FR2542602A1 - HYDROTIMETRIC SWITCH FOR THE SOFTENER OF A DISHWASHER - Google Patents

Abstract

THE WATER TANK FOR THE SOFTENER INCLUDES TWO CHAMBERS CONNECTED BY A SIPHON THAT CAN BE VENTILATED BY A VENTILATION DUCT. THE FREE END OF THIS DUCT IS CONNECTED TO A SWITCH BOX 21 IN WHICH A REGULATOR 23 IS MOUNTED IN ROTATION OPENING OR CLOSING THE VENTILATION DUCT AND ACTIVATING A CONTACT SYSTEM 27, 28, 29 LOCATED IN ELECTRIC CIRCUIT D 'A DEVICE FOR DISPLAYING THE FILLING LEVEL OF THE SOFTENER SALT TANK.

Description

Hydrotimetric switch for the softener of a washing machine

dishes

  This invention relates to a hydrotimed switch.

  sheet for softener of dishwashing machine on the salt tank of which is connected a flow pipe from one of the rooms of a water tank comprising -at least two rooms which are connected one to the other, while a ventilation duct that can be

  open or closed even to the water tank.

  A dishwashing machine equipped with this kind of softener is known from patent application DE N O 28 53 773 The water tank used on this softener

  consists of two rooms, one of which is supplied directly

  water is connected to the salt reservoir through

  diary of a flow pipe The other chamber of the

  only open at the bottom is connected to the first

  better chamber from the point of view of liquid flow In addition, the second chamber is provided at its upper part with a ventilation valve With this already known softener, it is therefore possible to measure the amount of brine supplied from the tank salt in the ion exchange tank for the regeneration of its content by

  the fact that you can bring it to the salt tank from

  water tank, either the only water reserve in the first chamber when the valve is closed, or add the water contained in the second chamber when the valve is open The volume of the first chamber in the water is then calculated so that it is sufficient, after each program run, for the regeneration of the ion exchange filling of almost

  all household dishwashing machines used

  in Central Europe Only for a small number of ma-

  chines used in regions where water is extremely

  hard, it is advisable to bring, for the regeneration, to the

  see ion exchanger, a corresponding amount of brine

  dant to the volume of the two chambers of the water tank For -2-

  the majority of household dishwashers

  gers used in regions where the water hardness is

  normal, we run the risk, when the valve com-

  begins to leak, to see the second chamber of the water tank also filling with water and thus causing an overdose of brine This situation is undesirable for

  both economic and ecological reasons.

  In order not to increase the consumption of brine

  with a softener of this kind, when the device

  sor becomes inoperative in the water tank, and at the same time

  to reduce this consumption, patent DE No 31 44 866 proposes a water tank comprising at least two chambers connected by a ventilable siphon Both

  water tank chambers are placed side by side and com-

  have a common partition above the

  which pass the elbow of the siphon to which is connected a ventilation pipe leading towards the front of the dishwasher and the free end of which is provided with a valve or the like When the water tank is fitted with other rooms all connected through

  with a ventilable siphon, you can adjust the quantity of

  wall needed in several degrees by ventilation of these siphons If the valve of the ventilation pipe comes

  to flee to regions where the water is hard, this proposal

  tion allows in all cases to regenerate the exchanger

  ions with brine although in small quantities.

  The object of the present invention is to create a community

  hydrotimetric valve for a water softener

  wash dishes of this kind, by means of which you can

  put the softener in an accessible place on the dishwashing machine according to the local hardness

  water and order a suitable display device.

  This problem is solved thanks to the fact that on the ex-

  the free end of the ventilation duct can be inserted

  ché a connection fitting of a switch boot,

  an adjusting member opening or closing the hole of the

  -3- connection cord and actuated by a joystick is

  guided inside the switch housing and that a system

  contact block of the switch is actuable via the regulating member, this contact system being mounted in an electrical circuit of a display device monitoring the filling level

  of the salt tank It is a good idea to install the switch

  hydrotimetric meter separated from the water tank by a con-

  flexible pick, at a suitable location on the door, on a service strip or at another point on the machine housing At the same time, and depending on the position of the switch,

  the dishwasher or its softener is

  adjusted according to the local hardness of the water and the display

  electric salt level is plugged in or unplugged.

  In fresh water regions, where the dishwashing machine can operate even without a softener under satisfactory washing conditions, we choose for

  switch a first position according to which the display

  ge monitoring the filling level of the salt tank, is disconnected With the switch in this position, and

  with the system comprising a ventilable siphon, the

  ventilation opening connected to the water tank is open,

  so that in the programmed regeneration cycle the volume

  me from a chamber the water tank flows into the tank

  see ion exchanger But since in this case the unre-filled salt tank is only filled with water, fresh water from the local distribution network is sent to the washing tank through the heat exchanger. ions, without

no other softening.

  In regions where the water hardness is normal, the hydrotimetric switch is placed in a second position. In this position, the display device monitoring the filling level of the salt tank is connected and the ventilation pipe of the tank d water is open, so brine is prepared

  with the volume of water contained in a room.

-4-

  In regions with very hard water, switching

  teur is placed in a third position to close the ventilation duct in order to activate the siphon during the emptying of the water tank. This is how, by triggering the regeneration process, emptying of the two

  rooms The water stored in the two rooms makes -

  then remove a large amount of brine from the salt tank The salt level display is also connected

  when the switch is in this third position.

  A variant of this example allows you to choose the

  coincidence of the ventilation holes of the hydroti-

  metric with the ventilation duct so that on a water tank designed according to the patent application DE

  N O 28 53 773 or on a water tank designed according to the mo-

  utility model DE N O 80 29 987, the rooms are not ventilated

  only if the dishwasher is installed

  in an area where the water is very hard.

  The switch housing fixed in the housing of the machine, on the washing tub, on the door or on a blind-box of the dishwashing machine can have two fixed contacts connectable by two plug-in contacts with the circuit-du display device and a spring switching contact arranged on a fixed contact opens or closes the circuit going to the other fixed contact by means of a cam profile of the adjusting member,

  depending on the position of the latter.

  According to a variant, conductive strips connected to the circuit of the display device are arranged in the switch housing and friction contacts are

  fitted on the adjusting member.

  The regulating member is composed of a disc carrying cams, monterotative in the switch housing and actuated by a control shaft; the ventilation pipe connection fitting is installed in position -

  offset on the switch housing; a seal

  it is arranged between the switch housing and the disc of the regulating member and the seal and the disc of the regulating member each have two eccentric, coincidental holes, which can be brought to

  coincide with the connection fitting hole.

  On the plastic switch housing are advantageously formed a fixing plate and spring arms provided with snap-in spouts intended to hold and

  to guide the disk of the adjusting member in rotation.

  The disc of the adjusting member may include a housing intended to receive the seal and to

  make it integral in rotation with the disc.

  The control shaft of the adjuster can

  have a key surface or a rotary knob.

  On a hydrotimetric switch with a water tank, the chambers of which are connected to each other by a siphon, the end of the ventilation duct, opposite the connection connection of the switch housing, is connected to the elbow of the siphon O When the switch is in a first position, one of the holes of the disc and of the seal coincides with the hole of the connection fitting and the circuit of the display device is open; when the switch is in a second position, the other hole in the disc and

  gasket coincides with the hole in the branch fitting

  ment and the circuit of the display device is closed; and when the switch is in a third position; the holes of the disc and the seal are offset from the hole of the connection fitting, the ventilation duct is hermetically closed and the circuit of the

display device is closed.

  The disc of the adjustment member has notches corresponding to the different positions of the switch and has in the direction of rotation in front of the first and back of the third position of the switch, a stop

  acting on a heel formed on the switch housing.

  The drawing represents an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; Figure 1 shows a dishwasher

  the schematically represented with a water tank

  swam on one of the side walls of the washing tank, an ion exchanger, a salt tank and a hydrotimetric switch;

  Figure 2 shows a rear view of the switch

  hydrotimetric tor according to the present invention;

  Figure 3 shows a side view of the commu-

  hydrotimetric sensor; Figure 4 shows a top view in partial section of the hydrotimetric switch; and FIG. 5 represents a longitudinal section of the

hydrotimetric switch.

  The dishwashing machine shown diagrammatically

  tically has a washing tank 1 on which can 7 - be mounted a water tank 2 designed in the form of a blown plastic part, so that the water tank is located above a ion exchanger 3 and a salt tank 4 A fresh water supply line 5, on which is fitted a water inlet valve controlled by the programmer not shown

  of the machine, ends in a nozzle 6 of the water tank.

  The nozzle is followed, passing through a flow zone

  free 7, a diffuser 8 to which a connector is connected

  pick 9 directed towards the ion exchanger 3, this pipe

  can be closed by a raw water valve.

  ion gor 3 is connected to the washing tank 1 by a drain pipe.

  According to the example shown, the water tank

  door two rooms 10, 11 located side by side and open

  top In addition, the water tank is fitted with a plug

  mined from overflow 13 separated from chamber 11 by a

  partition 12, this chimney ending in the tank of the

  vage The chambers 10, 11 are separated from each other by a partition 14, the height of which is less than that of the partition 12 forming at the upper part the

  overflow threshold 17 of the chimney 13 The bulkhead

  paration 14 is overlapped by the 'siphon 15, the two branches of which arrive almost at the bottom of the two chambers

  elbow 16 of the siphon 15 is below the deter-

  undermined by the overflow threshold 17 of the partition 12 On

  the elbow 16 of the siphon is connected a ventilation pipe

  lation 18 of small diameter, directed towards the front of the dishwashing machine where the free end of the pipe is connected to the hydrotimetric switch 19 Au

  bottom of the chamber 10, a flow pipe 20 is directed

  ge in the salt tank 4 of the softener, this tank

  see salt being connected with the ion exchanger 3 by a

  brine line The regeneration process is com-

  operated by program controlled valves, not shown

  smelled A ventilation channel of the washing tank 1 8-

is shown in 43.

  The hydrotimetric switch 19 is provided with a bol-

  tier 21 in which a regulating member 23 is guided

  disc shape rotated by a drive shaft

  command 22 On the free end 24 of the ventilation duct 18 is plugged a connection fitting 25 of the

  switch housing which is located in the example

  flabbergasted, in the strip arranged above the door 30 of the dishwashing machine Between the disc-shaped adjustment member 23 and a housing plate carrying the connection fitting 25, a sealing gasket is arranged 32 immobilized without the possibility of turning in a dwelling

  38 of the adjuster The seal and the

  that of the adjustment member have holes 33, 34 all

  coincident days which can be brought into coincidence with the hole of the connection fitting 26 to ventilate the siphon 15 The adjusting member 23 actuated in rotation by

  the control shaft 22 with its key surface 39, is now

  held in the switch housing 21 by resistor arms

  fate 37 and by snap-fit spouts 36 To this end, snaps 40 are assigned to the different positions of the switch while a stop 41 of the adjusting member

  and a heel 42 formed on the housing plate of the switch

  limit the adjustment range of the adjuster The fixing plate of the switch housing

is designated by 35.

  In addition, the hydrotimetric switch 19 is re-

  linked by plug-in contacts 27, 28 to the electrical circuit

  as a display device monitoring the filling level of the salt reservoir 4 Between the fixed contacts 27 ', 28' and the plug contacts 27, 28 there is provided a

  switching contact, spring loaded 29 in the control box

  mutator The switching contact 29 fixed on the fixed contact 27 'can be actuated by the cam track 31 of

  the regulating member, in order to open and close the circuit.

  In a first switch position that it con-

  -9- has just been adopted in freshwater regions, the regulating member is actuated so that a hole 33 or 34 coincides with the hole 26 of the connection fitting in order to ventilate the siphon 15 and open the circuit of the display device, so that the filling level of the tank

salt is not reported.

  In regions where the water has a normal hardness, the second position of the switch allows to ventilate the

  siphon also by coincidence of holes 34 or 33 and 26.

  In addition, the circuit of the display device is then closed to signal the need to fill the salt reservoir. In regions with very hard water, the third position of the switch closes the water line.

  ventilation 18 of the siphon, so that the two chambers

  10, 11 of the water tank 2 are used to prepare the sau-

  The display device is also connected when

  that the switch is in the third position.

_ 10 _

Claims (10)

  1. Hydrotimetric switch for softener of dishwashing machine on the salt tank of which is connected a flow pipe from one of the rooms of a water tank comprising at least two rooms which are connected together, while that a ventilation duct can be opened or closed even towards the   water tank, characterized by the fact that on the outside   a free portion (24) of the ventilation duct (18) can be plugged in a connection fitting (25) of a switch box (21), that an adjusting member (23) opening or   closing the hole of the connection fitting (26) and action-   adjustable by a lever (22) is guided inside the box   switch switch and a contact system (27, 28,   29) of the switch housing can be operated via the   medium of the regulating member, this contact system   being mounted in an electrical circuit of a display device   plug monitoring the filling level of the tank salt (4).   2 Hydrotimetric switch according to the claim   tion 1, characterized in that the switch box   tor (21) fixed in the casing of the machine, on the washing tub, on the door (30) or on a blind box of the dishwashing machine has two fixed contacts (27 ', 28') connectable by two plug-in contacts (27, 28) with the display device circuit and a spring-loaded switching contact (29) arranged on a fixed contact (27 ') opens or closes the circuit going to the other fixed contact ( 28 ') via a cam profile (31) of the adjustment member (23), depending on the position of the latter.   3. Hydrotimetric switch according to the claim   tion 1, characterized in that conductive strips connected to the circuit of the display device are arranged   in the switch housing and that contacts rub   teurs are arranged on the adjusting member. 11 _   4. Hydrotimetric switch according to the claim   tion 1, characterized in that the adjusting member (23) is composed of a disc carrying cams (31), rotatably mounted in the switch housing (21) and actuated by a control shaft (22), that the connection fitting (25) of the ventilation duct (18) is installed in an eccentric position on the switch housing, that a seal (32) is fitted between the switch housing and the disc the adjusting member (23) and that the seal as well as the disc of the adjusting member each have two eccentric, coincidental holes (33, 34), which can be brought to coincide with the   connection fitting hole (26).   5. Hydrotimetric switch according to any one   as in claims 1 to 4, characterized in that   on the plastic switch housing (21) are formed a fixing plate (35) and spring arms   (37) fitted with snap-on spouts (36), intended for   nir and guide in rotation the disc of the regulating member ge (23).   6. Hydrotimetric switch according to any one   as claims 1 to 5, characterized in that   the disc of the adjusting member (23) comprises a housing (38) intended to receive the seal (32) and to   make it integral in rotation with the disc.   7. Hydrotimetric switch according to the claims   1 to 6, characterized in that the control shaft   of (22) of the adjusting member (23) has a surface to key (39) or a rotary button.   8 Hydrotimetric switch according to the claim   tion 1, with a water tank whose chambers are re-   linked together by a siphon, characterized in that the end of the ventilation duct (18), opposite the connection fitting (25) of the switch housing   (21), is connected to the elbow of the siphon (16).   9. Hydrotimetric switch according to the claims. 12 -   -tions 1 and 8, characterized in that when the com-   mutator is in a first position, one of the -   holes (33, 34) of the disc (23) and of the seal (32) coincide with the hole of the connection fitting (26) and the circuit of the display device is open, only when the switch is in a second position, the other hole (34, 33) of the disc and of the gasket coincides with   the hole of the connection fitting and the circuit of the dispo-   display is closed, and when kills the switch   is in a third position, the holes (33, 34) of the dis-   that and the gasket are offset from the hole in the connection fitting, the ventilation duct (18) is hermetically closed the circuit of the device display is closed.   10 Hydrotimetric switch according to the claim   tion 9, characterized in that the disc of the adjusting member (23) has notches (40) corresponding to the different positions of the switch and has in the direction of rotation, in front of the first and behind   the third position of the switch, a stop (41) acts   sant on a heel (42) formed on the switch housing (21).