KR20090118687A - Steam generator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A steam generator is provided to prevent scales from being formed in components included in the case by forming calcium inside the steam generator and protect the components installed inside the case in case foreign materials flows into the inside of the case. CONSTITUTION: A steam generator comprises a case(60), an inlet port(61), a heater(70), and a foreign material receiving part(100). Water flows into the case through the inlet port. The heater heats the water and produces steam. The foreign material receiving part collects the foreign materials at the lower part in which the flowing speed is lowered among water flowing routes.

Description

Steam generator

The present invention relates to a steam generator, and more particularly to a steam generator for improving the efficiency of the heater for heating the water contained in the steam generator, and preventing damage to the components installed therein will be. The present invention also relates to a clothes treating apparatus including the steam generator.

Generally, a washing machine is a pulsator-type washing machine that washes by water flow generated by rotating a plate-type pulsator, and a drop and friction force of washing water and laundry generated inside a bucket by rotating a lying container. The washing machine is roughly classified into a drum washing machine.

Among them, the drum washing machine is in demand more and more due to the advantages of using less water and detergent when washing, less damage to the cloth, and little tangling of the laundry compared to the pulsator type washing machine.

On the other hand, recently, the market of the drum washing machine (hereinafter referred to as "steam drum washing machine") to which steam is applied is gradually increasing.

Here, the steam is supplied to the inside of the drum to increase the ambient temperature inside the drum to promote the activation of the detergent to contribute to the improvement in washing power. In addition, since a large amount of washing water is unnecessary, it also contributes to the saving of washing water. In addition, since water in the tub is not boiled, it also contributes a lot in energy saving.

Such steam may be used not only for washing the silk but also to alleviate or remove wrinkles of the laundry in a washing machine or dryer. It can also be used for static electricity removal or odor removal.

Therefore, the steam can be applied to various washing apparatuses for treating clothes such as washing machines or dryers.

Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 2, a drum washing machine and a steam generator, among the clothes treating apparatus to which the conventional steam is applied, will be described in detail.

As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional drum washing machine includes a cabinet 10 forming an exterior, a cylindrical tub 20 that is supported to have a horizontal or acute angle in the cabinet 10 to store wash water, and wash water. And a drum 30 through which a through hole is formed to allow steam to flow therein, the drum 30 being rotatably installed in the tub 20, a driving motor (not shown) for driving the drum 30, and the drum 30. It is configured to include at least one steam generator 50 for supplying steam to the inside.

The cabinet 10 has an inlet formed in communication with the inside of the drum 30 so as to be able to input and withdraw laundry from the front surface thereof, and the door 11 is pivotably installed forward to open and close the inlet.

In addition, a gasket 13 is installed along the inner circumferential surface of the inlet to prevent the washing water from leaking through the connection between the door 11 and the tub 20.

On the other hand, one side of the drum washing machine, the external water pipe is connected to the water supply valve assembly 15 for supplying the wash water to the tub 20 is provided.

In addition, the steam generator 50 is connected to the water supply valve assembly 15, and water is introduced, and heats the water stored therein to generate steam and supply the steam to the drum 30.

In addition, one side of the steam generating device 50, the steam supply pipe 80 that is a passage for guiding and spraying the steam generated by the steam generating device 50 into the drum 30 is installed.

The steam supply pipe 80, the end portion is preferably formed in the shape of a nozzle so that the steam can be smoothly injected into the internal space of the drum 30, so that the end of the steam discharge is exposed to the interior of the drum It is preferred to be installed. Of course, a separate nozzle may be coupled to the end of the steam supply pipe (80).

On the other hand, the steam supply pipe 80, the end connected to the drum 30 may be installed to communicate with the upper side of the drum, or may be located through the gasket (13).

Therefore, the steam generator 50 is configured to be relatively short in the flow path connected from the water supply valve assembly 15 and the steam supply pipe 80, and installed above the tub 20 to facilitate repair and inspection. Can be.

Hereinafter, the structure of the steam generator 50 will be described with reference to FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 2, the steam generator 50 includes a case 60 forming an appearance and forming a space for storing water, and the case 60 includes a base case 60b, It is composed of a cover case (60a) coupled to the upper surface of the base case (60b). At this time, the case 60 may be provided with a variety of sensors (91,92) for sensing information such as the temperature and the water level inside.

And, it comprises a heater 70 for heating the water stored in the steam generating device 50. Here, the steam generator 50 provides a heat source to generate steam with water inside the steam generator 50.

However, the above-described conventional steam generator has the following problems.

