U.S. patent application number 16/134991 was filed with the patent office on 2019-03-21 for extraction device for extracting a detergent from a dispensing compartment of a washing machine.
The applicant listed for this patent is Miele & Cie. KG. Invention is credited to Michael Finke, Andrea Sudkemper.
Application Number | 20190085496 16/134991 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 63557262 |
Filed Date | 2019-03-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20190085496 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sudkemper; Andrea ; et
al. |
March 21, 2019 |
EXTRACTION DEVICE FOR EXTRACTING A DETERGENT FROM A DISPENSING
COMPARTMENT OF A WASHING MACHINE
Abstract
An extraction device for extracting a detergent from a
dispensing compartment of a washing machine includes: an extraction
channel having a channel opening that is or can be arranged in the
dispensing compartment so as to form an inlet region; and an
injection apparatus for injecting a diluting agent into the
dispensing compartment, the injection apparatus having a nozzle
opening which is arranged adjacent to the channel opening when the
extraction device is in an operating state, so as to dilute the
detergent with the diluting agent.
Inventors: |
Sudkemper; Andrea;
(Delbrueck-Hagen, DE) ; Finke; Michael;
(Hoevelhof, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Miele & Cie. KG |
Guetersloh |
|
DE |
|
|
Family ID: |
63557262 |
Appl. No.: |
16/134991 |
Filed: |
September 19, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 39/028 20130101;
D06F 39/088 20130101; D06F 39/02 20130101; D06F 39/022
20130101 |
International
Class: |
D06F 39/02 20060101
D06F039/02; D06F 39/08 20060101 D06F039/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 20, 2017 |
DE |
10 2017 121 814.9 |
Claims
1. An extraction device for extracting a detergent from a
dispensing compartment of a washing machine, comprising: an
extraction channel comprising a channel opening that is configured
to be arranged in the dispensing compartment so as to form an inlet
region; and an injection apparatus configured to inject a diluting
agent into the dispensing compartment, the injection apparatus
comprising a nozzle opening which is arranged adjacent to the
channel opening when the extraction device is in an operating
state, so as to dilute the detergent with the diluting agent.
2. The extraction device according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle
opening is configured to form the diluting agent into a jet, and
wherein the nozzle opening is aimed at the inlet region of the
channel opening.
3. The extraction device according to claim 1, wherein the channel
opening and the inlet region are spaced apart from one another at a
maximum of 3 cm when the extraction device is in the operating
state.
4. The extraction device according to claim 1, wherein the
extraction channel comprises a siphon.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATION
[0001] Priority is claimed to German Patent Application No. DE 10
2017 121 814.9, filed on Sep. 20, 2017, the entire disclosure of
which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
FIELD
[0002] The invention relates to an extraction device for extracting
a detergent from a dispensing compartment of a washing machine.
BACKGROUND
[0003] In order to be extracted from a dispensing compartment of a
washing machine, viscous textile treatment agents can for example
be mixed with water. A relatively large amount of water is
generally required to rinse out the dispensing compartment.
SUMMARY
[0004] In an embodiment, the present invention provides an
extraction device for extracting a detergent from a dispensing
compartment of a washing machine, comprising: an extraction channel
comprising a channel opening that is configured to be arranged in
the dispensing compartment so as to form an inlet region; and an
injection apparatus configured to inject a diluting agent into the
dispensing compartment, the injection apparatus comprising a nozzle
opening which is arranged adjacent to the channel opening when the
extraction device is in an operating state, so as to dilute the
detergent with the diluting agent.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] The present invention will be described in even greater
detail below based on the exemplary figures. The invention is not
limited to the exemplary embodiments. Other features and advantages
of various embodiments of the present invention will become
apparent by reading the following detailed description with
reference to the attached drawings which illustrate the
following:
[0006] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a portion of a dispensing
compartment of a washing machine that comprises an extraction
device according to one embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0007] Against this background, the present invention provides an
improved extraction device for extracting a detergent from a
dispensing compartment of a washing machine.
[0008] The invention is advantageous in that, by injecting a
directed water jet into a region of a dispensing compartment in
which a siphon for extracting the detergent ends, the detergent is
efficiently mixed and can be sufficiently diluted before
extraction. This prevents the siphon from becoming clogged by
detergent.
[0009] An extraction device for extracting a detergent from a
dispensing compartment of a washing machine is presented, wherein
the extraction device has the following features:
[0010] an extraction channel comprising a channel opening that is
or can be arranged in the dispensing compartment so as to form an
inlet region; and
[0011] an injection apparatus for injecting a diluting agent into
the dispensing compartment, wherein the injection apparatus
comprises a nozzle opening which is arranged adjacent to the
channel opening when the extraction device is in the operating
state, in order to dilute the detergent with the diluting
agent.
[0012] A detergent can generally be understood to mean a textile
treatment agent, for example in liquid or viscous form or even in
powder form, such as a liquid detergent or a fabric softener. A
dispensing compartment can be understood to mean, for example, a
detergent dispensing compartment that has a prewash, main wash or
softener compartment. A washing machine can alternatively also be
understood to mean a washer-dryer. The extraction channel can be
part of a siphon, for example. When the extraction device is in the
operating state, the extraction opening can be facing a base of the
dispensing compartment. The injection apparatus can comprise a
nozzle for producing a directed jet, in particular a single jet.
The diluting agent can be water or suds, for example.
[0013] The inlet region is formed by arranging the channel opening
of the extraction channel such that the inlet region surrounds and
adjoins the channel opening. The medium to be extracted flows from
the inlet region towards the channel opening and through said
opening into the extraction channel.
[0014] The nozzle opening of the injection apparatus is arranged
adjacent to the channel opening when in the operating state. In
this case, adjacent signifies that the nozzle is arranged inside
the injection apparatus in such a way that the diluting agent can
reach the inlet region from this nozzle.
[0015] According to one embodiment, the nozzle opening can be
designed to form the diluting agent into a jet, wherein the nozzle
opening is aimed at the inlet region of the channel opening. As a
result, the diluting agent can be specifically directed towards the
channel opening.
[0016] The jet of the diluting agent occurring in the inlet region
of the channel opening and the inlet region adjoining the channel
opening means that the diluting agent jet on the channel opening
ensures mixing and therefore counteracts the channel opening
clogging.
[0017] In particular, the channel opening and the inlet region can
be spaced apart from one another at a maximum of 3 cm when the
extraction device is in the operating state. As a result, the
diluting agent can be injected in front of the channel opening in a
very targeted manner, in order to liquefy the washing agent in
front of the channel opening and very effectively prevent the
extraction channel from clogging.
[0018] According to a further embodiment, the extraction channel
can be a siphon. As a result, the extraction channel can be laid so
as to be particularly space-saving and without using a pump.
[0019] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a portion of a dispensing
compartment 100 of a washing machine that comprises an extraction
device 102 according to one embodiment. The extraction device 102
comprises an extraction channel 104, in this case by way of example
in the form of a U-shaped siphon that is curved around a wall
portion of the dispensing compartment 100, the channel opening 106
of which channel is arranged in the dispensing compartment 100 so
as to form the inlet region 124.
[0020] When the extraction device 102 is in the operating state,
the channel opening 106 is located below a surface of the detergent
108, in particular at a short distance from a base 110 of the
dispensing compartment 100. The inlet region 124 is located in
front of or around the channel opening 106.
[0021] Furthermore, the extraction device 102 comprises an
injection apparatus 112, which comprises nozzle openings according
to this embodiment. By way of example, the nozzle opening 118 is
designed and oriented so as to form the diluting agent, in this
case water, into a jet 120, the nozzle opening 118 being aimed at
the inlet region 124 of the channel opening 106.
[0022] The injection apparatus 112 is designed to conduct a
diluting agent, such as water, through the nozzle opening 118 at a
particular pressure in order to form the diluting agent into a
directed jet 120, in particular a single jet, upon exiting the
nozzle opening 118. The end 122 of the jet 120 thereby occurs in
the inlet region 124 directly in front of the channel opening
106.
[0023] As a result of the directed jet 120 from the nozzle opening
118, which jet occurs in the inlet region 124 directly in front of
the channel opening 106, the detergent 108, which can for example
be a viscous textile treatment agent or a powder detergent mixed
with liquid, is diluted or liquefied or mixed through or mixed up
by means of the jet 120 to such an extent that it can be readily
extracted through the extraction channel 104 and can do so without
clogging said channel.
[0024] By injecting for example water as a diluting agent, in the
form of an individual water jet 120, via the injection apparatus
112 and nozzle opening 118 and specifically in front of the
extraction channel 104, the detergent 108 can be well mixed and
liquefied directly in front of the extraction channel 104 and can
thus be extracted effectively. This prevents the extraction channel
104 from becoming clogged. Even viscous textile treatment agents
can therefore be very effectively extracted via a siphon without
this becoming clogged or detergent residues remaining in the
dispensing compartment 100. Advantageously, comparatively less
water is required by the single jet 120, which reduces the water
consumption of the washing machine.
[0025] While the invention has been illustrated and described in
detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration
and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and
not restrictive. It will be understood that changes and
modifications may be made by those of ordinary skill within the
scope of the following claims. In particular, the present invention
covers further embodiments with any combination of features from
different embodiments described above and below. Additionally,
statements made herein characterizing the invention refer to an
embodiment of the invention and not necessarily all
embodiments.
[0026] The terms used in the claims should be construed to have the
broadest reasonable interpretation consistent with the foregoing
description. For example, the use of the article "a" or "the" in
introducing an element should not be interpreted as being exclusive
of a plurality of elements. Likewise, the recitation of "or" should
be interpreted as being inclusive, such that the recitation of "A
or B" is not exclusive of "A and B," unless it is clear from the
context or the foregoing description that only one of A and B is
intended. Further, the recitation of "at least one of A, B and C"
should be interpreted as one or more of a group of elements
consisting of A, B and C, and should not be interpreted as
requiring at least one of each of the listed elements A, B and C,
regardless of whether A, B and C are related as categories or
otherwise. Moreover, the recitation of "A, B and/or C" or "at least
one of A, B or C" should be interpreted as including any singular
entity from the listed elements, e.g., A, any subset from the
listed elements, e.g., A and B, or the entire list of elements A, B
and C.
* * * * *