Air-controlled liquid dispensing mechanism for washing machines

Claim 1

IN A WASHING MACHINE HAVING A WASHING RECEPTACLE; THE COMBINATION COMPRISING A WASHING MACHINE LIQUID ADDITIVE RESERVOIR; A VACUUM-OPERATED MEANS FOR DISPENSING RESERVOIR LIQUID TO THE WASHING RECEPTACLE; A VACUUM PUMP CONNECTED WITH THE VACUUM-OPERATED MEANS; AND TIMEROPERATED VALVE MEANS FOR PERMITTING AND HALTING THE TRANSFER OF AIR FROM THE VACUUM-OPERATED MEANS TO THE PUMP AT A PREDETERMINED TIMES IN THE WASHING MACHINE CYCLE; SAID VACUUM-OPERATED MEANS COMPRISING A CASHING HAVING A MOVABLE WALL THEREON FORMING A VENTABLE VACUUM CHAMBER, AND A SPRING OPERTING TO MOVE THE MOVABLE WALL IN A DIRECTION TO EXPAND THE VACUUM CHAMBER WHEN SAID CHAMBER IS VENTED TO THE ATMOSPHERE; SAID VALVE MEANS COMPRISING A TRAVELING VALVE MEMBER AND A COOPERATIVE FIXED SEAL STRUCTURE; SAID SEAL STRUCTURE HAVING PORTS COMMUNICATING WITH THE PUMP AND VACUUM CHAMBER; AND SAID VALVE MEMBER HAVING TWO RECESSES, ONE OF WHICH IS BLIND AND THE OTHER OF WHICH IS VENTED TO THE ATMOSPHERE; WHEREBY MOVEMENT OF THE VALVE MEMBER TO LOCATE THE BLIND RECESS IN REGISTRY WITH THE PORTS PERMITS THE PUMP TO EVACAUTE THE VACUUM CHAMBER, AND MOVEMENT OF THE VALVE MEMBER TO LOCATE THE VENTED RECESS IN REGISTRY WITH THE TWO PORTS CAUSES THE VACUUM CHAMBER TO BE VENTED TO THE ATMOSPHERE.