Washing machine with improved liquid flow distributing valve

Abstract

A washing machine assembly includes first and second liquid ducts having respective inlets and outlets. The first duct has an interior volume greater than the second duct, and the outlet of the first duct is at a level higher than the outlet of the second duct. A pump pumps liquid to the ducts, and a valve controls the flow of liquid from the pump to the inlets of the first or second ducts. The valve includes a housing having an inlet connected to the delivery side of the pump and first and second outlets connected respectively to the inlets of the first and second ducts. A valve closing element within the housing is movable from a stable first unblocking position spaced from and aligned with the first outlet to a first blocking position closing the first outlet, such that the pumped liquid flows to the second duct. At the same time, a bypass allows some pumped liquid to bypass the closing element into the first duct. Thereafter, when operation of the pump is stopped, the bypassed liquid forces the closing element away from the stable unblocking position thereof to an unstable second unblocking position spaced from and aligned with the second outlet. The bypass is calibrated such that the liquid flowing back into the housing from the first duct will maintain the closing element in the unstable unblocking position for a predetermined time period, after which the closing element will return to the stable unblocking position.