US2612034A - Automatic washing machine with detergent injector - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 30, 1952 A. R. CONSTANTINE 2,612,034

AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINE WITH DETERGENT INJECTOR Filed June 9, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ARTHU R R. CONSTANTINE ATTORNEY.

Sept. 30, 1952 A. R. CONSTANTINE 2,612,034

AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINE WITH DETERGENT INJECTOR Tiled June 9, 1948 e Sheets-Sheet 2 E E. IN VEN TOR.

ARTHUR R. CONSTANTJNE ATTORNEY.

Sept. 30, 1952 A. R. CONSTANTINE 2,612,034

AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINE WITH DETERGENT INJECTOR Filed June 9, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVEN TOR. ARTHUR R. CONSTANTINE ATTORNEY.

Se t. 30, 1952 A. R. CONSTANTINE 2,612,034

AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINE WITH DETERGENT INJECTOR Inmv ,- llllll n in IIIIIIIIIIIII h A4 l EM! \lllllh n Q Q, N

' INVENTOR. ARTHUR R.CONSTANT|NE. BY

ATTORNEY.

Sept: 30, 1952 A. R. CONSTANTINE 2,612,034

AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINE WITH DETERGENT INJECTOR Filed June 9, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 JNVENTOR. ARTHUR R. CONSTANTINE ATTORNEY.

Sept. 30, 1952 A. R. CONSTANTINE 2,612,034

AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINE WITH DETERGENT INJECTOR Filed June 9, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INJECTOR fiSOLENOID 28 in "i v m a: 5n. 9 .IE um INVENTOR. ARTHUR R. CONSTANTINE. $4 9 BY p ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 30, 1952 AUTOMATIC WAS-HING- WITH DETERGENT INJECTOR "Agrthur a Constantine, South Bend, l'nd'l a's signor','-gbyfmesne assignm'entsgto Avco Mann facturingCorporation, New York; N. Y1, a-corporation of Delaware Application June 9, 1948,.Sei-ial No. 31,893

This, invention relates to automatic washing machines and particularly. to. machines ofthe type including ,means if or automatically injecting;

detergent material into a...clothes Washing machine during a cycle. ofautomatic, operation.

l Automatic washing machines employing aut0- maticoperation have been in common use" for some. years; These machines haveprovidd automatic. cycle of VT operation but assumed manual addition. of soap powd'eror other detergent materiaLiti being generally recommended that this material, be. addedljus't afterth'e machine had filled with water to the desired level. The

amount a of. soappowder to .be adde'dfat this time variedrwith the hardness. of the Water, the size of [the clothesload' as well as the degree of soil in -theclothes andltheamount of soap was gen: erally determined by, visuallobservation of suds level 'andlthe. manual addition of "soap in' increments small enough to keep this' levelwithin proper specified limits.

With the. development of so called non-suds'ing synthetic detergents it is possible to specify a more at definite quantity of detergent material which gives satisfactory results independently of reasonable variationin waterfhardfness and'degreeofIsoil. One typeof machine in prior 'use provides for a preliminary washing operation called a. soak -cyclawhich' requires manual addi tion :of. detergent materialand necessitates that the machine be attendedjafter thispreliminary cycle and. manually startedin'operaticn after said v soakYcycle to start a. second'washing operation. The stopping,of'themachinet-at the end of thers'oak cycle inthese previously used'machines and manual starting thereof was necessary in order. that. detergent material couldbe addedi I It is therefore aprimary object of the present invention to provide an automatic washingmachine with an automatic detergent injection devic'e automatically operable at'a certain time in the cycle of operation; 1 V g It" is another jobject'to 'providemechanis'm 'for automatic injection of detergent'm-aterial at a predetermined time in the cycleof an" automatic washer'in' amount preselected b'ya manual'setting of -'a'- control member 'which setting: can 'be made at any desired time and can be" generally made prior-tothe starting-'of-the automatiecycle;

I It is another'ob'ject to provide means-iorautomatically injecting detergent "material into the machine at desired times inthe -cyclein both'the prewash .orxvsoaki and the "principal :washing-fipor tion of the. cycle :and thereby'lto' eliminate the 'lfClaiins. (01. as -1'2) necessity for stopping the machine at the end of-the soak cycle. It is a further object to provide interdependen relationshipbetween mechanism calling for'automatic detergent injection in the principalWash-' 8 cycle and the; main cycle control mechanism;

whereby continuous operation between soak 'cycle' and principal washing cycle will be accomplished whenever and only whenever, automatic injection is" calledfor. in said principal cycle:

