Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
  • F04B—POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS
  • F04B43/00—Machines, pumps, or pumping installations having flexible working members
  • F04B43/12—Machines, pumps, or pumping installations having flexible working members having peristaltic action
  • F04B43/1253—Machines, pumps, or pumping installations having flexible working members having peristaltic action by using two or more rollers as squeezing elements, the rollers moving on an arc of a circle during squeezing
• • 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
  • A47L15/4214—Water supply, recirculation or discharge arrangements; Devices therefor
  • A47L15/4219—Water recirculation
  • A47L15/4221—Arrangements for redirection of washing water, e.g. water diverters to selectively supply the spray arms
• • 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
  • A47L15/4214—Water supply, recirculation or discharge arrangements; Devices therefor
  • A47L15/4225—Arrangements or adaption of recirculation or discharge pumps
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
  • F04B—POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS
  • F04B43/00—Machines, pumps, or pumping installations having flexible working members
  • F04B43/0009—Special features
  • F04B43/0081—Special features systems, control, safety measures
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
  • F04B—POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS
  • F04B53/00—Component parts, details or accessories not provided for in, or of interest apart from, groups F04B1/00 - F04B23/00 or F04B39/00 - F04B47/00
  • F04B53/16—Casings; Cylinders; Cylinder liners or heads; Fluid connections
• • 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 
  • D06F39/08—Liquid supply or discharge arrangements
  • D06F39/083—Liquid discharge or recirculation arrangements
  • D06F39/085—Arrangements or adaptations of pumps
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
  • F04B—POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS
  • F04B2201/00—Pump parameters
  • F04B2201/12—Parameters of driving or driven means
  • F04B2201/1208—Angular position of the shaft

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a pumping and switching device and an apparatus for selecting and sorting fluids.
• the invention finds application in the technical field of household appliances, more precisely in the field of household appliances such as washing machines, dishwashers and the like.
• the washing machines allow the user to choose from a multitude of washing types, or washing programs, in order to ensure a high level of garment cleanliness while preserving the integrity thereof.
• the appliance When carrying out the aforementioned work programs, according to a predetermined logic, the appliance withdraws the appropriate amounts of water and cleaning products, for example different types of detergent, softener, bleach and other.
• Each of these products is generally prepared by the user in a special tray prior to washing, from which they are subsequently transported to the basket to act on the laundry.
• the water is supplied to the washing machine through a delivery pipe, and thanks to the presence of a plurality of solenoid valves, is diverted according to the specifications of the pre-selected washing program.
• the washing machines include diverter devices specially configured to divert water from a delivery pipe to the different trays containing the washing products.
• the diverter devices may comprise an increasing number of valves with the number of containment trays provided to define an adequate sorting of the water flows.
• the known devices To direct the water directly into the washing basket, avoiding the passage from the containment trays, the known devices must install a special solenoid valve.
• solenoid valves Unfortunately, increasing the number of solenoid valves leads to an inevitable increase in operating costs due to electrical power consumption. Unfortunately, the cost of solenoid valves (and related circuitry) reaches not insignificant figures which greatly affects the final price of the product, limiting the diffusion and accessibility thereof.
• solenoid valves often entails high costs.
• failure of a solenoid valve is often resolved by replacing the diverter device in the entirety thereof, resulting in a high outlay for the user and an unjustified disposal of the components still in operation.
• each diverter is specially sized for use with a predetermined number of trays, and therefore, according to predetermined types of washing programs.
• the technical task of the present invention is therefore to provide a pumping and switching device and an apparatus for selecting and sorting fluids which are able to overcome the drawbacks arising from prior art.
• a further object of the present invention is to provide a pumping and switching device and an apparatus for selecting and sorting fluids which reduce construction and maintenance costs, which have reduced dimensions and bulk and are characterized by a high operating silence.
• an object of the present invention is to implement a household appliance in which user interaction is minimized only in cases of “extreme need”, such as only when the tanks of the various substances useful for washing are depleted and the washing machine can dose a variable number of detergents (also well above two, as opposed to the prior art!).
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pumping and switching device in accordance with the present invention.
• figure 2 is an exploded depiction of the pumping and switching device of figure 1 ;
• figure 3 is a further exploded depiction of the pumping and switching device of figure 1 ;
• FIG. 4 and 5 are sectional depictions of a pumping and switching device in accordance with an improvement embodiment of the present invention (n.b.: this further improvement can also be implemented partially and/or independently of the remaining structural features described or claimed below).
• the number 1 globally refers to a pumping and switching device, hereinafter referred to as device 1 .
• the device 1 defines a containment volume “V”, which can be a containment volume for the components inside the device 1 itself (components which will be explained in greater detail later, in a possible embodiment) but which, if necessary, can be adapted to contain at least one fluid, for example water, detergent, softener, bleach, etc.
• the device 1 comprises a first flange 2 and a second flange 3 operatively connected to define the containment volume “V”.
• first and second flange 2, 3 are connected by generic coupling means, for example a bolt-screw type coupling, rivets and/or a shape coupling.
• the device 1 comprises a predetermined number of inlet openings 4 configured to allow an inlet of the fluid within the containment volume “V”.
• the device 1 further comprises a predetermined number of outlet openings 5 configured to allow an outflow of fluid from the containment volume “V” to a volume of use external to the device 1 , preferably towards the basket of a washing machine.
• outlet openings 5 are selectively put into fluid communication with the inlet openings 4.
• the fluid entering from one or more of the inlet openings 4 may be selectively made to outflow from one or more of the outlet openings 5.
• the containment volume “V” defines a main floodable chamber “C” suitable to contain at least the aforementioned fluid.
• the main floodable chamber “C” can be placed in fluid communication with at least one inlet opening 4 and/or with at least one outlet opening 5.
• the first flange 2 comprises at least one inlet duct 2a, in fluid communication with the main floodable chamber “C” to allow a fluid supply to the main floodable chamber “C”, and an outlet duct 2b in fluid communication with the outlet opening 5.
• the second flange 3 has a plurality of inlet openings 4 which can be put in fluid communication with the main floodable chamber “C”.
• the device 1 can comprise an additional floodable chamber 400 configured to receive a predetermined amount of a fluid, said additional floodable chamber 400 being obtained in the first flange 2 and/or in the second flange 3 and being able to be put in fluid communication with the main floodable chamber C at at least one relative angular position between the selector device 6 and the pump 7.
• the two floodable chambers “C” and 400 are in fluid communication with each other at a particular configuration of the device 1 : in this configuration the device 1 is capable of moving the fluid previously accumulated in the additional floodable chamber 400, and this previously accumulated fluid is in turn put into circulation inside the device 1 , washing it and then preparing it for a new input (from the outside) of a new fluid.
• FIG 5 the configuration of the device 1 is shown in which the two floodable chambers “C” and 400 are mutually connected so as to be able to implement the washing described above, and this configuration corresponds to a given relative angular position between the second flange 3, the pump 7 and the selector device 6.
• the additional floodable chamber 400 can be obtained in the pump 7 or the selector device 6.
• the main floodable chamber “C” may not be provided, moreover the inlet openings 4 and/or the outlet openings 5 may be obtained only on the first flange 2 or on the second flange 3 without altering the inventive concept underlying the present invention.
• the device 1 may comprise connecting means “M” for connecting the containment volume “V” to at least one fluid supply or outflow pipe.
• connection means “M” comprise a bayonet coupling.
• the device 1 comprises a selector device 6 configured to place in fluid communication at least one inlet opening 4 and at least one outlet opening 5.
• Such a selector device 6 is at least partially arranged within the containment volume “V”.
• the selector device 6 is rotatable in a single first predetermined rotation direction within the containment volume “V” so as to allow a fluid communication between at least one inlet opening 4 and at least one outlet opening 5.
• At least one of the inlet openings 4 and/or outlet openings 5 can be obtained on the device 1 so that the rotation of the selector device 6 puts them in communication with the containment volume “V”.
• the second flange 3 has a plurality of inlet openings 4 circumferentially arranged and angularly equally spaced from the axis of rotation of the selector device 6.
• the device 1 comprises a pump 7 mounted on the selector device 6 inside the containment volume “V” and integral with the selector device 6 during the rotation in the first rotation direction.
• the pump 7 is configured to promote a movement of fluid from a storage volume external to the device 1 to the containment volume “V” and from the containment volume “V” to a use volume external to the device 1 .
• the pump 7 may promote the movement of cleaning products towards a use volume or temporary station (such as a washing machine basket or a so-called “drawer” of a washing machine). As illustrated in the figures, the pump 7 has an inlet 8 and an outlet 9 to allow the aforementioned fluid movement.
• a use volume or temporary station such as a washing machine basket or a so-called “drawer” of a washing machine.
• the pump 7 has an inlet 8 and an outlet 9 to allow the aforementioned fluid movement.
• the pump 7 moves a fluid through the inlet opening 4 and the outlet opening 5, placed in fluid communication by the selector device 6.
• the selector device 6 comprises two coupling portions operatively connected to the aforementioned inlet 8 and outlet 9 of the pump 7 and configured to put in fluid communication the inlet 8 and/or the outlet 9 with an inlet opening 4 and/or an outlet opening 5.
