GB2120282A

GB2120282A - Improvements in washing- machines

Info

Publication number: GB2120282A
Application number: GB08308251A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Riccardo Bertolino
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-03-26
Filing date: 1983-03-25
Publication date: 1983-11-30
Also published as: IT1155678B; GB8308251D0; IT8267394A0; FR2524024B1; DE3310644A1; ES271153Y; GB2120282B; ES271153U; FR2524024A1

Abstract

A machine for washing laundry or dishes is provided with a duct (18) for the recycling of the washing liquid, having an intake orifice (15) communicating with the bottom of the washing tank (2) and an outflow nozzle (20) directed towards the interior of the drum (3) containing the articles to be washed. The recycling duct (18) is associated with a hydraulic pump (21) which controls the circulation of the washing liquid inside the duct (18) itself, and with an electrolytic cell (22) acting on the washing liquid drawn from the tank. The oxygen produced on electrolysis serves to whiten or bleach the laundry. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in washing-machines The present invention relates to washingmachines.

In the following description and claims, the expression "washing-machine" is intended to mean any type of washing-machine for domestic use, for example machines for washing laundry and dish-washing machines. The present invention relates to a washing-machine comprising a washing tank, a drum for containing articles to be washed inside the tank and means for feeding a washing liquid to the tank at the start of the washing cycle and for discharging this liquid from the tank at the end of the washing cycle.

The principal feature of the washing-machine according to the present invention lies in the fact that it is provided, in combination, with recycling means for drawing the washing liquid from the tank and for admitting it in the form of a jet into the drum containing the articles to be washed, and with means for effecting an electrolysis of the washing liquid drawn from the tank.

The idea of providing a washing-machine with means for effecting an electrolysis of the washing liquid inside the washing tank has already constituted the subject-matter of an application for a patent of industrial invention No.

67083-A/79 filed by the same Applicant, on the 16th January 1979. As described in this application, the utilisation of an electrochemical process during the washing operation makes it possible to obtain satisfactory results without resorting to excessive heating of the washing liquid, with a substantial reduction in the consumption of electrical energy for the operation of the machine.

Subsequent tests carried out by the Applicant have shown that a substantial improvement in these washing results can be obtained if the electrolysis is carried out in a cell situated in the recycling duct which draws the washing liquid from the tank so as to project it subsequently into the drum containing the articles to be washed.

The action of electrolysis is that of producing active oxygen in the liquid which is then immediately projected on to the articles to be washed, so as to bring about a whitening or bleaching effect.

Furthermore, the Applicant has been able to observe that particularly good washing results are obtained if the positive electrodes of the electrolytic cell are constituted by graphite covered with lead dioxide (PbO2).

Further features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, given solely by way of non-restrictive example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows diagrammatically the construction of a washing-machine according to the invention; Figure 2 refers to the application of the invention to a machine for washing laundry, illustrated in vertical median section; Figure 3 is a view in axial section of one of the elements shown in Figure 2, and Figures 4 and 5 are two sections taken respectively along the line lV-lV and the line V-V in Figure 3.

In the drawings, 1 denotes the housing of a machine for washing laundry, inside which is suspended a tank 2 in which a drum 3 is mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis, the drum being intended to contain the laundry to be subjected to the washing operation.

The drum 3 is supported at the level of its rear wall by a spoked member 4 keyed on a horizontal shaft 5, to which rotational movement is imparted by an electric motor 6 by way of a belt drive 7. The front wall of the drum 3 is provided with the usual central aperture 8 which is accessible from the outside of the housing 1 through a front door 9, with which is associated a bellows-type seal 10 inserted between the housing 1 of the washingmachine and the tank 2.

The side wall of the drum 3 is substantially smooth over the majority of its extension, since it is provided with two rings of holes 11 situated adjacent to the end walls of the drum 3 itself.

As illustrated in Figure 1, the machine for washing laundry comprises a tube 12 for feeding the washing liquid into the interior of the tank 2 at the start of the washing cycle. The conventional detergent container 13 is interposed in the pipe 12 downstream of an electromagnetic valve 14.

At the bottom of the tank 2 is situated the intake orifice of a tube 1 5 which communicates the tank proper with a filter 16, through which the washing liquid drawn from the tank 2 can flow selectively towards two pipes 1 7, 18.

The pipe 17, which acts as discharge duct, is connected to an electric water-pump 19 which is operated at the end of the washing cycle so as to discharge the washing liquid situated in the tank 2.

The pipe 18, which is also shown in Figure 2, terminates in a nozzle 20 which points towards the interior of the 3 through the front aperture 8 level with the upper rim 8 of the aperture itself.

The nozzle 20 is inserted in a ballast lining 2a, normally consisting of concrete, applied to the front wall of the tank and is connected to the pipe 18 with the interposition of a concertina-type coupling 18a intended to absorb the vibrations which are transmitted to the nozzle 20 by the tank 2 during operation.

