DE2043414C2 - Water softener for washing or dishwashing machine - has standard salt regenerating vessel connected by non-return valve to ion exchange vessel near water inlet - Google Patents

Abstract

A water softening apparatus for washing and dishwashing machines comprises a salt chamber with ion exchange chamber adjacent to it. The ion exchange chamber has a fresh water inlet and an outlet for the soft water or effluent. The salt chamber is designed as a salt storage vessel suitable for other regeneration processes also and contains an inlet for fresh water. Between these two chambers a vertical channel is defined by their respective adjacent walls, and has a sieve overflow aperture at the top from the salt chamber. The bottom of this channel leads through a non-return valve into the ion exchange chamber; this valve is automatically operated by the flow of fresh water into the inlet of the ion exchange chamber or by the flow out of the salt chamber. The fresh water inlet leads to the non-return valve via a sieve pipe through the bottom of the ion exchange chamber. This sieve pipe is pref. perforated in the lower part only. The apparatus is simple in construction, and can be accommodated in the lower part of the casing of a washing machine or dish washing machine without reducing the size of the drum or container.

Description

a) that the ion exchange chamber (1) has a fresh water inlet connection (30) and an Ent- ίο has emptying nozzle (12) for soft water or waste water,

b) that the salt chamber is designed for other regeneration processes than the salt storage container (2) and an inlet connection (8) as fresh water supply,

c) that through a wall (5) of the Salrvorratsbehälters (2) and the parallel adjacent. Wall (7) of the ion exchange chamber (1) forms a vertically extending overflow channel (3) is, in the upper course of which a sieve (6) is arranged and which is in the ion exchange chamber opens and in the mouth one of the brine from the salt reservoir or non-return valve automatically controllable by the water flow from the fresh water inlet connection (10) (4) is arranged, and

d) that from the fresh water inlet port (10) to the check valve (4) a sieve tube (11) through the ion exchange chamber (1) is performed

2. Water softening device according to claim 1, characterized in that the check valve (4) is arranged in the sieve tube (11) and that the openings in the jacket of the with its free End of the fresh water inlet connection (10) forming the sieve tube on the bottom of the ion exchange chamber (1) facing lateral surface section are arranged.

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The invention relates to a water softening device according to the preamble of claim 1.

In a known water softening device of this type (DE-GM 19 38 091) the salt chamber both during the regeneration of the ion exchange material and during the softening of the hard water flows through. Therefore, for each regeneration process, a quantity of salt to be measured has to be added by hand to the Fill in the salt chamber and then trigger the regeneration process by the operator. Will more salt is filled into the salt chamber than is required for a regeneration process, so it is still instead of while flowing through the water softening device to soften the washing machine of soft water, the brine that continues to dissolve in the salt chamber is unused by the ion exchange material pressed and rinsed into the washing container of the machine. The disadvantage here is besides that uncontrolled high salt consumption, the resulting pollution and the bad Washing effect of the washing machine or dishwasher.

The known device is also not for an automatically controlled regeneration and soft water addition Can be used for the divided into several sub-chambers by partition walls with overflow points Ion exchange chamber there is a risk that: regeneration with low water throughput in the we essentially only the first sub-chamber downstream of the salt chamber is reached by the salt solution. Should saline solution are pressed through all partial chambers provided with drainage openings, results in; Regenerating and rinsing out the ion exchange medium, a high consumption of water and salt. Finally is No overlapping of the regeneration process with the washing or rinsing program of the machine possible, so that the machine only works after a long regeneration pause after the addition of salt and the rain is ready for operation again

Furthermore, a water softening device for washing machines and dishwashers is known (DE-13 00 074), above whose ion exchange chamber the salt chamber is arranged. The salt chamber is here mer via a closable opening with the daruntei located ion exchange chamber in connection unc the drain line from the ion exchange chamber is Pulled up like a siphon above the level of the salt filling of the salt chamber. To close the Opening between the two chambers is a rod with a closure part sealed in a central tube the ion exchange chamber and can be done manually or automatically by a « Program control device actuatable control magnet are adjusted. This device is green Their overall height is only conditionally suitable for low machines that can be built under construction. There is a particular disadvantage in that the production of the common storage for the salt chamber and the ion exchange chamber because of the partition walls, the locking device with operating rod, the guide tube and the Sealing of the rod, as well as its control encountered great difficulties and a high balance conditional. Furthermore, the siphon, which is raised over the entire height of the container, has an effect both in the de Production as well as shipping and installation are disadvantageous.

Finally, a Wasserenthärtungsvorrichtunj is known (DE-GM 18 79 096), in which the separatei Container for the salt and the ion exchange medium through an elaborate line and valve system are connected.

The invention is based on the problem of emi water softening device of the type mentioned at the beginning Kind to train so that they are special while avoiding the disadvantages of the known devices simply constructed and for space-saving installation ii the lower housing part of a washing or crockery Dishwasher safe.

According to the invention, this object is specified by the characteristics of claim 1 Features solved.

Through the arrangement of the salt reservoir fog the ion exchange chamber, the water softener A washing machine or dishwasher can be placed well under the washing compartment, without any problems that the washing container has to be reduced in size to an impermissible extent or that the standard kitchen dimensions have to be exceeded. Dii The container unit can be made from brine-resistant plastic and is made possible in a simple manner Refilling of salt. The Wasserenthärtungsvorrich device is z. B. by an interposed magnet valve only connected to a raw water pipe in order to be required for the soft water and regeneration liquid keitsauslaß no additional device. The for

Repeated regeneration of designed salt storage tanks only needs after a larger number of Rinsing cycles are refilled. Through the beginning at the upper flow level of the salt storage container and in The overflow channel ending near the bottom of the ion exchange chamber will result in a uniform loosening of the Salt dome in the salt storage room and there is a brine supply ready before regeneration The sieve pipe in the ion exchange chamber promotes the even distribution of the water that flows into the softener Salt soii. The check valve prevents the Softening water can reach the salt storage tank in the opposite direction through the overflow channel.

A preferred embodiment of the invention results from the dependent claim, for the content of which only in Connection with the subject matter of claim 1 protection is claimed.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained below with reference to the drawing

F i g. 1 a water according to the invention; softening device in schematic representation and

F i g. 2 is a plan view of FIG. 1.

The water softening device consists of an ion exchange chamber 1, which is next to a salt storage chamber 2 is arranged and connected to this to one part, with a between the chambers Overflow channel 3 is provided, in whose mouth to the ion exchange chamber a check valve 4, preferably a diaphragm valve, poppet valve or the like. Is arranged. Own according to the execution shown the chambers 1, 2 cylindrical shape, the ion exchange chamber 1 while maintaining the Cylindrical shape is inserted into the salt storage chamber 2, so that the jacket portion 7 of the ion exchange chamber at the same time forms the partition and connecting wall to the salt storage chamber. To limit the overflow channel 3, the Salzvorratskamrner still has an intermediate wall 5, which in the area of the overflow of the Salt storage chamber in the overflow channel 3 is replaced by a sieve 6, the salt crystals at overflow into the Retains overflow channel. Through the overflow channel beginning at the overflow level of the salt storage chamber the salt storage chamber is permanently over its salt filling, which is a maximum of the lower edge of the sieve 6 is enough, filled with water, so that there is a saline solution that is always available in the salt storage chamber 2 is located.

If the water softener in the ion exchange chamber ί is to be regenerated, a Program-controlled solenoid valve (not shown) in the raw water line of the water inlet to the The inlet connection 10 of the ion exchange chamber 1 is blocked and the water supply to the inlet connection 8 is briefly closed the salt storage chamber 2 released, so that the inflowing water a certain amount of the Brine from the salt storage chamber presses through the sieve 6 into the overflow channel 3. This pressure is sufficient to

ίο the check valve arranged in the overflow channel 4 to open and to release the inlet of the brine into the ion exchange chamber 1. So that no Salt can settle in the inlet port 8 of the salt storage chamber is above the inlet port 8 Sieve basket 9 is provided.

11 with a sieve tube is designated, in one end of which the check valve 4 is arranged and whose The second end forms the inlet port 10 of the ion exchange chamber Inlet port 10, with blocked water supply to port 8 of the salt storage chamber, in the softener free given, the regeneration liquid is first supplied from the ion exchange chamber 1 via the outlet 12 rinsed out and the subsequent water is softened.

After completing a washing program or a certain number of washing processes, the Repeat the process by opening the water supply to the salt storage chamber via the solenoid valve (not shown) is released for a short time. The salt storage chamber is removable for refilling salt Lid 13 closable.

In a modified version, the chambers 1, 2 z. B. differ from the cylindrical shape and become a Unit be connected so that the salt storage chamber with part of its surface area in the ion exchange chamber engages Furthermore, it is possible for the overflow channel to have a variable cross section. The outlet 12 of the ion exchange chamber is preferably covered by a sieve 14 so that none Softener can be rinsed into the washing machine or dishwasher. Through a Sieve tube 11 which has slots or bores only in the region of its lower lateral surface achieved that the liquid emerging from the sieve tube namely raw water or brine, over the Cross-section of the ion exchange chamber is distributed and the softener mass flows through evenly.

1 sheet of drawings

Claims (1)

Patent claims: 1. Water softening device for washing machines and dishwashers, consisting of a salt chamber and an adjacent ion exchange chamber, characterized by the combination of the following features: