Patent Publication Number: US-2007102027-A1

Title: Washing device and aqua stopping device for the same

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
      The present invention relates to a washing device, and more particularly, to an aqua stopping device for a washing device. Specifically, when used with a dishwasher, washing machine, or other washing devices, in the event that the washing device leaks water, the aqua stopping device senses the leakage and quickly blocks it.  
     BACKGROUND ART  
      A washing machine is a device that uses an external water supply to wash objects.  
      Examples of the washing machine can be a washing machine or a dishwasher. Because this type of washing device requires a constant supply of water from the outside, it is usually connected to a faucet. Water from the external water source is selectively supplied to the washing device during its operation by opening an attached valve.  
      The washing device has a tub forming a predetermined space to store objects and subject them to wash water for washing. A connecting tube connects the tub and the faucet, allowing water to flow from the faucet into the tub. Furthermore, a predetermined valve is installed at the connecting portion between the tub and the connecting tube.  
      When needed, this valve opens to allow water to flow into the tub.  
      Because the tub is a part that holds water, if the tub or a part attached to the tub is damaged, water can leak from the washing device to the outer surroundings.  
      When such leak occurs, water is continuously supplied from the faucet, causing flooding. Therefore, an aqua stopping device is installed to quickly block the supply of water in the event of a leak. Suoh an aqua stopping device is usually installed at the connecting portion between the connecting tube and the faucet.  
      In further detail, the aqua stopping device includes a housing, a valve disposed inside the housing for controlling water flow through a passage by opening and closing, and a signal wire connected to an end of the valve. The other end of the signal wire is connected to a predetermined sensor disposed on the floor of the washing device that senses leaks. With this device in place, when water leaks in the washing device, the sensor senses the leak and sends a predetermined signal along the signal wire to the valve. When the valve receives the signal, it closes the passage in the aqua stopping device, preventing further flow of water from the faucet.  
      The valve is operated via a predetermined electrical wire similar to the signal wire. Because a passage for water flow is disposed adjacent to the valve, there is always the possibility of the current flowing through the signal wire leaking. Due to this potential hazard, the interior of the housing is commonly filled in its entirety with a resin or similar material, and the valve also has a filling on its outer surfaces (with the exception of the moving portion that seals the water passage). Thus, even if water should enter the housing through the periphery of the portion sealing the passage, the signal wires do not come into contact with the water, thus preventing the possibility of current leakage.  
      However, when a filling fills the entire inner cavity of the aqua stopping device, the manufacturing cost of the aqua stopping device rises, more time is needed to manufacture the product, and the device&#39;s weight increases, making it user-unfriendly.  
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION  
      Technical Problem  
      An object of the present invention is to provide a washing device and an aqua stopping device for the washing device that enables an increase in production of the aqua stopping device by reducing its manufacturing cost and time.  
      Another object of the present invention is to provide a washing device and an aqua stopping device for the washing device that make the aqua stopping device user-friendly by reducing its weight.  
      Technical Solution  
      According to an aspect of the present invention, a washing device includes: a tub for holding wash water and articles to wash therein for washing the articles to wash; a connecting tube for supplying water to the tub; a leak detector provided at an exterior of the tub for detecting leaks; and an aqua stopping device for operating to block a supply of water according to a detection signal from the leak detector, the aqua stopping device being filled with a filler only at wire connecting portions in an interior thereof, the interior being otherwise empty.  
      According to another aspect of the present invention, a washing device includes: a tub for holding wash water and articles to wash therein for washing the articles to wash; a connecting tube for supplying water to the tub; a leak detector provided at an exterior of the tub for detecting leaks; and an aqua stopping device for operating to block a supply of water according to a detection signal from the leak detector; wherein the aqua stopping device includes an inner case having a wire connecting portion in an interior thereof for preventing water from contacting the wire connecting portion, a valve for opening and closing a passage according to the detection signal, and an outer case disposed at a distant exterior of the inner case and defining an empty interior space.  
      According to a further another aspect of the present invention, an aqua stopping device for a washing device includes: a valve body including a passage within; at least one valve for opening and closing the passage; a signal wire connected to a terminal of the valve; a connecting wire connected to the signal wire and extending a pre-determined distance therefrom; a connecting portion provided at a portion connecting the signal wire and the connecting wire; an inner case enclosing at least the connecting portion; and an outer case provided at an exterior of the inner case.  
      According to still further aspect of the present invention, an aqua stopping device for a washing device includes: a valve body including a passage within; at least one solenoid valve for opening and closing the passage; a signal wire connected to a terminal of the solenoid valve; a connecting wire connected to the signal wire and extending outward; a connecting portion formed at a connection of the signal wire and the connecting wire; a filler for insulating at least the connecting portion from an outside; and an outer case spaced from the filler and including an empty space inside.  
      Advantageous Effects  
      The present invention reduces the manufacturing cost, manufacturing time, and weight of the aqua stopping device.  
      It makes it easier to handle the aqua stopping device during installation, etc. due to its lighter weight. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a side view of a dishwasher according to the present invention; and  
       FIG. 2  is a sectional view of an aqua stop device according to the present invention. 
