US3111830A - Automatic clothes washing machine with lid switch control - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 26, 1963 F. D. LOW 3, ,83

AUTOMATIC CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE WITH LID SWITCH CONTROL Fi1ed June 22, 1962 me FIG. 2 /l4 F I 65 58 a? w 56 n I -I5 I 52 32 -28 I I 48 3| I O O O O O O ll -22 2 n l2 L '6 34 f 94 2 42 I -|8 I I 45 FIG. 3

q WASH RINSE RINSE CYCLE I WASH HSPIN "AGITATE SPIN I ,END

INVENTOR.

FRANK" 0. LOW

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,111,830 AUTOMATIQ CLOTHES WASHING MACHENE WITH Lll) SWITQH CGNTROL Frank D. Low, La Grange Park, IlL, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed lune 22, 1962, Ser. No. 264,458 2 Claims. (Cl. 68l2) The present invention relates to clothes washing machines and more particularly to automatic control circuits for such machines.

In such machines, it is the usual practice to rotate the wash receptacle at a speed sufficient to centrifugally extract water from the receptacle and from clothes borne by the receptacle. Such high speed rotation becomes a potential hazard to the careless user or inquisitive child who may open the access door and reach into the machine for some reason or other. It has therefore become a frequent practice to incorporate lid switches into the design of the machine; these switches open the motor drive circuit on opening of the lid or access door. In some lid switch equipped machines, all operating components of the machine stop when the lid is opened during any of the operational cycles. This complete shut down opens the circuit to the drive motor and also opens the circuit to the timer motor. The machine, therefore, remains totally inactive until the user restores the .lid to the closed position resetting the lid switch. In other machines of this type, the main drive motor stops, but the timer continues. Where the machine in question is being used in a home, the user, of course, may leave the lid open for as long as desired, for no one else is waiting to use the machine, and the user is usually in rather close attendance.

However, in coin-operated laundries, and particularly those which are unattended, the following situations have been found to exist:

(1): A user may deliberately open the machine lid shortly after the first washing operation begins, thus stopping the machine to derive a prolonged soak period not provided in the normal cycle of operation;

(2) A user may open the machine to add an article during the washing operation and, quite inadvertently, neglect to close the lid;

(3) A user may, if in a hurry, open the machine after only a portion of the final centrifugal extraction operation has been completed, and remove the wet laundry for transfer to a dryer, or for other reasons.

The first situation is obviously undesirable, for it could immobilize the machine for an indefinite period, causing loss of revenue to the proprieter, and aggravation among customers who may be waiting to use the machine.

In the second situation, if the machine stops, but the timer continues, the receptacle remains full of water for the machine cannot go into the wash water extraction cycle. However, the timer progresses through this cycle, and eventually reaches the stage at which rinse water is introduced; the water will flow into an already full receptacle, with resulting flooding.

The third situation may give rise to a different type of aggravation. Assuming the lid remains open after the customer has prematurely removed the laundry-a normal situationthe next user may assume that the machine is then available for use, load it, but her coin into the coin box, close the lid, and except that the machine will function as usual. Instead, it may immediately go into the unexpired portion of the final spin, and come to a stop. The second user, therefore, has paid her money to no avail. In an attended establishment she may recover the coin from the proprietor, but in unattended places she has no means of doing so.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide in a clothes washing machine equipped with a lid switch which opens the drive motor circuit on operation of the lid switch, an automatic control which is designed to provide a maximum of efliciency and safety for the machine when used in unattended coin laundry centers.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an automatic control system for a clothes washing machine, wherein the entire machine is shut down when the lid is open at the start of or during wash spin and in which only the drive motor is shut down if the lid is opened during rinse spin.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a washing machine control mechanism which interrupts the timer motor operation during occurrence of a particular condition in one spin cycle, and maintains the timer circuit complete on occurrence of the particular condition during another spin cycle.

