ITTO20080655A1 - METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONVEYING WASHING AGENTS INTO A WASHING MACHINE - Google Patents

Description

â € œMETHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONVEYING WASHING AGENTS INTO A TANK OF A WASHING MACHINEâ €

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a method for conveying washing agents into a tank of a washing machine according to the preamble of the first claim.

A further object of the present invention is a washing machine provided with a device for conveying the washing agents into a tank according to the preamble of claim 5.

The washing machines, such as washing machines, washer-dryers or the like to which we refer, are those equipped with a rotating drum, housed in a tank, in which the clothes subject to the action of the washing machine are placed. These machines are connected to a water mains pipe, by means of which they are supplied with clean water, which is loaded into the machine from a supply pipe; clean water is normally also used to transport two washing agents into the tub, such as a detergent and a softener.

To this end, the machine is equipped with two separate containers, designed to be fed by the incoming clean water flow, so that the latter passes through them to convey the washing agent with it towards the tank. content; normally these containers are separate compartments of a loading drawer.

Using this system, the supply duct connected to the water mains is split into two delivery ducts, each afferent to a relative container or compartment of the drawer, and equipped with a valve, in order to be opened or closed independently of the other, so ¬ to be dispensed independently of the two washing agents.

Over time, however, the need arose to prepare the loading of three different washing agents, or washing agents that must be dispensed at three different times during the operating cycle of the machine (for example a first detergent or a color fixative. , a second detergent and a softener); in this case three separate containers are required, each suitable for containing the respective washing agent.

To this end, a further third compartment has been added to the drawer, functioning in the same way as the first two; It was therefore also necessary to provide for the supply of the third compartment, using a third delivery duct which, however, generates an additional cost, especially considering that this too must be equipped with a dedicated valve.

To simplify the construction of the machine and limit its manufacturing cost, so-called cross jet feeding devices have been created, which have two inputs and three outputs, such as the one described for example in the patent GB 2353540 in the name of AWECO Appliance System GmbH & CO. KG; in these devices the three outputs can be powered alternatively according to the power supply of the two inputs.

A cross jet device 1 of a known type is also shown in fig. 1 attached: this device 1 is fed with water from the water mains by means of the supply duct 7 which branches off into the two delivery ducts 2, 3 which open onto as many inlets consisting of delivery outlets A, B ; note that each delivery duct 2,3 is provided with a dedicated valve or solenoid valve 22, 23, so that it can be opened or closed. The device with crossed jets 1 comprises a crossing chamber X, to which the two delivery openings A, B and three discharge openings C, D, E are connected which are connected to as many exhaust ducts 4, 5, 6 in communication with fluid with the three compartments of the drawer; two of the discharge openings C, D are aligned with the two delivery openings A, B, in such a way that the lines that connect each delivery mouth and its relative discharge mouth cross inside the chamber X; the third discharge port E is placed between the other two, and all the ports A, B, C, D, E lie substantially on the same horizontal plane.

The cross chamber X is designed to contain air, and the operating principle of the device 1 is based on the crossing of the water jets emitted by the delivery mouths A, B: when the water comes out in the form of jet from a single inlet A or B, the jet crosses the crossing chamber X in a straight line so as to reach the corresponding outlet C or D, this situation is illustrated in fig. 1 with full line arrows.

On the other hand, when the water comes out of both inlets A and B, the two corresponding jets of water cross in chamber X and the result is a jet directed towards the third mouth E, this situation is illustrated in fig. 1 with dashed arrows. In this way it is possible to avoid the use of a third delivery duct and the relative solenoid valve, being able to power the three outputs alternatively by feeding the first A, the second B or both A and B inputs.

Further improvements are described in the aforementioned patent GB 2353540 to which reference should be made for further details.

Although capable of simplifying the construction of the washing machine, however this solution is still relatively complex, and provides for a splitting of the supply duct into the two delivery ducts, each of which must be provided with a dedicated solenoid valve.

A first object of the present invention is to further simplify this solution, by providing a washing machine with a reduced cost and having a simplified construction.

A further object of the present invention is to reduce the components necessary for the operation of a cross jet feeding device such as the one described above.

This object is achieved by a washing machine which implements the method according to the first attached claim.

A further object of the present invention is a washing machine according to the attached claim 5.

Further advantageous aspects or variants are also the subject of the attached claims which are intended as an integral part of the present description.

The idea behind the present invention is to use the washing liquid recirculation circuit (which can be, depending on the case, only water or water in which a washing agent is present) contained in the tank to power one of the two inlets of the cross jet feeding device.

