Automatic washer and load responsive agitator therefor
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorsRobert J. Pinkowski, Robert Harlan Nehrig
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automatic washer having an agitator that is responsive to the forces imparted to the agitator from a clothes load. The agitation comprises an auger, having an auger vane that is connected to a base having flexible vanes, by a force responder. Upon the imparting of a force from the clothes to the agitator, the auger translates relative to the base to relieve the force.
Claims17
An agitator for an automatic washer having a drive means including a motor for rotating a vertical drive shaft, the agitator comprising:
- an auger adapted to be driven by the drive shaft, and
- a force responder connected to the auger and the drive means whereby the force responder permits translational movement of the auger relative to the drive shaft in response to the forces imparted by a clothes load contacting the auger.
An agitator for an automatic washer comprising a motor having a drive shaft, the agitator comprising:
- a base mounted to a drive shaft;
- an auger;
- a uni-directional drive engaging the auger;
- and
- a force responder connecting the uni-directional drive to one of the drive shaft and the base, wherein the force responder permits the translational movement of the auger in response to forces imparted to the auger by a contacting wash load.
An automatic washer comprising:
- a motor having a drive shaft;
- and
- an agitator comprising:
- a base mounted to a drive shaft;
- an auger;
- a uni-directional drive engaging the auger;
- and
- a force responder connecting the uni-directional drive to one of the drive shaft and the base, wherein the force responder permits the translational movement of the auger in response to forces imparted to the auger by a contacting wash load.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.