EP0239261A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Improvements in or relating to drives for clothes washing machines
Assignee: Fisher and Paykel Appliances Ltd
•
Filing: 1987-03-04
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2007-03-04
Abstract
Abstract An electric motor (15,25), a drive and a clothes washing machine (1) including the motor (15,25) and drive are described, the motor (15,26) having a stator (25) held outboard of a frame (32,33) carrying bearings (38,39)in which a shaft (11) rotates, the shaft (11) carrying the rotor (15) outboard of the stator (25), the rotor (15) having permanent magnets (17) on an inner face thereof. The shaft (11) carries an agitator (7) and a spin tub (6) of the clothes washing machine (1) and interconnecting members (55,61) between a part (56) rotatable with the agitator (7) and a part (56) rotatable with the spin tub (6) are movable axially on the shaft (11) relative to each other by a buoyancy system (51,110,116) which is operated by the absence or presence of water in a container (3) of the clothes washing machine (1) to connect the spin tub (6) and the agitator (7) to be driven by the shaft (11) continously in one direction for spinning clothes when water is at a low level in or absent from the container (3) and to disconnect the spin tub from the shaft, leaving the agitator (7) still connected to the shaft (11) when sufficient water is in the container so that rotation of the shaft (11) backwards and forwards by the motor (15,25) washes clothes in the spin tub (6) by backwards and forwards movement of the agitator (7) direction.
Inventors
- 👤 Dennis Edward Smith
- 👤 John Julian Aubrey Williams
- 👤 Gerald David Duncan
- 👤 Graeme Dewar Thomas
- 👤 John Grant Borrows
- 👤 Frank Whitney Shacklock
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 12:11
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02K; H02K29/00; D; D06; D06F; D06F37/00; D06F37/30; D06F37/304; D06F37/40; H02K7/00; H02K7/14; F; F02; F02B; F02B61/00; F02B61/04; F02B61/045
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 46
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
An electric motor comprising a stator carrying energizable windings on poles thereof, a rotor, a motor frame, said frame having bearing mountings in a central disposition and having coacting locating means near outer edges thereof arranged to hold said frame with said bearing mountings separated and axially aligned, said frame having stator locating means arranged to hold the outer cylindrical surface of a stator concentric with said bearing mounting of said frame, a pair of bearings mounted in said bearing mountings, a shaft rotatably mounted in said bearings and carrying said rotor, said rotor comprising a backing ring of a magnetic material, a series of permanent magnets spaced apart on an inner surface of said backing ring a rotatable exteriorly of said stator windings a hub mounted on said shaft, and a backing ring support holding inner faces of said permanent magnets concentric with said shaft.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
146 words
An electric motor comprising a stator carrying energizable windings on poles thereof, a rotor, a motor frame, said frame having bearing mountings in a central disposition and having coacting locating means near outer edges thereof arranged to hold said frame with said bearing mountings separated and axially aligned, said frame having stator locating means arranged to hold the outer cylindrical surface of a stator concentric with said bearing mounting of said frame, a pair of bearings mounted in said bearing mountings, a shaft rotatably mounted in said bearings and carrying said rotor, said rotor comprising a backing ring of a magnetic material, a series of permanent magnets spaced apart on an inner surface of said backing ring a rotatable exteriorly of said stator windings a hub mounted on said shaft, and a backing ring support holding inner faces of said permanent magnets concentric with said shaft.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
An electric motor as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said stator is disposed outboard of said frames and said rotor has a connecting portion between a hub and rim and said connecting portion being outboard of said stator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
An electric motor as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein said stator comprises an annular helix of a magnetic material, said helix having said poles extending outwardly from the circumferential surface of the annulus, said annular helix being mounted on said stator locating means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
An electric motor as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 3 wherein insulation to insulate said windings from said poles comprises a pair of mouldings each moulding being in the form of an annulus with insulation covering one part of each pole, there beiong a division intermediate of the thickness of each pole between the two mouldings.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
An electric motor when constructed arranged and operable substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
An electric motor when constructed arranged and operable substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
230 words
A drive for a clothes washing machine of the type having a cabinet in which an agitator is mounted on a vertical shaft so as to rotate therewith and is oscillated back and forth within a coaxially mounted preforated spin tub, the spin tub and the agitator rotating continuously in one direction to give a spin action and the perforated spin tub and agitator in turn being mounted within a water tight container, said cabinet containing an electric motor and driving means to oscillate said agitator back and forth or rotate said spin tub continuously in one direction characterised in thast at least one part of said spin tub and one part rotatable with said agitator are axially movable relative to each other, each said one part has a part of an interconnecting means associated therewith and interconnection actuating means are provided operable in a washing sequence to actuate said parts of said interconnecting means by relative axial movement of said at least one part rotatable with said agitator and said at least one part of said spin tub to connect said agitator to said spin tub when spin action is required and to actuate said parts of said interconnecting means to separate by opposite relative axial movement to permit said agitation of said agitator without material relative movement of said spin tub during a washing phase in said sequence.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
