Methods and apparatus for channeling liquid in a clothes treating apparatus

Abstract

A valve assembly for a clothes treating apparatus operable in a dry cleaning process and a water washing process includes a valve inlet, and first and second valve outlets coupled in flow communication with the valve inlet. The apparatus includes a cabinet, and a wash tub and a storage tank positioned within the cabinet. The valve inlet is configured to be coupled in flow communication with the wash tub. The valve assembly also includes a first valve and a second valve configured to respectively control the flow through the first valve outlet and the second valve outlet. The first valve is configured to channel liquid from the wash tub outward through the first valve outlet in the water washing process, and the second valve is configured to channel liquid from the wash tub outward through the second valve outlet in the dry cleaning process.

1 . A valve assembly for a clothes treating apparatus operable in a dry cleaning process and a water washing process, the apparatus including a cabinet, a wash tub positioned within the cabinet, and a storage tank positioned within the cabinet, said valve assembly comprising:
 a valve inlet configured to be coupled in flow communication with the wash tub;   first and second valve outlets coupled in flow communication with said valve inlet; and   a first valve and a second valve configured to respectively control the flow through said first valve outlet and said second valve outlet, said first valve configured to channel liquid from the wash tub outward through said first valve outlet in the water washing process, said second valve configured to channel liquid from the wash tub outward through said second valve outlet in the dry cleaning process.   
     
     
         2 . A valve assembly in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said first valve configured to channel water to a drain, said second valve configured to channel dry cleaning fluid to the storage tank. 
     
     
         3 . A valve assembly in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising a filter positioned upstream of said valves, said filter facilitates restricting items in the liquid from entering said valves. 
     
     
         4 . A valve assembly in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising a first pump and a second pump, said pumps coupled in flow communication with said valve outlets, respectively. 
     
     
         5 . A valve assembly in accordance with  claim 4  further comprising a valve housing, said valves and said pumps at least partially positioned within said valve housing. 
     
     
         6 . A valve assembly in accordance with  claim 4  wherein at least one of said valves configured to close before de-energizing the corresponding one of said pumps. 
     
     
         7 . A valve assembly in accordance with  claim 4  wherein at least one of said valves comprises a check valve movable between an open position and a closed position, said check valve biased toward the closed position and configured to move to the open position to enable the flow therethrough when the corresponding one of said pumps is energized. 
     
     
         8 . A clothes treating apparatus operable in a dry cleaning process and a water washing process, said apparatus comprising:
 a cabinet;   a wash tub positioned within said cabinet for receiving laundry therein; and   a valve assembly positioned within said cabinet, said valve comprising:
 a valve inlet coupled in flow communication with said wash tub; 
 first and second valve outlets coupled in flow communication with said valve inlet; and 
   a first valve and a second valve configured to respectively control the flow through said first valve outlet and said second valve outlet, said first valve configured to channel liquid from said wash tub outward through said first valve outlet in the water washing process, said second valve configured to channel liquid from said wash tub outward through said second valve outlet in the dry cleaning process.   
     
     
         9 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 8  further comprising a storage tank positioned within said cabinet, said first valve configured to channel water from said wash tub to a drain, said second valve configured to channel dry cleaning fluid from said wash tub to said storage tank. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 8  further comprising a filter positioned upstream of said valves, said filter facilitates restricting items in the liquid from entering said valves. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 8  further comprising a first pump and a second pump, said pumps coupled in flow communication with said valve outlets, respectively. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 11  further comprising a valve housing, said valves and said pumps at least partially positioned within said valve housing. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 11  wherein at least one of said valves configured to close the corresponding one of said valve outlets before de-energizing the corresponding one of said pumps. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 11  wherein at least one of said valves comprises a check valve movable between an open position and a closed position, said check valve biased toward the closed position and configured to move to the open position to enable the flow therethrough when the corresponding one of said pumps is energized. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 8  further comprising a third valve coupled in flow communication with said wash tub and said valve assembly, said third valve positioned upstream of said valve assembly. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 8  wherein said valves configured to close the flow through said valve outlets to retain the liquid in said wash tub. 
     
     
         17 . A method for assembling a clothes treating apparatus operable in a dry cleaning process and a water washing process, said method comprising:
 providing a cabinet;   positioning a wash tub within the cabinet; and   positioning a valve assembly within the cabinet, which comprising:
 coupling a valve inlet in flow communication with the wash tub; 
 coupling first and second valve outlets in flow communication with the valve inlet; and 
 providing a first valve and a second valve configured to respectively control the flow through the first valve outlet and the second valve outlet, the first valve configured to channel liquid from the wash tub outward through the first valve outlet in the water washing process, the second valve configured to channel liquid from the wash tub outward through the second valve outlet in the dry cleaning process. 
   
     
     
         18 . A method in accordance with  claim 17  further comprising positioning a storage tank within the cabinet, said providing a first valve and a second valve comprising providing a first valve configured to channel water from the wash tub to a drain, and providing a second valve configured to channel dry cleaning fluid from the wash tub to the storage tank. 
     
     
         19 . A method in accordance with  claim 17  further comprising positioning a filter upstream of the valves, the filter facilitates restricting items in the liquid from entering into the valves. 
     
     
         20 . A method in accordance with  claim 17  further comprising providing a first pump and a second pump, the pumps coupled in flow communication with the valve outlets, respectively. 
     
     
         21 . A method for channeling fluid through a clothes treating apparatus operable in a dry cleaning process and a water washing process, the apparatus including a cabinet, a wash tub, a storage tank, and a valve assembly coupled in flow communication with the wash tub, the valve assembly including a valve inlet, a first and a second valve outlet, a first and a second valve, and a first and a second pump, said method comprising:
 channeling the fluid from the wash tub into the valve assembly; and   selectively channeling the fluid from the valve assembly to one of the storage tank and an exterior of the apparatus.   
     
     
         22 . A method in accordance with  claim 21  further comprising closing at least one of the valves not late than de-energizing the corresponding one of the pumps. 
     
     
         23 . A method in accordance with  claim 22  further comprising opening at least one of the valves not earlier than energizing the corresponding one of the pumps. 
     
     
         24 . A method in accordance with  claim 21  further comprising channeling water through the first valve outlet in the water washing process, and channeling dry cleaning fluid through the second valve outlet in the dry cleaning process. 
     
     
         25 . A method in accordance with  claim 21  further comprising restricting the fluid from flowing into the valve assembly before said channeling the fluid from the wash tub.