US3145818A - Switch mechanism - Google Patents

Description

5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 27. 1961 FIG.

JNVENTOR. DANIEL E. STELLI ATTORNEY Aug. 25, 1964 E 3,145,818

SWITCH MECHANISM Filed June 27. 1961 'o' Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2 7 '2 W"!!! 82 I WET-TOW INVEN TOR.

DANIEL E. STELLI ATTORNEY Aug. 25, 1964 D. STELLl SWITCH MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 27. 1961 FIG. 5

FIG. 6

INVENTOR. v DANIEL E. STELLI BY FIG. 7 PowER Ll I SOURCE F ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,145,818 SWITCH MECHANISM Daniel E. Stelli, Lombard, Ill., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed June 27, 1961, Ser. No. 120,072 3 Claims. (Cl. 192-136) The present invention relates to control mechanisms and more particularly to those for controlling the operation of a centrifugal extractor or the like.

It is generally well-known that centrifugal extractors exhibit a tendency to oscillate or vibrate excessively when the articles being centrifuged become unbalanced. This excess vibration frequently causes the rotating body to strike and damage the surrounding structure. To alleviate this difiiculty, various forms of unbalance sensing or limit switches have been used to slow down or completely stop the centrifuge. In the usual situation once the unbalance has been sensed and reacted to, the machine operator opens the lid, manually rearranges the articles, and resets the machine for further operation of the centrifuge. It is customary to provide centrifugal extractors with a lid which is closed during the operation of the extractor and to provide a lid switch in the extractor power supply; whereby opening the lid will deenergize the drive motor of the apparatus. It has been proposed, in Smith et al. 2,612,766, for example, to combine an unbalance sensing switch with a lid switch, thus providing a mechanism which will open a control circuit on the occurrence of excess vibration, and also open the circuit as a result of manually opening the lid. An advantage of this arrangement is that the circuit will automatically restore on closure of the lid; that is, there are no resetting buttons or the like which the operator must actuate in order to resume operation. It is an improved form of this type of mechanism to which this invention is directed.

It is an object of the present invention to provide as an extractor control mechanism, a single double-acting switch which assumes one control condition in response either to opening of the machine lid or to another predetermined condition, and which can be reset to another control condition by the simple act of opening and closing the lid.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a switch actuating mechanism which actuates a switch device to a first circuit controlling position on the occurrence of either of two predetermined, mechanically unrelated, conditions, and which actuates the switch to an opposite circuit controlling position by duplication of one of said conditions.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a lid-equipped centrifuging apparatus with a switch mechanism which is spring biased to pivot in a direction to open a switch in a control circuit on opening of the machine lid, or in the circumstance of excessive vibration of the centrifuge during operation. To restore the switch in either instance, the lid is raised and then reclosed, during which operation the mechanism will pivot in a direction effective to reclose the switch.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a somewhat schematic side elevational view of a conventional washing machine utilizing the invention;

3,145,818 Patented Aug. 25, 1964 of FIG. 1, with portions of covering structure removed to reveal underlying parts;

FIG. 5 is a partial view of the machine of FIG. 1 showing the operation of the mechanism with the lid in open position;

FIG. 6 is a partial section as FIGS. 1 and 3 showing the operation of the mechanism resulting from an excessive gyration of the extractor; and

FIG. 7 is a simplified diagram showing schematically the circuit embodying the switch mechanism as an essential control component.

Turning now to FIG. 1 there can be seen the conventional clothes washing machine 10 of the generally known agitator-wash and spin-extract type. In such a machine there is an outer appearance cabinet indicated generally by the numeral 11 and encompassing a generally rectangular structure including an upper generally horizontal cover wall 12. Within upper wall 12 there is a lid 13 hinged at one side to the upper wall. The lid is pivotal about the hinge 14 from the horizontal closed position of FIG. 1, through an infinite series of partially open positions (i.e., FIG. 5) to a fully open position (not shown) allowing access to the machine interior.

