' ‘Oct. 8, .1963 v _ Filed July 20, 1962 L, G. H. MITCHELL - 3,106,081 TUB FILL CONTROL ' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 74 INVENTOR. Attorn e y Oct. 8, 1963 1.. a. H. MITCHELL ' 3,106,081 TUB FILL CONTROL Filed July 20, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 CONTROL CIRCUIT TIMER INVENTOR. 27 PRESSURE 5 WI TCH BY Attorn ey 3196,08! United States Patent O? ice Patented Oct. 8, 1963 1 2 3,106,081 sive to delivery of liquid through the flow passage to shut off liquid delivery into the tub and to initiate the TUB FHJL CGNTROL subsequent machine cycle operation. Leonard George Henry Mitchell, Toronto, Ontario, Can More particularly, according to the preferred form of ada, assignor to General Steel Wares Limited, Toronto, Ontario, Canada the invention, the means ‘for shutting off liquid flow into the tub and initiating the next machine function com prises a pressure-sensitive switch mechanism located in a ‘ Filed July 20, 1%2, Ser. No. 211,323 Claims priority, application Canada May 15, 1962 6 Claims. (CI. 68-12) ‘liquid collecting receptacle receiving liquid from the flow passage and responding to a predetermined liquid level This invention relates to improvements in washing ma chines and more particularly to a simple and reliable 10 in the receptacle. Again, according to the preferred ‘form of the inven means of effecting the ?lling of the clothes receiving tub tion, means are provided to purge the receptacle upon tub rotation in the normal machine operation to reset the switch mechanism for the next subsequent tub ?ll of an automatic washing machine at all times to a pre determined desired level when the machine programming calls for tub ?ll even though the pressure of the water operation. supply may vary over the widest range. 15 In this connection, the receptacle or collector may con conventionally, automatic washing machines are con veniently be arranged to surround the spin axis of the tub trolled by an automatic cycling or timing device which and the means to purge the receptacle may comprise a provides the desired timed sequential machine functions paddle ‘arranged to operate in the receptacle and con including a tub ?lling period prior to washing, a washing period which may involve an agitator or other washing 20 nected to move with the tub as the tub is spun about its axis. action, one or more drying periods in which the tub is spun to centrifugally extract the water from the clothing, According to the preferred form of the in ention, the ?ow passage comprises a tube open at the desired liquid level and ‘located beneath the machine agitator and lead ing through to the bottom of the tub into the liquid and one or more rinsing periods. While many of the machine operations can be effec tively related to the distinct period of time allotted to 25 collector. such operation by the timing device, there is one notable Further, the agitator preferably is provided with openings therein substantially registering with the exception and that is the tub ?lling operation. Since the time taken to ?ll the tub is dependent upon the water tubebpening to ensure free liquid access to the tube pressure available, the time required to bring the tub opening. liquid level up to a specific point will vary from com 30 munity to community, and from installation to installa tion. Even the location of the machine in la speci?c building or the time of the day at which the machine is operated may alter the time-?ll factor. It is therefore the object of this invention to eliminate the time factor in the ?lling of the tub to the desired liquid level and to ensure that the tub is ?lled to the desired level before the subsequent timed machine func ‘ Again, ‘according to the invention, the tube is con str-ucted and arranged so that it can be easily cleaned or rodded out to preclude any problem from plugging. These and other objects and features will become ap parent from the following ‘detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a part elevational, part vertical sectional broken away view of a washing machine embodying-the invention; FIGURE 2 is a broken away perspective view of the tion or functions can take place. paddle and collector pan shown in FIGURE 1; Further in this connection it is the object to enable the desired liquid level to be attained in an extremely FIGURE 3 is va broken away perspective view of a slightly modi?ed form of paddle and collector pan show simple and positive manner which will also preclude ing the mountingof the paddle on the bottom of the over?lling. clothes receiving tub; Another important object is to enable the time inde pendent ?ll control to be automatically reset for subse FIGURE 4 is a fragmented vertical sectional view of the collector pan of FIGURE 3 and illustrating the man quent ‘operation by the subsequent machine operations nor in‘ which the paddle dips into the collector pan; and even though such latter operations are time controlled. One particularly effective type of automatic washer ‘FIGURE 5 is a part diagrammatic, part schematic view diagrammatically illustrating the elimination of the currently being marketed employs a portion of the wash ing or rinsing liquid to balance the tub during its 'high 50 time factor in the ?lling of the tub. gWith reference ?rst to FIGURE 1, there is illustrated speed spinning operation in the drying of the clothing and a washing machine of the type disclosed in Canadian in such a machine a portion of the liquid centrifugally Patent No. 621,983 which comprises a clothes receiving extracted from the clothing in the spinning operation is tub I ?xed to a torque tube 2 which is adapted to be delivered to and returned in an open balancing ring con centrically surrounding the tub and as the tub comes to 55 driven in rotation by ‘an electric motor 3 driving a clutch mechanism 4 through a belt drive 5. rest following the spinning portion of the cycle, such ‘balancing liquid drops out into a collecting casing and Extending through the torque tube 2 is ‘a shaft 6 carry ing an agitator generally designated at 7 which has a central conical sleeve portion 8 from which extend spiral may remain in the machine at the end of the machine cycle until a new machine cycle is initiated. ' It is another particular object of this invention to en able such a machine to be ?lled to the desired level irre spective of any balancing liquid which may remain in the machine prior to the initiation of the new machine cycle. 60 vanes 9. . The agitator is adapted to be driven in oscillation through the shaft 6 for washing clothing received in the tub I land-the tub is adapted to be driven in‘ rotation to centrifugally dry clothing in the tub through the torque Another important object is to provide a time factor 65 tube 2. In the machine illustrated, liquid centrifuged out eliminating tub?ll control which will not in any ‘way of the tub I is ‘adapted to be collected in an annular bal interfere with the clothing in the tub or any of the sub ancing ring 10 which concentrically surrounds the tub sequent machine operations. ‘and is provided with bla?les 11 to prevent surging of the The principal feature of the invention resides in pro‘ viding ‘a flow passage opening into the tub at a level 70 liquid in the balancing ring. ' During tub rotation, excess liquid is adapted to be dropped out of the open bottom corresponding to the level to which it is desired that the of the ring indicated at 12 ‘and when rotation of the tub liquid reach for a full tub, and providing means respon 3,106,081 4 ceases, any remaining liquid in the balancing ring will To ensure that the liquid has free access to the upper drop out through the open bottom 12. The clothes receiving tub 1 is mounted within a col lector tub 13 and :is provided with a suitable outer casing 14 having a top closure 15. Liquid is adapted to ‘be in troduced into the tub through an inlet 16. end of the tube 24, the agitator 7 is preferably provided Such a washing machine is presently on the market with a series of openings 32 therethrough ‘adjacent to the level of the upper end of tube 23. While the tube is protected beneath the agitator '7 against interference with the clothing and against plug ging the tube is preferably made of sufficient diameter and relatively straight so that it may be easily rodded or and its operation is well known. cleaned out ‘for instance by the use of a coat hanger upon Such present machines, however, are subject to the removal of the agitator should lint or other particles problem that if the water pressure varies, the tub will not work up underneath the agitator. be ?lled to the requisite level as all of the functions of While FIGURES 1 and 2 show the paddle carried by the machine including ?lling, agitator oscillation, and tub spinning, are predicated on distinct periods of time the lower end of the tube 23, the paddle may of course through the operation of a timer mechanism. be equally as well secured directly to the tub as shown in According to the present invention, this problem is 15 FIGURES 3 and 4. Thus, in the views illustrated in overcome by introducing :a pressure-sensitive switch 17, FIGURES 3 and 4, the slightly modi?ed form of paddle designated at 28' is secured to the bottom of the tub I FIGURES 1 and 5, into the control circuit indicated at 13 in FiGURE 5 so that the pressure switch is interposed and sweeps out an annular path in the collector pan 26' between the control circuit and the usual timer mech corresponding to the collector pan 26. Again a suitable gasket seal 29 is provided between the central annular anism 19 which controls the machine functions in se boss 30’of the pan 26’ ‘and the bottom of the tub 1. quence at distinct periods of time. The pressure switch 17 is arranged to perform two functions after, and only It, will, of course, be understood that with the col lector pan 26 lying wholly within the balancing ring it}, after, the tub has been ?lled to the predetermined level, the liquid dropped out of the open lower end of the the ?rst function being to shut off the inlet valve desig balancing ring will drop clear of and will not ?ll the pan nated at 2b in FIGURE 5, and the second and preferably after it has been purged by the paddle. simultaneous function of initiating the timer mechanism 19 to put the machine through the timed portions of its It will be understood that various modi?cations in the cycle. The pressure switch 17' is arranged to control the details of the structure and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the inven inlet valve 2%} through a suitable solenoid 21 which has previously been actuated by a suitable control button 22 30 tion or scope of the appended claims. I claim: in the control circuit 18, the control button opening the 1. In a washing machine, a rotatable clothes receiving valve 20 and leaving it open until shut by a signal from tub, means for rotating said tub, means for effecting ?ll the pressure switch 17. ing of the clothes receiving tub to a predetermined de To actuate the pressure switch 17, there is provided a tube 23 disposed within the central conical portion 3‘ of 35 sired level comprising an inlet valve, means for opening said inlet valve, a flow passage opening into the tub at the agitator and open at its upper end as at 24 at a level a level corresponding to said predetermined desired level, corresponding to the ‘desired level to-which the tub is to be ?lled. This tube extends downwardly and through said'?ow passage emptying into a collector, means respon sive to delivery of liquid from the tub by said ?ow passage the bottom of the tub 1 through a suitable gland ?tting 2S and empties into a collector pan 26 which surrounds the 40 to close said inlet valve, comprising a pressure-sensitive device actuated by accumulation of liquid in said col torque tube 2 and agitator shaft 6 and lies wholly within lector, and rotary means for purging said collector con the perimeter of the annular balancing ring 10. nected to said tub and responsive to the rotation thereof. Thus, when the control button 22 of the control circuit 2. In an automatic washing machine a rotatable clothes is pressed to open the inlet valve 20, water will be intro receiving tub, means for rotating said tub, means for con duced through the inlet 16 into the tub 1 at a rate de trolling said tub rotating means comprising a timer pending upon the water pressure. When the liquid level mechanism, an inlet valve for introducing liquid into said in the tub reaches a point so that it over?ows into the tub, means for effecting ?lling of said tub to a predeter open end 24- of the tube 3, the tube will ‘deliver such over mined desired level comprising means for opening said flow into the collector pan 26 and when a sufficient head of water has been collected in the pan 26 it will actuate inlet valve, a ?ow passage opening into said tub at a the pressure-sensitive element 27 of the pressure-sensitive switch 17 closing the switch which will then actuate the inlet valve 29 through the solenoid 21 to close the valve. said ?ow passage emptying into a collector, means re At the same time, a signal will be ‘delivered to the timer 19 to initiate the next portion of the machine cycle which normally would be agitation‘ of the agitator 7. it will be understood that to prepare the machine for the next ?lling operation, the collector pan 26 must be purged :of the liquid contained therein so that the pres sure-sensitive element 27 of the switch 19 will reset. To eifect such purging, there is provided a paddle 28 which, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, may be mounted on the lower end of the tube 23 and this paddle is ar ranged to sweep an annular path within the collector pan level corresponding to said predetermined desired level, sponsive to delivery of said liquid by said ?ow passage, comprising a pressure-sensitive switch mechanism actuated by accumulation of liquid in said collector to close said inlet valve and actuate said timer mechanism and rotary purging means connected to the tub responsive to the rotation thereof to purge said collector. 3. A device’ as claimed in claim 1 in which said rotary means to purge said collector comprises a paddle member actuated to sweep at least a portion of said collector fol lowing actuation of said pressure-sensitive device. 4. A device as claimed in claim 2 in which the means rotating with said tub to purge said collector comprises a 26 upon rotation of the tub 1 during the spinning portion 65 paddle member carried by said tub and arranged to move of the machine cycle. Thus, once the pressure switch 17 through at least a portion of said collector upon tub rota has actuated the timer mechanism to perform the subse tion. quent functions of the machine cycle, the function of tub 5. A device as claimed in claim 2 in which said means spinning will automatically purge the collector pan. To protect the working parts of the machine from iquid scooped from the collector pan 26 by the paddle 28, a ?exible sealing gasket 29 is provided between the tub 1 1and a central ‘annular boss 3d of the collector pan which is open as ‘at 31 to receive the torque tube 2 and agitator shaft 6 th'erethrough. rotating with said tubs for purging said liquid collecting means comprises a paddle member connected to spin with said tub and disposed to move through at least a part of said collector means. 6. A device as claimed in claim 2 in which said means 75 rotating with said tub for purging said collector pan com 3,106,081 5 prises a paddle member ?xed to move With said tub through at least a portion of said collector pan. References Cited in the ?le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,554,229 Woodson _____________ _. May 22, 1951 2,619,823 2,665,576 6 . Palmer _______________ __ Dec. 2, 1952 Thiele ______ __v _______ __ Jan. 12, 1954 2,955,446 2,969,172 OIthuis _______________ -l Oct. 11, 1960 Hutt __________________ __ Ian. 24, 1961 1,187,176 1' France _______________ __ Mar. 2, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS
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