US3142165A - Water conditioner dispenser for clothes washing machines - Google Patents

Description

S. L. MCMILLAN 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 WATER CONDITIONER DISPENSER FOR CLOTHES WASHING MACHINES u .m -V .17 o 7 L 2 |\\\|d|\. Illl l 4 u l lwfllllu In IP "`x` JIT- y m M, L s n lim q n m .M W r/2 4 W u .//f 1|. 3- 2 ,K 3 w F July 28, 1964 Filed June 27, 196s July 28, 1964 s. l.. MC'MILLAN WATER CONDITIONEIR DISPENSER FOR CLOTHES WASHING MACHINES Filed June 27, 196:5

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July 28, 1964 Filed June 27, 1963 United States Patent O 3,142,165 WATER CONDITIONER DISPENSER FOR CLOTHES WASHING MACHINES Stephen L. McMillan, Wheaton, Ill., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed June 27, 1963, Ser. No. 291,006 11 Claims. (Cl. 6817) This invention relates to clothes washing machines, and in particular, to a washing machine having means for adding a charge of detergent or other water conditioning material to the washing tub at an appropriate time in the washing operations.

It is well known in the domestic clothes washing art that there are many situations in which laundering resnlts are greatly improved by a washing machine cycle of operations which includes two separate washing cycles, each of which uses a detergent solution. It is also well known that the removal of lint or other water-borne detritus as a continuous process during the washing and rinsing operations is an advantageous practice, for it is quite disturbing to the user to see light-colored fragments on articles of dark-colored clothing as she is removing the articles at the end of the operational cycle of the machine.

I am well aware of lint-removal mechanisms in contemporary washing machines, and of dispensing devices for adding charges of bleaches, fabric softeners, or the like at appropriate times in the washing and rinsing cycles. In washing machines of the vertical axis agitator type, for example, it is commonplace to mount a lint filter on the agitator either above or below the normal water level, and to arrange a Water circulation system so that there is a more or less continuous flow of water through the lint lter. It is also commonplace to take advantage of the fact that in such vertical axis machines the agitator rotates with the washing basket during the centrifugal extraction of the washing or rinsing liquid. F or example, some prior art dispensers, mounted on the agitator post, use centrifugal forces to transport a quantity of liquid rinse agent material from a reservoir compartment to a release cornpartment as the tub is rotating to spin out the wash water. As the basket and agitator come to a stop at the end of the spin cycle, the liquid drains into the tub from the release compartment. It is subsequently mixed with the incoming rinse water. A serions disadvantage of such devices is that they are useful only with liquid materials, and it is well known that many of the effective detergents, bleaches, and the like are in powdered or pelletized form.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide a dispenser mechanism which is adaptable to liquid and dry types of detergents or other water conditioning materials.

It is another object of the invention to provide a dispenser mechanism which is mechanically associated with a lint-filter device.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a f dispensing mechanism which is maintained in a non-dispensing posture during a portion of a first operating cycle of a washing machine, and operated to a dispensing posture during a portion of a subsequent operational cycle.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a dispenser mounted on the agitator post of a centrifugal extraction type of washing machine whereby during a first washing cycle the dispenser is shielded from the water action in the tub, but during the spin-out of wash water, is disposed in a second relationship in which water action will enter the dispenser to introduce the water-conditioning materialinto the water of the tub Vfor a subsequent washing or rinsing function.

