Field of the invention
The present invention relates to washing machine, and more particularly to a semi-automatic washing
machine having recirculation mechanism for reducing the amount of water required for washing
clothes; thereby increasing washing efficiency.
Background of the invention
Various means have been provided for recirculation of water in a washing machine.
US 5142887 discloses that a resonance rotating &ve sustained by a rotating fluid jet can achieve a
high level of agitation as required in washing devices. The rotating fluid wave is created by one or
more constant flow rotating fluid jets that are rotating at a speed near the natural frequency of a wave
in the washing chamber. The rotating fluid jets are produced by.a pump mounted within a rotating
nozzle housing within the main washing container. The nozzle housing with pump, flow passages and
nozzles is rotated to produce.the rotating fluid jets. Since only rotational motion is used to produce
agitation with the resonant wave-jet agitator washing machine the mechanical components are greatly
simplified as compared to a conventional oscillating motion washing machine.
US 5,493,745 represents a washing machine recirculation and draining system including two bottom
drains in a wash tub, the drains connected by a tubing manifold having a reversible pump. A two-way
valve opens one drain and closes a drain line during recirculation; the pump rotating in a first direction
to pump wash water through a recirculation line. For draining, a second two-way valve opens the
second drain and the first two-way valve closes the first drain and opens the drain line; the pump
rotates in a second direction to drain the tub out through the drain line.
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I - ,' Several patents have been granted for pumping a washing liquid to enhance washing action in a
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washing machine. Most of the disclosures use pump which has been mounted inside the wash tub and
nozzle used for recirculate the water is a rotating one. All these factors leads to a complex design of
washing machine, thereby increasing the cost.
Also, in current washing machines, 55 litres of water is required for wash cycle and the recommended
detergent for 55 litrek of water is 55gm i. e. 1 gmAitre of water. 'A need has been felt to reduce the
amount of water required for a wash cycle.
In order to obviate the problems in prior arts, there is need of simpler design circuitry of washing
machine that will enhance uniform solubility of detergent and uniform wash of all the clothes and
retain the same wash performance as compared to conventional washing machine.
Objects of the invention
It is a principal object of the invention is to provide a washing machine for reducing the amount of
water required for washing clothes.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine with recirculation of washing
liquid to enhance the washing action.
It is another object of the presknt invention is to provide recirculation of washing liquid to enhance
uniform wash of all the clothes and uniform solubility of detergent,
It is yet another object of the present invention to spray recirculated washing liquid on to clothes during
washing for enhanced washing action.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple yet effective washing machine system with
washing liquid recirculation without requiring a complex arrangement.
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,
, Statement of the invention
According to the present invention there is provided a washing machine for reducing the amount of
water required for washing clothes, said washing machine comprising:
a wash tub and optionally a spin tub proximate to each other;
each tub having a top end and a bottom end and substantially vertical side walls;
the top end being open for loading clothes for washing and bottom end being closed;
an agitator mounted in the wash tub for agitating the washing liquid filled therein to a predetermined
level;
a lint filter provided in one of the substantially vertical side walls of the said wash tub for filtering said
washing liquid ; characterized by:
a first hose connected to said lint filter at one end and to the inlet of a water pump at the other end to
recirculate a portion of said washing liquid;
a second hose connected to the outlet of said water pump at one end and to a nozzle at other end, said
nozzle being fitted proximate to the top end and being configured to provide a jet andlor spray of
filtered washing liquid onto theatop of the agitating washing liquid in the said wash tub.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for reducing the
amount of water required for washing clothes in a washing machine, the method comprising the steps
of:
i
a) providing a wash tub and loading clothes to be washed therein;
b) filling the said wash tub with washing liquid to a predetermined level; .
c) selecting a washing mode and washing time;
d) agitating said washing liquid with with said agitator in said washing mode;
e) filtering the washing liquid providing with a lint filter;
f) recirculating filtered washing liquid to said nozzle for spraying filtered washing liquid onto
the top of the agitating washing liquid in the said wash tub;
g) draining the washing liquid after washing by adjusting the selector to the required position;
h) adjusting the selector to a required position for filing the said wash tub to a predetermined level
with plain water after complete drainage;
i) setting the rinsing time;
j) draining of plain water by adjusting the selector to a required position after complete rinsing;
k) removing of clothes form the wash tub after complete drainage;
1) putting the clothes into spin tub for spinning .
m) selecting a spinning mode and spinning time; .
n) taking out the clothes for drying after spinning.
