GB2118214A

GB2118214A - Detergent intake apparatus for washing machines

Info

Publication number: GB2118214A
Application number: GB08302795A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gerd Heitmann
Original assignee: Miele und Cie KG
Current assignee: Miele und Cie KG
Priority date: 1982-02-08
Filing date: 1983-02-02
Publication date: 1983-10-26
Also published as: GB8302795D0; DE3204252A1

Abstract

A detergent intake apparatus, particularly suitable for washing machines or dishwashers is provided with a pivotal nozzle (4) as well as cold and hot water connections (2, 3). The pivotal nozzle (4) is arranged so as to be centred over the cold water pipe (2), and the nozzle delivery pipes (5, 6) of the pivotal nozzle (4) convey cold and hot water allowing cold and/or hot water to be supplied to various storage chambers. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Detergent intake apparatus for washing machines or dishwashers The present invention relates to a detergent intake apparatus for washing machine or dishwashers, which apparatus has hot and cold water connections and a pivotal nozzle which is associated with an intake vessel or container. The intake water is permitted to pass through the nozzle to different storage chambers in which agents used in the washing or dishwashing cycle are stored. The nozzle is driven by a programme selection mechanism forming part of the washing machine or dishwasher or is driven by a separate servo-motor.

A detergent intake apparatus is known which utilises a pivotal nozzle. Moreover, it is generally known to provide a washing machine with both a hot and a cold water connection, the two water delivery pipes being connected, upstream of the intake vessel, to a Y-shaped pipe portion so that the water at different temperatures is mixed prior to being fed into the intake vessel.

However, a disadvantage of such an arrangement is that the interaction between the cold water pipe and the hot water pipe may be terminated if a blockage occurs in the injection nozzle. In addition, leakages may develop very rapidly or prematurely in the region of the Y-shaped pipe portion.

The present inventions seeks to overcome such disadvantages in a known detergent intake apparatuses for a washing machine by providing a compact detergent intake apparatus which still retains the advantages of utilising a pivotal nozzle.

According to the present invention, there is provided a detergent intake apparatus suitable for washing machines or dishwashers, comprising having hot and cold water connector members and a pivotal nozzle which is associated with the intake vessel, the nozzle permitting the passage of water therethrough to storage chambers containing agents used in a washing or dishwashing cycle, the pivotal nozzle being drivable by the programme selection mechanism of the machine or by a separate servo-motor, wherein the detergent intake apparatus is provided with a hot water supply pipe and a cold water supply pipe in its inlet region for supplying water to the pivotal nozzle, the supply pipes being directed towards the pivotal nozzle and the pivotal nozzle being provided with two separate delivery nozzle pipes.

In such an arrangement, fixed connections can be mounted on the intake vessel for the cold and the hot water pipes whilst still permitting a pivotal nozzle to be utilised.

One embodiment of the present invention will be more fully described, hereinafter, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:~ Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional detail of the detergent intake container of a washing machine; and Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view of a detail of the detergent intake container shown in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 1, there is shown a detergent intake container which is provided with separate connector members for a cold water supply pipe 2 and a hot water supply pipe 3. A pivotal nozzle 4 is disposed above these two supply pipes, which nozzle has two separate delivery nozzle pipes 5 and 6. The nozzle delivery pipes 5 and 6 are directed towards a water conducting channel 7 which conducts water to be injected into individual storage chambers for detergent or other agents used in a washing or dishwashing cycle. The inlet regions of the nozzle pipes 5 and 6 are, respectively, dome or cup-shaped and funnel-shaped and are in communication with the cold water supply pipe 2 and the hot water supply pipe 3 respectively.

In this particular embodiment, the funnelshaped collector member or inlet 6' for the hot water is widened in a bell-shaped manner towards the direction of supply of the hot water thereto and the dimensions of the collector funnel 6' are so selected that at least two water passages can be supplied with hot water during the pivotal movement of the nozzle 4. The pivotal nozzle 4 is centred over the cold water supply pipe 2.

The pivotal nozzle 4 is rotatably mounted in a cover or top portion 10 of the detergent intake apparatus 1 by means of a mounting projection or shoulder 8 and a seal or washer 9 inserted therebetween. A control lever 11 engages with the mounting shoulder 8 and is connectable either to the programme selection mechanism of the washing machine or to a separate servo-motor.

The water passages supplied by the pivotal nozzle are shown in Fig. 2. The arrangement of the pivotal nozzle 4 has to be such that at least the two storage chambers I and 11 for pre-wash detergent (I) and for the main wash detergent (II) can be supplied with both hot water and cold water. However, it is only necessary to supply cold water to the outer water passages for the addition of a bleaching agent or a brightening agent or conditioner to the washing machine.

1. A detergent intake apparatus suitable for washing machines or dishwashers comprising having hot and cold water connection members and a pivotal nozzle which is associated with the intake vessel, the nozzle permitting the passage of water therethrough to storage chambers containing agents used in a washing or dishwashing cycle, the pivotal nozzle being drivable by the programme selec

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Detergent intake apparatus for washing machines or dishwashers The present invention relates to a detergent intake apparatus for washing machine or dishwashers, which apparatus has hot and cold water connections and a pivotal nozzle which is associated with an intake vessel or container. The intake water is permitted to pass through the nozzle to different storage chambers in which agents used in the washing or dishwashing cycle are stored. The nozzle is driven by a programme selection mechanism forming part of the washing machine or dishwasher or is driven by a separate servo-motor. A detergent intake apparatus is known which utilises a pivotal nozzle. Moreover, it is generally known to provide a washing machine with both a hot and a cold water connection, the two water delivery pipes being connected, upstream of the intake vessel, to a Y-shaped pipe portion so that the water at different temperatures is mixed prior to being fed into the intake vessel. However, a disadvantage of such an arrangement is that the interaction between the cold water pipe and the hot water pipe may be terminated if a blockage occurs in the injection nozzle. In addition, leakages may develop very rapidly or prematurely in the region of the Y-shaped pipe portion. The present inventions seeks to overcome such disadvantages in a known detergent intake apparatuses for a washing machine by providing a compact detergent intake apparatus which still retains the advantages of utilising a pivotal nozzle. According to the present invention, there is provided a detergent intake apparatus suitable for washing machines or dishwashers, comprising having hot and cold water connector members and a pivotal nozzle which is associated with the intake vessel, the nozzle permitting the passage of water therethrough to storage chambers containing agents used in a washing or dishwashing cycle, the pivotal nozzle being drivable by the programme selection mechanism of the machine or by a separate servo-motor, wherein the detergent intake apparatus is provided with a hot water supply pipe and a cold water supply pipe in its inlet region for supplying water to the pivotal nozzle, the supply pipes being directed towards the pivotal nozzle and the pivotal nozzle being provided with two separate delivery nozzle pipes. In such an arrangement, fixed connections can be mounted on the intake vessel for the cold and the hot water pipes whilst still permitting a pivotal nozzle to be utilised. One embodiment of the present invention will be more fully described, hereinafter, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:~ Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional detail of the detergent intake container of a washing machine; and Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view of a detail of the detergent intake container shown in Fig. 1. In Fig. 1, there is shown a detergent intake container which is provided with separate connector members for a cold water supply pipe 2 and a hot water supply pipe 3. A pivotal nozzle 4 is disposed above these two supply pipes, which nozzle has two separate delivery nozzle pipes 5 and 6. The nozzle delivery pipes 5 and 6 are directed towards a water conducting channel 7 which conducts water to be injected into individual storage chambers for detergent or other agents used in a washing or dishwashing cycle. The inlet regions of the nozzle pipes 5 and 6 are, respectively, dome or cup-shaped and funnel-shaped and are in communication with the cold water supply pipe 2 and the hot water supply pipe 3 respectively. In this particular embodiment, the funnelshaped collector member or inlet 6' for the hot water is widened in a bell-shaped manner towards the direction of supply of the hot water thereto and the dimensions of the collector funnel 6' are so selected that at least two water passages can be supplied with hot water during the pivotal movement of the nozzle 4. The pivotal nozzle 4 is centred over the cold water supply pipe 2. The pivotal nozzle 4 is rotatably mounted in a cover or top portion 10 of the detergent intake apparatus 1 by means of a mounting projection or shoulder 8 and a seal or washer 9 inserted therebetween. A control lever 11 engages with the mounting shoulder 8 and is connectable either to the programme selection mechanism of the washing machine or to a separate servo-motor. The water passages supplied by the pivotal nozzle are shown in Fig. 2. The arrangement of the pivotal nozzle 4 has to be such that at least the two storage chambers I and 11 for pre-wash detergent (I) and for the main wash detergent (II) can be supplied with both hot water and cold water. However, it is only necessary to supply cold water to the outer water passages for the addition of a bleaching agent or a brightening agent or conditioner to the washing machine. CLAIMS

1. A detergent intake apparatus suitable for washing machines or dishwashers comprising having hot and cold water connection members and a pivotal nozzle which is associated with the intake vessel, the nozzle permitting the passage of water therethrough to storage chambers containing agents used in a washing or dishwashing cycle, the pivotal nozzle being drivable by the programme selec tion mechanism of the machine or by a separate servo-motor, wherein the detergent intake apparatus is provided with a hot water supply pipe and a cold water supply pipe in its inlet region for supplying water to the pivotable nozzle, the supply pipes being directed towards the pivotal nozzle and the pivotal nozzle being provided with two separate delivery nozzle pipes.

2. A detergent intake apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the pivotal nozzle is centred over the cold water supply pipe.

3. A detergent intake apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the inlet regions of the nozzle delivery pipes of the pivotal nozzle in communication with the cold and hot water supply pipes are, respectively, dome or cup-shaped and funnel-shaped.

4. A detergent intake apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which the funnelshaped inlet or collector is widened in a bellshaped manner towards the direction of injection of the supply of hot water, the dimensions of the funnel being such that at least two water passages can be supplied with hot water during the pivotal movement of the nozzle.

5. A detergent intake apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the pivotal nozzle is rotatably mounted in a cover or top portion of the apparatus by means of a mounting shoulder and a seal or washer located therebetween.

6. A detergent intake apparatus as claimed in claim 1, constructed and arranged to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.