US1403503A - Gearing for washing machines - Google Patents

Description

C. C. LAMB.

GEARING FOR WASHING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. II, 1920.

Patented' Jan. 17, 1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I C. C. LAMB.

GEARING FOR WASHING MACHINES.

APLICATION FILED MAR. Il

Patented J an. 17571922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

C. c. LAMB.

GEARING FOR WASHING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. II, I920. l 1,403,503. Patented Jan. 17,1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

nooeopou C C. LAMB.

GEARlNG Foa wAsHmG MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-1l, 1920. 1,403,503., Patented Jan. 17, 1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

UNITED STATES PATENT ori-ica CHARLES C. LAMB, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO WILLARD M. MCEWEN, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

GEARING FOR WASHING MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 17, 1922.

Application led March 11, 1920. Serial No.`364,941.

To all fav/710m` it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES C. LAMB, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county ofCook and State A of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Gearing forVashing Machines, of which the following is a spec-ification.

This invention relates to an improved form of gearing particularly adapted for washing machines of the domestic type, and consists in the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings- Fig. 1 is a side view of a washing-machine embodying a gearing constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a view of one end of the machine and showing the blower connected with the pipe which discharges air into the water in the machine during the washing operation;

'Fig 3 is a like view and shows the blower connected with a dust collector and vacuum cleaner hose;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 2, and showing the pounder mechanism of the machine;

Fig. 5 is av horizontal Sectional view taken through the support or stand of the'machine and showing the gearing directly mounted on that part;

Figs. 6 and 7 are vertical sectional views taken on lines 6 6 and 7 7, respectively, of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 8 8 of Fig. 3 to show a detail of construction; y

Figs. 9 and 10 are enlarged vertical sectional views taken on lines 9 9 and l0 1(}, respectively, of Fig. 5;

Fig. 11 is a top plan view of the clutchmechanism; and

Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 12 12 of Fig. 11;

T he gearing 0f my invention, in the form Ashown in Figs. 1 to 12 inclusive. comprisesin shape with rounded bottom walls, las show n. T he container 4 is the outer tub and 1s mounted on the support 1 in a manner to be held stationary, as yby rigidly securing on the outside of the tub 4 angleirons 6, which seat or rest on a cross-bar 7 on the frame 3. The cross-bar has dowel pins 8, one for each angle-iron and'entering a socket 9 therein, as shown in Fig. 8. The outer container 4 is larger than the inner one 5, and the latter i5 mounted to be turned about a vertical axis. By having one container larger than the other, there is a space between them, as shown in Figs. 4 and 10, and the inner container 5 is perforated or foraminated so that it constitutes a basket which may be used as a centrifugal wringer and thus permit the garments therein to be rinsed vor wrung after the washing operation has been completed and 'without being required to removethem from the machine for that purpose. To drain off the water from the outer andv inner containers, the former is provided with an outlet 'pipe 10 having a faucet or'cock 11 at its discharge end beyond the support 1, as shown in Fig. 1. The tops of the containers are open to permit access into thev same, and the outer tub 4 has a removable cover or lid 1 2, as shown. This has handles 13- to facilitate removing and placing the cover on the tub 4.

To the under side of the cross-bar 7 is secured a substantially U-shaped bracket 14, this being located substantially midway between the ends of the bar and in which is rotatably mounted a vertically arranged main operating shaft 15, as clearly shown in Fig. 16. On said shaft are fixed two toothed wheels 16, 17, one above the other, as shown. The upper wheel 16 is in the -form of a sprocket wheel, and the lower one 1.7 is in the form ofabeveled gear wheel. Secured between the legs 2 below ythe bracket 14 is a flat, horizontally arranged shelf or plate 18, upon which is mounted an electric motor 19, arranged with its armature shaft 2O sub-y stantially horizontal. Aligned with said armature lshaft is a shaft 21supported above shown in Fig. 9. Loosely mounted on the naled in a vcross-member 28 provided on the bracket for that urpose. Loosely mounted on the shaft 26 1s a beveled gear wheel 29 meshing with the beveled gear wheel 17 on the main shaft 15. Said gear wheel 29 is held from movement out of mesh with said gear wheel 17 in any'well known manner, as by collars (not shown). Splined on the shaft 26 is a clutch collar'30 having clutch teeth to engage complementary parts on the gear wheel 29. The collar 30 is grooved to receive the' arms of a shifter yoke 31 constituting a part of the clutch mechanism, to be hereinafter described, and used for moving the collar 30 into and outof clutch with said gear wheel 29 for connecting it to and disconnecting it from said shaft 26.

