US2867224A - Washing apparatus with water conditioning dispenser - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 6, 1959 J. MARTINIAK ET AL r 2,367,224

WASHING APPARATUS WITH WATER CONDITIONING DISPENSER Filed Dec. 22. 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 6, 1959 L. J. MARTINIAK ETAL WASHING APPARATUS WITH WATER CONDITIONING DISPENSER Filed Dec. 22. 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WASHING APPARATUS WITH WATER CONDITIONING DISPENSER Leonard J. Martiniak, Chicago, and Jack E. Bebinger, Brookfield, Ill., assignors to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application December 22, 1955, Serial No. 554,846

9 Claims. (Cl. 134-58) This invention relates to washing apparatus, and, in particular, to means for introducing a water conditioning agent, such as a wetting agent, into the washing and/or rinsing liquid used in such apparatus at a predetermined time of the operation cycle thereof.

Automatically controlled clothes washers and dishwashers are in widespread use. These machines are similar in the sense that each is operated by a time-cycle control which conducts the machine through a program in which the articles therein are washed, rinsed, and dried. In clothes washing machines, the drying operation may be by means of centrifugal extraction or pressure extraction; in dishwashers, the drying operation is usually by air circulation to evaporate residual rinse water from the dishes. I

We have found that the drying performance of each type'of machine can be materially improved by the addition of small amounts of a suitable wetting agent to the final rinse Water. In clothes washing machines, the wetting agent increases the fluidity of the water and it separates more freely from the articles of clothing during the centrifuging or pressure extraction operations. In dishwashers, the reduction in a surface tension of the rinse water effected by the addition of a wetting agent produces very marked improvement in performance in at least two important aspects: by increasing the drippage of free water from the dishes and other articles, the drying time is shortened; and even in hard water areas, there is a very substantial reduction in the spotting of glasses and silverware, because such spotting is largely the result of the evaporation of drops of water on the articles and the deposit thereon of the solids content of the water. We have found that the use of a wetting agent in therinse water reduces the water retention to a minimum and there is, therefore, an almost directly proportional reduction in the spotting of the articles.

Although it may be advantageous to introduce the wetting agent into the water in each of the water-using operations of the respective machines, practical considerations dictate the use of the conditioning material only in the final rinse water. In a presently preferred embodiment of our invention, we employ a heat responsive means to measure the quantity of conditioning material and to inject said quantity into the machine at the appropriate time. For example, at a convenient place in the apparatus, we mount a container of the conditioning agent, and, by Way of suitably valved passages, bring the container into communication with a pump chamber. A wall of said pump chamber comprises a thermostatic disk of the bimetal type, arranged so that when it is heated it assumes a configuration which reduces the volume of the pump chamber by an amount equal to the quantity of the wetting agent to be introduced into the washing tub or vat of the machine. The snap action of the thermostatic element forces the material into the tub or vat under positive pressure, and the abrupt return of the disk to its initial shapeis equally effective to draw a measured amount of material from the container. A convenient 2,867,224 Patented Jan. (i, 1959 ICC and highly reliable means of operating the disk from its normal to its heated position is by a heating element arranged in a power circuit having a control switch operated At the desired time of by the time-cycle controller. operation, the control switch energizes the heating element for a period sufiicient to heat it to its snap-over condition; whereupon the switch is subsequently operated to de-energize the element and thus permit the disk to cool and return to its normal shape.

It is therefore a main object of our invention to provide washing apparatus having simple and highly reliable means for introducing a predetermined quantity of a water conditioning agent into the-tub or vat of the washing apparatus and to effect its introduction in a definite time relationship in the operational cycle of the apparatus.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. l is a fragmentary side sectional elevation of a typical automatic dishwashing machine embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side sectional elevation of'a presently preferred embodiment of the dispenser embodying the invention; and

Fig. 3 is a schematic wiring diagram.

Referring to the drawings, the lower portion of a dishwasher of the domestic type is shown in section in Fig. 1. Such a dishwasher comprises an outer casing 1, fitted with a bottom hinged door 2, arranged to be swung between a vertical closed position and a substantially horizontal open position. Insaid open position, the door affords access to the interior of a washing tub or vat 3 which has an open front but is otherwise completely enclosed. A dish receiving rack 4 is slidably mounted for movement into and out of the vat by any suitable means, such as side rails (not shown) carried by the side walls of the vat; and when said door 2 is in its open position, the rack may be drawn forwardly onto the inner panel 5 of the door, being guided thereon by one or more rollers such as the roller 6. The entire rack may be removed from the door to afford full access to the interior of the vat 3 through the open front thereof.

Typical dishwasher construction incorporating such door and dishrack arrangements may be as shown in Walker U.- S. Patent 2,567,697, granted November 3, 1953, for Dishwashing Apparatus and Cabinet Structure which is assigned to our present assignee.

The lower portion of door panel 5 has a cup 7 for the reception of a suitable granular detergent, pursuant to the teachings of Walker Patent 2,620,811, patented December 9, 1952, for Dishwashing Apparatus with Automatic Detergent Introduction Arrangement and also assigned to our assignee herein. The cup 7 is loaded with suitable detergent When the door is in open position; and at the commencement of the washing action, the detergent is washed out of the cup and mixes with the Wash Water in the vat to provide a washing solution, all as well understood in the art and as particularly described in the last mentioned Walker patent. The dishwasher vat 3 is formed with a bottom sump portion 8, within which is mounted a washing impeller 9 of suitable pat} tern. That shown in Koertge Patent No. 2,422,022, granted June 6, 1947, for Dishwashing and Drying Apparatus is in widespread use and is satisfactory for the instant machine. Said impeller is mounted on the shaft 10 of a motor 11, mounted in'the machinery compartment 12 below the vat. Also in said machinery compartment is a conventional solenoid-operated water valve organization 14 which through an inlet pipe 15 receives water from' a suitable heated water source (not shown) and discharges said water through a tube 16 communicating with an inlet fitting 17 (shown schematically in Fig. 3) as the solenoid 18 operates said valve from its normally closed to its open position. Also within said compartnient 12 is a drain valve arrangement having an inlet 19 communicating with sump 8 and a flexible hose 20 extending from said inlet 19 to a point of connection with the plumbing trap fitting 21. A solenoid operator 22' is aj forced circulation "of air throughout the washing vat during the drying cycle which follows the washing and rinsing operations, as presently described As indicated above, the illustrated dishwasher is typical of many thousands in use, and of itself forms no part of our invention. v V

The present invention provides for introducing a conditioning material, such as a wetting agent, into the vat for mixture with the water therein during a selected operational cycle of the machine. The presently illustrated embodiment contemplates the introduction of the ma-' terial into the final rinse water, to facilitate drainage of the water from the articles in the tub, and thus to reduce spotting of the articles. by reason of the evaporation on the articles, of water drops which have remained thereon during the drying cycle. For use in a dishwasher, nonionic surface-active agent, such as that known in the art as a Pluronic has been found superior to other types of water-conditioning materials.

As shown in Fig. 2, a wetting agent dispenser incorporating our invention includes a container 25 having a vent tube 26. The container is arranged to be mounted in a location relative to said vat to facilitate the filling of the container with the conditioning materiah For example, the container is disposed below the bottom wall of the sump 8 in a location in which its removable cap 27 is easily assessible for removal and the filling of the container 25 when the door 2 is in open position and the rack 4 has been removed. Cap 27 is provided with a valved orifice member 28 which may comprise a cylindrical chamber having a suitable valve seat 29 in its base for cooperation with a ball valve 31), urged against the seat by the spring 31. The orifice chambe'r is in direct communication with a tube 32 which extends the full length of container 25 and projects through a seal 33 contained in a housing 34 formed in the bottom wall 35 of the container. Said seal 33 is of the flexible lip type which permits the removal and reinsertion of the tube 32 without destroying the efiicacy of the seal. The container has a male threaded neck 36 which passes through the grommet 37 defining an opening in the bottom of the sump 8; and a lock nut 38 serves to compress the grommet against the shoulder 39 of the neck to provide a liquid tight association with the sump wall. Cap 27 is screw-threadedly carried by the neck 36, and there is preferably employed a gasket 40 to prevent leakage from the sump S into the container 25.

The bottom wall 35 of the container provides a rigid top wall for a reservoir or pump chamber 41. A purnpshape (illustrated by dotted line in Fig. 2) when heated.

A ball check valve assembly 43 secured to a nipple 44 in wall 35 provides for entry of liquid from the container 25 into reservoir 41.

The energy released in the transition'of diaphragm 42 from concave to convex shape (as viewed in Fig. 2) causes the ejection of a quantity of liquid from the reservoir 41 and tube 32 into the washing vat 3. The seal 33 and ball check valve 43 prevent flow of liquid from the reservoir 41 into the container 25. The return of disk 42 to its normal concave shape creates a pressure condition within reservoir 41 which produces a flow of liquid from container 25 into the reservoir, said flow being primarily through the check valve '43 but probably supplemented in part by passage through the seal 33. The ball valve 30 seals against flow'of liquid from tube 32 into the charm ber 41.

The operation of disk 42 is effectively accomplished in the proper time relationship in the dishwasher cycle by heat flow from the resistance heater 45 disposed within a housing46 secured as shown about the bottom of the reservoir 41 so as to be in liquid-tight relation therewith. Advantageously, the heater 45 may be supported on suitable insulating posts 47 and connected by wires 41 I and 49 into a time switch control circuit, as presently explained. Heater 45 is designed to have substantial thermal output so as quickly to overcome the appreciable heat loss from the disk 42 into the body of liquid in the reservoir 41, which liquid, of course, will have heat capacity influenced by its volume and the ambient ternperature of the dispenser.

Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of a time-cycle control circuit for a dishwasher embodying the present inven-' tion. It may be explained that, for simplicity, the illustrated sequence of operations includes only one washing and one final rinsing operation, although as is now well understood in the art, there usually are a plurality of washing and/ or rinsing operations. According to Fig. 3 the cycle of operation has been established on the basis of having a pre-rinse, a single washing operation, and a final rinsing operation during which the impeller is operated for forceful circulation of the rinse water throughout the vat. There is a subsequent air drying operation. The Wetting agent may be introduced into the machine during any or all of the water using operations, although in the illustrated circuit, the wetting agent is introduced into the vat only at the time of the final rinse.

The time cycle switch 50 may be of any conventional styleefor example, that shown in lllian U. S. Patent No. 2,619,557, patented 'November 25, 1952, for Program Selector Switch. Such a switch has a motor 51, usually of the well known type sold under the trademark Telechron, which operates through a slip clutch and gear box contained in gear case 52 to drive a cam shaft on which are mounted a plurality of cams designated C1 to C5 inclusive. The cam shaft also carries the control or setting knob 53, said knob having an indexing pointer which at the completion of a complete cycle registers with an 0115 marking (not shown) on an escutcheon plate (not shown) carried on a convenient outside wall of the casing 1 of the dishwasher. It will be assumed that the motor 5'1 will be energized upon manually rotating knob 53 through a clockwise angle of about ten degrees, and that thereupon the motor will operate the cam shaft through the remaining three-hundred-and-fifty degrees in exactly thirty minutes.

The cams C1 to C5 respectively operate single pole switches S1 and S5 and to that end the respective switches include a spring contact finger or rider whichiengages with the periphery of its cam and makes or breaks contact with an associated spring contact according to the contour of the cam, as is well understood. As shown, each of the spring contact fingers is electrically connected to a common lead 54 of a suitable alternating current power source.

When the dial 53 is manually operated to its on position, cam C1 causes switch S1 to closeits circuit, whereupon the timer motor is energized through the obvious circuit which includes conductor 54, switch S1. and conductors 55 and 56. As indicated, this circuit remains closed throughout the entire cycle of operation. About ten seconds following the closing of switch S1, cam C2 closes its switch S2 completing the circuit through water valve solenoid 18 by way of conductors 57 and 56. Energization of the solenoid 18 opens the water valve 14 to admit water into the vat 3 through the spray fitting 17. At this time, drain valve solenoid 22 has not been energized and the drain hose 20 is in a position permitting the free flow of the water to the drain. The purpose of the initial rinse is to flush gross soil from the dishes and other articles within the washing vat and to purge the inlet water piping of any cold water which may be present therein. Such an operation consumes about forty-five seconds, at the end of which cam C2 drops the contact finger of switch S2 to open the switch, as indicated by the schematic cam contour. The motor 11 does not operate during this preliminary rinse period. After an interval of about ten seconds which permits the rinse water to leave the vat, motor 11 is started by the closure of switch S3 by cam C3. The circuit is the obvious one including conductors '58, 59, and 56. Substantially coincidentally therewith, cam C4 closes switch S4 to energize the drain valve solenoid 22 through the circuit including conductors 6t) and 56. Solenoid 22 operates to raise the hose 20 to non-draining position. Cam C2 thereupon operates switch S2 again to admit water to the vat. Water valve 14 remains open for a period of time calculated to introduce the necessary water volume. In the average dishwasher this is about twelve pints and about forty-five seconds is a sufiicient fill period for usual domestic water pressures. The motor 11 remains in operation during a five minute period representing the washing cycle, and, of course, the drain valve solenoid 22 also remains energized to hold the drain hose 20 in its non-draining position. At the end of the washing period, switches S3 and S4 are again opened, respectively de-energizing the motor 4 and the drain valve solenoid 22 and permitting the drainage of the spent wash water from the vat. Shortly thereafter, each of the switches S3 and S4 is again closed, respectively re-energizing the motor 11 and the drain valve solenoid 22, whereupon the drain valve system is operated to nondraining position. Cam C2 then closes switch S2 for another forty-five second interval during which a twelve pint volume of hot rinse water is introduced into the vat through valve 14. Switch S2 again opens de-energizing solenoid 18 to interrupt the water flow and valve 14 remains closed throughout the remainder of the cycle. The quantity of rinse water is forcefully circulated throughout the vat by the impeller 9. Coincident with the closing of switch S2 to re-energize the inlet valve solenoid, cam C5 closes switch S5, energizing the dispenser heater 45 through the circuit including conductors 49, 48 and 56. Switch S5 remains closed sufficiently to insure that the heat emission of heater 45 will actuate the diaphragm 42 from its normally concave to its convex position. The strong pumping action of the diaphragm drives a charge of wetting agent through tube 32 into the vat 3, where it mixes with the rinse water. Energization of the heat coil 45 for a thirty second period will be ample for actuation of the diaphragm. After such interval, the switch S5 returns to open circuit position and the diaphragm 42 will shortly reassume its cool position As it does so, the diaphragm will draw a quantity of the wetting agent into the reservoir 41 through the valve 43. Valve 30 closes to prevent liquid from being drawn from tube 32. The drain valve solenoid 22 remains energized for the five minute period representing the final rinsing operation, following which switch S4 de-energizes the solenoid to effect the drainage of the rinse water from the washing vat. It is preferable at this time also to deenergize the motor 11 so as to prevent the circulation of the rinse water during its drainage period. The solenoid 22 is not again energized during the remainder of the operation, but, as indicated in Fig. 3, the motor 11 returns to operation so as to circulate drying air throughout the dishwasher vat.

As is well understood, the eflect of the wetting agent is to reduce the surface tension of the water so that instead of collecting and remaining on the articles at the termination of the rinsing cycle, the water droplets will'drain freely from the articles and will, of course, pass with the bulk of the rinsing liquid to the drain. Therefore, during the subsequent drying operation, there will be a minimum of water particles remaining on the dishes for evaporation thereon; and since, as previously stated, it is the mineral and other foreign matter content of the water droplets which produce spotting of glassware and other articles, the

washed and dried glasses,'dishes, or other articles will be substantially free of spotting when, at the end of the complete operation, the user opens the door to remove them from the vat.

It should be understood that although the invention has been described with particular reference to dishwashing apparatus, the employment of a wetting agent in the final rinse water of clothes washing machines is almost equally advantageous. In clothes washing machines which are of the centrifugal extraction type particularly, the addition of the wetting agent increases the mobility of the rinse water with the result that the centrifugal extraction operation removes substantially more water from the clothes than under normal conditions in which the rinse water has not been. treated to reduce its surface tension. p

In each type of apparatus, the drying time is shortened by the use of our invention; in the dishwasher, the substantial reduction in the water retained on the articles obviously reduces the time necessary to evaporate the residual water, and in clothes washing machines, the improved extraction by centrifugal or pressure means likewise reduces the residual water and the amount of time for the complete drying of the articles.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. A device for dispensing a measured quantity of liquid into a tub or vat, comprising a container for said liquid, means for mounting said container relative to said said vat, a conduit communicating between the interior of said vat and said container and accommodating the filling of said container with said liquid from the interior of said vat, a closure cap normally carried by the end of said conduit communicating with said vat and removable therefrom from the interior of said vat, a reservoir in communication with said container, first check valve means accommodating flow of said liquid only from said containerinto said reservoir, a thermally actuated pump in said reservoir, a discharge tube leading from said reservoir into said vat, second check valve means accommodating flow of liquid only from said reservoir through said tube into said vat, thermal means for actuating said pump to effect a discharge of a quantity of said liquid from said reservoir through said tube into said vat, and means for energizing said thermal means.

2. A device for dispensing a measured quantity of liquid into a tub or vat, comprising a container for said liquid, means for mounting said container relative to said vat, a conduit communicating between the interior of said vat and said container and accommodating the filling of said container with said liquid from the interior of said vat, a closure cap normally carried by the end of said conduit communicating with said vat and removable therefrom from the interior of said vat, a reservoir in communication with said container, first check valve means accommodating How of said liquid only from said container into said reservoir, a thermally actuated pump in said reservoir, said pump comprising a wall portion of said reservor, a discharge tube leading from said reservoir into said vat, second check'valve means accommodating flow of liquid only from said reservoir "7 through said tube into said, vat, thermal. means for actuating said pump to. effect a discharge of a quantity of, said liquid from said reservoir through said tube-into said vat, and meansfor energizinglsaid thermal means.

3. A device for dispensing a. measured quantity of liquid into a' tub or vat, comprising a container for said liquid, means for mounting said container relative to said vat, a conduit communicating between the interior of said vat and said container and accommodating the fillingof said container with said liquid from the interior of. said vat, a closure cap normally carried. by the end of; said conduit-communicating with said vat and removable therefrom from the interior of said vat, a reservoir in communication with said container, first check valve means accommodating flow of said liquid only from said container into said reservoir, a pump in said reservoir, said pump comprising a thermally responsive bimetallic disk, a discharge tube leading from said: reservoir into said vat, second check valve means accommodating flow of liquid only from said reservoir through said tube into said vat, thermal means including an electrical resistance coil in heat exchange relation with said disk for actuating said pump to efiect a discharge of a quantity of said liquid from said reservoir through said tube into said vat, and means for energizing said resistance coil.

4. A device according to claim 3, in which said bimetallic disk forms a wall of said reservoir and when heated assumes a configuration which reduces the volume of the reservoir equal to the quantity of liquid to be discharged into said vat.

15. Washing apparatus, comprising a vat to contain articles to be washed, means for introducing into said vat a quantity of liquid, means for effecting a circulation of said liquid within said vat to cause said liquid to flow about the articles within said vat, means for draining said liquid from said vat at a predetermined time, control means for actuating said liquid introduction means, said liquid circulation means and said liquid draining means in a predetermined operational sequence, a container of liquid-conditioning material fixed relative to said vat, a conduit communicating between the interior of said vat and said container and accommodating the filling of said container with said liquid-conditioning material from the interior of said vat, a closure cap normally carried by the. end of said conduit communicating with said vat and removable therefrom, from the interior of said vat, a discharge tube communicating from said container into said vat, check valve means accommodating flow of liquid only from said container through said tube into said vat, thermally actuated pump means for discharging a quantity of said conditioning material from said container through said tube into said vat, thermal ated, by said control means to energize said thermal means at a predetermined portion of said operational sequence.

