US2021097A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 12, 1935. MAUS 2,021,097

WASHING MACHINE Filed 'May 13, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F. MAUS WASHING MACHINE Nov. 12, 1935,

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 15, 1925 Patented Nov. l2, 1935` l UNITED; s'rgfrlazsy l 2,021,091 wAsnmG MACHINE Frank Maus, San Francisco, Calif., assignor, Iby mesne assignments, toThe Apex Electrical Manufacturing Company, Cleveland', Ohio, 'a

corporation oi' Ohio applicati@ May 1s, 1925, sensi-No. 29,904

24 olaims.- (ci. 259-1401) regulated and further to provide a washer employing a pair of superposed impellers which will prevent floating of the clothes and maintain the same within the range of action of the impellers thus insuring eiiicient operation.

One form which my invention may assume is exemplified in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the washing machine.

Fig. y2 is a plan view in section, taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the variable throw crank mechanism whereby a variable stroke. oscillating movement is' transmitted to the impellers.

Referring to the drawings in detail and particularly to'Fig. l, A indicates a base member on which is formed a vertically disposed cylindrical ,shaped standard B, and supported by this standard is a stationary tub or casing generally indicated at C. The base A and the standard B comr prise the supporting structure of themachine.

Mounted within the tub are a pair of superposed impellers such as shown at 2 and 8 whereby movement is imparted to the water and clothes to' be washed. An oscillating movement is transmitted to the impellers through a pair of connected driving shafts li and 5, and avariable stroke oscillating movement is in turn transmitted to the shafts through la variable stroke crank mechanism v which is perhaps best illustrated in Fig. 3. This variable stroke mechanism is'mounted in the base portion anda detailed description thereof will now be submitted: Journalled in the base member isa vertically disposed shaft l, secured thereon is a worm gear 8, and intermeshing therewith is a driving pinion or worm- 9 which is secured on a shaft I0. Mounted on this shaft are a pair of driving pulleys Il and i2, and adapted to drive said pulleys is a belt i3 and an electric motorld. This motor is supported by a` hanger I5 and the weight of the motor thus serves as a means for constantly maintaining the belt i3 at the proper tension. Secured on the upper end of the Worm gear 8 is a crank pin I5 and conracted therewith is a connecting rod I6 the function of which will hereinafter be described. Pivotally secured to ably mounted with'relation thereto.

the base member A at the point indicated at Il is an adjusting lever I8. The opposite end of this lever is supported by a pair of cross bars I9 and 20. The bar 2l) .is perforated at a. number of pointsas indicated at 2i, and a locking pin 22 is 5 adapted to enter one or another of these perforations to lock the-adjusting .lever at any, point desired. The locking pin 22 is manually operated by a hand lever such as shown at 23, this hand lever being pivotally supported as at 24 on a post 10 25 forming an extension of the lever i8. The post is also provided with a rigid hand grip 25a. The grips 23 and 25a extend through a slot 26 in the `vertical extension B and they serve the function of releasing the locking pin 22 and of ad- 15 justing the position of the lever I8. The locking pin is raised by depressing the lever 23 and it is lowered by spring tension as indicated at 22a. Secured on the lower end of shaft t is a crank arml 2i. A crank pin 28. is carried on the outer 20 end thereof and this crank pin is pivotally mounted in the outer end of a bar 29 which will hereinafter be referred to as the intermediate crank. A cross head member 3D engages the bar and is slid- This cross 25 head member is supported by the adjusting lever i8 and is pivotally mounted thereon at the point indicated at 3i. One end ofthe connecting rod. i6 is, as previously stated, connected with the crank pin l5. The opposite endof the connecting rod is pivotally attached toI the cross head member 3@ at the pointindicated at t2. The mechanism, consisting of the crank arm 2, the y, intermediate crank or. bar 29, thecross head 36, r the adjusting lever i8, and the connecting rod it, 3

fis'so connected that a variable throw crank cealed. Laterally extending elements or laterally extending means fixed with respect to the' sidewalls of the base'A- and the standard B are provided for the mounting oi' the gearing of the motor driven mechanism. The' 'aforesaid elements or means include a top plate D fixed with respect to the standard B. The top plate D is provided at its center with a bearing 4a for the shaft t. This bearing is substantially coaxial with the bearing il provided for the upper end of the `shaft 5 which is connected at 5a with the shaft 4. 'I'he shafts 4 and 5 constitute shaft means for the driving of the impellers 2 and 3.

A spider having arms E is xedly secured beneath the plate D by any suitable means such as the bolts 4b. A bearing 4c for the shaft 4 is provided centrally of the spider in line with the bearing da. The base A is provided with a generally horizontal top part F integral with the base A and the standard B and whichprovides a support for the pivot i1 of the adjusting lever i8. The cross bars I9 and 20 and the motor it are also supported from the top part F of the base A. The shaft 1 of the Worm gear 3 is journaled in a bearing 1a formed in a laterally extending element ib which is fixedly secured to the base A by vany suitable means such as the screws 1c.

The operation of the variable throw crank mechanism will be as follows: By referring to Fig. 2 it will be noted that the adjusting lever i@ assumes a position at one end ofA the supporting cross bar 2G and that the locking pin 22 is in engagement with .the end-most perforation 2i.

lever a maximum stroke will be transmitted through the Variable throw crank mechanism;

i tion of the arrow d.

crank and the iixed crank 21. A neutral posithat is, the intermediate crank 23 together with the xed crank 21 will swing from the full line position shown `to the dotted line position indicated at 33. I-f it is desired to decrease the stroke of the variable throw crank mechanism it is only necessary to depress the lever 23 and to move the adjusting lever by means of the stationary hand grip 25a so that the locking pin'may engage one or another of the perforations indicated at 2E; that is, the adjusting lever is swung in the direc- This movement of the adjusting lever causes the cross head 30 to slide inwardlyon the intermediate crank or bar 29 and as such decreases thestroke of the intermediate tion will be assumed when the adjusting lever I8 reaches the point wherethe locking pin will engage the last perforation indicated at 2 ia. When this position is assumed it will be' found that the vpivotal connection 3| formedbetween the cross head 30 and the adjusting lever I8 will align with the end of the crank arm 21, or, in other words, the pin 28. The cross head together with the intermediate crank 29 will then merely swing about the pivotal points 3| and 28 and no movement will be imparted to the iixed crank 21.

The mechanism so far describedrelates mere- .Ey to the driving mechanism whereby a variable stroke oscillating movement is transmitted vto shafts and V5. This variable stroke. mechanism is for the purpose of transmitting van oscillating movement to the impellers 2 and 3.

These impellers in turn transmit movementto the water and clothes to be washedI and a vdetailed description of the impellers is, therefore,

thoughtnecessary. The bottom portion of the tub is provided with a central tubular extension generally indicated at 4|). The. upper end of this extension forms a bearing 4| for the shaft" .5. The upper end'ofthis shaft is provided 'with a collar 2 which rests onthebeary ing, and it is also-provided with a socket exof a circular disc d8. On the upper surface of the disc are formed a plurality of radially disposed vanes as indicated at 49, The central portion of the disc 48 is extended upwardly as indicated at 50 and terminates in an inwardly turned 5 collar 5| on Whichis formed a downwardly extending hub member 52. This hub member has a square opening formedtherein which fits over the socket 43 and as both are square in shape a driving connection is also formed between the 10 shaft and the lower impeller. The extension 50 of the lower impeller is cone shape and it is considerably larger than the tubular extension on the bottom portion of the tub. An annular intermediate chamber or space 53 is thus formed 15 into which water vis permitted to freely enter through holes or perforations such `as indicated at 5d. The lower or inner surface of the disc 48 is also provided with a plurality of Vanes as shown at 55. These vanes serve the function of 20 circulating the water which enters the perforations 5d and of throwing it radially outwardly so that it will continuously escape through a small annular clearance space formed .between the outer edge of the disc |58 and the bottomfportion 25 of the tub. In other words, a continuous stream of. water is constantly discharging around the peripheral edge of the disc 48, and this is of considerable importance as it prevents the clothing which is being washed from becoming wedged 30 or jammed between the bottom of the tub and the impeller. Both impellers are removable, for` two reasons: rst, to permit ready removal when cleaning and draining the tub, and, second, for the purpose of permitting the use of either 35 impeller or both as conditions may demand. For instance, if light clothing is being washed which `has, a tendency to gather air and float itis only necessary to use the upper impeller. By using the upper impeller under such conditions' the 40 clothing is maintained submerged and is'also maintained within the range of action of the upper impeller. If coarse and heavy clothing is being washed, it is sometimes foundfthatl it is only necessary to use the lower impeller; and again it is found that when handling certain clothing the best rsults'are obtained by using both impellers. To remove the impellers, it isV merely necessary to raise the cover of the tub which is indicated at 60, this cover being hingedly secured at one peripheral edge as indicated at 6 l.` When the cover has been raised it is only necessary to grasp the-.upper impeller by 'a knob such as shown at 62 and lift it upwardly. This movement will cause the central extension 41 to 55 be removed with relation to the socket 43. When the upper impeller has been removed it is only necessary to grasp the cone shaped extension 50 oi the lower impeller and to lift it out vertically.

