US2135084A - Clothes washing machine - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 1, 1938.

J. B. KIRBY CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE Original Filed March 14, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 .IOIQODOGO T1531 [N VENTOR JA/fEd 5. K/RBY A TTO-RNEY Nov. 1, 1938. J. B. KIR'BY CLOTHES WASHING MACHiNE Original Filed. March 14, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIIBOOOOB 'GGOOOOOGQOOGQOflBOOIIOO IN V EN TOR 174/155 .8. Hear A TTORNE Y Nov. 1, 1938. Y J, 2,135,084

CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE Original Filed March 14, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 11v VENibR JA /WAS 5. Kmwr A TTOYRNEY Patented Nov. 1, 1938 PATENT OFFICE CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE James B. Kirby, West Richfield, Ohio, assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Apex Electrical Manufacturing Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation. of Ohio, as trustee Application March 14, 1932, Serial No. 598,552

Renewed March 12, 1938 52 Claims.

This invention relates to laundry machines and has for its object the provision of an especially simple, compact, and inexpensive machine for washing miscellaneous "articles of clothing as encountered in domestic practice, and for extracting the liquid centrifugally. Subsidiary features of the invention relate to the provision of a device whereby rinsing, bluing, etc. of the washed clothing can be effected in the extractor at the same time with the performance of the washing operation and without interfering with that operation, and this without requiring the employment of a separate compartment as in previous machines; the provision of new and simplified expedients for connecting the washing and extracting elements to the operating mechanism whereby increased simplicity and reliability is secured, combined with freedom from danger of accidents either to the machine or to the operator; the provision of improved means for the selective disposal of the diiferent liquids; while further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings I have showncertain machines illustrative of the principles of my invention. Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a preferred construction of'a complete machine embodying my improvements, the parts being shown in washing position; Fig. 1* is an enlarged detail of the safety catch shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 2 is a view of the same machine showing the parts in extracting position; Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail of the safety catch shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 3 is a sectional view corresponding to the horizontal line 3-3 in Fig. 1 and looking downwardly; Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view of the joint in the casing-bottom shown in Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view corresponding to the line 55 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view drawn to enlarged scale corresponding to the line 66 of Fig. 5 and showing the parts in neutral position; Fig. 7 is a front plan view of a part of the machine showing the controlling mechanism; Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the broken line 88 of Fig. 1; Fig. 9 is a central vertical section of a modified machine wherein the extractor is removable; Fig.

10 is a horizontal sectional view corresponding to.

the line l0-|0 of Fig. 9 and looking downwardly; Fig. 11 is a central vertical sectional view of another modification; and Fig. 12 is a sectional view corresponding to the line i2i2 of Fig. 11.

For purposes of completeness of disclosure 1 shall explain the entire machine herein illus- Patent No. 18,280, December 8, 1931.

trated in spite of the fact that some parts of it are already known through disclosure in certain of my prior applications as for example: Serial No. 694,899, filed February 25, 1924, and issued as Patent No. 1,969,176, on August7, 1934; Serial No. 191,483, filed May 14, 1927, and issued as Patent No. 1,911,903 on May 30, 1983; Serial No. 469,573, filed July 21, 1930, and issued as Patent No. 1,995,926, on March 26, 1935; Serial No. 495,688, filed November 14, 1930, and issued as Patent No. 2,009,111,- on July 23, 1935; Serial No. 480,424, filed September 8, 1930, and issued as Patent No. 2,001,965 on May 21, 1935; Serial No. 534,718, filed .May 4, 1931; and in my Reissue My improved machine preferably comprises a 15 supporting frame including a flat, annular, metal plate having a horizontal supporting portion I and depending integral outer and inner flanges 2 and 3 defining therewith an inverted annular channel which affords stifiness with little weight, and is readily stamped from plate metal. Suitable legs are secured to this channel member, preferably by being fastened to the outer fiange so as inefiect to make continuation thereof, while also having parts which traverse the channel and are secured to the inner flange in bracing relation. Each leg preferably consists of a channel shaped stamping having a web portion 4 which is riveted or welded to the flange 2 and lateral flanges 4 which extend toward and are fastened to the flange 3. In Figs. 1 and 2 I have shown the portions of these flanges 4 which I are concealed within the annular channel-member as joined by a web 4 which affords still greater stiffness without added expense, though these refinements are optional. The inner flange 3 surrounds and defines an aperture 5 and may well terminate in a fiat lip 3 to facilitate the attachment of the legs and gear-box,

Located in this aperture is a gear-box which here comprises a. top part 6 which is rigidly secured to the channel member of the frame, and a bottom part I suitably secured to the top part. Projecting vertically upward from the top part 6 of thisgear-box is a hollow sleeve 8. and mounted in this sleeve is the hub 9 'of a vertical bearingsleeve l0.

