The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 23, 1982
Filed:
Sep. 12, 1980
Stephen L McMillan, Louisville, KY (US);
General Electric Company, Louisville, KY (US);
Abstract
A washing machine includes a fabric-receiving basket driven through a transmission arranged so that when the drive shaft is driven in one direction in the washing or rinsing mode of operation of the washing machine, the basket is caused to orbit about an axis displaced from the axis of the basket. The basket is held against rotation about its axis during this mode of operation. When the drive shaft is driven in the opposite direction during the spin mode of operation, the axis of the basket is positioned in line with the axis of the input shaft and the basket is free to rotate about its own axis. The input shaft of the transmission is provided with a helical groove at the lower end and a drive pulley is mounted for engagement with the helical groove. A brake housing is supported from the stationary tub of the washing machine. A spring-biased brake shoe is mounted in a position to engage the brake housing for preventing rotation of the basket about its axis when the basket is following the orbital path. In the spin mode, rotation of the pulley causes the pulley to ride up the helical groove, lifting the brake shoe out of engagement with the housing and permitting rotation of the basket about its axis.