Patent US3695291A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3695291A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Suds saving system for automatic washer
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1970-09-25
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Granted: 1972-10-03
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Expires: 1990-09-25
Abstract
Abstract The instant invention provides an automatic washer which has washing, rinsing and sud saving modes. In the suds saving mode, the wash water is pumped into a supplementary laundry tub for later reuse in the automatic washer to reduce the overall wash water requirements for the washer. A purge or ''''burp'''' function is provided for in the automatic washer after the sudsy water has been pumped into the supplementary storage receptacle so as to insure the elimination of suds within the line leading to it and also within the pump. This purging action is accomplished by the pumping of rinse water, for a short time duration, towards the supplementary storage receptacle after the rinse cycle has been completed. By the use of such an extra step with the conventional suds save mode, the pumping arrangement for the pumping of sudsy water from the supplementary storage receptacle may effectively handle the returning detergent carrying water without being disabled by air locking caused by a large amount of suds initially disposed within the pump or conduit extending to the supplementary laundry tub.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert J Sims
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 10:24
CPC Classifications
D; D06; D06F; D06F39/00; D06F39/08; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S68/00; Y10S68/902; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/86187; Y10T137/877; Y10T137/87788; Y10T137/87812
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
In an automatic washing machine including a pump and having a suds-saving operation in which used washing water is pumped at the end of a wash operation through communicating passage means from said pump to a separate storage tub for subsequent reuse in the machine, an arrangement for promoting the subsequent return of said used wash water to said machine, comprising; means diverting sufficient rinse water into said communicating passage means to clear said passage means of suds and air during a rinse pump out operation that said pump is adequately primed to draw said used wash water from said storage tub during said subsequent return of said used wash water to said machine.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
114 words
In an automatic washing machine including a pump and having a suds-saving operation in which used washing water is pumped at the end of a wash operation through communicating passage means from said pump to a separate storage tub for subsequent reuse in the machine, an arrangement for promoting the subsequent return of said used wash water to said machine, comprising; means diverting sufficient rinse water into said communicating passage means to clear said passage means of suds and air during a rinse pump out operation that said pump is adequately primed to draw said used wash water from said storage tub during said subsequent return of said used wash water to said machine.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
In a washing machine according to claim 1 wherein: said diverting means diverts said rinse water during a final rinse pump-out operation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
146 words
In an automatic washing machine including a pump and having a suds-saving operation in which used washing water is pumped at the end of a wash operation through communicating passage means from said pump to a separate storage tub for subsequent reuse in the machine, an arrangement for promoting the subsequent return of said used wash water to said machine, comprising: a diverting valve in said communicating passage means having one position for directing pump-out water to said storage tub, and another position for directing pump-out water to drain; means for operating said valve to said one position for a short but sufficient period during a rinse pump-out operation to purge said communicating passage means of air and suds, so that upon a subsequent operation of said pump to return said used wash water to said machine, said pump will be continuously primed during said return.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
146 words
In an automatic washing machine including a pump and having a suds-saving operation in which used washing water is pumped at the end of a wash operation through communicating passage means from said pump to a separate storage tub for subsequent reuse in the machine, an arrangement for promoting the subsequent return of said used wash water to said machine, comprising: a diverting valve in said communicating passage means having one position for directing pump-out water to said storage tub, and another position for directing pump-out water to drain; means for operating said valve to said one position for a short but sufficient period during a rinse pump-out operation to purge said communicating passage means of air and suds, so that upon a subsequent operation of said pump to return said used wash water to said machine, said pump will be continuously primed during said return.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
272 words
In an automatic clothes washing machine adapted for an operational mode which includes a suds-saving operation in which used washing water is stored in a separate storage tub for subsequent return of the machine: a reversible pump; a diverter valve having one open port and a pair of alternatively open and closed ports; first conduit means connecting said one port of said pump to the washing chamber of said machine; second conduit means connecting another port of said pump to said open port of said diverter valve; third conduit means connecting one of said pair of ports of said valve to said storage tub; fourth conduit means connecting the other of said pair of ports to drain; motor means to drive said pump in one direction to pump water from said machine, and in the opposite direction to pump water to said machine from said storage tub; means controlling the operation of said motor means and said diverter valve, in a cycle including said suds-saving operation, to pump used wash water from said washing chamber through a path including said first conduit means, said pump, said second conduit means, said diverter valve and said third conduit means to said storage tub, at the end of a washing operation and, during a subsequent rinse pump-out operation, to pump sufficient rinse water through said same path to substantially purge said same path of air and suds residual from said washing water pump-out, so that upon a subsequent operation of said pump in said opposite direction to return said used water to said machine, locking quanTities of air in said path and pump are absent.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
272 words
In an automatic clothes washing machine adapted for an operational mode which includes a suds-saving operation in which used washing water is stored in a separate storage tub for subsequent return of the machine: a reversible pump; a diverter valve having one open port and a pair of alternatively open and closed ports; first conduit means connecting said one port of said pump to the washing chamber of said machine; second conduit means connecting another port of said pump to said open port of said diverter valve; third conduit means connecting one of said pair of ports of said valve to said storage tub; fourth conduit means connecting the other of said pair of ports to drain; motor means to drive said pump in one direction to pump water from said machine, and in the opposite direction to pump water to said machine from said storage tub; means controlling the operation of said motor means and said diverter valve, in a cycle including said suds-saving operation, to pump used wash water from said washing chamber through a path including said first conduit means, said pump, said second conduit means, said diverter valve and said third conduit means to said storage tub, at the end of a washing operation and, during a subsequent rinse pump-out operation, to pump sufficient rinse water through said same path to substantially purge said same path of air and suds residual from said washing water pump-out, so that upon a subsequent operation of said pump in said opposite direction to return said used water to said machine, locking quanTities of air in said path and pump are absent.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
In a washing machine according to claim 4 wherein: said diverter valve is located in the lower portion of said machine so that said third conduit means slopes upwardly from said valve to said storage tub.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
In a washing machine according to claim 4 wherein: said controlling means limits the duration of said purging of said same path to a minor portion of the period of said rinse pump-out operation to prevent an undue quantity of rinse water from being added to said used wash water.
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) | 1975-10-03 | 1976-04-03 | 1976-10-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-03 | 1980-04-03 | 1980-10-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-03 | 1984-04-03 | 1984-10-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |