METHOD AND WASHING MACHINE PROVIDED WITH RECIRCULATION WITH CONTROLLED FLOW

• US 20110138543A1
• Filed: 12/14/2010
• Published: 06/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electrolux Do Brasil S/A (AB Electrolux)
• Original Assignee: Electorux Do Brasil SA
• Inventors: Cavalli, Cirilo Alex, Imhoff, Johninson, Piekarski, Marcelo
• Granted Patent: US 8,615,833 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 8/137
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 35/006 for washing or rinsing only
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/087 Water level measuring or regulating devices

Abstract

A washing machine provided with recirculation with controlled flow. It further presents a method to control the level of the washing liquid, associated to the said machine, providing economy of resources such as water and cleaning products, guaranteeing an effective washing of clothes and similar articles, still associated with a decreases foam formation and lower nose emissions during the process, thus improving the operation of the equipment. The washing machine is provided with a washing tub (2), a basket (3), a two-way pump (7), level sensor (5), pool (6), recirculation hose (9), drainage hose (8) and control circuit.

Claims

1. A washing machine comprising a washing sink having a tank substantially shaped with a recess on the bottom of said sink, a perforated basket, a pump supplied with one inlet and two outlets, wherein the inlet is connected to said tank, a level sensor connected to said sink, a recirculation hose connected to one outlet of said pump, a drain hose connected to the other outlet of said pump, and an electronic control system.

2. The washing machine, according to claim 1, having a controlled recirculation outflow.

3. The washing machine, according to claim 1, having a uniform recirculation outflow.

4. The washing machine, according to claim 1, wherein the pump is a variable speed pump operable by commands from the electronic control system.

5. The washing machine, according to claim 1, wherein the liquid level inside the sink is continuously monitored by the level sensor and the signals sent by said level sensor are analyzed by the electronic control system.

6. The washing machine, according to claim 1, further comprising a liquid level control system inside the tank.

7. The washing machine, according to claim 1, characterized by presenting a recirculation liquid flow greater than the liquid flow that drains from the basket to the sink during the washing stage, not subject to the movement of the clothes load.

8. The washing machine, according to claim 1, characterized by presenting a recirculation liquid flow equal to the liquid flow that is drained from the basket to the sink during the washing stage with the movement of the clothes load.

9. The washing machine, according to claim 1 and wherein said pump is a recirculation pump and further comprising a drain pump.

10. The washing machine, according to claim 1 further comprising a directing valve to selectively fluidly couple the pump to the inlet and the two outlets.

11. A washing and water recirculation method for a washing machine having a sink, a tank, and a liquid drain basket, the method comprising:

supplying water to a sink until it reaches a predefined level;

continuously recirculating liquid inside the sink with higher outflow than the liquid drain basket outflow to the sink;

recirculating liquid with a constant outflow until the liquid level in the sink reaches a minimum and the liquid level of the tank reaches a maximum;

continuously recirculating liquid in the sink with outflow equal to the basket outflow to the sink;

moving agitator elements to effect a washing operation;

draining liquid from the sink; and

spinning the liquid drain basket to effect centrifugation.

12. The washing and water recirculation method, according to claim 11, further comprising using a closed loop control system.

13. The washing and water recirculation method, according to claim 11, further comprising performing a continuous controlling of the liquid level in the sink by reading values measured by a level sensor and analyzing the values.

14. The washing and water recirculation method, according to claim 13, further comprising controlling the pump speed according to the analysis of values by the level sensor.