Patent Application
20240368815
The present disclosure relates to washing or laundry machines.
Washing machines are configured to clean clothes, garments, or other clothing articles.
A laundry machine includes a drum, an electric machine, and a clutch system. The drum defines an internal space configured to receive articles for treatment therein. The electric machine is configured to generate power to rotate the drum. The clutch system includes a clutch sleeve, a fork, and a cam. The clutch sleeve is configured to transition between first and second positions to connect and disconnect the drum to and from the electric machine, respectively. The fork engages the clutch sleeve. The fork is configured to pivot between third and fourth positions to transition the clutch sleeve between the first and second positions, respectively. The cam engages an opposing end of the fork relative to the clutch sleeve. The cam is configured to linearly slide between fifth and six positions to transition the fork between the third and fourth positions, respectively.
A laundry machine includes a clutch, a lever, and a cam. The clutch is configured to transition between engaged and disengaged states to connect and disconnect a drum to and from a power path, respectively. The lever engages the clutch. The lever is configured to pivot to transition the clutch between the engaged and disengaged states. The cam engages the lever. The cam is configured to linearly slide to pivot the lever to transition the clutch between the engaged and disengaged states.
A clutch system for a laundry machine includes a sleeve, a lever, and a cam. The sleeve is configured to activate and deactivate to connect and disconnect a drum to and from a power path, respectively. The lever is configured to facilitate lowering and raising the sleeve to activate and deactivate the sleeve, respectively. The cam is configured to linearly slide to pivot the lever to raise and lower the sleeve.
Embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein. It is to be understood, however, that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples and other embodiments may take various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features could be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the embodiments. As those of ordinary skill in the art will understand, various features illustrated and described with reference to any one of the figures may be combined with features illustrated in one or more other figures to produce embodiments that are not explicitly illustrated or described. The combinations of features illustrated provide representative embodiments for typical applications. Various combinations and modifications of the features consistent with the teachings of this disclosure, however, could be desired for particular applications or implementations.
Illustrative washing machines in accordance with the present disclosure include a rotatable clothes mover or agitator and a rotatable basket or drum. Clothes movers generally oscillate, or rotate back and forth, in accordance with a stroke angle, to provide agitation to a laundry load during washing operations. Clothes movers and rotatable baskets generally spin together during spin cycle operations. To enable both of these functionalities, including oscillation by the clothes mover and joint spinning by the clothes mover and basket, a common drive system may be included. Such a drive system can include a drive mechanism or transmission for translating movement from an electric machine or motor into rotational movement of the basket and clothes mover by the use of a drive shaft that is operably coupled to a series of gears or gearing arrangement. Traditional drive mechanisms may include the use of a sun gear, a set of planetary gears, and an external ring gear. The planetary gears are often provided as spur gears. However, the gears may alternatively be helical gears in place of conventional spur gears in the drive mechanism. Traditional drive mechanisms, however, are not limited to planetary gear systems.
Washing machines are typically categorized as either a vertical axis washing machine or a horizontal axis washing machine. As used herein, the “vertical axis” washing machine refers to a washing machine having a rotatable drum, perforate or imperforate, that holds fabric items and a clothes mover, such as an agitator, impeller, nutator, and the like within the drum. The clothes mover moves within the drum to impart mechanical energy directly to the clothes or indirectly through wash liquid in the drum. The clothes mover may typically be moved in a reciprocating rotational movement. In some vertical axis washing machines, the drum rotates about a vertical axis generally perpendicular to a surface that supports the washing machine. However, the rotational axis need not be vertical. The drum may rotate about an axis inclined relative to the vertical axis. As used herein, the “horizontal axis” washing machine refers to a washing machine having a rotatable drum, perforated or imperforate, that holds fabric items and washes the fabric items by the fabric items rubbing against one another as the drum rotates. In some horizontal axis washing machines, the drum rotates about a horizontal axis generally parallel to a surface that supports the washing machine. However, the rotational axis need not be horizontal. The drum may rotate about an axis inclined relative to the horizontal axis. In horizontal axis washing machines, the clothes are lifted by the rotating drum and then fall in response to gravity to form a tumbling action. Mechanical energy is imparted to the clothes by the tumbling action formed by the repeated lifting and dropping of the clothes. Vertical axis and horizontal axis machines are best differentiated by the manner in which they impart mechanical energy to the fabric articles. The illustrated exemplary washing machine of
The washing machine 10 may include a structural support system comprising a cabinet 14 that defines an interior space or internal cavity 15, within which a laundry holding system resides. The cabinet 14 may be a housing having a chassis and/or a frame defining an interior that receives components typically found in a conventional washing machine, such as electric machines (e.g., motors), pumps, fluid lines, controls, sensors, transducers, and the like. Such components will not be described further herein except as necessary for a complete understanding of the present disclosure.
