Methods and Systems for Water Delivery in an Additive Dispenser

• US 20090158782A1
• Filed: 12/21/2007
• Published: 06/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Incorporated (AB Electrolux)
• Original Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Incorporated (AB Electrolux)
• Inventors: Hill, Chris H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,327,672 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 68/12.180
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/02 Devices for adding soap or other washing agents
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2713 Siphons

Abstract

A washing apparatus such as an automatic laundry washing machine includes a wash agent dispenser drawer including an additive compartment for storing various additives such as detergent, bleach and fabric softener. One or more water inflow tubes may extend downwardly into the additive compartment and may be configured to deliver water for diluting the additives contained in the compartment. The inflow tubes are of sufficient length to reach a sub-surface portion of additive held in the compartment. Water may simultaneously be delivered to the surface of the additive. Furthermore, inflow tubes have their outlets positioned adjacent to the base(s) of one or more siphon post/cap assemblies located in the additive compartments, such that a churning effect is produced from the injection of water through the tubes and the siphoning action of the siphon post, whereby mixing is enhanced and additive buildup may be avoided and/or removed.

Claims

1. An automatic washing machine, comprising:

a wash basin; and

a wash additive dispenser including;

a wash additive compartment, the additive compartment including a siphon assembly and a liquid additive fill level below a siphon initiation level of said siphon assembly; and

a water inflow tube extending downwardly into the additive compartment and configured to deliver water from above the compartment to a region below the liquid additive fill level.

2. The automatic washing machine of claim 1, further comprising an additive compartment cover from which the siphon assembly and the water inflow tube extend.

3. The automatic washing machine of claim 2, wherein said additive compartment cover further includes a water inlet opening configured to deliver water from above the compartment onto a surface of any liquid additive in the compartment.

4. The automatic washing machine of claim 1, wherein the siphon assembly includes a siphon post and a siphon cap configured to cover the siphon post to thereby form a siphon post/cap assembly.

5. The automatic washing machine of claim 4, wherein the water inflow tube extends substantially parallel to the siphon post/cap assembly.

6. The automatic washing machine of claim 4, wherein the water inflow tube extends downwardly to or below the level of the bottom of the siphon cap.

7. The automatic washing machine of claim 1, wherein an outlet of the water inflow tube is located adjacent to a base of the siphon assembly.

8. The automatic washing machine of claim 7, wherein said outlet is angled on one side and cut-away on an opposite side, so as to direct the inflow of water toward the base of the siphon assembly.

9. The automatic washing machine of claim 1, wherein the wash additive dispenser includes at least two water inflow tubes and the at least two water inflow tubes flank the siphon assembly on opposite sides.

10. The automatic washing machine of claim 1, wherein the water inflow tube tapers along its length.

11. The automatic washing machine of claim 1, further comprising a removable additive cup configured to fit within the additive compartment and wherein the siphon assembly and the water inflow tube are provided as part of the removable additive cup.

12. The automatic washing machine of claim 1, further comprising a water conveyor that delivers water into the additive compartment through said water inflow tube and into an open top area of said compartment simultaneously.

13. The automatic washing machine of claim 1, further comprising a water flow control assembly including:

a plurality of water delivery channels; and

at least one opening configured such that the at least one opening matches up with an inlet of the at least one water inflow tube.

14. A wash additive drawer assembly for use in a washing machine, the wash additive drawer assembly including:

a plurality of wash additive compartments, at least one of said additive compartments including a siphon assembly and a liquid additive fill level below a siphon initiation level of said siphon assembly; and

a water inflow tube extending downwardly into the at least one additive compartment and configured to deliver water from above the compartment to a region below the liquid additive fill level.

15. The wash additive drawer assembly of claim 14, further comprising a cover from which the siphon assembly cap and the water inflow tube extend.

16. The wash additive drawer assembly of claim 14, wherein the siphon assembly includes a siphon post and a siphon cap configured to cover the siphon post to thereby form a siphon post/cap assembly.

17. The wash additive drawer assembly of claim 16, wherein the water inflow tube extends downwardly to or below the level of the bottom of the siphon cap.

18. The wash additive drawer assembly of claim 14, wherein an outlet of the water inflow tube is located adjacent to the base of the siphon assembly.

19. The wash additive drawer assembly of claim 14, further comprising a removable additive cup configured to fit within the at least one of said additive compartment and wherein the siphon assembly and the water inflow tube are provided as part of the removable additive cup.

20. An additive flow apparatus comprising:

a siphon cap configured to fit over a siphon post; and

at least one water inflow tube configured to deliver water into an additive compartment, wherein the siphon cap and the at least one water inflow tube are integrally formed as a single piece.

21. The additive flow apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a cup forming an additive compartment, wherein the additive compartment includes the siphon post and the siphon cap is configured to fit over the siphon post so as to form a siphon post/cap assembly.

22. The additive flow apparatus of claim 21, wherein at least one water inflow tube extends downwardly substantially to a floor region of said cup adjacent a base of said siphon post/cap assembly.

23. The additive flow apparatus of claim 22, wherein an outlet of the at least one water inflow tube is angled on one side and cut-away on an opposite side, so as to direct the inflow of water toward the base of the siphon post/cap assembly.

24. The additive flow apparatus of claim 20, wherein the at least one water inflow tube extends substantially parallel to the siphon cap.

25. The additive flow apparatus of claim 20, wherein the at least one water inflow tube extends downwardly to or below the level of the bottom of the siphon cap.

26. The additive flow apparatus of claim 20, wherein the water inflow tube tapers along its length.

27. The additive flow apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a member positioned in said at least one water inflow tube adjacent an outlet thereof, for directing water to flow radially outwardly from said outlet.