Drive mechanism for a household washer-dryer

• US 5,694,795 A
• Filed: 10/27/1995
• Issued: 12/09/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerã¤Te GmbH (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerã¤Te GmbH (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Inventors: Knopp, Dieter
• Primary Examiner(s): Coe, Philip R.
• Application Number:
  US08/549,058
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• Field of Search: 68/140, 34/601, 474/84, 474/85, 474/88
• US Class Current: 68/140
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/08 Driving arrangements

Abstract

A drive mechanism for a household washer-dryer includes an at least approximately horizontally rotatably supported tub having a tub jacket and a tub axis. A gear pinion has a drive belt being wrapped around the tub jacket for driving the tub in opposite directions. A large pulley is connected to the gear pinion, is fixed against rotation relative to the gear pinion and is supported on a common axis with the gear pinion. An electric drive motor has a motor pinion with an axis. A gear belt is driven by the motor pinion for driving the large pulley. The common axis is movably guided axially parallel and is spring-loaded in a direction toward an increase in spacings between the common axis and the axis of the motor pinion as well as between the common axis and the tub axis.

Claims

1. A drive mechanism for a household washer-dryer, comprising:

an at least approximately horizontally rotatably supported tub having a tub jacket and a tub axis;

a gear pinion having a drive belt being wrapped around said tub jacket for driving said tub in opposite directions;

a large pulley being connected to said gear pinion, being fixed against rotation relative to said pinion and being supported on a common axis with said gear pinion;

an electric drive motor having a motor pinion with an axis;

a gear belt being driven by said motor pinion for driving said large pulley; and

said common axis being spaced apart from said axis of said motor pinion by a first spacing and being spaced apart from said tub axis by a second spacing, and said common axis being movably guided and being spring-loaded in a direction toward an increase in said first and second spacings, said increase in said first and second spacings being independent of each other.

2. A drive mechanism for a household washer-dryer, comprising:

an at least approximately horizontally rotatably supported tub having a tub jacket and a tub axis;

a gear pinion having a drive belt being wrapped around said tub jacket for driving said tub in opposite directions;

a large pulley being connected to said gear pinion, being fixed against rotation relative to said pinion and being supported on a common axis with said gear pinion;

a lever being supported by one arm and having a free end, said common axis being disposed in the vicinity of said free end;

an electric drive motor having a motor pinion with an axis;

a gear belt being driven by said motor pinion for driving said large pulley; and

said common axis being spaced apart from said axis of said motor pinion by a first spacing and being spaced apart from said tub axis by a second spacing, and said common axis being movably guided and being spring-loaded in a direction toward an increase in said first and second spacings.

3. The drive mechanism according to claim 2, wherein said lever has a pivot point, and said pivot point of said lever, said common axis and said axis of said motor pinion are located at least approximately along a straight line during operation.

4. The drive mechanism according to claim 2, including a fixed housing part, and a tension spring being fastened between said fixed housing part and said free end of said lever for spring-loading said common axis relative to said tub axis.

5. The drive mechanism according to claim 2, including a lever arm of said lever, and a compression spring being fastened between said pivot point of said lever and said lever arm for spring-loading said common axis relative to said axis of said motor pinion.

6. The drive mechanism according to claim 2, including a lever arm of said lever, a fixed bearing plate on said lever arm, and a compression spring being fastened between said common axis and said fixed bearing plate for spring-loading said common axis relative to said axis of said motor pinion.

7. The drive mechanism according to claim 6, including a slide being guided on said lever at least approximately in the direction of said axis of said motor pinion, said common axis of said large pulley and said gear pinion being mounted on said slide.

8. The drive mechanism according to claim 7, wherein said slide has a chamber-like end with a counterpart bearing bridge for said compression spring being mounted remote from said common axis, said slide has a guide with an oblong slot formed therein for penetration of said lever with said common axis, and said lever has a fixed bearing plate for said compression spring near said oblong slot.