U.S. patent application number 14/567596 was filed with the patent office on 2015-04-02 for latch valve and flow control device using the same.
The applicant listed for this patent is Coway Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Ji-Hye JEONG, Sung-Worl JIN, Sun-Dug KWON, Man-Uk PARK, Young-Sang YUN.
Application Number | 20150090911 14/567596 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44798843 |
Filed Date | 2015-04-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150090911 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
YUN; Young-Sang ; et
al. |
April 2, 2015 |
LATCH VALVE AND FLOW CONTROL DEVICE USING THE SAME
Abstract
Provided is a simpler, more efficient, and more reliable latch
valve. The latch valve includes an inflow path and an outflow path
formed in a housing; a solenoid having a coil wound thereon; a
permanent magnet positioned at an upper portion of a plunger and
latching the plunger when the plunger is lifted; a spring
positioned between the permanent magnet and the plunger; a support
body having an inlet connected to the inflow path and an outlet
connected to the outflow path; a diaphragm having the support body
inserted therein; and the plunger lifted or lowered by a magnetic
force induced by the coil to open and close the outlet, wherein an
additional outflow path constantly communicating with a space part
between the support body and the plunger is provided to allow a
flow to be generated in the additional outflow path even when the
plunger is closed.
Inventors: |
YUN; Young-Sang; (Seoul,
KR) ; PARK; Man-Uk; (Seoul, KR) ; KWON;
Sun-Dug; (Seoul, KR) ; JIN; Sung-Worl; (Seoul,
KR) ; JEONG; Ji-Hye; (Seoul, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Coway Co., Ltd. |
Choongcheongnam-do |
|
KR |
|
|
Family ID: |
44798843 |
Appl. No.: |
14/567596 |
Filed: |
December 11, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
13639748 |
Oct 5, 2012 |
8936041 |
|
|
PCT/KR2010/006631 |
Sep 29, 2010 |
|
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14567596 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
251/65 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 137/86928 20150401;
F16K 31/404 20130101; F16K 31/082 20130101; Y10T 137/87917
20150401 |
Class at
Publication: |
251/65 |
International
Class: |
F16K 31/08 20060101
F16K031/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 15, 2010 |
KR |
10-2010-0034927 |
Claims
1. A latch valve comprising: an inflow path and an outflow path
formed in a housing; a solenoid having a coil wound thereon; a
permanent magnet positioned at an upper portion of a plunger and
latching the plunger when the plunger is lifted; a spring
positioned between the permanent magnet and the plunger; a support
body having an inlet connected to the inflow path and an outlet
connected to the outflow path; a diaphragm having the support body
inserted therein; and the plunger lifted or lowered by a magnetic
force induced by the coil to open and close the outlet, wherein an
additional outflow path constantly communicating with a space part
between the support body and the plunger is provided to allow a
flow to be generated in the additional outflow path even when the
plunger is closed.
2. The latch valve of claim 1, wherein the additional outflow path
of the second latch valve is formed in the housing surrounding the
plunger.
3. The latch valve of claim 2, wherein a stopper is formed in the
space part of the latch valve in order to prevent the support body
from lifting by more than a certain degree.
4. The latch valve of claim 3, wherein the stopper is formed on an
upper surface of the support body.
5. The latch valve of claim 3, wherein the stopper is formed of an
elastic member.
Description
PRIORITY
[0001] This application is a Divisional Application of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 13/639,748, which was filed in the U.S. Patent
and Trademark Office on Oct. 5, 2012, which is a National Phase
Entry of PCT International Application No. PCT/KR2010/006631, which
was filed on Sep. 29, 2010, and claims priority to Korean Patent
Application Serial No. 10-2010-0034927, which was filed in the
Korean Intellectual Property Office on Apr. 15, 2010, the entire
disclosure of each of which is incorporated herein by
reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a structure of a latch
valve capable of controlling a flow rate and a flow control device
using the latch valve, and more particularly, to a latch valve for
minimizing power consumption and a flow control device using the
same.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] In general, a flow control device uses a stepping motor or a
plurality of solenoid valves to control a flow rate. For example,
power is supplied, so the solenoid valves or the stepping motor is
operated by using the supplied power to control a flow rate.
[0006] The related art bidet controls a flow rate by using a
solenoid valve as shown in FIG. 1. In the solenoid valve 1, a
plunger 22 is usually in contact with a support body 21 of a
diaphragm 20 by virtue of an elastic force of a spring 5 to block
an outlet path 15, and when electricity is applied to a solenoid
SL, the plunger 22 is lifted up by a magnetic force generated from
the solenoid SL, allowing water introduced from an inflow path 10
to flow out to the outflow path 15 through a space part 30.
[0007] In the solenoid valve 1, the plunger 30 blocks the outlet
path 15 when no electricity is supplied to the solenoid SL, so
electrically is constantly supplied in an open state.
[0008] In general, in an area in which electricity is applied, a
flow rate can be controlled by using the solenoid valve 1.
Meanwhile, in an area in which electricity is not supplied, or in
order to reduce the use of electricity, power is generated by using
water introduced into a self-generation bidet and the bidet is
controlled by using generated power. In this case, however, the
amount of electricity generated by the introduced water is too
small to operate the solenoid valve 1.
[0009] A latch valve 2 adaptive to use less power is illustrated in
FIG. 2. In the latch valve 2, a magnetic force induced by supplying
electricity to a coil of a solenoid SL lifts the plunger 22 up,
against the elastic force of the spring 5, and in this case, the
plunger 22 can be maintained in an open position by virtue of the
magnetic force of a permanent magnet (M), although electricity is
not supplied to the solenoid SL. Thus, simply supplying power to
open or close the latch valve will do, compared with the solenoid
valve 1.
[0010] However, in the case of the latch valve which needs power
only when it is opened or closed, when the valve is closed, the
diaphragm 20 wobbles so as to hit the plunger 22.
[0011] In the case of the solenoid valve 1, although the diaphragm
20 wobbles to hit the plunger 22, when the solenoid valve becomes
balanced, the solenoid valve is closed, owing to the elastic force
of the spring 5 and the self-weight of the plunger 22, but in the
case of the latch valve 2, when the plunger 22 is excessively
pushed up, the plunger 22 is attached to the permanent magnet,
maintaining an open state.
[0012] In particular, it may be difficult for the self-generation
bidet to continuously or repeatedly use electricity, so the valve
is required to be more reliably operated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] The present invention has been made to address at least the
above problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the
advantages described below.
[0014] An aspect of the present invention is to provide a latch
valve consuming less power, having a simpler structure, and
guaranteeing reliable valve operation, and a flow control device
using the same.
[0015] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a flow control device comprising a plurality of latch
valves connected in series, and the second to the last latch
valves, among the latch valves connected in series, include an
additional outflow path constantly communicating with a space part
between a support body and a plunger, respectively, to allow water
from an inlet to constantly flow out to the additional outflow
paths.
[0016] The latch valve may comprise an inflow path and an outflow
path formed in a housing; a solenoid having a coil wound thereon; a
permanent magnet positioned at an upper portion of a plunger and
latching the plunger when the plunger is lifted; a spring
positioned between the permanent magnet and the plunger; a support
body having an inlet connected to the inflow path and an outlet
connected to the outflow path; a diaphragm having the support body
inserted therein; and the plunger lifted or lowered by a magnetic
force induced by the coil to open and close the outlet.
[0017] The plurality of latch valves may be first and second latch
valves, and an outflow path, along which water passes after having
passed through the outlet of the first latch valve may be connected
to an inflow path supplying water to the inlet of the second latch
valve.
[0018] According to another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a latch valve including: an inflow path and an outflow
path formed in a housing; a solenoid having a coil wound thereon; a
permanent magnet positioned at an upper portion of a plunger and
latching the plunger when the plunger is lifted; a spring
positioned between the permanent magnet and the plunger; a support
body having an inlet connected to the inflow path and an outlet
connected to the outflow path; a diaphragm having the support body
inserted therein; and a plurality of latch valves each having the
plunger lifted or lowered by a magnetic force induced by the coil
to open and close the outlet, wherein an additional outflow path
constantly communicating with a space part between the support body
and the plunger is provided to allow a flow to be generated in the
additional outflow path even when the plunger is closed.
[0019] In the latch valve or the flow control device, the
additional outflow path of the second latch valve may be formed in
the housing surrounding the plunger.
[0020] A stopper may be formed in the space part of the latch valve
in order to prevent the support body from lifting by more than a
certain degree.
[0021] The stopper may be formed on an upper surface of the support
body and may be formed of an elastic member.
[0022] The latch valve capable of controlling a flow rate with a
simpler structure at a low rate of power consumption, and the flow
control device can be provided.
