U.S. patent application number 14/179118 was filed with the patent office on 2015-07-02 for dehumidifier.
This patent application is currently assigned to Dongbu Daewoo Electronics Corporation. The applicant listed for this patent is Dongbu Daewoo Electronics Corporation. Invention is credited to Hyuk Jin LEE.
Application Number | 20150184875 14/179118 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53481266 |
Filed Date | 2015-07-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150184875 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LEE; Hyuk Jin |
July 2, 2015 |
DEHUMIDIFIER
Abstract
Disclosed is a dehumidifier. The dehumidifier may include a case
comprising an air inlet and an air outlet, a dehumidifying unit
which cools the air that enters the case through the inlet,
condenses water vapor in the air, and thus reduces humidity of the
air, a blowing unit which discharges the air having reduced
humidity through the air outlet, a first/lower water container
below the dehumidifying unit configured to collect the condensed
water from the dehumidifying unit, and second/upper water container
above the lower water container configured to receive the condensed
water from the first/lower water container using a pump.
Inventors: |
LEE; Hyuk Jin; (Seoul,
KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Dongbu Daewoo Electronics Corporation |
Seoul |
|
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
Dongbu Daewoo Electronics
Corporation
Seoul
KR
|
Family ID: |
53481266 |
Appl. No.: |
14/179118 |
Filed: |
February 12, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/93 ; 62/126;
62/129; 62/291 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 2003/1446 20130101;
F24F 13/222 20130101; F24F 3/1405 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F24F 3/14 20060101
F24F003/14; F25B 49/02 20060101 F25B049/02; F25D 21/14 20060101
F25D021/14 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 26, 2013 |
KR |
10-2013-0163992 |
Claims
1. A dehumidifier, comprising: a case that includes an air inlet
and an air outlet; a dehumidifying unit that reduces humidity of
air by cooling the air that enters the case through the air inlet
and condensing water vapor in the air; a blowing unit configured to
discharge or output the dehumidified air through the air outlet;
and a condensed water collecting unit, wherein the condensed water
collecting unit includes: a first water container below the
dehumidifying unit, configured to collect the condensed water from
the dehumidifying unit; and a second water container above the
first water container, configured to receive the condensed water in
or from the first container using a pump.
2. The dehumidifier of claim 1, wherein an upper or top surface of
the second water container is closed or sealed, and include a
handle thereon.
3. The dehumidifier of claim 1, wherein the dehumidifying unit
comprises a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve and an
evaporator through which a coolant is circulated.
4. The dehumidifier of claim 3, wherein the coolant exchanges heat
with the air in the evaporator, thus dehumidifying cooling the
air.
5. The dehumidifier of claim 1, further comprising: a water level
sensor configured to detect a water level of at least one of the
first water container and the second water container.
6. The dehumidifier of claim 5, further comprising: a controller
configured to control an operation of the pump based on water level
information of the first/lower and/or second/upper water containers
from the water level sensor, and inform a user that the
second/upper water container is full.
7. The dehumidifier of claim 5, wherein the water level sensor is
configured to detect the water level of the first water
container.
8. The dehumidifier of claim 7, further comprising: a controller
configured to inform a user that the second water container is full
based on water level information of the lower water container
received from the water level sensor and an amount of condensed
water flow from the lower water container to the upper water
container.
9. The dehumidifier of claim 8, wherein the controller further is
configured to inform the user that the second container is full
based on volume of the second container.
10. The dehumidifier of claim 1, wherein the condensed water
collecting unit comprises a condensed water supply hole at a lower
portion of the second/upper water container and through which the
condensed water passes, and a condensed water supply valve
configured to open and close the condensed water supply hole.
11. The dehumidifier of claim 10, wherein the condensed water
supplying valve comprises: a valve body a supporting member in the
condensed water supply hole.
12. The dehumidifier of claim 10, wherein the condensed water
supplying valve further comprises: an opening/closing member
located at an upper portion of the valve body that has a larger
diameter than the condensed water supplying hole.
