Method and apparatus for using gravity to precisely dose detergent in a washing machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10240274-B2
Application number	US-201815896385-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 14, 2018
Priority date	May 16, 2014
Publication date	Mar 26, 2019
Grant date	Mar 26, 2019

Abstract

A method of dosing detergent into a cleaning chamber of a washing machine using gravity. The method comprises providing an amount of detergent to be used in a washing machine, providing a detergent storage tank, providing a diverter valve comprising a detergent inlet, a detergent outlet, and an air vent, presenting a user interface at a location accessible to a user for a user to input load characteristics, relaying information via electrical signals from the user interface to a controller in electrical communication with the user interface, determining a dosage requirement and dispensing a fluid into the cleaning chamber.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of dosing detergent into a cleaning chamber of a washing machine using gravity, comprising:
providing an amount of detergent to be used in a washing machine;
providing a detergent storage tank;
providing a diverter valve comprising a detergent inlet, a detergent outlet, and an air vent;
presenting a user interface at a location accessible to a user for a user to input load characteristics;
relaying information via electrical signals from the user interface to a controller in electrical communication with the user interface;
determining a dosage requirement;
dispensing a fluid into the cleaning chamber by:
opening the detergent inlet of the diverter valve;
determining how much fluid has been dispensed;

comparing how much fluid has been dispensed to the dosage requirement; and
closing the detergent inlet of the diverter valve when the amount of fluid dispensed is substantially equal to the dosage requirement; and
venting the remaining fluid by opening of the air vent.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining a dosage step further comprises the step of inputting a desired cycle by a user into the user interface.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing a flow meter fluidly coupled to the diverter valve detergent outlet.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the opening step is performed by energizing a solenoid in operative connection with the diverter valve.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the opening step is performed by energizing a synchronous motor in operative connection with the diverter valve.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the closing step and the venting step are performed substantially simultaneously.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising a dispensing system for dispensing detergent and in fluid communication with the detergent storage tank.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising the step of providing a water supply line in fluid communication with the dispensing system for supplying water.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising a step of dispensing water into the dispensing system prior to dispensing a fluid into the cleaning chamber.

10. The method of claim 7 , further comprising a step of diluting the detergent with water to form the fluid prior to dispensing the fluid into the cleaning chamber.

11. The method of claim 7 , further comprising a step of dispensing water into the dispensing system to flush detergent out of the dispensing system.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the detergent comprises a liquid.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining a dosage step further comprises the step of inputting a desired cycle by a user into the user interface.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the closing step is performed by de-energizing a solenoid in operative connection with the diverter valve.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the opening step is performed by energizing a solenoid in operative connection with the diverter valve.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluid comprises detergent.

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Miller Christoph J

Classifications

• G05B19/0428

  Safety, monitoring (G05B19/0423 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G05B2219/2633

  Washing, laundry · CPC title

• D06F39/028 Primary

  Arrangements for selectively supplying water to detergent compartments · CPC title

• D06F39/088

  Liquid supply arrangements · CPC title

• D06F39/022

  in a liquid state (D06F39/024 takes precedence) · CPC title