Contracting spinner for clothes washer

Abstract

The washing machine is provided with an inner rotatable drum which can be expanded for the wash and rinse cycles of the machine and contracted for the spin cycle of the machine. The drum includes front and rear end walls, and a plurality of wall segments connected to the end walls so as to define the side wall of the drum. The movement of the sidewall segments is controlled by a linkage assembly and a shaft actuated with a motor. By contracting the sidewall of the rotatable drum during the high speed spin cycle, unbalanced loads are eliminated or minimized.

1 . A washing machine having a rotatable drum for holding articles to be washed, the drum comprising: 
 first and second end walls;    a plurality of wall segments connected to the end walls and defining a sidewall extending 360°; and    the segments being movable between expanded and contracted positions such that the diameter of the sidewall is variable.    
   
   
       2 . The washing machine of  claim 1  wherein the segments are pivotally connected to the end walls.  
   
   
       3 . The washing machine of  claim 1  wherein the segments include first ends pivotally connected to the end walls and second ends which are moveable inwardly and outwardly with respect to an axis of rotation of the drum.  
   
   
       4 . The washing machine of  claim 3  further comprising a linkage assembly connected to the first ends of the segments to pivot the second ends about the first ends.  
   
   
       5 . The washing machine of  claim 4  further comprising a shaft to drive the linkage assembly between a first position wherein the segments are expanded and a second position wherein the segments are contracted.  
   
   
       6 . The washing machine of  claim 4  wherein the linkage assembly resides outside one of the end walls.  
   
   
       7 . The washing machine of  claim 3  wherein the inner ends of each segment engages an adjacent segment in both the expanded and contracted positions.  
   
   
       8 . The washing machine of  claim 1  wherein the segments are moved from the expanded position to the contracted position for a spin cycle of the machine.  
   
   
       9 . The washing machine of  claim 8  wherein the segments are in the expanded position for wash and rinse cycles of the machine.  
   
   
       10 . The washing machine of  claim 1  further comprising a stationary outer tub surrounding the drum.  
   
   
       11 . A method of washing laundry in a washing machine having a drum with an adjustable sidewall, the method comprising: 
 moving wall segments of the sidewall to an expanded position for wash and rinse cycles of the machine;    moving the wall segments to a contracted position for a spin cycle of the machine; and    maintaining adjacent wall segments in contact with one another in both the expanded and contracted positions.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the movement of the wall segments is by pivoting action.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the wall segments move simultaneously.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the wall segments move equally.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising controlling movement of the wall segments with a linkage assembly.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising actuating the movement of the wall segments with a rotatable shaft.  
   
   
       17 . A washing machine, comprising: 
 a drum rotatably mounted within the machine;    a plurality of wall segments defining a sidewall of the drum;    adjacent wall segments overlappingly engaging one another; and    the sidewall of the drum being expandable and contractible.    
   
   
       18 . The washing machine of  claim 17  wherein the wall segments are pivotal so as to expand and contract the sidewall of the drum.  
   
   
       19 . The washing machine of  claim 18  further comprising a linkage assembly to control pivotal movement of the wall segments.  
   
   
       20 . The washing machine of  claim 18  further comprising a reversibly rotatable shaft to pivot the wall segments between expanded and contracted positions.