Seated on the plate I is the liquid-containing casing or tub which has an upright outer wall ll preferably integral with a flat bottom portion I2 which rests on the supporting frame and is apertured at the center for the sleeve l0. Preferably the center of this bottom is elevated conically as shown at I3 as set forth in my Reissue Patent No. 18,280, and I have shown its center as provided with a threaded spud l4 clamped thereto by means of an external nut and suitable packing washers I6 and having a threaded gland nut 11 which clamps a packing ring 18 around the exterior of the sleeve If! so as to prevent leakage without imposing any strain on the casing-bottom such as would tend to crack enamel therefrom in case enameled metal is used. This construction (whether or not the conical elevation is employed) has a further advantage, as set forth in my application Serial No. 534,718, of enabling the entire working parts to be assembled and tested in advance of the attachment of the casing. Rotatably surrounding the sleeve l0 inside the casing is a clothes-agitating element comprising a hollow shell 20 provided externally with radial liquid-circulating blades 2! and a downwardly flaring part 22 overlying the casing bottom, and provided interiorly with a horizontal web 23 connected to a vertical collar 24 rotatably mounted on the sleeve I0. This shell defines an upwardly flaring surface of revolution inside which I locate a centrifugal extractor. This extractor comprises a container having an upwardly flaring side-wall 25 defining a surface of revolution coaxial with the shell 20 and extending to a level above the top of the wall H. The bottom of this container is formed by a horizontal Web 26 integral with a vertical hollow sleeve 21 which is coaxial with the sleeve l0, and in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the webs 23 and 26 are formed with interfitting pins 28 and sockets 28 whereby the container can be secured to the agitator The sleeve 21 is preferably formed exteriorly with radiating blades 29, and I have also shown the interior of the wall 25 as provided with other blades 25 for a purpose to be hereafter described.

Carried by the top of the outwardly flaring wall 25 of this container is an inwardly flaring toprim 30, preferably stiffened at its upper edge by ,a roll-rim 3|, and the container thus produced is formed at its level of greatest diameter with liquid-discharge apertures 32, beneath which the exterior of the container is preferably formed with a downwardly and outwardly flaring, annular, liquid-shedding flange 33. The apertures 32 and flange 33 are both located above the top of the wall ll, so as both to necessitate the employment of a cover during extracting in order to catch the liquid, and hence also to insure safety to the operator, and also to enable convenient disposition of the extracted liquid. This cover comprises a top-portion 35 surrounding the rim 30, and a flange-portion 36 fitting inside the top of the wall ll so as to shed all intercepted liquid inside the same. The top of this cover is preferably formed with a circular opening 31 registering with the container and enabling access to its contents during the washing opera- 1 tion.

Secured inside this cover and surrounding the container is an annular gutter 40, having an inner wall 4| which is located beneath the flange 33 and has a diameter slightly greater than said flange so as to enable the attachment and removal of the cover while the container is in place in the machine. Leading from this gutter and also located above the level of the side wall in movement-transmitting relation.-

happens in small apartments, the washing is performed in the kitchen. In the present embodi ment I have illustrated a two-way valve positioned between this pipe and gutter, said valve having a casing 44 formed with two outlet cpenings, one 45 communicating the pipe 42,

and the other 46 discharging inside the casing.=

The valve-member 41 in this valve casing, 011-. erated by a handle 48 above the cover, enables these openings to be employed selectively, so as to discharge the extracted liquid either into the hose 43 or back into the casing. In the absence of such a valve it will be clear that any. stopvalve, or even the lifting of the hose, willcompel .the gutter to overflow into the casingas soon as it has become filled with the extracted liquid.

Slidably and rotatably journaled inside the sleeve 10 is the vertical shaft 50 which, in the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, has its top operatively secured to the sleeve 21 by means of the screw 5|. The lower end of the shaft 50 projects into the gear-box where it is associated with suitable operating mechanism, preferably that now to be described. Journaled in this gear-box is a horizontal drive shaft 52 driven in any suitable manner as by the pulley 53 belted to a suitable electric motor 49. Carried by this drive shaft are two spiral gears 54 and 55 meshing continuously, the one with a companion gear 56 rotatably journaled on the shaft 56, andthe other with a companion gear 51 journaled on the vertical fixed stud 58. The gear 51 is connected by means of a pitman 59 with a toothed segment 60 journaled on a vertical stud 61 also carried by the gear box and swinging at a lower level than the gear 56. Rigidly secured to the shaft 50 is a pinion 62 which in its lower position meshes with the segment 6!! and is oscillated thereby, at which position of said shaft the pins 28 and sockets 28 are also engaged as shown in Fig. 1 so that this oscillation is communicated through the extractor container to the agitator. Means are also provided whereby upon the elevation of the pinion 62, and after the consequent disengagement of its driving connection with the segment 60, it shall be brought into driven relation with the pinion 56; and while this may be effected in any one of numerous modes, the simplest arrangement so far conceived, and the one which also affords maximum cheapness combined with maximum manufacturing tolerance is that illustrated in detail in Fig. 6, namely: the pinion 62 is formed with a frusto-conical projection 63 adapted to fit inside the complementarily shaped metal cup 64 which is loosely carried by the pinion 56. This carrying is here effected by three headed screws 65 aflixed to the pinion and loosely traversing apertures in the bottom of this cup, and between the screws are springs 66 located in socketsin the pinion and normally holding the cup-bottom against the heads of the screws. The interior of the cup may be lined with friction material 61. The pinion 56 is provided with a sleeve 68 which rotates loosely on the shaft 50 and also projects freely through a central aperture in the cup where it rests on a supporting ring 69 which loosely surrounds the shaft 56 between the pinion 62 and the cup 64. Slidably mounted in vertical apertures in the pinion 62 are some loose pins 10 whose lower ends rest on an annular disk 1| carried by the bottom part 1 of the gear-case. Surrounding the shaft 56 above the pinion 56 is a thrust bearing 12 which takes the thrust of the springs 66 when the pinion 62 is elevated. The

pinion 56 accordingly rotates continuously under the influence of the gear 55, being confined between an upper limit fixed by the bearing 12 and a lower limit fixed by the pins 10. There is never any substantial load on these pins since the only occasion whereon the pinion 56 transmits any power is when it is lifted away from these pins by the pinion 62.