Often, to limit the consumption of clean water, washing machines are equipped with recirculation circuits, such as those described in patents DE 43 37 943 or DE 199 02 911 both in the name of MIELE & CIE GmbH and US 5,191,669 on behalf of WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION.

In these machines the washing liquid contained in the tank is withdrawn, possibly filtered, and re-introduced into the tank, for example by spraying it on the clothes, without the need to load more clean water. For this purpose, known machines are provided with a pump, able to circulate the washing liquid in the recirculation circuit; the latter also normally includes the pipes that go to and from the tank and possibly valves or diverters and cleaning filters.

By sending at least part of the washing liquid contained in the tank into the inlet to the cross-jet feeding device, it is possible to simplify the machine, as will be seen better later, by eliminating all the part of the hydraulic circuit responsible for splitting the supply duct into two delivery to the cross jet device, to the advantage of the reduction of components and simplification of the hydraulic circuit.

These characteristics and further advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the description of an embodiment thereof shown in the attached drawings, provided purely by way of non-limiting example, in which:

fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a cross jet feeding device and of the relative hydraulic circuit according to the prior art;

fig. 2 illustrates a schematic view of a cross jet feeding device and of the relative hydraulic circuit according to the present invention; fig. 3 shows a first variant of fig. 2;

fig. 4 shows a second variant of fig. 2;

fig. 5 shows a schematic view of a washing machine which comprises the device and the circuit of fig. 2.

The intrinsic operation of the cross jet feeding device 1 illustrated in fig. 1 is known in itself and has already been described above, therefore we do not dwell further.

With reference to figs. 2 and 5 it is possible to observe the crossed jet feeding device 1 provided with the hydraulic circuit responsible for its operation according to the teachings of the present invention.

In such figs. 2 and 5 a simple and economical form of this circuit is shown in an indicative diagram (in fig. 2) and in a schematic view of its positioning on the washing machine 100 (in fig. 5), that is a washing machine or a washer-dryer. .

In this case, the cross jet feeding device 1 is positioned directly above the drawer 40 for loading the washing agents and is provided with three outlets consisting of the three discharge openings C, D and E in fluid communication ( by means of the discharge ducts 4, 5,6) with as many distinct compartments 43, 41, 42 of the drawer 40; the first and second inlets consist of the two delivery outlets A and B.

The compartments 41, 42, 43 are in turn in fluid communication with the tank 101 by means of a loading hopper 103 (known per se); the washing machine or washer-dryer 100 then normally comprises a rotatable basket 102 housed in the tub, in which the clothes are placed.

In the three compartments 41, 42, 43 of the drawer 40 three distinct washing agents can be loaded (for example a color fixative, a detergent and a softener), or more generally washing agents (also all of the same type) suitable for be dispensed into the tub at different times of the washing cycle (such as two detergents, the same or different, and a softener or other). In figs. 2 and 5 also show the pump 10 in fluid communication with the tank 101 by means of the sampling duct 11; this pump 10 is connected in delivery to the delivery duct 3 which opens into the crossing chamber X of the device 1 with the second mouth B aligned with the discharge mouth D.

If the machine is provided with a recirculation circuit, the pump 10 and the sampling duct 11 advantageously consist respectively of the recirculation pump of the washing machine and the recirculation duct. The supply duct 7, intercepted by the valve 22, constitutes the second delivery duct 2 which opens into the crossing chamber X with the first mouth A aligned with the discharge mouth C; between the discharge ports C and D aligned with the respective delivery ports A and B the third discharge port E is visible.

Operation occurs as follows: at first the tank 101 is filled (normally coinciding with a `` prewash '' or `` water filling '' phase, in which the cloths are soaked): for this purpose the valve opens 22 and the clean water (fed by the supply pipe 7 connected to the water mains) flows into the delivery pipe 2, reaching the delivery port A; the jet of water coming out of the delivery mouth A crosses the chamber X in a straight line and reaches the discharge mouth C, in fluid communication with the tank through the discharge duct 4, the compartment 43 and the hopper 103.

If washing agents are present in the drawer 43, they are carried away by the flow of clean water already during this initial phase.

When a certain quantity of washing liquid is present in the tank 101 (which can be simply water, or water mixed with washing agents), it is possible to use the pump 10 to dispense a washing agent contained in the compartment 42 or in compartment 41.

In this condition, if a washing agent contained in the compartment 41 is to be dispensed, the pump 10 is activated and the valve 22 is kept in the closed condition of the supply duct 7: the washing liquid drawn from the tank through the sampling 11 then flows into the delivery duct 3 and then exits from the mouth B in the form of a jet that crosses the chamber X uninterrupted, reaching the mouth D and from this to the compartment 41, where it drags the cleaning agents with it towards the tank. washing possibly contained therein.