Within the outer cabinet there is mounted an inner tub Wall shown partially as 15 extending vertically within the cabinet and spaced from the tub wall a rotating basket 16 within which the articles of clothing (not shown) are Washed and the water extracted therefrom by centrifuging. Basket 16 is therefore made rotatable on a vertical axis and may include about the periphery of its open top, an annular balance ring 17 of high density material. The basket is provided with a plurality of apertures 18 arranged in a row about the circumference of the tub, and during the extracting operation the washing or rinsing liquid discharges through these apertures. Purely by way of illustration, the washing machine is illustrated as being of the vertical agitate type, in which the agitator 20 is arranged to be oscillated by conventional mechanism (not shown) within a transmission casing 21. Also by way of said conventional mechanism, the basket 16 is rotated at a relatively high speed to elfect the extraction of liquid as above noted. The drive mechanism is disposed within the machinery compartment 22 below the tub 15; the base structure 24 at the bottom of said compartment supports structure 25 on a wrist-action mechanism 25.1 which forms the base or pivot about which the mechanism and tub can gyrate during the extraction operation. This gyration is resisted by the damping effect of a relatively heavy coil spring 25.2, which is bottomed on the structure 25 and presses a disk 25.3 of friction material against the bottom wall of the tub. Any suitable drive motor 26, carried by the structure 25 is arranged to power the washing and centrifuging operations, as by the drive sheave 26.2 aflixed to the motor shaft 26.1 and the belt 26.3 connecting said drive sheave with the driven sheave 27 of the mechanism within housing 21. It will be appreciated that these mechanisms and structures are well known in the art, and that the mechanisms and structures form no part of the present invention.

During the washing operation the clothing may become unevenly distributed about the basket, whereupon when the basket is rotated at a high speed to mgally extract the water, the basket may oscillate or wobble about its mounting 25.1 beyond the capability of the bal-. ance ring and spring 25.2 to exert a stabilizing influence, and it is expedient that the machine be either slowed down or stopped before excessive gyration can damage theoperation, it again becomes imperative to slow down or stop the rotation of the basket to ensure safety of the operator.

The present invention embodies mechanism which will control the power to the centrifuging drive motor (purely by way of example, the mechanism will open a switch in the power circuit) as a result of excessive gyration or of opening the lid; and it is a feature of the invention that opening the lid will in each case prepare the switch to restore to closed circuit condition, and closing the lid will actuate the switch to reenergize the power circuit.

Depending from the lid into the machine interior is a bumper 30 which actuates this lid control function. The bumper preferably is of resilient material and is positioned directly above (in the closed position) a rigid actuator member 32. The actuator member as shown is mushroom shaped to provide a comparatively large contact surface 34 adjacent bumper 30, and is mounted on or integral with a threaded shank 33 to afford vertical adjustability. This. actuator 32 is mounted on and extends upwardly of a lever 36 which may be formed from stainless steel rod. Lever 36 is arranged substantially below the lid and the casing cover 12, horizontally positioned, and extends from its one end 36.1 to which the actuator is mounted, through a dual bearing 38 fixed to the structure as shown. It follows an approximately 90 bend in the horizontal plane to terminate at an end 36.2 in an area comparatively remote from the basket and its contents. As shown, the end of the rod is in a location which is protected by the wall 15 of the tub, from water which overflows the basket during centrifuging. Adjacent its remote end 36.2, the lever is constrained to vertical motion by a slide guide 40 which comprises a stationary bar having a vertically extending slot 41. The width of the slot is sufficient to receive lever 36 and its height allows a restricted amount of motion vertically. Inwardly of this constraint, the end 36.2 is normally biased downwardly by tension spring 42 which circles the rod at its upper loop and is anchored to stationary platform 44 at its lower end. (The showing of spring 42 has been omitted in FIGS. and 6 to show with greater clarity the elements of the switch assembly structure.)

Stationary platform 44 is mounted to the tub wall 15 to extend horizontally outwardly of the tub wall within the outer cabinet enclosure in the section just below top wall 12. This platform also serves as the mounting for previously mentioned slide guide 40. In addition, there is mounted to the platform a switch mechanism 46 (FIG. 2) which comprises a bistable snap action switch. This switch is a generally known type which could be called a mechanical flip-flop and has respective actuating buttons 47 and 48 at two opposed sides. Depression of button 47 opens the switch internal circuit and depression of button 48 closes the internal circuit. The switch once actuated to either condition remains in that condition until the opposing button is actuated to reverse the switch condition. Positioned adjacent each button is a switch actuating plunger in the form of an adjustable screw. At Oil button 47 there is positioned a plunger screw 50 and adjacent On button 48 there is positioned an actuating screw or plunger 52.

Screw 50 actuates the button 47 as the result of excessive gyration or the opening of the lid 13. This is accomplished by mounting the screw on an Off-lever mechanism seen best in FIG. 3. This mechanism. includes a vertically extending rigid carrier member 54 mounted for rotation relative to the fixed switch 46, as by pivot arms 56 carried by the pivot rod 58 extending through depending structure 60 of the platform 44. Circumposed about the plunger portion of screw 50 is a compression spring 55 which is constrained between carrier 54 and the adjacent wall of the switch 46 to rotate the carrier clockwise of FIG. 1 and remove the end of the screw from the button 47. Secured to and extending from the lower section of carrier member 54 is a resilient striker 62. Striker 62 is angled upwardly from the carrier member to reach under, and then extend vertically upwardly through an opening 64 in the platform 44. The striker terminates in a recurved section 66 positioned normally in alignment with slot 41 in slide guide 48 and with the lever end 36.2. With this form of construction, the oif button may be depressed by either of two actions, (1) movement to the right of the stepped lower end 67 of carrier 54 as indicated in FIG. 5 or (2) by depression of recurved section 66 resulting from the engagement thereby of the lever operating end 36.2 as said end moves downwardly.

For operating the On button 48, the horizontally disposed actuator screw 52 is secured to the rigid vertical bracket 68. The lower end of the bracket is mounted on the stationary platform by a resilient cantilever spring 70-, which permits the bracket to move forward or away from the button 48, but normally establishes the bracket in a position substantially parallel to the right hand edge of slot 41, as viewed in FIG. 2. Protruding from the side of bracket 68 away from the switch is an emboss 72 which extends above recurved section 66 in the area traversable by lever end 36.2. In this way, the On button may be depressed by movement of the lever in either direction past emboss 72, thereby striking the emboss and deflecting the bracket and its screw 52 toward switch mechanism 46.

For actuating the switch by excess vibration of the basket, while seating the tub against water leakage, I use a resilient bumper mechanism 74 extending through tub wall 15. Resilient integral mounting flanges fit against the tub wall in watertight engagement. The enlarged knob 76 of the bumper is thus positioned to lie adjacent the basket balance ring 17, sufiiciently spaced therefrom to be out of the path of basket gyration during a normal centrifuging operation. The opposite end 78 of the bumper forms a stop against which the lower stepped end 67 of carrier 54 is urged by the spring 55. In this normal position of the bumper and the carrier 54, the screw 50 is withdrawn from the Off button 47. However, the bumper is arranged and positioned to be deflected outwardly on excess vibration of the wash basket resulting from an unbalance condition during centrifuging. This deflection of the bumper will drive the carrier 54 into counterclockwise rotation to actuate the Off button 47, as presently explained.

Now considering operation of the mechanism, it will be assumed as a starting condition that the lid is in the open position of FIG. 5 and the switch mechanism 46 is now in its open circuit or off condition. (It will be shown subsequently that opening the lid will actuate the switch mechanism to the off condition.) Assuming, further, that the user has the washing machine ready for operation and has set the time switch or control mechanism 82 toaccomplish the desired washing cycle, the lid is then moved to the closed position of FIG. 2. As the lid closes, bumper 30 contacts the adjacent top surface 34 of actuator 32 and depresses the actuator, rotating the lever 36 within the dual bearing 38. The operating end 36.2 of the lever is thus driven upwardly against the bias of tension spring 42. This movement brushes the end 36.2- past emboss 72 moving bracket 68 toward switch mechanism 46. Due to this bracket movement, actuate screw 52 is driven toward the switch to strike On button 48 thereby actuating the switch to its closed circuit condition, to complete the power circuit to the drive motor 80 through the obvious circuit of FIG. 7.

The machine proceeds through its operating cycle until the mechanism 82 sets up the conditions for centrifuging the water from the basket and clothes. This mechanism is old and well-known in the art and description thereof is unnecessary. If the clothes had worked themselves into an eccentric distribution during the washing operation, the rapid spinning of the basket during centrifuging (usually about 500 rpm.) will cause the basket to gyrate excessively, and the ring 17 will strike and deflect bumper 74. Deflection of the bumper moves its end 78 to rotate the carrier 54 into counterclockwise rotation, driving actuator screw 50 against Off button 47, which snaps the switch to the open circuit condition. The motor 26 will, of course, come to a stop, and the snubbing and centering spring 25.2 of the washing machine will bring the basket to a sufficiently vertical position to permit bumper 74 to restore and remove the striking pressure against lower stepped end 67 of carrier 54. However, switch 46, being bi-stable, remains open. Spring 55 is a light spring which does not impede the operation of carrier 54 but is sufiicient to return the carrier to normal on release of the pressure of the bumper on the carrier lower end.

To restore the machine to operation, the operator will usually lift the lid and rearrange the articles within the basket. When the lid is raised, lid bumper 30 releases its downward pressure on actuator 32, whereupon operation end 36.2 is pulled down by the action of bias spring 42, which is under tension when the lid is closed. As the lever end 36.2 moves downwardly in slide guide slot 41, the lever traverses emboss 72. This has the momentary effect of driving bracket 68 and its screw 52 to the right of FIG. 3, to reclose the switch 46; but the lever end 36.2 continues downwardly under the effect of the tension spring and finally contacts recurved section 66 impelling the striker arm 62 downwardly. Carrier 54 is rotated counterclockwise driving its actuating screw against Off button 47 shutting off the mechanism. Bracket 68 is free to yield, because of its spring base 70. The mechanism is now in its FIG. 4 position. To insure this action, it is necessary that tension spring 42 be stronger than compression spring 55 so that lever end 36.2 on depression will be deflected sufficiently to cause the Off button to be struck, immediately deenergizing the motor. The user can then safely rearrange the clothes, and closing the lid will rotate the lever to move its end 36.2 upwardly. This releases arm 62, permitting spring 55 to restore the carrier 54, and as the end 36.2 re-passes the emboss 72, the deflection of the bracket 68 reactuates the On button 48 and the machine resumes operation.

In FIG. 7 is shown a simplified control circuit utilizing the mechanism. There are shown leads L1 and L2 leading to a conventional power source. The circuit may be traced from lead L1 through drive motor 26 of the conventional appliance type through switch mechanism 46 to the conventional control equipment shown as a rectangle 82 representing any conventional timer-operated cam network or the like. From equipment 82 the circuit is completed to lead L2. Thus, the control equip ment operates the circuit through its various cycles. In the embodiment shown in full lines, switch mechanism 46 is in series with the control equipment and would open the circuit to the motor on all raising of the lid or striking of the unbalance bumper 74 during agitation of a clothes washing machine. This action shown diagrammatically by dotted lines 84 and contacts 86 could by conventional contact means place the combined lid and unbalance shutoff mechanism in control only during the extraction by opening shunt switch 86 during spin and by maintaining switch 86 closed during agitation. An advantage of this alternative is that during the washing (agitation) cycle, the user may open the lid to add articles of clothing, etc., or merely to observe the washing operation, without stopping the machine. During the centrifuging cycle, however, when it may be dangerous to have the lid open while the basket is spinning at high speed, the act of opening the lid will inevitably open the drive motor circuit and bring the machine to a halt.

What is claimed is:

1. In a centrifuging device having a casing structure, a basket mounted therein for rotation, said basket mounting permitting gyration of said basket during rotation thereof, means including a motor and an energizing circuit for rotating said basket, and a cover adapted to be moved between open and closed positions to control access to said basket; the combination of a switch for connection into said motor circuit, said switch being of a bistable type which retains an actuated condition until oper ated to a different condition, means for mounting said switch in a fixed position remote from said cover, first and second pushbuttons for actuating said switch respectively to open and closed circuit conditions, a first switch operation means arranged for actuating said first pushbutton, a second switch operation means arranged for actuating said second pushbutton, a lever pivo'tally mounted relative to said first and second switch operation means and having one end portion operatively associated with each of said first and second switch operation means for selective operation thereof and an opposite end portion in the path of movement of said cover, means initiated by the closing of said cover to cause said lever to interact with said second switch operation means for operation of said switch to closed circuit condition, and means initiated by the opening of said cover to cause interaction of said lever and said first switch operation means to effect operation of said switch to open circuit condition.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1, in which each of said first and second switch operation means is spring biased to disengage from its associated pushbutton upon closure of said cover.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 1, in which said lever is maintained inactive relative to said first and second switch actuating means when said cover is closed and said first switch actuating means has an element disposed to be actuated into switch-operating position by engagement by said basket upon excessive gyration thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,236,529 Blazer Aug. 14, 1917 2,418,006 Bangert Mar. 25, 1947 2,612,766 Smith et a1. Oct. 7, 1952 2,624,464 Morrison Jan. 6, 1953 2,859,536 EcEwen Nov. 11, 1958

Claims (1)

1. IN A CENTRIFUGING DEVICE HAVING A CASING STRUCTURE, A BASKET MOUNTED THEREIN FOR ROTATION, SAID BASKET MOUNTING PERMITTING GYRATION OF SAID BASKET DURING ROTATION THEREOF, MEANS INCLUDING A MOTOR AND AN ENERGIZING CIRCUIT FOR ROTATING SAID BASKET, AND A COVER ADAPTED TO BE MOVED BETWEEN OPEN AND CLOSED POSITIONS TO CONTROL ACCESS TO SAID BASKET; THE COMBINATION OF A SWITCH FOR CONNECTION INTO SAID MOTOR CIRCUIT, SAID SWITCH BEING OF A BISTABLE TYPE WHICH RETAIN AN ACTUATED CONDITION UNTIL OPERATED TO A DIFFERENT CONDITION, MEANS FOR MOUNTING SAID SWITCH IN A FIXED POSITION REMOTE FROM SAID COVER, FIRST AND SECOND PUSHBUTTONS FOR ACTUATING SAID SWITCH RESPECTIVELY TO OPEN AND CLOSED CIRCUIT CONDITIONS, A FIRST SWITCH OPERATION MEANS ARRANGED FOR ACTUATING SAID FIRST PUSHBUTTON, A SECOND SWITCH OPERATION MEANS ARRANGED FOR ACTUATING SAID SECOND PUSHBUTTON, A LEVER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED RELATIVE TO SAID FIRST AND SECOND SWITCH OPERATION MEANS AND HAVING ONE END PORTION OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH EACH OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND SWITCH OPERATION MEANS FOR SELECTIVE OPERATION THEREOF AND AN OPPOSITE END PORTION IN THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF SAID COVER, MEANS INITIATED BY THE CLOSING OF SAID COVER TO CAUSE SAID LEVER TO INTERACT WITH SAID SECOND SWITCH OPERATION MEANS FOR OPERATION OF SAID SWITCH TO CLOSED CIRCUIT CONDITION, AND MEANS INITIATED BY THE OPENING OF SAID COVER TO CAUSE INTERACTION OF SAID LEVER AND SAID FIRST SWITCH OPERATION MEANS TO EFFECT OPERATION OF SAID SWITCH TO OPEN CIRCUIT CONDITION.

Images