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION  
      Hereinafter, preferred embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Although the following embodiments relate to an exemplary dishwasher, the present invention is not limited thereto, and may include any device such as a washing machine that operates through an attachment to a faucet or other continicus water supply.  
       FIG. 1  is a side view of a dishwasher according to the present invention, showing an exposed side of the dishwasher from which a side panel has been removed to reveal an air brake installed therein.  
      Referring to  FIG. 1 , the dishwasher  100  according to the present invention includes a tub  110  forming the outer shape of the dishwasher  100  and a wash compartment within, a flow meter  122  installed at a side of the tub  110  to measure the amount of wash water flowing into the wash compartment, a water supply connecting port  121  connected to the bottom of the flow meter  122  to admit a flow of wash water from the water supply, an air brake  120  having a hole formed thereon to vent hot steam out from inside the wash compartment during a wash cycle, an aqua stopping device  200  connected to the end of a faucet or similar water supply  300  to forcibly block the flow of wash water when a leak occurs, and a connecting tube  230  connecting the aqua stopping device  200  to the water supply connecting port  121  to supply wash water to the inside of the tub  11 Q  
      The above dishwasher further includes a floater switch or similar leak detector located at the bottom of the dishwasher  100  to detect leaks. The leak detector is not limited to being a floater switch, and can be a conductivity sensor that detects leaks by sensing a conductivity change when electrodes contact water or a turbidity sensor that detects leaks by sensing the turbidity of leaked water. Also, the location of the leak detector can be varied, and the leak detector may be installed in an area that leaking water in the dishwasher  100  will most likely accumulate in or an area prone to leakage.  
      A brief explanation of the operation of the above dishwasher  100  will now be given.  
      During the process where wash water flows past the aqua stopping device  200  through the inside of the air brake  120  into the tub, if a leak occurs inside a portion of the tub or an alternate portion of the dishwasher, the leak is detected by the leak detector. When the leak detector detects the leak, a leak detection signal is sent to the aqua stopping device  20 Q A solenoid valve  280 &lt;jn  FIG. 2 ) installed in the aqua stopping device  200  operates according to the leak detection signal and closes the inside passage of the aqua stopping device  2 OQ When the aqua stopping device  200  closes, the wash water flowing through the connecting tube  230  cannot flow further and enter the inside of the dishwasher. Subsequently, the water leaking inside the dishwasher stops leaking.  
      A detailed explanation of the structure and function of the aqua stopping device  200  will now be given with reference to the drawings.  
       FIG. 2  is a sectional view of an aqua stop device according to the present invention.  
      Referring to  FIG. 2 , the aqua stopping device  200  according to the present invention includes a valve body  210  of a predetermined length forming a passage for wash water to flow through, a nut  290  disposed on top of the valve body  210  to connect to the water supply  300  that supplies wash water to the aqua stopping device  200 , and a connecting tube  230  installed at the lower end of the valve body  210  to relay the wash water that has passed through the valve body  210  to the interior of the wash compartment of the dishwasher  1 OQ  
      The aqua stopping device further includes at least one solenoid valve for closing the interior passage of the valve body  210  to immediately stop the supply of wash water when a leak occurs inside the washing device. In a first embodiment of the present invention, two solenoid valves are installed along the valve body  210  one above the other, in order to increase the reliability of the aqua stopping device  2 OQ The two solenoid valves will henceforth be referred to as an upper and a lower valve  280  and  281 . However, the number and location of the solenoid valves are not limited to this embodiment in the present invention, and may take a variety of forms depending on the type of aqua stopping device  2 OQ Besides the solenoid valve, the aqua stopping device  200  may include a built-in water flow meter, etc.  
      The aqua stopping device  200  further includes an outer rube  220  covering the exterior of the connecting tube  230 , so that the aqua stopping device  200  has a two-hose structure. Specifically, even if the connecting tube  230  should develop a leak, the outer tube  220  ensures that leaking wash water is contained and does not fall and wet the floor. The connecting tube  230 , in light of its relation to the outer tube  220 , may be alternatively referred to as an inner tube.  
      The aqua stopping device also includes a coupling portion  240  that couples the outer tube  220  with the valve body  210  and an outer case  250  covering the solenoid upper and lower valves  280  and  281  to protect them from external shocks. On a side of the valve body  210  is a threaded valve seat  211  for insertingly mounting the upper and lowervalves  280  and  281 .  
      Formed on a side of the upper valve  280  and the lower valve  281  are terminals for receiving external electricity. A pair of connecting wires  271  are connected to the terminal for relaying a leakage signal, and the pair of connecting wires  271  converge to form a signal wire  27 Q The signal wire and the connecting wires  271  are connected at a connecting portion  272 . The connecting portion  272  is formed inside a small inner case  260  installed inside the outer case  250 , in order to prevent current leakage or short circuiting.  
