WO2010023302A1

WO2010023302A1 - A washer

Info

Publication number: WO2010023302A1
Application number: PCT/EP2009/061190
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mustafa Durmus; Ersoy Ozcan; Asaf Mustafa Sofu; Latif Tezduyar; Onur Yaman
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2008-09-01
Filing date: 2009-08-31
Publication date: 2010-03-04
Also published as: EP2334863A1; EP2334863B1; PL2334863T3

Abstract

The present invention relates to a washer (1) wherein the elimination of problems arising due to any water leakage is provided in a simple and safe way.

Description

A WASHER

[0001] The present invention relates to a washer wherein problems arising due to any water leakage are solved in a simple way and hence safe operating conditions are provided.

[0002] During the operation of washers, particularly washing machines or dishwashers, if water leakage occurs at the water inlet hose, tub or any other component, this water starts to fill the lower portion of the body. This water, collected in the lower portion of the body, enables the float located there to close the contact of the switch whereto it is connected by ascending. In this case, run signal of the safety algorithm comprising steps such as stopping the valve that provides water intake to the washer and discharging the water by operating the pump is transmitted to the control unit. In this way, the control unit provides the problem arose to be eliminated by running the safety algorithm. In situations wherein water fills the lower portion of the body, this problem is needed to be solved in an easy and safe way without requiring elements that cause incremental costs.

[0003] In the state of the art patent document no DE19548514, a household appliance is described which comprises a flow meter having a switch, and a control unit providing the separate control and shutting of the electro-magnetic valves in situations wherein any water flow is detected during a washing cycle although there is no water feed from the mains.

[0004] In another state of the art embodiment, the United States of America

Patent No US2004200512, a washing appliance is described wherein the water filling process is controlled by a control system. The control system provides a safety alarm to be sounded in situations wherein there is no water fill or overfill above the predetermined level and appropriate actions to be taken such that the washing appliance and external environment will not be damaged.

[0005] The aim of the present invention is the realization of a washer wherein problems arising due to any water leakage or water overflow are provided to be solved by a safety algorithm run in a simple way. [0006] The washer realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is explicated in the attached claims.

[0007] The washer of the present invention comprises a detector detecting the water level in the tub, and a switch which is located at the lower portion of the body and which serves to measure the water level collected at the base of the body in any water leakage situation. The switch is connected to the detector parallelly. Thus, the safety algorithm, which is run by the control unit when the water level in the tub increases, is enabled to be run also in situations wherein water is filled to the lower portion of the body. By the switch ends being connected directly to the detector ends through the cable tree, a separate socket is not occupied on the control unit. Furthermore, by means of the parallel connection realized between the detector and the switch, the detector or switch is provided to function even if either one of them malfunctions, the operating one overtaking the defected one's function as well.

[0008] In an embodiment of the present invention, the detector is a sensor. In this embodiment, when the problem of water filling the lower portion of the body is confronted due to any error, the detector short circuits and hence cannot produce frequency since the switch is connected to the detector parallelly. The control unit runs the safety algorithm in the situation wherein the frequency value generated by the detector remains under a certain frequency value predetermined by the producer. Since no signal can be generated in a short-circuit situation, the control unit starts to run the safety algorithm.

[0009] In an embodiment of the present invention, the detector is a water level switch which is triggered depending on the water level. In this embodiment, when the problem of water filling the lower portion of the body is confronted due to any error, the control unit runs the safety algorithm, which is run by the detector in situations wherein the water level in the tub reaches the overflow level, since the switch is connected to the detector parallelly.

[0010] The washer realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where: [0011] Figure 1 - is the schematic view of a washer.

[0012] Figure 2 - is the schematic view of the detector and the switch in an embodiment of the present invention. [0013] Figure 3 - is the schematic view of the detector and the switch in another embodiment of the present invention. [0014] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Washer

2. Body

3. Tub

4. Valve

5. Detector

6. Switch

7. Control unit

[0015] The washer (1) comprises a body (2), a tub (3) wherein items to be washed are disposed and the washing process is performed, a valve (4) with flow control connected between the water mains and the water inlet hose on the outside of the body (2), providing the water to be taken from the mains in a controlled way and to be cut off automatically in an error situation such as water leakage, a detector (5) measuring the water level in the tub (3), a switch (6) located at the lower portion of the body (2), serving to measure the water level collected at the lower part of the body (2) in a water leakage situation from any area such as the water inlet hose and tub (3), and a control unit (7) controlling the water level in the tub (3) according to the data detected by the detector (5) and providing appropriate actions to be taken in order to evacuate the water filled at the base of the body (2) depending on the triggering of the switch (6).

[0016] Water taken from the mains is transferred to the washer (1) by means of the inlet hose. On the inlet hose, at the side where the inlet hose is connected to the mains, preferably an electromechanical valve (4) is located which provides water to be taken from the mains in a controlled way. This valve (4) with flow control also provides the water to be cut off automatically in an error situation such as water leakage.

[0017] In the embodiment of the present invention, the detector (5) is connected to the control unit (7) and the switch (6) is parallelly connected to the detector (5). Thus, in case that the detector (5) or the switch (6) detects an error concerning the water level, one common algorithm is operated.

