US20090211614A1

US20090211614A1 - Dish Washer

Info

Publication number: US20090211614A1
Application number: US11/997,271
Authority: US
Inventors: Soon Yong Kwon; Ho June Song
Original assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Current assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Priority date: 2005-08-29
Filing date: 2006-08-29
Publication date: 2009-08-27
Also published as: WO2007027036A2; EP1919348A2; WO2007027036A3

Abstract

A dish washer is disclosed, in which assembly of the dish washer is improved, and an error operation and trouble of a driver due to water leaked in a base can be avoided. To this end, the dish washer includes a tub (3) provided with a space for washing the dishes and a communication hole (3 a) formed on the bottom, a base (100) fixed to the bottom of the tub (3), having a plane portion (100 a) which is not connected with the outside, a sump assembly (200) provided in the plane portion of the base and fixed to the tub (3) while shielding the communication hole (3 a) of the bottom, having a sump (220) and a driver (210), wherein washing water is received in the sump (220) and the driver (210) transmits a driving force to the sump (220), and a leakage sensing device (300) provided in the base (100), sensing a water level of washing water leaked in the base (100). Thus, assembly of the dish washer can be improved, and also life span of the driver can be increased.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a dish washer, and more particularly, to an improved base structure of a dish washer.

BACKGROUND ART

Generally, a dish washer is to remove food or dirt remaining on the dishes through chemical decomposition and mechanical control of water pressure. Since the dish washer serves to perform various functions such as rinsing, sterilizing, and drying, in addition to a washing function, its demand from the moderns in busy daily life is on an increasing trend.
A related art dish washer will be described with reference to FIG. 1.
A related art dish washer 1 washes the dishes by spraying washing water to the dishes. The dish washer 1 includes a tub 3 provided with a space for washing the dishes, and a base 10 disposed below the tub 3 and provided with various parts for supplying washing water of high pressure to the tub 3.
The tub 3 and the base 10 will now be described.
A door 7 that can be opened and closed is provided on a front surface of the tub 3. An upper rack 12 and a lower rack 14 are provided inside the tub 3, wherein the dishes are arranged in the upper and lower racks 12 and 14. An upper spray arm 32 and a lower spray arm 34 are respectively provided below the upper rack 12 and the lower rack 14 to spray the washing water.
A heater 15 is provided at one side inside the tub 3 to form steam by heating the water remaining in the tub 3 during a drying stroke after a washing stroke is finished.
Meanwhile, a sump 9 is provided in the base 10 to receive the washing water, and a washing pump is provided in the sump 9. The washing pump serves to pump the washing water to supply the washing water to the upper spray arm 32 and the lower spray arm 34. In general, the sump 9, the upper spray arm 32 and the lower spray arm 34 are connected with one another by an upper connection pipe 322 and a lower connection pipe 324.
Also, the washing pump generally includes a motor 13 generating a driving force, and an impeller (not shown) connected with the motor 13.
An assembly process of the dish washer will be described with reference to FIG. 2.
As shown in FIG. 2, the base 10 is connected with a lower portion of the tub 3.
Next, the motor 13 is connected with the sump 9.
The sump 9 connected with the motor 13 is then connected with the lower portion of the tub 3 through a through hole 10 a formed in the base 10.
The operation of the aforementioned related art dish washer will be described.
Once the dish washer 1 is operated, the washing water in the sump 9 is pumped by the washing pump and then supplied to the upper spray arm 32 and/or the lower spray arm 34. Accordingly, the washing water is sprayed from the upper spray arm 32 and the lower spray arm 34 to the dishes arranged on the upper rack 12 and/or the lower rack 14 so as to wash the dishes. The washing water may separately be supplied to the upper spray arm 32 and the lower spray arm 34. Alternatively, the washing water may simultaneously be supplied to the upper spray arm 32 and the lower spray arm 34.
The washing water sprayed to the dishes is again collected in the sump 9 through a collection hole (not shown) connected with the sump 9. At this time, since the washing water includes contaminant water generated by washing of the dishes, it can be filtered through a predetermined filtering means.
However, the aforementioned related art dish washer has the following problems.
First, if the washing water is filled in the base 10 of the dish washer due to a water leakage, the motor 13 provided on the base 10 is submerged in the water due to the leaked washing water. For this reason, problems occur in that the motor may be operated in error and may tend to cause a trouble.
Second, in order to fix the sump 9, which is connected with the motor 13, to the lower portion of the tub 3, after the tub 3 connected with the base 10 is turned upside down, the sump 9 is fixably inserted into the through hole 10 a formed in the base 10. In this case, problems occur in that a user may feel inconvenience when turning the tub 3 upside down and fixing the sump 9 to the tub 3 through the narrow through hole 10 a and that much working time is required.
Finally, the sump 9 fixed to the through hole 10 a of the base 10 may easily be detached from the lower portion of the tub 3 due to load when external impact is applied thereto. For this reason, a problem occurs in that the sump 9 may be damaged.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Technical Problem
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a dish washer that substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
An object of the present invention is to provide a dish washer, in which assembly of the dish washer is improved, and an error operation and trouble of a driver due to water leaked in a base can be avoided.
Technical Solution
To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a dish washer according to the present invention includes a tub provided with a space for washing the dishes and a communication hole formed on the bottom, a base fixed to the bottom of the tub, having a plane portion which is not connected with the outside, a sump assembly provided in the plane portion of the base and fixed to the tub while shielding the communication hole of the bottom, having a sump and a driver, wherein washing water is received in the sump and the driver transmits a driving force to the sump, and a leakage sensing device provided in the base, sensing a water level of washing water leaked in the base.
Advantageous Effects
The dish washer according to the present invention has the following advantages.
First, in the present invention, since a base is fixed to a tub after a sump assembly is fixed to a plane portion of the base, assembly can be improved.
Second, since the sump assembly is fixed to a lower portion of the tub in a state that it is fixed to the plane portion of the base, it is possible to prevent the sump assembly from being detached from the tub or from being damaged even though impact is applied to the tub.
Finally, since the base is provided with a leakage sensing device, error operation and trouble of a driver, which may occur due to washing water leaked in the base, can be avoided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating an inner structure of a related art dish washer;

