WASHING MACHINE SPRAY DEVICE AND METHOD

• US 20090235466A1
• Filed: 03/18/2008
• Published: 09/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Pollett, James Quentin
• Granted Patent: US 8,381,342 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 8/159
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 13/00 Washing machines having receptacles, stationary for washing purposes, with agitators therein contacting the articles being washed plungers or the like adapted for removable mounting on receptacles D06F5/04
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 23/04 and rotating or oscillating about a vertical axis
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 35/006 for washing or rinsing only
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 37/40 for driving the receptacle and an agitator or impeller, e.g. alternatively D06F37/304, D06F37/308 take precedence

Abstract

A washing machine includes a cabinet, a tub positioned within the cabinet, a basket rotatably supported within the tub, and a spray device mounted within the cabinet and positioned to introduce water into the basket. The spray device sprays an initial amount of water onto a wash load received in the basket. The rotatable basket is rotated to redistribute the wash load radially outwardly in the basket. The wash load within the basket is washed after the rotatable basket is rotated to redistribute the wash load.

Claims

1. A method for redistributing a wash load held in a rotatable basket of a washing machine for promoting turnover, comprising:

spraying an initial amount of water onto the wash load from a spray device of the washing machine;

rotating the rotatable basket to redistribute the wash load radially outwardly in the basket; and

after said rotating the rotatable basket to redistribute the wash load, washing the wash load within said basket to wash the wash load.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said rotating the rotatable basket includes:

rotating the rotatable basket at a first slower speed to ensure even water distribution to the wash load; and

subsequently, after said spraying of said initial amount of water, rotating said rotatable basket at a second higher speed to force the wash load radially outwardly.

3. The method of claim 2 said rotating said rotatable basket at said second higher speed includes rapidly accelerating said basket to said second higher speed.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said washing the wash load includes agitating the wash load within said basket to wash the wash load.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said agitating includes agitating with a pulsator to impart rollover action to the wash load.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said washing includes:

spraying a wash amount of water onto the wash load from said spray device for washing the wash load; and

imparting rollover action to the wash load for washing thereof.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said rollover action includes an initial rollover and said rotating said rotatable basket to redistribute the wash load reduces the time in which said initial rollover occurs.

8. The method of claim 1 further including, after said washing of the wash load, one or both of:

spraying a rinse amount of water onto the wash load from said spray device for rinsing the wash load; and

rotating said basket to remove said rinse amount of water from the wash load.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said spraying an initial amount of water includes directing said initial amount of water toward at least a center of said rotatable basket.

10. A washing machine comprising:

a cabinet;

a tub positioned within said cabinet;

a basket rotatably supported within said tub; and

a spray device mounted within said cabinet and positioned to introduce water into said basket;

a drive system for rotating said basket; and

a controller operatively coupled to said drive system and said spray device, said controller configured to operate the spray device to spray an initial amount of water onto a wash load received in said basket and to operate said drive system to rotate said basket to urge the wash load radially outwardly within said basket prior to washing the wash load.

11. The washing machine of claim 10 wherein said spray fill device is positioned to direct spray water therefrom toward or adjacent a central axis of said basket.

12. The washing machine of claim 10 wherein said controller is further configured to operate said drive system to rotate said basket at a first slower speed and, subsequently, at a second higher speed after operating said spray device to spray said initial amount of water onto the wash load.

13. The washing machine of claim 10 further including a pulsator disposed adjacent a bottom of said wash basket and drivingly connected to said drive system.

14. The washing system of claim 13 wherein said controller is further configured to operate said drive system to rotate said pulsator to impart a rollover action to the wash load for washing thereof.

15. The washing machine of claim 14 wherein said controller is further configured to operate said spray device to spray a wash amount of water onto the wash load after operating said drive system to rotate said basket to urge the wash load radially outwardly.

16. The washing machine of claim 10 wherein said spray device includes:

a body defining an inlet and a plurality of outlet apertures in flow communication with said inlet, said body including a forward wall and an underside wall, at least some of said outlet apertures formed at an intersection of said forward wall and said underside wall to direct water forwardly and downwardly relative to said body portion.

17. The washing machine of claim 16 wherein said at least some of said outlet apertures form a first row of apertures and at least some further of said outlet apertures defined in said underside wall spaced apart from said first row of apertures to form a second row of apertures.

18. A method for redistributing a wash load held in a rotatable basket of a washing machine for promoting more rapid turnover, comprising:

imparting a mass to the wash load held in said rotatable basket;

redistributing the wash load centrifugally within said basket; and

after said redistributing, imparting rollover action to the wash load for washing thereof.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said imparting a mass to the wash load includes:

spraying an initial amount of water onto the wash load from a spray device of the washing machine; and

rotating said rotatable basket at a first speed to ensure even water distribution throughout the wash load.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said redistributing the wash load includes rotating said rotatable basket at a second, higher speed to direct the wash load radially outwardly.