An air circuit breaker and a dishwasher

By designing the special structure of the air circuit breaker, the noise and flow obstruction problems caused by bubbles in tap water are solved, and smooth and quiet water flow is achieved.

CN110870744BActive Publication Date: 2025-10-10QINGDAO HAIER DISHWASHER
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Patent Information

Application Number
CN201811005930.0
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Patents(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2018-08-30
Publication Date
2025-10-10
Estimated Expiration
2038-08-30

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Air bubbles mixed into tap water when it is fed into the dishwasher can cause noise and prevent the water from flowing smoothly.

Method used

An air circuit breaker is designed, comprising a tubular body, a water inlet at the top of the tube cavity, a water outlet at the bottom, and an air vent on the side, which is arranged vertically to discharge bubbles. The special shapes of the upper and lower cavities and the reinforcing rib structure ensure smooth water flow.

Benefits of technology

Effectively discharge bubbles, avoid noise and ensure smooth water flow, prevent bubbles from blocking water flow, and improve assembly stability and sealing.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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  • Figure CN110870744B_ABST
    Figure CN110870744B_ABST
Patent Text Reader

Abstract

The application discloses an air circuit breaker and a dish washing machine, which comprises a tubular body, the body has a through cavity from the top to the bottom, the top port of the cavity is a water inlet, the bottom port of the cavity is a water outlet, and the body is provided with an air port communicated with the cavity on one side. The air circuit breaker is vertically arranged during use, water flows into the water inlet on the top and flows out of the water outlet on the bottom, and bubbles are discharged through the air port communicated with the cavity during the water flowing through the cavity. Therefore, the water flowing in the water flow channel at the rear end of the air circuit breaker does not contain bubbles, the noise caused by the impact of the bubbles on the pipeline can be avoided, and the bubbles can prevent the water from flowing in the water flow channel.
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Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to an air circuit breaker. BACKGROUND

[0002] Air is mixed into the water in the process of supplying water from a water pipe to a dishwasher, and air bubbles appear in the water path. Due to the air bubbles, noise is generated during the water supply process, and the bubbles block the smooth flow of water in the water flow channel. SUMMARY

[0003] The present application is proposed to solve the technical problem that noise is generated and the smooth flow of water is blocked due to the presence of air bubbles in the existing water flow channel, and an air circuit breaker can solve the above problems.

[0004] To solve the above technical problems, the present application adopts the following technical solutions:

[0005] An air circuit breaker comprises a tubular body, the body has a tubular cavity passing through from the top to the bottom, the top port of the tubular cavity is a water inlet, the bottom port of the tubular cavity is a water outlet, and the body is provided with an air port on one side, which is in communication with the tubular cavity.

[0006] Further, the tubular cavity comprises an upper cavity above the air port and a lower cavity below the air port, and the central axes of the upper cavity and the lower cavity coincide.

[0007] Further, the inner diameter of the upper cavity is funnel-shaped, the inner diameter of the lower cavity is inversely funnel-shaped, and the lower port of the upper cavity coincides with the central axis of the lower cavity.

[0008] Further, the lower port of the upper cavity coincides with the projection of the upper port of the lower cavity in the vertical direction.

[0009] Further, the top of the body has an outwardly folded edge.

[0010] The outer surface of the body below the outwardly folded edge forms a ring-shaped step, and a closed first groove is formed between the ring-shaped step and the outwardly folded edge.

[0011] Further, the bottom of the body is formed with at least one second groove for accommodating a sealing ring along the outer circumferential direction.

[0012] Further, the air port has two air ports, which are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the body.

[0013] Further, the outer surface of the body is formed with a plurality of reinforcing ribs along the length direction thereof.

[0014] The present invention also proposes a dishwasher, comprising a water inlet chamber having a water inlet chamber entrance and a water inlet chamber outlet, wherein the water inlet chamber entrance is connected to an external water source via a water inlet pipe, and further comprising an air circuit breaker as described in any of the foregoing items, wherein the water inlet is connected to the water inlet chamber outlet.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the advantages and positive effects of the present invention are: the air circuit breaker of the present invention is set upright when in use, water enters from the water inlet at its top and flows out from the water outlet at its bottom. As water flows through its tube cavity, bubbles are discharged through the air port connected to the tube cavity. Therefore, the water flowing in the water flow channel at the rear end of the air circuit breaker no longer contains bubbles, which can avoid the noise generated by the collision of bubbles with the pipeline, and at the same time can prevent bubbles from blocking the flow of water in the water flow channel.

[0016] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent after reading the detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative work.

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic structural diagram of an embodiment of the air circuit breaker proposed by the present invention;

[0019] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 The main view;

[0020] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 C-section view;

[0021] Figure 4 This is a schematic structural diagram of an embodiment of a dishwasher proposed by the present invention;

[0022] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 A-direction sectional view;

[0023] Figure 6 yes Figure 4 B-direction sectional view;

[0024] Figure 7 yes Figure 4 Stereoscopic image. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] The following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0026] Example 1

[0027] like Figures 1-4 As shown, this embodiment provides an air circuit breaker 14, comprising a tubular body 141. The body 141 has a tubular cavity 142 extending from top to bottom. The top end of the tubular cavity 142 serves as a water inlet 142a, and the bottom end of the tubular cavity serves as a water outlet 142b. A gas outlet 143 is provided on one side of the body and communicates with the tubular cavity 142. The air circuit breaker of this embodiment is primarily used in water flow channels to expel bubbles from a water flow. During use, the air circuit breaker is erected and has a tubular cavity for water flow therein. One end of the tubular cavity serves as a water inlet, and the other end serves as a water outlet. Preferably, the top end of the tubular cavity serves as the water inlet, and the bottom end of the tubular cavity serves as the water outlet. Water entering the tubular cavity flows downward under its own gravity, and bubbles are expelled as it flows through the gas outlet. Consequently, water flowing in the water flow channel at the rear end of the air circuit breaker is free of bubbles, thereby avoiding noise caused by bubbles colliding with the pipe and preventing bubbles from blocking water flow in the water flow channel.

[0028] Lumen 142 comprises an upper chamber 1421 located above air port 143 and a lower chamber 1422 located below air port 143. Upper chamber 1421 and lower chamber 1422 are located on the same vertical axis. Because the air circuit breaker is positioned upright during use, water passing through upper chamber 1421, after flowing through air port 143 and expelling air, rapidly flows into lower chamber 1422 under the influence of water pressure and gravity, and then flows out through water outlet 142b.

[0029] In order to reduce the pressure loss caused by water flowing through the air circuit breaker, the inner diameter of the upper cavity 1421 is larger at the top and smaller at the bottom, and the transition from the top to the bottom is smooth, forming a funnel shape, which can play a role in boosting pressure. The inner diameter of the lower cavity 1422 is smaller at the top and larger at the bottom, and the transition from the top to the bottom is smooth, forming an inverted funnel shape, which can play a role in maintaining pressure. The lower port of the upper cavity 1421 coincides with the central axis of the upper port of the lower cavity 1422, so that the water flowing through the upper cavity 1421 can smoothly enter the lower cavity 1422 due to the action of inertia.

[0030] In order to make the water flowing through the upper cavity 1421 flow into the lower cavity 1422 quickly, the lower port of the upper cavity 1421 is preferably coincident with the projection of the upper port of the lower cavity 1422 in the vertical direction, that is, the water flowing through the upper cavity 1421 is simultaneously affected by the inertia and gravity, and can quickly flow into the lower cavity 1422.

[0031] In order to facilitate the assembly of the air circuit breaker in the water flow channel of the dishwasher, the top of the body 141 has an outwardly folded outer flange 144, and the outer surface of the body 141 is located below the outer flange 144 to form a ring-shaped step 145, and a closed first groove 146 is formed between the ring-shaped step 145 and the outer flange 144. When assembled, the clamping structure matched outside is clamped into the first groove 146 to fix the upper end of the air circuit breaker, and an O-shaped sealing ring can be arranged in the first groove 146 to achieve the sealing effect of the waterway.

[0032] In order to improve the stability of the air circuit breaker 14 during assembly and prevent it from being tilted and unable to be vertically arranged due to long-term water flow impact, at least one second groove 147 for accommodating a sealing ring is preferably formed on the bottom of the body 141 along the outer circumferential direction. When assembled, the clamping structure matched outside is clamped into the second groove 147 to fix the lower end of the air circuit breaker, and an O-shaped sealing ring can be arranged in the second groove 147 to achieve the sealing effect of the waterway.

