Balancing fluid flow arrangement in an inner tub of a washing machine having an out-of-balance correction system

Abstract

A washing machine is provided with an out-of-balance correction system which can sense an out-of-balance condition of an inner tub during a washing cycle. More specifically, the correction system supplies an amount of balancing fluid to one or more receiving pockets formed in the inner tub about front and rear injection zones of the inner tub. Stationary injectors are provided to selectively dispense the balancing fluid through molded passages extending between an outer tub and the receiving pockets.

1 . A washing machine comprising: 
 a cabinet shell;    an outer tub fixedly mounted within the cabinet shell, said outer tub including a rear portion and a main body portion;    an inner tub rotatably supported within the outer tub, said inner tub including a rear portion defining a rear injection zone and a front portion defining a front injection zone;    a first plurality of balancing fluid receiving pockets arranged about the rear injection zone;    a second plurality of balancing fluid receiving pockets arranged about the front injection zone;    a source of balancing fluid; and    first and second balancing fluid injectors fixed to the outer tub, said first and second balancing fluid injectors being in fluid communication with both the source of balancing fluid and the first and second plurality of balancing fluid receiving pockets wherein, upon detection of an out-of-balance condition of the inner tub during operation of the washing machine, at least one of said first and second balancing fluid injectors is operated to selectively deliver an amount of balancing fluid to at least one of the first and second pluralities of balancing fluid receiving pockets.    
   
   
       2 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a shaft member projecting through a hub portion that projects from the rear portion of the inner tub, said shaft member defining an axis of rotation of the inner tub; and    a plurality of raised wall portions provided on the rear portion of the inner tub, said plurality of raised wall portions extending from adjacent the shaft member toward a peripheral edge of the inner tub, said plurality of raised wall portions partially defining the first plurality of balancing fluid receiving pockets.    
   
   
       3 . The washing machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the axis of rotation is substantially horizontal.  
   
   
       4 . The washing machine according to  claim 2 , further comprising: a return passage for transporting the balancing fluid from the first and second plurality of balancing fluid receiving pockets toward the source of balancing fluid, wherein a portion of said return passage extends along the hub portion.  
   
   
       5 . The washing machine according to  claim 2 , further comprising: a cover plate including an inner surface having a plurality of raised wall portions, a central opening receiving the shaft member, and an inner contour, said cover plate being mated to the rear portion of the inner tub.  
   
   
       6 . The washing machine according to  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 a first plurality of raised baffles provided on the rear surface of the inner tub, with at least one of the plurality of raised baffles being positioned in each of the plurality of balancing fluid receiving pockets; and    a second plurality of raised baffles provided on the inner surface of the cover plate and interposed between the plurality of raised wall portions, said first and second plurality of raised baffles being adapted to reduce sloshing of balancing fluid in the balancing fluid receiving pockets when the inner tub is rotated about the axis of rotation.    
   
   
       7 . The washing machine according to  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of raised wall portions provided on the rear portion of the inner tub engage with the plurality of raised wall portions provided on the inner surface of the cover plate to define the first plurality of balancing fluid receiving pockets.  
   
   
       8 . The washing machine according to  claim 7 , further comprising: a diverter plate, positioned between the inner tub and the cover plate, for directing the balancing fluid to the first and second balancing fluid receiving pockets.  
   
   
       9 . The washing machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of raised wall portions partially define front plane channels for directing the balancing fluid to the front injection zone.  
   
   
       10 . The washing machine according to  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 a plurality of baffles arranged about an inner surface of the inner tub, said baffles being adapted to agitate a load of laundry during rotation of the inner tub; and    wherein at least two of the plurality of baffles include first and second passages for directing the balancing fluid to the front injection zone.    
   
   
       11 . The washing machine according to  claim 10 , wherein at least two of the plurality of baffles are arranged directly opposite one another.  
   
   
       12 . The washing machine according to  claim 10 , wherein at least three baffles are arranged in a symmetrical pattern about the inner surface of the inner tub.  
   
   
       13 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of balancing fluid receiving pockets comprises eight pockets arranged about the rear portion and the second plurality of balancing fluid receiving pockets constitute four pockets provided about the front portion.  
   
   
       14 . The washing machine according to  claim 13 , wherein a balancing fluid is supplied from injectors mounted remote from the inner tub, said inner tub being adapted to rotate about an axis of rotation within the outer tub.  
   
   
       15 . The washing machine according to  claim 14 , wherein the balancing fluid is supplied across an air gap separating the inner and outer tubs.  
   
   
       16 . An inner tub adapted to be rotatably supported within an outer tub of a washing machine comprising: 
 a rear portion defining a rear injection zone;    a front portion defining a front injection zone;    a first plurality of balancing fluid receiving pockets arranged about the rear injection zone;    a second plurality of balancing fluid receiving pockets arranged about the front injection zone; and    a plurality of raised wall portions provided on the rear portion of the inner tub, said plurality of raised wall portions partially defining the first plurality of balancing fluid receiving pockets.    
   
   
       17 . The inner tub according to  claim 16 , further comprising: a shaft member extending from a hub portion that projects from the rear portion of the inner tub, said shaft member defining an axis of rotation of the inner tub.  
   
   
       18 . The inner tub according to  claim 17 , further comprising: a return passage for transporting balancing fluid from the first and second plurality of balancing fluid receiving pockets, wherein a portion of said return passage extends along the hub portion.  
   
   
       19 . The inner tub according to  claim 16 , further comprising: a plurality of baffles arranged about an inner surface of the inner tub, wherein at least two of the plurality of baffles include first and second passages for directing balancing fluid to the front injection zone.  
   
   
       20 . The inner tub according to  claim 19 , wherein at least two of the plurality of baffles are arranged directly opposite one another.  
   
   
       21 . The inner tub according to  claim 16 , wherein the first plurality of balancing fluid receiving pockets comprises eight pockets arranged about the rear portion and the second plurality of balancing fluid receiving pockets constitute four pockets provided about the front portion.  
   
   
       22 . The inner tub according to  claim 16 , further comprising a cover plate including an inner surface having a plurality of raised wall portions, a central opening receiving shaft member, and an inner contour, said cover plate being mated to the rear portion of the inner tub.  
   
   
       23 . The inner tub according to  claim 22 , further comprising: 
 a first plurality of raised baffles provided on the rear surface of the inner tub, with at least one of the plurality of raised baffles being positioned in each of the plurality of balancing fluid receiving pockets; and    a second plurality of raised baffles provided on the inner surface of the cover plate and interposed between the plurality of raised wall portions, said first and second plurality of raised baffles being adapted to reduce sloshing of balancing fluid in the balancing fluid receiving pockets when the inner tub is rotated about the axis of rotation.