US2289542A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Description

July 14, 1942'- G. C. FIELD WASHING MACHINE Filed May 9, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENT R- GEORGE 6., FIELDS.

Jilly 14, 1942, C.YFIELDS 9,

WASHING MACHINE Filed Mays, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet '2 INVENTOIL 650E615 C HELDS, BY

%..1/ u. Jo a 71;

machine; and

Patented Ju1 14, 1942 WASHING mcnmr; George 0. Fields, Euclid, Ohio, assignor to The Apex Electrical Cleveland, Ohio,

Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Ohio Application May 9, 1941, Serial No. 392,723

- This invention relates to washing machines and more particularly to improvements in the] combined washer and'extractor type of machine.

- It is one of the objects of my invention'to provide a combined washer and extractor wherein the washing and extracting mechanism is suspended and balanced in a supporting frame so that the noise and vibration produced in the washing and extracting operations will not [be transmitted to the supporting framework.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a machine having a washing tub and a rotating. extractor basket mounted side by side on a' sub-frame and the sub-frame is resiliently supported by a main frame so that the vibrations of the sub-frame caused by out-of-balance load in the extractor will not be transmitted to the main frame. v

It is a further object of my invention to provide a machine according to the preceding objects in which the end of the sub-frame near the washing tub is mounted for limited oscillation about its support and the other end of the sub-frame is resiliently restrained to .limit such oscillations,

It is a further object of my invention to pro--' vide a-machine according to the preceding objects wherein the water in the washing tub functionsto balance and dampen movements of the sub-frame caused by out-of-balance loads in the extractor basket.

Further objects and advantages relating to quietness andemciency in operation will appear from the following specification and drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view, with parts broken ing to my invention; t

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the plane away, showing a washing machine made accordindicated at 2-2 of Figure 1, showing in plan the supporting of the sub-frame within the main frame or cabinet;

Figure 3 is an elevation in section of the Figure 4 is a diagrammatic showing of the resilient mounting arrangement or the machine sub-frame.

11 Claims. (Cl. 68- 26) versely affected by an out-of-balance load in the extractor basket.

Numerous attempts have been made to prevent or counteract the destructive vibration caused by out-of-balance loads. Such attempts have included the use of heavily-weighted rotating baskets and resilient mounting of the extractor basket. lOther attempts to avoid extractor basket vibration have included specific instruc tions to the user regarding an even distribution of the clothes within the extractor basket so as to minimize the amount of out-of-balance load.

According to my invention, the entire washing and extracting mechanism, as a unit, is carried by asubdrame within a main frame, so that the unit is free to float or move within the limits provided by the-flexible mounting of the sub- :frame within a main supporting frame. In this way the vibration and, motion imparted to the washingand extractingiunit by an o'ut-of-balance load, is cushioned and dampened sons to prevent transmission of such vibration to the supporting frame and thence to the floor which supports the machine.

' Among the advantages resulting from the arrangement I have provided is that the bearing pressures in the rotating parts of the extractor basket are reduced by reason of the supporting bearing and sub-frame structure being free to give in response to the out-of-balance loads I imparted to the bearings.

My invention relates to that type of washing machine wherein a tub having an agitator or like washing means arranged'therein, is com bined with an extractor basket in which the clothes may be centrifugally dried, following the washing operation. Although many washing machines of the washer-extractor type have been made and used, with varying degrees of satisfac- Referringto the drawings, the main supporting frame indicated in its entirety as at 6 is in the form of a rectangular cabinet and the sub- 7 frame indicated at 8 is mounted within the cabinot by depending links 85 arranged near the center of gravity of the washer and extractor unit. The end of the sub-frame 8 adjacent the extractor is resiliently retained in position by springs II and I2 depending downwardly from the top of the frame or cabinet 6 and springs 13 and i4 extending upwardly from the lower end of the cabinet to the sub-frame 8. A washing tube 15 is mounted on the sub frame- 8, and is provided with an oscillating agitator-such as indicated at l6.

An extractor basket i1 is mounted within an extractorcompartment I8 and is preferably constructed soas to taper toward the bottom of the basket so as to tend to toward the'bottom of the basket during extraction. The basket may be apertured as indicated at l9 or otherwise arranged so as to permit the tion and success, all of such machines are adwater to be 'centritugally removed through the walls of the basket upon high-speed rotation thereof. A motor 2| and gear case 22 are suitably force the clothes 'mounted beneath the washing and extracting mechanism and are constructed and arranged to oscillate the agitator i6 for washing and to rotate the extractor basket I! for centrifugal extraction.

The gear case and washing and extracting drive mechanism may be of, any desired construction suited to produce the necessary washing and extracting operations, and, therefore, specific description of this part of my invention is omitted.

- It is suiilcient for the purposes of this description to point out that the motor and driving mechanism for the washer and extractor are mounted on and carried by the sub-frame 8. The main supporting frame is preferably in the form of a tudinal axis of the sub-frame. During the operation of the machine, an out-of-balance load in the-extractor causes the sub-frame 8 to shift from side to side in a horizontal plane so that the longitudinal axis of thesub-frame swings from the position indicated by line B to the position indicated by line C. The sub-frame oscillates about a point near the support for the sub-frame,

such as for instance the point D. It would be understood that this point D will vary depending lar angle iron frame 34 and the entire angle iron framework surrounded by sheet metal panels.

' The panel structure preferably comprises end panels 31 and 38, having intumed end portions Joined to the vertical angle irons. Removable front and back panels such as panel 39 are arranged between the intumed end portions of the and panels 31 and 38. A supporting girder such as indicated at 40-4l is arranged between the vertical angles at the front and back of the cabi-- net and each of said girders is provided with a supporting bracket 42-43. The location of the brackets 42 and-43 is determined by the center of gravity of the supported mass within the cabinet and said brackets are preferably located near the center of gravity so that the supported mass may tilt or rock in response to out-of-balance load about the point of support. To provide for the movement referred to, a supporting link such as 1 the rod 45 is mounted at its upper end between thick rubber washers 46-41, in the bracket 42. The lower end of the rod 45 is' similarly connected through rubber washers 4849 to a plate 50 carried by depending channel irons til-52 secured to the sub-frame B at their upper ends.

It will be appreciated that the resilient connections at each end of the rod 55 permit a movement of the rod with respect to the bracket 42 at its upper end and with respect to the plate 53' at its lower end. The movement of the end of the sub-frame 8 about its support in a vertical plane in a clockwise direction is limited and restrained by the springs i l and I2 and the movement in a counter-clockwise direction about the support is similarly controlled by thesprings i3 and I4. The hardness characteristic of the resilient washer elements 46-49 and the size of the springs II -to 14, is determined by the distribution of the weight of the washing machine supported by the sub-frame 8. Such washers and springs are selected so as to prevent such movement of the sub-frame as would swing the same into engagement with its supporting-main frame or cabinet. I have found that by supporting the washer and extractor unit as above described, certain of the forces caused by out-ofbalance load result in a rocking of the supported unit in a vertical plane about the support provided by brackets 4243 and rods 45.

.upon the distribution of the weight of the motor gear case and other parts mounted on the subframe. The mounting provided by means of rods 45 and their associated resilient members 46-41 facilitates the swinging movement of the subframe and the springs ll-i4 serve to limit the amplitude of the swing. The inertia of the water in the washing-tub also functions to dampen and counter-balance the movement of the extractor and of the sub-frame.

From the foregoing, it will be observed that I have provided a mounting for a combined washing machine and extractor, wherein the extractor is free to float within certain limits in both horizontal and vertical directions and that the forces resulting .from out-of-balance loads in the extractor may be dissipated by movement of the tub l5 and washed therein by the oscillating- A portion of the out-of-balance load forces are entire washing and extracting unit mounting within a main frameso that the effects of such out'of-balance load forces are not transmitted to the main frame or supporting cabinet.

According to my invention a part of the hori-' zontally acting forces occasioned by out-of-belance loads appear to be converted into forces acting to swing the supported unit in clockwise or counter-clockwise directions in a vertical plane about the transverse axis of the sub-frame indicated at E. Such clockwise and counter-clockwise movements are efliciently and efiectively restrained and dampened by the springs ii to l4, inclusive, so that the main supporting frame or cabinet is substantially free of any vibration such as would cause a bodily movement of the entire machine. When the washing tub It is filled with washing fluid. the weight of this fluid serves as a ballast and/or steadying influence with respect to the rocking of the supported unit 8 about its transverse axis E, and thus the wei ht of the water in tub i5 cooperates with the springs ii to It in dampening and counteracting the forces caused to act by the out-of-balance loads in the extractor basket il.

Referring generally to the operation of a washing machine made according to my invention, the clothes and washing fluid are placed in the agitator it. The washing fluid maybe introduced to the tub i5 through conduits 56 and 6| arranged within the cabinet. The controls for the washing, rinsing and extracting operations, as well as the controls for the fluid inlet and draining of the tub l5 and I9, may be mounted as indicated at 6|, 62 and 63 on the front panel 39. After the clothes are washed, they may be -manually transferred to the extractor basket l1 and through operation of the controls 6 l63, the clothes are rinsed and centrifugally dried in the extractor basket IT. The rinsing water may be assess:

introduced into the extractor by way of conduit.

64 connected to conduit 60 within the cabinet.

distribution of the weight of the clothes in the Preferably all of the washing, rinsing and extracting operations are automatically controlled by a timer unit. Such timer and control mech- 5 anism forms no essential part of the present invention which is directed to the mounting of the washing machine on a sub-frame within a main frame. Any out-of-balance due touneven extractor'basket' is accommodated by and dissi-,

pated through the mounting of tlfe washing and extracting unit as above described. Although, I have'shown and described one .form

of my invention in considerable detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that numerous modifications may be made therein, without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I partment mounted on said sub-frame, a centrifugal extractor in said extracting. compartment,

means to support said sub-frame in said main frame comprising a rockable connection between said frames, adjacent the center of gravity of the sub-frame assembly and resilient means to limit the rocking movement about said rockable connection.

2. A washing machine comprising a main frame, a sub-frame supported by said main frame.

a washing compartment and an extracting com- I partment mounted side by side on said sub-frame,

a power unit and gearing carried by said subframe beneath said compartments, a rotatably mounted extractor arranged in said extractor compartment, the supporting means-between the said main frame so as to be free to move horizontaliyand vertically within the main frame in response'to out-of-balance loads in said extractor. 5. A washing machine comprising a rectangular main frame, a washing and extracting unit mounted in said main frame, said unit comprising a washing tub having an agitator, a centrifugal extractor, power means and gearing mechanism to oscillate said agitator and rotate said extractor, said unit being resiliently suspended in said main frame so as to be free to move horizontally and vertically within the main frame inresponse to out-of-balance loads in said extractor.

, '6. A washing machine comprising a rectangu-.

lar cabinet adapted to house and support a washing and extracting unit, said unit comprising a washing tub having an oscillating agitator therein, a rotatably mounted extractor arranged in a compartment alongside of saidwashing tub, a motor and gearing to operate said agitator and extractor, means to support said unit for movement with respect to said cabinet, comprising depending links flexibly secured to said cabinet and unit, near the center of gravity of the unit,

whereby the unit in its entirety'may oscillate about its support and tension springs connecting the cabinet and unit near the end of the unit so as to restrain and limit the oscillations of the unit about its support. i

7. A washing machine comprising a rectangular cabinet adapted to house and support awashing and extracting unit, said unit comprising a washing tub having an oscillating agitator therein and a rotatably mounted extractor arranged in a compartment alongside of said washing tub, power means and gearing to operate said agitator and extractor, means to support said unit for movement with respect to said cabinet, comprising depending links secured to said cabinet and unit, near the center of gravity of the unit, where by the unit in its entirety mayoscillate with respect to its support and with respect to its center of gravity, opposed tension springs connecting the cabinet and unit near the end of the unit so as to restrain and-limit the oscillations of the unit about its supportparts may oscillate in horizontal and vertical planes about said center of gravity and resilient means connecting the sub-frame and main frame so ,as to limit the oscillatory movements of the porting frame adapted to rest upon a supportsub-frame with respect to the main frame.

ing surface, a sub-frame mounted for movement 8. A washing machine comprising a main an 3. A washing machine comprising a main frame, a sub-frame supported by said main frame, a pair of laundry compartments mounted side by" side on said sub-frame, a power unit and gearing operating laundry devices in said compartments carried by said sub-frame beneath said comsub-frame beneath the 'washingtub, means to par'tments, the supporting means between the sub-frame and main frame including a pair of links suspending the sub-frame near the center of gravity of the sub-frame and the parts carried thereby, said links being constructed and arranged so that the sub-frame and its related parts mayv oscillate in horizontal and vertical planes about a point, near said center of gravity and resilient means connecting the sub-frame and main frame so as to limit the oscillatorymovements of the sub-frame with respect to the main frame.

4. A washing machine comprising a rectangular main frame, a washing and extracting unit mounted in said main frame, said unit comprising a washing tub and a rotatably mounted extractor. 7o

basket arranged side by side and including a power means and gearing mechanism to oscillate an agitator in said tub and rotate said extractor, said unit'being resiliently suspended in with respect to said mainframe, said sub-frame having a washing tub mounted at one end thereof and a rotatably mounted extractor at the other end thereof, a power unit and gearing adapted to operate an agitator in said washing supportsaid sub-frameand the parts supported thereby on said main frame comprising a pair of links, one at each side of the'sub-frame'flexibly connected to the main frame and sub-frame. near one end of the sub-frame, a pair of depending tension springs connecting the main frame and sub-frame near the other end of the sub-frame whereby the sub-frame is supported for limited oscillatory movements with respect to. the'Tnain frame.

9. A washing machine comprising a main supporting frame adapted to rest upon a supporting.

sub-frame, and means.

thereby within said main frame comprising depending links.at least onelink'beingarranged at each side of the sulrframe andbein'g connected to the main frame near one end of the sub-frame, tension spring means supporting the other end of. the sub-frame whereby the subframe is supported for limited oscillatory movements with respect to the main frame;

'10. A washing machine comprising a main fram a washer and extractor mounted on a sub-frame carried by the main frame, means to connecting the sub-frame and main frame,

whereby said sub-frame may oscillate with respect to the main frame in response to out-ofhalance loads in the extractor.

ILA washing machine comprising a main frame, a washer unit and extractor unit mounted on a sub-frame carried by the main frame, means to support one end of said sub-frame comprising means flexibly connected to the main frame and sub-frame near the center of gravity of the sub-frame and. its supported units and tension springs near the end of the sub-frame connecting the sub-frame and main frame, whereby said sub-frame may oscillate freely with respect to the main frame in response to outof-baiance loads in the extractor. v

GEORGE C. FIELDS,

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