ES2781226T3 - Circulation pump for a dishwasher machine - Google Patents

Abstract

Circulation pump (120) for a dishwashing machine (100), including a channel impeller unit (200) with a housing element (305) and a flow inlet unit in the form of a trumpet (310), characterized by at least one seal element (300), which is arranged around the housing element (305) of the channel impeller unit (200) and which extends radially outward from the housing element (305) of the unit of channel impeller (200) and which is shaped to be able to slide radially on a bearing surface (315) of the flow inlet unit in the form of a trumpet (310), the sealing element (300) being configured to seal , at least partially reversibly, an impeller lateral space (210) between the channel impeller unit (200) and the trumpet-shaped flow inlet unit (310).

Description

DESCRIPTION

Circulation pump for a dishwasher machine

The solution approach presented here refers to a circulation pump for a dishwasher.

Circulation pumps currently used in series have a gap between a rotating impeller and a fixed counterpart. This zone is referred to in flow technology as the “lateral space of the impeller”. The medium can flow through this lateral space of the impeller from the pressure side to the suction side. As a result, a volumetric leakage flow results that reduces the hydraulic performance of a pump. By reducing the lateral space of the impeller, this influence can be reduced, efficiency increases and thus power consumption is lowered.

DE 10116671 A1 discloses a circulation pump for a water-conducting household electrical appliance, which includes a channel impeller unit with a housing element and a flow inlet unit formed by a trumpet, forming the channel element. casing and the flow inlet unit together the casing of a side space of the impeller.

The lateral space of the impeller of some dishwasher pumps has a continuous gap of 1 mm, which cannot be reduced in current manufacturing processes without great manufacturing and / or assembly cost or without adding special structural components. In circulation pumps, so-called floating rings are also known in the heating zone, which can make a direct seal relative to the impeller.

Document DE 19611677 C2 describes a non-contact seal with a floating ring for a lateral space of the impeller of a flow-through pressure turbine.

WO 2008123174 A1 and US RE28742 E disclose a centrifugal pump with a sealing element between a housing element of a channel impeller unit and a flow inlet unit.

The solution approach presented here has as its basic objective to achieve an improved circulation pump for a dishwasher.

According to the invention, this objective is achieved by a circulation pump with the characteristics of the main claim. Advantageous configuration variants and refinements of the solution approach result from the following subclaims.

The advantages that can be achieved with the solution approach presented here are that with only one sealing element a good sealing of the lateral space of the impeller is possible. By the sealing action of the sealing element, the efficiency of the circulation pump increases and thereby the energy consumption of the household electrical appliance in which the presented side impeller unit is mounted is reduced. In addition, dirt particles in the medium whose flow passes through the lateral impeller space can pass through the sealing element.

A channel impeller unit for a circulation pump for a dishwashing machine includes at least one sealing element, which extends from a housing element of the channel impeller unit protruding radially outwards and which is configured to, after the mounting the circulation pump with a horn, sealing, at least in part reversibly, a lateral space of the impeller between the channel impeller unit and the horn. Circulation pumps in dishwashing machines are used for example to pump wash water over and over again from the collecting container to the spray arms. The circulation pump has a rotating part in the form of the channel impeller and a counterpart that does not move. Between the channel impeller and the counterpart, the lateral space of the impeller runs. A part of the channel impeller is called an impeller unit. The housing element of the channel impeller unit is a part of the channel impeller unit that is in contact with the lateral space of the impeller. A flow inlet unit of the counterpart is in the shape of a trumpet and this inlet unit will be referred to hereinafter as a trumpet, together with the housing element of the channel impeller unit forming the housing lateral space of the impeller.

By simply sealing the lateral space of the impeller by means of a sealing element shaped for example as a sealing skirt, which extends radially outward from the casing element, it can be increased after mounting of the channel impeller unit in the pump. circulation the efficiency of the circulation pump, thereby reducing the energy consumption of the dishwashing machine in which the circulation pump is mounted. Advantageously, the sealing element can furthermore be produced advantageously and simply.

