US3499534A - Program-selecting devices for automatic washing machines - Google Patents

Program-selecting devices for automatic washing machines Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3499534A
US3499534A US707861A US3499534DA US3499534A US 3499534 A US3499534 A US 3499534A US 707861 A US707861 A US 707861A US 3499534D A US3499534D A US 3499534DA US 3499534 A US3499534 A US 3499534A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
speed
program
centrifuge
rotational
tub
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US707861A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Walter Holzer
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3499534A publication Critical patent/US3499534A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F37/00—Details specific to washing machines covered by groups D06F21/00 - D06F25/00
    • D06F37/30—Driving arrangements 
    • D06F37/304—Arrangements or adaptations of electric motors
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
    • G05B—CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS
    • G05B19/00—Programme-control systems
    • G05B19/02—Programme-control systems electric
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F2103/00—Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • D06F2103/24—Spin speed; Drum movements
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F2103/00—Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • D06F2103/44—Current or voltage
    • D06F2103/46—Current or voltage of the motor driving the drum
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F2105/00—Systems or parameters controlled or affected by the control systems of washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • D06F2105/46—Drum speed; Actuation of motors, e.g. starting or interrupting
    • D06F2105/48—Drum speed
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F33/00—Control of operations performed in washing machines or washer-dryers 
    • D06F33/30—Control of washing machines characterised by the purpose or target of the control 
    • D06F33/48—Preventing or reducing imbalance or noise
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
    • Y02B40/00—Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers

Definitions

  • PROGRAM-SELECTING DEVICES FOR AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINES Filed Feb. 4 25, 1968 United States Patent Ofice 3,499,534 Patented Mar. 10, 1970 3 499 534 PROGRAM-SELECTINGDEVICES FOR AUTO- MATIC WASHING MACHINES Walter Holzer, Drosteweg 19, Meersburg (Bodensee), Germany v Filed Feb. 23, 1968, Ser. No. 707,861 Claims priority, applicafigrll 9('iegrmany, Feb. 22, 1967,
  • Known program-selecting devices by means, of a program-selecting switch, make possible the setting up of different washing programs to suit, for example, white articles, coloured articles, delicate articles and so on. It has also been possible with these known program-selecting devices additionally to vary the washing temperatures for the pre-selected program, the temperature allocated to a given program being variable within certain limits by the actuation of additional keys or regulators. It was necessary to provide the possibility .of regulation because an individual adjustment of the washing temperature was still desirable to suit the degree of soiling of the wash, the composition of the wash and the laundering habits of the user.
  • the speed of rotaton of the drum could be varied within certain limits during the laundering operation or, if the specific laundering operation was made more or less intensive by appropriate dwells between the respective drivings of the drum of the washing machine in the one .or the other direction, it could be regulated by adjustment of these dwells.
  • the invention has for its object to make provision to meet this difficulty so that it shall be possible for the user to regulate the speed of the centrifuge within certain limits but only in such a way that damage to the wash due to too high a speed of the centrifuge and damage to the washing machine due to the speed of the centrifuge falling within the critical speed-range will both be prevented.
  • a program-selectingdevice for automatic washing machines in which a selector switch, which permits the pre-selection of the individual programs simultaneously determines a rotational speed of the centrifuge for the program concerned is characterised in that the centrifuging speed pre-selected by the program-selecting switch is the maximum permissible rotational speed and an additional manually adjustable rotational-speed regulator permits a reduction of this centrifuging speed.
  • centrifugal elfect can be suited to the individual composition of the wash. Since the centrifugal action varies as the square of the rotational speed, even comparatively small changes in the rotational speed of the centrifuge sufiice to produce a substantially different centrifugal effect.
  • This rotational-speed regulator may take many forms.
  • the regulator is a continuously adjustable potentiometer which varies the input potential of an electronic rotational-speed regulating circuit.
  • this rotational-speed regulator affords further advantages.
  • An electronic regulation of the speed of rotation can be carried out in such a manner that a rotational speed of the centrifuge, once set, will be maintained with but small variations. This provision is important if it should be desired to regulate downwards into the neighbourhood of the critical rotational speed by means of this handoperated rotational-speed regulator.
  • rotational-speed regulator with press keys instead of as a continuously adjustable potentiometer, which keys influence the input potential of an electronic rotational-speed regulating circuit by switching resistors.
  • press keys instead of as a continuously adjustable potentiometer, which keys influence the input potential of an electronic rotational-speed regulating circuit by switching resistors. This provision thus makes it possible additionally to adjust the centrifuging speed in a similar manner to that in which the temperature has hitherto been influenced by press keys.
  • a particularly preferred embodiment is one in which the selector switch influences the input potential of an electronic regulating circuit by the switching of resistors which each correspond to an intended rotational speed, this circuit receiving for comparison purposes, that potential corresponding to the actual rotational speed which is produced by a tacho-generator that is driven from the motor of the centrifuge.
  • a further safety measure exists in the fact that there is provided a bridging contact for the resistor of the rota tional-speed regulator, which contact closes upon the resiliently suspended washing tub reaching too large an amplitude of oscillation.
  • This safety measure will prevent the occasion of any damage to the washing machine in that the adjustment which in some way brought the oscillatable system into the neighbourhood of the critical rotational speed will immediately be removed, in the present case, by the short- .circuiting of this arbitrarily adjustable rotational-speed regulator.
  • the bridging contact be a tumble switch Which can be moved back to its starting position by hand.
  • FIG. 1 shows diagrammatically, in elevation, a control panel of an automatic washing machine
  • FIG. 2 shows to a larger scale and also in elevation, the program-selecting switch with the manually adjustable rotational-speed regulator according to the invention
  • FIG. 3 shows the input circuit for an electronic rotational-speed regulating circuit in which the invention is embodied and which permits the maintenance of an adjusted rotational speed
  • FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the circuit of the motor of the centrifuge included in the regulating circuit.
  • FIG. 5 shows diagrammatically the use of a press switch as a bridging contact to respond as a safety device to excessive amplitude of oscillation of the tub of the washing machine.
  • FIG. 1 the housing 1 of an automatic washing machine which exhibits on its front face a control panel 2.
  • a program-selecting switch 3 is provided on the control panel and a manually operated rotational-speed regulator 4 according to the invention is arranged, for example, adjacent to this selecting switch.
  • the rectangles 5, 6 may be openings to be employed for the pouring in of laundering media or they may be indicating surfaces or further switches.
  • the program-selecting switch (see FIG. 2) comprises, in known manner, an indicator 7 which is adjustable to the individual program indicated by the letters A-K.
  • the rotational-speed regulator 4 also has an indicator 8 which moves over the scale 9, the one end point 10 of which represents the minimum value of the adjustable speed of rotation whereas the other end point 11 corresponds to the maximum value of the adjustable speed of rotation.
  • This maximum value of the rotational speed corresponds to the rotational speed which is set by the program-selecting switch for the program which has for the time being been selected.
  • FIG. 3 it is the program contacts 12, 13, 14, which correspond, for example, to rotational speeds of the centrifuge of 500 r.p.m., 600 r.p.m., and 800 r.p.m. These speeds of the centrifuge are allocated, for example, to the programs A, B, and C.
  • the supervision of these preset intended speeds of rotation is effected by means of a tacho-generator 15 which is connected to the motor 18 of the centrifuge by Way of the shaft 16 and, if necessary, a speed-increasing or speed-reducing gearing 17. It will be understood that this tacho-generator 15 may alternatively be driven from the drum of the centrifuge itself or through any other intermediate members.
  • the resistors 19, 20, 21, 22, constitute a potential divider which is connected, on the one hand, across a'constant voltage source of electric current 23, 24 and is connected, on the other hand, through the potentiometer 34, and the diode 25 (or another rectifying circuit) to the tachogenerator output potential U In this way the potential at the slider of the potentiometer 34 is compared with the potential U of the tacho-generator.
  • This electronic circuit 26 comprises an output gate which is connected in series with the motor 18 of the centrifuge between the main terminals P P
  • this electronic regulating circuit 26 comprises a known threshold-value amplifier 27 (only diagrammatically indicated) and employs a known gate-controlled semi-conductor switch 28 as the output gate, this switch being one designed for AC. power control and such that with phasecontrol of the gate signal the load-current can be varied over a range from 5% to of full power.
  • the threshold-value amplifier 27 shuts off or opens the output gate 28 so that the motor 18 of the centrifuge can receive more current when the potential U tends to become smaller than the potential at the slider of the po tentiometer 34 and is deprived of some current when the potential U tends to become greater than that at the slider.
  • a program contact 32 ensures that the motor of the centrifuge can receive current only during those sections of the program which provide for centrifuging. Those other contacts, for temperature, pre-selection and so on, actuated by the program-selecting switch 3 at the same time as the contacts 12-14 and 32 are not shown since they form no part of this invention.
  • the capacitor 33 is for the smoothing of the tacho-generator potential.
  • the resistance value of the potentiometer 34 is so selected that the lower critical rotational-speed range cannot be reached for any intended rotational speed which.
  • the potentiometer 34 of FIG. 4 is also connected in circuit with the potential divider 19- 22 as shown in FIG. 3.
  • the wash tub 36 is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 5 as resiliently supported by springs 37 in known manner, within the housing 2 or within a suitable framework.
  • the drum of the centrifuge will impart to the wash tub such an amplitude of oscillation that, for example, the abutment 39 connected to the wash tub 36 actuates the press switch 40.
  • This press switch 40 then closes its bridging contact 41 (shown in FIG. 3) and thereby short-circuits the resistor 34 or interrupts its operation.
  • the press switch 40 once operated, must then be re-opened by hand.
  • the invention is broadly concerned with making provision in automatic washing machines of means whereby a pre-selected speed of rotation of the centrifuge may additionally be manually adjusted, Within limits, when desired.
  • a device for selecting and controlling the spin speed of a washing machine tub comprising:
  • switch means for selecting one of said voltages representing a desired maximum rotation speed; means for adjusting the selected voltage to set the rotation speed to a value below the maximum speed;
  • said means for generating a plurality of voltages comprises a voltage source and a voltage divider connected to said source and having a plurality of taps each of which provides one of said plurality of voltages.
  • said adjusting means comprises a potentiometer, said selecting means connecting said potentiometer to predetermined taps of said voltage divider.
  • said means for driving said tub comprises a drive motor and electronic control means for controlling said drive motor.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Automation & Control Theory (AREA)
  • Control Of Washing Machine And Dryer (AREA)
  • Centrifugal Separators (AREA)
  • Control Of Velocity Or Acceleration (AREA)
  • Control Of Ac Motors In General (AREA)
US707861A 1967-02-22 1968-02-23 Program-selecting devices for automatic washing machines Expired - Lifetime US3499534A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DEH0061919 1967-02-22

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3499534A true US3499534A (en) 1970-03-10

Family

ID=7161617

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US707861A Expired - Lifetime US3499534A (en) 1967-02-22 1968-02-23 Program-selecting devices for automatic washing machines

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US3499534A (enExample)
DE (1) DE1585731B2 (enExample)
FR (1) FR1556063A (enExample)
GB (1) GB1144629A (enExample)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0224145A3 (en) * 1985-11-27 1988-03-02 Industrie Zanussi S.P.A. Automatic washing machine with rotating drum
FR2609732A1 (fr) * 1987-01-16 1988-07-22 Ako Werke Gmbh & Co Dispositif de reglage de la vitesse de rotation pour mecanisme d'entrainement d'un tambour de machine a laver ou de sechoir
EP0268155A3 (en) * 1986-11-11 1988-08-24 Licentia Patent-Verwaltungs-Gmbh Washing machine with a device for preventing the formation of foam
EP0539617A1 (de) * 1991-10-30 1993-05-05 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Unwuchtüberwachung für einen Waschautomaten
US6422047B1 (en) 2000-05-04 2002-07-23 Maytag Corporation Washing machine with unbalance detection and control system

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2236050B1 (enExample) * 1973-07-05 1976-05-07 Amiens Const Elect Mec
FR2296721A1 (fr) * 1974-12-30 1976-07-30 Carpano & Pons Alimentation de securite pour l'entrainement de tambour de machines a laver
GB1531336A (en) * 1976-07-16 1978-11-08 Mullard Ltd Motor speed control circuits

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2841003A (en) * 1955-01-17 1958-07-01 Gen Electric Control circuits for automatic clothes washing machines
US3003345A (en) * 1955-01-17 1961-10-10 Gen Electric Control circuit in an automatic clothes washing machine
US3046772A (en) * 1960-02-29 1962-07-31 Gen Electric Washing machine drive system
US3049654A (en) * 1958-06-27 1962-08-14 Gen Motors Corp Electric motor driven domestic appliance
US3152463A (en) * 1963-06-17 1964-10-13 Gen Motors Corp Combination agitating means and spinning means with speed control means
US3209561A (en) * 1963-11-21 1965-10-05 Westinghouse Electric Corp Unbalance control for washing machines

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2841003A (en) * 1955-01-17 1958-07-01 Gen Electric Control circuits for automatic clothes washing machines
US3003345A (en) * 1955-01-17 1961-10-10 Gen Electric Control circuit in an automatic clothes washing machine
US3049654A (en) * 1958-06-27 1962-08-14 Gen Motors Corp Electric motor driven domestic appliance
US3046772A (en) * 1960-02-29 1962-07-31 Gen Electric Washing machine drive system
US3152463A (en) * 1963-06-17 1964-10-13 Gen Motors Corp Combination agitating means and spinning means with speed control means
US3209561A (en) * 1963-11-21 1965-10-05 Westinghouse Electric Corp Unbalance control for washing machines

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0224145A3 (en) * 1985-11-27 1988-03-02 Industrie Zanussi S.P.A. Automatic washing machine with rotating drum
EP0268155A3 (en) * 1986-11-11 1988-08-24 Licentia Patent-Verwaltungs-Gmbh Washing machine with a device for preventing the formation of foam
FR2609732A1 (fr) * 1987-01-16 1988-07-22 Ako Werke Gmbh & Co Dispositif de reglage de la vitesse de rotation pour mecanisme d'entrainement d'un tambour de machine a laver ou de sechoir
EP0539617A1 (de) * 1991-10-30 1993-05-05 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Unwuchtüberwachung für einen Waschautomaten
US6422047B1 (en) 2000-05-04 2002-07-23 Maytag Corporation Washing machine with unbalance detection and control system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE1585731B2 (de) 1972-05-31
GB1144629A (en) 1969-03-05
DE1585731A1 (enExample) 1972-05-31
FR1556063A (enExample) 1969-01-31

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3152462A (en) Clothes washing machine and control means therefor
US3235082A (en) Laundry machine and method
US3499534A (en) Program-selecting devices for automatic washing machines
US3266167A (en) Dryer control
US3640098A (en) Clothes-washing and spin-drying machines
US2917175A (en) Unbalance sensing arrangement for machines having a centrifugal liquid extraction step
US3018649A (en) Automatic washer having control means regulating the speed and torque of the drive motor
GB2073257A (en) Improvements in or relating to washing machines and spin-driers
KR940002409A (ko) 젖은 세탁물의 원심분리방법
US3939673A (en) Device for preventing unbalance in washing machines during spindrying
US3172277A (en) Clothes washing machine with control means for providing a varying speed tumble operation
US3266168A (en) Domestic dryer apparatus
US3507052A (en) Tumble pattern sensor and method of drying
GB1221332A (en) Circuit arrangement primarily for programme control of fully automatic washing machines
US3171045A (en) Timer
DE3728609A1 (de) Vorrichtung zur schleuderanlaufstrombegrenzung und zur verhinderung unkontrollierter betriebszustaende nach netzausfaellen, insbesondere bei waschmaschinen
US3246491A (en) Laundry machines
GB1478673A (en) Washing-machine control
US2296263A (en) Cleaning apparatus
US3545096A (en) Hold circuit for a dryer
JPH0154076B2 (enExample)
US3622853A (en) Control circuits for clothes washing and spin-drying machines
GB2136601A (en) Clothes washing and spin drying machines
GB2174564A (en) Spin speed control for laundry spin driers
US3446043A (en) Speed control for a laundry machine