Method and apparatus for using gravity to precisely dose detergent in a washing machine
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorChristoph J. Miller
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of dosing detergent into a cleaning chamber of a washing machine using gravity. The method comprises providing an amount of detergent to be used in a washing machine, providing a detergent storage tank, providing a diverter valve comprising a detergent inlet, a detergent outlet, and an air vent, presenting a user interface at a location accessible to a user for a user to input load characteristics, relaying information via electrical signals from the user interface to a controller in electrical communication with the user interface, determining a dosage requirement and dispensing a fluid into the cleaning chamber.
Claims16
A method of dosing detergent into a cleaning chamber of a washing machine using gravity, comprising:
- providing an amount of detergent to be used in a washing machine;
- providing a detergent storage tank;
- providing a diverter valve comprising a detergent inlet, a detergent outlet, and an air vent;
- presenting a user interface at a location accessible to a user for a user to input load characteristics;
- relaying information via electrical signals from the user interface to a controller in electrical communication with the user interface;
- determining a dosage requirement;
- dispensing a fluid into the cleaning chamber by:
- opening the detergent inlet of the diverter valve;
- determining how much fluid has been dispensed;
- comparing how much fluid has been dispensed to the dosage requirement;
- and
- closing the detergent inlet of the diverter valve when the amount of fluid dispensed is substantially equal to the dosage requirement;
- and
- venting the remaining fluid by opening of the air vent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.