Water supply control for a steam generator of a fabric treatment appliance using a weight sensor

Abstract

A fabric treatment appliance comprises a steam generator having a chamber configured to hold water, a supply conduit configured to transport water to the steam generator chamber, a weight sensor outputting a signal responsive to the weight of the steam generator, and a controller coupled to the weight sensor and configured to control a flow of water through the supply conduit based on the signal from the weight sensor. The disclosure provides methods of water supply control that can employ the weight sensor.

1 . A fabric treatment appliance comprising:
 at least one of a tub and drum defining a fabric treatment chamber;   a steam generator configured to supply steam to the fabric treatment chamber and having a chamber configured to hold water;   a supply conduit configured to transport water to the steam generator chamber;   a weight sensor outputting a signal responsive to the weight of the steam generator; and   a controller coupled to the weight sensor and configured to control a flow of water through the supply conduit based on the signal from the weight sensor.   
   
   
       2 . The fabric treatment appliance of  claim 1  wherein the weight sensor comprises a switch configured to output the signal when the weight of the steam generator is less than or equal to a predetermined weight corresponding to a predetermined amount of water in the chamber. 
   
   
       3 . The fabric treatment appliance of  claim 2  wherein the switch is positioned below the steam generator. 
   
   
       4 . The fabric treatment appliance of  claim 2  wherein the weight sensor further comprises a biasing member. 
   
   
       5 . The fabric treatment appliance of  claim 4  wherein the biasing member is positioned to apply a generally upward force to the steam generator. 
   
   
       6 . The fabric treatment appliance of  claim 4  wherein the biasing member is a spring. 
   
   
       7 . The fabric treatment appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising a valve fluidly coupled to the supply conduit to control the flow of water through the supply conduit. 
   
   
       8 . The fabric treatment appliance of  claim 7  wherein the controller is coupled to the valve and the weight sensor to control operation of the valve based on the output signal of the weight sensor. 
   
   
       9 . The fabric treatment appliance of  claim 1  wherein the weight sensor comprises a scale.