Brief Description of the Drawings:
Figure 1 provides a perspective view of the washing machine embodying the present invention partially
cut away to show the interior mechanism.
Figure 2 provides schematic view showing the fluidmotion associated with the machine and pump.
Figure 3 provides schematic view showing a pump assembly with a second hose.
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Detailed Description of the Invention:
The present invention provides a washing machine for reducing the amount of water required for
washing clothes, said washing machine comprising:
a wash tub and optionally a spin tub proximate to each other;
each tub having a top end, a bottom end and substantially vertical side walls;
the top end being open for loading clothes for washing and bottom end substantially being closed;
an agitator mounted in the wash tub for agitating the washing liquid filled therein to a predetermined
level;
a lint filter provided in one of the substantially vertical side walls of the said wash tub for filtering said
washing liquid ; characterized by:
a first hose connected to said lint filter at one end and to the inlet of a water pump at the other end to
recirculate a portion of said washing liquid;
a second hose connected to the outlet of said water pump at one end and to a nozzle at other end, said
nozzle being fitted proximate to the top end and being configured to provide a jet andlor spray of
filtered washing liquid onto the top of the agitating washing liquid in the said wash tub.
In another embodiment, water pump is fitted outside the said wash tub.
In a further embodiment, nozzle is a fixedly coupled to the wash tub.
In ye. t a.n other embodiment, predetermined level is selected from the group of high, medium, low and
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stain wash.
In another embodiment, predetermined low level is provided for washing soiled clothes.
In a further embodiment, predetermined stain wash level is provided for washing stained clothes.
The invention also provides a method for reducing the amount of water required for washing clothes in
a washing machine, the method comprising the stepsbf:
a) providing a wash tub and loading clothes to be washed therein;
b) filling the said wash tub with wishing liquid to a predetermined level;
C) selecting a washing mode and washing time;
d) agitating said washing liquid with with said agitator in said washing mode;
e) filtering the washing liquid providing with a lint filter;
9 recirculating filtered washing liquid to said nozzle for spraying filtered washing liquid
onto the top of the agitating washing liquid in the said wash tub;
g) draining the washing liquid after washing by adjusting the selector to the required
position;
h) adjusting the selector to a required position for filing the said wash tub to a
predetermined level with plain water after complete drainage;
i) setting the rinsing time;
j) draining of plain water by adjusting the selector to a required position after complete
rinsing;
k) removing of clothes form the w&h tub after complete drainage;
1) putting the clothes into spin tub for spinning .
m) selecting a spinning mode and spinning time;
n) taking out the clothes for drying after spinning.
In a further embodiment, predetermined level is selected from the group of high, medium, low and
stain wash.
In yet another embodiment, predetermined low level is provided for unstained clothed to be washed.
In another embodiment, predetermined stain wash level is provided for stained clothed to be washed.
Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference
to the acco'mpanying drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, washing machine comprises a wash tub (I), an agitator (2). a nozzle (7). a pump
( 3 , a lint filter (3). a first hose (4). a second hose (9), and optionally a spin tub. The wash tub (I) has a
top end (15) and a bottom end (16). The top end (15) of the wash tub (1) is being loaded with clothes to
be washed and bottom end (16) is closed substantially. The wash tub (I) is filled with washing liquid to
a required water level. Water level is selected form the group of high,.medium , low and stain wash.
The water level required for high level is 382 mm, for medium level is 302 mm, for low level is 347
mm and for stain wash is 260 mm from the bottom end (16) of the wash tub(2) of washing machine. An
agitator (2) is disposed in the wash tub: (1) which agitates the washing liquid and thereby helps in
cleaning the soiled clothes. A lint filter (3) is provided to filter washing liquid from the wash tub (1).
The lint filter is connected with a first hose (4) to provide a channel to the filtered washing liquid. The
other end of the first hose (4) is connected to a pump (5) to recirculate a portion of washing liquid.
Other end of the pump is connected to second hose (9) to pass the filtered washing liquid to nozzle (7).
The nozzle is being fitted to proximate to the top end (15) and being configured to provide a jet andlor
spray of filtered washing liquid onto the top of the agitating washing liquid in the wash tub (1).
This water circulation during wash cycle by means of pump will enhance uniform solubility of
detergent and uniform wash of all the clothes. The low water level is selected for unstained clothes.
