GB2296183A

GB2296183A - Dishwashing machine

Info

Publication number: GB2296183A
Application number: GB9525295A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Daniele Favaro
Original assignee: Electrolux Zanussi Elettrodomestici SpA
Current assignee: Electrolux Zanussi Elettrodomestici SpA
Priority date: 1994-12-14
Filing date: 1995-12-11
Publication date: 1996-06-26
Anticipated expiration: 2015-12-11
Also published as: ITPN940046V0; ES1032727Y; GB2296183B; ITPN940046U1; IT235048Y1; FR2728774A1; GB9525295D0; DE29518630U1; ES1032727U; FR2728774B1

Abstract

A dishwashing machine has a support base 13 of plastics in which there is integrally provided a salts container 9 in the form of an integrated component 14 mounted on the outside of the washing tub (5 figure 1) and associated with a hydraulic circuit (6-8 figure 1). The intake and the outlet of said salts container are connected into said hydraulic circuit through quick coupling means 11, 12, 16, 17, making a plug-in connection between the salts container and the integrated component 14, which is disposed adjacent to said base. There may also be an auxiliary chamber 29 integral with the base, the inlet and outlet of which are also connected with the hydraulic circuit through quick coupling means making a plug-in connection. The in lets and outlets may be rigid tubes integral with the base and projecting therefrom, around which there may be flexible seals 20 with enlarged peripheral edges 21 and enlarged internal edges 22, 23, 24 connected by an integral flexible diaphragm 25. <IMAGE>

Description

DISHWASHING MACHINE WITH SUPPORT BASE OF PLASTICS The present invention relates to an improved dishwashing machine comprising a washing tub which is preferably made of steel and substantially mounted on a base of plastics which advantageously acts as a load-bearing structure and in which some operational components of the machine are integrally provided.

A dishwashing machine of that type is well known, for example from DE-A-2420302, EP-A-0452287 and EP-A-0556787 in which the plastics base integrally comprises the bottom of the washing tub, but the remaining part thereof is on the contrary made of steel. In addition, further operational components can be integrally provided in the plastics base, such as a water softener, a container for salts, a well for collecting the water, pumps, guides for the extractable baskets etc. Those constructions make it possible to produce the dishwashing machine by easily coupling together a limited number of structural units which are produced separately in an integrated and modular fashion.

Moreover, it is known that in a dishwashing machine components such as the water softener and the salts container must be connected into a hydraulic feed and regeneration circuit forming part of the machine. Preferably such a circuit is produced as a separate compact structure, as is described for example in Italian patent application No.

TO92 A 000235 lodged on 18 March 1992 which advantageously provides for the use of an auxiliary chamber for collecting the consumed salt solution. In any case the coupling between some components of the above-mentioned hydraulic circuit and the remaining part of the dishwashing machine requires the use of suitable connections comprising flexible pipes of the like which undesirably complicate overall assembly of the machine.

The main aim of the present invention is that of providing a dishwashing machine provided with a support base of plastics and being of a generally integrated and modular structure which permits particularly easy and fast assembly of the entire dishwashing machine.

More particularly an aim of the invention is that of providing a dishwashing machine of the type referred to in which the flexible pipes forming part of the hydraulic feed and regeneration circuit are minimised.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a dishwashing machine comprising a support base of plastics in which there is integrally provided a salts container having an intake and an outlet and associated with a hydraulic feed and regeneration circuit substantially provided in the form of an integrated component mounted on the outside of a washing tub, wherein the intake and the outlet of said salts container are connected into said hydraulic circuit by way of respective coupling means, by means of which a plug-in engagement connection is made between the salts container and said integrated component, the latter being disposed adjacent to said base.

The features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description given solely by way of non-limiting example in which: Figure 1 diagrammatically shows the hydraulic system of a dishwashing machine; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic side view, in transparent form, of the lower part of the dishwashing machine in accordance with a preferred embodiment; Figure 3 shows a detail on an enlarged scale in section taken along line A-A in Figure 2; and Figure 4 shows a detail on an enlarged scale in section taken along line B-B in Figure 2.

With particular reference to Figure 1 the hydraulic system of the dishwashing machine is of substantially known type as described for example in US-A-05223042 and mainly comprises a washing tub 5 which can be supplied with mains water by way of a hydraulic feed and regeneration circuit.

More precisely that circuit comprises a water feed conduit 6 provided with a water softener 7. In addition the hydraulic circuit comprises a water metering tank 8 or the like for forming a salt solution in a salts container 9 which is connected to the softener 7 by way of an electrically operated valve 10 or the like which is controlled by the programmer (not shown) of the machine. In particular the salts container 9 is associated with the above-mentioned hydraulic feed and regeneration circuit by means of an intake 11 connected to the metering tank 8 and also an outlet 12 connected to the softener 7 by way of the electrically operated valve 10.

With reference also to Figure 2 the dishwashing machine is of the type in which at least the upper part of the washing tub 5 which is preferably made of steel is mounted on a support base 13 of plastics. As described for example in above-mentioned DE-A-2420302 the base 13 integrally comprises a series of operative components of the dishwashing machine, in particular the salts container 9.

In per se known manner (and now shown in detail) the hydraulic feed and regeneration circuit 6,7 and 8 is on the contrary made in the form of a flat integrated component 14 which is mounted on the outside of the washing tub 5 and disposed in an upright position at a location corresponding to a side of the machine.

As shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4 the salts container 9 is preferably disposed at a side 15 of the base 13 adjacent which is disposed the component 14 which has already stated substantially incorporates the hydraulic feed and regeneration circuit. At the side 15 of the base the intake 11 and the outlet 12 of the salts container 9 are integrally disposed in the form of respective symmetrical and horizontally projecting rigid tubes. It will be noted that Figure 3 shows the view in section A-A corresponding to the intake tube 11 but a substantially identical section can be seen at the outlet tube 12 of the salts container 9.

The tubes 11,12 are connected to the abovementioned hydraulic circuit by coming into plug-in engagement with the adjacent integrated component 14. In particular the tubes 11 and 12 form respective means for quick coupling to corresponding openings 16,17 of the integrated component 14, into which they engage with a slack fit.

Mechanical locking of the component 14 onto the support base 13 is preferably effected by means of at least one screw 18 (Figure 4) which passes through a suitable hole 28 in the component 14 which is aligned with a screwthreaded projection 19 protruding from the base. Preferably, as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, the screwthreaded projection 19 is also formed integrally with the base 13 and is parallel, aligned and interposed with the coupling tubes 11 and 12.

Sealing integrity as between the salts container 9 and the integrated component 14 is ensured by an elastic seal 20 which will be described hereinafter. The seal 20 is of a substantially flat elongate structure comprising an enlarged perimetral edge 21 and three enlarged internal edges 22,23,24 which define respective holes into which the intake tube 11, the projection 19 an the outlet tube 12 of the salts container 9 are respectively adapted to be inserted. the enlarged edges 21-24 are interconnected by an integrally formed flexible diaphragm 25.

Preferably, at a position corresponding to the above-mentioned projecting elements 11,12 and 19 the external surface of the base 13 is provided with a recess 26 which is shaped in such a way as to accommodate the seal 20 in the operative position during assembly of the components. In addition, integrally provided on the external surface of the integrated component 14 is at least one projecting rib 27 which is preferably continuous and which is arranged axially to press the seal 20, in particular the diaphragm 25 thereof, into the respective recess 26.

To sum up briefly the salts container 9 may be sealingly connected to the remaining part of the hydraulic feed and regeneration circuit 6-8, provided in integrated form in the component 14, with the following quick and easy assembly operations: - the seal 20 is disposed in the recess 26 in the support base 13 with the projecting elements 11, 19 and 12 of the salts container 9 which are inserted (also with a loose fit) into the respective holes defined by the enlarged edges 22,23,24 of the seal; - the integrated component 14 is fitted to the side 15 of the base 13, with the intake tube 11 and the outlet tube 12 of the salts container 9, which are fitted with a loose fit into the respective coupling opening 16,17 of the component 14 in such a way as to complete the hydraulic circuit shown in Figure 1;; - the integrated component 14 is locked onto the base 13 by means of a screw 18, as already stated, whereby the rib 27 axially presses the seal 20 in position in the recess 26. It will be noted that for the sake of enhanced clarity in Figures 3 and 4 the components are shown in the condition in which they are simply fitted together, before final clamping thereof; - finally tightening of the screw 18 causes elastic deformation of the seal 20 with the enlarged edges 21, 22 and 24 which are subjected to a squeezing effect such as to ensure complete and reliable hydraulic sealing integrity as between the salts container 9 and the integrated component 14.

It is important to note that the hydraulic sealing integrity is ensured with ample radial tolerances in respect of the dimensioning and assembly of the respective components whereby, by virtue of the simple quick-action coupling means described, the assembly operation itself does not require accurate precision and can also be appropriately effected in automated manner. The advantages which derive therefrom on an industrial scale appear to be evident.

In a preferred embodiment, at least one auxiliary chamber 29 (see Figure 2) is also associated with the hydraulic feed and regeneration circuit of the dishwashing machine, the function of the auxiliary chamber 29 being for example to collect the exhausted salt solution as described in above-mentioned Italian patent application no.

TO92 A 000235 to which reference is made for improved understanding. The auxiliary chamber 29 is provided with an intake and an outlet (or, more correctly, an air breather) which are to be considered as connected to the abovementioned hydraulic circuit in per se known manner, for example as described in Italian patent application no.

TO92 A 000530 lodged on 22 June 1992.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention the auxiliary chamber 29 is also disposed integrally with the support base 13 at a position corresponding to the side 15 thereof. In addition, similarly to the salts container 9, the intake and the outlet of the auxiliary chamber 29 are connected to the hydraulic circuit 6-8 by way of respective further quick-coupling means, by way of which a plug-in connection is made between the auxiliary chamber 29 and the integrated component 14. The further quick-coupling means are preferably entirely similar to the coupling means provided for the salts container 9 and are associated with a seal similar to the seal 20 already described above.For the sake of simplicity therefore the further quick-coupling means are not described in detail herein and are indicated in Figure 2 (at the left) by means of the same reference numerals as are used for the coupling means associated with the salts container 9 (on the right).

In short, the intake and the outlet of the auxiliary chamber 29 are in the form of respective tubes 11,12 which are connected to the hydraulic circuit 6-8, being fitted onto the adjacent integrated circuit 14. In particular the tubes 11,12 form respective quick-coupling means for connection to further corresponding openings in the integrated circuit 14 (similar to the openings 16,17 which have already been described), into which they engage with a loose fit.

Also at a position corresponding to the auxiliary chamber 29 there is preferably provided a screwthreaded projection 19 which projects from the base 13 in such a way as to permit the component 14 to be mechanically locked onto the base 13 with a further screw similar to the screw 18.

Hydraulic sealing integrity between the auxiliary chamber 29 and the integrated component 14 is ensured by an elastic seal 20, as already stated, comprising an enlarged perimetral edge 21 and three enlarged edges 22,23,24 which define respective holes into which the intake tube 11, the projection 19 and the outlet tube 12 of the auxiliary chamber 29 are adapted to be respectively fitted. The enlarged edges 21-24 are interconnected by a flexible diaphragm 25 which is integrally provided.

Preferably, at positions corresponding to the projecting elements 11,12,19 of the auxiliary chamber 29 the external surface of the base 13 is provided with a further recess (similar to the recess 26) for receiving the seal 20.

In addition, integrally provided on the external surface of the integrated component 14 is a projecting rib (similar to the rib 27 already described above) which is arranged axially to press the flexible seal 20, in particular the diaphragm 25 thereof, into the respective recess 26.

To sum up the quick-coupling means provided for the auxiliary chamber 29 have similar characteristics and afford similar advantages to those described with reference to the salts container 9. In addition the construction both of the salts container 9 and the auxiliary chamber 29 integrally with the support base 13 advantageously makes it possible to produce the integrated component 14 in simplified and less bulky form.

It will be appreciated that the dishwashing machine described may be the subject of many modifications which fall within the scope of the invention.

For example, in each seal 20 the perimetral edge 21 may be of a thickness which is slightly less than that of the enlarged edges 22 and 24 which are therefore deformed to a greater degree during fixing of the components, ensuring a first and higher degree of hydraulic sealing ihtegrity in the zone which is closer to the coupling openings 16,17 of the component 14.

In addition the auxiliary chamber 29 may involve different functions from that of simply collecting the exhausted salt solution and it may thus be connected into the hydraulic system of the dishwashing machine in a different manner.

Claims

1. A dishwashing machine comprising a support base of plastics in which there is integrally provided a salts container having an intake and an outlet and associated with a hydraulic feed and regeneration circuit substantially provided in the form of an integrated component mounted on the outside of a washing tub, wherein the intake and the outlet of said salts container are connected into said hydraulic circuit by way of respective coupling means, by means of which a plug-in engagement connection is made between the salts container and said integrated component, the latter being disposed adjacent to said base.

2. A dishwashing machine according to claim 1, wherein at least one auxiliary chamber having an intake and an outlet is also associated with said hydraulic circuit and said auxiliary chamber is provided integrally with said base, the intake and the outlet of the auxiliary chamber being connected to said hydraulic circuit by way of respective further quick-coupling means, by means of which a plug-in engagement connection is made between the auxiliary chamber and said integrated component.

3. A dishwashing machine according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the hydraulic sealing integrity at said intake and said outlet is afforded by a flexible seal having an enlarged perimetral edge and enlarged internal edges which define respective holes into which are respectively inserted said intake and said outlet which are produced in the form of respective rigid tubes which are provided integrally with the base and which project therefrom, engaging with a loose fit into corresponding openings of said integrated component.

4. A dishwashing machine according to claim 3 wherein the enlarged edges of the seal are interconnected by an integrally provided flexible diaphragm.

5. A dishwashing machine according to claim 3 or 4 wherein one of the enlarged internal edges of the seal defines a hole into which is inserted a screwthreaded projection provided integrally with the base substantially aligned with said rigid tubes and co-operating with screw means or the like passing through a corresponding hole in the integrated component in such a ways to provide for mechanical fixing thereof to the base and elastic squeezing of the enlarged edges of the seal.

6. A dishwashing machine according to claim 3, 4 or 5 wherein at said projecting tubes the external surface of the bases is provided with a recess for receiving said seal in the operative position.

7. A dishwashing machine according to any one of the claims 3 to 6, wherein the external surface of said integrated component comprises at leat one projecting rib for axially pressing the seal in particular the diaphragm thereof, against the support base.

8. A dishwashing machine according to any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the enlarged perimetral edge of said seal is of a smaller thickness than said enlarged internal edges.

9. A dishwashing machine constructed and arranged to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.