Water temperature control system for a clothes washing machine

• US 4,330,081 A
• Filed: 12/03/1979
• Issued: 05/18/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: McMillan, Stephen L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wayner, William E.
• Application Number:
  US06/099,453
• Time in Patent Office: 897 Days
• Field of Search: 236/12.12, 236/12.11, 68/12 R, 137/3-6, 364/109, 364/502, 364/509
• US Class Current: 236/12.1
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1393 characterised by the use of electric means

Abstract

A microprocessor controlled water temperature control system for a clothes washer. The temperature of incoming mixed hot and cold water is periodically sensed, a cumulative average temperature of the mixed water is compared to a desired temperature value stored in memory. When the comparison results in a temperature difference which exceeds a predetermined error limit, the appropriate hot and/or cold water valves are turned on or off causing the average temperature of the mixed water to change toward the desired temperature value.

Claims

1. Water temperature control system for a clothes washing machine comprising:

control means for establishing a control effect representative of a desired water temperature for use in the clothes washing tub;

first and second valve means for supplying incoming cold and hot water, respectively;

mixing means for combining the water flow from the valve means before entry into the clothes washing tub;

means for sensing the temperature of the combined water flow before entry into the tub;

means for determining the cumulative average temperature of said combined water flow;

means for periodically comparing said average temperature to said desired temperature to determine the difference between said two temperatures;

and means responsive to said comparing means when said difference exceeds a predetermined amount for actuating said valve means to cause said combined water temperature to change in the direction of approaching said desired temperature.

2. The water temperature control system of claim 1 in which said valve means comprise two-state, full on/full off devices.

3. The water temperature control system of claim 2 in which means are included for determining the open or closed state of each of the valve means and in which said means responsive to the comparing means is operative to reverse the state of one or both of said valve means when said temperature difference exceeds said predetermined amount.