CHEMICAL INJECTION DISPENSER AND CAP

• US 20110072860A1
• Filed: 09/28/2009
• Published: 03/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alliance Laundry Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: Alliance Laundry Systems LLC
• Inventors: JOHNSON, Daryl T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,756,959 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 68/17.R
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/022 in a liquid state D06F39/024 takes precedence

Abstract

A washing machine having a chemical dispenser for dispensing chemicals into the wash water during a washing operation. The dispenser includes a dispenser body having a water inlet and a cap having a plurality of hose connecting ports to which chemical supply hoses are individually attached for enabling the direction of chemical into the dispenser chamber simultaneous with the introduction of water from said water inlet. The chemical supply hoses are connectable to said cap at a location remote from said body, and the cap is removable and replaceable in said dispenser body without removal of the hose from the connecting ports.

Claims

1. A washing machine comprising:

a wash tub for receiving wash water during a washing operation,

a rotatably driven tumbler for receiving launderable items for washing supported within said wash tub,

a chemical dispenser for dispensing chemicals selectively supplied by a plurality of chemical supply hoses into the wash water during a washing operation,

said dispenser including a dispenser body that defines a chamber into which chemicals and water are directed and an outlet connected to and communicating with the wash tub,

said dispenser including a hose connection cap separate from said dispenser body having a plurality of hose connecting ports communicating through the cap,

said chemical supply hoses each being connected to a respective one of said connecting ports for permitting selected dispensing of chemicals from said hoses into said chamber for direction through said outlet to said wash tub during a washing operation,

and said cap being removable and replaceable in said dispenser body without removal of said hoses from said connecting ports.

2. The washing machine of claim 1 in which said hoses are connectable to said cap while said cap is removed from said dispenser.

3. The washing machine of claim 1 including a washing machine cabinet, said dispenser body being mounted within said cabinet with said hub disposed in an opening of said cabinet for permitting mounting and removal of said cap on said hub without removal of said dispensing body from said cabinet.

4. The washing machine of claim 1 in which said hose connection cap and body are made of a plastic material, and said hose connection cap is made of a plastic material different from the plastic material of said dispenser body.

5. The washing machine of claim 4 in which said hose connection cap is made of a more durable and corrosive resistant material than the plastic material of said dispenser body.

6. The washing machine of claim 1 in which said cap and body have a releasable latching mechanism for enabling removable snap action engagement of the cap with said body.

7. The washing machine of claim 6 in which said cap has latch arms that are releasably engageable with said dispenser body.

8. The washing machine of claim 1 in which said dispenser body has a cap receiving hub, and said cap is removably mountable in recessed relation in said hub.

10. The washing machine of claim 1 in which said cap has a base and a plurality of said hose connecting ports extending outwardly from a side of said base.

11. The washing machine of claim 8 in which said hub extends outwardly of said dispenser body at an acute angle to the vertical, and said cap is removably mountable in an outer end of said hub.

12. The washing machine of claim 11 in which said body has a water inlet connectable to a water supply hose for directing water into said body chamber simultaneously with the direction of chemicals from said hose connecting ports.

13. The washing machine of claim 12 in which said water inlet is at an upper end of said body.

14. The washing machine of claim 13 in which said body has an upstanding portion that defines said dispensing chamber, and said hub communicates with said chamber through a side opening of said upstanding portion with said chamber.

15. The washing machine of claim 14 including a wall extending upwardly from a lower portion of said hub for defining a pocket into which chemicals and water directed into said dispenser may accumulate.

16. The washing machine of claim 14 in which said dispenser body has a V-shaped diverter in opposed relation to said water inlet for dividing water directed into said chamber on opposed sides of said side opening for minimizing entry of water into said side opening.

17. The washing machine of claim 16 in which said V-shaped diverter has an apex disposed in opposed relation to said water inlet.

18. The washing machine of claim 15 in which said body has a downwardly directed diverter wall adjacent an upper portion of said side opening for minimizing entry of water directed into said chamber from said water inlet from entering side opening.

19. The washing machine of claim 1 in which said body and cap have at least one cooperating key and key way for orienting said cap in predetermined circumferential relation to said hub upon mounting.

9. The washing machine of claim 9 in which said cap is mountable in said hub with said hose connecting ports having terminal ends that extend outwardly no greater than an outer perimeter of said hub.