Passive diverter for an auxiliary spray device of a washing machine appliance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10900162-B2
Application number	US-201815900865-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 21, 2018
Priority date	Feb 21, 2018
Publication date	Jan 26, 2021
Grant date	Jan 26, 2021

Abstract

A washing machine appliance includes a diverter assembly for selectively directing a flow of water to a primary dispenser and an auxiliary spray device. The diverter assembly includes a diverter body defining a diverter body defining a chamber inlet, a primary outlet in fluid communication with the primary dispenser, and an auxiliary outlet in fluid communication with the auxiliary spray device. A diverter valve moves between a first and second position based on a pressure differential relative to a diverter chamber. During standard operation, a spring urges the diverter valve to seal the auxiliary outlet and direct the flow to the primary dispenser. When a button is depressed to activate the auxiliary spray device, the pressure differential across the auxiliary outlet urges the diverter valve to a second position that seals the primary outlet and directs the flow to the auxiliary spray device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A washing machine appliance comprising:
a cabinet including a top panel;
a wash tub positioned within the cabinet and defining a wash chamber for receipt of articles for washing;
a wash basket rotatably mounted within the wash tub; and
a diverter assembly configured for selectively directing a flow of water to a primary dispenser and an auxiliary spray device, the diverter assembly comprising:
a diverter body defining a chamber inlet, a primary outlet in fluid communication with the primary dispenser, and an auxiliary outlet in fluid communication with the auxiliary spray device;
a diverter valve comprising a primary seal and an auxiliary seal positioned on a diverter shaft, wherein the diverter valve is movable between a first position where the auxiliary seal blocks the auxiliary outlet to direct the flow of water to the primary dispenser and a second position where the primary seal blocks the primary outlet to direct the flow of water to the auxiliary spray device; and
a spring element that urges the diverter valve to the first position.

2. The washing machine appliance of claim 1 , wherein the diverter shaft defines a longitudinal axis, wherein the diverter shaft translates along the longitudinal axis between the first position and the second position.

3. The washing machine appliance of claim 1 , wherein the primary seal and the auxiliary seal are resilient conical washers positioned on opposite ends of the diverter shaft.

4. The washing machine appliance of claim 3 , wherein the diverter shaft extends through a diverter chamber between the auxiliary seal and the primary seal.

5. The washing machine appliance of claim 1 , wherein the diverter assembly further comprises:
a mixing manifold in fluid communication with a hot water inlet and a cold water inlet, the mixing manifold positioned upstream of the chamber inlet for mixing hot and cold water.

6. The washing machine appliance of claim 1 , wherein the diverter valve is moved from the first position to the second position by depressing a button positioned on the auxiliary spray device.

7. The washing machine appliance of claim 6 , wherein depressing the button opens the auxiliary outlet to atmospheric pressure, generating a pressure differential across the auxiliary outlet sufficient to move the diverter valve to the second position.

8. The washing machine appliance of claim 7 , wherein the pressure differential is large enough to overcome the spring element that biases the diverter valve toward the first position.

9. The washing machine appliance of claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary spray device is a handheld spray nozzle extending from the top panel.

10. The washing machine appliance of claim 1 , wherein a flexible hose fluidly couples the auxiliary outlet to the auxiliary spray device.

11. The washing machine appliance of claim 10 , wherein the flexible hose is operably coupled to a retraction mechanism for managing the flexible hose as auxiliary spray device is moved to and from a docking station in the top panel.

12. A diverter assembly for selectively directing a flow of fluid to a primary dispenser and an auxiliary spray device within a washing machine appliance, the diverter assembly comprising:
a diverter body defining a chamber inlet, a primary outlet in fluid communication with the primary dispenser, and an auxiliary outlet in fluid communication with the auxiliary spray device;
a diverter valve comprising a primary seal and an auxiliary seal positioned on a diverter shaft, wherein the diverter valve is movable between a first position where the auxiliary seal blocks the auxiliary outlet to direct the flow of water to the primary dispenser and a second position where the primary seal blocks the primary outlet to direct the flow of water to the auxiliary spray device; and
a spring element that urges the diverter valve to the first position.

13. The diverter assembly of claim 12 , wherein the diverter shaft defines a longitudinal axis, wherein the diverter shaft translates along the longitudinal axis between the first position and the second position.

14. The diverter assembly of claim 12 , wherein the primary seal and the auxiliary seal are resilient conical washers positioned on opposite ends of the diverter shaft.

15. The diverter assembly of claim 12 , wherein the diverter assembly further comprises:
a mixing manifold in fluid communication with a hot water inlet and a cold water inlet, the mixing manifold positioned upstream of the chamber inlet for mixing hot and cold water.

16. The diverter assembly of claim 12 , wherein the diverter valve is moved from the first position to the second position by depressing a button positioned on the auxiliary spray device.

17. The diverter assembly of claim 16 , wherein depressing the button opens the auxiliary outlet to atmospheric pressure, generating a pressure differential across the auxiliary outlet sufficient to move the diverter valve to the second position.

18. The diverter assembly of claim 17 , wherein the pressure differential is large enough to overcome the spring element that biases the diverter valve toward the first position.

19. A diverter assembly for selectively directing a flow of fluid to a primary dispenser and an auxiliary spray device within a washing machine appliance, the diverter assembly comprising:
a diverter body defining a chamber inlet, a primary outlet in fluid communication with the primary dispenser, and an auxiliary outlet in fluid communication with the auxiliary spray device; and
a diverter valve comprising a primary seal and an auxiliary seal, the primary seal and the auxiliary seal being resilient conical washers positioned on opposite ends of a diverter shaft, wherein the diverter valve is movable between a first position where the auxiliary seal blocks the auxiliary outlet to direct the flow of water to the primary dispenser and a second position where the primary seal blocks the primary outlet to direct the flow of water to the auxiliary spray device.

20. The diverter assembly of claim 19 , wherein diverter valve further comprises a spring element that urges the diverter valve to the first position.

Assignees

• Haier Us Appliance Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Leibman Alexander B
• Bensel Peter Hans
• Lakshmegowda Naveena Heddanahally
• Yandamuri Manidhar V V S

Classifications

• D06F39/088 Primary

  Liquid supply arrangements · CPC title

• D06F5/00

  Hand implements for washing purposes, e.g. sticks  (hand rubbing appliances D06F3/00) · CPC title

• B05B1/18

  Roses; Shower heads · CPC title

• D06F23/04

  and rotating or oscillating about a vertical axis · CPC title

• D06F29/00

  Combinations of a washing machine with other separate apparatus in a common frame or the like, e.g. with rinsing apparatus · CPC title