KR101832335B1 - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

According to the present invention, a washing machine comprises: a tub storing washing water; a drum arranged in an inner space of the tub to store washed fabric; an operating unit which allows the drum to be rotated; a level sensor detecting a level of water supplied to the inside of the tub; a first main water supplying channel extended from the tub to supply the water stored in the tub; a first water supplying pump connected to an end part of the first main water supplying channel; a second main water supplying channel connected to an entrance hole of the first water supplying pump; a sub-water supplying channel branched from one position of the second main water supplying channel and integrated at the other position of the second main water supplying channel; a remnant water container disposed on one position of the sub-water supplying channel; an entrance-side valve disposed on an entrance side of the remnant water container; and an exit-side valve disposed on an exit side of the remnant water container.

Description

Washing machine

The present invention relates to a washing machine.

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a washing machine includes a tub containing washing water, and a drum rotatably provided in the tub to receive clothing (hereinafter referred to as a 'laundry cloth'). As the drum rotates, Dehydration takes place.

The washing machine includes a top loading type in which a drum is vertically provided and rotates about a vertical axis so that the laundry can be loaded from above, a drum is horizontally provided so that the laundry can be inserted from the front, And a front loading type that rotates around the center.

The top loading type washing machine may be roughly divided into an agitator type and a pulsator type. The agitation type washing machine rotates the washing rods rising at the center of the drum to wash the laundry, The disk-shaped pulsator or the drum is rotated to wash the disk.

The front loading system is generally called a drum type washing machine. The lifter is provided on the inner circumferential surface of the drum, and the laundry is lifted up by the lifter as the drum rotates.

The washing machine includes a water supply device for supplying water to the inside of the tub, and a drain device for draining wash water having been subjected to washing, rinsing, dewatering and the like.

The conventional washing machine has a problem that the washing water is frozen in an environment such as the winter season where the temperature of the outside air falls below minus zero and the water supply device or the drainage device can not operate normally.

Particularly, when residual water exists in the drainage device and the drain port of the tub, the residual water can be frozen and water is not drained to the outside of the drum washing machine when the residual water is frozen.

If the water can not be drained by freezing, the user must directly introduce the hot water into the drum washing machine and defrost it, so that there is a risk of burns and the user feels inconvenience.

Prior Art Patent Application No. 10-2005-0050302 (May 31, 2005) discloses a method for sinking residual water in a drain hose for a drum washing machine.

A conventional washing machine disclosed in the prior art discloses a method for defrosting frozen residual water by heating and draining washing water using an electric heater disposed outside a drain pipe of a washing machine when freezing the residual water.

However, in the case of the conventional washing machine, the phenomenon that the residual water in the drainage hose is frozen can not be fundamentally solved, and the water supply device or the drainage device does not operate normally when the remaining water is frozen.

Further, there is a problem that it takes a long time to defrost the residual water by using the conventional electrothermal heater.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been proposed in order to solve the above problems.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a washing machine including a main drainage line extending from a tub and draining water stored in the tub, a branch line branched at a certain point of the main drainage line, And a sub-drainage line which is merged at another point.

In addition, at some point of the sub drainage channel, a residual water container is mounted, an inlet valve is disposed at the inlet side of the residual water container, and an outlet valve is disposed at the outlet side.

Further, a separate drain pump for discharging the residual water stored in the residual water container to the outside may be provided on the outlet side valve.

The washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above has the following effects.

First, there is an advantage that freezing of the main drainage flow passage is prevented because no residual water remains in the main drainage flow passage even after the washing or dewatering operation is completed.

Second, whether or not the main drain line and the sub drain line are frozen correctly is accurately detected and displayed. Further, when the sub-drainage flow path is frozen, the sub drainage flow path can be thawed by using the main drainage flow path, which makes it easy to maintain and repair the washing machine.

Third, even if the sub-drainage line is frozen, the main drainage line can be operated normally, so that the normal drainage can be performed.