13. The dehumidifier of claim 10, wherein the condensed water
supplying valve further comprises: a flange located at a lower
portion of the valve body.
14. The dehumidifier of claim 10, wherein the condensed water
supplying valve further comprises: an opening/closing driving
member on or along the valve body between the flange and the
supporting member, and compressed by a water pressure of the
condensed water when the condensed water is supplied to the second
water container through the condensed water supplying hole.
15. The dehumidifier of claim 1, further comprising the pump.
16. A method of dehumidifying air, comprising: condensing water
vapor in the air using a condenser; collecting condensed water in a
first container below the condenser; and pumping condensed water
through a one-way valve from the first container to a second
container above the first container.
17. The method of claim 16, further comprising: drawing air across
the condenser using a fan; and outputting dehumidified air using
the fan.
18. The method of claim 16, further comprising removing and
emptying the second container.
19. The method of claim 16, wherein collecting the condensed water
comprises collecting the condensed water in a condensed water
collecting unit that includes a condensed water supply hole below a
second water container and through which the condensed water
passes, and a condensed water supply valve configured to open and
close the condensed water supply hole.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is based on and claims priority from Korean
Patent Application No. 10-2013-0163992, filed on Dec. 26, 2013, the
disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by
reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a dehumidifier.
BACKGROUND
[0003] In general, a dehumidifier serves to reduce the indoor air
humidity by taking in the air, cooling the air using a heat
exchanger where the heat exchanger includes a condenser and an
evaporator through which a coolant flows, and discharging the
dehumidified air.
[0004] The heat exchanger reduces the air humidity, and cools the
air to the point that generates condensed water. The condensed
water is received in a water container located below of the heat
exchanger. The water container is periodically emptied by a user to
prevent the water container from overflowing.
[0005] However, since the water container is generally located
below the dehumidifier, it is inconvenient for the user to bend
down and lift up the water container to empty it. During the
transportation of the water container filled with the condensed
water, the water may spill.
[0006] Korean Patent Publication No. 2004-0029619 (published on
Apr. 08, 2004) may disclose a conventional dehumidifier.
SUMMARY
[0007] Embodiments of the present disclosure provides a
dehumidifier configured to facilitate transporting and emptying a
stored condensed water without a risk of spilling.
[0008] In one or more embodiments, the present disclosure provides
a dehumidifier comprising a case that includes an air inlet and an
air outlet, a dehumidifying unit configured to reduce air humidity
by condensing water vapor cooling the air that enters into the case
through the air inlet, a blowing unit configured to discharge or
output the dehumidified air through the air outlet, and a condensed
water collecting unit, wherein the condensed water collecting unit
includes a first or lower water container which is located below
the dehumidifying unit, configured to collect the condensed water
from the dehumidifying unit, an upper or second water container
above the first/lower water container and configured to receive the
condensed water from in the first/lower water container, and a pump
(e.g., configured to transfer the condensed water from the
first/lower container to the second/upper container).
[0009] The upper water container may have a closed or sealed top
surface with a handle.
[0010] The dehumidifying unit may include a compressor, a
condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator through which a
coolant is circulated, wherein the coolant exchanges heat with the
air in the evaporator, resulting in dehumidification and cooling
the air.
[0011] The dehumidifier may further include a water level sensor
configured to detect a water level of one of the first/lower water
container and the second/upper water container, and a controller
configured to control the pump operation based on water level
information of the first/lower and/or second/upper water containers
obtained from the water level sensor. In one embodiment, the water
level sensor is in the second/upper container, and informs a user
whether the second/upper water container is full of water (e.g., at
its highest level).
[0012] The dehumidifier may further include a water level sensor
configured to detect a water level of the first/lower water
container, and a controller configured to inform the user that the
upper water container is full of water (e.g., at its highest level)
based on the water level information of the first/lower water
container received from the water level sensor and amount of the
condensed water flow from the first/lower water container to the
second/upper water container.
[0013] The condensed water collecting unit may include a condensed
water supply hole in or at a lower portion (e.g., a lowermost
surface) of the second/upper water container and through which the
condensed water is enters, and a condensed water supply valve
configured to open and close the condensed water supply hole.
[0014] The condensed water supply valve may include a valve body in
a supporting member in the condensed water supply hole, an
opening/closing member at an upper portion (e.g., an uppermost
part) of the valve body having a larger diameter than the condensed
water supplying hole, a flange at a lower portion (e.g., a
lowermost part) of the valve body, and driving member at the valve
body s between the flange and the supporting member. The condensed
water supply valve is compressed by the pressure of the condensed
water when the condensed water is pumped or supplied to the
second/upper water container. The valve returns to its original
state (closed) when the flow of water to the second/upper container
stops.
[0015] The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not
intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative
aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further
aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by
reference to the drawings and the following detailed
description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an exemplary dehumidifier
according to one or more embodiments of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a view of an exemplary state in which a condensed
water supply hole of FIG. 1 is open according to one or more
embodiments of the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a view of an exemplary state in which a condensed
water supply hole of FIG. 1 is closed according to one or more
embodiments of the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an exemplary dehumidifier
according to one or more embodiments of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] In the following detailed description, reference is made to
the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. The
illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description,
drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other
embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without
departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented
here.
[0021] One or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure
will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which one or more exemplary embodiments
of the disclosure can be easily determined by those skilled in the
art. As those skilled in the art will realize, the described
exemplary embodiments may be modified in various different ways,
all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present
disclosure, which is not limited to the exemplary embodiments
described herein.
[0022] It is noted that the drawings are schematic and are not
necessarily dimensionally illustrated. Relative sizes and
proportions of parts in the drawings may be exaggerated or reduced
in their sizes, and a predetermined size is just exemplificative
and not limitative. The same reference numerals designate the same
structures, elements, or parts illustrated in two or more drawings
in order to exhibit the same or similar characteristics.
[0023] The disclosed embodiments of the present disclosure
illustrate ideal embodiments of the present disclosure in more
detail. As a result, various modifications of the drawings are
expected. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments are not limited to
a specific form of the illustrated region, and for example, include
modifications of form (e.g., by manufacturing).
[0024] Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention will
be described in detail with reference to accompanying drawings.
[0025] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an exemplary dehumidifier
according to one or more embodiments of the present invention. FIG.
2 is a view of an exemplary state in which a condensed water
supplying hole of FIG. 1 is open, and FIG. 3 a view of an exemplary
state in which a condensed water supply hole of FIG. 1 is closed
according to one or more embodiments of the present invention.
[0026] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a dehumidifier 10 according to
embodiment(s) of the present invention may include a case 100, a
dehumidifying unit 200, a blowing unit 300, a condensed water
collecting unit 400, a water level sensor 500 and a controller (not
shown). The case 100 comprises a frame having externally enclosing
the dehumidifier 10. The dehumidifying unit 200, the condensed
water collecting unit 400 and the water level detecting unit 500
may be in the case 100. The case 100 may include an air inlet 110
in a rear surface thereof to take in air, and an air outlet 120 in
an upper surface thereof to discharge or output the air after the
air is dehumidified by the dehumidifying unit 200. The case 100 may
include a control panel 130 at a front surface thereof configured
to allow a user to control an operation mode of the dehumidifier
10.
[0027] The control panel 130 may be connected or coupled to the
controller. When the condensed water collecting unit 400 fills up
with condensed water. The control panel 130 displays the
information, showing that the condensed water collecting unit 400
is filled with condensed water. The controller may also
automatically turn off or shut down the humidifier 10 when the
condensed water collecting unit 400 is full.
[0028] The dehumidifying unit 200 serves to reduce humidity of the
air. In the exemplary embodiment, the dehumidifying unit 200 may
remove water vapor from the air by cooling the air with a coolant.