• the rotation of the selector device 6 selectively puts the inlet 8 and/or the outlet 9 of the pump 7 in fluid communication with an inlet opening 4 and/or an outlet opening 5 of the device 1 .
• the device 1 comprises hydraulic sealing means 10 circuitally associated with the inlet 8 and/or the outlet 9 of the pump 7 (or more generally, circuitally associated with the pump 7, this expression meaning that the hydraulic sealing means can have a qualitative or quantitative or directional “modification” or “regulation” effect on the flows which can be generated by the pump 7 and can cross, according to different possible paths, the entire device 1 in accordance with the invention).
• Such hydraulic sealing means 10 are active between the inlet 8 and/or the outlet 9 of the pump 7 and the inlet opening 4 and/or outlet opening 5.
• the hydraulic sealing means 10 may comprise at least one suction-cup gasket 11 .
• the suction-cup gasket 11 comprises a first portion at least partially inserted within the inlet 8 or the outlet 9 (or one of the coupling portions if provided) and a second portion which can be respectively activated on the inlet opening 4 or on the outlet opening 5 of the device 1 .
• the hydraulic sealing means 10 further comprise a duckbill valve suitable to prevent a reverse recirculation of the fluid. That is to say, the duckbill valve prevents the reflux of the fluid moved by the pump 7.
• the pump 7 comprises a rotor 12 rotatable with respect to the selector device 6 only in a second rotation direction opposite the first rotation direction.
• the rotor 12 is integral with the selector device 6 during the rotation in the first rotation direction and is rotatable with respect to the selector device 6 in the direction opposite to the first rotation direction.
• the rotor 12 can rotate counter-clockwise with respect to the device 6 (or clockwise).
• the rotor 12 rotates with respect to a rotation axis “X”, preferably coaxial to the selector device 6.
• the rotation of the selector device 6 and/or the rotor 12 is promoted by a rotary actuator (not shown in the attached figures).
• the device 1 comprises a rotary actuator active on the selector device 6 and/or on the rotor 12 to move the selector device 6 and/or the pump 7 in the aforementioned first and/or second rotation direction.
• the device 1 may have an access light “M” for the at least partial insertion of the aforementioned actuator.
• the selector device 6 and the rotor 12 are arranged coaxially on an actuating shaft of the aforementioned rotary actuator.
• the rotary actuator is suitable to connect to a movement shaft 200 associated with the pump 7 and/or with a selection shaft 300 associated with the selector device 6.
• the movement shaft 200 and the selection shaft 300 are arranged in a condition of mutual coaxiality, in which the movement shaft 200 and the selection shaft 300 are simultaneously crossing the first flange 2 or the second flange 3.
• the movement shaft 200 and the selection shaft 300 are arranged in a condition of mutual opposition, in which the movement shaft 200 and the selection shaft 300 are respectively crossing the first flange 2 and the second flange 3.
• the pump 7 is preferably a peristaltic pump.
• the pump 7 moves a fluid by applying a bottleneck to a channel 13 in which a fluid is contained so as to push it from the inlet 8 to the outlet 9 of the pump 7.
• the channel 13 is made of one or more rubbery and/or polymeric materials, such as for example silicone, CSM, EPDM, HNBR, NBR and others, depending on the needs of the moment.
• the rotor 12 comprises three rollers 14 radially equidistant from the rotation axis “X” of the rotor 12 and angularly equally spaced.
• rollers 14 are active on the channel 13 of the pump 7 to move fluid.
• roller conformation of the elements acting on the channel 13 limits the stresses on the channel 13, helping to increase the operating life span thereof.
• the device 1 may comprise first unidirectional free rotating means 15, active between the selector device 6 and a respective portion “P” of the device 1 inside the containment volume “V”, and second unidirectional free rotating means 16, active between the rotor 12 and the selector device 6.
• first and second unidirectional free rotating means 15, 16 are configured to allow a rotation in the first rotation direction and in the second rotation direction, respectively.
• the first unidirectional free rotating means 15 comprise a first sawtooth guide 17, obtained on the selector device 6 or on the portion “P” of the device 1 , and at least one first protrusion 18, respectively associated with the portion “P” of the device 1 or the selector device 6.
• the second unidirectional free rotating means 16 comprise a second sawtooth guide 19, obtained on the selector device 6 or on the rotor 12, and at least one second protrusion 20, associated with the rotor 12 or the selector device 6, respectively.
• the sawtooth guides 17, 19 allow the rotation by sliding of the relative protrusions 18, 20 in the predetermined rotation directions and prevent the rotation thereof by sliding in the opposite directions thanks to the presence of active abutment walls on the protrusions 18, 20 if moved in the opposite direction.
• the device 1 further comprises sensor means 100 associated with the selector device 6 and/or the pump 7 configured to measure one or more operating parameters of the device 1 .
• the sensor means 100 can measure an absolute angular position of the selector device 6 within the containment volume V.
• the sensor means 100 can be configured to measure and/or an absolute angular position of the pump 7 within the containment volume V and/or a relative angular position between the selector device 6 and the pump 7.
• absolute angular position means a given angular rotation value with respect to a reference system definable by the external parts of the device 1 , i.e., the first flange 2 and/or the second flange 3 (which during the operation of the device 1 can be considered as stationary).
• the sensor means 100 can comprise “contact” sensors, for example sliding contacts or the like, and sensors of the “non-contact” type, for example with a Hall effect (or again, depending on particular movement methods of the selector device 6 and/or the pump 7, can comprise an adequate electronics for operating and controlling electric motors, generally of the step-step type, which is able to register and detect an angular position of movement of the motors themselves: this angular position of the motors obviously corresponds to the position of the selector device 6 or the pump 7 associated with that given motor).
• the sensor means 100 can be positioned in various positions of the device 1 , as long as they are capable of detecting the absolute and/or relative angular positions mentioned above: for example, the sensor means 100 can be located circumferentially and/or radially in the selector device 6 and/or in the pump 7 and can also be positioned “externally” on the first flange 2 and/or on the second flange 3.
• the sensor means 100 can be keyed coaxially to a movement shaft 200 associated with the pump 7.
• the present invention relates to an apparatus for selecting and sorting fluids comprising a pumping and switching device 1 and a predetermined number of ducts suitable for supplying and sorting fluid of the pumping device 1 .
• the apparatus for selecting and sorting fluids is configured to move a predetermined amount of a fluid, for example water and/or cleaning products, from at least a first containment volume, such as a cleaning product storage tray, to at least a second containment volume, for example the basket of a washing machine or the operating space of a dishwasher.
• a fluid for example water and/or cleaning products
• the apparatus for selecting and sorting fluids comprises at least one duckbill valve arranged within at least one of the aforementioned ducts to prevent fluid reflux after pumping by the appropriate pump.
• the present invention achieves the proposed object thanks to a pumping and switching device and an apparatus for selecting and sorting fluids with high adaptability to the design requirements imposed by the different operating specifications thanks to the presence of a selector device capable of selectively putting a plurality of openings for the inlet and outflow of liquid from the pumping and switching device in fluid communication: this high adaptability is achieved with an extremely simplified structure and in any case capable of ensuring a switching between an extremely variable number of inlets and outlets.
• the pumping and switching device reduces the number of solenoid valves used, helping to limit the construction costs.
• the pumping and switching device and the apparatus for selecting and sorting fluids have limited dimensions.
• the pumping and switching device and the apparatus for selecting and sorting fluids are characterized by a high silence during operation.
• the adoption of the peristaltic pump allows to relate the flow rate of pumped fluid without the need for further flow measurement devices (such as flowmeters), to the full advantage of the manufacturing economy and efficiency as well as dosage accuracy.
• the integrated system developed in accordance with the invention also makes it possible to significantly increase the number of tanks without affecting costs, but above all it makes it possible to eliminate the drawers, thus creating a washing machine (or more generally, an appliance or any other machine where the dosing of different substances is necessary for the functionality of the machine itself) with a higher level of automation: this implies that the machine in which the object of the present invention is integrated can analyse the amount of detergent necessary according to the washing conditions and the user no longer has to fill the drawers with each wash (so much so that by imagining installing the present invention in a washing machine, with a single actuator and with dimensions comparable to those of a single-pump dosing system, two or more tanks can be easily managed, for example up to six).
• the further improvement versions of the pumping and switching device illustrated in figures 4 and 5 allow for greater compaction (with consequent greater ease of installation and integration) of the device itself, and also allow a “washing” of the internal ducts of the device to be carried out in faster and more accurate times and manners, for example during operating transients which involve the change of the substance (water, detergent, anti-limescale, brightener and any other possible “working” fluid depending on the needs of the moment) transported within the device itself.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
• Structures Of Non-Positive Displacement Pumps (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=73793729

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

Family Cites Families (3)

• 2020
  • 2020-11-09 EP EP20804156.6A patent/EP4226043A1/de active Pending
  • 2020-11-09 WO PCT/IB2020/060516 patent/WO2022074442A1/en unknown

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