US3323543A - Dispensing mechanism for use with domestic appliance - Google Patents

Description

R. S. BRADEN June 6, 1967 DISPENSING MECHANISM FOR USE WITH DOMESTIC APPLIANCE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 15, 1964 I INVENTOR. R040)? .5. Braden BY H15 ATTORNEY June 6, 1967 R. s. BRADEN 3,

DISPENSING MECHANISM FOR USE WITH DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Filed Oct. 13, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

H16 AITORVVEY United States Patent 3,323,543 DISPENSING MECHANISM FGR USE WITH DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Raiph S. Braden, Beilbrook, Ohio, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 13, 1964, Ser. No. 403,480 7 Claims. ((11. 137--571) This invention relates to a domestic appliance and more particularly to an improved dispensing mechanism for use with washing apparatus.

The dispensing arrangement of this invention contemplates providing a washing machine with a rinse water conditioner containing receptacle and with means for simply and accurately predetermining the amount of conditioner dispensed from the receptacle after a given period of time in the cycle of operations in the washing machine. The receptacle is preferably of sufficient size to contain enough conditioner fluid for several wash loads, whereby there is no need for refilling the receptacle before each wash load.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a dispenser adapted for mounting on the door of a washing apparatus.

More particularly, it is an object of this invention to provide a dispenser mountable upon the door of a dishwasher, said door being adapted for movement between open and closed positions whereby the dispenser is conditioned by the movement of said door for dispensing a predetermined charge of fluid.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a dispenser adapted for movement between a substantially horizontal position for charging said dispenser and a substantially vertical position for dispensing the charge and wherein said dispenser includes a pair of interconnected, charge containing vessels having different heights whereby the seeking of a common fluid level between said vessels dispenses said charge.

A general object of this invention is the provision in a dispenser of common fluid level seeking means for simply and accurately measuring and dispensing a charge therefrom.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a dishwasher suitable for use with this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIGURE 1 and providing a top elevational view of the dispenser of this invention;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIGURE 2 and with parts broken away to show the communication between the reservoir and measuring cup of the dispenser;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the door mounted dispenser taken along line 4-4 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 5--5 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the measuring cup of the dispenser taken along line 6--6 in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary elevational view taken along line 7 in FIGURE 4 and with parts broken away to show a means for venting said dispenser; and

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of the door mounted dispenser taken along line 8-8 in FIGURE 7.

In accordance with this invention and with reference to FIGURE 1, a dishwasher 10 is illustrated having a horizontally hingedly mounted door 12 on the front thereof for providing access to the dishwashing chamber. A solenoid operated water supply means 13 is provided for supplying water to the dishwashing chamber for washing dishes or the like. In addition to closing the dishwashing chamber, the door 12 may include a latch handle 14 for locking the door closed, a timer 16 for controlling the water supply valve 13 and the operating cycle of the dishwasher, and vents 18, 20 for venting the dishwashing chamber.

With reference to FIGURES 2, 3 and 4, the dishwasher door 12 is shown provided with an outer door panel 22 and an inner door panel 24 between which the novel dispenser 26 of this invention is mounted.

More particularly, the dispenser 26 is comprised of a molded casing means 28 of phenolicplastic or equivalent. The casing means includes wall means 30, 32, 34 and 36 defining a reservoir or rinse conditioner container 38 and a threaded collar portion 40 adapted to extend through an opening 42 in the inner door panel 24 for receiving a dipenser nut 46 which lockingly mounts the dispenser to the dishwasher door 12. The jointure between the dispenser and the inner door panel 24 is sealed against leakage by a gasket 47. A fill opening 48 in communication with the reservoir 38 is threaded to receive a filler cap 50 which may be unscrewed to place a quantity of rinse conditioner into the reservoir 38 when the dishwasher door 12 is in its substantially horizontal open position with the fill opening 48 facing upwardly.

Adjacent to the reservoir 38, the molded casing 28 is formed with a pair of communicating vessels such as a measuring cup 52 and a dispensing chamber 54 in communication with each other or interconnected by means of a duct 56 which is formed by drilling through the casing means-the drill opening in the outside of the casing means being closed by a dispenser plug 58. The fluid passageway, formed by the pair of interconnected vessels 52, 54, communicates with the reservoir 38 by means of a measuring cup fill passage 60' interconnecting the reservoir 38 and the measuring cup 52. The dispensing chamber 54 communicates with the dishwashing chamber 62 through an annular rib or valve seat forming outlet 64 and a gravity chute 66 in the collar portion 40 of the dispenser (FIGURE 5). Thus, when the dishwasher door 12 is in its horizontal position, the measuring cup fill passage 60 directs fluid from the reservoir 38 to the measuring cup 52, the measuring cup 52 being lower than the wall 30 of the reservoir 38 (FIGURE 3). When the dishwasher door is returned to its closed or vertical position, the measuring cup 52, as well as the dispensing chamber 54 and the interconnecting duct 56 lWlll be filled with fluid, the excess fluid returning to the reservoir 38 over the ledge 70 separating the measuring cup from the reservoir and forming one side of the fill passage 60 between the reservoir and the measuring cup. Note in FIGURES 5 and 6 that fluid will stand in the measuring cup 52 at the elevation of its inlet opening 53 as defined by the ledge 70 a distance A above the level of fluid in the dispensing chamber at the valve seat forming outlet opening 64 thereof.

Periodically in a dishwashing cycle, a measured quantity of fluid may be dispensed from the dispenser 26. For this purpose, the molded casing means 28 is formed with a valve housing 72 closed on one side thereof by a dispenser lid 76 which extends across the top of the dispenser and also defines one side of the reservoir 38. This lid may be fastened to the casing as by fastening means 77 with a gasket (not shown) circumscribing the jointure between the lid and casing to effect a seal. A plunger or valve means 7 8 in the valve housing 72 includes a valve portion 80 having a flat, annular valve gasket 82 in sealing engagement with the valve seat forming outlet 64- and an actuating stem 84 jo-urnaled or slidably supported in the dispenser lid 76 and extending outside of the valve housing 72 for attachment to a bimetal plunger actuator 86.

In accordance with the timer controlled energization of .the electrical terminals 88, 90 of the bimetal 86, the valve 78 will be lifted to open the outlet 64 of the dispensing chamber 54. When this occurs, the head of fluid A (FIGURE 5) formed between the overflow ledge 70 at the measuring cup and the outlet 64 of the dispensing chamber will, in seeking a common level with the fluid in the dispensing chamber, dispense a measured quantity of fluid to the dishwashing chamber 62 via the chute 66.

Note that the valve means 78 is remote from the fluid being dispensed rather than submerged therein as in some prior art devices. This improved arrangement will prevent the valve means from becoming corroded or stuck by the deleterious characteristics of the fluid being dispensed. Such a remote location for the valve means also eliminates the need for sealing means around the actuating shaft 84 where it is journaled in the dispenser lid 76. No fluid in the dispenser ever reaches this jointure.

Improved operation of the dispenser under widely ranging temperature conditions is facilitated by venting the reservoir 38 and the measuring cup 52. For this reason a vent passage 92 is formed in the casting means interconnecting the .top of the reservoir 38 above the fluid with the atmosphere. Another vent 94 interconnects the passageway 60 between the reservoir and the measuring cup to the atmosphere through a washer 96 having a controlled size orifice leading to a channel 98.

It should now be seen that the dispenser 26 once charged with a load of rinse conditioner in the reservoir 38 will act for an extended period to dispense measured quantities of the conditioner to the dishwashing chamber under the control of a timer operated bimetal 86. Further, the dispenser is provided with a metered charge each time the dishwasher door is moved between open and closed positions. Moreover, the operating parts of the dispenser of this invention are retained in a clean atmosphere remote from the fluid being dispensed by utilizing the concept that fluid will seek a common level in a pair of communicating vessels having different lengths.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is .to be understood that other forms might be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In combination with a water-using appliance having a tub, a door for said tub, said door being hinged for movement between first and second positions, and timer means for controlling the operation of said appliance; a dispenser mounted in fixed relationship to said door for movement therewith between said first and second positions and comprising means forming a reservoir for containing a supply of liquid, means forming first and second vessels in fixed relation to each other and interconnected for liquid flow therebetween, said first vessel being at an elevation below said reservoir when said dispenser is in said first position, each of said first and second vessels having an opening at an elevation above the interconnection of said vessels and one of said openings being at an elevation above the other of said openings when said dispenser is in said second position, said one of said openings communicating with said reservoir for filling said first vessel with liquid from said reservoir when said dispenser is in said first position, said first vessel configured to retain a fill of said liquid at the same elevation as said one of said openings when said dispenser moves from said first position to said second position, and the other of said openings selectively communicating with said tub for dispensing liquid from said second vessel when said dispenser is in said second position, and valve means operable for placing said second vessel in communication with said tub when said dispenser is in said second position, whereby the weight of liquid in said first vessel between the elevation of said one of said openings and the elevation of said other of said openings when said dispenser is in said second position forces at least some of the liquid in said second vessel upwardly and toward said tub as the level of liquid in said first vessel moves toward the level of liquid in said second vessel, and means controlled by said timer means for operating said valve means at a predetermined time in relation to the operation of said appliance.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said valve means is downstream from said other of said openings.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said valve means includes a shaft at an elevation above said other of said openings when said dispenser is in said second position, thereby to remain out of engagement with said liquid when said at least some of the liquid from said second vessel is being forced toward said tub.

4-. In a dispenser adapted for movement between a substantially horizontal position for charging said dispenser with fluid to be dispensed and a substantially vertical position for dispensing, the combination comprising means forming a reservoir for containing said fluid, means forming first and second vessels in fixed relation to each other and interconnected by a duct for fluid flow therebetween, said first vessel being at an elevation below said reservoir when said dispenser is in said substantially horizontal position, each of said first and second vessels having an opening at an elevation above said duct and one of said openings being at an elevation above the other of said openings when said dispenser is in said substantially vertical position, said one of said openings communicating with said reservoir for filling said first vessel with fluid by gravity flow from said reservoir when said dispenser is in said substantially horizontal positilon, said first vessel having means separating said first vessel and said reservoir and defining the elevation of said one of said openings to retain a fill of said fluid at the elevation of said one of said openings when said dispenser moves from said substantially horizontal position to said substantially vertical position, and the other of said openings selectively communicating with the outside of said dispenser for depensing fluid from said second vessel when said dispenser is in said substantially vertical position, and means for placing said second vessel in communication with the outside when said dispenser is in said substantially vertical position whereby the seeking of a common fluid elevation in said first and second vessels dispenses fluid from said second vessel, the volume of fluid dispensed being equivalent to the volume of said first vessel defined between the elevation of said one of said openings and the elevation of said other of said openings when said dispenser is in said substantially vertical position.

5. In a dispenser adapted for movement between a first position for charging said dispenser with fluid to be dispensed and a second position for dispensing, the combination comprising means forming a reservoir for containing said fluid, means forming first and second vessels in fixed relation to each other and interconnected for fluid flow therebetween, said first vessel being at an elevation below said reservoir when said dispenser is in said first position, each of said first and second vessels having an opening at an elevation above the interconnection of said vessels and one of said openings being at an elevation above the other of said openings when said dispenser is in said second position, said one of said openings communicating with said reservoir for filling said first vessel with fluid from said reservoir when said dispenser is in said first position, said first vessel configured to retain a fill of said fluid at the same elevation as said one of said openings when said dispenser moves from said first position to said second position, and the other of said openings selectively communicating with the outside of said dispenser for dispensing fluid from said second vessel when said dispenser is in said second position, and means for placing said second vessel in communication with the outside when said dispenser is in said second position whereby the seeking of a common fluid elevation in said first and second vessels dispenses fluid from said second vessel, .the volume of fluid dispensed being equivalent to the volume of said first vessel defined between the elevation of said one of said openings and the elevation of said other of said openings when said dispenser is in said second position.

6. The dispenser of claim 5 wherein said last named means is a valve means at an elevation above said other of said openings when said dispenser is in said second position thereby to be substantially remote from the deleterious effects of said fluid when fluid is dispensed.

7. In a dispenser adapted for movement between a first position for charging said dispenser with fluid to be dispensed and a second position for dispensing, the combination comprising means forming a reservoir for containing said fluid, means forming first and second vessels in fixed relation .to each other and interconnected for fluid flow therebetween, said first vessel being at an elevation below said reservoir when said dispenser is in said first position, each of said first and second vessels having an opening at an elevation above the interconnection of said vessels and one of said openings being at an elevation above the other of said openings when said dispenser is in said second position, said one of said openings communicating with said reservoir for filling said first vessel with fluid from said reservoir when said dispenser is in said first position, said means forming said first vessel including means to retain a fill of said fluid at the same elevation as said one of said openings when said dispenser moves from said first position to said second position, and the other of said openings selectively communicating with .the outside of said dispen'ser for dispensing fluid from said second vessel when said dispenser is in said second position, and valve means operable for placing said second vessel in communication with the outside when said dispenser is in said second position, whereby the weight of fluid in said first vessel between the elevation of said one of said openings and the elevation of said other of said openings when said dispenser is in said second position forces at least some of the fluid in said second vessel upwardly toward the outside of said dispenser as the level of fluid in said first vessel moves downwardly toward the level of fluid in said second vessel. 1

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,576,253 11/1951 Farrell 137-576 2,946,489 7/ 1960 Brucken 222-454 2,973,769 3/1961 Jacobs 13493 3,152,723 10/ 1964 Perl 222--16O M. CARY NELSON, Primary Examiner.

W. CLINE, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. 5. IN A DISPENSER ADAPTED FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN A FIRST POSITION FOR CHARGING SAID DISPENSER WITH FLUID TO BE DISPENSED AND A SECOND POSITION FOR DISPENSING, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING MEANS FORMING A RESERVOIR FOR CONTAINING SAID FLUID, MEANS FORMING FIRST AND SECOND VESSELS IN FIXED RELATION TO EACH OTHER AND INTERCONNECTED FOR FLUID FLOW THEREBETWEEN SAID FIRST VESSEL BEING AT AN ELEVATION BELOW SAID RESERVOIR WHEN SAID DISPENSER IS IN SAID FIRST POSITION, EACH OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND VESSELS HAVING AN OPENING AT AN ELEVATION ABOVE THE INTERCONNECTION OF SAID VESSELS AND ONE OF SAID OPENINGS BEING AT AN ELEVATION ABOVE THE OTHER OF SAID OPENINGS WHEN SAID DISPENSER IS IN SAID SECOND POSITION, SAID ONE OF SAID OPENINGS COMMUNICATING WITH SAID RESERVOIR FOR FILLING SAID FIRST VESSEL WITH FLUID FROM SAID RESERVOIR WHEN SAID DISPENSER IS IN SAID FIRST POSITION, SAID FIRST VESSEL CONFIGURED TO RETAIN A FILL OF SAID FLUID AT THE SAME ELEVATION AS SAID ONE OF SAID OPENINGS WHEN SAID DISPENSER MOVES FROM SAID FIRST POSITION TO SAID SECOND POSITION, AND THE OTHER OF SAID OPENINGS SELECTIVELY COMMUNICATING WITH THE OUTSIDE OF SAID DISPENSER FOR DISPENSING FLUID FROM SAID SECOND VESSEL WHEN SAID DISPENSER IS IN SAID SECOND POSITION, AND MEANS FOR PLACING SAID SECOND VESSEL IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE OUTSIDE WHEN SAID DISPENSER IS IN SAID SECOND POSITION WHEREBY THE SEEKING OF A COMMON FLUID ELEVATION IN SAID FIRST AND SECOND VESSELS DISPENSES FLUID FROM SAID SECOND VESSEL, THE VOLUME OF FLUID DISPENSED BEING EQUIVALENT TO THE VOLUME OF SAID FIRST VESSEL DEFINED BETWEEN THE ELEVATION OF SAID ONE OF SAID OPENINGS AND THE ELEVATION OF SAID OTHER OF SAID OPENINGS WHEN SAID DISPENSER IS IN SAID SECOND POSITION.

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