WO2011076656A1

WO2011076656A1 - A washing machine comprising a water softening device

Info

Publication number: WO2011076656A1
Application number: PCT/EP2010/069865
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kagan Kurtkaya; Ilkan Erdem
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2009-12-23
Filing date: 2010-12-16
Publication date: 2011-06-30
Also published as: EP2516717B1; EP2516717A1; PL2516717T3

Abstract

The present invention relates to a washing machine (1) comprising a tub (2), a drum (3) which rotates inside the tub (2) and wherein the laundry is placed, a discharge hole (4) disposed under the tub (2) and that provides the water to be discharged, a pump (5) providing the water in the tub (2) to be discharged, a hose (6) that provides the water in the tub (2) to be delivered to the pump (5) by connecting one end to the discharge hole (4) and the other to the pump (5), a ball shaped float (7) disposed in the hose (6) that opens and closes the discharge hole (4) with the pressure of water and a water softening device (10) that provides the water received from the outside to be softened for the washing process, having an ion exchanger (8) and a salt container (9) providing to perform the regeneration process by keeping the resin in the ion exchanger (8) in salty water in the regeneration process. A soft water line (11) is connected to the lower side of the tub (2) so as to be above the discharge hole (4) level and below the lowermost point of the drum (3).

Description

A WASHING MACHINE COMPRISING A WATER SOFTENING DEVICE

[0001] The present invention relates to a washing machine comprising a water softening device.

[0002] In washing machines, water softening devices are used for decreasing the hardness of the wash water and for providing an effective washing. The water softening device comprises an ion exchanger and a salt container that provides the regeneration process to be performed by keeping the resin in the ion exchanger in salty water in the regeneration process. In order to decrease the hardness of water, the water used in washing is passed over the ion exchanger and is delivered to the tub to be included in the washing process. The ion exchanger becomes unable to soften the water in the course of time therefore the regeneration process is performed by keeping it in the salt solution taken from the salt container at certain intervals. The salty and hard water having excessively corrosive effect is discharged to the outside due to the regeneration of the ion exchanger and rinsing at the end of regeneration. This residual water used in the rinsing process of the ion exchanger is quite damaging for the metal parts of the washing machine for example the drum that is produced from metal. Therefore, in state of the art embodiments, the line carrying the residual water is connected to the discharge line at the lower side of the tub and the water is discharged from the discharge line by means of the pump without contacting the drum. In some embodiments, the line carrying the residual rinsing water also carries the soft water whereof the hardness is removed in the ion exchanger and the soft water is delivered to the tub by supplying through the discharge line. In washing machines wherein the ball shaped float is used for closing the discharge hole below the tub in order to prevent the detergent wastage, the connection of the shared line carrying the soft water and residual water to the discharge line is not possible because the float that closes the opening below the tub prevents the soft water coming from the ion exchanger from entering into the tub.

[0003] In the washing machine explained in the state of the art German Patent Application No DE3736312, soft water conduit from the water softening device is connected to the discharge conduit under the tub and the discharge pump does not operate while soft water is delivered to the tub and the tub is filled with water. And when the regeneration process is performed, the residual water produced is directly discharged outside by the discharge pump.

[0004] In the state of the art United States Patent No. US6557382, a washing machine which comprises a water softener connected to the rear of the detergent supply case is explained. The discharge of the waste

regeneration water, generated after the regeneration process, from the ion removal means is performed through a passage connected to the drainage means.

[0005] In the washing machine explained in the state of the art European Patent No. EP0190675, the soft water reaches the detergent supply box after the water softening process is performed. After the regeneration process is performed, the residual water leaving the ion exchange unit is directed to the discharge system by a valve.

[0006] The aim of the present invention is the realization of a washing machine comprising water softening device and wherein the corrosive residual water produced in the water softening process is prevented from

damaging the drum.

[0007] The washing machine realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises a soft water line that connects the water softening device to the tub and that provides the residual water produced in the regeneration and rinsing process of the ion exchanger to be delivered to the tub such as to not contact the drum.

[0008] The soft water line is connected to the underside of the tub so as to be above the discharge hole level by extending from the ion exchanger to the tub. Water is delivered from the soft water line into the tub by means of an inlet opening whereto the soft water line is connected, opening to the gap between the tub and the drum at a level between the discharge hole and the lowermost point of the drum.

[0009] In an embodiment of the present invention, the soft water line is connected to the tub by means of a connection pipe that extends outwards almost horizontally from the cylindrical lower wall of the tub or the neck portion that extends by narrowing down towards the discharge hole. The residual water passing through the connection pipe and flowing horizontally is directed to the discharge hole without contacting the drum inside the tub.

