US3021956A - Vibration isolating system - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 20, 1962 J. BOCHAN 3,021,956

VIBRATION ISOLATING SYSTEM Filed J an. 28, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIQI INVENTOR.

JOHN BOCHAN wild/ M ms ATTORNEY J. BOCHAN VIBRATION ISOLATING SYSTEM Feb. 20, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 28, 1960 INVENTOR. J'OHN 'BOCHAN M 0 l-IIS ATTORNEY United States Patent Office 3,021,956 PatentedFeb. 20, 1962 3,021,956 VIBRATION ISOLATING SYSTEM John Bochan, Louisville, Ky., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed Jan. 28, 1960, Ser. No. 5,259 11 Claims. (Cl. 210-364) This invention relates to vibration isolating systems, and more particularly to a suspension system for isolating vibrations of a moving system from the frame on which it is supported.

The problem of isolating vibrations of the moving parts of a machine from the stationary parts thereof has long been recognized and many solutions have been proposed therefor. While many of the systems which have been evolved have been satisfactory, it has been found most difficult to provide an arrangement which, together with the elimination of undesirable vibrations in the supporting framework of the apparatus, is also economical while at the same time restricting the vibrational movement of the apparatus to a reasonable extent. In addition, it frequently occurs that the moving parts of such apparatus must often be allowed only a certain number of degrees of freedom, and there is thus the problem of absorbing the vibrations between the moving system and the frame while retaining the motion of the moving system Within the predetermined limits.

As an example of the problems encountered along this line, most automatic Washing machines of the type presently commercially available for domestic use provide a clothes basket in which the clothes are washed and rinsed, and when it is desired to remove the liquid from the clothes the basket is rotated at a high speed so as to centrifuge the liquid out of the clothes. Very often, the system for effecting the washing and centrifuging operations does not have its weight symmetrically distributed about the axis of rotation so that there is inherently an unbalance in the system. In addition, the clothes which are being laundered most often will not distribute themselves perfectly about the inner surface of the cylindrical wall of the basket but will provide an additional degree of unbalance. There is the further consideration that vibra tion-caused motion of the movingsystem must be maintained within reasonable limits, usually on the basis that the supporting frame or cabinet of the machine must be small enough to be commercially attractive for home usage. Yet a further item for consideration is that vertical axis washing machines, that is, washing machines of the type with a basket, open at its top and reached through a lid in the top of the machine, generally should have a highly limited amount of vertical freedom, both for propthe more conventional type of system wherein there is actual deformation of flexible parts, and in which all degrees of freedom of movement are provided save for vertical motion which is substantially restrained.

In one aspect of my invention, I provide an apparatus which includes a moving system together with a rigid frame provided for supporting'themoving system without receiving vibrations therefrom. 'Asuspension system for securing the moving system on the frame includes a pair of elongated members formed so as to be substan tially rigid in tension and respectively positioned on diametrically opposite sides of the moving system. Each elongated member has one end secured in swiveling rela tion to the frame and is positioned to extend down from that end; the length of each of the elongated members is er functioning of the apparatus itself and again because of the restrictions on size inherent in an appliance which is to be used in the space normally available in most homes.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved system which will be simple in structure and economical to manufacture, yet which will effectively prevent the vibrations of the moving system from reaching the stationary parts of the apparatus in which the moving system is included.

As a further object, directed toward apparatus having a particular type of moving system, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved vibration eliminating suspension system for apparatus including components designed to centrifuge.

As a further object, directed toward an even more specific structure, I provide by my invention an improved vibration isolating suspension system for vertical axis washing machines.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a vibration isolating suspension system wherein the suspension is provided by a number of relatively rigid members such as to cause the lower end of the member to be above the center of gravity of the moving system.

