WASHING MACHINE EQUIPPED WITH BULK TANKS

• US 20110185773A1
• Filed: 06/09/2009
• Published: 08/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool EMEA SpA (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Indesit Company SPA (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Inventors: Flumini, Rodolfo, D'Andrea, Luca, Mariotti, Maria Angela, Baldini, Maurizio, Mariotti, Constantino, Mariotti, Elisa, Gaggioli, Fernanda, Bombardieri, Giovanni, Pierucci, Gianluca
• Granted Patent: US 9,181,650 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 68/17.R
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4418 in the form of liquids A47L15/4409, A47L15/4436, A47L15/4445 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/37 of metering of detergents or additives
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/022 in a liquid state D06F39/024 takes precedence

Abstract

A washing machine, such as a laundry washing machine, a washing/drying machine or the like, has a tub housing a drum into which the laundry to be washed is loaded. The machine is equipped with at least one tank for a washing agent, and at least one supply duct is afferent to the tank for delivering the washing agent into the tub. A hydraulic washing circuit floods and drains the tank for cleaning purpose. A tank cleaning method is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A washing machine, such as a laundry washing machine, a washing/drying machine or the like, comprising a tub housing a drum into which the laundry to be washed is loaded, the machine being equipped with at least one tank for a washing agent, and at least one supply duct being afferent to said tank for delivering the washing agent into the tub,

wherein

said machine also comprises a hydraulic washing circuit for flooding and draining the tank for cleaning purposes.

2. The machine according to claim 1, wherein the machine comprises a drain duct fitted with a pump for draining the water from the tub, and wherein the hydraulic washing circuit comprises a branch duct afferent to the drain duct in a region thereof located upstream of the drain pump.

3. The machine according to claim 2, wherein a valve fitted to the branch duct is adapted to stop the flow in the branch duct, and wherein the drain pump is a volumetric pump.

4. The machine according to claim 3, wherein the tank further comprises a cleaning port in fluid communication with the branch duct, a filler port for filling the tank with washing agent, and an air intake that puts it in communication with the atmosphere.

5. The machine according to claim 4, wherein a suction pump is fitted to the supply duct and wherein the supply duct is afferent to a feedbox for delivering the washing agent into the tub.

6. The machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising a level sensor for detecting the variation of the washing agent level inside the tank.

7. The machine according to claim 6, wherein the level sensor comprises a bell having the open lower edge lying near the bottom of the tank, and wherein the bell communicates with a linear pressure switch through a tube.

8. The machine according to one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the valve fitted to the branch duct is driven by an actuator, preferably a thermoactuator.

9. The machine according to claim 7, comprising a control unit adapted to receive at the input the signals transmitted by the linear pressure switch and to control the actuator of the valve.

10. The machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising two washing agent tanks, wherein the machine also comprises a drain duct fitted with a drain pump for draining the water from the tub, and wherein the hydraulic washing circuit comprises at least two branches afferent to the drain duct in a region thereof located upstream of the drain pump, each of said branches being in fluid communication with one of the tanks, and wherein to each branch a valve is fitted which is adapted to stop the flow in said branch, each of said valves being driven by a respective actuator, preferably a thermoactuator, each tank being provided with a level sensor for detecting the variation of the level of the washing agent contained therein, each level sensor comprising in particular a bell having the open lower edge lying near the bottom of the tank, which communicates with a respective linear pressure switch through a tube.

11. A method for cleaning a washing agent tank of the type fitted to a washing machine, wherein the washing machine comprises at least one wash tub, comprising the steps of:

detecting a tank nearly empty condition,

drawing water from the wash tub,

flooding the tank with the water drawn from the wash tub, and

draining the water from the tank.

12. A washing machine, such as a laundry washing machine, a washing/drying machine or the like, comprising a tub housing a drum into which the laundry to be washed is loaded, the machine being equipped with at least one tank for a washing agent, at least one supply duct being afferent to said tank for delivering the washing agent into the tub,

wherein

the variation of the washing agent level in the tank is detected through a linear pressure switch.