Control system for clothes washing machine incorporating heater
First Claim
1. A clothes washing machine comprising:
- a cabinet shell including a door;
an outer tub mounted within the cabinet shell;
an inner tub mounted for rotary movement within the outer tub, said inner tub being adapted to receive a washing solution and articles of clothing to be laundered in the washing solution;
a heater arranged within the outer tub;
a control panel for inputting information concerning desired washing operations, with the desired washing operations including at least normal and stain removal cycles; and
a device for regulating the heater, wherein the heater is regulated differently between the normal and stain removal cycles.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A washing machine includes a control system which regulates a heater based on selected cycle operations and selected cycle operations based on heater related parameters. User cycle selections, along with sensed operating parameters including the level and temperature of a washing medium, are used to control the activation state of the heater to control the washing medium to within a preset range of a target temperature. Preferably, the heater is de-activated after a predetermined period of activation has been reached, whenever a door of the washing machine is opened, and during certain selected operating cycle portions, including a bleach fill and latter time cycle portions.
23 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A clothes washing machine comprising:
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a cabinet shell including a door;
an outer tub mounted within the cabinet shell;
an inner tub mounted for rotary movement within the outer tub, said inner tub being adapted to receive a washing solution and articles of clothing to be laundered in the washing solution;
a heater arranged within the outer tub;
a control panel for inputting information concerning desired washing operations, with the desired washing operations including at least normal and stain removal cycles; and
a device for regulating the heater, wherein the heater is regulated differently between the normal and stain removal cycles. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of operating a washing machine including a heater for a washing medium comprising:
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receiving user inputted information concerning a desired washing operation;
maintaining the heater in a de-activated state until the washing medium in the washing machine reaches a minimum level;
activating the heater to heat the washing medium;
sensing a temperature of the washing medium;
controlling the heater to maintain the washing medium within a preset temperature range from a target temperature during a main portion of the desired washing operation; and
de-activating the heater during a latter portion of the desired washing operation. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification