WASHING MACHINE APPLIANCES AND METHODS FOR OPERATING THE SAME

• US 20150204004A1
• Filed: 01/20/2014
• Published: 07/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Hettinger, Stephen Edward
• Granted Patent: US 9,410,280 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2101/12 Washing temperature
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2101/20 Operation modes, e.g. delicate laundry washing programs, service modes or refreshment cycles
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/58 Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/28 Arrangements for program selection, e.g. control panels therefor; Arrangements for indicating program parameters, e.g. the selected program or its progress
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/088 Liquid supply arrangements

Abstract

Washing machine appliances and method for operating washing machine appliances are provided. A washing machine appliance has a tub and a basket rotatably mounted within the tub, the basket defining a chamber for receipt of articles for washing. A method includes flowing a first volume of liquid into the tub, the first volume of liquid at a temperature correlated to a treatment option selected by a user, and agitating the articles within the tub for a first period at a first rate. The method further includes flowing a second volume of liquid into the tub, the second volume of liquid at a temperature correlated to a temperature option selected by a user, and agitating the articles within the tub for a second period at a second rate.

Claims

1. A method for operating a washing machine appliance, the washing machine appliance having a tub and a basket rotatably mounted within the tub, the basket defining a chamber for receipt of articles for washing, the method comprising:

flowing a first volume of liquid into the tub, the first volume of liquid at a temperature correlated to a treatment option selected by a user;

agitating the articles within the tub for a first period at a first rate;

flowing a second volume of liquid into the tub, the second volume of liquid at a temperature correlated to a temperature option selected by a user; and

agitating the articles within the tub for a second period at a second rate.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second volume of liquid is at a temperature such that a resultant temperature of a total volume of liquid within the tub is within a temperature range of the temperature option selected by a user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first period and the first rate are correlated to the treatment option selected by a user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second period and the second rate are correlated to the treatment option selected by a user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second period is longer than the first period.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the treatment option is selected by the user independently of the temperature option.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising directing a wash additive into the tub.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein flowing the first volume, agitating the articles within the tub for the first period at the first rate, flowing the second volume, and agitating the articles within the tub for the second period at the second rate occur after the treatment option and the temperature option are selected by the user.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein agitating the articles within the tub for the first period at the first rate occurs after flowing the first volume, flowing the second volume occurs after agitating the articles within the tub for the first period at the first rate, and agitating the articles within the tub for the second period at the second rate occurs after flowing the second volume.

8. The method of claim 8, wherein the wash additive is a detergent.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the wash additive is directed into the tub during flowing the first volume of liquid into the tub.

12. A washing machine appliance, comprising:

a tub;

a basket rotatably mounted within the tub, the basket defining a wash chamber for receipt of articles for washing;

a valve;

a nozzle configured for flowing liquid from the valve into the tub;

a motor in mechanical communication with the basket, the motor configured for selectively rotating the basket within the tub; and

a controller in operative communication with the valve and the motor, the controller configured for;

flowing a first volume of liquid into the tub, the first volume of liquid at a temperature correlated to a treatment option selected by a user;

agitating the articles within the tub for a first period at a first rate;

flowing a second volume of liquid into the tub, the second volume of liquid at a temperature correlated to a temperature option selected by a user; and

agitating the articles within the tub for a second period at a second rate.

13. The washing machine appliance of claim 13, further comprising a temperature option selector and a treatment option selector each in operative communication with the controller, the temperature option selector configured for temperature option selection and the treatment option selector configured for treatment option selection.

15. The washing machine appliance of claim 13, wherein the second volume of liquid is at a temperature such that a resultant temperature of a total volume of liquid within the tub is within a temperature range of the temperature option selected by a user.

16. The washing machine appliance of claim 13, wherein the first period and the first rate are correlated to the treatment option selected by a user.

17. The washing machine appliance of claim 13, wherein the second period and the second rate are correlated to the treatment option selected by a user.

18. The washing machine appliance of claim 13, wherein the treatment option is selected by the user independently of the temperature option.

19. The washing machine appliance of claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured for directing a wash additive into the tub.

14. The washing machine appliance of claim 14, wherein the temperature option selector and treatment option selector are knobs.