U.S. patent application number 11/494578 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-01 for detergent supplying apparatus of clothes washing machine.
This patent application is currently assigned to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Hyoung Hoon Roh, Yoon Seok Yang.
Application Number | 20070044517 11/494578 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37320901 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070044517 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yang; Yoon Seok ; et
al. |
March 1, 2007 |
Detergent supplying apparatus of clothes washing machine
Abstract
A detergent supplying apparatus in which bleach or rinse is not
supplied by mistake is disclosed. In order to directly discharge
water remaining in a siphon cap after siphonage, concave steps are
formed in the lower side of a siphon cap to form a passage between
the siphon cap and the bottom of liquid detergent storing chamber.
The detergent supplying apparatus includes a siphon cover having a
plurality of siphon caps and a rib extended from the siphon caps by
a predetermined length so that incorrect-coupling of the siphon
caps is prevented.
Inventors: |
Yang; Yoon Seok; (Seoul,
KR) ; Roh; Hyoung Hoon; (Suwon-si, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STAAS & HALSEY LLP
SUITE 700
1201 NEW YORK AVENUE, N.W.
WASHINGTON
DC
20005
US
|
Assignee: |
Samsung Electronics Co.,
Ltd.
Suwon-si
KR
|
Family ID: |
37320901 |
Appl. No.: |
11/494578 |
Filed: |
July 28, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
68/17R |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 39/022
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
068/017.00R |
International
Class: |
D06F 35/00 20060101
D06F035/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 30, 2005 |
KR |
2005-79899 |
Sep 8, 2005 |
KR |
2005-83703 |
Claims
1. A detergent supplying apparatus of a clothes washing machine
including a detergent reservoir with a liquid detergent storing
chamber for storing a liquid detergent, comprising: a siphon pipe
provided in the liquid detergent storing chamber and having a
predetermined height; a siphon cap for covering the siphon pipe and
having at least one concave step; and a passage formed between the
concave step and the bottom of the liquid detergent storing chamber
and communicating the inside with the outside of the siphon
cap.
2. The detergent supplying apparatus of a clothes washing machine
according to claim 1, wherein the minimal number of concave steps
is two and the concave steps are spaced apart from each other.
3. The detergent supplying apparatus of a clothes washing machine
according to claim 1, wherein a height difference between the
uppermost end of the concave step and the lowermost end of the
siphon cap is 2 mm to 7 mm.
4. The detergent supplying apparatus of a clothes washing machine
according to claim 1, wherein the bottom of the liquid detergent
storing chamber has a concave step formed in the part adjacent to
the lower outer circumference of the siphon cap.
5. A detergent supplying apparatus of a clothes washing machine
comprising: a detergent reservoir housing; a detergent reservoir
provided in the detergent reservoir housing and having a plurality
of liquid detergent storing chambers partitioned by a partition;
siphon pipes provided in the liquid detergent storing chambers; a
siphon cover including a plurality of siphon caps coupled with the
siphon pipes to perform siphonage; and a rib formed in the siphon
caps and extended by a predetermined length to prevent
incorrect-coupling of the siphon caps.
6. The detergent supplying apparatus of a clothes washing machine
according to claim 5, wherein the siphon caps further include an
extending part extended from a side thereof by a predetermined
length, and the rib is formed in the extending part.
7. The detergent supplying apparatus of a clothes washing machine
according to claim 5, further comprising a level indicator formed
in the outer circumference of the siphon cap to indicate a proper
supplying quantity of the detergent.
8. The detergent supplying apparatus of a clothes washing machine
according to claim 5, wherein in the lower ends of the siphon caps,
at least one concave step is formed.
9. The detergent supplying apparatus of a clothes washing machine
according to claim 5, wherein in the bottom of the liquid detergent
storing chambers, a concave step is formed in the part adjacent to
the outer circumferences of the siphon caps.
