EP0884414A1 - Detergent dispensing device - Google Patents

Detergent dispensing device Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0884414A1
EP0884414A1 EP98109299A EP98109299A EP0884414A1 EP 0884414 A1 EP0884414 A1 EP 0884414A1 EP 98109299 A EP98109299 A EP 98109299A EP 98109299 A EP98109299 A EP 98109299A EP 0884414 A1 EP0884414 A1 EP 0884414A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
detergent dispensing
inlet pipe
dispensing chamber
detergent
flushing opening
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP98109299A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0884414B1 (en
Inventor
Alfred c/o Whirlpool Europe s.r.l. Hoffmann
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Whirlpool Corp
Original Assignee
Whirlpool Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Whirlpool Corp filed Critical Whirlpool Corp
Publication of EP0884414A1 publication Critical patent/EP0884414A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0884414B1 publication Critical patent/EP0884414B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00 
    • D06F39/02—Devices for adding soap or other washing agents

Abstract

The invention relates to a detergent dispensing apparatus, including at least one detergent dispensing chamber for receiving, in measured doses, pulverulent or liquid detergent or fabric softener, which can be flushed-out by means of water introduced via a flushing opening in the detergent dispensing chamber extending to the washing container, wherein the flushing opening is disposed in the base of the detergent dispensing chamber, and the water is suppliable via an inlet pipe, and wherein a valve cap of a valve arrangement is displaceable to a limited extent on the inlet pipe, which cap closes the flushing opening in a lower initial position due to its inherent weight and is raisable by means of the supplied water into an upper operative position which exposes the flushing opening. Because of a new disposition and configuration for the detergent dispensing chamber, the inlet pipe and the valve cap, the flushing opening can be totally exposed in the operative position.

Description

The invention relates to a detergent dispensing device including at least one detergent dispensing chamber for receiving, in measured doses, powder or liquid detergent or fabric conditioner, which can be flushed out by means of water introduced via a flushing opening in the detergent dispensing chamber extending to the washing container, in which the flushing opening is arranged in the base of the detergent dispensing chamber and in which the water can be supplied via an inlet pipe and in which a valve cap of a valve arrangement can be displaced to a limited extent on the inlet pipe, said cap closing the flushing opening in a lower initial position on the basis of its own inherent weight and being raisable by means of the supplied water into an upper operative position, which exposes the flushing opening.
A detergent dispensing device of this type is known from DE-OS 14 60 889. Here the inlet pipe projects from below through the flushing opening into the detergent dispensing chamber and the closing-flap is closed over the end of the inlet pipe at least in such a way that the water emerging from the inlet pipe raises the closing-flap in the first place and secondly can pass the closing-flap for the rinsing action to a sufficient degree.
This valve arrangement is always a compromise between reliable operation of the valve and adequate rinsing effect in the detergent dispensing chamber. In addition, in the operative position of the detergent dispensing device, the flushing opening is not entirely free, since the inlet pipe or its mounting covers a part of the cross section of the flushing opening.
The object of the invention is to improve a detergent dispensing device of the type mentioned at the beginning in such a way that the valve arrangement works reliably and completely uncovers the flushing opening in its operative position.
This object is achieved in that the inlet pipe is directed vertically into the detergent dispensing chamber from above and ends at a spacing from the flushing opening, in that the end of the inlet pipe is blanked off with a reversing device which has a greater diameter than the diameter of the inlet pipe and that the valve cap is designed as a hollow body which is stepped in diameter and which accommodates, with the stepped sections, the diameters of the flushing opening, the reversing device and the inlet pipe.
In this arrangement and development of the inlet pipe and the valve cap, the valve cap is raised by reversing the direction of flow of the supplied water at the end of the inlet pipe, so that the entire flushing opening is exposed. The inlet pipe remains thus at a distance above the flushing opening of the detergent dispensing chamber and no longer hinders the flushing operation.
According to the development, the reversing device is designed as a separate part from the inlet pipe, said part being connectable, after pushing up the valve cap on to the inlet pipe, to the latter, thus simplifying the assembly of the detergent dispensing device.
The construction of the detergent dispensing device is simplified according to a further development by attaching the inlet pipe to a lid covering the detergent dispensing chamber and going into a channel of the lid and by introducing the water to the channel via a free air gap.
In a further development, the detergent dispensing chamber is surrounded by a shell which is provided, beneath the flushing opening of the detergent dispensing chamber, with a draining opening and with the water inlet of the detergent dispensing chamber facing away from a feeder opening for the detergent or fabric conditioner discharging into the detergent dispensing chamber.
Flushing out the detergent or fabric conditioner from the detergent dispensing chamber is improved in that the upward-opening channel of the lid is provided with side openings and that the lid has lid-jets outwith the channel. With the help of these lid-jets, the entire wall region of the detergent dispensing chamber can be rinsed and cleaned.
The detergent dispensing device is used with advantage in a washing machine which can be loaded from above and closed with a closing-flap. In this situation then, the closing-flap is hinged on the side facing the water supply and the detergent dispensing device is connectable or connected to the lid and the detergent dispensing chamber with the closing-flap.
The invention is described in greater detail with the aid of the embodiment given by way of example and represented in the drawings, which show:
Fig. 1
a vertical section through the upper region of a washing machine which can be loaded from above and which has a detergent dispensing device according to the invention,
Fig. 2
a partial plan view of the detergent dispensing device and
Fig. 3
an enlarged section of the vertical section according to Fig. 1 with the function of the valve cap.
As is shown in Fig. 1, a detergent dispensing device, according to the invention, is arranged on the underside of the closing-flap 11 of a washing machine which can be filled from above, said device being tilted upwards around the fulcrum 20 when being tilted up.
The detergent dispensing device has a detergent dispensing chamber 1 with a large flushing opening 2. This detergent dispensing chamber 1 is covered by a lid 4. As can be seen in Fig. 2, an upwardly open channel 6 is formed in the lid 4, said channel being closed by the closing-flap 11. In the region of the hinge, the channel 6 widens and is open. The water is not introduced via a hose 8 and an angled jet 7 directly but instead via a free airway 7a, in order to stop backflow. On the lid 4, an inlet pipe 3 is formed, which extends from the channel 6 and is aligned vertically in the closed position of the closing-flap 11 and stops at a distance from the flushing opening 2 of the detergent dispensing chamber 1. The end of the inlet pipe 3 is closed with a reversing device 3a, which causes a reversal of the direction of flow of the water which is running out, as can be seen clearly in Fig. 3. In addition, the reversing device 3a is designed preferably as a separate part from the inlet pipe 3, which, only after pushing up the valve cap 5 onto the inlet pipe 3, becomes connected to the latter. The reversing device 3a has a larger diameter than the inlet pipe 3. The valve cap 5 is designed as a hollow body stepped in diameter the sections of which are matched to the diameters of the flushing opening 2, the reversing device 3a and the inlet pipe 3.
If the water is fed into the inlet pipe 3, then said water flows out via the openings in the horizontal region of the reversing device 3a, the direction of flow being reversed. The valve cap 5, which has kept the flushing opening 2 closed with the lower open front-side, is then raised and adopts the operative position depicted by 5a in Fig. 3, so that the flushing opening is completely exposed. The operative position of the valve cap 5a is established by touching the lid 4.
As Fig. 2 shows, the channel is provided with side openings 6a, so that the introduced water is also directed to the regions of the lid 4 outwith the channel 6. The entire wall regions of the detergent dispensing chamber 1 are sprayed with water via lid-jets 12. This offers a good rinsing and cleaning effect. This effect can be improved further by turning the angled jet 7.
When the water supply stops, the valve cap 5 falls back again, because of its inherent weight, into the exit position, closing the flushing opening. Since the pressure head, which builds up in the valve arrangement, is slowly reduced, there is a delay in the valve cap 5 returning to the closed position. This is of advantage, since the water which is left from the detergent dispensing chamber and valve arrangement can drain completely. Between the valve cap 5 and the reversing device 3a there can be some clearance, assuring the draining of the remaining water out of the valve arrangement. The inlet pipe 3 and the valve cap 5 can be provided with small openings also above the maximum filling level.
The detergent dispensing chamber 1 is surrounded by an extractable shell 13, which is provided beneath the flushing opening 2 with a draining opening 10. Facing away from the fulcrum 20 of the closing-flap 11, the shell 13 bears a filling opening 9, which discharges into the detergent dispensing chamber 1 and serves to supply detergent and fabric conditioner. When the closing-flap 11 is tilted upwards, filling can be achieved.
In Fig. 1, a washing drum is designated by 16 and a washing container by 15, said container encompassing a receiving space for the detergent dispensing device via a collar 14 and ensuring that detergent or fabric conditioner, which emerges and is flushed out of the shell 13, is supplied to the washing container. The detergent dispensing device can of course also be used in a washing machine, which is loaded from the front and closed by means of a door.

Claims (7)

  1. Detergent dispensing device including at least one detergent dispensing chamber for receiving, in measured doses, powder or liquid detergent or fabric conditioner, which can be flushed out by means of water introduced via a flushing opening in the detergent dispensing chamber extending to the washing container, in which the flushing opening is arranged in the base of the detergent dispensing chamber and in which the water can be supplied via an inlet pipe and in which a valve cap of a valve arrangement can be displaced to a limited extent on the inlet pipe, said cap closing the flushing opening in a lower initial position on the basis of its own inherent weight and being raisable by means of the supplied water into an upper operative position, which exposes the flushing opening,
    characterised in that
    the inlet pipe (3) is introduced vertically into the detergent dispensing chamber (1) from above and stops at a distance from the flushing opening (2),
    in that the end of the inlet pipe (3) is closed off by a reversing device (3a), which has a greater diameter than the diameter of the inlet pipe and
    in that the valve cap (5) is designed as a hollow body with a stepped diameter, said hollow body accommodating, with stepped parts, the diameters of the flushing opening (2), the reversing device (3a) and the inlet pipe (3).
  2. Detergent dispensing device according to Claim 1 characterised in that,
    the reversing device (3a) is designed as a separate part from the inlet pipe (3), said part being connectable, after pushing up of the valve (5) on to the inlet pipe, to the latter.
  3. Detergent dispensing device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that,
    the inlet pipe(3) is attached to a lid covering the detergent dispensing chamber (1) and extends into a channel (6) of the lid, and
    in that the water can be introduced into the channel (6) via a free air-gap.
  4. Detergent dispensing device according to one of the Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that,
    the detergent dispensing chamber (1) is surrounded by a shell (13), which is provided, beneath the flushing opening (2) of the detergent dispensing chamber (1), with a draining opening (10) and with the water inlet of the detergent dispensing chamber (1) facing away from a feeder opening (9) for the detergent or fabric conditioner discharging into the detergent dispensing chamber(1).
  5. Detergent dispensing device according to Claims 3 or 4,
    characterised in that,
    the upward-opening channel (6) of the lid is provided with side openings, and
    in that the lid (4) has lid-jets (12) outwith the channel (6).
  6. Detergent dispensing device according to Claims 1 to 5 characterised in that,
    it is arranged on the underside of a closing-flap (11) of a washing machine which can be loaded from above.
  7. Detergent dispensing device according to claim 6 characterised in that,
    the closing-flap (11) is hinged on the side facing the water supply, and
    in that the detergent dispensing device is connectable or connected to the lid (4) and the detergent dispensing chamber with the closing-flap (11).
EP98109299A 1997-06-09 1998-05-22 Detergent dispensing device Expired - Lifetime EP0884414B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE19724174A DE19724174C1 (en) 1997-06-09 1997-06-09 Washing machine detergent feed
DE19724174 1997-06-09

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0884414A1 true EP0884414A1 (en) 1998-12-16
EP0884414B1 EP0884414B1 (en) 2002-01-30

Family

ID=7831867

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP98109299A Expired - Lifetime EP0884414B1 (en) 1997-06-09 1998-05-22 Detergent dispensing device

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0884414B1 (en)
CN (1) CN1165650C (en)
DE (2) DE19724174C1 (en)
ES (1) ES2172058T3 (en)

Families Citing this family (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
IT1304095B1 (en) * 1998-12-11 2001-03-07 T & P Spa DEVICE FOR THE HOUSING OF WASHING AGENTS IN A WASHING MACHINE, EQUIPPED WITH A FLOAT FOR ADDITION
CN100375809C (en) * 2002-07-05 2008-03-19 乐金电子(天津)电器有限公司 Detergent feeding device for drum washing machine
CN100383328C (en) * 2002-07-05 2008-04-23 乐金电子(天津)电器有限公司 Deterget feeding device for drum washing machine
US9003588B2 (en) 2010-04-13 2015-04-14 Whirlpool Corporation Appliances with sudsing-reducing flushable detergent dispensers
DE102010016411A1 (en) 2010-04-13 2011-10-13 Miele & Cie. Kg Washing machine with a rinsing chamber
BR112019009886A2 (en) * 2016-11-15 2019-08-13 Unilever Nv device for releasing a fluid detergent composition to a surface and process for releasing a fluid or fluid composition on a surface of a substrate
ES2776400T3 (en) * 2016-11-15 2020-07-30 Unilever Nv Fluid applicator device

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1460889A1 (en) * 1965-04-23 1969-04-24 Constructa Werke Gmbh Detergent dispenser
EP0169604A2 (en) * 1984-07-16 1986-01-29 Philips Electronics Uk Limited Detergent dispenser for a washing machine

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1460889A1 (en) * 1965-04-23 1969-04-24 Constructa Werke Gmbh Detergent dispenser
EP0169604A2 (en) * 1984-07-16 1986-01-29 Philips Electronics Uk Limited Detergent dispenser for a washing machine

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES2172058T3 (en) 2002-09-16
DE69803626D1 (en) 2002-03-14
EP0884414B1 (en) 2002-01-30
DE69803626T2 (en) 2002-08-14
CN1208784A (en) 1999-02-24
DE19724174C1 (en) 1998-08-06
CN1165650C (en) 2004-09-08

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