Also, in current washing machines, 55 litres of water is required for wash cycle and the recommended
detergent for 55 litres of water is 55gm i. e. 1 g d i t r e of water. The present invention recommended
the detergent for 39 litres of water is 55 gm i. e. 1.4 g d i t r e of water . So, in the present invention the
increased detergent concentration combined with recirculation will neutralize the effectof water drop
and retain the same wash performance as compared to conventional washing machine.
Also, this mechanism of recirculation of water by means of pump and nozzle help in removing
toughest stains like coffee, sauce and shoe polish as this mechanism reduce the water level and increase
the detergent concentration. This washing machine has best satin remove capability.
Figure 2 provides schematic view showing the fluid motion associated with the machine and pump. In
figure, a lint filter (3) is provided at the substantially vertical side of wash tub. In subsequent diagram
in figure 2 shows the pictorial view of connection between the components of washing machine. The
first hose (4) is connected to lint filter for providing filtered washing liquid. The filtered washing liquid
is flowing in first hose is connected to a pump at the other end. The pump is connected to the second
hose to recirculate the water. The other end of the second hose is connected to the nozzle which is at
top end of the tub for spraying the the filtered water onto the top of the agitating liquid in the wash tub.
Figure 3 provides a schematic view showing a pump assembly with a second hose. The first hose (4) is
connected to lint filter for providing filtered washing liquid. The filtered washing liquid is flowing in
first hose is connected to a pump at the other end. The pump is connected to the second hose to
recirculate the water. The other end of the second hose is connected to the nozzle which is at top end of
the tub for spraying the the filtered water onto the top of the agitating liquid in the wash tub. Figure 3
shows the exploded view of pump used in washing machine. The pump is operated at 3000 revolution
per minute. The pump recirculates 10 to 12 litres of washing liquid in one minute for spraying the
liquid onto the agitated liquid in wash tub.

We Claim:
1. A washing machine for reducing the amount of water required for washing clothes, said
washing machine comprising:
a wash tub and optionally a spin tub proximate to each other;
each tub having a top end, a bottom end and substantially vertical side walls;
the top end being open for loading clothes for washing and bottoin end substantially being
closed;
an agitator mounted in the wash tub for agitating the washing liquid filled therein to a
predetermined level;
a lint filter provided in one of the substantially vertical side walls of the said wash tub for
filtering said washing liquid ; characterized by:
a first hose connected to said lint filter at one end and to the inlet of a water pump at the other
end to recirculate a portion of said washing liquid;
a second hose connected to the outlet of said water pump'at one end and to a nozzle at other
end, said nozzle being fitted proximate to the top end and being configured to provide a jet
andlor spray of filtered washing liquid onto the top of the agitating washing liquid in the said
wash tub.
2. The washing machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said water pump is fitted outside the said
wash tub.
3. The washing machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said nozzle is a fixedly coupled to the
wash tub.
4. The washing machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said predetermined level is selected from
the group of high, medium, low and stain wash.
5. The washing machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein said predetermined low level is provided
for washing soiled clothes.
6. The washing machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein said predetermined stain wash level is
provided for washing stained clothes.
7. A method for reducing the amount of water required for washing clothes in a washing machine,
the method comprising the steps of:
providing a wash tub and loading clothes to be washed therein;
filling the said wash tub with washing liquid to a predetermined level;
selecting a washing mode and washing time;
agitating said washing liquid with with said agitator.in said washing mode;
filtering the washing liquid providing with a lint filter;
recirculating filtered washing liquid to said nozzle for spraying filtered washing liquid
"onto the top of the agitating washing liquid in the said wash tub;
draining the washing liquid after washing by adjusting the selector to the required
position;
adjusting the selector to a required position for filing the said wash tub to a
predetermined level with plain water after complete drainage;
setting the rinsing time;
draining of plain,water by adjusting the selector to a required position after complete
rinsing;
. . . .
. . . . :<. . . .
k) removing of clothes forin the wash tub after.complete drainage;
1) putting the clothes into spin tub for spinning .
m) selecting a spinning mode and spinning time;
n) taking out the clothes for drying after spinning.
8. The method as claimed in claim 7 wherein said predetermined level is selected from the group
of high, medium, low and stain wash.
9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said predetermined low level is provided for
unstained clothed to be washed.
10. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said predetermined stain wash level is provided for
stained clothed to be washed.
11. A washing machine for reducing the amount of water required for washing clothes,
substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the foregoing examples and
accompanying drawings.
12. A method for reducing the amount of water required for washing clothes in a washing machine,
substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the foregoing examples and
accompanying drawings.