Eltek S.p.a.

Reckitt Benckiser N.v.

Renato Gaj

Costanzo Gadini

Marco Moro

Chris Efstathios Housmekerides

Marco Pizzi

Paolo Savini

Fiorenzo Pivetta

Luciano Bianchi

Adriano Petruzzi

A hydraulic control and/or safety device, particularly for utility apparatuses or systems or appliances, which is preferably able to carry out a flow shut-off and/or limitation, particularly in the event of fault of the utility apparatus or system or appliance, and/or one or more features that improve the device and/or the apparatus performance. In particular, the device can carry out the function of the fluid treatment, so as to be particularly reliable, as it prevents at least the formation of deposits on its mechanical components designed to limit the water flow.

Hydraulic control and treatment device, particularly for hydraulic apparatuses or systems

A device is described wherein a pair of thermal or electrothermal actuators () actuate a member, such as a pinion (), between two stable positions. The actuators are alternately activated for moving the pinion between the stable positions. For this purpose, they are arranged close to each other, so that they can act upon the pinion on opposite sides, the pinion being held in the stable positions by a releasable engagement element. The device of the invention ensures low energy consumption because the actuators () operate only for moving the pinion from one stable position to the other.

Actuator device

A device is described wherein an actuator () drives a member, such as a rack () meshed with a pinion (), between two stable positions. For this purpose, elements for stopping the movable member are provided, which cooperate with elements present on the outer housing (), in which the actuator and the movable member () are arranged, for holding at least one of said stable conditions. The device of the invention ensures low energy consumption because the actuator () only operates for moving the movable member from one stable position to the other.

Actuator device with stable working positions

The invention relates to a door lock device for household appliances such as washing machines, clothes dryers and the like. The device comprises a slide () which is movable between a door lock position and a door unlock position, and which cooperates with a coupling tooth arranged on the door in order to hold the door locked when the household appliance is in operation. The device is fitted with a thermoactuator () that drives the slide () by imparting thereto a translational motion between a door lock position and a door unlock position.

Door lock device with thermoactuator for household appliances

The invention relates to a multi-dosing detergent delivery device. In embodiments of the present invention, the multi-dosing detergent delivery device comprises: a housing comprising a base and a lid; a refill holder and shaft located within the housing and arranged, in use, for receiving thereon a cartridge having a plurality X of chambers each accommodating a detergent composition; a directing means formed in the lid of said device to direct, in use, wash liquor collected on said lid selectively into a chamber of the cartridge to contact the detergent composition therein; an outlet formed in a base region of said housing to allow, in use, detergent loaded wash liquor to exit the device; and indexing means located within the shaft of the device for causing, in use, automatic movement of said cartridge relative to said housing during and subsequent to a wash cycle so as to cause a neighboring chamber to be in an exposed, ready to be used, position prior to a next washing cycle, said indexing means comprising: a thermally reactive element, a resilient biasing means, a gearing mechanism and a clutch element for selectively decoupling torque forces generated by expansion of said thermally reactive element from said shaft.

Detergent delivery device

An electro-thermal actuator device includes a case defining a cavity in which are housed a thermal actuator, an electrical heater and, at least partially, an actuating shaft. The device comprises a multipolar connector for the rapid, secure and reliable coupling to a respective source of electrical power supply for the heater. The connector can be configured as an adapter unit distinct from the case, suitable to transform a traditional electro-thermal actuator device into the actuator device described above.

Electro-thermal actuator device

A long-life substance dispensing device for a washing machine, particularly a dishwasher, comprises: &#x2014;a body (') designed to be sealingly fixed to a structure of the washing machine, &#x2014;a support means () adapted to contain a total amount of a substance sufficient for performing a plurality of washing cycles, &#x2014;an actuation system () which is electrically controllable for causing delivery of at least one dose of the substance contained in the support means (). The actuation system () comprises at least one drive element and one driven element () capable of cooperating to obtain the delivery. The actuation system () is arranged for being able to take on an operative condition, wherein the drive element (&#x2033;) is operatively coupled with the driven element (&#x2032;), and an inoperative condition, wherein the drive element () is decoupled from the driven element ().

Dispensing device, particularly for domestic appliances

An electro-thermal actuator device comprises a case defining a cavity in which are housed a thermal actuator, an electrical heater and, at least partially, an actuating shaft. The device comprises a multipolar connector for the rapid, secure and reliable coupling to a respective source of electrical power supply for the heater. The connector can be configured as an adapter unit distinct from the case, suitable to transform a traditional electro-thermal actuator device into a device according to the invention.

An electro-thermal actuator device () comprises a casing defining a cavity (Z, Z) in which there are arranged a thermal actuator (), an electric heater (), at least a part of an actuating shaft () and at least a part of two electric terminals () for supplying the heater (). The casing is formed by two half-shells (A,B) mutually coupled along two facing surfaces of junction (S), each surface pertaining to a respective half-shell. Sealing means (, G) are provided, which are operatively arranged between the two surfaces of junction (S) and cooperating with a respective half-shell (A,B) for hermetically insulating at least a part of the inner cavity (Z, Z) from the external environment.

Electro-thermal actuation device

An actuator of the thermal type has a body, wherein a chamber is defined for containing a material which expands as a function of the temperature of said body; a shaft, having one end directly dipped into said material, the shaft being movable as a function of the increase and decrease of volume of said material; a closure and sealing device for the chamber and the shaft, including at least a closure element, configured as a washer or similar element, which is apt to cooperate mechanically with said body, at least a first sealing element, such as a bushing or similar element, which is apt to perform a first sealing on said shaft, and at least a second sealing element, such as a ring or similar element, which is apt to perform a second sealing on said shaft. The closure and sealing device has lower-support apparatus for at least one of the first sealing element and second sealing element, the lower-support apparatus being associated with the body at a pre-defined point of the latter, the closure element and lower-support apparatus delimiting a precise housing zone in the body for the first and second sealing elements.

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Casale Monferrato, Italy

Renato Gaj