GB2251813A

GB2251813A - "a funnel for loading salt into a dishwasher"

Info

Publication number: GB2251813A
Application number: GB9124442A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Daniele Favaro; Giovanni Comin
Original assignee: Zanussi Elettrodomestici SpA
Current assignee: Electrolux Zanussi Elettrodomestici SpA
Priority date: 1990-11-20
Filing date: 1991-11-18
Publication date: 1992-07-22
Anticipated expiration: 2011-11-18
Also published as: IT9034087U1; IT222243Z2; FR2669209B3; GB2251813B; GB9124442D0; DE9114444U1; IT9034087V0; FR2669209A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a funnel for loading salt through the mouth (7) of a container (4) of a dishwasher. The funnel comprises a cylindrical supporting part (12) which extends past the outlet (11) of the flared part (9) and is designed to fit the funnel to the mouth (7) of the salt container of the machine, in a position in which said outlet (11) is raised slightly above the mouth (7). The flared part (9) comprises an internal projection (13) designed to slow the flow of salt through the outlet (11). Applications: electrical household goods. <IMAGE>

Description

A FUNNEL FOR LOADING SALT INTO A DISHWASHER The present invention relates to a funnel for loading salt into an automatic dishwasher.

As is known, a modern dishwasher includes a water softener which softens the water supplied to the machine and usually has a mass of ion-exchange resin which has to be regenerated periodically by a measured quantity of brine.

For this purposes, the dishwasher also has a container for the regenerating salt, connected in the hydraulic circuit of the machine as described, for example, in EP-B-0,219,704.

The salt container generally has an upper filler hole which can be closed by a threaded plug or the like and into which is inserted a certain portion of the lower end of a funnel through which a certain quantity of salt is periodically admitted.

Conventionally, the funnel includes a substantially frustoconical inlet portion connected to a cylindrical neck portion for coupling with the filler hole of the salt container. In particular, the neck portion has external projections which are adapted to abut the edge of the filler hole in order to define the relative positions of the two coupled components.

It is known that, when the plug which closes the filler hole is removed from the container in order to replenish the salt, salt water tends to overflow into the washing tank of the machine and to wet the bottom of the mass of salt which is being loaded through the funnel. Since salt has a high capacity to absorb water, this may cause a substantial blockage of the funnel which makes the whole operation difficult and inconvenient. As has been found experimentally, this problem occurs particularly with the use of regenerating salt with a relatively fine particle size.

The loading of the salt into its container is, in any case, also inconvenient because the user cannot effectively monitor the filler hole visually when the funnel is inserted therein.

The object of the present invention is to provide a funnel for loading salt into a dishwasher which is particularly convenient in use and is not substantially subject to blockage by the salt.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a funnel for loading salt into a dishwasher incorporating the characteristics of the appended claims.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clear from the following description given solely by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the appended drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a preferred embodiment of the funnel according to the invention coupled with the salt container of a dishwasher, Figure 2 is a side view of the funnel of Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a view of the funnel of Figure 2 from below.

With reference to the drawings, the funnel is adapted for coupling with a conventional salt container 4 which projects from the base 5 of the washing tank of a dishwasher and has a fixing ring 6 and a filler mouth 7 defined by an upper cylindrical portion 8. This portion has standard dimensions with a diameter smaller than that of the ring 6 and has a thread suitable for the fitting of a removable lid, not shown.

The funnel includes a flared upper portion 9 of substantially frustoconical cross-section, with an inlet hole 10 for the salt at the top and an outlet hole 11 at the bottom.

The funnel also includes a lower support portion 12 with a substantially cylindrical cross-section, preferably formed integrally with the flared portion 9.

Preferably, moreover, the lower portion 12 is substantially concentric with the flared portion 9 and has a diameter slightly larger than the outside diameter of the cylindrical portion 8.

According to one aspect of the invention, the support portion 12 is connected to an intermediate region of the tapered portion 9 and extends downwardly beyond the outlet hole 11. When the funnel is coupled with the salt container 4, the base of the support portion 12 thus bears against the ring 6 and surrounds the cylindrical portion 8 of the container and the outlet hole 11 of the funnel is above and spaced from the filler mouth 7. The various dimensions of the components are preferably calculated in a manner such that the outlet hole 11 is spaced from the filler mouth 7 of the salt container by a few millimeters.