The fabric holding system of the illustrated exemplary washing machine 10 may include a rotatable drum or basket 30 having an open top that can be disposed within the interior of the cabinet 14 (e.g., within internal cavity 15) and may define second internal space, internal cavity, or treating chamber 32 for receiving laundry articles or items for treatment. The top of the cabinet 14 can include a selectively openable lid 28 to provide access into the laundry treating chamber 32 through the open top of the basket 30. A washtub or tub 34 can also be positioned within the internal cavity 15 defined by the cabinet 14 and can define a third interior space or internal cavity 33 within which the basket 30 can be positioned. The tub 34 can have a generally cylindrical side or tub peripheral wall 12 closed at its bottom end by a base 16 that can at least partially define a sump 60.
The basket 30 can have a generally peripheral side wall 18, which is illustrated as a cylindrical side wall, closed at the basket end by a basket base 20 to at least partially define the treating chamber 32. The basket 30 can be rotatably mounted within the tub 34 for rotation about a vertical basket axis of rotation relative to the tub 34 and can include a plurality of perforations 31, such that liquid may flow between the tub 34 and the rotatable basket 30 through the perforations 31. While the illustrated washing machine 10 includes both the tub 34 and the basket 30, with the basket 30 defining the treating chamber 32, it is within the scope of the present disclosure for the laundry treating appliance to include only one receptacle, with the receptacle defining the laundry treatment chamber for receiving the load to be treated.
An agitator or clothes mover 38 may be disposed and rotatably mounted within the basket 30 to impart mechanical agitation to a load of laundry placed in the basket 30. The clothes mover 38 can be oscillated or rotated about its axis of rotation during a cycle of operation in order to produce load motion effective to wash the load contained within the treating chamber 32. Types of laundry movers include, but are not limited to, an agitator, a wobble plate, and a hybrid impeller/agitator.
The basket 30 and the clothes mover 38 may be driven by a drive system 40 that includes power sources, such as an electric machine or motor 41, and a transmission operably coupled with the basket 30 and clothes mover 38. The electric machine or motor 41 is configured to generate power to rotate the basket 30 and the clothes mover 38, and to oscillate the clothes mover 38. The transmission is configured to deliver power from a power source (e.g., motor 41) to the basket 30 and/or the clothes mover 38. The transmission may include a gearing arrangement or gear case. The transmission may also include additional components such as input and output shafts. The motor 41 may rotate the basket 30 at various speeds in either rotational direction about the vertical axis of rotation, including at a spin speed wherein a centrifugal force at the inner surface of the basket side wall 18 is 1 g or greater. Spin speeds are commonly known for use in extracting liquid from the laundry items in the basket 30, such as after a wash or rinse step in a treating cycle of operation. A loss motion device or clutch can be included in the drive system 40 and can selectively operably couple the motor 41 with either the basket 30 and/or the clothes mover 38.
A suspension system 22 can dynamically hold the tub 34 within the cabinet 14. The suspension system 22 can dissipate a determined degree of vibratory energy generated by the rotation of the basket 30 and/or the clothes mover 38 during a treating cycle of operation. Together, the tub 34, the basket 30, and any contents of the basket 30, such as liquid and laundry items, define a suspended mass for the suspension system 22.
