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:
Nov. 10, 2009
Filed:
Jul. 05, 2005
Eric E. Chang, St Joseph, MI (US);
William K. Kangas, Buchanan, MI (US);
Kurt Werner, St. Joseph, MI (US);
Scott D. Slabbekoorn, St. Joseph, MI (US);
James R. Sawyer, Monticello, IN (US);
Eric E. Chang, St Joseph, MI (US);
William K. Kangas, Buchanan, MI (US);
Kurt Werner, St. Joseph, MI (US);
Scott D. Slabbekoorn, St. Joseph, MI (US);
James R. Sawyer, Monticello, IN (US);
Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, MI (US);
Abstract
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.