US3084530A

US3084530A - Automatic washing machine including dispensing means

Info

Publication number: US3084530A
Application number: US163528A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard H Gabriel
Original assignee: General Electric Co
Current assignee: General Electric Co
Priority date: 1962-01-02
Filing date: 1962-01-02
Publication date: 1963-04-09
Anticipated expiration: 1980-04-09

Description

April 9, 1963 R. H. GABRIEL 3,084,530

AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINE INCLUDING DISPENSING MEANS Filed Jan. 2, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 f l *9 l2.

I 1 13 i r l l4 as O O O O O O O 33 o o o o o O O O O O O 0 4l 0 o o o 32 17 o o o 0 5o 7@ o o o o o 24- 332312 523325 I l f i u 20 INVENTOR.

f RKHARD H. GABFUEL W f Iq/W H lS ATTORNEY R. H. GABRlEL April 9, 1963 AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINE INCLUDING DISPENSING MEANS .Filed Jan. 2, 1962 2 SheetsSheet 2 INVENTOR. RICHARD H. GABFUEL BY w W PIC-5.3

H\S ATTORNEY rates This invention relates to automatic fabric washing machines, and more particularly to an arrangement, provided in such machines, for introducing a treating agent subsequent to the start of the operation.

As mentioned in copending application Serial No. 160,175, filed by John W. Toma on December 18, 1961, and assigned to General Electric Company, assignee of the present invention, it is highly desirable in automatic washing machines which have a wash step preceded by a soak step to provide suitable economical means for permitting addition of treating agent for the wash step, i.e., subsequently to the soak step.

It is an object of my invention to provide a structure which is an improvement on the aforementioned Toma structure and which is particularly applicable to machines having a two-speed drive motor which operates both a washing mechanism and a pumping assembly.

In one aspect of my invention, :I provide a washing machine in which, in the usual way, receptacle means is provided for containing the liquid and fabrics to be washed; the receptacle means may conventionally include a non-rotatable outer receptacle and a rotatable inner receptacle. Flexing means for flexing clothes extends up into the inner receptacle, and drive means, which in accordance with my invention includes a two-speed motor, is provided for alternatively rotating the inner receptacle or operating the flexing means. Suitable means are provided both for introducing liquid to the receptacle means, and also for removing liquid therefrom at appropriate times; this latter item usually is in the form of a suitable drain pump system.

I also provide, together with a recirculation pump system operated by the motor, recirculation conduit means which is connected with the recirculation pump system so that liquid may be passed from the receptacle means, through the recirculation pump system, and then back into the receptacle means. The recirculation conduit means includes a nozzle discharging above the receptacle means in a non-vertical direction across an air gap into a treating agent container downstream of the recirculation pump means; it is contemplated that treating agent may be provided in the container prior to the start of a complete automatic washing operation.

In order to control and effect such a complete automatic operation, sequence control means are provided so as to cause, in sequence, operation of the liquid introducing mean-s, then operation of the flexing means and the recirculation pump system, and then operation of the drain pump system during rotation of the inner receptacle. Thus, water is first introduced into the receptacle means, then the clothes are flexed while the water is recirculated, and then the clothes are centrifuged and the water is drained. The control means causes the 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 construct the treating agent container, the recirculation pump means, and the recirculation conduit means so that highspeed operation of the motor causes liquid to be passed across the air gap into the treating agent container, but low-speed operation of the motor causes the liquid to 3,084,536 Patented Apr. 9, 1963 ice fall short of the treating agent container when it comes out of the nozzle. Thus, by causing the motor to have a low speed during the initial, or soak period, treating agent which is introduced into the container remains there during the soak sequence. However, during the wash sequence, high-speed operation of the motor is provided so that the liquid will be ejected from the nozzle with sufficient pres-sure to reach the treating agent container and will therefore enter the container and carry the treating agent, as desired, into the receptacle means.

