US3080742A - Automatic washing machine including dispensing means - Google Patents

Description

J. W. TOMA March 12, 1963 AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINE INCLUDING DISPENSING MEANS Filed Dec. 18, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 7 If 9 5 6 R 4 4 4 m o A s j. mm 0 Z M V O a 4 NT 1 F w 0 0 0 0 N 0 0 0 0 H o o o o 4 .m I 0 o o o 4 S 5 o o o o o o 2 Y Y W o 0 o 0 B o o o o o l. V o W 1 8 7 B 4 Z. 3 3M5 I 2 Z s I I II a w n 3 I 6 2 III 0 z 6 o o o 3 9 3 5 5 o o o 2 H h 3 o 0 o u o o c n: M 5 o o o 2 7 a 3 3 6 o z 5 7 Z 2 5 o 6 EH... 0 3 4 u 4 4 R L 2 .a, z B i r z 4 x 3 m 3 5 m 4 H\S ATTORNEY March 12, 1963 w, TOMA 3,080,742

AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINE INCLUDING DISPENSING MEANS Filed Dec. 18, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PAUSEA PAUSE 5 PAUSE C PAUSE. D PAUSE 5 OFF w U L1 u u INVENTOR. J'OHN w. TOMA F'G.3 MWM HIS ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofifice Patented Mar; 12, 1963 3,050,742 AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINE INCLUDWG DISPENSING NEANS John W. Toma, Louisville, Ky, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed Dec. 18, 1961, Ser. No. 1%,175 '7 Claims. (Ci. 63-12) This invention relates to automatic fabric washing machines, and more particularly to an arrangement, provided in such machines, for introducing a treat-ing agent subsequent to the start of the operation.

It is a highly desirable feature in washing machines which proceed automatically through an entire washing operation, including the rinsing step, to provide an initial soak in which a preliminary removal of dirt from the fabrics is effected prior to the main washing step. While this initial step, or soak as it is often called, may be provided with or without use of a clothes treating agent such as detergent, it is, of course, imperative that the main washing step be provided with such a treating agent added to the water.

Accordingly, it is an object of my invention to provide a structure wherein addition of the treating agent may automatically be effected subsequent to a soak step, for the washing step.

More particularly, it is an object of my invention to provide a structure for effecting such a desired sequence, wherein the washing machine is of the recirculation type which takes liquid from the liquid container and then circulates it (generally for filtering purposes) and passes it back into the container.

A further, more specific, object of my invention is to provide a recirculation-type machine wherein the treating agent is poured into a container positioned in the path of the recirculation stream, and by selectively preventing recirculation the treating agent is taken into the container at the desired time.

In one aspect of my invention, I provide a washing machine in which, in the usual way, container means for containing liquid and fabrics to be washed in the liquid is provided, together with flexing means for flexing clothes in the container means, and suitable means for introducing liquid thereto. To effect removal of the liquid at appropriate times, I provide a suitable drain pump arrangement.

In addition, I provide, together with a recirculation pump system, recirculation conduit means which is connected with the recirculation pump system so that liquid may be passed from the container means, through the recirculation pump system, and then back into the container means; this is generally provided for filtering purposes, as mentioned above. Downstream of the recirculation pump system, I provide a container for treating agent (such as detergent) in which treating agent may be pre vided prior to the start of the complete automatic operati'on.

In order to control and effect such an operatiomsequence control means are provided so as to cause, in sequence, proper operation of the liquid introducing means, then the flexing means and the recirculation pump system, and then the drain pump system. Thus, water is first introduced to the container means, then the clothes are flexed while the water is recirculated, and then the Water is drained. The control means causes this sequence to be repeated at least three times during the cycle of operations so as to provide, in order, a soak sequence, a wash sequence, and a rinse sequence.