i This leaves the interior of the tub' free and open 60 indicated'at 1 to make place for the impeller vanes 55. This depression also forms `a nal drain chamber for the wash water, .and a. drain pipe I is therefore connected with the tub at this point so that 'practically speaking every 70l drop ofv water may besfreely drained and removed. It will also be noted thatthe' bottom portion oiv th tub is provided with f an annular flange 12 'which projects downwardly over the vertical extension B. The annular ange 12, is 75 provided with one or more thumb screws as threaded opening 14 to secure the same. The annular flange 12 together with thev locking means employed; to-wit, thethumb screws 13,

permits the tub as a whole to be turned about the base to assume any position desired. This is also important as it permits the drain connection 1| to .be turned to a point whereA the tub can be most conveniently drained and it also permits the tub to be turned so that the cover 60 will open in any direction desired. For instance, the washing machine may be placed on the back porch or in a basement at one end oran-l other of a set of ordinary wash trays and the cover 60 should therefore swing inone direction when the washing machine is`placed at one end and in the opposite directionwhen it is placed at the opposite end of the trays. 'I'he adjustment. of the tub here shown takes care of such conditions andis for this reason important.

The foregoing description and drawings show that an impeller type of washing machine has been provided in which one or more impellers may be employed. It also shows that means vare providedv for regulating the oscillating movement of the impellers, thuscontrolling the ve- -extendingvertically from the center portion of vthe' annular recess, a driving shaft journalled within said cone shaped extension, an impeller mounted in the annular depression, said impeller having acone shaped extension surrounding the cone shaped extension on the bottom ofthe tub, said impeller and its cone shaped extension being interspaced with relation to the bottom of the tub and the vertical extension o`f the bottom to form a chamber, a driving connection formed 'between the shaft and the upper end of the impeller'extension, said impeller :being perforated to admit water .to the space formed between the impeller and the bottom of the tub, and means on the impeller for maintaining the water in constant circulation through the chamber and outwardly and upwardly around the periphery of the impeller.

2. In a vwashing machine, a stationary' tub, said tub having an lannular depressed recess formed in the bottom thereof, a cone-shaped standard extending vertically from the center portion of the annular recess, a driving shaft journalled within said cone-shaped extension, an impeller mounted in the annular depression, a coneshaped extension on the impeller surrounding the cone-shaped extension on the bottom of the tub, said impeller extension and impeller being interspaced with relation to the bottom of the tub and the vertical extension of the bottom toform a chamber and said chamber being in communication with the exterior of the impeller and its cxtension to permit water to enter the chamber, a driving connection formed between the shaft and the upper end of the impeller extension, and means on the impeller for maintaining water in constant circulation downwardly through the chamber and outwardly and upwardly around the periphery of the impeller.

center of the tub and forming a part rf,.the bot- 'blades on the lower side of the disc and within and lower surfaces and the bottom of said tub g5A having a recess covered by the impeller and into which the lowermost of its vanes project, drainage vprovisions communicating with the lower part of said recess, a tubular extension in the tom thereof, a driving shaft journalled within Vsaid tubular extension, and a driving connection formed betweenthe impellers and said shaft.