[0033] When the air circuit breaker 14 is assembled in the dishwasher, due to the limited internal space of the dishwasher, one side or multiple sides of the air circuit breaker can be closely adjacent to the waterway plate. In order to prevent the air port from being blocked by the wall of the waterway plate due to the incorrect rotation position of the air circuit breaker, the air port preferably has two symmetrically arranged air ports on both sides of the body 141, which can ensure effective air exhaust in various cases.

[0034] In order to improve the strength of the air circuit breaker 14 and enable it to withstand the water flow impact force for a long time without deformation, a plurality of reinforcing ribs 148 are preferably formed on the outer surface of the body 141 along the length direction thereof.

[0035] Embodiment Two

[0036] The embodiment provides a dishwasher, as shown in the drawings, which comprises: Figure 4-Figure 7

[0037] A water inlet cavity 11 having a water inlet cavity inlet 110, a water inlet cavity outlet 111 and a water supplement port 112, the water inlet cavity inlet 110 is connected with a water source (such as a water pipe) through a water inlet pipe;

[0038] ​The soft water chamber 12 has a soft water chamber inlet, a soft water chamber outlet, and a brine replacement port 122. The soft water chamber 12 contains a softening resin (not shown). The soft water chamber inlet is connected to the water inlet chamber outlet 111, and the soft water chamber outlet is connected to the inner tank.

[0039] The saline chamber 13 has a saline chamber inlet 131 and a saline chamber outlet 132 . The saline chamber inlet 131 is connected to the water replenishment port 112 , and the saline chamber outlet 132 is connected to the saline replacement port 122 .

[0040] The water inlet chamber 11 is located above the softening chamber 12, the water inlet chamber inlet 110 is located at the top of the water inlet chamber 11, and the water inlet chamber outlet 111 is located at the bottom of the water inlet chamber 11. A water valve is provided between the water inlet chamber inlet 110 and the water source. The water valve is controlled by a controller to allow water to enter the water inlet chamber 110. Tap water enters from the water inlet chamber inlet 110, flows downward under the action of its own gravity, and enters the softening chamber 12 through the water inlet chamber outlet 111. The softening chamber 12 is filled with softening resin or other water softeners that can absorb Cl, Ca, Mg ions. The softening resin absorbs Cl, Ca, Mg ions in the water, and the softened water after absorption flows into the inner tank of the dishwasher through the softening chamber outlet. That is, the function of the softening resin in the soft water chamber is to remove Cl, Ca, Mg ions in the tap water.

[0041] The brine chamber 13 can be filled with regeneration salt and mixed with water to form brine. Here, for the convenience of purchasing, the regeneration salt is preferably edible salt (mainly containing NaCl). Of course, the regeneration salt can also be other substances that can wash away Cl, Ca, Mg ions on the softener, and there is no limitation here.

[0042] When the Cl, Ca, Mg and other ions adsorbed by the softening resin tend to be saturated, the adsorption effect of the softening resin will decrease, and the softening resin needs to be reduced and regenerated.

[0043] The tap water in the water inlet chamber 11 enters the brine chamber 13 through the water replenishment port 112 and the brine chamber inlet 131, and is mixed with the regenerated salt put into the brine chamber 13 to form brine. When the adsorption capacity of the softening resin decreases, the brine can be controlled to enter the soft water chamber 12 from the brine chamber outlet 132 and the brine replacement port 122, and perform a reduction treatment with the softening resin in the soft water chamber 12 to restore the softening capacity of the resin. The reduced brine is then discharged from the soft water chamber outlet into the inner tank.

[0044] As the brine is discharged into the soft water chamber 12 and consumed to react with the softening resin, the brine concentration in the brine chamber 13 decreases and will lose its ability to replace the softening resin. Therefore, a brine concentration detection and alarm device is provided on the brine chamber 13 to detect the brine concentration in the brine chamber 13 and to issue an alarm when the brine concentration is lower than a set value. The brine concentration detection and alarm device is connected to a controller (not shown in the figure), which is the controller of the dishwasher.

