RINSE ARM SYSTEM FOR WAREWASHER

Abstract

A rinse arm system for a warewasher includes a rinse arm (1) rotatable about a rotation axis (D), a locking mechanism (2) connected to the rinse arm (1) such that the locking mechanism (2) is rotatable with respect to the rinse arm (1), and a bushing (3). The locking mechanism (2) is latched in an interlocking manner to the bushing (3) or clamped in a force-fitting manner to the bushing (3) such that the locking mechanism (2) is fixedly connected to the bushing (3) and the rinse arm (1) is rotatable about the rotation axis (D) with respect to the bushing (3).

Claims

1. A rinse arm system for a warewasher, wherein the system comprises the following: a rinse arm (1) rotatable about a rotation axis (D), a locking mechanism (2) connected to the rinse arm (1) in such a way that the locking mechanism (2) can be rotated about the rotation axis (D) and with respect to the rinse arm (1); and a bushing (3), wherein the locking mechanism (2) can be latched in an interlocking manner or clamped in a force-fitting manner to the bushing (3) in such a way that—in the latched or clamped state—the locking mechanism (2) is fixedly connected to the bushing (3) and the rinse arm (1) can be rotated about the rotation axis (D) with respect to the bushing (3).

2. The rinse arm system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system additionally comprises a wash arm (4) which can be connected to the bushing (3) in such a way that—in the connected state—the wash arm (4) can be rotated about the rotation axis (D), and wherein the wash arm (4) can be connected to a housing (6) by a clamping ring (5).

3. The rinse arm system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the locking mechanism (2) is arranged between the wash arm (4) and the rinse arm (1).

4. The rinse arm system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the rinse arm (1) can be connected to the locking mechanism (2) in such a way that—in the connected state—the rinse arm (1) can be rotated in relation to the wash arm (4) and in relation to the locking mechanism (2).

5. The rinse arm system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism (2) can be latched or clamped to the bushing (3) and can be connected to the rinse arm (1) in such a way that the locking mechanism (2) can be removed from the bushing (3) together with the rinse arm (1) by operating slides (7) which are arranged on the locking mechanism (2).

6. The rinse arm system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a wash water line and/or rinse water line is provided for supplying wash liquid to the wash arm (4) and/or rinse liquid to the rinse arm (1).

7. The rinse arm system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the wash water line and/or rinse water line are/is arranged in the interior of the housing (6).

8. The rinse arm system as claimed in claim 7, wherein a region of the rinse water line runs through the interior of the bushing (3).

9. The rinse arm system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a second bushing (8) can be fixedly connected to the rinse arm (1) in such a way that the second bushing (8), in the state in which it is connected to the rinse arm (1), projects out of the rinse arm (1) in such a way that the projecting portion of the second bushing (8) can be connected to the locking mechanism (2) in such a way that—in the connected state—the second bushing (8) can be rotated with respect to the rotation axis (D) and can be rotated with respect to the locking mechanism (2).

10. The rinse arm system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the bushing (8)—in the state in which the locking mechanism (2) is connected to the bushing (3)—is inserted into the bushing (3) in such a way that the bushing (8) is designed as a guide for the rinse arm (1).

11. A rinse arm system for a warewasher, the system comprising: a rinse arm (1) rotatable about a rotation axis (D), a locking mechanism (2) connected to the rinse arm (1) such that the locking mechanism (2) is rotatable with respect to the rinse arm (1); and a bushing (3), wherein the locking mechanism (2) is latched in an interlocking manner to the bushing (3) or clamped in a force—fitting manner to the bushing (3) such that the locking mechanism (2) is fixedly connected to the bushing (3) and the rinse arm (1) is rotatable about the rotation axis (D) with respect to the bushing (3).

12. The rinse arm system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the system further comprises a wash arm (4) connected to the bushing (3) such that the wash arm (4) is rotatable about the rotation axis (D), and wherein the wash arm (4) is connected to a housing (6) by a clamping ring (5).

13. The rinse arm system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the locking mechanism (2) is arranged between the wash arm (4) and the rinse arm (1).

14. The rinse arm system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the rinse arm (1) is connected to the locking mechanism (2) such that the rinse arm (1) is rotatable in relation to the wash arm (4) and in relation to the locking mechanism (2).

15. The rinse arm system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the locking mechanism (2) is latched to the bushing (3) or clamped to the bushing (3) and is connected to the rinse arm (1) such that the locking mechanism (2) is removable from the bushing (3) together with the rinse arm (1) by operating slides (7) which are arranged on the locking mechanism (2).

Description

[0034] The invention is described in greater detail below with reference to illustrative embodiments of the rinse arm system according to the invention that are shown in the attached drawings.

[0035] In the drawings:

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the rinse arm system according to the invention;

[0037] FIG. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the rinse arm system according to the invention;

[0038] FIG. 3 shows a schematic side view of an illustrative embodiment of the rinse arm system according to the invention;

[0039] FIG. 4 shows a schematic side view of an illustrative embodiment of the rinse arm system according to the invention;

[0040] FIG. 5 shows a schematic plan view of an illustrative embodiment of the rinse arm system according to the invention;

[0041] FIG. 6 shows a schematic perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the locking mechanism together with the bushing; and

[0042] FIG. 7 shows a schematic side view of an illustrative embodiment of the locking mechanism together with the bushing.

[0043] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the entire rinse arm system, the upper area showing the rinse arm 1 connected to the locking mechanism 2. A more detailed description of this connection is given below with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. Under the group composed of rinse arm 1 and locking mechanism 2, FIG. 1 shows a wash arm 4. The wash arm 4 can be pushed over a bushing 3 and fastened to a housing 6 by means of a clamping ring 5.

[0044] The housing 6 is arranged in the area of the interior of the treatment chamber of the warewasher. The housing 6 and therefore the entire rinse arm system can be arranged here in the upper, lower or lateral area of such a treatment chamber.

[0045] The wash arm 4 is connected to the housing 6 via the clamping ring 5 in such a way that the wash arm 4 is rotatable with respect to the housing 6, with respect to the rinse arm 1, with respect to the locking mechanism 2 and with respect to the bushing 3. The bushing 3 thus extends through the wash arm 4 toward the rinse arm 1 and toward the locking mechanism 2.

[0046] The bushing 3 can be fixedly connected to the locking mechanism 2, wherein the locking mechanism 2 can in this case preferably be engaged in an indentation area of the bushing 3. This indentation area is preferably a hexagonal indentation area in the end area of the bushing 3 directed toward the locking mechanism 2. However, the locking mechanism 2 can also be connected to the bushing 3 with a form-fit connection. In this case, no indentation area is provided in the bushing 3. The bushing 3 can in this case preferably be round. The force-fit connection is generated by a normal force being applied to the in-contact surfaces of the bushing 3 and of the locking mechanism 2, in such a way that a static friction is generated between the bushing 3 and the locking mechanism 2.

[0047] FIG. 5 is a plan view of the assembled system composed of rinse arm 1, locking mechanism 2, wash arm 4, housing 6. The longitudinal axis of the rinse arm 1 advantageously extends so as to be congruent with the longitudinal axis of the wash arm 4, in order to ensure a space-saving assembly and to prevent wash liquid, which is sprayed from the wash arm 4, being diverted or deflected by the rinse arm 1, with the result that the wash liquid cannot be optimally distributed on the washware.

[0048] FIGS. 6 and 7 show in detail the locking mechanism 2, and also a second bushing 8 via which the rinse arm 1 can be connected rotatably to the locking mechanism 2. The second bushing 8 is preferably designed in such a way that an upper area of the second bushing 8 can be fixedly connected to the rinse arm 1 and a lower part of the second bushing 8 protrudes from the combination of second bushing 8 and rinse arm 1, such that this lower part of the second bushing 8 can be pushed into the locking mechanism 2. The bushing 3 can then be connected to the locking mechanism 2 in such a way that a firm connection between the locking mechanism 2 and the bushing 3 arises and the second bushing 8, which is connected to the rinse arm 1, is rotatable with respect to the locking mechanism 2 and with respect to the rotation axis (D).

[0049] The bushing 8 preferably projects from the rinse arm 1 in such a way that, when this part of the bushing 8 is pushed into the locking mechanism 2, the bushing 8 at least partially projects from the locking mechanism 2 in the direction of the bushing 3 from the locking mechanism 2. When connecting the locking mechanism 2 to the bushing 3, the bushing 8 is preferably inserted as a guide into the bushing 3 in such a way that the rinse arm 1 is parallel to the wash arm 4.

[0050] The locking mechanism 2 can here be connected to the bushing 3 by the actuation of the lateral slides 7, wherein latching or clamping elements inside the locking mechanism 2 are actuated, by actuation of the slides 7, in such a way that the locking mechanism 2 can be pushed onto the bushing 3 and, when the slides 7 are released, the latching or clamping elements inside the locking mechanism 2 are brought into engagement with an end area of the bushing 3. This area is hexagonal, for example, in order to permit latching, or round, for example, in order to permit clamping.

[0051] The invention is not limited to the illustrative embodiments of the rinse arm system according to the invention that are shown in the drawings, and instead it may also be gathered by consideration of all the features disclosed herein.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0052] 1 rinse arm [0053] 2 locking mechanism [0054] 3 bushing [0055] 4 wash arm [0056] 5 clamping ring [0057] 6 housing [0058] 7 slide [0059] 8 second bushing [0060] D rotation axis