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US 2020/0048812 A1Published application
Planetary helical gear train for a transmission assembly of a washing machine appliance
AssigneeHaier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
InventorsEdward Simeon Chupka, David Coxon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vertical axis washing machine appliance having a transmission assembly with a planetary helical gear train is provided. The transmission assembly transmits mechanical power from a torque source to an agitation element so that oscillatory motion may be imparted to laundry articles within a wash basket of the washing machine appliance, e.g., during a wash cycle. The transmission assembly includes features that manage axial thrust loads created by helical gears of the gear train. The transmission assembly also includes features that prevent shuttling of the gears and other components of the transmission assembly.
Claims19
A washing machine appliance, comprising:
- a cabinet;
- a wash tub disposed within the cabinet;
- a wash basket rotatably mounted within the wash tub, the wash basket configured for receipt of laundry articles;
- an agitation element positioned within the wash basket and configured for imparting motion to laundry articles within the wash basket;
- a torque source for selectively rotating one or both of the wash basket and the agitation element about an axis of rotation;
- a wash basket drive element coupled to the wash basket and selectively connectable with the torque source for selective rotation about the axis of rotation;
- an input shaft coupled to the torque source and rotatable about the axis of rotation when driven by the torque source;
- a sun gear attached to or integrally formed with the input shaft, the sun gear having a plurality of helical teeth;
- a ring gear annularly disposed about the axis of rotation and connected to the wash basket drive element, the ring gear having a plurality of helical teeth;
- a first bearing coupling the input shaft with the wash basket drive element;
- a carrier rotatable about the axis of rotation;
- one or more planetary gears supported by the carrier, each of the one more planetary gears having a plurality of helical teeth, the one or more planetary gears in meshing engagement with the sun gear and the ring gear and each of the one or more planetary gears configured to rotate about a rotation axis and revolve about the sun gear for driving the carrier about the axis of rotation;
- an output shaft connected to the carrier and rotatable about the axis of rotation when driven by the carrier, the output shaft coupled with the agitation element for driving the agitation element about the axis of rotation;
- and
- a second bearing coupling the output shaft with the wash basket drive element.
12 more elements
A vertical axis washing machine appliance, comprising:
- a cabinet;
- a wash tub disposed within the cabinet;
- a wash basket rotatably mounted within the wash tub, the wash basket configured for receipt of laundry articles;
- an agitation element extending at least partially into the wash basket and configured for imparting motion to laundry articles within the wash basket;
- a torque source for selectively rotating one or both of the wash basket and the agitation element about an axis of rotation;
- a wash basket drive element selectively connectable with the torque source for selective rotation about the axis of rotation;
- an input shaft coupled to the torque source and rotatable about the axis of rotation when driven by the torque source;
- a sun gear attached to or integrally formed with the input shaft, the sun gear having a plurality of helical teeth;
- a ring gear annularly disposed about the axis of rotation and connected to the wash basket drive element, the ring gear having a plurality of helical teeth;
- a first ball bearing coupling the input shaft with the wash basket drive element, wherein the input shaft is press fit into the first ball bearing and the first ball bearing is press fit into the wash basket drive element;
- a carrier rotatable about the axis of rotation;
- one or more planetary gears supported by the carrier, each of the one more planetary gears having a plurality of helical teeth, the one or more planetary gears in meshing engagement with the sun gear and the ring gear and each of the one or more planetary gears configured to rotate about a rotation axis and revolve about the sun gear for driving the carrier about the axis of rotation;
- an output shaft connected to the carrier and rotatable about the axis of rotation when driven by the carrier, the output shaft coupled with the agitation element for driving the agitation element about the axis of rotation;
- and
- a second ball bearing coupling the output shaft with the wash basket drive element, wherein the output shaft is press fit into the second ball bearing and the second ball bearing is press fit into the wash basket drive element.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.