Method for checking valves in a program-controlled water-carrying household appliance
US7225056B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 26, 2004 |
| Grant date | May 29, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 26, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T137/0452
- WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
In household appliances with a safety hose, the stop valve and the control valve are hydraulically connected in series. It is thus impossible, or very difficult, for the user to detect when one of the valves is operating erroneously and not closing completely. The functioning of the control valve and of the stop valve is checked each time the household appliance is used. For this purpose, the valves and are alternately opened and closed in a selected phase during operation, or are opened and closed one after the other. The change over time in the measured values is recorded and evaluated in a suitable manner at a pressure sensor and/or at a throughflow meter. On account of the multiple use of the measuring sensors that are present, the cost of implementing the method is restricted to expanding the control system software.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.