MACHINE WITH WATER HEATING MEANS AND ANTI-SCALE DEVICE

• US 20090277783A1
• Filed: 05/01/2009
• Published: 11/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Electrolux Professional SPA (AB Electrolux)
• Original Assignee: Electrolux Professional SPA (AB Electrolux)
• Inventors: Sinatra, Fabio, Tassan-Mangina, Franco, Toppano, Michele, Dreossi, Giuseppe
• Application Number:
  US12/434,123
• Publication Number:
  US 20090277783A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 204/228.600
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/42 Devices to prevent deposition of scale, i.e. fur, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4229 Water softening arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4238 by using electrolytic cells
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4285 Water-heater arrangements steam generating arrangements A47L15/4234
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/4602 for prevention or elimination of deposits
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/46109 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2001/46133 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/02 Non-contaminated water, e.g. for industrial water supply
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 5/083 Mineral agents
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/007 Arrangements of water softeners
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/40 Steam generating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 75/10 with means for supplying steam to the article being ironed D06F75/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 15/327 with air moisturising

Abstract

The present invention refers to a machine, such as a washing machine, in particular a dishwashing machine and a clothes washing machine, an ironing machine, a food cooking oven and a boiling pan of the kind intended for use in professional kitchens, such machine being provided with water heating means 6,l 36, 46) and being further provided with a device adapted to curb and reduce scale formation.

A machine provided according to the present invention is characterized in that it comprises an electrolytic cell (2, 22, 32, 42) eluting zinc ions in the process water, and in that it further comprises sensor means (11, 211, 211a, 311, 411) and processing means (12, 212, 312, 412) for determining the (Zn)-to-(Ca) ratio, i.e. the ratio of the concentration by weight of zinc to the concentration by weight of calcium in said water.

Claims

1. Washing machine comprising:

a boiler provided with heating means adapted to heat up water,

at least a first water inlet duct fluidly connecting said boiler to a water supply line,

a washing chamber fluidly connected to said boiler,

characterized in that said first water inlet duct is provided with an electrolytic cell adapted to be passed therethrough by said water, said cell being further adapted to produce zinc ions (Zn²⁺) that are eluted and dispersed in said water, and in that sensor means and processing means are provided to determine the ratio (Zn)/(Ca) of the concentration by weight of zinc to the concentration by weight of calcium in said water.

2. Washing machine according to claim 1, further comprising control means in signal communication with a current generator which energizes said electrolytic cell for controlling the operation thereof according to a detected value of said (Zn)/(Ca) ratio.

3. Washing machine according to claim 2, wherein said (Zn)/(Ca) ratio is held at a value greater than 0.06*10⁻

3 by said control means.

4. Washing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that it is a clothes washing machine or a dishwashing machine.

5. Boiling pan of the type intended for use in professional kitchens, comprising:

a boiler provided with heating means adapted to heat up water,

at least a first water inlet duct fluidly connecting said boiler to a water supply line,

a collecting vessel for receiving said water,

characterized in that said first water inlet duct is provided with an electrolytic cell adapted to be passed therethrough by said water, said cell being further adapted to produce zinc ions (Zn²⁺) that are eluted and dispersed in said water.

6. Boiling pan according to claim 5 comprising sensor means and processing means adapted to determine the ratio (Zn)/(Ca) of the concentration by weight of zinc to the concentration by weight of calcium in said water.

7. Boiling pan according to claim 6 comprising control means in signal communication with a current generator which energizes said electrolytic cell for controlling the operation thereof according to a detected value of said (Zn)/(Ca) ratio.

8. Boiling pan according to claim 7, wherein said (Zn)/(Ca) ratio is held at a value greater than 0.06*10⁻

3 by said control means.

9. Boiling pan according to claim 6, wherein said collecting vessel defines a compartment adapted to receive a balancing container for containing food to be cooked.

10. Steam iron comprising:

a boiler provided with heating means adapted to heat up water,

a reservoir adapted to contain said water and fluidly connected to said boiler, characterized by comprising an electrolytic cell adapted to be passed therethrough by said water, said cell being further adapted to produce zinc ions (Zn²⁺) that are eluted and dispersed in said water.

11. Steam iron according to claim 10 comprising sensor means and processing means adapted to determine the ratio (Zn)/(Ca) of the concentration by weight of zinc to the concentration by weight of calcium in said water.

12. Steam iron according to claim 11 comprising control means provided in signal communication with a current generator which energizes said electrolytic cell for controlling the operation thereof according to a detected value of said (Zn)/(Ca) ratio.

13. Steam iron according to claim 12, wherein said (Zn)/(Ca) ratio is held at a value greater than 0.06*10⁻

3 by said control means.

14. Steam iron according to claim 10, comprising a first unit accommodating the boiler, the reservoir and the electrolytic cell, and a second unit that is fluidly connected with said first unit and comprises a handle and a smoothing plate.

15. Food cooking oven comprising:

a cooking cavity (450),

heating means (47) adapted to heat up the cooking cavity (450),

water projecting means (453) fluidly connected to a water supply line via a first water inlet duct (48), said water projecting means (453) being adapted to project water onto the heating means (47),

characterized in that said first water inlet duct (48) is provided with an electrolytic cell (42) adapted to be passed therethrough by said water, said cell being further adapted to produce zinc ions (Zn²⁺) that are eluted and dispersed in said water.

16. Food cooking oven according to claim 15, comprising sensor means (411) and processing means (412) adapted to determine the ratio (Zn)/(Ca) of the concentration by weight of zinc to the concentration by weight of calcium in said water.

17. Food cooking oven according to claim 16, comprising control means (413) provided in signal communication with a current generator (410) which energizes said electrolytic cell (42) for controlling the operation thereof according to a detected value of said (Zn)/(Ca) ratio.

18. Food cooking oven according to claim 17, wherein said (Zn)/(Ca) ratio is held at a value greater than 0.06*10⁻

3 by said control means (413).