US3747645A

US3747645A - Fluid control device

Info

Publication number: US3747645A
Application number: US00198150A
Authority: US
Inventors: P Holster; H Smulders; R Baert
Original assignee: US Philips Corp
Current assignee: Whirlpool International BV
Priority date: 1970-11-17
Filing date: 1971-11-12
Publication date: 1973-07-24
Anticipated expiration: 1990-07-24
Also published as: FR2113994A1; NL7016798A; IT942835B

Abstract

A machine for washing textile fabrics, dishes or the like has a number of supply containers for detergents or additives, and is provided with a fluid control device for flushing the supply containers. A number of parallel-connected branches of a water conduit are provided which open into the fluid control device. The number of the branches is smaller than the number of supply containers. The fluid control device comprises a distributing member having at least one fluid wall attachment element.

Description

lJriited States Patent [191 llolster et a1.

[1111 3,747,645 [45.1 July 24,1973

[ FLUID CONTROL DEVICE [75] Inventors: Peter Leendert Holster; Hendricus Franciscus Gerardus Smulders, both of Emmasingel, Eindhoven, Netherlands; Roger Bertrand Baert, Halifax, England [73] Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation, New York,

{22] Filed: Nov. 12, 1971 '[21] Appl. No.: 198,150

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 17, 1970 Netherlands 7016793 '[52] U.S. Cl. 137/838, 137/624.18 {51] Int. Cl. ..l Fl5c l/l2 [58] Field of Search 137/81.5

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,080,886 3/1963 Severson l37/81.5 3,366,131 1/1968 Swartz p 3,592,208 7/1971 Kimmel e! a]. 137/81.5 3,568,699 3/1971 Bauer et a1. 137/81.5 3,114,390 12/1963 Glattli 137/815 3,277,914 10/1966 Manion 137/815 3,373,905 3/1968 Laufer, Sr 137/815 X 3,490,478 1/1970 Brueler,1r 137/815 3,513,866 5/1970 13001116 6t 31 137/81.5 3,589,381 6/1971 Yamamoto et 81. 137/815 Primary Examiner-Samuel Scott Attorney-Frank R. Trifari [5 7] ABSTRACT A machine for washing textile fabrics, dishes or the like has a number of supply containers for detergents or additives, and is provided with a fluid control device for flushing the supply containers. A number of parallelconnected branches of a water conduit are provided which open into the fluid control device. The number of the branches is smaller than the number of supply containers. The fluid control device comprises a distributing member having at least one fluid wall attachment element.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures RBBAE M 3% Ag L PATENTED 3.747. 645

SHEEI 3 [IF 5 BYROGER e. BAERT a k n E Agt FLUID CONTROL DEVICE The invention relates generally to a machine for washing textile fabrics, dishes or the like, in which during the washing process detergents and, other additives must be successively carried from supply containers into a washing space, and more particularly to a device for controlling the flow of fluid used in such a machine for flushing the containers.

Netherlands Patent Application No. 6805834, corresponding to U. S. Pat. No. 3,589,150 issued June 29, 1971, describes such a machine which enables three supply containers to be emptied bymeans of two conduit branches each of which are provided with a controllable valve. The main attraction of this arrangement is the saving in valves. In domestic washing machines, for example, the price of the flushing device is largely determined by the cost of the valves, which generally are electromagnetic devices. However, the orifices or nozzles of the conduit branches have to be specially shaped and to be accurately positioned relative to one another to enable a correct interaction of the jets of water to be achieved.

Thus in an embodiment of the flushing device mentioned in the said U.S. patent two nozzles must be disposed so that either of them is capableof ejecting a jet into a supply container located at some distance, whilst their centre lines must intersect in order to ensure that when jets issue from both nozzles simultaneously a joint jet can be formed for emptying a third supply container. r

It is an object of the invention to provide a machine of the type mentioned at the beginning of this specification which is improved in several respects, and one of the advantages of the improved machine is that the various flow passages may simply and cheaply be placed and maintained in the correct relative positions, and the invention is characterized in that the fluid control device for flushing the'containers includes a distributing member having at least one fluid wall attachment element.

Many embodiments of fluid wall attachment elements are known, these elements being characterized by the use of the Coanda effect. This effect is based on the tendency of a jet of fluid which flows along a solid wall to continue to follow the shape of the wall under the influence of a pressure reduction at the wall side of the jet, even if the wall deflects from the initial travelling direction of the jet.

A particular feature of elements of this type is that they can be manufactured by planar techniques and may be built by stacking two plates one of which is provided with a pattern of passages open on one side,

whilst the other serves as a cover or top plate. The latter plate may be entirely plane and be secured to the first-mentioned plate by means of an adhesive or screws, whilst this first-mentioned plate may be made from a synthetic material by injection mouldingusing an injection mould comprising only two parts, The passages are rectangular in section For combining two jets to a single jet, jets of rectangular section are preferable to jets of circular section.-

The invention is based on the recognition that these features of fluid wall attachment elements are of interest for improving machines of the type mentioned at the beginning of this specification, because the enumerated disadvantages are offset bythe possibility of providing a plurality of flushing passages in a single distributing member by means of a cheap but accurate method of manufacture suitable for mass production methods. Moreover the advantage of greater flexibility in the construction of the machine is obtained, for the distributing member may be located at the most suitable point, the supply containers being connected to it by hoses. This also implies a greater freedom in the selection of the locations of the supply containers. In general it may be said that a machine can be constructed more efficiently and at smaller cost and be better adapted to the wants of the user according as there are fewer constructional limitations.

Further advantages of the invention will be set forth hereinafter. For the sake of clarity, the structure and the terminology of a wall attachment element will first be discussed with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings. In the drawings,

FIG. 1 shows a wall attachment element as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,366,131 which may be used as a dis tributing member in a machine according to the invention. For simplicity, in describing this figure and also in the remainder of this specification it will be assumed that the flushing device is intended for a domestic washing machine.

The distributing member 10 of FIG. 1 is constructed from a bottom plate 11 provided with apattern of open passages and a top plate 12 secured to the bottom plate in a water-tight manner. The pattern of passages in the bottom plate 11 includes two

parallel supply passages

13 and 14 which open into

interaction chambers

15 and 16 respectively. The interaction chambers are provided with intercoupled control channels 17 and 18 and

further control channels

19 and 20, respectively.

Downstream of the interaction chamber 15 there is located a splitter 21 at the point at which the interaction chamber 15 divides into

outputpassages

22 and 23. On the side of the interaction chamber 16 a spliter 24 is located between

output passages

25 and 26. Fur ther downstream the two

output passages

23 and 25 meet to form a joint output passage 27. The supply of water to the supply passage 14 may be effected through a nipple 28 which is integral with the top plate 12 and to which a water supply hose 30 is secured by means of a clip 29. The hose is connected to a flushing valve, which in washing machines generally is termed filling valve, not shown. The supply passage 13 is similarly connected to a second filling valve.

Pointed tips

31 and 32 of the bottom plate 11 are so situated relative to the supply passage 13 that if a jet should issue straight from the passage 13 the tip 31 would slightly project into the jet, but the tip 32 would be set back a certain distance from the jet.

Tips

34 and 33 are correspondingly situated relative to the supply passage 14. v

The operation of the flushing device 10 is roughly as follows: if water is supplied only to the passage 13 and not the passage 14, a small part of the jet flowing through the interaction chamber 15 will be peeled'off by the tip 31 to be discharged to the wash tub through a control channel 19 not used for'any other purpose. As a result, a vortex in which a negative pressure pertains will be produced in the interaction chamber, so that the jet is deflected in the direction of the output passage 22 and is discharged through'this passage. V

Similarly a jet of water emanating from the supply passage 14 is discharged through an output passage 26 in the absence of a supply through the passage 13.

If, however, water is simultaneously supplied to both

passages

13 and 14, both supply jets will be deflected to the

output passages

25 and 23. This is due to the reduction in pressure which is produced in the coupled control channels 17 and 18 because the air initially present in these channels is partly entrained by the water jets and cannot be replaced. As a result one water jet is formed which leaves the distributing memher through a joint output passage 27.

The distributing member of FIG. 1 may be regarded as consisting of a combination of two separate fluid wall attachment elements, one comprising the supply passage 13, control channels 17 and 19 and

output passages

22 and 23 and the other comprising supply passage 14, control channels 18 and and

output passages

25 and 26. Both elements operate as monostable wall attachment elements owing to their shapes and to the fact that the control channels 19 and20 are not used for control purposes. The

output passages

22 and 26 are the preferred output passages. For example, the monostable wall attachment element having the supply passage 13 will not switch its output signal from the preferred output passage 22 to the output passage 23 if, and only as long as, a control signal in the form of a reduced pressure is present in the control channel 17.

It is emphasized that FIG. 1 mainly has the purpose of illustrating a rough description of the operation of an embodiment of a distributing member comprising at least one fluid wall attachment element for use in a flushing device for a washing machine according to the invention and also for the purpose of introducing the terminology to be used hereinafter with respect to such a flushing device. There is no certainty at all that a pattern of passages as shown in FIG. 1 in respect of its shape and the ratios of the various dimensions will satisfactorily give the desired effect when using water as the fuid. I

The distributing member shown in FIG. 1 enables three separate supply containers to be emptied by means of two controllable filling valves.

Hitherto it has not been usual in modern automatic washing machines to supply a detergent or other additive in more than three stages of the washing cycle and hence at most three supply containers have been provided. In automatic dish washing machines also three supply containers are used. However, it is not impossible that in future there may be a demand for more than three supply containers.

An embodiment of the invention which enables four separate supply containers to be flushed by means of two controllable filling valves is characterized in that the distributing member comprises:

first and second monostable fluid wall attachment elements each having a control channel and two output passages, the preferred output channel having one branch, and first and second feedback passages each of which couple the branch of the preferred output passage of one of the said elements to the control channel of the other.

Another embodiment even enables five supply containers to be flushed by means of two filling valves, and is characterized in that the distributing member comprises:

first and second monostable fluid wall attachment elements each having two output passages and a control channel,

first and second blocking elements each having a blocking chamber, a supply chamber and a control member, the two latter chambers being arranged to be separated from one another in a fluid-tight manner by means of a blocking member which is movable in the blocking chamber by fluid pressure, and

coupling channels for coupling the supply passage of the first fluid wall attachment element to the supply chamber of the first blocking element and the blocking chamber of the second blocking element, the supply passage of the second fluid wall attachment element to the supply chamber of the second fluid wall attachment element and the blocking chamber of the first blocking element, the control channel of the first fluid wall attachment element to the control chamber of the first blocking element, and thecontrol channel of the second fluid wall attachment element to the control chamber of the second blocking element.

In spite of the comparatively complicated structure of the distributing member in the latter embodiment of the invention and in spite of the provision of movable valve members in it, the fluid wall attachment elements may be made by planar techniques and the entire member may have a simple construction which may be cheaply manufactured by mass posduction methods by the use of a still further embodiment which is characterized in that the distributing member comprises two parts each having an open pattern of passages, channel and chambers in the side facing theother part and sealing member made of a resilient material which is clamped between the said two parts and portions of which serve as blocking members in the form of flexible diaphragms.

Still another embodiment also enables five supply containers to be emptied with the use of two filling valves; this embodiment provides the advantage that the distributing member does not include any moving parts, and is characterized in that the distributing member comprises:

two monostable fluid wall attachment elements each having two output passages and first and second control channels, the first control channel serving to switch the fluid flow from the preferred output passage to the other output passage under the influence of a control signal, the second control channel acting as a stabilizing channel for stabilizing the flow in the preferred output passage under the influence of a stabilizing signal,

branches from each of the preferred output passages,

a coupling channel which intercouples the first control channels,

a coupling channel which couples the branch of the preferred output passage of the first monostable fluid wall attachment element to the stabilizing channel associated with this element, and

a coupling channel which couples the branch of the preferred output passge of the second monostable fluid wall attachment element to the stabilizing channel associated with this element.

The invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:

FIG. 2 shows a domestic washing machine having three supply containers for a prewashing agent, a main washing agent and a rinsing agent, a distributing member as shown in FIG. 1 being used,

FIG. 3 is a exploded view of a distributing member having four output passages and comprising a bottom plate and a top plate, and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a central hydraulic program control unit for washing machine, which unit operates with water as the fluid and includes a distributing member having five output passages, the component parts of the member, Le. a top plate, an intermediate plate and a bottom plate, being drawn separate from one another in relative positions into which they have been pivoted about one edge of the set of plates, and

FIG. 5 shows schematically the pattern of passages and channels of a distributing member including no moving parts and also suitable for flushing five supply containers.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a washing machine 35 of the type having a horizontal wash drum 36 which may be driven into rotation by an electric motor 38 by means of a V-belt 37. The wash drum is disposed within a wash tub 39 into which opens a down-pipe 40. Through this down-pipe water may be supplied through three

supply containers

41, 42 and 43; the first two containers are used for a prewash agent and a main wash agent respectively and the third for a rinse agent. The washing machine is connected to the water supply means through a pipe 44. The pipe 44 divides into two

branches

45 and 46 which are provided with

electromagnetic filling valves

47 and 48 respectively and are connected to a distributing member as shown in FIG. 1. The distributing memberisagain denoted by the reference numeral 10, and further reference numerals also correspond to those of FIG. 1'.

, From the above description of the distributing member it will be clear that when the filling valve 47 only is opened a water jet will issue from the output passage 22, and when the filling valve 48 only is opened a water jet will issue from the output passage 26. If both filling

valves

47 and 48 are opened, a water jet will issue from the output passage 27. The

passages

22, 26 and 27 are directed to the

supply containers

41, 42 and 43 respectively so as to enable them to flush these containers. The filling

valves

47 and 48 are connected to the con trol device of the machine, not shown.

In the operation of the washing machine the

supply containers

41, 42 and 43 will be filled, when a program including a prewash operation is selected, with a prewash agent,'a main wash agent and a rinse agent respectively, before the machine is started. After the machine has been started the control device ensures that at the beginning of the prewash stage th filling valve 47 only is opened. The jet of water which issues from the output passage 22 flushes the prewash agent from the supply container 41 through the downpipe 40 into the tub 39 and fills the latter to the required level. The water leading from the control channel 19 simultaneously falls into the supply container 41.

At the commencement of the main wash stage the control device opens the filling valve 48 so that the main wash agent is flushed from the supply container 42 into the wash tub. Thus the

supply containers

41 and 42 both are empty, so that the water required to fill the wash tub 39 for a subsequent rinse stage can be supplied through either of these containers by opening either of the

fillingvalves

47 and 48. Only at the beginning of the last rinse stage will both filling

valves

47 and 48 be simultaneously opened by the control device, so

that a jet of water issues from the output passage 27 into the supply container 43. This supply container is intended to contain a liquid after-rinse agent; the water jet entering it will flush the after-rinse agent over the rim into the two

supply containers

41 and 42 and thence through the down pipe 40 into the wash tub 39.

The distributing member 49 shown in FIG. 3 has a structure similar to the distributing member 10 of FIG. 1 and comprises a top plate 50 and a bottom plate 51 which is provided with a pattern of open passages and channels. This pattern defines a first monostable wall attachment element 52 and a second, identical wall attachment element I52. The monostable wall jet element 52 has two output passages 53 and 54 and a control channel 55, the output passage 53 being the preferred output passage and having a branch 56. The element further comprises a supply passage 57 one end of which is connected to the passage 58 in a hose-coupling nipple 59 and at the other end opens into an interaction chamber 60.

The various components of the: monostable wall jet element 152 which correspond to components of the monostable wall jet element 52 are designated by a reference numeral which denotes the corresponding component with the digit I placed before it. Thus, the preferred output passage 53 of the monostable element 52 corresponds to the preferred output passage 153 of the monostable element 152, and so on.

The control channel 55 of the monostable wall attachment element 52 is'coupled through a feedback channel 61 to the branch. 156 of the preferred output passage 153 of the monostable wall attachment element 152. Similarly the control channel 155 is coupled to the branch 56 through a feedback channel 161.

On the lower surface of the bottom plate 51 are arranged four hose-

coupling nipples

62, 63, 64 and 65 in which are provided

passages

66, 67, 68 and 69, and which communicate with

passages

70, 71, 72 and 73, respectively. The passage 71 is aligned with the preferred passage 53 of the monostable wall attachment element 52 and the passage 73 is aligned with the passage 153. The passage is situated substantially on the bisector of the angle enclosed by the passages 54 and 153. Hoses leading to four containers for deter gents and additives of, for example, a washing machine may be connected to the nipples 62 to 65. This connection must be such that the passages 66 to 69 are continuously in communication with the atmosphere when they do not convey water. I

The operation of the distributing member 49 of FIG. 3 depends on whether:

A. water is supplied to the passage 58 only and not to the passage 158,

B. water is supplied to the passage 158 only and not to the passage 58, r

C. water is first supplied to the passage 58 and then to the passage 158 also,

D. water is first supplied to the passage 158 and then to the passage 58 also. i

The operation under these four conditions will be described in detail hereinafter.

A. Water spouts through the supply passage 57 into the interaction chamber 60 and will entrain the air contained in this chamber. The control channel 55 communicateswith the ambient atmosphere through the passages 66 to 69. Thus, air may be supplemented to the interaction chamber 60 on the side of the control channel 55, but not on the other side, with a consequent reduced pressure at this side. As a result, the water jet issuing from the supply passage 57 will be deflected and impinges on a wall 74. This produces a deflection such that the jet weill follow the preferred passage 53 and through

passages

71 and 67 will be emitted from the member 49. Thus the water will flow through the nipple 63.

B. In a manner similar to that described at A the water will now flow through the nipple 65.

C. Initially the situation described at A will be produced. The water which subsequently is supplied through the passage 158 will follow the passage 154, because at the area of the control channel 155 a greatly reduced pressure will obtain, for the air in this area will be entrained both by the water flowing through the passage 53 and by the water jet in the interaction chamber 160 and cannot be supplemented. The two water flows jointly are emitted from the distributing member 49 through the nipple 62. s

D. Under these conditions the water will be emitted from the distributing member through the nipple 64.

The wall attachment elements used in the distributing member 49 are known and described, for example, in Fluid logic devices by P. Facon, Paper K7, Third Cranfield Fluidics Conference, Turing, May 1968. However, other typs of wall jet elements may also be used. Further the control signals in the form of reduced pressures may be replaced by control signals in the form of increased pressure.

The distributing member 75 shown in FIG. 4 comprises three plates, i.e. a top plate 76, a rubber intermediate plate 77 and a bottom plate 78. The top plate 76 and the bottomplate 78 have patterns of open passages and channels formed in their facing sides, which patterns communicate with one another through

openings

79 and 179 in the intermediate plate 77 only. The distributing member 75 is directly mounted on the lower surface of a hydraulic program control device 80 using water, Since the structure of this device is not of importance for the present application, it will not be described further.

The pattern of passages and channels in the bottom plate 78 comprises two identical'monostable wall jet elements 81 and 181. Hereinafter corresponding component parts of these two elements will be designated by corresponding reference numerals in the same manner as used hereinbefore in describing FIG. 3.

The monostable wall jet element 81 has a supply passage 82, a control channel 83 and two

output passages

84 and 85 the first of which is the preferred output passage. The five output passages of the distributing member comprise the

output passages

85 and 185 of the monostable wall attachment elements 81 and 181 respectively and furthermore

passages

86, 87 and 88. The passage. 86 is aligned with the passage 184, the passage 88 is aligned with the passage 84 and the passage 87 lies on the bisector of the angle enclosed by the two

passages

84 and 184.

Because of the relatively inclined position of the

plates

76, 77 and 78 the two blocking elements cannot be designated in their respective entireties. The blocking element associated with the monostable wall attachment element 81 comprises a blocking chamber 89 formed in the plate 76 and a supply chamber 90 and a controlchamber 91 separated by a partition 92 formed in the plate 78. When water supply means pressure obtains in the blocking chamber 89 and the supply chamber 90 and the control chamber 91 are separated from one another in a water-tight manner, because the part of the rubber intermediate plate 77 which in this area serves as a blocking element is pressed on to the partition 92.

Again, the various corresponding component parts of the blocking elements associated with the monostable wall attachment element 181, which blocking element is identical with the blocking element just described, are designated by corresponding reference numerals.

Water may be supplied to the distributing member through a water supply passage which extends internally of the control device and opens into the blocking chamber 89, and through a similar passage which opens into the blocking chamber 189. The blocking chamber 89 communicates with the supply passage 182 of the monostable wall jet element 181 through a coupling channel 93 and through the opening 179 in the intermediate plate 77. Similarly the blocking chamber 189 communicates with the supply passage 82 through the channel 193 and the opening 79.

The supply passage 82 communicates with the supply chamber through a coupling channel 94. the blocking chamber 91 is coupled to the control channel 83 by the coupling channel 95.

The embodiment shown includes

further control channels

96 and 196 situated opposite the

control channels

83 and 183 and in direct communication with the atomsphere.

The operation of the distributing member 75 under various operating conditions will now be described.

1. Water is supplied to the blocking chamber 189 only. Under these conditions the water flows through the channel 193 and the opening 79'to the supply passage 82, and through a passage 94, the supply chamber 90, over the partition 92 in the control chamber 91 and through the passage to the control channel 83. Under the influence of the water pressure in the control channel 83 the water issuing from the supply passage 82 will find its way through the output passage 85 and will leave the distributing member 75 through this passage.

II. Water is supplied to the blocking chamber 89 only. Under these conditions the water will issue from the output passage 185.

III. Water is supplied first to the blocking chamber 189, then to the blocking chamber 89 and subsequently the .supply of water to the blocking chamber 189 is stopped. By the initial supply of water to the blocking chamber 189 the flexible intermediate plate 77 is 10- cally pressed against the partition 192 between the supply chamber 190 and the control chamber 191. If now water begins to be supplied to the blocking chamber 89, water will flow through the supply passage 182 but not through the controlchannel 183. When water is no longer supplied to the blocking chamber 189 this condition is maintained. Since the jet of water issuing from the supply passage 184 entrains air from the control channel 183, the pressure in this channel will be reduced in a degree such that even after the pressure in the blocking chamber 189 has collapsed water is prevented from flowing over the partition 192 in a suffrcient'amount. Under the influence of the reduced pressure in the control channel 183 the water will then follow the output. passage 184 and will finally leave the distributing member 75 through the output passage 86.

IV. Water is first supplied to the blocking chamber 2 89, then to the blocking chamber 189 and finally the supply of water to the blocking chamber 89 is stopped. Under these conditions the water flows from the output passage 88.

V. Water is supplied both to the blocking chamber 89 and to the blocking chamber 189. Because owing to the various flow losses which will occur the pressure in the blocking

chambers

89 and 189 will always be higher than the pressure on the opposite side of the flexible intermediate plate 77, the water is prevented from flowing over the partitions 92 and 192. Consequently the water will flow through the

passage

84 and 184 and finally issue from the output passage 87.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the pattern of passages and channels of a distributing member which also enables five supply containers to be emptied and which has no moving parts. The two monostable wall jet elements are designated by 200 and 300, whilst corre sponding parts are again designated by corresponding reference numerals.

Water is supplied to the wall attachment element 200 via a connection 201 and a supply passage 202. The element has two

output passages

203 and 204, the former of which is the preferred output passage, and a first control channel 205 for switching the flow of the fluid to the output passage 204 under the influence of a vacuum control signal. The element further comprises another control channel 206 which acts as a stabilizing channel for stabilizing the flow in the output passage 203 under the influence of a vacuum stabilizing signal. The preferred output passage 203 has a branch 207.

A coupling channel 400 connects the two

control channels

205 and 305. A coupling'channel 208 connects the branch 207 to the stabilizing channel 206.

The branch 207 is shaped so that when water flows through the preferred output passage 203 a partial vacuum is produced in the stabilizing channel 206 owing to air being entrained from the system 206-208-207.

Operation is as follows:

l. Water is supplied through the connection 201 only. The water flows through the preferred output passage 203 to the orifice 209.

II. Water is supplied through the supply opening 301 only. The water flows to the orifice 309.

III. Water 'is supplied first through the connection 201 only and then through the connection 301 also. The water which first is supplied through the connection 201 flows to the orifice 209. Because air from the system 205-400 206 is entrained by the flow of water in the channel 203, The water which then is supplied through the connection 301 will, under the influence of the vacuum control signal in the control channel 305, flow through the channel 304 to the orifice 310. The flow through the wall attachment element 200 will now be influenced by the signal in the control channel 203 because a stabilizing signal has already been produced at the control channel 206.

IV. Water is first supplied through the connection 301 and then through the connection 201 also. The water will flow to the

orifices

309 and 210.

V. Water is simultaneously supplied through the

connections

201 and 301. Since stabilizing signals cannot yet be present in the

control channels

206 and 306 but will immediately be produced in the

control channels

205 and 305, the water will flow to the orifices 210 and In a manner not shown in FIG. 5, in each of the cases III, IV and V the water flows will be combined to form a single jet. This combination may be effected in the distributing member itself in the manner described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, or externally of the distributing member in the manner described in our aforementioned prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,589,150.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine for washing textile fabrics, dishes or the like, in which detergents and other additives are to be successively carried from supply containers into a wash space, a fluid control device for selectively flushing said containers, said device comprising a plurality of parallel-connected branches of a water conduit, the number of said branches being smaller than the number of supply containers, so that at least two of the conduit branches participate in flushing at least one of said containers, said fluid control device having a distributing member comprising a first and a second monostable fluid wall attachment element each having two output passages and a control channel, a first and a second blocking element each having a blocking chamber, a supply chamber and a control chamber, the latter two chambers being arranged to be separated from one another in a fluid-tight manner by means of a blocking member arranged to be moved by fluid pressure in the blocking chamber, and coupling channels for coupling the supply passage of the first fluid wall attachment element to the supply chamber of the first blocking element and to the blocking chamber of the second blocking element, the supply passage of the second fluid wall attachment element to the supply chamber of the second blocking element and the blocking chamber of the first blocking element, the control channel of the first fluid wall attachment element to the control chamber of the first blocking element, and the control channel of the second fluid wall attachment element to thecontrol chamber of the second blocking element.

2. In a machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the distributing member comprises two parts having an open pattern of passages, channels and chambers, on the surface of each part facing the other part, and a sealing member made of a resilient material and clamped between the said two parts, given portions of the sealing member acting as blocking members in the form of flexible diaphragms.

3. In a machine for washing textile fabrics, dishes or the like, in which detergents and other additives are to be successively carried from supply containers into a wash space, a fluid control device for selectively flushing said containers, said device comprising a plurality of parallel-connected branches of a water conduit, the number of said branches being smaller than the number of supply containers, so that at least two of the conduit branches participate in flushing at least one of said containers, said fluid control device having a distributing member comprising two monostable fluid wall attachment elements each having two outputpassages and a first and a second control channel, the first control channel serving to switch the fluidflow from the preferred output passage to the other output passage under the influence of a control signal the second con-' trol channel acting as a stabilizing channel for stabilizing the flow in the preferred output passage under the influence of a stabilizing signal,

branches on each of the preferred output passages,

a coupling channel which couples the first control channels to one another,

a coupling channel which couples the branch on the preferred output passage of the first monostable fluid wall attachment element to the stabilizing channel associated with this element, and

a coupling channel which couples the branch on the preferred output passage of the second monostable fluid wall attachment element to the stabilizing channel associated with this element.

4. A fluid control device for use in a washing apparatus to selectively direct fluid flow to a plurality of supply containers comprising a distributing member having fluid inputs and fluid outputs, parallel connected branches of a fluid supply conduit connected to said outputs, the number of said branches being less than the number of said supply containers, said distributing member comprising first and second monostable fluid wall attachment elements, each of said elements having a control channel and two output passages communicating with said fluid outputs, one of said output passages being a preferred passage, a separate branch connected to each of said preferred passages, and a feedback channel communicating between the separate branch of one of said wall attachment elements and the control channel of the other element.

5. A fluid control device for use in a washing apparatus to selectively direct fluid flow to a plurality of supply containers comprising a distributing member having fluid input connections and fluid output connections, parallel connected branches of a fluid supply conduit connected to said input connections, the number of said branches being less than the number of said supply containers, said distributing member comprising first and second monostable fluid wall attachment elements, each of said elements having a supply passage, two output passages, a control channel, a blocking element comprising a blocking chamber, a supply chamber, a control chamber, and a blocking member separating said supply chamber from said control chamber in a fluid tight manner and movable by fluid pressure in said blocking chamber, a first coupling channel coupling said the supply passage of said first wall attachment element to the blocking chamber in the blocking element of said second wall attachment element, a second coupling channel coupling said supply passage of said second wall attachment element to the blocking chamber in the blocking element of said first wall attachment element, channel means in each of said wall attachment elements for communicating said supply passage thereof with said supply chamber of the blocking element thereof, and connection means with each of said wall attachment elements establishing fluid communication between said control channel thereof of said control chamber of the blocking element thereof.

6. A fluid control device for use in a washing apparatus to selectively direct fluid flow to a plurality of supply containers comprising a distributing member having fluid input connections and fluid output connections, parallel connected branches of a fluid supply conduit connected to said input connections, the number of said branches being less than the number of said supply containers, said distributing member comprismg:

two monostable fluid wall attachment elements each of said elements having two output passages one of which is a preferred passage and a first and second control channel, the first control channel serving to switch the fluid flow from the preferred output passage to the other output passage under the influence of a control signal, the second control channel acting as a stabilizing channel for stabilizing the flow in the preferred output passage under the influence of a stabilizing signal,

branches on each of the preferred output passages,

a coupling channel which couples the first control channels of each wall attachment elements to one another,

a coupling channel which couples the branch on the preferred output passage of the first monostable fluid wall attachment element to the stabilizing channel associated with said first element, and

a coupling channel which couples the branch on the preferred output passage of the second monostable fluid wall attachment element to the stabilizing channel associated with said second element.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,747,645 Dated July 24, 1973 Inventor) PETER LEENDERT HOLSTER ET AL It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Col. 4, line 26, "posduction" should be -production- Col. 5, line 5, after "for" insert -a line 51, "th" should be --the'- Col. 8, line 1, delete "and" line 24, after "94" "the" should be -The- Claim 4, line 6, "outputs" should be --inputs- Signed and sealed this 6th day of August 1974.

(SEAL) Atte'st:

MCCOY M. GIBSON, JR. C. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

Claims

1. In a machine for washing textile fabrics, dishes or the like, in which detergents and other additives are to be successively carried from supply containers into a wash space, a fluid control device for selectively flushing said containers, said device comprising a plurality of parallel-connected branches of a water conduit, the number of said branches being smaller than the number of supply containers, so that at least two of the conduit branches participate in flushing at least one of said containers, said fluid control device having a distributing member comprising a first and a second monostable fluid wall attachment element each having two output passages and a control channel, a first and a second blocking element each having a blocking chamber, a supply chamber and a control chamber, the latter two chambers being arranged to be separated from one another in a fluid-tight manner by means of a blocking member arranged to be moved by fluid pressure in the blocking chamber, and coupling channels for coupling the supply passage of the first fluid wall attachment element to the supply chamber of the first blocking element and to the blocking chamber of the second blocking element, the supply passage of the second fluid wall attachment element to the supply chamber of the second blocking element and the blocking chamber of the first blocking element, the control channel of the first fluid wall attachment element to the control chamber of the first blocking element, and the control channel of the second fluid wall attachment element to the control chamber of the second blocking element.

3. In a machine for washing textile fabrics, dishes or the like, in which detergents and other additives are to be successively carried from supply containers into a wash space, a fluid control device for selectively flushing said containers, said device comprising a plurality of parallel-connected branches of a water conduit, the number of said branches being smaller than the number of supply containers, so that at least two of the conduit branches participate in flushing at least one of said containers, said fluid control device having a distributing member comprising two monostable fluid wall attachment elements each having two output passages and a first and a second control channel, the first control channel serving to switch the fluid flow from the preferred output passage to the other output passage under the influence of a control signal the second control channel acting as a stabilizing channel for stabilizing the flow in the preferred output passage under the influence of a stabilizing signal, branches on each of the preferred output passages, a coupling channel which couples the first control channels to one another, a coupling channel which couples the branch on the preferred output passage of the first monostable fluid wall attachment element to the stabilizing channel associated with this element, and a coupling channel which couples the branch on the preferred output passage of the second monostable fluid wall attachment element to the stabilizing channel associated with this element.

6. A fluid control device for use in a washing apparatus to selectively direct fluid flow to a plurality of supply containers comprising a distributing member having fluid input connections and fluid output connections, parallel connected branches of a fluid supply conduit connected to said input connections, the number of said branches being less than the number of said supply containers, said distributing member comprising: two monostable fluid wall attachment elements each of said elements having two output passages one of which is a preferred passage and a first and second control channel, the first control channel serving to switch the fluid flow from the preferred output passage to the other output passage under the influence of a control signal, the second control channel acting as a stabilizing channel for stabilizing the flow in the preferred output passage under the influence of a stabilizing signal, branches on each of the preferred output passages, a coupling channel which couples the first control channels of each wall attachment elements to one another, a coupling channel which couples the branch on the preferred output passage of the first monostable fluid wall attachment element to the stabilizing channel associated with said first element, and a coupling channel which couples the branch on the preferred output passage of the second monostable fluid wall attachment element to the stabilizing channel associated with said second element.