The lower end of each elongated member is secured to a joining member in swiveling relation thereto, and each of the two joining members is pivotally connected to the moving system, the connections of the two joining members being on opposite sides of the system. The joining members are themselves, in turn, joined by connecting means which extend from one joining member to the other under the moving system. The elongated members, the

joining members, the connecting means, and the center of gravity of the moving system all have the common characteristic that they lie substantially in the same single vertical plane.

With this arrangement, there is provided a suspension arrangement wherein the moving system is relatively free to move in all directions except vertically, and in that direction it is substantially restrained from movement. Because of the swiveling relationship of the two ends of each elongated member to the frameand to the joining members respectively,-it is a relatively simple matter, where so desired, to include damping means at those points so that other external damping means may be eliminated; this is a substantial advantage provided by the invention in that the damping means are more economical to provide in this manner and actually operate more effectively. 7

The arrangement of the various members of the suspension system causes vibrations of the moving system to be translated into movement of the different parts of the suspension system relative to each other. This has not only been found to be a highly economical and operable structure, but in addition it has been found that a' great part of the vibrations which may originate in the moving system are prevented from reaching the stationary.

supporting frame.

The features of the invention which I believe to be novel are set forth with particularity; in the appended claims. The invention itself however, both as to organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective, partly broken away and partly in cross section to show details, of a first embodiment of my invention as used in a vertical axis washing machine;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the machine of FIGURE 1, also partly broken away and partly in cross section to show details;

FIGURE 3 is a view in perspective, partly broken away and partly in cross section to show details, of a second embodiment of my invention which, for the sake of illustration, is embodied in a different type of vertical axis washing machine; and

away and partly in cross section, of the machine of FIGURE 3.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 and 2. of the drawings, I have shown therein an agitator-type vertical axis washing machine 1 having a clothes basket 2 which is provided over its entire side wall with perforations 3 and which is disposed within an outer imperforate tub or casing 4. Tub 4 is mounted within a frame or appearance cabinet 5 which includes a base 6, vertically extending walls 7 and a top portion 8. In addition, the appearance cabinet may be completed by a separate section 9 seated on top of portion 8 and which in turn supports a control panel 10 provided with appropriate controls such as 11.

Tub 4 is secured to appearance cabinet 5 by any appropriate means such as, for instance, metal straps 12 which are secured at one end to portion 8 of the frame and at the other end to the side wall of tub 4. Thus, in eifect, the tub forms part of the stationary portion of machine 1, being rigidly secured to the stationary appearance cabinet 5. The upper member 9 is provided with a suitable lid 13 which may be opened so as to provide ready access to the basket 2 for insertion and withdrawal of clothes.

At the center of basket 2 there is provided a vertical axis agitator 14 which includes a center post '15 and a plurality of suitably formed vanes 16. The agitator is further provided with an outwardly and downwardly flared skirt 17 to which the vanes are joined at their lower ends. Both the clothes basket 2 and the agitator 14 are rotatably mounted. As indicated in FIGURE 2, the basket is secured to a rotatable member 18 extending up from within a transmission 19, and the agitator is mounted on a shaft (not shown) which extends upwardly from transmission 19 through member 18, and is joined to center post of agitator 14 by any suitable means (not shown). During a typical cycle of operation of machine 1 liquid is introduced through an inlet 20 (FIG,- URE '1); then the agitator is oscillated back and forth within basket 2 to wash the clothes. After a predetermined period of this washing action, basket 2 is rotated at a high speed to extract centrifugally the washing liquid from the clothes, the liquid passing through perforations 3 into the outer tub 4 and thence being removed by a suitable pump 21 to a drain. Following this extraction operation, a supply of clean liquid is then introduced into the basket for rinsing the clothes as the agitator is again oscillated. Finally, the basket is once more rotated at high speed to extract the rinse water and discharge it from the clothes so that it may be removed by pump 21.

