KR101100186B1 - Water Level Sensor of Apparatus for Spraying Steam in Drum type Washer - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a water level sensor of the drum washing machine steam generator for preventing malfunction caused by the breakdown of water due to the water penetrating the water level sensor in the steam generator.

The present invention provides a steam generator for supplying steam to a drum washing machine, the steam generator comprising: a receptacle housing fixed to the steam generator and inserted with a plug housing for electrical connection to the outside; At least one electrode unit fixed to the receptacle housing so as to be inserted into the steam generator when the water level sensor is installed to sense a level of water stored in the steam generator; A terminal corresponding to the electrode unit one-to-one and exposed to the outside of the steam generator and electrically connected to the outside; It provides a water level sensor of the drum washing machine steam generator comprising an insulating portion for preventing the insulation between the respective terminals in the receptacle housing in which the terminal is installed.

Drum washing machine, steam generator, water level sensor, insulation

Description

Water Level Sensor of Apparatus for Spraying Steam in Drum type Washer}

1 is a perspective view briefly showing the structure of a conventional drum washing machine

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing a steam generator of a conventional drum washing machine

3 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the steam generating device shown in FIG.

Figure 4a is a perspective view showing the structure of a conventional water level sensor

FIG. 5B is a front view of the water level sensor shown in FIG. 4A

5A is a perspective view showing a water level sensor according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5B is a front view of the water level sensor shown in FIG. 5A

6A is a perspective view showing a water level sensor according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6B is a front view of the water level sensor shown in FIG. 6A

<Description of Symbols for Main Parts of Drawings>

70: plug housing 100: water level sensor

110: receptacle housing 112: insulation

120: common electrode portion 121: common electrode terminal

130: high water level electrode portion 131: high water level terminal

140: low water level electrode portion 141: low water level terminal

The present invention relates to a drum washing machine, and more particularly, to a water level sensor of the drum washing machine steam generator for measuring the level of water stored in the steam generator.

Generally, a washing machine is a pulsator-type washing machine that washes by water flow generated by rotating a plate-type pulsator, and a drop and friction force of washing water and laundry generated inside a bucket by rotating a lying container. The washing machine is roughly classified into a drum washing machine.

Among them, the drum washing machine is in demand more and more due to the advantages of using less water and detergent when washing, less damage to the cloth, and little tangling of the laundry compared to the pulsator type washing machine.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4b will be described the structure of the steam generator of the conventional drum washing machine as follows.

As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional drum washing machine includes a cabinet 10 forming an exterior, a cylindrical tub 20 horizontally supported in the cabinet 10 to store wash water, and washing water and steam. A through hole is formed to be introduced and is rotatably installed in the tub 20, a driving motor (not shown) for driving the drum 30, and steam into the drum 30. It comprises at least one steam generator (50) for supplying.

The cabinet 10 has an inlet 13 which communicates with the inside of the drum 30 so that laundry can be put in and out of the front surface, and the door 11 pivots forward to open and close the inlet 13. It is possible to install.

In addition, a gasket (not shown) is installed along the inner circumferential surface of the inlet 13 to prevent hot air from leaking through a connection between the door 11 and the tub 20.

On the other hand, on one side of the drum washing machine, is connected to an external water pipe (not shown) and the like is provided with a water supply valve 15 for supplying the wash water to the tub 20.

In addition, the steam generator 50 is connected to the water supply valve 15, the water is introduced, and heat the water stored therein to generate steam to supply to the drum (30).

In addition, one side of the steam generating device 50, a steam supply pipe 53 is provided as a passage for guiding and spraying the steam generated by the steam generating device 50 into the drum 30.

The steam supply pipe 53, the end portion is preferably formed in the shape of a nozzle so that the steam can be smoothly injected into the internal space of the drum 30, the end of the steam discharge is the inside of the drum 30 It is preferable to be installed so as to expose.

On the other hand, the steam supply pipe 53, in order to prevent the steam injected into the drum 30 is in direct contact with the laundry, the end connected to the drum 30 is communicated from the upper one side of the drum (30) It is preferred that it is installed as such or positioned through the gasket 12.

Therefore, the steam generator 50 is configured to be relatively short in the flow path connected from the water supply valve 15 and the steam supply pipe 53, and is installed above the tub 20 to facilitate repair and inspection. desirable.

