Washing machine appliance and a method for operating a washing machine appliance

Abstract

A washing machine appliance has a low-flow inlet valve that is configured such that a flow of water from the low-flow inlet valve has a flow rate no greater than one gallon per minute when the low-flow inlet valve is open. A Venturi pump is connected to the low-flow inlet valve such that the flow of water from the low-flow inlet valve enters the Venturi pump at a water inlet of the Venturi pump when the low-flow inlet valve is open. The Venturi pump is operable to draw fluid from a tub through a recirculation conduit to a recirculation inlet of the Venturi pump. A nozzle is positioned and oriented for directing a flow of liquid from the Venturi pump into the tub. A related method for operating a washing machine appliance is also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A washing machine appliance, comprising:
 a tub;   a basket mounted within the tub such that the basket is rotatable relative to the tub;   a low-flow inlet valve configured such that a flow of water from the low-flow inlet valve has a flow rate no greater than one gallon per minute when the low-flow inlet valve is open;   a Venturi pump positioned downstream of the low-flow inlet valve relative to the flow of water from the low-flow inlet valve, the Venturi pump having a water inlet, a recirculation inlet and an outlet, the Venturi pump connected to the low-flow inlet valve such that the flow of water from the low-flow inlet valve enters the Venturi pump at the water inlet of the Venturi pump when the low-flow inlet valve is open;   a recirculation conduit extending between the tub and the recirculation inlet of the Venturi pump, the Venturi pump operable to draw fluid from the tub through the recirculation conduit to the recirculation inlet of the Venturi pump; and   a nozzle connected to the outlet of the Venturi pump, the nozzle positioned and oriented for directing a flow of liquid from the Venturi pump into the tub.   
     
     
         2 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the low-flow inlet valve includes a restrictor plate defining at least one orifice, the at least one office sized such that the flow of water from the low-flow inlet valve has the flow rate no greater than one gallon per minute when the low-flow inlet valve is open. 
     
     
         3 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one office is sized such that the flow of water from the low-flow inlet valve has the flow rate of about three-quarters of a gallon per minute when the low-flow inlet valve is open. 
     
     
         4 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one orifice has a diameter no greater than one-hundredth of an inch. 
     
     
         5 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the low-flow inlet valve is configured such that the flow of water from the low-flow inlet valve has the flow rate of about three-quarters of a gallon per minute when the low-flow inlet valve is open. 
     
     
         6 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein a flow rate of a mixture of the fluid from the tub and the flow of water from the low-flow inlet valve at the outlet of the Venturi pump is greater than one gallon per minute when the low-flow inlet valve is open. 
     
     
         7 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the low-flow inlet valve comprises a solenoid operable to open and close the low-flow inlet valve. 
     
     
         8 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 7 , further comprising a controller in operative communication with the solenoid, the controller configured to open the low-flow inlet valve with the solenoid during a fill cycle. 
     
     
         9 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to open the low-flow inlet valve with the solenoid for at least ten minutes during the fill cycle. 
     
     
         10 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 8 , further comprising a motor coupled to the basket such that the basket is rotatable with the motor, the controller in operative communication with the motor, the controller configured to activate the motor during at least a portion of the fill cycle. 
     
     
         11 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the washing machine appliance is a vertical axis washing machine appliance such that the basket is rotatable about a vertical axis within the tub. 
     
     
         12 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the tub extends between a top portion and bottom portion along a vertical direction, an inlet of the recirculation conduit positioned at the bottom portion of the tub, the low-flow inlet valve and the Venturi pump positioned at the top portion of the tub. 
     
     
         13 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 12 , wherein the washing machine appliance is a vertical axis washing machine appliance such that the basket is rotatable about a vertical axis within the tub. 
     
     
         14 . A method for operating a washing machine appliance, comprising:
 opening a low-flow inlet valve of the washing machine appliance in order to initiate a flow of water from the low-flow inlet valve, the flow of water having a flow rate no greater than one gallon per minute;   directing the flow of water through a Venturi pump of the washing machine appliance such that the Venturi pump draws fluid from a tub of the washing machine appliance through a recirculation conduit to the Venturi pump; and   directing a mixture of the fluid from the tub and the flow of water into the tub.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the flow of water has the flow rate of about three-quarters of a gallon per minute when the low-flow inlet valve is open. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein a flow rate of the mixture of the fluid from the tub and the flow of water is greater than one gallon per minute. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein opening the low-flow inlet valve comprises actuating a solenoid of the low-flow inlet valve. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein opening the low-flow inlet valve comprises actuating the solenoid for at least ten minutes during a fill cycle of the washing machine appliance. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising rotating a basket of the washing machine appliance with a motor coupled to the basket during at least a portion of the fill cycle. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the washing machine appliance is a vertical axis washing machine appliance such that the basket is rotatable about a vertical axis within the tub, the tub extending between a top portion and bottom portion along a vertical direction, an inlet of the recirculation conduit positioned at the bottom portion of the tub, the low-flow inlet valve and the Venturi pump positioned at the top portion of the tub.