FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a two phase method for washing clothes and an automatic washer therefor and more particularly to a method and a washer for washing clothes or cloth items more economically and efficiently. It reduces water consumption and energy used in operating the washer and provides superior wash quality.
PRIOR ART
US 4068 503 teaches an invention that provides a first agitator element and a second agitator element driven from a common driving source, the second agitator element being provided with means to urge clothes into a rollover pattern established by the coaction of the agitator elements and thereby impart a highly efficient rollover motion to the clothes. The first agitator element, which may employ either rigid or flexible vanes, or a combination thereof, is preferably located below and coaxial to the second agitator element which may be driven either intermittently, or continuously, in a unidirectional motion.
In the field of automatic washing machines, the most efficient clothes movement is a pattern which provides a rollover of the clothes down the wash chamber, then radially outward from the oscillating agitator vanes, upward along the wall of the wash basket . This pattern may be described as a toroidal rollover pattern. This movement is most effectively achieved in automatic washers which have dual action agitators, such as disclosed in Patent No. US 4,068,503 wherein a top auger portion is driven in a umdirectional rotary motion and a bottom portion, having flexible vanes, is driven in an oscillatory motion.
To achieve this type of toroidal rollover pattern, vertical axis washers having center agitators require a deep fill of wash liquid as the movement of clothes within the wash basket depends on fluid motion or fluid power. U.S. Pat. No. 4,068,503 and similar wash systems, at least in part, pump wash liquid within the wash basket in a toroidal rollover pattern, such that clothes within the wash basket are moved along with the flow of wash liquid. Without free fluid movement which allows for fluid pumping and the use of fluid power, these systems do not function. Accordingly, in a vertical axis washer having an agitator, effective rollover of the clothes can not be achieved when an insufficient amount of water is supplied into the wash tub. Effective rollover requires an amount of water which completely or almost completely, submerges the clothes load such the clothes are suspended in wash liquid,
A second type of vertical axis washer wherein a relatively flat or low height, disk-like impeller or pulsator is provided along the bottom wall of a wash basket which may be rotatably supported within a tub. In a similar manner to vertical axis washing machines

employing agitators, for automatic washing machines of this type it has, long been accepted that the most efficient clothes movement is a pattern which provides a toroidal rollover of the clothes or cloth items within the wash basket. During operation of this type of washing machine, the impeller is rotated or oscillated to create water flow. Clothes items are washed by moving within the wash basket along with the water flow.
Just as with the vertical axis washers having center agitators, automatic washers having bottom impellers require a deep fill of wash liquid to achieve the desired toroidal rollover pattern as the movement of clothes within the wash basket depends on fluid motion or fluid power. The bottom impellers or pulsators pump wash liquid within the wash basket in a toroidal rollover pattern, such that clothes within the wash basket are moved along with the flow of wash liquid. Without free fluid movement which allows for fluid pumping and the use of fluid power, these systems do not function well.
A wash system is provided for moving cloth items within a wash basket in an inverse or inverted toroidal rollover pattern. The motion of cloth items within the wash basket is created by direct contact between an oscillating impeller and the cloth items supported above the impeller. Fluid pumping and fluid power are not used for moving fabric items in the wash basket.
A method of washing cloth items in an automatic washer is provided wherein the automatic washer includes a wash basket defining a wash basket and an impeller located within the bottom of the wash basket. The method includes loading cloth items into the wash basket and then supplying a quantity of wash liquid into the wash basket 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 basket 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. As a result, cloth items move radially inward along the impeller, move upwardly in the center of the wash basket, move radially outwardly along the top of the wash basket and move down ward along the side wall of the wash basket in a pattern which is referred to as the above mentioned inverse toroidal rollover path or pattern. This inverse toroidal rollover pattern is created by direct contact between the oscillating impeller and the cloth items supported above the impeller. In the present invention, fluid pumping or fluid power is not the major drive used for moving cloth items in the wash chamber. This has been described in the patent documents US 6 212 722 & IN 197 450 of M/S Whirlpool, Corporation as a patentee.

Automatic washer of the prior art needs more water during the first phase of washing i.e. soaking and maintaining the desired temperature for efficient washing during the first phase of washing more electric power is required. To maintain the specified concentration of detergent in a wash fluid more amount of detergent is needed.
In order to obviate the aforementioned problems, there is a need of a washer to reduces water and energy consumption by maintaining the wash quality.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION:
It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a two phase method for washing clothes and an automatic washer by supplying sufficient quantity of wash water to fully soak the clothes into wash basket resulting in saving the scared water.
It is another object of the present invention is to provide a two phase method for washing clothes and an automatic washer therefor that is capable to increase the concentration of detergent for obtaining efficient washing of clothes.
It is yet object of the present invention is to maintain the desired temperature in the wash basket during first phase of washing results in economically usage of electric power.
It is further object of the invention is to provide a two phase method for washing clothes that is cost effective and efficient for washing clothes by saving consumption of wash water, increased concentration of detergent, and electric power used in heating and in running the washer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
According to the present invention, there is provided a two phase method for washing clothes having a wash basket and an impeller located at the bottom part within the wash basket; the impeller being rotatable about a substantially vertical axis, the method comprising the steps of, -loading clothes into the wash basket; -providing a first quantity of wash water, sufficient to fully soak the clothes into the wash basket, the quantity of wash water being determined by a load sensor; -adding detergent to obtain wash fluid having specified concentration of detergent the weigh of detergent being determined by said load sensor; -driving the soaked clothes in first phase of washing in an inverse toroidal rollover path in the wash basket; -adding a second quantity of wash water, into the wash basket, the quantity of wash water in the second phase of washing being determined by the said load sensor; and -washing of clothes in the second phase by

