[0001] This invention relates to the water supply circuit of a washing machine for domestic
use. In the particular case of dishwashing machines, it is generally known that such
machines are normally provided with a device for decalcifying tap water, and with
a water supply circuit including a supply pressure relief means communicating with
the atmosphere and entering the washing tub of the machine preferably adjacent the
bottom thereof. Interiorly of said tub, the water supply circuit comprises a water
supply nozzle extending in an upward direction beyond the highest water level within
the tub under static conditions, i.e. with the water circulation pump inoperative.
This is absolutely necessary for preventing backflow of the contaminated washing water
into the water supply circuit with the resulting contamination particularly of the
resin charge of the decalcifier device.
[0002] The water supply nozzle may be surmounted by a deflector for preventing the decalcified
water from contacting corrosion-prone portions of the tub, and is normally integral
with the water collecting well of the machine, from which it extends upwards to a
level as indicated above. During storage, transport and mounting of the collecting
well, the supply nozzle is easily damaged, as it is a rather fragile element usually
made of plastics.
[0003] An object of the present invention is the provision of a washing machine of the above
defined type, in which .the water supply nozzle, while being integral with the bottom
of the tub or rigidly affixed thereto, does not project thereabove, while still being
capable of preventing any undesired backflow of contaminated water into the water
supply circuit.
[0004] In order to attain the abobe object, the invention provides a washing machine comprising
a water collecting well sealingly penetrated by a water supply nozzle extending in
an upward direction and connected to a decalcifier device supplied with water via
a tube having supply pressure relief means communicating with the atmosphere at a
level above the static water level within the water tub, said tube extending to a
point below the dynamic water level within said tub. In accordance with the invention,
a washing machine of the above type is characterized in that the outlet opening of
said supply nozzle is located at a level below the static water level, the end portion
of said supply nozzle extedning into an inverted cup-shaped element the opening of
which is located at a level above the dynamic water level. the interior wall surface
of said cup-shaped element and the exterior surface of said supply nozzle end portion
defining a space the volume of which is at least equal to the interior volume of said
supply tube between said static water level and the level of said outlet opening.
[0005] The novel features and advantages of the invention will become more evident from
the following description of an illustrative embodiment, taken in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings, the single figure of which shows a diagrammatic cross-sectional
view of the prinipal elements of the water supply circuit of a washing machine according
to the invention.
[0006] With reference to the drawing, the washing machine according to the invention is
preferably a dishwashing machine having a washing tub 1 to the bottom of which a water
collecting well 2 is attached in a sealing manner. Water is supplied to the machine
in a per se known manner from a tap 3 via a supply pressure relief device 4 communicating
with the atmosphere and forming part of a water supply circuit exterior of the washing
tub 1. The supply circuit further includes a supply conduit 5, 5' and a decalcifier
device 6 inserted therein. The conduit portion or tube 5 extends to a point above
the static water level A within tub 1, i.e. the water level attained with the circulation
pump (not shown) inoperative, and to a point below the dynamic water level B attained
during operation of the circulation pum. The downstream end of conduit portion 5'
is connected to a water supply nozzle ? sealingly penetrating the wall of collecting
well 2 and preferably formed integral therewith of a plastics material. Within well
2, nozzle 7 extends in an upward direction, with its upper outlet opening 8 being
located a a level C below the above defined static level A, and preferably below a
mechanical filter 9 provided in the machine. The upper end portion of nozzle 7 projects
into an inverted cup-shaped element 10 preferably formed integral with mechanical
filter 9, the opening.of which is located at a level D above the above defined dynamic
water level B within tub 1.
[0007] The supply nozzle 7 and the inverted cup-shaped element 10 are dimensioned such that
the interior wall surface of element 10 and the exterior surface of the end portion
of supply nozzle 7 together define an anular space (depicted in the drawing by the
cross-hatched area between levels C and D) the volume of which is at least equal to
the volume (also indicated by cross-hatching) of supply tube 5 between the static
water level A and the level C of the outlet opening, taking into account the albeit
minimal volume variation due to the compressibility of air.
[0008] In operation, tub 1 of the machine is initially filed with tap water via conduit
5, 5' and decalcifier 6 up to the static water level A. Due to the law of communicating
conduits, this level is also attained in supply tube 5 communicating with the atmosphere
via supply pressure relief device 4. Operation of the circulating pump subsequently
causes the water level in collecting well 2 to drop to the dynamic level B, resulting
in a limited amount of water to flow from supply nozzle ? until the water in supply
tube 5 has dropped to the level C of outlet opening 8. After the circulating pump
terminates its operation, the water contained in the spray conduits flows back into
well 2, whereby tub 1 is again filled up to the static level A. During this phase,
the rising water in tub 1 entraps a certain volume of air between the inverted cup-shaped
element 10 and the supply nozzle 7, and subsequently forces the entrapped air into
supply nozzle 7, so that the water in supply tube 5 again rises to the static level
A, due to the effect of communicating conduits. As indicated above, this air volume
is calculated such that the water within cup-shaped element 10 does not rise above
the level C. This prevents the contaminated washing water from flowing back into the
supply circuit, which would otherwise result in undesirable contamination of the supply
circuit, and particularly of the resin charge of the decalcifier.6. From the above
description it is thus evident that the washing machine according to the invention
comprises a supply nozzle ? which may be formed integrally with the collecting well
2 while not projecting thereabove, thus avoiding any functional deficiencies as indicated
in the introduction.
1. A washing machine comprising a water collecting well sealingly penetrated by a
water supply nozzle extending in an upward direction and connected to a decalcifier
device supplied with water via a tube having supply pressure relief means communicating
with the atmosphere at a level above the static water level within the water tub,
said tube extending to a point below the dynamic wateer level within said tub, characteruzed
in that the outlet opening (8) of said supply nozzle (7) is located at a level (C)
below the static water level (A), the end portion of said supply nozzle extending
into an inverted cup-shaped element (10) the opening of which is located at a level
(D) above the dynamic water level (B), the interior wall surface of said cup-shaped
element and the exterior surface of said supply nozzle end portion defining a space
the volume of which is at least equal, to the interior volume of said supply tube
(5) between said static water level (A) and the level (C) of said outlet opening.
2. A washing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said inverted cup-shaped
element
(10) is formed integrally with a mechanical filter (9) provided in said machine in
a per se known manner.
