Distribution valve-mixing drawer assembly for the selective supply of detergents or other substances to the washing drum of a washing machine or the like

• US 5,687,590 A
• Filed: 11/24/1995
• Issued: 11/18/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tecnoplastica Prealpina SPA
• Original Assignee: Tecnoplastica Prealpina SPA
• Inventors: Borroni, Giuseppe, Francalanci, Stefano
• Primary Examiner(s): Coe, Philip R.
• Application Number:
  US08/562,627
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• Field of Search: 68/17 R, 134/93, 134/99.2, 222/325, 222/651, 222/652
• US Class Current: 68/17.00R
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/028 Arrangements for selectively supplying water to detergent compartments

Abstract

An assembly for the selective supply of detergents or the like to the washing drum of a washing machine comprising a drawer (23) for holding detergents having a fixed body (32) and a mobile portion (33) provided with at least a first and a second compartment (34, 35) for containing a respective detergent, said fixed body (32) having at least a first and a second inlet member (34a, 35a) for a flow of liquid for removing the detergent from a respective compartment (34, 35) which is then discharged enriched with detergent into the washing drum of the washing machine, and a valve device (38) comprising a collector pipe (39) for collecting the flow of liquid for removing the detergent and at least a first and a second valve element (44, 45) each having a respective bowl (44a, 45a) leading into said collector pipe (39) and a respective outlet member (44d, 45d) for emission of a respective flow of liquid towards a corresponding inlet member (34a, 35a) of the detergent drawer (23). According to the invention each of said outlet members (44d, 45d) of each valve elements (44, 45)is coupled directly and hermetically to the respective inlet member (34a, 34b) of the respective compartment (34, 35) of the drawer (23), and in that are provided means (54, 55, 56) for attaching said valve device (38) directly to the fixed body (32) of said drawer (23) for the detergents.

Claims

1. An assembly for the selective supply of detergents to the washing drum of a washing machine, comprising a drawer (23) for holding detergents having a fixed body (32) and a mobile portion (33) provided with at least a first and a second compartment (34, 35) for containing a respective detergent, said fixed body (32) having at least a first and a second inlet member (34a, 35a) for a flow of liquid for removing the detergent from a respective compartment (34, 35) which is then discharged enriched with detergent into the washing drum of the washing machine, and a valve device (38) comprising a collector pipe (39) for collecting the flow of liquid for removing the detergent and at least a first and a second valve element (44, 45) each having a respective bowl (44a, 45a) leading into said collector pipe (39) and a respective outlet member (44d, 45d) for emission of a respective flow of liquid towards a corresponding inlet member (34a, 35a) of the detergent drawer (23);

wherein each of said outlet members (44d, 45d) of each valve elements (44,

     45) is coupled directly and hermetically to the respective inlet member (34a, 35a) of the respective compartment (34,

     35) of the drawer (23), and wherein are provided means (54, 55,

     56) for attaching said valve device (38) directly to the fixed body (32) of said drawer (23) for the detergents.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, in which the drawer (23) for holding the detergents is provided with at least a third (36) compartment for containing a respective detergent, in which the fixed body of the drawer (23) further comprises at least a third (36a) inlet member, said first, second, and third inlet members (34a, 35a, 36a) being arranged coplanar and parallel to each other, and in which said valve device (38) further comprises at least a third (46) valve element having a respective outlet member, (46d) for emission of a respective flow of liquid towards said third inlet member (36a) of the drawer (23);

wherein said first, second, and third outlet members (44d, 45d, 46d) are arranged on the same side of the valve device (38) coplanar and parallel to each other for coupling to respective ones of said first, second, and third inlet members (34a, 35a, 36a) by means of a simple approaching action between said valve device (38) and said drawer (23) along a direction parallel to said outlet members (44d, 45d, 46d).

3. An assembly according to claim 2, wherein said collector pipe (39) has a substantially elongated cylindrical shape whose axis extends perpendicular to an axis of said outlet members (44d, 45d, 46d).

4. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein said means (54, 55, 56) for attaching is for removably attaching said valve device (38) directly to the fixed body (32).

5. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein between each of said outlet members (44d, 45d) and the corresponding one of said inlet members (34a, 35a) at least one ring (44o, 45o, 90) of a flexible material is arranged for hermetic sealing.

6. An assembly according to claim 5 wherein rings (44o, 45o) are arranged between a front edge of the respective one of said outlet members (44d, 45d) and an internal annular housing of the corresponding one of said inlet members (34a, 35a).

7. An assembly according to claim 5, wherein said outlet members each comprise an external peripheral groove (91) and wherein said rings (90) are housed in said groove (91) between respective ones of said outlet members (44d, 45d) and the respective internal surfaces of said inlet members (34a, 35a).

8. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein said outlet members (44d, 45) have an external diameter and said inlet members (34a, 35a) have an internal diameter greater than the external diameter of said outlet members (44d, 45d), said outlet members (44d, 45d) being arranged coaxially inside respective ones of said inlet members (34a, 35a).

9. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein said collector pipe (39) has a safety valve (80) for discharging the liquid from inside said collector pipe (39) on reaching a predetermined safety limit pressure inside the same collector pipe (39).

10. An assembly according to claim 1, further comprising an adapter element (70) comprising at least first and second pipes (71, 72) for angularly redirecting said flow of liquid, each of said first and second pipes having a respective inlet mouthpiece (71a, 72a) and respective outlet mouthpiece (7lb, 72b) for being coupled to respective ones of said outlet members (44b, 45b) and said inlet members (34a, 35a).

11. An assembly according to claim 10, wherein said adapter element (70) has a support and connection plate (75) for said first and second pipes (71, 72).

12. An assembly according to claim 11, wherein are provided means (77) for connecting disengageably said support and conection plate (75) to said valve device (38).

13. An assembly for the selective supply of detergents to the washing drum of a washing machine, comprising a drawer (23) for holding detergents having at least a first and a second compartment (34, 35) for containing a respective detergent and a first and a second inlet member (34a, 35a) each provided for conveying a flow of liquid into a respective compartment (34, 35) for removing the detergent therefrom, and valve means comprising at least a first and a second outlet member (44d, 45d) for emission of a respective flow of liquid towards a corresponding detergent compartment (34, 35) of the drawer (23);

wherein each of said outlet members (44d, 45d) of the valve means is coupled directly to the respective inlet member (34a, 35a) of the respective compartment (34,

     35) of the drawer (23).

14. An assembly according to claim 13, further comprising means (54, 55, 56) for attaching said valve means (38) directly to said drawer (23).

18. An assembly according to claim 13, wherein said valve means are in the form of a valve device (38) comprising a collector pipe (39) for collecting the flow of liquid for removing the detergent and at least a first and a second valve element (44, 45) each having a respective bowl (44a, 45a) leading into said collector pipe (39).

19. An assembly according to claim 18, wherein the drawer (23) further comprises at least a third (36) compartment for containing a respective detergent and at least a third (36a) inlet member, said first, second, and third inlet members (34a, 35a, 36a) being arranged coplanar and parallel to each other, in that said valve device (38) further comprise at least a third (46) valve element having a respective outlet member (46d) for emission of a respective flow of liquid towards a corresponding inlet member (36a) of the drawer (23);

and in that said first, second, and third outlet members (44d, 45d, 46d) are arranged on the same side of the valve device (38) coplanar and parallel to each other for coupling directly to respective ones of said first, second, and third inlet members (34a, 35a, 36a) by means of an approaching action between said valve device (38) and said drawer (23) along a direction parallel to said outlet members (44d, 45d, 46d).

20. An assembly according to claim 19, wherein said collector pipe (39) has a substantially elongated cylindrical shape whose axis extends perpendicular to an axis of said outlet members (44d, 45d, 46d).

21. An assembly according to claim 13, wherein said outlet members (44d, 45d) have an external diameter and said inlet members (34a, 35a) of the compartments (34, 35) of the drawer (23) have an internal diameter greater than the external diameter of said outlet members (44d, 45d), said outlet members (44d, 45d) being arranged coaxially inside inlet members (34a, 35a).

22. An assembly according to claim 13, wherein between each of said outlet members (44d, 45d) and the corresponding one of said inlet members (34a, 35a) at least one ring (44o, 45o, 90) in a flexible material is arranged for hermetic sealing.

23. An assembly according to claim 22, wherein said rings (44o, 45o) are arranged between a front edge of the respective one of said outlet members (44d, 45d) and an internal annular housing of the corresponding one of said inlet members (34a, 35a).

24. An assembly according to claim 22, wherein said outlet members each comprise an external annular groove (91) and wherein said rings (90) are housed in said groove (91) between respective ones of said outlet members (44d, 45d) and the respective internal surfaces of said inlet members (34a, 35a).

25. An assembly according to claim 13, wherein said collector pipe (39) has a safety valve (80) for discharging the liquid from inside said collector pipe (39) on reaching a predetermined safety limit pressure inside the same collector pipe (39).

15. An assembly for the selective supply of detergents to the washing drum of a washing machine, comprising a drawer (23) for holding detergents having at least a first and a second compartment (34, 35) for containing a respective detergent and a first and a second inlet member (34a, 35a) each provided for conveying a flow of liquid into a respective compartment (34, 35) for removing the detergent therefrom, and valve means comprising at least a first and a second outlet member (44d, 45d) for emission of a respective flow of liquid towards a corresponding detergent compartment (34, 35) of the drawer (23);

and means (54, 55,

     56) for attaching said valve means (38) directly to said drawer (23).

16. An assembly according to claim 15, wherein said means (54, 55, 56) for direct attachment are means for attaching removably said valve means (38) to said drawer (23).

17. An assembly according to claim 16, wherein said means (54, 55, 56) for direct and removable attachment comprise screw means (54, 55, 56) protruding parallel to said outlet members (44d, 45d) of the valve means (38) and to said inlet members (34a, 35a).

26. An assembly for the selective supply of detergents to the washing drum of a washing machine, comprising a drawer (23) for holding detergents having at least a first and a second compartment (34, 35) for containing a respective detergent and a first and a second inlet member (34a, 35a) each provided for conveying a flow of liquid into a respective compartment (34, 35) for removing the detergent therefrom, and valve means comprising at least a first and a second outlet member (44d, 45d) for emission of a respective flow of liquid towards a corresponding detergent compartment (34, 35) of the drawer (23);

wherein the assembly comprises an adapter element (70) comprising at least a first and a second pipe (71,

     72) for angularly redirecting said flow of liquid, each of said first and second pipes having a respective inlet mouthpiece (71a, 72a) and respective outlet mouthpiece (7lb, 72b) for coupling directly and respectively to ones of said outlet members and to ones of said inlet members (34a, 35a).

27. An assembly according to claim 26, further comprising means (77) for connecting disengageably said valve means to said adapter element (70).

28. An assembly according to claim 27, wherein said adapter element (70) has a support and connection body (75) for said first and second pipes (71, 72), and in that said means (77) for connecting disengageably said valve device (38) to said adapter element (70) with said support body (75).

29. An assembly according to claim 27, wherein said means (77) for connecting comprise screw means (77) protruding parallel to said outlet members (44d, 45d).

30. An assembly according to claim 26, further comprising means (54, 55, 56) for attaching said valve means (38) directly to said drawer (23), in that said means (54, 55, 56) for direct attachment are means for attaching removably said valve means (38) to said drawer (23) and in that said means (54, 55, 56) for direct and removable attachment comprise screw means (54, 55, 56) protruding parallel to said outlet members (44d, 45d).

31. An assembly according to claim 26, wherein said first and second pipes (71, 72) have intermediate tilted sections (71c, 72c) while said inlet mouthpieces (71a, 72a) and said outlet mouthpieces (71b, 72b) are maintained parallel to respective axes of said outlet members (44d, 45d) and of said inlet members (34a, 35a.

32. An assembly according to claim 26, further comprising seal rings between corresponding ones of said outlet members (44d, 45d) and said inlet mouthpieces (71a, 72a), wherein said seal rings are placed between a front edge of said outlet members (44d, 45d) and an inner abutment part of said inlet mouthpieces (71a, 72a);

and in that further seal rings are provided between corresponding ones of said inlet members (34a, 35a) and said outlet mouthpieces (7lb, 72b), wherein said further seal rings are placed between a front edge of said outlet mouthpieces (7lb, 72b) and an inner abutment part of said inlet members (34a, 35a).