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, together with further advantages thereof, may best be understood 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 section 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 the cams throughout a cycle.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, I have shown therein an agitator-type washing machine 1 having a conventional basket or clothes receiving receptacle 2. Basket 2 is provided over its side and bottom Walls with perforations 3 and is disposed within an outer imperforate tub or casing 4 whichserves 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 form a seal between the top of tub 4 and portion '9 of the cabinet thereby to prevent escape of moisture and moist air into the cabinet around the tub. Rigid mounting of tub 4 within the cabinet 7 may be eifected 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 the tub 4. At the center of basket 2 there is positioned suitable means for flexing clothes which are placed in the basket 2. In the present case, this takes the form of a vertical axis agitator 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 fresh supply of liquid is introduced into the basket 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 er'fect 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 other 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 two speed reversing motor. By way of example, I have shown them as driven from motor 20 through a system including a suitable load limiting clutch 21 mounted on the motor shaft. A belt 22 transmits power from clutch 21 to a transmission assembly 23 through a pulley 24-. Thus, depending upon the direction of motor rotation, pulley 2-4 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. When the motor operates at high speed in the first direction a vigorous agitation action is obtained, and at a low motor speed a gentle action of agitator 14 is obtained. By the same token, with the rotation in the opposite direction, the high speed of the motor provides a higher speed liquid extraction operation than the lower speed of the motor. 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 al. 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 28 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 the pump 27 will draw in liquid from opening 30 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 34 is positioned to discharge in a generally nonvertical direction across an air gap above basket 2 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 the 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 the 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 redeposited 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 recirculated by pump 28.

The motor 20, 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 39 with transmission 23 mounted on top thereof and motor 26 mounted to the underside thereof. The bracket member in turn in secured to upwardly extending rigid members 4% and each of the two upwardly extending members 4d is connected to a cable 41 supported from the top of the machine. While only a portion of 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, 196-1, to John Bochan and assigned to 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 42. Boot 4-2 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 therebetween.

Completing now the description of the machine as illustrated in FIGURE 1, hot and cold water may be supplied to the machine through

conduits

43 and 44 which are adapted to be connected respectively to sources of hot and cold water (not shown).

Conduits

43 and 44 extend into a conventional mixing valve structure 45 having

solenoids

46 and 47. Energization of solenoid 46 permits passage of hot water through the valve to a hose 48, energization of solenoid 47 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 48. Hose 48 has an outlet 49 positioned to discharge into basket 2 so that when one or both of the

solenoids

46 and 47 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 50 in the side of tub 4 adjacent the bottom thereof, the opening 50 being connected through a conduit 51 and a tube 52 to a conventional pressure sensitive switch device (shown schematic-ally, in FIGURE 2, by the numeral 53) which may be positioned within the backsplasher 54 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 52, and at a predetermined pressure level the column of air then trips switch 53 to shut off whichever of

solenoids

46 and 47 may be energized. The backsplasher 54 may have suitable manual controls, such as that shown at 55, extending therefrom so that the particular fabric cycle including, for instance, washing and spin speeds, water temperatures, water level within the tube 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 operation of the components of machine 1, the circuit includes an automatic sequence control assembly which incorporates a timer motor 56 driving a plurality of cams 57, 5-8, 59, 60 and 6-1. 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 finaly 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 -a whole is energized from a power supply (not shown) through a pair of conductors 62 and 63. Cam 57 controls a switch 64 which includes

contacts

65, 66 and 67; when the cam has assumed a position where all three contacts are separated, machine 1 is disconnected from the power source and is inoperative. When operation of machine 1 is to be initiated, as will be explained below, switch 64 is controlled by cam '57 so that contacts 65 and 66 are engaged. When the main switch 63 is closed (by one of the controls '55), power is then provided to the control circuit of the machine. Starting at conductor 62, the circuit proceeds through contacts 65 and 66.

From contact 66 the circuit extends through a conductor 69 and a manually operated switch 70 to the valve control solenoid 47. In addition, a circuit is completed from conductor 69 through a switch 71 controlled by cam 58. In the up position, switch 71 completes a circuit for solenoid 47 independently of switch 70, and in the down position shown, the switch 71 completes a circuit for solenoid 46. Thus, when switch 70 is open, energization of

solenoids

46 and 47 is under the control of switch 71, but when switch 70 is closed the cold water solenoid 47 may be energized independently of the position of switch'71.

From the hot and cold water solenoids, the energizing circuit then extends through a conductor 72 and then through a coil 7 3 of a relay 7 4 to a switch 75 which is controlled by the relay coil, switch 75' being in the position shown in engagement with contact 76 when the relay is not energized, and being in engagement with contact 77 when the relay is energized. From contact 76, the circuit then extends through a switch 78 operated by cam 61,

switch 78 in its up position being in engagement with a first main motor winding 79 and in its lower position being in engagement with a second main motor winding *80. It will be understood that when the motor is energized on winding 79 it runs at a first speed, and when the motor is energized on winding 80 it runs at a second different speed. For purposes of this application it will be assumed that winding 79 provides a low speed and winding 80 provides a high speed. Thus, depending upon the position of switch 78, the circuit proceeds through either one of the two

windings

79 and 80. From these windings, the circuit then continues to a conventional motor protector 8 1, a switch 82 controlled by cam 60, switch 63, and the conductor 63.

Motor 20 may be a conventional two speed induction motor provided with a start winding '83 which cooperates with one of the main windings (in this case winding 80) to effect starting of the motor, being energized in parallel therewith. When a relatively high current passes through the relay coil 73 it causes the relay contact 75 to move to its down position and at the same time also causes a second relay contact 84 to close. The closure of this latter relay contact permits an energizing circuit for the start winding to be completed in parallel with main wind ing 80 through contact 85 of a switch generally indicated at 86 and which is controlled by cam 59, contact arm 87,

.the relay contact 84, the start winding 83, a contact arm 88 and a contact 85 of switch 86. A circuit is also completed in parallel with motor 20* through the timer motor 56. Relay coil 73 is designed to close contact 84 and engage contact 75 with contact '77 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 73 or when the current is below the required energizing level (as is true in both running speed ranges of the motor), contact 84 is open and contact 75 is in the position shown.

When either of the

main windings

79 or 80 of motor 20 is in series with the

valve solenoids

46 and 47, 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 sufliciently to open its associated water valve. As a result, water at a selected temperature is admitted to the machine through outlet 49,

motors

20 and 56 remaining inactive.

This action continues, with the circuit thus arranged, so that the water pours into the basket. 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 52 increases, the pressure of this air increases until it actuates the switch 53 provided within the backsplasher 54. When switch 53 closes, it

y then provides a short circuit across the solenoids directly from conductor 69 to conductor 72 so that, with the solenoids thus excluded from the effective circuit, they become de-energized and a high potential drop is provided across whichever of the main windings 79' or is in the circuit, that is, that has been selected by switch 7 8. This causes the relay coil 73 to become energized to close switch 84 and move switch 75 into engagement with contact 77. As a result the motor starts on main winding 80 and start winding 83 while, at the same time, timing motor 56 starts so as to initiate the sequence of operations. As the motor 20 comes up to speed, the level of energization of the relay 73 becomes less until, before the lower running speed range of the motor is reached, contact arm 75 moves back into engagement with contact 76 and switch 84 opens. At this point the speed at which the motor operates will be determined by the position of switch 78 under the control of cam 61.

It will be observed that the energization of the valve solenoids 46 and '47 on 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 suificient potential across the valve solenoids to energize them, the motor remains de-energized, and it is necessary to short the aoeaeao solenoids out of the circuit so that they are de-energized before the drive motor can be energized.

The switch 82 is in series with the main motor but is. not, however, in series with timer motor 56. Thus, by the opening of switch 82, the energization of motor 2% may be terminated. The timer motor may continue independently of switch 82;, though, as a result of the fact that .the timer motor 56 is deliberately provided with an impedance much greater than that of the valve solenoids. so that it takes up most of the supplied voltage. This leaves little 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

87 and 88 are moved by cam 59 to engage contact 89 and a contact 99 respectively, the polarity of the start winding 83 is reversed. The circuit from conductor 72 then proceeds through contact 9i), contact arm 88, the start winding 83, relay contact 34, contact arm 87 and contact 89 to the protective device 81 and conductor 63. Thus, provided motor 20 is stopped or slowed down so that relay coil 7 3 is energized sufiicient-- 1y to close contact 84 and move arm 75 into engagement with contact 77, the reversal of switch as is eitective 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 53 and the valve solenoids, so that a spin operation may be provided without regard to the absence of the predetermined water level, cam 57 is formed so that it may close all three

contacts

55, 66, and 67 of switch 64 during centrifugal liquid extraction steps. When this occurs, it causes the power to be supplied from conductor 62 directly through contact 67 to conductor 72 and to the motors 2d and 56, rather than through the water level switch or the valve solenoids.

Referring now to FIGURE 3 in conjunction with FIG- URES 1 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 been set at the beginning of a cycle; at this point, cam 57 has caused contacts '65 and 66 to be closed, cam 58 has caused contact 71 to move to its down position, cam 59 has positioned switch 86 as shown, cam 60' has closed switch 82, and cam 61 has moved switch 78 into its up position in which the winding 79 is selected for slow motor operation rather than fast motor operation. Also, it is assumed that the operator has poured a suitable amount of granular or flake type detergent or soap into the filter 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 46 alone to cause hot water to be provided or else, if switch 7%) has been manually closed, by the energization of solenoids 46 and 4-7 together to cause warm water to be provided to the machine. The energization of the solenoids causes motors 2d and 46 to remain inactive and this status continues until the closure of switch 53 at a predetermined liquid level.

At this point, the .solenoids are tie-energized and, consequently,

motors

20 and 56 are energized. The energizetion of motor 20 is in the direction to cause agitation operation (because of switch 86) and 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, because cam d1 has caused winding 79 of the main motor to be energized, the motor is operating at low speed and it will be recalled that it has been stated that the relationship of nozzle 34 and filter pan 35 is such that the pump 28 does not cause the water issuing from nozzle 34 to reach pan 35 during slow speed motor operation. Therefore, a gentle agitation operation proceeds with recirculation being provided but without any entry of water into the container or pan 35 wherein the treating agent (detergent or soap) is pro- 8 vided. 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.

This action, which conventionally is called a. soak, or soak step, continues for a predetermined time until pause A .is reached, at which time cam 60 opens switch 82.. This stops the operation of motor 20 and consequently there is no further agitation although, as explained, the timer motor 56 continues to operate. During pause -A, cam 57 closes all three

contacts

65, 66, and 67 of switch 64 together to connect conductor 62 to conductor 72 entirely independently of water level switch 53 and so as to exclude the valve solenoids 4d and 47. Also, at this time the cam 59 reverses the position of the contact arms of switch S6, and the cam 61 moves contact arm 78 to its down position so as to select winding 8% for energization rather than winding 79.

The reversal of switch 86 reverses the polarity of start winding 83 relative to main winding 80. As a result, when, at the end of pause A, switch 82 is reclosed by cam 60, motor 20 is energized once again but in the opposite direction. The energization of the motor 20 and the de-energization of the valve solenoids result from the fact that the valve solenoids are bypassed by the new condition of switch 64. As a result of the opposite rotation of motor Zti, and of the selection of Winding 80 for continued energization when switch 75 moves back into engagement with contact 76, the motor causes a high speed spin operation and simultaneously 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, for the high speed rotation of the motor, be on the order of 600 rpm. or more 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 91 may be desirable to ensure retention of the detergent within the pan. The need for the lip 91 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 82 is again opened by cam 60 to de-energize motor 29. At this time, cam 57 returns switch 64 to the same position that it had for soak, with the contact 67 disengaged from the other two contacts, and the motor connections are reversed to pro vide agitation rather than spin action. Thus, when pause B is terminated by the reclosing of switch 82 by the cam 60, the tub and basket fill and agitation operation starts. It is to be noted that at this point the cam 61 is still causing selection of winding 86 for energization so that the motor operates at high speed. As a result, the pump 28 recirculatcs liquid up through conduit 33 and out from nozzle 34 at a pressure which is sufiicient to cause the liquid to pass through the air gap between the nozzle and the filter pan 35 and land in the filter pan, then passing downwardly through the openings 37 and back into the basket 2. This has the effect of filtering the Water as previously mentioned. Also, 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, the washing operation will continue with the desired chemical cleansing action being provided, the addition of the detergent or soap at this time having been provided by the expedient of preventing the recirculation flow from reaching the filter pan 35 until the wash agitation step by controlling the speed of motor 20'.

Wash agitation continues for a desired period of time,

and then switch 82 is again opened to provide pause C.

During this pause, switch 86 is again reversed and contact 67 is again engaged with the other two contacts 65 and 66 of switch 64. In addition, it is conventional at this time to change the position of the switch 71 to its up position so that the cold water solenoid is energized. As a result, when switch 82 recloses, a spin will take place again until it is terminated by reopening of switch 82 to provide pause D. At this time, the switches, except for switch 71, are once again put in the same position that they had for the Wash step. As a result, when switch 82 is closed, the tub and basket fill with cold water and a rinse agitation step with clear cold water being provided for the rinsing action and with filtering being provided by passage of the liquid through pan 35 is achieved. This is then followed in the same manner as before by another pause E and a spin operation; after this, cam 57 opens all three contacts of switch 64 to terminate the operation completely by tie-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 soak sequence, a wash sequence, and a rinse sequence. By virtue of my invention, the operator of the machine may provide detergent or other treating agent in the pan 35 to be dispensed during the wash step by suitable control of the motor speed, 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, of course, be evident that the feature of importance is the provision of a low motor speed during the soak agitation step and high motor speed during at least the first part of the wash agitation step. While, for the sake of simplicity, fast operation has been provided throughout the remainder of the cycle in the illustrated cycle, it will be apparent that slow agitation and slow spin may be selected subsequent to the soak step for any of the agitation or spin operations except for the initial part of the wash agitation step. It will further be apparent that the lint filtering apparatus may be made separate from the treating agent container; that is, lint filtering apparatus may be included in the conduit 33 for instance, and in that event lint filtering may be obtained regardless of the speed at which motor 20 causes pump 28 to operate during agitation operations. With such a provision, it will be apparent that the selection of the passage of water into pan 35 may be made independent of the lint filtering action, and it is primarily for purposes of simplification and clarification that the combined structure shown has been illustrated.

For another example, 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 introduce the wash water prior to any centrifugal extraction, and such an arrangement would come fully within my invention.

It will thus 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 (such as, but not exclusively, those mentioned above) may be made therein without departing from 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: receptacle means for containing liquid and fabrics to be washed in the liquid, said receptacle means comprising a non-rotatable outer receptacle and a rotatable inner receptacle; flexing means for flexing clothes in said inner receptacle; drive means for alternatvely rotating said inner receptacle or operating said flexing means, said drive means including a two speed motor for providing two different speeds of rotation of said inner receptacle and two dilferent speeds of operation of said flexing means; means for introducing liquid to said receptacle means; drain pump means for removing liquid from said receptacle means; recirculation pump means; means connecting said drain pump means and said recirculation pump means to said two speed motor for alternative operation thereby at the selected motor speed; recirculation conduit means connected with said recirculation pump means for passing liquid from said receptacle means through said recirculation pump means and back into said receptacle means, said recirculation conduit means including an outlet opening positioned to discharge in a generally non-vertical direction above said receptacle means, and a container for treating agent positioned to receive the flow of liquid passing out of said outlet opening only when said motor is operating at its higher speed and providing operation of said recirculation pump means, said container being arranged to then pass the liquid into said receptacle 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 by said motor, and rotation of said basket concurrently with operation of said drain pump by means of said motor, said control means provid ing 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, said control means effecting selection of the lower motor speed during the operation of said flexing means and said recirculation pump means in said soak sequence whereby the liquid flow from said outlet opening falls short of said container and does not pass therethrough, said control means effecting selection of the higher motor speed during at least the initial part of the operation of said flexing means and said recirculation pump means in said Wash sequence whereby the liquid flow from said outlet opening passes into said container.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said container has a foraminous bottom wall thereby to effect a filtering action during recirculation of liquid thereinto.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said flexing means is'in the form of an agitator extending into said inner receptacle in movable relation thereto, and said container is secured on said agitator.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said two speed motor is reversible and provides concurrent operation of said flexing means and of said recirculation pump means for one direction of operation and concurrent rotation of said inner receptacle and operation of said drain pump means for the other direction of rotation.

5. A washing machine comprising: receptacle means for containing liquid and fabrics to be washed in the liquid, said receptacle means comprising a non-rotatable outer receptacle and a rotatable inner receptacle; flexing means for flexing clothes in said inner receptacle; drive means for alternatively rotating said inner receptacle or operating said flexing means, said drive means including a two speed motor for providing two different speeds of rotation of said inner receptacle and two different speeds of operation of said flexing means; means for introducing liquid to said receptacle means; drain pump means for removing liquid from said receptacle means; recirculation pump means; means connecting said drain pump means and said recirculation pump means to said two speed motor for alternative operation thereby at the selected motor speed; recirculation conduit means connected with said recirculation pump means for passing liquid from said receptacle means through said recirculation pump means and back into said receptacle means, said recirculation conduit means including an outlet opening positioned to discharge in a generally non-vertical direction above said receptacle means, and a container for treating agent positioned to receive the flow of liquid passing out of said outlet opening only When said motor is operating at its higher speed and providing operation of said recirculation pump means, said container being arranged tothen pass the liquid into said receptacle 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 by said motor, and operation of said drain pump means by said motor, 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, said control means causing rotation of said basket concurrently with operation of said drain pump means at least during said Wash sequence and said rinse sequence, said control means effecting selection of the lower motor speed during the operation of said flexing means and said recirculation pump means in said soak sequence whereby the liquid flow from said outlet opening falls short of said container and does not pass therethrough, said control means effecting selection of the higher motor speed during at least the initial part of the operation of said flexing means and said recirculation pump means in said Wash sequence whereby the liquid flow from said outlet opening passes into said container.