10. The detergent supplying apparatus of a clothes washing machine
according to claim 9, wherein a height difference between the
uppermost end of the concave step and the lowermost end of the
siphon cap is 2 mm to 7 mm.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent
Application Nos. 2005-79899 and 2005-83703, filed on Aug. 30 and
Sep. 8, 2005, respectively, in the Korean Intellectual Property
Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by
reference
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a detergent supplying
apparatus of a clothes washing machine, and more particularly, to a
detergent supplying apparatus of a clothes washing machine
including a device for preventing siphonage from continuing even
when supplying a small quantity of rinse or bleach again after the
siphonage in a discharging mode that the bleach and the rinse are
discharged due to the siphonage and a device for preventing a
siphon pipe from being incorrectly coupled with a siphon cover.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Generally, clothes washing machines are grouped by a drum
type clothes washing machine having a drum rotating about a
horizontal axis and a pulsator type clothes washing machine, and
these clothes washing machines commonly require a device for
supplying washing water and detergent for washing clothes.
[0006] Thus, the clothes washing machine includes a detergent
supplying device installed to a water line provided between a water
supplying valve connected to a water source and a washing tub, and
the detergent supplying device includes a detergent reservoir.
[0007] The detergent reservoir has a powder detergent chamber for
storing powder detergent, a liquid chamber for storing liquid
bleach and rinse such that the bleach and the rinse are inputted
into the washing tub due to siphonage using a siphon cap.
[0008] As shown in FIG. 1, the detergent reservoir 1 is partitioned
into a powder detergent chamber 2 for storing powder detergent and
two liquid detergent chambers 3 for respectively storing liquid
bleach and liquid rinse.
[0009] In the upper side of the detergent reservoir 1, guide plates
(not shown) in which guide passages suitable for respective storing
spaces are formed to guide washing water to be inputted, so that
the washing water is supplied into the powder detergent chamber 2
or the liquid detergent chambers 3 in a washing mode and a rinsing
mode. Moreover, the washing water supplied into the detergent
reservoir 1 is supplied into a washing tub (not shown) via a
discharging port provided at a rear side or at a lower side of a
detergent reservoir housing (not shown) for accommodating the
detergent reservoir 1.
[0010] In the liquid detergent chambers 3, siphon pipes 5 having a
predetermined height and communicated with the lower side of the
detergent reservoir 1 are covered with siphon caps 4, and the
detergent reservoir 1 has concave steps formed at the contact spots
contacting the lower sides of the siphon caps 4.
[0011] Thus, in a state of storing a predetermined quantity of the
bleach and the rinse in the liquid detergent chambers 3, when the
washing water is supplied from the guide plates, the levels of the
liquid detergent chambers 3 are gradually increased. When the
levels are equal to or greater than the height of the siphon pipes
5, the washing water is continuously discharged to the discharging
port (not shown) together with the bleach or the rinse through the
siphon pipes 5.
[0012] Such a siphonage is stopped when air is introduced into the
siphon caps 4 instead of the washing water, this occurs when the
levels are gradually lowered and finally reach the lower sides of
the siphon caps 4 due to the interruption of the washing water,
this can result in some of the washing water remaining in the
siphon caps 4 being discharged into the liquid detergent chambers 3
and causing the siphonage to again occur when the washing water is
supplied up to the height of the siphon pipes 5.
[0013] However, if due to the washing water remaining in the siphon
caps 4, some of the washing water remains in the detergent
reservoir 1, and a clothes washing machine is operated for a long
time without cleaning the detergent reservoir 1, buildup may be
generated between the siphon caps 4 and the steps so that the
washing water remaining in the siphon caps 4 does not flow to the
detergent reservoir 1 but remains even when the siphonage is
stopped by the siphon caps 4.
[0014] Thus, in this state, when liquid such as the bleach or the
rinse is supplied to the liquid detergent chambers 3, the siphonage
occurs and the liquid is directly discharged to the discharging
port even when the levels do not approach the height of the siphon
pipes 5, resulting in the bleach or the rinse being supplied by
mistake.
[0015] Moreover, since plural liquid detergent chambers 3 are
provided, when a plurality of siphon devices are provided, it is
inconvenient to provide the siphon caps 4 corresponding to and
coupled with the siphon pipes 5 and to couple the same with the
respective siphon pipes 5.
[0016] Due to the above reasons, in a case of providing a plurality
of integrated siphon caps, when coupling the siphon caps with the
siphon pipes, some of the siphon caps may not be properly coupled
with the siphon pipes. In the siphon pipes not coupled with the
siphon caps, the siphonage does not occur and it is impossible to
supply the rinse or the bleach.
[0017] Further, the upper sides of the siphon caps are blocked by
the inner upper sides of the detergent housing so that it is
inconvenient to open and close the detergent reservoir.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0018] The present invention has been made in view of the
above-mentioned problems, and an aspect of the invention is to
provide a detergent supplying apparatus in which bleach or rinse is
not supplied by mistake.
[0019] It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a
detergent supplying apparatus including a structure for preventing
a siphon cap from being incorrectly coupled by mistake.
[0020] In accordance with one aspect, the present invention
provides a detergent supplying apparatus of a clothes washing
machine including a detergent reservoir with a liquid detergent
storing chamber for storing a liquid detergent, including a siphon
pipe provided in the liquid detergent storing chamber and having a
predetermined height, a siphon cap for covering the siphon pipe and
having at least one concave step, and a passage formed between the
concave step and the bottom of the liquid detergent storing chamber
and communicating the inside with the outside of the siphon
cap.
[0021] The minimal number of concave steps may be two and the
concave steps may be spaced apart from each other.
[0022] Moreover, a height difference between the uppermost end of
the concave step and the lowermost end of the siphon cap is 2 mm to
7 mm.
[0023] The bottom of the liquid detergent storing chamber has a
concave step formed in the part adjacent to the lower outer
circumference of the siphon cap.
[0024] In accordance with another aspect, the present invention
provides a detergent supplying apparatus of a clothes washing
machine including a detergent reservoir housing, a detergent
reservoir provided in the detergent reservoir housing and having a
plurality of liquid detergent storing chambers partitioned by a
partition, siphon pipes provided in the liquid detergent storing
chambers, a siphon cover including a plurality of siphon caps
coupled with the siphon pipes to perform siphonage, and a rib
formed in the siphon caps and extended by a predetermined length to
prevent incorrect-coupling of the siphon caps.
[0025] The siphon caps may further include an extending part
extended from a side thereof by a predetermined length, and the rib
may be formed in the extending part.
[0026] Moreover, a level indicator is formed in the outer
circumference of the siphon cap to indicate a proper supplying
quantity of the detergent.
[0027] Additional aspects and/or advantages of the invention will
be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part,
will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by
practice of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] These and/or other aspects and advantages of the invention
will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the
following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings in which:
[0029] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a
detergent reservoir and siphon caps of a conventional detergent
supplying apparatus;
[0030] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a clothes washing
machine employing a detergent supplying apparatus according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0031] FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating the detergent
supplying apparatus of a clothes washing machine according to the
embodiment of the present invention;
[0032] FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating an assembly of a
detergent reservoir and a siphon cap of the detergent supplying
apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;
[0033] FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a siphon cover of
the detergent supplying apparatus according to the embodiment of
the present invention; and
[0034] FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating an assembly of a
detergent reservoir and a siphon cap of the detergent supplying
apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0035] Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of
the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the
accompanying drawings. The embodiments are described below to
explain the present invention by referring to the figures.
[0036] It should be noticed that a detergent supplying apparatus
according to the present invention can be applied to both drum type
and pulsator type clothes washing machines and for the convenience
of illustration, a detergent supplying apparatus applied to the
drum type clothes washing machine only will be described.
[0037] A drum type clothes washing machine, as shown in FIG. 2,
includes a cylindrical water tub 11 installed in a main body 10 to
accommodate washing water and a cylindrical washing tub 12
installed to rotate in the water tub 11 and having dehydrating
holes formed in a wall thereof. In the lower side of the water tub
11, a driving motor 13 is installed so that the washing tub 12 is
rotated in the water tub 11 forward and backward to perform the
process of washing, rinse, and dehydration. Moreover, the water tub
11 and the washing tub 12 have respective openings formed in the
front sides of the main body 10 enabling a user to put in and take
out laundry in the front of the main body 10, and a door 14 is
installed in the front of the main body 10 to open and close the
openings.
