Hydraulic distributor for a washing machine

• US 7,607,325 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2005
• Issued: 10/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Coprecitec SL
• Original Assignee: Coprecitec SL
• Inventors: Balanzategui, Roman, Elexpuru, Anton
• Primary Examiner(s): Barr; Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): CORMIER, DAVID G
• Application Number:
  US11/248,916
• Publication Number:
  US 20060081017A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,477 Days
• Field of Search: 68/121.8, 682/07, 137/875, 251/228, 251/298
• US Class Current: 68/12.18
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4219 Water recirculation A47L15/0078 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4221 Arrangements for redirection of washing water, e.g. water diverters to selectively supply the spray arms A47L15/0078 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/028 Arrangements for selectively supplying water to detergent compartments
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/083 Liquid discharge or recirculation arrangements

Abstract

A hydraulic distributor for a washing machine that comprises a rotating drive shaft (7), a distribution nozzle (30) that rotates jointly with the drive shaft (7) and diverts the water to a plurality of compartments, a hydraulic body (2) that comprises a emptying pipe (10), a draining pipe (11) and an exit pipe (15) for re-circulation, and a valve body (6) housed inside said hydraulic body (2). The valve body (6) comprises an obturator (60) that pivots with respect to an axis (61), and an arm (62) that rotates jointly with the drive shaft (7), the rotation of said arm (62) causing said obturator (60) to oscillate between a first position in which the obturator (60) closes the draining pipe (11) and a second position in which the obturator (60) closes the exit pipe (15).

Claims

1. A water flow distributor for a washing machine comprising:

a rotating drive shaft having a first rotating axis;

a distribution nozzle that rotates jointly with the drive shaft, the distribution nozzle having a second rotating axis coaxial to the first rotating axis and configured to divert the supply of water from a water supply to a plurality of compartments in the washing machine in accordance with its angular position;

a hydraulic body that comprises an emptying pipe, a draining pipe having a first valve seating surface, and an exit pipe having a second valve seating surface;

a valve body housed inside the hydraulic body, the valve body comprising first and second opposing sealing surfaces that at least in part define an elongate slot positioned between the sealing surfaces, the first sealing surface configured to be positioned in a first engagement position with the first valve seating surface to impede flow through the draining pipe, the second sealing surface configured to be positioned in a second engagement position with the second valve seating surface to impede water flow through the exit pipe; and

an arm having a first end coupled to the rotating drive shaft and having a third rotating axis that is coaxial with the first rotating axis, the arm having a segment parallel to the third rotating axis that extends through the elongate slot of the valve body, rotation of the arm causing the segment to act upon the valve body to cause the valve body to oscillate between the first and second engagement positions.

2. The water flow distributor of claim 1 wherein the draining pipe has a sidewall with an opening therein, the angular position of the distribution nozzle being aligned to direct water into the opening when the valve body is in the first engagement position.

3. The water flow distributor of claim 2 further comprising a valve disposed in the opening.

4. The water flow distributor of claim 1 wherein the angular position of the distribution nozzle is aligned to direct water from the water supply to one or more compartments in the washing machine when the valve body is in the second engagement position.

5. The water flow distributor of claim 1 wherein the first end of the arm and the segment parallel to the third rotating axis of the arm are integrally formed.