U.S. patent application number 11/228103 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-22 for automatic washing machine and toroidal and inverse toroidal washing motion.
Invention is credited to Kathleen M. La Belle, Matthew C. Parsons, Scott D. Slabbekoorn, Pamela Smith, Kurt Werner.
Application Number | 20070062224 11/228103 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37872095 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070062224 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
La Belle; Kathleen M. ; et
al. |
March 22, 2007 |
Automatic washing machine and toroidal and inverse toroidal washing
motion
Abstract
An automatic washing machine capable of washing with both a
toroidal and inverse toroidal washing motion.
Inventors: |
La Belle; Kathleen M.;
(Lawrence, MI) ; Werner; Kurt; (St. Joseph,
MI) ; Smith; Pamela; (Benton Harbor, MI) ;
Slabbekoorn; Scott D.; (St. Joseph, MI) ; Parsons;
Matthew C.; (Dowagiac, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WHIRLPOOL PATENTS COMPANY - MD 0750
500 RENAISSANCE DRIVE - SUITE 102
ST. JOSEPH
MI
49085
US
|
Family ID: |
37872095 |
Appl. No.: |
11/228103 |
Filed: |
September 16, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
68/3R ;
68/13R |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 13/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
068/003.00R ;
068/013.00R |
International
Class: |
D06F 37/00 20060101
D06F037/00; D06F 35/00 20060101 D06F035/00 |
Claims
1. An automatic washing machine comprising: an imperforate tub
defining a recess; a perforated basket positioned within the recess
and defining a wash chamber; a clothes mover positioned within the
wash chamber and comprising: an impeller mounted for rotational
movement within the wash chamber and having multiple vanes
configured to impart a toroidal movement of clothing articles in
the wash chamber during a deep fill wash cycle and an inverse
toroidal movement of clothing articles in the wash chamber during a
low fill wash cycle; and an auger mounted to the impeller for
rotational movement within the wash chamber to enhance the toroidal
movement of the clothing articles in the wash chamber during a deep
fill wash cycle.
2. The automatic washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the
auger is mounted to the impeller such that at least a portion of
the auger lies above the liquid level in the wash chamber during a
low fill wash cycle.
3. The automatic washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the
auger comprises a helical vane and at least a portion of the
helical vane lies above the liquid level in the wash chamber during
a low fill wash cycle.
4. The automatic washing machine according to claim 3, wherein the
helical vane is oriented to drive clothing articles that come into
contact with the helical vane downwardly toward the impeller.
5. The automatic washing machine according to claim 4, wherein the
auger is mounted to the impeller such that the auger rotates only
in the direction to drive the clothing articles that come into
contact with the helical vane downwardly toward the impeller.
6. The automatic washing machine according to claim 5, and further
comprising a water inlet for introducing water into the wash
chamber to a predetermined fill level.
7. The automatic washing machine according to claim 6, wherein the
predetermined fill level is one of a deep fill and a low fill.
8. The automatic washing machine according to claim 7, wherein for
a deep fill the impeller is completely submerged in the water and
the auger is at least partially submerged in the water.
9. The automatic washing machine according to claim 7, wherein for
a low fill the impeller is at least partially submerged.
10. The automatic washing machine according to claim 7, wherein for
a low fill the impeller is not submerged.
11. The automatic washing machine according to claim 9, wherein the
auger comprises a helical vane and at least a portion of the
helical vane is above the water.
12. The automatic washing machine according to claim 7, and further
comprising a solenoid actuated valve fluidly coupled to the water
inlet to control the flow of water through the water inlet.
13. The automatic washing machine according to claim 12, and
further comprising a controller operably coupled to the solenoid
actuated valve to control the operation of the solenoid actuated
valve.
14. The automatic washing machine according to claim 13, and
further comprising a user interface operably coupled to the
controller and the controller storing at least a deep fill and a
low fill wash cycle, either of which can be selected by a user
through the user interface.
15. The automatic washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the
auger comprises at least one vane.
16. The automatic washing machine according to claim 1, and further
comprising a controller for selectively controlling the operation
of the washing machine between at least one of a deep fill wash
cycle and a low fill cycle.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to automatic washing machines
and more specifically to an automatic washing machine with a
clothes mover comprising an impeller and auger wherein the washing
machine can have a toroidal or an inverse toroidal washing
motion.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Automatic washing machines are commonly used appliances for
cleaning loads of clothing articles using a user-inputted
programmed wash cycle and combinations of water and detergent
solutions. Automatic washing machines can generally be categorized
as horizontal axis machines or vertical axis machines. Horizontal
axis machines are sometimes referred to as "front loaders" and
comprise a perforated basket located within an imperforate tub,
with the basket rotating about a generally horizontal axis,
although the axis can be canted relative to the horizontal, and the
agitation of the clothes is accomplished primarily by the tumbling
of the clothes in the basket as the basket rotates.
[0005] A typical vertical axis automatic washing machine comprises
a perforated basket disposed inside an imperforate wash tub, with
the basket rotating about a generally vertical axis, although the
axis can be canted relative to the vertical. A clothes mover for
imparting movement to the clothing articles and water inside the
basket is mounted within the basket and is mechanically coupled to
a motor assembly for rotation about a generally vertical axis.
Agitation of the clothes is accomplished primarily by the clothes
mover.
[0006] It is understood that the term "water" can be replaced by
"wash fluid" or other fluid not comprising of water.
[0007] During use, a load of clothing is placed into the basket
along with a detergent solution, and a user selects a wash cycle
from an interface on the washing machine based on variables such as
load size, water temperature, and wash cycle length. During the
wash cycle, clothing is agitated in the basket to improve the
removal of dirt.
[0008] Clothes movers for imparting mechanical energy to the water
and clothing articles inside a vertical axis automatic washing
machine are known to be an impeller or an agitator. While the
impeller and agitator are similar, an impeller traditionally has a
low profile with vanes that extend toward the radial center,
whereas the agitator traditionally has a skirt from which extends a
vertical column extending substantially the height of the basket,
with vanes extending along the skirt and up the column. In some
applications, the agitator can be in combination with an auger. The
auger may also have one or more vanes traditionally in the form of
a helix to drive the clothes down. The auger is traditionally
mounted to the column by a one-way clutch such that the auger will
rotate only in one direction while the agitator can be rotationally
reciprocated to ensure the auger only drives the clothes
downwardly.
[0009] Preprogrammed wash cycles are used to improve the
performance of washing machines by controlling, among other
variables, the fill level of water, the water temperature and the
wash cycle time length, thereby tailoring the wash cycle to the
load being washed. Deep fill wash cycles have typically been used,
wherein water is filled to near the top of the wash basket during
the wash cycle. In a deep fill wash cycle, the movement of the
clothes mover causes the clothing to move in a well-known rollover
pattern. This pattern is referred to as a toroidal rollover pattern
wherein clothing articles move radially inwardly along the top of
the basket, downwardly along the center of the basket, radially
outwardly along the bottom of the basket, and upwardly along the
side wall of the basket. Deep fill washes are known to be gentler
on articles of clothing in that the clothes are suspended in water
reducing contact with the clothes mover and basket walls. However,
a deep fill cycle uses more water resources than a low fill
cycle.
[0010] Low fill wash cycles have been used to improve the energy
efficiency and reduce water usage of washing loads of clothing.
These wash cycles tend to use only as much water as needed to
saturate the clothing inside the wash basket and thus clothing is
not suspended in water as with a deep fill wash cycle. However,
without the deep fill, the clothes are not suspended in the water
and tend to stay closer to the clothes mover, which increases the
contact between clothing articles and clothes mover, which can
cause increased wear on clothing.
[0011] A phenomenon has been observed with certain low fill wash
cycles. During a low fill wash cycle where clothes movement is
imparted by an impeller, an inverse toroidal rollover pattern
occurs where the clothes moves inwardly along the impeller,
upwardly in the center of the wash basket, radially outwardly along
the top of the wash basket, and downwardly along the side wall of
the wash basket in a repeating pattern. This phenomenon is
discussed more fully in U.S. Pat. No. 6,212,722, held by the
assignees of the invention, whose description is incorporated by
reference.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] An automatic washing machine according to the present
invention comprises a wash tub defining a recess into which is
positioned a perforated basket defining a wash chamber for washing
a load of clothing articles. A clothes mover is positioned within
the wash chamber and comprises an impeller and an auger. The
impeller is mounted near the bottom of the wash chamber such that
it may rotate within the wash chamber. The impeller has multiple
vanes that imparts a toroidal movement of the clothing in the wash
chamber during a deep fill wash cycle and alternately imparts an
inverse toroidal movement of the clothing in the wash chamber
during a low fill wash cycle. The auger is mounted to the impeller
such that it may rotate within the wash chamber to enhance the
toroidal movement of clothing articles in the wash chamber during a
deep fill wash cycle.
[0013] The auger can be mounted to the impeller such that at least
a portion of the auger lies above the liquid level in the wash
chamber during a low fill wash cycle. The auger can also have a
helical vane such that at least a portion of the vane lies above
the liquid level in the wash chamber during a low fill wash cycle.
The helical vane can be oriented so that it drives clothing
articles that come into contact with it downwardly toward the
impeller. This can be accomplished be mounting the auger to the
impeller such that the auger rotates in one direction only.
[0014] The washing machine can further comprise a water inlet for
introducing water into the wash chamber to a predetermined fill
level, wherein the fill level for a wash cycle can be a low fill or
a deep fill. For a deep fill level wash cycle, the impeller can be
completely submerged in the water and the auger can be at least
partially submerged. For a low fill level wash cycle, the impeller
may be above the wash fluid level, partially submerged, or
completely submerged. For a low fill level wash cycle wherein the
impeller is at least partially submerged, the auger can have
helical vanes positioned such that at least a portion of the
helical vanes are above the water level.
[0015] A solenoid valve fluidly coupled to the water inlet can be
used in the automatic washing machine to control the flow of water
through the water inlet. The automatic washing machine can further
comprise a controller operably coupled to the solenoid actuated
valve to control the operation of the solenoid actuated valve. A
user interface can be operably coupled to the controller which
stores information for a low fill and a deep fill wash cycle,
either of which can be selected by a user through the user
interface. The low fill and deep fill washing process may be parts
of a single wash cycle or they may be employed on different wash
cycles.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] In the drawings:
[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an automatic washing machine
according to the present invention that is partially cut away to
show interior components.
[0018] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an impeller and auger
clothes mover arrangement according to the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of the automatic
washing machine according to the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of an automatic washing
machine in accordance with the present invention, illustrating a
low-fill wash cycle with an inverse toroidal washing motion.
[0021] FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of an automatic washing
machine in accordance with the present invention, illustrating a
deep-fill wash cycle with a toroidal washing motion.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0022] In general the term "impeller" refers to a clothes mover
comprising a relatively flat plate with fixed vanes. These vanes
can vary in thickness. These vanes are attached along the base of
the vane to the plate. The vanes do not flex away from the base of
the plate. The vanes may be radial in nature or they may curve. The
vanes may also form different geometric shapes. In a traditional
deep fill wash process the vanes are designed to pump water away
from the center of a wash basket at the bottom of the basket. This
pumps water through the garments. When a strong water current is
created, the garments tend to move with the water current. When
employing the wash process discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,212,722,
the impeller can be used to move the garments independent of the
fluid motion.
[0023] The impeller may consist of a moveable center hub or small
impellers located on the plate. The impeller may have protrusions
or channels to pump water when the impeller rotates. Sometimes the
impeller can have a center shaft that may have an auger-like
feature. In this case the auger is either fixed to the plate and
thus will have no independent motion from the plate, or it is
free-floating and will oscillate in both directions. Impellers are
alternately referred to as pulsator, dolly, agipeller, infuser and
wash plate. The impeller can also be referred to as an agitator
since the impeller "oscillates" and "shakes/moves briskly" the
clothes and water.
[0024] In general the term "agitator" refers to a clothes mover
comprising a plate with radial vanes and a center hub that
protrudes above the water line. The vanes tend to be thinner,
taller, and have more surface area than the vanes on an impeller.
The vanes tend to be partially detached from the base plate on the
outer part of the vane. Some vanes are completely detached from the
base plate. The vanes are generally attached to the center hub. The
vanes may also be flexible and can bend away from the base plate.
The vanes are designed to pump garments and water radially outward
along the base plate. If the agitator has an augering mechanism,
the auger pushes garments down the center of the basket. This
improves load motion. Some agitators have a fixed vane center shaft
or may have a fixed or an undriven auger. Sometimes the agitator
may have fixed or flexible vanes on the center shaft in place of an
auger drive. These agitators may redistribute the load but do not
generate strong toroidal motion. If an agitator has an auger, the
auger is usually driven in one direction. The auger is usually
designed to push the garments down the center of the basket.
[0025] Referring now to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1,
there is shown an automatic washing machine 10 of the present
invention. The washing machine 10 has an exterior cabinet 12 with a
top panel 14 and an openable lid 16 for access to the interior of
the washing machine 10. A user interface 18 has multiple controls
20, which a user can select to operate the washing machine 10
through the steps of a wash cycle. The lid 16 provides access to
the interior of the washing machine 10 which includes a perforated
wash basket 22 positioned within an imperforate wash tub 24. A
clothes mover 26 is located in the wash basket 22 to impart
mechanical agitation to a load of clothing articles placed in the
wash basket 22 and extends upwardly from the bottom of the wash
basket 22 to a height substantially equal to the wash basket 22.
The wash tub 24 and wash basket 22 are supported within the washer
by conventional means. An electric motor 44 is coupled to the
clothes mover 26 and is located beneath the wash tub 24.
[0026] Referring to FIG. 2, the clothes mover 26 comprises an
impeller 28 having a base 30 and a plurality of radially extending
vanes 32, and a collar 34 extending vertically from the impeller
28. The impeller 28 is mounted to the electric motor 44 such that
the impeller 28 is driven in a reciprocating oscillatory movement.
Disposed on the collar 34 is an auger 36 having at least one vane
38, shown here as a helical vane that runs along the length of the
auger 36. The auger 36 is coupled by a one-way clutch so that the
auger 36 only rotates in one direction while the impeller 28
oscillates back and forth. The helical vane 38 is shaped such that
it drives clothing articles down when the auger is rotated.
[0027] Referring to FIG. 3, a schematic illustration is included to
show the interior of the automatic washing machine in greater
detail. The clothes mover 26 is mounted to a drive shaft 42, which
is connected to the electric motor 44. The motor 44 operates to
drive the wash basket 22 in a rotary movement and also to drive the
impeller 28 in a reciprocating oscillatory movement in accordance
with a programmed wash cycle chosen by the user. The auger 36 is
mounted to the impeller via a clutch mechanism that is conventional
in the art and that allows the auger 36 to continuously rotate even
as the impeller 28 oscillates back and forth. A water inlet 50 is
connected to a water source and dispenses water into the wash
basket 22 and wash tub 24 when a solenoid actuated valve 48 is
opened.
[0028] A controller 46 stores information for a low fill wash cycle
and a deep fill wash cycle and has a user interface 18 including
controls 20 that allow a user to selectively choose a desired wash
cycle. The controller 46 is operably coupled to the motor 44 to
control the output to the shaft 42 driving the wash basket 22 and
the impeller 28. The controller 46 is also coupled to the valve 48
to dispense water into the wash basket 22 and wash tub 24 through
water inlet 50.
[0029] To operate the washing machine 10, a user places a load of
clothing in the wash basket 22 along with any detergent or cleaning
aids. The user then selects a preprogrammed wash cycle from the
user interface 18 using the controls 20. This wash cycle can be a
low fill wash cycle or a deep fill wash cycle, depending on the
preference of the user. The controller 46 will operate the solenoid
actuated valve 48 to allow water through the water inlet 50 and the
motor 44 to drive the wash tub 24 and the clothes mover 26 in
accordance with the user-selected wash cycle.
[0030] The vanes 32 perform different functions depending on the
fill level of water during a wash cycle. A wash cycle may consist
of more than one fill stop and may include both low and deep fills.
A low fill wash cycle has at least one low fill step during which
clothing is moved by a clothes mover in an inverse-toroidal
rollover pattern. A deep fill wash cycle has at least one deep fill
step during which clothing is moved by a clothes mover in a
toroidal rollover pattern.
[0031] For a low fill level wash cycle illustrated in FIG. 4, the
vanes 32 will be in more physical contact with clothing articles
and thus will help to drag clothing with the impeller 28 as it
oscillates back and forth, such that clothing articles in contact
with the impeller 28 move in an arc-like path while clothing or
parts of clothing outside the periphery of the impeller 28 are
impeded. This causes the inverse toroidal pattern previously
described, wherein clothing moves inwardly along the impeller 28,
upwardly in the center of the wash basket, radially outwardly along
the top of the wash basket, and downwardly along the side wall of
the wash basket. During such a low fill wash cycle, the impeller 28
can be at least partially submerged in water and the auger 36 will
be mostly out of the water. Thus the auger 36 may still rotate, but
the auger will not influence the washing of the clothes load. The
low fill wash cycle is defined by the use of the impeller to move
the clothes in an inverse toroidal method. The actual water level
in the wash basket may be below the level of the impeller,
partially submerging the impeller, or fully submerging the
impeller. The water level may be high enough to partially submerge
the auger. However the auger is not effective in pushing the load
down the center of the basket. Any downward momentum applied by the
auger is overcome by the upward momentum on the clothes load.
[0032] For a deep fill level wash cycle illustrated in FIG. 5, the
clothing articles will be suspended in water and the vanes 32 will
be more in contact with the water and thus will function more as a
source for fluidic motion and will not impart as great of a drag
force on clothing articles. The clothing articles may be in
physical contact with the vanes for part of the impeller stroke.
However the impeller applies enough fluid pumping action to
overcome any significant drag forces on the clothing articles. Thus
it is possible to use the same fluid level for both the low fill
cycle and the deep fill cycle. If the impeller velocity is
increased (or the angle of motion is increased), the fluidic
pumping forces will overcome any dragging forces and the clothing
articles will travel in the direction of the fluid. Because of its
placement above the impeller 28, the auger 36 will only aid in
washing clothes during a deep fill wash cycle wherein the fill
level is deep enough such that the impeller 28 is completely
submerged and the auger 36 will be at least partially submerged.
The curve of the helical vane 38 corresponds to the direction of
rotation of the auger 36 such that as the auger 36 rotates, the
vanes will urge clothing articles downward along the auger 36
toward the bottom of the wash basket 22, thus aiding in
establishing the toroidal pattern wherein clothing moves radially
inwardly along the top of the basket, downwardly along the center
of the basket, radially outwardly along the bottom of the basket,
and upwardly along the side wall of the basket.
[0033] While the invention has been specifically described in
connection with certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be
understood that this is by way of illustration and not of
limitation, and the scope of the appended claims should be
construed as broadly as the prior art will permit.
* * * * *