This application is a National Phase of International Application No. PCT/EP2012/075794, filed on Dec. 17, 2012, which designed the U.S. and claims priority to DE Application No. 10 2011 089 390.3, filed on Dec. 21, 2011; and DE Application No. 10 2012 218 549.6, filed on Oct. 11, 2012, the entire contents of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
The invention relates to a rinsing arrangement and a domestic appliance for the care of laundry items, comprising a rinsing dish and a tub which is connected to the rinsing dish via a supply line, wherein a steam stop facility is embodied in a curved section in the supply line.
A washing machine with a controllable fresh water intake for at least two detergent chambers is known from DE 10 2006 029 953 A1. Disposed in an upper area of the housing of the washing machine is a detergent flushing arrangement. Detergent supply lines lead downwards from an uneven floor of the housing of this detergent flushing arrangement to open out at a door seal on one side and to open out at a tub on the other side.
This detergent flushing arrangement also provides ventilation of the tub without an additional ventilation line. Further, because of the two separate detergent supply lines and their connection to the floor of the housing of this detergent supply device it is guaranteed that one of these two lines is always unoccupied.
A rinsing arrangement with a water supply for a washing machine is known from DE 10 2004 060 709 A1. A rinsing dish of the rinsing arrangement is embodied with an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the lower portion has an outlet connector and a tray as a water supply. A dividing wall projects from above into the water contained in the tray, which divides the lower portion in conjunction with the water contained in the tray and the water stop formed thereby, also called steam stop below, into two compartments separated from one another. The dividing wall is embodied in one piece on the lower portion or preferably with the upper portion. This makes the manufacturing of the components very complex and difficult, especially if they are embodied as injection-molded parts. The outlet connector of the rinsing arrangement is connected to a tub of a washing machine.
The steam stop can be filled with water to a maximum up to its overflow at the outlet connector. In the event of vibrations and fluctuating pressure conditions, as can occur when an opening for loading the washing machine is opened, unwanted water can enter the tub from the steam stop. This is especially disadvantageous at the end of the washing program since it causes the laundry which has already been spun to become wet again. Such an effect must above all be prevented when the outlet connector for direct wetting of the laundry is connected to a door seal disposed on the tub.
The object of the present invention is to create a rinsing arrangement and a domestic appliance for the care of laundry items in which a compact structure of a liquid flushing inlet on the one hand and ventilation on the other hand is achieved and manufacturing is simplified. Above and beyond this, when a loading opening of the domestic appliance is opened and closed, unwanted wetting of the laundry with liquid from a water supply or a steam stop is to be avoided.
This object is achieved by a rinsing arrangement and a domestic appliance in accordance with the independent claims.
An inventive rinsing arrangement for a domestic appliance for the care of laundry items includes a rinsing dish which has an upper portion and a lower portion able to be connected thereto, wherein a water supply device with a water-receiving tray is embodied in the lower portion and an outlet connector is embodied on the lower portion, which opens into the water-receiving tray. A dividing wall which can be attached to the lower portion is embodied separately from the lower portion and, when the dividing wall is in place, a siphon is formed between the outlet connector and the water-receiving tray. The one-piece manufacturing of the lower portion is simplified and made less expensive by such a design. It is precisely when manufactured as an injection-molded part that the embodiment and shaping of a siphon is extremely difficult and error-prone. The fact that the dividing wall almost is be manufactured independently and provided as a separate component and only later is fitted and able to be removed again as a non-destructively releasable component means that these problems are rectified during manufacturing, but on the other hand the desired embodiment of a siphon is still achieved.
It is especially advantageous for the dividing wall to be able to be latched onto the lower portion to attach it. This makes a very rapid and positionally-secure installation possible, wherein the dividing wall can then also be easily removed again.
Preferably the lower portion has a sub-channel of a ventilation channel integrated into the rinsing dish opening onto the outlet connector. Such an embodiment of the rinsing dish enables a highly-integrated system of a steam stop on the one hand and a corresponding ventilation on the other hand to be achieved. A steam stop within the context of the invention is an essentially U-shaped tube system, with the tube sections of the tube system communicating with one another able to be filled with a liquid medium to a level so that it is not possible for gaseous medium to flow through the system. The steam stop is effective when the tube system is filled to this level. The tube system can also have a shape other than the U shape, provided the tube sections of the tube system communicating with one another can act in the same way to provide such a steam stop.
Preferably there is provision for the sub-channel to be delimited by a wall which is also a delimiting wall of a water-receiving space of the rinsing dish. The compact embodiment is promoted by this design. In particular however an especially significant variant in respect of the condensation of the gaseous medium conveyed via the ventilation channel is achieved by this.
Preferably there is provision for the sub-channel to be essentially embodied over the entire length of a water-receiving space of the rinsing dish in the lower portion.
In particular there is provision for the sub-channel to be closed off by a second sub-channel in the upper portion, when the lower portion is connected to the upper portion.
In particular there is provision for the ventilation channel to be routed from a front end of the lower portion on which the outlet connector is disposed to a rear end of the lower portion and upwards into the upper portion and from there to the front end again, emerging at an outlet opening. An especially long path in the rinsing dish for the gas flow is achieved by this, which is especially routed over an especially long path along the water-receiving space. The desired condensation is particularly encouraged by this.
Preferably there is provision for a dividing wall separate from the lower portion to be embodied, which is able to be attached to the lower portion and, when said wall is in place, for a siphon to be formed between the outlet connector and the water-receiving tray.
Preferably there is provision for the upper portion to have a guide wall, by which, in the assembled state of the upper portion with the lower portion, the interior of the rinsing dish is divided into two rinsing channels.
In particular there is provision for a first rinsing channel with the water supply device to be embodied as a steam stop.
Preferably a second rinsing channel with the water supply device is embodied as a connection to a tub of the domestic appliance.
Furthermore a siphon is preferably formed between the outlet connector and a water-receiving space formed in the lower portion and the siphon has a first overflow to the outlet connector and a second overflow to a further outlet, especially a second outlet connector, wherein the overflow level of the first overflow (first overflow level) is disposed higher than the overflow level of the second overflow (second overflow level). This inventive arrangement has the advantage that, with a siphon completely filled with liquid, in the event of vibrations or fluctuations in pressure, the liquid can escape via the second overflow to the further outlet from the siphon. An escape of the liquid from the siphon via the first overflow to the outlet connector can thus be effectively avoided. This is of particular advantage if the outlet connector is connected to a tub of the domestic appliance or to an opening of a door seal disposed on the tub and a flow of liquid escaping from the opening wetting the laundry items introduced into a drum of the domestic appliance directly with the liquid. In this case, with the inventive arrangement, an unwanted wetting of the laundry items with liquid from the siphon can be avoided.
Preferably an overflow channel is disposed between the water supply device and the further outlet having a smaller cross-sectional surface than the cross-sectional surface of the outlet connector, wherein the vertical position of the overflow channel is disposed below the overflow level of the first overflow. The second overflow is particularly preferably formed by the overflow channel. The cross-sectional surface of the overflow channel is especially designed so that, during a rinsing process, the water or liquid supplied to the rinsing arrangement will essentially escape via the siphon and the first overflow on the outlet connector. In this case the cross-sectional surface of the overflow channel is dimensioned small enough for the water or the liquid, at the inflow rate predetermined for the rinsing process, not to be able to escape completely via the overflow channel, which is why the water or fluid level in the siphon rises and on reaching the first overflow level will escape via the first overflow from the outlet connector. Thus in a rinsing process for example the escape of the supplied water or the supplied liquid from the output connector or from the further outlet can be controlled by a variation of the inflow rate.
In particular a first and a second outflow connector are disposed on the rinsing arrangement, wherein the first outflow connector is connected to the first overflow and the second outflow connector to the second overflow, meaning that the second outflow connector is the further outlet.
Furthermore the invention relates to a domestic appliance the care of laundry items, especially a washing machine or a washer-dryer, having an inventive rinsing arrangement or an advantageous embodiment thereof.
A preferred domestic appliance for the care of laundry items includes a rinsing dish and a tub which is connected to the rinsing dish by at least one supply line. Liquid medium, especially detergent and water, is supplied via the supply line to the door seal or to the tub. Embodied in the supply line is a steam stop facility in a curved line section. Embodied in the line section is a ventilation channel which emerges at a first end of the line section. At the first end this ventilation channel is separated from a supply channel belonging to the steam stop facility for supply of liquid medium from the rinsing dish to the tub. Thus a line section is formed in which, at a first end, both the ventilation channel and also the supply channel emerge and at this first end these two channels are also embodied separately from one another. Thus two different channels are integrated into this line section in an extremely compact and space-saving embodiment but are still designed separately from one another. Through this a line section with a connection to this first end is also generated which has two channels. The connection of two separate lines is no longer necessary, but a connection is to all intents and purposes only made via this first end. A line section is thus created having an integrated multi-way system, wherein a water supply system and an air channel system are realized in one component for this purpose. To this end separate air and water paths are realized at the front end. This forms a steam stop in the water supply which prevents steam or condensation escaping from a tub. In addition in functional terms of ventilation in the area of the cold water supply of the rinsing dish is achieved through the warm process air. This brings about a temperature equalization and prevents water condensation. An effective prevention of an escape of steam from the filling device, which is formed by the tub and the drum, is achieved.
Preferably there is provision for the first end of the line section to be an upper end viewed in terms of level. This enables the conceptual realization of the steam stop on the one hand and the ventilation on the other hand to be achieved especially securely and an especially simple connection option to the rinsing dish is guaranteed.
Preferably there is provision for areas of the ventilation channel to be embodied around the circumference of the supply channel at the first end. The fact that it does not line completely around the circumference also means that a particularly mechanically stable embodiment is realized and an especially suitable positioning of the ventilation channel and the supply channel is achieved. In particular the ventilation can then be embodied positionally quite specifically at this first end and at the transition into a rinsing dish and a ventilation channel there can be made in an especially targeted way and also with a good seal.
Preferably there is provision for the ventilation channel to emerge at an entry point into the supply channel, wherein the entry point, viewed in terms of level, lies above a liquid level in the supply channel at which the steam stop is embodied. This entry point is thus embodied at the end of this ventilation channel facing away from the first end of the line section and thus at a point displaced inwards in the line section.
Preferably there is provision for the supply channel, after the confluence of the ventilation channel, to have a flexible canal section, especially for this flexible canal section to be embodied as a corrugated tube. Such an embodiment enables an otherwise especially rigidly embodied line section or supply line to experience a degree of reversible deformability, so that it does not experience any damage when the system moves during operation of the domestic appliance.
Preferably there is provision for the supply line to be embodied as a one-piece component in the form of the line section itself, especially to be embodied as an injection-molded part.
This filling hose or this line section has the effect of connecting the filling arrangement with the rinsing dish and the detergent dispenser through to the tub. In such cases this line section also has the task of transporting the process water into the tub. As a result of the dynamic movements of the washing unit or of the suspension system, movements of this line section are especially compensated for by a flexible fold area or the flexible channel section already mentioned.
The quite specific embodiment of the line section means that said section simultaneously transports the heated process air to a condensation area in the rinsing arrangement. The special feature lies in the air guide being integrated into the line section but being transported via a channel course separate from the path of the water. Transport back via the water path is excluded by the predetermined water supply device. The passage cross-section needed for the air guide is especially achieved by an eccentric arrangement of a connector in connector. Through this, as well as an especially space-saving concept embodying a simple connection principle, a mechanically stable and robust concept is also made possible.
The sealing of the inner and outer connectors is advantageously achieved by specific sealing elements or sealing ribs. The hose connection can be additionally secured by suitable hose clips on the outer connector.
An exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to schematic drawings, in which:
In the figures, elements that are the same or have the same functions are labeled with the reference characters.
The domestic appliance 1 has a tub 2 in which a drum 3 for accommodating the laundry items is disposed and is rotatable around an axis of rotation at right angles to the plane of the figure.
In addition the domestic appliance 1 has a first supply line 4a, via which fresh water is able to be conveyed into the drum 3. Furthermore a connection 5 is embodied which is able to be connected to a domestic water installation or the like. From the connection 5 a fresh water line 6 leads into the interior of the domestic appliance 1. A stop valve 7 is disposed in the fresh water line 6 which is activated for example by a controller in accordance with the program sequence, for example for a rinsing process for wetting laundry items. The fresh water line 6 leads via a free air path into a rinsing dish 8a of a rinsing arrangement 8. A laundry care medium, especially a detergent, can be provided in the rinsing dish 8a for example, which is flushed with the fresh water through a line 9a of the supply line 4a.
The domestic appliance 1 has a flexible door seal 10, which is connected to the tub 2.
As can be seen from the diagram in
The domestic appliance 1 also has a drain pump line 12 comprising a closure flap 13, a washing liquor pump 14 and a line 15. When the closure flap 13 is open washing liquor provided in the tub 2 can be pumped by actuation of the washing liquor pump 14 via the line 15 to an outlet 16.
The outlet 16 in this case can be connected to a suitable outflow of a domestic water installation or the like.
Embodied in the supply line 4a is a steam stop facility 17a. This is embodied in a curved line section 18a of the supply line 4a. The steam stop facility 17a is formed by a water supply device.
As the diagram in
In addition a second supply line 4b is provided in the exemplary embodiment, which likewise has a line section 18b, in which a curved upper section is embodied. Here too a steam stop facility 17b is embodied. Via the line 9b, a connection between the rinsing dish 8a and the further supply line 4b is embodied via a further opening 20b into the rinsing dish 8a. The further supply line 4b opens out on the other side at an inlet point 11b on the door seal 10, which is located between the tub 2 and the drum 3.
In the exemplary embodiment there is provision for the supply line 4b to be embodied without a specific ventilation channel, such as is provided for the supply line 4a.
The washing machine 1 and the controller of said machine are designed, during a process of introducing the water, so that optionally the water or the liquid are able to be supplied via the line section 18a or via the line section 18b to the tub 2 or the drum 3. The line section 18a is explained in greater detail with reference to the subsequent figures.
To this end
The line section 18a, which in the exemplary embodiment represents the supply line 4a, is a one-piece injection-molded part. It is predominantly embodied rigid and only has a flexible channel section 23, which takes the form of a corrugated tube, in a center section.
As can be seen from the diagram in
The ventilation channel 22 opens out with its lower end 25 facing away from the upper end 19 into the supply channel 21 embodied as a curved channel.
A confluence point 26 in this regard is embodied higher in terms of level than a liquid level 27 in the supply channel 21. The steam stop is embodied by the design of a dividing wall 24 and the liquid level 27 which extends above the lower end of the dividing wall 24. This liquid level 27 lies below the confluence point 26. The process air 28, which is shown by the corresponding arrow, can thus be readily transported away via the supply line 4a and the ventilation channel 22 into the rinsing dish 8a. On the other hand the liquid medium 29 in the form of the fresh water and possibly an added detergent can be conveyed, as shown by the arrow, from the rinsing dish 8a via the line section 18a embodied as a curved piece of tube to the inlet point 11a.
As can also be seen in
The rinsing dish 8a comprises an upper portion 8b and a lower portion 8c, which are manufactured as separate parts, for example as one-piece injection-molded parts, and can be connected to one another, for example latched onto one another.
Embodied in the rinsing dish 8a in the lower portion 8c is a water supply device 8d with a water-receiving tray. The water-receiving tray, in the present exemplary embodiment according to the diagram in
Embodied on the lower portion 8c is an outlet connector 8e, to which the line section 18a is able to be connected via the line 9a.
The line section 18b is then able to be connected via the line 9b to a further outlet connector 8f, which is integrated onto the lower portion 8c.
As can further be seen from the diagram in
From the diagram in accordance with
Through the quite specifically constructed and disposed venting channel 8g the air is routed for as long as possible past the area of the water-receiving area 8j to which water is applied, so that a corresponding condensation can take place.
The embodiment of the rinsing dish 8a is also provided so that a part channel 8k is embodied in the lower portion 8c which, with a further part channel in the upper portion 8b, forms the closed overall venting channel 8g.
In addition there is provision for the upper portion 8b to have a guide wall not shown in the figure through which, in the assembled state of the upper portion 8b with the lower portion 8c, an inner space of rinsing dish 8a is divided into two rinsing channels 8l and 8m. A first rinsing channel 8m is embodied with the water supply device as a steam stop. A second rinsing channel 8l is embodied with a water supply device as a connection to the tub 3.
In the diagram in
For easier manufacturing of the lower portion 8c as a one-piece injection-molded part there is initially provision for only the water tray to be made. To create the siphon a dividing wall 31 is then manufactured as a one-piece separate component and provided, of which a lower end 31b is then able to be inserted into the lower portion 8c in the area of the water tray, especially is able to be positioned there by latching it. To this end, the end state with this dividing wall 31 already in position is shown in
To this end a side view is shown in
If water runs from the rinsing dish 8a to the door seal between the tub 2 and the drum 3, the said water supply system will be completely flooded. In such a case water flows through the channel.
Disposed between the outlet connector 8e and the water supply device 8d is an overflow channel 38. As shown in
During the operation of the washing machine 1 there is provision in accordance with the exemplary embodiment for a direct wetting of the laundry items only to take place during a rinsing process. In such cases water or liquid flows from the rinsing dish 8a to the door seal 10 between the tub 2 and the drum 3 so that the said water supply system, especially the steam stop facility 17b, is completely flooded. In this case the water or the liquid flows through the lines 9b and 18b.
In the exemplary embodiment the cross-sectional the overflow channel 38 is adapted to the predetermined water supply flow or the liquid flows such that, during a rinsing process the water supplied via the connection 5 will essentially escape from the outlet connector 8f and only a small leakage will flow via the overflow channel 38. Thus for example in the rinsing process a direct wetting of laundry items introduced into the washing machine 1 is possible since in accordance with the exemplary embodiment the outlet connector 8f is connected via the line 9b to the inlet point 11b and the inlet point 11b directs the escaping water or liquid directly into the drum 3 and thus onto the laundry.
The water or liquid remaining in the water supply device 8d bring about a steam or odor stop. The supply medium 33 is put into motion during the remaining operation of the washing machine 1 however because of device oscillations of vibrations or during fluctuations in pressure, especially during closing and opening of a loading opening of the washing machine 1. Such motion is shown in
1 Domestic appliance
2 Tub
3 Drum
4
a Supply line
4
b Supply line
5 Connection
6 Fresh water line
7 Stop valve
8 Rinsing arrangement
8
a Rinsing dish
8
b Upper portion
8
c Lower portion
8
d Water supply device
8
e Outlet connector
8
f Outlet connector
8
g Venting channel
8
h Opening
8
i Dividing wall
8
j Water receiving space
8
k Sub-channel
8
l Rinsing channel
8
m Rinsing channel
8
n Siphon
9
a Line
9
b Line
10 Door seal
11
a Inlet point
11
b Inlet point
12 Drain pump line
13 Closure flap
14 Washing liquor pump
15 Line
16 Output
17
a Steam stop facility
17
b Steam stop facility
18
a Line section
18
b Line section
19 First upper end
20
a Opening
20
b Opening
21 Supply channel
22 Ventilation channel
23 Channel section
24 Dividing wall
25 Lower end
26 Confluence point
27 Liquid level
28 Process air
29 Medium
30 Arrow direction
31 Separating wall
32 Kinked area
33 Supply medium
34 Overflow level of the second overflow
35 Overflow level of the first overflow
36 Direction of the overflow
37 Movement direction of the supply medium
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10 2011 089 390 | Dec 2011 | DE | national |
10 2012 218 549 | Oct 2012 | DE | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/EP2012/075794 | 12/17/2012 | WO | 00 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
WO2013/092491 | 6/27/2013 | WO | A |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2673537 | Eastman | Mar 1954 | A |
7093467 | Kim | Aug 2006 | B2 |
7481082 | Cho | Jan 2009 | B2 |
20080148786 | Bolduan | Jun 2008 | A1 |
20110067456 | Quandt | Mar 2011 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
201099775 | Aug 2008 | CN |
101341285 | Jan 2009 | CN |
19847486 | Dec 1999 | DE |
10 2004 060709 | Jun 2006 | DE |
10 2005 012424 | Sep 2006 | DE |
10 2009 030329 | Jan 2010 | DE |
591 245 | Jun 1925 | FR |
2 629 486 | Oct 1989 | FR |
2187764 | Sep 1987 | GB |
EP 0247686 | Dec 1987 | NL |
Entry |
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International Search Report for PCT/EP2012/075794, mailed Nov. 27, 2013. |
Foreign-language Written Opinion of the International Searching Authority for PCT/EP2012/075794, mailed Nov. 27, 2013. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20140352804 A1 | Dec 2014 | US |