GB2297561A

GB2297561A - Water feed equipment for an apliance operable with water

Info

Publication number: GB2297561A
Application number: GB9602108A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Wolfgang Proppe; Uwe Radon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-02-03
Filing date: 1996-02-02
Publication date: 1996-08-07
Anticipated expiration: 2016-02-02
Also published as: DE19503589A1; KR100401360B1; TR199600087A2; EP0725182A1; PL312542A1; CN1136109A; DE59506844D1; EP0725182B1; ES2139136T3; BR9600313A; ATE184664T1; GB2297561B; GB9602108D0; KR960031699A; HK70397A; CN1065936C

Abstract

Water feed equipment is provided for an appliance operable with water comprising two valve-controlled water inlets operable at a time to direct a respective jet of water towards the entrance of a respective one of two collecting channels and operable in common to direct respective jets of water toward a point of intersection for formation of a jet toward the entrance of a third collecting channel, and a further valve-controlled water inlet operable by itself to direct a respective water jet toward the entrance of a fourth channel and operable in common with one of the first two jets to direct a jet toward a point of intersection with the jet from that one inlet for formation of a further resultant jet which is directed towards the entrance of a fifth collecting channel.

Description

--- A 2297561 WATER FEED EQUIPMENT FOR AN APPLIANCE OPERABLE WITH WATER

The present invention relates to an appliance operable with water, especially washing-agent flushing-in equipment for a washing machine.

In German published specification 19 13 868 there is disclosed water feed equipment in which the output of two controllable inflow valves are so arranged at an angle to each other that they provide individual jets or a single resultant jet in accordance with their individual or common drive control. The resultant jet is utilised for flushing-out of softrinsing agent chamber of a washing agent flushing-in equipment arranged below the water feed equipment. If a further washing agent chamber is to be provided in the flushing-in equipment, a further inflow valve must be provided to act directly on this chamber.

If fresh water is to be branched off, in accordance with DE 38 22 392,for purposes other than the flushing-out of a washing agent chamber, a further fresh water valve is required, because the branching-off of fresh water disturbs the fresh water feed to the washing agent chamber. For this reason, this known method of branching off fresh water has not proved itself in practice. An additional fresh water path could be reliably controlled only by a further special inflow valve. 20 It would thus be desirable to provide an arrangement by which at least five fresh water paths can be controlled by three inflow valves in water feed equipment. According to the present invention there is provided water feed equipment for an appliance operable with water, the equipment comprising more than two valve-controlled inlets which belong to a pair and are controllable in dependence on a program and the outputs of which are 1 directed to an intersection of jets, the inlets being aimed so that when individually operated they direct jets to the entrances of respective collecting channels and when operated in common their jets form a resultant jet directed at the entrance of a middle collecting channel, characterised in that one of the direct jets in flow direction behind the intersection of the direct jets and together with a jet of a further valve-controlled inlet forms a further intersection with three downstream collecting channels.

Thus, five collecting channels can be acted on individually with three inlets. Further increases in the utilisation of the principle known from DE 19 13 868 are also feasible; for example, seven collecting channels can be driven individually by four inlets or nine collecting channels can be driven individually by five inlets. However, since stray jets, which must be collected by adjacent collecting channels, arise during the formation of resultant jets, the sequence of switching-on of the valves of the inlets must be effected in such a manner that stray jets can only reach collecting channels which areassociated with chambers which have already been emptied in an operating program of the appliance, such as a washing machine.

Preferably, the water feed equipment comprises three controllable inlets of which the output of the third inlet together with the collecting channel for the one direct jet is led to a second intersection with three downstream collecting channels. In this case, the resultant jet of the second intersection can be allocated to a softrinsing agent chamber, the flushing of which does not require such high pressure as the flushing of chambers for preliminary washing agent and main washing agent. The powdery main and preliminary washing agent must be flushed out at a higher pressure than the liquid soft-rinsing agent, the flushing- out of which can be effected simply by elevating the content of the associated chamber above a baffle wall or above a siphon crest. Stray jets, which are collected by the two other collecting channels, then for example flush out only chambers which were already flushed out previously, for example a preliminary washing chamber or final washing chamber, or are connected to a fresh water path which leads directly into a washing solution container.

In an advantageous development, four pipe connecting members, of which two adjacent ones are aimed at an acute angle to each other onto the first intersection, which lies in the region of a free air path serving for protection against return suction, are mounted at a rear wall of a cover for a housing of a washing agent drawer with four chambers for the storage of manually metered washing agent quantities. Although an arrangement of this type is known, it serves in co-operation with the output of the third inlet for the formation of a second intersection with three downstream collecting channels.

Preferably, the equipment is so constructed that the middle collecting channel of the first intersection is led in the cover into a distributor chamber with spray openings for a soft-rinsing agent chamber arranged thereunder, one of the collecting channels for the direct jets from the one pipe connecting member is led to a third pipe connecting member for a direct feed of fresh water and the other collecting channel for the direct jet from the other pipe connecting member is led to the second intersection, the other feed duct of which is a collecting channel of the fourth connecting member and the outputs of which are three collecting channels each for a respective distributor chamber with spray openings for three other washing agent chambers respectively arranged thereunder. This arrangement is particularly favourable in costs because of the use of only three inlets for five outputs, of which four outputs act on washing agent chambers of a washing agent drawer, whilst the fifth output can serve for direct feed of fresh water to the washing solution container of the washing machine, the prefilled fresh water of which is utilised for more rapid wetting of the laundry, for example from the charging opening of a front-loading washing machine.

By exploitation of the principle of a hydraulic shunting switch (resultant jet from intersecting water jets) and application of two such switches disposed one behind the other, the number of the controllable water paths is increased to five. These five water paths can be utilised for flushing-out of four chambers and a direct water feed to the washing solution container. The chamber arrangement and the arrangement of the hydraulic shunting switches with the associated water guidance should take place in such a manner that the loss water, which arises with such shunting switches and flows away on direct paths, is conducted through chambers which have been flushed out an earlier time. Three of the five fresh water paths are in fact operable without water losses on actuation of a respective inflow valve. Advantageously, no movable parts, with the exception of the inflow valve, are present in the water distributing system, which minimises susceptibility to fault. At the same time, the drive control of five water paths allows the possibility of separate preliminary wetting of the laundry independently of the program stage by direct feed into the machine container.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, 5 in which:

Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 3 Fig. 4 is a circuit diagram for inflow valves and for associated water paths in water feed equipment embodying the invention; is a diagram illustrating control of the valves; is a view of a cover of the equipment; and is a view of a drawer of the equipment.

Referring now to the drawings there is shown in Fig. 1 the basic layout of water feed equipment 7 embodying the invention. The equipment is associated with a valve block V with an inlet duct E for fresh water and electrically switchable valves 1 to 3, the outputs 4 to 6 of which are led to the water feed equipment 7. The outputs 5 and 6 meet at a first intersection 8, to which collecting channels A3 and A5 and a transfer channel 9 are connected. The output 4 of the valve 1 and the transfer channel 9 meet at a second intersection 10, to which the collecting channels Al, A2 and A4 are connected. The collecting channels A4 and A5 are provided for the resultant jets respectively forming at the intersections 10 and 8 when the valves 1 and 2 or the valves 2 and 3 are switched on at the same time. In that event two jets of approximately equal strength impinge on each other on a direct path at the respective intersection point and form a resultant jet which hits the respective centrally arranged collecting channel A4 or A2. The resultant jet constitutes up to about 50% of the quantity of throughflow of the two input jets, whilst the remaining quantity divides about equally into two stray jets collected in the neighbouring channels (see Fig. 2). The five fresh water outputs of the collecting channels A1 to A5 can be utilised for any desired purposes, especially for the flushing-in of washing agent from at least four chambers of washing agent flushing-in equipment.

Fig. 2 shows a switching table, from which it is evident how much fresh water enters the respective collecting channel when one or two of the valves are opened. For use in connection with washing agent flushing-in equipment, the table indicates which washing agent chambers can be acted on by the respective fresh water path. In particular, a preliminary washing agent chamber VWK is connected to the collecting channel Al, a main washing agent chamber HWK is connected to the collecting channel A2 and a free connecting stub pipe 15 (Fig. 3) is connected to the collecting channel A3. They each receive the full direct jet of a respective one of the valves 1 to 3.

On the actuation of the valves 1 and 2, the collecting channel A4 catches the main part of the supplied fresh water in the form of a resultant jet of more than 50% of the supplied quantity and conducts this into a soft-rinsing agent chamber WSK. The stray jets each of less than 25% of the supplied fresh water pass through the preliminary washing agent chamber VWK and the main washing agent chamber HWK, which have both already been flushed out before the soft-rinsing agent chamber WSK is acted on and the stray water therefore has no undesired side effects.

On actuation of the valves 2 and 3, the main part of the fresh water passes as a resultant jet of more than 50% into the collecting channel A5 and thereby into a bleaching agent chamber BK, whilst the collecting channels A2 and A3 each collect less than 25% of the supplied fresh water as stray jets and conduct it into the main washing agent chamber HWK or into the stub pipe 15. Both stray water components are harmless during the principal action on the bleaching agent chamber BK, because the main washing agent chamber has been flushed out before the feed of the bleaching agent and because the direct feed of fresh water by way of the stub pipe 15 into the washing solution container of a washing machine is without consequence.

An embodiment of the water feed equipment, as illustrated schematically in Fig. 1, is shown in detail in Figs. 3 and 4 by reference to a washing agent flushing-in drawer 17 for a front-loading washing machine. The drawer 17, illustrated in plan view in Fig. 4, is guided in a housing which is closed off above the pushed-in drawer by a cover 16 (Fig. 3) provided with distributor chambers. The drawer 17 contains four washing agent chambers for manually metered washing agent quantities, namely VWK for preliminary washing agent, HWK for main washing agent, WSK for soft-rinsing agent and BK for bleaching agent. When the drawer 17 is pushed into the housing, the washing agent chambers lie below the distributor chambers VKV for preliminary washing agent, VKH for main washing agent, VKW for soft-rinsing agent and VKB for bleaching agent arranged in the same sense as in Fig. 4. The supplied fresh water flows through spray holes at the bases of the distributor chambers into the washing agent chambers disposed thereunder and flushes the washing agent contained therein rearwardly towards a cavity (not illustrated) connected by way of a resilient duct with the washing solution container.

Four connecting stub pipes 11 to 15 and 20 are arranged at a rear wall 19 of the cover 16. Two adjacent stub pipes 12 and 13 are arranged at an acute angle to each other and are aimed at a first intersection 8, which is disposed in the region of a free air path serving for protection against return suction. This free air path is realised by a passage 21 through which air can flow when underpressure prevails at one of the stub pipes 12 or 13 and which is provided in the base of the channel containing the intersection 8. A single stub pipe 11 leads, together with the transfer channel 9 which extends from the stub pipe 12, to a second intersection 10 and has an own return suction opening 22. The stub pipe piece 14 is connected via the cavity to the container and serves for the ventilation of a so-called water hill in the pumping-out duct of the washing machine. The large stub pipe 20 is plugged closed and is available for various possible uses.

Fresh water from the stub pipe 11 shoots into the collecting channel A1 and from there into the distributor chamber WV for preliminary washing agent. Fresh water fed solely to the stub pipe piece 12 shoots through the transfer channel 9 to the collecting channel A2 and from there into the distributor chamber V0 for main washing agent. Fresh water fed solely to the stub pipe 13 shoots into the collecting channel A3 and is fed directly to the stub pipe 15, to which a hose leading to the container may be connected. Such a hose opens, for example, in the region of the charging door of a front-loading washing machine.

Fresh water jets fed in common from the stub pipes 11 and 12 meetat the intersection point 10 and form a resultant jet 23, which shoots into the collecting channel A4 and from there fills the distributor chamber VKW for soft-rinsing agent. Stub pipes 12 and 13 when fed in common direct their water jets to the intersection 8 and form a resultant jet 24, which shoots into the collecting channel AS and from there fills the distributor chamber VKB for bleaching agent.

The equipment is not restricted to the layout illustrated in Fig. 1 and the associated table in Fig. 2 or to the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. The equipment is suitable for all water-conducting household appliances in which more than three output channels are to be supplied by a lesser number of controllable inflow valves. The example illustrated in Fig. 1 with three inflow valves and five output channels can also be enlarged to four or five inflow valves without departing from the basic principle. Seven output channels can be supplied in the case of four valves and nine output channels in the case of five valves. For example, if there are four valves, two transfer channels which lead to a third intersection can extend from the outer valves analogously to the transfer channel 9 of the valve 2 in Fig. 1. This third intersection can in turn supply three collecting channels. The connections in the case of five inflow valves can be effected in analogous manner. A higher number of inflow valves and intersections is less desirable, because the pressures in the collecting channels more distant from the inflow valves become low.

Moreover, the connection arrangement illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 is not obligatory, because different uses or arrangements of the collecting channels is readily feasible. The stub pipe 15 could be dispensed with and the collecting channel A3 could extend directly in the cavity lying thereunder in cases where this duct does not have to be led into the container by way of a path other than the remaining water paths.

Claims

1. Water feed equipment for an appliance operable with water, comprising two valve-controlled water inlets operable one at a time to each direct a respective jet of water towards the entrance of a respective one of first and second collecting channels and operable in common to direct respective jets of water towards a point of intersection for formation of a resultant jet which is directed towards the entrance of a third collecting channel, and a further valve-controlled water inlet operable by itself to direct a respective water jet towards the entrance of a fourth collecting channel and operable in common with one of said two inlets to direct a jet of water towards a point of intersection with the jet from that one inlet for formation of a further resultant jet which is directed towards the entrance of a fifth collecting channel.

2. Equipment as claimed in claim 1, comprising ducts to guide the jets of the further inlet and said one inlet to the associated point of intersection.

3. Equipment as claimed in claim 2, comprising a body part provided with four chambers for soluble substances and a cover covering the body part and provided with pipe connecting members for supplying water to the chambers by way of the inlets.

4. Equipment as claimed in claim 3, wherein said two inlets are formed by two of the members arranged so that flow axes thereof include an acute angle therebetween, the flow axes meeting at the first-mentioned point of - 11 intersection and in a region where the associated jets are unguided.

5. Equipment as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the first collecting channel is connected to an outlet and each of the second to fifth collecting channels is connected to a respective one of the chambers, the other one of said two inlets being that providing the jet directed towards the entrance of the first collecting channel.

6. Equipment as claimed in claim 5, wherein the chamber connected to the third collecting channel is a bleaching agent chamber and the other chambers are washing agent chambers.

7. Equipment as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6, wherein each of the second to fifth collecting channels is connected to the respective chambers by way of a distributor chamber and spray openings.

8. Equipment as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the ducts extend from said one of said two inlets and said further inlet to the associated point of intersection and the second, fourth and fifth collecting channels continue on from the ducts at that point.

9. Water feed equipment substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. An appliance operable with water and provided with equipment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

11. An appliance as claimed in claim 10, the appliance being a washing machine.

12. An appliance as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11, comprising program control means controlling operation of valves of the inlets.