Clothes washer temperature control systems and methods

• US 7,841,217 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2003
• Issued: 11/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Lueckenbach, William H., Johnson, Ronald Miles, Kedjierski, Fred Dennis, Graven, Erick Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Barr; Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): RIGGLEMAN, JASON PAUL
• Application Number:
  US10/249,229
• Publication Number:
  US 20040187224A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,808 Days
• Field of Search: 68/122.3
• US Class Current: 68/12.23
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2101/00 User input for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/16 Washing liquid temperature
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/04 from separate hot and cold water inlets
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/36 of washing
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/08 Control circuits or arrangements thereof
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/088 Liquid supply arrangements

Abstract

A washing machine wherein a cold water valve is opened during a hot fill operation is described. In one embodiment, the washing machine comprises a cabinet, a tub and basket mounted within the cabinet, and an agitation element mounted within the basket. The machine also includes a cold water valve for controlling flow of cold water to the tub, and a hot water valve for controlling flow of hot water to the tub. A control coupled to the cold water valve controls opening and closing of the cold water valve during the hot fill operation.

Claims

1. A washing machine comprising:

a cabinet;

a tub and a basket mounted within said cabinet;

an agitation element mounted within said basket;

a cold water valve for controlling a flow of cold water to said tub, wherein said cold water valve is configured to be periodically pulsed between an open position and a closed position based on a speed of a clock;

a hot water valve for controlling a flow of hot water to said tub; and

a control coupled to said cold water valve to pulse said cold water valve between the open position and the closed position during a hot fill operation, wherein said hot water valve is configured to remain open during the pulsing of said cold water valve, and said control is configured to control said cold water valve such that said cold water valve operates independent of a temperature of water delivered to said washing machine, such that a mixture of hot water and cold water is channeled to said tub when the cold water valve is in the open position and only hot water is channeled to said tub when the cold water valve is in the closed position during the hot fill operation, said control comprising a microprocessor coupled to a memory storing executable instructions that, when executed by the microprocessor, directs the control to;

open said cold water valve to the open position for a first time interval;

close said cold water valve to the closed position after the first time interval has elapsed and increment a counter;

compare a value of said counter to a maximum number of valve actuations;

if the value is less than the maximum number of valve actuations, delay for a second time interval and open said cold water valve to the open position for the first time interval; and

if the value is equal to the maximum number of valve actuations, complete the hot fill operation using only hot water.

2. A washing machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said control energizes said cold water valve in accordance with one of a fixed duty cycle and a variable duty cycle.

3. A washing machine comprising:

a cabinet;

a tub and a basket mounted within said cabinet;

an agitation element mounted within said basket;

a cold water valve for controlling a flow of cold water to said tub, wherein said cold water valve is configured to be periodically pulsed between an open position and a closed position based on a speed of a clock;

a hot water valve for controlling a flow of hot water to said tub; and

a control coupled to said cold water valve to pulse said cold water valve between the open position and the closed position during a hot fill operation, wherein said hot water valve is configured to remain open during the pulsing of said cold water valve, and said control is configured to control said cold water valve such that said cold water valve operates independent of a temperature of water delivered to said washing machine, such that a mixture of hot water and cold water is channeled to said tub when the cold water valve is in the open position and only hot water is channeled to said tub when the cold water valve is in the closed position during the hot fill operation, said control comprising a microprocessor coupled to a memory storing executable instructions that, when executed by the microprocessor, directs the control to;

open said cold water valve to the open position for a first time interval;

close said cold water valve to the closed position after the first time interval has elapsed and increment a counter;

compare a value of said counter to a maximum number of valve actuations;

if the value is less than the maximum number of valve actuations, delay for a second time interval and open said cold water valve to the open position for the first time interval; and

if the value is equal to the maximum number of valve actuations, complete the hot fill operation using only hot water.

4. A washing machine in accordance with claim 3 wherein said control energizes said cold water valve in accordance with one of a fixed duty cycle and a variable duty cycle.