Apparatus and method for controlling laundering cycle by sensing wash aid concentration
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorsMichael Stephen Hendrickson, Colleen M. Doyle, Frank Nekic, Dennis L. Kehl, Joel Adam Luckman, Ayomide Fawole
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An automatic washing machine can be operated in accordance with a selected wash cycle by determining a concentration of a wash aid prior to a dispensing of the wash aid into at least one of a tub and a drum, and selecting an operating parameter of the automatic washing machine in response to the determined concentration.
Claims18
A method for operating an automatic washing machine in accordance with a selected wash cycle, the automatic washing machine comprising a wash chamber operable to receive fabric articles for washing, a wash aid dispenser fluidly coupled to the wash chamber, a sensor coupled with at least one or more of the wash aid dispenser and a wash aid conduit and fluidly coupled therewith for sensing a concentration of an undiluted wash aid disposed in at least one or more of the wash aid dispenser and wash aid conduit, and a water supply fluidly coupled to at least one of the wash aid dispenser and wash chamber for generating a wash liquid, the method comprising:
- automatically determining with the sensor a concentration of an undiluted wash aid prior to combining the wash aid with a liquid;
- and
- selecting an operating parameter of the automatic washing machine in response to the determined concentration.
A method for operating an automatic washing machine in accordance with a selected wash cycle, the automatic washing machine comprising a wash chamber and a wash aid dispenser fluidly coupled to the wash chamber, a sensor coupled with at least one or more of the wash aid dispenser and a wash aid conduit and fluidly coupled therewith for sensing a concentration of an undiluted wash aid disposed in at least one or more of the wash aid dispenser and was aid conduit, and a water supply fluidly coupled to at least one of the wash aid dispenser and wash chamber for generating a wash liquid, the method comprising:
- Initiating a wash process;
- determining with the sensor a concentration of an undiluted wash aid prior to combining the undiluted wash aid with a liquid;
- selecting an operating parameter of the automatic washing machine in response to the determined concentration;
- initiating at least one rinse step after completion of the wash process;
- and
- initiating at least one spin process after completion of one of the wash process and at least one rinse step.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.