To effect these and other objects, the present invention provides 'a control circuit which cooperates with the lid switch to react in different ways at different portions of the cycle. If the lid is raised during fill, agitate, or pause periods, the timer and the drive motor remain in operation, for there is little likelihood of injury to the user. In one embodiment, if the lid is open at the start of or during wash spin, both the timer motor and drive motor are shut down, pending resetting of the lid. Thus if a user neglects to shut the lid at the start of the machine sequence, the sequence will progress to the start of spin. At that time, the open circuit through the lid switch opens the path to both the timer motor and drive motor. In a second embodiment the wash spin will continue for a single timer impulse, whereupon the timer motor and drive motor are stopped. In either case, closure of the lid re-establishes the circuits to the timer and drive motor and the sequence continues. If following the conclusion of wash spin, the lid is opened, the sequence will progress through rinse to the spin rinse. At the start of rinse spin, the open circuit through the lid switch provides an open circuit to the drive motor but maintains the timer motor operative. The timer motor then times out the sequence with no further machine operations unless the lid is restored. Restoration of the lid closes the drive motor circuit which proceeds through the time left unexperied on the timer.

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

'FIG. 1 is a side sectional elevation of the invention, partially broken away to show the machine interior;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a circuit for accomplishing the desired objectives; and

FIG. 3 is a cam closure diagram for the circuit of FIG. 2.

Now viewing the invention in detail, in FIG. 1 there is shown a clothes washing machine 10 which is shown is of the coin-operated automatic start type. The invention, of course, is applicable to any washing machine of the vertical axis type but is more appropriate for coinoperated machines. The machine is constructed with an outer appearance cabinet 1" at the rear of which there is a controls console 14 extending vertically above the top machine surface 15. The top surface of the machine in front of the console is fashioned with a conventional loading opening allowing :access to the machine interior. This opening is approximately centrally located in the machine top surface 15 and is normally covered by a rear hinged lid 16 which may be opened to reach the machine interior. Adjacent the end of the lid most remote from the lid hinging is a conventional lid switch e,111,eeo

n; a 17 which is changed from one circuit condition to another by opening of the lid.

Within the machine there is a large imperforate stationary drain tub 18, and within the tub a centrally located wash receptacle 2% rotatable on a vertical axis. This receptacle has a generally imperforate cylindrical sidewall 22 extending from its horizontal base 24. The receptacle has an open circular face adjacent the loading opening. About the sidewall upper periphery, a heavy density balance ring 28 is mounted to provide a comparatively large moment of inertia for the receptacle. Be low the balance ring, a horizontal line of extraction aperturos 30 is provided in the otherwise Lnperforate sidewall. These apertures, in generally known manner, are used to pass water from the clothes and receptacle to the tub for drainage as the receptacle is being spun at high speed. Adjacent the receptacle in the area opposite the balance ring, an unbalance switch 31 protrudes through the tub 13 into a position in which in a circumstance of extreme gyration of the receptacle, 9. switch actuator will open the switch circuit to stop the drive motor and thus prevent damage to the machine.

Upstanding centrally above the receptacle base 24 is an agitator mechanism which includes a central column 32 from which extend radially a plurality of spaced vanes 34. Depending from the agitator column is a central agitator drive shaft 36 which extends through drain tub 13 to a coupling to suitable mechanisms (not shown) within the transmission casing 38 for oscillation of the agitator mechanism. Coaxially surrounding the agitator shaft is a spin tube 4% which is connected at its upper extremity to a rotary hub 42. Hub 4-2 is in driving connection with base 24 of the receptacle for rotating the receptacle on rotation of the spin tube. The lower end of tube 4-9 is secured to the outside of transmission housing 38 for rotation therewith. To impart rotational force to housing 38 and oscillatory motion to the internal drive mechanism, there is provided a drive motor 44 which may be of the reversible type. The motor is physically mounted to the adjacent sidewall of the housing and has a drive pulley and V belt connection to transmission housing 38.

In common with other washing machines well known in the art, the reversible drive motor 44 is employed in conjunction with a transmission in which rotation of the motor in one direction actuates transmission mechanism to oscillate the agitator, and operation of the motor in the reverse directon rotates the transmission housing, whereby the tube 49 rotates the receptacle 2% at high speed for centrifugal extraction of washing or rinsing liquids. In most machines, rotation of the receptacle also causes high speed rotation of the agitator, although this need not be the case. Mechanisms for accomplishing these actions are well known in the art, and, per se, are not a part of the claimed invention. Further, the motor has connected directly to its shaft a pump 45 which exhausts liquid from tub 18 during the centrifugal extraction operation and maintains the liquid in the tub at all other times. Such pumps are generally known in the art.