Projecting above the support or stand 1 is an upright shaft 32 extending through the bottom walls of the inner and outer containers 4 and 5, as clearly shown in Fi 10. This shaft 32 extends loosely througi the cross-bar 7 and has its lower end 33 made rectangular to enter a Vcomplementary shaped socket or recess 34 in the up er end of the main shaft 15, so that the s aft 32 will be connected with and rotated by the shaft 15 upon the turning vthereof by the motor 19. Applied over the shaft 32 are two tubes 35, 36, the outer one 35, extending through the bottom wall of the basket 5, but terminating short of the bottom wall of the outer tub 4. The outer tube 35 is secured to the bottom wall of the baskety 5 by a two-part boss 37 and rejects above said shaft and is there rigldly secured to the same, so that 4the shaft 32 will rotate the basket 5 and not the outer tub 4. The inner tube 36 isloosely mounted on said shaft and extends through the bottom wall of the tub 4 `and rests on the cross-bar 7. Said inner tube is secured to said tub by a two-part boss 38. By having the lower end of the shaft`or spindle 32 removably connected with the main shaft 15, and the 'outer tube 35 secured to the shaft 32, the basket 5 may be readily withdrawn from the outer tub 4, and the latter completely removed from the support or stand 1. Thispermits the containers to `be removed for cleansing or repair, and also to free the stand of the weight of such parts so that the stand may be readily moved about when the 'motor operates the blower, to. be later referred to, as a vacuum cleaning element.

Vhen the clutch collar 30 is shifted to connect the gear wheel 29 with the shaft 26 kof the motor being reduced by the provision 'of the worm drive in the transmission mechanism described.

To rotate the basket 5 at a greater `rate of speed for rinsing or wringing, the' gearing includes the following parts. Secured to the inner face of one of the side members of the frame 3 is an inwardly projecting bracket 39, arranged substantially horizontal, as shown in Fig. 5, and supporting a vertically arranged shaft 40, as shown in Fig. 9. To the upper end of .said shaft 40 is fixed a sprocket wheel 41, over which is trained a sprocket chainl 42, this inv turn being trained over the sprocket wheel 16 on the main shaft 15, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. To the lower end of said shaft 40 is fixed a beveled gear pinion 43 meshing with a beveled gear wheel 44 loosely mounted on ,the shaft 21, as shown in Fig. 9. On the worm 24 is fixed a clutch collar 45 having clutch teeth to engage complementary parts On a clutch collar 46 splined on the shaft 21 between the worm 24 and the beveled gear wheel 44. A The clutch collar 46 is grooved to receive the yoked end of a bell crank lever 47 horizontally arranged and fulcrumed on an upright post 48 on the plate 18, as shown in Fig. 11. When the clutch `collar 46 has been shifted to engage the clutch collar 45, the worm 24 is connected with the shaft 21, and no` power is transmitted to the gear wheel 44. On the other handwhen the clutch collar 46 has been shifted to engage said gear wheel 44, the latter is connected withfthe shaft 21 and rotated by the motor, while the worm 24 is disconnected from/ said shaft, the clutch collar 30 at that time being disconnected from the gear wheel 29. The main shaft 15 is then rotated by thel motor 'through the sprocket chain -42, and the basket' 5 rotated at a greater rate of speed than through the .worm drive, thereby giving the basket the relatively high speed required for rinsing or wringing; 'in other words, converting the basket from a washing element into a centrifugal wringer.

The shaft 21, as shown in Fig. 9. extends through and beyond the gear wheel 44. and is there journaled in an upright standard 49 on said plate 18. Fixed to the outer end of said shaft 21 is a clutch collar 50 having teeth to engage a clutch collar 5l splined on the. opposed end of the shaft 52 of a blower 53 mounted on said plate 18. The blower shaft 52Vand the shaft 21 terminate short of each other, as shown. A spring 54 surrounds said blower shaft and tends to urge the clutch collar 51 thereon into clutch engagement with the clutch collar 50.

The clutch mechanism also includesy a rod 55 horizontallyarranged and mounted in one of the standards 22, as shown in Fig. 12. The outer end of this rod 55 is pivoted at 56 to an upright hand lever 57 pivoted at its lower end on the plate 18 and carrying at its handled upper end a latch 58 to co-operate with a notched segment 59 secured to the frame 3, asv shown in Fig. 3. The inner end of the rod 55 is provided with the yoke 31 for engaging the clutch collar 30. The inner arm 6() of said bell-crank lever enters an elongated horizontal slot 61 in the rod 55, as shown in Fig. 11, so that when the hand lever 57 is moved the bell-crank lever will be moved. Forthe clutch collar 51 there is a lever 62 pivotal'ly mounted on an upright post 63 on the plate 18. At the outer end of this lever is a yoke to engage the collar 51. The bell-crank lever has a rearwardly'extending arm 64 connected by a link 6,5 with the inner end of the -lever 62, as shown in said Fig. 11. As shown, in Fig. 3, the segment 59 has three notches '66, 67, and 68. When the lever 57 is at the first notch 66, the parts of the clutch mechanism are in the positions shown in Fig. 11.` Thus', the gear wheel 44 is connected with the shaft 21, and the basket 5 rotated by the motor at the high rate of speed required for rinsing or wringing. By

