USRE23481E - Washing machine with centrifugal extractor - Google Patents

Description

Original Filed Aug. 14, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet l l8 D a a zz I O Fuzz gwamf'w 6502- P CASTNEV-R.

Agrnuz D. Lurvo mamfl 441 a April 29, 1952 G. P. CASTNER ET AL WASHING MACHINE WITH CENTRIFUGAL EXTRACTOR AND STABILIZER THEREFOR Original Filed Aug. 14, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 GEORGE 7? Cums-2. Anrnue Z2 Lwuo April 29, 1952 G.- P. CASTNER ETAL 23,431

WASHING MACHINE wma CENTRIFUGAL EXTRACTOR AND STABILIZER THEREFOR Original Filed Aug. 14. 1946 6 Shasta-Sheet 5 45-0205 I? CAsrA/Hz Azmuz. D. Luwp Apnl 29, 1952 s. P. CASTNER EI'AL Re. 23,481

WASHING MACHINE WITH CENTRIFUGAL EXTRACTOR AND STABILIZEIR THEREFOR Original Filed Aug. 14, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Reissued Apr. 29, 1952 I, WASHING MACHINE WITH CENTRIFUGAL EXTRACTOB AND STABILIZER THEREFOR George P. Costner, Webster City, Iowa, and Arthur D. Lund, Minneapolis, Minn., assignors to Solar Corporation, Milwaukee, Win, a corporation of Delaware Original No. 2,513,844, dated July 4, 1950. Serial No. 690,532, August 14, 1946.

Application for reissue September 20, 1950, Serial No. 185,898

Matter enclosed in heavy brackets t] appears in the original patent but forms no part of this reissue specification; matter printed in italics indicates the additions made by reissue.

14 Claims.

This invention relates to clothes washing machines, particularly of the general type used for domestic purposes, and the main object is to provide a comparatively simple, efficient, and practical'rnachine for washing, rinsing, and drying the" clothes and other articles to be laundered.

A further and more specific object is to provide a novel construction of machine in which, when properly adjusted and set, the various operations can be carried out automatically and in predetermined time sequence.

A further object is to provide a washer of the agitator type with means for introducing water to the washing tub in such manner as to increase the washing and rinsing efilciency while also removing the sediment and scum from the cleansing and rinsing fluids.

A further object is to so design the washing machine that the entire operating structure, including the tub, agitator, and operating mechanism, will be supported on a cushioned center pivot construction, with freedom for limited gyratory deflection from a vertical axis, during the centrifuging or drying operation, but with supplemental means for efliciently supporting such operating structure in a yieldable, well balanced and stabilized, operating position.

A further object is to provide a machine in which the washing receptacle may be rapidly rotated to centriiugally dry the clothes, and a spinning mechanism, including-a fluid drive coupling, that will not only prevent overloading of the spinner motor during the starting operation, when load resistance is greatest, but will also function to retard spinning speed of the receptacle when the same is subjected to eccentric vibration due to unbalanced load condition in the clothes receptacle.

Still further and more specific objects will be disclosed in the course of the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, and in which drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top or plan view of the machine with various parts broken away for purpose of illustration.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail section of our improved spray nozzle, as on line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation through the machine on line 33 in Fig. i.

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the machine, as seen on line 4-4 on Fig. 3, or with the major portion of the front housing wall broken away to expose the interior mechanism, and with some parts in section for purpose of illustrating certain details of construction.

2 Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view on line 5-5 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail sectional elevation on line 6-4 in Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a sectional plan view on line 1-1 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail section on line 8--8 in Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional detail elevation through the fluid drive transmission, or as seen substantially on the line 9-9-in Fig. 5.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail elevation of the baflie tube removed from the agitator assembly.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged diametrical section through the center cushion support for the operating assembly,

Referring to the drawings more particularly and by reference characters A designates a lower housing chamber formed by an upwardly concaved base plate l2, vertical corner irons l3, and a. surrounding wall plate It, the latter of which may be in whole or part readily removed to give access to the mechanism contained within the chamber. This lower construction also includes a four sided angle iron frame 15 providing in-. wardly projecting ledges l6 and Ilia.

