Low torque washing machine transmission
US5720190A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 17, 1996 |
| Grant date | Feb 24, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 17, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T74/1848
- WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A transmission for driving an agitator in a washing machine includes a housing, an input shaft for being driven by a motor, and an output shaft for driving the agitator. The input shaft includes a crank disposed in the housing, and the output shaft includes a pinion disposed in the housing adjacent to the crank. A yoke is slidably mounted in the housing between the crank and pinion, and includes a rack operatively engaging the pinion along a pitchline, and a slot having a slot axis disposed perpendicularly to the pitchline which receives therein a slider rotatably joined to the crank. Rotation of the crank sinusoidally reciprocates the rack as the slider reciprocates in the slot, and reciprocation of the rack sinusoidally oscillates the pinion for driving the output shaft with minimum peak torque and drive power.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.