WO2002038848A1

WO2002038848A1 - Assembly of an automatic washing machine with a variable pressure working chamber

Info

Publication number: WO2002038848A1
Application number: PCT/CZ2001/000062
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jan Kocnar; Václav GRULICH; Vlastimil Kocnar
Original assignee: Jan Kocnar-Perfektra
Priority date: 2000-11-10
Filing date: 2001-11-09
Publication date: 2002-05-16
Also published as: CZ20004198A3; EP1339906A1; SK5532003A3

Abstract

The principle of assembly of the automatic washing machine with a variable pressure working chamber using water as a washing medium in combination with a mechanical washing process lies in connecting of the pressure-controlled chamber (1) to the source of pressure (7) and the source of vacuum (8), both connected to the programmer (5). The realization according to the invention is suitable for washing of textiles and other materials of a similar texture in industrial and household washing machines.

Description

Assembly of an automatic washing machine with a variable-pressure working chamber.

Field of the Invention

The invention concerns assembly of an automatic washing machine with a variable-pressure working chamber, using water as a washing medium in combination with a mechanical washing process, which can be used for industrial automatic washing as well as house hold ones.

D scription of Related Art

Automatic washing machines combining water as a washing medium with mechanical washing process are to a large degree used to wash textiles, textile products and items made of similar materials. The material to be washed is put into the washing machine's work chamber containing water, usually complemented by a washing powder, water softener and fragrances, which together form a washing medium. Furthermore, dirt is removed from the material being washed mechanically, e.g. in a rotating drum, a rotating screw, vibrations or by ultrasound. During this process, the washing medium is heated in various time periods, usually by an electric heating element, according to a programme pre-selected on a programmer comprising an electric or electronic control unit connected to closing elements, a drive unit, a heater and other washing machine accessories, which allows setting of washing process according to the type of material being washed and other specific requirements of the user. By controlling the machine's main driving unit, the programme also controls the mechanical process, being in progress in different time intervals. A part of the process is supplying fresh water to the working chamber and discharge of the washing medium to the drain by an electric transportation pump. The main driving unit is again active in the final washing stages during squeezing All these devices, the main driving unit and the pumps, the heaters and other washing machine accessories, most often use electrical power and need energy, the consumption of which, apart from selecting the washing programme, can be hardly influenced by an use when the required washing process results should be maintained. Hence, the objective of the invention is to create a washing system which will reduce the washing machine's power consumption to an essential minimum, while being technically simple and, if possible, applicable also to existing washing machine designs.

Summary of the Invention

The shortcomings mentioned above can be to a large extent eliminated and the invention's objective reached, by an assembly of the automatic washing machine with a variable-pressure working chamber using water as a working medium together a mechanical washing process, comprising a pressure-controlled chamber containing the washing mechanism with a main driving unit. The chamber is by means of an input closing element connected to a supply of clean water and by means of a drain shutting valve to the washing medium drain, equipped with a pump, whereby all shutting valves, the main motor, the transportation pump and the heater are connected to the programmer comprising an electronic control unit according to the invention, the principle of which is connecting the pressure-controlled chamber by means of a multifunctional closing element to a source of pressure and a source of vacuum, with the pressure- controlled chamber further connected through a pressure gauge to the programmer, and throug a discharge closing element to the drain of a washing medium where the multifunctional closing element, as wel as the discharge closing element is connected to the programmer. The sources of pressure and vacuum are represented by a compressor with a vacuum pump, built-in into the washing machine's body, and/or pressure and vacuum distribution networks.

Examples of Realization of the Invention

The schematic diagram below shows the main design elements of the assembly, a pressure- controlled chamber I, which houses the washing machines mechanism connected to the main driving unit (not shown) and in this case formed by a rotating perforated drum 12, which is connected throug an input closing element 2 to a supply of clean water 9_ and throug a drain closing element 2_ to a washing medium drain 10, which is equipped with a pump 3. The pressure-controlled chamber 1 is connected through a multifunctional closing element 6 to a source of pressure 7 and a source of vacuum 8, which can be either a compressor with a vacuum pump integrated into the washing machine's body, or pressure and vacuum distribution networks. The pressure-controlled chamber I is then through discharge closing element ϋ connected to the washing medium drain 10, and through a pressure gauge 4 to a programmer 5. All closing elements of the assembly, the pump 3, the vacuum source 8 and the pressure source 7, the heater (not shown), the main driving unit (not shown) and other washing machine accessories, are connected to the programmer 5, comprising an electronic control unit. The equipment works as follows: Individual washing modes are selected by setting the required washing programme on the programmer 5, which are supported by defined pressure and vacuum changes inside the pressure-controlled chamber I by means of closing elements corresponding with the given function. The discharge closing elements U is installed to discharge excessive pressure inside the pressure controlled chamber I, and is set to the pressure limit value.

Reference sings

1- pressure-controlled chamber

2- Input closing element

3- drain closing element

4- pump

5- pressure gauge

6- programmer

7- multifunctional closing element

8- source of pressure

9- source of vacuum

10- supply of clean water

11- washing medium drain

12- discharge closing element

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. Assembly of an automatic washing machine with a variable - pressure working chamber using water as a washing medium in combination with a mechanical process, comprising a pressure-controlled chamber (1) which houses the mechanical washing device and the main driving unit, which is through of an input closing element (2) connected to a clean water supply (9) and by means of a drain closing element (2) to a washing medium drain (10), equipped with a pump (3), while all other closing element, the main driving unit, the pump and the heater sre connected to the programmer (5), comprising an electronic control unit, c h ar act e r i z e d i n t h a t the pressure-controlled chamber (1) is connected by means of a multifunctional closing element (6) to a source of pressure (7) and a source of vacuum (8), while the pressure-controlled chamber (1) is further connected by means of a pressure gauge (4) to the programmer (5), and by means of a discharge closing element(l l) with the washing medium drain (10), while the multifunctional closing element (6) and the discharge closing element (11) are connected to the programmer (5).

2. Assembly of the automatic washing machine according to the claim 1, c h ara c t e ri z e d i n t h at the source of pressure (7) and the source of vacuum (8) is a compressor with a vacuum pump integrated into the washing machine's body, and/or pressure and vacuum distribution network.