EP2573250A1 - Water-bearing household appliance having a pulsator - Google Patents

Abstract

The appliance has a jetting chamber (7) jetting a treatment agent into a treatment area (17). A pulsator (2) includes a blocking body (22) e.g. stainless steel ball, arranged in a cylindrical pulsator chamber (20). The pulsator includes an inlet (23), which opens into the pulsator chamber so that the body is displaced into movement in the pulsator chamber by a water flow that is guided into the pulsator chamber. The pulsator includes outlets (28-30) via which the water flow is conducted into the jetting chamber. The displaced body alternately releases and blocks the outlets for the water flow.

Description

The invention relates to a water-conducting domestic appliance, in particular a laundry treatment appliance for washing and / or drying laundry, with at least one dispensing chamber, via which a treatment agent can be flushed into a treatment area by means of a supplied water flow. Specifically, the invention relates to the field of washing machines and washer-dryers.

From the EP 1 209 275 A2 is a washing machine with a drum-shaped tub known. The tub can be fed via a line, a solenoid valve and a Waschmitteleinspüleinrichtung water.

At the time of the EP 1 209 275 A2 known washing machine, it is conceivable that the Waschmitteleinspüleinrichtung comprises a plurality of chambers, in which, for example, a powdery or flowable detergent can be filled. When rinsing out, however, there is the problem that the guided when opening the solenoid valve through the Waschmitteleinspüleinrichtung water flow rinses the detergent only partially. Because depending on how the water jet is directed, for example, in a dispensing compartment of the Waschmitteleinspüleinrichtung, the mechanical energy of the water jet in the impingement of the chamber flush the detergent completely, while remaining in other areas of the chamber detergent residues, as the mechanical energy of the passing water too low is to completely separate these from a floor or a wall of the chamber. This results in several problems. For a treatment step of the washing program, in which the detergent is flushed, is not the metered amount of detergent available. However, in a later treatment step, in which the laundry is rinsed, detergent remaining in the dispensing chamber can still be rinsed in. This has an unfavorable effect on the washing result. In addition, if necessary detergent remains as contamination in the chamber, which must be removed by the user. In the event of improper removal of, for example, dried-on detergent, it may then also lead to undesired damage to the dispenser tray by the user.

From the DE 10 2009 028 481 B3 is a water-conducting household appliance with a flushing out, which has several Einspülkammern for detergent and the like.

From the DE 10 2007 037 883 A1 is a water-bearing household appliance with a system for dosing liquid or pasty detergent aid, which has a multiple-addition valve with a rotatable rotor. In order to release adhesions of detergents in the multiple-addition valve, the rotor can be rotated in a given rotational position with changing directions of rotation, in particular pulsating, so that a flushing fluid flowing through dissolves and dissipates the adhesions.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a water-conducting household appliance, which has an improved structure. Specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide a water-conducting household appliance, in which the flushing of treatment agents from a dispensing chamber is improved in a treatment area.

This object is achieved by a water-conducting household appliance according to independent claim. By the features listed in the dependent claims or the following description or illustrated features and measures advantageous developments of the inventive water-conducting household appliance are possible.

The object is achieved by a water-conducting household appliance, in particular a laundry treatment device for washing and / or drying laundry, wherein at least one Einspülkammer is provided, via which by means of a supplied water flow, a treatment agent in a treatment area is flushed, wherein a pulsator with a pulsator and a blocking body arranged in the pulsator chamber is provided, the pulsator having an inlet which opens into the pulsator chamber in such a way that the blocking body in the pulsator chamber is set in motion via the water flow guided into the pulsator chamber, wherein the pulsator has an output via which the flow of water to the dispensing compartment is feasible, and wherein the blocking member set in motion alternately at least substantially releases and at least substantially blocks the outlet for the water flow.

It is advantageous that the input of the pulsator opens tangentially into the pulsator chamber. As a result, the supplied water can be introduced tangentially into the pulsator chamber. As a result, the blocking body is advantageously set in motion and then kept in motion. In this case, it is further advantageous that the output opens at least approximately radially into the pulsator chamber. In combination with the movement of the blocking body moved past the outlet, pulsations in the water jet can thereby be generated in an advantageous manner.

It is also advantageous that the blocking body is designed as a spherical or hollow spherical blocking body or as a roller-shaped blocking body or as a conical blocking body. As a result, the blocking body can be set by the water flow in a rolling motion. Specifically, a circumferential rolling motion can be achieved. As a result, a uniform pulsation of the water jet can be achieved.

It is also possible, however, that the blocking body is designed as a disc-shaped blocking body. The disk-shaped blocking body can then be set in tumbling motion by the supplied water jet. As a result, a pulsation of the water flow is also possible.

It is also advantageous that the pulsator chamber is configured as an at least approximately cylindrical pulsator chamber. This is particularly advantageous in combination with a ball-shaped or hollow-spherical blocking body or a roller-shaped blocking body. In this case, a uniform, circumferential movement of the blocking body can be achieved. In particular, setting in motion can be reliably achieved.

However, it is also advantageous that the pulsator has at least one further outlet, via which the water flow into the dispensing chamber or a further dispensing chamber can be guided, and that the blocking body set in motion alternately at least substantially releases the outlet for the water flow and at least in the Substantially blocked as the other output for the water flow alternately at least substantially releases and at least substantially blocked. Here, a total of two or more exits can be provided. In this embodiment, the water flow can be performed on multiple outputs, wherein each pulsations are generated. Specifically, it is advantageous in this case that the blocking body set in motion at least approximately alternately releases and / or blocks the output and the further output. As a result, during the blocking of one of the outlets, the water flow can be guided at least over the other outlet. As a result, pulsating water flows with comparatively high pressures can be generated at the outputs. Furthermore, a short-term backwater of the water flow is avoided.

It is also advantageous that a water quantity measuring device is provided which measures the quantity and / or a volume flow of the water guided through the pulsator in accordance with a number of pulsations in the water flow generated by the pulsator. In this case, the pulsation of the water jet can be measured by a direct or indirect, capacitive conductivity measurement takes place. It is also possible to measure by means of the reverb effect. Other measuring methods can also be used.

However, it is also advantageous that a water quantity measuring device is provided which measures the quantity and / or a volume flow of the water guided through the pulsator in accordance with a number of revolutions of the blocking body set in motion in the pulsator chamber. Here, the circulating, oscillating movement of the blocking body can be used to measure the amount of water flowing through. The speed of the orbital motion or the frequency of the oscillation depends on the speed of the water flowing through it. Thus, this can serve as a volume flow measurement. For example, in the case of a magnetic or ferromagnetic blocking body, a magnetic measurement can be used. Specifically, the blocking body can be made of stainless steel for this purpose. In particular, the blocking body can be designed as a stainless steel ball.

In a likewise advantageous embodiment of the blocking body made of plastic, in particular in the form of a plastic ball, also an optical counting of the circulations can be used. However, optical counting is also possible with other materials. Furthermore, the blocking body can have an axis of rotation. In such a case, the rotational or rotational movement can also be mechanically decoupled from the pulsator chamber.

Due to the generated pulsating water flow, the dispenser can be rinsed out better. In particular, a powdered detergent can be rinsed out better. Thus, detergent residues can be avoided in the dispenser. Here, the supplied water flow can be interrupted periodically and also be distributed cyclically to several outlets. This is in combination with a suitable directional control valve, such as a triple ball valve, for a Einspülschale with several Einspülkammern, in particular three Einspülkammern suitable. Because this results in a high pressurization.

Fig. 1

ein wasserführendes Haushaltsgerät mit einem Pulsator in einer auszugsweisen, schematischen Schnittdarstellung entsprechend einem Ausführungsbeispiel.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail in the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawing shows:

Fig. 1

a water-conducting household appliance with a pulsator in a partial, schematic sectional view according to an embodiment.

Fig. 1 shows a water-conducting household appliance 1 with a pulsator 2 in a partial, schematic sectional view. The household appliance 1 can be configured in particular as a laundry treatment appliance 1 and serve for washing and / or drying laundry. Specifically, the household appliance 1 can be configured as a washing machine or washer-dryer. However, the household appliance 1 is also suitable for other applications, in particular, it may be configured as a dishwasher.

The household appliance 1 has a water supply device 3, which includes, among other things, a check valve 4. Thus, from a water connection 5, a water flow to the pulsator 2 are performed when the check valve 4 is opened.

The household appliance 1 also has an induction bowl 6 with at least one dispensing chamber 7. In this case, the dispenser 6 may also include further Einspülkammern. The dispensing chamber 7 is divided in this embodiment into three zones 8, 9, 10. This mental division is in the Fig. 1 illustrated by broken lines 11, 12. The division into the zones 8 to 10 need not necessarily be realized by constructive features of the dispenser 6. However, you can such a division by ribs or the like can be realized, which are positioned on the broken lines 11, 12.

The dispensing compartment 7 of the dispensing tray 6 is connected to a container 16 via a connection 15. The container 16 is formed in this embodiment as a tub 16. The container 16 encloses a treatment area 17, which is accessible for example via a door.

In this embodiment, a user in the tub 16 and a arranged in the tub 16 drum (not shown) bring laundry. According to a program flow of the home appliance 1 selected by the user, the home appliance 1 executes, for example, a washing program. In such a washing program is typically a single or repeated flushing of a treatment agent or more treatment agents and a subsequent rinsing of the laundry with fresh water.

In the following, the mode of operation is described with reference to the dispensing compartment 7 of the dispensing tray 6, wherein only once a treatment agent is guided into the tub 16. The supply of a plurality of treatment agents, for example, according to a prewash, a main wash and a softening, results in accordance with the consideration of several Einspülkammern 7 of the dispenser 6.

Before the start of the washing program, the user can fill in the dispensing chamber 7 a detergent, in particular a powdered detergent. The detergent can then be distributed over the entire dispenser 7.

The pulsator 2 has a pulsator chamber 20, which is delimited by a round raceway 21. In this exemplary embodiment, the pulsator chamber 20 is designed as a cylindrical pulsator chamber 20. The runway 21 is designed here as a cylinder jacket-shaped runway 21. The pulsator 2 also has a blocking body 22 which is arranged in the pulsator chamber 20. Furthermore, the pulsator 2 has an input 23 which opens tangentially into the pulsator chamber 20 with respect to an axis 24 of the pulsator chamber 20.

When the shut-off valve 4 is open, the water flow flows via the inlet 23 into the pulsator chamber 20. The blocking body 22 is set in motion via the water flow guided into the pulsator chamber 20. In this exemplary embodiment, the blocking body 22 rolls along the runway 21 in a direction of movement 25 or running direction 25.

In this embodiment, the pulsator 2 also has outputs 28, 29, 30. The number of outputs 28 to 30 can be adapted to the particular application. It can also be provided only one output.

The outputs 28, 29, 30 are at least approximately radially oriented with respect to the axis 24. The blocking body 22 moving in the running direction 25 runs successively and repeatedly past the outlets 28 to 30. Since the outputs 28 to 30 lead to the runway 21 in the pulsator 20, they are each repeatedly released and blocked. The supplied via the inlet 23 water flow is therefore divided into the outputs 28 to 30, resulting in the outputs 28 to 30 pulsating water flows.

The outputs 28, 29, 30 are connected via connecting pieces 28 ', 29', 30 'to nozzles 31, 32, 33 or nozzle arrangements 31, 32, 33.

In this embodiment, the nozzle assembly 31 of the zone 8 of the dispenser 7 is assigned. The nozzle arrangement 32 is assigned to the zone 9. And the nozzle assembly 33 is associated with the zone 10. By dividing the water flow to the outputs 28 to 30, water is passed through all the nozzle arrangements 31 to 33 for rinsing the detergent out of the dispensing chamber 7. In this case, by the assignment of the nozzle assemblies 31 to 33 to the zones 8 to 10, a direct or at least more direct irradiation of the detergent from the water streams compared to only one nozzle can be achieved.

By the pulsator 2, a pulsating water flow is generated at each output 28 to 30. In this way, for example, a pulsating water flow is guided via the plurality of injection holes of the nozzle arrangement 31 into the zone 8 of the dispensing chamber 7 at the nozzle arrangement 31. The pulsations in the water flow improve flushing In particular, the retention of detergent residues in the zone 8 of the dispensing chamber 7 can be prevented or at least avoided. Accordingly, a pulsating water flow is guided in each case via the outputs 29, 30 and the nozzle arrangements 32, 33, so that the zones 9, 10 are also advantageously rinsed.

Thus, the filled into the dispenser 7 detergent reaches at least substantially completely in the tub 16. In this way, the metered amount of detergent actually enters the tub 16 and residues that must be removed by a user are avoided.

The blocking body 22 is designed in this embodiment as a spherical or hollow spherical blocking body 22. However, the blocking body 22 can also be configured as a roller-shaped blocking body 22 or as a conical blocking body 22. Such blocking bodies 22 can also run along the runway 21 in the running direction 25.

Furthermore, the blocking body 22 can also be configured as a disk-shaped blocking body 22. The pulsations can then be generated by a tumbling movement of the blocking body 22.

Depending on the configuration of the blocking body 22, in particular in the case of a roller-shaped or conical blocking body 22, rolling on the rolling track 21 can take place in accordance with a rolling movement. When using blocking bodies 22 which rotate about the axis 24, larger zones of the runway 21 can be blocked in an advantageous manner, for example to divide a single jet of water in succession to the outputs 28, 29, 30. This results in multiple outputs 28 to 30 pulsating water jets having at the nozzles or nozzle assemblies 31 to 33 during their respective pulse duration a maximum strength.

Also possible is the embodiment of the pulsator 2 with a linearly moving blocking body 22, which carries out oscillatory movements generated by the water flow for generating a changeover of at least two nozzles or nozzle arrangements 31 to 33.

It should be noted that several nozzles or nozzle arrangements in the form of a nozzle group can be connected to one outlet.

In this embodiment, the zones 8 to 10 are each assigned to a nozzle arrangement 31 to 33. Depending on the configuration of the household appliance, however, it is also conceivable that the nozzle fields 8 to 10 of the nozzles or nozzle arrangements 31 to 33 are not limited to a single dispensing chamber 7, but instead for example, are located in different Einspülkammern.

The blocking body 22, in particular the spherical blocking body 22, and the Pulsatorkammer 20 are matched with respect to their geometric dimensions to each other that the flow of water through each outlet 28 to 30 during a revolution of the blocking body 22 in the running direction 25 is once interrupted once, wherein a Cyclic interruption of, for example, three outputs 28 to 30 about an effective reduction of the connecting pieces 28 'to 30' by one third on the connecting pieces 28 'to 30' through which straight water flows corresponds, so that the spray pressures or the flow rates through the remaining two-thirds of the connecting pieces 28 'to 30', through which straight water flows increase.

The household appliance 1 may also have a plurality of pulsators, which are designed according to the pulsator 2. Here, a series or parallel connection is possible to allow a greater variety of Sprührichtungskombinationen.

The household appliance 1 also has a water quantity measuring device 40, which in this embodiment comprises a sensor 41. The sensor 41 may be configured as a magnetic sensor 41 or as a photoelectric sensor 41. For example, an electromagnetic sensor 41 can detect the number of revolutions of the blocking body 22 in the running direction 25 by electromagnetic interaction. A photoelectric sensor 41 can detect the number of revolutions of the blocking body 22 in the running direction 25, for example, in combination with a light emitting diode according to a light barrier system. Since the speed of the orbital motion of the blocking body 22 or the frequency of the oscillations of the speed of the through Pulsator 20 depending water flowing, thereby the amount and / or a volume flow of the guided through the pulsator 2 water can be measured.

The water quantity measuring device 40 can also measure the number of pulsations generated by the pulsator 2 in the water flow. For this purpose, the sensor 41 can be arranged, for example, at one of the outputs 28 to 30. The measurement can be done, for example, photoelectrically, capacitively or by taking advantage of the Hall effect.

The invention is not limited to the described embodiments.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Water-conducting household appliance

2

pulsator

3

Water supply means

4

check valve

5

mains water supply

6

dispenser tray

7

bleach dispenser

8 - 10

zones

11, 12

interrupted line shown

15

Support

16

tub

17

treatment area

20

Pulsatorkammer

21

runway

22

blocking body

23

entrance

24

axis

25

direction

28 - 30

output

28 '- 30'

joint

31 - 33

nozzle assembly

40

Water volume measuring device

41

sensor

Claims (10)

Water-conducting household appliance (1), in particular laundry treatment appliance for washing and / or drying laundry, having at least one dispensing chamber (7) via which a treatment agent can be flushed into a treatment area (17) by means of a supplied water flow,
characterized,
that arranged a pulsator (2) having a Pulsatorkammer (20) and one in the Pulsatorkammer (20) blocking body (22) is provided, that the pulsator (2) having an input (23), the so in the Pulsatorkammer (20) opens in that the blocking body (22) in the pulsator chamber (20) is set in motion via the water flow guided into the pulsator chamber (20), in that the pulsator (2) has an outlet (28, 29, 30), via which the water flow the Einspülkammer (7) is feasible, and that the staggered blocking body (22) alternately releases the output (28, 29, 30) for the water flow at least substantially and at least substantially blocked. Water-conducting domestic appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the inlet (23) of the pulsator (2) opens tangentially into the pulsator chamber (20). Domestic appliance according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the output (28, 29, 30) at least approximately radially into the Pulsatorkammer (28, 29, 30) opens. Domestic appliance according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the blocking body (22) as a spherical or hollow spherical blocking body (22) or as a roller-shaped blocking body (22) or as a conical blocking body (22) is configured. Domestic appliance according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the blocking body (22) is designed as a disc-shaped blocking body (22). Domestic appliance according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the Pulsatorkammer (20) is designed as at least approximately cylindrical Pulsatorkammer (20). Domestic appliance according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the pulsator (2) has at least one further output (28, 29, 30), via which the water flow in the Einspülkammer (7) or a further Einspülkammer is feasible, and that the blocking member (22) set in motion alternately at least substantially releases and at least substantially blocks the outlet (28, 29, 30) for the water flow and alternately alternately at least substantially separates the further outlet (28, 29, 30) for the water flow releases and at least essentially blocks. Domestic appliance according to claim 7, characterized in that the staggered blocking body (22) at least approximately alternately releases the output and the further output and / or blocks. Domestic appliance according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a water quantity measuring device (40) is provided, the amount and / or a volume flow of the pulsator (2) guided water corresponding to a number of pulsations generated by the pulsator (2) in the water flow. Domestic appliance according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a water quantity measuring device (40) is provided, the amount and / or a volume flow of the pulsator (2) guided water corresponding to a number of cycles of the staggered blocking body (22 ) in the pulsator chamber (20).

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