Spray rinse process for vertical axis automatic washer

• US 5,167,722 A
• Filed: 12/19/1991
• Issued: 12/01/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Pastryk, Jim J., Hardaway, Anthony H., Cur, Nihat O., Euler, John W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chaudhuri, Olik
• Assistant Examiner(s): OJAN, OURMAZD
• Application Number:
  US07/810,452
• Time in Patent Office: 348 Days
• Field of Search: 134/33, 134/34
• US Class Current: 134/33
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 35/006 for washing or rinsing only

Abstract

A method for rinsing a textile wash load is provided for use in a vertical axis washing machine in which a plurality of initial spray rinses are used in which the released water is discharged directly to drain and a plurality of subsequent spray rinses are used in which the water is recirculated through the spinning clothes load for a predetermined length of time before being discharged to drain. Enhanced detergent and soil removal with less water usage is achieved with this method.

Claims

1. A method of rinsing a textile wash load in a washing apparatus having a wash tub for receiving a wash liquid within which there is a rotatable wash zone including a peripheral wall, and means for rotating said peripheral wall and said wash load in said wash zone abut a generally vertical axis, comprising the sequential steps of:

(1) draining wash liquid from said wash zone following a washing portion of a wash cycle;

(2) spinning said wash load by rotating said peripheral wall at a predetermined speed that is sufficient to maintain the load against the peripheral wall;

(3) introducing an incremental amount of water into said wash zone such that it fully contacts said spinning wash load while maintaining said predetermined speed;

(4) discharging water released from said spinning wash load directly to drain while maintaining said predetermined speed;

(5) repeating steps 3 and 4 at least one time while maintaining said predetermined speed;

(6) introducing an incremental amount of water into said wash zone such that it fully contacts said spinning wash load while maintaining said predetermined speed;

(7) continuously passing said water through said spinning wash load by recirculation so that the cumulative amount passed through is greater than the amount necessary to saturate the wash load;

(8) discharging water released from said spinning wash load directly to drain to drain after a first predetermined time period.

(9) repeating steps 6, 7 and 8 a plurality of times.

2. A method of rinsing a wash load according to claim 1, wherein steps 3 and 4 are repeated only one time.

3. A method of rinsing a wash load according to claim 2, wherein steps 6, 7 and 8 are repeated in the range of 4 to 12 times.

4. A method of rinsing a wash load according to claim 3, wherein steps 6, 7 and 8 are repeated 5 times.

5. A method of rinsing a wash load according to claim 3, wherein said wash load and peripheral wall are rotated at a predetermined speed sufficient to cause a large portion of the water applied to the wash load to be extracted therefrom due to centrifugal forces.

6. A method of rinsing a wash load according to claim 1, wherein steps 6, 7 and 8 are repeated in the range of 4 to 12 times.

7. A method of rinsing a wash load according to claim 1, further comprising the step of continuously maintaining a fluid level in the wash tub below the bottom of said peripheral wall of said rotatable wash zone.

8. A method of rinsing a textile wash load in a washing apparatus having a rotatable wash zone including a peripheral wall, means for rotating said peripheral wall and said wash load in said wash zone about a generally vertical axis, comprising the sequential steps of:

(1) draining wash liquid from said wash zone following a washing portion of a wash cycle;

(2) spinning said wash load by rotating said peripheral wall at a predetermined speed that is sufficient to maintain the load against the peripheral wall;

(3) at least once, introducing an incremental amount of water into said wash zone such that it fully contacts said spinning wash load while maintaining said predetermined speed;

(4) discharging water released from said spinning wash load directly to drain;

(5) introducing an incremental amount of water into said wash zone such that it fully contacts said spinning wash load while maintaining said predetermined speed;

(6) continuously passing said water through said spinning wash load by recirculation so that the cumulative amount passed through is greater than the amount necessary to saturate the clothes load;

(7) discharging water released from said spinning wash load directly to drain to drain after a first predetermined time period;

(8) repeating steps 5, 6 and 7 a plurality of times.

9. A method of rinsing a wash load according to claim 8, wherein steps 3 and 4 are repeated only one time.

10. A method of rinsing a wash load according to claim 9, wherein steps 5, 6 and 7 are repeated in the range of 4 to 12 times.

11. A method of rinsing a wash load according to claim 10, wherein said wash load and peripheral wall are rotated at a speed sufficient to cause a large portion of the water applied to the wash load to be extracted therefrom due to centrifugal forces.

12. A method of rinsing a wash load according to claim 9, wherein steps 5, 6 and 7 are repeated in the range of 4 to 12 times.

13. A method of rinsing a wash load according to claim 8, wherein said wash load and peripheral wall are rotated at a speed sufficient to cause a large portion of the water applied to the wash load to be extracted therefrom due to centrifugal forces.

14. A method of rinsing a wash load according to claim 8, further comprising the steps of continuously maintaining a fluid level in the wash tub below the bottom of said peripheral wall of said rotatable wash zone.

15. An apparatus for rinsing a textile wash load, said apparatus comprising:

a wash tub for receiving a wash liquid, said wash tub having a drain means;

a rotatable wash basket within said wash tub, said basket including a peripheral wall;

means for rotating said peripheral wall and said wash load in said wash basket about a generally vertical axis at a speed that is sufficient to maintain said wash load against said peripheral wall;

a first spray means for introducing an incremental amount of water into said wash basket such that said water fully contacts and passes through said rotating wash load;

discharge means for selectively discharging water released from said rotating wash load directly to said drain means;

second spray means for selectively continuously passing said water through said rotating wash load so that the cumulative amount passed through is greater than the amount necessary to saturate the wash load;

control means for selectively operating said first spray means and said discharge means relatively simultaneously for a predetermined period of time, subsequently operating said second spray means and terminating operation of said discharge means for a predetermined period of time, and thereafter terminating operation of said second spray means and operating said discharge means for a predetermined period of time.

16. An apparatus for rinsing according to claim 15, further including a sump area formed in a portion of a bottom wall of said wash tub for collecting wash liquid released from said wash load, a pump communicating with said sump area and said second spray means and means for maintaining a fluid level in said sump area sufficient to present a constant supply of liquid to said pump while preventing said collected wash liquid from coming in contact with said basket while in said sump area.

17. A method of rinsing a textile wash load in a washing apparatus having a wash tube for receiving a wash liquid within which there is a rotatable wash zone including a peripheral wall, and means for rotating said peripheral wall and said wash load in said wash zone about a generally vertical axis, comprising the sequential steps of:

(1) draining wash liquid from said wash zone following a washing portion of a wash cycle;

(2) rotating said wash load and said peripheral wall at a speed that is sufficient to maintain the load against the peripheral wall;

(3) introducing an incremental amount of water into said wash zone such that it fully contacts said rotating wash load;

(4) continuously maintaining a fluid level in the wash tub below the bottom of said peripheral wall of said rotatable wash zone;

(5) continuously collecting and recirculating said incremental amount of water through said rotating wash load so that the cumulative amount passed through is greater than the amount necessary to saturate the wash load;

(6) discharging water released from said rotating wash load directly to drain after a first predetermined time period;

(7) repeating steps 3, 4, 5 and 6 a plurality of times.

18. A method of rinsing a wash load according to claim 17, wherein said wash load and peripheral wall are rotated at a speed sufficient to cause a large portion of the water applied to the wash load to be extracted therefrom due to centrifugal forces.

19. A method of rinsing a wash load according to claim 17, wherein prior to step 3 the following steps are sequentially undertaken:

(a) at least once, introducing an incremental amount of water into said wash zone such that it fully contacts said rotating wash load; and

(b) discharging water released from said rotating wash load directly to drain.

20. A method of rinsing a wash load according to claim 17, wherein said wash load and said peripheral wall are rotated, in step 2, at a predetermined speed and said predetermined speed is maintained during step 3.

21. An apparatus for rinsing a textile load comprising:

a wash tub for receiving a wash liquid within which there is a rotatable wash zone including a peripheral wall;

means for rotating said peripheral wall and said wash load in said wash zone about a generally vertical axis;

means for draining said wash liquid from said wash zone following a washing portion of a wash cycle;

means for rotating said wash load and said peripheral wall at a speed that is sufficient to maintain the load against the peripheral wall;

means for introducing an incremental amount of water into said wash zone such that it fully contacts said spinning wash load while maintaining said predetermined speed;

means for discharging water released from said spinning wash load directly to drain while maintaining said predetermined speed;

means for repeating said introducing and discharging at least one time while maintaining said predetermined speed;

means for introducing an incremental amount of water into said wash zone such that it fully contacts said rotating wash load;

means for continuously maintaining a fluid level in the wash tube below the bottom of said peripheral wall of said rotatable wash zone;

means for continuously passing said water through said rotating wash load so that the cumulative amount passed through is greater than the amount necessary to saturate the wash load;

means for discharging water released from said rotating wash load directly to drain after a first predetermined time period; and

means for repeating said introducing, maintaining, passing and discharging a plurality of times.

22. A method of rinsing a textile wash load in a washing apparatus having a wash tub for receiving a wash liquid within which there is a rotatable wash zone including a peripheral wall, and means for rotating said peripheral wall and said wash load in said wash zone about a generally vertical axis comprising the sequential steps of:

(1) draining wash liquid from said wash zone following a washing portion of a wash cycle;

(2) spinning said wash load by rotating said peripheral wall at a speed that is sufficient to maintain the load against the peripheral wall;

(3) introducing an incremental amount of water into said wash zone such that it fully contacts said spinning wash load;

(4) discharging water released from said spinning wash load directly to drain;

(5) repeating steps 3 and 4 at least one time;

(6) introducing an incremental amount of water into said wash zone such that it fully contacts said spinning wash load;

(7) continuously passing said water through said spinning wash load by recirculation so that the cumulative amount passed through is greater than the amount necessary to saturate the wash load;

(8) discharging water released from said spinning wash load directly to drain after a predetermined time period;

(9) repeating steps , 7 and 8 a plurality of times.