Patents Assigned to Eltek S.p.A.
  • Patent number: 7063092
    Abstract: A device is described, for dispensing washing agents for a household washing machine, in particular a dishwasher, said dispenser (1) having at least a space (3B) for containing an amount of washing agent necessary for performing a washing cycle, wherein the charging of said amount of washing agent in said space (3B) is performed manually and the dispensing of the washing agent is performed at least partially by gravity. According to the invention, the device comprises at least a dispensing body (3) capable of performing angular or rotary movements around a first axis and angular movements with respect to a second axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Eltek, S.p.A.
    Inventor: Daniele Cerruti
  • Patent number: 7047987
    Abstract: A device for dispensing washing agents is described, for a household washing machine, in particular a dishwasher, said dispenser having at least a tank for a liquid washing agent and an arrangement for dispensing a dose of said washing agent. The arrangement comprises: a passage for putting the inside of said tank in communication with a discharge outlet; plugging means for said passage, at least an actuator for operating said plugging means. According to the invention, said plugging means comprise an element being movable within said passage and bearing sealing means, whereby the movable element, in a first position, allows to realize the dosage of an amount of washing agent and, in a second position, allows to dispense the dosed amount of washing agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Eltek, S.p.A.
    Inventors: Daniele Cerruti, Giovanni Perrucca
  • Patent number: 6923191
    Abstract: Dispensing device of washing agents for a household washing machine, in particular a dishwasher, said dispenser having at least a tank for a liquid washing agent and an arrangement for dispensing a dose of said liquid washing agent, wherein this arrangement comprises: a passage, being adapted to put the inside of the tank in hydraulic communication with a discharge outlet for said liquid washing agent; first plugging means, act on said passage and capable of taking a first position due to which the washing agent cannot reach said discharge outlet, and a second position due to which the washing agent is able to reach said discharge outlet; actuating means producing actuation of said first plugging means. According to the invention, controllable safety means act along said passage are provided, which normally operate for preventing washing agent downflow from said tank to said passage, independently from the position or state of the first plugging means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Eltek S.p.A.
    Inventors: Daniele Cerruti, Stefano Belfiore
  • Patent number: 6916086
    Abstract: An electro-thermal actuator device (1) comprises a casing defining a cavity (Z1, Z2) in which there are arranged a thermal actuator (6), an electric heater (10), at least a part of an actuating shaft (3) and at least a part of two electric terminals (11, 12) for supplying the heater (10). The casing is formed by two half-shells (2A, 2B) mutually coupled along two facing surfaces of junction (S), each surface pertaining to a respective half-shell. Sealing means (15, G) are provided, which are operatively arranged between the two surfaces of junction (S) and cooperating with a respective half-shell (2A, 2B) for hermetically insulating at least a part of the inner cavity (Z1, Z2) from the external environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Eltek S.p.A.
    Inventors: Costanzo Gadini, Renato Gaj, Marco Moro
  • Publication number: 20050082504
    Abstract: A device (RF) for regulating and/or stabilizing the flow of a fluid comprises a single body (20), envisaged for insertion in a pipe for passage of the fluid, in particular the inlet pipe of a solenoid valve (1). According to the invention, in the single body (20) of the device there is directly integrated an arrangement for silencing the flow of the fluid. The single body (20) is made in a single piece of moulded thermoplastic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Publication date: April 21, 2005
    Applicant: ELTEK S.p.A.
    Inventors: Luigi Sassone, Paolo Savini
  • Patent number: 6857439
    Abstract: A disperser of washing agents is described, for a household washing machine, in particular a dishwasher, said dispenser (10) comprising a tank (12) for containing a liquid washing agent to which a visual control device (17-18) is associated, of the level of said liquid washing agent, said control device comprising a passage (18), placed between said tank (12) and the external part of the body (11) of the dispenser (10), and an element in a substantially transparent material (17) inserted in said passage (18), a first portion (22) of said transparent element (17) being at least partially visible from the outside of said body (11) and a second portion (17B) of said transparent element (17) being inserted in said tank (12), where at the free end of said second portion (17B) a series of projections (20) is defined, being placed at different levels of height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Eltek S.P.A.
