US2700473A - Counterbalanced extractor - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 25, 1955 C. F. EMMERT ET AL COUNTERBALANCED EXTRACTOR Original Filed Nov. 9, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS Jan. 25, 1955 c. F. EMMERT ET AL COUNTERBALANCED EXTRACTOR original Filed'Nov. 9, 194e 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 W am@ m@ ATTORNEYS Jan. 25, 1955 c. F. EMMERT ET Al. 2,700,473

COUNTERBALANCED EXTRACTOR Original Filed Nov. 9, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEYS Jan- 25, 1955 c. F. EMMl-:RT ET AL 2,700,473

COUNTERBALANCED EXTRACTOR Original Filed Nov. 9, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 .OOOOOO'-o-oo o-` ooooooooooa/ 76 INVENToRs:

6762- fofz mmewf 'TTORNEYS United States Patent COUNTERBALAN CED EXTRACTOR Clayton F. Emmett and William H. Stoiider, Newton,

Iowa, assignors to Automatic Washer Company, Newton, Iowa, :i corporation of Delaware riginal application November 9, 1946, Serial No. 709,050. Divided and this application December 4, 1950, Serial No. 199,028

6 Claims. (Cl. 210-76) The present invention relates to washing machine and apparatus in general utilizing relatively high speed tubs or baskets particularly in the water extraction cycle thereof and provides a means for counterbalancing olf center and unbalanced loads which produce vibrationV and structural strains which are both troublesome and annoying. The present design may be applied to any apparatus adapted for relatively high speed rotation carrying mixed loads including fluids and wherein the loads are capable of shifting to cause an unbalanced` relationship introducing offset inertia stresses which introduce the unwanted vibration. y

This application is a division of applicationy Serial No. 709,050, led November 9, 1946, now Patent No. 2,534,194, assigned to the same assignee as the present invention.

One of the main objects, therefore, is to provide a washer, preferably of the automatic cycle type having a high speed rotating tub or basket adapted for water extraction during a certain period of the cycle, and to provide means which reduces the vibration inthe mainframe and cabinet of the machine to a minimum under loaded conditions during acceleration, full spinning speed, and during deceleration. By the introduction of the mecha-V nism for counteracting the unbalanced conditions, the cost of installation to the consumer is considerably reduced inasmuch as it is not necessary to bolt the machine rigidly to a floor or to secure such a machine to a prepared foundation.

Another object of the present invention istoy provide a means which is capable of counterbalancing varying off center loads up to the capacity of the load handled by the tub or basket of any type of spinner regardless of the kind of apparatus used for agitation or whether such apparatus is present or not. With the proposed construction, the counterbalancing force varies with the off-center loads as the latter vary so that the counterbalancing means and mechanism is adapted to exert a relatively small offset counterbalancing lforce when the machine load is relatively Well balanced, and bythe saine token, if the machine load `is greatly out of balance, the

counterbalancing apparatus also exerts a proportionately greater counterbalancing f orce reducing the offset and out of balance loads to a minimum.

The present construction is such that it is eapableofv eliminating all of the costly balancing rings and mechanisms which are found on some types of washing machines and other apparatus on the market for the purpose of eliminating vibration and shaking `due to off center loads. Some of these machines are utilizing `rings that weigh from fifty to one hundred pounds which are costly per se and which obviously add tremendously t the weight of a machine so as to require additional care and provisions in packing and shipping and also require additional help in handling and installation.

It is another object of the present invention to utilize a portion of the liquid load in the tub or basket to provide the necessary counterbalancing means, and in the quantities which are directly proportional to the magnitude of the unbalanced load, using only an additional jacket, chamber, or other receptacle for confining such coiinterbalancing fluid which adds substantially nothing to the total weight of the machine considering the entire weight of the unit as a whole in contrast with the additional jacket used for the counterbalancmg purposes. With the means employed, the load on the motor and the unitis less during the acceleration of the rotating tub.

iCe

or basket in contrast with the use of the heavy balancing rings employed in some washers, and also the load upon the braking mechanism to slow down and stop the spinning tub or basket is also considerably less in thatl the rotational inertia is not as great in the present light Weight construction as it would be in machines using heavy rings or other additional shiftable weights for counterbalancing purposes. All this tends to reduce the time cycle since the acceleration to spinning speed is accomplished in less time and the deceleration of the rotatingmechanism from spinning speed to a full stop is also accomplished in less time reducing this portion of the time cycle.

The reduction of weight of the tub and structure is of considerable importance whenever a washing machine utilizes an oscillating tub as in the casewith the machine disclosed to portray the present invention. The balancing arrangement of the present design comprises a portion of the tub, and due to its light weight4 construction, suchy means does not place a heavy load on the transmission during the oscillation of the tub. l't can also be stated that higher extracting speeds are capable Within the limits of the time cycle with a rela'- tively light weight tub structure in contrast to a structure which would be much heavier to correspondingly iiicrease the time of acceleration and deceleration of thev rotating units.

Another object of the present invention is to provide` automatic means for draining the water out of the counterbalancing jacket of the tub as the speed of the latter reduces during deceleration, fluid feed to the counterbalancing mechanism being also in proportion to the acceleration and increased speed until the running speed of a predetermined rate is obtained. This arrangement allows smooth acceleration and smooth de# celeration which are additional features highly desirable in a construction using a tub or basket as a spinning means of extracting water.

The design of the present style using the tub and counterbalancing means in combination is suchvthat the tub may be produced at a reasonable manufacturing cost. It is only necessary that the tub be ygenerally concentric and it is not necessary that the tub and its associated rotating parts be statically or dynamically balanced as is necessary in many of the other machines on vthe market.

It is another object of the present invention to mount the tub structure upon a rotating shaft which is vertically disposed in suitable bearings of resilient types that will permit the shaftto wobble or move through a predetermined orbit.

ln addition to the object immediately above, this ma'- chiiie includes a snubbing device which counteracts abrupt changes brought about through unbalanced loads to permit time for the balancing means lto become thoroughly effective. Such snubbing means absorbs energy to act elfectively in counteracting any extreme orbital movements of the shaft and tub or basket. Another object of the present invention is to provide an oscillating tub having vanes or baffles which may be formed integrally with the tub walls or which may be independently constructed to be inserted and removed from the tub for washing and cleaning purposes. Both such structures are built of light-weight material to reduce to a minimum the effect that such structures may have upon the ex-` traction and counterbalancing mechanism of the unit.

All other objects and advantages relating to a counterbalancing means for a washing tub or basket shall hereinat'ter appear in the following detailed description having reference to the accompanying drawings forming a' part of this specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a vertical axial cross-sectional View of a preferred construction of washing machine embodying the principles set forth by the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan sectional view of the washer illustrated in Fig. l and substantially viewed along the plane of the line 2-2 in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a plan sectional view diagrammatically illustrating the tub carrying an, off balanced load andthe approximate orbit and orbital path through` which this tub would gyrate without counterbalancing features;

Fig. 4 is a similar view to that shown in Fig. 3 but illustrating the counterbalancing means of the present invention effectively coacting an unbalanced load within the tub to substantially reduce the orbital movement of the shaft and tub to a practical and negligible minimum;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatical view of the spinning mecha nism including the tub, drive shaft and resilient supporting mechanisms therefor;

Fig. 6 is a plan sectional view of the tub showing a removable type of vane for agitating the clothes within the tub;

Fig. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken through the vanes shown in Fig. 6 and substantially along the line 7-7 therein;

Fig. 8 is a face view of the vane as viewed from the axial center of the tub but removed therefrom.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, the machine is illustrated somewhat diagrammatically as an automatic cycle machine of the cabinet type having an outer decorative and ornamental cabinet 1 supported upon suitable legs 2 having non-skid pads or feet 3 for steadying the cabinet upon a surface supporting the same. The power means comprises a motor 4 suitably supported upon the cabinet walls and adapted for driving a belt 5 by means of the shaft 6 carrying a pulley 7, the belt 5 being connected to a pulley 8 forming the driving element of a transmission 9 which is of a conventional type adapted for either oscillating the tub shaft 10 or for driving the same unidirectionally at a relatively high speed for water extraction purposes. A brake band 11 encircles the housing of the transmission 9 and is controlled by an electrical solenoid 12.

The particular type of transmission herein disclosed is more or less diagrammatically shown since it actually forms no part of this invention excepting to furnish a means for driving the shaft 10 in one direction or acting to oscillate the same. A brief explanation of the working functions thereof is submitted. The solenoid 12 normally sets the band 11 into operative braking position holding the casing of the transmission 9 in fixed position. When this condition prevails, the motor 4 is energized to rotate in one direction driving the belt 5 and pulley 8 to operate the internal mechanism of the transmission which is designed to oscillate the shaft 10 at this time. The spinning cycle is started by releasing the brake band 11 and by simultaneously reversing the direction of operation of the motor 4. The transmission 9 contains an overrunning type of clutch coacting with the pulley shaft and which is adapted to actively engage the shaft when the motion of the latter is in one direction. This acts to rotate the pulley shaft and the transmission 9 bodily so that the same rotate together at the same speed and at a speed at which the motor 4 drives such elements through the means of the belt drive 5. The overrunning clutch is of a centrifugal type which eliminates initial shock or torque so as to permit the entire transmission and the drive shaft of the tub to reach a gradual spinning speed without overloading the driving motor 4. The various operations of the motor 4 and the solenoid 12 and the other working parts of the machine such as the mixing valves for hot and cold water and the draining valves are all solenoid controlled and operated from a suitable master timer which automatically controls the entire cycle of operation of the machine and its individual operating mechanisms. Obviously, such cyclic functions may be manually controlled or such manual controls may be interposed into the automatic timing system for exible operation of the machine.

The tub or basket 13 is suitably secured and carried upon the upper end 14 of shaft 10 by the securing means 15. The lower end of shaft 1t) is supported and rides in a bearing 16 suitably carried in a flexible rubber mounting 17 secured to the casing 18 which is fixedly supported by a spider 19 having its ends secured to the walls of the cabinet 1. With this particular arrangement, the shaft 10 together with its supported tub 13 may flex out of the normal vertical position thereof although the bearing means supporting the lower end thereof is normally capable of maintaining the shaft 10 and tub in a vertical relation with respect to the balance of the machine as indicated in full lines in Fig. 5. The dot and dash axis also signifies this true vertical relationship while the dotted lines angling with respect to the bearing 16 show off-center axis towhich the tub, etc., may lean in rotating an out of balance load without counterbalancing. This structure actually is analogous to a spinning top and gyroscopic action would tend to hold this unit vertical or tend to move same into a vertical position as a direct aid to the counterbalancing mechanism.

Referring again to Figs. 1 and 2, a peripheral sump or drain chamber 20 is formed beneath the tub 13 by means of the annular base 21 having the inner peripheral upstanding flange 22 and an outer peripheral upstanding flange 23, the latter being suitably welded or otherwise secured to the walls of the cabinet 1. Any convenient type of drain conduit such as 24 which is suitably valve controlled communicates with the chamber 20 for draining the water out of the sump into suitable connections to discharge such water into the normal house water draining system.

A snubbing mechanism generally indicated at 25 connects at a point near the upper end of the shaft 10 and cooperates with the under surface of the annular base 21 of the sump for counteracting any forces which would tend to throw shaft 10 olf of its normal vertical axis of rotation as permitted by the bottom bearing 16 and its mounting 17.

This snubbing mechanism may be of various designs and may be constructed to best fit the problems of a particular machine. In the present design, as illustrated in Fig. 1, this snubbing device is made in the form of a cross providing a spider, two of its arms 26 and 27 being shown in Fig. l, and such arms having depending ends 28 and 29 respectively. Springs 30 are connected at 31 between the lower portions of the depending arm ends 28 and 29 and are fastened to the under side of the annular base 21 to normally hold and urge the snubbing means upwardly and in the vertical direction of the machine. Each of the spider arms such as 26 and 27 are provided with studs 32 carrying pads 33 faced with anti-friction material such as 34 which is adapted to press against the under surface of the annular base 21 for frictional contact therewith and are so maintained through the instrumentality of the springs 30.

The central portion of the cross or spider providing the arms 26 and 27 of the snubbing device 25 includes a housing 35 which confines an annular rubber bearing 36 that is molded to the shaft bearing 37 so that a flexible connection is established between the bearing 37 and the arms of the snubbing device 25.

Thus, with the above described snubbing device 2S, the latter is capable of maintaining the shaft 10 in substantially vertical position rendering opposition to any lateral forces which would tend to move such shaft out of coincidence with its normal vertical axis of rotation which action is, of course, supplemented by the inherent resiliency and tendency'of the lower flexible bearing 16 to maintain the shaft 10 in vertical position at all times.

