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US 5,313,964 AGranted
Fluid-handling machine incorporating a closed loop system for controlling liquid load
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsMark E. Dausch, Vivek V. Badami, Walter Whipple, III
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fluid-handling machine, such as a dishwasher or clothes washer, incorporates a device for measuring liquid load that includes a sensor for detecting liquid pressure surges. The machine may further include a frame for containing articles, a system for circulating or distributing a liquid in the frame, and a controller, responsive to the device, for controlling the amount of liquid provided to the frame so that enough liquid is provided to ensure that there is a sufficient amount for a wash cycle.
Claims9
A machine for washing food handling items with a liquid comprising:
- a frame for containing food handling items to be washed;
- means for providing a liquid to said frame;
- means for distributing said liquid in said frame;
- a sensor for detecting liquid pressure oscillations in said liquid as said liquid is distributed;
- and
- a controller, responsive to said sensor, for shutting off flow of liquid through said liquid providing means when the detected liquid pressure oscillations substantially cease, said controller comprising a microprocessor incorporating a fuzzy logic feedback control algorithm adapted to process:
- an elapsed time for distributing said liquid,
- an amplitude of the detected liquid pressure oscillations, and
- an average slope of the detected liquid pressure oscillations to control said liquid providing means.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.