EP3047785A1 - Dishwasher, in particular household dishwasher - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a dishwasher with a rinsing container providing a rinsing container which accommodates a height-adjustable upper basket and an inner side at least partially over the Spülbehälterrückwand (4) extending inflow pipe (5), wherein on the upper basket a spray arm and a spray arm leading to the spray arm (6 The spray arm tube (6) has a funnel opening (8) on the inflow tube side which communicates with a coupling device (9) when the upper cage is inserted into the rinsing container, which in turn supplies the spray arm with rinsing fluid in fluidically active connection with the inflow tube (FIG. 5), the coupling device (9) having a funnel opening (8) of the Sprüharmrohres (6) cooperating pipe connection piece (10) which is formed in the height direction (11) of the washing container movable.

Description

The invention relates to a dishwasher, in particular a domestic dishwasher, with a washing compartment providing a Spülbehälter receiving a height adjustable upper basket and an inside at least partially over the Spülbehälterrückwand extending inflow pipe, wherein on the upper basket a spray arm and a spray arm leading to the spray arm are arranged and wherein the Sprüharmrohr inflow pipe side has a funnel opening, which communicates with inserted into the washing container upper basket with a coupling device, which in turn is for supplying the Sprüharms with rinsing liquid in fluidic operative connection with the inflow pipe.

A generic dishwasher is from the EP 1 742 563 B1 known.

Dishwashers of the known type have a washing container, which provides a washing compartment. In the intended use case, the washing compartment houses to be cleaned items to be cleaned, and for the arrangement of the items to be cleaned in the dishwasher crockery and / or cutlery baskets are used. There are typically provided at least one lower basket and one upper basket, which are each mounted on the user side of the rinsing container.

For spraying liquid to be cleaned with rinsing liquid, a spraying device arranged within the washing container, which typically has spray arms arranged in a rotatable manner, serves. One of these spray arms is usually arranged on the underside of the upper basket at this. To supply this spray arm with rinsing liquor is also arranged on the upper basket Sprüharmrohr.

In the intended use case, ie when the upper basket is inserted into the washing, the spray arm carried by the upper basket is fluidly coupled to the inlet pipe, so that a supply of the spray arm can be done with rinsing liquid.

The upper basket is height adjustable, ie it can be in different Height positions are arranged within the washing compartment. In order to ensure a fluid connection of the Sprüharmrohrs to the inlet pipe despite this height adjustment of the upper basket, it is from the EP 1 742 563 B1 known to use a swivel tube. This swivel tube runs horizontally over half the Spülbehälterrückwand and extends from a side wall to the middle of the washing container. The swivel tube acts on the coupling side with a funnel opening provided by the spray arm tube, which captures the swivel tube on the coupling side when the upper basket retracts into the flushing chamber. The required depending on the height positioning of the upper basket compensating movement of the pivot tube is due to a rotational movement of the pivot tube as an inclination thereof to the horizontal. In this case, the pivot tube rotates about a pivot point which is determined by the arrangement point of the pivot tube on the side wall.

Although the above-described embodiment has proven itself in everyday practice, there is room for improvement. Thus, according to the prior art construction, the inflow pipe is formed outside the washing compartment except for the section of the pivoting pipe. This proves to be a disadvantage for thermal reasons, since the promotion of the heated rinsing liquid to the spray arm leads to a heat release outside of the washing compartment. On the other hand deflections are to be avoided for fluidic reasons. In addition, the waterways should be designed without detours to reduce the need for irrigation fluid. Therefore, laying paths for the inflow pipe have already been proposed, which extend exclusively within the rinsing container, in particular on a direct route to the spray arm, centrally along the rinsing container rear wall. In such a container inside laying eliminates the above-described pivot tube, so that a previously known in the manner described height adjustment to a height-adjustable upper basket is no longer possible.

The object of the invention is therefore to propose an alternative construction for a vertically variable connection of a Sprüharmrohrs to an inflow pipe.

To solve this problem, the invention proposes a dishwasher of the type mentioned above, which is characterized in that the coupling device has a cooperating with the funnel opening of the Sprüharmrohrs pipe connection piece in the height direction of the Rinse container is designed to be movable.

The coupling device according to the invention no longer has a pivot pipe, but via a pipe connection piece, which cooperates with the funnel opening of the Sprüharmrohres. This pipe connection piece is designed to be movable in the height direction of the washing container, which makes it possible to position it in dependence on the height alignment of the spray arm pipe carried by the upper basket. In this case, the pipe connection piece does not perform a twisting movement in contrast to the prior art. It is rather linearly movable formed, in the height direction of the washing.