The tub structure 13 is divided into two chambers 38 and 39 of which the former is the washing chamber of the machine and the latter is the chamber utilized for counterbalancing off-center loads as will hereinafter be described. Chambers 38 and 39 are dened and formed by means of a double tub comprising an inner tub 40 and an outer tub 41 concentrically arranged and fabricated to be connected concentrically with respect to the vertical drive shaft 10 and to be rigidly supported and connected thereto.

The inner tub 40 is riveted at 42 to an annular coving 43 providing a central opening 44 disposed beneath and in line with the opening 45 in the cabinet 1, clothing and other articles to be washed or removed from the v machine being passed through the openings 44 and 45.

40 and axially thereto.

Coving 43 has an annular depending ange 46 which is adapted to engage a rubber sealing ring 47 carried by the upper edge 48 of the outer tub 41 so that the inner and outer tubs 40 and 41 through the sealing means 47 actually form a jacket which has been previously defined as the counterbalancing chamber 39.

A plurality of vanes 49, 50 and 51, as seen in Figs. l and 2are secured to the inner wall of the tub 40 and in spaced relationship about the axial center of the tub These vanes may be separate pieces or may be integrally formed to be secured by the fastening means 15 adjacent the bottom of the tub while the upper edges of the vanes are provided with ears 52 which coincide with and extend into bulges or bosses 53 shaped and formed to snugly receive the ears as best shown in IFigs. 1 and 2. It should also be noted that the outer tub 41 is provided with a conical dependingA baile S4 connected with a bearing ring 55 for engaglng thek shaft to provide further stability between shaft 10 and the tub structure.

Referring to Fig. l, it should be4 noted that thehinner tub 40 is provided a plurality of openings 56 adjacent the upper edge thereof and beneath the annular covlng 43. Openings 56 therefore form communicating means providing passageways between the inner washing chamber of the tub 40 and theouter annular jacket chamber 39. As seen in Fig. 2, a plurality of openings 57 are located annularly in the bottom of the outer tub 41 and substantially in thev positions. indicated in Figs. l and 2. A plurality of baffles 58y having suitable openings 59 therein are radially secured tothe upstanding wall of the outer tub 41 and substantially in the positions indicated in Figs. l and 2'. The annular openings 57 are preferably locatedV radially inwardly with respect tothe inner edges of the baflies 58, and the numberv of baffles utilized may be best determined through they capacity of the machine and also through other factors which may vary within certain predetermined limits of operation.

In the machinel illustrated in Figs. l and 2, it is contemplate'dl using six pounds of dry clothes and nine to ten gallons of water for performing the washing cycle. It is further anticipated that the oscillation of the washing tub should be approximately sixty strokes per minute and the tub should oscillateV in a sixty to seventy degree arc. Obviously, the number of strokes and the degree 0l oscillation are both variables but the example given works well with a normal washing cycle of. this kind.

Also', during the washing operation,l the opening 45 in the cabinet is normally closed bya suitable cover. While the tub is agitating the clothes through the action of the vanes 49, 50 and 51, the water and articles ofv clothing are washed in their normal-,fashion and any splashing out of the tub structure 1'3 is normally counteracted by the downturned lip 60'of the covingV 43 merely as a means to conserve the suds and wash water inasmuch as any water passing throughl the opening 44 or splashing therefrom willv merely run over' the sides of the tub structure 13 andl back into the sump or chamber 20 which is annularly disposed in proper location as indicated in Fig. l

for easily recelving and catching all' of such accidentally discharged water or suds.

During the washing cycle, it is obvious that counterbalancing will be' unnecessary and that for all normal indications the rotational oscillation of shaft 10 and the basket' or tub 13"' will be about the normal vertical axial center line of the shaft 10; ltis only during the high speed spinning cycle of the machine that unbalanced forces are encountered by reasony of the unequal distribution ofy the articles ofv clothing within the tub 4t) and one such unbalanced condition is indicated in Figs. 3 and 4- wherein the articles of clothing shown at- 61 and 62 are all concentrated against one portion of the tub wall and approximately within an arc of 100 degrees thereof. Figs. 3V and 4 show extreme conditions of this kind inasmuch as through they normal action of the plurality of oscillating vanes and due to the normal distribution created by the agitation thereof during the washing of the clothes, most of the articles of clothing will be fairly well distributed within the body of the wash water. At the beginning of the spinning cycle, such articles o'f clothing will immediately be centrifugally moved radially outwardly with respect to the axial center of operation of the machine and will generally drape' orcling to the wallsof the inner tub 40 with a reasonable degree of. general distribution. The conditions shown in Figs. 3 and 4' would mostly occur when one garmentor one` pieceI of clothing is being washed and such article' would naturally iind a more concentrated area to cling to duringthe spinning cycle. Normally, when the tub is iilled with six` pounds of dry clothing, the extreme conditionsV shown invFigs. 3 and 4 will not prevail and more balanced conditions will result.

