A water replenishment device and a clothing care machine

Abstract

This invention discloses a water replenishment device and a garment care machine, comprising a water tray, a water pump, and a piping assembly. The water tray has a receiving trough; the piping assembly includes an inlet pipe and a drain pipe. The outlet of the water pump is connected to the bottom of the receiving trough via the inlet pipe, and one end of the drain pipe is connected to the inlet pipe, while the other end of the drain pipe has a drain outlet. After the water pump has been running for a period of time, the water level in the receiving trough reaches a predetermined height. At this point, the water pressure at the bottom of the receiving trough is relatively high. Under the action of water pressure, the inlet pipe can only continue to inject a small amount of water into the water tray to replenish the water consumed by the water tray and maintain the water level in the receiving trough. At this point, the water level in the receiving trough no longer rises, while the remaining water in the inlet pipe is drained away through the drain pipe under the action of water pressure, thus maintaining a constant water level in the receiving trough.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to garment care, and more particularly to a water replenishment device and garment care machine. Background Technology

[0002] Some existing garment care machines, also known as dryers, include a cabinet, a steam module, and a hot air module. The cabinet has a garment holding chamber, and the steam module, in conjunction with the hot air module, can steam and iron the clothes inside the cabinet to make them soft and smooth. The hot air module can be used alone to dry the clothes.

[0003] Current steam modules have a water replenishment device, which includes a water pan, a water pump, an inlet pipe, a water level sensor, and a controller. The water level sensor detects the water level in the water pan, and the controller is electrically connected to the water pump and the water level sensor. When the steam module is in use, the water pump adds water to the water pan through the inlet pipe until the water level sensor detects that a predetermined water level has been reached, at which point the water pump shuts off. When some water is consumed from the water pan, the water level sensor detects a drop in water level and the controller activates the water pump to replenish the water pan. The current water replenishment device has a relatively complex structure, and since the steam module operates under high temperature and humidity conditions for extended periods, the water level sensor is prone to damage, and the frequent start-stop cycles of the water pump also increase the risk of damage, thus affecting the lifespan of the water replenishment device. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention aims to at least solve one of the technical problems existing in the prior art. To this end, the present invention proposes a water replenishment device with a relatively simple structure and an improved service life.

[0005] The present invention also proposes a garment care machine having the above-mentioned water replenishment device.

[0006] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a water replenishment device includes a water tray, a water pump, and a pipeline assembly. The water tray is provided with a receiving trough; the pipeline assembly includes an inlet pipeline and a drain pipeline, the outlet of the water pump is connected to the bottom of the receiving trough through the inlet pipeline, one end of the drain pipeline is connected to the inlet pipeline, and the other end of the drain pipeline is provided with a drain outlet.

[0007] The water replenishment device according to the first aspect of the present invention has at least the following beneficial effects: When the water replenishment device is working, the water pump remains running and pumps water into the inlet pipe through the outlet. Part of the water in the inlet pipe can enter the receiving tank of the water pan, and the other part can flow through the drain pipe and be discharged from the drain outlet. After the water pump has been running for a period of time, the water level in the receiving tank reaches a predetermined height. At this time, the water pressure at the bottom of the receiving tank is relatively high. Under the action of water pressure, the inlet pipe can only continue to inject a small amount of water into the water pan to replenish the water consumed by the water pan and maintain the water level in the receiving tank. At this time, the water level in the receiving tank no longer rises, and the remaining water in the inlet pipe is discharged from the drain pipe under the action of water pressure, so that the water level in the receiving tank can be kept constant. The above-mentioned water replenishment device does not require the use of a water level sensor, and the water pump does not need to be frequently started and stopped, thereby simplifying the structure of the water replenishment device and improving its service life.

[0008] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the water tray is equipped with a heater.

[0009] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the heater is connected to the lower outer wall of the water tray, and the water tray is a heat-conducting element.

[0010] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the system further includes a water storage tank, wherein the suction port of the water pump is connected to the inner cavity of the water storage tank, and the drain port of the drainage pipe is connected to the inner cavity of the water storage tank.

