US-12624485-B2 - Calibration cycles in washing machine appliances

US12624485B2US 12624485 B2US12624485 B2US 12624485B2US-12624485-B2

Abstract

A method is for a fill cycle calibration in a washing machine appliance. The method includes receiving an activation signal of a calibration cycle, and performing the calibration cycle. The calibration cycle includes initializing a fill sequence of the washing machine appliance, determining a supply connection orientation of a hot water supply hose and a cold water supply hose, measuring a volume of water from a hot water supply valve before reaching a predetermined temperature threshold, measuring flow rates of water from the hot water supply valve and a cold water supply valve, and updating operational parameters of the washing machine appliance.

Inventors

Stannard Nathan Phelps
Stephen Edward Hettinger
Nicholas DILLON
Jeffrey Kellow
Rachel Jones

Assignees

HAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS, INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20230929

Claims (20)

1 . A method for a fill cycle calibration in a washing machine appliance, the washing machine comprising a tub, a basket within the tub, and a controller, the method comprising: receiving, at a controller, an activation signal of a calibration cycle, performing the calibration cycle in response to receiving the activation signal, the calibration cycle comprising: initializing, by the controller, a fill sequence of the washing machine appliance; determining, by the controller, a supply connection orientation of a hot water supply hose and a cold water supply hose; measuring, by the controller, a volume of water from a hot water supply valve before reaching a predetermined temperature threshold; measuring, by the controller, flow rates of water from the hot water supply valve and a cold water supply valve; and updating, by the controller, operational parameters of the washing machine appliance in response to each of the supply connection orientation, the volume of water from the hot water supply valve before reaching the predetermined temperature threshold, and flow rates of water from the hot water supply valve and the cold water supply valve, analyzing, by the controller, a cycle history of the washing machine appliance, wherein the cycle history indicates a cycle was conducted within a set time of receiving the activation signal of the calibration cycle, the method further comprising: determining, by the controller, a distorted temperature reading based on the cycle conducted within the set time of receiving the activation signal; and updating, by the controller, the operational parameters is in response to each of the supply connection orientation and flow rates of water from the hot water supply valve and the cold water supply valve.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the fill sequence of the washing machine appliance comprises flowing a first volume of water into the tub of the washing machine appliance, wherein flowing the first volume of water is stopped upon reaching a first predetermined pressure threshold.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the fill sequence of the washing machine appliance further comprises flowing a second volume of water into the tub of the washing machine appliance, wherein flowing the second volume of water is stopped upon reaching a second predetermined pressure threshold.
4 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising recording one or more of a fill time of the second volume of water and a temperature of the second volume of water in a memory of the controller.
5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the fill sequence of the washing machine appliance further comprises flowing a third volume of water into the tub of the washing machine appliance, wherein flowing the third volume of water is stopped upon reaching a third predetermined pressure threshold.
6 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising recording one or more of a fill time of the third volume of water and a temperature of the third volume of water in a memory of the controller.
7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the first volume of water is flowed from the cold water supply valve, the second volume of water is flowed from the cold water supply valve, and the third volume of water is flowed from the hot water supply valve.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining of the supply connection orientation of the hot water supply hose and the cold water supply hose comprises comparing temperatures of water from each of the hot water supply valve and the cold water supply valve.
9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising, in response to the determining of the supply connection orientation, switching, by the controller, operation of the hot water supply valve and the cold water supply valve.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the activation signal comprises one of receiving an input on a user interface of the washing machine appliance or an input from an external device.
11 . A washing machine appliance, comprising: a tub; a basket within the tub; and a controller configured to, receive an activation signal of a calibration cycle, perform the calibration cycle in response to the activation signal, wherein, in the calibration cycle the controller is configured to: initialize a fill sequence of the washing machine appliance; determine a supply connection orientation of a hot water supply hose and a cold water supply hose; measure a volume of water from a hot water supply valve before reaching a predetermined temperature threshold; measure flow rates of water from the hot water supply valve and a cold water supply valve; and update operational parameters of the washing machine appliance in response to one or more of the supply connection orientation, the volume of water from the hot water supply valve before reaching the predetermined temperature threshold, and flow rates of water from the hot water supply valve and the cold water supply valve, analyze a cycle history of the washing machine appliance, wherein the cycle history indicates a cycle was conducted within a set time of receiving the activation signal of the calibration cycle, the controller further configured to: determine a distorted temperature reading based on the cycle conducted within the set time of receiving the activation signal; and update the operational parameters in response to each of the supply connection orientation and flow rates of water from the hot water supply valve and the cold water supply valve.
