U.S. patent application number 14/470149 was filed with the patent office on 2015-03-05 for valved dispensing system for products in liquid form by inertial centrifugal action for household appliances.
The applicant listed for this patent is Whirlpool S.A.. Invention is credited to BRUNO T. RAMASCO.
Application Number | 20150059417 14/470149 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52581270 |
Filed Date | 2015-03-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150059417 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
RAMASCO; BRUNO T. |
March 5, 2015 |
VALVED DISPENSING SYSTEM FOR PRODUCTS IN LIQUID FORM BY INERTIAL
CENTRIFUGAL ACTION FOR HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES
Abstract
The present invention refers to a valved dispensing system for
storing and dispensing products for household appliances, more
particularly for vertical shaft washing machines. Said valve
dispensing system (7) comprises at least one reservoir (70) for
storing products cooperating with a washing compartment (6), at
least one cover (80) cooperating with said at least one reservoir
(70); at least one lower reservoir (90) downwardly cooperating with
said at least one reservoir (70) and with the washing compartment
(6), and at least one valve (100) comprising a perimetral structure
(101) cooperating with at least one membrane (102), wherein a
sealing element (102) cooperates with an orifice (72) of said
reservoir (70), and wherein the definition of the opening time of
said at least one orifice (72) of reservoir (70) through said at
least one valve (100) is effected by means of a relationship
between the characteristics of said is valve (100) and the rotation
speed of the washing compartment (6).
Inventors: |
RAMASCO; BRUNO T.; (Sao
Cartos, BR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Whirlpool S.A. |
Sao Paulo |
|
BR |
|
|
Family ID: |
52581270 |
Appl. No.: |
14/470149 |
Filed: |
August 27, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
68/17A |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 39/022 20130101;
D06F 23/04 20130101; D06F 29/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
68/17.A |
International
Class: |
D06F 29/00 20060101
D06F029/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 27, 2013 |
BR |
10 2013 021866.9 |
Claims
1. Valved dispensing system for products in liquid form by inertial
centrifugal action for household appliances, more specifically
washing machines (1) comprising a housing (2) containing a fixed
tank (3) cooperating with a movable basket (10) provided with a
balancing device (11), wherein a movable tower (4) cooperates with
said movable basket (10) in the interior of which a washing
compartment (6) is defined, said valved dispensing system (7)
comprising at least one reservoir (70) for storing products,
cooperating with the washing compartment (6); at least one cover
(80) cooperating with said at least one reservoir (70); and at
least one lower reservoir (90) provided with at least one slit (91)
cooperating with said at least one reservoir (70) and with said
washing compartment (6), said valved dispensing system being
CHARACTERIZED in that: said at least one cover (80) comprises at
least a lowered upper surface (81) containing an orifice (82)
defined by a perimetral skirt (83) cooperating with an inner region
of the reservoir (70); said at least one reservoir (70) comprises
at least one orifice (72) on its rear wall (73); said valved
dispensing system further comprises at least one valve (100)
comprising a perimetral structure (101) cooperating with at least
one membrane (102), wherein said valve (100) cooperates with
orifice (72) of said reservoir (70); wherein the definition of the
opening time of said at least one orifice (72) of the reservoir
(70) by said at least one valve (100) is effected by means of a
relationship between the features of said valve (100) and the
rotation speed of the washing compartment (6).
2. Valved dispensing system, in accordance with claim 1,
CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the perimetral structure (101) of
valve (100) cooperates in an articulated way with said at least one
membrane (102).
3. Valved dispensing system, in accordance with claim 1,
CHARACTERIZED by the fact that said at least one reservoir (70) for
storing products cooperates with the outer perimetral wall of said
washing compartment (6).
4. Valved dispensing system, in accordance with claim 1,
CHARACTERIZED by the fact that said at least one reservoir (70) for
storing products cooperates with the central wall of the washing
compartment (6).
5. Valved dispensing system, in accordance with claim 1,
CHARACTERIZED by the fact that said at least one reservoir (70) for
storing products cooperates with at least one support means
removably cooperating with the central and outer perimetral walls
of the washing compartment (6), with the movable tower (4) or with
an agitator (A).
6. Valved dispensing system, in accordance with claim 1,
CHARACTERIZED by the fact that said at least one reservoir (70) for
storing products cooperates with the movable basket (10).
7. Valved dispensing system, in accordance with claim 1,
CHARACTERIZED by the fact that said at least one reservoir (70) for
storing products cooperates with said movable tower (4).
8. Valved dispensing system, in accordance with claim 1,
CHARACTERIZED by the fact that said at least one reservoir (70) for
storing products cooperates with the agitator (A).
9. Valved dispensing system, in accordance with claim 1,
CHARACTERIZED by the fact that said at least one reservoir (70) for
storing products cooperates with said balancing device (11) of the
movable basket (10).
10. Valved dispensing system, in accordance with claim 1,
CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the valved dispensing system (7)
cooperates with the washing basket (6) by means of at least one of
the following: solidary joining, fitting, interference, fixing with
pressure elements or coupling with any fixation elements.
11. Valved dispensing system, in accordance with claim 1,
CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the height of the perimetral skirt
(83) of said at least one cover (80) cooperating with the inner
region of said reservoir (70) comprises a mean for dosing the
product amount to be delivered in the interior of said reservoir
(70).
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention refers to a system for dispensing
products in liquid form for household appliances, more specifically
for vertical shaft washing machines. Thus, the invention intends to
propose a solution for dispensing liquid products, more
particularly the one obtained by using known dispensers, in
addition to not requiring electronic apparatus or device for
operation thereof, thus making it versatile and economic.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] As widely known, nowadays many washing machines are equipped
with devices for storing and dispensing products (usually
detergents and softeners) which are used to aid washing clothing
articles, wherein some of them require that users themselves
dispense the products while others perform such process
automatically but connecting electrical electronic devices which
will then significantly increase equipment costs.
[0003] Aiming at providing to the users a low price washing
machines with product dispenser, the now Applicant has recently
filed a patent application for a product dispensing system which,
despite the fact that it operates with no need for user's
interference, eliminates installation of specific electronic
devices, since same is driven by inertial centrifugal action
generated during operation of washing machine itself. Hence, such
system described in BR Document 10 2013 015674-4 and illustrated in
the attached FIG. 1--essentially comprises a product storage
reservoir 11 cooperating with a cover 12 provided with an orifice
13 for supplying said reservoir 11, wherein it also cooperates with
a lower reservoir 14, which it also comprises on its rear wall a
longitudinal slit 15 for fluid communication with the lower
reservoir which, in turn, is in fluid communication with the
washing comparment (not shown).
[0004] Said system has been proven highly efficient in dispensing
products in an economic and simple manner because it is driven by
centrifugal force and, therefore, no use of specific electronic
device is required. Besides users are not directly required to
dispense products in the washing load at a suitable time. Despite
this fact, said system does not allow manufacturers to precisely
control the time for a product to be dispensed once the current
system is exclusively linked to physical laws and is effect
whenever the basket rotation reaches 100 rpm--at this time the
product reaches said longitudinal slit 15 and then dispensing of
the product begins.
[0005] Hence, it is important to emphasize that a precise control
of the time at which dispensing would provide several advantages
such as, for example, the fact that dispensing is released only at
elevated rotations of the washing basket, or after a predetermined
amount of rinsing and even centrifugation step is performed.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Thus, one of the objects of the present invention is to
provide a product dispensing system, which although operating by
means of centrifugal action (and consequently not acting in
conjunction with any electronic device type) permits to have a
product dispensing time freely set in function of the needs for
use.
[0007] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a
product dispensing system by inertial centrifugal action, said
system comprising a valve for delivering products, whose curvature
point to allow for the passage of the product to washing comparment
can be freely controlled.
[0008] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
product valved system by inertial centrifugal action which permits
to estimate at which rotation intensity of the washing basket the
release of the product to the washing comparment will occur.
[0009] Still one of the objects of the present invention is to
provide a product valved dispensing system by inertial centrifugal
action for household appliances, which can be easily handled by
users and in addition it autonomously acts without requiring high
power consumption.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The above-mentioned objects are achieved by a valved
dispensing system for products in liquid form by inertial
centrifugal action for household appliances, more specifically for
washing machines which comprise a housing containing a fixed tank
cooperating with a movable basket provided with a balancing device,
wherein a movable tower cooperates with a movable basket within
which a washing compartment is defined, wherein said valved
dispensing system comprises at least a reservoir for storing
products cooperating with the washing compartment; at least one
cover cooperating with said at least one reservoir; and at least
one lower reservoir downwardly cooperating with said at least one
reservoir and with said washing compartment.
[0011] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said valved
dispensing system is characterized in that:
[0012] said at least one cover comprises at least a lowered upper
surface provided with an orifice defined by a perimetral skirt
cooperating with an inner region of the reservoir; [0013] said at
least one reservoir comprises at least one orifice on its rear
wall; [0014] said valved dispensing system further comprises at
least one valve comprising a perimetral structure cooperating with
at least one membrane, wherein said valve cooperates with the
reservoir orifice;
[0015] wherein the definition of the opening time of said at least
orifice of the reservoir by at least one valve is effected by means
of a relationship between the valve features and the rotation speed
of the washing compartment.
[0016] The valved dispensing system of the present invention can
cooperate with the outer perimetral wall of said washing
compartment, with the central wall of said washing compartment,
with at least one support means removably cooperating with the
central and outer perimetral walls of the washing compartment or,
further, with a movable tower, with the agitator, with the washing
machine movable basket or even with the movable basket balancing
device.
[0017] Therefore, the valved dispensing system cooperates with the
washing basket through at least one of the following forms:
solidary joining, fitting, interference, fixing with pressure
elements or coupling with any fixation elements.
[0018] Optionally, the perimetral skirt height of said at least one
cover cooperating with said inner region of the reservoir may
comprise a mean for dosing the product amount to be delivered into
the reservoir.
[0019] In addition, said valved dispensing system is defined by
comprising dispensing the product from the inside of the reservoir
to the interior of the washing compartment during centrifugation
and rinsing steps.
[0020] It should be mentioned that in the valved dispensing system
of the present invention the dispensing of the product from its
storage reservoir is effected when the basket is rotating, but only
after a predetermined rotation speed is reached at which the valve
starts to gradually open due to the efforts caused by said rotation
such that the product passes from the storage reservoir to the
lower reservoir by gravity.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] The present invention will be described in detail with
reference to figures below, wherein:
[0022] FIG. 1 illustrates a cut view of a product dispensing system
by inertial centrifugal action according to the state of the
art;
[0023] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a washing
compartment for washing machine comprising a preferred embodiment
of the valved dispensing system for products by inertial
centrifugal action for household appliances of the present
invention;
[0024] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the valved dispensing
system for products by inertial centrifugal action for household
appliances taken in a form separate from the mounting location;
[0025] FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate cross sections of different points
of the dispensing system depicted in FIG. 3;
[0026] FIG. 6 shows a half-cut view of the system depicted in FIG.
3, permitting to visualize a dispensing valve through the interior
of the reservoir;
[0027] FIG. 7 shows a superior view of an amplified detail of the
dispensing system of the present invention; and
[0028] FIG. 8 illustrates a longitudinal section of a household
appliance comprising the valved dispensing system for products by
inertial centrifugal action for household appliances of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0029] The object of the present invention will be better described
in detail with reference to the appended drawings, which are merely
exemplificative and not limitative, given that adaptations and
modifications can be made without, however, departing from the
claimed scope of protection.
[0030] The present invention refers to a valved dispensing system
for products in liquid form by inertial centrifugal action for
household appliances, mainly for storing and dispensing at
predetermined rotations detergents and/or fabric softener without
requiring installation of any electrical electronic device
types.
[0031] To this effect, said system is suitable for washing machines
1 such as, for example, the one illustrated in FIG. 8, which
comprises a substantially parallelepipedal housing 2 with a
vertical shaft and access cover 21 disposed on the upper surface
thereof. In the interior of said housing there is provided a fixed
tank 3 cooperating with a movable basket 10 equipped with a
balancing device 11, wherein a movable tower 4 cooperates with the
movable basket 10 and with the rotor shaft 5 of the device.
[0032] In an exemplary embodiment illustrated in said FIG. 8, and
also in FIG. 2, a washing load to be processed is inserted into an
additional compartment 6--which, in this case, is a preferably
removable basket defined by a substantially cylindrical body
provided with a cylindrical central wall configuring a gap to
couple with said movable tower 4, wherein said washing compartment
6 comprises on its upper edge a small perimetral platform 62 which,
in addition to aiding to support the washing compartment 6 on the
balancing device 11 of the movable basket 10, also cooperates with
the valved dispensing system for products 7, which is better
illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 6. Further, it should be further
clarified that the mounting of said washing compartment in said
washing machine 1 is carried out by coupling a concentric agitator
A to the washing machine 6 and, consequently, to the movable tower
4.
[0033] Hence, it should be pointed out that the valved dispensing
system for products 7 can alternatively cooperate with said movable
tower 4, agitator A or movable basket 10, and, besides, said system
can be solidary with the body of the washing compartment 6 or the
movable basket 10, or coupled therewith by an engaging/fixing
system aided by any other elements, without departing from the
presently claimed scope of protection.
