KR20030027374A - device for injecting liquid additive in top-loading washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A device for injecting liquid additive for a washing machine is provided to prevent water from flowing backward, and supply a liquid additive to a precise position. CONSTITUTION: A device for injecting liquid additive for a washing machine includes a first chamber(100) located at one side of a top cover(2) for storing a liquid additive injected initially, a second chamber(200) provided at a side of an outer tub cover immediately below the first chamber and storing a liquid additive introduced from the first chamber by a chamber guide(201) slant upwardly, and an injection tube(300) protruded at a lower part of the second chamber downwardly for forming a predetermined space.

Description

Device for injecting liquid additive in top-loading washing machine

The present invention relates to a washing machine, and more particularly, in a top loading washing machine, a liquid additive input device of a washing machine which prevents backflow of washing water during centrifugal washing and injects a liquid additive at an accurate position. It is about.

In general, a washing machine is a product that removes various contaminants attached to clothes, bedding, etc. by using the emulsification of detergent, friction action of water flow caused by rotation of the pulsator, and impact action of the pulsator on laundry. Appearing automatic washing machine automatically performs a series of processes leading to washing, rinsing and dehydration without user intervention in the middle.

Such a washing machine may be roughly classified into a top loading method in which the inner tank is built and a drum type washing machine in which the inner tank is laid, depending on the type of the inner tank in which the laundry is accommodated. Among these, the top-loading washing machine has a method of washing by left and right stirring of the pulsator and a method of washing by centrifugal force generated while the inner tub is rotating.

First, as shown in FIG. 1A, the washing machine employing pulsator washing among the above-described top-loading washing machines includes an main body 1 having an open top surface and a top cover 2 covering the top surface of the main body. And an outer tub 3 which is elastically supported by the plurality of suspension devices 8 in the main body and stores the wash water, and an inner tub 4 rotatably installed in the outer tub to accommodate the laundry; It is provided in the center of the lower end of the outer tub is largely composed of a motor (5) connected to the drive shaft (6) (not shown) provided in the inner tub. In this case, the motor 5 may be indirectly connected to the pulsator by a pulley and a belt, but as an example, the motor is directly connected to the pulsator.

In addition, the upper inner circumference of the inner tank 4 is provided with a liquid balancer 7 for adjusting the center of gravity during rotation of the inner tank.

When the washing machine and the laundry are put into the inner tank 4 and the washing start button is selected in the state where the preparation is completed, the pulsator stirs from side to side according to the control signal of the controller (not shown). And after the rinsing stroke is performed, the dehydration stroke is automatically performed while the inner tank is rotated at high speed in one direction.

On the other hand, liquid additives (liquid additive) is added during the washing process as described above for a better washing effect. Such liquid additives are representative of bleach in the washing stroke and softener in the rinsing stroke. In this case, the fabric softener may be added directly to the laundry, but in the case of the bleach, the fabric softener may decolorize or stain the laundry.

To this end, as shown in Figure 1a, one side of the top cover 2 is provided with a first chamber 10 that the user can directly supply a liquid additive, directly below the outlet 11 of the first chamber The second chamber 20 is formed by the chamber guide 21 inclined upward on the outer tub cover 3a located. At this time, the outer tank cover forming the second chamber 20 is formed with a plurality of discharge ports 22 that can be finally discharged between the outer tank 3 and the inner tank (4).

In the liquid additive injector configured as described above, the liquid additive of the first chamber 10 is supplied to the second chamber 20 through the outlet 11 by the siphon principle, the second chamber of the The liquid additive is finally fed between the outer tub 3 and the inner tub 4 via an outlet 22 on the outer tub cover. Thereafter, the liquid additive is diluted in the wash water existing between the outer tank and the inner tank and supplied to the laundry through the through hole 4a of the inner tank.

However, the liquid additive injector as described above has a problem that can not be applied to the washing machine employing centrifugal washing. That is, in the washing machine employing centrifugal washing, the washing water moved to the space between the outer tank and the inner tank by the centrifugal force generated during one-way rotation of the inner tank is pumped up to the outer tank cover, and then introduced into the inner tank. In this case, the pumped wash water not only flows back to the side other than the inner tank through the outlet formed in the outer tank cover, but also causes a problem in that the liquid additive is also flowed back together.

Therefore, the washing machine employing the above-described centrifugal washing has been proposed to have a structure different from the liquid additive injector of the pulsator type washing machine.

As shown in Figure 1b, the liquid additive injector of the washing machine employing centrifugal washing is provided on one side of the top cover 2, the first chamber 10 is directly supplied by the user with the liquid additive, and the first It is connected to the discharge port 11 of the chamber and the inside of the outer tank 3, the liquid additive of the first chamber is composed of a discharge hose 15 which is directly introduced between the outer tank and the inner tank (4).

The liquid additive injector configured as described above can solve the problem that the wash water flows back through the outer tub cover 3a, but the structure is not free in that it has a separate discharge hose 15, and the outer tub 3 vibrates. In this case, considerable noise was generated by the discharge hose. In addition, when foreign matters or the like are present on the discharge hose 15, or when the liquid additive is solidified, the flow path is clogged, causing the addition of the liquid additive is impossible.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention is to prevent the backflow of the wash water in the top loading washing machine employing centrifugal washing and to always put the liquid additive in the correct position. It is to provide a liquid additive injector of the washing machine.

Figure 1a is a cross-sectional view showing one form of a conventional washing machine and liquid additive injector

Figure 1b is a cross-sectional view showing another form of a conventional washing machine and liquid additive injector

2 is a cross-sectional view showing a washing machine and a liquid additive injector according to the present invention.

Figure 3a to 3d is a perspective view showing the input tube of the liquid additive injector according to the present invention, respectively

Figure 4a is a partial cross-sectional view showing the action of the washing machine according to the present invention

Figure 4b is a perspective view showing the action of the liquid additive injector according to the present invention

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

100: first chamber 110: first chamber outlet

200: second chamber 210: second chamber outlet

300: input tube 310: final injection hole

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is provided on one side of the top cover and the first chamber in which the first liquid additive is stored, and provided on one side of the outer cover positioned directly below the first chamber and inclined upwards. The chamber guide forms a second chamber in which the liquid additive introduced from the first chamber is stored, and a predetermined space protruding downward from the lower end of the second chamber so as not to receive the dynamic pressure of the wash water, thereby preventing the wash water from flowing back. At the same time, it provides a liquid additive injector of the washing machine including an input tube is formed on one side of the final inlet for the liquid additive introduced from the second chamber into the space between the outer tank and the inner tank.

At this time, the inlet pipe is located directly above the outer tank and the inner tank, the final inlet is characterized in that open toward the ground.

Therefore, in the washing machine employing centrifugal washing, the input tube into which the liquid additive is finally added has a structure that does not receive the dynamic pressure of the washing water, so that the washing water can not be prevented from flowing back, and the final inlet is separated from the outer tank. Since it is open to the ground just above the inner tank, it provides the advantage of adding the liquid additive in the correct position.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings the liquid additive injector of the washing machine according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail as follows.

First, Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a washing machine and a liquid additive input device according to the present invention.

As shown in Figure 2, the washing machine according to the present invention is a washing machine employing centrifugal washing, the appearance is composed of a main body (1) having an open upper surface and a top cover (2) covering the upper surface of the main body, An outer tub 3 which is elastically supported by the plurality of suspension devices 8 in the main body and stores wash water, an inner tub 4 rotatably installed in the outer tub and accommodates laundry, and a lower end of the tub It is provided in the center of the large configuration consists of a motor (5) is directly coupled to the drive shaft (6). At this time, the motor 5 may be indirectly connected to the inner tank by the pulley and the belt, but for example, the motor is shown directly connected to the inner tank.

In addition, the upper inner circumference of the inner tank 4 is provided with a liquid balancer 7 for adjusting the center of gravity during rotation of the inner tank.

The liquid additive injector according to the present invention includes a first chamber 100 in which a liquid additive directly supplied by a user is stored on one side of the top cover 2, and an outer cover 3a positioned directly below the first chamber. The second chamber 200 is provided on one side of the first chamber 200 to store the liquid additive introduced from the first chamber, the lower side of the second chamber and the liquid additive introduced from the second chamber is the outer tank (3) And an injection pipe 300 in which a final injection hole 310 is introduced into the space between the inner tank 4.

The lower end of the first chamber 100 is provided with an outlet 110 through which the liquid additive may be introduced into the second chamber 200. At this time, the structure in which the liquid additive is introduced into the second chamber from the first chamber is based on the siphon principle. Since the siphon principle is widely applied to a washing machine of a washing machine, a detailed description of the principle will be omitted.

The second chamber 200 is formed by a plurality of chamber guides 201 extending upward on the outer cover 202 located directly below the first chamber outlet 110. At this time, one side of the outer cover forming the second chamber 200 is formed with an outlet 210 in communication with the third chamber.

