US20140182719A1

US20140182719A1 - Guiding tray of washing supplies

Info

Publication number: US20140182719A1
Application number: US14/133,168
Authority: US
Inventors: Sergio Ricardo Jager; Bruno T. Ramasco; Guilherme Henrique Manzi
Original assignee: Whirlpool SA
Current assignee: Whirlpool SA
Priority date: 2012-12-19
Filing date: 2013-12-18
Publication date: 2014-07-03
Also published as: BR202012032461U2

Abstract

The present invention refers to a guiding tray of washing supplies, a type to be used in a vertical axis washing machine, between at least one storage container of washing supplies (2) and at least one supply flowing means, comprising at least one bottom plate (11) and at least one containment wall (12), said tray (1) also includes at least one outflow driver (13) disposed at the bottom plate (11), may have at least one washing supply receiver (15) or not, coming from at least one storage container of washing supplies.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to and the benefit of Brazilian Patent Application No. BR 20 2012 032461 5, filed Dec. 19, 2012, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention refers to a guiding supplies tray for washing, and more particularly, to a guiding tray supplies used for washing of vertical axis washing machines equipped with at least two separate containers supplies wash.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As commonly known by a person skilled in the art, embodiments of conventional vertical axis washing machines are integrated by dispensing systems of washing supplies, which aim to release washing chemicals (soap, bleach, fabric softener, among others) in the washing space. Normally, the release of washing supplies is automatically performed and in accordance with pre-programmed washing cycles.
According to the technical literature pertaining to the current state of the art, the known washing supply dispensing systems are fundamentally integrated by storage containers of concentrated supplies and by washing supply flowing means.
The current supply flowing means of currently existing supplies dispensing systems are normally directed to regions free of wash loads, aiming to prevent them from being degenerated by one or other more aggressive washing supplies. That is, it is common that supply flowing means to be directed to regions defined between the wall of the water storage tank and the wall of the washing basket (where the wash loads are arranged). As the water storage tank has fluid communication with the washing basket, the washing supplies directed between these two bodies tend to flow into the interior of said washing basket which occurs without direct contact with the wash loads, thus preventing degeneration thereof.
Optionally, and as described in the patent document BR 1020120319691, there are embodiments of vertical axis washing machines devoid of water storage tank, where the supply flowing means are not directed to the wash load and, more particularly, are directed to the bottom of the washing basket.
In both cases, and when exist two or more storage containers of supplies, there are two potential configurations of the washing supply flowing means.
According to the first conventional configuration, said storage containers of supplies have their fluid outputs connected by pipes. In such cases, the pipes are interconnected to each other via “T” or “Y”-shaped hydraulic connectors, resulting in a single pipe that is directed or to the space between the water storage tank and the washing basket, or to the bottom of the washing basket, as explained in the patent document BR 1020120319691.
According to a second conventional configuration, said storage containers of supplies have their fluid outputs directed to a common manifold, which has outlet holes that, devoid of pipes, are directly directed to the space between the water storage tank and the washing basket.
Regarding the first conventional configuration described above, there is a need to use a larger number of components, namely, several pipes and hydraulic connectors able to interconnect such pipes. This aspect comprises a negative economic point of view (increases the price of the product) and a negative functional point of view (there are more points for a possible hydraulic leakage).
Regarding the second conventional configuration described above, it appears that, once directed to a common manifold, the washing supplies tend to get stagnant, and subject to undue homogenization. Furthermore, this conventional configuration is not suitable for implementation in vertical axis washing machines devoid of water storage tank, as described in patent document BR 1020120319691.
The present Invention patent arises based on this context.

OBJECTIVES OF TE INVENTION

Thus, it is an objective of the invention to present a guiding tray of washing supplies provided with multiple input means for washing supplies (from the storage containers of washing supplies) and provided with at least an output capable of being directly connected to the washing supply flowing means.
It is therefore an objective of this invention that said guiding tray of supplies washing does not provide for the use of additional hydraulic connectors.
It is also another objective of the invention that the aforementioned guiding tray of washing supplies is applicable in vertical axis washing machines devoid of water storage tank, where the supply flowing means are directed to the bottom of the washing basket.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These and other objectives of the invention disclosed herein are fully achieved by the guiding tray of washing supplies, which is the type to be used on a vertical axis washing machine, between at least one storage container of washing supplies and at least a washing supply flowing means.
In accordance with this invention, the said guiding tray of washing supplies is comprised of at least one bottom plate and at least one containment wall. It is further provided at least one outflow driver disposed over the bottom plate, and may have at least one washing supply receiver or not, coming from at least one storage container of washing supplies. Furthermore, it is also observed that said bottom plate comprises a slope in a horizontal direction defined between five and thirty degrees.
In general, said outflow driver comprises at least one surrounding edge radius in relation to the outflow driver, but optionally, the edge radius can be semi-surrounding in relation to the outflow driver.
Anyway, said edge radius is irregularly based on a decreasing gradient.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This invention will be exemplified in detail based on the figures listed below, including:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a washing supply dispensing system integrated by the guiding tray of washing supplies in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates, in plan view, the guiding tray of washing supplies according to this invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates, in side view, the guiding tray of washing supplies according to this invention; and