No references cited.

Claims

1. A WASHING MACHINE COMPRISING: RECEPTACLE MEANS FOR CONTAINING LIQUID AND FABRICS TO BE WASHED IN THE LIQUID, SAID RECEPTACLE MEANS COMPRISING A NON-ROTATABLE OUTER RECEPTACLE AND A ROTATABLE INNER RECEPTACLE; FLEXING MEANS FOR FLEXING CLOTHES IN SAID INNER RECEPTACLE; DRIVE MEANS FOR ALTERNATVELY ROTATING SAID INNER RECEPTACLE OR OPERATING SAID FLEXING MEANS, SAID DRIVE MEANS INCLUDING A TWO SPEED MOTOR FOR PROVIDING TWO DIFFERENT SPEEDS OF ROTATION OF SAID INNER RECEPTACLE AND TWO DIFFERENT SPEEDS OF OPERATION OF SAID FLEXING MEANS; MEANS FOR INTRODUCING LIQUID TO SAID RECEPTACLE MEANS; DRAIN PUMP MEANS FOR REMOVING LIQUID FROM SAID RECEPTACLE MEANS; RECIRCULATION PUMP MEANS; MEANS CONNECTING SAID DRAIN PUMP MEANS AND SAID RECIRCULATION PUMP MEANS TO SAID TWO SPEED MOTOR FOR ALTERNATIVE OPERATION THEREBY AT THE SELECTED MOTOR SPEED; RECIRCULATION CONDUIT MEANS CONNECTED WITH SAID RECIRCULATION PUMP MEANS FOR PASSING LIQUID FROM SAID RECEPTACLE MEANS THROUGH SAID RECIRCULATION PUMP MEANS AND BACK INTO SAID RECEPTACLE MEANS, SAID RECIRCULATION CONDUIT MEANS INCLUDING AN OUTLET OPENING POSITIONED TO DISCHARGE IN A GENERALLY NON-VERTICAL DIRECTION ABOVE SAID RECEPTACLE MEANS, AND A CONTAINER FOR TREATING AGENT POSITIONED TO RECEIVE THE FLOW OF LIQUID PASSING OUT OF SAID OUTLET OPENING ONLY WHEN SAID MOTOR IS OPERATING AT ITS HIGHER SPEED AND PROVIDING OPERATION OF SAID RECIRCULATION PUMP MEANS, SAID CONTAINER BEING ARRANGED TO THEN PASS THE LIQUID INTO SAID RECEPTACLE 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 BY SAID MOTOR, AND ROTATION OF SAID BASKET CONCURRENTLY WITH OPERATION OF SAID DRAIN PUMP BY MEANS OF SAID MOTOR, 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, SAID CONTROL MEANS EFFECTING SELECTION OF THE LOWER MOTOR SPEED DURING THE OPERATION OF SAID FLEXING MEANS AND SAID RECIRCULATION PUMP MEANS IN SAID SOAK SEQUENCE WHEREBY THE LIQUID FLOW FROM SAID OUTLET OPENING FALLS SHORT OF SAID CONTAINER AND DOES NOT PASS THERETHROUGH, SAID CONTROL MEANS EFFECTING SELECTION OF THE HIGHER MOTOR SPEED DURING AT LEAST THE INITIAL PART OF THE OPERATION OF SAID FLEXING MEANS AND SAID RECIRCULATION PUMP MEANS IN SAID WASH SEQUENCE WHEREBY THE LIQUID FLOW FROM SAID OUTLET OPENING PASSES INTO SAID CONTAINER.