MXPA95000891A - Filling system for lavad machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for filling water for an automatic laundry washing machine, comprising: a) a cabinet structure defining front, rear and side walls that house a washing receptacle and an upper platform arranged on said receptacle and agitator means for performing automatic washing in said receptacle; b) console means mounted on said upper platform and housing controls for operating said agitator means, said console means defining a control panel operable to receive inputs from the user to said controls c) mixing valve means, electrically operated, having body means with at least one individual inlet connector adapted for connection to hot and cold water sources and an outlet fitting, said valve means including individual solenoid operators, said Solenoid operators arranged in a side by side arrangement and usually a a right angle with said inlet connectors, said body means having a platform surface from which said solenoid operators extend, d) said rear cabinet wall having a cut-out formed therein, adjacent to said upper platform, said upper platform having a cut-out formed therein adjacent said opening of the rear wall; e) said valve means mounted with said platform surface adjacent to the underside of said upper platform with said solenoid operators extending through said platform cut-out upper and said inlet connections extending through said rear wall cutout, wherein said valve means outlet is disposed below said upper platform and adjacent said receptacle and said solenoid operators are disposed within said console means for connections electric to the

Description

FILLING SYSTEM FOR WASHING MACHINE INVENTOR:. JAMES M. PICK, a citizen of the United States, residing at 931 Christa Court, The Grove Village, Illinois 60007, United States.

APPLICANT: EATON CORPORATION, a society of United States, with address at Eaton Center, Cleveland, Ohio 44114-2584, United States.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to water filling systems for automatic raising machines and particularly machines of the type having a receptacle filled with water and having a motorized stirrer for moving articles submerged in the water for washing. Washing machines of this type typically have an inlet valve with dual inlets for individual connection to a hot and cold water source to provide mixing and a flow tempered water for washing in the receptacle. The inlet mixing valves commonly used for washing machines are of the electrically operated type with individual solenoid operators to open the inlet for hot water and / or cold water. The valves have a single outlet for the warm water discharged to the washing receptacle or tub. When the manufacture of automatic washing machines is envisaged, it has hitherto been practical to assemble the electrically operated water inlet mixing valve in the cabinet or housing of the machine, with the input fittings extending therethrough for external connection of the machine to hot and cold water sources. This has required wiring connections from the electrically operated mixing valve to the timer program to control the cycle of washing machine operations. Typically, the programmer and timer controls are located on the top platform of the machine in a console; while the electrically operated water valve is located below the upper platform in the region adjacent to the washing receptacle and is thus subjected to moisture and water from hose leaks and overflow of the receptacle. In this way, it has been desired to provide a way or means for arranging the wiring connections to the electrically operated water inlet valve in a washing machine so as to protect the electrical connections from moisture and water leaks that could result in to electrical shorts and premature failure of the coil. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a unique and novel way of mounting an electrically operated water inlet mixing valve in a washing machine such that the electrical connections are isolated from the chambers of the machine connected to the water supply and still provide lukewarm water at the valve outlet for discharge to the machine wash receptacle. The. Water inlet mixing valve of the present invention has individual solenoids for operating separate valve members of hot and cold water; and, the solenoids extend outward from the mounting platform surface provided in the valve. The mounting platform may comprise a plate attached to the valve body or a surface integrally molded into the valve body around the solenoids. Hot and cold water inlet attachments and separate warm water discharge fitting extend from the valve body in the region below the mounting platform surface. The valve is mounted on the lower surface of the upper platform of the machine cabinet with the solenoids extending upwards through an opening formed in the machine platform towards the machine control console which is located on the upper platform . Separate inlet attachments for the valve extend outward from the machine cabinet through an opening provided in a wall of the machine cabinet. The valve mounting platform can be sealed around the bottom surface of the upper platform of the machine cabinet to prevent the discharge of moisture or water from a broken fitting or hose from entering the chamber containing the electrical connections to the valve solenoids. The present invention in this way provides a unique technique, and low cost, to mount a double solenoid water inlet mixing valve, in a washing machine cabinet, directly in a way that isolates the solenoids and their inherent electrical connections from the chambers connected to the input fittings and water outlet. Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is an axonometric view of a washing machine with broken cabinet portions; Figure 2 is an axonometric view of a double solenoid water inlet mixing valve for the machine of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a top view of the machine of Figure 1, with portions of the console cover broken; Figure 4 is a front elevational view of the machine of Figure 1, with portions of the cabinet broken to show the valve mounted in the cabinet; Figure 5 is a side elevational view from the left side of the machine of Figure 1, with broken portions of the cabinet; and Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 2 of an alternative version of the water inlet valve. Detailed Description With reference to Figure 1, a typical top loading washing machine is generally illustrated at 10, having an upper platform 12 with a control console extending upwardly at its rear, as generally indicated at 14 with a control panel 16 having user-operated controls such as the program setting knob 18 extending therefrom. The upper platform 12 has an articulated cover or tab 20 which is capable of being opened by the user to load there the articles to be washed. The machine cabinet has a front panel 22, the left side panel 24, the right side panel 26, and the rear panel 28. The machine has a washing tub or receptacle 30 having a motorized stirrer 32 provided therein. It will be understood that the programmer / timer and controls for operating the agitator motor and other machine functions are arranged within the control console 14 on the upper platform 12 of the cabinet 10. Referring to FIGS. 2-5, a valve Water inlet mixer indicated generally at 34 has a mounting platform surface 36 which, in the embodiment of Figure 2, comprises a platform plate 38 attached to the valve body 40 by fasteners such as self-tapping screws 42. The valve 34 has a pair of solenoid operators extending upward from the mounting surface 36, as generally indicated by reference numerals 44, 46, each of which has a pair of electrical connector terminals indicated respectively in the reference numbers 48, 50. The valve body 40 has separate hot and cold water inlet fittings, denoted by the numbers reference 52, 54 extending from a common side of the body 40 and at right angles to the solenoid operators 44, 46 and which are of the threaded type for hose connection. The valve block has a common outlet fitting 56 to provide discharge of warm, hot or cold water, depending on the sequence and duration of energization of solenoids 44, 46. The outlet fitting also extends at right angles to the solenoids 44, 46 and one side of the body adjacent to the common inlet side. With reference to figures 3, 4 and 5, the upper platform 12 of the cabinet 10 has an opening 57 formed therein; and the rear panel 28 of the cabinet 10 has an opening 58 formed therein. The valve is installed with the solenoids 44, 46 received through the opening 57 in the platform plate 12 and the input fittings 52, 54 received through the opening 58 in the rear panel 28. The platform surface 36 of the valve is registered against the lower surface of the upper platform of cabinet 12; and the valve is secured in place by suitable fasteners such as, for example, screws 60 threaded in the platform plate 38. The outlet fitting 56 of the valve is connected to a hose 62 which is positioned to be discharged into the tub or washing receptacle 30. Referring to Fig. 6, an alternative embodiment of the mixing valve and having a body 140 is generally indicated at 134., a portion of which is shown in Figure 6, and having integrally molded a mounting platform 136 on which the coils or solenoid operators are mounted, one of which is shown in Figure 6 and is generally indicated at 144. The valve has its inlets arranged in a parallel arrangement from one side, one of which is illustrated and denoted by the reference numeral 152 in Figure 6. The outlet of the valve 134 is disposed at a right angle from the end of the valve. , as denoted by the reference number 156. It will be understood that the valve of figure 6 can be mounted in the cabinet of the washing machine 10 in the same way as illustrated in figures 3, 4 and 5. The present invention of this way provides a low cost and convenient way to assemble a water inlet mixing valve in a washing machine, such that the electrical operators for the individual operations of the valve are arranged on the pl upper form of the cabinet of the machine and housed in the control console. The valve body and the inlet and outlet fittings are disposed below and sealed against the lower surface of the upper platform of the machine, and in this way the electrical connections are isolated and protected from the hose connections to the inlet and valve outlet and overflow of the tub. Although the present invention has been described in the foregoing with respect to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, it will be understood that the invention is capable of modifications and variations and is limited only by the following claims.

Claims (10)

1. CLAIMS 1. A water filling system for an automatic laundry washing machine, comprising: (a) a cabinet structure defining front, rear and side walls that house a washing receptacle and an upper platform disposed on said receptacle and agitator means for performing automatic washing in said receptacle; (b) console means mounted on said upper platform and housing controls for operating said agitator means, said console means defining a control panel operable to receive inputs from the user to said controls; (c) mixing valve means, electrically operated, having body means with at least one individual inlet connector adapted for connection to hot and cold water sources and an outlet fitting, said valve means including individual solenoid operators, said Solenoid operators arranged in an array side by side and generally at right angles to said input connectors; said body means having a platform surface from which said solenoid operators extend; (d) said rear cabinet wall having a cutout formed therein, adjacent said upper platform, said upper platform having a cutout formed therein adjacent to said opening of the rear wall; (e) said valve means mounted with said platform surface adjacent to the underside of said upper platform with said solenoid operators extending through said upper platform cut-out and said input connections extending through said rear wall cut-out, wherein said valve means outlet is disposed below said upper platform and adjacent said receptacle and said solenoid operators are disposed within said console means for electrical connections thereto. The system defined in claim 1, wherein said upper platform cutout includes a seal between said upper platform and said platform surface of the valve body means for preventing leakage of water into said console means. The defined system of claim 1, wherein said body of the valve means are formed of plastic and said platform plate is formed of metal. The system defined in claim 1, wherein said platform surface is attached to said upper platform by means of threaded fasteners. The system defined in claim 1, wherein said input connectors each have external threads formed therein and are adapted for threaded connection of hose. 6. The system defined in claim 1, wherein said solenoid operators each have a pair of bayonet-type electrical connection terminals formed therein. The system defined in claim 1, wherein said valve means outlet has a flexible hose attached thereto for discharge into the washing receptacle. The system defined in claim 1, wherein said valve body means includes a plate member removably attached to said body means and said plate is mounted against the underside of said upper platform. A method of making an automatic washing machine, comprising: (a) providing a machine cabinet having an upper platform, spaced sides, a front wall and a rear wall and housing a washing receptacle therein; (b) provide a control console with a user control panel on the upper platform and housing the controls of the machine in the console, - (c) provide an electrically operated water inlet mixing valve, having a body with a mounting platform and at least one inlet fitting extending from a common side and at least one solenoid operator extending from the mounting platform and an outlet fitting extending from the other side of the body; (d) forming an opening in the rear wall of the cabinet, adjacent to the upper platform, and forming an opening in the upper cabinet platform adjacent to the rear wall and communicating with the control console; (e) inserting said at least one valve inlet fitting through said rear wall opening and inserting said solenoid operators through said upper platform opening and attaching said valve mounting platform against the lower surface of said platforms. superior of cabinet; (f) connecting said outlet fitting to a hose and arranging said hose for discharge in said receptacle; Y (g) connecting said solenoid operators to said controls. The method defined in claim 9, wherein said step of joining said valve mounting platform includes sealing said mounting platform around said opening.