Recirculation spray nozzle for a vertical axis washer

Bleaching and dyeing; fluid treatment and chemical modification – Fluid treatment – Manipulation of liquid

Reexamination Certificate

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Details

C068S207000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06185774

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a water inlet device for an automatic washer and more particularly to a water inlet device for directing water against various portions of the baskets sidewall.
Water inlet devices are used to provide a vacuum break in the inlet line and to dispense water from an inlet conduit into the basket of the washing machine onto a clothes load which is located in the bottom or along the sidewall of the basket. Various configurations of water inlets have been proposed for providing an inlet water flow directed toward various portions of the interior of the wash basket including the basket wall, directly upon the clothes or directed toward the agitator.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,000,968 discloses an inlet device which directs incoming wash fluid toward the central vertical agitator which then causes a re-directed spray onto the clothes. U.S. Pat. No. 3,304,751 discloses an inlet device having two separate outlet openings, one directing spray toward the agitator and a second directing spray toward the basket wall.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,303,406 discloses various inlet arrangements for dispensing water throughout a range of locations within the basket.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,754,622 discloses an inlet device which provides a flow of water against an interior surface of a wash basket and onto a clothes load within the basket through a wide range of inlet water pressures while preventing excessive splashing against the basket wall at high water pressures. The inlet device has a downwardly angled front wall which redirects the inlet water into the wash basket, and the wall has a varying downward angle along its length to provide the automatic pressure compensation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a water inlet nozzle arranged and configured within its mounting on a tub ring to allow a dry or wet clothes load to be sprayed at any height in the basket. Recirculating water and wash liquid can be directed through the nozzle to direct the liquid uniformly onto clothes within the basket, no matter their height in the basket.
The nozzle is formed as a part of the tub ring and is arranged near the backside of the basket. The nozzle has a front edge formed of two linear segments angled relative to one another and joined by a generous radius.
The nozzle is positioned to one side of a front to back centerline of the wash basket and the lateralmost segment of the front edge is arranged perpendicular to the front to back centerline, that is, parallel to the side-to-side diameter of the basket.
The centralmost segment is arranged at approximately 45° to the lateralmost segment and a gentle radius joins the two segments to prevent an abrupt change in the water path across the front edge of the nozzle. Opposite the front edge is an inlet opening for the water. The inlet opening comprises a short cylindrical passage which opens into the interior of the nozzle body. The inlet passage is arranged at an angle of approximately 15° relative to the front to rear axis. A top wall is angled downwardly and forwardly from the inlet passage at an angle of approximately 15-19° causing water which flows in through the cylindrical inlet passage to impinge upon the underside of the top wall and to fan out across the top wall toward lateral sidewalls of the nozzle. The water thus fans out toward the front edge. The front edge of the nozzle, at the lateralmost segment, is directed downwardly and rearwardly at an angle between 12 and 16° from vertical. Water striking this segment of the front edge will be directed toward the bottom of the basket wall and the agitator.
Along the centralmost segment, the wall is angled downwardly and rearwardly between 12 and 16° from vertical. This range of angles, compounded with the 45° angle relative to the lateralmost segment, provides coverage of the clothes at the top of the basket wall. The generous radius between the two front segments of the nozzle provides for continuous coverage of clothes located in the mid-section of the basket.
If the nozzle is to be used for both dry and wet loads, the front face should be proportionally longer so as to provide more water to the lower loads after being wetted down.
Thus, the present invention provides a water inlet device which provides a uniform flow of water against the interior of the tub basket along a substantial portion of the height of the sidewall of the basket.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3304751 (1967-02-01), Mueller et al.
patent: 3566906 (1971-03-01), Beare
patent: 3605455 (1971-09-01), Olthuis
patent: 4000968 (1977-01-01), Schrage et al.
patent: 4303406 (1981-12-01), Ross
patent: 4754622 (1988-07-01), Fanson
patent: 5031426 (1991-07-01), Wilson
patent: 5167722 (1992-12-01), Pastryk et al.
patent: 5582039 (1967-02-01), Mueller et al.

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