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.

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.

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.

Abstract: A head drum, for a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus, includes a hemispheric hydraulic bearing capable of reducing frictional resistances created due to an axial direction force and a radial force generated at the same time, thereby facilitating the assembling and manufacturing of the head drum.