WO2009124923A1

WO2009124923A1 - A washing machine

Info

Publication number: WO2009124923A1
Application number: PCT/EP2009/054120
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mehmet Kaya; Yavuz Sahin; Murat Elgun; Emine Birci
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2008-04-09
Filing date: 2009-04-07
Publication date: 2009-10-15
Also published as: TR201008275T1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a washing machine (1) comprising a tub (2) wherein the washing process is performed, a pump (3) for discharging the wash water in the tub (2) at the end of the washing, an opening (4) disposed at the lower side of the tub (2) for maintaining the discharge of the wash water from the tub (2) in the discharge process, and wherein detergent wastage is prevented in the discharge process of the wash water.

Description

A WASHING MACHINE

[0001] The present invention relates to a washing machine wherein water and energy savings are provided.

[0002] In washing machines, for example in horizontal drum washing machines, the discharge of water at the end of the washing is made by a centrifuge pump that is below a tub outlet point and in contact with water. During water intake a large portion of the un-dissolved detergent enters into the discharge hose and into the discharge pump and is discharged after the washing. This results in the ineffective usage of detergent and lowering of washing performance.

[0003] Various embodiments are available that maintain the detergent to stay in the tub during the washing process and to participate effectively in the washing. In the state of the art, the outlet of the discharge line is located at a higher point than the discharge hole at the lowest point of the tub and the water pumped upwards from the discharge pump returns to enter into the tub when the pump stops. Besides, buoyant members are used in the pump connection hose under the tub that open and close the discharge outlet for decreasing the detergent wastage.

[0004] In the Patent Document No DE3321192, in a washing machine, a flow-off system arranged underneath the tub is explained. The discharge pump is inside a casing having two delivery outlets. The first pump outlet leads to a waste-water line maintaining discharge of the waste water. The second pump outlet leads back into the tub so that some of the water pumped can be returned back into the tub.

[0005] In the Patent Document No DE3821306, in a washing machine, a pressure regulator activating the lye pump is arranged at the lowest point of a tub and the lye pump operates with respect to the amount of water collected in the tub and needs to be discharged.

[0006] In the Patent Document No GB2099462 in a washing machine the discharge pump is controlled by pulse means which determine a series of short operating periods of the pump alternated by halt periods, such that the water with the un-dissolved detergent is made to dissolve by the to-and-fro movement of the water.

[0007] The aim of the present invention is the realization of a washing machine wherein water and detergent savings are maintained.

[0008] The washing machine realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is explicated in the claims.

[0009] In the washing machine, the wash water is discharged by a discharge pump from the opening located at the lower side of the tub at the end of washing process. The opening is located at a certain height according to the base plane of the machine that maintains discharge of water. According to the present invention, the discharge pump is located at a higher level than the height of the opening and the discharge pump is connected between the drain tube and discharge tube, such that the drain tube is connected under the pump and the discharge tube is connected above the pump.

[0010] The drain tube is disposed between the opening and the pump, with one end extending towards the opening and the other end upwards, connecting to the pump that is at a higher level than the opening. The discharge tube extends upwards above the pump and water is discharged out from the upper end of the discharge tube.

[0011] In the discharge process, the pump sucks the water from the bottom upwards and sends from the drain tube to the discharge tube and when the pump stops at the end of the discharge process, while all of the water remaining in the discharge tube flows downward due to gravity, returning back to the tub, it passes through the pump in the reverse direction of the sucking direction of the pump and maintains the detergent residue left in the pump to be detached from the adhered places to be returned back to the tub.

[0012] In an embodiment of the present invention, the pump is positioned at a level above the wash water level in the tub and the drain tube and thereby the pump is maintained to be in contact with water only during the discharge process and until the return of water is completed and not to be in contact with water when not in operation. In this embodiment, a piston type self-suction pump is used. [0013] In another embodiment of the present invention, the washing machine comprises an opening arranged on the rear or side wall of the tub and a drain pipe that extends towards the rear or the side of the tub, being virtually parallel to the base and connected to the pump by bending upwards for conveying water without going below the level of the opening.

[0014] In another embodiment of the present invention, the drain tube ascends as slope starting from the opening towards the pump.

[0015] In the washing machine of the present invention, when the pump stops, all or most of the last rinsing water left in the discharge tube returns back to the tub, thus lowering the amount of water in taken in the next washing and the wastage of un-dissolved detergent leaving the tub is prevented.

[0016] The embodiments relating to the washing machine realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention are illustrated in the attached figures, where:

[0017] Figure 1 - is the schematic view of a washing machine.

[0018] Figure 2 - is the schematic view of a washing machine in another embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 3 - is the schematic view of a washing machine, comprising an inclined drain tube that ascends from the bottom upwards.

[0020] Figure 4 - are the schematic views of the water remaining in the discharge tube and returning back to the tub at the end of the discharge process in a washing machine.

[0021] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Washing machine

2. Tub

3. Pump

4. Opening

5. Drain tube

6. Discharge tube

[0022] The washing machine (1) of the present invention comprises a tub (2) wherein the washing process is performed, a pump (3) for discharging the wash water in the tub (2) at the end of the washing, an opening (4) located at the lower side of the tub (2) and located at the certain height level (hi), for maintaining the discharge of the wash water from the tub (2) in the discharge process, a drain tube (5), with one end connected to the opening (4) and the other end to the pump (3), and a discharge tube (6) for discharging out the water sucked from the tub (2) by means of the pump (3), extending from the bottom upwards virtually vertically, with one end connected to the pump (3) and the other end to a height (hmax) as described in the standards with respect to the base in order to prevent the water in the tub (2) from being discharged continuously.

