Washing machine fill control system
First Claim
1. A washing machine for cleansing articles in a cleansing fluid, the machine comprising:
- a rotatable basket adapted to receive the articles to be cleansed, a rotatable agitator device further being disposed within said basket to effect movement of cleansing fluid and articles within said basket;
a drive system coupled to respectively drive said rotatable basket and said agitator device;
a cleansing fluid supply system disposed to provide said cleansing fluid to said basket in a clothes-positioning spray pattern; and
a closed loop water level controller responsive to the load of articles disposed in said basket to be cleansed, said water level controller being coupled to said cleansing fluid supply system and said drive system and adapted to provide an optimal fill level of cleansing fluid in said basket, said controller comprising a washer load determining system adapted to control rotation cycles of said agitator to displace said articles to be cleansed and to process information derived therefrom so as to determine said optimal fill level;
said cleansing fluid supply system further comprising a fluid fill funnel being disposed in a spraydown position with respect to said basket so as to provide said clothes-positioning spray pattern such that the articles in said basket are disposed so as to be displaced by said agitator during agitator rotation cycles to determine the load of said articles in the basket.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An energy efficient washing machine includes a cleansing fluid supply system, a washer basket having an agitator device for displacing the articles to be cleansed within the basket, and a closed loop water level controller coupled to the cleansing fluid supply system and to the drive system for the agitator. The fluid supply system includes a fill nozzle designed to provide a clothes-positioning spray pattern that serves to maintain the articles evenly distributed in the basket to enables the load sensing systems of the closed loop adaptive water level controller to function to accurately provide the optimal water level for cleansing. To accomplish this positioning of the articles to be cleansed, the fluid fill nozzle typically provides a fan discharge of fluid passing therethrough and is disposed at a cant angle with respect to the direction of rotation of the basket such that the fan discharge covers an area between the agitator assembly and the sidewall of the basket.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A washing machine for cleansing articles in a cleansing fluid, the machine comprising:
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a rotatable basket adapted to receive the articles to be cleansed, a rotatable agitator device further being disposed within said basket to effect movement of cleansing fluid and articles within said basket; a drive system coupled to respectively drive said rotatable basket and said agitator device; a cleansing fluid supply system disposed to provide said cleansing fluid to said basket in a clothes-positioning spray pattern; and a closed loop water level controller responsive to the load of articles disposed in said basket to be cleansed, said water level controller being coupled to said cleansing fluid supply system and said drive system and adapted to provide an optimal fill level of cleansing fluid in said basket, said controller comprising a washer load determining system adapted to control rotation cycles of said agitator to displace said articles to be cleansed and to process information derived therefrom so as to determine said optimal fill level; said cleansing fluid supply system further comprising a fluid fill funnel being disposed in a spraydown position with respect to said basket so as to provide said clothes-positioning spray pattern such that the articles in said basket are disposed so as to be displaced by said agitator during agitator rotation cycles to determine the load of said articles in the basket. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 16)
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9. A vertical axis washing machine comprising:
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a rotatable basket adapted to receive the articles to be cleansed, a rotatable agitator device further being disposed within said basket to effect movement of water and articles within said basket; a drive system coupled to said rotatable basket and said agitator device; a water supply system disposed to provide water to said basket in a clothes-positioning spray pattern; and a closed loop water level controller responsive to the load of articles disposed in said basket to be cleansed, said water level controller being coupled to said water supply system and said drive system and adapted to provide an optimal fill level of water in said basket, said controller comprising an initial fill estimation system and a final fill determination system; said drive system being responsive to said initial fill determination system so as to spin said basket prior to the addition of water to said basket; said drive system further being responsive to said final fill determination system so as to rotate said agitator in rotation cycles of said agitator following the addition of water to said basket to displace said articles and water in said basket and to process agitator work information generated during said rotation cycles so as to determine said optimal fill level; said water supply system further comprising a fluid fill funnel being disposed in a spraydown position with respect to said basket so as to provide said clothes-positioning spray pattern such that the water urges the articles in said basket to be distributed across the bottom of said basket. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification