KR20070015756A - Steam generation apparatus with drain function and washing machine having the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a steam generator having a drainage function and a washing machine having the same. A steam generator having a drainage function according to the present invention includes a case for forming a receiving space therein; A drain flow channel formed in communication with the outside of the case so that water inside the case may be discharged; It characterized in that it comprises a drain valve for opening and closing the drain passage. Thereby, residual water can be drained after use, and the possibility of the contamination and freeze caused by the residual water can be excluded.

Description

Steam generator with drainage and washing machine with same {STEAM GENERATION APPARATUS WITH DRAIN FUNCTION AND WASHING MACHINE HAVING THE SAME}

1 is a perspective view showing the inside of a washing machine having a conventional steam generator,

2 is a perspective view of the steam generator of FIG.

3 is a perspective view showing the inside of a washing machine having a steam generator having a drainage function according to an embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a perspective view of the steam generator of FIG.

5 is a cross-sectional view of the drain valve installation region taken along the line VV of FIG.

6 is a view for explaining the drainage action when opening the drain valve of FIG.

7 is a control block diagram of the washing machine of FIG.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

111: cabinet 121: tub

131: drum 144: upper case

147: lower case 148: inner tube

149: appearance 151: drain pipe

155: heater 157: water level sensor

159: temperature sensor 161: drain valve

163: drain valve drive unit 164: coil

165: frame 166: magnetic material loading

167: spring 171: steam supply pipe

175 control unit 176: water supply valve drive unit

The present invention relates to a steam generator having a drainage function and a washing machine having the same, and more particularly, it is possible to drain residual water after use, so as to eliminate contamination and freezing concerns caused by residual water. It relates to a steam generator having a drainage function and a washing machine having the same.

1 is a perspective view illustrating the inside of a washing machine having a conventional steam generator, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the steam generator of FIG. 1. As shown in these figures, a washing machine having a steam generator includes a cabinet 11 forming an accommodating space therein, a tub 21 accommodating and installed in the cabinet 11, and a tub 21. The drum 31 is rotatably coupled to the inside of the cabinet and the steam generator 41 is provided inside the cabinet 11 to provide steam to the tub 21.

The tub 21 is supported by the support spring and the damper in the cabinet 11, and the drum 31 is rotatably housed in the tub 21.

The upper side of the tub 21 is provided with a detergent supply unit 23 so as to supply the washing water and detergent inside the tub 21, the lower side of the tub 21 to the washing water drained to the tub 21 The washing water circulation passage 27 is formed so as to return to the upper region of the washing machine. A pump 28 is installed in the washing water circulation passage 27 to pump the washing water, and an injection nozzle for spraying the circulated washing water into the tub 21 in the front region of the tub 21. (29) is provided.

On the other hand, a steam generator 41 is provided above the tub 21 to generate steam to supply steam to the inside of the tub 21. The steam generator 41 includes a case 43 forming an accommodation space therein, a heater 47 disposed inside the case 43 so as to heat water inside the case 43, and a case. A water level sensor 48 and a temperature sensor 49 for sensing the water level and the temperature inside the 43 are respectively provided.

On one side of the case 43, a water supply pipe connecting portion 44 is formed to be connected to the water supply pipe 51 so as to supply water to the inside of the case 43, and the other side of the case 43 inside the case 43 The steam pipe connecting portion 45 is formed so that one end of the steam supply pipe 53 connected to the injection nozzle 29 may be connected so that the steam 21 may be provided to the tub 21.

By the way, in the conventional steam generator, there is no drainage means capable of draining the residual water remaining in the case 43 after the end of the washing. There is a problem that there is a risk of freezing when not only the contamination caused by the residual water is left, but the outside air temperature is low.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a steam generator having a drainage function and a washing machine having the same, which can drain residual water after use, thereby excluding contamination and freezing concerns caused by residual water.

The object is, according to the present invention, a case for forming a receiving space therein; A drain flow channel formed in communication with the outside of the case so that water inside the case may be discharged; It is achieved by a steam generator having a drainage function, characterized in that it comprises a drain valve for opening and closing the drain passage.

Here, one side is disposed on the outside of the case and the other side is spaced apart from the inner bottom surface of the case with a predetermined gap from the inner bottom surface of the case with a predetermined gap and spaced apart from the inner tube. It is preferable to further include an appearance disposed around the inner tube to form a drainage passage.

The drain valve is effective to be configured to be arranged in contact with the upper end of the inner pipe.

It is preferable that the drain valve further comprises a drain valve driving unit for driving the drain valve so as to move between the blocking position to block the drain flow path and the drain valve is open to the drain position.

The drain valve driver includes a coil generating a magnetic force, a magnetic rod disposed to be movable along an axis of the coil, and having one end connected to the drain valve, and the drain valve blocking the drain flow path. It is effective to include a spring that applies an elastic force to the magnetic rod.

