Whirlpool Corporation

Eric E Chang

Scott D Slabbekoorn

Kurt Werner

William K Kangas

James R Sawyer

George L Turner

An automatic clothes washer having a clothes trap for reducing the likelihood that an article of clothing can escape from a wash basket during the spinning of the basket.

Clothes washer with clothing trap

An automatic washing machine comprises a spin tube coupled to the basket and an agitator shaft coupled to an agitator mounted in the basket. A motor coupled to the agitator shaft applies a torque the agitator shaft and thereby the agitator in first and second torque directions. A clutch couples the spin tube to the agitator shaft for cooperative rotation of the basket and the agitator regardless of the rotational direction of the agitator shaft. Because of the dual directionality of the clutch, reversing the motor simultaneously dynamically brakes the basket and the agitator, thereby eliminating the need for a separate friction brake for the basket.

Multiple directional clutch for a washing machine

Multiple directional clutch for washing machine

Growing community of inventors

Saint Joseph, MI, United States of America

Eric E Chang