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Overflow protection for a washing machine

  • US 6,125,870 A
  • Filed: 06/04/1996
  • Issued: 10/03/2000
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/04/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An improvement for an overflow protector of a control circuit of a liquid supply portion of a fillable tub that interrupts a supply of liquid to the tub in response to a sensed failure of the control circuit, regardless of a liquid level of the fillable tub, the improvement comprising:

  • an electrically controlled liquid valve;

    a liquid level sensing circuit;

    a controller operatively coupled to the liquid level sensing circuit and the electrically controlled liquid valve, the controller emitting a regularly varying control signal that is operatively received by the liquid level sensing circuit;

    the liquid level sensing circuit emitting a regularly varying sensor signal indicative of a level of liquid in the tub in response to the regularly varying control signal; and

    a lockout circuit operatively coupled to the liquid level sensing circuit and the electrically controlled liquid valve, the lockout circuit interrupting power to the liquid valve in response to an interruption in the regularly varying sensor signal, the presence of the regularly varying sensor signal being indicative of the proper operation of both the liquid level sensing circuit and the controller.

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