FR2830600A1 - Dishwasher water distribution valve has electric motor driven outlet closing system to regulate feed cycle during washing and drying dishes - Google Patents

Abstract

The dishwasher (M) has washing spray arms (US,LS) fed with water through the valve unit (1) by a pump (EP) and outlets (12,13) which can be closed by a motor operated control shut off. A drying unit (D) is fed through an outlet (11) which can also be closed.

Description

a through opening (a) adjoining (s) to two solid parts (6).

  GROUP OF BYPASS VALVES IN PARTICULAR FOR

  A WASHING AND DRYING MACHINE

  The present invention relates to a group of bypass valves, in particular (but not exclusively) for a washing machine and drying dishes. The object of the present invention is to provide a group of bypass valves of an improved type, which can be produced relatively inexpensively and which has a reliability of

high functioning.

  These and other objects are achieved according to the invention with a group of bypass valves, in particular for a dishwashing and washing machine, comprising: a valve body in which is defined a chamber having an inlet, intended to be connected to pressurized liquid supply devices, and at least first and second outputs intended to be connected to said inlet according to pre-established modalities to supply the flow of liquid to two different hydraulic circuits of use ; a shutter member movable in the valve body and able to take first and second working positions in which it intercepts and respectively releases one outlet and in at least one of which it releases the other outlet; actuators which can control the position

  being associated with said shutter member.

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  Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly on reading

  of the description below, done simply

  non-limiting example, and made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a washing machine and drying dishes comprising a group of bypass valves according to the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a group of bypass valves according to the invention; Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the valve group according to Figure 2; Figures 4-7 are sectional views of a group of bypass valves according to Figures 2 and 3, shown in a rest or stand-by condition and in three successive working conditions; Figures 8 and 9 are sectional views of the group of bypass valves according to the preceding figures, shown again in a state of rest or stand-by and, respectively, in a

different working condition.

  FIGS. 10 and 11 are perspective views of another group of bypass valves according to the invention and FIG. 12 is a schematic functional representation of the group of bypass valves according to

Figures 10 and 11.

  In FIG. 1, overall, M indicates a washing and drying machine for the dishes. In a manner known per se, this machine M comprises an envelope of

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  support E, inside which is defined a washing chamber WC, above a lower basin T. in the central zone of which is provided a lowered well P. The machine M comprises an electric pump EP which, during operation, sucks the washing liquid from well P and brings it to a group of bypass valves generally indicated by 1. This group of valves controls the coupling between the electric pump EP and two separate hydraulic circuits for use . A first hydraulic circuit for use in the illustrated application example comprises two supply pipes SP1 and SP2, connected, in a manner known per se, to two vaporization turbines

  LS and US, respectively lower and upper.

  The second hydraulic operating circuit comprises a supply pipe SP3, which connects an outlet of the group of bypass valves 1 to a device D of a type known per se, used in the drying phase of the dishes and located in the upper part of the machine M. In a first example of real i sat ion illustrated in FIGS. 2-9, as will appear more clearly below, the group of bypass valves 1 is designed to supply a flow of liquid selectively at the first and to the second hydraulic service circuits. In addition, when this group of bypass valves connects the electric pump EP to the hydraulic operating circuit comprising the steam turbines, this group of bypass valves is also able to control the

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  methods of supplying liquid to said turbines, so as to employ, during a washing cycle, the joint supply of a flow of liquid to the two turbines, and, alternately, the supply of a liquid flow selectively to one or the other turbine. The bypass valve group is connected and operationally controlled by an electronic programmer ET to which it is connected by a multi-wire line L. Referring to FIGS. 2 et seq., A bypass valve group 1 according to the invention comprises a body of valves 2 which, in the illustrated embodiment, essentially comprises a tank body 3, essentially L-shaped, and an associated cover 4 of corresponding shape, coupled together by inserting a shaped seal (FIG. 3). The tank body 3 has an end branch 3a, with an inlet connector 6 intended for

  be connected to the outlet of the EP electric pump.

  Inside the body 3, downstream of the inlet connection 6, there is a left partition 7 in

  which is formed an outlet opening 8.

  This partition 7 divides the internal region of the valve body into a first chamber 9, between the inlet connection 6 and this wall 7, and into a second

room 10.

  In a side wall portion of the end 3a of the valve body 3 is formed a connection of

  exit 11, communicating with room 9.

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  In the portion of the cover 4 which faces the chamber 10 are made two other outlet fittings

  12 and 13 communicating with this room.

  As seen in the schematic representation of FIG. 1, the outlet connector 11 of the group of bypass valves 1 is intended to be connected to the hydraulic circuit used in the drying phase of the dishes, while the outlet connectors 12 and 13 are intended to be connected to the turbines of

LS and US vaporization.

