Lifting mechanism

The invention relates to a lifting mechanism for spring-assisted actuation of a covering means of a dishwasher such as a door or shutter, having at least one lever which is mounted on a shaft and is connected to a tension spring. Arranged, in this case, between the lever and the spring is a mechanical control means which brings about a more or less constant lever arm between an articulation point of the spring and the shaft over an angle of rotation of the shaft of up to approximately 100.degree..

What is claimed is:

1. A lifting mechanism for spring-assisted actuation of a covering means of a dishwasher comprising:

at least one lever mounted on a shaft and connected to a tension spring;

a mechanical control means arranged between the lever and the spring to produce a constant lever arm between an articulation point of the spring and the shaft over an angle of rotation of the shaft of up to approximately 100.degree.;

wherein the mechanical control means is configured as an intermediate lever connected to the at least one lever at a first articulation point and to the tension spring at a second articulation point, the intermediate lever at times being retained freely between the first and second articulation points and at other times butting rotatably against a support.

2. The lifting mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising a further lever mounted on the shaft having a region on which a covering means is mounted in a rotatable and displaceable manner.

3. The lifting mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the shaft serves as a support for the mechanical control means.

4. A lifting mechanism for spring-assisted actuation of a covering means of a dishwasher comprising:

at least one lever mounted on a shaft and connected to a tension spring;

a mechanical control means arranged between the lever and the spring to produce a constant lever arm between an articulation point of the spring and the shaft over an angle of rotation of the shaft of up to approximately 100.degree.;

wherein the mechanical control means is configured as a triangular compensating lever.

5. The lifting mechanism according to claim 4, wherein the lever and the spring are each articulated in acute angles of the triangular compensating lever.

6. A lifting mechanism for spring-assisted actuation of a covering means of a dishwasher comprising:

at least one lever mounted on a shaft and connected to a tension spring;

a mechanical control means arranged between the lever and the spring to produce a constant lever arm between an articulation point of the spring and the shaft over an angle of rotation of the shaft of up to approximately 100.degree.;

wherein the mechanical control means is configured as an intermediate lever connected to the at least one lever at a first articulation point and to the tension spring at a second articulation point, the intermediate lever at times being retained freely between the first and second articulation points and at other times butting rotatably against a support;

wherein the mechanical control means is supported in the support as long as a longitudinal axis of the spring is aligned with the first articulation point.