On the other hand, according to another field of the invention, the cabinet to form a receiving space therein; A tub accommodated in the cabinet and accommodating wash water therein; A spin basket rotatably installed in the tub; A steam generator having the drainage function installed between the cabinet and the tub to generate steam; One end is connected to the steam generator and the other end is connected to the tub having a steam generator having a drainage function characterized in that it comprises a steam supply pipe for supplying the steam discharged from the steam generator to the tub One washing machine is provided.

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

3 is a perspective view illustrating the inside of a washing machine having a steam generator having a drainage function according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the steam generator of FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is V of FIG. 4. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a drainage valve installation region along line V, and FIG. 6 is a view for explaining a drainage operation when the drainage valve of FIG. 5 is opened, and FIG. As shown in these drawings, the washing machine having a steam generator having the present drainage function includes a cabinet 111 forming an accommodating space therein and an interior of the cabinet 111 so as to accommodate washing water therein. The tub 121 accommodated in the tub 121, the drum 131 rotatably coupled to the inside of the tub 121, and disposed between the cabinet 111 and the tub 121 generate steam and have a drainage function. The steam generator 141, and one end is connected to the steam generator 141 and the other end is connected to the tub 121 is configured to include a steam supply pipe 171 for supplying steam to the tub 121. .

A tub 121 is installed inside the cabinet 111 to accommodate the wash water, and a plurality of dampers 123 are connected to the bottom of the tub 121 so as to buffer and support the tub 121. . The detergent supply unit 125 is disposed in the upper front region of the tub 121 so as to supply detergent, and a water supply valve 127 is provided in the upper rear region of the tub 121 so that washing water can be supplied. The wash water circulation passage 129 is formed at the lower side of the tub 121 so that the wash water inside the tub 121 may be withdrawn and returned to the inner upper region of the tub 121. ) Is provided with a pump 130 to pump the wash water circulated. In the upper upper region of the tub 121, the injection nozzle 135 is configured to spray the steam provided from the washing water and the steam generator 141 circulated along the washing water circulation passage 129 into the tub 121. It is installed. A steam generator 141 having a drainage function according to an embodiment of the present invention is installed in the rear region of the upper detergent supply unit 125 of the tub 121.

The steam generator 141 having a drainage function (hereinafter, referred to as a steam generator) is coupled to the case 143 forming an accommodation space therein, and to heat the water inside the case 143. The water level sensor 157 and the temperature sensor 159 and the case 143 which are coupled to the case 143 to detect the heater 155, the water level and the temperature inside the case 143, respectively A drain passage 160 formed to drain water therein, a drain valve 161 for opening and closing the drain passage 160, a drain valve position for opening the drain passage 160 and a drain valve 161. It is configured to include a drain valve drive unit 163 for driving between the blocking positions for blocking the drain passage (160).

The case 143 has an upper case 144 having a cylindrical shape which is downwardly opened, and an upper case 144 having a cylindrical shape which is upwardly open, and an upper case 144 and an upper and lower part so as to form a receiving space therein in cooperation with the upper case 144. The lower case 147 is coupled to face to face along the direction.

A heater 155 is coupled to a lower side of the lower case 147, and a water supply pipe 133 connected to a water supply valve 127 on one side of the upper case 144 so as to supply water therein. A water supply pipe connection part 145 and a steam pipe connection part 146 are respectively formed so that the other end of the) and the other end of the steam supply pipe 171 connected to the injection nozzle 135 can be connected to each other.

The upper surface of the upper case 144 is provided with a water level sensor 157 is disposed to extend downward to detect the internal water level, the temperature of one side of the water level sensor 157 to detect the temperature inside The sensor 159 is provided.

On the other hand, the bottom surface of the lower case 147, the lower end is extended to the lower side of the lower case 147 and the upper end is formed with an inner tube 148 protruding upward from the inner bottom surface of the lower case 147, The upper case 144 is formed to have an inner diameter that is extended compared to the inner tube 148 and is disposed around the inner tube 148 so that the lower end is spaced a predetermined distance from the bottom surface of the lower case 147. An outer tube 148 and an outer tube 148 which cooperate with each other to form a drainage passage 160 are provided.

An inner upper region of the exterior 149 is disposed between a blocking position contacting the upper end of the inner tube 148 to block the drain passage 160, and a drainage position spaced apart from the upper end of the inner tube 148 to open the drain passage 160. A drain valve 161 is provided to be movable, and a drain valve driver for driving the drain valve 161 to open and close the drain flow path 160 while the drain valve 161 moves between the drain position and the shutoff position. 163 is formed. Here, the drain valve 161 is preferably made of an elastic rubber member or the like in contact with the upper end of the inner tube 148 to hermetically block the upper opening of the inner tube 148.

The drain valve driving unit 163 has a coil 164 generating a magnetic force, a frame 165 disposed inside the coil 164, and an upper end of the inner tube 148 inside the frame 165. The magnetic rod 166 is spaced apart and one end is connected to the drain valve 161, and the other end of the inner magnetic rod 166 of the frame 165 is disposed so that the drain valve 161 of the inner pipe 148 It is configured to include a spring 167 for applying an elastic force in contact with the top. The sealing member 150 is interposed between the frame 165 and the exterior 149.

