| 摘要 |
A water-supply valve for a washing machine has an inlet tube (110) for supplying water to the valve and an outlet tube (120) for supplying water to the washing machine, and a reservoir (130) for interconnecting the two tubes (110, 120). A flexible diaphragm (200) is disposed within said reservoir (130) and has a first bore (210) communicating the inlet tube (110) with the reservoir (130), and a second bore (220) communicating the outlet tube (120) with the reservoir (130). An actuator rod (600) is movable to move the diaphragm (130) within the reservoir (130) between a closed position in which the second bore (220) is closed, and an open position in which the reservoir (130) and the second bore (220) directly communicate. A spring (500) urges the actuator rod (600) to the closed position, and a solenoid (400) is operable to move the actuator rod (600) to the open position against the action of the spring (500). Cooperating means (700, 800) on the actuator rod (600) and a valve housing (310) act to hold the actuator rod (600) in its uppermost, open, position against the action of the spring (500). Energisation of the solenoid (400) is therefore not required to hold the valve open and the consumption of electric power is minimized. <IMAGE> |
