Sump for an automatic washer
First Claim
1. An automatic washing machine comprising:
- an imperforate wash tub for receiving wash liquid and having a generallycylindrical side wall and a bottom wall;
a wash basket positioned within said wash tub defining a wash zone, said washbasket having a bottom wall adjacent to said tub bottom wall;
a pump positioned below said wash tub and communicating at a suction inletthereof with said wash zone;
a collection zone between said wash zone and said pump, comprising a sump area formed in a portion of said bottom wall of said wash tub and having a sloping bottom wall with an outlet opening at a lowest position which communicates with said suction inlet of said pump, spaced a sufficient distance from said wash basket and having a sufficient capacity such that it can collect a sufficient amount of wash liquid therein to present a constant supply of wash liquid to said pump while preventing said collected wash liquid from coming into contact with said basket while in said collection zone; and
means for maintaining a fluid level in said pump area sufficient to present a constant supply of wash liquid to said pump while preventing said collected wash liquid from coming in contact with said basket while in said collection zone.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An automatic washer having an improved sump formed in a bottom wall of the wash tube. The sump acts a collection zone for wash liquid and is spaced a sufficient distance from the wash basket and has sufficient capacity such that it can collect sufficient amount of wash liquid therein to present a constant supply of wash liquid to the pump while preventing the collected wash liquid from coming in contact with the basket while in the collection zone. The sump has a rear wall which forms a chord of the tube and a front wall which is flush with the circumferential wall of the tube. The sump also has a sloping bottom wall which communicates at a lowest portion thereof with the suction inlet of the pump, which the sump overlies.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An automatic washing machine comprising:
- an imperforate wash tub for receiving wash liquid and having a generally
cylindrical side wall and a bottom wall;
a wash basket positioned within said wash tub defining a wash zone, said washbasket having a bottom wall adjacent to said tub bottom wall;
a pump positioned below said wash tub and communicating at a suction inletthereof with said wash zone; a collection zone between said wash zone and said pump, comprising a sump area formed in a portion of said bottom wall of said wash tub and having a sloping bottom wall with an outlet opening at a lowest position which communicates with said suction inlet of said pump, spaced a sufficient distance from said wash basket and having a sufficient capacity such that it can collect a sufficient amount of wash liquid therein to present a constant supply of wash liquid to said pump while preventing said collected wash liquid from coming into contact with said basket while in said collection zone; and means for maintaining a fluid level in said pump area sufficient to present a constant supply of wash liquid to said pump while preventing said collected wash liquid from coming in contact with said basket while in said collection zone.
- an imperforate wash tub for receiving wash liquid and having a generally
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2. An automatic washing machine comprising:
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an imperforate wash tub for receiving wash liquid and having a generally cylindrical side wall and a bottom wall; a wash basket positioned within said wash tub defining a wash zone, said wash basket having a bottom wall adjacent to said tub bottom wall; a pump positioned below said wash tub and communicating at a suction inlet thereof with said wash zone; and a collection zone between said wash zone and said pump, spaced a sufficient distance from said wash basket and having a sufficient capacity such that it can collect a sufficient amount of wash liquid therein to present a constant supply of wash liquid to said pump while preventing said collected wash liquid from coming in contact with said basket while in said collection zone; said collection zone comprising a sump area formed in a portion of said bottom wall of said wash tub; wherein said sump area has a rear wall which defines a chord of said tub and has a front wall which is flush with said cylindrical wall of said tub.
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3. An automatic washing machine comprising:
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an imperforate wash tub for receiving wash liquid and having a generally cylindrical side wall and a bottom wall; a wash basket positioned within said wash tub defining a wash zone, said wash basket having a bottom wall adjacent to said tub bottom wall; a pump positioned below said wash tub and communicating at a suction inlet thereof with said wash zone; a collection zone between said wash zone and said pump, spaced a sufficient distance from said wash basket and having a sufficient capacity such that it can collect a sufficient amount of wash liquid therein to present a constant supply of wash liquid to said pump while preventing said collected wash liquid from coming in contact with said basket while in said collection zone; said collection zone comprising a sump area formed in a portion of said bottom wall of said wash tub; wherein said sump area has a sloping bottom wall with an outlet opening at a lowest position which communicates with said suction inlet of said pump. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An automatic washing machine comprising:
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an imperforate wash tub for receiving wash liquid and having a generally cylindrical side wall and a bottom wall; a wash basket positioned within said wash tub defining a wash zone, said wash basket having a generally cylindrical side wall adjacent to said tub side wall and a bottom wall adjacent to said tub bottom wall; a pump positioned below said wash tub and communicating at a suction inlet thereof with said wash zone; and a sump area formed in a portion of said bottom wall of said wash tub, overlying said pump, and having a rear wall which defines a chord of said tub, a front wall which is flush with said cylindrical wall of said tub, and a sloping bottom wall with an outlet opening at a lowest position which communicates with said suction inlet of said pump, said sump area being spaced a sufficient distance from said wash basket and having a sufficient capacity such that it can collect a sufficient amount of wash liquid therein to present a constant supply of wash liquid to said pump while preventing said collected wash liquid from coming in contact with said basket while in said sum area. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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- 11. An imperforate wash tub for receiving wash liquid in an automatic wash machine having a generally cylindrical side wall and a bottom wall with a sump formed in a portion of said bottom wall, said sump having a rear wall defining a chord of said tub, a front wall which is flush with said cylindrical wall, and a sloping bottom wall.
Specification