Water inlet device for a household appliance

Abstract

The invention relates to a water inlet device (6) for a household appliance, comprising a cold water inlet (20) and a hot water inlet (21) as well as a first valve (15), a second valve (16) and a third valve (17), wherein the valves (15, 16, 17) each have an inlet side (23, 24, 26) and an outlet side (27, 30, 31) and are each switchable between an open state, in which the respective inlet side (23, 24, 26) of the respective valve (15, 16, 17) is connected to the respective outlet side (27, 30, 31), and a closed state, in which the respective inlet side (23, 24, 26) of the respective valve (15, 16, 17) is separated from the respective outlet side (27, 30, 31). The inlet sides (23, 24) of the first valve (15) and the second valve (16) are each connected to the cold water inlet (20), while the inlet side (26) of the third valve (17) is connected to the hot water inlet (21).Furthermore, the outlet side (27) of the first valve (15) is connected to a first outlet (18), whereas the outlet sides (30, 31) of the second valve (16) and the third valve (17) are connected to a second outlet (19). The water inlet device (6) is designed as a pre-assembled unit (13).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a water supply device for a household appliance, in particular for a laundry treatment appliance, comprising a cold water inlet and a hot water inlet as well as a first valve, a second valve and a third valve, wherein the valves each have an inlet side and an outlet side and are each switchable between an open state, in which the respective inlet side of the respective valve is connected to the respective outlet side, and a closed state, in which the respective inlet side of the respective valve is separated from the respective outlet side, wherein the inlet sides of the first valve and the second valve are each connected to the cold water inlet and the inlet side of the third valve is connected to the hot water inlet,and wherein the outlet side of the first valve is connected to a first outlet, and the outlet sides of the second and third valves are connected to a second outlet. Furthermore, the invention relates to a household appliance with a water supply device.

[0002] Water-using household appliances, such as washing machines, dishwashers, etc., are usually connected to the household's water supply so that the appliance can draw the water it needs from the water supply. For this purpose, the appliance is usually equipped with a water inlet device, which is then used to connect the appliance to the household's water supply. Household appliances that require warm or hot water during operation are sometimes connected to a warm water pipe in addition to a cold water pipe in order to at least limit the need for the appliance to heat up the water during operation.This is a possibility, for example, if the household in question has a solar thermal system, allowing hot water to be generated renewably. In this case, the respective water inlet of the household appliance must be connected to both a cold water line and a hot water line. In some cases, a suitable mixture of cold and hot water for the specific operation of the household appliance must also be provided within the water inlet.

[0003] EP 3 425 106 A1 discloses a household appliance in the form of a laundry treatment appliance equipped with a water inlet device. The laundry treatment appliance can be connected to a cold water pipe and a hot water pipe via the water inlet device, for which purpose the water inlet device has a cold water inlet and a hot water inlet. In addition, the water inlet device is provided with a first valve, a second valve, and a third valve, each of which has an inlet side and an outlet side and can connect or disconnect the respective inlet side and the respective outlet side depending on their respective state. The first valve and the second valve are each connected to the cold water inlet on the inlet side, while the third valve is connected to the hot water inlet on the inlet side.On the drain side, the first valve is then connected to a first outlet, which leads to a first chamber of a dispenser tray of the laundry treatment appliance, whereas another chamber of this dispenser tray is connected to a second outlet of the water inlet device, to which the second valve and the third valve are connected on the drain side at a mixing area. In the mixing area, cold water can then be mixed with hot water depending on the actuation of the second valve and the third valve, before being fed to the further chamber of the dispenser tray.

[0004] Based on the prior art described above, it is now the object of the present invention to further develop an aforementioned water inlet device in such a way that the assembly and manufacturing costs of a household appliance can be reduced when using this water inlet device.

[0005] This object is achieved based on the preamble of claim 1 in conjunction with its characterizing features. The dependent claims that follow thereon each represent advantageous developments of the invention. A household appliance in which a water supply device according to the invention is provided is further the subject of claim 11.

