US3028740A - Automatic clothes washing machine with multiple-compartment dispenser - Google Patents

Description

April 10, 1962 M. s. SISULAK 3,028,740

AUTOMATIC CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE WITH MULTIPLE-COMPARTMENT DISPENSER Filed Dec. 14, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR AT T Y FILL SPIN POWER RINSE MICHAEL S. SISULAK WASH AGITATE' OFF FILL WASH SPIN F I G. 2

SOLENOID 36 POWER SOURCE Aprll 10, 1962 M. s. SISULAK 3,028,740

AUTOMATIC CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE WITH MULTIPLECOMPARTMENT DISPENSER Filed Dec. 14, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR: MICHAEL S. SISULAK flail/A /W Apr 10, 1962 M. s. SISULAK 3,028,740

AUTOMATIC CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE WITH Y MULTIPLE-COMPARTMENT DISPENSER Filed Dec. 14, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. MICHAEL S. SISULAK ATT'Y 3,028,740 AUTOMATIC CLGTHES WASHiNG MACHINE WITH MULTELE-COMPARTMENT DISPENSER Michael S. Sisniak, Chicago, Ill, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed Dec. 14, 195?, Ser. No. 859,193 8 Claims. (Cl. 68-12) This invention relates to automatic Washing machines and more particularly to the dispensing of additives into such machines.

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 ciothes, a rinsing 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, the action within any given operation may be slightly different, as for example, some machines include a two stage initial extraction operation and other machines include a spray rinse during the rinsing operation in addition to the customary submersion rinse. But the general sequence of Washing, extracting, rinsing and then extracting again is used almost in all automatic washingmachines.

In order to obtain the most desirable results from these machines, it has been found advantageous that treating agents be added to the water during the washing and rinsing operation. During the wash cycle, detergents and bleaching agents may be added to provide a more thorough cleaning of the articles being washed. The use of bleach as a whitening additive to a wash cycle is, of course, well known and in general use. Various other reating agents such as water softeners or fabric softeners, hereinafter referred to generally as rinsing or rinse agents, may be added to the rinse water.

In an automatic washing machine, it is, of course, desirable that these agents be automatically and individually added, that is, that the bleaching agent be introduced into the clothes basket at the proper time during the washing operation and the rinse agent be introduced at the proper time during the rinsing operation, both without the operator having to do anything; and accordingly, it is an object of my invention to provide a new and irn-' proved wash and rinse agent dispenser for use in an automatic washing machine, which is filled before the machine is set in operation and which will then introduce each agent automatically into the clothes basket at the proper step in the operation.

A specific object of the invention, therefore, is to provide in a dispenser using the overflow method of infusing additives into the basket, two compartmentsteach capable of storing a separate additive and. a single conduit for supplying liquid to both compartments simultaneously while infusing the additives from the dispenser to the basket sequentially.

A further object of the invention is to provide adual dispenser of the above described type where the combined automatic -and manually operable features are simple in construction and of low cost.

A still further object is to provide two separate dispensing operations in an automatic wash cycle while utilizing only a single dispenser input valve.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description of a presently preferred embodiment thereof, read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a side sectional view of a clothes washing machine employing the present invention.

States PatentO ICC FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the cyclic operation of the dispenser solenoid.

FIG. 3 shows a view of the dispenser containers taken FIG. 1 shows the invention as applied to a conventional automatic washing machine. The washing machine 11 comprises an outer casing 12 having a bulkhead 13 which forms the bottom wall of a chamber 14 housing the washing tub or clothes container 15. Below said bulkhead is a machinery compartment 16 within which is located motor-driven mechanism 17 of any conventional form sufficient to rotate a tubular shaft 13 afiixed by conventional means (not shown) to the tub for rotation of the same at high speed, or to oscillate the shaft 20 journalied within the shaft 18 for rotation relative thereto. Shaft 21) extends upwardly through the central post portion 21 of an agitator 22 and is secured thereto at the top by means including a cap nut 24. A flexible rubber boot 25 is fixed at one end about an opening (not shown) in the bulkhead 13 and at its opposite end to structure (not shown) beneath the bell portion 26 of the agitator to prevent leakage of water through the bulkhead opening while permitting the driving mechanism 17 to gyrate relative to its support structure 27. The precise drive mechanism and supporting structure form no part of the present invention and may be of any conventional type.

A washing machine of the illustrated typefurther comprises a top structure 28 having a loading opening fitted with a hinged or removable access cover or lid 30; a flexible guard sleeve (not shown) may be secured about the access opening to extend into the portion of the tub 15 comprising the heavy balance ring 32 affixed to the upper rim of the tub. g

The top 28 is configurated to provide a controls portion 33 housing, among other things, a conventional timecycle controller 34 having an externally accessible setting knob 35 and an electro-magnetic valve mechanism 36, of any conventional type, arranged to receive hot and cold water from the building supply (not shown) byway of the respective inlet fittings 37 and 3 8., Said valve isar ranged to discharge water into the tub 15 by way of the discharge nozzle 40 suitably disposed relative to the container to provide means for introducing water into the tub for the various washing and rinsing operations. The tub 15 has a row of apertures 42 immediately below the balance ring 32; it will be obvious that said apertures establish the maximum level of water or washing liquid in the tub.

As is now very well known in the art, a user of a domestic automatic washing machine places articles of clothing within the tub 15, operates the control knob to establish the duration of the washing cycle, inserts such additives as are necessary, and then operates'the knob to an on position which connects the solenoid 'valve'mechamechanism 17 is automatically energized to oscillate the agitator 22. As illustrated, the agitator is of the threebladed type in which blades 43 are disposed at inter v als and extend radially outwardly from the bell 26 and post 21. The oscillation of the agitator causes the blades 43 to create a toroidal patern of currents in the washing liquid, with the agitator post 21 being substantially at the 3 vertical axis of the toroidal pattern. The clothes (not shown) are flexed by the agitator blades and tumble about in the washing liquid whereupon all portions of the clothes are exposed to washing action.

The following series of operations is usual in domestic washing machines. After the selected washing period has expired, the controller 34 operates mechanism (not shown) which interrupts the oscillation of shaft 2t and transmits motor power to the tub shaft 18, whereupon the tub is rotated at speeds of the order of 600 rpm. to cause the free liquid in the tub, and much of that held by the articles of clothing, to escape from the tub by centrifugal action. The escaping liquid flows through the holes 42 into the water collection chamber 14, from which it is removed by a motor-driven pump (not shown). During the last minute or two of this spinning operation, water is introduced into the tub to wet the clothes with clear rinse Water, and thus help purge the clothes of any dirty or soapy water which may be entrained therein.

The tub then comes to a stop, whereupon it is filled with clear rinse water to effect a continuing overl'low of water through the holes and the agitator is again automatically operated to thoroughly subject the clothes to the rinsing operation. During this operation, lioutable dirt and scum, and floating lint is evacuated through the holes 42. After the rinsing period, as established by operation of the controller 34, the agitator is stopped and the rinse water is centrifugally extracted by the rapid rotation of the tub, following which the time-cycle controller turns the power off and the washed and rinsed clothes are ready for removal from the tub in a damp-dry condition.

Positioned within the previously described and generally known washing machine is the additive dispenser which comprises the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, there is mounted overlying the wash tub (in the upper right hand corner) a dispenser having a reservoir section 56, which is positioned proximately below the top structure 28. Further, in FIG. 1 is shown somewhat representatively the dispenser cover assembly 51. This cover assembly is positioned in such a manner that it is accessible from the exterior of machine 11. through the loading opening when access coverdd is opened.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the additive reservoir 56 and its construction may be seen in more detail. The reservoir is fabricated of any suitable rigid liquid retentive material and is generally c-onfigurated into an open-topped annular segmental trough or channel, the radius of which closely approximates that of the upper wall of wash tub 15 and balance ring 32. The reservoir is divided into two substantially annular, sub-segmental compartments 52 and 53 by a series of transverse walls 54, 55, 56 and 57 combinedly forming a solid transverse wall. Internal transverse walls 56 and 57 are lower in height than the other internal walls and are also lower than the external walls of the reservoir. Thus an overfill of liquid from either reservoir compartment will result in overflow liquid pouring into a central spout compartment 60 formed by walls 56, 57 and the inner annular wall 61 of the reservoir. Wall 61 contains an aperture 62 in communication with the wash tub for effusion from central compartment 60 directly into wash tub 15.

