GB2023411A

GB2023411A - Dishwashing machine

Info

Publication number: GB2023411A
Application number: GB7920739A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Licentia Patent Verwaltungs GmbH
Current assignee: Licentia Patent Verwaltungs GmbH
Priority date: 1978-06-19
Filing date: 1979-06-14
Publication date: 1980-01-03
Also published as: FR2429004A3; DE2826735B2; FR2429004B3; DE2826735C3; DE2826735A1; SE444760B; GB2023411B; SE7905361L; IT1121826B; IT7923681A0

Abstract

A dish washing machine comprises a circulating pump, a spray container with two crockery baskets, respective spray arms fed by the circulating pump and each rotatably arranged to spray the respective crockery basket and a switch-over device to alternately connect each of the spray arms to the circulating pump. The switch-over device comprises a housing (1), connected by an inlet feed stub (2) to the circulating pump and by two outlet stubs (3,4) to the spray arms. A rotatable or pivotable distributor blade (6) is so journalled in the housing that the water current from the feed stub (2) is directed to either one of the outlet stubs or partial currents are directed to both outlet stubs during a steady transition from the closing of the one to the opening of the other throughflow path. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Dish washing machine The present invention relates to a dish washing machine with two spray arms.

In a known dish washing machine (DE-OS 22 11 310) with a rinsing container, two crockery baskets arranged one above another and two spray arms fed by a circulating pump, the spray jet pressure is variable by displacing a throttle provided in the pressure stub of the circulating pump. Thereby, pump energy is destroyed and the jet strength in the entire machine altered.

In order to attain a good cleaning result with reduced water and energy consumption in a dish washing machine with two spray arms fed from one circulating pump, there is known a process for the cleaning of crockery (DE-AS 24 28 991), in which during at least one rinsing operation, the spray arms are connected alternately one after the other to the circulating pump and the spray jet pause following a spray jet cycle of a spray arm is timed for the duration of the soaking of the crockery previously sprayed by this spray arm.

According to the present invention there is provided a dish washing machine comprising a circulating pump, a rinsing container with two crockery baskets, two rotatable spray arms fed by the circulating pump and a switch-over device to bring the circulating pump into communication with each of the two spray arms in alternation, the switch-over device comprising a housing connected by an inlet feed stub to the circulating pump and by a respective outlet stub to each of the spray arms, and a movable distributor blade so journalled in the housing as to permit full communication between the feed stub and either one of the outlet stubs or a transmission between the full communication and a partial communication between the feed stub and both outlet stubs.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view of a switch-over device embodying the present invention, Fig. 2 shows a radial impeller wheel for the drive of the distributor blade and arranged in the conveying duct or in the feed duct of the switch-over device and Fig. 3 shows an axial impeller wheel for the drive of the distributor blade and arranged in the conveying duct or in the feed duct of the switch-over device.

Referring now to the drawings, a switch-over device for the conduction of a water current from a circulating pump (not illustrated) to spray arms of a dish washing machine, is connected to the conveying duct of the circulating pump. It consists of a cylindrical housing 1, on the cylindrical shell of which are mounted a feed stub 2 and two outlet stubs 3 and 4. The water current flowing from the conveying duct of the circulating pump through the feed stub 2 into the housing 1 is deflected to one of the outlet stubs 3 or 4 by a distributor blade 6 rotatably or pivotablyjournalled on an axle 5 in the housing.

The arrangement of the distributor blade and the association of the outlet stubs to the feed stub are so arranged that in the switch-over regions the distributor blade simultaneously closes one water path to the same degree as it frees the other water path so that in these regions both water paths are always partially opened.

In Fig. 1 the distributor blade 6 is rotatable through 3600 and each outlet stub 3 and 4 is opened twice during one rotation of the distributor blade. As the outlet stubs are located one opposite the other at 1800 and each arranged about the centre of rotation of the distributor blade at 900 to the feed stub, then equally long throughflowtimes result, i.e. the operating phases for the spray arms are of the same duration. If the angle between the outlet stubs and the feed stub is varied, then different spray times can be predetermined for the upper and lower spray arms. By stopping the distributor blade in a midposition between the outlet stubs, the spray arms can be supplied with equal partial currents at the same time.

The drive of the distributor blade 6 can take place through an impeller wheel driven in the feed stub 2 by the water current of the circulating pump, either a radial wheel 7 or an axial wheel 8 with appropriate gearing.

In another embodiment, the distributor blade can be driven by an electrical motor with gearing through its axle 5 or by an electromagnet with stepping mechanism. Furthermore, the circulating pump motor can serve for the drive, for which transmission members such as friction and spurwheels etc. are added.

Finally, a spray arm, especially the lower spray arm, can serve for the drive of the distributor blade which is then pivotable in the range of a rotary angle of about 900. This drive is so designed that the rotating lower spray arm during its operating phase drives the distributor blade and at the same time winds up an energy storage or biasses a restoring element. The distributor blade is so displaced up to the end of the operating phase of the lower spray arm that it deflects the water current to the upper spray arm and initiates the operating phase thereof while a spray jet pause starts for the lower spray arm. During this spray jet pause of the lower spray arm, the restoring element displaces the distributor blade and initiates a new operating phase of the lower spray arm at the start of the spray jet pause of the upper spray arm.

The above described dish washing machine is adapted to carry out a rinsing process without vibrations and without noise development arising during the control of the water current during the alternate rinsing by the upper or lower spray arm performable with smaller water filling quantity in the rinsing container and weaker circulating pump.

The water current is conducted from the conveying duct of the circulating pump through the feed stub into the housing of the switch-over device and deflected by the distributor blade to the upper or lower spray arm or split up into or unlike partial currents to both spray arms, wherein no jerky opening or closing of the water paths takes place. The deflec tion of the water current from one throughflow direc tion to the other runs continuously and free of shocks, since in the closing and opening regions a water path is always opened to the same extent as the other water path is throttled or blocked.

Claims

1. A dish washing machine comprising a circulat ing pump, a rinsing container with two crockery bas kets, two rotatable spray arms fed by the circulating pump and a switch-over device to bring the circulat ing pump into communication with each of the two spray arms in alternation, the switch-over device comprising a housing connected by an inlet feed stub to the circulating pump and by a respective outlet stub to each of the spray arms, and a movable distributor blade so journalled in the housing as to permit full communication between the feed stub and either one of the outlet stubs or a transmission between the full communication and a partial communication between the feed stub and both outlet stubs.

2. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing is cylindrical, the inlet feed stub and the two outlet stubs being so located at the cylinder shell that the outlet stubs subtend an angle of at most 1800 at the axis of the cylinder and on the sector thereof opposite the feed stub.

3. A machine as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the distributor blade is drivable by a motor.

4. A machine as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the distributor blade is drivable by a stepping magnet.

5. A machine as claimed in either claim 1 claim 2, wherein the distributor blade is drivable indirectly from movement of the circulating pump.

6. A machine as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the distributor blade is drivable by an impeller wheel so located in communication with the inlet feed stub as to be rotatable by the water current.

7. A machine as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the distributor blade is drivable during an operating phase of one of the spray arms by rotation of said one of the spray arms, and during a nonoperating phase of said one of the spray arms by energy storage means chargeable by said rotation.

8. A machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein the switch-over device is so arranged that the circulating pump is in communication with each spray arm during their respective operating phase.

9. A dish washing machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

10. A dish washing machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.