Automatic water level control system for an automatic washer
First Claim
1. An automatic washing machine having a tub to receive washing liquid and a load of clothes to be washed therein including a vertical axis agitator and an automatic liquid fill control system comprising:
- supply means for supplying washing liquid to said tub;
means for determining when an initial liquid depth has been achieved in said tub;
means for oscillating said agitator when said initial liquid depth has been attained;
means for sensing rotational movement of said tube caused by oscillation of said agitator;
means for determining when a predetermined change in successive amplitudes of rotational movement of said tub has occurred; and
means for terminating the supply of liquid to said tub after determination of said predetermined change in successive amplitudes of rotational movement of said tub.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An automatic water level control is provided which utilizes a single pneumatic pressure sensor for detecting minimum water level, maximum water level and tub motion during agitation. Relative tub movement change during agitation and filling is used to determine an optimum water level for washing. A horizontal portion of the sensor fills with water during the tub filling process and provides the arrangement for detecting tub motion. A microprocessor stores and compares successive peak pressure signals to determine relative changes in tub motion amplitude.
-
Citations
18 Claims
-
1. An automatic washing machine having a tub to receive washing liquid and a load of clothes to be washed therein including a vertical axis agitator and an automatic liquid fill control system comprising:
-
supply means for supplying washing liquid to said tub; means for determining when an initial liquid depth has been achieved in said tub; means for oscillating said agitator when said initial liquid depth has been attained; means for sensing rotational movement of said tube caused by oscillation of said agitator; means for determining when a predetermined change in successive amplitudes of rotational movement of said tub has occurred; and means for terminating the supply of liquid to said tub after determination of said predetermined change in successive amplitudes of rotational movement of said tub. - View Dependent Claims (4)
-
-
2. An automatic washing machine having a tub receive washing liquid and a load of clothes to be washed therein including a vertical axis agitator and an automatic liquid fill control system comprising:
-
supply means for supplying washing liquid to said tub; means for determining when an initial liquid depth has been achieved in said tub; means for oscillating said agitator when said initial liquid depth has been attained; means for sensing rotational movement of said tub caused by oscillation of said agitator; means for determining when a predetermined characteristic of rotational movement of said tub has occurred; and means for terminating the supply of liquid to said tub after determination of said predetermined characteristic of rotational movement of said tub;
said means for determining an initial liquid depth and said means for sensing rotational movement comprise a single pneumatic pressure sensor. - View Dependent Claims (3)
-
-
5. An automatic washing machine having a tub to receive washing liquid and a load of clothes to be washed therein including a vertical axis agitator and an automatic liquid fill control system comprising:
-
a pneumatic sensor comprising a conduit having one end exposed to the interior of said tub and an opposite end coupled to a pressure transducer, a portion of said conduit being disposed relatively horizontally on said tub below a preselected minimum water level, such that wash liquid will fill said horizontal portion and will move horizontally relative to said horizontal portion in response to oscillatory movement of said tub about said vertical axis; and a control means for detecting said horizontal movement of said wash liquid in said conduit and controlling a supply of wash liquid directed into said tub in response to a predetermined characteristic of said movement. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. An automatic washing machine having a tub to receive washing liquid and a load of clothes to be washed therein including a vertical axis agitator and an automatic liquid fill control system comprising:
-
means for continuously sensing the amplitude of rotational movement of said tub; means for comparing successive amplitudes to determine whether said amplitudes are increasing or decreasing; and means for controlling a supply of wash liquid directed into said tub in response to a predetermined characteristic of said comparison of successive amplitudes. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. An automatic washing machine having a tub to receive washing liquid and a load of clothes to be washed therein including a vertical axis agitator and an automatic liquid fill control system comprising:
-
a single sensor to detect a minimum water level in said tub, a maximum water level in said tub and tub movement about said vertical axis; and means for controlling a supply of wash liquid directed into said tub in response to a predetermined characteristic of sensed tub movement. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. An automatic washing machine having a tub to receive washing liquid and a load of clothes to be washed therein including a vertical axis agitator and an automatic liquid fill control system comprising:
-
means for sensing relative changes in amplitude of tub movement during a fill and agitate step, and means for terminating the filling operation upon sensing a predetermined relative change. - View Dependent Claims (18)
-
Specification