Self-cleaning lint filter for a recirculating clothes washer

Claim 2

In an automatic clothes washing machine having an imperforate tub with top inlet and bottom outlet, a first pump associated with said inlet and said outlet and operable for recirculating liquid to said tub, and a second pump associated with said outlet and operable for pumping liquid from said tub to a drain, the improvement comprising a self-cleaning filter assembly for removing solid contaminants from the recirculating liquid comprising a housing having first and second circular wall means spaced by peripheral wall means to form a drum-shaped chamber therebetween; said drum-shaped chamber having an inlet port, a drain port and a recirculation supply port thereto, a circular generally planar lint filter mounted in said chamber in generally parallel spaced relationship between said first and second circular wall means and substantially coextensive therewith, said lint filter having a screen portion in liquid flow intercepting relationship between said inlet port and said recirculation supply port to form a lint entrapping filter, means forming an upper sump connecting the bottom outlet of said tub to said inlet port and having an outlet nozzle extending through said screen portion in snug fit relation therewith to supply liquid to one side of said screen portion for entrapping lint on said one side when said first pump is operating to recirculate liquid from said inlet port to said recirculation supply port and for cleaning entrapped lint from said one side when said second pump is operating to pump liquid from said inlet port to drain, said outlet nozzle being offset from the radial center of said peripheral wall means toward said drain port on said one side of said screen portion and aimed toward said radial center to induce a swirl in said liquid adjacent said one side returning to said drain port for flushing said entrapped lint therefrom, the lint flushed by the liquid swirl being thereafter pumped by said second pump to drain along with said liquid, first conduit means connecting the recirculation supply port to the inlet of said first pump to draw liquid from said inlet port to said recirculation supply port, second conduit means connecting said drain port to the inlet of said second pump to pump liquid from said inlet port to drain, and means for operating selectively said first and second pumps.

Claim 3

The self-cleaning filter assembly of claim 1 wherein the diameter of said drum-shaped chamber is substantially 8 inches and said offset is one-half inch.

Claim 4

The self-cleaning filter assembly of claim 2 wherein said screen portion is polyester fabric of 68 X 72 mesh.

Claim 5

The self-cleaning filter assembly of claim 1 wherein said housing and said means forming an upper sump are plastic formed in two pieces joined along a plane which includes said lint filter.

Claim 6

In an automatic clothes washing machine having an imperforate tub with top inlet and bottom outlet, a first pump assOciated with said inlet and said outlet and operable for recirculating liquid to said tub, and a second pump associated with said outlet and operable for pumping liquid from said tub to a drain, the improvement comprising a self-cleaning filter assembly for removing solid contaminants from the recirculating liquid comprising a housing having first and second circular wall means spaced by peripheral wall means to form a drum-shaped chamber therebetween; said drum-shaped chamber having an inlet port, a drain port and a recirculation supply port thereto, a circular generally planar lint filter disc mounted in said chamber in generally parallel spaced relationship between said first and second circular wall means, said lint filter disc having a fabric mesh portion in liquid flow intercepting relationship between said inlet port and said recirculation supply port to form a lint entrapping filter, means forming an upper sump connecting the bottom outlet of said tub to said inlet port and having an outlet nozzle extending through said mesh portion in snug fit relation therewith to supply liquid to one side of said mesh portion for entrapping lint on said one side when said first pump is operating to recirculate liquid from said inlet port to said recirculation supply port and for cleaning entrapped lint from said one side when said second pump is operating to pump liquid from said inlet port to drain, said outlet nozzle being arranged with respect to said peripheral wall means and said mesh portion to induce a swirl in said liquid adjacent said one side for flushing said entrapped lint therefrom, first conduit means connecting the recirculation supply port to the inlet of said first pump to draw liquid from said inlet port to said recirculation supply port, second conduit means connecting said drain port to the inlet of said second pump to pump liquid from said inlet port to drain, means including play in the fabric mesh portion of said lint filter disc responsive to liquid movement in said housing when said first or second pump is operating to flex said mesh portion respectively in opposite directions for dislodging the entrapped lint therefrom, the lint dislodged by the flexing of said mesh portion upon operation of said second pump together with the lint flushed by the liquid swirl being thereafter pumped by said second pump to drain along with said liquid, and means for operating selectively said first and second pumps.

Claim 7

In an automatic clothes washing machine having an imperforate tub with top inlet and bottom outlet, a first pump assOciated with said inlet and said outlet and operable for recirculating liquid to said tub, and a second pump associated with said outlet and operable for pumping liquid from said tub to a drain, the improvement comprising a self-cleaning filter assembly for removing solid contaminants from the recirculating liquid comprising a housing having first and second circular wall means spaced by peripheral wall means to form a drum-shaped chamber therebetween; said drum-shaped chamber having an inlet port, a drain port and a recirculation supply port thereto, a circular generally planar lint filter disc mounted in said chamber in generally parallel spaced relationship between said first and second circular wall means, said lint filter disc having a fabric mesh portion in liquid flow intercepting relationship between said inlet port and said recirculation supply port to form a lint entrapping filter, means forming an upper sump connecting the bottom outlet of said tub to said inlet port and having an outlet nozzle extending through said mesh portion in snug fit relation therewith to supply liquid to one side of said mesh portion for entrapping lint on said one side when said first pump is operating to recirculate liquid from said inlet port to said recirculation supply port and for cleaning entrapped lint from said one side when said second pump is operating to pump liquid from said inlet port to drain, said outlet nozzle being arranged with respect to said peripheral wall means and said mesh portion to induce a swirl in said liquid adjacent said one side for flushing said entrapped lint therefrom, first conduit means connecting the recirculation supply port to the inlet of said first pump to draw liquid from said inlet port to said recirculation supply port, second conduit means connecting said drain port to the inlet of said second pump to pump liquid from said inlet port to drain, means including play in the fabric mesh portion of said lint filter disc responsive to liquid movement in said housing when said first or second pump is operating to flex said mesh portion respectively in opposite directions for dislodging the entrapped lint therefrom, the lint dislodged by the flexing of said mesh portion upon operation of said second pump together with the lint flushed by the liquid swirl being thereafter pumped by said second pump to drain along with said liquid, and means for operating selectively said first and second pumps.