As an important feature of my invention, I provide means which is effective to prevent the recirculation pump system from circulating liquid through the treating agent container during the initial or soak period, but which may be disabled subsequently so that the desired recirculation will occur in subsequent operations. As a result of this, treating agent which is introduced into the container remains there during the soak sequence, since there is no recirculation stream through the treating agent container, but then during the wash operation is carried, as desired, by the recirculation stream into the container means.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention; the recirculation stream passes through an air gap into a lint filter pan mounted on an agitator which constitutes the flexing means. As a result of this, treating agent in granular or flake form, such as a detergent or soap, may be introduced to this pan and will remain there as long as liquid is not passed into the pan from the recirculation pump system. One advantage which may immediately be seen for this type of construction is that, at the start of an operation, some detergent may be added directly to the container means and some detergent placed in the lint filter pan. This causes a soak operation to be 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, together with further advantages thereof, may best be under-stood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings,

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a clothes washing machine which includes my improved structure, the view being partially broken away and partially in sect-ion to illustrate details;

FIGURE 2 is a schematic diagram of an electric control circuit incorporating my invention, which circuit is incorporated in the machine of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a schematic view of a development of the cam surfaces used in the control of the timer operated switches of FIGURE 2, thereby indicating the operation of the switches by cams throughout a cycle.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, I have shown therein an agitator type clothes washing machine 1 having a conventional basket or clothes receiving receptacle 2 provided over its side and bottom walls with perforations 3 and disposed within an outer imperforate tub or casing 4 which serves as a liquid receptacle. With this combination, the receptacle 2 and tub 4 thus form together receptacle means for containing liquid and the fabrics or clothes to be immersed in the liquid. The basket 2 may be provided with a suitable clothes retaining member 5 for preventing clothes from being floated over the top of the basket, and with a balance ring 6 to help steady the basket when (as will be explained) it is rotated at high speed.

Tub 4 is rigidly mounted within an appearance cabinet 7 which includes a cover 8 hingedly mounted in the top portion 9 of the cabinet for providing access to an opening 10 to the basket 2. As shown, a gasket 11 may be provided so as to from a seal between the top of tub 4 and portion of the cabinet thereby to prevent escape of moisture and moist air into the cabinet around the tub. The rigid mounting of tub 4 within the cabinet 7 may be effected by any suitable means. As a typical example of one such means I have provided strap members 12, each of which is secured at one end to an inturned flange 13 of the cabinet and at its other end to the outside of tub 4. At the center of basket 2 there is positioned suitable means for flexing clothes which are placed into the basket 2. In the present case, this takes the form of a vertical axis agitator 14 which includes a center post 15 and a plurality of curved water circulating vanes 16 joined at their lower ends by an outwardly flared skirt 17.

The clothes basket 2 and the agitator 14 are rotatably mounted. The basket is mounted on a flange 18 of a rotatable hub 19, and the agitator 14 is mounted on a shaft (not shown) which extends upwardly through the hub 19 and through the center post 15 and is secured to the agitator so as to drive it. During the cycle of operation of the machine 1, water is introduced into the tub 4 and basket 2, and the agitator is then oscillated back and forth on its axis, that is, in a horizontal plane within the basket; this initial step is preferably a soak operation which may be provided with or without detergent to loosen dirt from the fabrics. Then, after a predetermined period of this action, basket 2 is rotated at high speed to extract centrifugally the liquid from the clothes and discharge it to drain. Following this extraction operation, a supply of clean liquid is introduced into the basket for rinsing the clothes and the agitator is again oscillated. During this operation, which constitutes the wash step of the cycle, the liquid is preferably mixed with a suitable treating agent such as detergent in order to effect chemical cleansing of the fabrics. Then the basket is rotated again at high speed to extract this washing liquid. Following this, a supply of clean liquid is introduced into the basket for rinsing the clothes and once again the agitator is oscillated. Finally, the basket is once more rotated at high speed to extract the rinse water. Of course, while it is often not done, more than one rinsing operation may be provided if so desired, and irrelevant modifications such as, for instance, spray rinses during the spinning operation, may also be provided.

Basket 2 and agitator 14 may be driven through any suitable means from a reversing motor. By way of example, I have shown them as driven from a reversing motor 20 through a system including a suitable loadlirniting clutch 21 mounted on the motor shaft. A suitable belt 22 transmits power from clutch 21 to a transmission assembly 23 through a pulley 24. Thus, depend-- ing upon the direction of motor rotation, pulley 24 of transmission 23 is driven in opposite directions. The transmission 23 is so arranged that it supports and drives both the agitator drive shaft and basket mounting hub 19. When motor 20 is rotated in one direction the transmission causes agitator 14 to oscillate in a substantially horizontal plane within the basket 2. Conversely, when motor 20 is driven in the opposite direction, the transmission rotates the wash basket 2 and agitator 14 together at high speed for centrifugal liquid extraction. While the specific type of transmission mechanism used does not form part of the invention, reference is made to Patent 2,844,225 issued to James R. Hubbard et a]. on July 22, 1958, and owned by the General Electric Company, assignee of the present invention. That patent discloses in detail the structural characteristics of a transmission suitable for use in the illustrated machine.

In addition to operating the transmission 23 as described, motor 20 also provides a direct drive through a flexible coupling 25 to a pump structure, generally indicated at 26, which may include two separate pumping units 27 and 28 both operated in the same direction simultaneously by motor 20. Pump 27 has an inlet which is connected by a conduit 29 to an opening 30 formed at the lowermost point of tub 4; Pump 27 also has an outlet which is connected by a conduit 31 to a suitable drain (not shown). The pump 25 has an inlet connected by a conduit 32 to the interior of tub 4 and an outlet connected by a conduit 33 to a nozzle 34. The pumps are formed so that in the spin direction of motor rotation pump 27 will draw in liquid from opening 34 through conduit 29 and then discharge it through conduit 31 to drain, and in the other direction of rotation pump 28 will draw in liquid through conduit 32 and discharge it through conduit 33 and nozzle 34, each of the pumps being substantially inoperative in the direction of rotation in which it is not used. The particular form of the pump assembly 26 is not significant; rather, assembly 26 is representative of any structure capable of passing liquid selectively out through one outlet or another, whether by use of one pump with suitable valving, a combination structure, or two pumps.

Nozzle 3 is positioned to discharge into a filter pan 35 secured on the top portion 36 of agitator 14 so as to be movable therewith. With this structure then, when the motor is rotating so as to provide agitation, pump 28 draws liquid through conduit 32 from tub 4 and discharges it through conduit 33 so that the liquid passes from nozzle 34 substantially horizontally through an air gap, into filter pan 35, then down through a number of small openings 37 provided in the bottom of the filter pan, and back into basket 2. In this manner, the filter pan 35 with its small openings 37 and its upstanding side wall 38 causes lint which is separated from the clothes during the washing operation to be filtered out of the water, and thus prevents it from being re-cleposited on the clothes. This type of structure is more fully described and claimed in Patent 2,481,979, issued to Russell H. Colley on September 13, 1949, and assigned to the General Electric Company, owner of the present invention. It will further be observed that the conduits 32 and 33 together with the nozzle 34, the filter pan 35, and the air space between the nozzle and the filter pan constitute a recirculation conduit means for the liquid being circulated by pump 23.

As an important feature of my invention, means are provided to prevent pump 23 from passing liquid through filter pan 35. In the instant embodiment, this is achieved by incorporating with conduit 33 a valve, schematically shown at 39, which is controlled by a solenoid member 40 so that when the solenoid is energized the valve 39 closes the conduit 33 sufiiciently so as not to permit the passage of liquid at a rate sufiicient to pass through filter pan 35 despite the pumping action of pump 23. In the illustrated embodiment of my invention, the portion of conduit 33 associated with valve 39 is of a flexible elastomeric material which is squeezed shut by valve 39, such valves and conduits being well known in the art.

