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WO1996006968A1 - Lave-linge a systeme de freinage perfectionne - Google Patents

Lave-linge a systeme de freinage perfectionne Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1996006968A1
WO1996006968A1 PCT/US1995/010980 US9510980W WO9606968A1 WO 1996006968 A1 WO1996006968 A1 WO 1996006968A1 US 9510980 W US9510980 W US 9510980W WO 9606968 A1 WO9606968 A1 WO 9606968A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
disk
washing machine
clothes washing
ball ramp
drivetrain
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/US1995/010980
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Weston L. Schultz
Karlis I. Racenis
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
ACT INNOVATIONS Inc
Original Assignee
ACT INNOVATIONS Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by ACT INNOVATIONS Inc filed Critical ACT INNOVATIONS Inc
Priority to AU34985/95A priority Critical patent/AU3498595A/en
Publication of WO1996006968A1 publication Critical patent/WO1996006968A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F37/00—Details specific to washing machines covered by groups D06F21/00 - D06F25/00
    • D06F37/30—Driving arrangements 
    • D06F37/40—Driving arrangements  for driving the receptacle and an agitator or impeller, e.g. alternatively

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a clothes washing machine having an improved brake system. More particu ⁇ larly, this invention relates to a washing machine having a disk brake system which is effective to auto ⁇ matically stop the basket during the spin cycle.
  • Clothes washing machines have wash, rinse and spin cycles which are controlled by the washing machine to clean various fabrics. Most currently available washing machines have one or more preset washing cycles wherein clothing is immersed in water, agitated in a solution of soap and water, rinsed and centrifuged to remove water. During the spin cycle, the basket con ⁇ taining the clothing is rapidly rotated to centrifugally extract water from the clothing. Industry standards for washing machines mandate that the rapid rotation of the basket during the spin cycle must stop within a prede ⁇ termined period of time if the washing machine lid is opened.
  • a clothes washing machine having an improved brake system which is engaged upon termination of the spin function and grounds the transmission when the washing machine is in any mode other than the spin mode.
  • the clothes washing machine has a drivetrain base and a wash tub fixedly mounted on the drivetrain base.
  • a perforate basket con ⁇ taining the clothing to be washed is disposed within the wash tub and is secured to a drivetrain.
  • An agitator is also secured to the drivetrain and disposed within the perforate basket.
  • a motor provides a reversible rotary input to a driveshaft of the drivetrain.
  • a transmis ⁇ sion, one-way clutch, and brake assembly are also provided as part of the drivetrain.
  • the brake assembly comprises a rotatable disk and a grounding surface which is held stationary relative to the drivetrain base.
  • the disk and grounding surface are axially shiftable rela ⁇ tive to each other.
  • a ball ramp is provided for con ⁇ trolling axial and rotational movement of the disk relative to the grounding surface.
  • a spring is provided for exerting a biasing force to urge the disk into engage ⁇ ment with the grounding surface.
  • the agitator is rotated in alternate clockwise and counterclockwise directions with the brake assembly grounding the transmission in re ⁇ sponse to the spring biasing force.
  • the disk and grounding surface are driven apart by the ball ramp against the biasing force of the spring, thereby allowing the transmission to be bypassed with the basket rotating to perform the spin function.
  • the spring biasing force urges the disk as guided by the ball ramp into engagement with the grounding surface to brake basket rotation.
  • the brake assembly comprises a rotatable disk and a grounding surface which is held stationary with respect to the drivetrain base.
  • the disk and grounding surface are axially shiftable relative to each other.
  • a ball ramp is provided for controlling axial and rotational movement of the disk relative to the ground ⁇ ing surface.
  • the gravity biasing force urges the disk into engagement with the grounding surface to stop rotation of the basket.
  • the gravity biasing force is derived from the weight of the cloth- ing, basket, tub, agitator and transmission assembly and which is the mass upon which the gravity biasing force acts to urge the disk into engagement with the grounding surface.
  • FIGURE 1 is a side elevation view partially broken away of a washing machine including the improved brake system of the present invention
  • FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along the line 2-2 in Figure 1;
  • FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the brake assembly of the present invention.
  • FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in Figure 3;
  • FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of the lower ball race of the ball ramp of the present invention.
  • FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 6-6 in Figure 5;
  • FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the brake assembly of the present invention.
  • a clothes washing machine 10 is generally indicated.
  • the clothes washing machine 10 has a suspended drivetrain base 12 to which a wash tub 14 is mounted.
  • a perforated basket 16 is mounted within the wash tub for retaining clothing during the wash, rinse and spin cycles.
  • An agitator 18 is provided within the basket 16 for agitating clothing in the wash water with an oscillating clockwise and counterclockwise motion.
  • a drivetrain, generally indicated by reference numeral 20, comprises a revers ⁇ ible motor 22 which drives a driveshaft 24 through a bidirectional clutch output pulley 25, a drive belt 26, and a driven pulley 27 and one way clutch input 28.
  • a brake assembly, generally indicated by reference numeral 30, is provided as part of the drivetrain 20 on the driveshaft 24.
  • a conventional trans ⁇ mission 32 for a washing machine 10 is provided on the driveshaft 24 for providing speed reduction and an oscillating gear drive by means of a gear set 34.
  • the brake assembly 30 includes a housing 38 having a radial flange 40 which is mounted to be stationary on the drivetrain base 12.
  • a disk brake rotor 42 is connected to a driveshaft bearing housing 43 by a splined tube 44.
  • the splined tube is fixed to the driveshaft bearing housing 43.
  • the disk brake rotor is axially shiftable on the splined tube 44.
  • the disk brake rotor 42 is shifted by a ball ramp assembly generally indicated by reference number 45.
  • the disk brake rotor 42 includes splines 46 which are secured to corresponding splines 48 on the splined tube 44.
  • the splines lock the disk brake rotor 42 to the splined tube, holding them together for rotational movement, but allowing limited axial movement therebetween.
  • a conventional anti-friction bearing 50 is provided between the housing 38 and the driveshaft bearing housing 43 permitting the driveshaft bearing housing 43 to rotate relative to the housing 38.
  • At least one helical compression spring 52 is provided for biasing the disk brake rotor 42 into engagement with radial flange 40. As shown, one spring 52 is disposed about the outside of the axially shifted tube 44.
  • a lower ball ramp race 54 is secured by the one-way clutch 28 to the upper ball ramp race 56.
  • Ball bearings 58 are provided within the upper and lower ball ramp races 54 and 56 to permit axial and limited rota ⁇ tional movement between the upper and lower ball ramp races 54 and 56.
  • the disk brake rotor 42 is permitted to move axially a limited extent, approximately 0.060 inches, permitting the disk brake rotor 40 to run free relative to the ground.
  • a plurality of brake pads 60 are provided on either the disk brake rotor 42 or the radial flange 40. In the illustrated embodiment the brake pads are at ⁇ tached to the disk brake rotor 42.
  • the disk brake rotor 42 includes splines 46 which are adapted to be received on splines 48 of the axially shifted tube 44.
  • a plurality of support ribs 62 may be provided to reinforce the disk brake rotor 42.
  • Three brake pads are shown in phantom on the lower side of the disk brake rotor.
  • the upper ball tracks 66 are also shown in phantom as it appears on the lower surface of the disk brake rotor 42.
  • disk brake rotor 42 is shown in cross-section wherein the splines 46 and upper ball ramp race 56 are illustrated.
  • the lower ball ramp race 54 is shown in top plan view with three ball tracks 64 being provided on the lower ball ramp race 54 at three spaced locations.
  • the inner diameter of the lower ball ramp race 54 includes a plastic, combination radial and axial sleeve bearing 65.
  • the combination bearing 65 is placed between the lower ball ramp race 54 and a driveshaft bearing housing 43.
  • a flange 55 to the one ⁇ way clutch extends below the lower ball ramp race 54 and is adapted to be secured to the one-way clutch 28.
  • the one-way clutch provides rotational drive input to the ball ramp assembly 45 as will be described more fully below.
  • the driveline functions of the clothes washing machine include a wash cycle, rinse cycle, and a spin cycle.
  • the clothes washing machine works soap and water through the clothes. Clothes, water and soap are contained in the wash basket and tub.
  • the motor 22 initially rotates in a clockwise direction, assuming plan view orientation, so that the motor shaft drives through a bidirectional clutch output pulley 25.
  • the clutch output pulley 25 drives the driven pulley and one way clutch input 28 through belt drive 26.
  • the driven pulley and one way clutch input 28 are rigidly attached to driveshaft 24.
  • the driveline brake 30 of the present invention is a normally "on" device which connects the transmission housing 32 to the drivetrain base 12 (ground) .
  • the transmission 32 is a conventional transmission including a speed reduction gear set 34 and a rack and arm configuration to provide alternative 105 degree rotation in the counterclockwise and clockwise directions. This causes the agitator 18, which is rigidly connected to the output shaft 67, to be alter ⁇ nately rotated within the shaft housing 68 in clockwise and counterclockwise directions.
  • the transmission 32 is mounted to the drivetrain base 12 through an antifriction bearing.
  • the transmission 32 is thereby restrained from translational movement relative to the drivetrain base 12.
  • the brake 30 provides the rotational restraint between the trans- ission 32 and the drivetrain base 12 when the brake 30 is on.
  • the brake is normally on during clockwise motor rotation.
  • the basket 16 is preferably rigidly mounted to the transmission 32.
  • wash water is removed from the clothing contained in the basket 16 using centrifugal action.
  • the wash tub 14 is full of water.
  • a water pump (not shown) is used to pump most of the water out of the tub 14.
  • the motor 22 is reversed and operated in a counterclockwise direction.
  • the motor 22 drives through the bidirec ⁇ tional clutch output pulley 25.
  • the clutch output pulley 25 drives the driveshaft 24 through the drive belt 26 and input pulley 27 in a counterclockwise direction.
  • the one-way clutch 28 locks and begins rotating the lower ball ramp race 54 causing a relative rotation of the lower ball ramp race 54 relative to the upper ball ramp race 56.
  • This relative rotation causes the disk brake rotor 42 and its associated brake pads 60 to be lifted out of engagement with the radial flange 40.
  • the spring 52 is compressed.
  • the disk brake rotor 42 is splined to the driveshaft bearing housing 43, allowing axial movement of the disk brake rotor 42 relative to the transmission 32 but preventing rotational movement between the transmission 32 and the disk brake rotor 42.
  • the basket 16 is rotated along with the transmission 32, agitator 18, wash water, and clothing.
  • the torque applied causes the basket 16 to accelerate to a nearly synchronous speed with the motor rotation. This creates a minimum slip condition for the bi-directional clutch 25.
  • the spin cycle continues for a predetermined time as controlled by the machine timer. During this time, water is centrifuged from the clothing and the basket 16 to the tub 14 and water pump. This water is then pumped out of the machine.
  • the brake assembly 70 utilizes the mass of the basket, agitator, transmission, clothes and water contained within the tub to develop braking torque.
  • the brake assembly 70 includes a housing 72 which is mounted stationary relative to the drivetrain base (not shown) and includes housing flange 73.
  • the transmission housing 74 is axially shiftable to a limited extent and provides a mounting surface for the brake pads 76.
  • a ball ramp assembly generally indicated by reference numeral 78 is provided between the outer housing 80 and the transmission housing 74.
  • Driveshaft bearing housing 82 journals the driveshaft 83 and is fixedly connected to the transmission housing 74.
  • Ball bearings 84 contained within ball races 86 provide limited axial and rotational movement between the lower ball ramp race 88 and upper ball ramp race 90.
  • the ball ramp 78 causes the transmission housing 74 to be lifted upon counter ⁇ clockwise rotation out of engagement with the housing flange 73, separating the housing flange 73 from the brake pads 76.
  • Anti-friction bearing 92 is provided between the housing 72 and the outer housing 80 to permit relative rotation between the outer housing 80 and the housing 72.
  • the alternative brake assembly 70 may be mounted within a washing machine similar to that shown in Figure 1 but having a tub mounting that will allow for 0.060 inches of axial movement relative to the drivetrain base.
  • the brake pads 76 remain in contact with the housing flange 73 and provide a ground to the transmission (not shown) .
  • the ball bearings 84 and the ball races 86 shift the lower and upper ball ramp races 88 and 90, causing brake pads 76 to be lifted from the housing flange 73.
  • the tub, transmis ⁇ sion, basket and agitator are all lifted with the upper ball ramp 90. This allows the transmission 74, as well as the agitator and basket (not shown) to be rotated in a direct-drive relationship by the outer housing 80.
  • the ball bearings 84 Upon cessation of the spin cycle, the ball bearings 84 are urged by the gravitational biasing force of the weight of the clothing in the tub and other elevated parts which forces the ball bearings to the lowered position, allowing the upper ball race to shift axially, allowing the brake pads 76 to again engage the housing flange 73 thereby applying a braking torque on the spinning load.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Main Body Construction Of Washing Machines And Laundry Dryers (AREA)