[0045] like Figure 1 As shown, the brine concentration detection and alarm device of this embodiment includes a concentration detection module 151 and an alarm module 152. The concentration detection module 151 is connected to the controller. The concentration detection module 151 can feed back the detected brine concentration signal to the controller. When the brine concentration is insufficient, an alarm needs to be issued to the user to remind him to add salt. The concentration detection module 151 can be set inside or outside the brine chamber 13 according to different detection principles.

[0046] There are many ways to alarm, such as light alarm, buzzer alarm, etc. Since the dishwasher may have other faults or prompts that need to be alerted to the user, there are many types of alarms. After hearing the alarm prompt, the user needs to check the cause of the alarm, which is very inconvenient to use. Figure 3 As shown, in this embodiment, the alarm module 152 includes an alarm light 1521 and a light guide 1522. The alarm light 1521 is arranged on the inner side of the salt water chamber 13 and is connected to the controller. The light-emitting surface of the alarm light 1521 faces the light guide 1522, and the light guide 1522 extends from the inner surface of the salt water chamber 13 to the outer surface. By using the light guide 1522 to guide the light, the alarm light 1521 can be set in a concealed position and does not need to be set in a position on the surface of the dishwasher shell that is easily visible to the user. The setting position is more flexible. The light guide 1522 extends from the inner surface of the salt water chamber 13 to the outer surface. When the alarm light is on, the light guide will guide the light accordingly. From the outside, the user sees that the light guide is emitting light. The user can easily determine that the alarm is caused by the lack of salt in the salt water chamber, thereby achieving the purpose of quickly and accurately prompting the user.

[0047] The brine chamber 13 also has a salt adding port 133. When the brine concentration is insufficient, salt is added to the brine chamber through the salt adding port. The salt adding port 133 is provided with a detachable sealing cover 134. The user removes the sealing cover 134 and adds salt to the brine chamber through the salt adding port 133. When salt is not needed, the sealing cover 134 is blocked with the salt adding port 133 to keep the interior of the brine chamber 13 clean and prevent dust and foreign matter from entering.

[0048] The sealing cover 134 is provided with a through hole, and the light guide column 1522 is arranged in the through hole. By arranging the light guide column on the sealing cover, and the sealing cover being detachably arranged at the salt adding opening, the light guide column 1522 is convenient to assemble, and the sealing cover 134 belongs to a part of the salt water cavity 13, so that when the user sees the light guide column on the sealing cover 134 emitting light, it is also easy to judge that the alarm reason is caused by lack of salt in the salt water cavity, so as to quickly and accurately prompt the user.

[0049] The salt adding opening 133 is arranged on the back plate of the salt water cavity 13, and the alarm lamp 1521 is preferably arranged on the front side plate of the salt water cavity 13, and the light emitting direction of the alarm lamp 1521 is rearward, that is, the light emitting direction of the alarm lamp 1521 is toward the light guide column 1522. The side where the light guide column 1522 is located is on the side of the inner container, and when the alarm is sounded, the light emitted by the light guide column 1522 is very easy to be observed by the user.

[0050] The salt adding opening 133 is preferably arranged at the upper end of the back plate, and the alarm lamp 1521 corresponds to the salt adding opening, so that the alarm lamp 1521 is located at the upper end of the back plate, preventing water flow from splashing the alarm lamp 1521 when the salt water cavity 13 is filled with water, and prolonging the service life of the alarm lamp 1521.

[0051] Since the salt water cavity 13 often stores salt water, the environment in the cavity is high in salt and humidity, in order to prevent the alarm lamp from being corroded in such environment for a long time, a sealing cavity 135 is formed on the inner surface of the front side plate of the salt water cavity 13, and the alarm lamp 1521 is arranged in the sealing cavity 135, so as to isolate the alarm lamp from the high salt and high humidity environment in the salt water cavity 13.

[0052] The commonly used concentration detection module 151 utilizes the principle that the salt water reacts to the salt water concentration by using the buoyancy of the salt water, by arranging a float in the salt water cavity 13, the position of the float is detected to judge the salt water concentration, and this detection method is arranged inside the salt water cavity, which is not convenient for production and installation. In the embodiment, light detection is preferably used to detect the salt water concentration, by using the principle that the refractive index of the salt water is different when the salt water concentration is different, by emitting light into the salt water cavity, and receiving the light refracted by the solution in the salt water cavity, the salt water concentration is judged, and the light detection device is arranged outside the salt water cavity, which is convenient to assemble, and can solve a series of problems caused by arranging the traditional detection device inside the salt water cavity. The concentration detection module 151 is connected with the controller, and the detected salt water concentration signal can be fed back to the controller.

[0053] As Figure 1As shown, the concentration detection module 151 of this embodiment includes a light source 1511 and a photosensor 1512, each connected to a controller. Photosensor 1512 is positioned in the optical path of light source 1511, which passes through the saline chamber 13. Light emitted by the light source propagates along its optical path, passing through the saline chamber and being refracted by the saline within the chamber before reaching the photosensor. Salt water of different concentrations has different refractive indices. Based on this principle, the photosensor can calculate the refractive index of the saline, and thus the concentration of the saline, by detecting the received light flux.

[0054] In this solution, the photoelectric principle is used to detect the concentration of salt water. Therefore, the detection device does not need to be in direct contact with the salt water and can be set outside the salt water chamber 13. A groove is formed on the outer surface of the front panel of the salt water chamber 13, and the light source 1511 is fixedly set in the groove. The photoelectric sensor 1512 is set on one of the side panels of the salt water chamber 13, and the photosensitive surface of the photoelectric sensor 1512 faces the light source 1511, ensuring that the photoelectric sensor 1512 is located in the light path of the light source 1511, and that the light path at least partially passes through the inner cavity of the salt water chamber.

[0055] In order to improve the prominence of the luminous alarm, it is preferred that there are two or more light guides 1522, and the sealing cover 134 is provided with through holes corresponding to the light guides 1522, and the light guides 1522 are arranged in the through holes corresponding thereto. The light guides 1522 can be sealed in the through holes by means of sealants, sealing rings, etc., with one end thereof reaching the inner cavity of the saline cavity 13 and the other end reaching the outer surface of the saline cavity. Therefore, the light emitted by the alarm light 1521 can be smoothly guided out to be observed by the user. By increasing the number of light guides 1522, its recognition can be improved and it can be more easily observed by the user. The present invention does not limit the number of light guides, and its number can be selected according to actual needs, or arranged according to a certain graphic pattern, all of which fall within the scope of protection of this patent.

[0056] In this embodiment, there is no need to set a solenoid valve between the salt water chamber inlet 131 and the water replenishment port 112, that is, there is no need to deliberately control the water replenishment for the salt water chamber 13. A part of the water entering the water inlet chamber 11 from the tap water pipe enters the salt water chamber 13 through the water replenishment port 112 to replenish it. That is, as long as water is injected into the soft water chamber, a part of the water flow will enter the salt water chamber for water replenishment. There is no need to set a solenoid valve specifically for the water replenishment channel of the salt water chamber to actively replenish water under specific circumstances, which is conducive to saving device costs. This solution adopts a passive water replenishment method and brings another Another problem is that the amount of water entering the brine chamber 13 cannot be controlled. After the brine chamber 13 is filled, when water continues to be injected into the soft water chamber 12 through the water inlet chamber 11, part of the splashed water needs to be discharged in time. Therefore, in this solution, the water inlet chamber 11 also has an overflow port 113, and the overflow port 113 is located above the water replenishment port 112. By setting the overflow port 113 above the water replenishment port 112, it is ensured that part of the water in the water inlet chamber 11 first enters the brine chamber 13 through the water replenishment port 112 to replenish the brine chamber. When the brine chamber is full, the water level rises and is then discharged through the overflow port 113.

[0057] The opening position of the overflow port 113 should not be lower than the opening position of the brine chamber inlet 131, according to the communicating vessel principle, to prevent the brine inside the brine chamber 13 from being discharged through the overflow port or the brine chamber from being unable to be filled.

[0058] In order to improve the capacity of collecting overflow water, the overflow port 113 is connected to the inner tank through the overflow channel 17. The overflow channel 17 extends downward from the overflow port 113. A connecting port connected to the inner tank is opened at the bottom of the overflow channel 17. When the brine chamber 13 is filled, the water level in the water inlet chamber 11 rises until it reaches the overflow port 113 and enters the overflow channel 17 through the overflow port 113. Since the overflow channel 17 extends downward from the overflow port 113, it has a certain capacity to accommodate overflow water, thereby reducing the impact of the overflow water on the inner tank when entering the inner tank.

