JPS6135193Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] The present invention relates to a water level control device for a washing machine. Specifically, an air trap detects fluctuations in water pressure in a washing tub, and uses the fluctuations in water pressure as fluctuations in air pressure to connect an air hose. In particular, by improving the shape of the air trap, the communication part that communicates between the air trap and the air hose can be blocked by lint or dirt, or by a film of scattered water. The purpose of this invention is to prevent water from being covered by water, to ensure accurate transmission of air pressure, and to improve reliability of water level control with a simple configuration.

Fig. 1 shows the air trap structure in a conventional water level control device of this type, in which the air trap body a is fixed to a pot frame c at the bottom of the washing tub via an elastic material b such as rubber, and an air hose d.
A communicating portion e is straight and perpendicular to the inclined upper surface f of the air trap body a. g is a washing tub, and h is a drainage pot.

According to the above configuration, when the drain tank h is opened after washing is completed and the drain tank h is closed while the washing liquid is being drained, the washing liquid in the tank frame c becomes undulating due to the change in water pressure, and the air trap body a The washing liquid may splash inside, and dirt such as bubbles and lint may adhere to the inside of the air trap body a. Also, the washing liquid that has splashed onto the top surface f of the air trap body may flow along the slope. , there is a possibility that a film may be applied to the communication portion e of the air hose d. In addition, the splashed washing liquid may be removed from the communication part e of the air hose d.
Sometimes it can be reached directly.

If this situation is repeated, detergent scum, lint, etc. will accumulate and block the communication part e.
Air pressure was not transmitted to the pressure switch, making it impossible to control the water supply means at a predetermined water level, resulting in water overflowing from the upper end of the washing tub.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems with a simple structure, and embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. In the figure, 1 is the main body of the washing machine, 2 is a washing tub, and a pulsator for agitating clothes is arranged at the inner bottom of the washing tub (not shown). Further, the lower part of the washing tub 2 is connected to a pot frame 4 having a drainage pot 3. An air trap main body 6, which constitutes an air chamber 6' communicating with an air hose 5, is inserted and fixed by adhesive or the like in a watertight and airtight manner into the upper wall portion of the frame 4. The upper end of the air hose 5 is connected to a pressure switch 8 placed in the operation box 7 for detecting the water level in the washing tub 2.
is connected to.

The pressure switch 8 indicates that the water level in the washing tub 2 is low.
When the air pressure transmitted through the air trap body 6 and the air hose 5 is small, the water supply solenoid valve 9, which is the water supply means, is energized to operate the water supply operation, and when the water level rises and the air pressure reaches a predetermined value. In this case, the electricity supply is cut off and the water supply is stopped. 10 is a motor for driving the pulsator.

In the above configuration, when water for washing is supplied from the water supply solenoid valve 9, the air chamber 6' receives a water head corresponding to this water level at a predetermined water level as water pressure, and transmits it to the pressure switch 8 via the air hose 5. The contacts inside the pressure switch 8 are switched to stop the operation of the water supply solenoid valve 9 and to operate the drive source such as the motor 10.

Next, the details of the air trap structure will be explained. The air trap 6 constituting the air chamber 6' has a cylindrical part 6a at the bottom that is inserted into the cylindrical part 4a of the cock frame 4 and is fixed in a watertight and liquid-tight manner with an adhesive. The end portion 6b protrudes inward from the frame 4. Note that the end portion 6b makes it difficult for the movement of liquid within the container frame 4 to affect the liquid within the air trap body 6.

Further, the air trap main body 6 has a communicating portion 12 of the air hose 5 connected to its upper surface 6c via a stepped portion 11. The inner diameter of the stepped portion 11 is the communicating portion 12
is larger than that of The air trap main body 6 has a cylindrical portion 6a, a stepped portion 11, and a communicating portion 12 integrally molded from resin. Also,
The communication portion 12 does not lie on the vertical line of the liquid level within the air trap body 6, but is in other words inclined with respect to the vertical direction.

Further, the upper surface 6c of the air trap main body 6 is inclined downward toward the opening facing into the air chamber 6' of the stepped part 11, and due to this inclination, a bent part 13 is formed at the boundary with the stepped part 11. Something is formed.

Note that the inner diameter of the stepped portion 11 is made sufficiently larger than the maximum diameter necessary for the drainage liquid to form a membrane due to its surface tension.

According to the above configuration, the communication portion 12 of the air hose 5
Due to the stepped part 11, the air trap can be placed at a higher position than the conventional one with respect to the liquid level in the air trap main body 6, and the possibility that splashes of washing liquid will reach the communication part 12 can be extremely reduced. . Also,
The communication part 12 of the air hose 5 is not arranged angularly on the vertical line of the liquid level, and the upper surface 6c of the air trap main body 6 becomes an obstacle. This eliminates the problem that the droplets directly reach the vicinity of the communication portion 12 of the air hose 5.

Furthermore, although the washing liquid splashed onto the upper surface 6c of the air trap main body 6 reaches the bent part 13 along the inclined surface, the stepped part 11 is larger than the maximum diameter necessary for the liquid to form a film due to surface tension. Since the inner diameter is sufficiently large, the liquid drips onto the stepped portion 11 without forming a film.

In addition, in FIG. 3, if the upper surface 6c of the air trap main body 6 is shaped as shown by the two-dot chain line A, the splashed washing liquid will flow into the communication part 12 of the air hose.
There is a possibility that the washing liquid that reaches directly or adheres to the vicinity of the communication section 12 moves due to vibrations caused by operations such as during spin-drying or washing, and forms a film on the communication section 12. However, by providing the stepped portion 11, this problem does not occur.

Further, as in the comparative example shown in FIG. 4, it is possible to obtain the same effect as the present embodiment by connecting the air trap body 6 and the frame 4 through the bent pipe 14. Providing the bent tube 14 inevitably increases the number of parts and the number of assembly steps.

As described above, according to the present invention, by slightly improving the shape of the air trap, when the communication part of the air hose is blocked by accumulated detergent scum, lint, or even a film of scattered liquid, This eliminates the risk of air pressure being transmitted to the pressure switch, ensuring reliable operation of the pressure switch, and thereby preventing abnormal operation of the water supply means and preventing flooding accidents. can.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a sectional view showing a conventional air trap structure, Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing the air trap structure, and Fig. 4 is a comparison of the same structure. It is a sectional view showing an example. 2...Washing tub, 4...Kotuku frame, 5...
Air hose, 6... Air trap body, 8... Pressure switch, 9... Water supply solenoid valve (water supply means), 1
1...Stepped part, 12...Communication part.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] An air trap is placed on the tank frame that connects the bottom of the washing tank and the drain tank to sense fluctuations in water pressure inside the washing tank, and an air trap is connected to this air trap via an air hose to detect changes in air pressure caused by fluctuations in water pressure. and a pressure switch that operates to control the water supply means into the washing tub, and the air trap is equipped with:
A communication part for the air hose is provided on the upper surface of the air trap main body constituting the air chamber via a stepped part, and the inner diameter of the stepped part is made larger than that of the communication part, and the air trap is connected to the cock frame. A water level control device for a washing machine in which a communicating part of an air hose is arranged in substantially the same direction as the center line of a cylindrical part that communicates and is fixed.