Abstract: A vertical axis flow through type clothes washing machine with a basket driving transmission which imparts a wobble action to the basket during wash and conventional rotational motion during spin operations. The transmission supports the basket such that when the input drive shaft rotates in its wash direction, the central basket axis is canted relative to the substantially vertical axis of rotation of the drive shaft. As the shaft rotates, the central basket axis describes an inverted cone thereby imparting the wobble action to the basket which is prevented from rotating about its own axis. When the drive shaft rotates in the opposite direction for spin, the central axis of the basket is substantially coaligned with the vertical axis of rotation of the input drive shaft, and the basket is rotated about its own axis for centrifugal extraction of liquid from the clothes in the basket.

Abstract: A washing machine includes a fabric receptacle or basket formed with a vertical side wall having a plurality of spaced vertical inwardly extending ribs arranged thereon for engaging the fabrics upon inward movement of the ribs during the orbiting cycle to impart an annular, generally horizontal motion to the fabrics in the basket. A plurality of annular ledges are formed on a downwardly and outwardly sloping portion of the bottom of the basket. Each of the annular ledges includes an outwardly facing vertical section for engaging the fabrics in the basket when the orbiting motion of the basket causes the vertical sections to move outwardly. The basket further includes a plurality of spaced ramps formed adjacent the side wall of the basket at the bottom portion thereof and inclined upwardly in a direction opposite to the orbiting direction of the basket. A vertical wall is provided adjacent the inner edge of each of the ramps and this wall extends above the surface of the ramp.

Abstract: An automatic washing machine of the fresh-water, vertical-axis type has a dynamic system which includes a single perforate wash basket arranged to be driven continuously such that its central axis moves in an orbital path about another axis. The basket is restrained from rotating about its central axis when it is moving about the other axis and each point of the basket moves in a circulate path having an effective diameter which is small in relation to the diameter of the basket and having substantially the same excursion as the orbital path of the central axis of the basket. Water and soil removing agent are introduced into the basket during orbital motion and that motion is effective to induce a continuous motion of the fabric article load for washing the load. The machine tub and other working components are placed in the moving system and provide a stable base for the basket.

Abstract: An agitator type washing machine having a tub, a fabric receiving basket mounted in the tub, a recirculating pump for recirculating liquid from the tub to the basket during wash and rinse operations, and a liquid sensor responsive to the volume of liquid retained in the tub, which operatively combine to automatically control the volume of liquid delivered to the washing machine during each fill operation according to the size of the clothes load in the basket. Vertically spaced tiers of drain holes are formed in the sidewall of the basket to permit liquid flow from the basket to the tub. The tiers are arranged such that when the liquid level in the basket is lower than the lowermost tier unimpeded by the load in the basket, liquid flow from the basket, impeded by the load, is exceeded by the liquid flow into the basket from the tub and from the external supply, causing liquid to accumulate in the basket, but not in the tub.

Abstract: A two-speed clutch in which an input rotary drive is transmitted to an output rotary member to produce a high speed direct drive in which the output rotary member is driven at the same speed as the input member, or to produce a reduced output speed. The input member comprises an inner drum driven by centrifugally actuated clutch shoes in turn driven by an input shaft. A second set of clutch shoes is interposed between the inner drum and the output member consisting of an outer drum, which clutch shoes are designed to be centrifugally disengaged to produce a controlled slip between the inner and outer drums to reduce the output speed. In the high speed mode, the inner and outer drums are latched together to rotate at the same speed by a pivotally mounted latch mounted on the outer drum and an expanding spring element mounted to the inner drum, with engagement between the latch and expanding spring taking place at a predetermined rate of rotation of the inner drum to establish high speed drive.

Abstract: A flexible coupling for drivingly interconnecting a driving member and a driven member. The coupling includes a first coupling arrangement adapted for connection to the driven member and a second coupling arrangement adapted for connection to the driving member. The coupling arrangements are interconnected by a plurality of flexible arms. Each arm includes first and second curved portions connected by a planar portion.

Abstract: A clothes washing machine of the type having recirculation of water from a tub into a perforated basket within which the clothes are received with a mechanically delayed action clutch driving both the agitator during wash and rinse cycles, and the basket during spin cycles. The mechanical delay in the case of the wash or rinse cycles enables a recirculation pump to bring the water level in the basket to the operating level after the machine fill prior to initiation of agitator drive. In the case of the spin cycle, the water level is reduced by a drain pump during the delay interval prior to initiation of the basket spin. The mechanical delay is introduced by a retarding action on the centrifugal drive clutch whereby after start of rotation of the drive motor, the full engagement of the centrifugally actuated clutch is delayed by a rotary damping action consisting of a washer caused to rotate through a volume of silicone liquid enclosed in a container.

Abstract: A vane shape for producing optimum washing action in vertical axis clothes washing machines including vanes located in the bottom of the tub or basket and shaped with radially canted edges which cause the fabric articles to be pulled and slid outwardly as the edge is rotated into the articles to establish a toroidal circulation within the tub. In a preferred embodiment, an oscillated agitator is provided with a series of vane pairs joined at the lower side to form a V-shaped trough with either upper edge of the vane pairs inclined to produce a net outward movement of the washed articles by alternate engagement with a respective upper edge of either vane blades upon alternate rotation into the load. The vane shapes are either mounted to an oscillating agitator, a rotary impeller, or integrally formed in an oscillating basket.

Abstract: An agitator for a clothes washing machine including a center post extending into the clothes receiving receptacle and upon which is mounted a vertically reciprocable agitator member including an agitator element extending radially outward from the center post. The agitator element is mounted on a nut member which mates with a thread formed on the center post, such that upon relative rotation between the agitator element and the center post, vertical reciprocation of the agitator element takes place to induce turnover motion of the clothes. The center post is oscillated to cause the reciprocation by engagement of the agitator element with clothes disposed in the machine during the wash cycle. The agitator element is configured with a downwardly extending flared skirt portion having scalloped edges to increase the interengagement with the clothes. The flared shape of the agitator element causes a net downward force on the clothes drawing them downwardly along the center post.

Abstract: An improved safety start system for use in a domestic appliance. The system includes a drive motor circuit for energizing the drive motor through the drive motor switch and door switch and includes a manually operable start switch connected for energizing both the start and run windings to initiate motor operation. A switch is provided for de-energizing the start winding and locking in the run winding when the motor comes up to speed. The improvement comprises an electrically operated door latch in parallel circuit with the drive motor run winding and is actuated to lock the door closed when the run winding is energized and unlock the door when the run winding is de-energized. An arrangement is also provided to automatically open the door when it is unlocked. By this system for the appliance to operate the door must be manually closed while the start switch is operated.

Abstract: A variable speed drive system for a clothes dryer having a driven rotatable drum wherein the drum may be rotated at high speed, low speed, or no speed during operation of the machine. There is provided an improved mechanism for transmitting torque between a driving rotatable member and the driven rotatable drum through an endless drive belt. The driving rotatable member has a first diameter area and a second diameter area, the first area having a greater diameter than the second. There are two pulley assemblies each being pivotable about each of the first and second diameter areas and each having a drive belt. A shift mechanism for controlling the three modes of drum operation is provided which includes capability to rotate selectively each of the pulley assemblies about the driving member which causes one or both of the drive belts to slip to accomplish the desired mode of drum operation.

Abstract: In a laundry machine having a horizontal axis rotatable drum and a door for access into the drum there is provided an air vent including a duct having one end in air flow communication with the interior of the drum and the opposite end in air flow communication with air outside the machine. The air vent also includes a flexible flap within the duct having one end free and movable from a vertical first position to a second position and the opposite end of the flap is secured to the duct. The flap has a dimension less than the inside lateral cross section of the duct. There is also a partition spaced from the free end of the flap when the flap is in the first vertical position and the partition has an opening smaller than the flap whereby the opening is covered when the machine is in operation and the flap is in the second position.

Abstract: A reversible turbine pump for producing bi-directional liquid flow wherein there is provided a housing having a substantially annular outer wall and top and bottom walls closing the ends of the outer wall. Within the housing there is a rotatable impeller having an annular series of blades extending outwardly and forming with the wall a toroidal space. First and second spaced outlet openings are provided in the housing and also first and second circumferentially spaced channels between the impeller and each of the outlet openings in liquid flow communication with the toroidal space. A dam is located between the channels. An inlet opening is located in each of the channels.

Abstract: An improved automatic clothes dryer and method of drying clothes wherein the clothes dryer has a rotatable drum through which heated air is circulated by a blower wheel driven at the full speed of a single speed electric motor. There is a thermostatic switch for sensing the temperature of air exiting the drum and through appropriate controls when a selected predetermined temperature is reached both the temperature at which the air is heated and the volume of air flowing through the drum are reduced. The improved clothes dryer and method reduces the amount of energy utilized by the dryer yet good clothes drying characteristics are accomplished.

Abstract: An improved liquid flow mechanical diverter valve of the stream interaction type is provided. The valve includes a housing having an inlet for receiving a flow of liquid from a liquid source, a pair of first channels communicating with the inlet, each having an exit port, an interaction chamber, a pair of converging second channels between the exit ports and the interaction chamber, three exit areas directed away from the interaction chamber and two flapper assemblies, each having a first portion large enough to seat against and cover a first channel exit port, a second portion at an angle to the first portion and rigidly secured thereto, a pivot at the junction of the first and second portions, the second portions being spaced from and directed toward each other.

Abstract: A belt drive mechanism for transmitting torque between a driving rotatable member and a driven rotatable member through a drive belt which is an automatic belt tightener. Included is a freely-riding pulley assembly pivotable about the driving member as a center and including two pulleys with outside diameter flanges and reduced interior diameters having their longitudinal axes of rotation parallel and a fixed distance apart. The driving member has its longitudinal axis of rotation parallel to the rotational axes of the pulleys and is arranged in a wedge-like relationship therebetween. The flanges of each pulley are in contact with the driving member and the drive belt passes over the driving member and then over the reduced diameter of both of the flanged pulleys. By this arrangement, the belt has imparted to it a driving force delivered by the driving member and both of the pulleys.

Abstract: A delayed-action transmission whereby mechanical coupling between a driven member and a driving member is effected by centrifugal force and the mechanical coupling is controllably delayed.

Abstract: A lint filter for an automatic washing machine having a rotatable walled basket for receiving items to be washed and means for recirculating liquid therein. The lint filter comprises an annulus channel member having an inside wall, an outside wall, and perforations for liquid to pass therethrough. The annulus channel member is secured to the wall of the basket inwardly thereof. There is provided a plurality of elongated protuberances attached to the inside wall of the annulus channel member with their bases positioned toward the rotational axis of the basket such that during rotation of the basket lint will be removed from the protuberances by centrifugal force.

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 washing machine of the fresh water flow through, vertical axis, wobble type has a dynamic system which includes a single imperforate wash basket arranged for rotation and oscillation about its vertical axis and a diametrically opposed set of masses arranged for rotation about the same vertical axis. A hollow vertical shaft couples the rotatable wash basket and the rotatable mass system to a shifting nodal point, damped gyratory suspension system mounted upon the cabinet base. During the washing operation, the basket is prevented from rotation and oscillatory motion is transferred thereto as a result of the rotation of the system of masses. The system of masses is only slightly statically unbalanced but the members are vertically offset with respect to each other such that they form a dynamically unbalanced couple, the effect of vibration of which is to cause turnover and simultaneous circumverential tumbling of clothes placed within the wash basket.