CN216193469U

CN216193469U - Pump device for full-automatic washing machine

Info

Publication number: CN216193469U
Application number: CN202120915581.7U
Authority: CN
Inventors: 罗兰·迈耶
Original assignee: PAS Deutschland GmbH
Current assignee: PAS Deutschland GmbH
Priority date: 2020-05-08
Filing date: 2021-04-29
Publication date: 2022-04-05
Anticipated expiration: 2031-04-29
Also published as: EP3907320A1; DE202020102614U1

Abstract

The utility model relates to a pump device (15) for a fully automatic washing machine, comprising a motor (33), a transmission (35) coupled to a shaft (37) of the motor (33), a pump (21) that can be driven by means of the motor (33), and a valve device (17) that can be adjusted by means of the motor (33) in order to selectively connect one of a plurality of connections (19, 19a) of the pump device (15) to the pump (21), wherein the transmission (35) is designed to couple the motor to the valve device (17) for adjusting the valve device (17) depending on the direction of rotation of the shaft (37) of the motor (33) or to prevent an adjustment of the adjustment device (17) due to the rotation of the shaft (37).

Description

Pump device for full-automatic washing machine

Technical Field

The utility model relates to a pump device for a fully automatic washing machine, comprising a motor, a gear coupled to a shaft of the motor, and a pump that can be driven by means of the motor.

Background

Such a pump device is used in fully automatic washing machines having a plurality of containers for storing a liquid, which the respective fully automatic washing machine automatically flushes into the drum of the fully automatic washing machine during a washing process. The liquid can be a detergent, a washing aid (e.g. a fabric softener) or other additive for the wash water, such as a disinfectant.

The pump device basically functions to remove an at least approximately controlled quantity of liquid selected by the control device of the fully automatic washing machine from the respective container and to deliver it to the washing water.

The known pump device has a complex construction with a plurality of actuators and is therefore relatively expensive and requires relatively complex control equipment.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

The utility model described herein is based on the object of providing a simplified pump device which can also be operated easily.

This object is achieved by a pump device of the type mentioned at the outset having a valve device which can be adjusted by means of a motor in order to selectively connect one of a plurality of connections of the pump device to the pump, wherein a transmission device is designed to couple the motor to the valve device either in order to adjust the valve device or to avoid an adjustment of the valve device as a result of a rotation of the shaft, depending on the direction of rotation of the shaft of the motor. That is to say that the motor is capable of both driving the pump and regulating the valve device, i.e. both driving the pump and regulating the valve device. The transmission ensures that the valve means can only be adjusted when the shaft is rotated in a particular direction. If the valve device should not be adjusted and only the pump is driven, the motor can be steered such that the shaft does not rotate in this particular direction. Thus only the pump is driven, but adjustment of the valve arrangement is avoided. The respective connection of the pump device can be associated with the container mentioned at the outset.

The rotational-direction-dependent coupling of the valve device to the motor can be achieved by: the transmission device has a first freewheel, which is associated with the valve device and is designed to transmit a torque from the shaft to the valve device in a first direction of rotation of the shaft.

In a preferred embodiment, it is provided that the transmission has a return blocking element which is arranged on the side of the first freewheel facing away from the motor. The return lock causes additional protection against accidental adjustment of the valve device when the shaft rotates in a direction preventing adjustment.

If the drive of the pump is to be avoided when the shaft is rotated in a direction in which the shaft is coupled to the adjusting device for adjustment, it can be provided that the transmission has a second freewheel which is associated with the pump and is designed to transmit torque from the shaft to the pump in a second direction of rotation of the shaft, which is opposite to the first direction of rotation. In other words, in such embodiments, it is provided that the gear unit is designed to couple the motor to the pump unit for driving the pump unit or to the valve unit for adjusting the valve unit, depending on the direction of rotation of the shaft of the motor.

The advantages of the utility model can be achieved by any type of valve device that can be adjusted by means of a motor. However, in one embodiment, the valve device has a first valve element having a first opening and a second valve element having a plurality of second openings disposed about an axis of the valve device, wherein the two valve elements are mutually rotatable about the axis such that the first opening of the first valve element selectively overlaps the second opening of the second valve element such that liquid can pass through both openings. In this case, each second opening can be connected to an interface of the pump device, for example via a line or a pipe.

When the two valve elements are disk-shaped overall and are arranged on the shaft of the valve device, a simple and compact construction of the valve device results. Preferably, the two disk-shaped valve elements are directly opposite one another. The valve elements can be pressed against one another to generate a force, for example by means of a spring or other preferably elastically deformable means (rubber, leaf springs, which can be molded into plastic parts, for example, etc.). The two respectively opposite openings of the valve element form a connection for the liquid between the respectively selected connection and the suction side of the pump, preferably the pump. By pressing the two valve elements together, a good sealing of the connection is achieved.

In one embodiment, the valve device has a drive gear arranged concentrically to the shaft, and the first freewheel is arranged between the drive gear and the valve element, preferably the first valve element. This results in a simple, compact and robust construction of the pump device.

In order to be able to bring the two valve elements of the valve device into the respectively required position for selecting a specific interface when adjusting the valve device, in one embodiment it is proposed that the valve device has an angle sensor for detecting a rotational angle of the first valve element relative to the shaft relative to the second valve element. In this case, it can be provided that at least one specific angle can be identified, which angle corresponds to the selection of a specific interface. It can furthermore be provided that a reference angle can be directly recognized as such an angle. Direct identifiability is understood to mean that the angle sensor is designed such that it generates a specific signal or outputs a specific value if the valve elements have a specific position/adjustment angle relative to one another. For example, in the case of a disk-shaped valve element, if the relative position corresponds to the setting angle, the selected setting angle corresponding to the particular interface can be identified in each case.

In one embodiment, the angle sensor has a sensor wheel, on the edge of which at least one marking is arranged, which marking can be detected by means of the sensor device of the angle sensor. The marking can be, for example, a notch on the edge of the sensor wheel, which can be detected by a sensor device embodied as a grating, in particular a fork grating. The flag can be arranged such that it activates the sensor means when the valve means is set to select the outlet. The number of markings can correspond to the number of outlets. A further sensor element and a further marking can be provided to identify a reference position or reference angle.

The pump can be a piston pump. If the rotational speed of the shaft can be determined or estimated at least approximately, the quantity of liquid delivered by the pump can be inferred over the operating duration of the motor, as a result of which the metering of the respectively selected liquid takes place with good accuracy.

The interface can be arranged on the input side of the pump device. In particular, the plurality of connections can be inlets of the pump device, one of which can be connected to the suction side of the pump optionally by means of a valve device, and the pressure side of the pump forms the outlet of the pump device. Each inlet can then be connected to a respective container. In one embodiment, a container assembly is provided having a plurality of containers arranged side-by-side, wherein each container has an opening. The pump device can then be connected to the container assembly, in particular mounted such that the mouthpiece projects into the respective opening, so that the liquid can be removed from the respectively selected container by means of the pump unit. The connection can be designed as an inlet for tap water in order to flush the pump device for cleaning purposes.

Drawings

Other features and advantages of various exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings. In this case, the following are shown in detail:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a fully automatic washing machine;

fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a pump assembly of the full automatic washing machine shown in fig. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the pump device without the housing part;

FIG. 4 shows a detail of the view of FIG. 3; and

fig. 5 shows another detail of the view of fig. 3.

Detailed Description

A fully automatic washing machine 11 is described, which has a metering unit 13, by means of which, in particular, liquid detergents, fabric softeners or other liquid substances (hereinafter referred to as "liquids") can be metered to the washing process. The metering unit 13 has a pump device 15 with a valve device 17 which can optionally connect one or more connections 19 of the pump device 15 to a pump 21. In this case, the interface forms an inlet 19 of the valve device 17, which is located upstream of the pump 21 with respect to the liquid flow direction. The outlet 23 of the pump device 15 is arranged on the pressure side 24 of the pump 21.

The pump device 15 shown here has a total of four

inlets

19, 19 a. Three of these inlets are connected to a container 25 for liquid, respectively. In the illustrated embodiment, two of these containers 25 are provided for containing liquid detergent and a third container 25 is provided for containing fabric softener. At least one of the containers 25 can have a liquid level detector 26. The fourth inlet 19a is connected to the fresh-water line 20, so that the pump device 15 can also be supplied with fresh water when required. The fresh-water delivery device serves, for example, via the inlet 19a, to flush the components of the pump device 15, in particular the pump 21, with fresh water in order to remove detergent or fabric softener residues. In an embodiment not shown, there is no inlet 19a connected to the fresh water line 20. In addition to this, in other embodiments, the number of

inlets

19, 19a can vary. The number of containers 25 can be different from three.