[0023] In addition, the latch valve can be operated without causing
an error and consume minimum power, and the flow control device can
be provided.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0024] The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of
certain embodiments of the present invention will become more
apparent from the following detailed description when taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0025] FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the related art solenoid
valve;
[0026] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the related art latch
valve;
[0027] FIG. 3 is a plan view of a latch valve according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0028] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the latch valve according to
an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0029] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a flow control device
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0030] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the latch valve according to
an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and
[0031] FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view of the latch valve taken
along line A-A in FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0032] Various embodiments of the present invention are described
in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same or
similar components may be designated by the same or similar
reference numerals. Detailed descriptions of constructions or
processes known in the art may be omitted to avoid obscuring the
subject matter of the present invention.
[0033] Specifically, a latch valve and a flow control device using
the latch valve will now be described with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
[0034] FIG. 3 is a plan view of a latch valve according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention. A latch valve 101
includes a single inflow path 110, two outflow paths 116 and 117,
and an outlet path 115 in which the two outflow paths 116 and 117
meet.
[0035] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the latch valve according to
an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG.
4, a coil is wound on a solenoid SL at an inner side of a housing
127 in the latch valve 101. A plunger 122 and an iron core 129 are
disposed at an inner side of the solenoid SL. A permanent magnet M
is disposed at an upper portion of the iron core 129. A spring 125
is disposed in the iron core 129, and in this case, the spring 125
is disposed to push the plunger 122 toward an outlet 114.
[0036] A lower housing 128 includes an inflow path 110 and a first
outflow path 116. A diaphragm 120 made of a rubber material having
elasticity and a support body 121 made of a plastic material,
inserted into the diaphragm 120, and having an inlet 111 and the
outlet 114 are provided at end portions of the inflow path 110 and
the first outflow path 116. The inflow path 110 communicates with a
space part 130 through the inlet 111, and the first outflow path
116 communicates with the space part 130 through the outlet
114.
[0037] A second outflow path 117, an additional outflow path, is
formed in the space part 130 between the diaphragm 120 and the
support body 121 and the upper housing 127. A spring as a stopper
132 is mounted on an upper surface of the support body 121. The
stopper 132 may have a radius larger than that of the plunger 122,
so the stopper 132 preferentially meets the upper housing 127 to
prevent the support body 121 and the diaphragm 120 from
lifting.
[0038] In the latch valve 101, when a sealing part 123 of the
plunger 122 blocks the outlet 114 of the support body 121, the
plunger 122 of the latch valve 101 is in a closed position, and
when the sealing part 123 of the plunger 122 opens the outlet 114
of the support body 121, the plunger 122 of the latch valve 101 is
in an open position.
[0039] Even when the plunger 122 of the latch valve 101 is in the
closed position at which the outlet 114 is blocked, the inlet 110
and the space part 130 communicate and the space part 130 and the
second outflow path 117 communicate, so water introduced from the
inlet 110 can flow out through the second outflow path 117 formed
at the space part 130.
[0040] As illustrated in FIG. 4, when the plunger 122 is in the
open position in which the outlet 114 is open, water introduced
through the inlet 111 may be discharged to the second outflow path
117 communicating with the space part 130, as well as to the first
outflow path 116 through the outlet 114, and water which has been
discharged to the first outflow path 116 and water which has been
discharged to the second outflow path 117 meet the outlet path 115
so as to be provided to a nozzle of a bidet.
[0041] Thus, compared with the case in which the plunger 122 is in
the closed position, when the plunger 122 is in the open position,
an additional amount of water, namely, as large as the amount of
water which flows in the first outflow path 116, can flows, and the
flow rate of water passing through the latch valve 101 can be
controlled by moving the plunger 122 into the open position and the
closed position.
[0042] Also, as described above, in the related art latch valve,
the diaphragm made of a rubber material is deformed by a turbulent
flow generated when the plunger is moved to the closed position. In
particular, because both ends of the diaphragm are fixed to the
housing, the central portion of the diaphragm rises in a convex
shape, and the convex, the rising diaphragm and the support body
arrest the descending plunger, forcing the plunger not to descend
to the closed position, but to be maintained in the open position
in which the plunger clings to the permanent magnet.
[0043] In comparison, however, as shown in FIG. 4, in an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention, because the support body 121
includes the stopper 132, before the diaphragm 120 and the support
body 121 hit the plunger 122, the stopper 132 of the support body
121 meets the upper housing 127, so the plunger 122 can be
prevented from lifting due to the deformation of the diaphragm 120.
Also, because the stopper 132 is formed as a spring, an elastic
member, it can store force from the ascending diaphragm 120 and the
support 121 and apply it downwardly to help mount the diaphragm 120
and the support 121 on the lower housing 128.
[0044] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a flow control device 100
using a latch valve according to an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention. The latch valve 101 has the same configuration
as that illustrated in FIG. 4, except that the stopper 132 is not
formed therein, and a latch valve 102 has the same configuration as
that of the related art latch valve, except that the stopper 132 is
formed therein.
[0045] An outflow path 115 of the latch valve 102 is connected to
an inflow path 110 of the latch valve 101, so that only when the
latch valve 102 is open, water is supplied to the inflow path 110
of the latch valve 101.
[0046] In the flow control device according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention, the latch valves 101 and 102
are disposed in series, so that when the front latch valve 102 is
closed, there is no flow that passes through the flow control
device regardless of whether or not the latch valve 101 connected
to the latch valve 102 is open or closed. Also, when the latch
valve 102 is open and the latch valve 101 is closed, because the
latch valve 101 includes the second outflow path 117 communicating
with the space part 130, a certain flow can be obtained through the
second outflow path 117 of the latch valve 101, and when both the
latch valves 101 and 102 are all open, because a flow can be
obtained even by the first outflow path 116 as well as the second
outflow path 117, resulting in that a larger amount of flow can be
obtained compared with the case in which the latch valve 102 is
open and the latch valve 101 is closed.
[0047] The flow control device using the two latch valves 101 and
102 requires less power than controlling a flow by using a
plurality of solenoid valves or stepping motors of the related art,
so it can be used for a self-generation bidet that does not have
external power.
[0048] Also, no flow can be formed by simply moving one latch valve
to the closed position. That is no flow can be formed by less power
compared with the case in which the latch valves are disposed in
parallel. The self-generation bidet without having an external
power source cannot secure power on a regular basis, so when an
amount of power is small, the bidet requires an additional power
securing means. However, in the case in which the latch valves are
connected in series, one latch valve can be operated, and then,
when power is secured, another latch valve may be returned to its
original state.
[0049] In FIG. 5, the stopper 132 is mounted in the latch valve
102, but not in the latch valve 101. The front latch valve 102
serves to determine the presence or absence of a flow, so if
malfunction of the latch valve 102 is prevented, a problem in which
water continuously flows within the entirety of the flow control
device 100 can be solved. Also, when the front latch valve 102 is
in the closed state, there is no water introduced through the
inflow path 110 of the rear latch valve 101. Thus, compared with
the front latch valve 102, the problem that the diaphragm 120 hits
the plunger 122 is insignificant. In the present exemplary
embodiment, the stopper 132 is not disposed in the latch valve 101,
but the stopper 132 may be mounted in both latch valves 101 and
102.
[0050] The position of the second outflow path 117 of the latch
valve according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention
will now be described.
[0051] In FIGS. 4 and 5, the second outflow path 117 is formed in
the housing 127 at an outer side of the space part 130, and in
FIGS. 6 and 7, the second outflow path 117 is formed at a portion
surrounding the plunger 122 on the housing 127. When viewed from an
upper surface of the latch valve 102, the second outflow path 117
is formed at a different position from the first outflow path
116.
[0052] As shown in FIG. 7, a sectional view taken along line A-A'
of FIG. 6, the second outflow path 117 is formed on the housing 127
surrounding the plunger 122, specifically, on the housing 127 near
the plunger 122 when the plunger 122 is in the closed position.
[0053] Thus, because the second outflow path 117 is disposed on the
housing 127 surrounding the plunger 122, the second outflow path
117 can indirectly communicate with the space part 130, and thus,
it can be less affected by a turbulent current generated in the
space part 130 and has a simpler structure.
[0054] The exemplary embodiments of the latch valve and the flow
control device using the latch valve have been described, but the
present invention is not limited thereto and various modifications
can be obviously made.
[0055] In the above-described exemplary embodiments, the stopper
130 is mounted as an elastic member on the support body 121.
However, the stopper 130 may be formed on the housing 127, and
although the stopper 130 is made of a material, namely, a
non-elastic member, rather than an elastic member, it can prevent
the diaphragm 120 and the support body 121 from lifting.
[0056] Also, the method of controlling a flow by using two latch
valves have been described, but three or more latch valves may be
used to control a flow so long as the latch valves include the
second outflow path.
[0057] In addition, the flow control device using the latch valve
has been described to be used for a self-generation bidet, but the
flow control device according to an exemplary embodiment may be
also used for a general bidet, rather than the self-generation
bidet, or any other flow control device.
[0058] While the present invention has been shown and described
with reference to certain embodiments thereof, it will be
understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form
and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *