Substance Communicating Device with Sensor Enabled Connector

• US 20110148651A1
• Filed: 12/21/2009
• Published: 06/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Luckman, Joel A., McCoy, Richard A., Hendrickson, Michael S.
• Application Number:
  US12/643,339
• Publication Number:
  US 20110148651A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/686.6
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/00 Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/20 Washing liquid condition, e.g. turbidity
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/60 related to auxiliary conditioning or finishing agents, e.g. filling level of perfume tanks
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/42 Detergent or additive supply
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/58 Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 25/00 Washing machines with receptacles, e.g. perforated, having a rotary movement, e.g. oscillatory movement, the receptacle serving both for washing and for centrifugally separating water from the laundry and having further drying means, e.g. using hot air control of washing or of washing and drying D06F33/00, D06F34/00; domestic laundry dryers D06F58/00
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/37 of metering of detergents or additives
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/05 for wireless communication between components, e.g. for remote monitoring or control
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/02 Devices for adding soap or other washing agents

Abstract

A substance communicating device for use in conjunction with an appliance or a system including an appliance and a substance communicating device. The appliance has a first service connector component and a first proximity system component. The substance communicating device has a second service connector component operably engageable with the first connector component to permit the communication of a service between the first and second service connector components. The substance communicating device further has a second proximity system component operably associated with the second service connector, the second proximity system component being configured to engage the first proximity system component when the first and second service connector components are engaged to selectively permit the communication of the service between the substance communicating device and the appliance.

Claims

1. A substance communicating device for use in conjunction with an appliance having a first service connector component and a first contactless proximity system component, the substance communicating device comprising:

a main body;

a service consumer associated with the main body;

a service line having a first end coupled with the service consumer and a second end remote from the first end;

a second service connector component coupled with the second end of the service line, the second service connector component being operably engageable with the first service connector component to permit the communication of a service between the first and second service connector components; and

a second contactless proximity system component operably associated with the second service connector component, the second contactless proximity system component being configured to engage the first contactless proximity system component when the first and second service connector components are engaged to selectively permit the communication of the service between the substance communicating device and the appliance.

2. The substance communicating device according to claim 1, wherein the first contactless proximity system component is a contactless proximity switch and the second contactless proximity system component is a contactless proximity actuator engageable with the contactless proximity switch to actuate the contactless proximity switch when the first and second service connector components are engaged.

3. The substance communicating device according to claim 1, wherein the second contactless proximity system component is a contactless proximity switch and the first contactless proximity system component is a contactless proximity actuator engageable with the contactless proximity switch to actuate the contactless proximity switch when the first and second service connector components are engaged.

4. The substance communicating device according to claim 3 and further comprising a third service connector component, the contactless proximity switch being configured to selectively permit communication of a service to the third service connector component when the first and second service connector components are engaged.

5. The substance communicating device according to claim 4 and further comprising a second contactless proximity actuator operably associated with the second service connector component, the second contactless proximity actuator being configured to actuate a second switch associated with the first service connector component when the first and second service connector components are engaged to selectively permit the communication of another service between the substance communicating device and the appliance.

6. The substance communicating device according to claim 1 wherein the service comprises a substance service, and further wherein the substance communicating device comprises a consumable substance holder.

7. The substance communicating device according to claim 6, wherein the first service connector component comprises a first substance communication component and a first electromagnetic service connector component, and the second service connector component comprises a second substance communication component and a second electromagnetic service connector component operably engageable respectively with the first substance communication component and the first electromagnetic service connector component to permit the communication of a substance and an electromagnetic service between the first and second service connector components.

8. The substance communicating device according to claim 6, wherein the second service switch component is configured to engage the first service switch component when the first and second substance service connector components are engaged to selectively permit the communication of the substance and an electromagnetic service between the consumable substance holder and the appliance.

9. The substance communicating device according to claim 1 and further comprising:

a third contactless proximity system component operably associated with the second service connector component; and

a fourth contactless proximity system component operably associated with the first service connector component;

wherein the third contactless proximity system component is configured to engage the fourth contactless proximity system component when the first and second service connector components are engaged to selectively permit the communication of another service between the substance communicating device and the appliance.

10. The substance communicating device according to claim 1, wherein the substance communicating device comprises a substance consumer.

11. The substance communicating device according to claim 1, wherein the substance communicating device comprises a substance provider.

12. The substance communicating device according to claim 11, wherein the substance provider comprises at least one of a detergent dispenser, a drink dispenser, a bottle, a jug, and an accessory.

13. The substance communicating device according to claim 1 for use in conjunction with an appliance further having a first electromagnetic service connector component, the substance communicating device further comprising:

a second electromagnetic service connector component operably engageable with the first substance service connector component to permit the communication of an electromagnetic service between the first and second substance service connector components.

14. The substance communicating device according to claim 13 wherein the second contactless proximity system component is configured to engage the first contactless proximity system component when the first and second substance service connector components are engaged to selectively permit the communication of the electromagnetic service between the substance communicating device and the appliance between the first and second electromagnetic service connectors.

15. A system comprising:

an appliance having a first service connector component;

a substance communicating device having a second service connector component operably engageable with the first service connector component;

a contactless proximity switch operably associated with one of the first and second service connector components, the contactless proximity switch being configured to selectively permit the communication of a service between the substance communicating device and the appliance; and

a contactless proximity actuator associated with the other of the first and second service connector components, the contactless proximity actuator being configured to selectively engage the contactless proximity switch when the first and second service connectors are engaged to permit the communication of a service between the substance communicating device and the appliance.

