GB2219603A - Rinsing system for automatic washing machine - Google Patents

Description

2219603 M&C FOLIO: 230P58614 WANGDOC: 1435P Rinsing System for Automatic

Washing Machine The present invention relates to a rinsing system for automatic washing machines. with which savings of the water needed for the rinsing. as well as the time used in the same, can be achieved.

The conventional way of rinsing clothing in automatic washing machines is by immersion so that the clothing is covered with water, the detergent dissolves in the water, and after a given time the water is expelled. This operation is carried out several times until the clothing has been rinsed.

The carrying out of rinsing by immersion in the way described has the problem that it is not very effective when there is a high concentration of detergent. Thus, the rinses after the first one. in which the concentration of detergent progressively reduces in each one of them, will be more effective.

Given that successive rinses must be effected in order for the same to be effective, a considerable amount of water is consumed and this represents a higher cost for u--,-.- an-:' & greater impact on the environment.

2 The present invention provides a rinsing system for automatic washing machines which is to be used instead of immersion rinsing which takes place batchwise, in which continuous rinsing is effected upon causing the injection of a curtain of water against the clothing, located on the side surface of the drum because the same has been turning. removing the detergent when it is in a high concentration. Preferably the injection of water is produced from a duct located at the side close to the loading door, which duct is connected to an electrovalve in turn controlled by the program; the water injection duct is capable of being located in the shaft of the drum or in the loading door itself.By use of this rinsing system, effective rinsing with a smaller consumption of water and time can be attained. For this purpose, the drum turns with the clothing inside, in such a way that by the effect of centrifugal force the clothing accumulates on the peripheral surface of the drum and the rinsing is produced upon injecting from one side a curtain of water which occupies the entire axial width of the drum and which will carry with it the detergent upon crossing the entire layer of clothing by :orce.

the effect of centrifugal f When the concentration of detergent is high this rinsing system is very effective. Thus. when the concentration of detergent has become minimal, the rinsing can be completed by immersion. Thus the 3 clothing remains perfectly rinsed with a smaller consumption of water and at a lower cost.

The duct which injects the water towards the clothing is connected to an electrovalve controlled by the program of the apparatus and may be arranged close to the loading door. Alternatively or additionally. water can be injected towards the clothing from a duct located in the loading door or from the shaft of the drum.

The invention will be described. by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, whose sole figure is a schematic view of a washing machine with clothing located in the drumand a water injection duct close to the loading door. The possible alternatives of a water injection duct located in the loading door and in the shaft of the drum have been shown in broken line.

The drawing shows a front-loading automatic washing machine having a housing 1 in which a drum 2 is mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis by means of a shaft 7. The clothing 3 washed with detergent remains in the drum 2.

When the drum 2 spins. the clothing 3 by the effect of centrifugal force accumulates on the peripheral the drilm ?,;nrq a curtain of water jets 4 injected or sprayed from a duct 5. close to a loading -door 8, comes against all the clothing, removing the contained detergent by dissolution as the water seeps 4 through the clothing under the effect of centrifugal force. The duct 5 is connected to an electrovalve 6 which is controlled by the program of the washing machine. The water which has passed through the clothing is drained in the usual way.

In this way, when there is a high concentration of detergent the water spray easily removes it and a smaller amount of water is necessary. When the concentration of detergent has become small. the rinsing operation will finish with an immersion rinsing.

The injection of the curtain of water 4 can be done from one side close to the loading door. as has been described, or from the drum shaft 7. Likewise, injection of water is capable of being effected from the loading door if it is provided with water piping that is connected with the electrovalve 6.

Hence. the water jets 4 perform rinsing which is continuous (not batchwise. as is done by immersion). This continuous rinsing is a high yield one with high concentrations of detergent and this produces a saving of water and time. which represents an economic and ecological saving.

If the automatic washing machine is a top loading oi.c, of water is through tChe shaft of the drum.

Claims (5)

Claims:-

1. An automatic washing machine having a drum mounted for rotation about its axis, means for rotating the drum. and a rinsing system comprising means for injecting water into the drum, the arrangement being such that, during rinsing. the rotating means spins the drum so that the clothing will accumulate on the peripheral surface of the drum under the effect of centrifugal force and the water injecting means sprays the clothing with water from the inside.

2. A washing machine as claimed in claim 1, in which the water injecting means comprises a duct connected to an electrovalve controlled by a program.

3. A washing machine as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the water is injected into the drum from a position adjacent a loading door. on the loading door, or on a shaft of the drum.

4. A washing machine as claimed in any preceding claim. in which the water injecting means forms a curtain of water extending over substantially the entire axial width of the drum.

6

5. An automatic washing machine substantially as described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

Published 1989 at The Patent Office, State House. 66-71 High Holborn. London W01R 4TP- Further copies maybe obtained from The Patent Office.

Sales Branch, St Mary Cray, Orpingwn. Kent BR5 3RD, Printed kv techmques ltd. St Mary Cray. Kent, Con. 1187