US3088304A

US3088304A - Clothes washing machine with rinsing agent dispenser arrangement

Info

Publication number: US3088304A
Application number: US181858A
Authority: US
Inventors: Bochan John
Original assignee: General Electric Co
Current assignee: General Electric Co
Priority date: 1962-03-23
Filing date: 1962-03-23
Publication date: 1963-05-07
Anticipated expiration: 1980-05-07

Description

May 7, 1963 J. BOCHAN 3,088,304

CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE WITH RINSING AGENT DISPENSER ARRANGEMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 23, 1962 INVENTOR. JOHN sou-um ms ATTORNEY y 1963 J. BOCHAN 3,088,304

CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE WITH RINSING AGENT DISPENSER ARRANGEMENT Filed March 23, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F'IG.2.

PAUSE A PAUSE B PAUSE C OFF WWW H \5 ATTORN Y 3,088,304 CLOTHES WASHTNG MACHENE WITH RINSING AGENT DISPENSER GEMENT John Bochan, Louisville, Ky., assignor to General Electric (Jompany, a corporation of New York Filed Mar. 23, 1962, Ser. No. 181,858 6 Claims. ((31. 6812) This invention relates to automatic clothes washing machines, and more particularly to such machines where it is intended that a rinsing agent be automatically introduced into the clothes basket of the machine at the proper time in the sequence of operations.

Automatic clothes washing machines customarily proceed through a sequence of operations in order to wash, rinse, and dry the clothes. The sequence ordinarily includes a washing operation, a first extraction operation, in which the wash water is removed from the clothes, a 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. The removal of the water from the clothes in each case may be elfected by suitable pumping means; in addition, during the washing and rinsing operations a recirculation system may provide recirculation of the water for various purposes such as filtering.

In order to obtain the most desirable results from this type of machine, it has been found advantageous that a treating agent be added to the rinse water during the rinsing operation. Various treating agents, such as water softeners and fabric softeners, hereinafter referred to generally as rinsing or rinse agents, may be added to the rinse water to produce difierent results. If a water softener is added, a better rinsing action is obtained leaving less detergent in the clothes. The water softener removes mineral constituents in the rinse water which would otherwise react with part of the detergents and be retained as deposits in the clothes. As a result, less graying and yellowing of the clothes occurs. If a fabric softener is added to the rinse water, a softer feeling is imparted to the clothes because the softener leaves a film on the clothes which creates this result. The fabric softeners also result in less wrinkling of the clothes thereby making the clothes easier to iron. Further, they tend to prevent electrostatic charges from being formed on synthetic fabrics.

In an automatic washing machine, it is desirable that the rinsing agent be added automatically, that is, that the rinsing agent be introduced into the clothes receptacle at the proper time during the sequence of operations without attendance by the operator. Accordingly, it is an object of my invention to provide a new and improved rinse agent dispenser, for use in an automatic washing machine of the type set forth above, wherein the rinse agent may be introduced before the machine is set in operation and wherein the machine will then introduce the rinse agent automatically into the clothes basket at the start of the rinsing operation.

' More specifically, it is an object of my invention to provide this introduction of rinse agent without use of the automatic sequence control timing mechanism which is normally provided to control such machines, and to do so by making use of the particular sequence of washing, spinning, rinsing, and spinning which is provided in such machines.

In one aspect of my invention, I provide a clothes washing machine in which the usual liquid and clothes receptacle means is provided, including a rotatable clothes basket and means such as an agitator for washing clothes in the basket. Both the basket and the washing means are operated by a reversible transmission which, when driven in one direction by suitable drive means, causes opera- 3,088,304 Patented May 7, 1963 ice tion of the washing means and when driven in the other direction causes rotation of the clothes basket. In addition, operation of the drive means in the one direction causes a first reversible pump to take water from the receptacle means adjacent to the bottom thereof and discharge it back into the receptacle means adjacent the top thereof. By the same token, rotation of the drive means in the other direction causes a second reversible pump to draw liquid from the receptacle means from an opening at the bottom thereof and discharge it through an outlet adapted to be connected to drain.

