GB2216400A

GB2216400A - Regulating liquid levels in dishwashing machines

Info

Publication number: GB2216400A
Application number: GB8905554A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Vera Luis Lopez
Original assignee: Balay SA
Current assignee: BSH Balay SA
Priority date: 1988-03-10
Filing date: 1989-03-10
Publication date: 1989-10-11
Also published as: DE3907369A1; FR2628310B1; GB8905554D0; FR2628310A1; ES2007446A6

Description

U

The present invention, as the title of the Dresent specification expresses, cons-sts of a pressure chamber for dishwashers, with which noteworthy advantages are obtained with regard to the conventionally used pressure chambers.

Some dishwasher models are provided with a pressure chamber to regulate the volume of water that the tank-filter of the apparatus is going to contain, in such a way that once the desired level is overflowed, the water intake is disconnected by some electromagnetic means.

Hence, as the tank-filter fills, at the same time the pressure chamber is filled up to a determined height, limited by an internal duct in the chamber, which upon overflowing the other sidd of the duct floods a tank exerting a determined pressure on the same and which is communicated with the connection to the pressure switzh to produce the disconnection of the water intake.

The pressure chamber made this way does not permit an exact adjustment of the water level and besides when the tank-filter is emptied, the same also empties due to a siphon effect ' but due to the holding time in the same of semi-solid remains they may accumulate therein until the same is clogged up.

Likewise, the pressure chamber is provided with a membrane for the control of overpressure which may be produced.

By means of the use of the pressure chamber that the invention proposes the control in the water level is done by a fixed physical means, with which there can not be variations in the water level in the tank-filter. Hence, greater-cafety is obtained in the amount of water which takes part in each washing, since it has to be taken into account that if there is a larger amount of water more water has to be heated and more soap has to be used, thus, expenses are higher.

The pressure chamber made of thermoplastic material has total leaktightness and in it a series of compartments are defined, hence, the water penetrates to a compartment which by the bottom communicates with a cylindrical cavity inside which there is a buoy-float guided by a series of longitudinal ribs so that upon penetrating the water this buoy-float rises sealing a hole which communicate,, with the chamber provided with the tank in which water is accumulated and exerts pressure to activate the disconnectina of the water intake.

2 Both cited comDartments remain separated from each other by a wall which serves to control the water level, thus, when the compartment to which the water penetrates overflows over said wall, it penetrates towards -he tank of the compartment which is sealed bv the buov-float.

When the tank-filter removes the water upon the level thereof dropping the buoy-float will drop allowing the falling of the water from the compartment which was sealed by it, in such a way that upon the drain be-, ng in a lower point the accumulation of semi-solid residue is more difficult than when the removal of said water is done bv tne siphon effect.

For the control of overpressure, above the top wall of the compartment to which the water d irectly penetrates a hole which will permit the passing of water through it has been made, so that it will not be necessary to put a membrane in place-.

Likewise, the pressure chamber is provided with a connection to a safetv electrovalve.

To complement the description that is going to be made hereafter and for the purpose of furnishing a better understanding of its features the present specification is accompanied by a drawing in whose sole figure the pressure chamber has been represented in a longitudinal section. It is possible to see the dompartments which are defined in it, as well as the cavity for the buoy-float and is situated in it.

In view of the commented figure and in accordance with the numbering used, we can see how the pressure chamber 1 is made up of a series of compartments which form a type of labyrinth inside the same. Said pressure chamber 1 is made up of two bodies one of which acts as a cover and in whose junction total leak-tightness is obtained.

The pressure chamber 1 is formed by the compartment 2 communicated to the water intake mouth 3 and whose wall 4 will make the water level be controlled. The compartment 2 remain communicated with the cavity 6 through the opening 7, said cavity being provided with the ribs 8 that guide the buoy float 9 and sealed by the plug 10.

The cavity. 6 is communicated with the compartment 11 by means off the hole 12, which is sealable by the buoyfloat 9. In the compartment 11 the tank 13 wider than chamber 1 has been defined.

The side duct 14 has in the bottom thereof the connection 15 to the pressure switch, while the other side duct/has in the bottom thereof the connection to a safety electrovalvey.

There is a hole 19 to control overpressures over the top wall of the compartment 2.

In this way, the chamber 1 will remain situated so that the wall 4 whicdetermines the water level 5 to be controlled remains even with the desired water level in the general tank of the dishwasher. The water will penetrate through the mouth 3 to the compartment 2 flooding the cavity 6 forcing the buoy-float 9 to rise until the hole 12 is sealed.

When the water overflows the compartment 2 it will fall through the duct 18 towards the tank 13 defined in the compartment 11, the hole 12 being sealed by the buoy-float 9, accumulat;ng in said -lank 13 the water until the pressure that is exerted acts on the pressure switch closing the water intake.

When the water must be removed the level in the compartment will begin to drop until water begins to be removed from the cavity 6, in such a way that upon descending the buoy-float 9 the water contained in the compartmentllwilL be allowed to come out through the hole 12, to the cavity 6 and from this through the opening 7, until the outlet mouth.

The water is removed from the compartment 13 by gravity and not by a siphon effect, carrying with it the semi-solid particles avoiding an accumulation thereof and a possible clogging of the ducts of the chamber 1.

The plug 10 as well as the bottom wall of the compartment 2 can be made with a slight inclination towards the outlet mouth 3 to enhance the removal of the water.

For the control cf overpressure which may be produced the chamber 1 is provided with a hole 19 located above the compartment 2. Likewise, the pressure chamber is provided with 1: the connection 117 to the safety electrovalve.

The buoy-float 9 could be replaced by a non- Z.:

return device or an electrovalve. i i - 5

Claims

1. Apparatus for regulating the water level in the general tank of a dishwasher, comprising adjacent first and second chambers arranged such that overflow of water supplied to the first chamber enters the second chamber. the second chamber serving to supply water to the general tank and having an enclosed portion adapted to entrap air when the water rises beyond a given level, the resulting pressure being operable to activate a pressure switch to discontinue the supply of water to the first chamber. the apparatus further comprising means to allow the second chamber to drain into the first without allowing any return flow.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein the draining means comprises a one-way valve.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 2 wherein the valve is a float valve.

4, Apparatus according to Claim 3 wherein the valve comprises a float in a substantially vertical. cylindrical, internally ribbed passage.

5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein effectively all the water can drain out through the base of the first chamber.

6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein relevant parts of the apparatus are angled to facilitate drainage.

6

7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim comprising one or more baffles to minimise any adverse effects of turbulence andlor splashing.

8. Apparatus according to any preceding claim comprising excess-pressure relief means.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the relief means comprises a hole in a wall above the first chamber.

10. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein a safety electrovalve is located above the first chamber and shielded by baffles.

11. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the electrovalve of claim 10 is located behind the hole.

12. A pressure chamber for dishwashers substantially as shown in the accompanying drawing.

13. Pressure chamber for dishwashers, useful to control the water level in the general tank of different models of dishwashers, being provided with a compartment to which the water penetrates and which is communicated with a second compartment backed to it. provided with a tank for the location of the water and which by the pressure exerted on a pressure switch produces the disconnecting of the water intake, the wall separating both compartments being the one which defines the water level to be controlled, essentially characterized because the compartment to which the water has excess remains directly communicated by its lower part to a cylindrical cavity, sealed at its bottom part by a plug and at the top part communicated with the compartment provided with the tank for the accumulation of the water which overflows the compartment which the water has access to, a buoy- float remaining placed in the cylindrical cavity guided by some longitudinal ribs which seal the top hole when said cavity is filled up with water, there being foreseen above the top wall of the compartment of direct access of the water a hole to control overpressure with the- particular feature that the pressure chamber has a connection to a safety electro-valve.

Published 1989 at The Patent Ofnce,State House, 66.071 High HolbornLondonWCIR4TP. Further copies maybe obtained from The PatentOffloe. Sales Branch, St Mary Cray, Orpington, Kent BR5 3ILD. Printed by Multiplex techniques It4d, St Mary Cray, Kent, Con. 1187