1 is a sectional view of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a view illustrating components of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG.
3 is a flowchart showing a control method according to whether or not a washing machine is frozen according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for determining whether or not a washing machine is frozen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a view illustrating components of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

1 and 2, a washing machine 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a case 12 forming an outer appearance of a washing machine, a tub 20 installed in an inner space of the case 12, A drum 30 installed in an inner space of the drum 20 and a driving unit 32 rotating the drum 30.

A door 14 may be provided on the front surface of the case 12 to draw out laundry. The door 14 may be rotatably mounted forward. In this embodiment, the front loading type washing machine is shown in which the laundry can be drawn into the front of the case 12. However, the present invention is not limited thereto.

A control panel 16 may be provided on the front surface of the case 12. The control panel 16 may include an input unit 16A for receiving a user's selection and a display unit 16B for displaying an operating state of the washing machine. The display unit 16B may display information on whether the washing machine is frozen or not. The control panel 16 may be provided on the upper side of the door 14.

The tub 20 is a water storage tank for storing water for washing and rinsing and storing dehydrated water in the laundry. The tub 20 may be formed as a cylinder laid down toward one side. At this time, the tub 20 may be disposed horizontally with respect to the ground, or may be inclined at an angle. The tub 20 may be arranged so that the opening lies down toward the door 14.

The drum 30 is rotated by the driving unit 32 for washing, rinsing, and dewatering laundry. The drum 30 can be received in the tub 20 and the outer surface of the drum 30 is spaced apart from the inner surface of the tub 20 by a certain distance.

The drum 30 may be configured as a cylinder that is horizontally or inclinedly laid forward so as to correspond to the tub 20. The front surface of the drum 30 may be opened to allow the laundry And a plurality of water holes may be formed on the circumferential surface and the rear surface to allow water to flow in and out. The water in the tub 20 can pass through the plurality of water holes and move inside and outside the drum 30.

The driving unit 32 may include a stator mounted on a rear surface of the tub 20, a rotor rotating in cooperation with the stator, and a rotating shaft extending in the rotor. The rotary shaft passes through the rear surface of the tub 20, and the tip of the rotary shaft is connected to the rear surface of the drum 30, and the rear end is connected to the rotary shaft.

A water supply valve 70 for supplying water to the inside of the tub 20 may be connected to the tub 20 above the tub 20. The water may be wash water in which the detergent is dissolved or raw water. The water supply valve 70 may be provided in plurality according to the type of water to be supplied. For example, the water supply valve 70 may include a hot water valve and a cold water valve.

A heater 40 for heating the water supplied to the tub 20 and a temperature sensor 42 for sensing the temperature inside the tub 20 may be provided in the lower portion of the tub 20.

The heater 40 may be disposed in a space between the inner surface of the tub 20 and the outer surface of the drum 20. For example, the heater 40 may be fixed to the rear surface of the tub 20 and extend forward.

The temperature sensor 42 may be disposed on one side of the heater 40. The temperature sensor 42 may be installed on the rear surface of the tub 20 like the heater 40. For example, the temperature sensor 42 may include a thermistor.

A drain port 51 for draining water stored in the tub 20 is formed on the lower side of the tub 20. For example, the drain hole 51 may be formed through the lower surface of the tub 20. [

Meanwhile, the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a main drainage passage 50 through which water is discharged during a washing, rinsing or dewatering operation, and a sub drainage (not shown) for preventing freezing of residual water present in the main drainage passage 50. [ And a flow path 80.

The main drainage channel 50 may be understood as a channel through which water drained during the drainage process of the washing machine in general is discharged to the outside.

The main drainage passage 50 includes a drainage hole 51, a drainage pipe 52, a first drainage pump 53 and a first drainage pipe 54. A drain pipe 52 is connected to an outlet end of the drain hole 51 and a first drain pump 53 is installed at an outlet end of the drain pipe 52. A first drainage tube 54 through which water is discharged to the outside is connected to an outlet side of the first drainage pump 53. The water discharged from the tub 20 through the drain port 51 flows into the first drain pump 53 through the drain pipe 52 and flows into the first drain pump 53 by the pumping of the first drain pump 53, And can be discharged to the outside of the case 12 through the drainage tube 54.