A saturated humidity of the air is reduced when the temperature of
the air decreases, the air is cooled to a saturation point, and the
water vapor in the air is condensed to a liquid state, thus
reducing the humidity of the air.
[0029] The dehumidifying unit 200, configured to reduce the
humidity of the air according to the above-mentioned principle, may
include a compressor 210, a condenser 220, an expansion valve (not
shown) and an evaporator 230. The compressor 210, the condenser
220, the expansion value and the evaporator 230 are connected
through pipes tubes or lines wherein a coolant flows through the
pipe lines.
[0030] The compressor 210 may be located in a lower portion of the
case 100, and the evaporator 230 is located at or in a front side
of the air inlet 110. The air introduced through the air inlet 110
may exchange heat with the coolant in the evaporator 230. The
condenser 220 is located at or in a front side of the evaporator
230, and the expansion valve is connected between the condenser 220
and the evaporator 230.
[0031] In one embodiment, for example, the dehumidifying unit 200
dehumidifies the air using the coolant. The dehumidifying unit 200
may cool the air using other cooling means, such as low temperature
water or a thermoelectric cooling element. The dehumidifying unit
200 may remove the water vapor from the air and may generate the
condensed water in various manners.
[0032] The blowing unit 300 may serve to induce the air to enter
the case 100 and subsequently discharge or output the air outside
of the case 100. Additionally, the blowing unit 300 may serve to
cool the condenser 220 of the dehumidifying unit 200. The blowing
unit 300 is located at a front side (a left side of FIG. 1) of the
condenser 220 and below the air outlet 120. The blowing unit 300
may include a motor 310 and a fan 320 driven by the motor 310.
[0033] The condensed water collecting unit 400 is configured to
collect the condensed water generated from the dehumidifying unit
200, and may include a first/lower water container 410 in the lower
portion of the case 100, a second/upper water container 420 in an
upper portion of the case 100, and a pump 430.
[0034] The first/lower water container 410 is located below the
evaporator 230 and is configured to collect the condensed water
drops from the evaporator 230. As illustrated in the drawings, the
first/lower water container 410 may have a predetermined depth and
an opening. Additionally, the container may have one of various
shapes configured to collect the condensed water, such as
cylindrical, cubic, hexagonal, conical, combinations thereof,
etc.
[0035] The second/upper water container 420 may receive and store
the condensed water from the first/lower water container 410.
Specifically, the second/upper water container may receive the
condensed water in the lower water container 410 using the pump
430. The second/upper water container 420 may be a container with a
closed upper or top surface, and may also include a handle 421 on
the top surface thereof, such that a user may easily grasp the
upper water container 420. The second container may have an opening
and/or outlet in or near the uppermost surface, with a cap thereon
configured to removably seal the opening and/or outlet.
[0036] A condensed water supplying hole 422 may be at a lower
portion (e.g., in a lowermost surface) of the second/upper water
container 420 so that the second/upper water container 420 may
receive the condensed water from the pump 430. The condensed water
supply hole 422 may open and close by a condensed water supplying
valve 440.
[0037] The condensed water supply valve 440 may include a valve
body 441, an opening/closing member (e.g., a stopper) 442, a flange
443 and an opening/closing driving member 444. The valve body 441
may pass through a supporting member 424 in the condensed water
supply hole 422 and may move up and down in the condensed water
supplying hole 422. The supply member 424 may be attached at two or
more points to the second container wall 250 in or above the
condensed water supply hole 422, and have two or more openings
therein. The opening/closing member 442 has a larger diameter than
that of the condensed water supplying hole 422, and is located at
an upper portion (e.g., the uppermost surface) of the valve body
441. When the valve body 441 moves up in the condensed water supply
hole 422, the condensed water supply hole 422 is open, and when the
valve body 441 moves down (e.g., completely or all the way down) in
the condensed water supply hole 422, the condensed water supply
hole 422 is closed by the opening/closing member 442.
