KR101079584B1 - Washing Machine having Steam Generator - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a washing machine including a steam generator, wherein the steam generator includes a water tank having an inclined portion on one side of the lower surface, a steam heater coupled to the inclined portion to generate steam, and washing water for supplying washing water to the steam heater. It includes a water supply pipe, a washing water drain pipe connected to the lower portion of the water tank to discharge the water for washing the steam heater to the outside, and a steam water supply pipe connected to the washing water supply pipe and having a nozzle for spraying the washing water supplied from the washing water supply pipe at high pressure. It features. As a result, the efficiency of the steam heater can be increased by facilitating the removal of the scale to minimize the amount of scale attached to the surface of the steam heater.

Description

Washing Machine having Steam Generator}

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a washing machine according to the present invention;

2 is an exploded perspective view of a steam generator according to the present invention;

3 is a control block diagram of a steam generator according to the present invention;

4 is a control flowchart of a steam generator according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

100: washing machine 110: main body casing

120: operation unit 130: washing unit

131: washing tank 131a: drum

132: washing water supply pipe 132a: water supply valve

133: washing heater 134: motor

135: laundry drain pipe 135a: laundry drain pump

140: drying unit 141: drying duct

142: drying heater 143: drying fan

150: steam generator 151: water tank

151a: inclined portion 152: steam heater

153: steam water supply pipe 153a: steam valve

154: washing water supply pipe 154a: washing valve

155: nozzle 156: washing water drain pipe

156a: drain valve 157: steam piping

157a: steam nozzle 158: detection unit

159: control unit

The present invention relates to a washing machine, and more particularly, to a washing machine having an improved structure of a steam generator.

A washing machine is a device that washes clothes and the like using the power of a machine and is classified into various types according to a washing method. In recent years, washing machines equipped with a steam generator have been widely used for the purpose of increasing washing efficiency.

In general, the steam generator of the washing machine is operated after the start of the washing process, the operation is terminated before the end of the washing process, but is also used for washing the tub of the washing tank or removing the wrinkles of the laundry separately from the washing process.

Conventional steam generators include a water tank having a flat lower surface, a steam heater installed as a tubular body or a planar body to heat water passing through the water tank to generate steam at a temperature of 100 ° C. or higher, and a water level inside the water tank. It is configured to include a level sensor to detect the.

However, the conventional steam generator is provided with a flat lower surface of the water tank when the steam heater is provided with a planar body, or installed side by side on the flat lower surface of the water tank when the steam heater is provided with a tubular body. Therefore, even when the steam heater is washed, the scales sink as they are, and since the scales are not discharged to the outside, a large amount of scales are attached to the surface of the steam heater.

The scale hinders heat transfer to reduce the efficiency of the steam heater. In the conventional steam generator, the scale is attached to the surface of the steam heater in a large amount, thereby degrading the efficiency of the steam heater. In addition, since the water level sensor is in direct contact with water in the water tank, the scales are attached to the water level sensor, thereby reducing the sensitivity of the water level.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine including a steam generator that can increase the efficiency of the steam heater and improve the water level sensing sensitivity in the water tank.

According to the present invention, in the washing machine including a steam generator, the steam generator, a water tank having a slope on one side of the lower surface, a steam heater coupled to the slope to generate steam, A washing water supply pipe for supplying the washing water to the steam heater, a washing water drain pipe connected to a lower portion of the water tank for discharging water for washing the steam heater to the outside, and washing water connected to the washing water supply pipe and supplied from the washing water supply pipe. It is achieved by a washing machine comprising a steam water supply pipe having a nozzle for spraying at a high pressure.

Here, the inclined portion includes an inclined opening, and the steam heater is preferably coupled to the opening to seal the opening.

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The washing water supply pipe may include a washing valve for intermitting the supply of the washing water, and the washing water drainage pipe may include a drain valve for controlling the drainage of the washing water.

When the operation of the steam heater is finished, it is preferable to further include a control unit for opening the washing valve so that the washing water is supplied to the steam heater, and opening the drain valve so that the water washing the steam heater is discharged to the outside. .

The steam generator includes a steam valve for opening and closing a flow path of the steam water supply pipe to supply water to the water tank, a detector attached to an outer wall of the water tank, and detecting a temperature of the steam heater; The control unit may further include a control unit for controlling the opening and closing of the steam valve so that the water level in the water tank is maintained above the reference level based on the signal of the sensing unit.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Washing machine 100 according to the present invention, as shown in Figure 1, the main body casing 110 to form the appearance of the washing machine 100; An operation unit 120 provided at a front upper side of the main body casing 110 to receive an operation command value by a user; A washing unit 130 provided inside the main body casing 110 to wash laundry; A drying unit 140 disposed above the washing unit 130 and connected to the washing unit 130 to dry the laundry; It is connected to the washing unit 130 to generate steam, and includes a steam generator 150 for supplying steam to the washing unit 130.

1, the washing unit 130 includes a washing tank 131, a washing water supply pipe 132, a washing heater 133, a motor 134, and a washing drain pipe 135.

The washing tub 131 includes a drum 131a installed in the main body casing 110 to receive wash water and rotatably provided therein and having a plurality of dehydration holes formed therein.

The washing water supply pipe 132 supplies a washing water to the inside of the washing tank 131 and includes a water supply valve 132a that regulates the supply of the washing water.

The washing heater 133 is provided in the lower side of the washing tank 131 and heats the washing water supplied into the washing tank 131 when the user selects the water temperature.

The motor 134 is installed at the lower portion of the washing tank 131 to rotate the drum 131a in the forward or reverse direction to perform washing, rinsing, and dehydration operations.

The washing drain pipe 135 is connected to the lower part of the washing tank 131 to guide the discharge of the water in the washing tank 131 to the outside, and includes a washing drain pump 135a.

As shown in FIG. 1, the drying unit 140 includes a drying duct 141 connected to the washing tank 131 and a drying heater 142 provided in the drying duct 141 to heat the air to dry the laundry. And a drying fan 143 which blows the heated air so that the air heated by the drying heater 142 is supplied into the washing tank 131.

1 to 3, the steam generator 150 includes a water tank 151, a steam heater 152, a steam water supply pipe 153, a washing water supply pipe 154, and a nozzle 155. ), A washing water drain pipe 156, a steam pipe 157, a detector 158, and a controller 159.

1 and 2, the water tank 151 stores water and includes an inclined portion 151a on the lower surface.

As shown in FIG. 2, the inclined portion 151a includes an inclined opening, and a steam heater 152 is coupled to the opening. Accordingly, the steam heater 152 coupled to the inclined portion 151a forms the inclined surface of the water tank 151 so that the scales attached to the surface of the steam heater 152 when the steam heater 152 is cleaned are self-weighted and the like. As a result, the amount of scale attached to the surface of the steam heater 152 may be minimized by flowing into the washing water drain pipe 156 along the inclined surface and being discharged to the outside to facilitate the removal of the scale.

As an embodiment of the present invention, the inclined portion 151a has been described as being provided with an inclined opening, but may be provided with an inclined plate surface instead of an opening. The combination of the inclined portion 151a and the steam heater 152 may be variously made by screwing, bolting, welding, riveted joints, or the like.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the steam heater 152 is coupled to the inclined portion 151a and heats the water inside the water tank 151. The steam heater 152 is preferably provided with a surface heater in which an insulating layer, a heating element, and an electrode are laminated on a surface of a heating plate made of stainless steel, ceramic, aluminum, glass, or the like.

1 and 2, the steam water supply pipe 153 is connected to the water tank 151 to supply water to the inside of the water tank 151, and includes a steam valve 153a for opening and closing the flow path. do.

The washing water supply pipe 154 is branched from the washing water supply pipe 132, as shown in FIG. 1, and is connected to the steam water supply pipe 153 to supply the washing water to the steam water supply pipe 153 so that the steam heater 152 is washed. It includes a washing valve 154a to control the supply of the washing water. Accordingly, when the operation of the steam heater 152 is stopped, the control unit 159 opens the washing valve 154a so that the steam heater 152 may be easily washed.

The nozzle 155 is coupled to the end of the steam water supply pipe 153, as shown in FIG. 2, to spray water including washing water toward the steam heater 152. The injection pressure for cleaning the steam heater 152 at the nozzle 155 may be higher than the water supply pressure for generating steam.

1 and 2, the washing water drain pipe 156 is connected to the lower portion of the water tank 151 and extends toward the washing drain pump 135a to wash the steam heater 152 to the outside. It guides to be discharged, and includes a drain valve (156a) for regulating the drainage of the wash water.

Unlike the steam valve 153a or the washing valve 154a, the drain valve 156a is preferably provided with a solenoid valve so as to enable drainage of the washing water without a back pressure.

As shown in FIG. 1, the steam pipe 157 extends from the water tank 151 to the drying duct 141 and is coupled to the drying duct 141 side outlet of the steam pipe 157 to dry drying duct 141. Steam injection into the steam nozzle (157a) is included.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the detector 158 is attached to an outer wall of the water tank 151 to sense a temperature of the steam heater 152. As an embodiment of the present invention, the sensing unit 158 has been described as being attached to the outer surface of the both sides of the steam heater 152 provided as a planar heater, the outer wall surface different from the inclined portion 151a of the water tank 151 It may also be attached to. Accordingly, it is possible to detect the correct water level in the water tank 151 without being affected by the scales present in the water tank 151 through the temperature sensor attached to the outer wall surface of the water tank 151.

As shown in FIG. 3, the controller 159 may include the nozzle 155 and the nozzle 155 at the lowest water level in which the water level in the water tank 151 prevents overheating of the steam heater 152 based on the signal of the sensing unit 158. The opening and closing of the steam valve 153a is controlled so as to be maintained between the highest water levels which do not reach.

In addition, when the operation of the steam heater 152 is finished, the control unit 159 opens the washing valve 154a so that the washing water is supplied to the steam heater 152, and the water washing the steam heater 152 to the outside. The drain valve 156a is opened to be discharged. When the control unit 159 determines the passage of the steam generator based on time 150 to operate initially in the water to the water tank 151 is supplied to the lowest water level which (t ₁₎ reaches the reference time (t _1), A timer may be further included therein to stop supply of water to the water tank 151.

3 and 4, when the present temperature T ₂ of the steam heater 152 detected by the detector 158 is higher than the reference temperature T ₁ , the water tank It is determined that the steam heater 152 is overheated due to the lack of water stored therein, and the steam valve 153a is opened so that the water level in the water tank 151 is maintained between the lowest water level and the highest water level. When the present temperature T _{2 of the second} tank 152 is not higher than the reference temperature T ₁ , the water level in the water tank 151 is determined to be maintained between the lowest water level and the highest water level, thereby closing the steam valve 153a. Accordingly, the water level in the water tank 151 is kept constant to prevent overheating of the steam heater 152, and the steam valve 153a, the washing valve 154a and the drain valve 156a to control the steam The heater 152 can be easily cleaned.

With this configuration, the operation of the steam generator 150 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

First, the reference temperature T ₁ of the steam heater 152 is set through the operation unit 120 (S10).

Next, the reference time t _{1 at} which water is supplied to the water tank 151 to the reference water level through the operation unit 120 is set, and the steam valve 153a is opened to supply water to the water tank 151. (S20).

When the controller 159 determines that the reference time t ₁ is reached by determining the progress of the reference time t ₁ through an internal timer, the controller 159 closes the steam valve 153a to supply water to the water tank 151. To stop (S30).

It is determined whether the current temperature T ₂ of the steam heater 152 detected by the sensing unit 158 is higher than the reference temperature T ₁ (S40).

If it is determined in step S40 that the current temperature T ₂ of the steam heater 152 is higher than the reference temperature T ₁ , the steam valve 153a is opened to further supply water to the water tank 151 (S20). .

When it is determined that the current temperature T ₂ of the steam heater 152 is not higher than the reference temperature T ₁ , the steam stroke is continuously performed.

When the steam stroke is finished (S50), the operation of the steam heater 152 is stopped.

Next, the washing valve 154a is opened to clean the steam heater 152 (S60).

Then, the drain valve 156a is opened to discharge the wastewater including the scale to the outside (S70).

Accordingly, according to the present invention, the steam heater 152 coupled to the inclined portion 151a formed by the inclined opening forms the inclined surface of the water tank 151 to facilitate the removal of the scale, thereby allowing the surface of the steam heater 152 to be removed. The amount of scale attached to the can be minimized. In addition, by attaching a temperature sensor to the outer wall surface of the water tank 151, it is possible to prevent the deterioration of the sensing sensitivity by the scale.

As described above, according to the present invention, the efficiency of the steam heater can be improved by minimizing the amount of scale attached to the surface of the steam heater by facilitating the removal of the scale, and by attaching a temperature sensor to the outside of the water tank, It is also possible to prevent deterioration of the sensitivity.

Claims (6)

In the washing machine comprising a steam generator, The steam generator, A water tank having an inclined portion on one side of the lower surface; A steam heater coupled to the inclined portion to generate steam; A washing water supply pipe for supplying washing water to the steam heater; A washing water drain pipe connected to a lower portion of the water tank and discharging water for washing the steam heater to the outside; And a steam water supply pipe connected to the washing water supply pipe and having a nozzle for spraying the washing water supplied from the washing water supply pipe at a high pressure. The method of claim 1, The inclined portion includes an inclined opening, characterized in that the steam heater is coupled to the opening to seal the opening. delete The method of claim 1, The washing water supply pipe includes a washing valve to regulate the supply of washing water, The washing water drainage pipe is a washing machine comprising a drain valve for regulating the drainage of the washing water. 5. The method of claim 4, When the operation of the steam heater is finished, the washing valve is opened so that the washing water is supplied to the steam heater, and further comprising a control unit for opening the drain valve so that the water to wash the steam heater is discharged to the outside. Washing machine. The method according to any one of claims 1 or 2 or 4 or 5, The steam generator, A steam valve for opening and closing a flow path of the steam water supply pipe to supply water to the water tank; A detection unit attached to an outer wall of the water tank to detect a temperature of the steam heater; And a control unit for controlling opening and closing of the steam valve so that the water level in the water tank is maintained above the reference level based on the signal of the sensing unit.

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