KR100226354B1 - Freezing prevention method for valve water of a washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for preventing freezing of a supply / drain valve of a washing machine. In the related art, a supply / drain valve and hoses used in winter or a cold region remain after a water supply and drainage operation is completed in a supply / drain valve and a hose when the washing machine is not used. Due to the accumulation of water, failure and breakage may occur due to freezing of the site where water is accumulated, but proper measures have not been taken, and thus it is not preferable.

The present invention is to check whether the ambient temperature of the system is below the freezing temperature of 0 ℃ to improve this problem in the prior art and if it is below 0 ℃ to check whether a certain amount of time elapsed after the use of the system is stopped (step 101 To step 103)), and then automatically opening the water supply valve for a predetermined time B if the elapse of a predetermined time A, and closing the valves if the water is exhausted after opening the water supply valve for a predetermined time C (steps 104 to 109). To provide a method for preventing the freezing / drainage valve freezing of the washing machine performed by the anti-freezing control processing program (100).

Description

How to prevent freezing of water / drain valve of washing machine

The present invention relates to a supply / drain valve freezing prevention method that may occur in a supply / drainage pipe and a valve of a washing machine, and this is particularly a site where water is accumulated by water remaining in the supply / drain valve and hoses after use of the washing machine. This prevents freezing of the washing machine so that it does not cause the washing machine to break down and damage in winter or cold weather.

In general, the automatic washing machine has several washing courses so that washing, rinsing, and dehydration time can be optimally adjusted according to the type and amount of the laundry.

For example, laundry that is not timely and frequently washed, such as maryas, shirts, handkerchiefs, etc., can be washed in the 'Rapid laundry course', while laundry such as thick blankets, curtains, carpets, hiking bedding, sheets, etc. can be washed in the 'blanket laundry course'. In addition, laundry such as high-quality sweaters, cardigans, silk, lingerie, stockings, etc. are washed in the 'naive washing course', and in the case of general laundry mixed with various clothes, the sensor washing course is washed in the 'sensor washing course'. The automatic washing machine operates various sensors to automatically set the washing, rinsing, dehydration time, and proper level of washing, but the remaining washing course selects the appropriate level according to the user's washing.

On the other hand, the washing machine is installed in the water storage tank 32 that accommodates the washing tank 33 that is rotated in the main body 31, as shown in Figure 1, the lower center of the washing tank 33 generates water flow by the power of the motor to wash the laundry The washing machine includes a pulsator (34) for washing, a gear (36) for transmitting power of the motor (35) to the washing tank (33) and the pulsator (34), a motor (35), and the like. .

In addition, the system circuit related to the driving of the washing machine in the above washing machine is shown in FIG. 2.

Here, as shown in FIG. 1, a water supply valve 22 for supplying cold / hot water to the washing tank 33, a water supply valve drive unit 20 for driving the water supply valve 22 under the control of the microcomputer 23, and washing The washing mode selecting unit 21 for selecting the mode, the temperature detecting unit 25 for detecting the water temperature from the washing tank 33, the water level detecting unit 26, the reference temperature storing unit 24, and the microcomputer 23 Etc., and the water supply valve 22 is composed of a hot water valve 22a and a cold water valve 22b.

In addition, the washing tank 33 is provided with a drain valve and a drain hose for discharging the water supplied after the washing is completed.

In such a conventional washing machine, a means for detecting when the drain pipe is blocked and displayed to the outside is disclosed in Korean Patent Publication No. 95-14443.

In this case, the ultrasonic water-receiving device is installed on the drain pipe side, and the signal generated from the ultrasonic generator passes through the drain pipe to the ultrasonic receiver, and the ultrasonic receiver transmits the reception status to the microcomputer according to whether the drain pipe is blocked. If it is blocked, the state is displayed on the indicator.

As such, in the related art, a state in which the drain pipe is blocked is displayed externally, so that the user can take measures accordingly, but the water supply / drain pipe and the water supply / drain hoses are frozen in the cold season or the cold region due to the residual water. Since a means for actively solving a phenomenon causing a washing machine failure or damage is not known, it is not preferable.

An object of the present invention is to prevent the freezing by the remaining water in the state that the water supply / drain valve and the supply / drain hose in the washing machine system is not completely drained and water supply after use of the washing machine to improve the above problems By doing so, you can effectively cope with cold weather or winter.

In particular, the present invention checks whether the ambient temperature of the system is below 0 ° C., which is the freezing temperature, so as to realize the object of the above example. The water supply / drain valve of the washing machine performed by the anti-freeze control process program including automatically opening the water supply valve by a predetermined time B and draining the valve by a predetermined time C, if the time A has elapsed. It is characterized by the anti-freezing method.

Hereinafter, more specific features of the present invention will be understood by describing the same in detail with the accompanying drawings.

1 is a reference diagram showing a typical washing machine cross section

2 is a system circuit block diagram of a washing machine according to the present invention.

Figure 3 is a reference diagram for explaining the present invention

Figure 4 is an embodiment of a freeze protection control program of the present invention

** Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawing **

20. Feed valve drive unit 21. Washing mode selection unit

22. Water supply valve 23. Microcomputer

24. Reference temperature memory 25. Temperature detector

26. Water level detector 33. Washing tub

100. Freeze control program

That is, Figure 4 shows an embodiment of the anti-freeze control processing program 100 to implement a method for preventing the freezing / drain valve freezing of the washing machine of the present invention.

In this case, after checking whether the ambient temperature of the system is below 0 ° C., which is the freezing temperature, if it is below 0 ° C., checking whether the system has been used for a predetermined time A after stopping the use of the system (steps 101 to 103), and then for a predetermined time A. If the elapsed time is automatically opened by the water supply valve constant time B, the drain valve constant time C, and if the water is enough to run out of the step (step 104 to 108) is made.

In addition, the anti-freeze control processing program 100 checks whether the system is in use of the washing machine, and if the temperature of the washing machine is in use, checking whether the temperature is below 0 ° C. (step 101, 102) and then detected When the temperature is 0 ° C. or less, it is checked whether the washing machine stop time has passed by the value of the random time A, and when the amount of time passes by the value of the random time A, operating the water supply valve and the drain valve by the constant time B and C values (103, 104). It is included.

Thereafter, the system checks whether the time has elapsed by a predetermined time B value, and if the time has passed, turning off the water supply valve (steps 105, 106), and again, the system checks whether the time has elapsed by the predetermined time value C, and draining the water. Turning off the valve (steps 107, 108) and turning off both the water supply valve and the drain valve (step 109) when the washing machine stop time has not elapsed for a predetermined time A in step 103.

When the user selects the washing mode in the washing mode selection unit 21 as shown in FIG. 1, the microcomputer 23 drives the water supply valve driving unit 20 to open the water supply valve 22 to wash the washing tank ( 33) to supply water.

As described above, the microcomputer 23 opens the cold water valve 22b and the hot water valve 22a to supply water to the washing tank 33, and when the water supply operation is completed, washing → draining → rinsing → dewatering → washing → draining → rinsing. → After the washing operation is repeatedly performed in the process of dehydration, if the dehydration is finished, drainage is performed through the drain valve.

During the operation of the washing machine, the water supply valve and the drain valve are automatically closed at the washing machine stop time, and the supply / drain valve and the supply / drain hose are closed when the washing machine is stopped after the washing machine is operated. Water is accumulated in the drain valve and the supply / drain hoses.

In this case, when the ambient temperature is below the freezing point, such as in winter, these parts may freeze and cause breakage or damage of these parts, and thus, a failure of the washing machine may be inevitable.

At this time, the system microcomputer 23 determines whether a certain time has passed when the washing machine is stopped, and when a predetermined time elapses, the system microcomputer 23 automatically opens the water supply valve 22 and the drain valve for different times to supply the water supply / drain valve and the supply / The water trapped in the drain hoses is operated to completely discharge the water.

For example, if the washing machine stops using A for more than A time, open the water supply valve and drain valve by B and C time values, respectively, and turn off the valves after this time passes.

The washing machine stop duration A, feed water valve drive time B, drain valve drive time C values can be arbitrarily set according to the use environment of the washing machine, the value is several tens of seconds or minutes.

In addition, the drain valve driving time C value is designed to achieve a full drainage by a difference of several seconds to several tens of seconds longer than the water supply valve driving time B value as shown in FIG. 3.

Meanwhile, the above operation is performed by the microcomputer 23 together with the anti-freezing control processing program 100 as shown in FIG. 4, which checks whether the system is in use of a washing machine, and if the washing machine is in use, the temperature is 0 ° C. In this case, application | coating below 0 degreeC is checked (step 101,102).

After that, if the detected temperature is below 0 ℃, the system checks whether the washing machine stoppage time has passed the random time A value, and if the random time A value has passed, operate the water supply valve and the drain valve by the constant time B value and C value. (103,104).

In addition, the system checks whether the time has elapsed by a certain time B value, and if the time passes, turns off the water supply valve, and again the system checks whether the time has elapsed by the predetermined time value C, and turns off the drain valve (step). 105 to 108).

In the state where the washing machine stoppage time has not elapsed for a predetermined time A, the water supply valve and the drain valve are both turned off and returned to the main routine (step 109).

The present invention can automatically prevent the freezing of these areas by the debris remaining in the supply / drain valve and the supply / drain hose of the washing machine in the cold or winter, expecting the effective use of this system in the winter and cold You can do it.

Claims (4)

In the washing machine including the microcomputer 23 and the memory, it is checked whether the ambient temperature of the system is equal to or lower than 0 ° C., which is the freezing temperature. After a certain amount of time elapses, the water supply valve automatically opens as much as a certain time B, the drainage valve as a predetermined time C, and if the water is enough to run out of the freezing prevention control processing program comprising the step of closing the valves. To prevent freezing of water / drain valves in washing machines The method of claim 1, wherein the anti-freeze control processing program 100 checks whether the system is in use of a washing machine and checks whether the temperature is below 0 ° C when the temperature of the washing machine is 0 ° C (steps 101 and 102). Afterwards, if the detected temperature is below 0 ℃, check whether the washing machine stop time has passed the random time A value, and if the random time A value has passed, operate the water supply valve and drain valve by the B and C values for a certain time. (103,104), and thereafter, the system checks whether the time has elapsed by a certain time B value, and if the time has elapsed, turns off the water supply valve (step 105, 106), and again the system has time elapsed by a certain time value C. If the check has passed, turning off the drain valve (steps 107 and 108), and in a state in which the washing machine stoppage time has not elapsed for a predetermined time A in step 103; How to supply / drain valve from freezing of the washing machine, characterized in that includes the step of all off the water supply valve and a drain valve (step 109) The water supply / drainage of the washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the washing machine stoppage duration A, water supply valve driving time B, and drain valve driving time C are set to be arbitrarily changed according to the use environment of the washing machine. Valve freezing prevention method The method of claim 2 or 3, wherein the drain valve driving time C is different from the feed water valve driving time B by several seconds to several tens of seconds as a D value.

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