[0034] It is important to mention that the present invention also
solves the problem of delivering washing products to washing
machines comprising more than one washing comparment, particularly
in the cases where additional washing compartments 6 are used,
wherein the interior of which is not in fluid communication with
the movable basket 10, and which is commonly used for delicates or
clothes having different colors, for example.
[0035] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention
illustrated in a more detailed form in FIGS. 3 to 7, said valved
dispensing system for products 7 basically comprises a reservoir 70
provided with an upper superior platform 71 and an orifice 72
disposed on its rear wall 73, wherein the lower edge of the upper
perimetral platform 71 rests on the perimetral platform 62 of the
additional washing compartment 6.
[0036] On said platform 71 of said reservoir 70, there is arranged
a lowered upper surface 81 comprising an orifice 82 through which a
washing product can be delivered to said reservoir 70, wherein said
orifice 82 is defined by a perimetral skirt 83.
[0037] It is important to emphasize that the main function of said
cover 80 is to prevent the washing product from eventually escaping
from the edge of said reservoir 70 during rotation of the washing
compartment 6 once a centrifugal force created by the equipment
mainly during centrifugation steps causes the product to accumulate
against the upper peripheral region of the reservoir, such that
with no appropriate protection product losses may occur.
[0038] Moreover, it may happen that the height of the perimetral
skirt 83 of said cover 80 is used as a dosing device through level
indication to guide users with respect to the product correct
amount to be delivered into the interior of said reservoir 70 to
optimize its use and equipment operation.
[0039] The valved dispensing system of the present invention
further comprises a lower reservoir 90 disposed beneath the
reservoir 70, wherein said lower reservoir 90 comprises a slit 91
in the frontal wall to provide fluid communication between the
interior of the lower reservoir 90 and the washing compartment
6.
[0040] It is important to point out that the use of said lower
reservoir 90 is not essential for operating the dispensing system
of the present invention; however, its use is advantageous because
it avoids that the dispensing of washing product occurs directly
over the washing load, which could cause stains on clothes being
processed. In addition to this protective aspect, said lower
reservoir 90 also comprises a chamber for pre-diluting the product
in water, which also favors its use and distribution over the
washing load.
[0041] The dispensing system of the present invention further
comprises a valve 100 defined by a perimetral structure 101
cooperating (in preferably articulated way) with a membrane 102
having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of said orifice
72 of the reservoir 70 in which said valve 100 will be mounted.
Hence, when in a resting position, said membrane 102 keeps the
interior of the reservoir 70 closed whereby fluid communication
between the reservoir 70 and lower reservoir 90 is avoided.
[0042] With regard to this aspect, it should be clarified that the
resting position of membrane 102--that is, in a closed condition
which prevents fluid passage--keeps the product passage blocked
until the washing compartment (6) reaches a determined speed in
rotations per minute (rpm), which is defined by many factors
relative to the construction of said membrane 102, such as, for
example, mass, geometry, rigidity, thickness, constituent material,
etc., which shall be appropriately calibrated in function of the
speed at which it is desired that same starts releasing the
products to be dispensed.
[0043] Further, it should be clarified that the preferred
embodiment illustrated in the appended drawings shows a membrane
102 having a circular geometry made of rubbery material,
nevertheless it should be borne in mind that the same can be made
of any other material with the same specified conditions required
for appropriate operation of said dispensing system 7--for example,
memory metals can be cited. Analogously, said valve 100 can have
any geometrical shape provided that the essential features which
will determine the sealing movement and release of the channel for
product passage are maintained.
[0044] It is also important to cite that constituent elements of
said dispensing system 7--namely, cover 80, reservoir 70, lower
reservoir 90 and valve 100--can be rigidly solidary therebetween
or, alternatively, totally or partially removably to facilitate
eventual maintenance and cleaning procedures.
[0045] Thus, since the system is duly mounted according to what is
shown in said figures, users can deposit a suitable product amount
in the interior of said reservoir 70 before the washing cycle
starts and it should be reminded that product dosing is made
through the end of the perimetral skirt 83 of cover 80, or by any
other available dosing means (for information purpose only, a
recommended amount of softener for a washing load is in this case
about 40 mL).
[0046] After the machine starts to operate, said washing
compartment 6 begins to rotate at variable speeds according the
washing process step. As rotation intensity of said washing
compartment 6 increases and, therefore, the centrifugal force
action occurs, the product stored in said reservoir 70 starts to
migrate to the peripheral region thereof to effect an ascending
path upon reaching its rear wall. Furthermore, since the equipment
rotation is generally always carried out in one same direction
(anticlockwise direction), as the rotation of compartment 6
increases the product accumulates in the left rear edge of
reservoir 70, exactly in a position in which the orifice 72 is
disposed, and in which orifice said valve 100 is mounted.
