Timed wash cycle for a washing machine appliance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018282929-A1
Application number	US-201715472332-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 29, 2017
Priority date	Mar 29, 2017
Publication date	Oct 4, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A washing machine appliance for performing timed wash cycles is provided. The washing machine appliance receives a total cycle time for a timed wash cycle. A fill time of a fill cycle portion of the timed wash cycle is determined. Then, one or more cycle times of the remaining one or more cycle portions of the timed wash cycle are adjusted based at least in part on the total cycle time and the fill time such that the timed wash cycle is completed by the total cycle time.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for operating a washing machine appliance in a timed wash cycle, the timed wash cycle comprised of one or more cycle portions each having a corresponding cycle time, the method comprising:
receiving a total cycle time t TOTAL for the timed wash cycle; determining a fill time t FILL of a fill cycle portion of the timed wash cycle in which the washing machine appliance is filled to a predetermined fill level with a wash liquid; and adjusting one or more of the cycle times of the remaining cycle portions of the timed wash cycle based at least in part on the total cycle time t TOTAL and the fill time t FILL such that the timed wash cycle is completed by the total cycle time t TOTAL .

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the washing machine appliance comprises an agitation element and the timed wash cycle comprises a wash cycle portion, wherein during the wash cycle portion, the method further comprises:
adjusting an agitation level of the agitation element based at least in part on the total cycle time t TOTAL such that the articles within the washing machine appliance are agitated more aggressively.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein by adjusting the agitation level, at least one of a frequency, a rotational speed, and a torque of the agitation element is adjusted.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
adjusting a wash liquid temperature of a wash liquid filling into the washing machine appliance during one or more of the cycle portions of the timed wash cycle based at least in part on the total cycle time t TOTAL such that the articles within the washing machine appliance are subjected to more aggressive thermal action.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the washing machine appliance further comprises a cabinet defining an opening and a wash tub positioned within the cabinet and a wash basket rotatably mounted within the tub, the wash basket defining a wash chamber for receiving articles for washing, wherein during one or more of the cycle portions of the timed wash cycle, the method further comprises:
adjusting a spin speed of the wash basket based at least in part on the total cycle time t TOTAL such that the articles within the washing machine appliance are spun more aggressively.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein during adjusting, at least one of the cycle times is adjusted such that the corresponding cycle portion is omitted from the timed wash cycle.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein during adjusting, two or more of the cycle times are adjusted such that two or more cycle portions are omitted from the timed wash cycle.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
receiving one or more cycle parameters, wherein the one or more cycle parameters include at least one of: a wash liquid temperature, a soil level, and a spin speed; and adjusting one or more of the cycle parameters such that the one or more articles received within the washing machine appliance are subjected to increased mechanical action or increased thermal action during one or more cycle portions of the timed wash cycle.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more cycle portions include: a wash cycle portion, a drain cycle portion, a rinse cycle portion, and a spin cycle portion, wherein during adjusting, at least one of the cycle times corresponding to the wash cycle portion, the rinse cycle portion, and the spin cycle portion are shortened in time such that the timed wash cycle is completed by the total cycle time t TOTAL .

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the timed wash cycle comprises a fill cycle portion and a rinse cycle portion, wherein a first quantity of wash liquid is filled into the washing machine appliance during the fill cycle portion and a second quantity of wash liquid is filled into the washing machine appliance during the rinse cycle portion, wherein the first quantity is greater than the second quantity.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the timed wash cycle comprises a rinse cycle portion, and wherein during the rinse cycle portion, a spray method is used.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the fill time t FILL includes the time in which washing machine appliance senses a load size of the articles within the washing machine appliance.

13 . A washing machine appliance for performing a timed wash cycle comprised of one or more cycle portions each having a corresponding cycle time, the washing machine appliance comprising:
a cabinet defining an opening; a wash tub positioned within the cabinet; a wash basket rotatably mounted within the tub, the wash basket defining a wash chamber for receiving articles for washing; a control panel attached to or integral with the cabinet and comprising one or more input selectors for selecting a total cycle time t TOTAL for the timed wash cycle; and a controller operatively coupled with the control panel, the controller configured to:
receive the total cycle time t TOTAL for the timed wash cycle;
determine an initial fill time t FILL of an initial fill cycle portion for a wash liquid to fill into the wash tub to a predetermined fill level; and
adjust one or more of the cycle times of the remaining cycle portions of the timed wash cycle based at least in part on the total cycle time t TOTAL and the initial fill time t FILL such that the timed wash cycle is completed by the total cycle time t TOTAL .

14 . The washing machine appliance of claim 13 , wherein the initial fill time t FILL is based at least in part on a load size of articles received within the wash chamber.

15 . The washing machine appliance of claim 13 , wherein the timed wash cycle comprises a wash cycle portion and wherein the washing machine appliance further comprises:
an agitation element configured to agitate articles received within the wash chamber, and wherein the agitation element is operatively coupled with the controller; wherein the controller is further configured to:
adjust an agitation level of the agitation element during the wash cycle portion based at least in part on the total cycle time t TOTAL such that articles received within the wash chamber are agitated more aggressively.

16 . The washing machine appliance of claim 13 , wherein the timed wash cycle comprises a fill cycle portion and wherein the controller is further configured to:
adjust a wash liquid temperature of a wash liquid filling into the wash chamber during the fill cycle portion based at least in part on the total cycle time t TOTAL such that the articles within the wash chamber are subjected to more aggressive thermal action.

17 . The washing machine appliance of claim 13 , wherein the wash basket is operatively coupled with the controller, and wherein the controller is further configured to:
adjust a spin speed of the wash basket based at least in part on the total cycle time t TOTAL such that the articles within the wash chamber are spun more aggressively.

18 . A method for operating a washing machine appliance in a timed wash cycle, the timed wash cycle comprised of one or more cycle portions each having a corresponding cycle time, the method comprising:
receiving a total cycle time t TOTAL for the timed wash cycle; determining the cycle time for each cycle portion of the timed wash cycle based at least in part on the total cycle time t TOTAL , and operating the washing machine appliance in the timed wash cycle such that the timed wash cycle is completed by the total cycle time t TOTAL .

Assignees

• Haier Us Appliance Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Pollett James Quentin

Classifications

• D06F37/36

  for rotating the receptacle at more than one speed {(D06F37/304, D06F37/308 take precedence)} · CPC title

• D06F23/04

  and rotating or oscillating about a vertical axis · CPC title

• D06F39/003

  Textiles & Paper · mapped topic

• D06F33/02 Primary

  Textiles & Paper · mapped topic

• D06F39/14

  Doors or covers; Securing means therefor · CPC title