Abstract: A steam condensation device is provided in a dryer or combination washer/dryer for condensing hot water vapor carried by hot air used to dry laundry in the dryer or combination washer/dryer. The steam condensation device includes a vertically extending tubular casing, at least one condenser conduit extending vertically within and spaced from the casing so as to define an annular space therebetween, and a spiral wall disposed between respective internal and external surfaces of the at least one condenser conduit and the casing. The spiral wall extends spirally toward the lower end of the at least one condenser conduit so as to define a spiral conveying path alongside the external surface of the at least one condenser conduit. The condensation device is arranged so that hot air circulating through the interior of the rotating basket containing laundry in the machine passes through the interior of the at least one condensor conduit.

Abstract: The invention relates to an automatic laundry washer of the type having a laundering tub in which a drum is rotated by an electric motor at a low speed during a laundering phase, and at a high speed during at least one certrifuging period. For ensuring a complete discharge of foam and lye in the course of a centrifuging period, a pressure switch is adapted to interrupt the rotation of the drum during the centrifuging period and to disconnect the power supply to the program control unit in response to the level within the laundering tub exceeding a predetermined value.

Abstract: A dishwashing machine includes a recirculating pump having a casing, an inlet communicating with a sump of a washing tub, an outlet communicating with a spray arm located above the sump, and an impeller rotatable within the casing in a recirculating direction during a washing phase of operation of the machine and rotatable in a direction opposite to the recirculating direction during a drain phase of operation of the machine. A recirculating filter is positioned between the spray arm and the sump. To ensure that all water collected in the sump adjacent the inlet of the recirculating pump is discharged during the drain phase of operation of the machine, a conduit has a first end connected to the interior of the casing of the recirculating pump and a second end positioned adjacent the recirculating filter.

Abstract: An automatic refrigerator includes a sterilized storage compartment, normally kept at a food storage temperature, in which a blower provides forced ventilation. A germicide lamp, capable of generating ultraviolet radiations, is located in the flow path of the forced ventilation and is associated with a shielding device protecting the storage compartment from the radiations.

Abstract: A clothes washing machine is convertible to a clothes drying or a combined clothes washing and drying machine and includes a washing tub made of plastic material and a rotating inner drum housed in the tub and capable of being driven at the various revolving speeds required for both washing and drying cycles. The tub is provided with an upper opening which can be closed by exchangeable or interchangeable closing elements including, when the machine is being used as a dryer, an arched closing element provided with a number of electrical heating elements and an upper port capable of being connected with an exhaust manifold of the machine via a hot air circulating conduit.

Abstract: A laundry washing machine includes a wash tub, a basket to receive laundry and rotatably mounted within the wash tub, a collection chamber connected to the bottom of the wash tub for collecting washing liquid therefrom, a drain pump for pumping washing liquid in a first direction from the collection chamber to a drain pump during a draining phase of the cycle of operation of the machine, an electrical heating element within the collection chamber for heating washing liquid collected therein, a recirculation pump for pumping heated washing liquid in a second direction from the collection chamber and for recirculating the heated washing liquid to an upper portion of the wash tub during a recirculation phase of the cycle of operation of the machine, and a filter removably mounted within the collection chamber.

Abstract: A wash tub for a dishwasher has a rectangular cross section and houses a spray arm rotatable about an axis adjacent to the center of such cross section. Larger side walls of the tub are provided with recesses capable of receiving the end portions of the spray arm during rotation thereof. The length and washing effectiveness of the rotary spray arm are increased.

Abstract: A pump unit, particularly for use in a dishwasher, includes first and second pumps having respective impellers and a motor drive shaft fixed to the two impellers for alternately rotating the impellers in a first direction, during which only the first pump delivers a liquid, and an opposite second direction during which only the second pump delivers a liquid. The first pump is a peripheral outflow pump, and the second pump is a centrifugal pump the impeller of which includes blades oriented forwardly with respect to the second direction of rotation.

Abstract: A laundry washing machine includes a wash tub, a basket for receiving laundry and mounted for rotation within the wash tub, a recirculating duct extending from the bottom of the wash tub to an upper portion thereof, and a pump for recirculating the washing liquid through the duct from the bottom of the wash tub to the upper portion thereof. A housing is attached to the top of the wash tub to define a chamber, and the duct extends into the housing such that the washing liquid pumped by the pump through the duct is discharged into the chamber. Heater elements are located within the chamber to thereby heat the washing liquid discharged into the chamber. The interior of the chamber communicates with the interior of the wash tub through an overflow weir. The machine further may include an air drying circuit whereby air is recirculated through an air duct by means of a fan from the bottom of the wash tub to the chamber, wherein the recirculated air is heated by the heating elements.

Abstract: Refrigerating cabinets of different sizes and shapes may be manufactured by the use of a single positioning member. Thus, the positioning member has a configuration which is adjustable to adapt to the particular shape of a given inner housing of refrigerating cabinet. When the adjustment is made, the performed housing is fixedly positioned on the thus adjusted positioning member. Previously formed outer walls of the particular cabinet involved then are positioned about the thus positioned housing, with a space being defined between the housing and the outer walls. The positioning member further includes elements which may be employed to partially form a foaming jig. This total unit then is moved to a simplified foaming unit, whereafter the formation of the foaming jig is completed, and insulation material is foamed into the space between the housing and the outer walls.

Abstract: A washing machine assembly includes first and second liquid ducts having respective inlets and outlets. The first duct has an interior volume greater than the second duct, and the outlet of the first duct is at a level higher than the outlet of the second duct. A pump pumps liquid to the ducts, and a valve controls the flow of liquid from the pump to the inlets of the first or second ducts. The valve includes a housing having an inlet connected to the delivery side of the pump and first and second outlets connected respectively to the inlets of the first and second ducts. A valve closing element within the housing is movable from a stable first unblocking position spaced from and aligned with the first outlet to a first blocking position closing the first outlet, such that the pumped liquid flows to the second duct. At the same time, a bypass allows some pumped liquid to bypass the closing element into the first duct.

Abstract: A dishwashing machine includes at least one additive distributor for dispensing additive into a wash tub, a first electrically controlled actuator for operating the distributor, a water softener for softening water supplied to the wash tub, a regeneration circuit for regenerating the water softener, a second electrically controlled actuator for operating the regenerating circuit, and a programmer for controlling the operation of the first and second actuators. The first and second actuators are electrically connected in parallel to each other. A single switch is controlled by the programmer for connecting the parallelly connected first and second actuators to a power source for at least one first time period and at least one second time period longer than the first time period. The first and second actuators have response times respectively shorter and longer than the first time period, and the response time of the second actuator is less than the second time period.

Abstract: A washing machine filter includes a housing having an open first end adapted to be mounted adjacent a wall of a washing machine and a closed second end. The housing has a first connection to be connected to a wash tub of the washing machine to receive therefrom water to be filtered and a second connection to be connected to a pump of the washing machine for discharging the filtered washing water. A filtering body extends through the open end of the housing and into the interior thereof. The body has an outer end sealed to the housing and an inner end extending freely into the interior of the housing. The body has therethrough filtering openings for filtering the water passing between the first and second connections of the housing. A shut-off cover is removably connected to the other end of the filtering body for sealing the open first end of the housing. The filter housing and filtering body are curved and extend obliquely downwardly away from the ends thereof adjacent the washing machine wall.

Abstract: A washing machine tub includes a cylindrical shell of stainless steel and having an open front end and an opposite end closed by a rear wall. A cross member is fixed to the rear wall to support a shaft of a basket to revolve within the shell. A sheet metal cylindrical band covers the outer surface of the shell over a portion of the axial length thereof. The band is integrally connected to the outer surface of the shell by a metal working operation and is releasably connected to the cross member by means of attachment members.

Abstract: A control device for refrigerating equipment endowed with devices to regulate the temperature and the level of humidity in the refrigerated space utilizing temperature sensors located in the refrigerated space and/or in an evaporator and having at least one compressor.The control device includes the basic control components for starting and stopping the compressor depending upon the temperature selected by manual control devices and upon the temperature measured by the above-mentioned sensors. It also includes a secondary control unit which is able to start and stop the defrosting of the evaporator depending upon the level of humidity selected by the above-mentioned manual control devices and obtained after a predetermined number of work cycles by the compressor. The control device in accordance with the present invention allows the optimization of the conditions of food conservation in refrigeration equipment, and further enables an increased efficiency and lowered energy consumption of the equipment.

Abstract: An electrolytic cell for the electrolysis of a sodium chloride solution includes a cathode compartment having therein a cathode for producing hydrogen during electrolysis and an anode compartment having therein an anode for producing chlorine gas during electrolysis. A single conduit is at the bottom of the cell for charging sodium chloride solution into the compartments and for discharging therefrom solutions resulting from electrolysis. A porous partition substantially separates the compartments and has a lower end terminating above the bottom of the cell at the single conduit, such that the lower ends of the compartments are in free communication. A mixing chamber is connected to the upper ends of the two compartments to mix the hydrogen and chlorine gas and to dynamically balance the pressures in the two compartments, thereby preventing mixing of the products of electrolysis from the two compartments.

Abstract: An electrolytic cell for the production of chlorine gas by the electrolysis of a sodium chloride solution includes a cell body having therein a cathode compartment having a cathode electrode for the formation of hydrogen gas during electrolysis and an anode compartment having an anode electrode for the formation of chlorine gas during electrolysis. Apertures or conduits are provided for charging sodium chloride solution into the compartments, for discharging hydrogen and chlorine gases from the compartments, and for discharging from the compartments solutions resulting from the electrolysis operation. A nonporous wall provides for physical and electrolytic communication between the bottoms of the compartments, while preventing physical and electrolytic communication between the compartments above the bottoms thereof.

Abstract: A dish washing machine includes a wash tank for receipt of dishes to be washed and a hydraulic circuit for receiving water from a water supply source and for supplying water to the wash tank. An electrochemical cell for generating chlorine gas by the electrolysis of a brine solution is connected to the hydraulic circuit. A salt container is connected to the hydraulic circuit by at least one valve and forms brine to be supplied to the electrochemical cell. At least one chlorine gas supply conduit connects the electrochemical cell to the wash tank to thereby supply chlorine gas from the electrochemical cell to the interior of the wash tank.

Abstract: A laundry washing machine includes a washing tube, a water supply an a decalcifier for receiving water from the water supply and for discharging softened water. A metering tank is at an upper position in the machine to receive softened water from the decalcifier. A brine tank at a lower position in the machine receives softened water from the metering tank and generates brine. An electrochemical cell is provided to generate chlorine gas. Valves are provided to selectively pass brine from the brine tank to the electrochemical cell or to the decalcifier. Chlorine gas generated in the cell is absorbed and then passed to the washing tube.

Abstract: A wash tub for a front loading clothes washing machine of domestic type is made in a single body, preferably by injection moulding of plastics material. The tub is provided with a cylindrical band having at least two portions of different diameter. In the area of the region where the band changes in diameter, an annular stiffening rib is provided having seats for locking the suspension members of the tub. The rear portion includes in one piece box-like housings, or at least a bracket, capable of being filled with counterweight material or fixed to added ballast masses, respectively.