Venturi power supply and actuator system
AssigneeEaton Corporation
InventorKeith E. Zukausky
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A control system for a washing machine having an aspirator connected to the discharge side of the inlet valve. The aspirator vacuum port provides a vacuum signal through a one-way valve to a vacuum reservoir which supplies a vacuum signal via a control valve to one or more vacuum responsive diaphragm actuators. The force output of the actuators is employed for auxiliary machine functions such as direct mechanical actuation of the drain valve or operating the recirculation pump motor start switch.
Claims12
A control system for a washing appliance comprising:
- (a) a valve adapted for connection at its inlet to a source of pressurized liquid and including electrically operated actuator means operative upon electrical energization and de-energization to effect opening and closing of said valve;
- (b) means defining a venturi having a converging inlet, a throat and an outlet diffuser with the inlet thereof connected to the outlet of said valve for receiving fluid flow therefrom;
- (c) pressure tap means defining a fluid port in the throat of said venturi;
- (d) receptacle means for receiving the articles to be washed;
- (e) conduit means operatively connected for directing fluid from the venturi outlet diffuser to said receptacle means;
- (f) one-way valve means having the inlet thereof connected to said venturi throat port;
- (g) means defining a fluid pressure reservoir having an inlet including means connecting said reservoir to the outlet of said one-way valve means;
- (h) fluid pressure servo-actuator means having a pressure signal inlet connected to receive the fluid pressure in said reservoir, said servo-actuator having an output member and operative to provide an output force and movement of said member in response to a fluid pressure signal from said reservoir;
- and,
- (i) electrically operated valve means for controlling flow between said reservoir and said servo-actuator means.
A control system for a cleansing appliance comprising:
- (a) inlet valve means adapted for connection to a source of fluid pressure operative upon electrical energization to provide a flow of pressurized fluid and upon de-energization to block flow of fluid;
- (b) aspirator means receiving fluid flow from said inlet valve means and operative thereupon to provide a source of sub-atmospheric pressure;
- (c) means defining a fluid receptacle for receiving articles to be cleansed;
- (d) flow directing means operative to direct fluid flow from said aspirator means to said receptacle;
- (e) accumulator means including check valve means operative to store fluid at said sub-atmospheric pressure;
- (f) fluid pressure responsive actuator means operatively connected to said sub-atmospheric pressure in said accumulator for providing in response thereto a mechanical force output on a member;
- and,
- (g) electrically operated valve means operative to control fluid pressure communication between said accumulator and said actuator means.
In a control system for a cleansing appliance of the type having a receptacle for receiving articles to be cleansed and an electrically operated inlet valve for controlling fluid flow from a source of pressurized fluid to said receptacle, with said receptacle having a drain port provided therein, the improvement comprising:
- (a) aspirator means receiving fluid discharge from said inlet valve and operative to discharge fluid to said receptacle, said aspirator means having a vacuum port and operative to provide a vacuum signal at said port upon flow of fluid from said inlet valve through said aspirator;
- (b) fluid flow control valve means operative upon actuation to control flow of fluid from said drain port;
- (c) fluid pressure responsive actuator means having a fluid pressure signal inlet and operative upon connection to a source of fluid pressure signal to provide a force output on a member;
- (d) conduit means connecting said aspirator vacuum port to said actuator means inlet port for providing said vacuum signal to said actuator means;
- (e) accumulator means disposed in said conduit means and including one-way valve means;
- (f) operator means responsive to said actuator force output for effecting actuation of said fluid flow control means;
- and,
- (g) electrically operated control valve means operative to control fluid flow in said conduit means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.