  In the chamber 9 of the group of bypass valves is a main shutter, generally indicated by 14. This shutter comprises a plate portion 18, from the surface of which extends an arcuate leg 16 which has, at the free end, a transverse rung 17 (see in particular

Figure 3).

  The plate portion 15 of the shutter 14 carries on one side a seal 18 (FIG. 3) and on the other side or face a seal 19. By means of these seals, the plate portion 15 the shutter member 14 is able to selectively close in leaktight fashion the mouth of the outlet fitting 11 and, respectively, the opening 8 made in the

left partition 7.

  In the chamber 10 of the valve group a control member 20, essentially disc-shaped, is pivotally mounted. On the face of this member which is oriented towards the cover 4, a cam groove 21 of essentially oval shape is formed,

  which extends around the axis of rotation of the member 20.

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  The lateral wall or outer edge of the groove 21 has an interruption or opening 22 (see in particular for example FIGS. 6, 7 and 9) in a part of this groove which reaches the periphery of the control member 20. At the control member 20 is integrally connected to a rod 23, coaxial with the axis of said member, and at the free end of which is fixed a rotary shutter member 24. This shutter, as will be described later, is intended to cooperate or well to intercept

  selectively the outlet fittings 12 and 13.

  As seen in Figure 3, on the side opposite to the cover 4, a shaped support body 25 is connected to the tank body 3 and in this body 25, is mounted a gear reducer made with several toothed wheels 26-30. By means of this gear reducer, the pin shaft 23 of the control member 20 and the associated switch 24 can be coupled to the shaft 31a of a synchronous electric motor 31 fixed to the support body 25 (figure 3). This motor, in the illustrated embodiment, is fixed to the support body 25, and its shaft 31a passes through this body 25 to mesh with the input toothed wheel 26 of the gear reducer. In the embodiment illustrated by way of example, the toothed wheel 29 of the gear reducer described above has a shaped periphery, so as to form a cam profile. The periphery of the toothed wheel 29 has in particular four radially projecting peripheral sectors, having the respective entry edges at an angular distance

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  equidistant, and differentiated respective angular extensions (Figure 3). Associated with the thus profiled periphery of the toothed wheel 29 is a feeler member 32. Each time that the feeler 32 engages the periphery of one of these projecting sectors of the toothed wheel 29, it connects two output contacts 33 and 34 fixed to the support body 25 and intended to be connected to the electronic ET programmer. When, on the other hand, the probe 32 engages a region lying between these

  protruding sectors, the contacts 33 and 34 are uncoupled.

  Another contact 35, also fixed to the support body 25, allows - with contact 34 the supply of an electric current to the motor

synchronous 31.

  The cam profiles of the toothed wheel 29 described above, with the associated probe 32, make it possible to make available to the electronic programmer AND information on the instantaneous position of the cam member 20, of the associated shutter 24 and,

  as will be seen below, of the shutter member 14.

  At rest, the group of bypass valves 1 takes the configuration shown in FIG. 4. In this condition, the shutter member 14 is held in an intermediate position between the mouth opening of the outlet fitting 11 and the opening 8 made in the left wall 7 by the effect of the mutual attraction of the magnets 36 and 37. The latter constitute devices making it possible to stabilize the shutter 14 in the rest position. The plate portion 15 of the shutter 14 extends for example about 10 from the mouth opening of the outlet connector 11. In addition, the transverse rung 17 of the curved appendage 16 of the shutter member 14 extends inside the oval cam groove 21 of the control member 20, through an opening 22 thereof, near the periphery of said control member 20. The shutter 24 is located in a position

  intermediate between outlet fittings 12 and 13.

  From the rest or stand-by condition shown in Figure 4, the bypass valve device 1 can take two different working conditions depending on whether during operation, first activates the electric pump EP coupled to its input connection 6, or else the electric motor 31

  associated with the control member 20.

  In the first case, the operation of the bypass valve group 1 changes as illustrated in Figures 4-7. When the EP pump is activated before the electric motor 31, it sends a flow of pressurized liquid into the chamber 9 of the valve group 1, and this pressurized liquid determines the passage of the shutter 14 from the rest position shown on FIG. 4 in the working position shown in FIG. 5, the terminal rung.17 of the shutter 14 is radially disengaged from the cam groove 21 of the control member 20. In this condition, the liquid which enters in the group of valves 1 through the inlet connector 6 reaches the chamber 10, through the opening 8 made in the left wall 7, and it can flow from this chamber through the outlet fittings 12 and 13, according to the methods controlled by means of the rotary shutter 24, actuated by the electric motor 31, which is in turn actuated with delay relative to the electric pump. It should be noted that, following the disengagement of the rung 17 of the cam groove 21 of the member 20, the rotation of the latter member does not influence the position of the shutter 14 which remains in the position indicated on Figure 5 until the pump

electric EP is activated.

  In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, in the condition shown in FIG. 5, the rotary shutter 24 closes the outlet fitting 12, and does not interfere with the outlet fitting 13. The flow of liquid coming from the electric pump EP therefore reaches the upper vaporization turbine of the machine M. Then, due to the subsequent rotation of the control member 20 caused by the electric motor 31, the device reaches the condition shown in FIG. 6 in which the shutter 24 releases the two outlet fittings 12 and 13. The flow of liquid supplied by the electric pump EP can then reach the two vaporization turbines of the machine M. The subsequent rotation of the control member 20 leads the device to be taken the configuration shown in FIG. 7, in which the rotary shutter 24 closes the outlet fitting 13, and the flow of liquid coming from the electric pump EP is then supplied solely with the lower turtine ure of machine M,

through the outlet fitting 12.

  The subsequent rotation of the control member 20 returns the rotary shutter 24 to the indicated position

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  in FIG. 4 and the operation proceeds cyclically as described above, as long as the electric pump EP and the electric motor 31 are

kept activated.

  The first operating mode described above which becomes operational thanks to the activation of the electric pump EP anticipated with respect to the activation of the electric motor 31, is used for the

  washing the dishes.

  The second operating mode of the bypass valve group 1 is applicable on the other hand, by the early activation of the electric motor 31 with respect to the activation of the electric pump, always starting from the rest condition shown on the Figure 4. This second mode of operation will now be illustrated with reference to Figures 8 and 9. For convenience, and for easier understanding, Figure 8 actually corresponds to Figure 4 and shows the group of valves. lead 1 in the rest or stand-by condition. If, from this condition, the electric motor 31 is first activated, the terminal rung 17 of the shutter 14 is engaged in the opening 22 of the oval cam groove 21 of the actuated control member 20 in rotation by the motor 31 and is retained there. Consequently, the shutter 14 rotates, anti-clockwise, if we look at FIG. 8 and places itself in the working position shown in FIG. 9, in which it closes the opening 8 made in the left wall 7, in fact by separating between them the chambers 9 and 10. The chamber 9 is moreover freely in communication with the outlet connector 11. The electric motor 31, after an initial activation sufficient to cause rotation shutter 14 to the position of Figure 9, is disabled. The flow of liquid supplied by the electric pump EP enters the chamber 9 of the group of bypass valves, and exits through the outlet connector 11, from where it reaches the device D located in the upper part of the machine M ( see

Figure 1).

  The second operating mode described now, implemented in the drying stages of the dishes, ends with the deactivation of the electric pump EP. When this has taken place, the electric motor 31 rotates, so as to transfer the control member 20 to the rest position shown in FIGS. 4 and 8. The shutter member 14 will then return to the rest position shown on these figures, by the effect of the mutual attraction of

permanent magnets 36 and 37.

  In Figures 10 to 12, an alternative embodiment of a group of bypass valves according to the invention is illustrated. In these figures, the same reference numbers have been assigned to parts and elements similar or substantially equivalent to parts and elements already described above. The bypass valve group according to the figures from 10 to 12, comprises a body 2 which has an inlet fitting 6, an outlet fitting 11 as well as another pair of outlet fittings 12 and 13. In

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  the body 2, a wall 7 separates a chamber 9 which communicates with the inlet connector 6, from a chamber 10 which is capable of communicating with the fittings 12

  and 13 (see in particular Figure 12).

  In the embodiment illustrated by way of example, in the chamber 9, around the mouth of the outlet connector 11 is defined a valve seat 51 which faces the shutter 14. This valve seat is capable of cooperating with said shutter which, in this embodiment of the deflection device, is linked to a ferromagnetic core 54 movable axially in a control coil or solenoid 53. In a manner known per se, a contrast spring indicated by 55 in FIG. 12 is associated with core 5. This spring tends to push the core into a position in which the shutter 14 closes the valve seat 51. In this condition, communication between the inlet connection 6 and the outlet connection 11 is prevented, while communication is allowed between the inlet connector 6 and the chamber 10, through the opening 8

made in the inner wall 7.

  When the solenoid 53 is excited, it attracts the core 54, against the action of the spring 55 and causes the shutter 14 to move away from the valve seat 51. So if, as shown in FIG. 12, another valve seat 52 cooperating with the shutter 14 is formed, it is possible to allow, in this condition only, the communication between the inlet fitting 6 and the outlet fitting 11, the communication between the inlet fitting 6 and the chamber 10 being prohibited.

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  Moreover, in an alternative embodiment to that illustrated in FIG. 12, when the solenoid 53 is excited, the shutter 14 releases the seat 51, but cannot manage to intercept the opening 8, this is why, in at the same time, communication is allowed between the inlet fitting 6 and the outlet fitting 11, as well as between the inlet fitting 6 and the chamber 10

  to which hang the outlet fittings 12 and 13.

  Also in the variant embodiment according to the figures from 10 to 12, the outlet fittings 12 and 13 are associated with a rotary shutter 24, carried by a shaft 23 actuated in rotation by an electric motor 31, for example of the synchronous type, by the 'through an associated geared motor 25. In this variant embodiment, there is however no longer the control member 20 which was on the other hand provided in the

  realization according to the figures from 1 to 9.

  The valve group according to the figures from 10 to 12

  therefore has a relatively simpler structure.

  In this group, the coupling methods between the inlet fitting 6 and the outlet fitting 11 and / or between the inlet 6 and the outlet fittings 12-13 do not depend on the order in which the electric pump EP and the electric motor 31 associated with the rotary shutter 24, but only of the excited or de-excited condition of the control solenoid 53, which can in turn be suitably controlled by the programmer of the machine o

group is installed.

  Naturally, while maintaining the principle of the invention, the embodiments and the details

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  of implementation may be implemented modified from what has been described and illustrated by way of nonlimiting example, without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined in

attached claims.

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Claims (11)

  1. A group of bypass valves (1), particularly for a washing and drying machine (M) comprising: a valve body (2-4) in which is defined a chamber (9) having an inlet (6) intended to be connected to supply devices (EP) for pressurized liquid, and at least first and second outlets (8,11) intended to be coupled to said inlet (6) according to predetermined methods, to supply the liquid flow to two different hydraulic circuits of use (SP1, SP2); a shutter member (14) movable in the valve body (2-4) and able to take first and second working positions in which it intercepts and respectively releases an outlet (11) and in at least one of which it releases the other outlet (8); actuator devices (31, 20, 53) capable of controlling the position thereof being associated with said member shutter (14).   2. Valve group according to claim 1,   wherein the other outlet (8) of the valve body (2-   4) communicates with a second chamber (10) provided with at least first and second outlet fittings (12, 13); in said second chamber (10), mobile shutter devices (24) capable of selectively intercepting said outlet fittings (12, 13) being provided. SR 22092 IT / JB   3. Valve group according to claim 2, wherein said obturator devices comprise a rotary obturator (24) which can be   operated by an associated motor (31).   4. Valve group according to one of   claims 2 and 3, in which there are   sensor devices (29, 32, 33, 34) capable of providing signals indicative of the position of said sensors mobile shutter systems (24).   5. Valve group according to claims 3   and 4, in which said sensor devices comprise a cam member (29) actuated in rotation by said motor (31) and having a coded profile cooperating with at least one movable feeler member associated (32).   6. Valve group according to one of   previous claims, wherein said   first and second outlets (8, 11) are intended to be selectively coupled to the inlet (6) to supply a flow of liquid selectively to a first (SP3) or to a second hydraulic operating circuit (SP1, SP2), and comprising a main shutter member (14) able to take a first and a second working position in which it selectively closes an outlet (8) and respectively the other outlet (11); the shutter member (14) being able to assume an intermediate rest position between said working positions; devices SR 22092 IT / JB   actuators (31, 20) being associated with said shutter member (14) and able, when activated, to cause the passage from the rest position to the other or second working position; the shutter member (14) being also capable of passing from the rest position to the other or second working position by the effect of the pressure of a flow of liquid supplied to said inlet (6) of the body valve (2-4) so that, in use, the valve group (1) is able to couple said liquid supply devices (EP) to one or the other of said hydraulic circuits of use depending on that at the start of operation, the liquid supply devices (EP) were first activated   or said actuator devices (31, 20).   7. Valve group according to claim 6, in which are prew s devices (36, 37) able to stabilize the main shutter member (14)   in said intermediate rest position.   8. Valve group according to claims 3   and 6, in which a rotary control member (20) is associated with said motor (31) able to couple with said main shutter (14) when the latter is in said rest position, and to determine the transition to said first working position by the effect of an initial activation of the motor (31) preceding the activation of the devices   liquid flow supply (EP). SR 22092 IT / JB   9. A group of valves according to claim 8, in which said control member (20) has a cam groove (21) which is partially laterally open on the periphery of this control member (20) at an opening. (22) in which an appendage (17) of the main shutter member (14) can engage when the latter is in said rest position.   1010. A group of valves according to claim 1, in which the arrangement is such that the shutter (14) is able, in a first and respectively, in a second position, to connect said inlet (6) selectively only with a first of said outputs (8, 12, 13) and respectively with this first output (8, 12, 13) and the second exit (ll).   11. Valve group according to claim 1 or claim 10, wherein said valve member (14) is carried by a movable core (54) and cooperates with at least one associated valve housing (51, 52) under the control of a solenoid (53).