Automatic liquid control system for a clothes washing machine

• US 4,503,575 A
• Filed: 12/02/1982
• Issued: 03/12/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Mundy, David W., Knoop, Donald E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coe, Philip R.
• Application Number:
  US06/446,225
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• Field of Search: 8/158, 68/12 R, 68/17 R, 68/207, 307/141, 307/141.4, 137/387, 236/12 R
• US Class Current: 8/158
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2101/00 User input for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2101/06 Type or material
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/04 Quantity, e.g. weight or variation of weight
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/16 Washing liquid temperature
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/18 Washing liquid level
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/38 Time, e.g. duration
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/02 Water supply
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/04 from separate hot and cold water inlets
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/06 Recirculation of washing liquids, e.g. by pumps or diverting valves
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/10 Temperature of washing liquids; Heating means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/42 Detergent or additive supply
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/087 Water level measuring or regulating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1393 characterised by the use of electric means

Abstract

A liquid control system is provided for an automatic washer which responds to a user'"'"'s inputs of fabric type, desired temperature and additives required, to introduce into the tub of the washer an optimum volume of liquid to wash a clothes load in the tub, the average temperature of the liquid introduced to the tub being adjusted to compensate for the thermal effects of the tub. The selected additives are dispensed in a diluted form in the proper amounts during the filling operation.

Claims

1. An automatic washing machine having a tub to receive washing liquid and a load of clothes to be washed therein including an automatic liquid fill control system comprising:

supply means for supplying washing liquid to said tub,

means for continuously determining an incremental input volume of liquid to be supplied to said tub,

means for adding succeeding incremental volumes of liquid to said tub to achieve an optimum total volume,

means for determining when an initial liquid depth has been achieved within said tub,

means for calculating the volume of liquid absorbed by said clothes load when said initial depth of liquid has been achieved,

means for determing the optimum total volume of liquid required for washing said clothes load from said absorbed volume at said initial depth, and

means for automatically controlling said supply means for admitting desired volumes of water into said tub.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said means for determining the optimum total volume of liquid required for washing said clothes load includes means for determining the weight of said clothes load in response to said determination of the volume of liquid absorbed.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said means for determining when an initial liquid depth has been achieved includes means for sampling the pressure of the liquid exerted against a portion of said tub.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said means for automatically controlling said supply means includes means for controlling valves in water supply lines connected to said tub.

7. The device of claim 1 including means for inputting fabric type of said clothes load.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said means for determining the optimum total volume of liquid required for washing said clothes load is dependent on said volume of liquid absorbed and said fabric type.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein said means for calculating the volume of liquid absorbed comprises deducting from the current volume of liquid input, a volume required to be introduced into said tub without any clothes load which would result in said initial liquid depth.

2. An automatic washing machine having a tub to receive washing liquid and a load of clothes to be washed therein including an automatic liquid fill control system comprising:

supply means for supplying washing liquid to said tub,

means for continuously determining an incremental input volume of liquid to be supplied to said tub,

said means for continuously determining an incremental liquid input volume comprising means for determining an instantaneous fluid flow rate, means for determining an incremental supplying time period and means for multiplying said instantaneous flow rate by said incremental time period,

means for adding succeeding incremental volumes of liquid to said tub to achieve an optimum total volume,

means for determining when an initial liquid depth has been achieved within said tub,

means for calculating the volume of liquid absorbed by said clothes load when said initial volume of liquid has been achieved,

means for determining the optimum total volume of liquid required for washing said clothes load, and

means for automatically controlling said supply means for admitting desired volumes of water into said tub.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein said means for determining an instantaneous fluid flow rate includes means for sampling the pressure of the water entering said tub through a fill line.

10. An automatic washing machine having a tub to receive a load of clothes to be washed including an automatic additive dispensing control system comprising:

means for selecting at least one type of additive to be automatically dispensed,

means for operating said washer in a recirculation mode,

a mixing chamber,

means for directing wash liquid into said mixing chamber during said recirculation mode,

said mixing chamber having an outlet communicating with said tub,

means for admitting a specific volume of the selected additives to said mixing chamber,

means for determining the level of wash liquid in said mixing chamber,

means for terminating said admitting of additives in response to the attainment of a preselected liquid level in said mixing chamber,

means for resuming said recirculation mode,

whereby wash liquid will be admitted to said mixing chamber where it will mix with and dilute said additives and will cause said additives to be flushed out of said mixing chamber through said outlet into said tub.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein said means for selecting said additives comprises user operated controls.

12. The device of claim 10 wherein said means for admitting a specific volume of the selected additives includes means for first metering a specific volume of wash liquid out of said mixing chamber, and means for detecting when an original volume in said mixing chamber is restored due to the addition of said additive.

13. The device of claim 10 wherein said means for determining the level of wash liquid in said mixing chamber includes means for sampling the pressure of the wash liquid exerted against a portion of said chamber.

14. An automatic washing machine having a tub to receive a load of clothes to be washed including an automatic liquid temperature control system comprising:

means for determining an initial temperature of said wash tub,

means for continuously determining an instantaneous temperature of the liquid entering said tub during an initial filling cycle,

means for combining succeeding instantaneous temperatures to achieve a current average temperature,

means for selecting a desired final temperature of the wash liquid in the tub,

means for calculating an adjusted final average temperature of the liquid being admitted to the tub to account for the thermal effect of the tub which will result in said desired final temperature of the wash liquid in the tub,

means for determining a final optimum liquid volume to be admitted to the tub,

means for controlling the temperature of the incoming liquid to result in a final average temperature of said final optimum liquid volume admitted to the tub to be approximately equal to the calculated adjusted final average temperature.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein said means for continuously determining an instantaneous temperature of the liquid entering said tub comprises a temperature transducer operably connected to a water fill line.

16. The device of claim 14 wherein means for selecting a desired final temperature of the wash liquid includes user operated controls.

17. The device of claim 14 wherein said means for controlling the temperature of the incoming liquid includes control means to operate incoming hot and cold water valves in cycles between on and off.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein said means for controlling the temperature of the incoming liquid includes control means that minimizes the number of water valve cycles to no more than four.

19. The device of claim 17 wherein said means for controlling the temperature of the incoming liquid includes control means that minimizes the number of water valve cycles to no more than three.

20. In a machine for liquid treatment of materials comprising:

a container for receiving said materials,

means for continuously monitoring liquid flow into said container to update a current volume value,

means for determining when an initial liquid depth in said container has been attained,

means for determining the volume of liquid absorbed by said materials at said initial liquid depth,

means for determining the optimum total volume of liquid required for treating said materials based on said volume of liquid absorbed at said initial liquid depth, and

means for introducing said total volume of liquid into said container.

21. In a machine for liquid treatment of materials comprising:

a container for receiving said materials,

means for determining an initial temperature of said container,

means for continuously monitoring the temperature of liquid flowing into said container to update a current average input temperature,

means for selecting a desired final temperature of liquid in said container,

means for determining the optimum total volume of liquid required for treating said materials,

means for determining an adjusted final average temperature of the liquid entering the container to compensate for the thermal effect of said container,

means for introducing said total volume of liquid into said container,

means for controlling the temperature of incoming liquid to result in a final average temperature of said total volume of liquid added to the container to be approximately equal to the determined adjusted final average temperature.

22. In a machine for liquid treatment of materials having a container for receiving said materials, a liquid control system comprising:

means for determining an initial temperature of said container,

means for selecting a desired final temperature of liquid in said container,

means for continuously monitoring liquid flow into said container to update a current volume value,

means for continuously monitoring the temperature of liquid flowing into said container to update a current average input temperature value,

means for determining when a preselected minimum liquid depth in said container has been attained,

means for determining the volume of liquid absorbed by said materials,

means for determining the optimum total volume of liquid required for treating said materials,

means for determining an adjusted final average temperature of the liquid entering the container to compensate for the thermal effect of said container,

means for introducing said total volume of liquid into said container,

means for controlling the temperature of the incoming liquid to result in a final average temperature of said total volume of liquid added to the container to be approximately equal to the determined adjusted final average temperature.

23. In a machine for liquid treatment of materials having a container for receiving said materials, a liquid control system comprising:

means for selecting at least one type of additive to be automatically dispensed into said container,

means for continuously monitoring liquid flow into said container to update a current volume value,

means for operating said machine in a liquid recirculation mode,

means for determining when a preselected minimum liquid depth in said container has been attained,

means for determining the volume of liquid absorbed by said materials,

means for determining the optimum total volume of liquid required for treating said materials,

a mixing chamber,

means directing said liquid into said mixing chamber during said recirculation mode, said mixing chamber having an outlet communicating with said container,

means for admitting a specific volume of the selected additives into said mixing chamber, said specific volume being determined based on said optimum total volume,

means for determining the level of liquid in said mixing chamber,

means for terminating said admitting of additives in response to the attainment of a preselected liquid level in said mixing chamber,

means for resuming said recirculation mode, and

means for introducing said total volume of liquid into said container.

24. In a machine for liquid treatment of materials having a container for receiving said materials, a liquid control system comprising:

means for determining an intitial temperature of said container,

means for selecting a desired final temperature of liquid in said container,

means for selecting at least one type of additive to be automatically dispensed.

means for continuously monitoring the temperature of liquid flowing into said container to update a current average input temperature value,

means for operating said machine in a recirculation mode,

means for determining the optimum total volume of liquid required for treating said materials,

a mixing chamber,

means for directing said liquid into said mixing chamber during said recirculation mode, said mixing chamber having an outlet communicating with said container,

means for determining the volume of wash liquid in said mixing chamber,

means for terminating said recirculation mode in response to the attainment of a preselected liquid volume in said mixing chamber,

means for admitting a specific volume of the selected additives into said mixing chamber, said specific volume being determined based on said optimum total volume,

means for resuming said recirculation mode,

means for determining an adjusted final average temperature of the liquid entering the container to compensate for the thermal effect of said container,

means for introducing said total volume of liquid into said container,

means for controlling the temperature of the incoming liquid to result in a final average temperature of said optimum total volume of liquid added to the container to be approximately equal to the determined adjusted final average temperature.

