Washtub Or Wash Boiler Attachments Patents (Class 68/237)
  • Patent number: 11939752
    Abstract: A splash guard is disclosed comprising a guard sheet having an opening and a slit extending from one edge of the guard sheet to the opening. In some embodiments, the splash guard further comprises a raised edge on one or more edges of the guard sheet. In some embodiments, the splash guard further comprises one or more raised edges forming a slit channel to receive one edge of the slit and make a water-resistant seal. In some embodiments, the opening is on the guard sheet and the opening further comprises a raised edge forming a collar. In some embodiments, the guard sheet includes a flexible collar to be frictionally coupled to a neck of a faucet and the flexible collar is frictionally coupled to the flexible collar whereby the guard sheet is secured to the flexible collar and the neck of the faucet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Inventor: Yiu F. Wong
  • Patent number: 11898293
    Abstract: Disclosed is a laundry treating apparatus. The laundry treating apparatus includes a cabinet, a tub, a drum, and storage. The storage includes a storage frame, a detergent reservoir, and an auxiliary detergent container. The detergent reservoir includes a casing having an open top face and storing detergent therein, and a cap member detachably coupled to the top face of the casing. The cap member includes a gripping portion extending toward the auxiliary detergent container and positioned on an open top face of the auxiliary detergent container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sungwoon Jung, Hunjun Jang
  • Patent number: 11753759
    Abstract: Provided is a washing machine including a main body having an opening and a door assembly disposed at the opening, wherein the door assembly includes a door that opens and closes the opening and an auxiliary washing unit having an auxiliary washing space in which hand-washing can be performed, and provided to pivot about one side of the door in an inside of the door. Through this configuration, separated washing spaces can be provided and separate hand-washing can be performed. Also, pressure of washing water supplied into the washing machine can be regulated so that water supply efficiency can be improved and a flow rate of the washing water can be adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Min Hyung Kim, Hyun Mook Kim, Yong Kwon Won, Masato Suzuki, Mitsuhiro Shigeri, Young Sun Shin, Goan Su Jung, Amitoj Singh, Gyu Woo Kim
  • Patent number: 11713530
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance having a rotatable basket that defines a treating chamber, a tub for mounting the rotatable basket, a drive assembly mounted to the tub for rotating the basket and a drive motor mounted to the tub for driving the drive assembly. The tub has a lower region comprising a central cavity and a second cavity. The drive assembly is nested in the central cavity and the drive motor is nested in the second cavity for reducing the vertical stack of tub and the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Eric K. Farrington, Karl David Mcallister, Brenner M. Sharp
  • Patent number: 11365508
    Abstract: Disclosed is a washing machine capable of improving the efficiency of washing and product quality by improving a pivoting structure of a door assembly having a door and an auxiliary washing unit forming an auxiliary washing space. Also, the door and the auxiliary washing unit may be coupled by a locking part so that a user can open and close the door assembly conveniently when manual washing is not needed. When manual washing is needed, the user may release a locked state of the locking part to move the door and the auxiliary washing unit separately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Min Hyung Kim, Yong Kwon Won, Jun Ho Kim, Hyeon Cheol Kim, Sung Yong Eun, Goan Su Jung, Young Sun Shin, Mitsuhiro Shigeri, Hyun Mook Kim
  • Patent number: 9702077
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a washing machine which comprises: an auxiliary receiving platform which is provided on a water-supply flow pathway for the supply of washing water, and which constitutes a container structure able to support a solid additive when such an additive is introduced; and an additive storage unit which is fastened to the underside of the auxiliary receiving platform, and which stores washing water in which the solid additive has been dissolved. Further, the washing machine can use solid additives such as sheet-shaped softeners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Young Jin Doh
  • Publication number: 20140137426
    Abstract: Systems, methods and devices for washing delicate items are provided. In accordance with some embodiments, an assembly for reducing wear and tear of products within an appliance is provided. The assembly comprising an elongated member having distal and proximal connectors that are secured to receiving parts of the appliance, and having least one holding element that is removably mounted along the length of the elongated member and is configured to releasably hold at least one product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Inventor: Brajesh Mohan
  • Publication number: 20130115130
    Abstract: A removable storage container that may be stored inside an appliance when the appliance is not in use or when the appliance is operated in a freshening mode, a laundry appliance that incorporates such storage container, and a method for freshening the clothes and/or other articles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Inventor: Jerrod Aaron Kappler
  • Publication number: 20120031152
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device to allow the washing in washing machines of footwear in general, particularly sport footwear. According to the essential aspects of the present invention, the device comprises means (1; 201; 301; 401) designed to allow to hang at least one shoe on the drum of the washing machine so that the shoe can be washed maintaining substantially the position corresponding to where it hangs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Inventor: Giampaolo Conti
  • Publication number: 20080196452
    Abstract: A lint filter of a laundry machine is provided. In the lint filter, a case is provided, a front filter is installed in the case and the front filler includes a hook formed at at least one side, and a rear filter is mounted on a back of the front filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2005
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Inventors: Jong Deuk Bae, Jong Gil Kim
  • Patent number: 7401479
    Abstract: An accessory basket for a washing machine includes a substantially cylindrical basket member having a bottom end with a centrally disposed aperture thereon. A plurality of slots radially extend from the aperture allowing the basket to be placed over a washing machine agitator. The top end of the basket is open allowing accessory articles such a shoes to be placed within the basket. A lid a placed over the top end of the basket to secure the accessory items therein. Accordingly, operation of the washing machine will result in the articles being shifted about within the basket thereby minimizing noise and damage to the washing machine or article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Inventor: Maryann Angela Fields
  • Publication number: 20080110214
    Abstract: A mount (110) is configured to mount a laundry water treatment device (102, 104) or other appliance to a washing machine, clothes dryer, or other laundry appliance. The mount (110) includes a frame (202), magnet supports (204, 504) and magnets (206). The mount is configurable for removable attachment to a vertical or horizontal surface of the washing machine or clothes dryer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2006
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Inventors: Lowell L. Snider, Steven J. Snider, Steven A. Tunder
  • Patent number: 6148646
    Abstract: A washing machine includes a washing shaft for rotating agitating blades disposed in a dewatering tank, and the washing shaft is disposed coaxially on a hollow dewatering shaft for rotating the dewatering tank. The washing shaft is connected to the output side of a reduction mechanism, and a washing side input shaft is connected to the input side of the reduction mechanism to rotate the washing shaft by decelerating the rotation of a drive motor. A rotor of the drive motor is coupled to the lower part of the washing side input shaft. Therefore, the rotating torque of the agitating blades can be increased without increasing the torque of the drive motor. In addition, if the laundry collides against the agitating blades, the eccentricity to the washing side input shaft is suppressed, thereby the increase of the washing capacity can be handled without increasing the size of the drive motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Koshiga, Shinichi Nakajima, Junichi Morinaka, Shinichi Matsuda, Toshihiko Ura, Kenichi Akasaka, Norimasa Kondo
  • Patent number: 6082902
    Abstract: A wiper device has a tubular plate, a tubular element provided in the tubular plate for supporting a driven shaft, a bearing bushing in which the tubular element is introduced, the bearing bushing and the tubular element being fixed with one another in a form-locking manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Kurt Muehlpforte, Henk Becker, Claus Fleischer, Tino Boos
  • Patent number: 6082152
    Abstract: A washing machine pumps a washing liquid towards an upper portion of a spin tub while a washing cycle is being executed. The washing machine has a pumping unit disposed at an underside of an outer tub so as to pump the washing liquid from a bottom wall of the outer tub to upper portions of the spin tub and the outer tub. The pumping unit has a receptacle which is fixed to the underside of the outer tub, a disc member which is reciprocated in upward and downward directions within the receptacle, a wire having a first end fixed to a center of an underside of the disc member, a synchronous motor connected to a second end of the wire for pulling the disc member downward, and a compression spring installed in the receptacle for upwardly biasing the disc member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jang-Yun Im
  • Patent number: 6077184
    Abstract: A shaft assembly used in a washing machine, which can prevent noise generated from a gear assembly therein. The shaft assembly has a speed reduction gear assembly including an internal gear, a sun gear, and planet gears. The sun gear is a helical gear made of plastic. An input shaft of the shaft assembly is inserted into the sun gear. Relative movement between the sun gear and the planet gears is prevented by a cover member. Since the sun gear is a helical gear made of plastic, noise is reduced. Furthermore, the movement of the gears caused by the thrust of the helical gear is prevented by the cover member, and therefore the noise is still more reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hyeong-reol Lee
  • Patent number: 6049930
    Abstract: A washing machine includes a rotatable tub in which an agitator is disposed. A tub shaft connected to the rotatable tub is mounted on a base for rotation. A clutch is mounted on the tub shaft to be reciprocally moved so that the clutch engages a clutch engagement hole of the base and an engagement protrusion of a motor rotor alternately. An operation lever mounted on the base is operated so that the clutch is reciprocally moved. The bottom of the base includes a region of rotational locus of the clutch. The region is flat except for the clutch engagement hole so that the clutch is prevented from engaging a portion other than the clutch engagement hole. A reed switch is mounted on the base to be turned on when detecting engagement of the clutch with the clutch engagement hole. A control device proceeds from a dehydration stage to a next stage only when the reed switch is turned on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Koji Hisano, Hiroshi Nishimura, Michiaki Ito
  • Patent number: 6035670
    Abstract: A compressed water generation apparatus of clothes washer comprises a hollow body, a piston housed in the hollow body, a valve for allowing the water through an inlet opening formed at an upper portion of the hollow body in response to a movement of the piston, and a flexible band connecting to the housing by one end thereof and to the piston by another end thereof, for expanding volume of space created between the inlet opening of the hollow body and the piston in respect to the movement of the water basket, thus drawing in the water of the water basket, compressing the water, and discharging the pressurized water toward the clothes basket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kwan-Choul Park
  • Patent number: 5926887
    Abstract: A washing machine with an improved mode shifter comprises a basket for holding an article to be washed, a basket collar coupled to the basket, an agitator disposed within the basket, an agitator collar coupled to the agitator, a brake for reducing a rotational velocity of the basket, a brake collar coupled to the brake, a first spring disposed around the basket collar and the agitator collar, and a second spring disposed around the first spring, the basket collar, and the brake collar. The mode shifter provides a mechanically simple, inexpensive, and reliable mechanism for shifting from the agitation mode to the spin mode to the brake mode in a wash cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: General Electric Co.
    Inventors: Robert Alan Thompson, Walter Whipple, III, Daniel Joseph Flores
  • Patent number: 5887457
    Abstract: A washing machine having a friction apparatus which can uniformly wash articles to be washed and can improve the washing efficiency. The friction apparatus is installed in openings formed at a side wall of a spin tub. Upper and lower slots are formed at upper and lower portions of the openings. The friction apparatus has a cylinder, a rod which extends through the cylinder, a plurality of blades which are integrally formed with an outer wall of the cylinder, and first and second bushings fixedly inserted into the upper and lower slots. An inner wall of the cylinder is formed with a spiral groove, and the rod is provided at its outer wall with a spiral strip which is engaged with the spiral groove. The friction apparatus fully makes contact with the articles while the washing cycle is being carried out thereby uniformly washing the articles and improving the washing efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jeong-Gi Yu
  • Patent number: 5887458
    Abstract: A driving system for a washing machine having a washing shaft connected with an agitator in the center of a washing tub to stir laundry in washing mode, and an extracting shaft positioned outside the washing shaft and connected with an extracting tub which rotates at high speeds in extracting mode, further includes a power generator for generating power to rotate the washing shaft and the extracting shaft, a decelerator installed under the power generator to reduce the number of rotation transmitted from the power generator, and a power-switching device for de-energizing the extracting shaft in washing mode and for energizing the extracting shaft in extracting mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang-Chul Bae
  • Patent number: 5884507
    Abstract: A washing machine includes a water tub, a spin basket mounted inside the water tub, and a pulsator mounted in the spin basket. A drive transmission includes a hollow dehydrating shaft and a laundering shaft disposed coaxially therein. The hollow dehydrating shaft is connected to the spin basket, and the laundering shaft is connected to the pulsator. A connecting gear is mounted on the dehydrating shaft for vertical movement therealong. In an upper position, the connecting gear meshes with fixed teeth to prevent the spin basket from rotating. In a lower position, the connecting gear causes the laundering shaft and dehydrating shaft to be interconnected for common rotation. The connecting gear is rotatable slightly relative to the laundering shaft to accommodate meshing of gear teeth in response to upper and lower movement of the connecting gear. Springs are provided which act between the dehydrating shaft and the connecting gear and which are yieldable to permit the slight rotation of the connecting gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Min Soo Lee, Hwan-Young Choi
  • Patent number: 5873269
    Abstract: A clothes washing machine includes a water tub, a spin basket, and a clothes agitator. A vertical dehydrating shaft is fixed to the spin basket, and a laundering shaft extends coaxially within the dehydrating shaft. Upper and lower ends of the laundering shaft are connected to the agitator and a motor respectively, whereby rotation of the motor is always transmitted to the agitator. In order to selectively connect the dehydrating shaft to the laundering shaft (e.g., during a spin-drying operation), a connecting gear is mounted on the dehydrating shaft for rotation therewith and for vertical movement relative thereto. A power-driven actuator is provided for selectively moving the connecting gear up or down. When the connecting gear moves down, lower teeth thereon become operably connected to the motor so that the dehydrating shaft and laundering shaft rotate together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Min-Pyo Hong, Hwan-Young Choi
  • Patent number: 5862685
    Abstract: A washing machine transmission performs a washing by rotating a pulsator in forward and reverse directions during a washing cycle even though a driving source rotates in any one direction only, so that an overload in the driving source can be prevented. A first link is attached to an upper end of a driving shaft, and has a first guide pin. A second link is hinged to an inner peripheral surface of a brake drum at a first end and has a second guide pin, and has a first oblong slot formed between the first end and the second end. A third link is attached to a driven shaft, and has a second oblong slot. When the driving shaft rotates, the first guide pin rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hee-Tae Lim
  • Patent number: 5860299
    Abstract: A clothes washing machine includes a water tub, a spin basket, and a clothes agitator. A vertical dehydrating shaft is fixed to the spin basket, and a laundering shaft extends coaxially within the dehydrating shaft. Upper and lower ends of the laundering shaft are connected to the agitator and a motor respectively, whereby rotation of the motor is always transmitted to the agitator. In order to selectively connect the dehydrating shaft to the laundering shaft (e.g., during a spin-drying operation), a connecting gear is mounted on the dehydrating shaft for rotation therewith and for vertical movement relative thereto. A power-driven actuator is provided for selectively moving the connecting gear up or down. When the connecting gear moves down, lower teeth thereon become operably connected to the motor so that the dehydrating shaft and laundering shaft rotate together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-Yong Eum, Hwan-Young Choi
  • Patent number: 5842358
    Abstract: A clothes washing machine includes a water tub, a spin basket, and a clothes agitator. A vertical dehydrating shaft is fixed to the spin basket, and a laundering shaft extends coaxially within the dehydrating shaft. Upper and lower ends of the laundering shaft are connected to the agitator and a motor respectively, whereby rotation of the motor is always transmitted to the agitator. In order to selectively connect the dehydrating shaft to the laundering shaft (e.g., during a spin-drying operation), a connecting gear is mounted on the dehydrating shaft for rotation therewith and for vertical movement relative thereto. A power-driven actuator is provided for selectively moving the connecting gear up or down. When the connecting gear moves down, lower teeth thereon become operably connected to the motor so that the dehydrating shaft and laundering shaft rotate together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyoung-Mo Koo, Min-Soo Lee
  • Patent number: 5809808
    Abstract: A transmission for a washing machine includes a housing, an agitator shaft rotatably mounted to the housing, and an input shaft rotatably mounted to the housing. A one-way clutch connects the input shaft and the housing which permits relative rotation between the input shaft and the housing in a first direction and prevents relative rotation between the input shaft and the housing in a second direction. An agitation system connects the input shaft and the agitator shaft whereby rotation of the input shaft relative to the housing provides back-and-forth agitation of the agitator shaft. A one-way clutch ball bearing rotatably and axially supports the housing. The one-way clutch ball bearing is a sprag type-clutch which prevents rotation of the housing in the first direction and permits rotation of the housing in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: White Consolidated Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Andriano, Brian Schultz
  • Patent number: 5778703
    Abstract: A washing machine includes a hollow tub shaft mounted on a first stationary portion of the machine for rotation, a rotatable tub rotatably mounted on an upper end of the tub shaft, an agitator shaft concentrically inserted in the tub shaft for rotation, an agitator mounted on the upper end of the agitator shaft, a stator fixed to a second stationary portion of the machine to be concentric with the agitator shaft to constitute an electric motor together with the stator, and a clutch including a holder mounted on the tub shaft for rotation with the tub shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Masahiro Imai, Hiroshi Nishimura, Masaru Koshimizu, Koichi Hosomi, Kazunobu Nagai, Isamu Nitta, Yutaka Inagaki
  • Patent number: 5740701
    Abstract: An eccentric gear for a transmission for a washing machine which uses an off center gear having a dual part construction combination with a rack and pinion mechanism, a brake clutch, and a drive clutch to provide the agitation and the high speed spin of the washing machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: MTD Products Inc.
    Inventor: Hans Hauser
  • Patent number: 5737965
    Abstract: A transmission is provided for converting rotary input into an oscillating output. The transmission includes a housing with an input shaft and an output shaft, and a series of gears interconnecting the shafts. The gears include a pair of rack gears on opposite sides of an output pinion mounted on the output shaft. The rack gears are held in meshing engagement with the output pinion by a carrier which is mounted upon a floating bushing on the output shaft. The floating bushing allows the rack gears and rack carrier to move side-to-side relative to the output shaft, thereby equalizing the load on the rack gears and preventing binding between the teeth of the rack gears and the teeth of the output pinion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: Jack L. Crain, James C. Jones
  • Patent number: 5737944
    Abstract: A washing machine includes an outer tub, a rotatable tub rotatably mounted in the outer tub, an agitator mounted in the rotatable tub, a hollow tub shaft transmitting a rotating force to the rotatable tub, an agitator shaft inserted in the tub shaft for transmitting a rotating force to the agitator and having a lower end, an electric motor including a stator concentric with the agitator shaft and a rotor mounted on the lower end of the agitator shaft, a clutch for changing between a first mode in which the tub shaft is operatively coupled to the agitator shaft in a dehydration step so that the motor rotor, the agitator shaft and the tub shaft are rotated together and a second mode in which the tub shaft is decoupled from the agitator shaft in a wash step so that the tub shaft is prevented from being rotated with the motor rotor and the agitator shaft, and a mechanism housing mounted on an outer bottom of the outer tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nishimura, Masaru Koshimizu, Masahiro Imai, Koichi Hosomi, Yutaka Inagaki
  • Patent number: 5732574
    Abstract: A transmission including a housing, an agitator shaft rotatably mounted to the housing, an input shaft rotatably mounted to the housing, and an agitation system which back-and-forth agitation of the agitator shaft when the input shaft rotates relative to the housing. The agitation system includes a rack drivingly connected to the agitator shaft, an eccentric gear drivingly connected to the input shaft, an idler shaft rotatably mounting the eccentric gear to the housing, and a rolling-contact bearing rotatably connecting the eccentric gear and the rack. The rolling contact bearing is press-fit with the eccentric gear and the rack and has a rotational axis displaced from a rotational axis of the eccentric gear. The idler shaft has a first end press-fit into the eccentric gear and a second end slip-fit into a sleeve bearing of the housing. A bearing pad is located between the housing and an end of the rack connected to the agitator shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: White Consolidated Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Hans Hauser
