GB2036548A

GB2036548A - Dishwashing machine

Info

Publication number: GB2036548A
Application number: GB7942209A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: FINNMEKANO Oy
Current assignee: FINNMEKANO Oy
Priority date: 1978-12-08
Filing date: 1979-12-06
Publication date: 1980-07-02
Also published as: SE7910081L; DK497679A; FI60499B; DK145887C; FI60499C; GB2036548B; DK145887B; FI783781A

Abstract

A dishwashing machine comprises a rotatable set of spray pipes (4) which encircle a basket (2), the pipes having jet apertures (9). A pump (7) is arranged to pump washing liquid to the spray pipes via strainer (8) and supply tube (6). A tubular shaft (5) connects the pipes (4) to the supply tube (6), the shaft being rotatably mounted around the supply tube to define therewith an annular space (11) which extends from above the level (H) of the washing liquid to below it. A hole (12) in the tubular shaft connects the annular space with the sump of the dishwasher. The arrangement permits any solid particles entrained in the washing liquid supply to the spray pipes to settle out in space 11 and drain via hole 12 into the sump, thereby avoiding blockage of the spray pipes. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Jet washer The present invention relates to a jet washer comprising a housing, a rack or basket within the hous ing for supporting the goods which are to be washed, a revolving set of jet pipes encircling the basket and having jet apertures opening towards the basket, and a strainer, pump and pipe system for circulating washing liquid through the set of jet pipes.

In such jet washers it is common, in order to avoid blockage of the set of jet pipes, to use strainer boxes of considerable size so as to enable a sufficiently close-meshed strainer to be used without incurring too high a flow resistance and too great a risk of blockage. In spite of this, blockages of the set of jet pipes or clogging of the strainer which has been dimensioned with holes which are too small occur in known jet washers unacceptably often.

An object of the present invention is to avoid blockages both of the set of jet pipes and of the strainer housing.

According to the invention there is provided a jet washer, comprising a housing; a rack or basket within the housing for holding the goods to be washed; a rotatable set of jet pipes encircling the rack of basket and having jet apertures opening towards the rack or basket; a strainer, a pump, and a pipe system comprising a supply tube for circulating washing liquid through the set of pipes; and a tubular shaft connecting the set of jet pipes to the said supply tube, the tubular shaft being rotatably mounted around the supply tube so that between the inner surface of the tubular shaft and the outer surface of the supply tube there is defined a vertically elongate annular space which extends from the level of the washing liquid to belowthe level of the washing liquid, a hole being provided in the lower part of the tubular shaft to connect the annular space with the washing liquid space defined by the housing.

Foreign bodies (such as sand, for example) entrained with the washing liquid settle downward in the annular space and escape through the hole back into the washing liquid space, without entering the set of jet pipes. Because of this, it is possible to keep the mesh size of the strainer reasonable with a view to the risk of clogging. The hole size may be substantially greater than that of the jet apertures in the set of jet pipes without any substantial reduction of jet pressure being incurred through the hole, because this hole opens under the washing liquid, whereas the jet apertures open in free space.

It is advantageous if the exit apertures of the supply tube open into the annular space below the points where the jet pipes are attached. The flow, and the foreign bodies entrained with it, will then not go directly into the set of jet pipes.

The vertically elongate tubular shaft used in the invention may also be used for another purpose. If one affixes to the lower part of the tubular shaft, below the set of jet pipes, brake vanes protruding into the washing liquid, racing of the jet pipes rotated byjetforce can be prevented. If no braking is applied, the speed of rotation of the jet force-driven set of jet pipes can become so great that the washing efficiency is impaired.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 shows a jet washer according to the invention, partly in vertical section and partly in elevational view; Fig. 2 shows the jet washer of Fig. 1, partly in horizontal section and partly in top view; and Fig. 3 shows a detail of the invention, as a partly sectioned view.

The illustrated jet washer comprises a housing 1 within which is a rack or basket 2 for holding goods to be washed. The goods are placed in the basket 2, or the basket 2 filled with goods is put into the washer, while a hatch cover 3 is open. The basket 2 is encircled by the set of jet pipes 4, the set of pipes being mounted for rotation by means of a tubular shaft 5. The tubular shaft 5 is carried in bearings, and a washing liquid supply tube 6 extends through the tubular shaft 5 and, at the same time, constitutes the support of the basket 2. A pump 7 draws washing liquid through a strainer box 8 and urges it through the tube 6 into the jet pipes 4, which have jet apertures 9 opening towards the centre of the jet washer.

In order to obtain, for more efficient washing, several separate jet levels, the set of jet pipes is bent in a manner shown in Fig. 2, so that the jet pipes below the basket, on both sides and above it lie in different planes, whereby four jet levels are produced. The washing water is heated by a heating resistance 10.

Fig. 3 shows how the tubular shaft 5 defines a vertically elongate annular space 11 around the supply tube 6. On the lower edge of this annular space is a hole 12 through which heavier foreign bodies may escape without being carried into the jet pipe system. Exit apertures 13 of the supply tube 6 lie at a somewhat lower level than the points of connection of the jet pipes 4, whereby the flow and the foreign bodies entrained with it have no direct access of the jet pipes. Since the level of the washing liquid is normally at the height H shown in Fig. 1, the hole 12 remains under the washing liquid, with the result that the quantity of liquid passing therethrough does not substantially reduce the liquid going to the jet pipes. The tubular shaft 5 may also be used for another purpose. On the tubular shaft 5, braking vanes 14 can be affixed, which as they rotate within the washing liquid prevent any racing of the set of jet pipes 4 which is driven by jet force. A flow baffle 15 (Fig. 2) prevents the water from rotating in bulk along with the braking vanes 14.

1. A jet washer comprising a housing; a rack or basket within the housing for holding the goods to be washed; a rotatable set of jet pipes encircling the rack or basket and having jet apertures opening The drawings originally filed were informal and the print here reproduced is taken from a later filed formal copy.

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Jet washer The present invention relates to a jet washer comprising a housing, a rack or basket within the hous ing for supporting the goods which are to be washed, a revolving set of jet pipes encircling the basket and having jet apertures opening towards the basket, and a strainer, pump and pipe system for circulating washing liquid through the set of jet pipes. In such jet washers it is common, in order to avoid blockage of the set of jet pipes, to use strainer boxes of considerable size so as to enable a sufficiently close-meshed strainer to be used without incurring too high a flow resistance and too great a risk of blockage. In spite of this, blockages of the set of jet pipes or clogging of the strainer which has been dimensioned with holes which are too small occur in known jet washers unacceptably often. An object of the present invention is to avoid blockages both of the set of jet pipes and of the strainer housing. According to the invention there is provided a jet washer, comprising a housing; a rack or basket within the housing for holding the goods to be washed; a rotatable set of jet pipes encircling the rack of basket and having jet apertures opening towards the rack or basket; a strainer, a pump, and a pipe system comprising a supply tube for circulating washing liquid through the set of pipes; and a tubular shaft connecting the set of jet pipes to the said supply tube, the tubular shaft being rotatably mounted around the supply tube so that between the inner surface of the tubular shaft and the outer surface of the supply tube there is defined a vertically elongate annular space which extends from the level of the washing liquid to belowthe level of the washing liquid, a hole being provided in the lower part of the tubular shaft to connect the annular space with the washing liquid space defined by the housing. Foreign bodies (such as sand, for example) entrained with the washing liquid settle downward in the annular space and escape through the hole back into the washing liquid space, without entering the set of jet pipes. Because of this, it is possible to keep the mesh size of the strainer reasonable with a view to the risk of clogging. The hole size may be substantially greater than that of the jet apertures in the set of jet pipes without any substantial reduction of jet pressure being incurred through the hole, because this hole opens under the washing liquid, whereas the jet apertures open in free space. It is advantageous if the exit apertures of the supply tube open into the annular space below the points where the jet pipes are attached. The flow, and the foreign bodies entrained with it, will then not go directly into the set of jet pipes. The vertically elongate tubular shaft used in the invention may also be used for another purpose. If one affixes to the lower part of the tubular shaft, below the set of jet pipes, brake vanes protruding into the washing liquid, racing of the jet pipes rotated byjetforce can be prevented. If no braking is applied, the speed of rotation of the jet force-driven set of jet pipes can become so great that the washing efficiency is impaired. An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 shows a jet washer according to the invention, partly in vertical section and partly in elevational view; Fig. 2 shows the jet washer of Fig. 1, partly in horizontal section and partly in top view; and Fig. 3 shows a detail of the invention, as a partly sectioned view. The illustrated jet washer comprises a housing 1 within which is a rack or basket 2 for holding goods to be washed. The goods are placed in the basket 2, or the basket 2 filled with goods is put into the washer, while a hatch cover 3 is open. The basket 2 is encircled by the set of jet pipes 4, the set of pipes being mounted for rotation by means of a tubular shaft 5. The tubular shaft 5 is carried in bearings, and a washing liquid supply tube 6 extends through the tubular shaft 5 and, at the same time, constitutes the support of the basket 2. A pump 7 draws washing liquid through a strainer box 8 and urges it through the tube 6 into the jet pipes 4, which have jet apertures 9 opening towards the centre of the jet washer. In order to obtain, for more efficient washing, several separate jet levels, the set of jet pipes is bent in a manner shown in Fig. 2, so that the jet pipes below the basket, on both sides and above it lie in different planes, whereby four jet levels are produced. The washing water is heated by a heating resistance 10. Fig. 3 shows how the tubular shaft 5 defines a vertically elongate annular space 11 around the supply tube 6. On the lower edge of this annular space is a hole 12 through which heavier foreign bodies may escape without being carried into the jet pipe system. Exit apertures 13 of the supply tube 6 lie at a somewhat lower level than the points of connection of the jet pipes 4, whereby the flow and the foreign bodies entrained with it have no direct access of the jet pipes. Since the level of the washing liquid is normally at the height H shown in Fig. 1, the hole 12 remains under the washing liquid, with the result that the quantity of liquid passing therethrough does not substantially reduce the liquid going to the jet pipes. The tubular shaft 5 may also be used for another purpose.On the tubular shaft 5, braking vanes 14 can be affixed, which as they rotate within the washing liquid prevent any racing of the set of jet pipes 4 which is driven by jet force. A flow baffle 15 (Fig. 2) prevents the water from rotating in bulk along with the braking vanes 14. CLAIMS

towards the rack or basket; a strainer, a pump, and a pipe system comprising a supply tube for circulating washing liquid through the set of jet pipes; and a tubular shaft connecting the set of jet pipes to the said supply tube, the tubular shaft being rotatably mounted around the supply tube so that between the inner surface of the tubular shaft and the outer surface of the supply tube there is defined a vertically elongate annular space which extends from above the level of the washing liquid to below the level of the washing liquid, a hole being provided in the lower part of the tubular shaft to connect the annular space with the washing liquid space defined by the housing.

2. A jet washer according to claim 1, wherein exit apertures of the supply tube open into the said annular space below the points of connection of the jet pipes.

3. A jet washer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein brake vanes arranged to protrude into the washing liquid are affixed to the lower part of the tubular shaft below the set of jet pipes.

4. A jet washer substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.