[0011] According to some embodiments of the present invention, both the drain outlet and the water storage tank are lower than the bottom of the receiving trough.

[0012] According to some embodiments of the present invention, it further includes a mounting plate, the upper end of the water tray is connected to the mounting plate, and a water-retaining rim is provided on the outer periphery of the mounting plate facing upward.

[0013] According to some embodiments of the present invention, an air inlet is provided on the upper side of the drainage pipe.

[0014] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the drainage pipeline includes a first drainage pipe, a drainage connecting pipe, and a second drainage pipe. The drainage connecting pipe is arranged in a vertical direction, and the upper end of the drainage connecting pipe is provided with the air inlet. One end of the first drainage pipe is connected to the water inlet pipeline, and the other end of the first drainage pipe is connected to the middle part of the drainage connecting pipe. One end of the second drainage pipe is connected to the lower end of the drainage connecting pipe, and the other end of the second drainage pipe is provided with the drain outlet.

[0015] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the drainage connecting pipe is provided with an upper pipe section and a lower pipe section arranged in a vertical direction. The diameter of the upper pipe section is smaller than that of the lower pipe section. The upper pipe section is provided with the air inlet hole. The first drainage pipe is connected to the lower pipe section, and the second drainage pipe is connected to the lower pipe section.

[0016] According to a second aspect of the present invention, a garment care machine includes the above-described water replenishment device.

[0017] According to the second aspect of the present invention, the garment care machine has at least the following beneficial effects: due to the use of the above-mentioned water replenishment device, the structure of the garment care machine can be simplified and the service life of the garment care machine can be improved.

[0018] Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0019] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and readily understood from the description of the embodiments taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

[0020] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the water replenishment device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the water replenishment device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 3 This is a perspective view of the water replenishment device of this invention when the mounting plate is removed.

[0023] Figure label:

[0024] Water tray 100, container 110;

[0025] Water pump 200;

[0026] 300mm water inlet pipe;

[0027] Drainage pipe 400, air inlet 401, first drainage pipe 410, drainage connecting pipe 420, upper pipe section 421, lower pipe section 422, second drainage pipe 430;

[0028] Heater 500;

[0029] Water storage tank 600;

[0030] Mounting plate 700, water-retaining edge 710. Detailed Implementation

[0031] Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below. Examples of these embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0032] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the orientation descriptions, such as up, down, etc., are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings and are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this invention.

[0033] In the description of this invention, "multiple" refers to two or more. The use of "first" and "second" is for distinguishing technical features only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance, or implicitly indicating the number of indicated technical features or their sequential relationship.

[0034] In the description of this invention, unless otherwise explicitly defined, terms such as "set up," "install," and "connect" should be interpreted broadly, and those skilled in the art can reasonably determine the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention in conjunction with the specific content of the technical solution.

[0035] Existing water replenishment devices include a water pan 100, a water pump 200, and an inlet pipe 300. The water pan 100 has an overflow trough at a predetermined height. The water pump 200 can inject water into the water pan 100 through the inlet pipe 300. After the water level in the water pan 100 reaches the predetermined height, excess water flows out through the overflow trough. However, when such water replenishment devices are used to generate steam through boiling evaporation, the continuous injection of a large amount of cold water into the water pan 100 makes it difficult to raise the water temperature and boil the water. Therefore, these devices are unsuitable for applications involving boiling to generate steam.

[0036] Reference Figures 1 to 3 The water replenishment device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a water tray 100, a water pump 200, and a pipeline assembly. The water tray 100 is provided with a receiving tank 110; the pipeline assembly includes an inlet pipe 300 and a drain pipe 400. The outlet of the water pump 200 is connected to the bottom of the receiving tank 110 through the inlet pipe 300. One end of the drain pipe 400 is connected to the inlet pipe 300, and the other end of the drain pipe 400 is provided with a drain outlet. When the water pump 200 is working, the water flow rate from the pump 200 into the water tray 100 through the inlet pipe 300 gradually decreases as the liquid level in the receiving tank 110 rises, while the water flow rate through the drain pipe 400 gradually increases as the liquid level in the receiving tank 110 rises.

