Abstract: An electronic controller is programmed to operate in a plurality of different modes to enable the controller to be used in a variety of different models, each requiring a different operating mode. A wire harness is used to operatively couple the controller to an electric component such as a thermistor in a clothes dryer. A connector of the wire harness has terminal pins interconnected by jumper wires in a manner uniquely corresponding to the particular model in which the wire harness is used. Logic signals are coupled through the jumper wires to the controller to identify the particular model in which the controller is installed. In response thereto, the controller selects the particular operating mode corresponding to that model.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for filling a wash tub of an automatic clothes washer wherein a controller uses a thermistor embedded in the mixing valve to generate and store historical averages of the cold and warm water temperatures. From these, the hot water temperature is calculated under the assumption that the warm water is 50/50 hot and cold. The controller also uses a timer and a pressure sensitive switch to generate and store a historical average of the flow rate. A flow washer helps justify the assumption that the flow rate is always constant. Based on the hot and cold water temperatures and the anticipated flow rate, the controller calculates the ratio of hot and cold water, and how long each must be turned on to provide the selected water level. Then, each water valve is individually controlled for a single extended on cycle to satisfy the final requirements of temperature and level.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for spinning and draining an automatic clothes washer after a wash or rinse cycle. After the water is pumped down, the spin drive and drain pump are activated with an on and off schedule of increasing on times, but constant off times. For example, the spin drive and drain pump may be activated for on times of 10, 15, 20, etc. with interleaved off times of 5 seconds. The off times of the drain pump allow suds in the drain pump to be purged, and thereby increase the steady state flow rate of the drain pump.

Abstract: A bulkhead for a tumbler clothes dryer wherein the bulkhead panel is stamped as a unitary part from a single metal blank on a progressive die. The bulkhead panel includes a cylindrical plug portion which fits inside the tumbler drum, and four mounting brackets each extending from a respective one of the four quadrants of the plug portion. Each mounting bracket includes a face portion, a leg portion, and a foot mounting portion. Drum bearings are connected to the bulkhead panel to form the bulkhead. The rear bulkhead mounts to the back panel of the cabinet, and the front bulkhead mounts to the front edges of the two cabinet side panels.

Abstract: A clothes dryer door assembly adapted for mounting in alternate positions so that the door assembly can be made to open from either side. The door assembly includes an outer panel to which a handle, latching mechanism, and hinges are mounted, and inner liner having a bowed out lower portion forming an internal chamber through which air is exhausted to a lint filter. In reversing the mounting side, the inner liner is first disconnected from the door panel and then reconnected after the door panel has been inverted. Thus, the hinges, handle, and latching mechanism of the door panel are relocated for mounting to the opposite side of the access opening of the dryer cabinet, but the lower portion of the liner remains on the bottom.

Abstract: A suspension system for an automatic washing machine wherein multiple independent modes of motion are provided, and the springs biasing the respective modes are selected so that the critical frequencies (i.e. maximum excursions) of the modes do not occur simultaneously. For example, a first set of centering springs biases a traversing motion and a second set of upstanding springs biases a pivoting motion. The spring rates are selected so that as the spin tub accelerates, the maximum excursion of one of the modes occurs first followed by the maximum excursion of the other mode at a higher spin tub speed.

Abstract: Air flow apparatus for a clothes dryer wherein a flexible wrap having sealing runners is supported in sliding engagement on the rotating drum to cover that portion of the perforated annulus that is not istantaneously aligned with the suction duct. The end of the wrap opposite the direction of rotation of the drum is resiliently held such as by springs such that the tension on the wrap and the pressure on the drum is self-adjusting and maintained substantially constant. Therefore, the sealing runners are maintained in substantially uniform and continuous contact against the drum to limit the air flow path from the drum so that substantially all of the exiting air passes into the suction duct.

Abstract: A combination unbalanced load and lid switch assembly for an automatic washing machine. A switch is mounted to the side wall of a box-like housing with a spring clip that has a pair of legs extending through horizontal holes in the switch. The switch housing has a diagonally extending horizontal flange with a downwardly extending pivot portion to which is pivotally mounted a lid lever. One end of the lid lever has an actuator arm which extends in aligment to a wire extension of the lid hinge that moves upwardly as the lid is being closed to push the actuator arm upwardly. A substantially vertical unbalanced load lever is pivotally connected to the opposite end of the lid lever and is pulled downwardly against a biasing spring as the lid is closed. The unbalanced load lever has an actuating finger that depresses the plunger of the switch thereby enabling the washer motor when the lid is closed. The unbalanced load lever also has a downward leg that is engagable by the tub during an out-of-balance excursion.

Abstract: A compact rinse aid dispenser that mounts on top of the agitator post and dispenses a rinse aid during the rinse cycle. The rinse aid is held in a conical-shaped cup during the wash/agitate cycle, and then is sprayed out and retained against the inner wall of the housing by centrifugal force during the spin cycle. The rinse aid then drains down through a funnel into the agitator post and out a slot therein when the spinning stops. The dispenser has a lid with a horizontal wall and a cylindrical downwardly extending barrier around the fill hole to prevent rinse aid from being sprayed back out the fill hole as a result of an out-of-balance load that causes the agitator post and dispenser to orbit about the vertical axis. Further, a labyrinth is provided around the drain hole in the funnel to prevent premature draining of rinse aid into the agitator post.

Abstract: A filter for a top loading automatic washing machine wherein a substantially horizontal filter disc is positioned such that its outer periphery seats against the underside of the clothes basket bottom which is upwardly inclined towards the middle. The disc is a unitary plastic molded part, and has a large plurality of vertically aligned holes that have downward draft. An agitator provides pumping action to circulate washing fluid out of the sidewall perforations of the basket, and back into the basket through openings in the bottom thereof. The washing fluid passes through the holes of the filter disc collecting lint on the underside face. The lint is then flushed away during the spin mode of operation.

Abstract: A laundry machine braking mechanism including a pair of spaced plates adapted to be moved axially relative to one another to frictionally compress one or more brake pads positioned therebetween. A conical spring is positioned under the bottom plate, and in normal operation, the outer periphery of the conical spring urges the bottom plate upwardly so as to exert a braking force. The conical spring acts on an integrally formed retainer that has an annular rim contacting the underside of the conical spring, and a plurality of posts that extend up and connect to the top plate thereby fixing the spacing therebetween. The braking mechanism is released by exerting an upward force on the inner periphery of the conical spring thereby deflecting the outer periphery downwardly. An annular flange integrally formed as part of the top plate extends downwardly and acts as an annular fulcrum for the deflection.

Abstract: A door bar handle for a clothes dryer having a front loading glass door. The door bar attaches to opposite sides of the door frame and spans across in front of the glass to prevent it from being struck by laundry carts and the like. A portion of the door bar is spaced from the glass so as to provide a handle for opening and closing the door, but the remainder of the mid-portion of the door bar is close to the glass so that it won't be used as a hanger rod.

Abstract: A clothes dryer having a cylndrical lint screen connected to and extending from the rear of a rotating clothes drum having a perforated front annulus and a rear air inlet. An air duct has a mouth at one end positioned adjacent to the perforated annulus and a blower is connected to the opposite end. The blower creates an induced draft on a burner located adjacent to a portion of the lint screen by drawing air from the burner into the drum air inlet and out the perforated annulus into the duct. From the blower, the air is forced into a plenum which is separated into two compartments by the rotating lint screen filter. In passing from one compartment through the lint screen filter to the other compartment from which it is exhausted, airborne lint in the air is collected on the lint screen filter. Rotation of the lint screen filter moves the lint into the flames of the burner where the lint is incinerated.

Abstract: A strain relief clamp for a washing machine drain hose which includes a pair of hinged clamp members each having a plastic plate with a semi-circular indent adapted for receiving a corrugated drain hose from opposite sides thereby completely surrounding and clamping the drain hose. Each clamp member has a wall which is perpendicular to the plate, which wall members cooperatively form a neck which conforms to the shape of the aperture through which the drain hose exits the washer cabinet. Each wall has a plurality of locking tabs such that when the neck is inserted into the aperture until the plates contact the cabinet panel, the locking tabs snap into place and prevent removal of the strain relief clamp. The hose is thereby securely clamped at its exit through the cabinet panel thereby providing strain relief for the interconnection between the drain hose and the pump.

Abstract: A reversible control console that can be mounted in alternate orientations that are substantially inverted from each other so as to provide product differentiation using universal parts. An integrally molded plastic hood has a control mounting panel and ends that have first and second alternate support edges. When the hood is mounted on the respective first edges, the mounting panel has a particular orientation and slope with respect to the top of the appliance. When the hood is mounted in the alternate position on the respective second edges, the mounting panel has a different orientation and slope with respect to the top panel. The respective orientations of the control mounting panel are inverted or substantially inverted from each other. In both mounting orientations, screw holes on the hood align with respective screw holes on the appliance top panel and the console rear panel. The hood also has ribs with projections that interlock with the rear panel.

Abstract: An appliance hinge having internal stop mechanisms. The hinge has a first member which provides a thin bearing surface on both sides of a formed cylindrical segment on the back lip of the door. The second hinge member is a molded block which mounts on the floor of the door recess on the appliance cabinet top, and has a cylindrical shaped guide slot for receiving the first member in sliding engagement. The first and second hinge members are snapped together to prevent disengagement during assembly. When the door is rotated about the hinge axis, the bearing surfaces of the cylindrical segment slilde along the guide slot until the door contacts the back lip of the slot and the edge of the cylindrical segment contacts the terminating surface of the guide slot. Cooperatively, these two stop mechanisms distribute the strain of a relatively strong opening force.

Abstract: An automatic clothes dryer that initially determines the upper regulating or cycling temperature in accordance with the fabric type and desired dryness as input by the operator. If no desired dryness is input, a default dryness is assumed. Then, the controller measures the time period to reach the upper regulating temperature during the first heating cycle, and uses this information along with the fabric type and desired dryness to determine how many additional heating cycles will be executed to dry the clothes to the desired dryness. Further, the length of a subsequent cool down cycle is determined in accordance with the fabric type and desired dryness.

Abstract: A top loading clothes washer adapted for installation under a fixed or stationary upper structure such as a stacked dryer or countertop wherein the washer is pivotable to a forward tilt-out position providing access to its top. The bottom front of the washer is truncated and the pivot axis which is defined by a stable base is behind the truncation and in front of the center of gravity of the washer. A latch is provided to lock the washer in its upright washing position. The latch is releasable by an operator actuated control provided the water level in the tub is below a predetermined level. Accordingly, forward tilting of a full tub is prevented. Also, the operator actuable control energizes a mechanism which assists in the forward tilting of the washer thereby reducing the pull force required of the operator. More specifically, a biased hinge creates a backward torsion on the washer to provide increased stability during a spin cycle and the mechanism functions to counteract the torsion.

Abstract: A top loading clothes washer adapted for installation under a fixed or stationary upper structure such as a stacked dryer or countertop wherein the washer is pivotable to a forward tilt-out position providing access to the top and wherein a washer lid in sliding engagement with the top is automatically opened as a result of the tilt-out movement of the washer. Apparatus connected to the lid restrains its forward movement so that it is prevented from moving out from under the dryer or countertop as the top of the washer tilts forward.

Abstract: A top loading clothes washer pivotally supported so that it can be installed underneath a stationary structure and tilted forward for loading and unloading clothes. The pivotal support is provided by a stable base which also includes apparatus such as a hook for preventing forward tilting past a predetermined loading and unloading tilt-out position. The front of the washer is truncated and the tilt axis is backward from the truncation but forward from the washer center of gravity. In the upright washing position, rear feet on the washer provide support for the washer and also engage the base to horizontally secure the washer to the base for stability during spin dynamics. A biased hinge covering the front truncation provides backward torque about the tilt axis so that the washer feet carry a significant amount of the washer weight.