Salt deficiency detection structure, water softener, and water using apparatus

Abstract

The present invention discloses a salt deficiency detection structure, a water softener, and water-using equipment. The salt deficiency detection structure includes: a salt box, a tray for holding salt particles and movable up and down within the salt box, an elastic member supporting the tray, and a sensing module for detecting the position of the tray. The detection signal of the sensing module changes when the tray moves to a set position. The water softener includes: a salt deficiency detection structure, a brine chamber, a salt outlet pipe, a resin chamber, a first flow meter, and a second flow meter. The first flow meter controls the amount of salt output from the salt outlet pipe each time brine is prepared. The second flow meter detects the amount of water inlet each time the second water inlet is opened. The control module accumulates the amount of water inlet detected by the second flow meter and adjusts the amount of salt output from the first flow meter. The salt deficiency detection structure proposed in the present invention can accurately detect whether the salt in the salt box has been consumed. The water softener can automatically configure brine of different concentrations to better restore the resin and save resources.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of water equipment, in particular to a salt deficiency detection structure, a water softener and a water equipment. BACKGROUND

[0002] The main function of the water softener is to absorb calcium and magnesium ions in water to reduce water hardness. The water softener generally has a resin cavity and a salt water cavity. The resin cavity stores resin, which is generally sodium type strong acid cation resin. The salt water cavity provides sodium chloride salt solution for the resin. After absorbing a certain amount of calcium and magnesium ions, the resin loses its water softening ability and needs to be reduced by sodium chloride salt solution to restore its activity.

[0003] The water softener consumes special salt during the water softening process. The special salt is a consumable and needs to be added regularly. If it is not added in time, the resin will lose its softening effect on water. The existing water softener generally indirectly judges whether the salt is deficient by detecting the salt water concentration. Since the salt particles need time to dissolve after being added to the water, there are differences in the concentration of the salt water cavity. This detection method not only has low accuracy, but also cannot determine whether the salt is deficient when the water softener has multiple salt water concentration requirements.

[0004] In addition, new resin does not need high-concentration salt water to be effectively reduced. With the increase of the service life, the concentration of the salt water needs to be increased to achieve better reduction effect of the resin. The existing water softener cannot configure salt water with different concentrations and always uses saturated salt water to soak the resin for reduction. However, during the initial stage of use of the water softener, the resin can achieve the same reduction effect by soaking in low-concentration salt water. The method of soaking the resin in salt water with the same concentration will cause a large amount of waste of special salt and increase the use cost of the water softener.

[0005] Therefore, how to design a salt deficiency detection structure with high accuracy and a water softener is a technical problem to be solved in the industry. SUMMARY

[0006] In order to solve the above-mentioned defects existing in the prior art, the present application provides a salt deficiency detection structure, a water softener and a water equipment. The salt deficiency detection structure can accurately detect whether the salt in the salt tank is consumed. The water softener can automatically configure salt water with different concentrations to better reduce the resin and save resources.

[0007] The technical solution adopted by the present application is to design a salt deficiency detection structure, which comprises a salt tank, a tray for containing salt particles and capable of moving up and down in the salt tank, an elastic member supporting the tray, and a sensing module detecting the position of the tray. The detection signal of the sensing module changes when the tray moves to a set position.

[0008] Further, the sensing module comprises:

[0009] An upper electrode sheet assembly is installed in the salt tank;

[0010] A lower electrode sheet assembly is installed on the tray, and the lower electrode sheet assembly can move up on the tray to contact the upper electrode sheet assembly;

[0011] A detection circuit detects that a signal changes when the upper electrode sheet assembly and the lower electrode sheet assembly contact or disengage.

[0012] In an embodiment, the upper electrode sheet assembly is composed of two upper electrode sheets arranged at intervals, the detection circuit is connected with the two upper electrode sheets, the lower electrode sheet assembly is composed of lower electrode sheets corresponding to the upper electrode sheets one by one, and the tray is a conductor; when the lower electrode sheet assembly moves up to contact the lower electrode sheet assembly, the detection circuit outputs a low-level signal; and when the lower electrode sheet assembly moves up to disengage from the lower electrode sheet assembly, the detection circuit outputs a high-level signal.

[0013] Further, an induction module is connected with the control module, and the control module sends out a salt shortage reminding signal when receiving a detection signal that the tray rises to a set position.

[0014] The application provides a water softener with the above salt shortage detection structure.