[0038] Moreover, in the upper side of the water tub 11, a water
supplying device 20 and a detergent supplying apparatus 30 are
respectively installed to supply washing water into the water tub
11 and detergent during the water supplying process. In the lower
side of the water tub 11, a drainage 16 including a drain pipe 16a
and a discharge pump 16b is installed to drain the washing water
from the water tub 11 after the washing process.
[0039] The water supplying device 20 is connected to an external
water supply hose (not shown) and includes a plurality of water
supply valves 21 and 22 for controlling water supply, a plurality
of water supply pipes 23a and 23b for connecting the water supply
valves 21 and 22 to the detergent supplying apparatus 30, and a
connection pipe 24 for guiding the washing water from the detergent
supplying apparatus 30 into the water tub 11.
[0040] The detergent supplying apparatus 30, as shown in FIG. 3,
includes a box-shaped detergent reservoir housing 31 having a front
opening 34 and a detergent reservoir 40 detachably installed in the
detergent reservoir housing 31 through the front opening 34. The
detergent supplying apparatus 30 is installed in the upper front
side of the main body 10 such that the detergent reservoir 40 can
be opened and closed like a drawer at the exterior of the main body
10.
[0041] The detergent reservoir housing 31 has a space formed
therein to accommodate the detergent reservoir 40, and includes a
front-and-top-opened lower case 33 and an upper case 32 coupled
with the upper side of the lower case 33 to cover the opened upper
side of the lower case 33.
[0042] The upper case 32 has an inner space and a plurality of
introducing ports 35a and 35b, formed in the rear side, to which
the respective water supply pipes 23a and 23b are connected such
that the washing water is supplied into the upper case 32. In the
bottom of the upper case 32, a plurality of water dispensing holes
36 are formed such that the washing water introduced into the upper
case 32 can be dispensed to the upper side of the detergent
reservoir 40.
[0043] Moreover, the lower case 33 has a discharge pipe 37 provided
in the rear side of the lower case 33 communicated with the
connection pipe 24 such that the washing water introduced into the
water dispensing holes 36 of the upper case 32 and the detergent in
the detergent reservoir 40 are supplied into the water tub 11, and
a downwardly inclined bottom for enabling the washing water in the
lower case 33 to easily flow to the discharge pipe 37.
[0044] The detergent reservoir 40, as shown in FIG. 4, has an
opened upper side and detergent storing chambers 43, 44, and 45
partitioned by partitions 41 and 42 into which detergent can be
supplied by type.
[0045] The first partition 41 has a predetermined thickness such
that a locking protrusion 41a is formed in the upper side thereof
to couple the detergent reservoir 40 with the detergent reservoir
housing 31. To this end, a thickness increasing part 41b for
increasing the thickness of the first partition 41 is provided in
the vicinity of the second partition 42.
[0046] The detergent reservoir 40 is partitioned into a powder
detergent storing chamber 43 for storing powder detergent and
liquid detergent storing chambers 44 and 45 for storing liquid
detergent such as bleach or rinse. The powder detergent storing
chamber 43 has a bottom downwardly inclined from the front side to
the rear side 43a.
[0047] Moreover, the liquid detergent storing chambers 44 and 45
are spaces partitioned into two chambers by the second partition 42
to store the bleach and the rinse and respectively include siphon
pipes 46 and 47 of a predetermined height to discharge the liquid
detergent with the washing water through the lower side of the
detergent reservoir 40 due to siphonage.
[0048] The siphon pipes 46 and 47 have hollow cylindrical shapes
upwardly protruded from the bottom of the detergent storing
chambers 44 and 45, through which the liquid detergent is supplied,
to form internal passages 46a and 47a. The siphon pipes 46 and 47
may be provided at positions adjacent to the second partition 42
for partitioning the liquid detergent storing chambers 44 and
45.
