Abstract: A drive mechanism for converting rotary oscillation of a washing machine clothes agitator to intermittent unidirectional rotation of an adjoining clothes auger includes a ratchet wheel and cooperating ratchet pawls. The wheel includes axially oppositely facing top and bottom sides, with the top side having a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart ratchet teeth, and the bottom side being configured for being fixedly joined to the clothes agitator. The pawls are vertically suspended from a support disk for allowing gravity to engage the pawls with the ratchet teeth as the ratchet wheel oscillates with the agitator, with the support disk being driven in a single direction by the pawls for correspondingly rotating the auger joinable thereto.

Abstract: A novel auger clutch mechanism which may be used with washer agitators and augers. More particularly this mechanism comprises an outer clutch housing and a clutch, wherein the clutch is positioned within the housing. The clutch has a number of outwardly extending ligaments which are flexible enough to be rolled up. When rolled up, the ligaments restrict movement in one direction, yet allow the clutch to move freely in the opposite direction.