US20200291563A1 - Laundry washing machine - Google Patents
Laundry washing machine Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20200291563A1 US20200291563A1 US16/753,123 US201716753123A US2020291563A1 US 20200291563 A1 US20200291563 A1 US 20200291563A1 US 201716753123 A US201716753123 A US 201716753123A US 2020291563 A1 US2020291563 A1 US 2020291563A1
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- Prior art keywords
- water
- brine
- drawer
- salt
- container
- Prior art date
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- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F35/00—Washing machines, apparatus, or methods not otherwise provided for
- D06F35/003—Washing machines, apparatus, or methods not otherwise provided for using electrochemical cells
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
- C25B—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
- C25B1/00—Electrolytic production of inorganic compounds or non-metals
- C25B1/01—Products
- C25B1/24—Halogens or compounds thereof
- C25B1/26—Chlorine; Compounds thereof
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
- C25B—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
- C25B15/00—Operating or servicing cells
- C25B15/08—Supplying or removing reactants or electrolytes; Regeneration of electrolytes
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
- C25B—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
- C25B9/00—Cells or assemblies of cells; Constructional parts of cells; Assemblies of constructional parts, e.g. electrode-diaphragm assemblies; Process-related cell features
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F33/00—Control of operations performed in washing machines or washer-dryers
- D06F33/30—Control of washing machines characterised by the purpose or target of the control
- D06F33/32—Control of operational steps, e.g. optimisation or improvement of operational steps depending on the condition of the laundry
- D06F33/37—Control of operational steps, e.g. optimisation or improvement of operational steps depending on the condition of the laundry of metering of detergents or additives
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- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F35/00—Washing machines, apparatus, or methods not otherwise provided for
- D06F35/004—Washing machines, apparatus, or methods not otherwise provided for using chlorine generators
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00
- D06F39/02—Devices for adding soap or other washing agents
- D06F39/022—Devices for adding soap or other washing agents in a liquid state
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- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F2105/00—Systems or parameters controlled or affected by the control systems of washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
- D06F2105/02—Water supply
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- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F2105/00—Systems or parameters controlled or affected by the control systems of washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
- D06F2105/42—Detergent or additive supply
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- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00
- D06F39/007—Arrangements of water softeners
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00
- D06F39/02—Devices for adding soap or other washing agents
- D06F39/028—Arrangements for selectively supplying water to detergent compartments
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a laundry washing machine.
- the present invention relates to a front-loading home laundry washing machine, to which the following description specifically refers purely by way of example without this implying any loss of generality.
- a front-loading home laundry washing machine generally comprises: a substantially parallelepiped-shaped outer boxlike casing structured for resting on the floor; a substantially horizontally-oriented and approximately cylindrical washing tub which is usually suspended in floating manner inside the casing, with the front mouth directly facing a laundry loading-unloading through opening formed in the front wall of the casing; a substantially cylindrical, cup-shaped rotatable drum structured for accommodating the laundry to be washed, and which is fitted in axially rotatable manner inside the washing tub with the concavity facing the laundry loading-unloading opening, so as to be able to freely rotate inside the washing tub about the substantially horizontally-oriented, longitudinal axis of the washing tub; an elastically-deformable bellows which watertight connects the front mouth of the washing tub to the laundry loading-unloading opening formed in the front wall of the casing; a porthole door which is hinged to the front wall of the casing to rotate to and from a closing position in which the door closes the laundry loading-un
- This type of laundry washing machine furthermore comprises: a detergent dispenser which is located inside the boxlike casing, immediately above the washing tub, and is structured for selectively feeding into the washing tub, according to the washing cycle manually-selected by the user, a given amount of detergent, softener and/or other washing agent suitably mixed with water arriving from the water mains; a fresh-water supply circuit which is structured for selectively drawing water from the water mains according to the washing cycle manually-selected by the user, and channelling said water to the detergent dispenser or directly to the washing tub; and finally an appliance control panel which is generally located on the front wall of the casing, above the laundry loading-unloading opening, and is structured for allowing the user to manually select the desired washing-cycle.
- a detergent dispenser which is located inside the boxlike casing, immediately above the washing tub, and is structured for selectively feeding into the washing tub, according to the washing cycle manually-selected by the user, a given amount of detergent, softener and/or other washing agent suitably mixed with water arriving from the water mains
- EP0146184 and EP0083740 disclose a laundry washing machine provided with a salt container which is adapted to contain a given amount of brine, i.e. a solution of sodium chloride (NaCl) in water, and an electrolytic cell which receives the brine from the salt container and is adapted to perform the electrolysis of said brine to produce a chlorine-based sanitizing agent which is subsequently channelled into the washing tub.
- a salt container which is adapted to contain a given amount of brine, i.e. a solution of sodium chloride (NaCl) in water
- an electrolytic cell which receives the brine from the salt container and is adapted to perform the electrolysis of said brine to produce a chlorine-based sanitizing agent which is subsequently channelled into the washing tub.
- the salt container consists of a water-tight and manually-openable container which is located close to the bottom of the casing, with all problems that this entails.
- the user is requested to adopt an uncomfortable excessively-bended stance for manually pouring the sodium-chloride grains into the salt container.
- the refilling of the salt container is a relatively long and complicated operation because the salt container is normally filled up with brine, thus there is the risk that some brine accidentally overflows from the salt container when the sodium-chloride grains (NaCl) are too quickly poured into the salt container.
- salt grains accidentally remaining on the mouth of the salt container may compromise the watertight sealing of the closure plug, thus causing water leakages.
- Aim of the present invention is to simply and make easier the manual refilling of the salt container of the laundry washing machines disclosed in EP0146184 and in EP0083740, and also to simply the hydraulic circuit of the same laundry washing machines so as to reduce the overall production costs.
- a laundry washing machine as defined in Claim 1 and preferably, though not necessarily, in anyone of the dependent claims, or as defined in Claim 22 and preferably, though not necessarily, in anyone of the dependent claims.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a laundry washing machine realized in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, with parts removed for clarity;
- FIG. 2 is a second perspective view of the FIG. 1 laundry washing machine, with parts in section and removed for clarity;
- FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the top of the laundry washing machine shown in FIG. 1 , with parts removed for clarity;
- FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the detergent dispensing assembly of the laundry washing machine shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 , with parts removed for clarity;
- FIG. 5 is a partly exploded perspective view of the detergent dispensing assembly shown in FIG. 4 , with parts removed for clarity;
- FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the detergent dispensing assembly shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 ;
- FIG. 7 is a partly exploded perspective view of the detergent dispensing assembly shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , with parts removed for clarity;
- FIGS. 8 and 9 are partly exploded perspective views of the electrolytic reactor assembly shown in FIG. 7 , with parts removed for clarity;
- FIG. 10 is a partially exploded perspective view of the detergent drawer of the detergent dispensing assembly shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 7 , with parts removed for clarity;
- FIG. 11 is a sectioned side view of the detergent drawer shown in FIG. 10 , with parts removed for clarity;
- FIG. 12 is a schematic view of an alternative embodiment of the detergent dispensing assembly shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 ; whereas
- FIGS. 13, 14 and 15 are perspective views of respective further alternative embodiments of the laundry washing machine shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 .
- reference number 1 denotes as a whole a laundry washing machine 1 preferably suitable for domestic use.
- the laundry washing machine 1 preferably basically comprises: a preferably substantially parallelepiped-shaped, boxlike outer casing 2 structured for stably resting on the floor; a preferably substantially horizontally-oriented, approximately cylindrical, hollow washing tub 3 which is arranged inside the casing 2 with the mouth directly facing a laundry loading-unloading opening formed on the outer casing 2 ; a substantially cylindrical, hollow rotatable drum (not shown) which is structured for accommodating the laundry to be washed, and is fitted in axially rotatable manner inside the washing tub 3 so as to be able to freely rotate about its longitudinal axis inside the washing tub 3 ; a door 4 which is hinged to the outer casing 2 so as to be manually movable to and from a closing position in which the door 4 closes the laundry loading-unloading opening on casing 2 for watertight sealing the washing tub 3 ; and an electrically-powered motor assembly 5 which is structured for driving into rotation the rotatable drum (not shown) about its longitudinal axis inside the washing tub 3
- the washing tub 3 preferably has a preferably substantially circular-shaped, front mouth and is arranged inside the outer casing 2 with said front mouth directly facing a laundry loading-unloading opening formed on a front wall 6 of casing 2 ; whereas the door 4 is preferably hinged to front wall 6 so as to be manually movable to and from a closing position in which the door 4 closes the laundry loading-unloading opening on front wall 6 for watertight sealing the washing tub 3 .
- the washing tub 3 is preferably suspended in floating manner inside the casing 2 via a suspension system that preferably, though not necessarily, comprises at least one, and preferably a couple of upper coil springs 7 connecting the upper portion of washing tub 3 to the top of casing 2 , and preferably at least one, and preferably a couple of vibration dampers 8 connecting the bottom portion of washing tub 3 to the bottom of casing 2 .
- the laundry washing machine 1 moreover comprises an elastically-deformable tubular bellows (not shown) which watertight connects the front mouth of washing tub 3 to the laundry loading-unloading opening preferably realized on the front wall 6 of casing 2 .
- the rotatable drum is preferably substantially cup-shaped and is fitted in axially rotatable manner inside the washing tub 3 with the concavity facing the front mouth of washing tub 3 .
- the rotatable drum (not shown) is furthermore arranged inside washing tub 3 with the drum rotation axis locally substantially coaxial to the longitudinal axis of washing tub 3 (i.e. it is oriented substantially horizontally), and with the circular front mouth of the drum directly aligned and faced to the front mouth of washing tub 3 , so as to receive the laundry to be washed through the laundry loading-unloading opening present on front wall 6 .
- the laundry washing machine 1 moreover comprises, inside the casing 2 , a detergent dispenser 10 and a fresh-water supply circuit 11 .
- the detergent dispenser 10 is located inside the casing 2 above the washing tub 3 and preferably, though not necessarily, immediately underneath the upper worktop or top wall 12 of casing 2 , and is structured for selectively feeding into the washing tub 3 , preferably according to the washing cycle manually-selected by the user, a given amount of detergent, softener and/or other washing agent suitably mixed with water.
- the fresh-water supply circuit 11 is directly connected/connectable to the water mains, and is structured for selectively channelling, preferably according to the washing cycle manually-selected by the user, a flow of water from the water mains to the detergent dispenser 10 and/or directly to the washing tub 3 .
- the laundry washing machine 1 furthermore includes an electrochemical device 13 which is located inside the boxlike casing 2 and is capable of internally producing a chlorine-based sanitizing agent which is subsequently channelled into the washing tub 3 to perform, preferably on request of the user, a sanitizing or bleaching process of the laundry during the washing cycle.
- a chlorine-based sanitizing agent is moreover water-diluted bleach.
- the electrochemical device 13 is preferably connected to the detergent dispenser 10 and is capable of internally producing a chlorine-based sanitizing agent which is preferably subsequently channelled into the detergent dispenser 10 .
- this chlorine-based sanitizing agent On arrival into the detergent dispenser 10 , this chlorine-based sanitizing agent preferably then flows directly into the washing tub 3 , preferably, though not necessarily, together with any water directed towards the washing tub 3 .
- the electrochemical device 13 firstly includes: an unpressurized salt container 14 which is adapted to contain a given amount of consumable salt grains, i.e. solid salt, preferably of sodium chloride (NaCl), and additionally has an unsealed loading inlet which is directly exposed or exposable to the outside of the boxlike casing 2 , and is preferably specifically designed to allow the user to easily manually pour/load the salt grains of sodium chloride (NaCl) directly into the same salt container 14 ; and preferably also a water supply line 15 which is adapted to channel, on command, a given amount of water into the salt container 14 so as to dissolve at least part of the salt grains contained therein and form a given amount of brine, i.e. a solution of sodium chloride (NaCl) in water.
- an unpressurized salt container 14 which is adapted to contain a given amount of consumable salt grains, i.e. solid salt, preferably of sodium chloride (NaCl), and additionally has an unsealed loading
- salt container 14 is moreover dimensioned to contain an amount of consumable salt grains sufficient for performing the sanitizing or bleaching process in several washing cycles.
- the salt container 14 is preferably dimensioned to contain an amount of consumable salt grains of sodium chloride (NaCl) sufficient for producing an amount of chlorine-based sanitizing agent sufficient for performing the sanitizing or bleaching process in several washing cycles.
- NaCl sodium chloride
- the electrochemical device 13 furthermore includes an electrolytic reactor 16 which fluidically communicates with the salt container 14 , and is adapted to collect and contain substantially the whole brine previously formed into the salt container 14 , so as to avoid any prolonged stagnation of the water/brine intro the salt container 14 .
- This electrochemical reactor 16 is furthermore adapted to internally convert the brine into the chlorine-based sanitizing agent, and preferably also to subsequently channel/feed said chlorine-based sanitizing agent to the detergent dispenser 10 .
- the electrolytic reactor 16 is provided with a brine inlet communicating with the salt container 14 for receiving the brine produced into the latter, and with a sanitizing-agent outlet communicating with the detergent dispenser 10 for supplying the chlorine-based sanitizing agent to the detergent dispenser 10 or directly to the washing tub 3 .
- the electrolytic reactor 16 is moreover provided with at least one air vent for releasing the air or other gas contained or formed inside the same electrolytic reactor 16 .
- the electrolytic reactor 16 is preferably located beneath the salt container 14 and preferably directly communicates with the same salt container 14 so as to allow the brine (i.e. salt water) to freely flow by gravity from the salt container 14 to the electrolytic reactor 16 .
- electrolytic reactor 16 preferably comprises: an unpressurized brine container 17 that directly communicates with the salt container 14 and is adapted/dimensioned to collect and contain preferably the whole brine previously formed into the salt container 14 , so as to avoid any prolonged stagnation of the water/brine intro the salt container 14 ; an electrolytic cell 18 which is preferably located/incorporated into the brine container 17 and is capable of converting the brine into a chlorine-based sanitizing agent; and preferably also a small, electrically-powered pump assembly 19 which is capable of selectively pumping the chlorine-based sanitizing agent accumulated into the brine container 17 , from the brine container 17 to the detergent dispenser 10 .
- the pump assembly 19 when deactivated, is moreover capable of watertight isolating the brine container 17 from the detergent dispenser 10 .
- the brine container 17 is preferably located immediately underneath the salt container 14 and preferably directly communicates with the same salt container 14 so as to allow the brine (i.e. salt water) to freely flow by gravity from salt container 14 to brine container 17 .
- brine i.e. salt water
- the electrolytic cell 18 is preferably adapted to perform the electro-chlorination of the brine contained into the brine container 17 , so as to produce hydrogen gas (H 2 ) and water-diluted sodium hypochlorite (NaClO), commonly known as bleach.
- This water-diluted sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) preferably forms the chlorine-based sanitizing agent.
- the whole electrochemical device 13 is preferably arranged inside the casing 2 , above the washing tub 3 and preferably, though not necessarily, also immediately underneath the upper worktop or top wall 12 of casing 2 .
- the salt container 14 is preferably arranged inside the casing 2 above the washing tub 3 and preferably, though not necessarily, also immediately underneath the upper worktop or top wall 12 of casing 2 .
- the loading inlet of salt container 14 is furthermore exposed or exposable to the outside on front wall 6 of casing 2 , above the laundry loading-unloading opening.
- the electrolytic reactor 16 is preferably located between the salt container 14 and the washing tub 3 , preferably substantially vertically aligned to the salt container 14 .
- the whole electrochemical device 13 is preferably located immediately underneath the upper worktop or top wall 12 of casing 2 , between the detergent dispenser 10 and a vertical sidewall 20 of the same casing 2 .
- the salt container 14 is preferably located inside the boxlike casing 2 , between the detergent dispenser 10 and the vertical sidewall 20 of casing 2 , preferably substantially adjacent to the same vertical sidewall 20 .
- the electrolytic reactor 16 is preferably located immediately underneath the salt container 14 , again preferably substantially adjacent to the vertical sidewall 20 .
- the loading inlet of salt container 14 is furthermore exposed or exposable to the outside on the front wall 6 of casing 2 , immediately beneath the upper worktop or top wall 12 of casing 2 .
- the whole electrochemical device 13 is preferably adjoined to the detergent dispenser 10 .
- the electrochemical device 13 and the detergent dispenser 10 preferably form a single assembly unit.
- the laundry washing machine 1 furthermore comprises: an appliance electronic control unit (not shown) which is located inside the casing 2 and controls the motor assembly 5 , the detergent dispenser 10 , the fresh-water supply circuit 11 and the electrochemical device 13 , so as to automatically perform the washing cycle preferably selected by the user; and preferably also a control panel 21 which electronically communicates with said electronic control unit and is structured to allow the user to manually select the desired washing cycle preferably among a number of available washing cycles.
- an appliance electronic control unit (not shown) which is located inside the casing 2 and controls the motor assembly 5 , the detergent dispenser 10 , the fresh-water supply circuit 11 and the electrochemical device 13 , so as to automatically perform the washing cycle preferably selected by the user
- a control panel 21 which electronically communicates with said electronic control unit and is structured to allow the user to manually select the desired washing cycle preferably among a number of available washing cycles.
- control panel 21 is preferably located on the front wall 6 of casing 2 , above the laundry loading-unloading opening and preferably also immediately beneath the upper worktop or top wall 12 of casing 2 .
- exposed or exposable loading inlet of salt container 14 is preferably located on the front wall 6 of casing 2 substantially horizontally aligned beside the control panel 21 .
- detergent dispenser 10 preferably basically comprises: a detergent drawer 22 which is preferably provided with one or more substantially basin-shaped, detergent compartments 23 (two detergent compartments 23 in the example shown) each structured for being manually fillable with a given amount of detergent, softener or other washing agent, and which is fitted/inserted in manually extractable manner into a corresponding preferably substantially basin-shaped, drawer housing 24 which, in turn, is located/recessed inside the casing 2 above washing tub 3 , and whose entrance is preferably located on front wall 6 of casing 2 , preferably above the laundry loading-unloading opening; and a drawer flush circuit 25 which is connected to the fresh-water supply circuit 11 for receiving the water of the water mains, and is structured for selectively channelling/pouring, when the detergent drawer 22 is completely fitted/inserted into the drawer housing 24 , said water into any one of the detergent compartments 23 of detergent drawer 22 , so as to selectively flush the detergent, softener or other washing agent out of the same detergent compartment 23 and
- this drawer flush circuit 25 is furthermore directly controlled by the appliance electronic control unit.
- the detergent drawer 22 is preferably movable inside the drawer housing 24 parallel to a substantially horizontally-oriented, longitudinal axis L of drawer housing 24 between: a retracted position (see FIG. 5 ) in which detergent drawer 22 is completely fitted/inserted into drawer housing 24 , so as to be almost completely recessed into the front wall 6 of casing 2 ; and a completely extracted position (see FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7 ) in which detergent drawer 22 partly juts out from the front wall 6 of casing 2 , so as to expose the one or more detergent compartments 23 at once.
- detergent drawer 22 is movable inside the drawer housing 24 in a substantially horizontally-oriented, displacement direction d which is locally substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis L of both drawer housing 24 and detergent drawer 22 , between: a retracted position (see FIG. 5 ) in which detergent drawer 22 is almost completely recessed into the front wall 6 of casing 2 and the one or more detergent compartments 23 of detergent drawer 22 are inaccessible to the user; and a completely extracted position (see FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7 ) in which detergent drawer 22 partly juts out from the front wall 6 of casing 2 , so that all detergent compartments 23 of detergent drawer 22 are fully accessible to the user at same time.
- the entrance of drawer housing 24 is preferably located on front wall 6 of casing 2 , immediately underneath the upper worktop or top wall 12 of casing 2 and substantially horizontally aligned beside the control panel 21 . Furthermore the longitudinal axis L of detergent drawer 22 and drawer housing 24 , and as a consequence the displacement direction d of detergent drawer 22 , is preferably locally substantially perpendicular to the front wall 6 of casing 2 .
- each detergent compartment 23 is additionally dimensioned to contain a given amount of detergent, softener or other washing agent sufficient for performing only a single washing cycle.
- the detergent drawer 22 preferably has, on the bottom or on a sidewall of each detergent compartment 23 , a large through opening (not shown) which is suitably shaped/dimensioned to allow the mixture of water and detergent, softener or other washing agent formed inside the same detergent compartment 23 to freely fall on the bottom of drawer housing 24 .
- the detergent drawer 22 may have, inside the detergent compartment 23 , a siphon assembly (not shown) which is suitably structured/designed to selectively channel the mixture of water and detergent, softener or other washing agent formed inside the detergent compartment 23 out of the same detergent compartment 23 and down onto the bottom of drawer housing 24 .
- the drawer flush circuit 25 is preferably structured for directly pouring/channelling, when detergent drawer 22 is placed in the retracted position, a shower of water droplets by gravity selectively and alternatively into any one of the detergent compartments 23 of detergent drawer 22 , so as to selectively flush the detergent, softener or other washing agent out of the same detergent compartment 23 and down onto the bottom of drawer housing 24 .
- the detergent drawer 22 is preferably additionally provided with a substantially basin-shaped, salt compartment 26 which is located beside the one or more detergent compartments 23 , and is structured/dimensioned for containing a given quantity of consumable salt grains to be used for producing the brine to be channelled into the electrolytic reactor 16 , i.e. into the brine container 17 .
- the salt compartment 26 is moreover dimensioned to contain an amount of consumable salt grains sufficient for producing an amount of chlorine-based sanitizing agent sufficient for performing the sanitizing or bleaching process in several washing cycles.
- the salt compartment 26 is preferably dimensioned to contain a maximum amount of salt grains of sodium chloride (NaCl) preferably equal to approximately 0.6 Kg (Kilos) and which suffices for successfully performing the sanitizing or bleaching process during a number of washing cycles preferably ranging between 5 and 15.
- NaCl sodium chloride
- the salt container 14 of electrochemical device 13 is preferably incorporated into the detergent dispenser 10 , or rather into the detergent drawer 22 of detergent dispenser 10 .
- the electrolytic reactor 16 is preferably adjoined to the drawer housing 24 of detergent dispenser 10 .
- the salt compartment 26 is preferably arranged, on detergent drawer 22 , beside the one or more detergent compartments 23 transversally to the displacement direction d of detergent drawer 22 , i.e. transversally to the longitudinal axis L of detergent drawer 22 , so that both detergent compartment/s 23 and salt compartment 26 are allowed to almost contemporaneously come out from the front wall 6 of casing 2 when detergent drawer 22 moves from the retracted position to the extracted position.
- Detergent drawer 22 is therefore movable inside drawer housing 24 in displacement direction d between: a retracted position (see FIG. 5 ) in which detergent drawer 22 is completely recessed into the front wall 6 of casing 2 , so that both detergent compartment/s 23 and salt compartment 26 are inaccessible to the user; and a completely extracted position (see FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7 ) in which detergent drawer 22 partly juts out from the front wall 6 of casing 2 , so that both detergent compartment/s 23 and salt compartment 26 are simultaneously fully exposed and accessible to the user.
- the drawer flush circuit 25 of detergent dispenser 10 is preferably additionally structured for selectively and separately channelling, when detergent drawer 22 is in the retracted position, the water of the water mains also into the salt compartment 26 , so that said water can dissolve some of the salt grains contained into the salt compartment 26 to form the brine (i.e. salt water).
- the water supply line 15 of electrochemical device 13 is preferably incorporated into the detergent dispenser 10 , or rather into the drawer flush circuit 25 of detergent dispenser 10 .
- the drawer flush circuit 25 is preferably structured for selectively and separately pouring/channelling, when the detergent drawer 22 is completely fitted/inserted into drawer housing 24 , the water arriving from the fresh-water supply circuit 11 into any one of the detergent compartments 23 and also into the salt compartment 26 .
- the poured water serves to selectively flush the contents of the detergent compartment 23 out of the same compartment 23 and down on the bottom of drawer housing 24 via the corresponding through opening or siphon assembly.
- the poured water serves to dissolve some of the consumable salt grains contained into the salt compartment 26 to form the brine (i.e. salt water).
- the detergent drawer 22 preferably has, on the bottom of salt compartment 26 , a large pass-through drain opening 27 which is suitably shaped/dimensioned to allow the brine (i.e. the salt water) formed inside the salt compartment 26 to freely fall by gravity on the bottom of drawer housing 24 .
- a large pass-through drain opening 27 which is suitably shaped/dimensioned to allow the brine (i.e. the salt water) formed inside the salt compartment 26 to freely fall by gravity on the bottom of drawer housing 24 .
- the fresh water that the drawer flush circuit 25 selectively pours/channels into the salt compartment 26 serves to dissolve some of the consumable salt grains contained therein to form the brine (i.e. salt water) that subsequently freely fall by gravity on the bottom of drawer housing 24 via the drain opening 27 .
- detergent drawer 22 preferably comprises: a substantially basin-shaped, drawer main body 28 which is fitted/inserted in axially sliding manner into the drawer housing 24 , and is shaped/dimensioned to be totally recessed/accommodated inside the drawer housing 24 ; and a manually-sizable front panel 29 which is arranged/located on a front side of the drawer main body 28 , so as to close the entrance of drawer housing 24 when detergent drawer 22 is placed in the retracted position.
- the drawer main body 28 is preferably made in a one piece construction via an injection moulding process, and the one or more detergent compartments 23 and the salt compartment 26 are preferably directly formed on the drawer main body 28 , one side by side the other.
- the detergent drawer 22 additionally includes a preferably manually-removable, water-permeable cover 30 that closes the drain opening 27 , and additionally has a water-permeable structure designed for preventing the salt grains to accidentally spill out of the salt compartment 26 via the drain opening 27 and, at same time, for allowing the brine to freely flow out of the salt compartment 26 via the drain opening 27 .
- the water-permeable cover 30 furthermore has a water-permeable structure suitably designed/dimensioned to slow down the outflow of the brine from the salt compartment 26 via the drain opening 27 , thus to temporary increase/rise the level of the water/brine into the salt compartment 26 .
- the water-permeable cover 30 is arranged above the drain opening 27 so as to completely cover the latter, and is preferably structured to allow the passage of the water/brine through the same water-permeable cover 30 with a flowrate which is lower than that of the water channelled/poured into the salt compartment 26 by the water supply line 15 , or rather by the drawer flush circuit 25 , so as to cause a temporary increase/rise of the level of the water inside the salt compartment 26 .
- the drain opening 27 and the water-permeable cover 30 therefore, form a brine draining system that allows the brine formed inside the salt compartment 26 to freely fall by gravity on the bottom of drawer housing 24 preferably after a short stay (for example 1 to 3 minutes) into the salt compartment 26 .
- the water-permeable cover 30 has a substantially platelike structure and preferably moreover extends inside the salt compartment 26 above the whole bottom of the salt compartment 26 , preferably slightly spaced from, and locally substantially parallel to, the bottom of salt compartment 26 , so as to form a thin air gap immediately above the bottom of salt compartment 26 .
- Said thin air gab allows the brine to quickly flow on the bottom of the salt compartment 26 towards the drain opening 27 .
- the water-permeable cover 30 preferably consists in a rigid platelike body which is preferably made of plastic material, which preferably substantially copies the shape of the bottom of salt compartment 26 , and which has a microperforated structure suitably dimensioned to slow down the flow of the brine through the same platelike body 30 thus to cause a temporary increase/rise the level of the water/brine into the salt compartment 26 , above the same platelike body 30 .
- the central portion of platelike body 30 is preferably provided with a plenty of substantially evenly distributed, transversal pass-through microslots or microholes each preferably having a cross-sectional area lower that 3 mm 2 (square millimetres), so as to allow the flow/passage of the brine/water through the platelike body 30 with a flowrate preferably ranging between 0.4 and 1 litre/min (litre per minute).
- the flowrate of the water poured into the salt compartment 26 instead preferably ranges between 5 and 8 litre/min (litre per minute).
- the detergent drawer 22 preferably additionally comprises a manually openable, upper lid assembly 31 which is firmly fitted on the drawer main body 28 , on top of the salt compartment 26 , and is structured to selectively close the upper mouth of salt compartment 26 , preferably so as to almost completely cover said upper mouth.
- the upper lid assembly 31 is additionally structured so as to be able to receive, from drawer flush circuit 25 and at least when detergent drawer 22 is placed in the retracted position, a flow of water and to channel said water into the beneath-located salt compartment 26 , preferably while spreading out the same water inside the salt compartment 26 .
- the upper lid assembly 31 is preferably provided with a water inlet which is faced to the outside of salt compartment 26 and is structured to allow the water to enter into the same upper lid assembly 31 , and with one or more water outlets which are faced to the inside of salt compartment 26 , fluidically communicate with said water inlet, and are finally suitably structured to allow the water previously entered into the upper lid assembly 31 through the water inlet to come out of the lid assembly 31 and fall into the salt compartment 26 .
- the drawer flush circuit 25 is preferably structured to selectively channel, when detergent drawer 22 is placed in the retracted position, a flow of water towards the water inlet of the upper lid assembly 31 .
- drawer flush circuit 25 is preferably additionally structured to selectively channel, when detergent drawer 22 is placed in the retracted position, the water arriving from the fresh-water supply circuit 11 towards the water inlet of lid assembly 31 which, in turn, is structured to distribute the water arriving from drawer flush circuit 25 into the salt compartment 26 , so as to dissolve some of the consumable salt grains contained into the salt compartment 26 and form the brine (i.e. the salt water) that falls on the bottom of drawer housing 24 via the drain opening 27 .
- the brine i.e. the salt water
- the water inlet of lid assembly 31 is preferably furthermore structured to selectively couple in a stable, though easy detachable manner, with the drawer flush circuit 25 for receiving the water arriving from fresh-water supply circuit 11 , only when the detergent drawer 22 is placed in the retracted position; whereas the upper lid assembly 31 is preferably structured to drip the water into the salt compartment 26 .
- the drawer flush circuit 25 could be structured to selectively channel, when detergent drawer 22 is placed in the retracted position, a flow of water directly into the salt compartment 26 of detergent drawer 22 bypassing the upper lid assembly 31 .
- the upper lid assembly 31 preferably comprises: a platelike member 32 which is structured to rigidly fit into the upper rim of the salt compartment 26 to substantially completely cover/close the upper mouth of the salt compartment 26 ; and a preferably substantially rectangular-shaped, manually-movable trapdoor 33 which is arranged to close a complementary-shaped, pass-through opening which is preferably formed nearly in the middle of platelike member 32 , and is moreover suitably shaped/dimensioned to allow the user to easily manually pour/load the consumable salt grains of sodium chloride (NaCl) into the same salt compartment 26 .
- NaCl sodium chloride
- the manually-movable trapdoor 33 is preferably flag-hinged to platelike member 32 at one of the two longer sides of the central pass-through opening, so as to be able to freely rotate about a reference axis locally substantially coplanar to the platelike member 32 and preferably also substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis L of both drawer housing 24 and detergent drawer 22 .
- the platelike member 32 furthermore has a hollow structure and is provided with a water inlet 34 which is suitably structured to watertight couple, when detergent drawer 22 is placed in the retracted position, with the drawer flush circuit 25 thus to allow the water to enter into the platelike member 32 ; and with one or more water-outlets 35 which are arranged on the lower face of platelike member 32 , preferably all around the central pass-through opening closed by trapdoor 33 , so as to face the inside of salt compartment 26 .
- the drawer flush circuit 25 is preferably structured to selectively couple, when detergent drawer 22 is placed in the retracted position, with the water inlet 34 of platelike member 32 , so as to be able to channel the water of the water mains directly into the platelike member 32 of lid assembly 31 .
- Each water-outlet 35 allows the water previously entered into the platelike member 32 to slowly come out of platelike member 32 and freely fall into the salt compartment 26 .
- the water-outlets 35 of platelike member 32 are furthermore suitably shaped/structured to pour a shower of water droplets by gravity into the salt compartment 26 .
- the drawer housing 24 is preferably divided into two separated and substantially basin-shaped, bottom portions 36 and 37 which are located, when detergent drawer 22 is placed in retracted position, one underneath all detergent compartments 23 of detergent drawer 22 and the other underneath the salt compartment 26 of detergent drawer 22 .
- the bottom of drawer housing 24 is preferably divided by a substantially vertical, partitioning wall into two separated and substantially basin-shaped bottom portions 36 and 37 , which are arranged side by side to one another transversally to the displacement direction d of detergent drawer 22 inside drawer housing 24 , i.e. transversally to the longitudinal axis L of drawer housing 24 .
- the basin-shaped bottom portion 36 of drawer housing 24 is vertically aligned, when detergent drawer 22 is placed in the retracted position, to the one or more detergent compartments 23 of detergent drawer 22 for receiving/collecting the mixture of water and detergent, softener or other washing agent falling down from any one of the detergent compartments 23 , and moreover directly communicates with the beneath-located washing tub 3 .
- the basin-shaped bottom portion 36 preferably directly communicates with the inside of washing tub 3 via a specific connecting duct 38 that branches off from the basin-shaped bottom portion 36 and ends directly into the beneath-located washing tub 3 .
- the connecting duct 38 allows the mixture of water and detergent, softener or other washing agent to quickly and freely flow by gravity directly into washing tub 3 .
- the basin-shaped bottom portion 37 of drawer housing 24 is vertically aligned, when detergent drawer 22 is placed in the retracted position, to the salt compartment 26 of detergent drawer 22 and for receiving/collecting the brine (i.e. the salt water) trickling/falling down from the salt compartment 26 of detergent drawer 22 via drain opening 27 , and moreover directly communicates with the beneath-located electrolytic reactor 16 .
- brine i.e. the salt water
- the basin-shaped bottom portion 37 preferably directly communicates with the inside of the beneath-located electrolytic reactor 16 , or rather with the inside of the beneath-located brine container 17 , so as to allow the brine to freely flow by gravity from the basin-shaped bottom portion 37 to the electrolytic reactor 16 , or rather to the brine container 17 , and accumulate therein.
- the drawer flush circuit 25 of detergent dispenser 10 preferably comprises: a platelike water conveyor 40 which is suitably structured/designed to form the upper lid of the drawer housing 24 , so as to be located immediately above the detergent drawer 22 when the latter is placed in the retracted position, i.e. when the latter is completely inserted/recessed into the drawer housing 24 (see FIG.
- the water distributor 41 is furthermore directly controlled by the appliance electronic control unit.
- the water conveyor 40 is preferably located immediately underneath the upper worktop or top wall 12 of casing 2 .
- the platelike water conveyor 40 furthermore has, on its lower face (i.e. on the side directly facing the bottom of drawer housing 24 ), a group of first water delivery portions which are locally substantially vertically aligned, when the detergent drawer 22 is placed in the retracted position, each to a respective detergent compartment 23 of detergent drawer 22 .
- Each first water delivery portion of platelike water conveyor 40 is suitably structured to let the water arriving from water distributor 41 to slowly fall into the beneath-located detergent compartment 23 .
- each first water delivery portion of platelike water conveyor 40 is preferably structured to pour by gravity a shower of water droplets directly into the beneath-located detergent compartment 23 .
- the platelike water conveyor 40 furthermore has, on its lower face, a second water delivery portion which is substantially vertically aligned, when the detergent drawer 22 is placed in the retracted position, to the salt compartment 26 of detergent drawer 22 , and is suitably structured to let the water arriving from water distributor 41 to slowly fall into the beneath-located salt compartment 26 .
- the second water delivery portion is preferably structured to couple with the water inlet 34 of upper lid assembly 31 for channelling the water into the upper lid assembly 31 .
- the second water delivery portion preferably consists in a male or female hydraulic connector (not visible in the figures) that protrudes from the lower face of platelike water conveyor 40 (i.e. on the side directly facing the bottom of drawer housing 24 ), locally parallel to the displacement direction d, and is suitably arranged to couple, when the detergent drawer 22 is placed in the retracted position, in detachable manner with a complementary second hydraulic connector which is incorporated into the water inlet 34 of upper lid assembly 31 , or rather into the water inlet 34 of platelike member 32 , so as to put the upper lid assembly 31 in direct fluid communication with the platelike water conveyor 40 .
- the platelike water conveyor 40 moreover has, on its lower face (i.e. on the side directly facing the bottom of drawer housing 24 ), a third water delivery portion which is both substantially vertically aligned to the basin-shaped bottom portion 36 of drawer housing 24 and misaligned to the detergent drawer 22 placed in retracted position.
- This third water delivery portion of platelike water conveyor 40 is suitably structured to pour/channel the water arriving from water distributor 41 directly into the basin-shaped bottom portion 36 of drawer housing 24 , without affecting/reaching the detergent compartment/s 23 .
- the drawer flush circuit 25 is preferably also capable of selectively channelling the water of the water mains directly into the washing tub 3 bypassing the detergent compartment/s 23 of detergent drawer 22 .
- the platelike water conveyor 40 moreover has, on its lower face (i.e. on the side directly facing the bottom of drawer housing 24 ), a fourth water delivery portion which is both substantially vertically aligned to the basin-shaped bottom portion 37 of drawer housing 24 and misaligned to the detergent drawer 22 placed in retracted position.
- This fourth water delivery portion of platelike water conveyor 40 is suitably structured to pour/channel the water arriving from the water distributor 41 directly into the basin-shaped bottom portion 37 of drawer housing 24 , without affecting/reaching the salt compartment 26 .
- the drawer flush circuit 25 is preferably also capable of selectively channelling the water of the water mains directly into the electrolytic reactor 16 , or rather into the brine container 17 of electrolytic reactor 16 , bypassing the salt compartment 26 of detergent drawer 22 .
- the laundry washing machine 1 is preferably additionally provided with an auxiliary water supply line capable of selectively channelling the water of the water mains directly into the brine container 17 of electrolytic reactor 16 .
- the electrically-operated, water distributor 41 is preferably discrete from the platelike water conveyor 40 , and is preferably firmly coupled/associated to the platelike water conveyor 40 at a corresponding coupling socket (not visible in the figures) preferably realized on the lower face of the platelike water conveyor 40 .
- this water distributor 41 furthermore has a water inlet (not visible in the figures) which directly communicates with the fresh-water supply circuit 11 for directly receiving the water of the water mains; and a number of water outlets 42 which are located, preferably one side by side the other, on the interface portion of water distributor 41 suited to couple with the complementary coupling socket present in the platelike water conveyor 40 .
- the platelike water conveyor 40 is preferably provided with a number of independent water inlets (not visible in the figures) that are located at coupling socket and separately communicate each with a respective water delivery portion of the same water conveyor 40 via a corresponding internal connecting channel 43 extending inside the body of the platelike water conveyor 40 .
- Each water outlet 42 of water distributor 41 is preferably structured to watertight couple/connect, at coupling socket of platelike water conveyor 40 , with a corresponding water inlet of the same water conveyor 40 .
- the water distributor 41 preferably consists in an electrically-operated, discrete flow-diverter module which is firmly attached to the outside of platelike water conveyor 40 , at said coupling socket, and is directly controlled by the appliance electronic control unit so as to selectively and alternatively channel the water arriving from the fresh-water supply circuit 11 towards any one of the water delivery portions of platelike water conveyor 40 .
- the discrete flow-diverter module 41 preferably internally accommodates: a rotatable flow diverter which is capable of channelling, according to its angular position, the water entering into the same flow-diverter module 41 via the water inlet towards any one of the water outlets 42 ; and an electrically-operated driver assembly (not shown) which is mechanically connected to the rotatable flow diverter and is capable of controlling/varying the angular position of the same flow diverter according to the electronic signals arriving from the appliance electronic control unit.
- a rotatable flow diverter which is capable of channelling, according to its angular position, the water entering into the same flow-diverter module 41 via the water inlet towards any one of the water outlets 42 ; and an electrically-operated driver assembly (not shown) which is mechanically connected to the rotatable flow diverter and is capable of controlling/varying the angular position of the same flow diverter according to the electronic signals arriving from the appliance electronic control unit.
- the platelike water conveyor 40 of drawer flush circuit 25 is moreover fludically connected to the electrolytic reactor 16 for receiving the chlorine-based sanitizing agent produced therein, and is additionally provided with an internal sanitizing-agent delivery line 44 structured/designed for separately channelling the chlorine-based sanitizing agent arriving from electrolytic reactor 16 directly into the basin-shaped bottom portion 36 of drawer housing 24 , preferably without affecting/reaching the detergent compartment/s 23 .
- the platelike water conveyor 40 is preferably fludically connected to sanitizing-agent outlet of electrolytic reactor 16 .
- the sanitizing-agent delivery line 44 of water conveyor 40 preferably includes: a sanitizing-agent inlet 45 preferably directly communicating with the sanitizing-agent outlet of electrolytic reactor 16 for receiving the chlorine-based sanitizing agent produced therein; and a sanitizing-agent delivery portion which directly communicates solely with the sanitizing-agent inlet 45 via a specific internal connecting channel 46 extending inside the body of platelike water conveyor 40 , and which is located on the lower face of the water conveyor 40 (i.e. on the side directly facing the bottom of drawer housing 24 ), both substantially vertically aligned to the basin-shaped bottom portion 36 of drawer housing 24 and preferably misaligned to the detergent drawer 22 placed in retracted position.
- the sanitizing-agent delivery portion of platelike water conveyor 40 is preferably suitably structured to directly pour/channel the chlorine-based sanitizing agent arriving from the electrolytic reactor 16 directly onto the basin-shaped bottom portion 36 of drawer housing 24 , actually without affecting/reaching the detergent compartment/s 23 .
- this chlorine-based sanitizing agent freely flows by gravity along the connecting duct 38 up to the washing tub 3 , preferably, though not necessarily, together with any water or mixture of water and detergent, softener or other washing agent almost contemporaneously arriving into the basin-shaped bottom portion 36 .
- the platelike water conveyor 40 additionally includes: an air inlet 47 that directly communicates with the air vent of electrolytic reactor 16 for receiving any air or other gas contained or formed inside the electrolytic reactor 16 ; and preferably also a corresponding internal air duct that extends inside the body of the water conveyor 40 and is adapted to exhaust said air or other gas out of the same platelike water conveyor 40 . More specifically, said internal air duct preferably ends into one or more holes adapted to discharge inside the drawer housing 24 the air or other gas arriving from the electrolytic reactor 16 .
- the sanitizing-agent inlet 45 of water conveyor 40 preferably consists in a first male of female hydraulic connector which preferably protrudes downwards from the lower face of platelike water conveyor 40 (i.e. from the side directly facing the bottom of drawer housing 24 ) spaced apart from the coupling socket of platelike water conveyor 40 , and while remaining locally substantially perpendicular to the same lower face of platelike water conveyor 40 .
- the air inlet 47 of water conveyor 40 preferably consists in a second male of female hydraulic connector which preferably protrudes downwards from the lower face of platelike water conveyor 40 (i.e. from the side directly facing the bottom of drawer housing 24 ) both adjacent to the hydraulic connector of sanitizing-agent inlet 45 and spaced apart from the coupling socket of platelike water conveyor 40 , and while remaining locally substantially perpendicular to the lower face of platelike water conveyor 40 .
- the hydraulic connector of sanitizing-agent inlet 45 and, if present, the hydraulic connector of air inlet 47 are preferably adapted to watertight couple with corresponding and complementary hydraulic connectors present in the electrolytic reactor 16 .
- the brine container 17 of electrolytic reactor 16 preferably includes a pair of unpressurized storage tanks or vessels 48 and 49 that are horizontally adjoined to one another and are in permanent fluid communication to one another via a pass-through opening 50 , which is directly formed in the partitioning wall between the same storage tanks or vessels 48 and 49 , preferably adjacent to the bottom of both storage tanks or vessels 48 and 49 .
- these unpressurized storage tanks or vessels 48 and 49 are preferably dimensioned to receive and accumulate substantially the whole brine arriving on the same bottom portion 37 of drawer housing 24 .
- the ensemble of storage tanks 48 and 49 is preferably firmly fixed/secured to the drawer housing 24 and to the platelike water conveyor 40 by means of one or more anchoring screws and/or one or more releasable mechanical couplings, and is preferably dimensioned to catch and accumulate a given amount of brine preferably ranging between 100 and 250 ml (millilitres).
- the unpressurized storage tank or vessel 48 is preferably located immediately underneath the drawer housing 24 , preferably substantially vertically aligned to the basin-shaped bottom portion 37 of drawer housing 24 , and directly communicates with the basin-shaped bottom portion 37 of drawer housing 24 so as to receive the brine arriving on the same bottom portion 37 of drawer housing 24 .
- the brine inlet of electrolytic reactor 16 is preferably located in the unpressurized storage tank or vessel 48 .
- the unpressurized storage tank 48 is furthermore rigidly fixed/secured to the bottom of drawer housing 24 by means of one or more anchoring screws and/or one or more releasable mechanical couplings.
- the storage tank or vessel 48 is preferably directly connected to the superjacent basin-shaped bottom portion 37 of drawer housing 24 so that the brine arriving onto the bottom portion 37 of drawer housing 24 is allowed to freely flow by gravity into the same storage tank or vessel 48 .
- the storage tank or vessel 48 preferably directly communicates with the basin-shaped bottom portion 37 of drawer housing 24 via at least one and preferably a pair of tubular extensions 51 that protrude downwards from the bottom of drawer housing 24 , directly communicate with the basin-shaped bottom portion 37 of drawer housing 24 , and lastly directly fit in substantially watertight manner each into a respective complementary-shaped opening 52 formed on top wall of the same storage tank or vessel 48 .
- the storage tank or vessel 48 preferably directly communicates with the basin-shaped bottom portion 37 of drawer housing 24 via one or more tubular extensions 51 protruding downwards from the bottom of drawer housing 24 and directly communicating with the superjacent basin-shaped bottom portion 37 of drawer housing 24 .
- the unpressurized storage tank or vessel 49 internally accommodates the two, preferably platelike, electrodes 53 of electrolytic cell 18 , and is preferably located between the storage tank or vessel 48 and the vertical sidewall 20 of casing 2 . Furthermore the unpressurized storage tank or vessel 49 preferably directly communicates with the platelike water conveyor 40 of detergent dispenser 10 , so as to be able to feed the chlorine-based sanitizing agent and optionally also the air or other gas contained or formed inside the same storage tank or vessel 49 to the platelike water conveyor 40 .
- the sanitizing-agent outlet and preferably also the air vent of electrolytic reactor 16 are preferably located in the unpressurized storage tank or vessel 49 .
- the unpressurized storage tank or vessel 49 preferably has a flattened boxlike structure and is preferably arranged adjacent to a sidewall of the drawer housing 24 , preferably nearly perpendicular to the upper worktop or top wall 12 of casing 2 and/or nearly parallel to vertical sidewall 20 of casing 2 .
- the unpressurized storage tank or vessel 49 furthermore extends downwards beyond the bottom of drawer housing 24 , locally substantially tangent to the unpressurized storage tank or vessel 48 .
- the upper edge of storage tank or vessel 49 moreover stably abuts against the platelike water conveyor 40 , and the sanitizing-agent outlet and the air vent of electrolytic reactor 16 are preferably located on this upper edge.
- the unpressurized storage tank or vessel 49 preferably has, on its upper edge, two hydraulic connectors 55 and 57 which are complementary to the hydraulic connectors 45 and 47 of platelike water conveyor 40 , and are adapted to couple in substantially watertight manner with the hydraulic connectors 45 and 47 of platelike water conveyor 40 .
- the storage tank or vessel 49 is finally rigidly fixed/secured to the platelike water conveyor 40 and/or to the drawer housing 24 by means of one or more anchoring screws and/or one or more releasable mechanical couplings.
- the electrolytic cell 18 of electrolytic reactor 16 in turn comprises: the aforesaid two, preferably platelike, electrodes 53 accommodated in the unpressurized storage tank or vessel 49 ; and preferably also an electric power unit (not shown) which is preferably controlled by, or incorporated into, the appliance electronic control unit, and is adapted to selectively apply a given electric DC voltage to the electrodes 53 preferably so as to cause the electro-chlorination of the brine contained into the brine container 17 , i.e. into the ensemble of storage tanks 48 and 49 , thus preferably producing hydrogen gas (H 2 ) and water-diluted sodium hypochlorite (NaClO), commonly known as bleach.
- H 2 hydrogen gas
- NaClO water-diluted sodium hypochlorite
- This sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) is the chlorine-based sanitizing agent that pump assembly 19 subsequently moves into the basin-shaped bottom portion 36 of drawer housing 24 via the platelike water conveyor 40 of detergent dispenser 10 .
- the electrolytic cell 18 may also include a water-permeable partitioning septum or membrane (not shown) that divides the inside of storage tank or vessel 49 into two complementary inner compartments each accommodating a respective platelike electrode 43 .
- the DC voltage applied on electrodes 53 causes the electrolysis of the sodium chloride (NaCl) and the consequent production of chlorine (Cl) and sodium hydroxide (caustic soda).
- the pump assembly 19 is preferably firmly fixed/secured to both storage tanks or vessels 48 and 49 , and is capable of pumping/moving, on command of the appliance electronic control unit, the chlorine-based sanitizing accumulated into the ensemble of unpressurized storage tanks or vessels 48 and 49 , from the ensemble of storage tanks or vessels 48 and 49 to the platelike water conveyor 40 of detergent dispenser 10 .
- the pump assembly 19 is preferably configured to suck the chlorine-based sanitizing agent from the bottom of storage tank or vessel 48 and to feed/pump said chlorine-based sanitizing agent into an auxiliary vertical duct 58 that preferably extends in pass-through manner inside the storage tank or vessel 49 , up to the platelike water conveyor 40 of detergent dispenser 10 .
- the vertical duct 58 preferably extends inside the storage tank or vessel 49 up to the hydraulic connector 55 located on the upper side of storage tank or vessel 49 .
- the pump assembly 19 when deactivated, is moreover capable of watertight isolating the ensemble of unpressurized storage tanks or vessels 48 and 49 from the platelike water conveyor 40 of detergent dispenser 10 .
- the pump assembly 19 preferably basically comprises an electrically-powered membrane pump or other electrically-powered volumetric pump, which preferably has a first duckbill valve or other non-return valve at suction mouth of the pump, and a second duckbill valve or other non-return valve at delivery mouth of the pump.
- the suction mouth 19 a of the pump is preferably directly connected to the storage tank or vessel 48 , preferably close to bottom of storage tank or vessel 48 and/or close to the pass-through opening 50 communicating with storage tank or vessel 49 , and preferably also beneath a filtering structure 59 located inside the same storage tank or vessel 48 .
- the delivery mouth of the pump is preferably connected to the lower mouth of vertical duct 58 via a tubular connecting member 60 preferably additionally capable of firmly locking the pump to the ensemble of storage tanks or vessels 48 and 49 .
- the electrolytic reactor 16 additionally includes a detector device 61 capable of monitoring/detecting the level and/or salinity degree of the water or brine momentarily contained into the brine container 17 , i.e. into the ensemble of storage tanks 48 and 49 , and which preferably electronically communicates with the appliance electronic control unit.
- a detector device 61 capable of monitoring/detecting the level and/or salinity degree of the water or brine momentarily contained into the brine container 17 , i.e. into the ensemble of storage tanks 48 and 49 , and which preferably electronically communicates with the appliance electronic control unit.
- the detector device 61 is preferably located inside the storage tank or vessel 48 , preferably above the filtering structure 59 , and preferably comprises: a first floating member 62 capable of floating when the liquid contained into the storage tank or vessel 48 is either fresh water or salt water; a second floating member 23 capable of floating solely when the water contained into the storage tank or vessel 48 is fresh water; and a local electronic control unit 64 capable of detecting when each of the two floating members 62 and 63 arrive on top of storage tank or vessel 48 .
- the fresh-water supply circuit 11 of laundry washing machine 1 comprises: a main water delivery line 70 which is connected/connectable to the water mains and is structured to channel, on command, the fresh water of the water mains towards the drawer flush circuit 25 of detergent dispenser 10 , or rather towards the water inlet of water distributor 41 ; and optionally also an auxiliary water delivery line 71 which is connected/connectable to an alternative external water source of hot fresh water (for example the hot branch of the piping, fittings, and fixtures generally involved in the distribution and use of hot water in a domestic building), and is structured to independently channel, on command, the hot fresh water of said alternative water source towards the washing tub 3 , preferably via the platelike water conveyor 40 of detergent dispenser 10 .
- a main water delivery line 70 which is connected/connectable to the water mains and is structured to channel, on command, the fresh water of the water mains towards the drawer flush circuit 25 of detergent dispenser 10 , or rather towards the water inlet of water distributor 41 ; and optionally also an auxiliary water delivery line 71 which is connected/connect
- main water delivery line 70 and auxiliary water delivery line 71 are preferably directly controlled by the appliance electronic control unit.
- the main water delivery line 70 basically comprises: a first electrically-operated on-off valve 72 which is preferably located on a rear wall of boxlike casing 2 , preferably immediately underneath the upper worktop or top wall 12 of casing 2 , is directly connectable to the water mains, and is preferably directly controlled by the appliance electronic control unit; and a first tube 73 connecting the on-off valve 72 to the water inlet of the water distributor 41 .
- the auxiliary water delivery line 71 preferably basically comprises: a second electrically-operated on-off valve 74 which is preferably located on the rear wall of boxlike casing 2 , preferably immediately underneath the upper worktop or top wall 12 of casing 2 , is connectable to the alternative external water source and is preferably directly controlled by the appliance electronic control unit; and a second tube 75 connecting the on-off valve 74 to a corresponding tubular extension 76 that preferably protrudes downwards from the lower face of the platelike water conveyor 40 preferably while remaining locally substantially perpendicular to the latter, and moreover directly communicates with one of the water delivery portions of water conveyor 40 vertically aligned to the basin-shaped bottom portion 36 of drawer housing 24 .
- the laundry washing machine 1 preferably, though not necessarily, includes an auxiliary water drain line 80 that braches off from the drawer flush circuit 25 and preferably ends directly into the drain sump (not shown) beneath the washing tub 3 , or even directly into the suction of the electric pump that drains the waste water or washing liquor outside the laundry washing machine 1 ; and the drawer flush circuit 25 is capable of selectively channelling, towards the water drain line 80 , any kind of water arriving into the same drawer flush circuit 25 .
- the water drain line 80 preferably basically includes: a drain tube 81 having a first end connected to a corresponding tubular extension 82 preferably protruding downwards from the lower face of the platelike water conveyor 40 while remaining locally substantially perpendicular to the latter, and a second end connected to the drain sump beneath the washing tub 3 ; and preferably also an air-gap device 83 located upstream of drain tube 81 .
- the water distributor 41 of drawer flush circuit 25 is capable of selectively channelling, towards the drain tube 81 , any kind of water entering into the drawer flush circuit 25 .
- the appliance electronic control unit controls the motor assembly 5 , the detergent dispenser 10 , and the fresh-water supply circuit 11 so as to automatically perform the washing cycle preferably selected by the user via the control panel 21 .
- the appliance electronic control unit controls/activates the electrochemical device 13 so as to timely produce, during the washing cycle, a given amount of chlorine-based sanitizing agent to be subsequently used in the sanitizing or bleaching step of the same washing cycle.
- the appliance electronic control unit activates the water supply line 15 of electrochemical device 13 (i.e. controls the water distributor 41 of drawer flush circuit 25 ) so as to channel a given amount of fresh water of the water mains into the salt container 14 (i.e. into the salt compartment 26 of detergent drawer 22 ).
- the fresh water dissolves at least part of the salt grains contained into the same salt container 14 thus forming a given amount of brine that freely flows and accumulates into the beneath-located brine container 17 of electrolytic reactor 16 (i.e. into the ensemble of storage tanks 48 and 49 ).
- the appliance electronic control unit activates the electric power unit of electrolytic cell 18 so as to perform the electro-chlorination/electrolysis of the brine contained into the brine container 17 (i.e. into the ensemble of storage tanks 48 and 49 ).
- the chlorine-based sanitizing agent resulting from the electro-chlorination/electrolysis of the brine then accumulates inside the brine container 17 (i.e. inside both storage tanks 48 and 49 ).
- the appliance electronic control unit assumes that the electro-chlorination/electrolysis of the brine contained into the brine container 17 (i.e. inside both storage tanks 48 and 49 ) is completed and that a suitable amount of the chlorine-based sanitizing agent is actually contained into the same brine container 17 .
- the appliance electronic control unit activates the pump assembly 19 of electrolytic reactor 16 so as to move substantially the whole chlorine-based sanitizing agent accumulated into the brine container 17 (i.e. into both storage tanks or vessels 48 and 49 ), from the brine container 17 to the basin-shaped bottom portion 36 of drawer housing 24 preferably via the sanitizing-agent delivery line 44 of platelike water conveyor 40 .
- the chlorine-based sanitizing agent freely flows by gravity into the connecting duct 38 and arrives into washing tub 3 .
- the hydraulic circuit of laundry washing machine 1 is significantly simpler than that of the laundry washing machines disclosed in EP0146184 and EP0083740, with the cost reduction that this entails.
- the arrangement of the loading inlet of salt container 14 above the laundry loading-unloading opening, i.e. on the upper part of the boxlike casing 2 makes significantly easier and comfortable the manual refilling of the salt container 14 .
- the salt container 14 only temporarily contains the brine to be used for producing the chlorine-based sanitizing agent, thus there is actually no risk of spilling around the brine during manual refilling of the salt container 14 .
- brine draining system including the drain opening 27 and the water-permeable cover 30 significantly improves the salinity degree of the brine arriving on the basin-shaped bottom portion 37 of drawer housing 24 , thus improving performances of the electrolytic cell 18 .
- the electrochemical reactor 16 could channel/feed the chlorine-based sanitizing agent directly into the washing tub 3 without involving the platelike water conveyor 40 of drawer flush circuit 25 and the basin-shaped bottom portion 36 of drawer housing 24 .
- the pump assembly 19 could feed the chlorine-based sanitizing agent directly into washing tub 3 bypassing the detergent dispenser 10 .
- the platelike water conveyor 40 of detergent dispenser 10 would lack the sanitizing-agent delivery line 44 .
- the drawer flush circuit 25 of detergent dispenser 10 may lack the water distributor 41 , and the fresh-water supply circuit 11 may have a number of electrically-operated on-off valves each of which is interposed between the water mains and a respective water delivery portion of platelike water conveyor 40 .
- each of these on-off valves is furthermore directly controlled by the appliance electronic control unit.
- the electrolytic cell 18 is separated from brine container 17 and is located along the fresh-water supply circuit 11 , or more precisely along the main water delivery line 70 of fresh-water supply circuit 11 , so as to be permanently crossed by the fresh water directed to the detergent dispenser 10 or to the washing tub 3 .
- the water inlet of the drawer flush circuit 25 of detergent dispenser 10 receives the fresh water of the water mains directly from the electrolytic cell 18 .
- the electrolytic cell 18 of electrolytic reactor 16 includes a water-tight closed container 100 which is arranged along the main water delivery line 70 of fresh-water supply circuit 11 so as to be permanently crossed by the fresh water directed towards the detergent dispenser 10 , and is additionally adapted to also receive the brine previously contained into the brine container 17 .
- the water-tight closed container 100 furthermore has nearly the same capacity as brine container 17 so as to be able to contain a given amount of water or brine preferably substantially equal to that containable into the brine container 17 .
- the water-tight closed container 100 internally accommodates the two, preferably platelike, electrodes 53 of electrolytic cell 18 , so that electro-chlorination of the brine takes place inside the same water-tight closed container 100 and the resulting chlorine-based sanitizing agent accumulates therein.
- the chlorine-based sanitizing agent preferably enters into the detergent dispenser 10 via the drawer flush circuit 25 , or rather via the water inlet of the water distributor 41 of drawer flush circuit 25 .
- the platelike water conveyor 40 of detergent dispenser 10 preferably lacks the sanitizing-agent delivery line 44 .
- the brine container 17 of electrolytic reactor 16 preferably includes a single unpressurized storage tank or vessel 101 which is again preferably located immediately underneath the drawer housing 24 , and directly communicates with the basin-shaped bottom portion 37 of drawer housing 24 so as to receive and accumulate substantially the whole brine arriving on the same bottom portion 37 of drawer housing 24 .
- the storage tank or vessel 101 is preferably dimensioned to catch and accumulate a given amount of brine preferably ranging between 100 and 250 ml (millilitres), and is preferably firmly attached/fixed to the bottom of drawer housing 24 , preferably substantially vertically aligned to the basin-shaped bottom portion 37 of drawer housing 24 .
- the storage tank or vessel 101 is furthermore fluidically connected to the superjacent basin-shaped bottom portion 37 of drawer housing 24 so that the brine arriving onto the bottom portion 37 of drawer housing 24 is allowed to freely flow by gravity into the same storage tank or vessel 101 .
- the electrolytic reactor 16 preferably comprises, in place of pump assembly 19 , a small, electrically-powered pump assembly 102 which is capable of selectively pumping/moving the brine (i.e. the salt water) accumulated into the brine container 17 (i.e. into the unpressurized storage tank or vessel 101 ), from the brine container 17 to the water-tight closed container 100 of electrolytic cell 18 .
- pump assembly 102 is preferably moreover capable of watertight isolating the brine container 17 from the electrolytic cell 18 .
- pump assembly 102 is interposed between the brine container 17 , or rather the storage tank or vessel 101 , and the water-tight closed container 100 of electrolytic cell 18 .
- the fresh-water supply circuit 11 additionally includes a second auxiliary water delivery line 104 which is connected/connectable to the water mains and is structured to channel, on command, the fresh water of the water mains towards the water inlet of water distributor 41 bypassing the water-tight closed container 100 of electrolytic cell 18 .
- this second auxiliary water delivery line 104 is preferably directly controlled by the appliance electronic control unit.
- the auxiliary water delivery line 104 preferably basically comprises: a third electrically-operated on-off valve 105 which is preferably located on the rear wall of boxlike casing 2 , preferably immediately underneath the upper worktop or top wall 12 of casing 2 , is connectable to the water mains and is preferably directly controlled by the appliance electronic control unit; and a third tube 106 connecting the on-off valve 105 directly to the water inlet of the water distributor 41 bypassing the whole electrolytic cell 18 .
- the electrochemical device 13 operates as follows.
- the appliance electronic control unit activates the water supply line 15 of electrochemical device 13 (i.e. controls the water distributor 41 of drawer flush circuit 25 ) so as to channel a given amount of fresh water of the water mains into the salt container 14 (i.e. into the salt compartment 26 of detergent drawer 22 ), thus dissolving at least part of the salt grains contained therein and form a given amount of brine that freely flows and accumulates into the brine container 17 (i.e. into the storage tank or vessel 101 located immediately underneath the drawer housing 24 ).
- the water supply line 15 of electrochemical device 13 i.e. controls the water distributor 41 of drawer flush circuit 25
- the appliance electronic control unit activates the water supply line 15 of electrochemical device 13 (i.e. controls the water distributor 41 of drawer flush circuit 25 ) so as to channel a given amount of fresh water of the water mains into the salt container 14 (i.e. into the salt compartment 26 of detergent drawer 22 ), thus dissolving at least part of the salt grains contained therein and form a given amount of brine that freely flows and
- Either the main water delivery line 70 or the auxiliary water delivery line 104 may be used for feeding the fresh water of the water mains towards the water distributor 41 of drawer flush circuit 25 .
- the appliance electronic control unit firstly activates the pump assembly 102 so as to move the brine (i.e. the salt water) accumulated into the brine container 17 (i.e. into the storage tank or vessel 101 ), from the brine container 17 to the electrolytic cell 18 (i.e. to the water-tight closed container 100 ).
- the brine i.e. the salt water
- the appliance electronic control unit Before moving the brine to the electrolytic cell 18 (i.e. to the water-tight closed container 100 ), the appliance electronic control unit additionally puts the water outlet of electrolytic cell 18 (i.e. the water outlet of water-tight closed container 100 ) in fluid communication with the water drain line 80 so as to channel towards the drain sump any liquid coming out of electrolytic cell 18 .
- the appliance electronic control unit could put the water outlet of electrolytic cell 18 (i.e. the water outlet of the water-tight closed container 100 ) in fluid communication with any one of the first or the third water-delivery portion of platelike water conveyor 40 .
- the appliance electronic control unit activates the electric power unit of electrolytic cell 18 so as to perform the electro-chlorination/electrolysis of the brine contained into the electrolytic cell 18 (i.e. into the water-tight closed container 100 ).
- the chlorine-based sanitizing agent resulting from the electro-chlorination/electrolysis of the brine then accumulates inside the electrolytic cell 18 , or rather into the water-tight closed container 100 .
- the appliance electronic control unit After a given timespan preferably ranging between 5 and 15 minutes, the appliance electronic control unit, assuming that the electro-chlorination/electrolysis of the brine contained into the electrolytic cell 18 (i.e. into the water-tight closed container 100 ) is completed, and that a suitable amount of chlorine-based sanitizing agent is actually contained into the same electrolytic cell 18 (i.e. into the water-tight closed container 100 ), controls the main water delivery line 70 of fresh-water supply circuit 11 and the drawer flush circuit 25 of detergent dispenser 10 so as to channel, through the electrolytic cell 18 (i.e.
- the appliance electronic control unit preferably firstly controls the water distributor 41 of drawer flush circuit 25 so as to channel any liquid arriving from the electrolytic cell 18 (i.e. from the water-tight closed container 100 ) preferably directly towards the third water-delivery portion of platelike water conveyor 40 or alternatively towards one of the first water-delivery portions of platelike water conveyor 40 ; and then temporarily opens the on-off valve 72 of water delivery line 70 so as to feed, towards the washing tub 3 , an amount of fresh water that flows though the electrolytic cell 18 (i.e. through the water-tight closed container 100 ) and flushes the whole chlorine-based sanitizing agent accumulated therein into the washing tub 3 , so as to perform the sanitizing or bleaching step of the washing cycle.
- the appliance electronic control unit optionally temporarily puts the water outlet of electrolytic cell 18 (i.e. the water outlet of water-tight closed container 100 ) in fluid communication with the water drain line 80 , and then waits the end of the sanitizing or bleaching step of the washing cycle for activating the fresh-water supply circuit 11 , or rather the main water delivery line 70 of fresh-water supply circuit 11 , for feeding through the electrolytic cell 18 (i.e.
- the salt container 14 of electrochemical device 13 is preferably located/incorporated into a supplementary drawer 122 which is fitted/inserted in manually extractable manner into a corresponding, preferably substantially basin-shaped, second drawer housing 124 which is preferably discrete and spaced apart from the drawer housing 24 of detergent drawer 22 , and is preferably located/recessed inside the boxlike casing 2 substantially horizontally aligned to the drawer housing 24 of detergent drawer 22 .
- the appliance control panel 21 is furthermore located on front wall 6 of casing 2 , astride the vertical midplane of boxlike casing 2 , and the entrances of drawer housings 24 and 124 are arranged on opposite sides of said control panel 20 , preferably immediately underneath the upper worktop or top wall 12 of casing 2 .
- the detergent drawer 22 lacks the salt compartment 26
- the supplementary drawer 122 is preferably provided with a substantially basin-shaped, salt compartment (not visible in FIG. 13 ) which is structured/dimensioned for being manually fillable with a given quantity of consumable salt grains of sodium chloride (NaCl) to be used for producing the brine to be channelled into the electrolytic cell 18 .
- NaCl sodium chloride
- the water supply line 15 is structured to selectively channel, when the supplementary drawer 122 is completely recessed into the corresponding drawer housing 124 , a given amount of water into the salt container of said supplementary drawer 122 so as to dissolve at least part of the salt grains contained therein and form a given amount of brine (i.e. the salt water).
- this salt compartment is moreover provided with a large pass-through drain opening (not visible in FIG. 13 ) which is suitably shaped/dimensioned to allow the brine (i.e. the salt water) formed inside the same salt compartment to freely fall by gravity on the bottom of drawer housing 124 .
- a large pass-through drain opening (not visible in FIG. 13 ) which is suitably shaped/dimensioned to allow the brine (i.e. the salt water) formed inside the same salt compartment to freely fall by gravity on the bottom of drawer housing 124 .
- drain opening 27 is preferably closed by a platelike water-permeable cover (not visible in FIG. 13 ) having a water-permeable structure designed for preventing the salt grains contained into the salt compartment of supplementary drawer 122 to accidentally spill out of the same salt compartment and fall on the bottom of drawer housing 124 .
- this latter water-permeable cover preferably also has a water-permeable structure which is suitably designed/dimensioned to slow down the outflow of the brine from the salt compartment of supplementary drawer 122 onto the bottom of drawer housing 124 , thus to cause a temporary stay of the water into the same salt compartment.
- the supplementary drawer 122 is additionally provided with a manually openable, upper lid assembly 131 which is arranged on top of the salt compartment of the same supplementary drawer 122 , and is structured to selectively close the upper mouth of said salt compartment.
- the lid assembly 31 the lid assembly 131 is preferably structured to receive the water from the water supply line 15 , and to distribute said water into the salt compartment of supplementary drawer 122 .
- the at least one unpressurized storage tank or vessel of brine container 17 is preferably located beneath drawer housing 124 , and moreover preferably directly communicates with the bottom of the same drawer housing 124 so as to allow the brine (i.e. salt water) to freely flow by gravity from bottom of drawer housing 124 to the same brine container 16 .
- brine i.e. salt water
- the appliance control panel 21 is preferably located on front of a supplementary drawer 222 which is fitted/inserted in extractable manner into a corresponding, preferably substantially basin-shaped, second drawer housing 224 which is preferably discrete and spaced apart from the drawer housing 24 of detergent drawer 22 , and is preferably located/recessed inside the boxlike casing 2 substantially horizontally aligned to the drawer housing 24 of detergent drawer 22 .
- the salt container 14 of electrochemical device 13 is preferably located/incorporated into said supplementary drawer 222 , behind the control panel 21 .
- the detergent drawer 22 lacks the salt compartment 26
- the supplementary drawer 222 is preferably provided with a substantially basin-shaped, salt compartment 226 which is structured/dimensioned for being manually fillable with a given quantity of consumable salt grains of sodium chloride (NaCl) to be used for producing the brine to be channelled into the electrolytic cell 18 .
- the water supply line 15 is structured to selectively channel, when the supplementary drawer 222 is completely recessed into the corresponding drawer housing 224 , a given amount of water into the salt container 226 of said supplementary drawer 222 so as to dissolve at least part of the salt grains contained therein and form a given amount of brine (i.e. the salt water).
- the bottom of salt compartment 226 is furthermore provided with a large pass-through drain opening (not visible in FIG. 13 ) which is suitably shaped/dimensioned to allow the brine (i.e. the salt water) formed inside salt compartment 226 to freely fall by gravity on the bottom of drawer housing 224 .
- a large pass-through drain opening (not visible in FIG. 13 ) which is suitably shaped/dimensioned to allow the brine (i.e. the salt water) formed inside salt compartment 226 to freely fall by gravity on the bottom of drawer housing 224 .
- this latter drain opening is preferably closed by a platelike water-permeable cover (not visible in FIG. 12 ) having a water-permeable structure designed for preventing the salt grains contained into salt compartment 226 of supplementary drawer 222 to accidentally spill out of salt compartment 226 and fall on the bottom of drawer housing 224 .
- this latter water-permeable cover preferably has a water-permeable structure which is suitably designed/dimensioned to slow down the outflow of the brine from salt compartment 226 onto the bottom of drawer housing 224 , thus to cause a temporary stay of the water/brine into the salt compartment 226 .
- the supplementary drawer 222 is additionally provided with a funnel-shaped lid 231 which is arranged on top of salt compartment 226 so as to ease the pouring/loading of the consumable salt grains within the salt compartment 226 .
- the at least one unpressurized storage tank or vessel of brine container 17 is preferably located beneath drawer housing 224 , and moreover preferably directly communicates with the bottom of the same drawer housing 224 so as to allow the brine (i.e. salt water) to freely flow by gravity from the bottom of drawer housing 224 to the unpressurized storage tank or vessel of brine container 17 .
- brine i.e. salt water
- the salt container 14 of electrochemical device 13 is preferably located immediately underneath the upper worktop or top wall 12 of casing 2 , and the unsealed loading inlet of the same salt container 14 is directly accessible via a trapdoor 300 present on the upper worktop or top wall 12 .
- the detergent drawer 22 lacks the salt compartment 26
- the salt container 14 basically comprises: a basin-shaped container 326 which is preferably recessed into the upper worktop or top wall 12 of casing 2 , underneath the trapdoor 300 present on the upper worktop or top wall 12 , and is structured/dimensioned so as to be manually fillable with a given quantity of consumable salt grains of sodium chloride (NaCl) to be used for producing the brine to be channelled into the electrolytic cell 18 ; and preferably also a funnel-shaped lid 331 that closes the upper mouth of said basin-shaped container 326 so as to ease the pouring/loading of the consumable salt grains within the basin-shaped container 326 .
- a basin-shaped container 326 which is preferably recessed into the upper worktop or top wall 12 of casing 2 , underneath the trapdoor 300 present on the upper worktop or top wall 12 , and is structured/dimensioned so as to be manually fillable with a given quantity of consumable salt grains of sodium chloride (NaCl) to
- the water supply line 15 is obviously structured to selectively channel a given amount of water into the basin-shaped container 326 so as to dissolve at least part of the salt grains contained therein and form a given amount of brine (i.e. the salt water).
- the at least one unpressurized storage tank or vessel of brine container 17 is preferably located beneath the basin-shaped container 326 and moreover preferably directly communicates with the bottom of the basin-shaped container 326 so as to receive and accumulate the whole brine previously formed into the same basin-shaped container 326 . Also in this embodiment, therefore, a prolonged stagnation of the brine inside the salt container 14 is prevented.
- this unpressurized storage tank or vessel of brine container 17 preferably communicates with the superjacent basin-shaped container 326 via a draining water-way structured so as to allow the brine (i.e. the salt water) formed inside the basin-shaped container 326 to freely flow by gravity into the same unpressurized storage tank or vessel.
- a draining water-way structured so as to allow the brine (i.e. the salt water) formed inside the basin-shaped container 326 to freely flow by gravity into the same unpressurized storage tank or vessel.
- this draining water-way is preferably structured for preventing the salt grains contained into the basin-shaped container 326 to accidentally fall into the beneath-located brine unpressurized storage tank or vessel of brine container 17 , and preferably also for slowing down the outflow of the brine from the basin-shaped container 326 to the beneath-located brine container 17 , so as to cause a temporary stay of the water/brine into the basin-shaped container 326 .
- the electrolytic cell 18 may be the electrolytic cell disclosed in WO2016/162327.
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Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to a laundry washing machine.
- More in detail, the present invention relates to a front-loading home laundry washing machine, to which the following description specifically refers purely by way of example without this implying any loss of generality.
- As is known, a front-loading home laundry washing machine generally comprises: a substantially parallelepiped-shaped outer boxlike casing structured for resting on the floor; a substantially horizontally-oriented and approximately cylindrical washing tub which is usually suspended in floating manner inside the casing, with the front mouth directly facing a laundry loading-unloading through opening formed in the front wall of the casing; a substantially cylindrical, cup-shaped rotatable drum structured for accommodating the laundry to be washed, and which is fitted in axially rotatable manner inside the washing tub with the concavity facing the laundry loading-unloading opening, so as to be able to freely rotate inside the washing tub about the substantially horizontally-oriented, longitudinal axis of the washing tub; an elastically-deformable bellows which watertight connects the front mouth of the washing tub to the laundry loading-unloading opening formed in the front wall of the casing; a porthole door which is hinged to the front wall of the casing to rotate to and from a closing position in which the door closes the laundry loading-unloading opening in the front wall of the casing for watertight sealing the washing tub; and an electrically-powered motor assembly which is structured for driving into rotation the rotatable drum about its longitudinal axis inside the washing tub.
- This type of laundry washing machine furthermore comprises: a detergent dispenser which is located inside the boxlike casing, immediately above the washing tub, and is structured for selectively feeding into the washing tub, according to the washing cycle manually-selected by the user, a given amount of detergent, softener and/or other washing agent suitably mixed with water arriving from the water mains; a fresh-water supply circuit which is structured for selectively drawing water from the water mains according to the washing cycle manually-selected by the user, and channelling said water to the detergent dispenser or directly to the washing tub; and finally an appliance control panel which is generally located on the front wall of the casing, above the laundry loading-unloading opening, and is structured for allowing the user to manually select the desired washing-cycle.
- In the past years, several attempts have been made to incorporate, into the laundry washing machine, an electrochemical device capable of internally producing a chlorine-based sanitizing agent to be selectively mixed with water directed towards the washing tub, so as to sanitize or bleach the laundry during the washing cycle, on request of the user.
- EP0146184 and EP0083740 disclose a laundry washing machine provided with a salt container which is adapted to contain a given amount of brine, i.e. a solution of sodium chloride (NaCl) in water, and an electrolytic cell which receives the brine from the salt container and is adapted to perform the electrolysis of said brine to produce a chlorine-based sanitizing agent which is subsequently channelled into the washing tub.
- Unfortunately, due to the particular layout of the hydraulic circuit of the laundry washing machine, in both cases the salt container consists of a water-tight and manually-openable container which is located close to the bottom of the casing, with all problems that this entails.
- For example, on refilling of the salt container, the user is requested to adopt an uncomfortable excessively-bended stance for manually pouring the sodium-chloride grains into the salt container.
- Furthermore, the refilling of the salt container is a relatively long and complicated operation because the salt container is normally filled up with brine, thus there is the risk that some brine accidentally overflows from the salt container when the sodium-chloride grains (NaCl) are too quickly poured into the salt container.
- Moreover, after refilling, salt grains accidentally remaining on the mouth of the salt container may compromise the watertight sealing of the closure plug, thus causing water leakages.
- Aim of the present invention is to simply and make easier the manual refilling of the salt container of the laundry washing machines disclosed in EP0146184 and in EP0083740, and also to simply the hydraulic circuit of the same laundry washing machines so as to reduce the overall production costs.
- In compliance with the above aims, according to the present invention there is provided a laundry washing machine as defined in
Claim 1 and preferably, though not necessarily, in anyone of the dependent claims, or as defined inClaim 22 and preferably, though not necessarily, in anyone of the dependent claims. - A non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a laundry washing machine realized in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, with parts removed for clarity; -
FIG. 2 is a second perspective view of theFIG. 1 laundry washing machine, with parts in section and removed for clarity; -
FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the top of the laundry washing machine shown inFIG. 1 , with parts removed for clarity; -
FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the detergent dispensing assembly of the laundry washing machine shown inFIGS. 1, 2 and 3 , with parts removed for clarity; -
FIG. 5 is a partly exploded perspective view of the detergent dispensing assembly shown inFIG. 4 , with parts removed for clarity; -
FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the detergent dispensing assembly shown inFIGS. 4 and 5 ; -
FIG. 7 is a partly exploded perspective view of the detergent dispensing assembly shown inFIGS. 4 and 5 , with parts removed for clarity; -
FIGS. 8 and 9 are partly exploded perspective views of the electrolytic reactor assembly shown inFIG. 7 , with parts removed for clarity; -
FIG. 10 is a partially exploded perspective view of the detergent drawer of the detergent dispensing assembly shown inFIGS. 4, 5 and 7 , with parts removed for clarity; -
FIG. 11 is a sectioned side view of the detergent drawer shown inFIG. 10 , with parts removed for clarity; -
FIG. 12 is a schematic view of an alternative embodiment of the detergent dispensing assembly shown inFIGS. 4 and 5 ; whereas -
FIGS. 13, 14 and 15 are perspective views of respective further alternative embodiments of the laundry washing machine shown inFIGS. 1, 2 and 3 . - With reference to
FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 ,reference number 1 denotes as a whole alaundry washing machine 1 preferably suitable for domestic use. - More in detail, the
laundry washing machine 1 preferably basically comprises: a preferably substantially parallelepiped-shaped, boxlikeouter casing 2 structured for stably resting on the floor; a preferably substantially horizontally-oriented, approximately cylindrical,hollow washing tub 3 which is arranged inside thecasing 2 with the mouth directly facing a laundry loading-unloading opening formed on theouter casing 2; a substantially cylindrical, hollow rotatable drum (not shown) which is structured for accommodating the laundry to be washed, and is fitted in axially rotatable manner inside thewashing tub 3 so as to be able to freely rotate about its longitudinal axis inside thewashing tub 3; adoor 4 which is hinged to theouter casing 2 so as to be manually movable to and from a closing position in which thedoor 4 closes the laundry loading-unloading opening oncasing 2 for watertight sealing thewashing tub 3; and an electrically-powered motor assembly 5 which is structured for driving into rotation the rotatable drum (not shown) about its longitudinal axis inside thewashing tub 3. - In the example shown, in particular, the
washing tub 3 preferably has a preferably substantially circular-shaped, front mouth and is arranged inside theouter casing 2 with said front mouth directly facing a laundry loading-unloading opening formed on afront wall 6 ofcasing 2; whereas thedoor 4 is preferably hinged tofront wall 6 so as to be manually movable to and from a closing position in which thedoor 4 closes the laundry loading-unloading opening onfront wall 6 for watertight sealing thewashing tub 3. - Furthermore, the
washing tub 3 is preferably suspended in floating manner inside thecasing 2 via a suspension system that preferably, though not necessarily, comprises at least one, and preferably a couple ofupper coil springs 7 connecting the upper portion ofwashing tub 3 to the top ofcasing 2, and preferably at least one, and preferably a couple ofvibration dampers 8 connecting the bottom portion ofwashing tub 3 to the bottom ofcasing 2. - Preferably the
laundry washing machine 1 moreover comprises an elastically-deformable tubular bellows (not shown) which watertight connects the front mouth ofwashing tub 3 to the laundry loading-unloading opening preferably realized on thefront wall 6 ofcasing 2. - The rotatable drum, in turn, is preferably substantially cup-shaped and is fitted in axially rotatable manner inside the
washing tub 3 with the concavity facing the front mouth ofwashing tub 3. Preferably the rotatable drum (not shown) is furthermore arranged inside washingtub 3 with the drum rotation axis locally substantially coaxial to the longitudinal axis of washing tub 3 (i.e. it is oriented substantially horizontally), and with the circular front mouth of the drum directly aligned and faced to the front mouth ofwashing tub 3, so as to receive the laundry to be washed through the laundry loading-unloading opening present onfront wall 6. - With reference to
FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 , thelaundry washing machine 1 moreover comprises, inside thecasing 2, adetergent dispenser 10 and a fresh-water supply circuit 11. - The
detergent dispenser 10 is located inside thecasing 2 above thewashing tub 3 and preferably, though not necessarily, immediately underneath the upper worktop ortop wall 12 ofcasing 2, and is structured for selectively feeding into thewashing tub 3, preferably according to the washing cycle manually-selected by the user, a given amount of detergent, softener and/or other washing agent suitably mixed with water. - The fresh-
water supply circuit 11, in turn, is directly connected/connectable to the water mains, and is structured for selectively channelling, preferably according to the washing cycle manually-selected by the user, a flow of water from the water mains to thedetergent dispenser 10 and/or directly to thewashing tub 3. - With reference to
FIGS. 1 to 8 , thelaundry washing machine 1 furthermore includes anelectrochemical device 13 which is located inside theboxlike casing 2 and is capable of internally producing a chlorine-based sanitizing agent which is subsequently channelled into thewashing tub 3 to perform, preferably on request of the user, a sanitizing or bleaching process of the laundry during the washing cycle. Preferably this chlorine-based sanitizing agent is moreover water-diluted bleach. - More in detail, the
electrochemical device 13 is preferably connected to thedetergent dispenser 10 and is capable of internally producing a chlorine-based sanitizing agent which is preferably subsequently channelled into thedetergent dispenser 10. On arrival into thedetergent dispenser 10, this chlorine-based sanitizing agent preferably then flows directly into thewashing tub 3, preferably, though not necessarily, together with any water directed towards thewashing tub 3. - The
electrochemical device 13 firstly includes: anunpressurized salt container 14 which is adapted to contain a given amount of consumable salt grains, i.e. solid salt, preferably of sodium chloride (NaCl), and additionally has an unsealed loading inlet which is directly exposed or exposable to the outside of theboxlike casing 2, and is preferably specifically designed to allow the user to easily manually pour/load the salt grains of sodium chloride (NaCl) directly into thesame salt container 14; and preferably also awater supply line 15 which is adapted to channel, on command, a given amount of water into thesalt container 14 so as to dissolve at least part of the salt grains contained therein and form a given amount of brine, i.e. a solution of sodium chloride (NaCl) in water. - Preferably
salt container 14 is moreover dimensioned to contain an amount of consumable salt grains sufficient for performing the sanitizing or bleaching process in several washing cycles. - More in detail the
salt container 14 is preferably dimensioned to contain an amount of consumable salt grains of sodium chloride (NaCl) sufficient for producing an amount of chlorine-based sanitizing agent sufficient for performing the sanitizing or bleaching process in several washing cycles. - The
electrochemical device 13 furthermore includes anelectrolytic reactor 16 which fluidically communicates with thesalt container 14, and is adapted to collect and contain substantially the whole brine previously formed into thesalt container 14, so as to avoid any prolonged stagnation of the water/brine intro thesalt container 14. Thiselectrochemical reactor 16 is furthermore adapted to internally convert the brine into the chlorine-based sanitizing agent, and preferably also to subsequently channel/feed said chlorine-based sanitizing agent to thedetergent dispenser 10. - In other words, the
electrolytic reactor 16 is provided with a brine inlet communicating with thesalt container 14 for receiving the brine produced into the latter, and with a sanitizing-agent outlet communicating with thedetergent dispenser 10 for supplying the chlorine-based sanitizing agent to thedetergent dispenser 10 or directly to thewashing tub 3. Preferably, theelectrolytic reactor 16 is moreover provided with at least one air vent for releasing the air or other gas contained or formed inside the sameelectrolytic reactor 16. - In addition to the above, the
electrolytic reactor 16 is preferably located beneath thesalt container 14 and preferably directly communicates with thesame salt container 14 so as to allow the brine (i.e. salt water) to freely flow by gravity from thesalt container 14 to theelectrolytic reactor 16. - More in detail,
electrolytic reactor 16 preferably comprises: anunpressurized brine container 17 that directly communicates with thesalt container 14 and is adapted/dimensioned to collect and contain preferably the whole brine previously formed into thesalt container 14, so as to avoid any prolonged stagnation of the water/brine intro thesalt container 14; anelectrolytic cell 18 which is preferably located/incorporated into thebrine container 17 and is capable of converting the brine into a chlorine-based sanitizing agent; and preferably also a small, electrically-poweredpump assembly 19 which is capable of selectively pumping the chlorine-based sanitizing agent accumulated into thebrine container 17, from thebrine container 17 to thedetergent dispenser 10. Preferably thepump assembly 19, when deactivated, is moreover capable of watertight isolating thebrine container 17 from thedetergent dispenser 10. - In the example shown, in particular, the
brine container 17 is preferably located immediately underneath thesalt container 14 and preferably directly communicates with thesame salt container 14 so as to allow the brine (i.e. salt water) to freely flow by gravity fromsalt container 14 to brinecontainer 17. - The
electrolytic cell 18, in turn, is preferably adapted to perform the electro-chlorination of the brine contained into thebrine container 17, so as to produce hydrogen gas (H2) and water-diluted sodium hypochlorite (NaClO), commonly known as bleach. This water-diluted sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) preferably forms the chlorine-based sanitizing agent. - With reference to
FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 , in the example shown, in particular, the wholeelectrochemical device 13 is preferably arranged inside thecasing 2, above thewashing tub 3 and preferably, though not necessarily, also immediately underneath the upper worktop ortop wall 12 ofcasing 2. - In other words, the
salt container 14 is preferably arranged inside thecasing 2 above thewashing tub 3 and preferably, though not necessarily, also immediately underneath the upper worktop ortop wall 12 ofcasing 2. Preferably the loading inlet ofsalt container 14 is furthermore exposed or exposable to the outside onfront wall 6 ofcasing 2, above the laundry loading-unloading opening. Theelectrolytic reactor 16, in turn, is preferably located between thesalt container 14 and thewashing tub 3, preferably substantially vertically aligned to thesalt container 14. - Furthermore, the whole
electrochemical device 13 is preferably located immediately underneath the upper worktop ortop wall 12 ofcasing 2, between thedetergent dispenser 10 and avertical sidewall 20 of thesame casing 2. - In other words, the
salt container 14 is preferably located inside theboxlike casing 2, between thedetergent dispenser 10 and thevertical sidewall 20 ofcasing 2, preferably substantially adjacent to the samevertical sidewall 20. Theelectrolytic reactor 16, in turn, is preferably located immediately underneath thesalt container 14, again preferably substantially adjacent to thevertical sidewall 20. - Preferably the loading inlet of
salt container 14 is furthermore exposed or exposable to the outside on thefront wall 6 ofcasing 2, immediately beneath the upper worktop ortop wall 12 ofcasing 2. - In addition to the above, the whole
electrochemical device 13 is preferably adjoined to thedetergent dispenser 10. - More in detail, in the example shown the
electrochemical device 13 and thedetergent dispenser 10 preferably form a single assembly unit. - With reference to
FIGS. 1 and 3 , in addition to the above, thelaundry washing machine 1 furthermore comprises: an appliance electronic control unit (not shown) which is located inside thecasing 2 and controls the motor assembly 5, thedetergent dispenser 10, the fresh-water supply circuit 11 and theelectrochemical device 13, so as to automatically perform the washing cycle preferably selected by the user; and preferably also acontrol panel 21 which electronically communicates with said electronic control unit and is structured to allow the user to manually select the desired washing cycle preferably among a number of available washing cycles. - In the example shown, in particular, the
control panel 21 is preferably located on thefront wall 6 ofcasing 2, above the laundry loading-unloading opening and preferably also immediately beneath the upper worktop ortop wall 12 ofcasing 2. Whereas the exposed or exposable loading inlet ofsalt container 14 is preferably located on thefront wall 6 ofcasing 2 substantially horizontally aligned beside thecontrol panel 21. - With reference to
FIGS. 1 to 11 ,detergent dispenser 10, in turn, preferably basically comprises: adetergent drawer 22 which is preferably provided with one or more substantially basin-shaped, detergent compartments 23 (twodetergent compartments 23 in the example shown) each structured for being manually fillable with a given amount of detergent, softener or other washing agent, and which is fitted/inserted in manually extractable manner into a corresponding preferably substantially basin-shaped,drawer housing 24 which, in turn, is located/recessed inside thecasing 2 abovewashing tub 3, and whose entrance is preferably located onfront wall 6 ofcasing 2, preferably above the laundry loading-unloading opening; and a drawerflush circuit 25 which is connected to the fresh-water supply circuit 11 for receiving the water of the water mains, and is structured for selectively channelling/pouring, when thedetergent drawer 22 is completely fitted/inserted into thedrawer housing 24, said water into any one of the detergent compartments 23 ofdetergent drawer 22, so as to selectively flush the detergent, softener or other washing agent out of thesame detergent compartment 23 and down onto the bottom ofdrawer housing 24. - Preferably this drawer
flush circuit 25 is furthermore directly controlled by the appliance electronic control unit. - More in detail, the
detergent drawer 22 is preferably movable inside thedrawer housing 24 parallel to a substantially horizontally-oriented, longitudinal axis L ofdrawer housing 24 between: a retracted position (seeFIG. 5 ) in whichdetergent drawer 22 is completely fitted/inserted intodrawer housing 24, so as to be almost completely recessed into thefront wall 6 ofcasing 2; and a completely extracted position (seeFIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7 ) in whichdetergent drawer 22 partly juts out from thefront wall 6 ofcasing 2, so as to expose the one ormore detergent compartments 23 at once. - In other words,
detergent drawer 22 is movable inside thedrawer housing 24 in a substantially horizontally-oriented, displacement direction d which is locally substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis L of bothdrawer housing 24 anddetergent drawer 22, between: a retracted position (seeFIG. 5 ) in whichdetergent drawer 22 is almost completely recessed into thefront wall 6 ofcasing 2 and the one ormore detergent compartments 23 ofdetergent drawer 22 are inaccessible to the user; and a completely extracted position (seeFIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7 ) in whichdetergent drawer 22 partly juts out from thefront wall 6 ofcasing 2, so that alldetergent compartments 23 ofdetergent drawer 22 are fully accessible to the user at same time. - In the example shown, furthermore, the entrance of
drawer housing 24 is preferably located onfront wall 6 ofcasing 2, immediately underneath the upper worktop ortop wall 12 ofcasing 2 and substantially horizontally aligned beside thecontrol panel 21. Furthermore the longitudinal axis L ofdetergent drawer 22 anddrawer housing 24, and as a consequence the displacement direction d ofdetergent drawer 22, is preferably locally substantially perpendicular to thefront wall 6 ofcasing 2. - Preferably each
detergent compartment 23 is additionally dimensioned to contain a given amount of detergent, softener or other washing agent sufficient for performing only a single washing cycle. - In addition to the above, the
detergent drawer 22 preferably has, on the bottom or on a sidewall of eachdetergent compartment 23, a large through opening (not shown) which is suitably shaped/dimensioned to allow the mixture of water and detergent, softener or other washing agent formed inside thesame detergent compartment 23 to freely fall on the bottom ofdrawer housing 24. As an alternative to the large through opening, thedetergent drawer 22 may have, inside thedetergent compartment 23, a siphon assembly (not shown) which is suitably structured/designed to selectively channel the mixture of water and detergent, softener or other washing agent formed inside thedetergent compartment 23 out of thesame detergent compartment 23 and down onto the bottom ofdrawer housing 24. - The drawer
flush circuit 25, in turn, is preferably structured for directly pouring/channelling, whendetergent drawer 22 is placed in the retracted position, a shower of water droplets by gravity selectively and alternatively into any one of the detergent compartments 23 ofdetergent drawer 22, so as to selectively flush the detergent, softener or other washing agent out of thesame detergent compartment 23 and down onto the bottom ofdrawer housing 24. - In addition to the above, with reference to
FIGS. 3, 4, 7, 10 and 11 , thedetergent drawer 22 is preferably additionally provided with a substantially basin-shaped,salt compartment 26 which is located beside the one or more detergent compartments 23, and is structured/dimensioned for containing a given quantity of consumable salt grains to be used for producing the brine to be channelled into theelectrolytic reactor 16, i.e. into thebrine container 17. - Preferably the
salt compartment 26 is moreover dimensioned to contain an amount of consumable salt grains sufficient for producing an amount of chlorine-based sanitizing agent sufficient for performing the sanitizing or bleaching process in several washing cycles. - More in detail, in the example shown the
salt compartment 26 is preferably dimensioned to contain a maximum amount of salt grains of sodium chloride (NaCl) preferably equal to approximately 0.6 Kg (Kilos) and which suffices for successfully performing the sanitizing or bleaching process during a number of washing cycles preferably ranging between 5 and 15. - The
salt container 14 ofelectrochemical device 13, therefore, is preferably incorporated into thedetergent dispenser 10, or rather into thedetergent drawer 22 ofdetergent dispenser 10. Theelectrolytic reactor 16, in turn, is preferably adjoined to thedrawer housing 24 ofdetergent dispenser 10. - With reference to
FIGS. 3 and 11 , furthermore thesalt compartment 26 is preferably arranged, ondetergent drawer 22, beside the one ormore detergent compartments 23 transversally to the displacement direction d ofdetergent drawer 22, i.e. transversally to the longitudinal axis L ofdetergent drawer 22, so that both detergent compartment/s 23 andsalt compartment 26 are allowed to almost contemporaneously come out from thefront wall 6 ofcasing 2 whendetergent drawer 22 moves from the retracted position to the extracted position. -
