Self-cleaning float switch and heat pump dryer

Abstract

The utility model provides a self-cleaning float switch and a heat pump dryer. The self-cleaning float switch comprises a mounting mechanism; the float switch assembly comprises a body and a plurality of fan blades, and the fan blades are connected to the outer wall of the body and evenly extend outwards in a radiation mode with the body as the center; the water pump assembly comprises a pump body and a water guide valve set, the water guide valve set comprises a water inlet pipeline, a water drainage pipeline and a cleaning pipeline, and the water inlet pipeline can be communicated with the water drainage pipeline or the cleaning pipeline. In the embodiment, the water pump assembly can communicate the water drainage pipeline to achieve conventional water drainage operation; when the float switch assembly needs to be cleaned, the water pump assembly can be switched to the cleaning pipeline to drive the fan blades to rotate, and therefore the efficient and thorough cleaning machining process of the float switch assembly is achieved through rotation of the body while the flushing function is achieved. Compared with a conventional float switch structure, the float switch has the advantages of being rich in function, high in controllability, convenient to regulate and control, long in service life, outstanding in cleaning effect and the like.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of drying equipment technology, specifically to a self-cleaning float switch and a heat pump dryer. Background Technology

[0002] In today's fast-paced life, heat pump dryers have become an indispensable household appliance. They rapidly remove moisture from clothes through efficient rotation and heating technology, significantly shortening drying time. However, during use, the float switch assembly of heat pump dryers, due to its specific function—controlling the water level to achieve automatic drainage—often faces the problem of jamming and failure caused by lint buildup during the drying process. This lint mainly originates from the wear and tear of clothing fibers. Especially during heat pump dryer operation, friction between clothes and airflow make it easier for lint to be stirred up and deposited in various corners of the machine, particularly where the float switch assembly is located.

[0003] While existing heat pump dryer designs incorporate lint filtration and removal to some extent, such as using filters to capture some lint, these measures are not very effective for the float switch assembly located at the water pump. If the float switch becomes stuck, it will inevitably fail to accurately sense water level changes, thus affecting the heat pump dryer's automatic drainage function and, in severe cases, even causing the dryer to malfunction. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Therefore, the technical problem to be solved by this utility model is to overcome the problem that float switch components are easily clogged by lint in the prior art, and to provide a self-cleaning float switch and heat pump dryer.

[0005] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this utility model provides a self-cleaning float switch, comprising: an installation mechanism; a float switch assembly disposed in the installation mechanism, comprising a body and multiple fan blades, the body being movable with the rise and fall of the water level, the multiple fan blades being respectively connected to the outer wall of the body and extending uniformly outward from the body as the center; and a water pump assembly fixedly connected in the installation mechanism, comprising a pump body and a water guide valve assembly, wherein the water guide valve assembly is connected to the working end of the pump body and comprises an inlet pipe, a drain pipe, and a cleaning pipe, the inlet pipe being able to communicate with the drain pipe or the cleaning pipe, wherein the outlet end of the cleaning pipe is arranged facing the fan blades to drive the fan blades to rotate.

[0006] In one embodiment of the present invention, the water guide valve assembly further includes a three-way connector and a valve body. The water inlet pipe, the drain pipe, and the cleaning pipe are respectively connected to three interfaces of the three-way valve body. The valve body is disposed inside the three-way connector and is located between the water inlet pipe, the drain pipe, and the cleaning pipe to adjust the connection between the water inlet pipe and the drain pipe or the cleaning pipe.

[0007] In one embodiment of this utility model, the self-cleaning float switch further includes a control unit, which is signal-connected to the valve body and the float switch assembly respectively, so as to adjust the direction of the valve body through the float switch assembly signal.

[0008] In one embodiment of this utility model, the fan blade extension direction is inclined relative to the axial direction of the body.

[0009] In one embodiment of this utility model, the extension direction of the drain end of the cleaning pipe is tangent to the outer surface of the main body.

[0010] In one embodiment of the present invention, the float switch assembly further includes a guide rod, a connecting plate, and a retaining ring. The main body is slidably sleeved on the guide rod, and the connecting plate and the retaining ring are respectively disposed at both ends of the guide rod. The connecting plate is connected to the mounting mechanism.

[0011] In one embodiment of the present invention, the mounting mechanism includes a base and a cover plate. The base is disposed at the drain outlet of the electrical appliance on which it is installed, and the cover plate is detachably connected to the base. The water pump assembly and the float switch assembly are both connected to the cover plate.

[0012] In one embodiment of this utility model, the cover plate is provided with a water pump connection groove and a switch connection groove, and the water pump assembly and the float switch assembly are respectively inserted into the base through the water pump connection groove and the switch connection groove.

[0013] This utility model also provides a heat pump dryer, which includes the above-mentioned self-cleaning float switch.

[0014] In one embodiment of the present invention, the heat pump dryer further includes a housing and an evaporation mechanism, a condensation mechanism and a drainage mechanism disposed inside the housing. The drainage mechanism is disposed near the drain outlet of the housing, and water vapor inside the housing passes through the evaporation mechanism, the condensation mechanism and the drainage mechanism in sequence before being discharged from the drain outlet.

[0015] The above-mentioned technical solution of this utility model has the following advantages compared with the prior art:

[0016] The self-cleaning float switch and heat pump dryer described in this embodiment connect the float switch assembly and the water pump assembly near the drain outlet of the electrical appliance via an installation mechanism. When drainage is required, the water pump assembly connects the drain pipe for routine drainage. When cleaning of the float switch assembly is needed, the water pump assembly switches to the cleaning pipe to drive the fan blades to rotate. Thus, while performing its rinsing function, the rotation of the main body achieves a highly efficient and thorough cleaning process for the float switch assembly. Compared to conventional float switch structures, this application offers advantages such as rich functionality, high controllability, ease of adjustment, long service life, and outstanding cleaning effect, making it a novel float switch structure with broad application prospects. Attached Figure Description

[0017] To make the content of this utility model easier to understand, the present utility model will be further described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments and accompanying drawings.

[0018] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the self-cleaning float switch part in a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 The exploded view of the mounting mechanism in the self-cleaning float switch shown.

[0020] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A three-dimensional structural diagram of the float switch assembly in the self-cleaning float switch shown.

[0021] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 A three-dimensional structural diagram of the water pump assembly in the self-cleaning float switch shown.

[0022] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the water pump assembly in a clean state;

[0023] Figure 6 yes Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the water pump assembly in the drainage state.

[0024] Explanation of reference numerals in the accompanying drawings: 100, mounting mechanism; 110, base; 120, cover plate; 121, water pump connection slot; 122, switch connection slot; 200, float switch assembly; 210, body; 211, fan blade; 220, guide rod; 230, snap ring; 240, connecting plate; 300, water pump assembly; 310, pump body; 320, water guide valve assembly; 321, water inlet pipe; 322, drain pipe; 323, cleaning pipe; 324, tee connector; 325, valve body. Detailed Implementation

[0025] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments, so that those skilled in the art can better understand and implement the present invention. However, the embodiments are not intended to limit the present invention. Example 1

[0026] See Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, this embodiment provides a self-cleaning float switch, which is installed at the drain outlet of a heat pump dryer. It includes: a mounting mechanism 100; a float switch assembly 200, which is disposed within the mounting mechanism 100 and includes a body 210 and multiple fan blades 211. The body 210 can move with the water level, and the multiple fan blades 211 are respectively connected to the outer wall of the body 210 and extend uniformly outward from the body 210 as the center; and a water pump assembly 30. 0. The water pump assembly 300 is fixedly connected to the mounting mechanism 100. It includes a pump body 310 and a water guide valve assembly 320. The water guide valve assembly 320 is connected to the working end of the pump body 310 and includes an inlet pipe 321, a drain pipe 322, and a cleaning pipe 323. The inlet pipe 321 can communicate with the drain pipe 322 or the cleaning pipe 323. The cleaning pipe 323 is arranged towards the fan blade 211 to drive the fan blade 211 to rotate.

[0027] The self-cleaning float switch described in this embodiment connects the float switch assembly 200 and the water pump assembly 300 near the drain outlet of the electrical appliance via the mounting mechanism 100. When drainage is required, the water pump assembly 300 connects the drain pipe 322 to achieve regular drainage. When cleaning of the float switch assembly 200 is required, the water pump assembly 300 switches to the cleaning pipe 323 to drive the fan blade 211 to rotate. Thus, while achieving its flushing function, the rotation of the body 210 achieves an efficient and thorough cleaning process for the float switch assembly 200. Compared with the conventional float switch structure at present, this application has the advantages of rich functionality, high controllability, easy adjustment, long service life, and outstanding cleaning effect, making it a novel float switch structure with broad application prospects.

[0028] In this embodiment, the mounting mechanism 100 is located at the drain outlet of the heat pump dryer, providing a mounting platform for the float switch assembly 200 and the water pump assembly 300. Specifically, the mounting mechanism 100 includes a base 110 and a cover plate 120. The base 110 is located at the drain outlet of the appliance to which it is installed, and the cover plate 120 is detachably connected to the base 110. Both the water pump assembly 300 and the float switch assembly 200 are connected to the cover plate 120. The cover plate 120 has a water pump connection groove 121 and a switch connection groove 122, through which the water pump assembly 300 and the float switch assembly 200 respectively pass into the base 110. Further, in this embodiment, the base 110 is used to buffer the solution to be discharged. As the solution inside accumulates, the float switch assembly 200 will float and activate under buoyancy to perform subsequent cleaning or drainage operations.

[0029] See Figure 3 As shown, the float switch assembly 200 in this embodiment includes a body 210, a fan blade 211, a guide rod 220, a connecting plate 240, and a retaining ring 230. The body 210 is slidably sleeved on the guide rod 220. The connecting plate 240 and the retaining ring 230 are respectively disposed at both ends of the guide rod 220. The connecting plate 240 is connected to the mounting mechanism 100. Further, the connecting plate 240 is detachably connected to the switch connecting groove 122. The guide rod 220 extends vertically from the center of the connecting plate 240 toward the interior of the base 110. The body 210 can rise and fall along the extension direction of the guide rod 220 as the water level inside the base 110 changes. The retaining ring 230 is used to limit the lowest position of the body 210 to ensure that the body 210 can be smoothly reset.

[0030] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the body 210 is preferably a columnar structure sleeved on the guide rod 220, and multiple fan blades 211 are evenly spaced around the body 210 so that the body 210 can rotate around the central axis of the guide rod 220 under the flushing action of the water pump assembly 300, thereby achieving the purpose of self-cleaning the float switch assembly 200. Specifically, in this embodiment, the extension direction of the fan blades 211 is inclined relative to the axial direction of the body 210, thereby increasing the force-bearing area of ​​the fan blades 211 and making it easier for them to rotate.

[0031] See Figure 4As shown, in this embodiment, the pump body 310 is used to provide water flow driving force for the water guide valve assembly 320. The inlet end of the water inlet pipe 321 is set towards the inside of the electrical appliance, and the outlet end of the water inlet pipe 321 can be connected to the drain pipe 322 or the cleaning pipe 323 respectively to drain water towards the wastewater pool outside the electrical appliance. The outlet end of the cleaning pipe 323 is set towards the fan blade 211 to drive the fan blade 211 to rotate. Specifically, in this embodiment, the drain end of the cleaning pipe 323 is configured as a bent structure, and its extension direction is tangent to the outer surface of the body 210. This ensures that the body 210 can rotate under the impact of water flow, while achieving the optimal power conversion effect. Furthermore, to improve the stability and flexibility of the aforementioned pipeline structure, the water guide valve assembly 320 in this embodiment also includes a tee connector 324 and a valve body 325. The water inlet pipe 321, the drain pipe 322, and the cleaning pipe 323 are respectively connected to three interfaces at the tee connector 324. The valve body 325 is disposed inside the tee connector 324 and located between the water inlet pipe 321, the drain pipe 322, and the cleaning pipe 323 to adjust the connection between the water inlet pipe 321 and the drain pipe 322 or the cleaning pipe 323. Specifically, the valve body in this embodiment is equipped with two connection interfaces. In actual use, the valve body can change the pipe connected to its connection interface by rotating itself. Specifically, when the two ports of the valve body 325 are connected to the water inlet pipe 321 and the drain pipe 322 respectively, the self-cleaning float switch is in the draining operation state; when the two ports of the valve body 325 are connected to the water inlet pipe 321 and the cleaning pipe 323 respectively, the self-cleaning float switch is in the cleaning operation state.

[0032] Specifically, the self-cleaning float switch also includes a control unit, which is signal-connected to both the valve body 325 and the float switch assembly 200 to adjust the direction of the valve body 325 via the signal from the float switch assembly 200. Specifically, when the water level inside the base 110 increases, the body 210 floats, thereby driving the body 210 to begin absorbing water. In this embodiment, it is configured to first perform a cleaning operation, thereby driving the valve body 325 to connect the water inlet pipe 321 and the cleaning pipe 323 via the control unit. See details below. Figure 5 As shown, at this time, the liquid flows towards the float switch through the cleaning pipe 323, and can drive the body 210 to rotate through the mutual pushing action between it and the fan blade 211, thereby achieving a dual self-cleaning effect through rinsing and rotation simultaneously. Furthermore, after completing the cleaning operation for a preset time, it can drive the valve body 325 through the control unit to connect the water inlet pipe 321 and the drain pipe 322, thereby realizing the drainage operation process, as detailed in [see details]. Figure 6As shown. In different implementations, operators can set the sequence of cleaning and drainage operations and the preset time for cleaning operations according to actual usage needs, thereby improving the scope of application and flexibility of this self-cleaning float switch. Example 2

[0033] This embodiment provides a heat pump dryer, which includes the self-cleaning float switch described above. Further, the heat pump dryer in this embodiment also includes a housing and an evaporation mechanism, a condensation mechanism, and a drainage mechanism disposed inside the housing. The drainage mechanism is located near the drain outlet of the housing, and water vapor inside the housing passes sequentially through the evaporation mechanism, the condensation mechanism, and the drainage mechanism before being discharged from the drain outlet.

[0034] In summary, the self-cleaning float switch and heat pump dryer described in this utility model connect the float switch assembly 200 and the water pump assembly 300 near the drain outlet of an electrical appliance such as a heat pump dryer via the installation mechanism 100. When drainage is required, the water pump assembly 300 can connect the drain pipe 322 to achieve regular drainage operations. When cleaning of the float switch assembly 200 is required, the water pump assembly 300 can switch to the cleaning pipe 323 to drive the fan blade 211 to rotate. Thus, while achieving its rinsing function, the rotation of the body 210 achieves an efficient and thorough cleaning process for the float switch assembly 200. Compared with the conventional float switch structure at present, this application has the advantages of rich functionality, high controllability, easy adjustment, long service life, and outstanding cleaning effect, making it a new type of float switch structure with broad application prospects.

[0035] Obviously, the above embodiments are merely illustrative examples for clear explanation and are not intended to limit the implementation. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other variations or modifications can be made based on the above description. It is neither necessary nor possible to exhaustively list all possible implementations here. However, obvious variations or modifications derived therefrom are still within the protection scope of this invention.

Claims

1. A self-cleaning float switch characterized by: The utility model relates to a self-cleaning float switch, comprising: a mounting mechanism; a float switch assembly arranged in the mounting mechanism, comprising a body and a plurality of vanes, the body being movable up and down with water level, the plurality of vanes being respectively connected to the outer wall of the body and extending outward uniformly with the body as the center; a water pump assembly fixedly connected to the mounting mechanism, comprising a pump body and a water guide valve group, wherein the water guide valve group is connected to the working end of the pump body and comprises a water inlet pipe, a water outlet pipe and a cleaning pipe, the water inlet pipe being in communication with the water outlet pipe or the cleaning pipe, wherein the water outlet end of the cleaning pipe is arranged towards the vanes to drive the vanes to rotate.

2. The self-cleaning float switch of claim 1, wherein: The water guide valve group further comprises a tee joint and a valve body, the water inlet pipe, the water outlet pipe and the cleaning pipe being respectively in communication with three interfaces of the tee joint, the valve body being arranged inside the tee joint and between the water inlet pipe, the water outlet pipe and the cleaning pipe to adjust the communication between the water inlet pipe and the water outlet pipe or the cleaning pipe.

3. The self-cleaning float switch of claim 2, wherein: The self-cleaning float switch further comprises a control unit, the control unit being respectively in signal connection with the valve body and the float switch assembly to adjust the direction of the valve body through the signal of the float switch assembly.

4. The self-cleaning float switch of claim 1, wherein: The extension direction of the vanes is arranged axially inclined relative to the body.

5. The self-cleaning float switch of claim 1, wherein: The extension direction of the water outlet end of the cleaning pipe is tangent to the outer surface of the body.

6. The self-cleaning float switch of claim 1, wherein: The float switch assembly further comprises a guide rod, a connecting plate and a snap spring, the body being slidingly sleeved on the guide rod, the connecting plate and the snap spring being respectively arranged at two ends of the guide rod, wherein the connecting plate is connected to the mounting mechanism.

7. The self-cleaning float switch of claim 1, wherein: The mounting mechanism comprises a base and a cover plate, the base being arranged at the drain outlet of an electric appliance to which the base is mounted, the cover plate being detachably connected to the base, the water pump assembly and the float switch assembly being connected to the cover plate.

8. The self-cleaning float switch of claim 7, wherein: The cover plate is provided with a water pump connecting groove and a switch connecting groove, the water pump assembly and the float switch assembly being respectively passed into the inside of the base through the water pump connecting groove and the switch connecting groove.

9. A heat pump dryer characterized by: The utility model relates to a self-cleaning float switch.

10. The heat pump dryer of claim 9, wherein: The heat pump dryer further comprises a shell and an evaporation mechanism, a condensation mechanism and a drainage mechanism arranged inside the shell, wherein the drainage mechanism is arranged close to the drain outlet of the shell, water vapor inside the shell passing through the evaporation mechanism, the condensation mechanism and the drainage mechanism in sequence and being discharged through the drain outlet.

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