Suitable'rneans are provided for raising and lowering the shaft 59 from outside the casing, the means here shown comprising a horizontal rock shaft 15 journaled in a well 16 formed in the bottom part I of the gear casing beneath the shaft 50 and carrying a crank pin I! connected to said shaft by a pitman 18 which extends through the disk II. The upper end of this pitman is provided wtih a spherical (or partly spherical) head 19 connected to this pitman by a reduced neck 89 and located inside anapertured hollow cap 8| carried by the shaft 50. At its highest elevation this pitman supports the thrust of the shaft and weight of the extractor, for which purpose this head is preferably hardened and used with a thrust-ball. When depressed it 1 has no strain though I have shown a positive down-drawing connection since the presence of wash-water in the shelllll, (which sometimes occurs) produces a dash-pot effect.

The opposite end of the shaft 15 projects beyond the supporting frame and is there provided with a suitable handle 82 by which it may be turned. I have found it desirable to combine this handle with a shield-plate 83 adapted to prevent access to the operating member 84 of the electric switch which controls the operation of the machine except under proper circumstances and to which is attached the electric cord 84'. It is specially'desirable to prevent the actuation of this switch during the time that the mechanism is connected to the extractor in high-speed rotating relation since the load of starting the extractor from stand-still under such conditions is likely to blow out a fuse or injure the motor. In the present embodiment I have shown a completely circular plate having therein an aperture 85 permitting access to the switch when the pinion 62 occupies its intermediate position illustrated in Fig. 6. This circularity also facilitates the employment of this plate as. an indicator-dial, cooperating with a fixed indicating element 86 carried by the supporting frame.

To prevent the premature down-drawing of the shaft 59 one or more of several expedients may be employed, retardation of some kind being desirable to prevent engagement between the pinion 62 and segment 60 while the extractor, due to inertia, is still rotating at high speed. One mode of effecting this is to provide the sleeve 21 with some equi-distantly-spaced narrow radial recesses 90 (of Figs..l to 3) here conveniently formed in the thickened inner edges of the blades 29, and to provide in each recess'acentrifugally displaceable catch having at one end an enlargement 9! adapted to fly outwardly above a certain speed and having at its opposite end an inwardly-projecting hook 92 adapted to overlap a slipring 93 carried by a shoulder 94 with which the sleeve I is formed. This shoulder and ring are located intermediate the oscillating and rotating positions of the extractor, the portion of the sleeve above this level being reduced to permit the centrifugai displacement of these elements to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 2 In case the operator allows the extractor to come to rest before moving the control-shaft these centrifugal elements do not manifest their presence at all, but if an attempt be made to depress the extractor prematurely they catch upon the ring 94 and arrest the movement before the pinion 62 can engage the segment 60. A convenient mode of securing these elements in place is by means of an expansive split ring 95 snapped into an open annular groove 95' formed inside the sleeve.

A second safety expedient which can be employed either separately or combined with the centrifugal elements just described is to secure the pins 28 to an annular friction-ring 95 rotatably mounted in an annular groove 91 formed in the web 25. If the pins are made of suflicient height to prevent the engagement of the pinion 62 with the segment 69' prior to their entrance at least part-way into the sockets 28, the impossibility of effecting such entrance until the speed of rotation of theextractor has become very small will constitute a substantial protection to the gearing, and the friction of the ring in its groove will effectively brake such revolutions as occur after such introduction.

Additional expedients for preventing injury by premature engagement are illustrated in Figs. 9 to 12, these-having the additional advantage of providing an extractor which can be removed without impeding the washing operation of the machine. In both these modifications the dasher or agitator is formed as before and the sleeve 21 of the extractor container, instead of being fastened to the shaft, is loosely sleeved about a separate sleeve 99 which is fastened to the shaft and terminates at its lower extremity in a laterally-projecting flange Hill in which the sockets 18 are formed and to which the extractor is detachably secured. In the form of the invcnticn shown in Fig. 9, the periphery of this flange is formed with an up-turned lip NH tapered to receive frictionally and in supporting relation a downwardly-projecting complementary flange I02 depending from the bottom of the extractor 25 ably terminates in an interiorly cylindrical socket IM which slidably receives the cylindrical extremity I05 of the sleeve 99, thereby guiding and fixing the axis of the extractor.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 11 the sleeve 99 is provided at its lower end with a plain projecting flange IDE having adjacent its inner margin 9. fixed abutment element 0 which in the present embodiment consists of a short cylindrical pin driven into a hole formed for the purpose in flange lull- The bottom of the extractor 25 is formed with an annular depending flange Ill constituting a base by which it can be supported on a table or elsewhere, and to this at one point is affixed a leaf-spring H2 which projects inwardly into a position to engage the abutment I H1 in the manner of a spring pawl. This construction in addition to being inexpensive has the advantage that when thespring pawl is afiixed at the best angle it not only allows the container to overrun the shaft when rotating in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 12, but it buckles so as to cushion the shock when the shaft is started to rotate in such direction in advance of-the container. The flange I00 is provided with apertures 28 for the reception of the pins 28 carried by the horizontal web of the agitator when the driving shaft 59 is in its lower or washing position. When the shaft 59 is in its raised position it is continuously rotated in the manner previously described and The upper end of sleeve 21 preferthe container ZS is driven by the engagement of the pawl H2 with the pin 0.

I With the construction shown in Figs. 9 and 10 the angle between the flanges Illl and I02 is so chosen as to enable the relative slippage sufficicut to protect the gearing, while constituting a brake to bring the container to rest. In the form shown in Fig. 12 the container can continue to rotate indefinitely after the re-engagement of the gearing, the spring I I2 merely snapping by the pin H. In order to avoid any danger that the agitator will be removed along with the extractor due to the seizing of the flanges I0! and I02 shown in Fig. 9, a split-ring H is preferably snapped into an annular groove formed in the sleeve I'D for that purpose, space for this ring being provided between the top of the hub 24 and the lower end of the sleeve 99.

Despite the fact that the interior diameter of the wall 4! of the gutter 40 is of sufllcient diameter to enable the removal of the cover past the flange 33, the downwardly-flaring, shape of the flange hereinbefore described causes most of the liquid dripping thereover to fall into the gutter even while the container is at rest, thus preventing contamination of the washing liquid by blucing or rinsing liquids since it is not practical to use the machine even for washing without having the cover in place owing to the splashing produced by the agitator blades. It is obviously infeasible to operate the device as an extractor in the absence of the cover due to the lateral expulsion of the water, wherefore the cover constitutes a very effective safety element.

Many features of the operation of the machine will have become apparent from the preceding description, but certain peculiar features of operation not heretofore described, and not present in other machines deserve special mention. Due to the employment of a single shaft which carries the container as well as operating the dasher, the container is oscillated at all times that the dasher or agitator is oscillated, and consequently itself constitutes a small sized washer. As rapidly as articles of clothing have become sufiiciently washed they are transferred to this container, then rinse water is introduced therein (either periodically or continuously as may be desired) and the continuation of the oscillating motion to wash the clothing in the outer casing .serves at the same time to thoroughly rinse the clothing in the container. Due to the provision of the annular gutter 4| this rinse water can be allowed to flow continuously from a hose during the rinsing operation, without cooling or diluting the washing liquid, and upon elevation of the container by the handle 82 all the extracted liquid is discharged.

Blueing likewise can be introduced, the clothing mixed thoroughly therein by the washing motion, and the liquid discharged without impeding the washing operation excepting for the brief periods during which the extracting operation is performed. Ordinary domestic laundry articles like towels, clothing, etc. are freed from water in less than a minute to such an extent that additional water cannot be withdrawn from them either by twisting or by a wringer.

Furthermore this container constitutes a convenient mid-week washer or apparatus for washing small and occasional articles of clothing, requiring only a minimum of liquid, and without even requiring the removal of the cover of the main machine.

While I have described with thoroughness a preferred practical embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that a great many changes in different details can be made and I do not limit myself to any of the details herein shown except as the same arespecifically recited in my several claims which I desire may be construed each according to its own limitations and independently of limitations contained in other claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is: i

1. In a combined clothes washing and extracting machine, a casing having therein a bladed agitator journaled upon a vertical axis, an extractor-container located above said agitator and having its side wall defining a surface of revolution coaxial with said vertical axis and adapted for the centrifugal discharge of liquid upon rapid rotation, a single shaft coaxial with said vertical axis and operatively connected to said container, means for oscillating and rotating said shaft, and means for connecting said shaft to said agitator for eflecting its oscillation.

2. In a combined clothes washing and extracting machine, a casing having therein a bladed agitator journaled upon a vertical axis, an extractor-container located above said agitator and having its side wall defining a surface of revolution coaxial with said vertical axis and adapted for the centrifugal discharge of liquid upon rapid rotation, a single shaft coaxial with said vertical axis, means for oscillating and rotating said shaft, and means for connecting said shaft to said agitator during its oscillation and for connecting said shaft to said container only during its rotation.

3. In a combined clothes washing and extracting machine, a casing having therein a bladed agitator journal'ed upon a vertical axis, an extractor-container located above said agitator and having its side-wall defining a surface of revolution coaxial with said vertical axis and adapted for the centrifugal discharge of liquid upon rapid rotation, driving mechanism beneath said casing comprising a rotating-element and an oscillating-element at different heights, the oscillating-element being the lower, a single vertical shaft coaxial with said agitator and container, means for raising and lowering said shaft, means for connecting said shaft to said agitator and to said oscillating-element when said shaft is lowered, and means for disconnecting said shaft from said agitator and oscillating-element when it is raised and connecting it to said rotating-element and container.

4. In a combined clothes washingand extracting machine, a casing having therein a bladed agitator journaled upon a vertical axis, an extractor-container located above said agitator and having its side-wail defining a surface of revolution coaxial with said vertical axis and adapted for the centrifugal discharge of liquid upon rapid rotation, driving mechanism beneath said casing comprising a rotating-element and an oscillating-element, a single vertical shaft coaxial with said agitator and container means for connecting said shaft to said oscillating-element and for communicating the oscillating motionof said shaft to said agitator, means for connecting said shaft to said rotating element and for communicating the rotating motion of said shaft to said container, and means for preventing the connection of said shaft to said agitator and to said oscillating element when it is rotating.

5. In a combined clothes washing and extracting machine, in combination, a casing for clothes and detergent liquid, an oscillatable-agitator located therein on a vertical axis and having a hollowed-out central portion and ra ating blades, an extractor-container having ag'upwardly and outwardly slanted side-wall fo med as a surface of revolution coaxial with said agitator, the lower end of said container being imperforate and located inside said hollowed-out portion and the upper part of said container extending above thetop of saidcasing and there formed with provisions for the centrifugal discharge of liquid,-means for oscillating said agitator and for rotating said container, and an annular receiver for extracted liquid carried byh said casing and surrounding said extractor.

6. In a combined clothes washing and extracting machine, in combination, a casing for clothmg and detergent liquid, a clothes washing element in said casing, an extractor-container above said element, said extractor having an upwardly flaring wall defining a surface of revolution about a vertical axis and having liquid discharge provisions in its upper part only, means comprising a single shaft extending upwardly from the bottom of said casing for rotating said container and oscillating said element, and a removable annular receptor for extracted liquid carried by said casing and surrounding said container.

7. In a combined clothes washing and extracting machine, in combination, a casingfor clothes and detergent liquid, an upright hollow sleeve inside said casing, an agitator journaled on the exterior of said sleeve and having radiating blades, an extractor-container located above said agitator coaxial with said sleeve, 2. single shaft inside said sleeve, means for rotating and oscillating said shaft, means for communicating the rotating motion'of said shaft to said container, and means for communicating the oscillatory motion of said shaft to said agitator.

8. In a combined clothes washing and extracting machine, in combination, a casing for clothes and detergent liquid, an upright hollow sleeve inside said casing, an agitator journaled on the exterior of said sleeve and having radiating blades, a shaft inside said sleeve having a disconnectible driving connection with said agitator, means for oscillating said shaft, means for raising and lowering said shaft and means operative upon such lowering of said shaft for connecting said shaft to said agitator in operating relation, said means also serving upon the raising of said shaft to interrupt such driving connection.

9. In a combined clothes washing and extracting machine, in combination, a casing for clothes and detergent liquid, an upright hollow sleeve inside said casing, an agitator journaled on the exterior of said sleeve and having radiating blades, a shaft inside said sleeve, means for oscillating and rotating said shaft, an extractor-container carried by said shaft above said agitator, means for raising and lowering said shaft and with it said container, means operative upon lowering said shaft to connect it to said oscillating means and also to connect it to said agitator in operative relation, and means operative upon raising said shaft to disconnect it from said agitator and from said oscillating means and to connect it to said rotating means.

10. In a combined clothes washing and extracting machine, in combination, a casing defining a laundering compartment, an upright sleeve inside said casing, a single shaft journaled inside said sleeve, means for oscillating and rotating said shaft, means defining a second compartment within said casing, and an extractorcontainer detachably secured to said shaft and located in part at least in said second compartment, said container having a hollow axial sleeve which surrounds said first sleeve and an upwardly flaring outer wall which is coaxial with said sleeves and is formed with liquid-discharge provisions at its upper part.

11. In a combined clothes washing and extracting machine, in combination, a cloths washing element, a centrifugal container, an electric motor, means providing driving connectionsfrom said motor .to-said washing el'ehient and can: tainer, a. control handle, connections from said handle to establish and disestablish said driving connections, a switch in circuit with said motor, and means movable with said handle for preventing actuation of said switchwhen said motor is connected by said first named means to said container.

12. In a combined clothes washing and extracting machine, in combination, a clothes washing element, a centrifugal container, an electric motor, means providing driving connections from said motor to said. washing-element and container, a control handle, connections from said handle to establish and disestablish said driving connections, a switch in circuit with said motor, and means including a shield for the switch movable with said handle for preventing actuation of said switch except when the driving connections provided by said first named means are disconnected.

13. In a combined clothes-washing and extracting machine, in combination, a clothes washing element, a centrifugal container, an electric motor, driving connections from said motor to said washing element and container, a control handle, connection from said handle to establish and disestablish said driving connections, a switch in circuit with said motor, and a shield movable with said handle and covering the switch handle at all times that said driving connections are established, said shield having an interruption which uncovers the switch handle when said driving connections are disestablished.

14. In a laundry machine, an annular frame having depending integral inner and outer flanges defining an inverted annular channel, a casing resting on the portion of said frame between said flanges, and legs fastened to said outer flange, each leg having a part secured to said inner flange in bracing relation.

15. In a laundry machine, an annular frame having depending integral inner and outer flanges defining an inverted annular channel, a casing resting on the portion of said frame between said flanges, and legs fastened to said outer flange, each leg consisting of a channel-shaped element having its web fastened to said outer flange and having its side-flanges projecting across said first channel and rigidly fastened to a part of said inner flange.

16. In a laundry machine, an annular frame having depending integral inner and outer flanges defining an inverted annular channel, said inner flange surrounding and defining an aperture and terminating in a lip, a casing resting onthe portion of said frame between said flanges and extending over said aperture at a distance above said lip, and a gear box fastened to said lip and having a part rigid therewith to which said .casing is removably and frictionally attached.

1?. In aclothes washing machine, a casing, a vertical sleeve secured to the casing bottom in liquid-tight relation, an agitator oscillatably surrounding said sleeve, 9. single shaft inside said sleeve, an extractor container above said agitator, driving connections for transmitting movement of rotation from said shaft to said container, and detachable driving connections from said shaft to said agitator.

18. In a clothes washing and extracting machine. a container mounted on a vertical axis and having a side wall formed as a surface of revolution about said axis and having provision for the centrifugal escape of its liquid contents, shaft-means coaxial with 'said container and having operative connection therewith, gearing having oscillating and rotating elements, means for connecting said shaft-means to said oscillating and rotating elements selectively, and means preventing the connection of said shaft-means to said oscillating element while said container is rotating above a determined speed.

19.-In a clothes washing and extracting machine, a container mounted ona vertical axis and having a side wall formed as a surfaceof revolution about said axis and having provision for the centrifugal escape of its liquid contents, a shaft operatively connected to said container in rotating and oscillating relation, means for alternatively rotating and oscillating said shaft, and means blocking the attachment of said shaft to said oscillating means during the rotation of said container above a determined speed.

20. In a combined clothes washing and extracting machine, a centrifuge container, an oscillatable agitator, a single shaft for rotating said container and for oscillating said agitator,

driving mechanism including rotating and oscillating elements, and a centrifugal element rotatable with said shaft and blocking the attachment of said shaft to said oscillating element during any rotation of said container above a determined speed.

21. In a combined washing and extracting machine, in combination, a container mounted on a vertical axis and having a side wall defining a surface of revolution about said axis and formed for the centrifugal discharge of liquid, blades inside said container, a single shaft, means for alternatively rotating and oscillating said shaft, and means operative upon complete revolution of said shaft relative to said container in one direction for connecting said container to said shaft in driven relation and upon relative rotation between said shaft and said container in the opposite direction to disengage said container therefrom.

22. In a combined clothes washing and extracting machine, upright shaft-means, a washing element and an extractor-container operatively associated with said shaft-means, a

power-source, a rotating element coaxial with said shaft-means and operatively connected to saidpower source, an oscillating element adjacent to said shaft-means and operatively connected to said power source, a connecting element carried by said shaft-means, means in one-position of said connecting element to engageit with said oscillating element in power-transmitting relation, said connecting element having on the side adjacent to said rotating element a frustoconical part, and a frusto-conical part carried by said rotating element, one of said parts being yieldingly and flexiblyconnected to the element to which it is adjacent, such connection including interfitting, rotation-producing means and longitudinally arranged springs. V

23. In a combined clothes-washing and extracting machine, in combination, a casing, an upright shaft traversing the bottom thereof, means for rotating and oscillating said shaft, a coupling-element operatively connected to said shaft inside said casing, an extractor-container rotatably carried by said shaft, an oscillatable agitator surrounding said shaft below said container, power-transmitting means operatively connecting said element to said container in rotating relation, at least in one direction, and means for connecting said coupling-element to and disconnecting it from said agitator.

24. In a clothes-washing and extracting machine, a casing, vertical shaft-means traversing the casing bottom, an agitator in the casing coaxal with said shaft-means, said agitator comprising a hollow center portion and radiating blades, an extractor-container coaxial with said shaft-means and having its bottom located in said hollow center portion and having its sidewall flaring upwardly and outwardly to'a level above the top of said casing and formed witl liquid discharge provisions, said agitator and said extractor-container being adapted to be driven by said shaft means, and means including said shaft-means for imparting rotary motion to said container and oscillating motion to said agitator.

25. In a combined clothes-washing and extracting machine, in combination, an upright casing, a liquid holding extractor-container located therein on a vertical axis and having an upwardly-flaring side wall defining a surface of revolution about said axis and projecting above the top of said casing and formed thereat with provisions for the centrifugal escape of liquid, an agitator coaxial with said container and having a recess for receiving the lower part only of said container, means for operating said agitator and rotating said container, a cover for said casing having an elevated part for receiving the projecting portion of said container, an annular trough carried by said cover and adapted to surround said container beneath said liquid-escape provisions, and means for selectively draining liquid from said trough over the top of said casing wall or returning it to said casing.

26. In a laundry machine, a liquid holding casing, laundering instrumentalities in said casing, a driving shaft for said laundering instrumentalities extending through an opening in a wall of said casing, and operating means for said shaft comprising a driving clutch member joumaled for rotation on said shaft, means engaging the axial central part of said clutch member above and below for holding it against axial movement while at the same time permitting axial movement of said shaft, a driven clutch member fixed on said shaft, and means for axially shifting said shaft to effect the engagement and disengagement of said clutch members for connecting and disconnecting said operating means and said shaft.

2'7. In a laundry machine, a liquid holding casing, laundering instrumentalities in said casing, a driving shaft for said laundering instru- [mentalities extending through an opening in a wall of said casing, and operating means for said shaft comprising a driving clutch member jourthe axial central part of said clutch member above and below for holding it against axial movement while at the same time permitting axial movement of said shaft, a driven clutch member fixed on said shaft and having an aperture for slidably receiving a part of said clutch holding means, and means for axially shifting said shaft to effect the engagement and disengagement of said clutch members for connecting and disconnecting said'operating means and said shaft.

28. In a laundry machine, a liquid holding casing, laundering instrumentalities in said casing, a driving shaft for said laundering instrumentalities extending through an opening in a wall of said casing, and operating means for said shaft comprising a driving clutch member journaled for rotation on said shaft, fixed bearing members loosely surrounding "said shaft for supporting said clutch member, a supporting pin for one of said bearings arranged parallel to said shaft, a driven clutch member" having a driving connection with said shaft and having an opening for loosely receiving said pin, and means for axially shifting said driven clutch member to effect the engagement and disengagement of said clutch members for connecting and disconnecting said operating means and said shaft.

29. In a laundry machine, a liquid holding casing, laundering instrumentalities in said casing, a driving shaft for said laundering instrumentalities extending through an opening in a wall of said casing, and operating means for said shaft comprising a driving clutch member journaled for rotation on said shaft, fixed bearing members loosely surrounding said shaft for supporting said clutch member, a supporting member for one of said bearing members, a driven clutch member having a driving connection with said shaft and having an opening for loosely receiving said supporting member, and means for axially shifting said driven clutch member to effect the engagement and disengagement of said clutch members for connecting and disconnecting said operating means and said shaft,

30. In a laundry machine, a liquid holding casing, laundering instrumentalities in said casing, a driving shaft for said laundering instrumentalities extending through an opening in a wall of said casing, and operating means for said shaft comprising a driving clutch member journaled for rotation on said shaft, fixed bearing members loosely surrounding said shaft for supporting said clutch member, a supporting member for one of said bearing members, a driven clutch member having a driving connection with said shaft and having an opening for loosely receiving said supporting member, driving means for said driven clutch member spaced from said driving clutch member and means for shifting said driven clutchmember selectively into engagement with said driving clutch member or said driving means for driving said shaft.