The movable design of the pipe connection piece in height direction provides the advantage that a stepless height adjustment of the pipe connection piece is allowed to the height position occupied by the upper basket. Another advantage of the pipe connection piece is that, with regard to its flow cross-section, it is designed to be optimized for the quantity of rinse liquid to be dispensed by the spray arm during operation.

In the intended use case, the upper basket is retracted after a user-side placement in the washing compartment of the washing. As a result of this retraction movement, the funnel-shaped opening of the spray arm tube intercepts the pipe connection piece provided by the coupling device. This moves depending on the height orientation of the upper basket, if necessary, being guided by the funnel opening of the Sprüharmrohrs. It thus takes place as a result of retraction of the upper basket in the dishwasher automatic co-experience of the pipe connection piece, so that this is aligned after a proper introduction of the upper basket in the dishwasher in its height alignment to match the height orientation of the upper basket, ie the spray arm carried by it. Since this height adjustment is step-free thanks to the linear movability of the pipe connection piece, arbitrary positioning of the upper basket can be provided on the user side. An upper and a lower end position of the upper basket is determined by the geometric configuration of the funnel opening, ie those positions in which the funnel opening can still catch the associated pipe connection piece when retracting the upper basket. In order to exclude a user-side misallocation, corresponding attacks are provided on the machine side, so that in this respect invalid height positions of the upper basket on the user side can not be adjusted.

The embodiment of the invention allows the formation of a symmetrically internal inlet pipe for the usually central spray arm, i. the spray arm carried by the upper basket, and this with high ease of use, as easy insertion and removal of the upper basket is guaranteed. It also ensures a smooth adjustment of Spülflüssigkeitsführung after a Korbhöhenverstellung, which is also infinitely. A possible height variance of the upper basket by different basket loads can therefore be unnoticed balanced for the user. In addition, the inventive design allows to realize a larger diameter compared to the prior art for the rinsing liquid, since no separate connections are provided for different heights of the upper basket. It is only provided a pipe connection piece for all altitudes of the upper basket, which adapts to the respective Oberkorblage thanks to its displaceable arrangement in the height direction.

It is provided according to a further feature of the invention that the pipe connection piece funnel opening side provides a bevelled cross-sectional area. Because of this obliquely formed cross-sectional area of the pipe connection piece in the height direction upper edge is provided, which protrudes with respect to the lower peripheral edge funnel opening side. In the interaction with the funnel-shaped opening, a connection geometry is created which ensures that, if necessary, in the upper direction of the upper basket in the vertical direction a displacement of the pipe connection piece upwards or at a lower orientation of the upper basket in the vertical direction also a displacement of the pipe connection piece down automatically takes place. This functionality is also ensured due to the pipe connection piece according to the invention with bevelled trained cross-sectional area, when the lower part of the funnel opening of the Sprüharmrohres is made comparatively short. This in turn makes it possible to form the spray arm as long as possible.

The pipe connection piece is arranged on one end of a flexible hose. This flexible hose is the actual fluidic connection between the inlet pipe on the one hand and the Sprüharmrohr other. The pipe connection piece represents so far an abutment for the funnel-shaped opening of the Sprüharmrohres, the as a result of the interaction with the funnel-shaped opening enables a positionally correct alignment of the hose leading in the operating case. Due to the flexibly formed hose can be formed by means of the coupling device, a fluidic connection between the inlet pipe on the one hand and Sprüharmrohr other hand, regardless of the altitude of the upper basket. It is not the flexible hose, but the one end arranged pipe fitting with the funnel opening of Sprüharmrohres in operative connection, whereby a direct contact of the hose with the funnel opening and the associated frictional resistance and material wear are avoided.

On the other end of the flexible hose is connected according to a further feature of the invention to the inflow pipe. This can be done for example by means of an inflow pipe side flange of the hose.

According to a further feature of the invention it is provided that the flexible hose is pivotally mounted on the inflow pipe. This pivotable configuration makes it possible to align the hose depending on the height positioning of the upper basket to form a fluidic connection between the inlet pipe and the Sprüharmrohr. The pivotable arrangement of the tube is preferably achieved by its material-related flexibility. As a material for the hose, for example, silicone is considered, since it meets the requirements for durability with respect to the chemical and dynamic loads. In order to reduce the mechanical load on the connection between hose and pipe connection as far as possible, according to one embodiment of the invention, a longitudinally displaceable arrangement of the hose is provided on the pipe fitting, ie a so-called floating bearing, which allows the pipe fitting and the hose relative to each other in the longitudinal direction of the hose can move. Another embodiment of the invention provides that the pipe connection piece and the hose are preferably firmly connected to each other. This can be preferably realized, for example, such that the hose has a bellows contour. In this embodiment, the mechanical stress of the coupling device is kept particularly low in all height positions of the upper basket and also in a change in the height position of the upper basket.

According to a further feature of the invention it is provided that the flexible hose is housed within a housing. This housing is part of the coupling device and houses the hose. Funnel opening side, the housing has the pipe connection piece, in which the hose opens funnel opening side.

The housing has a connection section opposite the pipe connection piece, which serves for the longitudinally displaceable arrangement of the housing on a bearing plate. In this way, the height-adjustable arrangement of the pipe connection piece is guaranteed.

The bearing plate is supported according to a further feature of the invention at the inlet pipe. It thus provides the linear bearing for the housing, including the pipe fitting provided. In the intended use case, therefore, a displacement in the height direction of the housing together with the provided pipe connection piece takes place in the height direction relative to the bearing plate supported by the inflow pipe, as a result of which there is a height adjustment of the coupling device depending on the height positioning of the upper basket. Once the upper basket is spent in the intended manner in the washing compartment of the dishwasher, the pipe connection piece is arranged with interposition of a seal within the funnel-shaped opening of the Sprüharmrohrs, so that with the interposition of the flexible hose a fluidic connection between the inlet pipe and the Sprüharmrohr is formed to the right height.

In any case, the coupling device is designed such that it maintains a position that it has taken with inserted upper basket, when the upper basket is pulled out of the washing container. This can be effected in particular by a suitable choice and condition of the hose. Additionally or alternatively, however, it is also possible for a clamping device to be provided with which the housing or the connecting section is held on the bearing plate in the assumed position. Preferably, this clamping device is designed in one piece with the holder of the inflow pipe at the Spülbehälterrückwand.

Fig. 1

in rein schematisch perspektivischer Darstellung den Spülbehälter einer erfindungsgemäßen Geschirrspülmaschine;

Fig. 2

in schematischer Perspektivdarstellung eine erfindungsgemäße Kupplungseinrichtung;

Fig. 3

in teilgeschnittener Seitenansicht eine erfindungsgemäße Kupplungseinrichtung;

Fig. 4

in schematischer Seitenansicht eine Kupplungseinrichtung in einer oberen Stellung bei einer Trichteröffnung in einer unteren Stellung;

Fig. 5

in schematischer Seitenansicht eine Kupplungseinrichtung in einer mittleren Stellung bei einer Trichteröffnung in einer unteren Stellung;

Fig. 6

in schematischer Seitenansicht eine Kupplungseinrichtung in einer unteren Stellung bei einer Trichteröffnung in einer unteren Stellung;

Fig. 7

in schematischer Seitenansicht eine Kupplungseinrichtung in einer unteren Stellung bei einer Trichteröffnung in einer oberen Stellung;

Fig.8

in schematischer Seitenansicht eine Kupplungseinrichtung in einer mittleren Stellung bei einer Trichteröffnung in einer oberen Stellung; und

Fig. 9

in schematischer Seitenansicht eine Kupplungseinrichtung in einer oberen Stellung bei einer Trichteröffnung in einer oberen Stellung;

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to FIGS. Show

Fig. 1

in a purely schematic perspective view of the washing container of a dishwasher according to the invention;

Fig. 2

in a schematic perspective view of a coupling device according to the invention;

Fig. 3

in a partially sectioned side view of a coupling device according to the invention;

Fig. 4

a schematic side view of a coupling device in an upper position at a funnel opening in a lower position;

Fig. 5

a schematic side view of a coupling device in a middle position at a funnel opening in a lower position;

Fig. 6

a schematic side view of a coupling device in a lower position at a funnel opening in a lower position;

Fig. 7

a schematic side view of a coupling device in a lower position at a funnel opening in an upper position;

Figure 8

a schematic side view of a coupling device in a middle position at a funnel opening in an upper position; and

Fig. 9

a schematic side view of a coupling device in an upper position at a funnel opening in an upper position;

Fig. 1 can be seen in a purely schematic representation of a washing container 2 of a dishwasher 1. The washing container 2 provides in a conventional manner, a washing compartment 3 ready, which serves to accommodate dishwashing crockets, not shown in detail in the figures, which in turn serve in the intended use case of receiving dishes to be cleaned.

To supply, inter alia, carried by a top basket and in the figures not shown spray arm of a sprayer serves a centrally located within the washing tank 2 inlet pipe 5. This has the fluidic Coupling to a spray arm pipe 6 leading to the spray arm via a coupling device 9.

The Figures 2 and 3 let the coupling device 9 detect in detail, wherein Fig. 2 a perspective view and Fig. 3 a partially sectioned side view shows.

The coupling device 9 has a pipe connection piece 10. This is formed as part of a housing 17. This has the pipe connection piece 10 opposite via a connecting portion 18 which cooperates with a support plate 5 carried by the bearing plate 19. In this case, the bearing plate 19 rails 22 ready, which are encompassed by corresponding extensions of the connection section 18. Due to this configuration, a displaceable mounting of the housing 17 relative to the bearing plate 19 in the height direction 11 is realized. Incidentally, a clamping device 27 in the form of a clamping clip is present, which presses laterally against the extensions of the connecting portion 18 in order to keep the coupling device 9 in extension of the upper basket in the previously assumed position in the height direction 11.

The bearing plate 19 also provides stops 23 and 24, by means of which a possible displacement movement of the housing 17 is limited relative to the bearing plate 19.

The bearing plate 19 is U-shaped in cross-section and has side walls 25 which accomplish a fixed arrangement of the bearing plate 19 relative to the inlet pipe 5 by means of corresponding latching devices 26 and lateral recesses which enclose lateral protrusions on the inlet pipe 5 in the height direction 11. As a result of this embodiment, it follows that the housing 17 of the coupling device 9 and thus also the pipe connection piece 10 provided therefrom are designed to be movable in the height direction 11 relative to the inflow pipe 5.

As in particular the perspective representation after Fig. 2 can recognize, the pipe fitting 10 of the coupling device 9 cooperates with a provided by a funnel 7 funnel opening 8, wherein the funnel 7 is arranged at the end of the spray arm of the upper basket leading Sprüharmrohrs 6.

As can be seen in particular from the presentation Fig. 3 yields, the Coupling device 9 further via a flexible hose 13. This is laid inside the housing 17. Via an opening 20 in the inflow pipe 5, the flexible hose 13 is in fluid communication with the inflow pipe 5, wherein a hose-side flange 21 is provided for the fluid-tight connection of the hose 13 to the inflow pipe 5, which abuts the outside of the inflow pipe 5. The flange 21 of the tube 13 may be clamped to the inflow pipe 5, welded or otherwise connected fluid-tight.

At the other end, the hose 13 is arranged to be longitudinally displaceable within the pipe connection piece 10. In order to avoid an unwanted pulling out of the hose 13 from the pipe fitting 10, the hose 13 pipe connection piece side has a peripheral edge 14 which cooperates with a stop 15 which rotates on the inside from the pipe fitting 10.

An alternative, not shown, provides that the hose 13 has a Faltenbalgkontur and the other end preferably not longitudinally displaceable, but is fixedly disposed within the pipe fitting 10. In this case, the hose on the other side may have approximately two outer ribs which enclose an inner rib on the pipe connecting piece 10.

On the outer circumference side, the pipe connection piece 10 also has a seal 16, which leads to a fluid-tight connection when the pipe connection piece 10 is inserted into the funnel 7 as intended.

The vertical guidance of the housing 17, that is, the guidance of the housing 17 in the height direction 11 along the inflow pipe 5 allows a height positioning of the pipe fitting 10 carried by the housing 17 in relation to the Sprüharmrohr 6, and thus to a height positioning of the raised height adjustable from the washing container upper basket. Between the opening 20 at the inlet pipe 5 and the pipe fitting 10 is a hose connection by means of the flexible hose 13. This is held between the inlet pipe 5 to the Spülbehälterrückwand 4 and the bearing plate 19, which forms the guide for the housing 17. When inserting the upper basket in the washing compartment 3, the housing 17 and thus the pipe fitting 10 provided thereof is moved from the funnel-shaped opening 8 of the Sprüharmrohres 6 in the height position of the upper basket. This is based on two Example traversing movements in the FIGS. 4 to 6 on the one hand and the FIGS. 7 to 9 on the other hand shown.

The FIGS. 4 to 6 show an alignment of the upper basket and thus of the upper basket carried by Sprüharmrohrs 6 in a lower position. According to the starting situation Fig. 4 is the coupling device 9 in a relation to the height direction 11 upper position. Now, if the upper basket is retracted into the washing compartment 3, so the funnel 7 catches the pipe fitting 10, as this Fig. 4 lets recognize. The upper peripheral edge of the chamfered cross-sectional surface 12 of the pipe fitting 10 runs against the inner wall of the funnel 7, which causes in a continued introduction of the upper basket to initiate a sliding movement of the housing 17 in the height direction 11 downward, as the other FIGS. 5 and 6 demonstrate. In the final position according to Fig. 6 the housing 17 has moved downwards in the height direction 11 so that the pipe connection piece 10 comes to lie fluid-tight within the spray arm pipe 6, as a result of which a fluidic connection between the inlet pipe 5 and the spray arm pipe 6 is formed by means of the hose 13.

The FIGS. 7 to 9 show a movement of the housing 17 in another direction.

Starting point after Fig. 7 is a position of the housing 17 in a lower position, wherein the funnel 7 of the Sprüharmrohres 6 is in an upper position. When retracting the upper basket into the washing compartment 3, the funnel 7 captures the housing 17 on the pipe connection piece side, wherein the pipe fitting 10 with its chamfered cross-sectional surface 12 runs on the inside of the funnel 7. As a result of a further retraction of the upper basket in the washing compartment 3, a movement of the housing 17 in the height direction 11 causes upward, resulting in the other FIGS. 8 and 9 is shown. In the final position according to Fig. 9 the pipe connection piece 10 is arranged fluid-tight within the Sprüharmrohres 6, so that via the hose 13, a fluidic connection between the inlet pipe 5 and the Sprüharmrohr 6 is formed.

reference numeral

1

dishwasher

2

rinse tank

3

Wash cabinet

4

Spülbehälterrückwand

5

supply pipe

6

Sprüharmrohr

7

funnel

8th

funnel opening

9

coupling device

10

Pipe Connector

11

height direction

12

Cross sectional area

13

tube

14

edge

15

attack

16

poetry

17

casing

18

connecting portion

19

bearing plate

20

opening

21

flange

22

rail

23

attack

24

attack

25

Side wall

26

locking device

27

clamper

Claims (11)

Dishwasher, with a washing compartment (3) providing a washing container (2) which receives a height-adjustable upper basket and on the inside at least partially over the Spülbehälterrückwand (4) extending inflow pipe (5), wherein on the upper basket a spray arm and a spray arm leading to the spray arm (6) are arranged and wherein the Sprüharmrohr (6) inflow pipe side a funnel opening (8) which is inserted in the rinsing (3) upper basket with a coupling device (9) in connection, in turn, for supplying the spray arm with rinsing fluid in fluidic An operative connection with the inflow pipe (5) is characterized in that the coupling device (9) has a pipe connection piece (10) which cooperates with the funnel opening (8) of the spray arm pipe (6) and which can be moved in the height direction (11) of the washing compartment (2) is. Dishwasher according to claim 1,
characterized in that
the pipe connection piece (10) provides a chamfered cross-sectional area (12) on the funnel opening side. Dishwasher according to claim 1 or 2,
characterized in that
the pipe connection piece (10) is arranged at one end of a flexible hose (13). Dishwasher according to claim 3,
characterized in that
the flexible hose (13) is connected at the other end to the inflow pipe (5). Dishwasher according to claim 3 or 4,
characterized in that
the flexible hose (13) is arranged pivotably on the inflow pipe (5). Dishwasher according to claim 3, 4 or 5,
characterized in that
the flexible hose (13) is housed within a housing (17). Dishwasher according to claim 6,
characterized in that
the housing (17) has the pipe connection piece (10). Dishwasher according to one of claims 3 to 7,
characterized in that
the pipe fitting (10) receives the flexible hose (13) longitudinally displaceable. Dishwasher according to one of claims 3 to 8,
characterized in that
the hose (13) has a bellows contour at least in sections. Dishwasher according to one of claims 6 to 9,
characterized in that
the housing (17) of the pipe connection piece (10) opposite a connecting portion (18) for longitudinally displaceable arrangement on a bearing plate (19). Dishwasher according to claim 10,
characterized in that
the bearing plate (19) is supported on the inflow pipe (5).

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