rotating impeller thereby getting the inverse toroidal rollover path in the wash basket and also agitating the wash fluid.
Further embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a two phase automatic washer for washing clothes comprising: -a wash basket with an impeller located at the bottom part within the wash basket; -the impeller being rotatable about a substantially vertical axis; -a load sensor configured for determining and supplying a first quantity of water for the first phase of washing; -said load sensor further configured to determine and add required quantity of detergent into the wash basket to obtain wash fluid having specified concentration of detergent for first phase of washing; -said load sensor further configured to determine and add second quantity of water into wash basket for said second phase of washing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. is a side sectional view for illustrating one of the embodiments of an automatic washer according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention may be embodied in a two phase automatic washer (1), as shown in FIG., where there is shown an automatic washer (1) having an outer tub (2). A motor (5) is provided below the tub (2) for rotatably driving a impeller (4) and a wash basket (3). The wash basket (3) is rotatably supported within the tub (2). Drive power is transmitted from a motor (5) to the power transmission device via belt. Alternatively, the present invention could readily be employed in an automatic washer which employed a direct drive type power transmission system. The washer is provided with a pump (6) to recirculate the wash fluid through a hose (7) connected to a shower (8) placed at the top of the tub (2) to shower over the clothes.
In one of the embodiments a two phase method for washing clothes in an automatic washer (1) is having a wash basket (3). An impeller (4) is located at the bottom part within the wash basket (3). The impeller (4) is rotatable about a substantially vertical axis. Wash basket is enclosed in a tub (2). The method comprises the steps of: 1) loading clothes into the wash basket (3); 2) providing a first quantity of wash water, sufficient to fully soak the clothes into the wash basket, the quantity of wash water being determined by a load sensor (not shown, is in the control panel); 3) adding detergent to obtain wash fluid (9) having specified concentration of detergent, the weight of detergent may be determined by said load sensor; 4) driving the soaked clothes in first phase of washing in an inverse toroidal rollover path in the wash basket; 5) adding a second quantity of wash water, into the wash basket. The quantity of wash water in the second phase of washing is determined by the said load sensor; and 6) washing of clothes in the second phase by rotating impeller thereby agitating the wash fluid (9).

Still further and perhaps most simply, the amount of wash fluid supplied into the washer may be predetermined for the first phase of washing based on the cloth quantity in putted by the washer operator. In such a .system, the cloth quantity value, for example SMALL, MEDIUM, LARGE, EXTRA LARGE may be in putted to the washer controller via push, buttons or a selector dial (not shown, in the control panel). In response, an amount of wash liquid, suitable for establishing inverse toroidal rollover motion may be supplied into the washer.
The specified concentration of the wash fluid (9) in the first phase of washing ranges from 1.5 gm to 2 gm of detergent per liter of water used depending upon the type of clothes and dirt level and the load of clothes say upto 5.5 Kilogram.
The said first phase of washing is performed with the wash fluid which may be heated, to a temperature ranging from 25° C to 50° C. It is optional features depends upon the environment temperature or the quality of washing of clothes required or type of clothes. The temperature of the wash fluid may range from 40° C to 50° C for obtaining good result.
The wash fluid may be re-circulated by a pump and added from the top of wash basket in the form of shower (8) for uniform wetting of clothes and thorough mixing of detergent in the first phase of washing, effective washing of clothes in the second phase of washing and rinsing of clothes. The clothes received water from additional side i.e. from the top through shower.
Out of said two phase washing, the first phase of washing may be about of 30 minutes broken into a plurality of cycles comprising of soaking time of about 3 minutes followed by about 20 seconds of mechanical movement of the impeller an inverse toroidal rollover of the clothes. During this phase clothes get sufficient time for chemical action with detergent with sufficient amount of wash fluid and temperature of water.
The specified concentration of said wash fluid in the second phase of washing may be reduced to in the range of .9 gm to 1.2 gm of detergent per liter of water by adding predetermined amount of water for best washing of clothes.
In another embodiment of the invention, a two phase automatic washer, for washing clothes, comprises:-a wash basket (3) with an impeller (4) located at the bottom part within the wash basket, - the impeller being rotatable about a substantially vertical axis;-a load sensor configured for determining and supplying a first quantity of water for the first phase of washing;-said load sensor further configured to determine and add required quantity of detergent into the wash basket to obtain wash fluid having specified concentration of detergent for first phase of washing;-said load sensor ( not shown in the

drawing, it is on the control panel) further configured to determine and add second quantity of water into wash basket for said second phase of washing.
The said wash basket may have a heating means to heat the wash fluid during the first phase of washing. This is an optional feature depending upon the environment temperature or the types of clothes to be washed or the quality of washing of clothes is required. The machine for washing clothes, wherein the heating means heat the wash fluid and maintain the temperature in the first phase of washing range between from 25° C to 50° C. Temperature in the first phase of washing may range between from 40° C to 50° C for best washing of clothes.
The wash fluid may be re-circulated by a pump and the fluid is added from the top of wash basket through a shower. The pump is provided out side of the wash basket and may be connected by a hose pipe to a shower. This is an optional features for effective washing.
Said wash basket may be provided with a pre programmed device (not shown in the drawing , provided on the control panel) to perform two phase washing, the first phase of washing may be of about of 30 minutes broken into a plurality of cycles comprising of soaking time of about 3 minutes followed by about 20 seconds of mechanical movement of the impeller an inverse toroidal rollover of the clothes.
Said load sensor add second quantity of water into wash basket for second phase of washing and heating means is switched off. Said pre programmed device may suitable configured to operate the machine during the second phase washing and rinse cycle.
The present invention gives best wash performance with 10 to 15% less water consumption upto 4.5 Kg of clothes load compared to deep fill used in the conventional washer. It also saves the energy 45 to 60% while heater is selected in comparison to conventional washing machine.

We claim:
1. A two phase method for washing clothes in an automatic washer having a wash basket
and an impeller located at the bottom part within the wash basket, the impeller being
rotatable about a substantially vertical axis, the method comprising the steps of:
-loading clothes into the wash basket;
-providing a first quantity of wash water, sufficient to fully soak the clothes into the wash basket, the quantity of wash water being determined by a load sensor;
-adding detergent to obtain wash fluid having specified concentration of detergent, the weight of detergent being determined by said load sensor;
- driving the soaked clothes in first phase of washing in an inverse toroidal rollover path in the wash basket;
-adding a second quantity of wash water, into the wash basket, the quantity of wash water in the second phase of washing in an inverse toroidal rollover path being determined by the said load sensor; and
-washing of clothes in the second phase by rotating impeller thereby agitating the wash fluid.
2. The method for washing clothes as claimed in claim 1, wherein the specified concentration of the wash fluid in the first phase of washing ranges from 1.5 gm to 2 gm of detergent per liter of water, depending upon the type of clothes and dirt level.
3. The method for washing clothes as claimed in claim 1, wherein in said first phase of washing is performed with the wash fluid heated to a temperature ranging from 25° C to 50° C.
4. The method for washing clothes as claimed in claim 4, wherein the temperature of the wash fluid in the first phase of washing ranges from 40° C to 50° C.
5 The method for washing clothes as claimed in any preceding claims, wherein said first phase of washing is about of 30 minutes broken into a plurality of cycles comprising of soaking time of about 3 minutes followed by about 20 seconds of mechanical movement of the impeller an inverse toroidal rollover of the clothes.
6. The method for washing clothes as claimed in any preceding claims, wherein the wash fluid is re-circulated by a pump and added from the top or from the side of wash basket in the form, of shower for uniform wetting of clothes, thorough mixing of detergent, effective washing of clothes and rinsing of clothes.

7. The method for washing clothes as claimed in claim 2 wherein the specified
concentration of said wash fluid in the second phase of washing is reduced to in the range
of 0.9 gm to 1.2 gm of detergent per liter of water by adding predetermined amount of
water.
8. A two phase automatic washer for washing clothes comprising:
-a wash basket with an impeller located at: the bottom part within the wash basket,
- the impeller being rotatable about a substantially vertical axis;
-a load sensor configured for determining and supplying a first quantity of water for the first phase of washing:
-said load sensor further configured to determine and add required quantity of detergent into the wash basket to obtain wash fluid having specified concentration of detergent for first phase of washing;
-said load sensor further configured to determine and add second quantity of water into wash basket for said second phase of washing.
9. The washer, as claimed in claim 8, wherein said wash basket is provided with a heating
means to heat the wash fluid during the first phase of washing.
10. The washer, as claimed in claim 9, wherein the heating means heat the wash fluid and maintain the temperature in the first phase of washing range between from 25° C to 50° C.
11. The washer, as claimed in claim 10, wherein the heating means heat the water and maintain the temperature in the first phase of washing range between from 40° C to
50° C.
12. The washer, as claimed in any preceding claims, wherein said wash basket being
provided with a pre programmed device to perform two phase washing, the first phase of
washing of about of 30 minutes broken into a plurality of cycles comprising of soaking
time of about 3 minutes followed by about 20 seconds of mechanical movement of the
impeller an. inverse toroidal rollover of the clothes.
13 The washer, as claimed in any preceding claims, wherein the wash fluid is recirculated by a pump and the fluid is added from the top of wash basket
14. The washer, as claimed in claim 7, wherein said load sensor add second quantity of ambient water into wash basket for second phase of washing.

15. The washer, as claimed in any preceding claims, wherein said pre programmed device is configured to operate the machine during the second phase washing and rinse cycle.
16. A two phase method for washing clothes, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
17. A two phase automatic washer for washing clothes, substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawing.