US1686657A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Description

Filed April 14, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet m Zm" Oct. 9, 1928.

6 B. E. GETZ WASHING MACHINE ZSheets-Shet 2 Filed April 14, 1925 HIGH.

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Patented I 06:. 9, 1928.

BENJAMIN E. GETZ, OF MORTON, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, OF,

ONEJIALF TO GETZ POWER WASHER 00., OFIIORTON, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS, AND ONE-HALF T WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, 01 EAST PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A. CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VAN IA.

WASHING MACHINE.

This invention has reference to washing machines, and particularly to that type in-. cluding a clothes container or tub which is mounted for movement in the frame of'the machine. In its preferred form the container or tub is'oscillated, but to those skilled in this art it will be understood that the movement of the operating means could be extended so as to impart an alternatin rotary movement totie container or tu so as to rotateit approximately a full revolution before reversing its operation, instead of a partial rotation, as herein shown.

The invention-has for its principal object to provide a controllable means for the tub movin means; such controllable means movab e to different positions and adapted in one of its positions to impart movement to the tub and in another of its positions adapted to restore the tub to normal stopped position, without stopping the movement of the tub moving means.

The invention herein described and shown is an improvement on the generic idea disclosed in the application of Thomas Litwiller and John Leader bearing Serial No. 642,336 and as to such generic disclosure a disclaimer is here made. Furthermore, this application is a companion to applications filed of even date herewith bearing Serial Nos. 631,966, 631,967 and 631,968. In said applications bearing Serial Nos. 631,967 and 631,968, the mechanism is shown applied to an oscillatory tub, or one which makes less than one complete revolution duringeach oscillation, and in said application hearing Serial No. 631,966 the mechanism is shown applied to an alternating rotary tub, or one which makes at least one com-- plete revolution during each oscillatory.

movement.

The present improvement resides in the controllable means which is of a walkingbeam t pe, and includes a lever having an adjusta le fulcrum adapted to alt'ernately place the mechanism in operatlve relation with the power means to impart movement to the tub, and in neutral relation with the power means to restore the tub' to normal position and stopped, without stopping the movement of the operatin means; such lever having connection with t e operating means and also the tub. v

positions, the full line position of the mech-. anlsm being the operative position and the dotted line positions of such mechanism show ng how movement is imparted to the Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, except that the frame is omitted and the mechanism 1s shown in full lines in neutral position and the lever having the adjustable fulcrum idling and without imparting movement to the tub, and

Figure 3 is a detail in plan of a part of the I lever having the adjustable fulcrum.

-L1ke characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the figures.

The frame structure which may be of any suitable character, is shown in outline, in dotted lines; likewise the clothes container or tub, which may be of any suitable design. Full lines are employed to show the tub moving means and controllable means, certam positions of which, however, are illustrated by dotted lines.

The frame of the machine includes a base member 1, side members 2 and a top or cover 3. Such frame, if desired, like many present day machines may also have a cabinet or enclosing casing, notshown. The frame structure is not extended to show a supportmg means for the container or tub 4, but it is understood a suitable bearing-support for trunnions 5, or other journal means of the tub would be provided. In the present disclosure, the movement of the container or tub is preferably an oscillatory movement. The container or tub would naturally include an opening not shown, through which clothing or other materials would be inserted into and withdrawn therefrom, and such opening covered-or closed, when desired by a suitable lid or cover, not shown.

Figure 1 shows the container or tub in different 'dotted positions. In the position A, being the normal position of the tub when the controllable means is inthe full tub. Also, in Figure 1 the positions B of the container or tub show it oscillating, being the result which is obtained by adjusting the controllable means to the position shown in said figure.

By normal or neutral position of the tub, it is to be understood that that is the position the tub occupies when it is stopped 1 so that the lid or cover therof may be removed by an attendant to permit the removal of clothes or fabrics from the tub and the placing of other articles or materials therein. 1 Also, b the use of the word restore I mean the ringing back or righting of the tub to normal or neutral position at the same time that the operating means is made ineffective so far as operating the tub is concerned, yet without disturbing the movement of the operating means.

By the use of a mechanism such as I em ploy and which I am about to describe, the use of spring constraining means for returning the tub to its normal position and for balancing thetub, are unnecessary apd entirely done away with, and yet the attendant need'have no concern about the tub being restored to normal position, as such is the natural result when the controllable means is moved to discontinue the movement of the tub.

7' designates a driving shaft, which may ar 12 on one end of a lever 13; said ear' eing preferably in parallel relation with i and spaced from the body of the lever, see

' is slidably adjustable a pivot-member 15 Figures 1 and 3. The lever, for a portion of its lengthis provided with a longitudinally disposed guide-way or slot 14 in which member 15 in axial coincidence with the pivot-member 11 connected to the ear 12 of said lever. The pivot-member 15 being un der the control of an attendant, it will be understood that if held at any point between its two extreme and predetermined positions'thata variable movement maybe imparted to said tub, a

The lever 13 at the end opposite to that having the car 12 has connected thereto a roller 16 movable in arc-shaped guide 17 supported on the frame of the machine, and connected with this end of the lever 13-is a preferably depending connecting bar 18 havinga pivotal connection at its lower end with a'bell-crankleve'r 19, to which is also connected a reach bar 20 in operative con-' nection with the crank-arm 8.

A control lever is provided, designated 21,

which is pivotally connected'at its lower end to a suitable frame part and extends to the .top of the machine in easy and convenient reach of an attendant. Said lever, as shown, has connection with the pivot-memher 15, whereby, as the lever ismoved said.

pivot-member 15 may be adjusted in the slot 1 1 of the lever 13 and by such adjustment changethe' fulcrum point of the lever 13. l/Vhen the member 15 is in vthe position shown in Figure l the opp site ends of said lever 13 may be moved to su stantially equal distances on either side of a line passing longitudinally through the lever, .01 to the position shown in dotted lines, in said figure, and as, a result impart reciprocal movement to the bar 10 and oscillate the crank 9 to impart similar oscillatory movement to the tub 4;. On the other hand when the member 15has been moved to the position shown in member 11, then th1s becomes the fulcrum point on, which the lever 13 may be swung,

and owing tothe two pivotal oints 11 and 15 being in axial coincidence 1t will be observed that as the lever 13 is oseillated there can be no movement imparted to the bar 10,

or'the crank 9, or the tub 4; the lever 13 idling up and down on the pivot-member 15 somewhat in-the manner shown by the dotted lines in Figure 2, no movement being imparted to the tub and without in any way interf'ering'with the operation of the operatin means. ltwill be understood that the pivot-memher 15 may be moved by a quick throw of' 100 Figure 2, in axial s aced relation with the be obtained. This is desirable in the handling of coarse and fine 'fabrics and clothing. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a variable movement of the tub, depending on the movement imparted to the lever 21 and the pivot-member 15, and to bring the tub to a stop without jerking and jiggling.

l/Vhat I claim is 1. In a machine of the character described, in combination with a tub mounted for movement, an operating means, means connecting said operating means with .said tub, including a slotted lever, guiding means for one end of said lever, an operators lever, and means connecting said operators lever with said slotted lever and slidable in said slot, whereby the fulcrum point of said slotted lever may be changed, and thereby place said slotted lever alternately inneutral and tub o erative position.

2. In a mac ine of the character described, in combination with a tub mounted lever havin whereby sai lever may be alternately placed in neutral and tub operating positions, a

guide for one end of said lever, connections between the opposite end of said lever and said tub, connections between said operating means and the guided and of said slotted lever, and a hand lever for'changing the fulcrum point of said slotted lever.

In witness whereof I have hereunto aflixed my hand and seal this 11th day of April,

BENJAMIN E. GETZ.

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