  • Patent number: 5727402
    Abstract: A full automatic washing machine includes an outer tub having an upper opening, a rotatable tub mounted in the outer tub for rotation, and an agitator mounted in the rotatable tub for rotation. The rotatable tub has a number of dehydrating holes formed only in the upper end of its circumferential wall. An inner lid is pivotally mounted on an outer tub cover so as to open and close the upper opening of the outer tub. The inner lid has a concave showering portion having a number of showering through holes. In a wash step, the agitator is driven with the inner lid closed. In a rinse-with-dehydration step, supply of water via the showering holes of the inner lid into the rotatable tub and rotation of the rotatable tub are alternately executed under sequential control of these steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaishi Toshiba
    Inventor: Masatsugu Wada
  • Patent number: 5720065
    Abstract: A direct-drive washing machine has a drive system adapted for spinning a spin tub during a spin cycle and oscillating an agitator within the spin tub during an agitation cycle. The drive system includes a mounting plate secured to a splash tub, an electric motor supported by the mounting plate, and a drive shaft directly connecting the motor and the agitator. A drive hub encircles the drive shaft and is rotatable relative to the drive shaft. The drive hub is rigidly connected to the spin tub and has a strike plate downwardly extending from a bottom surface of the drive hub. A drive pin is rigidly connected to the drive shaft below the drive hub and engages the strike plate upon continuous rotation of the drive shaft to spin the spin tub and allows oscillation of the agitator upon oscillation of the drive shaft. A locking device selectively engages the drive hub to prevent rotation of the drive hub, and the spin tub attached thereto, during oscillation of the agitator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Assignee: White Consolidated Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean F. Myers, Jack W. Bailey
  • Patent number: 5720190
    Abstract: A transmission for driving an agitator in a washing machine includes a housing, an input shaft for being driven by a motor, and an output shaft for driving the agitator. The input shaft includes a crank disposed in the housing, and the output shaft includes a pinion disposed in the housing adjacent to the crank. A yoke is slidably mounted in the housing between the crank and pinion, and includes a rack operatively engaging the pinion along a pitchline, and a slot having a slot axis disposed perpendicularly to the pitchline which receives therein a slider rotatably joined to the crank. Rotation of the crank sinusoidally reciprocates the rack as the slider reciprocates in the slot, and reciprocation of the rack sinusoidally oscillates the pinion for driving the output shaft with minimum peak torque and drive power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Roger Neal Johnson, Sudhir Dattatraya Savkar, Robert Elmer Sundell
  • Patent number: 5680778
    Abstract: A clothes washer includes a washing basket in which an oscillatory agitator is disposed. A power transmission interconnects a motor with the basket and agitator. The power transmission includes a washing shaft assembly connected to the agitator and a hollow dehydrating shaft assembly connected to the basket. The washing shaft assembly passes through the hollow dehydrating shaft assembly. The dehydrating shaft assembly includes a first dehydrating shaft connected to the basket, and a second shaft having an inner circumference which is press-fit to an outer circumference of the first dehydrating shaft. The outer periphery of the second dehydrating shaft is rotatably supported within a bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Je Man Seo
  • Patent number: 5661989
    Abstract: An automatic clothes washing machine comprises a water container, a washing basket mounted inside the water container to rotate about a vertical axis, and an agitator having a plurality of radial vanes for rotating about the vertical axis to radially propel the water into vertical channels arranged on the inside of the side wall of the washing basket. The channels discharge the propelled water vertically along the side wall. Each vertical channel has a water inlet at the lower end, for receiving radially propelled water, and a plurality of vertically spaced water outlets for discharging the water back into the washing basket. At least one of the water outlets is disposed below a vertical center of its respective channel, and a filter is mounted at the lowest water outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yong Byeong Jeon, Hyeong Reol Lee
  • Patent number: 5655389
    Abstract: A transmission for driving an agitator in a washing machine includes a housing, an input shaft for being driven by a motor, and an output shaft for driving the agitator. The input shaft includes a crank disposed in the housing, and the output shaft includes a pinion disposed in the housing adjacent to the crank. A yoke is slidably mounted in the housing between the crank and pinion, and includes a rack operatively engaging the pinion along a pitchline, and a slot having a slot axis disposed perpendicularly to the pitchline which receives therein a slider rotatably joined to the crank. Rotation of the crank sinusoidally reciprocates the rack as the slider reciprocates in the slot, and reciprocation of the rack sinusoidally oscillates the pinion for driving the output shaft with minimum peak torque and drive power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Roger Neal Johnson, Sudhir Dattatraya Savkar, Robert Elmer Sundell
  • Patent number: 5651277
    Abstract: An automatic washer includes an elongated shaft mounted to a motor for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the shaft. A fabric basket is rotatably mounted to the shaft and an agitator is attached to the shaft above the fabric basket. A clutch is positioned between the agitator and the fabric basket and is movable from a disengaged position wherein the agitator rotates independently of the basket to an engaged position wherein the agitator rotates in unison with the basket. The clutch is movable from its engaged position to its disengaged position in response to the rise of washing fluid within the washing basket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventor: Curtis G. Richardson
  • Patent number: 5651278
    Abstract: An improved agitator construction is provided for an automatic clothes washing machine in which a surface or contour of a vane carried on a portion of the agitator which is intermittently rotated in a single direction is shaped to enhance engagement between the vane and the items being washed and to retard the items from moving at least one of radially and upwardly relative to the agitator. The vane, which may be a helical vane, may be provided with a lower surface angled downwardly and outwardly in a radial direction, or may be provided with one or more steps having a relatively steep sloped wall facing in a direction leading away from the direction of rotation of the agitator and a relatively shallow sloped wall facing in a direction leading toward the direction of rotation of the agitator, or both shapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Robert J. Pinkowski
  • Patent number: 5638719
    Abstract: A transmission is provided for converting rotary input into an oscillating output. The transmission includes a housing with an input shaft and an output shaft, and a series of gears interconnecting the shafts. The gears include a pair of rack gears on opposite sides of an output pinion mounted on the output shaft. The rack gears are held in meshing engagement with the output pinion by a carrier which is mounted upon a floating bushing on the output shaft. The floating bushing allows the rack gears and rack carrier to move side-to-side relative to the output shaft, thereby equalizing the load on the rack gears and preventing binding between the teeth of the rack gears and the teeth of the output pinion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: Jack L. Crain, J. C. Jones
  • Patent number: 5619871
    Abstract: A laundry machine having an electronically commutated motor which includes a plurality of salient pole pieces disposed on preselected pitch axes so as to extend generally outwardly from an outer circumferential surface of a yoke section, with base sections of the salient pole pieces secured to the yoke section against displacement therefrom at least generally adjacent the outer circumferential surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Franklin L. Forbes, Harold B. Harms
  • Patent number: 5605212
    Abstract: A clutch/brake mechanism for a transmission of a washing machine which uses an upwardly moving disc brake activated by a spring clutch dependent on the direction of rotation of an associated motor to provide the agitation and the high speed spin of the washing machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignee: MTD Products Inc
    Inventor: Hans Hauser
  • Patent number: 5586455
    Abstract: An automatic washing machine includes a clutch float having external gear teeth. The clutch float is located around a shaft which is driven by an electric motor and to which an agitator is secured. The clutch float couples the shaft to an inner rotatable tub when its external gear teeth are engaged with internal gear teeth at the inner tub side in a dehydration step. The clutch float moves upwardly in subjection to buoyancy when water is supplied into the inner tub in a wash step. The external gear teeth of the clutch float are disengaged from the internal gear teeth so that the shaft is decoupled from the inner tub. The washing machine further includes a rotation restricting float which moves upwardly in subjection to the buoyancy in the wash step to couple the inner tub to an outer stationary tub and which decouples the inner tub from the outer tub in the dehydration step. A device delivers a position signal indicative of the position of the clutch float which is vertically movable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tooru Imai, Hiroshi Nishimura, Nobuichi Nishimura, Masahiro Imai, Kazutoshi Tani, Takayuki Hirano
  • Patent number: 5561990
    Abstract: A system for sensing spin speed and an out-of-balance condition in a washing machine is provided. The washing machine includes a washer basket and an agitator that spin about a predetermined spin axis during a spin cycle. The OOB condition can be characterized by excursions, during the spin cycle, of a tub which encloses the washer basket. The tub excursions can be in a direction generally perpendicular to the spin axis of the washer basket, for example. The system includes a magnetic source, such as a permanent magnet, positioned in the agitator for producing a predetermined magnetic field. A magnetic sensor is positioned to be electromagnetically coupled to the magnetic source for supplying an output signal that varies as the agitator rotates relative to the magnetic sensor. A signal processor is coupled to the magnetic sensor for receiving the output signal supplied by the magnetic sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ertugrul Berkcan, Kenneth B. Welles, II
  • Patent number: 5558193
    Abstract: A novel ball-type auger ratchet mechanism which may be used with washer agitators and augers. More particularly this mechanism comprises a top cap, a simplified cam, and a plurality of balls. The structures described have fewer parts than conventional auger ratchet mechanisms, and ultimately are easier to assemble and cost less. Furthermore, both embodiments of the instant invention, use mechanical means to achieve a positive locking and non-slipping action, rather that the conventional frictional force mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Harold J. Jenkins, Robert E. Sundell, Sudhir D. Savkar
  • Patent number: 5551262
    Abstract: A clothes washing machine includes a spin-drying tub and an oscillatory pulsator disposed in the tub. A first shaft arrangement transmits a driving force from an electric motor to the pulsator during a wash cycle. A second shaft arrangement, coaxial with the first shaft arrangement, is connected to the tub. An electromagnetic clutch selectively couples and uncouples the second shaft arrangement relative to the first shaft arrangement. The clutch includes a pair of discs connected to the respective shaft arrangements for common rotation therewith. One of the discs is connected by splines to its associated shaft arrangement and is movable axially toward and away from the other disc by a magnetic attraction produced by an electromagnet carried by one of the discs. When brought axially together, the discs transmit drive from the first shaft arrangement to the second shaft arrangement for driving the tub and pulsator together during a spinning cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Je-Man Seo
  • Patent number: 5522242
    Abstract: A transmission for a washing machine which uses an off center gear in combination with a rack and pinion agitation mechanism, a brake clutch, and a drive clutch to provide the agitation and the high speed spin of the washing machine. A lost motion interconnection between the machine's motor and the rack and pinion agitation mechanism allows a measure of relative rotation for actuation of the clutches without movement of the agitator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Assignee: MTD Products Inc
    Inventor: Hans Hauser
  • Patent number: 5509284
    Abstract: A transmission for a washing machine which uses an off center gear in combination with a rack and pinion mechanism, a brake clutch, and a drive clutch to provide the agitation and the high speed spin of the washing machine. The input shaft is in line with the agitator shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1996
    Assignee: MTD Products Inc.
    Inventor: Hans Hauser
  • Patent number: 5509283
    Abstract: A clothes washing machine includes a water container, a spin-drying basket disposed in the container, and an oscillatory agitator disposed at the bottom of the basket. A plurality of upright water passages are formed in a vertical wall of the basket for conducting an upward flow of water generated by the agitator. Each passage includes vertically spaced first and second water outlets disposed above a water level in the basket. The second outlet is disposed below the upper outlet and has a lint filter. A third water outlet is formed in each passage and is disposed below the water level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1996
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae C. Lee, Do W. Kim