US2961860A - Laundry machine - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 29, 1960 Filed Nov. 14, 1958 M. F. METZGER LAUNDRY MACHINE 4 sheets-'met 1 MATT F'. METZGER "Y mrow H l 5 ATTORNEY 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 M. F. METZGER LAUNDRY MACHINE Nov. 29, 1960 Filed Nov. 14, 1958 INVENTOR.

MATT F'. METZCJER Y w www HIS ATTORNEY Nov. 29, 1960 M. F. METZGER l 2,961,860

LAUNDRY 'MACHINE Filed Nov. 14, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 NVENTOR.

Y MATT F'. METZGER BY www H IS ATTORNEY NN DRAlN Nov. 29, 1960 M. F. ME'rzGER LAUNDRY MACHINE Filed Nov. 14. 19.58

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 SSa s DRAlN WASH IMSI SPIN DRV INVENTOR.

MATT rr. METZGER BYQJWW H IS ATTORNEY United States Patent() LAUNDRY MACHINE Filed Nov. 14, 1958, Ser. No. 773,941

3 Claims. (Cl. 68-12) This invention relates to laundry machines of the type `which provide a washing operation including a rinsing step, and more particularly to such machines wherein the rinsing step is improved by shortening its time period without any substantial adverse result on the effectiveness of the step.

Domestic clothes washing machines generally wash the clothes by providing, first, a period of washing the clothes with a suitable cleansing liquid, second, removal of the liquid by draining or centrifugal extraction, third, one or more rinsing steps to elect complete removal of the cleansing liquid from the clothes, and fourth, another centrifugal extraction operation to remove the rinse water; in the type of machine known as combination washer-dryers, this complete washing operation may then be followed automatically by a heat drying operation.

In many machines, the rinsing operation is one which takes up a relatively substantial portion of the time required by the entire cycle. This is particularly true in machines of the horizontal axis type which, as opposed to vertical axis type machines, are constructedA to provide only a relatively shallow water level within the clothes container so that the clothes pass into and through the water but are not continually immersed in a substantial amount of water as in many vertical axis machines. Because of this difference, horizontal axis machines have, in the past, generally had several distinct rinsing steps provided; the general pattern has been to provide water to the usual level, tumble the clothes for a period, then drain the water out completely, and repeat the operation as many times as necessary.

It has now been experimentally ascertained that the main factor in removal of the cleansing liquid from the clothes is the amount of water in which the clothes are immersed rather than the extent of time that the clothes are tumbled in the water. In other words, a lling and emptying of the clothes basket, as it tumbles, without any pause between them effects substantially the same results as filling the clothes basket, tumbling the clothes in the rinse water, and then emptying. It is, however, important where such an approach is used that a suitable number of fillings and drainings be provided so that the clothes are in contact with a suiiicient volume of water to effect substantially complete removal of the cleansing liquid. It thus becomes important that the number of fillings and drainings be kept constant regardless of variations in the Water input rate, and consequently in the time required to fill the machine to its maximum liquid level.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide an improved rinsing step which decreases substantially the time required for the rinsing operation, particularly in horizontal axis type washing machines, without impairing the thoroughness of removal of the cleansing liquid.

A further object of the invention is to achieve the improved rinsing step by providing a predetermined number f fillings and drainings of the clothes container.V

A further object of the invention is to achieve this goal by providing a suitable interaction between water level responsive means in the machine and the sequence control means controlling the complete operation of the inachine, so that the sequence controller terminates the rinse step after a predetermined number of fillings and drainings as sensed by the water level means regardless of variations in the length of time required to fill the basket each time as a result of variations in the inlet water pressure.

In carrying out the invention in one form thereof, I provide a washing machine wherein sequence control means, operated by a timer motor, provide a washing sequence which includes a rinsing step. A suitable clothes container is provided with electrically controlled water supply means connecting with the container to introduce water to it and electrically controlled drain means to effect the removal of the water from it.V Means responsive to the liquid level in the container is provided in controlling relationship to switch means which in turn, during the rinsing step, controls the water supply means, the drain means, and a first energizing circuit for'the timer motor. At a predetermined l-ow level the level responsive means causes the water supply means to operate, causes the drain means to become inoperative, and opens the first timer motor circuit. At a predetermined. high level, the water supply means is made inoperative,

the drain means is made to operate, and the iirst timer motor circuit is completed.

The timer motor can also be energized through a second energizing circuit controlled by switch means operated by the timer motor. The second circuit is completed subsequent to completion of the first circuit but before the first circuit opens so that opening of the first circuit does not stop the timer motor. The timer motor causes the second circuit to be opened a predetermined time after it closes, with the time being selected so that it is subsequent to opening of and before closing of the first circuit. In other words, the de-energization of the timer motor is dependent upon the second circuit only, with the energization of the timer motor being dependent upon the level responsive means only. By doing this, there is no timing function conducted While the water supply means is bringing the liquid level up to its predetermined high level, i.e., they timer motor stops after a brief period of water introduction, but the water oontinues to be supplied until the high level is reached regardless of the length of time actually taken. The sequence contro-l means is set to terminate the rinsing step after a predetermined length of operation of the timer motor, and thus the number of filling and draining steps can be maintained constant regardless of the actual time for the water supply means to bring the liquid level up to the predetermined maximum.

The subject matter which forms this invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of this specification. The invention, itself, however, both as to organization and method of operation together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood by reference to the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a rear elevational view of a combination washer dryer of the type which may incorporate my invention, with the rear panel removed and with certain surfaces broken away to illustrate details.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the machine, partly in section and with certain surfaces broken away to show details;

Fig. 3 is another side elevational view of the machine, partly in section and with certain surfaces broken away;

Fig. 4 is a schematic electrical wiring diagram illustrating a control system for the machine which embodies my invention in one form thereof;

Fig. 5 is a sequence control cam chart illustrating the sequence of operation of the schematically shown switches of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a development of the surface of one of the cams of Fig. 4.

HReferring now to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, I have shown my invention in one form as applied to a domestic cornbination clothes washer-dryer where the operating elements of the machine are included within an outer cabinet structure which includes a central wrap-around section 1. Section 1 is supported on a base and toe board assembly 2. and carries a separate top 3 on which is supported a backsplash panel 4 which may, as shown, be mounted on posts 5. The control panel 4 is provided with appropriate controls on the front thereof which are more fully referred to in connection with Fig. 4. Access to the interior of the machine is provided by a door 6 formed in section 1, mounted on concealed hinges and which may be opened and closed by any suitable means (not shown).

The machine illustrated is of the horizontal axis type, that is, it has a substantially cylindrical clothes basket or receptacle 7 mounted for rotation on a generally horizontal axis within an outer enclosing tub structure 8. Basket 7 comprises a cylindrical shell or wall 9 which is closed at its rear end by a suitable wall or plate 10. The basket also includes a front wall 11 which is formed so as to dene an access or loading opening 12 in registry with an opening 13 in wrap-around section 1 provided for door 6. The basket is rotatably supported by a shaft 14 which is mounted in an elongated bearing 15 supported from rear wall 16 of tub 8. The tub is also provided with an opening 17 aligned with opening 13 and opening 12 so that clothes may be placed into and removed from the basket when door 6 is open. The door seals against a suitable gasket 18 during operation of the machine.

Referring particularly to Fig. l, during the operation of the machine the basket 7 is driven from an electric motor 19. The drive from the motor to the basket includes a pulley 20 which is secured to the motor shaft so as to rotate therewith, and over which passes a belt 21. Belt 21 drives an adjustable sheave assembly 22 of the type which is well known for use in achieving variable output speeds from a constant input speed source. The adjustable sheave assembly in turn operates belt 23 to cause rotation of pulleys 24 and 25. The rotation of pulley 25 is passed on to a pulley 26 which is rigidly secured on basket shaft 14, through belt 27. In this manner, the motor 19 may be driven at a constant speed and, through the adjustable sheave assembly 22, the speed imparted to pulley 26 and basket 7 may be varied so as to provide an appropriate range of speeds for the basket. For instance, for tumbling purposes during the cleansing and rinsing operation, and also during the heat drying operation, a speed of approximately 47 r.p.m. may be provided to the basket 7, and a centrifuging speed of several hundred r.p.rn. may be provided to the basket for effecting centrifugal extraction of liquid from the clothes prior to a heat drying operation or removal of clothes from the container.

The operation of the variable speed drive briey described above does not form any part of Vthe present invention, and is set forth merely to provide a substantially complete description of an operative machine. A complete detailed description of such a drive is provided, for instance, in application Serial Number 731,362, filed on April 28, 1958, by John Bochan, and 'assigned to the General Electric Company, assignee of the present invention. i

To heat the clothes during the heat drying portion ofthe cycle, there is provided in the machine a suitable heater assembly including two heaters 28 and 29. When the heaters are energized during the drying cycle, they operate to heat the basket 10 which through its rotation then contacts the clothes to transfer its heat to the clothes. In addition, since the outer cylindrical wall of the basket is perforated by a great many small spaced openings 30, the heating elements also heat the clothes directly by radiation. The heat thus transferred through the clothes causes vapor migration out of the clothes so as to effect drying thereof.

The means whereby water is admitted to and discharged from tub 1l) during operation of the machine is particularly shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The water supply means includes connections 31 and 32 through which hot and cold water is supplied to the machine for the washing operation. A valve controlled by a solenoid 33 admits hot water to the machine and a valve controlled by an opposed solenoid 34 admits cold water to the machine. The hot and cold water valves under the control of the solenoids 33 and 34 discharge through a common outlet conduit 35, through a suitable air gap, and into a funnel 36 which leads to a sump 37 formed at the bottom of tub 8. The connection is made through a suitable conduit 33 which connect the funnel 36 to the sump 37. The air gap provided by the funnel 36 makes it impossible for the water to be siphoned from the machine and to contaminate the incoming water supply line. A pressure actuated sensing device, or water level control, 39 controls both solenoids 33 and 34 as willV be explained below, to provide the proper water level in the machine during the washing operation. In addition, the water level control 39 provides additional important functions during the rinsing step of the operation as will also be more fully explained herebelow. Sensing device 39 is connected to the interior of tub 8 by a suitable line 40 which connects with the tub almost at the bottom thereof at 41 as shown.

The illustrated machine is of the type which uses cold water during the drying cycle for condensing the moisture extracted from the clothes. The condenser 'water is admitted to the machine through an additional solenoid actuated valve controlled by a solenoid 42 which is energized during the drying operation so that the valve passes water at a slow rate sumcient to condense from the air the moisture vaporized from the clothes. As shown, the condenser water valve discharges into a conduit 43. From this conduit the water flows through an appropriate air gap into a funnel 43a and conduit 43b to the inlet 44 of a vent trap 45 which is of the type commonly provided in connection with machines of this type in order to seal off the tub and basket from atmosphere during heat drying of the clothes while leaving the tub vented to atmosphere at other times. An appropriate construction for Vent trap 4S is, for instance, fully described and claimed in Patent 2,800,008, Raczynski, issued on July 23, 1957, and assigned to the General Electric Company, owner of the present invention. From the vent trap 45, the condenser water flows into the tub 8 through an opening 46 and then flows in a thin sheet down the lower left wall 47 of the tub so as to cool a substantial portion of the area of the side wall and provide a large cool surface for condensing the moisture extracted from the clothes.

The Wash and rinse water used during the washing portion of the operation, and the condenser water and the moisture extracted from the clothes during the heat drying operation, are discharged from the machine through the sump 37 mounted at lthe bottom of the tub. A suitable discharge hose 4S leads from the sump to a pump 49 which may, as shown in Fig. 3, be driven directly from motor 19 and which discharges through a conduit 50 to a drain valve 51 controlled by a solenoid 52. When solenoid 52 is energized it pulls down a lever member 53 pivoted at point 54 to close the valve 5l. When solenoid 52 is de-energized valve 51 is opened permitting the continually operating pump 49 to pass liquid through conduit 50 and valve 51 to drain conduit 55 Referring now to the schematic circuit diagram of Fig. 4, there is shown therein a control system for the machine of Figs. 1 and 2 which embodies the invention in a preferred form thereof. The electrical system of the machine is energized across a suitable source of power through conductors 56, 57, and 58. Generally, in commercial practice, 220` volts are impressed across conductors 56 and 58, with 110 volts appearing between each of them and the neutral conductor 57. In order to start operation of the machine, the door switch 59 and the main switch 60 of the machine which are both provided in connection with conductor 56 are closed. While the door switch is not physically shown in Figs. l and 2, it will be understood that the switch is closed when the door 6 is closed and is opened when the door is open. The main switch 60 normally is provided on backsplash panel 4 as shown. At this time, in the conventional machine, the operator may also elect whether to include the heat drying step in his operation. If no such step is desired, he moves the omit dry switch 61 to the open position; switch 61 is generally provided on the backsplash panel 4 (although not shown there) in proximity to switch 60.

Once the appropriate switches have been operated as just described, operation of the machine is then controlled by a sequence control arrangement whereby a plurality of cams A, B, C, D, E, F, and G are operated by a conventional timing motor 62 in accordance with the usual arrangement. Cams A through G are operated by impulse, with the motor 62 causing a forward impulse of the cams once every certain number of seconds, generally in the vicinity of 45 to 60 seconds. This may readily be achieved as shown, by driving cams H and K continuously from the timer motor 62. Cam member K is engaged by a follower 63 which is part of a member 64 carrying a ratchet 65 which engages a ratchet wheel 66 secured to cam F. It can be seen that as cams H and K are rotated in a counterclockwise direction by motor 62, follower 63 will move down and then up three times for each revolution. For each up and down movement it will be observed that the ratchet member 65 will push the ratchet wheel around thereby to provide a rotary impulse to cam F. Cams A, B, C, D, E, and G are secured to cam F so as to rotate therewith. Thus, in effect, cam H is rotated substantially continuously directly by the motor 62 while the other cams A through G are rotated by impulse in the conventional manner. While other means of obtaining substantially continuous operation of cam H may, of course, be provided, it is important to the invention that this relationship exist and the foregoing arrangement is a relatively simple construction for effecting the desired result.

Cams A through G control the positions of switch members 67 through 73 respectively. In the case of switch 72, control thereof by the cam F maintains the switch arm 72 out of engagement with contact 74 during the entire washing and drying operation with the eX- ception of the rinse step thereof. During the rinse step a suitable dwell is provided in cam F to provide for 4engagement of switch arm 72 with contact 74. During the dwell in cam F, cam H shares control of switch arm 72 with cam F. In other words, the continuous rotation of cam H at the time that camF permits engagement of arm 72 and contact 74 will cause cam H to move arm `72 out of engagement with contact 74 when the rises in cam H are effective and will permit engagement of arm 72 with contact 74 during the dwells in cam H. It will further be clear that during the portions of the wash- .ing operation other than the rinsing step, i.e., when cam F maintains arm 72 out of engagement with contact 74,

the rotation of cam H is ineffective to modify the position of arm 72. y

In the light of the foregoing, the operation of the machine of Figs. 1, 2, and 3 will be described by reference to Figs. 4 and 5 together. At the beginning of the operation, as shown by Fig. 5, contact arm 69 engages contact 75, contact arm 70 engages contact 76, and contact arm 71 engages contact 77. With these connections an energizing circuit for the main motor 19 is then completed as folows: Starting with conductor 56 and passing through switches 59 and 60, the circuit continues through conductor 78, contact 76, contact arm 70, conductor 79, motor 19, and neutral conductor 57. It will be noted that motor 19 includes a running winding and a start winding 81, with the running winding being connected directly to the line 57 while the start winding is conencted through a switch arm 82. As soon as the machine comes up to operating speed, switch arm 82 is moved by speed responsive device 83 to open the circuit of start winding 81 and to engage a pair of contacts 84 for a purpose which will be described hereafter.

