WO2014008442A1 - Heating device for domestic appliances with optical liquid-level sensor - Google Patents

Heating device for domestic appliances with optical liquid-level sensor Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2014008442A1
WO2014008442A1 PCT/US2013/049397 US2013049397W WO2014008442A1 WO 2014008442 A1 WO2014008442 A1 WO 2014008442A1 US 2013049397 W US2013049397 W US 2013049397W WO 2014008442 A1 WO2014008442 A1 WO 2014008442A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
heating device
base
resistor
optical sensor
domestic appliances
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/US2013/049397
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Marco Sclip
Davide BORDIGNON
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Illinois Tool Works Inc
Original Assignee
Illinois Tool Works Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Illinois Tool Works Inc filed Critical Illinois Tool Works Inc
Priority to DE112013001575.7T priority Critical patent/DE112013001575B4/en
Priority to CN201380034443.6A priority patent/CN104411875B/en
Priority to KR1020147031511A priority patent/KR102149310B1/en
Priority to US14/411,923 priority patent/US10028337B2/en
Publication of WO2014008442A1 publication Critical patent/WO2014008442A1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B3/00—Ohmic-resistance heating
    • H05B3/78—Heating arrangements specially adapted for immersion heating
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L15/00—Washing or rinsing machines for crockery or tableware
    • A47L15/0018—Controlling processes, i.e. processes to control the operation of the machine characterised by the purpose or target of the control
    • A47L15/0049—Detection or prevention of malfunction, including accident prevention
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L15/00—Washing or rinsing machines for crockery or tableware
    • A47L15/42—Details
    • A47L15/4285—Water-heater arrangements
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F34/00—Details of control systems for washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • D06F34/14—Arrangements for detecting or measuring specific parameters
    • D06F34/22—Condition of the washing liquid, e.g. turbidity
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00 
    • D06F39/04—Heating arrangements
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00 
    • D06F39/08—Liquid supply or discharge arrangements
    • D06F39/087—Water level measuring or regulating devices
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01F—MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
    • G01F23/00—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm
    • G01F23/22—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm by measuring physical variables, other than linear dimensions, pressure or weight, dependent on the level to be measured, e.g. by difference of heat transfer of steam or water
    • G01F23/28—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm by measuring physical variables, other than linear dimensions, pressure or weight, dependent on the level to be measured, e.g. by difference of heat transfer of steam or water by measuring the variations of parameters of electromagnetic or acoustic waves applied directly to the liquid or fluent solid material
    • G01F23/284—Electromagnetic waves
    • G01F23/292—Light, e.g. infrared or ultraviolet
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01F—MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
    • G01F23/00—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm
    • G01F23/22—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm by measuring physical variables, other than linear dimensions, pressure or weight, dependent on the level to be measured, e.g. by difference of heat transfer of steam or water
    • G01F23/28—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm by measuring physical variables, other than linear dimensions, pressure or weight, dependent on the level to be measured, e.g. by difference of heat transfer of steam or water by measuring the variations of parameters of electromagnetic or acoustic waves applied directly to the liquid or fluent solid material
    • G01F23/284—Electromagnetic waves
    • G01F23/292—Light, e.g. infrared or ultraviolet
    • G01F23/2921—Light, e.g. infrared or ultraviolet for discrete levels
    • G01F23/2922—Light, e.g. infrared or ultraviolet for discrete levels with light-conducting sensing elements, e.g. prisms
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B1/00—Details of electric heating devices
    • H05B1/02—Automatic switching arrangements specially adapted to apparatus ; Control of heating devices
    • H05B1/0227—Applications
    • H05B1/0252—Domestic applications
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B3/00—Ohmic-resistance heating
    • H05B3/40—Heating elements having the shape of rods or tubes
    • H05B3/42—Heating elements having the shape of rods or tubes non-flexible
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B45/00—Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L2401/00—Automatic detection in controlling methods of washing or rinsing machines for crockery or tableware, e.g. information provided by sensors entered into controlling devices
    • A47L2401/09—Water level
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L2401/00—Automatic detection in controlling methods of washing or rinsing machines for crockery or tableware, e.g. information provided by sensors entered into controlling devices
    • A47L2401/12—Water temperature
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L2401/00—Automatic detection in controlling methods of washing or rinsing machines for crockery or tableware, e.g. information provided by sensors entered into controlling devices
    • A47L2401/30—Variation of electrical, magnetical or optical quantities
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L2501/00—Output in controlling method of washing or rinsing machines for crockery or tableware, i.e. quantities or components controlled, or actions performed by the controlling device executing the controlling method
    • A47L2501/06—Water heaters
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F2103/00—Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • D06F2103/16—Washing liquid temperature
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F2103/00—Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • D06F2103/18—Washing liquid level
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F2105/00—Systems or parameters controlled or affected by the control systems of washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • D06F2105/28—Electric heating
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F33/00—Control of operations performed in washing machines or washer-dryers 
    • D06F33/30—Control of washing machines characterised by the purpose or target of the control 
    • D06F33/47—Responding to irregular working conditions, e.g. malfunctioning of pumps 
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F34/00—Details of control systems for washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • D06F34/14—Arrangements for detecting or measuring specific parameters
    • D06F34/22—Condition of the washing liquid, e.g. turbidity
    • D06F34/24—Liquid temperature
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B2203/00—Aspects relating to Ohmic resistive heating covered by group H05B3/00
    • H05B2203/021—Heaters specially adapted for heating liquids

Definitions

  • Heating device for domestic appliances with optical liguid-level sensor
  • the present invention relates to domestic washing appliances, such as washing machines and dishwashers, and concerns a heating device for such domestic appliances that can heat the washing liguid.
  • Washing machines and dishwashers are commonly fitted with a resistance heating device for heating the washing liguid.
  • Such domestic appliances are normally fitted with a pressure switch to measure the level of the bath of washing liguid.
  • Domestic washing appliances are commonly fitted with a heating device with a coil resistor that is immersed in the bath of washing liguid.
  • a temperature sensor is also provided to measure the temperature of the bath and to cut off the power to the heating resistor once the bath reaches the preset working temperature.
  • the pressure switch measuring the level of the liguid fails, the bath of washing liguid could leave the heating resistor uncovered. In this case, the resistor would guickly reach a high temperature that could damage the heating device.
  • a temperature sensor in the heating device such as to cut off the power supply to the heating device in the event of excessive temperature increases.
  • the temperature sensor may not be able to prevent damage caused by the overheating of the heating resistor .
  • the present invention is intended to provide a heating device for domestic appliances that provides greater safety guarantees against the risk of overheating.
  • this objective is achieved by a heating device having the features set out in claim 1.
  • FIG. 1 is a partially exploded perspective view of a heating device for domestic appliances according to the present invention
  • FIG. 1 is a partially exploded axial cross-section of the heating device in figure 1
  • FIG. 3 is an axial cross-section of the optical sensor indicated by the arrow III in figure 2.
  • reference sign 10 indicates a resistance heating device for domestic washing appliances, such as washing machines or dishwashers.
  • the heating device 10 includes a base 12 bearing a coil resistor 14.
  • the extremities of the coil heater 14 are attached to the base 12 and are connected electrically to two terminals 16 that protrude from the base 12 on the side opposite the coil resistor 14.
  • the heating device 10 includes an optical sensor 18 on the base 12.
  • the optical sensor 18 is able to determine the liquid level around the heating device 10.
  • the optical sensor 18 is preferably a reflection sensor and includes a waveguide 20 formed by an elongated hollow body 22 made of transparent plastic material, such as polycarbonate.
  • the body 22 has an elongated cavity 24 and a substantially conical closed extremity 26.
  • the body 22 has an enlarged head 28 with teeth 30 on the outside thereof.
  • the body 22 has a cylindrical central section between the head 28 and the extremity 26, with a wall of constant thickness.
  • the optical sensor 18 includes a printed circuit board 32 bearing a light emitter 34 and a light receiver 36.
  • the front of the light emitter 34 and the front of the light receiver 36 face the walls of the body 22 and are diametrically opposite one another.
  • the body 22 includes two lenses 23 (figure 3) arranged in front of the light emitter 34 and of the light receiver 36, to collimate the light emitted by the light emitter 34 and to focus the light reflected by the light guide 20 on the light receiver 36.
  • the lenses 23 are formed entirely on the body 22 by varying the profile of the front surface of the body 22.
  • the light emitter 34 and the light receiver 36 are optically separated from one another by a screen 38 with an internal annular wall 40 and an external annular wall 42.
  • the internal annular wall 40 optically isolates the light emitter 34 from the light receiver 36.
  • the external annular wall 42 optically isolates the light emitter 34 and the light receiver 36 from the side walls of the head 28.
  • the printed circuit board 32 is attached to the body 20 by means of a cover 43 with a base wall 45 that bears against the printed circuit board 32 and a plurality of arms 47 that clip onto the teeth 30 of the body 22.
  • the optical sensor 18 may have an integrated temperature sensor 46.
  • the temperature sensor 46 includes an NTC resistor 48 seated in the cavity 24 near to the closed extremity 26.
  • the NTC resistor 48 is connected to the printed circuit board 32 by means of terminals 50.
  • the cavity 24 may be filled with a material having high thermal conductivity to encourage the transmission of heat between the walls of the body 22 and the NTC resistor 48.
  • the body 22 of the optical sensor 18 is inserted and attached in a hole 52 in the base 12.
  • the extremity 26 of the body 22 protrudes from the base 12 on the same side as the coil resistor 14.
  • the head 28 of the body 22 protrudes from the base 12 on the same side as the terminals 16.
  • the sensor 18 is connected by a connector (not shown) to a power and control circuit of the domestic appliance .
  • the light emitter 34 emits a luminous flux L that is propagated in the wall of the body 22 as shown in figure 3.
  • a first part L' of the luminous flux is dispersed outside the luminous body 22 through the inclined walls of the conical extremity 26.
  • a second part of the luminous flux L'' is reflected inside the body 22 and reaches the light receiver 36.
  • the part of the optical flux L' dispersed outside the body 22 depends on the ratio between the refraction coefficients between the material used for the body 22 and the material surrounding the body 22.
  • the amount of the flux L' dispersed varies depending on whether the extremity 26 is surrounded by air or by washing liguid.
  • the amount of the flux L' dispersed also depends on the level of the washing liguid around the body 22.
  • the light receiver 36 receives the reflected flux L'' and provides an electrical signal indicating the intensity of the reflected flux L''. Since the intensity of the flux L'' varies as a function of the level of liguid around the extremity 26, the sensor 18 is therefore able to provide precise information regarding the level of the washing liguid around the coil resistor 14.
  • the information provided by the level sensor 18 helps to prevent damage being caused to the heating device 10 by overheating in the event of an erroneous level measurement by the pressure switch.
  • the sensor 18 also provides, by means of the temperature sensor 46, a measurement of the temperature of the washing liguid which is used to cut the power to the heating device 10 when the preset temperature is reached.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Measurement Of Levels Of Liquids Or Fluent Solid Materials (AREA)
  • Washing And Drying Of Tableware (AREA)
  • Control Of Resistance Heating (AREA)
  • Cookers (AREA)
  • Cleaning By Liquid Or Steam (AREA)
  • Resistance Heating (AREA)

