Abstract: A washer fill system and method supply a suitable minimum amount of water necessary to wash a particular load of laundry based on readings taken from a pressure sensor that measures liquid pressure in the wash tub. Pressure sensor readings are taken intermittently during the fill process to determine when a sufficient amount of free water for washing the load of clothes has accumulated in the tub. This includes pressure readings taken while pulsing the washer motor to spin the wash basket. Other pressure readings may be taken during a pause in filling to measure the water run-off from the wetted clothes above the free water line, and the release of air bubbles from a load portion below the water line. Determining the sufficiency of the amount of wash liquid in the wash tub involves implementation of an algorithm with coefficients determined through regression analyzes, and may include other factors.

Abstract: An automatic washing machine includes a wash basin having a plurality of apertures and an annular liquid reservoir formed at an upper portion of the basin. A plurality of flow channels are arranged around the exterior surface of the wash basin. The plurality of flow channels includes upward flow channels, configured for directing wash liquid extracted from the wash basin into the reservoir under centrifugal force generated in a spin cycle. The plurality of flow channels also includes downward flow channels configured for directing wash liquid from the reservoir to a central drain following the spin cycle. The arrangement avoids the need for an outer wash tub, and at the same time provides stabilization to the wash basin during high speed spins. In another aspect, the wash basin may include wash action ramps provided on a bottom surface of the wash basin and at an upper sidewall of the wash basin.

Abstract: An automatic washing machine includes a wash basin having a plurality of apertures and an annular liquid reservoir formed at an upper portion of the basin. A plurality of flow channels are arranged around the exterior surface of the wash basin. The plurality of flow channels includes upward flow channels, configured for directing wash liquid extracted from the wash basin into the reservoir under centrifugal force generated in a spin cycle. The plurality of flow channels also includes downward flow channels configured for directing wash liquid from the reservoir to a central drain following the spin cycle. The arrangement avoids the need for an outer wash tub, and at the same time provides stabilization to the wash basin during high speed spins. In another aspect, the wash basin may include wash action ramps provided on a bottom surface of the wash basin and at an upper sidewall of the wash basin.

Abstract: A washer fill system and method supply a suitable minimum amount of water necessary to wash a particular load of laundry based on readings taken from a pressure sensor that measures liquid pressure in the wash tub. During the fill period, water is initially sprayed over the load to evenly wet the clothes. As the clothes become saturated, excess free water collects at the bottom and begins to fill the tub. Pressure sensor readings are taken intermittently during the fill process to determine when a sufficient amount of free water for washing the load of clothes has accumulated in the tub. This includes pressure readings taken while pulsing the washer motor to spin the wash basket. Other pressure readings may be taken during a pause in filling to measure the water run-off from the wetted clothes above the free water line, and the release of air bubbles from a load portion below the water line.

Abstract: An automatic washing machine includes a wash basin having a plurality of apertures and an annular liquid reservoir formed at an upper portion of the basin. A plurality of flow channels are arranged around the exterior surface of the wash basin. The plurality of flow channels includes upward flow channels, configured for directing wash liquid extracted from the wash basin into the reservoir under centrifugal force generated in a spin cycle. The plurality of flow channels also includes downward flow channels configured for directing wash liquid from the reservoir to a central drain following the spin cycle. The arrangement avoids the need for an outer wash tub, and at the same time provides stabilization to the wash basin during high speed spins. In another aspect, the wash basin may include wash action ramps provided on a bottom surface of the wash basin and at an upper sidewall of the wash basin.

Abstract: A high force traction apparatus which operates along the cable linear axis with no cable bending. The cable is encircled with links from several looping chain drives. The links have a concave friction surface to match the cable radius. Rollers apply pressure to multiple links thereby providing a high normal force on the cable. The staggered and synchronized links keep the high squeeze force evenly distributed. This allows the traction apparatus to impose a pulling force that approaches the cable tensile limit without cable damage.

Abstract: Rapid deployment of a suspension cable is a supportive system to several high-rise building rescue methods. A cable is pre-attached in a peelable manner to the building side and rigidly attached to the building top. An emergency chase vehicle is dispatched to the building base, attaches to the lower end of the cable and then moves away from the building. The cable peels off the building and suspends from the building top to the ground at approximately a 45 degree angle. A high-rise building rescue method now utilizes this deployed suspension cable.

Abstract: Rapid deployment of a suspension cable is a supportive system to several high-rise building rescue methods. A cable is pre-attached in a peelable manner to the building side and rigidly attached to the building top. An emergency chase vehicle is dispatched to the building base, attaches to the lower end of the cable and then moves away from the building. The cable peels off the building and suspends from the building top to the ground at approximately a 45 degree angle. A high-rise building rescue method now utilizes this deployed suspension cable.