Valve devices and washing machines

Abstract

In particular, the present invention provides a valve device, a washing machine, and a method that can set the amount of steam that can be released from the washing machine as accurately as possible. [Solution] A valve device having at least one first inlet for a vapor medium, in particular a valve device for a steam cleaning machine, wherein the at least one first inlet is hydrodynamically connected to a first outlet for releasing a vapor medium, and at least one first valve 60 is arranged or formed between the at least one first inlet and the first outlet, wherein the at least one first valve 60 is configured in the form of a solenoid valve. Furthermore, an improved cleaning machine and an improved method for controlling and / or regulating a valve device having at least one first valve 60 are proposed.

Description

Technical Field

[0002]

[0001] The present invention relates to a valve device having at least one first inlet for a vaporous medium, in particular a valve device for a steam cleaner, wherein the at least one first inlet is fluidically connected to a first outlet for discharging the vaporous medium, and at least one first valve is arranged or formed between the at least one first inlet and the first outlet.

[0002] The present invention further relates to a cleaning machine, in particular a cleaning machine in the form of a steam cleaner, comprising a boiler for containing a liquid medium, in particular water, and a heating device for heating the boiler to at least partially vaporize the liquid medium to generate a vaporous medium, and comprising a discharge device including a valve device for discharging a liquid and / or vaporous medium.

[0003] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for controlling and / or operating a valve device having at least one first valve, in particular a valve device of the type described at the beginning.

Background Art

[0004] Cleaning machines of the type described at the beginning are particularly known in the form of steam cleaners. These are configured to apply a fluid medium, in particular a hot vaporous and / or hot liquid medium, to the surface to be cleaned.

[0005] In particular, in order to adjust the discharge amount of a liquid and / or vaporous medium, it is known to use a special valve in a steam cleaner. Hereinafter, this will be referred to as a vapor-hydro valve. With this vapor-hydro valve, the user can adjust the composition or the mixing ratio of steam and hot water, or the mixing ratio of steam and hot water, almost arbitrarily in order to solve various problems in cleaning. For example, for an iron or a sensitive surface, particularly dry steam with a small amount of steam can be used. From the spraying of wet steam to the spraying of hot water, it can be used particularly for cleaning particularly dirty corners and / or for washing away the contaminant solution that emerges during cleaning.

[0006] Such a steam valve is specifically described in Patent Document 1. Using this valve, the user can adjust the discharge of steam and hot water in a desired manner. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] DE 102 58 832 A1 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0008] One problem with known valve devices is their mechanical configuration. In order to be able to set the amount of steam and / or water, or the steam-to-hot water mixture ratio, in a desired manner with particularly high precision, the manufacturing tolerances of the individual components of the valve device must be very small. This not only leads to problems in the manufacture of steam-liquid valves, but if the manufacturing tolerances are too large, the amount of steam and water, or the steam-to-hot water mixture ratio, actually released during operation of a cleaning device containing such a valve device in the form of a steam-liquid valve will deviate undesirably from the release amount or mixture ratio adjusted by the user.

[0009] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to improve the valve device, washing machine, and method of the type described at the beginning, in particular to enable the most accurate setting of the amount of steam that can be discharged from the washing machine. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] This problem is solved by configuring at least one of the first valves in the form of a solenoid valve in the valve device of the type described at the beginning, according to the present invention.

[0011] For example, there are numerous advantages to using a valve device in which at least one first valve is configured as a solenoid valve, instead of a manually operated mechanical valve as known from Patent Document 1. In particular, using a valve device with the proposed configuration allows for highly precise setting of the steam release rate, without being dependent on whether the manufacturing tolerances during the production of the valve device are met as desired. High-precision adjustment of the release rate is possible by the periodic opening and closing of the at least one first valve. Pulse width modulation can be used in particular for this purpose. In this case, the solenoid valve is driven at a predetermined pulse width modulation frequency, and the solenoid valve can be opened at any point in the cycle during one cycle. By appropriately setting the pulse width modulation frequency, for example, within a range of about 5 Hz to about 100 Hz, the release rate of high-temperature steam can be set or adjusted by the user in a desired manner. In this case, the release rate is adjusted by the duty cycle (also called the duty cycle) within the cycle determined by the pulse width modulation frequency. Furthermore, the use of a solenoid valve has the particular advantage of being electrically controllable. Therefore, for example, the user can adjust the release rate of the vaporous medium using a handheld input unit. Therefore, there is no need to use a mechanical switching element on the washing machine side. In other words, the configuration of the valve device having at least one solenoid valve enables remote operation of the valve device, and by extension, the washing machine including such a valve device. This makes the washing machine as a whole easier to handle and can be significantly improved for the user.

[0012] It is preferable that the valve device includes at least one second inlet for a liquid medium, the at least one second inlet being hydrodynamically connected to a second outlet for discharging the liquid medium, and that at least one second valve is positioned or formed between the at least one second inlet and the second outlet. As described, the at least one second valve can then open and close the connection between the at least one second inlet and the second outlet, thereby allowing the liquid medium introduced through the at least one second inlet to be discharged at the second outlet or the discharge to be blocked. In particular, the first and second outlets can be configured to be hydrodynamically separated from each other, as a result, for example, the vapor medium and the liquid medium can be discharged independently of each other and in appropriate amounts.

[0013] Preferably, the at least one second valve is configured as a solenoid valve. In this configuration, the second solenoid valve can also be controlled by pulse width modulation. The advantages of this configuration are those previously described in relation to the at least one first valve, and these also apply to the at least one second valve. Specifically, for example, when using the at least one second valve, the discharge amount can be set with high precision, without being affected by manufacturing tolerances that are unavoidable during the manufacture of the at least one second valve.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the first outlet includes or forms the second outlet. In this embodiment, two different media, such as vapor and liquid, can be supplied separately to the valve device through the at least one first inlet and the at least one second inlet. A mixture of the two media can also be discharged from the first outlet that includes or forms the second outlet. Naturally, one or the other media can also be selectively discharged from a single first outlet. This can be done by selectively opening the at least one first valve and closing the at least one second valve, or vice versa.

[0015] In applications where two media are simply supplied from a washing machine and their discharge needs to be controlled by a valve device, it is advantageous for the valve device to have only one first inlet and one second inlet. For example, the first inlet can be used for supplying a vapor medium and the second inlet for supplying a liquid medium.

[0016] It is advantageous if the first and second valves are configured as solenoid valves. This would allow for easy control of the release of the two media, particularly independently of each other, by pulse width modulation.

[0017] In another preferred embodiment, the solenoid valve may include a valve seat and a movable valve piston cooperating with the valve seat, such that the valve opens in an open position where the valve piston opens the valve seat, and the solenoid valve closes in a closed position where the valve piston closes the valve seat, and the solenoid valve may include an electromagnet for moving the valve piston. In such a form of solenoid valve, the solenoid valve can be moved from the open position to the closed position particularly easily by moving the valve piston using an electromagnet. This makes electrical control of the solenoid valve particularly easy to achieve. Basically, it is also conceivable to move the valve piston from the closed position to the open position and from the open position to the closed position using an electromagnet.

[0018] Preferably, the electromagnet is positioned and configured to move the valve piston from the closed position to the open position. This configuration has the advantage that it is only necessary to apply current to the electromagnet to move the valve body to the open position, that is, to open the solenoid valve.

[0019] It is preferable that the valve device includes a casing body, and that the at least one first inlet, the first outlet, and the first valve are arranged or formed in the casing body. This would allow the valve device to be configured in a particularly compact manner.

[0020] Preferably, the at least one second inlet, the second outlet, and the second valve are arranged or formed in the casing body. In this way, in particular, a very compact structure of the valve device having two valves can be realized.

[0021] In order to enable the valve device to be easily and very clearly connected to the supply pipe of the vaporous and / or liquid medium, it is advantageous if the at least one first inlet and the at least one second inlet are oriented parallel to each other and arranged or formed on the casing body.

[0022] It is advantageous if the solenoid valve includes at least one restoring element for automatically shifting the valve piston from the open position to the closed position when the electromagnet is in the inactive state. Such a configuration is particularly advantageous since the solenoid valve requires only the application, i.e., activation, of an electric current to the electromagnet for opening, i.e., for shifting from the closed position to the open position. If the electromagnet is not energized, the at least one restoring element automatically pushes the valve piston back from the open position to the closed position.

[0023] If the at least one restoring element is formed in the form of a spring, the valve device can be configured in a simple and inexpensive manner. In particular, it can be formed in the form of a coil spring. Preferably, it is formed in the form of a compression spring that is compressed when the solenoid valve shifts from the closed position to the open position.

[0024] It is advantageous if the at least one restoring element supports itself on the one hand on the casing support surface of the casing body and on the other hand on the valve piston support surface of the valve piston, the casing support surface facing towards the valve seat, and the valve piston support surface facing towards the casing support surface. With such an arrangement, when the electromagnet is not energized, the valve piston of the solenoid valve is easily and reliably automatically held in the closed position by the at least one restoring element.

[0025] The electromagnetic valve includes a valve chamber having a valve chamber inlet and a valve chamber outlet, and it is advantageous if the valve chamber outlet is surrounded by the valve seat. In this way, the valve chamber outlet can be easily closed, and moreover, this is achieved by the valve piston abutting against the valve seat to close the valve chamber outlet.

[0026] If the valve chamber inlet and the valve chamber outlet are arranged or formed in the valve chamber with their directions parallel to each other, the valve device can be configured in a simple and compact manner. In this way, the valve device can be particularly easily manufactured. For example, the valve chamber inlet and the valve chamber outlet can be formed in the form of through holes in the casing body.

[0027] In order to ensure reliable control of the fluid discharge by the valve device, it is advantageous if the valve chamber inlet is fluid-operatively connected to the at least one first inlet or the at least one second inlet. For example, when two valve chambers are provided, one can be fluid-operatively connected to the at least one first inlet and the other to the at least one second inlet. In this way, the discharges of two different media can be easily and separately controlled according to the media by the valve device.

[0028] If the valve chamber is formed in the form of a valve chamber blind hole and the electromagnetic valve is inserted into the valve chamber blind hole, the valve device can be particularly easily configured. In particular, the electromagnetic valve can be screwed into the valve chamber blind hole. For this, it is only necessary to form an internal thread corresponding to the external thread on the valve body of the electromagnetic valve in the valve chamber blind hole.

[0029] In order to be able to discharge a mixture of two different fluid media, it is advantageous if the valve device includes a mixing chamber, and the mixing chamber is fluid-operatively connected to the at least one first inlet and the first outlet. In this way, in particular, different media can be supplied to the mixing chamber, mixed in the mixing chamber, and the mixture can be discharged from the first outlet.

[0030] In a preferred embodiment, the mixing chamber is hydrodynamically connected to the at least one second inlet. This allows the fluid media supplied through the at least one first inlet and the at least one second inlet to be supplied separately to the mixing chamber in a predetermined manner and then mixed within the chamber. The mixture of fluid media can then be discharged through the first outlet.

[0031] In an advantageous embodiment, the valve chamber outlet is hydrodynamically connected to the mixing chamber. This allows a particular fluid medium to be introduced from the valve chamber through the valve chamber outlet into the mixing chamber. This is possible, in particular, when the valve piston of each solenoid valve or valve is in the open position, as described above. The hydrodynamic connection between the valve chamber and the mixing chamber can be interrupted by the valve piston being in the closed position.

[0032] It is advantageous if the mixing chamber is oriented in a direction that intersects, particularly perpendicular to, the valve piston and / or the at least one first outlet and / or the at least one second inlet and / or the first outlet and / or the second outlet. In such a configuration, the valve device can be formed in the casing body by drilling holes. Here, some of the holes can be blind holes and some can be through holes. For example, the mixing chamber and each inlet can be formed as blind holes, and each outlet can be a through hole connecting the periphery of the casing body to the mixing chamber.

[0033] If the mixing chamber includes a blind hole in the casing body, and the open end of the blind hole is closed to prevent fluid from passing through, the valve device can be easily constructed. In this way, the blind hole can be easily formed in the casing body by drilling. By closing the open end of the blind hole, a hollow space can be easily created within the casing body.

[0034] In another preferred embodiment, the at least one first inlet may include a first inlet connecting pipe protruding from the casing body of the valve device, and / or the at least one second inlet may include a second inlet connecting pipe protruding from the casing body of the valve device, and / or the first outlet may include a first outlet connecting pipe protruding from the casing body of the valve device, and / or the second outlet may include a second outlet connecting pipe protruding from the casing body of the valve device. In this embodiment, the connecting pipe-like inlets and outlets can be connected to a hose or other piping to supply or discharge a fluid medium to the valve device. The connecting pipe-like inlets and outlets may be configured in the form of hose nipples or quick connector connections, as is known from aerodynamics.

[0035] Preferably, the first outlet connecting pipe is or includes the second outlet connecting pipe. This allows the fluid mixture, in particular, to be guided out of the valve device through the first outlet connecting pipe.

[0036] The valve device can be easily constructed by inserting, in particular screwing, the first inlet connecting pipe into the first blind hole of the casing body, and / or inserting, in particular screwing, the second inlet connecting pipe into the second blind hole of the casing body, and / or inserting, in particular screwing, the first outlet connecting pipe into the third blind hole of the casing body, and / or inserting, in particular screwing, the second outlet connecting pipe into the fourth blind hole of the casing body. For example, each of the blind holes mentioned herein can be drilled into the casing body. Each blind hole can be provided with an internal thread, into which a hose nipple having an external thread can be screwed. The hose nipple is further provided with a nipple for engaging with a hose or the like.

[0037] The manufacturing of the valve device is further facilitated if the first blind hole and / or the second blind hole and / or the third blind hole and / or the fourth blind hole are parallel or substantially parallel to each other or oriented toward each other.

[0038] It is advantageous that the first dead hole is fluidically connected to the first valve chamber, particularly the inlet of the first valve chamber, through a first connecting passage, and / or that the second dead hole is fluidically connected to the second valve chamber, particularly the inlet of the second valve chamber, through a second connecting passage. In this configuration, the fluid can be easily guided to the first or second valve chamber through the first or second dead hole via the connecting passage.

[0039] If the first connecting channel extends intersecting, and especially perpendicular to, the first blind hole, and / or the second connecting channel extends intersecting, and especially perpendicular to, the second blind hole, then a very compact structure for the valve device can be realized.

[0040] Basically, all inlets and outlets can be oriented in the same direction outward from the casing body. In particular, they can all be parallel to each other and oriented in the same direction. Nevertheless, it is advantageous that the first and second outlet connecting pipes and the first and second inlet connecting pipes are arranged or formed to protrude in opposite directions from the casing body. In such a configuration, the medium supply piping and medium discharge piping can be connected to the valve device in particular easily. In particular, this allows the casing body to be made as small as possible because different sides of the body can be used for the arrangement or formation of the inlets and outlets. When all inlets and outlets are oriented in the same direction, they should preferably be formed on the same side of the casing body.

[0041] To guide the fluid from the valve chamber into the mixing chamber, it is advantageous if each valve chamber outlet is fluidically connected to the mixing chamber through an outlet connecting passage. In this case, when the valve piston of the valve is in the open position, the fluid flows from the valve chamber into the mixing chamber, and this happens through each outlet connecting passage.

[0042] In order to easily manufacture the valve device and to make its structure compact, it is advantageous to have the first connecting channel and / or the second connecting channel and / or the outlet connecting channel extend parallel to each other or be oriented toward each other.

[0043] To ensure the valve system functions optimally, it is advantageous that each valve piston extends coaxially with or is oriented toward the outlet connection passage. This allows for optimal sealing of each valve chamber outlet, in particular, by the valve piston assigned to it.

[0044] Basically, it is conceivable that the free cross-section of all valve chamber outlets of the solenoid valve be the same. It is advantageous if the free cross-sections, especially the diameters, of the valve chamber outlets of the solenoid valves for vapor and liquid media are different. Since the free cross-section can be set in advance, the maximum fluid discharge rate can be set easily and reliably.

[0045] It is advantageous if the free cross-section of the valve chamber outlet for the liquid medium is smaller than the free cross-section of the valve chamber outlet for the vapor medium. This configuration has the particular advantage of allowing for very precise and appropriate distribution of the liquid medium during discharge.

[0046] In another preferred embodiment, the solenoid valve may have exactly two predetermined switch positions, the first switch position being the most open position, specifically the open position, and the second switch position being the most closed position, specifically the closed position. Using such a solenoid valve, pulse width modulation control can be easily implemented. For example, when the solenoid valve is in the first switch position, a liquid medium is released. When the solenoid valve is in the second switch position, the release of the liquid medium is blocked. This also applies to the release of a gaseous medium.

[0047] It is advantageous if the valve device includes a control and / or regulating device for controlling and / or regulating the flow rate through the at least one first valve, so that the discharge of the fluid can be controlled and / or regulated in a desired manner. In particular, by appropriately controlling the valve device using the control and / or regulating device, the appropriate amount of fluid, such as steam or liquid, can be distributed in a desired manner.

[0048] Furthermore, it is preferable that the control and / or adjustment device is configured to control and / or adjust the flow rate passing through the at least one second valve. In particular, this would allow the control and / or adjustment device to control and / or adjust the at least one first valve and the at least one second valve independently of each other.

[0049] Preferably, the control and / or adjustment device is configured to control the solenoid valve to set the amount of liquid and / or vapor medium released by pulse width modulation. In this configuration, two predetermined switch positions for each solenoid valve can be set, in particular using the control and / or adjustment device, to open and close each solenoid valve. In the open position, the medium can flow through the valve each time. In the closed position, the flow and, consequently, the release of fluid from the valve device each time are prevented or blocked each time.

[0050] It is advantageous if the control and / or adjustment device is configured to set the pulse width modulation frequency for each solenoid valve. In particular, the pulse width modulation frequency can be set individually for each solenoid valve. This allows for the use of an optimal pulse width modulation frequency for controlling each solenoid valve, especially for the discharge of liquid and fluid media.

[0051] It is advantageous if the control and / or adjustment device is configured to set the pulse width modulation frequency within a range of approximately 5 Hz to approximately 100 Hz, particularly within a range of approximately 10 Hz to approximately 30 Hz. By performing pulse width modulation of the solenoid valve at pulse width modulation frequencies within the range mentioned above, it becomes possible to achieve a predetermined high-precision fluid discharge, and this is possible for both liquid and gaseous media. In particular, at pulse width modulation frequencies within the range mentioned above, it is possible to achieve nearly continuous discharge of the fluid medium at the outlet of the valve device.

[0052] It is advantageous if the control and / or adjustment device is configured to control the discharge rate of liquid and / or vaporous media by setting the pulse width modulation duty cycle of each solenoid valve, in particular, individually for each solenoid valve. The pulse width modulation duty cycle determines, for example, what percentage of one cycle each solenoid valve is open or closed. For example, if the duty cycle is 50%, the solenoid valve is open for half the period length and closed for half the period length.

[0053] Preferably, the control and / or adjustment device is configured to set the duty cycle within a range of about 5% to about 100%. When the duty cycle is 0%, each solenoid valve remains completely closed for one cycle. For example, the duty cycle may represent the percentage of time the solenoid valve is open during one cycle, or it may represent the percentage of time it is closed.

[0054] It is advantageous if the control and / or adjustment device is configured to freely set the duty cycle for at least one solenoid valve within a period set by the pulse width modulation frequency. In particular, this configuration allows for highly accurate setting of the fluid discharge rate. In particular, manufacturing tolerances can be easily compensated for with this configuration. To this end, the control and / or adjustment device can be configured to individually calibrate each valve device so that, as a result, the desired discharge rate set by the user can actually be discharged.

[0055] In an advantageous embodiment, the control and / or adjustment device is configured to control the discharge rate of the liquid and / or vapor medium in a stepless and / or discontinuous manner. This allows the control and / or adjustment device to set the discharge rate in a stepless, discontinuous, or partially stepless or partially discontinuous manner as needed.

[0056] Furthermore, it is advantageous if the control and / or adjustment device is configured to control various driving modes of the valve device. In particular, it can be configured to control a cleaning mode and / or a rinsing mode and / or an anti-calcification mode to prevent clogging of the at least one solenoid valve, especially its valve seat, due to lime. In the cleaning mode provided for cleaning an object or surface, the amount of gaseous and / or liquid medium discharged can be set by the control and / or adjustment device. In the rinsing mode, the valve device can be thoroughly rinsed with gaseous and / or liquid fluid in a predetermined manner. In the anti-calcification mode, the solenoid valve can be opened and closed at regular or irregular intervals to prevent the valve piston from sticking to each valve seat.

[0057] Preferably, the control and / or adjustment device is configured to moisten the valve seat, particularly regularly in the anti-calcification mode, by opening at least one solenoid valve only for the duration of the humidification time when it is closed. In this way, drying in the area of ​​the valve seat and, consequently, the formation of lime deposits can be prevented. This, in particular, allows for sustained sealing of the solenoid valve.

[0058] Furthermore, it is advantageous if the control and / or adjustment device is configured to open at least one solenoid valve for the duration of the humidification time if, in the anti-calcification mode, at least one solenoid valve has not been opened for a settable closing period. This ensures, in particular, that the valve seat does not dry out and that the valve piston of the solenoid valve does not become stuck to the valve seat. Thus, it is ensured that each solenoid valve functions continuously and reliably.

[0059] It is advantageous if the control and / or adjustment device is configured to set the closing period to a value in the range of about 30 seconds to about 5 minutes, particularly about 1 minute, and / or the humidification time to a value in the range of 5 milliseconds to about 100 milliseconds, particularly about 10 milliseconds. By setting the closing period and humidification time within the above ranges, it is ensured that the function of each solenoid valve can be maintained continuously.

[0060] In another preferred embodiment, the valve device may include a sound-dampening element that reduces the noise of the valve piston as the at least one solenoid valve opens and / or closes. In particular, the sound-dampening element may be arranged or formed such that the valve piston abuts against one or more sound-dampening elements in the open and closed positions.

[0061] If the sound-absorbing element is formed in the form of a rubber element, the valve device can be constructed simply and inexpensively. In that case, the sound of the valve piston movement can be easily suppressed, or even completely eliminated.

[0062] The problem presented at the beginning is further solved by the fact that, in the washing machine described at the beginning, the valve device is configured in the form of the advantageous embodiment of the present invention.

[0063] Using such a valve device to construct a cleaning machine has advantages, particularly those described earlier in relation to preferred embodiments of the valve device. Using such a cleaning machine, a fluid, especially liquid and gaseous media, can be applied to a surface or object to be cleaned in a desired and predetermined manner.

[0064] It is preferable that the water heater includes a first water heater outlet for the liquid medium and a second water heater outlet for the gaseous medium, and that at least one first inlet of the valve device is fluidically connected to the first water heater outlet and at least one second inlet of the valve device is fluidically connected to the second water heater outlet. In such a configuration, two mediums, namely a liquid medium and a vapor or gaseous medium, can be extracted from a single water heater. The discharge of both mediums by the washing machine can then be controlled and / or regulated using the valve device in any of the above-described methods.

[0065] Furthermore, it is advantageous if the washing machine includes an operating device for user operation to control the discharge of the medium. In particular, the operating device can be configured in the form of a man-machine interface. Such a man-machine interface is also called an HMI. This allows the user's manual input to be converted into, for example, an electrical control signal, which can then be sent to a control and / or regulating device that can be used to control the valve mechanism of the washing machine. The operating device may be controlled in particular by cable connection or wireless connection (e.g., radio wave connection or infrared connection).

[0066] For cleaning a surface or object, it is preferable that the cleaning machine has a medium outlet connected to or connectable to a medium hose, the medium outlet being hydrodynamically connected to the first and / or second outlets of the valve device. In this embodiment, in particular, a liquid or gaseous medium can be discharged through the medium outlet. What exactly is discharged, i.e., one or the other of the medium or a mixture of the mediums, can then be set by the valve device in the manner described above.

[0067] For handling the washing machine, it is advantageous if a handpiece is connected to or can be connected to the free end of the media hose, and the operating device is located on or formed on the handpiece. This allows the user to particularly easily control the discharge of one or more media by operating the operating device on the handpiece held in their hand during washing.

[0068] In a preferred embodiment, the operating device allows setting the discharge rate of liquid and / or vaporous media. This allows the user to, for example, set, through the operating device, whether the cleaning machine discharges vapor, water, or a mixture of water and vapor. The user can then apply one or more media to the object to be cleaned in a desired manner using control and / or adjustment devices cooperating with the device, via the operating device configured as an input unit.

[0069] It is advantageous for the user if the amount of liquid and / or vaporized medium released can be set using the aforementioned operating device. For example, the release amount can be set through a specific flow rate.

[0070] In another preferred embodiment, the control and / or adjustment device can be connected to the operating device in a control action to control the valve device in accordance with the discharge rate of the liquid and / or vapor medium adjusted using the operating device. This eliminates the need for the user to operate or adjust the valve on the washing machine side, as in the case of a vapor valve known from Patent Document 1. In particular, the discharge rate can be easily changed manually by the user without taking their eyes off the object being washed.

[0071] It is preferable that the valve device is located away from the water heater and / or is insulated from the water heater. This configuration has the particular advantage of reducing the risk of the valve chamber of the solenoid valve drying out, especially clogging of the valve seat due to limescale.

[0072] Preferably, the cleaning machine is configured as a steam cleaning machine. The steam cleaning machine can be configured to discharge high-temperature steam and / or hot water for cleaning, either selectively from one or the other medium, or in the form of a mixture containing those media in any proportion. Therefore, the amount of liquid or gaseous medium to be discharged can be set as desired, especially depending on the cleaning challenge.