4. In a washing machine of the character described, a stationary tub, an `impeller mounted 15 y said chamber being in communication with the exterior of the impeller to admit water to-said chamber', and means for circulating the water outwardly and upwardly aroundthe periphery of the impeller.

5. In a washing machine of the character described, a stationary tub, an Yimpeller mounted within the tub adjacent to the bottom thereof,

said' tub having a recess formed in the bottom portion which is substantially covered by the im- 30 peller to form an intermediate chamber, said chamber being in communication with the exterior of the impeller to admit water thereto, and Wings on the lower side 'of the impeller and projecting downwardly into the chamber to'circulate the Watenoutwardly and upwardly around the periphery of the impeller.

6. Ina washing machine of the character described, a stationary tub having a recess formed in the bottom thereof, an impeller vmounted within the tub, said impellerconssting of a circular substantially 'disc-shaped member disposed above the recess to form a chamber, impeller blades onthe upper surface of the disc, impeller 45 the chamber, said chamber being in communication with the interior of the tub both at the peripheral edg'e and at the' inner portion thereof,

and means for transmitting an oscillating movement to the disc and the impeller blades'to agitate water within the tub and to maintain a circulation of water through the chamber in an outward direction around the peripheral edge of the disc.

7. In a 'washing machine of the character described, a disc-shaped impeller, a plurality of impeller blades formed on the opposite sides of the disc, a tub for said impeller having a recess in the bottom thereof covered by said impeller for the accommodation of the blades on the lower face'of the dsc, and drainage provisions communicating with the lower part of the recess of the tub.

8'. In al washing machine, a stationary'tub, atubular member disposed substantially centrally 65 thereof, said tubular member terminating at its transmitting an oscillating movement to the tubular member and the impellers carried thereby.

9. In a washing machine, a stationary tub, a tubular member disposed substantially 4centrally 5 thereof, said tubular member terminating at its lower end rin an annular ange which issubstantially horizontally disposed, impeller blades 4lformed both onthe upper and lower surfaces of said annular fiange, the bottom of said tub being l0 formed'with an annular recess covered by the iiange of said tubular member and into which the lowermost of said blades project, drainage provisions communicating with the lower part of the recess of said tub, means for transmitting an oscillating movement to the tubular member and the impellers carried thereby, said tubular member being perforated to permit water to cir- .'culate downwardly through the tube and-outwardly between the lower blades of the impeller.

10. In awashing machine of the character described, a stationary tub, a vertically disposed tubular extension forming a portion of the bottom of the tub, adriving shaft extending through vsaid tubular extension and journalled therein, a

socketvmember on the upper end of said shaft,

said socket having a central recess formed therein which is square in cross section, and saidl socket lpresenting an exterior surface which is 85 said tubular extension adapted to be received by the exterior portion of theshaft socketv and to form a vdriving lconnection between the shaft and the lower impeller.

11. In a washing machine, a tub ha'ving a de- -40 pression in thebottom thereof, an oscillatable dasher disposed substantially centrally thereof with its axis vertical, said'dasher having a circular part which extends laterally near thel bottom` of the tub and over the depression thereof, impeller blades formed on both the upper and lower surface of said circular part with the lower bladesv thereof' located in the depression of said tub,J means for transmitting an oscillating movement to said dasher'and to the impellers carried thereby, and drainage provisions communicating with the lower part of the depression of said tub. y

12. In a laundry machine, a supporting structure,` a liquid holding casing enaged at its lower portion by said structure in supporting relai tion, said supporting structurecomprising a base u vmember with a generally horizontal wall spaced from and underlying the casing bottom and'having a depending wall part around its outer' edge v constituting in effect a continuation of tli'eperipheral wall of said casing,laundering instrumentalities 'in said casing, and power driven operating mechanism for said laundering instrumentalities carried by said supporting'structure l wholly beneath said casing and substantially concealedvby said supporting structure.

13. In a laundry machine, a liquid holding casing, a support therefor, laundering means in said casing, and operating mechanism for said .laundering means carried by said Isupport -beneath said casing, said mechanism comprising a "'/W'speedreducing gear 'set with a belt pulley connected vto one of the gears thereof, an electric motor having a belt pulley-carried by its armay 'fatture shaft, y a belt connecting said pulleys,\`and.

means for pivotally hanging said motor from said supp'ort on an axis -parallel to the axis of said belt `pulleys and above the axis of said motor, whereby. the gravitational pull .of said motor on 'said belt is directly proportional to the pull of l5 said belt on said motor and increases as the pull ofl said belt increases.

