Maytag Corporation

Scott E Griffith

Jordan S Bruntz

Barry E Tuller

Chris P Lickiss

Donald E Erickson

John Francis Broker

Evan R Vande Haar

Douglas A Ochsner

Michael D Lafrenz

Charles L Jackson

Gary T Ostrander

An apparatus, method and system of wash action control for an automatic washing machine. A manually operable user interface allows selection from between a plurality of discrete agitation speed selections which comprise at least a continuous speed agitation mode for a given agitation period during a wash cycle and an intermittent speed agitation mode for at least a part of a given agitation period. The intermittent speed agitation mode automatically varies agitation speed between at least two sub-periods of the given agitation period. The variation in agitation speed can be between a faster and a slower speed or a certain speed and no agitation.

Washing machine agitation action control

Washing appliance agitator having spiral baffle

An apparatus and method for infinitely variable adjustment of temperature range of a device in multiple selected temperature ranges. The method includes providing a plurality of operational temperature ranges of the device, selection of a desired temperature range, and infinitely variable selection of a specific temperature within a selected range. The apparatus includes a temperature range mechanism limiting operational temperature to first and second temperature ranges, and a control mechanism to select one of the first and second temperature ranges and then infinitely adjusting temperature within the selected range. In the example of a clothes dryer, the invention allows the selection of a higher or lower temperature range for the clothes dryer and, once the range is selected, infinitely variable temperature control within the selected range.

Apparatus and method for multiple temperature range control

An infinite temperature control system is used to control the temperature of wash and rinse water in a washing machine. The invention includes a temperature selection switch which operates the water valves for controlling the temperature of water entering the washing machine. The switch has an infinite number of possible temperature settings and includes various contacts for affecting various aspects of the water temperature control.

Infinite temperature control

A control system for an appliance indicator light includes a timer which times the amount of time the appliance door is open after completion of the operational cycle of the appliance. If the door is opened for more than a predetermined period of time, the indicator light will be deactuated, but if the door is opened for less than the predetermined period of time and then reclosed, the indicator light will be left in its on condition. The timer may be a series of cams attached to a motor, a bi-metal switch located adjacent the indicator light, or a microprocessor connected to and driving the indicator light.

Control system for appliance indicator light and method for using same

Growing community of inventors

Newton, IA, United States of America

Scott E Griffith