US3112630A

US3112630A - Washing machine control and components used therein

Info

Publication number: US3112630A
Application number: US141811A
Authority: US
Inventors: Maynard E Anderson; Emil R Plasko; Sokoly John; Melvin W Polkinghorn
Original assignee: American Radiator and Standard Sanitary Corp
Current assignee: American Radiator and Standard Sanitary Corp
Priority date: 1961-09-29
Filing date: 1961-09-29
Publication date: 1963-12-03
Anticipated expiration: 1980-12-03

Description

Dec. 3, 1963 M. E. ANDERSON ETAL 3,112,630

WASHING MACHINE CONTROL AND COMPONENTS USED THEREIN Filed Sept. 29, 1961 F/G. j a.

QJM K Ba 5mm United States Patent f 3,112,630 WASHING MACHINE CGNTRGL AND CQMPG- NENTS USED THEREEN Maynard E; Anderson, Birmingham, Emil R. P lasko, Walled Lake, .lohn Solroiy, Detroit, and Melvin W. Polkinghorn, Livonia, Mich, assignors to American Radiator & Standard Sanitary Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 29, 1961, Ser. No. 141,811 9 Claims- (Cl. 68-12) uum-controlled actuators utilized in the system.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a washing machine control system having a novel device for controlling the tub water level without interfering with the timer operation.

In line with the immediately abovementioned object, it is a further object to provide a water level control device which incorporates a novel disposition of a snap action blade means operating to both control an electrical circuit and flow through a vent port for the vacuum timer.

Another object of the invention is to provide a water level control device which is relatively simple and which can be manufactured at fairly low cost.

A general object of the invention is to provide a washing machine control system which performs satisfactorily in service, but which is manufacturable at lower cost than similarly functioning control systems previously available.

Other objects of this invention will appear from the following description and appended claims, reference be-' ing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic representation of a control system incorporating the invention, with certain of the control components being shown in section to illustrate interior details thereof; and

FIG. 2 is a sectional view on line 22 in FIG. 1.

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrange ment of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings. since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Referring in greater detail to the drawings, there is shown therein a washing machine control system for controlling the operation of a washing machine having a conventional tub 10, rotary clothes basket 12 and fluidclothes agitator 14. A suitable powered shaft 16 is connected to agitator 14 to operate same during the washing and rinsing periods, and a suitable hollow shaft 18 is connected with the basket to rapidly spin sameduring the water extraction periods. To admit water to the washing machine tub there is provided a water valve generally designated by numeral 20, and to control the water ice level in the tub during the wash period there is provided a control designated generally by the numeral 22. Braining of water from the tub is effected by means of a conventional pump, (not shown) which is vacuum actuated via a vacuum line 24. It will be understood that shaft 1% is at times .operatively connected with the main dri e motor for the machine through a conventional clutch (not shown), the arrangement enabling basket 12 to be spun rapidly during the water extraction periods. In the illustrated arrangement the spin clutch is preferably actuated by means of vacuum applied thereto through a vacuum line 26.

In the upper portion of FIG. 1 there is shown a rotary timer disc 28, the function of which is to control or direct the application of vacuum to certain of the above-mentioned devices, including water valve 20, water level control 22, the aforementioned drain pump, and the aforementioned spin clutch. The creation of a suitable vacuum force is accomplished by means of a vacuum pump designated generally by numeral 36, said pump being connected with a vacuum line 32 which leads to the rear of a fixed disc 34 located behind disc 28, the arrangement being such that during rotation of disc 28 by a conventional electric timer motor 36 (FIG. 2) certain recesses in disc 28 are caused to traverse the vacuum supply line 32 to thus be supplied with vacuum. The recesses are suitably configured to distribute the vacuum to respective ones of the lines which lead to the aforementioned control devices so that an operating cycle is achieved in accordance with the timer disc recess configuration.

For ease in description and explanation the various components used in the system will now be described in greater detail, one by one.