As proposed in the illustrated embodiment, a further container 27 can be provided downstream with respect to the pump device 15. The container can be designed to contain powdered detergent or the like and can be disposed upstream of the drum 31 of the fully automatic washing machine 11 in the flow direction.

The fresh-water line 20 can be connected to a water line network 30, typically via a first inlet valve 29 a. In the embodiment shown, the first inlet valve 29a belongs to a multi-valve unit 29, which has a total of three

inlet valves

29a, 29b, 29 c. A second inlet valve 29b of the multi-valve unit 29 is associated with the further container 27. In particular, the second inlet valve 29b is arranged between the water network 30 and the further container 27, so that detergent powder located in the further container 27 can be flushed into the drum 31. The third inlet valve 29c of the multi-valve unit 29 is connected between the water network 39 and the drum 31 and enables a quick filling of the drum with water. The inlet valve is electrically operable and is preferably designed as a solenoid valve.

As can be seen in particular in fig. 2, the pump unit 15 can be integrated in a housing, wherein the inlet 19 to be connected to the reservoir 25 can be arranged side by side and at a relatively large distance from the outlet 23, so that the pump device 15 can be mounted directly on a reservoir assembly comprising three reservoirs 25 (not shown). The inlets 19 can each have a sleeve-like section which projects into an opening of a corresponding container 25 of the installed container assembly.

The detailed construction of the pump device 15 is explained below with reference to fig. 3 and 4. The pump device 15 has a motor 33, which motor 33 is coupled to a gear 35 of the pump device 15. The motor 33 is a dc motor. In another embodiment, a stepping motor may be provided instead of the simple dc motor 33. The transmission 35 has gear wheels 39, wherein one of said gear wheels 39 is arranged directly on the shaft 37 of the motor 33.

Likewise, the pump 21 is driven by the shaft 37 of the motor 33. In the embodiment shown, the pump 21 is a piston pump having a piston 43 which can be moved to and fro by means of an actuating element 44 which is arranged eccentrically with respect to the shaft 37. In contrast to the embodiment shown, the pump 21 can also be realized in other ways, for example as a centrifugal pump. However, when using a piston pump, the delivery rate of the pump 21 can be estimated relatively well, as long as the rotational speed of the shaft 37 is at least approximately known. Thus, when a piston pump is used, the amount of detergent or fabric softener etc. can be metered relatively accurately. Alternatively, the pump 21 can also be designed as a peristaltic pump. In peristaltic pumps, like in piston pumps, relatively accurate metering of liquid can be achieved if the rotational speed of the shaft is known with sufficient accuracy.

Also visible in fig. 3 are the inlet valve 45 and the outlet valve 47 of the piston pump 21.

When the motor 33 is operated, the gear 39 of the shaft 37 drives the other gear 39 of the valve means 17. The first freewheel 49 of the gear mechanism 35 is designed such that, when the shaft 37 rotates in a first rotational direction, the gear mechanism 35 transmits a torque from the shaft 37 to the valve device 17. A first valve element 51, which is disk-shaped overall, can be driven via the first freewheel 49 such that it rotates about an axis 59 of the valve device 17. In addition to this, a return lock 50 is provided which prevents the first valve element 51 from rotating when the shaft 37 is driven by the motor 33 in a second rotational direction, opposite to the first rotational direction.

The first valve element 51 has a first opening 53 which is offset in the radial direction with respect to the shaft 59. The second valve element 55 of the valve device 17 is likewise of disc-shaped design and is arranged along the axis 59 next to the first valve element 51. The second valve element 55 has a plurality of second openings 57, which are likewise radially offset with respect to the shaft 59.

Openings

53, 57 can be holes in

respective valve elements

51, 55 having substantially the same diameter and the same distance from axis 59. In this case, the number of second openings 57 corresponds to the number of connections or inlets 19 of the pump device 15. Furthermore, the second opening 57 is connected to the

inlet

19, 19a via a suitable conduit. The first opening 53 is likewise connected to the suction side 58 of the pump 21 by means of suitable lines. The two

valve elements

51, 55 are rotatable relative to one another about an axis 59 in a drivable manner via the motor 33, such that the second opening 57 is optionally situated opposite the first opening 53, so that the

inlet

19, 19a associated with the respective second opening 57 is hydraulically connected to the suction side 58. In order to ensure the tightness of the valve device 17, a spring 60 (see fig. 4) is provided, which presses the two

valve elements

51, 55 against one another.

In the embodiment shown, the second valve element 55 is expediently firmly connected to the rest of the pump device, in particular its housing part and the

connections

19, 19a, while the first valve element 51 is rotatably mounted about an axis 59. Thus, adjustment of the valve arrangement 17 corresponds to rotation of the first valve element 51 about the axis 59.

Furthermore, the valve device 17 has an angle sensor 61 which is able to detect the angle of rotation of the first valve element 51 about the shaft 59 relative to the second valve element 57. In the embodiment shown, the angle sensor comprises a fork-shaped light barrier 63 and a sensor wheel with a cut 65, which is connected to the first valve element in a rotationally fixed manner and which can be detected by means of the light barrier 63. In the embodiment shown, the sensor wheel and the first valve element 51 are the same component. The angle sensor 61 can also be configured in other ways than in the embodiment shown. Instead of the grating 63, other types of sensors can be provided, such as hall sensors or mechanical switches. In the embodiment shown, the indentation 65 is arranged such that one of the gratings 63 is always activated when the two

openings

53, 57 are opposed. Since four second openings 57 are provided here, which are offset by an angle of 90 ° in each case with respect to the axis 59, there are markings 65 which are offset by 90 ° in a corresponding manner. In addition to this, a further marking 65a is provided, which interacts with the further grating 63 in order to be able to detect absolute rotational angle values. In particular, it is provided that there is exactly one angle of rotation of the first valve element 51 for which both light barriers 63 are activated.

The angle sensor 61 is therefore designed such that the presence of at least one specific angle of rotation of the two valve elements relative to one another can be detected by means of said angle sensor. In the illustrated embodiment, the angle corresponding to the selection of a

particular inlet

19, 19a, i.e., the angle at which the first opening is opposite the second opening 57, can be identified. That is, in the illustrated example, four preset angles may be identified. One of these preset angles can be identified as a reference angle by means of a further grating 63.

When the pump device 15 is operated, the motor 33 is energized, so that its shaft 37 moves in a first rotational direction and the first freewheel 49 drives the first valve element 51. If the absolute angle is unknown, the first valve element 51 can be rotated until both of the gratings 63 are activated. A specific reference angle is then set. In the case of this reference angle, the particular second opening 57 is connected to the first opening 53 and thus the

particular inlet

19, 19a is connected to the suction side 58 of the pump 21. If a further inlet 19 is to be connected to the suction side 58, the first valve device 51 is actuated further and at the same time the notches 53 are counted by means of one of the light barriers 63.

The gear 35 has a second freewheel 67 which is designed such that the pump 21 can be driven by means of the motor 33 when the shaft 37 of the motor 33 rotates in the second direction of rotation. As can be seen in particular from fig. 5, the first freewheel 49 and/or the second freewheel 67 can have a driver 69 and a stop surface 71, which interact to transmit a torque only when the shaft 67 rotates in the first or second rotational direction.

If the motor 33 is now operated with its shaft 37 rotating in the second direction of rotation while the fully automatic washing machine 11 is in operation, the first freewheel 49 does not provide any substantial torque to the first valve element 51. In addition to this, when the shaft 37 is driven according to the second direction of rotation, the return lock 50 associated with the first valve element 51 prevents the first valve element 51 from rotating. However, the second freewheel 67 transmits torque to the pump 21, so that the piston 43 reciprocates and liquid is transported from the container 25 selected by means of the valve device 17 to the outlet 23. It can be provided that, during operation of the fully automatic washing machine 11, for example by means of the control device, the operating current of the motor 33 is detected and, depending on the detected operating current, it is checked: whether the pump becomes sluggish due to contamination or whether the motor 33 is even completely blocked, for example. That is, in the case of sluggishness or blocking, the operating current exceeds a certain threshold value, which can be recognized. If a dullness or blockage is identified on the basis of the comparison of the operating current with the threshold value, a flushing process of the pump device 15 can be initiated or carried out. During a flushing process, as described hereinbefore, fresh water is led via the fourth inlet 19a through the pump means 15.

Overall, by means of the pump device 15 shown here, a metering unit 13 can be realized, by means of which the inlet 19, via which the liquid is to be fed into the drum 31, can be selected in a simple manner. In particular, a single drive motor 33 is sufficient to drive the pump 21 and the setting valve arrangement 17. That is, the transmission 35 is designed such that the valve device 17 is only adjusted when the shaft 37 rotates according to the first direction of rotation. Preferably, the transmission is also set up to drive the pump 21 only when the shaft 37 rotates in the second direction of rotation. In this way, the pump is prevented from being operated during adjustment of the valve arrangement. That is, the motor 33 together with the transmission 35 form a combined drive and adjustment device for the pump 21 or the valve device 17.

Claims

1. A pump device (15) for a fully automatic washing machine has

-a motor (33),

-a transmission (35) coupled to a shaft (37) of the motor (33),

-a pump (21) drivable by means of the motor (33), and

-a valve device (17) adjustable by means of the motor (33) to selectively connect one of a plurality of interfaces (19, 19a) of the pump device (15) with the pump (21),

wherein the transmission (35) is designed to couple the motor to the valve device (17) for adjusting the valve device (17) or to prevent an adjustment of the valve device (17) due to a rotation of the shaft (37) depending on a direction of rotation of the shaft (37) of the motor (33).

2. Pump device (15) for a fully automatic washing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the transmission device (35) has a first freewheel (49) associated with the valve device, which is configured for transmitting torque from the shaft (37) to the valve device (17) in a first direction of rotation of the shaft (37).

3. Pump device (15) for a fully automatic washing machine according to claim 2, characterized in that the transmission (35) has a return lock (50) which is arranged on the side of the first freewheel (49) facing away from the motor (33).

4. Pump device (15) for a fully automatic washing machine according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the transmission has a second freewheel (67) associated with the pump, which is configured for transmitting torque from the shaft (37) to the pump (21) in a second direction of rotation of the shaft (37), which is opposite to the first direction of rotation.

5. Pump device (15) for a fully automatic washing machine according to claim 3, characterized in that the valve device (17) has a first valve element (51) with a first opening (53) and a second valve element (55) with a plurality of second openings arranged around a shaft (59) of the valve device (17), and the two valve elements (51, 55) are rotatable relative to each other around the shaft (59) of the valve device (17) in such a way that the first opening (53) of the first valve element (51) selectively overlaps the second opening (57) of the second valve element (55).

6. Pump device (15) for a fully automatic washing machine according to claim 5, characterized in that the two valve elements (51, 55) are overall disc-shaped and are arranged on the shaft (59) of the valve device (17).

7. Pump apparatus (15) for a fully automatic washing machine according to claim 6, characterized in that the valve device (17) has a driving gear (39) arranged concentrically to the shaft (59) of the valve device (17), and in that the first freewheel (49) and/or the return lock (50) are arranged between the driving gear (39) and the valve element.

8. Pump device (15) for a fully automatic washing machine according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the valve device (17) has an angle sensor (61) for detecting the angle of rotation of the first valve element (51) with respect to the shaft (59) of the valve device (17) with respect to the second valve element (55).

9. Pump device (15) for a fully automatic washing machine according to claim 8, characterized in that the angle sensor (61) has a sensor wheel, on the edge of which at least one marking (65, 65a) is provided, which can be detected by means of a sensor device (63) of the angle sensor (61).

10. Pump device (15) for a fully automatic washing machine according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said pump is a piston pump.

11. Pump device (15) for a fully automatic washing machine according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said plurality of interfaces is an inlet of the pump device (15), one of which can be selectively connected with the suction side (58) of the pump (21) by means of the valve device (17), and the pressure side (24) of the pump (21) forms the outlet (23) of the pump device (15).

12. Pump device (15) for a fully automatic washing machine according to claim 11, characterized in that the inlet forms an interface for the mains water used for flushing the pump device (15).

13. Pump device (15) for a fully automatic washing machine according to claim 7, characterized in that the first freewheel (49) and/or the return lock (50) are arranged between the drive gear (39) and the first valve element (51).