[0023] The washing machine (1) of the present invention comprises the pump (3) positioned at a higher height level (h2) than the height level (hi) of the opening (4) (h2 > hi) and the drain tube (5) is connected to the lower end of the pump (3) and the discharge tube (6) is connected to the upper end of the pump (3) (Figures 1- 4).

[0024] In the washing machine (1), the drain tube (5), while one end is connected to the opening (4), the other end is connected to the pump (3) at a level (h2) higher than the level (hi) of the opening (4). In the discharge process, the pump (3) sucks the water upwards from the drain tube (5), connected to its lower end, and sends to the discharge tube (6) connected to its top end.

[0025] When the pump (3) stops at the end of the discharge process, while all or a large amount of the water remaining in the discharge tube (6) at its upper side flows downward due to gravity, returning back to the tub (2), it passes through the pump (3) in the reverse direction of the sucking direction of the pump (3) and maintains the detergent residue left in the pump (3) to be detached from the adhered places to be returned back to the tub (2) (Figure 4).

[0026] In an embodiment of the present invention, the pump (3) is positioned at a level (h2 > Wmax > hi) higher than the level of wash water (Wmax) in the tub (2) and in the drain tube (5) and thereby the pump (3) is maintained to be in contact with water only during the discharge process and until the return of water is completed and not to be in contact with water when not in operation (Figures 1 -3).

[0027] In the above mentioned embodiment, the pump (3) is of the type that does not require to operate in the water and operable at a higher level than that of water. When the pump (3) starts operating, first of all it sucks the air between the level (h2) that the pump (3) is connected and the level of water (Wmax) in the drain tube (5). Due to the difference (h2 - Wmax) between the levels of pump (3) and water, the pump (3) sucks the air first and sucks the water after the air and pumps the water to the discharge tube (6) which is placed above the pump (3). In the known technique, these types of pumps are referred to as self-suction pumps. In the embodiment of the present invention, a piston type pump (3) is selected due to taking up less space and low costs.

[0028] In an embodiment of the present invention, the opening (4) is arranged on the rear wall or the side wall of the tub (2) and the drain tube (5) extends between the opening (4) and the pump (3) without falling under the level (hi) of the opening (4) (Figure 2).

[0029] In the above embodiment, when the pump (3) stops at the end of the discharge process, the water that returns from the discharge tube (6) does not fall to a level lower than the level (hi) of the opening (4) level. Accordingly, stagnant water does not remain below the tub (2) level and except the portion of the water returning back from the discharge tube (6) and remaining in the drain tube (5), the larger portion enters into the tub (2). Since the amount of water returning back from the discharge tube (6) and entering into the tub (2) increases, the amount of water intake in the next washing decreases and water saving is provided. Since the water level always remains above the opening (4) level (hi), detergent wastage is largely prevented, and additional solutions such as the use of buoyant members above the opening (4) is not required to prevent detergent wastage.

[0030] In another embodiment of the present invention, the drain tube (5) ascends as slope towards the pump (3) starting from the opening (4), without falling below the level (hi) of the opening (4) (Figure 3). In this embodiment, at the end of the discharge process, the amount of water returning back from the discharge tube (6) and remaining in the drain tube (5) is decreased and the amount of water entering into the tub (2) to partake in the next washing cycle is increased. In the washing machine (1) of the present invention, the amount of un-dissolved detergent leaving the tub (2) is decreased. When the pump (3) stops, and as most of the last rinsing water left in the discharge tube (6) enters into the tub (2), the amount of water in taken in the next washing decreases. Furthermore, the un-dissolved detergent particularly adhered in the pump (3) left from the previous washing is dissolved by means of the water returning back from the discharge tube (6) and the amount of detergent dissolving in the wash water is increased.

Claims

1. A washing machine (1) that comprises a tub (2) wherein the washing process is performed, a pump (3) for discharging the wash water in the tub (2) at the end of the washing, an opening (4) located at the lower side of the tub (2) at the certain height level (hi), for maintaining the discharge of the wash water from the tub (2) in the discharge process, a drain tube (5), with one end connected to the opening (4) and the other end to the pump (3), and a discharge tube (6) with one end connected to the pump (3) for discharging out the water sucked from the tub (2) by means of the pump (3), and characterized by the pump (3) positioned at a higher height level (h2) than the height level (hi) of the opening (4) and the drain tube (5) is connected to the lower end of the pump (3) and the discharge tube (6) is connected to the upper end of the pump (3) .

2. A washing machine (1) as in Claim 1 , characterized by the pump (3) that sucks the water from the bottom upwards in the discharge process and sends the water from the drain tube (5) to the discharge tube (6).

3. A washing machine (1) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by the pump (3) wherein the water left in the discharge tube (6) at the end of the discharge process flows through in the reverse direction of the sucking direction of the pump (3) while returning back to the tub (2).

4. A washing machine (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by the pump (3), that is positioned at a level (h2) higher than the level of wash water (Wmax) in the tub (2) and the drain tube (5).

5. A washing machine (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by the piston type self-suction pump (3).

6. A washing machine (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by the opening (4) that is arranged on the rear wall or the side wall of the tub (2) and the drain tube (5) extending between the opening (4) and the pump (3) without falling under the level (hi) of the opening (4).

7. A washing machine (1) as in Claim 6, characterized by the drain tube (5) that ascends as slope towards the pump (3) starting from the opening (4).