Abstract:
A control unit (3) for controlling an electric household appliance, e.g. a refrigerator, is connected in series with a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) resistive unit (4) which, when supplied with electric current, generates sufficient heat to activate a thermally activated actuating element (6) for selectively turning on/off respective auxiliary switches (9) of the electric household appliance. The thermally activated actuating element (6) includes a temperature-deformable element (7), e.g. a bimetallic plate, the deformation of which is transmitted by kinematic links (10) to a camshaft (8), the cams (12) of which cooperate with the auxiliary switches (9) of the electric household appliance to selectively turn on/off the auxiliary switches (9).
Abstract:
A decelerating device intended to intercept an end-of-stroke part of a closing path of a mobile member, such as a furniture drawer or door, including: a body fastenable in use to an abutting surface for the mobile member and internally defining a sealed chamber filled in use with a viscous fluid; a pushrod at least in part overhanging from the body and being adapted to cooperate in use with the mobile member, the pushrod being integral with a stem slidingly accommodated in the body against the bias of elastic means between an extracted position of the pushrod and a retracted position; and a piston accommodated in the sealed chamber so as to divide it into two portions hydraulically connected to each other and mechanically connected to the stem; wherein the stem presents a first end integrally connected to the pushrod and a second end opposite to the first, both slidingly accommodated in the body outside the sealed chamber and fluid-tightly towards the sealed chamber itself; the piston is provided with a mobile sealing member to choke the hydraulic communication between the two portions of the sealed chamber only during the stroke of the stem towards the retracted position.
Abstract:
In an electric refrigeration appliance having at least one refrigeration compartment, a refrigerating arrangement having an evaporator, and a control device that controls the refrigeration compartment temperature and that has a temperature sensor; the temperature sensor is located away from the evaporator and in a portion of a refrigeration compartment volume selected with the exclusion of a first top portion of the refrigeration compartment having a volume equal to roughly 8-10% of the total internal volume of the refrigeration compartment, and with the exclusion of a second front portion of a depth equal to at least 10% of the total inside depth of the refrigeration compartment.
Abstract:
A monitoring device including first detector means of a flow rate of operative fluid in an electric household appliance towards a tank of the electric household appliance and second detector means of the level of such a fluid in the tank; wherein the first and second detector means are operatively and reciprocally associated to issue a single signal (S) characterised by at least two different parameters, a first parameter (F) correlated to the flow rate of the fluid and a second parameter (A) correlated to the level of fluid in the tank. Typically, the first and the second detector means consist of a turbine mounted so as to be crossed in use by the flow of operative fluid and thereby turned at a speed proportional to the flow rate of fluid; in a membrane mounted within a casing to fluid-tightly divide the same into a first and second chamber connected respectively to atmospheric pressure and to siphon means arranged within the tank; in sensor means mounted on the membrane integral with the same and in interaction means with the sensor means, angularly and integrally mounted on the turbine and in a position so as to periodically transit in use in front of the sensor means in consequence of the rotation of the turbine.
Abstract:
A monitoring device including first detector means of a flow rate of operative fluid in an electric household appliance towards a tank of the electric household appliance and second detector means of the level of such a fluid in the tank; wherein the first and second detector means are operatively and reciprocally associated to issue a single signal (S) characterised by at least two different parameters, a first parameter (F) correlated to the flow rate of the fluid and a second parameter (A) correlated to the level of fluid in the tank. Typically, the first and the second detector means consist of a turbine mounted so as to be crossed in use by the flow of operative fluid and thereby turned at a speed proportional to the flow rate of fluid; in a membrane mounted within a casing to fluid-tightly divide the same into a first and second chamber connected respectively to atmospheric pressure and to siphon means arranged within the tank; in sensor means mounted on the membrane integral with the same and in interaction means with the sensor means, angularly and integrally mounted on the turbine and in a position so as to periodically transit in use in front of the sensor means in consequence of the rotation of the turbine.
Abstract:
A decelerating device intended to intercept an end-of-stroke part of a closing path of a mobile member, such as a furniture drawer or door, including: a body fastenable in use to an abutting surface for the mobile member and internally defining a sealed chamber filled in use with a viscous fluid; a pushrod at least in part overhanging from the body and being adapted to cooperate in use with the mobile member, the pushrod being integral with a stem slidingly accommodated in the body against the bias of elastic means between an extracted position of the pushrod and a retracted position; and a piston accommodated in the sealed chamber so as to divide it into two portions hydraulically connected to each other and mechanically connected to the stem; wherein the stem presents a first end integrally connected to the pushrod and a second end opposite to the first, both slidingly accommodated in the body outside the sealed chamber and fluid-tightly towards the sealed chamber itself; the piston is provided with a mobile sealing member to choke the hydraulic communication between the two portions of the sealed chamber only during the stroke of the stem towards the retracted position.
Abstract:
A device, for automatic extraction of a supply drawer (e.g. a detergent drawer) from an electric household appliance, includes a releasable locking device for releasably locking the drawer; elastic means for pushing the drawer into an extracted position; braking means for opposing movement of the drawer; a support housing the elastic means and the braking means; and a toothed pinion fitted idly to the support, which is designed to leave at least one given circumferential portion of the teeth of the pinion exposed; the elastic means are designed to exert a torque in a given direction on the pinion, which is connected angularly integral with the braking means; the support and the releasable locking device are so designed that the exposed circumferential portion of the pinion teeth meshes selectively with a straight or curved rack, formed externally on a bottom or end wall of the drawer, by simply rotating the support with respect to the drawer, so that the same device can be used for both slide-out and swing-out drawers.
Abstract:
An opening device with a handle for a door of an electric household appliance, which door rotates about a hinge axis between an open position, and a closed position wherein the door rests, with the interposition of a peripheral seal, against a front edge of a door opening of the electric household appliance; the device includes: a support fixed to the door, close to the front edge of the door opening; the handle, which is fitted to the support to rock in opposition to elastic elements, so as to be positioned, in use, to the front of the door and at a predetermined distance from an outer surface of the door; and elements which, in use, exert thrust on the front edge of the door opening to detach the door from the door opening and rotate it into the open position, when the handle is rotated towards the outer surface of the door, so as to open the door by pushing on the handle; an optional spring completes rotation of the door about the hinge axis.
Abstract:
A service device for a refrigerator having a refrigerating chamber, the device having an electric circuit portion and a mechanical portion. The electric circuit portion is connectable to the refrigerator outside the refrigerating chamber, and the mechanical portion is at least partly insertable inside the refrigerating chamber and cooperates with the electric circuit portion.
Abstract:
A device for controlling an electric appliance having a door, a main power circuit, and a switch for automatically cutting off the main circuit when the door is opened. The switch is a reactivatable magnetic switch, which selectively assumes a closed position and an open position respectively closing and opening the main circuit. The magnetic switch is powered by an activating circuit, which is cut off when the door is opened and a movable part of a hinge supporting the door is rotated. When the activating circuit is cut off, the magnetic switch is moved into the open position by the action of a spring which keeps the magnetic switch in the open position even when the activating circuit is closed again. And turning the appliance back on calls for direct manual intervention by the user, who, after closing the door, must reactivate the magnetic switch by pressing a push-button, in opposition to the spring, to move the magnetic switch into the closed position.