Washing Machine Drive System

Abstract

The present invention discloses a top-loading washer drive system. The system includes a mounting plate connecting to the body of the washer, a driving pulley, a main shaft assembly fastened to the washer agitator, a sleeve shaft assembly fastened to the washer basket, a clutch, and a brake module. The lower part of main shaft assembly is connecting to the driving pulley. The sleeve shaft assembly and main shaft assembly are coaxially arranged and can rotate with respect to each other. The lower end of the sleeve shaft assembly is connected with driving pulley through the clutch. The main shaft assembly includes an input shaft at one end and an output shaft at the other end. A planetary gear module and an oscillating drive output module are configured between the input shaft and the output shaft. The braking module includes a cone-shaped brake unit and a braking control unit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A top-loading washer drive system for a washer, comprising:
 a mounting plate connecting to a body of the washer;   a driving pulley;   a main shaft assembly fastened to an agitator of; the washer;   a sleeve shaft assembly fastened to a drum of the washer drum;   a clutch; and   a brake module,   wherein:
 a lower part of the main shaft assembly is connected with the driving pulley; 
 the sleeve shaft assembly and main shaft assembly are coaxially arranged and rotatable with respect to each other; 
 a lower end of the sleeve shaft assembly is connected with driving pulley through the clutch; 
 the main shaft assembly includes an input shaft at one end and an output shaft at the other end; 
 a planetary gear module and an oscillating drive output module are configured between the input shaft and the output shaft; and 
 the braking module includes a cone-shaped brake unit and a braking control unit. 
   
     
     
         2 . The top-loading washer drive system according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the brake unit includes a cone flange fastened to the mounting plate, a brake pad lining at an inner wall of the cone flange, and a cone-shaped brake disk matching a shape of the inner wall of the cone flange;   the brake disk is fitted to slide along the sleeve shaft and at least two brake springs are coupled to a lower part of the brake disk;   lower ends of the brake springs are coupled to a brake spring holding assembly;   the brake disk engages the brake pad under effect of the brake springs; and   the brake spring holder assembly is rotatable along the sleeve shaft.   
     
     
         3 . The top-loading washer drive system according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the brake spring holder assembly includes a brake spring holder cover, and a brake spring holder;   the brake spring holder cover and the brake spring holder are coaxially arranged and rotatable with respect to each other;   the brake spring holder cover is fastened to lower ends of the braking springs;   the brake spring holder is provided with two clutch slots and two nut slots;   the two clutch slots are positioned symmetrically;   the two nut slots are positioned symmetrically; and   the clutch slots and the nut slots are arranged alternately with each other.   
     
     
         4 . The top-loading washer drive system according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 the clutch slots are rectangular slots;   the nut slots are fan-shaped slots and have a corresponding arch angle α between approximately 90 to 150 degrees.   
     
     
         5 . The top-loading washer drive system according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 the brake spring holder cover is in a ring shape;   an inner radius of brake spring holder cover matches the largest opening in the brake spring holder; and   an outer edge of the brake spring holder cover extends downwards and is coaxially placed with respect to outer cylindrical surface of the brake spring holder.   
     
     
         6 . The top-loading washer drive system according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 the brake spring holder cover and the brake spring holder are coaxially arranged and rotatable with respect to each other, by placing a plurality of steel balls between the brake spring holder cover and the brake spring holder.   
     
     
         7 . The top-loading washer drive system according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 a steel ball holder is placed between the brake spring holder cover and the brake spring holder;   the steel ball holder is in a ring shape and a plurality of holes is evenly distributed around the ring shape; and   each hole holds a corresponding steel ball.   
     
     
         8 . The top-loading washer drive system according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 the braking control unit is a bearing-ball-screw set including a nut sleeve, a screw, a plurality of bearing balls;   the nut sleeve is fastened to the braking disk and is positioned above the brake spring holder and is fitted to slide up and down along the sleeve shaft;   inserting teeth are positioned at a lower end of the nut sleeve;   when the nut sleeve slides down, the inserting teeth fit into corresponding nut slots of the brake spring holder, and rotate a certain distance in the nut slots;   the screw sleeve is in a cylindrical ring shape and rotationally mounted around and coaxially arranged with the sleeve shaft assembly;   a lower end of the screw sleeve is coupled to the clutch; and   the plurality of bearing balls are provided between the screw sleeve and the nut sleeve.   
     
