Mechanical diverter valve for washing machine

Abstract

A clothes washing machine includes a housing with a wash cavity and a water inlet. Two or more water outlets are in fluid communication with the water inlet wherein each water outlet is connected with respect to a dispenser cup for dispensing a respective wash chemical. A mechanical diverter valve is positioned in series with the water inlet and is configured to index between the two or more water outlets to flush the respective wash chemical into the wash cavity.

1 . A clothes washing machine comprising:
 a housing with a wash cavity;   a water inlet;   two or more water outlets, each water outlet connected with respect to a dispenser cup for dispensing a respective wash chemical; and   a mechanical diverter valve in series with the water inlet and configured to index between the two or more water outlets to flush the respective wash chemical into the wash cavity.   
     
     
         2 . The clothes washing machine of  claim 1  wherein the mechanical diverter valve is configured to index when a water supply is turned on or off. 
     
     
         3 . The clothes washing machine of  claim 1  further comprising a drain pump connected with respect to the water inlet. 
     
     
         4 . The clothes washing machine of  claim 1  wherein the diverter valve comprises a rocker arm valve with a spring-loaded ball. 
     
     
         5 . The clothes washing machine of  claim 1  wherein the diverter valve comprises a ball valve. 
     
     
         6 . The clothes washing machine of  claim 1  wherein the dispenser cup comprises a detergent cup. 
     
     
         7 . The clothes washing machine of  claim 1  wherein the dispenser cup comprises a fabric softener cup. 
     
     
         8 . The clothes washing machine of  claim 1  comprising a detergent cup, a fabric softener cup, and a bleach cup. 
     
     
         9 . The clothes washing machine of  claim 1  wherein the two or more water outlets comprise different diameters. 
     
     
         10 . The clothes washing machine of  claim 9  further comprising a flowmeter positioned relative to the water inlet. 
     
     
         11 . The clothes washing machine of  claim 1  wherein the diverter valve is not connected with respect to an electrical actuator. 
     
     
         12 . A clothes washing machine comprising:
 a housing with a wash cavity;   a drain pump;   a water inlet which receives water from the drain pump;   two or more water outlets extending from the water inlet;   a mechanical diverter valve in series with the drain pump and positioned between the water inlet and the two or more water outlets, wherein one outlet of the two or more water outlets recirculates water from a bottom of the wash cavity and one outlet of the two or more water outlets drains water from the wash cavity at the end of the cycle.   
     
     
         13 . The clothes washing machine of  claim 12  wherein the diverter valve comprises a rocker arm valve with a spring-loaded ball. 
     
     
         14 . The clothes washing machine of  claim 12  wherein the diverter valve comprises a ball valve.