Abstract: An adjustable agitation system for an automatic washing machine includes a lost motion fluid drive connection between the input drive member and the agitator so that agitator oscillates through a lesser arc than the input drive member. The fluid drive is formed by pockets in the agitator skirt and corresponding paddles on the drive member skirt. The spacing of the drive member and agitator is varied to vary the differential between the drive member oscillation arc length and the agitator oscillation arc length. A connection member engages the input drive member and is selectively engageable with the agitator to connect the input drive member and agitator for conjoint oscillation.

Abstract: A dynamoelectric machine includes a rotor assembly and a stator assembly mounted between endshields. The endshields have axial and radial apertures to assist in motor cooling. A motor shaft extends through one endshield. A mounting plate is provided for mounting the motor. The shaft extends vertically downward through the mounting plate, to which the transmission of a machine also is mounted. A drive pulley is attached to the motor shaft and a driven pulley is attached to the transmission shaft. The pulleys are maintained in planar alignment to permit transfer of power between the pulleys and to minimize belt wear. A second endshield has a bearing housing design which provides a flush endshield surface facing upwards towards the bottom of the machine. Motor height can be varied by increasing stator assembly stack height between the endshields to the extent permitted by the overall space available between the flush surface of the one endshield and the bottom of the machine.

Abstract: A counter-rotation wash system is provided in an automatic washer wherein the basket and agitator are reversely oscillated during a wash mode and the basket and agitator are co-rotated during a liquid extraction or spin mode. A reversing PSC motor is connected through a planetary drive to both the agitator and basket with the basket being free from restraint during the agitate mode. Reduced torque requirements and other advantages accrue.

Abstract: A thrust spacer having resilient, upwardly angled tabs is provided to act as a variable spacer within a two-piece agitator, between an upper agitator portion and a lower agitator portion to prevent relative vertical movement between the two portions while permitting relative rotational movement therebetween. Each of the tabs is positioned adjacent to an opening larger than the tab to permit the tab to be compressed into the opening to provide a large degree of variability in the height of the tabs. The spacer also includes angled arms which engage with slots in the lower agitator portion to cause the spacer to rotate with the lower agitator portion.

Abstract: A compact transmission for an automatic washer which converts unidirectional rotary motion to oscillating rotary motion without the use of gears is provided. An input shaft is rotatingly driven by an electric motor and has a reversing thread connection to an intermediate member through a thread follower to cause the intermediate member, which is restrained against rotation, to reciprocate vertically. The intermediate member has an angled cam slot and follower connection with an output shaft which results in oscillating rotary motion of the output shaft. The drive member can be carried on the outside of the coaxial input and output shafts or can be sandwiched between the output shaft and coaxial, nested input shaft.

Abstract: A single shaft agitate and spin drive for an automatic washer is provided in which a lost motion mechanism or clutch in the form of a plurality of stacked discs is mounted on the agitator shaft, a lower end of the mechanism being driven by the agitator shaft and an upper end of the mechanism driving the basket after a sufficient amount of rotation by the agitator has been inputted to the mechanism. The mechanism absorbs enough rotational motion to allow oscillatory motion of the agitator without transmission of that motion to the basket, but if sufficient rotational motion is input to the mechanism, such as during the spin mode, the mechanism transmits the motion to drive the basket. The amount of rotation absorbed is easily changed by changing the number of discs in the stack.

Abstract: A clothes washing machine and method wherein a washing liquid is ejected and circulated through a suction pump in a connecting hose from an outer tub, with the recirculated washing liquid being sprinkled all over the clothes through a sprinkling port. An amount of washing liquid to be supplied into the washing tub is set to be about three to eight times larger than that of the clothes to be washed in a weight ratio and washing is performed by carrying out a sprinkling or spraying of the washing liquid on the clothes. By setting an amount of washing liquid supplied to the washing tub to be as small as three to eight times the amount of clothes to be washed in a weight ratio, the clothes are prevented from floating upon the washing liquid and, accordingly, it is possible to promote a friction, expansion, and contraction action of the clothes and to increase a direct frictional effect caused by an agitator of the washing machine.

Abstract: A drive system for an automatic washer includes a high slip motor connected to a drive reduction mechanism for driving an energy absorbing agitator preferably having flexible vanes. The high slip motor is driven with spaced alternating pulses so that the agitator accelerates in one direction and then slows after the end of the pulse followed by acceleration and then slowing in a second direction so that sinusoidal agitation is produced by a pulse input to the motor.

Abstract: A compact transmission for an automatic washer which converts unidirectional rotary motion to oscillating rotary motion without the use of gears is provided. An input shaft is rotatingly driven by an electric motor and has a reversing thread connection to an intermediate member through a thread follower to cause the intermediate member, which is restrained against rotation, to reciprocate vertically. The intermediate member has an angled cam slot and follower connection with an output shaft which results in oscillating rotary motion of the output shaft. The drive member can be carried on the outside of the coaxial input and output shafts or can be sandwiched between the output shaft and coaxial, nested input shaft.

Abstract: A washing machine comprises a tub, in which a pulsator is rotatably arranged. The pulsator is driven by a motor positively or reversely. When a start switch is pressed, first an initial cycle is started for a relatively short period of time to dissolve detergents. When this initial cycle is completed, a main cycle is started, during which the pulsator repeats positive and reverse rotations with intervals. The main cycle is arranged to continue for a set period of time, into which auxiliary cycles shorter than the main cycle are intermittently inserted. The positively and reversely rotating times of the adjoining repeating units included in the main cycle differ with each other. In the auxiliary cycle, its repeating unit involves a relatively longer rotating time or a shorter recess time of the pulsator as compared with the repeating unit constituting the main cycle.

Abstract: A dual action agitator for use in a washing machine utilizes a one-way dog clutch having a plurality of dogs made of elastomeric material and pivotally mounted in a cam. The dogs pivot outward to engage an inner surface of an upper agitator barrel to drive the agitator barrel in a first direction during a first oscillatory stroke of a lower agitator skirt, and the dogs pivot away from the inner surface as the lower agitator skirt oscillates in a second opposite direction resulting in unidirectional movement of the agitator barrel to impart additional mechanical motion to a wash load and promote rollover.

Abstract: A reversing drive for a triple action agitator is provided in which the agitator has an upper portion with helical grooves formed therein and a thruster barrel is received over the agitator upper portion. The thruster barrel has inwardly directed pegs which cammingly ride in the grooves to provide vertical movement to the thruster relative to the agitator. A two position clutch has an alternating rachet-type engagement between the agitator and the thruster to prevent rotary motion between the thruster and agitator when the agitator is rotating in a first direction, but to permit rotary motion between the thruster and agitator when the agitator is rotating in a second direction when the clutch is in a first position. When the clutch is in the second position, relative rotary motion is permitted when the agitator is rotating in the first direction and is prevented when the agitator is rotating in the second direction.

Abstract: When it is detected that the motor for rotating the agitator of the machine is locked, the motor is turned in the forward direction and/or in the reverse direction a predetermined number of times. If the motor is still locked, an indicating unit is operated to indicate the occurrence of the abnormal condition. When the motor locked by an excessively large quantity of wash and the motor is not unlocked after the motor is turned in the opposite direction, the occurrence of the abnormal condition is indicated by an alarm unit. Therefore, the operator, informed of the presence of the abnormal condition immediately upon its occurrence, can rectify the problem, for instance, by decreasing the size of the washing load.

Abstract: A washing machine comprises an outer drum and an inner tub having water-expelling holes on its side wall. On the bottom of the inner tub, an agitator rotated intermittently by a motor is supported by means of bearings. An air trap is provided in communication with the gap between the outer and inner tubs. When the washing operation is started, the agitator is rotated and due to the pumping action of the agitator, the water level between the inner and outer tubs falls temporarily, which is detected by the pressure sensor connected to the air trap. The motor is deenergized according to the output from the pressure sensor and the agitator is stopped. Then the water level starts rising temporarily again thus the pressure sensor output is increased, which in turn energizes the motor and rotates the agitator. When such ON and OFF of the motor are repeated for more than the predetermined number of times, the washing operation will be completed.

Abstract: A washing machine having an improved pulsator which includes a skirt, vanes projecting from the skirt, and a shaped projection having a planar surface located eccentrically from the center of rotation of the skirt and extended to a position higher than the vanes. The pulsator rotates in the forward and reverse directions to responsively effect eccentric motion of the projection about the central axis of rotation so that highly turbulent localized water flow is established in conjunction with a vortex flow arrangement to enhance the washing capabilities of the machine.