The steam generator 50 generates steam by heating the water contained therein. In this process, calcite may be accumulated in the steam generator 50. This often occurs when steam is generated by using general tap water. In particular, since the amount of calcare produced is different depending on the components contained in the tap water, such calcare may be generated more depending on the region.

In this case, when the water is heated to convection, the calcareous drifts inside the case 60 along the moving direction of the water to form a scale on the inner wall of the case 60 or the surface of the component provided therein. In particular, when calcite is attached to the outer surface of the heater 70 to form a scale, there is a problem that the efficiency of the heater 70 for generating steam by heating the water contained therein is significantly reduced.

On the other hand, the case where the foreign matter is included in the water supplied to the steam generator 50 may occur. In addition, while the foreign matter moves in accordance with the flow of water in the steam generator 50, a case in which collision with various sensors 91 and 92 provided in the case 60 may occur, causing damage. It was.

The present invention is to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention is to prevent the formation of a scale on the components provided in the case of the calcite formed in the steam generator in advance.

In addition, when foreign matter is introduced into the case in the process of water supply from the outside, there is an object of the present invention to protect the components installed inside the case by the foreign matter.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a case; A water supply port through which water flows into the case; A heater generating steam by heating the introduced water; It provides a steam generating device comprising a; foreign matter receiving portion for collecting foreign matter in the lower portion of the flow rate of the path in which the water flows in.

In this case, the foreign matter is preferably formed so as to step downward on the lower surface of the case so that the foreign matter flows along the incoming water to be precipitated by its own weight in the portion where the flow rate is lowered to be collected by the foreign matter receiving portion. .

Further, when the foreign matter precipitates and flows into the foreign matter receiving portion, it is preferable that a rib extending from the lower surface of the case is further provided on the upper side of the foreign matter receiving portion so that it is difficult to move upward.

Here, the rib may be formed to be inclined downward so that the foreign matter is precipitated and easily introduced into the foreign matter receiving portion.

On the other hand, since the flow rate of the water flowing through the water supply port is adjacent to the inner wall of the case, the foreign matter receiving portion may be formed adjacent to the inner wall of the case, in particular the side opposite to the direction in which the water supply port is installed It is preferably formed adjacent to the wall surface.

For example, the foreign matter receiving portion may be formed at both ends of the opposite wall surface, respectively.

Alternatively, the foreign matter accommodating part may be elongated along the opposite wall surface. At this time, the foreign matter receiving portion is more preferably formed to be bent a predetermined length in the lateral direction adjacent to both ends of the opposite wall surface.

Here, the foreign matter receiving portion may be provided with an opening and closing member that can be opened and closed from the lower side to remove the foreign matter precipitated therein.

On the other hand, an object of the present invention is to form a cabinet; A drum rotatably provided in the cabinet and containing laundry; A steam generator provided inside the cabinet and between the cabinet and the drum to generate steam; And, it comprises a steam supply pipe for supplying the steam into the drum, the steam generating device, the case; A water supply port through which water flows into the case; A heater generating steam by heating the introduced water; It can also be achieved by a clothing treatment apparatus comprising a; foreign matter receiving portion that is collected by sedimented by the foreign body in the lower portion of the flow rate of the path in which the water is introduced and moved.

According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the scale is formed on the outer surface of the internal components such as the heater by the foreign matter such as lime generated inside the steam generator, it is possible to improve the operating efficiency of the steam generator have.

In addition, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the internal components from being damaged by the foreign matter present in the steam generator, it improves the durability of the steam generator.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment of the steam generator that can specifically realize the above object.

In this embodiment, the present invention is applied using a drum washing machine having a steam generator. However, the present invention is not limited to this as an example, and the present invention may be applied to all devices including a steam generator that generates steam by heating water.

On the other hand, the same components as in the prior art for the convenience of description the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

3 is a cross-sectional view showing the inside of the steam generator according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, the steam generator 50 according to the present embodiment includes a case 60 accommodating water, a water supply port 61 into which water is introduced into the case 60, and the water is heated. Heater 70 to generate steam, and the foreign material receiving portion 100 is introduced into the case 60 or the foreign matter collected in the case 60 is collected.

Here, the case 60, and a steam supply pipe 80 for supplying the steam generated in the water supply port 61 and the steam generated therein to the drum 30 to the steam generator 50 on one side and A discharge port 62 to be connected may be formed.

In this case, the water inlet 61 may be directly connected to the water flowing in from the outside so as to be directly supplied into the case 60, and the water stored in the cartridge is provided with a separate cartridge for storing water. It is also possible to be formed to supply the. However, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 1 is connected to the water supply assembly 15 directly connected to the monastery outside serves to directly supply the water flowing from the case 60.

At this time, one side of the cover case (60a) is provided with a water level sensor 91 for detecting the water level of the water stored therein, and a temperature sensor 92 for measuring the temperature of the water and steam heated by the heater It is preferable.

The water level sensor 91 measures the water level of the water stored in the steam generator 50 so that the amount of water stored is always maintained at an appropriate level. That is, when the water level of the water stored in the steam generator 50 is lower than the reference value, the water supply valve assembly 15 is opened to replenish water, and when the water level of the water stored therein is higher than the reference value, the water supply valve assembly The function of stopping water supply can be performed by cutting off (15).

In addition, the temperature sensor 92 measures the temperature of the steam generated by the steam generator 50 to cut off the power of the heater when the temperature is equal to or more than the reference value to prevent overheating of the heater 70.

On the other hand, the heater 70 is preferably formed in the case 60 so as to heat the water contained in the case 60. The heater 70 may use a coil heater for heating the water stored therein from the outside of the steam generator, but a sheath heater for directly heating the water in a state completely immersed in the stored water has high thermal efficiency. It is more efficient for boiling water in a short time.

Accordingly, the heater 70 is installed inside the case 60 to generate steam by heating water contained in the case 60.

At this time, the heater 70 is preferably provided below the case 60. In this case, even if a small amount of water is accommodated in the case 60, it is possible to directly heat in a state completely submerged in the water to be received.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, it is preferable to have a foreign matter receiving portion 100 to collect the foreign matter on the lower side of the case 60. Here, the term "foreign substance" includes all the foreign substances generated inside the case 60 and foreign substances introduced from the outside during water supply.

As in the present embodiment, when the water is heated by the heater 70 to generate steam, a small amount of calcification may be generated according to the components of the heated water. In general, the calcite has a specific gravity greater than that of water, and thus, when the operation of the steam generator 50 is terminated, precipitation occurs to the lower surface of the case 60 by its own weight. However, when the received water is heated by the heater 70 and flows, there is a concern that the calcareous in the precipitated state is also attached to the outer surface of the heater and other components while moving along the water to form scale.

In addition, when water is introduced from the monastery outside, foreign matter may be introduced into the case 60 together with the water. Once foreign matter is introduced, it is not easy to be discharged again, and there is a risk of damaging the various components inside the case 60 while moving with water.

Therefore, the present embodiment may be provided with a foreign matter receiver 100 for collecting the foreign matters separately. At this time, the foreign matter receiving portion 100 is preferably installed in a portion where the flow rate is relatively lower, when the flow of water occurs inside the case 60.

As described above, the foreign matter has a large specific gravity compared to water, but because of the small weight, the foreign matter easily moves by water flow. Therefore, foreign matter continuously flows continuously in the direction of the water flow where the flow rate is large, and foreign matters that have remained in the settled state on the lower surface of the case 60 may also move in the direction of the water flow where the flow rate is large. As described above, the foreign matter moving in the direction of the water flow is located at the point where the flow rate is reduced and the force caused by the water flow is weakened.

Therefore, the point at which the flow rate decreases inside the case 60 is that the foreign matter is easily precipitated by its own weight rather than moving in the water flow direction, and the foreign matter precipitated at another point is moved and settled by the water stream. It is preferable to have a foreign matter receiving portion 100 for collecting the foreign matter at this point.

Here, the case where the water accommodated in the steam generator 50 moves at a predetermined flow rate may include a case where water is supplied and a case where the water is heated for steam generation. In this case, the flow rate of water is the greatest at the time of water supply is made, the movement of foreign matter in the case 60 may also occur most actively. Therefore, it is more preferable to provide the foreign matter accommodating part 100 in a portion where the flow velocity is lowered in the path where water is supplied and moved.

4 is a schematic diagram showing the flow of water when water is supplied by the water inlet 61.

Referring to FIG. 4, the water flowing through the water inlet 61 formed on the wall surface of one side proceeds toward the opposite wall surface at a predetermined speed. At this time, the flow rate has the largest flow rate at the point discharged from the water supply port 61, the flow rate is reduced due to friction with the lower surface and the like while proceeding to the opposite wall surface (65). Then, after the impact on the opposite wall surface 65, the flow rate is rapidly reduced, and then divided into both sides in a state in which the flow rate is sharply reduced to form a path running along the side surface 66 again toward the water supply port 61.