Here, the drain port 51 and the drain pipe 52 may be defined as a first main drainage channel, and the first drainage tube 54 may be defined as a second main drainage channel. That is, the main drainage passage 50 may include a first main drainage passage, a first drainage pump, and a second main drainage passage.

A sub drain line 80 may be formed as a branch line at any point of the main drain line 50, that is, the second main drain line.

Specifically, the sub-drainage flow path 80 includes a second drainage tube 81 branched at one point of the first drainage tube 54 and merged at another point of the first drainage tube 54 do. The second drainage tube 81 may be branched at the front end side of the first drainage tube 54 and may be joined at the rear end side of the first drainage tube 54. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. However, the sub drain line 80 may be disposed adjacent to the second main drain line.

The residual water container 82 may be mounted at any point of the second drainage tube 81. The residual water container (82) is a container for collecting residual water remaining in the main drainage flow path (50). For example, residual water remaining in the drain port 51 of the tub or the first drain tube 54 may be transferred to the residual water container 82 and stored.

An inlet valve (84) and an outlet valve (85) may be provided on the inlet and outlet sides of the residual water container (82) to allow water to flow into the residual water container (82).

For example, when the inlet valve 84 is opened and the outlet valve 85 is closed, water remaining in the drain 51 of the tub or in the first drainage tube 54 flows into the residual vessel 82 Lt; / RTI > When the inlet valve 84 is closed after a predetermined time, the water flowing into the residual water container 82 can be stored without being flowed.

A second drain pump 83 may be provided at any point of the second drain tube 81. The second drain pump 83 discharges residual water stored in the residual water container 82 to the outside. The residual water remaining in the drain port 51 of the tub or the first drain pipe 54 flows into the residual water container 82 through the second drain pipe 81, 83 to the outside of the case 12 through the second drainage tube 81. In this case, For example, the second drain pump 83 may be installed on the outlet valve 85 side, but is not limited thereto.

The washing machine 10 may further include a water level sensing device 60 for sensing a level of water supplied into the tub 20.

The water level sensing device 60 includes a water level sensing pipe 62 connected to one side of the water drain pipe 52 and a water level sensing pipe 62 connected to the water level sensing pipe 62 and connected to the water level sensing pipe 62, An air chamber 63 filled with air to which pressure is applied and a water level sensing tube 64 connected to the air chamber 63 and connected to the water level sensing tube 64, And a water level sensor 66 sensing the water level.

More specifically, when water flows into the tub 20, water is also introduced into the air chamber 63. At this time, the water flowing into the air chamber 63 flows into the air chamber 63 at the same level as the water of the tub 20.

The air in the air chamber 63 is compressed by the volume of the water introduced into the air chamber 63 and the compressed air is sent to the water level sensor 66 through the water level sensing tube 64, The water level in the tub 20 is sensed according to the pressure of the air to be delivered.

The water level sensor 66 senses the water level in the tub 20 and transmits the water level to the controller 100 to be described later. The water level sensor 66 may output a frequency corresponding to the pressure of air delivered through the water level sensing tube 64. At this time, the frequency output from the water level sensor 66 may correspond to the water level in the tub 20 measured by the water level sensor 66. Therefore, the frequency outputted from the water level sensor 66 to the control unit 100 may have the same meaning as the water level in the tub 20.

The washing machine 10 further includes a controller 100 for controlling the operation of the washing machine and detecting the operating state of the washing machine.

The control unit 100 controls the water supply valve 70, the inlet valve 84, the outlet valve 85, the first drain pump 53, and the second drain pump 53, according to the user's selection input through the input unit 16A. 2 drain pump 83, the driving unit 32 and the heater 40 and displays the operating state of the washing machine on the display unit 16B.

The control unit 100 may sense the operation state of the washing machine using at least one of the temperature sensor 42 and the water level sensor 66. The controller 100 may control the operation of the water supply valve 70, It is possible to drive at least one of the inlet valve 84, the outlet valve 85, the first drain pump 53, the second drain pump 83, the driver 32 and the heater 40. For example, the water level in the tub 20 may be sensed to open the water supply valve 70 or to drive the first drain pump 53.

The control unit 100 may also calculate a change amount of the frequency received by the water level sensor 66 to determine a water level change amount in the tub 20. [ For example, the controller 100 may determine whether the main drainage passage 50 and the sub-drainage passage 80 are frozen, based on the amount of change in the water level in the tub 20. The control unit 100 may perform a corresponding stroke according to whether the main drainage passage 50 or the sub drainage passage 80 is frozen. The control method of the controller 100 will be described later in detail.

3 is a flowchart showing a control method according to whether or not a washing machine is frozen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention receives a washing start signal after the power is turned on. In the present invention, the start of washing may actually mean performing a washing cycle to wash laundry. For example, the control unit 100 may receive a start signal for one of washing, rinsing, and dehydrating through the input unit 16A of the washing machine.

When the wash start signal is input in step S1, the controller 100 detects whether the main drainage passage 50 and the sub drainage passage 80 are frozen. The controller 100 may determine whether the sub drain line 80 is frozen after first determining whether the main drain line 50 is to be frozen. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is also possible to determine whether or not the sub drain line 80 is frozen first and whether the main drain line 50 is frozen later.

The main drainage passage used in the present embodiment may mean at least one of the first main drainage passage and the second main drainage passage described above.

If it is determined in step S3 that the main drainage channel 50 is frozen, the controller 100 displays the freeze state information indicating that the main drainage channel 50 is frozen through the display unit 16B. S4)

If it is determined in step S3 that the main drain line 50 is not frozen, the controller 100 determines whether the sub drain line 80 is frozen (S5)

If the main drainage flow path 50 is frozen, the drainage device can not operate normally and thus the washing operation is impossible. Therefore, if the main drainage flow path 50 is frozen, the freeze state information is displayed without determining whether the sub drainage flow path 80 is frozen.

However, in the present invention, after the washing cycle of the washing machine is completed, the remaining water in the main drainage passage 50 is collected into the residual water container 82, so that the main drainage passage 50 is not frozen. That is, since there is no residue in the main drainage passage 50, the main drainage passage 50 is prevented from being frozen.

If it is determined in step S5 that the sub drain line 80 is frozen, the controller 100 compares the sensed water level with the reference water level according to the operation of the second drain pump 83. (S6, S7)

Steps S6 and S7 can be understood as a process for determining whether or not the sub drain line 80 can be thawed when the heater 40 is operated. When the level detected by the operation of the second drain pump 83 exceeds the reference level, the sub drain line 80 can be thawed through the heater 40.

A method of detecting the water level according to the operation of the second drain pump 83 will be described later.

If it is determined in step S7 that the detected water level does not exceed the reference water level, the controller 100 determines that the sub-drainage flow path 80 can not be thawed using the heater 40, Freezing state information indicating that the sub-drainage flow path 80 has been frozen is displayed through the opening / closing valve 80. (S8)

If it is determined that the detected water level is higher than the reference water level, the controller 100 performs a general washing cycle, and the heater 40 is driven in the drainage process so that hot water flows into the main drainage channel 50 (S9)

In the present invention, the sub drainage flow path (80) is disposed adjacent to the main drainage flow path (50). Therefore, when the water heated by the heater 40 flows into the main drainage flow path 50 when the sub drainage flow path 80 is frozen, as the temperature of the main drainage flow path 50 increases, The drainage flow path 80 can be defrosted.

In this embodiment, it is described that steps S6 and S7 are performed when the sub-drainage flow path is frozen in step S5. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and if the sub-drainage flow path is frozen in step S5, steps S6 and S7 are omitted And step S8 can be performed immediately.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S5 that the sub drain line is not frozen, the controller 100 performs a general washing cycle. Then, the control unit 100 determines whether the final drainage process is completed while the washing cycle is being performed (S10, S11)

The reason for determining whether the final drainage process is completed is to collect the residual water existing in the washing machine into the residual water container 82 when all the washing cycles of the washing machine are completed and the final drainage is completed.