[0073] The problem presented at the beginning is further solved in accordance with the present invention using the method described at the beginning, as follows: the flow rate passing through the at least one first valve, in particular the discharge rate of the liquid and / or vapor medium, is controllable and / or adjustable by pulse width modulation.

[0074] As already explained in detail, the proposed method, as developed, allows for the manufacture of valve devices more cheaply and easily. This is because the manufacturing tolerances, which are virtually unavoidable during the production of valve devices, can be easily compensated for by this method. In essence, it is possible to calibrate each valve device so that the discharge volume can still be set with high precision, regardless of manufacturing tolerances.

[0075] In a preferred embodiment, the pulse width modulation frequency of the valve is set in the method described above. The pulse width modulation frequency directly sets the period length. Within that range, the duty cycle, i.e., the ratio of the open time to the closed time of the valve in one cycle in the case of a valve, can be set.

[0076] Preferably, in the above method, the pulse width modulation frequency is set within a range of about 5 Hz to about 100 Hz. Setting the pulse width modulation frequency within this range has the particular advantage of being able to continuously guarantee the functionality of the solenoid valve. In particular, if the pulse width modulation frequency is set too high, the magnetic field generated by the electromagnet of the solenoid valve may no longer be able to be dissipated, and as a result the valve may no longer be able to close.

[0077] In the above method, it is advantageous to set the duty cycle of the pulse width modulation of at least one valve in order to control the amount of liquid and / or vapor medium released. The longer each valve is kept open, the greater the release amount. If a duty cycle of 0% corresponds to the continuous closure of the valve throughout one cycle, then a duty cycle of 80% corresponds to the valve being open for a time equivalent to four-fifths of the cycle length. In this way, the amount of medium to be released can be set with great precision.

[0078] In order to set a discharge amount suitable for the cleaning challenge, it is advantageous to set the duty cycle in the above method within a range of approximately 5% to approximately 100%.

[0079] The following description of preferred embodiments of the present invention is intended to be accompanied by a more detailed explanation in conjunction with the drawings. The drawings are as follows. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0080] [Figure 1] A schematic perspective view showing a partially cut-out example of a cleaning machine shaped like a steam cleaner. [Figure 2] Another perspective view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] A side view showing a portion of the device in Figure 1. [Figure 4] Another perspective view showing a partially cut-out section of the apparatus in Figure 1. [Figure 5] A perspective view of one embodiment of a valve device. [Figure 6] Another perspective view of the apparatus shown in Figure 5. [Figure 7] A cross-sectional view along line 7-7 in Figure 5. [Figure 8] A cross-sectional view along line 8-8 in Figure 5. [Figure 9] A cross-sectional view along line 9-9 in Figure 5. [Figure 10] A schematic diagram showing the configuration of a washing machine having a valve device and a control and / or adjustment device. [Figure 11]A cross-sectional view similar to Figure 7, showing another embodiment of a valve device including only one solenoid valve. [Figure 12] Schematic diagram of pulse width modulation for five different discontinuous steam stages in a washing machine. [Figure 13] Another schematic diagram of pulse width modulation for five different discontinuous steam stages of a washing machine, in which a liquid medium is mixed during one of the steam stages. [Figure 14] Another schematic diagram of pulse width modulation for five different discontinuous steam stages of a washing machine, in which a liquid medium is mixed during one of the steam stages. [Figure 15] A diagram illustrating the dependence of the amount of released vapor on the duty cycle of pulse width modulation. [Figure 16] A diagram illustrating the dependence of discharge volume on the duty cycle of pulse width modulation. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0081] Figures 1-4 show an exemplary embodiment of a cleaning machine 10 in the form of a steam cleaning machine 12. Figure 10 shows an exemplary, purely schematic configuration of such a cleaning machine 10.

[0082] The washing machine 10 includes a water heater 14 for adding a liquid medium 18. The water heater 14 is specifically configured for adding water. The washing machine also includes a heating device 16 assigned to the water heater 14. This is for heating the water heater 14 to at least partially vaporize the liquid medium 18 that has entered the water heater 14 to produce a vapor medium 20, i.e., to produce high-temperature steam.

[0083] The washing machine 10 further includes a discharge device 22 having a valve device 24. The discharge device 22 is configured to discharge liquid and / or vapor media 18, 20.

[0084] The water heater 14 includes a first water heater outlet 26 for a liquid medium 18 and a second water heater outlet 28 for a gaseous medium 20. The valve device 24 includes a first inlet 30 and a second inlet 32. The first inlet 30 is fluidically connected to the first water heater outlet 26 through a first connecting pipe 34. The second inlet 32 ​​is fluidically connected to the second water heater outlet 28 through a second connecting pipe 36.

[0085] The washing machine 10, in particular the valve device 24, includes a control and / or adjustment device 38.

[0086] The valve device 24 includes an outlet 40, which is fluidically connected to the medium outlet 42 of the washing machine 10 via a third connecting pipe 44.

[0087] The media outlet 42 is connected to or can be connected to the media hose 46.

[0088] The free end 48 of the media hose 46 is connected to or can be connected to the handpiece 50. The handpiece 50 includes a handpiece outlet 52 for discharging the liquid medium 18 and / or vapor medium 20 to the object to be cleaned. The handpiece outlet 52 may be configured in particular in the form of a nozzle 54.

[0089] An operating device 56 is provided for the operation of the washing machine 10. In the embodiment shown in the figure, this is configured as a man-machine interface (HMI). The user can control the release of the media using the operating device 56. This will be explained in more detail later.

[0090] A control device 56 located on or formed on the handpiece 56 allows the user to directly set the discharge rate of the liquid medium 18 and / or vapor medium 20 while handling the handpiece 56. For this purpose, a control and / or adjustment device 38 is controlled by the control device 56 via at least one control wire 58 or via a radio wave connection, and controls the valve device 24 according to the discharge rate of the liquid medium and / or vapor medium adjusted by the user on the control device 56.

[0091] The valve device 24 includes a first valve 60 and a second valve 62. The first valve 60 is configured as a solenoid valve 64. The second valve 62 is configured as a solenoid valve 66. The electromagnets 68 and 70 of the solenoid valves 64 and 66 are electrically connected to the control and / or regulating device 38 through power supply wiring pairs 72 and 74. This allows the valve pistons 76 or 78 of the solenoid valves 64 and 66 to be moved by the application of current to the electromagnets 68 and 70.

[0092] The valve device 24 is located away from the water heater 14 and is optionally or alternatively insulated from the water heater 14.

[0093] The configuration of the valve device 24 will be explained in detail below in relation to Figures 5 to 9.

[0094] The valve device 24 includes a rectangular parallelepiped casing body 80. A first inlet 30, a second inlet 32, and an outlet 40 are arranged or formed in this body. Preferably, a first valve 60 and a second valve 62 are also arranged or formed in the casing body 80. A second outlet can optionally be arranged or formed in the casing body 80.

[0095] The first valve 60 is positioned or formed between the first inlet 30 and the outlet 40 of the valve device 24. The second valve 62 is positioned or formed between the second inlet 32 ​​and the outlet 40.

[0096] The valve device 24 contains only one outlet 40, which is a common outlet 40. In other words, the two valves 60 and 62 are separate on the input side and hydrodynamically coupled to each other on the output side.

[0097] Since the two valves 60 and 62 have the same structure, the following will only describe in detail the structure of one of the two valves 60 or 62.

[0098] Each of the two solenoid valves 64 and 66 includes a valve seat 82 or 84 and movable valve pistons 76 and 78 that work in conjunction with the valve seat to open each solenoid valve 64 and 66 in the open position. In the open position, the valve pistons 76 and 78 open the valve seats 82 and 84 assigned to them, respectively. To close the solenoid valves 64 and 66 in the closed position, the valve pistons 76 and 78 are moved toward their respective valve seats 82 and 84 to close them.

[0099] Each solenoid valve 64, 66 includes electromagnets 68, 70 to move their respective valve pistons 76, 78. The electromagnets 68, 70 are positioned and configured to move the valve pistons 76, 78 from a closed position to an open position. In the closed position, the fluid connection between the first inlet 30 and the outlet 40, or between the second inlet 32 ​​and the outlet 40, is interrupted. In the open position of the first valve 60, flow is possible from the first inlet 30 to the outlet 40. Similarly, in the open position of the second valve 62, flow is possible from the second inlet 32 ​​to the outlet 40.

[0100] The major axes 66 and 88 of the first inlet 30 and the second inlet 32 ​​are oriented parallel to each other. The first inlet 30 and the second inlet 32 ​​are thus arranged or formed on the casing body 80 in a manner parallel to each other.

[0101] Each solenoid valve 64, 66 includes a restoring element 90 for moving the respective valve pistons 76, 78 from the open position to the closed position when the electromagnet 68 or 70 becomes inactive. The restoring element 90 is configured in the form of a spring 92, which is realized as a coil spring.

[0102] The restoring element 90 supports itself on one side on a casing support surface 94 located on or directly assigned to the casing body 80, and on the other side on the valve piston support surface 96 of the valve pistons 76 and 78. The casing support surface 94 faces the respective valve seats 82 and 84. The valve piston support surface 96 faces the casing support surface 94. Therefore, the restoring element 90 extends into the region between the casing support surface 94 and the valve piston support surface 96. The restoring element 90 further surrounds the end regions of the valve pistons 76 and 78 that face the valve seats 82 and 84.

[0103] Each solenoid valve 64, 66 includes a valve chamber 98 having a valve chamber inlet 100 and a valve chamber outlet 102. The valve chamber outlet 102 is surrounded by valve seats 82 to 84. The valve seats 82, 84 form a conical contact surface facing the valve chamber 98.

[0104] The valve pistons 76 and 78 include a receiving portion 104 that opens toward the assigned valve seats 82 and 84, into which a sealing body 106 is inserted. Although not shown in detail, this has a contact surface that works in cooperation with the assigned valve seats 82 and 84, and in the closed position this surface abuts against the assigned valve seats 82 and 84 to close the valve chamber outlet 102. When the valve pistons 76 and 78 move away from the valve seats 86 due to the action of the electromagnets 68 and 70, the sealing body 106 opens the valve seats 82 and 84, and as a result the valve chamber outlet 102 is fluidly connected to the valve chamber 98.

[0105] The valve chamber inlet 100 and the valve chamber outlet 102 are oriented parallel to each other or formed parallel to each other on the valve chamber 98.

[0106] The valve chamber inlet 100 is fluidically connected to the first inlet 30 in the case of the first valve 60, and to the second inlet 32 ​​in the case of the second valve 32.

[0107] The valve chamber 98 is formed in the form of a valve chamber blind hole 108. The solenoid valves 64 and 66 are inserted, or screwed, into the valve chamber blind hole 108. For this purpose, an internal thread 110 is formed in the valve chamber blind hole 108, which corresponds to the external thread on the capsule body 114 of the solenoid valves 64 and 66. The valve pistons 76 and 78 are each guided to move relative to their long axis 116 within the capsule body 114. The electromagnets 68 and 70 each surround one of the capsule bodies 114. They are each fixed to the capsule body 114 at their ends using nuts 118.

[0108] For energizing the electromagnets 68 and 70, each solenoid valve 64 and 66 is provided with two connection points 120 and 122, which are electrically connected to the control and / or adjustment device 38 via connection wiring pairs 72 and 74.

[0109] The valve device 24 further includes a mixing chamber 124. The mixing chamber 124 is fluidically connected to the first inlet 30, the second inlet 32, and the outlet 40 when the two valves 60 and 62 are in the open position.

[0110] To establish this fluid connection, the valve chamber outlet 102 is fluidically connected to the mixing chamber 124.

[0111] The casing body 80 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape and has a first side surface 126 and a second side surface 128. The two side surfaces 126 and 128 are rectangular and extend parallel to each other. They are joined to each other via a third side surface 130. The third side surface 130 is also rectangular. The end faces 132 and 134 of the casing body 80 are approximately square.

[0112] The valve chamber 98 is oriented perpendicular to the third side surface 130. The long axis 116 also extends perpendicularly to the third side surface. The long axes 86 and 88 extend perpendicularly to the first side surface 126. The long axis 136 that defines the outlet 40 extends perpendicularly to the second side surface 128. Therefore, the long axis 136 extends parallel to the long axes 86 and 88.

[0113] The mixing chamber 124 defines the long axis 138 of the mixing chamber. This axis is oriented perpendicular to both end faces 132 and 134, and therefore intersects, i.e., is perpendicular to, the long axes 86, 88, and 116.

[0114] Considering the orientations described, the orientation of the mixing chamber 124 is adjusted to intersect, or be perpendicular to, the valve pistons 76 and 78, as well as intersect, or be perpendicular to, the first inlet 30, the second inlet 32, and the outlet 40.

[0115] The mixing chamber 124 is formed in the casing body 80 in the form of a blind hole 140. This hole includes an open end 142 that penetrates the end face 132, and this open end is closed to prevent fluid from passing through by a closing element 144 in the form of a closing screw, using a ring packing 146.

[0116] The first inlet 30 includes a first inlet connecting pipe 148 protruding from the casing body 80. The second inlet 32 ​​similarly includes a second inlet connecting pipe 150 protruding from the casing body 80 of the valve device 24. The outlet 40 also includes an outlet connecting pipe 152 protruding from the casing body 80. The outlet connecting pipe 152 is a common outlet connecting pipe for both valves 60 and 62.

[0117] The first inlet connecting pipe 148 is inserted, or screwed, into the first blind hole 154 of the casing body 80. The second inlet connecting pipe 150 is inserted, or screwed, into the second blind hole 156 of the casing body 80. The outlet connecting pipe 152 is inserted, or screwed, into the third blind hole 158 of the casing body 80.

[0118] The three blind holes 154, 156, and 158 extend parallel to each other or are oriented parallel to each other. The blind holes 154, 156, and 158 define the major axes 86, 88, and 136.

[0119] The first blind hole 154 is fluidically connected to the valve chamber 98 of the first valve 60, that is, to the valve chamber inlet 100 of the first valve 60, through the first connecting passage 160. The second blind hole 156 is connected to the valve chamber 98 of the second valve 62, that is, to the valve chamber inlet 100 of the second valve 60, through a second connecting passage that extends parallel to the first connecting passage 160 (not shown).

[0120] The connecting channel 160 extends perpendicularly to the blind holes 154 and 156, so as to intersect them. With this configuration, the medium flowing from the inlets 30 and 32 into each valve chamber 98 undergoes a 180-degree change of direction within the valve chamber and is then guided into the mixing chamber 124 through the outlet connecting channel 162 in a direction parallel to the valve chamber inlet 100. The outlet connecting channel 162 fluidically connects the mixing chamber 124 and each valve chamber 98 to each other.

[0121] The outlet connecting pipe 152 and the inlet connecting pipes 148 and 150 protrude from the casing body 80 in opposite directions. That is, one protrudes outward from the second side surface 128, and the other protrudes outward from the first side surface 126.

[0122] The first and second connecting passages 160 and the outlet connecting passage 162 extend parallel to each other or are oriented parallel to each other, that is, parallel to the long axis 116. The valve pistons 76 and 78 are configured to extend coaxially with the outlet connecting passage 162 or are oriented coaxially with it.

[0123] The free cross-sections, or diameters, of the valve chamber outlets 102 and outlet connecting passages 162 of the solenoid valves 64 and 66 are different. In the embodiments shown in Figures 5-8, the diameter of the outlet connecting passage 162 of the first valve 60 for the liquid medium is 1 mm. The diameter of the outlet connecting passage 162 of the second valve 62 for the vapor medium 20 is 2 mm. Therefore, the free cross-section of the valve chamber outlet 100 for the liquid medium 18 is smaller than the free cross-section of the valve chamber outlet 100 for the vapor medium 20.

[0124] To drive the washing machine 10, solenoid valves 64, 66 are used to set two precisely predetermined switch positions for controlling the discharge rate of liquid and / or vapor medium 18, 20. These are a closed position that shuts off the fluid connection between the first inlet 30 or the second inlet 32 ​​and the outlet 40, and an open position in which a fluid connection is created between the first inlet 30 or the second inlet 32 ​​and the outlet 40 when the valve pistons 76, 80 are moved away from their assigned valve seats 82 or 84.

[0125] By controlling the solenoid valves 64 and 66 using the control and / or adjustment device 38, a set amount of liquid medium 18 or vapor medium 20, configured by the user via the operating device 56, can be made to flow through the medium outlet 42 and medium hose 46 to the handpiece outlet 52, and from there to be discharged onto the object to be cleaned, for example, the surface to be cleaned.

[0126] When the solenoid valves 64 and 66 move to the open position, the liquid medium 18 and the vapor medium 20 can flow from the inlets 30 and 32 to the outlet 40 according to the set cross-section of the valve chamber outlet 102.

[0127] Unlike the case of mechanically operated valves described in Patent Document 1, the discharge amount in the valve device 24 is not achieved by changing the free cross-section of the flow path allocated to the media 18 and 20 between the inlets 30 and 32 and the outlet 40. Rather, because solenoid valves 64 and 66 are used, they can be periodically moved to one of two predetermined switch positions by appropriate control by the control and / or adjustment device 38. The two predetermined switch positions are, in particular, a first switch position that defines the fully open position, and a second switch position that defines the fully closed position, or closed position. In this way, the flow rate through the first valve 60 and the second valve 62 can be controlled by the control and / or adjustment device 38.

[0128] When valves 60 and 62 are in the closed position, the flow rate is zero. When valves 60 and 62 are in the open position, the flow rate is maximum. To allow adjustment of any flow rate between zero and the maximum flow rate, the control and / or adjustment device 38 is configured to set the discharge amount of the liquid and / or vapor medium 18 and 20 by controlling the solenoid valves 64 and 66 by pulse width modulation. In pulse width modulation, valves 60 and 62 are opened and closed periodically.

[0129] Figure 12 illustrates, as an example, the switching process of five different solenoid valves 66 to set five different steam stages. As is well known, the period length T of pulse width modulation corresponds to the reciprocal of the pulse width modulation frequency. The period length T is written in Figure 12 as an example.

[0130] The pulse width modulation frequency can be set by the control and / or adjustment device 38 within a range of 5 Hz to approximately 100 Hz. Therefore, the period length will be within a range of 0.01 seconds to 0.2 seconds. In particular, the pulse width modulation frequency can also be set within a range of 10 Hz to approximately 30 Hz, in which case the period length T will be within a range of 0.03 seconds to 0.1 seconds.

[0131] The discharge rate or flow rate at each valve 60, 62 can be set via the duty cycle. If the duty cycle is 0% of the period length T, it means that each valve 60, 62 remains closed for the entire period length T. This corresponds to steam stage 0 in Figure 12.

[0132] When the duty cycle reaches 100% of the period length T, it corresponds to the open position, and this position is maintained. In the vapor stage 4, which can be set by the second valve 62, the maximum discharge amount or flow rate for the vapor medium 20 is set.

[0133] To reduce the discharge rate, a duty cycle of 50% is set for steam stage 2. In this case, the second valve 62 is opened for half the period length T and closed for half the period length T. This results in an average discharge rate or flow rate that is approximately two-thirds of the discharge rate or flow rate of steam stage 4.

[0134] As schematically depicted in Figure 12 for steam stage 1, when the duty cycle is reduced to 25%, the solenoid valve 66 remains open for one-quarter of the period length T and closed for three-quarters of the period length. As a result, the discharge rate or flow rate is reduced to about half compared to steam stage 4.

[0135] A third steam stage 3 with a duty cycle of 75% can be defined in a suitable manner. This is also schematically shown in Figure 12. In steam stage 3, the solenoid valve 66 remains open for three-quarters of the period length T and is closed for one-quarter of the period length T. As a result, the steam volume or flow rate is reduced by approximately 15% compared to steam stage 4.

[0136] Figure 15 schematically shows the steam flow rate depending on the duty cycle. In Figure 15, the duty cycle is labeled as the duty cycle.

[0137] The control and / or adjustment device 38 is also configured to set the pulse width modulation frequency individually for each solenoid valve 64, 66. To keep the configuration of the valve device 24 as simple as possible, the same pulse width modulation frequency is chosen for both solenoid valves 64, 66.

[0138] As described above, the control and / or adjustment device 38 is configured to control the discharge rate of the liquid and / or vapor medium 18, 20 by setting the duty cycle of pulse width modulation for each solenoid valve 64, 66 individually, in particular for each solenoid valve 64, 66.

[0139] The control and / or adjustment device 38 is configured to set the duty cycle within a range of approximately 5% to approximately 100%. In order to allow arbitrary adjustment of the discharge amount or flow rate between zero and the maximum discharge amount or flow rate set by the open position of each valve 60, 62, the control and / or adjustment device 38 is configured to freely set the duty cycle within the period of the solenoid valves 64, 66, which is set by the pulse width modulation frequency.

[0140] In relation to Figure 12, the discharge rate of the vapor medium 20 is assumed to be discontinuous. Naturally, the discharge rate of the vapor medium 20 can be set steplessly using the control and / or adjustment device 38, and the discharge rate of the liquid medium 18 can be similarly controlled by the solenoid valve 64. To do this, the duty cycle is set such that the amount of steam allocated to the duty cycle in Figure 15 is discharged. In other words, the duty cycle is determined for the desired amount of steam based on the dependence shown in Figure 15. The dependence of the steam amount on the duty cycle can be stored in the memory of the control and / or adjustment device 38, so the duty cycle can be calculated for any amount of steam desired by the user.

[0141] Figure 16 shows the dependence of the discharge volume of the solenoid valve 64 on the duty cycle. The dependence is almost linear between duty cycles of 25% and 100%, with approximately half the amount of water discharged at a 25% duty cycle compared to a 100% duty cycle.

[0142] Figure 13 shows the switching process in the solenoid valve 66 with a dashed line. Here, the water discharge stage with a duty cycle of 45% overlaps with the steam stage 2 with a duty cycle of 50%. The switching process for the water discharge stage is shown with a dashed line. Therefore, this valve device 24 can also discharge a mixture of the liquid medium 18 and the vapor medium 20.

[0143] Therefore, taking Figures 15 and 16 into account, in the middle switching process shown in Figure 13, solenoid valve 66 generates approximately 32g of steam per minute at a duty cycle of 50%, and solenoid valve 64 generates approximately 270g of water per minute at a duty cycle of 45%.

[0144] In the switching process shown in Figure 13, the pulse width modulation transition is selected such that after both solenoid valves 64 and 66 open simultaneously, solenoid valve 64 closes again slightly before solenoid valve 66, resulting in both solenoid valves 64 and 66 being closed at half the period length T.

[0145] However, it is not essential to control the solenoid valves 64 and 66 as schematically shown in Figure 13. Figure 14 shows another method for releasing a mixture of the vapor medium 20 and the liquid medium 18. Here, solenoid valve 66 is first opened to release the vapor medium 20. After about two-thirds of its open time has elapsed, solenoid valve 64 is also opened and remains open for 45% of the period length. Solenoid valve 66 is closed again after half of the period length T has passed. Thus, the following situation occurs: Initially, only solenoid valve 66 is open. Both solenoid valves 64 and 66 remain open for about 10% of the period length. After that, only solenoid valve 64 remains open for about 35% of the period length, and finally, both solenoid valves 64 and 66 are closed for about 20% of the period length at the end of the period. Here again, the release amounts of the liquid medium 18 and vapor medium 20 are as explained in relation to Figure 13.

[0146] Furthermore, since valves 60 and 62 can be electrically controlled, it is possible to control various drive modes of the valve device 24. In particular, it is possible to control the cleaning mode, the rinsing mode, and the anti-calcification mode to prevent clogging of the solenoid valves 64 and 66 due to lime. The anti-calcification mode is especially useful in preventing clogging of the valve seats 82 and 84 due to lime.

[0147] In anti-calcification mode, the valve seats 82 and 84 are moistened by opening each solenoid valve 64 and 66 for a short humidification time when they are closed. Preferably, the anti-calcification mode is superimposed on the normal drive, i.e., the cleaning mode or cleaning drive of the valve device 24 or the washing machine 10. The solenoid valves 64 and 66 are opened in anti-calcification mode even when the user does not request the release of the medium. By opening the solenoid valves 64 and 66 for a short time, the valve seats 82 and 84 are kept moist, and as a result, lime deposits cannot be formed in the area of ​​the valve seats 82 and 84. For this reason, if the solenoid valves 64 and 66 have not been opened for a predetermined closure period which can be set by choice, the control and / or adjustment device controls the solenoid valves so that in anti-calcification mode, the solenoid valves 64 and 66 are opened only for the duration of the humidification time. In this way, it is possible to prevent the valve pistons 76 and 78 from sticking to the valve seats 82 and 84.

[0148] When the power supply to the electromagnets 68 and 70 is cut off, in other words, when the electromagnets 68 and 70 are not energized, the valve pistons 76 and 78 automatically return to the closed position by the restoring element 90. With this configuration, the valve device 24 consumes current only when it is in operation and does not consume current when the user does not request media discharge or when the washing machine 10 is not in operation.

[0149] The control and / or adjustment device 38 is further configured to allow setting the closing period to a value within the range of approximately 30 seconds to approximately 5 minutes. In particular, the closing period can be set to approximately 1 minute. This means that if the solenoid valves 64 and 66 are not opened during the closing period, they will be opened for a short time after the closing period has elapsed. This opening can be set by a humidification time, which is between approximately 5 milliseconds and approximately 100 milliseconds. In particular, the humidification time can be set to 10 milliseconds. This means that if the closing period has elapsed with the solenoid valves 64 and 66 closed, each solenoid valve 64 and 66 will be opened for the humidification time and then closed again, even if the user has not requested media release.

[0150] The valve device 24 may optionally include a sound-dampening element to reduce the noise of the valve pistons 76, 78 when the solenoid valves 64, 66 open and / or close. Such a sound-dampening element may be formed in the form of a rubber element, which is not shown in the diagram for clarity.

[0151] In the washing machine 10 or valve device 24, a control and / or adjustment method for the valve device 24 can be implemented such that the flow rate, particularly the discharge amount, of the liquid and / or vapor medium 18, 20 passing through at least one of the valves 60, 62 can be controlled and / or adjusted by pulse width modulation through a special configuration of the control and / or adjustment device 38. In this method, a pulse width modulation frequency is set for each valve 60, 62. In this method, the pulse width modulation frequency is set in the range of about 5 Hz to about 100 Hz. In a preferred embodiment, the pulse width modulation frequency is in the range of about 10 Hz to about 30 Hz.

[0152] In this method, as explained in detail earlier in relation to Figures 12-16, the discharge amount of the liquid and / or vapor medium 18, 20 can be controlled through the duty cycle of pulse width modulation of each valve 60, 62. In this method, the duty cycle can be set within a range of 5% to approximately 100%.

[0153] Figure 11 schematically shows a cross-sectional view of a valve device 24 containing only a single valve 64. This cross-sectional view corresponds to the cross-sectional view in Figure 7. In other words, this valve device 24 contains only a single valve 64, rather than two valves 64, 66. This can be used to control the discharge of either the liquid medium 18 or the vapor medium 20. Such a valve device 24 can be used, for example, in a steam cleaner 12 where the discharge of the liquid medium 18 is not desired. For a detailed explanation of the structure of this valve device 24, please refer to the previous explanation associated with Figures 5-8 to avoid repetition.

[0154] The special configuration of the valve device 24 described above allows for direct adjustment of the steam flow rate via input through the operating device 56, without the need for mechanical or manual adjustment steps as required in valves known from Patent Document 1. This enables precise control of various steam stages, particularly discontinuous steam stages. The discharge rates of the vapor medium 20 and the liquid medium 18 can be set either through a mechanically defined opening cross-section or by modulating the opening times of the solenoid valves 64 and 66. In this way, particularly discontinuous steam stages can be defined.

[0155] By arranging both solenoid valves 64 and 66 within a common casing body 80, the valve device 24 can be made compact. By performing pulse width modulation as described above at pulse width modulation frequencies within the range mentioned earlier, the switching between steam and water flow rates can be performed very quickly in the millisecond range. Furthermore, manufacturing tolerances of the valve device 24 (particularly in the area of ​​the valve seats 82, 84 and the outlet connection flow path 162) can be compensated by appropriate calibration. This significantly reduces mechanical manufacturing costs, while still allowing for highly accurate setting or adjustment of the discharge amounts of the liquid medium 18 and the vapor medium 20. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0156] 10… Washing machine 12… Steam cleaning machine 14... Boiling water 16...Heating device 18…Liquid media 20…Vaporic medium 22...Emission device 24... Valve device 26...First water heater outlet 28...Second water heater outlet 30…First Entrance 32...Second entrance 34…First connecting pipe 36...Second connecting pipe 38... Control and / or adjustment devices 40...exit 42…Media outlet 44...Third connecting pipe 46... Media hose 48…Free end 50… Handpiece 52... Handpiece exit 54… Nozzle 56...Operating device 58... Control wiring 60...First valve 62...2nd valve 64... Solenoid valve 66... ​​Solenoid valve 68... Electromagnet 70... Electromagnet 72... Power supply wiring pair 74... Power supply wiring pair 76... Valve piston 78... Valve piston 80... Casing body 82... Valve seat 84... Valve seat 86…Long axis 88…Long axis 90…Restoration element 92...spring 94...Casing support surface 96... Valve piston support surface 98... Valve chamber 100...Valve chamber inlet 102...Valve chamber outlet 104...receptor 106... Sealed body 108... Valve chamber dead hole 110...Internal thread 112... External thread 114... Capsule 116…Long axis 118... Nut 120... Connection point 122... Connection point 124…Mixing room 126...1st support surface 128…Second support surface 130…Third support surface 132...end face 134...End face 136…Long axis 138…Mixing chamber long axis 140...Blind hole 142...edge 144... Closed element 146... Ring packing 148...First entrance connection pipe 150...Second inlet connecting pipe 152... Outlet connection pipe 154...First dead hole 156...Second dead hole 158...Third stop hole 160...First connecting channel 162...Outlet connection channel

Claims

1. A valve device (24) having at least one first inlet (30) for a vapor medium (20), a valve device in particular for a steam cleaner (12), wherein the at least one first inlet (30) is hydrodynamically connected to a first outlet (40) for discharging the vapor medium (20), and at least one first valve (60) is arranged or formed between the at least one first inlet (30) and the first outlet (40), characterized in that the at least one first valve (60) is configured in the form of a solenoid valve (64).

2. The valve device according to claim 1, wherein the valve device (24) includes at least one second inlet (32) for a liquid medium (18), the at least one second inlet (32) is fluidly connected to a second outlet (40) for discharging the liquid medium (18), and at least one second valve (62) is positioned or formed between the at least one second inlet (32) and the second outlet (40).

3. a) The at least one second valve (62) is configured in the form of a solenoid valve (66), and / or, b) The first outlet (40) includes or forms the second outlet (40), and / or, c) The valve device (24) includes simply one first inlet (30) and simply one second inlet (32), and / or, d) The first valve (60) and the second valve (62) are configured as solenoid valves (64, 66). The valve device according to feature 2.

4. The solenoid valve (64, 66) includes a valve seat (82, 84) and a movable valve piston (76, 78) that works in conjunction with the valve seat (82, 84), the solenoid valve (64, 66) opens in the open position where the valve piston (76, 78) opens the valve seat (82, 84), the solenoid valve (64, 66) closes in the closed position where the valve piston (76, 78) closes the valve seat (82, 84), and the solenoid valve (64, 66) includes an electromagnet (68, 70) for moving the valve piston (76, 78), In particular, the electromagnets (68, 70) are arranged and configured to move the valve pistons (76, 78) from the closed position to the open position. The valve device according to claim 1 or 2.

5. The valve device (24) includes a casing body (80), and the at least one first inlet (30), the first outlet (40), and the first valve (60) are arranged or formed in the casing body (80). especially, a) The at least one second inlet (32), the second outlet (40), and the second valve (62) are arranged or formed in the casing body (80), and / or, b) The at least one first inlet (30) and the at least one second inlet (32) are oriented parallel to each other and arranged or formed on the casing body (80). The valve device according to claim 1 or 2.

6. The solenoid valve (64, 66) includes at least one restoring element (90) to automatically move the valve piston (76, 78) from the open position to the closed position when the electromagnet (68, 70) is inactive. especially, a) The at least one restoring element (90) is formed in the form of a spring (92), particularly in the form of a coil spring, and / or, b) The at least one restoring element (90) supports itself on one side on the casing support surface (94) of the casing body (80) and on the other side on the valve piston support surface (96) of the valve piston (76, 78), wherein the casing support surface (94) faces the valve seat (82, 84) and the valve piston support surface (96) faces the casing support surface (94). The valve device according to claim 1 or 2.

7. The solenoid valve (64, 66) includes a valve chamber (98) having a valve chamber inlet (100) and a valve chamber outlet (102), and the valve chamber outlet (102) is surrounded by the valve seats (82, 84). In particular, the valve chamber inlet (100) a) Arranged or formed in the valve chamber (98) and oriented parallel to each other with respect to the valve chamber outlet (102), and / or, b) Fluidly connected to at least one first inlet (30) or at least one second inlet (32) The valve device according to claim 1 or 2.

8. The valve device according to claim 7, characterized in that the valve chamber (98) is formed in the form of a valve chamber blind hole (108), and the solenoid valves (64, 66) are inserted into the valve chamber blind hole (108), particularly screwed in.

9. The valve device (24) includes a mixing chamber (124), and the mixing chamber (124) is fluidly connected to the at least one first inlet (30) and the first outlet (40). especially, a) The mixing chamber (124) is fluidly connected to the at least one second inlet (32), and / or, b) The valve chamber outlet (102) is fluidly connected to the mixing chamber (124), and / or, c) The mixing chamber (124) is oriented in a direction that intersects, in particular perpendicular to, the valve pistons (76, 78) and / or the at least one first inlet (30) and / or the at least one second inlet (32) and / or the first outlet (40) and / or the second outlet (40), and / or, d) The mixing chamber (124) includes a blind hole (140) on the casing body (80), and the open end of the blind hole (140) is closed so as not to allow fluid to pass through. The valve device according to claim 1 or 2.

10. The at least one first inlet (30) includes a first inlet connecting pipe (148) protruding from the casing body (80) of the valve device (24), and / or the at least one second inlet (32) includes a second inlet connecting pipe (150) protruding from the casing body (80) of the valve device (24), and / or the first outlet (40) includes a first outlet connecting pipe (152) protruding from the casing body (80) of the valve device (24), and / or the second outlet (40) includes a second outlet connecting pipe (152) protruding from the casing body (80) of the valve device (24), In particular, the first outlet connecting pipe (152) includes or forms the second outlet connecting pipe (152). The valve device according to feature 5.

11. The first inlet connecting pipe (148) is inserted, particularly screwed into, the first blind hole (154) of the casing body (80), and / or the second inlet connecting pipe (150) is inserted, particularly screwed into, the second blind hole (156) of the casing body (80), and / or the first outlet connecting pipe (152) is inserted, particularly screwed into, the third blind hole (158) of the casing body (80), and / or the second outlet connecting pipe (152) is inserted, particularly screwed into, the fourth blind hole (158) of the casing body (80). especially, a) The first blind hole (154) and / or the second blind hole (156) and / or the third blind hole (158) and / or the fourth blind hole (158) are parallel to or substantially parallel to each other, and / or, b) The first dead hole (154) is fluidly connected to the first valve chamber (98), particularly the first valve chamber inlet (100), through a first connecting passage (160), and / or the second dead hole (156) is fluidly connected to the second valve chamber (98), particularly the second valve chamber inlet (100), through a second connecting passage, wherein the first connecting passage (160) extends intersecting, particularly perpendicular to, the first dead hole (154), and / or the second connecting passage extends intersecting, particularly perpendicular to, the second dead hole (156). The valve device according to feature 10.

12. The valve device according to claim 10, characterized in that the first and second outlet connecting pipes (152) and the first and second inlet connecting pipes (148, 150) are arranged or formed to protrude in opposite directions from the casing body (80).

13. Each valve chamber outlet (102) is fluidly connected to the mixing chamber (124) through an outlet connecting passage (162). especially, a) The first connecting channel (160) and / or the second connecting channel and / or the outlet connecting channel (162) are parallel to each other or oriented toward each other. and / or, b) Each valve piston (76, 78) extends coaxially with or is oriented toward the outlet connection passage (162). The valve device according to feature 9.

14. The free cross-sections, particularly the diameters, of the valve chamber outlets (102) of the solenoid valves (64, 66) for vapor and liquid media (18, 20) are different. In particular, the free cross-section of the valve chamber outlet (100) for the liquid medium (18) is smaller than the free cross-section of the valve chamber outlet (100) for the vapor medium (20). The valve device according to feature 9.

15. The valve device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the solenoid valves (64, 66) have exactly two predetermined switch positions, the first switch position being defined as the fully open position, the open position, and the second switch position being defined as the fully closed position, the closed position.

16. The valve device (24) includes a control and / or adjustment device (38) for controlling and / or adjusting the flow rate passing through the at least one first valve (60), and the control and / or adjustment device (38) a) To control and / or adjust the flow rate passing through at least one second valve (62), and / or, b) Control the solenoid valves (64, 66) to set the amount of liquid and / or vapor medium (18, 20) released by pulse width modulation, The valve device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by being configured as follows.

17. The control and / or adjustment device (38) is configured to set the pulse width modulation frequency of each solenoid valve (64, 66) individually, in particular for each solenoid valve. In particular, the control and / or adjustment device (38) is configured to set the pulse width modulation frequency within a range of approximately 5 Hz to approximately 100 Hz, and especially within a range of approximately 10 Hz to approximately 30 Hz. The valve device according to feature 16.

18. The control and / or adjustment device (38) is configured to control the amount of liquid and / or vapor medium (18, 20) released by individually setting the duty cycle of pulse width modulation for each solenoid valve (64, 66), particularly for each solenoid valve (64, 66). In particular, the control and / or adjustment device (38) a) Set the duty cycle within a range of approximately 5% to approximately 100%. and / or, b) To allow the duty cycle to be freely set within a period set by the pulse width modulation frequency for at least one of the solenoid valves (64, 66), The valve device according to claim 16, characterized by being configured as such.

19. The valve device according to claim 16, characterized in that the control and / or adjustment device (38) is configured to control the amount of liquid and / or vapor medium (20) released in a stepless and / or discontinuous manner.

20. The control and / or adjustment device (38) is configured to control various drive modes of the valve device (24), in particular to control a cleaning mode and / or a rinsing mode and / or an anti-calcification mode to prevent clogging of the at least one solenoid valve (64, 66) due to lime, especially clogging of its valve seat (82), especially, a) The control and / or adjustment device is configured, in the anti-calcification mode, to moisten the valve seat (84) by opening the at least one solenoid valve (64, 66) only for the duration of the humidification time when it is closed, in particular regularly. and / or, b) The control and / or adjustment device (38) is configured to open the at least one solenoid valve (64, 66) for the duration of the humidification time if the at least one solenoid valve (64, 66) has not been opened for a settable closing period in the anti-calcification mode, and in particular the control and / or adjustment device (38) is configured to set the closing period to a value in the range of about 30 seconds to about 5 minutes, in particular to about 1 minute, and / or the humidification time to a value in the range of 5 milliseconds to about 100 milliseconds, in particular to about 10 milliseconds. The valve device according to feature 16.

21. The valve device (24) includes a noise-reducing element that reduces the noise of the valve pistons (76, 78) when the at least one solenoid valve (64, 66) opens and / or closes. In particular, the sound-absorbing element is formed in the form of a rubber element. The valve device according to claim 1 or 2.

22. A washing machine (10) comprising a water heater (14) for adding a liquid medium (18), particularly a water heater (14) for adding water, and a heating device (16) for heating the water heater (14) to at least partially vaporize the liquid medium (18) and generate a vapor medium (20), the washing machine (10) in the form of a steam washing machine, comprising a discharge device (22) including a valve device (24) for discharging the liquid and / or vapor mediums (18, 20), wherein the valve device (24) is configured in the form of the valve device (24) described in claim 1 or 2, In particular, the water heater (14) includes a first water heater outlet (26) for the liquid medium (18) and a second water heater outlet (28) for the gaseous medium (20), the at least one first inlet (30) of the valve device (24) is fluidically connected to the first water heater outlet (26), and the at least one second inlet (32) of the valve device (24) is fluidically connected to the second water heater outlet (28). A washing machine characterized by the following features.

23. The washing machine according to claim 22, characterized in that the washing machine (10) includes an operating device (56) for user operation to control the discharge of the medium, particularly in the form of a man-machine interface.

24. The washing machine (10) is equipped with a medium outlet (42) connected to or connectable to a medium hose (46), and the medium outlet (42) is fluidically connected to the first outlet and / or the second outlet of the valve device (24). In particular, a handpiece (50) is connected to or can be connected to the free end (48) of the media hose (46), and the operating device (56) is arranged or formed on the handpiece (50). The washing machine according to feature 22.

25. a) The amount of liquid and / or vapor medium (18, 20) released can be set using the operating device (56). and / or, b) The control and / or adjustment device (38) is connected to the control device (56) in a control manner in order to control the valve device (24) in accordance with the amount of liquid and / or vapor medium (18, 20) released using the control device (56). The washing machine according to feature 23.

26. a) The valve device (24) is located away from the water heater (14) and / or is insulated from the water heater (14), and / or, b) The washing machine (10) is configured in the form of a steam washing machine (12). The washing machine according to feature 22.

27. A method for controlling and / or adjusting a valve device (24) including at least one first valve (60, 62), particularly the valve device (24) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the flow rate passing through the at least one first valve (60, 62), particularly the discharge amount of a liquid and / or vapor medium (18, 20), is controllable and / or adjustable by pulse width modulation.

28. In the above method, the pulse width modulation frequency of the valves (60, 62) is set. In particular, in the above method, the pulse width modulation frequency is set within a range of approximately 5 Hz to approximately 100 Hz, and especially within a range of approximately 10 Hz to approximately 30 Hz. The method according to feature 27.

29. In the above method, in order to control the amount of liquid and / or vapor medium (18, 20) released, the duty cycle of the pulse width modulation of at least one valve (60, 62) is set. In particular, in the above method, the duty cycle is set within a range of approximately 5% to approximately 100%. The method according to feature 27.

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