[0038] The opening/closing driving member 444 is configured to
provide driving force which moves down the valve body 441 when
there is little or no upward pressure on the flange 443, and is
located along the valve body 441 in a longitudinal direction in,
above and/or below the condensed water supplying hole 422. The
opening/closing driving member 444 may be an elastic member having
restoring force, such as a spring.
[0039] The supporting member 424 is located in the condensed water
supplying hole 422 and is configured to press the opening/closing
driving member 444 from an upper side thereof so that the
opening/closing driving member 444 generates the restoring force.
The flange 443 is located at a lower end of the valve body 441 and
is configured to press the opening/closing driving member 444 from
a lower side thereof.
[0040] The condensed water supplying valve 440 may have various
structures configured to open and close the condensed water
supplying hole 422, and is not limited to a particular structure
and type.
[0041] The first/lower and second/upper water containers 410 and
420 may be connected with each other through a transferring pipe
431, and the pump 430 is configured to pressurize and transfer the
condensed water collected in the lower water container 410 to the
upper water container 420. The transferring pipe 431 connected with
the second/upper water container 420 may communicate with or be
connected to the condensed water supplying hole 422, and a sealing
member 425 is between an upper end of the transferring pipe 431 and
the condensed water supplying hole 422 to transfer the condensed
water without any leakage.
[0042] The water level sensor 500 is configured to detect a water
level of the condensed water in the condensed water collecting unit
400, and may include a lower water level sensor 510 configured to
detect the water level of the condensed water received in the
first/lower water container 410 and an upper water level sensor 520
configured to detect the water level of the condensed water
received in the second/upper water container 420. The water level
sensor 500 is configured to transmit water level information of the
first/lower and second/upper water containers, 410 and 420, to the
controller.
[0043] The water level sensor 500 may be an electric conduction
type water level sensor configured to measure a water level by
applying a current to a conductive body, or a float based water
level sensor configured to measure the water level using a floating
member, or the like.
[0044] The controller is configured to control the operation mode
of the dehumidifier 10 and the state of the condensed water
collecting unit 400. Specifically, the controller is configured to
set a maximum water level (hereinafter, referred to a "threshold
water level") of the condensed water, receive the water level
information of the condensed water collecting unit 400 from the
water level detecting unit 500, and stop an operation of the pump
430 when the condensed water in the condensed water collecting unit
400 reaches the threshold water level. Furthermore, the controller
may be configured to provide a user with an alarm informing the
user that it is necessary to empty the condensed water in the upper
container 420.
[0045] Hereinafter, operations and effects of the dehumidifier 10
according to embodiment(s) of the present invention will be
described.
[0046] Air humidity of a room may be reduced using the dehumidifier
10. A user can operate the dehumidifier 10 through, the blowing
unit 300, and the dehumidifying unit 200 using the control panel
130. The air may be drawn into the case 100 through the air inlet
110 in the rear surface of the case 100 by the blowing unit 300,
and subsequently it may be cooled and dehumidified by the
dehumidifying unit 200.
[0047] In one embodiment, for example, the dehumidifying unit 200
may cool the air using a circulating coolant. Specifically, after
the coolant circulates the compressor 210, the condenser 220, and
the expansion valve, the coolant is changed to a low pressure gas.
The coolant exchanges heat with the air passing through the
evaporator 230 and evaporating in the evaporator 230. Further, the
air exchanges heat with the coolant, and loses heat to the coolant.
The air is cooled to its saturation point, and a part of the water
vapor in the air is condensed into a liquid. The condensed water
generated through the above-mentioned process drips down into the
first/lower water container 410 below the evaporator 230 by
gravity.
[0048] The blowing unit 300 is configured to discharge or output
the dehumidified air through the air outlet 120 located in the
upper or top surface of the case 100.
