WO2007099112A1

WO2007099112A1 - A washing machine

Info

Publication number: WO2007099112A1
Application number: PCT/EP2007/051883
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tahsin Aznavuloglu
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2006-03-01
Filing date: 2007-02-28
Publication date: 2007-09-07
Also published as: TR200804510T1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a washing machine (1) wherein the foam (F), which increases in the tub (3) during the washing cycles, is sucked out from the tub by means of a foam suction conduit (8) and a jet pump (9). The jet pump may be alternatively located both in the discharge and circulation conduits (5, 7). If the jet pump is located in the discharge conduit the vacuum effect in the pump is created by the water flow activated by the discharge pump (4) whereas if the jet pump is located in the circulation conduit (7) the vacuum effect is created by the water flow activated by the circulation pump (6).

Description

Description A WASHING MACHINE

[0001] The present invention relates to a washing machine wherein increase in foaming is prevented during the washing cycles.

[0002] In washing machines, for example in laundry washing machines, there is excessive foam formation when more than the required amount of detergent is used or when the detergent has an extra foaming feature. The foam formation in the tub adversely affects the rinsing performance of the washing machine and results in residual detergent on the washed items at the end of the wash cycles. Detergent residue is detrimental to health and also gives the impression that the washing machine has not performed a complete washing. Furthermore excessive foam formation reaches the wash agent dispenser from the tub water inlet and can overflow out of the washing machine from there. Therefore it is necessary to prevent excessive foam formation by decreasing or discharging the foam. Various methods are used to prevent excessive foaming like spraying water on the foam, slowing down drum rotational speed or discharging the foam.

[0003] In the German patent document no. DE4334969 hot air is introduced into the washing tub by a device that produces hot air for preventing excessive foam.

[0004] In the German patent document no. DE4104151 when the foam is detected by a foam sensing device, the rotation speed of the drum is slowed down and the heater is turned on.

[0005] In the German patent document no. DE3840265, the rotational speed of the laundry containing drum in the spinning mode is compared with predetermined desired spinning speeds and held under control in order to prevent foam formation in a washing machine.

[0006] In the European patent document no. EP0724036, in order to prevent excessive foaming the rotational speed of the drum is reduced, the water intake amount in the rinsing phase is increased and the user is warned of excessive foaming.

[0007] In the United States of America patent document no. US2001052249, water is sprayed on the foam in a washing machine.

[0008] In the Great Britain patent document no. GB2294697, in a washing machine/dryer the drying air impeller is operated for a short while after washing before starting the drying process so that the excessive foam mixed in the drying air conduit is removed

[0009] The aim of the present invention is the realization of a washing machine wherein the excessive foam formed in the washing process is effectively removed [0010] The washing machine realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is explicated in the claims. [0011] In the washing machines of the present invention, for example in laundry washing machines or in dishwashers, the foam that is formed in the tub is sucked by a foam suction pipe, one end of which is attached to the tub and the other end to a jet pump.

Elements like an electric motor, impeller are not required and cost advantage is gained since the jet pump operates with the principle of accelerating the speed of a fluid flowing through a pipe by means of a narrowing nozzle and another fluid being sucked by the effect of the vacuum created wherein the fluid speed increases, elements like an electric motor, impeller are not required and cost advantage is gained [0012] The jet pump is utilized in the washing machine by assembling it to the pipes through which wash water flows. [0013] In an embodiment of the present invention, the jet pump is connected to the conduit wherein the discharge pump is situated and sucks the foam in the tub by the suction effect of the water flowing in the discharge pipe. [0014] In another embodiment of the present invention, the jet pump is assembled to the conduit containing the circulation pump and sucks the foam in the tub by means of the suction effect of the water flowing in the circulation pipe. [0015] The washing machine realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

[0016] Figure 1 - is the schematic view of a washing machine. [0017] Figure 2 - is the schematic view of a washing machine in another embodiment of the present invention. [0018] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Washing machine

2. Drum

3. Tub

4. Discharge pump

5. Discharge conduit

6. Circulation pump

7. Circulation conduit

8. Foam suction conduit

9. Jet pump

[0019] The washing machine (1), for example the laundry washing machine, comprises a drum (2) wherein the laundry is empkced, a tub (3) inside which the drum (2) rotates, a discharge pump (4) that discharges the wash water at the end of the washing process, a discharge conduit (5) that conveys the wash water activated by the discharge pump (4), a circulation pump (6) that returns the wash water received from the tub (3) and a circulation conduit (7) that conveys the wash water activated by the circulation pump (6) to the tub (3).

[0020] The washing machine (1) of the present invention comprises a foam suction conduit (8) that provides the foam (F) formed in the tub (3) during the washing processes like the main washing, rinsing, spinning to be removed from the tub (3) by means of suction, situated above the determined maximum water level (Vmax) in the tub (3), at the level of the foam (F) formation, one end of which is iastened to the tub (3) and extending out of the tub (3), providing the foam (F) to be discharged from the tub (3) and a jet pump (9) connected to the end of the foam suction conduit (8) outside the tub (3), providing the foam (F) to be sucked from the tub (3) by the suction effect created with the water flow outside the tub (3) and the foam suction conduit (8).

