US3566906A

US3566906A - Water inlet flume

Info

Publication number: US3566906A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert B Beare
Original assignee: Fedders Corp
Current assignee: Fedders Corp
Priority date: 1969-07-15
Filing date: 1969-07-15
Publication date: 1971-03-02
Anticipated expiration: 1988-03-02

Abstract

A water inlet flume assembly adapted for use in a household washing machine. The assembly comprises a first member having a tubular section at one end which is adapted to be positioned through an aperture in the tub of the washer. The opposite outer end of the first member includes an inlet nozzle and an underlying overflow trough. The second member is positioned on the inside of the tub and includes an upper trough in alignment with, but spaced from, the inlet nozzle. A transverse flange depends from the upper trough and is designed to skim the suds from the water in the event that the tub overflows and the water passes through the assembly in the reverse direction.

Description

United States Patent Primary Examiner-William I. Price Assistant Examiner-Philip 'R. Coe

Attorney-Kane, Dalsimer, Kane, Sullivan & Smith ABSTRACT: A water inlet flume assembly adapted for use in a household washing machine. The assembly comprises a first member having a tubular section at one end which is adapted to be positioned through an aperture in the tub of the washer. The opposite outer end of the first member includes an inlet nozzle and an underlying overflow trough. The second member is positioned on the inside of the tub and includes an upper trough in alignment with, but spaced from, the inlet nozzle. A transverse flange depends from the upper trough and is designed to skim the suds from the water in the event that the tub overflows and the water passes through the as- 2, 5 5 2 ,398 5 /1951 Briggs... 68/207X semblyinthereversedirection.

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'PATENTEUMAR 21971 3566 06 sum 1 0F 3 INVENTOR 9085A? B. (QEJFE $3 T i 4602M,

ATTOR EYs PATENTEDHAR 21971 $566,906

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ATTORNEYS WATER INLET FLUME BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION filling the tub with water, agitating the clothes in the basket,

draining the tub, and spin drying the clothes by rotation of the basket,

The conventional water inlet system is positioned adjacent the top of the tub and normally includes a flume to direct the water inwardly to the basket. To guard against reverse flow of the wash water into the water system of the home should there be a loss of water pressure, it is standard practice to incorporate an air gap in the water flume, with the gap being positioned above the normal maximum water level. By this arrangement, the wash water does not reachthe water inlet and thus cannot be drawn into the fresh water system by a reduction of pressure in the main.

However, even when the inlet system as described above is utilized, difficulties may be encountered if the fill shutoff .system should fail to properly operate. In this event, the wash water will rise above its normal level and it may reach and submerge the air gap. Also, even though the water itself may not reach the air gap, the suds riding on top of the water may contact and enter this area. 7

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a water inlet flume incorporating an air gap which will not be contacted by either the wash water or suds in the event of tub overflow.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an overflow trough for the wash water whereby overflowing water will be directed to a suitable drain before it reaches the top of the tub. In this regard, a transverse flange is positioned over the upper portion of the trough to skim the suds from the water and thereby prevent the suds from flowing with the water to the drain.

A further object and advantage of the present invention is the utilization of the overflow trough to direct entering water into the tub in the event that the water pressure is insufficient to cause the water to cross the air gap.

The above objects, features, and advantages of the present invention are achieved in the embodiments described herein by the provision of a water inlet flume assembly which is mounted to extend through an aperture in the side of the washing machine tub. The assembly comprises a first member having a tubular section at one end which is adapted to extend through the aperture in the tub. The opposite outer end of the first member includes a water inlet nozzle to which the hose from a conventional water spigot is adapted to be attached. The nozzle is positioned above the axis of the tubular section, and an overflow trough is provided immediately below the nozzle. The assembly also includes a second member which is adapted to be mounted on the inside of said tub in horizontal alignment with the first member. The second member includes an upper trough portion which is aligned with but spaced from the inlet nozzle, and a depending transverse flange which blocks the remaining upper portion of the tubular section.

In operation, water entering the washer under pressure will flow across the space or gap between the nozzle and the upper trough portion, from whence it will be directed radially inwardly and discharged into the clothes basket. If the water pressure is insufficient to cause the water to jump the gap, it will fall onto the overflow trough and be directed into the tub. Since the air gap is positioned above the predetermined water level in the tub, there is no danger that the water will be drawn into the inlet nozzle during normal operations.

In the event that the tub should overflow, water will flow in the reverse direction across the overflow trough and into a drain. The transverse flange acts to block the passage of suds through the flume, thereby assuring that the suds riding on top of the water will not reach the water inlet nozzle.

Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a water inlet flume incorporati g the features of the present invention, together with a portion of the washing machine body structure.

FIG. 2 is an exploded assembly view of the flume shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view similar to FIG. I but showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded assembly view of the flume illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a sectional side view of still another embodiment of the present invention, together with a portion of the washing machine body structure.

FIG. 6 is a sectional top view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5. t

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a water inlet flume assembly embodying the features of the present invention is illustrated generally at 10. The assembly comprises an inlet member 12 and an outlet member 14 which are disposed in horizontal mating relationship through an aperture 16 positioned adjacent the top of the washer tub 17. A further portion of the surrounding structure in a conventional washing machine is also shown, and in particular the cabinet top 18 and the clothes-receiving basket 19 are illustrated. The basket 19 may or may not be perforated, and may also include a surrounding annular clothes guard 20.

' The inlet member 12 includes an inner end in the form of a tubular section 21 which is adapted to pass through the aperture 16 in the tub. An outer circumferential flange 22 is positioned intermediate the ends of the member 12 and is adapted to overlie a mating annular flange 24 positioned about the aperture 16. The flanges 22 and 24 include interengaging ribs 23 and 25, respectively, whereby assembly of the member 12 on the tub 17 is effected by applying an axial force to snap the rib 23 behind the rib 25.

The opposite outer end of the inlet member 12 includes a water inlet nozzle 28 which is adapted to mount a hose 30 leading from the fresh water source or spigot. A suitable clamp 31 may be used to maintain this connection. The nozzle 28 is positioned above the axis of the tubular section 21 and extends for only a portion of the axial length of the member 12. An overflow through 32 underlies the nozzle 28 and includes a surrounding upstanding lip 33 for the purposes which will become apparent. In addition, each side of the member 12 is cut away, as at 34, to permit assembly of the two members in the manner hereinafter set forth.

The forward end (left in FIG. 1) of outlet member 14 includes an annular portion 35 which has an outer diameter substantially corresponding to the inner diameter of the tubular section 21. Thus, as illustrated in the drawings, the annular portion 35 is adapted to be received in a close'fitting relationship within the tubular section 21. An abutment shoulder 36 may be provided in the section 21 to limit the distance that the portion 35 may be inserted. A pair of flexible tangs 38 extend from the forward end of the member 14, the tangs being adapted to ride along the inside surface of the tubular section 21 during assembly, and then snap into the cutouts 34 to prevent separation of the two members.

The upper portion of the member 14 comprises a trough 40 which is designed to direct the water entering under pressure through the nozzle 28 to a position over the clothes basket 19. Since the nozzle 28 is spaced from the entrance to the trough 40, an air gap is provided which must be crossed by the water in order to reach the trough. If the pressure in the water supply main is not sufficient to cause the water to cross this gap, the water will drop onto the overflow trough 32 and flow into the tub 17 via the annular portion 35. The discharge end of the trough 40 may be positioned in an aperture 18 in the cabinet top if additional rigidity is desired.

In the event that the water fill system of the washer should malfunction to cause an overflow condition, it will be apparent that the water rising in the tub 17 will reach the annular portion 35 of member 14 and pass through the assembly in the reverse direction to the overflow trough 32. The water will then spill over the lip 33 of the trough 32 and drop into a suitable drain (not shown) which is placed beneath the trough 32 for this purpose. By this arrangement, no water is able to reach the level of the inlet nozzle 28 and thus no contamination of the household water system can take place.

An additional feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a suds skimmer 42 which is designed to insure that the suds riding on top of the overflow water will not reach the level of the nozzle 28. The skimmer 42 takes the form ofa transverse flange positioned adjacent the forward end of the member 14 and which depends from the lower surface of the trough 40. Thus, the upper portion of the opening through the tubular section 21 is blocked, and the passage of suds is thereby controlled.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the inlet member 12' includes a tubular section 21', an outer circum ferential flange 22, an inlet nozzle 28' and an overflow trough 32. As will be apparent, these elements ofthe member 12 are substantially similar to the corresponding elements in the previously described embodiment. The member 12, however, is somewhat shorter in overall axial length.

The outlet member of the flume illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 takes the form of a channel member 50 having a trough portion formed by the relatively flat surface 52 and sidewalls 54. The forward end of the member 50 includes a depending flange 56 which is positioned at substantially right angles to the surface 52. The upper edges of the sidewalls 54 include apertured extensions 58 which serve as mounting means for securing the member to the cabinet top 18 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 3.

In this embodiment, it will be seen that the water entering through the nozzle 28' must cross a gap before reaching the surface 52. Once this is accomplished, the water is directed along surface 52 to the basket 19 as in the previous embodiment. If the water should not bridge the gap, it will drop onto the overflow trough 32' and into the tub 17 through the tubular section 21'. In the event the tub should overflow, the water will flow in the reverse direction across the overflow trough 32' and to the drain (not shown) without coming in contact with the inlet nozzle 28'. The suds will similarly be prevented from passing through the overflow passageway by the flange or skimmer 56.