[0037] When the water replenishment device is working, the water pump 200 remains running, pumping water through the outlet into the inlet pipe 300. Part of the water in the inlet pipe 300 flows into the receiving tank 110 of the water tray 100, while the other part flows through the drain pipe 400 and is discharged from the drain outlet. After the water pump 200 has been running for a period of time, the water level in the receiving tank 110 reaches the predetermined height. At this point, the water pressure at the bottom of the receiving tank 110 is relatively high, and under this pressure, the inlet pipe 300 can only continue to supply water. A small amount of water is injected into the water pan 100 to replenish the water consumed by the water pan 100 and maintain the water level in the container 110. At this time, the water level in the container 110 no longer rises, while the remaining water in the inlet pipe 300 is drained away from the drain pipe 400 under water pressure, so that the water level in the container 110 can be kept constant. The above-mentioned water replenishment device does not require the use of a water level sensor, and the water pump 200 does not need to be frequently started and stopped, thereby simplifying the structure of the water replenishment device and improving its service life.

[0038] In this embodiment, a heater 500 is provided in the water tray 100. The heater 500 can directly heat the water in the water tray 100, causing the water in the receiving tank 110 to evaporate and form steam, so that the water in the water tray 100 can be consumed to meet the usage requirements.

[0039] In this embodiment, the heater 500 is connected to the lower outer wall of the water tray 100, which serves as a heat-conducting element. By placing the heater 500 on the lower outer wall of the water tray 100, the heater 500 does not need to directly contact the water; instead, it indirectly heats the water through the water tray 100, which improves safety and reduces the risk of damage to the heater 500. Specifically, the heater 500 is an arc-shaped electric heating tube. It is conceivable that in other embodiments, the heater 500 could also be, for example, an electric heating plate or heating wire, or even a burner; this is not limited to these specific embodiments.

[0040] Specifically, the water tray 100 is made of metal to provide heat conduction. It is understood that in some embodiments, the water tray 100 may also be made of materials such as ceramic, and this is not a limitation.

[0041] Specifically, in this embodiment, after the water pump 200 has been running for a period of time, since the water level in the container 110 no longer rises, the inlet pipe 300, under water pressure, is mainly used to replenish the water consumed by the water pan 100. That is, only a small amount of cold water enters the water pan 100, making it easier for the water in the container 110 to maintain a boiling and evaporating state. Compared to using overflow to maintain the water level in the water pan 100, the overflow method, due to the continuous influx of a large amount of cold water into the water pan 100, makes it difficult for the water in the container 110 to maintain a boiling and evaporating state. Therefore, this embodiment differs from conventional overflow-controlled water level management and has a better effect on maintaining the water temperature in the container 110 and improving evaporation efficiency.

[0042] In this embodiment, a water storage tank 600 is also included. The suction port of the water pump 200 is connected to the inner cavity of the water storage tank 600, and the drain outlet of the drain pipe 400 is connected to the inner cavity of the water storage tank 600. With the water storage tank 600 installed, the water pump 200 can directly draw water from the water storage tank 600, and the drain pipe 400 can return water that does not enter the water pan 100 back to the water storage tank 600 for reuse. This makes the water replenishment device relatively water-saving and has a good environmental protection effect.

[0043] In this embodiment, both the drain outlet and the water storage tank 600 are lower than the bottom of the receiving tank 110. Because the water storage tank 600 and the drain outlet are lower than the bottom of the receiving tank 110, when the water pump 200 is turned off, the water in the receiving tank 110 will be discharged through the inlet pipe 300 and the drain pipe 400 under water pressure, flowing back into the water storage tank 600, thereby reducing the risk of water accumulation in the receiving tank 110.