On the other hand, the control unit 175 implemented in the form of a microcomputer with a built-in control program detects the water level inside the steam generator 141, and the water level inside the case 143 is the drainage level, that is, the case 143 of the case 143. When the internal water level reaches a level above the upper end of the inner pipe 148, the water supply is stopped and the water supply valve 127 and the drain valve 161 are respectively discharged so that the water in the case 143 can be drained. The water supply valve driver 176 and the drain valve driver 163 are electrically connected to each other so as to be controlled.

By such a configuration, when the steam use or washing process is ended and the residual water in the steam generator 141 is to be drained, the control unit 175 is configured to remove the case 143 detected by the water level sensor 157. When the water level is less than the drainage level based on the internal water level, the water supply valve 127 controls the water supply valve driver 176 to open the water supply pipe 133 to supply water to the case 143. When the internal water level of the case 143 is increased to be equal to or greater than the drainage water level, the controller 175 allows power to be applied to the coil 164 of the drain valve driver 163. When power is applied to the coil 164, the magnetic rod 166 is moved to the drainage position where the drain valve 161 is spaced apart from the upper end of the inner tube 148, whereby the water inside the case 143 is moved from the exterior 149. ) Is discharged to the outside of the case 143 along the drain passage 160 formed by the inner tube 148 and flows into the tub 121 along the drain pipe 151 connected to the tub 121. On the other hand, if the drainage of the inside of the case 143 is terminated to shut off the power of the coil 164 of the drain valve driver 163, the drain valve 161 is the inner tube ( 148 is moved to the blocking position in contact with the top.

In the above-described and illustrated embodiments, the case where the tub and the drum are arranged in the cabinet in the horizontal direction is described as an example. However, the tub is disposed vertically in the cabinet and is centered on the vertical axis in the tub. It may be configured to be provided with a rotating spin basket.

As described above, according to the present invention, a case for forming an accommodation space therein; A drain flow channel formed in communication with the outside of the case so that water inside the case may be discharged; By configuring to include a drain valve for opening and closing the drain passage, it is possible to drain the residual water after use is provided with a steam generator having a drainage function that can eliminate the concerns of contamination and freezing caused by the residual water.

According to the present invention, there is provided a cabinet for forming an accommodation space therein; A tub accommodated in the cabinet and accommodating wash water therein; A spin basket rotatably installed in the tub; A steam generator having a drainage function installed between the cabinet and the tub to generate steam; One end is connected to the steam generator and the other end is connected to the tub to comprise a steam supply pipe for supplying the steam discharged from the steam generator to the tub, it is possible to drain the residual water after use There is provided a washing machine having a steam generator having a drainage function capable of eliminating contamination and freezing concerns caused by water.

Claims (8)

A case forming an accommodation space therein; A drain flow channel formed in communication with the outside of the case so that water inside the case may be discharged; Steam generator having a drainage function, characterized in that it comprises a drain valve for opening and closing the drain passage. The method of claim 1, One side is disposed on the outside of the case and the other side is disposed to have a predetermined height from the inner bottom surface of the case, and the drainage flow path between the inner tube and a predetermined gap spaced apart from the inner bottom surface Steam generator having a drainage function, characterized in that it further comprises an appearance disposed around the inner tube to form a. The method of claim 2, The drain valve is a steam generating device having a drainage function, characterized in that disposed on the upper end of the inner tube and spaced apart. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, And a drain valve driver for driving the drain valve so that the drain valve is moved between a shutoff position at which the drain valve blocks the drain passage and a drain position at which the drain valve opens the drain passage. Steam generator having a. The method of claim 4, wherein The drain valve driver includes a coil generating a magnetic force, a magnetic rod disposed to be movable along an axis of the coil, and having one end connected to the drain valve, and the drain valve blocking the drain flow path. Steam generator having a drainage function, characterized in that it comprises a spring for applying an elastic force to the magnetic rod. A cabinet forming an accommodation space therein; A tub accommodated in the cabinet and accommodating wash water therein; A spin basket rotatably installed in the tub; A steam generator having a drainage function of any one of claims 1 to 3 installed between the cabinet and the tub so as to generate steam; One end is connected to the steam generator and the other end is connected to the tub having a steam generator having a drainage function characterized in that it comprises a steam supply pipe for supplying the steam discharged from the steam generator to the tub One washing machine. The method of claim 6, And a drain valve driver for driving the drain valve so that the drain valve is moved between a shutoff position at which the drain valve blocks the drain passage and a drain position at which the drain valve opens the drain passage. Washing machine having a steam generator having a. The method of claim 7, wherein The drain valve driver includes a coil generating a magnetic force, a magnetic rod disposed to be movable along an axis of the coil, and having one end connected to the drain valve, and the drain valve blocking the drain flow path. Washing machine having a steam generating device having a drainage function, characterized in that it comprises a spring for applying an elastic force to the magnetic rod.

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