With the tub iilled to capacity with a plurality of articles of clothing, it is obvious that some pieces are larger in size and that some absorb and hold more water, so that even with the normal regular distribution of the samev about the periphery ofthe tub, the heavier articles will cause theV unbalanced condition which will lead to vibration and which should be eliminated. The counterbalancing means of the presentinvention functions to alleviate suchk unbalanced conditions and reduces the oi center and unbalanced loads substantially to a minimum to create a smooth andY relatively quiet spinning actionl for water extraction from` the articles after the end of the washing cycle and prior to the rinsing cycles. Obviously, one or more rinsing cycles may be introduced into the complete cycle of the washing machine wherein the clothing is again agitated through the oscillation of the tub, and after the addition of rinse water, the latter will be subsequently extracted from the clothing by spinning of the tub prior to the removal of the clothing for hanging on the line or transferring the same to a clothes drying heater.

Assuming the tub is fully balanced, as would be the case in Fig. l with only water therein with the water indicated by the reference numeral 63, the beginning of the spinning cycle will cause the surface of the water to assume the parabolic shape shown in Fig. l with the water building up along the outer peripheral edges of the tub` 40 due to centrifugal force. This action is accentuated by an upward flare of the walls of tub 40. This quickly brings the water to a level where it will spill through the openings 56 at the beginning of the spin and be ejected into the jacket or counterbalancing chamber 39 shown in Fig. l. In the case where the tub and its associated mechanisms are perfectly balanced, such overflow distribution of the water shall be equal about the entire periphery of the tub 41 and such water shall be held from churning in the tub 41 by means of the plurality of batlles 53 which maintain this ejected water in spinning relation with respect to the balance of the tub structure as do the vanes 49, 50, and 51 in the tub 40. It should be noted that the chamber 39 tapers outwardly and downwardlyV from the openings 56 and that the greater portion of the chamber 39 is located adjacent the bottom in the regiony of load or clothesl zone of the tub 40.

Attention is also directed to the chamber 39 and its capacity for carrying the counterbalancing fluid in relation to the load capacity of the tub, Such counterbalancing chamber must have a capacity to retain enough water by weight normally required to offset the maximum amount of @if center load which could possibly occur during the normal operationof a tub loaded to capacity and throughout the spinning cycle. When the tub 40 is accelerated, the water is thrown first into the balance ring 41 where the proper quantity to balance the rotating unit is retained and the additional water contained in tub 40 is discharged on through the balance ring 41 to the chamber 20 where it is then carried out the drain. When the rotating unit starts to slow down, the water is released from the balance ging 41 and gradually ows into chamber 20 and into the ram.

Whenever the articles comprising the load in the tub 40 are thrown oif balance, the center of gravity of such load shifts and shaft 10 is moved against the retarding action of the snubbing device 25 and against the natural resiliency of its support and off of the normal vertical axial center of rotation thereof. This will cause the upper' end 14 of the shaft 10 to gyrate through an orbital path as a natural accommodation of the off center load and as best seen in Fig. 5. The water in the tub will be centrifugally passed or ejected through the openings 56 by the vortex action obtained and shown in Fig. l, such water automatically spilling into chamber 39. The water will then concentrate in chamber 39 to occupy a certain arcuate portion thereof with a weight of water 64 substantially as shown in Fig. 4 to definitely oifset the unbalanced weight of the clothes 62 so that the orbital movement of the shaft 10 is reduced to a minimum while the tub is spinning to extract the water from the clothes. Changes in the off center or unbalanced load condition will also bring about changes in the concentration of water in the counterbalancing chamber 39.

With. a perfectly balanced load the annulus formed between balance ring 41 and the wall of container 40 is filled with water to the extent of the curled-in portion at the lower end of balance ring 41. In other words, there is a uniform sheetv of water held against the outer wall of the balance ring 41 by centrifugal force when a balanced load is spinning.

As the unbalance in the tub 40 is increased, the amountl of water retained in balance ring 41 is decreased, and a portion of the annulus which coincides with the unbalance is void of water.

In view of this, the quantity of water retained in the@4 ring decreases as theunbalance increases; however, thewater is highly concentrated in the balance ring at a point diametrically opposed to or in a position to counterbalance the unbalanced load in the tub.

Referring now to Fig. 3, the normal center of gravity of the machine and its load if equally balanced would coincide with the normal axial center of rotation 65 of the shaft 1t) and the supported tubs 40 and 41. Assuming balanced conditions, the entire tub and its load would rotate about the point 65 as an axis which is the normal operating axis of the shaft 10, and no vibration would result because of balanced conditions. Should theloose load shift into the position 61 in Fig. 3 which is the extreme position (although the articles shown do not represent six pounds of dry clothing) the center of gravity of the load would shift to the point 66. Thus, a wobble of the spinning mechanism about the orbit 67 moves the outer tub 41 of the tub unit through the path 68 concentric with axis 65. Under these conditions, extreme vibration would ensue and if the machine were not anchored to the floor, it would walk or possibly capsize. If anchored, the frame and other working parts would be subjected to a terrific beating and no operator would be able to stand the noise.

With the use of the counterbalancing system devised, Fig. 4 illustrates how this off center load can be substantially neutralized with proper control and redistribution of the self-contained fluid contents of the wash machine tub unit 13. The centrifugal force induced by the rotating tub will produce the water vortex 63 causing water to be ejected or spilled through the openings S6 at a relatively low spinning speed. The water in chamber 39 will then concentrate and distribute itself according to the ofi center load in the tub early in the spin before serious vibration occurs forming an arcuate body on the opposite wall of the counterbalancing chamber 39 assuming a general position 64 as shown in Fig. 4. The center of gravity of the total load will therefore never actually reach the point 66 as indicated in Fig. 4, but the center of gravity of the total load will only shift to a point 69 traveling in a relatively small orbital path 70.

The gyroscopic action of the entire spinning unit plus the snubbcr mechanism 25 and resilient bearing 16 all act simultaneously to prevent any abrupt or great departure of the center of load from the normal rotational axis 65. For all practical purposes, the unit, even with an off center load, is substantially held in position to rotate upon its normal vertical axis of rotation. Actual experiments have shown under test conditions that by placing a concentrated weight of eight pounds of steel on one side of the tub and by spinning the latter at speeds from 590 R. P. M. to t 800 R. P. M., that the maximum orbit traveled by shaft 10 was held down to of an inch with respect to the normal axis of rotation. Such extreme conditions will never result in an ordinary normal washing cycle.

To further enhance weight control and the reduction of centrifugal forces due to olf center load conditions, the entire tub is constructed of aluminum which reduces the weight to such an extent that it does not affect the operation of the washing machine particularly during the spinning cycles of the complete washing function. Thus, acceleration and deceleration of the tub structure can be carried out in less time.

As had been previously described, the vanes 49, 50 and 51 may be formed as an integral unit which can be secured to the tub 40 and fixed in place by the fastening means 15. It is also possible to produce the inner tub 40 in such a manner as to shape the walls thereof toV actually provide vanes duplicating those described as 49, Si) and 51. It is essential in the vanel structure to dispose the same symmetrically about the normal vertical axis of rotation of the entire washing machine and the spinning unit so that there are no unbalanced weight conditions prevailing for introducing latent off. center loads.

Referring to Figs. 6, 7 and 8, this arrangement shown portrays a modified construction wherein three individual vanes 71 may be utilized which can be readily removed from the machine for cleaning purposes. This would allow a simplified cleaning procedure of both the vanes and the tub itself.

As shown in Fig. 6, each of the vanes 71 provide abutting faces 72 and 73 disposed at 120 with respect to each other so that all of the vanes 71 are locked in the positions shown in Fig. 6 through the fastening means which is here supplemented by a removable hand Vber means having third passage means in the `wall means thereof placed inwardly of the said outer nut 74 which holds the vanes 71 in place within the tub and against the bottom thereof.

Each of the vanes 71 is provided with the upstanding lugs or ears which are adapted to set into the bosses 53 which were hereinbefore described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2. Therefore, the vanes are held downwardly against the tub and in place therein by means of the hand nut 74 and are prevented from rotating through the instrumentality of the ears 75 which iit into the bosses or projections 53 formed in the coving 43 of the tub structure 13.