In a presently preferred form, I apply my invention to a washing machine of the vertical-agitator, centrifugalextraction type, in which there is a continuous recirculay, 3,142,165 Patented July 28, 1964 tion of water from and to the tub during the washing and rinsing operations. The recirculation can be accomplished by any external pumping means by which the recirculated water is returned to the washing tub from a level suitably above the operating level of the Washing or rinsing liquid in the tub. Such recirculation machines commonly employ lint-filtering pans which are mounted on the agitator post above the normal water level in the tub but in a position in which the recirculating liquid must pass through the filtration mechanism. Within the lint filter I removably position an annular detergent container in a position in which it will intercept the recirculating water. I provide a diverter valve which is releasably latched in a position in which it will prevent water flow into the dispenser pan but does not impair the normal operation of the lint filter. The latch devices release in response to centrifugal forces established during the rotation of the tub and agitator during the centrifugal extraction of the wash water; the diverter valve is biased to thereupon assume anew position in which it no longer precludes flow of water into the dispenser. Such flow occurs during a subsequent agitator operation. The resulting mixture of water and conditioning material will then overflow the dispenser for passage into the lint filter and from there into the washing tub. In embodiments of my dispenser particularly adapted to dry or pelletized detergents, the resulting mixture of water and detergent can drain into the lint lilter through a foraminated bottom wall of the dispenser. I wish it to be understood, however, that the invention is not in any sense limited to a combination of lint filter and dispenser; the dispenser may be used entirely independent of any lint-filtering mechanism.

It is a feature of my invention that the dispenser cannot discharge the conditioning material into a dry tub, that is, into the tub at the completion of the Water extraction operation. This is important when the dispenser is used to add a bleach or similar material for subsequent operation. The arrangement and operation of the dispenser in my invention insure that the conditioning material will be diluted with water before it can enter the tub, therefore eliminating the possibility th'atthe clothes will be subjected to the possibly harmful action of an undiluted conditioning agent.

Other features and advantages of the invention will best be understood from the following detailed description of` presently preferred embodiments read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. l is a side elevation of a clothes washing machine embodying one form of the invention, certain parts of the washing machine outer casing andV other mechanism being broken away to 'reveal underlying structure; Y FIG. 2 is a side sectional elevation of the transmission mechanism for oscillating the agitator during the washing and rinsing operations and rotating the washing tub for centrifugal extraction of the wash and'rinse waters; FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the upper portion of the agitator and one form of the dispenser and lint filter, shown in vertical section, and with the dispenser diverter valve in latched position; Y

FIG. 3a is a fragmentary sectional elevation showing the valve in its released position;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view `of the dispenser and lint filter; y FIG. 5 is an enlarged view similar to thatof FIG. 3, but showing a second form of dispenser as used without a lint filter; f

FIG. 5a is a fragmentary sectional View of the FIG. 5 dispenser, showing the release of the valve structure as in FIG. 3a; and Y FIG. 6 is a top plan View of the dispenser of FIG. 5.

Referring first to FIG. 1, the clothes washer illustrated therein is of the familiar vertical-agitator, spin-tub type. An outer appearance casing 1 is provided with a bottom bulkhead 2, welded or otherwise secured within the casing to provide a water collection chamber 3 and a machinery compartment 4. Disposed within the latter compartment is a frame 5 mounted for gyratory movement about a pivot point P located in a transverse structural member at the base of the cabinet. Said frame carries a drive ymotor 6 disposed with its downwardly projecting shaft provided with a drive sheave (not shown) and drivingly engaging the rotor of a pump 7 which receives liquid from the compartment 3 by way of an appropriate inlet in the bulkhead 2. Said inlet communicates with a hose 10 which comprises the inlet hose to the pump, The discharge hose 11 from the pump is of the usual flexible rubber type which is adapted to hook over the side of a laundry tub (not shown) to discharge the spent washing and rinsing liquid thereinto. The motor 6 is of the reversible, split-phase, induction type commonly in washing machine use; as is well understood in the art, when the motor operates in one direction it operates the agitator for the Washing and rinsing function, and when operated in the other direction it rotates the clothes tub for centrifugal extraction of water from the tub and contents thereof. The pump 7 may be of any of the well known types in which, when the motor is operating in the spin direction, it efficiently removes the water from the compartment 3, but when the motor is operated in the wash direction the pump is not effective as a pumping mechanism.

The transmission 14 mounted within the frame 5 has a casing 15 about the lower portion of which a circular concentric skirt 16 provides a driven clutch element within which is a uni-directional clutch 17, as well known in the art. The clutch is fixed to the sheave 18 from which the belt 20 connects with the motor sheave. When the motor operates in the spin direction, the clutch 17 engages the skirt 16 to rotate the housing therewith. By means of a conventional slip clutch 21 of the coil-spring type, the rotation of the sheave 18 in the wash direction transmits torque to the main pinion shaft 22; in this direction of rotation, the clutch 17 is disengaged from the clutch member 16 so the drive torque is not transmitted to the housing 15, it being understood that any conventional braking or snubbing devices (not shown) may be used to restrain rotation or oscillation of the casing 15 during the washing operation. During the spin operation the clutch 21 slips relative to the pinion shaft 22 whereupon no torque is transmitted thereto.

A sleeve 23 extending from the transmission housing 15 and coaxial with the clutch member 16 and pinion shaft 22, is secured to a fixture 24 on which is mounted the clothes or washing tub 25, whereupon when the transmission housing is rotated as aforesaid, the tub 25 rotates therewith. A flexible rubber boot 26 fixed about the sleeve 23 and bulkhead 2, prevents passage of water into the machinery compartment while permitting gyratory movement, as is well known in the art. A coil spring 27 between the frame 5 and damping devices (not shown) on the underside of the bulkhead 2, serves to damp excessive gyrations, also as well known in the art. Within the tub 25 and coaxial therewith is an agitator 28 from the relatively large diameter central post 30 of which extend a plurality of vanes 31, said vanes being arranged as a spiral or screw about the post 30, although this is not in any way a factor influencing the present invention. The agitator is secured to the upper end of an agitator shaft 32 journalled in the transmission casing as shown in FIG. 2; said agitator shaft passes axially through a sleeve 33 which seals it against the water in the tub 25. Agitator shaft 32 is connected by way of a sector gear 34 and a crank 35 (fragmentarily shown in FIG. 2) connected to the gear 36. Gear 36 is in mesh with the gear cluster 36a, in turn in mesh with the drive pinion 37 fixed to the end of the main pinion shaft 22; the agitator shaft has a pinion 38 in mesh with the sector gear 34. As is known in the art, rotation of gear 36 by pinion 3'7 and gear cluster 36a causes an oscillation of crank 35 and the secto-r gear 34- to which it is afiixed; the sector gear in turn oscillates the shaft 32. Completing the general description of the washing machine, the tub 25 is generally frusto-conical and is imperforate except for the row of apertures 40 through which water is ejected into the compartment 3 during the centrifugal spin operation. A ring 41 of heavy material is carried at the top of the tub to contribute a stabilizing influence during spin. A solenoid-operated Water valve assembly 42 has an inlet 43 arranged to be connected to the hot water supply of the site of installation and an inlet 44 arranged to be connected to the cold water supply, whereupon hot, coid, or tepid water can be directed into the tub 25 by way of the valve outlet 45 as is well known. The top panel 46 of the casing 1 has an access lid 47 and a controls compartment 43 within which are located various control devices including the time-cycle controller 5b which conducts the washing machine through an operation sequence which includes one or more washing and rinsing operations and intermediate centrifugal extraction operations. The level of water indicated at FWL in FIG. l is typical of a full fill for washing a full load of clothes. For light loads the user may select a partial fill which would lower the water level about one third.

As is Well known in the art and has been previously noted, the transmission casing 15 is held against rotation during the oscillation of the agitator, but because of the locking effect of the various gears of the transmission, the agitator shaft and thereon-affixed agitator will rotate with the transmission casing during a centrifugal extraction cycle. The present invention takes advantage of this rapid rotation of the agitator during the first of the extraction cycles, as presently explained.

