Mode shifter with a leaf spring yoke for a washing machine appliance
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsEdward Simeon Chupka, Stephen Bernard Froelicher
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A clutch positioning assembly for a washing machine appliance is provided. The assembly uses a cam that can be rotated so as to position the clutch between different positions that provide for engaging or disengaging a motor from a wash basket. A leaf spring, configured as a yoke in one exemplary embodiment, provides a force to urge the clutch into a position that e.g., disengages the wash basket from the motor during e.g., wash modes while also allowing the clutch to be moved into a position that engages the wash basket with the motor during spin modes. The clutch positioning assembly can be provided as a modular unit that is connected with the appliance during manufacturing.
Claims19
A washing machine appliance, comprising:
- a wash tub for the receipt of laundry articles and fluid for cleaning;
- a wash basket received into the wash tub, the wash basket configured for retaining the laundry articles;
- an agitator positioned in the wash basket, the agitator configured for imparting motion to the articles within the wash basket;
- a motor for selectively rotating one or both of the agitator and the wash basket;
- an agitator drive element connected to the agitator and driven by the rotation of the motor;
- a wash basket drive element connected to the wash basket and configured for selective rotation by the motor;
- a clutch configured for shifting movement along the wash basket drive element so as to selectively position the clutch between i) an engaged position in which the clutch connects the motor and the wash basket drive element so that both the agitator and the wash basket are rotated by the motor, and ii) a disengaged position in which the clutch disconnects the motor and the wash basket drive element such that the agitator is rotated while the rotation of the wash basket is prevented;
- and
- a yoke having a pair of arms positioned in contact with said clutch, wherein said yoke is rotatable about a pivot axis and is configured for selectively applying a force to move said clutch into the disengaged position.
A clutch positioning assembly for a clutch of an appliance, the clutch configured for shifting movement between an engaged position and a disengaged position, the clutch positioning assembly comprising
- a yoke having a pair of arms extending into in contact with the clutch;
- a cam follower connected with the yoke, wherein said cam follower and said yoke are rotatable about a pivot axis;
- a rotatable cam having an inclined surface upon which said cam follower rides as said cam is rotated;
- and
- wherein rotation of said cam causes the cam follower and yoke to rotate about a pivot axis so as to shift the clutch between the engaged position and the disengaged position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.