Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
~ 2~554~3
DESCRIPTION
WASH WATER SPOUTING APPARATUS AND
DISH WASHER HAVING WASH WATER SPOUTING APPARATUS
[TECHNICAL FIELD]
The present invention relates to a wash water spouting
apparatus and a dish washer having a wash water spouting apparatus.
[BACKGROUND ART]
Dish washers which have wash water spouting apparatuses for
spouting wash water pressurized by pumps are disclosed in Japanese
Patent Laid-Open Publication Hei 3-215232, Japanese Patent Laid-Open
Publication Hei 4-279139, etc.
The conventional dish washers disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-
Open Publication Hei 3-215232, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication
Hei 4-279139, etc. have the following problems.
@~ The motors for driving the pumps must be large because the
pumps must highly pressurize the wash water. Thus, the wash water
spouting apparatuses are large, the dish washers are large, the
production costs and the running costs of the dish washers are high,
and the dish washers are very noisy during operation.
~ The dish washers must be equipped with pumps and injection
nozzles. Reservoir tanks must be disposed between water supply pipes
and the pumps as a safety measure. Thus, the structure of the wash
water spouting apparatuses is complicated, the structure of the dish
washers is complicated, and the production costs and the running
costs of the dish washers are high.
[DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION]
The present invention was made for solving the above problems ~3
and ~ of the conventional dish washers.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a
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wash water spouting apparatus which has a disk, a driving apparatus
for rotating the disk around its central axis and a wash water
supplying apparatus for supplying the disk with wash water.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a wash water spouting apparatus which has a stacked
body made of a plurality of disks stacked coaxially with and separated
from each other and united as a single body, a driving apparatus for
rotating the stacked body around its central axis and a wash water
supplying apparatus for supplying the disks of the stacked body with
wash water.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, a discharging port of the wash water supplying apparatus
is opposed to a portion of the disk radially outwardly offset from
its central axis.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, discharging ports of the wash water supplying apparatus
are disposed facing opposite surfaces of the disk and opposed to each
other.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, a discharging port of the wash water supplying apparatus
is directed in the rotating direction of the disk and inclined
relative to the disk surface.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, a discharging port of the wash water supplying apparatus
is made oval to have its major axis extend radially.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the space between adjacent disks of the stacked body is
narrow, and the wash water supplying apparatus has a pipe which
communicates with the central portion of the space between adjacent
~ 21a5~3:~
disks at one end and communicates with a wash water tank at the other
end.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the space between adjacent disks of the stacked body is
narrow, the wash water supplying apparatus has a pipe which
communicates with the central portion of the space between adjacent
disks at one end and communicates with a wash water tank at the other
end, and the wash water spouting apparatus further has a guide box for
enclosing the stacked body which is provided with an opening opposed
to the space between adjacent disks.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the space between adjacent disks of the stacked body is
narrow, the wash water supplying apparatus has a pipe which
communicates with the central portion of the space between adjacent
disks at one end and communicates with a wash water tank at the other
end, and the outer periphery of the space between adjacent disks is
partially closed.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, at least one of the outer peripheral edges of the disk or
the disks is rounded.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a wash water spouting apparatus which has a stacked
body made of a disk and an annular plate disposed on one of the
surfaces of the disk, the disk and the annular plate being
substantially equal in outer diameter, stacked coaxially with each
other with a narrow space between them and united as a single body, or
of a disk and a pair of annular plates disposed on the opposite
surfaces of the disk, the disk and the annular plates being
substantially equal in outer diameter, stacked coaxially with each
~ 2155~33
--4--
other with narrow spaces between them and united as a single body, a
driving apparatus for rotating the stacked body around its central
axis and a wash water supplying apparatus for supplying the disk of
the stacked body with wash water.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a wash water spouting apparatus which has a
plurality of stacked bodies which are disposed coaxially with each
other and united as a single body, each stacked body being made of a
disk and an annular plate disposed on one of the surfaces of the disk,
the disk and the annular plate being substantially equal in outer
diameter, stacked coaxially with each other with a narrow space
between them and united as a single body, or of a disk and a pair of
annular plates disposed on the opposite surfaces of the disk, the disk
and the annular plates being substantially equal in outer diameter,
stacked coaxially with each other with narrow spaces between them and
united as a single body, a driving apparatus for rotating the stacked
bodies around their central axes and a wash water supplying apparatus
for supplying the disks of the stacked bodies with wash water.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, a discharging port of the wash water supplying apparatus
is opposed to a portion of the disk radially outwardly offset from
its central axis.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, discharging ports of the wash water supplying apparatus
are disposed facing the opposite surfaces of the disk and opposed to
each other.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, a discharging port of the wash water supplying apparatus
is directed in the rotating direction of the disk and inclined
~155433
relative to the disk surface.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, a discharging port of the wash water supplying apparatus
is made oval to have its major axis extend radially.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, at least one of the outer peripheral edges of the disk or
the disks, or the annular plates is rounded.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, a plurality of radially directed blades are disposed in
the narrow space between the disk and the annular plate to be
circumferentially spaced from each other.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a wash water spouting apparatus which has a stacked
body made of a disk and a plurality of annular plates disposed on one
of the surfaces of the disk, the disk and the annular plates being
substantially equal in outer diameter, stacked coaxially with each
other with narrow spaces between them and united as a single body, or
of a disk and a pair of groups of annular plates disposed on opposite
surfaces of the disk, the disk and the annular plates being
substantially equal in outer diameter, stacked coaxially with each
other with narrow spaces between them and united as a single body, a
driving apparatus for rotating the stacked body around its central
axis, and a wash water supplying apparatus for supplying the narrow
spaces of the stacked body with wash water.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, a discharging port of the wash water supplying apparatus
is disposed radially outwardly offset from the central axis of the
stacked body and near the inner periphery of the narrow space.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
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invention, at least one of the outer peripheral edges of the disk or
the annular plates is rounded.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, a plurality of radially directed blades are disposed in
the narrow space between the disk and the annular plate and in the
narrow space between the adjacent annular plates to be
circumferentially spaced from each other.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a dish washer which has a washing vessel provided
with an opening in its side wall, any one of the preceding wash water
spouting apparatuses disposed outside of the opening of the washing
vessel, and a casing enclosing the wash water spouting apparatus and
the opening.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a dish washer which has a washing vessel disposed
continuously with a kitchen sink and provided with an opening in its
side wall, any one of the preceding wash water spouting apparatuses
disposed outside of the opening of the washing vessel, and a casing
enclosing the wash water spouting apparatus and the opening.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the wash water spouting apparatus is inclined so as to
spout the wash water diagonally and downwardly toward the bottom of
the washing vessel.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the dish washer has an air blowing apparatus for blowing
air to form an air curtain above the wash water spouted in the
washing vessel.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a dish washer which has a casing supported by the
21~33
upper rim of a kitchen sink to be movable horizontally and provided
with an opening in its side wall, and any one of the preceding wash
water spouting apparatuses disposed in the casing.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a dish washer which has a box provided with a
movable cover and an inner space for receiving dishes, any one of the
preceding wash water spouting apparatuses disposed in the box, and a
controlling apparatus for periodically reversing the rotation of the
driving apparatus of the wash water spouting apparatus.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a dish washer which has a box provided with a
movable cover , an inner space for receiving dishes and an opening in
its side wall, any one of the preceding wash water spouting
apparatuses disposed outside of the opening of the box, a casing
enclosing the wash water spouting apparatus and the opening, a
turntable disposed in the box, and a driving apparatus for
periodically reversing the rotation of the turntable.
[BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS]
Figure 1 is a sectional view of a first embodiment of the wash
water spouting apparatus according to the present invention.
Figure 2 is a plan view of a disk showing the measurement
conditions used for determining the volume distribution of the wash
water spouting from the outer periphery of the disk of the first
embodiment of the wash water spouting apparatus according to the
present invention.
Figure 3 is a diagram showing the volume distribution of the
wash water spouting from the outer periphery of the disk of the first
embodiment of the wash water spouting apparatus according to the
present invention.
4 3 ~
-8-
Figure 4 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of the wash
water spouting apparatus according to the present invention.
Figure 5(a), 5(b) are plan views of disks showing the
measurement conditions used for determining the spouting force of the
first embodiment of the wash water spouting apparatus according to the
present invention and the spouting force of the second embodiment of
the wash water spouting apparatus according to the present Invention.
Figure 6 is a sectional view of a third embodiment of the wash
water spouting apparatus according to the present invention.
Figure 7 is a sectional view of the outer periphery of the disk
showing the state of the wash water spouting from the outer periphery
of the disk of the third embodiment of the wash water spouting
apparatus according to the present invention.
Figure 8 is a plan view of the disk of the first embodiment of
the wash water spouting apparatus according to the present invention
showing the measurement conditions used for determining the particle
sizes of the waterdrops spouting from the wash water spouting
apparatus.
Figure 9 is a sectional view of a fourth embodiment of the wash
water spouting apparatus according to the present invention.
Figure 10 is an exploded perspective view of the stacked body
made of a disk and annular plates of the fourth embodiment of the wash
water spouting apparatus according to the present invention.
Figure 11(a), 11(b) are plan views of disks showing the
measurement conditions used for determining the spouting force of the
first embodiment of the wash water spouting apparatus according to the
present invention and the spouting force of the fourth embodiment of
the wash water spouting apparatus according to the present invention.
Figure 12 is a sectional view of a fifth embodiment of the wash
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g
water spouting apparatus according to the present invention.
Figure 13 is an exploded perspective view of the stacked body
made of a disk and annular plates of the fifth embodiment of the wash
water spouting apparatus according to the present invention.
Figure 14 is a plan view of a disk showing the measurement
conditions used for determining the spouting force of the fifth
embodiment of the wash water spouting apparatus according to the
present invention.
Figure 15 is a perspective view of a wash water spouting
apparatus water supply nozzle according to a sixth embodiment of the
present invention.
Figure 16 is a sectional view of a seventh embodiment of the
wash water spouting apparatus according to the present invention.
Figure 17 is an exploded perspective view of the stacked body
made of a disk and annular plates of the seventh embodiment of the
wash water spouting apparatus according to the present invention.
Figure 18 is a sectional view of a eighth embodiment of the wash
water spouting apparatus according to the present invention.
Figure 19 is an exploded perspective view of the stacked body
made of a disk and annular plates of the eighth embodiment of the wash
water spouting apparatus according to the present invention.
Figure 20 is a sectional view of a ninth embodiment of the wash
water spouting apparatus according to the present invention.
Figure 21 is an exploded perspective view of the stacked body
made of disks and a guide box of the ninth embodiment of the wash
water spouting apparatus according to the present invention.
Figure 22 is a sectional view of a tenth embodiment of the wash
water spouting apparatus according to the present invention.
Figure 23 is an exploded perspective view of the stacked body
2~5433
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made of disks of the tenth embodiment of the wash water spouting
apparatus according to the present invention.
Figure 24 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the
dish washer according to the present invention.
Figure 25 is a partial sectional view of the first embodiment of
the dish washer according to the present invention.
Figure 26 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the dish
washer according to the present invention.
Figure 27 is a sectional view of the second embodiment of the
dish washer according to the present invention.
Figure 28 is a sectional view of a third embodiment of the dish
washer according to the present invention.
Figure 29 is a sectional view of a fourth embodiment of the dish
washer according to the present invention.
[THE BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION]
Wash water spouting apparatuses according to the preferred
embodiments of the present invention and dish washers having the wash
water spouting apparatuses will be described.
[WASH WATER SPOUTING APPARATUS]
(1) First embodiment
As shown in Figure 1, a wash water spouting apparatus 1 has a
disk 2, a motor 3 for rotating the disk 2 around its central axis X1,
and wash water supply nozzles 4, 5 for supplying opposite surfaces of
the disk 2 with wash water. The wash water supply nozzles 4, 5 are
united at their base. The united base is connected to a water supply
pipe which is not shown.
As shown in Figures 1 and 2, discharging ports 4a, 5a of the
wash water supply nozzles 4, 5 are opposed to a portion of the disk 2
radially outwardly offset from its central axis X1.
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-1 1 -
The operation of the wash water spouting apparatus 1 is as
follows.
The disk 2 is rotated by the motor 3 in the direction indicated
by arrows in Figure 2. The wash water supply nozzles 4, 5 supply
opposite surfaces of the disk 2 with wash water through the
discharging ports 4a, 5a. The wash water is imparted with shear force
from the disk 2 and accelerated in the rotating direction of the disk
2. As indicated by dashed lines in Figure 2, the wash water forms a
water film and flows radially outwardly on each surface of the disk 2,
describing a spiral locus in accordance with the law of inertia and
spreading into a sector form. The water film reaches the outer
periphery of the disk 2 before it spreads to a wide sector form
because the discharging ports 4a, 5a of the wash water supply nozzles
4, 5 are opposed to a portion of the disk 2 radially outwardly offset
from its central axis Xl.
As indicated by the dashed lines in Figure 2, the water film
spouts radially outwardly at high speed concentratedly from a rather
narrow circumferential region a of the outer periphery of the disk 2.
The water film which has spouted radially outwardly from the
circumferential region ~ of the outer periphery of the disk 2
spreads into a sector form and breaks into a large number of
waterdrops. If an object to be washed is placed radially outside of
the region a, the waterdrops produced by the breakup of the water
film collide against and wash the object.
The location and the extent of the region a is determined by
the distance that the discharging ports 4a, 5a of the wash water
supply nozzles 4, 5 are radially outwardly offset from the central
axis Xl of the disk 2. If the radially outward offset of the
discharging ports 4a, 5a from the central axis Xl of the disk 2 is
2 ~ 3
-12-
small, the regiona extends over the whole circumferential length of
the outer periphery of the disk 2. As the radially outward offset of
the discharging ports 4a, 5a from the central axis X1 of the disk 2
increases, the region a moves toward the discharging ports 4a, 5a and
the extent of the region a narrows.
The wash water spouting apparatus 1 according to the first
embodiment was fabricated. As shown in Figure 2, the diameter of the
disk 2 was set at 130mm, the size of the discharging ports 4a, 5a was
set at lmm (circumferential) x 5mm (radial), the radial distance
between the discharging ports 4a, 5a and the central axis X1 of the
disk 2 was set at 55mm, the distance between the discharging ports 4a,
5a and the surfaces 2a, 2b of the disk 2 was set at 2mm, and the disk
2 was made of ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer) The
disk 2 was rotated at 8000 rpm. Wash water (city water) was supplied
onto the surfaces 2a, 2b of the disk 2 at the flow rate of 3 ~
/minute. The volume distribution of the spouting wash water along the
outer periphery of the disk 2 was measured. The measured volume
distribution of the spouting wash water along the outer periphery of
the disk 2 is shown in Figure 3. From Figure 3, it is understood
that the wash water spouted concentratedly from a particular
circumferential region of the disk 2.
As indicated by dashed lines in Figure 1, the wash water
spouting from the outer periphery of the surface 2a of the disk 2 and
the wash water spouting from the outer periphery of the surface 2b of
the disk 2 draw near each other and converge because the pressure in
the space ~ between the spouting wash waters becomes negative. The
converged waterdrops of the wash water, which have large kinetic
energy per volume, can efficiently wash an object.
In the wash water spouting apparatus 1, the motor 3 only rotates
215~433
-13-
the disk 2 and does not highly pressurize the wash water. Thus, the
motor 3 of the wash water spouting apparatus 1 need not be as large as
the pump driving motors used in conventional pressure type wash water
spouting apparatuses. Thus, the wash water spouting apparatus 1 can
be made smaller than conventional pressure type wash water spouting
apparatuses. A dish washer provided with the wash water spouting
apparatus 1 is smaller, lower in production cost and running cost, and
less noisy than conventional dish washers provided with pressure type
wash water spouting apparatuses.
In the wash water spouting apparatus 1, there is no need for
disposing a pump and a high pressure spouting nozzle or for disposing
a reservoir tank between a water supply pipe and the pump. Thus, the
structure of the wash water spouting apparatus 1 is simpler than
those of conventional pressure type wash water spouting apparatuses.
A dish washer provided with the wash water spouting apparatus 1 is
simpler in structure and lower in production cost and running cost
than conventional dish washers provided with pressure type wash water
spouting apparatuses.
In the wash water spouting apparatus 1, the discharging ports
4a, 5a of the wash water supply nozzles 4, 5 are opposed to a portion
of the disk 2 radially outwardly offset from its central axis X1.
Thus, the wash water supplied onto the disk 2 through the discharging
ports 4a, 5a spouts radially outwardly at high speed from a rather
narrow circumferential region a of the outer periphery of the disk 2.
The concentrated waterdrops of wash water, which have large kinetic
energy per volume, can efficiently wash an object.
(2) Second embodiment
As shown in Figure 4, a wash water spouting apparatus 10 has a
stacked body 13 made of two disks 11, 12 which are stacked coaxially
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-14-
with and separated from each other and united as a single body, a
motor 14 for rotating the stacked body 13 around its central axis X2
and wash water supply nozzles 15, 16, 17 for supplying opposite
surfaces of the disks 11, 12 with wash water. The wash water supply
nozzles 15, 16, 17 are united at their base. The united base is
connected to a water supply pipe which is not shown.
As shown in Figure 4, discharging ports 15a, 16a, 17a of the
wash water supply nozzles 15, 16, 17 are opposed to portions of the
disks 11, 12 radially outwardly offset from their central axis X2.
The operation of the wash water spouting apparatus 10 is as
follows.
The stacked body 13, and so the disks 11, 12 are rotated by the
motor 14. The wash water supply nozzles 15, 16, 17 supply opposite
surfaces of the disks 11, 12 with wash water through the discharging
ports 15a, 16a, 17a. The wash water is imparted with shear force
from the disks 11, 12 and accelerated in the rotating direction of
the disks 11, 12. The wash water forms a water film and flows
radially outwardly on each surface of the disks 11, 12, describing a
spiral locus in accordance with the law of inertia and spreading into
a sector form. The water films of the wash water spout radially
outwardly at high speed concentratedly from rather narrow
circumferential regions of the outer peripheries of the disks 11, 12.
The water films of the wash water which have concentratedly spouted
radially outwardly from the rather narrow circumferential regions of
the outer peripheries of the disks 11, 12 spread into sector forms
and break into a large number of waterdrops. The waterdrops produced
by the breakup of the water films collide against and wash the object
to be washed, which is placed radially outside of the rather narrow
circumferential regions.
21S5~3
As indicated by dashed lines in Figure 4, the wash water
spouting from the outer periphery of the surface 11a of the disk 11,
the wash water spouting from the outer periphery of the surface llb of
the disk 11, the wash water spouting from the outer periphery of the
surface 12a of the disk 12 and the wash water spouting from the outer
periphery of the surface 12b of the disk 12 draw near each other and
converge because the pressures in the spaces r , ~ , ~ between the
spouting wash waters become negative. The converged waterdrops of
the wash water, which have large kinetic energy per volume, can
efficiently wash the object.
For the same rotation speed and the same water consumption, the
wash water spouting apparatus 10 of the second embodiment having two
disks 11, 12 has a larger wash water spouting force than the wash
water spouting apparatus 1 of the first embodiment having a single
disk 2. The reason for this is thought to be that the increase in the
number of disks causes a reduction in the water consumption per disk,
a reduction in the slip of the wash water supplied onto the disk
relative to the rotating disk, and thus an increase in the speed of
the wash water which spouts from the outer periphery of the disk.
The wash water spouting apparatus 1 according to the first
embodiment was fabricated. As shown in Figure 5(a), the diameter of
the disk 2 of the wash water spouting apparatus 1 was set at 130mm,
the thickness of the disk 2 was set at 3mm, the size of the
discharging port 4a was set at 2mm (circumferential)xl4mm (radial),
the radial distance between the discharging port 4a and the central
axis Xl was set at 55mm, the distance between the discharging port 4a
and the surface 2a of the disk 2 was set at 2mm, and the disk 2 was
made of ABS. The discharging port 5a was closed. The disk 2 was
rotated at 8000 rpm. Wash water (city water) was supplied onto the
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surface 2a of the disk 2 at the flow rate of 6~ /minute through the
discharging port 4a. A push-pull gauge 300 provided with a 50mmx 85mm
plate made of acrylate resin was moved along a circular arc radially
outwardly offset from the outer periphery of the disk 2 by 125mm so as
to measure the wash water spouting force of the wash water spouting
apparatus 1 at a position radially outwardiy offset from the outer
periphery of the disk 2 by 125mm. The measured maximum value of the
wash water spouting force was 90gf.
The wash water spouting apparatus 10 according to the second
embodiment was fabricated. As shown in Figure 5(b), the diameters of
the disks 11, 12 of the wash water spouting apparatus 10 were set at
130mm, the thicknesses of the disks 11, 12 were set at 3mm, the
distance between the disks 11, 12 was set at 10mm, the sizes of the
discharging ports 15a, 16a ,17a were set at lmm (circumferential) X
5mm (radial), the radial distances between the discharging ports 15a,
16a, 17a and the central axis X2 were set at 55mm, the distances
between the discharging ports 15a, 16a, 17a and the surfaces 11a,
11b, 12a, 12b of the disks 11, 12 were set at 2mm, and the disks 11,
12 were made of ABS. The disks 11, 12 were rotated at 8000 rpm. Wash
water (city water) was supplied onto the surfaces 1la, 1lb, 12a, 12b
of the disks 11, 12 at the flow rate of 6 ~ /minute through the
discharging ports 15a, 16a, 17a. A push-pull gauge 300 provided with
a 50mmx 85mm plate made of acrylate resin was moved along a circular
arc radially outwardly offset from the outer peripheries of the disks
11, 12 by 125mm so as to measure the wash water spouting force of the
wash water spouting apparatus 10 at a position radially outwardly
offset from the outer peripheries of the disks 11, 12 by 125mm. The
measured maximum value of the wash water spouting force was 195gf.
In the wash water spouting apparatus 10, as in the wash water
4 ~ ~
spouting apparatus 1, the motor 14 only rotates the disks 11, 12 and
does not highly pressurize the wash water. Thus, the motor 14 need
not be as large as the pump driving motors used in conventional
pressure type wash water spouting apparatuses. Thus, like the wash
water spouting apparatus 1, the wash water spouting apparatus 10 is
smaller than conventional pressure type wash water spouting
apparatuses. A dish washer provided with the wash water spouting
apparatus 10 can be made smaller, is lower in production cost and
running cost, and is less noisy than conventional dish washers
provided with pressure type wash water spouting apparatuses.
In the wash water spouting apparatus 10, as in the the wash
water spouting apparatus 1, there is no need for disposing a pump and
a high pressure spouting nozzle or for disposing reservoir tank
between a water supply pipe and the pump. Thus, like the wash water
spouting apparatus 1, the wash water spouting apparatus 10 is simpler
in structure than conventional pressure type wash water spouting
apparatuses. A dish washer provided with the wash water spouting
apparatus 10 is simpler in structure and lower in production cost and
running cost than conventional dish washers provided with pressure
type wash water spouting apparatuses.
In the wash water spouting apparatus 10, as in the wash water
spouting apparatus 1, the discharging ports 15a, 16a, 17a of the wash
water supply nozzles 15, 16, 17 are opposed to portions of the disks
11, 12 radially outwardly offset from their central axis X2. Thus,
the wash water supplied onto the disks 11, 12 through the discharging
ports 15a, 16a, 17a concentratedly spouts radially outwardly from
rather narrow circumferential regions of the outer peripheries of the
disks 11, 12. The concentrated waterdrops of wash water, which have
large kinetic energy per volume, can efficiently wash an object.
2155433
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The wash water spouting apparatus 10 having two disks 11, 12 has
a larger wash water spouting force than the wash water spouting
apparatus 1 having a single disk 2. Thus, the wash water spouting
apparatus 10 can wash an object more efficiently than the wash water
spouting apparatus 1.
(3) Third embodiment
As shown in Figure 6, a wash water spouting apparatus 20 has a
stacked body 23 made of two disks 21, 22 which are stacked coaxially
with and separated from each other and united as a single body, a
motor 24 for rotating the stacked body 23 around its central axis X3,
a wash water supply nozzle 25 for supplying the surface 21a of the
disk 21 with wash water, and wash water supply nozzles 26, 27 for
supplying the surface 21b of the disk 21 and the surfaces 22a, 22b of
the disk 22 with wash water. The outer peripheral edge of the
surface 21a of the disk 21 is rounded into a circular arc shape. The
wash water supply nozzles 26, 27 are united at their base. The wash
water supply nozzle 25 and the united base of the wash water supply
nozzles 26, 27 are connected to a water supply pipe which is not
shown.
As shown in Figure 6, discharging ports 25a, 26a, 27a of the
wash water supply nozzles 25, 26, 27 are opposed to portions of the
disks 21, 22 radially outwardly offset from their central axis X3.
In the wash water spouting apparatus 20, as indicated by dashed
lines in Figure 7, the wash water supplied onto the surface 21a of the
disk 21 flows along the circular arc shaped rounded edge toward the
surface 21b at the outer periphery of the surface 21a and
dispersively spouts radially outwardly at high speed. Thus, the wash
water supplied onto the surface 21a of the disk 21 breaks into small
waterdrops. On the other hand, the wash water supplied onto the
2 1 ~
-1 9-
surface 21b of the disk 21 and the surfaces 22a, 22b of the disk 22,
not dispersively but rather concentratedly, spouts radially outwardly
at high speed from the outer peripheries of the surfaces 21b, 22a and
22b. Thus, the wash water supplied onto the surface 21b of the disk
21 and the surfaces 22a, 22b of the disk 22 break into large
waterdrops. Thus, in the wash water spouting apparatus 20, the size
of the spouting waterdrops can be changed by selectively supplying
the water through the wash water supply nozzle 25 and through the wash
water supply nozzles 26, 27.
Besides from the above differences, the operation of the wash
water spouting apparatus 20 is the same as that of the wash water
spouting apparatus 10.
The wash water spouting apparatus 1 according to the first
embodiment was fabricated. As shown in Figure 8, the disk 2 was made
of ABS, the diameter of the disk 2 was set at 150mm, the thickness of
the disk 2 was set at 3mm, the size of the discharging port 4a was
set at 2mm (circumferential)x14mm (radial), the radial distance
between the discharging port 4a and the central axis X1 was set at
60mm, the distance between the discharging port 4a and the surface 2a
of the disk 2 was set at 2mm, and the outer peripheral edge of the
surface 2a of the disk 2 was rounded into a circular arc shape of 3mm
radius. The discharging port 5a was closed. The disk 2 was rotated
at 5000 rpm. Wash water (city water) was supplied onto the surface
2a of the disk 2 at the flow rate of 3.5 ~ /minute through the
discharging port 4a. A Petri dish 400 applied with silicone oil was
moved along a circular arc radially outwardly offset from the outer
periphery of the disk 2 by 800mm so as to collect the waterdrops
spouting from the disk 2. The waterdrops adhering to the Petri dish
were photographed and the size of the waterdrops were measured from
21~433
-20-
the photograph. The average value of the diameters of the waterdops
was 0.5mm.
When waterdrops were spouted from the disk 2 under the same
conditions as above, except that the outer peripheral edge of the
surface 2a of the disk 2 was not rounded, average value of the
diameters of the waterdops was 1.2mm.
(4) Fourth embodiment
As shown in Figures 9 and 10, a wash water spouting apparatus 30
has a stacked body 36 made of a disk 31, two annular plates 32, 33
which have substantially the same outer diameters as the disk 31 and
are disposed to face opposite surfaces of the disk 31, thin spacers
34 disposed between the disk 31 and the annular plates 32, 33, and
screws 35a and nuts 35b for connecting the disk 31, the annular plates
32, 33 and the spacers 34 as a unitary body, a motor 37 for rotating
the stacked body 36 around its central axis X4 and wash water supply
nozzles 38, 39 for supplying the surfaces 31a, 31b of the disk 31
with wash water. The wash water supply nozzles 38, 39 are united at
their base. The united base of the wash water supply nozzles 38, 39
is connected to a water supply pipe which is not shown.
As shown in Figure 9, discharging ports 38a, 39a of the wash
water supply nozzles 38, 39 are opposed to a portion of the disk 31
radially outwardly offset from its central axis X4.
The operation of the wash water spouting apparatus 30 is as
follows.
The stacked body 36, and so the disk 31 are rotated by the motor
37. The wash water supply nozzles 38, 39 supply the surfaces 31a,
31b of the disk 31 with wash water through the discharging ports 38a,
39a. The wash water is imparted with shear force from the disk 31 and
accelerated in the rotating direction of the disk 31. The wash water
~1554~3
-21-
forms water films and flows radially outwardly on the disk 31,
describing a spiral locus in accordance with the law of inertia and
spreading into a sector form. The water films approach the outer
periphery of the disk 31 before they spread in wide sector forms
because the discharging ports 38a, 39a of the wash water supply
nozzles 38, 39 are opposed to a portion of the disk 31 radially
outwardly offset from its central axis X4. When they reach the outer
periphery of the disk 31, the water films flow into narrow annular
spaces between the disk 31 and the annular plates 32, 33. Thus,
rather narrow circumferential regions of the narrow annular spaces
are filled with the wash water. The wash water in the rather narrow
circumferential regions of the narrow annular spaces is imparted with
shear force from the disk 31 and the annular plates 32, 33 so as to
be more accelerated in the rotating direction of the disk 31. The
accelerated wash water spouts radially outwardly at high speed from
the outer peripheries of the rather narrow circumferential regions of
the narrow annular spaces. The water films spouting radially
outwardly from the outer peripheries of the rather narrow
circumferential regions of the narrow annular spaces spread into
sector forms and break into a large number of waterdrops. The
waterdrops produced by the breakup of the water films collide against
and wash the object to be washed, which is placed radially outside of
the rather narrow circumferential regions.
The spouting force of the wash water spouting apparatus 30 is
larger than that of the wash water spouting apparatus 1 because the
wash water in the narrow annular spaces between the disk 31 and the
annular plates 32, 33 is imparted with shear force from the disk 31
and the annular plates 32, 33 and accelerated in the rotating
direction of the disk 31.
5433
-22-
The wash water spouting apparatus 1 according to the first
embodiment was fabricated as As shown in Figure 11(a). The diameter
of the disk 2 was set at 130mm, the thickness of the disk 2 was set at
3mm, the size of the discharging port 4a was set at 2mm
(circumferential)x14mm (radial), the radial distance between the
discharging port 4a and the central axis X1 was set at 55mm, the
distance between the discharging port 4a and the surface 2a of the
disk 2 was set at 2mm, and the disk 2 was made of ABS. The
discharging port 5a was closed. The disk 2 was rotated at 8000 rpm.
Wash water (city water) was supplied onto the surface 2a of the disk 2
at the flow rate o~ 6~ /minute through the discharging port 4a. A
push-pull gauge 300 provided with a 50mmx 85mm plate 200 made of
acrylate resin was moved along a circular arc radially outwardly
offset from the outer periphery of the disk 2 by 125mm so as to
measure the wash water spouting force of the wash water spouting
apparatus 1 at a position radially outwardly offset from the outer
periphery of the disk 2 by 125mm. The measured maximum value of the
wash water spouting force was 90gf.
The wash water spouting apparatus 30 according to the fourth
embodiment was fabricated as As shown in Figure 11(b). The diameter
of the disk 31 of the wash water spouting apparatus 30 was set at
130mm, the thickness of the disk 31 was set at 3mm, the outer
diameters of the annular plates 32, 33 were set at 130mm, the inner
diameters of the annular plates 32, 33 were set at 90mm, the
thicknesses of the annular plates 32, 33 were set at 3mm, the
distances between the disk 31 and the annular plates 32, 33 were set
at 0.6mm, the sizes of the discharging port 38a was set at 2mm
(circumferential)x14mm (radial), the radial distance between the
discharging port 38a and the central axis X4 of the disk 31 was set
21~5433
-23-
at 38mm, the distance between the discharging port 38a and the
surface 31a of the disk 31 was set at 2mm, and the disk 31 and the
annular plates 32, 33 were made of ABS. The discharging port 39a was
closed. The disk 31 was rotated at 8000 rpm. Wash water (city
water) was supplied onto the surface 31a of the disk 31 at the flow
rate of 6~ /minute through the discharging port 38a. A push-pull
gauge 300 provided with a 50mm x 85mm plate 200 made of acrylate
resin was moved along a circular arc radially outwardly offset from
the outer periphery of the disk 31 by 125mm so as to measure the wash
water spouting force of the wash water spouting apparatus 30 at a
position radially outwardly offset from the outer periphery of the
disk 31 by 125mm. The measured maximum value of the wash water
spouting force was 100gf.
In the present embodiment, a plurality of stacked bodies 36 may
be disposed coaxially and connected as a unitary body. The wash water
spouting force of the wash water spouting apparatus 30 is higher when
it is provided with a plurality of stacked bodies 36 than when it is
provided with only one stacked body 36.
(5) Fifth embodiment
As shown in Figures 12 and 13, a wash water spouting apparatus
40 has a stacked body 45 made of a disk 41, two annular plates 42, 43
which have substantially the same outer diameters as the disk 41 and
are disposed to face opposite surfaces of the disk 41, and a plurality
of thin radial blades 44 disposed on either side of the disk 41
between the disk 41 and the annular plates 42, 43 which are adhered
with each other to be connected as a unitary body, a motor 46 for
rotating the stacked body 45 around its central axis X5 and wash
water supply nozzles 47, 48 for supplying the surfaces 41a, 41b of the
disk 41 with wash water. The wash water supply nozzles 47, 48 are
a~43~
-24-
united at their base. The united base of the wash water supply
nozzles 47, 48 is connected to a water supply pipe which is not shown.
As shown in Figure 12, discharging ports 47a, 48a of the wash
water supply nozzles 47, 48 are opposed to a portion of the disk 41
radially outwardly offset from its central axis X5.
In the wash water spouting apparatus 40, the wash water flows
int o narrow annular spaces between the disk 41 and the annular plates
42, 43. Thus, rather narrow circumferential regions of the narrow
annular spaces are filled with the wash water. The wash water in the
rather narrow circumferential regions of the narrow annular spaces is
imparted with shear force from the disk 41 and the annular plates 42,
43 and accelerated in the rotating direction of the disk 41. The slip
of the wash water relative to the disk 41, and the annular plates 42,
43 which occurs when the wash water is accelerated in the rotating
direction of the disk 41 is restricted by the radial blades 44. Thus,
in the wash water spouting apparatus 40, the wash water in the narrow
spaces is accelerated up to higher speed than in the wash water
spouting apparatus 30. Thus, the wash water spouting force of the
wash water spouting apparatus 40 is larger than that of the wash water
spouting apparatus 30.
The wash water spouting apparatus 40 was fabricated as shown in
Figure 14. The diameter of the disk 41 was set at 130mm, the
thickness of the disk 41 was set at 3mm, the outer diameters of the
annular plates 42, 43 were set at 130mm, the inner diameters of the
annular plates 42, 43 were set at 90mm, the thicknesses of the annular
plates 42, 43 were set at 3mm, the distances between the disk 41 and
the annular plates 42, 43 were set at 3mm, the circumferential lengths
of the radial blades 44 were set at 1mm, the radial lengths of the
radial blades 44 were set at 1Omm, the distances between the outer
54~3
ends of the radial blades 44 and the outer periphery of the disk 41
were set at 5mm, the number of the radial blades 44 was set at 18,
the circumferential pitch of the radial blades 44 was set at 20 ,
the size of the discharging port 47a was set at at 2mm
(circumferential)xl4mm (radial), the radial distance between the
discharging port 47a and the central axis k5 of the disk 41 was set
at 38mm, the distance between the discharging port 47a and the
surface 41a of the disk 41 was set at 2mm, and the disk 41 and the
annular plates 42, 43 were made of ABS. The discharging port 48a was
closed. The disk 41 was rotated at 8000 rpm. Wash water (city
water) was supplied onto the surface 41a of the disk 41 at the flow
rate of 6~ /minute through the discharging port 47a. A push-pull
gauge 300 provided with a 50mm X 85mm plate 200 made of acrylate
resin was moved along a circular arc radially outwardly offset from
the outer periphery of the disk 41 by 125mm so as to measure the wash
water spouting force o~ the wash water spouting apparatus 40 at a
position radially outwardly offset from the outer periphery of the
disk 41 by 125mm. The measured maximum value of the wash water
spouting force was 130gf.
In the present embodiment, a plurality of stacked bodies 45 may
be disposed coaxially and connected as a unitary body. The wash water
spouting force of the wash water spouting apparatus 40 is higher when
it is provided with a plurality of stacked bodies 45 than when it is
provided with only one stacked body 45.
(6) Sixth embodiment
As shown in Figure 15, in the first to the fifth embodiments,
the discharging ports 4a, 5a, 15a, 16a, 17a, 25a, 26a, 27a, 38a, 39a,
47a, 48a of the wash water supply nozzles 4, 5, 15, 16, 17, 25, 26,
27, 38, 39, 47, 48 may be directed in the rotating direction of the
~155~33
-26-
disks 2, 11, 21, 22, 31, 41 indicated by an arrow and inclined
relative to the disks 2, 11, 21, 22, 31, 41 by an appropriate angle
~ . Thus, the wash water which discharged from the discharging ports
4a, 5a, 15a, 16a, 17a, 25a, 26a, 27a, 38a, 39a, 47a, 48a can smoothly
land on the disks 2, 11, 21, 22, 31, 41 and smoothly form water films
on the disks 2, 11, 21, 22, 31, 41 and the rotation of the disks 2,
11, 21, 22, 31, 41 can be smoothly transmitted to the wash water.
As shown in Figure 15, in the first to the fifth embodiments,
the discharging ports 4a, 5a, 15a, 16a, 17a, 25a, 26a, 27a, 38a, 39a,
47a, 48a of the wash water supply nozzles 4, 5, 15, 16, 17, 25, 26,
27, 38, 39, 47, 48 may be made oval to have their major axes extend
in radial direction of the disks 2, 11, 21, 22, 31, 41. This enables
the wash water to be discharged from the discharging ports 4a, 5a,
15a, 16a, 17a, 25a, 26a, 27a, 38a, 39a, 47a, 48a so as to form water
films and also enables the rotation of the the disks 2, 11, 21, 22,
31, 41 to be smoothly transmitted to the wash water.
(7) Seventh embodiment
As shown in Figures 16 and 17, a wash water spouting apparatus
50 has a stacked body 57 made of a disk 51 provided with a
cylindrical wall 51a at its center, three annular plates 52, 53, 54
which have substantially the same outer diameters as the disk 51 and
are disposed on the same side of the disk 51 as the cylindrical wall
51a and coaxially with the disk 51, thin spacers 55 disposed between
adjacent ones of the disk 51 and the annular plates 52, 53, 54, and
screws 56a and nuts 56b for connecting the disk 51, the annular
plates 52, 53, 54 and the spacers 55 as a unitary body, a motor 58
for rotating the stacked body 57 around its central axis X6 and a wash
water supply nozzle 59 for supplying the space r between the
cylindrical wall 51a and the inner peripheries of the annular plates
-- 2~4~3
-27-
52, 53, 54 with wash water. The wash water supply nozzle 59 is
connected to a water supply pipe which is not shown.
In the wash water spouting apparatus 50, the wash water is
supplied into the space ~ between the cylindrical wall 51a and the
inner peripheries of the annular plates 52, 53, 54. Thus, a portion
of the space ~ near the wash water supply nozzle 59 is filled with
the wash water. The wash water in the portion of the space ~ near
the wash water supply nozzle 59 then flows into the narrow spaces
between adjacent ones of the disk 51 and the annular plates 52, 53,
54. Thus, portions of the narrow spaces near the wash water supply
nozzle 59 are filled with the wash water. The wash water in the
narrow spaces near the wash water supply nozzle 59 is imparted with
shear force from the disk 51, and the annular plates 52, 53, 54 and
accelerated in the rotating direction of the disk 51. The
accelerated wash water flows radially outwardly, describing a spiral
locus and spreading into a sector form. Then, the wash water spouts
radially outwardly at high speed from the outer peripheries of the
narrow spaces.
The wash water spouting apparatus 50 has the same advantages as
the wash water spouting apparatus 30 of the fourth embodiment.
In the wash water spouting apparatus 50, the wash water spouting
force can be increased by increasing the number of the annular
plates. While the wash water spouting force of the wash water
spouting apparatus 30 can be also increased, this requires a
plurality of the stacked bodies 36 to be disposed coaxially and
greatly increases the axial size of the wash water spouting apparatus
30 because the wash water supply nozzles 38, 39 are disposed between
the adjacent disks 31. In contrast, in the wash water spouting
apparatus 50, the wash water supply nozzle 59 is not disposed between
~ 2~433
-28-
the adjacent annular plates. Thus, in the wash water spouting
apparatus 50, even if the number of annular plates is increased to
increase the wash water spouting force, the increase in the axial
size of the wash water spouting apparatus is less than in the case of
the wash water spouting apparatus 30 of the fourth embodiment.
(8) Eighth embodiment
As shown in Figures 18 and 19, a wash water spouting apparatus
60 has a stacked body 67 made of a disk 61, three annular plates 62,
63, 64 which have substantially the same outer diameters as the disk
61 and are disposed on the side of the surface 61a of the disk 61
coaxially with the disk 61, thin spacers 65 disposed between adjacent
ones of the disk 61 and the annular plates 62, 63, 64, and screws 66a
and nuts 66b for connecting the disk 61, the annular plates 62, 63,
64 and the spacers 65 as a unitary body, a motor 68 for rotating the
stacked body 67 around its central axis X7, and a wash water supply
nozzle 69 for directly supplying narrow spaces between adjacent ones
of the disk 61 and the annular plates 62, 63, 64 with wash water.
The wash water supply nozzle 69 is provided with wash water
discharging ports 69a, 69b, 69c which are opposed to the narrow spaces
between adjacent ones of the disk 61 and the annular plates 62, 63,
64. The wash water supply nozzle 69 is connected to a water supply
pipe which is not shown.
In the wash water spouting apparatus 60, the wash water directly
flows into the narrow spaces between adjacent ones of the disk 61 and
the annular plates 62, 63, 64 through the wash water discharging
ports 69a, 69b, 69c. Thus, all of the narrow spaces can be reliably
supplied with wash water because the wash water directly flows into
the narrow spaces through the wash water discharging ports 69a, 69b,
69c.
~ 21~433
-29-
The wash water spouting apparatus 60 has the same advantages as
the wash water spoutlng apparatus 30 of the fourth embodiment.
In the wash water spouting apparatus 60, the wash water spouting
force can be increased by increasing the number of the annular
plates. While the wash water spouting force of the wash water
spouting apparatus 30 can be also increased, this requires a
plurality of the stacked bodies 36 to be disposed coaxially and
greatly increases the axial size of the wash water spouting apparatus
30 because the wash water supply nozzles 38, 39 are disposed between
the adjacent disks 31. In contrast, in the wash water spouting
apparatus 60, the wash water supply nozzle 69 is not disposed between
the ad~acent annular plates. Thus, in the wash water spouting
apparatus 60, even if the number of annular plates is increased to
increase the wash water spouting force, the increase in the axial
size of the wash water spouting apparatus is less than in the case of
the wash water spouting apparatus 30 of the fourth embodiment.
(9) Ninth embodiment
Wash water spouting apparatus 70 in accordance with a ninth
embodiment of the present invention has the following structure.
As shown in Figures 20 and 21, three disks 71a, 71b, 71c are
disposed coaxially with each other. A driving shaft 71a1 is fixed to
the center of the disk 71a. The disk 71b is provided with a small
diameter opening 71b1 at its center. A small diameter pipe 71b2 which
communicates the opening 71bl at one end is fixed to the disk 71b.
The disk 71c is provided with a large diameter opening 71 Cl at its
center. A large diameter pipe 71c2 which communicates the opening 71c
1 at one end is fixed to the disk 71c. The disks 71a, 71b, 71c are
stacked with thin spacers 72 inserted between them and the small
diameter pipe 71b2 is inserted into the large diameter pipe 71c2.
4 3 3
-30-
The disks 71a, 71b, 71c are connected as a unitary body by screws 73a
and nuts 73b to form a stacked body 74.
The stacked body 74 is disposed in a guide box 75, which is
constituted by two annular plates 75a, 75b, three sector-shaped thick
guide plates 75c disposed in a ring-like shape with guide spaces
between them, and screws 75d and nuts 75e for connecting the above
members as a unitary body.
A casing 76 is constituted by a cylindrical upper casing 76a
provided with an opening 76a~ at the center of its top plate and an
opening 76a2 in its side wall, a cylindrical lower casing 76b
provided with a bottom plate to define a wash water tank, and a
connecting member (not shown) for connecting the above members as a
unitary body. The lower casing 76b is connected to a water supply
pipe (not shown) through a valve (not shown).
The guide box 75 accommodating the stacked body 74 is disposed
in the upper casing 76a. The guide box 75 is supported by the upper
casing 76a to be rotatable around the central axis X8 of the stacked
body 74. The driving shaft 71al of the stacked body 74 extends out
of the casing 76 through the opening 76a1 of the upper casing 76a.
The driving shaft 71a1 is supported by the upper casing 76a to be
rotatable around the central axis X8 of the stacked body 74. The
portion of the driving shaft 71a1 which extends out of the casing 76
is operatively connected to an output shaft 78a of a motor 78 through
a belt 77. Thus, torque can be transmitted to the driving shaft 71a,
from the output shaft 78a. The small diameter pipe 71b2 and the large
diameter pipe 71c2 extend into the lower casing 76b and into wash
water W1 stored in the lower casing 76b.
In the wash water spouting apparatus 70, rotation of the disks
71a, 71b, 71c produces negative pressures in narrow spaces between
2~5~433
-31-
the disks 71a and 71b, and the disks 71b and 71c. The negative
pressures cause the wash water W1 in the lower casing 76b to be sucked
into an annular space between the large diameter pipe 71c2 and the
small diameter pipe 71b2, and into the small diameter pipe 71b2. The
wash water which is sucked into the annular space between the large
diameter pipe 71c2 and the small diameter pipe 71b2 flows through the
annular space and into the central portion of the narrow space between
the disk 71b and the disk 71c. The wash water which is sucked into
the small diameter pipe 71b2 flows through the pipe and into the
central portion of the narrow space between the disk 71a and the disk
71b.
The wash water which has flowed into the central portion of the
narrow space between the disks 71b and 71c is accelerated by the disks
71b and 71c in the rotating direction of the disks 71b and 71c and
flows radially outwardly toward the outer periphery of the narrow
space, describing a spiral locus. The wash water which has flowed
into the central portion of the narrow space between the disks 71a
and 71b is accelerated by the disks 71a and 71b in the rotating
direction of the disks 71a and 71b and flows radially outwardly toward
the outer periphery of the narrow space, describing a spiral locus.
The wash water which has reached the outer peripheries of the
narrow spaces spouts uniformly and radially outwardly at high speed
from the whole circumferences of the outer peripheries of the narrow
spaces. A portion of the wash water which has spouted uniformly and
radially outwardly from the whole circumferences of the outer
peripheries of the narrow spaces spouts radially outwardly at high
speed from the guide box 75 directly through the guide spaces ~ of
the guide box 75. The remaining portion of the wash water which has
spouted uniformly and radially outwardly from the whole
21~ ~ 4 3 3
-32-
circumferences of the outer peripheries of the narrow spaces collides
against the guide plates 75c and flows in the rotating direction of
the disks 71a, 71b, 71c along the guide plates 75c and spouts
radially outwardly at high speed from the guide box 75 through the
guide spaces ~ of the guide box 75. Thus, the wash water which has
spouted uniformly and radially outwardly from the whole circumferences
of the outer peripheries of the narrow spaces between the disks 71a,
71b, 71c spouts radially outwardly at high speed concentratedly from
the guide spaces ~ of the guide box 75.
The wash water which has spouted from the outer peripheries of
the narrow spaces between the disks 71a, 71b, 71c and is flowing in
the rotating direction of the disks 71a, 71b, 71c along the guide
plates 75c drives and rotates the guide box 75 in the rotating
direction of the disks 71a, 71b, 71c. When the guide box 75 rotates,
successive guide spaces ~ come opposite the opening 76a2 of the upper
casing 76a. As a result, the wash water which has spouted radially
outwardly at high speed concentratedly from the successive guide
spaces ~ of the guide box 75 spouts intermittently out of the casing
76 through the opening 76a2 of the upper casing 76a.
The concentrated waterdrops spouting from the guide spaces
of the guide box 75 at high speed have large kinetic energy per
volume and can efficiently wash the object.
(10) Tenth embodiment
Wash water spouting apparatus 80 in accordance with a tenth
embodiment of the present invention has the following structure.
As shown in Figures 22 and 23, tow disks 81a, 81b are disposed
coaxially with each other. A driving shaft 81a1 is fixed to the
center of the disk 81a. The disk 81b is provided with an opening 81
at its center. A pipe 81b2 which communicates the opening 81b1 at
~lS~4~3
one end is fixed to the disk 81b. Three sector-shaped thin guide
plates 82 are disposed in a ring-like shape with guide spaces ~
inserted between them. The guide plates 82 are inserted between the
disks 81a and 81b. The disks 81a, 81b and the guide plates 82 are
connected as a unitary body by screws 83a and nuts 83b to form a
stacked body 84.
A casing 85 is constituted by a cylindrical upper casing 85a
provided with an opening 85a1 at the center of its top plate and an
opening 85a2 in its side wall, a cylindrical lower casing 85b
provided with a bottom plate to define a wash water tank, and a
connecting member (not shown) for connecting the above members as a
unitary body. The lower casing 85b is connected to a water supply
pipe (not shown) through a valve (not shown).
The stacked body 84 is disposed in the upper casing 85a. The
driving shaft 81a~ of the stacked body 84 extends out of the casing 85
through the opening 85a1 of the upper casing 85a. The driving shaft
81a1 is supported by the upper casing 85a to be rotatable around the
central axis X9 of the stacked body 84. The portion of the driving
shaft 81al which extends out of the casing 85 is operatively
connected to an output shaft 87a of a motor 87 through a belt 86.
Thus, torque can be transmitted to the driving shaft 81a1 from the
output shaft 87a. The pipe 81b2 of the stacked body 84 extends into
the lower casing 85b and into wash water W2 stored in the lower
casing 85b.
In the wash water spouting apparatus 80, rotation of the disks
81a, 81b produces negative pressure in a narrow space between the
disks 81a and 81b. The negative pressure causes the wash water W2 in
the lower casing 85b to be sucked into the pipe 81b2. The wash water
which is sucked into the pipe 81b2 flows through the pipe and into
~ ~ 21~5433
-34-
the central portion of the narrow space between the disks 81a and 81b.
The wash water which has flowed into the central portion of the
narrow space between the disks 81a and 81b is accelerated by the disks
81a and 81b in the rotating direction of the disks 81a and 81b and
flows radially outwardly toward the outer periphery of the narrow
space, describing a spiral locus.
A portion of the wash water which has reached the outer
peripheral portion of the narrow space spouts radially outwardly at
high speed directly through the guide spaces ~ between the guide
plates 82. The remaining portion of the wash water which has reached
the outer peripheral portion of the narrow space collides against the
guide plates 82 and flows in the rotating direction of the disks 81a,
81b along the guide plates 82 and spouts radially outwardly at high
speed through the guide spaces ~ between the guide plates 82. Thus,
the wash water which has flowed toward the outer periphery of the
narrow space between the disks 81a, 81b spouts radially outwardly at
high speed concentratedly from the guide spaces ~ .
