Whirlpool Corporation

R Bruce Sherer

Dale E Mueller

Gerald L Kretchman

Kurt Werner

James W Titus

Mark C Celmer

Thomas Alan Latack

Edward H Getz

Joseph A Gauer

Linda A Higbee

John Harry Traube

Douglas E Bunnell

William F Scott

A tub ring is provided which forms an opening to a rotatable wash basket of a washing machine. The tub ring includes a clothes diverter which guides and deflects clothes in the basket downward, away from the opening, so that the clothes are wetted quickly. Preferably, the diverter guides the clothes into a flow from an inlet nozzle, which can also be formed in the tub ring. Additionally, dispensers for wash additives can be formed in the tub ring.

Integrated tub ring with clothes diverter

A method of washing clothes in an automatic washer having an imperforate wash tub, a perforate wash basket disposed within the tub and rotatable about a vertical axis and a bottom plate disposed within the lower portion of the wash basket and mounted for wobbling motion. The method of operation of the washer includes loading the clothes into the wash basket, adding water and detergent into the tub for forming wash liquid, recirculating the wash liquid over the clothes while driving the bottom plate in a nutating movement. Nutating movement describes the movement of the bottom plate wherein the bottom plate is slowly rotated within the wash basket while being driven in a rapid wobbling motion. In this fashion, the clothes are repeatedly moved under a spray pattern of wash liquid while being jostled and flexed for achieving he desired excellent soil removal.

Method of washing in a verticle axis washer

A method of rinsing in an automatic washer having an imperforate wash tub, a perforate wash basket disposed within the tub and rotatable about a vertical axis and a bottom plate disposed within the lower portion of the wash basket and mounted for wobbling motion. The method of rinsing includes adding rinse liquid into the wash basket and recirculating the rinse liquid over the clothes items while driving the bottom plate in a nutating movement. Nutating movement describes the movement of the bottom plate wherein the bottom plate is slowly rotated within the wash basket while being driven in a rapid wobbling motion. In this fashion, the clothes are repeatedly moved under a spray pattern of rinse liquid while being jostled and flexed for achieving the desired excellent detergent and soil removal during rinse. In a second embodiment, the step of slowly rotating the wash basket for moving the clothes under a spray pattern of rinse liquid is combined with a step of wobbling the bottom plate for agitating the clothes while spraying rinse liquid onto the clothes items.

Method of rinsing in a vertical axis washer

An automatic washer having an imperforate wash tub, a perforate wash basket disposed within the tub and rotatable about a vertical axis and a bottom plate disposed within the lower portion of the wash basket and mounted for wobbling motion. A motor is selectively interconnected with the basket and bottom plate for rotating the basket and the bottom plate together and for wobbling the bottom plate relative to the wash basket while the basket is held stationary such that the clothes items are agitated within the wash basket. A controlled rotation device is provided for driving the bottom plate in a wobbling motion while rotating the bottom plate, at a reduced rate, within the bottom of the wash basket. In a second embodiment, the wobble plate is supported and constrained to be driven in a wobbling motion while experiencing no rotation within the basket. A liquid level control system is also provided for supplying an optimum quantity of wash liquid into the tub wherein the clothes items within the wash basket are washed in an out-of-water wash process rather than being submerged. A recirculation system operates to pump wash liquid from a sump, disposed in the bottom of the tub, through a recirculation line and onto and through the clothes disposed within basket.

Vertical axis washer

An automatic washing machine having an automatic liquid level control system including an ultrasonic transmitting and receiving arrangement. The automatic washer includes a vertical axis tub disposed within a cabinet and further having a rotatable perforate wash basket disposed within the tub for receiving a load of clothes and a quantity of washing liquid. The cabinet includes an openable lid disposed above the tub and the wash basket. A transducer is provided, mounted in the cabinet lid, for operating in a first mode as a transmitter for transmitting a sonic pulse into the wash basket. The transducer operates in a second mode as a receiver for generating an electronic signal responsive to receipt of a sonic echo pulse from the surface of the load of clothes disposed within the wash basket. The height of the load of clothes may then be determined in accordance with the elapsed time between transmission of the sonic pulse and reception of the corresponding sonic echo pulse. The wash basket is controlled to rotate while a plurality of sonic pulses are generated and the corresponding sonic echo pulses are received such that a plurality of clothes load heights values are measured and stored. From the plurality of clothes load height values, an average clothes load height and an average clothes height deviation value may be determined. An optimum quantity of washing liquid may then be determined in response to the calculated average clothes load heights and the average clothes height deviation value.

Cloth detection system for an automatic washer

A suspension for an automatic clothes washer tub which supports the clothes container, agitator and driving mechanism, comprises a combination skate and rocking support device, the machine frame supporting the device for horizontal movement and the device supporting the tub for rocking movements. Connection of the tub with the device is effected by means of oblique cooperating surfaces on the tub support structure and on the device in generally pyramidal orientation and providing substantial stability for the tub in normal operation of the machine. Biasing means between the tub and the frame normally biases the tub and the device toward an equilibrium position.

Automatic washer suspension system

A water inlet device for an appliance having a cabinet containing a washing chamber characterized by a connector housing having a cavity receiving a diaphragm valve coacting with a valve seat on a port to control flow through the cavity with the operation of the diaphragm valve being controlled by a pilot valve disposed in the appliance. The water inlet device is particularly adapted for portable appliances and preferably has means for forming a quick connection to a source of water. The diaphragm is provided with at least one orifice to allow the source of water to bleed into a pressure chamber to bias or urge the diaphragm valve to a closed position and the pilot valve selectively bleeds this pressure chamber to cause a pressure differential on the diaphragm to selectively open the valve to admit water to the washing chamber of the appliance.

Growing community of inventors

St. Joseph Township, MI, United States of America

R Bruce Sherer