To advantage, the salt which is poured into the funnel therefore comes into contact with the water in the container 4 only after it has been discharged from the outlet hole 11 from which it falls into the filler mouth 7 by gravity, travelling through the air for a short distance. The salt in the funnel therefore always remains dry and can easily flow by gravity towards the outlet hole 11 without creating blockages and/or deposits in the funnel. In this connection, it will be noted that, according to the invention, the actual funnel is constituted by the flared portion 9 alone, whilst the lower portion 12 has the function simply of enabling it to be coupled correctly with the mouth of the salt container 4 as well as retaining any salt which "bounces" against the surface of the water coming out of the container.

According to another aspect of the invention, the outlet hole 11 is slightly eccentric and the flared portion 9 is shaped so as to have at least one internal conical projection 13. The projection 13 has its vertex uppermost, part of its base being connected to a portion of the edge of the outlet hole 11 and part being connected, preferably by a curve of a certain radius, to the internal surface of the flared portion 9. The projection 13 slows, to a certain extent, the fall of the salt admitted to the funnel towards the outlet hole 11, thus reducing the speed at which it strikes the surface of the water; this minimises the "bouncing" of the salt and any splashes of water which could result in deposits forming on the internal surface of the support portion 12 of the funnel.

According to a further aspect of the invention, at least a certain axial portion of the support portion 12 has a substantially C-shaped cross-section (Figure 3) so that it defines a lateral hole 14 (Figure 2) substantially in correspondence with the base of the projection 13, that is, diametrally opposite and spaced from the outlet hole 11. The user can thus visually monitor the fall of the salt through the air between the hole 11 and the filler mouth 7 through the hole 14 and intervene appropriately, if necessary.

It should be noted that the spacing of the lateral hole 14 from the outlet hole 11 has the advantage of preventing any grains of salt which "bounce" from escaping through the lateral hole 14. For this purpose, the outlet hole 11 of the funnel is preferably inclined as shown in Figure 1, that is, with its upper portion farther from the lateral hole 14. The salt is thus guided, to a certain extent, so as to be discharged from the hole 11 obliquely towards the side opposite the lateral hole 14.

Naturally, the funnel described may be modified in many ways which fall within the scope of the invention.

For example, the projection 13 may be of a different shape or the lower portion 12 may be conventional, that is, for fitting within the filler mouth 7 of the salt container.

It should be noted, however, that in the embodiment described, the portion 12, which may also include internal reinforcing and centering ribs 15, also has the advantage that it supports the funnel more stably.

Claims

1. A funnel for loading salt into the mouth of a container in a dishwasher, the funnel including an upper inlet hole and a lower outlet hole, characterised in that it also includes support means (12) for coupling the funnel (9) with the mouth (7) in a position such that the outlet hole (11) is spaced slightly above the mouth.

2. A funnel according to Claim 1, characterised in that it includes a flared portion (9) including the inlet and outlet holes (10, 11), the support means comprising a substantially cylindrical portion (12) extending downwardly from the flared portion (9) beyond the outlet hole (11) for coupling the funnel with the mouth (7).

3. A funnel according to Claim 2, characterised in that the flared portion (9) includes at least one internal projection (13) for slowing the fall of the salt towards the outlet hole (11).

4. A funnel according to Claim 3, characterised in that the projection (13) is substantially conical and has its vertex uppermost, part of its base being connected tc a portion of the edge of the outlet hole (11) and part being connected to the internal surface of the flared portion (9).

5. A funnel according to Claim 2, characterised in that the outlet hole (11) is in an eccentric position in the flared portion (9), and in that at least a certain axial portion of the cylindrical portion (12) has a further hole (14) in a position diametrally opposite the outlet hole (11).

6. A funnel according to Claim 5, characterised in that the outlet hole (11) is inclined with its upper portion farther from the further hole (14).

7. A funnel according to Claim 2, in which the mouth of the salt container is defined by a cylindrical portion which projects upwardly from a fixing ring of larger diameter, characterised in that the cylindrical portion (12) of the funnel has a diameter slightly larger than that of the cylindrical portion (8) of the salt container (4) and its free end is adapted to abut the ring (6).