DESCRIPTION

Object of the present invention is a flow diverter for machines for washing, in particular for dishwashing machines.

The invention therefore fits within the field of dishwashers, in particular in the domestic sector or the like.

Nothing obviously forbids extending the application of the invention to fields other than domestic, such as the industrial, catering or in general for all those fields or applications that require washing dishes, pots, kitchen utensils or similar.

The current dishwashers are equipped with a flow diverter suitable for diverting and directing the flow of water, at the outlet of the circulation pump, to the various sprinklers of which said dishwashers are equipped, since sometimes only one or the other of them it is supplied with washing liquid.

Normally, the dishwashers are equipped with an upper and a lower sprinkler, being said sprinklers the means for dispensing and spraying the water on the dishes.

Generally, a flow diverter is composed of a plurality of gears, suitably disposed and cooperating with each other so as to rotate a selector which opens or closes certain ducts, in order to direct the water towards the desired sprinkler.

Said selector is advantageously installed on a gear and moves integrally thereto; the rotation of said gear allows to control the opening or closing of said ducts. The current deviators comprise mechanical devices, such as for example cams, capable to regulate and control the rotation of said gears, so as to vary and determine the position of the selector.

The problem to be solved concerns the operation of said mechanical devices, in particular the flexibility and speed with which they operate.

With known devices, for example, to position and / or reposition the selector, it is always necessary to start from a fixed reference position, here called "zero position".

Said zero position is the position from which the diverter is actuated to rotate the gears by a certain angle and bring the selector to the desired position, that is, in correspondence with the opening of the desired sprinkler pipe.

Normally, therefore, the washing cycle starts from said zero position and follows a washing program which defines the pattern of activation of sprinklers, i.e. which sprayer must be powered and which is not.

This program is not modifiable and does not allow the flexibility of washing or customizing the cycles.

This operating logic does not allow selection or alteration of the pattern of the sprayers, the diverter is obliged to follow a specific program and to always move to the zero position before implementing a new washing cycle.

As it is understandable, said way of operating produces slowdowns and inefficiencies.

In particular, it does not allow any flexibility or adaptability of the program to specific washing needs.

In addition, if there is an interruption of electricity, when the dishwasher is restarted, the flow diverter returns to the zero position, resetting the last phase of operation before the power failure.

This problem and drawback has been known and felt for some time and the expedients known to the state of the art do not provide a satisfactory solution.

The above mentioned problems affect similarly the deviators currently used.

The main object of the present invention is to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks by providing a flow diverter for dishwashers able to position the selector in the position provided for each time by the washing program without having to know its angular position with respect to a zero position.

A further object of the present invention, at least for one or more embodiments, is to provide a flow diverter for dishwashers capable of detecting and determining the position of the selector.

A further object of the present invention, at least for one or more embodiments, is to provide a flow diverter for dishwashers capable of supplying a plurality of hydraulic pipes.

This and other objects, which will become clear later, are achieved with a flow diverter or the like, illustrated in the following description and in the annexed claims which form an integral part of the description.

Further characteristics of the present invention will become clear from the following description of a preferred embodiment, according to the patent claims and illustrated, purely by way of non-limiting example, in the attached drawings, wherein:

- fig. 1 is a perspective view of a possible embodiment of the flow diverter according to the present invention;

- fig. 2 is a perspective view of the flow diverter of Fig. 1 without the cover cap; - fig. 3 is a perspective view in section of the flow diverter of Fig. 1 ;

- fig. 4 is a sectional view of the flow diverter of Fig. 1 ;

- fig. 5 is a perspective view in section of a further possible embodiment of the flow diverter according to the present invention, provided with sealing means;

- fig. 6 is a detailed perspective view of the means for detecting the position of the flow diverter according to the present invention;

- fig. 7 is a sectional view from above of the flow diverter of Fig. 4;

- fig. 8 is a bottom view of the flow diverter of Fig. 1;

- fig. 9 is a bottom view of the flow diverter of Fig. 1 without the sensor means. The characteristics of the invention are described below, using the references contained in the figure. It is to be noted that any dimensional and spatial terms (such as "lower", "superior", "internal", "external", "frontal", "rear", "vertical", "horizontal" and the like) refer to the position according to which substantially the elements are located when the flow diverter is placed with a vertical axis and main outputs facing upwards.

With the aim of highlighting certain characteristics rather than others, what is shown in the attached drawings is not necessarily in scale. The numeral 1 indicates a possible embodiment of the flow diverter according to the present invention, hereafter referred to as deviator 1 for conciseness.

Said diverter 1 comprises a body 11 , inside which a plurality of gears are housed, and a closing cap 10 on which are located coupling sleeves (or openings) suitable for connection to the hydraulic conduits of the sprinklers.

In particular, said closing cap 10 can comprise at least one pump input 105, to which the water circulation pump is connected, at least a first coupling sleeve 101 connectable with the upper sprinkler, at least a second coupling sleeve 102 connectable with the lower sprinkler, at least a third coupling sleeve 103 connectable to a third hydraulic circuit, at least a fourth coupling sleeve 104 connectable to a fourth hydraulic circuit.

According to a possible embodiment, said first and second coupling sleeves 101 and 102 can be arranged on the top wall of said cap 10, while said third and fourth coupling sleeve 103 and 104 and said pump input 105 can be arranged on the side walls of the said cap 10.

Said third hydraulic circuit can feed an auxiliary sprinkler, arranged as required inside the dishwasher.

Said fourth hydraulic circuit can feed a water recovery system (for this purpose, the technologies and systems of the patent application No. 102017000012599 can be used and / or integrated in the name of the same Applicant).

The recovery system described in the patent application No. 102017000012599 is characterized in that it comprises at least one multifunction pocket which acts as a storage tank for the water; said fourth hydraulic circuit, therefore, can send the water to one or more multifunction pockets. Said closing cap 10 defines a volume 100 adapted to receive the water supplied by the circulation pump, and thereafter sent to the various hydraulic circuits (upper, lower, auxiliary sprinkler, pockets).

Inside said closing cap 10 a selector 12 is housed.

Said selector 12 comprises a pin 120, suitably coupled and fixed to a gear 130, and a head 121 fixed to the free end of said shaft 120.

Said head 121 is provided with at least one opening, preferably at least two openings.

The possible openings are at least the following:

- a first opening 122, preferably arranged on the top wall 200; and / or

- a second opening 123, preferably arranged on the side wall 201 ; and / or

- a third opening 124 and a fourth opening 125 preferably arranged diametrically opposite on the top wall 200.

According to a preferred variant, said first, second, third and fourth openings 122, 123 124 and 125 may be provided with a perimetric rim 13 which cooperates with the inlet of the engagement sleeves 101, 102, 103 and 104.

Said perimetric rim 13 allows to avoid leakage during the passage of water from the volume 100 to the coupling sleeve.

The first, third and fourth openings 122, 124 and 125 cooperate with the first 101 and second 102 clutch sleeves, while said second opening 123 cooperates with the third 103 and fourth 104 clutch sleeves.

By rotating the gear 130, the selector 12 rotates correspondingly, it is thus possible to:

- align the first opening 122 with the first coupling sleeve 101 or second 102; or - align the third and fourth openings 124 and 125 with the first coupling sleeve

101 and second 102; or

- align the second opening 123 with the third 103 or fourth clutch sleeve 104.

The reciprocal position of said first, second, third and fourth openings 122, 123, 124 and 125 is such that:

- when the first opening 122 is aligned and communicating with the first coupling sleeve 101 or second 102, said second, third and fourth openings 123, 124 and 125 are occluded by the walls of the closing cap 10;

- when said third and fourth openings 124 and 125 are aligned and communicating with the respective first coupling sleeves 101 and second 102, said first and second openings 122 and 123 are occluded by the walls of the closing cap 10;

- when said second opening 123 is aligned and communicating with the third or third 103 clutch sleeve 104, said first, third and fourth openings 122, 124 and 125 are occluded by the wall of the cap 10.

Said gear 130 is driven by a motor gear 132 via an intermediate gear 131.

The diverter according to the present invention is characterized in that the angular position of the selector 12 is detected and determined by means of a suitable detection and positioning system 14, advantageously arranged near a gear of the deviator 1.

Said detection and positioning system 14 can comprise:

- at least one management and control means comprising a processing and control unit, said processing and control unit advantageously being the same processing and control unit provided and installed in the dishwasher for implementing the various washing programs and / or drying;

- suitable marking means (141) which act as a reference for determining the position of said selector (12);

- at least one sensor means (140) communicating with said processing and control unit; said sensor means (140) being able to recognize and detect said marking means (141) and advantageously arranged on a support element 143.

Where said dishwasher does not have a control unit, it is possible to provide the system according to the present invention with suitable management and control means.

The processing and control unit is suitably connected to the actuation and movement means of the gears, preferably with the motor which drives the motor gear 132, so as to control and control the rotation movement thereof.

Said marking means 141 are positioned or obtained on a rotating element whose angular position identifies the angular position of the selector 12 and are arranged in such a way as to be detectable by the sensor means 140.

According to a possible embodiment, said marking means 141 are positioned or obtained on the surface of at least one gear of the deviator 1, said gear being said rotating element.

According to the embodiment of Fig. 6, said marking means 141 are positioned on the lower surface of the gear 130 and underneath it, is positioned the support element 143, suitably connected and fixed to the body of the deviator 1.

This embodiment, therefore, provides for determining the position of the selector 12 through the detection and recognition of marking means 141 identifying the angular position of the gear 130.

By angular position of the gear 130, is meant the rotation angle of the gear 130 with respect to a certain reference, for example with respect to the sensor means 140. The position of the gear 130 determines the position of the selector 12, said selector 12 being coupled with said gear 130; by rotating the gear 130, the selector 12 is also rotated so as to align its openings with the coupling sleeves.

According to a possible embodiment, said sensing system 14 is an optical sensing system and can further comprise at least one lighting means 142, such as LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes), light bulbs or the like, advantageously positioned on said support element 143.

The use and type of lighting means 142 depend on the type of sensor 140 used, in particular if it is an optical sensor.

Said lighting means 142 illuminates the marking means 141 near the sensor means 140, so as to make them better visible and detectable by the sensor means 140. In general, the illumination of the marking means 141 allows a more accurate detection by the sensor means, facilitating the operation of recognition of the mark 141 by the processing unit.

Each marker 141 has a specific characteristic which makes it detectable and distinguishable from the others by the sensor 140.

In particular if the sensor 140, as preferred, is an optical sensor, each of said marks 141 has a distinguishing optical characteristic.

For example, in possible embodiments, said marks 141 can be differentiated by color, by geometric pattern or mark on their surface, or in general by technical solutions capable of reflecting the light differently (glossy, opaque, dashed, knurled surfaces, etc.).

According to these embodiments, the optical sensor 140 is able to detect the variations in reflection of the light which hits each mark 141.

The processing and control unit, by processing the signal of the optical sensor 140 and the variation of reflection associated therewith, is able to determine and establish the mark 141 detected by said optical sensor 140.

With reference to Fig. 6, therefore, the mark 141, which is red, is near the sensor 140; the sensor 140 detects the light reflected by said mark 141 and sends a signal to the processing and control unit, which processes the data and identifies the mark 141 as red.

This working logic extends and applies to all marks 141.

Nothing prevents the use of any marking identification suitable for the purpose such as alphanumeric, new icons or similar symbols, and as sensor means any device capable of detecting and recognizing the characteristic which distinguishes each mark.

Each mark 141 corresponds to the alignment of a specific opening of the head 121 of the selector 12 with a specific coupling sleeve of the cap 10 so that the water, being pressurized thanks to the circulation pump, can flow from the volume 100 towards the 'sleeve inlet.

In this way it is possible to combine to each marker 141 a specific position of the selector 12, being said specific position of the selector 12 associated with the passage of water towards a specific hydraulic circuit.

In accordance with the possible executive variant shown in the accompanying figures, said water passage can take place towards:

- the upper sprinkler, by aligning the first opening 122 with the first coupling sleeve 101; or - the lower sprinkler, by aligning the first opening 122 with the coupling sleeve according to 102; or

- the upper and lower sprinkler, by aligning the third and fourth openings 124 and 125 with the respective first coupling sleeve 101 and second 102; or

- the auxiliary sprinkler, by aligning the second opening 123 with the third coupling sleeve 103; or

- the fourth hydraulic circuit by aligning the second opening 123 with the fourth engagement sleeve 104.

As illustrated, the processing and control unit, on the basis of the data acquired by the sensor 140, determines and identifies the position of the selector 12; this makes it possible to avoid the zero position envisaged by the state of the art, since the opening and the power supply of each coupling sleeve is identified by means of a mark 141, said marking 141 identifying the position of the selector 12.

The detection and positioning system according to the present invention therefore envisages replacing or eliminating the zero position by using and recognizing suitable markings which allow to establish the position of the selector 12.

Advantageously, the processing and control unit can comprise information concerning the order or sequence with which the different marks 141 are arranged.

Whatever the mark 141 detected by the sensor means 140, the processing and control unit is able to identify it and to establish the position (or the angle of rotation) of the gear 130 or of the selector 12, thus allowing a faster and more efficient operation.

In fact, having identified the mark, the processing and control unit controls the rotation of the gear 130 on the basis of the coupling sleeve to be supplied, in accordance with the preset washing program or the user-defined commands.

In the event of an electrical power cut-off, when the dishwasher is restarted, the di verier 1 is able to determine the position of the selector 12, and based on this position it defines the subsequent machine commands.

In the event that a power failure stops the rotation of the gear 130 during a switch between the hydraulic circuits, it may happen that an area without marks 141 can transit and stop near the sensor 140.

In this condition, upon returning the electrical power, the processing and control unit proceeds to recognize the first mark 141 detected by the sensor 140 and thus determine the position of the selector 12.

The detection and positioning system according to the present invention allows the deviator 1 to feed a plurality of coupling sleeves with a single selector, since the opening of each sleeve is associated with a specific mark 141.

This flexible feeding is difficult to implement through the use of current deviators. In fact, mechanical devices, used to move the selector, due to their inefficiency of operation, allow feeding a lower number of sleeves, usually two or three.

Moreover, the system according to the present invention allows to realize a customizable washing program, as it allows to modify and alternate the water feed to the different hydraulic circuits (pockets, upper, lower, auxiliary sprinklers) as required.

For example, through the control panel of the dishwasher, it is possible to set a specific program for feeding the hydraulic circuits for each washing cycle.

This flexibility of use, therefore, allows one to customize and adapt the use and supply of the water, sending it and allocating it to the various hydraulic circuits so as to satisfy multiple washing needs.

It is clear that in the practical embodiment of the invention numerous modifications and further variations can be foreseen, all of which are covered by the same inventive concept; all the various components and details described above may also be replaced by technically equivalent elements.

For example, in accordance with a possible embodiment variant shown in Fig. 5, it is advisable to provide sealing means 3, such as gaskets or the like, able to prevent leakage.

Said leakage may occur, for example, due to the gap between the head 121 of the selector 12 and the walls of the closing cap 10.

The water can migrate through said gap from the volume 100 towards the coupling sleeves provided by the closing cap 10. The use of suitable sealing means allows to reduce or eliminate said leakages.

According to a preferred variant, said sealing means 3 can be arranged on the side wall 201 of the head 121 of the selector 12.