APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SENSING AND ADDING DETERGENT TO WATER FOR A WASHING MACHINE APPLIANCE

• US 20120266387A1
• Filed: 04/20/2011
• Published: 10/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2011
• 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, Beckley, Bryan James
• Granted Patent: US 9,115,454 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 8/137
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/04 Quantity, e.g. weight or variation of weight
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/20 Washing liquid condition, e.g. turbidity
• 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 33/46 Control of the energy or water consumption
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/22 Condition of the washing liquid, e.g. turbidity

Abstract

A method and apparatus for determining the amount of detergent in water used in a washing machine and to supplementing such water as needed for a wash load is provided. The amount of detergent present in grey water that is reused for washing, as well as the amount released from clothes or other articles to be washed, can also be determined.

Claims

1. A method for operating a washing machine comprising the steps of:

loading articles to be washed into the washing machine so as to create a wash load;

adding water to the wash load of articles in the washing machine;

ascertaining the size of the wash load of articles in the washing machine;

measuring the amount of detergent present in the water;

determining the amount of detergent to add to the water in the washing machine;

adding the amount of detergent from said step of determining to the water in the washing machine; and

,

executing a laundering cycle for the wash load of articles in the washing machine.

2. A method for operating a washing machine as in claim 1, wherein the water of said adding step is grey water, fresh water, or both.

3. A method for operating a washing machine as in claim 1, wherein said step of determining the amount of detergent to add to the water is based upon the size of load of the articles from said step of ascertaining.

4. A method for operating a washing machine as in claim 1, wherein said step of determining the amount of detergent to add to the water comprises:

retrieving information regarding the preferred amount of detergent for the size of the wash load of articles as provided by said step of ascertaining; and

,

subtracting from the preferred amount of detergent the amount of detergent already present in the water as provided by said step of measuring.

5. A method for operating a washing machine as in claim 1, wherein said step of adding comprises allowing grey water from a storage vessel to be placed into the washing machine, and wherein said step of measuring the amount of detergent present in the water is applied to the grey water before being placed into the washing machine from the storage vessel.

6. A method for operating a washing machine as in claim 1, wherein said step of measuring comprises using a sensor to determine the pH of the water.

7. A method for operating a washing machine as in claim 1, wherein said step of measuring comprises sensing the presence of fluorescing components in the water.

8. A method for operating a washing machine as in claim 1, wherein said step of measuring comprises detecting the fluorescent properties of the water.

9. A method for operating a washing machine as in claim 1, further comprising the step of agitating the articles in the washing machine before said step of measuring so as to release residual detergent present in the articles.

10. A method for operating a washing machine as in claim 9, wherein said step of determining the amount of detergent to add to the water comprises:

retrieving information regarding the preferred amount of detergent for the size of the load of the articles as provided by said step of ascertaining; and

,

subtracting from the preferred amount of detergent the amount of detergent already present in the water as provided by said step of measuring.

11. A method for operating a washing machine as in claim 1, further comprising the step of capturing grey water removed from the washing machine during said step of executing a laundering cycle.

12. A method for operating a washing machine as in claim 11, wherein said step of executing a laundering cycle comprises the steps of draining grey water from the washing machine;

spinning the articles;

rinsing the articles; and

, combinations thereof.

13. A method for operating a washing machine as in claim 12, further comprising the step of reusing in the washing machine the grey water drained from the washing machine during said step of draining.

14. A washing machine, comprising:

a wash chamber for containing a wash load of articles to be washed;

an agitation device present in said wash chamber for moving the articles to be washed within said wash chamber;

a device for measuring the size of the wash load of articles;

a detergent sensor for measuring detergent present in water to be used for washing articles in said wash chamber; and

,

at least one processing device configured for

determining the amount of detergent to add to the water based on measurements received from said device for measuring the size of the load and said detergent sensor; and

,

executing a laundering cycle, after water and detergent have been added to the wash chamber, so as to wash articles placed in the wash chamber.

15. A washing machine as in claim 14, wherein said device for measuring the size of the load comprises a level sensor positioned within said wash chamber of the washing machine.

16. A washing machine as in claim 14, further comprising a storage vessel for holding grey water, and wherein said detergent sensor is configured for measuring the detergent present in the grey water of such storage vessel.

17. A washing machine as in claim 14, wherein said at least one processing device is further configured for

causing the amount of detergent provided by said determining step to be added to the wash chamber.

18. A washing machine as in claim 17, further comprising a detergent dispenser in communication with said at least one processing device and configured for automatically providing detergent to the wash chamber based on instructions from said at least one processing device.

19. A washing machine as in claim 14, wherein said detergent sensor comprises a pH sensor, an optical sensor, an electrical conductivity sensor, or a surface tensiometer.

20. A washing machine as in claim 14, further comprising

a storage vessel connected to the washing machine and configured for holding grey water received from the washing machine, and wherein said detergent sensor is configured for measuring the detergent present in the grey water of such storage vessel.