US 12,123,128 B2
Laundry machine kit to enable control of water levels, recirculation, and spray of chemistry
Loan Paulson-Vu, Saint Paul, MN (US); Jessica Bull, Saint Paul, MN (US); Barry R. Taylor, Saint Paul, MN (US); Lee Monsrud, Saint Paul, MN (US); Kaustav Ghosh, Saint Paul, MN (US); and Thomas R. Mohs, Saint Paul, MN (US)
Assigned to ECOLAB USA INC., Saint Paul, MN (US)
Filed by ECOLAB USA INC., Saint Paul, MN (US)
Filed on Aug. 17, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/820,435.
Application 17/820,435 is a continuation of application No. 16/778,233, filed on Jan. 31, 2020, granted, now 11,459,692.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/799,334, filed on Jan. 31, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0389642 A1, Dec. 8, 2022
Int. Cl. D06F 39/08 (2006.01); D06F 103/14 (2020.01); D06F 105/02 (2020.01); D06F 105/06 (2020.01)
CPC D06F 39/085 (2013.01) [D06F 39/088 (2013.01); D06F 2103/14 (2020.02); D06F 2105/02 (2020.02); D06F 2105/06 (2020.02)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A wash machine modified to reduce water volume comprising:
a wash tank, a controller, a pressure transducer comprising a pressure sensor, a sump, and pressure tubing, wherein the wash tank has a bottom; and
wherein the wash machine further comprises at least three element(s) selected from the group consisting of:
(a) a dead end valve and a first water flow valve, wherein the dead end valve and the first water flow valve are connected to each other and the wash tank and pressure transducer by the pressure tubing;
(b) a piston, a piston valve, and a second water flow valve, wherein the piston valve and the second water flow valve are connected to each other and the wash tank and the pressure transducer by the pressure tubing;
(c) an air pump configured to provide pressure to the pressure tubing, wherein the air pump is connected to the wash tank and the pressure transducer by the pressure tubing;
(d) a diaphragm positioned at the bottom of the wash tank and connected to the pressure transducer by the pressure tubing; wherein the diaphragm is capable of swelling to a desired volume thereby reducing a usable volume of the wash tank;
(e) a waterfall device comprising one or more compartments capable of holding and releasing water or air, wherein the waterfall device is connected to the pressure transducer by the pressure tubing and is in communication with the controller, and wherein the controller communicates to the waterfall device when to hold and release water or air;
(f) an external water tank, wherein the external water tank is configured to receive and contain water drained from the wash tank;
(g) a first pinch valve and a second pinch valve, wherein the first pinch valve is configured so as to close the tube to the pressure transducer to prevent the pressure sensor from operating as normal, and wherein the second pinch valve is configured to create higher pressure and signal to the controller that the machine is full when a desired, lower, water level is reached; and
(h) a peristaltic pump connected to the wash tank and pressure transducer by the pressure tubing, wherein the peristaltic pump is configured so as to rotate and pinch the pressure tubing connecting the wash tank and transducer.