230 words
A drive for a clothes washing machine of the type having a cabinet in which an agitator is mounted on a vertical shaft so as to rotate therewith and is oscillated back and forth within a coaxially mounted preforated spin tub, the spin tub and the agitator rotating continuously in one direction to give a spin action and the perforated spin tub and agitator in turn being mounted within a water tight container, said cabinet containing an electric motor and driving means to oscillate said agitator back and forth or rotate said spin tub continuously in one direction characterised in thast at least one part of said spin tub and one part rotatable with said agitator are axially movable relative to each other, each said one part has a part of an interconnecting means associated therewith and interconnection actuating means are provided operable in a washing sequence to actuate said parts of said interconnecting means by relative axial movement of said at least one part rotatable with said agitator and said at least one part of said spin tub to connect said agitator to said spin tub when spin action is required and to actuate said parts of said interconnecting means to separate by opposite relative axial movement to permit said agitation of said agitator without material relative movement of said spin tub during a washing phase in said sequence.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
248 words
A drive system comprising an electric motor having a stator carrying energizable windings on poles thereof, a shaft carrying said rotor and being rotatable in frames forming part of said electric motor, said frames also mounting said stator of said motor a clothes washing agitator, a perforated spin tub mounted in a washing container in turn mounted in a cabinet, said motor, said lothes washing agitator and said spin tub being mounted co-axially on said shaft and rotatable thereon in a mode selected from an agitating mode in which said rotor said shaft and agitator are oscillated backwards and forwards over an arc of movement and said spinning tub remains substantially stationary and a spinning mode in which said rotor, said spin tub and said agitator are rotated continuously in one direction, at least one part of said spin tub and one part rotatable with agitator are axially movable relative to each other, each said one part has a part of an interconnecting means associated therewith and interconnecting actuating means are provided operable in a washing sequence to actuate said parts of said interconnecting means by relative axial movement of said at least one part of said agitator and said at least one part of said spin tub to connect said agitator to said parts of said interconnecting means to separate by opposite relative axial movement to permit said agitation of said agitator without material relative movement of said spin tub during a washing phase in said sequence.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
248 words
A drive system comprising an electric motor having a stator carrying energizable windings on poles thereof, a shaft carrying said rotor and being rotatable in frames forming part of said electric motor, said frames also mounting said stator of said motor a clothes washing agitator, a perforated spin tub mounted in a washing container in turn mounted in a cabinet, said motor, said lothes washing agitator and said spin tub being mounted co-axially on said shaft and rotatable thereon in a mode selected from an agitating mode in which said rotor said shaft and agitator are oscillated backwards and forwards over an arc of movement and said spinning tub remains substantially stationary and a spinning mode in which said rotor, said spin tub and said agitator are rotated continuously in one direction, at least one part of said spin tub and one part rotatable with agitator are axially movable relative to each other, each said one part has a part of an interconnecting means associated therewith and interconnecting actuating means are provided operable in a washing sequence to actuate said parts of said interconnecting means by relative axial movement of said at least one part of said agitator and said at least one part of said spin tub to connect said agitator to said parts of said interconnecting means to separate by opposite relative axial movement to permit said agitation of said agitator without material relative movement of said spin tub during a washing phase in said sequence.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
196 words
A drive for a clothes washing machine of the type having a cabinet in which an agitator is mounted on a vertical shaft so as to rotate therewith and is oscillated back and forth within a perforated spin tub, the spin tub and the agitator rotating continuously in one direction to give a spin action and the perforated spin tub and agitator in turn being mounted within a water tight container, said cabinet containing an electric motor and driving means to oscillate said agitator back and forth or rotate said spin tub continuously in one direction characterised in that said drive includes interconnecting means provided between said driving means and said spin tub said interconnecting means including actuating means actuable by the presence or absence of a substantially predetermined quantity of water in said container so that when at least said predetermined amount of water is present in said container said interconnecting means are disconnected between said driving means and said perforated spin tub and when water is substantially absent from said container said interconnecting means connect said driving means to said perforated spin tub so that said perforated tub will rotate with said driving means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
196 words
A drive for a clothes washing machine of the type having a cabinet in which an agitator is mounted on a vertical shaft so as to rotate therewith and is oscillated back and forth within a perforated spin tub, the spin tub and the agitator rotating continuously in one direction to give a spin action and the perforated spin tub and agitator in turn being mounted within a water tight container, said cabinet containing an electric motor and driving means to oscillate said agitator back and forth or rotate said spin tub continuously in one direction characterised in that said drive includes interconnecting means provided between said driving means and said spin tub said interconnecting means including actuating means actuable by the presence or absence of a substantially predetermined quantity of water in said container so that when at least said predetermined amount of water is present in said container said interconnecting means are disconnected between said driving means and said perforated spin tub and when water is substantially absent from said container said interconnecting means connect said driving means to said perforated spin tub so that said perforated tub will rotate with said driving means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
