WO2021160905A1

WO2021160905A1 - Automatic washing machine with water recycling

Info

Publication number: WO2021160905A1
Application number: PCT/ES2021/000005
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jaiver QUINTERO JARAMILLO
Original assignee: VALLEJO SANTA, Sigifredo Antonio
Priority date: 2020-02-10
Filing date: 2021-02-09
Publication date: 2021-08-19
Also published as: ES1244573U; ES1244573Y

Abstract

Disclosed is an automatic washing machine with water recycling, which, comprising components installed in any existing automatic washing machine or in newly produced ones, allows the used water to be diverted, in certain washing phases, through a first solenoid valve to an auxiliary reservoir. The stored water is pumped through a second solenoid valve from the reservoir to a washing tank, to be used in subsequent washing phases. The washing machine is provided with a washing programme controller, electrically connected to a recycling option selector and to a level sensor located in the auxiliary reservoir.

Description

DESCRIPTION

The present invention refers to a device to be installed in any of the existing automatic washing machines or in those of new manufacture in order to recycle the water used in certain washing phases for its use in a different phase with the consequent saving of water . It also incorporates a short washing program that has a direct effect on energy savings.

SECTOR OF THE TECHNIQUE TO WHICH THE INVENTION REFERS

The invention that is presented affects the Textile Sector, chapter on Treatment of Textiles or similar, Laundry, with regard to electrical appliances for washing clothes and their accessories, affecting, from an industrial point of view, the manufacture of automatic washing machines of the domestic or large volume.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of automatic washing machines is widespread throughout the world and in all layers of society, so any innovation that is introduced in this type of machine has a worldwide impact and small savings in a private home or in companies of washing supposes a very important general saving.

Automatic washing machines have meant a very important reduction in household work as it advantageously facilitates the washing of clothes, which is a staple operation.

Its fundamental component is an electric motor that rotates a drum with water and detergent. Possible innovations are related to the operation of the motor, with specific speeds in each washing phase, with the washing programs that regulate the entry and exit of water, its temperature, the contribution of the detergent doses and some other complementary ones. All this with full automation.

It is well known that, for a long time, it was normal to wash clothes by hand by scrubbing and beating them on boards on the banks of rivers. These methods continued to be used until the beginning of the 20th century, because the electric washing machine, invented by Alva Fisher, became widespread when electricity became a common service. However, the origins of this appliance date back to 1780, when Robinson of Lancashire patented a machine that washed and wrung clothes. Two years later, Henry Sidgier invented a handheld device, consisting of a wooden barrel and a crank. In 1858, the American manufacturer Hamilton Smith added a gear to the drum that allowed it to rotate in both directions. In 1880, in an attempt to massify the washing and drying of clothes in the Crimean (Ukraine) hospitals, another machine was built that did both functions. Finally, in 1901, the first electric washing machine made its appearance, a precursor to the one we use today, thanks to Alva Fisher. This inventor applied an electric motor to a metal drum. With regard to the invention of the automatic washing machine, its merit is disputed by the Bendix Corporation (1937) and the General Electric (1947) companies. were at the top) and had to wait until the end of World War II to see the takeoff in sales of washing machines.

In the 60s, some technological innovations were incorporated, such as the mechanical drum, the centrifuge and a timing control. Years later, thanks to computer systems, the microprocessor began to be used to control the operation of the different washing options.

Nowadays, the novelties are central in the control systems, in the type of controls based on keypads and touch screens, centrifuges at various speeds, location of the loading nozzles, prior control of the weight of the clothes, silent motors and the like. .

The invention presented in this document is related to saving water and energy.

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention, as explained above, refers to a device that, installed in any of the existing automatic washing machines or in those of new manufacture, allows the water used in certain washing phases to be recycled for its use in a different phase with the consequent savings. By including a short program, energy savings are also achieved. To achieve this objective, the most important thing is to add an auxiliary tank to any washing machine and complement it with the installation of pumps that carry out the transfer of water according to the cycle preset by the main programmer or from a complementary control panel.

The washing machine of the invention has two pumps installed. The first is the existing one under normal conditions, being complemented with a two-position solenoid valve. In one of the positions, the dirty water is expelled directly to the sump and in the other position, the rinse water is redirected to the auxiliary tank. The second pump is intended to fill the washing machine by taking water from! auxiliary tank. In the rest of the phases, where it is necessary to fill the drum with clean water from the network. the water enters directly thanks to the pressure of this network.

In the section on the inventor's preferred embodiment, the operation is described in detail.

The washing machine of the invention is complemented with a short program that executes the complete wash in about 45 minutes, which results in a significant saving of electrical energy when compared to the usual programs that have durations close to two hours.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Two schematic figures are included to facilitate understanding of the invention.