     
         9 . The top-loading washer drive system according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 a bearing ball holder is placed between the nut sleeve and the screw sleeve;   the bearing ball holder has a plurality of position-restriction holes to accommodate respective bearing balls.   
     
     
         10 . The top-loading washer drive system according to  claim 9 , wherein:
 the bearing ball holder has a total of 3 to 12 position-restriction holes helically distributed within a circle of thread.   
     
     
         11 . The top-loading washer drive system according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 the nut sleeve is fastened to the braking disk through a ring gear of the nut sleeve; and   the sleeve shaft assembly is configured to have an outer gear matching the ring gear of the nut sleeve.   
     
     
         12 . The top-loading washer drive system according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 the clutch is a clutch with a helical spring wound with square-cross-section wire, including a coupler, a clutch sleeve, and a clutch spring;   the coupler and the clutch sleeve are concentric and have a same outer diameter that matches with an inner diameter of the clutch spring;   the coupler and the clutch sleeve are coaxially and parallel arranged with respect to each other;   the clutch sleeve is placed above the coupler and below the brake spring holder and is concentrically coupled with the screw;   the clutch sleeve has clutch inserting teeth at an upper end of the clutch sleeve;   the clutch inserting teeth are inserted into the corresponding clutch slots of the brake spring holder; and   the coupler is fastened to the driving pulley.   
     
     
         13 . The top-loading washer drive system according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 a total number of 4 to 8 brake springs are evenly distributed at a lower end of the brake disk.   
     
     
         14 . The top-loading washer drive system according to  claim 7 , wherein:
 a total number of ten holes evenly distributed around a steel ball holder and each hole holds a corresponding steel ball.   
     
     
         15 . The top-loading washer drive system according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 the bearing ball holder has a total of 4 position-restriction holes helically distributed within a circle of thread.   
     
     
         16 . The top-loading washer drive system according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the planetary gear module includes a gear box cover, a gear box casing, a planetary ring gear mounted on the gear box casing, a planet gear holder positioned inside the planetary ring gear, and at least two planet gears inside the planet gear holder;   the planet gears are rotationally coupled to the oscillating drive output module;   a lower end of the input shaft is securely fastened to the driving pulley, and an upper end of the input shaft is coupled to the planet gear holder by a spline;   the sleeve shaft assembly includes an input sleeve shaft and an output sleeve shaft; and   the upper end of the input sleeve shaft is fastened to the gear box casing; and a lower end of the output sleeve shaft is fastened to the gear box cover.   
     
     
         17 . The top-loading washer drive system according to  claim 16 , wherein:
 the oscillating drive output module includes an eccentric shaft, an eccentric shaft limit ring, a slider, a rack gear, and an output pinion gear,   wherein:   the rack gear is a frame of a rectangular shape, and a plurality of rack teeth are provided at an inner side of the frame of the rack gear;   a left-right oriented sliding track is located at a lower part of the frame;   the rack gear can move back and forth with the gear box and located on top of the planet gears;   the slider is in a rectangular shape, with a through hole at the middle, and the slider can slide left and right along the sliding tracks under the rack gear;   the eccentric shaft is configured to have a plurality of through connection holes corresponding to the multiple planet gears and a shaft matched with connection holes on top of the eccentric shaft;   the connection holes are coupled with respective gear shafts of the planet gears, and shaft is coupled with the through hole  341 - 1  of the slider;   the eccentric shaft limit ring limits the position of the eccentric shaft;   the output gear is a sector pinion gear meshing with the rack gear and a top end of output gear is coupled to the output shaft via a spline.   
     
     
         18 . The top-loading washer drive system according to  claim 16 , wherein:
 the input sleeve shaft is concentrically arranged with the input shaft and is rotationally mounted around the input shaft;   the output sleeve shaft is concentrically arranged with the output shaft and is rotationally mounted around the output shaft;   the ball bearings are provided on an upper end and an lower end of the input shaft, and on an upper end and an lower end of the output shaft; and   the ball bearings are oil bearings.   
     
     
         19 . The top-loading washer drive system according to  claim 16 , wherein,
 seals are provided at a lower end of the input shaft and an upper end of the output shaft.