The present invention relates to an electric valve device, used in particular, but not exclusively, in household appliances, such as washing machines or dishwashers.

More specifically, the object of the invention is an electric valve device of the type comprising a hollow body, in which between at least one inlet passage and one outlet passage a path for a flow of a fluid, in particular a liquid, is defined and in which the communication between the at least one inlet passage and the outlet passage is controllable by means of an electrically controlled actuator, such as a solenoid actuator, carried by said body.

The electric valve devices of this type inevitably exhibit manufacturing tolerances likely to modify the dimensional characteristics with respect to the corresponding nominal values of the project and to cause corresponding variations in the flow of fluid through such devices.

The object of the present invention is to propose an electric valve device which allows the drawback described above of devices according to the prior art to be overcome.

This and other objects are achieved according to the invention with an electric valve device of the initially specified type, characterized in that it is provided with an indicator device containing information indicative of values assumed by at least one predetermined parameter adapted to allow an accurate determination of the flow rate through the electric valve device.

By way of example, the aforementioned indicator device may comprise a QR code or a bar code, or an RFID tag.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description that follows, provided by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 is a perspective view of a dual inlet electric valve device, made in accordance with the present invention; and

figure 2 is a sectional view along the line II-II of figure 1. In the drawings, an electric valve device according to the present invention is indicated collectively at 1.

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the electric valve device 1 comprises a hollow body 2, forming two inlet fittings 3A and 3B, defining respective passages 5A and 5B (figure 1) for the selective introduction of respective liquid flows, and a single outlet fitting 4 defining a passage (figure 2) for the flow exiting from the electric valve device in use.

Inside the body 2, in a per se known manner, between each of the inlet passages 5 A and 5B and the outlet passage 6, respective valve seats are defined, to which are associated respective obturators, controlled by means of respective actuator devices of a per se known type, such as solenoid actuators or wax actuators.

In the illustrated embodiment, the communication between the inlet passage 5A and the outlet passage 6 is controlled by means of a coil or solenoid 7A, and the communication between the inlet passage 5B and the outlet passage 6 is controlled by means of a coil or solenoid 7B .

Said coils or solenoids 7A and 7B appropriately extend from a same side with respect to the cover 2, in adjacent and parallel arrangement.

The coils or solenoids 7A and 7B may be driven so as to put selectively the one or the other or both of the input passages 5A and 5B in communication with the outlet passage 6.

As seen in figure 2, in the outlet passage 6 defined in the fitting 4 a flow regulator device 8 of a per se known type, and a filter 9, also of a per se known type, may be appropriately mounted.

In a manner not shown in the drawings, a flow measuring device (the so-called "liter- counter") may also be located in the outlet fitting 4, for example of a turbine type.

Above the solenoid actuators 7A and 7B, a structure is mounted, indicated collectively at 10, made of molded plastic material, in which are integrated two electrical connectors 11 and 12, which interface with the leads or terminals of the coils or solenoids of said actuator devices, for their connection to external driver circuits.

In the illustrated embodiment, the structure 10 carries a marker 13 including a QR-type (Quick Response) code, i.e. a two-dimensional bar code containing coded information indicative of the values assumed by at least one predetermined parameter of the electric valve device 1, adapted to permit an accurate determination of the flow of fluid therethrough.

In the case of an electric valve device 1 having two inlets, as in the embodiment described above with reference to the appended drawings, the information or data contained in the code of the indicator device 13 is adapted to allow an accurate determination of the flow rate between each of the inlet passages 5A, 5B and the outlet passage 6.

As an alternative to a QR-type code, the indicator device 13 may simply include one or more traditional type, one-dimensional bar codes or an RFID tag, or other equivalent devices/codes.

In any case, the code associated with the indicator device 13 is applied to each electric valve device 1 in the final part of the production line, following measurements specifically conducted on each electric valve device.

The information contained in the code 13 associated with each electric valve device can be easily detected by means of a suitable per se known capture device, during the installation of the electric valve device in a utilization apparatus or system to be used in operation for a more accurate determination of flow rates of liquid entering the apparatus through the electric valve device.

Thus, for example, if an electric valve device according to the invention of the type described above is used in a washing machine for controlling the loading of flows of hot and/or cold water, the control unit of such a machine on the basis of the information acquired by the indicator 13 of the specific electric valve device installed in it may determine very precisely the quantity of hot and/or cold water actually loaded.

This allows the errors due to manufacturing tolerances of the electric valve devices in question to be eliminated, or at least greatly reduced.

Naturally, without altering the principle of the invention, the embodiments and construction details can vary widely with respect to what has been described and illustrated purely by way of non-limiting example, the invention extending to all embodiments which achieve equal utility to the same innovative concepts.

Thus, for example, the invention is also applicable to electric valve devices with one inlet and one or more outlets, as well as to electric valve devices with different actuators from solenoid actuators.