Washing apparatus, comprising a vat to contain articles to be washed, means for introducing into said vat a quantity of liquid, means for effecting a circulation of said liquid within said vat to cause said liquid to flow about the articles within said vat, means for draining said liquid from said vat at a predetermined time, control means for actuating said liquid introduction means, said liquid circulation means and said liquid draining means in a predetermined operational sequence, a container of liquid-conditioning material fixed relative to said vat, a conduit communicating between the interior of said vat and said container and accommodating the filling of said container with said liquid conditioning material from the interior of said vat, a closure cap normally carried by the end of said conduit communicating with said vat and removable therefrom from the interior of said vat, a discharge tube carried by said cap and removmeans for actuating said pump means, and means oper- 1 ass- 7,224

able therewith and normally, arranged within, said, con.- duit and, communicating from, said container through said capi'ntof said vat, check valve means accommodating flow of liquid only from said container through said tube andv said, cap, into said, vat, thermally actuated pump means for discharging a, quantity of said conditioning material from said container through said tube andsaid cap-into said vat, thermal means for actuating said pump means, andv means operated by said control means to energize said thermal means at a predetermined portion of said operational. sequence.

7. Washing apparatus, comprising a vat to: contain articles to be washed, means for introducing into said vat a quantity of liquid, means for effecting a circulation of said liquid within said vat to cause said liquid toflow about'the. articles within, said vat, means for draining said liquid from saidvat at a predeterminedtirne, control means for, actuating said, liquid introduction means, said liquid circulation means and said liquid draining'nieans in a predetermined operational sequence, a container of liquid-conditioning material fixed relative to said vat, means including a combination fill and discharge cap for said container, said cap being; disposed Within said vat, thermally operated pump means for discharging a quantity of said. conditioning material from said container into. said vat, thermal meansv for actuating said pump means, and means for causing said control means to energize said thermal means at a predetermined portion of said operational sequence.

8. A device for dispensing a quantity of liquid-conditioning material into a tub or vat, comprising-a container for said material, a pump chamber communicating with said container, first check valve means accommodating flow only from. said container into said pump chamber, fill cap means for said container, said cap means having a valve chamber provided with an orifice discharging into said vat, a conduit communicating between said pump chamber and said valve chamber to conduct said liquid-conditioning material from said pump chamber to said valve chamber, second: check valve, means disposed in said-valve chamber accommodating flow only from said conduit into said valve chamber, thermally actuated pumping means for discharging a quantity of material from said, pump chamber intosaid vat by way of said conduit and said valve chamber, and means for applying thermal energy to said pumping means to actuate the same.

9. For use with washing apparatus having a, tub for containing articles to be washed, means for introducing washing and rinsing liquids into. said tub, means for washing said articles in a washing liquid, and means for rinsing said articles in a rinsing liquid; mechanism for dispensing a measured quantity of liquid-conditioning material into said tub, comprising, in combination, a container for said material, a pump chamber communicating with said container, first valve means accommodating only flow of said materialfrom said container into said chamber, a conduit communicating between said chamber and said tub, second valve means accommodating only flow of material from said chamber through said conduit into said tub, thermallyactuatable pump means in said chamber, said pump means having a fixed amount of displacement for each actuation thereof and being responsive solely to an increase in the temperature thereof to move in a direction effecting flow of a quantity of said material from said chamber into'said tub, said pump means being mechanically biased for movement in an opposite direction upon subsequently cooling from said increased temperature whereby to draw replacement material from said container into said chamber, electrical resistance means disposedadjacent said pump means for direct heat transfer thereto for increasing the temperature of said pump means, for moving in said first-named direction, and cyclically operated switch means for 9 10 energizing said resistance means for a time necessary to References Cited in the file of this patent increase the temperature of the pumping means for its UNITED STATES PATENTS first-mentioned movement, and to de-energize said re- 6 ch b N 27 sistance means for a time permitting the cooling of said ggg 'ggg i ers ""f' g: 1 pump means as necessary for its second-named move- 5 21664094 Spragins Dec. 1953 ment.

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