If, on the other hand, a washing agent contained in compartment 42 is to be dispensed, pump 10 is activated by also opening the solenoid valve 22: in this way the washing liquid taken from the tank is sent into the delivery duct 3 to then come out of the mouth B in the form of a jet that impacts against the jet of clean water coming out of the mouth A, forming a common jet directed towards the central mouth E, which is in fluid communication with the compartment 42, thus allowing ¬ dispensing the washing agents contained therein into the tank.

In this regard, it can be observed that the compartments 41 and 42 are necessarily those designed to contain washing agents whose use is foreseen in the machine operating phases subsequent to that of filling the tank; for example the compartments 41 and 42 are designed to contain a detergent and / or a softener, while the compartment 43 can be designed to contain a color fixative or a detergent to be used in the pre-wash phase; advantageously the compartment 41 is designed to contain detergent and the compartment 42 to contain a softener.

According to this teaching, the recirculation circuit of the washing liquid to and from the tank 101 also comprises the device 1 and the drawer 40; in the machine, the recirculation operation requires that the washing liquid taken from the tank passes through both the device 1 and the drawer 40 and, more in detail, two types of recirculation can be carried out: a recirculation with mixing of clean water, and a recirculation without mixing.

Recirculation with mixing of clean water requires that the valve 22 is open and the pump 10 is active: in this case the flow of washing liquid taken from the tank is added to that of the clean water coming from the water mains and through the compartment 42 reaches the tub; this mode can be used if the quantity of washing liquid in the tank is not sufficient to carry out subsequent washing operations of the machine 100; the recirculation circuit of the washing liquid to and from the tank 101 comprises in this case the sampling duct 11, the pump 10, the delivery duct 3, the delivery mouth B, the chamber X, the outlet mouth E, the discharge duct 5, the compartment 42, the hopper 103

Recirculation without mixing, on the other hand, requires valve 22 to be closed and pump 10 to be active: in this case the flow of washing liquid taken from the tank is entirely re-introduced into the tank (except for spillages or other types of partialization) by crossing the compartment 41; this mode can be used if the quantity of washing liquid in the tank is already sufficient for carrying out subsequent washing operations of the machine 100; the recirculation circuit of the washing liquid to and from the tank 101 comprises in this case the sampling duct 11, the pump 10, the delivery duct 3, the delivery mouth B, the chamber X, the outlet mouth D, the discharge duct 6, the compartment 41, the hopper 103.

Pump 10 can be a normal recirculation pump, known per se, and on which we do not dwell further.

Incidentally, it should be noted that if it is of the volumetric type it also performs the interception of the water flow when it is off, acting in the latter case on the duct 11 as a closed valve.

By following the teachings of the present invention, a simplification and savings in terms of components are obtained, as it is possible to power alternatively one of the three outputs C, D, E depending on the power supply of the two inputs A, B, one of which is powered with washing liquid coming from the washing machine tank, and the other with clean water taken from the water mains.

In this way the three compartments 41, 42, 43 of the drawer 40 are fed using a minimum number of parts or components of the machine.

Obviously, numerous variations to this basic idea are possible: one of these is illustrated for example in fig. 3: it allows the recirculation operation to be carried out even without necessarily involving the drawer 40 (as was the case in fig.2); in this figure the same parts are indicated with the same reference numbers and therefore we do not go back further.

Pump 10â € ™ has two outputs which can be powered according to the direction of rotation of its electric motor; pumps of the above type are known per se and are described for example in US patent 6,617,733 in the name of DAEWOO ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.

In short, the 10â € ™ pump is of the dynamic type equipped with an impeller; by activating the electric motor that controls the impeller in one direction or the other, it is possible to alternatively send the washing liquid entering the sampling duct 11 into one or the other of the two ducts 3 and 13.

In the case of fig. 3 using this type of pump 10â € ™ it is possible to send the washing liquid taken from the tank 101 through the sampling duct 11, alternatively either towards the delivery duct 3 relating to the device 1, or towards the return duct 13, which is It is directed, for example, to nozzles suitable for spraying it on clothes.

It should already be noted that as an alternative to the pump 10â € ™ just described, a different type of pump could be provided, for example it could have a flow diverter or an obturator so as to achieve a partialization of the liquid flow at the outlet, to send part of it into duct 3 and part into duct 13.

The return duct 13 could then have an exhaust branch which can be activated by means of a dedicated valve (not shown).

The operation of this variant is similar to the example described on the occasion of fig. 2, and therefore do not dwell further, it is sufficient to observe that in this case it is possible to dispense the washing agent contained in compartment 41 or 42 regardless of the functioning of the recirculation, unlike the previous case, in which during the first recirculation phase, the washing agent contained in compartment 41 or 42 (depending on whether or not the solenoid valve 21 is opened) is necessarily dispensed; therefore, if on the one hand this solution involves the presence of a return duct 13 dedicated only to recirculation, on the other hand it presents greater flexibility of use.

The recirculation operating modes (with or without mixing) are similar to those discussed above, with the additional possibility of providing a recirculation phase without mixing and a recirculation phase with mixing that do not necessarily involve the drawer 40 (or in any case a compartment of this): for the first it will be sufficient to operate the pump 10 so that it sends the washing liquid into the pipe 13, keeping the valve 22 closed, while for the second it will be sufficient to operate the pump 10 so that it sends the washing liquid in the duct 13, keeping the valve 22 open (in this second case the mixing takes place in the tank 101).

A further variant is illustrated in fig. 4 in which the same parts are indicated with the same reference numbers.

This variant is conceptually similar to that of fig. 3, with the difference that in this case the pump 10 is of the traditional type (with one inlet and one outlet); on the delivery of the pump 10 there is a flow diverter 14 adapted to convey the washing liquid alternatively either in the return pipe 13 or in the delivery pipe 3: the pump 10 and the flow diverter 14 perform in practice the same functions as the pump 10â € ™, and in some solutions they can also be integrated in a single casing.

Also in this case the operation is similar to that described above with reference to fig. 3, and therefore we do not go further, except to observe that the flow diverter 14 can also choke the flow of washing liquid, so as to send to the device 1 and to the return duct 13 flow rates which can be varied at will by controlling the diverter 14; this solution can be advantageous if the jets emitted simultaneously from ports A and B are not able to generate a single jet directed towards port E (for example because the flow rates of the jets outgoing from ports A and B are different and the resulting jet is not directed towards the port E), in which case the flow diverter 14 also performs the function of regulating and calibrating device 1, allowing to intervene on the flow of washing liquid passing through one of the two inlets to the device 1 itself, so as to adjust it for optimum operation of the device 1.

Furthermore, in this way a hybrid operation can be achieved, in which part of the washing liquid taken from the tank returns to it by means of the return pipe 13 and part is instead sent to the dispenser 1 and from this to the drawer 41 or 42 (depending on the € ™ opening or not of the solenoid valve 21).

It is also possible to provide that the return duct 13 is connected to a drain.

Further advantages of this variant also reside in the fact that it allows the use of a traditional type pump 10, less expensive and delicate than the double outlet pump 10 ', diverting the outgoing jet with a simple, robust and inexpensive flow diverter 14.

From the solutions indicated above it can therefore be understood immediately not only that the supply duct 7 is not split as in the case of the known art, affecting only the delivery duct 2, but also that the solenoid valve 22 is completely absent. fig. 1, with the advantages of simplifying the circuit and reducing its components.

On the basis of the teachings provided herein, numerous other variants and modifications are obviously foreseeable, all to be understood as the object of the present invention.

For example, pump 10 (or 10â € ™) can also be (in some solutions) a pump responsible for both the recirculation and the discharge function (towards a discharge duct), being equipped for this purpose with a flow diverter located downstream of the pump itself, and able to switch the path of the washing liquid taken from the tank towards a drain or towards a recirculation circuit; in other solutions, on the other hand, the pump responsible for carrying out the discharge can be a separate pump from the pump responsible for carrying out the recirculation.

The flow diverter 14 can alternatively be a three-way valve.

The valves can advantageously be solenoid valves, so that they can be controlled automatically.

Obviously, as an alternative to the drawer 4, the compartments 41, 42, 43 for the three washing agents can be more generally three separate containers for washing agents, associated with or included in other devices of the washing machine, for example they can be containers integrated in the machine frame, in a fixed position and loadable from above, or it can be containers associated with the tank, externally or internally to the latter, for example placed on the door that closes the access to the tank and the basket.

In all these cases the three containers are in any case fed by means of the device 1 as described above, with the sole care of making the three discharge ducts 4, 5, 6 so as to attach to the relative container, which is in fluid communication with tank 101.

The arrangement of the cross jet device 1, above the drawer 4, is then optional, in fact the device 1 can also be installed in a remote position from the drawer or containers.

