JP2001079292A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform an automatic priming and prevent the overflow of priming water from a suction port by dividing the discharge port downstream side of a tap water feeding solenoid valve into two passages, allowing one of them to communicate with the water injection port of a washing tub, and allowing the other to communicate with a priming port through priming hose. SOLUTION: When a power source switch is on, and a bathwater course start button is pressed, a current is carried to a feed solenoid valve 31 for a prescribed time, for example, 15 seconds. The water leaving a discharge port is collided to the wall of a priming feed port 33, and part of the water is supplied as priming water from the priming water port of a casing cover 41 into a pump through a priming hose 34. After the lapse of 15 seconds, the current carrying to the feed solenoid valve 31 is stopped, the motor 43 of a bathwater suction pump is rotated, a suction chamber 41d is laid in a negative pressure by the rotation of a runner 42 to suck bathwater through a sucking hose 27 connected to a suction port 26a. The bathwater is supplied to a washing tub through a discharge chamber 40i and a discharge pipe 26b.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to water supply, washing, rinsing,
In connection with a fully automatic washing machine that automatically performs processes such as dehydration,
More specifically, the present invention relates to a fully automatic washing machine having a bath water suction pump.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, the remaining hot water in a bath is used as washing water to save tap water.

As a means for supplying bath water, there is a type in which a throw-in type bath water suction pump is put in a bath tub, and water in the bath tub is fed into the washing tub via the pump.

As another example, there is a type in which a washing machine has a built-in bath water suction pump and supplies water in a bathtub to the washing tub via the pump. The pump used in this case is, of course, a self-priming type pump. The priming method is such that when the first priming is performed, the priming is not returned to the suction side of the pump by a check valve built into the pump.

[0005] A prior art for incorporating a bath water suction pump into a washing machine and sending water in a bath tub into the washing tub via this pump is disclosed in, for example, JP-A-57-117894.
JP-A-57-117895 and JP-A-6-23190 can be cited.

[0006]

However, when a bath water suction pump of a throw-in type is used, there is a drawback in that the hose and the lead wire are entangled with each other, and both workability and storage are poor.

On the other hand, the type in which a bath water suction pump is built in a washing machine generally has a pump installed below the washing machine, which requires not only a priming tank but also a lower portion of the washing machine. The length of the pipe from the pump to the opening of the washing tub becomes longer, which causes an increase in cost. Regarding priming, if the check valve is not properly assembled or dirt or hair gets caught in the check valve, the priming flows back through the water suction hose due to the siphon phenomenon, and every time the water suction pump is used, It becomes necessary to perform priming.

In the above-mentioned JP-A-57-117894 and JP-A-57-117895, a washing machine with a bath water suction pump which does not require a priming tank is proposed. Even so, the pump is provided below the washing machine.

A washing machine with a bath water suction pump which does not require a priming tank is also proposed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 6-23190.

[0010] However, the publication only discloses a very simplified diagram, and there is no specific description in which part of the washing machine the pump is incorporated. It is not known at all whether the pump is installed below the washing machine or at any other place, as in the above two known examples, and it is not clear whether the pump is installed below the washing machine. Is not disclosed at all. Also, there is no disclosure of a specific system for priming.

The present invention provides a specific system for priming a bath water suction pump. The object of the present invention is to provide a priming system that allows a user to start priming even at the beginning of use of a washing machine as compared with the prior art. There is no need to perform this operation, and even if the priming water runs out due to improper installation of the check valve or foreign matter being caught, the priming is automatically performed and the pump operation is not hindered. It is to provide a washing machine.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that before the operation of the bath water pump,
Alternatively, priming is performed into the pump casing from the water supply solenoid valve at the same time as the operation.

The invention described in claim 2 is the first invention.
In this case, the priming is automatically performed during all bath water operations, such as bath water absorption for washing and bath water absorption for rinsing.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the discharge port of the water supply solenoid valve and the priming water supply port are formed with a certain spatial distance.

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
Before or simultaneously with the operation of the bath water suction pump, the water is automatically primed into the pump casing from the water supply solenoid valve. The bath water suction operation can be performed without adding priming water.

In addition, since the automatic priming operation is performed during all bath water suction operations such as bath water absorption for washing and bath water absorption for rinsing, a malfunction occurs in the check valve between the washing and rinsing strokes. In this case, the bath water can be absorbed without any trouble.

Further, since the discharge port of the water supply solenoid valve for automatically priming and the priming water supply port are formed with a certain space distance, the bath water coming out of the priming hose when the bath water suction pump is operated. Can be prevented from flowing back to the water supply pipe through the water supply valve.

[0018]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to one embodiment of the drawings. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a top cover of a washing machine, 2 denotes a controller for controlling operation of the washing machine, and 2 Is built in the front of the top cover 1 and includes a microcomputer having a timer function.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a membrane switch for the operator to instruct the operation of the washing machine from outside.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a lid for covering the laundry inlet 6 which is largely opened at the center of the top cover, and opens upward with the fulcrum 5 as an axis.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a cover for preventing laundry from falling between a washing and dewatering tub (hereinafter abbreviated as a washing tub) 8 and an outer tub 9. The cover 7 is provided above the outer tub 9.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a dehydration hole formed in the wall of the washing tub 8.

A balance ring 11 is fixed to the upper end of the washing tub 8 and reduces the amplitude of the vibration generated in the washing tub 8 during the spin-drying operation.

The outer tub 9 is suspended above the outer frame 21 by a suspension rod 12 and elastically supports the outer tub 9 by inserting a spring 13 therebetween.

Numeral 14 denotes a stirring blade, which is rotatably installed at the center of the bottom of the washing tub 8, and rotates and reverses in a short cycle during washing and rinsing.

Reference numeral 15 denotes a motor. The power of the motor 15 is transmitted via a motor pulley 16, a belt 17, a driven pulley 18, and a clutch / reduction unit 19 to the stirring blades 14 during washing and rinsing.
During the dehydration, the washing tub 8 and the stirring blade 14 are driven together.

Reference numeral 20 denotes a leg for supporting the outer frame 21, and reference numeral 22 denotes a drain hole provided at the bottom of the outer tub 9. Downstream of the drain hole 22, a drain solenoid valve 2 that opens and closes in response to a command from the controller 2 is provided.
3 and a drain hose 24.

Reference numeral 25 denotes a back panel, which incorporates a bath water suction pump 26 and a water supply solenoid valve 31, which will be described later.

Reference numeral 26 denotes a bath water suction pump whose casing is formed of a synthetic resin containing an antibacterial agent, and is incorporated in the back panel 25 of the top cover 1.

Numeral 27 is a bath water absorption hose containing an antibacterial agent.
The connection end is detachably attached to a bath water inlet 26 a provided on the upper surface of the pump 26 via an O-ring 28.

FIG. 2 is a view showing the internal structure with the back panel 25 removed. Reference numeral 1a denotes a water supply port provided on the top cover 1 for supplying tap water into the washing tub and a water supply port for supplying bath water. The tap water inlet and the bath water inlet 1a are also used, and a softener is also supplied from the tap water inlet and the bath water inlet 1a.

The bath water suction pump 26 is provided with the bath water suction port 2.
6a and a bath water discharge pipe 26b. In the back panel 25, a lid switch 29 and a water supply electromagnetic valve 31 are further incorporated, and the water supply electromagnetic valve 31 is provided integrally with a tap water receiving port 30 that is connected to a tap water faucet by a hose.

33 is a priming water supply port, 34 is a water supply solenoid valve 3
This is a priming hose that supplies a part of the tap water discharged from 1 to the bath water suction pump as priming water.

FIG. 4 shows a vertical section of the bath water suction pump 26.
In the figure, reference numeral 40 denotes a casing integrally formed of a synthetic resin, comprising a pump casing part for housing a pump runner, a motor holding part for housing a motor, and a coupling housing part in which a pump and a motor are formed. I have.
Further, the casing 40 integrally includes a cooling water passage 40e, a water drain hole 40f for discharging water leakage from the mechanical seal, steam drain holes 40g and 40h, and a discharge chamber 40i.

A casing cover 41 is combined with the casing 40. The casing cover is integrally formed with a suction chamber forming wall 41c, a suction chamber 41d, and the like.

Reference numeral 42 denotes a runner of the pump, which is fixed to an end of a runner shaft 49. 43 is a pump motor whose shaft 43a is connected to a runner shaft 49 via a coupling 45 made of an insulating material. 46 is a check valve provided in the casing cover suction chamber 41d to prevent water in the pump from flowing out to the suction side.

A partition plate 44 is interposed between the casing 40 and the casing cover 41. This partition plate separates the runner chamber and the suction chamber 41d.
The two chambers communicate with each other by a suction hole opened corresponding to the water inlet of No. 2.

Reference numeral 47 denotes a packing for keeping the joint surface between the casing 40 and the casing cover 41 secure. Numeral 48 is a mechanical seal for keeping the pump chamber and the coupling chamber watertight.

FIG. 5 is a front view in which the casing cover 41 and the partition plate 44 are removed.
The upper volute 40a1 and the lower volute 40a2 formed integrally with the outer wall 0 have separation walls 40b1 and 40b2 protruding in the direction of the runner 42, and a return water hole 40c1 communicating between the inside and outside of the volute adjacent to the separation wall in the runner rotation direction.
And 40c2. At the upper end of the lower volute 40a2, a bubble prevention rib 40d extending in the horizontal direction is provided.

Outside the upper and lower volutes, a discharge chamber 40 is provided.
This chamber has the function of a steam-water separation chamber having a large volume at the top.

A part of the water / water separation chamber swells toward the motor holding portion to form the cooling water passage 40e described above.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line YY of FIG. 5, wherein a discharge port 41a to which the discharge pipe 26b is connected integrally with the casing cover 41 and a priming port 41b to which the priming hose 34 is connected are formed. Have been.

When the power switch is turned on and the bath water course start button is pressed, the water supply solenoid valve 31 is energized for 15 seconds to supply tap water. The water flowing from the tap water discharge port hits the wall of the priming supply port 33, and a part of the tap water is supplied as priming water from the priming port 41 b of the casing cover 41 through the priming hose 34 into the pump.
After 15 seconds have elapsed, the power supply to the water supply electromagnetic valve 31 is stopped, and the pump 26 is started.

When the motor 43 rotates, the runner 42 rotates in the P direction via the motor shaft 43, the coupling 45, and the runner shaft 49. Due to the rotation of the runner 42, the suction chamber 41d has a negative pressure, sucks air in the water suction hose 27 connected to the water suction port 26a, and sucks and discharges air.
Bath water is absorbed while discharging from 0i. At this time, the air sucked into the runner 42 has a structure in which air and water are separated in a short time by the effects of the separation wall 40b1, the separation wall 40b2, the return water hole 40c1, the return water hole 40c2, and the bubble prevention rib 40d. . Further, the absorbed bath water circulates through the cooling water passage 40e to cool the motor and absorb the noise of the motor. Suction chamber 41d and discharge chamber 40i
Rib 44a of the partition plate 44 for separating the casing 4
The first suction chamber forming wall 41c is attached in a labyrinth structure. Also, the runner tip 42a and the partition plate 44
Of the runner 42 and the plane portion 42
The gap between b and the partition plate 44 is set to 0.6 to 1.3 mm. The absorbed bath water is sent to the discharge chamber 40i via the runner 42 by the same water supply method as that of a conventional pump of this type, and the bath water sent to the discharge chamber 40i is then transferred to the bath water discharge pipe 26b. And supplied into the washing tub 8.

[0045]

According to the present invention, priming is automatically performed by the water supply solenoid valve during operation of the bath water suction pump, thereby eliminating the need for the user to priming from the first use. The present invention can provide a highly reliable bath water suction pump that prevents leakage of priming water in the pump casing and does not hinder the water suction operation even when a malfunction occurs in the check valve. In addition, since a fixed space distance is provided between the discharge port of the water supply electromagnetic valve and the priming water supply port, a safe system without backflow of the bath water to the water pipe is provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall internal structure explanatory view showing one embodiment of a fully automatic washing machine of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the internal structure of the vehicle with a back panel removed.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an internal structure of a bath water suction pump.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing the inside of the pump after removing a casing cover and a partition plate.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line YY of FIG. 5;

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Top cover, 8 ... Washing tub (washing and dewatering tub), 25
... back panel, 26 ... bath water suction pump, 31 ... water supply solenoid valve, 33 ... priming water supply port, 34 ... priming hose.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification FI FI Theme Court ゛ (Reference) F04D 29/44 F04D 29/44 D (72) Inventor Akira Miyao 1-1-1 Higashitagacho, Hitachi City, Ibaraki Prefecture No. Kagoyuki Yano 1-1-1 Higashitaga-cho, Hitachi City, Ibaraki Pref.Hitachi, Ltd.Electrical Equipment Division, Taga Headquarters (72) Inventor Oyama Takami Ibaraki 1-chome, Higashitaga-cho, Hitachi-shi Hitachi, Ltd.Electrical Equipment Division, Taga Headquarters (72) Inventor Isao Hiyama 1-1-1, Higashitaga-cho, Hitachi, Ibaraki, Japan Hitachi, Ltd. Equipment Division Taga Division

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A washing tub having stirring blades, a washing motor, a bath water suction pump for sucking bath water through a water absorption hose at a position above the washing tub, and a tap water supply solenoid valve, Bath water discharged from a bath water suction pump or tap water discharged from the tap water supply solenoid valve is supplied into the washing tub from above the washing tub via a water inlet, and the washing motor is used to supply the stirring blades and the like. A washing machine that rotates and drives the washing tub to perform washing, rinsing, and dehydration, wherein the bath water suction pump includes a water suction port also serving as a connection port of a bath water suction hose, and a runner chamber including a pump runner. A suction chamber provided on a suction side of the runner chamber, a discharge chamber having a water / water separation function provided on a discharge side of the runner chamber, a discharge port, a priming port for priming a pump, and the pump. Turn the runner And a pump driving motor for driving said suction chamber bath water is water from the water intake by the driven rotation of the pump runner, the runner chamber,
The discharge port and the priming port are configured to discharge from a discharge port through a discharge chamber, and the discharge port and the priming port communicate with an upper portion of the discharge chamber, and the bath water suction port has a top end higher than the discharge port and the priming port. The diameter of the priming port is smaller than the diameter of the discharge port, the downstream of the discharge port of the tap water supply electromagnetic valve is divided into two flow paths, and one of the flow paths is filled with the washing tub. A washing machine characterized in that the washing machine is connected to a water opening and the other flow path is connected to the priming opening via a priming hose.