[0010] In another embodiment of the present invention, the washing machine comprises a barrier that forms an obstruction between the inlet opening and the drum by extending almost horizontally from the inner surface of the tub or from the neck portion underneath the tub towards above the discharge hole, and that prevents the water that comes gushing out from the inlet opening from contacting the drum.

[001 1] In another embodiment of the present invention, the discharge pump starts operating some time before the rinsing process of the ion exchanger starts and provides the float to open the discharge hole before the rinsing process of the ion exchanger is started. Consequently, the instant the residual water washing the ion exchanger reaches the tub, the discharge hole is not closed by the float and the residual water is prevented from accumulating in the tub and contacting the drum.

[0012] In the washing machine of the present invention, the residual water with corrosive and rusting effect that is quite damaging for the drum and produced in the regeneration and rinsing processes performed for the water softening device is prevented from contacting the drum.

[0013] The washing machine realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

[0014] Figure 1 - is the schematic view of a washing machine.

[0015] Figure 2 - is the view of detail A in Figure 1.

[0016] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Washing machine

2. Tub

3. Drum

4. Discharge hole

5. Pump

6. Hose 7. Float

8. Ion exchanger

9. Salt container

10. Water softening device

1 1. Soft water line

12. Inlet opening

13. Connection pipe

14. Barrier

15. Neck

[0017] The washing machine (1 ) comprises a tub (2) produced from plastic

wherein the washing process is performed, a drum (3) produced from metal, which rotates inside the tub (2) and wherein the laundry is placed, a discharge hole (4) disposed under the tub (2) and that provides the water to be discharged, a pump (5) providing the water in the tub (2) to be discharged, a hose (6) providing the water in the tub (2) to be delivered to the pump (5) by connecting one end to the discharge hole (4) and the other end to the pump (5), a ball shaped float (7) disposed in the hose (6) that opens, closes the discharge hole (4) with the pressure of water and a water softening device (10) providing the water received from outside to be softened for the washing process, having an ion exchanger (8) and a salt container (9) providing the regeneration process to be performed by keeping the resin in the ion exchanger (8) in salty water in the

regeneration process.

[0018] The washing machine (1 ) of the present invention comprises

[0019] - a soft water line (1 1 ) that is connected to the lower part of the tub (2) so as to be above the discharge hole (4) level by extending from the ion exchanger (8) to the tub (2) and which delivers the soft water produced in the ion exchanger (8) during the laundry washing process and the residual water that washes the resin in the ion exchanger (8) in the rinsing process after the regeneration process to the tub (2) and

[0020] -an inlet opening (12) disposed at the lower side of the tub (2), providing the water received from the soft water line (1 1 ) to be delivered to the tub (2) and opening to the gap (G) between the tub (2) and the drum (3) at a level between the discharge hole (4) and the lowermost point of the drum

(3) .

[0021] In the washing machine (1 ) of the present invention, the residual water having corrosive effect that leaves the ion exchanger (8) in the

regeneration and rinsing processes of the ion exchanger (8) is received into the gap (G) between the tub (2) and the drum (3) without contacting the drum (3) produced from metal material and is discharged to the outside via pump (5) by passing from the discharge hole (4) that is opened by the float (7) thereby allowing water flow.

[0022] The soft water line (1 1 ) is used in conveying both the soft water produced in the ion exchanger (8) and also the residual water that washes the ion exchanger (8) during the regeneration and rinsing processes.

[0023] The pump (5) does not operate during the laundry washing process and the float (7) closes the discharge hole (4) while soft water is received into the tub (2) from the ion exchanger (8).

[0024] The pump (5) operates in the resin rinsing process after the regeneration and the float (7) opens the discharge hole (4) whereby the residual water (2) received into the tub (2) is discharged to the outside by passing through the discharge hole (4) opened by the float (7). The residual water contacting the tub (2) does not pose a risk since the tub (2) is produced from plastic.

