WO2009132952A1

WO2009132952A1 - A washing machine

Info

Publication number: WO2009132952A1
Application number: PCT/EP2009/054342
Authority: WO
Inventors: Zehra Ulger; Erman Tutkak; Saban Avci; M. Emin Yildiz; Emine Birci; Meryem Guneri
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2008-05-02
Filing date: 2009-04-10
Publication date: 2009-11-05
Also published as: EP2281082A1; EP2281082B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a washing machine (1) wherein an ozone generator (5) is used for increasing the washing performance and to provide sanitation. The ozone gas generated by the ozone generator (5) is delivered directly onto the items inside the tub (2) without mixing with the wash water and the ozone generator (5) that gets overheated due to operation by high voltage is cooled.

Description

A WASHING MACHINE

[0001] The present invention relates to a washing machine wherein ozone gas is used in the washing process.

[0002] In domestic washing machines, ozone gas (O₃) having soil removal and disinfectant effects is used for increasing effectiveness of the washing process and to provide hygiene. By means of the ozone gas used in the washing process, the amount of detergent and water consumption decreases and the washing operation can be performed at lower temperature levels. The ozone generator that produces ozone gas, although the energy consumption is not high, is overheated due to operating with high voltage at low current level, the surface temperature rapidly rises after starting to operate and may reach for example up to 100 0 C. The efficiency of the ozone generator decreases due to overheating and the generation of ozone gas is reduced as the operation time proceeds.

[0003] In the Patent Document No JP7051500, a device and a method for sterilizing clothes are explained. In the said device, ozone gas is blown by an ozone generator onto the clothes agitated in the rotating drum and the air discharged out from the device passes through a catalyst machine.

[0004] In the Patent Application No JP2002320792, in a washing machine, ozone generated by the ozone generator is fed into a washing tub for preventing propagation of various bacteria in the washing and drying operations.

[0005] The aim of the present invention is the realization of a washing machine comprising an ozone generator that generates ozone effectively throughout the washing program.

[0006] The washing machine realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is explicated in the claims.

[0007] The washing machine of the present invention comprises an ozone generator for sanitizing the washed items and the water intake conduit, for receiving water into the washing milieu inside the tub from the water mains, contacts with the ozone generator thereby cooling it. Consequently, the ozone generator is maintained to operate effectively throughout the washing process without a decrease in ozone generation. [0008] The ozone generator also heats the water received from the water mains and reduces the operating time of the heater and thereby provides energy savings. [0009] In an embodiment of the present invention, the portion of the water intake conduit contacting the ozone generator surrounds the ozone generator as a coil shaped typical heat exchanger. [0010] In an embodiment of the present invention, the portion of the water intake conduit contacting the ozone generator goes through inner section of the ozone generator. [0011] The washing machine realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where: [0012] Figure 1 - is the schematic view of a washing machine, comprising an ozone generator. [0013] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Washing machine

2. Tub

3. Drum

4. Water intake conduit

5. Ozone generator

[0014] The washing machine (1) comprises a tub (2) wherein the washing operation is performed, a drum (3) positioned inside the tub (2) that agitates the laundry emplaced therein, a water intake conduit (4) that receives water from the water mains (M) into the washing milieu inside the tub (2) for the washing operations and an ozone generator (5) that generates ozone gas (O₃) and delivers the ozone gas into the tub (2) by means of an opening (A) arranged on the tub (2).

[0015] The washing machine (1) of the present invention comprises a water intake conduit (4) that contacts the ozone generator (5) thereby cooling it.

[0016] The water intake conduit (4) serves as a heat exchanger and cools the ozone generator (5) thereby maintaining the ozone gas generation not to be decreased as long it operates since the temperature of the water flowing in the water intake conduit (4) contacting the ozone generator (5) is lower than the temperature of the operating ozone generator (5) under all circumstances.

[0017] The ozone gas produced in the ozone generator (5) is not delivered into the water received from the water mains (M) and the ozone gas from the ozone generator (5) is directly delivered into the tub (2).

[0018] In an embodiment of the present invention, the portion of the water intake conduit (4) that is in contact with the ozone generator (5) surrounds the ozone generator (5) as a coil.

[0019] In an embodiment of the present invention, the portion of the water intake conduit (4) that is in contact with the ozone generator (5) by passing through the inner section of the ozone generator (5).

[0020] The ozone generator (5) is cooled by the low temperature water delivered from the water mains (M) and flowing in the water intake conduit (4), whereby a more effective cooling is maintained compared with common air cooling methods wherein finned heat exchangers are used.

[0021] In an embodiment of the present invention, the ozone generator (5) is operated a short while before receiving of water into the tub (2) from the water mains (M) or during receiving of water into the tub (2) and thus the water delivered to the tub (2) by the water intake conduit (4) is subjected to preheating thereby the operating duration of the main heater that will heat the wash water later on is reduced and savings in energy is provided.

[0022] In the washing machine (1) of the present invention, the ozone generator (5) can be operated efficiently for a long time without interruption throughout the washing program by being cooled with the water received from the water mains (M).

[0023] The ozone gas is delivered directly to the tub (2) thereby there is no need for additional components such as venturi tube, diffuser etc. used in implementations wherein ozone is dissolved in the wash water.

[0024] The water used in washing is preheated by the ozone generator (5) thereby the workload on the heater is reduced and energy savings is provided.

Claims

1. A washing machine (1) that comprises a tub (2) wherein the washing operation is performed, a water intake conduit (4) that receives water from the water mains (M) and an ozone generator (5) that generates ozone gas (O₃) and sends the ozone gas into the tub (2) by means of an opening (A) arranged on the tub (2) and characterized by the water intake conduit (4) that cools the ozone generator (5) by contacting thereto.

2. A washing machine (1) as in Claim 1 , characterized by the water intake conduit (4), the portion thereof in contact with the ozone generator (5) surrounds the ozone generator (5) as a coil.

3. A washing machine (1) as in Claim 1 , characterized by the water intake conduit (4), the portion thereof in contact with the ozone generator (5) by passing through the ozone generator (5).

4. A washing machine (1) as in any one of the Claims 1 to 3, characterized by the ozone generator (5) that is operated a short while before receiving of water into the tub (2) from the water mains (M) or operated during receiving of water into the tub (2) and thus implements preheating of the water delivered to the tub (2) by the water intake conduit (4).