243 words
A drive system for a clothes washing machine of the type having a cabinet in which an agitator is mounted on a vertical shaft so as to rotate therewith and is oscillated back and forth by an electric motor within a coaxially mounted perforated spin tub, the spin tub and the agitator being rotated continuously in one direc tion by said electric motor to give a spin action and the perforated spin tub and agitator in turn being mounted within a water tight container, said cabinet containing an electric motor said drive selectively oscillating said agitator back and forth and rotating said spin tub and agitator continously in one direction, said drive including at least one part of said spin tub and one part rotatable with said agitator which are axially moveable relative to each other, each said one part having a part of an interconnecting means associated therewith and interconnection actuating means are provided operable in a washing sequence to actuate said parts of said interconnecting means by relative axial movement of said at least one part rotatable with said agitator and said at least one part of said spin tub to connect said agitator to said spin tub when spin action is required and to actuate said parts of said interconnecting means to separate by opposite relative axial movement to permit said agitation of said agitator without material relative movement of said spin tub during a washing phase in said sequence.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
243 words
A drive system for a clothes washing machine of the type having a cabinet in which an agitator is mounted on a vertical shaft so as to rotate therewith and is oscillated back and forth by an electric motor within a coaxially mounted perforated spin tub, the spin tub and the agitator being rotated continuously in one direc tion by said electric motor to give a spin action and the perforated spin tub and agitator in turn being mounted within a water tight container, said cabinet containing an electric motor said drive selectively oscillating said agitator back and forth and rotating said spin tub and agitator continously in one direction, said drive including at least one part of said spin tub and one part rotatable with said agitator which are axially moveable relative to each other, each said one part having a part of an interconnecting means associated therewith and interconnection actuating means are provided operable in a washing sequence to actuate said parts of said interconnecting means by relative axial movement of said at least one part rotatable with said agitator and said at least one part of said spin tub to connect said agitator to said spin tub when spin action is required and to actuate said parts of said interconnecting means to separate by opposite relative axial movement to permit said agitation of said agitator without material relative movement of said spin tub during a washing phase in said sequence.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
91 words
A drive system as claimed in Claim 9 wherein said interconnection actuating means are actuable by the presence or absence of a substantially predetermined quantity of water in said container so that when at least said predetermined amount of water is present in said container said interconnecting means are disconnected between said driving means and said perforated spin tub and when water is substantially absent from said container said interconnecting means connect said driving means to said perforated spin tub so that said perforated tub will rotate with said driving means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
A drive system as claimed in Claim 10 wherein said electric motor is constructed according to anyone of Claims 1 to 5.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
51 words
A drive system as claimed in Claim 10 or Claim 11 wherein said drive shaft has an anti-friciton coating thereon and said spin tub has a hollow tubular mounting, inner surfaces of whcih rub on said anti-friction coating to provide a bearing between the spin tub and the agitator during agitation.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
A drive as claimed in Claim 12 wherein said shaft and said motor are removable downwardly by unfastening said agitator from said shaft and unfastening said motor.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
41 words
A drive system as claimed in any one of Claims 11 to 13 wherein said agitator and said spin tub are removable from said container upwardly through an upper opening in said container after freeing said agitator from said drive shaft.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
101 words
A drive system machine as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11 wherein said actuating means comprise a bell having a wide open mouth below the interior of the bell, said bell being open to atmosphere from an upper part thereof, said bell being driven by said driving means so as to be rotatable therewith and said bell having a movable member with a flexible connection between said bell and said movable member, said movable member being subjected in use to pressure of water in said container and having biasing means to assist move of said bell to a desired position.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
108 words
A drive system as claimed in claim 15 wherein said interconnecting means includes said movable member having clutch means movable to and from engagement with one or more members on said perforated spin tub, the construction and arrangement being such that when said container has water at least to a desired level water pressure on said movable member causes said clutch means to be released from said perforated tub and when water in said container drops to a desired low level or is completely absent said clutch means is moved into engagement with said perforated spin tub so that said perforated spin tub moves with said driving means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
36 words
A drive system as claimed in claim 15 wherein said clutch means comprises as series of dog clutch teeth on said movable member engagable with corresponding tooth members on the base of said perforated spin tub.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
38 words
A drive system as claimed in claim 17 wherein said perforated spin tub has a castellated base with a series of radial ribs and radial grooves and said dog teeth engage in said grooves and against said ribs.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
A drive system when constructed arranged and operable substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
A drive system when constructed arranged and operable substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
184 words
In a clothes washing machine comprising a cabinet, a container for wash water suspended in said cabinet, an electric motor mounted below said container, an agitator within said container, a drive shaft between said electric motor and said agitator so that said electric motor directly drives said agitator, a spin tub within said container and within which said agitator is mounted, said spin tub being rotatably mounted on said drive shaft, sealing means between said drive shaft and said container and interconnecting means having two positions in one of said positions said interconnecting means connects said spin tub to said agitator so as to rotate therewith and in the other position said spin tub is disconnected from said agitator, an electric supply means arranged to drive said agitator in a forward and reverse motion to give agitation to clothes placed within said spin tub in one mode of operation when said spin is disconnected from said agitator and arranged to rotate said spin tub and said agitator continuously in one direction when the spin tub and the agitator are interconnected by said interconnecting means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
184 words
In a clothes washing machine comprising a cabinet, a container for wash water suspended in said cabinet, an electric motor mounted below said container, an agitator within said container, a drive shaft between said electric motor and said agitator so that said electric motor directly drives said agitator, a spin tub within said container and within which said agitator is mounted, said spin tub being rotatably mounted on said drive shaft, sealing means between said drive shaft and said container and interconnecting means having two positions in one of said positions said interconnecting means connects said spin tub to said agitator so as to rotate therewith and in the other position said spin tub is disconnected from said agitator, an electric supply means arranged to drive said agitator in a forward and reverse motion to give agitation to clothes placed within said spin tub in one mode of operation when said spin is disconnected from said agitator and arranged to rotate said spin tub and said agitator continuously in one direction when the spin tub and the agitator are interconnected by said interconnecting means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
302 words
A clothes washing machine comprising a cabinet, a container for water suspended in said cabinet, an electric motor mounted below said container, an agitator within said container, a drive shaft between said electric motor and said agitator, a spin tub within said container and within which said agitator is mounted, said spin tub being rotatably mounted on said drive shaft, sealing means between said drive and said container and interconnecting means having two positions, in one of said positions said connecting means connects said spin tub to said agitator so as to roate therewith and in the other position said spin tub is disconnected from said agitator, said electric motor being arranged to drive said agitator in a forward and reverse motion to give agitation to clothes placed within said spin tub in one mode of operation when said spin tub is disconnected from said agitator and arranged to rotate said spin tub and said agitator continuously in one direction when the spin tub and the agitator are interconnected by said interconnecting means, at least one part of said spin tub and one part rotatable with said agitator being axially moveable relative to each other, each said one part having a part of said interconnecting means associated therewith and interconnection actuating means are provided operable in a washing sequence to actuate said parts of said interconnecting means by relative axial movement of said at least one part rotatable with said agitator and said at least one part of said spin tub to connect said agitator to said spin tub when spin action is required and to actuate said parts of said interconnecting means to separate by opposite relative axial movement to permit said agitation of said agitator without material relative movement of said spin tub during a washing phase in said sequence.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
302 words
A clothes washing machine comprising a cabinet, a container for water suspended in said cabinet, an electric motor mounted below said container, an agitator within said container, a drive shaft between said electric motor and said agitator, a spin tub within said container and within which said agitator is mounted, said spin tub being rotatably mounted on said drive shaft, sealing means between said drive and said container and interconnecting means having two positions, in one of said positions said connecting means connects said spin tub to said agitator so as to roate therewith and in the other position said spin tub is disconnected from said agitator, said electric motor being arranged to drive said agitator in a forward and reverse motion to give agitation to clothes placed within said spin tub in one mode of operation when said spin tub is disconnected from said agitator and arranged to rotate said spin tub and said agitator continuously in one direction when the spin tub and the agitator are interconnected by said interconnecting means, at least one part of said spin tub and one part rotatable with said agitator being axially moveable relative to each other, each said one part having a part of said interconnecting means associated therewith and interconnection actuating means are provided operable in a washing sequence to actuate said parts of said interconnecting means by relative axial movement of said at least one part rotatable with said agitator and said at least one part of said spin tub to connect said agitator to said spin tub when spin action is required and to actuate said parts of said interconnecting means to separate by opposite relative axial movement to permit said agitation of said agitator without material relative movement of said spin tub during a washing phase in said sequence.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
92 words
A clothes washing machine as claimed in claim 21 wherein said interconnection actuating means are actuable by the presence or absence of a substantially predetermined quantity of water in said container so that when at least said predetermined amount of water is present in said container said interconnecting means are disconnected between said driving means and said perforated spin tub and when water is substantially absent from said container said interconnecting means connect said driving means to said perforated spin tubn so that said perforated tub will rotate with said driving means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
120 words
A clothes washing machine as claimed in clai m 22 wherein said interconnecting means including a movable member having clutch means movable to and from engagement with one or more members on said perforated spin tub, the construction and arrangement being such that when said container has water fed therein to fill the container to a desired level, the rising water in said container acts on said movable member and causes said clutch means to be released from said perforated tub and when water in said container drops to a desired low level or is completely absent said clutch means is moved into engagement with said perforated spin tub so that said perforated spin tub moves with said driving means.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
36 words
A clothes washing machine as claimed in claim 23 wherein said clutch means comprises one or more dog clutch teeth of said movable member engagable with corresponding tooth members on the base of said spin tub.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
90 words
A clothes washing machine as claimed in any one of claims 22 to 24 wherein said actuating means comprise air chamber mounted below said spin tub, said spin tub and said air chamber being axially movable on and rotatable with said agitator shaft, the buoyancy of said air chamber in the presence of said substantially predetermined quantity of water in said container being such as to provide flotational support of said spin tub causing said spin tub to be lifted to disconnect said driving means from said perforated spin tub.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
19 words
A clothes washing machine as claimed in claim 25 wherein said agitator is also lifted by said air chamber.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
30 words
A clothes washing machine as claimed in claim 25 or claim 26 wherein said air chamber is compartmented and has an open mouth below the interior of the air chamber.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
19 words
A clothes washing machine as claimed in claim 25 or claim 26 wherein said air chamber is air tight.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
100 words
A clothes washing machine as claimed in any one of claims 22 to 24 wherein said actuating means comprise an air chamber mounted below said spin tub, said spin tub and said air chamber being axially movable on and rotatable with said agitator shaft, said air chamber carrying teeth forming part of said interconnecting means, the buoyancy of said air chamber in the presence of said substantially predetermined quantity of water in said container being such as to raise said teeth from engagement with said spin tub when the said substantially predetermined quantity of water is present in said container.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
29 words
A clothes washing machine as claimed in any one of claims 21 to 29 wherein said electric motor is constructed according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
54 words
A clothes washing machine as claimed in any one of claims 21 to 31 wherein said drive shaft has an anti-friction coating thereon and said spin tub has a hollow tubular mounting, inner surfaces of which rub on said anti-friction coating to provide a bearing between the spin tub and the agitator during agitation.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
29 words
A clothes washer as claimed in claim 31 wherein said shaft and said motor are removable downwardly by freeing removing said agitator from said shaft and unfastening said motor.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
42 words
A clothes washing machine as claimed in any one of claims 30 to 32 wherein said agitator and said spin tub are removable from said container upwardly through an upper opening in said container after freering said agitator from said drive shaft.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
98 words
A clothes washing machine as claimed in claim 21 wherein said actuating means comprise a bell having a wide open mouth below the interior of the bell, said bell being open to atmosphere from an upper part thereof, said bell being driven by said driving means so as to be rotatable therewith and said bell having a movable member with a flexible connection between said bell and said movable member, said movable memebr being subjected in use to pressure of water in said container and having baising means to assist movement of said bell to a desired position.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
110 words
A clothes washing machine as claime d in claim 34 wherein said interconnecting means includes said movable member having clutch means movable to and from engagement with one or more members on said perforated spin tub, the construction and arrangement being such that when said container has water at least to a desired level water pressure on said movable member causes said clutch means to be released from said perforated tub and when water in said container drops to a desired low level or is completely absent said clutch means is moved into engagement with said perforated spin tub so that said perforated spin tub moves with said driving means.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
37 words
A clothes washing machine as claimed in claim 35 wherein said clutch means comprise a series of dog clutch teeth on said movable member engagable with corresponding tooth members on the base of said perforated spin tub.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
39 words
A clothes washing machine as claimed in claim 36 wherein said perforated spin tub has a castellated base with a series of raidal ribs and radial grooves and said dog teeth engage in said grooves and against said ribs.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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