US2934926A - Control arrangement for clothes washing machine - Google Patents

Description

May 3, 1960 w. R. BUECHLER CONTROL ARRANGEMENT FOR CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE Filed July 2, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet l rain:

FIG.

HIS ATTORNEY May 3, 1960 w. R. BUECHLER 2,934,926

CONTROL ARRANGEMENT FOR CLOTHESWASHING MACHINE Filed July 2, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. WILLIAM R. BUECHLER BYw/ Z HIS ATTORNEY CONTROL ARRANGEMENT FOR CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE William R. Buechler, Clinton, Iowa, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application July 2, 1959, Serial No. 824,551

7 Claims. (Cl. 68-12) This invention relates to automatic clothes washing machines, and more particularly to apparatus in such machines for providing a plurality of alternative washing sequences each selectable by a single manual operation.

Automatic clothes washing machines customarily proceed through a sequence of operations in order to wash, rinse and dry the clothes. The sequence ordinarily includes a washing operation, a first extraction operation in which the wash water is removed from the clothes, a rising operation in which the clothes are rinsed in clean water, and a final extraction operation in which the rinse water is removed from the clothes. Depending upon the type of machine, this sequence may vary; for example, some machines include a two stage initial extraction operation in order to avoid suds locking of the basket, and other machines include a spray rinse in addition to the customary submersion rinse. However, the general sequence of washing, rinsing and extracting is used in almost all automatic washing machines.

While, in a broad sense, this sequence is appropriate for the washing of almost all clothes, the many difierent types of fabrics now used in the manufacture of clothes has resulted in the need for variations within each of the steps. For instance, during washing it may be desirable to have various water temperatures depending upon whether the clothes load is made up of fabrics formed of synthetic or natural fibers, and whether the coloring matter used on the fabrics is colorfast in hot water or not. Also, during the washing operation, the agitation speed, in the many machines which provide some type of mechanical agitator, may preferably be relatively high for sturdy fabrics (particularly those which become highly soiled such as working clothes) but relatively slow for more delicate fabrics.

The same general considerations are present during rinse: for many types of loads a warm rinse will be preferable and for many other types of loads a cold rinse will be preferable. Also, during rinse, the agitation speed should be substantially the same as that provided during the washing step, either fast or slow depending upon the fabrics.

When it comes tothe operation of centrifugally extracting liquid from the clothes, a relatively high speed spin operation may be desirable if the clothes are of the type which havea substantial tendency to retain water,

whereas if the clothes are relatively. delicate, or wrinkle nited States PatentfQ 2,934,926 Patented May 3, 1960 ice for automatically selecting the best combination of variables for the particular type of fabric.

It will be recognized that the variables, i.e., the operation modifications, which have been described hereabove, are of the variety which involve simple operation of switches to predetermined circuit controlling positions prior to start of a sequence, without any other complicating factors being involved. In other words, timing of the various steps (wash, rinse, extraction) as performed by the conventionally provided timer motor was unatfected by the single manual setting of the above discussed variables. However, just as with the other factors such as temperature and speed, the optimum length of the wash time varies and can be scientifically ascertained with respect to any given type of clothes load. It therefore is most desirable to cause the length of wash time to be selected automatically at the same time as the other variables in the cycle by the same single manual operation. Due to the fact that operation of the timing arrangement itself must be modified in order for variable wash time to be achieved, the provision of different automatically selected wash times is a somewhat more com-- plex matter than the provision of the other variables. Since even the simpler controls for automatically preselecting all the variables by a single manual operation are relatively expensive, it is important to prevent any further substantial increase in the cost of the washing machine and to keep to a minimum the number of additional components required to automatically provide, in

addition to the other variables, the proper wash time in by the manual selection.

In one aspect of my invention I provide a washing machine which has the desired number of diflerent washmg sequences which will normally each include a wash step, a rinse step, and a liquid extraction step. These steps are provided by conventional electrically controlled components, with the components in turn being controlled by suitable switch means. The timer motor controls the switch means and operates them at predetermined times in a predetermined order in order to provide steps of a predetermined duration. At least a portion of the switch means is also controllable by means manually operable to several positions each corresponding to a particular washing sequence. Diiferent washing sequences at the difierent positions of the manual means are provided by virtue of the fact that a different controlling tact means in series with the timer motor and normallyclosed contact means in parallel with the timer motor; both sets of contacts are controlled by thermally responsive means which, in response to a predetermined amount of heat, close the normally open contacts and open the normally closed contacts. In order to operate the thermally responsive means, electric heating means are provided adjacent thereto and in series with the normally M closed contacts. Suitable switch meansmovable to different positions in response to setting of the manually operable means in different positions-control the heating means; the diiferent positions of the last mentioned switch means cause the heating means to heat at different predetermined rates.

included in the first mentioned switch means is a switch connected in parallel with the normally open contacts and in series with the timer motor; opening of this switch thus stops the timer motor until the thermallyresponsive means close the normally open contacts. The length of time before this occurs is, of course, dependent on the rate at which the heating means heats the thermally responsive means. By thus causing the thermally responsive means and the heating means to take over the timing function for a variable period which can be determined by the manually operable means, an economical, simple, and reliable method of tying the wash time selection in with the other variables for each automatically provided cycle is achieved.-

The subject matter which I regard as my invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of this specification. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a clothes washing machine including'my invention, the view being partially broken away and partially in section in order to illustrate details;

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of an electrical control circuit suitable for use in the machine of Figure 1 and including my improved control arrangement;

Figure 3 is a schematic illustration of conventional switching means which may be used for achieving the desired connections in the circuit of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a chart illustrating the sequence of closing of the timer-controlled switches shown in Figure 2.

Referring now to Figure 1, I have shown therein an agitator-type clothes washing machine 1 which includes a clothes basket 2 disposed within an outer imperforate tub or casing 3. Tub 3 in turn is mounted within an outer appearance cabinet 4 which includes a control panel 5. A plurality of manually operable members 6, I, 8, 9 and it are provided in the control panel which also may include a suitable indicator portion'll for indicating to the operator the particular steps being provided at any given instant during a washing operation.

At the center of wash basket 2 there is positioned a vertical axis agitator 12 which includes a center post 13 and a plurality of radially extending vanes 14. The agitator is further provided with an outwardly and downwardly flared skirt 15 to which the vanes are joined at their lower ends. The skirt l5 extends to a position in proximity to the bottom of basket 2 and covers a substantial portion thereof. Adjacent the top of the basket, there is provided a conventional balance ring in and a suitable clothes retaining member 17.

Both the basket 2 and the agitator 12 are rotatably mounted. Specifically, basket 2 is'rnounted on a flange 18 of a rotatable hub 19' and agitator 12 is mounted on a shaft (not shown) which extends upwardly through hub 19 and center post 13. The agitator is secured to this shaft by means of an internally threaded'nut or cap 20 at the top of the center post.

Basket 2 and agitator 12 are driven by any suitable means. by a reversible motor 21 which operates through a drive including a bi-directional clutch 22 mounted on the motor shaft. Clutch 22 allows the motor to start without load and then picks up the load as it comes up to speed. A suitable belt 23 transmits power to a transmission assembly 24 through a pulley 25. Thus, depending upon the By way of example, I have shown them driven ss-sea direction of the motor rotation, pulley 25 of transmission 24 is driven in opposite directions. The transmission clutch 22 is also a two-speed clutch, and a solenoid men.- ber 26 is provided in order to achieve the two-speed operation. Specifically, in the illustrated machine, when solenoid 26 is de-energized clutch 22 provides a direct drive between motor 21 and pulley 25, and when solenoid 26 is energized clutch 22 provides a educed speed drive to pulley 25. A two-speed ciutch of this type, particularly suited for use in the illustrated machine, is described in detail and claimed in the copending application of John Bochan, Serial No. 627,817 filed December 12, 1956, now Patent No. 2,869,699, and assigned to General Electric Company, assignee of the present invention.

Transmission 2a is so arranged that it supports and drives both the agitator drive shaft and the basket mounting hub 19. When motor 21 is rotated in one direction the transmission causes the agitator 12 to oscillate within basket 2. Conversely, when motor 21 is driven in the opposite direction, the transmission drives basket 2 and agitator 12 together at high speed for centrifugal liquid extraction. While the drive mechanism forms no part of the present invention, reference is made to Patent 2,844,225 issued to James K. Hubbard et al. on July 22, 1958 and assigned to General Electric Company, assignee of the present invention. That patent discloses in detail the structural characteristics of a transmission assembly suitable for use in the illustrated machine.

In addition to driving transmission 24, motor 21 also drives a pump 27 through a flexible coupling 2-8 which connects the motor shaft and the pump shaft. During washing and rinsing steps, pump 2-7 discharges into a conduit 29 which leads to a nozzle 36 positioned over basket 2 so that liquid may be recirculated through a suitable filtering system (not shown) in order to clean and filter it during the washing operation.