Description

DESCRIPTION of the industrial invention entitled:
"Heating device for domestic appliances with optical liguid-level sensor"
belonging to: Illinois Tool Works Inc., of the USA, 3600 West Lake Avenue, Glenview, Illinois, 60025 USA
Named inventors: Marco SCLIP, Davide BORDIGNON
Filed on: July 6, 2012
•k ~k ~k ~k
DESCRIPTION
Field of the invention
The present invention relates to domestic washing appliances, such as washing machines and dishwashers, and concerns a heating device for such domestic appliances that can heat the washing liguid.
Description of the related art
Washing machines and dishwashers are commonly fitted with a resistance heating device for heating the washing liguid. Such domestic appliances are normally fitted with a pressure switch to measure the level of the bath of washing liguid. Domestic washing appliances are commonly fitted with a heating device with a coil resistor that is immersed in the bath of washing liguid. A temperature sensor is also provided to measure the temperature of the bath and to cut off the power to the heating resistor once the bath reaches the preset working temperature.
If the pressure switch measuring the level of the liguid fails, the bath of washing liguid could leave the heating resistor uncovered. In this case, the resistor would guickly reach a high temperature that could damage the heating device. To overcome this drawback, it has already been proposed to incorporate a temperature sensor in the heating device such as to cut off the power supply to the heating device in the event of excessive temperature increases. However, the temperature sensor may not be able to prevent damage caused by the overheating of the heating resistor .
Scope and summary of the invention
The present invention is intended to provide a heating device for domestic appliances that provides greater safety guarantees against the risk of overheating.
According to the present invention, this objective is achieved by a heating device having the features set out in claim 1.
The claims are an integral part of the teaching provided in relation to the invention.
Short description of the drawings
The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings, which are provided purely by way of non-limiting example, in which:
- Figure 1 is a partially exploded perspective view of a heating device for domestic appliances according to the present invention,
- Figure 2 is a partially exploded axial cross-section of the heating device in figure 1, and
- Figure 3 is an axial cross-section of the optical sensor indicated by the arrow III in figure 2.
Description of embodiments of the invention
In figures 1 and 2, reference sign 10 indicates a resistance heating device for domestic washing appliances, such as washing machines or dishwashers.
The heating device 10 includes a base 12 bearing a coil resistor 14. The extremities of the coil heater 14 are attached to the base 12 and are connected electrically to two terminals 16 that protrude from the base 12 on the side opposite the coil resistor 14.
The heating device 10 includes an optical sensor 18 on the base 12. The optical sensor 18 is able to determine the liquid level around the heating device 10.
With reference to figure 3, the optical sensor 18 is preferably a reflection sensor and includes a waveguide 20 formed by an elongated hollow body 22 made of transparent plastic material, such as polycarbonate. The body 22 has an elongated cavity 24 and a substantially conical closed extremity 26. The body 22 has an enlarged head 28 with teeth 30 on the outside thereof. The body 22 has a cylindrical central section between the head 28 and the extremity 26, with a wall of constant thickness.
The optical sensor 18 includes a printed circuit board 32 bearing a light emitter 34 and a light receiver 36. The front of the light emitter 34 and the front of the light receiver 36 face the walls of the body 22 and are diametrically opposite one another. Preferably, the body 22 includes two lenses 23 (figure 3) arranged in front of the light emitter 34 and of the light receiver 36, to collimate the light emitted by the light emitter 34 and to focus the light reflected by the light guide 20 on the light receiver 36. Preferably, the lenses 23 are formed entirely on the body 22 by varying the profile of the front surface of the body 22.
The light emitter 34 and the light receiver 36 are optically separated from one another by a screen 38 with an internal annular wall 40 and an external annular wall 42. The internal annular wall 40 optically isolates the light emitter 34 from the light receiver 36. The external annular wall 42 optically isolates the light emitter 34 and the light receiver 36 from the side walls of the head 28.
The printed circuit board 32 is attached to the body 20 by means of a cover 43 with a base wall 45 that bears against the printed circuit board 32 and a plurality of arms 47 that clip onto the teeth 30 of the body 22.
The optical sensor 18 may have an integrated temperature sensor 46. The temperature sensor 46 includes an NTC resistor 48 seated in the cavity 24 near to the closed extremity 26. The NTC resistor 48 is connected to the printed circuit board 32 by means of terminals 50. The cavity 24 may be filled with a material having high thermal conductivity to encourage the transmission of heat between the walls of the body 22 and the NTC resistor 48.
With reference to figure 2, the body 22 of the optical sensor 18 is inserted and attached in a hole 52 in the base 12. The extremity 26 of the body 22 protrudes from the base 12 on the same side as the coil resistor 14. The head 28 of the body 22 protrudes from the base 12 on the same side as the terminals 16. The sensor 18 is connected by a connector (not shown) to a power and control circuit of the domestic appliance .
In operation, the light emitter 34 emits a luminous flux L that is propagated in the wall of the body 22 as shown in figure 3. A first part L' of the luminous flux is dispersed outside the luminous body 22 through the inclined walls of the conical extremity 26. A second part of the luminous flux L'' is reflected inside the body 22 and reaches the light receiver 36. The part of the optical flux L' dispersed outside the body 22 depends on the ratio between the refraction coefficients between the material used for the body 22 and the material surrounding the body 22. The amount of the flux L' dispersed varies depending on whether the extremity 26 is surrounded by air or by washing liguid. The amount of the flux L' dispersed also depends on the level of the washing liguid around the body 22. The light receiver 36 receives the reflected flux L'' and provides an electrical signal indicating the intensity of the reflected flux L''. Since the intensity of the flux L'' varies as a function of the level of liguid around the extremity 26, the sensor 18 is therefore able to provide precise information regarding the level of the washing liguid around the coil resistor 14. The information provided by the level sensor 18 helps to prevent damage being caused to the heating device 10 by overheating in the event of an erroneous level measurement by the pressure switch. The sensor 18 also provides, by means of the temperature sensor 46, a measurement of the temperature of the washing liguid which is used to cut the power to the heating device 10 when the preset temperature is reached.
Naturally, notwithstanding the principle of the invention, the design details and embodiments may be varied significantly from the description and illustrations without thereby moving outside the scope of the invention as defined in the claims below.

