SELECTOR SWITCH WITH AUTO SWITCH -OFF FUNCTION

Description

Field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for selecting the operating programmes of an appliance, in particular of an electrical household appliance, which incorporates the auto switch-off function. Selecting devices of this type are commonly called simply selectors, and accordingly the present invention relates to a selector provided with auto switch-off function, i.e. for switching off the appliance automatically, which entails total disconnection of the electric power supplied from the mains.

Prior art

[0002] The use of selectors connected to electronic control cards that incorporate both the power switch ON/OFF function and the function of selecting the operating programme of the electrical household appliance, settable by the user, are currently known on the market and are commonly used in the electrical household appliances sector, such as mainly washing machines but also dishwashers, tumble-dryers and similar electrical household appliances.

[0003] In the known devices, the two functions are controlled and performed by two different, separate circuits: one circuit dimensioned for switching power loads up to 16 amperes at the nominal mains voltage (220-230 V), the other for managing a digital output with Gray code, i.e. a fixed-length binary code well known by a person skilled in the art of electronic or electromechanical devices, at low operating currents and voltages.

[0004] In the known devices that are used more widely, both circuits are controlled by means of a cam that turns as a result of actuation, in particular of rotation, by the user, of a control knob located on the control panel of the electrical household appliance. In more detail, the first step of rotation of the knob causes closure of two power contacts and we thus have switching from the OFF position to the ON position of the electrical household appliance, which is thus live, while successive positions of the knob, which are reached by successive rotations of said knob, alter the digital output, and therefore the operating programmes of the electrical household appliance, according to a code predefined by the design and connected with the morphology of the control cam inside the selector.

[0005] During selection of the operating programmes of the electrical household appliance the power circuit is always closed, and therefore the electrical household appliance is always in the ON condition.

[0006] Return to the OFF position of the electrical household appliance only occurs as a result of intervention by the user, who operates the knob again, bringing the selector back to the OFF position and thus opening the contacts of the power circuit.

[0007] The technical solution known to date and illustrated up to now thus necessarily involves intervention by the user to be able to switch off the electrical household appliance completely, i.e. to bring the electrical household appliance to the OFF condition by opening the power circuit that supplies the machine at the mains voltage.

[0008] In fact, the selector remains in its coding position selected at the beginning of the operations until further rotation of the knob to the initial OFF position is effected manually, by the user.

[0009] This clearly involves the drawback of having indefinite power consumption by the electrical household appliance even when it has finished its operating cycle and is now in the stand-by condition, in which it is non-operating but still live.

[0010] Document DE102004026099 discloses a device according to the preamble of claim 1.

Summary of the invention

[0011] The main problem to be solved by the present invention is therefore to provide a selector that overcomes these and other drawbacks of devices of the type known from the prior art.

[0012] In particular, the present invention aims to provide a selector which, while maintaining the functions of manual setting of the operating programme and of manual switching on and off, also includes an auto switch-off function, specially controlled by the control electronics of the machine.

[0013] In connection with these problems, the present invention aims to provide a selector that is compatible "pin to pin", where pin means the connecting contact between the selector and the card, with the existing electronic control cards in use on the majority of electrical household appliances, and that is mechanically compatible with the control knobs currently in production.

[0014] Thus, the selector according to the present invention can be connected to the electrical household appliance without requiring any modification of the design of the seating of the conventional selector.

[0015] Another aim of the present invention is to provide a selector that makes it possible to use at least some of the components currently used in devices without an auto switch-off function of the type known from the prior art, with obvious advantages in terms of mechanical and electrical reliability, as well as safety.

[0016] These and other aims that will become clearer from a detailed description of the present invention, given here for purposes of illustration and non-limiting, are achieved by a selector for switching-on, switching-off and selection of the operating programmes of an appliance, in particular of an electrical household appliance, comprising means for automatic opening of the power supply circuit at the end of the selected operating programme.

Brief description of the drawings

[0017] Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the following detailed description, given as an example and non-limiting, and illustrated in the appended drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows an exploded view of the components of the selector according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 shows a detail of the selector according to the present invention in an operating condition corresponding to a situation in which the user has moved the selector manually to the OFF position, corresponding to the "zero" position of the knob;

Fig. 3 again shows a detail of the selector according to the present invention in the same configuration as in Fig. 2, in which a further structural element can be seen;

Fig. 4 shows a detail of the selector according to the present invention, in particular a portion of the automatic means for opening the power circuit;

Figs. 4A and 4B show respectively a first configuration and a second configuration of the actuator that causes automatic switch-off;

Figs. 5A and 5B show, in a perspective, partially dismantled view, the selector according to the present invention in the operating condition in which the selector is in the ON position;

Figs. 6A and 6B show, in a perspective, partially dismantled view, the selector according to the present invention in the operating condition in which the selector is in the PULSE condition;

Figs. 7A and 7B show, in a perspective, partially dismantled view, the selector according to the present invention in the operating condition in which the selector is in the OFF condition.

