Improvements in or relating to washing machines
648,421. Washing and drying machines. WATSON, F. (Aktiebolaget Elektrolux.). April 29, 1948, No. 11742. [Class 138 (ii)] In a combined washing and drying machine having a single driving motor 35 for actuating a washing member producing movement of the clothes within a washing container 12 and for driving a centrifuging drum 14, the motor 35 is arranged below the drum 14 with its shaft substantially in line with the axis of rotation of the drum, the upper end of the motor shaft being used to drive the drum and the lower end to actuate the washing member through transmission members. The washing member may be an oscillating agitator (not shown) mounted between'a bearing 33 and a driving shaft 34, the 'shaft 34 being driven by the motor through a belt and pulleys 38, 39, a shaft 40 enclosed in a pipe 42, and a gear device 41. The centrifugal drum 14 is driven by the motor 35 through a slidable coupling 36, the upper end of the drum carrying a disc 48 journalled in a bearing 47. This bearing is carried by a cover 45 mounted by hinges 46 on an upper plate 26 of the machine. The washing container may be heated by a gas burner 16 (as shown) or by an electric heating element mounted below a perforated plate 23 in the receptacle. The motor 35 is resiliently mounted on a ring 30 secured to the centrifuge housing 15 by means of vibration damping pads 37 and is readily removable together with one part of the friction coupling 36. A control plate (not shown) is mounted in the front of the machine and has control members for coupling the washing member or the drum 14 with the driving motor 35.