The sealing element may then advantageously include, at least in part, a sealing skirt formed from an elastic material. An elastic material can be supported on the trumpet in a fully adapted shape, in order to seal the lateral space of the impeller in a fluid-tight manner. In addition, an elastic sealing skirt can easily be released back from the sealing position.

According to one embodiment, the sealing element can be shaped to seal one end of the lateral space of the impeller. The sealing element can for this purpose cover one end of the lateral space of the impeller configured as an opening of the lateral space of the impeller and thus seal the entire lateral space of the impeller.

The joint element may be fixed or it may be fixed by a hinge to the channel impeller unit, in particular when the hinge is a film hinge. The sealing element can, for example, be manufactured together with the hinge in one piece with the housing element. This makes a simple manufacturing process possible. Furthermore, a hinge can make possible an axial mobility of the joint element on a bearing surface on the horn.

The sealing element is thus shaped to be positioned around the housing element of the channel impeller unit. In this way, one end of the lateral space of the impeller which runs in a circular manner around the channel impeller can be completely sealed. Thus, only a ring-shaped sealing element is necessary.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the sealing element is shaped so as to be able to slide radially on a supporting surface of the horn. The sealing element can thus be individually adapted and in particular reliably waterproof the lateral space of the impeller also even under different prevailing pressure conditions.

The seal element can be injected by an injection molding process onto the housing element. An injection molding process can make possible a simple and inexpensive mounting of the seal element in the housing element.

The sealing element can have at least one groove. The groove can increase the flexibility of the joint element. When the sealing element is arranged around the housing element, it may be advantageous for the sealing element to have a plurality of such grooves, to ensure the flexibility of the sealing element in its contour.

The groove can extend, according to one embodiment, in a radial direction. A radial direction of the groove can ensure, especially when the sealing element is arranged around the housing element, that the sealing element can flexibly rest on the horn and, for example, the sealing element is not deformed.

A circulation pump for a dishwasher has a trumpet and one of the indicated channel impeller units.

This circulation pump can serve as a replacement for known circulation pumps, with the advantage that the circulation pump presented here exhibits, since the sealing element can be mounted in a favorable and simple manner, a high efficiency, thereby consuming less energy.

The seal member of the circulation pump may be shaped to open by the particles moving through the side space of the impeller. This enables dirt particles such as sand to pass through, for example, so that the circulation pump cannot be clogged or blocked.

A method for manufacturing one of the channel impeller units presented above for a circulation pump includes the following steps:

- Contribution of at least one casing element to the channel impeller unit;

mounting of at least one sealing element on the casing element of the circulation pump, the sealing element being configured to seal, at least partially reversibly, a lateral space of the impeller between the channel impeller unit and the circulation pump trumpet.

The sealing element can then for example be mounted directly on the housing element, for example it can be injected. But it can also be joined as an additional structural component with the channel impeller unit.

Exemplary embodiments of the solution approach are depicted simply schematically in the drawings and will be described in more detail below. Shown in

Figure 1 a schematic representation of a dishwashing machine;

figure 2 a detail of a circulation pump in schematic cross section;

3 shows a detail of a circulation pump in schematic cross section according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 4 a detail of a circulation pump in schematic cross section according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 5 a schematic cross section of a sealing element according to an exemplary embodiment; FIG. 6 is a perspective plan view of a channel impeller unit according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a perspective plan view of a joint element with grooves according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a perspective plan view of a channel impeller unit according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view from below of a channel impeller unit according to an exemplary embodiment and

FIG. 10 a sequence diagram of a method for manufacturing a channel impeller unit.

Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a dishwashing machine 100. The dishwashing machine has two baskets for housing the dishes 105 arranged one above the other, in order to house the dishes. Next to the baskets to house the dishes, three sprinkler arms 110 are arranged. In an area facing a location area 115 for locating the dishwasher, a circulation pump 120 and an evacuation pump 125 are arranged. The circulation pump 120 is formed to pump again and again to the spray arms 110 the water that accumulates in a collecting container 130 during the operation of the dishwashing machine. The evacuation pump 125 is constituted to pump the dirty water that results from a washing process towards a drain 135.

Figure 2 shows in detail a schematic cross section of a circulation pump 120, which can be housed for example in the dishwashing machine. The detail shows in particular the channel impeller unit 200 and the counterpart 205 with trumpet 310. The circulation pump 120 has a channel impeller unit 200 and a counterpart 205. Between the channel impeller unit 200 and the counterpart 205 a lateral space of the impeller 210 is located. The channel impeller unit 200 includes a channel impeller 215, which rotates during operation of the circulation pump 120. According to the approach described based on FIG. 3, it would present the channel impeller 200 a sealing element, which would seal, at least partially reversibly, the lateral space of the impeller 210.

Figure 3 shows in detail a schematic cross section of a circulation pump 120 for a dishwashing machine according to an exemplary embodiment. In this regard, it may be the circulation pump 120 described in FIG. 2, with the difference that the channel impeller unit 200 of the circulation pump 120 has, according to this exemplary embodiment, the seal element 300. The element seal 300 extends from a housing element 305 of the channel impeller unit 200 protruding radially outward and is configured to, after mounting the horn 310 of the circulation pump 120, seal, in an at least partially reversible manner, the side space of the impeller 210 between the channel impeller unit 200 and the horn 310.

According to this exemplary embodiment, the sealing element 300 is supported on a bearing surface 315 of the horn 310 such that the sealing unit 300 seals the lateral space of the impeller 210 at one end 320 of the lateral space of the impeller 210, shaped as a opening of the lateral space of the impeller.

Exemplary embodiments will be described in more detail below on the basis of FIG. 3:

The sealing element 300, made elastic according to this exemplary embodiment, makes possible a flexible reduction of the lateral space of the impeller 210 and thus an increase in the efficiency of the circulation pump 120. The sealing element 300, shaped according to this example of Executed as a flexible sealing skirt, it can adapt axially and slide radially on the bearing surface 315.

The impeller of the circulation pump in the form of the channel impeller unit 200, with the lateral space of the impeller 210 that can be waterproofed, is made by modifying the geometry and, if necessary, with new materials of an existing structural component in the form of the sealing element. casing 305 of the channel impeller unit 200.

Contrary to the use of for example a floating ring, as for example in heating pumps, the demands made on the structural components and the medium to be transported are enormously reduced when it comes to the presented sealing element 300. Thus, advantageously, no mechanically reworked components are needed, nor several additional components representing the geometry of the joint. Furthermore, contamination of the medium due to eg sand, etc. can be large without impairing the operation of the seal in the form of the seal element 300 or of the pump in the form of the circulation pump 120, since the seal element 300 is shaped according to this exemplary embodiment to open reversibly due to particles such as dirt moving through the side space of the impeller.

Due to the sealing element 300 formed in the impeller, that is to say in the housing element 305 of the channel impeller unit 200, the manufacturing cost is negligible.

Due to the internal pressure of the circulation pump 120, the sealing element 300 is pressed against its counterpart in the shape of the trumpet 310. The sealing effect thus increases with increasing drive power. If coarse-grained particles are present in the medium, they can pass through the flexible sealing element 300, without adversely affecting the operation of the circulation pump 120. The sealing element 300 is injected directly onto the housing element 305 according to this execution example. According to an alternative embodiment, the sealing element 300 is connected, as an additional component, to the channel impeller unit 200. The solution approach presented can be used for any kind of pumps with an impeller space side 210.

FIG. 4 shows, also in detail, a schematic cross section of a circulation pump 120 according to an exemplary embodiment. In this regard, it may be the circulation pump 120 described on the basis of FIG. 3. A zone X has been shown enlarged in FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic cross section of a seal element 300 according to an exemplary embodiment. In this regard, it is the seal element 300, shown reduced in FIG. 4. According to this exemplary embodiment, the seal element 300 is connected to the housing element 305 by means of a hinge 500. On a side opposite the hinge 500, which is formed as a hinge film, a cavity 505 is located between the housing element 305 and the seal element 300, whereby the seal element 300 can move in the direction of the bearing surface 315. According to this exemplary embodiment, the element is supported seal 300 fluid-tight on bearing surface 315. Resilient seal 300 is shaped to be radially slidable on bearing surface 315 of trumpet 310.

Due to the "film hinge design" the seal element 300 can be axially adapted and thereby compensated for manufacturing tolerances. Radially, the geometry configuration has been chosen such that there is no limitation here.

Figure 6 shows a perspective plan view of a channel impeller unit 200 according to an exemplary embodiment. In this regard, it can be the channel impeller unit 200 described in FIG. 4, with the difference that according to this exemplary embodiment, the sealing element 300 has a plurality of grooves 600. The sealing element 300 is arranged around the sealing element. casing 305. The grooves 600 extend in a radial direction, for example at regular intervals, around the seal element 300. The grooves 600 are shaped as incisions in the seal element 300. The seal element 300 is grooved, to increase its flexibility.

Figure 7 shows a perspective plan view of a joint element 300 with groove 600 according to an exemplary embodiment. In this regard, it is an enlarged detail of the joint element 300 described in Figure 6.

Figure 8 shows a perspective view of a channel impeller unit 200 according to an exemplary embodiment. It may be the channel impeller unit 200 described on the basis of FIG. 6, with the difference that according to this exemplary embodiment the grooves 600 do not completely pass through the sealing element 300. The grooves 600 are made according to this exemplary embodiment, only as grooved notches in the seal element 300 on an upper face 800 of the seal element 300. Therefore, a lower face 805 of the seal element 300 is formed continuously, that is, without grooves 600. The bottom face 805 is depicted in Figure 9.

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of the underside of a channel impeller unit 200 according to an exemplary embodiment. In this regard, the channel impeller unit 200 can be described on the basis of FIG. 8. According to this exemplary embodiment, the underside 805 of the sealing element 300 does not have any grooves.

Figure 10 shows a sequence diagram of a process 1000 for manufacturing a channel impeller unit. In this regard, it may be a method 1000 for manufacturing one of the channel impeller units described on the basis of the preceding figures. In a forming step 1005 at least one carcass member is provided to a channel runner unit. In a further assembly step 1010, at least one sealing element is formed to seal a lateral impeller space between the channel impeller unit and a horn of the circulation pump, at least partially reversibly, in the housing element.

Claims (7)

1. Circulation pump (120) for a dishwashing machine (100), including a channel impeller unit (200) with a housing element (305) and a flow inlet unit in the form of a trumpet (310) , characterized by at least one seal element (300), which is arranged around the housing element (305) of the channel impeller unit (200) and which extends radially outward from the housing element (305) of the channel impeller unit (200) and which is shaped to be able to slide radially on a bearing surface (315) of the flow inlet unit in the form of a trumpet (310), the seal element (300) being configured to sealing, at least partially reversibly, a lateral space of the impeller (210) between the channel impeller unit (200) and the trumpet-shaped flow inlet unit (310). 2. Circulation pump (120) according to claim 1, characterized in that the gasket element (300) includes, at least in part, a sealing skirt formed from an elastic material. Circulation pump (120) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the joint element (300) is fixed or can be fixed by means of a hinge (500) to the channel impeller unit (200), in particular the hinge (500) is a film hinge. Circulation pump (120) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the seal element (300) is injected by an injection molding process onto the housing element (305). Circulation pump (120) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the joint element (300) has at least one groove (600) and / or a notch. 6. Circulation pump (120) according to claim 5, characterized in that the groove (600) and / or the notch extends in a radial direction. Circulation pump (120) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the seal element (300) is shaped to open by particles moving through the lateral space of the impeller (210).