The embodiments of the flume illustrate in FIGS. 1 through 4 may obviously be fabricated from a wide variety of synthetic or natural materials which are durable, strong, somewhat resilient, and which are capable of withstanding moderately high temperatures. In this regard, a thermoplastic material,

such as polypropylene, has been found to be very satisfactory.

Still another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. and 6. In this embodiment, the inlet 60 includes a tubular section 61, an outer circumferential flange 62, an inlet nozzle 64, and an overflow trough 65. The flange 62 includes a circumferential abutment 66 which is adapted to be mounted in a mating aperture in the tub wall 68. The abutment may be secured in the aperture by any suitable means, such as by spin welding. It will be noted that in this embodiment the flange 62 is offset from the axis of the inlet 60 such that the flume extends at an angle with respect to the tub wall 68, see FIG. 6.

The outlet member 70 includes an upper trough 72 which is axially aligned with, but spaced from, the spout 64. The forward end of the trough includes a downwardly depending suds skimmer 74, as well as an extension 76 of the upper surface of the trough. The extension 76 is adapted to be pressed into contact with the upper portion of the tubular section 61 (note FIG. 5) by the flexible upwardly extending flap 78. The

original free position of the flap 78 is shown in dotted lines, an it is resiliently flexed to the position illustrated during assembly with the top 80.

In order to positively position the outlet member 70 through the aperture 82 in the cabinet top 80, a snap lock arrangement is provided at the discharge end of the outlet. In particular the upper surface of the trough 72 includes a rearwardly facing abutment 84. The lower surface of the trough is bifurcated at 85 and 86 to form three flexible sections. The lower surface of the two outer flexible sections includes forwardly facing abutments 88, while the middle section includes a rearwardly facing abutment 90. Viewing FIG. 5, it will be seen that the rearwardly facing abutments 84 and are spaced from the forwardly facing abutments 88 a distance sufficient to admit the wall of the cabinet top about the aperture 82. Since the sections along the lower surface of the trough are flexible, it will be apparent that the outlet member 70 may be assembled with the cabinet top 80 by merely inserting the discharge end into the aperture 82 and exerting sufficient axial force to drive the

abutments

84 and 90 through the aperture.

As will be obvious, the embodiment of the flume illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 functions in a manner similar to that of the previously described embodiments. The water entering through the nozzle 64 will normally cross the gap before reaching the lower surface of the trough 72. If the water should not bridge the gap, it will drop onto the overflow trough 65 and into the tub 68 via the tubular section 61. In the event of overflow, the water will flow in the reverse direction across the trough 61 and the suds riding on the top of the water will be prevented from passing through the section 61 by the skimmer 74.

It will be apparent that the flume assembly of the present invention is a highly effective device for providing an air gap in the water inlet system, for insuring that the water which may not cross the gap will flow into the tub, for providing a passageway for overflowing water such that it never reaches the level of the inlet nozzle, and for providing a blocking means to obstruct the transfer of suds through the overflow passage and thereby insure that the suds will not reach the inlet nozzle. The assembly is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, and may be easily attached to a conventional washing machine tub in the manner illustrated.

I claim:

1. A water inlet flume for a washing machine or the like comprising:

a first member having a generally tubular section at one end and a water inlet spout at the opposite end, said inlet spout being positioned above the axis of said tubular section; and

a second member adapted to be mounted in substantially coaxial alignment with said first member at said one end thereof, said second member including a water discharge trough adapted to be positioned in axial alignment with, but spaced from, said water inlet spout to form an air break therebetween, said second member further including a depending transverse flange to partially block the entrance to said tubular section.

2. The water inlet flume as defined in claim 1 wherein said first member further includes an overflow trough positioned beneath said inlet spout.

3. The water inlet flume as defined in claim 2 wherein said first member further includes an outer circumferential flange positioned coaxially about said tubular section, said outer circumferential flange being adapted to engage a mating flange on the body of said washing machine to mount said first member thereon.

4. The water inlet flume as defined in claim 3 wherein said second member further includes attachment means for permanently securing said second member to said washing machine body.

5. The water inlet flume as defined in claim 3 wherein the forward end of said second member adjacent said first member includes an annular portion having an outer diameter substantially corresponding to the inner diameter of said first member tubular section, whereby said annular portion is adapted to be received in said tubular section.

6. The water inlet flume as defined in 'claim 5 wherein said first member includes a cutout'ext'ending from said opposite end toward said one end along'each side thereof, and said second member includes a pair of flexible tangs extending forwardly from said annular portion of said second member, said tangs being adapted to engage and lock behind said cutouts when said annular portion is received in said tubular section.