It has been previously noted that the invention is applied to a washing machine in which a pumping mechanism effects a recirculation of the water during the washing and the rinsing operations. In the illustrated embodiment this recirculation is preferably effected by the pump mechanism which is built into the agitator post or center column 30, and arranged during the oscillation of the agitator to draw water from the lower portion of the washing tub and discharge it through the ports 52 near the top of the agitator post. Said pump, which may be of the oscillating-vane type, is illustrated at 54 and may in all respects be similar to the pump similarly illustrated in my presently copending application, Serial No. 277,236, filed May l, 1963, and assigned to my present assignee.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the upper portion 54 of the agitator post is frusto-conical in shape and is formed with a shoulder or step 5S at its base; said step serves to support an open-topped, annular, filter pan 60, the base wall 61 of which is foraminated to filter out of the lint, etc., which may be in the water issuing from the ports 52. The inner wall 62 of the filter pan is shaped for a snug'frictional fit on the agitator post member 54; if desired, the member 54 and the wall 62 may be shaped for a keying interfit. It is, of course, necessary for the pan 60 to be readily removable without the use of tools and for the pan to spin with the agitator post during the centrifugal extraction cycle, as later explained. It will be noted that the Wall 62 is below the level of the ports 52, whereas the radially outermost wall 63 is of sufficient height to intercept water issuing from the ports 52 whereby the filtering process is efficiently conducted. This is a matter of importance in the circumstance that the filter pan is used alone.

The filter pan is arranged to receive the detergent dispenser 70. To maintain the dispenser suitably above the foraminated bottom wall 61, the filter pan is shouldered as at 64; the dispenser ts snugly within the filter pan,

with the radially outermost wall 71 in frictional engagement with the outer wall 63 of the filter. T heinner wall 72 of the dispenser is lower than the wall 62 of the filter pan, and is spaced therefrom by an annular passage 73 of substantial width. Said passage 73 accommodates the agitator discharge when the dispenser is in place within the filter pan.

A diverter valve mechanism is provided to prevent discharge from ports 52 reaching the contents of the detergent dispenser until after the first extraction of the water content of the wash tub. It is a mechanically satisfactory arrangement to make the valve and itssetting and release mechanism a part of a cover structure which is used to prevent the splashing of water into the detergent pan during the vigorous water action which occurs during the washing cycle. Accordingly, I provide a sheet metal cover 74 having the downwardly extending inner wall 75. This wall terminates in the inwardly extending flange or base 76. The wall 75 carries, at two or three equally spaced intervals of its circumference, a leaf spring 77, each of which terminates in a weighted latch 78, said latch having a sloping top surface 80 and a sharp nose 81. The leaf springs bias their respective latch members in a radially inward direction. The valve member 82 comprises a cylindrical sleeve having openings 83 which releasably receive the nose portions of the latch members. Said valve also has an outwardly extending rim 84 between which and the base wall 76 of the cover, is confined a helical compression spring 85. Obviously, said spring urges the valve member in an upward direction, but may be prevented from doing so by the latch members '78. Upward movement of the valve is limited by the ultimate engagement of tabs 86 with the underside of the base 76 of the cover wall 75.

It will be noted from comparison of FIGS. 3 and 3a that in its latched position the valve 82 extends below the upper edge of the filter wall 62 and therefore fully covers the agitator ports 52. In the release position shown in FIG. 3a, however, the valve comes to rest above the ports 52 and is not therefore in a position to inter fere with radially outward water flow from said ports. Throughout the washing operation, the water issuing from the apertures 52 will be intercepted by the valve 82 and will be directed thereby through the annular passage 73, from which it will enter the filter and return tothe tub through the bottom of the filter.

In preparing the washing machine for a washing operation, the user will probably first remove the dispenser and its assembled cover from the lint filter to clear the latter of any lint which may have remained from a previous use. The cover 74 may be removed prior or subsequent to the replacement of the dispenser within the lint iilter. The required amount of detergent or other water conditioning material is placed in the dispenser and the cover replaced. By pressing down on the ri-m 84 of the valve, the valve will be moved downwardly against the latch elements, and, of course, the bottom edge of the valve will cam the latch elements outwardly. As the valve wall openings 83 come into position relative to the latch members, the springs 77 will drive the respective latching members 78 into the securement position of FIG. 3.

During the iirst washing action, the oscillation of the agitator and the assembly of the filter pan and dispenser does not generate suicient centrifugal forces-to disengage the latch members from the valve structure. The strength of the spring 85 is a factor in holding the latches in their restraining position, for the spring obviously contributes to the degree of the frictional engagement between the latch members and the associated valve structure. t

When the tub and the agitator post commence their conjoint rotation inthe centrifugal extraction of the wash water, centrifugal forces will eventually overcome the frictional restraint on the latching elements and oause them to move outwardly and release the valve for upward movement to the FIG. 3a position. It makes little diiference when in the centrifuging operation this release occurs, for there will be no flow of detergent into the tub until the tub is again filled with wash or rinse water` and the oscillation of the agitator produces the necessary discharge of water through the ports 52. When this occurs the dispenser pan will be ooded because the diverter valve can no longer intercept the water streams. A mixture of water and water conditioning material will soon overflow the low wall 72 for passage through the channel 73 for flow into the filter 60 Iand thence to the tub. In view of the fact that in any washing or rinsing cycle the agitator oscillates for several minutes at least, there is no possibility that all of the detergent content of the dispenser will not have been dissolved.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the dispenser 90 is arranged for use `without the filter pan of the previous embodiment. Accordingly, the reservoir portion of the dispenser is defined by the outer wall 91, the base wall 92, and the vertical wall 93, the latter terminating below the agitator ports 52, as shown. For mounting the dispenser on the agitator post, a suitablel pluralityof narrow-ribs 94 extend radially from the wall 93 to a circular wall\95 which frictionally ts on vthe agitator post portion 54. It will Ibe obvious that wall 95 functions in the manner of the wall 62 [of the dispenser of FIG. 3. The respective walls 93 and 95 define between them the annular passage 96 through which water may ow to the washing tub. It is'understood, of course, that the detergent container 90 is well above the maximum fill level of the water in the washing tub.

As in the previous embodiment, the valve release mechanism is 'associated with a cover for the dispenser, although it is obvious that a simple inversion of the parts would place the latching means on the wall 93. However, in such an arrangement, the latohing elements might be buried in the detergent in the dispenser, and this could be disadvantageous. As shown in itsrpreferred form, therefore, the cover 97 has the downwardly extending inner wall 98 terminating in the inwardly extending flange 100. At appropriate locations, wall 98 is provided with the tabs 101 which provide stop elements for the latching devices 102, of which this embodiment has three. Each of the latches includes a rectangular body portion 103, nonrotatably secured to a leaf spring 104, riveted at one end of the wall 98, as shown; the latches further include a head 105 having the sloping Vupper surface illustrated in FIG. 5. This head projects from ra stop plate 106. Although the stop plate will engage with the tab 101 to limit the outward movement of the latch, I prefer toA provide a springable stop strip 107 which the end of the body 103 will engage prior to the engagement of the plate 106 and tab 101. Stop strip 107 decelerates the latch before it comes to a final stop.

The valve 110 is similar in operation to that o-f FIG. 3,

but of somewhat distinctive structure. It may be molded from any suitable plastic materials and has a at annular base 111 which fits freely overthe cylindrioalfupper member 112,01 the `agitator post element 54 yand the nut 114 by which the agitator is secured to the agitator shaft (not shown). The shoulder 115 at the base of member 112 is arranged sothat as the valve pl-ate 110 engages the shoulder, the latches 102 will assume their latching position. The valve member is formed with the elongated sleeve 116 which has an aperture 117 to accommodate each of the latches A102. A hook-like projection 118 at `the base of sleeve 116 will engage with the edge of the flange 100 -to limit the upward movement .of the valve, as shown in FIG. 5a. In this embodiment I prefer to use a set of three compression springs 120, each being contined within a pocket 121, best shown in FIG. 6.

