ES2348652T3 - ANTI-FLOOD SECURITY SYSTEM FOR A DISHWASHER. - Google Patents

Abstract

The safety system comprises: a collection chamber (20) for water leaks, having an opening (32) for the inflow of water and a narrow opening (34) for the outflow of water into an auxiliary chamber (22); a member (24) located in the collection chamber (20) and capable of floating on the water collecting therein; and a switch (26) located over said floating member (24) and capable of being actuated by the latter when the water reaches a predetermined level inside the chamber (20), thus causing the floating member (24) to rise. The collection chamber (20) is stationary, whereas the floating member (24) is a single member and is also capable of floating on the water collecting in the auxiliary chamber (22), thus causing the switch (26) to be actuated when the water reaches a predetermined level inside the auxiliary chamber (22).

Description

Security system Anti-flood for a dishwasher.

The present invention relates to a system of flood safety for a dishwasher.

In more detail, this system includes:

- a collection chamber for water leaks, which has an opening for the incoming flow of said water and a narrow opening for the outgoing flow of said water into an auxiliary chamber,

- a member located in said collection chamber and able to float on the water that is collected in it, and

- a switch located on said member of flotation and capable of being operated by said flotation member when the water reaches a predetermined level inside said chamber, thereby making the flotation member ascend.

The PCT patent application WO-02/07581 discloses a security system of this kind. In this known system, the collection chamber is created in the top of a second flotation member which is in turn able to float on the water that is collected in the auxiliary chamber. The two flotation members are thus embedded one above the other and The collection chamber is movable.

When only the first member of flotation or ascend together the two flotation members, the switch is actuated and, in turn, starts a pump discharge and / or stop the main water supply or prevent otherwise the dishwasher performs operations additional.

The first flotation member is capable of Quickly activate the switch, even after a minor leakage of water, because its chamber is of low volume and therefore fills quickly with water, thus making the first member of flotation ascend to the critical level, where the second Flotation member remains virtually stationary. Then, the water that caused the first flotation member ascending is gradually downloaded from the collection chamber and disappears by evaporation over time. As a consequence, the security system interrupts its closing action and automatically returns to its initial state without needing external intervention, thus being ready to be activated in case of a future emergency situation.

On the other hand, in the case of a leak greater than water, the switch is operated by the two flotation members That ascend together. In this case, the closing action performed by the security system is irreversible and therefore it requires an external intervention in order to return the system to its original state and restore the functionality of the dishwasher.

Therefore, the known security system It has two activation modes, each mode being different according to the severity of the leak. Moreover, this system is complicated in terms of construction due to the two members of flotation that are embedded one above the other.

The object of the present invention is therefore both provide a security system that, in addition to preserving the feature of having two activation modes, be free of the disadvantage already mentioned.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a device of the type indicated at the beginning of the present description and characterized in that said chamber of collection is stationary and said flotation member is a single member and is also able to float on the water that is collected in the auxiliary chamber, thus making the switch actuated when the water reaches a predetermined level in the inside said auxiliary chamber.

The security system of the invention has therefore a single movable flotation member and a camera of water leak collection that is stationary in all operating conditions, thus being easier in construction terms

A further object of the present invention is a dishwasher comprising a security system anti-flood of the type described previously.

Other advantages and features of this invention will appear from the following detailed description which is given with reference to the accompanying drawings, provided purely by way of non-limiting example, in the which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a dishwasher base in which a security system is housed the invention and in which some components have been removed in for the sake of clarity,

Figure 2 is a similar perspective view to figure 1 but from a different angle,

Figure 3 is a schematic view to scale expanded of the security system of the invention housed in the base of a dishwasher,

Figure 4 is a perspective view in section in IV-IV as marked in figure 3, and

Figure 5 is a perspective from below of a flotation member that is part of the security system of the invention.

A dishwasher comprises (figures 1 and 2) a base formed by a hollow bottom 10, box-shaped substantially parallelepiped, and a top 12, for example a part of plastic or steel, which closes the bottom 10 by above as a lid and whose upper face serves as the lower part of the wash tank. Substantially vertical channels 14 are integral with the respective edges of the front side of the lower part 10, said channels being intended for drainage of water leaking from the gap between the tank access door washing and its front side. The vertical channels 14 lead to another channel 16 that extends all the time across the width of the base and has a step 18 in its central portion to download Water.

A security system anti-flood is located (figures 3 and 4) in the inside the cavity of the bottom 10 of the base, said system comprising: a collection chamber 20 for leaks of water, an auxiliary chamber 22, a single flotation member 24 and a switch 26.

The collection chamber 20 is delimited by a annular wall 28 ascending from the bottom 30 of the bottom 10 of the base, and in which they are created diametrically opposed to each other a water inlet opening 32 and an outlet opening 34. The inlet opening 32 communicates with a conduit 36 delimited by  walls 38 that also ascend from the bottom 30 of the part bottom 10 of the base, the duct being in turn fed by the unloading step 18 of the channel 16 which extends through the base width The outlet opening 34 is narrow and is communicates with the auxiliary chamber 22 that is level with the chamber 20 collection and completely surrounds it, thus occupying virtually the remaining part of the bottom 30 of the bottom 10 from the base.

The flotation member 24 is in the form of disc that has a circular groove on its lower face (figure 5) 40 with a diameter equivalent to that of the annular wall 28 and in which the upper edge of the latter is inserted. In this way, the slot 40 has a circular region 42 of flotation member 24 inside, said region being located in the chamber 20 of collection, and has a ring 44 of the floating member 24 around its outer side, said ring being located in the auxiliary chamber 22. Ring 44 has a hollow section 46 that it is located in a position that corresponds to that of the opening 32 of water inlet. The flotation member 24 may be a member One piece or multi piece.

Switch 26 is embedded in a bracket 48 which is integral with the front portion of the bottom 10 of the base and has a control lever 50 protruding above of member 24 of flotation.

When an occasional leak occurs from the access door to the wash tank, the water that leaks from the edge of said door is transported through the channels vertical 14, the channel 16 extending across the width of the base and extending the conduit 36 inside the chamber 20 of pick up Since the latter is of low volume and has a narrow opening 34 outlet, the water level in it rises quickly and makes the flotation member ascend quickly, thereby hitting the lever 50 and operating the switch 26. In a manner known per se, the switch 26 starts a discharge pump and stops the water supply from the main or similar, thus preventing water from spilling from the dishwasher to the outside. Subsequently, the water that is picks up in chamber 20 flows out inside the chamber auxiliary 22 with a reduced flow due to the narrowing of the exit opening 34. Therefore, since the leak is temporary, the Water level in collection chamber 20 decreases in one way such that the flotation member 24 also lowers and, except in the In case of a major leak, the switch 26, which by Therefore he is able to return to his original position. Therefore, it restores the functionality of the security system and the system It is ready to be activated in the event of a future emergency. No external intervention is required since the functionality is automatically resets and water, which has finally reached the same low level in both chambers 20, 22, disappears by evaporation.

However, in the case of a constant leak or an occasional major leak, the security system works from a different way Persistent water leaks, for example to through the bottom of the wash tank, which is the upper face of part 12 of the base, drip directly into the auxiliary chamber 22, thereby making the flotation member 24 ascend gradually, then hitting said member the lever 50 and causing switch 26 to be activated. Due to the flow constant water leakage, the water level cannot decrease subsequently without help and therefore intervention is required external in order to restore not only the functionality of the security system, but also the dishwasher. Do not However, it is more than justified to intervene in this case, since a persistent leak is potentially very dangerous and obviously It must be stopped. In the rare case of a temporary discharge high gravity, the water also reaches the same final level in the chambers 20, 22, such that the switch 26 is continuously  applied. As a consequence, intervention is also required external in this case in order not only to restore the functionality of the security system, but also that of the dishwasher.

The security system of the invention has therefore two modes of action, with the advantage that it does not require external intervention to restore it after actions provoked for minor temporary leaks. At the same time, this system proves to be reliable and economical due to its simple structure that provides two cameras 20, 22, both stationary, and a single member 24 flotation.

