Apparatus applicable for the introduction of controlled and measured quantities of a liquid, into another body of liquid

Herein is described an apparatus applicable to washing machines for the introduction of controlled and measured quantities of a liquid into another body of liquid. The apparatus consists of a revolving mechanism in communication with the fluid to be injected and a motor (12) for the rotation of the revolving mechanism. The revolving mechanism has on its perimeter one or more openings (2) each with a deflector (3) placed on the side of the opening (2) in the direction of the rotation of the revolving mechanism. Its rotation and the consequent deformation of the streamline flow (5) of the liquid in which the revolving mechanism rotates establishes a suction condition at the openings of the revolving mechanism which favors the injection of the liquid from the revolving mechanism into the liquid of the body.

BACKGROUND ART 
It is known that one of the major problems encountered in practical 
application, particularly for use in washing machines, is to introduce 
measured quantities of a liquid into another body of liquid. In order to 
add a liquid chemical solution to another body of liquid, the U.S. Pat. 
Nos. 3,095,121 and 4,306,581 employ suction means connected to the 
circulation hose of the liquid body which is to receive the said chemical 
product. The U.S. Pat. No. 4,218,264 shows a dishwasher in which the 
suction created by the pump controlling the water circulation during the 
wash and rinse cycle, draws out from dispensers the liquid detergent to be 
mixed with the water. 
These examples of known technology all have the disadvantage of needing 
water, or another liquid in motion to draw out from the dispenser the 
necessary quantities of the liquid additive or detergent. This causes a 
complexity in the necessary equipment and constitutes a difficulty in 
controlling the exact dosage of the liquid substance to be added. 
To eliminate the drawbacks inherent with pumps that are not automatic, 
peristaltic pumps have also been used; nevertheless these are associated 
with high installation and maintenance costs. 
In any event, the introduction of the additive liquid by means of 
circulation pumps which are already in the washing machines, as aforesaid, 
has the drawback of not permitting an exact and efficient dosage of the 
additive; while other pumps are not automatic or are relatively complex to 
operate and are also expensive. 
These are great drawbacks when we consider that washing machines, whether 
they be industrial or domestic, should be highly reliable and 
cost-effective. 
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
The invention herein described is an apparatus applicable to washing 
machines for the introduction of controlled and measured quantities of one 
liquid into another body of liquid. 
The basic concept of the invention is the introduction or injection of the 
fluid (hereafter called additive) by means which are independent from the 
machine to which the apparatus is to be attached. The means function in 
the tube of the washing machine (presented here as an embodiment) when 
there is in the liquid body for receiving the injection a predetermined 
quantity of liquid necessary for the proper function of the machine. While 
we shall describe as a washing machine embodiment the machine to which the 
apparatus is attached, nevertheless, the same apparatus can be attached to 
other types of machines, for example, to an ice-maker. 
According to this invention, the additive is extracted from its dispenser 
by means of a rotating mechanism immersed in the liquid body of the 
washer, which is caused to rotate by its own motor. 
The rotating mechanism, typically a solid of revolution, is essentially 
made up of a hollow body having one or more surface openings or windows, 
and at the side of these openings, in the direction of motion, are located 
deflectors extending beyond these openings. It is to be noted that as it 
is well known in aerodynamics, a fluid current which collides in its 
relative motion with a body, bisects itself so as to envelop the entire 
surface of the body, and if the body has a protrusion, this cannot be 
enveloped by the fluid. Consequently in the areas where the streamline 
flow is disturbed by the deflectors, a zone of lower pressure is created, 
(corresponding to the position of the openings) resulting in a suction 
action. 
According to the invention the revolving mechanism communicates with a 
dispenser containing the liquid additive, and at the same time is made to 
rotate by an appropriate standard motor, independent of other motors 
present in the washing machine. The revolving mechanism will suck up a 
predetermined controlled quantity of additive as a function of the speed 
of rotation imparted to it or its actual rotation, and as a function of 
the density of the liquid in which it is rotating. 
The apparatus is naturally provided of other accessories, among which are a 
regulator which optimizes its operation.

THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring to the mentioned drawings, and specifically to FIG. 1, a hollow 
body 1 is provided at its perimeter by one or more openings 2 and has 
externally protruding deflectors 3. The hollow body 1 can be rotated about 
its axis 4 and is in communication with a fluid dispenser (not shown in 
FIG. 1), for example by means of a hollow axis 4. If the rotating hollow 
body 1 is immersed in a container full of liquid which completely 
envelopes it and a rotation is imparted to it, for example in the 
direction indicated by the arrow, the streamlines 5 of the liquid in the 
container will assume a shape as shown. 
That is, in the vicinity of the openings 2, the shape of the streamlines 5 
is altered creating a pressure depression which is translated into a 
suction of the fluid contained inside the hollow body 1 and thus in the 
dispenser of the liquid additive. The fluid sucked through the depression 
created over the opening 2 by the deformation of the streamlines, causes 
the injections of the fluid into the rotating mechanism 1 into contact 
with the liquid body of the container. 
As explained, by regulation of the number of turns of the rotating 
mechanism 1 and/or its activation time, it is possible to control the 
quantity of fluid injected into the liquid mass. 
Referring now to FIG. 2 note that the apparatus according to the invention, 
which utilizes the revolving mechanism indicated in FIG. 1, consists 
essentially of a revolving mechanism 1, of a hollow shaft 4, of a motor 12 
activating the revolving mechanism 1, and a dispenser 8 for the additive. 
The maximum levels achievable by the liquid in the tub 6 and by the 
additive in the dispenser 8 are indicated by 6' and 8' respectively. The 
hollow shaft 4 extends into a containing chamber 15 in which, due to the 
turning action of the spinner 1, accumulates the additive sucked up from 
the dispenser 8 through a tube 16. Gaskets 10 and 13 seal the containing 
chamber 15 from the liquid in the tub 6 and from the atmosphere at the 
motor 12; that is, they prevent leakage around the hollow shaft 4 and 
around the motor shaft 11. An appropriate coupling 14 joins the hollow 
shaft 4 with the motor shaft 11. 
The apparatus is completed by a regulator 17 which controls the speed 
and/or the rotation time of the motor 12 and therefore, of the rotating 
body 1. 
The apparatus of this invention functions as follows. Assuming a starting 
level 9 (shown in FIG. 2) the water in the tub 6 will reach level 6' above 
the level 8' of the additive in the dispenser 8. Because of the rotation 
imparted by the motor 12, through the motor shaft 11, the spinner 1 
rotates, and as previously illustrated in FIG. 1, the streamlines in the 
liquid in the tub 6 will be deformed (as shown in 5 of FIG. 1) by the 
deflectors 3, causing a pressure depression near the openings 2, and, 
therefore a suction of the additive into the containing chamber 15. The 
additive will follow the path indicated by the arrows in FIG. 2 and 
exiting the rotating body 1, will mix with the liquid body container in 
the tub 6. 
The regulator 17 will act upon the motor to start and stop it, or even 
eventually to regulate the number of turns, as a function of the demand or 
the necessity to send additive from the dispenser 8 into the tub 6. The 
regulator 17 will function essentially as a "timer" of a type well known 
in engineering, which if necessary could receive a command even from a 
sensor which senses the chemical characteristics of the liquid in the tub 
6. 
Due to the rotation of the rotating body 1, as explained, a lower pressure 
results at the openings 2 and, therefore, a suction of the additive takes 
place. This lower pressure is created every time the body 1 is rotating, 
and it is not necessary that the containing chamber 15 and the tubing 16 
are filled up (by the additive) before activating the rotating body; since 
the action of the rotating body itself will cause the additive to flow up 
into the chamber 15. Therefore, no particular preparations are necessary 
for the functioning of the apparatus. 
It was indicated that the rotating body 1 could have any appropriate shape 
and has essentially the shape of a hollow solid body of revolution. 
As indicated by FIG. 3 schematically, the rotating body can assume the 
shape of a tube or an extension 30 from the hollow shaft 4, having its 
extremity 28 cut at an angle, in the opposite direction of rotation, so as 
to present the longer side forward, toward the direction of motion. The 
streamlines 5, as shown in FIG. 1, are deformed, and cause near the 
opening formed by the angle cut 28, a pressure depression which will 
function exactly as previously explained. 
In other words, the forward part of the extremity of the tube 30 will 
function exactly like the deflector 3 indicated previously. Analogously, 
one can foresee for the rotating body other possible shapes, more or less 
ending at an angle; but one should always keep in mind that the longer 
part of the edge has to face in the direction of rotation. 
The advantages of this invention are obvious. In particular, note that with 
this apparatus it is possible to dose with precision any additive without 
necessitating modifications on the machine on which the apparatus is 
mounted. 
Additionally, the low cost of the apparatus and the fact that the apparatus 
is independent from the circuitry necessary for the operation of the 
washing machine, mean that any malfunction can be fixed immediately and 
with a minimum cost. 
Actually, when there is no more additive, upon an optical and/or acoustic 
signal given by the regulator 17 or another like system one could 
immediately intervene to substitute the dispenser 8 or to replenish the 
dispenser 8 with additive. The lack of water in the tub 6 logically stops 
the phenomenon of suction of the additive, since the absence of deformed 
streamlines due to the spinner 1, precludes the formation of a depression 
and therefore the suction action and additive addition ceases 
automatically and independently of any other action. 
As previously explained, naturally the regulation of the dosage of the 
additive will be as a function of the speed of the spinner, and by the 
intervention of the regulator 17 which will act to control the speed, the 
time or rotation of the motor 12, and other parameters affecting the 
dosage. 
The apparatus is particularly applicable to washing machines, for the 
introduction of controlled and measured quantities of a liquid detergent 
into the wash water liquid, but will also find useful applications in 
those occasions when a fluid has to be added to another fluid whether or 
not this other fluid is in motion or is in a gaseous or liquid state. The 
invention will be amenable to those improvements brought about by 
technology and practical applications, without departing from the concepts 
of the invention, as will be presented in the claims that follow.