Washing Machine Appliance with On Demand Fluid Additive
A washing machine appliance includes a reservoir and a dispensing assembly having a Venturi pump, a supply conduit and a water valve. The Venturi pump is coupled to the supply conduit such that the Venturi pump draws fluid additive from the reservoir when the water valve is open and water flows through the Venturi pump. A controller opens the water valve in response to actuation of a user input.
1 . A washing machine appliance, comprising:
a cabinet having a top panel, the top panel of the cabinet defining an opening;
a tub disposed within the cabinet below the top panel;
a basket rotatably mounted within the tub;
a reservoir positioned below the top panel, an inlet of the reservoir positioned at the opening of the top panel;
a dispensing assembly mounted to the top panel, the dispensing assembly comprising a Venturi pump, a supply conduit and a water valve, the supply conduit extending between the reservoir and the Venturi pump, an exit of the Venturi pump positioned proximate the tub, the Venturi pump coupled to the supply conduit such that the Venturi pump draws fluid additive from the reservoir when the water valve is open and water flows through the Venturi pump;
a user input; and
a controller in operative communication with the user input and the water valve, the controller opening the water valve in response to actuation of the user input.
2 . The washing machine appliance of claim 1 , wherein the reservoir has a height along a vertical direction, the height of the reservoir being no greater than six inches.
3 . The washing machine appliance of claim 1 , wherein the Venturi pump is configured for dispensing a mixture of fluid additive and water into the tub when the water valve is open and motif liquid flows through the Venturi pump.
4 . The washing machine appliance of claim 1 , wherein the water valve is a solenoid valve.
5 . The washing machine appliance of claim 1 , wherein the water valve is a fluid additive-water mixture valve and the user input is a fluid additive-water mixture user input, the washing machine further comprising:
a cold water valve configured to regulate a flow of cold water;
a cold water user input for adding supplemental cold water to the tub;
a hot water valve configured to regulate a flow of hot water;
a hot water user input for adding supplemental hot water to the tub,
wherein the controller opens the cold water valve in response to actuation of the cold water user input and the controller opens the hot water valve in response to actuation of the hot water user input.
6 . The washing machine appliance of claim 1 , wherein the user input is a switch, button or touch sensor.
7 . The washing machine appliance of claim 1 , wherein when the controller opens the water valve for a predetermined amount of time in response to actuation of the user input.
8 . The washing machine appliance of claim 1 , wherein the top panel extends between a front portion and a back portion, the user input is positioned on the top panel proximate the front portion of the top panel.
9 . The washing machine appliance of claim 8 , further comprising a door mounted to the cabinet, the user input positioned on the top panel beneath the door when the door is closed.
10 . The washing machine appliance of claim 8 , wherein the opening of the top panel is positioned at the front portion of the top panel.
11 . A vertical axis washing machine appliance, comprising:
a cabinet having a top panel;
a tub disposed within the cabinet below the top panel;
a basket rotatable about a substantially vertical axis within the tub;
a reservoir positioned below the top panel;
a dispensing assembly positioned at the top panel, the dispensing assembly comprising a Venturi pump, a supply conduit and a water valve, the supply conduit extending between the reservoir and the Venturi pump, the Venturi pump coupled to the supply conduit such that the Venturi pump draws fluid additive from the reservoir when the water valve is open and water flows through the Venturi pump;
a user input positioned on the top panel; and
a controller in operative communication with the user input and the water valve, the controller opening the water valve in response to actuation of the user input.
12 . The vertical axis washing machine appliance of claim 11 , wherein the reservoir has a height along a vertical direction, the height of the reservoir being no greater than six inches, the vertical axis washing machine appliance does not include an electric pump operable to draw fluid additive from the reservoir.
13 . The vertical axis washing machine appliance of claim 12 , wherein the Venturi pump is configured for dispensing a mixture of fluid additive and water into the tub when the water valve is open and motif liquid flows through the Venturi pump.
14 . The vertical axis washing machine appliance of claim 11 , wherein the water valve is a solenoid valve.
15 . The vertical axis washing machine appliance of claim 11 , wherein the water valve is a fluid additive-water mixture valve and the user input is a fluid additive-water mixture user input, the washing machine further comprising:
a cold water valve configured to regulate a flow of cold water;
a cold water user input for adding supplemental cold water to the tub;
a hot water valve configured to regulate a flow of hot water;
a hot water user input for adding supplemental hot water to the tub,
wherein the controller opens the cold water valve in response to actuation of the cold water user input and the controller opens the hot water valve in response to actuation of the hot water user input.
16 . The vertical axis washing machine appliance of claim 11 , wherein the user input is a switch, button or touch sensor.
17 . The vertical axis washing machine appliance of claim 11 , wherein when the controller opens the water valve for a predetermined amount of time in response to actuation of the user input.
18 . The vertical axis washing machine appliance of claim 11 , wherein the top panel extends between a front portion and a back portion, the user input is positioned on the top panel at the front portion of the top panel.
19 . The vertical axis washing machine appliance of claim 18 , further comprising a door mounted to the cabinet, the user input positioned on the top panel beneath the door when the door is closed.
20 . The vertical axis washing machine appliance of claim 19 , wherein the top panel of the cabinet defines an opening, the opening of the top panel positioned at the front portion of the top panel, an inlet of the reservoir positioned at the opening of the top panel.