JP2002292192A - Water level detector of washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a water level detector of a washing machine that does not require an extra space for arranging a water level sensor, helps reduce the number of parts and cost, and can be easily arranged in a washing machine without being limited to a horizontal portion, can be easily connected to a connecting tube, and can reliably keep the connection secret. SOLUTION: A water level sensor 13 detecting a water level by a change in air pressure in a water tub is fixed to a board 16 in a board case 12a of a control board 12, the water level sensor 13 is tightly covered by a sensor cover 17, the upper portion of which projects from the board case 12a, and a connecting tube 15, a part of which is connected to the water tank is connected to the upper projecting portion of the sensor cover 17.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a water level detecting device for a washing machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, a fully automatic one-tank type washing machine is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, a water tank 2 is swingably supported in an outer box 1 via a vibration isolating mechanism 5 composed of a vibration isolating spring, a hanging rod, and the like. The washing and dewatering tub 4 is rotatably disposed, the periphery of the upper opening of the outer box 1 is covered with a top cover 6, and the clothing inlet above the washing and dewatering tub 4 is closed and opened by a lid 7. ing. In the drawing, reference numeral 8 denotes a driving device using a speed reduction mechanism such as a motor or a clutch.

An operation panel 9 provided with operation switches and the like is provided on the front side of the top cover 6, and a washing operation is provided below the operation panel 9 and inside a front panel 11 attached to the front side of the outer box 1. Control boards 10 and 12 on which electronic control parts and the like for automatically proceeding the operation are mounted.
Is arranged.

In such a washing machine, water is supplied automatically, and water is supplied to a water level set by an operation switch or to a water level automatically set by a cloth amount (load) detected at the start of washing. As shown in FIG. 7, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, a water level sensor 13 using a semiconductor is arranged side by side on the control board 10 below the operation panel 9 as a means for detecting that the set water level has been reached. ing.

[0005] The water level sensor 13 is connected to the other end of a pressure guiding tube 15 having one end communicating with an air chamber 14 connected to the water tank 2, and detects a water level by detecting a change in air pressure due to a rise in the water level.

[0006]

As described above, the water level sensor 13 is provided in the space below the operation panel 9 in the control board 1.
The control board 10 is provided separately from the control board 10, but is provided separately from the control board 10. For this reason, not only is a separate component for mounting the water level sensor 13 required, which increases the cost, but also the space below the operation panel 9 is a limited space, and the control board 10 and the water level sensor 13 Are arranged side by side, and it is necessary to consider the arrangement.

Further, the pressure guiding tube 15 is connected to the water level sensor 1.
3, the force is applied to the water level sensor 13, so that it is necessary to install the water level sensor 13 on a horizontal portion, and the installation position is restricted also from this point.

Depending on the arrangement of the water level sensor 13, the pressure guiding tube 15 may be disposed below the control board 10, and the pressure may not be transmitted accurately.

Further, the pressure from the air chamber is
The pressure guiding tube 15 must be closely connected to the water level sensor 13 in order to be transmitted to the water level sensor 13 correctly. However,
In the conventional method of directly connecting the pressure guiding tube 15 to the water level sensor 13, a load is applied to the mounting portion of the element of the water level sensor 13 and the substrate due to stress caused by bending or tension of the pressure guiding tube 15, and connection is difficult. is there. Further, since the connection of the pressure guiding tube connecting portion of the water level sensor 13 is performed by soldering or the like, the strength thereof is weak, and the pressure guiding tube 15 cannot be directly connected thereto.

An object of the present invention is to eliminate the disadvantages of the prior art, eliminate the need for a separate space for disposing a water level sensor, reduce the number of parts, and reduce the cost. Provided is a water level detecting device for a washing machine that can be easily disposed in a washing machine without being limited to the above, can be easily connected to a pressure guiding tube, and can securely maintain confidentiality of a connection portion. It is in.

[0011]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, first, a water tank is swingably suspended in an outer box,
In the water tub, a washing and dewatering tub having a rotating blade at the bottom is rotatably disposed, and the upper part of the outer box is covered with a top cover having a clothes input port to the washing and dewatering tub and having an operation panel. A washing machine in which a control board for controlling operation is disposed below the operation panel or on the back of the front panel of the outer box, wherein the water level of the board in the board case of the control board is changed by a change in air pressure in a water tank. Is fixed, and the water level sensor is densely covered with a sensor cover whose upper part protrudes from the substrate case, and a pressure guiding tube having one end connected to a water tank is connected to the upper protruding part of the sensor cover.

Thus, since the water level sensor is disposed inside the existing control board, there is no need to separately secure a space for disposing the water level sensor, for example, below the operation panel, and this space is effectively used. Can be achieved. In addition, since the pressure guiding tube is connected to the sensor cover, the pressure guiding tube is supported by the sensor cover, and no force due to the connection is applied to the weak water level sensor.

Further, since the water level sensor is tightly covered with the sensor cover, the airtightness of the connection with the pressure guiding tube can be ensured.