FIG. 4 illustrates, in side view, the guiding tray of washing supplies according to this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As previously mentioned, the main objective of this invention is to present a guiding tray of washing supplies capable of receiving washing supplies from at least two storage containers of washing supplies, and direct them to a single washing supply flowing mean.
In particular, it is also one of the objectives that said tray is suitable for implementation on washing machines based on the concept explained in the patent document BR 1020120319691.
FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 illustrate a preferred embodiment of said guiding tray of washing supplies, hereinafter referred to only as tray 1.
According to FIG. 1, it is observed that the tray 1 is disposed under two storage containers of washing supplies 2 and disposed over one washing supply flowing mean 5 formed by a pipe.
Furthermore, in a schematic form (in addition to optional), it is still possible to verify that the storage containers of washing supplies 2 are fluidly connected to a valve assembly 3, which regulates the passage of water from an external source (not shown).
Both storage containers of washing supplies 2 and washing supply flowing mean 5 (beyond the valve assembly 3) include items widely known to those skilled in the art.
The tray 1 itself is essentially comprised of a monoblock body made of polymer alloy suitable for thermoforming. However, the tray 1 that can be made of other materials by known industrial processes.
Said monobloc body is formed by a bottom plate 11 and a containment wall 12 which surrounds said bottom plate 11.
In FIGS. 2 and 3, it is also observed that the tray 1 provides one outflow driver 13, which it is, in general, a passing hole that, disposed over the bottom plate 11, has a lower cylindrical tubular projection capable of being coupled in a pipe or equivalent.
It is further observed that the outflow driver 13 has an edge radius 14 (defined in the upper face of the surrounding or semi-surrounding bottom plate 11).
Said edge radius 14 is not constant, that is, has a decreasing gradient. This decreasing gradient provides a whirlpool when the flow enters the duct. This whirlwind prevents clogging of the duct in the collector and the pipe (washing supply flowing mean 5) and provides a better mixture of the washing supplies.
Also noteworthy is that the said edge radius 14 can be surrounding or semi-surrounding. It means that is important to have, at least, one low-relief part in the direction of washing supplies flow.
Said bottom plate 11, in turn, aims to facilitate the washing supplies flow (that enter the tray 1 through the washing supply receiver 15). Therefore, according to the present invention, it is found that the aforementioned bottom plate 11 comprising a slope 4, in horizontal direction, defined between five and thirty degrees.
Because if the angle is less than five degrees, the fluid (mixture of water and supplies) leave residues of supplies in said bottom plate 11, and if the angle is greater than thirty degrees, the fluid flows without a good mixture between the supplies and water.
The aforementioned washing supply receivers 15 comprise, in general, low-relief areas that, defined within the perimeter defined by the containment wall 12, are aligned with the storage containers of washing supplies 2 outputs.
Once described an example of the preferred embodiment of said object of this invention, it should be understood that the scope thereof covers other possible variations, which are limited solely by the contents of the appended claims, including therein the possible equivalents means.

Claims

1. Guiding tray of washing supplies, comprising a type of tray (1) to be used on a vertical axis washing machine between at least one storage container of washing supplies (2) and at least one washing supply flowing means (5), being comprised of at least one bottom plate (11) and at least one containment wall (12);

said tray (1) being particularly CHARACTERIZED by the fact of comprising:

at least one outflow driver (13) disposed at the bottom plate (11);

said outflow driver (13) comprising at least one essentially surrounding edge radius (14), and

said bottom plate (11) comprising a slope (4), in horizontal direction, defined between five and thirty degrees.

2. Guiding tray of washing supplies, according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that it further comprises at least one receiver (15) of washing supplies from at least one storage container of washing supplies.

3. Guiding tray of washing supplies, according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the edge radius (14) is surrounding in relation to the outflow driver (13).

4. Guiding tray of washing supplies, according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the edge radius (14) is semi-surrounding in relation to the outflow driver (13).

5. Guiding tray of washing supplies, according to claim 3 or 4, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that said edge radius (14) is irregularly based on a decreasing gradient.