Claims
- 1. A device for monitoring a functioning of a rotating liquid-discharging appliance, comprising:at least one collection device defining a collection chamber having: at least one inlet with a given cross-section; at least one outlet disposed vertically below said at least one inlet, said at least one outlet having a cross-section smaller than said given cross-section; and an interior fluidically connected to said inlet and to said outlet for allowing a gravitational liquid flow; having at least one level sensor fluidically connected to said interior, said level sensor producing a signal to be evaluated by an evaluation device; and being disposed approximately in a region acted upon with liquid by the appliance to be monitored.
- 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein:said collection chamber has a volume; and said given cross-section, said cross-section of said outlet, and said volume are dimensioned to have a liquid level in said collecting chamber periodically oscillate about a predetermined reference level under normal functional conditions of the appliance to be monitored.
- 3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said level sensor is an optical sensor.
- 4. The device according to claim 3, wherein:said collection chamber has a substantially transparent vertical wall with a V-shaped portion; said optical sensor has a V-shaped sensor part connected to said V-shaped portion of said vertical wall; and a vertex of said sensor part projects into said interior of said collection chamber.
- 5. The device according to claim 4, wherein said sensor part is said V-shaped portion of said vertical wall.
- 6. The device according to claim 1, wherein said inlet is fluidically connected to the region acted upon with liquid.
- 7. In a dishwashing machine having an evaluation device and at least one rotating spray arm spraying washing liquid at least at a region in the machine, a device for monitoring a functioning of the spray arm, comprising:at least one collection device defining a collection chamber having: at least one inlet with a given cross-section; at least one outlet with a cross-section smaller than said given cross-section; and an interior fluidically connected to said inlet and to said outlet; having at least one level sensor fluidically connected to said interior, said level sensor producing a signal evaluated by the evaluation device; and being disposed approximately at the region in the machine for receiving the washing liquid sprayed from the at least one rotating spray arm.
- 8. The device according to claim 7, wherein:the dishwashing machine has a side wall; and said collection device is disposed at the side wall.
- 9. The device according to claim 7, wherein:the dishwashing machine has a door; and said collection device is disposed at the door.
- 10. The device according to claim 7, wherein:the dishwashing machine has a cleaning-agent dispensing unit; and said collection device is disposed in the cleaning-agent dispensing unit.
- 11. The device according to claim 7, wherein said level sensor includes means for causing the evaluation device, in the event of a fault, to at least one of:change a control of the machine; interrupt a program of the machine; activate an optical warning signal; and activate an acoustic warning signal with the signal produced by said level sensor.
- 12. The device according to claim 7, wherein said inlet is fluidically connected to the region in the machine.
- 13. In an appliance having an evaluation device and a rotating liquid-discharging device disposed in a washing container and spraying washing liquid at least at a region in the appliance, a device for monitoring a functioning of the rotating liquid-discharging device, comprising:at least one collection device mounted in the washing container defining a collection chamber having: at least one inlet with a given cross-section; at least one outlet with a cross-section smaller than said given cross-section; and an interior fluidically connected to said inlet and to said outlet; having at least one level sensor fluidically connected to said interior, said level sensor producing a signal evaluated by the evaluation device; and being disposed approximately at the region in the appliance.
- 14. In combination with an appliance having an evaluation device and a rotating liquid-discharging device spraying washing liquid at least at a region in the appliance, a device for monitoring a functioning of the rotating liquid-discharging device, the monitoring device comprising:at least one collection device defining a collection chamber having: at least one inlet with a given cross-section; at least one outlet disposed vertically below said at least one inlet, said at least one outlet having a cross-section smaller than said given cross-section; and an interior fluidically connected to said inlet and to said outlet for allowing a gravitational liquid flow; having at least one level sensor fluidically connected to said interior, said level sensor producing a signal evaluated by the evaluation device; and being disposed approximately at the region in the appliance.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
TO99A0789 |
Sep 1999 |
IT |
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CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a continuation of copending International Application No. PCT/EP00/08809, filed Sep. 8, 2000, which designated the United States.
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Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
PCT/EP00/08809 |
Sep 2000 |
US |
Child |
10/100580 |
|
US |