The motor 29, clutch 21, transmission 23, basket 2 and agitator 14 form a suspended washing and centrifuging system which is supported by the stationary structure of the machine so as to permit isolation of vibrations from the stationary structure. It will be understood that such vibrations occur primarily as a result of high speed spinning of basket 2 with a load of clothes therein as mentioned above. While any suitable suspension structure may be used, one such structure includes a bracket member 41 with transmission 23 mounted on top thereof and motor 20 mounted to the underside thereof. The bracket member in turn is secured to upwardly extending rigid members 42., and each of the two upwardly extending members 42 is connected to a cable 43 supported from the top of the machine. While only a portion or" the suspension system is shown in FIGURE 1, such a vibration isolating system is fully described and claimed in Patent 2,987,190, issued on June 6, 196i, to John Bochan and assigned to the General Electric Company, assignee of the present invention.

In order to accommodate the movement which occurs between basket 2 and tub 4 without any danger of leakage between them, the stationary tub 4- is joined to the upper part of transmission 23 by a flexible boot member 44. Boot 44 may be of any suitable configuration, many of which are known in the art, to permit relative motion of the parts to which it is joined without leakage there between.

Completing now the description of the machine as illustrated in FIGURE 1, hot and cold water may be supplied to the machine through conduits 45 and 46 which are adapted to be connected respectively to sources of hot and cold water (not shown). Conduits 45 and 46 extend into a conventional mixing valve structure 47 having solenoids 48 and 49. Energization of solenoid 48 permits passage of hot water through the valve to a hose 5%, energization of solenoid 49 permits passage of cold water through the valve, and energization of both solenoids permits mixing of hot and cold water in the valve and passage of warm Water into hose 50. Hose St has an outlet 51 positioned to discharge into basket 2 so that when one or both of the solenoids 48 and 49- are energized, water passes into the basket 2 and tub 4.

The level to which water rises in the basket and tub may be controlled by any suitable liquid level sensing means. One typical arrangement for doing this is to provide an opening 52; in the side of tube 4 adjacent the bottom thereof, the opening 52 being connected through a conduit 53 and a tube 54 to a conventional pressure sensitive switch device (shown schematically in FIGURE 2, by the numeral 55) which may be positioned within the backsplasher 56 of machine I. In the conventional manner,

as the water rises in basket 2 and tub 4 it exerts increasing pressure on a column of air trapped in tube 5 and at a predetermined pressure level the column of air then trips switch 55 to shut off whichever of solenoids 43 and 49 may be energized. The backsplasher 56 may have suitable manual controls, such as that shown at 57 extending therefrom so that the particular fabric cycle, including, for instance, washing and spin speeds, water temperatures, water level within the tub 4 and basket 2, etc., may be controlled to effect the washing of different types of fabrics.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, the electrical control system for the machine of FIGURE 1 will be described. In connection with the circuit of FIGURE 2, it will be understood that present-day washers often include various improvements such as control panel lights, etc., which do not relate to the present invention, and that to some extent these have been omitted for the sake of simplicity and ease of understanding.

In order to control the sequence of operations of the components of machine 1, the circuit includes an automatic sequence control assembly which incorporates a timer motor 53 driving a plurality of cams Sit, 6t 61, 62 and 63. These cams, during their rotation by the timer motor, actuate various switches (as will be described), causing the machine to pass through an appropriate cycle of operations, first soaking the clothes .and then extracting the soak Water, then washing the clothes and extracting the wash water, then rinsing the clothes in clean water, and finally centrifuging the rinse water from the clothes. The operating surfaces of the different cams are shown in developed form in FIGURE 3 and will be further discussed herebelow in connection with the description of the operation of the machine.

The electric circuit as va whole is energized from a power supply (not shown) through a pair of conductors 64 and 65. Cam 59 controls a switch 66 which includes contacts 67, 68, and 69; when the cam has assumed a position Where all three contacts are separated,'machine I is disconnected from the power source and is inoperative. When operation of machine 1 is to be initiated, as will be explained below, switch 66 is controlled by cam 59 so that contacts 67 and 68 are engaged, When the main switch 70 is closed (by one of the controls 57), power is then provided to the control circuit of the machine from conductor 64- through contacts 67 and 68.

From contact 68, the circuit extends through a conductor 71 and a manually operated switch 72 to the valve control solenoid 49. In addition, a circuit is completed from conductor 71 through a switch 73 controlled by cam 61. In the up position, switch 73 completes a circuit for solenoid 49 independently of switch 72, and in the down position shown, the switch 73 completes a circuit for solenoid4-8. Thus, when switch 72 is open, energization of solenoids 48 and 49 is under the control of switch '73, but when switch 72 is closed the cold water solenoid 49 may be energized independently of the position of switch 73. From the hot and cold water solenoids, the energizing circuit then extends through a conductor 74 and then through a coil 75 of a relay 7 6, the main winding winding to be completed in parallel with the main wind ing through a contact 82 of a switch generally indicated at 8'3 and whichis controlled by cam 62, contact arm 84, the relay contact 81, the start winding Bit, a contact arm 85 and a contact 86 of switch 83. A circuit is also completed in parallel with motor 20 through the timer motor 58. Relay coil 75 is designed to close contact 81 when a relatively high current, of the level demanded by the motor when the motor is rotating below a predetermined speed, is passing through it; At other times, when there is no current passing through the relay coil 75 or when the current is below the required energizing level as is true in the running speed range of the motor, the contact 81 is open.

When the main winding 7'7 of motor 21) is in series with the valve solenoids 48 and 49, as described, a much lower impedance is presented in the circuit by the motor 20 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 across the motor. This causes whichever of the solenoids is connected in the circuit to be energized sumciently to open its associated water valves. As a result, Water at a selected temperature is admitted to the machinethrough outlet 51, motors 20 and 53 remaining inactive.

This action continues, with the circuitry thus arranged, so that the water pours into the basket 2 and tub 4. Because of the perforations 3, the Water rises in both basket and tub at the same rate. As the head of water acting on the column of air trapped in the tube 54 increases, the pressure of this air increases until it actuates the switch 55 provided within the backsplasher 56. When switch 55 v closes, it then provides a short circuit across the solenoids directly from conductor 71 to conductor 74 so that, with' the solenoids thus excluded from the effective circuit, they become de-energized and a high potential drop is provided across winding 77 of the motor 20. This causes the one hand, and the energization of the drive motor 20 on the other hand, are alternative in nature. In other words, when there is sufiicient potential across the valve solenoids to energize them, the motor remains de-energized, and it Q I I is necessary to short the solenoids out of the circuit so that they are de-energized before the drive motor can be energized. I

The switch 79 is in series with the main motor and with solenoid '49, which is connected in parallel with main motor 20 and timing motor 53, and is controlled by a switch 87 operated by cam 6t); switch 79 is not, however,

in series with timer motor 58. Thus, by the opening of switch 79, the energization of motor 20 and of solenoid 40 may be stopped. The timer motor will continue to oper ate, though, as a result of the fact that the timer-motor 53 is deliberately provided with an impedance much greater than that of the valve solenoids so that it will take up most of the supplied voltage across the. solenoids and they therefore do, not operate their respective valves.

A further point of the circuit of FIGURE 2 is that when switch arms 84- and 85 are moved by cam 62 to engage contact 86 and a contact 88 respectively, the polarity of asserts 7 contact 86 to the protective device 78 and conductor 65. Thus, provided motor 29 is stopped or slowed down so that relay contact 81 is closed, the reversal of switch 83 is effective'to cause the motor 20 to rotate in the opposite direction when the motor is started up again.

In order to energize motor 20 independently of the water level switch 55 and the valve solenoids, so that a spin operation may be provided without regard to the absence of the predetermined water level, cam 59 is formed so that it may close all three contacts 67', 68, and 69 of switch 66 during centrifugal liquid extraction steps. When this occurs, it causes the power to be supplied from conductor 64 directly through contact 69 to conductor 74 and the motors rather than through the water level switch or the valve solenoids.

Referring now to FIGURE 3 in conjunction with FIGURES l and 2, a cycle of operation of the machine 1 will be described to illustrate the manner in which the improved structure and circuitry of my invention efiect their intended purpose. It will be assumed that the timer has caused contact 73 to move to its down position, cam 59 has caused contacts 67 and 68 to be closed, cam 61 has caused contact 73 to move its down position, cam 62 has positioned switch 83 as shown, cam 63 has closed switch 79 and cam 69 has closed switch 87. Also it is assumed that the operator has poured a suitable amount of a granular or flake-type, detergent or soap into the ter pan 35. At this point, the first step which takes place, because of the aforementioned impedance relationship, is the filling of the machine with water by the energization either of solenoid 48 alone to cause hot water to be provided or else, if switch 72 has been manually closed, by the energization of solenoids 48 and 49 together to cause warm water to be provided to the machine. The energization of the solenoids causes motors 20 and 58 and solenoid 40 to remain inactive and this status continues until the closure of switch 55 at a predetermined liquid level. I

At this point, the solenoids are de-energized and, consequently, motors 20 and 58 and solenoid 49 are energized. The energization of motor 20 is in the direction to cause agitation operation (because of switch 83) and to tend to provide a recirculation action by pump 28 from conduit 32 through conduit 33 and nozzle 34 into the filter pan 35 and then back into the basket 2. However, since the solenoid 40 is also energized at this time, the pump 28 cannot cause this recirculation because of the closure of conduit 33; therefore, the agitation operation proceeds without any concurrent recirculation operation. It will be seen that this initial agitation may either be provided with clear water, or else a suitable detergent or other treating agent may be sprinkled or poured directly into the basket 2 so as to cause, a chemical washing action on the clothes as well as mechanical loosening of the dirt at this time. i

This action, which conventionally is called a soak or soak sequence or soak step continues for a predetermined time until pause A is reached, at which time cam 63 opens switch 79. This stops the operation of motor 20 and consequently there is no further agitation although, as explained, the timer motor 58 continues to operate. In addition, this also de-energizes the solenoid 40 to open the conduit 33, but since the motor 20 is concurrently deenergizcd there is still no circulation of liquid through the conduit 33. During pause A,cam 59 closes all three contacts 67, 68 and 69 of switch 66 together to connect conductor 64 to conductor 74 entirely independently of water level switch 55 and so as to exclude the valve solenoids 48 and 49. Also at this time the cam 62 reverses the position of the contact arms of switch 83, and the cam 60 opens the switch 87 to insure continued de-energization of solenoid 40.

The reversal of switch 83 reverses the polarity of start winding 80 relative to main winding 77. As a result, when, at the end of pause A, switch 79 is reclosed by cam soak and wash steps.

a 63, motor 29 is energized once again but in the opposite direction. The energization of the motor 20 and the deenergization of the valve solenoids result from the fact that the valve solenoids are bypassed by the new condition of switch 66. As a result of the opposite rotation of motor 20, the motor causes a spin operation and simul taneously operates the pump 27 in the direction to cause draining of liquid out of the tub. The spin operation is provided at a relatively high speed of rotation which may, for instance, be on the order of 600 r.p.m. so as to extract a very substantial part of the liquid from the clothes and have it removed by the pump 27. It is to be noted that the detergent in the pan 35 is also subjected to some centrifugal force at this time and that a lip 89 may be desirable to ensure retention of the detergent within the pan. The need for the lip 89 is, of course, a factor dependent upon spin speed, and the design of pan 35 and may or may not exist, depending upon these items.

This spin operation continues until pause B, as shown in FIGURE 3, at which time switch 79 is again opened by cam 63 to de-energize motor 20. At this time, cam 59 returns switch 66 to the same position that it had for soak, with the contact 69 disengaged from the other twocontacts, and the motor connections are reversed to provide agitation rather than spin action. Thus, when pause B is terminated by the reclosing of switch 79 by cam 63, an agitation operation starts. In addition to the agitation operation the pump 28, now that solenoid 40 is no longer energized because of the opening of switch 87, forces liquid up through conduit 33 so as to pass out from nozzle 34 and into the filter pan 35, then passing downwardly through the openings 37 and back into the basket 2. This has the elfect of filtering the water as previously mentioned. In addition, the treating agent originally placed in filter pan 35 will, for the first time, be treated to the dissolving action of water and will therefore go into solution with the water and be carried into the basket 2. As a result, a washing operation will continue with the desired chemical cleansing action being provided, the addi: tion of the detergent or soap at this time having been provided by the expedient of preventing the recirculation flow from occurring until the wash agitation step.

Wash agitation continues for a desired period of time, and then switch 79 is opened to provide pause C. During this pause, the switch 83 is again reversed and contact 69 is again engaged with the other two contacts 67 and 68 of switch 66. In addition, it is conventional at this time to change the position of switch 73 to its -up position so that the cold water solenoid is energized. As a result, when switch 79 recloses, a spin will take place until it is terminated by reopening of switch 79 to provide pause D. At this time, the switches, except for switch 73, are once again put into the same position that they hadfor the As a result, when switch79 is closed, a rinse agitation step, with clear, cold water being provided for the rinsing action, is achieved. This is then followed in the same manner as before by another pause E and a spin operation, after which cam 59 opens all three contacts of switch 66 to terminate the operation completely by de-energizing all components of the system.

In this manner a complete operation is provided in which the sequence of filling, agitating, and spinning is followed three separate times so as to provide a soak sequence, a wash sequence, and a rinse sequence. By virtue of my invention, the operator of the machinernay provide detergent or other treating agent in the pan 35 to be dispensed during the wash step by suitable control of the recirculation system and thus may have chemical cleansing action provided during the wash step without returning to the machine. In addition, chemical cleansing action during the soak step is selectable by the simple expedient of pouring the treating agent directly into the basket 2 at the start of a complete cycle of operation.

It will be understood that, while in accordance with .the patent statutes, I have described what at present is considered to be the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from my invention. For instance (but only as an example, without excluding other modifications), while the structure described inherently provides spinning during draining operations by pump 27, it is Well known to provide a neutral in Washing machines, i.e., to let pump 27 drain the machine without concurrent spinning of basket 2. Thus, in machines incorporating a neutral, it would readily be possible to drain the soak water without spinning, and thus introducethe wash water prior to any centrifugal extraction, and such an arrangement would come fully Within my invention. It is therefore aimed in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

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

1. A washing machine comprising: container means for containing liquid and fabrics to be washed in the liquid; flexing means for flexing clothes in said container means; means for introducing liquid to said container means; drain pump means for removing liquid from said container means; recirculation pump means; recirculation conduit means connected with said recirculation pump means for passing liquid from said container means through said recirculation pump means and backinto said container means, said recirculation conduit means including a container for treating agent downstream of said recirculation pump means; sequence control means for causing operation in sequence of said liquid introducing means, said flexing means and said recirculation means, and said drain pump means, said control means providing said sequence at least three times during a cycle of operation to provide in sequence, a soak sequence, a Wash sequence, and a rinse sequence; preventing means effective to prevent said recirculation pump means from circulating liquid thnough said treating agent container, said sequence control means causing operation of said preventing means only during said soak sequence.