Second, since the lower portion of the sensor cover is embedded in a resin for fixing the water level sensor to the substrate, the sensor cover is supported by the resin in the substrate, and the force caused by connecting the pressure guiding tube is reduced. I can support it here. Further, the water level sensor can be hermetically sealed by the sensor cover and the resin.

Third, the sensor cover includes a cap-shaped cover main body that covers an upper part of a water level sensor, a cylindrical connecting portion protruding above the cover main body and connected to a pressure guiding tube, and a cover main body. It is composed of a leg that protrudes downward and is buried in the resin.The notch for the resin inflow is formed in the cover body, so that the sensor cover is placed over the water level sensor and the leg is placed in the resin. The water level sensor can be sealed by a combination of the resin and the sensor cover only by embedding.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional front view showing a first embodiment of a water level detecting device for a washing machine according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a washing machine provided with the water level detecting device. Since it is as described, the detailed description is omitted here. The water level detection device of the present invention is also connected to the other end of the pressure guiding tube 15 having one end connected to the air chamber 14, and is constituted by a water level sensor using a semiconductor.

According to the present invention, the water level sensor 13 is
Is fixed on a board 16 provided in a board case 12a of a control board 12 installed on the back of a front panel 11 provided in the front of the control panel 12. The board 16 is provided with electronic components and the like for controlling the operation of the washing machine, and is already provided in the control board 12.

The upper part of the water level sensor 13 is covered with a sensor cover 17. As shown in FIG. 3, the sensor cover 17 includes a cap-shaped cover body 17 a that covers the upper part of the water level sensor 13, and a cylindrical connection portion that protrudes above the cover body 17 a and is connected to the pressure guiding tube 15. 17b
And a leg 17c protruding below the cover main body 17a and embedded in the resin. The cover main body 17a is formed with a notch 17e for inflow of the resin. In the drawing, reference numeral 17d denotes a cap for closing the upper end of the connection portion 17b.

In this case, the cover body 17a is formed to have a diameter larger than the diameter of the water level sensor 13, and the connecting portion 17b is formed to be substantially equal to the diameter of the pressure sensing portion 13a formed above the water level sensor 13.

In order to fix the water level sensor 13 to the control board 12 using the sensor cover 17, the water level sensor 13 is fixed to the board 16, and then the cover body 17a is covered so as to cover the water level sensor 13 from above. Then, the leg 17c is inserted into the substrate 16 and fixed.

In this state, a resin 18 such as urethane is injected into the board case 12a of the control board 12, and is filled up to near the upper surface of the cover body 17a of the sensor cover 17. As a result, the leg portion 17c of the sensor cover 17 is buried in the resin 18, the resin 18 is filled in the outside of the cover body 17a in the substrate case 12a, and the resin 18 is formed inside the cover body 17a from the notch 17e. Flows in and the water level sensor 1
3 is buried in the resin 18 except for the pressure sensing portion 13a.

In this manner, the water level sensor 13 is
7, the pressure sensing unit 13a is provided with a cover body 17a.
Protrudes into a closed space surrounded by the connecting portion 17b and the upper surface of the resin 18. Therefore, the upper part of the connection part 17b is shown in FIG.
Then, if the cap 17d is removed and the pressure guiding tube 15 is connected to the cut position, the pressure guiding tube 15 is tightly connected to the water level sensor 13 via the connection portion 17b.

In this connection state, the pressure guiding tube 1
5 and the force from the connection portion thereof are supported by the sensor cover 17, and the leg portion 17c of the sensor cover 17 is embedded in the resin 18 in the substrate case 12a. The force is not applied to the water level sensor 13 or the fixing portion of the water level sensor 13 by soldering the substrate 16.

In the above-described embodiment, the control board 12 on which the water level sensor 13 is provided is provided on the back surface of the front panel 11, but the present invention is not limited to this. May be the control board 10 disposed in the control board.

FIG. 5 shows a sensor cover 17 according to a second embodiment. The basic structure of the sensor cover 17 is the same as that of the first embodiment. It extends downward and protrudes, and the length of the notch 17e is lengthened, so that the lower end of the connecting portion 17b is located below the upper end position of the notch 17e.

Thus, when the water level sensor 13 is covered with the sensor cover 17, the pressure sensing portion 13a is connected to the connecting portion 1
7b. Therefore, when the resin 18 is injected into the substrate case 12a, the resin 18 enters the inside of the cover body 17a through the notch 17e, and
The resin 18 is filled above the lower end position of b.
Since the resin 18 does not flow inside the connection portion 17b,
The pressure sensing portion 13a is not buried in the resin 18.

Even if the upper surface of the resin 18 is wavy, the resin 1
8 does not flow into the inside of the connection portion 17b, so that the pressure sensing portion 13a does not contact the resin 18. Therefore, the pressure sensing part 13a protrudes into the closed space in the connection part 17b.

The connection method with the pressure guiding tube 15 is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the pressure change from the air chamber 14 is changed via the pressure guiding tube 15 and the connecting portion 17b.
transmitted to a. In this case, the pressure sensing unit 13a is connected to the connection unit 17
Since it protrudes inside b, the pressure change is transmitted reliably and accurately.

The outside of the connecting portion 17b is also made of a resin 18.
The connection part 17b itself is also buried in the substrate case 12a.
, And the force from the connection with the pressure guiding tube 15 can be sufficiently supported by the substrate case 12a.

[0030]

As described above, the water level detecting device for a washing machine according to the present invention firstly hangs a water tank in an outer box so as to swing freely, and has a rotating blade at the bottom in the water tank. A washing and spin-drying tub is rotatably disposed, and the upper part of the outer box is covered with a top cover having an operation panel and a clothes input port to the washing and spin-drying tub. In a washing machine in which a control board for controlling the driving operation is arranged on the back of the panel, a board in a board case of the control board,
A water level sensor for detecting a water level by a change in air pressure in the water tank was fixed, and the water level sensor was densely covered with a sensor cover having an upper part projecting from the substrate case, and one end of the sensor tank was connected to an upper projecting part of the sensor cover. Connect the pressure guiding tube.

Thus, since the water level sensor is disposed inside the existing control board, there is no need to separately secure a space for disposing the water level sensor, for example, below the operation panel, and this space can be effectively used. I can do it. In addition, since the pressure guiding tube is connected to the sensor cover, the pressure guiding tube is supported by the sensor cover, and no force due to the connection is applied to the weak water level sensor.

Further, since the water level sensor is tightly covered with the sensor cover, the airtightness of the connection with the pressure guiding tube can be ensured.

Second, since the lower portion of the sensor cover is embedded in a resin for fixing the water level sensor to the substrate, the sensor cover is supported by the resin in the substrate, and the force caused by connecting the pressure guiding tube is reduced. I can support it here. Further, the water level sensor can be hermetically sealed by the sensor cover and the resin.

Third, the sensor cover includes a cap-shaped cover main body that covers an upper part of the water level sensor, a cylindrical connecting portion protruding above the cover main body and connected to the pressure guiding tube, and a cover main body. It is composed of a leg that protrudes downward and is buried in the resin.The notch for the resin inflow is formed in the cover body, so that the sensor cover is placed over the water level sensor and the leg is placed in the resin. The water level sensor can be sealed by a combination of the resin and the sensor cover only by embedding.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional front view showing a first embodiment of a water level detecting device for a washing machine of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a washing machine provided with the water level detecting device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a sensor cover which is a main part of the water level detecting device of the washing machine of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional front view showing a first embodiment of the water level detecting device of the washing machine according to the present invention before connection of a pressure guiding tube.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional front view of a water level detecting device for a washing machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention before a pressure guiding tube is connected.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of a washing machine provided with a conventional water level detecting device.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an installation state of a conventional water level detection device.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Outer box 2 ... Water tank 3 ... Rotor blade 4 ... Washing and dewatering tank 5 ... Vibration-proof mechanism 6 ... Top cover 7 ... Lid 8 ... Drive device 9 ... Operation panel 10 ... Control board 11 ... Front panel 12 ...
Control board 12a ... board case 13 ... water level sensor 13a
... pressure sensing part 14 ... air chamber 15 ... pressure guide tube 16 ...
Substrate 17: Sensor cover 17a: Cover body 17b
... Connection part 17c ... Leg part 17d ... Cap 17e
… Notch 18… Resin

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Hideyo Uchida 1-1-1, Yamate, Funabashi-shi, Chiba Japan Nippon Steel Corporation (72) Inventor Hirofumi Urabe 1-1-1, Yamate, Funabashi-shi, Chiba Japan Inside the Iron & Steel Corporation (72) Inventor Masami Yorita 1-1-1 Yamate, Funabashi City, Chiba Prefecture Japan Incorporated (72) Inventor Mariko Akiba 1-1-1, Yamate, Funabashi City, Chiba Japan Japan F term (reference) in Iron Corporation 3B155 AA01 AA17 BB18 CA05 CA06 CB06 KA19 KB07 LB31 LC28 MA01 MA02

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A water tank is swingably suspended in an outer case, and a washing and dewatering tank having a rotating blade at a bottom portion is rotatably disposed in the water tank, and the upper part of the outer case is washed and removed. A washing machine having a top cover provided with an operation panel while having a clothes input port to a water tank, and a control board for controlling a driving operation below the operation panel or on a back surface of a front panel of the outer box, A water level sensor that detects a water level by a change in air pressure in a water tank is fixed to a substrate in a substrate case of a control substrate, and the water level sensor is covered tightly with a sensor cover whose upper part protrudes from the substrate case. In the department,
A water level detecting device for a washing machine, wherein a pressure guiding tube having one end connected to a water tank is connected. 2. The water level detecting device according to claim 1, wherein a lower portion of the sensor cover is embedded in a resin for fixing the water level sensor to the substrate. 3. The sensor cover includes a cap-shaped cover main body that covers an upper part of a water level sensor, a cylindrical connecting portion protruding above the cover main body and connected to a pressure guiding tube,
3. A notch for projecting the resin into the cover body, the leg portion protruding below the cover body and being embedded in the resin, and a notch for inflow of the resin is formed in the cover body. A water level detection device for a washing machine as described in the above.