Further, the machine includes a water fill system which includes a water inlet conduit 48 with an opening poised over the open top of the receptacle 21 Such a conduit may be supplied by either or both of selectively operated hot and cold water valves (not shown) which are individually operated by solenoids and 52 respectively. The solenoid valves control the flow from the conventional domestic water supply in a known fashion. The valves are of the normally closed type; energization of the solenoids on a timed basis opens the valves to admit water to the receptacle 2d.

Along one corner of the top surface 15, there is provided a coin box 54 into which one or more coins are inserted. As is well known, this insertion initiates the machine cycle. The coin box mechanism which may be l mechanical or electrical (neither sho vn), initiates the timing cycle of a conventional timer mechanism 56 which is housed within controls console. In coin-operated machines, the timing mechanism normally progresses through its complete sequence and returns to the stop position awaiting the next coin insertion.

On the controls console there may be provided a set 53 of buttons for the water temperature control. These buttons (two in number) are interlocked. Depression of the left button produces a hot wash and a warm rinse, while depression of the right button institutes a warm wash and a cool rinse.

In the circuit of FIG. 2, there is shown a timing mechanism 56' which includes a plurality of cams (not shown) rotated in concert in a step-by-step fashion at the rate of one step of 6 per 30-second impulse period to provide an overall 30-minute cycle for the machine. Rotation of the cams is efieoted by a timer motor 60 and any conventional escapement or transmission mechanism (not shown). These cams each act upon an armature contact in known fashion to open and close circuits in the pattern shown in the cam chart of FIG. 3.

Of the cam actuated armatures of FIG. 2, those identified as C1, C2, C5, C6 and C7 may be cam-operated from an open circuit position to close against upper or lower fixed contacts, according to the contour of the actuating cam. Armatures C3, C4, and C8 have only one stationary contact with respect to which the armature contactor may be open or closed. Armature C1 has its upper stationary contact 62, and its lower stationary contact 64. Armature C2 has an upper stationary contact as and a lower one 68. Armature C3 is movable from an open circuit condition to closure to its single stationary contact 69. Armature C4- may be opened or closed to its stationary contact 71. Armature 05 may be closed to upper contact 73, lower contact '75 or open to both. Armature C6 may also be closed to its upper contact 77, its lower contact 79 or open to both. Armature C7 may be closed to contact 81, contact 83 or open to both and armature C8 may be open or closed to its contact 85.

In addition, the circuit of FIG. 2 shows the windings of drive motor 44, Le: run winding 86, start winding 87 and centrifugal contact set 88. Contact set 88 opens the start winding on acceleration of the motor to a predtermined speed in a conventional manner. Further there are provided in the circuit, various lamps which are related to explanatory indicia on the controls console. The lamps (the spin lamp 90, the reset lamp 92, and the operate lamp 94) may incandesce or glow individually to show occurrence of a specific condition.

Further in the circuit are the lid switch 17 which may be open or closed; the water temperature switch 58 which has an armature responsive to operation in one direction for closure to contact 162 for hot wash and warm rinse, or may be closed to contact 104 for the combination of warm wash and cool rinse. The unbalance switch 31 actuates an armature from a normal closure to contact 114 to a closure to contact 1 12 on occurrence of excessive gyration representative of an exaggerated unbalance condition.