That is, when the final drainage stroke is completed in step S11, the control unit 100 opens the inlet valve 84 and closes the outlet valve 85, so that the remaining water in the main drainage flow path 50 So that the water is collected in the residual water container 82. At this time, in order to smoothly collect the remaining water in the main drainage flow path 50, the residual water container 82 is connected to the sub drainage flow path 50, which is lower in height than the main drainage flow path 50, (S12). ≪ RTI ID = 0.0 >

When the preset time has elapsed from the time when the inlet valve 84 is opened, the controller 100 closes the inlet valve 84 to store the water collected in the residual water container 82. S13)

Then, the power of the washing machine may be turned off (S14)

Hereinafter, a method of detecting freezing of the main drainage passage and the sub-drainage passage in step S2 of FIG. 3 will be described in more detail.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for determining whether or not a washing machine is frozen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the following embodiments, it is first determined whether or not the main drainage passage is frozen, and then it is determined that the subdrainage passage is frozen. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is possible to determine later whether or not the main drainage passage is frozen after first determining whether or not the sub-drainage passage is frozen.

Referring to FIG. 4, the controller 100 drains a predetermined amount of water through the main drainage passage 50. Specifically, the controller 100 opens the water supply valve 70 in a state in which both the inlet valve 84 and the outlet valve 85 are closed, and water is supplied into the tub 20. The control unit 100 operates the first drain pump 53 to drain the water supplied into the tub 20 along the main drainage flow path 50. In step S21,

Then, the control unit 100 calculates a water level change amount from the water level values sensed by the water level sensor 66. [ For example, the controller 100 controls the water level in the tub 20 sensed through the water level sensor 66 in the water supply process and the water level in the tub 20 sensed through the water level sensor 66 during the drainage process The water level change amount can be calculated based on the water level change amount. That is, in the drainage process, the controller 100 can detect the water level values based on the information on the air pressure sensed by the water level sensor 66, and calculate the water level change amount. (S22)

In the drainage process, as long as the main drainage passage 50 is not frozen, the amount of water in the air chamber 63 is changed, so that the air pressure in the level sensing tube 63 can be changed. The control unit 100 can calculate the water level change amount.

The water level change amount may be calculated as a change amount of the frequency output to the water level sensor 66 for a predetermined time in the drainage process.

Then, the control unit 100 compares the water level change amount calculated in step S22 with the first reference water level change amount (S23)

Step S23 can be understood as a step for determining whether or not the main drainage passage 50 is frozen. That is, when the calculated water level change amount is equal to or greater than the first reference water level change amount, it can be determined that the main drainage flow path 50 is not frozen. Conversely, when the calculated water level change amount is less than the first reference water level change amount, it can be determined that at least the ice is present in the main drain water channel 50. That is, it can be determined that the main drainage passage 50 is frozen (S24)

The first reference water level change amount can be understood as a frequency change amount of the water level sensor 66. The first reference water level change amount is set differently depending on the size of the tub, the amount of water in the tub, .

If it is determined in step S23 that the main drainage passage 50 is not frozen, the controller 100 determines whether the sub drainage passage 80 is frozen.

The control unit 100 operates the second drain pump 83 in a state in which only the outlet valve 85 is opened to determine whether the sub drain line 80 is frozen, And discharges the residual water stored in the storage tank 82. At this time, the controller 100 stops the operation of the first drain pump 53. (S25, S26)

As described above, the washing machine may have stored the residual water remaining in the main drainage passage 50 in the residual water container 82 after completing the previous washing cycle (S12, 13 in FIG. 3). Therefore, The process of draining the residual water container 82 is performed to determine whether or not the residual amount stored in the residual water container 82 is frozen.

At this time, when the second drain pump 83 is operated, residual water stored in the residual water container 82 may flow into the tub 20 while flowing backward. That is, since the residual water stored in the residual water container 82 flows backward to the drain pipe 52 and the drain port 51, the air pressure in the water level sensing tube 63 can be changed, The water level change amount can be calculated.