[0049] In the siphon pipes 46 and 47, the upper sides communicate
with the lower side of the detergent reservoir 40, the upper and
lower sides of the siphon pipes 46 and 47 are completely covered
with the siphon caps 61 and 62, the lower sides of the siphon caps
61 and 62 contact the lower side of the detergent reservoir 40, the
bottom of the liquid detergent storing chambers 44 and 45 such that
the upper sides of the siphon pipes 46 and 47 are spaced apart from
the upper sides of the siphon caps 61 and 62.
[0050] The lower sides of the siphon caps 46 have steps 64 upwardly
concaved from parts contacting the bottoms of the liquid detergent
storing chambers 44 and 45 so that passages are formed between the
steps 64 and the bottoms of the liquid detergent storing chambers
44 and 45 to communicate the insides of the siphon caps 61 and 62
with the outsides thereof.
[0051] Due to the steps 64, there is a height different between the
uppermost ends of the steps 64 of the siphon caps 61 and 62 and the
lowermost ends of the siphon caps 61 and 62 contacting the bottoms.
When the height difference is large, the sectional area of the
passages is increased.
[0052] However, since the point where the siphonage is rapidly
stopped corresponds to the increased height, much of the quantity
of washing water remains in the liquid detergent storing chambers
44 and 45. On the contrary, when the height difference is small,
the passages may be blocked by buildup, so that the problem that
occurred in the conventional apparatus cannot be solved.
[0053] Thus, the height difference is equal to or greater than 2 mm
to prevent the passages from being blocked due to buildup, and
preferably does not exceed 7 mm to allow minimal washing water to
remain.
[0054] Moreover, at a part of the bottom adjacent to the lower
outer circumferences of the siphon caps 61 and 62, a concave step
48 is formed to minimize the quantity of the washing water
remaining after the siphonage.
[0055] The siphon caps 61 and 62 corresponding to the liquid
detergent storing chambers are integrally formed with the siphon
cover 60.
[0056] The siphon cover 60, as shown in FIG. 4, is integrally
formed with the siphon caps 61 and 62 to be coupled with the siphon
pipes 46 and 47 in the liquid detergent storing chambers 44 and 45
such that the second partition 42 is inserted into a space between
the siphon caps 61 and 62.
[0057] In the siphon cover 60 employed in the detergent supplying
apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, a
rib 66 is protruded vertically and extended from the outer
circumference of the first siphon cap 61. The length of the rib 66
is greater than the distance between the siphon pipes 46 and 47 and
the second partition 42. An extending part 67 may extend from the
outer circumference of the first siphon cap 61 at a predetermined
height in parallel relation to the second partition 42, and the rib
66 may be perpendicular to the extending part 67.
[0058] The upper end of the extending part 67 serves as a level
indicator 67a for indicating a proper level where the liquid
detergent is supplied to the user. In the outer circumference of
the second siphon cap 62, a level indicator 62a is also protruded
horizontally.
[0059] In the detergent supplying apparatus 30 according to the
embodiment of the present invention, when the second siphon cap 62
is coupled with the siphon protrusion 47, a part of the extending
part 67 of the first siphon cap 61 is blocked by the thickness
increasing part 41b of the first partition 41, resulting in
preventing incorrect-coupling. Moreover, when the first siphon cap
61 is coupled with the second siphon pipe 46, the lower end of the
rib 66 of the first siphon cap 61 is blocked by the upper end of
the second partition 42, resulting in preventing
incorrect-coupling.
[0060] Hereinafter, another embodiment of the present invention
will be described with reference to FIG. 6. The same components as
the above preferred embodiment will be omitted and identical
numerals are assigned to similar components.
[0061] In a detergent reservoir 40 according to another preferred
embodiment of the present invention, the first partition 41
includes a step 41c having an increased width and formed in a side
of the first partition 41 and a locking protrusion 41a formed in
the upper side of the step 41c.