It should also be noted that the vanes shown in Figs. 6 to S, inclusive, are provided with anges 76 and 77 which extend generally normal to the face of the vane 71 and are adapted to provide clearance such as indicated at 78 in Fig. 6 between the under surface of the vanes and the adjacent tub wall. The face or surface portion of the vane is also provided with perforations 79 so that the wash water in the tub can pass through the vane itself and upwardly along the clearance passageways 78 between the vane and the tub to eventually reach the upper portion of the tub 40 where this water may spill off through the apertures 56 and into the counterbalancing chamber 29 as previously described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2.

Vanes such as 71 may be formed of any particular configuration desirable. In the present construction, the vanes 71 are provided with a central bulge 80 simulating the bulge on the vanes shown in the preferred construction, which bulges form the actual agitating portions of the vanes functioning to wash the clothing within the tub during the oscillation of the entire structure in the same manner as in the preferred construction.

It is to be understood that other modifications of the design and construction of the present washing machine are possible and that equivalent mechanisms may be substituted in carrying out the principles of the main concept of the invention. All such changes in the exact form, construction, and combination of parts, shall, therefore, be governed by the language of the appended claims which define the invention disclosed and described.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. In a laundry machine; a tub to be counterbalanced during rotation thereof on a vertical axis, means connected with said tub on the axis thereof for driving said tub in rotation and said tub and said means being laterally movable in response to a condition of unbalance of said tub during rotation thereof, said tub having vane means therein rotatable with said tub to synchronize rotation of liquid in said tub with rotation of the tub, liquid receiving chamber means surrounding said tub including the load zone thereof and rigidly connected to the tub to rotate with said tub for receivingliquid centrifugally discharged from said tub, said chamber means having outer wall means adjacent the load zone co-axial with said tub and parallel with the axis of rotation of said tub and bottom wall means extending inwardly from the bottom of the outer wall means, said tub having first passage means connecting an upper part of the tub with said chamber means and through which liquid is centrifuged from said tub into said chamber means when said tub reaches a predetermined speed of rotation and said chamber means having second passage means for restricted peripheral ow of liquid therein relative to said tub for distribution of liquid in said chamber means for continuous counterbalancing of said tub upon lateral movement of the tub during rotation thereof, said chambottom wall means of the chamber means through which liquid in excess of that required for counterbalancing said tub discharges, and through which the liquid in the chamber means discharges when rotation of the tub is halted.

2. In a laundry machine, a clothes accommodating tub adapted for rotation on a substantially vertical axis, means for rotating said tub, means mounting said tub for lateral movement in response to a condition of unbalance of 80 said tub during rotation thereof, balancing chamber means rigidly connected with said tub and having an upstanding portion thereof surrounding said tub and extending vertically over a corresponding portion of the outer periphery of said tub, said .chamber .means including an outer wall means spaced radially outwardly from the -tub and extending in substantial concentricity with the tub axis, bottom wall means extending inwardly from the bottom of said outer wall means, means for directing centrifuged liquid from the upper portion of said tub into said chamber means when the tub reaches a predetermined speed of rotation to provide a supply of counterbalancing liquid in the chamber means, means for restricting peripheral flow of liquid in said chamber means, all portions ofl said balancing chamber being in communication to redistribute liquid circumferentially by centrifugal force from one position in said chamber means to another position therein as said tub and chamber means move laterally as a unit in response to the presence of a condition of unbalance within said tub during rotation thereof at effective extraction rotative speeds, whereby to dispose the center of mass of the balancing liquid to the side of the tub substantially opposite to the center of mass of an unbalanced clothes load in the tub, means providing a confining wall surface at the upper end of said chamber means for preventing egress from said chamber means of the supply of counterbalancing liquid therein in amounts affecting balancing of the tub by such supply, and bottom passage means positioned inwardly of said outer wall means of the chamber means through which liquid in excess of that required for counterbalancing said tub discharges during rotation and through which the liquid in said chamber discharges when rotation of the tub is arrested.