25. In a machine for liquid treatment of materials having a container for receiving said materials, a liquid control system comprising:

means for determining an initial temperature of said container,

means for selecting a desired final temperature of liquid in said container,

means for selecting at least one type of additive to be automatically dispensed,

means for continuously monitoring liquid flow into said container to update a current volume value,

means for continuously monitoring the temperature of liquid flowing into said container to update a current average input temperature value,

means for operating said machine in a recirculation mode,

a mixing chamber,

means for directing said liquid into said mixing chamber during said recirculation mode, said mixing chamber having an outlet communicating with said container,

means for determining the volume of wash liquid in said mixing chamber,

means for terminating said recirculation mode in response to the attainment of a preselected liquid volume in said mixing chamber,

means for admitting a specific volume of the selected additives into said mixing chamber,

means for resuming said recirculation mode,

means for determining when a preselected minimum liquid volume in said container has been attained,

means for determining the volume of liquid absorbed by said materials,

means for determining an adjusted final average temperature of the liquid entering the container to compensate for the thermal effect of said container,

means for introducing a total volume of liquid into said container,

means for controlling the temperature of the incoming liquid to result in a final average temperature of said total volume liquid added to the container to be approximately equal to the determined adjusted final average temperature.

26. A method of controlling the amount of liquid in a liquid treatment machine comprising:

placing a specific mass of material to be treated in a container in the machine,

filling the container with measured volumes of liquid until a predetermined initial depth of liquid in the container is achieved,

calculating the volume of liquid absorbed by said material at said predetermined initial depth,

calculating the optimum total volume of liquid required for treating said material based on said volume of liquid absorbed at said predetermined initial depth,

introducing additional liquid in an amount to achieve said optimum total volume.

27. A method of controlling the temperature of liquid in a liquid treatment machine comprising:

measuring an initial temperature of a liquid container in the machine,

selecting a desired final average temperature for liquid to be added to the container,

establishing a total volume of liquid to be introduced into said container,

determining an adjusted final average temperature of the liquid entering the container to compensate for the thermal effect of the container,

continuously sampling the temperature and flow rate of liquid flowing into said container and updating a current average temperature and current volume of said liquid,

adjusting the temperature of incoming liquid to result in a final average temperature of said total volume of liquid added to the container to be approximately equal to the determined adjusted final average temperature.

28. A method of automatically controlling the dispensing of additives into a liquid treatment machine comprising:

selecting at least one type of additive to be dispensed,

operating said machine in a recirculation mode,

circulating liquid in said machine through a mixing chamber,

terminating the recirculation mode,

metering a specific volume of liquid out of said mixing chamber,

dispensing a specific volume of said selected additives into said mixing chamber,

continuously measuring the level of liquid in the mixing chamber,

terminating the dispensing of said additives in response to the attainment of a preselected liquid volume in said mixing chamber,

resuming said recirculation of liquid through said mixing chamber,

whereby said additives are dispensed into said liquid treatment machine.

29. A method of controlling the liquid in a liquid treatment machine comprising:

measuring an initial temperature of a liquid container in the machine,

selecting a desired final average temperature for liquid to be added to the container,

selecting at least one type of additive to be dispensed,

placing a specific mass of material to be treated in the container,

filling the container with measured volumes of liquid until a predetermined volume of liquid in the container is achieved,

calculating the volume of liquid absorbed by said material when said predetermined volume is achieved,

establishing a total volume of liquid to be introduced into said container,

continuously sampling the temperature and flow rate of liquid flowing into said container and updating a current average temperature and a current volume of said liquid,

operating said machine in a recirculation mode to circulate liquid through a mixing chamber,

terminating said recirculation mode,

metering a specific volume of liquid out of said mixing chamber,

calculating a specific volume of said selected additives based on said total volume of liquid,

dispensing said specific volume of said selected additives into said mixing chamber, continuously measuring the level of liquid in the mixing chamber,

terminating the dispensing of said additives in response to the attainment of a preselected liquid level in said mixing chamber,

resuming said recirculation of liquid through said mixing chamber thereby flushing said additive into said container,

determining an adjusted final temperature of the liquid entering the container to compensate for the thermal effect of the container,

adjusting the temperature of incoming liquid to result in a final average temperature of said total volume of liquid added to the container to be approximately equal to the determined adjusted final average temperature when the total volume of liquid has been introduced into the container.