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US 6,766,812 B1Granted
Household appliance using water, namely, a washing machine, with improved device for reducing the water hardness
AssigneeELTEK S.p.A.
InventorCostanzo Gadini
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A household appliance using water is described, namely a washing machine, comprising a control system, a water supply system from an external source (108, 109), a softening system of at least a portion of the supplied water (110; 110′, 117; 117′), an electrochemical cell (110; 117; 117′), for treating at least a portion of the supplied water. According to the invention, said electrochemical cell (110; 117; 117′) is active part of said water softening system (110; 110′, 117; 117′).
Claims23
A household appliance comprising
- a control system, for controlling the execution of a treatment cycle of the appliance, said treatment cycle comprising a plurality of distinct phases performed using water,
- a water supply system for supplying water from an external source,
- a softening system for softening at least a portion of the supplied water,
- an electrochemical cell for treating at least a portion of the supplied water, said electrochemical cell comprising
- a positive electrode and a negative electrode,
- electric means for applying an electric voltage across, or a flow of electric current between, said electrodes,
- a plurality of channels for water passage defined between said electrodes,
- water storage means,
- intercepting means for controlling at least the admission of water into said electrochemical cell and/or storage means, and the discharge thereof into a treatment tub or container of the appliance;
- and
- water sensor means associated with said control system,
- whereby said electrochemical cell is an active part of said softening system, a first one and a second one of said channels is adapted to receive water used for softening and a third one of said channels is adapted to receive water to be softened, said third channel being interposed between said first and second channels, said softening system being operative for inducing, once a flow of electric current is applied between said electrodes, at least hardness ions of water present in said third channel to pass into water in said second channel, while preventing, at the same time, hardness ions from water present in said first channel from passing into water present in said third channel, said control system being programmed for controlling,
- said flow of electric current, depending upon the phases of said treatment cycle and/or measures carried out through said sensor means,
- said intercepting means, for controlling the admission of water to said storage means and/or said treatment container.
11 more elements
An electrochemical cell, for use in a household appliance using water, comprising
- a positive electrode and a negative electrode,
- electric means for applying an electric voltage across, or a flow of electric current between, said electrodes,
- a plurality of channels for water passage defined between said electrodes,
- water storage means,
- intercepting means for controlling at least the admission of water into said electrochemical cell and/or storage means, and the discharge thereof into a treatment tub or container of the appliance;
- and
- water sensor means associated with said control system, a first one and a second one of said channels being adapted to receive water used for softening and a third one of said channels being adapted to receive water to be softened, said third channel being interposed between said first and second channels, said softening system being operative for inducing, once a flow of electric current is applied between said electrodes, at least hardness ions of water present in said third channel to pass into water in said second channel, while preventing, at the same time, hardness ions from water present in said first channel from passing into water present in said third channel.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.