Detailed description of the invention

[0018] With particular reference to Fig. 1, which shows the selector 100 according to the present invention in an exploded view, said selector comprises a box-shaped enclosing casing 10 which houses some components assigned to connection of said selector to the electronic card of the electrical household appliance, such as for example the contact pins 11 and further connecting elements 12.

[0019] Said enclosing casing 10 houses a function selector 20, which in the example shown in the figures consists of a Gray-code selector comprising a substantially cylindrical axial body 21 connected integrally to a disk 22 that develops in a plane substantially horizontal and perpendicular to said cylindrical axial body 21 whose axis A defines the rotation axis of said disk 22.

[0020] When the function selector 20 is assembled in the enclosing casing 10, and the enclosing casing is assembled with the electronic card of the electrical household appliance, the cylindrical body 21 of function selector 20 is in a substantially vertical position, and is connected to the knob of the electrical household appliance that can be moved manually by the user.

[0021] The rotation of the knob of the electrical household appliance by the user thus causes a rotation of the function selector 20.

[0022] The disk 22 has a top surface and a bottom surface, where the bottom surface is the one that is turned towards the bottom of the enclosing casing 10, and therefore towards the electronic card when the device is assembled on the electrical household appliance, while the top surface is the opposite surface, facing upwards according to the orientation shown in the figures.

[0023] In the present description, the terms "upper" and "lower" as well as "top" and "bottom", "vertical" and "horizontal" will be used with reference to the orientation of the device shown in the accompanying drawings, although in actual operation the device will also be able to have a different spatial orientation. Thus, for example, it will be said that axis A of rotation of the function selector 20 is a vertical axis, and vertical direction means the direction of axis A that can be seen in Fig. 1, while the horizontal direction will be identified as the direction orthogonal thereto.

[0024] With vertical direction and horizontal direction thus defined, the terms "top" and "bottom", "upper" and "lower" do not require further definition as they will be referred to this system of orientation.

[0025] Returning to the description of the device, said disk 22 of function selector 20 comprises, corresponding to the outer edge of the upper face, a series of teeth 22a that thus produce an alternation of peaks and valleys, and corresponding to the inner edge, as can be seen in Fig. 2, a further tooth 23 that will correspond to the zero position of the selector, as will be clearer from the following illustration of the operation of the device.

[0026] The selector according to the present invention then comprises means for automatic opening of the power supply circuit of the electrical household appliance to which the selector is connected.

[0027] Said means comprise in particular a series of components 30, 40, 60, 70 able to interact with one another, with said function selector 20, and with the contacts 13, 14 of the circuits of the electrical household appliance, so that the user can act manually on the knob of the electrical household appliance causing said elements to close the power circuit supplying the electrical household appliance by selecting the desired operating programme, and in such a way that opening of the power circuit supplying the electrical household appliance at the end of the operating programme can take place both manually under the action of the user by rotating the knob of the electrical household appliance, and automatically under the action of the electronic control unit of the electrical household appliance and via said means.

[0028] Among said components, a mechanical reset 30 is connected to said function selector 20, and can only move vertically relative to the latter.

[0029] In particular, the vertical movement of said mechanical reset 30 is determined by the presence of a tooth 33 able to oppose tooth 23 of said function selector 20. As can be seen in particular from Fig. 2, when the two teeth 23 and 33 are in an opposed position, owing to the slope of their sides that forms a slide that facilitates the relative sliding of the two elements, the mechanical reset 30 moves upwards. The force required for bringing the two opposed teeth 23 and 33 in the position in Fig. 2 is supplied by the user, acting on the knob and rotating it.

[0030] Said mechanical reset 30 comprises in its turn a substantially cylindrical, hollow bottom portion for enclosing said cylindrical axial body 21 of said function selector. Said mechanical reset 30 has in addition a pair of stems 32 that extend upwards in a substantially vertical direction. In the embodiment shown as an example, said vertical stems 32 are two in number and are positioned in a position diametrically opposite to one another.

[0031] Said components further comprise a power actuator 40.

[0032] The power actuator 40 consists of an element that also has a hollow cylindrical central portion 41, to which a disk-shaped base element 42 is connected, from which two bridge pieces 43 extend vertically and in a position diametrically opposite to one another.

[0033] The power actuator 40 is thus configured so that it can be inserted in said mechanical reset 30 in such a way that said stems 32 are inserted into said vertical bridge pieces 43. The coupling thus created between the power actuator 40 and the mechanical reset 30 only permits relative movements of translation of the two elements in the vertical direction relative to one another.

[0034] On the bottom surface of said disk-shaped base element 42 there is a series of teeth 42a that can interact with the teeth 22a provided on said disk 22 of the function selector 20.

[0035] When the complex of elements consisting of said function selector 20, the mechanical reset 30 and the power actuator 40 is inserted in said enclosing casing 10, the contacts 13 of the power circuit and the contacts 14 of the low-voltage circuit for programme selection are in contact with the top surface of said disk-shaped base element 42 of said power actuator 40, as can be seen in the figures from 5A and 5B to 7A and 7B.

[0036] A first cover 50 is closed on said enclosing casing 10 holding the elements described so far.

[0037] Said first cover 50 has holes that permit passage of said vertical bridge pieces 43 of said power actuator 40, inside which, as already mentioned, said vertical stems 32 of said mechanical reset 30 are housed.

[0038] The selector according to the present invention further comprises an actuator 60 that is able to operate a fastening-releasing device 70.

[0039] Said actuator and said releasing device are advantageously positioned above said first cover 50 so that a pair of fastening teeth 71 forming part of said releasing device interacts with said bridge pieces 43 that project upwards from said first cover 50.

[0040] More particularly, said actuator 60 is constituted, in the example shown here as a non-limiting example, of an electromechanical actuator, in particular of a solenoid 60 comprising an actuating arm 61 which is able to effect a horizontal movement of a release lever 72, forming part of said fastening-releasing device 70, as a result of an electric pulse.

[0041] In the alternative embodiment shown as an example in Fig. 4B, the solenoid comprises a protective conductor with thermal autoregulation indicated by the acronym PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) and known on the market, mounted in series with the winding of the solenoid. This ceramic element can cut off the current flowing through the winding in case of failure, to the electric control system. In the absence of this protection, in fact, the wire of the solenoid could overheat and even melt, producing smoke (although still meeting the standard requirements for product safety) and causing permanent breakage of the device. This solenoid is controlled directly by the electronic control unit of the electrical household appliance, and therefore the electric pulse can be sent to the solenoid under the control of said electronic control unit.

[0042] The release lever 72 can be seen in particular in Fig. 4.

[0043] Said release lever 72 moves the pair of fastening teeth 71 that can be inserted in said vertical bridge pieces 43 of said power actuator, preventing the latter from moving downwards.

[0044] Still referring to Fig. 4, it will be seen that the release lever 72 is connected to solenoid 60, and that a compression spring 73 holds the fastening teeth 71 in an operating position in which they lock the vertical bridge pieces 43 in a raised position, while actuation of the solenoid, with consequent movement of release lever 72, displaces said fastening teeth 71 to a non-operating position in which they do not interact with said vertical bridge pieces 43.

[0045] The operation of the selector according to the present invention is as follows.

[0046] The power actuator 40 and the mechanical reset 30 can move vertically relative to the body 10 of the selector, while the function selector 20 turns when operated by the user as it is integral with the control knob of the electrical household appliance. Thus, as a result of actuation of the knob, the function selector 20 turns, and its rotation causes upward movement of the power actuator 40 by the effect of opposition of teeth 22a of said function selector 20 with teeth 42a of said power actuator 40.

[0047] Thus, at each step of rotation of the knob, the power actuator 40 moves upwards, thereby also raising the mechanical reset 30 that is integral with said power actuator 40.

[0048] However, owing to the presence of the opposed teeth 23 and 33, rotation of the function selector 20 corresponds to an upward movement of the mechanical reset 30 only and exclusively when the operator moves the knob manually to the OFF position, corresponding precisely to alignment of the two opposed teeth 23 and 33. We shall return to this aspect of the operation of the device later.

[0049] The upward movement of the power actuator 40, which occurs corresponding to the rotation of the knob corresponding to selection of an operating programme of the electrical household appliance, causes the power contacts 13 to close, thus supplying the electrical household appliance with mains voltage, as can be seen in Figs. 5A and 5B. In this operational configuration of the selector that corresponds to selection of a programme by the user, the bridge pieces 43 of said actuator 40 will be caught on the fastening teeth 71 of the fastening-releasing device 70, which keeps them in the raised position throughout the operation of the electrical household appliance until the end of the programme.

[0050] This position of the fastening teeth 71 is guaranteed by the action of the compression spring 73 housed between said release lever 72 and a second fixed cover 80 for containing said solenoid 60 and said release lever 72.

[0051] Accordingly, in this configuration the user can rotate the knob and alter the programme setting of the electrical household appliance with the power actuator 40 remaining in the raised position shown in Figs. 5A and 5B that corresponds to an ON operating condition of the electrical household appliance in which the power supply circuit is closed.

[0052] If the user should wish to interrupt the operation of the electrical household appliance manually, bringing it manually to a non-operating OFF condition, he can operate the knob, turning it to the OFF position. Corresponding to this position of the knob, tooth 23 of said function selector 20 moves to correspond to tooth 33 of said mechanical reset 30. This last-mentioned element, the mechanical reset 30, is thus pushed upwards to the position shown in Fig. 2, and the stems 32 slide into the bridge pieces 43.

[0053] Owing to the bevelled configuration of the bottom surface of the fastening teeth 71, when the stems 32 are pushed upwards to reach the end of travel shown in Fig. 3, the fastening teeth 71 are pushed out of the bridge pieces 43, in opposition to the force exerted by the compression spring 73, releasing said bridge pieces and thus allowing the power actuator 40 to move downwards, pushed by the elastic action of the power contacts 13.

[0054] When the power actuator 40, and with it the mechanical reset 30, return to the bottom position in which the tips of teeth 42a of said power actuator 40 are inserted in the valleys defined by the teeth 22a of said function selector 20, the selector will be in the OFF configuration shown in Figs. 7A and 7B, in which the contacts 13 of the supply circuit are open, and the electrical household appliance is not live.

[0055] Thus, the function of bringing the electrical household appliance to the OFF condition manually is achieved by simple operation of the knob on the part of the user.

[0056] Returning now to the situation in which the operating condition of the electrical household appliance is the ON condition shown in Figs. 5A and 5B, the means for automatic opening of the power circuit that supplies the electrical household appliance with mains voltage operate in the following way.

[0057] Assuming that in the ON configuration the fastening teeth 71 are inserted in the bridge pieces 43 and prevent the power actuator 40 from moving downwards causing opening of the contacts 13 of the power circuit, when the electronic control unit of the electrical household appliance detects the end of the operating programme that has been set, said control unit sends a pulse to solenoid 60 that moves the actuating arm 61 horizontally, which in its turn moves the release lever 72 horizontally, which retracts the fastening teeth 71, releasing said bridge pieces 43, which are thus free to move downwards together with the power actuator 40, pushed by the spring 62.

[0058] Again in this case, the downward movement of the power actuator 40 causes opening of the contacts 13 and therefore opening of the supply circuit of the electrical household appliance, which therefore switches automatically to the OFF condition without the operator having to intervene manually by operating the knob. It has thus been shown that the selector according to the present invention makes it possible to incorporate in a single device both the manual OFF function conventionally performed by the selectors currently used on electrical household appliances, and an innovative auto switch-OFF function that currently is not performed by the known selectors, so that the electrical household appliances remain under power in a stand-by condition, involving energy consumption even at the end of the operating programme of said electrical household appliance.

[0059] Thus, it has been shown how the selector for switching-on, switching-off and selection of the operating programmes of an appliance, in particular of an electrical household appliance, comprising means for automatic opening of the power supply circuit at the end of the operating programme selected, achieves the purpose and the proposed objects.

[0060] In particular, it has been illustrated how the selector according to the present invention makes it possible to combine in a single, extremely compact device, and which can be used together with an electronic card of the type already in use on electrical household appliances, without requiring any modification, and being compatible pin-to-pin with the selectors already known only now also providing an auto switch-off function, not performed by the existing selectors.

Claims

1. Selector (100) of the type suitable for connecting to the control knob of an appliance for management of switching-on, switching-off and selection of the operating programmes of said appliance by opening and closing at least one circuit (13) for power supply at mains voltage and at least one low-voltage working circuit (14) by means of contacts inside said selector, characterized in that it comprises means (20, 30, 40, 60, 70) for automatic opening of the supply circuit (13) of said appliance at the end of the selected operating programme.

2. Selector (100) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said means for automatic opening of the supply circuit (13) comprise a function selector (20) suitable for connecting to said control knob of an appliance and rotatable about a vertical axis (A), a mechanical reset (30) connected to said function selector (20) and movable vertically relative to the latter, a power actuator (40) suitable for closing and opening the power supply circuits (13) and low-voltage working circuits (14) moving vertically relative to said function selector (20) between a first raised position corresponding to the (ON) condition with the supply circuit (13) closed and a second lowered position corresponding to the non-operating (OFF) condition with the supply circuit (13) open.

3. Selector (100) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said function selector (20) consists of a Gray-code selector comprising a disk (22) that extends in a substantially horizontal plane rotatable about said vertical axis (A), and comprising, corresponding to the outer edge of its upper face, a series of teeth (22a) that thus produce an alternation of peaks and valleys.

4. Selector (100) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said power actuator (40) has a hollow cylindrical central portion (41) to which a disk-shaped base element (42) is connected, from which two bridge pieces (43) extend vertically and are positioned diametrically opposite to one another, and on the bottom surface of said disk-shaped base element (42) there is a series of teeth (42a) that can interact with said teeth (22a) provided on said disk (22) of said function selector (20), so that when the tips of teeth (22a) of function selector (20) are located so that they correspond to the tips of teeth (42a) of said power actuator (40), said power actuator is in the raised (ON) position and when the tips of one series of teeth meet the valleys of the other series of teeth, said power actuator is in the lowered (OFF) position.

5. Selector (100) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said means for automatic opening of the supply circuit (13) further comprise a fastening-releasing device (70) which comprises at least one pair of fastening teeth (71) that can interact with said bridge pieces (43) of said power actuator (40) in order to hold said power actuator (40) in said first raised position corresponding to the (ON) condition with the supply circuit (13) closed.

6. Selector (100) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said means for automatic opening of the supply circuit (13) of said appliance at the end of the operating programme selected further comprise an actuator (60) directly connectable to the electronic control unit for operating said appliance and able to actuate said fastening-releasing device (70) so that as a result of an electric pulse sent from the control unit said actuator (60) moves said fastening-releasing device (70) automatically releasing said fastening teeth (71) from said bridge pieces (43), so as to cause automatic lowering of said power actuator (40) to the lowered (OFF) position causing opening of the power circuit (13).

7. Selector (100) according to any one of Claims 3 to 6, characterized in that said disk (22) of said function selector (20) further comprises a further tooth (23) extending upwards and able to oppose a corresponding tooth (33) provided below said mechanical reset (30), so that when said tooth (23) of said function selector (20) is brought, as a result of rotation of the function selector (20) by the user, to a manual OFF position in which said tooth (23) is located corresponding to said tooth (33) associated with said mechanical reset (30), said mechanical reset (30) moves upwards.

8. Selector (100) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said mechanical reset (30) further comprises a pair of stems (32) that extend upwards in a substantially vertical direction and are positioned in a position diametrically opposite to one another, and can be inserted in said vertical bridge pieces (43) of said power actuator (40).

9. Selector (100) according to Claim 6, characterized in that said actuator (60) consists of a solenoid comprising an actuating arm (61) connected to said fastening-releasing device (70).

10. Selector (100) according to any one of Claims 5 to 9, characterized in that said fastening-releasing device (70) comprises at least one release lever (72) connected to said actuating arm (61) of said solenoid (60) and connected to said fastening teeth (71).

11. Selector (100) according to any one of Claims 5 to 10, characterized in that said fastening teeth (71) have a zone with an end bevelled at the bottom in such a way that the thrust exerted on said fastening teeth (71) by said stems (32) when said mechanical reset (30) moves upwards under the action of manual rotation of said function selector (20) to a manual OFF position, it pushes said fastening teeth (71) out of said bridge pieces (43) causing release of said power actuator (40).

12. Selector (100) according to any one of Claims 9 to 11, characterized in that it further comprises a protective PTC mounted in series with the winding of said solenoid.

13. Electrical household appliance comprising a selector according to one or more of Claims 1 to 12.

Ansprüche

1. Wähleinrichtung (100) des Typs, der zum Verbinden mit dem Steuerknopf eines Geräts zum Managen eines Einschaltens, Ausschaltens und der Auswahl der Betriebsprogramme des Geräts durch Öffnen und Schließen zumindest eines Schaltkreises (13) zur Leistungsversorgung bei Hauptspannung und zumindest eines Niederspannungsarbeitsschaltkreises (14) mittels Kontakten innerhalb der Wähleinrichtung geeignet ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass sie ein Mittel (20, 30, 40, 60, 70) zum automatischen Öffnen des Versorgungsschaltkreises (13) des Geräts an dem Ende des gewählten Betriebsprogrammes umfasst.

2. Wähleinrichtung (100) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Mittel zum automatischen Öffnen des Versorgungskreislaufs (13) eine Funktionswähleinrichtung (20), die zum Verbinden mit dem Steuerknopf eines Geräts geeignet und um eine vertikale Achse (A) drehbar ist, eine mechanische Rückstelleinrichtung (30), die mit der Funktionswähleinrichtung (20) verbunden und vertikal relativ zu dieser bewegbar ist, und einen Leistungsaktor (40) umfasst, der zum Schließen und Öffnen der Leistungsversorgungsschaltkreise (13) und der Niederspannungsarbeitsschaltkreise (14) geeignet ist, wobei er sich vertikal relativ zu der Funktionswähleinrichtung (20) zwischen einer ersten erhöhten Position, die dem (EIN)-Zustand entspricht, bei dem die Versorgungsschaltung (13) geschlossen ist, und einer zweiten abgesenkten Position bewegbar ist, die dem Nichtbetriebs-(AUS)-Zustand entspricht, bei dem der Versorgungskreislauf (13) offen ist.

3. Wähleinrichtung (100) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Funktionswähleinrichtung (20) aus einer Gray-Code-Wähleinrichtung besteht, die eine Scheibe (22) umfasst, die sich in einer im Wesentlichen horizontalen Ebene erstreckt und um die vertikale Achse (A) drehbar ist, und entsprechend dem Außenrand ihrer oberen Seite eine Reihe von Zähnen (22a) umfasst, die somit eine Abwechslung von Spitzen und Tälern erzeugen.

4. Wähleinrichtung (100) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Leistungsaktor (40) einen hohlen zylindrischen Zentralabschnitt (41) aufweist, mit dem ein scheibenförmiges Basiselement (42) verbunden ist, von dem sich zwei Brückenstücke (43) vertikal erstrecken und diametral gegenüberliegend zueinander positioniert sind, und an der Bodenfläche des scheibenförmigen Basiselements (42) eine Reihe von Zähnen (42a) vorgesehen ist, die mit den Zähnen (22a) in Wechselwirkung stehen können, die an der Scheibe (22) der Funktionswähleinrichtung (20) vorgesehen sind, so dass, wenn die Spitzen der Zähne (22a) der Funktionswähleinrichtung (20) so positioniert sind, dass sie den Spitzen der Zähne (42a) des Leistungsaktors (40) entsprechen, sich der Leistungsaktor in der erhöhten (EIN)-Position befindet, und wenn die Spitzen einer Reihe von Zähnen auf die Täler der anderen Reihe von Zähnen treffen, der Leistungsaktor in der abgesenkten (AUS)-Position ist.

5. Wähleinrichtung (100) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Mittel zum automatischen Öffnen des Versorgungskreislaufs (13) ferner eine eine Befestigung freigebende Vorrichtung (70) umfasst, die zumindest ein Paar von Befestigungszähnen (71) umfasst, die mit den Brückenstücken (43) des Leistungsaktors (40) in Wechselwirkung stehen können, um den Leistungsaktor (40) in der ersten erhöhten Position zu halten, die dem (EIN)-Zustand entspricht, wobei der Versorgungsschaltkreis (13) geschlossen ist.

6. Wähleinrichtung (100) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Mittel zum automatischen Öffnen des Versorgungsschaltkreises (13) des Geräts an dem Ende des Betriebsprogrammes, das gewählt ist, ferner einen Aktor (60) umfasst, der direkt mit der elektronischen Steuereinheit zum Betrieb des Geräts verbindbar und in der Lage ist, die die Befestigung freigebende Vorrichtung (70) so zu betätigen, dass infolge eines elektrischen Impulses, der von der Steuereinheit gesendet wird, der Aktor (60) die die Befestigung freigebende Vorrichtung (70) bewegt, wobei die Befestigungszähne (71) von den Brückenstücken (43) automatisch freigegeben werden, um so ein automatisches Absenken des Leistungsaktors (40) zu der abgesenkten (AUS)-Position zu bewirken, wodurch ein Öffnen des Leistungsschaltkreises (13) bewirkt wird.

7. Wähleinrichtung (100) nach einem der Ansprüche 3 bis 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Scheibe (22) der Funktionswähleinrichtung (20) ferner einen weiteren Zahn (23) umfasst, der sich aufwärts erstreckt und in der Lage ist, einem entsprechenden Zahn (33), der unter der mechanischen Rückstelleinrichtung (30) vorgesehen ist, gegenüberzuliegen, so dass, wenn der Zahn (23) der Funktionswähleinrichtung (20) infolge der Drehung der Funktionswähleinrichtung (20) durch den Nutzer in eine manuelle AUS-Position gebracht ist, in der der Zahn (23) entsprechen dem Zahn (33), der der mechanischen Rückstelleinrichtung (30) zugeordnet ist, angeordnet ist, sich die mechanische Rückstelleinrichtung (30) aufwärts bewegt.

8. Wähleinrichtung (100) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die mechanische Rückstelleinrichtung (30) ferner ein Paar von Schäften (32) umfasst, die sich aufwärts in einer im Wesentlichen vertikalen Richtung erstrecken und in einer Position diametral gegenüberliegend zueinander positioniert sind und in die vertikalen Brückenstücke (43) des Leistungsaktors (40) eingesetzt werden können.

9. Wähleinrichtung (100) nach Anspruch 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Aktor (60) aus einem Solenoid besteht, der einen Betätigungsarm (61) umfasst, der mit der die Befestigung freigebenden Vorrichtung (70) verbunden ist.

10. Wähleinrichtung (100) nach einem der Ansprüche 5 bis 9, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die die Befestigung freigebende Vorrichtung (70) zumindest einen Freigabehebel (72) umfasst, der mit dem Betätigungsarm (61) des Solenoids (60) verbunden und mit den Befestigungszähnen (71) verbunden ist.

11. Wähleinrichtung (100) nach einem der Ansprüche 5 bis 10, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Befestigungszähne (71) eine Zone mit einem Ende aufweisen, das an dem Boden auf eine solche Weise angeschrägt ist, dass der Schub, der auf die Befestigungszähne (71) durch die Schäfte (32) ausgeübt wird, wenn sich die mechanische Rückstelleinrichtung (30) aufwärts unter der Wirkung einer manuellen Drehung der Funktionswähleinrichtung (20) zu der manuellen AUS-Position bewegt, die Befestigungszähne (71) aus den Brückenstücken (43) drückt, wodurch die Freisetzung des Leistungsaktors (40) bewirkt wird.

12. Wähleinrichtung (100) nach einem der Ansprüche 9 bis 11, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass sie ferner einen Schutz-PTC umfasst, der in Reihe mit der Wicklung des Solenoids montiert ist.

13. Elektrisches Haushaltsgerät mit einer Wähleinrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 12.

Revendications

1. Sélecteur (100) du type adapté pour la connexion au bouton de commande d'un appareil pour la gestion de mise en marche, de mise à l'arrêt et de sélection des programmes de fonctionnement dudit appareil en ouvrant et fermant au moins un circuit (13) pour l'alimentation électrique à la tension secteur et au moins un circuit de travail à basse tension (14) au moyen de contacts à l'intérieur dudit sélecteur, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend des moyens (20, 30, 40, 60, 70) pour l'ouverture automatique du circuit d'alimentation (13) dudit appareil à la fin du programme de fonctionnement sélectionné.

2. Sélecteur (100) selon la revendication précédente, caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens pour l'ouverture automatique du circuit d'alimentation (13) comprennent un sélecteur de fonction (20) adapté pour la connexion audit bouton de commande d'un appareil et rotatif autour d'un axe vertical (A), un élément de remise à zéro mécanique (30) connecté audit sélecteur de fonction (20) et mobile verticalement par rapport à celui-ci, un actionneur de puissance (40) adapté pour fermer et ouvrir les circuits d'alimentation électrique (13) et les circuits de travail à basse tension (14) en se déplaçant verticalement par rapport audit sélecteur de fonction (20) entre une première position relevée correspondant à la condition (ON) avec le circuit d'alimentation (13) fermé et une deuxième position abaissée correspondant à la condition de non fonctionnement (OFF) avec le circuit d'alimentation (13) ouvert.

3. Sélecteur (100) selon la revendication précédente, caractérisé en ce que ledit sélecteur de fonction (20) consiste en un sélecteur à code de Gray comprenant un disque (22) qui s'étend dans un plan sensiblement horizontal rotatif autour dudit axe vertical (A) et comprenant, en correspondance du bord extérieur de sa face supérieure, une série de dents (22a) qui produisent ainsi une alternance de sommets et de creux.

4. Sélecteur (100) selon la revendication précédente, caractérisé en ce que ledit actionneur de puissance (40) comporte une portion centrale cylindrique creuse (41) à laquelle est connecté un élément de base en forme de disque (42), à partir duquel deux pièces en pont (43) s'étendent verticalement et sont positionnées diamétralement opposées l'une à l'autre, et sur la surface inférieure dudit élément de base en forme de disque (42) est disposée une série de dents (42a) qui peuvent interagir avec lesdites dents (22a) disposées sur ledit disque (22) dudit sélecteur de fonction (20), de manière que, quand les pointes de dents (22a) du sélecteur de fonction (20) sont positionnées de manière qu'elles correspondent aux pointes de dents (42a) dudit actionneur de puissance (40), ledit actionneur de puissance est dans la position relevée (ON) et, quand les pointes d'une série de dents rencontrent les creux de l'autre série de dents, ledit actionneur de puissance est dans la position abaissée (OFF).

5. Sélecteur (100) selon la revendication précédente, caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens pour l'ouverture automatique du circuit d'alimentation (13) comprennent en outre un dispositif de fixation-libération (70) qui comprend au moins une paire de dents de fixation (71) qui peuvent interagir avec lesdites pièces en pont (43) dudit actionneur de puissance (40) de manière à maintenir ledit actionneur de puissance (40) dans ladite première position relevée correspondant à la position (ON) avec le circuit d'alimentation (13) fermé.

6. Sélecteur (100) selon la revendication précédente, caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens pour l'ouverture automatique du circuit d'alimentation (13) dudit appareil à la fin du programme de fonctionnement sélectionné comprennent en outre un actionneur (60) pouvant être connecté directement à l'unité de commande électronique pour faire fonctionner ledit appareil et capable d'actionner ledit dispositif de fixation-libération (70) de manière que, suite à une impulsion électrique transmise par l'unité de commande, ledit actionneur (60) déplace ledit dispositif de fixation-libération (70) en libérant automatiquement lesdites dents de fixation (71) desdites pièces en pont (43), de manière à provoquer l'abaissement automatique dudit actionneur de puissance (40) vers la position abaissée (OFF) en provoquant l'ouverture du circuit d'alimentation (13).

7. Sélecteur (100) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 3 à 6, caractérisé en ce que ledit disque (22) dudit sélecteur de fonction (20) comprend en outre une autre dent (23) s'étendant vers le haut et capable de s'opposer à une dent correspondante (33) disposée au-dessous dudit élément de remise à zéro mécanique (30), de manière que, quand ladite dent (23) dudit sélecteur de fonction (20) est amenée, suite à la rotation du sélecteur de fonction (20) par l'utilisateur, dans une position OFF manuelle dans laquelle ladite dent (23) est positionnée en correspondance de ladite dent (33) associée audit élément de remise à zéro mécanique (30), ledit élément de remise à zéro mécanique (30) se déplace vers le haut.

8. Sélecteur (100) selon la revendication précédente, caractérisé en ce que ledit élément de remise à zéro mécanique (30) comprend en outre une paire de tiges (32) qui s'étendent vers le haut dans une direction sensiblement verticale et sont positionnées dans une position diamétralement opposée l'une à l'autre et peuvent être insérées dans lesdites pièces en pont verticales (43) dudit actionneur de puissance (40).

9. Sélecteur (100) selon la revendication 6, caractérisé en ce que ledit actionneur (60) consiste en un solénoïde comprenant un bras d'actionnement (61) connecté audit dispositif de fixation-libération (70).

10. Sélecteur (100) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 5 à 9, caractérisé en ce que ledit dispositif de fixation-libération (70) comprend au moins un levier de libération (72) connecté audit bras d'actionnement (61) dudit solénoïde (60) et connecté auxdites dents de fixation (71).

11. Sélecteur (100) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 5 à 10, caractérisé en ce que lesdites dents de fixation (71) ont une zone avec une extrémité biseautée en bas de manière que la poussée exercée sur lesdites dents de fixation (71) par lesdites tiges (32) quand ledit élément de remise à zéro mécanique (30) se déplace vers le haut sous l'action de la rotation manuelle dudit sélecteur de fonction (20) dans une position OFF manuelle, il pousse lesdites dents de fixation (71) hors desdites pièces en pont (43) en provoquant la libération dudit actionneur de puissance (40).

12. Sélecteur (100) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 9 à 11, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend en outre un CTP de protection monté en série avec l'enroulement dudit solénoïde.

13. Appareil électroménager comprenant un sélecteur selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 12.

Drawing