Each of the reservoir compartments 52 and 53 formed by the series of transverse and outer walls comprises an imperforate trough for retaining liquid therein. As shown best in FIGS. 3 and 4 each retaining compartment has in its lower surface a drain port positioned outwardly of the balance ring 32. In compartment 52, the bleach additive compartment, there is a drain port 64 and in compartment 53, the rinse additive compartment, drain port 65. Each of these drain ports is normally closed by means of a drain valve or stopper 66 (and 67), each fabricated of some flexible material such as rubber. Stopper 66, for example, is held in drain port 64 by means of lever arm 68 which extends upwardly from the stopper at an angle past a pivot rod 69. The lever arm, a fiat metal strip having springlike qualities, is normally biased to maintain the stopper in the drain port by means of a torsion spring 70. Torsion spring 70, in construction is a helical spring coiled about pivot rod 69, coil ends of which are extended from the coil to form arms. A first of these arms 70.1 extends across the central portion of the lever arm 68 and the other arm 70.2 is anchored against an internal wall. The drain stopper 67 in the rinse additive compartment is held in place similarly by lever arm 72 which is pivoted about rod 73 and maintained at normal by torsion spring 74. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the free ends of each of the lever arms overlap.

' The dispenser is supplied with wash water by means of liquid introducing tube 77. This tube is connected into inlet valve mechanism 36 and is controlled by a solenoid 36.1 for supplying water for one short interval during the agitate wash period and for a second longer period during the rinse water fill period. The tube proper is affixed to wall 54 and has a first section overlying the rinse compartrnent. In this first section the tube contains orifice 79 of relatively small diameter for providing water for the rinse compartment. Further outward on the body of tube 77 is a second, larger orifice 80 for supplying water to the bleach compartment. As an approximate indication of the relative diameters of these orifices, the tlow rate through orifice 79 should be about 1; of the rate through orifice 80. Further, the flow rate through orifice 79 should be such that the rinse compartment is not completely filled during a second wash fill period. Within these limitations, the relative orifice diameters and flow rates are of course dependent on the relative compartment sizes and timing cycle lengths.

Access to the dispenser is provided by utilizing a shaped cutout in top structure 28 into which a suitable cover assembly such as 51 may be fitted. Cover 51 includes a lid 82 which may be hinged in any suitable manner to uncover separate chutes leading to the individual compal'tments for individual filling. The cover 51 also includes a plunger 83 which is poised above the area in which both lever arms 68 and 72 have their free ends. The plunger need only be a simple plunger which can be depressed and which has a lower portion contacting lever arm 63 in section 68.1 which in turn will depress the like section of lever 72 directly therebelow.

The dispenser of the present invention is utilized as follows: At any time prior to the start of the automatic cycle previously described, the operator opens the access cover 30 and thereby exposes the dispenser cover assembly 51. The operator manually depresses plunger 83 which in turn causes the plunger lower end (not shown) to depress lever and 68.1 of lever arm 68 which is directly below the plunger lower end as mentioned. The lever end 68.1 in turn depresses the like end of lever arm 72. Both of these lever arms pivot about their respective pivot rods 69 and 73. The lower ends of these arms are thereby pivoted upward elevating stopped valves 66 and 67 out of their normal positions covering drain ports 64 and 65. Drain ports 64 and 65 are thereby opened allowing any liquid retained in the compartments to drain into the water chamber 14. Naturally, this emptying of residue must be completed before new additives are introduced into the compartments.

It should be noted that manual depressive force on plunger 83 is required to be retained until the dispenser compartments are fully emptied. After the manual pressure is removed, torsion springs 70 and 74 counteract the inertial effect of the lowered plunger and restore stopper valves 66 and 67 to their respective drain ports and cause plunger 83 to restore to its normal position. In this manner, once the operator has released plunger 83, the additive compartments provide liquid retentive reservoirs. The lid 82 of the cover assembly may then be opened and the proper additives, preferably in liquid form, may then be poured into the proper chutes for charging of the separate compartments.

Once the operative cycle of the washing machine is in effect, valve mechanism 36 is actuated periodically to allow suitable liquid to pour into the wash tube through the water inlet nozzle 45 in the cyclic pattern shown generally in US. Patent 2,885,876 issued May 12, 1959 to Vito Re. By properly timed camming (as shown in PEG. 2) of the time cycle control C the closing of contacts 95' to solenoid 36.1 causes water to flow through dispenser tube 77 for a short period during the wash cycle. It should be noted that this dispenser liquid fill period occurs during the agitate period following the Wash fill period, specifically after any detergent with its optical dyes has been added and has taken effect. in this way the bleach may utilize its brightening effect to maximum advantage. The flow through orifice 80 of tube 7'! is of sutficient duration to more than fill the bleach compartment 52 and with the parameters as used in the present embodiment a suflicient duration is in the vicinity of 45 seconds. Due to the comparative difference in the sizes of escape orifices 79 and 80, the rinse compartment is only partially filled during this overfilling of the bleach compartment. As the bleach compartment fills, the water from the inlet orifice 3t) mixes with the additive in bleach compartment 52 and the mixture drains over wall 56 into central spout compartment 69. The diluted mixture then efluses through aperture 62 into the wash tub. This etiusion of mixture continues until the time controller 34 causes the valve mechanism 36 and solenoid 36.1 to cut oil? the water supply to nozzle 3*) and tube 77. At this time, there remains in the bleach compartment, a highly diluted mixture composed of mainly water and some remaining bleach.

