Gravity drain washing machine with improved drain control valve
AssigneeAlliance Laundry Systems LLC
InventorsBrian Wohlgemuth, Daryl T. Johnson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gravity drain laundry machine having a flapper style drain valve for controlling the discharge of wash water from the machine following a washing cycle. An electric motor is operable for moving the flapper plate from between open and closed positions, and a linkage interconnects an output shaft of the motor and the flapper plate which retains the flapper plate in a closed position with lesser torque requirements of the motor. The motor also is mountable on either side of the drain valve for the particular laundry machine configuration.
Claims20
A gravity drain laundry washing machine comprising:
- a wash tub for receiving water during a washing operation,
- said wash tub having a water outlet,
- a drain valve having an inlet port coupled to said wash tub outlet and an outlet port coupled to a drain,
- said drain valve having a flapper plate pivotably supported for movement between a closed position preventing the flow of water from said wash tub through said drain valve outlet port and an open position for permitting the gravity flow and draining of water from said wash tub through said wash tub outlet and drain valve to the drain,
- an electric motor having an output shaft operable for moving said flapper plate from said open position to said closed position,
- a linkage interconnecting said drive motor and said flapper plate including a motor crank arm fixed to said motor output shaft, a flapper plate crank arm fixed to said flapper plate, and at least one intermediate link coupled between said motor crank arm and flapper plate crank arm such that operation of said motor causes said interconnecting linkage to move said flapper plate from said open position to said closed position.
The gravity drain laundry washing machine of claim I in which said linkage includes a single intermediate link interconnecting said motor crank arm and said flapper plate crank arm.
A gravity drain laundry washing machine comprising:
- a wash tub for receiving water during a washing operation,
- said wash tub having a water outlet,
- a drain valve having a housing defining a liquid flow passage with an inlet port coupled to said wash tub outlet an outlet port coupled to a drain,
- said drain valve having a flapper plate with a pivot shaft pivotably supporting the flapper plate for movement between a closed position preventing the flow of water from said wash tub through said drain valve flow passage and an open position for permitting the gravity flow and draining of water from said wash tub through said wash tub outlet and drain valve liquid flow passage to the drain,
- an electric motor having an output shaft operable for moving said flapper plate from said open position to said closed position, a linkage interconnecting said motor output shaft and said flapper plate including a motor crank arm fixed to said motor output shaft, a flapper plate crank arm fixed to said flapper plate, and single intermediate link coupled between said motor crank arm and flapper plate crank arm such that operation of said motor causes said interconnecting linkage to move said flapper plate from said open position to said closed position.
A gravity drain valve for controlling the discharge of liquid from a liquid outlet to a drain comprising:
- a valve housing having an inlet port coupled to said liquid outlet and an outlet port coupled to said drain,
- a flapper plate pivotably supported by said housing for movement between a closed position preventing the flow of liquid from inlet port to said drain and an open position for permitting the gravity flow and draining of liquid from said liquid outlet to said drain,
- an electric motor having an output shaft operable for moving said flapper plate from said open position to said closed position,
- a linkage interconnecting said drive motor and said flapper plate including a motor crank arm fixed to said motor output shaft, a flapper plate crank arm fixed to said flapper plate, and at least one intermediate link coupled between said motor crank arm and flapper plate crank arm such that operation of said motor causes said interconnecting linkage to move said flapper plate from said open position to said closed position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.