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US 9,096,966 B2Granted
Device and method for determining a fill level within a suds tub of a washing machine
AssigneeBSH Hausgeräte GmbH
InventorThomas Kaltofen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device for determining a fill level of liquid within a suds tub of a washing machine, having a fill level sensor by means of which a pressure value generated by the liquid can be determined, the fill level sensor having at least one detection part disposed in a lower area of the suds tub that is covered by the liquid during the washing process.
Claims13
A fill level sensor system configured to determine a fill level of a liquid within a container of a washing machine, the fill level sensor system comprising:
- a sensor housing arranged in a lower area of the container and projecting through a container wall;
- an elastic pressure-transmitting membrane on one end of the sensor housing and in direct contact with the liquid;
- a planar pressure converting sensor element in the sensor housing and spaced from the elastic pressure-transmitting membrane to define an enclosed space within said housing, said enclosed space filled with a gas, whereby pressure applied to said membrane is transmitted through the gas in said enclosed space to said sensor element;
- and
- a controller;
- wherein said planar pressure converting sensor element provides an output signal to said controller, and wherein said controller is adapted to determine the fill level of the liquid in the container based upon said output signal.
3 more elements
A method for determining a fill level of a liquid within a container of a washing machine, the method comprising:
- arranging a sensor housing containing a fill level sensor in a lower area of the container, the sensor housing projecting through a wall of the container;
- covering a first end of the sensor housing with an elastic pressure-transmitting membrane;
- arranging the first end of the sensor housing such that the first end is in direct contact with the liquid during operation;
- arranging a planar pressure detector in the sensor housing and spaced from the elastic pressure-transmitting membrane to define an enclosed space, the enclosed space filled with a gas;
- passing a pressure exerted on the elastic pressure-transmitting membrane to the planar pressure detector via the gas in the enclosed space;
- detecting the pressure with the planar pressure detector;
- and
- determining the fill level of liquid in the container of the washing machine based upon the pressure detected by the planar pressure detector.
5 more elements
A laundry washing machine, comprising:
- a tub;
- a washing drum located within said tub;
- a fill level sensor that comprises:
- a sensor housing located in a lower area of said tub and passing through a wall of the tub;
- an elastic pressure-transmitting membrane covering one end of the sensor housing, said one end projecting into said tub such that said membrane is in direct contact with a liquid in said tub;
- a planar pressure detector in the sensor housing and spaced from the elastic pressure-transmitting membrane to define an enclosed space filled with a gas, whereby pressure applied to said membrane is transmitted through the gas in said enclosed space to said detector;
- and
- a controller adapted to receive an output signal from said planar pressure detector and to convert said output signal to a fill level of the liquid in said tub.
5 more elements
A dishwashing machine, comprising:
- a tub;
- a fill level sensor having:
- a sensor housing located in a lower area of said tub and passing through a wall of the tub;
- an elastic pressure-transmitting membrane covering one end of the sensor housing, said one end projecting into said tub such that said membrane is in direct contact with a liquid in said tub;
- a planar pressure detector in the sensor housing and spaced from the elastic pressure-transmitting membrane to define an enclosed space filled with a gas, whereby pressure applied to said membrane is transmitted through the gas in said enclosed space to said detector;
- and
- a controller adapted to receive an output signal from said planar pressure detector and to convert said output signal to a fill level of the liquid in said tub.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.