[0018] In the situation wherein the water level in the tub (3) exceeds a certain level determined by the producer due to any error, the signal required to run the safety algorithm is transmitted to the control unit (7) by the detector (5). In situations wherein the water level in the tub (3) exceeds a certain level, risks such as water overflow are prevented by running the safety algorithm comprising steps such as closing the valve (4), evacuating the water by operating the pump, stopping the heater and the motor, and hence safe operating conditions are provided for the washer (1).

[0019] In a similar way, during the operation of the washer (1), if any water leakage occurs on the water inlet hose, tub (3) or any other component of the washer (1), this water collects at the lower portion of the body (2). At the lower portion of the body (2), a switch (6) is located which serves to measure the water level and which is triggered, for example, by a float. In any water leakage situation, increasing of the water level collected at the base of the body (2) causes the float to ascend. In such a situation, the float triggers the switch (6) by ascending.

[0020] In the embodiment of the present invention, since the switch (6) is connected to the detector (5) parallelly, the control unit (7) runs the safety algorithm, which is run by the control unit (7) in order to control the water level in the tub (3), when the problem of water collecting at the lower portion of the body (2) is confronted, as well. By means of the safety algorithm being run in a similar way, actions such as closing the valve (4), evacuating the water by operating the pump, stopping the heater and the motor are taken and hence safe operating conditions are provided for the user and the washer (1). Thus, the switch (6) is not directly connected onto the control unit (7) and therefore, a separate socket is not used on the control unit (7) for this process. The safety algorithm, which is run by the control unit (7) in the situation wherein the water level in the tub (3) increases, can also be run when the problem of water collecting at the base of the body (2) is confronted; therefore, no revision on the software is required. Thus, the solution of the problem of water collecting at the base of the body (2) is realized in an economical way.

[0021] In an embodiment of the present invention, the detector (5) is a sensor. When water is filled at the base of the body (2), the float located at the lower portion of the body (2) closes the open contact of the switch (6) by ascending. In this situation, the detector (5) short circuits since the switch (6) is connected to the detector (5) parallelly. Since the water level detector (5) that short circuits cannot generate frequency, the output is 0 Hz. At frequency values below a certain frequency value determined by the producer, for example, below a frequency value of 20 KHz, the control unit (7) assumes the water level in the tub (3) as the overflow level and operates the safety algorithm. Also in this short circuit situation occurring in any problem of water collecting at the base of the body (2), since the output of the detector (5) will be 0 Hz, the control unit (7) runs the security algorithm as if the detector (5) detected a water level increase in the tub (3) (Figure 2). Thus, the problem of water collecting at the base of the body (2) is solved without requiring an element that causes incremental costs. This process is provided by the ends of the switch (6) being connected directly to the ends of the water level sensor through the cable tree without the occupation of any socket by the switch (6) on the control unit (7).

[0022] In another embodiment of the present invention, the detector (5) is a water level switch which is triggered depending on the water level. In also this embodiment, the switch (6) is connected to the overflow level contact of the detector (5) parallelly. Since the switch (6) is connected to the detector

(5) parallelly, the safety algorithm, which is run by the triggering of the detector (5), is run by the control unit (7) when water fills the lower portion of the body (2) during the operation of the washer (1), as well. In the situation wherein water is filled to the base of the body (2), the float located at the base of the body (2) closes the open contact of the switch

(6) by ascending. In this situation, the detector (5) short circuits since the switch (6) is connected to the detector (5) parallelly. The control unit (7) runs the security algorithm as if the detector (5) detected a water level increase in the tub (3) also in this short circuit situation occurring in any problem of water collecting at the base of the body (2). Thus, the problem of water collecting at the lower portion of the body (2) is solved without requiring an element that causes incremental costs.

[0023] By means of the embodiment of the present invention, the problem of water being collected at the base of the body (2) or of the water level in the tub (3) exceeding the overflow level due to any water leakage in the washer (1) is solved in an economical way and hence safe operating conditions are provided.

[0024] The washer (1) of the present invention is a dishwasher or a washing machine.

[0025] It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed above and a person skilled in the art can easily introduce different embodiments. These should be considered within the scope of the protection postulated by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A washer (1) comprising a body (2), a tub (3) wherein items to be washed are disposed and the washing process is performed, a valve (4) connected between the water mains and the water inlet hose, a detector (5) measuring the water level in the tub (3) and a switch (6) located at the lower portion of the body (2), serving to measure the water level collected at the lower part of the body (2) in a water leakage situation from any area such as the water inlet hose and tub (3), and characterized by a control unit (7) controlling the water level in the tub (3) according to the data detected by the detector (5) and providing appropriate actions to be taken in order to evacuate the water filled at the base of the body (2) depending on the triggering of the switch (6) and the switch (6) is parallelly connected to the detector (5).

2. A washer (1) as in Claim 1 , characterized by the switch (6) connected to a float.

3. A washer (1) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by the detector (5) that is a sensor.

4. A washer (1) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by the detector (5) that is a water level switch.

5. A washer (1) as in any one of the above Claims, which is a washing machine.

6. A washer (1) as in any one of the Claims 1 to 4, which is a dishwasher.