wringer frame are normally held in pressure engagement by a spring and whereinta gear casing mounted adjacent the :wringer frame houses mechanism for drivingand reversing the rolls, a top bar pivoted to" said gear casing at its extreme outer end away-'fromthe rolls, a latchconnected between said wringenframe and saidtop bar at the oppositeend of said top bar, means for releasing said latch to enable said top bar to move upward about itsfpivot and to enable separation of the rolls. means" for loweringsaid rolls to enable the weight of the top bar to be effective by virtue of its pivotal connection to cause automatic reengagement of saidlatch, a spring connected between-said frame and top bar for aiding'the latching movement of the top bar, said means being capable of raising said rolls against the pressure of said spring to restore the pressure' between the rolls, and additional means vfor maintaining said last mentioned means in pressure applying relation with said rolls.

3. In a clothes wringer having a frame provided with a movable top bar, a pair of rolls mounted in said frame at least one of which is movable toward and from the other, a spring for maintaining said rolls in pressure engagement, means including a latch for releasably maintain- It will further be rendering said spring effective, means for releasing said latch to permit said top bar to move upward and allow the separation of the rolls, means rendered effective by the weight of the top bar during the downward movement thereof to cause automatic engagement of the latch and for actuating the rolls with respect to the spring for restoring pressure between the rolls without exerting manual pressure on top of the top bar, and a spring connected between said top bar and frame for aiding the latching movement of the top bar.

4. In a clothes wringer, a pair of rolls, at least one of which is movable toward and from the other, a spring for maintaining said rolls in pressure engagement, a wringer frame having upper and lower portions, a latch between said frame portions, said upper portion being pivoted at one side of the wring-er, means for releasing said latch to permit said upper frame portion to move upward and enable separation of the rolls, means for enabling the weight of the upperframe portion to cause automatic engagement of the latch during the operation of restoring pressure between the rolls without exerting manual pressure on the upper frame portion, and a spring connected between said upper and lower frame portions for aiding the latching movement of the wringer head.

5. In a clothes wringer, a pair of rolls at least one of which is movable toward and from the other, supporting means for said rolls including two frame elements mounted to have relative movement toward and from each other, a spring carried by one of said frame elements and operatively connected with a roll for maintaining said rolls in pressure engagement, fastening means connected with one of the frame elements and releasably engageable with the other frame element for holding said frame elements against said relative movement and rendering the spring efiective, means for actuating the fastening means to release the frame elements from each other and to render the spring ineffective for maintaining the rolls in pressure engagement, manually operated means connected with the support for producing movement of the rolls in one direction relative to the frame elements and to said spring to allow free relative movement of the frame elements and cause engagement of the fastening means while maintaining the spring ineffective, said manually operated means being capable of producing movement of the rolls in the opposite direction relative to the frame elements and spring to bring said rolls in pressure engagement with each other.

6. In a clothes wringer, a pair of rolls at least one of which is movable toward and from the other, a support for said rolls including upper and lower frames pivotally connected together, a spring carried by said upper frame for maintaining said rolls in pressure engagement, means including a latch for releasably holding the frames ing the top bar in fixed relationto the frame and against relative pivotal movement and rendering said spring effective, means for releasing said latch to permit said upper frame to move upward and enable the separation of the rolls, and means for producing movement of the rolls with respect to the lower frame away from and toward the upper frame for enabling the weight of the upper frame to cause automatic en agement of the latch during the operation of restoring pressure between the rolls without exerting manual pressure on the top of the upper frame.

7. In a clothes wringer, a pair of rolls at least one of which is movable toward and from the other, a spring for maintaining said rolls in pressure engagement, a lower wringer frame, an upper wringer frame and a latch between said frames, said upper wringer frame being pivoted at one side of the wringer, means for releasing said latch to permit said upper wringer frame to move upward and enable separation of the rolls, and means for producing movement of the rolls with respect to the lower frame away from and toward the upper frame for enabling the weight of the upper frame to cause automatic engagement of the latchduring the operation of restoring pressure between the rolls without exerting manual pressure on the wringer head.

8. In a clothes wringer wherein a pair of wringer rolls mounted in a frame are normally held in pressure engagement by a spring, a top bar pivoted to the wringer frame and a latch between said wringer frame and said top bar, means for releasing said latch to allow pivotal movement of the top bar and separation of the rolls, means for lowering said rolls to enable the weight of the top bar to be effective by virtue of its pivotal connection to cause automatic reengagement of said latch, said la/tter means being capable of raising said rolls against the pressure of said spring to restore the pressure between the rolls, and additional means for maintaining said last mentioned means in pressure applying engagement with said rolls in said raised position. I

9. In a clothes wringer wherein a pair of wringer rolls mounted in a support are normally held in pressure engagement by a spring,- said support comprising upper and lower frames pivoted together, a latch between said wringer frames, means for releasing said latch to enable separation of the rolls, means for lowering said rolls to enable the weight of the upper frame to beeffective by virtue of its pivotal connection to cause automatic reengagement of said latch, a spring connected between said upper and lower frames for aiding the latching movement of the upper frame, said means being capable of rais- THOMAS J. LITLE, JR.

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