EP2601877B1 - Dishwasher with automatic reversal of the direction of rotation of the spray arm - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a dishwasher having a washing compartment and a spray system provided in the washing compartment, which has a rotatably mounted spray arm, wherein the spray arm drive nozzles, which drive nozzles serve a rotary drive of the spray arm in the left direction on the one hand and in the right direction on the other.

Dishwashers of the type mentioned are known from the prior art per se. A separate documentary proof is therefore not required at this point.

Generic dishwashers have a Spülbottich, which in turn provides a Spülraum. The washing compartment is accessible via an opening in the washing tub, which opening can be closed in a fluid-tight manner by means of a door pivotably arranged on the washing tub.

When used as intended, the washing compartment of the dishwasher serves to receive items to be cleaned. This is applied as part of a designated Spülprogrammablaufs by means of rinsing liquid, the so-called wash liquor.

A dishwashing machine has a spray system provided in the washing compartment for loading items to be cleaned with washing liquor. Such a system typically has at least one rotatably mounted spray arm. In general, several such spray arms are provided, and depending on the design of the dishwasher two or three spray arms are common practice.

Each spray arm is connected to a supply line for rinsing liquor. In this case, rinsing liquor passes through this supply line to the spray arm, via which the rinsing liquor is discharged in the direction of the items to be cleaned. The rinsing liquor emitted by the spray arm collects in the washing compartment and is guided in an open flow circuit for a renewed spraying of the dishes. For this purpose, a circulation pump is used, which continuously circulates the rinsing liquor during a proper program implementation.

Typically, in a dishwasher of the type mentioned above, not all the spray arms are used at the same time in a designated program sequence. It is rather a feed to different sections of the program different spray arms with rinsing liquor instead, for the purpose of water saving preferably not more than two spray arms are operated simultaneously with rinsing water. For feeding different spray arms with rinsing fluid, a water switch cooperating with the circulation pump is regularly used, wherein a feeding of the spray arms takes place as a function of the position of the water distributor.

For the purpose of a rotary drive of the spray arm this has drive nozzles. The DE 3816408 A1 discloses a dishwasher in which drive nozzles are provided for a rotary drive of the spray arm in the left direction and drive nozzles for a rotary drive of the spray arm in the right direction. "Left direction" means a drive of the spray arm in the counterclockwise direction and "right direction" in the opposite direction, ie in the clockwise direction. The respective drive nozzles are connected to two separate channels in the spray arm, which are supplied via two separate supply lines with rinsing liquid. The supply lines are connected to separate output connections of the water separator.

The DE 103 55 343 B3 discloses a dishwashing machine in which a spray arm has two groups of nozzles. These are in fluid communication with a distribution chamber provided by the spray arm. When used as intended, rinse liquor flows into the distribution chamber of the spray arm, from where one or the other nozzle group is operated with rinsing liquor. The feeding of the nozzle groups with rinsing liquor takes place purely by chance over a ball present in the distribution chamber. When loading the spray arm with rinsing fluid, this ball is spent independently of control and completely randomly in a position in which either one nozzle group or the other nozzle group is released or locked. A targeted feeding of one or the other nozzle group with rinsing liquor is not possible.

The DE 7024995 U describes a dishwasher with a spray arm having different chambers, wherein an adjustable aperture allows an alternative loading of the different chambers.

The DE 1265366 B discloses a dishwasher with a spray arm and disposed therein a liquid distribution device with which a reversal of the direction of rotation of the spray arm is automatically effected by controlling or changing the Spülflottenstroms.

It is based on the above, the object of the invention to further develop a dishwasher of the type mentioned in that an improved coverage of the washing compartment with rinse liquor is achieved with the aim of improved Spülgutreinigung at the same time simplified, inexpensive and robust construction.

To solve this problem, the invention proposes a dishwasher with the features of claim 1.

The dishwasher according to the invention has a spray arm, which is equipped with a distribution chamber and a distributor for rinsing liquor. The distribution chamber is thus arranged within the spray arm and is supplied with rinsing liquid via only one supply line. The distributor is rotatably disposed within the distribution chamber of the spray arm. Depending on its position, it alternately releases either the drive nozzles for a rotary drive of the spray arm in the left direction or the drive nozzles for a rotary drive of the spray arm in the right direction. Advantageously, it comes with every new loading of the spray arm with rinsing water to a reversal of direction. Thus, if a twisting movement of the spray arm has taken place, for example, in the left-hand direction in a preceding program section, a twisting movement of the spray arm in the right-hand direction will be carried out after completion of this program section and subsequent recharge of the spray arm with wash liquor. The design according to the invention therefore yields a reversing upon each new loading of the spray arm with rinsing liquor, d. H. a sense of direction alternating in its direction of rotation.

Due to the alternating direction of rotation, different wash liquor jet directions, incidence angles and / or wash liquor jet shapes result with regard to the items to be washed picked up by the dishwasher's dishwasher compartment from the reversal of the direction of rotation to the reversal of the direction of rotation. Due to this, an optimized coverage of the washing compartment sets by different spray patterns, which results in an advantageous manner to an improved cleaning result.

In dishwashers of the type mentioned initially typically a plurality of spray arms are used, each acting in a spray level. The requirements for the spray jet characteristic of a spray arm can change during a program run. The same applies to the realization of different washing programs or rinsing phases, such. B. Fine program, pot cleaning program, sieve cleaning program and the like. For this reason, the spray jet characteristic the spray arms of prior art dishwashers is a compromise that meets all requirements as possible.

The embodiment of the invention provides an improvement here, as a result of reversing the direction of rotation of the spray arm with respect to the items to be cleaned causes a beam direction change, a beam shape change and a change in Strahlauftreffwinkel so that different spray jet characteristics are achieved. As a result, a better cleaning result can be achieved.

The distribution device according to the invention according to a further feature of the invention has a base body. This carries closure means, by means of which depending on the relative rotational position of the distributor within the distribution chamber release of the drive nozzles is formed, either the drive nozzles for a rotary drive of the spray arm in the left direction or the drive nozzles are released for a rotary drive of the spray arm in the right direction.

A spray arm preferably has two wings which are each formed starting from the distribution chamber of the spray arm. Each wing has two channels and each of these channels is connected to at least one drive nozzle.

By means of the closure means provided by the base body of the distributor, the channels of the spray arm fluidly connected to the drive nozzles can be closed. In the simplest embodiment, the closure means are plate-shaped and formed corresponding to the channel inlet openings. If, in the intended application, a channel inlet opening is closed by means of a plate-shaped closure means, then no rinse liquor can flow into this channel, with which the drive nozzle belonging to this channel is not charged with rinsing liquor.

The distribution device is arranged according to a further feature of the invention with the interposition of a compression spring within the distribution chamber. It is held under spring bias in the direction of its axis of rotation due to this spring. In this case, the spring counteracts the direction of inflow of a washing liquor flowing into the spray arm. The spring is dimensioned with regard to its spring force so that the distributor is depressed against the spring force when flushing water flowing into the spray arm. In the case of a lack of rinsing liquor feed, the distribution device, on the other hand, is held in its extended normal position following the spring action of the compression spring.

The distribution device and the distribution chamber have according to a further feature of the invention each have a slide track, wherein the two slide tracks are in operative connection with each other. The operative connection is designed such that a stepwise rotation of the distributor relative to the distribution chamber is effected. About the slide tracks an automatic rotational movement of the distributor is achieved for the purpose of reversing the direction of rotation. The twisting movement takes place automatically during a relative movement of distributor and distribution chamber, in particular if they move toward each other.

For this purpose, the slide tracks have mutually facing inclined surfaces over which, in the case of engagement, a rotational movement of the distributor is achieved relative to the distributor chamber and thus also relative to the spray arm.

In this case, the slide tracks cause a gradual rotation of the distributor relative to the distribution chamber, and preferably by 45 °.

The main body of the distributor has the feed side over a baffle section. Upon impingement of the spray arm with rinse liquor, the rinse liquor entering the spray arm encounters this baffle section. There is an on all sides preferably uniform discharge of the rinsing liquor, so that a uniform loading of the shared channels of the spray arm can be done with rinsing liquor.

With the invention, a construction is proposed as a whole, with respect to a direction of rotation is achieved with respect to a Sprüharms. In this case, each spray arm of the dishwasher can be designed in accordance with the invention. The construction according to the invention causes a change in the direction of rotation with each new loading of the spray arm with rinsing. This is achieved by a recorded from the distribution chamber of the spray arm distribution device, which rotates with each new loading of the spray arm with rinsing fluid by a predetermined angle of rotation, preferably 45 °, which in each case an activation of the spray provided by the spray drive either for a left-hand rotation of the spray arm or a clockwise rotation the spray arm takes place.

The invention discloses a particularly simple and inexpensive way to achieve an automatic reversal of the direction of the spray arm. The direction of rotation reversal is effected directly by the pressure of the rinsing liquor and is thus adjustable with little effort and without further interference-prone aids in a simple manner by controlling the Spülflottenstroms.

Figur 1

in schematischer Draufsicht von oben einen Sprüharm nach der Erfindung;

Figur 2

in einer schematischen Seitenansicht sowie in einer Ausschnittsdarstellung die Verteileinrichtung nach der Erfindung;

Figur 3

in einer schematischen Seitenansicht sowie in einer Ausschnittsdarstellung die Verteileinrichtung in einer ersten Stellung;

Figur 4

in einer schematischen Seitenansicht sowie in einer Ausschnittsdarstellung die Verteileinrichtung in einer zweiten Stellung;

Figur 5

in einer schematischen Seitenansicht sowie in einer Ausschnittsdarstellung die Verteileinrichtung in einer dritten Stellung;

Figur 6

in einer schematischen Draufsicht von oben die Verteilkammer des erfindungsgemäßen Sprüharms mit einer Verteileinrichtung in einer ersten Stellung und

Figur 7

in einer schematischen Draufsicht von oben die Verteilkammer des erfindungsgemäßen Sprüharms mit einer Verteileinrichtung in einer zweiten Stellung.

Further advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to FIGS. Showing:

FIG. 1

a schematic top view of a spray arm according to the invention;

FIG. 2

in a schematic side view and in a sectional view of the distribution device according to the invention;

FIG. 3

in a schematic side view and in a sectional view of the distribution device in a first position;

FIG. 4

in a schematic side view and in a sectional view of the distribution device in a second position;

FIG. 5

in a schematic side view and in a sectional view of the distributor in a third position;

FIG. 6

in a schematic plan view from above the distribution chamber of the spray arm according to the invention with a distributor in a first position and

FIG. 7

in a schematic plan view from above the distribution chamber of the spray arm according to the invention with a distributor in a second position.

A dishwashing machine according to the invention not shown in the figures has a washing compartment and a spraying system provided in the washing compartment. In this case, the spray system is used for the loading of items to be cleaned with rinsing liquid, also called rinsing liquor.

For loading of items to be cleaned with rinse liquor, the spray system has preferably in individual layers one above the other arranged spray arms, which are rotatably mounted. Such a spray arm 1 is exemplary in FIG. 1 shown.

The spray arm 1 has a distribution chamber 14. This distribution chamber 14 is connected to a supply line for rinsing liquor. In the proper charging case of the spray arm 1 with rinsing fluid this passes through the associated supply line into the distribution chamber 14 of the spray arm. 1

The spray arm 1 provides two wings 2 and 3, each extending from the distribution chamber 14 opposite each other. Each of the two wings 2 and 3 is divided and has two channels, wherein the wing 2 via the channels 12 and 13 and the wing 3 via the channels 10 and 11 has.

Each of the channels 10, 11, 12 and 13 is fluidly connected to a respective end of the associated wing 2 and 3 formed drive nozzle 4 and 5 respectively. Here are the channels 10 and 13 each with a drive nozzle 5 and the channels 11 and 12 each with a drive nozzle 4 in fluid communication. The channels 10 to 13 are also connected to spray nozzles 8, is discharged through the intended use case rinse liquor in the direction of to be cleaned items.

The drive nozzles 4 and 5 are used in the case of loading a rotary drive of the spray arm 1 about its axis of rotation 17 either in the left direction according to arrow 36, d. H. counterclockwise or in the opposite direction, d. H. in the right direction as indicated by arrow 37 in a clockwise direction. In this case, a rotational movement of the spray arm 1 in the left direction is achieved in that the drive nozzles 4 are charged in the direction of arrow 6 with rinsing, while the fluidically connected to the drive nozzles 5 channels 10 and 13 are kept closed for rinsing. For a twisting movement of the spray arm in the reverse direction, d. H. In the legal direction, the drive nozzles 5 fluidically connected to the channels 10 and 13 are to be unlocked, with simultaneous closing circuit of the channels 11 and 12, which are fluidically connected to the drive nozzles 4.

For feeding either the channels 10 and 13 or the channels 11 and 12 with rinsing liquor is a recorded from the distribution chamber 14 distributing device 15 serves the structure and operation of the distributor 15 results in particular from the FIGS. 2 to 5 ,

The distribution device 15 is designed to be rotatable about the axis of rotation 17 relative to the distribution chamber 14. It has a plate-shaped base body 18, the feed side a baffle section 19 for intended use in the direction of arrow 21 in the distribution chamber 14 inflowing rinse.

The distributor 15 also has closure means 16, which are formed in the embodiment shown as a circular segment-shaped plate sections, which are distributed evenly around the axis of rotation 17 around supported by the base body 18, as can be seen in particular from the illustration FIGS. 1 . 6 and 7 results.

The orientation of the closure means 16 is selected so that, with simultaneous opening, ie release of the channels 10 and 13, the two other channels 11 and 12 are closed are. In an opening or release of the channels 11 and 12, however, the other two channels 10 and 13 are closed. This factual context results from a synopsis of the FIGS. 6 and 7 , It puts FIG. 6 corresponding to the arrow 30 the clockwise and FIG. 7 in correspondence of the arrow 31, the left rotation of the spray arm 1.

To switch from clockwise to FIG. 6 to the left FIG. 7 or to switch from left to FIG. 7 to the right FIG. 6 the distribution device 15 having the closure means 16 is to be rotated about the rotation axis 17. In this case, a rotational movement takes place automatically with the beginning of each new loading of the spray arm 1 with rinsing liquor.

The distributor 15 has a slide track 23. This provides pin-shaped projections 24 which are equipped with an oblique surface 32 at the ends.

The bottom 26 of the distribution chamber 14 is also equipped with a slide track 27. This has webs 28, the Verteileinrichtungsseitig have an inclined surface 33. The slide tracks 23 and 27 and their respective projections 24 and 28 respectively supported oblique surfaces 32 and 33 act together in the intended use case.

Between the extensions 24 of the slide track 23 releases 25 are provided. Between the webs 28 of the slide track 27, a free space 29 is formed in each case, wherein a free space 29 in the width direction corresponds to the dimensions of two releases 25 and an extension 24, as is apparent in particular from the illustration FIG. 2 results.

The closure means 16 of the distributor 15 have a reference to the plane of the drawing FIG. 2 upper end edge 34. This upper end edge 34 is formed by a provided from the wall of the distribution chamber 14 annular edge 35 opposite. The end edge 34 and the annular edge 35 carry a correspondingly formed to each other toothing or comparable contour.

The distributor 15 is arranged with the interposition of a compression spring 20 within the distribution chamber 14. The deflected normal position of the distributor 15 is in FIG. 2 shown. In this normal position, the slide tracks 23 and 27 are disengaged.

The operation of the embodiment of the invention results in particular from a synopsis of FIGS. 3 to 5 ,

FIG. 3 lets the distributor 15 recognize in a spring-loaded normal position. In this case, the distributor 15 is in such a relative position to the distribution chamber 14 that the channels 12 and 11 are closed by the corresponding closure means 16. The two other channels 10 and 13 are meanwhile open.

In the charging case flushing flow flows in accordance with the arrow 21 in the distribution chamber 14 a. As a result of this inflow, the distribution device 15 by the rinsing liquor with respect to the plane of drawing after FIG. 3 down, ie pressed against the spring force generated by the spring 20. As a result of this movement of the distributor 15 there is a sliding along the inclined surfaces 32 and 33, which due to the inclination to a rotation of the slide track 23 with respect to the drawing plane after FIG. 3 to the right relative to the fixed slide track 27 leads. As a result of this twisting movement, the distributor 15 rotates in total with respect to the distribution chamber 14, until - as in FIG. 4 shown - the carried by the distributor 15 closure means 16 now the channels 11 and 12 for a feed of the drive nozzles 4 and 5 release, the channels 10 and 13 for a loading of the drive nozzles 5, however, block. It takes place insofar a reversal of direction takes place, in the embodiment shown a change from a clockwise rotation to a counterclockwise rotation, ie there is a leakage of rinsing fluid in accordance with the arrows 6 from the drive nozzles 4 and no longer in accordance with the arrows 7 from the drive nozzles. 5 instead of.

As soon as the feed of the spray arm 1 with rinsing liquor stops, the distributor device 15 returns to the normal position, ie with reference to the plane of the drawing, according to the spring force caused by the spring 20 FIGS. 2 to 5 back up. As a result of this movement, the toothing provided by the closing edges 34 of the closure means 16 engages in the toothing provided by the opposing annular edge 35, as a result of which a subsequent rotational movement of the distributor 15 occurs relative to the distribution chamber 14, namely by such an angle that the Sloping surfaces 32 and 33 are at least partially brought into coincidence, so that when a renewed introduction of wash liquor in the spray arm 1 at a lowering of the distributor 15 an operative connection between the two inclined surfaces 32 and 33 can come about, as described above with reference to FIG. 3 already described or based on Fig. 5 to see. The geometric dimensions of the slide tracks 23 and 27 are chosen so that the distance 9 between the center line of an extension 24 and the center line of a release 25 is dimensioned such that in the course of a proper loading of the spray arm with rinsing a twisting motion the distributor 15 is achieved by preferably 45 °.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

spray arm

2

wing

3

wing

4

drive nozzle

5

drive nozzle

6

arrow

7

arrow

8th

spray nozzle

9

distance

10

channel

11

channel

12

channel

13

channel

14

distribution chamber

15

distributor

16

closure means

17

axis of rotation

18

body

19

baffle section

20

feather

21

arrow

22

arrow

23

link path

24

extension

25

release

26

ground

27

link path

28

web

29

free space

30

arrow

31

arrow

32

sloping surface

33

sloping surface

34

terminal edge

35

annular edge

36

arrow

37

arrow

Claims (8)

1. Dishwasher comprising a washing chamber and a spray system which is provided in the washing chamber and has a rotatably mounted spray arm (1), the spray arm (1) comprising drive nozzles (4, 5), which drive nozzles (4, 5) are for rotationally driving the spray arm (1) in both the left direction and the right direction,
   the spray arm (1) comprising a distribution chamber (14), to which the drive nozzles (4, 5) are fluidically connected, and a distribution device (15), which is arranged so as to be rotatable inside the distribution chamber (14), which distribution device alternately either opens the drive nozzles (4) for rotationally driving the spray arm in the left direction or opens the drive nozzles (5) for rotationally driving the spray arm in the right direction,
   characterised in that
   the distribution device (15) is arranged inside the distribution chamber (14), with the interposition of a compression spring (20), and is spring-preloaded towards the axis of rotation (17) of said distribution device, the distribution device (15) being pressed down against the force of the spring when washing solution flows into the spray arm (1),
   and in that the distribution device (15) and the distribution chamber (14) each have a slider track (23, 27), which two slider tracks (23, 27) are operatively interconnected in such a way that, when the distribution device and the distribution chamber move relative to one another, step-by-step rotation of the distribution device (15) relative to the distribution chamber (14) can be brought about.
2. Dishwasher according to claim 1,
   characterised in that
   the distribution device (15) comprises a base body (18) that carries closure means (16) by means of which, depending on the relative rotational position of the distribution device (15) inside the distribution chamber (14), the drive nozzles (4) are opened for rotationally driving the spray arm in the left direction or the drive nozzles (5) are opened for rotationally driving the spray arm (1) in the right direction.
3. Dishwasher according to either of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   the slider tracks (23, 27) have oblique faces (32, 33) that face one another.
4. Dishwasher according to any of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   the slider tracks (23, 27) cause step-by-step rotation, by 45°, of the distribution device (15) relative to the distribution chamber (14).
5. Dishwasher according to any of the preceding claims 2 to 4,
   characterised in that
   the base body (18) of the distribution device (15) comprises a deflector portion (19) on the loading side.
6. Dishwasher according to any of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   the spray arm (1) comprises two blades (2, 3), each of which extends out from the distribution chamber (14).
7. Dishwasher according to claim 6,
   characterised in that
   each blade (2, 3) comprises two channels (10, 11; 12, 13), each channel (10, 11, 12, 13) being connected to a drive nozzle (4, 5).
8. Dishwasher according to claim 7,
   characterised in that
   each channel (10, 11, 12, 13) is connected to a plurality of spray nozzles (8).

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