Vacuum Pump 30 As shown in the drawing, the vacuum pump comprises a housing structure including a lower generally cup-like housing section 38 and anupper cover-like housing section 40 having a tubular guide-forming extension 42 formed thereon. A suitable pressure responsive dia phragm 44 has its peripheral edges clamped between portions of the two: housing sections. The diaphragm carries amount structure which in the illustrated embodiment includes a plunger 46 and a U-shaped bracket 43f Disposed between the upwardly extending arms of the bracket is a roller 5t? arranged with the shaft 52 thereof eccentric of the roller axis. As shown in the drawing the roller is engaged with a belt 54 which is preferably the conventional main drive belt from the main washing machine motor to the clutches for the agitator and spin basket. This drive belt runs continuously after the machine is put in operation, and it therefore forms a ready source of power for operating the vacuum pump. In order to maintain roller 50 in continuous engagement with belt 54, there may be provided a compression spring 56, the arrangement being such that rotation of roller 50 causes the plunger 46 and diaphragm 44 to reciprocate rapidly.

During each upward stroke of diaphragm 44 air is drawn from line 32 into the vacuum chamber 58, and

during each downstroke of diaphragm 44 the drawn-in air is expelled to the atmosphere via a small vent passage 60. In order to prevent undesired air flow from chamber 58 into line 32 there is provided'a check valve which may include a ball valve element 64, a stem 66 secured to said valve element, an apertured piston '68 secured to the stem and sliding within tubular housing section 69, and a compression spring '70 hearing between housing section 33 and piston 68. In order to prevent flow of air from the atmosphere into chamber 58 there is provided a check valve which may include a ball valve element 72, an adjustable abutment structure 74 and a compression spring 76 trained between the abutment structure and the valve element. As a result of this construction air is free to flow from chamber 58 through 1 As shown in FIG. 2, the timer means may be disposed behind wall 77 of the clothes washing machine, with the rotary disc 28 thereof being suitably ailixed to the shaft 78'of the conventional schematically shown timer motor 36. The timer motor may be of various constructions, as for example that shown in U.S. Patent 2,334,040. Motor shaft '78 preferably carries a manually engageable adjustment knob 88 for permitting the user to manually rotate disc 28 to start the cycle and to omit portions or the cycle as desired. suitable dial plate is preferably arranged on wall 77 to cooperate with a suitable pointer carried on knob 8%) so that t.e user is enabled to correctly operate the knob.

Tie timer comprises a fixed plate 34 which maybe secured to wall 77 or other fixed portion of the machine. In the illustrated embodiment plate 34- is provided with seven small openings or vacuum ports 81 through 87 in each of which is disposed a short hollow metal tube for mounting an end portion of a respective one of various vacuum lines such as line 32. The tmounted ends of the tubes are arranged at different radial distances from the axis of rotary disc 28 so that when the disc traverses port openings 81 through 87 different ones of the tubes will register with difierent annular paths or areas in the disc. Disc 28 is provided with a large recess 88 which is entirely sealed from the atmosphere by the face portions of plate 34; if desired a resilient coating or lamination could be applied to the face of plate 34 to improve the sealing action. Addition-ally disc :28 is provided with six recess numbered 90, 91, 92, 94, 96 and 93, each of these recesses having a vent passage 100 extending therefrom through disc 28 to the exposed from face thereof. These vent openings would in the actual device not be visible in FIG. 1 but they have been included in that figure so that the vented nature of the recesses may better be kept in mind. Each of the

recesses

99, 91, 92, 94, 95 and d8 is isolated from recess 88 by mountain-like wall portions of disc 28 so that when one of the vented recesses is registering with one of the openings 81 through 87 only that opening is vented to the atmosphere; i.e., recess 88 is not thereby vented to the atmosphere.

From the above it will be seen that vacuum which is supplied through line 32 may be applied to any one of port openings 81 or 33 through 37, depending on whether the respective opening registers with face portion 79 of disc 23, recess 88 of disc 28 or one of the

vented recess areas

96, 91, 92, $4, '96 or 98. In general, any one of the lines may at a particular moment he in any one of three conditions, namely completely sealed, connected with vacuum source 39, or vented to the atmosphere.

Water Valve The water valve may in parts of its construction be formed similar to the conventional solenoid-controlled water valve commonly employed in present day washing machines. This is true particularly as regards the formation of valve body 192 and the pilot valve diaphragms 1%. The illustrated valve body includes a hot inlet 1%, cold inlet 16%, annular hot valve seat 199, annular cold valve seat 119, and outlet 112. The water discharged through outlet 112 could be hot, warm or cold, depending on whether the hot diaphragm alone was raised, both i din. hragms were raised, or the cold diaphragm alone was raised.

Each diaphragm ltldis provided with a small bleed opening 114 and a larger bleed opening 116 so that when bleed opening 116 is closed by the end portion of plunger 113 a body of water is trapped within the cup-like section 12% of the cover 122 to thereby force diaphragm 104 against seat 11d. Referring especially to the operation of the hot valve portion, when plunger 118 is moved away from seat 1% the fluid pressure within cup-like section 12% is relieved to allow the inlet pressure to move the diaphragm to the open position.

Plunger 118 is slidably disposed Within the tubular guide-forming section 124 of cover 122, and a compression spring 126 is disposed in the outer end of the tubular section to normally urge plunger 113 toward a position closing bleed opening 116. To move plunger 118 away from bleed opening there is provided an annular permanent magnet 12% which is suitably secured to wall portion 13% of a frame generally designated by numeral 132. The frame includes two parallel walls 133 extending alongside bellows 131 and inturned arms 134 which are suitably connected to the end wall 136 of the bellows. The bellows is re'ierably formed of plastic material to the configuration shown in the upper portion of the figure; thus in the absence of an internal vacuum force the bellows will be in an expanded condition. Preferably the bellows is provided with an integrally formed tubular portion 138 for receiving the 'end portion of the vacuum hose line 149 or 141. In order to operatively dispose the bellows on a fixed part of the valve, end Wall 14-2 thereof is suitably secured to the tubular section 124 of cover 122, as through the mechanism of aplate or disc 144 In operation of the hot valve, when no vacuum exists in line 140 magnet 128 is disposed adjacent the outer end of guide section 124 as shown in the figure; in this condition spring 126 operates to maintain diaphragm 184 in the closed position. When a vacuum force is applied from pump 3% onto line 146 the bellows contracts so that end wall 136 thereof is drawn toward the fixed end wall 142. As a result the frame 132 and magnet 128 are drawn toward an armature-forming disc 129 carried on plunger 118; the plunger is also prefenably formed of magnetically attractable material. Movement of magnet 12% toward disc 12? positions it sufilciently close to the disc so that the disc is now located within the area of attraction of the magnet such that the disc and plunger 118 snap away from bleed opening 116 in diaphragm 104. The trapped fluid between the diaphragm and cover section is thereby vented through bleed opening 116, and the inlet fluid pressure becomes eifective to force the diaphragm away from seat 119. This action permits flow of water to outlet 112.

If desired member 12% could be the permanent magnet, and member 128 could be 'formed of magnetically attractable material. The terms magnetic member and magnetic armature are used in the claims to denote members formed of permanently magnetized material or merely magnetically permeable material. The valve construction per se forms the subject matter of a divisional application filed April 1, 1963 bearing Serial No.269,623.

It will be understood that each of the hot and cold valves is provided with a vacuum actuator line or 141 and that the temperature of the water flowing through outlet 112 is determined by which one, or both of the vacuum lines have a vacuum force applied thereto. When both of the vacuum lines 14% are under vacuum the outlet temperature is warm, when only vacuum line 146 is under vacuum the temperature is hot, and when only vacuum line 141 is under vacuum the outlet temperature is cold.

Water Level Control 22 As shown in the drawing, this control comprises a cuplike housing 144:: having its bottom wall connected with by a diaphragm 146, the peripheral edge portion of said diaphragm being clamped beneath the peripheral edge portion of a cover 148 preferably formed of di-electric material such as that trademarked under thename Bakelite. Disposed within cover 148 is a conventional snap action switch blade 15b having'its left end portion permanently secured to the cover 148 and terminal 152 by means of a rivet 154. A central portion of snap action blade 15% connects with the plunger 15 6 extending from diaphragm 146, while the right end portion of blade 1% is arranged between a fixed electrical contact 158 and the upstanding portion of a vent tube 169. Tube 16% connects with opening 35 in plate 34 via a vacuum line 161. Movement of blade 15% could be effected by other means than the illustrated pressure tube 145; for example float actuation as disclosed in US. Patent 2,646, 067 is feasible.

In the illustrated embodiment a rubber button 162 is secured to the lower face of blade 150 to sealingly engage the upper end of tube 160 when the blade is in its depressed position as shown in the drawing. When Sui-- ficient pressure is developed on the underside of diaphragm 146 the plunger 156 moves upwardly to cause blade 15% to snap upwardly into engagement with electrical contact 153. Contact 158 connects with electrical line 164, and terminal 152 connects with electrical line 166. The flow of current in the timer motor-energizer circuit defined by lines 164 and lltib-is under the joint control of switch blade 15% and a switch arm 168, said switch arm being movable to the closed position by up ward manual movement of an actuator or handle 170. If desired this switch could beactuated by axial or rotary movement of knob 86. In any event movement of switch arm 168 to the circuit open position is preferably =accomplished automatically by the application of a vacuum force to the interior of bellows 1'72, such vacuum force being applied via a vacuum line 174 which connects with opening 87 in plate 34.

During the water-fill portions of each operating cycle switch arm 168 is in a circuit-closed condition, but switch blade 150 is in a circuit-open condition; consequently during these time portions timer disc 28 remains in fixed locations. During certain periods when blade 15b is in its lowered position it is necessary that motor 36 be operating. To accomplish such operation there is provided a normally closed switch 178 having a plunger arranged to ride on the raised cam surface portions 176, 179 and 181; when the plunger is on any of the raised cam portions motor 36 is stopped and when the plunger is in the valleys between the raised portions the motor is running. The general mode of operation of the illustrated system will be apparent after the following description.

Operation We will assume that the washing machne is in the off condition with rotary timer disc 28 in the position shown in the drawing. In the off position manual switch 168 is open so that no current is supplied to timer motor 36.-

Also, the bellows for the hot and cold water valves are expanded so that both diaphragms 104 are closed. Water level switch 15b is depressed as shown in the drawing, and vacuum pump 30 is at atmospheric pressure.

be noted that if the knob had been turned further counterclockwise the water supplied to tub 10 would be warm instead of hotsince vacuum would then have been supplied to the cold v-alve actuator line 141.

Vacuum in line 161 has no effect on the machine until the water level in the tubreaches the desired height. As the tub fills with water the water level in tube 145 rises so that air trapped in the tube develops a pressure on the underside of diaphragm 146. When the water level reaches a desired value the air pressure on diaphragm 146 causes blade to snap away from vent tube 160' and toward contact 158 for thus completing a circuit across terminals 152. and 159 to energize timer motor 36. As the blade moves from tube 166 the tube is opened so that recess. 88 is vented to the atmosphere through an opening in the leftlrand portion of cover 148. Since line 149 is When manual switch 168 is drawnupwardly to the circuit closed position the main washing machine motor is energized by a circuit (not shown) in parallel with line 166. Vacuum pump 30 begins to operate, but timer motor 36 remains de-energized because both switch 178 and blade 150 are open. If we assume that knob 81 is then rotated about thirty degrees counterclockwise from its FIG. 1 position it will be seen that vacuum line 32 will supply vacuum to recess 88 via line 32 and port 82. The supplied vacuum is directed to each of lines 140' and 161 via port openings 83 and 85. Vacuum in line 144) causes hot wash water to be supplied to tub 10. It should connected to this recess the hot water bellows is also vented to the atmosphere for thus allowing diaphragm 104 to be closed to the flow of hot water; thus the waterfill operation is discontinued as motor 36 starts operating. As the wash period progresses cam surface 176 of disc 28 rides oii the plunger for switch 178; however motor 36 is not aiiected because the motor circuit is at this time completed by blade 150. Cam portion 176 is constructed of sufficient length to prevent the timer motor from operating during the wash water-fill period, whether or not the user initially turns knob to the precisely correct setting.

As the washing-agitating period proceeds disc 28 continues its movement and vented space 90 eventually registers with openings 83-, 84 and 85; also recess 88 registers withopenin-g 31. This action seals recess 88 fi'rorn the atmospheric vent 161), and causes the line 32 vacuum to be applied to the drain pump actuator via line 24. The machine drains the used water from the tub as long as recess 38 registers with opening 81. Following this drain period openings 83, 84 and 85 again register with recess 88 so that the two water valves are opened to admit clean warm rinse water to the tub. At this time cam 179 0pcrates to open switch 1'78 for thereby deenergizing timer motor 36. When diaphragm 146 is pressured up to snap blade 15!} to the contact 158 motor 3-6 is again energized to continue the cycle. If desired the recess configuration could be such as to provide one or more spray rinse periods during the cycle. The spray rinse operation involves simultaneous actuation of the two water valves, spin clutch and drain pump. In this regard the pictured recess configuration is merely illustrative of the principle of the invention.

Returning to the drawing structure, after the admission of rinse water recess 88 registers with opening 86 to thus supply the spin clutch actuator line 26 with vacuum; as a result the basket is spun rapidly to extract maximum quantities of the soapy water from the machine. As the machine is further cycled, recesses 92 and 94 register with openings 86, 85, 84, 83 and 81, which action causes the respective vacuum lines to be vented to the. atmosphere for thereby discontinuing the operations of water admission, tub draining and basket-spinning. Further cycling of the machine causes additional operations to be performed in accordance with the nature of the recesses in disc 28.

. The recesses are preferably configured so that when recess 88 registers with spin clutch opening 86 it also registers with vent tube opening 85. In this way vacuum will not be applied to the spin clutch when the tub is filled with water.

At a predetermined point in the cycle recess 88 registers with opening 87, whereupon vacuum is applied to bellows 172 to open switch 168 for thereby de-energizing timer motor 36 and the main motor of the machine.

. Subsequent manual turning of knob 80 to initiate the next cycle causes each of openings 81 through 87 to momentarily register with vented recess 98 for thereby insuring that all-of the lines will be clear of vacuum when the next cycle is begun.

It will be understood that the manufactured nature of the recesses in disc 28 may be varied to suit difierent machines and desired types of cycles, and that the drawings are merely intended to illustrate the principles of the invention without proceeding into detail as to various refinements of manufacture which would be resorted to in commercial practice of the invention. Modifications and rearrangements could be resorted to as come within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim: a

1. In a washing machine having a tub: the combination comprising a program timer which includes a pair of facing members movable relative to one another; one of said members having a series of recesses therein, a first one of which is vented to the atmosphere, and a second one of which is sealed from the atmosphere; a vacuum pump having a single vacuum line extending to the aforementioned other timer member so that during relative rotation of the two timer members the second recess communicates with the pump; means for supplying water to the washing machine tub, including a vacuum-controlled water valve; a second vacuum line extending from said other timer member to said vacuum-controlled water valve whereby to transmit a vacuum force from the second recess to the valve; and means for controlling both the timer and the water level in the tub of the washing machine comprising first and second timer-controlling electrical terminals, a vent port vacuum-connected with the other timer member but not with the pump except through the second recess, and snap action blade means arranged to alternately close the vent port and open the terminals when the tub level is below a predetermined value and open the vent port and close the terminals when the tub level is above a predetermined value.

2. In a washing machine having a tub arranged to be filled with water to a desired level; means tor halting the filling operation when the desired level is reached, including an actuator member movably arranged adjacent the tub so that during a tub-filling operation the actuator member moves through a predetermined incremental distance; snap action blade means operatively connected with the actuator member to be moved thereby; an electrical cont-act arranged to be engaged by the snap action blade means during movement of the actuator member due to a rising water level; and a timer vent port arranged to be engaged by the snap action blade means during movement of the actuator member due to a lowering water level. V 3. In combination, first and second electrical terminals, and a vent port arranged in spaced opposed registry with the second electrical terminal; snap action blade means having a permanent connection with the first electrical terminal and having a portion located in the space between the second electrical terminal and the vent port so that snapping movement of the blade means is eifective to alternately complete an electrical circuit across the terminals and close the vent port.

4. In combination, a cup-like casing and a diaphragm extending across the mouth thereof to cooperate therewith in defining a pressure chamber; snap action blade means arranged adjacent the exterior surface of said diaphragm; means extending from the diaphragm to operate the snap action blade means in accordance with the pressure changes occurring within the pressure chamber; first and second electrical contacts; and a vent port arranged so that the blade means snaps between a first condition completing a circuit across the contacts and a second condition closing the vent port.

5. In a washing machine having a tub, a series of vacuum-operated components, a vacuum pump, and a motoroperated vacuum distributing timer controllin the application of pump vacuum to the components; the improvement comprising the construction of the timer to include an inlet port continuously communicating with the vacuum pump, and individual vacuum outlet ports, some of which communicate with individual ones of the vacuum-operated components; a movable mechanism for causing the outlet ports to selectively communicate with the inlet port or be sealed therefrom; and a combination switch and valve means connected with the timer motor and one of the outlet ports, respectively, and arranged when the machine tub is filled with water to energize the timer and vent selected ones of the outlet ports to the atmosphere; said switch and valve means comprising a set of electrical contacts, a vent port, and a single snap action blade means movable between a first position closing the vent port and a second position bridging the contacts.

6. In a washing machine having a tub, a series of vacuum-operated components, a Vacuum pump, and a motoroperated vacuum distributing timer controlling the application of pump vacuum to the components; the improvement comprising the construction of the timer to include a first stationary member having a single inlet port continuously communicating with the vacuum pump and individual vacuum outlet ports, some of which communicate with individual ones of the vacuum-operated components; said timer further including a second member movable on the first member and having first and second recess means therein arranged to traverse the ports; said first recess means having vents leading to the atmosphere, and said second recess means being unvented so that each of the outlet ports can communicate with the inlet port through the second recess means, or communicate with the atmosphere through the first recess means, or be sealed from the inlet port and the atmosphere; and a combination switch and valve means connected with the timer motor and one of the outlet ports, respectively, and arranged when the tub is filled with water to energize the timer and vent the second recess means to the atmosphere; said combination switch and valve means comprising a snap action blade having a first position wherein it completes an electric circuit for the motor and having a second position wherein it closes against air flow through said one outlet port.

7. In a washing machine having a tub, a vacuum-controlled water valve for supplying water to the tub, a rotary timer including an electric motor and a vacuum-distribub ing valve element arranged to control the application of vacuum to the water valve, said electric motor operable when energized to move the valve element through a program cycle: the improvement comprising first switch means operable in response to predetermined filling of the tub to energize the timer motor; second switch means normally operable to energize the timer motor independently of the first switch means; and a cam operated in synchronism with the valve element for operating the second switch means to the motor-deenergized position while the tub is being filled with water, whereby the tubfilling operation can be completed with the valve element in a motionless condition.

