Pre-assembled assembly for water-stop device and device comprising it

Abstract

 The pre-assembled assembly (10) is longitudinally inseparable, and comprises: an internal flexible hose (12) for the water flow; an external flexible safety hose (14) arranged around the internal hose (12), whereby a gap (16) is defined between the hoses (12, 14); and an electric cable (18) having a centre portion arranged in the gap (16) and having a first end provided with an electrical connector for the connection to a body of a solenoid valve of a water-stop device, and a second end provided with a further connector (21) for the connection to a domestic appliance. The water-stop device comprises a solenoid valve (26) having a body in which a housing (40) is obtained, in which said electrical connector is inserted.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of the water-stop devices for domestic washing appliances, such as dishwashing machines and washing machines.

[0002] In more detail, a water-stop device comprises: a solenoid valve having a body, an inlet duct and an outlet duct, as well as an internal flexible hose for the water flow having a proximal end associated to the outlet duct of the solenoid valve and an external flexible safety hose arranged around the internal hose, whereby a gap is defined between said internal and external hoses, in which an electric cable for the control of the above-mentioned solenoid valve is arranged.

[0003] As needed, the water-stop device allows, following the closure of the solenoid valve, to stop the water supply to the domestic appliance. Furthermore, in the case of a breakage of the internal hose, the external hose can anyhow contain the flowing out water flow, and conveying it into the domestic appliance, thus avoiding flooding events to the external environment.

[0004] The document DE-196 20 422 discloses a double hose connecting device of a domestic appliance to a solenoid valve, formed necessarily by at least two selectively connectable/disconnectable stubs, which are arranged in series along the axis of the hoses.

[0005] The document DE-197 15 828 discloses a double hose water-stop device consisting in a solenoid valve module M1 and in the modules M2 and M3, which are arranged in series along the axis of the flexible hoses and which are selectively connectable/disconnectable one from the other. The description of DE-197 15 828 highlights the advantages of the detachability of the several modules. During the assembly of the device, the solenoid valve module M1 is first connected to the module M2, and then the latter is, in turn, connected to the module M3.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to allow a simplified assembly of a water-stop device of the above-indicated type.

[0007] Such an object is achieved by a pre-assembled assembly for water-stop device, a water-stop device comprising it, and the corresponding assembly process having the features indicated in the following claims.

[0008] According to the invention, the above-mentioned assembly is pre-assembled separately from the remaining part of the water-stop device, typically a solenoid valve assembly with its associated components and accessories. Advantageously, the production of the pre-assembled assembly can be automatized, and such assembly can be managed as a whole, with self-evident logistic simplifications.

[0009] Consequently, the various assembly and testing steps of the solenoid valve assembly are not hindered by the presence of the cable, which, having a length of 2 metres or more, is very bulky, and makes complex the assembly procedures of the conventional devices. On the contrary, the pre-assembled assembly according to the invention is assembled to the solenoid valve assembly only as the final step of the assembly procedure of the water-stop device, which, once mounted, has a functionality that is analogous to that of the conventional devices.

[0010] Therefore, on the whole, the times and costs of the assembly process for the water-stop device of the invention are considerably reduced compared to those of the conventional water-stop devices.

[0011] Furthermore, it is to be noticed that the pre-assembled assembly of the invention has a simple and essential structure, forms an entity that is not longitudinally separable into several sections arranged in series one after the other, and, during the use of the water-stop device, is interposed between the solenoid valve and the domestic appliance by directly connecting them.

[0012] From what has been set forth above, it shall be clear that by "longitudinally inseparable pre-assembled assembly" is univocally meant, in accordance with the present invention, on one hand an assembly composed of an external flexible hose, an internal flexible hose, and ad electric cable in their entirety, which constitutes a single component and is assembled as a unit to the remaining part of the water-stop device, that is, the solenoid valve assembly with the associated accessories, and, on the other hand, an assembly extending continuously substantially from one end thereof to the other end, without being able to be separated into several selectively connectable/disconnectable sections or stubs arranged in series along the longitudinal axis of the flexible hoses.

[0013] Further advantages and characteristics of the present invention will be clear from the following detailed description, given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a water-stop device of the invention with a pre-assembled assembly separated by a solenoid valve assembly, and

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the water-stop device of Figure 1 in an assembled configuration.

[0014] A pre-assembled assembly 10 for water-stop device for a domestic washing appliance comprises: an internal flexible hose 12 for the water flow, an external flexible safety hose 14 arranged around the internal hose 12, whereby a gap 16 is defined between the internal 12 and external 14 hoses, and an electric cable 18 having a centre portion arranged in the gap 16 and a first and a second end.

[0015] The first end of the cable 18 is provided with an electrical connector, particularly a plug 20 having a body 22 of electrically insulating material from which electrical contacts 24 protrude. The second end of the cable 18 is provided with a further connector 21 for the connection in a per se known manner to the domestic appliance (not shown in the Figures).

[0016] The two flexible hoses 12, 14 have a monolithic structure, and can be of different materials and types, or both of them can be a corrugated type, preferably of polypropylene.

[0017] On the other hand, the water-stop device comprises a solenoid valve assembly 26 having a body 28, an inlet duct 30, and an outlet duct 32. In a per se known manner, the body 28 houses a shutter 34 susceptible to selectively block the communication between the inlet 30 and outlet 32 ducts. To this aim, the shutter 34 is fixed to a magnet 36 constrained to translate within a passage obtained within a coil 38 in which the passage of an electric current can be controlled.

[0018] The solenoid valve assembly is, on the whole, water-tight, due to the presence of resins 39 filling the interspaces. Furthermore, a housing 40 is obtained in the body 28, which housing 40 is formed by a hole opening itself outwardly and adjacent to the outlet duct 32. The housing 40 is intended to receive - as it will be described in detail below - the plug 20 of the cable 18.

[0019] The assembly process of the water-stop device provides for assembling the pre-assembled assembly 10 and the solenoid valve assembly 26 separately. The assembly of the various above-described components and accessories of the solenoid valve assembly 26, as well as the testing procedures of the latter, are thus clearly simplified, being unaffected by the hindrance of the cable 18 and the hoses 12 and 14.

[0020] The pre-assembled assembly 10 and the solenoid valve assembly 26 are jointed by fitting an end of the internal flexible hose 12 on the outlet duct 32, on which it is locked by a retention device, such as an elastic coil spring 42 (or, in embodiments that are not illustrated in the Figures, an elastic band or a crimping ring), and inserting the plug 20 into the hollow housing 40. Following such insertion, the contacts 24 of the plug 20 penetrate into corresponding passages 44 obtained in the body 28 and opening themselves to the housing 40, so as to create a continuous electrical circuit with electrical connectors 46 fixed to the body 28 of the solenoid valve assembly 26 - for example, of the blade type (also defined in specialized terminology as "faston") - which constitute the electrical terminals of the coil 38. The configuration of the coupling between housing 40 and body 22 of the plug 20 is such as to avoid the penetration of leaked water into the passages 44 in which the contacts 24 of the plug 20 are inserted.

[0021] During the use of the water-stop device, the solenoid valve is excited, so as to control the movement of the shutter 34 by an electric current coming from the cable 18, the second end of which is connected through the connector 21 to the internal circuit of the domestic appliance, in turn supplied by the power grid analogously to what is provided for by the prior art.

[0022] Therefore, on the whole, all the electric connections of the water-stop device of the invention are stable and reliable, thus ensuring a suitable withholding of the cable 18, which cannot be inadvertently removed. Furthermore, such connections are exceptionally safe, since they are completely insulated against the contact with water, particularly a possible water leakage collecting within the gap 16 between the hoses 12 and 14. At the same time, the structure of the device is simple and essential, with a minimized number of components, this ensuring the inexpensiveness thereof.

[0023] Of course, the implementation details and the embodiments may broadly vary within the principle of the invention relative to what has been described by way of example only, without thereby departing from the claimed scope.

Claims

1. Longitudinally inseparable pre-assembled assembly (10) for water-stop device for a domestic washing appliance, comprising:

- an internal flexible hose (12) for the water flow,

- an external flexible safety hose (14) arranged around the internal hose (12), whereby a gap (16) is defined between said internal (12) and external (14) hoses, and

- an electric cable (18) having a centre portion arranged in said gap (16) and having a first end provided with an electrical connector for the connection to a body of a solenoid valve of said water-stop device, and a second end provided with a further connector (21) for the connection to the domestic appliance.

2. Assembly (10) according to claim 1, wherein said electrical connector is a plug (20) having a body (22) of electrically insulating material from which electrical contacts (24) protrude.

3. Assembly (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein both the internal hose (12) and the external hose (14) have a monolithic structure for their entire longitudinal extension.

4. Assembly according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said hoses are of a corrugated type, and preferably of polypropylene.

5. Assembly according to any one of the previous claims, comprising the entire longitudinal extension, from the solenoid valve to the domestic appliance, of the external (14) and internal (12) hoses and the cable (18).

6. Water-stop device for a domestic washing appliance, comprising a solenoid valve (26) having a body (28), an inlet duct (30) and an outlet duct (32), and a pre-assembled assembly (10) according to any one of the previous claims, a housing (40) being obtained in said body (28) in which said electrical connector is inserted, and an end of the internal flexible hose (12) of said assembly (10) being fitted on said outlet duct (32).

7. Device according to claim 6, wherein said housing (40) is formed by a hole, which is adjacent to the outlet duct (32), and in which passages (44) housing the electrical contacts (24) of the plug (20) open themselves, whereby a continuous electrical circuit with electrical connectors fixed to the body (28) of the solenoid valve (26) is created.

8. Device according to claim 7, wherein said electrical connectors fixed to the body (28) of the solenoid valve (26) are of the blade type (46).

9. Device according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the coupling between the housing (40) and the body (22) of the plug (20) and between the passages (44) and the electrical contacts (24) of the plug (20) is water-tight.

10. Assembly process of a water-stop device according to any one of the previous claims 6 to 9, wherein a pre-assembled assembly (10) according to any one of the previous claims 1 to 5 is assembled to a solenoid valve (26) by inserting an electrical connector of a first end of the cable (18) in a housing (40) obtained in the body (28) of the solenoid valve (26).

11. Assembly process according to claim 10, which provides for blocking said internal hose (12) on said outlet duct (32) by a retention device.

12. Assembly process according to claim 10 or 11, the final step of which provides for assembling said assembly (10) to the solenoid valve (26) the functioning of which has already been tested.

Drawing