      Specifically, a pair of connecting wires  271  and a signal wire  270  are connected inside the inner case  260 , where the point of connection is the connecting portion  272 . To prevent current leakage or other electrical malfunctions occurring at the connecting portion  272 , the inside of the inner case is filled with an epoxy or similar filler  261 . Accordingly, water does not come into contact with the connecting portion  272 , so that current leakage from the connecting portion  272  does not occur.  
      Thus, the outer case  250 , with the exception of the inner case  260 , is empty. Because only the inside of the inner case  260  is filled with filler, the amount of filler required decreases and the manufacturing cost decreases. The use of less filler decreases manufacturing time and also the overall weight of the product for ease of handling.  
      The signal wire  270  extends out from the inner case  260 , through the coupling portion  240 , and between the inner surface of the outer tube  220  and the outer surface of the connecting tube  230 , to finally connect to the leak detector  4 OQ When the leak detector  400  detects the occurrence of a leak, it sends a leakage signal to operate the aqua stopping device  200  to shut off the water from the water supply  30 Q An explanation of the leak detector  400  connected directly to the aqua stopping device  200  has been given. However, the present invention is not thus limited, and may include the leak detector  400  connected directly to the control unit of the dishwasher, whereby the signal wire  270  is connected to the control unit and the operation of the aqua stopping device  200  is controlled by the control unit.  
      The other end of the connecting tube  230  is connected to the water supply connecting port  121  of the air brake  120 , to allow wash water to flow through the inside of the connecting tube  230  into the wash compartment. Because the signal wire  270  runs along the inner surface of the outer tube  220  and can extend equally therewith, the signal wire  270  does not pose an obstacle for a user or interfere with other components.  
      An explanation of the operation of the above aqua stopping device  200  will now be given.  
      When a leak occurs inside the dishwasher  100 , the leaking wash water accumulates at the base of the dishwasher  1 OQ When the accumulated leaking water exceeds a predetermined volume, it collects in the vicinity of the leak detector, whereupon the leak detector senses the leak. The leak detector, as previously explained, can be disposed at any location that is prone to leaking.  
      When the leak detector  400  senses a leak, a leakage signal is relayed to the upper and lower valves  280  and  281  via the signal wire  270  and the connecting wires  271 . The upper and lower valves  280  and  281  close according to the leakage signal, closing the passage inside the valve body  21 Q Accordingly, wash water no longer flows into the dishwasher  100  and ceases to flow through the leaking area so that the leak stops.  
      An explanation of the assembly of the above aqua stopping device  200  will now be given.  
      First, the connecting wire  271  is connected to the signal wire  270 , forming the connecting portion  272 . Next, the inner case  260  is installed to completely encompass the connecting portion  272 . Then, filler  261  is injected inside the inner case  260  to insulate the connecting portion  272  from water that enters the exterior space of the connecting portion  272 , namely, the interior of the outer case  25 Q  
      Finally, the outer case  250  protecting the inner case  260  is installed. Here, the inside of the outer case  250  already has the valve body  210  and other components installed therein.  
      The above assembly process allows only the interior of the inner case  260  to be filled with filler, instead of the conventional filling of the entire interior of the outer case  250  with filler. As a result, the aqua stopping device  200  becomes lighter, and the amount of filler needed decreases, reducing manufacturing cost.  
      Mode for the Invention  
      In another embodiment of the present invention, the inner case is not formed as a separate component, but is structurally integrated with the outer case. The signal wire is installed inside the inner case, and filler is injected into the inner case. In this case, current leakage from the connecting portion is prevented. The only difference is that the outer case forms a specific space in a portion of its interior to be injected with filler.  
      While  FIG. 2  shows the inner case attached to the inner wall of the outer case, the inner case may be disposed in suspension anywhere within the inner space of the outer case. However, because the signal wire should be supported by the inner wall of the outer case to prevent movement thereof, the inner case may be coupled to a contacting surface of the outer case.  
      Furthermore, while the embodiment has two signal wires convening into a single connecting wire at a connecting portion for preventing current leakage, the present invention is not thus limited, and may include a filler injected at a connection between a solenoid valve terminal and a connecting wire or at any region that is susceptible to current leakage.  
      Also, the present invention can equally be applied to a connecting portion between one connecting wire and one signal wire. However, for the sake of operational reliability of the aqua stopping device, two solenoid valves are used with each having a respective signal wire connected to a connecting wire at a connecting portion disposed inside the inner case, in order to prevent current leakage.  
      When the inner case can be completely sealed, a separate filler is not required. However, in order to increase the reliability of the product, a filler may be injected into the inner case. A further embodiment includes the omission of the inner case and the use of only the filler to encase the exterior of the connecting portion, in order to prevent current leakage.  
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY  
      The present invention provides an aqua stopping device having a reduced manufacturing cost and manufacturing time, enabling an increase in production.  
      Also, the weight of the aqua stopping device is reduced to make the device more manageable by users. Furthermore, in devices such as a dishwasher that sprays water frequently and has complex water passageways, and is therefore prone to leaks in multiple areas, the aqua stopping device of the present invention provides an increased preventative measure for leaks.