Washing machine rinse-water diverter valve
US4561471A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 24, 1984 |
| Grant date | Dec 31, 1985 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 24, 2004 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T137/87772
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A dump valve adapted for use with automatic clothes washing machines provides an optional water conservation feature which allows the user to divert draining rinse water from the normal sewer drain port to an alternate drain port. The optional water conservation feature consists of an electrical control circuit connected to the rinse cycle of a washing machine timer switch which can energize a solenoid coil and in turn will operate the diverter dump valve. A diverter gate is contained within a housing which has an inlet portion and an outlet portion having a normal drain port and an alternate drain port. The diverter gate contained within the dump valve housing is a solid, rectangular, plate-like, structure having a suitably located cylindrical opening for normal drain operation of the dump valve, a solid, blocking surface which inhibits the flow of water to an alternate drain port when not actuated or which will inhibit the flow of water to the normal drain port when actuated. The diverter gate is adapted to have a stem portion releaseably connected to the solenoid core.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.