That is, the control unit 100 calculates the water level change amount from the water level values sensed by the water level sensor 66, similarly to step S22 (S27)

The water level change amount can be calculated as a change amount of the frequency output to the water level sensor 66 for a predetermined time in the residual water drainage process.

Then, the controller 100 compares the water level change amount calculated in step S27 with the second reference water level change amount (S28)

Step S28 can be understood as a step for determining whether or not the sub drain line 80 has been frozen. That is, when the calculated water level change amount is equal to or greater than the second reference water level change amount, it can be determined that the sub drain water flow path 80 is not frozen. Conversely, when the calculated water level change amount is less than the second reference water level change amount, it can be determined that there is at least ice in the sub drain water flow path 80 (e.g., residual water tank). That is, it can be determined that the sub drain line 80 is frozen (S29, S30)

According to the structure of the present invention, residual water does not remain in the main drainage flow path even after the washing or dewatering process is completed, thereby preventing freezing of the main drainage flow passage.

Furthermore, whether or not the main drainage passage and the sub-drainage passage are frozen is accurately detected and displayed. When the sub-drainage flow path is frozen, the sub drainage flow path can be thawed by using the main drainage flow path, which makes it easy to maintain and repair the washing machine.

Further, even if the sub-drainage flow path is frozen, the main drainage flow path can be normally operated, so that normal washing can be performed.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. .

Claims (11)

A tub in which wash water is stored;
A drum disposed in the inner space of the tub to receive the laundry;
A driving unit for rotating the drum;
A water level sensor for sensing a water level of water supplied into the tub;
A first main drainage line extending from the tub and draining water stored in the tub;
A first drain pump connected to an end of the first main drainage passage;
A second main drain passage connected to an outlet of the first drain pump;
A sub drainage branch branched at one point of the second main drainage channel and merged at another point of the second main drainage channel;
A residual water container mounted at a certain position of the sub drainage passage;
An inlet valve disposed at an inlet side of the residual water container;
An outlet-side valve disposed on an outlet side of the residual water container;
A second drain pump disposed behind the outlet side of the reservoir for discharging the residual water stored in the residual water reservoir to the outside;
A display unit for indicating whether the drainage passage is frozen or not; And
And a control unit for calculating a water level change amount from the water level values sensed by the water level sensor,
Wherein,
The first drain pump is operated so that water is supplied into the tub while the inlet and outlet valves are closed to determine whether the first and second main drainage passages are frozen, So that water is drained along the second main drainage passage,
Freezing state information indicating that the first and second main drainage channels have been frozen is displayed through the display unit when it is determined that the water level change amount in the tub is smaller than the first reference water level change amount,
When it is determined that the amount of water level change in the tub is larger than the first reference water level change amount, it is determined that the first and second main drainage channels are not frozen and operation of the first drainage pump is stopped, And the second drain pump is operated in an opened state to determine whether the sub-drainage passage is frozen. The method according to claim 1,
And the second drain pump is installed on the side of the outlet side valve. delete delete delete The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the control unit determines that the sub drainage line is frozen when it is determined that the water level change amount in the tub is smaller than the second reference water level change amount during the operation of the second drain pump. The method according to claim 6,
Wherein the control unit displays the freeze state information indicating that the sub drain line is frozen when it is determined that the sub drain line is frozen. 8. The method of claim 7,
And a heater mounted inside the tub for heating the washing water,
Wherein the control unit causes the general washing cycle to be performed when the sub-drainage flow path is frozen, and the heater is driven in the drainage process so that hot water flows into the first and second main drainage flow paths. Washing machine. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the control unit determines that the sub drain line is not frozen when it is determined that the water level change amount in the tub is larger than the second reference water level change amount during the operation of the second drain pump, Is performed. 10. The method of claim 9,
The control unit closes the outlet valve and opens only the inlet valve so that the remaining amount of the remaining water in the first and second main drainage channels collects in the residual container after the final drainage process is completed The washing machine. 11. The method of claim 10,
Wherein the control unit closes the inlet valve when a set time elapses from the time when the inlet valve is opened.

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