KR102224543B1 - Washing machine water control device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention discloses a multi-way valve for a washing machine (a water supply channel opening/closing device). A multi-way valve according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an inlet valve device for opening and closing water supply of the inlet port; An outlet valve device for outflowing water introduced through the inlet valve device to each port; A diaphragm operating device for opening and closing the flow path of the outlet port; A drive control device for controlling the operation of the diaphragm device; It is a device that opens and closes the water supply channel, and is provided with a flow path space and each outlet hole in the center of the upper side of the valve body so that the direct water flowing into the valve body (body) through the inlet valve device flows out to each outlet port. A valve body having a plurality of communication holes circumferentially provided at the lower side of the valve body so that the diaphragm operating device is mounted on the port; Valve cover that is assembled in the flow path space in the center of the upper side of the valve body and blocks external leakage with a sealing member (O-ring) while providing a flow path to each outlet port: Drive to operate the diaphragm inside the lower side while covering and fixing the diaphragm device of the valve body. Valve body support on which the control device is mounted: a stepping motor mounted in the inner center of the lower side of the valve body support to control the driving rotation of the internal gear device; An internal gear device that is directly connected to the output shaft of the stepping motor to drive and rotate the magnet in a circumferential shape; Includes; a magnet mounted on the driven gear of the internal gear device and controlled to rotate circumferentially by a stepping motor to operate the iron core (yoke rod) of the diaphragm device.

Description

Multi-way valve control device {Washing machine water control device}

The present invention relates to a washing machine, and more particularly, to a multi-way valve control device (a water supply channel opening/closing device) for distributing water flowing into the washing machine.

Typically, a drum washing machine rotates a tank for fresh water such as washing water and rinse water, a drum rotatably installed inside the tank to accommodate the laundry cloth, a motor generating driving force to rotate the drum, and a cylindrical drum. It is a device that allows washing to be performed through the movement of the laundry cloth inside the drum rising and falling along the inner wall of the drum. These drum washing machines have a washing process that separates contamination of the laundry cloth with water (washing water) in which detergent is dissolved, and a rinsing process that rinses the foam or residual detergent of the laundry cloth with water (rinsing water) that does not contain detergent. Washing is performed by a series of operations such as a dehydration stroke to dehydrate the fabric. In order to achieve such a process, a water supply flow path conversion device has been developed to supply water to a required place according to a purpose by changing a flow path of water flowing into the washing machine through a water supply channel valve. As examples of such devices, U.S. Patent Publication No. 2010-0000586 (published on Jan. 7, 2010) and European Patent No. 01293596 (registered on Mar. 7, 2007) disclose technologies for converting the flow path of water flowing into the washing machine. have. However, such a conventional technology is a structure that simply converts the water supply channel, and it is made of a structure that does not leak water to another channel while maintaining a constant direct water pressure, and it is difficult to supply water to the required place according to the purpose. The patented technology is a technology that cannot be commercialized and used in reality, and the rotating plate disk method (channel-switching plate) makes it difficult to seal the direct water pressure between each passage, and if the sealing is strengthened, the rotational friction resistance of the rotating disk disk increases and the durability of the rotating disk disk becomes problematic. In addition, the position control method of each exit port by camshaft rotation is not accurate in the exit port stop position and requires a separate position measurement sensing device (sensor).

Patent Document 1: US Patent Publication No. 2010-0000586 (published on January 7, 2010) Patent Document 2: European Patent Registration No. 01293596 (registered on 2007.03.07) Patent Document 3: Korean Laid-Open Patent No. 10-2006-0100618 Patent Document 4: Korean Patent Publication 10-2014-0045760 (published on April 17, 2014) Patent Document 5: Korean Patent Publication 10-2014-0145861 (published on December 24, 2014)

The present invention has been made in consideration of the same circumstances as described above, and an embodiment of the present invention provides a plurality of solenoids corresponding to the number of outlet ports while having the same performance as a flow path switching device valve of a diaphragm operation method used in current washing machine manufacturers. It is intended to provide a multi-directional water supply channel opening and closing device that very effectively switches the water supply channel with one small stepping motor without using a drive source and a single magnet rotating in the circumferential direction by the drive source.

In order to achieve the above object, the multi-way water supply channel opening/closing device of the present invention comprises: an inlet control device through which direct water is first introduced; A valve body having multiple outlet ports and outlet ports for outflowing water introduced through the inlet port to each port; A valve body cover fixed at the center of the valve body outlet and blocking external leakage of the outlet with a sealing member (O-ring); A diaphragm device arranged and assembled in a circumferential shape under the valve body to open and close a flow path of each outlet port; A valve body support for fixing the diaphragm device; A drive control device that is fixed to the valve body support and controls the diaphragm operation; The drive control device includes an internal gear device for rotating and moving the magnet in the circumferential direction at the position of the diaphragm core (yoke rod) at each outlet; A stepping motor for controlling rotation of the internal gear device; A magnet mounted on the circumference of the driven side of the internal gear device to operate the iron core (yoke rod) of the diaphragm device; As a water supply channel opening/closing device consisting of, the iron core (yoke rod) of the diaphragm driving device corresponding to each port is operated by magnet magnetic force by the rotation of the magnet to open and close the water supply channel.

The water supply passage opening and closing device for a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention uses a conventional diaphragm device to maintain the opening and closing performance of the water supply passage by direct water pressure, and instead of a plurality of solenoid driving devices, a stepping motor and a power transmission gear unit (internal gear unit). ,It is possible to very effectively switch the water supply passage with only one magnet. The water supply passage opening and closing device according to the present invention provides the following effects. First, the present invention is a stage that can be used semi-permanently in any environment instead of several solenoid drive sources. Since multiple solenoid coils can be replaced with only one magnet, coil disconnection defects can be fundamentally eliminated. Moreover, in order to protect the solenoid coil, which is the driving source of the valve device related to water, the conventional method uses the coil by molding, so the temperature changes. Second, the conventional water supply channel opening/closing device requires the solenoid drive device to be attached as many as the number of ports, so the number of parts increases and the assembly man-hours increase, and the size of the product increases and the device becomes complicated, resulting in product manufacturing cost. In addition, the conventional method caused mis-assembly because a similar housing must be individually connected to the power terminal of each driving device in the washing machine control device, and there was also a disadvantage in that the solenoid coil must be individually controlled in the washing machine control device. The present invention does not require a solenoid driving device, so the structure is simple and can be driven only by rotation control of the stepping motor. Third, unlike the existing patents, the present invention does not include any rotational friction plate, and the present invention is a stopper formed on the internal gear device itself. It does not require a device to detect the driving origin of the stepping motor.

1 is a product diagram of a water supply passage opening and closing device used in a conventional (current) washing machine
2 is a product diagram of a water supply channel opening and closing device according to an embodiment of the present invention
3 is a representative view of a water supply channel opening and closing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is an exploded perspective view of a water supply channel opening and closing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is an exploded perspective view of a water supply passage opening and closing device in a different view direction of FIG. 4.
6 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of a water supply passage opening and closing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an internal structure in a different view direction of FIG. 6.
8 is a diagram illustrating a magnet mounting position of a water supply channel opening and closing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
9 is a diagram illustrating an operation of an iron core by a magnet magnetic force of a water supply passage opening and closing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
10 is an internal gear device diagram of a water supply channel opening and closing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
11 is a position diagram of a stopper of a driving origin of a stepping motor of a water supply passage opening and closing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
12 is a diagram illustrating a magnet operation position of a water supply channel opening/closing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
13 is a view showing a valve body inlet/outlet of a water supply passage opening and closing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings for explaining a water supply channel opening/closing apparatus according to preferred embodiments of the present invention. The embodiments introduced below are to those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains. It is provided as an example in order to sufficiently convey the idea of the present invention. Referring to Figs. 4 to 6, the water supply passage opening and closing device for a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an inlet valve device (A), an outlet valve. It includes a body 20, a valve body cover 21, a diaphragm operating device (E), a valve body support (40), a stepping motor (50), an internal drive gear device (F), and a magnet 51. The inlet valve device (A) is a diaphragm operated valve that primarily controls opening and closing of the direct water flowing into the washing machine. When the power is turned off, the inlet valve device is always shut off, and the lower flow path switch is controlled to the desired outlet port. After that, when power is applied to the inlet device, the inlet valve device (A) is opened to form a flow path only to the outlet port where direct water is opened, and direct water flows. After a certain period of time, if the power is turned off by the washing machine control unit, the inlet valve device is cut off and the direct water is The inlet valve device (A) is directly connected to the outlet valve body (20) and is fixed by the O-ring (3) and the screw (4) and is fixed by the O-ring (3) and the inlet valve. It consists of a body (1), a valve support bracket (2), a diaphragm device (11~16), a diaphragm operating solenoid (10), an inlet filter (5), etc. Valve body directly connected to the inlet valve device (A) In (20), an inlet hole (Fig. 15) is formed so that the inlet valve device (A) is connected, and the inlet hole is directly connected to the central groove 25 of the valve body 20, and the central groove 25 is entered from the inlet hole. An outlet is formed (Fig. 15) to allow direct water to flow out to each outlet port (26), and a flow path space through which direct water introduced by the valve body cover (21) can flow is provided, and the valve body (20) and the valve body Sealing members (O-rings: 22, 23) are assembled between the covers 21 to prevent leakage due to direct water pressure, and are fixed by fastening screws 24. In addition, a water outlet port 26 is located on the upper side of the valve body. It is arranged in a columnar shape, and the number of outlet ports can be varied according to the user's usage. The diaphragm assembly hole 44 as many as the number of outlet ports to be provided with a diaphragm operating device (30~35) under the valve body (20) In the lower part of the valve body 20, a valve body support 40 that covers and fixes the diaphragm device (30 to 35) is assembled.At the upper part of the valve body support 40, the diaphragm device is operated. Iron core guide bobbin (30) is assembled The communication hole is formed so that the valve body support 40 is fixed by the valve body 20 and the fastening screw 41. A structure is formed so that the driving control device F is seated inside the lower side of the valve body support 40. Yes The drive control device F is composed of a stepping motor 50, internal gear devices 52 and 53, and a magnet. The stepping motor 50 is a driving source for the internal gear device and controls rotation in units of a certain angle by an external pulse signal. The internal gear units 52 and 53 are connected to the stepping motor 50 and driven by a screw 54 in the central part of the lower inner part of the valve body support 40. The internal gear 52 on the driving side and the internal internal gear 52 on the driven side It consists of a gear 53, and the internal gear 52 on the motor side is driven and connected to the output shaft of the stepping motor 50, and the internal gear 53 on the driven side, which is driven and connected to the internal gear 52 on the motor side, is inside the valve body support. Cylindrical rotation is performed by the guide, and a magnet 51 is assembled and seated on the circumference of the driven internal gear 53. By moving the position of the magnet 51, it is placed in each diaphragm assembly hole 44 of the valve body 20. The moving iron core (32: yoke rod) of the assembled diaphragm device is changed in position (adsorption) by the magnetic field balance of the magnet to open the corresponding outlet port. The movement of the position of the magnet (2-pole magnet) acts as a solenoid coil. In the position control of the magnet, the step movement amount (step angle) is determined by the external pulse signal of the stepping motor, and the step movement amount is determined by the number of outlets and the reduction ratio of the internal gear. The origin reference is set by the lower part of the ipsilateral internal gear 53 and the stopper (Fig. 13) provided in the valve body support 40. No separate origin sensor is required. The drive control device (F) is located below the valve body support 40. ) To protect the motor cover 60 is assembled by one-touch is made to be covered

A: Inlet valve device
B: Outlet valve device
C: Valve body direct water inlet/outlet device
D: Valve body support
E: diaphragm actuator
F: Drive control device (stepping motor/internal gear unit/magnet)
1: inlet valve body 3: inlet connection O-ring 5: direct water filter
10: solenoid electromagnet 16: inlet diaphragm
20: outlet valve body 21: valve body cover 22: O-ring
25: valve body flow path space hole 26: outlet port
30: diaphragm support 32: iron core (yoke rod) 35: outlet diaphragm
40: valve body support 41: valve body inlet device 44: diaphragm assembly hole
50: stepping motor 51: magnet 52: internal gear on the motor side
53: driven side internal gear 54: driven side internal gear rotation stop stopper
60: motor cover

Claims (3)

As a window device that controls water supply to each washing process of a washing machine.
Inlet valve devices (1 to 17) for primarily controlling the water supply to the inlet port; A flow path space (FIG. 6) is formed at the center of the upper side of the valve so that water flowing into the valve body through the inlet valve device flows out to each port, and a valve body 20 having several diaphragm assembly holes circumferentially provided at the lower side thereof; A valve body cover 21 that is fixed to the flow path space at the center of the valve body and provides a flow path space so that direct water flowing through the inlet valve device is introduced into each port of the valve body; Diaphragm devices 30 to 35 mounted in a communication hole provided in a circumferential shape under the valve body to open and close the flow path of each outlet; The valve body support 40 provided so that the diaphragm device of the valve body is fixed and the diaphragm operation control device is provided at the lower side: a stepping motor 50 that is fixed at the inner center of the lower side of the valve body support to control the magnet driving position: Internal gear devices 52 and 53 driven and connected to the stepping motor output shaft; A magnet 51 that is mounted on the circumference of the driven side of the internal gear, performs a rotational arc motion, and controls the operation of the diaphragm core (yoke rod, 32) of each port; In the water supply passage opening and closing device comprising a
The stepping motor 50 constructed under the valve body 20, the internal gear devices 52 and 53 (FIG. 10), the internal gear 52 of the driven part, a magnet mounted on the circumference (51: 2-pole permanent magnet, FIG. 9) When the magnet is circumferentially moved to each outlet port by the above devices (rotary arc motion, Fig. 10), and the magnet approaches the diaphragm core (yoke rod, 32) of the port Each outlet port using the physical magnetic force of the magnet 51, that is, a water supply channel opening and closing device that opens and closes the valve by operating the diaphragm as the iron core is magnetically moved (magnetic balance, Fig. 9) by the physical magnetic force of the magnet. The water supply channel opening and closing device, characterized in that to replace the role of an electric electromagnet generated by the solenoid device (Fig. 1). The method of claim 1,
In the valve body 20, an outlet hole (Fig. 13) is formed in a circumferential shape as many as the number of outlet ports so that water introduced through the inlet valve device flows out to each outlet port, and a flow path space at the upper side by the valve cover 21. (Figure 6) is provided and the inlet valve devices (1 to 17) that primarily control (block) the water supply at the inlet port so that the water supply does not flow out to each opened outlet port when the opening and closing device is operated with the water supply oil of the valve body. Body 20, a water supply channel opening and closing device directly coupled to the body (Fig. 6). The method of claim 1,
An internal gear device (Figs. 10, 52, 53) that is connected to the stepping motor 50 mounted in the inner center of the lower side of the valve body support to rotate the magnet 51 circumferentially is provided, and at the same time, the stepping motor 50 ) Of the origin recognition stopper (Fig. 11) is formed in the internal gear device, the water supply passage opening and closing device.

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