WO2019086256A1

WO2019086256A1 - A spray arm

Info

Publication number: WO2019086256A1
Application number: PCT/EP2018/078521
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yusuf Koc; Mert PATKAVAK; Erkan BASTAN
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2017-10-31
Filing date: 2018-10-18
Publication date: 2019-05-09
Also published as: TR201716895A2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a spray arm (1) used particularly in dishwashers, enabling obtaining water of different ejection characteristics required in separate steps of washing, and enabling reducing the noise levels, power consumption and water consumption. The spray arm (1) of the invention enables using separate ejection nozzles in separate washing steps.

Description

A SPRAY ARM

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a spray arm used particularly in dishwashers.

Prior Art

In the dishwashers used nowadays, a washing cycle generally comprises the steps of cold washing, main washing, rinsing and drying.

The washing group, one of the main parts of a dishwasher, is the section where washing is performed, comprising lower and upper basket components in which the items to be washed are placed, a cutlery basket, spray arms and filters. The upper spray arm joined to the basket and the lower spray arm joined to the lower region of the tub, enable transmitting water into the dishwasher by means of the orifices provided thereon. The position and the geometry of these orifices are designed so as to enable the water jet to scan a larger area inside the washing unit and to thereby reach all surfaces of the dishes.

In the dishwasher, the spray arm rotates as a result of the angular momentum generated by the water jet ejecting through the orifices provided thereon. Generally, the orifices generating said momentum are positioned towards the end portions of a spray arm. The jet ejecting through the orifices are involved in removing dirt from surfaces by flushing the dirty dishes.

In a dishwasher, upon activation of a circulation pump, water with detergent is transmitted to the pipes and therefrom to a spray arm. Water advances to both ends of the spray arm and reaches the dishes by passing through the orifices. The water jet ejecting during the washing step through the orifices forcibly impacts the dishes. Dirt is removed from the surfaces of the dishes as a consequence of said impact. In rinsing step, water is sprayed to the washing unit through the nozzles on the same spray arm, having the same cross-sectional area. In this case, the same jet effect occurs in rinsing step as well. Aim of rinsing is to enhance the washing performance by removing the detergent and dirt residue from the surfaces of the dishes. In rinsing step, a jet effect as powerful as in the washing step is not required. However, since the same spray arm is used in the rinsing step, water is sprayed on the surfaces of the dishes in a velocity similar to that in the washing step. Consequently, the rinsing performance may remain low or energy consumption may increase.

State of the art South Korean patent document no. KR20100128545 intends to improve rinsing performance by spraying rinsing water to blind spots. The solution is sent to the washing unit by means of two separate spray arms in washing and rinsing steps. The rinsing performance is enhanced by nozzle apparatuses mounted on a single spray arm by means of bolts.

State of the art Japanese patent document no. JP2010035774 mentions a dishwasher having separate spray arms for washing and rinsing. The rinsing spray arm is disposed at a location closer to the dishes and is provided with one or two nozzles. Washing and rinsing is performed by means of two separate spraying systems. Water guidance to these spray arms is controlled by a valve.

None of the state of the art documents include a solution in which a spray arm has different washing characteristic in different washing steps as in the present invention.

Brief Description of the Invention

The aim of the present invention is to realize a spray arm enabling differing water ejection characteristics required in different washing steps.

Another aim of the present invention is to realize a spray arm enabling reducing the noise levels.

Another aim of the present invention is to realize a spray arm enabling reducing power consumption.

Another aim of the present invention is to realize a spray arm enabling reducing water consumption.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The spray arm for achieving the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1: is a sectional view of the spray arm.

Figure 2: is a view of the rinsing regulator.

The elements in the figures are numbered individually and the correspondence of these numbers are given hereinafter.

Spray arm
Spray arm body
Water inlet
Jet nozzle
Rotation nozzle
Rinsing nozzle
Washing line inlet
Rinsing line inlet
Washing regulator
Rinsing regulator
101.Plug
102.Spring

In its most basic form, the spray arm (1) used particularly in dishwashers comprises

at least one spray arm body (2) with a preferably elongated structure like an airplane propeller, capable of rotating about an axis passing almost through its center,
at least one water inlet (3) preferably provided on the rotational axis of the spray arm body (2), enabling introducing water to the spray arm body (2),
at least one jet nozzle (4) enabling forcibly spraying the water received through the water inlet (3) on the dishes and thereby cleaning the dirt on the dishes,
at least one rotation nozzle (5) enabling the water received through the water inlet (3) to be sprayed so as to create an angular momentum capable of rotating the spray arm body (2),
at least one rinsing nozzle (6) enabling the water received through the water inlet (3) to be sprayed on the dishes in the rinsing step,
at least one washing line inlet (7) through which the water enters into a washing line enabling transmitting the water from the water inlet (3) to the jet nozzle (4) and the rotation nozzle (5),
at least one rinsing line inlet (8) through which the water enters into a rinsing line enabling transmitting the water from the water inlet (3) to the rinsing nozzle (6),
at least one washing regulator (9) provided on the washing line inlet (7), allowing or blocking introduction of water to the washing line, and
at least one rinsing regulator (10) provided on the rinsing line inlet (8), allowing or blocking introduction of water to the rinsing line.

The spray arm (1) comprises at least one spray arm body (2) with a preferably elongated structure like an airplane propeller, capable of rotating about an axis passing almost through its center. The spray arm body (2) preferably comprises two spray arm blades but it is also possible for the spray arm body (2) to have more than two spray arm blades. A spray arm blade can also be produced as a single piece. The spray arm body (2) has a structure capable of rotating with ease about an axis preferably passing through its center of gravity. The rotation of spray arm blades is similar to the rotation of the spray arms of the state of the art dishwashers. Water is introduced to the spray arm body (2) by means of the water inlet (3) preferably provided on said rotational axis. Said water inlet (3) is also similar to those of the spray arms of the state of the art dishwashers. At least one jet nozzle (4) is provided on the spray arm body (2), enabling forcibly spraying the water received through the water inlet (3) on the dishes and thereby cleaning the dirt on the dishes. The jet nozzle (4) has a small cross-sectional area in order to be able to pressurize water, because decreasing the cross-sectional area of the jet nozzle (4), increases the pressure of the water ejecting therefrom. At least one rotation nozzle (5) is also provided on the spray arm body (2), enabling the water received through the water inlet to be sprayed so as to create an angular momentum capable of rotating the spray arm body (2). Said rotation nozzle (5) is preferably placed towards an end of the spray arm blade in order to create a higher angular momentum. The rotation nozzle (5) is placed angularly so as to be able to rotate the spray arm blades by creating an angular momentum on the blades by means of water. Water is transmitted from the water inlet (3) to the jet nozzle (4) and the rotation nozzle (5) by means of a washing line. Water enters into said washing line through the washing line inlet (7) At least one washing regulator (9) is provided on the washing line inlet (7), allowing or blocking introduction of water into the washing line. Said washing regulator (9) allows water to pass if the water pressure is higher than a given value, thereby enabling water to enter into the washing line. The washing regulator (9) does not allow water to pass if the water pressure is lower than a given value, and thus water cannot enter into the washing line. A rinsing nozzle (6) is provided on the spray arm body (2), enabling the water received through the water inlet (3) to be sprayed on the dishes in the rinsing step. Water is transmitted from the water inlet (3) to the rinsing nozzle (6) by means of a rinsing line. Water enters into said rinsing line through the rinsing line inlet (8). At least one rinsing regulator (10) is provided on said rinsing line inlet (8), allowing or blocking introduction of water to the rinsing line. Said rinsing regulator (10) does not allow water to pass if the water pressure is higher than a given value, and thus water cannot enter into the rinsing line. The rinsing regulator (10) allows water to pass if the water pressure is lower than a given value, thereby enabling water to enter into the rinsing line.

Thanks to this configuration, which nozzles are to be used can be determined by changing the water pressure received on the water inlet (3) in separate washing steps. For example, when water pressure is kept high in the main washing step, the washing regulator (9) enables water transmission to the jet nozzle (4) and the rotation nozzle (5) by allowing water to pass. In this pressure, the rinsing regulator (10) does not allow water to pass, thereby there is no water transmission to the rinsing nozzle (6). Water pressure is reduced in rinsing step. Thus, the washing regulator (9) halts water transmission to the jet nozzle (4) and the rotation nozzle (5) by not allowing water to pass. In this pressure, the rinsing regulator (10) allows water to pass and water is thereby transmitted to the rinsing nozzle (6).

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the washing regulator (9) is shaped as a duck-bill. Said duck-bill opens and allows water to pass if the water pressure is sufficiently high. The duck-bill closes and blocks water passage if the water pressure is not sufficiently high. In this embodiment, the washing regulator (9) is preferably made of an elastomeric material. Water passage is thus controlled without using an additional element.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the rinsing regulator (10) comprises at least one plug (101) of a nature capable of blocking the rinsing line inlet (8), and at least one spring (102) connected to said plug (101). The plug (101) keeps the rinsing line inlet (8) open when the spring (102) is in free state. Upon introduction of water through the water inlet (3), the spring (102) extends proportionally to the water pressure, and deflects from its free position. The water pressure in main washing steps causes the spring (102) to extend so as to allow the plug (101) to block the rinsing line inlet (8). When the water pressure is reduced, the spring (102) returns to its free position and pulls the plug (101) backwards, enabling the rinsing line inlet (8) to be opened.

The numbers of the jet nozzles (4), rotation nozzles (5) and the rinsing nozzles (6) provided on the spray arm (1) of the invention, are independent of each other. In other terms, the numbers of the jet nozzles (4), rotation nozzles (5) and the rinsing nozzles (6) may be equal to or different from each other. In addition, the water ejection directions of said nozzles (4, 5, 6) may also differ from each other. The rotational direction of the spray arm body (2) may thus be different in main washing and rinsing steps.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the outlet sectional area of the rinsing nozzles (6) are smaller than the outlet sectional area of the jet nozzles (4). However, embodiments are also available in which the outlet sectional areas of said nozzles (4, 6) are identical, or in which the outlet sectional area of the rinsing nozzles (6) are larger than the outlet sectional area of the jet nozzles (4).

The spray arm (1) of the invention disables operation of the jet nozzles (4) and the rotation nozzles (5) in rinsing step, inhibiting water ejection through said nozzles (4, 5). Water is ejected only through the rinsing nozzles (6) in rinsing step, enabling consuming only a required amount of water, thereby saving water. In addition, since water is not ejected through the jet nozzles (4) and the rotation nozzles (5) during rinsing, the noise generated by the impact of pressurized water on the washing chamber walls, is avoided, thereby reducing noise levels.

The water pressure required by the spray arm (1) of the invention is provided by means of a water pump. Since a water pressure required in rinsing step is lower than that of the main washing step, the pump can be operated with a lower output, thereby enabling reducing the power consumed by the pump. Energy can thus be saved.

The spray arm (1) of the invention enables obtaining required water ejection characteristics (pressure, flow rate, and the like) thanks to using separate nozzles in separate washing steps.

Claims

A spray arm (1) used particularly in dishwashers, comprising in its most basic form,

- at least one spray arm body (2) with a preferably elongated structure like an airplane propeller, capable of rotating about an axis passing almost through its center,

- at least one water inlet (3) preferably provided on the rotational axis of the spray arm body (2), enabling introducing water to the spray arm body (2),

- at least one jet nozzle (4) enabling forcibly spraying the water received through the water inlet (3) on the dishes and thereby cleaning the dirt on the dishes,

- at least one rotation nozzle (5) enabling the water received through the water inlet (3) to be sprayed so as to create an angular momentum capable of rotating the spray arm body (2), characterized by

- at least one rinsing nozzle (6) enabling the water received through the water inlet (3) to be sprayed on the dishes in the rinsing step,

- at least one washing line inlet (7) through which the water enters into a washing line enabling transmitting the water from the water inlet (3) to the jet nozzle (4) and the rotation nozzle (5),

- at least one rinsing line inlet (8) through which the water enters into a rinsing line enabling transmitting the water from the water inlet (3) to the rinsing nozzle (6),

- at least one washing regulator (9) provided on the water line inlet (7), allowing or blocking introduction of water to the washing line,

- at least one rinsing regulator (10) provided on the rinsing line inlet (8), allowing or blocking introduction of water to the rinsing line.
A spray arm (1) according to claim 1, comprising a washing regulator (9) allowing water to pass therethrough if the water pressure is higher than a given value, and not allowing water to pass therethrough if the water pressure is lower than a given value.
A spray arm (1) according to claim 1, comprising a rinsing regulator (10) not allowing water to pass therethrough if the water pressure is higher than a given value, and allowing water to pass therethrough if the water pressure is lower than a given value.
A spray arm (1) according to claim 2, comprising a duckbill shaped washing regulator (9).
A spray arm (1) according to claim 4, comprising a washing regulator (9) made of an elastomeric material.
A spray arm (1) according to claim 3, comprising a rinsing regulator (10) having at least one plug (101) of a nature capable of blocking the rinsing line inlet (8), and at least one spring (102) connected to said plug (101).
A spray arm (1) according to claim 6, comprising a rinsing regulator (10) having a plug (101) keeping the rinsing line inlet (8) open during the free state of the spring (102).
A spray arm (1) according to claim 6, comprising a rinsing regulator (10) having a spring (102) extending proportionally to the water pressure upon introduction of water through the water inlet (3) and deflecting from its free position.
A spray arm (1) according to claim 6, comprising a rinsing regulator (10) having a spring (102) extending so as to allow the plug (101) to block the rinsing line inlet (8) in water pressures during main washing steps, and pulling the plug (101) back by returning to its free position when the water pressure is reduced, enabling opening the rinsing line inlet (8).