Retrofittable bulk dispensing system for household appliances

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11624140-B2
Application number	US-202117216764-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 30, 2021
Priority date	Nov 29, 2016
Publication date	Apr 11, 2023
Grant date	Apr 11, 2023

Abstract

A retrofit auxiliary device for supporting washing operations in various makes and models of multiple household appliances is described wherein the retrofit auxiliary device can monitor appliance health, regulate appliance function, and send the user useful data. Each of the multiple household appliances has a water line and a power line operably coupled to an appliance controller with at least one pre-programmed cycle of operation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of supporting washing operations of multiple household appliances, with a retrofitted auxiliary device, with each of the multiple household appliances having a water line and a power line operably coupled to an appliance controller with at least one pre-programmed cycle of operation, the method comprising:
fluidly coupling, through at least one water pass through channel of the retrofitted auxiliary device, a household water supply to the water line of at least some of the multiple household appliances;
operably coupling, through a power pass through channel of the retrofitted auxiliary device, a household power supply to the power line of at least some of the multiple household appliances;
receiving an input, at a device controller, from a water flow meter of the retrofitted auxiliary device and a power consumption meter of the retrofitted auxiliary device during operation of at least some of the multiple household appliances according to the at least one pre-programmed cycle of operation as controlled by the appliance controller of the at least some of the multiple household appliances; and
monitoring data, with a device controller of the retrofitted auxiliary device, from at least some of the multiple household appliances.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising monitoring a usage data of at least one of energy, water, or treating chemistry from at least some of the multiple household appliances with the device controller.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising providing real-time feedback, with the device controller, based upon the usage data.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising controlling, with the device controller, the operation of at least some of the multiple household appliances based on the usage data.

5. The method of claim 3 , further comprising providing real-time feedback including at least one of appliance resource usage, appliance cycle time, appliance cycle efficiency, appliance status, or an alert requesting input or action by a user.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising operably controlling, with the device controller, the operation of a treating chemistry reservoir to supply treating chemistry to at least some of the multiple household appliances.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising fluidly coupling the treating chemistry reservoir to at least some of the household appliances through a treating chemistry channel of the retrofitted auxiliary device.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising measuring a chemistry flow rate of treating chemistry through the treating chemistry channel, with a treating chemistry flow meter operably coupled to the device controller of the retrofitted auxiliary device.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising storing, in the device controller, at least one of a rate or a duration of time that the treating chemistry is supplied to at least some of the multiple household appliances during the pre-programmed cycle of operation.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising controlling, with the device controller, the operation of at least some of the multiple household appliances based on the data from at least some of the household appliances.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of connecting the retrofitted auxiliary device to at least one of a wired or wireless internet connection.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising connecting, through the wired or wireless internet connection, the device controller with an online database.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising downloading, at the device controller and through the wired or wireless internet connection, a cycle of operation from the online database.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising controlling, with the device controller, the operation of at least some of the multiple household appliances based on the cycle of operation downloaded at the device controller.

15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising uploading to the online database, with the device controller through the wired or wireless internet connection, the monitored data relating to a health of at least some of the multiple household appliances.

16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising issuing an alert, over the wired or wireless internet connection, regarding a need for a treating chemistry.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising displaying the alert on at least one of a display of the retrofitted auxiliary device, a display of at least one of the multiple household appliances, or on a display of a remote device of a user.

18. The method of claim 12 , further comprising issuing an alert, over the wired or wireless internet connection, regarding a predetermined appliance start time.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising displaying the alert on at least one of a display of the retrofitted auxiliary device, a display of at least one of the multiple household appliances, or on a display of a remote device of a user.

20. A method of supporting washing operations of multiple household appliances, with a retrofitted auxiliary device, with each of the multiple household appliances having a water line and a power line operably coupled to an appliance controller with at least one pre-programmed cycle of operation, the method comprising:
fluidly coupling, through at least one water pass through channel of the retrofitted auxiliary device, a household water supply to the water line of at least some of the multiple household appliances;
operably coupling, through a power pass through channel of the retrofitted auxiliary device, a household power supply to the power line of at least some of the multiple household appliances; and
monitoring data, with a device controller of the retrofitted auxiliary device, from at least some of the multiple household appliances.

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Alexander Benjamin E
• Sells Joel M
• Schuh Eric J

Classifications

• D06F33/00

  Control of operations performed in washing machines or washer-dryers  (D06F31/00 takes precedence; details of control systems therefor D06F34/00; control of operations performed in domestic laundry dryers D06F58/32) · CPC title

• D06F39/02 Primary

  Devices for adding soap or other washing agents · CPC title

• D06F2105/58

  Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user · CPC title

• D06F39/022

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

• D06F2105/04

  from separate hot and cold water inlets · CPC title