2. A washing machine comprising: container means for containing liquid and fabrics to be washed in the liquid; flexing means for flexing clothes in said container means; means for introducing liquid to said container means; drain pump means for removing liquid from said container means; recirculation pump means; recirculation conduit means connected with said recirculation pump means for passing liquid from said container means through said recirculation pump means and back into said container means, said recirculation conduit means including a nozzle positioned to discharge in a generally nonvertical direction above said container means, and a container for treating agent positioned to receive the flow of liquid passing out of said nozzle, said treating agent container being arranged to then pass the liquid into said container means; sequence control means for causing operasaid drain pump means, said control means providing saidsequence at least three times during a cycle of operation to provide in sequence, a soak sequence, a Wash sequence, and a rinse sequence; preventing means effective to prevent said recirculation pump means from discharging liquid from said nozzle into said treating agent container, said sequence control means causing operation of said preventing means only during said soak sequence.

' 3. The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein said flexing means is in the form of an agitator extending into said container means in movable relation thereto, and said treating agent container is secured on said agitator.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein said preventing means comp-rises a valve for closing said recirculation conduit downstream of said recirculation pump means.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 4 wherein said valve means comprises a squeeze valve.

6. A washing machine comprising: container means for containing liquid and fabrics to be washed in the liquid, said container means comprising a non-rotatable outer container and a rotatable inner container; flexing means for flexing clothes in said inner container; drive means for alternatively rotating said inner container or operating said flexing rneans; means for introducing liquid to said container means; drain pump means for removing liquid from said container means; recirculation pump means; recirculation conduit means connected with said recirculation pump means for passing liquid from said container means through said recirculation pump means and back into said container means, said recirculation conduit means including a treating agent container downstream of said recirculation pump means; sequence control means for causing in sequence operation of said liquid introducing means, operation of said flexing means concurrently with said recirculation pump means, and rotation of said inner container concurrently With operation of said drain pump means, said control means providing said sequence at least three times during a cycle of operation to provide in sequence, a soak sequence, a wash sequence, and a rinse sequence; preventing means eltective to prevent said recirculation pump means from circulating liquid through said treating agent container, said sequence control means causing operation of said preventing means only during said soak sequence.

7. The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein said container has a f-oraminous bottom wall thereby to effect a filtering action during recirculation of liquid thereinto.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,288,791 C'ulliton July 7, 1942 2,712,746 Bochan July 12, 1955 2,979,931 Hubbard et a1 Apr. 18, 1961 2,983,130 Pinder May 9, 1961

Claims (1)

1. A WASHING MACHINE COMPRISING: CONTAINER MEANS FOR CONTAINING LIQUID AND FABRICS TO BE WASHED IN THE LIQUID; FLEXING MEANS FOR FLEXING CLOTHES IN SAID CONTAINER MEANS; MEANS FOR INTRODUCING LIQUID TO SAID CONTAINER MEANS; DRAIN PUMP MEANS FOR REMOVING LIQUID FROM SAID CONTAINER MEANS; RECIRCULATION PUMP MEANS; RECIRCULATION CONDUIT MEANS CONNECTED WITH SAID RECIRCULATION PUMP MEANS FOR PASSING LIQUID FROM SAID CONTAINER MEANS THROUGH SAID RECIRCULATION PUMP MEANS AND BACK INTO SAID CONTAINER MEANS, SAID RECIRCULATION CONDUIT MEANS INCLUDING A CONTAINER FOR TREATING AGENT DOWNSTREAM OF SAID RECIRCULATION PUMP MEANS; SEQUENCE CONTROL MEANS FOR CAUSING OPERATION IN SEQUENCE OF SAID LIQUID INTRODUCING MEANS, SAID FLEXING MEANS AND SAID RECIRCULATION MEANS, AND SAID DRAIN PUMP MEANS, SAID CONTROL MEANS PROVIDING SAID SEQUENCE AT LEAST THREE TIMES DURING A CYCLE OF OPERATION TO PROVIDE IN SEQUENCE, A SOAK SEQUENCE, A

Images