31. In a laundry machine, a liquid holding casing, laundering instrumentalities in said casing, a driving shaft for said laundering instrumentalities extending through an opening in a wall of said casing, and operating means for said shaft comprising a rotating driving clutch member journaled for rotation on said shaft, fixed bearing members loosely surrounding said shaft for supporting said clutch member, a supporting member for one of said bearing members, a driven clutch member having a driving connection with said shaft and having an opening for loosely receiving said supporting member, oscillatingdriving means for said driven clutch member spaced from said driving clutch member and means for shifting said driven clutch member selectively into engagement with said driving clutch member or said driving means for rotating or oscillating said shaft.

32. In a laundry machine, a liquid holding casing, laundering instrumentalities in said casing, a driving shaft for said laundering instrumentalities extending through an opening in a wall of said casing, and operating means for said shaft comprising a driving clutch member journaled for rotation on said shaft, and having a yieldingly supported friction face, fixed bearing members loosely surrounding said shaft for supporting said clutch member, a supporting member for one of said bearing members, a driven clutch member having a driving connection with said shaft and having an opening for loosely receivingv said supporting member, and means for axially shifting said driven clutch member to effect the engagement and disengagement of said clutch members for connecting and disconnecting said operating means and said shaft.

33. In a laundry machine in combination, casing means for holding liquid and articles to be washed, washing means in said casing means, a centrifugal extractor container in said casing means having liquid agitating provisions interiorly thereof, and operating means for both rotating said container to extract the liquid contents thereof and for oscillating said washing means and said container with its liquid agitating provisions whereby two washers of different capacity are provided, the smaller of which constitutes an extractor when not used as a washer.

34. In a laundry machine in combination, casing means for holding liquid and articles to be washed, washing means in said casing means, an imperforate extractor container in said casing means having upwardly fiaring'side walls and having liquid agitating provisions interiorly there{ of, and operating \means for both rotating said container to extract the liquid contents thereof and for oscillating said washing means and said container with its liquid agitating provisions whereby two washers of different capacity are provided, the smaller of which constitutes an extractor-when not used as a washer.

35. In a laundry machine in combination, casing means for holding liquid and articles to be washed, washing means in said casing means, a centrifugal extractor container in said casing means having liquid agitating means secured to the interior thereof, and operating means for both rotating said container to extract the liquid contents thereof and for oscillating said washing means and said container whereby two washers of different capacity are provided.

36. In a combined washing and extracting machine, a tub having a compartment for holding liquid and articles to be washed, washing means in the compartment of said tub, a centrifugal container in the compartment of said tub having liquid agitating provisions interiorly thereof, and operating means for both rotating said container to extract the liquid contents thereof and for oscillating said container with its washing means and said liquid agitating provisions whereby two washers of different capacity are provided one inside the other, the smaller washer constituting an extractor when not in use as a washer.

37. In a combined washing and extracting machine, a tub having a compartment for holding liquid and articles to be washed, washing means in the compartment of said tub, an imperforate extractor container in the compartment of said tub having upwardly flaring side walls and having liquid agitating provisions interiorly thereof, and operating means for rotating said container to extract the liquid contents thereof and to discharge such liquid exteriorly of said tub and also for oscillating said washing means and said container with its liquid agitating provisions whereby two washers oi difierent capacity are provided one inside the other, the smaller washer constituting an extractor when not in use as a' washer.

38. In a combined washing and extracting machine, a tub having a compartment for holding liquid and articles to be washed, washing means in the compartment of said tub, a centrifugal container in the compartment of said tub having partment tub, an extractor and a large and a small capacity washer.

42. In a combined extractor and two compartment washer for the washing and drying of clothes and other articles, in combination, a tub for holding liquid and articles to be washed. it dasher in the lower portion of said tub having walls defining an open compartment and vanes extending outwardly from said walls for agitating the liquid in said tub, the volume of the compartment of said dasher being considerably less than one half the volume of said tub, an extractorjcontainer located in part at least in the compartment of said dasher, liquid agitating means inside said extractor-container, and means having a releasable connection with said dasher for oscillating said dasher and said extractor-cone tainer with, its liquidagitating'meansand"forro-" liquid agitating means secured to the interig .a tating said extractor-container independently of thereof, and operating means for both'rotating said container to extract the liquid contents thereof and for. oscillating said washing means and said container whereby two washers of different capacity are provided in one and the same tub.

39. In a combined extractor and two compartment washer, in combination, a tub having a compartment for holding liquid and articles to be washed, a dasher in said tub having blades for agitating the liquid contents thereof, an extractor-container located in the compartment of said tub with its bottom adjacent to the tub bottom and below the normal operating liquid level thereof, said extractor-container occupying considerably less than one-half of the volume of the compartment of said tub, liquid agitating means inside said extractor-container, and means for oscillating said dasher and said extractor-container with its liquid agitating means and for rotating said extractor-container whereby there is provided in a one-compartment tub, an extractor and a large and a small capacity washer.

