KR20060055221A - Steam generator and washing machine with the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention discloses a steam generator and a washing machine having the same, which can supply steam to a washing tank within a short time by reducing the energy consumption by allowing steam to be generated as soon as water is performed. The disclosed washing machine includes a steam generator for supplying steam to the inside of the tank, and the steam generator is embedded in the body to heat the water flowing along the steam generating passage through the body provided with the steam generating passage, and heating the body. And a water supply control valve installed at an inlet side of the steam generating passage.

Description

Steam generator and washing machine with same {STEAM GENERATOR AND WASHING MACHINE WITH THE SAME}

1 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a washing machine according to the present invention.

2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the steam generator of the washing machine according to the present invention.

3 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the steam generator of the washing machine according to the present invention.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the steam generator of the washing machine according to the present invention, showing another embodiment.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

10: body, 11: tank,

12: rotating drum, 15: motor,

17: door, 18: detergent supply unit,

21: first water supply pipe, 22: first water supply control valve,

24: second water supply pipe, 25: second water supply control valve,

30: steam generator, 31: body,

32: steam generating flow path, 33: heater,

34: temperature sensor, 37: coil member.

The present invention relates to a steam generator and a washing machine having the same, and more particularly, to a steam generator for supplying steam to the water tank of the washing machine and a washing machine having the same.

A washing machine for supplying steam into a washing tank to increase washing power includes a steam jet drum washing machine disclosed through Korean Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 10-2004-85507 (published on October 08, 2004).

The steam generator of the washing machine disclosed in the above publication is a pressure vessel having an inlet through which washing water is introduced and an outlet through which steam is discharged, a heater installed in the pressure vessel to heat the wash water supplied into the pressure vessel, and into the pressure vessel. An inlet valve for controlling the water supply of the, and a discharge valve for controlling the discharge of steam from the pressure vessel. In addition, the steam generator is a water level sensor for detecting the water supply of the pressure vessel, a temperature sensor for controlling the operation of the heater according to the internal temperature of the pressure vessel, a pressure sensor for detecting the pressure in the pressure vessel, excessive temperature of the pressure vessel It includes an automatic temperature switch to cut off the power of the heater when rising.

However, since the steam generator generates steam by heating it through a heater while filling the pressure vessel with water, the steam supply is delayed due to the heating time of the water inside the pressure vessel, resulting in a long washing time and energy consumption. There was a big problem.                         

In addition, since the steam generator must have a pressure vessel, a water level sensor, a pressure sensor, and the like, the manufacturing cost is high, and if the pressure inside the pressure vessel rises excessively due to the failure of the sensor, the high pressure is caused by breakage of the pressure vessel. There was a risk of leaking steam.

The present invention is to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention is to generate steam as soon as water is performed to supply steam to the washing tank within a short time and to reduce the energy consumption and the steam generator It is to provide a washing machine equipped.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a steam generator and a washing machine having the same, which can reduce the volume of the steam generator as well as significantly reduce the manufacturing cost by excluding components such as a pressure vessel, a water level sensor, and a pressure sensor.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a steam generator and a washing machine having the same so that an outlet through which steam is discharged is always opened to prevent excessive pressure rise.

A steam generator according to the present invention for achieving this object, the body is provided with a steam generating passage, and a heater embedded in the body to heat the water flowing along the steam generating passage through the heating of the body And, characterized in that it comprises a water supply control valve installed on the inlet side of the steam generating passage.                     

In addition, the body is characterized in that the tube for forming the steam generating flow path and the metal molding manufactured in the state of embedding the heater.

In addition, the steam generating passage is formed long in the longitudinal direction of the body, the heater is characterized in that it is embedded to be spaced apart from the steam generating passage and extends in the longitudinal direction of the body.

In addition, the steam generating passage is characterized in that the inner diameter of the outlet side is formed smaller than the inner diameter of the inlet side.

In addition, the steam generating passage is characterized in that the spiral coil member for delaying the water flow is installed.

In addition, the body is characterized in that the temperature sensor for controlling the operation of the heater by sensing the temperature of the body.

In addition, the body is characterized in that the metal molding manufactured in the state of embedding the core and the heater for forming the steam generating passage.

In another aspect, the present invention is characterized in that the outlet of the steam generating passage is always kept open.

In another aspect, the present invention further comprises a control unit for controlling the operation of the water supply control valve and the heater.

In addition, the steam generating apparatus according to the present invention includes a body provided with a steam generating passage, a heater for heating water flowing along the steam generating passage, and a water supply control valve installed at the inlet side of the steam generating passage for water supply control. The outlet of the steam generating passage is characterized in that it is always kept open.

In addition, the washing machine according to the present invention includes a steam generator for supplying steam to the inside of the tank, the steam generator is a body provided with a steam generating flow path, the water flowing along the steam generating flow path through the heating of the body And a water supply control valve installed at an inlet side of the steam generating passage and a heater embedded in the body to heat the steam.

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

1, the washing machine to which the present invention is applied is rotatably installed in the drum-shaped water tank 11 and the water tank 11 installed inside the main body 10 for the fresh water of the wash water. It is a drum washing machine including a rotating drum (12).

The water tank 11 inside the main body 10 is installed to be inclined at a predetermined angle α with respect to the installation surface of the washing machine so that the front portion where the inlet 11a is formed is higher than the rear portion, and the rotating drum inside the water tank 11 ( 12 is also installed inclined in the same form as the water tank (11). In other words, the rotating drum 12 is provided such that the front portion with the inlet 12a is formed toward the front upper portion, and the rotation center line A is inclined at a predetermined angle α with respect to the installation surface of the washing machine. In addition, the rotating drum 12 is rotatable by being supported by a rotating shaft 13 coupled to the center of the rear portion rotatably in the rear center of the tank (11). A plurality of through holes 12b are formed around the rotating drum 12 for distribution of the washing water, and a plurality of lifters 14 are formed on the inner surface of the rotating drum 12 so that the laundry can be raised and dropped when rotating. Is installed.                     

The rear side of the water tank 11 is provided with a motor 15 for rotating the rotary shaft 13 is connected to the rotary drum 12. The motor 15 connects the stator 15a fixed to the rear side of the water tank 11, the rotor 15b disposed in a rotatable state outside the stator 15a, and connects the rotor 15b and the rotating shaft 13. It includes the rotating plate 15c.

The front part of the main body 10 is located at a position corresponding to the inlet 12a of the rotating drum 12 and the inlet 11a of the water tank 11 so that the laundry can be put into the inside of the rotating drum 12 or the laundry can be taken out. An open inlet 16 is formed, and the inlet 16 is provided with a door 17 that opens and closes the inlet.

A detergent supply device 18 for supplying detergent to the inside of the water tank 11 and a steam generator 30 for supplying steam into the water tank 11 are installed above the water tank 11. In addition, a drainage device 19 including a drainage pipe 19a, a drain valve 19b, and a drainage motor 19c is installed in the lower portion of the water tank 11 to drain the water in the water tank 11.

Detergent supply device 18 has an accommodation space for receiving a detergent therein, is installed on the front side of the main body 10 to facilitate the user to put the detergent. Further, the first water supply pipe 21 branched from the pipe connected to the external water supply source is connected to the detergent supply device 18, and the first water supply pipe 21 controls the water supply to the detergent supply device 18. The control valve 22 is installed. In addition, the connection pipe 23 is installed between the detergent supply device 18 and the water tank 11 so that water passing through the detergent supply device 18 can be supplied to the water tank 11. This allows water supplied from the outside to be supplied to the water tank 11 after passing through the detergent supply device 18 so that the detergent inside the detergent supply device 18 can be supplied to the water tank 11 in a state in which the detergent is dissolved in water. It was made possible.

A second water supply pipe 24 branched from a pipe connected to an external water supply source is connected to the steam generator 30, and a second water supply pipe 24 controls a water supply to the steam generator 30 toward the second water supply pipe 24. The control valve 25 is installed. In addition, the steam generator 30 is connected to the steam supply pipe 26 for guiding the steam generated by the steam generator 30 to the inside of the water tank (11).

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the steam generator 30 includes a body 31 made of a metal molding by aluminum die casting, and is formed in the body 31 and has an inlet having a second water supply pipe 24. A steam supply passage 32 connected to the steam supply pipe 26 and an outlet connected to the steam supply pipe 26 and embedded in the body 31 to generate steam by heating water passing through the steam supply passage 32. The heater 33 is installed, and the temperature sensor 34 is installed on the outer surface of the body 31 to control the heater 33 through the temperature sensing of the body 31.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the body 31 of the steam generator 30 includes a pipe 35 for forming a steam generating flow path 32 in the process of forming the body 31 through aluminum die casting. And the heater 33 is embedded, or as shown in FIG. 4, the core (not shown) and the heater 33 for forming the steam generating passage 32 are manufactured in such a manner as to be embedded. In the example of FIG. 4, the steam generating passage 32 is formed in the body 31 by removing the core after the molding of the body 31 is completed.

This configuration is such that the body 31 of the steam generator 30 is made of a metal material excellent in heat transfer, and the heater 31 is embedded in the body 31 so that the body 31 is heated to a high temperature by the heater 33. When the water flows along the steam generating passage 32 in the opened state, the water in the steam generating passage 32 is heated to become steam. That is, a small amount of water is supplied to the steam supply passage 32 while the body 31 is heated to a high temperature, so that water is heated in the process of passing through the steam supply passage 32 and converted into high temperature steam within a short time. It was made. In order to facilitate this operation, as shown in Figure 2, the body 31 is made of a rod shape of a predetermined length, the steam generating flow path 32 is formed long in the longitudinal direction of the body 31, the body ( The heater 33 embedded in the 31 is also preferably extended to extend in the longitudinal direction of the body 31 in a state spaced apart from the steam generating passage (32). In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, a U-shaped heater 33 embedded in the body 31 is used.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, the steam generator 30 has the outlet of the steam generating passage 32 connected to the steam supply pipe 26 always maintained open, and the outlet inner diameter of the steam generating passage 32 is maintained. (d1) is formed smaller than the inlet side diameter d2. This is to make the flow path resistance on the outlet side by making the outlet smaller, so that the time for the steam to stay in the steam generation passage 32 is long, so that the high temperature steam can be generated smoothly. And by maintaining the outlet in the open state to prevent excessive pressure rise in the steam generating passage 32 to enable safe use. In addition, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, in the steam generating passage 32, a spiral coil member 37 for delaying the flow of water flowing through the steam generating passage 32 to facilitate the generation of steam is provided. Is installed.                     

The water supply to the steam generator 30 is supplied to the water supply through the control of the second water supply control valve 25 so that the water to be supplied is heated while passing through the steam supply passage 32 to evaporate in the steam state. The water is supplied in small amounts in a repetitive form or the flow path is opened small so that a small amount of water flows. To this end, the second water supply control valve 25 is preferably made of an electric valve that can be opened and closed by an electrical operation or a flow control valve capable of controlling the flow rate.

In addition, although not shown in the drawings, the present invention includes a control unit for controlling the operation of the heater and the second water supply control valve 25 of the steam generator 30. The control unit controls the water supply to the steam generator 30 by adjusting the opening and closing degree of the second water supply control valve 25 by a preset program, or the temperature installed in the body 31 of the steam generator 30. The degree of opening or closing of the second water supply control valve 25 is adjusted based on the detection information of the sensor 34. Water supply control by sensing the temperature sensor 34 is controlled by reducing or stopping the water supply when the temperature of the body 31 is too low, and increasing the water supply when the temperature of the body is too high.

In addition, the control unit controls to stop the power supply of the heater 33 when it is determined that the temperature of the body is excessively increased through the detection of the temperature sensor. Such a control unit may be configured together with a control unit for the overall operation control of the washing machine if the steam generator 30 is applied to the washing machine as in the present invention, and if the steam generator 30 is used separately, It may be a separate control unit controlling only an operation.

The following describes the overall operation of the washing machine to which such a steam generator is applied.                     

When the washing machine is operated while the laundry is put in the rotating drum 12 and the detergent is put into the detergent supply device 18, the first water supply control valve 22 is opened by the control of the washing machine controller. Water is supplied to the detergent supply device 18. Therefore, the detergent in the detergent supply device 18 is supplied to the water tank 11 in the state dissolved in the water supplied to the water tank 11 via the detergent supply device 18. After a predetermined amount of washing water is supplied into the water tank 11, the first water supply control valve 22 is closed and water supply to the first water supply pipe 21 is stopped.

If the user has selected the washing function using the high temperature steam, the power is applied to the heater 33 of the steam generator 30 under the control of the control unit while the steam generator body 31 is heated. In this case, water is not supplied toward the steam generator 30 for a predetermined time so that the body 31 may be preheated.

When it is determined that the body 31 of the steam generator is sufficiently preheated through the detection of the temperature sensor 34, the control unit opens the second water supply control valve 25 to supply water to the steam generator 30. Will be generated. In this case, since the body 31 is preheated, hot steam is immediately generated as soon as water is supplied, and the steam is supplied into the water tank 11 through the steam supply pipe 26. Therefore, the wash water of the water tank 11 is heated rapidly by the high temperature steam. Heating of the wash water using steam is continued until the temperature of the wash water reaches the set washing temperature.

After the washing water is heated to the washing temperature set, the supply of steam is stopped while the second water supply control valve 25 is blocked and the operation of the heater 33 is stopped, and the rotating drum 12 operates the motor 15. Washing is performed while rotating at a low speed. After the washing operation is completed, a rinsing operation is performed to repeat dehydration and water supply.

Drainage of the water tank 11 is made while the drain valve 19b is opened and the drain pump 19c is operated. In addition, after rinsing, the final dehydration is performed by operating the drainage pump 19c while the drain valve 19b is opened, and rotating the drum 12 at a high speed for a predetermined time.

As described in detail above, the present invention can supply steam to the washing tank within a short time because the hot water is generated as the water is heated as soon as water is supplied to the steam supply passage of the steam generator, compared to the conventional steam generator Since the operating time of the heater can be reduced, the energy consumption can be reduced.

In addition, since the present invention can implement the steam generator without the configuration of the pressure vessel, pressure valve, water level sensor, etc., the structure is simpler than the conventional steam generator, so that the volume and manufacturing cost of the steam generator can be significantly reduced. There is.

In addition, since the outlet of the steam generator is always open structure, the present invention has the effect of preventing the risk of use due to excessive pressure rise of the steam generator.

Claims (17)

A body provided with a steam generating passage, a heater embedded in the body to heat water flowing along the steam generating passage through heating of the body, and a water supply control valve installed at an inlet of the steam generating passage. Steam generating device comprising a. The method of claim 1, The body is a steam generating device, characterized in that the metal molding manufactured in the state of embedding the tube and the heater for forming the steam generating passage. The method of claim 1, The steam generating passage is formed long in the longitudinal direction of the body, the heater is embedded so as to be spaced apart from the steam generating passage and characterized in that extending in the longitudinal direction of the body. The method of claim 1, The steam generator is characterized in that the inner diameter of the outlet side is formed smaller than the inner diameter of the inlet side. The method of claim 1, And a spiral coil member is installed in the steam generating passage to delay water flow. The method of claim 1, The body is a steam generator characterized in that the temperature sensor for controlling the operation of the heater by sensing the temperature of the body is installed. The method of claim 1, The body is a steam generating device, characterized in that the metal molding manufactured in the state of embedding the core and the heater for forming the steam generating passage. The method of claim 1, A steam generator characterized in that the outlet of the steam generating passage is always kept open. The method of claim 1, And a control unit for controlling the operation of the water supply control valve and the heater. A body provided with a steam generating passage, a heater for heating water flowing along the steam generating passage, and a water supply control valve installed at an inlet side of the steam generating passage for water supply control, wherein the outlet of the steam generating passage is always Steam generator, characterized in that to maintain the open state. In the washing machine comprising a steam generator for supplying steam to the interior of the tank, The steam generator includes a body provided with a steam generating passage, a heater embedded in the body to heat water flowing along the steam generating passage through heating of the body, and installed at an inlet side of the steam generating passage. Washing machine comprising a water supply control valve. The method of claim 11, The body is a washing machine, characterized in that the metal molding manufactured in the state of embedding the tube and the heater for forming the steam generating passage. The method of claim 11, The steam generating passage is formed long in the longitudinal direction of the body, the heater is embedded so as to be spaced apart from the steam generating passage and characterized in that extending in the longitudinal direction of the body. The method of claim 11, The steam generating passage is formed in the inner diameter of the outlet side is smaller than the inner diameter of the inlet side, washing machine, characterized in that the outlet is always kept open. The method of claim 11, Washing machine, characterized in that the spiral coil member is installed in the steam generating passage to delay the water flow. The method of claim 11, The body washing machine, characterized in that installed a temperature sensor for controlling the operation of the heater by sensing the temperature of the body. The method of claim 11, Washing machine further comprises a control unit for controlling the operation of the water supply control valve and the heater.

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