} It is a further object to provide mean'sfor automatic detergent injection to" be automatically" operated 'at at predetermined time in the'cycle off operation andfat' a pjredetermined ll'quidlevel'in' the. washing container." 1

It isa further object to provide an automatic injection" washing" machine with automatic mechanism and with a manual preselection control, the magnitude'or degree of movement of" which will preselect the" amount of detergent to be injected into the'washing container;

The above and other'objects of'the invention' Figure 3 is a front view partly in section ofthe machine" shown in Figure '1 and inclu'ds'a' showing of certain of the control mechanisms;

Figure 4 is a top view of the' detergent injecti'on mechanismj Figure 5-is a sectional view of the clutch meciianis'm of detergent injector shown' in Fig' ure Figure 6 "is a top viewpartly in section ofthe" timer or so called sequentialcontrol mechanism.

Figure 7 "is awsectional' view showing "the --pre'- selection and timer control for the-'deter-gentelectrical connections andth relationship or the' several units.

Referringiztoi the drawings, there is showrii an automatic washing L-machineof: the type employ ing' a control mechanism for sequential operation of several related mechanisms in a cycle. The machine employs a tub I6 forming a container for laundry and washing liquid in which a perforated clothes tumbling cylinder II is mounted for rotation within the tub Ill, the cylinder being driven by a motor [2 through a transmission l3 and belt l4. Clothes to be washed are placed in and removed from the tub and cylinder through a door [5A in the front of the machine Figure 3. Inlet of water into the tub ill from normal household supply lines is accomplished by a solenoid operated thermostatic controlled mixing valve mechanism i5 which on electrical actuation causes flow of water into the top of the tub through inlet conduit (6. A float assembly I! actuating a fioat switch 18 provides for closure of an electrical circuit at a predetermined level of liquid in the tub [9 as will be described in more detail hereinafter.

The removal of water from the tub I is provided for by a drain valve [9 actuated by drain solenoid 20, which on actuation allows flow of water into the housing of a continuously rotating drain pump 2| thereby to drain liquid from the tub [3 through the drain outlet 2 IA.

A mechanism for injecting detergent material into the tub i0 is shown as a detergent injector assembly 22. This detergent injector assembly 22 is described in more complete detail as to mechanical features in copending application Serial No. 14,492, filed March 12, 1948. However, the principal features of this mechanism comprises a hopper 23 for detergent material which is located above a feed screw 24 rotatably mounted in a feed screw housing 25 at the bottom of the hopper 23 and which housing extends toward an outlet 26 closed by a sliding blade cover 21; The actuation of a solenoid 28 causes opening of the blade closure 21 by rotation of a shaft 30 and also causes rotation of the feed screw 24 by actuation of a clutch 29. The clutch 29 connects the continuously rotating drive wheel 3| to rotate feed screw 24. Drive wheel 3| is driven from a main pulley 32 through a belt 33 thus the actuation of the solenoid 28 causes continuous injection of the detergent material from the end 26 of the injector mechanism which projects into a housing 34 forming a part of the tub ID. The injection of detergent material is continuous during the time ofactuation of the solenoid 28, thereby providing a mechanism, the duration of actuation of which will determine the amount of detergent material injected into the tub l0. e The controls and the severalunits of the automatic washer are required to be co-related in order to accomplish the desired cycle of automatic washing, the cycle including the automatic injection of powdered detergent at the portions of the cycle where such injection is carried.

I On the wiring-diagram Figure 10 and on the general'views of the machine Figures 1 to '10 inclusive there are shown the several co-related mechanisms which are sequentially controlled electrically operated actuating units, the arrangement being described in some detail as follows:

1 For the purpose of closing electrical circuits to various units in a predetermined time cycle of operation, a sequential controller or so called timer assembly 53, having an indicating dial a cam shaft 52, a motor 53 of the synchronous clock type, and an escapement mechanism 54, are all housed in the assembly 50., The motor 53 on 4 closing of the electrical circuit that starts rotation to actuate an escapement 54 and which in turn rotates the cam shaft 52 in intermittent steps of rotation in a single direction, these rotative impulses being timed by the escapement mechanism 54 to occur at forty-five second intervals. Each impulse moves the cam shaft 52, 5 degrees. The cam shaft 52 carries a plurality of cams 55-l, 55-2, 55-3, 55-4, 55-5. These cams are shown on Figure 6 and are attached to the shaft 52 and are also shown on the diagram Figure 10. Referring to the cycle chart Figure 9 and the wiring diagram Figure 10, it appears on reference to Figure 9 that clockwise rotation of the dial 5! will successively close switches connecting electrical circuits as shown by inspection of the several circular arcs surrounding the dial 5! in Figure 9 and also on reference to Figure 10 it is apparent upon inspection that the cam 55-I controls a switch contact 1 and a switch contact IA While cam 55-2 controls a switch contact 2 and a switch contact 2A. The cam 55-3 controls only one switch contact 3. Cam 55-4 controls switch contacts 4 and 4A while the cam 55-5 controls switch contacts 5 and 5A.

The cycle chart Figure 9 shows by shaded portions various arcuate positions in a counterclockwise relation consecutively during which the respectively numbered switch contacts are closed. These switch contacts are shown on Figure 10 and are I, IA, 2A, 3, 4, 4A, 5, 5A considering the cycle chart of Figure 9 the marked numbers on the outer circumference indicate the time in minutes, while the marked divisions of the circle next to the outer circumference indicate the impulses of movement corresponding to 45 second intervals, which impulses are provided for by the escapement mechanism 54 previously mentioned and each impulse represents a movement of 5 degrees of rotation.

The mechanisms which are set in operation by the closing of the several switch contacts above enumerated are shown on the wiring diagram Figure 10 and are correspondingly numbered on the several views of the machine where the location of each of the several units is indicated for the purpose of identification. Of these units on Figure 10 the timer motor 53 has been previously mentioned. Also the main driving electric motor 12 of the washing machine is shown on the wiring diagram figure and is also shown on the general views of the machine Figures 1, 2 and 3. The motor l2 shown on the machine is a one-quarter horse power motor which drives the rotating cylinder of the machine at two speeds of rotation, a low speed for washing and a higher speed for centrifugal extraction, the transmission 13 provides these two speeds with uniform rotating speed of the motor and is shown generally in Figure 1. The construction of transmission [3 is a two speed gear box of the general type shown in U. S. Patent No. 2,412,331. This transmission I3 drives the main drive pulley 32 on the washing machine through a belt [4. For the purpose of changing the speed of rotation of tumbling cylinder II from normally low speed washing to high speed extraction, an electrical solenoid 60 is provided which, when actuated, causes the higher speed of rotation to be put in operation. This solenoid 60 is known as the shifter solenoid 60 and is shown in the diagram Figure 10 as well as Figure 1. The mechanism is such that on actuation of the shifter solenoid 60 the speed of rotation of the Washing cylinder is changed from ageiag osnt l'ow to menspeed; the low or washing speed of rotatiorr'heing in effect when the solenoi'd is not actu'atedi Forthe purpose of providing-=a-fibw of-Qw-a-ter: hito themachine at desired'times and at"a-cn-- troli'edtem-perature; a thermostatically controlledmixing valve I is provided; Thed'etails ofthis mixing valve are not important herein, but it is s'ufflfci'entto state that the actuationofsolenoi'df 62 will provide a: flow of hot' water from" a hot water supplyline through theinlet tube 115- mm the washing machine; while actuation-- of Y a sole noid"64 will'bpenvaives necessary tomix hot" and ccidi water -toprovide luke' warm" water: at controlled" temperature of approximately 1O0- into the washing; machinethrough the inlettuhe" it: These two solenoids, the hctwater-solenoid 52 andlthei luke warm' or mixed water solenoid 5'4, are shown in the diagram'Figure' I0" and-on' Figure 1:

When'it is desiredto drain waterfrormthema-- chinel such operation accomplishedby opening" diainivalve I San'd'the openin'g of'thisdrain valve [9" allows water tofi'owby gravity into aiiygmrnp housing?! which pump housing has acontinu ouslyfrotatingpumping member rotated by' the motor I2. Thus when water is allowed tdflow into. the pump housing. 21 the. water will be pumped out of'the machine through a suitable outl'et hose 2 IA. Actuation of "the drain valve E9 to open such valve to allow flowinto pump housing 2 l,.,is accomplishedby actuation of an elec-' tricalsol'enoidlcalled the drain solenoid 2'0"shown' 0n..Figures12. and'B' and also shownon the Wiring diagramfEigure 10'... It i's-Jevi'dent from the above d'escriptionthat actuation of the. drain solenoid 26 by. closing the electrical circuit theretiwill cause: the water tobedrain fromtheitub 1 ii and fronrthe washingmachine, 1 v v In the general description ofthedetergent-inf iector. mechanism 22: its was explained that ,the actuation of the injector solenoid 28-by: closin theelectrical circuit thereto would cause the injecting; mechanism, to feed powdered detergent into'the tub H) of thewashing machine.. For the purpose" of closingthe circuit tothesolenoid 28 atthe desired time and holding it closed for the desired length of time two separate springwound timers: operating with other controls are pro.- vided. a so called soakcycle injectionltimerfifl ancha wash cycleinjectiontimer 10-; Thecontrol-levers H and 12 for these two .timersare positionedon the front panel of the machine as shown ine-Figures 2, 3, '7, 8,- and 10, the timer 69 being provided with a winding and setting lever ,H and the timerx'lil being provided with a winding and settinglever 12. Considering the soakinjection timers-69, its windingand setting lever H ,has' a vcan'rportion 13 which, on rotation,,mov .es a pivoted leverH-to-close a pair of switch contacts. Therpivoted lever 14 is normally urged in a directiorr.-to:cause release of the contact15 asshown inrliligure l0. It-was previouslymentioned. that thetmovement ofthe lever ll causediawinding of the spring. of the timer". mechanism and: as shown. in Figure? a detent. 1B urged by aspring 11 (Figures 7- and 10) contacts a gear '18 on:.the'

springactuatedtimer. mechanism so thatthedetenti-lfianormally holds; the spring wound mechas. nismi; in an inoperative positioneventhough:the

sings the detent 16; an .Ielectrical magnet coil. 1931s leasing-the contactsl5 will dependuponztheideegree offarouate-movement of; arm 11:. s The'varmo H manuallyis moved a desired amount to'..pre select a desired time foixreturn but will startonly: on theactuation of" the electrical; magnet 19 to,

. release 'the'det'ent lfi'ithereby to causethe timer to start in operation. The .contactrliiwill therefore remain cl'osed untilthe; lever: H returnsto its normal 'positi'on; The-waslrcycle: ini ection', timer: 10 1s similar -to -timer 69 and hasa winding: and:

i setting lever 12 and like. thefsoak:iniectiomtimen the end of the' lever I2 is-v-provided with a cam; portion 8ll w-hich, on arcuatev movement of. lever: 12 pushes-pivoted lever-M to close two pairs-oi switch contacts-82 and83. Thereiis alsca. detenti 34 which normally: holds the timerr'l 0' from operastionandisset in motion by: actuationof aemagnet' coil a5 which; pulls the detent' 84 away from. the seam-which is'a portion of thev spring wound, timer 'lothereby releasing'the timer to. allow=re:-- turnmovement of lever 72;. On manual-movement of the: winding and setting: levers-1| or' 12s in a clockwise directionas shown'sinz Figure 10: or in a downward direction, as shown in Figures3 and 7 the switch contact 15 will-be closed on the timer 69, on movement of lever TI and the switch contacts 82 and 83 will be: closed on the timer H1, on movement of lever 12'. Furthermore, the arcuate distance of movement of levers 'll and 72 will determine the time that'isrequired for'thelevers H or 12" to return to theposition shown in- Figure 10 and at such time the switchcontacts: 15 or 82 and83; will be again opened. 'The start of this period: of time selected by-the'movement-of'the levers is--determined by'the closing of twc'otherswitches in series-ineach-circuit to actuate the magnet coils-"19 or 85' to: allow the preselected period of time to begin. Current actuating the solenoid 19 starts the soak timer in operation and'iis provided by-the closing of' the circuit controlled by' contacts 5A th'roughconnector 86. Referring to'Figure' 13"as' well as -Figure 14, it will be apparent that the-cam 5 is so formed as to close the contact 5A at the beginning of the so called soak period; with. that-contact closed and with the soap injection timer 69 actuated by manual setting movement ofthe'lever H,the contact 15 is also closed so that the circuit will be 'closed in: connector 81' to one side of the injector solenoid actuator 28;; However, the opposite connectiorr 88to the" injector solenoid 28 is connected-througha float switch contact 89 in float switch I8 and current will not flow-to the solenoid28 until upward movement of a; float l1 closes contact 8il of the float switch when the water"level in thetub reaches a predetermined maxi-min n. A It is apparenttherefore that although the cam '55'-'5 closes the circuit through the -tim'er 69 at-the' beginning of the soak'cycle. as-fshown on Figure 10, that the timer 69 although previously set to close switch 15, will not be released and begin to'pay'out its time until the float l1 closes the contact as. That is, al-

- thougl-i' the "two- contacts 5A and 15 maybe closed and ready to start injection of :"detergent: into the-machine, the 'start-of: such injection cannot take place 'until 'the tub is filled with water: to the desired level and the third contact 89? is closed. The contact '.5:.acontrolled by cam 55-5 is in series with injection: timer. 10; for the wash: cycle aciaosc.

and as shownin Figure 9 this injection is laterin time. than the soak .cycle injection. A connection 92 extends from the contact to thecon: tact :82 of the timer l0 and connector. 93 leads to thesolenoid 2B. previously mentioned in connection with the timer 69 the opposite connection to the solenoid 28 comes through the connector 38 and before the circuit can be completed the contact 89 and. the float switch 18 must. beclosed by a maximum water level in the tub which is controlled by the float l1. V

. Considering the diagram Figure 9 the so called soakcycle extends from approximately 2% minutes on the chart to about 15% minutesat which time, unless special provision is made, both the timermotor 53rand the main drive motor will stop, in fact the entire machine will stopits operation.v This stopping of the machine is nec-.

essaryat the end of the soak cycle it no one is present to manually insert soap or other detergent'material into the machine orif no automatic injection of detergent is to be available. However, in the case of the use of timer to control injection of detergent into the tub during the wash cycle such automatic injection is available and then there is no necessity to stop theroperation of the machine. Therefore, in order to assure that the mechanism will continue in operation without stopping, when and if. the lever 12 of the wash injection timer ID is moved into position to inject detergent the previously mentionedcontacts 83 are provided which are closed on the movement of the lever Hand these contacts are connected in series with the contacts IA through connector 94. The opposite side of the contact 83 is connected to thetimer motor and the main motor circuits through connector 95. It is therefore the purpose of the contact '83 and the contact IA on cam 55 to close the circuit during the normal stop period between soak and wash cycles when and if automatic soap injection in the wash cycle is called .for by preselection of powdered detergent injection movement of the lever 12.

Consideringfurther details of Figure 10 and the functions performed as shown in Figure 9 it may be stated that connectors 96,- 91,438, 99, Hill, IOI, control flow of current through contact I controlled by. cam 55-l connectors M2 and I03 feeding current from 110 volt line as shown. Closing of :contact I. starts the timer action 53 andthe main driving motor [2. Connectors for contact 2 adjacent'cam 55--2 are shown on Figure ides-connectors H14, [05, feeding current to the drain valve solenoid 2l.-

The connectors for. hot water solenoid- GZ-from the contacts-2A are I06, ID! as shown ;v Connectors for'contact 4 to the, mix'solenoid 64 are I88; and I09 as shown while connectors :for contactziAare l lfl-and [H to feed current to the transmissionchange speedshiftersolenoid 60. The contact;3" attached to .cam-,55.-3 is provided with connectors M2 and H3 for the purpose of shortingout the float switch contacts 89A at the desired time to provide an assured spray rinse of limited amount as shown on Figure 9 without reference as to whether or not the tub is filled with water. j In operation, clothes to be washed are put inthe machine through the door NA in the front of the cabinet and the machine started in operation by rotation bythe' timer dial 5| in clockwise direction, which causes contact tobe made by contacts l controlled-byv timer cam 55-4, the timer motor 53 and the mainiidriving motor 12 8 thus being started in operation because of closing of electrical circuits thereto. (See Figure 10.) The rotation of the timer dial 5| and shaft 52 carrying the cams 55l, 55-2, 55--3, 55-4,

and 55-5, will continue as long as the timer motor 53 is in operation. Referring to the cycle diagram Figure 9 and the wiring diagram Figure 10 the same initial rotative movementof dial 5| which causes starting of the timer motor 53 and the main drive motor 12 also causes contactsjll to close which closes circuit to the mix water solenoid 64 resulting in mixing valve l5 feeding water into the tub [0. This feeding of water will continue until the contacts 89A of the float switch [8 are broken by the raising of the float H to its uppermost position. This raising of the float II to the maximum predetermined water level in the tub will also cause the contacts 89 in the float switch assembly 18 to open and if the lever H for preselecting automatic detergent injection into the tub has been manually set to a definite position the float switch contacts89 will cause actuation of the detergent injector solenoid 28. Contact 5A on the injector control cam 55-5 and the contact 15 of the soak injector timer 69 have previously been closed and therefore the contacts 89 are the last to be closed of the three sets of contacts in series'with the injector solenoid 28. Therefore, the circuit is completed and the injector timer 69 is released by actuation of the magnet coil 79 in the same circuit, and the solenoid 28 is actuatedcausing detergent injector feed screw 24 to begin rotation, feeding detergent into the tub ID at housing 34 from the outer end 26 of the injector mecha-' nism. This injection of detergent material continues until the timer lever 'H returns to. its normal position and releases the contacts 15 which breaks the circuit to the injector solenoid 28 and the injector therefore stops. The amount of detergent injected in the soak cycle is determined by the magnitude of movement of the lever llpgraduations being'placed adjacent the-lever for visual observation at the time of setting. The soak cycle then continues in accordance with the cycle diagram, Figure 9 until the end of the soak cycle as shown on the diagram. The tum-'- bling rotation of cylinder II for washing continues and at the twelve minute mark (see Figure 9) the drain valve I9 is opened and a one minute spin at higher rotation to remove water starts at the fifteen minute mark on the diagram. If the wash injector timer preselection control lever 12 has not been set to call for automatic detergent injection 'in the main Wash cycle, the machine will then stop at the-end of the spin because of the breaking of the circuit at contact -"i by the projection on the cam 55| as this is the end of the soak cycle. -However, if the preselection lever 12 calling for automatic detergent injection in the wash cycle has been manually setfthe contact 83 will have been closed and the projection on-oam 55I will have also closed the contacts IA in the same circuit and therefore the timer motor and main drive motor will continue withcutinterruption through the normal stop interval between the pro-wash soak cycle and the main washing cycle (see Figure 10). The same movement of the pro-selecting lever 12 will havealso closed the contacts 82 on the main'injector timer [0 and as the timer cams continue rotation,.hot water will be injected into the machineibythe closing of contacts 2A closing the circuit to the hot water solenoid 62 of the mixing: valve 15 andas soon as the float ll raisesto :a position which .will closethe contacts 89, the injector the othe t o .r witehes in senes so enoi -1a 1 -111 elesinetcf conta t 9.15 .afinal closin th th d swit in e s rie :e heuit, w t o tacts 8 beinae m e .5-eent 1 h ea n .5-5 and the cont t 8. in the wash in t me 131 .1 5 en t e cl n o t e co a t 9 a the e e-deter ed Water 1evel he a n e0 85 w l e es t e t mer 1 andetu -ini te ee e i id 2, o t eini et m i m as p .viously described and injection of detergent material will eontinueiora period of time previously. determinedby the magnitudeof movement of the lever 1 2 of the wash injection timer 10. After a period of time when the lever 12 has e ch d t t-e o i n s e in Fi u e 10 both the contacts 82 and 83 will be released and b caus .e th lrel a e thee nt i t e d ner u t o c n t e ene d 2. t e dete gent injector will stop. However, releaseof contact 83 will have no result at this time inasmuch as the continued operation of the timer motor 53 and the main drive motor l2 arenojw assured by the fact that the contacts l are now closed by the action of the cam -4, The automatic,

injection of detergenthaving been accomplished in the main ash cy e 7 the se uen ia c l o epe a i'enecn nu e [i a ervdan e w h th yc e chart, Figure 9', the several mechanisms being eetua edin a m nne whic ea e di v a lo e b ren e t fi s n 1 'The machine can be operated at willto; inject detergent automatically in the pre-wa-sh cycle andto stop at the end of the p-re-wash cycleby failure to set the wash injector'lever '12, -as the closure of the contacts accomplished by move- 'ment of lever 12 is "controlling over the carry through from the soak cycle to the main'wash cycle. Likewise it is possible to omit entirely the pre-wash or soak cycleby' iailure to move the in such case the dial {5i can-beset to start-with the main washing cycle with automatic detergent injection assured by merely setting the lever '12 for pre-selecting the amountof detergent to be injected when the waterlevel reaches the predetermined maximum. Automatic injection is therefore possible in either or both thesoalrcycle and the main Washing cycle and there will be a carry through without stopping between the time b ween :sa s i ent el relementlz) said time 3) said .lieuid leve re pons ve \element -.pr0Yi!l. n tier ac ua ion ofsaid in ecto meeha- .nism:.;ior sa d pr selected period .o time when all thr e ofzth afo esa d ements areae ated- V ,2, In an automatic w h n machi e, .a container (f r laundry and washin liq id, .a de erent in e tor :meeha i m p rabl to inject vd ..ter en. .ma .eria1 into said container L :1 ;a unt p opo tiona t time saidihieet 'is inwvonera ion,

electrical y voperat d mechanism .zsonnected. to

sta sa d de e ent injector: in opera i n on actua i n and to -;-step said inj.eetcrs.when.n t :ae-

:lil fili d, a iv t r l velrresnensive switch arranged eseet; hre ete inedmaximumliqu dlevel in sa dconta ner;..aninieetorjeontrolsw tch :eonineet hd-inser esw th said waterlevelresponsive v-sw ehand sa elec ricall ion ratedmeehan sm, an; nt rval timerl arranged to ;.di.sconr.1 ect:said cin- :ieeter .c ntrok witch, a tmanua lytonerable timer cent tq mem er ar a ed. :to close said iniector ee trol sw tch and to ,ureseleet time interval of said timer and therefore he time .i-ntervalxof cl sin of said swi c ele tri a lyzoberate releas me han sm,,connected tonbe operable ;in se s t ;eai -water;.1ev el responsiveswitchand said. control switch and positioned to F. start :Sai

interval timer in-operation .wherebylsaid detersent injector ;mechanism. starts operation, to injest material iniamqunt -:-pr0.p0.rtional to its time in operation when1water 'level insaidcontainer reaches the aforesaid predetermined maximum and continues in operation for time preselected by said manually operable lcontrol amemb'er,

,3, In an automatic washing-machine having ;a sequential [controller :prpviding "mechanisms :for

- osin a: plurality oficlectrical circuits in :se-

7. 40 setting lever =1! to inject soap in that cycle and v injector when not; actuated, an iDjGOtOIFlCGTltIOl switch, an interval timer arrangedtotldisconnect j j cycles whenever the lever'l-2 is set to call for detergent injection in the .wash cycle;

Although the invention has been described by reference to a specific construction found practical in actual operation it is not intended to limit 'the invention by such disclosure as modifications are intended within the scope of the zfg ilrlow-mg m 11 claim: v

;1 In an automatic washingmachine, a liquid container; an element responsive to a predetermined maximum liquid level insaid container, a detergent injector mechanism "having a control quence to provide a cycle ofpperationsion washing includin :fillingland draining ofr'liquid and soalgand wash cycles, a detergent injector :mech- 1a sm operable toinject detergent materialinto jectorin operation .onactuation and: to stop said said rainl'ectorecontrol switch,- a;manuallyz operable timer centrol member rearranged to closefsaideinjector control switch and ton,;preselect"time intervalof Said itimertand thereforethe Ztil'llefigp;

terval .of closing of. said lswitch',v a second injector con-trol switch in series with. said first mentioned injector control switch and actuated "by isaid12se quential controller toclose at a predetermined position vin: said cycle, electrically [operated re.- lease mechanism .conne'cted -to "be 'ope'rable'vin series with said first and second injector:control' switches .and'positioned' to start'said interVaI timer in operation when all said series' connectedi switches are closed, saidre'lease rnechanism being actuated only when the' saidliQuidfreaches 'a" V predetermined level whereby said detergent injector mechanism starts operation to inject material in amount proportional to its preselected time in operation at positions in said soak and; wash cycles determined by said controller operated injector control switch and continues in operation for time preselected by said manually operable control member.

