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  Belt drive washerUSPTO Application #: 20070095111Title: Belt drive washer Abstract: A drive mechanism for a washing machine having a basket rotatably mounted within a tub includes a variable speed motor including a first pulley. An agitator is mounted within the basket. A rotatable shaft has first and second ends. The first end is directly coupled to the agitator. A second pulley is mounted on the second end of the shaft. A drive belt connects the first pulley to the second pulley. An inverter is operatively coupled to the motor. A controller is operatively coupled to the inverter and the motor. The controller is configured to control the motor based on a predetermined agitation profile. (end of abstract)
Agent: John S. Beulick (13307) - St. Louis, MO, US Inventors: Derek L. Watkins, Scott Dunn, Greg Miller, Mark Weaver, Edward McInerney USPTO Applicaton #: 20070095111 - Class: 068140000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Textiles: Fluid Treating Apparatus, Machines, Tumbling, Cage Type Tumbler Supports, Bearings Or Drive The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070095111. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates generally to washing machines, and more particularly, to belt driven washers having no transmission. [0002] Washing machines typically include a cabinet that houses an outer tub for containing wash and rinse water, a perforated clothes basket within the tub, and an agitator within the basket. A drive motor and transmission assembly is mounted underneath the stationary outer tub to rotate the basket and the agitator relative to one another and a pump assembly pumps water from the tub to a drain to execute a wash cycle. [0003] Generally, the transmission provides gear reduction from the motor for agitate and spin functions. However, known washer transmissions include rather inflexible washer platforms. For example, the transmissions typically have a non-variable agitator motion, including stroke, ramp rate, arc, and range rate. Generally, with a transmission, only the agitation rate or speed can be changed without changing the transmission. Furthermore, the transmission adds to the part count and the overall complexity of the washer drive mechanism. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0004] In one aspect, a drive mechanism for a washing machine having a basket rotatably mounted within a tub is provided. The drive mechanism includes a variable speed motor including a first pulley. An agitator is mounted within the basket. A rotatable shaft has first and second ends. The first end is directly coupled to the agitator. A second pulley is mounted on the second end of the shaft. A drive belt connects the first pulley to the second pulley. An inverter is operatively coupled to the motor. A controller is operatively coupled to the inverter and the motor. The controller is configured to control the motor based on a predetermined agitation profile. [0005] In another aspect, A washing machine is provided that includes a cabinet, a tub mounted within the cabinet, and a basket rotatably mounted within the tub for relative rotation therewith. An agitator is positioned within and coupled to the basket such that the agitator and the basket are rotatable without relative motion therebetween. A variable speed motor includes a first pulley. A rotatable shaft has first and second ends. The first end is directly coupled to the agitator, and a second pulley is mounted on the second end of the shaft. A drive belt connects the first pulley to the second pulley. An inverter is operatively coupled to the motor. A controller is operatively coupled to the inverter and the motor. The controller is configured to control the motor based on a predetermined agitation profile. [0006] In yet another aspect, a washing machine is provided that includes a cabinet, a tub mounted within the cabinet, and a basket rotatably mounted within the tub for relative rotation therewith. An agitator is rotatably mounted within the basket. A variable speed motor includes a first pulley. A rotatable shaft has first and second ends. The first end is directly coupled to the agitator, and a second pulley is mounted on the second end of the shaft. A drive belt connects the first pulley to the second pulley. An inverter is operatively coupled to the motor. A controller is operatively coupled to the inverter and the motor. The controller is configured to control the motor based on a predetermined agitation profile. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective cutaway view of an exemplary washing machine. [0008] FIG. 2 is front elevational schematic view of the washing machine shown in FIG. 1. [0009] FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a control system for the washing machine shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. [0010] FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view showing an exemplary belt drive system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view partially broken away of an exemplary washing machine 50 including a cabinet 52 and a cover 54. A backsplash 56 extends from cover 54, and a control panel 58 including a plurality of input selectors 60 is coupled to backsplash 56. Control panel 58 and input selectors 60 collectively form a user interface input for operator selection of machine cycles and features, and in one embodiment a display 61 indicates selected features, a countdown timer, and other items of interest to machine users. A lid 62 is mounted to cover 54 and is rotatable about a hinge (not shown) between an open position (not shown) facilitating access to a wash tub 64 located within cabinet 52, and a closed position (shown in FIG. 1) forming a sealed enclosure over wash tub 64. As illustrated in FIG. 1, machine 50 is a vertical axis washing machine. [0012] Tub 64 includes a bottom wall 66, a sidewall 68, and a basket 70 that is rotatably mounted within wash tub 64. A pump assembly 72 is located beneath tub 64 and basket 70 for gravity assisted flow when draining tub 64. Pump assembly 72 includes a pump 74 and a motor 76. A pump inlet hose 80 extends from a wash tub outlet 82 in tub bottom wall 66 to a pump inlet 84, and a pump outlet hose 86 extends from a pump outlet 88 to an appliance washing machine water outlet 90 and ultimately to a building plumbing system discharge line (not shown) in flow communication with outlet 90. [0013] FIG. 2 is a front elevational schematic view of washing machine 50 including wash basket 70 movably disposed and rotatably mounted in wash tub 64 in a spaced apart relationship from tub side wall 64 and tub bottom 66. In one