14. In a laundry machine, a liquid holding casing, a support therefor, laundering means in said casing, and operating mechanism for said 1o laundering means carried by said support beneath saidcasing, said mechanism comprising a speed reducing gear set with a belt pulley connected to one of thev gears thereof, an electric motor vhaving a belt pulley carried by its armature shaft, 15

a belt connecting said pulleys, and means for pivotally hanging said motor from said support on an a'xis parallel to the axis of lsaid belt pulleys and'above and to one side of the axis of said motor whereby the weight of the motor is utilized 20 'said casing for controlling the draining thereof, 30

thev center of said casing having a conical raised part extending inwardly and -upwardly away from the drain trough, and an agitator carried in said lcasing over the raised part' thereof. A

16. In a laundry machine, a support, a rcasing 35 iixedly secured thereto, laundering instrumen- ,talities journaled for movement about a -vertical axis in said casingabove the casing bottom,

means located below said casing for driving said laundering instrumentalities, the bottom of said 40 casing slanting downwardly and outwardly from its center and downwardly and inwardly from its outer edge so as to define 4a drain trough intermediate the center and outer edge of the casing bottom, and manually controllable drainage 45 provisions communicating with the lower part of said trough. y

17. Ina washing mach-ine a support, a liquid holding,l tub xedly secured thereto, an agitator journaled for movement abouta vertical axis in 5o said tub, the bottom of said tub having a circumferentially disposed depression intermediate its centerindn outer edge dening a drain trough, and -manually'A controllable "drainage provisions communicating with the lower part of said trough. 55

18.`In av laundry machine; a support, a tub fixed to said Asupport and having a bottom restlng thereon, an 'agitator journaledv in said tub on a vertical axis and having a'bottom disk recessed underneath and having its margin located 60 close to the tub bottom, said bottom h-aving a slant-topped elevation rising into such recess, and also an annular trough adjacent to the edge Aof said tub, and manually controllable drainage provisions in said trough, said trough having 65 its outer wall slanting downwardly and inwardly outside ofthe margin of said agitator.

19. In a washing machine, .a supporting structure having horizontal wall parts and vertical A wall parts depending therefrom, a liquid hold- 70 ing casing engaged at its lower edge portion by said structure in supported relation, an agitator element in said casing, a centrally. disposedupstanding oscillatable shaft means connected to said agitator element, saidv shaft means trav- 75 ersingf'the bottom of said .tub and operatively ersing a' member carried by thecasing bottom and adapted'to prevent leakageoi liquid from the casing, power driven mechanism-carried by the horizontal"'wall parts enclosed by said supporting structure, said mechanism being operatively connected to said shaft, and control means including a manually operable handle' projecting through an opening in a Wall of said supporting structure for controlling the operation of said mechanism.

20. In a washing machine, a tub, an agitator therein, oscillatable shaft means connected to said agitator and traversing the bottom of said tub, a member carried by the tub bottom to prevent leakage of fluid around the shaft means at the place where it enters the tub, a supporting structure having an upper edge on whichisaid tub is supported, and motor driven mechanism to transmit oscillating motion tosaid shaft means, said supporting structure having horizontal wall parts to which said mechanism is secured and a depending-walll separate from the tub for hiding said mechanism, the lower Iedge-of said wall being spaced from the surface on-.which the machine is resting to provide for the circulation of air about the motor driven mechanism.

21.In'a washing machine, a tub, a supportlng structure v,therefor including legs having oor contacting rollers, said supporting structure having vertically spaced horizontal portions connected to each other by generally upright side wall portions, an agitator in said tub, power driven mechanism suspendedl from the lower-of the horizontal portions and substantially. concealed by the side wall portions of said supporting structure, and shaftmeans 4connecting said Amechanism to said agitator and traversing the upper of the horizontal portions of said supporting structure.

