BEARING COMPONENT FOR FLOW SENSOR, FLOW METERING UNIT AND DOMESTIC APPLIANCE

Abstract

A flow sensor of a domestic appliance has an axle that is substantially perpendicular in the installed state to the flow direction of a fluid channel of the domestic appliance. The bearing component is designed as a single part and has at least two interconnected limbs, each limb having an axle mount for one end of the axle of the flow sensor, wherein the two axle mounts are mutually spaced apart in such a way that they correspond in a relaxed condition of the bearing component to an extension of the axle of the flow sensor. The two limbs are designed to be elastic such that the spacing between the axle mounts can be increased in order to insert the flow sensor between the axle mounts.

Claims

1. A bearing component of a flow sensor of a domestic appliance, the flow sensor having an axle that is substantially perpendicular in an installed state to a flow direction of a fluid channel of the domestic appliance, the bearing component comprising: at least two interconnected limbs that are integrally formed as a single part; and two oppositely disposed axle mounts that are mutually spaced apart in such a way that they correspond to an extension of the axle of the flow sensor in one condition of the bearing component; wherein the two limbs are designed to be elastic such that the spacing between the axle mounts can be increased in order to insert the flow sensor between the axle mounts.

2. The bearing component according to claim 1, wherein one of the axle mounts is attached to one of the limbs and the other of the axles mounts is attached oppositely to the other of the limbs, and wherein the limbs correspond in a relaxed condition of the bearing component to an extension of the axle of the flow sensor.

3. The bearing component according to claim 2, wherein the two limbs are connected at a first end and at an opposite second end, wherein the axle mounts are formed substantially in a middle between the first end and the second end in such a way that the spacing between the axle mounts is increased when a compressing force is exerted between the first end and the second end.

4. The bearing component according to claim 1, wherein the bearing component is formed symmetrically around an axis connecting the axle mounts.

5. A flow assembly for a domestic appliance comprising: a flow sensor having an impeller supported on an axle; and a bearing component including a pair of opposing axle mounts and a pair of interconnected limbs each connected to one of the axle mounts, wherein the limbs and the axle mounts are integrally formed as a single piece, and wherein the axle is received between the axle mounts, and the limbs are flexible allowing a distance between the axle mounts to be increased from a resting distance in which the axle is supported in the axle mounts and an extended distance that is longer than the axle.

6. The flow assembly according to claim 5, wherein a material of the flow sensor and the bearing component is the same.

7. The flow assembly according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the bearing component and the flow sensor includes polyketone.

8. A domestic appliance comprising a housing having a base member, a cover, and a channel; a flow sensor including an impeller supported on an axle; and a bearing component including a pair of opposing axle mounts and a pair of interconnected limbs each connected to one of the axle mounts, wherein the limbs and the axle mounts are integrally formed as a single piece, and wherein the axle is received between the axle mounts, and the limbs are flexible allowing a distance between the axle mounts to be increased from a resting distance in which the axle is supported in the axle mounts and an extended distance that is longer than the axle; wherein the base member or the cover has a receiving space for receiving the bearing component in such a way that the flow sensor received in the bearing component protrudes at least partly into the channel when the bearing component is received in the receiving space.

9. The domestic appliance according to claim 8, wherein the cover is designed to fix in place the bearing component received in the receiving space.

10. The domestic appliance according to claim 8, wherein the housing includes a polyamide.

11. The domestic appliance according to claim 8, wherein the housing includes a fibre-reinforced polyamide.

12. The domestic appliance according to claim 8 further comprising a second pair of interconnected limbs each connected to one of the axle mounts.

13. The domestic appliance according to claim 8, wherein each of the axle mounts defines a recess configured to receive an end of the axle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] Further advantages and embodiments shall now be described with reference to the attached Figures, in which

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a flow sensor in schematic form and by way of example.

[0034] FIG. 2 shows a bearing component according to the invention, in schematic form and by way of example.

[0035] FIG. 3 shows, in schematic form and by way of example, the bearing component according to the invention inserted in a housing of a domestic appliance.

[0036] FIG. 4 shows a bearing component with limbs on either side.

[0037] FIG. 5 shows a top view of a bearing component with limbs on either side.

[0038] FIG. 6 shows a base member with a receiving space for a bearing component.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.

[0040] FIG. 1 shows, in schematic form and by way of example, a flow sensor 200 in the form of an impeller used to measure the flow rate through a continuous-flow heater, for example. In this example, flow sensor 200 has vanes 210 and a magnetic element 220. Flow sensor 200 rotates by means of vanes 210 about an axle 230. On either side of axle 230, flow sensor 200 has journals 232 that until now were mounted directly in the housing of a domestic appliance.

[0041] FIG. 2 shows, in schematic form and by way of example, a bearing component 300 for mounting a flow sensor 200 of the kind shown in FIG. 1. Bearing component 300 has two limbs 310 and 320, at the end of each there is an axle mount 312, 322.

[0042] Each axle mount 312, 322 has a recess 314, 324 in which the respective journals 232 of flow sensor 200 are received. In order to mount flow sensor 200 in bearing component 300, limbs 310, 320 are forced apart in such a way that the spacing between axle mounts 312 and 322 is increased. Flow sensor 200 can then be inserted between axle mounts 312, 322. After the limbs are released, bearing component 300 returns to its initial position, so that flow sensor 200 is securely received in bearing component 300.

[0043] In this example, for secure fixing inside the housing of the domestic appliance, bearing component 300 also has two optional fixing collars 316, 326 that match the housing and which cannot be used for other variants of the housing, or only if designed differently.

[0044] In this embodiment, bearing component 300 is made of a polyketone and as a single part. Flow sensor 200 is similarly made of a polyketone. Keeping the material of the flow sensor 200 and the bearing component 300 the same ensures that the surface slip properties of the axle mount and the flow sensor 200 are permanent. In particular, the materials are preferably not fibre-reinforced, so that any abrasion in chlorinated waters is reduced.

[0045] FIG. 3 shows, in schematic form and by way of example, the flow assembly including a bearing component 300 and a flow sensor 200, inserted in a domestic appliance 1.

[0046] Domestic appliance 1 has a housing 100 with a base member 120. An opening 112 provides access to a fluid channel for insertion of the flow assembly therein. Opening 112 is closed by a cover (not shown). For illustrative purposes, only axle 230 of flow sensor 200 is shown, which extends between the axle mounts of bearing component 300.

[0047] It can be seen that only bearing component 300, which does not rotate, is in contact with housing 100. Axle 230, in contrast, is mounted exclusively in bearing component 300 and may therefore be rotated with little friction. In this embodiment, limbs 310, 320 are inserted downwards into the plane of the drawing into opening 112. In other embodiments, a horizontal layout of bearing component 300, i.e., in the plane of the drawing, is also possible.

[0048] Bearing component 300 is fixed in its final position by fitting the cover. Alternatively, it is also possible to mount the flow assembly in the cover before the latter is fitted to close opening 112.

[0049] FIGS. 4 and 5 show a bearing component 300 that has four limbs 310, 320, 330, 340. Recesses 314, 324 for mounting flow sensor 200 are each provided on two limbs. This results in a kind of closed ring of connected limbs 310, 320, 330, 340, on which the optional fixing collars 316, 326 are formed.

[0050] Limbs 310, 320, 330, 340 are designed to be elastic or flexible, so that they can be pressed apart in an assembly procedure, in particular at recesses 314, 324, so that flow sensor 200 fits between them and can be inserted into bearing component 300. When flow sensor 200 has been inserted into recesses 314, 324, limbs 310, 320, 330, 340 spring back again and flow sensor 200 is rotatably mounted in recesses 314, 324. Bearing component 300 with flow sensor 200 installed can then be inserted into a receiving space 111 in the base member 100 of the continuous-flow heater. By the cover, bearing body 300 is held in base member 100 and opening 112 is closed water-tightly, so that flow sensor 200 is mounted at least partially in the water channel of the domestic appliance, e.g., a continuous-flow heater.

[0051] FIG. 6 shows a receiving space 111 for bearing component 300. A receiving space 111 is arranged around opening 112 and has a space 113, 114 for fixing collars 316, 326. Fastening devices 115, 116 are used to fasten the cover, not shown, to base member 120.

[0052] While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, the features of various implementing embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the invention.