    Inventors: Giovanni Perruca, Fabio Nebbia
  • Patent number: 6851581
    Abstract: A washing agent dispenser is described, for a household washing machine, namely a dishwasher, said dispenser including a tank for containing a liquid washing agent, to which a device is associated for the visual control of the level of said liquid washing agent. According to the invention, said control device has a plurality of elements of a substantially transparent material, which are inserted in respective passages extending between said tank and the outside of the body of the dispenser. The parts of each one of said transparent elements which are visible outside said body form the steps of a scale indicating the level of said liquid washing agent contained in the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Eltek S.p.A.
    Inventors: Giovanni Perucca, Fabio Nebbia, Daniele Cerruti, Stefano Belfiore, Costanzo Gadini
  • Patent number: 6823878
    Abstract: A household appliance using water is described, in particular a washing machine, comprising a supply system of water from an external source (8,9), a softening system for at least a portion of the supplied water (10,17), and a control system of the appliance, characterized in that permanent water softening means (10,17,H,21) are provided, which are controlled by said control system and which do not periodic interventions by the user to the appliance, for adding regeneration media and/or replacing components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Eltek S.p.A.
    Inventor: Costanzo Gadini
  • Patent number: 6813886
    Abstract: A Thermal actuation device has at least a heat expandable or deformable material, a heater, a power supply for the heating, a thruster capable of movement following expansion or distortion of a material, so as to perform a substantially predetermined stroke having a length from a first to a second position, at least an actuation element linearly following the action of the thruster so as to move with respect to a fixed structure from a first to a second position, and a resilient device able to return the thruster and/or actuation element respective first positions. A motion multiplyer actuated by the thrusting means is further provided for obtaining a stroke of the actuation element longer than the stroke of the thruster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Eltek S.p.A.
    Inventors: Daniele Cerruti, Giovanni Perruca
  • Patent number: 6766812
    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′).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Eltek S.p.A.
    Inventor: Costanzo Gadini
  • Patent number: 6474351
    Abstract: A dispensing device of detergents and/or additives for washing machines is described, of the type having at least a space for containing a liquid, such as a rinse aid, the body of the device including at least a first part and a second part, the parts being made integral with each other by welding, wherein a portion of the body is intended to be inserted through an opening of a wall, a surface of the wall facing on a washing tank while the opposite surface of the wall faces on a space which has to be sealed from the tank. According to the invention, a seal is provided, in order to prevent leakage of the liquid from the welding into the space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Eltek S.p.A.
    Inventors: Daniele Cerruti, Costanzo Gadini, Fabio Nebbia
  • Patent number: 6336541
    Abstract: An actuation device is described, having: an actuator with a movable actuation element; at least a transmission element being capable of moving from a respective first operating condition to a respective second operating condition under the action of the actuation element. According to the invention, a hooking-release arrangement is provided, which is made operative by the actuation element during a displacement of the latter, for inducing in the transmission element a movement which occurs at least in part with a speed being higher than the speed of the displacement of the actuation element. The device has an advantageous use in the realization of systems for blocking, in a predetermined position, the drum of a machine for washing and/or drying laundry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Assignee: Eltek S.p.A.
    Inventors: Stefano Belfiore, Fiorenzo Pivetta
  • Patent number: 6336510
    Abstract: A sprinkler device for fire extinguishing systems is adapted to be coupled to a fluid supply line and placed in an environment which is to be protected from fire. The device has an actuator sensitive to room temperature which causes motion of a shutter for controlling the flow of the fluid to an outlet when the room temperature exceeds a predetermined threshold. The actuation device has an unbreakable container in which there is stored a material having a volume which is a function of the container's temperature, a shaft movable in response to a change in volume of the material, and a closure and sealing device for the chamber and shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Assignee: Eltek S.p.A.
    Inventor: Costanzo Gadini
  • Patent number: 6255934
    Abstract: An actuation device capable of changing its operating condition between a stable rest position and a stable work position has a monostable actuation unit with a body and at least a shaft movable as a function of the energization available to the actuation unit, and a kinematic motion assembly for converting the movement of the shaft into a bistable actuation, the kinematic motion assembly including a slider linearly movable in response to action of the shaft and a device for converting subsequent linear movements of the shaft in the passage of the slider between the stable positions and the maintaining of the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Eltek S.p.A.
    Inventors: Costanzo Gadini, Daniele Cerruti
  • Patent number: 6240728
    Abstract: An actuator device has electrical components, which are subjected to electric voltage, located inside a housing near movable mechanical elements. Insulation of the electrical components from the environment is achieved by introducing into the housing an expanding material, specifically a silicone elastomer of a type suitable to reticulate for forming a protective foam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Eltek S.p.A.
    Inventor: Costanzo Gadini
  • Patent number: 6121588
    Abstract: An actuation device comprising:at least two thermal actuators (5A,5B) electrically supplied, each thermal actuator (5A,5B) comprising relevant thrust means (4A,6A,4B,6B) being movable to perform a predetermined stroke;at least a working means (12) moved by means of said thermal actuators (5A,5B) and connected with the thrust means (4B,6B) of one of said thermal actuators (5A,5B);where said working means (12;12A;18) is able to take at least three different steady working positions (I,II,III) in function of the presence of supply to a first (5B) or a second (5A) or both said thermal actuators (5A,5B).According to the invention, said first thermal actuator (5B) is free to move with respect to said second thermal actuator (5A) and means (6A,11) are provided for transferring the thrust produced by the second thermal actuator (5A) to the first thermal actuator (5B), and causing a change in the reciprocal positioning of one thermal actuator with respect to the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Eltek S.p.A.
    Inventor: Daniele Cerruti
  • Patent number: 6052993
    Abstract: An actuator of the thermal type has a body, wherein a chamber is defined for containing a material which expands as a function of the temperature of said body; a shaft, having one end directly dipped into said material, the shaft being movable as a function of the increase and decrease of volume of said material; a closure and sealing device for the chamber and the shaft, including at least a closure element, configured as a washer or similar element, which is apt to cooperate mechanically with said body, at least a first sealing element, such as a bushing or similar element, which is apt to perform a first sealing on said shaft, and at least a second sealing element, such as a ring or similar element, which is apt to perform a second sealing on said shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Eltek S.p.A
    Inventors: Costanzo Gadini, Renato Gaj
  • Patent number: 5968395
    Abstract: A simple, low-cost, reliable thermoactuator device is described, being capable of taking a plurality of stable working position besides its rest position. One and the same body is associated with at least two thermoactuators whose arrangement is such as to make a movable actuation element capable of taking at least three stable working positions, which are obtained as a function of an electric signal to the supply terminals of either one or the other or both of the thermoactuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Eltek S.P.A.
    Inventors: Costanzo Gadini, Fiorenzo Pivetta
  • Patent number: 5929345
    Abstract: A device for monitoring the flow rate of a liquid has an impeller with a plurality of blades arranged within a duct wherein the liquid flows, and a sensor able to detect the rotation of the impeller. A variable distributor is mounted in the duct for modifying the ratio between the number of revolutions of the impeller and the rate liquid flow in the duct in order to control the resolution of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Eltek S.p.a.
    Inventor: Costanzo Gadini
  • Patent number: 5927400
    Abstract: A device is described, for the adjustment of the flow rate of a liquid which circulates within thermal convectors or heat exchangers making up part of heating, conditioning or ventilation plants, or apparatus for the thermal treatment of products. The device comprises a body within which a movable shutter is provided, the position of which allows for adjusting the quantity of liquid flowing between at least an inlet duct and an outlet duct, the positioning of the shutter being obtained by way of a suitable actuator.The device comprises a control circuit and an instant flow rate and/or quantity meter of the liquid flowing in one of said ducts, for the automatic and continuous adjustment of the flow, by way of the appropriate positioning of the shutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Eltek S.p.a.
    Inventors: Elvio Bononi, Costanzo Gadini