22. In a washing machine, a liquid holding tub, washing means inside said tub, shaft means traversing the bottom of said tub and operatively connected to said washing means, a tubular standard coaxial with said shaft means extending from the bottom of said tub 'to Athe upper part there` of and Aterminating above the normal liquid level therein for the purpose of preventing the leakage of liquid at the place where the shaft means enters' the tub, a bearing at the upper end of said tubular standard for the upper end of said shaftmeans, an ambulant tub support and casing structure to which saidtub is secured, motordriven mechanism carried by said structure beneath said tub including gearing operatively connected to said shaft means, said structure including relatively rigid, laterally extending elements for the mounting of th'e, gearing of said mechanism, a bearing for said shaft means carried by one of said elements adjacent to the botf tom of said tub in substantial alignment with said first named bearing andV cooperating therewith to provide a pair-of widely spaced bearings for the shaft means, sidewalls separate from'said tub, fixed with respect to said elements and extending below the tub about said mechanism and` fsu'bstantially concealing the same and oor engaging" wheeled means for supporting-said structure with the lower edges of the sidewalls thereof spaced above the surface upon which the machine is resting to provide for the circulation'of air about said motor-driven mechanism. 11

23. In a washing machine, a. liquid holding tub,

washing means inside said tub, shaft means travconnected v,t said washing means, a tubular standard coaxial with said shaft meansex'tending from the bottom of said tub-to the upper part thereof and terminatingabove the normal liquid `level therein for the purpose of preventing the-leakage of liquid at the place where the shaft means enters the tub, a bearing atthe upper l end of said tubular standard for the upper end of said shaft means, an ambulant tub support and casing structure'to which said tub is secured,l motor-driven mechanism carried by said structure beneath said tub including gearing operatively connected to said shaft means, said structure including relatively rigid, laterally extendingelements for'the mounting of the gearing of said mechanism, a bearing for said shaft means carried by said laterally extending elementsvadjacent to the bottom of said tub in substantial alignment with said first named bearing and co- 20 operating therewith to provide a pair of widely spaced bearings for the shaft means, another bearing for said shaft means carried by said laterally extending elements' below said last named bearing and in substantial alignment therewith, sidewalls separate from said tub, n xed with respect to` said laterally extending elements and extending below the tub about said mechanismand substantially concealing the same and floor engaging wheeled means for supporting said of air about said motor-driven mechanism.

Z4. In a washing machine,l a liquidholding tub, washing means inside said tub, shaft means traversing the bottom of said tub and operatively connected to said washing means, a tubular standard coaxial with said shaft means extending from the bottom of said tub to the upper o part thereofandterminating above the normal liquid level therein for the purpose of preventing the leakage of liquid at the place where the shaft means enters the\tub, a bearing at the upper end of said tubular standard for the upper end of said shaft means, an ambulant tub support and casing structure to which said tub is secured, motor-driven mechanism carried by said structure 'beneath said tuloI including gearing operatively connected to said shaft means, said structure includingrelatively rigid, lateral.;-,F extend- -ing elements for the' mounting of the gearing of said mechanism, a bearing for said shaft means carried by said laterally extending elements adjacent to the bottom of said tub in substantial alignment withsaid` first named bearing and cosame and -iioor engaging wheeled means for supporting said structure with 'the lower edges of the sidewalls thereof spacedabove the surface upon which the machine is resting to provide .lo forthe circulation of air about said motor-driven mechanism. a

MAUS.

vDISCLAIMER 2,021,097.,Frank Maus, San Francisco, Calif. WASHING MACHINE. Patent dated November 12, 1935. .Disclaimer filed February 8, 1939*, byrtheassignee,

The Apex Electrical Manufacturing Company. y

Hereb disclaims claims 16, 18, and 20 from the specification of the said patent. I

` `c'lal Gazette March 7, 1.939.]

t l DlvscjsLAiMER 2,021,097.Frank Maus, San Francisco, Calif. WAsHINa MACHINE'. Patent'. dated November 12, `1935. Disclaimer filed February 16, 1939, by the assignee,

The Apen: Electrical Manufacturing Company.

Hereby disclaims claim 22 from the specificatioii of said pateilt.

[Omal Gazette March 7, 1.939.]

Images