US 12,173,443 B2
Methods for controlling a water reuse system in a wash machine
Lee Monsrud, Saint Paul, MN (US); Kaustav Ghosh, Saint Paul, MN (US); Barry R. Taylor, Saint Paul, MN (US); Loan Paulson-Vu, Saint Paul, MN (US); and Brock Mueggenborg, Saint Paul, MN (US)
Assigned to ECOLAB USA INC., Saint Paul, MN (US)
Filed by ECOLAB USA INC., Saint Paul, MN (US)
Filed on Oct. 14, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/046,803.
Application 18/046,803 is a division of application No. 16/778,630, filed on Jan. 31, 2020, granted, now 11,525,200.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/799,440, filed on Jan. 31, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0083778 A1, Mar. 16, 2023
Int. Cl. D06F 33/46 (2020.01); D06F 33/34 (2020.01); D06F 34/22 (2020.01); D06F 34/24 (2020.01); D06F 39/02 (2006.01); D06F 39/08 (2006.01); D06F 39/20 (2024.01); D06F 103/16 (2020.01); D06F 103/20 (2020.01); D06F 105/04 (2020.01); D06F 105/06 (2020.01)
CPC D06F 33/46 (2020.02) [D06F 33/34 (2020.02); D06F 34/22 (2020.02); D06F 34/24 (2020.02); D06F 39/02 (2013.01); D06F 39/085 (2013.01); D06F 39/20 (2024.01); D06F 2103/16 (2020.02); D06F 2103/20 (2020.02); D06F 2105/04 (2020.02); D06F 2105/06 (2020.02)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for controlling and monitoring a water reuse system in a wash machine comprising:
providing a wash machine comprising a wash tank, a dispenser, a hot water fill valve, a cold water fill valve, and an outlet valve;
providing a water reuse system comprising a controller, a reservoir tank, a drain water diverter valve, a drain water pump, and a reservoir water transfer pump, wherein the water reuse system is in fluid communication with the wash tank of the wash machine;
dispensing a cleaning composition from the dispenser; wherein the dispenser includes an outlet for dispensing a cleaning and/or sanitizing composition into the wash tank, the reservoir tank, the reservoir pump, and/or a water stream supplied to the wash tank;
running the wash machine for at least one wash cycle comprising a wash phase, a bleach phase, a rinse phase, and/or an extraction phase;
pumping water from the at least one wash cycle into the reservoir tank; and
transferring water into the wash tank from the hot water fill valve, the cold water fill valve, and/or the reservoir tank;
wherein during the wash phase the wash tank is filled with from about 50% to about 85% captured reuse water from the reservoir tank, and from about 15% to about 50% water from the hot water fill valve; and wherein during the bleach and rinse phases the wash tank is filled with from about 15% to about 50% captured reuse water from the reservoir tank, and from about 50% to about 85% from the hot water fill valve and/or the cold water fill valve; and
wherein any time during the wash cycle the wash machine sends a fill signal, the controller activates the hot water fill valve and the cold water fill valve to flow tap water into the wash tank, and activates the reservoir water transfer pump to pump water from the reservoir tank into the wash tank.