JP2008264117A - Laundry machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely prevent a slow leakage in water supply, and attain it by a simple, highly reliable constitution. <P>SOLUTION: A water supply valve 21 for cooling water is constituted of a valve casing 22 in which a first valve port 30A, a communication passage 32 and a second valve port 30B are sequentially formed between a water inlet 24 and a water outlet 25, a first opening/closing mechanism 33A for opening/closing the first valve port 30A, and a second opening/closing mechanism 33B for opening/closing the second valve port 30B. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a washing machine provided with a water supply valve for supplying water into a washing machine body, and more particularly to an improved water supply valve.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a washing machine is provided with a water supply valve including an electromagnetic valve that supplies water to a rotating tub in the washing machine body, a water supply valve including an electromagnetic valve that supplies water to a softener supply device, and the like. In addition, the water supplied to the softener supply device is supplied into the rotating tub while transporting the softener.

Recently, a washing machine with a drying function is provided with a drying device including a heat pump in the washing machine body. In this type, there is one in which water is supplied to the heat pump radiator to improve the heat radiation efficiency. In this case, a cooling water supply valve for controlling the supply of water (cooling water) to the radiator is further provided. I have. The water supplied from the cooling water supply valve to the radiator is finally stored in the cooling water storage tank without entering the rotating tank, and then drained by the drain pump. In addition, as a water supply valve unit used for a washing machine, patent document 1 shows.
JP 2002-331195 A

  However, in the above-described cooling water supply valve, if a foreign object is caught on the valve port portion and cannot be removed, the valve port that should be blocked remains open, and continues. In particular, a so-called slow leak may occur in which a minute amount of water leaks.

  In order to prevent such a slow leak, it is conceivable to use two water supply valves connected by a relay hose. By doing in this way, even if a foreign object gets caught in one water supply valve, the said foreign material can be removed by the water pressure change and water flow change by opening and closing of the other water supply valve. However, in such a configuration in which two water supply valves are connected by a relay hose, high water pressure may remain on the relay hose when both water supply valves are closed, and the use of a pressure hose is forced. In addition, a high strength fastener (banding member) is required at the hose connection part, and there are many restrictions such as frequent maintenance and inspections such as deterioration of the pressure hose and looseness of the connection part. A high water supply valve device is demanded.

  Note that such a problem of slow leak can be said for all water supply valves of washing machines. However, even if there is a slow leak, if the leaked water is put into the rotating tank, the actual damage is small, and if the leaked water is drained without being put into the rotating tank, the actual damage such as water leakage at the drainage part is large. .

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a washing machine that can reliably prevent a slow leak in water supply and can achieve this with a simple and highly reliable configuration. is there.

  The invention of claim 1 is a washing machine comprising a water supply valve for supplying water into a washing machine body, wherein the water supply valve is provided between a first water inlet and a water outlet, and a first valve port and a communication passage; A configuration having a valve casing in which a second valve port is formed in order, a first opening / closing mechanism for opening / closing the first valve port, and a second opening / closing mechanism for opening / closing the second valve port. It has the characteristics.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the first valve port, the communication passage, and the second valve port are formed in order in the valve casing of the water supply valve, and the first valve port and the second valve port are formed in the valve casing. By providing the first opening / closing mechanism and the second opening / closing mechanism for opening and closing each of them, even if a foreign object is caught on one valve port portion, the water pressure change or water flow change due to opening / closing of the other valve port portion Therefore, it is possible to eliminate foreign matters well, to prevent slow leaks reliably, and since the communication passage is provided in the valve casing, compared to a configuration in which two water supply valves are connected by a pressure hose. Thus, the configuration is simple, the number of assembly steps can be reduced, and a pressure-resistant structure can be obtained without using a pressure-resistant hose.

  The present invention can reliably prevent a slow leak in water supply, and can achieve this with a simple and highly reliable configuration.

Hereinafter, one example (one embodiment) in which the present invention is applied to a washing / drying machine will be described with reference to the drawings.
First, FIG. 5 shows an overall configuration of the washing machine, in which a water tub 3 is accommodated in an outer box 2 that is a washing machine body placed and coupled on a base plate 1. The water tank 3 has a cylindrical shape, and is elastically supported by a pair of suspensions 4 (only one side is shown) in a horizontal axis shape in which the axial direction is front and rear, and in an upwardly inclined shape.

  A rotating tub 5 is accommodated inside the aquarium 3, and the rotating tub 5 is also cylindrical, and is supported by a motor (not shown) attached to the back of the aquarium 3. It is provided in a coaxial shape (a horizontal axis shape in which the axial direction is front and rear and an upwardly inclined shape). The motor functions as a drive device that rotates the rotating tub 5. Further, the rotating tub 5 has a large number of holes 6 for water and ventilation in almost the entire region of the trunk.

  The suspension 4 is disposed below the water tank 3 (on the base plate 1), and a heat pump unit 7 is disposed. The heat pump unit 7 includes a unit case 8 in which a compressor, a radiator (condenser), a throttle valve, an evaporator, and other components constituting a refrigeration cycle and a blower are arranged in a unit case 8. 8 is connected to the front part of the water tank 3 by the intake duct 9, and the rear part of the unit case 8 is connected to the rear part of the water tank 3 by the air discharge duct 10.

  With this configuration, the rotation of the rotating tub 5 causes the air in the water tank 3 (in the rotating tub 5) to circulate from the intake duct 9 through the unit case 8 and back into the water tank 3 (in the rotating tub 5) from the exhaust duct 10. In the middle of this, air is cooled and dehumidified by an evaporator in the unit case 8 and then heated by a radiator. Therefore, in the water tank 3 (in the rotary tank 5), The dehumidifying heating air is sequentially supplied, whereby the laundry (not shown) is dried in the rotating tub 5.

  Further, in this washer / dryer, the heat pump unit 7 can be used for cooling (cooling function). That is, a cooling air discharge port 2a communicating with the evaporator portion in the unit case 8 is formed in the lower front portion of the outer box 2, and the air cooled by the evaporator is discharged from the cooling air discharge port 2a to the washing and drying machine. The room where the washing / drying machine is placed can be cooled by blowing forward.

  On the other hand, above the water tank 3, a control unit 11 of a power supply system necessary for controlling the washing machine is arranged at the rear, and a control unit 12 of the display system is arranged at the front. In addition to these, a detergent charging case 13, a water supply case 14, water supply hoses 15 and 16, and a water supply valve device 17 are disposed above the water tank 3. Among these, the detergent charging case 13 has a front surface portion that is flush with the front surface portion of the outer box 2 and is provided so that it can be pulled out and pushed back by the user. In addition, the set of the soft finish can be arbitrarily set in a section different from the detergent storage section of the detergent charging case 13.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the water supply valve device 17 has an attachment flange 22 a attached to the upper portion of the outer box 2 via the attachment 18. The water supply valve device 17 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the water supply valve device 17 has a main water supply valve 19 for supplying water into the water tank 3 also serving as a detergent supply, and water supply for input for supplying a washing-related processing agent such as a softening finish. A valve 20 and a cooling water supply valve 21 (corresponding to the water supply valve in claim 1 of the present application) are provided. Of the water supply valve device 17, the cooling water supply valve 21 will be mainly described in detail. A valve casing (corresponding to the valve casing of the cooling water supply valve 21, which also serves as the valve casing of each of the valves 19 and 20) 22 of the water supply valve device 17 is formed by resin molding. The valve casing 22 is formed with the mounting flange 22a (also shown in FIG. 5).

  In the valve casing 22, a water receiving port 23 connected to a water tap through a hose (not shown) is formed so as to protrude from the mounting flange 22 a, and the water receiving port 23 is formed inside the valve casing 22. Thus, a water inlet for the main water supply valve 19 (not shown), a water inlet for the water supply valve 20 (not shown), a water inlet 24 of the cooling water supply valve 21 (corresponding to one water inlet, FIG. 1). A filter 23a is mounted in the water receiving port 23.

  The valve casing 22 is formed with three water outlets corresponding to the three water inlets, and the water outlet of the cooling water supply valve 21 is denoted by reference numeral 25. The water outlet 25 (corresponding to one water outlet) communicates with the radiator portion of the heat pump unit 7 via the hose 26. The fitting connection portion between the water outlet 25 and the hose 26 is fastened and fixed by a band stopper member 27 (see FIG. 3). The water supply hoses 15 and 16 are connected to the water outlet of the main water supply valve 19 and the water outlet of the input water supply valve 20.

The water supplied to the radiator portion of the heat pump unit 7 is temporarily stored in a cooling water storage tank (not shown) and then drained by a drain pump (not shown).
As shown in FIG. 1, between the water inlet 24 and the water outlet 25 of the cooling water supply valve 21, a first inflow portion 28A, a first back pressure chamber 29A, a first valve port 30A, A first outflow portion 31A, a communication passage 32, a second inflow portion 28B, a second back pressure chamber 29B, a second valve port 30B, and a second outflow portion 31B are formed. The communication path 32 is composed of a stainless steel pipe 32a as a communication member. The communication path 32 is integrated with the valve casing 22 by insert molding when the valve casing 22 is molded.