Figure 1

It shows the washing machine of the invention with its elements arranged to do a normal wash.

1 washing machine

2 - Program wheel

3 - Normal wash button

4, - Button for washing with recycling

5.- Mains water inlet

6.- Solenoid valve A

7 - Detergent drawer

8.- Drum

9.- Filter

10.- M pump

11.- Common pipe

12.- Solenoid valve B

13.- Drain pipe

14.- Charge pipe

15. Auxiliary tank

16.- N pump

17 - Recycled water inlet pipe

18.- Level control Figure 2 Shows the washing machine of the invention with the solenoid valves oriented in the water recovery position.

DETAILED EXPLANATION OF A MODE OF EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Automatic washing machine with water recycling, which has components that, installed in any of the existing automatic washing machines or in the newly manufactured ones, allow to recycle the water used, in certain washing phases, for its use in other phases with the consequent savings . By including a short program, energy savings are also achieved.

In a preferred embodiment of its inventor, it is a washing machine (1) of the usual ones on the market, both front-loading and top-loading, which have a program wheel (2), with a wash button normal, detergent drawer (7), drum (8), filter (9), and M pump (10) and drain pipe (13) in addition to other elements among which are the electric motor, electronic components, controllers of level and so on. This washing machine (1) is coupled to the rear, side or even inside, increasing the dimensions of the external casing, an auxiliary tank (15), a N pump (16), a solenoid valve A (6), a B solenoid valve (12), a recycle wash button and a series of link pipes as described below.

In (Fig. 1) the washing machine (1) is represented with its elements arranged to carry out a wash according to the usual cycles.

The water is taken from the mains water inlet (5), after acting on the normal wash button (3), which places the solenoid valve A (6) in the position indicated in said figure, leading to the detergent drawer ( 7) to then go directly into the drum (8). The washing process begins according to the chosen program, the water coming out of the drum (8) through the filter (9) to be driven by the pump M (10) towards the drain pipe (13) passing through the common pipe (11 ) and by the solenoid valve B (12) oriented as indicated in (Fig. 1). This process continues until the end of the chosen program. When it is desired to prepare the washing machine (1) to make washes with recycling, the button for washing with recycling (4) is operated in which case, the process is similar to the previous one until the rinse phase is reached in which the The water is quite clean and therefore can be used for other washes. At that moment, the program makes the solenoid valve B (12) change position and position itself as indicated in (Fig. 2) in such a way that the water coming from the drum (8), filter (9) and common pipe (11) is poured into the auxiliary tank (15) having passed through the loading pipe (14).

In the next wash, the program itself is prepared to start the N pump (16), driving the water from the auxiliary tank (15) to the detergent drawer (7) through the recycled water inlet pipe (17) and by the solenoid valve A (6), oriented as indicated in (Fig. 2). This water, almost clean and somewhat soapy, enters the drum (8) initiating a wash that produces dirty water to be poured through the drain pipe (13) for which the programmer changes the position of the solenoid valve B (12).

Depending on the dirtiness of the laundry that has been put into the washing machine (1), another recycling wash can then be done until the operation is finished. For this, it is necessary that there is a sufficient amount of water in the auxiliary tank (15), and there is a level control (18) that indicates it. recovering again the water from the rinsing phase in the auxiliary tank (15).

The washing machine (1) is prepared to carry out a short-term program in order to make economical washes with energy savings.

It is not considered necessary to make the content of this description more extensive so that an expert in the field can understand the scope and advantages derived from the invention, as well as develop and put into practice its object. However, it should be understood that the invention has been described according to a preferred embodiment of the same, so that it can be susceptible to modifications without this impacting or implying any alteration of the foundation of said invention That is, the terms in which it has been exposed This preferred description of the invention should always be taken in a broad and non-limiting nature.

Claims

1.- Automatic washing machine with water recycling that has components that, installed in any of the existing automatic washing machines or in the newly manufactured ones, both front loading and top loading, allow to recycle the water used, in certain washing phases , for its use in other phases with the consequent savings, characterized by incorporating, in addition to the usual components in all of them, an auxiliary tank (15), a pump N (16) for charging the auxiliary tank, a solenoid valve A (6) , a B solenoid valve (12), a recycle wash button (4), a charging pipe (14), a recycled water inlet pipe (17) and a program wheel that includes a short-term washing program 45 minute maximum.

2.- Automatic washing machine with water recycling, according to the first claim, characterized by having the auxiliary tank (15) located either at the rear of the washing machine, on one side or inside the main casing.

3. Automatic washing machine with water recycling, according to claim one, characterized by incorporating a level control (18) in the auxiliary tank (15).

4.- Automatic washing machine with water recycling, according to the first claim, characterized by having electrovalves A (6) and B (12) with two positions.