FIG. is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating an inner structure of a dish washer according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a base structure of a dish washer according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the state that a leakage sensing device and a driver are provided in a base of a dish washer according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the process step of fixing a sump assembly of a dish washer according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention to a tub;

FIG. 7 is a principal perspective view illustrating the state that a sump assembly of a dish washer according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is fixed to a bottom of a tub; and

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate the operation of a leakage sensing device according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.
Referring to FIG. 3, a dish washer according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a tub 3 provided with a space for washing the dishes, a base 100 constituting a lower portion of a main body 1, a sump assembly 200 having a driver 210 and a sump 220, wherein the driver generates a driving force, and a leakage sensing device 300 provided in the base 100 to sense a proper water level of washing water leaked in the base 100.
Since the general constitution of the dish washer according to the present invention is the same as that of the related art dish washer, its repeated description will be omitted. Technical features of the dish washer according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.
First, the tub 3 is provided inside the main body 1, and a space for washing the dishes is formed inside the tub 3. The tub 3 is provided with a communication hole 3 a formed on the bottom.
The communication hole 3 a is formed to communicate the sump 220 of the sump assembly 200 with the inside of the tub 3.
Also, it is preferable that the bottom of the tub 3 constituting the communication hole 3 a is stepped downwardly along the circumference of the communication hole 3 a. This is to hang clamp hooks of the sump 220 on the stepped portion of the communication hole 3 a so that the sump 220 can firmly be fixed to the tub 3. The clamp hooks of the sump 220 will be described later.
The base 100 is fixed to the bottom of the tub 3 to constitute the lower portion of the dish washer.
The base 100 includes a plate shaped plane portion 100 a. In this case, the plane portion 100 a is formed so as not to communicate with the outside, whereby the sump assembly 200 can be provided therein.
As described above, the structure of the base 100 of the dish washer according to the present invention includes the plane portion 100 a having no communication hole 10 a formed on the base 100, unlike the related art base 10.
In other words, the present invention is characterized in that the sump assembly 200 is provided on the plane portion 100 a of the base 100 as shown in FIG. 4.
The sump assembly 200 includes the driver 210 generating a driving force, and the sump 220 whose lower end portion is fixed to the driver 210.
The driver 210 serves to generate the driving force to pump the washing water received in the sump 220, and includes a motor 211, a motor bracket 212, and guide ribs 213.
At this time, the motor 211 serves to rotate an impeller (not shown) to pump the washing water received in the sump 220.
The motor bracket 212 serves to fix the motor 211 to the guide ribs 213. The motor bracket 212 may be formed in a single body with the motor 211. Alternatively, the motor bracket 212 may be formed separately from the motor 211.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the motor 211 and the motor bracket 212 are formed in a single body.
At this time, the motor bracket 212 is externally extended from both sides of the motor 211, and is provided with a fitting hole 212 a at the end, wherein the fitting hole 212 a serves to fit the motor bracket 212 to the guide ribs 213.
As shown in FIG. 4, the guide ribs 213 are provided such that the motor 211 is spaced apart from the plane portion 100 a of the base 100 at a predetermined height.
In other words, since the motor 211 is spaced apart from the plane portion 100 a of the base 100 due to the guide ribs 213, it can be protected from the washing water until the water leaked in the base 100 reaches a certain amount.
To this end, the guide ribs 213 are extended from the plane portion 100 a of the base 100 at a predetermined height.
Furthermore, it is preferable that the guide ribs 213 are respectively provided at both sides around an axis of the motor 211. A screw hole 213 a is formed in a position corresponding to the fitting hole 212 a of the motor bracket 212 above the guide ribs 213, whereby the motor bracket 212 can be screwed onto the guide ribs 213.
The washing water for washing the dishes is received in the sump 220, and the sump 220 is fixed to the driver 210 so that a pumping force from the driver 210 is given to the sump 220 so as to supply the washing water to the tub 3.
At this time, a plurality of clamp hooks 221 are provided on the sump 220 so that the sump assembly 200 can easily be fixed to the tub 200.
The leakage sensing device 300 is provided inside the base 100, and senses the water level of the washing water leaked in the base 100 to transmit a sensing signal, which allows the leaked washing water to be drained out, to a microcomputer (not shown) if the water level reaches a proper water level.
At this time, the proper water level means a water level directly before the leaked washing water reaches the motor.
As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the leakage sensing device 300 includes a float 310 ascending and descending depending on the water level of the washing water leaked in the base 100, a guide portion 330 guiding ascent and descent of the float 310, and a sensor 350 sensing the water level of the washing water leaked in the base 100 to transmit the sensing signal to the microcomputer (not shown).
