Oscillating washer agitator

摘要

An agitator for a horizontally oscillating clothes washer includes a hollow perforate column on a flared skirt configured to provide three distinct levels of agitator action. The first and second levels comprise four triangular fins. The first or upper level of each fin helps submerge dry articles by pulling them downwardly, channelizes the articles between the fins to keep the articles in straight toroidal planes, and beats bellow-causing air out of the articles without generating a "suds lock" condition. The second or intermediate level provides just enough circulation to maintain the articles loose, unbunched, and channelized. The third or bottom level comprises four rounded vanes projecting upwardly from the skirt with each vane having a decreasing cross section in the radially outer direction. The outer bottom edge of each vane is rooted to the skirt by a thin web, the decreasing cross section in combination with the thin web allowing the vane to flex in a controlled pattern when under load.