Laundry treating appliance and method of detecting oversuds

Abstract

A method for detecting an oversuds condition that can lead to a suds lock condition in a laundry treating appliance includes determining a baseline fill level prior to introducing wash liquid in the cycle of operation; sampling fill levels of the wash liquid during a wash phase of the cycle of operation while wash liquid is being drained; comparing each sampled fill level to the baseline fill level and determining a difference; continuing to sample fill levels for a predetermined period after the difference equals zero; identifying a minimum fill level for the predetermined period; sampling a final fill level after the predetermined period; calculating a difference between the minimum fill level and the final fill level; and identifying a potential suds lock condition if the difference exceeds a predetermined threshold.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for detecting an over suds condition that can lead to a suds lock condition in a laundry treating appliance having a tub defining an interior, with a wash basket rotatably mounted within the interior and at least partially defining a treating chamber for receiving laundry for treatment in accordance with a cycle of operation using a wash liquid, the method comprising:
 determining a baseline fill level in the treating chamber prior to introducing wash liquid into the treating chamber in the cycle of operation;   sampling fill levels of the wash liquid in the treating chamber during a wash phase of the cycle of operation while wash liquid is being drained from the treating chamber;   comparing each sampled fill level to the baseline fill level and determining a difference;   continuing to sample fill levels in the treating chamber for a predetermined period after the difference equals zero;   identifying a minimum fill level in the treating chamber for the predetermined period;   sampling a final fill level after the predetermined period;   calculating a difference between the minimum fill level and the final fill level; and   identifying a suds lock condition if the difference exceeds a predetermined threshold.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  including the step of rotating the wash basket in a progressive rinse cycle if a potential suds lock condition is identified. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  including the step of rotating the wash basket in a deep or normal rinse cycle if a suds lock condition is not identified. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the predetermined time period is 60 seconds. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the predetermined time period is determined by the physical characteristics of the laundry treating appliance. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of sampling fill levels in the treating chamber occurs at a rate 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of sampling fill levels in the treating chamber is determined by the physical characteristics of the laundry treating appliance. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a pressure transducer is used in the steps of determining a baseline fill level in the treating chamber and continuing to sample fill levels in the treating chamber for a predetermined period, and sampling a final fill level after the predetermined period. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a controller is used to digitize analog measurements made during the steps of determining a baseline fill level in the treating chamber, continuing to sample fill levels in the treating chamber for a predetermined period, and sampling a final fill level after the predetermined period. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a controller is used in the steps of identifying the minimum fill level in the treating chamber for the predetermined period, calculating a difference by subtracting the minimum fill level from the final fill level; and identifying a potential suds lock condition if the difference exceeds a predetermined threshold.