Drum-type washing machine with a multi-part fluid line

US5881578A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Wolfgang Proppe · Berlin, DE
• Christian Engel · Bad Schwartau, DE
• Andreas Stolze · Falkensee, DE
• Carsten Stelzer · Jena, DE
• Gundula Czyzewski · Berlin, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 18, 1997
• Grant date: Mar 16, 1999
• Expiry date: Dec 18, 2017

Classification

• Technology area (CPC D): Textiles; Paper
• CPC primary: D06F2103/20
• WIPO field: Other consumer goods
• WIPO sector: Other fields

Abstract

The fluid line between a drain opening at the bottom of the tub and an opening located at a higher level in the tub includes a line segment, which serves solely to keep the washwater in the tub in circulation between the upper opening and the drain opening. The line also has a solid pipe segment with a transparent region, at the wall of which a sensor is mounted that responds to the turbidity of the washwater. The sensor has an optical transmitter and an optical receiver. The sensor elements are built into a forked housing so as to securely mount and protect the sensor from the severe shaking during spin cycles. The forked housing embraces the pipe segment and the housing is adapted to the outer shape of the pipe segment at the faces which are in contact with the transparent region.