Battery powered dispenser

• US 5,046,336 A
• Filed: 11/09/1990
• Issued: 09/10/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alliance Laundry Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Ferguson, Christopher, Adamski, Joseph R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coe, Philip R.
• Application Number:
  US07/610,740
• Time in Patent Office: 305 Days
• Field of Search: 68/17 R, 68/207, 134/93, 134/99, 134/100, 134/101, 222/333, 222/648, 222/651, 222/652
• US Class Current: 68/17.00R
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/022 in a liquid state D06F39/024 takes precedence

Abstract

A clothes washing machine including a cabinet having therein a spin tub rotatably disposed within a stationary drain tub, and an additive liquid dispensing system comprised of a multi-load reservoir of additive liquid connected hydraulically through a pump to a liquid ejector nozzle. The pump preferably comprises a constant displacement pump coupled to an electrical drive motor for drawing additive liquid from the reservoir and expelling it from the nozzle at a uniform rate of flow. The motor is connected electrically through a control unit to a rechargeable battery which is connected electrically to the output of a trickle charge transformer unit. The control unit includes an adjustable element disposed for preselecting the quantity of additive liquid to be injected into the wash load, and an electrical timer element energized from the battery for activating the motor a length of time corresponding to the quantity of additive liquid selected. The nozzle preferably is disposed adjacent an opening in the spin tub for directing therein the additive liquid expelled from the nozzle.

Claims

1. A clothes washing machine comprising:

a cabinet;

tub means including a spin tub rotatably disposed within a stationary drain tub for processing a wash load in said cabinet;

an additive liquid dispensing means disposed in said cabinet for providing an injection of additive liquid into said wash load, said dispensing means including an electrical battery for serving as a source of direct current in the operation of said dispensing means; and

said spin tub being rotated from a source of alternating current.

2. A clothes washing machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said dispensing means includes a reservoir of additive liquid connected hydraulically to pumping means for drawing a quantity of the additive liquid from said reservoir and forcefully expelling it into said wash load.

3. A clothes washing machine as set forth in claim 2 wherein said pumping means includes a pump coupled to a motor which is connected through an electrical control means to said battery.

4. A clothes washing machine comprising:

a cabinet;

tub means including a spin tub rotatably disposed within a stationary drawing tub for processing a wash load in said cabinet;

an additive liquid dispensing means disposed in said cabinet for providing an injection of additive liquid into said wash load, said dispensing means including an electrical battery for serving as a source of direct current in the operation of said dispensing means and a reservoir of additive liquid connected hydraulically to pumping means for drawing a quantity of the additive liquid from said reservoir and forcefully expelling it into said wash load, said pumping means including a pump coupled to a motor which is connected through an electrical control means to said battery, wherein said battery comprises a rechargeable battery connected electrically to an output of trickle charge transformer means for storing electrical energy in said battery during off-duty intervals of said motor, said trickle charge transformer means having an input connected electrically to a source of alternating current.

5. A clothes washing machine as set forth in claim 4 wherein said pump is of the constant displacement type, and said electrical control means includes electrical timer means connected electrically to said rechargeable battery for energizing said motor a predetermined length of time.

6. A clothes washing machine as set forth in claim 5 wherein said electrical control means includes adjustment means for preselecting said quantity of additive liquid corresponding to said length of time said motor is energized.

7. A clothes washing machine as set forth in claim 6 wherein said additive liquid is liquid soap having a temperature sensitive viscosity.