Counter-rotation wash system

Claim 2

An automatic washer for subjecting a fabric load to a series of washing, rinsing and liquid extraction steps, said washer comprising: a basket for receiving said fabric load rotatably mounted within a cabinet, said cabinet having an openable lid providing access to the interior of said basket; an agitator centrally mounted within said basket, being free to rotate relative to said basket; a reversible drive system including a motor; drive means operatively connected between said reversible drive system and said basket and agitator for selectively rotationally driving said basket and agitator in an opposite oscillatory manner; said drive means comprising a planetary drive arrangement wherein said motor has an output shaft which is connected to a sun gear, said agitator is connected to at least one planet gear and said basket is connected to a ring gear.

Claim 3

The automatic washer as defined in claim 1, wherein said motor in said reversible drive system comprises a reversible motor.

Claim 4

The automatic washer as defined in claim 2, wherein said motor comprises a permanent split capacitor mtoor.

Claim 5

The automatic washer as defined in claim 1, wherein said drive means is additionally operatively connected between said reversible drive system and said basket and agitator for selectively rotationally driving said basket and agitator in a common spinning manner.

Claim 6

The automatic washer as defined in claim 4, wherein said drive means comprises a clutch mechanism to selectively change the drive of said basket from opposite that of said agitator to common with that of said agitator.

Claim 7

The automatic washer as defined in claim 1, wherein said drive means comprises a common drive clutch means to selectively change the drive of aaid basket from opposite that of said agitator to common with that of said agitator.

Claim 8

The automatic washer as defined in claim 6, wherein said common drive clutch means comprises an axially displaceable gear member having teeth on an outer crrcumference thereof which engage with corresponding teeth on an annular axial extension of the ring gear, and teeth on an inner circumference thereof which engage with outwardly projecting teeth carried on said motor output shaft to selectively lock and unlock said ring gear and output shaft.

Claim 9

The automatic washer as defined in claim 1, including a brake mechanism operative when said lid is open to arrest rotational movement of said basket.

Claim 10

An automatic washer as defined in claim 1, wherein said drive means comprises a clutch mechanism to selectively change the drive of said basket from opposite that of said agitator to common with that of said agitator.

Claim 11

An automatic washer for subjecting a fabric load to a series of washing, rinsing and liquid extraction steps, said washer comprising: a basket for receiving said fabric load rotatably mounted within a cabinet, said cabinet having an openable lid providing an access to the interior of said basket; an agitator centrally mounted within said basket, being free to rotate relative to said basket; a reversible drive system including a motor; drive means operatively connected between said reversible drive system in said basket and agitator for selectively rotationally driving said basket and agitator in an opposite oscillatory manner, said drive means comprising a clutch mechanism to selectively change the drive of said basket from opposite that of said agitator to common with that of said agitator, said drive means including an output shaft on said motor and said clutch mechanism comprising a gear member axially movable on said output shaft between an engaged position and a disengaged position, in said engaged position said gear member serving to provide a direct rotational drive connection between said motor and said basket.

Claim 12

An automatic washer for subjecting a fabric load to a series of washing, rinsing and liquid extraction steps, said washer comprising: a basket for receiving said fabric load rotatably mounted within a cabinet, said cabinet having an openable lid providing an access to the interior of said basket; an agitator centrally mounted within said basket, being free to rotate relative to said basket; a reversible drive system including a motor; drive means operatively connected between said reversible drive system in said basket and agitator for selectively rotationally driving said basket and agitator in an opposite oscillatory manner, said drive means comprising a clutch mechanism to selectively change the drive of said basket from opposite that of said agitator to common with that of said agitator, said drive means including an output shaft on said motor and said clutch mechanism comprising a gear member axially movable on said output shaft between an engaged position and a disengaged position, in said engaged position said gear member serving to provide a direct rotational drive connection between said motor and said basket.

Claim 13

The automatic washer as defined in claim 10, wherein said clutch mechanism further includes an actuator mechanism to move said gear from said engaged position to said disengaged position and a spring member for biasing said gear toward said engaged position.

Claim 14

The automatic washer as defined in claim 1, including a brake mechanism operative when said lid is open to arrest rotational movement of said basket.

Claim 15

A drive system for an automatic washer having a basket rotatably carried on a washer frame for receiving a fabric load and a vertical axis agitator centrally mounted within said basket comprising: means for oscillatingly driving said agitator during a washing mode; and means for oscillatingly driving said basket in a reverse direction to that of said agitator in said washing mode; said means for oscillatingly driving said agitator comprising a motor operatively connected to said agitator, said motor being reversely operatable; said means for oscillatingly driving said basket comprising a gearing connection between said motor and said basket which causes a rotational driving of said basket opposite to that of said agitator, including an output shaft on said motor and a planetary gear system wherein a sun gear is coupled to said output shaft, at least one planet gear is connected to said agitator and a ring gear is connected to said basket.

Claim 16

A drive system for an automatic washer having a basket rotatably carried on a washer frame for receiving a fabric load and a vertical axis agitator centrally mounted within said basket comprising: means for oscillatingly driving said agitator during a washing mode; and means for oscillatingly driving said basket in a reverse direction to that of said agitator in said washing mode; said means for oscillatingly driving said agitator comprising a motor operatively connected to said agitator, said motor being reversely operatable; said means for oscillatingly driving said basket comprising a gearing connection between said motor and said basket which causes a rotational driving of said basket opposite to that of said agitator, including an output shaft on said motor and a planetary gear system wherein a sun gear is coupled to said output shaft, at least one planet gear is connected to said agitator and a ring gear is connected to said basket.

Claim 17

The drive system according to claim 13 further including means for corotating said basket and agitator during a liquid extraction mode.

Claim 18

An automatic washer for subjecting a fabric load to a series of washing, rinsing and liquid extraction steps, said washer comprising: a basket for receiving said fabric load rotatably mounted within a cabinet, said cabinet having an openable lid providing access to the interior of said basket; an agitator centrally mounted within said basket, being free to rotate relative to said basket; a reversible drive system including a motor; drive means operatively connected between said reversible drive system and said basket and agitator for selectively rotationally driving said basket and agitator in an opposite oscillatory manner; said drive means comprising a plurality of coaxially rotating gear members connected to said motor, said agitator and said basket.

Claim 19

An automatic washer for subjecting a fabric load to a series of washing, rinsing and liquid extraction steps, said washer comprising: a basket for receiving said fabric load rotatably mounted within a cabinet, said cabinet having an openable lid providing access to the interior of said basket; an agitator centrally mounted within said basket, being free to rotate relative to said basket; a reversible drive system including a motor; drive means operatively connected between said reversible drive system and said basket and agitator for selectively rotationally driving said basket and agitator in an opposite oscillatory manner; said drive means comprising a plurality of coaxially rotating gear members connected to said motor, said agitator and said basket.