Now turning to the operation of the machine, it is well known that insertion of the required coin or coins into a coin box 54 indexes the timer cams to the position indicated at Start in FIG. 3. At that position, armature C1 is closed to 62, C2 is closed to 66, C4 to 71, C5 to 73, C6 to 77, C7 to 81 and C8 to 85. These closures will maintain the timer operation and initiate the wash fill in accord with the selection at switch 58. The timer motor circuit is closed from lead L2 through a conventional motor thermal protector 116 to junction point M1 and timer motor 69, contacts C573, 71C4, 85--C8, and contacts 114-410 to lead Ll. At this time also, assuming hot wash and warm rinse had been selected at switch 58, contact 1% has previously been closed to contact 162. The circuit for energizing hot water solenoid 50 may be traced from lead L and junction Ml, through the contact 66 to jumper lead 65 and solenoid 56", contacts C679, 102-106, the jumper lead between contacts 83 and 85, and contacts 85C8, 114110 to lead L1. A circuit is completed from lead L1 and closed contacts 116-414, through contacts C8'85 and lamp 94 to junction M1 and lead L2. This lamp glows to indicate that the machine is now operating; it will remain lighted until the end of the completed sequence when armature contact C8 restores from stationary contact 85. It can be readily seen that neither the circuit to the timer motor 6G or to solenoid 50 includes the lid switch 17, hence the position of the lid is of no consequence at this time.

The hot wash fill continues for a period of three minutes at the conclusion of which armatures C6 and C7 restore and armature C3 closes to 69. As can be seen, the timer motor circuit remains closed. The hot fill solenoid circuit is opened at armature C6, now open.

Closure of armature C3 with contact 67 supplies power to the drive motor 44 to start the wash agitation. Circuits are completed to the drive motor start winding 87 and run winding 86. The circuit to the start winding for wash agitation may be traced from lead L2 to junction Ml, contacts 66C2, start winding 87, centrifugal switch contacts 88, contacts C1-62, the 6-2 to 68 to C3 jumper leads, contacts C3-69, ll-C4, 85--C3, and 1l411t) to lead L1. The run winding energizing circuit may be traced from lead L2 through run winding 86, contacts C369, 71C4, 85C8, and contacts 11 F110 of unbalance switch 31, to lead L1. The motor starts, whereupon a centrifugal switch (not shown) opens contacts 8'6 to cut out the start winding. The transmission mechanism oscillates the agitator column 32 in a known manner. It can be seen that both timer motor 66 and drive motor run winding 86 utilize circuit paths bypassing the lid switch and hence their functions, i.e., timing and agitate, continue uninterrupted by any opening of the lid.

The wash agitation continues for about ten minutes at which time armature C7 closes to contact 83. This closure completes a path to the cold water solenoid 52 to produce a one-impulse period (30 seconds) of flush-down rinse prior to the start of spin. This cold water circuit may be traced from lead L1, contacts 1l6ll4, C8--85, S to 83 jumper, contacts 83-C7, solenoid '52, and conductor 65, to junction M1 and lead L2. At the end of this cold water inlet period, armature C1 switches from 62 to 64, C2 switches from 66 to 68, C3 restores momentarily, and C7 restores. The opening of armature C3 deenergizes the drive motor run winding 86. The drive motor 44 then decelerates to signify the end of the wash agitation operation.

Following the end of one pause impulse during which the drive motor 'will have come to a stop, armature C3 recloses to contact 69 to initiate wash spin. The drive motor is energized in the spin direction by a reversal of the current flow direction through the start winding over a circuit as follows: lead Ll, unbalance switch contacts 110114, contacts Cit-85, closed contacts of lid switch 17, contacts 69-C3, 68C2, start winding 87, centrifugal switch contacts 88, closed contacts C164, jumper lead 65, junction M1 and lead L2. The run winding is energized in the direction previously used for agitation through a circuit including the lid switch. This circuit path may be traced from lead L1 and contacts 116-114, contacts C8-85, lid switch '17, contacts 69-C3, run winding 86 to lead L2. The drive motor accelerates into spin, opens its internal switch 88 to release the start winding and continues into wash spin. Along with these closures, a circuit is completed to lamp 96 to indicate spin is progressing. This lamp circuit may be traced from lead L1 and contacts 110-114, C885, 85 to 83 jumper, lid switch 17, contacts 69-C3, 68 to 62 jumper, spin lamp 90, contacts C1-64, and junction M1 to lead L2. This lamp is lit only when the machine is in spin, the lid is closed and no unbalance condition has occurred.

The timer motor circuit remains energized over the previously described energizing circuit including closure C471 for one impulse after the start of the acceleration of the drive motor for wash spin at which time C4 restores. The timer motor is energized at this time over an alternate path through lid switch 17 as follows: lead L1, contacts 119-414, C835, lid switch 17, 69 to 71 jumper, 71 to 73 jumper, 73C5, timer motor 60 and junction M1 to lead L2.

It can be seen that both the drive motor 44 and the timer motor 60 are both energized for wash spin over paths including lid switch 17. Thus, if the lid is open and consequently the contacts of switch 17 are in their open circuit condition, neither the timer motor nor the drive motor is energized and the machine operation will terminate pending reclosure of the lid switch. The open circuit condition at the lid switch extinguishes the spin lamp 90. Operate lamp 94 however does remain lit at this time.

During the period in the wash spin cycle when the lid is open, the machine operating sequence remains terminated and no further action occurs until the lid is reset. Re-closure of the lid will reclose the previously described circuits to the motor start and run windings and to the timer motor. These mechanisms resume operation to complete the operational cycle in an otherwise normal manner. At this point, it should be noted that if the lid switch is open at the start of spin, the reason for this occurrence nominally is due to the user having forgotten to close the lid after having inserted additional articles into the machine after the wash operation began. In such a situation, the timer and drive motors will stop their operation at the start of wash spin and will remain inoperative until the lid is properly closed. Closure of the lid and lid switch circuit will start the operation of the machine for the unexpired spin-cycle time.

During the normal spin period, assuming continuing operation, cam armature C7 closes to contact 83 for one impulse to complete a one-impulse flush-down of cold water. During this one impulse, a circuit is completed to the cold solenoid 52 to feed cold water to the tub. This flush-down or spray rinse usually is set to occur about midway during the spin cycle. The solenoid energizing path for flush-down is identical to the path described for the previous spray rinse which occurred near the end of wash agitation. The spray or flush period continues for 30 seconds and this water is spun out with the other water in the clothes and in the receptacle.

At the conclusion of the wash-spin operation (15-minute mark in the sequence) armature C1 switches from 64 to 62, C2 switches from 68 to 66 and C3 restores. Restoration or armature C3 opens the drive motor run winding circuit and the drive motor decelerates. One impulse later, armature C6 is closed to 79 and C7 is closed to 83 to initiate the rinse operation. These last mentioned closures complete a path to the hot and cold solenoid in accord with the selection at switch 58 of hot wash, warm rinse. The circuit to these solenoids may be traced from lead L1 and contacts r m-r14, C885, 8583 jumper lead, contacts lti0102, 79-C6, hot solenoid 5t jumper lead 65, and junction M1 to lead L2. The cold solenoid path is also closed from lead L1 through contacts 114, CS-85, 85 to 83 jumper lead, contacts 83--C7, cold solenoid 52 and the jumper lead 65, to junction M1 and lead L2. Fill continues for this rinse fill period and after a few minutes of rinse fil-l, armature C3 closes to 69. Closure of C3 to 69 completes a circuit to the drive motor windings in the agitate direction as previously described. Fill continues during this agitation to effect an overflow rinse. Pump 45 which is rotated in the agitate direction by the action of motor 44 tends to remove some of the excess water overflowed from the receptacle during this rinse period to maintain a normal water level. At the conclusion of this rinse agitate period, armature C1 switches from stationary contact 62 to 64, C2 switches from 66 to 68, C3 restores, C5 switches from 73 to 75, C6 restores and C7 restores. These circuit changes cause 7 the drive motor to be deener gize-d at C3 and input water to be shut off at C6 and C7.

After a one-impulse pause period sufficient to allow the drive motor 44 to decelerate, the drive motor is reenergized by the closure of armature C3 to 69 and at tln's time armature C4 restores to divert this drive motor circuit through the lid switch. The drive motor start Winding is energized for rinse spin over a path from lead Lil through contacts lllllll4, C8-85, lid switch 17, 69- C3, 68-C2, start winding 87, centrifugal contacts 33 and junction M1 to lead L2. The drive motor run winding is energized from lead L1 and contacts 1 ltllll4, C835, lid switch 17, 68C3, run winding 86 to junction M11 and lead L2. The drive motor accelerate and cuts out its start Winding at contacts 88. The timer motor at this time is energized independently of the lid switch over a path from lead L1 and contacts lltillll4, (18-35, 35 to E3 jumper lead, 77 to 75 iumper lead, contacts 75C5, timer motor 60 and junction M1 to lead L2. Thus during this rinse spin, the timer motor is energized through a circuit bypassing the lid switch and the timer operation will continue uninterrupted for the duration of the rinse spin. During this rinse spin, opening of the lid will deenergize the drive motor at switch 17 in its operate path but timer motor 6% will continue its operation uninterrupted by SUCJ lid opening. Thus, if the user opens the lid during rinse spin, no spin will occur but the timer will continue to operate. In this condition, the machine will time itself to the end of the sequence with no rinse spin occurring and the user is precluded from delaying or otherwise altering the preset sequence and its duration.

At the end of the time allotted for rinse spin, armature C3 restores deenergizing the drive motor. The master armature C8 holds closed for one impulse after the C3 restoration and thereafter releases. Release of armature C8 opens the line circuit to the machine to signify the end of the machine operative sequence of approximately 27 minutes duration. The timer remains in this cycle end position until the machine is indexed to start the next wash sequence.

If during the operation of the sequence, an unbalance condition causes receptacle 20 to strike the actuator for switch 31, unbalance switch armature 11%; opens the line circuit to cont actor C8 and closes a circuit to contact 114 lighting the trouble lamp '92 over an obvious path. A switch mechanism of this kind is shown, for example, in Stelli application S.N. 836,223, filed August 26, 1959, for Control Mechanism (now U.S. Patent 3,051,313, granted August 28, 1952) assigned to my assignee herein.

This lamp indicates to the user that the machine has shut off due to an unbalanced condition in receptacle 2t) and that switch 31 must be reset. This reset is normally accornplished by means of a reset button (not shown) and the cycle proceeds.

As mentioned previously, one of the purposes of the present invention is to prevent misuse of the machine by the user. Of the possible misuse situations which may arise, the following one may be readily prevented by a revision of the cam sequence of FIG. 3. This form of misuse may occur when the user decides to retain the lid open at the cycle start to effect a wash and then a prolonged soak period. This prolonged soak will occur at the end of the wash when the timer cams are switched to spin. With the lid open and consequently lid switch 17 open, the drive motor and timer motor are both deenergized. The wash receptacle remains quiescent and the clothes soak in the wash water for as long as the user retains the lid open. When the user desires, she shuts the lid to start the spin-out of water. This form of misuse can be prevented by removing the possible gain in the form of the prolonged soak.

It is generally known, that during the spin period, practically all of the standing water is centrifugally ejected from the receptacle during the first 30 to 45 seconds of the spin. The remainder of the spin period is utilized to extract excess water from the clothes and to remove this excess from the receptacle. Thus, if the receptacle is spun for a short period at the start of the spin period, most of the free water will be ejected from the receptacle and no extra soak can be achieved. This effect can readily be attained by shunting the lid switch for one impulse period at the start of spin. The closure of armature C4 to stationary contact 71 is prolonged for one 30-second impulse (as shown dotted in FIG. 3) so that the drive motor will be energized and the receptacle will be spun for one impulse period. This quick spin will tend to remove most of the standing water from the basket thereby removing any possibility of effecting a soak period at the start of wash spin. At the end of the one impulse of spin, armature C4 restores and the circuits for the drive and timer motors are connected in series to the lid switch circuit. Thus, the position of the lid governs continuing operation of the machine in the previously described manner.

In FIG. 3, the closure of contactor C4 to stationary contact 71 (as shown dotted) is also prolonged for one impulse at the start of rinse spin. The quick spin at that time will tend to remove most of the rinse water. As a result, if the lid is open at the start of rinse spin, most of the excess water will be removed before the timer starts to run out the cycle with the drive motor maintained inactive. At the conclusion of a lid-open, rinse-spin period, little water will remain in the basket to harass the next user. These two quick spins with the lid open may be utilized if desired to produce added alternative cycle possibilities.