The cooling water supply valve 21 is provided with a first opening / closing mechanism 33A and a second opening / closing mechanism 33B. Since the first opening / closing mechanism 33A and the second opening / closing mechanism 33B have the same configuration, the first opening / closing mechanism 33A will be described. The first opening / closing means 33A is composed of a first electromagnet 34A as a first electric driving means and a first diaphragm valve 35A as a first valve body.
The first electromagnet 34A includes an electromagnetic coil 36A and a plunger 37A, and a closing member 38A made of soft rubber or the like is attached to the tip of the plunger 37A. The electromagnet 34A is provided so as to close the first back pressure chamber 29A.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the first diaphragm valve 35A has a configuration in which a soft diaphragm 351A and a hard diaphragm 352A are combined, a bleed hole 353A is formed in the peripheral portion, and a center hole 354A is formed in the central portion. ing. The diaphragm valve 35A is arranged to close the first valve port 30A. In this case, the center hole 354A is opened and closed by the closing member 38A of the plunger 37A.

  The second opening / closing mechanism 33B also has the same configuration and function as the first opening / closing mechanism 33A. That is, the second opening / closing mechanism 33B includes a second electromagnet 34B, which is a second electric driving unit, and a second electric driving means. A second diaphragm valve 35B that is a valve body is provided, and the second electromagnet 34B includes an electromagnetic coil 36B, a plunger 37B, and a closing member 38B. The second diaphragm valve 35B includes a soft diaphragm 351B, a hard diaphragm 352B, a bleed hole 353B, and a center hole 354B.

  Here, the opening / closing operation | movement of the 1st diaphragm valve 35A is demonstrated with reference to FIG. In the state of FIG. 6, the first valve port 30 </ b> A is closed and the second valve port 30 </ b> B is opened. In this case, since the center hole 354A is closed by the closing member 38A, the pressure of the inflow portion 28A (water pressure) and the pressure of the back pressure chamber 29A are in the same state by the bleed hole 353A. Further, the pressure in the back pressure chamber 29A is higher than the pressure in the outflow portion 31A.

  When the first electromagnet 34A is energized and the plunger 37A is attracted (moved in the direction of arrow P in FIG. 1), the closing member 38A opens the center hole 354A (see FIG. 7). As a result, the pressure difference between the back pressure chamber 29A and the outflow portion 31A disappears, and the first diaphragm valve 35A opens the first valve port 30A (see FIG. 8).

  Further, from the state of FIG. 8, when the first valve port 30A is closed, the first electromagnet 34A is disconnected. Then, the plunger 37A is pushed in the opposite arrow P direction by the spring, and as a result, the closing member 38A moves the first diaphragm valve 35A to the closing position while closing the center hole 354A. Then, the pressure on the inflow portion 28A side and the pressure in the back pressure chamber 29A become the same through the bleed hole 353A, and the first diaphragm valve 35A reliably closes the first valve port 30A by the pressure difference with the outflow portion 31A. .

The second valve port 30B is also opened and closed in the same manner by the second opening / closing mechanism 33B.
In the above configuration, the first electromagnet 34A and the second electromagnet 34B are opened during cooling, and tap water (cooling water) is supplied from the outlet 25 to the radiator of the heat pump unit 7. Supply.

  That is, the opening and closing timings of the electromagnets 34A and 34B are controlled by a control means (not shown) during the cooling described above. That is, when the user operates the operation switch to generate a cooling start command, the control unit energizes the second electromagnet 34B from the closed state of both the valve ports 30A and 30B in FIG. Thereby, the second valve port 30B is opened. Next, the first electromagnet 34A is energized. Thus, the first valve port 30A is opened.

  As a result, the tap water enters the inlet 24, the first inflow portion 28A, the first back pressure chamber 29A, the first valve port 30A, the first outflow portion 31A, the communication passage 32, the second inflow portion 28B, the second It exits from the water outlet 25 through the second back pressure chamber 29B, the second valve port 30B, and the second outflow part 31B, and is supplied to the aforementioned radiator. By supplying tap water (cooling water) to the radiator, the heat dissipation effect is improved and the cooling effect is improved.