The upper housing structure comprises an upwardly concaved bottom plate II, secured as at l8, to the ledge IBa, and sealed at its upstanding peripheral flange 19 to the casing walls 20 to provides. fluid tight receptacle or chamber B. Extending upwardly from a center opening in the plate I1 is an upstanding sleeve 21, also sealed to the plate, so as to provide the annular water chamber B between itself and the walls 20. The upper edge of the lower casing wall It is preferably maintained in fitting contact with the flange l8 by a sealing strip 2| (Figs. 3 and 4). At its upper end the casing 20 has an inwardly curved flange member 22 upon which is seated the circular, removable lid or cover 23.

The washer is supported on four floor jacks which are so designed that they may be adjusted to properly level the machine on an uneven or irregular floor, and will also prevent creeping of the machine due to vibration. Each of these jacks (see Figs. 3, 4, 7, and 8) consists of a vertical bolt 24 threaded in a nut 25 fixed on the base plate I! and secured by a lock nut 26. The lower end of the bolt has a ball-socket connection to an inverted cup or foot 21 permitting the lat ter to adjust itself to floor surface irregularities. This cup 21 has a serrated flange resting on and imbedding itself in a rubber or resilient pad 28 which is preferably cemented in proper selected position on the floor. With this construction it The washing, rinsing, and centrifuging assembly is supported within the chamber B upon a spindle element projecting upwardly through the sleeve II from the operating and transmission assembly contained within chamber A. Both assemblies are primarily supported, as a single unit, upon a. single central hearing or cushioned support. This support (Figs. 3 and 11) includes a cup 28, mounted in the plate I2, which, because of its inversely disced shape, provides rigid support, and within the cup there is a rubber block or pad 30 having an inner socket element 3| which releasably receives the lug 32 of a. block 33 mounted on the frame 3 of the operating mechanism.

The frame 34 is composed of rigidly connected parts including a generally U-shaped member 35 (Fig. 3), to which the block is directly fastened, an irregularly shaped plate 38 (Figs. 3, 4, 5, '7, 9), and an upper but also irregularlyshaped plate 31 which is secured to the lower plate (36) by three spacers 35 and top screws 39. The plate .31 has an integral, tube extension II), which projects up within the sleeve 2|, with freedom for ample clearance with respect thereto, and this tube 40 has upper and lower antlfriction bearing rings 4| and 42, respectively, for centering a spindle 43 (Figs. 3 and having an internal shaft 44.

The frame 34 directly supports the power and transmission mechanism, while the spindle 43 and shaft 44 further and additionally support the tub and washing elements, all of which will presently be described.

As will be evident, the entire combination assembly of frame, operating mechanism, and upper, washer unit will be primarily supported on the central bearing cushion 3|, and, as a result, it becomes necessary to provide means for balancing such assembly in its perpendicular or vertical position. This is done by the devices now to be described and which also permit limited radial vibration and gyratory deflection, which is of paramount importance, particularly during the starting and spinning operations, as it operates to absorb vibrations and accommodates the machine to unbalanced load conditions that results when the clothes are not uniformly distributed in the drying receptacle.

To yieldably restrain the assembly in its normal, true vertical position, and to restore it thereto, we provide a series of radial springs 45, the inner ends of which are attached to the plate 31. at points 46, while the outer ends are attached by adjustable eye bolts 41 to corner brackets 48 on the ledge Ilia of the main frame or stationary structure. In addition, the plate 31 is provided with radially extending pairs of bars or metal straps 49 (Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6) the inner ends of which are anchored rigidly to the plate, by bolts 50. while the other or outer ends frictionally engage bracket plates 5|, attached to the. ledge l6, through the medium of snubber disks 52. These disks are held in frictional contact with the plates 5| by bolts 53 which also extend through the bars 49, and each bolt has a compression spring 54 disposed between the lower bar 49 and an adjusting nut 55 on the bolt. It will be seen that the bolt opening, 56, in the plate 5| (Fig. 6) is relatively large so as to permit horizontal movements of the bars 49, disks 52, and plate 31 with respect to the plates 5|, and it may further be noted that while the disks 5!, of leather, fiber or other composition material, have direct face contact with the plate 5|, their surfaces adjacent the bars 49 have flanged metal covers or washers 51 to insure proper retention of the disks with respect to the bolts 53 and bars l9.

The foregoing constrution not only functions to yieldably support and center the spinner assembly in upright position but provides means [or dampening the vibrations that would otherwise be imparted to the main frame due to pyratory deflections of the clothes receptacle when out of balance. This centering and dampening action is particularly reflective because it acts directly on the spindle element 43, and, by being directly under the outer fluid receptacle chamber B, is located as close as practicable to the pyroting center of mass.

