GB2081310A

GB2081310A - Washing machine

Info

Publication number: GB2081310A
Application number: GB8118736A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1980-07-21
Filing date: 1981-06-18
Publication date: 1982-02-17
Also published as: SE8103985L; FR2486975A1; GB2081310B; DE3027584C2; ES267358Y; FR2486975B1; ES267358U; IT8123018A0; DE3027584A1; IT1137738B; CH651334A5

Abstract

A washing machine comprises a program control device, a programme phase "preliminary wash" selectable through programme selection means and electrical heating means (3). Operatively connected with the selection means is a switch (5) which in at least one setting of the selection means interrupts the current circuit, switchable by a cam contact (4) of the control device, for the heating means (3) during the programme phase "preliminary wash". <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Washing machine The present invention relates to a washing machine and has particular reference to a machine with a programme phase "preliminary wash" selectable through programme selection means.

In known washing machines of that kind, socalled energy-saving programmes, which are selectable through an individual switching position of programme selection equipment or through an additional key, have been provided for some years.

Energy-saving programmes take the place of normal boiling-wash programmes and have a lesser washing effect. They are therefore provided only for laundry with easily removable dirt. To balance the lesser washing effect due to a lower washing temperature, namely 600C in place of 900C, the active washing time at, for example, 6000 is substantially prolonged. Since the liquor need only be heated to a lower temperature than for the boiling-wash process, a noteworthy energy-saving results and the washing effect to be observed by the naked eye on the washing in the case of easily removable dirt is almost equivalent to that of the boiling-wash programme.

According to the present invention there is provided a washing machine controllable to perform a preliminary wash operation in accordance with a selected washing programme, the machine comprising programme selection means for selecting a washing programme including a preliminary wash operation phase, control means controllable by the selection means to cause the machine to perform a selected washing programme, electric heating means controllable by the control means to heat washing liquid in the machine, and switch means so operatively connected to the selection means as to be controlled in at least one setting of the selection means to interrupt current supply to the heating means during the preliminary wash operation phase of a selected washing programme.

Known washing machines realised the hitherto prevailing opinion that the liquor must be heated up during the preliminary washing operation from cold water to about 4500 within a time of about 15 to 20 minutes. With the so-called energysaving programmes, it has been common to omit the preliminary wash. Although this has led to a further energy-saving, the easily removable dirt was transferred to the main wash and there blocked a part of the substances contained in the washing agents for the dirt-carrying capacity. The washing result was therefore unsatisfactory.A washing machine embodying the present invention has, apart from the energy-saving, the additional advantage that the cold preliminary wash detaches the easily removable dirt, such as cooking salt, urea, sugar, starch, dust, soot and other pigment dirt, and protects the clear washing operation against loading thereof. The washing result is in that case clearly better.

Preferably, the setting of the selection means is at the same time the setting for an energy-saving programme clear wash 6000 with preliminary wash". This facilitates selection of the appropriate programme composition by the user. Alternatively, the setting of the selection means may at the same time be the setting for a programme "clear wash easy care with preliminary wash".

Previously, energy-saving programmes were provided only for a so-called boiling wash. Since the temperature of the clear wash operations for easy-care textiles (30, 40 or 600C) is in any case incapable of further reduction, easy-care textiles could hitherto not be washed in energy-saving manner with equally careful treatment. A washing machine embodying the present invention now makes possible an energy-saving washing of easycare textiles through switching-off of the heating means during the preliminary wash.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, the single figure of which is a circuit diagram of a heating circuit in a washing machine according to the said embodiment.

Referring now to the drawing, there is shown a washing machine heater device 3 connectible with mains lines 1 and 2, the connection being controlled by, for example a cam contact 4 of a programme control device (not shown) of the machine and a switch 5 of programme selection equipment. The contact 4 has two switch positions. The lefthand switch position leads through the line 6 directly to the heater device 3 and can apply, for example, during a clear wash.

The righthand switch position of the contact 4 feeds current through the switch 5 to the heater device 3 and is effective during a programme phase "preliminary wash". The switch 5 is closed only during a set normal programme. If an "energy-saving" programme has been set on the selection equipment, the switch 5 opens and the contact 4 changing into the righthand setting has no effect on the heater device 3.

A similar circuit arrangement is utilized for an energy-saving programme for easy-care laundry when a switch is provided for selecting the programme, the switching being labelled, for example, "easy-care saving programme".

In use of the washing machine for boiling-wash energy-saving programmes, an energy saving of approximately 0.4 kWh may be achieved over a complete washing operation. Easy-care washing programmes can take place with two liquor levels, in which case an energy saving of about 25% may result with the higher level and about 10% with the lower level.