[0059] In order to mitigate the impact of water entering the overflow channel through the overflow port 112 , a water retaining rib 171 is preferably formed on the inner wall of the overflow channel 17 .

[0060] The working process of the softening resin in the soft water chamber 12 is a multiple cycle of adsorption-regeneration. Since the regeneration process cannot be completely thorough, the softening resin also has a service life. In order to extend the service life of the softening resin, a liquid separation valve 18 is provided between the soft water chamber inlet and the water inlet chamber 11. The inlet of the liquid separation valve 18 is connected to the water inlet chamber outlet 111. One outlet of the liquid separation valve 18 is connected to the soft water chamber inlet, and the other outlet is connected to the hard water channel 19, which is connected to the inner tank. The liquid separation valve 18 can control the switching of the two pathways: the water inlet chamber 11-inner tank and the water inlet chamber 11-soft water chamber 12-inner tank. By controlling the water inlet chamber 11-inner tank pathway to be open when washing dishes, the dishes are washed with tap water, and controlling the water inlet chamber 11-soft water chamber 12-inner tank pathway to be open when rinsing, the dishes are rinsed with soft water. This can not only solve the technical problems of hard water scaling and tableware residue, but also reduce the frequency of use of the softening resin and extend the service life of the softening resin.

[0061] In order to improve the compactness of the water system layout and reduce the space occupied by the water system, it is preferred that the outlet of the soft water chamber is connected to the hard water channel 19, that is, the water coming out of the liquid separation valve 18 is conducted in one path as needed, one of which does not need to be softened and directly enters the inner tank from the hard water channel 19, and the other is softened in the soft water chamber 12 and then enters the hard water channel 19 and is discharged into the inner tank, thereby improving the utilization rate of the hard water channel 19. In addition, a valve structure (such as a one-way valve) needs to be set between the hard water channel 19 and the outlet of the soft water chamber to prevent hard water from flowing back from the outlet of the soft water chamber into the soft water chamber 12.

[0062] The water replenishment port 112 is connected to the brine chamber inlet 131 through the water replenishment channel 20. The water replenishment channel 20 is located below the brine chamber inlet 131. It can be seen that the space can be fully and reasonably utilized, making the layout of each structure more compact, especially suitable for small dishwashers such as household dishwashers. A water baffle 136 is provided above the brine chamber inlet 131 in the brine chamber 13. The water baffle 136 is tilted and serves to stop the water entering the brine chamber 13. Since the water replenishment channel 20 is located below the brine chamber inlet 131, the water inlet direction of the brine chamber 13 is upward. In order to prevent the incoming water from splashing toward the top of the brine chamber, the water baffle 136 stops the incoming water, so that the incoming water is stopped by the water baffle 136 and then flows back downward under the action of gravity, which can effectively alleviate the impact of the water pressure.

[0063] Since water is a liquid, it can flow freely to any connected place as the water pressure is unbalanced. In order to prevent the salt water in the salt water chamber 13 from entering the water inlet chamber 11 through the water replenishment channel 20 and then directly entering the inner tank through the overflow port 113, a filter membrane 21 is preferably provided in the water replenishment channel 20. The filter membrane 21 allows water molecules to pass through but prevents NaCl molecules from passing through, thereby avoiding the above-mentioned problem. Of course, this solution is not limited to the use of a filter membrane, and other filtering devices can also be used.

[0064] A solenoid valve 22 is provided between the brine chamber outlet 132 and the brine replacement port 122. Solenoid valve 22 is connected to a controller. When the softening resin's adsorption capacity decreases, solenoid valve 22 is controlled to open, connecting the soft water chamber 12 with the brine chamber 13. Brine enters the soft water chamber 12 and reacts with the softening resin to restore the resin's softening capacity. The reduced brine is then discharged from the soft water outlet. When reduction is no longer necessary, the solenoid valve closes, isolating the soft water chamber 12 from the brine chamber 13.

[0065] In order to prevent the softened water in the soft water chamber 12 from flowing back into the water inlet chamber 11 , a one-way valve 23 is preferably provided at the water inlet chamber outlet 111 .

[0066] To reduce the impact of water entering the inner container, a slow-flow chamber 24 is provided between the soft water chamber 12 and the inner container. The soft water chamber 12 communicates with the inlet of the slow-flow chamber 24 via the hard water channel 19, and the outlet of the slow-flow chamber 24 communicates with the inner container. When unsoftened water enters the inner container through the hard water channel 19, the slow-flow chamber 24 also serves to slow the flow.

[0067] In order to save the space occupied by the water channel, the hard water channel 19 starts from one side of the water inlet chamber 11 and the soft water chamber 12, extends upward along one side of the soft water chamber 12, and makes a 90° turn when it extends to the top of the soft water chamber 12, and extends to the other side of the soft water chamber 12. The slow flow chamber 24 is located on the other side of the water inlet chamber 11. When the hard water channel 19 extends to the top of the slow flow chamber 24, it makes a 90° downward turn. The entrance of the slow flow chamber 24 is located at the top of the slow flow chamber. The hard water channel 19 is connected to the entrance of the slow flow chamber 24. Therefore, the water inlet direction of the slow flow chamber is downward. When the water enters, it will be affected by the water pressure and the gravity of the water itself. In order to reduce the impact force of the water entering the slow flow chamber 24, and further reduce the impact force of the water entering the inner tank through the slow flow chamber 24, a slow flow baffle 16 is provided in the slow flow chamber 24. The slow flow baffle 16 is located below the entrance of the slow flow chamber and is tilted downward. The slow flow baffle 16 buffers the incoming water and then guides it downward, and finally enters the inner tank through the outlet.

[0068] There are bubbles in tap water, which can easily prevent water from flowing in the various cavities in the water inlet system. In order to discharge the bubbles mixed in the tap water, the water pressure is adjusted so that the water quickly passes through the water inlet chamber 11 and the soft water chamber 12 in sequence. Preferably, an air circuit breaker 14 is provided in the water inlet chamber 11, and the two ends of the air circuit breaker 14 are respectively connected to the water inlet chamber inlet 110 and the water inlet chamber outlet 111.

[0069] like Figure 4-Figure 7 As shown, the air circuit breaker 14 includes a tubular body 141 having a tubular lumen 142 extending from top to bottom. The top end of the tubular lumen 142 serves as a water inlet 142a, and the bottom end of the tubular lumen 142 serves as a water outlet 142b. An air port 143 is provided on one side of the body 141, communicating with the tubular lumen 142. The air circuit breaker in this embodiment is primarily used in water flow channels to expel air bubbles from the water flow. During use, the air circuit breaker 14 is vertically positioned within the water inlet chamber 11. Water entering the tubular lumen 142 flows downward under its own gravity, and air bubbles are expelled as it flows through the air port 143. Consequently, water flowing in the water flow channel at the rear end of the air circuit breaker (e.g., between the water inlet chamber 11 and the soft water chamber 12) is free of air bubbles, thereby preventing noise caused by bubbles colliding with the pipe and preventing air bubbles from blocking water flow in the water flow channel.

[0070] Lumen 142 comprises an upper chamber 1421 located above air port 143 and a lower chamber 1422 located below air port 143. Upper chamber 1421 and lower chamber 1422 are located on the same vertical axis. Because the air circuit breaker is positioned upright during use, water passing through upper chamber 1421, after flowing through air port 143 and expelling air, rapidly flows into lower chamber 1422 under the influence of water pressure and gravity, and then flows out through water outlet 142b.

[0071] The inner diameter of the upper cavity 1421 is larger at the top and smaller at the bottom, and the transition from the top to the bottom is smooth, forming a funnel shape. The inner diameter of the lower cavity 1422 is smaller at the top and larger at the bottom, and the transition from the top to the bottom is smooth, forming an inverted funnel shape. The central axis of the lower port of the upper cavity 1421 coincides with the upper port of the lower cavity 1422.

[0072] To ensure that water passing through upper cavity 1421 flows quickly into lower cavity 1422, the vertical projections of the lower end of upper cavity 1421 and the upper end of lower cavity 1422 preferably coincide. Water flowing out of upper cavity 1421 quickly enters lower cavity 1422 under the action of water pressure and its own gravity, and bubbles in the water are expelled during the entry process to prevent bubbles from blocking the flow of water.

[0073] In order to facilitate the assembly of the air circuit breaker in the water flow channel of the dishwasher, the top of the main body 141 has an outward-folded outer flange 144. The outer surface of the main body 141 is formed with a circle of annular steps 145 below the outer flange 144. The annular step 145 and the outer flange 144 form a closed first groove 146. During assembly, the external clip-on structure that cooperates with it is snapped into the first groove 146 to fix the upper end of the air circuit breaker. An O-ring can be set in the first groove 146 to achieve sealing of the water channel.

[0074] In order to improve the stability of the air circuit breaker 14 during assembly and prevent it from being tilted and unable to maintain an upright position due to long-term impact of water flow, it is preferably formed with at least one circle of second grooves 147 for accommodating a sealing ring along the outer circumferential direction at the bottom of the main body 141. During assembly, the external clip-on structure that cooperates with it is inserted into the second groove 147 to fix the lower end of the air circuit breaker. An O-ring can be set in the second groove 147 to achieve sealing of the water channel.

[0075] When the air circuit breaker 14 is assembled in the dishwasher, due to the limited internal space of the dishwasher, one or more sides of the air circuit breaker may be closely adjacent to the waterway plate. In order to prevent the air circuit breaker from rotating in an incorrect position and causing the air port to be blocked by the waterway plate wall, it is preferred that there are two air ports, which are symmetrically opened on both sides of the body 141, to ensure effective exhaust in various situations.

[0076] Of course, the above description is not a limitation of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the above examples. Changes, modifications, additions or substitutions made by ordinary technicians in this technical field within the essential scope of the present invention should also fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A dishwasher, characterized in that: It includes a water inlet chamber having a water inlet chamber inlet and a water inlet chamber outlet, wherein the water inlet chamber inlet is connected to an external water source through a water inlet pipe, and further includes an air circuit breaker, wherein the water inlet is connected to the water inlet chamber outlet; The air circuit breaker includes a tubular body, wherein the body has a tubular cavity extending from top to bottom, the top end of the tubular cavity being a water inlet, the bottom end of the tubular cavity being a water outlet, and an air port communicating with the tubular cavity being formed on one side of the body; The body is vertically arranged in the water inlet cavity; The dishwasher further comprises: The soft water chamber has a soft water chamber inlet, a soft water chamber outlet and a brine replacement port. The soft water chamber contains softening resin. The soft water chamber inlet is connected to the water inlet chamber outlet, and the soft water chamber outlet is connected to the inner tank. The saline chamber has a saline chamber inlet and a saline chamber outlet, wherein the saline chamber inlet is connected to the water replenishment port, and the saline chamber outlet is connected to the saline replacement port; The water supply port is located on one side of the air circuit breaker; A portion of the water entering the water inlet chamber from the tap water pipe enters the brine chamber through the water replenishment port to replenish the brine chamber.

2. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein: The tubular cavity includes an upper cavity located above the air port and a lower cavity located below the air port, and the upper cavity and the lower cavity are located on the same vertical axis.

3. The dishwasher according to claim 2, characterized in that: The inner diameter of the upper cavity is larger at the top and smaller at the bottom, forming a funnel shape; the inner diameter of the lower cavity is smaller at the top and larger at the bottom, forming an inverted funnel shape; the lower port of the upper cavity coincides with the central axis of the lower cavity.

4. The dishwasher according to claim 3, characterized in that: The lower port of the upper cavity coincides with the projection of the upper port of the lower cavity in the vertical direction.

5. The dishwasher according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The top of the body is provided with an outwardly folded outer edge.

6. The dishwasher according to claim 5, characterized in that: An annular step is formed on the outer surface of the body below the outer flange, and a closed first groove is formed between the annular step and the outer flange.

7. The dishwasher according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The bottom of the body is formed with at least one circle of second grooves along the outer circumferential direction for accommodating the sealing ring.

8. The dishwasher according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: There are two air ports, which are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the body.

9. The dishwasher according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The outer surface of the body is formed with a plurality of reinforcing ribs along the length direction thereof.

Citation Information

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