CLOTHES WASHER TEMPERATURE CONTROL SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20040187224A1
• Filed: 03/24/2003
• Published: 09/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Lueckenbach, William H., Graven, Erick Paul, Johnson, Ronald Miles, Kedjierski, Fred Dennis
• Granted Patent: US 7,841,217 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 8/159
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2101/00 User input for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/16 Washing liquid temperature
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/04 from separate hot and cold water inlets
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/36 of washing
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/08 Control circuits or arrangements thereof
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/088 Liquid supply arrangements

Abstract

A washing machine wherein a cold water valve is opened during a hot fill operation is described. In one embodiment, the washing machine comprises a cabinet, a tub and basket mounted within the cabinet, and an agitation element mounted within the basket. The machine also includes a cold water valve for controlling flow of cold water to the tub, and a hot water valve for controlling flow of hot water to the tub. A control coupled to the cold water valve controls opening and closing of the cold water valve during the hot fill operation.

Claims

1. A control for a washing machine, the washing machine including a hot water valve and a cold water valve, said control configured to pulse the cold water valve on during a hot fill operation:

2. A control in accordance with claim 1 wherein said control is not temperature compensated.

3. A control in accordance with claim 1 wherein said control is temperature compensated.

4. A control in accordance with claim 1 wherein said control energizes the cold water valve in accordance with a fixed duty cycle.

5. A control in accordance with claim 1 wherein said control energizes the cold water valve in accordance with a variable duty cycle.

6. A control in accordance with claim 1 wherein said control comprises a microprocessor programmed to cause the cold water valve to open and close during a hot fill operation.

7. A control in accordance with claim 6 wherein said microprocessor limits a number of times the cold water valve opens during a hot fill operation.

8. A control in accordance with claim 6 wherein said microprocessor delays opening of the cold water valve for a predetermined period of time during a hot fill operation.

9. A washing machine comprising:

a cabinet;

a tub and basket mounted within said cabinet;

an agitation element mounted within said basket;

a cold water valve for controlling flow of cold water to said tub;

a hot water valve for controlling flow of hot water to said tub;

a control coupled to said cold water valve to control opening and closing of the cold water valve during a hot fill operation.

10. A washing machine in accordance with claim 9 wherein said control is not temperature compensated.

11. A washing machine in accordance with claim 9 wherein said control is temperature compensated.

12. A washing machine in accordance with claim 9 wherein said control energizes the cold water valve in accordance with one of a fixed duty cycle and a variable duty cycle.

13. A washing machine in accordance with claim 9 wherein said control comprises a microprocessor programmed to cause the cold water valve to open and close during a hot fill operation.

14. A washing machine in accordance with claim 13 wherein said microprocessor limits a number of times the cold water valve opens during a hot fill operation.

15. A washing machine in accordance with claim 13 wherein said microprocessor delays opening of the cold water valve for a predetermined period of time during a hot fill operation.

16. A method for controlling a washing machine during a hot fill operation, the washing machine including a hot water valve and a cold water valve, said method comprising the steps of:

opening the hot water valve; and

for at least a period of time, opening the cold water valve.

17. A method in accordance with claim 16 wherein the cold water valve is opened and closed with a fixed duty cycle during the hot fill operation.

18. A method in accordance with claim 16 wherein the cold water valve is opened and closed with a variable duty cycle during the hot fill operation.

19. A method in accordance with claim 18 wherein the duty cycle variability is based on a temperature of water in the washing machine.

20. A method in accordance with claim 16 wherein the cold water valve opens a limited number of times during the hot fill operation.