Referring to Figures 2 to 4b the structure of the steam generating device 50 will be described as follows.

As shown in FIG. 2, the steam generator 50 includes a base case 51 forming an appearance and forming a space for storing water, and a cover case 52 coupled to an upper surface of the base case 51. And a heater 55 for heating the water stored in the steam generator 50.

The cover case 52 is connected to the water supply valve 15 at one side thereof, and a water supply port 52a through which water is introduced into the steam generator 50 is formed. A discharge port 52b connected to the steam supply pipe 53 for supplying to the 20 is formed.

As shown in FIG. 3, the heater 55 is installed at the bottom of the base case 51, and when water is introduced into the steam generator 50, the heater 55 operates to be directly heated in a state completely immersed in water. .

On the other hand, the heater 55 may be a coil heater for heating the water stored therein from the outside of the steam generator 50, but the sheath heater for heating directly in the state completely submerged in the stored water It has high thermal efficiency and is suitable for boiling water in a short time.

 One side of the cover case 52 is provided with a water level sensor 60 for detecting the water level of the water stored therein, and a temperature sensor 57 for measuring the temperature of the water and steam heated by the heater 55 do.

In addition, the temperature sensor 57 measures the temperature of the steam generated by the steam generator 50 to cut off the power of the heater 55 when the temperature is higher than the reference value to prevent overheating of the heater 55. .

The water level sensor 60, by measuring the water level of the water stored in the steam generating device 50, and operates so that the amount of water stored at all times to maintain an appropriate level.

That is, when the water level of the water stored in the steam generator 50 is lower than the reference value, the water supply valve 15 is opened to replenish water. When the water level of the water stored inside is higher than the reference value, the water supply valve 15 is opened. It shuts off the water supply and operates the heater 55 to generate steam.

4A and 4B, the structure of the water level sensor 60 will be described in detail as follows.

The conventional water level sensor 60 has a receptacle housing 61 for forming an appearance and fixed to the steam generator 50, and is installed below the receptacle housing 61 so that the steam generator ( 50 electrodes 62, 63, 64 for sensing the water level stored therein, and terminals 67, 68 that are electrically connected to the outside in correspondence with the electrodes 62, 63, 64, respectively. 69).

The receptacle housing 61 is bolted to the outside of the base case 52, the plug housing 70 for the electrical connection to the outside is inserted and supported.

Each of the electrode parts 62, 63, and 64 is installed at an appropriate height from the bottom of the base case 51 so as to detect the level of water to be stored in the steam generator 50.

For example, the common electrode part 62 serving as a reference electrode for detecting a water level, a low level electrode part 63 for detecting a low level, and a high level electrode part 64 for detecting a high level are formed.

In this case, the common electrode part 62 should have a length at least equal to or longer than the terminal length of the low water level electrode part 63.

When the common electrode 62 and the low water electrode 63 are immersed in water stored in the steam generator 50, the water level sensor 60 causes a current to flow through the water to detect a low water level detection signal. Generate.

In addition, when the water level stored in the steam generator 50 is high and immersed in water to the high water level electrode unit 64, current flows to generate a high water level detection signal.

Therefore, the water level sensor 60 detects the water level when the current flows while the electrodes 62, 62 and 63 are immersed in water, and thus, between the terminals 67, 68 and 69. If the insulation is broken, abnormal current flows, causing the water level sensor 60 to malfunction.

However, the water level sensor of the conventional drum washing machine steam generator described above has the following problems.

The water level sensor 60 has a problem that water penetrates into a portion where the plug housing 70 is inserted and supported by a temperature difference inside or outside the steam generator 50, condensation or splashing due to steam. .

In this case, a capillary phenomenon occurs along a portion where the receptacle housing 61 and the plug housing 70 are coupled to form a water film, thereby insulating between the terminals 67, 68, and 69. This breakage, when abnormally connected between each of the terminals (67) (68), (69) generates an incorrect water level measurement signal, thereby causing the steam generator (50) to malfunction.

For example, when the water level is incorrectly measured at a high water level when the water stored in the steam generator 50 is at a low water level, the heater 55 is continuously operated without being completely submerged in water, so that the heater 55 is overheated. There is a problem that heat deformation and ignition occurs in the cover case 52, thereby resulting in a risk of fire.

Alternatively, when the water level is incorrectly measured at a low level, the water supply is not interrupted and water is continuously supplied above the reference level, so that it takes too long to generate steam, or that water in a liquid state other than steam There is a problem that is sprayed directly to the drum (30).

In addition, when the heater 55 or the like is excessively operated as described above, there is a problem of economic loss because electricity or water is consumed unnecessarily.

The present invention is to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention is to prevent the malfunction due to the breakdown of the insulation by the water penetrating the terminal of the water level sensor, the water stored in the steam generator is always a constant level It is to provide a water level sensor of the drum washing machine steam generator to maintain.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention, a steam generator for supplying steam to the drum washing machine, the receptacle housing is fixed to the steam generator, the plug housing for the electrical connection to the outside is inserted; At least one electrode unit fixed to the receptacle housing so as to be inserted into the steam generator when the water level sensor is installed to sense a level of water stored in the steam generator; A terminal corresponding to the electrode unit one-to-one and exposed to the outside of the steam generator and electrically connected to the outside; It provides a water level sensor of the drum washing machine steam generator comprising an insulating portion for preventing the insulation between the respective terminals in the receptacle housing in which the terminal is installed.

Preferably, the insulating part forms a recess recessed downward in a surface corresponding to a lower portion of each terminal in the receptacle housing.

Alternatively, the insulating part may form a protrusion protruding upward from a surface corresponding to a lower portion of each terminal in the receptacle housing.                     

Alternatively, the insulation portion may be formed with a plurality of irregularities on the surface corresponding to the lower portion of each terminal in the receptacle housing.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, preferred embodiments of the present invention that can specifically realize the above object will be described.

The same components as in the prior art are given the same names and the same reference numerals for convenience of description, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

5A and 5B, the water level sensor of the drum washing machine steam generator according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described as follows.

Water level sensor 100 according to the present invention, the receptacle housing 110 forming the appearance, each electrode portion for measuring the water level of the water stored in the steam generator 50 is fixed to the receptacle housing 110 lower portion (120) 130, 140, and the terminals 121, 131, 141 that correspond to the electrodes 120, 130, 140 one-to-one and electrically connected to the outside, and each of the terminals And an insulating part 112 for blocking leakage between the 121, 131, and 141.

The receptacle housing 110 is fastened at the outside of the cover case 52 of the steam generator 50, and the terminals 121 and 131 are electrically connected to the outside at the upper side of the receptacle housing 110. Plug housing 70 connected to the 141 is inserted and supported.

Each of the electrode parts 120, 130, and 140 is installed such that its end is submerged in the water stored in the steam generator 50 when the water level sensor 100 is installed in the steam generator 50. do.

That is, when the electrode parts 120, 130 and 140 are immersed in water at the corresponding water level, electricity flows through the water to generate a water level detection signal.

At this time, each of the electrode portions 120, 130, 140, the common electrode portion 120 as a reference, the high-level electrode portion 130 for detecting the high water level, and the low-level electrode portion for detecting the low water level It is preferably made of (140), each of the water level electrode 130, 140 is installed at least one or more.

Meanwhile, the common electrode part 120 should be installed to be at least equal to or longer than the length of the low water level electrode part 130.

In addition, the terminals 121, 131, and 141 are provided on an upper side of the receptacle housing 110, and are integrally extended from each of the electrode parts 120, 130, and 140 to be electrically connected to the outside. Terminal.

In addition, the insulating part 112 is formed with a groove having a predetermined depth on a surface corresponding to a lower portion of each terminal 121, 131, 141 on an upper surface of the receptacle housing 110.

As shown in FIG. 5B, when the receptacle housing 110 and the plug housing 70 are coupled to each other, even though water penetrates into the receptacle housing 110, a groove of the insulating part 112 is formed. Therefore, the capillary effect is lowered to block the formation of water film.

That is, the insulating portion 112 decreases the capillary effect by widening the surface area of the coupling portion of the receptacle housing 110 and the plug housing 70, and keeps the water in the groove of the insulating portion 112. Therefore, by blocking the flow of water, the abnormal current flows between the respective terminals 121, 131, 141 is blocked to prevent the malfunction.

In addition, even if water accumulates inside the receptacle housing 110, water is collected in the groove of the insulator 112 and is easily evaporated and removed.

6A and 6B, the water level sensor of the drum washing machine steam generator according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

The basic configuration of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment described above.

However, in the present embodiment, unlike the first embodiment described above, the insulator 212 is formed to protrude upward from the receptacle housing 210.

The water level sensor 200 according to the present invention comprises a receptacle housing 210 which is externally fixed to the steam generator 50, each electrode unit 220, 230, 240 for sensing the water level, and the Leakage between the terminals 221, 231, 241 and the terminals 221, 231, 241 electrically connected to the outside in a one-to-one correspondence with each electrode unit 220, 230, 240. It comprises an insulating portion 212 for blocking.

The insulator 212 is formed of a protrusion protruding upward from a top surface of the receptacle housing 210 to a surface corresponding to a lower portion of each terminal 221, 231, 241.

In addition, the insulation part 212 may be formed in the entire receptacle housing 210 under the terminals 221, 231, and 241, but the terminals 221, 231, and 241 may be outward. It may also be formed only in a portion corresponding to the end extending to.

Therefore, when the insulation portion 212 is formed, the surface area of the upper surface of the receptacle housing 210 is widened, and the receptacle housing 210 and the plug housing 70 are not in close contact with each other. This has the effect of being blocked.

In addition, even if the water accumulates inside the receptacle housing 210, the protrusion of the insulating portion 212 forms a space between the receptacle housing 210 and the plug housing 70, whereby Water is easily evaporated off.

Although not shown in the drawings, the upper surface of the receptacle housing is formed with a concave-convex surface corresponding to the lower portion of each terminal, and when the receptacle housing and the plug housing are combined, the insulating portion to reduce the capillary effect of the coupled surface Forming embodiments will be possible.

The insulating part prevents the receptacle housing and the plug housing from closely contacting each other to form a water film due to a capillary phenomenon, thereby preventing an abnormal current from flowing between each terminal.

Meanwhile, the insulating part may be formed only on a surface corresponding to the lower portion of each terminal in the receptacle housing, but an embodiment may also be formed on the surface partitioning between each terminal and the terminal.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and as can be seen in the appended claims, modifications can be made by those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains, and such modifications are within the scope of the present invention.

Referring to the effect of the water level sensor of the drum washing machine steam generator according to the present invention described above are as follows.

First, the insulation part reduces the capillary effect of the surface on which the receptacle housing and the plug housing are coupled and prevents the insulation from being broken, thereby increasing the reliability of the operation by preventing the malfunction of the water level sensor.

Secondly, if the water level sensor operates correctly, the amount of wash water stored in the steam generator is always maintained at an appropriate level, thereby preventing the risk of ignition or fire, thereby increasing safety and increasing the reliability of the product.

In addition, there is an effect of preventing the excessive supply of the washing water and the excessive operation of the heater to prevent waste of electricity and water, and thereby reduce the economic loss.

Claims (5)

In the steam generator for supplying steam to the drum washing machine, A receptacle housing fixed to the steam generator and inserted into and supported by a plug housing for electrical connection with the outside; At least one electrode unit fixed to the receptacle housing so as to be inserted into the steam generator when the water level sensor is installed to sense a level of water stored in the steam generator; A terminal corresponding to the electrode unit one-to-one and exposed to the outside of the steam generator and electrically connected to the outside; And an insulation unit for preventing breakdown of the insulation between the terminals in the receptacle housing in which the terminal is installed. The method of claim 1, The electrode unit is a water level sensor of the steam generator of the drum washing machine comprising at least three or more electrodes including a common electrode as a reference, an electrode for detecting a low water level, and an electrode for detecting a high water level. The method of claim 1, Wherein the insulating portion is a water level sensor of the steam generating device of the drum washing machine, characterized in that the recessed groove is formed in the surface corresponding to the lower side of the terminal in the receptacle housing. The method of claim 1, The insulation unit is a water level sensor of the steam generating device of the drum washing machine, characterized in that the projection projecting upwardly formed on the surface corresponding to the lower portion of each terminal in the receptacle housing. The method of claim 1, The insulation unit is a water level sensor of the steam generator of the drum washing machine, characterized in that a plurality of irregularities are formed on a surface corresponding to the lower side of each terminal in the receptacle housing.

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