Claims

1. Heating device for domestic appliances, comprising a base (12) and a coil resistor (14) that extends from said base (12), characterized in that it includes an optical sensor (18) that can determine the level of washing liguid around said coil resistor (14).
2. Device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said optical sensor (18) includes a light guide (20) formed by an elongated body (22) made of transparent plastic material inserted into a hole (52) in said base (12), the elongated body (22) having a substantially conical extremity (26) that protrudes from said base (12) on the same side as said coil resistor (14) .
3. Device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that said optical sensor (18) includes a printed circuit board (32) bearing a light emitter (34) and a light receiver (36) frontally facing a wall of said body (22) and optically isolated from one another by means of a screen (38) .
4. Device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that it includes a temperature sensor (46) seated in a cavity (24) of said elongated body (22).
5. Device as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that said temperature sensor (46) includes an NTC resistor (48) arranged to coincide with a closed extremity of said cavity (24) and connected to said printed circuit board (32) by means of terminals (50) .
6. Device as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the body (22) includes two lenses (23) arranged opposite the light emitter (34) and the light receiver (36) .
7 . Device as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that said lenses (23) are formed entirely on the body (22) by varying the profile of the front surface of the body (22) .
PCT/US2013/049397 2012-07-06 2013-07-03 Heating device for domestic appliances with optical liquid-level sensor Ceased WO2014008442A1 (en)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE112013001575.7T DE112013001575B4 (en) 2012-07-06 2013-07-03 Household appliance heater with optical liquid level sensor
CN201380034443.6A CN104411875B (en) 2012-07-06 2013-07-03 Heating device with optical level sensor for household appliances
KR1020147031511A KR102149310B1 (en) 2012-07-06 2013-07-03 Heating device for domestic appliances with optical liquid-level sensor
US14/411,923 US10028337B2 (en) 2012-07-06 2013-07-03 Heating device for domestic appliances with optical liquid-level sensor

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT000598A ITTO20120598A1 (en) 2012-07-06 2012-07-06 HEATING DEVICE FOR HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES WITH OPTICAL LIQUID LEVEL SENSOR
ITTO2012A000598 2012-07-06

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2014008442A1 true WO2014008442A1 (en) 2014-01-09

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2013/049397 Ceased WO2014008442A1 (en) 2012-07-06 2013-07-03 Heating device for domestic appliances with optical liquid-level sensor

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US10028337B2 (en)
KR (1) KR102149310B1 (en)
CN (1) CN104411875B (en)
DE (1) DE112013001575B4 (en)
IT (1) ITTO20120598A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2014008442A1 (en)

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
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EP3238599A1 (en) * 2016-04-26 2017-11-01 Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag A washing machine with improved longterm reliablity and safety
WO2023047232A1 (en) * 2021-09-21 2023-03-30 Elmarc S.R.L. Electric resistance comprising an immersion device for determining at least the turbidity level of a liquid

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KR20150032522A (en) 2015-03-26
ITTO20120598A1 (en) 2014-01-07
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CN104411875A (en) 2015-03-11
US20150201466A1 (en) 2015-07-16

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