Patent ID: 9702079
Date: 2017-07-11
CPC Classifications: D06F

Claim:
1. A washing machine comprising: a tub; a draining circuit, wherein the draining circuit is fluidly connected to a lower portion of the tub; a valve arranged between the tub and the draining circuit, said valve comprising a valve body containing a movable closure element adapted to close or open the valve based on a water level due to buoyancy of the movable closure element, wherein the draining circuit is fluidly disconnected from the lower portion of the tub when the closure element closes the valve; a recirculation circuit fluidly connected to the tub for re-circulating fluid from the lower portion of the tub into the tub, wherein: an inlet of the recirculation circuit is positioned downstream of said valve and arranged at a bottom and/or a lower portion of the valve body; said washing machine comprises a filter element for preventing foreign objects from entering the recirculation circuit; wherein the inlet of the recirculation circuit is arranged behind the filter element and said filter element is attached at the inlet of the recirculation circuit; said filter element comprises at least one aperture formed between fingers or rake pins; said filter element extends or protrudes at least partially into an inner space of said valve body; and said filter element is arranged in such a way as to act as a support for said movable closure element, and is configured such that in case of a low water level and said closure element is no longer buoyant on the water, said closure element does not cover a bottom region of said valve body or covers only a portion thereof; and a pump arranged to generate a flow of water through said valve body, wherein when said pump is not in operation and with a water level in said valve body greater than said low water level, said movable closure element is configured to rise due to buoyancy to close said valve and fluidly disconnect the draining circuit from the lower portion of the tub.