EP3756527A1 - Systeme de controle du degre de durete de l'eau de lavage dans une machine a laver, notamment un lave-vaisselle, et son procede - Google Patents

Systeme de controle du degre de durete de l'eau de lavage dans une machine a laver, notamment un lave-vaisselle, et son procede Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3756527A1
EP3756527A1 EP20181149.4A EP20181149A EP3756527A1 EP 3756527 A1 EP3756527 A1 EP 3756527A1 EP 20181149 A EP20181149 A EP 20181149A EP 3756527 A1 EP3756527 A1 EP 3756527A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
branch
tank
valve
water
flow
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
EP20181149.4A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP3756527B1 (fr
Inventor
Renzo Ghinato
Andrea Rotta
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.)
TP Reflex Group SpA
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TP Reflex Group SpA
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Publication of EP3756527A1 publication Critical patent/EP3756527A1/fr
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L15/00—Washing or rinsing machines for crockery or tableware
    • A47L15/42—Details
    • A47L15/4229—Water softening arrangements
    • 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 
    • D06F39/007—Arrangements of water softeners
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L2401/00—Automatic detection in controlling methods of washing or rinsing machines for crockery or tableware, e.g. information provided by sensors entered into controlling devices
    • A47L2401/03—Operation mode, e.g. delicate washing, economy washing, reduced time, sterilizing, water softener regenerating, odor eliminating or service
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L2501/00—Output in controlling method of washing or rinsing machines for crockery or tableware, i.e. quantities or components controlled, or actions performed by the controlling device executing the controlling method
    • A47L2501/18—Water softening devices

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a system for controlling the degree of hardness of the washing water in a washing machine, in particular a dishwasher, according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • the present invention also relates to an associated method for controlling the degree of hardness of the washing water in a washing machine, in particular a dishwasher.
  • washing/rinsing water decalcification system used for reducing the degree of hardness of the water, thus preventing the formation of calcareous deposits inside the washing machine.
  • Such a system is also known as decalcifier (or softener), and comprises a resin container containing ion-exchange resins and a tank containing an agent, in particular salt, for regenerating the ion-exchange resins; it should be noted that, in the systems known in the art, the resin container and the salt tank may be separate components or may be integrated into a single container or device.
  • the decalcifier exchanges the calcium ions (Ca++) and the magnesium ions (Mg++) in the water entering the wash tub of the washing machine with sodium ions (Na+) contained in suitable resins contained in the resin container.
  • Na+ sodium ions
  • Ca++ calcium ions
  • Mg++ magnesium ions
  • a resin regeneration phase is carried out, wherein a suitable regeneration valve permits the introduction of a solution of water and salt (NaCl) into the resin container, such solution being effected by letting a given quantity of water flow into the salt (NaCl) tank, so that it can become saturated with sodium ions (Na+), which will then be released into the resin container in order to regenerate the resins.
  • a suitable regeneration valve permits the introduction of a solution of water and salt (NaCl) into the resin container, such solution being effected by letting a given quantity of water flow into the salt (NaCl) tank, so that it can become saturated with sodium ions (Na+), which will then be released into the resin container in order to regenerate the resins.
  • said regeneration valve may consist of:
  • the washing machines known in the art are equipped with a system that permits maintaining the hardness of the washing water substantially constant within certain limits; in particular, such method envisages the mixing, in the tub of the washing machine, of the water coming from the decalcifier with water directly coming from the mains, i.e. harder water.
  • this blending is effected by providing a calibrated passage (possibly also manually adjustable by the user during the installation of the dishwasher), which diverts part of the water not treated by the decalcifier, in particular by the ion-exchange resins, directly into the tub.
  • the water hardness control systems employed in the washing machines known in the art preferably make use of a further valve in addition to the regeneration valve; in particular, said further valve is usually located upstream of the resin container, so as to selectively direct the water either into the resin container, in order to abate its degree of hardness, or directly into the tub of the washing machine, in order to perform the blending function.
  • the moulds required for making the seat for the additional valve for the blending function are necessarily more complex, and the increase in size inevitably caused by the presence of the additional valve is particularly problematic in light of the fact that the spaces available in modern washing machines have become smaller and smaller.
  • reference numeral 1 designates as a whole a preferred embodiment of a system for controlling the degree of hardness of the washing water in a washing machine, in particular a dishwasher, according to the present invention.
  • Reference numeral 10 designates a first tank for containing a substance (normally called “resin”) having decalcifying properties, in particular said first tank 10 being equipped with a first inlet 11 for letting water to be decalcified flow into the first tank 10 and a first outlet 12 for letting decalcified water flow out of the first tank 10, to be then supplied into a tub V of a washing machine.
  • a substance normally called "resin”
  • the system 1 comprises a second tank 20 for containing a regeneration substance (said regeneration substance normally consisting of salt), in particular said second tank 20 being equipped with a second inlet 21 for letting water flow into the second tank 20 and a second outlet 22 for letting a regeneration brine, formed upon dissolution of the regeneration substance into the water, flow out of the second tank 20.
  • a regeneration substance normally consisting of salt
  • first tank 10 and the second tank 20 are included in a softener device, designated as a whole by reference "D" in the annexed drawings; it is however clear that the first tank 10 and the second tank 20 may also be realized as separate components not belonging to a softener device D.
  • the system 1 comprises also a connection duct 30 that connects the second tank 20 with the first tank 10 for letting the brine formed in the second tank 20 flow towards said first tank 10.
  • said connection duct 30 comprises a non-return valve 31 adapted to allow the brine to flow from the second tank 20 towards the first tank 10 while preventing a liquid (which may be either water to be decalcified and/or decalcified water) from flowing towards said second tank 20.
  • the system 1 further comprises a supply duct 2 with which a supply valve 3 is associated, which is controlled by a control unit (not shown in the annexed drawings) of the washing machine, said supply duct 2 showing a first bifurcation 40 into a first branch 41, for supplying the first tank 10, and a second branch 42.
  • said first branch 41 ends into the connection duct 30, in particular downstream of said non-return valve 31; it is however clear that said first branch 41 may also be realized to end into the first inlet 11 leading into the first tank 10, or to end into a inlet (not shown in the annexed drawings) of the first tank 10 specially provided for such purpose.
  • the system 1 comprises a volumetric meter 4 associated with the supply duct 2, in particular said meter 4 being located upstream of said first bifurcation 40 of the supply duct 2.
  • upstream and downstream are used with reference to the path followed by the water, starting from the supply duct 2, in order to reach the tub V of the washing machine.
  • said meter 4 is of the turbine type and comprises an impeller fitted with a magnet enclosed in a housing and an element which senses the magnetic field generated by the magnet.
  • said sensing element may be a reed contact, comprising reeds enclosed in a glass housing filled with inert gas, or a Hall-effect sensor.
  • the turbine or impeller of the volumetric meter 4 is positioned inside the supply duct 2, while the sensing element is positioned outside said supply duct 2; furthermore, the meter 4 may be integrated with one of the components of the system 1 according to the present invention.
  • the magnet of the meter 4 generates a number of signals corresponding to the number of impeller revolutions; said signals are detected by the sensing element and sent to a control device (not shown in the annexed drawings), in particular of the electronic type, of the system 1 of the present invention.
  • said first bifurcation 40 consists of a multifunction device.
  • said multifunction device is preferably so realized as to comprise an air gap 5; as is known, the air gap 5 acts as a device for preventing water from flowing back into the mains. Moreover, said multifunction device may perform several other functions, e.g. additional functions like venting into the outside environment and as an outlet column for vapours coming from the tub V of the washing machine.
  • said multifunction device preferably comprises a first container 40A in fluidic communication with the first branch 41 and a second container 40B in fluidic communication with the second branch 42; in particular, the first container 40A and the second container 40B are at least partially separated by a wall 40C so realized as to allow the water in the second container 40B to overflow into the first container 40A (as shown in Fig. 3b ).
  • the first bifurcation 40 may also be realized otherwise, e.g. said first bifurcation 40 may be provided as a ramification of the supply duct 2, in particular said ramification being located downstream of an air gap 5 associated with the supply duct 2; it is also evident that in such an embodiment, the air gap 5 will be realized independently and directly on the supply duct 2.
  • the second branch 42 of the system 1 comprises a valve (designated as a whole by reference numeral 50 in the annexed drawings), positioned at a second bifurcation 60 into a third branch 43 ending into the tub V and a fourth branch 44 ending into the second tank 20, in particular into the second inlet 21 for letting water flow into said second tank 20, said valve 50 being controlled by said control unit of the washing machine in such a way as to selectively be:
  • control unit controls, in addition to the supply valve 3 and the valve 50, also other components of the washing machine, such as, for example, the meter 4.
  • the fourth branch 44 preferably ends into the second inlet 21 for letting water flow into said second tank 20.
  • valve 50 according to the present invention comprises:
  • first core 51A and the second core 52A are made of ferromagnetic material, suitable for being attracted by the coil 53 when the latter is energized.
  • the first thrust element 51D has less preload than the second thrust element 52D. It must be pointed out that each one of said first and second thrust elements 51D, 52D is implemented as an elastic element, in particular a coil spring or an equivalent element.
  • first passage 51C has bigger dimensions than the second passage 52C, in particular in terms of width of the respective cross-sections.
  • valve 50 comprises an insert 54, in particular made of non-ferromagnetic material, positioned between the first core 51A and the second core 52A; said insert 54 makes it possible to appropriately separate such components, especially in order to prevent any mutual dragging of the first core 51A and second core 52A following the activation of the common coil 53.
  • the second bifurcation 60 of the system 1 according to the present invention is realized by a ramification 50A, 50B formed in the body of the valve 50 and/or associated with said body of the valve 50.
  • said ramification comprises at least one duct 50A external to the body of the valve 50, wherein said at least one duct 50A allows the second branch 42 to be put in fluidic communication with the first passage 51C and with the second passage 52C; as can be seen in Fig. 2a , which shows a sectional side view of the valve 50, said at least one duct 50A is substantially C-shaped, since it has two substantially parallel tracts joined by a tract substantially perpendicular to the other two tracts.
  • said ramification comprises a gap 50B, in particular having a substantially annular shape, formed externally to the first core 51A and the second core 52A, wherein said gap 50B allows a first chamber 50C, in which the first passage 51C is located, to be put in fluidic communication with a second chamber 50D, in which the second passage 52C is located.
  • the first bifurcation 40 consists of a multifunction device comprising a first container 40A in fluidic communication with the first branch 41 and a second container 40B in fluidic communication with the second branch 42 (as previously described)
  • the water coming from the supply duct 2 enters the second container 40B, fills it up to the top of the wall 40C, and then overflows (see also the arrow in Fig. 3b ) into the first container 40A, to flow then into the first branch 41, into the first tank 10, and into the tub V.
  • This path followed by the water during the decalcification phase is shown by bold lines in Fig. 3b .
  • the coil 53 is excited (in particular, under control of the control unit of the washing machine), so as to overcome the thrust exerted by the first thrust element 51D, which is preloaded less than the second thrust element 52D; as a result, the first obstructor 51B is moved in a position where it opens the first passage 51C to allow the water to flow into the third branch 43, while the second obstructor 52B is kept in a position where it closes the second passage 52C under the thrust exerted by the second thrust element 52D.
  • said switching from the first to the second operating condition is effected by exciting the valve 50 with the supply valve 3 closed (in particular, such operations are always carried out under control of the control unit of the washing machine); because the first obstructor assembly 51 has less preload than the second obstructor assembly 52, the first obstructor 51B is attracted and thus opens the first passage 51C to allow the non-decalcified water to flow directly into the tub V through the third branch 43.
