METHOD OF CONTROLLING A TUMBLE LAUNDRY DRIER

• US 20100139328A1
• Filed: 02/13/2008
• Published: 06/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corporation NV (AB Electrolux)
• Original Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corporation NV (AB Electrolux)
• Inventors: Favaro, Daniele
• Application Number:
  US12/666,210
• Publication Number:
  US 20100139328A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 68/12.180
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/022 in a liquid state D06F39/024 takes precedence

Abstract

A laundry washing machine (1) having a wash tub (2), and an automatic device (3) for dispensing and metering at least one laundering product drawn from a respective container (11) containing a sufficient amount of product for numerous wash cycles; wherein the device (3) has at least one inlet (5) for the product, a water circuit (4) closed by the tub (2), and product metering means (6) interposed between the inlet (5) and the circuit (4) to inject a measured amount of product into the circuit (4) when water flows along the circuit (4).

Claims

1. ) A laundry washing machine comprising a wash tub (2), and an automatic dispensing and metering device (3) for dispensing and metering at least one laundering product drawn from a respective container (11) containing a sufficient amount of product for numerous wash cycles;

the machine (1) being characterized in that said dispensing and metering device (3) comprises an inlet (5) for the product;

a water circuit (4) closed by the tub (2); and

product metering means (6) interposed between the inlet (5) and the circuit (4) to inject a measured amount of product into the circuit (4) when water flows along the circuit (4).

2. ) A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inlet (5) is defined by a fast-fit connector to the container (11).

3. ) A machine as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the circuit (4) comprises a mixer (21) communicating with an outlet of the product metering means (6) via first valve means (20;

39); and

a delivery branch (7) and a return branch (8), which are connected to each other at one end by the tub (2), and at the other end by the mixer (21).

4. ) A machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first valve means comprise a first one-way valve (20;

39) calibrated to allow the product into the mixer (21).

5. ) A machine as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein the delivery branch (7) and the return branch (8) communicate with the mixer (21) via second valve means (22, 23).

6. ) A machine as claimed in claim 5, wherein the second valve means (22, 23) comprise a second one-way valve (22) calibrated to allow water flow to the mixer (21);

and a third one-way valve (23) calibrated to allow outflow of a water and product mixture from the mixer (21).

7. ) A machine as claimed in one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the dispensing and metering device (3) comprises a first pump (9) along the delivery branch (7).

8. ) A machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein the dispensing and metering device (3) comprises a two-position valve (10) located along the delivery branch (7), downstream from the first pump (9).

9. ) A machine as claimed in one of the foregoing claims, wherein the metering means (6) comprise a second pump (17) having an inlet communicating with the container (11), and an outlet communicating with the circuit (4).

10. ) A machine as claimed in claims 3 and 9, wherein the first valve means (20) are located between the mixer (21) and the outlet of the second pump (17) to allow the product into the mixer (21).

11. ) A machine as claimed in claim 9 or 10, wherein the container (11) is a disposable container;

and the metering means (6) comprise a product tank (14);

the tank (14) having a mouth defining said inlet (5) and communicating, in use, with the relative container (11).

12. ) A machine as claimed in claim 11, wherein a tap (15) is fitted to the inlet (5) to connect the container (11) in fluidtight manner to the tank (14).

13. ) A machine as claimed in claim 12, wherein the tap (15) has a valve normally set to a closed position, and which can be set manually to an open position.

14. ) A machine as claimed in claim 13, and comprising a hand-operated lever (16) for moving the valve into the open position.

15. ) A machine as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 14, wherein the second pump (17) is time-controlled.

16. ) A machine as claimed in one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the metering means (6) comprise a hydropneumatic metering device (31).

17. ) A machine as claimed in claim 16, wherein the hydropneumatic metering device (31) comprises a compressor (34);

a cylinder (32); and

a piston (33) sliding inside the cylinder (32) and comprising a first end portion, which is fitted in fluidtight manner to the cylinder (32) and divides the cylinder (32) internally into a first chamber communicating with an outlet of the compressor (34), and a second chamber housing a return spring (35) of the piston (33).

18. ) A machine as claimed in claims 3 and 17, wherein the piston (33) comprises a second end portion outside the cylinder (32) and defining a movable wall of a variable-volume chamber (36) interposed between the container (11) and the mixer (21).

19. ) chine as claimed in claim 18, wherein the variable-volume chamber (36) communicates with the container (11) via a calibrated fourth one-way valve (37), which allows intake of the product by suction into the variable-volume chamber (36), when the volume of the variable-volume chamber (36) is increased by displacement of the piston (33).

20. ) A machine as claimed in claim 18 or 19, wherein the first valve means (39) are located between the mixer (21) and the variable-volume chamber (36) to allow into the mixer (21) the product expelled from the variable-volume chamber (36) when the volume of the variable-volume chamber (36) is reduced by return displacement of the piston (33).

21. ) A machine as claimed in any one of the foregoing claims, and comprising at least two inlets (5) connected to respective metering means (6).

22. ) A machine as claimed in claims 3 and 21, wherein said at least two metering means (6) are connected in parallel to the mixer (21).

23. ) A machine as claimed in any one of the foregoing claims, and comprising a pull-out drawer (12) housing the container (11).

24. ) A machine as claimed in claim 23, wherein the drawer (12) also houses at least part of said metering means (6).