EP0725182B1 - Water supply device for household appliance with water flow - Google Patents

Abstract

Water feed equipment is provided for an appliance operable with water comprising two valve-controlled water inlets operable at a time to direct a respective jet of water towards the entrance of a respective one of two collecting channels and operable in common to direct respective jets of water toward a point of intersection for formation of a jet toward the entrance of a third collecting channel, and a further valve-controlled water inlet operable by itself to direct a respective water jet toward the entrance of a fourth channel and operable in common with one of the first two jets to direct a jet toward a point of intersection with the jet from that one inlet for formation of a further resultant jet which is directed towards the entrance of a fifth collecting channel.

Description

The invention is based on a water supply device for a water-bearing household appliance, especially for a Detergent dispenser in a washing machine, with more than two belonging to a pair, depending on the program controllable inlet valves, the outputs of which are at a junction are individually controlled with direct Aim beams at the entrance of one catchment channel each and together form a resulting beam, to the entrance of a middle collecting channel aims.

Such a water supply device is from the German published application 19 13 868 known. Are in it the outputs of two controllable inlet valves at an angle to each other arranged so that they described the above Effect when controlled individually or collectively achieve. In this case the resulting beam becomes Rinse out a softener chamber under the water supply device arranged detergent dispenser used. As soon as another detergent dispenser to be provided in the detergent dispenser, a further inlet valve must be provided, this Chamber applied directly.

If according to DE 38 22 392 A1 fresh water for other purposes as the rinsing of detergent compartments another fresh water valve is regularly required; because the diversion of fresh water according to DE 38 22 392 A1 interferes with the fresh water supply to the Detergent compartments. Therefore, this well-known fresh water junction not proven. An additional fresh water path would therefore only from another special inlet valve can be controlled safely.

The invention is based, at one mentioned water supply device an arrangement to meet at least five fresh water routes through three inlet valves can be controlled.

According to the invention this object is achieved in that one the direct rays in the direction of flow behind the intersection the direct rays with one ray of another Inlet valve another intersection with three downstream Collection channels forms. This allows five collecting channels with three inlet valves individually. It are also further increases in the utilization of the DE 19 13 868 A1 known principle conceivable; for example can with seven inlet channels or four intake valves with five inlet valves, nine collection channels individually controlled become. Because in the formation of resulting rays however, stray rays arise from neighboring collecting channels the order of the The supply valves are switched on so that stray radiation can only reach collecting channels, their assigned Chambers in the washing machine program already operated beforehand have been.

Accordingly, the water supply device according to the invention further developed in a particularly advantageous manner, that three controllable inlet valves are provided, of which the output of the third valve along with the Collecting channel for one direct beam to a second Intersection with three downstream collecting channels is. In this case, the resulting beam of assign a softener compartment to the second intersection Flushing does not require as high a pressure as flushing of prewash and main detergent compartments, their powder detergent rinsed with higher pressure must be used as a liquid fabric softener anyway From flushing the chamber contents only through a backwater wall or must be lifted over a suction lifter mountain. Scattered rays from the other two collecting channels are collected, then, for example, only rinse chambers, that have already been rinsed out (e.g. prewash chamber or post-washing chamber) or are on a fresh water route connected directly into the tub leads.

In an advantageous development of the invention Device on a detergent dispenser are on the rear wall of a cover part for a housing Detergent drawer with four compartments for storing hand-dosed detergent portions four pipe sockets attached, of the two neighboring pipe sockets in one Aim each other at a first intersection that in the area of a free suction protection Air gap is. This arrangement is known per se and common, but it works in conjunction with the output of the third valve to form a second Intersection with three downstream collecting channels.

Such a detergent dispenser can be used in a particularly advantageous manner be designed so that the middle Collecting channel of the first crossing in the cover part into one Distribution chamber with spray openings for one arranged below Bleach chamber, one of the collecting channels for the direct rays from one pipe socket to a third Pipe socket for direct supply of fresh water and the other collecting channel for the direct beam led from the other pipe socket to a second intersection is, whose other feed line is a collecting channel of the fourth nozzle and its exits are three collecting channels for one distribution chamber with spray openings for three others are detergent compartments arranged below each. This configuration of a detergent dispenser is extremely inexpensive because of the use of only three inlet valves for five outlets, four of which Apply the detergent chamber outputs of a detergent drawer, while the fifth exit for an immediate Supply of fresh water to the tub one serves such a washing machine, the prefilled fresh water for faster wetting of the laundry, for example the loading opening of a front loading washing machine is used.

By using the principle of the hydraulic water switch (resulting jet of intersecting water jets) and application of two hydraulic ones in a row Water switches increases the number of controllable Waterways at five. These five waterways can be used From rinsing four chambers and a direct water supply be used for the tub. The chamber arrangement and the arrangement of the hydraulic water switches with the associated water supply should be such that the at Use of the hydraulic water switches occurring water losses, that flow on the direct paths through Chambers are directed to an earlier one Time have been rinsed out. Three of these five fresh water routes are directly involved and without water loss Activation of one feed valve can be controlled. Advantageously are in the water supply and in the distribution system no moving parts (except for those that are required anyway Inlet valves) included. Therefore, there is practically none Fear of failure. At the same time, the Control of five waterways according to the invention is a possibility for separate and program step-independent laundry pre-setting by direct feeding into the tub the machine.

Fig. 1

ein Schaltungschema für die Zulaufventile und die Frischwasserwege,

Fig. 2

eine Beschaltungstabelle für das in Fig. 1 gezeigte Prinzip,

Fig. 3

eine beispielsweise Ausgestaltung eines Deckelteils für eine Waschmittel-Einspüleinrichtung mit einer Waschmittelschublade gemäß dem in Fig. 1 dargestellten Erfindungsprinzip und

Fig. 4

eine Waschmittelschublade mit vier Waschmittel-kammern in einer Ansicht von oben.

The principle of the invention and an exemplary embodiment of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the figures. Show it

Fig. 1

a circuit diagram for the inlet valves and the fresh water paths,

Fig. 2

1 a wiring table for the principle shown in FIG. 1,

Fig. 3

an example embodiment of a cover part for a detergent dispenser with a detergent drawer according to the principle of the invention shown in FIG. 1 and

Fig. 4

a detergent drawer with four detergent compartments in a view from above.

The principle of the invention shown in FIG. 1 shows schematically the supply of an input line E for fresh water, which is led to a valve block V. Within the Valve blocks are electrically switchable valves 1 to 3 arranged, the outputs 4 to 6 of the invention Water supply device 7 are performed. Meet here the outputs 5 and 6 to a first intersection 8 to which Collection channels A3 and A5 and a transfer channel 9 are connected are. The output 4 of the valve 1 and the Transfer channel 9 meet a second intersection 10, are connected to the collecting channels A1, A2 and A4. The Collection channels A4 and A5 are for each of the different Resultant intersection 10 or 8 forming resulting rays, if valves 1 and 2 or valves 2 and 3 are switched on at the same time. Then always come across direct Paths two approximately equally strong rays within the Intersection and form a resulting one Beam that hits the central collecting channel A4 or A2 hits. Thereby the resulting one Jet about 50% of the flow rate of the two input jets, while the remaining amount is divided in half to two scattered rays captured in the adjacent channels divide (see Fig. 2). The five fresh water outlets the collecting channels A1 to A5 can be used for any purpose, especially for detergent dispensing from at least four Chambers of a detergent dispenser are used.

2 shows a wiring table from which how much fresh water the respective collecting channel hits when one or two valves of the type shown in FIG. 1 Valves are open. For use with a detergent dispenser is also a suggestion indicated which detergent compartments of each Fresh water path can be charged. Here is the pre-wash chamber VWK to the collecting channel A1, the main detergent chamber to the collecting channel A2 and a Free nozzle 15 (Fig. 3) connected to the collecting channel A3. They each receive the full, direct one Beam of the output of one of the valves 1 to 3.

The catch channel catches when valves 1 and 2 are actuated A4 the main part of the fresh water supplied in Form a resulting beam of more than 50% of the amount of fresh water supplied and directs this Fresh water in a fabric softener chamber WSK. The scattered rays with less than 25% of the input Fresh water flows through the VWK prewash chamber and the main detergent dispenser HWK, both before loading the fabric softener chamber WSK has already been rinsed out have been and therefore the stray water no undesirable Side effect conditional.

When valves 2 and 3 are actuated, the main part arrives of fresh water as the resulting jet of more than 50% in the collecting channel A5 and thus in a bleaching chamber BK, while the catcher channels A2 and A3 each less than 25% of the fresh water supplied as Collect scattered rays and into the main detergent dispenser or lead into the free nozzle 15. Both stray water shares are also at the main loading the bleach chamber BK harmless because the main detergent chamber also before adding the bleach had been rinsed out and because of the immediate supply of fresh water via the nozzle 15 into the tub equally harmless to a washing machine is.

A correspondingly executed example for the one in FIG. 1 schematically shown water supply device using a detergent dispenser drawer for a front loading washing machine 3 and 4 explained. In the Detergent drawer 17 shown in plan view in FIG. 4 is guided in a housing, not shown, the one above the inserted drawer with a hollow chamber provided cover part 16 (Fig. 3) completed is. The detergent drawer 17 contains four detergent compartments for hand-dosed detergent portions, namely VWK for prewash, HWK for main detergent, WSK for Fabric softener and BK for bleach. In the case inserted detergent drawer 17 are the Detergent compartments among those in the projection alike arranged distribution chambers VKV for prewash, VKH for main detergents, VKW for fabric softeners and VKB for bleach. Through the holes 18 in the bottom of the distribution chambers the fresh water supplied flows into the ones below Detergent chambers and rinses each detergent contained therein to the back of a cavity (not shown) to that of an elastic pipe is connected to the tub.

There are four pipe sockets on the rear wall 19 of the cover part 16 11 to 15 and 20 attached, two of which are adjacent Pipe socket 12 and 13 at an acute angle to each other aim at a first intersection 8 in the area of a the free air gap serving the back suction protection. This free air gap is realized in that in the ground a breakthrough of the channel containing the intersection 8 21 is provided, through which air can flow when at one of the supply ports 12 or 13 negative pressure prevails. A single pipe socket 11 leads together with the transition channel 9, which is fed by the pipe socket 12 to a second intersection 10 and has its own Back suction opening 22. The nozzle 14 is on the not shown Cavity coupled to the tub and serves in a manner not shown for ventilation of a so-called Wasserbergs in the drainage channel of the washing machine. The large nozzle 20 is a clogged blind nozzle and serves unspecified contingencies.

Fresh water from the pipe socket 11 shoots into the collecting channel A1 and from there enters the distribution chamber VKV for prewash. Only the pipe socket 12 supplied Fresh water shoots over the transfer channel 9 in the collecting channel A2 and from there into the distribution chamber VKH for main detergents. Only the pipe socket 13 supplied Fresh water shoots into the collecting channel A3 and is fed directly to the nozzle 15 to which one Hose line to the tub should be connected can, for example, in the area of the loading door a front loading washing machine opens.

Fresh water supplied to the pipe socket 11 and 12 together meets at intersection 10 and forms one resulting beam 23, which in the collecting channel A4 shoots and from there the distribution chamber VKW for fabric softener fills. Feeded together with fresh water Pipe socket 12 and 13 conduct their water jets on the Crossing point 8 and form a resulting beam 24, which shoots into the collecting channel A5 and from there the VKB distribution chamber for bleaching agent fills.

The invention is not based on the scheme in Fig. 1 and associated wiring table in Fig. 2 and also not to the embodiment shown in Figs. 3 and 4 limited. The application of the invention is for all water-bearing Suitable for household appliances with few controllable inlet valves more than three output channels should be occupied. The shown schematically in Fig. 1 Example with three inlet valves and five outlet channels can also have four or five inlet valves be expanded without the basic idea of the invention to go off. With four inlet valves, seven Output channels and with five inlet valves, nine output channels occupy. For example, with four inlet valves transition channels from the outer valves analogous to the transition channel 9 of the valve 2 in FIG. 1 dissipated, both at a third crossing point to meet. This can in turn occupy three collecting channels. In the same way, the wiring can be done with five inlet valves be created. A higher number of inlet valves and crossing points is no longer recommended because otherwise the pressures in those further away from the inlet valves Collection channels are too small.

Furthermore, the wiring of the exemplary embodiment is in accordance with Figures 3 and 4 are not binding; because of any other use or arrangement of the collecting channels is straightforward conceivable. The pipe socket 15 can also be dispensed with and the collecting duct A3 directly in the ones below Void can be derived when this fresh water pipe no other way into the processing container must be managed as the other fresh water routes.

Claims (4)

1. Water feed equipment for a water-conducting household appliance, in particular for a washing agent flushing-in equipment in a washing machine, with more than two inflow valves (1, 2, 3) which belong to a pair and are controllable in dependence on a program and the outputs of which (4, 5, 6) are directed to an intersection of jets, aimed individually driven each with direct jets onto the entry of a respective collecting channel and driven in common form a resultant jet aimed at the entry of a middle collecting channel (A8, A4), characterised thereby, that one for the direct jets in flow direction behind the intersection (8) of the direct jets and together with a jet of a further inflow valve (1) forms a further intersection (10) with three downstream collecting channels (A1, A2 and A4).
2. Equipment according to claim 1, characterised thereby, that three controllable inflow valves (1 to 3) are provided, of which the output connecting piece (11) of the third valve (1) together with a transfer channel (9) for the one direct jet is led to a second intersection (10) with three downstream collecting channels (A1, A2 and A4).
3. Equipment according to claim 2 at a washing agent flushing-in equipment, characterised thereby, that four pipe connecting pieces (11, 12, 13 and 15), of which two neighbouring pipe connecting pieces (12, 13) each aim at an acute angle to the other onto a first intersection (8), which lies in the region of a free air path (21) serving for protection against return suction, are mounted at the rear wall (19) of a lid part (16) for a housing of a washing agent drawer (17) with four chambers (VWK, HWK, WSK and BK) for the storing of manually metered washing agent portions.
4. Equipment according to claim 3, characterised thereby, that the middle collecting channel (A5) of the first intersection (8) is led in the lid part (16) into a distributor chamber (VKB) with spray openings (18) for a bleaching agent chamber (BK) arranged thereunder, one (A3) of the collecting channels for the direct jets is led out of the one pipe connecting piece (13) to a third pipe connecting piece (15) for a direct feed of fresh water and the other collecting channel for the direct jet is led out of the other pipe connecting piece (12) as transfer channel (9) to a second intersection (10), the other feed duct of which is connected to the fourth connecting piece (11) and the outputs of which are three collecting channels (A1, A2 and A4) each for a respective distributor chamber (VKV, VKH and VKW) with spray openings (18) for three other washing agent chambers (VWK, HWK and WSK) respectively arranged thereunder.

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