EP1190665A1

EP1190665A1 - Rotary nozzle for washing machines

Info

Publication number: EP1190665A1
Application number: EP01118096A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ottorino Cosonato
Original assignee: International Steel Co SpA
Current assignee: International Steel Co SpA
Priority date: 2000-08-01
Filing date: 2001-07-26
Publication date: 2002-03-27
Also published as: ITUD20000145A1; ITUD20000145A0; IT1315112B1

Abstract

Rotary nozzle (10) for washing machines comprising at least a chamber (33) inside which objects to be washed are placed, said nozzle (10) being able to deliver towards said objects a liquid detergent and comprising a first fixed component (11) to feed and distribute said liquid detergent and a second rotary component (12) to deliver said liquid detergent, said first component (11) being able to be coupled inside said second component (12) and including spraying means (16) able to deliver pressurized fluid towards mating hollows (25) made tangentially inside said second component (12) to impart thereto a thrust which makes it rotate on its own longitudinal axis ("x").

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention concerns a rotary nozzle to deliver liquid detergent solutions in washing machines.
The invention is suitable to be used in industrial machines to wash containers of a certain depth, for example those used in hospital structures to wash containers for physiological needs (bedpans and urine bottles).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The state of the art includes rotary nozzles in washing machines able to deliver liquid detergent.
In some embodiments, the rotation of the nozzles is imparted by the pressure of feed of the liquid detergent itself which, emerging from holes made tangentially on the body of the nozzle, causes it to rotate.
This solution is advantageous in small-dimension rotary nozzles, for example those used in domestic dish washers, but it is inefficient in the bigger nozzles used in industrial washing machines designed to penetrate in depth into the objects to be washed.
In such machines the rotation of the nozzle is normally imparted by an auxiliary system which makes the machine more complex and more costly.
A solution has been proposed wherein the nozzle is associated with a drive assembly comprising a blade rotor made to rotate by the liquid detergent fed tangentially and able to transmit the rotational motion to the nozzle.
In this solution, the pressure of the liquid detergent determines a speed of rotation which is too high for the nozzle; this makes it necessary to insert, between the rotor and nozzle, a plurality of reduction gears by means of which the speed is reduced before it is transmitted to the nozzle. However, this makes the rotation system of the nozzle more complex, costly and bulky, and again has the disadvantages of conventional auxiliary systems.
Maintenance operations are also long and impractical, due to the high number of components.
The present Applicant has devised and embodied this invention to overcome these shortcomings and obtain other advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is set forth and characterized in the main claim, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention.
The purpose of the invention is to achieve a rotary nozzle to be used in washing machines to wash objects, substantially of any type, which will be simple and economical and wherein rotation will be obtained by directly exploiting, without reduction elements, the pressure of the liquid detergent which the nozzle itself is able to deliver.
Another purpose of the invention is to achieve a rotary nozzle able to wash containers of a certain depth, particularly those for physiological needs, with a shape able to penetrate inside said containers and reach their whole inner surface with the jets of liquid detergent.
The shape of the nozzle is not restrictive, as it can have a cylindrical, polyhedral, spherical or other geometry.
The rotary nozzle according to the invention comprises a first fixed component, substantially axial, to feed and distribute the liquid detergent, and a second outer rotary component able to deliver said fluid towards the objects to be washed.
The first component has spraying means able to emit a pressurized jet of said liquid detergent.
When the two components are in their coupled condition, the jet is able to strike at least one of the plurality of hollows made tangentially in a circular compartment inside the second component, in order to impart thereto a thrust which makes it rotate with respect to its axis.
In a preferential embodiment, the spraying means of the first component consist of angular arms directed in a direction mating with that of the hollows; the arms are arranged radially with respect to the circular compartment of the second component and are arranged angled, one with respect to the other, by the same angle.
The spraying means are connected to a collector element associated with an axial connection with which a conduit to feed the liquid detergent is able to be connected.
In a preferential embodiment, there is an odd number of hollows, arranged at an equal distance from each other; this number is equal to twice the number of the spraying means, plus one. For whatever rotated position the second component assumes with respect to the first, this embodiment allows to have at least one of the spraying means facing towards one of the hollows and hence ensures the rotation thrust to the second component.
In one embodiment, the second component comprises an elongated front part inside which the liquid detergent flows after emerging from the spraying means. The front part is able to be inserted in depth into the objects to be washed and communicates with the outside by means of apertures through which the liquid detergent is delivered towards said objects.
In a preferential embodiment, the apertures comprise a plurality of tangential holes made on the lateral surface of the front part, a front slit and a corner slit made in correspondence with the end of the front part.
According to the invention, the ratio between the overall area of the holes through which the liquid detergent emerges from the spraying means and the total area of said apertures is designed to ensure a desired speed of rotation of the second component while the washing machine is functioning.
According to a variant, the front part is associated, at its end, with a terminal portion on which at least some of the apertures are made.
According to another variant, inside the front part a holed tubular element is inserted able to convey a part of the liquid detergent towards said terminal portion.
Thanks to the axial feed of the liquid detergent, the nozzle according to the invention can be mounted with the first component completely inside the washing chamber of the machine, so that the elongated conformation of its front part is able to penetrate in depth inside the containers to be washed.
The high number and the arrangement of the apertures for the delivery of the liquid detergent made on the second component allow the jets of said liquid detergent to uniformly cover the whole surface of the objects to be washed. This, plus the fact that the speed of rotation of the second component can be chosen, makes the washing action of the nozzle according to the invention extremely efficient.
The structural simplicity and the limited number of components allow to contain the production costs of the nozzle and at the same time make the maintenance operations easier.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other characteristics of the invention will become clear from the following description of a preferred form of embodiment, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

Fig. 1: shows a rotary nozzle according to the invention in its partly dismantled condition;
Fig. 2: is a view from A in Fig. 1;
Fig. 3: is a view from B in Fig. 1;
Fig. 4: shows the rotary nozzle in Fig. 1, partly in section, in its assembled condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERENTIAL EMBODIMENT

With reference to the attached Figures, a rotary nozzle for washing machines according to the invention is indicated by the number 10.
The function of the rotary nozzle 10 is to spray a liquid detergent, for example a mixture of water and detergent or disinfectant, while it rotates inside the washing chamber 33 of the relative machine, on which it is installed with its axis "x" substantially horizontal.
It comprises a first fixed component 11 to feed and distribute the liquid detergent, and a second rotary component 12 which delivers the liquid detergent towards the objects to be washed.
The first component 11 is inserted axially inside the second component 12.
The first component 11 comprises at the rear part an axial connection 13 on which a conduit 34 to feed the liquid detergent is able to be screwed (Fig. 4).
The connection 13 is coupled at the front part with a collector 14 to which are connected a plurality of angular-shaped spraying arms 16, all directed in the same direction. In this case, there are three spraying arms 16 and are angled at an angle "α" of 120° with respect to each other.
The liquid detergent is fed by the collector 14 and each spraying arm 16 is able to deliver it under pressure through a hole 30.
Between the connection 13 and the collector 14 a disk 15, preferably made of nylon, Teflon or similar material, is mounted free to rotate with respect to the axis "x". The front wall 14a of the collector 14 is closed and a tube 17, provided with a plurality of lateral holes 18 and an end hole 19, is attached thereon.
The second component 12 comprises a containing body 20, hollow inside and also advantageously made of nylon, Teflon or similar material, and a terminal portion 21 provided with two delivery slits, one 27 in the corner (Figs. 1 and 4) and one 28 at the front (Fig. 2).
The length "L" of the second component 12 is advantageously between 100 and 150 mm.
The containing body 20 is divided into a cylindrical portion 22 open at the rear, to which the disk 15 is able to be coupled, and a more elongated, conical portion 23, extending forwards, to which the terminal portion 21 is associated.
The cylindrical portion 22 defines at the center a circular compartment 24 inside which the spraying arms 16 are able to be arranged.
Outside the circular compartment 24, substantially tangent to its circumference and open towards it, there are hollows 25 directed in a direction mating with that of the spraying arms 16, so that the latter are able to be arranged in alignment therewith.
The hollows 25 are, in this case, at an equal distance from one another; advantageously there is an odd number of them, equal to twice the number of the spraying arms 16 plus one.
In the embodiment shown here, where there are three spraying arms 16 and seven hollows 25, for any angle assumed by the first component 11 with respect to the second component 12 in their assembled condition, at least one of the spraying arms 16 is arranged in cooperation with a relative hollow 25 and has its hole 30 facing towards the open side 25a of said hollow 25 (Fig. 2). In this condition, the spraying arm 16 is able to direct the jet of liquid detergent towards the closed end 25b of the relative hollow 25.
The conical portion 23 has an inner narrow part 26 at the end and an outer thread (not shown) onto which the terminal portion 21 is screwed; the conical portion 23 houses the tube 17 inside, the end of which is inserted in the narrow part 26 (Fig. 4).
It also has, laterally, a plurality of tangential holes 29 distributed uniformly and in twos, offset in height.
The ratio between the summation of the areas of the holes 30 of the spraying arms 16 and the summation of the areas of the tangential holes 29 and the slits 27 and 28 is advantageously studied so as to guarantee a desired speed of rotation of the nozzle 10.
When the nozzle 10 is assembled (Fig. 4), the second component 12 is arranged completely inside the washing chamber 33 defined by the shell 32, whereas only the connection 13 is found outside said shell.
The first component 11 is attached to the shell 32 and has the disk 15 arranged in abutment on a supporting surface 31 of the cylindrical portion 22 and attached thereto, by screw means or other analogous means, so that it is solid with the second component 12. The collector 14 and the spraying arms 16 are inserted in the circular compartment 24 and the tube 17 is arranged inside the conical portion 23 of the containing body 20.
When the washing machine is functioning, the second component 12 faces towards the object or objects to be washed and, in the specific case of machines used to wash containers for physiological needs, is arranged inside said containers.
In this condition, the jet of liquid detergent delivered by the spraying arms 16 hits the inner surface of the hollows 25 which they are facing, and transmits to the second component 12 a rotation thrust with respect to the axis "x".
The liquid detergent then flows inside the conical portion 23 and exits partly through the tangential holes 29, thus giving a further rotational thrust to the second component 12; the remaining part enters inside the tube 17 through the lateral holes 18 and then reaches the terminal portion 21, exiting through the slits 27 and 28.
In this way, the liquid detergent is delivered both towards the lateral surface and also towards the bottom of the container(s) to be washed, while the second component 12 continues to rotate.
The length "L" of the second component 12 makes the nozzle 10 particularly suitable to be used in machines for washing containers of a certain depth, the inner surface of which cannot be hit completely by the jet of liquid detergent using traditional nozzles.
The axial feed of the liquid detergent allows to increase the usable length of the nozzle 10, which can be arranged almost entirely inside the washing chamber 33 and therefore can penetrate more deeply inside the objects to be washed.
It is obvious however that modifications and/or additions may be made to the rotary nozzle 10 as described heretofore, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
For example, the terminal portion 21 may not be included and the slits 27, 28 may be made directly on the tip of the conical portion 23; moreover, the latter could be cylindrical in shape, or the number of spraying arms 16 and/or hollows 25 may be different.
Furthermore, the cylindrical portion 22 can be provided with delivery holes on its front wall.
Apart from being elongated and conical as shown, the outer shape of the nozzle could also be cylindrical, spherical, polyhedral or any other suitable shape.
It is also obvious that, although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, a skilled person shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of rotary nozzle, all of which shall come within the field and scope of this invention.

Claims

Rotary nozzle for washing machines comprising at least a chamber (33) inside which objects to be washed are placed, said nozzle being able to deliver towards said objects a liquid detergent, the nozzle being characterized in that it comprises a first fixed component (11) to feed and distribute said liquid detergent and a second rotary component (12) to deliver said liquid detergent, said first component (11) being able to be coupled inside said second component (12) and including spraying means (16) able to deliver pressurized fluid towards mating hollows (25) made tangentially inside said second component (12) to impart thereto a thrust which makes it rotate on its own longitudinal axis ("x").
Nozzle as in Claim 1, characterized in that said second component (12) has internally a circular compartment (24) inside which said spraying means (16) are able to be housed, said hollows (25) being arranged tangent to the circumference of said circular compartment (24) and being open towards it.
Nozzle as in Claim 2, characterized in that said spraying means (16) are arranged radially with respect to said circular compartment (24) and are angled with respect to each other by the same angle ("α").
Nozzle as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said hollows (25) are at an equal distance from each other.
Nozzle as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that there is an odd number of said hollows (25) and more than the number of said spraying means (16).
Nozzle as in Claim 5, characterized in that the number of said hollows (25) is double that of said spraying means (16), plus one.
Nozzle as in Claim 6, characterized in that there are three of said spraying means (16) and seven of said hollows (25).
Nozzle as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said spraying means (16) are connected to a collector element (14) associated with a connection (13) to which a conduit (34) to feed said liquid detergent is able to be connected.
Nozzle as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said spraying means (16) consist of arms, angular shaped and directed in a direction mating with that of said hollows (25).
Nozzle as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said second component (12) comprises an elongated front part (23) into which the liquid detergent emerging from said spraying means (16) is able to flow, said front part (23) being able to be inserted inside the objects to be washed and being connected with the outside by means of apertures (27, 28, 29) through which said liquid detergent is delivered towards said objects.
Nozzle as in Claim 10, characterized in that said apertures comprise at least a plurality of holes (29) made on the lateral surface of said front part (23) and a front slit (28).
Nozzle as in Claim 11, characterized in that said holes (29) are made tangentially on said front part (23).
Nozzle as in any claim from 10 to 12 inclusive, characterized in that said apertures comprise at least a corner slit (27) made in correspondence with the end of said front part (23).
Nozzle as in claims 11 and 13 wherein there is at least a terminal portion (21) to deliver the liquid detergent, characterized in that said terminal portion (21) is associated with the end of said front part (23) and said front slit (28) and/or said corner slit (27) are made thereon.
Nozzle as in Claims 11 and 13 or 14, characterized in that a tubular element (17) is inserted inside said front part (23) able to convey a part of the liquid detergent inside said front part (23) towards said slits (27, 28).
Nozzle as in Claim 15, characterized in that said tubular element (17) is provided with lateral holes (18) and at least an end hole (19) open inside a narrow part (26) of said front part (23) and facing towards said slits (27, 28).
Nozzle as in any claim from 10 to 16 inclusive, characterized in that said front part (23) is conical, cylindrical, spherical or polyhedral in shape.
Nozzle as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said second component (12) has a length ("L") of between 100 and 150 mm.
Nozzle as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said first component (11) comprises a closing element (15) able to be attached on said second component (12) and to rotate therewith in the coupled condition of said components (11, 12).