On the other hand, the outer tub cover 202 forming the second chamber is inclined upward toward the inner tank (4) side in which the discharge port 210 is formed, the inlet pipe 300 is provided on the inclined surface of the outer tub cover desirable. This is because the liquid additive of the second chamber 200 may be concentrated in the outlet 210, and thus the liquid additive may be smoothly introduced into the inlet pipe 300 from the second chamber.

The input pipe 300 is responsible for two functions. That is, the inlet pipe 300 has a function of preventing backwashing the pumped wash water between the outer tank 3 and the inner tank 4, and the liquid additive introduced from the second chamber 200 into the space between the outer tank and the inner tank. It is in charge of inputting correctly.

In order to perform the above-described function, the inlet pipe 300 is connected so that one end is in communication with the second chamber outlet 210 and the other end is the final inlet 310 is formed, the inside does not receive the dynamic pressure of the wash water Some space must be secured. At this time, the inlet pipe 300 is located directly above the outer tank 3 and the inner tank 4, the final inlet 310 is preferably opened toward the ground. This is because the inlet pipe 300 is located above the space between the outer tank and the inner tank and the final inlet 310 is opened toward the ground, so that the liquid additive of the second chamber 200 can be directly introduced into the space between the outer tank and the inner tank. Because it can.

On the other hand, the input pipe 300 is most preferably located in the space between the outer tank (3) and the inner tank (4) in order to prevent the liquid additive is directly injected into the laundry, at least the liquid balancer in consideration of the narrow space It is also possible to be located directly above (7). In the latter case, the liquid additive falls through the final inlet 310 at least at the top of the liquid balancer 7, in which case the liquid additive at the top of the liquid balancer is directly in the laundry if the centrifugal force by the rotation of the inner tank 4 is used. It can prevent any input.

In this case, the final inlet 310 may be formed as a hole having a predetermined diameter or a slot having a predetermined width, the diameter of the hole and the width of the slot is preferably 4 ~ 5 mm. This is determined in consideration of the input of the liquid additive through the final inlet 310 and the reverse flow of the wash water. If the final inlet 310 is formed larger than necessary, the liquid additive may be smoothly injected, but the washing water may flow back through the final inlet.

On the other hand, the space formed inside the input pipe 300 serves as a buffer zone (buffer zone) to prevent the back flow of the wash water. In general, when the wash water is pumped into the space between the outer tank (3) and the inner tank (4), the wash water has a significant amount of kinetic energy and this kinetic energy acts as a dynamic pressure to reverse the wash water. Therefore, the input pipe 300 forms a space capable of buffering the dynamic pressure of the wash water between the second chamber 200 and the final inlet 310, thereby sufficiently preventing the wash water from flowing back through the input pipe. Can be.

In view of the foregoing, the present invention presents several representative types of input tubes, which are well illustrated in FIGS. 3A-3D.

First, the inlet pipe 300 shown in FIG. 3A is a tube having a circular cross section, and is coupled to an inclined surface of the outer cover 202 forming a second chamber at the top thereof and simultaneously connected to the second chamber outlet 210. Photo-opening surface is formed, the bottom end is formed with a final inlet 310 having a circular hole shape. At this time, the diameter of the final inlet 310 is preferably 4 ~ 5 mm as described above.

The injection pipes 400, 500, and 600 shown in Figures 3b to 3d are all tubes having a rectangular cross section, and are formed on the top of the inclined surface of the outer cover and at the same time the inclined open surface is formed to communicate with the second chamber outlet, the bottom is a circular hole Or final inlets 410, 510, 610 having a rectangular slot shape. That is, the final inlet 410 of the inlet tube illustrated in FIG. 3B is a circular hole, the final inlet 510 of the inlet tube illustrated in FIG. 3C is a rectangular slot, and the final inlet 610 of the inlet tube illustrated in FIG. 3D. ) Is a slot continuously formed along one side facing the ground and one side toward the center of rotation of the inner tank. Also in this case, the diameters of the holes and the widths of the slots forming the final injection holes 410, 510, 610 are preferably 4 to 5 mm.

At this time, in the case of the inlet tube 600 shown in Figure 3d, although some of the final inlet 610 is open toward the center of the inner tank, as long as the inlet tube is located at least on the top of the liquid balancer, the liquid additive is centrifugal force It can be injected between the outer tank and the inner tank by.

On the other hand, in the washing machine according to the present invention, it is preferable that the liquid additive is introduced through the above-described final inlet while the inner tank 4 is rotated with a certain speed of rotation. This is because the liquid additive may fall on the top of the liquid balancer 7 when the input pipe according to the present invention is located at the top of the liquid balancer.

At this time, the rotational speed of the inner tank 4 is preferably in the range of 50 ~ 200rpm, this range is a range implemented during the washing stroke and rinsing stroke in a washing machine employing a general centrifugal washing.

Hereinafter, the operation of the liquid additive injector according to the present invention will be described in detail.

First, Figure 4a is a partial cross-sectional view showing the action of the washing machine according to the invention, Figure 4b is a perspective view showing the action of the liquid additive injector according to the present invention.

As shown in Figure 4a, as the washing stroke or rinsing stroke proceeds, the inner tank 4 is rotated at the above-described rotational speed in one direction, the washing water inside the inner tank by the centrifugal force generated at this time is the opening of the inner tank It is moved to the outer tank (3). Subsequently, the washing water rises through the space between the outer tub 3 and the inner tub 4 and is introduced again into the inner tub while being guided by the outer tub cover.

At the same time, through the liquid additive injector as described above, the bleach is automatically put into the washing stroke during the washing stroke, respectively. In detail, the liquid additive in the first chamber is introduced into the second chamber 200 through the outlet by the siphon principle, and the liquid additive in the second chamber is discharged along the inclined surface of the outer cover 202. After moving to the natural input into the input pipe (300). Thereafter, the liquid additive in the inlet tube 300 is directly introduced into the space between the inner tank 3 and the outer tank 4 through the final inlet 310 opened toward the ground, or the top of the liquid balancer 7 Will fall. At this time, the liquid additive dropped on the upper end of the liquid balancer 7 is finally introduced into the space between the outer tank 3 and the inner tank 4 by centrifugal force.

The liquid additive added between the outer tank and the inner tank is diluted in the pumped wash water and finally added to the laundry together with the wash water.

During this process, the pumped wash water may backflow or interfere with the introduction of the liquid additive, but this concern may be eliminated due to the structure of the inlet tube 300 described above.

As shown in FIG. 4B, the washing water has a complicated motion as shown by the arrow 'a', but it is difficult to directly flow into the final inlet 310 opened toward the ground. In addition, even if the wash water flows into the final inlet 310, the liquid additive is flowing into the final inlet 310 through the outlet 210 of the second chamber in the direction of the 'b' arrow, the inlet tube The inside of 300 is filled with a large amount of liquid additive. Therefore, even if the washing water has a lot of kinetic energy, it is difficult to resist the fall by the weight of the liquid additive, it is impossible to wash water back through the injection pipe 300 after all.

So far, the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, and one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains may implement the modified embodiment within the essential technical scope of the present invention. Here, the essential technical scope of the present invention is shown in the claims, and the modified forms within the equivalent range will be construed as being included in the present invention.

The liquid additive injector of the washing machine according to the present invention provides the following effects.

First, according to the present invention, in the washing machine employing centrifugal washing, the third chamber into which the liquid additive is finally added has a structure that does not receive the dynamic pressure of the washing water, which prevents the washing water from flowing backwards, It offers the advantage of adding liquid additives.

Second, according to the present invention, by applying a liquid additive injector having a simple structure in a washing machine employing centrifugal washing, not only does it solve the problem of noise caused by a member such as a conventional discharge hose, but also can always expect an accurate action. Provide high reliability.

Claims (5)

A first chamber provided at one side of the top cover and storing the first liquid additive; A second chamber provided on one side of an outer tub cover disposed directly below the first chamber, and storing a liquid additive introduced from the first chamber by a chamber guide inclined upward; Protrudes downward at the bottom of the second chamber to form a predetermined space that does not receive the dynamic pressure of the wash water to prevent the wash water from flowing back, and the liquid additive introduced from the second chamber on one side between the outer tank and the inner tank Liquid additive injector of the washing machine comprising an input tube is formed in the final inlet is introduced into the space of the. The method of claim 1, The inlet pipe is a liquid additive injector of the washing machine, characterized in that located above the outer tank and the inner tank. The method of claim 2, The final inlet of the inlet pipe is a liquid additive injector of the washing machine, characterized in that open toward the ground. The method of claim 3, wherein The final inlet is a liquid additive injector of the washing machine, characterized in that formed as a hole having a predetermined diameter or a slot having a predetermined width. The method of claim 1, The input pipe is a liquid additive injector of the washing machine, characterized in that provided on the bottom of the inclined surface of the outer cover inclined upward toward the inner tank side.