' It has earlier been notedl that the dispenser is suitable for liquid, as :well as dry, detergents or water conditioning materials. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the dispenser is provided with the inwardly extending cap or flange 122, which will prevent the escape of liquid detergent or the like during the centrifugal extraction of the wash water. It is well known, of course, that liquids move to the radially outermost portion of a pan or tub as it is rotated on a vertical axis. Therefore, during the initial centrifugal extraction cycle, liquid detergent or conditioning agent will accumulate as a cylindrical body against the dispenser wall 91.

The operation of the dispenser is in all respects similar to that of FlG. 3 and need not again be described.

A feature of particular advantage in the present invention is that Ithe pumping action of the agitator is always uniform and therefore the pressure and resulting trajectory of the streams discharging through the ports 52 is uniform and will always clear the wall 93 to enter the reservoir portion of the dispenser.

While there has been described what is at present thought to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be appreciated that it is intended to cover in the appended claims all modifications which fall Within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a clothes washing machine having a tub within which clothes are Washed and rinsed in a body of water, an agitator having a central post structure concentric with said tub, means for operating said agitator to effect a first and a second washing action in said Water, means for rotating said agitator at high speed intermediate said washing actions, and means effective during each of said washing actions to discharge water into said tub from above the surface of the water, the improvement comprising:

a bowl adapted to receive a quantity of detergent and having a wall over which a mixture of detergent and water may be washed,

means for mounting said bowl on said agitator above the water level in said tub,

means for establishing said bowl in a first relationship to the Water discharging means whereby to prevent the passage thereinto of water issuing from said discharging means,

and means responsive to centrifugal forces engendered during high speed rotation of said agitator to dispose said bowl in a second relationship to said water discharging means in which said bowl receives water issuing from said discharging means, whereby the detergent content of said bowl will be washed therefrom into said tub.

2. In a clothes washing machine having a tub within which clothes are washed and rinsed in a body of water, an agitator having a central post structure concentric with said tub, means for operating said agitator to effect a first and a second washing action in said water, means for rotating said agitator at high speed intermediate said washing actions, and means effective during each of said washing actions to discharge Water into said tub from above the surface of the water, the improvement comprising:

a bowl adapted to receive a quantity of detergent and having a wall over which a mixture of detergent and water may be washed,

means for mounting said bowl on said agitator above the water level in said tub,

a diverter valve intermediate said water discharge means and said bowl,

means for establishing said diverter valve in a first relationship to the water discharging means whereby to prevent the passage into said bowl of Water issuing from said discharging means,

and means responsive to centrifugal forces engendered during high speed rotation of said agitator to dispose said diverter valve in a second relationship to said water discharging means whereby said bowl receives water issuing from said discharging means 8 and the detergent content of said bowl will be washed therefrom into said tub. Y

3. In a clothes washing machine having a tub within which clothes are washed and rinsed in a body of water, an agitator having a central post structure concentric with said tub, means for operating said agitator to effect first and second washing actions in said water, means for rotating said agitator at high speed for an interval intermediate said first and second washing actions, and means operable during each of said Washing actions for discharging water into said tub from above the Water level thereof, the improvement comprising:

an open-topped bowl adapted to receive a quantity of detergent and to discharge a mixture of detergent and water into said tub,

means for carrying said bowl on said agitator post structure to receive water issuing from said discharging means,

manually settable means for preventing entry of water into said bowl during said first washing operation of said agitator,

and means responsive to centrifugal forces engendered during said subsequent high speed rotation of said agitator to dispose said bowl in such relation to said water entry preventing means that said bowl intercepts water issuing from said discharging means, whereby the detergent content of said bowl will be discharged into said tub.

4. In a clothes washing machine having a washing tub within which clothes are washed and rinsed in a quantity of water, an agitator having an upstanding central post structure concentric with said tub, means for operating said agitator to effect a washing and a rinsing action and for rotating said agitator at high speed intermediate said washing and rinsing actions, and means effective only during the washing and rinsing actions of said agitator to draw water into said agitator and discharge it therefrom from openings above the operating water level in said tub, the improvement comprising:

an open-topped, annular, lint filter mounted on said agitator post to receive Water discharging from said agitator openings and to effect a flow of filtered water into said tub,

an annular water conditioner container supported within said lint filter, said container having a relatively low upstanding wall surrounding said agitator post, said wall terminating below the openings thereof,

a cover for said container, said cover having a wall member concentric with said agitator and spaced radially outward thereof to provide a passage communicating with said lint filter,

a sleeve valve member carried by said cover wall member, said valve member having a first position within said passage in facing relation to said agitator openings to intercept Water issuing therefrom and deflect it into said passage,

means for releasably latching said valve member in said iirst position,

and means responsive to centrifugal forces engendered during rapid rotation of said agitator to effect movement of said valve member to a second position permitting flow of water from said agitator openings into said container, whereby a mixture of water and water conditioner material may overflow said container wall into said filter for passage therefrom into said tub.

Y 5. In a clothes washing machine having a washing tub within which clothes are washed and rinsed in a quantity of water, an agitator having an upstanding central post structure concentric with said tub, means for operating said agitator to effect a washing and a rinsing action and for rotating said agitator at high speed, and means effective only during the washing and rinsing actions of said agitator to draw water into said agitator and discharge it into said tub from agitator post open- 9 ings above the operating water level in said tub, the improvement comprising:

an annular container structure secured on said agitator post against axial movement relative thereto, said container structure accommodating a quantity of water conditioner material and having an upstanding wall surrounding said agitator post, said wall terminating below the openings thereof,

a wall member carried by said container in substantial alignment with said first-named container wall and in vertical spaced relation thereto,

a sleeve valve member interposed between said wall members and said agitator post openings, said valve member having a lirst position in facing relation to said agitator openings to intercept water issuing therefrom and deect it into said tub,

means for releasably latching said valve member in said first position,

and means responsive to centrifugal forces engendered during rapid rotation of said agitator to effect movement of said valve member to a second position permitting flow of water from said agitator openings into said container structure, whereby a mixture of water and conditioner material may flow from said container structure into said tub.

6. In a clothes washing machine having a tub within which clothes are washed and rinsed in a body of Water, means for discharging water into said tub from above the water level thereof, an agitator having a central post structure concentric with said tub, means for operating said agitator to effect a washing action in said water and means for subsequently rotating said agitator at high speed, the improvement comprising:

an open-topped bowl adapted to receive a quantity of detergent,

means for carrying said bowl on said agitator post structure at a level to receive water issuing from said discharging means,

a valve mechanism interposed between said discharging means and said bowl to prevent flow of water into said bowl,

and means responsive to centrifugal forces engendered during said high speed rotation of said agitator to operate said valve means to a position in which said bowl may receive water issuing from said discharging means, whereby the detergent content of said bowl will be washed therefrom into said basket.

7. In a clothes washing machine having a washing tub within which clothes are Washed and rinsed in a quantity of water, an agitator having an upstanding central post structure concentric with said tub, means for operating said agitator to effect a washing and a rinsing action and for rotating said agitator at high speed for a period intermediate said washing and rinsing actions, and means effective only during the washing and rinsing actions of said agitator to draw water into said agitator and discharge it into said tub from agitator post openings above the operating water level in said tub, the improvement comprising:

an annular water conditioner container secured on said agitator post against axial movement relative thereto, said container having a relatively low upstanding wall concentric with said post and spaced therefrom to provide an annular passage communicating with said tub, said wall terminating below said agitator openings,

a sleeve valve member interposed within said passage between said wall member and said agitator post openings,

means for guiding said valve member in axial movement relative to said agitator post and said dispenser,

means interposed between said container and said l0 sleeve Valve member for releasably latching said sleeve valve member in a first position in facing relation to said openings to intercept water issuing therefrom and deflect it into said tub,

said latching means being weighted for response to centrifugal forces engendered during rapid rotation of said -agitator to disengage said sleeve valve member,

and means responsive to said disengagement to move said sleeve valve member to a second position permitting flow of water from said agitator openings into said container, whereby a mixture of water and conditioner material may flow from said container into said tub.