Thus, when water is introduced through an appropriate conduit, such as that shown at 31, water rises in basket 2 until it reaches the level of overflow apertures 32 provided around the upper periphery of the basket. The water then overflows through the apertures 32 into tub 3 forming a pool of water in the bottom of the tub until a level-responsive switch 33 is closed. As will be further explained below, this starts the operation of motor 21 to effect oscillation of agitator 1'2 and operation of pump 27 to recirculate water from tub 3 through conduit 29 back into the basket, whence it overflows through openings 32 into the tub again.

At the end of the washing and rinsing portions of the cycle, and in response to a reverse direction of rotation of motor 2]., pump 27 discharges into a conduit 34 which is connected for discharge to a stationary tub or drain line so that the pump is then effective to drain tub 3. Any suitable pump may be used for recirculating and draining purposes; one such pump is described in full detail and claimed in copending application Serial No. 468,460, filed November 12, 1954 by John Bochan, now Patent No. 2,883,843 and owned by the General Electric Company.

Referring now to Figure 2 there is shown an electrical control system for machine 1. It will be understood that present day washers include various controls such as control panel lights, water savers, etc., which do not rerelate in any way to the present invention, and that to some extent these have been omitted for the sake ofsimplicity and ease of understanding. in order to control the sequence of operation of washing machine l, the circuit includes a timer motor 35 which drives a plurality of cams 36, 37, 3 s, 39 and 40. These cams; during their rotation by the timer motor, actuate various switches (as will be described) so as to cause the machine to pass through an appropriate cycle of operations first washing the clothes, next extracting the wash water from them, then rinsing the clothes with clean water,-

and finally extracting the rinse water from the clothes.

masses The electrical circuit as a Whole is energized from a power supply (not shown) through a pair of conductors 41 and 42. To initiate a particular washing sequence, one of the manual control members 6 through 10 is depressed. DepresSiOn of any one of these moves earns 36 to 40by any appropriate conventional mechanism (not shown)to the position for starting a cycle.

Cam 37 controls a switch 43 which includes contacts 44, 45 and 46. When the cam 37 has assumed a position where all three contacts are separated machine l'is then disconnected from the power source and is inoperative. When operation of machine 1 is initiated by pressing down one of members 6 through 10, switch 43 is controlled by cam 37 so that contacts 44 and 45 are engaged. Thus, power is provided to the control circuit of the machine from conductor 41 through contacts 44 and 45 when any one of the manual control members is depressed to initiate a cycle.

From contact 45 the circuit extends through a conductor 47 to the control solenoid 48 of a hot water valve 49, and then through contacts 50 and 51 of a switch 52 controlled by cam 38, to conductor 53. Conductor 47 is also connected to a control solenoid 54 of a cold water valve 55 which may then be connected through contact 56 and contact 51 of switch 52 to conductor 53.

It will be observed that cam 38 moves contact 51 al ternatively into engagement with contact 56 or with contact 50, so that automatic operation of either the hot or the cold water is provided. From conductor 53 the energizing circuit continues through a switch 57 controlled by cam 36 and through the timer motor 35 to conductor 42. Also, from conductor 53 a path in parallel with the timer motor is providedwhich includes main winding 58 and start winding 59 of motor 21. More specifically, the circuit extends from conductor 53 through main winding 58, motor protective device 60, and the contacts 61 and 62 of a switch 62a controlled by cam 40, back to conductor 42. The start winding 59 is connected in the circuit in parallel with the main winding 58 by means of a double pole double throw motor reversing switch 63 controlled by cam 39. From conductor 53, the circuit extends through contacts 64 and 64a of switch 63, and then through the contact 65 of a motor operated centrifugal switch 66 which is closed when-the motor is at rest or rotating below a predetermined speed. The circuit then continues through the start winding 59 itself, contacts 66a and 67 of switch 63, and then to the protective device and along the same path as the main winding circuit.

It will be observed that when contacts 64 and 66a are moved by cam 39 to engage contacts 67 and 68 respectively, the polarity of the start winding is reversed since the circuit from conductor 53 then proceeds through con tact 66a, start winding 59, centrifugal switch contact 65, and contact 64 to protective device 60.

When the main and start windings 58 and 59 of motor 21 are connected in parallel as described, and are in series with the valve solenoids 48 and 54, a much lower impedance is presented in the circuit by motor 21 than is presented by the valve solenoids. As a result, the greater portion of the supply voltage is taken up across the solenoids and relatively little is across the motors. This causes whichever of the solenoids are connected in the circuit to be energized sufficiently to open their associated water Valves. As a result, water at a suitable temperature is admitted to the machine through conduit 31, motors 21 and 35 remaining inactive.

This action continues, with the circuitry thus arranged, so that the water pours into basket 2 and fills it to the level of the overflow apertures 32. The water then overflows through the apertures into tub 3 forming a pool of water in the bottom of the tub until water-level responsive switch 33 is closed. This switch is connected directly between conductors 47 and 53, so that when it closes it shorts them together and removes substantially '3 all power from across the solenoid. This then connects" timer motor 35 and the drive motor 21 directly between conductors 41 and 42,- and both motors then start in operation.

As motor 21 comes up to speed, centrifugal switch 66 opens so as to remove start winding 59 from the circuit. At the same time, the centrifugal switch closes a contact 69 which shorts the solenoids out regardless of whether the water pressure keeping switch 33 closed is subsequently depleted by the water recirculating action previously dewribed. When the reversing switch 63 is in the position shown in Figure 2, the polarity of start winding 59 is such that motor 21 rotates in the direction for causingoperation of the agitator 12, while in the reverse connection the motor rotates in the direction to cause rotation of the basket and agitator.

When contacts 61 and 62 are opened, once motors 21 and 35 have started in operation, motor 21 ceases to operate while motor 35 continues to operate. When this occurs, the impedance of motor 35 is much greater than that of the valve solenoids so that it takes up most of the supply of voltage and continues in operation, leaving so little voltage across the solenoids that they do not operate their respective valves. With motor 21 stopped, reversal of switch 63 is then effective to cause the motor to rotate in the opposite direction from that previously provided once the motor is started up again. In order to energize motor 21 independently of the water level switch and the valve solenoids during reverse rotation of the motor to provide spin, cam 37 causes all three contacts 44, and '46 of switch 43 to be closed during the extraction, or spin, steps so that power is supplied through contact 46 and conductor 53 to the motors directly rather than through the water level switch and the valve solenoids. 1

Operation of cams 36 through 40 by motor 35 in a predetermined sequence, as will be more fully explained herebelow, effects a basic washing operation by causing provision of a washing step, a rinsing step, and suitable extraction steps after the washing and rinsing steps. However, as explained above, for optimum results the variety of modern fabrics requires different sequences insofar as water temperatures, agitation and spin speeds, and wash time are concerned; For the washing step it will be recognized that, while hot water is desirable for some types of clothes loads such as colo-rfast cottons, there are other types of loads such as non-colorfast cottons and synthetic fabrics which may better be washed in warm water. In order to provide this choice a manually operated switch 70 is provided which, in effect, connects cold water solenoid 54 to conductor 53 independently of switch 52. When switch 70 is closed, the cold water solenoid will be energized at the same time as the hot water solenoid even if switch 52 is in the position where contacts 51 and are together to select hot water. Consequently, warm water will be provided through the conduit 31. Conversely, when switch is open and switch 52 is in the position connecting contacts 50 and 51, only the hot water solenoid can be energized and hot water will be supplied.

A second variable factor which has been described is the necessity for a cold water rinse at times and a warm water rinse at other-times. In order to provide this selection, a second switch 70a is provided which, in elfect, connects hot water solenoid 48 to conductor 53 independently of switch 52. In other words, even if switch 52 is in the position where contacts 51 and 56 are engaged, the hot water valve will be energized at the same time as the coldwater valve so that warm water will flow when the valves are energized. By the same token, if switch-70a is left open then, when contacts 51 and 56 are in engagen'ient, only the cold water solenoid 54 will be energized and cold water will flow.

A third operation of the machine which is preferably variable in order. to obtain maximum washing eflective;

ness with different types of loads is the speed of the agitator mechanism in its oscillating movement during the washing and rinsing steps. A fourth important variable is the spin speed, which for certain types of loads which tend to retain a lot of water should be high, and for certain other types of loads which are of delicate material and tend to wrinkle easily should be low. As stated above, solenoid member 26 is provided in connection with clutch 22 in order to achieve two output speeds of the clutch to provide for high and low speed agitation and high low speed spin operations. Switch member 71 controls the agitation speed and switch member 72 controls the spin speed. When switch member 71 is connected to contact 73 and conductor 74, solenoid 26 is not energized during agitation and consequently a high speed agitation is provided; if switch member 71 engages contact 75 and conductor 42, the solenoid is energized during agitation and a low speed agitation action is provided. In the same manner, connection of switch 72 with contact 76 precludes energization of solenoid 26 during spin and a high spin speed is provided, while connecting switch 72 to contact 77 causes energization of solenoid 26 during spin and a low spin speed is provided. The precise manner in which the setting of the switches 71 and 72 controls the energization of solenoid 26 is described in substantial detail and is claimed in copending application Serial Number 627,821 of Wallace H. Henshaw, Jr. filed December 12, 1956 on a control system for automatic washing machines, assigned to General Electric Company, owner of the present invention. Accordingly, since it forms no part of the present invention, the precise manner in which the control of solenoid 26 is achieved will not be further described herein.

Prior to describing the specific innovation I have provided in the washing machine control, the operation of the machine will be described in connection with the control circuit of :Fig. 2 and in connection also with Figs. 1, 3 and 4. Depression of any one of buttons 610 will cause the machine to start operation of a particular sequence, each one of the buttons providing a sequence particularly suited for the particular type of clothes load. In addition, the depression of any of the manual controls 610 sets all of the cam members 36-40 at the beginning of a cycle.

Consideration of the operation of cam member 36 will be deferred until it is considered in connection with the remainder of the applicants invention. Cam 37 at the beginning of the cycle closes contacts 44 and 45 leaving contact 46 disconnected; thus, the circuit with switches 33 and 69 open must necessarily proceed through at least one of the valve solenoids 48 and 54. Cam 38, it will be seen from Fig. 4, opens contacts 56 and 51 and closes contacts 51 and 50 so that solenoid 48 is automatically energized. At this time, solenoid 54 is energized only if switch 70 has been closed. Cam 39 is in the position shown so that contact arm 64 engages contact 64a and contact arm 66a engages contact 67. Also, contacts 61 and 62. of switch 62a are closed by cam 40.

With this arrangement of the cams, either solenoid 48 alone or both solenoids 48 and 54 are energized to provide a flow of either hot water or warm water into basket 2. This -flow continues until switch 33 is closed. When contact 33 closes, the solenoids are short circuited and an energizing circuit is completed to the main motor iindings '58 and 59 and the timer motor 35, so that both motors start to operate. Rotation of the main motor 21 causes centrifugal switch contact 65 to open, disconnecting winding 59 so that the motor runs on winding 58 alone. Also, contact 69 is closed so that the solenoids remain short circuited out of the system even though pressure switch '33 should later open as a possible result of the recirculating action of the machine. As has been stated, the motor 21 rotates at this time in the direction appropriate to provide {-13 recirculation by pump 27 and (2) agitation which is either slow or fast depending upon whether contact 71 engages contact 75 or contact 73. This wash action continues until cam 40 opens contacts 61 and 62 to de-energize the main motor. The timer motor 35, however, continues to operate; this precludes operation of the valve solenoids even if switches 33 and 69 are both open since it is a relatively high impedance motor and does not leave sufficient potential across the solenoids for them to be energized. This provides the pause a shown in Fig. 4; during this pause the cam 37 closes all three contacts 44, 45 and 46 together so that it automatically shorts the solenoids out of the system by connecting contact 46 to contact 44. Also, cam 39 moves switch 63 so that contact arm 64 engages contact 67 and contact arm 66a engages contact 68. As a result of this, when at the end of the pause cam 40 recloses contacts 61 and 62, the motor starts its rotation in the opposite direction.

With motor 21 rotating in the opposite direction, a spin action is provided at either fast or slow speed, depending on the position of switch arm 72, and continues until contacts 61 and 62 are again opened by cam 40 to provide pause b which is often deemed desirable in the circuit for the elimination of the suds lock" phenomenon whereby the machine may be prevented from coming up to full speed if excessive suds were present during the washing operation. After pause b contacts 61 and 62 are again closed by cam 40 and the second half of the wash-spin operation is provided in the same manner. Contacts 61 and 62 then open to provide pause 0; during this pause cam 37 again opens contact 46 and cam 59 returns switch 63 to its first position. In addition, cam 38 moves contact 51 from engagement with contact 50 to engagement with contact 56 so that instead of solenoid 48, solenoid 54 is energized by the timer action and solenoid 48 is dependent upon the manually set switch 70a.

As a result, when contacts 61 and 62 are closed at the end of pause c the timer will stop its operation and the solenoids will be energized to the exclusion of the two motors, as before. In this case, either cold water (if only solenoid 54 is energized) or warm water (if both solenoids are energized) will be provided to the basket until pressure switch 33 is closed when, as before, the solenoids close the valves and the two motors 21 and 35 start in operation to provide the rinse step at the same oscillation speed as the rinse step.

At the end of the rinse step, cam 40 again opens contacts 61 and 62 to provide pause d during which cam 37 again causes connection of contact 4-6 with contacts 44 and 45, and cam 39 reverses switch 63. As a result when cam 49 again closes contacts 61 and 62 a spin operation will be provided to extract the rinse water from the clothes. At the end of the spin operation contacts 61 and 62 are again separated by cam 40, and then, after a final brief pause e cam 37 separates all three of the contacts 44, 45 and 46 to remove power from the machine so that the cycle comes to an end. The clothes are then ready for removal from the machine.

In order to eifect the desired modifications for the different types of sequences to be provided by depression of the members 6.10, the depression of the members, in addition to starting the cycle, also operates a plurality of camming bars 78, 79 and (Fig. 3). All three bars in turn operate each of the switch members 70, 70a, 73, '75, 76 and '77, a closing action by any one of the bars 78, 79 and 80 being sufficient to close a given switch member. The bars are part of a conventional switching system in whichbar 73 may, as shown, beprovided with curved portions 81, 82, 83, 84 and 85 so that whichever of the members 610 is depressed it is retained in the depressed position until bar 79 is moved by subsequent operation of a diiferent one of "the members 6-10 to release the previously depressed button. Each button returns automatically to an 'unactuated position as a resuit of the'action of the camming bars, in the comb:

tional well known manner when another button is depressed.

It will, of course, be understood that the operation of the switch members efiected in accordance with the movement of the camming bars is of a predetermined nature for depression of each one of the manually operated members. For example, if member 7 should be operated it will be seen that bar 78 will remain in the position shown because member 87 (movable with button 7) will merely travel directly downwardly in groove 88; bar 79 will be moved to the right by the action of member 89 (also movable with manual member 7); and bar 80 will be moved to the right by the operation of member 90 (also movable with manual member 7).

With camming bar 78 not moved by depression of member 7, each of its switch actuating portions is in the switch-open position. With bar 79 moved to the right, switching member 70, which is normally closed by this bar, is permitted to move to an open position. However, the movement of bar 80 forces switch 70 back to a closed position so that switch 70 is closed by depression of member 7. In the same fashion, switch member 77 is moved to its closed position by bar 80, switch member 76 is moved from a closed to an open position by virtue of the movement of bar 80, switch member 73 moves from an open to a closed position because of the movement of bar 79, and switch member 75 moves from a closed to an open position by virtue of the movement of bar 79. It will thus be seen that the depression of member 7 will cause member 70 to be closed, member 70a to be opened, member 72 to be connected to member 77, and member 73 to be connected to member 71. This provides, in connection with the timer control sequence described above, warm wash water, cold rinse water, fast agitation and slow spin. This particular type of cycle has been found to be the best for sturdy synthetic materials. In the same manner, depression of each of the other members 6-10 provides a combination of factors best suited to a particular type of cycle.

As stated above, a further desirable variable is the washing time: it should, for certain types of loads, be longer than for certain others. In order to achieve this, I provide the cam 36 and switch 57 as well as the following additional structure (see Figure 2). A thermostatic element 91, generally of the bimetallic type, is connected to contact 92, which is engageable by switch arm 57 alternatively with a contact 92a in series with the timer motor. Element 91 includes at its end contact means 93 which'is alternatively engageable either with a contact 94 or a contact 95. Contact 94 is connected in series with the timer motor 35. Contact 95 is connected in series with three switches 96, 97 and 98 which together form switch means generally indicated at 98a. Switches 96, 97 and 98 are connected respectively to conductors 99, 100 and 101 when closed, and the three conductors are respectively connected to heating means in the form of resistance element 102 at different points thereon, i.e., as taps, with conductor 99 being in series with contact 95 through a relatively short span of element 102, conductor 100 being in series with contact 95 through a longer portion of the element, and conductor 101 being in series with contact 95 through the full length of element 102. Thus, when switch 96 is closed, heating element 102 which, as shown, is physically adjacent bimetallic element 91, heats the bimetallic element relatively fast; the element is heated at a slower rate if switch 97 is closed, and is heated at minimum speed if switch 98 is closed.

As is well known in connection with thermostatic devices, after the device senses a predetermined amount of heat it moves from a first position to a second position; thus, in the present arrangement bimetallic element 91 normally has its contact 93 in engagement with contact 95 but in response to a predetermined amount of heating by "element 102 moves intoengagement with contact 94 16 andout of engagement with contact 95. Then, after el ment 91 cools down, it returns from engagement with contact 94 back into engagement with contact 95.

Referring to Fig. 3 again, it will be observed that switches 96, 97 and 98 are manually operated by operation of members 610, with operation of either of members 6 and 7 closing switch 97, operation of member 8' closing switch 96, and operation of members 9 and 10 closing switch 98. It will of course be understood that switches 98, 97 and 96 are appropriately biased to an outward position so that they remain closed only so long as they are depressed by operating levers 103, 104 and 105 respectively.

It will thus be seen that depression of one of the manual members 610, in addition to selecting the four switch positions previously described in connection with the wash water and rinse water temperatures and the spin and agitation speeds, also closes one of the three switches 96, 97 and 98. In addition, it will be seen, referring to Figure 4, that at the beginning of the washing cycle cam' 36 maintains arm 57 in its up position engaging contact 92a so that an energizing circuit is completed through the timer motor 35 as described above in connection with the operation of the machine.

In accordance with my invention, shortly after the timer 35 starts operating to control the length of time of the washing cycle, cam 36, as shown in Fig. 4, moves switch 57 to its down position into engagement with contact 92. This disconnects timer 35 without, however, affecting the operation of drive motor 21, so that the washing action continues but the timer motor is stopped. In addition, the engagement of arm 57 with contact 92 causes current to pass through bimetallic element 91 and at least a portion of heating means 102, the length of the heating element through which the current travels being determined by which of switches 96, 97 and 98 is closed. Let it be assumed that member 7 has been depressed, as in connection with the previous explanation of the manually selected functions and that, consequently, switch 97 is closed. With switch 97 closed, approximately two thirds of heating means 102 is energized by the current and is therefore effective to provide heat to bimetallic element 91. Accordingly, after a predetermined period of'time enough heat is supplied by the energized portion of element 102 to bimetal 91 for the bimetal to move contact 93 out of engagement with contact and into engagement with contact 94. This disconnects heating element 102 from the circuit so that it ceases to heat element 91. It also reconnects timer motor 35 into the energizing circuit so that the timer motor starts to operate again. After a brief period of such renewed operation, as shown in Figure 4, cam 36 moves switch 57 to its up position so that once again the timer motor is operated through contact 92a in parallel with contact 94, i.e., independently of bimetallic element 91, and the heating means 102 is de-energized independently of the position of the bimetallic element 91.

As a result, the cycle continues in the previously de-. scribed manner with the timer motor controlling the 'se quenee through to the end of the complete sequence selected. Also, since bimetallic element 91 is no longer heated, it cools down and contact 93 disengages from contact 94 and engages contact 95 so that the bimetal is in readiness for the next operation. It will, of course, be understood that to insure continuity of operation the bimetal contact 93 remains in engagement with contact 94 for substantially longer than the timed period which elapses before contact 57 is moved back to its up position after the timer motor is restarted.

If switch 96 is closed rather than switch 97, the washing period will be shorter since a greater heating'etfect will be provided by element 102 and it will take less time for the required amount of heat to be supplied to bimetallic element 91. In the same manner, if switch 98 is closed by depression of either of manually oper ated members 8 or 9, a relatively long period of washing time is provided inasmuch as minimum heating effect is obtained from heating means 102. It will thus be Observed that operation of one of the manual means 6-14), in addition to selecting the previously available variables, also provides a washing time which is tailored to the needs of the particular clothes load. It will further be observed that this is effected by means of relatively simple economically available additions to the previously provided circuit, in that bimetallic elements and heating elements therefor are very economical to purchase. It will also be observed that while the invention has been evolved as a result of the particular need for a variable wash time, any one or all of the other steps including wash spin, rinse and rinse spin may be made of variable length by suitable configuration of cam 36.

While in accordance with the patent statutes I have described what at present is considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therefrom without departing from the invention, and I therefore aim in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall Within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a washing machine having a plurality of different selectable washing sequences including a wash step, a rinse step, and a liquid extraction step: a plurality of electrically controlled components for effecting said steps; first switch means for controlling operation of said components; timer motor means and an energizing circuit therefor; means controlled by said timer motor means for operating at least a portion of said first switch means at predetermined times in a predetermined order to provide wash, rinse and extraction steps of predetermined duration; said first switch means including one switch operated by said controlled means and having a first position in which it is connected in series with said timer motor means in said energizing circuit; means manually operable to a plurality of positions corresponding to a plurality of different washing sequences, said manually operable means in each position providing a different combination of switch positions within said first switch means for varying different manually selected functions in each of said steps; and means for varying the duration of at least one of said steps by precluding operation of said timer motor means for a selectable predetermined period including normally open contact means in series with said timer motor means in said energizing circuit and in parallel with said one switch, normally closed contact means in parallel with said timer motor means, thermally responsive means arranged to close said normally open contact means and open said normally closed contact means in response to a predetermined amount of heat, said controlled means moving said one switch to a second position at a predetermined time to cause said timer motor means to stop until said thermally responsive means closes said normally open contact means, electric heating means adjacent said thermally responsive means and in series with said normally closed contact means, and second switch means in controlling relation to said heating means, said heating means heating at a different predetermined rate in response to difierent positions of said second switch means, said second switch means being moved to a predetermined position for each position of said manually operable means whereby said heating means provides said predetermined amount of heat to said thermally responsive means at different rates to vary the length of time said timer motor means is stopped. 2. In a washing machine having a plurality of different selectable sequences including a wash step, a rinse step, and a liquid extraction step: a plurality of electrically controlled components for etfecting said steps; a first plurality of switches for controlling operation of said components; a timer motor and an energizing circuit therefor; means controlled by said timer motor for operating said first plurality of switches at predetermined times in a predetermined order to provide wash, rinse and extraction steps of predetermined duration, said first plurality of switches including one switch having a first position in which it is connected in series with said timer motor in said energizing circuit; a second plurality of switches each connected to modify the action of one of said components; means manually operable to a plurality of positions corresponding to a plurality of difierent washing sequences, said manually operable means in each position closing a different combination of said second plurality of switches; and means for varying the duration of at least one of said steps by precluding operation of said timer motor for a selectable predetermined period comprising normally open contact means in said energizing circuit in series with said timer motor and in parallel with said one switch, normally closed contact means in parallel with said timer motor, thermally responsive means arranged to close said normally open contact means and to open said normally closed contact means in response to a predetermined amount of heat, said controlled means moving said one switch to a second position at a predetermined time to cause said timer motor to stop until said thermally responsive means closes said normally open contact means, electric heating means adjacent said thermally responsive means and in series with said normally closed contact means, and switch means in controlling relationship to said heating means, said heatin means heating at a different predetermined rate in response to movement of said switch means to different predetermined positions, said switch means being moved to one of its predetermined positions by said manually operable means in each position of said manually operable means whereby said heating means provides said predetermined amount of heat to said thermally responsive means at different rates to vary the length of time said timer motor is precluded from operation.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein said thermally responsive means comprises a bimetallic element and contact means actuated thereby, said bimetallic element contact means engaging said normally closed contact means in the normal position of said bimetallic element and engaging said normally open contact means after said bimetallic element senses a predetermined amount of heat from said electric heating means.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said heating means comprises a resistance heating element having a plurality of taps along the length thereof, said switch means engaging a predetermined one of said taps in each predetermined position thereof whereby different lengths of said heating element are energized in dilferent predetermined positions of said switch means.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein said one switch in said first position thereof also de-energizes said heating means and in said second position thereof also permits energization of said heating means when said normally closed contact means is closed.

6. The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein said means controlled by said timer motor opens said one switch during said washing step and subsequently closes said one switch later in said washing step whereby said washing step is lengthened to an extent dependent upon the position of said switch means.

7. In a washing machine having a plurality of different selectable washing sequences including a wash step, a rinse step, and a liquid extraction step: washing means, extraction means, a hot water valve, 2. cold water valve, two speed drive means for said washing means and said extraction means, first electrical control means for controlling operation of said hot water valve, second elec- 13 trical control means for controlling operation of said cold water valve, third electrical control means for controlling operation of said drive means; a first plurality of switches for controlling operation of said valve control means and said drive control means; a timer motor and an energizing circuit therefor; means controlled by said timer motor for operating said first plurality of switches at predetermined times in a predetermined order to provide wash, rinse and extraction steps of predetermined duration; a second plurality of switches each connected to modify the action of one of said valves or the speed or" said drive means; means manually operable to a plurality of positions each corresponding to a particular washing sequence, said manually operable means in each position closing a difierent combination of said second plurality of switches; and means for varying the duration of at least one of said steps by precluding operation of said timer motor for a selectable predetermined period comprising a switch operated by said timer motor controlled means, said switch being connected in series with said timer motor in said energizing circuit in a first position thereof and opening the energizing circuit to said timer motor in a second position thereof, normally open contact means in said energizing circuit with said time! motor and in parallel with said switch in said first position thereof, normally closed contact means in parallel with said timer motor, thermally responsive means arranged to close said normally open contact means and to open said normally closed contact means in response to a predetermined amount of heat, electric heating means adjacent said thermally responsive means and in series with said normally closed contact means, and switch means in controlling relation to said heating means and having a plurality of positions, said heating means providing heat to said thermally responsive means at a different predetermined rate for each position of said switch means, said switch means for said heating means being moved to a particular predetermined position by said manually operable means in each position of said manually operable means, whereby said heating means provides a predetermined amount of heat to said thermally responsive means at different rates to vary the length of time that said timer is precluded from operation when said two-position timer motor operated switch is moved to said second position.

No references cited.

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