US3672189A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Continuous rinse and cool-down control
Assignee: McGraw Edison Co
•
Filing: 1970-08-12
•
Granted: 1972-06-27
•
Expires: 1990-08-12
Abstract
Abstract A continuous rinse and cool-down control for washers and washerextractors is provided of a character which requires modification only of the electrical circuitry of existing commercial machines. The initial step in this control is to open the drain valve on an intermittent time basis, and in response water is added by a water level control to replace that which is drained. Preferably, the drain valve is opened every other time the direction of the drive is changed, and is closed after a preset interval determined by a timer. Since the machine is never completely drained by this method the rinsing operation is a continuous one. A continuous rinse is advantageous in that it achieves economy in time used to complete a rinse operation. Prior methods of obtaining continuous rinsing have operated generally on some form of flow-through principle, and commonly included a weir arrangement. The present invention resides in an arrangement whereby increments of the bath are intermittently discharged by periodically opening the drain valve, and fresh water is admitted to replenish what is discharged each time, controlled by a bathlevel switch. Further, it is a feature that existing commercial machines of both the tub and shell-less types can be modified to perform these new functions simply by changing the control circuity without any structural changes.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard A High
- 👤 George J Vesper
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 01:34
CPC Classifications
D; D06; D06F; D06F34/00; D06F34/08; D06F35/00; D06F35/005; D06F35/006
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
In a laundry machine with continuous rinse control: the combination of a tub, a rotatable work-treating drum in said tub, a drive motor for rotating said drum, supply and drain valves for said tub, respective actuating means for said valves, a level control settable to operate when the liquid reaches a present level, and a continuous rinse control means including a rinse control movable between ''''on'''' and ''''off'''' positions, a drive reversing timer for periodically changing the direction of said drive motor, means rendered operative when said rinse control is in ''''on'''' position to open said drain valve when the direction of said drive motor is changed, means responsive to said level control for opening said supply valve to replenish the liquid in said tub when the liquid falls below said preset level, and a drain timer for closing said drain valve a predetermined interval after each opening thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
149 words
In a laundry machine with continuous rinse control: the combination of a tub, a rotatable work-treating drum in said tub, a drive motor for rotating said drum, supply and drain valves for said tub, respective actuating means for said valves, a level control settable to operate when the liquid reaches a present level, and a continuous rinse control means including a rinse control movable between ''''on'''' and ''''off'''' positions, a drive reversing timer for periodically changing the direction of said drive motor, means rendered operative when said rinse control is in ''''on'''' position to open said drain valve when the direction of said drive motor is changed, means responsive to said level control for opening said supply valve to replenish the liquid in said tub when the liquid falls below said preset level, and a drain timer for closing said drain valve a predetermined interval after each opening thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The laundry machine as set forth in claim 1 including means to open said drain valve each time said driVe motor is reversed from its forward direction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The laundry machine as set forth in claim 1 including means to open said drain valve each time said driVe motor is reversed from its forward direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
The laundry machine set forth in claim 2 including adjustable means for changing the setting of said timer and means rendered operative by said drive reversing timer when said motor is started in the other of its two directions for closing said drain valve in the event the same has not already been closed by said timer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
The laundry machine set forth in claim 2 including adjustable means for changing the setting of said timer and means rendered operative by said drive reversing timer when said motor is started in the other of its two directions for closing said drain valve in the event the same has not already been closed by said timer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
69 words
The laundry machine set forth in claim 2 including a solenoid energizable to close said drain valve, an on-off drain switch in the circuit of said drain solenoid, a second switch in said solenoid circuit standing normally closed, and means for opening said second switch responsive to said drive reversing timer moving to a reverse position causing the drive motor to start in said other of its two directions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The laundry machine set forth in claim 4 including a third normally closed switch in parallel with said second switch, and means operative to open said third switch when said rinse control is moved to ''''on'''' position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
77 words
The laundry machine set forth in claim 5 including a fourth normally open switch in parallel with both said second and third switches, a manually settable drain control timer, means to start said drain control timer responsive to said drive reversing timer moving to start said drive in said one of its two directions, and means operated by said drain control timer for closing said fourth switch a preset interval after said drain control timer is started.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The laundry machine set forth in claim 6 including means for cutting off the current supply to said drain control timer responsive to said drive reversing timer shifting to start said drive in said other of its two directions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
139 words
A laundry machine comprising a cylindrical tub, a rotatable perforated drum in said tub journaled at the axis thereof, a reversable drive motor for rotating said drum, supply and drain valves connected to said tub, respective actuating solenoids for said valves, a water level control settable to operate when the water reaches a predetermined level, a drive reversing timer for periodically shifting said drive motor between forward and reverse directions, means responsive to said reversing timer moving to reverse position for opening said drain valve, a drain control timer started by said reversing timer when the same is moved to reverse position for causing said drain valve to be closed a predetermined interval after it is opened, and means responsive to said reversing timer moving to forward position for cutting off the current supply to said drain control timer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
139 words
A laundry machine comprising a cylindrical tub, a rotatable perforated drum in said tub journaled at the axis thereof, a reversable drive motor for rotating said drum, supply and drain valves connected to said tub, respective actuating solenoids for said valves, a water level control settable to operate when the water reaches a predetermined level, a drive reversing timer for periodically shifting said drive motor between forward and reverse directions, means responsive to said reversing timer moving to reverse position for opening said drain valve, a drain control timer started by said reversing timer when the same is moved to reverse position for causing said drain valve to be closed a predetermined interval after it is opened, and means responsive to said reversing timer moving to forward position for cutting off the current supply to said drain control timer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-06-27 | 1975-12-27 | 1976-06-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-27 | 1979-12-27 | 1980-06-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-27 | 1983-12-27 | 1984-06-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |