Basket filter for automatic washing machines

Claim 2

In a washing machine having a tub for containing washing fluid, a washing fluid filtering apparatus comprising: a basket supported within the tub to form a chamber between the outside of said basket and the inside of said tub, said basket having a base portion and a wall portion, each portion having at least one opening which openings communicate the chamber with the interior of the basket; means for creating a pulsating flow including a main flow and a partial counter flow of the fluid between the chamber and the basket through the opening in the base portion of said basket, said means for creating a pulsating flow causing a circulation of the fluid from said basket through the opening in the wall portion into and through the chamber; and filter means disposed across each opening in the base portion of the basket for preventing the passage of particles contained in the washing fluid into the basket thrOugh the opening in the base portion of the basket whereby the partial counter flow through the filter means flushes particles from the filter means.

Claim 3

In a washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the means for creating a pulsating flow is disposed in the basket adjacent to the openings in the bottom portion thereof.

Claim 4

In a washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the washing machine includes an agitator having a base portion coaxially mounted in the basket for oscillating movement around an axis of the agitator with the base portion of the agitator being spaced from the base portion of the basket, and means for applying an oscillating movement to the agitator, and wherein said means for creating a pulsating flow comprises pump means disposed on the agitator for creating the main flow through the filter means during movement of the agitator in one direction and the counter flow through the filter means during movement of the agitator in the opposite direction.

Claim 5

In a washing machine according to claim 3, wherein the pump means comprise a plurality of pumping fins disposed on the base portion of the agitator to extend towards the base portion of the basket, each of said pumping fins having a spiral configuration so that during oscillating movement of the agitator, the pumping fins create a pulsating flow which includes flow in both directions through the filter means.

Claim 6

In a washing machine having a tub for containing a washing fluid, a basket mounted for rotation in said tub in spaced relation thereto to define a chamber between the exterior surfaces of the basket and the interior surfaces of the tub, said basket having a base portion provided with at least one opening and a wall portion provided with at least one opening with the openings of the base and wall portion communicating the interior of the basket with said chamber, an agitator coaxially mounted in said basket for oscillating movement, means for selectively applying an oscillating movement to the agitator, and filter means removing particles from the washing fluid, the improvement comprising said filter means comprising: filter material arranged to prevent passage of particles in the washing fluid from passing through the opening in the base portion of the basket; and pumping means for creating a pulsating flow including a main flow in one direction of the washing fluid in the chamber through the filter material and into the basket and a partial counter flow in the opposite direction through the filter material, said pumping means causing circulation of the washing fluid in the basket through the opening in the wall portion of the basket into and through the chamber so that the partial counter flow through the filter material prevents clogging of the filter material by the particles filtered from the washing fluid.

Claim 7

In a washing machine having a tub for containing a washing fluid, a basket mounted for rotation in said tub in spaced relation thereto to define a chamber between the exterior surfaces of the basket and the interior surfaces of the tub, said basket having a base portion provided with at least one opening and a wall portion provided with at least one opening with the openings of the base and wall portion communicating the interior of the basket with said chamber, an agitator coaxially mounted in said basket for oscillating movement, means for selectively applying an oscillating movement to the agitator, and filter means removing particles from the washing fluid, the improvement comprising said filter means comprising: filter material arranged to prevent passage of particles in the washing fluid from passing through the opening in the base portion of the basket; and pumping means for creating a pulsating flow including a main flow in one direction of the washing fluid in the chamber through the filter material and into the basket and a partial counter flow in the opposite direction through the filter material, said pumping means causing circulation of the washing fluid in the basket through the opening in the wall portion of the basket into and through the chamber so that the partial counter flow through the filter material prevents clogging of the filter material by the particles filtered from the washing fluid.

Claim 8

In a washing machine according to claim 5, wherein the agitator has a base portion overlying the opening provided with the filter material, and wherein the pumping means comprises pumping fins having a spiral configuration disposed on a lower surface of the base portion of the agitator to extend towards the opening provided with the filter material.

Claim 9

In a washing machine according to claim 6, wherein the filter material is provided as a filter element detachably mounted in each of the openings of the base portion of the basket.

Claim 10

A washing machine comprising: a tub for containing a washing fluid, a basket mounted for rotation in spaced relationship in said tub to define a first chamber between the outer surface of the basket and the inner surface of the tub, said basket having a wall portion having at least one opening for communicating the chamber to the interior of the basket and having a base portion with at least one opening adjacent the axis thereof, an agitator coaxially mounted in said basket for oscillating movement therein, said agitator having a base portion overlying said opening in the base portioN of the basket and in spaced relationship to provide a pumping chamber, pumping means disposed in the pumping chamber for creating a pulsating flow including a main flow and a partial counter flow of fluid through the opening in the base portion of the basket between the first chamber and the pumping chamber, said pumping means circulating the fluid in the basket through the openings in the wall portion into and through the first chamber towards the opening in the base portion; and a filter element disposed at the opening in the base portion of the basket to prevent passage of particles in the washing fluid from the first chamber through the openings and into the basket so that the partial counter flow prevents clogging of the filter element and the pulsating flow created by the pumping means causes a suspension of the particles, which are prevented from passing into the basket, in an area of the chamber adjacent to the openings in the base portion of the basket.

Claim 11

A washing machine comprising: a tub for containing a washing fluid, a basket mounted for rotation in spaced relationship in said tub to define a first chamber between the outer surface of the basket and the inner surface of the tub, said basket having a wall portion having at least one opening for communicating the chamber to the interior of the basket and having a base portion with at least one opening adjacent the axis thereof, an agitator coaxially mounted in said basket for oscillating movement therein, said agitator having a base portion overlying said opening in the base portioN of the basket and in spaced relationship to provide a pumping chamber, pumping means disposed in the pumping chamber for creating a pulsating flow including a main flow and a partial counter flow of fluid through the opening in the base portion of the basket between the first chamber and the pumping chamber, said pumping means circulating the fluid in the basket through the openings in the wall portion into and through the first chamber towards the opening in the base portion; and a filter element disposed at the opening in the base portion of the basket to prevent passage of particles in the washing fluid from the first chamber through the openings and into the basket so that the partial counter flow prevents clogging of the filter element and the pulsating flow created by the pumping means causes a suspension of the particles, which are prevented from passing into the basket, in an area of the chamber adjacent to the openings in the base portion of the basket.

Claim 12

A washing machine according to claim 8, wherein the pumping means are a plurality of fins disposed on a lower surface of the base portion of the agitator, said fins extending radially from the axis of the agitator along a spiral path.

Claim 13

A washing machine according to claim 9, wherein the filter element comprises an elongated frame with the filter material stretched thereacross, said frame having means for detachably mounting the element in the opening in the base portion of the basket.

Claim 14

In a washing machine according to claim 4, wherein each of the pumping fins has a portion positioned on the base portion of the agitator so that said portion of the fin moves over the filter means during oscillating movement of the agitator.

Claim 15

In a washing machine according to claim 6, wherein each of the pumping fins has at least a portion positioned to move over the filter material during oscillating movement of the agitator.

Claim 16

A washing machine according to claim 9, wherein each of the fins has a portion which is radially positioned on the agitator to move over the filter element disposed at the openings in the base portion of the basket during oscillating movement of the agitator.