Abstract: In an agitating type washing machine a washing drive motor is run reciprocally in opposite directions to rotate an agitating wheel within a washing tank alternately in one and the other directions to perform intended washing. The washing machine comprises a rotational angle detector for detecting an angle of rotation of the agitating wheel, and a control for controlling the motor in response to a detection signal from the rotational angle detector. The control controls such that an angle of rotation of said agitating wheel by energization of the motor during running under a load is made smaller than that during no load running and that changing over between running under a load and no load running is automatically effected in response to a detection signal from the rotational angle detector, and controls rotation of said agitating wheel to an angle equal to or less than 360 degrees including rotation by energization of the motor and rotation by inertia whether during running under a load or no load.

Abstract: A washing machine having an improved pulsator which includes a skirt, vanes projecting from the skirt, and a rod-like projection located at a position offset from the center of rotation of the skirt and extended to a position higher than the vanes. The pulsator rotates in the forward and reverse directions to responsively effect satellite motion of the rod-like projection about the central axis of rotation so that highly turbulant localized water flow is established in conjunction with a vortex flow arrangement to enhance the washing capabilities of the machine.

Abstract: In an agitating type washing machine a washing drive motor is run reciprocally in opposite directions to rotate an agitating wheel within a washing tank alternately in one and the other directions to perform intended washing, the washing machine comprises a rotational angle detector for detecting an angle of rotation of the agitating wheel, and a control for controlling the motor in response to a detection signal from the rotational angle detector. The control interrupts energization of the motor when the angle of actual rotation of said agitating wheel or the number of rotations of the motor reaches a predetermined value, the control means controlling the motor to run in a reverse direction when rotation of the agitating wheel by inertia in one direction is almost stopped.

Abstract: An agitator thruster is provided for an automatic washer for increasing the rollover of clothes during the agitation portion of a washing cycle wherein the thruster moves in a vertical reciprocating motion by action of a pin carried by the thruster engaging angled side walls of a channel in the agitator barrel and being caused to move in one direction around the channel circuit, up along one angled channel wall and down along another.

Abstract: A washer-dehydrator comprises a pulsator shaft rotatably attached to the inside of a rotary tub in an eccentric manner, a pulsator coaxially fixed to the pulsator shaft, a washing shaft coaxial with the rotary tub and projecting into the rotary tub by a given distance, a driven gear coaxially fixed to the pulsator shaft, a driving shaft in mesh with the driven gear, a sealing case housing the driven gear and the driving gear in a watertight manner, detachably fixed to the inside of the rotary tub, and supporting the driving gear, the sealing case having a penetrating hole to allow insertion of the projected end portion of the washing shaft, and engaging and engaged portions for detachably engaging the projected end portion of the washing shaft with the driving gear to transmit the rotary force of the washing shaft to the driving gear in an engaged state.

Abstract: A washing machine having a cabinet, a basket mounted in the cabinet, and an agitator rotatably mounted on a bottom of the basket, which agitator has a substantially disk-shaped base, a projection in the form of a substantially triangular prism integrally extending from a substantially central portion of the base, and three vanes integrally extending smoothly from side ridges of the projection over the base. The projection has a height which is over 1/2 the outside diameter of the base and further has an upper end positioned below at least the level of water in the basket at the time the water is at rest. The agitator rotates at a speed of 300 rpm or less alternately clockwise and counterclockwise, to provide effective washing of clothes with less damage.

Abstract: An agitator thruster is provided for an automatic washer for increasing the rollover of clothes during the agitation portion of a washing cycle wherein the thruster moves in a vertical reciprocating motion by using inner and outer reversely spiraled cam surfaces and a driving barrel having a driving pin which alternately transfers to the inner and outer cam surfaces.

Abstract: A washing apparatus having a tub for holding and draining a liquid, a spinnable tub for receiving materials to be washed and spin-drying the materials, a generally disk-shaped driven rotary base rotatably disposed in the spinnable tub on the bottom thereof at an eccentric position with respect to the axis of rotation of the spinnable tub, a support rotatably supporting the driven rotary base, a drive for selectively rotating the spinnable tub on the rotary base, and a pulsator detachably mounted on the rotary base for generating an eccentric liquid whirlpool in the tub.

Abstract: A drive mechanism is provided for converting a rotary input to an oscillatory output. The mechanism includes a housing having axially aligned first and second support members. Input and output shafts are journaled within the first and second support members and are substantially axially aligned one with the other. A drive pinion is mounted on the input shaft within the housing and is rotatable thereby. A bevel gear is mounted within the housing and in driving engagement with the pinion. A coupling is provided which has a first end in journaled association with the bevel gear in a position angularly displaced from the rotational axis thereof. The second end of the coupling is pivotally and drivingly connected to the output member at the intersection of the center lines of the bevel gear and the output member.

Abstract: A spiral gyrator to be driven unidirectionally at a rate within the normal range for drying by spinning has a spiral strip about a base and upwardly on a central, upright post. The direction of the spiral is reversed for a turn near the top of the post. The first part of the spiral strip farthest from the center on the base has a plurality of spaced slots through it for creating radial jets of washing fluid to move wash rapidly in a pulsating manner. The rotative driving apparatus for the gyrator is simplified, and the reverse turn of the spiral strip near the top of the post prevents wash from being forced over the top of the post while the rotation of the gyrator is reversed and the tub of the washing machine is accelerating to a spinning rate.

Abstract: An adjustable agitation system for an automatic washing machine, a drive shaft oscillatable about a first axis and an agitator oscillatable about a second axis. First and second drive members are mounted for oscillation with the drive shaft and agitator and form a plurality of selectively engageable finger and slot arrangements for oscillating the agitator through a selected one of a plurality of arcs in response to oscillation of the drive shaft through a predetermined arc.

Abstract: A transmission shift mechanism for use in a vertical axis automatic washing machine having reversible rotary drive means has a drive gear on which is mounted an eccentric for translating rotary motion into oscillatory motion in a plane perpendicular to the washing machine axis. The oscillatory motion is transmitted to the agitator shaft of a washing machine by a rack and pinion. The pinion is rotatably mounted on the agitator shaft and has teeth on a lower surface thereof which engage teeth on an upper surface of a sleeve co-rotatable with the agitator shaft to form a jaw clutch for driving the agitator shaft from the rack and pinion. A shifter fork also connected to the eccentric operates cams to raise the pinion out of engagement with the sleeve to disengage the jaw clutch when the eccentric is rotating in a first direction, and returns the clutch teeth to engagement when the eccentric rotates in an opposite direction.

Abstract: An agitator for a vertical axis washing machine and for effecting uniform, repetitive oscillations about the machine axis has upper, lower and middle portions with different degrees of lost motion so that the agitator can achieve multiple stroke lengths and so relative motion can be effected between the vanes and the skirt, for example, because of different stroke lengths.

Abstract: An agitator for a washing machine of the vertical axis type has an upper auger portion with a helical vane thereon and a coaxial lower skirt portion having upstanding agitation and scrubbing vanes thereon. The lower portion is driven in to and fro oscillations, while the upper portion is driven in stepwise, unidirectional rotations through a one-way, non-ratcheting clutch. The clutch has a double-lobed, cam carried with the lower, oscillating portion of the agitator. A pair of clutch members carried radially outwardly of the cam are each engageable on a spiral surface thereof with a corresponding thrusting surface of each of the cam lobes and on a generally radially extending surface with a capture and retraction surface of each cam lobe. Teeth on the outer portions of the clutch members and on an inner surface of the auger portion are selectively forcibly engaged on the driving oscillation and are positively disengaged on the reverse oscillation, to provide the desired one-way drive to the auger element.

Abstract: A vertical-axis, automatic washing machine has a central drive shaft for oscillatably driving a first agitator portion with a clutch member splined thereto. The clutch has downwardly-facing teeth having drive surfaces and slip surfaces. An auger or second agitator portion coaxial with the first agitator portion has cooperating upwardly-facing teeth. Upon a drive or forward oscillation of the drive shaft and first agitator portion, the drive surfaces engage one another to drive the auger portion in a stepwise rotation. During an opposite rotation of the first agitator portion, the slip surfaces engage one another and, where the contents of the washer basket retards a reverse movement of the auger, the teeth will slip past one another, with the clutch member reciprocating vertically upon its splined connection. An annular cushioning member placed between the clutch and the agitator parts cushions impacts between the teeth during such reciprocations by controlling the depth of tooth engagement.

Abstract: An automatic washing machine of the vertical axis, oscillating agitator type promotes an improved rollover washing action. A separate lower camming element beneath the skirt portion of the upper, oscillating agitator is moved in a stepwise, unidirectional rotation about the axis and carries on an outer periphery thereof at least one ramp surface inclined upwardly opposite its direction of rotation. A clutch arrangement between the agitator skirt and the camming element effects positive rotation of the element during a portion of each one-half cycle of agitator oscillation, leaving the element at rest during the other part of the oscillation cycle. In one embodiment a ratchet-type clutch is employed having inclined teeth on the agitator skirt and spaced-apart, oppositely-inclined lugs or notches on a cooperating portion of the camming element.

