Washer agitator and spin tub drive assembly

Claim 2

In combination with a support having a washer tub journaled therefrom for rotation about an upstanding axis with an agitator disposed within said tub and supported for rotation with said tub and also oscillation relative to said tub about said axis, a drive assembly carried by said support and including rotary torque input means, said drive assembly including means drivingly connecting said rotary torque input means to said tub and agitator for selectively rotating said tub and agitator as a unit and inversely oscillating said tub and agitator relative to said support.

Claim 3

In combination with a support having a washer tub journaled therefrom for rotation about an upstanding axis with an agitator disposed within said tub and supported for rotation with said tub and also oscillation relative to said tub about said axis, a drive assembly carried by said support and including rotary torque input means, said drive assembly including means drivingly connecting said rotary torque input means to said tub and agitator for selectively rotating said tub and agitator as a unit and inversely oscillating said tub and agitator relative to said support, said rotary torque input means including a pair of driven pulley wheels, said drive assembly including means for inversely oscillating said tub and agitator in response to rotation of one of said pulley wheels in one direction and to drive said tub and agitator as a unit in response to rotation of the other pulley wheel in the other direction.

Claim 4

In combination with a support having a washer tub journaled therefrom for rotation about an upstanding axis with an agitator disposed within said tub and supported for rotation with said tub and also oscillation relative to said tub about said axis, a drive assembly carried by said support and including rotary torque input means, said drive assembly including means drivingly connecting said rotary torque input means to said tub and agitator for selectively rotating said tub and agitator as a unit and inversely oscillating said tub and agitator relative to said support, said rotary torque input means including a pair of driven pulley wheels, said drive assembly including means for inversely oscillating said tub and agitator in response to rotation of one of said pulley wheels in one direction and to drive said tub and agitator as a unit in response to rotation of the other pulley wheel in the other direction.

Claim 5

In combination with a support having a washer tub journaled therefrom for rotation about an upstanding axis with an agitator disposed within said tub and supported for rotation with said tub and oscillation relative to said tub about said axis, a drive assembly carried by said support, said drive assembly including a first rotary input member supported for rotation about said axis and drivingly connected to said tub a drive link having one end journaled for rotation relative to said first rotary input member about a second axis generally paralleling the first-mentioned axis, spaced laterally from the latter and fixed in position relative to said first rotary input member, a pair of crank arms angularly disposed relative to each other and including a first set of ends secured to said tub and agitator for angular displacement therewith, and a pair of connecting rods having a first pair of corresponding ends pivotally connected to the free ends of said crank arms and a second pair of ends pivotally connected to the other end of said link.

Claim 6

In combination with a support having a washer tub journaled therefrom for rotation about an upstanding axis with an agitator disposed within said tub and supported for rotation with said tub and oscillation relative to said tub about said axis, a drive assembly carried by said support, said drive assembly including a first rotary input member supported for rotation about said axis and drivingly connected to said tub a drive link having one end journaled for rotation relative to said first rotary input member about a second axis generally paralleling the first-mentioned axis, spaced laterally from the latter and fixed in position relative to said first rotary input member, a pair of crank arms angularly disposed relative to each other and including a first set of ends secured to said tub and agitator for angular displacement therewith, and a pair of connecting rods having a first pair of corresponding ends pivotally connected to the free ends of said crank arms and a second pair of ends pivotally connected to the other end of said link.

Claim 7

The combination of claim 3 wherein said crank arms, connecting rods and drive link are spaced longitudinally of said axis with said connecting rods disposed between said drive link and said crank arms.

Claim 8

The combination of claim 3 wherein said first rotary input member comprisEs a first pulley wheel and said drive assembly includes a second rotary input member comprising a second pulley wheel supported for rotation in unison with said first pulley wheel about the first-mentioned axis, whereby a pair of endless belts may be utilized to drive said rotary input members at different speeds and in opposite directions from the same motor shaft.

Claim 9

The combination of claim 1 wherein said rotary input torque means includes a torque input member supported for rotation about said axis, first means connecting the torque input member to said tub and agitator for their simultaneous rotation in one direction as a unit upon rotation of said torque input member in a first direction and second means connecting the torque input member to the tub and agitator for their inverse oscillation relative to the support upon rotation of the torque input member in the opposite direction.