[0062] In the outer circumferences of the first and second siphon
caps 61 and 62, ribs 68a and 68b protrude vertically therefrom and
extend by a predetermined length. The protruded length of the ribs
68a and 68b is greater than the distance between the siphon pipes
46 and 47 and the second partition 42. The first and second siphon
caps 61 and 62 may also have level indicators 69a and 69b protruded
horizontally from the outer circumferences thereof.
[0063] In the detergent supplying apparatus 30 according to another
embodiment of the present invention, when the second siphon cap 62
is coupled with the first siphon pipe 47, the rib 68b of the second
siphon cap 62 is blocked by the upper end of the second partition
42, resulting in preventing incorrect-coupling. When the first
siphon cap 61 is coupled with the second siphon pipe 46, the rib
68a of the first siphon cap 61 is blocked by the upper end of the
second partition 42, resulting in preventing
incorrect-coupling.
[0064] Hereinafter, the detergent supply and the washing water
supply in a clothes washing machine employing the detergent
supplying apparatus according to the preferred embodiments of the
present invention will be described.
[0065] After inputting the liquid detergent into the liquid
detergent storing chambers 44 and 45 if necessary, the user pushes
the detergent reservoir 40 into the detergent supplying apparatus
30. Then, in the liquid detergent storing chambers 44 and 45, the
siphonage occurs until the level exceeds the height of the siphon
pipes 46 and 47.
[0066] Thus, the liquid detergent must be supplied to the proper
level corresponding to the level indicators 62a and 67a such that
the liquid detergent does not exceed the height of the siphon pipes
46 and 47.
[0067] After pushing the detergent reservoir 40 in, when the
clothes washing machine is driven and the washing water is
supplied, the washing water supplied through the water supply
valves 21 and 22 (See FIG. 2) is supplied into the detergent
supplying apparatus 30 through the water supply pipes 23a and 23b
and the introducing ports 35a and 35b.
[0068] The washing water supplied into the detergent reservoir 30
is injected to the upper sides of the detergent storing chambers
43, 44, and 45 of the detergent reservoir 40 through the water
dispensing holes 36 of the upper case 32.
[0069] At that time, since the level of the liquid such as the
detergent and the washing water supplied into the liquid detergent
storing chambers 44 and 45 is higher than the upper ends of the
siphon pipes 46 and 47, the liquid starts to be discharged through
the internal passages 46a and 47a.
[0070] Next, after a predetermined time has lapsed, when the water
supply valves 21 and 22 are closed and the supply of the washing
water is stopped, the level of the detergent reservoir 40 is
gradually decreased, and when the level is lowered to the uppermost
end of the concave step 64, air is introduced into the siphon caps
61 and 62.
[0071] Due to this, the levels of the siphon caps 61 and 62 lower
and inner pressure of the siphon caps 61 and 62 becomes atmospheric
pressure so that the liquid in the siphon caps 61 and 62 is
discharged into the liquid detergent storing chambers out of the
siphon caps 61 and 62.
[0072] As described above, in the detergent supplying apparatus
according to the embodiments of the present invention, the bottoms
of the siphon caps 61 and 62 have the concave steps 64 to form the
passages.
[0073] Thus, although the detergent reservoir 40 is not washed for
a long time, since the insides of the siphon caps 61 and 62
maintain the depressed state after the siphonage, the locking
phenomenon in that the liquid remains in the siphon caps 61 and 62
does not occur.
[0074] Moreover, since the liquid is discharged into the liquid
detergent storing chambers 44 and 45 and the siphonage occurs
before the level reaches a critical level where the siphonage
occurs, the liquid detergent is prevented from
incorrect-supplying.
[0075] Moreover, the rib 66 is provided to the siphon caps 61 and
62 to prevent the incorrect-coupling of the siphon cover 60 so that
the liquid detergent can be smoothly supplied and the detergent
reservoir 40 is also smoothly opened and closed.
[0076] Although a few embodiments of the present invention have
been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled
in the art that changes may be made in this embodiment without
departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the
scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *