Abstract: A fluid dynamic diverter valve is provided which has a valve body with a fluid inlet zone communicating with a fluid diversion zone, which in turn communicates with a fluid outlet zone. In the fluid inlet zone there is at least one inlet for a fluid, at least one air inlet and a venturi passage for guiding the fluid as a jet. In a passage downstream of the venturi passage the air inlet communicates with the fluid jet exiting the venturi passage and the jet enters the diversion zone. Depending on whether the air inlet is blocked or not, the fluid jet either continues straight through the diversion zone to a first outlet from the valve body or, if the air stream is blocked, the jet is diverted to impinge upon a wall in the diversion chamber, the wall being arranged to be directed toward a different one of the outlet openings in the fluid outlet zone.

Abstract: A device and a method for microwave feeding of an oven cavity by means of a coupling slot (1) which is fed by a waveguide. The a-dimension of the waveguide is significantly larger than the effective a-dimension of the slot. The slot comprised a radiating main slot part (5) and slot extensions (6,7) projecting from it at its respective sides, which extension have a substantially smaller cross-dimension than the b-dimension of the main slot part.

Abstract: This invention relates a control for an automatic washer incorporating a spray pretreatment or stain care cycle. In order to manage the occurrence of the condition of suds lock, the state of the washing machine related to the suds lock condition during spray pretreatment is determined by one or more of a number of methods. With this information concerning the state of the spray pretreatment process, the occurrence of suds lock can be ascertained and the cycle can be controlled accordingly to minimize negative effects resulting from a prolonged suds lock condition. Additionally, with certain information related to the occurrence of suds lock, steps can be taken during the spray pretreatment portion of the cycle to avoid the condition of suds lock altogether. Using the same primary process for measuring suds lock, load size can also be ascertained. Information about load size can be used to control the wash cycle.

Abstract: A device for sensing the presence of cooking utensils on a cooking hob comprising at least one heat source. The device includes an electrically conductive coil turn fed by the signal generated by an oscillator. The oscillator is preferably a voltage-controlled oscillator generating square wave signals. The coil turn operates, when utensil sensing occurs, to modify the cut-off frequency of a low pass filter (L/R) fed by said oscillator (VCO).

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for operating a self cleaning oven wherein the monitoring of exothermic chemical reactions within a catalyst can be used to determine when the combustion of food material is complete, in order to terminate a self cleaning cycle. During a self clean cycle, an oven cavity is heated to and maintained at an oven clean temperature suitable for oven cleaning. A catalyst is disposed within an exhaust passage of an oven cavity and the amount of heat generated within the catalyst is sensed. The self clean cycle is terminated a predetermined time after heat generation within the catalyst ceases.

Abstract: An agitator for a clothes washer having radially extending vanes and a slide member between the vanes. Vanes extend from the barrel portion of the agitator toward the outer perimeter of the skirt. The vanes have a base toward the barrel and a tip toward the outer perimeter of the skirt. The vanes have a right and a left side with each side having multiple planar faces for maximizing tip deflection. The pivot point, or connection point, of the base to the agitator has been lowered by connecting it to the center ring area of the skirt. Thus, vane breakage is reduced without decreasing washability. Slide members having a downward slope extend from the agitator barrel to the skirt at a slope less steep than the center ring area, but more steep than the slope of the skirt. These members move clothes from the barrel outward toward the perimeter of the skirt.

Abstract: A wash plate for a clothes washer having upwardly extending fins and triangular shaped protrusions spaced between the fins. A hub extends upwardly from the center of the wash plate to keep clothes separated. The wash plate has holes provided on the surface to allow mixing of wash liquid and draining of water from clothing. The fins assist in pushing clothing in a circular motion around the hub and the triangular protrusions open the clothes. Opening the clothes keeps them from tangling and allows wash liquid and water to be more evenly dispersed on the clothing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for washing cloth items in an automatic washer is provided wherein the automatic washer includes a wash basket defining a wash chamber and an impeller located within the bottom of the wash chamber. The method includes loading cloth items into the wash chamber and then supplying a quantity of wash liquid into the wash chamber sufficient to moisten the cloth items but insufficient to cause the cloth items to lose frictional engagement with the impeller as the impeller oscillates. The impeller is oscillated to apply a drag force to the cloth items in contact with the impeller such that the cloth items in contact with the impeller move angularly along an arc-like path. Angular movement of the cloth items disposed along the bottom of the wash chamber beyond the outer periphery of the impeller is impeded such that relative angular motion is created between the cloth items disposed along the periphery of the impeller and the cloth items disposed immediately above the impeller.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the heat input of a dryer where the initial heat input to a clothes load is set at full power until a first predetermined temperature or time condition occurs. The heat input of the dryer is then reduced to in order to reduce power consumption while effectively removing moisture from the clothes load. When the moisture content of the clothes load falls below a predetermined amount, full heat input is once again applied to remove remaining moisture in the clothes load.

Abstract: A clothes treating apparatus including a cabinet defining an interior region in which a garment can be hung. A door is movably connected to the cabinet for closing the interior region. A fluid atomizing nozzle is supported by the cabinet and is fluidly connected to a reservoir containing a conditioning composition. An air compressor is connected to the nozzle for supplying air to the nozzle such that when the air compressor is energized the conditioning composition is drawn out of the reservoir and sprayed from the nozzle in a mist form into the interior region. A fan is provided for circulating air within the interior region such that the mist form of the conditioning composition is uniformly distributed onto the garment hanging within the interior region. Accordingly, the clothes treating apparatus provides a means for applying a conditioning composition onto garments which does not include means for supplying steam into the interior region.

Abstract: A wash liquid inlet nozzle is provided for directing wash liquid against a bottom wall and a side wall of a vertical axis basket of an automatic washer. The inlet nozzle has a body with a rear wall, a front wall and a top wall connecting the rear wall and front wall. An inlet passage extends through the rear wall for directing a flow of wash liquid into the inlet nozzle. The front wall is arranged and configured in a first area to direct wash liquid against the basket bottom wall and a lower region of the basket side wall and in a second area to direct wash liquid against a middle and an upper region of the basket side wall. With such an inlet nozzle, wash liquid is directed in a sheet against the entire height of the basket wall to wet all of the clothes in the basket.

Abstract: A microwave oven with an oven capacity (3) which is designed so that a part (9) of the cavity is essentially free of microwave radiation, in which part (9) is arranged a grill element which radiated IR radiation. The microwave-free space is obtained by a special dimensioning of the connection opening between the actual oven cavity, in which foodstuffs are heated by means of microwave radiation, and the microwave-free space (9).

Abstract: An automatic washer including an automatic liquid temperature control system having a control panel which includes selector means for selecting between a normal wash cycle and a soak cycle. The control panel further includes means for selecting a desired wash water temperature in the soak cycle and means for selecting a desired wash water temperature during the normal wash cycle. The temperature selection means for the normal wash cycle is independent from the temperature selection means for the soak cycle. The temperature selection means for the normal cycle limits the maximum temperature setting during the normal wash to less than the maximum temperature setting for the soak cycle. The reduced temperature wash system is further combined with a spray rinse process. Specifically, after the wash step, the clothes load is rinsed by a plurality of recirculating spray rinse steps.

Abstract: A drive and support system for a bottom plate disposed in the bottom of a wash basket of an automatic washer. The bottom plate is driven to radially gyrate or wobble within the wash basket by an output shaft which extends upwardly though the bottom and is rotatable in a first and second direction. A spin tube is disposed coaxially about the output shaft and has a top end which engages the bottom of the basket. The spin tube is co-rotatable in the second direction with the output shaft. A universal joint pivotably supports the wash plate about the top end of the spin tube. Drive means connect the wash plate with the upper end of the output shaft such that the wash plate is disposed in an angled orientation when the output shaft is driven in the first direction and the wash plate is disposed in a level orientation when the output shaft is driven in the second direction.

Abstract: A lid seal for an automatic vertical axis washer. The lid seal includes rigid and flexible components and generally attaches to a flange of the lid along at least a portion of a lid periphery. When the lid is closed, the lid seal engages the washer housing to eliminate or greatly reduce operational noise and wash fluid spray from escaping through gaps between the lid and the washer housing. In addition, the lid seal acts to improve lid closure sound quality. In doing so, the user is provided with a simple and low cost method to reduce noise and wash fluid spray nuisances associated with the operation of an automatic vertical axis washer.

Abstract: A dishwasher pump and automatic purge system for a dishwasher having a recirculation pump, a drain pump and a wash chamber having a sump. The recirculation pump includes a main outlet and a secondary outlet wherein wash liquid pumped out through the main outlet is recirculated throughout the dishwasher interior wash chamber during a wash phase. The sump includes a soil collector which receives wash liquid from the secondary outlet. The soil collector includes a filter screen for returning filtered wash liquid back into the sump such that soils are retained in the soil collector. During a first wash phase while the recirculation pump is recirculating wash liquid throughout the wash chamber, the drain pump is energized on and off to drain soils from the soil collector. More specifically, the drain pump is energized on and off during the wash phase in response to the pressure within the soil collector which is sensed by a pressure sensor.