3. In a laundry machine, a clothes and liquid accommodating tub, means for supporting said tub for rotation about a substantially vertical axis and for motion transverse to said axis, means for rotationally driving said tub, balancing chamber means concentric with and securely fastened to said tub, and having an upstanding portion thereof surrounding said tub and extending vertically over a corresponding portion of the outer periphery of said tub, said chamber means comprising outer wall means and cooperating inwardly extending wall means in the upper and lower regions thereof sufficient to retain in the chamber a substantial volume of counterbalancing liquid for balancing purposes at relatively high rotative speeds, the inwardly extending wall means in the upper region of said chamber means providing a confining wall surface for preventing egress from the chamber means of the volume of counterbalancing liquid therein in amounts affecting balancing of the tub by such liquid, means for receiving and directing liquid centrifuged from said tub to said balancing chamber means in sufficient volume for counterbalancing purposes, means for retarding peripheral flow of liquid in said chamber means, all portions of said balancing chamber being in communication to redistribute liquid circumferentially by centrifugal force from position in said chamber means to another position therein as said tub and chamber means move laterally as a unit in response to the presence of a condition of unbalancewithin said tub during rotation at effective extraction rotative speeds, whereby to dispose the center mass of the balancing liquid to the side of said tub substantially opposite to the center of mass of an unbalanced clothes load in the tub, and bottom passage means positioned inwardly of said outer wall means and through which liquid in excess of amounts required for counterbalancing discharges during rotation, and through which the liquid in said chamber means discharges when rotation of the tub is arrested.

4. In a laundry machine as set forth in claim 3, having resilient means continuously urging the tub and balancing chamber means toward their normal center positions.

5. In a laundry machine, a clothes and liquid accommodating tub, means for supporting said tub for rotation about a substantially vertical axis and for motion transverse to said axis, means for rotationally driving said tub, balancing chamber means concentric with and securely fastened to said tub, and having an upstanding portion thereof surrounding said tub and extending vertically over a corresponding portion of the outer periphery of said tub, said chamber means comprising outer wall means with inwardly extending wall means in the upper and lower regions thereof sufficient to retain in the chamber a substantial volume of counterbalancing liquid for balancing purposes at relatively high rotative speeds, the inwardly extending wall means in the upper region of said chamber means providing a confining wall surface for preventing egress from the chamber means of the volume of counterbalancing liquid therein in amounts affecting balancing of the tub by such liquid, means for receiving and directing liquid centrifuged from said tub to said balancing chamber means in suificient volume for counterbalancing purposes, means circumferentially spaced around said tub for dividing said chamber means into a plurality of compartments, means for retarding peripheral flow of liquid in said chamber means, all of said .compartments being in communication to redistribute liquid circumferentially by centrifugal force from one position in said chamber means to another position therein as said tub and chamber means move laterally as a unit in response to the presence of a condition of unbalance within said tub during rotation thereof at effective extraction rotative speeds, whereby to dispose the center of mass of the balancing liquid to the side of said tub substantially opposite to the center of mass of an unbalanced clothes load in the tub, and bottom passage means positioned inwardly of said outer wall means and through which liquid in excess of amounts required for counterbalancing discharges during rotation, and through which the liquid in said chamber means ydischarges when rotation of the tub is arrested.

6. The method of controlling the circulation of washing liquid from a clothes washing machine tub having a concentrically disposed balancing chamber to effect dynamic balance of the tub at effective extracting speeds,

which method comprises rotating the tube about a subs'tantially vertical axis at a progressively increasing speed during which the tub is displaced laterally in accordance with the out-of-balance centrifugal forces exerted by the clothes within the tub resulting from tub rotation, centrifuging the Washing liquid from the tub and delivering it to the balancing chamber, retaining a suicient supply of said liquid to act as a counterbalancing liquid in the balancing chamber and preventing the escape from the upper end of the balancing chamber of counterbalancing liquid therein in amounts substantially affecting balancing of the tub by such liquid at extracting speeds whereby to maintain the supply of counterbalancing liquid in the balancing chamber sufcient for peripheral flow redistribution therein in counterbalancing the clothes load, circumferentiallv redistributing liquid by peripheral How from one position in the balancing chamber to another position therein by application of centrifugal force so as to dispose the center of mass of said liquid to the side of the tub substantially opposite to the center of mass of the unbalanced clothes` whereby substantially to counterbalance the unbalanced clothes load within the tub at effective extracting speeds, and retarding the peripheral flow of counterbalancing liquid in the balancing chamber during the circumferential redistribution thereof in said chamber.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

Images