[0015] Further, the water softener further comprises:

[0016] A saltwater cavity is provided with a first water inlet and a saltwater outlet, the first water inlet is installed with a first valve, and the saltwater outlet is installed with a third valve;

[0017] A salt outlet pipe is connected to the bottom of the tray, and the salt outlet pipe extends downward into the saltwater cavity;

[0018] A first flow meter is installed in the salt outlet pipe, and the first flow meter controls the salt outlet amount of the salt outlet pipe each time the saltwater is prepared.

[0019] Further, the water softener further comprises:

[0020] A resin cavity is in communication with the saltwater cavity through the saltwater outlet, and the resin cavity is provided with a second water inlet, and the second water inlet is installed with a second valve;

[0021] A second flow meter is installed in the second water inlet, and the second flow meter detects the water inlet amount after the second water inlet is opened each time.

[0022] Further, the first flow meter and the second flow meter are both connected with the control module, the control module accumulates the water inlet amount detected by the second flow meter and adjusts the salt outlet amount of the first flow meter.

[0023] Further, the first valve and the third valve are both connected with the control module, the water amount entering the saltwater cavity after the first valve is opened each time is the same, and the third valve empties the saltwater in the saltwater cavity after being opened each time.

[0024] Further, the control module is pre-stored with a set trigger cumulative amount, at least two different set stage cumulative intervals, and a corresponding salt output amount of each set stage cumulative interval, and the control module accumulates the water inflow amount detected by the second flow meter to obtain an actual trigger cumulative amount and an actual stage cumulative amount;

[0025] When the actual trigger cumulative amount reaches the set trigger cumulative amount, the control module opens the third valve and resets the actual trigger cumulative amount;

[0026] When the actual stage cumulative amount is in a certain set stage cumulative interval, the control module adjusts the salt output amount of the first flow meter to the corresponding salt output amount of the set stage cumulative interval.

[0027] Further, the first flow meter comprises: an impeller installed in the salt outlet pipe, and a motor driving the impeller to rotate, the rotation axis of the impeller is perpendicular to the salt particle outflow direction of the salt outlet pipe, the projection area of the impeller in the salt particle outflow direction is close to the cross-sectional area of the salt outlet pipe, and the salt amount falling into the brine cavity is the same when the impeller rotates one circle.

[0028] The application further provides a water using device with the water softener, and in an embodiment, the water using device is a dishwasher.

[0029] Compared with the prior art, the tray is pressed down by the weight of the salt particles, the tray gradually moves up when the salt particles are less and less, the salt shortage is accurately detected according to the change of the tray position, and the problem that the user cannot add salt in time is solved. The brine concentration of the brine cavity is configured according to the cumulative water inflow amount of the resin cavity, the salt amount is less consumed, resources are saved, and the problem that the brine concentration of the water softener is not variable is solved. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0030] The application will be described in detail below with reference to the embodiments and the drawings, in which:

[0031] Figure 1 Fig. 1 is a structural schematic diagram of the water softener of the application;

[0032] Figure 2 Fig. 4 is an equivalent circuit diagram of the detection circuit of the application;

[0033] Figure 3 Fig. 5 is an installation schematic diagram of the first flow meter of the application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] In order to make the technical problems, technical solutions and beneficial effects of the application clearer, the application will be further described in detail below with reference to the drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the application and not to limit the application.

[0035] The principles of the present application will be described in detail below with reference to the embodiments.

[0036] As shown in the drawings, Figure 1 The salt detection structure of the present application is applicable to water softener and water using equipment with water softener, including but not limited to dish washer and the like.

[0037] The salt detection structure comprises a salt tank 1, a tray 2, elastic members 3 and a sensing module, the tray 2 is used for containing salt particles and is arranged in the salt tank 1, the outer diameter of the tray 2 is gap-fitted with the inner diameter of the salt tank 1, the tray 2 is movable up and down along the inner cavity of the salt tank 1, the bottom of the tray 2 is supported by at least one elastic member 3, the elastic member 3 can be a spring or the like, in order to maintain the balance of the movement of the tray 2, the elastic members 3 at the bottom of the tray 2 are uniformly spaced. When the salt particles in the tray 2 gradually increase, the gravity borne by the tray 2 increases, the tray 2 moves downward, and the elastic members 3 are gradually compressed; when the salt particles in the tray 2 gradually decrease, the gravity borne by the tray 2 decreases, the elastic members 3 gradually expand, and push the tray 2 to move upward. The sensing module detects the up and down position of the tray 2 in the salt tank 1, the detection signal of the sensing module changes when the tray 2 moves up to the set position, which indicates that there is no salt or very little salt in the tray 2 at this time, the sensing module is connected with a control module, and the control module sends out a salt shortage reminding signal to the outside when receiving the detection signal of the tray 2 rising to the set position, so as to remind the user to add salt in time. The salt detection structure of the present application realizes salt shortage detection by using the gravity of salt particles combined with the change of the position of the tray, is not affected by the concentration of salt water, and is fast, direct, accurate and widely applicable.

[0038] In the feasible embodiment of the present application, the sensing module comprises an upper electrode sheet assembly, a lower electrode sheet assembly and a detection circuit, the upper electrode sheet assembly is installed in the salt tank 1, the lower electrode sheet assembly is installed on the tray 2, the lower electrode sheet assembly can move up with the tray 2 to contact the upper electrode sheet assembly, and the detection signal of the detection circuit changes when the upper electrode sheet assembly and the lower electrode sheet assembly contact or separate.

[0039] As shown in the drawings, Figure 1 , 2 The upper electrode sheet assembly is composed of two upper electrode sheets 4 which are spaced apart, the detection circuit is connected with the two upper electrode sheets 4, the lower electrode sheet assembly is composed of lower electrode sheets 5 which correspond to the upper electrode sheets 4 one by one, the lower electrode sheet 5 is located directly below the corresponding upper electrode sheet 4, the lower electrode sheet 5 can move up with the tray 2 to contact the upper electrode sheet 4 directly above it, the tray 2 is a conductor and is wrapped by an insulating anticorrosive material, the lower electrode sheet 5 contacts the tray 2, the lower electrode sheet and the tray 2 are taken as a whole, the equivalent resistance thereof is R2, the detection circuit is provided with a voltage dividing resistor R1 and an I / O port for outputting the detection signal, the voltage dividing resistor R1 is connected with a 5V power supply, the resistance value of R1 is greater than R2, one upper electrode sheet is connected with the I / O port and the other upper electrode sheet is grounded.

[0040] When the tray is without salt, the lower electrode sheet assembly moves up to contact the upper electrode sheet assembly, both the lower electrode sheet 5 and the tray 2 are conductors, the two upper electrode sheets 4 are connected through the two lower electrode sheets 5 and the tray 2, R2 is much smaller than R1, the I / O port outputs a low level signal; when the lower electrode sheet assembly moves down to be separated from the upper electrode sheet assembly, there is no conductor connection between the two upper electrode sheets 4, R2 is equivalent to an open circuit, the I / O port outputs a high level signal. The above is only an example of the sensing module, and there are many implementation modes of the sensing module, such as a conventional position sensor, and the sensing module can also be designed according to specific needs in actual application.

[0041] As shown in Figure 1 The softener has the above salt detection structure, the salt water cavity 6, the salt outlet pipe 21, the first flow meter 7, etc., the tray 2 is below the salt water cavity 6, the bottom of the tray 2 is provided with a salt outlet, the salt outlet is connected with the salt outlet pipe 21, the salt water cavity 6 is below the tray 2, and the salt outlet pipe 21 extends downward into the salt water cavity 6. The salt water cavity 6 is provided with a first water inlet and a salt water outlet, the first water inlet is provided with a first valve 61, the salt water outlet is provided with a third valve 62, and the salt outlet is provided with a salt outlet valve. The first flow meter is installed in the salt outlet pipe 21, and the salt outlet amount of the salt outlet pipe 21 is controlled through the first flow meter 7 each time the salt water is prepared.

[0042] As shown in Figure 3 In an embodiment of the present application, the first flow meter 7 includes an impeller 71 installed in the salt outlet pipe 21 and a motor driving the impeller 71 to rotate, the rotation axis of the impeller 71 is perpendicular to the salt particle flowing direction of the salt outlet pipe 21, the salt outlet pipe 21 is provided with a mounting section for mounting the impeller 71, the mounting section is composed of two intersecting first cylindrical pipes 211 and second cylindrical pipes 212, the salt particles flowing out of the salt outlet pass through the first cylindrical pipes 211 and then continue to fall along the salt outlet pipe 21, the rotation axis of the impeller 71 is parallel to the axis of the second cylindrical pipes 212, and the output shaft of the motor extends into the second cylindrical pipes 212 and is connected with the impeller 71.

[0043] The projection area of the impeller 71 in the salt particle flowing direction is close to the cross-sectional area of the first cylindrical pipes 211, so as to ensure that the impeller 71 does not leak downward in the static state. In addition, the blades on the impeller 71 are uniformly arranged, so as to ensure that the salt amount falling into the salt water cavity 6 is the same when the impeller 71 rotates one circle. The salt amount of one rotation of the impeller 71 can be obtained through experimental test in advance, and the salt amount is calculated according to the number of rotations, so as to configure salt water with different concentrations. It should be understood that the first flow meter 7 herein refers to a device that can realize control of the salt outlet amount, and the above is only an example of the first flow meter 7, and other forms can also be used in actual application, such as a valve, the salt outlet amount is controlled by controlling the opening degree and opening time of the valve.

[0044] AsFigure 1 As shown, the water softener further comprises a resin cavity 8 and a second flow meter 9, the resin cavity 8 is in communication with the brine cavity 6 through a brine outlet, the resin cavity 8 is provided with a second water inlet and a water outlet, the second water inlet is provided with a second valve 81, the water outlet is provided with a fourth valve 82, the second flow meter 9 is installed in the second water inlet, the water inlet quantity after each opening of the second water inlet is detected through the second flow meter 9, the first flow meter 7 and the second flow meter 9 are connected with the control module, the control module accumulates the water inlet quantity detected by the second flow meter 9 and adjusts the salt outlet quantity of the first flow meter 7.

[0045] The first valve 61 and the third valve 62 are connected with the control module, the opening and closing states of the first valve 61 and the third valve 62 are controlled by the control module, the water quantity entering the brine cavity 6 after each opening of the first valve 61 is the same, and the brine in the brine cavity 6 is emptied after each opening of the third valve 62. The advantage of this design is to ensure that the water quantity of the brine cavity 6 is fixed, and only the salt outlet quantity of the first flow meter 7 needs to be adjusted to configure brine of different concentrations, which is simple in logic and easy to implement.

[0046] The specific adjustment logic of the control module is as follows: the control module is pre-stored with a set trigger accumulation quantity, at least two different set stage accumulation intervals, and a salt outlet quantity corresponding to each set stage accumulation interval. The data of the set stage accumulation interval and the corresponding salt outlet quantity can be obtained through a large number of experiments. After the water softener is used, the control module accumulates the water inlet quantity detected by the second flow meter 9 to obtain the actual trigger accumulation quantity and the actual stage accumulation quantity. The actual stage accumulation quantity is accumulated from the first use of the resin until the currently used resin is discarded, and the actual stage accumulation quantity is reset after replacing the new resin.

[0047] When the actual trigger accumulation quantity reaches the set trigger accumulation quantity, the control module opens the third valve 62 and resets the actual trigger accumulation quantity, which is accumulated from the next water inlet quantity detected by the second flow meter 9. When the actual stage accumulation quantity is in a certain set stage accumulation interval, the control module adjusts the salt outlet quantity of the first flow meter 7 to the salt outlet quantity corresponding to the set stage accumulation interval, that is, after each opening of the third valve 62 to empty the brine cavity 6, the control module controls the first flow meter 7 to add the salt outlet quantity corresponding to the set stage accumulation interval to the brine cavity 6 to prepare brine of the corresponding concentration, and wait for the next actual trigger accumulation quantity to reach the actual trigger accumulation quantity. This design can ensure that the brine concentration can be adjusted according to the use time of the resin, reduce the waste of special salt, and reduce the use cost of the water softener.

[0048] Taking two set stage cumulative intervals as an example, when the actual trigger cumulative amount reaches the actual trigger cumulative amount, the control module opens the third valve 62 to send brine to the resin cavity 8 to reduce the resin, and the actual trigger cumulative amount is reset. When the actual stage cumulative amount is in the first set stage cumulative interval, the control module adjusts the salt output of the first flow meter 7 to the salt output corresponding to the first set stage cumulative interval; when the actual stage cumulative amount is in the second set stage cumulative interval, the control module adjusts the salt output of the first flow meter 7 to the salt output corresponding to the second set stage cumulative interval.

[0049] In a feasible embodiment of the application, the water softener has the following stages when in use:

[0050] Salted stage, the user pours special salt into the tray 2, the tray 2 descends under the action of gravity, and the control module does not send a salt shortage reminding signal.

[0051] Configuration brine concentration stage, the first valve 61 is opened, and an equal amount of water is entered each time, and at the same time, the first flow meter 7 rotates to control the salt output according to the number of rotations to configure the brine concentration. The size of the brine concentration is determined by the resin usage, and the resin usage is reflected by the cumulative water inlet amount of the second flow meter 9. The control scheme has been described in detail above.

[0052] Resin reduction stage, when the actual trigger cumulative amount reaches the set trigger cumulative amount, the third valve 62 is opened, the brine enters the resin cavity 8 to reduce the resin, and then the fourth valve 82 is opened, and the waste water is discharged from the drain.

[0053] Soft water stage, the second valve 81 is opened, and the hard water enters the resin cavity 8, and then flows out from the drain after being softened.

[0054] Salt shortage stage, when the salt in the tray 2 is used up, the elastic member 3 is completely stretched, the lower electrode sheet on the tray 2 contacts the upper electrode sheet on the inner wall of the salt tank 1, the I / O port outputs a low-level signal, and the control module sends a salt shortage reminding signal to the outside to remind the user to add salt.

[0055] The above only describes the preferred embodiments of the application and is not intended to limit the application. Any modification, equivalent replacement, and improvement made within the spirit and principle of the application shall be included in the protection scope of the application.

Claims

1. A water softener, characterized in that: The water softener has a salt deficiency detection structure, which includes: a salt box, a tray for holding salt particles and movable up and down in the salt box, an elastic member supporting the tray, and a sensing module for detecting the position of the tray, wherein a detection signal of the sensing module changes when the tray moves to a set position; The water softener also includes: a saline chamber, which is provided with a first water inlet and a saline outlet, wherein the first water inlet is provided with a first valve, and the saline outlet is provided with a third valve, and the saline chamber is provided below the tray; a salt outlet pipe connected to the bottom of the tray and extending downward into the brine chamber; A first flow meter is installed in the salt outlet pipe, and the first flow meter controls the amount of salt output from the salt outlet pipe each time brine is prepared.

2. The water softener according to claim 1, characterized in that The sensing module includes: an upper electrode sheet assembly, which is installed in the salt box; a lower electrode sheet assembly mounted on the tray, wherein the lower electrode sheet assembly can move upward along with the tray to contact the upper electrode sheet assembly; A detection circuit, wherein a detection signal thereof changes when the upper electrode sheet assembly and the lower electrode sheet assembly are in contact with or out of contact with each other.

3. The water softener according to claim 2, characterized in that The upper electrode sheet assembly is composed of two upper electrode sheets spaced apart, the detection circuit is connected to the two upper electrode sheets, the lower electrode sheet assembly is composed of lower electrode sheets corresponding to the upper electrode sheets one by one, and the tray is a conductor; When the lower electrode sheet assembly moves upward to contact the upper electrode sheet assembly, the detection circuit outputs a low-level signal; When the lower electrode sheet assembly moves upward and separates from the upper electrode sheet assembly, the detection circuit outputs a high-level signal.

4. The water softener according to claim 1, characterized in that The sensing module is connected to the control module, and the control module sends out a salt shortage reminder signal when receiving a detection signal indicating that the tray has risen to a set position.

5. The water softener according to claim 1, characterized in that The water softener also includes: a resin chamber, which is in communication with the brine chamber via the brine outlet, the resin chamber being provided with a second water inlet, the second water inlet being provided with a second valve; A second flow meter is installed in the second water inlet, and the second flow meter detects the amount of water inflow each time the second water inlet is opened.

6. The water softener according to claim 5, characterized in that The first flow meter and the second flow meter are both connected to a control module, and the control module accumulates the water inflow detected by the second flow meter and adjusts the salt output of the first flow meter.

7. The water softener according to claim 6, characterized in that The first valve and the third valve are both connected to the control module. The amount of water entering the saline chamber is the same each time the first valve is opened, and the saline in the saline chamber is emptied each time the third valve is opened.

8. The water softener according to claim 7, characterized in that Pre-storing the set trigger cumulative amount, at least two different set stage cumulative intervals, and the salt output corresponding to each set stage cumulative interval into the control module; The control module accumulates the water inflow detected by the second flow meter to obtain an actual trigger cumulative amount and an actual stage cumulative amount; When the actual trigger cumulative amount reaches the set trigger cumulative amount, the control module opens the third valve and resets the actual trigger cumulative amount; When the actual stage cumulative amount is within a certain set stage cumulative interval, the control module adjusts the salt output of the first flow meter to the salt output corresponding to the set stage cumulative interval.

9. The water softener according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that The first flow meter includes: an impeller installed in the salt outlet pipe, and a motor driving the impeller to rotate, the rotating shaft of the impeller is perpendicular to the direction in which salt particles flow out of the salt outlet pipe, and the projected area of ​​the impeller in the direction in which salt particles flow out is close to the cross-sectional area of ​​the salt outlet pipe.

10. The water softener according to claim 9, characterized in that The amount of salt falling into the brine chamber is the same every time the impeller rotates one circle.

11. Water-using equipment, characterized in that: The water-using equipment comprises the water softener according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. The water-using equipment according to claim 11, characterized in that: The water-using equipment is a dishwasher.

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