The clothes receptacle, C. comprises an axial sleeve 58 terminating, at its lower end, in a conical section 59 that is rigidly secured to the top of the spindle 43 by bolts 6|]. The receptacle wall, 6|, is imperforate throughout andhas a slightly tapered, downwardly' curvedv bottom flange 62 that is secured in tight sealing engagement upon the outer rim 63 of the conical part 59. The base portion of the cone 5! has an elliptical trough or sediment trap 64 (Figs. 1 and 3), into which sand and other sediment from the tub C will settle, and this sediment is carried off by the tubes 65, during the centrifuging operation as shown and claimed more specifically in application Serial No. 636,304, filed Dec. 21, 1945,

by the present applicant George P. Castner and now Patent Number 2,470,140, May 1'7, 1949.

The upper ends of the tubes 65, in the present instance, discharge into outwardly flared de-' flector pockets 68 (Figs. 3 and 4), in what is designated as a balancing ring 61. This ring is preferably of heavy-cast material and is secured by top screws 68 to the flange rim 69 of the tub C (Figs. 1 and 4). The ring is also provided with inset lugs 10, to engage the inner surface of the tub wall (Fig. 3), and between these lugs are openings ll through which the fluid is expelled from the tubinto the chamber B during the centrifuging operation. The ring 81 has an inwardly directed flange 72 to prevent the upward escape of clothes from the tub during the drying or spinning action thereof. Another and very important function of the ring is to counteract the tendency of the tub to rotate ecc ntrically, with respect to a true vertical axis,'under an unbalanced load. Thus the weight of the ring not only in itself tends to stabilize the rotation but will further tend to correct ,throw" because of the fact that any tilting of the spindle axis from bearing center 32 will correspondingly tilt or wobble the ring, and, as is well known, the

centrifugal force or momentum imparted will set up a gyroscopic action and tend to restore the body. to its correct axis of rotation. This effect is enhanced by the height at which the ring is located above the point 32, since the ring is on top of the receptacle and as far above point I! as the size of the casing will permit.

In addition to its important balancing function the use of the ring 61 actually greatly facilitates the manufacturing process since the tub or receptacle C need not have its walls perforated. thus adding an operation which has frequently given trouble due to distortion 0f the metal etc., nor need the tub walls be turned or formed in to hold the clothes. Instead the ring as it is cast is formed in the one single operation with the water escape openings II and the flange I! to The tub c is rotated by the spindle n, on

which it is mounted, and the latter is provided,

at its lower end, with a pulley driven by a belt 14 from a pulley It on the driven member II of a fluid' coupling which also includes a driving member 11 (Fig. 9). The member I1 is mounted on the vertical shaft 10 of an electric motor I! carried by a bracket 80 that is adjustably secured, as at II, to the frame plate 30.

The fluid coupling 10-" is of the Fottinger or turbine type, through which power is hydraulically transmitted by opposed. annularly spaced series of blades 82 and 83, but since the axis of the unit is vertically disposed, in the present instance, it will be seen that when the coupling is idle (as in Fig. 9) the power transmission fluid 84 is contained entirely within the driven memarated, as in Fig. 3, but-is closed or engaged by ber, 16, and does not therefore contact the vanes or blades 82 of the driving member as would normally occur when the coupling axis is horizontal. Consequently rotation of the driving member 11 would not initiate the fluid turbulence or circulation that is essential to this type of power transmission. For that reason the driving member I1 is provided with paddle extensions 85 that project down into the fluid body within the inner edges of the blades 83 so as not to contact the latter. With this arrangement it will be seen that rotation of the member 11 will cause the extensions 85 to act on the fluid sufficient to initiate and maintain the toroidal circulation required for 'power transmission. In addition to this novel feature the fluid coupling cooperates as a, unit to reduce throw or eccentric vibration during centrifuging in a manner [later to be] set forth in detail in United States Patent No. 2,513,845, issued July 4th, 1950, to George P. Castner, one of the present applicants.

The actual clothes washing operation within the tub C is accomplished in somewhat conventional manner, by an oscillating agitator D (Fig. 3), made up of a tubular sleeve 00, flared out at its bottom, in a skirt 81, and having integrally formed, radial agitator blades 08. The

skirt edge 86 is spaced above and extends beyond,

the trap 54 so that sediment may escape downward and inwardly to the trap.

The upper end of the sleeve 80 has an integral hub 89 with an axial socket which is upwardly tapered and square or hexagonal in cross section to fit snugly upon a similarly shaped plug 90 that is secured upon the upper end of shaft 44 by a pin 9 I. Between the plug 90 and spindle 50 is a flanged bushing 92 that serves as a bearing between the shaft 44 and spindle 50. The agitator D is held down in place upon the plug 90 by a cap 93 having a shank threaded into the end of the shaft. By removing the cap 03 the agitator can, of course, easily be removed and replaced.

The lower end of the shaft 44 has a vertically stationary clutch part 94 adapted to be engaged and disengaged by a complemental clutch member 95, which is slidably keyed to a shaft 00 journaled in a transmission casing 01. The shaft 98 is oscillated by a linkage mechanism 98 which is not shown in detail but may be. of the type shown and described in Patch Patent No. 1,964,440, issued June 26, 1934. This mechanism is actuated by a shaft 09 which is rotated in the housing, and which mechanism converts the rotary motion [to] of the shaft to reciprocatand 4).

ing motion of the shaft 50. The shaft Q0 projects upwardly from the casing 01 to support a pulley I00. driven by V-belt IOI from a smaller pulley I02, on the shaft I00 of a motor I04. This motor is adJustably secured, as by bolts I00 and slots I00, to the plate 30, in a'manner permitting tension adjustment of the belt.

The clutch 0L4! is normally open or sepenergization of a solenoid III that operates a shipper lever I08. This is done automatically by an electric timer I08 as will presently be de scribed.

The shaft I03. of motor I04, carries a second pulley Ill, which operates a V-belt III to drive a pulley I"I2 on the shaft II! of a centrifugal 2 pump III. This pump is adjustably secured to the plate 30 by bolts H5, in slots Iii, which are so arranged that adjustments can be made to slaclren or righten the belt III as may be required. The inlet side of the pump is connected by, a conduit III to a drain spout III of the chamber B, and since'the pump is subject to vibration with respect to the casing this conduit is preferably of flexible tube or hose material. The outlet side of the pump is connected to a flexible conduit II9 for discharging used fluid to a convenient point outside the casing.

Washing and rinsing water is introduced to the machine by ,a pipe or tube I20 which preferably extends in through a side wall of the casing I4, and thence upwardly through the bottom plate I1 and to a coupler I2I (Figs. 1

A secondpipe I22, is detachably secured to the coupler III and extends inwardly and slightly upwardly, terminating in a spray head I23 which it supports in an axial position over the tub C and slightly spaced above the cap 03.. Exteriqrly of the machine the pipe I20 is adapted for connection with one or more mixing valves (not shown) so that water of desired temperature and volume may be supplied to the spray head J23. i

The spray head I23 is of hollow form and has two annular series of perforations I 24 and I25. The circlel'of'perforations I24 produces a wide conicaispray; I241; (Figs. 2 and 3), while the circle. of perforations- Ifi produces a' generally cylindrical form of downward spray 5a. The purposes of the sprays will be set forth in the description of the operation of the machine;

an important element of the present invention we have provided what may be conveniently referred to as a ballie unit E, as shown in Figs. 2,

3, 4. and 10. This unit consists of a cylindrical tube I20 the top end of which is flared, as at I21, while the lower portion is longitudinally slotted. at I20, to permit the unit to be moved vertically down into place about the sleeve 06 and with the slots I28 receiving the agitator blades It. The unit is releasablysecured to the sleeve hub 09 by a set screw I28 which holds the tube in annularly spaced position with respect to the sleeve for the passage of water downwardly therebetween. The upper section of the unit E is further provided with a series of radial fins or vanes Ill, the function of which will presently be set forth.

The timer I0! which controls the electric current to the two motors 10 and I0 and to the solenoid switch I01 is of conventional or standard design, weliknown in the art, and consequently neither it nor-the wiring diagram is shown in detail. It is sufficient to note that in the present instance a start and stop switch for the timer may conveniently'take the form of a dial Ill.

mounted on top of the machine and connected to the timer by rod I32. This dial (Fig. 1) can be set to control the duration of the washingoperation but thereafter the extracting, rinsing and drying operations automatically follow at predetermined time intervals. It will also be under- Operation To wash, rinse and dry a batch of clothes the nature and cycle of the various operations, together with the various advantages flowing from the present construction,-,.may be described as follows: I

