Washing Machine Outlet Device

Abstract

A washing machine outlet device comprising a box having a water level actuated switch mounted in a trough adjacent the drain, said switch being arranged to break the electrical circuit to the washing machine when the drain is obstructed.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Utility outlet boxes have been devised heretofore for mounting in a wall to facilitate connection of hot and cold water pipes and a drain pipe to clothes washing machines.

Washing machines generally have solenoid actuated valves mounted in hot and cold water lines to control delivery of water to the washing machine. An electric pump is generally provided for discharging waste water from the washing machine to a drain.

Waste water from washing machines is generally laden with fibrous materials which accumulate in drains, obstructing flow of waste water therethrough.

Heretofore, when a drain became obstructed the pump discharging water from the washing machine continued to operate for a predetermined period of time controlled by a timer on the washing machine. The waste water, pumped into the washing machine outlet box, thus overflowed down the wall and onto the floor, often causing serious damage.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

I have devised an improved washing machine outlet device, having a trough formed in the bottom of an outlet box, arranged to receive waste water overflowing from an obstructed drain pipe. A liquid level sensing device is positioned in the trough to open a switch when water accumulates to a predetermined level in the trough.

The switch is connected to a conventional electrical outlet and is connected to a socket into which the electrical supply cord of the washing machine is plugged. Thus, the washing machine operates in conventional manner until the drain line becomes obstructed at which time the liquid level sensing device opens the switch thus de-energizing the washing machine pump to prevent further discharge of water to the drain.

The liquid level sensing apparatus preferably comprises a float mounted to actuate a switch or electrodes arranged to energize a current responsive switching device, such as a relay, when liquid rises in the trough.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a washing machine outlet device arranged to sense obstruction of a drain and to automatically de-energize a pump deliverying waste water to the drain when the drain is obstructed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a washing machine outlet device having a float actuated switch mounted therein such that the switch is maintained in a closed condition, forming a conductive path from a source of electricity to electrical conductors leading to the washing machine until liquid delivered to the drain opening elevates the float causing the switch to open, breaking the circuit to the washing machine.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent upon referring to the detailed description hereinafter following and to the drawings annexed hereto.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

Drawings of a preferred embodiment of my invention are annexed hereto so that the invention may be better and more fully understood, in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view of the front of the device, parts being broken away to more clearly illustrate details of construction;

FIG. II is a diagrammatic view of a first form of the electrical circuit; and

FIG. III is a diagrammatic view of a second form of the electrical circuit.

Numeral references are employed to designate like parts throughout the various figures of the drawing.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. I of the drawing, the numeral 1 generally designates a washing machine outlet box having a trough 2 secured thereto supporting switching apparatus 4.

Outlet box 1 preferably comprises a backwall 6 and sidewalls 8 and 10 formed of a continuous sheet of material.

Top 12 preferably has downwardly extending lips 14 which are secured to the upper edges of backwall 6 and sidewalls 8 and 10 by any suitable means such as spot welding, bonding with adhesive, or riveting.

Sidewalls 8 and 10 and top 12 of outlet box 1 preferably have knockout plugs 16 formed therein which can be removed to form passages 18 to receive a hot water pipe 20 and a cold water pipe 22. Faucets 21 and 23 are secured to pipes 20 and 22, respectively.

Outlet box 1 has suitable connector means, such as outwardly extending lugs 24 and 26 secured to sides 8 and 10 thereof for connection with nails, screws and the like, to a wall structure. Lugs 24 and 26 are preferably positioned for connection to the wall studs and are spaced from front edges 8a and 10a of sides 8 and 10 of the outlet box a distance sufficient to permit attaching sheetrock or other suitable wall paneling material over lugs 24 and 26.

Trough 2 preferably comprises a front wall 30, backwall 32, sidewalls 34 and 36, and a bottomwall 38. Suitable fasteners, such as rivets 28, connect trough 2 to the outlet box 1.

Trough 2 is preferably a molded plastic material such as polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene or the like formed as an integral unit having no seams or joints through which leakage can occur.

The bottom 38 of trough 2 preferably has a downwardly extending sleeve 40 secured thereto through which a passage 42 extends. Tapered ribs 44 are secured to the bottom wall 38 and to sleeve 40 providing structural rigidity to the bottom of trough 2.

The lower end of sleeve 40 is preferably positioned in engagement with a tubular coupling 46 positioned about the upper end of a drain pipe 48.

A tube 50, having an overflow passage 52 and drain passages 54, has a lower end 50a which extends into passage 42 through sleeve 40.

The drain hose H of a washing machine (not shown) has a splash guard G secured thereto and the end of hose H' extends into passage 50c adjacent the upper end 50b of tube 50. The guard G extends about overflow passage 52 such that waste water flowing through overflow passage 52 is deflected downwardly toward the bottom 38 of the box when drain pipe 48 becomes obstructed.

It should be noted that the end H' of hose H extends below the level of overflow opening 52 formed in tube 50 preventing flow of water through overflow passage 52 unless drain pipe 48 is clogged or partially obstructed.

Drain passages 54 are preferably drilled at an angle of for example 45.degree. and are inclined downwardly toward the lower end 50a of tubular member 50 permitting flow of waste water downwardly through the central passage 50c through the tubular member 50 under normal operating conditions while preventing leakage of water through drain passages 54. However, if drain pipe 48 is partially clogged, water can flow through overflow passage 52 into the trough 2 and then drain back into the passage 50c through drain passages 54 as water flows through drain passage 48.

Switching apparatus 4 preferably comprises a housing 60 having a microswitch 62 mounted therein.

An electrical service cord 64, having conductors 66, 68, and 70 extending therethrough, is connectable by a plug 65 to a conventional electrical wall outlet or other suitable source of electricity (not shown).

Conductor 66 is connected by a conductor 66a to a pole 62a of switch 62 which is biased to a normally closed position in engagement with contact 62b as best illustrated in FIG. II by the weight of float 76. Contact 62b is connected by conductor 66b to a socket 72.

Conductor 68 is connected by a conductor 68a to socket 72 while the ground conductor 70 is connected by a conductor 70a to the socket 72.

A spring 62c urges pole 62a away from contact 62b when the weight of float 76 is removed.

A conventional washing machine electrical supply cord 74, having a plug 75 on the end thereof, is connectable through socket 72 with conductors 66b, 68a, and 70a.

The pole 62a of switch 62 has a lever 62d connected thereto from which a float 76 is suspended by a suitable connector such as cord 78.

Switch housing 60 is secured by suitable connector means such as clip 80, having a forked lower end comprising legs 82 and 84 spring urged together to grippingly engage front wall 30 of trough 2.

A modified form of the electrical circuit is illustrated in FIG. III wherein conductors 66' and 68', connectable to a suitable source of electricity (not shown), are connected to opposite sides of primary coil 80 of transformer 81.

One end of the secondary coil 82 of transformer 81 is connected through a conductor 84 to a coil 86a of a solenoid actuated relay 86. Coil 86a is connected through a conductor 88 to an electrode 90 which extends into trough 2'.

The other end of the secondary winding 82 of transformer 81 is connected through a conductor 92 to an electrode 94 positioned in trough 2.

The voltage across the secondary winding 82 of transformer 81 is preferably low voltage, for example, 12 volts to eliminate any danger of electrical shock.

One end of conductor 96 is connected to conductor 66' and the other end is connected to the terminal of the pump P which discharges waste water from the washing machine (not shown). Conductor 98 has one end connected to the conductor 68' and the other end connected to contact 86b of relay 86. Pole 86c of relay 86 is connected through a conductor 100 to pump P.

It should be readily apparent that as water engages electrodes 90 and 94 an electrical circuit is completed therebetween energizing coil 86a of relay 86 moving pole 86c out of engagement with contact 86b thereby breaking the circuit to the pump P. If it is deemed expedient to do so, electrode 90 can be connected to ground such that a circuit is completed when water engages electrode 94.

OPERATION

The operation function of the hereinbefore described is as follows:

Under normal operating conditions switch 62 will be closed completing an electrical circuit from service cord 64 through switch 62 to supply cord 74 causing the washing machine to function in a conventional manner.

However, if the drain passage 48' through drain pipe 48 becomes obstructed or partially obstructed, waste water will back-up through overflow passage 52 through the wall of tube 50 causing the level of water to rise in trough 2 to a point where it encounters float 76, thus relieving the weight of the float on the lever 62d. When the weight on lever 62d is relieved spring 62c urges pole 62a away from contact 62b thereby breaking the power circuit and disconnecting the power supply to the washing machine, causing the washing machine to immediately stop thereby discontinuing the ejection of waste water therefrom.

In the event the passage through drain pipe 48 is only partially clogged, the water will gradually drain off through downwardly inclined drain passages 54 until the level of the water is lowered below float 76 thereby again causing pole 62a of microswitch 62 to move into engagement with contact 62b to allow the washing machine to start.

If the drain is only partially clogged, the above described cycle will continue until the washing machine has completed its cycle. If the drain is completely stopped up the washing machine will not be turned back on until the obstruction has been removed.

From the foregoing it should be readily apparent that the switching apparatus hereinbefore described prevents overflow of waste water onto the floor if the passage through drain pipe 48 becomes obstructed.

It should also be appreciated that the trough 2 and switching apparatus 4 can be installed in existing washing machine outlet boxes by merely removing the bottom therefrom and securing trough 2 to the sides thereof by suitable means such as rivets 28. It should further be appreciated that if space permits, trough 2 may be positioned inside a conventional washing machine outlet box.

While a preferred embodiment of my invention has been specifically described and illustrated, it should be readily apparent that other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basis concept thereof.

Claims

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A washing machine outlet device comprising: an outlet box; spaced sides on said outlet box; a back on said outlet box; means to secure said outlet box to a wall; a trough having a bottom, an upwardly extending frontwall, an upwardly extending backwall, and upwardly extending sidewalls, said bottom having a passage formed therein; means securing sidewalls of said trough to said sides of said outlet box; a tube having a drain opening extending therethrough and having an overflow passage; means securing said tube through said passage in the bottom of the trough such that said overflow passage is positioned in said trough and the lower end of the tube extends below said bottom of the trough; liquid level sensing means in said trough; switch means connected to said sensing means; a socket connected to one side of said switch means to receive a plug on a washing machine electrical cord; and conductor means connected to the other side of said switch means, said conductor means being connectable to a source of electricity.

2. The combination called for in claim 1 wherein said tube has drain passages formed through the wall thereof, said drain passages being inclined downwardly toward the lower end of said tube.

3. The combination called for in claim 1 with the addition of a splash guard about said overflow passage.

4. The combination called for in claim 1 wherein said liquid level sensing means comprises: a float; and means to connect said float to said switch means arranged such that accumulation of liquid in said trough moves said float to a position wherein the switch is opened.

5. The combination called for in claim 1 wherein said liquid level sensing means comprises: an electrode positioned in the trough; a source of electricity connected to said electrode; and wherein said switching means comprises current responsive switching means connected to said electrode.

6. The combination called for in claim 5 wherein said current responsive switching means comprises a solenoid actuated relay.