[0006] According to the invention, a water supply device comprises a cold water inlet and a hot water inlet, as well as a first valve, a second valve, and a third valve. The valves each have an inlet side and an outlet side and can each be switched between an open state, in which each inlet side of the respective valve is connected to each outlet side, and a closed state, in which each inlet side of the respective valve is separated from each outlet side. The inlet sides of the first valve and the second valve are each connected to the cold water inlet, while the inlet side of the third valve is connected to the hot water inlet. Furthermore, the outlet side of the first valve is connected to a first outlet, whereas the outlet sides of the second valve and the third valve are connected to a second outlet.

[0007] The water supply device according to the invention thus has a cold water inlet, a hot water inlet, and a first outlet and a second outlet. The cold water inlet is intended for connection to a cold water pipe, while the hot water inlet is intended for connection to a hot water pipe.

[0008] Within the water supply device, the cold water inlet can be connected to the first outlet by opening the intermediate first valve of the water supply device, as the inlet side of the first valve connected to the cold water inlet and the outlet side of the first valve connected to the first outlet are connected to one another. However, the first outlet can also be separated from the cold water inlet by switching the first valve to its closed state, thereby separating the inlet side and outlet side of the first valve. Alternatively, the cold water inlet can be connected to the second outlet, for which purpose the intermediate second valve of the water supply device must be opened.In addition to simply supplying cold water to the second outlet by displaying the open state of the second valve, the second outlet can also display a mixing of cold water with hot water by simultaneously displaying the open state of the third valve. In the latter case, the outlet side is also connected to the second outlet, while the inlet side of the third valve is connected to the hot water inlet. Starting from the hot water inlet, however, a pure supply of hot water to the second outlet can also be displayed. For this, the third valve must be opened while the second valve is closed.

[0009] The first valve, the second valve and the third valve each have an inlet side and an outlet side, whereby in the case of the individual valve the respective inlet side is provided for supplying water to the respective valve and the respective outlet side is provided for discharging water from the respective valve. In the case of the individual valve, the respective inlet side and the respective outlet side are connected to one another when the respective valve is open, whereby water can flow through the respective valve and thus from the respective inlet side to the respective outlet side. If, on the other hand, the individual valve is in its closed state, the inlet side of the respective valve is separated from the respective outlet side, so that in the respective valve the flow of water from the respective inlet side to the respective outlet side is prevented.The individual valve can be switched between the open state and the closed state, ie the individual valve can be displayed in either the open state or the closed state.

[0010] The invention now encompasses the technical teaching that the water inlet device is designed as a preassembled unit. In other words, the water inlet device according to the invention is designed as a unit that has been preassembled.

[0011] This type of water inlet system design has the advantage that, by designing the water inlet system as a pre-assembled unit, the assembly effort required when installing a household appliance can be reduced. This is because the water inlet system only needs to be attached to the appropriate location within the appliance and connected to the outlets. Furthermore, the water inlet system can be implemented in a compact design with low manufacturing costs.

[0012] For the purposes of the invention, a "pre-assembled unit" is understood to mean a unit that is already assembled before installation in a household appliance, i.e., one that has been designed as part of a pre-assembly process. Thus, when installed in the respective household appliance, in addition to securing the unit, only the connections to the two outlets of the water inlet system by other components of the household appliance are required.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the invention, the outlet sides of the second valve and the third valve within the assembly are each connected to a collective discharge line connected to the second outlet. Thus, water supplied to the outlet sides of the second valve and the third valve can be combined via the collective discharge line and directed to the second outlet. In particular, the cold water supplied via the second valve and the hot water supplied via the third valve can also be mixed in the collective discharge line.

[0014] Alternatively, but preferably in addition to the aforementioned embodiment, the inlet sides of the first and second valves within the assembly are each connected to a common supply line connected to the cold water inlet. In this case, the water inlet device according to the invention provides a common supply line for the first valve and the second valve, with the connection to the cold water inlet then being established via this common supply line.

[0015] Alternatively, but preferably additionally, the outlet side of the first valve within the assembly is connected to a discharge line that is connected to the first outlet. Thus, a discharge line is provided between the outlet side of the first valve and the first outlet, through which cold water can flow from the outlet side of the first valve to the first outlet.

[0016] Alternatively, but especially in addition, the inlet side of the third valve within the unit is connected to a supply line connected to the hot water inlet. This allows hot water to be supplied from the hot water inlet to the inlet side of the third valve via this supply line.

[0017] Particularly preferably, in the water supply device according to the invention, the collective discharge line, the collective supply line, the discharge line and the supply line are implemented together, whereby a connection of the valves to the cold water inlet, to the hot water inlet and to the two outlets can be implemented in a particularly compact manner.

[0018] For the purposes of the invention, a "line," such as the collective discharge line, the collective supply line, the discharge line, or the supply line, is understood to mean a water flow between respective connection points, i.e., at least one inlet or outlet side of each valve and the cold water inlet or the hot water inlet or one of the outlets. The respective line can be composed of several sections. Furthermore, the respective line can be formed entirely by a conduit, entirely by a channel defined by a surrounding component, such as a housing, or in sections by one or more conduits and in sections by one or more channels.

[0019] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the valves are accommodated in a common housing of the structural unit. This allows the valves to be arranged in the common housing during pre-assembly. In a further development of this embodiment, chambers are formed on the inlet sides and / or on the outlet sides of the valves, which chambers are at least partially defined by the housing. This allows water to be supplied to the respective valve and / or water to be discharged from the respective valve to be reliably designed. Preferably, a plate is also attached to the housing, to which plate the structural unit can be attached to a wall of a housing of the household appliance. The wall is in particular a rear wall of the housing of the household appliance.

[0020] Particularly preferably, the collective supply line and / or the supply line are each formed as a channel through the housing. This allows the number of components in the water inlet device to be reduced and thus also the assembly effort for manufacturing the water inlet device to be reduced. Alternatively or additionally, the collective discharge line and / or the discharge line are provided as separate pipes in the housing.

[0021] In a further embodiment of the invention, the cold water inlet is formed by a cold water connection and the hot water inlet is formed by a hot water connection, wherein the cold water connection and the hot water connection are tilted towards each other in the structural unit. This has the advantage that it creates more space in the area of ​​the inlets for attaching a hose to the respective connection, which simplifies connecting the household appliance. The cold water connection and the hot water connection preferably enclose an angle in the range of 10° to 20°. Alternatively, the cold water connection and the hot water connection can also be formed running parallel to each other on the structural unit.

[0022] In a further development of the invention, the valves are designed as indirectly actuated valves. This allows the valves to be designed compactly while simultaneously being suitable for high water pressures. The valves are preferably designed as indirectly actuated solenoid valves.

[0023] The invention also relates to a household appliance equipped with a water supply device according to one or more of the variants described above. The household appliance is preferably a laundry treatment appliance, such as a washing machine or a washer-dryer, although the household appliance could also be a dishwasher.

[0024] An advantageous embodiment of the invention, which is explained below, is illustrated in the drawings. It shows: Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a household appliance; and Fig. 2 a representation of a water supply device of the household appliance from Fig. 1, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0025] Out of Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a household appliance 1, which is a laundry treatment appliance in the form of a washing machine. The household appliance 1 comprises an appliance housing 2 in which a laundry drum 3 is rotatably mounted. Laundry items to be treated can be inserted into the laundry drum 3 from a front side 4 of the household appliance 1 through a door 5. To treat the inserted laundry items, water must be supplied to the household appliance 1. The household appliance 1 is equipped with a water inlet device 6 for the water supply, on which a cold water connection 7 and a hot water connection 8 are formed.

[0026] The household appliance 1 is connected to the water supply of the respective household via the cold water connection 7 and the hot water connection 8, with the cold water connection 7 being provided for the supply of cold water and the hot water connection for the supply of hot water. The water inlet device 6 is connected via hoses 9 and 10 to a dispenser 11, in which the water supplied via the water inlet device 6 can be mixed with detergent and / or washing aid before being fed to the laundry drum 3. The water inlet device 6 is arranged in this case on a rear wall 12 of the appliance housing 2.

[0027] Fig. Figure 2 shows the water inlet device 6 in detail, wherein the water inlet device 6 is designed according to an embodiment of the invention. As a special feature, the water inlet device 6 is designed as a pre-assembled structural unit 13 having a housing 14. Three valves 15, 16, and 17 are accommodated in the housing 14 of the structural unit 13, each of which is an indirectly actuated valve and is specifically designed as an indirectly actuated solenoid valve. The structural unit 13 also has, in addition to two outlets 18 and 19, a cold water inlet 20 and a hot water inlet 21, of which the cold water inlet 20 is formed by the cold water connection 7 and the hot water inlet 21 is formed by the hot water connection 8. As also shown in Fig.As can be seen in Figure 2, both the cold water connection 7 and the hot water connection 8 are each equipped with an external thread, to which a respective hose for connection to the water supply is to be attached with a union nut.

[0028] The cold water inlet 20 is connected to a common supply line 22, which connects the cold water inlet 20 to an inlet side 23 of the valve 15 and an inlet side 24 of the valve 16, respectively. In contrast, a supply line 25 is connected to the hot water inlet 21, which establishes a connection between the hot water inlet 21 and an inlet side 26 of the valve 17.

[0029] The valve 15 is connected on an outlet side 27 to a discharge line 28 which leads to the outlet 18 of the water inlet device 6. A connecting piece 29 is also provided at the outlet 18 for connecting the hose 9 and accordingly for directing the supplied cold water to the dispenser tray 11. For the valves 16 and 17, the outlet sides 30 and 31 are connected to a common collective discharge line 32 which connects the outlet sides 30 and 31 of the valves 16 and 17 to the outlet 19. A connecting piece 33 is also provided at the outlet 19, to which the hose 10 can be connected in order to direct the water fed into the collective discharge line 32 to the dispenser tray 11.

[0030] The valves 15, 16 and 17 can each be switched between an open state and a closed state. In the respective open state, the respective inlet side 23 or 24 or 26 and the respective outlet side 27 or 30 or 31 of the individual valve 15 or 16 or 17 are connected to one another. Thus, when the valve 15 is open, cold water can flow from the cold water inlet 20 via the collective supply line 22 to the outlet 18 and is thus fed to the hose 9 attached thereto. In the case of valve 16, however, when the valve 16 is open, cold water can flow from the cold water inlet 20 via the collective supply line 22 into the collective discharge line 32, into which hot water from the hot water inlet 21 can also flow via the supply line 25 when the valve 17 is switched to its open state.If both valve 16 and valve 17 are opened, both cold water and hot water are supplied to the collective drain line 32 and thus mixed in the collective drain line 32. If only valve 16 is opened, however, only cold water is supplied to the collective drain line 32, whereas if only valve 17 is opened, the collective drain line 32 is supplied only with hot water.

[0031] However, if the individual valve 15 or 16 or 17 is in its closed state, the respective inlet side 23 or 24 or 26 is separated from the respective outlet side 27 or 30 or 31, whereby no water can flow through the respective valve 15 or 16 or 17.

[0032] The valves 15 and 16 are accommodated side by side in the housing 14 behind the cold water inlet 20 and the hot water inlet 21, with the valve 17 then positioned behind the valve 16 offset towards the outlet 19. The housing 14 also forms chambers 34, 35 and 36, with the chamber 34 being provided on the inlet side 23 of the valve 15, the chamber 35 on the inlet side 24 of the valve 16 and the chamber 36 on the inlet side 26 of the valve 17. In addition, the housing 14 also forms the collective supply line 22 and the supply line 25, which are thus each designed as channels in the housing 14. In contrast, the discharge line 28 and the collective discharge line 32 are formed by separate components in the form of pipe sections.

[0033] The cold water connection 7 and the hot water connection 8 are also designed as one piece with the housing 14, with the cold water connection 7 and the hot water connection 8 being tilted toward each other. The cold water connection 7 and the hot water connection 8 form an angle in the range of 10° to 20°.

[0034] Between the cold water connection 7 and the hot water connection 8 on the one hand and the collective supply line 22 and the supply line 25 on the other hand, a plate 37 is also provided, to which the pre-assembled unit 13 is fastened to the rear wall 12 of the household appliance 1 during installation in the household appliance 1.

[0035] By means of the inventive design of a water inlet device as a pre-assembled unit, the assembly and manufacturing costs for a household appliance can be reduced. List of reference symbols: 1 household appliance 2 device housings 3 Laundry drum 4 Front 5 Door 6 Water inlet device 7 Cold water connection 8 Hot water connection 9 Hose 10 hose 11 Dispensing tray 12 Rear wall 13 Unit 14 housings 15 Valve 16 Valve 17 Valve 18 Exit 19 Exit 20 Cold water inlet 21 Hot water inlet 22 Collective supply line 23 Inlet side 24 Inlet side 25 Supply line 26 Inlet side 27 Drain side 28 Discharge line 29 connecting pieces 30 Drain side 31 Drain side 32 Collective discharge line 33 connecting pieces 34 Chamber 35 Chamber 36 Chamber 37 plate QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] EP 3 425 106 A1

[0003]

Claims

[1] Water supply device (6) for a household appliance (1), in particular for a laundry treatment appliance, comprising a cold water inlet (20) and a hot water inlet (21) as well as a first valve (15), a second valve (16) and a third valve (17), wherein the valves (15, 16, 17) each have an inlet side (23, 24, 26) and an outlet side (27, 30, 31) and are each switchable between an open state, in which in the respective valve (15, 16, 17) the respective inlet side (23, 24, 26) is connected to the respective outlet side (27, 30, 31), and a closed state, in which in the respective valve (15, 16, 17) the respective inlet side (23, 24, 26) is connected to the respective outlet side (27, 30, 31), wherein the inlet sides (23, 24) of the first valve (15) and the second valve (16) are each connected to the cold water inlet (20) and the inlet side (26) of the third valve (17) is connected to the hot water inlet (21),and wherein the outlet side (27) of the first valve (15) is connected to a first outlet (18) and the outlet sides (30, 31) of the second valve (16) and the third valve (17) are connected to a second outlet (19), , characterized by that the water inlet device (6) is designed as a pre-assembled unit (13). [2] Water supply device (6) according to claim 1, characterized by that the outlet sides (30, 31) of the second valve (16) and the third valve (17) within the structural unit (13) are each connected to a collecting discharge line (32) which is connected to the second outlet (19). [3] Water supply device (6) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the inlet sides (23, 24) of the first valve (15) and the second valve (16) within the structural unit (13) are each connected to a collective supply line (22) which is connected to the cold water inlet (20). [4] Water supply device (6) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the outlet side (27) of the first valve (15) within the structural unit (13) is connected to a discharge line (28) which is connected to the first outlet (18). [5] Water supply device (6) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the inlet side (26) of the third valve (17) within the structural unit (13) is connected to a supply line (25) which is connected to the hot water inlet (21). [6] Water supply device (6) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the valves (15, 16, 17) are accommodated in a common housing (14) of the structural unit (13). [7] Water supply device (6) according to claim 6, characterized bythat the valves (15, 16, 17) are each provided with chambers (34, 35, 36) on the inlet sides (23, 24, 26) and / or on the outlet sides, which are at least partially defined by the housing (14). [8] Water supply device (6) according to claim 6 or 7 and according to claim 3 and / or 5, characterized by that the collecting supply line (22) and / or the supply line (25) is each formed as a channel through the housing (14). [9] Water supply device (6) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the cold water inlet (20) is formed by a cold water connection (7) and the hot water inlet (21) is formed by a hot water connection (8), wherein the cold water connection (7) and the hot water connection (8) are designed to be tilted towards one another in the structural unit (13). [10] Water supply device (6) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the valves (15, 16, 17) are designed as indirectly actuated valves. [11] Household appliance (1), in particular laundry treatment appliance, comprising a water supply device (6) according to one or more of claims 1 to 10.

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