Abstract: A spiral outwardly facing surface, driving surface, of a dasher forces wash almost radially outwardly with little tendency for the wash to be whirled with the dasher. Therefore, the dasher can be driven unidirectionally by apparatus that is much simpler and more economical than the gearing used for reciprocating motion in conventional washing machines. Preferably, the height of the spiral surface is low, the change in rate of curvature is gradual, and a line normal to the tangent of the outer portion of the spiral is nearly radial to propel clothes radially while the dasher is being rotated at a speed within the range of speed normally used for drying by spinning. The use of the spinning rate further simplifies the rotative driving apparatus.

Abstract: Improved agitation means for use in a clothes washing machine of the type in which an agitator is oscillated by means of a drive mechanism to secure agitation of the clothes placed within the washing machine. The present invention provides a first agitator element and a second agitator element driven from a common driving source, the second agitator element being provided with means to urge clothes into a rollover pattern established by the coaction of the agitator elements and thereby impart a highly efficient rollover motion to the clothes. The first agitator element, which may employ either rigid or flexible vanes, or a combination thereof, is preferably located below and coaxial to the second agitator element which may be driven either intermittently, or continuously, in a unidirectional rotary motion.

Abstract: A domestic clothes washer drive mechanism for oscillating an agitator in a nested pair of tubs wherein the inner tub is selectively rotatable by said mechanism and the outer tub is generally fixed against rotation and adapted to contain water. A pair of vertically spaced pulleys driven by a reversible motor and a single belt are rotatably mounted with concentric agitate and spin drive shafts related therewith. A radial transfer follower arm is pivotally secured to the agitator shaft intermediate the driven pulleys. The pulleys have opposed drive notches configured so that in one direction of motor rotation one pulley notch is operative to engage the arm and rotate the agitator shaft in a first direction through a predetermined arc, after which the opposed pulley notch is rotated into position and the arm escapes the one notch and is engaged by the opposed notch causing the agitator shaft to be driven in an oscillatable manner.

Abstract: A washer agitator with an oscillating skirt portion below an upper, unidirectionally-rotating auger agitator portion has scrubbing vanes on the skirt ramped on one side so that the fabric such as clothing being washed is driven by the scrubbing vanes in a direction opposite to the direction of orbital fabric movement induced by the rotating auger, thereby minimizing tangling of the fabric during the washing cycle while optimizing roll-over.

Abstract: Improved agitation means for use in a clothes washing machine of the type in which an agitator is oscillated by means of a drive mechanism to secure agitation of the clothes. The present invention provides a first agitator element and a second agitator element driven from a common driving source, the second agitator element being provided with means to urge clothes into a rollover pattern established by the coaction of the agitator elements and thereby impart a highly efficient rollover motion to the clothes.

Abstract: A combination tub-wash basket for a vertical axis washing machine is an imperforate structure formed generally in the shape of a frustum of a cone mounted upon a concave base portion so as to provide an enlarged annulus chamber around the bottom of the basket. A perforate divider member is secured within the basket and is formed to provide an annular depression so as to define in the basket a clothes retaining area and a lower, washing medium retaining area. This perforate divider member is provided with vanes for imparting washing action to the clothes and a coaxial shaft for preventing large items being washed from lying across the basket. The base of the basket is provided with an axially concentric drain.

Abstract: An automatic clothes washing machine of a single-tub construction with water level sensing and liquid extraction features includes scoop conduits arranged symmetrically within the sump chamber of a reversely tapered tub i.e., divergent from top to bottom. Each scoop conduit has an opening in its end adjacent the outer wall of the sump chamber and is connected to a discharge line along the axis of the tub. When the tub spins, liquid is forced radially outwardly and downwardly and exits through the scoop conduit openings into the discharge line while maintaining a dynamic balance of the tub. Liquid level control is regulated by a pressure sensitive valve means communicating with an air dome in an agitator portion of the tub.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a washing machine and more particularly to a portable, peripheral oscillating agitation dual purpose washing machine. It is capable of cleaning out dirt materials from fabrics and dinner wares. It comprises a cylindrical enclosure including roller means as a base for portability, an inner cylinder acting as a washing chamber or tub where materials to be washed are deposited, an agitator peripherally disposed inside the tub which oscillates by means of a linkage connected to a worm and wormgear means powered preferably by an electric motor installed underneath. As the agitator rotatively oscillates the water and soap solution is propelled towards the center at a certain speed and direction opposite that of the materials to be washed thereby achieving a very efficient washing process.