Method for regulating ozone within a washing machine appliance

Abstract

A washing machine appliance and a method for regulating ozone within the same are provided. The method includes activating an ozone generation system of the washing machine appliance in order to initiate a flow of ozonized water into a tub of the washing machine appliance and measuring an amount of ozone within an exhaust conduit of the washing machine appliance with an ozone sensor. Based at least in part on the amount of ozone within the exhaust conduit, various steps can be taken to regulate the amount of ozone within a wash chamber of the washing machine appliance.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for regulating ozone within a washing machine appliance, the washing machine appliance having a drum positioned within a tub, the drum defining a wash chamber for receipt of articles for washing and an ozone generation system for directing ozonized water into tub, the washing machine appliance also having an exhaust conduit for directing gas out of the tub and an ozone sensor for measuring an amount of ozone within the exhaust conduit, the method comprising:
 activating the ozone generation system in order to initiate a flow of ozonized water into the tub of the washing machine appliance;   measuring the amount of ozone within the exhaust conduit with the ozone sensor;   rotating the drum in order to agitate articles within the wash chamber if the amount of ozone within the exhaust conduit at the step of measuring is greater than a minimum amount of ozone or actuating the ozone generation system in order to initiate an additional flow of ozonized water into tub of the washing machine appliance if the amount of ozone within the exhaust conduit at the step of measuring is less than the minimum amount of ozone.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the minimum amount of ozone corresponds to an amount of ozone required to sanitize articles within the wash chamber of the drum. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 obtaining another measurement of the amount of ozone within the exhaust conduit with the ozone sensor after the step of rotating; and   spinning the drum in order to agitate articles within the wash chamber if the amount of ozone within the exhaust conduit at the step of obtaining is greater than a maximum amount of ozone or draining the tub of the washing machine appliance if the amount of ozone within the exhaust conduit at the step of obtaining is less than the maximum amount of ozone.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising revolving the drum after the step of draining in order to extract wash fluid from articles within the wash chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 obtaining another measurement of the amount of ozone within the exhaust conduit with the ozone sensor after the step of actuating; and   spinning the drum in order to agitate articles within the wash chamber if the amount of ozone within the exhaust conduit at the step of obtaining is greater than the minimum amount of ozone or draining the tub of the washing machine appliance if the amount of ozone within the exhaust conduit at the step of obtaining is less than the minimum amount of ozone.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 receiving an additional measurement of the amount of ozone within the exhaust conduit with the ozone sensor after the step of spinning; and   revolving the drum in order to agitate articles within the wash chamber if the amount of ozone within the exhaust conduit at the step of receiving is greater than a maximum amount of ozone or draining the tub of the washing machine appliance if the amount of ozone within the exhaust conduit at the step of receiving is less than the maximum amount of ozone.   
     
     
         7 . A washing machine appliance, comprising:
 a cabinet;   a tub positioned within the cabinet;   a drum rotatably mounted within the tub, the drum defining a chamber for receipt of items for washing;   a motor in mechanical communication with the drum in order to selectively rotate the drum;   an ozone generation system comprising
 a water inlet; 
 a water conduit extending between the water inlet and the tub, the water conduit being in fluid communication with the water inlet and the tub in order to direct water from the water inlet into the tub; and 
 an ozone generator for supplying ozone to water within water conduit; 
   an exhaust conduit extending between the tub and the cabinet, the exhaust conduit being in fluid communication with the tub in order to direct gas out of the tub;   an ozone sensor positioned at the exhaust conduit for measuring an amount of ozone within the exhaust conduit; and   a controller in communication with the motor, the water inlet, the ozone generator, and the ozone sensor, the controller configured for
 activating the water inlet and the ozone generator in order to initiate a flow of ozonized water through the water conduit; 
 measuring the amount of ozone within the exhaust conduit with the ozone sensor; and 
 rotating the drum with the motor in order to agitate articles within the wash chamber if the amount of ozone within the exhaust conduit at the step of measuring is greater than a minimum amount of ozone or actuating the water inlet and the ozone generator in order to initiate an additional flow of ozonized water through the water conduit if the amount of ozone within the exhaust conduit at the step of measuring is less than the minimum amount of ozone. 
   
     
     
         8 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 7 , wherein the minimum amount of ozone corresponds to an amount of ozone required to sanitize articles within the chamber of the drum. 
     
     
         9 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 7 , wherein the controller is further configured for:
 obtaining another measurement of the amount of ozone within the exhaust conduit with the ozone sensor after the step of rotating; and   spinning the drum with the motor in order to agitate articles within the wash chamber if the amount of ozone within the exhaust conduit at the step of obtaining is greater than a maximum amount of ozone or draining the tub if the amount of ozone within the exhaust conduit at the step of obtaining is less than the maximum amount of ozone.   
     
     
         10 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 7 , wherein the controller is further configured for:
 obtaining another measurement of the amount of ozone within the exhaust conduit with the ozone sensor after the step of actuating; and   spinning the drum with the motor in order to agitate articles within the wash chamber if the amount of ozone within the exhaust conduit at the step of obtaining is greater than the minimum amount of ozone or draining the tub if the amount of ozone within the exhaust conduit at the step of obtaining is less than the minimum amount of ozone.   
     
     
         11 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured for:
 receiving an additional measurement of the amount of ozone within the exhaust conduit with the ozone sensor after the step of spinning; and   revolving the drum with the motor in order to agitate articles within the wash chamber if the amount of ozone within the exhaust conduit at the step of receiving is greater than a maximum amount of ozone or draining the tub if the amount of ozone within the exhaust conduit at the step of receiving is less than the maximum amount of ozone.   
     
     
         12 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 7 , further comprising a sump positioned proximate a bottom portion of the drum, the sump being in fluid communication with tub, the water conduit extending between the water inlet and the sump in order to direct water from the water inlet into the sump. 
     
     
         13 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 7 , wherein the ozone generator comprises at least one electrolytic ozone cell. 
     
     
         14 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 7 , further comprising a fan positioned within the exhaust conduit, the fan configured for urging gases from the tub into the exhaust conduit. 
     
     
         15 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 14 , further comprising a catalyst positioned within the exhaust conduit downstream of the ozone sensor, the catalyst configured for reducing the amount of ozone within the exhaust conduit. 
     
     
         16 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a detergent drawer in fluid communication with the tub;   a cold water inlet;   a cold water conduit extending between the cold water inlet and the detergent drawer, the cold water conduit being in fluid communication with the cold water inlet and the detergent drawer in order to direct water from the cold water inlet into the detergent drawer;   a hot water inlet; and   a hot water conduit extending between the hot water inlet and detergent drawer, the hot water conduit being in fluid communication with the hot water inlet and the detergent drawer in order to direct water from the hot water inlet into the detergent drawer.   
     
     
         17 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 7 , wherein the exhaust conduit is positioned proximate a top portion of the drum. 
     
     
         18 . A method for regulating ozone within a washing machine appliance, the washing machine appliance having a drum mounted within a tub, the drum defining a wash chamber for receipt of articles for washing, the washing machine appliance having an ozone generation system for directing ozonized water into tub, the washing machine appliance also having an exhaust conduit for directing gas out of tub and an ozone sensor for measuring an amount of ozone within the exhaust conduit, the method comprising:
 initiating a sanitation cycle of the washing machine appliance;   activating the ozone generation system in order to initiate a flow of ozonized water into the tub;   measuring the amount of ozone within the exhaust conduit with the ozone sensor; and   directing an additional flow of ozonized water into tub, adjusting a duration of a tumble portion of the sanitation cycle, or draining the tub based at least in part on the amount of ozone within the exhaust conduit of the step of measuring.