Abstract

Lave-linge (10) pourvu d'un frein à disque (30) normalement en position serrée, qui est amené dans une position desserrée par un plan incliné à bille (45) lorsqu'un moteur d'entraînement (22) change de direction. Le frein à disque (30) est sollicité dans la position serrée par un ressort (52) ou par la force de gravité.
PCT/US1995/010980 1994-09-01 1995-08-30 Lave-linge a systeme de freinage perfectionne Ceased WO1996006968A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU34985/95A AU3498595A (en) 1994-09-01 1995-08-30 Clothes washer having an improved brake system

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US29999194A 1994-09-01 1994-09-01
US299,991 1994-09-01

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1996006968A1 true WO1996006968A1 (fr) 1996-03-07

Family

ID=23157197

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1995/010980 Ceased WO1996006968A1 (fr) 1994-09-01 1995-08-30 Lave-linge a systeme de freinage perfectionne

Country Status (3)

Country Link
AU (1) AU3498595A (fr)
CA (1) CA2156119A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO1996006968A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN102226307B (zh) * 2011-05-18 2013-02-13 常州至精精机有限公司 一种洗衣机传动装置刹车机构
CN103173962B (zh) * 2011-12-22 2016-06-29 安徽聚隆传动科技股份有限公司 一种单向输入双向输出洗衣机减速离合器
US10362720B2 (en) * 2014-08-06 2019-07-23 Greene Lyon Group, Inc. Rotational removal of electronic chips and other components from printed wire boards using liquid heat media

Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2629469A (en) * 1949-03-26 1953-02-24 Gen Electric Drive mechanism for washing machines and the like
US2700884A (en) * 1951-04-18 1955-02-01 Blackstone Corp Washing machine
US2987904A (en) * 1958-05-28 1961-06-13 Gen Motors Corp Domestic appliance
US3087321A (en) * 1960-01-28 1963-04-30 Gen Motors Corp Agitating and spinning mechanism
US3153951A (en) * 1962-12-24 1964-10-27 Gen Motors Corp Agitating and spinning mechanism
US3279223A (en) * 1964-07-10 1966-10-18 Whirlpool Co Direct drive for automatic washers with magnetic amplifier control
US3744325A (en) * 1969-02-11 1973-07-10 Gen Motors Corp Agitating and spinning drive mechanism for a clothes washer
US4254641A (en) * 1979-05-15 1981-03-10 Whirlpool Corporation Automatic washer basket brake mechanism
US4283928A (en) * 1979-08-24 1981-08-18 General Electric Company Transmission for washing machine
US4328600A (en) * 1979-05-15 1982-05-11 General Electric Company Washing machine
US5033278A (en) * 1990-04-12 1991-07-23 Raytheon Company Washing machine brake and release mechanism

Patent Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2629469A (en) * 1949-03-26 1953-02-24 Gen Electric Drive mechanism for washing machines and the like
US2700884A (en) * 1951-04-18 1955-02-01 Blackstone Corp Washing machine
US2987904A (en) * 1958-05-28 1961-06-13 Gen Motors Corp Domestic appliance
US3087321A (en) * 1960-01-28 1963-04-30 Gen Motors Corp Agitating and spinning mechanism
US3153951A (en) * 1962-12-24 1964-10-27 Gen Motors Corp Agitating and spinning mechanism
US3279223A (en) * 1964-07-10 1966-10-18 Whirlpool Co Direct drive for automatic washers with magnetic amplifier control
US3744325A (en) * 1969-02-11 1973-07-10 Gen Motors Corp Agitating and spinning drive mechanism for a clothes washer
US4254641A (en) * 1979-05-15 1981-03-10 Whirlpool Corporation Automatic washer basket brake mechanism
US4328600A (en) * 1979-05-15 1982-05-11 General Electric Company Washing machine
US4283928A (en) * 1979-08-24 1981-08-18 General Electric Company Transmission for washing machine
US5033278A (en) * 1990-04-12 1991-07-23 Raytheon Company Washing machine brake and release mechanism

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2156119A1 (fr) 1996-03-02
AU3498595A (en) 1996-03-22

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