Pump control for dispensing liquid additives

Claim 1

IN A LAUNDRY MACHINE: MEANS FORMING A CLOSED RECIRCULATION CIRCUIT COMPRISING A RECIRCULATION SYSTEM, RECIRCULATING MEANS AT ONE POINT IN SAID CIRCUIT INCLUDING A PUMP HAVING AN INLET FROM AND AN OUTLET TO SAID CIRCUIT FOR DRIVING LIQUID IN SAID CIRCUIT IN THE FORM OF A STREAM AT INCREASED PRESSURE, A TUB AT A SECOND POINT IN SAID CIRCUIT FOR RECEIVING AND ACCUMULATING A POOL OF LIQUID IN WHICH ARTICLES TO BE WASHED MAY BE PLACED FOR LAUNDERING, A DISCHARGE CONDUIT IN SAID CIRCUIT INTERCONNECTING SAID OUTLET OF SAID PUMP TO SAID TUBE FOR CARRYING SAID STREAM OF LIQUID TO SAID TUB, AN INLET CONDUIT IN SAID CIRCUIT INTERCONNECTING SAID TUB TO THE INLET OF SAID PUMP FOR SUPPLYING LIQUID THERETO, LIQUID LEVEL RESPONSIVE MEANS IN CONTROL OF SAID PUMP TO OPERATE SAID PUMP WHEN LIQUID IS AT A PRESELECTED LEVEL IN SAID TUB, MEANS FOR FORMING A VENTURI FITTING IN SAID CIRCUIT AND HAVING A VENTURI THROAT DISPOSED IN SAID INLET CONDUIT BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND POINTS IN SAID CIRCUIT AND THROUGH WHICH ALL OF THE LIQUID IN SAID CLOSED CIRCUIT FLOWS, AN ADDITIVE STORAGE CONTAINER OUTSIDE OF SAID CIRCUIT AND HAVING A DISCHARGE THROAT, A SIPHONING CONDUIT MEANS FORMING A SIPHONING LOOP AND INTERCONNECTING SAID DISCHARGE THROAT OF SAID STORAGE CONTAINER AND SAID MEANS FORMING SAID VENTURI, SAID SIPHONING LOOP BEING DISPOSED ABOVE A MAXIMUM LIQUID LEVEL OF SAID TUB TO PREVENT LIQUID IN SAID TUB FROM ENTERING SAID STORAGE CONTAINER AND TO PREVENT THE CONTENTS OF SAID STORAGE CONTAINER FROM FREELY DRAINING INTO SAID CIRCUIT, AND MEANS IN SAID SIPHONING CONDUIT FORMING AN ORIFICE IN FLUID COMMUNICATION WITH SAID VENTURI THROAT, WHEREBY THE CONTENTS OF SAID STORAGE CONTAINER ARE SIPHONED FROM SAID CONTAINER AND ADMIXED WITH SAID STREAM OF LIQUID IN SAID CIRCUIT ON THE UPSTREAM SIDE OF SAID PUMP ONLY WHEN SUFFICIENTLY REDUCED PRESSURE IS PROVIDED AT SAID VENTURI THROAT BY A FLOW OF LIQUID FROM SAID TUB TO SAID PUMP, SAID STORAGE CONTAINER HAVING A VALVE MEANS THEREIN CLOSING SAID DISCHARGE THROAT WHEN THE SUPPLY OF ADDITIVE IS DEPLETED THEREFROM FOR PREVENTING AIR FORM BEING ENTRAINED IN THE RECIRCULATING SYSTEM.