US3263459A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Clutch mechanism for a washing machine
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1964-09-25
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Granted: 1966-08-02
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Expires: 1984-09-25
Abstract
No abstract record available.
Inventors
- 👤 Bochan John
- 👤 Eugene A Pottinger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 11:50
CPC Classifications
D; D06; D06F; D06F37/00; D06F37/30; D06F37/36; F; F16; F16D; F16D67/00; F16D67/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim
355 words
IN AN AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINE, INCLUDING A BASKET TO RECEIVE LIQUID AND CLOTHES TO BE WASHED IN THE LIQUID, WASH MEANS FOR EFFECTING WASHING OF THE CLOTHES, A DRIVE SHAFT, A SLEEVE CONCENTRIC WITH THE DRIVE SHAFT AND CONNECTED TO THE BASKET, AND DRIVE MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY ROTATING THE DRIVE SHAFT IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS TO SELECTIVELY PRODUCE A WASH PERIOD OF OPERATION AND A CENTRIFUGAL EXTRACTION PERIOD OF OPERATION; A CLUTCH MECHANISM INCLUDING: (A) AN INPUT HUB MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT FOR ROTATION THEREWITH AND EXTENDING AXIALLY THEREOF IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID SLEEVE, (B) BRAKE MEANS INCLUDING AN ELONGATED BRAKE HUB MOUNTED AROUND SAID SLEEVE FOR ROTATION RELATIVE THERETO, (C) FIRST WOUND SPRING CLUTCH MOUNTED ON SAID SLEEVE AND SAID BRAKE HUB, (D) AN INTERMEDIATE MEMBER MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT FOR ROTATION RELATIVE THERETO BETWEEN SAID SLEEVE AND SAID INPUT HUB, AND (E) A SECOND WOUND SPRING CLUTCH MOUNTED ON SAID INPUT HUB AND SAID INTERMEDIATE MEMBER, (F) SAID SECOND SPRING CLUTCH SLIPPING WITH RESPECT TO SAID INPUT HUB AND SAID INTERMEDIATE MEMBER WHEN THE DRIVE MEANS ROTATES SAID SHAFT IN A FIRST DIRECTION TO EFFECT RELATIVE MOTION OF SAID SHAFT WITH RESPECT TO SAID SLEEVE TO PROVIDE A WASH PERIOD OF OPERATION, (G) SAID SECOND SPRING CLUTCH FIRMLY SEIZING UPON SAID INPUT HUB AND SAID INTERMEDIATE MEMBER WHEN THE DRIVE MEANS ROTATES SAID SHAFT IN A SECOND DIRECTION TO LOCK SAID INPUT HUB TO SAID INTERMEDIATE MEMBER AND SAID INTERMEDIATE MEMBER DRIVINGLY ENGAGING SAID FIRST SPRING CLUTCH TO CAUSE SAID FIRST SPRING CLUTCH TO SLIP WITH RESPECT TO SAID SLEEVE AND SAID BRAKE HUB, THE FRICTION BETWEEN SAID SLEEVE AND SAID FIRST SPRING CLUTCH CAUSING SAID SLEEVE TO ROTATE WITH SAID SHAFT FOR SPINNING THE BASKET TO PROVIDE A CENTRIFUGAL EXTRACTION PERIOD OF OPERATION, (H) SAID INTERMEDIATE MEMBER CEASING TO DRIVINGLY ENGAGE SAID FIRST SPRING CLUTCH AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE CENTRIFUGAL PERIOD OF OPERATION SO THAT SAID FIRST SPRING CLUTCH WILL FIRMLY SEIZE UPON SAID SLEEVE AND SAID BRAKE HUB TO LOCK SLEEVE TO SAID BRAKE HUB WHEREBY THE BASKET IS CONNECTED TO SAID BRAKE MEANS FOR TERMINATING SPINNING OF THE BASKET.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
355 words
IN AN AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINE, INCLUDING A BASKET TO RECEIVE LIQUID AND CLOTHES TO BE WASHED IN THE LIQUID, WASH MEANS FOR EFFECTING WASHING OF THE CLOTHES, A DRIVE SHAFT, A SLEEVE CONCENTRIC WITH THE DRIVE SHAFT AND CONNECTED TO THE BASKET, AND DRIVE MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY ROTATING THE DRIVE SHAFT IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS TO SELECTIVELY PRODUCE A WASH PERIOD OF OPERATION AND A CENTRIFUGAL EXTRACTION PERIOD OF OPERATION; A CLUTCH MECHANISM INCLUDING: (A) AN INPUT HUB MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT FOR ROTATION THEREWITH AND EXTENDING AXIALLY THEREOF IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID SLEEVE, (B) BRAKE MEANS INCLUDING AN ELONGATED BRAKE HUB MOUNTED AROUND SAID SLEEVE FOR ROTATION RELATIVE THERETO, (C) FIRST WOUND SPRING CLUTCH MOUNTED ON SAID SLEEVE AND SAID BRAKE HUB, (D) AN INTERMEDIATE MEMBER MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT FOR ROTATION RELATIVE THERETO BETWEEN SAID SLEEVE AND SAID INPUT HUB, AND (E) A SECOND WOUND SPRING CLUTCH MOUNTED ON SAID INPUT HUB AND SAID INTERMEDIATE MEMBER, (F) SAID SECOND SPRING CLUTCH SLIPPING WITH RESPECT TO SAID INPUT HUB AND SAID INTERMEDIATE MEMBER WHEN THE DRIVE MEANS ROTATES SAID SHAFT IN A FIRST DIRECTION TO EFFECT RELATIVE MOTION OF SAID SHAFT WITH RESPECT TO SAID SLEEVE TO PROVIDE A WASH PERIOD OF OPERATION, (G) SAID SECOND SPRING CLUTCH FIRMLY SEIZING UPON SAID INPUT HUB AND SAID INTERMEDIATE MEMBER WHEN THE DRIVE MEANS ROTATES SAID SHAFT IN A SECOND DIRECTION TO LOCK SAID INPUT HUB TO SAID INTERMEDIATE MEMBER AND SAID INTERMEDIATE MEMBER DRIVINGLY ENGAGING SAID FIRST SPRING CLUTCH TO CAUSE SAID FIRST SPRING CLUTCH TO SLIP WITH RESPECT TO SAID SLEEVE AND SAID BRAKE HUB, THE FRICTION BETWEEN SAID SLEEVE AND SAID FIRST SPRING CLUTCH CAUSING SAID SLEEVE TO ROTATE WITH SAID SHAFT FOR SPINNING THE BASKET TO PROVIDE A CENTRIFUGAL EXTRACTION PERIOD OF OPERATION, (H) SAID INTERMEDIATE MEMBER CEASING TO DRIVINGLY ENGAGE SAID FIRST SPRING CLUTCH AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE CENTRIFUGAL PERIOD OF OPERATION SO THAT SAID FIRST SPRING CLUTCH WILL FIRMLY SEIZE UPON SAID SLEEVE AND SAID BRAKE HUB TO LOCK SLEEVE TO SAID BRAKE HUB WHEREBY THE BASKET IS CONNECTED TO SAID BRAKE MEANS FOR TERMINATING SPINNING OF THE BASKET.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1969-08-01 | 1970-01-31 | 1970-08-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1973-08-01 | 1974-01-31 | 1974-08-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1977-08-01 | 1978-01-31 | 1978-08-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |