Automatic liquid level control for automatic washers

Claim 1

A method of automatically charging optimum amounts of liquid in a liquid treatment machine comprising: (1) placing materials to be treated in a container in the machine; (2) filling the container to a predetermined minimum level; (3) measuring the incremental volume of liquid required to increase the liquid level in the container by a specific depth increment; (4) comparing the measured incremental volume with a predetermined incremental volume for that particular level in the container; (5) continuing the introduction, measuring and comparison of the incremental liquid volume until the measured volume is greater than the predetermined volume; and (6) terminating the introduction of liquid into said container after said measured volume is greater than the predetermined volume.

Claim 2

A method of automatically charging optimum amounts of liquid in a liquid treatment machine comprising: (1) placing materials to be treated in a container in the machine; (2) filling the container to a predetermined minimum level; (3) measuring the incremental volume of liquid required to increase the liquid level in the container by a specific depth increment; (4) comparing the measured incremental volume with a predetermined incremental volume for that particular level in the container; (5) continuing the introduction, measuring and comparison of the incremental liquid volume until the measured volume is greater than the predetermined volume; and (6) terminating the introduction of liquid into said container after said measured volume is greater than the predetermined volume.

Claim 3

A method of controlling the amount of liquid supplied to a washing machine tub for washing fabrics during a washing process comprising the steps: (1) filling the tub with liquid to a selected reference level; (2) adding a measured amount of liquid to raise the liquid level by a predetermined increment above said reference level; (3) storing the measured amount; (4) averaging a given plurality of said stored amounts; (5) comparing the averaged added amount to a reference quantity for the then current liquid level; (6) setting the reference level equal to the increased level; (7) repeating steps (2)-(6) until the averaged added measured amount is greater than the reference quantum a predetermined number of times in succession; and (8) terminating the introduction of liquid into said tub when said predetermined number of times has occurred.

Claim 4

A method of controlling the amount of liquid supplied to a washing machine tub for washing fabrics during a washing process comprising the steps: (1) filling the tub with liquid to a selected reference level; (2) adding a measured amount of liquid to raise the liquid level by a predetermined increment above said reference level; (3) storing the measured amount; (4) averaging a given plurality of said stored amounts; (5) comparing the averaged added amount to a reference quantity for the then current liquid level; (6) setting the reference level equal to the increased level; (7) repeating steps (2)-(6) until the averaged added measured amount is greater than the reference quantum a predetermined number of times in succession; and (8) terminating the introduction of liquid into said tub when said predetermined number of times has occurred.

Claim 5

A method of controlling the amount of liquid supplied to a washing machine tub for washing fabrics during a washing process comprising the steps: (1) filling the tub to a predetermined level; (2) adding a measured incremental volume of liquid to raise the level within the tub by a predetermined increment; (3) comparing the measured incremental volume to a predetermined incremental volume for an empty tub at that level; (4) repeating steps two and three if the measured amount is less than the predetermined amount; and (5) terminating the filling operation if the measured amount is equal to or greater than the predetermined amount.

Claim 6

A method of controlling the amount of liquid supplied to a washing machine tub for washing fabrics during a washing process comprising the steps: (1) filling the tub to a predetermined level; (2) adding a measured incremental volume of liquid to raise the level within the tub by a predetermined increment; (3) comparing the measured incremental volume to a predetermined incremental volume for an empty tub at that level; (4) repeating steps two and three if the measured amount is less than the predetermined amount; and (5) terminating the filling operation if the measured amount is equal to or greater than the predetermined amount.

Claim 7

A method of controlling the amount of liquid supplied to a washing machine tub for washing fabrics during a washing process comprising the steps: (1) filling the tub to a predetermined level; (2) adding a measured incremental volume of liquid to raise the level within the tub by a predetermined increment; (3) comparing the measured incremental volume to a predetermined incremental volume for an empty tub at that level; (4) repeating steps two and three until the measured amount has been greater than the predetermined amount a predetermined number of times; and (5) terminating the filling operation when the predetermined number of times has been achieved in uninterrupted succession.

Claim 8

A method of controlling the amount of liquid supplied to a washing machine tub for washing fabrics during a washing process comprising the steps: (1) filling the tub to a predetermined level; (2) adding a measured incremental volume of liquid to raise the level within the tub by a predetermined increment; (3) comparing the measured incremental volume to a predetermined incremental volume for an empty tub at that level; (4) repeating steps two and three until the measured amount has been greater than the predetermined amount a predetermined number of times; and (5) terminating the filling operation when the predetermined number of times has been achieved in uninterrupted succession.

Claim 11

A method of controlling the amount of liquid supplied to a washing machine tub for washing fabrics during a washing process comprising the steps: (1) filling the tub to a predetermined level; (2) adding a measured incremental volume of liquid to raise the level within the tub by a predetermined increment; (3) comparing the measured incremental volume to a predetermined incremental volume for an empty tub at that level; (4) repeating steps two and three until the measured and predetermined amounts achieve a predetermined relationship; and (5) terminating the filling operation when said predetermined relationship is achieved.

Claim 12

A method of controlling the amount of liquid supplied to a washing machine tub for washing fabrics during a washing process comprising the steps: (1) filling the tub to a predetermined level; (2) adding a measured incremental volume of liquid to raise the level within the tub by a predetermined increment; (3) comparing the measured incremental volume to a predetermined incremental volume for an empty tub at that level; (4) repeating steps two and three until the measured and predetermined amounts achieve a predetermined relationship; and (5) terminating the filling operation when said predetermined relationship is achieved.