WATER INLET UNIT FOR APPLIANCES

• US 3,717,168 A
• Filed: 05/12/1971
• Issued: 02/20/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: White Consolidated Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: William H. Yake
• Inventors: Yake, William H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weakley, Harold W.
• Application Number:
  US05/142,440
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 137/216,216.1 68/207 134/186 138/39
• US Class Current: 137/216.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4217 Fittings for water supply, e.g. valves or plumbing means to connect to cold or warm water lines, aquastops
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/3222 With liquid seal in liquid flow line
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/4576 U-seals

Abstract

A water inlet unit for the vat of a dishwashing machine or the like comprising an inlet nozzle for conducting water from a water valve to an upper chamber of the unit. The outlet of the upper chamber of the water inlet unit is connected to a lower chamber by a passage provided with an air gap. The lower chamber has an outlet communicating with the appliance vat and means therein to assure the smooth and bubble-free flow of water therethrough. The lower chamber is configured to provide a water trap for suds and steam. The upper chamber may be provided at its outlet with a flow guide to remove turbulence from the water passing therethrough.

Claims

1. A water inlet unit for the vat of an appliance or the like comprising an upper chamber, a lower chamber and a passage therebetween, an inlet nozzle communicating with said upper chamber, an air gap in communication with said passage and said lower chamber, said lower chamber having an outlet configured to extend through an opening in a wall of said vat, flow means within said lower chamber to assure smooth and bubble free flow of water therethrough, said lower chamber and said flow means being configured to provide a water trap effective against suds and steam from said vat, said flow means comprising a partition extending downwardly within said lower chamber to a position below said outlet, lug means on said partition adjacent said outlet, said lug means being configured to guide water passing through said lower chamber to said outlet.

2. The structure claimed in claim 1 wherein said inlet unit comprises a molded plastic structure.

3. The structure claimed in claim 2 wherein said air gap is formed as a part of said molded plastic structure.

4. The structure claimed in claim 1 including a flow guide at the juncture of said upper chamber and said passage to remove turbulence from the water flowing therethrough.

5. The structure claimed in claim 4 wherein said flow guide comprises an element providing a plurality of downwardly sloping channels for said water at said juncture of said upper chamber and said passage.

6. The structure claimed in claim 1 wherein said water inlet unit comprises a two part structure, a first of said parts comprising said lower chamber, said lower chamber comprising a front wall, a rear wall, side walls, a bottom and an open top, said outlet being located in said front wall near said bottom, the second part of said structure comprising said upper chamber, said inlet, said passage, said one inch air gap and said flow means, means for affixing said second part to said open top of said first part with said flow means located within said lower chamber.

7. The structure claimed in claim 6 wherein said first and second parts each comprise a molded plastic structure, said air gap comprising an integral part of said molded plastic second part.

8. The structure claimed in claim 6 wherein said flow means partition extends from one of said side walls to the other of said side walls, said partition having a first surface portion sloping downwardly and rearwardly from a position adjacent the upper portion of said front wall of said lower chamber, said partition having a second portion extending downwardly from said first portion thereof to a position below said outlet, the bottom edge of said partition being spaced from said bottom of said lower chamber, said second portion of said partition having said lug thereon, said lug extending to said front wall adjacent said outlet, said lug being configured to guide water passing through said lower chamber and beneath said bottom edge of said partition to said outlet.

9. The structure claimed in claim 8 wherein said lower chamber bottom is arcuate and curves froM said rear wall to said front wall, said arcuate bottom and said bottom edge of said partition comprising said water trap.

10. The structure claimed in claim 6 including a flow guide affixed within said second part at the juncture of said upper chamber and said passage, said flow guide providing a plurality of downwardly sloping channels to remove turbulence from water as it flows from said upper chamber to said passage.

11. The structure claimed in claim 6 wherein said outlet comprises a perforation in said front wall near said bottom, a shoulder on the exterior surface of said front wall surrounding said perforation, a hollow cylindrical extension on to said shoulder and communicating with said perforation in said front wall, said extension being configured to pass through said opening in said vat wall, and fastening means to engage said extension within said vat.