Abstract: A door-lock system for a household appliance, such as a washing machine and the like, of the type provided with a door, to which a hook is associated, and a member to be moved (C) of said household appliance, such as a washing drum (C) or the like, said door-lock system comprising motor means for operating said member to be moved (C) and a door-lock device, capable of interacting with said hook, to lock said door, characterized in that said door-lock system comprises a control unit, capable of controlling the power supply of said motor means and connected to said door-lock device, so as to control the power supply to hold said hook and to close said door.

Abstract: An electric valve device (1) for household appliances, includes a hollow body (2) with an inlet (4, 5) and an outlet (5, 4) for a flow of a liquid, between which in the body (2) there is defined a chamber (6) wherein a first valve seat (7) is provided, a (first) obturator (17) moveably mounted in the chamber (6) and cooperating with the first seat (7) for controlling the communication between the inlet (4, 5) and the outlet (5, 4), and a movable member (12) coupled with the obturator (17) and displaceable towards and away from the first valve seat (7) and controlled by means of an electrically operable actuator (10) carried by said body (2). In the body (2) a second valve seat (8) is staggered with respect to the first valve seat (7) along the direction of displacement of the first obturator (7), to which is connected a second obturator (18) displaceable from and towards the second valve seat (8).

Abstract: A knob includes a support structure defining a chamber containing magnetorheological fluid. A holding element is supported and guided by the support structure to be rotated and pressed by the user. A movable portion is rotatably supported by the support structure and is rotatably controlled by the holding element. A switching member moves between rest and work positions when the holding element is pressed. A sensor detects the angular position of the movable portion. A haptic feedback assembly in the chamber acts upon the movable portion to provide haptic stimulation in response to action of the user. A generating apparatus emits a magnetic field with an intensity affecting viscosity of the fluid so the assembly exerts a force upon the movable portion. A control device determines the intensity of the magnetic field depending on predetermined or programmable criteria that are based on angular position and/or arrangement.

Abstract: A device for measuring the flow rate of a fluid, including a bladed impeller mounted in the conduit to be driven in rotation by the flow of the fluid, and to which at least one magnet is fixed, and a magnetic field sensor arranged near the conduit to generate a signal each time the magnet of the impeller, passes thereby. The number of signals generated by the sensor in a period of time is representative of the flow rate of the fluid.

Abstract: An electric valve device (1) for household appliances, includes a hollow body (2) with an inlet (4, 5) and an outlet (5, 4) for a flow of a liquid, between which in the body (2) there is defined a chamber (6) wherein a first valve seat (7) is provided, a (first) obturator (17) moveably mounted in the chamber (6) and cooperating with the first seat (7) for controlling the communication between the inlet (4, 5) and the outlet (5, 4), and a movable member (12) coupled with the obturator (17) and displaceable towards and away from the first valve seat (7) and controlled by means of an electrically operable actuator (10) carried by said body (2). In the body (2) a second valve seat (8) is staggered with respect to the first valve seat (7) along the direction of displacement of the first obturator (7), to which is connected a second obturator (18) displaceable from and towards the second valve seat (8).

Abstract: A method that allows the determination of at least one variable operational characteristic of a hydraulic system which includes a hydraulic fluid source a utilizing apparatus connected to the source through a conduit, and a flow-rate measuring device, positioned after the source for providing a signal indicative of the flow-rate of the liquid. The method includes the operations of providing in the hydraulic system an indicator device containing information indicative of the values taken by a predetermined parameter of the flow-rate measuring device as a function of the flow rate of the fluid; providing an acquisition means adapted to acquire the information from the indicator device; and predisposing an electronic processing means to calculate in a predetermined manner at least one operational characteristic of the hydraulic system, as a function of the flow-rate measuring device and of the information acquired by the indicator device.

Abstract: The device (1) comprises: a casing (2-4) in which there is clamped a diaphragm (5) which, together with a portion of the casing (2-4), defines at least one chamber (6, 7) having a variable volume; a winding (14); an interaction member (13), adapted to magnetically interact with the winding (14) as a consequence of a displacement of the diaphragm (5), in such a way that the inductance of the winding (14) varies as a function of the relative position of the interaction member (13) with respect to the winding (14), and a processing unit (17) coupled to the winding (14), in order to supply electric signals having a parameter which is variable as a function of the inductance of the winding (14) and thus as a function of the relative position of the interaction member (13).

Abstract: An apparatus (10) includes an engagement element (11), fitted on a household appliance casing for being releasably held by a retaining element (16) fitted on the door (D). The engagement element (11) includes a support body (12); and a striker (14), releasably coupled to the retaining element (16) and is mobile between a retracted position and an extracted position. When the striker (14) is coupled to the retaining element (16) and assumes the retracted position and the extracted position, respectively, the door (D) is in a complete closing condition and in a pre-opening condition, respectively. A stop mechanism (18) moves from a release condition, to liberate said striker (14), to a locking condition, to hold said striker (14), in said retracted position; a driver controls movement of the stop mechanism (18). The stop mechanism (18) has a manually controlled safety element (18a) and is moveable to constrain the stop mechanism.

Abstract: The component (10) comprises a hollow body (12) having: an inlet (14, 14a, 14b), which is adapted to be connected to a source of pressurized liquid, for example the water supply network (WS); an outlet (16), adapted to deliver said liquid to a washing chamber (WC) defined by said washing tub (WT); a path (18) for the liquid, which is defined in the hollow body (12) between the inlet (14, 14a, 14b) and the outlet (16) and includes anti-return means (26, 26a) for said liquid under pressure; a passage (28), adapted to receive, at its inlet, vapor coming from the washing chamber (WC) and to discharge the vapor into the environment outside of the washing tub (WT); and a valve device (30) comprising a plug element (32), adapted to at least partially free and obstruct said passage (28).

Abstract: A door-lock system for a household appliance, such as a washing machine and the like, of the type provided with a door, to which a hook is associated, and a member to be moved (C) of said household appliance, such as a washing drum (C) or the like, said door-lock system comprising motor means for operating said member to be moved (C) and a door-lock device, capable of interacting with said hook, to lock said door, characterized in that said door-lock system comprises a control unit, capable of controlling the power supply of said motor means and connected to said door-lock device, so as to control the power supply to hold said hook and to close said door.

Abstract: An electric valve device including a hollow body with an inlet and an outlet for a flow of fluid, in particular a liquid, between which, inside said body, there is defined a chamber in which there is provided a valve seat intended to cooperate with an associated closing member for controlling communication between the inlet and the outlet; and a tubular guiding formation which is nominally coaxial with the valve seat and inside which there is mounted, axially displaceably to and from the seat, a core which carries the closing member and the position of which with respect to the seat can be electromagnetically controlled by means of a winding or solenoid arranged around said tubular formation. The hollow body and the tubular guiding formation are made as a single piece of moulded plastic.

Abstract: A structure has a drawer defining at least one chamber receiving a washing agent and is mounted to move in a shell between an extracted position, in which the chamber is accessible from the outside for receiving a washing agent, and a retracted position, in which the chamber is closed by the shell and suited to dispense the washing agent. A passage communicates with the chamber and outside. A pumping member is suited to push a quantity of washing agent from the chamber towards the passage. An actuator operates the pumping member and is fixed on the shell separate from the drawer. The pumping member is able to assume an active condition, coupled to the actuator and to the passage, when the drawer is retracted. The pumping member is able to assume an inactive condition, uncoupled from the actuator or from the passage, when the drawer is extracted.

Abstract: A dishwasher door closing device (10; 110) includes an engagement element (11; 111), fitted on the casing (C) of the household appliance (W) releasably held by a retaining element (16) on the door (D). The engagement element (11; 111) includes a support body (12), a catch (14) releasably coupled to the retaining element (16) moving between a refracted position coupled to the retaining element (16) and the door (D) is closed, and an extracted position coupled to the retaining element (16) and the door (D) is in a pre-opening condition. A stop mechanism (18) tends to move from a release condition, in which it (18) frees the catch (14) to move from the retracted position to the extracted position, to a locking position and (18) holds the catch (14). An electrically-operated actuator system (20) controls passage of the stop mechanism (18) from the locking position to the release position.

Abstract: A device (10; 110; 210; 310) includes a support structure (12), on which there are mounted a plug (16), which is adapted to assume a plurality of operating positions including an opening position and a closing position, in which the plug is adapted to at least partially free and respectively obstruct a passage (14), which is meant for a fluid flow. A mechanism (18) is suited to move and hold the plug (16) between said operating positions. An opening actuator (20) and a closing actuator (22) are suited to separately act upon the mechanism (18), so that the mechanism (18) moves and holds the plug (16) between said operating positions, namely towards said opening position and towards said closing position, respectively, due to electric current supplied to the opening actuator (20) and to the closing actuator respectively.

Abstract: A structure has a drawer defining at least one chamber receiving a washing agent and is mounted to move in a shell between an extracted position, in which the chamber is accessible from the outside for receiving a washing agent, and a retracted position, in which the chamber is closed by the shell and suited to dispense the washing agent. A passage communicates with the chamber and outside. A pumping member is suited to push a quantity of washing agent from the chamber towards the passage. An actuator operates the pumping member and is fixed on the shell separate from the drawer. The pumping member is able to assume an active condition, coupled to the actuator and to the passage, when the drawer is retracted. The pumping member is able to assume an inactive condition, uncoupled from the actuator or from the passage, when the drawer is extracted.

Abstract: The pilot valve (14) comprises a body (7, 7a) in which there is defined a control chamber (11) which is intended to communicate with the inlet (3) of the hydraulic valve (1) and which, through a restricted outlet passage (12) associated with a valve seat (13), is able to be selectively brought into communication with the outlet (4) of the hydraulic valve (1); at least one core (23) mounted movably within a portion (7a) of said body (7, 7a) and inside the control chamber (11) and carrying a closing member (24) cooperating with the valve seat (13); and an actuator (16-21) including a solenoid or coil (15) of copper wire, mounted around said portion (7a) of the body (7, 7a), for selectively controlling the position of the core (23) and the closing member (24) with respect to the valve seat (13) and the communication between the control chamber (11) and the restricted outlet passage (12); and wherein the ratio of the diameter (d) of the restricted outlet passage (12) to the weight (m) of the solenoid (16) is betw

Abstract: A device (10; 110; 210; 310) includes a support structure (12), on which there are mounted a plug (16), which is adapted to assume a plurality of operating positions including an opening position and a closing position, in which the plug is adapted to at least partially free and respectively obstruct a passage (14), which is meant for a fluid flow. A mechanism (18) is suited to move and hold the plug (16) between said operating positions. An opening actuator (20) and a closing actuator (22) are suited to separately act upon the mechanism (18), so that the mechanism (18) moves and holds the plug (16) between said operating positions, namely towards said opening position and towards said closing position, respectively, due to electric current supplied to the opening actuator (20) and to the closing actuator respectively.

Abstract: An electric valve device including a body having an inlet and an outlet, and a main valve seat through which the fluid can flow from the inlet to the outlet, a main shutter movable with respect to the valve seat; a control chamber; first and second communication passages between the inlet and the control chamber and between the control chamber and the outlet, respectively; a fixed structure arranged in the control chamber and in which there is defined an auxiliary valve seat, which is coaxial with the main valve seat (8) and which communicates with said second passage; and a solenoid control valve including a control solenoid coaxial with the valve seats for controlling an auxiliary shutter mounted movably in the control chamber and cooperating with the auxiliary valve seat for controlling the communication between the control chamber and the second passage.

Abstract: Actuating device (10) for a laundry washing machine (M) includes a casing (12), a driver (14), which is contained in the casing (12), a control mechanism (16), which is actuated by the driver (14) to assume a plurality of arrangements, in which it is able to bring a shutter (N) of a hydraulic distributor (D) to different operating conditions. A rotatory element (18), which, during its rotation, is supported by the casing (12) and is actuated by said driver (14). The angular position of the rotatory element (18) indicates the arrangement assumed by the driver (14). A sensor (20) is adapted to detect the angular position assumed by the rotatory element (18), and the casing (12) has a through opening (22), through which the control mechanism (16) is connected to the rotatory element (18).

Abstract: A solenoid valve device that includes a body (2, 7) with an inlet (3) and an outlet (4) for the fluid, and with a main valve seat (6) through which the fluid can flow from the inlet (3) to the outlet (4); a main plug (8, 9); a control chamber (11) partially delimited by the main plug (8); a first passage (8d, 9b, 9c) for communication between the inlet (3) and the control chamber (11); a second passage (12, 13) for communicating the control chamber with the outlet (4); and a control solenoid valve (14) including a control solenoid (15) which controls a movable unit (17) including a first core (18) which can interact as a movable plug with the second passage (12, 13). Activation of solenoid (15) causes attraction of first core (18) towards a second core (21) and the opening of the second passage (12, 13).