Detergent drawer 22 is therefore movableinside drawer housing 24 in displacement direction d between: a retracted position (seeFIG. 5 ) in whichdetergent drawer 22 is completely recessed into thefront wall 6 ofcasing 2, so that both detergent compartment/s 23 andsalt compartment 26 are inaccessible to the user; and a completely extracted position (seeFIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7 ) in whichdetergent drawer 22 partly juts out from thefront wall 6 ofcasing 2, so that both detergent compartment/s 23 andsalt compartment 26 are simultaneously fully exposed and accessible to the user. - The drawer
flush circuit 25 ofdetergent dispenser 10, in turn, is preferably additionally structured for selectively and separately channelling, whendetergent drawer 22 is in the retracted position, the water of the water mains also into thesalt compartment 26, so that said water can dissolve some of the salt grains contained into thesalt compartment 26 to form the brine (i.e. salt water). - In other words, the
water supply line 15 ofelectrochemical device 13 is preferably incorporated into thedetergent dispenser 10, or rather into the drawerflush circuit 25 ofdetergent dispenser 10. - As a result, the drawer
flush circuit 25 is preferably structured for selectively and separately pouring/channelling, when thedetergent drawer 22 is completely fitted/inserted intodrawer housing 24, the water arriving from the fresh-water supply circuit 11 into any one of the detergent compartments 23 and also into thesalt compartment 26. - In case of each
detergent compartment 23, the poured water serves to selectively flush the contents of thedetergent compartment 23 out of thesame compartment 23 and down on the bottom ofdrawer housing 24 via the corresponding through opening or siphon assembly. In case ofsalt compartment 26, the poured water serves to dissolve some of the consumable salt grains contained into thesalt compartment 26 to form the brine (i.e. salt water). - With reference to
FIGS. 10 and 11 , in addition to the above thedetergent drawer 22 preferably has, on the bottom ofsalt compartment 26, a large pass-throughdrain opening 27 which is suitably shaped/dimensioned to allow the brine (i.e. the salt water) formed inside thesalt compartment 26 to freely fall by gravity on the bottom ofdrawer housing 24. - The fresh water that the drawer
flush circuit 25 selectively pours/channels into thesalt compartment 26, therefore, serves to dissolve some of the consumable salt grains contained therein to form the brine (i.e. salt water) that subsequently freely fall by gravity on the bottom ofdrawer housing 24 via thedrain opening 27. - With reference to
FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 7, 10 and 11 , in the example shown, in particular,detergent drawer 22 preferably comprises: a substantially basin-shaped, drawermain body 28 which is fitted/inserted in axially sliding manner into thedrawer housing 24, and is shaped/dimensioned to be totally recessed/accommodated inside thedrawer housing 24; and a manually-sizable front panel 29 which is arranged/located on a front side of the drawermain body 28, so as to close the entrance ofdrawer housing 24 whendetergent drawer 22 is placed in the retracted position. The drawermain body 28, furthermore, is preferably made in a one piece construction via an injection moulding process, and the one ormore detergent compartments 23 and thesalt compartment 26 are preferably directly formed on the drawermain body 28, one side by side the other. - Preferably, the
detergent drawer 22 additionally includes a preferably manually-removable, water-permeable cover 30 that closes thedrain opening 27, and additionally has a water-permeable structure designed for preventing the salt grains to accidentally spill out of thesalt compartment 26 via thedrain opening 27 and, at same time, for allowing the brine to freely flow out of thesalt compartment 26 via thedrain opening 27. - Preferably the water-
permeable cover 30 furthermore has a water-permeable structure suitably designed/dimensioned to slow down the outflow of the brine from thesalt compartment 26 via thedrain opening 27, thus to temporary increase/rise the level of the water/brine into thesalt compartment 26. - In other words, the water-
permeable cover 30 is arranged above thedrain opening 27 so as to completely cover the latter, and is preferably structured to allow the passage of the water/brine through the same water-permeable cover 30 with a flowrate which is lower than that of the water channelled/poured into thesalt compartment 26 by thewater supply line 15, or rather by the drawerflush circuit 25, so as to cause a temporary increase/rise of the level of the water inside thesalt compartment 26. - The
drain opening 27 and the water-permeable cover 30, therefore, form a brine draining system that allows the brine formed inside thesalt compartment 26 to freely fall by gravity on the bottom ofdrawer housing 24 preferably after a short stay (for example 1 to 3 minutes) into thesalt compartment 26. - With particular reference to
FIGS. 10 and 11 , preferably the water-permeable cover 30 has a substantially platelike structure and preferably moreover extends inside thesalt compartment 26 above the whole bottom of thesalt compartment 26, preferably slightly spaced from, and locally substantially parallel to, the bottom ofsalt compartment 26, so as to form a thin air gap immediately above the bottom ofsalt compartment 26. Said thin air gab allows the brine to quickly flow on the bottom of thesalt compartment 26 towards thedrain opening 27. - In the example shown, in particular, the water-
permeable cover 30 preferably consists in a rigid platelike body which is preferably made of plastic material, which preferably substantially copies the shape of the bottom ofsalt compartment 26, and which has a microperforated structure suitably dimensioned to slow down the flow of the brine through the sameplatelike body 30 thus to cause a temporary increase/rise the level of the water/brine into thesalt compartment 26, above the sameplatelike body 30. - More in detail, the central portion of
platelike body 30 is preferably provided with a plenty of substantially evenly distributed, transversal pass-through microslots or microholes each preferably having a cross-sectional area lower that 3 mm2 (square millimetres), so as to allow the flow/passage of the brine/water through theplatelike body 30 with a flowrate preferably ranging between 0.4 and 1 litre/min (litre per minute). The flowrate of the water poured into thesalt compartment 26 instead preferably ranges between 5 and 8 litre/min (litre per minute). - In addition to the above, with reference to
FIGS. 4, 7, 10 and 11 , thedetergent drawer 22 preferably additionally comprises a manually openable,upper lid assembly 31 which is firmly fitted on the drawermain body 28, on top of thesalt compartment 26, and is structured to selectively close the upper mouth ofsalt compartment 26, preferably so as to almost completely cover said upper mouth. - Furthermore, the
upper lid assembly 31 is additionally structured so as to be able to receive, from drawerflush circuit 25 and at least whendetergent drawer 22 is placed in the retracted position, a flow of water and to channel said water into the beneath-locatedsalt compartment 26, preferably while spreading out the same water inside thesalt compartment 26. - In other words, the
upper lid assembly 31 is preferably provided with a water inlet which is faced to the outside ofsalt compartment 26 and is structured to allow the water to enter into the sameupper lid assembly 31, and with one or more water outlets which are faced to the inside ofsalt compartment 26, fluidically communicate with said water inlet, and are finally suitably structured to allow the water previously entered into theupper lid assembly 31 through the water inlet to come out of thelid assembly 31 and fall into thesalt compartment 26. - The drawer
flush circuit 25, in turn, is preferably structured to selectively channel, whendetergent drawer 22 is placed in the retracted position, a flow of water towards the water inlet of theupper lid assembly 31. - In other words, drawer
flush circuit 25 is preferably additionally structured to selectively channel, whendetergent drawer 22 is placed in the retracted position, the water arriving from the fresh-water supply circuit 11 towards the water inlet oflid assembly 31 which, in turn, is structured to distribute the water arriving from drawerflush circuit 25 into thesalt compartment 26, so as to dissolve some of the consumable salt grains contained into thesalt compartment 26 and form the brine (i.e. the salt water) that falls on the bottom ofdrawer housing 24 via thedrain opening 27. - In addition to the above, in the example shown the water inlet of
lid assembly 31 is preferably furthermore structured to selectively couple in a stable, though easy detachable manner, with the drawerflush circuit 25 for receiving the water arriving from fresh-water supply circuit 11, only when thedetergent drawer 22 is placed in the retracted position; whereas theupper lid assembly 31 is preferably structured to drip the water into thesalt compartment 26. - According to an alternative embodiment, however, the drawer
flush circuit 25 could be structured to selectively channel, whendetergent drawer 22 is placed in the retracted position, a flow of water directly into thesalt compartment 26 ofdetergent drawer 22 bypassing theupper lid assembly 31. - With reference to
FIGS. 7, 10 and 11 , in the example shown, in particular, theupper lid assembly 31 preferably comprises: aplatelike member 32 which is structured to rigidly fit into the upper rim of thesalt compartment 26 to substantially completely cover/close the upper mouth of thesalt compartment 26; and a preferably substantially rectangular-shaped, manually-movable trapdoor 33 which is arranged to close a complementary-shaped, pass-through opening which is preferably formed nearly in the middle ofplatelike member 32, and is moreover suitably shaped/dimensioned to allow the user to easily manually pour/load the consumable salt grains of sodium chloride (NaCl) into thesame salt compartment 26. - More in detail, the manually-
movable trapdoor 33 is preferably flag-hinged toplatelike member 32 at one of the two longer sides of the central pass-through opening, so as to be able to freely rotate about a reference axis locally substantially coplanar to theplatelike member 32 and preferably also substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis L of bothdrawer housing 24 anddetergent drawer 22. - Preferably the
platelike member 32 furthermore has a hollow structure and is provided with awater inlet 34 which is suitably structured to watertight couple, whendetergent drawer 22 is placed in the retracted position, with the drawerflush circuit 25 thus to allow the water to enter into theplatelike member 32; and with one or more water-outlets 35 which are arranged on the lower face ofplatelike member 32, preferably all around the central pass-through opening closed bytrapdoor 33, so as to face the inside ofsalt compartment 26. - The drawer
flush circuit 25, in turn, is preferably structured to selectively couple, whendetergent drawer 22 is placed in the retracted position, with thewater inlet 34 ofplatelike member 32, so as to be able to channel the water of the water mains directly into theplatelike member 32 oflid assembly 31. Each water-outlet 35, in turn, allows the water previously entered into theplatelike member 32 to slowly come out ofplatelike member 32 and freely fall into thesalt compartment 26. - Preferably the water-
outlets 35 ofplatelike member 32 are furthermore suitably shaped/structured to pour a shower of water droplets by gravity into thesalt compartment 26. - With reference to
FIGS. 3, 4, and 7 , thedrawer housing 24, in turn, is preferably divided into two separated and substantially basin-shaped,bottom portions detergent drawer 22 is placed in retracted position, one underneath alldetergent compartments 23 ofdetergent drawer 22 and the other underneath thesalt compartment 26 ofdetergent drawer 22. - More in detail, the bottom of
drawer housing 24 is preferably divided by a substantially vertical, partitioning wall into two separated and substantially basin-shapedbottom portions detergent drawer 22 insidedrawer housing 24, i.e. transversally to the longitudinal axis L ofdrawer housing 24. - The basin-shaped
bottom portion 36 ofdrawer housing 24 is vertically aligned, whendetergent drawer 22 is placed in the retracted position, to the one ormore detergent compartments 23 ofdetergent drawer 22 for receiving/collecting the mixture of water and detergent, softener or other washing agent falling down from any one of the detergent compartments 23, and moreover directly communicates with the beneath-locatedwashing tub 3. - More in detail the basin-shaped
bottom portion 36 preferably directly communicates with the inside ofwashing tub 3 via a specific connectingduct 38 that branches off from the basin-shapedbottom portion 36 and ends directly into the beneath-locatedwashing tub 3. The connectingduct 38 allows the mixture of water and detergent, softener or other washing agent to quickly and freely flow by gravity directly intowashing tub 3. - The basin-shaped
bottom portion 37 ofdrawer housing 24, in turn, is vertically aligned, whendetergent drawer 22 is placed in the retracted position, to thesalt compartment 26 ofdetergent drawer 22 and for receiving/collecting the brine (i.e. the salt water) trickling/falling down from thesalt compartment 26 ofdetergent drawer 22 viadrain opening 27, and moreover directly communicates with the beneath-locatedelectrolytic reactor 16. - More in detail the basin-shaped
bottom portion 37 preferably directly communicates with the inside of the beneath-locatedelectrolytic reactor 16, or rather with the inside of the beneath-locatedbrine container 17, so as to allow the brine to freely flow by gravity from the basin-shapedbottom portion 37 to theelectrolytic reactor 16, or rather to thebrine container 17, and accumulate therein. - With reference to Figures from 4 to 7, the drawer
flush circuit 25 ofdetergent dispenser 10, in turn, preferably comprises: aplatelike water conveyor 40 which is suitably structured/designed to form the upper lid of thedrawer housing 24, so as to be located immediately above thedetergent drawer 22 when the latter is placed in the retracted position, i.e. when the latter is completely inserted/recessed into the drawer housing 24 (seeFIG. 5 ), and is provided with a number of water delivery portions each suitably structured to allow the outflow of water from theplatelike water conveyor 40 towards the beneath-locateddetergent drawer 22; and preferably also an electrically-operated,water distributor 41 which is connected to the fresh-water supply circuit 11 for receiving the fresh water of the water mains, and is suitably structured to selectively channel said fresh water towards any one of the water delivery portions ofplatelike water conveyor 40. Preferably thewater distributor 41 is furthermore directly controlled by the appliance electronic control unit. - More in detail, in the example shown the
water conveyor 40 is preferably located immediately underneath the upper worktop ortop wall 12 ofcasing 2. - Preferably the
platelike water conveyor 40 furthermore has, on its lower face (i.e. on the side directly facing the bottom of drawer housing 24), a group of first water delivery portions which are locally substantially vertically aligned, when thedetergent drawer 22 is placed in the retracted position, each to arespective detergent compartment 23 ofdetergent drawer 22. Each first water delivery portion ofplatelike water conveyor 40 is suitably structured to let the water arriving fromwater distributor 41 to slowly fall into the beneath-locateddetergent compartment 23. - In the example shown, in particular, each first water delivery portion of
platelike water conveyor 40 is preferably structured to pour by gravity a shower of water droplets directly into the beneath-locateddetergent compartment 23. - Preferably the
platelike water conveyor 40 furthermore has, on its lower face, a second water delivery portion which is substantially vertically aligned, when thedetergent drawer 22 is placed in the retracted position, to thesalt compartment 26 ofdetergent drawer 22, and is suitably structured to let the water arriving fromwater distributor 41 to slowly fall into the beneath-locatedsalt compartment 26. - More in detail, the second water delivery portion is preferably structured to couple with the
water inlet 34 ofupper lid assembly 31 for channelling the water into theupper lid assembly 31. - In the example shown, in particular, the second water delivery portion preferably consists in a male or female hydraulic connector (not visible in the figures) that protrudes from the lower face of platelike water conveyor 40 (i.e. on the side directly facing the bottom of drawer housing 24), locally parallel to the displacement direction d, and is suitably arranged to couple, when the
detergent drawer 22 is placed in the retracted position, in detachable manner with a complementary second hydraulic connector which is incorporated into thewater inlet 34 ofupper lid assembly 31, or rather into thewater inlet 34 ofplatelike member 32, so as to put theupper lid assembly 31 in direct fluid communication with theplatelike water conveyor 40. - With reference to
FIG. 6 , preferably theplatelike water conveyor 40 moreover has, on its lower face (i.e. on the side directly facing the bottom of drawer housing 24), a third water delivery portion which is both substantially vertically aligned to the basin-shapedbottom portion 36 ofdrawer housing 24 and misaligned to thedetergent drawer 22 placed in retracted position. - This third water delivery portion of
platelike water conveyor 40 is suitably structured to pour/channel the water arriving fromwater distributor 41 directly into the basin-shapedbottom portion 36 ofdrawer housing 24, without affecting/reaching the detergent compartment/s 23. - The drawer
flush circuit 25, therefore, is preferably also capable of selectively channelling the water of the water mains directly into thewashing tub 3 bypassing the detergent compartment/s 23 ofdetergent drawer 22. - Preferably the
platelike water conveyor 40 moreover has, on its lower face (i.e. on the side directly facing the bottom of drawer housing 24), a fourth water delivery portion which is both substantially vertically aligned to the basin-shapedbottom portion 37 ofdrawer housing 24 and misaligned to thedetergent drawer 22 placed in retracted position. - This fourth water delivery portion of
platelike water conveyor 40 is suitably structured to pour/channel the water arriving from thewater distributor 41 directly into the basin-shapedbottom portion 37 ofdrawer housing 24, without affecting/reaching thesalt compartment 26. - The drawer
flush circuit 25, therefore, is preferably also capable of selectively channelling the water of the water mains directly into theelectrolytic reactor 16, or rather into thebrine container 17 ofelectrolytic reactor 16, bypassing thesalt compartment 26 ofdetergent drawer 22. - Therefore, in the example shown the
laundry washing machine 1 is preferably additionally provided with an auxiliary water supply line capable of selectively channelling the water of the water mains directly into thebrine container 17 ofelectrolytic reactor 16. - With reference to
FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7 , the electrically-operated,water distributor 41, in turn, is preferably discrete from theplatelike water conveyor 40, and is preferably firmly coupled/associated to theplatelike water conveyor 40 at a corresponding coupling socket (not visible in the figures) preferably realized on the lower face of theplatelike water conveyor 40. - Preferably this
water distributor 41 furthermore has a water inlet (not visible in the figures) which directly communicates with the fresh-water supply circuit 11 for directly receiving the water of the water mains; and a number ofwater outlets 42 which are located, preferably one side by side the other, on the interface portion ofwater distributor 41 suited to couple with the complementary coupling socket present in theplatelike water conveyor 40. - The
platelike water conveyor 40, in turn, is preferably provided with a number of independent water inlets (not visible in the figures) that are located at coupling socket and separately communicate each with a respective water delivery portion of thesame water conveyor 40 via a corresponding internal connectingchannel 43 extending inside the body of theplatelike water conveyor 40. Eachwater outlet 42 ofwater distributor 41 is preferably structured to watertight couple/connect, at coupling socket ofplatelike water conveyor 40, with a corresponding water inlet of thesame water conveyor 40. - In the example shown, in particular, the
water distributor 41 preferably consists in an electrically-operated, discrete flow-diverter module which is firmly attached to the outside ofplatelike water conveyor 40, at said coupling socket, and is directly controlled by the appliance electronic control unit so as to selectively and alternatively channel the water arriving from the fresh-water supply circuit 11 towards any one of the water delivery portions ofplatelike water conveyor 40. - More in detail, the discrete flow-
diverter module 41 preferably internally accommodates: a rotatable flow diverter which is capable of channelling, according to its angular position, the water entering into the same flow-diverter module 41 via the water inlet towards any one of thewater outlets 42; and an electrically-operated driver assembly (not shown) which is mechanically connected to the rotatable flow diverter and is capable of controlling/varying the angular position of the same flow diverter according to the electronic signals arriving from the appliance electronic control unit. - With reference to
FIGS. 6 and 7 , preferably theplatelike water conveyor 40 of drawerflush circuit 25 is moreover fludically connected to theelectrolytic reactor 16 for receiving the chlorine-based sanitizing agent produced therein, and is additionally provided with an internal sanitizing-agent delivery line 44 structured/designed for separately channelling the chlorine-based sanitizing agent arriving fromelectrolytic reactor 16 directly into the basin-shapedbottom portion 36 ofdrawer housing 24, preferably without affecting/reaching the detergent compartment/s 23. - In other words the
platelike water conveyor 40 is preferably fludically connected to sanitizing-agent outlet ofelectrolytic reactor 16. - More in detail, the sanitizing-
agent delivery line 44 ofwater conveyor 40 preferably includes: a sanitizing-agent inlet 45 preferably directly communicating with the sanitizing-agent outlet ofelectrolytic reactor 16 for receiving the chlorine-based sanitizing agent produced therein; and a sanitizing-agent delivery portion which directly communicates solely with the sanitizing-agent inlet 45 via a specific internal connectingchannel 46 extending inside the body ofplatelike water conveyor 40, and which is located on the lower face of the water conveyor 40 (i.e. on the side directly facing the bottom of drawer housing 24), both substantially vertically aligned to the basin-shapedbottom portion 36 ofdrawer housing 24 and preferably misaligned to thedetergent drawer 22 placed in retracted position. - The sanitizing-agent delivery portion of
platelike water conveyor 40 is preferably suitably structured to directly pour/channel the chlorine-based sanitizing agent arriving from theelectrolytic reactor 16 directly onto the basin-shapedbottom portion 36 ofdrawer housing 24, actually without affecting/reaching the detergent compartment/s 23. When arrived into the basin-shapedbottom portion 36 ofdrawer housing 24, this chlorine-based sanitizing agent freely flows by gravity along the connectingduct 38 up to thewashing tub 3, preferably, though not necessarily, together with any water or mixture of water and detergent, softener or other washing agent almost contemporaneously arriving into the basin-shapedbottom portion 36. - Preferably the
platelike water conveyor 40 additionally includes: anair inlet 47 that directly communicates with the air vent ofelectrolytic reactor 16 for receiving any air or other gas contained or formed inside theelectrolytic reactor 16; and preferably also a corresponding internal air duct that extends inside the body of thewater conveyor 40 and is adapted to exhaust said air or other gas out of the sameplatelike water conveyor 40. More specifically, said internal air duct preferably ends into one or more holes adapted to discharge inside thedrawer housing 24 the air or other gas arriving from theelectrolytic reactor 16. - With reference to
FIG. 7 , in the example shown, in particular, the sanitizing-agent inlet 45 ofwater conveyor 40 preferably consists in a first male of female hydraulic connector which preferably protrudes downwards from the lower face of platelike water conveyor 40 (i.e. from the side directly facing the bottom of drawer housing 24) spaced apart from the coupling socket ofplatelike water conveyor 40, and while remaining locally substantially perpendicular to the same lower face ofplatelike water conveyor 40. - The
air inlet 47 ofwater conveyor 40, in turn, preferably consists in a second male of female hydraulic connector which preferably protrudes downwards from the lower face of platelike water conveyor 40 (i.e. from the side directly facing the bottom of drawer housing 24) both adjacent to the hydraulic connector of sanitizing-agent inlet 45 and spaced apart from the coupling socket ofplatelike water conveyor 40, and while remaining locally substantially perpendicular to the lower face ofplatelike water conveyor 40. - The hydraulic connector of sanitizing-
agent inlet 45 and, if present, the hydraulic connector ofair inlet 47 are preferably adapted to watertight couple with corresponding and complementary hydraulic connectors present in theelectrolytic reactor 16. - With reference to
FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 , thebrine container 17 ofelectrolytic reactor 16, in turn, preferably includes a pair of unpressurized storage tanks orvessels opening 50, which is directly formed in the partitioning wall between the same storage tanks orvessels vessels - Obviously, due to the presence of pass-through
opening 50 the level of the liquid is always the same in both unpressurized storage tanks orvessels - In combination to one another, these unpressurized storage tanks or
vessels same bottom portion 37 ofdrawer housing 24. - More in detail, in the example shown the ensemble of
storage tanks drawer housing 24 and to theplatelike water conveyor 40 by means of one or more anchoring screws and/or one or more releasable mechanical couplings, and is preferably dimensioned to catch and accumulate a given amount of brine preferably ranging between 100 and 250 ml (millilitres). - Additionally, the unpressurized storage tank or
vessel 48 is preferably located immediately underneath thedrawer housing 24, preferably substantially vertically aligned to the basin-shapedbottom portion 37 ofdrawer housing 24, and directly communicates with the basin-shapedbottom portion 37 ofdrawer housing 24 so as to receive the brine arriving on thesame bottom portion 37 ofdrawer housing 24. - In other words, the brine inlet of
electrolytic reactor 16 is preferably located in the unpressurized storage tank orvessel 48. - Preferably the
unpressurized storage tank 48 is furthermore rigidly fixed/secured to the bottom ofdrawer housing 24 by means of one or more anchoring screws and/or one or more releasable mechanical couplings. - Furthermore the storage tank or
vessel 48 is preferably directly connected to the superjacent basin-shapedbottom portion 37 ofdrawer housing 24 so that the brine arriving onto thebottom portion 37 ofdrawer housing 24 is allowed to freely flow by gravity into the same storage tank orvessel 48. - More in detail, in the example shown the storage tank or
vessel 48 preferably directly communicates with the basin-shapedbottom portion 37 ofdrawer housing 24 via at least one and preferably a pair oftubular extensions 51 that protrude downwards from the bottom ofdrawer housing 24, directly communicate with the basin-shapedbottom portion 37 ofdrawer housing 24, and lastly directly fit in substantially watertight manner each into a respective complementary-shapedopening 52 formed on top wall of the same storage tank orvessel 48. - In other words the storage tank or
vessel 48 preferably directly communicates with the basin-shapedbottom portion 37 ofdrawer housing 24 via one or moretubular extensions 51 protruding downwards from the bottom ofdrawer housing 24 and directly communicating with the superjacent basin-shapedbottom portion 37 ofdrawer housing 24. - With reference to
FIGS. 4, 5, 7, 8 and 9 , the unpressurized storage tank orvessel 49, in turn, internally accommodates the two, preferably platelike,electrodes 53 ofelectrolytic cell 18, and is preferably located between the storage tank orvessel 48 and thevertical sidewall 20 ofcasing 2. Furthermore the unpressurized storage tank orvessel 49 preferably directly communicates with theplatelike water conveyor 40 ofdetergent dispenser 10, so as to be able to feed the chlorine-based sanitizing agent and optionally also the air or other gas contained or formed inside the same storage tank orvessel 49 to theplatelike water conveyor 40. - In other words, the sanitizing-agent outlet and preferably also the air vent of
electrolytic reactor 16 are preferably located in the unpressurized storage tank orvessel 49. - More in detail, in the example shown the unpressurized storage tank or
vessel 49 preferably has a flattened boxlike structure and is preferably arranged adjacent to a sidewall of thedrawer housing 24, preferably nearly perpendicular to the upper worktop ortop wall 12 ofcasing 2 and/or nearly parallel tovertical sidewall 20 ofcasing 2. Preferably the unpressurized storage tank orvessel 49 furthermore extends downwards beyond the bottom ofdrawer housing 24, locally substantially tangent to the unpressurized storage tank orvessel 48. - Preferably the upper edge of storage tank or
vessel 49 moreover stably abuts against theplatelike water conveyor 40, and the sanitizing-agent outlet and the air vent ofelectrolytic reactor 16 are preferably located on this upper edge. - More in detail, the unpressurized storage tank or
vessel 49 preferably has, on its upper edge, twohydraulic connectors hydraulic connectors platelike water conveyor 40, and are adapted to couple in substantially watertight manner with thehydraulic connectors platelike water conveyor 40. - Preferably the storage tank or
vessel 49 is finally rigidly fixed/secured to theplatelike water conveyor 40 and/or to thedrawer housing 24 by means of one or more anchoring screws and/or one or more releasable mechanical couplings. - With reference to
FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 , preferably theelectrolytic cell 18 ofelectrolytic reactor 16 in turn comprises: the aforesaid two, preferably platelike,electrodes 53 accommodated in the unpressurized storage tank orvessel 49; and preferably also an electric power unit (not shown) which is preferably controlled by, or incorporated into, the appliance electronic control unit, and is adapted to selectively apply a given electric DC voltage to theelectrodes 53 preferably so as to cause the electro-chlorination of the brine contained into thebrine container 17, i.e. into the ensemble ofstorage tanks - This sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) is the chlorine-based sanitizing agent that pump
assembly 19 subsequently moves into the basin-shapedbottom portion 36 ofdrawer housing 24 via theplatelike water conveyor 40 ofdetergent dispenser 10. - According to an alternative embodiment, the
electrolytic cell 18 may also include a water-permeable partitioning septum or membrane (not shown) that divides the inside of storage tank orvessel 49 into two complementary inner compartments each accommodating a respectiveplatelike electrode 43. In this case, the DC voltage applied onelectrodes 53 causes the electrolysis of the sodium chloride (NaCl) and the consequent production of chlorine (Cl) and sodium hydroxide (caustic soda). - With reference to
FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 , thepump assembly 19, in turn, is preferably firmly fixed/secured to both storage tanks orvessels vessels vessels platelike water conveyor 40 ofdetergent dispenser 10. - More in detail, the
pump assembly 19 is preferably configured to suck the chlorine-based sanitizing agent from the bottom of storage tank orvessel 48 and to feed/pump said chlorine-based sanitizing agent into an auxiliaryvertical duct 58 that preferably extends in pass-through manner inside the storage tank orvessel 49, up to theplatelike water conveyor 40 ofdetergent dispenser 10. - In other words, the
vertical duct 58 preferably extends inside the storage tank orvessel 49 up to thehydraulic connector 55 located on the upper side of storage tank orvessel 49. - Preferably, when deactivated, the
pump assembly 19 is moreover capable of watertight isolating the ensemble of unpressurized storage tanks orvessels platelike water conveyor 40 ofdetergent dispenser 10. - More in detail, in the example shown the
pump assembly 19 preferably basically comprises an electrically-powered membrane pump or other electrically-powered volumetric pump, which preferably has a first duckbill valve or other non-return valve at suction mouth of the pump, and a second duckbill valve or other non-return valve at delivery mouth of the pump. Thesuction mouth 19 a of the pump is preferably directly connected to the storage tank orvessel 48, preferably close to bottom of storage tank orvessel 48 and/or close to the pass-throughopening 50 communicating with storage tank orvessel 49, and preferably also beneath afiltering structure 59 located inside the same storage tank orvessel 48. The delivery mouth of the pump, in turn, is preferably connected to the lower mouth ofvertical duct 58 via atubular connecting member 60 preferably additionally capable of firmly locking the pump to the ensemble of storage tanks orvessels - With reference to
FIG. 9 , preferably theelectrolytic reactor 16 additionally includes adetector device 61 capable of monitoring/detecting the level and/or salinity degree of the water or brine momentarily contained into thebrine container 17, i.e. into the ensemble ofstorage tanks - In the example shown, in particular, the
detector device 61 is preferably located inside the storage tank orvessel 48, preferably above thefiltering structure 59, and preferably comprises: a first floatingmember 62 capable of floating when the liquid contained into the storage tank orvessel 48 is either fresh water or salt water; a second floatingmember 23 capable of floating solely when the water contained into the storage tank orvessel 48 is fresh water; and a localelectronic control unit 64 capable of detecting when each of the two floatingmembers vessel 48. - With particular reference to
FIGS. 4, 5, 6, and 7 , the fresh-water supply circuit 11 oflaundry washing machine 1, in turn, comprises: a mainwater delivery line 70 which is connected/connectable to the water mains and is structured to channel, on command, the fresh water of the water mains towards the drawerflush circuit 25 ofdetergent dispenser 10, or rather towards the water inlet ofwater distributor 41; and optionally also an auxiliarywater delivery line 71 which is connected/connectable to an alternative external water source of hot fresh water (for example the hot branch of the piping, fittings, and fixtures generally involved in the distribution and use of hot water in a domestic building), and is structured to independently channel, on command, the hot fresh water of said alternative water source towards thewashing tub 3, preferably via theplatelike water conveyor 40 ofdetergent dispenser 10. - Obviously both main
water delivery line 70 and auxiliarywater delivery line 71 are preferably directly controlled by the appliance electronic control unit. - Preferably, the main
water delivery line 70 basically comprises: a first electrically-operated on-offvalve 72 which is preferably located on a rear wall ofboxlike casing 2, preferably immediately underneath the upper worktop ortop wall 12 ofcasing 2, is directly connectable to the water mains, and is preferably directly controlled by the appliance electronic control unit; and afirst tube 73 connecting the on-offvalve 72 to the water inlet of thewater distributor 41. - The auxiliary
water delivery line 71, in turn, preferably basically comprises: a second electrically-operated on-offvalve 74 which is preferably located on the rear wall ofboxlike casing 2, preferably immediately underneath the upper worktop ortop wall 12 ofcasing 2, is connectable to the alternative external water source and is preferably directly controlled by the appliance electronic control unit; and asecond tube 75 connecting the on-offvalve 74 to a correspondingtubular extension 76 that preferably protrudes downwards from the lower face of theplatelike water conveyor 40 preferably while remaining locally substantially perpendicular to the latter, and moreover directly communicates with one of the water delivery portions ofwater conveyor 40 vertically aligned to the basin-shapedbottom portion 36 ofdrawer housing 24. - With reference to
FIG. 6 , finally thelaundry washing machine 1 preferably, though not necessarily, includes an auxiliarywater drain line 80 that braches off from the drawerflush circuit 25 and preferably ends directly into the drain sump (not shown) beneath thewashing tub 3, or even directly into the suction of the electric pump that drains the waste water or washing liquor outside thelaundry washing machine 1; and the drawerflush circuit 25 is capable of selectively channelling, towards thewater drain line 80, any kind of water arriving into the same drawerflush circuit 25. - More in detail, in the example shown the
water drain line 80 preferably basically includes: adrain tube 81 having a first end connected to a correspondingtubular extension 82 preferably protruding downwards from the lower face of theplatelike water conveyor 40 while remaining locally substantially perpendicular to the latter, and a second end connected to the drain sump beneath thewashing tub 3; and preferably also an air-gap device 83 located upstream ofdrain tube 81. Thewater distributor 41 of drawerflush circuit 25, in turn, is capable of selectively channelling, towards thedrain tube 81, any kind of water entering into the drawerflush circuit 25. - General operation of the
laundry washing machine 1 is easily inferable from the description above. The appliance electronic control unit controls the motor assembly 5, thedetergent dispenser 10, and the fresh-water supply circuit 11 so as to automatically perform the washing cycle preferably selected by the user via thecontrol panel 21. - In addition to the above, if the user selects a washing cycle including a sanitizing or bleaching step, the appliance electronic control unit controls/activates the
electrochemical device 13 so as to timely produce, during the washing cycle, a given amount of chlorine-based sanitizing agent to be subsequently used in the sanitizing or bleaching step of the same washing cycle. - More in detail, timely before the sanitizing or bleaching step, the appliance electronic control unit activates the
water supply line 15 of electrochemical device 13 (i.e. controls thewater distributor 41 of drawer flush circuit 25) so as to channel a given amount of fresh water of the water mains into the salt container 14 (i.e. into thesalt compartment 26 of detergent drawer 22). On arriving into the salt container 14 (i.e. into thesalt compartment 26 of detergent drawer 22), the fresh water dissolves at least part of the salt grains contained into thesame salt container 14 thus forming a given amount of brine that freely flows and accumulates into the beneath-locatedbrine container 17 of electrolytic reactor 16 (i.e. into the ensemble ofstorage tanks 48 and 49). - When a sufficient amount of brine is contained into the
brine container 17 of electrolytic reactor 16 (i.e. into the ensemble ofstorage tanks 48 and 49), the appliance electronic control unit activates the electric power unit ofelectrolytic cell 18 so as to perform the electro-chlorination/electrolysis of the brine contained into the brine container 17 (i.e. into the ensemble ofstorage tanks 48 and 49). The chlorine-based sanitizing agent resulting from the electro-chlorination/electrolysis of the brine then accumulates inside the brine container 17 (i.e. inside bothstorage tanks 48 and 49). - After a given timespan preferably ranging between 5 and 30 minutes, the appliance electronic control unit assumes that the electro-chlorination/electrolysis of the brine contained into the brine container 17 (i.e. inside both
storage tanks 48 and 49) is completed and that a suitable amount of the chlorine-based sanitizing agent is actually contained into thesame brine container 17. - Finally, when the sanitizing or bleaching step of the washing cycle is to be performed, the appliance electronic control unit activates the
pump assembly 19 ofelectrolytic reactor 16 so as to move substantially the whole chlorine-based sanitizing agent accumulated into the brine container 17 (i.e. into both storage tanks orvessels 48 and 49), from thebrine container 17 to the basin-shapedbottom portion 36 ofdrawer housing 24 preferably via the sanitizing-agent delivery line 44 ofplatelike water conveyor 40. When arrived into the basin-shapedbottom portion 36, the chlorine-based sanitizing agent freely flows by gravity into the connectingduct 38 and arrives intowashing tub 3. - The advantages regarding the particular layout of the
electrochemical device 13 are large in number. - First of all, the hydraulic circuit of
laundry washing machine 1 is significantly simpler than that of the laundry washing machines disclosed in EP0146184 and EP0083740, with the cost reduction that this entails. - Furthermore the arrangement of the loading inlet of
salt container 14 above the laundry loading-unloading opening, i.e. on the upper part of theboxlike casing 2, makes significantly easier and comfortable the manual refilling of thesalt container 14. Moreover, thesalt container 14 only temporarily contains the brine to be used for producing the chlorine-based sanitizing agent, thus there is actually no risk of spilling around the brine during manual refilling of thesalt container 14. - Moreover the brine draining system including the
drain opening 27 and the water-permeable cover 30 significantly improves the salinity degree of the brine arriving on the basin-shapedbottom portion 37 ofdrawer housing 24, thus improving performances of theelectrolytic cell 18. - Last, but not least, incorporation of the
electrochemical device 13 into thedetergent dispenser 10 greatly simplifies the assembly of thelaundry washing machine 1, with a significant reduction of the overall production costs. - Clearly, changes may be made to the
laundry washing machine 1 and to theelectrochemical device 13 without, however, departing from the scope of the present invention. - For example, according to a first non-shown alternative embodiment, the
electrochemical reactor 16 could channel/feed the chlorine-based sanitizing agent directly into thewashing tub 3 without involving theplatelike water conveyor 40 of drawerflush circuit 25 and the basin-shapedbottom portion 36 ofdrawer housing 24. - In other words the
pump assembly 19 could feed the chlorine-based sanitizing agent directly intowashing tub 3 bypassing thedetergent dispenser 10. In this alternative embodiment, therefore, theplatelike water conveyor 40 ofdetergent dispenser 10 would lack the sanitizing-agent delivery line 44. - According to a further non-shown alternative embodiment, furthermore, the drawer
flush circuit 25 ofdetergent dispenser 10 may lack thewater distributor 41, and the fresh-water supply circuit 11 may have a number of electrically-operated on-off valves each of which is interposed between the water mains and a respective water delivery portion ofplatelike water conveyor 40. Preferably each of these on-off valves is furthermore directly controlled by the appliance electronic control unit. - With reference to
FIG. 12 , according to an alternative embodiment ofelectrolytic reactor 16, theelectrolytic cell 18 is separated frombrine container 17 and is located along the fresh-water supply circuit 11, or more precisely along the mainwater delivery line 70 of fresh-water supply circuit 11, so as to be permanently crossed by the fresh water directed to thedetergent dispenser 10 or to thewashing tub 3. - In other words, in this alternative embodiment the water inlet of the drawer
flush circuit 25 ofdetergent dispenser 10 receives the fresh water of the water mains directly from theelectrolytic cell 18. - More in detail, in this alternative embodiment, the
electrolytic cell 18 ofelectrolytic reactor 16 includes a water-tightclosed container 100 which is arranged along the mainwater delivery line 70 of fresh-water supply circuit 11 so as to be permanently crossed by the fresh water directed towards thedetergent dispenser 10, and is additionally adapted to also receive the brine previously contained into thebrine container 17. Preferably the water-tightclosed container 100 furthermore has nearly the same capacity asbrine container 17 so as to be able to contain a given amount of water or brine preferably substantially equal to that containable into thebrine container 17. - The water-tight
closed container 100 internally accommodates the two, preferably platelike,electrodes 53 ofelectrolytic cell 18, so that electro-chlorination of the brine takes place inside the same water-tightclosed container 100 and the resulting chlorine-based sanitizing agent accumulates therein. - In this alternative embodiment, therefore, the chlorine-based sanitizing agent preferably enters into the
detergent dispenser 10 via the drawerflush circuit 25, or rather via the water inlet of thewater distributor 41 of drawerflush circuit 25. - Obviously, in this alternative embodiment, the
platelike water conveyor 40 ofdetergent dispenser 10 preferably lacks the sanitizing-agent delivery line 44. - The
brine container 17 ofelectrolytic reactor 16, in turn, preferably includes a single unpressurized storage tank orvessel 101 which is again preferably located immediately underneath thedrawer housing 24, and directly communicates with the basin-shapedbottom portion 37 ofdrawer housing 24 so as to receive and accumulate substantially the whole brine arriving on thesame bottom portion 37 ofdrawer housing 24. - More in detail, the storage tank or
vessel 101 is preferably dimensioned to catch and accumulate a given amount of brine preferably ranging between 100 and 250 ml (millilitres), and is preferably firmly attached/fixed to the bottom ofdrawer housing 24, preferably substantially vertically aligned to the basin-shapedbottom portion 37 ofdrawer housing 24. - Preferably the storage tank or
vessel 101 is furthermore fluidically connected to the superjacent basin-shapedbottom portion 37 ofdrawer housing 24 so that the brine arriving onto thebottom portion 37 ofdrawer housing 24 is allowed to freely flow by gravity into the same storage tank orvessel 101. - In this alternative embodiment, furthermore, the
electrolytic reactor 16 preferably comprises, in place ofpump assembly 19, a small, electrically-poweredpump assembly 102 which is capable of selectively pumping/moving the brine (i.e. the salt water) accumulated into the brine container 17 (i.e. into the unpressurized storage tank or vessel 101), from thebrine container 17 to the water-tightclosed container 100 ofelectrolytic cell 18. When deactivated,pump assembly 102 is preferably moreover capable of watertight isolating thebrine container 17 from theelectrolytic cell 18. - In other words, pump
assembly 102 is interposed between thebrine container 17, or rather the storage tank orvessel 101, and the water-tightclosed container 100 ofelectrolytic cell 18. - With reference to
FIG. 12 , preferably, though not necessarily, the fresh-water supply circuit 11 additionally includes a second auxiliarywater delivery line 104 which is connected/connectable to the water mains and is structured to channel, on command, the fresh water of the water mains towards the water inlet ofwater distributor 41 bypassing the water-tightclosed container 100 ofelectrolytic cell 18. Also this second auxiliarywater delivery line 104 is preferably directly controlled by the appliance electronic control unit. - More in detail, the auxiliary
water delivery line 104 preferably basically comprises: a third electrically-operated on-offvalve 105 which is preferably located on the rear wall ofboxlike casing 2, preferably immediately underneath the upper worktop ortop wall 12 ofcasing 2, is connectable to the water mains and is preferably directly controlled by the appliance electronic control unit; and athird tube 106 connecting the on-offvalve 105 directly to the water inlet of thewater distributor 41 bypassing the wholeelectrolytic cell 18. - In this second alternative embodiment the
electrochemical device 13 operates as follows. - Timely before the sanitizing or bleaching step, the appliance electronic control unit activates the
water supply line 15 of electrochemical device 13 (i.e. controls thewater distributor 41 of drawer flush circuit 25) so as to channel a given amount of fresh water of the water mains into the salt container 14 (i.e. into thesalt compartment 26 of detergent drawer 22), thus dissolving at least part of the salt grains contained therein and form a given amount of brine that freely flows and accumulates into the brine container 17 (i.e. into the storage tank orvessel 101 located immediately underneath the drawer housing 24). - Either the main
water delivery line 70 or the auxiliarywater delivery line 104 may be used for feeding the fresh water of the water mains towards thewater distributor 41 of drawerflush circuit 25. - Immediately before the sanitizing or bleaching step of the washing cycle and when no further fresh water is to be channelled towards the
detergent dispenser 10 or thewashing tub 3, the appliance electronic control unit firstly activates thepump assembly 102 so as to move the brine (i.e. the salt water) accumulated into the brine container 17 (i.e. into the storage tank or vessel 101), from thebrine container 17 to the electrolytic cell 18 (i.e. to the water-tight closed container 100). - Preferably, before moving the brine to the electrolytic cell 18 (i.e. to the water-tight closed container 100), the appliance electronic control unit additionally puts the water outlet of electrolytic cell 18 (i.e. the water outlet of water-tight closed container 100) in fluid communication with the
water drain line 80 so as to channel towards the drain sump any liquid coming out ofelectrolytic cell 18. - As an alternative, the appliance electronic control unit could put the water outlet of electrolytic cell 18 (i.e. the water outlet of the water-tight closed container 100) in fluid communication with any one of the first or the third water-delivery portion of
platelike water conveyor 40. - When the brine is moved into the electrolytic cell 18 (i.e. into the water-tight closed container 100), the appliance electronic control unit activates the electric power unit of
electrolytic cell 18 so as to perform the electro-chlorination/electrolysis of the brine contained into the electrolytic cell 18 (i.e. into the water-tight closed container 100). - Since no fresh water flows through the water-tight
closed container 100 ofelectrolytic cell 18, the chlorine-based sanitizing agent resulting from the electro-chlorination/electrolysis of the brine then accumulates inside theelectrolytic cell 18, or rather into the water-tightclosed container 100. - After a given timespan preferably ranging between 5 and 15 minutes, the appliance electronic control unit, assuming that the electro-chlorination/electrolysis of the brine contained into the electrolytic cell 18 (i.e. into the water-tight closed container 100) is completed, and that a suitable amount of chlorine-based sanitizing agent is actually contained into the same electrolytic cell 18 (i.e. into the water-tight closed container 100), controls the main
water delivery line 70 of fresh-water supply circuit 11 and the drawerflush circuit 25 ofdetergent dispenser 10 so as to channel, through the electrolytic cell 18 (i.e. through the water-tight closed container 100), a flow of fresh water of the water mains that flushes the whole chlorine-based sanitizing agent accumulated into the electrolytic cell 18 (i.e. into the water-tight closed container 100) straight into thewashing tub 3. - More in detail, in this alternative embodiment, the appliance electronic control unit preferably firstly controls the
water distributor 41 of drawerflush circuit 25 so as to channel any liquid arriving from the electrolytic cell 18 (i.e. from the water-tight closed container 100) preferably directly towards the third water-delivery portion ofplatelike water conveyor 40 or alternatively towards one of the first water-delivery portions ofplatelike water conveyor 40; and then temporarily opens the on-offvalve 72 ofwater delivery line 70 so as to feed, towards thewashing tub 3, an amount of fresh water that flows though the electrolytic cell 18 (i.e. through the water-tight closed container 100) and flushes the whole chlorine-based sanitizing agent accumulated therein into thewashing tub 3, so as to perform the sanitizing or bleaching step of the washing cycle. - If the
electrolytic cell 18 is to be washed out before continuing the washing cycle, after having flushed out the chlorine-based sanitizing agent contained into theelectrolytic cell 18, the appliance electronic control unit optionally temporarily puts the water outlet of electrolytic cell 18 (i.e. the water outlet of water-tight closed container 100) in fluid communication with thewater drain line 80, and then waits the end of the sanitizing or bleaching step of the washing cycle for activating the fresh-water supply circuit 11, or rather the mainwater delivery line 70 of fresh-water supply circuit 11, for feeding through the electrolytic cell 18 (i.e. through the water-tight closed container 100) a flow of fresh water that bypasses thewashing tub 3 and arrives straight into the drain sump (not shown) or into the suction of the electric pump thus to be drained out of thelaundry washing machine 1 together with the mixture of water and chlorine-based sanitizing agent arriving fromcontained washing tub 3. - With reference to
FIG. 13 , according to a further alternative embodiment, thesalt container 14 ofelectrochemical device 13 is preferably located/incorporated into asupplementary drawer 122 which is fitted/inserted in manually extractable manner into a corresponding, preferably substantially basin-shaped, second drawer housing 124 which is preferably discrete and spaced apart from thedrawer housing 24 ofdetergent drawer 22, and is preferably located/recessed inside theboxlike casing 2 substantially horizontally aligned to thedrawer housing 24 ofdetergent drawer 22. - Preferably the
appliance control panel 21 is furthermore located onfront wall 6 ofcasing 2, astride the vertical midplane ofboxlike casing 2, and the entrances ofdrawer housings 24 and 124 are arranged on opposite sides of saidcontrol panel 20, preferably immediately underneath the upper worktop ortop wall 12 ofcasing 2. - More in detail, in this alternative embodiment the
detergent drawer 22 lacks thesalt compartment 26, whereas thesupplementary drawer 122 is preferably provided with a substantially basin-shaped, salt compartment (not visible inFIG. 13 ) which is structured/dimensioned for being manually fillable with a given quantity of consumable salt grains of sodium chloride (NaCl) to be used for producing the brine to be channelled into theelectrolytic cell 18. - The
water supply line 15, in turn, is structured to selectively channel, when thesupplementary drawer 122 is completely recessed into the corresponding drawer housing 124, a given amount of water into the salt container of saidsupplementary drawer 122 so as to dissolve at least part of the salt grains contained therein and form a given amount of brine (i.e. the salt water). - Preferably the bottom of this salt compartment is moreover provided with a large pass-through drain opening (not visible in
FIG. 13 ) which is suitably shaped/dimensioned to allow the brine (i.e. the salt water) formed inside the same salt compartment to freely fall by gravity on the bottom of drawer housing 124. - Also in this embodiment, therefore, a prolonged stagnation of the brine inside the
salt container 14 is prevented. - Likewise drain opening 27, also this latter drain opening is preferably closed by a platelike water-permeable cover (not visible in
FIG. 13 ) having a water-permeable structure designed for preventing the salt grains contained into the salt compartment ofsupplementary drawer 122 to accidentally spill out of the same salt compartment and fall on the bottom of drawer housing 124. - Likewise the water-
permeable cover 30, this latter water-permeable cover preferably also has a water-permeable structure which is suitably designed/dimensioned to slow down the outflow of the brine from the salt compartment ofsupplementary drawer 122 onto the bottom of drawer housing 124, thus to cause a temporary stay of the water into the same salt compartment. - Preferably the
supplementary drawer 122 is additionally provided with a manually openable,upper lid assembly 131 which is arranged on top of the salt compartment of the samesupplementary drawer 122, and is structured to selectively close the upper mouth of said salt compartment. Likewise thelid assembly 31, thelid assembly 131 is preferably structured to receive the water from thewater supply line 15, and to distribute said water into the salt compartment ofsupplementary drawer 122. - In this alternative embodiment, the at least one unpressurized storage tank or vessel of
brine container 17 is preferably located beneath drawer housing 124, and moreover preferably directly communicates with the bottom of the same drawer housing 124 so as to allow the brine (i.e. salt water) to freely flow by gravity from bottom of drawer housing 124 to thesame brine container 16. - With reference to
FIG. 14 , in a still further alternative embodiment theappliance control panel 21 is preferably located on front of asupplementary drawer 222 which is fitted/inserted in extractable manner into a corresponding, preferably substantially basin-shaped,second drawer housing 224 which is preferably discrete and spaced apart from thedrawer housing 24 ofdetergent drawer 22, and is preferably located/recessed inside theboxlike casing 2 substantially horizontally aligned to thedrawer housing 24 ofdetergent drawer 22. - In this alternative embodiment, the
salt container 14 ofelectrochemical device 13 is preferably located/incorporated into saidsupplementary drawer 222, behind thecontrol panel 21. - More in detail, in this alternative embodiment the
detergent drawer 22 lacks thesalt compartment 26, whereas thesupplementary drawer 222 is preferably provided with a substantially basin-shaped,salt compartment 226 which is structured/dimensioned for being manually fillable with a given quantity of consumable salt grains of sodium chloride (NaCl) to be used for producing the brine to be channelled into theelectrolytic cell 18. Thewater supply line 15, in turn, is structured to selectively channel, when thesupplementary drawer 222 is completely recessed into thecorresponding drawer housing 224, a given amount of water into thesalt container 226 of saidsupplementary drawer 222 so as to dissolve at least part of the salt grains contained therein and form a given amount of brine (i.e. the salt water). - Preferably the bottom of
salt compartment 226 is furthermore provided with a large pass-through drain opening (not visible inFIG. 13 ) which is suitably shaped/dimensioned to allow the brine (i.e. the salt water) formed insidesalt compartment 226 to freely fall by gravity on the bottom ofdrawer housing 224. - Also in this embodiment, therefore, a prolonged stagnation of the brine inside the
salt container 14 is prevented. - Likewise the
drain opening 27, this latter drain opening is preferably closed by a platelike water-permeable cover (not visible inFIG. 12 ) having a water-permeable structure designed for preventing the salt grains contained intosalt compartment 226 ofsupplementary drawer 222 to accidentally spill out ofsalt compartment 226 and fall on the bottom ofdrawer housing 224. - Likewise the water-
permeable cover 30, this latter water-permeable cover preferably has a water-permeable structure which is suitably designed/dimensioned to slow down the outflow of the brine fromsalt compartment 226 onto the bottom ofdrawer housing 224, thus to cause a temporary stay of the water/brine into thesalt compartment 226. - Preferably the
supplementary drawer 222 is additionally provided with a funnel-shapedlid 231 which is arranged on top ofsalt compartment 226 so as to ease the pouring/loading of the consumable salt grains within thesalt compartment 226. - In this alternative embodiment, the at least one unpressurized storage tank or vessel of
brine container 17 is preferably located beneathdrawer housing 224, and moreover preferably directly communicates with the bottom of thesame drawer housing 224 so as to allow the brine (i.e. salt water) to freely flow by gravity from the bottom ofdrawer housing 224 to the unpressurized storage tank or vessel ofbrine container 17. - With reference to
FIG. 15 , in a still further alternative embodiment thesalt container 14 ofelectrochemical device 13 is preferably located immediately underneath the upper worktop ortop wall 12 ofcasing 2, and the unsealed loading inlet of thesame salt container 14 is directly accessible via atrapdoor 300 present on the upper worktop ortop wall 12. - More in detail, in this alternative embodiment the
detergent drawer 22 lacks thesalt compartment 26, whereas thesalt container 14 basically comprises: a basin-shapedcontainer 326 which is preferably recessed into the upper worktop ortop wall 12 ofcasing 2, underneath thetrapdoor 300 present on the upper worktop ortop wall 12, and is structured/dimensioned so as to be manually fillable with a given quantity of consumable salt grains of sodium chloride (NaCl) to be used for producing the brine to be channelled into theelectrolytic cell 18; and preferably also a funnel-shapedlid 331 that closes the upper mouth of said basin-shapedcontainer 326 so as to ease the pouring/loading of the consumable salt grains within the basin-shapedcontainer 326. - In this alternative embodiment, the
water supply line 15 is obviously structured to selectively channel a given amount of water into the basin-shapedcontainer 326 so as to dissolve at least part of the salt grains contained therein and form a given amount of brine (i.e. the salt water). - The at least one unpressurized storage tank or vessel of
brine container 17, in turn, is preferably located beneath the basin-shapedcontainer 326 and moreover preferably directly communicates with the bottom of the basin-shapedcontainer 326 so as to receive and accumulate the whole brine previously formed into the same basin-shapedcontainer 326. Also in this embodiment, therefore, a prolonged stagnation of the brine inside thesalt container 14 is prevented. - More in detail this unpressurized storage tank or vessel of
brine container 17 preferably communicates with the superjacent basin-shapedcontainer 326 via a draining water-way structured so as to allow the brine (i.e. the salt water) formed inside the basin-shapedcontainer 326 to freely flow by gravity into the same unpressurized storage tank or vessel. - Likewise drain opening 27, this draining water-way is preferably structured for preventing the salt grains contained into the basin-shaped
container 326 to accidentally fall into the beneath-located brine unpressurized storage tank or vessel ofbrine container 17, and preferably also for slowing down the outflow of the brine from the basin-shapedcontainer 326 to the beneath-locatedbrine container 17, so as to cause a temporary stay of the water/brine into the basin-shapedcontainer 326. - Finally, according to a further alternative embodiment, the
electrolytic cell 18 may be the electrolytic cell disclosed in WO2016/162327.
Claims (23)
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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PCT/EP2017/075422 WO2019068337A1 (en) | 2017-10-05 | 2017-10-05 | Laundry washing machine |
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US20200291563A1 true US20200291563A1 (en) | 2020-09-17 |
Family
ID=60037602
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US16/753,123 Abandoned US20200291563A1 (en) | 2017-10-05 | 2017-10-05 | Laundry washing machine |
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US (1) | US20200291563A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP3692200B1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN111164253A (en) |
PL (1) | PL3692200T3 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2019068337A1 (en) |
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KR20210094285A (en) | 2020-01-21 | 2021-07-29 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | Laundry Treatment Apparatus |
DE102020103651A1 (en) | 2020-02-12 | 2021-08-12 | Miele & Cie. Kg | Method for operating a water-bearing electrical device and water-bearing electrical device |
DE102020103641A1 (en) | 2020-02-12 | 2021-08-12 | Miele & Cie. Kg | Method for operating a water-bearing electrical device and water-bearing electrical device |
DE102020103662A1 (en) | 2020-02-12 | 2021-08-12 | Miele & Cie. Kg | Water-bearing electrical device |
NL2025116B1 (en) * | 2020-03-12 | 2021-10-19 | Spectro B V | Fluid dispenser |
CN116265642A (en) * | 2021-12-16 | 2023-06-20 | 青岛海尔洗涤电器有限公司 | Sterilizing device, throwing box assembly and clothes treatment device |
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PL3234253T3 (en) * | 2014-12-18 | 2022-12-27 | Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag | Laundry washing machine |
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- 2017-10-05 WO PCT/EP2017/075422 patent/WO2019068337A1/en unknown
- 2017-10-05 CN CN201780095508.6A patent/CN111164253A/en active Pending
- 2017-10-05 US US16/753,123 patent/US20200291563A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2017-10-05 EP EP17780725.2A patent/EP3692200B1/en active Active
- 2017-10-05 PL PL17780725.2T patent/PL3692200T3/en unknown
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Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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US20230304210A1 (en) * | 2020-01-20 | 2023-09-28 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Laundry treating apparatus |
US11993889B2 (en) * | 2020-01-20 | 2024-05-28 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Laundry treating apparatus |
EP3981904A1 (en) * | 2020-10-08 | 2022-04-13 | LG Electronics Inc. | Laundry treating apparatus |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
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EP3692200B1 (en) | 2023-06-07 |
WO2019068337A1 (en) | 2019-04-11 |
EP3692200A1 (en) | 2020-08-12 |
CN111164253A (en) | 2020-05-15 |
PL3692200T3 (en) | 2023-09-25 |
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