Flotation controlled drive for an automatic washer
US4837882A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 15, 1987 |
| Grant date | Jun 13, 1989 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 15, 2007 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T74/2109
- WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
The present invention concerns a spin basket clutching device which includes a flotation device which locks the spin basket to an agitator in response to the level of wash liquid in the basket. During a wash step, the basket will be full of liquid and the flotation device floats within an inverted pocket located on the agitator skirt. During a spin step, the basket will be empty of liquid and the flotation device will drop partially out of the inverted pocket and rest partially within a pocket on the spin basket, thus locking the agitator to the spin basket for concurrent rotation. Also disclosed is a device which responds oppositely to the level of wash liquid in the wash tub locking the spin basket to the wash tub to prevent rotation of the basket during agitation of the wash liquid by the agitator during the wash step and unlocking the basket from the tub in a low liquid level step such as spin.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.