[0047] Further, it should be mentioned that at this time the
platform 81 and perimetral skirt 83 of said cover 80 act as means
to contain the product, because they form a chamber in which same
is stored during high rotation of said washing compartment 6, thus
preventing same from leaving and/or escaping from the upper region
of the reservoir--which would cause product losses and other
drawbacks.
[0048] Therefore, the product stored in the interior of said
reservoir 70 will remain therein until the rotation speed of
compartment 6 reaches a rpm value such that by means of inertial
centrifugal force will be able to press membrane 102 of said valve
100 so as to make a gap to allow the product to pass to the rear
region of the lower reservoir 90. Further, it should be mentioned
that the disclosed system causes the product to change from
compartment during the rotation movement of the washing compartment
such that as rotation force stops and same loses speed, the product
runs through the rear wall of the reservoir 90 until it reaches its
lower region, which will be filled with water to dilute the product
and as the lower reservoir overflows through the slit 91, the
product will be sent to the washing comparment.
[0049] After that, completion of next step of filling said washing
compartment with water will provide fluid communication between the
washing compartment and the interior of said lower reservoir 90,
thus delivering the entire product contained therein onto the load
being processed.
[0050] In the end of the process, said membrane 102 of valve 100
returns to initial position that entirely seals the orifice 72 of
reservoir 70 such that the system will be just ready to start a new
washing cycle.
[0051] A very advantageous aspect of the present invention, which
was preferably developed for use with softeners or other liquid
products resides in the fact that it allows for several rinsing
steps to occur before softener is dispensed to the washing load
since it is possible to use a valve 100 which will only permit to
release the product contained in the interior of reservoir 70 at
speeds above 600 rpm, for example, thus allowing for centrifugation
for water removal below this rotation speed so that more rinsing
steps can be effected until a decision is made to centrifuge,
reaching rotations above 600 rpm such that the product is
dispensed.
[0052] Thus, a combination between setting of the speed operation
during different cycle steps and calibration of the characteristics
of valve 100 and, more specifically, of membrane 102, will give
great freedom to control the most appropriate time at which the
product should be dispensed.
[0053] Additionally, it should be pointed out that the dispensing
system of the present invention releases the total volume of
product in a single step; nevertheless, it is worth to mention that
it is possible to use in only one washing machine more than one
valved dispensing system, each being designed to release passage
for the product at predetermined rotations so as to provide for
more dispensing times or eventually making it possible to dispense
detergents and softeners at different times. In this aspect, it is
important to mention that the system of the present invention
operates suitably with liquid soap and softener.
[0054] The embodiment depicted in the figures is preferred but not
limitative since other construction possibilities can be used
without departing from the claimed scope of protection. For
example, the system may also be secured to the center of the
washing compartment 6 or eventually to some kind of support
removably cooperating with the perimetral and central walls of said
washing compartment 6, with the movable tower 4 or with agitator A
to keep it suspended over the washing load, in which case it would
be required to dispose a slit 91 also on the rear wall of reservoir
90.
[0055] Furthermore, it should be clarified that in an alternative
embodiment of the present invention, the valved dispensing system
for products 7 can be optionally used in the movable basket 10
itself without departing from the claimed scope of protection. In
addition, attention should be drawn to the fact that same may be
used in other types of baskets, irrespective of their sizes,
capacities or geometrical shapes without departing from the claimed
scope of protection.
[0056] Also in an optional embodiment, the system of the present
invention can be removed from the washing compartment 6 or from the
mounting location provided that in order to avoid any reduction in
its efficiency, there are provided means such that same remains
rigidly coupled to the support means during operation of the
washing machine.
[0057] It should be reminded that in the known dispensing system
described in the beginning of this specification, same operates
without using a valve and, consequently, it does not permit to
control the rotation intensity at which products are dispensed. In
the present invention, the exact point at which one desires to
dispense the product is controlled by merely calibrating said valve
100 to open at determined elevated rotation intensities.
[0058] Furthermore, it should be pointed out that the description
above is only intended to describe by way of example some preferred
embodiments of the present invention. Therefore, those skilled in
the art understand that several construction modifications,
variations and combinations of the features having the same
function substantial in the same form to achieve the same results
are still within the scope of protection limited by the appended
claims.
* * * * *