ES2269833T3 - PROCEDURE AND EQUIPMENT TO DETECT THE LACK OF SALT IN A DESENDURECADOR. - Google Patents

Abstract

The salt container (7) receives fresh water (F) through a valve (15) and tubing to a filter (20) and salt (6) to provide a brine solution (8) which overflows through a duct (10) to the regenerator (4). The relative densities of the brine and water are indicated by a difference (SF - SSO).

Description

Procedure and equipment to detect the lack of Get out in a de-hardener.

The invention relates to a method for detect the lack of salt in a dishwasher or washing machine equipped with a de-hardener, connecting a salt tank of the de-hardener, to prepare the saline solution, in running water or similar and regenerating an ion exchanger with the solution saline from the salt deposit, and used for lack of salt detection the density of the saline solution. In addition, the invention relates to the corresponding equipment for Perform the procedure.

From DE-A 2 354 662 it is known a regenerable de-hardener for a dishwasher or washing machine, consisting of a salt tank and a heat exchanger ions, in which to indicate that the concentration of the solution Saline is enough in the salt tank, a float is housed in a vertical chamber, whose weight or hollow volume is sized such that it floats for a concentration or density value of the saline solution above a critical value and otherwise sinks, when the density of the saline solution is found by below the critical value. If this is the case, salt must be added regenerating To visualize this situation, it contains the float a permanent magnet, which connects a reed contact housed outside the salt deposit, and that emits the corresponding signal so that the user of the device add salt. The notice to add salt is made thus only when the critical density has already been exceeded, that is, when the ion exchanger is almost exhausted. This may lead to a worse washing result if necessary. with lime deposits, particularly when it comes to glass sensitive In addition, there is a danger that the float will get stuck due to the added regenerating salt, or that it loses the tightness and upward impulse conditions no longer occur For safe viewing. Also here you must provide help the invention.

The invention has as a basic task to achieve a lack of salt detection with high reliability, precision and reduced costs.

Within the framework of the invention this task through a procedure according to the particularities of the claim 1. Of the following secondary claims important improvements and improvements of the invention result. The equipment to perform the procedure is characterized by particularities of claim 3, which can be deduced from the following advantageous dependent claims refinements of the equipment corresponding to the invention for the lack of salt detection.

By taking advantage of the corresponding density difference between running water contributed and saline solution and differences in liquid height converts resulting therefrom according to the invention between the saline solution and tap water in the corresponding columns of liquid, can be detected simply and reliably, with a low construction investment and reduced costs, the corresponding Saline solution concentration very precisely. This it can be done using a simple light sensor as a light barrier or through a simple body of light float, which floats on the liquid column without being influenced by the concentration of the saline solution in the running water. Do not It is expected a fouling of the sensor or surfaces reflectors of the optical sensor, because the pipe to the sensor It is flooded with running water with each regeneration process of the ion exchanger in the washing operation of the device that conducts water.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is represented in the drawings simply schematically and it will describe more in detail below. It shows in

Figure 1 the water path in a device de-hardener of a washing machine or dishwasher, consisting of ion exchanger, salt deposit and reserve tank regenerating water and

Figure 2 the equipment salt tank de-hardener in enlarged representation in section longitudinal.

A regenerative de-hardening device (1) of a dishwasher or washing machine not shown connected to a tap water network for soft water available to wash dishes or clothes, have a salt container (2) with a tap water connection (3) to prepare the solution saline (8) to regenerate an ion exchanger (4) postconnected equipment.

The salt tank (2) can be installed by example inside the appliance dishwasher door and has a filling opening (5) at the top for add regenerating salt (6) to the salt tank (2) housed from the de-hardening device (1) typical of the device. In the deposit of salt (2) arranged in the appliance door, the filling opening (5) is housed on the inner side of the door, at a height of The convenient door for the user.

Inside the salt tank (2), see also figure 2, a camera (7) is provided above the salt sieve (20), which houses the regenerating salt (6) introduced in the tank, as well as the saline solution (8) found over the salt in the tank chamber. The tank chamber with the dissolved regenerating salt (saline solution 8), is limited by an overflow of the solution (9), from which a pipe conducts of solution (10), also advantageously controlled by a valve, to the ion exchanger (4), which in turn leads to the washing tank (11) of the washing machine or dishwasher not represented. To prepare soft water, the ion exchanger (4) it is provided in the known manner also with a connection (12) for running water (F).

For the preparation of the solution, it is used running water (F) stored in a reserve tank (13), located at a level that is above the salt deposit (2), which It is not de-hardened. The entrance of running water (14) carried from the reserve deposit (13) to the salt deposit (2), it is controlled by a valve (magnetic valve 15). At the end of a Washing program automatically performs the regeneration of the ion exchanger (4), then it must be ensured that for this, an amount of saline solution is available with sufficient concentration or density of solution.

At the time of regeneration, the magnetic valve (15) arranged in the inlet of the running water (14) until a quantity of running water has been extracted previously sized from the reserve tank (13) until salt deposit (2). Then the amount is ejected corresponding saline solution of the salt container (2) and it is conducted through the overflow of the solution (9) to the ion exchanger (4). If there is insufficient salt, originated due to insufficient regeneration of the de-hardener (1), based on the reduction of the density of the solution that implies, has to this status be signaled in time to the operator of the device. For it the device is configured with a fault indicating device of salt (16).

For the detection of insufficient salt, the density of the saline solution is used according to the invention, as well as the density of the running water of the reserve vessel contributed to the salt deposit (2) for the preparation of the solution saline. Based on the different liquid densities, they are generated in the invention framework liquid columns (S_ {SO}; S_ {F}) of different height of saline solution and running water. The corresponding height difference (H) of both columns of liquid (S_ {SO}; S_ {F}), is evaluated and displayed as a measure of the solution concentration.

For this, the equipment for the realization of Procedure is constituted as follows:

From the salt container (2) it derives, below the Salt sieve (20) of the saline solution (8), a pipe (17) configured as a communication tube, open up (air or atmospheric pressure), with an overflow (18). This pipe (17) is fed with running water (F) through the connection of running water (3) of the salt container (2). He overflow (18) provided for running water in the pipe (17), is arranged (see figure 2) preferably below the threshold of the overflow of the solution (9) that is in the tank of salt (2) to the ion exchanger (4), being fixed and the overflow of the solution being therefore constant (9). In the pipe (17) with the overflow (18), the column is configured of liquid (S_ {}} for tap water, whose level ranges from function of the density of the saline liquid column (S_ {SO}) reported from the salt deposit (2), more or less about the  overflow (18) for running water, when the magnetic valve (15). The lack of salt is measured with the magnetic valve (15) closed.

The pipe (17) mentioned above is laid out of the salt container (2), preferably formed next to the same, performing the display of the lack of salt (16) for the detection of the liquid level difference (H) in the pipe (17) above the overflow (18) and preferably performed by means of an optical sensor (19) as a light barrier of reflection. However, the display can also be done by means of a float arranged in the pipe (17) in the column of liquid (S_ {}} of running water, floating the float on the column of tap water liquid (S_ {).

The lack of salt detection, based on the system of pipes that communicate, works simply and reliable. It is not to expect a sensor fouling (19) or of the reflection surfaces of the optical sensor (19), since the pipe (17) with the sensor (19) is flooded with running water in each regeneration process of the ion exchanger (4) in the washing operation of the device that conducts water. By means of the pipe (17) driven upwards as a maze in the salt container (2), the running water is prevented from mixing in the pipe (17) or in the connection of running water (3) with saline solution (8) from the salt container (2). Supposing salt container (2) is housed in the appliance door of a Dishwasher or washing machine, it does not come this way, even when the door is opened and closed multiple times, no mixture of liquid, which would make the indication inaccurate Due to the difference in density, the column of running water (S_ {F}) in the pipe (maze) more high than the saline column (S_ {SO}) determined by the solution overflow. This height difference is captured and is a measure of the concentration of the solution.

According to the example of execution shown, keeps the level of the solution constant. If the concentration of the solution, the water level drops stream. To detect the lack of salt, the sensor (19) of the indication of the lack of salt (16) is installed in height minimum (overflow) determined. On the other hand, it could also keep the level of running water constant, which the level of the solution would vary depending on the concentration of The solution can be evaluated. However, the first arrangement with the solution overflow (9) fixed in place is The easiest to perform.

Claims (15)

1. Procedure for fault detection of salt in a dishwasher or washing machine equipped with a de-hardener, a salt container (2) of the de-hardener for the preparation of saline solution, in water current or the like and regenerating an ion exchanger with the salt solution of the salt container (2), and being included for detection of a lack of salt the density of the saline solution, characterized because the height differences of liquid (H) between saline solution and tap water deducted from the difference in densities between the running water (F) provided and the saline solution (8), are used for the detection of solution concentration. 2. Method according to claim 1, characterized because from the different densities of liquid, liquid columns (S_ {SO}; S_ {F}) of different height of the saline solution (8) and fresh water (F), and because the corresponding height difference (H) of liquid levels it is evaluated and visualized as a measure of the concentration of the solution. 3. Equipment to perform the procedure of the claim 1, wherein the salt container of the device de-hardener of the dishwasher or washing machine is configured with a drinking water access (running water or similar) for the preparation of saline solution, an overflow for the saline solution towards the ion exchanger and a lack of salt indicating device, characterized because from the salt container (2), derives from the solution a pipe (17) as a communicating tube, configured  open up, with an overflow (18) to which it is connected the inlet (3) for the running water, the lack of salt indicator device (16) for the detection of the difference in heights of the liquid (H) in the pipe (17) by over the overflow (18). 4. Equipment according to claim 3, characterized because the overflow (18) provided in the pipe (17) for fresh water (F) it is advantageously below threshold of the saline solution overflow (9) towards the ion exchanger (4). 5. Equipment according to claim 2 and 3, characterized because is formed in the pipe (17) with the overflow (18) the liquid column (SF) for running water. 6. Equipment according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the indication of lack of salt (16) is carried out by means of an optical sensor (19). 7. Equipment according to claim 6, characterized in that the indication of the lack of salt (16) is configured as a light reflection barrier. 8. Equipment according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the lack of salt indication (16) is configured with a float disposed in the pipe (17) in the liquid column (S_ {F}). 9. Equipment according to one of claims 3 to 8, characterized in that the liquid column (S_ {S0}) for the saline solution (8) is kept constant by the overflow of the saline solution (9) towards the ion exchanger (4) configured in a fixed position in the salt tank (2). 10. Equipment according to one of claims 3 to 9, characterized in that the liquid column (S_ {SO}) for the saline solution (8) varies and the liquid column (S_} of the running water (F) remains constant. 11. Equipment according to one of claims 3 to 10, characterized in that the running water (F) is taken to the salt tank (2) from a reserve tank (13) that is located at a level above the overflow of the saline solution (9). 12. Equipment according to one of claims 3 to eleven, characterized in that the inlet of running water (3; 14) to the salt tank (2) is controlled by a valve. 13. Equipment according to one of claims 3 to 12, characterized in that the pipe (17) opened at the top is connected to the surrounding air. 14. Equipment according to one of claims 3 to 13, characterized in that the salt shortage measurement is performed with the magnetic valve (15) closed. 15. Equipment according to one of claims 3 to 14, characterized in that the salt tank (2) is advantageously arranged in the door of the devices of the dishwasher machine.