KR101166184B1 - Draining's Thawing Apparauts of Washing Machine and the Method for ths Same - Google Patents

Abstract

Drain valve thawing apparatus and method according to the invention according to the present invention, if the washing machine side temperature is too low at the time of washing to determine the freezing of the drain valve to thaw once the drain valve with warm water, the washing proceeds in earnest Therefore, malfunction or damage of the drain valve due to freezing of the drain valve can be prevented.

Washing machine, drain valve, bellows, freezing, thawing

Description

Draining device thawing device of washing machine and method according thereto {Draining's Thawing Apparauts of Washing Machine and the Method for ths Same}             

1 is a cross-sectional view of a washing machine according to the prior art,

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the drain valve of the washing machine according to the prior art,

3 is a cross-sectional view of a washing machine including a drain valve thawing apparatus according to the present invention;

4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of thawing the drain valve of the washing machine according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS

50 case 52

54: inner tank 58: water supply hose

59: water supply valve 60: drain hose

62: drain valve 66: water temperature sensor

The present invention relates to a drain valve thawing apparatus and a method thereof of a washing machine, and more particularly, to a drain valve thawing apparatus and a method of the washing machine that can be prevented from being damaged by operating the drain valve in a frozen state.

In the washing machine according to the related art, as shown in FIG. 1, the door 1 is installed on the upper side of the case 2, and the outer tub 4 is installed inside the case 2, and a plurality of washing machines are provided. An inner tub 6 provided with a hand 6a is rotatably installed in the outer tub 4, and a pulsator 8 is rotatably installed in the inner tub 6.

Outside the case 2, the controller 10 for the user to operate the washing method or to inform the washing progress and the detergent container 12 for storing the detergent is installed. The lower part of the outer tub 4 is provided with a drive unit 14 for rotating the inner tub 6 or the pulsator 8.

In addition, the upper side of the outer tank (4) is connected to the water supply hose 22 is provided with a water supply valve 20, the water is supplied according to the operation of the water supply valve 20, the lower side of the outer tank (4) When the drain hose 26 provided with the valve 24 is connected, the drain valve 24 is operated by a drain motor (not shown) so that the water filled in the outer tank 4 is drained to the outside.

As shown in FIG. 2, the drain valve 24 has an external valve case 24a and a bellows installed inside the valve case 24a to open and close the valve case 24a by an elastic force ( 24b) and a valve cover 24c provided on the valve case 24a to support the bellows 24b. In addition, a valve spring 24d is provided inside the bellows 24b to impart an elastic force to the bellows 24b so that the drain valve 24 is turned off, and is connected to the drain motor to connect the drain motor. When the bellows 24b and the valve spring 24d are compressed, a valve rod 24e for installing the drain valve 24 on is installed.

The washing machine configured as described above generally proceeds in the order of a washing stroke for removing the soil of the laundry, a rinsing stroke for rinsing the laundry with clean washing water, and a dehydration stroke for draining the laundry. Administrations may optionally be carried out.

Hereinafter, the washing method of the washing machine in the order of washing cycle, rinsing stroke and dehydration stroke will be described.

First, when the laundry is placed in the inner tank 6 and the washing machine is operated, detergent is supplied to the outer tank 4 and the inner tank 6 together with the washing water, and then the inner tank 6 or the pulsator 8 Is rotated by the drive unit 12. The laundry is then washed by the chemistry of the detergent and by friction with the wash stream and the inner bath 6. After that, when the drain valve 24 is turned on and the contaminated washing water is drained through the drain hose 26, the washing operation is terminated.

Next, after washing only the clean water in the outer tub 4 and the inner tub 6 again, the washing is rinsed while the inner tub 6 or the pulsator 8 is rotated, and then the rinsing stroke in which the contaminated washing water is drained. Proceed. This rinsing stroke is usually repeated several times. After the same rinsing cycle is repeated several times, the inner tub 6 is briefly rotated at high speed, and the laundry is dehydrated by centrifugal force, and the dehydration process is performed in which the water generated by the dehydration of the laundry is drained.

When the dehydration operation is completed as described above, since the laundry is still wet, the laundry accumulated in the inner tank 6 may be taken out and dried naturally.

However, in the washing machine according to the related art as described above, when the ambient temperature of the washing machine such as winter season is low, the drain valve 24 may freeze due to the residual water, regardless of freezing of the drain valve 24 in future washing. Since the drain valve 24 is operated, the drain valve 24 is not normally operated, or the bellows 24b of the drain valve 24 is torn due to excessive operation.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the problems of the prior art, it is to provide a drain valve thawing apparatus and method according to the washing machine so that washing can be made after thawing the drain valve frozen during washing. have.

The drain valve thawing method of the washing machine according to the present invention for solving the above problems is a temperature sensing step of detecting the washing machine side temperature when the washing machine power is turned on; As a result of the detection of the temperature detection step, if the washing machine side temperature is less than the predetermined value is made to include a thawing step to thaw the drain valve installed in the lower portion of the outer tank by supplying cold water with hot water or hot water.

In addition, the drain valve defrosting apparatus of the washing machine according to the present invention for solving the above problems, the temperature sensing means for sensing the washing machine side temperature; As a result of the sensing of the temperature sensing means, the washing machine side temperature is configured to include a water supply means for supplying water above a predetermined temperature to the drain valve side installed in the lower side of the outer tank.

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

3 is a cross-sectional view of a washing machine including a drain valve thawing apparatus according to the present invention.

The washing machine including the drain valve thawing apparatus according to the present invention includes a case 50 in which a door 51 is installed, an outer tub 52 installed inside the case 50, and a rotation in the outer tub 52. An inner tank 54 installed as possible and provided with a plurality of manual labor 54a, a pulsator 55 rotatably installed in the inner tank 54, and the pulsator 55 or the inner tank 54. In the driving unit 56 for rotating the control panel 57, which is installed outside the case 50 and can select the operation of the washing machine or displays the ongoing state, and the outer tank 52 and the inner tank 54 A water supply hose 58 and a water supply valve 59 for supplying the wash water, a drain hose 60 and a drain valve 62 for draining the wash water of the outer tank 52 and the inner tank 54, and the drain valve If 62 is frozen, the drain valve thawing field that defrosts the drain valve 62 before washing is performed in earnest. It is configured to include a.

The water supply hose 58 is usually divided into cold / hot water hoses (58a / 58b) for guiding cold water and hot water to the outer tank (52), and the water supply valve (59) is the cold / hot water hoses (58a / 58b) ) Are selectively opened and closed.

The drain hose 60 is connected to the lower portion of the outer tub 52 to guide the wash water supplied to the outer tub 52 to the outside of the washing machine, and the drain valve 62 opens and closes the drain hose 60. It is installed on the drain hose 60 so as to be located inside the case 50.

When the drain valve thawing apparatus has a low washing machine side temperature, the drain valve 62 is frozen by the residual water, and thus, the temperature for detecting the washing machine side temperature T to determine whether the drain valve 62 is frozen. The sensing means and the water supply means for supplying warm water of a predetermined temperature or more to the drain valve 62 side when the washing machine side temperature T is less than or equal to a preset value To to melt the frozen drain valve 62 with warm water. Is done.

The temperature sensing means, when the water temperature sensor 66 is installed with the water level sensor 64 for detecting the water level of the wash water supplied to the outer tank 52 in the outer lower portion of the outer tank 52, It is preferable that the sensing result of the water temperature sensor 66 is used as the washing machine side temperature T without being provided. On the other hand, the temperature sensing means

The water supply means, since the partial position (60 ') from the outer tank 52 to the drain valve 62 of the drain hose 60 is always in communication with the outer tank 52, the water supply hose (58) When the wash water is supplied to the outer tank 52, even if the drain valve 62 is in an OFF state, the washing water supplied to the outer tank 52 through the drain hose 60 is extended to the drain valve 52. When it is reached, it can be achieved by allowing the wash water to be supplied to the outer tub 52 when the drain valve 62 is thawed without being provided as a separate device.

Therefore, when the washing machine side temperature T is less than or equal to the preset value To, only the hot water hose 58b is opened by the control unit 68 controlling the operation of the washing machine alone or the cold / hot water hose 58a /. 58b) are opened together.

Meanwhile, the temperature sensing means of the water supply means may be implemented by installing a separate drain valve temperature sensor on the side of the drain valve 62 to more accurately determine whether the drain valve 62 is frozen.

The washing method of the washing machine including the drain valve thawing method according to the present invention configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

When the washing machine is turned on in the state in which the laundry is stored in the inner tank 54, the normal washing water is cold water, and the washing administration is set in order of washing, rinsing, and dehydrating washing. (S2).

Of course, the user can selectively reset the type of washing water or the washing administration, the type of laundry, and the water supply level through the control panel 57.

After the washing course is set as described above, a quantity detecting step (S4) of detecting the amount of laundry accumulated in the inner tank 54 is performed.

According to the quantity detected in the quantity detecting step (S4), the washing pattern such as the running time and the number of times of each stroke is determined, and if the water level is not set when setting the washing course, the water level of each stroke is also determined (S6). ).