That is, when water flows in through the water inlet 61, the flow rate is lowered at the wall 65 opposite to the direction in which the water inlet 61 is installed, and at portions adjacent to both side surfaces 66, in particular, the opposite side. It can be observed that the flow rate decreases the most at the wall and the side adjacent to both sides.

Therefore, the foreign matter accommodating part 100 according to the present embodiment is preferably installed at portions where the flow velocity is greatly reduced, that is, the portions on which the opposite wall surface 65 and both side surfaces 66 are adjacent to each other. However, the installation position of the foreign matter receiving portion 100 is only one example, the present invention is not limited to the installation position of the foreign matter receiving portion 100 of the present embodiment.

Hereinafter, a detailed shape of the foreign substance accommodating part 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 5.

As described above, the foreign matter has a large specific gravity compared to water. Therefore, the foreign matter receiving portion 100 is preferably formed to collect the foreign matter precipitated by its own weight.

Therefore, the foreign matter accommodating part 100 according to the present exemplary embodiment may be provided in a shape in which a step is formed downward on the lower surface of the case 60 as shown in FIG. 5.

Therefore, the foreign matter that has moved along the water during water supply may be collected by the foreign matter accommodating part 100 formed stepped on the lower surface of the case 60 while the sediment is made downward as the flow rate decreases. In addition, the foreign matter precipitated on the lower surface of the case 60 before the water supply is collected by falling down the stepped foreign matter receiving portion 100 while moving along the bottom surface by the flow of water flowing in the water supply. have.

Here, the foreign matter accommodating part 100 is composed of a stepped part 110 stepped downward in a portion where the flow rate is lowered, and may be relatively unaffected by the movement of water inside the case 60. Therefore, once the foreign matter collected is not easy to escape to the upper side again.

In addition, in this embodiment, the foreign matter receiving portion 100 may be provided with a separate blocking member so as to form a space that is isolated from the portion communicating with the upper space provided with the heater 70 or the like. At this time, the foreign matter receiving portion 100 by the blocking member to form a separate space, foreign matter collected in the foreign matter receiving portion 100 is moved to the space where the heater 70 is installed by the flow of water. Because you can block them.

Specifically, the blocking member of the present embodiment is preferably composed of a rib 120 extending in a direction facing from the upper surface of the step portion 110. At this time, it is preferable that the rib 120 forms a space spaced a predetermined interval above the foreign matter receiving portion 100 so that foreign matters can be precipitated and accommodated in the foreign matter receiving portion 100.

At this time, the rib 120 is preferably installed so that the foreign matter is easily introduced into the foreign matter receiving portion 100 when precipitated. Thus, the rib 120 is formed with a rib 120 on one side of the water inlet 61 direction of the stepped portion 110, as shown in Figure 5, inclined downward toward the wall surface 65 opposite the water inlet Preferably extended.

Therefore, the foreign matter precipitated to the upper side of the rib 120 is collected in the foreign matter accommodating part 100 along the direction guided by the rib 120, and the foreign matter precipitated on the bottom surface of the case 60 also flows when water flows. As it progresses to the foreign matter receiving portion 100 along the inclination of the rib 120 can be easily collected.

On the other hand, the foreign matter collected in the foreign matter receiving portion 100 is extremely limited to move upward by the rib 120, even if convection occurs due to the heating of water when steam is generated, the foreign matter receiving portion ( 100) can be prevented from leaking to the outside.

In this embodiment, it may be further provided with an opening and closing member 130 that can remove the foreign matter collected from the outside on the lower side of the foreign matter receiving portion (100). In this case, it is possible to easily remove using the opening and closing member 130, without having to disassemble the case 60 in order to remove the foreign matter collected in the foreign matter receiving portion (100).

In the present embodiment, a spiral mounting groove is formed on the lower outer surface of the foreign substance accommodating part 100 and installed to be opened and closed using a cap shaped stopper that can be screwed into the mounting groove. However, the stopper coupled to the lower end of the foreign substance accommodating part 100 should be firmly installed so that water inside the case 60 does not leak, and retains heat resistance such that thermal deformation does not occur even when the steam is generated. desirable.

As described above, according to the present exemplary embodiment, a scale may be formed while foreign substances remain in the case 60 of the steam generator 50 for a long time, or damage to internal components may be prevented by movement. In addition, it is possible to easily remove the foreign matter inside the steam generator (50).

Here, the shape of the foreign matter accommodating part 100 of the present embodiment is only one embodiment, and the present invention is not limited to the above shape, and various embodiments may be implemented by applying the technical spirit of the present invention.

In the following, a second preferred embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. However, the same components as the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals for convenience of description, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In the first embodiment, the foreign matter receiving portion 100 has been described in the shape formed on both sides of the opposite wall surface 65 on one side of the water supply is installed, in the present embodiment is extended along the opposite wall surface 65 It is provided with a foreign matter accommodating part 100.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the foreign matter accommodating part 100 may have a shape that is stepped downward along a lower edge of the opposite wall surface 65. In this case, the foreign matter accommodating part 100 is formed to be long along the portion where the flow rate is lowered, and thus, foreign matters can be more easily collected than in the first embodiment.

Further, the foreign matter receiving portion 100 is more preferably provided with a shape bent a predetermined length along the side surface 66 at both ends of the opposite wall surface (65).

As described above, when water is introduced due to the water inlet 61, the water inlet 61 is moved along the opposite side wall 65, and moves along the side surfaces 66 in the direction in which the water inlet 61 is installed. In this case, even at a low flow rate, there is an advantage that can accommodate up to the foreign matter precipitated in both directions by the water flow.

FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II ′ of FIG. 6, and FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II ′ of FIG. 6.

As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, a blocking member, that is, a rib 120, may be provided to isolate the foreign substance accommodating part 100 from the inside of the case 60 in which the heater 70 is disposed. Here, the ribs 120 may be formed to be inclined downward so that foreign matters are easily introduced into the foreign matter receiving portion 100, but are difficult to flow out to the outside.

Here, the foreign matter receiving portion 100 is installed along the three sides of the 'c' shape, the rib 120 also forms a 'c' shape so as to correspond to the foreign matter receiving portion 100, It is preferable to form three-way ribs using three or more straight ribs 120.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the foreign matter is accommodated in a wide range as compared with the first embodiment, it is possible to more effectively remove the foreign matter inside the case.

1 is a perspective view briefly showing the structure of a conventional drum washing machine;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal cross section of the steam generator of the conventional drum washing machine.

3 is a sectional view showing a cross section of a steam generator according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a plan view showing the flow of water flowing into the case when water supply;

5 is a perspective view showing a cutting shape of the foreign matter accommodating part according to the first embodiment;

6 is a perspective view showing a steam generating device according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating cut planes of II ′ and II-II ′ of FIG. 6.

Claims (12)

case; A water supply port through which water flows into the case; A heater generating steam by heating the introduced water; And a foreign matter receiving portion collecting foreign matter at a lower side of a portion of the path in which the water flows in and flows down. The method of claim 1, The foreign matter is steam generator, characterized in that the sedimented by its own weight in the portion where the flow rate is reduced while flowing along the incoming water is collected in the foreign matter receiving portion. The method of claim 2, The foreign matter accommodating portion is formed to be stepped downward on the lower surface of the case. The method of claim 3, When the foreign matter precipitates and flows into the foreign matter receiving portion, it is difficult to move to the upper side of the lower case, so that the ribs extending from the lower surface of the case is further provided on the upper portion of the foreign matter receiving unit. The method of claim 4, wherein The rib is a steam generating device, characterized in that formed to be inclined downward to facilitate the infiltration of the foreign matter is introduced into the foreign matter receiving portion. The method according to claim 1 or 5, Water flowing through the water inlet is a flow rate is reduced in the portion adjacent to the inner wall of the case, the foreign matter receiving portion is characterized in that the steam generator is formed adjacent to the inner wall of the case. The method of claim 6, The foreign matter receiver is formed adjacent to the wall surface opposite to the direction in which the water supply port is installed. The method of claim 7, wherein The foreign matter receiver is formed on both ends of the opposite wall surface, respectively. The method of claim 7, wherein The foreign matter receiving portion is characterized in that the steam generator is formed long along the opposite wall. The method of claim 9, The foreign matter receiver is formed to be bent a predetermined length in the lateral direction adjacent to both ends of the opposite wall surface. The method according to claim 2 or 5, The foreign matter receiving portion is provided with an opening and closing member that can be opened and closed from the lower side to remove the foreign matter precipitated therein. A cabinet forming an appearance; A drum rotatably provided in the cabinet and containing laundry; A steam generator provided inside the cabinet and between the cabinet and the drum to generate steam; And, It comprises a steam supply pipe for supplying the steam into the drum, The steam generator, case; A water supply port through which water flows into the case; A heater generating steam by heating the introduced water; And a foreign material receiving portion in which foreign matters are precipitated by their own weight and collected at a lower side of the flow rate of the water flowing path.

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