The desired amount of clothes and soap are placed in the tub C, and water of the required temperature is then filled in (under manual valve control) through the pipes IN and I22, and spray head I23, until it reaches the predetermined water level line i33 (Fig. 3). The lid or cover 23 is then closed and the dial III is set, by turning it to the desired number of wash minutes. The dial is then lifted to start the timer which closes the circuit to motor iii. and solenoid iii] to close clutch 94-85. The motor I04 then drives the pump H4 through belt connection i I I, and operates belt iill, transmission mechanism SI and clutch 9l95, to oscillate the shaft 44 and agitator D secured thereon. The resulting washing process, as such, is of the well known'action in which the agitator impellers 88 impart a turning or toroida1 movement to the suspended clothes to subject the latter to constant contact with currents of the soapy water until clean. During this step of the process any grit, sand or other heavy foreign matter will find its way into the sediment trap 64, while any fluid or suds splashing over the tub and into the casing chamber B will be drawn :1 through the drain I II by the pump I II which is constantly running.

A feature preferably reserved for the rinsing operation but which may also be used in the washing step consists of opening the water supply to the spray head I23 toward the end of the washing period. when this is done the water surface israised above the level of line I32 and up to that of the openings II. The water from spray l25a flows up from the lower edge of the baiile tube E, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 3, and the wider spray, l2la, acts outwardly against the upper surface. The combined spray action has a tendency to stop or retard the normal rolling or tumbling rotation of the clothes and the spray i2la acts to push the surface scum outwardly through the holes Ii and thus remove it from further contact with the clean clothes. This action is supplemented by the fins I30, of the baille unit, which fins are now operating below the level of the increased body of water and tend to fan or impel outwardly the clothes.

14, pulleylzl aizlild spindle 43, to partially dry the w centrifuging action the water will be forced outwardly to the wall ii of the receptacle and will then flow upwardly along the tapered wall until it reaches the escape ports II from which it will be discharged into the chamber B for prompt removal by the pump ill. It will also be noted that the inner flange 12 of the balancing ring will prevent the upward escape of clothes during the centrifuging, while the elliptical form of the sediment'trap and the arrangement of pipes 85 will cause centrifugal flushing and discharge of any foreign matter that has settled in the trap.

During the first spinning operation, which may be maintained for approximately flve minutes it may be found desirable to give the clothes one spray flushing with hot water. In-any event, and when the cleaning fluid has been substantially removed, the spinning motor (19) is deenergized, cold rinse water is supplied to the tube, and the clutch "-95 is re-engaged to again activate the agitator D. After rotational tumbling of the clothes is now suillcient to insure proper rinsing the clutch is again disengaged and the spinning motor is again operated to dry the clothes, for hanging or ironing.

In all washing machines employing centrifugal drying a substantial problem arises because of vibration resulting from unbalanced loads in the centrifuging process. To prevent tipp g. creeping, noise, wear, wear, etc. resort has been made to various cures" including that of bolting the machine to the floor, which is frequently impractical and expensive. In the present instance a combination of features complement each other to absorb and prevent vibration to a point where itis sufilciently controlled to be unobjectionable from a practical and operative standpoint. Thus it will first be noted that the adjustable corner jacks 24-28 provide means for initially leveling the machine while the serrated foot and pad arrangement 21-28 is such as to provide a resilient pad on which the feet 21 cannot creep.

Of greater importance, however, is the single, cushioned, pivot support 32 for the entire operating assembly coupled with the radial balancing springs hand the dampener snubbers 52, connected by the flexible arms 49, the balancing ring 61, and the hydraulic drive coupling |8Tl, all of which cooperate to reduce vibration to an unobjectionable minimum.

The single point support (32) ior the entire assembly is such that gyratory deflections of the clothes receptacle C will not be directly transmitted laterally to the casing 20, and, since the pivot connection 32 acts as a fulcrum for such deflections, the amount of transmitted vibration at this low point is negligible. The oil-center or eccentric vibrations that are imparted to the frame plate 31 are frictionally retarded by the snubbers or dampeners, while the centering scum disposed within the spray l24a. This descumming step may be by either manual or automatic control.

when the washing operation is completed the solenoid I0! is deenergized to disconnect the clutch 9495 which in turn stops the oscillations of the agitator D. while the motor Ill continues to operate the pump Ill.

The motor is is then energized and hasas its sole function to spin the receptacle 0 through belt springs 45 immediately tend to restore the assembly to its true vertical condition. In this manner the spring and snubber devices yieldably transmit only such vibration forces to the outer frame and casing as the latter can easily resist or absorb, and it may be noted that since the snubber arms ll are flexible the disks 52 will always have flat friction contact with the bracket plates 5| 'It is further to be noted that the snubbers and springs are equally effective to absorb torsional stresses about a vertical axis to which the assembly is subjected in starting and stopping operations.

Thestabilizing effect imparted by the weight be understood that under this and momentum of the ring 61 has already been described, and, of course cooperates with the other anti-vibration factors to provide a smooth running of the machine even with out-of-balance load conditions.

The fluid drive coupling 16-" not only per mits the motor to attain full speed and thus avoid overloading, when starting the relatively heavy clothes receptacle spinning, but also provides slippage in the drive connection that will slow up the speed of receptacle rotation when it reaches a point where off-balance eccentric throw might be objectionable or harmful. This is due to the increased load on the fluid drive which is set up when the tub load becomes unbalanced, and which increased load increases slippage in the fluid drive. This slippage may in turn be governed or determined by the amount of fluid 84 in the coupling, as the slippage between driving and driven members 11 and 16, will increase or decrease by respectively decreasing or increasing the amount of fluid. Thus, it will be apparent, that with any load an increase in speed will result in greater eccentric throw, and increased frictional resistance, or increased driving power, so that the slippage of the fluid drive can beset to limit the receptacle rotation below that which might otherwise be objectionable.

The construction of the parts forming the chamber B is such that there is ample room to accommodate a complete receptacle load of fluid and particularly so with the pump drawing it oil duringthe rapid discharge of fluid from the upper edge of the receptacle. Thus the chamber is in effect open-topped, and the sleeve 2| ren-. ders unnecessary any seal between the chamber and spindle, while also being sufliciently large to permit full clearance for the sleeve 40 even under maximum vibration conditions.

It is understood that suitable modifications may be made in the general design and structural details of the machine as hereinabove set forth without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Having now therefore fully illustrated and described our invention what we claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

i. In a washing machine, a clothes receptacle mounted for rotation about a vertical axis and having an upwardly flared [imperforate] outer wall imperforate over its entire area whereby water will rise, upon spinning of the receptacle, and escape outwardly over the upper edge of the wall, means for rotating the receptacle, and a heavy balancing ring mounted upon and strode dling the upper edge of the receptacle, said ring projecting inwardly to restrain clothes in the receptacle from escape upwardly therefrom during the spinning operation, the said ring having openings above the upper edge of the receptacle to pass the water outward during the spinning operation.

2. In awashing machine, a casing having an upper chamber, a clothes receptacle in the chamher and adapted upon being rotated to discharge fluid into the chamber, an agitator in the receptacle, a pump for draining the chamber, a motor and a fluid drive coupling for spinning the receptacle, a second motor' for operating the agitator and pump, and a clutch for controllingthe power connection from the second motor to the agitator.

' the receptacle wall.

3. In a cothes treating machine, a rotary and gyi'atory receptacle for clothes and treating liquid, the said receptacle having an upwardly flaring [imperforate] wall imperforate over its entire area, means for spinning the receptacle 4. In a clothes treating machine, a rotary and gyratory receptacle for clothes and treating liquid, the said receptacle having an upwardly flaring [imperforate] wall imperforate over its entire area, means for spinning the receptacle to drive the fluid up the wall and to extract the fluid from the clothes, a balancing mass mounted around the upper edge of the receptacle wall,

and the said balancing mass having openings therein adjacent its lower end and above the upper edge of the imperforate wall to pass the liquid outwardly as it moves up the receptacle wall, the said balancing mass also having an inwardly turned annular part to hold the clothes in the receptacle.

5. In a clothes treating machine, a rotary and gyratory receptacle for clothes and treating liquid, the said receptacle having an upwardly flaring [imperforate] wall imperforate over its entire area, means for spinning the receptacle to drive-the fluidup the wall and to extractthe fluid from the clothes, a balancing mass mounted upon the upper edge of the receptacle wall, and the mass having notches in its underside forming openings above the receptacle edge for the escape of the liquid.

6. In a washing machine, a main frame having an outer casing and a support member disposed at the lower end of the casing, [a second frame] an inner assembly including a spindle supporting a clothes receptacle for rotation about a ,vertical axis, means for-mounting [the second frame on] said assembly on the support member of the main frame with freedom for gyratory deflection with respect ot said vertical axis induced by rotation of the receptacle when the latter is out of balance, spring means disposed at an elevation substantially above said support member and connecting the main frame and inner assembly for yieldably restraining such gyratory deflection and tending to restore the [second frame] spindle and receptacle tonormal operating positions, and at least one pair of cooperating trio-- tion producing members disposed at an elevation adjacent to that of the spring means for frictionally resisting the aforesaid gyratory deflection, one of the members of said pair being attached to a point fixed with respect to the main frame.

and the other member of the pair being attached to [the second frame] said inner assembly [.1 said members overlapping each other and means interengaged with said members intermediatethe overlapped ends and centrally within the frictional areas thereof for retaining the mem--' hers-in assembled relation.

'7. In a washing machine, a frame, a casing enclosing the" frame and having upper and lower to the underside of said partition and acting on when deflected, to operating position coincident with said vertical axis, additional means for resisting said gyratory deflection comprising arilrst member fixed with respect to the receptacle axis but non-rotatable with the receptacle, a second member anchored to an element fixed with respect to the frame, said first and second members having opposed friction surfaces and being connected by means permitting the members -to move relatively to each other when pressure on such first member produced by gyratory deflection exceeds the resistance produced by such friction [.1 said members overlapping each other and means interengaged with said members in-' termediate the overlapped ends and centrally within the frictional areas thereof for retaining the members. in assembled relation.

8. In a washing machine having a main frame with an outer casing provided with upper and lower chambers separated by a horizontal plate member, a clothes receptacle arranged in the upper chamber and having a spindle supporting the receptacle for rotation about a vertical axis,

[a second frame forming a bearing support for the spindle] said spindle extending down through an aperture in the plate member and into the -'lower chamber, means for mounting the lower end of the [second frame] spindle on the main frame for limited tilting action about a pivot in the lower part of the lower chamber whereby the [second frame] spindle may gyrate in response gyratory deflection of the clothes receptacle about said vertical axis, the aperture in the plate member being' larger than the adjacent outer diameter of the spindle to permit horizontal movement of the spindle therein when the spindle is tilted on said pivot, spindle supporting means disposed about the said spindle adjacent said horizontal plate member, a first friction member attached to [and extending outwardly from] the [second frame] spindle supporting means at an elevation below the clothes receptacle and above the lower end of the [second frame] spindle, a second friction member connected with and extending inwardly from a' stationary point of the main frame to frictionally overlap a surface of the first friction member. and resilient means interengaged with the overlapped ends of the friction members with the friction surjaces said members surrounding said resilient means, and said resilient means urging the two friction members into yieldable contact with each 1 chamber, a'second frame. in the lower chamber forming a bearing'support for the spindle, means for mounting the lower end of the second frame on the main frame for limited tilting action whereby the second frame may gyrate in response to gyratory deflection of the clothes receptacle and spindle about said vertical axis, the opening in the plate member being larger than the adjacent outer diameter of the spindle so that the latter may move horizontally therein about the tilting axis of the second frame therebelow (fur- 12 ing such gyration, a first friction member attached to and extending outwardly from the second frame at an elevation below the clothes receptacle and above the lower end of the second frame, a second friction member connected with and extending inwardly from a stationary point of the main frame to frlctionally overlap a surface of the first friction member, and adjustable means [for] interengaged with the overlapped ends of the friction members with the friction surfaces of said members surrounding said adiustable means and said adjustable means controlling the degree of frictional resistance between the twofriction members.

10. In a washing machine having a main frame, a clothes receptacle having a spindle supporting the receptacle for rotation about a vertical axis, a second frame forming a bearing support for the spindle, means for mounting the lower end of the second frame on the main frame for limited tilting action whereby the second frame maygyrate in response to gyratory deflection of the clothes receptacle about said vertical axis, a first friction member attached to and extending outwardly from the second frame at an elevation below the clothes receptacle and above the lower end of the second frame, a second friction member connected with and extending inwardly from a stationary point of the main frame to frictionally overlap a surface of the first friction member, and resilient means interengaged with the overlapped ends of the friction members with the friction surfaces of said members surrounding said resilient means, said resilient means urging the two friction members into yieldable contact with each other, one of said friction members being provided with a friction lining for surface engagement with the other friction member.

11. In a washing machine, a main frame, a bearing frame tiltably supported at its bottom on the main frame so that the upper part of the bearing frame may gyrate, a spindle journaled in the bearing frame for rotation about an upright axis, a clothes receptacle carried by the upper end of the spindle, a motor carried by the hearing frame and connected to the spindle to rotate the spindle and receptacle, a series of elements fixed with respect to the main frame at spaced locations about the bearing frame and presenting generally horizontal bearing faces, a second series of elements attached to the bearing frame and having portions [disposed adjacent to] overlap-' [for] interengaged with the overlapped ends of said elements with the friction surfaces of said elements surrounding said means and said means controlling the frictional resistance between said linings and bearing surfaces.

12. In combination, an outer main frame including an upper stationary receptacle the bottom of which has a central opening, a second frame disposed within the main frame [and] below said receptacle bottom and having a spindle extending up through said opening for supporting a clothes receptacle for rotation about a normally upright axis, means for mounting the second frame upon a stationary fulcrum support in the lower end of the main frame with freedom for gyratory deflection with respect to said axis induced by rotation of the clothes receptacle when the latter is out-. of-balance, said bottom opening being larger then 1, the. spindle part therewithin so as to permit the spindle to tilt therein when the second frame gyrates on said stationary fulcrum support, [resilient means] tension springs connecting the two frames immediately under said receptacle bottom and tending to yieldably resist such deflection oi the second frame, at least one pair of friction resistance elements, one of which is attached to the mainframe and the other of which is attached to the second frame, said elements overlapping each other and having coacting friction surfaces, and means [for] interengaged with said overlapping elements with the friction surfaces surrounding said means and said means urging said surfaces into frictional contact with each other.

13. In combination, an outer main frame having a stationary receptacle at its upper end, the bottom of said receptacle having a central opening and an upstanding sleeve thereabout, a second frame disposed within the main frame below the receptacle and having a tubular portion extending upwardly through said sleeve with freedom for lateral swinging movement therein, a spindle journaled in said tubular portion [and] for supporting a clothes receptacle in the stationary receptacle for rotation about a normally upright axis, [means] a stationary fulcrum support at the lower end of the main frame for mounting the second frame in the main frame with freedom for gyrawry deflection with respect to said axis induced by rotation of the clothes receptacle when the latter is out of balance, [resilient means] springs connecting the two frames immediately below the stationary receptacle bottom to exert outward radial pull on the second frame [and tending] to yieldably resist such deflection of the second frame, at least one pair of friction resistance elements, one of which is attached to the main frame and the other of which is attached to the second frame, said elements overlapping each other and having coacting friction surfaces, and adjustable spring means [for] interengaged with said overlapping elements with the enacting friction surfaces of said elements surrounding said adjustable spring means and said adjustable spring means squeezing said friction resistance elements together;

14. In a washing machine, an outer frame, an inner frame mounted in the outer frame with freedom for limited gyratory movements about a 14 bottom support in the outer frame, a clothes receptacle mounted for rotation on the inner frame, and a motor for driving the receptacle, a series of bracket plates mounted on the outer frame at spaced points around the inner frame, a series of members secured to the inner frame and extending outwardly over and enclosing the surfaces of the bracket plates for frictional engagement with surfaces thereof and for movement thereover to resist the aforesaid gyratory movements of the inner frame, and means interengaged with said bracket plates and members for controlling the degree of frictional resistance between said members and bracket plates [.1 said bracket plates having slotted openings therein covered by said members and said means including variably tensioned; bolts extending through said members and the slots in said bracket plates.

. GEORGE P. CASTNER.

ARTHUR. D. LUND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent or the original patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 288,129 Storey Nov. 8, 1883 430,832 Doremus June 24, 1898 1,847,992 Hartman Nov. 8, 1927 1,847,159 Adams Mar. 1, 1932 1,888,112 Luarde Nov. 1, 1932 1,932,246 Kirby Oct. 24. 1933 2,033,148 Motycka Mar. 10, 1938 2,991,536 Van Impe A118. 31, 1937 2,120,139 Tholl June 7, 1938 2,222,329 Watts Nov. 19, 1940 2,282,847 Barim May 12, 1942 2,291,088 Morganstern July 28, 1942 2,303,979. Blake Dec. 1, 1942 2,331,897 Dyer Oct. 19, 1943 2,334,858 Beattie Nov. 23, 1943 2,348,158 Dyer Apr. 11, 1944 2,358,818 Bruckman Aug. 29, 1944 2,388,238 Clark Jan. 2, 1945 2,380,595, Hertrich July 31, 1945 2,408,509 Clark Oct. 1, 1946 2,421,803 Neal June 10, 1947

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