[0025] In the washing machine (1 ), some amount of water is received from

outside at the start of the washing process and the water sweeps the cleaning agents in the detergent dispenser (D) to transfer into the tub (2). Afterwards, the water received for the washing process is delivered to the ion exchanger (8) by means of the valves without being delivered directly to the tub (2) and the water of which its hardness removed in the ion exchanger (8) is transferred to the tub (2) by the soft water line (1 1). Since the pump (5) does not operate in the washing process, the discharge hole

(4) is closed by the float (7), the soft water received into the tub (2) fills the tub (2) and is used in the washing process. In the regeneration process, salty water is received into the ion exchanger (8) from the salt container (9) and after waiting for some time, the rinsing process of the ion exchanger (8) is performed by the water received from the outside. The residual water washing the ion exchanger (8) in the rinsing process is delivered to the tub (2) by using the soft water line (1 1 ). Since the soft water line (1 1) is connected to the underside of the tub (2) at a level below the lowermost point of the drum (3), the residual water entering from the inlet opening (12) into the gap (G) between the tub (2) and the drum (3) is directed to the discharge hole (4) without contacting the drum (3), the float (7) is provided to open the discharge hole (4) by operating the pump (5) during the rinsing process and the residual water passing through the discharge hole (4) and the hose (6) is discharged outside by means of the pump (5).

[0026] In an embodiment of the present invention, the washing machine (1 )

comprises a neck (15) disposed at the underside of the tub (2), forming its portion extending towards the discharge hole (4) and whereto the connection of the soft water line (1 1 ) is made (Figure 2).

[0027] In another embodiment of the present invention, the washing machine (1 ) comprises a connection pipe (13) that provides the soft water line (1 1 ) to be connected to the tub (2) and which extends almost in horizontal direction from the lower side or the neck (15) of the tub (2) towards the outside. The water passing through the connection pipe (13) continues its flow in the horizontal direction and flows from the inlet opening (12) into the gap (G) between the tub (2) and the drum (3) and is directed to the discharge hole (4) without contacting the drum (3).

[0028] In another embodiment of the present invention, the washing machine (1 ) comprises a barrier (14) that forms an obstruction between the inlet opening (12) and the drum (3) by extending almost in horizontal direction from the inner surface or from the neck (15) portion of the tub (2) towards above the discharge hole (4) and which prevents the water that comes out of the inlet opening (12) from contacting the drum (3).

[0029] In another embodiment of the present invention, the pump (5) starts

operating some time before the rinsing process of the ion exchanger (8) starts, preferably 5 seconds before the rinsing process and provides the float (7) to open the discharge hole (4) before the rinsing process of the ion exchanger (8) starts. Consequently, the instant the residual water washing the ion exchanger (8) reaches the tub (2), the pump (5) is in operation state and the discharge hole (4) is in the open position thereby preventing residual water from accumulating in the tub (2) and contacting the drum (3).

[0030] In the washing machine (1 ) of the present invention, the residual water with corrosive effect produced by washing the resin in the ion exchanger (8) and which is quite damaging for the material of the drum (3) is prevented from contacting the drum (3) and hence from rusting the drum (3).

[0031] It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited by 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 washing machine (1 ) comprising a tub (2) wherein the washing process is performed, a drum (3) which rotates inside the tub (2), and wherein the laundry is placed, a discharge hole (4) disposed under the tub (2) and that provides the water to be discharged, a pump (5) providing the water in the tub (2) to be discharged, a hose (6) that provides the water in the tub (2) to be delivered to the pump (5) by connecting one end to the discharge hole (4) and the other end to the pump (5), a ball shaped float (7) disposed in the hose (6) that opens, closes the discharge hole (4) with the pressure of water and a water softening device (10) having an ion exchanger (8) and a salt container (9), - characterized by - a soft water line (1 1 ) that is connected to the lower side of the tub (2) so as to be above the discharge hole (4) level by extending from the ion exchanger (8) to the tub (2) and - an inlet opening (12), providing the water received from the soft water line (1 1 ) to be delivered to the tub (2) and opening to the gap (G) between the tub (2) and the drum (3) at a level between the discharge hole (4) and the lowermost point of the drum (3).

2. A washing machine (1 ) as in Claim 1 , characterized by a neck (15) that is

disposed at the lower side of the tub (2), forming its portion extending towards the discharge hole (4) and whereto the connection of the soft water line (1 1 ) is made.

3. A washing machine (1 ) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by a connection pipe (13) that provides the soft water line (1 1 ) to be connected to the tub (2) and which extends almost in horizontal direction from the lower side or the neck (15) portion of the tub (2) towards the outside.

4. A washing machine (1 ) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by a barrier (14) that forms an obstruction between the inlet opening (12) and the drum (3) and which extends almost in horizontal direction from the inner surface or from the neck (15) portion of the tub (2) towards above the discharge hole (4).

5. A washing machine (1 ) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by the pump (5) that starts operating some time before the rinsing process of the ion exchanger (8) starts, and provides the float (7) to open the discharge hole (4) before the rinsing process of the ion exchanger (8) starts.