Whirlpool Corporation

Steve A Flam

Paul R Staun

Gene A Sparks

A fixture for appliance manufacturing and transport of the assembled appliance supports vertically movable components of the appliance at differing elevations during manufacturing and continues to at least partially support the components during the transport after assembly. A particular use of the fixture is in the manufacture of a washing machine which has a suspended wash tub and drive assembly and an outer cabinet. The fixture is composed of a main support and a cabinet support with the main support being vertically movable relative to the cabinet support, yet held by the cabinet support in a fixed horizontal position. The wash tub and drive assembly is supported during use by a suspension system connected between the wash tub and cabinet and with the use of the fixture, a portion of the weight of the wash tub is supported at all times during the assembly process and during shipping, relieving the cabinet from bearing that weight. Further, with the tub support being movable relative to the cabinet support in a vertical sense, the wash tub can be elevated relative to the cabinet for purposes of attaching the suspension system between the tub and cabinet thus greatly facilitating the manufacturing process.

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Kalamazoo, MI, United States of America

Steve A Flam