ES2204883T3 - DEVICE TO PREVENT FLOOD IN WASHERS OR WASHING MACHINES. - Google Patents

Abstract

A flood-preventing device for dishwasher, washing machine or the like includes a bottom tray (R) suitable to collect a possible water leak from any component of the machine, a float (F) in the tray (R) and a microswitch (M) which can be activated by the float (F) as soon as the water collected in the tray (R) causes the rising of the latter, the tray (R) having an internal dividing wall (W) which divides it into two regions (A, B) with the float (F) extending astride said dividing wall (W) so that it is raised by the water collected in either one of said regions (A, B). In this way the device has a shorter intervention time since the tray, while still covering the whole area of the machine, is divided into two regions and therefore the level for the activation of the microswitch is reached faster especially in case of filling of the smaller region. Furthermore there is the possibility for the repair technician to understand where the failure may be, depending on which portion of the tray has received the water. <IMAGE>

Description

Device to prevent flooding in dishwasher or washing machines.

The present invention relates to machines washing machines or dishwashers equipped with devices anti-flood and in particular to a device of the type that uses a float as a detector element.

It is known that washing machines and dishwashers for domestic use they are provided, in general, with a device intended to prevent flooding that has the function to interrupt the entry of water from the network in case of leaks in some component of the machine, said device being substantially of one or the other of two types, see, for example, the document DE 2401888 A.

In a first type of device, a pressure switch detects the pressure inside a retention device air located at the bottom of the tank bottom and, in a second type, a float detects the presence of water in a tray located at the bottom of the machine, in which a possible leakage, so it rises activating a microswitch. In both cases, the activation of the device causes the closure of the water inlet valve and usually also the activation of the drain pump, in order to prevent the risk of flood.

However, float devices acquaintances have two drawbacks; a first inconvenience is originates from the fact that said device is not sufficiently rapid leak detection because it requires the collection of a certain amount of water in the tray, which is enough to raise the float until it contacts the microswitch, and the tray has an area substantially equal to area of the machine in order to prevent the outflow of water from the machine.

A second drawback is that this device does not provide any indication of the type of fault you have had place in the machine, that is, the maintenance technician does not have the possibility of knowing the point of origin of the water in the tray.

Another drawback, which is not strictly related to the operation of the device, is the difficulty of checking the correct operation of it from the manufacturing and testing phases. Actually, the disposition of float on the bottom or bottom of the machine makes its activation very difficult manual once the tray has been placed in position. In addition, there is a risk that the float will break down or move in the tray assembly, so that it stops function after a possible previous check.

The only type of check available in the currently it consists of pouring water into the tray to simulate a leakage. It is clear that this procedure is impractical and cumbersome, since the water must then be removed and removed. Therefore, this type of check does not take systematically conducted on the production line but only in Some copies taken as a sample.

Therefore, the object of the present invention consists of making known a device anti-flooding for washing machines or dishwashers, suitable to overcome the aforementioned inconveniences.

This goal is achieved through a device comprising a tray divided into two parts by a partition wall, with the float arranged riding on said wall. Other advantageous features are disclosed in the dependent claims.

Reference will be made below so specific to a dishwasher, although it is clear that what is explained may also be applicable to a washing machine or to Any other type of similar machine.

A first advantage of a device, according to the The present invention is that of a shorter intervention time since the tray, while covering the entire machine area, it is divided into two zones or regions, preferably a larger one and a smaller one, and therefore the level for the activation of the microswitch is reached faster, especially in case of filling the smallest area.

The second and important advantage of this division of the tray is the possibility that the maintenance technician may know the source of the failure, depending on the part of the tray that has received the water.

Another additional advantage of the device of the The present invention is to allow a simple and safe way for systematic control of operation by means of a hole formed in the tray in a central part of the float, said hole obviously having a higher flange than the edge of the tray. This results in a notable increase in the reliability of said device without require substantial modifications to achieve the function additional mentioned, so that manufacturing costs and The processes remain substantially unchanged.

These and other advantages and characteristics of device according to the present invention will be apparent to the technicians in the field from the following description detailed of one embodiment, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the device tray according to the invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the frame (C) of figure 1, showing in detail the others device elements; Y

Figure 3 is a sectional view according to the line (E-E) of figure 2.

With reference to said figures, it will be appreciated that the device comprises a tray (R), which will be arranged in the bottom of a machine, for example, a dishwasher, in which it has internally formed a dividing wall (W) shaped so which divides the tray into a smaller zone (A) and a larger zone large (B).

Zone (A) is substantially in the form of \ Omega with an elongated "foot" to the right, and in the center of the circular part has a hole (H) with a raised flange plus high than the edge of the tray, as mentioned previously.

Zone (B) obviously has the form complementary to zone (A), and has a pair of cylinders (P) arranged symmetrically with respect to said hole (H). In these cylinders have been screwed screws (S) that fix a cover (G) on which a microswitch (M) protected by a suitable cover (N).

A float (F) that is substantially shaped rectangular is conformed for interposition on the partition or wall (W), so that the central part (FA) of the float extends in the circular part of the zone (A) and the lateral parts (FB) of the adjacent zones of the zone (B).

As clearly seen in Figure 3, the float has through holes to allow its displacement on cylinders (P), so that it is retained by the cover (G), a bottom groove that receives the partition wall (W), and also a central recess for the hole (H). The central part (FA) of Float rises and reaches the vicinity of the microswitch (M), following the cover (G) the shape of the float.

Tray (R) is able to receive in zone (B) a possible water leakage of any hydraulic component of the machine, such as a wash pump, a duct, etc. While that if the water leaves the tank due to a pressure switch failure level for other reasons (for example, failure of a valve), the Water will be transported to the area (A) through a conduit.

It is evident that, in the first case, the activation of the device will take place thanks to the thrust of the parts side (FB) of the float and will require more time than in the second case, in which the area (A) of the tray is filled with speed since it is much smaller than the zone (B) and the thrust of the float will take place in the central part (FA).

The presence of the hole (H) formed in the tray (R), preferably in the center of the float, allows check device operation anti-flood by simply pushing mechanical the float up with any device drive or even a simple air jet. This type of checking can be easily automatic and carried out directly in the production line systematically, it is say, in 100% of the machines.

It is evident that the embodiment described above e Illustrated device, according to the invention, is only a example susceptible to different modifications. In particular, the shape of the partition wall (W) can change something, just like the locking and guiding device for the float and its shape, provided that the float is suitable for disposal so that is raised by the flow of water in either zone of the tray.

In addition, it is clear that, for greater accuracy of diagnosis of the failure, a separation of the tray (R) in more than two regions by means of a greater number of partition walls, provided that the water inlet in any of These zones cause device activation.

Claims (4)

1. Flood prevention device for a dishwasher, washing machine or similar, which includes a lower tray (R) suitable for collecting a possible water leak from any component of the machine, a float (F) on said tray (R ), and a microswitch (M) that can be activated by said float (F) as soon as the water collected in the tray (R) causes its elevation, characterized in that the tray (R) has, at least, an internal partition wall (W) that divides it, as a minimum, into two zones (A, B), and the float (F) extends riding on said dividing partition (W) so that it is elevated by the water collected in any of said zones ( A, B). 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that a first smaller area (A) is substantially Ω shaped with an elongated "foot", and the float (F) is substantially rectangular with a central part (FA) which is it extends in the circular part of the first zone (A), and lateral parts (FB) that extend over the adjacent parts of a second zone (B). Device according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the tray (R) has a hole (H) in the float (F) with a raised edge higher than the tray flange (R). 4. Dishwasher, washing machine or the like characterized by comprising an anti-flood device, according to one or more of the preceding claims.