Hydraulically Powered Lid Lock Assembly

Abstract

A lid lock assembly for a washing machine appliance is provided. The lid lock assembly includes a lid lock mechanism configured to engage a striker on a lid of the washing machine appliance to lock the lid in the closed position. The lid lock mechanism is actuated using a hydraulic actuation assembly including a water supply conduit and a hydraulic plunger, the hydraulic plunger being configured to actuate the lid lock mechanism when the water supply conduit is momentarily pressurized. Each time the lid lock mechanism is actuated, the lid lock mechanism alternates between a locked state and an unlocked state, thereby allowing the lid lock assembly to lock the lid in the closed position without any electrical harnesses and without requiring that the water supply conduit remain pressurized.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A washing machine appliance defining a vertical, a lateral, and a transverse direction, the washing machine appliance comprising:
 a cabinet;   a wash tub positioned within the cabinet;   a wash basket rotatably mounted within the wash tub, the wash basket defining a wash chamber for receiving articles for washing;   a lid being rotatably hinged to the cabinet to provide selective access to the wash chamber, the lid comprising a striker; and   a lid lock assembly configured for locking the lid in the closed position during operation of the washing machine appliance, the lid lock assembly comprising:
 a lid lock mechanism configured to engage the striker to lock the lid in a closed position; and 
 a hydraulic actuation assembly comprising a water supply conduit and a hydraulic plunger, the hydraulic plunger being configured to actuate the lid lock mechanism when water is supplied to the water supply conduit. 
   
     
     
         2 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the lid lock assembly further comprises a plunger housing in flow communication with the water supply conduit, the hydraulic plunger being slidably received in the plunger housing such that the hydraulic plunger slides into an extended position to actuate the lid lock mechanism when the water supply conduit is pressurized and into a retracted position when the water supply conduit is depressurized. 
     
     
         3 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the plunger housing is a cylindrical pipe defining a first end operably coupled with the water supply conduit and a second end through which the hydraulic plunger extends, the second end of the plunger housing defining a flange that extends radially inward to engage a shoulder on the hydraulic plunger that extends radially outward to prevent the hydraulic plunger from sliding out of the plunger housing. 
     
     
         4 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 3 , wherein a spring is positioned around the hydraulic plunger between the flange and the shoulder to urge the hydraulic plunger toward the retracted position. 
     
     
         5 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the water supply conduit is depressurized by bleeding water through a pressure relief port placed in flow communication with the plunger housing. 
     
     
         6 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the lid lock assembly further comprises a valve, the valve being configured to regulate the flow of water from a water supply to the water supply conduit to pressurize the water supply conduit and move the hydraulic plunger toward the extended position or depressurize the water supply conduit and move the hydraulic plunger toward the retracted position. 
     
     
         7 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 6 , wherein the lid lock mechanism is actuated by momentarily opening the valve to move the hydraulic plunger into the extended position and then closing the valve to allow the hydraulic plunger to move toward the retracted state, and wherein each time the lid lock mechanism is actuated, the lid lock mechanism alternates between a locked state and an unlocked state. 
     
     
         8 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 6 , wherein the valve is a solenoid valve positioned within a control panel of the washing machine appliance. 
     
     
         9 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the lid lock assembly further comprises a feedback mechanism for indicating when the lid is closed and the lid lock mechanism is engaging the striker or when the lid lock mechanism is disengaged and the lid is not restricted from pivotal movement. 
     
     
         10 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the lid lock mechanism is a cam mechanism. 
     
     
         11 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the washing machine appliance is a top load washing machine. 
     
     
         12 . A lid lock assembly for a washing machine appliance, the washing machine appliance comprising a cabinet and a lid being pivotally attached to the cabinet, the lid comprising a striker and being configured to move between an open position and a closed position, the lid lock assembly comprising:
 a lid lock mechanism configured to engage the striker to lock the lid in the closed position; and   a hydraulic actuation assembly comprising a water supply conduit and a hydraulic plunger, the hydraulic plunger being configured to actuate the lid lock mechanism when water is supplied to the water supply conduit.   
     
     
         13 . The lid lock assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the lid lock assembly further comprises a plunger housing in flow communication with the water supply conduit, the hydraulic plunger being slidably received in the plunger housing such that the hydraulic plunger slides into an extended position to actuate the lid lock mechanism when the water supply conduit is pressurized and into a retracted position when the water supply conduit is depressurized. 
     
     
         14 . The lid lock assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the plunger housing is a cylindrical pipe defining a first end operably coupled with the water supply conduit and a second end through which the hydraulic plunger extends, the second end of the plunger housing defining a flange that extends radially inward to engage a shoulder on the hydraulic plunger that extends radially outward to prevent the hydraulic plunger from sliding out of the plunger housing. 
     
     
         15 . The lid lock assembly of  claim 14 , wherein a spring is positioned around the hydraulic plunger between the flange and the shoulder to urge the hydraulic plunger toward the retracted position. 
     
     
         16 . The lid lock assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the water supply conduit is depressurized by bleeding water through a pressure relief port placed in flow communication with the plunger housing. 
     
     
         17 . The lid lock assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the lid lock assembly further comprises a valve, the valve being configured to regulate the flow of water from a water supply to the water supply conduit to pressurize the water supply conduit and move the hydraulic plunger toward the extended position or depressurize the water supply conduit and move the hydraulic plunger toward the retracted position. 
     
     
         18 . The lid lock assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the lid lock mechanism is actuated by momentarily opening the valve to move the hydraulic plunger into the extended position and then closing the valve to allow the hydraulic plunger to move toward the retracted state, and wherein each time the lid lock mechanism is actuated, the lid lock mechanism alternates between a locked state and an unlocked state. 
     
     
         19 . The lid lock assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the valve is a solenoid valve positioned within a control panel of the washing machine appliance. 
     
     
         20 . The lid lock assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the lid lock assembly further comprises a feedback mechanism for indicating when the lid is closed and the lid lock mechanism is engaging the striker or when the lid lock mechanism is disengaged and the lid is not restricted from pivotal movement.