Patent Description:
As science and technology are developing and the living standard has improved, the household appliances have a trend of becoming multifunctional. Taking washing machines as an example, most of them have a steam washing function (or air washing) among others, the steam washing function is realized by an atomizing generator of which an atomizing element atomizes a liquid into steam and then sprays the steam into a washing drum through an atomizing pipe to treat clothes in the drum, so that clothes caring, such as wrinkle removal and peculiar smell dispelling, can be realized.

Typically, an atomizing generator, for example, aerosol generators disclosed by US patent publication <CIT>, German utility model <CIT>, and Chinese patent publication <CIT>, includes a housing provided with an air inlet, a liquid inlet, and a mist outlet thereon, and only an atomizing element therein; whilst a circuit board for controlling the atomizing element is provided in the washing machine and is integrated with a control unit of the washing machine or shares one control box. This arrangement simplifies the structure of the atomizing generator but is disadvantageous for the assembling and production of the washing machine, as a result, the atomizing generator and the circuit board have to be mounted separately and then coupled through signal wires to assemble the washing machine, which greatly reduces the production efficiency and the yield.

Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a new atomizing generator that addresses the above problems.

In order to solve the problem of improving the effect of spraying mist, the present invention provides an atomizing generator as defined in the appended set of claims.

The arrangement of the communicating cavity in the atomizing generator and of the valve mechanism in the communicating cavity enables greatly improved safety of operating the washing machine when the atomizing generator is implemented in a washing machine having a drying module because a situation where electrical elements are affected with dampness and short-circuited due to damp-heat air flows back to the atomizing generator and an interior of the washing machine when the drying module is started is effectively avoided. Specifically, the communicating cavity which is independent of the atomizing cavity is provided in the housing, and the atomizing cavity is communicated with the mist outlet through the communicating cavity, hence the communicating cavity becomes a passage necessary for the mist to reach the mist outlet from the atomizing cavity. The arrangement where the valve mechanism is provided in the communicating cavity and can seal the first communication hole and/or the second communication hole enables that the passage can be completely cut off by the valve mechanism, and thus an air flow from the exterior is prevented from flowing back to the atomizing generator through the mist outlet, in particular, failures such as short-circuited electrical elements, affected with damp, in the atomizing generator and the washing machine are avoided because the humid air in the washing drum can be prevented from flowing back to the atomizing generator and then is discharged into the washing machine from the air inlet when the drying module of the washing machine is started, as a result, the safety of operating the washing machine is greatly improved. Moreover, such an arrangement has high feasibility and excellent effects, advantageous for mass promotion and application.

Hereinafter, an atomizing generator of the present invention and a clothes treating apparatus including the same will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in conjunction with a drum washing machine. In the drawings:.

tank; <NUM>. inner drum; <NUM>. outer drum; <NUM>. atomizing generator; <NUM>. housing; <NUM>. housing body; <NUM>. air inlet; <NUM>. liquid inlet; <NUM>. mist outlet; <NUM>. first housing cover; <NUM>. second housing cover; <NUM>. transverse rib; <NUM>. first communication hole; <NUM>. second communication hole; <NUM>. wind shield; <NUM>. vertical rib; <NUM>. atomizing film holder; <NUM>. partition plate; <NUM>. notch; <NUM>. atomizing cavity; <NUM>. mounting cavity; <NUM>. atomizing element; <NUM>. valve mechanism; <NUM>. drive portion; <NUM>. sealing block; <NUM>. connecting pipe; <NUM>. controller; <NUM>. fan; <NUM>. drying module; <NUM>. liquid inlet pipe; <NUM>. mist outlet pipe; <NUM>. electromagnetic valve.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. As appreciated by those skilled in the art, these embodiments are merely illustrative of the technical principles of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. For example, although the embodiments are described in connection with a drum washing machine, it is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, and the present invention may be applied to other clothes treating apparatuses such as a pulsator washing machine or a washing and drying machine.

It is to be understood that in the description of the present invention, terms such as "center", "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "inner" and "outer" refer to directions or positional relationships based on those shown in the drawings for ease of description only, rather than indicate or imply that the device or element must have a particular orientation or be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and thus should not be construed as limiting the present invention. Furthermore, terms such as "first", "second" and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and are not to be construed as indicating or implying any relative importance.

Furthermore, it is to be understood that in the description of the present invention, terms such as "mounted", "connected" and "coupled" are to be interpreted broadly, for example, fixedly, removably, or integrally; either mechanically or electrically; either directly or indirectly through an intermediary; or internally between two elements. The specific meaning of the above terms in the present invention will be understood by those skilled in the art as appropriate.

The drum washing machine of the present invention will now be described with reference to <FIG>, wherein <FIG> is a schematic view showing a structure of a drum washing machine according to Embodiment <NUM> of the present invention; <FIG> is an external view ( I ) of an atomizing generator according to Embodiment <NUM> of the present invention; <FIG> is an external view ( II ) of the atomizing generator according to Embodiment <NUM> of the present invention; <FIG> is a structural view of the atomizing generator according to Embodiment <NUM> of the present invention with the second housing cover removed; <FIG> is a structural view showing an interior of a housing body of the atomizing generator according to Embodiment <NUM> of the present invention.

As shown in <FIG>, to solve the problem that the safety of operating the washing machine is seriously affected by the damp-heat air in the washing drum flows back to the atomizing generator and the inside of the washing machine when the drying module of the conventional washing machine is working, the drum washing machine mainly includes a tank <NUM>, and an inner drum <NUM>, an outer drum <NUM>, an atomizing generator <NUM> and a drying module <NUM> provided in the tank <NUM>. The inner drum <NUM> is used for containing clothes, and the drying module <NUM> is circularly communicated with the outer drum <NUM> to dry clothes in the inner drum <NUM> by providing a hot air flow to the outer drum <NUM> and the inner drum <NUM>. The atomizing generator <NUM> is communicated with the water source through the liquid inlet pipe <NUM> and the electromagnetic valve <NUM>, and is communicated with the outer drum <NUM> through the mist outlet pipe <NUM>; when the atomizing generator <NUM> is working, the water enters the atomizing generator <NUM> through the electromagnetic valve <NUM> and the liquid inlet pipe <NUM> from the water source, the atomizing generator <NUM> atomizes the water into mist, and the mist is sprayed to the inner drum <NUM> through the mist outlet pipe <NUM> to treat clothes in the inner drum <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the atomizing generator <NUM> includes the housing <NUM> provided therein with the atomizing cavity <NUM> capable of storing water, the atomizing element <NUM> capable of atomizing water is provided in the atomizing cavity <NUM>, and the air inlet <NUM>, the liquid inlet <NUM> and the mist outlet <NUM> which are communicated with the atomizing cavity <NUM> are provided on the housing <NUM>, the liquid inlet <NUM> being connected to the liquid inlet pipe <NUM>, and the mist outlet <NUM> being connected to the mist outlet pipe <NUM>. Specifically, referring to <FIG>, the communicating cavity (not shown) independent of the atomizing cavity <NUM> is further formed in the housing <NUM>, the atomizing cavity <NUM> is communicated with the communicating cavity through the first communication hole <NUM> (shown in <FIG>), and the mist outlet <NUM> is communicated with the communicating cavity through the second communication hole <NUM>. The valve mechanism <NUM> is further provided in the communicating cavity and is configured to be capable of sealing the first communication hole <NUM> and the second communication hole <NUM> simultaneously.

When the drying module <NUM> is working, the drying module <NUM> releases a large amount of hot air flow into the outer drum <NUM> and the inner drum <NUM> to dry clothes. In the drying process, the pressure in the drum is increased, and the humidity of the air is obviously increased as clothes is dried, as a result, the damp-heat air easily flows back to the atomizing generator <NUM> through the mist outlet pipe <NUM> and is then expelled to the interior of the washing machine from the air inlet <NUM>, consequently, the electrical elements in the atomizing generator <NUM> and inside the washing machine are short-circuited due to damp, which leads to safety issues. At this time, the first communication hole <NUM> and the second communication hole <NUM> are sealed by the control valve mechanism <NUM> so that the passage between the mist outlet <NUM> and the atomizing cavity <NUM> is blocked.

As can be seen from the above description, in the present invention, the arrangement of the communicating cavity in the atomizing generator <NUM> and of the valve mechanism <NUM> in the communicating cavity greatly improves the safety of operating the washing machine and effectively avoids a situation where electric elements are short-circuited due to dampness because damp-heat air flows back to the atomizing generator <NUM> and the inside of the washing machine when the drying module <NUM> is started. Specifically, the communicating cavity which is independent of the atomizing cavity <NUM> is provided in the housing <NUM>, and the atomizing cavity <NUM> is communicated with the mist outlet <NUM> through the communicating cavity, hence the communicating cavity becomes a passage necessary for the mist to reach the mist outlet <NUM> from the atomizing cavity <NUM>. The arrangement where the valve mechanism <NUM> is provided in the communicating cavity and can seal the first communication hole <NUM> and/or the second communication hole <NUM> enables that the passage can be completely cut off by the valve mechanism <NUM>, and thus an air flow from the exterior is prevented from flowing back to the atomizing generator <NUM> through the mist outlet <NUM>, in particular, failures such as short-circuited electrical elements, affected with damp, in the atomizing generator <NUM> and the washing machine are avoided because the humid air in the washing drum can be prevented from flowing back to the atomizing generator <NUM> and then is discharged into the washing machine from the air inlet <NUM> when the drying module <NUM> of the washing machine is started, as a result, the safety of operating the washing machine is greatly improved. Moreover, such an arrangement has high feasibility and excellent effects, advantageous for mass promotion and application.

The atomizing generator will be described in detail with reference to <FIG>, wherein <FIG> is a cross-sectional view of <FIG> at C-C; <FIG> is a structural view ( I ) of a first housing cover of the atomizing generator according to Embodiment <NUM> of the present invention; <FIG> is a structural view ( II ) of the first housing cover of the atomizing generator according to Embodiment <NUM> of the present invention.

As shown in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, in one possible embodiment, the housing <NUM> includes the housing body <NUM>, the first housing cover <NUM>, and the second housing cover <NUM>, the partition plate <NUM> is disposed in the housing body <NUM> to divide the housing body <NUM> into the atomizing cavity <NUM> and the mounting cavity <NUM>, the liquid inlet <NUM> and the mist outlet <NUM> are arranged on the bottom surface of the housing body <NUM> at a side corresponding to the atomizing cavity <NUM>, the air inlet <NUM> is disposed at the position of the side surface of the housing body <NUM> corresponding to the mounting cavity <NUM>, the fan <NUM> is disposed in the air inlet <NUM>, the partition plate <NUM> is provided with the notch <NUM>, and the fan <NUM> introduces air outside the housing body <NUM> into the housing body <NUM>, with most of the air reaching the atomizing cavity <NUM> through the notch <NUM>. The water-permeable hole (not shown) is also provided at the bottom of the housing body <NUM>, and the atomizing element <NUM> is preferably an ultrasonic atomizing film provided outside the housing body <NUM> and hermetically connected at the water-permeable hole by the atomizing film holder <NUM> for atomizing the liquid in the atomizing cavity <NUM> into a mist.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the first housing cover <NUM> is provided with the transverse rib <NUM> and the vertical rib <NUM>, the transverse rib <NUM> is fixedly connected to three sequentially adjacent inner side surfaces of the first housing cover <NUM>, and the vertical rib <NUM> is fixedly connected to the top surface of the first housing cover <NUM> and two opposite ones of the three sequentially adjacent inner side surfaces, so that the transverse rib <NUM>, the vertical rib <NUM> and three sequentially adjacent inner side surfaces jointly enclose the communicating cavity, and the second housing cover <NUM> can cover the communicating cavity. Referring to <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the transverse rib <NUM> is provided with the first communication hole <NUM> and the second communication hole <NUM> corresponding to the atomizing cavity <NUM> and the mist outlet <NUM>, the atomizing cavity <NUM> is connected to the communicating cavity through the first communication hole <NUM>, and the mist outlet <NUM> is connected to the second communication hole <NUM> through the connecting pipe <NUM>. The wind shield <NUM> extends downwards from the bottom surface of the transverse rib <NUM> into the atomizing cavity <NUM> and is arranged corresponding to the notch <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, in one possible embodiment, the valve mechanism <NUM> includes the drive portion <NUM> and the sealing block <NUM>, the drive portion <NUM> is connected to the sealing block <NUM> and is capable of driving the sealing block <NUM> to slide reciprocally within the communicating cavity. In the case of a cylinder, an electric cylinder or a linear motor, the drive portion <NUM> has an output shaft fixedly connected to the sealing block <NUM> to drive the sealing block <NUM> to slide in the communicating cavity. The bottom surface of the sealing block <NUM> is capable of covering both the first communication hole <NUM> and the second communication hole <NUM>, and the holes may be properly sealed when covered.

Referring back to <FIG>, the controller <NUM> is further provided in the mounting cavity <NUM> at a position facing the air inlet <NUM>, the controller <NUM> is connected to the ultrasonic atomizing film, the drive portion <NUM> and the fan <NUM>, respectively, for controlling the start/stop of the ultrasonic atomizing film, the drive portion <NUM> and the fan <NUM>, respectively.

The above arrangement is advantageous in that the communicating cavity is arranged on the first housing cover while the mist outlet <NUM> is arranged on the bottom surface of the housing body <NUM>, and the mist outlet <NUM> is connected to the second communication hole <NUM> through the communication pipe, hence a complete air flow passage is formed among the atomizing cavity <NUM>, the communicating cavity and the communication pipe, and the mist is naturally and strongly discharged in conjunction with the action of the fan <NUM>. The arrangement of the mist outlet <NUM> on the bottom surface of the housing <NUM> facilitates the connection with the mist outlet pipe <NUM>, the mist outlet pipe <NUM> can be connected to the outer drum <NUM> without bending, which shortens a stroke of spraying the mist and improves the effect of spraying the mist. The arrangement of the sealing block <NUM> to cover and seal both the first communication hole <NUM> and the second communication hole <NUM> renders better effects in blocking and sealing the damp-heat air with the valve mechanism <NUM>. Additionally, the air inlet <NUM> is arranged corresponding to the mounting cavity <NUM>, the controller <NUM> is arranged at the position facing the air inlet <NUM>, so that the fan <NUM> can be used for dissipating heat from the controller <NUM> when the atomizing generator <NUM> works, which improves the service life and the stability of the controller <NUM>. The arrangement of the wind shield <NUM> extending from the bottom surface of the transverse rib <NUM> corresponding to the notch <NUM> enables the wind blown by the fan <NUM> to bypass after passing through the notch <NUM>, so that the mist is better carried by the wind and gets quickly discharged, without remaining in the atomizing cavity <NUM> while the wind has blown over.

With the ultrasonic atomizing film adopted as the atomizing element <NUM>, the atomizing generator <NUM> utilizes electronic high-frequency oscillation (at a frequency of <NUM> or <NUM> and other frequencies beyond the auditory range, definitely harmless to human bodies and animals), as such, the molecular structure of liquid water is scattered through the high-frequency resonance of the atomizing film to generate naturally a dissipated mist, that is, the water is converted into ultramicro particles sized from <NUM> to <NUM> micrometers uniformly without heating or addition of any chemicals. Compared with atomizing by heating, the energy is saved by <NUM>%. In addition, a large number of negative ions are released in the atomizing process, to react electrostatically with smoke, dust and the like floating in the air which are then precipitated; moreover, harmful substances such as formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, and bacteria can be effectively removed, micron-sized water molecules can be quickly adsorbed on clothes and render a better experience of clothes caring.

It is to be understood that the above-described preferred embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims, those skilled in the art can adjust the above-described arrangement so that the present invention can be applied to more specific applications.

For example, in an alternative embodiment, the arrangement of the valve mechanism <NUM> is not single and variations on this basis can be obtained by a person skilled in the art as long as the first communication hole <NUM> and/or the second communication hole <NUM> are sealed thereby. For example, an ordinary motor may be selected as the drive portion <NUM>, and a transmission member may be added between the drive portion <NUM> and the sealing block <NUM> to enable the reciprocating sliding of the sealing block <NUM>. For example, the transmission member may be a ball screw or the like. For another example, the sealing block <NUM> may be provided to seal only one of the first communication hole <NUM> and the second communication hole <NUM>, and this would also be enough for the function of preventing the reflux of the damp-heat air.

For another example, in another alternative embodiment, instead of providing the controller <NUM> in the housing body <NUM>, a control unit of the drum washing machine may be used to control the start/stop of the drive portion <NUM>, the fan <NUM> and the ultrasonic atomizing film, without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

For another example, in an alternative embodiment, instead of providing the fan <NUM> on the housing body <NUM>, the fan <NUM> may be disposed within the housing body <NUM> or elsewhere so long as the mist can be effectively discharged from the atomizing cavity <NUM>. For example, the fan <NUM> may also be provided on the mist outlet pipe <NUM> or the like.

For another example, in another alternative embodiment, a person skilled in the art would also be able to adjust the position of the communicating cavity, so long as the communicating cavity is such arranged that the atomizing cavity <NUM> is independent of the communicating cavity. For example, the communicating cavity may also be provided inside the housing body <NUM> instead of on the first housing cover <NUM>.

For another example, in another alternative embodiment, the position of the mist outlet <NUM> is not single, and it may also be provided on a side wall of the housing body <NUM>, on the first housing cover <NUM>, on the second housing cover <NUM> or the like, which requires only adjustment of the positions of the second communication hole <NUM> and the connecting pipe <NUM> accordingly. This adjustment of the position of the mist outlet <NUM> does not depart from the principles of the present invention.

For another example, in an alternative embodiment, in addition to the ultrasonic atomizing film, apparently conventional heating elements and the like may be used as the atomizing element <NUM> so long as the atomizing generator element <NUM> is so configured and positioned to produce a mist from the water contained in the atomizing cavity <NUM>.

Surely, combinations of the alternative embodiments described above, as well as combinations of the alternative and preferred embodiments, may also be allowed to produce additional embodiments adapted to more specific applications.

The operation of the drum washing machine in one possible embodiment will now be described with reference to <FIG>.

In one possible embodiment, after the user selects the drying option on the control panel of the drum washing machine, the drying module <NUM> is started, and heated air is continuously fed into the outer drum <NUM> and the inner drum <NUM> for circulation. At the same time, after receiving the instruction to start the drying function, the controller <NUM> controls the drive portion <NUM> to start, and the drive portion <NUM> drives the sealing block <NUM> to slide, sealing both the first communication hole <NUM> and the second communication hole <NUM>, which prevents damp-heat air in the drum from flowing back to the atomizing generator <NUM> through the mist outlet pipe <NUM>. After the drying process is finished, for example, after receiving an instruction that the door of the drum washing machine is opened, the controller <NUM> controls the drive portion <NUM> to start again, and the drive portion <NUM> drives the sealing block <NUM> to slide reversely, leaving the first communication hole <NUM> and the second communication hole <NUM>, so that the first communication hole <NUM> and the second communication hole <NUM> are communicated.

Claim 1:
An atomizing generator (<NUM>), comprising a housing (<NUM>) provided with an atomizing cavity (<NUM>) therein, an atomizing element (<NUM>) capable of atomizing a liquid being provided in the atomizing cavity (<NUM>), an air inlet (<NUM>), a liquid inlet (<NUM>), and a mist outlet (<NUM>) which are communicated with the atomizing cavity (<NUM>) being provided on the housing (<NUM>),
wherein a communicating cavity which is independent of the atomizing cavity (<NUM>) is formed in the housing (<NUM>), the atomizing cavity (<NUM>) is communicated with the communicating cavity through a first communication hole (<NUM>), the mist outlet (<NUM>) is communicated with the communicating cavity through a second communication hole (<NUM>), a valve mechanism (<NUM>) is further provided in the communicating cavity, and the valve mechanism (<NUM>) is configured to be capable of sealing the first communication hole (<NUM>) and/or the second communication hole (<NUM>), and
wherein the housing (<NUM>) comprises a housing body (<NUM>) and a first housing cover (<NUM>), wherein a transverse rib (<NUM>) and a vertical rib (<NUM>) are provided on the first housing cover (<NUM>), the transverse rib (<NUM>) is fixedly connected to three sequentially adjacent inner side surfaces of the first housing cover (<NUM>), and the vertical rib (<NUM>) is fixedly connected to two opposite ones of the three sequentially adjacent inner side surfaces, so that the transverse rib (<NUM>), the vertical rib (<NUM>) and the three inner side surfaces jointly enclose the communicating cavity, characterized in that the first communication hole (<NUM>) and the second communication hole (<NUM>) are arranged on the transverse rib (<NUM>), the mist outlet (<NUM>) is disposed at a bottom of the housing (<NUM>), the atomizing generator (<NUM>) further comprises a connecting pipe (<NUM>), and the mist outlet (<NUM>) is connected to the second communication hole (<NUM>) through the connecting pipe (<NUM>).