embodiment, basket 70 includes a plurality of perforations therein to facilitate fluid communication between an interior of basket 70 and wash tub 64. In an alternative embodiment, only a bottom 71 of basket 70 is perforated. [0014] A hot liquid valve 102 and a cold liquid valve 104 deliver fluid, such as water, to basket 70 and wash tub 64 through a respective hot liquid hose 106 and a cold liquid hose 108. Liquid valves 102, 104 and liquid hoses 106, 108 together form a liquid supply connection for washing machine 50 and, when connected to a building plumbing system (not shown), provide a fresh water supply for use in washing machine 50. Liquid valves 102, 104 and liquid hoses 106, 108 are connected to a basket inlet tube 110, and fluid is dispersed from inlet tube 110 through a known nozzle assembly 112 having a number of openings therein to direct washing liquid into basket 70 at a given trajectory and velocity. A known dispenser (not shown in FIG. 2), may also be provided to produce a wash solution by mixing fresh water with a known detergent or other composition for cleansing of articles in basket 70. [0015] In an alternative embodiment, a known spray fill conduit 114 (shown in phantom in FIG. 2) may be employed in lieu of nozzle assembly 112. Along the length of spray fill conduit 114 are a plurality of openings arranged in a predetermined pattern to direct incoming streams of water in a downward tangential manner towards articles in basket 70. The openings in spray fill conduit 114 are located a predetermined distance apart from one another to produce an overlapping coverage of liquid streams into basket 70. Articles in basket 70 may therefore be uniformly wetted even when basket 70 is maintained in a stationary position. [0016] A known agitation element 116 is mounted within basket 70. As illustrated in FIG. 2, agitation element 116 is oriented to rotate about a vertical axis 118. Basket 70 and agitator 116 are driven by a variable speed motor 120. An inverter 121 is operatively coupled to motor 120 and is configured to control motor 120 in response to signals from a controller 138 (FIG. 3). A drive belt 124 is coupled to respective pulleys of a motor output shaft 126 and an agitator input shaft 128 as will be described. In one embodiment, a clutch system 122 facilitates driving engagement of basket 70 and agitation element 116 for rotatable movement within wash tub 64, and clutch system 122 facilitates relative rotation of basket 70 and agitation element 116 for selected portions of wash cycles. Motor 120, clutch system 122, when present, and agitation element 116 collectively are referred to herein as a machine drive system 148. Washing machine 50 does not include a transmission. [0017] Pump assembly 72 is selectively activated to remove liquid from basket 70 and tub 64 through drain outlet 90 and a drain valve 130 during appropriate points of washing cycles. In an exemplary embodiment, machine 50 also includes a reservoir 132, a tube 134, and a pressure sensor 136. As fluid levels rise in wash tub 64, air is trapped in reservoir 132 creating a pressure in tube 134, that pressure sensor 136 monitors. Liquid levels, and more specifically, changes in liquid levels in wash tub 64 may therefore be sensed, for example, to indicate laundry loads and to facilitate associated control decisions. In further and alternative embodiments, load size and cycle effectiveness may be determined or evaluated using other known indicia, such as motor spin, torque, load weight, motor current, and voltage or current phase shifts. [0018] Operation of machine 50 is controlled by a controller 138 which is operatively coupled to the user interface input located on washing machine backsplash 56 (shown in FIG. 1) for user manipulation to select washing machine cycles and features. In response to user manipulation of the user interface input, controller 138 operates the various components of machine 50 to execute selected machine cycles and features. [0019] The washing operation is initiated through operator manipulation of control input selectors 60 (shown in FIG. 1). In one embodiment, washing machine 50 is a direct drive washer that is configured to provide a basket wash wherein laundry items are washed by oscillating basket 70 and agitator 116 together. That is, basket 70 and agitator 116 rotate as a unit with no relative motion therebetween. The mechanical wash action is achieved by the relative motion between the laundry items and the basket and agitator combination, 70 and 116 respectively, when tub 64 is filled with a wash liquid. Basket 70 and agitation element 116 are moved back and forth in an oscillatory back and forth motion. In the illustrated embodiment, basket 70 and agitation element 116 are rotated clockwise about the vertical axis 118 of the machine, and then rotated counterclockwise about the vertical axis 118. The clockwise/counterclockwise reciprocating motion is sometimes referred to as a stroke, and the agitation phase of the wash cycle constitutes a number of strokes in sequence. Acceleration and deceleration of basket 70 and agitation element 116 during the strokes imparts mechanical energy to articles in basket 70 for cleansing action. In washing machine 50, reversible motor 120 provides the stroke action during agitation of the laundry items. In some embodiments of the basket wash system, basket 70 includes a perforated bottom 71 and non-perforated side walls. [0020] In another embodiment, washing machine 50 agitator 116 and basket 70 are rotatable with respect to one another. In such embodiments, washing machine 50 includes clutch 122 that is configured to lock and unlock basket 70 and agitator 166 in response to signals from controller 138. During agitation, basked 70 is locked and agitator 116 oscillates within basket 70 to agitate the laundry items. Agitator 116 is directly driven by reversing motor 120 without a transmission. This washing machine design, however, includes a conventional basket having perforated side walls. Continue reading... Full patent description for Belt drive washer Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Belt drive washer patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Belt drive washer or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Dry cleaning solvent filter Next Patent Application: Device for accommodating a padlock Industry Class: Textiles: fluid treating apparatus ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Belt drive washer patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 1.19703 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Tyco , Unilever , Warner-lambert , 3m |
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