Patent Publication Number: US-2018030640-A1

Title: Steam generator and laundry treatment machine having the same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to and benefits of Chinese Patent Application Serial No. 201610621017.8, filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of P. R. China on Jul. 29, 2016, Chinese Patent Application Serial No. 201620819028.2, filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of P. R. China on Jul. 29, 2016, and Chinese Patent Application Serial No. 201710024435.3, filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of P. R. China on Jan. 13, 2017, the entire content of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a laundry treatment machine, and more particularly, to a steam generator for a laundry treatment machine and a laundry treatment machine having the same. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Laundry treatment machine, especially a drum-type washer dries clothes by means of rotation of a drum during the operation, and because clothes is prone to be wrinkled during the rotation and heating, a steam generator is added to the laundry treatment machine to solve the problem that the clothes is wrinkled when being dried for users. In addition, with respect to those clothes having smells but being not dirty, a washer has no better treatment method and still operates according to a washing process as before, resulting in a large consumption of water, electricity and time. However the steam generator of the laundry treatment machine in the related art can&#39;t control the water volume in the steam generator well, that is, when the water volume is large, water drops are prone to spray, and when the water volume is small, the steam generator is prone to be damaged, moreover limescale produced in the steam generator can&#39;t be cleaned and will influence the working performance of the steam generator. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure seek to solve at least one of the problems existing in the related art to at least some extent. 
     For that reason, a steam generator is provided by the present disclosure, in which the steam generator controls the water volume in a steam generating cavity via a temperature controller, being beneficial to the steam generator supplying steam continuously to a laundry treatment machine and improving the working efficiency of the steam generator. 
     A laundry treatment machine having the steam generator is further provided by the present disclosure. 
     According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, the steam generator includes a housing, a heater and a temperature controller, in which the housing defines a steam generating cavity therein and has a water inlet and a steam outlet in communication with the steam generating cavity, and the heater is disposed in the steam generating cavity, the temperature controller is disposed in the steam generating cavity and is connected to the heater, and the temperature controller is configured to detect a temperature of the heater, the temperature controller controls the heater to heat up and the water inlet to close when the temperature of the heater is below a predetermined temperature, and controls the heater to stop heating up and the water inlet to open when the temperature of the heater reaches a predetermined temperature. 
     The steam generator according to embodiments of the present disclosure controls the heater and the water inlet to work through the temperature controller, in which when the water in the steam generating cavity is evaporated to empty, the temperature of the heater gets higher, then the temperature controller makes the heater close and the water inlet open to let water in, and when the temperature of the heater decreases, the temperature controller makes the water inlet close and starts the heater to heat, therefore the heater and the water inlet are controlled to work via the temperature controller and the water level in the steam generating cavity is controlled within a reasonable range, which may not only ensure the steam generator to supply the steam to the laundry treatment machine continuously, but also could improve the working performance of the laundry treatment machine and prolong the service life of the laundry treatment machine, moreover the steam can sterilize and remove smells from clean clothes, saving the washing process of the clothes. 
     In addition, the steam generator according to embodiments of the present disclosure may further have the following additional technical features: 
     According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the steam generator further includes a water inlet valve, in which the water inlet valve is disposed in the water inlet, the water inlet valve is connected to the temperature controller and is controlled to be opened and closed by the temperature controller. 
     According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the heater is disposed on a bottom of the steam generating cavity and the water inlet is disposed adjacent to the heater. 
     According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the housing further defines a limescale storage cavity therein, in which the limescale storage cavity is in communication with the bottom of the steam generating cavity. 
     According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a horizontal height of a bottom of the limescale storage cavity is lower than a horizontal height of the bottom of the steam generating cavity. 
     According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a horizontal height of a top of the limescale storage cavity is equal to that of a top of the heater. 
     According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the water inlet is disposed on a first side of the housing and the limescale storage cavity is disposed on a second side of the housing opposite to the water inlet. 
     According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the housing includes an upper cover and a lower cover, in which the upper cover and the lower cover are detachably connected. 
     According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a bottom of the upper cover is provided with a sealing groove, the sealing groove is provided with a sealing ring therein and the lower cover and the upper cover are fitted with each other, so as to press the sealing ring tightly. 
     According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, the laundry treatment machine includes the steam generator according to embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     The laundry treatment machine according to the second aspect of the present disclosure may be configured as a drum-type washer. 
     The laundry treatment machine according to the second aspect of the present disclosure may be configured as a clothes dryer. 
     Additional aspects and advantages of embodiments of present disclosure will be given in part in the following descriptions, become apparent in part from the following descriptions, or be learned from the practice of the embodiments of the present disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other aspects and advantages of embodiments of the present disclosure will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following descriptions made with reference to the drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a steam generator according to embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a sectional view of a steam generator according to embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a part of assembly of a laundry treatment machine according to embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     
         
         
           
               100  laundry treatment machine; 
               10  steam generator; 
               11  housing;  111  upper cover;  112  lower cover; 
               12  steam generating cavity; 
               13  water inlet;  131  water inlet pipe; 
               14  steam outlet;  141  explosion-proof muzzle;  142  steam guiding pipe; 
               15  heater;  16  timescale storage cavity;  17  baffle;  18  sealing groove;  19  sealing ring; 
               20  base;  21  reinforcing plate; 
               30  drum body. 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will be made in detail to embodiments of the present disclosure. The same or similar elements and the elements having same or similar functions are denoted by like reference numerals throughout the descriptions. The embodiments described herein with reference to drawings are explanatory, illustrative, and used to generally understand the present disclosure. The embodiments shall not be construed to limit the present disclosure. 
     According to a first aspect of embodiments of the present disclosure, a steam generator  10  will be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 1-3 . 
     The steam generator  10  according to embodiments of the present disclosure includes a housing  11 , a heater  15  and a temperature controller (not shown), in which the housing  11  defines a steam generating cavity  12  therein and has a water inlet  13  and a steam outlet  14  in communication with the steam generating cavity  12 . The heater  15  is disposed in the steam generating cavity  12 , the temperature controller is disposed in the steam generating cavity  12  and is connected to the heater  15 . The temperature controller is configured to detect a temperature of the heater  15 . The temperature controller controls the heater  15  to heat up and the water inlet  13  to close when the temperature of the heater  15  is below a predetermined temperature, and controls the heater  15  to stop heating and the water inlet  13  to open when the temperature of the heater  15  reaches a predetermined temperature. 
     In other words, the steam generator  10  is mainly composed of a housing  11 , a heater  15  and a temperature controller, a steam generating cavity  12  is disposed in the housing  11 , the housing  11  is provided with a water inlet  13  and a steam outlet  14  in communication with the steam generating cavity  12 . The steam generating cavity  12  is provided with the heater  15  therein, so that water in the housing  11  is heated to produce steam. The heater  15  is provided with the temperature controller, which can detect the temperature of the heater  15  and control the water inlet  13  to open or close and the heater  15  to start or stop according to the temperature of the heater  15 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the steam outlet  14  is disposed on a top portion of the housing  11 , the water inlet  13  is disposed on a side wall of the housing  11  and adjacent to the heater  15 . The water enters the housing  11  from the water inlet  13 , the heater  15  heats the water to produce the steam and the steam generated in the steam generating cavity  12  flows out form the steam outlet  14 . 
     The temperature controller controls the inflow water from the water inlet  13  and the heating of the heater  15  according to the temperature of the heater  15 , thereby adjusting the consumption and supplement of the water for evaporation in the steam generating cavity  12 , so that the water level in the steam generating cavity  12  could be controlled within a reasonable range. Specifically, when the water in the steam generating cavity  12  is evaporated to empty, the temperature of the heater  15  gets higher, the temperature controller makes the heater  15  close and the water inlet  13  open to let water in. When the water flow enters the steam generating cavity  12 , the temperature of the heater  15  decreases, the temperature controller makes the water inlet  13  close and starts the heater  15  to heat, ensuring that the steam generator  10  continues to work. By using the adjustment function of the temperature controller, on one hand the steam generator  10  could be ensured to supply the steam to the laundry treatment machine  100  continuously, guaranteeing the normal working of the laundry treatment machine  100 , on the other hand the water level in the steam generator  10  could be prevented from being over high to cause the water drop to spray, as well as could be prevented from being over low to cause the steam generator  10  to be damaged, thereby prolonging the service life and improving working performance of the steam generator  10 . 
     Therefore, the steam generator  10  according to embodiments of the present disclosure controls the heater  15  and the water inlet  13  to work via the temperature controller and controls the water level in the steam generating cavity  12  within a reasonable range, which may not only ensure the steam generator  10  to supply the steam to the laundry treatment machine continuously, but also could improve the working performance of the laundry treatment machine and prolong the service life of the laundry treatment machine, moreover the steam can sterilize and remove smell in clean clothes, saving the washing process for the clothes. The steam generator  10  has a simple structure, a reliable connection between parts, a convenient assembly and disassembly and may supply the steam to the laundry treatment machine continuously, as well as has a high use reliability. 
     In an embodiment, the steam generator  10  further includes a water inlet valve (not shown), in which the water inlet valve is disposed in the water inlet  13 , the water inlet valve is connected to the temperature controller and controlled to be opened and closed by the temperature controller. 
     That is, the water inlet  13  is provided with the water inlet valve, the temperature controller controls the water flow at the water inlet  13  to be on or off by controlling the water inlet valve to be opened or closed. When the water in the steam generating cavity  12  is relatively less, the temperature controller controls the water inlet valve to open, then the water enters the steam generating cavity  12  through the water inlet valve. When the water volume in the steam generating cavity  12  meets the requirements, the temperature controller makes the water inlet valve close and prevents the water from entering the steam generating cavity  12 . 
     Thus, by the temperature controller controlling the water inlet valve to make the water inlet  13  open and close, an automatic control of the water level in the steam generating cavity  12  will be achieved, thereby not only improving the automation degree of the steam generator  10 , reducing the operations by the user, simplifying a method for using the laundry treatment machine  100 , but also achieving a self-protection function of the steam generator  10 , that is when the steam generating cavity  12  has no water therein, the heater  15  may stop working automatically, so as to prevent the heater  15  from heating without water to damage the laundry treatment machine  100 . 
     In an embodiment, the heater  15  is disposed on a bottom of the steam generating cavity  12 , the water inlet  13  is disposed adjacent to the heater. Referring to  FIG. 2 , the bottom of the steam generating cavity  12  is provided with the heater  15 , and under the action of gravity the water in the steam generating cavity  12  accumulates in the bottom. The heater  15  contacts with the accumulated water and heats the accumulated water to produce the steam, thereby the water in the steam generating cavity  12  may be made full use, the water level in the steam generating cavity  12  may be lowered, and the water spraying caused by the high-pressure steam may be prevented. 
     In an embodiment, the housing  11  further defines a limescale storage cavity  16  therein, which is in communication with the bottom of the steam generating cavity  12 . 
     In other words, a cavity defined in the housing  11  includes the steam generating cavity  12  and the limescale storage cavity  16 , in which a partition plate is disposed between the steam generating cavity  12  and the limescale storage cavity  16 , a through hole is disposed in the bottom of the partition plate, and the steam generating cavity  12  and the limescale storage cavity  16  are in communication with each other via the through hole, and the limescale produced in the steam generating cavity  12  enters the limescale storage cavity  16  with the assist of the water flow. 
     By the limescale storage cavity  16  configured to be in communication with the steam generating cavity  12 , the limescale could be prevented from being accumulated in the steam generator  10 , and the heater  15  could be ensured to be in contact with the water normally, so as to produce the steam. Further the limescale could be prevented from occupying the space in the steam generating cavity  12  which results in that the temperature controller is unable to detect the temperature of the heater  15 , normal work cannot be implemented and the drying effect of the laundry treatment machine  100  is influenced. Moreover overmuch limescale in the steam generator  10  could result in that the water level in the steam generating cavity raises and the steam is mingled with the water drops, influencing the drying effect of the laundry treatment machine  100  and prolonging the drying time. 
     In an embodiment, the horizontal height of the bottom of the limescale storage cavity  16  is lower than the horizontal height of the bottom of the steam generating cavity  12 , that is, the bottom of the limescale storage cavity  16  is located below the bottom of the steam generating cavity  12 . The accumulated water in the steam generating cavity  12  could enter the limescale storage cavity  16  under the action of gravity, however the accumulated water in the limescale storage cavity  16  could not flow reversely to the steam generating cavity  12 . 
     Therefore, the limescale in the steam generating cavity  12  could be controlled to be able to enter the limescale storage cavity  16  merely in a single direction, and the process is irreversible, ensuring that the limescale could not influence the normal work of the steam generator  10  any more after entering the limescale storage cavity  16 , preventing the limescale in the limescale storage cavity  16  from flowing reversely to damage the heater  15  and the temperature controller, reducing the failure rate of the steam generator  10  and prolonging the service life of the steam generator  10 . 
     In an embodiment, the horizontal height of a top of the limescale storage cavity  16  is equal to the horizontal height of a top of the heater  15 , that is, the top of the limescale storage cavity  16  and the top of the heater  15  are in the same horizontal plane. The water flow entering steam generating cavity  12  through the water inlet  13  washes the limescale on the heater  15  to the limescale storage cavity  16 . By the limescale storage cavity  16  and the heater  15  configured to have the same height, the limescale could be ensured to be washed to the limescale storage cavity  16  completely, and the limescale could be prevented from touching with the housing  11  to still remain in the steam generating cavity  12 , improving the washing effect of the water flow to the limescale and eliminating the condition that the limescale could not be washed clearly. 
     In an embodiment, the water inlet  13  is disposed on a first side of the housing  11 , and the limescale storage cavity  16  is disposed on a second side in the housing  11  opposite to the water inlet  13 . 
     That is, the water inlet  13  and the limescale storage cavity  16  are disposed on two sides of the housing  11  opposite to each other, and the water inlet  13  and the limescale storage cavity  16  are in communication with each other through the steam generating cavity  12 . The water entering the steam generating cavity  12  via the water inlet  13  could continue flowing to the limescale storage cavity  16 . 
     Therefore, by disposing the limescale storage cavity  16  opposite to the water inlet  13 , the structural design of the steam generator  10  could be optimized, the space on the housing could be used rationally, and moreover the washing effect of the water flow in the water inlet  13  on the limescale could be improved. The limescale could enter the limescale storage cavity  16  along the direction of the water flow, as the top of the limescale storage cavity  16  and the top of the heater  15  have the same height, and the bottom of the limescale storage cavity  16  is lower than the bottom of the steam generating cavity  12 , the water flow mingled with the limescale enters the limescale storage cavity  16  without causing a return flow, thereby improving the cleaning effect on the steam generating cavity  12 . 
     In which, the housing  11  includes an upper cover  111  and a lower cover  112 , the upper cover  111  and the lower cover  112  are detachably connected. Specifically, the housing  11  is mainly composed of an upper cover  111  and a lower cover  112 , the upper cover  111  and the lower cover  112  are connected to form one and the connection therebetween is configured as a detachable connection. One of the upper cover  111  and the lower cover  112  is provided with a threaded hole, and the other one is provided with a mounting hole at the corresponding position thereof. The upper cover  111  and the lower cover  112  are connected by using a screw and could be separated by removing the screw if the detachment is needed. 
     The detachable connection between the upper cover  111  and the lower cover  112  can not only simplify the assembly and disassembly process of the steam generator  10  and improve the assembly efficiency, but also save the detaching time, as well as the maintenance is simplified and the maintenance cost is reduced, thereby facilitating replacement of damaged parts in the steam generator  10  and prolonging the service life of the steam generator  10 . 
     In an embodiment, the bottom of the upper cover  111  is provided with a sealing groove  18 , a sealing ring  19  is disposed in the sealing groove  18  and the lower cover  112  and the upper cover  111  are fitted with each other, so as to press the sealing ring  19  tightly. 
     Specifically, the sealing groove  18  is disposed on a flange of the bottom of the upper cover  111 , the sealing groove  18  has a shape same as that of a flange of the lower cover  112 , the flange of the lower cover  112  could be stuck in the sealing groove  18  on the flange of the upper cover  111 . 
     The sealing groove  18  on the bottom of the upper cover  111  is provided with a sealing ring  19  therein, the sealing ring  19  and the sealing groove  18  have the same shape. When the upper cover  111  and the lower cover  112  are connected together, the sealing ring  19  is compressed between the lower cover  112  and the upper cover  111 , so as to improve the sealing property of the steam generator  10 . 
     By the sealing groove  18  and the sealing ring  19  configured to be located at the connecting position between the upper cover  111  and the lower cover  112 , the sealing property of the steam generating cavity  12  could be improved. Because the air pressure of the steam in the steam generating cavity  12  is relatively high, the pressure at the connecting position between the upper cover  111  and the lower cover  112  is relatively large, but the sealing ring  19  could prevent the steam from leaking and ensure the normal work of the steam generator  10 . 
     A working process of the steam generator  10  according to embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail. 
     The steam generator  10  according to embodiments of the present disclosure is mainly composed of the housing  11 , the heater  15  and the temperature controller. The housing  11  is provided with the steam generating cavity  12  therein, the side wall of the housing  11  is provided with the water inlet  13  thereon, the top wall of the housing  11  is provided with the steam outlet  14 , the steam generating cavity  12  is provided with the heater  15  therein and the heater  15  is disposed adjacent to the water inlet  13 , the heater  15  is provided with the temperature controller, the temperature controller could detect the temperature of the heater  15  and control the working conditions of the water inlet  13  and the heater  15  according to the temperature of the heater  15 , the steam outlet  14  is disposed above the heater  15 , the steam produced in the steam generating cavity  12  flows out from the steam outlet  14 , one side of the steam outlet  14  is provided with an explosion-proof muzzle  141 , so as to prevent the air pressure from damaging the steam generator  10  when the steam outlet  14  is blocked. 
     When the steam generator  10  operates, the temperature of the heater  15  would raise. When the temperature of the heater  15  reaches 130° C., the temperature controller controls the heater  15  to stop heating and controls the water inlet valve to open, then the water flow enters the steam generating cavity  12  to contact with the heater  15 . When the temperature of the heater  15  is reduced to less than 100° C., the temperature controller controls the heater  15  to start heating and controls the water inlet valve to close, then the steam generating cavity  12  produces the steam therein. The steam enters a drum of the laundry treatment machine  100 , and when the water in the steam generating cavity  12  is evaporated to empty, the temperature of the heater  15  is raised to 130° C., at the time the next cycle of watering and heating starts in the steam generator  10 . 
     The steam generator  10  according to embodiments of the present disclosure adjusts the consumption and supplement of the water for evaporation in the steam generating cavity  12  by the temperature controller, so that the water level in the steam generating cavity  12  is controlled within a reasonable range. On one hand the steam generator  10  could be ensured to supply the steam to the laundry treatment machine  100  continuously, so as to guarantee the normal work of the laundry treatment machine  100 , on the other hand the water level in the steam generator  10  could be prevented from being too high to cause the water drops to spray, moreover the water level could be prevented from being too low to cause the damage to the steam generator  10 , thereby prolonging the service life and improve the working performance of the steam generator  10 . 
     A laundry treatment machine  100  according to a second aspect of embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to  FIG. 3 . Herein, in the present disclosure, a drum-type washer is taken as an example of the laundry treatment machine. 
     The laundry treatment machine  100  (the drum-type washer) according to embodiments of the present disclosure includes a casing (not shown), a base  20 , a drum body  30  and a steam generator  10 , in which the base  20  is detachably connected to the bottom of the casing, the drum body  30  and the steam generator  10  are disposed on the base  20 , the steam generator  10  and the base  20  are connected through an reinforcing plate  21 , so as to prevent the drum body  30  from influencing the work of the steam generator  10  during the rotation thereof. The top of the steam generator  10  is in communication with the drum body  30  through a steam guiding pipe  142 , and the bottom of the steam generator  10  is connected to a water inlet pipe  131 . When the laundry treatment machine  100  operates, the steam generator  10  supplies the steam to the drum body  30  continuously. 
     Because the steam generator  10  according to embodiments of the present disclosure has the above-mentioned technical effects, therefore, the laundry treatment machine  100  according to embodiments of the present disclosure has the above-mentioned technical effects as well, that is, the laundry treatment machine  100  controls the water level in the steam generator  10  through the water inlet valve, not only the steam generator  10  could be ensured to supply the steam to the laundry treatment machine  100  continuously, the normal working of the laundry treatment machine  100  could be guaranteed to eliminate the wrinkle on the clothes, but also the water level could be prevented from being too high to cause the water drops to spray and being too low to cause the damage to the steam generator  10 , prolonging the service life and improving the working performance of the steam generator  10 , moreover the steam can sterilize and remove smells from the clean clothes, saving the washing process of the clothes. 
     Other components and operations of the laundry treatment machine  100  according to embodiments of the present disclosure are known to those skilled in the art, which will not be described in detail. The laundry treatment machine may be configured as a clothes dryer as well. 
     In the specification, it is to be understood that terms such as “central,” “longitudinal,” “lateral,” “length,” “width,” “thickness,” “upper,” “lower,” “front,” “rear,” “left,” “right,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” “top,” “bottom,” “inner,” “outer,” “clockwise,” and “counterclockwise” should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawings under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description and do not require that the present invention be constructed or operated in a particular orientation. 
     In addition, terms such as “first” and “second” are used herein for purposes of description and are not intended to indicate or imply relative importance or significance or to imply the number of indicated technical features. Thus, the feature defined with “first” and “second” may comprise one or more of this feature. In the description of the present invention, “a plurality of” means two or more than two, unless specified otherwise. 
     In the present invention, unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “coupled,” “fixed” and the like are used broadly, and may be, for example, fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; may also be mechanical or electrical connections; may also be direct connections or indirect connections via intervening structures; may also be inner communications of two elements, which can be understood by those skilled in the art according to specific situations. 
     Reference throughout this specification to “an embodiment,” “some embodiments,” “one embodiment”, “another example,” “an example,” “a specific example,” or “some examples,” means that a particular feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present disclosure. Thus, the appearances of the phrases such as “in some embodiments,” “in one embodiment”, “in an embodiment”, “in another example,” “in an example,” “in a specific example,” or “in some examples,” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment or example of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, materials, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. 
     Although explanatory embodiments have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the above embodiments cannot be construed to limit the present disclosure, and changes, alternatives, and modifications can be made in the embodiments without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.