1. A washing machine controllable to perform a preliminary wash operation in accordance with a selected washing programme, the machine comprising programme selection means for selecting a washing programme including a preliminary wash operation phase, control means controllable by the selection means to cause the

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Washing machine The present invention relates to a washing machine and has particular reference to a machine with a programme phase "preliminary wash" selectable through programme selection means. In known washing machines of that kind, socalled energy-saving programmes, which are selectable through an individual switching position of programme selection equipment or through an additional key, have been provided for some years. Energy-saving programmes take the place of normal boiling-wash programmes and have a lesser washing effect. They are therefore provided only for laundry with easily removable dirt. To balance the lesser washing effect due to a lower washing temperature, namely 600C in place of 900C, the active washing time at, for example, 6000 is substantially prolonged. Since the liquor need only be heated to a lower temperature than for the boiling-wash process, a noteworthy energy-saving results and the washing effect to be observed by the naked eye on the washing in the case of easily removable dirt is almost equivalent to that of the boiling-wash programme. According to the present invention there is provided a washing machine controllable to perform a preliminary wash operation in accordance with a selected washing programme, the machine comprising programme selection means for selecting a washing programme including a preliminary wash operation phase, control means controllable by the selection means to cause the machine to perform a selected washing programme, electric heating means controllable by the control means to heat washing liquid in the machine, and switch means so operatively connected to the selection means as to be controlled in at least one setting of the selection means to interrupt current supply to the heating means during the preliminary wash operation phase of a selected washing programme. Known washing machines realised the hitherto prevailing opinion that the liquor must be heated up during the preliminary washing operation from cold water to about 4500 within a time of about 15 to 20 minutes. With the so-called energysaving programmes, it has been common to omit the preliminary wash. Although this has led to a further energy-saving, the easily removable dirt was transferred to the main wash and there blocked a part of the substances contained in the washing agents for the dirt-carrying capacity. The washing result was therefore unsatisfactory.A washing machine embodying the present invention has, apart from the energy-saving, the additional advantage that the cold preliminary wash detaches the easily removable dirt, such as cooking salt, urea, sugar, starch, dust, soot and other pigment dirt, and protects the clear washing operation against loading thereof. The washing result is in that case clearly better. Preferably, the setting of the selection means is at the same time the setting for an energy-saving programme clear wash 6000 with preliminary wash". This facilitates selection of the appropriate programme composition by the user. Alternatively, the setting of the selection means may at the same time be the setting for a programme "clear wash easy care with preliminary wash". Previously, energy-saving programmes were provided only for a so-called boiling wash. Since the temperature of the clear wash operations for easy-care textiles (30, 40 or 600C) is in any case incapable of further reduction, easy-care textiles could hitherto not be washed in energy-saving manner with equally careful treatment. A washing machine embodying the present invention now makes possible an energy-saving washing of easycare textiles through switching-off of the heating means during the preliminary wash. An embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, the single figure of which is a circuit diagram of a heating circuit in a washing machine according to the said embodiment. Referring now to the drawing, there is shown a washing machine heater device 3 connectible with mains lines 1 and 2, the connection being controlled by, for example a cam contact 4 of a programme control device (not shown) of the machine and a switch 5 of programme selection equipment. The contact 4 has two switch positions. The lefthand switch position leads through the line 6 directly to the heater device 3 and can apply, for example, during a clear wash. The righthand switch position of the contact 4 feeds current through the switch 5 to the heater device 3 and is effective during a programme phase "preliminary wash". The switch 5 is closed only during a set normal programme. If an "energy-saving" programme has been set on the selection equipment, the switch 5 opens and the contact 4 changing into the righthand setting has no effect on the heater device 3. A similar circuit arrangement is utilized for an energy-saving programme for easy-care laundry when a switch is provided for selecting the programme, the switching being labelled, for example, "easy-care saving programme". In use of the washing machine for boiling-wash energy-saving programmes, an energy saving of approximately 0.4 kWh may be achieved over a complete washing operation. Easy-care washing programmes can take place with two liquor levels, in which case an energy saving of about 25% may result with the higher level and about 10% with the lower level. CLAIMS

1. A washing machine controllable to perform a preliminary wash operation in accordance with a selected washing programme, the machine comprising programme selection means for selecting a washing programme including a preliminary wash operation phase, control means controllable by the selection means to cause the machine to perform a selected washing programme, electric heating means controllable by the control means to heat washing liquid in the machine, and switch means so operatively connected to the selection means as to be controlled in at least one setting of the selection means to interrupt current supply to the heating means during the preliminary wash operation phase of a selected washing programme.

2. A washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said one setting of the selection means is a setting in which the machine is controlled by the selection means to perform a clear wash at a water temperature of 600C with a oreliminary wash operation.

3. A washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said one setting of the selection means is a setting in which the machine is controlled by the selection means to perform a clear wash with gentle washing conditions and with a preliminary wash operation.

4. A washing machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.