shifting the hand lever 57 to the next notch 67, the bell-crank lever 47 will be-moved to `withdraw the clutch member '46 out of engagement with the gear wheel 44, and, by reason of the lost motion provided by the i slot 61, the spring 54 will act to force the clutch collar 51 into engagement with the clutch collar 50 and thus connect the blower 53 vwith said motor, the remaining parts ,of the gearing and basket remaining idle as the blower is rotated. Shifting the hand lever 57 to the next notch 68. will move the clutch col-lar 30 into engagement with the gear wheel'29 and the clutch' collar 46 into engagement with the clutch collar 45, thus connecting the worm 24 with'the shaft 21 to rotate the basket 5 for washing purposes. The clutch collar 51 remains in connection with the one 50 so that the blower will be operated at that time to discharge air into the water in the tub 4 and aid in lagitating the water to effect an etiicient 'washing of the garments in the machine. I

@n the outside of the tub 4 is a vertically arranged )ipe 69 connected with a vertical pipe section 7 0 inthe space between the tub 4 and basket 5, as shown in Fig. 4. This pipe section 70 extends below the ynormal water level in the tub, and is closed at its lower end by a cap or plug 71. Above the plug the pipe section 7() is provided with a plurality of holes 72` vertically disposed and arranged to discharge air against the direction of rotation of the basket. The

sudabiypipe 69 is connected with ythe outlet of the i blower by an air hose 7 3.`

To use the blower as part of the vacuum cleaner equipment, I removably lmount on the plate 18 a dust collector 74, which may be connected with the outlet of the blower bv a hose 7 5. Tothe inlet end of the blower is connected a hose 76, carrying at its outer end a vacuum cleaner nozzle 77, as shown in Fig. 3. At this time the hose 73 is removed, as shown in said figure.

Mounted on the upper end of the outer tube 35 is a bracket 78 having depending and diverging arms 79, 79. This bracket is secured to the under side of the cover or lid 12 and thus is held from rotation with the tube 35 and shaft 32. Located above said bracket is a horizontally arranged counter-shaft having at each yendan eccentric 81, about whichis an eccentric strap 82 connected with a reciprocating pounder 83 below the same Rotatably mounted on the top of the bracket 78 is a beveled gear Wheel 84 meshing with a beveled gear wheel 85 fixed on the shaft 80. 'Each pounder 83' has an upright rod 86 extending through the associated arm 79 of the bracket and connected at its upper end with the associated eccentric strap, as snown in Figs. 4 and 6. To connect and disconthe tube 35, I provide a vertically arranged, rectangular rod 87 extending through the gear wheel 84 and into a Square or like recess or socket in the upper end of said tube 35. This rod has a head above the gear wheel and there has rotative connection with the lower end of a shift member 88 yoked. between its ends to stralldle the shaft 80, as

-nect the pounder mechanism to and from f rapid rate of speed for wringing or rinsing and also when the lid 12 is removed from the tub 4. Vhen the gear wheel 84 is connected with the tube 35, power will be transmitted from the motor to reciprocate thev pounders 83, as is apparent.

In the form of gearing shown, there 1s only a single hand operated lever of the" clutch mechanism, so vthat the `operator need only move the hand operated lever into any one of the three positions mentioned for effecting the result desired.

To facilitate lifting the tub 4, it may be provided with handles 4*l on the outside thereof. The lid 12 is formed to permit the said toothed wheel, two meshing gear wheels,

'housings 113 forvthe eccentrics-Sl'lto extend above the same and also a housing 114 for the gear wheel 85.

vWhile I have shown and described in detail a gearing embodying the features of my invention, it is to be 'of course understood that the details of construction and arrangement of parts `shown may be .variously changed and modified without departing from the spirit and scope of myl invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a gearing of the character described, the combination of a support, a main operating shaft rotatably mounted onl said sup ort, a motor on said support, two toothed .W eels on said shaft, a second shaft rotated by vsaid motor, power transmitting mechanism including a worm loosely Vmounted on said second shaft for connecting one of said toothed wheels with said motor, a clutch member for one loosely lmounted on said second shaft, power transmitting mechanism connecting the other of said 'gearwheels with the other of said toothed wheels, and a clutch member splined on saidl second shaft between the gear wheel and the worm thereon for connecting and disconnecting the gear wheel and the worm to and from said second Shaft.

2. In a gearing of the character described, the combination of a support, a main operating shaft rotatably mounted on said 'support, a motor on said support, two toothed wheels loosely mounted on said shaft, a second shaft' rotated by said motor, a worm loosely mounted on said second shaft and meshing with one of said toothed wheels, a. clutch member splined on said main shaft between the toothed wheels thereon for connecting and disconnecting said toothed wheels thereto, two meshing gear wheels, one

loosely mounted on saidsecond shaft, power transmitting mechanism connecting the other of said gear 'wheels to the' other of said toothed wheels, a clutch member splined on said second shaft between the vworin and the gear wheel thereon for connectingland disconnecting said ear wheel and worm to and from said seconcigsh'afmand means including il) single lever for moving said clutch meiners.;

3. In a gearing of the character described,

4the combinationof a support, a main operv ating shaft rotatably'mountedyon said supy soV port, a motor on said support, a gear wheel and a worm gear loosely mounted on said shaft, a clutch member splined on said shaft between said gearwheel and wormgear for connecting and disconnecting the same to and from said shaft, a second shaft rotated by'said motor, a worm loosely mounted on said second shaft and meshing with said worm gear wheel, a counter-shaft, two mesh` l inor beveled gears, one loosely mounted on said second shaft and the other fixed to saidl counter-shaft, a spur gear wheel fixedto said counter-shaft and meshing withy lthe gear wheel on said main shaft, a clutch member splined on said second shaft between the worm and the beveled gear wheel thereon for connecting and disconnecting the same to and from said .second shaft, andi'neans including a single lever for moving said clutch members. l

4. Ina gearing of the character described, the combination of. a support, a main upright operating sha-ft rotatably mounted on said support, a` motor on said support, power transmitting mechanism connecting said motor with said shaft, a second shaft aligned with said main shaft and rotated thereby, a counter-shaft arranged above said second shaft and transverse thereto, a vertically reciprocable rod substantially parallel to'said second shaft, means connecting said rod with said counter-shaft for reciprocating the. same upon the rotation ofsaid counter-shaft, and means l connecting said' counter-shaft with said second shaft for rotating the former by the latter.

' 5. In a gearing of the character described, the combination of a support, a main upright operating shaft rotatably mounted on said support, a motor on said support, power vtransmitting mechanism connecting said motorwith said shaft, a second shaft aligned with said main shaft and rotated thereby, a counter-shaft arranged above said second shaft and transverse thereto, a vertically reciprocable rod substantially parallel to said second shaft, an eccentric fixed on said counter-shaft and connected with said rod for reciprocating the same, ltwo meshing beveled gears, one fixed on the countersiaft and the other rotated by said second s iaft.,

6. In a gearing of the character described, the combination of a support, a main upright operating shaft rotatably mounted on said support, a motor on said support, power transmitting mechanism connecting said motor with said shaft, a second shaft aligned with said main shaft and rotated thereby, a counter-shaft arranged above right operating shaft rotatably mounted on.

said support, a motor on said support, power transmitting mechanism connecting said motor with said shaft, a second 'shaft iio aligned with said main shaft and rotated thereby, a counter-shaft arranged above said second shaft and transverse thereto, a vertically reciprocable rod substantially parallel to said second shaft, an`eccentric fixed on said counter-shaft and connected with said rod for reciprocating the same,two meshing beveled gears, one fixed on the counter-shaft and the other rotated by said second shaft, a clutch 'member for connect ing and disconnecting said second shaft to and from the gear wheel thereon, and a latch member adapted when engaged with said clutch member to hold the same in position disconnecting said second shaft and n the gear wheel thereon.

8. In a gearing of the character described, the combination of a support, a main upright operating shaft rotatably mounted on said support, a motor on said support,

power transmitting mechanism connecting said/"motor with said shaft, a second shaft aligned with said main shaft and rotated thereby, a tube on and secured to said second shaft and projecting beyond the same, a bracket on said tube and held from rota.- tion, a counter-shaft journaled in said bracket above said tube and arranged transverse' thereto, two vertical rods p' `slidably. mounted in said bracketon opposite sides of said tube, two eccentrics fixed on said counter-shaft and connected with said rods for reciprocatlng the same, two meshing gear wheels, one fixed onsaid counter-shaft and the other rotatably mounted on said bracket, and a clutch mechanism between said second Vshaft and the gear wheel on said bracket.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I aiiix my signature, this 24th day of February, A. D. 1920. v

CHARLES C. LAMB.

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