EP3673107A1

EP3673107A1 - A liquid detergent dosing unit for washing machines

Info

Publication number: EP3673107A1
Application number: EP18745888.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Caner GERMIYANLIOGLU; Florin Horea CORCHES; Kagan Kurtkaya; Selahattin CORAK
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2017-08-21
Filing date: 2018-07-23
Publication date: 2020-07-01
Anticipated expiration: 2038-07-23
Also published as: TR201712411A2; EP3673107B1; WO2019037993A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to an automatic liquid detergent dosing unit (1) that is suitable for use in a washing machines (7) comprising a tub (2) wherein the washing-drying processes are performed; a drum that rotates in the tub (2) and wherein the laundry is placed; a detergent dispenser (4) that has at least two receptacles (3) wherein the liquid detergent or the softener is stored, and a housing (6) wherein the detergent dispenser (4) is placed and that has a tub outlet (5) enabling the liquid detergent or the softener that is dosed and accumulated on the base thereof to be transferred to the tub (2) by being swept by means of the water, the automatic liquid detergent dosing unit (1) comprising a hydraulic pump (8) that enables the liquid materials stored in the detergent dispenser (4) to be dosed in order to be transferred in predetermined amounts to the washing environment in the tub (2) for the purposes of main washing and rinsing.

Description

A LIQUID DETERGENT DOSING UNIT FOR WASHING MACHINES

The present invention relates to an automatic liquid detergent dosing unit that is suitable for use in washing machines.
The use of liquid detergents in washing machines is becoming widespread. Accordingly, in order to provide ease of utilization, automatic dosing systems are developed for the liquid cleaning agent to be stored in a receptacle and to be delivered into the washing water controllably depending on the requirement of the washing program. The common characteristic of the state of the art dosing systems is to have receptacles wherein the liquid detergent is stored and hydraulic systems that enable the detergent to be delivered to the washing environment in correct amount. A plurality of solutions are available for performing the dosing process. Some of these solutions are the submersible pumps placed into the tanks filled with liquid cleaning agents and the hydraulic pumps that suck the cleaning agent with the vacuum effect and transfer into the washing medium. The hydraulic dosing pumps used in the state of the art dosing systems are electrically operated and additional cable connections are required to supply electric power. Due to the cable connections, taking the hydraulic dosing pump out of the washing machine for purposes such as cleaning becomes difficult and said cable connections increase the production costs.
In the state of the art European Patent No. EP2428607 (B1), an automatic liquid detergent dosing system that is used in a household appliance is disclosed.
In the state of the art European Patent No. EP2048276 (B1), a system is disclosed, that enables the powder and liquid detergents to be stored and to be dosed into the washing machine.
In the Patent Application No. WO2008138798 (A2), a washing machine is disclosed, comprising a detergent dispensing device.
In the Patent Application No. CN102409515 (A), an automatic liquid detergent supply device and the control method for use in the washing machine are disclosed.
The aim of the present invention is the realization of an automatic liquid detergent dosing unit that is suitable for use in washing machines, wherein the number of electrical connections is decreased and a precise dosing is ensured.
The dosing unit realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is suitable for use in washing machines and comprises a hydraulic pump that provides the dosing of the liquid detergent stored in the detergent dispenser. The dosing unit further comprises at least one dosing water inlet that provides water intake for the dosing of the liquid detergent or the softener, and an impeller that rotates with the dynamic pressure of the water coming from said dosing water inlet and enables the hydraulic pump to be driven by means of the hydraulic energy of the water by transferring the rotation movement to the hydraulic pump.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the hydraulic pump is a gear pump and consists of a drive gear and a driven gear. The impeller that rotates with the effect of water rotates the drive gear around the same axis as that of the former by means of a shaft and transfers the movement to the driven gear so as to enable the gear pump to pump the liquid detergent or the softener into the housing (detergent box).
The washing machine wherein the dosing unit of the present invention is used comprises two dosing units, one used for dosing the liquid detergent and the other for dosing the softener, and the water taken through the external water inlet by means of a valve is directed towards the dosing units in order to be used for dosing liquid detergent or softener. The control unit regulates the operation of the valve for dosing liquid detergent or softener and enables the valve to direct water towards the dosing water inlets at a predetermined time in a predetermined amount.
The dosing unit realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:
Figure 1 - is the schematic view of a washing machine and the liquid detergent/softener dosing units.
Figure 2 - is the perspective view of a detergent dispenser housing.
Figure 3 - is the perspective view of a detergent dispenser and two dosing units that are connected to the detergent dispenser.
Figure 4 - is the perspective view of a dosing unit.
Figure 5 - is the exploded view of a dosing unit.
Figure 6 - is the sideways view of a dosing unit.
Figure 7 - is the cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in Figure 6.
Figure 8 - is the cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B in Figure 6.
The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

Dosing unit
Tub
Receptacle
Detergent dispenser
Tub outlet
Housing
Washing machine
Hydraulic pump
Dosing water inlet
Impeller fin
Impeller
Drive gear
Driven gear
Long shaft
Control valve
Pump chamber
Impeller chamber
Separator
Short shaft
Sealing element
Inlet orifice
Detergent transfer tube
Water discharge hole
Washing water inlet
Valve
Powder detergent receptacle
Auxiliary water inlet
Air discharge tube

The washing machine (7) comprises a tub (2) wherein the washing-drying processes are performed; a drum that rotates in the tub (2) and wherein the laundry is placed; a detergent dispenser (4) that has at least one receptacle (3) wherein the liquid detergent or the softener is stored, and a housing (6) (also called "detergent box") wherein the detergent dispenser (4) is placed and that has a tub outlet (5) enabling the liquid detergent or the softener (both referred to as "liquid material" hereinafter) that is dosed and accumulated on the base thereof to be transferred to the tub (2) by being swept by means of the water (Figure 1).
The liquid detergent dosing unit (1) that is suitable for use in the washing machine (7) comprises
- a hydraulic pump (8) that enables the liquid materials stored in the detergent dispenser (4) to be dosed in order to be transferred in predetermined amounts to the washing environment in the tub (2) for the purposes of main washing and rinsing,
- at least one dosing water inlet (9) that enables the water taken from the water mains to be taken into the dosing unit (1) for dosing the liquid detergent or the softener at a predetermined time in a predetermined amount according to the washing program, and
- an impeller (11) that has more than one impeller fin (10), that rotates around its axis as the water taken from the dosing water inlet (9) strikes the fins (10) thereof and that, by transferring the rotational movement to the hydraulic pump (8), enables the hydraulic pump (8) to be operated with the dynamic pressure of the water without the need for consuming electrical energy (Figure 5, Figure 8).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the hydraulic pump (8) is a gear pump that consists of a drive gear (12) and a driven gear (13) that operate in unison. In this embodiment, the impeller (11) rotates the drive gear (12) in the hydraulic pump (8) around the same axis as that of the impeller (11) by means of a long shaft (14). The drive gear (12) transfers the movement to the driven gear (13) and enables the hydraulic pump (8) to be operated (Figure 5, Figure 7).
The dosing unit (1) comprises a pump chamber (16) that is fluidly connected to the receptacle (3) by means of at least one control valve (15) when the detergent dispenser (4) is placed into the housing (6) and wherein the drive gear (12) and the driven gear (13) are disposed and the liquid materials are filled for being dosed; an impeller chamber (17) wherein the impeller (11) rotates with the effect of dynamic pressure of the water taken from the dosing water inlet (9) and striking the impeller fins (10); a separator (18) that separates the pump chamber (16) and the impeller chamber (17); a short shaft (19) with one end connected to the separator (18), that enables the driven gear (13) to be idly supported so as to rotate around its axis; a sealing element (20) such as gasket or felt that is arranged around the hole through which the long shaft (14) in the separator (18) passes and that provides sealing between the pump chamber (16) and the impeller chamber (17) so as to prevent the mixing of the liquid materials and water; an inlet orifice (21) that provides liquid material intake from the receptacle (3) into the pump chamber (16) so as to be dosed; a detergent transfer tube (22) that extends from the pump chamber (16) towards the housing (6) and that enables the liquid materials moved by the hydraulic pump (8) to be swept with water and transferred to the housing (6) before being transferred to the tub (2), and a water discharge hole (23) that enables the water in the impeller chamber (17) rotating the impeller (11) to be discharged and transferred to the housing (6) (Figure 5).
The detergent transfer tube (22) extends vertically from the pump chamber (16) up to a level above the level of the liquid material stored in the receptacle (3) and bends downwards so as to provide the transfer of the liquid material to the housing (6) (Figure 4, Figure 5, Figure 6). Thus, the liquid material transferred from the detergent dispenser (4) to the pump chamber (16) is prevented from continuing their flow with the effect of gravity and being discharged (unnecessarily flowing) into the housing (6) when the hydraulic pump (8) is not performing the dosing function, and only the amount of the liquid material that is dosed during the operation of the hydraulic pump (8) is enabled to reach the housing (6).
The washing machine (7) comprises two dosing units (1) one of which is used for dosing the liquid detergent and the other for dosing the softener, and at least one valve (25) that directs the water taken from the water mains through the first water inlet (9) to the first dosing unit (1) in order to be used in liquid detergent dosing or through the second dosing water inlet (9) to the second dosing unit (1) in order to be used in softener dosing (Figure 1).
The washing machine (7) further comprises a washing water inlet (24) that is arranged on the housing (6), that enables the water taken from the mains for the main washing and rinsing processes to be transferred into the housing (6) and the liquid materials that are previously dosed and accumulated on the base of the housing (6) to be swept with water and transferred to the washing environment in the tub (2) through the tub outlet (5) (Figure 1, Figure 2).
In the washing machine (7), liquid detergent in a predetermined amount according to the washing program is dosed in the main washing process and softener in a predetermined amount is dosed in the rinsing process. In the dosing process, water at a predetermined flow rate and amount is taken through the dosing water inlet (9) into the impeller chamber (16) in the dosing unit (1) and the impeller (11) is enabled to be rotated with the water hitting the impeller fins (10). The impeller (11) actuates the drive gear (12) in the hydraulic pump (8) by transferring movement by means of the long shaft (14), and the liquid materials that are taken from the receptacle (3) and dosed are transferred into the housing (6) by means of the detergent transfer tube (22). Then, the dosed liquid water accumulating on the base of the housing (6) are swept with the water taken through the washing water inlet (24) and transferred to the washing environment in the tub (2) through the tub outlet (5).
In another embodiment of the present invention, the washing machine (7) comprises a powder detergent receptacle (26) that is arranged in the detergent dispenser (4) and wherein the powder detergent is placed; an auxiliary water inlet (27) that is arranged on the housing (6) and that enables the powder detergent to be swept with the water taken from the water mains and transferred into the washing environment in the tub (2) through the tub outlet (5), and an air discharge tube (28) that is arranged on the housing (6) and that enables the air to be discharged during the washing process (Figure 2).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the valve (25) is a multi-way valve that has one inlet and a plurality of outlets (for example, four outlets) and enables, in addition to the water directed to the first and second dosing water inlets (9), the water taken from the water mains to be directed towards the washing water inlet (24) and/or towards the auxiliary water inlet (27) for the transfer of the powder detergent.
The control unit (not shown in figures) regulates the operation of the valve (25) for the processes of dosing liquid detergent and softener, taking water during the washing and rinsing steps and sweeping the powder detergent, and enables the valve (25) to direct water at predetermined times and in predetermined amounts to the first and second dosing water inlets (9), the washing water inlet (24) and the auxiliary water inlet (27).
In the washing machine (7) of the present invention, the liquid detergent and the softener are precisely dosed and transferred into the washing environment in the tub (2). The hydraulic pump (8) used for dosing is operated by means of an impeller (11) rotated by the water taken from the water mains instead of electrical energy. Thus, the need for using cables, etc. to operate the hydraulic pump (8) is eliminated, reducing the cost of the system.

Claims

A dosing unit (1) that is suitable for use in a washing machine (7) comprising a tub (2) wherein the washing-drying processes are performed; a detergent dispenser (4) that has at least one receptacle (3) wherein the liquid detergent or the softener is stored, and a housing (6) wherein the detergent dispenser (4) is placed and that has a tub outlet (5), the dosing unit (1) comprising a hydraulic pump (8) that enables the liquid materials stored in the detergent dispenser (4) to be dosed in order to be transferred in predetermined amounts to the washing environment in the tub (2) for the purposes of main washing and rinsing, characterized by

- at least one dosing water inlet (9) that enables the water taken from the water mains to be received for dosing the liquid detergent or the softener at a predetermined time in a predetermined amount according to the washing program, and

- an impeller (11) that has more than one impeller fin (10), that rotates around its axis as the water taken from the dosing water inlet (9) strikes the fins (10) thereof and that, by transferring the rotational movement to the hydraulic pump (8), enables the hydraulic pump (8) to be operated with the dynamic pressure of the water.
A dosing unit (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by a hydraulic pump (8) that is a gear pump consisting of a drive gear (12) and a driven gear (13), and by an impeller (11) that rotates the drive gear (12) around its axis by means of a long shaft (14).
A dosing unit (1) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by a pump chamber (16) wherein the drive gear (12) and the driven gear (13) are disposed and the liquid materials are filled for being dosed; an impeller chamber (17) wherein the impeller (11) rotates, and a separator (18) that separates the pump chamber (16) and the impeller chamber (17).
A dosing unit (1) as in Claim 3, characterized by a detergent transfer tube (22) that extends from the pump chamber (16) towards the housing (6) and that enables the liquid materials moved by the hydraulic pump (8).
A dosing unit (1) as in Claim 4, characterized by the detergent transfer tube (22) that extends vertically from the pump chamber (16) up to a level above the level of the liquid material stored in the receptacle (3) and bends downwards so as to provide the transfer of the liquid material to the housing (6).
A dosing unit (1) as in Claim 3, characterized by a short shaft (19) that enables the driven gear (13) to be supported; a sealing element (20) that is arranged on the separator (18) and that provides sealing between the pump chamber (16) and the impeller chamber (17); an inlet orifice (21) that provides liquid material intake from the receptacle (3) into the pump chamber (16), and a water discharge hole (23) that enables the water in the impeller chamber (17) rotating the impeller (11) to be discharged.
A washing machine (7) as in Claim 1, comprising two dosing units (1) one of which is used for dosing the liquid detergent and the other for dosing the softener, characterized by at least one valve (25) that directs the water taken from the water mains to the first dosing unit (1) in order to be used in liquid detergent dosing or to the second dosing unit (1) in order to be used in softener dosing.
A washing machine (7) as in Claim 7, characterized by a washing water inlet (24) that enables the water taken from the mains for the main washing and rinsing processes to be transferred into the housing (6) and the liquid materials that are previously dosed and accumulated on the base of the housing (6) to be swept with water and transferred to the washing environment in the tub (2) through the tub outlet (5).
A washing machine (7) as in Claim 7, characterized by a powder detergent receptacle (26) that is arranged in the detergent dispenser (4) and wherein the powder detergent is placed, and an auxiliary water inlet (27) that is arranged on the housing (6) and that enables the powder detergent to be swept with the water taken from the water mains and transferred into the washing environment in the tub (2) through the tub outlet (5).
A washing machine (7) as in any one of Claims 7 to 9, characterized by the valve (25) that is a multi-way valve, directing the water taken from the water main to the two dosing water inlets (9), the washing water inlet (24) and/or the auxiliary water inlet (27).