GB1572941A

GB1572941A - Washing machine

Info

Publication number: GB1572941A
Application number: GB29097/77A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1976-07-20
Filing date: 1977-07-11
Publication date: 1980-08-06
Also published as: DE2632543A1; DE2632543C2; FR2359235B1; FR2359235A1

Description

(54) A WASHING MACHINE (71) I, HEINZ HERBERTZ, a German Citizen, of Salierstrasse 19, D 8600 Bamberg, Germany, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to washing machines arranged to subject each load to a washing cycle including two washes and two rinses.

The ability of modern washing chemicals to absorb dirt to a much greater extent than previously and the fact that garments being less dirty due to rising living standards, lead to considerable quantities of washing chemicals not being used to the optimum extent.

According to the present invention, there is provided a washing machine which is arranged to subject each load to a washing cycle including two washes followed by a number of rinses, incorporating a heat exchanger and means for passing fresh water on the one hand and the water from the second wash and first rinse of each load on the other hand through the heat exchanger whereby to cool the second wash and first rinse water to below 42"C and for reusing the thus cooled water for the first wash of the next load, the thus heated fresh water being employed for the second wash and first rinse of the next load.

The means may include a tank for receiving the second wash and first rinse water after use and a pump for pumping the water from the upper part of the tank through the heat exchanger and into the lower part of the tank.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will be made by way of example, to the accompanying drawing which is a diagrammatic sectional view of a machine of the invention.

In an outer drum 1 rotates an inner drum 2, with different speeds for washing, emptying and extraction. The outer drum 1 is provided with a drain valve 3 and with a detergent supply container 4 which is connected with a tube 5 to the outer drum 1. Water for the washing process is supplied through a cold water valve 6 and a hot water valve 7, this water being led through the detergent supply container 4 and tube 5 into the outer drum 1. Above the outer drum 1 is a tank 8. A pump 9 is provided for pumping water from the drum 1 into a tank 12 through a tube 10 with a vent 11, for a purpose to be described late. Between the drum 1 and pump 9 there is a lint trap 13.

A second pump 14 is provided for pumping water from the tank 12 into the drum 1 through a tube 15 with a vent 16 leading to the detergent container 4 from where the water flows through a tube 5 into the outer drum 1.

A heat exchanger 17 is connected with the upper part od the tank 12 by a tube 18 connected in turn to a hose 19, the end of which is carried by a float 20. The other end of the heat exchanger is connected to the lower part d the tank 12 by a tube 21 and pump 23. A fresh water inlet incorporating an electric valve 24 and regulation valve 25, leads into the second flow path of the heat exchanger 17 and an outlet tube 26 for this flow path leads into the tank 8. The tank 12 has an overflow tube 22 leading into a drain.

The machine functions as follows.

Each load is subjected to a washing cycle within the outer and inner drums 1 and 2, the cycle including two washes followed by a number of rinses. The water from the first wash and the second and following rinses is emptied from the machine through the drain valve 3 as usual. The water from the second wash and first rinse on the other hand is pumped into the tank 12 by means of the pump 9. During the following rinsing processes spin drying, unloading and reloading of the next load, the second wash and first rinse water is passed through the heat exchanger 17 with fresh water flowing through the exchanger in the opposite direction. The float 20 takes care that the hottest part of the second wash and first rinse water is led into the heat exchanger 17. The amount of fresh water passing through the exchanger may be controlled by the regulation valve 25, while the rate of flow of the used water from the drum 1 through the exchanger is determined by the pump 23. The second wash and first rinse water is cooled down to about 350C by the heat exchanger 17 and returned to the lower part of the tank 12. As the cooled water will have a greater density than the hot water, the latter will flow to the top of the tank and from there it will flow into the heat exchanger 17. In this manner the second wash water and first rinse water cools down to about 350C.

Because of the small ow rate and resulting low turbulence the still hot water and the cooled water are not mixed.

The cooled water may now be re-used for the first wash of the next load. The pump 14 feeds this water into the outer drum 1.

Normally the dirty wash will be loaded into the inner drum 2 in a dry srate. Therefore one needs double the amount of water in relation to the following washes/rinses. The warmed fresh water from the heat exchanger is used for the second wash and first rinse of this next load. Second wash and first rinse water which cannot be re-used due to its dirt content, is still pumped into the tank 12. During the next load the second wash and first rinse water of tbis load is also piped into the tank 12 and on acssunt of the high capacity of the pump 9 which is capable of empting the drum 1 in less than the normal time, the dirty water is forced through the overflow pipe into the drain. This will ibe decided by the operator who will change the control of the machine, e.g. by inserting a fresh program card.

The main advantage of the invention is that 75% of the washing chernicals used for the second wash of any load may be reclaimed for the first wash of the next load. Thus first wash water of any load (other than the first) is already warmed and it is not necessary to heat it e.g. by steam. Furthermore for the second wash and first rinse for each load there is wanned water without additional cost. The dirt content in the second wash water will be low which is important for bleaching, because the second wash is with fresh water and not with previously used water. The cooling process can be extended until the next load is placed in the machine therefore ensuring that the reused water is cooled to a temperature below 420C and the coagulation of any blood and albumen present and the resulting unwashable stains are avoided.

The additional equipment required in the practice of the invention does not occupy much space and the production costs therof are low. One needs only one tank for the washing water and a small heat exchanger. A tank for collecting fresh warm water is often already present The automatic controls existing in most washing machines may be used for the additional equipment of the invention, because only three additional contact fingers are necessary (one for the pump 9, another for the pump 14 and a third for the pump 23 and valve 24) and mosr controls have at ieast three spare contact fingers.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A washing machine which is arranged to subject each load to a washing cycle including two washes followed by a number of rinses, incorporating a heat exchanger and means for passing fresh water on rhe one hand and the water from the second wash and first rinse of each load on the other hand through the heat exchanger whereby to cool the second wash and first rinse water to below 420C and for re-using the thus cooled water for the first wash of the next load, the thus heated fresh water being employed for the second wash and first rinse of the next load.

2. A washing machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said means include a tank for receiving the second wash and first rinse water after use and a pump for pumping this water from the upper part of the tank through the heat exchanger and into the lower part of the tank.

3. A washing machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the inlet from the tank into the heat exchanger comprises a flexible pipe provided with a float for supporting the end of the pipe in the tank on or near the surface of the water in the tank.

4. A washing machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. rinse water is cooled down to about 350C by the heat exchanger 17 and returned to the lower part of the tank 12. As the cooled water will have a greater density than the hot water, the latter will flow to the top of the tank and from there it will flow into the heat exchanger 17. In this manner the second wash water and first rinse water cools down to about 350C. Because of the small ow rate and resulting low turbulence the still hot water and the cooled water are not mixed. The cooled water may now be re-used for the first wash of the next load. The pump 14 feeds this water into the outer drum 1. Normally the dirty wash will be loaded into the inner drum 2 in a dry srate. Therefore one needs double the amount of water in relation to the following washes/rinses. The warmed fresh water from the heat exchanger is used for the second wash and first rinse of this next load. Second wash and first rinse water which cannot be re-used due to its dirt content, is still pumped into the tank 12. During the next load the second wash and first rinse water of tbis load is also piped into the tank 12 and on acssunt of the high capacity of the pump 9 which is capable of empting the drum 1 in less than the normal time, the dirty water is forced through the overflow pipe into the drain. This will ibe decided by the operator who will change the control of the machine, e.g. by inserting a fresh program card. The main advantage of the invention is that 75% of the washing chernicals used for the second wash of any load may be reclaimed for the first wash of the next load. Thus first wash water of any load (other than the first) is already warmed and it is not necessary to heat it e.g. by steam. Furthermore for the second wash and first rinse for each load there is wanned water without additional cost. The dirt content in the second wash water will be low which is important for bleaching, because the second wash is with fresh water and not with previously used water. The cooling process can be extended until the next load is placed in the machine therefore ensuring that the reused water is cooled to a temperature below 420C and the coagulation of any blood and albumen present and the resulting unwashable stains are avoided. The additional equipment required in the practice of the invention does not occupy much space and the production costs therof are low. One needs only one tank for the washing water and a small heat exchanger. A tank for collecting fresh warm water is often already present The automatic controls existing in most washing machines may be used for the additional equipment of the invention, because only three additional contact fingers are necessary (one for the pump 9, another for the pump 14 and a third for the pump 23 and valve 24) and mosr controls have at ieast three spare contact fingers. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A washing machine which is arranged to subject each load to a washing cycle including two washes followed by a number of rinses, incorporating a heat exchanger and means for passing fresh water on rhe one hand and the water from the second wash and first rinse of each load on the other hand through the heat exchanger whereby to cool the second wash and first rinse water to below 420C and for re-using the thus cooled water for the first wash of the next load, the thus heated fresh water being employed for the second wash and first rinse of the next load.