7. In a washing machine of the type having a clothes-receiving basket and a surrounding stationary tub, the tub having an aperture in the side thereof to permit the passage of water for filling the tub, the improvement therein comprising:

a flume assembly to guide the fill water through said aperture and into said tub, said flume assembly comprising first and second members disposed in horizontal mating relationship; said first member including an inner end forming a tubular section and an outer end having a water inlet nozzle and a overflow trough positioned thereon, said nozzle being positioned above the axis of said tubular section and said overflow trough being positioned immediately below said nozzle, said first member further including means .to mount said first member through said aperture on said tub; and I said second member having an upper trough portion and a depending transverse flange, said second member being mounted at the inner end of said first member on the inside of said tub with said trough portion in spaced axial alignment with said inlet nozzle and said transverse flange blocking the upper portion of the entrance to said tubular section, whereby water entering through said nozzle under pressure will-flow across the space between said nozzle and upper trough portion, and whereby the transverse flange acts to block the passage of suds through said tubular section should the washer overflow.

8. The flume assembly as defined in claim 7 wherein said means for mounting said first member on said tub includes an outer circumferential flange positioned intermediate the ends of said first member.

9. The flume assembly as defined in claim 8 wherein said upper trough portion of said second member comprises a relatively flat surfacev and a pair of sidewalls, and said depending flange is positioned at substantially right angles to said surface.

10. The flume assembly as defined in 'claim 9 wherein said second member further includes attachment means positioned on said sidewalls for permanently securing said second member to the body of said washing machine.

11. The flume assembly as defined in claim 8 wherein the end of said second member adjacent said first member includes an annular portion having an outer diameter substantially corresponding to the inner diameter of said first member tubular section and with said annular portion being received in said tubular section.

12. The flume assembly as definedin claim 11 wherein said first member includes a cutout extending from said outer end toward said inner end along each side thereof, and said second member includes a pair of flexible-tangs engaging and locked behind said cutouts to maintain the assembly of the two members.

13. The flume assembly as defined in claim 8 wherein an annular flange is positioned about the. aperture on said tub, and said outer circumferential flange is adapted to mating-ly engage said annular flange.

14. The flume assembly as defined, in claim 8 wherein said outer circumferential flange is spin welded about said tub aperture to sealingly'close said aperture to the passage of water.

Claims

1. A water inlet flume for a washing machine or the like comprising: a first member having a generally tubular section at one end and a water inlet spout at the opposite end, said inlet spout being positioned above the axis of said tubular section; and a second member adapted to be mounted in substantially coaxial alignment with said first member at said one end thereof, said second member including a water discharge trough adapted to be positioned in axial alignment with, but spaced from, said water inlet spout to form an air break therebetween, said second member further including a depending transverse flange to partially block the entrance to said tubular section.

6. The water inlet flume as defined in claim 5 wherein said first member includes a cutout extending from said opposite end toward said one end along each side thereof, and said second member includes a pair of flexible tangs extending forwardly from said annular portion of said second member, said tangs being adapted to engage and lock behind said cutouts when said annular portion is received in said tubular section.

7. In a washing machine of the type having a clothes-receiving basket and a surrounding stationary tub, the tub having an aperture in the side thereof to permit the passage of water for filling the tub, the improvement therein comprising: a flume assembly to guide the fill water through said aperture and into said tub, said flume assembly comprising first and second members disposed in horizontal mating relationship; said first member including an inner end forming a tubular section and an outer end having a water inlet nozzle and a overflow trough positioned thereon, said nozzle being positioned above the axis of said tubular section and said overflow trough being positioned immediately below said nozzle, said first member further including means to mount said first member through said aperture on said tub; and said second member having an upper trough portion and a depending transverse flange, said second member being mounted at the inner end of said first member on the inside of said tub with said trough portion in spaced axial alignment with said inlet nozzle and said transverse flange blocking the upper portion of the entrance to said tubular section, whereby water entering through said nozzle under pressure will flow across the space between said nozzle and upper trough portion, and whereby the transverse flange acts to block the passage of suds through said tubular section should the washer overflow.

9. The flume assembly as defined in claim 8 wherein said upper trough portion of said second member comprises a relatively flat surface and a pair of sidewalls, and said depending flange is positioned at substantially right angles to said surface.

10. The flume assembly as deFined in claim 9 wherein said second member further includes attachment means positioned on said sidewalls for permanently securing said second member to the body of said washing machine.

12. The flume assembly as defined in claim 11 wherein said first member includes a cutout extending from said outer end toward said inner end along each side thereof, and said second member includes a pair of flexible tangs engaging and locked behind said cutouts to maintain the assembly of the two members.

13. The flume assembly as defined in claim 8 wherein an annular flange is positioned about the aperture on said tub, and said outer circumferential flange is adapted to matingly engage said annular flange.

14. The flume assembly as defined in claim 8 wherein said outer circumferential flange is spin welded about said tub aperture to sealingly close said aperture to the passage of water.