US3213650A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Description

S. C. GAULT WASHING MACHINE Oct. 26, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 17 1964 FIG.\

INVENTOR. STANLEY c. GAULT BY W H \s ATTORNEY Oct. 26, 1965 s. c. GAULT 3,21

WASHING MACHINE Filed Jan. 17. 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F'IG.3

PAUSE- c E START PAUS: A PASE a f PAUSSE D usE I |sPlN-l Pitt 4 FSPlM-l LSPlN-l I WAGH A D u u Li I LJ' INVENTOR. STANLEY c. GAULT HIS ATTO EY United States Patent 3,213,650 WASHING MACHINE Stanley C. Gault, Louisville, Ky., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed Jan. 17, 1964, Ser. No. 338,508 2 Claims. (Cl. 6812) This invention relates to washing machines, and more particularly to washing machines of the type adapted to wash both large and small loads with maximum effectiveness.

There are many washing machines commercially available wherein diiferent liquid levels may be preselected by the operator, based on the operators knowledge of the size of the clothes load to be washed. It has also been determined that a longer period of centrifuging is required for a large clothes load than for a small clothes load in order to reduce the liquid retention to approximately the same percentage in both loads, assuming relatively equal speeds of centrifuging.

It is, accordingly, an object of my invention to provide an improved washing machine wherein the operators decision as to the size of the load, as indicated by the liquid level selected, also determines the length of the final cen trifuging step so that approximately equal dryness is obtained regardless of the size of the clothes load.

In one aspect of my invention, I provide a clothes washing machine in which transmission and drive means are provided for alternatively rotating a receptacle at centrifuging speed or operating clothes washing means in the receptacle. Adjustable liquid level means are effective to turn off water inlet means at at least two different levels in the receptacle, for the washing of different sizes of clothes loads. In the usual way, a sequence control means provides, in sequence, operation of the water inlet means, operation of the washing means, rotation of the receptacle, and then termination of operation of the machine. In addition, the sequence control means is formed so as to provide alternatively at least two lengths of time for rotation of the receptacle prior to termination of operation. The machine is formed so that manual selector means, which permits the operator to select one of the liquid levels, also provides the longer period of receptacle rotation when a higher liquid level is selected and the shorter period of receptacle rotation when a lower liquid level is selected. In this way, the liquid retention in the clothes at the end of a washing operation is kept as low as possible regardless of the size of the load.

The subject matter which I regard as my invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of this specification. My invention, however, both as to organization and method of operation together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawllJgS.

In the drawings, FIGURE 1 is a front elevation view of a clothes washing machine incorporating my improved control arrangement, the view being partially broken away and partially in section to illustrate details of the machine;

FIGURE 2 is a schematic diagram of an electrical control circuit incorporating my invention, which circuit forms a part of the machine of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a schematic view of a development of the surfaces of the cams shown in FIGURE 2, thereby indicating the operation of switches by the cams.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, there is shown an agitator type washing machine 1 having a conventional basket, or clothes receiving receptacle, 2 provided over its side and bottom walls with perforations 3 and disposed within an outer imperforate tub or casing 4. Tub 4 serves as "ice a liquid receptacle, the basket and tube together serving as container means for clothes and the liquid in which they are to be washed and rinsed. Basket 2 may be pro vided with a suitable clothes retaining member 5 for preventing clothes from being floated over the top of the basket, and with a balance ring 6 to help steady the basket when it is rotated at high speed.

Tub 4 is rigidly mounted within an appearance cabinet 7 which includes a cover 8 hingedly mounted on the top portion 9 of the cabinet for providing access through an opening 10 to the basket 2. A gasket 11 may be provided so as to form a seal between the top of tub 4 and portion 9 of the cabinet thereby to prevent escape of moisture and moist air into the cabinet around the tub. The rigid mounting of tub 4 within cabinet 7 may be etfected by any suitable means. As a particular example of one such means, I have provided a plurality of rigid strap members 12 each of which is secured at one end to an inturned flange 13 of the cabinet and at its other end to the outside of tub 4. At the center of basket 2 there is positioned a vertical axis agitator 14 which includes a center post 15 and a plurality of curved water circulating vanes 16 joined at their lower ends by an outwardly flared skirt 17.

Both basket 2 and agitator 14 are rotatably mounted. The basket mounted on a flange 19 of a rotatable hub 259. The agitator 14 is mounted on a shaft (not shown) which extends upwardly through hub 19 and through the center post 15 and is secured to the agitator so as to drive it.

During a typical cycle of operation of the machine 1, water is introduced into tub 4 and basket 2, and agitator 14 is the oscillated back and forth on its axis, that is, in a horizontal plane within the basket. This causes washing of the clothes by effecting relative motion of the clothes in the liquid, as well as suitable flexing of the fabric of the clothes. Then, after a predetermined period of this Washing action, basket 2 is rotated at high speed to extract centrifugally the washing liquid from the clothes and discharge it to drain. Following this extraction operation, clean water is introduced into the basket 2 for rinsing the clothes and the agitator is again oscillated. Finally, the basket is once more rotated at high speed to extract the rinse water.

Basket 2 and agitator 14 may be driven through any suitable means. By way of example, I have shown them as driven from a reversing motor 21 shown in the lower portion of FIGURE 1 through a system including a clutch 22 mounted on the motor shaft. A suitable belt 23 transmits power from clutch 22 to a transmission assembly 24 through a pulley 25. Thus, depending upon the direction of rotation of motor 21, pulley 25 of transmission 24 is driven in opposite directions. Transmission 24 is so arranged that it supports and drives both the agitator drive shaft and basket mounting hub 20. When motor 21 is rotated in one direction the transmission causes agitator 14 to oscillate in a substantially horizontal plane within basket 2. Conversely, when motor 21 is driven in the opposite direction, the transmission rotates wash basket 2 and agitator 14 together at high speeds for centrifugal liquid extraction. It will be recognized that there are many Well known mechanisms for effecting the type of motion described hereabove.

In addition to operating transmission 24 as described, motor 21 also provides a direct drive through a flexible coupling 26 to a pump structure, generally indicated at 27, which may include two separate pump units 28 and 29 both operated simultaneously by motor 21. Pump 28 has an inlet which is connected by a conduit 30 to an opening 31 formed at the lowermost point of tub 4. Pump 28 also has an outlet which is connected by a conduit 32 to a suitable drain (not shown). Pump 29 has an inlet connected by a conduit 33 to the interior of tub 4 and an outlet connected by a conduit 34 to a nozzle 35. The pumps are formed so that in the spin direction of motor rotation pump 28 will draw in liquid from opening 31 and discharge it through conduit 32 to drain, and in the other direction of rotation pump 29 will draw in liquid through conduit 33 and discharge it through conduit 34 and nozzle 35. Each of the pumps is substantially inoperative in the direction of rotation in which it is not used.

Nozzle 35 is positioned to discharge into a filter pan 36 secured on the top portion 37 of agitator so as to be movable therewith. With this structure then, when motor 21 is rotating in the direction to provide agitation,

,pump 29 draws liquid through conduit 33 from tub 4 and discharges it through conduit 34; the liquid passes from conduit 34 through nozzle into filter pan 36, and then down through a number of small'openings 38 provided in the bottom of the filter pan and back into basket 2. In this manner, the filter pan 36, with its small openings 38 and its upstanding side wall 39, causes lint which is separated from the clothes during the washing operation to be filtered out of the clothes and thus prevents it from being re-deposited on the clothes. This type of structure is more fully described and claimed in Patent 2,481,979 issued to Russell H. Colley on September 13, 1949 and assigned to General Electric Company owner of the present invention.

Motor 21, clutch 22, transmission 24, basket 2 and agitator 14 form a suspended washing and centrifuging system which is supported by the stationary structure of the machine so as to permit isolation of vibrations therefrom. Such vibrations occur primarily as a result of high speed spinning of basket 2 with a load of clothes therein as mentioned above. While any suitable suspension structure may be used, one suitable structure includes a bracket member 39 with transmission 24 mounted thereon and motor 21 mounted to the underside thereof. The bracket member in turn is secured to upwardly extending rigid members 40, and each of the two upwardly extending members 40 is connected to a cable 41 supported from the top of the machine. While only a portion of the suspension system is shown in FIGURE 1, such a vibration isolating system is fully described and claimed in Patent 2,987,190 issued on June 6, 1961 to John Bochan and assigned to the General Electric Company assignee of the present invention.

Inorder to accommodate this movement which occurs between basket 2 and tub 4 without any danger of leakage between them, the stationary tub 4 is joined to the upper part of transmission 24 by a flexible boot member 42. Boot 42 may be of any suitable configuration, many of which are known in the art to permit relative motion of the parts to which it is joined without leakage therebetween.

Hot and cold water may be supplied to the machine through conduits 43 and 44 which are adapted to be connected respectively to sources of hot and cold water (not shown). Conduits 43 and 44 extend into a conventional mixing valve structure 45 having solenoids 46 and 47. Energization of solenoid 46 permits passage of hot water through the valve to a hose 48 and outlet 49 for filling the tub, energization of solenoid 47 permits passage of cold water through the valve to outlet 49, and energization of both solenoids permits mixing of hot and cold water in the valve and passage of warm water to outlet 49. Thus, when one or both of solenoids 46 and 47 are energized water passes into basket 2 and tub 4.

The level to which water rises in the basket and tub is controlled by a suitable liquid level sensing means. In one typical arrangement for doing this, an opening 50 is provided in the side of tub 4 adjacent the bottom thereof, opening 50 is connected through a conduit 51 and tube 52 to a conventional pressure sensitive switch (not shown in FIGURE 1) which may be positioned in the control panel 53 of machine 1. As the water rises in basket 2 and tub 4, it exerts increasing pressure on the column of air trapped in tube 52; at a predetermined pressure level, the column of air then operates the pressure sensitive switch to shut off whichever of solenoids 46 and 47 may be energized. It will be understood that this occurs when the water is at a level within tub 4 which, at a maximum, is substantially below the clothes retaining member 5 and filter pan 36.

For large clothes loads, it is desirable to have the liquid level substantially higher than is required for small clothes loads. Accordingly, a manually operable member 54 is provided on panel 53. Member 54 is movable between two positions, which may be labelled large load and small load. What these two positions do, in effect, is change the pressure on a spring 55 which may be included in the pressure responsive switch 56 as schematically shown in FIGURE 2. This change in the spring pressure on member 57 of the switch, which moves in response to air pressure, causes different amounts of air pressure to be required. As a result two different liquid levels are provided at which the switch will trip. The arrangement is such that the up position of member 54 (indicating a large load) increases the pressure required to move member 57 down against the spring, and thus increases the liquid level at which the member 57 will be moved.

Continuing now with the description of FIGURE 2, there is shown a control circuit for the machine of FIG- URE l which incorporates my invention. In connection with the circuit of FIGURE 2, it will be understood that present-day washers often include various improvements such as control panel lights, bleach dispenser controls, multi-speed controls, etc, which do not relate in any way to the present invention, and that to some extent these have been omitted for the sake of simplicity and ease of understanding.

In order to control the sequence of operation of the electrically operated components of machine 1, the circuit includes appropriate sequence control means in the form of a timer motor 58 which drives a plurality of cams A, B, C, D and E. These cams, during their rotation by the timer motor, operate various timer switches, as will be described, causing the machine to pass through an appropriate cycle of operations, first introducing water and washing the clothes, next extracting water from the clothes and passing the water to drain, then introducing clean water and rinsing the clothes in that clean water, then finally extracting the rinse water from the clothes and passing it to drain.

The electrical circuit as a whole is energized from a single phase alternating current power supply (not shown) through a pair of conductors 59 and 60. Cam A controls a switch 61 which includes contacts 62, 63, 64. When the cam has assumed the position where all three contacts are separated, the various electrically operated elements of machine 1 are disconnected from the power source and are inoperative. When operation of machine 1 is initiated, as will be explained below, switch 62 is controlled by cam A so that contacts'62 and 63 are engaged. A main power switch 65 may be closed by any suitable means such as, for instance, by axial motion of a control member 66 positioned on panel 53. Member 66 may be rotated to cause rotation of the cams to a starting position, and then may be moved axially to close switch 65 so as to permit an operating circuit to be completed for the machine.

Once the member 66 has been manually turned to provide the starting position shown in FIGURE 3, an energizing circuit for one or both of solenoids 46 and 47 is completed by virtue of the closing of the switch 61. From conductor 60, the circuit passes through contacts 62 and 63 and a conductor 67 to solenoids 46 and 47. From solenoid 46 parallel paths extend, one of them through a manually operable switch 68 to a conductor 69, and

the other through contacts 70 and 71 of switch 72 to the conductor 69.

Thus, when switch 72 is in the position shown at the start of wash a circuit completed to conductor 69 through contacts 70 and 71 regardless of whether switch 68 is closed. When contact 71 is in its down position in engagement with contact 74 (during rinse, as shown in FIGURE 3), a circuit from conductor 67 to conductor 69 passes through solenoid 47 regardless of whether switch 68 is closed. When either of the switches 68 and 73 is closed, the solenoid associated therewith may be energized regardless of the position of contact 71 of switch 72. It will be understood that switches 68 and 73 are manually operated and may be positioned, as shown, on control panel 53 so as to be readily available to the operator of machine 1.

From the solenoids, the circuit extends to conductor 69. From there, the circuit is continued to the timer motor 58, either through a switch 75 controlled by cam E or through a switch 76 in parallel with switch 75. Switch 76 is operated by member 54, being in its closed position when member 54 is in the up position (herein a larger volume of water is required to trip switch 56), and being open when member 54 is in its down position and a smaller quantity of water will trip 56. From the timer motor 58, the circuit is then completed back to conductor 59.

In addition, parallel circuits may be completed from conductor 59 through the start winding 77 and the main winding 78 of induction motor 21. It will be understood that motor 21 is generally of the conventional single phase type shown wherein a main winding and a start winding are provided, displaced in space and phase and connected in parallel so as to provide a starting torque when they are both energized. The start winding circuit of the motor extends from conductor 69 through switch 79 of a relay 80 having a coil 81, the start winding 77 itself, and then through a conventional motor protector 83a and a switch 83 controlled by cam D back to conductor 59.

The main winding 78 of the motor is connected in series with the coil 81 of relay 80. At each end of the main winding 78 and coil 81, in series therewith, are provided the two ganged movable switch arms 82 and 82a of a two pole double throw switch generally indicated by the numeral 84. The switch 84 includes a first contact 85 connected to conductor 69, a second contact 86 connected to conductor 69, and a third contact 87 connected through a conductor 88 and switch 83 to conductor 59.

With switch 84 in the position shown, a circuit from conductor 69 is completed from contact 85 through contact arm 82, relay coil 81, main winding 78, arm 82a, contact 87 and conductor 88 back to conductor 59. When switch 84 has its position reversed, so that arm 82 engages contact 87 and arm 82a engages contact 86, the main winding circuit from conductor 68 passes through contact 86, arm 82a, main winding 78, relay coil 81, arm 82, contact 87 and conductor 88 back to conductor 59.

It can readily be seen that the connection of the main winding between conductors 69 and 59 is reversed for the two different positions of switch 83. Since a single connection for the start winding 77 is provided across the two conductors, the connection (and therefore the polarity) of main Winding 78 relative to start winding 77 is thus reversed. When both windings are connected in the circuit, this reversal is efiective to reverse the rotation of motor 21, the motor rotating in the direction to provide a washing operation when switch 84 is in the position shown and to provide a spin operation when switch 84 is moved down to its other position. Relay coil 81 is designed to close contact 79 when a relatively high current, demanded by the motor when it is rotating below a predetermined speed, is passing through it. At other times, when there is no current passing through 6 relay coil 81 or the current is below the required energizing level (which is true in the running speed range of the motor), contact 79 is open. Thus, during running of the motor only winding 78 is energized, winding 77 being disconnected by the opening of switch 79.

When main winding 78 of motor 21 is in series with valve solenoids 45 and 47 as a result of being connected across conductors 69, and 59, a much lower impedance is presented in the circuit by motor 21 than is presented by the valve solenoids. As a result, the greater portion of the supply voltage is taken up across the solenoids and relatively little across the motor. This causes Whichever of the solenoids is connected in the circuit to be energized sufiiciently to open its associated water valve. As a result, water at a suitable temperature is admitted to the machine through outlet 49, motors 21 and 58 remaining inactive.

When Water enters basket 2 and tub 4 it rises in both at substantially the same rate because of the perforations 3. As the head of water acting on the column of air trapped in tube 52 increases, the air pressure actuates the pressure sensitive switch 56 provided in the control panel 53. The level at which this occurs is, of course, a function of the setting of spring 55 as determined by the position of manually operable member 54 as previously described. When switch 57 closes, it then provides a short circuit across the solenoids directly from conductor 67 to conductor 69; with the solenoids thus excluded from the effective circuit, they become dc-energized, and the high potential drop is provided across winding 78 of motor 21.

This causes relay coil 81 to close contact 79 so that the windings 77 and 78 are energized in parallel with each other and motor 21 starts rotation, while at the same time timer motor 58 starts so as to initiate a sequence of operations. It is to be noted at this point that cam E is closed continuously for the initial major portion of all washing operations, so that the energization of the timer motor may always be completed during this major portion of an operation through switch 75. In addition, if switch 76 has been closed by the positioning of member 54, this additional parallel path for energization of the timer motor 58 is provided.

Completing the description of the circuit of FIGURE 2, it is to be observed that switch 83 is in series with main motor 21, but is not in series with timer motor 58. Thus, by the opening of this switch 83 the operation of motor 21 is stopped but the timer motor 58 nonetheless continues to operate. This is a result of the fact that the timer motor is deliberately provided with an impedance much greater than that of the valve solenoids so that it takes up most of the supplied voltage yet continues in operation, leaving so little voltage across the solenoids that they do not operate their respective valves when switch 83 is open.

In order to energize motor 21 independently of the water level in tub 4 when spin is to be provided, cam A is formed, as mentioned, so as to be etfective to close all three contacts 62, 63 and 64 of switch 61 during the extraction or spin step. This causes the power to be supplied directly through contact 64 to conductor 69 and the motors rather than through the water level switch or the valve solenoids.

Referring now to FIGURE 3 in conjunction with FIG URE 2, a suitable sequence of operation, with the components and circuitry described, will be briefly set forth. It will be assumed that a relatively small load of clothes is to be Washed and that the manual member 54 has been positioned downward accordingly, thereby opening switch 76 and decreasing the pressure of spring 55 on member 57. Initially, the manual member 66 is set to a position wherein the cams A, B, C, D and E are in start position to initiate a washing cycle; then the member 66 is moved axially so as to close switch 65. In the position in which the cams are arranged manually by this operation of member 66,

contacts 62 and 63 of switch 61 are closed by cam A,

and contact 71 of switch 72 engages contact 70. The other timer switches are also in the position shown in FIGURE 3. This causes the valve solenoids to operate, as previously mentioned, with the timer motor and the main motor remaining inactive until the water level switch 56 is closed. This will occur at a relatively low level as predetermined by the position of member 54. At that time, the valve solenoids stop the introduction of water, timer motor 58 starts to toll the sequence, and main motor 21 starts rotating in the direction to cause operation of agitator 14 and recirculation of water by pump 29 through filter pan 36.

This continues for an appropriate period (shown as Fill and Wash in FIGURE 3) after which switch 83 is opened by cam D to de-energize motor 21 and provide pause A. Motor 58 continues to operate as described. The continuedoperation of motor 58 causes switch 84 to reverse the position of arms 82 and 82a so that they engage contacts 87 and 86 respectively. Also, cam A closes contacts 62 and 63 with contact 64. As a result, when switch 83 is reclosed, motor 21 starts operation, independently of water switch 56, in the reverse direction from its previous direction of operation. In this reverse direction of rotation the basket is spun at high speed to effect a centrifugal extraction operation, with drain pump 28 being rotated in the direction which makes it effective to draw water from tub 4 and pass it out to the drain.

The extraction operation continues for an appropriate period (marked Spin) and then switch 83 is reopened to stop the motor again and provide pause B. The timer motor moves switches 61 and 84 back to their original positions as shown in FIGURE 2 and also moves contact 71 of switch 72 down into engagement with contact 74. As a result, when switch 83 is closed once again, solenoid 47 is energized to provide cold water unless switch 68 is closed, in which case warm water is provided. When the same level as before is reached, based on the position of the member 54, switch 56 again closes to cause motor 21 and motor 58 to start up and provide a timed period of rinse agitation and recirculation. At the end of this, in the same manner as before, motor 21 is stopped to provide pause C, the switch 84 is reversed, and then the switch 83 is reclosed to provide another spin. At the end of this additional spin, timer operated switches 75 and 83 are opened. With both these switches open, there cannot be an electrical circuit completed to conductor 59, and therefore the machine is completely de-energized and the washing operation is terminated.

If a large load of clothes is to be washed, essentially the same procedure is followed with the single exception that member 54 is moved to its upward position. This increases the biasing effect of spring 55 so that a larger pressure is required in order to cause closure of the switch 56. It also closes switch 76 so that a bypass is provided around switch 75 in parallel therewith. With the single exception that a higher liquid level is provided in tub 4, the operation through to the opening of cam E is the same. However, when cam E opens and member 54 is in the position causing closure of switch 76, the timer motor continues to operate. This continued operation of the timer motor causes cam D to reclose switch 83, with the other switches in the same position as before, that is, switch 61 has all three contacts closed and switch 84 is in the position to provide spin. Accordingly, an additional spin operation will be provided at the end of which all three con- .tacts of switch 61 are separated to end the cycle. It can thus be seen that with a larger amount of water being provided in the tub because of the larger load of clothes to be washed there is, by the selection of this larger amount, automatically also provided a longer period of spin at the end of the operation.

It will be understood that, while in accordance with the patent statutes I have described what at present is considered to be the preferred embodiment of my invention,

8 it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from my invention, and it is therefore aimed in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A clothes washing machine comprising:

(a) a rotatably mounted clothes receptacle;

(b) washing means for washing clothes in said receptacle;

(c) transmission and drive means for alternatively rotating said receptacle at centrifuging speed or operating said washing means;

((1) water inlet means operable to provide water to said receptacle;

(e) adjustable liquid level means effective to turn off said inlet means at at least two different levels in said receptacle for the washing of different sizes of clothes loads;

(f) sequence control means controlling said transmission and driving means and said water inlet means, and causing in sequence operation of said water inlet means, operation of said washing means, rotation of said receptacle, and termination of operation of said machine;

(g) means for causing said sequence control means to provide alternatively predetermined periods of at least two different lengths for rotation of said receptacle prior to termination of operation;

(h) and manual selector means for selecting one of said liquid levels, said selector means causing said sequence control means to provide the longer period of receptacle rotation when the higher liquid. level is selected, and to provide the shorter period of receptacle rotation when the lower liquid level is selected.

2. A clothes washing machine comprising:

(a) a rotatably mounted clothes receptacle;

(b) washing means for washing clothes in said receptacle;

(0) transmission and drive means for alternatively rotating said receptacle at centrifuging sped or operating said washing means;

(d) water inlet means operable to provide water to said receptacle;

(e) adjustable liquid level means effective to turn off said inlet means at at least two difierent levels in said receptacle for the washing of different sizes of clothes loads;

(f) sequence control means controlling said transmission and drive means and said water inlet means and causing in sequence operation of said water inlet means, operation of said washing means, rotation of said receptacle, and termination of operation of said machine, said sequence control means including (1) first cam operated means controlling said transmission and drive means and said water inlet means,

(2) second cam operated means controlling said sequence control means,

(3) third cam operated means for shutting off said machine;

(g) said first cam operated means causing de-energization of said transmission and drive means and said water inlet means after a first predetermined period of rotation of said receptacle, said second cam operated means de-energizing said sequence control means at substantially the same time that said first cam operated means de-energizes said transmission and drive means and said water inlet means whereby operation of said washing machine is terminated;

(h) a manually operated bypass switch around said second cam operated means, said bypass switch having a closed position and an open position;

(i) and manual selector means for selecting one of said liquid levels, said selector means closing said bypass switch when the higher liquid level is selected and opening said bypass switch when the lower liquid level :is selected;

(j) closure of said bypass switch causing said sequence control means to reclose said first cam operated means to provide an additional period of rotation of said receptacle and then to open said third cam operated means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/58 Conlee 68-12 5/59 Bloom 68-207

Claims (1)

1. A CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE COMPRISING: (A) A ROTATABLY MOUNTED CLOTHES RECEPTACLE; (B) WASHING MEANS FOR WASHING CLOTHES IN SAID RECEPTACLE; (C) TRANSMISSION AND DRIVE MEANS FOR ALTERNATIVELY ROTATING SAID RECEPTACLE AT CENTRIFUGING SPEED OR OPERATING SAID WASHING MEANS; (D) WATER INLET MEANS OPERBLE TO PROVIDE WATER TO SAID RECEPTACLE; (E) ADJUSTABLE LIQUID LEVEL MEANS EFFECTIVE TO TURN OFF SAID INLET MEANS AT LEAST TWO DIFFERENT LEVELS IN SAID RECEPTACLE FOR THE WASHING OF DIFFERENT SIZES OF CLOTHES LOAD; (F) SEQUENCE CONTROL MEANS CONTROLLING SAID TRANSMISSION AND DRIVING MEANS AND SAID WATER INLET MEANS, AND CAUSING IN SEQUENCE OPERATION OF SAID WATER IN-

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