Water switch

Abstract

A water switch of a water-bearing appliance, in particular a domestic appliance, including at least one water supply path, several water discharge paths and an adjustable water distribution element, the water distribution element having at least one passage opening and being rotatable around an axis from a first angular position to a second angular position, in the first angular position the at least one passage opening connecting the at least one water supply path to a first water discharge path, and in the second angular position the at least one passage opening connecting the at least one water supply path to a second water discharge path, is characterized in that a guiding mechanism is provided for guiding an axial movement along the axis of the water distribution element when the water distribution element rotates from the first angular position to the second angular position.

1 . A water switch ( 10 ) of a water-bearing appliance, in particular a domestic appliance, including at least one water supply path ( 28 ), several water discharge paths ( 88 ) and an adjustable water distribution element ( 18 ), the water distribution element ( 18 ) having at least one passage opening ( 50 ) and being rotatable around an axis from a first angular position to a second angular position, in the first angular position the at least one passage opening ( 50 ) connecting the at least one water supply path to a first water discharge path, and in the second angular position the at least one passage opening ( 50 ) connecting the at least one water supply path to a second water discharge path, characterized in a guiding mechanism ( 38 ,  62 ,  76 ,  94 ) for guiding an axial movement along the axis of the water distribution element ( 18 ) when the water distribution element ( 18 ) rotates from the first angular position to the second angular position. 
     
     
         2 . The water switch of  claim 1 , wherein the guiding mechanism includes at least one cylindrical portion ( 58 ) being guided in a respective tubular portion ( 32 ) which surrounds the at least one cylindrical portion ( 58 ). 
     
     
         3 . The water switch of  claim 1 , wherein the water distribution element ( 18 ) is disk shaped and extends perpendicular to the axis. 
     
     
         4 . The water switch of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cylindrical portion ( 58 ) is connected to an armature ( 60 ) of an associated magnetic coil ( 12 ). 
     
     
         5 . The water switch of  claim 4 , wherein further, in particular, the cylindrical portion ( 58 ) and/or the armature ( 60 ) extends along the axis. 
     
     
         6 . The water switch of  claim 1 , wherein the guiding mechanism includes at least one first ramp ( 38 ,  76 ) sliding along a respective second ramp ( 62 ,  94 ) during the axial movement of the water distribution element ( 18 ), the first and second ramps ( 38 ,  62 ,  76 ,  94 ) thereby generating a torque for rotating the water distribution element ( 18 ) from the first angular position in the direction to the second angular position. 
     
     
         7 . The water switch of  claim 6 , wherein plural pairs of first ramp and second ramps ( 38 ,  62 ,  76 ,  94 ), are distributed circumferentially around a cylindrical portion ( 58 ) of the guiding mechanism. 
     
     
         8 . The water switch of  claim 7 , wherein the number of pairs of a first and second ramps ( 38 ,  62 ,  76 ,  94 ) equals the number of water discharge paths ( 88 ). 
     
     
         9 . The water switch of  claim 7 , wherein the number of pairs first and respective second ramps ( 38 ,  62 ,  76 ,  94 ) is larger than the number of water discharge paths ( 88 ), whereby at least at one angular position of the water distribution element ( 18 ) the respective water discharge is closed. 
     
     
         10 . The water switch of one of  claim 6 , wherein at least one first pair of first ramps and a respective second ramp ( 38 ,  62 ) and at least one second pair of a first ramps and a respective second ramp ( 76 ,  94 ) are located on two opposite faces of the water distribution element ( 18 ). 
     
     
         11 . The water switch of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one first pair of a first ramps and the respective second ramp ( 38 ,  62 ) at one face of the water distribution element ( 18 ) generates approximately one half of the rotary movement of the water distributing element ( 18 ), and the at least one second pair of a first ramps and the respective second ramp ( 76 ,  94 ) at the opposite face of the water distribution element ( 18 ) generates approximately the second half of the rotary movement of the water distributing element ( 18 ). 
     
     
         12 . The water switch of  claim 1 , wherein the guiding mechanism includes a spring ( 16 ) biasing the water distribution element ( 18 ) in a direction of the several water discharge paths ( 88 ). 
     
     
         13 . The water switch of  claims 12 , wherein, the spring ( 16 ) surrounds a cylindrical portion ( 58 ) of the guiding mechanism.