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.
Claims11
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 about an axial direction;
- a wash basket drive element connected to the wash basket and configured for selective rotation by the motor;
- a platform lock connected with the wash tub;
- a clutch comprising a first plurality of teeth along one side of the clutch and a second plurality of teeth positioned on an opposing side of the clutch along the axial direction, the 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 first plurality of teeth engages the motor so as to connect 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 second plurality of teeth engages the platform lock so as to disconnect the motor and the wash basket drive element such that the agitator is rotated while the rotation of the wash basket is prevented;
- a yoke having a pair of arms positioned in contact with the clutch, wherein the yoke is rotatable about a pivot axis and is configured for selectively applying a force to move the clutch into the disengaged position;
- a cam connected with the platform lock including an inclined surface, the cam rotatable relative to the platform lock, the cam defining an axis of rotation separate and discrete from the pivot axis, wherein the axis of rotation of the cam is substantially perpendicular to the axial direction;
- and
- a cam follower connected to the yoke and disposed against the inclined surface to ride thereon, wherein the cam follower and the yoke are rotatable about the pivot axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.