Water flow distributor for a washing machine

• US 4,960,139 A
• Filed: 09/27/1989
• Issued: 10/02/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Industrie Zanussi SPA Giardini Cattaneo N 3 33170 Pordenone Italy
• Original Assignee: Industrie Zanussi S.P.A. (AB Electrolux)
• Inventors: Rizzetto, Pietro
• Primary Examiner(s): Coe, Philip R.
• Application Number:
  US07/413,390
• Time in Patent Office: 370 Days
• Field of Search: 68/17 R, 68/207, 137/216, 137/597, 137/625.46, 137/625.48, 134/93, 134/100
• US Class Current: 137/625.46
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/028 Arrangements for selectively supplying water to detergent compartments
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/3185 Air vent in liquid flow line
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86863 Rotary valve unit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86879 Reciprocating valve unit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87249 Multiple inlet with multiple outlet

Abstract

A water distributing device for a household washing machine has a cold water and hot water supply system. A water distributing element is provided to supply hot and cold water together, or cold water only, to a chemical additive dispenser for the purpose of flushing various chemical additives from the dispenser into the tub of the washing machine during a washing cycle. The water distributing element is designed to have separate flow channels therein for cold and hot water while being able to supply both the cold and hot water to the same water distributing pipe leading to the chemical additive dispenser.

Claims

1. A water distributing device for a washing machine for flushing chemical additives from a chemical additive dispenser of the washing machine, comprising:

a first supply conduit for connection to a main water supply for providing a supply of hot water;

a second supply conduit for connection to a main water supply for providing a supply of cold water;

a plurality of distributing conduits for distributing water to flush respective chemical additives from the chemical additive dispenser;

a water distributing means for selectively connecting said first and said second supply conduits with said plurality of distributing conduits, said water distributing means comprising a single element having a plurality of water flow channels therethrough.

2. The water distributing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said single element of said water distributing means is selectively movable between a plurality of separate positions for connecting any one of said plurality of distributing conduits to at least one of said first and said second supply conduits.

3. The water distributing device as set forth in claim 2, wherein:

said plurality of separate positions comprises a first position connecting a first said distributing conduit to both said first and said second supply conduits.

4. The water distributing device as set forth in claim 3, wherein:

said plurality of separate positions further comprises a second position connecting a second said distributing conduit to both said first and said second supply conduits.

5. The water distributing device as set forth in claim 4, wherein:

said plurality of separate positions further comprises a third position connecting a third said distributing conduit to said second supply conduit only.

6. The water distributing device as set forth in claim 5, wherein:

said plurality of separate positions further comprises a fourth position connecting a fourth said distributing conduit to said second supply conduit only.

7. The water distributing device as set forth in claim 6, wherein:

said plurality of water flow channels in said single element comprises a first and a second water flow channel; and

said first water flow channel connects said fourth distributing conduit to said second supply conduit when said single element is in said fourth position.

8. The water distributing device as set forth in claim 5, wherein:

said plurality of water flow channels in said single element comprises a first and a second water flow channel; and

said first water flow channel connects said third distributing conduit to said second supply conduit when said single element is in said third position.

9. The water distributing device as set forth in claim 4, wherein:

said plurality of water flow channels in said single element comprises a first and a second water flow channel; and

said first water flow channel connects said second distributing conduit to said first supply conduit and said second water flow channel connects said second distributing conduit to said second supply conduit when said single element is in said second position.

10. The water distributing device as set forth in claim 3, wherein:

said plurality of water flow channels in said single element comprises a first and a second water flow channel; and

said first water flow channel connects said first distributing conduit to said first supply conduit and said second water flow channel connects said first distributing conduit to said second supply conduit when said single element is in said first position.

11. The water distributing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said plurality of water flow channels through said single element comprises a first and a second water flow channel, said single element having a partition therein fluidly separating said first and second water flow channels from each other.

12. The water distributing device as set forth in claim 11, wherein:

each said water flow channel of said single element has a fluid entry portion for connection to said supply conduits and a fluid exit portion for connection to said distributing conduits; and

each said entry portion has a baffle therein dividing said respective entry portion into two separate inlet openings.

13. The water distributing device as set forth in claim 12, wherein each said baffle extends less than the full length of its respective water flow channel.

14. The water distributing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said single element of said water distributing means is circular in shape, having inlets for said water flow channels on one side thereof and outlets for said water flow channels on a substantially diametrically opposite side thereof; and

said single element is rotatable to selectively connect said supply conduits with said distributing conduits through said water flow channels.

15. The water distributing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said single element of said water distributing means has opposite substantially linear sides, inlets for said water flow channels on one said linear side, and outlets for said water flow channels on the opposite said linear side; and

said single element is linearly reciprocable in the direction of linearity of said opposite linear sides to selectively connect said supply conduits with said distributing conduits through said water flow channels.