Together with suitable means for providing water in the receptacle means for use during the operation of the washing means, the foregoing drive means is controlled by suitable control means so as to operate sequentially first in the one direction, then in the other direction, then again in the one direction, and then again in the other direction. This results in sequential provision of a washing operation, a spin operation, a rinse operation and another spin operation.

Together with this structure, which as thus far described is conventional, I provide first and second containers for liquid treating agent such as a rinse agent. The first container is formed so as to contain a predetermined amount of agent, and has an opening at its bottom. The second container, which is formed so as to contain more than the predetermined amount of agent, is closed except for three openings: at first opening at its bottom, and second and third openings provided above the level which can be reached by the predetermined amount of liquid. The first container opening is connected to the second opening of the second container by a conduit which extends up above the highest level reached in either the first container or the receptacle means. The first inlet means, that is, the inlet means to the recirculation pump, is connected to the first opening of the second container so as to provide suction at that first opening during rotation of the drive means in the said one direction, a check valve being positioned so as to insure that flow will occur only out through the said first opening and not back in through it. A third conduit connects the second inlet means, that is, the inlet of the drain pump, to the third opening of the second container so as to provide suction at that third opening during rotation of the drive means in the other direction.

As a result, water is recirculated through the second container by being drawn therethrough by the recirculation pump during a washing operation, and there is no effect on the liquid agent in the first container. However, during the first spin operation, suction is exerted on the liquid in the first container through the first conduit as a result of the section of the drain pump; this causes a siphoning action which results in the entire contents of the first container passing into the second container. Then, when the rinse step is provided, with recirculation through the second container occurring again as in the wash step, the rinse agent is diluted and taken into the receptacle means so as to have the desired effect on the clothes.

The features of my invention which I believe to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, FIGURE 1 is a schematic front elevational v-iew of a washing machine which includes my new and improved rinsing agent dispensing system, the View being partially in section to illustrate details;

FIGURE 2 is a schematic diagram of an electric con- 3 I trol 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 sequence of operation of the switches by cams throughout a cycle.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, I have shown therein :in schematic form an agitator-type washing machine, generally indicated by the numeral -1, having a rinse agent dispensing assembly. The machine '1 includes a clothes basket 2 having perforations 3 over its side and bottom walls and disposed within an outer imperforate tub or casing 4. Tub 4 is mounted within an appearance cabinet, generally indicated in dotted outline by the numeral 5, which includes an appropriate body portion 6 enclosing the operating components of the machine and, in addition, the usual backsplasher 7 which is secured to the top of body port-ion 6 at the rear thereof and normally includes an appropriate dial 8 so as to permit selection of a particular desired washing sequence. Dial 8 may be connected into a conventional sequence control mechanism 9 of any type generally commercially available and which is therefore not described in detail herein, but is described as to operation in connection with FIGURES 2 and 3. At the center of basket 2 there is provided a vertical axis agitator 10 which includes a center post 11 and a plurality of curved vanes 12 extending out from the center post and connected together at their base by a flared skirt 13.

Both basket -2 and the agitator 10 are movably mounted. Conventionally, the basket is mounted for rotation and the agitator is mounted for some type of oscillatory motion which will eifect a washing action on clothes in the basket 2. In one conventional structure, the clothes basket 2 may be secured to a hollow shaft member 14 and the agitator may be secured to -a shaft '15 which extends up within shaft 14 in rotatable relation thereto. During the cycle of operations of machine 1, the tub 4 is filled and the agitator 10 is oscillated back and forth within the basket '2 to wash the clothes therein. Then, after a predetermined period of this washing action, the basket 2 is rotated at high speed to extract centrifugally the washing liquid, as will be further explained. Following this extraction operation, a supply of clean liquid is introduced into the wash basket for rinsing the clothes and the agitator is again oscillated. Finally, the basket is once more rotated at high speed to extract the rinse water.

Basket 2 and agitator 10 are driven from a reversible drive motor 16 which drives the basket and the agitator through a drive including a clutch 17 mounted on the motor shaft. Clutch .17 allows the motor to start without load and then picks up the load as it comes up to speed. A suitable belt 18 transmits power to a transmission assembly 19 through a pulley 20. Thus, depending upon the direction of motor rotation, pulley 20 of transmission 19 is driven in opposite directions.

Transmission 19 is so arranged that it supports and drives both shafts 14 and 15. When motor 16 is rotated in one direction the transmission causes the agitator 9 to be oscillated through shaft 15. Conversely, when the motor is driven in the opposite direction, the transmission drives the wash basket 2 and the agitator 10, through shafts 14 and 15, togetherat high speed for centrifugal extraction of liquid from the clothes. While the particular form of the drive means does not form part of the present invention, reference is made to Patent 2,844,225 issued on July 22, 1958 to James R. Hubbard et a1. 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 order to introduce washing and rinsing liquid into the assembly of basket 2 and tub 4, suitable conduit means (not shown) are provided for leading hot water and cold water to the machine. For cold water, the passage of cold water is controlled by a valve 21 whose position in turn is controlled by a solenoid assembly partially shown by the numeral 22. As is well known in the art, when the solenoid 22 is energized valve 2 1 is opened and cold water may flow through the valve into conduit 23 and then from outlet 24 into the tub 4. When solenoid 22 is de-energized, the valve 21 is closed and there is no flow of cold Water into tub 4. In similar fashion, the flow of hot water is controlled by a valve 25 which in turn is controlled by a solenoid partly shown by the numeral 26. Energization of solenoid 26 causes hot water to flow from conduit 23 out through opening 24, and de-energization of the solenoid closes the valve.

In addition to operating transmission 19 as described, motor 16 also provides a direct drive through a flexible coupling 27 to a pump structure generally indicated by the numeral 28 which includes

separate pumping units

29 and 30 both operated in the same direction simultaneously by the motor 16. Pump 30 is connected by an inlet conduit 31 to an opening 32 formed at the lowermost point of tub 4. Pump 30 also is connected through an outlet conduit 33 to a suitable drain (not shown). Pump 29 has an inlet which is connected by an inlet conduit 34 to the interior of tub 4, preferably adjacent the bottom thereof as shown, and also has an outlet connected by an outlet conduit 35 to a nozzle 36 positioned over the basket 2 so as to discharge thereinto. Pump 30* is formed so that in the spin direction of motor rotation it will draw in liquid from opening 32 through conduit 31 and discharge it through conduit 33 to drain. In the other direction of rotation it is substantially ineffective. The tendency to pump air into tub 4 may be prevented, if so desired, by providing a trap 36a in conduit 33. In the wash direction of motor rotation, pump 29 draws liquid through conduit 34 and discharges it through conduit 35 and nozzle 36; in the opposite direction of rotation, the pump 29 is substantially ineffective insofar as the washing operation is concerned, merely tending to draw air in through nozzle 36 and discharge it through opening 32 at the bottom of the tub. The particular form of the pump assembly 26 is not significant, the significant point lying in the fact that two individual pumping functions are performed alternatively for the wash and spin operations by the reversal of the pumps.

Nozzle 36 is positioned to discharge into a filter pan 37 secured on the top portion 38 of the agitator 10 so as to be movable therewith. With this structure, then, when the motor is rotating so as to provide agitation, the liquid discharged from nozzle 36 by pump 29 passes substantially horizontally through an air gap and then into the filter pan 37. The filter pan has a perforated bottom (not shown) which acts as a lint filter causing lint which is separated from the clothes during a washing operation to be filtered out of the water and thus preventing 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

34 and 35, together with the pump 29, nozzle 36, and the pan 37 constitute a recirculation means for the liquid in tub 4.

Included in the rinse agent dispensing system which forms part of my invention, I provide a first container 39 which may be arranged, as shown, so as to have an opening 40 in its top to permit the introduction of a suitable liquid rinse agent. Container 39 may, if so desired, be positioned below the liquid level in tub 4; in fact, this possibility represents a major advantage of my invention. It will, of course, be understood that while the entire top of the container 39 has been shown as being open, a conventional relatively small opening, accessible from outside the machine, may be provided in the usual manner. The container 39 is of a sufiicient size so that when a full load of rinse agent is introduced into container 39 it reaches the level shown, that is, it does not overflow the container. The container 39 has only one outlet 41 which is provided at the bottom thereof. A float-type check valve 42 is provided so that when a liquid (such as a rinse agent) is in container 39 the ball will be up against guard 43 (as shown in dotted outline), and only when all rinse agent has passed out of container 39 will the ball seat itself asi shown to prevent passage of air down through opening 4 Opening 41 is connected through a conduit 44 to an outlet 45 discharging into a container 46 positioned below the liquid level within tub 4 during washing and rinsing. As shown, container 46 is substantially enclosed and is larger than container 39 so that the amount of liquid, which reached to the level shown in container 39, will only reach to the level shown in container 46, that is, below the level either of opening 45 or of a second opening 47 also provided.

The conduit 44 that joins

openings

41 and 45 has an intermediate portion 48 which rises above either the maximum liquid level within container 39 or the maximum liquid level reached within the tub 4, as shown in dotted outline therein. In addition, in the preferred embodiment the conduit 44 may act as a siphon in that leg 49 thereof extends down below leg 50.

At the bottom thereof, the container 46 has yet a third opening 51 which is closable by a check valve member 52 biased by a spring 53 so that flow may occur only down through the opening 51 and not up therethrough. In this connection, the opening 51 is connected through a conduit 54 to a section 55 of conduit 34 which is preferably formed as an area of reduced pressure, that is, as a narrowed section where the liquid velocity is increased. This means that, in addition to the suction exerted by pump 29 when it is operating in the direction to recirculate liquid, a further suction as a result of the reduced pressure in area 55 will result within conduit 54 and at opening 51.

In a similar manner, the opening 47 of container 46 is joined by a conduit 56 to a section 57 in inlet conduit 31 of the drain pump 30. Again, preferably, this is in an area where the flow velocity is increased by decreasing the size of the passage so as to add the suction effect of the reduced pressure at this point to the suction of the pump 30 when it operates in the direction to drain tub 4.

With the foregoing structure, it will be recalled that, during operation of the agitator 10, the recirculation pump is pumping from conduit 34 to conduit 35 to efiect recirculation, and the drain pump 30 is pumping from conduit 33 to conduit 31 and is therefore not operative. Water, consequently, rises within the

conduits

56 and 54, and in the container 46, up to a level within leg 49 of conduit section 48 which is equal to the height of the water in tub 4. In addition, there is a continual recirculation of water through the container 46 which occurs as a result of the operation of pump 29. In efiect, what happens is that suction occurs at opening 51 so that water is drawn down through that opening, then through conduit 54 and into the inlet conduit 34 to pump 29 so as to be recirculated. To replace this water thus removed from container 46, water passes through conduit 56 and comes out through opening 47 into the container 46, thus providing recirculation of water through the container 46 during a washing operation. At this time there is very little, if any, suction exerted at opening 45, and it is insuflicient to prime the siphon formed by conduit section 48. Thus, no liquid passes from container 39 even though the ball 42 is in the position shown in dotted outline so as to uncover the opening 41.

When the direction of the two

pumps

29 and 30 is reversed during a drain operation, suction is no longer exerted through conduit 54 by pump 29 and, after the liquid level has gone down below conduit 34 (that is, enough to empty container 46), the check valve 52 acts to close the opening 51. A considerable amount of suction is, however, exerted through conduit 56 as a result tion 48 so that the rinse agent flows up leg 50 and then down leg 49 thereof, out through opening 45 and into the container 46.

Because the container 46 is large enough for the entire quantity of rinse agent from container 39 to come up to a level below that of opening 47, the rinse agent does not pass through conduit 56 at this time, but remains in the container 46. As a result, although suction continues to be exerted at opening 47 on the interior of container 46, it has no eifect on the rinse agent now contained therewithin. Also, when a ball-type float-type check valve 42 is provided, the absence of rinse agent in container 39 causes the ball 42 to close opening 41. This prevents the drawing of air through

conduits

44 and 56 into the drain pump 30, and thus improves the efiiciency of the drain pump and makes the operation thereof quieter than it would be if air were permitted to be drawn thereinto from opening 41.

This action then continues as long as the first spin step continues. However, once this spin step has terminated, rinsing water is introduced into the tub 4, and a rinse operation of the agitator commences. The recirculation pump 29 starts to operate again, and once again causes the same action on the contents of container 46 as previously, that is, liquid passes down through opening 51, conduit 54 and conduit 34 into the pump 29 and is then recirculated into the tub 4. The liquid within container 46 is replenished by water passing down through conduit 56 and out opening 47 into the container. In this manner, the rinse agent which passed down into container 46 during the spin operation will pass into the tub 4 during the rinse operation to provide the desired results.

It will be seen that, when the desired sequence of wash agitation, wash spin, rinse agitation, and, finally, rinse spin is provided, the introduction of the rinse agent at the proper time (that is, during the rinse cycle) is eflected without any direct control from any timing mechanism but simply in response to the operation of the two

pumps

29 and 30.

Completing now the description of the structure of my invention, there is shown in FIGURE 2 an electrical control system for the machine of FIGURE 1 together with a suitable cam configuration as indicated by FIGURE 3 which will provide the desired sequence of wash, spin, rinse and spin, the circuit and the cam configuration being described for the purpose of providing a complete understanding of the operation of my invention. It will be understood, in connection with FIGURE 2, that present day Washers often include various improvements such as control panel lights, etc., which do not relate to the present invention; such components unnecessary to the invention 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 a timer motor 58 which forms part of the sequence control assembly 9 and which drives a plurality of

cams

59, 60, 61 and 62. These cams, during their rotation by the timer motor, actuate various switches (as will be described), causing the machine to pass through the cycle of operations which includes washing, spinning, rinsing and spin mng.

The electric circuit as a whole is energized from a power supply (not shown) through a pair of conductors 63 and 64. Cam 59 controls the switch 65 which includes

contacts

66, 67 and 68; when the cam has assumed the 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 65 is controlled by cam 59 so that

contacts

66 and 67 are engaged. When the main switch 69 is closed (by any suitable manual control, not shown), power is then provided to the control circuit of the machine from conductor 63 through

contacts

66 and 67.

From contact 67, the circuit extends through a conductor 70 and a manually operated switch 71 to the valve control solenoid 22. In addition, a circuit is completed from conductor 70 through a switch 72 controlled by cam 60. In the up position, switch 72 completes a circuit for solenoid 22 independently of switch 71; in the down position shown, the switch 72 completes a circuit for solenoid 26. Thus, when switch 71 is open, energization of

solenoids

22 and 26 is under the control of switch 72, but when switch 71 is closed the cold water solenoid 22 may be energized independently of the position of switch 72. From the hot and cold water solenoids, the energizing circuit then extends through a conductor 73 and then to a coil 74 of a relay 75, the main winding 76 of motor 16, a conventional motor protector 77, a switch 78 controlled by cam 62, and the conductor 64.

Motor 16 is of the conventional type which is provided with a start winding 79 which assists the main Winding 76 during starting of the motor and is energized in parallel therewith. When a relatively high current passes through the relay coil 74, it causes the relay contact 80 to close; this permits an energizing circuit for the start winding to be completed in parallel with the main winding through a contact 81 of the switch generally indicated at 82 and which is controlled by cam 61, contact arm 83, the relay contact 80, the start winding 79, a contact arm 84, and the contact 85 of switch 82. A circuit is also completed in parallel with motor 16 through the timer motor 58. Relay coil 74 is designed to close contact 80 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 74 or when the current is below the required energizing level as is true in the running speed range of the motor, the contact 80 is open.

When the main winding 76 of motor 16 is in series with the

valve solenoids

22 and 26, as described, a much lower impedance is presented in the circuit by the motor 16 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 sufficiently to open its associated water valve. As a result, water at a selected temperature is admitted to the machine through outlet 24,

motors

16 and 58 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. Water level switch 86 may be provided at the base of tub 4 (FIGURE 1) and connected across

conductors

70 and 73, as shown, so that when-switch 86 closes it excludes the solenoids from the efiective circuit by short circuiting them. As a result the solenoids become de-energized and a high potential drop is provided across winding 76 of the motor 20. This causes the relay coil 74 to close contact 80 to start the motor 16 while, at the same time, timing motor 58 starts so as to initiate the sequence of operations. It will be observed that the energization of the

valve solenoids

22 and 26 on the one hand, and the energization of the drive motor 16 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 deenergized, and it is necessary to short the solenoids out of the circuit so that they are de-energized before the drive motor can be energized.

The switch 78 is in series with the main motor 16 but is not in series with timer motor '58. Thus, by the opening of switch 78, the energization of motor 16 may be stopped. The timer motor -will continue to operate though, as a result of the fact that the timer motor 58 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 and the solenoids therefore do not operate their respective valves.

A further point of the circuit of FIGURE 2 is that when switch

arms

83 and 84 are moved by cam 61 to engage contact 85 and a contact 87 respectively, the polarity of the start winding is reversed. The circuit from conductor 73 then proceeds through contact 87, contact arm 84, the start winding 79, relay contact 80, contact arm 83 and contact 85 to the protective device 77 and conductor 64. Thus, provided motor 16 is stopped or slowed down so that relay contact is closed, the reversal of switch '82 is efi'ective to cause the motor 20 to rotate in the opposite direction when the motor is started up again.

In order to energize motor 16 independently of the water level switch 86 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

66, 67 and 68 of switch 65 during centrifugal liquid extraction steps. When this occurs, it causes the power to be supplied from conductor 63 directly through contact 68 to conductor 73 and the motor 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 sequence of operations of the machine 1 will be described to illustrate the manner in which the improved structure and circuitry of my invention efiect M their intended purpose. It will be assumed that the timer has been set at the beginning of the Wash step so that cam 59 has caused

contacts

66 and 67 to be closed, cam 60 has caused contact 72 to move to its down" position, cam 61 has positioned switch 82 as shown, and cam 62 has closed switch 78. Also, it is assumed that the operator has introduced the desired quantity of liquid rinse agent into container 39. 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 the solenoid 26 alone or else, if switch 71 has been manually closed, by the energization of

solenoids

22 and 26 together to cause warm water to be provided to the machine. The energization of the solenoids causes

motors

16 and 58 to remain inactive until the closure of switch 86 at a predetermined liquid level. At this level, the Water has risen in the tub to the level shown and consequently has also risen to fill container 46, and has come up within leg 49 of conduit section 48 to the extent shown.

At this point, the solenoids are de-energized and, consequently,

motors

16 and 58 are energized. The energizatron of motor 16 is in the direction to cause agitator operation (because of switch 82) and to provide a recirculatron action by pump 29, drawing water from the tub through inlet conduit 34 and then discharging it back into the tub through outlet conduit 35. The drain pump is operating in a direction to tend to pump toward conduit 31. As a result of the suction of the recirculation pump, water is drawn from the bottom opening 51 of container 46, and thus water circulates through the container, entering through conduit 56 and leaving through conduit 54.

This action, which conventionally is called the wash operation, continues for a predetermined time until pause A is reached, at which time cam 62 opens switch 78. This stops the operation of motor 16 and consequently there is no further agitation although, as explained, the timer motor 58 continues to operate. During pause A, .cam 59 closes all three contacts 66, '67 and 68 of switch 65 together to connect conductor 73 entirely independently of water level switch 86 and so as to exclude the

valve solenoids

22 and 26. Also at this time cam 61 reverses the position of switch 82.

The reversal of switch 82 reverses the polarity of start winding 79 relative to main winding 76. As a result, when, at the end of pause A, switch 78 is re-closed by cam 62, motor 16 is energized once again but in the opposite direction. The energization of the motor 16 and the deenergization of the valve solenoids result from the fact that the valve solenoids are bypassed by the new condition of switch 65. As a result of the opposite rotation of motor 16, the motor causes a spin operation and simultaneously operates the pump 30 in the direction to cause draining of liquid out of the tub, that is, drawing liquid from inlet conduit 31 and expelling it through outlet conduit 33. The pump 29 is ineffective during this operation, tending to draw in fluid through conduit 35 and expel it through conduit 34.

The spin operation is provided at a relatively high speed of rotation which may, for instance, be on the order of 600 rpm. so as to extract a very substantial part of the liquid from the clothes and have it removed by the pump 30. It is to be noted at this time that the action of pump 30 also causes the previously described suction to occur at opening 47, and that this suction acts through opening 45 and conduit 44 on the liquid within container 39 to draw the liquid down into container 46.

The spin operation continues until pause B, as shown, in FIGURE 3, at which time switch 78 is again opened by cam 62 to deenergize motor 16. At this time, cam 59 returns switch 65 to the same position that it had for wash. In addition, it is conventional at this time to change the position of switch 72 to its up position so that the cold water solenoid is energized. Switch 65 also returns to the same position that it had for Wash, with the contact 68 disengaged from the other two contacts, and the motor connections are reversed to provide agitation rather than spin action. Thus, when pause B is terminated by the reclosing of switch 78 by cam 62, water enters the basket until the switch 86 is tripped, and then an agitation step proceeds in the same manner as the Wash step, that is, by the shorting out of the valve solenoid by switch 86. In addition, the previously mentioned recirculation of liquid through the container 46 occurs, with the liquid passing out of container 46 to conduit 54 and then being recirculated by the pump 29 into the tub 4. At this time the recirculation of liquid through container 46 has the desired effect of diluting the rinse agent which is now located within the container 46 and of carrying it into the tub 4 so that it can engage the clothes being washed within basket 2. Thus, automatically in response to the sequence of steps the rinse agent is provided in the tub at the proper time.

After a suitable rinsing period, another pause C is provided and then another spin operation in the same manner as before, after which cam 59 opens all three contacts of switch 65 to terminate the operation completely by deenergizing all components of the system.

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, and 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 clothes washing machine comprising:

(a) liquid and clothes receptacle means including a rotatable clothes basket;

(b) means for washing clothes in said basket;

() recirculation means including a first reversible pump, first inlet means connecting said receptacle means adjacent the bottom thereof to said first pump, and first outlet means connecting said first pump to discharge into said receptacle means adjacent the top thereof;

(d) drain means including a second reversible pump, second inlet means connecting said receptacle means at the bottom thereof to said second pump, and second outlet means adapted to be connected to a drain;

(e) reversible drive means connected to said pumps,

said drive means in one direction of rotation causing pumping through said first pump from said first inlet means to said first outlet means and causing pumping through said second pump from said second outlet means to said second inlet means, said drive means in the other direction of rotation causing pumping through said first pump from said first outlet means to said first inlet means and causing pumping through said second pump from said second inlet means to said second outlet means;

(f) transmission means driven by said drive means and connected to said basket and said washing means, said transmission means operating said washing means in said one direction of rotation and rotating said basket at centrifuging speed in said other direction of rotation;

(g) control means for causing said drive means to operate sequentially in said one direction, said other direction, said one direction, and said other direction;

(/1) means for providing water in said receptacle means for use during operation of said washing means;

(i) first and second containers for liquid treating agent, said first container being formed to contain a predetermined amount of agent and having an opening at the bottom thereof, said second container being closed and formed to contain more than said predetermined amount and having a first opening at the bottom thereof and second and third openings above the level reached by said predetermined amount;

(j) first conduit means connecting said first container opening and said second opening of said second container, said first conduit means extending up above the highest level reached in either said first container or said receptacle means;

(k) a check valve positioned to permit only flow out of said second container from said first opening thereof;

(1) second conduit means connecting said first inlet means to said first opening of said second container so as to provide suction at said first opening during rotation of said drive means in said one direction; and

(in) third conduit means connecting said second inlet means to said third opening of said second container so as to provide suction at said third opening during rotation of said drive means in said other direction;

(n) whereby agent is drawn from said first container to said second container during the first basket rotation and is drawn from said second container into said receptacle during the second operation of said Washing means.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein, at the connection of said second and third conduit means to said first and second inlet means respectively, said first and second inlet means are formed to have increased velocity fiow and decreased pressure.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein a floattype check valve member is provided within said first container at said opening thereof, said valve member being formed to float in the liquid contained within said first container when said first container does contain liquid, and to close said opening of said first container 6. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said at other times. second container is positioned below the liquid level 4. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said sec- Within said liquid and clothes receptacle means during ond container is positioned below said first container operation of said drive means in said one direction. and said first conduit means is formed as a siphon hav- 5 ing its short leg connected to said first container and References Cited 111316 file of this Patent its long leg connected to said second container. UNITED STATES PATENTS app a us defined n laim wh rei1 1 said first 2,993,357 Smith et July 25, 1961 n lner 15 positioned below the maXlmunl llqllld level 7 3,035,431 Smith et a1. May 22, 1962 reached within said liquid and clothes receptacle means. 10

Claims

1. A CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE COMPRISING: (A) LIQUID AND CLOTHES RECEPTACLE MEANS INCLUDING A ROTATABLE CLOTHES BASKET; (B) MEANS FOR WASHING CLOTHES IN SAID BASKET; (C) RECIRCULATION MEANS INCLUDING A FIRST REVERSIBLE PUMP, FIRST INLET MEANS CONNECTING SAID RECEPTACLE MEANS ADJACENT THE BOTTOM THEREOF TO SAID FIRST PUMP, AND FIRST OUTLET MEANS CONNECTING SAID FIRST PUMP TO DISCHARGE INTO SAID RECEPTACLE MEANS ADJACENT THE TOP THEREOF; (D) DRAIN MEANS INCLUDING A SECOND REVERSIBLE PUMP, SECOND INLET MEANS CONNECTING SAID RECEPTACLE MEANS AT THE BOTTOM THEREOF TO SAID SECOND PUMP, AND SECOND OUTLET MEANS ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED TO A DRAIN; (E) REVERSIBLE DRIVE MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID PUMPS, SAID DRIVE MEANS IN ONE DIRECTION OF ROTATION CAUSING PUMPING THROUGH SAID FIRST PUMP FROM SAID FIRST INLET MEANS TO SAID FIRST OUTLET MEANS AND CAUSING PUMPING THROUGH SAID SECOND PUMP FROM SAID SECOND OUTLET MEANS TO SAID SECOND INLET MEANS, SAID DRIVE MEANS IN THE OTHER DIRECTION OF ROTATION CAUSING PUMPING THROUGH SAID FIRST PUMP FROM SAID FIRST OUTLET MEANS TO SAID FIRST INLET MEANS AND CAUSING PUMPING THROUGH SAID SECOND PUMP FROM SAID SECOND INLET MEANS TO SAID SECOND OUTLET MEANS; (F) TRANSMISSION MEANS DRIVEN BY SAID DRIVE MEANS AND CONNECTD TO SAID BASKET AND SAID WASHING MEANS, SAID TRANSMISSION MEANS OPERATING SAID WASHING MEANS IN SAID ONE DIRECTION OF ROTATION AND ROTATING SAID BASKET AT CENTRIFUGING SPEED IN SAID OTHER DIRECTION OF ROTATION.