Patents by Inventor Charles O. Tapp

Charles O. Tapp has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5439019
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1995
    Assignee: Speed Queen Company
    Inventors: William J. Quandt, Charles O. Tapp