When successive guide spaces ~ , which rotate in a body with
the disks 81a, 81b, come opposite the opening 85a2 of the upper casing
85a, the wash water which has spouted radially outwardly
concentratedly from the guide spaces~ spouts intermittently out of
the casing 85 through the opening 85a2 of the upper casing 85a.
The concentrated waterdrops spouting from the guide space
have large kinetic energy per volume and can efficiently wash the
object.
The wash water spouting apparatus 80 has an advantage ln that
its structure is simpler than that of the wash water spouting
apparatus 70.
Wash water spouting apparatuses in accordance with preferred
~ 2~433
-35-
embodiments of the present invention have been described. In the
first to the tenth embodiments, the surfaces of the disks may be flat
or convexly curved or concavely curved.
[ II ] DISH WASHER PROVIDED WITH WASH WATER SPOUTING APPARATUS
(1) First embodiment
As shown in Figures 24 and 25, a concave kitchen sink 91 is
disposed on the top of a kitchen counter 90. A dish washing vessel 92
which is deeper than the kitchen sink 91 is formed continuously
adjacent to the sink 91. The dish washing vessel 92 is provided with
a garbage filter 500 at its bottom. The dish washing vessel 92 is
provided with an opening 92a in the upper part of its side wall.
A wash water spouting apparatus 10 in accordance with the second
embodiment of the wash water spouting apparatus of the present
invention is disposed outside of the opening 92a. The wash water
spouting apparatus 10 is inclined. A stacked body 13 and wash water
supply nozzles 15, 16, 17 of the wash water spouting apparatus 10 are
disposed in a casing 93. The casing 93 has a cylindrical lower
casing 93a which is open at its upper end and closed at its lower
end, a flat upper casing 93b, a packing 93c disposed between the
upper end of the lower casing 93a and the upper casing 93b, and
connecting members (not shown) for connecting the above members as a
unitary body. A motor 14 of the wash water spouting apparatus 10 is
fixed to the bottom plate of the lower casing 93a. The wash water
supply nozzles 15, 16, 17 are united at their base portion. The
connected base portion of the wash water supply nozzles 15, 16, 17
extends out of the casing 93 through the bottom plate of the lower
casing 93a and is connected to a mixing apparatus 94 for mixing hot
water and cold water disposed in the kitchen counter 90. The lower
casing 93a is provided with an opening 93d in its side wall. The
-- ~5~33
-36-
opening 93d is located relative to the wash water supply nozzles 15,
16, 17 so that the wash water supplied onto the disks 11, 12 from the
wash water supply nozzles 15, 16, 17 may spout from portions of the
outer peripheries of the disks 11, 12 opposed to the opening 93d.
The casing 93 is fixed to the outer surface of the side wall of the
dish washing vessel 92 with the opening 93d aligned with the opening
92a of the dish washing vessel 92.
The dish washing vessel 92 is provided with an opening 92b in
the upper portion of its side wall and above the opening 92a. An air
blow nozzle 95 is disposed outside of the opening 92b. The air blow
nozzle 95 is fixed to the cover (upper casing) 93b of the casing 93
with its air discharging port 95a communicating with the opening 92b.
The air blow nozzle 95 is connected to an air curtain fan 96 for
producing an air curtain.
A control unit 97 is disposed adjacent to the air curtain fan
96.
The casing 93, the air blow nozzle 95, the air curtain fan 96
and the control unit 97 are disposed in the kitchen counter 90.
Disposed on the top of the kitchen counter 90 and adjacent to
the kitchen sink 91 are a single lever faucet 600, a temperature
control handle 98 for controlling the temperature of the water
supplied to the wash water supply nozzles 15-17, wash water spouting
force select switches 99a (high), 99b (middle), 99c (low) for
changing the rotation speed of the motor l 4 of the wash water
spouting apparatus 10 so as to change the wash water spouting force
of the wash water spouting apparatus 10, an on-off switch 100 of the
air curtain fan 96, and an on-off switch (hand switch) 101 of the
motor l 4 of the wash water spouting apparatus 10. An on-off switch
(foot switch) 102 of the motor 14 of the wash water spouting apparatus
~155433
lO is disposed on the lower part of the front wall of the kitchen
counter 90. Signals from the temperature control handle 98, the wash
water spouting force select switches 99a, 99b, 99c and the on-off
switches 100, 101, 102 are inputted to the control unit 97. Based on
the inputted signals, the control unit 97 outputs control signals to
the mixing apparatus 94, the air curtain fan 96 and the motor 14 of
the wash water spouting apparatus 10 so as to control their
operations.
A dish washer A1 is constituted by the dish washing vessel 92,
the wash water spouting apparatus 10, the casing 93, the air blow
nozzle 95, the air curtain fan 96, the control unit 97, the
temperature control handle 98, the wash water spouting force select
switches 99a, 99b, 99c, the on-off switch 100 of the air curtain fan
96, and the on-off switches 101, 102 of the motor 14 of the wash water
spouting apparatus 10.
The operation of the dish washer A1 is as follows.
A user operates the temperature control handle 98 and the wash
water spouting force select switches 99a, 99b, 99c so as to set the
temperature of the wash water and the wash water spouting force at
desired levels. Then the user operates one of the on-off switches
101, 102 of the motor 14 of the wash water spouting apparatus 10, and
the on-off switch 100 of the air curtain 96 so as to start the motor
14 of the wash water spouting apparatus 10 and the air curtain fan 96.
The disks 11, 12 of the wash water spouting apparatus 10 rotate
at a speed corresponding to the desired wash water spouting force.
The wash water of desired temperature is supplied onto the disks 11,
12 of the wash water spouting apparatus 10 through the wash water
supply nozzles 15, 16, 17 of the wash water spouting apparatus 10.
The wash water supplied onto the disk 11 and that supplied onto the
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disk 12 spout from the regions of the outer peripheries of the disks
11, 12 opposed to the opening 93d and then spout into the dish washing
vessel 92 at high speed through the openings 93d and 92a. As shown
by dashed lines in Figure 25, the sheets of wash water spouting into
the dish washing vessel 92 at high speed draw near each other to
converge and break into waterdrops. The converged waterdrops W3,
which have large kinetic energy per volume, fly at high speed
diagonally and downwardly toward the bottom of the dish washing
vessel 92, collide with a dish S1 held into the dish washing vessel
92 by the user and promptly wash the dish S1. The waterdrops W3 fly
diagonally and downwardly, so that uncomfortable upward scattering of
the waterdrops W3 in the direction of the user is minimized. The
waste water is discharged from the dish washing vessel 92 through the
garbage filter 500.
The air curtain fan 96 operates and, as indicated by double
arrows in Figure 25, blows air out ~rom the air blow nozzle 95 so as
to form an air curtain C above the waterdrops W3. The air curtain C
prevents the waste water from scattering upward onto the user to make
him ~eel uncom~ortable.
The dish washing vessel 92 is formed continuously adjacent to
the kitchin sink 91, so that not only ordinary dishes but also all
other kinds of various sized kitchen utensils such as large dishes,
chopping boards, pans and kitchen knives, as well as various kinds of
foods such as vegetables, fruits, fishes, etc., can be washed by the
dish washer A1.
The wash water spouting apparatus 10, the casing 93, the air
blow nozzle 95, the air curtain fan 96 and the control unit 97 are
disposed in the kitchen counter 90, so that the wide top area of the
kitchen counter 90 is left free for use by the user.
2155433
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(2) Second embodiment
As shown in Figures 26, 27, a concave kitchen sink 111, which is
rectangular shaped as seen from the above, is disposed in the top of
a kitchen counter 110. A casing 112 is supported to be movable
horizontally in the longitudinal direction of the kitchen sink 111 by
rollers 113 that ride on the top flange 111a of the kitchen sink 111.
The casing 112 is provided with an opening 112a in one of its side
walls opposed to one of the short side walls of the kitchen sink 111
and an opening 112b in another one of its side walls opposed to the
other one of the short side walls of the kitchen sink 111.
A wash water spouting apparatus 1 in accordance with the first
embodiment of the wash water spouting apparatus of the present
invention is disposed in the casing 112. The wash water spouting
apparatus 1 has two sets of wash water supply nozzles each consisting
of an upper nozzle 4 and a lower nozzle 5. The two sets of the wash
water supply nozzles 4, 5 and 4, 5 are disposed so that they oppose
each other with the central axis X1 of a disk 2 between them. The
openings 112a, 112b of the casing 112 are located relative to the two
sets of the wash water supply nozzles 4, 5 and 4, 5 so that the wash
water supplied onto the disk 2 from one set of the wash water supply
nozzles 4, 5 may spout from the portion of the outer periphery of the
disk 2 opposed to the opening 112a, and the wash water supplied onto
the disk 2 from the other set of the wash water supply nozzles 4, 5
may spout from the portion of the outer periphery of the disk 2
opposed to the opening 112b.
The wash water supply nozzles 4, 5 of each set are united at
their base portion. The united base portion of the wash water supply
nozzles 4, 5 of one set is connected to a flexible hose 115 through a
valve 114a. The united base portion of the wash water supply nozzles
2~5~433
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4, 5 of the other set is connected to the flexible hose 115 through a
valve 114b. The operation of the valves 114a, 114b are controlled by
a control unit (not shown). The flexible hose 115 is connected to a
water supply pipe (not shown).
A dish washer A2 is constituted by the wash water spouting
apparatus 1, the valves 114a, 114b, the casing 112 and the rollers
113.
In the dish washer A2, the wash water is supplied through the
flexible hose 115, the valves 114a, 114b and the two sets of the wash
water supply nozzles 4, 5 onto the disk 2 which is rotating in the
direction indicated by a double arrow in Figure 26. The wash water
supplied onto the disk 2 breaks into high speed waterdrops W4. The
high speed waterdrops W4 spout into the kitchen sink 111 through the
openings 112a, 112b of the casing 112. The high speed waterdrops W4
which have spouted into the kitchen sink 111 collide against a dish S
2 held into the kitchen sink 111 by the user and promptly wash the
dish S2.
As shown in Figures 26 and 27, when the casing 112 is located at
the longitudinal middle of the kitchen sink 111, the control unit
opens the valves 114a, 114b and spouts the high speed waterdrops W4
through the openings 112a, 112b so as to wash the dishes S2 which are
put in the portions of the kitchen sink on both sides of the casing
112. In this case, two users can carry out washing operations at the
same time, so that the efficiency of the washing operation is
improved. When the casing 112 is located at a part of the kitchen
sink 111 longitudinally offset from its center, the control unit opens
one of the valves 114a, 114b and spouts the high speed waterdrops W4
in the direction opposite to the offset direction of the casing. In
this case, not only the ordinary dishes but also cooking utensils of
~ ~la~433
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various sizes such as large sized dishes, chopping boards, pans and
kitchen knives can be washed by putting them into the portion of
kitchen sink 111 on the side of the casing 112 with the wider
opening.
(3) Third embodiment
As shown in Figure 28, a case 120 has a lower case 120a and an
upper case 120b which is connected to the top of the lower case 120a
to be movable through a hinge 121. A drain board 122 having a mesh
structure is disposed at the bottom portion of the lower case 120a.
The drain board 122 is provided with a plurality of guide bars 123 at
its outer periphery. The guide bars 123 stand vertically along the
side walls of the lower case 120a. The portion of the lower case
120a below the drain board 122 forms a drain pit 124. A garbage
filter (not shown) is disposed in the drain pit 124.
A wash water spouting apparatus 1 in accordance with the first
embodiment of the wash water spouting apparatus of the present
invention is disposed on the drain board 122. A motor 3 of the wash
water spouting apparatus 1 is enclosed by a motor cover 125. A
control unit 126 is disposed in the motor cover 125. The wash water
spouting apparatus 1 is provided only with a wash water supply nozzle
4 and not with a wash water supply nozzle 5. A wash water discharging
port 4a of the wash water supply nozzle 4 is located coaxially with
the central axis X1 of the disk 2. The base portion of the wash
water supply nozzle 4 extends through and out of the case 120 and is
connected to a water supply pipe (not shown) through a valve (not
shown).
A dish washer A3 is constituted by the case 120, the drain board
122 and the wash water spouting apparatus 1.
In the dish washer A3, the wash water is supplied onto the
2 1 5 5 ~ 3 3
-42-
central portion of the disk 2 through the wash water discharging port
4a of the wash water supply nozzle 4. The wash water supplied onto
the disk 2 breaks into high speed waterdrops Ws and spouts radially
outwardly from the whole circumference of the outer periphery of the
disk 2. The high speed waterdrops W5 collide against and promptly
wash dishes S3 put in the case 2 and held by the guide bars 123.
The control unit 126 periodically reverses the rotation of the
motor 3 so as to wash the dishes S3 thoroughly.
The waste water is discharged from the case 120 through the
drain pit 124. Waste matter is collected by the garbage filter
disposed in the drain pit 124.
The upper case 120b is opened and the washed dishes S3 are taken
out from the case 120.
(4) Fourth embodiment
As shown in Figure 29, a case 130 has a lower case 130a and an
upper case 130b which is connected to the top of the lower case 130a
to be movable through a hinge 131. The lower case 130a is provided
with an opening 132 in the upper part of its side wall. The lower
case 130a is provided with a chamber 133 and a drain hole 134 at its
lower portion. A garbage filter (not shown) is disposed in the drain
hole 134.
A casing 135 is disposed outside of the opening 132. The casing
135 is provided with an opening 135a in its side wall. The casing
135 is fixed to the outside surface of the side wall of the lower
casing 130a with the opening 135a aligned with the opening 132.
A wash water spouting apparatus l in accordance with the first
embodiment of the wash water spouting apparatus of the present
invention is disposed in the casing 135. The wash water spouting
apparatus l is inclined. A motor 3 of the wash water spouting
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apparatus 1 is fixed to the outside surface of the bottom wall of the
casing 135. The wash water spouting apparatus 1 is provided only
with a wash water supply nozzle 4 and not with a wash water supply
nozzle 5. The opening 135a is located relative to the wash water
supply nozzle 4 so that the wash water supplied onto the disk 2 from
the wash water supply nozzle 4 may spout from a portion of the outer
periphery of the disk 2 opposed to the opening 135a. The base portion
of the wash water supply nozzle 4 extends through and out of the
casing 135 and is connected to a water supply pipe (not shown) through
a valve (not shown).
A motor 136 is disposed in the chamber 133 which is formed in
the lower portion of the lower case 130a. An output shaft 136a of
the motor 136 extends through the top wall of the chamber 133 into the
lower case 130a. A turntable 137 is fixed to the upper end of the
output shaft 136a. The turntable 137 is provided with a plurality of
vertically standing guide bars 138. A space between the through hole
formed in the top wall of the chamber 133 and the output shaft 136a is
sealed by a shaft seal apparatus 139. A control unit 140 is disposed
in the chamber 133.
A dish washer A4 is constituted by the case 130, the casing
135, the wash water spouting apparatus 1, the motor 136, the turntable
137, the guide bars 138 and the control unit 140.
In the dish washer A4, the wash water is supplied onto the disk
2 through the wash water discharging port 4a of the wash water supply
nozzle 4. The wash water supplied onto the disk 2 spouts radially
outwardly at high speed from a region of the outer periphery of the
disk 2 opposed to the opening 135a of the casing 135 and passes
through the opening 135a of the casing 135 and the opening 132 of the
lower case 130a. The wash water breaks into high speed waterdrops
215~4~
-44-
W6. The high speed waterdrops W6 fly diagonally and downwardly into
the case 130. The high speed waterdrops W6 collide against a dish S4
which is held by the guide bars 138, and promptly wash the dish S4.
The control unit 140 periodically reverses the rotation of the
motor 136 so as to reverse the rotation of the turntable 137 in
opposite direction. Thus, the dish S4 iS washed thoroughly.
The waste water is discharged from the case 130 through the
drain hole 134. Waste matter is collected by the garbage filter
disposed in the drain hole 134.
The upper case 130b is opened and the washed dish S4 iS taken
out from the case 130.
(5) Fifth embodiment
Any one of the wash water spouting apparatuses 1, 10, 20, 30,
40, 50, 60, 70 and 80 may be used in the dish washers Al, Az, A3 and A
4 of the first to the fourth embodiments of the dish washer of the
present invention.
[INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY]
In the wash water spouting apparatus in accordance with the
present invention, the motor only rotates the disk and does not highly
pressurize the wash water. Thus, the motor of the wash water
spouting apparatus need not be as large as the pump driving motors
used in conventional pressure type wash water spouting apparatuses.
Thus, the wash water spouting apparatus in accordance with the
present invention is smaller than conventional pressure type wash
water spouting apparatuses. A dish washer provided with the wash
water spouting apparatus in accordance with the present invention is
smaller, lower in production cost and running cost, and less noisy
than conventional dish washers provided with pressure type wash water
spouting apparatuses.
21~433
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In the wash water spouting apparatus in accordance with the
present invention, there is no need for disposing a pump and a high
pressure spouting nozzle or a reservoir tank between a water supply
pipe and the pump. Thus, the structure of the wash water spouting
apparatus in accordance with the present invention is simpler than
those of conventional pressure type wash water spouting apparatuses.
A dish washer provided with the wash water spouting apparatus in
accordance with the present invention is simpler in structure and
lower in production cost and running cost than conventional dish
washers provided with pressure type wash water spouting apparatuses.