  • the path followed by the water during the blending phase is shown by bold lines in Fig. 4b .
  • the control unit of the washing machine can control the opening of the supply valve 3 in order to introduce directly into the tub V the desired quantity of non-decalcified water; in particular, such desired quantity of water may be sensed by the meter 4 and communicated to the control unit of the washing machine.
  • the coil 53 is excited (still under control of the control unit of the washing machine), so as to overcome the thrust exerted by the second thrust element 52D, which is preloaded more than the first thrust element 51D; as a result, the second obstructor 52B is moved into a position where it opens the second passage 52C to allow the water to flow into the fourth branch 44, while the first obstructor 51B is kept in a position where it closes the first passage 51C under the thrust exerted by the first thrust element 51D.
  • said switching into the third operating condition is effected by exciting the valve 50 with the supply valve 3 open; because the second obstructor assembly 52 has more preload than the first obstructor assembly 51, the second obstructor 52B is attracted and thus opens the second passage 52C to allow the water to flow into the second tank 20 through said fourth branch 44 and then into the first tank 10 to effect the regeneration of the substances with decalcifying properties contained in said first tank 10.
  • the system 1 for controlling the degree of hardness of the washing water in a washing machine, in particular a dishwasher permits overcoming the drawbacks suffered by the prior art, in that the system 1 is so conceived as to ensure the attainment of an optimal result from the different decalcification, regeneration and blending functions with acceptable continuity, while at the same time not implying any additional cost for realizing and implementing such different functions.
  • system 1 envisages the use of just one valve 50, which makes it possible to perform all the decalcification, blending and regeneration functions while at the same time ensuring that such functions will be executed with precision and will provide constant results repeatable an indefinite number of times.
  • valve 50 avoids the need for making different wirings and/or modifications to the construction of the control board of the washing machine in order to implement said different decalcification, blending and regeneration functions.
  • valve 50 which is so realized as to be able to perform all those functions which in the prior art could only be effected through the use of two different valves, makes it possible to reduce the space necessary for housing the entire system 1 within a washing machine.
  • washing machine comprises a system 1 comprising:
  • the method according to the present invention comprises the step of modifying the operating configuration of a valve 50 located at a second bifurcation 60 into a third branch 43 ending into the tub V and a fourth branch 44 ending into the second tank, in particular into the second inlet 21 for letting water flow into said second tank 20, said step of modifying the operating configuration being carried out under control of said control unit of the washing machine through the following steps:
  • said step a) is carried out through a step a1) of keeping a coil 53 of the valve 50 inactive, said coil 53 being common to a first core 51A of a first movable assembly 51, equipped with a first obstructor 51B for closing/opening a first passage 51C that puts the second branch 42 in communication with the third branch 43, and to a second core 52A of a second movable assembly 52, equipped with a second obstructor 52B for closing/opening a second passage 52C that puts the second branch 42 in communication with the fourth branch 44.
  • said step b) is carried out through a step b1) of exciting said coil 53 so as to overcome the thrust exerted by a first thrust element 51D associated with the first movable assembly 51 and obtain the opening of the first passage 51C, in particular said first thrust element 51D being preloaded less than a second thrust element 52D associated with the second movable assembly 52.
  • said step b1) is carried out jointly with a step b2) of keeping the supply valve 3 in the closed position.
  • the first obstructor assembly 51 is so realized as to have less preload than the second obstructor assembly 52, the first obstructor 51B is attracted and thus opens the first passage 51C to allow the non-decalcified water to flow directly into the tub V through the third branch 43.
  • Said steps b1) and b2) may then be followed by a step b3) of opening the supply valve 3, so as to introduce directly into the tub V the desired quantity of non-decalcified water; in particular, said desired quantity of water may be detected by the meter 4.
  • said step c) is carried out through a step c1) of exciting said coil 53 so as to overcome the thrust exerted by a second thrust element 52D associated with the second movable assembly 52 and obtain the opening of the second passage 52C, in particular said second thrust element 52D being preloaded more than the first thrust element 51D associated with the first movable assembly 51.
  • said step c1) may be carried out simultaneously with or after a step c-1) of opening the supply valve 3.
  • the system 1 and the method for controlling the degree of hardness of the washing water in a washing machine, in particular a dishwasher, according to the present invention permit achieving optimal results when performing the different decalcification, blending and regeneration functions, in particular said different functions being performed with acceptable continuity without implying any additional cost for their realization and implementation.
  • valve 50 included in the system 1 makes it possible to use a single valve 50 for performing all the decalcification, blending and regeneration functions, while at the same time ensuring an accurate execution of such phases with constant results repeatable an indefinite number of times.
  • valve 50 avoids the need for making different wirings and/or modifications to the construction of the control board of the washing machine in order to implement said different decalcification, blending and regeneration functions.
  • valve 50 which is so realized as to be able to perform all those functions which in the prior art could only be effected through the use of at least two different valves, makes it possible to reduce the space necessary for housing the entire system 1 within a washing machine.
  • the system 1 for controlling the degree of hardness of the washing water in a washing machine, in particular a dishwasher, and the associated method described herein by way of example may be subject to many possible variations without departing from the novelty spirit of the inventive idea; it is also clear that in the practical implementation of the invention the illustrated details may have different shapes or be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Detail Structures Of Washing Machines And Dryers (AREA)
  • Control Of Washing Machine And Dryer (AREA)
EP20181149.4A 2019-06-28 2020-06-19 Systeme de controle du degre de durete de l'eau de lavage dans une machine a laver, notamment un lave-vaisselle, et son procede Active EP3756527B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT102019000010461A IT201900010461A1 (it) 2019-06-28 2019-06-28 Sistema per abbattere il grado di durezza dell’acqua di lavaggio in una macchina di lavaggio, in particolare una lavastoviglie, e relativo metodo

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3756527A1 true EP3756527A1 (fr) 2020-12-30
EP3756527B1 EP3756527B1 (fr) 2023-08-09

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EP20181149.4A Active EP3756527B1 (fr) 2019-06-28 2020-06-19 Systeme de controle du degre de durete de l'eau de lavage dans une machine a laver, notamment un lave-vaisselle, et son procede

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EP (1) EP3756527B1 (fr)
IT (1) IT201900010461A1 (fr)
PL (1) PL3756527T3 (fr)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3535364A1 (de) * 1985-10-03 1987-04-16 Bosch Siemens Hausgeraete Ventil in der enthaertungseinrichtung einer geschirrspuelmaschine
EP1199973A1 (fr) * 1999-04-22 2002-05-02 ELTEK S.p.A. Appareil menager utilisant de l'eau, notamment une machine a laver, equipe d'un dispositif ameliore permettant d'adoucir l'eau
EP1275335A1 (fr) * 2001-04-11 2003-01-15 T & P S.p.A. Dispositif et procédé pour contrôler la dureté de l'eau dans une machine à laver
EP2561790A1 (fr) * 2011-08-25 2013-02-27 Bitron S.p.A. Dispositif adoucisseur amélioré

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3535364A1 (de) * 1985-10-03 1987-04-16 Bosch Siemens Hausgeraete Ventil in der enthaertungseinrichtung einer geschirrspuelmaschine
EP1199973A1 (fr) * 1999-04-22 2002-05-02 ELTEK S.p.A. Appareil menager utilisant de l'eau, notamment une machine a laver, equipe d'un dispositif ameliore permettant d'adoucir l'eau
EP1275335A1 (fr) * 2001-04-11 2003-01-15 T & P S.p.A. Dispositif et procédé pour contrôler la dureté de l'eau dans une machine à laver
EP2561790A1 (fr) * 2011-08-25 2013-02-27 Bitron S.p.A. Dispositif adoucisseur amélioré

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP3756527B1 (fr) 2023-08-09
IT201900010461A1 (it) 2020-12-28
PL3756527T3 (pl) 2024-02-12

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