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

What is claimed is:

l. in a clothes washing machine having a clothes and water receiving receptacle within a cabinet having a lid for access to the receptacle, said receptacle being arranged for rotation at high speed to spin out water therefrom, means within said receptacle to agitate the clothes to effect a washing or rinsing action thereon, valve means for introducing water into the receptacle, and mechanism including a drive motor for selectively operating said agitation means or rotating the receptacle to spin out the water, a control system comprising:

a time cycle control mechanism including a motordriven timer,

a normally open lid switch arranged to be operated to closed circuit condition by closure of said cabinet lid,

a first timer motor energy circuit including said lid switch and a first switch device in series,

a second timer motor energy circuit including said first and a second switch device to bypass said lid switch,

a first drive motor energizing circuit including said second-named switch device and a third switch device for causing said motor to operate said agitation means independently of said lid switch, second drive motor circuit eliminating said secondnamed switch device while including said third-named switch device and a fourth switch device in series with said lid switch for causing said motor to effect rotation of said basket, and cam means operated by said timer motor in a succession of impulses of uniformly short duration to actuate the respective switch devices to provide the following predetermined sequence of operations each of which includes a multiplicity of said short-duration impulses:

(a) first and second clothes agitation operations in which the second of said timer motor energy circuits and the first of said drive motor energy circuits are activated,

(1)) a first basket rotation in which the first of said timer motor energy circuits and the second of said drive motor energy circuits are activated,

said first basket rotation being interposed between said first and second clothes agitation operations, and

(c) a second basket rotation following said second clothes agitation operation and in which the second of said timer motor energy circuits and the second of said drive motor energy circuits are activated.

2. A washing machine control circuit according to claim 1 but providing a third drive motor energy circuit including, in series relation, said fourth, said third, said second switch devices and a fifth switch device to effect basket rotation independent of said lid switch, and said earn means are arranged to activate said third drive motor circuit and said second timer motor circuit for one impulse interval after said first agitation operation, following which said cam means activate said second drive motor circuit and said first timer motor circuit for the remaining impulse intervals of said first basket rotation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 2,161,604 Watts June 6, 1939 2,544,867 Wallis et al Mar. 13, 1951 3,024,637 Hughes et a1 Mar. 13, 1962

Claims (1)

1. IN A CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE HAVING A CLOTHES AND WATER RECEIVING RECEPTACLE WITHIN A CABINET HAVING A LID FOR ACCESS TO THE RECEPTACLE, SAID RECEPTACLE BEING ARRANGED FOR ROTATION AT HIGH SPEED TO SPIN OUT WATER THEREFROM, MEANS WITHIN SAID RECEPTACLE TO AGITATE THE CLOTHES TO EFFECT A WASHING OR RINSING ACTION THEREON, VALVE MEANS FOR INTRODUCING WATER INTO THE RECEPTACLE, AND MECHANISM INCLUDING A DRIVE MOTOR FOR SELECTIVELY OPERATING SAID AGITATION MEANS OR ROTATING THE RECEPTACLE TO SPIN OUT THE WATER, A CONTROL SYSTEM COMPRISING: A TIME CYCLE CONTROL MECHANISM INCLUDING A MOTORDRIVEN TIMER, A NORMALLY OPEN LID SWITCH ARRANGED TO BE OPERATED TO CLOSED CIRCUIT CONDITION BY CLOSURE OF SAID CABINET LID, A FIRST TIMER MOTOR ENERGY CIRCUIT INCLUDING SAID LID SWITCH AND A FIRST SWITCH DEVICE IN SERIES, A SECOND TIMER MOTOR ENERGY CIRCUIT INCLUDING SAID FIRST AND A SECOND SWITCH DEVICE TO BYPASS SAID LID SWITCH, A FIRST DRIVE MOTOR ENERGIZING CIRCUIT INCLUDING SAID SECOND-NAMED SWITCH DEVICE AND A THIRD SWITCH DEVICE FOR CAUSING SAID MOTOR TO OPERATE SAID AGITATION MEANS INDEPENDENTLY OF SAID LID SWITCH, A SECOND DRIVE MOTOR CIRCUIT ELIMINATING SAID SECONDNAMED SWITCH DEVICE WHILE INCLUDING SAID THIRD-NAMED SWITCH DEVICE AND A FOURTH SWITCH DEVICE IN SERIES WITH SAID LID SWITCH FOR CAUSING SAID MOTOR TO EFFECT ROTATION OF SAID BASKET,

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