Basket 2 and agitator 14 may be driven by any suitable means, as the drive means form no part of the present invention. However, by way of example, I have shown them as driven from a reversible motor 22 which drives the basket and agitator through a drive including a clutch 23 mounted on the motor shaft. Clutch 23 allows the motor to start without load and then picks up the load as it comes up' to speed. A suitable belt 24 transmits power to the transmission assembly 20 through pulley 25. Thus, depending upon the direction of motor rotation, pulley 25' of transmission 19 is driven in opposite directions.

Transmission 19 is so arranged that it supports and drives both the agitator drive shaft and the basket mounting member 18. When motor 22 is rotated in one direct tion the transmission causes the agitator 14 to oscillate within the basket 2. Conversely, when the motor 22 is driven in the opposite direction, the transmission drives the wash basket 2 and the agitator together at high speed for centrifugal extraction. While the drive means forms no part of the present invention, reference is made to Patent 2,844,225 issued on July 22, 1958 to James R. Hubbard et a1. and owned by, the General Electric Company, assignee of the present invention. That patent discloses in detail the structural characteristics of a transmission assembly suitable for use in the illustrated machine.

Additional structural features which may be noted for a more complete understanding of the general driving arrangement provided in the washing machine of FIGURES 1 and 2 include a direct flexible drive 26 from motor 22 to pump 21, and a suitable counterweight 27 which, as shown in FIGURE '1, is positioned on the opposite side of the rotational axis of the basket 2 from the motor 22 so that, while there is necessarily some small unbalance resulting from the unsymmetrical structure of the driving system, it is held to a minimum. A further structural feature to be noted is the provision of a flexible boot member 28 which is secured at its inner edge to the top of the transmission 19 and at its outer edge to the tub 4. This arrangement provides a water tight connection between the transmission and the tub for retaining water in the tub and basket while at the same time permitting the relative motion betwen the tub and basket which results from the fact that the basket is part of the suspended operating system of the machine (as will be more fully described herebelow) and the tub is secured to the stationary frame or appearance cabinet of the machine.

It will be understood that, while the description of the machine thus far excludes any substantial amount of det-ail relating to the drive, and does not show at all the valves and the particular controls normally provided on modern domestic washing machines, the elimination and simplification of these items are primarily for the purpose of permitting a clear explanation of the inventive concept set forth below. In addition, it will readily be recognized that the omitted details are conventional items in virtually all domestic washing machines, whose structure and positioning is well known to those skilled in the art.

As previously described, basket 2 is rotated at high speed to effect centrifugal extraction of the liquid from the clothes in the basket. As has also previously been mentioned, the structure of the machine itself and the arrangement of the clothes in the basket both tend to provide unbalancing forces which, during high speed rotation, cause vibration-inducing forces. These forces tend to result in gyrations of the moving system which includes the basket, agitator, transmission, motor and counterweight. It is important that the vibrations caused by the unbalance forces be prevented from reaching the frame, that is, the appearance cabinet, in any substantial amount since otherwise the machine will have a tendency to move about on the floor on which it is located and in fact might well be damaged by such vibrations.

The suspension system includes a pair of elongated members 29 and 30, located on directly opposite sides of the moving system, which must have the characteristic of being substantially rigid in tension. As shown in FIG- URE 1, in the preferred embodiment of the invention these elongated members are in the form of metal rods. Each of the members 29 terminates at its upper end in a substantially hemispherical portion 30 and at its lower end in a substantially hemispherical portion 31. Portion 30 seats in a hemispherical recess 32 formed in portion 8 of the frame while end 31 of each member seats in a cupshaped recess 33 formed in the end of a joining member 34. Thus, each end of a member 29 forms with the recess in which it is received a universal, orv ball and socket, joint permitting swiveling motion of the member 29. The length of members 29 is such that their lower ends 31 connect with members 34 respectively above the center of gravity of the moving system (shown in FIGURE 2 by the letters C.G.).