At the same time that motor 19 is started,'a circuit is completed from the contact arm 70 through conductors 85 and 86, contact 77, Contact arm 71 and conductor 87 to the solenoid 52 to provide energization thereof. As previously described, energization of solenoid 52 closes the valve 51 and causes the continuous operation of pump 49 to be ineective to drain any liquid from tub 8.

A circuit is also completed from contact arm 70 and conductor 85 through a conductor 88 to a switch arm 89 which is controlled by water level responsive device 39 to assume the position shown, in engagement with contact 90, at a predetermined low level and to move over into engagement with contact 91 at a predetermined high level of liquid within tub 8. At the beginning of the cycle, since there is no liquid in the tub the switch arm 89 is, of course, in the position shown. In this position it completes a circuit through contact arm 69 and contact 75 to the hot water solenoid 33. The energizing circuit for the hot water solenoid is then completed through conductor 92, conductor 93, centrifugal switch arm S2 and conductor 94 back to neutral conductor 57. This,

then, effects energization of the hot water solenoid to permit hot water to flow through conduit 38 into sump '37 to start filling the tub 8. A manually operable warm operations, generally on the order of seven or eight inches (about six inches in the basket), pressure sensitive device 39 moves contact arm 89 over into engagement with contact 91. This de-energizes the water solenoids so that water ceases to be supplied to the tub. At the same time a circuit energizing timer motor 62 is established from contact 91 through conductors 92a, 93a, and 95a, the timer motor 62, and neutral conductor 57. The timer motor thus starts to operate, with the rotation of basket 7 providing a suitable washing and cleansing action.

It will be observed from Fig. 5 that the washing operation is intended to last for a suitable period which may, for instance, be twelve impulses of the timer after operation of the timer mechanism starts. On the eleventh impulse, i.e., shortly before the end of the washing operation, cam G causes contact arm 73 to engage contact 96 to complete the timer motor circuit back to conductor V56 independently of water level switch 89. This is done in anticipation of the fact that when the water is drained out it will be necessary for the sequence controller to continue in operation.

At the end of the wash operation, contact arm 69 disengages from contact 7S and contact arm 71 disengages from contact 77. The movement of contact arm 69 is without any immediate effect since the water solenoids were already de-energized by the water level switch. However7 the movement of Contact arm 71 de-energizes the valve solenoid 52 so that pump 49 proceeds to drain the tub. This action is permitted to continue for an appropriate time, such as two impulses, and the machine then proceeds into the rinse step which forms the focal point of this invention. After the first impulse of drain, cam F permits contact arm 72 to engage contact 74 to establish a circuit from timer motor 62 to conductors 95a and 93a, conductor 97, contact arm 72, contact 74", conductor 98 and conductor 56. However, due to the alternating open and closed nature of this circuit, as previously described in connection with cams F and H, cam G retains contact arm 73 in engagement with contact 96 until the end of the drain operation and the beginning of the rinse step.

At this point, cam B causes arm 68 to engage contact 99; also, cam E causes contact arm 71 to engage contact 99a thereby re-energizing solenoid 52 through contact arm 89, which has returned into engagement with contact 90 upon draining of the tub, and thus stopping the draining action of the pump. In addition, it will be observed that Contact arm 70 continues to be in engagement with contact 76 and contact arm 72 with contact 74. As a result of the position of the water level contact arm 89 and contact arm 70, the movement of contact arm 68 into engagement with contact 99 energizes the cold Water solenoid 34 to start a supply of cold water into the tub 8. Also, if switch 9S has been closed, hot water solenoid 33 is energized in parallel so that a mixture of hot and cold water is provided to thetub. Thus, water flows into the tub 8.

At the same time, the sequence control mechanism is tbeng operated as a result of the energization of timer motor 62 through switch arm 72 and contact 74. Referring now to Fig. 6 particularly, it will be observed that, when the engagement of contact 74 with switch arm 72 is under the control of cam H, during each impulse of 45 seconds there is engagement for a period of approximately 15 seconds, followed by a 10 second period during which cam H holds contact arm 72 open from contact 74, in turn followed by a iinal 20 seconds during which contact is again permitted to be made. Consequently, at the end of 15 seconds of operation of timer motor 62 during the first impulse of the rinse step, switch arm 72 separates from contact 74, thus opening that energizing circuit for the timer motor. At this time no other energizing circuit for the timer motor is provided and therefore it ceases operation, with water continuing to iiow into tub 8 as a result of the energization of the water solenoids.

When the water reaches the predetermined upper level, contact arm 89 switches over to engage contact 91 thereby providing the same energizing circuit for the timer 62 through arm 89 as previously described. At the same time, of course, the solenoids are de-energized so that the water supply ceases, and solenoid 52 is energized to start the draining operation. The starting of the timer motor causes it to pass through the ten second open period of contact arm 72 whereupon contact arm 72 again engages Contact 74 to provide the second energizing circuit for the timer motor. After a period of 20 more seconds of timer operation, timer motor 62 impulses cams A through G. Cam H leaves contact arm 72 in engagement with contact 74 for another fifteen seconds, i.e., for the Iirst fifteen seconds of the next irnpulse. This fifteen second period, together with the preceding thirty seconcls (ten seconds of arm 72 open plus twenty seconds of arm 72 closed), is a period selected to be long enough to insure that the pump 49 decreases the level in tub S suthciently to move contact arm S9 from contact 91 to contact 90, thus re-energizing the water solenoids and the valve solenoid, and placing control of the energization of timer motor 62 again entirely in the circuit controlled by contact arm '72. Thus, after forty-five seconds of operation from the time the timer motor restarted, the motor then becomes de-energized by the opening of contact arm 72 occurring during the iilling of the tub.

The water then continues to flow as before until the water level switch is again tripped from contact to contact 91 to reenergize the timer motor, cle-energize thel water solenoids, and de-energize the valve solenoid. The cycle then repeats itself. Thus, it can be seen that regardless of the rate at which the water flows in, the timer motor will advance the cans one impulse for each filling and draining of the tub. In this manner, regardless of the rate at which the water flows into the tub, a predetermined controlled number of rinse fillings and drainings is provided to insure substantially complete removal of the cleansing liquid from the clothes.

At the end of a predetermined number of impulses (equal to the number of fillings and drainings) contact arm 68 separates from contact 99 and Contact arm 71 separates from Contact 99a. Also, contact arm 73 reengages contact 96 to insure energization of timer motor 62 independently of the water level as before. With contact arm 71 disconnected, the valve solenoid 52 is de-energized and the pump operates to empty the tub. Contact 72 is permitted to remain in engagement with contact 74 for one additional impulse t0 insure over lapping of the energization of the timer motor through contact arm 72 and through contact arm 73. After the one additional impulse, cam F opens Contact arrn 72 to retain it open independently of the rotation of cam H.

At the end of this drain operation, contact arm 67 engages contact to provide an energizing circuit through the spin controlling device 101. Starting at conductor 56 this circuit extends to contact 96, contact arm 73, conductors 94a, 93a, and 92a, contact arm 67, contact t100, spin control device 101, and neutral conductor 57. The spin control device moves the adjustable sheave assembly 22 to a high speed position where the basket 7 is rotated at several hundred r.p.m. to eiiect centrifu gal extraction of liquid from the clothes. This action continues for the desired number of impulses, after which contact arm 67 is disengaged from contact 100, contact arm 70 is disengaged from contact 76 and contact arm 73 is disengaged from Contact 96. At the same time, contact arm 68 engages contact 102, contact arm 69 engages contact 103 and contact arm 70 engages contact 104.

If the omit-dry switch 61 has been operated, the entire operation ceases at this time, and the clothes are in condition to be removed in a damp dry condition from the machine. If, however, switch 61 is closed, the closing of contact arm 70 with contact 104 completes a circuit from conductor 56 through contact 104, contact arm 70, conductors 85 and 88, water level contact arm 89, contact 90, contact arm 68, contact 102, the condenser valve solenoid 42, and then from conductor 92 as before, to energize solenoid 42 and cause condenser water to be introduced through trap 45 to iiow down wall 47 of basket 8.

Another circuit including contact arrn 70 and water level contact arm 89 is also completed through contact arm 69, contact 103, conductor 105, control thermostat 106, heater relay 107, conductor 103, and then from conductor 93 as before, to energize the heater relay. This closes contacts 109 and 110 to complete a circuit from line 56 through conductor 111, arm 109, the heater coils 28 and 29, and contact arm 110, back to conductor 58 so that the heaters 2S and 29 are placed across a 9 220 volt potential to eiect heating and consequent drying of the clothes.

When the temperature of the clothes reaches a predetermined level, the control thermostat switch moves over into engagement with contact 112 to complete an energizing circuit through timer motor 62 as follows: from conductor 56, through contact 104, contact arm 70, conductors 85 and 88, contact arm 89, contact 90, contact arm 69, contact A10?, conductor 105, control thermostat 106, contact 112, conductor 113, timer motor 62, andvconductor 57. At the same time, the heater relay is de-energized to open switch arms 109 and 110 so that the heaters cease operation and cooling ensues during operation of the timer motor. When a predetermined low temperature isreached, the control thermostat moves back to re-energize relay 107 and deenergize the timer motor, and when the predetermined high temperature is again reached the timer motor is again energized and the relay 107 de-energized as switch 106 engages contact 112.

After a predetermined number of timer motor impulse advances, contact arm 69 is disengaged from contact 103 and contact arm 73 is engaged with contact 96 to make control of the timer independent of the thermostat switch 106. The timer continues through a predetermined number of impulses to provide a cool down period, and then disengages contact arm 68 from contact 102, contact arm 70 from contact 104, and Contact arm 73 from contact 96 to terminate the complete operation. At this point the dry clothes are ready to be removed from the machine.

It will be observed that this invention lies in that part of the control circuitry and arrangement of components which provide for a rinse step where a continual filling and emptying of the tub is provided over a predetermined period of timer operation. It will further be observed that this is effected by appropriate switching back and forth of the timer motor control between the timer motor itself and the water level switch. By use of this interaction, a predetermined number of fillings and emptyings of the tub is provided during the rinse step regardless of the water pressure and the rate at which water enters the tub. Thus, the rinse step can be performed in the effective rapid manner which has been found to be desirable without the danger that an insufficient number of fillings and drainings may be provided.

While in accordance with the patent statutes I have described what at present is considered to be the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention, and I therefore aim in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a machine for washing clothes, a timer motor, sequence control means operated by said timer motor for providing a washing sequence including a rinsing step, a clothes container, water supply means communicating with said container for introducing water thereto, drain means communicating With said container for removing water therefrom, first electric control means controlling operation of said water supply means, second electric control means controlling operation of said drain means, first switch means movable to a first position effective to cause said first control means to operate said water supply means and to prevent said second control means from operating said drain means, said first switch means being movable to a second position effective to prevent said first control means from operating said water supply means and to cause said second control means to operate said drain means, means responsive to the water level within said container controlling said first switch means, said level responsive means moving said first switch 10 means to its first position and to its second position at a predetermined high level, first and second circuits for energizing said timer motor during the rinsing step, said first switch means controlling' completion of said first circuit, second switch means operated by said timer motor and controlling completion of said second circuit, said level responsive means causing said first switch means to complete said first circuit at said predetermined high level and to open said first circuit at said predetermined low level, said timer motor causing said second switch means to complete said second circuitsubsequent to completion of said first circuit and before opening of said first circuit, said timer motor causing said second switch means to open said second circuit a predetermined time after closingthereof which is sub`v sequent to opening of said first circuit and before closing of said first circuit, said sequence control means terminating the rinsing step after a predetermined number of operations of said second switch means.

2. In a machine for washing clothes, a timer motor, sequence control means operated by said timer motor for providing a washing sequence including a rinsing step, said timer motor advancing said sequence control means at timed intervals by impulse, a clothes container, Water supply means communicating with said container for introducing water thereto, drain means communicating with said container for removing water therefrom, first electric control means controlling operation of said water supply means, second electric control means controlling operation of said drain means, first switch means movable to a first position effective to cause said first control means to operate said water supply means and to prevent said second control means from operating said drain means, said first switch means being movable to a second position effective to prevent said first control means from operating said water supply means and to cause said second control means to operate said drain means, means responsive to the water level within said container controlling said first switch means, said level responsive means moving said first switch means to its first position at a predetermined low level and to its second position at a predetermined high level, first and second circuits for energizing said timer motor during the rinsing step, said first switch means controlling completion of said first circuit, second switch means operated by said timer motor and controlling completion of said second circuit, said level responsive means causing said first switch means to complete said first circuit at said predetermined high level and to open said first circuit at said predetermined low level, said timer motor causing said second switch means to complete said second circuit subsequent to completion of said first circuit and before opening of said first circuit, said timer motor causing said second switch means to open said second circuit a predetermined time after closing thereof which is subsequent to opening of said first circuit and before closing of said first circuit, said timer motor causing said second switch means to open and close once during each impulse provided by said timer motor to said sequence control means, said sequence control means terminating the rinsing step after a predetermined number of impulses.

3. In a machine for washing clothes, a timer motor, sequence control means operated by said timer motor for providing a washing sequence including a rinsing step, a clothes container, water supply means communicating with said container for introducing water thereto, drain means communicating with said container for removing water therefrom, first solenoid means providing operation of said water supply means when energized and preventing operation of said water supply means when de-energized, second solenoid means providing operation of said drain means when de-energized and preventing operation of said drain means when energized, first switch means movable to a first positive effective to energize said first at a prede-temined low`- level- 11 and second solenoid means, said first switch means being movable to a first position effective to energize said rst first and second solenoid means, means responsive to the water level within said container controlling said rst switch means, said level responsive means moving said switch means to its first position at a predetermined low level and to its second position at a predetermined high level, first and second circuits for energizing said timer motor during the rinsing step, said first switch means controlling completion of said first circuit, second switch means operated by said timer motor and controlling completion of said second circuit, said level responsive means causing said first switch means to complete said rst circuit at said predetermined high level and to open said first circuit at said predetermined low level, said timer 15 2,471,773

motor causing said second switch means to complete said second circuit subsequent to completion of said first circuit and before opening of said first circuit, said timer motor causing said second switch means to open said second circuit a predetermined time after closing thereof which is subsequent to opening of said first circuit and before closing of said first circuit, said sequence control means terminating the rinsing Step after a predetermined number of operations of said second switch means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Ridge Sept. l2, 1944 Ringer May 3l, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTION Patent No. 2,961,860 November 29, 1960 Matt F. Metzger It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column lO, line 75, "fpositive'" read position column ll, line 2, for "first position" read second position same line, for "energize" read cie-energize Signed and sealed this 2nd day o May 1961.

(SEAL) Attest: v

ERNEST Wo SWIDER DAVID Lp LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

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