Whirlpool Corporation

Michael J Bottas

Jeffrey L Burk

Dale E Mueller

John W Pielemeier

A drive system for an automatic washer includes a high slip motor connected to a drive reduction mechanism for driving an energy absorbing agitator preferably having flexible vanes. The high slip motor is driven with spaced alternating pulses so that the agitator accelerates in one direction and then slows after the end of the pulse followed by acceleration and then slowing in a second direction so that sinusoidal agitation is produced by a pulse input to the motor.

Drive system for automatic washer

In a dual action agitator for use in an automatic clothes washer, a barrel-shaped upper agitator includes a plurality of fins of different lengths and each having curved blade portions at the lower end thereof. The blade portions of adjacent fins form an interrupted screw thread to enhance vertical movement of a clothes lead adjacent the agitator for improved clothes rollover.

Growing community of inventors

St. Joseph Township, MI, United States of America

Michael J Bottas