4. In an automatic washing machine, having a sequential controller providing mechanism for closing a plurality of electrical circuits in se-" quence to provide a cycle of operations for washcontainer amount .proportionaliito xtime sa dunjector .isin operation, electrically pperated me chanism connected to: start said detergent iining including filling and draining of washing liquid and soak and wash cycles, a containerfor laundry and washingliquid, a detergent injector mechanism operable to inject detergent material into said container in amount proportional to time said injector is in operation, electrically operated mechanism connected to start said detergent injector in operation on actuation and to stop said injector when not actuated, a water level responsive switch arranged to close at a predetermined maximum liquid level in said container, an injector control switch connected in series with said water level responsive switch and said electrically-operated mechanism, an interval timer arranged to disconnect said injector control switch, a manually operable timer control member arranged to close said injector control switch and to preselect time interval of said timer and therefore the time interval of closing of said switch, a second injector control switch in series with said first mentioned injector control switch and said liquid level responsive switch and actuated by said sequential controller to close at a predetermined position in said cycle, electrically operated release mechanism connected to be operable in series with said first and second injector control switches and said Water level responsive switch and positioned to start said intervaltimer in operation when said series connected switches are closed whereby said detergent injector mechanism starts operation to inject material in amount proportional to its preselected time in operation at positions in both said soak: and wash cycles, determined by said controller operated switches and when said water level reaches 'a 'said predetermined maximum and continues in operation for time preselected by said manually operable control member.

'- 5. In an automatic washing machine having a tub foriwash fluids and of the type employing a sequential control mechanism for automatic operation through a preliminary soak cycle of washing operations with elements in said control mechanism normally causing said machine to stop after said preliminary soak cycle and with manual control mechanism to start said sequential control mechanism for a second and principal cycle of washing operations, thecombination therewith of a detergent material injector, ac-

tuating mechanism for said injector, a manually operablezcontml member conditioning said injector actuating mechanism to cause injection of ."detergent material during said preliminary soak cycle of washing operations, a second manually said fiuidsreach a predetermined level, and an element actuated on movement of said second manually operable control member connected to cause said sequential control mechanism to continue automatic operation without stop between said soak cycle and said principal washing cycle.

gent injecting'mechanism for operation, said'detergent injecting mechanism being actuated only .at predetermined nuid levels, ad itional controls actuated on movement of said manually actuable control member for causing said drive. mechanism to continuefoperation without stop through both'said preliminary soak cycle and said principal washing cycle. ,l r

7. In an automatic-washing machine having a tub io'rfwash liquid and being of the type employing a sequential control mechanism for automatic,, .operationthrough a preliminary soak cycle'lof; washing operations, with elements in said control mechanism normally. causing said machine to stop after said preliminary soak cycle and with manual control mechanism to start sequential controlmechanism for a second and principal cycle of Washing operations, the combination therewith of a detergent materiallinjector, actuating mechanism for said injector, a manual operable control member conditioning said injector actuating mechanism to inject detergent material during said preliminary soak cycle of washing operations, a second manually operable control member conditioning said injector actuating mechanism toinject detergent material during said principal cycle, said injector actuating mechanism being activated only ,at predetermined llquidlevels, andan element actuated on movementof said second manually operable control member connected to cause said sequential control mechanism to continue automatic,operation-without stop between said soak cycle and said principal washing cycle.

a ARTHUR R. CONSTANTINE.

7 REFERENCES CITED The followingreferences are of record in the file of this patent:

, ,UNITEDHSTATES PATENTS Number.

I Name ---Date 1, 5,093 Wilson Oct; 3', 1911 1,457,367 Hubers June 5, 192. 1,502,915 Neuwerk July 29, 1924 1,849,952 Perry .Mar. ,15, 1932 1,876,512 Pfeni-ng et al Sept. 6, 1932 2,278,769 Chayie Apr. 7, 1942 2,321,641 7 Andersen June 15, 1943

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