[0021] The jet pump (9), taking advantage of the pressure decrease formed with respect to the flow rate of the wash water that is activated by the discharge pump (4) or the circulation pump (6), to be discharged out or circulated, creates a suction effect at one end of the foam suction conduit (8) to which it is connected and provides the suction of the foam (F) from the tub (3) to which the other end of the foam suction conduit (8) is attached

[0022] The jet pump (9) is preferred instead of the conventional pumps since it is low cost, takes up less space and does not have any movable elements that consume energy like the electric motor.

[0023] In an embodiment of the present invention, the foam suction conduit (8) connects the tub (3) to the discharge conduit (5) by means of a bypass and the jet pump (9) is positioned at the point wherein the foam suction conduit (8) is joined to the discharge conduit (5) (Figure 1). The jet pump (9), provides the foam (F) to be sucked from the tub (3) to the discharge conduit (5) by taking advantage of the pressure decrease formed by the wash water activated by the discharge pump (4) in the discharge conduit (5).

[0024] In this embodiment, while the discharge pump (4) discharges the wash liquid during the discharge process, the foam (F) that is left on the wash liquid in the tub (3) is sucked by the jet pump (9) from the tub (3) by means of the foam suction conduit (8) attached to the tub (3), and the foam (F) is removed from the tub (3) by mixing with the water discharged out through the discharge conduit (5).

[0025] In another embodiment of the present invention, the foam suction conduit (8) connects the tub (3) to the circulation conduit (7) with a bypass and the jet pump (9) is positioned at the point where the foam suction conduit (8) joins the circulation conduit (7) (Figure 2). The jet pump (9) provides the foam (F) to be sucked from the tub (3) to the circulation conduit (7) by taking advantage of the pressure decrease created by the wash fluid activated by the circulation pump (6) in the circulation conduit (7).

[0026] In this embodiment, while the circulation pump (6) circulates the wash water in the circulation conduit (7) for the liquid to be sent over the laundry, the foam (F) that stays over the wash water in the tub (3) is sucked from the tub (3) by the jet pump (9) by means of the foam suction conduit (8) connected to the tub (3) and the foam (F) is decreased by mixing with the wash liquid in the circulation conduit (7).

[0027] In another embodiment of the present invention, one end of the foam suction conduit (8) extends to the space (B) between the rear wall of the tub (3) and the rear wall of the drum (2), the foam (F) that tends to rapidly increase during the wash cycles particularly in this space (B) is effectively sucked

[0028] In the washing machine (1) of the present invention, a jet pump (9) is utilized in order to suck the foam (F) that increases in the tub (3) during the washing cycles, in which pump activation devices like the electric motor, impeller etc. are not used, situated in the discharge or the circulation conduits (5, 7) through which the wash water flows that is activated by the existing discharge pump (4) or the circulation pump (6), creating a suction effect by taking advantage of the speed of water flow and the foam (F) is removed from the tub (3) by means of the foam suction conduit (8) with the suction effect created by the jet pump (9), preventing the foam (F) that is formed from adversely affecting the washing performance.

[0029] The foam suction conduit (8) and the jet pump (9) that provide sucking of the foam (F) formed during the washing procedures are also utilized in washing/drying machines or dishwashers and provide to remove the foam by sucking before the drying process.

Claims

[0001] A washing machine (1) comprising a drum (2) wherein the laundry is emplaced and a tub (3) inside which the drum (2) rotates, characterized by a foam suction conduit (8) that provides the foam (F) formed in the tub (3) during the washing processes like the main washing, rinsing, spinning to be removed from the tub (3) by means of suction, situated above the determined maximum water level (Vmax) in the tub (3), situated at a level of the foam (F) formation, one end of which is fastened to the tub (3) and extending out of the tub (3), providing to discharge the foam (F) from the tub (3) and a jet pump (9) fastened to the end of the foam suction conduit (8) outside the tub (3) and provides the foam (F) to be sucked from the tub (3) by means of the foam suction conduit (8) and the suction effect created by the water flow outside the tub (3).

[0002] A washing machine (1) as in Claim 1, characterizedby a discharge pump (4) that discharges the wash water at the end of the washing process, a discharge conduit (5) that conveys the wash water activated by the discharge pump (4), a foam suction conduit (8) that connects the tub (3) to the discharge conduit (5) and a jet pump (9) positioned at the point wherein the foam suction conduit (8) is connected to the discharge conduit (5).

[0003] A washing machine (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by a circulation pump (6) that provides to return the wash water received from the tub (3), a circulation conduit (7) that conveys the wash water activated by the circulation pump (6) to the tub (3), a foam suction conduit (8) connecting the tub (3) to the circulation conduit (7) and a jet pump (9) positioned at the point wherein the foam suction conduit (8) is connected to the discharge conduit (5).

[0004] A washing machine (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a foam suction conduit (8) that extends to the space between the tub (3) rear wall and the drum (2) rear wall.