  When the cooling stop command is generated, the control means first cuts off the first electromagnet 34A, closes the first valve port 30A, and then cuts off the second electromagnet 34B, The second valve port 30B is closed. Thereby, the tap water supply from the outlet 25 is stopped.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, the first valve port 30A, the communication passage 32, and the second valve port 30B are sequentially formed in the valve casing 22, and the first valve port 30A and the second valve port 30B are formed in the valve casing 22. Since the first opening / closing mechanism 33A and the second opening / closing mechanism 33B for opening and closing the two valve ports 30B are provided, even if a foreign object is caught on one of the valve ports 30A, 30B, Due to the change in water pressure and the change in water flow due to the opening and closing of the other valve port, foreign matters can be eliminated well and slow leaks can be reliably prevented.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, since the communication passage 32 is provided in the valve casing 22, the configuration is simple and the number of assembly steps can be reduced as compared with the configuration in which the two water supply valves are connected by the pressure hose. Furthermore, a pressure-resistant structure can be obtained without using a pressure-resistant hose.

And since the slow leak can be prevented in this way, the leaked water does not continuously flow into the radiator of the heat pump unit 7, and therefore, the cooling water storage tank at the end of the radiator is in an excessive water supply state. There is no risk of water leakage.
In addition, according to the present embodiment, the first diaphragm valve 35A and the second diaphragm valve 35B are opened or closed at different timings, so that foreign substances can be smoothly removed, Slow leak can be prevented more reliably.

  In particular, when the cooling water supply is stopped, the first diaphragm valve 35A is closed first, and then the second diaphragm valve 35B is closed, so that the communication path 32 is in a high water pressure sealed state. Can be prevented. That is, for example, when the second diaphragm valve 35B is closed before or simultaneously with the first diaphragm valve 35A (when the second valve port 30B is closed with or simultaneously with the first valve port 30A), the communication passage 32 is provided. When the first valve port 30A is closed in this state, the tap water pressure (relatively high water pressure) is sealed in the communication passage 32, and the internal pressure is applied to the valve casing 22. In this embodiment, it is possible to prevent such a high water pressure enclosing state.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the valve casing 22 is molded from resin, and the communication passage 32 is constituted by a stainless steel pipe 32a and integrated with the valve casing 22 by insert molding. The molding is simple and the water pressure resistance of the communication passage 32 can be improved.

  In addition, in the said Example, although the water supply object of the water supply valve 21 for cooling water was made into the radiator other than the rotary tank 5, you may make it use as a water supply valve which supplies water in the rotary tank 5. FIG. In addition, the first diaphragm valve 35A and the second diaphragm valve 35B may be alternately opened and closed a plurality of times before the both closing operations are performed. It can be done.

3U-U line sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention Longitudinal sectional view of the first diaphragm valve part Top view of the water supply valve device Side view of water supply valve device Perspective perspective view of the entire washing and drying machine FIG. 1 equivalent view for explaining a state of opening of the first valve port (No. 1) Similarly FIG. 1 equivalent view for explaining the state of opening of the first valve port (No. 2) Similarly FIG. 1 equivalent view for explaining the state of opening of the first valve port (No. 3)

Explanation of symbols

  In the drawings, 2 is an outer box (washing machine main body), 3 is a water tank, 5 is a rotating tank, 7 is a heat pump unit, 8 is a unit case, 17 is a water supply valve device, 19 is a main water supply valve, and 20 is a supply water valve. , 21 is a cooling water supply valve (water supply valve), 22 is a valve casing, 24 is a water inlet (one water inlet), 25 is a water outlet (one water outlet), 30A is a first valve port, and 30B is The second valve port, 32 is a communication passage, 32a is a pipe (communication member), 33A is a first opening / closing mechanism, 33B is a second opening / closing mechanism, 34A is a first electromagnet (electric drive means), 34B Is a second electromagnet (electric drive means), 35A is a first diaphragm valve (first valve element), 35B is a second diaphragm valve (second valve element), 353A, 353B are bleed holes, 354A Reference numeral 354B denotes a center hole.

Claims (3)

In a washing machine equipped with a water supply valve for supplying water into the washing machine body,
The water supply valve,
A valve casing in which a first valve port, a communication path, and a second valve port are sequentially formed between one water inlet and one water outlet;
A first opening / closing mechanism for opening / closing the first valve opening;
A washing machine comprising: a second opening / closing mechanism that opens and closes the second valve port. The first opening / closing mechanism includes a first electric driving means and a first valve body that is controlled to open and close by the first electric driving means,
The second opening / closing mechanism includes a second electric driving unit and a second valve body that is controlled to be opened and closed by the second electric driving unit.
The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the first valve body and the second valve body are opened or closed at different timings.   The washing machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the valve casing is formed of a resin, and the communication path is formed of a communication member and is integrated with the valve casing by insert molding.

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