Claims
- 1. A lid switch with out-of-balance detection for a washing machine having a lid openable with respect to a washing machine housing, the washing machine housing holding a spin basket mounted in a tub movable with respect to the housing, the lid switch comprising:
- a switch frame having a surface for mounting to the washing machine housing;
- a switch operator extending from the switch frame to contact the lid when the switch frame is mounted to the washing machine housing, the switch operator moving between a lid closed position when the lid is closed and a lid open position when the lid is open;
- a weight movably attached to the switch frame to move from a rest position relative to the switch frame with acceleration of the switch frame; and
- a pair of electrical contacts positioned within the switch frame and communicating with the switch operator and the weight to actuate the contacts when the weight moves from the rest position and to actuate the contacts when the lid is opened, and otherwise to deactuate the contacts.
- 2. The lid switch as recited in claim 1 including a spring retaining the weight at the rest position for acceleration of the switch frame less than a predetermined amount that would indicate out-of-balance operation of the spin basket.
- 3. The lid switch as recited in claim 1 wherein the weight is attached to the switch frame by a pendulum arm and wherein the arm includes a lever portion moving one of the electrical contacts away from the other when the weight moves from the rest position.
- 4. The lid switch as recited in claim 3 including in addition a spring biasing the weight to the rest position.
- 5. The lid switch as recited in claim 3 wherein the pendulum arm terminates in a head member positioned away from the weight, and wherein the pendulum arm attaches to the switch frame by passing upward through a hole in the switch frame to hang downward from the hole suspended by an abutment of the head member against a surface of the switch frame above the hole wherein the lever portion formed by the pivoting of the head member against the switch frame.
- 6. The lid switch as recited in claim 3 including a spring pressing downward against the head member to exert a force aligned with an axis of the pendulum arm when the weight is in the rest position.
- 7. The lid switch as recited in claim 1 wherein the switch operator includes a spring arm moving a first one of the electrical contacts toward a stop when the switch operator moves between the lid open position and the lid closed position, the stop being positioned near a second one of the electrical contacts when the weight is in the rest position, the spring arm flexing to accommodate motion of the switch operator after the first one of the electrical contact reaches the stop without further movement of the first one of the electrical contacts toward the second one of the electrical contacts.
- 8. The lid switch as recited in claim 7 wherein the stop is further positioned to permit the weight to move the second one of the contacts away from the first one of the contacts when the weight moves from the rest position and the first one of the contacts is at the stop.
- 9. The lid switch as recited in claim 1 wherein the predetermined amount of acceleration indicates a contacting between the tub and the housing caused by motion of the tub.
- 10. A washing machine comprising:
- a housing;
- a lid openable with respect to the housing;
- a spin basket positioned within the housing to be accessible when the lid is opened;
- a tub positioned within the housing to hold the spin basket for rotation therein, the tub mounted for movement with respect to the housing in response to unbalance of the spin basket;
- a lid switch attached to the housing and including:
- a switch frame having a surface for mounting to the washing machine housing;
- a switch operator extending from the switch frame to contact the lid when the switch frame is mounted to the washing machine housing, the switch operator moving between a lid closed position when the lid is closed and a lid open position when the lid is open;
- a weight movably attached to the switch frame to move from a rest position relative to the switch frame with acceleration of the switch frame indicating a striking of the tub against the housing; and
- a pair of electrical contacts positioned within the switch frame and communicating with the switch operator and the weight to actuate the contacts when the weight moves from the rest position and to actuate the contacts when the lid is opened, and otherwise to deactuate the contacts.
- 11. The washing machine of claim 10 wherein the weight is mounted to the switch frame to move from the rest position in response to accelerations directed at different angles within a horizontal plane.
- 12. The washing machine of claim 11 wherein the weight is mounted to the switch frame to move from the rest position in response to accelerations directed at any angle within a horizontal plane.
- 13. An apparatus for detecting out-of-balance operation of a washing machine, the washing machine having a housing holding a spin basket mounted in a tub, the tub being movable with respect to the housing, the apparatus comprising:
- a switch frame having a surface for mounting to the washing machine housing;
- a weight movably attached to the switch frame to move from a rest position relative to the switch frame with acceleration of the switch frame; and
- a pair of electrical contacts attached to the switch frame and communicating with the weight to be actuated when the weight moves from the rest position;
- wherein the weight and contacts are adjusted so that only a collision between the tub and housing causes actuation of the contacts;
- the device further including a spring retaining the weight at the rest position for acceleration of the switch frame less than a pre-determined amount that would indicate out-of-balance operation of the spin basket;
- wherein the weight is attached to the switch frame by a pendulum arm and wherein the arm includes a lever portion moving one of the electrical contacts away from the other when the weight moves from the rest position;
- the device further including in addition a spring biasing the weight to the rest position;
- wherein the pendulum arm terminates in a head member positioned away from the weight and wherein the pendulum arm attaches to the switch frame by passing upward through a hole in the switch frame to hang downward from the hole suspended by an abutment of the head member against a surface of the switch frame above the hole wherein the lever portion formed by the pivoting of the head member against the switch frame.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/444,596 filed May 18, 1995 and entitled: Out-of-Balance Control for Washing Machine now U.S. Pat. No. 5,685,038.
US Referenced Citations (14)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
59-82893 |
May 1984 |
JPX |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
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Parent |
444596 |
May 1995 |
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