An electric water-pump 21, which is connected with the pipe 18 acting as a recycling duct, is actuated during the washing cycle so that the washing liquid drawn from the tank 2 through the pipe 15 is admitted into the drum 3 through the nozzle 20 from above in the form of a jet.

Downstream of the electric water-pump 21 there is arranged an electrolytic cell 22 illustrated in greater detail in Figures 3, 4 and 5.

The cell 22 comprises a tubular insulating sleeve 23 provided at its ends with unions 24 and 25 which enable the cell 22 to be connected into the recycling duct for the washing liquid.

Inside the sleeve 23 there is situated a tubular electrode 26 preferably consisting of graphite covered with lead dioxide.

Inside the tubular electrode 26 and coaxial therewith there is arranged a cylindrical electrode 27.

The mechanical connection between the two electrodes 26, 27 is effected by means of two disc-shaped centering elements 28, 29 made of insulating material and provided with segmental apertures 28a, 29a for the passage of the washing liquid. These centering elements 28, 29 are illustrated in detail in Figures 4, 5.

The inner electrode 27 is provided with a radial contact 27a for the connection with the negative pole of a direct-current supply, generally designated 30.

The tubular electrode 26 of the cell 22 is connected with the positive pole of the supply 30 by way of a contact 26a emerging from the casing 23 of the electrolytic cell itself.

As indicated diagrammatically in Figure 1, the direct-current supply 30 comprises a transformer 31 and a rectifier 32 connected with the secondary winding of the transformer 31, with interposition of a selector 33 which makes it possible to vary the value of the direct-current voltage applied to the cell 22 between values which can vary from 5 to 30 volts. A switch 34 is inserted in the circuit between the transformer 31 and the mains supply, which switch makes it possible to disconnect the electrolytic cell 22 so that the liquid drawn from the tank 2 is readmitted into the drum 3 in the form of a jet and without undergoing the electrolytic dissociation.

As evident in Figure 3, the flow of washing liquid drawn from the drum into the annular cavity bounded by the electrodes 26, 27 of the cell is facilitated by the fact that the inner electrode 27 has tapered ends and by the fact that the unions 24, 25 have flared inner walls surrounding the tapered end parts of the inner electrode 27, so as to define annular inlet and outlet chambers for the liquid itself.

It is also to be noted that the washing liquid drawn from the tank 2 is fed to the electrolytic cell 22 after having passed through the filter 16 which is able to retain not only fluff and any particles which the washing liquid may have removed from the fabrics contained in the drum 3, but also particles of dirt contained in the impurities retained by the filter as a result of the repeated passage of the washing liquid through it.

Accordingly, the action of the cell 22 is carried out on partially purified liquid and as a result is thus even more effective.

Of course, while retaining the principle of the invention, the constructional details and forms of embodiment could be widely varied in relation to that described and illustrated without thereby departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A washing machine, comprising a washing tank, a drum for containing articles to be washed inside the tank and means for feeding a washing liquid to the tank at the start of the washing cycle and for discharging said liquid from the tank at the end of the washing cycle, wherein there is provided, in combination, recycling means for drawing the washing liquid from the tank and for admitting it in the form of a jet into the drum containing the articles to be washed, and means for effecting an electrolytic dissociation of the washing liquid drawn from the tank.

2. A washing machine according to Claim 1, comprising a duct for the recycling of the washing liquid, having an intake orifice communicating with the bottom of the washing tank and an outflow nozzle directed towards the interior of the container drum, a hydraulic pump for controlling the circulation of the washing liquid inside said duct and an electrolytic dissociation cell disposed flow dynamically in series with respect to the pump.

3. A washing machine according to Claim 2, wherein a filter is inserted between the intake orifice of the recycling duct and the hydraulic pump.

4. A machine according to Claim 2, wherein at least one of the electrodes of the electrolytic cell, preferably the anode, consists of graphite covered with lead dioxide.

5. A machine according to any of Claims 2. 3 and 4, wherein the electrolytic cell comprises a cylindrical inner electrode and a tubular outer electrode which surrounds the inner electrode so as to define an annular cavity for the axial flow of the washing liquid drawn from the tank.

6. A machine according to Claim 5, wherein the inner electrode acts as a cathode for the electrolytic cell.

7. A machine according to Claim 5 or Claim 6, comprising disc-shaped centering elements inserted between the corresponding ends of the electrodes of the electrolytic cell and provided with apertures for the passage of the washing liquid.

8. A machine according to Claim 5 or Claim 6, wherein the inner electrode has tapered end parts and in that unions are associated with the electrolytic cell for the connection to the recycling duct for the washing liquid, having flared inner walls surrounding said tapered end parts so as to define annular chambers for the inlet and outlet of the liquid itself.

9. A washing machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.