There are two joining members 34, each associated with one of the elongated members 29. Each joining member 34 is connected to the moving system by a pair of arms 35 which pivot on a normaly horizontal pin 36 secured between lugs 37 extending from transmission 19. Thus, each member 34 is pivotable in a substantially vertical plane when the moving system is at rest. As shown, one preferred structure is the provision of a semi-cylindrical section 370 at the end of each arm 35; the direction of the forces in the system retains the different parts in operative relation, while the open nature of sections 37a facilitates assembly and disassembly.

The bottom end 38 of each joining member is pivotally connected by a pin 39 to a linking member 40 which, as shown, thereby extends beneath the moving system so as to connect the two joining members. Preferably, as shown, the connecting means is in the form of a link 40 which has the same characteristic as the other parts of the system that it is substantially rigid in tension. Also, it has been found that a desirable feature is designing the suspension system of my invention is to keep the junction of the lower end 38 of the joining member 34 with link 40 directly below the pivoting junction of the member 34 with the moving system, i.e., preferably pin 39 is directly below pin 36. The members 29, members 34, link 40, and the center of gravity of the moving system all lie substantially in the same vertical plane when the moving system is at rest.

The unbalance forces operating on the moving system when basket 2 is spinning at a relatively high speed cause, basically, two types of vibration motion with my improved suspension system. First, there is a generally pendulous motion of the system which may occur either in the vertical plane of the system itself or in some other vertical plane. If the pendulous motion is in a plane at right angles to the plane of the suspension, the motion is achieved by a swinging of the movingsystem and joining members between the two elongated members 29. Pendulous motion in the vertical plane of the suspension system causes the elongated members to swivel relative to the frame at their tops and relative to the joining members at their bottoms, and causes a pivoting action of the joining members where' they are secured to the moving system. Of course, pendulousmotion between these two extremes becomes a combination of the two types of movement. Since the center of gravity of the moving system is below the level where the joining members 34 are swivelingly connected to the elongated members 29, the system is gravity centered and is stable, substantially in the manner that a shopping bag whose center of gravity is below the level at which the handles at the top of the bag areconnected thereto is stable when the bag is held by the handles and swung.

The second type of motion which may occur is a rocking motion which occurs about a point: one side of the moving system tends to rise while at the same time the other side of the system tends to fall. When this motion occurs in the vertical plane of the suspension system, it is achieved by the pivoting action of, the joining members relative to the moving system. In the other direction, that is, in a plane which is at right angles to the first vertical plane, the rocking motion of the moving system is taken care of by the swiveling relation of the junction between the members 29 and 34 respectively. As with the pendulous motion, the rocking motion is normally a combination of the two types described.

It will thus be seen that in elfect the moving system accommodates both pendulous and rocking motion in all vertical planes. Almost invariably there is a combination of the rocking and pendulous motions. However, their causes can, to some extent, be separated by stating that single plane unbalances (commonly called static unbalances) cause a predominantly pendulous motion, whereas a couple (equal unbalances removed from each other circumferentially by .180 and axially separated), also known as a dynamic unbalance, causes a predominantly rocking motion. While a couple is balanced in the static sense, it presents a dynamic unbalance which heretofore has proven to be one of the hardest to accommodate and isolate with a suspension system which also accommodates and isolates the more obvious static unbalances.

With the rocking and pendulous vibratorymotions of the moving system thus accommodated, the only forces which can be transmitted to the frame 5 and to the floor are vertical forces which have very little harmful effect. By far the greater part of the vibrational force of the moving system is absorbed by the suspension system described and is therefore prevented from being transmitted to frame 5 and to the floor on which the machine 1 rests.

In operation, the moving system of machine 1 is constructed to have relatively low critical or resonant speeds both for static and dynamic unbalances. At the dynamic unbalance resonant speed, the transmitted dynamic frame-vibrating forcesare at a peak. Since vibrational.

forces at the critical speed increase approximately with the square of that speed, it is highly desirable, in order to keep these forces relatively small, that a low critical speed be provided by proper design of the machine. The design of machines to provide a low static unbalance resonant speed is well known. However, substantial difficulty has been encountered in the design of a system which will also have the desired low dynamic unbalance resonant speed. The suspension system described has been found very helpful in this respect in that, by virtue of the fact that it is formed of rigid members which do not stretch under tension it readily permits a low critical speed design to be obtained for both types of unbalance.

It will, of course, be recognized that the extent of motion of the moving system as it passes through the critical speeds may be such as to require damping, particularly in cases Where the system proceeds relatively slowly through the critical speed and the vibrational forces have a consequently longer time to operate. While damping may possibly be omitted in some instances where a high torque power source is available to push the system through critical speed quickly, it is not normally economically or practically feasible to provide such a source for domestic washing machines; as briefly described above, a more conventional procedure is to provide a relatively small motor with clutch means for preventing sudden large torque requirements. As a result, it is desirable in the machine described to provide suitable damping means. The system described lends itself particularly well to the provision of highly effective damp ing means by permittingrecesses 32 and 33 in which the ends of members 29 are positioned to be provided with damping surfaces 41 and 42 respectively. The provision of the damping surfaces in the ball and socket type joints provided at each end of the members 29 means that, regardless of the type of motion provided, there will be suitable damping therefor. In addition, sections 37a may be provided with damping surfaces to provide additional damping when pivoting of the joining member 34 relative to the moving system takes place. It will readily be seen that as the moving system goes through its vibration or unbalance caused motion, the surfaces of the hemispherical ends of rods 29 will rub against the damp ing material in the recessed seats 32 and 33 and that, as the joining member 34 pivots relative to the moving system, damping will occur. because of the presence of damping material 43. Thus damping is provided for all motions allowed by the system.

It -will be seen from the foregoing that a highly effective and yet simple and economical suspension system is provided by my invention whereby a major part of the undesirable vibrations existing as a result of the operation of the moving system are preventedfrom reaching the frame of the machine and consequently the base or floor on which the'machine stands. It must be noted that an important characteristic of the system, which must be present in order to achieve stability, is that for all types and directions of motion the center of gravity of the system must move upwardly fromits position of rest as it moves away from that position. The length of members relative to the center of gravity, and the relation of pins 36 and 39 as describedare two factors 7; (the first one essential, the second one desirable) in achieving this important characteristic. It will, however, be recognized that the presence or absence of the characteristic in any suspension system of the type described may readily be ascertained by a kinematic analysis of the given system.

Referring now to FIGURES 3 and 4 of the drawings, a second embodimentof my improved suspension system is shown, with like numerals being used to illustrate like parts. One substantial difference between the first structure described and the structure of FIGURES 3 and 4 is that, in the latter, tub 4 is rigidly secured at its base to the top of transmission 19 and is not secured to frame 5. Thus, the tub is part of the moving system rather than part of the stationary frame. As a result, since the tub has the same movement as motor 22, it is stationary with respect thereto'and an ordinary shaft 44 may be used to connect motor 22 to drain 21. In addition, the fact that the tub 4 moves with the transmission 19 and basket 2 means that the lower portion 45 of the tub may be rigidly secured to the transmission rather than requiring, as in FIGURES 1 and 2, a flexible boot member.

Insofar as the suspension system is concerned, instead of the two rod members 659 of FIGURES 1 and 2 the embodiment of FIGURES 3 and 4 provides a pair of metallic cables 46 secured at their top ends 47 to the frame portion 8 on opposite sides of the moving system and at their bottom ends 48 to ends 49 of joining members 50. Each joining member 50 is pivotally connected to the tub 4 of the moving system by means of a pair of ears 51 extending from the tub 4 and which support a pin 52 on which the member 50 is mounted so as to pivot in a substantially vertical plane when the moving system is at rest. In addition, a suitable damping material 53 may be provided in each pivot connection. At their lower ends 54'the joining members are connected together by a cable member 55 which extends under the moving system of the machine as before.

It will readily be seen that in the place of the rods 29, cables 46 are provided and that the length of the cables is such that their lower ends 4-8 are located above the center of gravity of the moving system. Because of the nature of cables, they are in effect mounted for swiveling motion relative to the frame and to members 50 without the need for ball and socket joints such as provided in the embodiments of FIGURES 1 and 2. Also, securement to the outside of the tub 4 is possible in the construction shown because of the fact that the tub in this particular arrangement is included as part of the moving system rather than part of the stationary frame.

A most important point in the inventive structure is that the members which join the moving system to the frame must be substantially rigid under tension; in this connection cables 46 of FIGURE 3 stand in the same stead as completely rigid members, such as rods 29. The same is also true of the cable 55 which connects the two joining members, in that it is completely rigid in tension in the same manner as link 40 of FIGURE '1. The embodiment of FIGURES 3 and 4 helps to illustrate that, in the provision of the. described system which requires members rigid in tension, flexible members such as cables may be used.

In addition, it will be observed that a slightly difierent type of vertical axis washing machine is shown in FIG- URE 3 from the type shown in FIGURE 1, the primary diiference being that in one type the outer imperforate tub is part of the stationary frame whereas in the second type it is part of the moving system. It will clearly be understood, not only that either type may be used with either of the embodiments of the suspension system, but further that the two types of suspension system shown may be used with many other types of apparatus having moving parts. I

.The operation of the suspension system in FIGURE 3 is, the same as that of the embodiment of FIGURES l and 2; the single possible exception lies in the ready feasibility of providing damping means at the top and bottom of the elongated members 29 because of their rigidity whereas this is not so readily possible in the embodiment of FIGURES 3 and 4, and other more convcntional locations (not shown) in addition to the damping material 53 may be desirable.

As in the embodiment of FIGURE 1, a most important criterion of the construction is that during all types of motion of the moving system it is important that movement of the center ofg'ravity from its position of rest always be in an upward direction in all directions so as to insure stability of the system. Again, it has been found that, with the bottom 54of the joining members directly under the pivoting axis 52, a desirable relationship of the various parts is achieved, but it will further be unden stood that the precise relationship of the bottom of the joining member to the remainder of the parts may be varied within limits and that various configurations may be provided: the primary stipulations are that all the parts of the system extend substantially in a vertical plane passing through the center of gravity of the moving system when it is at rest, andthat the movement of the center of gravity always be in an upward direction from its position of rest. As is clearly evident by the two different embodiments, various configurations within these limitations are readily feasible.

Thus, while in accordance with the patent statutes I have described what at present are considered to be the preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein Without departing from the invention, and I therefore aim in the appended claims to. cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the Uni-ted States is:

1. A machine comprising: a moving system including driving means and means driven. at high speed by said dr ving means; a rigid .frame provided for supporting sald moving system; and means for supporting said movmg system on said frame comprising a pair of elongated members formed to be substantially rigid in tension respectively positioned on opposite sides of said system, each said elongated member having an upper end secured to said frame in swiveling relation thereto and being posihoned to extend down from said upper end, said. elongated members-having a length causing their respective lower ends to be above the center of gravity of said system, a pair of joining members each having one end secured to the lower end of one of said elongated members in swivelmg relation thereto, said joining members being also respectively connected to said system on opposite sidesv thereof, said moving system being pivotallymounted to n said joining members for pivoting motion in the plane formed by the lower ends of said elongated members. and the. moving system center of gravity, and connecting means extending under said moving system connecting together the, other ends of said joining members; said elongated members and the moving. system center of gravity all lying substantially in a single vertical plane when said system is at rest.

2. The apparatus defined in claim lwherein said moving system comprises centrifuging apparatus and said driven meansrotates in response to operation by said driving means. V

3. The apparatus defined in claim 2 including damping means between the top of each said elongated member and said frameand between the bottom of each said elongated member' and the joining member connected thereto. 7

4. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said machine is a laundry machine and said moving system were. mea s. o laund rin c he said r n 9 means including a clothes basket rotatable on a substantially vertical axis, said driving means including means for rotating said basket at a centrifuging speed.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 4 wherein the lower ends of said joining members are directly below the pivotal connections of said joining members to said laundering means when said laundering means is at rest.

6. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said connecting means is substantially rigid in tension.

7. A machine comprising: a moving system including driving means and means driven at high speed by said driving means, a rigid frame provided for supporting said moving system; and means supporting said moving system on said frame comprising a pair of rigid rods respectively positioned on opposite sides of said system, a

universal joint securing the upper end of each said elongated member to said frame in swiveling relation thereto, each said rod being positioned to extend down from said upper end, said elongated members having a length causing their respective lower ends to be above the center of gravity of said system, a pair of joining members, a universal joint connecting one end of each said joining member to the lower end of one of said elongated members in swiveling relation thereto, said joining members being also connected to said system on opposite sides thereof, said moving system being pivotally mounted to said joining members for pivoting motion in the plane formed by the lower ends of said elongated members and the moving system center of gravity, and connecting means extending under said moving system connecting together the other ends of said joining members; said elongated members and the moving system center of gravity all lying substantially in a single vertical plane when said moving system is at rest.

8. The apparatus defined in claim 7 wherein said machine is a laundry machine and said moving system comprises means for laundering clothes, said driven means including a clothes basket rotatable on a vertical axis and said driving means including means for rotating said basket at a centrifuging speed.

9. The apparatus defined in claim 8 wherein each of said universal joints includes damping means separating the relatively movable parts thereof.

10. A laundry machine having means for laundering clothes including a clothes basket rotatable on a substantially vertical axis and drive means for causing high speed rotation of said basket; a rigid frame for said laundering means including a stationary tub positioned in surrounding relation to said basket; and means for supporting said laundering means on said frame so as to prevent a substantial part of any vibrations thereof from reaching said frame comprising a pair of elongated members formed to be substantially rigid in tension and respectively positioned on opposite sides of said basket, each said elongated member having an upper end secured to said frame Gil in swiveling relation thereto and being positioned to extend down from said upper end, said elongated members having a length causing their respective lower ends to be above the center of gravity of said laundering means, a pair of joining members each having one end secured to the lower end of said elongated members in swiveling relation thereto, said joining members being also connected to said laundering means below said tub on opposite sides of said laundering means, said laundering means being pivotally mounted to said joining members for 1 pivoting motion in the plane formed by the lower ends of said elongated members and the laundering means center of gravity, and connecting means extending under said laundering means connecting together the other ends of said joining members; said elongated members and the laundering means center of gravity a-ll lying substantially in a single vertical plane when said laundering means is at rest.

11. A laundry machine having means for laundering clothes including a clothes basket rotatable on a substantially vertical axis, an imperforate tub surrounding said basket, and drive means for causing high speed rotation of said basket within said tub; a rigid frame for said laundering means; and means supporting said laundering means on said frame so as to prevent a substantial part of any vibrations thereof from reaching said frame comprising a pair of elongated members formed to be substantially rigid in tension and respectively positioned on opposite sides of said laundering means, each said elongated member having an upper end secured to said frame in swiveling relation thereto and being positioned to extend down from said upper end, said elongated members having a length causing their respective lower ends to be above the center of gravity of said laundering means, a pair of joining members each having one end secured to the lower end of one of said elongated members in swiveling relation thereto, said joining members being also respectively connected to said laundering means on opposite sides thereof, said laundering means being pivotally mounted to said joining members for pivoting motion in the plane formed by the lower ends of said elongated members and the laundering means center of gravity, and connecting means extending under said laundering means and connecting together the other ends of said joining members; said elongated members and the laundering means center of gravity all lying substantially in a single vertical plane when said laundering means is at rest.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 335,654 Taplin Feb. 9, 1886 2,130,160 Shellenberg Sept. 13, 1938 2,358,779 Tholl Sept. 26, 1944 2,648,510 Henshaw Aug. 11, 1953

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