Washing machine with detection device

Abstract

A washing machine including a combined detecting device adapted to detect both a water level and vibration of the washing machine. The washing machine includes a water tub adapted to contain wash water, a washing device adapted to wash laundry contained in the water tub, and a combined detecting device which detects both a water level and vibration of the water tub. The combined detecting device includes a case coupled to the water tub and having an inlet for use in the passage of air, a pressure pipe connected between a lower portion of the water tub and the inlet of the case, a pressure sensor which detects pressure variation in the case, and a vibrator member reciprocably installed in the case and which induces the pressure variation in the case during generation of the vibration.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2004-36204, filed on May 21, 2004 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] An apparatus consistent with the present invention relates to a washing machine and, more particularly, to a washing machine comprising a combined detecting device capable of detecting not only a water level, but also a vibration in the washing machine. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] In general, a washing machine comprises a water level sensor adapted to detect the level of wash water supplied in a water tub during wash and rinse cycles, and a vibration sensor adapted to detect a vibration of the water tub generated during a high-speed spin-dry cycle. Such a water level sensor enables the control of water supply operation of the washing machine accor...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010] The present invention has been made in view of the above mentioned problems, and an aspect of the invention is to provide a washing machine comprising a combined detecting device, which can detect both a water level and a vibration of the washing machine, and exhibit easy manufacture and competitive manufacturing costs by virtue of a simplified structure thereof.

[0011] Another aspect of the invention is to provide a washing machine comprising a combined detecting device capable of accurately detecting the presence and magnitude of fine vibrations.

Problems solved by technology

In such a conventional washing machine, however, since the water level sensor and the vibration sensor are provided as individual parts, and thus are mounted at separate positions in the washing machine, the number of overall parts of the washing machine increases, and the number of manufacturing steps also increases, resulting in a deterioration in price competitiveness.

In the case of the above described sensor, although it takes the form of a single unit capable of detecting both the water level and vibration of the washing machine, it comprises the diaphragm, core, coil, etc., as elements used only to detect the water level, and the vibration detector having the inclined surface and the rolling member, as elements used only to detect the vibration, resulting in an increase in the number of overall elements, and a complicated structure.

Such a conventional sensor is difficult to manufacture, and exhibits high manufacturing costs.

Further, in principle, the sensor can detect the vibration of the washing machine only through movement of the rolling member induced when the vibration is generated, and this makes it difficult to detect the presence and magnitude of fine vibrations.

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