12 . The washing machine appliance of claim 11 , wherein the fill sequence of the washing machine appliance comprises flowing a first volume of water into the tub of the washing machine appliance, wherein flowing the first volume of water is stopped upon reaching a first predetermined pressure threshold.
13 . The washing machine appliance of claim 12 , wherein the fill sequence of the washing machine appliance further comprises flowing a second volume of water into the tub of the washing machine appliance, wherein flowing the second volume of water is stopped upon reaching a second predetermined pressure threshold.
14 . The washing machine appliance of claim 13 , wherein the controller is further configured to record one or more of a fill time of the second volume of water and a temperature of the second volume of water in a memory of the controller.
15 . The washing machine appliance of claim 13 , wherein the fill sequence of the washing machine appliance further comprises flowing a third volume of water into the tub of the washing machine appliance, wherein flowing the third volume of water is stopped upon reaching a third predetermined pressure threshold.
16 . The washing machine appliance of claim 15 , wherein the controller is further configured to record one or more of a fill time of the third volume of water and a temperature of the third volume of water in a memory of the controller.
17 . The washing machine appliance of claim 15 , wherein the first volume of water is flowed from the cold water supply valve, the second volume of water is flowed from the cold water supply valve, and the third volume of water is flowed from the hot water supply valve.
18 . The washing machine appliance of claim 11 , wherein the determining of the supply connection orientation of the hot water supply hose and the cold water supply hose comprises comparing temperatures of water from each of the hot water supply valve and the cold water supply valve.
19 . The washing machine appliance of claim 18 , wherein, in response to the determining of the supply connection orientation, the controller may be further configured to switch operation of the hot water supply valve and the cold water supply valve.
20 . The washing machine appliance of claim 11 , wherein the activation signal comprises one of an input on a user interface of the washing machine appliance or an input from an external device.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present subject matter relates generally to calibration cycles in washing machine appliances. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Washing machine appliances generally include a wash tub for containing water or wash fluid (e.g., water, detergent, bleach, or other wash additives). A basket is rotatably mounted within the wash tub and defines a wash chamber for receipt of articles for washing. During normal operation of such washing machine appliances, the wash fluid is directed into the wash tub and onto articles within the wash chamber of the basket. The basket or an agitation element may rotate at various speeds to agitate articles within the wash chamber, to wring wash fluid from articles within the wash chamber, etc. Washing machine appliances may operate in numerous cycles. For example, the typical washing machine appliance may be operable in various wash cycles, rinse cycles, drain cycles, and spin cycles. In the wash cycle, the wash fluid is directed into the wash tub and onto articles within the wash chamber of the basket. The rinse cycle includes rinsing the articles in the wash tub, e.g., with fresh water. The drain cycle is used in between different cycles to remove, e.g., drain, the wash fluid from the wash tub. In each of the cycles, fluid may be present in the tub of the washing machine appliance, and proper operation of the washing machine may rely upon accurately detecting qualities of the fluid in the tub, such as pressure and temperature. Accordingly, washing machine appliances may include one or more fluid sensors, such as temperature sensors, and/or pressure sensors, etc. Inaccurate readings from the sensor(s) may result in undesirable or inefficient operation of the washing machine appliance based on the inaccurate sensor readings. Accordingly, systems and methods for improved calibration, e.g., of washing machine appliance sensors and readings produced by such sensors is desired in the art. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be apparent from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention. In one example embodiment, a method is for a fill cycle calibration in a washing machine appliance. The washing machine appliance includes a tub, a basket within the tub, and a controller. The method includes receiving, at a controller, an activation signal of a calibration cycle, and performing the calibration cycle in response to receiving the activation signal. The calibration cycle includes initializing, by the controller, a fill sequence of the washing machine appliance, determining, by the controller, a supply connection orientation of a hot water supply hose and a cold water supply hose, measuring, by the controller, a volume of water from a hot water supply valve before reaching a predetermined temperature threshold, measuring, by the controller, flow rates of water from the hot water supply valve and a cold water supply valve, and updating, by the controller, operational parameters of the washing machine appliance in response to one or more of the supply connection orientation, the volume of water from the hot water supply valve before reaching the predetermined temperature threshold, and flow rates of water from the hot water supply valve and the cold water supply valve. In another example embodiment, a washing machine appliance, includes a tub, a basket within the tub, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive an activation signal of a calibration cycle, and perform the calibration cycle in response to the activation signal. In the calibration cycle, the controller is configured to initialize a fill sequence of the washing machine appliance, determine a supply connection orientation of a hot water supply hose and a cold water supply hose, measure a volume of water from a hot water supply valve before reaching a predetermined temperature threshold, measure flow rates of water from the hot water supply valve and a cold water supply valve, and update operational parameters of the washing machine appliance in response to one or more of the supply connection orientation, the volume of water from the hot water supply valve before reaching the predetermined temperature threshold, and flow rates of water from the hot water supply valve and the cold water supply valve. These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the spe