A liquid supply system can provide liquid, such as water or a combination of water and one or more wash aids, such as detergent, into the treating chamber 32. The liquid supply system may include a water supply configured to supply hot or cold water. The water supply may include a hot water inlet 44 and a cold water inlet 46, a valve assembly, which can include a hot water valve 48, a cold water valve 50, and a diverter valve 55, and various conduits 52, 56, 58. The valves 48, 50 are selectively openable to provide water, such as from a household water supply (not shown) to the conduit 52. The valves 48, 50 can be opened individually or together to provide a mix of hot and cold water at a selected temperature. While the valves 48, 50 and conduit 52 are illustrated as positioned on the exterior of the cabinet 14, it may be understood that these components may be internal to the housing.
As illustrated, a detergent dispenser 54 can be fluidly coupled with the conduit 52 through a diverter valve 55 and a first water conduit 56. The detergent dispenser 54 can include means for supplying or mixing detergent to or with water from the first water conduit 56 and can supply such treating liquid to the tub 34. It has been contemplated that water from the first water conduit 56 can also be supplied to the tub 34 through the detergent dispenser 54 without the addition of a detergent. A second water conduit, illustrated as a separate water inlet 58, can also be fluidly coupled with the conduit 52 through the diverter valve 55 such that water can be supplied directly to the treating chamber through the open top of the basket 30. Additionally, the liquid supply system can differ from the configuration shown, such as by inclusion of other valves, conduits, wash aid dispensers, heaters, sensors, such as water level sensors and temperature sensors, and the like, to control the flow of treating liquid through the washing machine 10 and for the introduction of more than one type of detergent/wash aid.
A liquid recirculation system may be provided for recirculating liquid from the tub 34 into the treating chamber 32. More specifically, a sump 60 can be located in the bottom of the tub 34 and the liquid recirculation system can be configured to recirculate treating liquid from the sump 60 onto the top of a laundry load located in the treating chamber 32. A pump 62 can be housed below the tub 34 and can have an inlet fluidly coupled with the sump 60 and an outlet configured to fluidly couple to either or both a household drain 64 or a recirculation conduit 66. In this configuration, the pump 62 can be used to drain or recirculate wash water in the sump 60. As illustrated, the recirculation conduit 66 can be fluidly coupled with the treating chamber 32 such that it supplies liquid into the open top of the basket 30. The liquid recirculation system can include other types of recirculation systems.
It is noted that the illustrated drive system, suspension system, liquid supply system, and recirculation and drain system are shown for exemplary purposes only and are not limited to the systems shown in the drawings and described above. For example, the liquid supply, recirculation, and pump systems can differ from the configuration shown in
The washing machine 10 can also be provided with a heating system (not shown) to heat liquid provided to the treating chamber 32. In one example, the heating system can include a heating element provided in the sump to heat liquid that collects in the sump. Alternatively, the heating system can be in the form of an in-line heater that heats the liquid as it flows through the liquid supply, dispensing and/or recirculation systems.
The washing machine 10 may further include a controller 70 coupled with various working components of the washing machine 10 to control the operation of the working components and to implement one or more treating cycles of operation. The control system can further include a user interface 24 that is operably coupled with the controller 70. The user interface 24 can include one or more knobs, dials, switches, displays, touch screens and the like for communicating with the user, such as to receive input and provide output. The user can enter different types of information including, without limitation, cycle selection and cycle parameters, such as cycle options.
The controller 70 can include the machine controller and any additional controllers provided for controlling any of the components of the washing machine 10. For example, the controller 70 can include the machine controller and a motor controller. Many known types of controllers can be used for the controller 70. It is contemplated that the controller is a microprocessor-based controller that implements control software and sends/receives one or more electrical signals to/from each of the various working components to implement the control software. As an example, proportional control (P), proportional integral control (PI), and proportional derivative control (PD), or a combination thereof, a proportional integral derivative control (PID), can be used to control the various components of the washing machine 10.