Next, the washing machine side temperature (T) is detected (S10), and the detected washing machine side temperature (T) is compared with whether or not the drainage valve 62 is less than the preset value (To) which is a threshold temperature at which the water does not freeze. It is determined whether the valve 62 is frozen (S12).

At this time, if the detected washing machine side temperature (T) is less than the preset value (To), it is determined that the drain valve 62 is frozen, the drain valve thawing mode (S20) for thawing the drain valve 62 Is carried out.

The drain valve thawing mode S20 is performed by supplying hot water to the outer tank 52 by opening the hot water hose 58b for a predetermined time while the drain valve 62 is turned off. In other words, when the hot water supplied to the outer tank 52 is filled by a gravity on a portion 60 of the drain hose 60 located between the outer tank 52 and the drain valve 62, the drain valve ( The drain valve 62 is thawed by hot water filled at a portion 60 ′ of the drain hose 60.

At this time, since only a small amount of hot water is required to defrost the drain valve 62, the hot water hose 58b is opened only for a relatively short time.

In addition, in the drain valve thawing mode, the cold water hose 58a may be opened together with the hot water hose 58b so that the drain valve 62 is thawed by lukewarm water.                     

Then, when the drain valve thawing mode (S20) as described above is finished, the strokes are set in earnest according to the washing course and the washing pattern set in the above (S14).

At this time, if the stroke to be carried out next to the drain valve thawing mode (S20) is any one of a soaking, washing, and rinsing stroke proceeding in a state in which the wash water is supplied, the drain valve after the drain valve thawing mode (S20) is finished. 62 is kept in the OFF state.

Therefore, any one of the soaking, washing or rinsing stroke is performed in the state in which the washing water is supplied in a small amount in the drain valve thawing mode S20. At this time, in the soaking, washing, or rinsing, water is supplied to the water supply level of cold water or hot water, cold / hot water as set in the washing course during water supply.

On the other hand, when the dehydration stroke proceeds after the drain valve thawing mode (S20) (S22), since it is not necessary to supply wash water in the dehydration stroke, the drain valve 62 after the end of the drain valve thawing mode (S20). It is preferable to turn on the washing water is drained (S24).

As such, when the wash water supplied in the drain valve thawing mode (S20) is completely drained (S24), the dehydration operation proceeds as set (S14).

The drain valve defrosting apparatus and the method thereof according to the present invention configured as described above determine that the drain valve is frozen when the washing machine side temperature is too low during washing, and then thaw the drain valve with warm water once in earnest. Since washing is performed, there is an advantage of preventing malfunction or damage of the drain valve due to freezing of the drain valve.

In addition, the present invention, when the dehydration stroke proceeds after thawing the drain valve as described above to allow the dehydration stroke proceeds in the state in which the wash water is drained, and when the drain valve thaw soaked or washed, rinsing stroke proceeds to the outer tank of the drain valve By carrying out the soaking, washing, or rinsing stroke in the state where the water for thawing is supplied, the water supply time can be reduced in the soaking, washing, or rinsing stroke, and waste water can be prevented.

Claims (7)

Sensing the temperature of the drain valve through a temperature sensing means provided in the drain valve when the washing machine is turned on; And If the temperature sensed by the temperature sensing means is less than a predetermined value, the thawing step of thawing the drain valve by supplying cold water with hot water or hot water, If any one of the soaking, washing and rinsing strokes is set after the thawing step, the water supplied in the thawing step may be reused in the stroke performed after the thawing step if the water supplied in the thawing step is reused. The thaw valve thawing method of the washing machine, characterized in that the drain valve is made in a state of maintaining the off state. The method of claim 1, The method of thawing the drain valve of the washing machine is performed after the washing machine is turned on and the washing pattern is set. delete delete A drain valve installed at a lower portion of the outer tank to drain the washing water; Temperature sensing means provided in the drain valve to determine whether the drain valve is frozen; Water supply means for supplying water of a predetermined temperature or more to the drain valve side when the temperature of the drain valve is less than a preset value as a result of the sensing of the temperature sensing means; And And a control unit configured to control the drain valve to be in an off state during water supply through the water supply means when one of the soaking, washing, and rinsing strokes is set after the water supply through the water supply means is performed. Drain valve thawing device for washing machine. The method of claim 5, The temperature sensing means is a drain valve defrosting device of the washing machine consisting of a water temperature sensor. The method according to claim 5 or 6, The water supply means, A cold water valve installed on a cold water flow passage for guiding cold water to the outer tank; A hot water valve installed on a hot water flow passage for guiding hot water to the outer tub; A control unit for causing the cold water valve to be turned on together with the hot water valve or the hot water valve when the temperature of the drain valve is less than or equal to a preset value; Drain valve thawing device of the washing machine comprising a.

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