[0044] In this embodiment, a mounting plate 700 is also included. The upper end of the water tray 100 is connected to the mounting plate 700, and a water-retaining edge 710 is provided on the outer periphery of the mounting plate 700 facing upwards. The upper end of the water tray 100 is connected to the mounting plate 700, and the mounting plate is mainly used to install and fix the water tray 100. When the water level in the water tray 100 is accidentally too high and overflows, the water can be stopped by the water-retaining edge 710 of the mounting plate 700 and stay on the mounting plate 700, reducing the risk of leakage of overflowing water, improving the safety of the water replenishment device, and the structure is relatively compact. Specifically, the water tray can be connected to the mounting plate 700 by means of screw fastening, welding, or riveting.

[0045] In this embodiment, an air inlet 401 is provided on the upper side of the drain pipe 400. The air inlet 401 allows outside air to enter the drain pipe 400, reducing the risk of accidental siphoning. Specifically, if the water flow in the drain pipe 400 is too large and the air inlet 401 is not provided, siphoning may occur. In this case, all the water supplied from the outlet of the water pump 200 to the inlet pipe 300 will be siphoned away by the drain pipe 400, preventing the water pan 100 from being replenished, or even drawing water out of the water pan 100, leading to risks such as dry burning of the water pan 100 and posing a safety hazard. Therefore, an air inlet 401 is provided on the upper side of the drainage pipe 400. The water in the drainage pipe 400 will not flow out through the air inlet 401, and the air inlet 401 allows outside air to enter the drainage pipe 400, so that there will be no siphon between the drainage pipe 400 and the water inlet pipe 300.

[0046] In this embodiment, the drainage pipe 400 includes a first drainage pipe 410, a drainage connecting pipe 420, and a second drainage pipe 430. The drainage connecting pipe 420 is arranged in a vertical direction, and an air inlet 401 is provided at the upper end of the drainage connecting pipe 420. One end of the first drainage pipe 410 is connected to the water inlet pipe 300, and the other end of the first drainage pipe 410 is connected to the middle of the drainage connecting pipe 420. One end of the second drainage pipe 430 is connected to the lower end of the drainage connecting pipe 420, and a drain outlet is provided at the other end of the second drainage pipe 430. The aforementioned drainage pipe 400, via a drainage connecting pipe 420 arranged vertically, has an air inlet 401 at its upper end, connects to the first drainage pipe 410 in the middle, and connects to the second drainage pipe 430 at its lower end. Water flowing from the inlet pipe 300 into the first drainage pipe 410 passes through the lower middle part of the drainage connecting pipe 420, enters the second drainage pipe 430, and then flows back into the water storage tank 600. The upper middle part of the drainage connecting pipe 420 is used to replenish air, preventing siphoning in the drainage pipe 400. The drainage connecting pipe 420 further reduces the risk of water flowing out of the air inlet 401 and facilitates the replenishment of air into the drainage pipe 400 to suppress siphoning.

[0047] In this embodiment, the drain connection pipe 420 is provided with an upper pipe section 421 and a lower pipe section 422 arranged vertically. The diameter of the upper pipe section 421 is smaller than that of the lower pipe section 422. The upper pipe section 421 is provided with an air inlet 401. The first drain pipe 410 is connected to the lower pipe section 422, and the second drain pipe 430 is connected to the lower pipe section 422. The smaller diameter of the upper pipe section 421 makes it difficult for water from the lower pipe section 422 to enter the upper pipe section 421, reducing the risk of water splashing out of the drain connection pipe 420 from the air inlet 401.

[0048] In this embodiment, the mounting plate 700 is arranged horizontally, and the drain connecting pipe 420 is connected to the mounting plate 700. The upper pipe section 421 of the drain connecting pipe 420 passes through the mounting plate 700, and the upper end of the drain connecting pipe 420 is higher than the mounting plate 700. The mounting plate 700 is also used to install and fix the drain pipe section. The structure is compact, and the upper end of the drain connecting pipe 420 is higher than the mounting plate 700, which facilitates the entry of air into the drain connecting pipe 420.

[0049] Specifically, the water inlet pipe 300 is also installed on the mounting plate 700, that is, the mounting plate 700 is used to install and fix the water tray 100, the water inlet pipe 300 and the drain pipe 400, making the assembly structure of the water replenishment device relatively compact.

[0050] Specifically, the water inlet pipe 300 is clamped and fixed to the lower side of the mounting plate 700 using screws and pipe clamps. The drain connection pipe 420 is locked and fixed to the lower side of the mounting plate 700 using screws. It is conceivable that in some other embodiments, the water inlet pipe 300 and the drain pipe 400 may also be installed on the mounting plate 700 by other means, such as by adhesive bonding.

[0051] In this embodiment, one end of the water inlet pipe 300 extends to the side wall of the water receiving tray, that is, one end of the water inlet pipe 300 extends to the side wall of the receiving groove 110, so as to avoid the installation position of the heater 500, and the layout is more reasonable.

[0052] Specifically, in this embodiment, the drain pipe 400 is connected to the upper part of the water storage tank 600, which facilitates the return of water from the drain pipe 400 to the water storage tank 600; the suction port of the water pump 200 is connected to the lower part of the water storage tank 600, which facilitates the water pump 200 to continuously and stably pump water from the water storage tank 600.

[0053] It should be understood that the water replenishment device of this embodiment is applicable to the field of garment care machines, especially garment care machines that generate steam by heating the water pan 100. It should also be understood that equipment in other fields can use the water replenishment device of this solution to achieve constant water level and stable water temperature.

[0054] This embodiment also discloses a garment care machine employing the aforementioned water replenishment device. By employing the aforementioned water replenishment device, the structure of the garment care machine can be simplified, and its service life can be improved.

[0055] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "illustrative embodiment," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the invention. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0056] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A water replenishment device, characterized in that, include: The water tray (100) is equipped with a receiving trough (110); Water pump (200); The piping assembly includes an inlet pipe (300) and a drain pipe (400). The outlet of the water pump (200) is connected to the bottom of the receiving tank (110) through the inlet pipe (300). One end of the drain pipe (400) is connected to the inlet pipe (300), and the other end of the drain pipe (400) is provided with a drain outlet. It also includes a water storage tank (600), the suction port of the water pump (200) is connected to the inner cavity of the water storage tank (600), and the drain port of the drain pipe (400) is connected to the inner cavity of the water storage tank (600); Both the drain outlet and the water storage tank (600) are lower than the bottom of the receiving trough (110).

2. The water replenishment device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The water tray (100) is equipped with a heater (500).

3. The water replenishment device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The heater (500) is connected to the lower outer wall of the water tray (100), which is a heat-conducting component.

4. The water replenishment device according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a mounting plate (700), the upper end of the water tray (100) is connected to the mounting plate (700), and the outer periphery of the mounting plate (700) is provided with a water-blocking rim (710) facing upward.

5. The water replenishment device according to claim 1, characterized in that: An air inlet (401) is provided on the upper side of the drainage pipe (400).

6. The water replenishment device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The drainage pipe (400) includes a first drainage pipe (410), a drainage connecting pipe (420), and a second drainage pipe (430). The drainage connecting pipe (420) is arranged in the vertical direction. The upper end of the drainage connecting pipe (420) is provided with the air inlet (401). One end of the first drainage pipe (410) is connected to the water inlet pipe (300), and the other end of the first drainage pipe (410) is connected to the middle part of the drainage connecting pipe (420). One end of the second drainage pipe (430) is connected to the lower end of the drainage connecting pipe (420), and the other end of the second drainage pipe (430) is provided with the drain outlet.

7. The water replenishment device according to claim 6, characterized in that: The drainage connecting pipe (420) is arranged in a vertical direction with an upper pipe section (421) and a lower pipe section (422). The diameter of the upper pipe section (421) is smaller than that of the lower pipe section (422). The upper pipe section (421) is provided with the air inlet (401). The first drainage pipe (410) is connected to the lower pipe section (422), and the second drainage pipe (430) is connected to the lower pipe section (422).

8. A garment care machine, characterized in that, Includes the water replenishment device as described in any one of claims 1 to 7.

Images