It should also be noted that the basis of dishwasher of the invention uses integral means -such as Channels 14 and 15- to transport water leaks from the front side of the dishwasher to the security system. This structure is highly advantageous in terms of construction. and, in principle, can be combined with any system of flood security housed in the base.

Obviously, without leaving the beginning of the invention, construction details and embodiments can vary considerably from those described purely by way of For example, without going beyond the scope claimed. In in particular, the lower part 10 of the base may in turn be a part of two pieces: one part forms the bottom of the base on which integral walls 28, 38 are created and in which said walls they define the chambers 20, 22 and the conduit 36, and the other part forms the side walls of the base on which channels 14 and 16.

Claims (13)

1. Security system anti-flood for a dishwasher, which understands: - a collection chamber (20) for leaks of water, which has an opening (32) for the incoming flow of said water and a narrow opening (34) for the outgoing flow of said water inside an auxiliary chamber (22), - a member (24) located in said chamber (20) of collection and capable of floating in the water collected in it, and - a switch (26) located on said member (24) flotation and capable of being operated by said member (24) of flotation when the water reaches a predetermined level in the inside said chamber (20), thereby making the member (24) flotation ascend, said system being characterized in that said collection chamber (20) is stationary and said flotation member (24) is a single member and also capable of floating in the water collected in the auxiliary chamber (22), thereby making it The switch (26) is activated when the water reaches a predetermined level inside said auxiliary chamber (22). 2. Security system according to claim 1, characterized in that said collection chamber (20) is delimited by a substantially annular wall (28) in which said water inlet and outlet openings (32, 34) are created. . 3. Security system according to claim 2, characterized in that said flotation member (24) is in the form of a disk having a circular groove (40) on its underside with a diameter equivalent to that of said annular wall (28) and in which the upper edge of said annular wall (28) is inserted, said groove (40) having a circular region (42) in its interior and a ring (44) around its outer side, said ring having a hollow section (46) located in a position corresponding to that of said water inlet opening (32). 4. Dishwasher comprising a system of flood safety according to any of the preceding claims. 5. Dishwasher according to claim 4, comprising a base on which said system is located security, said base being suitable for transporting the water that it leaks from the front face of the dishwasher to said system of security. 6. Dishwasher according to claim 5, wherein said base is formed by a hollow bottom (10) in the form of a box and a top (12) that closes the bottom (10) above as a cover, being created in the edges of the front side of said respective lower part (10) substantially vertical channels (14) for water drainage leaking from the front of the dishwasher, driving said channels (14) inside another channel (16) that has a passage (18) to discharge water. 7. Dishwasher according to claim 6, wherein said download step (18) communicates with a duct (36) enclosed by walls (38) that ascend from the bottom (30) of said base, said conduit leading into said inlet opening (32) of the collection chamber (20). 8. Dishwasher according to any of the previous claims 4 to 7, wherein said chamber (20) of collection is delimited by a wall (28) that ascends from the bottom (30) of said base and in which said openings are created (32, 34) water inlet and outlet. 9. Dishwasher according to claim 8, wherein said wall (28) is annular and said openings (32, 34) water inlet and outlet are diametrically opposed each. 10. Dishwasher according to any of the preceding claims 4 to 9, wherein said chamber auxiliary (22) is level with said collection chamber (20) and surrounds the latter virtually completely. 11. Dishwasher according to any of the preceding claims 6 to 10, wherein said switch (26) is embedded in a bracket (48) that is integral with the front portion of said lower part (10) of the base and has a control lever (50) protruding above said member (24) flotation. 12. Dishwasher according to any of the preceding claims 6 to 11, wherein said part bottom (10) of the base is in turn formed by a piece of two parts, of which one part forms the bottom of the base and the other part forms the side walls of the base. 13. Dishwasher comprising a base in the which is located a security system anti-flood, being produced with said base integral means in order to transport leaking water from the front side of the dishwasher to the system security.