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: A system (10, 110) includes an engagement element (11) mounted on a household appliance (W) door (D). A supporting body (12) is releasably held by a retaining element (16) mounted on a cabinet (C). A striker (14, 114) releasably couples to the retaining element (16) and moves between retracted and extracted positions. When the striker (14; 114) is retracted the door (D) is fully closed, and when extracted the door is pre-opened relative to the cabinet (C). An actuator (20) controls a locking mechanism (18) that tends to switch from an unlocked condition, allowing the striker (14,114) to move from the retracted to the extracted position, to a locked condition, holding the striker (14, 114) in the retracted position. A thrust member (19, 119) exerts thrust on the door (D), facilitating switching to pre-opened when the striker (14) couples to the retaining element (16), locking the locking mechanism (18).

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: 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: 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 system (10, 110) includes an engagement element (11) mounted on a household appliance (W) door (D). A supporting body (12) is releasably held by a retaining element (16) mounted on a cabinet (C). A striker (14, 114) releasably couples to the retaining element (16) and moves between retracted and extracted positions. When the striker (14; 114) is retracted the door (D) is fully closed, and when extracted the door is pre-opened relative to the cabinet (C). An actuator (20) controls a locking mechanism (18) that tends to switch from an unlocked condition, allowing the striker (14,114) to move from the retracted to the extracted position, to a locked condition, holding the striker (14, 114) in the retracted position. A thrust member (19, 119) exerts thrust on the door (D), facilitating switching to pre-opened when the striker (14) couples to the retaining element (16), locking the locking mechanism (18).

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 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: The device (1) comprises: a body (2; 3, 4) having an inlet (5) and an outlet (6) for the fluid, and a main valve seat (8) through which the fluid can flow from the inlet (5) to the outlet (6), a main shutter (12) movable with respect to the valve seat (8); a control chamber (13) delimited in part by the main shutter (12); at least one first and one second communication passage (17; 15, 16) between the inlet (5) and the control chamber (13) and between the control chamber (13) and the outlet (6), respectively; a fixed structure (10) which is arranged in the control chamber (13) and in which there is defined an auxiliary valve seat (14), which is coaxial with the main valve seat (8) and which communicates with said second passage (15, 16); and a solenoid control valve (20) including a control solenoid (21) arranged coaxially with the valve seats (8, 14), for controlling an auxiliary shutter (27) which is mounted movably in the control chamber (13) and which is intended to cooperate with the auxiliary valve s

Abstract: The dispenser (1) comprises a body (2) in which there is defined a tub-like receptacle (3), having a mouth (4) and capable of receiving an amount of washing agent; a covering assembly (5), which comprises first and second cover portions (5a, 5b) and which is movable with respect to the body (2), between a closed position in which the first cover portion (5a) covers the receptacle (4) and the second cover portion (5b) covers a portion of the body (2) adjacent to the receptacle (3), and an open position in which the first cover portion (5a) uncovers and opens the receptacle (3). The first cover portion (5a) is articulated to the body (2) about a first axis (7) which is parallel to the mouth (4) of the receptacle (3), and can move in translation along guide means (6) provided in the body (2), and is connected to a crank member (5b) in an articulated manner about a second axis (9) parallel to the first axis.

Abstract: A device for measuring the flow rate of a fluid in a conduit, including a bladed impeller mounted in the conduit so as to be driven in rotation by the flow of the fluid, and to which at least one magnet is fixed, and at least one magnetic field sensor arranged in a fixed position near the conduit and capable of causing the generation of a signal (pulse) each time the magnet of the impeller, passes thereby. The arrangement is such that the number of signals (pulses) generated by the sensor in a period of time is representative, according to a predetermined relationship, of the flow rate of the fluid in the associated conduit.

Abstract: The device (1) comprises: 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) associated with this main seat (6), 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 putting the control chamber (11) into communication with the outlet (4); and a control solenoid valve (14) including a control solenoid (15) which controls a movable unit (17) comprising a first core (18) which can interact as a movable plug with the second passage (12, 13). The movable unit (17) comprises a second movable ferromagnetic core (21), adjacent to the first core (18). A spacer element (19) extends between the main plug (8, 9) and the second core (21). One or more springs (20, 22) push the second core (21) towards the main plug (8, 9).

Abstract: A valve assembly including a valve body with inlet and outlet ports, between which there is a main valve seat cooperating with an associated main obturator. The obturator defines together with the valve body, a variable volume control chamber in permanent communication with the inlet port through a first passage having a reduced cross-section. The control chamber is adapted to be brought into communication with the outlet port through a second passage having a larger cross-section. Also provided is a solenoid pilot valve including a control coil and a movable core associated with an auxiliary obturator adapted to open and close the second passage. Between the second passage and the outlet port, is defined a second variable volume control chamber, which is delimited in part by the auxiliary obturator, and the movable core associated with the auxiliary obturator is mounted outside of the flow-path of the fluid.

Abstract: The solenoid valve assembly (1) comprises first and second shut-off solenoid valves (2; 3) for controlling the supply of hot water and cold water, and which have a body (2a; 3a) with an inlet duct (2b; 3b) and at least one outlet port (2d; 3d, 3e), and with at least one control winding (2f; 3f, 3g) that extends from the body (2a; 3a) orthogonally to the respective inlet duct (2b; 3b) and is provided with electrical connection terminals (2h; 3h, 3i) which are parallel with one another. These solenoid valves (2, 3) are arranged with their respective bodies (2a; 3a) interconnected in a side-by-side arrangement, with the inlet ducts (2b; 3b) parallel with one another and with their respective windings (2f; 3f, 3g) also parallel with one another. The assembly (1) further comprises a connecting structure (12) with an electrically insulating plate-like body (13) carrying a plurality of electrical conductors (14) coupled to an electrical connector portion (15) integrally formed with the connecting structure (12).

Abstract: The washing machine comprises a support structure in which is suspended a washing chamber in which a laundry drum is mounted to be rotatable, and in which a detector is provided, capable of providing electrical signals indicating the level of the washing liquid in the chamber. The detector comprises an inductive transducer including a coil and an associated core, the relative position of which is variable according to the level of the washing liquid such that the inductance of the coil varies accordingly. The inductive transducer is coupled to the laundry drum in such a way that the inductance of the coil is variable also according to the weight of the load contained in the drum.

Abstract: A device for the metered delivery of a liquid washing or ringing agent for a washing machine and the like. The device includes a casing which is to be secured to the machine and which is provided with a refillable reservoir for the liquid agent in which is defined a delivery receptacle capable of holding an amount of liquid agent corresponding to a plurality of metered amounts, and an electrically controlled delivery valve device associated with the receptacle and capable of permitting a flow of liquid agent from the delivery receptacle towards the washing chamber of the machine, a level-indicator device associated with the delivery receptacle and capable of signalling the instantaneous level reached by the rinsing agent in the receptacle, and a control unit connected to the indicator and arranged to control the delivery valve device in accordance with predetermined modalities as a function of the signal provided by the level-indicator device.

Abstract: The solenoid valve device (1) comprises a duct (3, 10, 10?, 4) with an inlet (3) and an outlet (4) and in which are formed first and second valve seats (5, 6) in series with one another, each between a respective inlet chamber (8, 12) and an associated outlet duct (9, 13), and a first and second interception solenoid valve device (16, 17) associated with the first and second valve seat (5, 6) respectively, and each comprising a respective movable shutter (18; 28) cooperating with one of the seats (5; 6) in the associated inlet chamber (8; 12). Each interception solenoid valve device (16, 17) comprises an electromagnetic control portion (35, 50; 36, 50) which includes a movable core (35, 36) the position of which is controlled by a control winding (50; 50).

Abstract: The device comprises a valve body with an input adapted to be connected to a water supply source, and with at least a first and second output. The body is provided with at least a first and a second electrovalve with direct actuation, whose hydraulic inputs are interconnected with one another and are connected to the input of the valve body and whose outputs are independent or separate and are connected to the first and the second output of the body respectively. The body is provided with a third solenoid electrovalve, for safety purposes, interposed between the input of the body and the inputs of the first and second electrovalves. Control devices are coupled to this third electrovalve such that the latter may be opened/closed each time that the first or second electrovalve is opened/closed. This third electrovalve closes in a delayed manner with respect to the closure of the first and the second electrovalve.

Abstract: The solenoid valve device (1) comprises a duct (3, 10, 10?, 4) with an inlet (3) and an outlet (4) and in which are formed first and second valve seats (5, 6) in series with one another, each between a respective inlet chamber (8, 12) and an associated outlet duct (9, 13), and a first and second interception solenoid valve device (16, 17) associated with the first and second valve seat (5, 6) respectively, and each comprising a respective movable shutter (18; 28) cooperating with one of the said seats (5; 6) in the associated inlet chamber (8; 12). Each interception solenoid valve device (16, 17) comprises an electromagnetic control portion (35, 50; 36, 50) which includes a movable core (35, 36) the position of which is controlled by a control winding (50; 50).

Abstract: The transducer (1) comprises: a rigid casing (2–4) in which a membrane (5) is clamped which, together with a portion of the casing (2–4), defines at least one chamber (6, 7) of variable volume; at least one winding (14); an interaction element (13), able to interact magnetically with the winding (14) under the effect of a displacement of the membrane (5), in such a way that the inductance of the winding (14) is variable in dependence on the relative position of the interaction element with respect to the winding (14), and circuit devices (17) connected to the winding (14) and operable to supply electrical signals of which one parameter, frequency for example, is variable in dependence on the inductance of the winding (14); the said circuit devices (17) including a memory (22) operable to store data representative of corrective values which, when applied in operation to the effective instantaneous values of the said parameter, make it possible to obtain correct values of the parameter corresponding to a predet