Valve assembly for use with a washing appliance

• US 9,145,976 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2010
• Issued: 09/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Tarr, Ronald Scott, Watson, Eric K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barr, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shahinian, Levon J
• Application Number:
  US12/952,971
• Publication Number:
  US 20120060876A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,771 Days
• Field of Search: 134/94.1, 134/186, 134/198, 134/56.R, 134/56.D, 134/57.D, 134/58.D, 682/07, 68/121.9
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0023 Water filling A47L15/4244 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4217 Fittings for water supply, e.g. valves or plumbing means to connect to cold or warm water lines, aquastops
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/06 Water supply, circulation or discharge information water level A47L2401/09; water pressure or flow rate A47L2401/14
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/12 Water temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/01 Water supply, e.g. opening or closure of the water inlet valve
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/18 Washing liquid level
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/52 related to electric heating means, e.g. temperature or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/02 Water supply
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/28 Electric heating
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/08 Control circuits or arrangements thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/0675 Electromagnet aspects, e.g. electric supply therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 37/005 for measuring fluid parameters F16K37/0033 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0635 by action on throttling means G05D7/0688, G05D7/0694 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7737 Thermal responsive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7761 Electrically actuated valve

Abstract

A valve assembly for use with a washing appliance having a main controller includes a valve that is moveable between a first position that prevents water from flowing through a supply line and a second position that allows water to flow through the supply line. A control assembly separate from the main controller is configured to control the valve to move between the first position and the second position. The control assembly includes a flow sensor configured to output a signal representing an amount of water flowing through the supply line and a control unit configured to control the valve assembly based on the output signal of the flow sensor.

Claims

1. A valve assembly for use with a washing appliance comprising a tub to receive only hot water and a main controller, said valve assembly comprising:

a direct acting two-way hot water valve moveable between a first position that prevents hot water from flowing through a supply line and a second position that allows hot water to flow through the supply line to the tub; and

a control assembly configured to control said direct acting two way hot water valve to move between the first position and the second position to deliver a volume of hot water per fill cycle, said control assembly comprising;

a flow sensor configured to output a signal representing an amount of hot water flowing through the supply line;

a temperature sensor configured to measure a supply hot water temperature to the appliance; and

,

a control unit configured to control said direct acting two way hot water valve to deliver a decreased volume of hot water per fill cycle if the measured supply hot water temperature is above a threshold temperature.

2. A valve assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said valve, said flow sensor, and said control unit are positioned within a common housing separate from the main controller of the washing appliance.

3. A valve assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said flow sensor and said control unit are positioned within a housing separate from the main controller of the washing appliance, said valve positioned outside of the housing.

4. A valve assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said control assembly further comprises:

a power supply configured to receive power from the main controller of the washing appliance; and

a power switch communicatively coupled to said power supply, said control unit, and said valve, wherein said power switch is configured to supply power to said valve from said power supply based on a signal from said control unit.

5. A valve assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said flow sensor comprises a flowmeter configured to output a pulsed signal to said control unit, wherein the pulsed signal is indicative of an amount of hot water flowing through said flowmeter, and wherein said control unit is configured to move said direct acting two way hot water valve to the first position after said control unit counts a pre-determined number of pulses in the pulsed signal.

6. A washing appliance, comprising:

a main controller;

a tub to receive only hot water; and

a valve assembly comprising;

a direct acting two way hot water valve moveable between a first position that prevents hot water from flowing through a supply line and a second position that allows hot water to flow through the supply line to said tub;

a flow sensor configured to output a signal representing an amount of hot water flowing through the supply line;

a temperature sensor configured to measure a supply hot water temperature to the appliance; and

a control unit configured to control said direct acting two way hot water valve to move between the first position and the second position to deliver a volume of hot water per fill cycle, the control unit configured to control said direct acting two way hot water valve to deliver a decreased volume of hot water per fill cycle if the measured supply hot water temperature is above a threshold temperature.

7. A washing appliance in accordance with claim 6, wherein said control unit is positioned remotely from said main controller.

8. A washing appliance in accordance with claim 6, wherein, said valve, said flow sensor, and said control unit are positioned within a common housing separate from said main controller.

9. A washing appliance in accordance with claim 6, wherein said flow sensor and said control unit are positioned within a housing separate from said main controller, said valve positioned outside of the housing.

10. A washing appliance in accordance with claim 6, wherein said flow sensor comprises a flowmeter configured to output a pulsed signal to said control unit, wherein the pulsed signal is indicative of an amount of hot water flowing through said flowmeter, and wherein said control unit is configured to move said valve to the first position after said control unit counts a pre-determined number of pulses in the pulsed signal.

11. A valve assembly for use with a washing appliance comprising a main controller, said valve assembly comprising:

a direct acting two way valve configured to couple in flow communication with only a hot water supply line, said valve moveable between a first position that prevents hot water from flowing through the supply line and a second position that allows hot water to flow through the supply line; and

a control assembly separate from the main controller and configured to control said direct acting two way valve to move between the first position and the second position to deliver a volume of hot water per fill cycle, said control assembly comprising;

a flow sensor configured to output a signal representing an amount of hot water flowing through the supply line;

a power supply configured to couple said control unit to the main controller;

a temperature sensor configured to measure a supply hot water temperature to the appliance; and

a control unit configured to control said direct acting two way valve to deliver a decreased volume of hot water per fill cycle if the measured supply hot water temperature is above a threshold temperature.

12. A valve assembly in accordance with claim 11, wherein said power supply is configured to receive alternating current mains from the main controller and supply logic voltage to said control unit.

13. A valve assembly in accordance with claim 11, wherein said power supply comprises:

an input circuit including a first diode, a second diode, a first capacitor, a second capacitor, and at least one resistor; and

an output circuit coupled to said input circuit and including said first capacitor, wherein said input circuit is configured to charge said first capacitor and said output circuit is configured to discharge said first capacitor.