The rinse compartment at this time is partially full and its contents include the entire charge of rinse additive placed in the dispenser prior to the start of the operative cycle in addition to the water received from the liquid introducing tube 77. When the rinse cycle begins, valve mechanism 36 is once more actuated causing water to flow through main inlet nozzle 40 filling the tub. Solenoid 36.1 is again actuated by the closing of contacts 95 to initiate liquid flow through dispenser tube 77 to orifices 79 and 80 to the dispenser compartments. Rinse compartment 53 is overfilled due to this influx of water from orifice 79, and overflow liquid pours over low wall 57 into central spout compartment 60 for subsequent efiusion to the partially filled wash tub through spout aperture 62. During this rinse period, water is also pouring into the bleach compartment further diluting the already dilute mixture in the compartment. The bleach cornpartment continues to overflow liquid containing heavily diluted bleach additive into the wash tub, the eflFect of which is merely to further effect the mixing of water to the rinse additive in the spout compartment.

At the conclusion of the rinse cycle, solenoid 36.1 is shut off and both dispenser compartments retain dilute mixtures of additive and water. As noted previously, these retained mixtures must be disposed of in as simple a manner as possible before the start of the next Wash load so that new charges of additive can be introduced.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. in a washing machine having an automatically controlled cycle including washing and rinsing operations, a tub for washing and rinsing articles therein; a multiplecornpartment, imperforate dispenser in communication with said tub for retaining within said dispenser separate charges of additive; means for introducing and metering wash liquid into all said compartments simultaneously at predetermined periods during said cycle to cause overflow of wash liquid and additive from a first of said compartments during a first of said periods and for causing overflow of wash liquid and additive from a second of said compartments during a second of said predetermined periods; said introducing means comprising a conduit hav-,

ing access to each of said compartments for metering the flow thereto and liquid control. means for governing the duration of the said metered flow to said compartments during said first and second periods.

2. In a washing machine having an automatically controlled cycle including washing and rinsing operations, a container for washing and rinsing articles therein, an additive dispenser in communication with said container and secured stationarily to said machine, said dispenser including a first and a second imperforate compartment arrayed horizontally about the top of said container, each of said compartments shaped to retain therein individual charges of additive, means for introducing wash liquid into said first and second compartments simultaneously at specific periods during said cycle, means controlled by the operation of said introducing means for causing said first compartment to overflow a first charge of additive plus liquid to said container during a first of said periods and for causing the second of said compartments to overflow a second charge of additive plus introduced wash liquid to said container during a second of said periods, and means in each of said compartments jointly operable to allow simultaneous drainage of liquid plus additive.

from both said compartments.

3. In a washing machine having an automatically controlled cycle including washing and rinsing operations, a container for washing and rinsing articles therein, an additive dispenser in communication with said container and secured stationarily to said machine, a plurality of individual compartments in said dispenser for retaining therein separate charges of additive for sequential introduction of said individual additives to said container, said compartments including a first and a second imperforate open-topped compartment arrayed horizontally about the top of said container, first liquid introducing means for filling said container with wash liquid during said wash operation and again during said rinse operation, second means for introducing wash liquid into said first and second compartments simultaneously with the introduction of liquid into said container during said washing operation to mix the wash liquid from said second introducing means with said charges of additive, means controlled by the operation of said second introducing means for causing said first compartment to overflow a mixture of wash liquid and additive into said container during said wash operation, and for causing the second of said compartments to overflow a mixture of wash liquid and additive to said container during said rinsing operation, and valve means in each of said compartments jointly operable to release said valve means to allow simultaneous drainage of additive and wash liquid from both said compartments.

4. In a washing machine having an automatically controlled cycle including washing and rinsing operations,

a container for washing and rinsing articles therein, an I,

additive dispenser in communication with said container and secured stationarily to said machine outwardly of the periphery of said container, a plurality of individual compartments in said dispenser including a first and a second imperforate open-topped compartment arrayed horizontally about the top of said container, a common spout compartment interposed between said first and second compartments and in communication with said container, means for introducing wash liquid into said first and second compartments simultaneously at specific periods during said cycle, means controlled by the operation of said introducing means for causing said first compartment to overflow to said spout compartment for effusion to said container during a first of said periods and for causing the second of said compartments to overflow to said spout compartment for effusion to said container during a second of said periods, and normally closed means in each of said compartments jointly operable to open said normally closed means to allow simultaneous drainage of waste liquid from both said compartments.

5. In a washing machine having an automatically con trolled cycle including washing and rinsing operations, a container for washing and rinsing articles therein, a multiple-compartment dispenser in communication with said container, said dispenser including an individual compartment for retaining therein a charge of bleach additive and an individual compartment for retaining therein a charge of rinse additive, control means for infusing liquid to said container at specific periods during said cycle to complete said washing and rinsing operations, auxiliary control means for governing the infusion of liquid into both said compartments simultaneously and continuously for a predetermined period during said washing operation, conduit means for proportionally metering the flow of liquid to said compartments during said predetermined period, a first orifice in said conduit of suiiicient diameter to infuse an overfill of liquid to said bleach compartment during said predetermined period, access means for guiding said overfill into said container, said auxiliary control means further operative to govern the infusion of liquid to said compartments simultaneously during a second predetermined period during said rinsing operation, said second predetermined period of sufificient duration to allow the overfilling or" said rinse compartment, said access means efiective thereafter to guide all overfill into said container.

6. In a washing machine having an automatically controlled cycle including washing and rinsing operations, and outer structure, a container, for washing and rinsing articles therein, said container enclosed within said structure, an annular segmental dispenser secured to said structure in communication with said container, said dispenser including a first sub-segmental compartment for bleach additive and a second sub-segmental compartment for rinse additive, control means for infusing liquid to said container at specific filling periods during said cycle, auxiliary control means for governing the infusion of liquid into said compartments simultaneously and continuously for a predetermined period during a washing operation, conduit means overlying both said compartments for proportionally metering the fiow of liquid to said compartments during said predetermined period, a first orifice in said conduit positioned above said first compartment and of sufiicient diameter to infuse an overfill flow of liquid to said bleach compartment during said predetermined period, a spout compartment in said dispenser intermediate between said first and second compartments for guiding said overfill into said container; said auxiliary control means further operative to govern the infusion of liquid to said first and second compartments simultaneously for a second predetermined period during a rinse filling operation, said second predetermined period of sufficient duration to allow the overfilling of said rinse compartment, said spout compartment thereafter effective to guide overfill from said rinse compartment into said container, and valve means in each of said compartments normally closed during the automatically controlled cycle, said valve means jointly operable to discharge liquid retained in said compartments.

7. In a washing machine having an automatically controlled cycle including washing and rinsing operations, a container for washing and rinsing articles therein, a multiple-compartment dispenser in communication with said container, said dispenser including an individual compartment for bleach additive and an individual compartment for rinse additive, means for allowing the addition of each of said additives to the proper compartment, control means for introducing liquid to said container at specific periods during said cycle, auxiliary control means for governing the infusion of liquid into said compartments simultaneously and continuously for a predetermined period during said washing operation, conduit means for proportionally metering the fiow of liquid to said compartments during said predetermined period, a first orifice and a second orifice in said conduit, said first orifice of sufiicient diameter to infuse an overfill of liquid to the additive in said bleach compartment during said predetermined period and said second orifice of diameter sufficient to underfill said rinse compartment during said predetermined period, access means for guiding said overfill of liquid and bleach additive into said container, said bleach compartment thereafter retaining liquid and diluted bleach additive, said auxiliary control means further operative to govern the infusion of liquid to both said compartments simultaneously during a second predetermined period during said rinsing operation, said second predetermined period of sufiicient duration to allow the overfilling of both said compartments, said access means thereafter effective to guide the overfill of liquid and dilute additive from said bleach compartment and liquid and rinse additive from said rinse compartments into said container.

8. In a washing machine adapted to proceed through an automatically controlled cycle including washing and rinsing operations and which includes a wash tub for washing and rinsing articles therein; a multiple-compartment dispenser in communication with said tub for retaining within said dispenser compartments separate charges of additives, means for introducing and metering wash liquid into said dispenser at predetermined periods during said cycle to cause overflow of wash liquid and additive from a first of said compartments during a first of said predetermined periods and for causing overflow of wash liquid and additive from a second of said compartments during a second of said predetermined periods; said introducing means comprising a single conduit having access to all said compartments, means in said conduit for metering the flow to said compartments, and liquid control means for governing the duration of said metered How to said compartments.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Zamarik Mar. 2, 1943

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