High efficiency water valve for washing appliance

• US 6,792,776 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2001
• Issued: 09/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Maytag Corporation (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Maytag Corporation (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Inventors: Merkle, Scott A., Bruntz, Jordan S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stinson, Frankie L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Perrin, Joseph L.
• Application Number:
  US10/056,864
• Publication Number:
  US 20030079507A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 Days
• Field of Search: 68/120.3, 68/122.3, 682/07, 137/606, 137/607, 134/57.D, 134/58.D
• US Class Current: 68/12.03
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/088 Liquid supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87692 With common valve operator

Abstract

A high efficiency water valve member for a washing appliance includes a hot water valve, a cold water valve, and a low cold water valve. Associated with the hot water valve, the cold water valve, and the low cold water valve are a hot prime mover, a cold prime mover, and a low cold prime mover. These prime movers move their respective valves between their open and closed positions. When filling for a hot wash the hot prime mover and the low cold prime mover are energized to open the hot water valve and the low cold water valve. The cold water valve remains closed. For warm washes all three solenoids are activated to open all three valves. For cold washes the cold prime mover and the low cold prime mover are energized either together or alone to open either or both of the cold water valve and the low cold water valve.

Claims

1. A water valve for introducing water of different temperatures to a washing appliance, comprising:

a valve body having a hot water inlet and a cold water inlet adapted to be connected to separate sources of hot and cold water respectively;

said valve body having an outlet;

said valve body having a hot water valve, a cold water valve, and a low cold water valve

said hot water valve being movable from an open position for dalivering hot water from said hot water inlet to said rnltlet to a closed position for preventing delivezy of hot water from said hot water inlet to said outlet;

said cold water valve being movable from an open position for delivering cold water from said cold water inlet to said outlet at a first rate to a closed position preventing dalivery of cold water from said cold water inlet to said outlet;

said low cold water valve being movable from an open position for delivering cold water from said cold water inlet to said outlet at a second rate less than said first rate to a closed position preventing delivery of cold water from said cold water inlet to said outlet;

a hot prime mover, a cold prime mover, and a low cold prime mover connected to said hot, cold, and low cold water vklves respectively for independently moving said hot, cold, and low cold water valves between their respective open and closed positions;

a controller for actuating said hot, cold, and low cold prime movers independently of one another to selectively move move hot, cold, and low cold valves to at least the following conditions;

a. said hot and low cold valves being in said open positions and said cold valve being in said closed position to cause a first temjierature of water to exit from said outlet;

b. said hot, cold and low cold valves all being in said open position to cause a second temperature of water lower than said first temperature to exit from said outlet;

c. said cold and low cold valves being in said open positions and said hot valve being in said closed position to cause a third temperature of water lower than said first and second temperatures to exit from said outlet;

said hot valve, said cold valve, and said low cold valve have flow rates in the following ratios;

1.0 units for said hot valve, 2.08 to 3.64 units for said cold valve and 0.25 to 0.36 units for said low cold valve.

2. A water valve according to claim 1 wherein said hot prime mover, said cold prime mover, and said low cold prime mover comprise solenoids.

3. A water valve according to claim 1 wherein said hot water source is connected to hot water at up to 135 degrees F and said cold water source is connected to cold water at about 60 degrees F, said first temperature is between 115 and 120 degrees F, said second temperature is between 75 and 82.5 degrees F, and said third temperature is approximately 60 degrees F.

4. A device for delivering water of different temperatures to a washing appliance, said devpce comprising:

a valve assembly comprising a hot water inlet, a cold water inlet, a water outlet, a hot water valve between said hot water inlet and said water outlet, a first cold water valve between said cold water inlet and said water outlet, and a second cold water valve between said cold water inlet and said water outlet;

a first source of hot water at up to 135 degrees F. connected to the hot water inlet;

a second source of cold water at aDDroximatelv 60 degrees F. connected to the cold water inlet;

said hot water valve being movable from a closed position preventing the passage of the hot water from said hot water inlet to said water outlet to an open position permitting the passage of the hot water from said hot water inlet to said water outlet at a first flow rate;

said first cold water valve being movable from a closed position preventing passage of the cold water from said cold water inlet to said water outlet to an open position permitting the cold water to flow from said cold water inlet to said water outlet at a second flow rate;

said second cold water valve being movable from a closed position preventing passage of the cold water from said cold water inlet to said water outlet to an open position permitting the cold water to flow from said cold water inlet to said water outlet at a third flow rate less than said second flow rate;

a control system connected to said hot water valve, said first cold water valve, and said second cold water valve for causing the following conditions;

a. a hot water condition wherein said hot water valve and said first cold water valve are in said open positions and said second cold water valve is in said closed position;

b. a warm water condition wherein all of said hot water valve, said first cold water valve, and said second cold water valve are in said open positions;

c. a cold water condition wherein said hot water valve is in said closed position and one or both of said first and second cold water valves are in said open position;

said hot valve, said cold valve and said low cold valve having flow rate ratios relative to one another that cause said first temperature to be between 115 and 120 degrees F. said second temperature to be between 75 and 100 degrees F, and said third temperature to be approximately 60 degrees F, wherein said hot valve, said cold valve, and said low cold valve have flow rates in the following ratios;

1.0 units for said hot valve, 2.08 to 3.64 units for said cold valve and 0.25 to 0.36 units for said low cold valve.

5. A device according to claim 4 and further comprising a washing tub connected to said water outlet for receiving water therefrom.

6. A device according to claim 5 wherein said washing tub is part of a clothes washing machine.