Washing machine fill control system

A vertical axis washing machine comprising:

• a rotatable basket adapted to receive the articles to be cleansed, a rotatable agitator device further being disposed within said basket to effect movement of water and articles within said basket;
• a drive system coupled to said rotatable basket and said agitator device;
• a water supply system disposed to provide water to said basket in a clothes-positioning spray pattern;
• and
• a closed loop water level controller responsive to the load of articles disposed in said basket to be cleansed, said water level controller being coupled to said water supply system and said drive system and adapted to provide an optimal fill level of water in said basket, said controller comprising an initial fill estimation system and a final fill determination system;
• said drive system being responsive to said initial fill determination system so as to spin said basket prior to the addition of water to said basket;
• said drive system further being responsive to said final fill determination system so as to rotate said agitator in rotation cycles of said agitator following the addition of water to said basket to displace said articles and water in said basket and to process agitator work information generated during said rotation cycles so as to determine said optimal fill level;
• said water supply system further comprising a fluid fill funnel being disposed in a spraydown position with respect to said basket so as to provide said clothes-positioning spray pattern such that the water urges the articles in said basket to be distributed across the bottom of said basket.