US3006176A - Combination washer-dryer - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 31, 1961 c. E. BEHRENS 3,006,176

COMBINATION WASHER-DRYER Filed June 3, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 31, 1961 c. E. BEHRENS 3,006,176

COMBINATIONWASHER-DRYER Filed June 3, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Oct. 31, 1961 c. E. BEHRENS COMBINATION WASHER-DRYER Filed Julie 3, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 J72. z/enl arx C u r2155 fie & J

3,996,176 CGMBINATION WASHER-DRYER Curtis E. Behrcns, Eihngham, BL, assignor to Borg- Warner Corporation, Chicago, BL, a corporation of Illinois Filed June 3, 1960, Ser. No. 33,818

9 Claims. (CI. 68-12) This invention relates to a combination washer-dryer and more particularly to a lint removal arrangement for such machines.

In the use of a combination washer and dryer, the clothes to be washed and a suitable detergent are placed within the basket of the machine. The basket-containing tub of the machine is filled with water and the basket is then slowly rotated to tumble the clothes. After a predetermined time period, the used wash Water is drained from the machine and, while the basket is rotated to tumble the fabrics, a clean water spray rinse is then utilized to break down the suds while draining the tub. The flow of water into the tub is then terminated while the clothes are distributed around the basket. Thereafter water is sprayed on the clothes while the basket is rotated rapidly to extract the water from the clothes. Subsequently, while the clean water spray rinse continues, the basket speed is decreased to tumble the clothes while draining. the water from the tub. The drain is then closed and water continues to be sprayed onto the clothes until the machine is filled with water for a deep rinsing during the clothes tumbling. When the water is drained from the machine, the clothes are tumbled for even distribution about the basket and rinse water is again introduced and drained While the basket is rotated at a relatively high speed to extract a high percentage of the rinse water from the clothes. To dry the clothes, warm air is circulated in the machine while the basket is rotated to tumble the clothes. During this drying operation, lint adhering to the clothes is shaken loose and accumulates on the rotating basket, and the interior of the machine. These accumulations of lint are undesirable as the lint may increase to such proportions as to seriiusly impair the operation of the machine, including choking of the circulating heated air.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a combination clothes washing and drying machine capable of disposing of lint accumulated during the drying operation by means effectively using fiuid to scour the lint from the interior of the tub of the machine and parts contained therein and to then flush the lint from the machine.

It is another object of the invention to provide a combination clothes washing and drying machine adapted to dispose of the lint accumulated by a drying operation during a subsequent washing operation.

It is another object of the invention to provide a combination clothes washing and drying machine in which the lint accumulations are removed from the machine by fdling the machine with a predetermined quantity of water and rapidly rotating the clothes-containing basket so that the Water conained within the machine is violently agitated to cause the lint accumulations to be removed from the tub walls, and the basket and other parts within the machine, the lint and water mixture then being drained from the machine during continued rapid rotation of the basket for extracting the water from the clothes for a subsequent drying operation. it important feature of the invention is that the described lint-removal operation be conducted following rinsing the clothes to remove the detergent and suds from the machine so that the lint-removal operation will not create suds-lock by whipping the detergent to create suds filling the tub and the tub drain. If necessary, the violent agitation of e atent the water may be assisted by blades or vanes projecting from the exterior cylindrical surface of the basket and designed to splash and spray the water with such turbulence as to plow the water along the tub walls and into all parts of the machine within the tub.

The invention consists of the novel constructions, arrangements, and devices to be hereinafter desired and claimed for carrying out the above stated objects and such other objects as will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a sectional elevation of the combination clothes washing and drying machine embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the front of the clothes-con taining basket shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4- is a side view of the basket shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional View taken on line 5-45 of FIG. 4; and

PEG. 6 is a schematic electrical wiring diagram and secuence control cam chart embodying an exemplary form of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, in FIG. 1 is illustrated a domestic combination washer and dryer, the numeral 10 designates the cabinet in which the present washing and drying apparatus is disclosed. This apparatus comprises an imperforate casing or tube 11 having a front wall 12 and a rear wall 13, the casing 11 being fixedly secured to the cabinet 10 by any suitable means (not shown). An access opening 14 is provided in the front wall of the casing 11 and a corresponding opening 15 is provided in the cabinet 10. A gasket 16 connects the two openings and a door 17 is provided to close the opening 15.

A basket 18 is disposed Within the casing Ill for thereception of clothes to be Washed and dried and is rotatably supported by means of a spider 19 on a sleeve shaft 20 attached to the rear wall 13 of the casing 11. A pulley 21 is fixedly secured to the shaft 20 and is adapted to be rotated by a belt 22 and output pulley 23 connected to the driven shaft of a two-speed transmission 24. The transmission drive shaft is connected to an input pulley 25, and a belt 26 connects the pulley 25 to a pulley 27 driven by an electric motor 28. The two speed transmission 24 is controlled by a clutch (not shown) operative to provide a low speed for slow rotation of the basket or a high speed for rapidly rotating or spinning the basket. The clutch is actuated by a solenoid 29 to provide a slow speed to tumble the clothes in the basket during a portion of the washing operation and during the drying operations and also to provide a relatively high speed to rotate the basket, for example, during the extraction of water from the wash clothing.

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, a plurality of baflles 3d are provided on the inner periphery of the basket 18 for lifting the clothes as the basket is rotated.

The basket 18 has a plurality of openings 31 therein. The basket 18 is further provided with a front opening 3'2 spaced from the opening 14 of the front wall of the casing l1.' An annular ring 33 is suitably attached to the front wall 12 of the casing 11 and a second annular ring 34 of larger diameter is attached to the ring 33 and spaced therefrom by a pin or rivet 35. The rear Wall of the basket 18 is provided with a plurality of openings 36 formed by the spider 19. The front of the basket 18 has a flange '37 defining the opening 32 and the front wall 12 of the casing 11 has a plurality of bearing rollers 38 secured thereto and located with respect to the basket as shown in FIG. 3 so that the front of the basket is supported 'by the rollers. Air circulating means in the form of a suction type fan 39 is provided in the rear wall of the basket 18. Fan 39 has a plurality of curved blades 46 fixedly secured to a hub 41 which hub is driven by a shaft 42 and a pulley 43. The pulley 43 is connected to a pulley 44 on the electric motor 28 by a belt 45. The fan is of a very large diameter (for example, 16 inches) and is rotated at a relatively low speed to provide a high rate of air flow through the machine during the drying operation.

Operation of the fan 33 is controlled by a clutch generally indicated at 4-6 and engageable, upon energization of a solenoid 47, to couple the pulley 44 to the drive shaft of the motor to effect rotation of the fan during the drying operation. To prevent the clothes within the basket from engaging and interfering with the operation of the fan, a screen 48 is fixedly secured to the rear of the basket. The screen may be made of any f-orarninous material.

A heater assembly 49 is fixedly secured to the front wall 12 of the casing 11 and comprises a plurality of spaced baffles 56 having annular Calrod type heating coils 51 therebetween. The baliles 50 are secured together by a plurality of pins 52 and spaced by spools 53. The heating coils 51 give off primarily radiant heat waves which are absorbed by the baffies 59. The air from the fan flows across both sides of each of the baffles, as seen in FIG. 1, wiping the heat therefrom. The heater assembly 49 thus acts as a radiant to conduction heat exchanger.

An automatic water supply system includes a supply tube 60 located above and supported on the casing or tub 11 and extending downwardly between the front walls of the casing and cabinet and having one end positioned within the front opening 32 in the basket and terminating in a spray nozzle 61 for spraying water into the basket. The tube 61 is connected to a mixing valve 62 to supply hot and cold water from the conduits 63 and 64, respectively, or a mixture of hot and cold water, to the interior of the casing 11. The valve 62 has solenoids 6S and 66 operative to control the valve to supply washing and rinsing liquid at a selected temperature to the interior of the casing 11.

To drain the tub, the tub is provided with a sump 67 having a drain pump 68 mounted on the bottom of the tub. The pump 68 has its inlet port adapted to receive the water draining by gravity from the tub and to dis charge the water through a suitable drain hose 69 connected to a drain pinch-olf valve 70 actuated 'by a solenoid 71 controlling the discharge of the drain water. The pump is driven by a pulley 72, a belt 73, and a pulley 74 connected to the drive shaft of the motor 28.

A water level pressure switch '75 is located in the bottom of the tub and automatically controls the water level. The swtich is of well-known construction and includes a single pole, double-throw switch actuated from its first position, when the machine is substantially empty, to a second position when the machine is filled to a desired level. The switch 75 is a safety feature against overfilling during the tumble spray rinses and the spin spray rinses, and it prevents spinning with excess water in the tub as will be later described during a discussion of the control system.

In accordance with the present invention, the cylindrical wall 76 of the basket is provided with a pair of V- shaped scoop blades or vanes 77, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The vanes 77 are disposed at diametrically opposite portions of the cylindrical surface. The vanes are similarly formed each comprising a V-shaped flange 77a, and a V-shaped scoop portion 77b. The flanges 77a of the vanes are firmly secured to the cylindrical wall of the drum by rivets, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. When the drum is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrows in FIG. 3, the scoops are effective to push the water in the tub into the front and rear of the casing.

The cycles of operation of the machine are controlled by a wash timer assembly WT located on the backguard of the machine and which controls the machine during the wash period and is also used as a master control during both the wash and the dry cycles. A dry cycle switch assembly DT is also located on the backguard and controls the machine in conjunction with the wash timer assembly during the drying operation. The wash timer and dry cycle switch assembly are effective to control the operation of the machine to provide continuous and consecutive automatic washing and drying of the clothing. If desired, the wash timer may be utilized to provide a wash cycle, with the dry cycle switch assembly being inactivated to that the machine will wash only. If desired, the machine may be used to dry clothes only and, in such case, the dry cycle switch assembly is acivated and the wash timer is inactivated in a manner to prevent the washing cycle but to permit the dry cycle. Accordingly, the operator may either select a continuous wash and dry operation, a wash operation only, or a dry operation only.

For the purpose of describing the automatic operations of the machine, reference is made to FIG. 6 illustrating a schematic electrical wiring diagram and a sequence control cam chart. The control arrangement illustrated in FIG. 6 will be described to provide continuous consecutive washing and drying cycles of operation of the machine. The wash timer may be of the rotary timer type such as illustrated and described in U.S. Patent 2,703,347, issued March 1, 1955. The timer is of the form of a sequential controller for automatically controlling machines, such as laundry equipment, and incorporates a device operated by a suitable electric motor and capable of delivering an intermittent or step-by-step motion from a source of constant rotary motion for the purpose of opening and closing a multiple of electrical circuits in a predetermined timed relation.

Referring now to the schematic electrical diagram, a control system for a combination washer and dryer is shown having the automatic sequence control including the wash cycle timer indicated at WT and having a motor WTM, and a dry cycle switch assembly DT, the motor being capable of being energized to selectively provide a wash cycle, a dry cycle, or combination wash and dry cycles.

The wash timer is provided with manually operated switches including an oifon switch 80; a master switch 81 closable to institute a combined drying and washing operation, or alternatively, only a drying operation; and a master switch 82 closable for eifecting only a washing operation.

The wash timer WT is provided with a series of switches 83 through 89, 117, and 127 actuated in the desired sequencies by appropriate switch operating means indicated schematically by cam diagram 90. A switch 91 having movable contact arms 92 and 93 can be manually closed to provide an automatic drying cycle. Any well known sequence control, such as disclosed in US. Patent No. 2,703,347 may be used. Therefore, the representation of FIG. 6 is primarily schematic, it being understood that each of the switches 83 through 89, 117, and 127 are actuated from their open positions to close positions by means such as cams. Also, each switch 83-89 is connected to an actuating means as indicated by dotdash lines, each individual switch being closed as a function of time as indicated by the heavy black lines on the cam diagram. For example, the switch 87 is open on the time scale from O to 15 and moved to closed position from 15 to 16, to open position from 16 to 20, and again to closed position from 20 to 25. The cam chart is provided with a scale for time in minutes necessary to advance the cams in a forward directional direction. In other words, the chart of FIG. 6 may be regarded as a development of the peripheries of the respective switch operating cams, the heavy lines showing the cams rises which are effective to close respective switches.

The operation of the control arrangement will be readily understood by a consideration of a typical sequence of operation. Assuming that the sequence control is positioned in the space preceding the zero indication on the time scale, or in its off position, with the contacts of the switch 80 in open position, and the contacts of a main or motor thermal protector switch 94 and a door switch 95 being manually closed. Also, the timer switch contact arms 92. and 93 are moved to engage the fixed contacts as shown. All of the wash timer switches 83-89 are shown in open position. Since the manually operable switch 80 is in open position, no power is supplied to the components from power supply lines L1, L2, and N. These three electrical supply lines may represent, for example, a 230 volt supply line between L1 and L2 with an intermediate neutral line N, so that the voltage between either line L1 or L2 and neutral may be approximately 115 volts.

Now assuming the timer WT is manually advanced to the zero setting and the push-pull switch 80 pulled out to close switch 80, a circuit is completed to the closed cam-actuated switches 84, 85, and 88. Closure of switch 84 completes a circuit to the main drive motor 28 from line L1 through the switches 94 and 95, conductor 96, switches 80, 81, 93, conductor 97, switch 84; conductor 98, drive motor 28 to line N. The drive motor is of the conventional induction type having a main or run winding and a start winding, the main Winding having a normally open switch and the start winding having a normally closed switch. Accordingly, the circuit for the main drive motor includes the start winding (and its closed switch) connected to the line N to energize the motor. In accordance with common practice, as the motor comes up to operating speed, a centrifugal governor (not shown) opens the start winding switch and closes the main winding switch to establish a circuit through the main or run winding of the drive motor to energize the motor during the entire period of operation of the machine as a washer. The transmission 24 is operative to rotate the basket at a slow speed upon energization of the motor to tumble the clothes in the basket.

Upon closing the cam-actuated switch 85, a circuit is established energizing the drain valve solenoid 71 to close the drain in the tub bottom, the circuit including line L1; switches 95, 94, 80, 81, 93; conductor; 97; closed switches 84 and 85; conductor 99; solenoid 71, and line N. V

Closing of switch 88 causes a circuit to be established to energize the solenoid 66 to cause the valve 62 to operate to direct water into the tub. To provide the desired Water temperature, the back panel of the machine is provided with a water temperature selector switch 100 to provide hot, cold, or warm water to the tub. As seen in FIG. 6, the switch 100 is provided with manually movable contact arms 101 and 102 selectively operable to establish circuits to either or both of the hot and cold water controlling solenoids 65 and 66 of the valve 62. Accordingly, as the contact 102 of the Water temperature selector switch has been previously manually moved to engage a contact connected to the solenoid 66, hot water will be admitted by the valve 62 into the machine. This circuit includes line L1; switches 95, 94; conductor 96; switches 80, 81, and 93; conductor 97 switch 84; conductors 98 and 103; closed contacts 104 and 105 of water pressure switch 75 located in the bottom of the tub; conductor 107; switch 88; closed contacts 102 of switch 100; solenoid 66; and line N. .When sufiicient hot water flows into and rises to a predetermined level in the tub in approximately three minutes, the contact arm 104 of the pressure switch 75 will disengage contact 105and engage the contact 106, breaking the circuit to the hot water solenoid to prevent further flow of hot water into the tub. Closing of contacts 104 and 106 establishes a circuit through line 103 to energize the wash timer motor, WTM. This circuit includes line L1; switches 95, 94,

6 80, 81, 93; conductor 97; switch 84; conductor 103; contacts 104, 106 of switch conductor 108; wash timer motor WM; and line N.

Prior to energizing the wash timer motor, the main drive motor 28 has been rotating the basket to tumble the clothes while hot water has filled the tub to a desired level, the drain valve having been closed to contain the water in the tub.

Proceeding with a description of the washing operation, attention is now directed to the cam chart 90. A wash period of 12 minutes is indicated and, after 10 minutes of this time period, a washer timer cam operates to close cam :83 to establish a circuit to the wash timer motor, as, after the 12 minute wash period, a wash timer cam opens switch 85 to deenergize the drain solenoid 71 to open valve 70 to cause the Wash water to be evacuated from the washer by the pump 68. As the water is drained, the contact 104 will disengage contact 106 and engage contact 105, but the wash timer motor is not deenergized as a cam on the timer has closed switch 83 to establish a circuit to maintain the timer motor energized. When the water is draining from the tub, the pressure switch becomes operative to close contacts 104 and 105. The wash timer cams operate to close switches 88 and 89 to establish a circuit for energizing the solenoid 66 to supply hot water to the tub for a two minute period to effect a breakdown of the suds in the basket.

Subsequently, the washer timer cam opens switch 88 to deenergize solenoid 66 to prevent further flow of hot water to the basket for a one minute period to permit distribution of the clothes in the basket. Thereafter, the wash timer cams closes switches 88 and 89 for a four minute period and also closes switch 87 for the first minute of this period. Closing of switches 88 and 89 again energizes solenoid 66 to eifect the flow of hot water into the basket to spray rinse the clothes. Closing of switch 87 establishes a circuit to energize the solenoid 29 to control and shift the two speed transmission to its high speed position in which the basket is rotated rapidly to extract the water from clothes for the first one minute period, which period elapsing, causes the wash timer cam to open the switch 87 to shift the transmission to again slow- 1y rotate the basket to tumblethe clothes. After the end of the initial two minutes of this four minute period, the washer timer closes switch 85 to render drain solenoid 71 operative to permit water to fill the tub for a one minute deep rinse period. Thereafter, for a two minute period, the wash timer cam causes closing of the switch 88 to energize the drain solenoid 71 to cause valve 70 to open to drain the water from the machine. After the lapse of this period of time, the wash timer operates a cam to close contacts 87 to energize the spin solenoid for one minute to extract the water from the clothes.

The present invention is primarily directed to the next step in the wash cycle and in which, the drain valve is closed and the water pinch-off valve is controlled for flow of water into the machine for one minute to add three gallons of water to the tub to fill the tub to the bottom of the basket while the basket is rotated rapidly. This important step is advantageous for the reason that lint deposited in the previous drying operation is removed from the machine as the rotation of the basket causes the vanes 77 to pick up and distribute the water with considerable turbulence and force against all surfaces of the basket and inner tub walls to effectively cleanse lint on the basket and other inner parts of the tub structure for subsequent disposal of all lint in the machine during the following drainage of water from the machine. It is important to note that this cleaning action is performed when all suds have been rinsed from the clothes and flushed down the drain so that there is no possibility of whipping up a suds to fill the machine and causing suds lock during drainage of the wash water from the machine.

During this operation of power cleaning ofthe lint from the machine for a one minute period, the washer timer cams causes the closing of switch 88 to effect the flow of water into the machine and also the switch 85 is closed to energize the solenoid 71 to prevent the flow of Water from the machine, and the switch S7 is closed to shift the transmission to its high speed position. At the conclusion of one minute of power cleaning, the Wash timer cam opens switch 88 to stop water from flowing into the machine and also open contacts 85 to permit drainage of water from the machine. At the conclusion of 23 minutes of operation of the machine, the basket is rapidly rotated and the extracted water flows to drain.

In the subsequent drying operation and assuming the contacts of the switch 81 and contacts 9 2 and 93 of the switch assembly 91 have been manually closed at the start of the washing operation to permit a continuous wash and dry operation, drying control is automatically accomplished. More particularly, the wash timer has a cam operated at the conclusion of the washing cycle to close the contacts 86 to establish a circuit energizing solenoid 47 to actuate clutch 46 for drivingly connecting the fan to the. main drive motor for rotation of the fan to establish air circulation through the machine as indi? cated by the arrows in FIG. 1. This circuit includes the line L1, switches 95, 94, St), 81, 93; conductor 97; switch 84, conductor Hi3, contact arm 194 and contact 105 of pressure switch 75, conductor 1M, switch 86, conductor 111, fan clutch solenoid 47 to line N. To energ ze the heating coil 114, a circuit is established from line L1, conductor 115, contacts of switch 127 closed by a wash timer cam, thermostat 116, coil 114, switch 117 normally closed by a wash timer cam, conductor 118, centrifugal switch 119, to line L2.

The air circulation system is a closed-nonvented system with no air being exahusted from the machine. The same air is constantly recirculated. The moisture and some of the lint is removed by means of a condenser, which is the rear wall of the tub, and which is cooled by a continuous sheet of cold water during the drying period. As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, a tube 129 extends through therear wall of the tub and is connected to a double ended nozzle 121 having outlets 121a and 121b. Water is supplied to the nozzle 121 by the tube 120 which is connected to the water main. A valve 12- is operated by a solenoid 125 to control the flow of water to the tube 120. In operation, the outlets 121a and 1211; direct two separate films of water over the rear wall of the tub to remove a portion of the lint in the air stream. A peripheral baflle 126 is secured to the tub adjacent the rear wall thereof and functions as a retainer for the water discharge by the nozzle to confine the water to the rear wall of the tub. A passage is provided in the baflle so that the water may pass into the sump 67 for discharge to drain. The condenser water, the condensed moisture from the clothes and lint are expelled by the pump from the machine.

When the switch 86 is closed, a circuit is also esta lished to the condenser solenoid 125 to open the valve 124 to cause water to flow and be directed by the outlets 121a, 121b onto the back wall of the tub. This circuit includes the line L1; switches 95, 94, 80, 81, 93; conductor 97; switch 84; conductor 103; contacts 104, 105 of switch 75; conductor 107; switch 86; lines 128 and 129; solenoid 125; and line N.

Before-the actual drying begins, the basket is stopped for one minute, to allow the clothes to drop from the sides of the basket, by the wash timer cam, controlling the main drive motor 28, opening the switch 84. After the drop load pause, the wash timer cam advances to close the switch 84 to resume operation of the motor 28. Thereafter, the.- wash timer cam, controlling the wash timer motor, opens switch 83 to deenergize the timer motor.

The drying of the clothes is controlled by the thermostat 116 located on the cylindrical wall of the tub in the exhaust air passage as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The

thermostat 116 is effective to control the temperature of the air circulating in the machine and, for this purpose, it is set to open at a temperature of about 165 F. to break the circuit to the coil 114. It requires approximately 15 to 20 minutes to reach the steady state drying condition. The temperature does not change significantly once the steady state is reached until the moisture has evaporated from the clothes, then the exhaust air temperature rises quickly, actuating the control thermostat 116 to open the heating coil circuit and close a circuit to the wash timer motor. it is the characteristic of the exhaust air temperature that senses the dry condition of the clothes and causes the thermostat to open the heating coil circuit and to energize the wash timer motor by movement of the bimetallic aim 116a of the thermostat to disengage the contact 116b to break the circuit to the coil and to engage the arm 116a with the contact 1160 to establish a circuit to energize the wash timer motor. This circuit including line L1; contacts 116a and 116s of thermostat 116; conductor 120; closed contacts 121, 122; conductor 1%; the wash timer motor to neutral line N. Upon energization of the wash timer motor, the timer will operate for a sufiicient time to effect cooling of the clothes and will then cause its cams to open the controlled switches to discontinue operation of the machine. It may be noted that at this time that the centrifugal switch 11? is effective, in the event that the drive motor should for some reason become inoperative during the heating cycle, to break the circuit to the coil 114 so that there is no possibility of the heating coil being maintained energized during any period that the main drive motor is inoperative.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a control system for a laundry machine having clothes washing and drying cycles and including a rotatable clothes-containing basket, a casing enclosing said basket, a multiple speed transmission for rotating said basket including electrically-operated shift means energizeable to shift the transmission to rotate the basket from a relatively low speed to a relatively high speed, electricallyoperated water valve means, electrically-operated drain means for'removing water from the machine, heating means for evaporating water from the clothes during rotation of the basket at a relatively low speed to tumble the clothes in the drying cycle, and a sequence control for controlling the washing and drying cycles of the machine including a timer, and first, second and third switches operated by said timer for controlling said shift means, said water valve means and said drain means including sequentially producing, during the washing cycle, a washing period, a rinse water extraction operation, a lint flushing operation, and a lint disposal and water extraction operation, a first timer circuitrincluding said first switch for energizing said shift means to shift the transmission to rotate said basket at the relatively high speed in all three of said operations, a second timer circuit including said second switch and operable to open said second switch for deenergizing said drain means to drain water from the machine during the rinse water extraction operation; a third timer circuit including said third switch and operable to close said third switch for energizing said valve means for a period of time sufiicient to admit a predetermined amount of water into said casing, said third timer circuit being concurrently operative to close said second switch for energizing said drain means to retain the admitted water in said casing whereby rotation of said basket at the relatively high speed through the admitted water is efiective to flush accumulated lint from said basket and casing; and said timer further re-establishing said second timer circuit to open said second switch a 9 t t g for deenergizing said drain means to drain the lint-laden water from the casing.

2. In a control system for a machine having clothes cleaning and drying cycles and including a rotatable clothes-containing basket, a casing enclosing said basket, a multiple speed transmission for rotating said basket including electrically-operated shift means energizable to shift the transmission to rotate the basket from a relatively low speed to a relatively high speed, electrically-operated fluid valve means, electrically-operated drain means for removing fluid from the machine, heating means for evaporating fluid from the clothes during rotation of the basket at a relatively low speed to tumble the clothes in the drying cycle, and a sequence control for controlling the cleaning and drying cycles of the machine including a timer, and first, second and third switches operated by said timer for controlling said shift means, said valve means and said drain means including sequentially producing, during the cleaning cycle, a cleaning period, a fluid extraction operation, a lint flushing operation, and a lint disposal and fluid extraction operation, a first timer circuit including said first switch for energizing said shift means to shift the transmission to rotate the basket at the relatively high speed in all three of said operations, a second timer circuit including said second switch and operable to open said second switch for deenergizing the drain means to drain the fluid from the machine during the fluid extraction operation; a third timer circuit including said third switch and operable to close said switch for energizing said valve means for a period of time sufficient to admit a predetermined amount of fluid into said casing, said third timer circuit being concurrently operative to close said second switch for energizing said drain means to retain the admitted fluid in said casing whereby rotation of said basket at the relatively high speed through the admitted fluid is effective to flush accumulated lint from said basket and casing; and said timer further re-establishing said second timer circuit to open said second switch for deenergizing said drain means to drain the lint-laden fluid from the casing.

3. In a control system for a laundry machine having clothes washing and drying cycles and including a rotatable clothes-containing basket, a casing enclosing said basket, a multiple speed transmission for rotating said basket including electrically-controlled shift means energizeable to shift the transmission to rotate the basket from a relatively low speed to a relatively high speed, electricallycontrolled Water valve means, electrically-controlled drain means for removing water from the machine, heating means for evaporating water from the clothes during rotation of the basket at a relatively low speed to tumble the clothes in the drying cycle, and a sequence control for controlling the washing and drying cycles of the machine including a timer, and first, second and third switches operated by said timer for controlling said shift means, said water valve means and said drain means including sequentially producing, during the washing cycle, a washing period, a rinse water extraction operation, a lint flushing operation, and a lint disposal and water extraction operation, a first timer circuit including said first switch and operable to actuate said first switch for controlling operation of said shift means to shift the transmission to rotate the basket at the relatively high speed in all three of said operations, a second timer circuit including said second switch and operable to actuate said second switch for controlling said drain means to drain the rinse water from the machine during the rinse Water extraction operation; a third timer circuit including said third switch and operable to actuate said third switch for controlling said valve means for a period of time sufiicient to admit a predetermined amount of water into said casing, said third timer circuit being concurrently operative to actuate said second switch for controlling said drain means to retain the admitted water in said casing whereby rotation of said basket at the relatively high speed through the admitted water is effective to flush accumulated lint from said hasket and casing; and said timer further re-establishing said second timer circuit to actuate said second switch for controlling said drain means to drain the lint-laden water from the casing.

4. In a control system for a laundry machine having clothes Washing and drying cycles and including a rotatable clothes-containing cylindrical basket having a plurality of scoops on the outer cylindrical surface thereof, a casing enclosing said basket, a multiple speed transmission for rotating said basket including electrically-operated shift means energizeable to shift the transmission to rotate the basket from a relatively low speed to a relatively high speed, electrically-operated water valve means, electrically-operated drain means for removing Water from the machine, heating means for evaporating moisture from the clothes during rotation of the basket at a relatively low speed to tumble the clothes in the drying cycle, and a sequence control for controlling the washing and drying cycles of the machine including a timer, and first, second and third switches operated by said timer for controlling said shift means, said Water valve means and said drain means including sequentially producing, during the washing cycle, a washing period, a rinse Water extraction operation, a lint flushing operation, and a lint disposal and water extraction operation, a first timer circuit including said first switch for energizing said shift means to shift the transmission to rotate the basket at the relatively high speed in all three of said operations, a second timer circuit including said second switch and operable to open said second switch for deenergizing the drain means to drain the rinse water from the machine during the rinse water extraction operation; a third timer circuit including said third switch and operable to close said third switch for energizing said valve means for a period of time sufficient to admit a predetermined amount of Water into said casing, said third timer circuit being concurrently operative to close said second switch for energizing said drain means to retain the admitted water in said casing whereby rotation of said basket at the relatively high speed through the admitted water is effective to cause the-scoops of said basket to pick up and vigorously disperse the water about the basket and interior of the casing to flush accumulated lint from said basket and casing; and said timer further reestablishing said second timer circuit to open said second switch for deenergizing said drain means to drain the lint-laden water from the casing.

5. In a control system for a laundry machine having clothes washing and drying cycles and including a rotatable cylindrical clothes-containing basket, having a plurality of scoops on the outer cylindrical surface thereof, a casing enclosing said basket, a multiple speed transmission for rotating said basket including shift means energizeable to shift the transmission to rotate the basket from a relatively low speed to a relatively high speed, water valve means, drain means for removing Water from the machine, heating means for evaporating water from the clothes during rotation of the basket at a relatively low speed to tumble the clothes in the drying cycle, and means for controlling said shift means, said water valve means and said drain means including sequentially producing, during the washing cycle, a washing period, rinse water extraction operation, a lint flushing operation, and a lint disposal and water extraction operation, means for actuating said control means to operate said shift means to shift the transmission to rotate the basket at the relatively high speed in all three of said operations; means for actuating said control means for operating said drain means to drain the rinse water from the machine during the rinse water extraction operation; means for actuating said valve means for a period of time suflicient to admit a predetermined amount of water into said casing and for actuating said drain means to retain the admitted water in said casing whereby rotation of said basket at the relatively high speed through the admitted water is effective to cause the scoops of said basket to pick up and vigorously disperse the water about the basket and interior of the casing to flush accumulated lint from said basket and casing; and means for actuating said control means for operating said drain means to drain the lintladen water from the casing.

6. In a control system for a laundry machine having clothes Washing and drying cycles and including a rotatable cylindrical clothes-containing basket, having a plurality of V-shaped vanes projecting from the outer cylindrical surface thereof, a casing enclosing said basket, a multiple speed transmission for rotating said basket including shift means energizeable to shift the transmission to rotate the basket from a relatively low speed to a relatively high speed, water valve means, drain means for removing water from the machine, heating means for evaporating water from the clothes during rotation of the backet at a relatively low speed to tumble the clothes in the drying cycle, and means for controlling said shift means, said water valve means and said drain means including sequentially producing during the washing cycle, a washing period, a rinse water extraction operation, a lint flushing operation, and a lint disposal and water extraction operation, means for actuating said shift means to shift the transmission to rotate the basket at the relatively high speed in all three of said operations, means for actuating said control means for operating said drain means to drain the rinse water from the machine during the rinse water extraction operation; means for actuating said valve means for a period of time suflicient to admit a predetermined amount of water into said casing and for actuating said drain means to retain the admitted water in said casing whereby rotation of said basket at the relatively high speed through the admitted water is effective to cause the vanes to pick up and vigorously disperse the water about the basket and interior of the casing to flush accumulated lint from said basket and casing; and means for actuating said control means for operating said drain means to drain the lint-laden water from the casing.

7. In a control system for a laundry machine having clothes washing and drying cycles and including a rotatable clothes-containing cylindrical basket having scoops on the exterior cylindrical surface thereof, a casing enclosing said basket, a multiple speed transmission for rotating said basket including shift means operable to shift the transmission to rotate the basket from a relatively low speed to a relatively high speed, water valve means, drain means for removing water from the machine, heating means for evaporating water from the clothes during rotation of the basket at a relatively low speed to tumble the clothes in the drying cycle, and means for controlling said shift means, said water valve means and said drain means for a lint flushing operation and a lint disposal and water extraction operation, and, means for controlling said shift means to shift the transmission to rotate the basket at the relatively high speed in said operations, means for actuating said valve means for a period of time sutficient to admit a predetermined amount of Water into said casing while said drain means is actuated to retain the admitted water in said casing whereby rotation of said basket at the relatively high speed through the admitted water is eifective to cause the scoops to pick up and vigorously disperse the water about the basket and interior of the casing to flush accumulated lint from said basket and casing; and means for actuating said drain means to drain the lint-laden water from the casing.

8. In a combination washer-dryer including a rotatable cylindrical fabric-containing basket having scoops on the outer cylindrical surface thereof, a casing enclosing said basket, a transmission for rotating said basket at a relatively low speed and a relatively high speed, means for admitting a predetermined quantity of fluid into said casing, means operable to control said transmission to rotate said basket at relatively high speed to cause the scoops to pick up and disperse the admitted fluid about the basket and interior of the casing to flush accumulated lint from the basket and casing; and means for draining the lint-laden fluid from the casing.

9. In a combination washer-dryer as defined in claim 8 wherein the scoops are V-shaped vanes.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 550,672 Baker Dec. 3, 1895 2,833,056 Smith May 6, 1958 2,892,335 Gray June 30, 1959 2,899,816 Jacobsen Aug. 18, 1959

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