WASHING MACHINE HAVING A LIQUID FLOW DISTRIBUTION VALVE

Abstract: A washing machine comprises a valve (15) for distribut­ ing the flow of a liquid circulated by a pump (8) having its outlet connected to an inlet of said valve, the latter being provided with a closure element (18) and a first and a second outlet (16, 17) connected respectively to a first and a second conduit (14, 13). The first conduit (14) extends upwards to a level above that of the first conduit. The closure element (18) is normally constrained by the action of gravity to assume a stable position adjacent the first outlet (16) so as to obturate it during a first actuatoon phase of the pump (8). A bypass conduit (20) connects the outlet (10) of the pump to the first outlet (16) of the valve. When the pump (8) is deenergized the closure element (18) assumes an instablc position adjacent the second outlet (17), and when the pump is again actuated after an interval which is longer or shorter than a predeter­ mined period of time, the closure element (18) is caused to respectively obturate the first or second outlet (16, 17) of the valve (15). This enables the rotary spray arms (11, 12) of a dish-washing machine for instance to be selectively acti­ vated.

Description: The present invention relates to an automatic washing machine, particularly to a dishwashing machine, provided with a valve for the distribution of the flow of a liquid circulated within a liquid flow conduit system of the machine, as set forth in the preamble of claim 1. Dishwashing machines are in particular provided with a washing liquid circulation pump adapted to supply two rotary spray arms disposed at different levels. To this purpose the outlet of the circulation pump diverges into two branch conduits each connected to a respective spray arm. With a view to reducing the dimensions of the pump motor and of the circulation conduit system, and to reducing the noise produced by the impact of the washing liquid jets on the dishes and the like loaded into the machine, it is preferable to supply the washing liquid alternately to the rotary spray arms instead of simultaneously. To this purpose a dishwashing machine as set forth in the preamble of claim 1 is known from FR-A-2 505 643 having deviator means adapted to alternately connect the outlet of the circulation pump to the rotary spray arms of the dishwashing machine; these deviator means are actuated, however, by the program control unit of the machine by the employ of electromechanical devices or the like, whereby the construction of the machine is undesirably complicated, and its reliability is possibly impaired. These shortcomings are substantially evitable as described in Italian Patent No. 952,781, according to which the circulation pump of a dishwashing machine is connected to two rotary spray arms through a distribution valve having a closure element of the bistable type, i. e. capable of being seated, by the action of gravity, on a first or a second valve seat in the inoperative state of the pump. The pump is intermittently actuated by the program control unit of the machine, and the two valve seats, formed substantially in a ω-configuration, are disposed closely below two associated outlet conduits of the valve. As a result, the closure element alternately obturates one or the other outlet conduit of the valve during successive actuation phases of the pump, while during the pump stoppage intervals the closure element is constraiend by gravity to be seated alternately on the first and the second valve seats. This distribution valve is thus advantageously directly actuated by the fluid pressure and by the action of gravity, so that it does not require any electromechanical actuators or the like. On the other hand, however, the operation of this valve is rather critical and susceptible to be impaired by the presence in the liquid flow of dirt particles which may be deposited even in small amounts adjacent the valve seats to thereby prevent the closure element from being switched between its two above mentioned stable positions, resulting in improper operation of the machine. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a washing machine as set forth above comprising a valve adapted to distribute between different outlet conduits a liquid flow received at an inlet, without any problems being created by deposits of dirt and without the requirement of any electromechanical actuator elements or the like. According to the invention this object is attained by the characterizing features of claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are subject matter of the dependent claims. The characteristics and advantages of the invention will become evident from the following description, given by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: fig. 1 shows a diagrammatical illustration of the main parts of a washing machine according to the invention, and figs. 2 to 5 show diagrammatic illustrations of a preferred embodiment of a detail of the machine shown in fig. 1 in different operative positions. With reference to fig. 1, the washing machine according to the invention is preferably a dishwashing machine mainly comprising a washing tub 6 provided at its bottom with a collecting receptacle 7 for a washing liquid supplied to the machine in a known and therefore not shown manner. Disposed at the bottom of receptacle 7 is the intake of a circulation pump 8 having a rotor 9 driven by an electric motor. The output of pump 8 supplies at least two rotary spray arms 11 and 12 disposed in tub 6 at different levels adjacent respective trays (not shown for simplicity's sake) adapted to support the articles to be washed. In particular, the outlet 10 of pump 8 is connected to spray arm 11 by a conduit 13 extending upwards for a short distance, and to spray arm 12 by a conduit 14 extending upwards to a substantially higher level than conduit 13. The connection of conduits 13 and 14 to outlet 10 of pump 8 is accomplished, as shown in figs. 2 to 5, by a washing liquid flow distribution valve 15. More precisely, valve 15 has an inlet connected to outlet 10 of pump 8, and a first and a second outlet 16, 17 connected respectively to conduits 14 and 13. Contained within valve 15 is at least one closure element 18, preferably comprising a spherical body made of any suitable inoxidable material having a higher specific gravity than the washing liquid employed in the machine. In the normal state, i.e. when pump 8 is inoperative, closure element 18 rests on guides 19 in the shape for instance of parallel ridges formed integrally with the body of valve 15 at the interior surface thereof. As shown in fig. 2, guides 19 are located below outlets 16 and 17 and slightly inclined downwards from outlet 17 towards outlet 16, so that closure element 18 is constrained by the action of gravity to assume a stable position adjacent outlet 16 of valve 15. The inlet of valve 15 (i.e. outlet 10 of pump 8) is additionally connected to outlet 16 through a calibrated bypass passage 20 designed in any suitable manner and provided for instance with means adapted to cause a leakage loss when closure element 18 obturates outlet 16 of valve 15, as will be explained with reference to fig. 3. Circulation pump 8 is preferably adapted to be intermittently actuated in a per se known manner by the program control unit of the machine (not shown for the sake of simplification). During a first operating phase of pump 8 (fig. 3) the liquid pressure at the inlet of valve 15 acts to lift closure element 18, causing it to assume a position adjacent outlet 16 to thereby obturate it. The liquid flow generated by circulation pump 8 is thus substantially directed through conduit 13 to be supplied only to the lower rotary spray arm 11 of the machine. At the same time, however, a small proportion of the liquid flow is deviated through bypass passage 20 to substantially fill conduit 14. When pump 8 is subsequently stopped, the liquid contained in conduits 13 and 14 flows back towards pump 8 by the action of gravity. While the amount of liquid contained in conduit 13 is negligible, the liquid contained in conduit 14, which, as already explained, extends to a relatively high level, exerts a hydrostatic pressure on closure element 18, causing it to drop onto guides 19 and to be displaced therealong (overcoming the vertical component of the force of gravity) towards an instable position adjacent outlet 17 of valve 15 (fig. 4). Closure element 18 remains in this instable position substantially until conduit 14 is empty, that is, for a predetermined period of time of for example 1,5 seconds, depending on the parameters of the liquid flow conduit system of the machine. When circulation pump 8 is subsequently actuated prior to termination of this predetermined period of time, i.e. when closure element 18 is still in its instable position shown in fig. 4, the liquid pressure at the inlet of valve 15 acts to lift closure element 18 to a position obturating outlet 17 (fig. 5). The liquid flow generated by circulation pump 8 is now substantially directed through conduit 14 to be supplied only to the upper rotary spray arm 12 of the machine. Subsequent deenergization of pump 8 results in the operative conditions described with reference to fig. 4 to be again established. At the end of the predetermined period of time, i.e. when conduit 14 is empty, the force of gravity causes closure element 18 to be displaced along guides 19 from the instable position of fig. 4 to the stable position shown in fig. 2. Therefore when pump 8 is again actuated after expiry of the predetermined period of time, valve 15 will again assume the operative position described with reference to fig. 3. On the understanding that a first actuation phase of pump 8 will always result in the condition shown in fig. 3, it is thus possible to selectively control the supply of the fluid flow to lower spray arm 11 or upper spray arm 12 by interrupting the operation of pump 8 for an interval which is longer or shorter, respectively, that the predetermined period of time. According to another aspect of the invention, pump 8 is thus actuated by the (preferably electronic) program control unit of the machine in an intermittent manner with intervening stoppage intervals of a shorter and longer duration, for instance 0,5 and 2 seconds, than said predetermined period of time. As a result the machine operates with the liquid flow being alternately supplied to rotary spray arms 11 and 12. It is of course possible to suitably vary the duration of the stoppage intervals of the pump to thereby correspondingly vary the sequence of the liquid flow supply to spray arms 11 and 12, or to supply the liquid flow to only a selected one thereof In each case the operation of flow distribution valve 15 is reliable and accurate due to its monostable design, closure element 18 having only a single predetermined stable position (fig. 2). The described machine may of course by modified in any suitable manner within the purview of the invention. The invention may thus be applied to a laundry washing machine of the washing liquid recirculation type, in which case valve 15 may be employed for selectively controlling the recirculation and discharge of the washing liquid. The closure element 18 may also be of a different shape and construction, and the body of valve 15 may preferably be of integral construction with the rotor housing of circulation pump 8.

Claims: 1. A washing machine comprising a distribution valve (15) for the flow of a liquid circulated by a pump (18) having an outlet (10) connected to said valve (15), the latter being provided with at least one closure element (18), and at least a first and a second outlet (16, 17) connected respectively to a first and a second liquid flow conduit (14, 13), said first liquid flow conduit (14) extending substantially upwards to a level above said second conduit (13), characterized in that said closure element (18) is normally positioned by the action of gravity at a stable position adjacent said first outlet (16) and adapted to be displaced, by circulated liquid, to a position obturating said first outlet (16) when said pump (8) is actuated during a first phase, and in that a calibrated bypass passage (20) connecting said outlet (10) of said pump (8) to said first outlet (16) of said valve (15) is provided, said closure element (18) being adapted at the end of a phase of actuation of said pump (8) to be displaced, by liquid contained in said first liquid flow conduit (14) flowing back towards said pump (8) due to its gravity, to an instable position adjacent said second outlet (17) and to assume a position obturating said second outlet (17) during a subsequent actuation phase of said pump (8) only when said subsequent actuation phase is intitiated within a predetermined period of time after termination of said first phase, said period lasting as long as said closure element (18) remains in said instable position substantially until said first liquid flow conduit (14) is empty. 2. A washing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said closure element (18) is adapted to move along inclined guide means (19) between said instable position and said stable position. 3. A washing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said calibrated bypass passage (20) includes means adapted to cause a leakage loss when said closure element (18) is in said position to obturate said first outlet (16). 4. A washing machine according to claim 1, wherein said circulation pump is intermittently actuated by a program control unit with intervening pump stoppage intervals, characterized in that the duration of said intervals is alternatively shorter and longer than said predetermined interval.

Inventors: MILOCCO, CLAUDIO
Applicants: INDUSTRIE ZANUSSI S.P.A.
Application year: 1987
Main classification: A47L15
IPC codes: A47L15