8. The improvement in washing machine water conditioner dispensers as set forth in claim 7, further characterized in that said sleeve valve guiding means comprises a cylindrical wall depending from afcover structure for said container, said wall being disposed in telescoping relation to said sleeve valve.

9. The improvement in washing machine water conditioner dispensers as set forth in claim 7, further characterized in that said sleeve valve latching means includes a wall member carried by said container in surrounding relation to said sleeve valve, latch members mounted on said wall members for radial movement relative thereto, and spring means biasing said latch members into releasable engagement with said sleeve valve member.

10. The improvement in washing machine water conditioner dispensers as set forth in claim 7, further characterized in that said sleeve valve guiding means comprises a cylindrical wall member carried by said container in surrounding relation to said sleeve valve, said latching means include radially movable latch members carried by said wall member for releasable engagement with said sleeve valve, and said sleeve valve movement means comprise spring means interposed between said wall member and said sleeve valve.

ll. In a clothes washing machine having a tub within which clothes are washed and rinsed in a body of water, an agitator having a central post structure extending upwardly in said tub, means for oscillating said agitator for a time period, means for rotating said agitator at high speed for a time period following said agitator oscillation, and means operable following said agitator rotation period for discharging water into said tub, the improvement comprising:

a bowl adapted to receive a quantity of water conditioning material for discharge of a mixture of said material and water into said tub,

means for carrying said bowl on said agitator post structure at a location to receive water issuing from said discharging means,

means mounted for displacement relative to said bowl for controlling entry of water thereinto,

manually settable means for placing said water controlling means in a first position to prevent entry of water into said bowl during said period of agitator oscillation,

and means responsive to centrifugal forces engendered during said high speed rotation of said agitator to actuate said water control means to a second position to permit said bowl to receive water from said water discharging means, whereby to flush said water conditioning material into said tub.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,712,746 Bochan July 12, 1955 2,909,051 Altorfer Oct. 20, 1959 3,068,679 Knerr Dec. 18, 1962 3,086,380 Gerhardt Apr. 23, 1963

Claims (1)

1. 6. IN A CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE HAVING A TUB WITHIN WHICH CLOTHES ARE WASHED AND RINSED IN A BODY OF WATER, MEANS FOR DISCHARGING WATER INTO SAID TUB FROM ABOVE THE WATER LEVEL THEREOF, AN AGITATOR HAVING A CENTRAL POST STRUCTURE CONCENTRIC WITH SAID TUB, MEANS FOR OPERATING SAID AGITATOR TO EFFECT A WASHING ACTION IN SAID WATER AND MEANS FOR SUBSEQUENTLY ROTATING SAID AGITATOR AT HIGH SPEED, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING: AN OPEN-TOPPED BOWL ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A QUANTITY OF DETERGENT, MEANS FOR CARRYING SAID BOWL ON SAID AGITATOR POST STRUCTURE AT A LEVEL TO RECEIVE WATER ISSUING FROM SAID DISCHARGING MEANS, A VALVE MECHANISM INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID DISCHARGING MEANS AND SAID BOWL TO PREVENT FLOW OF WATER INTO SAID BOWL, AND MEANS RESPONSIVE TO CENTRIFUGAL FORCES ENGENDERED DURING SAID HIGH SPEED ROTATION OF SAID AGITATOR TO OPERATE SAID VALVE MEANS TO A POSITION IN WHICH SAID BOWL MAY RECEIVE WATER ISSUING FROM SAID DISCHARGING MEANS, WHEREBY THE DETERGENT CONTENT OF SAID BOWL WILL BE WASHED THEREFROM INTO SAID BASKET.

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