[0049] As air is continuously dehumidified, the amount of the
condensed water collected in the first/lower water container 410
gradually increases. When the water level in the first/lower water
container 410 reaches the threshold water level, the lower water
level sensor 510 detects and transmits the state of the first/lower
water container 410 to the controller.
[0050] The controller may operate the pump 430, and the pump 430
transfers the condensed water collected in the first/lower water
container 410 to the second/upper water container 420. The
condensed water may be transferred to the second/upper water
container 420 through the transferring pipe 431 and the condensed
water supplying hole 422. The condensed water pressurized by the
pump 430 may press the flange 443 of the condensed water supplying
valve 440 upwardly. Therefore, the valve body 441 and the
opening/closing member 442 is moved up, and the condensed water
supplying hole 422 is opened, and the condensed water may be
transferred to the second/upper water container 420. The
opening/closing driving member 444 may be compressed between the
flange 443 and the supporting member 424, and thus the restoring
force is generated at the opening/closing driving member 444.
However, since the restoring force of the opening/closing driving
member 444 is smaller than a water pressure of the condensed water,
the condensed water supplying hole 422 is maintained in an open
state.
[0051] If the air is further dehumidified, the second/upper water
container 420 also reaches the threshold water level, and the upper
water level sensor 520 may transmit the state information of the
second/upper water container 420 to the controller. When the
second/upper water container 420 fills with the condensed water,
the controller stops the operation of the pump 430, and condensed
water is not supplied to the upper water bucket 420 any longer.
Therefore, since external force which presses up the flange 443 is
removed, the flange 443, the valve body 441, and the
opening/closing member 442 moves down from the restoring force of
the opening/closing driving member 444. Thus, the condensed water
will no longer be supplied to the upper water container 420, and
water does not enter the pipe 431 from the second/upper container
420.
[0052] The controller may inform the user of the state of the
second/upper water container 420 through the control panel 130, and
the user may collect the second/upper water container 420 at the
upper portion of the case 100 and empty it (e.g., for example by
removing a cap secured to an opening in an upper surface of
container 420). Since the second/upper water container 420 has a
closed or sealed upper surface, the condensed water collected in
the second/upper water container 420 will not spill. Further, the
user may grasp the handle 421 of the second/upper water container
420 for easy removal and transportation of the container 420.
[0053] Hereinafter, a dehumidifier according to another embodiment
of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
4. However, since this embodiment is different from the previously
described embodiment, in terms of controlling the water level
sensor, only the difference is mainly described and the same
reference numerals are given to the same or corresponding parts in
both embodiments.
[0054] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an exemplary dehumidifier 10'
according to one or more embodiments of the present invention.
[0055] Referring to FIG. 4, in the dehumidifier 10' according to
another embodiment of the present invention, a water level sensor
500' configured to detect the state of the first/lower water
container 410 may be provided to the lower water container 410
only.
[0056] And the controller (not shown) is configured to control an
operation mode of the dehumidifier 10' and the state of the
condensed water collecting unit 400. The controller may control the
pump 430 based on the water level information of the first/lower
water container 410 received from the water level sensor 500' and
may recognize the water level state of the second/upper water
container 420.
[0057] Specifically, the controller is configured to set the
threshold water level of the second/upper water container 420, and
may calculate whether the second/upper water container 420 is
filled with the condensed water, based on the volume of the
second/upper container 420 and the amount of water transferred from
the first/lower water container 410 to the second/upper water
container 420. Therefore, if the second/upper water container 420
is filled with the condensed water, the controller may stop the
operation of the pump 430 and inform the user of the state of the
second/upper water container 420.
[0058] According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention,
it is possible to provide a dehumidifier which may easily discharge
the condense water.
[0059] Although exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are
described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, those
skilled in the art will understand that the present disclosure may
be implemented in various ways without changing the necessary
features or the spirit of the present disclosure. The scope of the
present disclosure will be interpreted by the claims below, and it
will be construed that all techniques within the scope equivalent
thereto belong to the scope of the present disclosure.
* * * * *