As illustrated in
The controller 70 may be operably coupled with one or more components of the washing machine 10 for communicating with and/or controlling the operation of the components to complete a cycle of operation. For example, the controller 70 may be coupled with the hot water valve 48, the cold water valve 50, diverter valve 55, and the detergent dispenser 54 for controlling the temperature and flow rate of treating liquid into the treating chamber 32; the pump 62 for controlling the amount of treating liquid in the treating chamber 32 or sump 60; drive system 40 including motor 41 for controlling the direction and speed of rotation of the basket 30 and/or the clothes mover 38; and the user interface 24 for receiving user selected inputs and communicating information to the user. The controller 70 can also receive input from a temperature sensor 76, such as a thermistor, which can detect the temperature of the treating liquid in the treating chamber 32 and/or the temperature of the treating liquid being supplied to the treating chamber 32. The controller 70 can also receive input from various additional sensors 78, which are known in the art and not shown for simplicity. Non-limiting examples of additional sensors 78 that can be communicably coupled with the controller 70 include: a weight sensor, and a motor torque sensor.
While illustrated as one controller, the controller 70 may be part of a larger control system and may control or be controlled by various other controllers throughout the washing machine 10. It should therefore be understood that the controller 70 and one or more other controllers can collectively be referred to as a “controller” that controls various subcomponents or actuators of the washing machine 10 in response to signals from various subcomponents or sensors of the washing machine 10 to control various functions. The controller 70 may include the microprocessor or central processing unit (CPU) 74, which may be in communication with various types of computer readable storage devices or media. Computer readable storage devices or media may include volatile and nonvolatile storage in read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM), and keep-alive memory (KAM), for example. KAM is a persistent or non-volatile memory that may be used to store various operating variables while the CPU is powered down. Computer- readable storage devices or media may be implemented using any of a number of known memory devices such as PROMs (programmable read-only memory), EPROMs (electrically PROM), EEPROMs (electrically erasable PROM), flash memory, or any other electric, magnetic, optical, or combination memory devices capable of storing data, some of which represent executable instructions, used by the controller 70 in controlling the washing machine 10.
Control logic or functions performed by the controller 70 may be represented by flow charts or similar diagrams in one or more figures. These figures provide representative control strategies and/or logic that may be implemented using one or more processing strategies such as event-driven, interrupt-driven, multi-tasking, multi-threading, and the like. As such, various steps or functions illustrated may be performed in the sequence illustrated, in parallel, or in some cases omitted. Although not always explicitly illustrated, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that one or more of the illustrated steps or functions may be repeatedly performed depending upon the particular processing strategy being used. Similarly, the order of processing is not necessarily required to achieve the features and advantages described herein, but is provided for case of illustration and description. The control logic may be implemented primarily in software executed by a microprocessor-based controller, such as controller 70. Of course, the control logic may be implemented in software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware in one or more controllers depending upon the particular application. When implemented in software, the control logic may be provided in one or more computer-readable storage devices or media having stored data representing code or instructions executed by a computer to control the washing machine 10 or its subsystems. The computer-readable storage devices or media may include one or more of a number of known physical devices which utilize electric, magnetic, and/or optical storage to keep executable instructions and associated calibration information, operating variables, and the like.
Referring to
The drive system 40 includes the motor 41. The motor 41 delivers power to an input shaft 80 via a belt 82. The belt 82 engages a first pulley 84 that is attached to the shaft of the motor 41 and engages a second pulley 86 that is attached to the input shaft 80, to form a power path from the motor 41 to the input shaft 80. Alternatively, the motor 41 may be connected directly to the input shaft 80. The input shaft 80 is connected to an agitator shaft 88 via a transmission 90. The transmission 90 is configured to transform rotational motion of the input shaft 80 in one rotational direction into an oscillating motion in opposing (e.g., opposite) rotational directions on the agitator shaft 88. The agitator shaft 88 may be connected to an agitator (e.g., the clothes mover 38).
A spin shaft or spin tube 92 is connected to the rotatable drum or basket 30. A clutch system 94 is configured to connect and disconnect the spin tube 92 to and from the input shaft 80. When the clutch system 94 is disengaged (e.g., when the spin tube 92 is disconnected from the input shaft 80), a power path flows from the motor 41 to the input shaft 80, through the transmission 90, and to the agitator shaft 88 to oscillate the agitator shaft 88 back in forth in opposing rotational directions, while the spin tube 92 and basket 30 remain motionless. The clutch system 94 may be disengaged during an agitation cycle of the washing machine 10. When the clutch system 94 is engaged (e.g., when the spin tube 92 is connected to the input shaft 80), the input shaft 80, the agitator shaft 88, the transmission 90, and the spin tube 92 may be constrained to rotate in unison in in one rotational direction. It is noted that the spin tube 92 may form an external housing or case that houses the components (e.g., gears and other associated components) of the transmission 90. Also, when the clutch system 94 is engaged, a power path flows from the motor 41, through the spin tube 92, and to the basket 30 to rotate the basket 30 in one rotational direction. The clutch system 94 may be engaged during a spin cycle of the washing machine 10.
Referring to
The clutch sleeve 96 may include teeth or serrations 102 that engage opposing teeth or serrations 104 on the second pulley 86 when the clutch sleeve 96 is in the first position 98, which corresponds to the engaged state, to connect the spin tube 92 to the input shaft 80 via the second pulley 86 such that the spin tube 92 and the input shaft 80 are constrained to rotate in unison. The teeth or serrations 102 on the clutch sleeve 96 disengage the opposing teeth or serrations 104 on the second pulley 86 when the clutch sleeve 96 is in the second position 100, which corresponds to the disengaged state, such that the spin tube 92 is disconnected from the input shaft 80 and second pulley 86, and such that the spin tube 92 and the input shaft 80 are not constrained to rotate in unison. The clutch sleeve 96 may be secured to the spin tube 92 via splines such that clutch sleeve 96 and spin tube 92 are constrained to rotate in unison. The clutch sleeve 96 may slidable along the splines to transition between the first position 98 and the second position 100. The second pulley 86 may be secured to the input shaft 80 via splines such the second pulley 86 and the input shaft 80 are constrained to rotate in unison.
The clutch system 94 also includes a fork 106 that engages the clutch sleeve 96. The fork 106 may also be referred to as the lever. The fork 106 is configured to pivot to activate and deactivate the clutch sleeve 96 to connect and disconnect the spin tube 92 (and ultimately the basket 30) to and from the motor 41 and a corresponding a power path from the motor 41, respectively. More specifically, the fork 106 is configured to (i) transition (e.g., pivot) to a third position 108 to lower and transition the clutch sleeve 96 to the engaged state corresponding to first position 98 and (ii) transition (e.g., pivot) to a fourth position 110 to raise and transition the clutch sleeve 96 to the disengaged state corresponding to second position 100 in order to connect and disconnect the spin tube 92 (and ultimately the basket 30) to and from the motor 41 and a corresponding a power path from the motor 41, respectively.
A cam 112 engages an opposing end of the fork 106 relative to the clutch sleeve 96. The cam 112 is configured to linearly slide relative to the fork 106 such that an external sloped or cammed surface 114 of the cam 112 operates pivot the fork 106 to activate and deactivate the clutch sleeve 96 to connect and disconnect the spin tube 92 (and ultimately the basket 30) to and from the motor 41 and a corresponding a power path from the motor 41, respectively. More specifically, the linear movement of the cam 112 between a fifth position 116 and a sixth position 118 transitions the fork 106 between the third position 108 and the fourth position 110, respectively, which in turn lowers and raises the clutch sleeve 96, respectively, to transition the clutch sleeve 96 between the engaged state corresponding to first position 98 and the disengaged state corresponding to second position 100, respectively.
An actuator 120 is configured to linearly slide the cam 112 to transition the cam 112 between the fifth position 116 and the sixth position 118. The actuator 120 may be connected to the cam 112 via a string, cable, or wire 122. The actuator 120 maybe include an electric motor 123 and a spool 124. The spool 124 may be connected to the motor 123 and the wire 122. The wire 122 may be wound about the spool 124. The motor 123 may be configured to rotate the spool 124 in first and second directions to increase or decrease the tension acting on the wire 122. respectively. The actuator 120 may be in communication with and controlled by the controller 70.
The actuator 120 is configured to increase a tension acting on the wire 122 to slide the cam 112 to the fifth position 116, such that the fork 106 transitions to the third position 108 and the clutch sleeve 96 activates and transitions to the engaged state corresponding to first position 98 to connect the spin tube 92 (and ultimately the basket 30) to the motor 41 and corresponding power path. The actuator 120 is configured to decrease the tension acting on the wire 122 to facilitate sliding the cam 112 to the sixth position 118, such that the fork 106 transitions to the fourth position 110 and the clutch sleeve 96 deactivates and transitions to the disengaged state corresponding to second position 100 to disconnect the spin tube 92 (and ultimately the basket 30) from the motor 41 and corresponding power path.
A first spring 126 may bias the clutch sleeve 96 toward the first position 98. A second spring 128 may bias the cam 112 toward the sixth position 118. The first spring 126 may be a compression spring while the second spring 128 may be a tension spring. When the tension acting on the wire 122 is zero or sufficiently low, the force acting on the second spring 128 is sufficient to overcome the force acting on the first spring 126 such that the cam 112 remains in the sixth position 118, the fork 106 remains in the fourth position 110, and the clutch sleeve 96 remains in the second position 100 where the clutch sleeve 96 is deactivated and in the disengaged state such that the spin tube 92 (and ultimately the basket 30) are disconnected from the motor 41 and corresponding power path. When the tension acting on the wire 122 is sufficiently large enough to overcome the force acting on the second spring 128, the cam 112 transitions to the fifth position 116 allowing the first spring 126 to force the clutch sleeve 96 downward to the first position 98 where the clutch sleeve 96 is activated and in the engaged state such that the spin tube 92 (and ultimately the basket 30) are connected to the motor 41 and corresponding power path. The first spring 126 forcing the clutch sleeve 96 downward to the first position 98 also results in the fork 106 being forced into the third position 108 due to the engagement between the clutch sleeve 96 and the fork 106.
The clutch system 94 further includes a bracket 130. The bracket 130 is secured to an external panel or housing 132 of the washing machine 10. The external panel or housing 132 may be part of the cabinet 14 or may be attached to the cabinet 14 via the suspension system 22. The bracket 130 defines a track 134. The cam 112 is disposed and linear slidable within the track 134. The track 134 operates to guide the cam linearly between the fifth position 116 and the sixth position 118. The track 134 may include rails 136. The rails 136 may have overhangs or may be L-shaped to retain the cam 112 vertically within the track 134. The bracket 130 also includes stanchions 138 protruding therefrom. The fork 106 may be pivotably secured to the stanchions 138. More specifically, the fork 106 may include one or more pins 140 that engage and are rotatably disposed within orifices defined by the stanchions 138.
The fork 106 includes a forked end 142 and an opposing or rear end 144 that are disposed on opposing sides of the one or more pins 140. The rear end 144 tracks (e.g., follows or slides) up and down along the cammed surface 114 in response to the linear movement of the cam 112 between the fifth position 116 and the sixth position 118, which in turn transitions the fork 106 between the third position 108 and the fourth position 110, which in turn lowers and raises the clutch sleeve 96, respectively, to transition the clutch sleeve 96 between the engaged state corresponding to first position 98 and the disengaged state corresponding to second position 100, respectively.
It should be understood that the designations of first, second, third, fourth, etc. for any component, state, or condition described herein may be rearranged in the claims so that they are in chronological order with respect to the claims. Furthermore, it should be understood that any component, state, or condition described herein that does not have a numerical designation may be given a designation of first, second, third, fourth, etc. in the claims if one or more of the specific component, state, or condition are claimed.
The words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. As previously described, the features of various embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments that may not be explicitly described or illustrated. While various embodiments could have been described as providing advantages or being preferred over other embodiments or prior art implementations with respect to one or more desired characteristics, those of ordinary skill in the art recognize that one or more features or characteristics may be compromised to achieve desired overall system attributes, which depend on the specific application and implementation. As such, embodiments described as less desirable than other embodiments or prior art implementations with respect to one or more characteristics are not outside the scope of the disclosure and may be desirable for particular applications.