In this case, the float 310 is preferably formed of an expanded polystyrene (Styrofoam) having floating characteristics.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, although the float 310 is formed of a Styrofoam material, it is not limited to such a material. The float 310 may be formed of another material having floating characteristics. For example, the float 310 may be formed of a hollow floating material.
The guide portion 330 includes a plurality of guides 331 provided in the plane portion 100 a of the base 10 at a predetermined height, and inlets 333 provided between the respective guides 331 to allow inflow of the leaked washing water.
In this case, each of the guides 331 has an arc shaped cross section, and the float 310 of a cylinder corresponding to the arc of the guide 331 is provided at an inner side of the guide 331.
In other words, the float 310 is provided inside the guide portion 330, and ascends and descends in only an area defined by the guide 331 if the water flows into the guide portion 330 through the inlets 333 formed between the respective guides 331.
At this time, a sensor guide 390 is preferably provided inside the guide portion 330 to ascend and descend along with the float 310.
The sensor guide 390 is provided to surround the float 310, and a first sensor 353 is provided above the sensor guide 390.
Meanwhile, the float 310 ascends in the range of 8 mm to 10 mm from the plane portion 100 a of the base 100. The height of the guide 331 is preferably designed by considering the height of the float 310 and the ascending height of the float 310.
The sensor 350 includes the first sensor 353 and a second sensor 355, wherein the first sensor 353 ascends and descends along with the float 310, and the second sensor 355 is provided at a predetermined position to be in contact with the first sensor 353, for example, below the sump, as the float 310 ascend, so as to transmit a signal of the first sensor 353 to the microcomputer.
Meanwhile, it is preferable that the height H1 of each of the guide ribs 213 that support the motor 211 is higher than the ascending height H2 of the float 310. This is to prevent the lower portion of the motor 13 from being submerged in the leaked washing water until the first sensor 353 is in contact with the second sensor 355 as the float 310 ascends due to the leaked washing water.
Hereinafter, the assembly process of the aforementioned dish washer will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.
First, the motor 213 is provided below the sump 220.
Next, the guide ribs 213 provided in the base 100 are screwed by using the motor bracket 212 provided in the motor 211.
At this time, after the fitting hole 212 a formed in the motor bracket 212 is arranged to match the screw hole 213 a formed in the guide ribs 213, the fitting hole 212 a is fixed to the screw hole 213 a by using a screw which is a separate fitting member.
Next, once the sump assembly 200 including the motor 211 and the sump 220 is provided on the base 100, as shown in FIG. 6, the base 100 is fixed to the lower portion of the tub 3.
At this time, as shown in FIG. 7, the upper portion of the sump 220 is fixed to the lower portion of the tub 3 by using the clamp hooks 221 provided above the sump 220.
The clamp hooks 221 are fixably hung in a stepped portion of the bottom constituting the communication hole 3 a of the tub 3.
As described above, after the sump assembly 200 is fixed to the plane portion 100 a of the base 100 as shown in FIG. 6, the base 100 is fixed to the lower portion of the tub 3 unlike the related art assembly process where the sump assembly 200 is provided through the lower portion of the base 100 after the base 100 is fixed to the tub 3. Accordingly, in the present invention, more convenient assembly can be carried out.
Furthermore, since the sump assembly 200 is doubly fixed to the base 100 and the bottom of the tub 3, it is possible to prevent the sump assembly 200 from being detached from the tub 3 or from being damaged even though impact is applied to the main body during falling test and transportation.
Hereinafter, the operation of the aforementioned dish washer will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.
First, if the washing water is leaked as the dish washer is driven, the leaked washing water is filled in the plane portion 100 a of the base 100.
At this time, the washing water partially flows into the guide through the inlets 333 formed in the guide of the leakage sensing device 300, and the float 310 is ascended by means of buoyancy.
As the float 310 is ascended, the sensor guide 390 provided with the first sensor 353 is ascended along with the float 310.
Afterwards, the first sensor 353 provided in the sensor guide 390 is in contact with the second sensor 355 as the water level of the washing water flown into the guide portion 330 increases.
At this time, the leaked washing water is drained out without reaching the maximum water level of the leaked washing water to the bottom of the motor 211.
This is because that the height of the guide ribs 213 that support the motor 211 is higher than the ascending height of the sensor guide 390 as described above.
Next, if the first sensor 353 is in contact with the second sensor 355, the second sensor 355 transmits to the microcomputer a signal indicating the state that the first sensor 353 is in contact with the second sensor 355.
Afterwards, the microcomputer operates a drain pump (not shown) provided in the base 100 to drain out the washing water received in the base 100.
In the aforementioned dish washer according to the present invention, the driver 210 is provided on the plane portion 100 a of the base 100, and the base 100 is fixed to the bottom of the tub 3 in a state that the leakage sensing device 300 is provided, so that assembly between the base 100 and the tub 3 can be improved, and the driver can in advance be prevented from being operated in error and from being out of order due to the leaked washing water.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

In the dish washer according to the present invention, excellent assembly among the base, the sump assembly and the tub can be obtained, and error operation and trouble of the driver can be avoided in advance even though the washing water is leaked in the base provided with the driver. Accordingly, the dish washer of the present invention can industrially be used.

Claims

1. A dish washer comprising: a tub provided with a space for washing dishes and a communication hole formed on a bottom thereof; a base fixed to the bottom of the tub, having a plane portion; a sump assembly provided in the plane portion of the base and fixed to the tub, the assembly having a sump and a driver, wherein washing water is received in the sump and the driver supplies a driving force to the sump; and a leakage sensing device provided in the base, sensing a water level of washing water leaked in the base.

2. The dish washer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the leakage sensing device includes: a float ascending and descending depending on the water level of the leaked washing water; a guide portion guiding ascent and descent of the float; and a sensor sensing the water level of the leaked washing water to transmit a sensed signal to a microcomputer.

3. The dish washer as claimed in claim 2, wherein the float includes a material of Styrofoam.

4. The dish washer as claimed in claim 2, wherein the float is a hollow floating material.

5. The dish washer as claimed in claim 2, wherein the sensor includes: a first sensor ascending and descending along with the float; and a second sensor provided at a position corresponding to the first sensor to transmit information of water level to a microcomputer in contact with the first sensor if the washing water is received in the base until the washing water reaches the driver.

6. The dish washer as claimed in claim 2, wherein the sensor further includes a sensor guide that surrounds the float.

7. The dish washer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the driver includes: a motor; guide ribs provided in the plane portion of the base to space the motor apart from the plane portion; and a motor bracket for fixing the motor to the guide ribs.

8. The dish washer as claimed in claim 7, wherein the guide ribs have a height higher than the ascent height of the float.

9. The dish washer as claimed in claim 7, wherein the guide ribs are respectively provided at both sides around an axis of the motor.

10. The dish washer as claimed in claim 7, wherein the motor bracket is screwed onto the guide ribs.

11. The dish washer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bottom of the tub constituting the communication hole is stepped.

12. The dish washer as claimed in claim 11, wherein the sump assembly further includes a plurality of clamp hooks provided above the sump to fixably hang the sump onto the stepped portion of the bottom.