Patent Description:
It is known that there are devices to feed a fluid to a household appliance comprising one or more electro valves to adjust the flow of fluid entering from an inlet pipe and exiting from one or more outlet pipes. The one or more outlet pipes are disposed inside the household appliance and flexible connection tubes, or other, can be connected to them. A connection tube of a source that supplies the fluid, for example a normal water network, is normally connected to the inlet pipe.

In the inlet pipe for the fluid there can be positioned a flow meter, that is, a meter for the volumetric flow rate of fluid entering the feed device, comprising a turbine provided with magnetic means which cooperate with a magnetic sensor positioned on an electronic board of the feed device. The electronic circuit provided with a magnetic sensor is disposed in proximity to the flow meter so that when the turbine is made to rotate by the passage of the fluid in the inlet pipe, the magnetic sensor can detect the impulse generated by the magnetic means of the turbine whenever they transit in front of it.

The signal of the flow meter is used by the control circuit to determine the flow rate. The control circuit feeds the valve for the amount of time necessary to guarantee the required flow rate in order to meet the needs of the user and avoid wasting water, and to guarantee a correct functioning of the household appliance or other.

Document <CIT> for example discloses a device for the measuring and/or the volumetric control of a fluid. Document <CIT> describes a mixer valve unit for liquids with an associated flow rate meter, particularly for electrical domestic appliances. Document <CIT> describes an integrated device for controlling the volume of fluids flowing through electrovalves for liquid distributing machines and washing machines. Document <CIT> describes a valve assembly with an associated measurement device.

One disadvantage of the known feed devices is that the quantity of water delivered through the outlet pipe or pipes is often not very precise and accurate, which can for example lead to waste of water or incorrect functioning of the household appliance, and this lack of precision and accuracy is mainly due to imprecise and inaccurate measurements by the magnetic sensor, which receives an imprecise or compromised signal from the electromagnetic means positioned on the turbine.

One of the causes that determine a low precision in the signal detected by the magnetic sensor of the known feed devices is that, when the rotation speed of the turbine increases, the duration of the pulse detected by the magnetic sensor is too short to be correctly processed by the electronic board of the feed device, while a longer lasting signal would be necessary, for example longer than <NUM>.

Known solutions which, however, prove to be ineffective and increase the complexity and also the sizes of the known feed devices, provide to supply another signal processing circuit associated with the electronic board on which the magnetic sensor is mounted, so as to substantially increase the signal duration, for example to more than <NUM>.

Known devices to feed a fluid to a household appliance therefore prove to not be very precise and reliable, and have rather significant sizes considering the purposes for which they are designed, that is, to supply precise flow rates of fluid to a household appliance.

There is therefore the need to perfect a device to feed a flow of fluid to a household appliance that can overcome at least one of the disadvantages of the state of the art.

In particular, one purpose of the present invention is to provide a device to feed fluid in which the detected signal is precise and reliable, so that a precise quantity of fluid is delivered through the outlet pipe or pipes of the feed device.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a device to feed a fluid to a household appliance that allows the magnetic sensor to detect a precise signal of suitable length without using other signal processing circuits to be associated with the electronic board.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a device to feed a flow of fluid to a household appliance which is compact and therefore of limited sizes.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a device to feed a flow of fluid that is reliable, precise and can be used in any household appliance that requires a fluid to be fed to it, therefore a washing machine, a dishwasher or other.

In accordance with the above purposes, a device to feed a fluid to a household appliance comprises:.

According to a characteristic aspect of the invention, the one or more magnetic elements are cylindrical, or parallelepiped, prismatic or similar shape, and housed in one or more seatings made in the turbine in an offset position with respect to an axis of rotation of the turbine.

The magnetic sensor which the electronic circuit is provided with is directed along an axis inclined toward the turbine of the flow meter. The axis of the magnetic sensor is also inclined with respect to a longitudinal axis of the magnetic element when the magnetic element transits in front of the magnetic sensor.

Advantageously, the configuration and positioning as above of the magnetic elements in suitable seatings made in the turbine in an offset position with respect to the axis of rotation of the turbine, allows to obtain a device to feed a fluid in which the detected signal is precise and reliable, so that a precise quantity of fluid is delivered through the outlet pipe or pipes of the feed device.

Furthermore, in this way, in the present device to feed a fluid to a household appliance the magnetic sensor advantageously detects a precise signal of suitable length when a magnetic element transits in front of it, without using other signal processing circuits to be associated with the electronic board.

In some embodiments, the magnetic element can comprise a longitudinal axis which is substantially directed in a direction tangent to the direction of rotation of the turbine.

The magnetic element can also comprise a longitudinal axis which is orthogonal to the axis of rotation of the turbine.

The one or more housing seatings of a magnetic element can be recessed in the blades of the turbine and therefore configured to house a corresponding magnetic element substantially retracted therein.

The turbine can comprise at least two seatings diametrically opposite the axis of rotation and in each of the seatings a magnetic element is housed.

Ridges to retain the magnetic element in position can be made in the one or more seatings.

In some embodiments, the one or more seatings can have an aperture to insert the magnetic element facing toward an outlet end of the fluid from the inlet pipe.

According to other aspects of the invention, the magnetic element can be cylindrical in shape and the ratio between its diameter and its length is comprised between about <NUM> and about <NUM> and preferably equal to about <NUM>.

We will now refer in detail to the various embodiments of the present invention, of which one or more examples are shown in the attached drawings. Each example is supplied by way of illustration of the invention and shall not be understood as a limitation thereof. For example, the characteristics shown or described insomuch as they are part of one embodiment can be adopted on, or in association with, other embodiments to produce another embodiment. It is understood that the present invention shall include all such modifications and variants.

With reference to the attached drawings, and in particular to <FIG>, a device <NUM> to feed a fluid according to the invention comprises a main body <NUM> provided with at least one inlet pipe <NUM>, able to receive a fluid from an external source, and at least one outlet pipe <NUM>, able to supply the fluid to a household appliance, such as a washing machine, a dishwasher or suchlike.

In the example shown by way of a non-limiting example, the feed device <NUM> comprises two outlet pipes <NUM>, one of which is visible in <FIG>. The flow of fluid from the outlet pipes <NUM> and therefore the flow rate of fluid exiting the feed device <NUM> are adjusted by electro valves <NUM>, one for each of the outlet pipes <NUM>. If only one outlet pipe <NUM> is provided, naturally a single electro valve <NUM> will be provided.

The inlet pipe <NUM> is provided with at least one filter <NUM> to retain possible impurities of the fluid entering the feed device <NUM> and can be provided with a threaded external surface <NUM>, so that it can be connected to a tube of an external source that feeds the fluid, for example a normal water network. The outlet pipe <NUM> comprises an external surface <NUM> suitable to be connected with an internal tube to the household appliance, for example a threaded surface.

In the inlet pipe <NUM>, see also <FIG> and <FIG>, there is positioned a flow meter <NUM>, in particular a volumetric flow meter.

The flow meter <NUM> is housed inside a tubular element <NUM>, for example with a cylindrical shape, which comprises an inlet end <NUM> for the fluid and an outlet end <NUM> for the fluid.

In correspondence with each of these ends <NUM> and <NUM>, the tubular element <NUM> is provided with a disk <NUM> that has a series of holes <NUM> for the passage of the fluid.

The flow meter <NUM> comprises a turbine <NUM>, see also <FIG>, provided with a shaft <NUM> around which it can rotate, for example in the direction R and around an axis of rotation A1, thanks to the flow that passes through the tubular element <NUM>.

The turbine <NUM> comprises a series of blades <NUM>, for example a pair of blades <NUM> made substantially on diametrically opposite positions with respect to the axis of rotation A1.

The turbine <NUM> comprises, in a radial direction and therefore offset with respect to the axis of rotation A1, one or more housing seatings <NUM> for a magnetic element <NUM>.

In the seating <NUM>, ridges <NUM> can be made to retain the corresponding magnetic element <NUM> in position.

The housing seating <NUM> for the magnetic element <NUM> has an aperture <NUM> to insert the magnetic element <NUM> facing toward the outlet end <NUM> of the fluid from the inlet pipe <NUM>.

In the example shown, the turbine <NUM> comprises two seatings <NUM> diametrically opposite the axis of rotation A1 and in each of which a magnetic element <NUM> is housed.

As can be seen, in each blade <NUM> there is made a housing seating <NUM> for a magnetic element <NUM>, which is therefore advantageously recessed or inserted retracted in the seating <NUM>.

The magnetic element <NUM> is substantially of a cylindrical, prismatic, parallelepiped or similar shape. By way of example, the drawings show a cylindrical magnetic element <NUM>.

In the cylindrical magnetic element <NUM> the ratio between the diameter D and the length L is comprised between <NUM> and <NUM> and preferably equal to about <NUM>.

The magnetic element <NUM> comprises a longitudinal axis A2 which is substantially directed in a direction tangent to the direction of rotation R of the turbine <NUM>.

The longitudinal axis A2 of the magnetic element <NUM> is also preferably orthogonal to the axis of rotation A1 of the turbine <NUM>.

The flow meter <NUM> also comprises hydraulic seal gaskets, see for example the gasket <NUM>.

An electronic circuit <NUM> is positioned in proximity to the turbine <NUM> and is provided with a magnetic sensor <NUM>.

The magnetic sensor <NUM>, see in particular <FIG>, is inclined toward the turbine <NUM> and therefore toward the magnetic element <NUM> which on each occasion is presented in front of it. Substantially, therefore, the magnetic sensor <NUM> is directed along an axis A3 inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis A2 of the magnetic element, when the latter is presented in front of the magnetic sensor <NUM>, as shown schematically in <FIG>.

The axis A3 of the magnetic sensor <NUM> is also inclined with respect to two axes X and Y, orthogonal to each other, of the electronic circuit <NUM>.

It has been proven through experiments that providing a magnetic sensor <NUM> inclined toward the turbine <NUM>, and therefore toward the magnetic element <NUM>, allows to obtain an extremely defined pulse or signal with a suitable length, for example greater than about <NUM>, whenever the magnetic element <NUM> transits in front of the magnetic sensor <NUM>, without the need to provide additional signal processing circuits. The electronic circuit <NUM> of the present feed device <NUM> is in fact extremely compact.

It has also been proven through experiments that a magnetic element <NUM> with a cylindrical or parallelepiped, prismatic or similar shape, housed in a seating <NUM> positioned in a radial direction and therefore offset with respect to the axis of rotation A1 of the turbine <NUM>, guarantees a clean and prolonged signal, without the need for additional signal processing circuits.

It has also been proven through experiments that a cylindrical magnetic element <NUM> in which the diameter D and the width L is comprised between <NUM> and <NUM> and preferably equal to about <NUM>, allows to further perfect the present feed device <NUM> and therefore to obtain a clean and prolonged signal, without the need for additional signal processing circuits.

The electronic circuit <NUM> is housed in a support <NUM>, see <FIG>, which comprises a housing body <NUM> where a seating for inserting the electronic circuit <NUM> is made. Two arms <NUM> extend from the housing body <NUM>, which position themselves on one side and on the other of the inlet pipe <NUM> of the present feed device <NUM>.

The support <NUM> is preferably made of metallic or similar material and therefore it is configured as a magnetic shielding element, therefore able to protect the magnetic sensor <NUM> and the one or more magnetic elements <NUM> of the flow meter <NUM> from the influence of magnetic fields produced by the windings of one or more electro valves <NUM>.

The present feed device <NUM> can be provided with other magnetic shielding elements, in particular a shielding wall <NUM>, see <FIG>, which is positioned between the flow meter <NUM> that cooperates with the magnetic sensor <NUM> and the one or more electro valves <NUM>. The shielding wall <NUM> is made of metallic or similar material.

The shielding wall <NUM> can comprise an upper plate <NUM> able to be positioned between the electro valves <NUM> and the inlet pipe <NUM> where the flow meter <NUM> is housed.

The upper plate <NUM> is preferably of a substantially square or rectangular shape.

The shielding wall <NUM> also comprises a lower plate <NUM> in which an aperture <NUM> is made, by means of which the shielding wall <NUM> can be suitably positioned around the inlet pipe <NUM>.

The shielding wall <NUM>, in particular, is positioned between the support <NUM> and the one or more electro valves <NUM>. This positioning proves to be extremely useful and effective as an additional protection, even if the support <NUM> is itself configured as a shielding element, as mentioned above.

The shielding wall <NUM>, in order to be positioned with even greater precision and efficiency in the present drive device, can be made substantially S-shaped, that is, with the upper plate <NUM> and the lower plate <NUM> lying on different planes, as can be seen in <FIG>, and joined by means of a connection segment <NUM>.

It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the device to feed a fluid to a household appliance as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.

It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of device to feed a fluid to a household appliance, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.

Claim 1:
Device to feed a fluid to a household appliance, comprising:
a main body (<NUM>) provided with at least one inlet pipe (<NUM>) for the fluid and at least one outlet pipe (<NUM>) for the fluid;
at least one electro valve (<NUM>) to adjust the flow rate of fluid exiting from said outlet pipe (<NUM>);
at least one flow meter (<NUM>) provided with a turbine (<NUM>) bearing one or more magnetic elements (<NUM>) and positioned in said inlet pipe (<NUM>);
and at least one electronic circuit (<NUM>) provided with at least one magnetic sensor (<NUM>) positioned in proximity to said flow meter (<NUM>) and able to detect the passage of said one or more magnetic elements (<NUM>) when the turbine (<NUM>) is made to rotate by the passage of the fluid in said inlet pipe (<NUM>),
wherein said one or more magnetic elements (<NUM>) are cylindrical, or parallelepiped, prismatic or similar shape, and housed in one or more seatings (<NUM>) made in said turbine (<NUM>) in an offset position with respect to an axis of rotation (A1) of the turbine (<NUM>),
characterized in that said magnetic sensor (<NUM>), which the electronic circuit (<NUM>) is provided with, is directed along an axis (A3) inclined toward the turbine (<NUM>) of the flow meter (<NUM>) and also inclined with respect to a longitudinal axis (A2) of the magnetic element (<NUM>) when said magnetic element (<NUM>) transits in front of said magnetic sensor (<NUM>).