Patent ID: 6792776
Filing Date: 2004-09-21
Classification: D06F,Y10T

Abstract:
A water valve for introducing water of different temperatures to a washing appliance, comprising:a valve body having a hot water inlet and a cold water inlet adapted to be connected to separate sources of hot and cold water respectively; said valve body having an outlet; said valve body having a hot water valve, a cold water valve, and a low cold water valve said hot water valve being movable from an open position for dalivering hot water from said hot water inlet to said rnltlet to a closed position for preventing delivezy of hot water from said hot water inlet to said outlet; said cold water valve being movable from an open position for delivering cold water from said cold water inlet to said outlet at a first rate to a closed position preventing dalivery of cold water from said cold water inlet to said outlet; said low cold water valve being movable from an open position for delivering cold water from said cold water inlet to said outlet at a second rate less than said first rate to a closed position preventing delivery of cold water from said cold water inlet to said outlet; a hot prime mover, a cold prime mover, and a low cold prime mover connected to said hot, cold, and low cold water vklves respectively for independently moving said hot, cold, and low cold water valves between their respective open and closed positions; a controller for actuating said hot, cold, and low cold prime movers independently of one another to selectively move move hot, cold, and low cold valves to at least the following conditions: a. said hot and low cold valves being in said open positions and said cold valve being in said closed position to cause a first temjierature of water to exit from said outlet; b. said hot, cold and low cold valves all being in said open position to cause a second temperature of water lower than said first temperature to exit from said outlet; c. said cold and low cold valves being in said open positions and said hot valve being in said closed position to cause a third temperature of water lower than said first and second temperatures to exit from said outlet; said hot valve, said cold valve, and said low cold valve have flow rates in the following ratios: 1.0 units for said hot valve, 2.08 to 3.64 units for said cold valve and 0.25 to 0.36 units for said low cold valve.