Water inlet module

Abstract

The utility model discloses a water inlet module which comprises a shell, a flow meter arranged in the shell, an electromagnetic valve and a water pump, wherein the electromagnetic valve and the water pump are installed outside the shell. The shell is provided with a water inlet, an inner container connector and a water tank connector, the electromagnetic valve is arranged at the inner container connector, and the water pump is arranged at the water tank connector. An inner cavity of the shell is provided with a first water way, a second water way and a third water way which are divided by a plurality of partition plates. The electromagnetic valve has a first state and a second state. The utility model provides a water inlet module, which can modularize a complex waterway, realize function integration, improve the stability and is convenient to mount and dismount.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of household appliances, in particular to a water inlet module. Background Art

[0002] With improved living standards and shifting consumer attitudes, the dishwasher market is booming. More and more families are recognizing the value of dishwashers and adding them to their must-have home appliances. When a dishwasher is operating, a wash pump typically pumps water from the dishwasher's inner tank through a high-pressure spray nozzle. The reaction of the water flow causes the nozzle to rotate rapidly, allowing the water to reach every corner of the dishwasher to clean dishes. This process requires a continuous water supply to the inner tank. An unstable tap water supply can significantly affect the dishwasher's operation. To address this issue, most dishwashers are equipped with a water storage tank.

[0003] However, most dishwashers currently on the market require users to manually refill their water tanks, preventing direct refilling from an external water supply. This is cumbersome. Furthermore, the water inlet system typically includes multiple valves and pump components, which are interconnected by pipes, creating a complex water path that is unstable and inconvenient to install. Utility Model Content

[0004] In order to overcome the above-mentioned shortcomings of the prior art, the utility model provides a water inlet module, which integrates multiple water channels into one module, can modularize complex water channels, achieve functional integration, improve stability, and facilitate installation and disassembly.

[0005] The technical solution adopted by the utility model to solve its technical problems is: a water inlet module, comprising a shell, a flow meter arranged inside the shell, and a solenoid valve and a water pump installed outside the shell; the shell is provided with a water inlet, an inner tank interface and a water tank interface, the solenoid valve is arranged at the inner tank interface, and the water pump is arranged at the water tank interface; the inner cavity of the shell is provided with a first water path, a second water path and a third water path separated by a plurality of partitions, the solenoid valve has a first state and a second state, the solenoid valve and the water pump are electrically connected to the control circuit respectively; when the control circuit controls the solenoid valve to be in the first state and the water pump is turned off, the water inlet is connected to the inner tank interface in sequence through the first one-way valve plate, the flow meter and the third one-way valve plate to form a third water path; when the control circuit controls the solenoid valve to be in the first state and the water pump is working, the water tank interface is connected to the inner tank interface in sequence through the second one-way valve plate, the flow meter and the water tank interface in sequence to form a second water path; when the control circuit controls the solenoid valve to be in the second state and the water pump is turned off, the water inlet is connected to the water tank interface in sequence through the first one-way valve plate, the flow meter and the third one-way valve plate to form a third water path.

[0006] In a preferred technical solution, a two-way pilot valve is provided at the water inlet, and the two-way pilot valve is detachably mounted on the outside of the housing.

[0007] In a preferred technical solution, a pressure-free drain valve is provided at the water tank interface, and the pressure-free drain valve is detachably mounted on the outside of the shell.

[0008] In a preferred technical solution, the shell includes a bottom shell and a cover plate. The bottom shell is an open structure. The cover plate is fixedly connected to the bottom shell and covers the open part of the bottom shell so that the inner cavity of the bottom shell forms an enclosed space. The inner cavity of the bottom shell is provided with a number of partitions integrally formed with the bottom shell, and the number of partitions divides the enclosed space into a first waterway, a second waterway and a third waterway.

[0009] In a preferred technical solution, mounting holes are provided at the four corners of the bottom shell.

[0010] In a preferred technical solution, grid-shaped reinforcement ribs are provided on the outer side of the cover plate.

[0011] In a preferred technical solution, the bottom shell includes an upper shell and a lower shell that are integrally formed and parallel to each other, and the inner cavities of the upper shell and the lower shell are connected to each other; the cover plate includes an upper cover plate and a lower cover plate, the upper cover plate is arranged at the opening of the upper shell, and the lower cover plate is arranged at the opening of the lower shell.

[0012] In a preferred technical solution, the solenoid valve is a two-position three-way solenoid valve, the water pump is a centrifugal water pump, and the flow meter is a pulse flow meter.

[0013] In a preferred technical solution, the second water channel is provided with a water outlet and a water return port in sequence between the water tank interface and the second one-way valve plate, and a partition is provided between the water outlet and the water return port; the water outlet is used to connect to the water inlet end of the water softener, and the water return port is used to connect to the water outlet end of the water softener.

[0014] It can be seen from the above technical solution that compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are: a water inlet module, in which multiple water paths are separated by partitions in the inner cavity of the shell, and solenoid valves and water pumps are used to realize switching between different water paths, and the functions of supplying water from the water inlet or water tank to the inner tank and directly replenishing water to the water tank through the water inlet can be integrated into one module, thereby realizing functional integration and obtaining a water inlet module with better stability; and different water paths are separated by partitions, and control components such as solenoid valves and water pumps can be directly installed on the outside of the shell without the need for complicated pipeline connections, which can realize the modularization of complex water paths and facilitate assembly and installation and disassembly.

[0015] In addition, other advantages of the present invention will be given in the following description, and some will become apparent from the following description or be understood through the practice of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] 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 merely embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on the provided drawings without paying any creative work.

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the water inlet module in one embodiment of the present utility model;

[0018] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the water inlet module in one embodiment of the present utility model;

[0019] Figure 3 This is a side view of a water inlet module in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the water inlet module in another embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Explanation of the accompanying symbols: 1. Shell; 2. Solenoid valve; 3. Water pump; 4. Two-way pilot valve; 5. Pressure-free drain valve; 6. Water tank; 7. Water softener; 11. Water inlet; 12. Inner tank interface; 13. Water tank interface; 14. Flow meter; 15. Bottom shell; 16. Cover plate; 17. Upper shell; 18. Lower shell; 19. Mounting hole; 21. First one-way valve disc; 22. Second one-way valve disc; 23. Third one-way valve disc; 31. Water outlet; 32. Return water outlet. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the embodiments described 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.

[0023] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the terms "length," "width," "thickness," "up," "down," "front," "back," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inside," "outside," and the like, indicating positions or relationships, are based on the positions or relationships shown in the accompanying drawings and are intended solely to facilitate the description of the present invention and simplify the description. They do not indicate or imply that the devices or components referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed, or operate in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the present invention. Furthermore, in the description of the present invention, unless otherwise specified, "plurality" means two or more.

[0024] Reference Figure 1-4 A water inlet module according to an embodiment of the present invention is described, which can be applied to dishwashing devices such as dishwashers.

[0025] In one embodiment, if Figure 1-3 As shown, a water inlet module includes a housing 1 , a flow meter 14 arranged inside the housing 1 , and a solenoid valve 2 and a water pump 3 installed outside the housing 1 .

[0026] The shell 1 is provided with a water inlet 11, an inner tank interface 12 and a water tank interface 13. The solenoid valve 2 is provided at the inner tank interface 12, and the water pump 3 is provided at the water tank interface 13. The inner cavity of the shell 1 is provided with a first water path, a second water path and a third water path separated by a plurality of partitions. The solenoid valve 2 has a first state and a second state. The solenoid valve 2 and the water pump 3 are electrically connected to the control circuit respectively. The control circuit is used to control the solenoid valve 2 to switch between the first state and the second state, and control the water pump 3 to work or shut down.

[0027] When the control circuit controls the solenoid valve 2 to be in the first state and the water pump 3 is turned off, the water inlet 11 is connected to the inner tank interface 12 through the first one-way valve plate 21 and the flow meter 14 in sequence to form a first water path.

[0028] When the control circuit controls the solenoid valve 2 to be in the first state and the water pump 3 is working, the water tank interface 13 is connected to the inner tank interface 12 through the second one-way valve plate 22 and the flow meter 14 in sequence to form a second water path; at this time, the water pump 3 is used to transport the water in the water tank 6 from the water tank interface 13 to the inner tank interface 12.

[0029] When the control circuit controls the solenoid valve 2 to be in the second state and the water pump 3 is turned off, the water inlet 11 is connected to the water tank interface 13 through the first one-way valve plate 21, the flow meter 14, and the third one-way valve plate 23 in sequence to form a third water path.

[0030] Among them, the first one-way valve disc 21, the second one-way valve disc 22 and the third one-way valve disc 23 only allow water to flow in one direction. The above three one-way valve discs are respectively arranged on the through holes of the partitions at different positions, which can effectively prevent backflow, so as to separate different water paths in the inner cavity of the shell 1; the solenoid valve 2, the water pump 3 and the flow meter 14 can all be implemented by products already available in the prior art. As a preferred implementation of this embodiment, the solenoid valve 2 can be a two-position three-way solenoid valve, the water pump 3 can be a centrifugal water pump, and the flow meter 14 is a pulse flow meter. The two-position three-way solenoid valve is usually used to control and switch water paths, and is widely used in fluid control systems, especially in situations where precise control of fluid flow direction and pressure is required; the centrifugal water pump has a simple structure, small size and good stability; the pulse flow meter can measure the flow rate of water and realize flow measurement and control by outputting pulse signals.

[0031] The water inlet 11 is used to connect to the external water supply source of the dishwasher, which is generally tap water; the water tank interface 13 and the inner tank interface 12 can be respectively arranged at the two ends of the top of the shell 1; the water tank interface 13 is externally connected to the water tank 6 of the dishwasher, and is used to transport the external water supply to the water tank 6 of the dishwasher for storage, and can also be used to transport the water in the water tank 6 to the inner tank of the dishwasher; the inner tank interface 12 is externally connected to the inner tank of the dishwasher.

[0032] In a specific implementation, the water tank 6 can store the incoming tap water. When the inner tank needs to be filled with water, the water in the water tank 6 can be transported to the inner tank, and the inner tank is used to supply water to the cleaning nozzle inside the dishwasher.

[0033] In this embodiment, there are two sources of water in the inner tank: the first is that the water inlet 11 directly supplies water to the inner tank through the first water channel, and the second is that the water tank 6 supplies water to the inner tank through the second water channel; that is, the first water channel and the second water channel are both water supply channels for the inner tank; the third water channel is the water tank 6 water adding channel that adds water from the water inlet 11 to the water tank 6. In addition to adding water to the water tank 6 through the water inlet module, the water tank 6 can also be provided with an openable water adding port, and the user can replenish water to the water tank 6 by manually adding water.

[0034] The above embodiment provides a water inlet module, which divides the inner cavity of the shell 1 into multiple water channels by a partition, and then uses the solenoid valve 2 and the water pump 3 to realize switching between different water channels. It can realize the function of supplying water to the inner tank from the water inlet 11 or the water tank 6, and directly replenishing water to the water tank 6 through the water inlet 11, which is more convenient to operate; and because different water channels are separated by partitions, control components such as the solenoid valve 2 and the water pump 3 can be directly installed on the outside of the shell 1, without the need for complex connecting pipes between the components, the structure is simpler, and production efficiency can be improved; in addition, the water inlet module integrates multiple water channels in a shell 1, which can be installed and disassembled as a whole, and is easy to assemble.

[0035] In this embodiment, a two-way pilot valve 4 is provided at the water inlet 11 and is detachably mounted on the outside of the housing 1. The two-way pilot valve 4 can regulate the water flow at the water inlet 11, thereby protecting the inlet water pressure and the internal waterways and components of the water inlet module.

[0036] In the above embodiment, the two-way pilot valve 4 can play the role of shutoff, regulation, non-return and safety, and has good sealing performance, low flow resistance, strong durability, simple operation and convenient maintenance. Moreover, the two-way pilot valve 4 can adopt different forms of valve bodies, such as ball valves, gate valves, etc., which are suitable for different application scenarios and needs.

[0037] First, the shut-off function of the two-way pilot valve 4 means that it can completely cut off the water flow and ensure the water shut-off effect. When the water inlet 11 needs to be closed, the quick-connect valve can effectively prevent the water flow from passing through to ensure the water shut-off effect. Secondly, the regulating function refers to adjusting the flow rate, temperature, pressure and other parameters of the incoming water according to working conditions or requirements. The flow control depends on the size adjustment of the valve opening; in addition, the check function refers to preventing the liquid from flowing in the opposite direction. Finally, the safety function means that when the fluid pressure at the water inlet 11 is too high, it can prevent the pressure from exceeding the pressure limit of the shell 1, thereby ensuring safety.

[0038] In this embodiment, a pressure-free drain valve 5 is provided at the water tank interface 13 , and the pressure-free drain valve 5 is detachably mounted on the outside of the housing 1 .

[0039] The pressure-free drain valve 5 is installed near the water tank interface 13. When the water pressure is unstable, the pressure-free drain valve 5 automatically adjusts the water flow to prevent excessive or insufficient water flow. When the incoming water pressure is low, the pressure-free drain valve 5 automatically opens the water valve to increase the water flow. When the water pressure stabilizes, the pressure-free drain valve 5 automatically closes the water valve to adjust the water flow to an appropriate water pressure value.

[0040] In the above embodiment, the water inlet module adjusts the water pressure near the water tank interface 13 through the pressure-free water drain valve 5, which can make the water inlet module more stable in performance and safer.

[0041] In this embodiment, the housing 1 includes a bottom shell 15 and a cover plate 16. The bottom shell 15 is an open structure. The cover plate 16 is fixedly connected to the bottom shell 15 and covers the open portion of the bottom shell 15, so that the inner cavity of the bottom shell 15 forms a closed space.

[0042] A plurality of partitions formed integrally with the bottom shell 15 are provided in the inner cavity of the bottom shell 15 , and the plurality of partitions divide the enclosed space into a first water channel, a second water channel and a third water channel.

[0043] Among them, the shell 1 is mainly assembled from the bottom shell 15 and the cover plate 16, which is convenient for assembly and disassembly; a number of partitions are integrally formed with the bottom shell 15, and are distributed in the inner cavity of the bottom shell 15 to separate the first water channel, the second water channel and the third water channel. There is no need for complicated connecting pipes between the components, and the structure is simpler.

[0044] In this embodiment, mounting holes 19 are defined at four corners of the bottom shell 15 .

[0045] The diameters of the mounting holes 19 at different positions may be the same or different. In a specific implementation, the water inlet module may be fixedly mounted on the dishwasher as a whole through the mounting holes 19 .

[0046] As one implementation of this embodiment, the mounting holes 19 can be arranged as follows: one mounting hole 19 on each side of the inner tank interface 12, one mounting hole 19 below the water inlet 11, one mounting hole 19 at the lower right corner of the bottom shell 15, and one mounting hole 19 to the left of the water pump 3. In addition to the above implementation, the mounting holes 19 can also be located in other locations, without limitation, as long as the water inlet module can be securely assembled within the dishwasher.

[0047] In this embodiment, a grid-like reinforcement rib is provided on the outer side of the cover plate 16 to strengthen the strength of the cover plate 16 and make the structure more solid and stable.

[0048] In this embodiment, the bottom shell 15 includes an upper shell 17 and a lower shell 18 that are integrally formed and parallel to each other. The inner cavities of the upper shell 17 and the lower shell 18 are connected to each other.

[0049] The cover plate 16 includes an upper cover plate 16 and a lower cover plate 16 . The upper cover plate 16 is disposed at an opening of the upper shell 17 , and the lower cover plate 16 is disposed at an opening of the lower shell 18 .

[0050] The upper and lower shells 18 of the water inlet module bottom shell 15 in the above embodiment are sealed with upper and lower cover plates 16 respectively. The rear side of the bottom end of the upper shell 17 is connected to the front side of the top end of the lower shell 18 and the middle is connected, which has better structural strength and is more suitable for the internal space of the dishwasher, making it easier to install.

[0051] In another embodiment, if Figure 4 As shown, the second water circuit is provided with a water outlet 31 and a water return port 32 in sequence between the water tank interface 13 and the second one-way valve plate 22, and a partition is provided between the water outlet 31 and the water return port 32, which is used to separate the water outlet 31 from the water return port 32; the water outlet 31 is used to connect to the water inlet end of the water softener 7, and the water return port 32 is used to connect to the water outlet end of the water softener 7, so as to realize the communication between the second water circuit and the water softener 7.

[0052] A water inlet module provided in the above embodiment processes the water flowing from the water tank interface 13 to the water tank interface through the water softener 7, which can reduce the hardness of the water and reduce the generation of scale. It can make the water inlet module no longer prone to clogging or scale generation, extend its service life, and reduce the frequency of cleaning and maintenance.

[0053] Other structures and operations of the water inlet module according to the embodiment of the present invention are known to those skilled in the art and will not be described in detail here.

[0054] In the description of this utility model, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, the terms "mounted," "connected," and "connected" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they can refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; mechanical connections, electrical connections; direct connections, indirect connections through an intermediate medium, and internal communication between two components. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of the above terms in this utility model based on the specific circumstances.

[0055] In the description of this specification, the reference terms "embodiment", "specific embodiment", "example", etc. mean that the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described in combination with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention.

[0056] In this specification, the schematic representations of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described can be combined with each other in any suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples without interference or contradiction.

[0057] Materials or features may be combined with each other in any suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples without interference or inconsistency.

Claims

1. A water inlet module, characterized by: It comprises a housing, a flow meter arranged inside the housing, and a solenoid valve and a water pump installed outside the housing; The shell is provided with a water inlet, an inner liner interface and a water tank interface, the solenoid valve is provided at the inner liner interface, and the water pump is provided at the water tank interface; the inner cavity of the shell is provided with a first water path, a second water path and a third water path separated by a plurality of partitions, the solenoid valve has a first state and a second state, and the solenoid valve and the water pump are electrically connected to the control circuit respectively; When the control circuit controls the solenoid valve to be in the first state and the water pump is turned off, the water inlet is connected to the inner tank interface through the first one-way valve plate and the flow meter in sequence to form the first water path; When the control circuit controls the solenoid valve to be in the first state and the water pump is working, the water tank interface is connected to the inner tank interface through the second one-way valve plate and the flow meter in sequence to form the second water path; When the control circuit controls the solenoid valve to be in the second state and the water pump is turned off, the water inlet is connected to the water tank interface through the first one-way valve plate, the flow meter, and the third one-way valve plate in sequence to form the third water path.

2. The water inlet module according to claim 1, characterized in that: A two-way pilot valve is provided at the water inlet, and the two-way pilot valve is installed outside the shell.

3. The water inlet module according to claim 2, characterized in that: A pressure-free drain valve is provided at the water tank interface and is installed outside the shell.

4. The water inlet module according to claim 3, characterized in that: The housing includes a bottom shell and a cover plate, wherein the bottom shell is an open structure, and the cover plate is fixedly connected to the bottom shell and covers the open portion of the bottom shell, so that the inner cavity of the bottom shell forms a closed space; The inner cavity of the bottom shell is provided with the plurality of partitions integrally formed with the bottom shell, and the plurality of partitions divide the enclosed space into the first water channel, the second water channel and the third water channel.

5. The water inlet module according to claim 4, characterized in that: The four corners of the bottom shell are each provided with mounting holes.

6. The water inlet module according to claim 4, characterized in that: Grid-shaped reinforcement ribs are provided on the outer side of the cover plate.

7. The water inlet module according to claim 6, characterized in that: The bottom shell includes an upper shell and a lower shell that are integrally formed and parallel to each other, and the inner cavities of the upper shell and the lower shell are connected to each other; The cover plate includes an upper cover plate and a lower cover plate. The upper cover plate is arranged at the opening of the upper shell body, and the lower cover plate is arranged at the opening of the lower shell body.

8. The water inlet module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The solenoid valve is a two-position three-way solenoid valve, the water pump is a centrifugal water pump, and the flow meter is a pulse flow meter.

9. The water inlet module according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: The second water channel is provided with a water outlet and a water return port in sequence between the water tank interface and the second one-way valve plate, and a partition is provided between the water outlet and the water return port; The water outlet is used to connect to the water inlet end of the water softener, and the water return port is used to connect to the water outlet end of the water softener.

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