16. The system according to claim 15 and further comprising:

a substance line extending from at least one of the first and second substance service connector components; and

a substance device selectively operable to inhibit the flow of substance along the substance line;

wherein the contactless proximity switch further comprises a first switch engageable with the contactless proximity actuator and a second switch is selectively operated by the first switch to control the substance device.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the first and second switch communicate using an electromagnetic service.

18. The system according to claim 15, wherein the appliance further comprises a first electromagnetic service connector component and the substance communicating device further comprises a second electromagnetic service connector component engageable with the first electromagnetic service connector component, wherein the first switch selectively permits the communication of electromagnetic service between the first and second electromagnetic service connector components and the second switch is activated when electromagnetic service is communicated between the first and second electromagnetic service connector components.

19. The system according to claim 15 wherein the substance communicating device comprises at least one of a pump, a valve, a fan, a conveyor, an elevator.

20. The system according to claim 15, wherein the substance communicating device further comprises:

a main body;

a substance consumer associated with the main body; and

a substance line having a first end coupled with the substance consumer and a second end coupled with the second service connector component.

21. The system according to claim 15, wherein the contactless proximity switch is operably associated with the first service connector component and the contactless proximity actuator is operably associated with the second service connector component.

22. The system according to claim 15, wherein the contactless proximity switch is operably associated with the second service connector component and the contactless proximity actuator is operably associated with the first service connector component.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein the substance communicating device further comprises a third service connector component, the contactless proximity switch being configured to selectively permit communication of a service to the third service connector component when the first and second service connector components are engaged.

24. The system of according to claim 22, further comprising:

a second contactless proximity switch associated with the first service connector component configured to selectively permit the communication of another service between the substance communicating device and the appliance; and

a second contactless proximity actuator operably associated with the second service connector component, the second contactless proximity actuator being configured to actuate a second contactless proximity switch when the first and second service connector components are engaged to selectively permit the communication of the another service between the substance communicating device and the appliance.

25. The system according to claim 24 wherein the substance communicating device comprises a flow regulating device under the operable control of the second contactless proximity switch.

26. The system according to claim 15, wherein the service comprises a substance service and the substance communicating device comprises a consumable substance holder.

27. The system according to claim 26, wherein the contactless proximity switch is configured to selectively permit the communication of an electromagnetic service between the consumable substance holder and the appliance.

28. The system according to claim 27, wherein the first service connector component further comprises a first substance communication connector component and a first electromagnetic service connector component, and the second service connector component further comprises a second substance communication connector component and a second electromagnetic service connector component, wherein the second service connector component is operably engageable with a first service connector component to permit the communication of a substance and an electromagnetic service between the first and second service connector components.

29. The system according to claim 28, wherein the second electromagnetic service connector component is configured to engage the first electromagnetic service connector component when the first and second service connector components are engaged to selectively permit the communication of the substance and an electromagnetic service between the consumable substance holder and the appliance.

30. The system according to claim 15 and further comprising:

a second contactless proximity switch operably associated with one of the first and second service connector components, the second contactless proximity switch being configured to selectively permit the communication of a service between the substance communicating device and the appliance; and

a second contactless proximity actuator associated with the other of the first and second service connector components, the second contactless proximity actuator being configured to selectively engage the second contactless proximity switch when the first and second service connectors are engaged to permit the communication of a service between the substance communicating device and the appliance.

31. The system according to claim 15, wherein the first service connector component comprises a receptacle and the second service connector component comprises a plug.

32. The system according to claim 15, wherein the first service connector component comprises a plug and the second service connector component comprises a receptacle.

33. An accessory for use in conjunction with an appliance having a first substance communicating device, a first substance service connector component coupled for communicating substance with the first substance communicating device, and a first contactless proximity coupling device, the accessory comprising:

a main body having a second substance communicating device;

a second substance service connector component coupled for communication of substance with the second substance communicating device, the second substance service connector component being operably engageable with the first substance service connector component to permit the communication of a substance between the first and second substance service connector components; and

a second contactless proximity coupling device operably associated with the second substance service connector component, the second service switch component being configured to engage the first contactless proximity coupling device when the first and second substance service connector components are engaged to selectively permit the communication of the substance between the accessory and the appliance.

34. The accessory according to claim 33, further comprising an electro-magnetically operated substance switch.

35. The accessory according to claim 34, wherein the second substance communicating device is substance consumer.

36. The accessory according to claim 33, wherein the second substance communicating device is substance provider.

37. The accessory according to claim 36, wherein the substance provider comprises a consumable holder.

38. The accessory according to claim 33, wherein the second contactless proximity coupling device is a contactless proximity sensor.

39. The accessory according to claim 33, wherein the second contactless proximity coupling device is a contactless proximity target.

40. The accessory according to claim 33, and further comprising at least one of a dispenser, a filter, a water filter, an air filter, a detergent dispenser, a drink dispenser, a detergent cartridge, a bottle, a jug, a flavoring dispenser, a steam dispenser, a fragrance dispenser, an food ingredient dispenser, a cycle accessory, and a chemistry dispenser.