8. In a washing machine having a tub: a vacuum-controlled water valve for supplying water to the tub, a program timer comprising a fixed disc and a rotary disc having sealed-together faces; manual means connected with the rotary disc for setting same at a start position, and an electric motor connected with the rotary disc for moving same at a controlled relatively slow rate to establish a program; the rotary disc having a series of recesses in its sealed face, at least one of which is vented to the atmosphere through the rotary disc, and at least another of which is sealed from the atmosphere; the fixed disc having a vacuum supply line and a series of separate vacuum use lines connected with its sea-led face; each of the vacuum lines being connected with the sealed face of the fixed disc at a different radial distance from the rotational axis of the movable disc, and each of the vacuum lines having a port opening in the sealed face of the fixed disc which is substantially the same area as that of the respective vacuum line, whereby during movement of the rotary disc by the motor the vacuum use lines are at particular moments either sealed by registry with the sealed face on the rotary disc, or vented to the atmosphere via said one recess, or supplied with vacuum via said other recess; one of the vacuum use lines being connected with the water valve for controlling the application of vacuum thereto; first switch means operable in response to predetermined filling of the tub to energize the timer motor; second switch means normally operable to energize the timer motor independently of the first switch means; and a cam operating in 'synchronism with the rotary disc tor moving the second switch means to the motor-deenergized position while the tub is being filled with water, whereby the tub-filling operation can be completed with the rotary disc in a motionless condition.

9. In a washing machine having a tub: a vacuum-controlled water valve tor supplying Water to the tub; a program timer comprising a fixed member and a movable member having sealed-together faces; manual means connected with the movable member for setting same at a start position, and an electric motor connected with the movable member for moving same at a controlled relatively slow rate to establish a program; the movable memher having a series of recesses in its sealed face, at least one 'of which is vented to the atmosphere through the movable member, and at least another of which is sealed from the atmosphere; the fixed member having a vacuum supply line and a series of vacuum use lines connected with its sealed face; the vacuum lines being connected with the fixed member on different paths traversed by the movable member recesses; and each vacuum line having a port opening in the sealed face of the fixed member which is substantially the same area as that of the respective vacuum line, whereby during movement of the movable member by the motor the vacuum use lines are at particular moments either sealed by registry with the sealed face on the movable member, or vented to the atmosphere via said one recess, or supplied with vacuum via said other recess; one of the vacuum use lines being connected with the water valve for controlling the application of vacuum thereto; first switch means operable in response to predetermined filling of the tub to energize the timer motor; second switch means normally operable to energize the timer motor independently of the first switch means; and a cam operating in synehronism with the movable timer member tor moving the second switch means to the motor-deenergized position while the tub is being filled with water, whereby the tub-filling operation can he completed with the movable timer member in a motionless condition.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,768,683 Schane et a1 Oct. 30, 1956 2,808,882 A-ukerman et a1. Oct. 8, 1957 2,813,413 Leach Nov. 19, 1957 2,819,013 Paasche Ian. 7, 1958 2,846,139 Blount et al Aug. 5, 1958 2,913,217 Russell Nov. 17, 1959' 2,960,856 Bauerlein et a1 Nov. 22, 1960 2,965,729 Tiefenbach Dec. 20, 1960 2,966,050 Kellerman Dec. 27, 1960 2,977,437 Doane Mar. 28, 1961 2,990,705 Bochan July 4, 1961 3,005,616 Seele Oct. 24, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 622,541 Great Britain May 3, 1949

Claims

2. IN A WASHING MACHINE HAVING A TUB ARRANGED TO BE FILLED WITH WATER TO A DESIRED LEVEL; MEANS FOR HALTING THE FILLING OPERATION WHEN THE DESIRED LEVEL IS REACHED, INCLUDING AN ACTUATOR MEMBER MOVABLY ARRANGED ADJACENT THE TUB SO THAT DURING A TUB-FILLING OPERATION THE ACTUATOR MEMBER MOVES THROUGH A PREDETERMINED INCREMENTAL DISTANCE; SNAP ACTION BLADE MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED WITH THE ACTUATOR MEMBER TO BE MOVED THEREBY; AN ELECTRICAL CONTACT ARRANGED TO BE ENGAGED BY THE SNAP ACTION BLADE MEANS DURING MOVEMENT OF THE ACTUATOR MEMBER DUE TO A RISING WATER LEVEL; AND A TIMER VENT PORT ARRANGED TO BE