WO2008052979A1

WO2008052979A1 - A washing machine

Info

Publication number: WO2008052979A1
Application number: PCT/EP2007/061646
Authority: WO
Inventors: Deniz Seker; Yavuz Sahin
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2006-10-31
Filing date: 2007-10-30
Publication date: 2008-05-08

Abstract

The present invention relates to a washing machine (1) comprising an air trap (4) enabling the accurate measurement of the water level received into the tub (3).

Description

Description A WASHING MACHINE

[0001] The present invention relates to a washing machine wherein the water level measurement is made accurately.

[0002] In washing machines as water is taken into the tub, water also fills into the air trap that is connected to the tub. The water that fills into the air trap applies pressure on the air therein and the air transfers this pressure to the pressure sensor connected to the other end of the air trap. The pressure value measured in this position is compared with a reference pressure value of the tub when empty to determine the amount of water received into the tub.

[0003] However, the turbulence created by the rotating drum while water is received easily effects the measured pressure value since the pressure transfer means used in measuring pressure is air which is a fluid far less dense than water. This leads to the measured pressure value to be variable even though the water amount does not change and as a result the water amount received into the tub cannot be determined accurately. This in turn results in receiving water into the machine that is more or less than required, increase in detergent and energy consumption and decrease in efficiency.

[0004] Moreover, when the water amount cannot be measured correctly, problems arise in implementations wherein balanced and unbalanced load is intended to be determined by means of the water amount received into the tub and certain other data.

[0005] In state of the art Japanese Patent Application No JP2005160510, a method is explained wherein receiving water into the machine is employed in intervals that is, stopping water intake at certain intervals and waiting, then continuing water intake in order to increase the precision of pressure measurement results and respectively the accuracy of the water level measurement. Thus, it is intended to measure the pressure value while water is not received and to increase respectively the accuracy of the water level value that is determined. However, this implementation increases the total duration of the washing process and the energy consumption.

[0006] In the Japanese Patent Application No JP2005137886, the water level sensing hose is connected to the water pump inlet in order to remove the adverse effect of the drum motion on the detection of water amount. Thus, a precise measurement will be possible independent from the tub. However, in this application, the integration of the water level sensing hose to the pump brings along various hardships in production and costs.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to design a washing machine wherein the water level is measured with a great accuracy.

[0008] The washing machine designed to fulfill the objective of the present invention is explicated in the claims.

[0009] The washing machine of the present invention comprises a drum wherein laundry is placed, a tub wherein the drum moves, a pressure sensor used for determining the amount of water received into the tub, an air trap with one end connected to the tub and the other end to the pressure sensor, that is filled with water as water is received into the tub. Some portion of the air trap is U shaped.

[0010] The washing machine furthermore comprises a capsule filled with a fluid that is denser than air. The capsule is movably disposed in the U shaped portion of the air trap such that the front and rear is filled with air. The capsule has an elastic configuration, formed like a tube with the closed ends, taking the shape of the volume wherein it is disposed.

[0011] When water starts filling the air trap as water is received into the tub, the pressure of water is first transferred to the air in the air trap. This air exerts pressure on the fluid filled in the capsule which is denser than water. The capsule transfers this pressure to the air that fills the portion of the air trap between the capsule and the pressure sensor. Consequently, the pressure value real by the pressure sensor increases.

[0012] A fluid denser than air is used for the pressure transfer in order to prevent the adverse effect on the precision of measurement of the water intake resulting from the turbulence due to the motion of the drum during water intake. After the turbulence of the water filled in the air trap due to the rotation of the drum is transferred to the air in the first portion of the air trap, the pressure value does not show a great fluctuation being attenuated by the fluid in the capsule.

[0013] In an embodiment of the washing machine of the present invention, the capsule is filled with oil which is a denser fluid than air.

[0014] The washing machine designed to fulfill the objective of the present invention is illustrated in the in the attached figures, where:

[0015] Hgure 1 - is the front schematic view of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] Hgure 2 - is the schematic view of the air trap used in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Washing machine

2. Drum

3. Tub 4. Air trap

5. Pressure sensor

6. Capsule

[0018] The washing machine (1) comprises a drum (2) wherein laundry is emplaced, a tub

Q) wherein the drum (2) rotates, a pressure sensor (5) used for determining the amount of water received into the tub Q), an air trap (4) with one end connected to the tub Q) and the other end to the pressure sensor (5), a portion thereof being U shaped, that is filled with water as water is received into the tub Q), and a capsule (6), disposed in the U shaped portion of the air trap (4) such that the front and rear is filled with air, filled with a fluid that is denser than air for attenuating the fluctuations that may occur in the pressure transferred to the pressure sensor (5) for determining the amount of water received into the tub Q).

[0019] The portions of the air trap (4) except for the capsule (6) are filled with air before water is received into the tub Q). Water starts filling the portion of the air trap (4) preceding the capsule (6) as water is received into the tub Q). The water pushes the air in this portion. This air exerts pressure on the fluid filled in the capsule (6) which is denser than water. In consequence, the capsule (6) moves in the air trap (4) due to pressure and pushes the air that is filling the portion between the capsule (6) and the pressure sensor (5). Thus the pressure value real by the pressure sensor (5) increases. The amount of water received into the tub Q) is determined depending on the amount of increase in the pressure.

[0020] Even though the capsule (6) moves during the entry and exit of water, it does not advance outwards of the air trap (4) since it is disposed in the U shaped portion of the air trap (4).

[0021] The capsule (6) is configured as an elastic, leak-proof tube that takes the shape of the volume placed therein. Therefore the fluid filled in the capsule (6) does not mix with the air.

[0022] The density of the fluid filling the capsule (6) is greater than that of air, therefore it is not affected by the vibration and agitation of the water resulting from rotation of the drum as much as air, attenuating the changes that occur because of the agitation and enables the measurement to be more precise.

[0023] In an embodiment of the washing machine of the present invention, the capsule (6) is filled with oil.

[0024] With the washing machine (1) of the present invention, the water level received into the tub Q) is measured accurately and the activities such as determining the load amount, intake of detergent etc. that depend on this data can be performed correctly thus increasing the washing performance. Moreover, intake of extra water into the washing machine (1) and respectively the increase in energy consumption are prevented.

Claims

[0001] A washing machine (1) comprising a drum (2) wherein laundry is emplaced, a tub (3) wherein the drum (2) rotates, a pressure sensor (5) used for determining the amount of water received into the tub (3), an air trap (4) with one end connected to the tub (3) and the other end to the pressure sensor (5), that is filled with water as water is received into the tub (3), and characterized by an air trap (4) a portion thereof having a U shape, and a capsule (6) disposed in the U shaped portion of the air trap (4) such that the front and rear is filled with air, filled with a fluid that is denser than air for attenuating the fluctuations that may occur in the pressure transferred to the pressure sensor (5) for determining the amount of water received into the tub (3).

[0002] A washing machine (1) as in Claim 1, characterized in that the capsule (6) is filled with oil.

[0003] A washing machine (1) as in Claim 1, characterized in that the capsule (6) is elastic.

[0004] A washing machine (1) as in Claim 1, characterized in that the capsule (6) is leak-proof.