ES2209023T3 - DRAINAGE SYSTEM IN DERIVATION. - Google Patents

Abstract

DISHWASHER THAT INCLUDES A CUBE FORMING A WASHING CHAMBER AND A SUCTION, A DRAIN PUMP, A SEPARATE CIRCULATION PUMP AND A DRAINAGE DRAINAGE SYSTEM. THE SINK HAS A MACERATING CAMERA AND A CAMERA FOR THE PUMP, BOTH ADAPTED TO CONTAIN LIQUID FROM THE WASHING CAMERA. THE DRAIN PUMP DIRECTLY CONNECTS THE MACERATING CHAMBER TO A DRAIN PIPE TO TAKE THE LIQUID FROM THE MACERATING CAMERA TO A DOMESTIC DRAIN. THE CIRCULATION PUMP TAKES THE LIQUID FROM THE PUMP CAMERA TO THE WASHING CAMERA. THE CIRCULATION PUMP HAS A SHAFT THAT IS PROLONGED TO THE MACERATING CHAMBER AND A BLADE JOINED TO THE AXIS INSIDE THE MACERATING CHAMBER TO CUT THE FOOD PARTICLES IN THERE. THERE IS A NARROW SPACE AROUND THE AXIS THAT FORM A RESTRICTED STEP BETWEEN THE PUMP CAMERA AND THE MACERATOR, SO THAT THE DRAIN PUMP CAN TAKE THE PUMP CAMERA LIQUID TO THE DOMESTIC DRAIN. THE DERIVATION DRAIN SYSTEM PROVIDES A DIRECT FLOW PATH FOR THE LIQUID FROM THE PUMP CAMERA TO THE DRAIN PUMP. THE SYSTEM INCLUDES A DRAINAGE CONDUCT IN DERIVATION THAT CONNECTS THE PUMP CHAMBER WITH THE DRAIN PUMP AND A RETAINING RETAINING VALVE IN THE DIVIDING DRAINING CONDUCT THAT CAN BE DISPLACED BETWEEN THE CLOSED AND OPENED POSITIONS. THE RETENTION VALVE DISPLACES BETWEEN THE OPEN AND CLOSED POSITIONS IN RESPONSE TO THE PRESSURE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE PUMP CHAMBER AND THE DRAINAGE DRAINAGE CONDUCT.

Description

Bypass drain system.

Field and background of the invention

The present invention generally relates to washing machines and, more particularly, to drainage systems in bypass for washing machines that have a sump with chambers independent.

Washing machines, in particular household dishwashers, include a combination of filtration and dilution to remove food and detergent or dirt particles from the washing liquid or water that recirculates up to the spray arms to wash dishes and others objects to clean. Filtration of the washing liquid eliminates all dirt particles larger than the holes in the filter, although it cannot remove dirt particles dissolved that are smaller than the filter holes. Without However, dilution of the washing liquid does not eliminate the particles of dissolved dirt that is not removed by filtration. The dilution requires the removal of as much of the liquid as possible washing the dishwasher during each drain phase so to be replaced by clean water.

Dishwashers usually have a sump with independent chambers to contain the washing liquid, by example a first chamber to collect dirt particles that have been separated from the washing liquid and a second chamber for contain the filtered or "clean" washing liquid that is going to circulate back to the spray arms. Then the contents of each chamber must be pumped into the drain of the House.

From US 5,320,120, a dishwasher is known with double pump and independent cameras. Drainage system includes a conduit that connects directly, that is, in series, the recirculation sump with the drain pump and then with The collecting chamber. The drain pump is located between the recirculation sump and the collection chamber and therefore upstream of the latter. One way valve too It is located between the recirculation sump and the chamber collector

For GB 1,151,958, another dishwasher is known It has double pump and independent cameras. The two parts of discharge duct that constitute, respectively, the sump of recirculation and the collecting chamber are contiguous and are separated from each other by a retaining flap that connects both parts. The retention flap moves between a open position and a closed position in response to a pressure difference between the recirculation sump and the collecting chamber

In most configurations of dishwasher part of the washing liquid is trapped in the sump which reduces the effectiveness of the dilution process. By example, a dishwasher that has a circulation pump that separates the first and second chambers to pump washing liquid from the second chamber to the spray arms, and a pump of independent drain connected to the first chamber, to pump the contents of each chamber to the drain, often does not remove all the washing liquid of the second chamber.

To remove all washing liquid from the second chamber, the drain pump must first drag the washing liquid from the second chamber to the first chamber a through a restricted path formed by the pump. The road must be restricted to substantially prevent particles from dirt move from the first chamber to the second. Without However, due to this restriction, the drain pump drains quickly all the washing liquid of the first chamber and interrupts the priming (air enters the collector) as soon as Remove all the washing liquid from the first chamber. The Drain pump operation decreases so significant once the priming is interrupted and, as as a result most of the washing liquid that is in the second camera is left there after the phase is completed Drain

Therefore, there is a need, in the state of the technique of providing a washing machine that has a improved drainage system where substantially all sump contents are removed from both the clean and of the dirty chambers during the drain operation phase. In addition, the drainage system must substantially prevent the Dirt particles go from the dirty chamber to the clean chamber. In addition, the drainage system must be relatively cheap, easy to assemble and repair, have relatively few parts and use relatively small pumps.

Brief Description of the Invention

The present invention provides a machine for wash that remedies at least some of the problems cited state of the art According to the invention, the washing machine includes a circulation pump, a drain pump independent, a bypass drain system, and a tank that It forms a washing chamber and a sump. The sink has some first and second collection chambers adapted to contain liquid that comes from the washing chamber. Drain pump connect the first sump chamber and a drain pipe to move liquid from the first sump chamber to the drain of the house The circulation pump is adapted to move liquid from the second chamber of the sump to the washing chamber. The bypass drain system is adapted to provide a direct route for the washing liquid from the second chamber of the sump to the drain pump. The drainage system in bypass includes a bypass drain pipe that connects directly the second chamber of the sump with the drain pump and a bypass check valve in the drain pipe bypass that can be moved between a closed position and a open position Bypass drain line provides a good connection, normally free of restrictions between the second chamber of the sump and the drain pump, so the drain pump can aspirate washing liquid from both the first chamber of the sump as of the second, which are connected  directly to the inlet of the drain pump. The conduit of bypass drain also allows the removal of liquid from washing, although in a reduced proportion, of the second chamber of the sump after the first chamber of the chamber has been emptied sump and that the drain pump has been lowered.

According to another aspect of the invention, the valve bypass retention moves between open positions and closed in response to a pressure difference between the second sump chamber and bypass drain pipe. In a preferred embodiment, the bypass check valve is held in the closed position when the circulation pump is operating with a lower pressure in the second chamber of the sump than in the bypass drain pipe. Valve bypass retention is preferably held in position closed when both the circulation pump and the pump drain are operating with a lower pressure in the second sump chamber than in the bypass drain pipe. The bypass check valve is also maintained preferably in the open position when the pump circulation is not working and the drain pump is operating with a lower pressure in the drain pipe in bypass than in the second chamber of the sump.

Brief description of the drawings

These and other features of this invention become clear with reference to the following description and to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation view, and partially in section, of a washing machine according to the present invention, which has a circulation pump and a pump drain.

Figure 2 is an elevation view, and partially in section, of a part of the washing machine of the Figure 1 during a washing phase, where the pump circulation is working and the drain pump is disconnected

Figure 3 is an elevation view similar to the of Figure 2 although during an initial part of a phase of drain, where both the circulation pump and the pump drain are working.

Figure 4 is an elevation view similar to the of figure 3 although during the drainage phase, where the pump circulation is disconnected and the drain pump is working

Figure 5 and last, is an elevation view similar to that of figure 4 although during a final part of the drain phase, where a first sump chamber is completely drained and the drain pump has been lowered completely.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiments

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a washing machine 10, more particularly a domestic dishwasher, which has a bypass drain system 11 according to the present invention. The washing machine 10 includes a molded plastic tub 12 that It has a sump 14 at its lower end. Sump 14 collects and keeps the washing liquid sprayed by spray arms 16 on the objects placed in the grids 18 that are within a washing chamber 20. Gravity forces the washing liquid so that it falls into the sump 14 from the washing chamber 20. A fine filter 22 having a filter component 24, generally horizontal, and an annular vertical filter component 26 is located between the sump 14 and the washing chamber 20. The filter Fine 22 is preferably a molded mesh sieve having 4 mm openings.

An internal wall 28 of the sump 14 and the vertical filter component 26 divide the sump into a first chamber 30, hereinafter referred to as a collection chamber or macerator, and a second chamber 32, named from now on pumping chamber or "clean water". The fine filter 22 and the internal wall 28 isolate the pumping chamber 32 from the chamber of wash 20.

The washing liquid flows down from the washing chamber 20 and even pumping chamber 32 through the horizontal filter component 24. Food dirt or particles 34 that are in the washing liquid are filtered by the fine filter 22 as the washing liquid enters the chamber of pumping 32. The horizontal filter component 24 tilts towards  down to the collecting chamber 30 to "drive" the food particles 34 to the collecting chamber 30. The food particles 34 are retained in the chamber collector 30 and macerated there as described in more detail after. When the level of the liquid in the collecting chamber 30 is high enough, a part of the washing liquid that is in the collecting chamber 30 circulates to the pumping chamber 32 passing through the vertical filter component 26.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the horizontal filter component 24 is located directly under the spray arm 16 and spray nozzles are provided or jets 36 in the spray arm 16 to clean the fine filter 22. The spray nozzles 36 are adapted to direct liquid from wash to horizontal filter component 24 and to send the food particles 34 that are located in the component horizontal filter 24 to the collection chamber 30. It can be seen that within the object of the present invention can be used other filter and wall mounts that filter particles from food that is in the washing liquid that enters a chamber pumping and collecting food particles in a collecting chamber

The collection chamber 30 has an output port or drain 38 in communication with an inlet of a drain pump 40, so that the washing liquid and particles of the foods 34 that are in the collecting chamber 30 can be pumped into a house drain (not shown so specific). A flexible pipe or drain pipe 42 connects the drain 38, located at the bottom of the collecting chamber 30, with the drain pump inlet 40. Preferably, the inlet of the drain pump 40 is located in a lower position than drain 38 of the collecting chamber. A pipe or tube of drain 44, which is preferably very curved, connects the drain of the drain pump 40 with the house drain.

The drain pump 40 is a centrifugal pump synchronous and includes a rotor 46, secured on a shaft 48, driven by an electric motor 50. The rotor 46 of the drain pump moves washing liquid and particles of cut food from the collection chamber 30 to the house drain through of the drain line 42. The drain pump 40 also includes a drain check valve 52 which is located in the drain pump inlet 40. Check valve drain 52 allows circulation only in one direction, towards the house drain, to prevent the countercurrent from returning to the drain line 42. The drain check valve 52 can  alternatively be placed between the drain of the pump drain 40 and the house drain.

The pumping chamber 32 has a first port of outlet or drain 54 in communication with an inlet of a pump circulation 56 so that the washing liquid can return to circulate from the sump 14 to the washing chamber 20, and a second outlet or drain port 58 in communication with the pump of drain 40 so any amount of washing liquid that remain in the sump 14 can be pumped to the drain of the House. The first drain 54 of the pumping chamber 32 is located at the lower end of the pumping chamber 32 and the liquid of washing enters the circulation pump 56 in the direction normally horizontal. The ducts 60, 62 connect the drain of the circulation pump 56 with the spray arms 16.

The circulation pump 56 is a pump synchronous centrifuge, preferably larger than the drain pump 40, and includes a rotor 64, secured on a shaft 66, driven by a electric motor 68. The rotor 64 of the circulation pump moves the washing liquid from pumping chamber 32 to the arms sprinklers 16 through ducts 60, 62. A cutting blade 70 is arranged on the shaft 66 of the circulation pump 56 inside of the collecting chamber 30. The paddle 70 is made of hard material corrosion resistant such as stainless steel or aluminum. The palette 70 has cutting edges that cut particles of the foods 34 that are in the collecting chamber 30. The edges of the vane 70 may bend slightly with respect to the plane in which the vane 70 rotates to circulate the washing liquid and food particles that are inside the chamber manifold 30 to produce a more efficient cut. Axis 66 makes rotate the vane 70 whenever the circulation pump 56 is working

The circulation created by palette 70 and the rotation of the shaft 66 can cause the washing liquid to move or circulate towards the circulation pump 56 around the axis 66. both, a seal 72 is provided, such as the illustrated labyrinth seal, and / or compensating fins in  a rear face of the rotor 64 of the circulation pump for avoid such movement or circulation. The circulation pump 56 forms a restricted circulation path between the pumping chamber 32 and the collecting chamber 30 through which the drain pump 40 aspirates washing liquid during a drain phase of the functioning. The washing liquid circulates through the clearance that remains around shaft 66 of the rotor, which is very narrow and not it allows the liquid to spill very quickly in the collecting chamber 30

The bypass drain system 11 includes the second drain 58 of the pumping chamber 32, a flexible tube or bypass drain pipe 74, and a check valve in bypass 76. The second drain 58 of the pumping chamber 32 is located at the bottom of the pumping chamber 32 and at the most bottom of the pumping chamber 32. The second drain 58 is separated from the first drain 54 as described in more detail after. Bypass drain line 74 connects the second drain 58 with drain pipe 42, whereby the second drain 58 is in communication with the pump inlet drain 40. Consequently, both the collecting chamber 30 and the pumping chamber 32 are directly connected to the entrance of the drain pump 40. Preferably, the inlet of the pump drain 40 is located in a lower position than the second drain 58 of the pumping chamber 32. The rotor 46 of the pump drain moves the washing liquid from the chamber at the same time pumping 32 to the house drain through the duct bypass drain 74 and drain pipe 42 and from the collecting chamber 30 to the drain of the house through the drain pipe 42.

Bypass check valve 76 is located in the bypass drain duct 74 to prevent macerated and / or dissolved food particles move from the collecting chamber 30 to the pumping chamber 32. By therefore, the bypass check valve 76 prevents the Food particles 34 circle the filtering system. The bypass check valve 76 preferably operates in response to a pressure difference between the pumping chamber 32 and bypass duct 74. However, the check valve bypass 76 can be operated in other ways, for example, An electrical signal to an electromechanical valve.

The bypass check valve 76 of the embodiment illustrated, is located directly in the second drain 58 of the pumping chamber 32 and includes a seat of valve 78 and a valve element 80 that cooperates with the seat of valve 78 to form a closed seal between socks. The valve element 80 is mobile and pivots between a open position and a closed position. The valve element 80 it is oriented to open when the washing liquid circulates at through the valve seat 78 from the pumping chamber 32 to bypass drain duct 74.

When the circulation pump 56 is running and the drain pump 40 is not working, the low pressure inside pumping chamber 32 keeps the valve element 80 in the closed position to prevent the food particles 34 travel to the pumping chamber 32. Keep in mind that the high speed with which it circulates the washing liquid to the circulation pump 56 that is inside of the pumping chamber 32 produces a lower static pressure in the upper part of valve element 80 (inside the chamber of pumping 32) that the static pressure that is at the bottom of the valve element 80 (inside the bypass drain pipe 74). When the circulation pump 56 is not working and the drain engine 40 is running, the low pressure in the bypass drain pipe 74 valve element strip 80 towards the open position to aspirate washing liquid from the pumping chamber 32 and take it to the drain pump 40 through of the drainage drain pipe 74. It must be taken into account that the washing liquid flowing to the drain pump 40 produces a lower static pressure at the bottom of the element of valve 80 (inside the bypass drain pipe 74) that the static pressure that is at the top of the element of valve 80 (inside pumping chamber 32). When they are operating both the circulation pump and the drain pump 56, 40, there is preferably a pressure difference that maintains the valve element 80 in the closed position, so that the washing liquid is quickly aspirated from the collection chamber 30 and not from pumping chamber 32. This allows the system sprinkler keep running for a period of time enough for the spray jets 36 to remove the particles of foods 34 of horizontal filter component 24 which of otherwise they would remain in the fine filter 22.

The distance between the first and second drains 54, 58 of the pumping chamber 32 must be large enough so that the pressure difference is not too much. If the pressure difference were too large, the element of valve 80 could be dragged through valve seat 78 whereby the valve element 80 would not pivot so suitable to the open position when necessary. Without However, the distance between the first and second drains 54, 58 of pumping chamber 34, it must be small enough so that the pressure difference is adequate to adjust and keep valve element 80 in the closed position when necessary.

The operation of the washing machine 10 normally includes at least one wash phase and at least one phase Drain As best shown in Figure 2, during the phase of washing, the circulation pump 56 is running and the pump drain 40 is not working. The washing liquid that is in the pumping chamber 32 of sump 14 is dragged to the pump  circulation 56 and pumped through conduits 60, 62 to The spray arms. The spray arms 16 spray the liquid from washing on the items to be washed stored in the racks 18 located inside the washing chamber 20. After the washing liquid comes into contact with objects, the liquid wash and food particles 34 fall into the filter fine 22. The washing liquid flows down through the fine filter 22, which filters food particles 34. The filtered washing liquid circulates to pumping chamber 32, from where the circulation pump 56 causes it to circulate again to the wash arms 16.

The particles of filtered food 34 tend to descend the inclined horizontal component 24 of the fine filter 26 towards the collection chamber 30. In addition, the jets sprinklers 36 of the spray arms 16 push the particles of foods 34 that are located in the filter component horizontal 24 to the collecting chamber 30. The washing liquid, which contains the particles of food 34, which does not circulate at through the fine filter 22, circulates to the collection chamber 30, where food particles are collected. When the Circulation pump is working, macerate washing liquid food particles 34 located in the collecting chamber 30 and palette 70 cut or crush them. The low pressure there is inside the pumping chamber 32 maintains the valve element 80 of the bypass check valve 76 in the closed position to prevent food particles from leaving the chamber manifold 30 to pumping chamber 32.

When the wash phase ends, the phase begins Drain As best shown in Figure 3, the pump drain 40 is energized so that the pump works first circulation 56 as the drain pump 40. The drain pump 40 drag the washing liquid, which contains the particles of food, of the collecting chamber 30 through the conduit of drain 42 and pumps the washing liquid and particles of the food to the house drain through the pipeline drain 44. The drain of the collecting chamber 30 continues until the collecting chamber 30 is almost completely empty. In this way it is substantially discharge all food particles 34 of the washing machine 10. The slight pressure difference keeps the valve element 80 in the closed position with which washing liquid is quickly aspirated from the chamber manifold 30 and not the pumping chamber 32.

Circulation pump 56 continues to operate whereby the washing liquid of the pumping chamber 32 returns to circulate to spray arms. Therefore the jets sprinklers 36 continue to remove food particles of the horizontal filter component 24, which otherwise would remain in the fine filter 22 if the pump stopped circulation 56 when the drain pump 40 started operating. This "lightening" effect is very positive to eliminate dirt particles and for washing function.

As best shown in Figure 4, the pump circulation 56 stops during the drain phase whereby only the drain pump 40 works. The low pressure in the bypass drain pipe 74 valve element strip 80 towards the open position and the drain pump 40 sucks the same time washing liquid from both chambers 30, 32 of the sump 14. The washing liquid is drawn from the pumping chamber 32 through the bypass drain duct 74 and the duct drain 42, and the washing liquid is drawn from the chamber manifold 32 through the drain line 42. The pump drain 40 moves the washing liquid and dirt particles to the house drain through the drain pipe 44.

As best shown in Figure 5, when the collecting chamber 30 is completely drained, and the pump drain 40 has been completely lowered, the drain pump continues to aspirate washing liquid from pumping chamber 32, although with a slower speed. Once the pumping chamber 32 has been substantially emptied and substantially removed the washing liquid and dirt particles of the machine wash 10, the drain pump 40 stops.

Although embodiments have been described in detail Particular of the present invention, it is understood that the invention It is not limited to these embodiments but includes all changes and modifications that are within the scope of the annexed claims.

Claims (3)

1. Dishwasher comprising: a tank (12) that forms a washing chamber (20) and a sump (14), sump (14) that has a chamber of maceration (30) and a pumping chamber (32) adapted each to contain liquid from said washing chamber (twenty); a drain pipe (44); a drain pump (40) connecting said maceration chamber (30) and said drain pipe (44) for conduct the liquid from said maceration chamber (30) to said drain pipe (44); a circulation pump (56) separated from said drain pump (40) and adapted to conduct liquid from said pumping chamber (32) to said washing chamber (20); a bypass drain system (11) that it forms a liquid circulation path from said pumping chamber (32) to said drain pump (40), drain system in bypass (11) that includes a bypass check valve (76), movable between a closed position and an open position in response to a pressure difference, and a drain pipe bypass (74) connecting said pumping chamber (32) with said drain pump (40), characterized in that said bypass check valve (76) is located in said bypass drain line (74) and is movable between said open and closed positions in response to a pressure difference between said pumping chamber (32) and said duct bypass drain (74), and because said circulation pump (56) is arranged in relation to the pumping chamber (32) so that a restricted path is formed connecting said pumping chamber (32) with said chamber of maceration (30), said restricted path being adapted to conduct liquid from said pumping chamber (32) to said drain pipe (44). 2. Dishwasher according to claim 1, in wherein said circulation pump (56) has an axis (66) that is extends through said maceration chamber (30) and a trowel (70) attached to said axis (66) within said maceration chamber (30). 3. Dishwasher according to claim 1, in wherein said bypass check valve (76) is located in a drain (58) of said pumping chamber (32).