Obviously, as a further variant, it should be noted that four or more containers could be provided which can be fed alternatively according to the flow of water that is sent from the duct 3: in the cross-flow device just described in fact the two inlet flows generate a flow of direct exit towards the exit not aligned with the two entrances.

In the event that the two flow rates of liquid in ducts 2 and 3 differ, the jet resulting from the crossing could not be directed centrally, but with a variable angle depending on the different flow rate of the two jets, thus being able to feed even a fourth (and not shown) outlet afferent to a fourth vessel.

The speech can be extended to any number of outlets, as long as you are able to finely adjust the flow rate.

In this sense, the flow rate adjustment could be carried out by acting on the pump, for example by increasing its revolutions in the case in which it is a dynamic impeller pump, or with the flow diverter 14 previously described.

In this way, by regulating the flow rate, it is possible to determine the power supply of any of the outlets.

Claims (10)

CLAIMS 1. Method of alternately feeding one of at least three outlets (C, D, E) of a cross jet device (1) for feeding a liquid to at least three containers (41,42,43) of washing agents in a machine washing machine (100), in particular a washing machine or a washer-dryer, in which the at least three containers (41,42,43) are in fluid communication with a tub of the washing machine (100), and in which the jet device cross (1) comprises a crossing chamber (X) to which a first and a second inlet (A, B) and at least three outlets (C, D, E), which outlets (C, D, E) are connected fluid communication with the at least three containers (43,41,42), and they can alternatively be fed by said liquid according to the supply of one or both inlets (A, B), and in which the liquid fed to the first inlet ( A) It is clean water taken from the water mains, characterized by the fact that the liquid fed to the second inlet (B) is a washing liquid taken from the tank. Method according to claim 1, comprising the steps of: - take said washing liquid from the tank - feeding said washing liquid to the second inlet (B) of said cross jet device (1) - prevent the supply of clean water to the first inlet (A) of the said cross jet device (1) so as to generate a jet of said washing liquid which reaches uninterrupted a first of said outlets (D) to flow towards a first container (41) of the washing agents so as to convey into the tank (101) a washing agent contained in said first container (41). Method according to claim 1, comprising the steps of: - take said washing liquid from the tank - feeding said washing liquid to the second inlet (B) of said cross jet device (1) - feeding said clean water to the first inlet (A) of said cross jet device (1) so as to generate a jet of said washing liquid and a jet of said clean water which mutually interfere in the crossing chamber (X) to form a single jet directed to a third of said outlets (E), to flow towards a respective container (42) washing agents so as to convey into the tank (101) a washing agent contained in said container (42). Method according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising the step of partializing the flow rate of said washing liquid prior to its feeding to said inlet (B). 5. Washing machine (100), in particular a washing machine or washer-dryer, of the type comprising a tub (101) in which a rotatable basket (102) is housed, in which the tub (101) is in fluid communication at least with at least three containers (41,42,43) of washing agents, and further comprising a cross jet device (1) for feeding a liquid to said at least three containers (41,42,43), in which the device cross jet (1) includes a crossing chamber (X) to which a first and a second inlet (A, B) and at least three outlets (C, D, E), which outlets (C, D, E) belong they are in fluid communication with the at least three containers (43,41,42), and can alternatively be fed by said liquid according to the supply of one or both inlets (A, B), in which the first inlet (A) of the cross jet device (1) is in fluid communication with a water network characterized by the fact that the second inlet (B) of the cross jet device (1) is in fluid communication with the tank (101) 6. Washing machine (100) according to claim 5, comprising a pump (10,10â € ™) in fluid communication with the tank (101) through a sampling duct (11), said pump (10,10â € ™ ) being in fluid communication with the second inlet (B) of said cross jet device (1). Washing machine (100) according to claim 4 or 5, comprising a supply duct (7) in fluid communication with a water network and with said first inlet (A), and in which the passage section of said duct supply (7) is intercepted by a valve (22). Washing machine (100) according to one or more of claims 5 to 7, wherein the pump (10â € ™) is a dynamic double outlet pump, further comprising a return pipe (13) in fluid communication with the double outlet dynamic pump (10â € ™) and with said tank (101). Washing machine (100) according to one or more of claims 5 to 7, in which a flow diverter (14) is provided downstream of the pump (10), further comprising a return pipe (13) in communication of fluid with said tank (101), and in which the flow diverter (14) is in fluid communication at least with the pump (10), with the second inlet (B) and with the return conduit (13). Washing machine (100) according to one or more of claims 5 to 9, wherein the cross jet feeding device (1) is positioned above a drawer (40) for loading washing agents and where the three containers are three distinct compartments of said drawer (40).