Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L15/00—Washing or rinsing machines for crockery or tableware
  • A47L15/42—Details
  • A47L15/44—Devices for adding cleaning agents; Devices for dispensing cleaning agents, rinsing aids or deodorants
  • A47L15/4418—Devices for adding cleaning agents; Devices for dispensing cleaning agents, rinsing aids or deodorants in the form of liquids
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00 
  • D06F39/02—Devices for adding soap or other washing agents
  • D06F39/022—Devices for adding soap or other washing agents in a liquid state

Definitions

• the present invention is related to a unit that doses required amount of liquid washing agents like detergent in household appliances.
• All the washing household washing appliances need cleaning and/or softening material for cleaning. Before each washing cycle user has to add the washing agent.
• an automatic liquid washing agent dosing device in washing machines, instead of filling up the washing agent container each time, the user fills up the washing agent such as cleaning or softening liquids once and forgets about it for a time period.
• measuring the amount of the washing agent for each washing cycle could be done by different ways such as measuring the weight, the volume, and the time.
• the designated amount of the washing agent is mixed with water and the rest of the washing agent is stored and insulated.
• problems may arise while using the perfect amount of washing agent at each dosing, and/or insulating the dosing volume from the water pressure, and/or keeping the washing agent for a suitable time period in the washing agent container.
• Liquid detergent distributor for a washing machine disposed in a lower portion of the machine below the washing tub thereof and comprising a container for storing the liquid detergents, communicating with a metering chamber disposed therebelow via an automatic valve.
• Said metering chamber is divided into two hermetically separated chambers by means of a flexible diaphragm.
• One of said compartments is connected to the washing tub, while the other compartment is connected to the washing tub and to a water supply.
• the latter compartment is adapted to be intermittently supplied with water so as to transfer metered amounts of the liquid detergents to the tub.
• the object of the invention is to develop a device for dosing the liquid washing agent to the household appliances using only water pressure without any power supply.
• Figure 1 is the schematic view of the washing machine with liquid dosing unit Figure 2
• Figure 3 a is the three dimensional view of the pump Figure 3b
• Figure 3b is the sectional view of the pump
• FIG. 3 c is the exploded view of the pump Figure 3d, is the sectional exploded view of the pump Figure 4a, is the three dimensional view of the pressure regulator Figure 4b, is the sectional view of the pressure regulator
• Figure 5 is a sectional view of the pump with a drive spring
• Figure 6 is a sectional view of the pump that is used without a pressure regulator with drive exits
• a household appliance (23) includes a washing tub (24), at least one control unit (35), one or more input valves (22), preferably a solenoid one, one or more washing agent containers (27), one or more hoses (21) for connection and a liquid dosing unit (1).
• the liquid washing agent dosing unit (1) includes one or more pumps (2) for dosing the washing agent, one or more pressure regulators (16) for regulating the undesired water pressure changes and discharging the undesired water.
• the pump (2) comprises two parts, a drive part (33) that provides hydraulic force for dosing and dosing part (34) for dosing the washing agent to the to the washing tub (24).
• the drive part (33) has a main body (9) for holding components, a drive cover (7) for closing the main body (9), a first drive opening (3) for providing an inlet and an exit for the water, a second drive opening (4) for providing an inlet and an exit for the water, one or more drive pistons (8) for transferring water hydraulic force and one or more drive rooms (25) which are connected to the first drive opening (3) and/or the second drive opening (4).
• the dosing part (34) has a dosing body (12) for holding components, a dosing cover (15) for closing the dosing body (12), at least one dosing inlet (5) connected to the washing agent container (27) for sucking the washing agent, at least one dosing exit (6) for transferring the washing agent to the washing tub (24), one or more dosing pistons (11) for transferring the water hydraulic force and one or more dosing rooms (26) connected to the drive inlet (5) and/or the drive exit (6).
• a shaft (10) passes from the shaft hole (28) and connects the drive part (33) and dosing part (34).
• the shaft (10) is mounted to the drive piston (8) on one end and connected to the dosing piston (11) on the other end.
• the dosing piston (11) has one or more projections (32) on one of its faces which touches to the surface of the dosing body (12).
• the by-pass hole (41) is placed between the shaft hole (28) and the dosing piston (11) for providing necessary by-pass air from the surrounding air in order to be able to move the dosing piston (11) and shaft (10) easily.
• the dosing body (12) has one or more inlet grooves (29) and one or more exit grooves (30) for holding the components. There is a valve (13) and a groove spring (14) in each of the grooves (29,30).
• the inlet and exit grooves (29,30) have at least one transfer hole (40) that connects the inlet and exit grooves (29,30) to the dosing room (26).
• the dosing cover (15) has transfer holes (40) for connecting the inlet and exit grooves (29,30) to the dosing inlet (5) and dosing exit (6).
• the transfer hole (40) is closed and/or opened by the projection (32).
• the valve (13) has a special form for closing the dosing hole (31) and transfer hole (40) in order to let the liquid pass over its body.
• the groove springs (14) always push the valves (13) to close the dosing hole (31) and transfer hole (40).
• a force which is in reverse direction and bigger than the groove spring (14) force, acts on the valve (13)
• the valve (13) begins to move towards the groove spring (14) and the dosing hole (31) and transfer hole (40) are opened.
• the movement of the dosing piston (11) against the air and/or liquid in the dosing room (26) supplies this reversal force.
• the pressure regulator (16) has one or more regulator inlets (17) for water entrance, one or more regulator exits (18) for water exit and regulating the water flow by its cross sectional area, one or more regulator rooms (36) connected to the regulator inlet (17) for directing water to the regulator exit (18), and one or more regulator discharge exits (19) for discharging the excess water to the washing tub (24) over the regulator room (36), and a discharge room (20) for collecting overflow and discharged water.
• the pressure regulator (16) regulates the undesired pressure changes by its conical inkpot form.
• the pressure regulator (16) has another important duty of discharging the water filled to the propelling room (25) and squeezed by the propelling piston (8). This squeezed water try to turn back to the pressure regulator (16) through the hose (21). Since there is still water in the regulator room (36) and cannot be pushed back, the squeezed water is discharged by the regulator discharge exit (19).
• the input valve (22) is opened by the control unit (35) for providing network water to the liquid dosing unit (1).
• the water reaches to the first drive opening (3) after passing through the pressure regulator (16).
• Water enters to the drive room (25) by using the first drive opening (3) and tries to push the drive piston (8).
• the drive piston (8) is moving, the connected shaft (10) and the dosing piston (11) move with the drive piston (8) simultaneously.
• a pressure occurs in the dosing room (26). This pressure produces a force and this force starts to push the dosing valves (13) in the inlet and exit grooves (29,30).
• the dosing valve (13) in the inlet groove (29) tries to close the dosing inlet (5) and the dosing valve (13) in the exit groove (29) tries to open the dosing exit (6). At this time no entrance can occur from the dosing inlet (5), but all the liquid inside the dosing room tries to leave from the dosing exit (6). This movement continues until the drive piston (8) touches the surface of the drive room (25) on which shaft hole (28) is placed. Since the dosing inlet (5) is connected to the washing agent container (27) that includes washing agent and dosing exit (6) connected to the washing tub (24), only the washing agent filled to the dosing room (26) is pushed to the washing tub (24).
• control unit (35) directs the water to the second drive opening (4) instead of the first drive opening (3).
• the water begins to enter through the second drive opening (4) after passing the pressure regulator (16).
• the propeller piston (8) has to move to the first drive opening (3) with the shaft (10) and the dosing piston (11).
• dosing piston (11) moves together with the propeller piston (8) a vacuum is created in the dosing room (26). This vacuum produces a force and this force begins to pull the dosing valves (13) in the inlet and exit grooves (29,30).
• the dosing valve (13) in the inlet groove (29) tries to open the dosing inlet (5) and the dosing valve (13) in the exit groove (29) tries to close the dosing exit (6).
• washing agent enters from the washing agent container (27) at the dosing inlet (5), but none of the washing agent inside the dosing room tries to leave from the dosing exit (6) to the washing tub (24).
• This movement continues until the drive piston (8) touches the surface of the drive cover (7).
• This working cycle continues until the control unit (35) closes the input valve (22).
• the dosing room (26) has a minimum volume for providing a unit dose. If more than one unit dose is required, this procedure is repeated several times until the required dosing amount is attained.
• liquid washing agent dosing unit (1) can be used at any part of the household appliance (23) and/or can be used with other dosing units especially the granular detergent dosing units.
• the pump can work at all possible lowest pressure values.
• the pump (2) comprises a pressure spring (37) for the movement of the shaft (10) (Fig 5).
• water is directed to the first drive opening (3) by the input valve (22). Water pushes the drive piston (8) and compresses the drive spring (37) placed under the drive piston (8).
• the drive piston (8) moves, the shaft (10) connected to the drive piston (8) and dosing piston (11) connected to the shaft (10) move simultaneously.
• the movement of the dosing piston (11) applies a force onto the valves (13) and springs (14) in the inlet (29) and exit (30) grooves.
• Dosing inlet (5) is closed, dosing exit (6) is opened, and washing agent inside the dosing room (26) is forced to flow to the washing tub (24).
• the projection (32) closes the transfer hole (40).
• the input valve (22) that provides water to the liquid washing agent dosing unit (1) is closed, water force in the drive room (25) loses its effectiveness and drive spring (37) begin to push the drive piston (8) to the first drive opening (3).
• the shaft (10) and the dosing piston (8) move with the drive piston (8).
• the projection (32) moves away from the transfer holes (40) and open the transfer holes (40). This creates a vacuum in the dosing room (26), and valves (13) begin to move against to the groove springs (14).
• Dosing inlet (5) is opened, dosing exit (6) is closed, and washing agent inside the dosing room (26) is forced to be sucked from the washing agent container (27). This working procedure continues until the desired amount of dosing flows to the washing tub (24) under the control of the control unit (36).
• first drive exit (38) is placed between the drive piston (8) and the first drive opening (3) (Fig 6).
• the second drive exit is placed between the drive piston (8) and the second drive opening (4).
• mains network water pressure is regulated and undesired water is discharged from the drive room (25).
• water is directed to the first drive opening (3) by the input valve (22) controlled by the control unit (36). Water pushes the drive piston (8) and the water behind the drive piston (8) is discharged from the second drive exit (38).
• first drive opening (3) When the first drive opening (3) is closed and second drive opening (4) is opened by the input valve (22) controlled by the control unit (36), water begins to fill into the drive room (25) and begins to push the drive piston (8) to the first drive opening (3). While moving to the first drive opening (3), the shaft (10) and the dosing piston (8) move with the drive piston (8). By the movement of the dosing piston (11), projection (32) moves away from the transfer holes (40) and opens the transfer holes (40). This creates a vacuum in the dosing room (26), and valves (13) begin to move against to the groove springs (14).
• Dosing inlet (5) is opened, dosing exit (6) is closed, and washing agent inside the dosing room (26) is forced to be sucked from the washing agent container (27). This procedure continues until the requested dosing amount flows into the washing tub (24) under the control of the control unit (36).

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Textile Engineering (AREA)
• Detail Structures Of Washing Machines And Dryers (AREA)
• Detergent Compositions (AREA)
• Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)

Priority Applications (4)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=21619332

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Cited By (3)

Families Citing this family (5)

Citations (2)

• 2001
  • 2001-09-11 WO PCT/TR2001/000045 patent/WO2003023121A1/en active IP Right Grant
  • 2001-09-11 DE DE60129609T patent/DE60129609T2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2001-09-11 AT AT01972902T patent/ATE368144T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2001-09-11 EP EP01972902A patent/EP1444394B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime

Patent Citations (2)

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