GB2028160A

GB2028160A - Water softening apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2028160A
Application number: GB7915435A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1978-08-05
Filing date: 1979-05-03
Publication date: 1980-03-05
Also published as: FR2432481B1; FR2432481A1; DE2834437C2; IT7924633A0; IT1122326B; AT370973B; ES480398A1; ATA312279A; DE2834437A1; GB2028160B

Abstract

A softening apparatus for a program- controlled household appliance, especially a dish-washing and laundering machine, comprises a salt container (21) supplied under gravity with water through a water duct (20) from a supply container. The salt container (21) communicates through a brine duct (23) with an ion exchanger (15). Program- controlled valves (24, 25), actuable to open simultaneously and to block simultaneously, are arranged in the water duct (20) in front of the salt container (21) and in the brine duct (23) behind the salt container (21) respectively. In the embodiment shown the valves are simultaneously actuated by a single solenoid (32) acting via a forked plunger 35. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Water softening apparatus The present invention relates to water softening apparatus suitable for use in programcontrolled household appliances, such as dishwashing and laundering machines.

DE-OS 25 01 269 discloses a water softening apparatus for dish-washing machines, in which an electromagnetic blocking valve, which is controlled by program control device of the machine and opened only for regeneration of an ion exchanger, is arranged in a brine duct in order that water from a supply container can flow into a salt container and brine can flow out of the salt container into an ion exchanger. During remaining program periods, which in the course of a rinsing program precede the program period of regeneration of the ion exchanger, the pressure of the water collected in the supply container acts on the salt container. If the salt container has a closure lid which is not correctly screwed fast, brine may issue into the rinsing container of the machine. This results in an unnecessary consumption of salt.

According to the present invention there is provided a water softening apparatus comprising a container for salt, first passage means for conveying water to the container, an ion exchanger, second passage means connecting the container with the ion exchanger, and respective valve means each disposed in the first and second passage means and operable to control both the first and the second passage means substantially simultaneously.

The first passage means may be disposed to convey water to the container under gravity.

This is advantageous in that in operation the container is supplied with water only when the valves are opened, while however not being exposed to any water pressure during the remaining time.

The apparatus may comprise a housing supporting both valve means, respective diaphragm means operably associated with the first and and the second passage means, an electromagnet, and a forked element having forked arms respectively, engaging the diaphragm means, the electromagnet being operable to displace the forked element to open and close both valve means. Hereby, several currents of liquid, namely the water feed to as well as the brine drainage from the container, are controllable at the same time. Also only one magnet coil is required for both valves.

The container and the ion exchanger may both be part of a unitary member which comprises a portion of the first and the second passage means and which is connected to a peripheral portion of the housing at the region of the diaphragm means. This has the advantage of the cheap construction and the rapid assembly of such a unit which has few sealing places.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic illustration of a dish-washing machine, and Figure 2 shows a horizontal section through softening apparatus constructed as component unit.

Fig. 1 shows a dish-washing machine designated by 10 with a rinsing container 11. The machine has a fresh water feed duct 12, in which is arranged a water inlet valve 13 controlled by a program control device (not shown) of the machine. The fresh water feed duct 12 leads in the flow direction of the water from the water inlet valve 13 to a free flow path 14, from which the duct is continued to an ion exchanger 15 which is arranged underneath the rinsing container 11 and which is provided with an outlet pipe 16 opening into the rinsing container.

Associated with the free glow path 14 is a container 17 for catching and storing leakage water arising in the free flow path 14 during the inflow of fresh water to the ion exchanger 15. The highest possible water level 18 in the supply container 17 is determined by an overflow duct 19 leading into the supply container 11. From the bottom of the supply container 17, arranged in the upper zone of the dish-washing machine 10, a water duct 20 leads to a salt container 21, which like the ion exchanger 15 is arranged underneath the rinsing container 11 in the lower zone of the dish-washing machine 10. The salt container 21 and the ion exchanger 15, which both in substance form the softening apparatus 22 of the dish-washing machine 10, communicate through a brine duct 23.A respective program-controlled valve 24 and 25 is arranged in the water duct 20 in front of the salt container 21 as well as in the brine duct 23 behind the salt container 21.

During a rinsing program of the dish-washing machine 10, the water inlet valve 13 controlled by the program control device is opened during each program period for the cleaning or rinsing of crockery, so that leaking water arises in the free flow path 14 during the inflow of fresh water to the ion exchanger 15 and is collected by the supply container 17 up to the level predetermined by 18.

Excess leakage water flows through the overflow duct 19 into the rinsing container 11. Running away of the leakage water out of the supply container 17 through the water duct 20 and through the salt container 21 is prevented by the valves 24 and 25 being in their blocking state.

In the further course of the rinsing program, these rinsing program periods, including the inflow of fresh water to the ion exchanger 15, are followed by a further period for regenera tion of the ion exchanger. The valves 24 and 25 controlled by the program control device of the dish-washing machine 10 are opened simultaneously only during this program period. Under the influence of gravitational force, the water collected in the supply container 17 flows through the water duct 20 to the salt container and partially dissolves the salt in the container 21. The water flowing into the salt container 21 conveys the brine out of the salt container through the brine duct 23 and the valve 25 into the ion exchanger 15, which by reason of the quantity of the water collected in the supply container 17 is completely filled by the brine.After an adequate dwell time of the brine in the ion exchanger 15, the program control device opens the water inlet valve 13, while the valves 24 and 25 are closed simultaneously so that fresh water flows through the fresh water feed duct 12 into the ion exchanger 15 and displaces the consumed brine through the outlet pipe 16 into the rinsing container 11 of the dishwashing machine.

In an embodiment of the softening apparatus 22 shown in Fig. 2, the ion exchanger 15 and the salt container 21 form a unitary component 26, into which are shaped sections of the fresh water feed duct 12, the water duct 20 and the brine duct 23. The water duct 20 and the brine duct 23 are also provided with the valves 24 and 25. A common housing 30 for both valves 24 and 25, is flanged with the interposition of a plate 29 holding a diaphragm 28 by screws 31 to the housing 27 of the component 26. Provided in the valve housing 30 is a field coil 32, having an associated, longitudinally movable armature 33 which at the valve side carries a forked pluger 34 and engages a restoring spring 35 bearing against the housing 30.

Each plunger end section 36 and 37 engages a plate-shaped section 38 and 39, respectively, of the diaphragm 28. In the illustrated blocking position of the valves 24 and 25, in which the field coil 32 is not excited and the armature 33 is not drawn into the coil, the diaphragm section 38 associated with the valve 24 closes off the water duct 20 and the diaphragm section 39 associated with the valve 25 closes off the brine duct 23.

When the field coil 32 is excited, the armature 33 is drawn completely into the coil so that the valves 24 and 25 allow the throughflow of liquid through the corresponding ducts 20 and 23, respectively. With the magnetic field switched off, the restoring spring 35 moves the armature 33, the plunger 34 and the diaphragm sections 38 and 39 into the illustrated blocking position of the valves 24 and 25.

The above described embodiments avoid disadvantage of known water softeners and by simple means reliably control the water flow from the supply container to the salt container.

CLAIMS (3 May 1979) 1. A water softening apparatus comprising a container for salt, first passage means for conveying water to the container, an ion exchanger, second passage means connecting the container with the ion exchanger, and respective valve means each disposed in the first and second passage means and operable to control both the first and the second passage means substantially simultaneously.

2. An apparaus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first passage means is dispoed to convey water to the container under gravity.

3. An apparatus as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2, comprising a housing supporting both valve means, respective diaphragm means operably associated with the first and the second passage means, an electromagnet, and a forked element having forked arms respectively engaging the diaphragm means, the electromagnet being operable to displace the forked element to open and close both valve means.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the container and the ion exchanger are both part of a unitary member which comprises a portion of the first and the second passage means and which is connected to a peripheral portion of the housing at the region of the diaphragm means.

5. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising program control means to actuate the valve means.

6. A water softening apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawing.

7. A water softening apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawing.

CLAIMS (4 Dec 1979) 1. A water softening apparatus comprising a a container for salt, first passage means for conveying water under gravity to the container, an ion exchanger, second passage means connecting the container with the ion exchanger, program control means, and re spective valve means each disposed in the first and second passage means and actuable by the program control means to control both the first and the second passage means substantially simultaneously.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, comprising a housing supporting both valve means, respective diaphragm means operably associated with the first and the second passage means, an electromagnet, and a forked element having forked arms respectively engaging the diaphragm means, the electromagnet being operable to displace the forked element to open and close both valve means.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the container and the ion exchanger

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. tion of the ion exchanger. The valves 24 and 25 controlled by the program control device of the dish-washing machine 10 are opened simultaneously only during this program period. Under the influence of gravitational force, the water collected in the supply container 17 flows through the water duct 20 to the salt container and partially dissolves the salt in the container 21. The water flowing into the salt container 21 conveys the brine out of the salt container through the brine duct 23 and the valve 25 into the ion exchanger 15, which by reason of the quantity of the water collected in the supply container 17 is completely filled by the brine.After an adequate dwell time of the brine in the ion exchanger 15, the program control device opens the water inlet valve 13, while the valves 24 and 25 are closed simultaneously so that fresh water flows through the fresh water feed duct 12 into the ion exchanger 15 and displaces the consumed brine through the outlet pipe 16 into the rinsing container 11 of the dishwashing machine. In an embodiment of the softening apparatus 22 shown in Fig. 2, the ion exchanger 15 and the salt container 21 form a unitary component 26, into which are shaped sections of the fresh water feed duct 12, the water duct 20 and the brine duct 23. The water duct 20 and the brine duct 23 are also provided with the valves 24 and 25. A common housing 30 for both valves 24 and 25, is flanged with the interposition of a plate 29 holding a diaphragm 28 by screws 31 to the housing 27 of the component 26. Provided in the valve housing 30 is a field coil 32, having an associated, longitudinally movable armature 33 which at the valve side carries a forked pluger 34 and engages a restoring spring 35 bearing against the housing 30. Each plunger end section 36 and 37 engages a plate-shaped section 38 and 39, respectively, of the diaphragm 28. In the illustrated blocking position of the valves 24 and 25, in which the field coil 32 is not excited and the armature 33 is not drawn into the coil, the diaphragm section 38 associated with the valve 24 closes off the water duct 20 and the diaphragm section 39 associated with the valve 25 closes off the brine duct 23. When the field coil 32 is excited, the armature 33 is drawn completely into the coil so that the valves 24 and 25 allow the throughflow of liquid through the corresponding ducts 20 and 23, respectively. With the magnetic field switched off, the restoring spring 35 moves the armature 33, the plunger 34 and the diaphragm sections 38 and 39 into the illustrated blocking position of the valves 24 and 25. The above described embodiments avoid disadvantage of known water softeners and by simple means reliably control the water flow from the supply container to the salt container. CLAIMS (3 May 1979)

1. A water softening apparatus comprising a container for salt, first passage means for conveying water to the container, an ion exchanger, second passage means connecting the container with the ion exchanger, and respective valve means each disposed in the first and second passage means and operable to control both the first and the second passage means substantially simultaneously.

are both part of a unitary member which comprises a portion of the first and the second passage means and which is connected to a peripheral portion of the housing at the region of the diaphragm means.

CLAIMS (4 Dec 1979)

1. A water softening apparatus comprising a a container for salt, first passage means for conveying water under gravity to the container, an ion exchanger, second passage means connecting the container with the ion exchanger, program control means, and re spective valve means each disposed in the first and second passage means and actuable by the program control means to control both the first and the second passage means substantially simultaneously.