Slit valve for automatic washer

• US 5,249,441 A
• Filed: 01/02/1992
• Issued: 10/05/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Farrington, Sheryl L., Pastryk, Jim J., Singh, Devinder, Euler, John W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coe, Philip R.
• Application Number:
  US07/816,167
• Time in Patent Office: 642 Days
• Field of Search: 68/23.4, 210/147, 8/158
• US Class Current: 68/23.4
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 35/006 for washing or rinsing only
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 37/12 adapted for rotation or oscillation about a vertical axis

Abstract

In an automatic washer including a perforate wash basket, valves are provided which restrict the fluid flow through the perforations during portions of the wash cycle when the basket is stationary or slowly rotating or oscillating, but permit extraction and fluid flow therethrough during higher spin speeds. These valves may take the form of individual elastomeric sheet-like components which are attached around the basket, or they may be grouped into functional units occupying larger areas, such as bands or sheets of elastomeric material. The valve openings are formed as slits or cuts in the elastomeric material.

Claims

1. A washing machine comprising the following:

a wash tub;

a wash basket disposed in said wash tub, said wash basket including a peripheral wall and being adapted to receive wash fluid;

a plurality of perforations formed in said peripheral wall of said wash basket;

a sheet-like elastomeric member sized to seal said plurality of perforations;

a plurality of apertures formed in said elastomeric member which are normally closed, yet which open upon a sufficient fluid pressure being applied to one side of said elastomeric member, to permit passage of a fluid therethrough.

2. A valve according to claim 1, wherein each of said apertures comprises at least one slit in said elastomeric member.

3. A valve according to claim 2, wherein each said apertures comprises a plurality of slits.

4. A washing machine comprising the following:

a wash tub;

a wash basket disposed in said wash tub, said wash basket including a peripheral wall and being adapted to receive wash fluid;

a plurality of perforations formed in said peripheral wall of said wash basket;

an elastomeric member overlying said plurality of perforations; and

a plurality of apertures formed in said elastomeric member, a number of said apertures being arranged and positioned substantially over at least some of said perforations in said wash basket.

5. A washer according to claim 4, wherein said elastomeric member comprises a band of elastomeric material extending circumferentially around said peripheral wall of said wash basket.

6. A washer according to claim 4, wherein said elastomeric member comprises a sheet of elastomeric material.

7. A washer according to claim 4, wherein each of said apertures comprises at least one slit in said elastomeric member.

8. A washer according to claim 7, wherein each of said apertures comprises a plurality of slits.

9. In a washing machine having a rotatable wash basket for receiving fluid and fabric to be washed in said fluid, said basket having a peripheral wall with at least one perforation therein to allow for the passage of fluid therethrough, a valve for said aperture comprising:

a sheet-like member sized to seal said at least one perforation;

means for retaining said member on said peripheral wall;

said member having at least one slit-like aperture therethrough which can be positioned to overlie said at least one peripheral wall perforation;

said member having sufficient elasticity to maintain said at least one slit-like aperture closed under static conditions, but to permit said member to flex and thus open said at least one slit-like aperture when fluid is contained in said wash basket and said peripheral wall is rotated above a predetermined rotational speed is causing said fluid to press against said member under the influence of a threshold level of centrifugal force.

10. A valve according to claim wherein said at least one slit-like aperture comprises a plurality of slit-like apertures, and said sheet-like member comprises a band of elastomeric material extending circumferentially around said peripheral wall of said wash basket.

11. In a washing machine having a rotatable wash basket for receiving fluid and fabric to be washed in said fluid, said basket having a peripheral wall with a plurality of perforations therein to allow for the passage of fluid therethrough, a valve is provided at each of said perforations, said valves are formed from an elastomeric material including a slit-like aperture, a method of selectively retaining fluid in said wash basket, said method comprising the following steps:

introducing fluid into said wash basket;

maintaining said valves in a closed condition to retain said fluid within said wash basket; and

actuating said valves to an open position to permit said fluid to flow out of said wash basket by rotating said wash basket above a predetermined rotational speed, thereby subjecting said valves to centrifugal force sufficient to exert fluid pressure on said valve and causing said elastomeric material to flex and thus open said slit-like aperture.