40. In a combined extractor and two compartment washer, in combination, a tub having a compartment for holding liquid and articles to be washed, a dasher in said tub having blades for agitating the liquid contents thereof, a liquid holding extractor-container located in the compartment of said tub with its bottom adjacent to the tub bottom and below the normal operating liquid level thereof, said extractor-container occupying considerably less than one-half of the volume of the compartment of said tub, liquid agitating means inside said extractor-container, and means for oscillating said dasher and said extractor-container with its liquid agitating means and for rotating said extractor-container whereby there is provided in a one-compartment tub, an extractor and a large and a small capacity washer.

41. In a combined extractor and two compartment washer, in combination, a tub having a compartment for holding liquid and articles to be washed, a dasher in said tub having blades for agitating the liquid contents thereof, an extractor-container located in the compartment of said 'tub with its bottom adjacent to-the tub bottom and below the normal operating liquid level thereof, said extractor-container occupying considerably less than one-half of the volume'of the compartment of said tub, liquid agitating means inside said extractor-container and fixedly secured thereto, and means for rotating and oscillating said extractor-container and for oscillating said dasher whereby there is provided in a one-comextending outwardly from said walls for agitating the liquid in said tub, the volume of the compartment of said dasher being considerably less than one half the volume of said tube, a liquid holding extractor-container having upwardly and outwardly flaring side walls located in part at least in the compartment of said dasher, liquid agitating means inside said extractor-container, and means having a releasable connection with said dasher for oscillating said dasher and said extractor-container with its liquid agitating means and for rotating said extractor-container independently of any movement of said dasher whereby ther is provided ina single tub an extractor and a large and a small capacity washer.

44. In a combined extractor and two comparts ment washer for the washing, and drying of clothes and other articles, in combination, a tub for holding liquid and articles to be washed, a dasher in the lower portion of said tub having walls defining an open compartment and vanes extending outwardly from said walls for agitating the liquid in said tub, the volume of the compartment of said dasher being considerably less than one half the volume of said tub, an extractor-container located in part at least in the compartment of said dasher, liquid agitating means inside said extractor-container and fixedly secured thereto, and means including a releasable connection between said extractor-container and said dasher for independently rotating said extractor-container and for simultaneously oscillating said extractor-container and said dasher whereby there is provided in a single tub an extractor and a large and a small capacity washer.

45. In a combined extractor and two compartment washer for the washing and drying of clothes and other articles, in combination, a tub for holding liquid and articles to be washed, a

dasher in the lower portion of said tub having blades for agitating the liquid contents thereof, an extractor-container having a lower imperforate portion with upwardly and outwardly flaring side walls located in part at least within the confines of said dasher, the bottom of said extractorcontainer being located below the normal operating level of the liquid in said tube, liquid agitating means inside said extractor-container, means for independently rotating said extractor-container and simultaneously oscillating said dasher and said extractor-container with its liquid agitating means for efiecting drying operations in said extractor-container and for effecting washing operations inside said extractor-container and in the space of said tub around the lower portion of said extractor-container, and means for conveying such discharged liquid to a point outside of said tub.

46. In a. laundry machine in combination, casing means for holding liquid and articles to be washed, washing means in said casing means, a centrifugal extractor container in said casing means, liquid agitating provisions inside said centrifugal extractor container, and operating means including power driven mechanism having a single shaft traversing the bottom of said casing means for both rotating said container to extract the liquid contents thereof and for oscillating said washing means and said liquid agitating provisions whereby two separately useable washers of diiierent capacity are provided, the smaller of which constitutes an extractor when A notused as a washer.

47. In a laundry machine in combination, casing means for holding liquid and articles tobe washed, washing means in said casing means, an imperforate extractor container in said casing means having upwardly flaring side walls, means associated with said container for delivering to said casing means liquid discharged from said container, liquid agitating provisions inside said extractor container, and operating means including rotating and oscillating mechanism, a motor for driving the same and power transmission means extending from said mechanism through the central region of the bottom of said casing means for both rotating said container to extract the liquid contents thereof and for oscillating said washing means and said liquid agiin the compartment of said tub, a centrifugal container in the compartment of said tub having liquid discharge provisions located above the working level of the liquid in said casing means,

liquid agitating provisions inside said centrifugal container, and operating means including rotating and oscillating mechanism, power transmission means extending therefrom through the bottom of said casing and means for selectively connecting said rotating mechanism to said container and said oscillating mechanism to said agitating provisions and said washing means for both rotating said container to extract the liquid contents thereof and for oscillating said washing means and said liquid agitating provisions whereby two washers of different capacity are provided one inside the other, the smaller washer constituting an extractor when not in use as a washer.

49. In a washing machine, the combination with a liquid holding tub, of a hollow upright structure therein having a' portion of reduced diameter and exterior liquid impelling blades located in such portion, liquid impelling blades located inside of said hollow structure, and means for oscillating said structure and with it said blades.

50. In a washing machine, the combination with a liquid holding tub, of a hollow body structure therein with outwardly flaring walls at its top and bottom, liquid impelling vanes extending between such walls on the outside of the body structure, and means for oscillating said body structure and vanes. n

51. An agitator comprising a hollow body portion formed from reversely arrang frustoconical sections flaring outwardly a the top and bottom of the agitator and liquid impelling blades interposed between the frusto-conical sections of said body.

52. In a washing machine, the co bination with a liquid holding tub, of an agitat r therein comprising a hollow body structure th outwardly flaring top and bottom portions and radially projecting agitating vanes extending between said top and bottom portions and defining therewith a plurality of outwardly opening compartments about the axis of the agitator, and means for oscillating said agitator JAMES B. KIRIBY.

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