Patent Description:
At present, many refrigerators may provide refrigerated drinking water. Generally, there are two water supply manners: one is providing a dispenser on a surface of the refrigerator so that the user may use a cup to receive water from the dispenser; the other is filling water into a water vessel, then placing the water vessel into the refrigerator, and then taking the water vessel out of the refrigerator after a period of time to drink cold water. In the second solution, to facilitate the user to take a sufficient amount of cold water at any time, some auto-filling devices are available from the market, a set of Hall switch and magnet are used to detect whether the water vessel is placed on a bracket, and then another set of Hall switch and a float with an built-in magnet are used to detect whether a liquid level in the water vessel is low, and water is automatically filled when the water vessel is placed on the bracket and the liquid level is low.

However, generally the float may be removed out of the water vessel; if the user forgets to place the float back into the water vessel after cleaning the water vessel, the Hall switch cannot detect the magnet so that the water is always automatically filled until water overflows out of the water vessel. Hence, this detection manner has a potential water-overflow hazard and brings a lot of trouble to users.

<CIT> disclosed a refrigerator with automatic liquid dispenser according to the preamble of claim <NUM>. The liquid dispenser is arranged on the interior surface of the door, and a container is supported on the door and configured to receive liquid from the liquid dispenser. A sensor is configured to sense a property of the container, and a control is in communication with the sensor. The control is configured to regulate dispensing of liquid into the container based upon the sensed property of the container.

An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic water supply device, a refrigerator having the same.

As compared with the prior art, in the automatic water supply device according to the present invention, the controller will control the water valve to open only when the first sensor detects that the inductive element is at a lower first height. If the user forgets to put the inductive element into the water vessel after cleaning the water vessel, the controller will keep the water valve closed, so that water will not be automatically filled into the water vessel, thereby avoiding the problem of water overflow out of the water vessel caused by continued water filling because the sensor fails to detect the inductive element.

As shown in <FIG>, an embodiment of the present invention discloses a refrigerator. The refrigerator comprises a cabinet and a door body <NUM> for opening and closing the cabinet, an automatic water supply device being provided on an inner side of the door body <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the automatic water supply device comprises a water vessel <NUM>, a bracket <NUM> for placing the water vessel <NUM>, a detection means <NUM>, and a water supply mechanism <NUM> for supplying water to the water vessel <NUM>. The cabinet may define a refrigerating chamber. When the door body <NUM> closes the cabinet, the cold air in the refrigerating chamber may cool the water in the water vessel <NUM>.

Certainly, sites where the automatic water supply device is used are not limited to refrigerators, and may be various sites such as other refrigeration appliances or cafes. In embodiments of the present invention, water is a collective term of liquid beverages, and includes but not limited to liquid beverages such as purified water, fruit juice, milk or coffee.

As shown in <FIG>, the water vessel <NUM> comprises a water filling port <NUM>. The detection means <NUM> comprises an inductive element <NUM> and a first sensor <NUM> disposed on the bracket <NUM>. The inductive element <NUM> is disposed in the water vessel <NUM> and capable of rising or falling along with the liquid level. The first sensor <NUM> outputs a first detection signal upon detecting that the inductive element <NUM> is located at a first height. The water supply mechanism <NUM> comprises a water supply pipe <NUM> and a water valve provided on the water supply pipe <NUM>. An outlet of the water supply pipe <NUM> corresponds to the water filling port <NUM> of the water vessel <NUM>. The automatic water supply device further comprises a controller controlling the water valve to open upon receiving the first detection signal. The detection means further includes a detection element capable of outputting a second detection signal characterizing the liquid level in the water vessel, and the controller controls the water valve to close upon receiving the second detection signal.

In the automatic water supply device disclosed in the present invention, the controller will control the water valve to open only when the first sensor <NUM> detects that the inductive element <NUM> is located at a low first height. If the user forgets to put the inductive element into the water vessel after cleaning the water vessel, the controller will always control the water valve to close, so that it will not automatically fill the water vessel with water. This avoids the problem of water overflow from the water vessel because the sensor cannot detect the inductive element and water is filled constantly.

Specifically, in the embodiment of the present invention, the detection element is a second sensor <NUM> provided on the bracket <NUM>, the second sensor <NUM> outputs the second detection signal upon detecting that the inductive element <NUM> is located at the second height, and the second height is greater than the first height. The second sensor <NUM> is used to determine the timing for stopping water filling after the water filling starts.

Specifically, the first height is closer to the bottom of the water vessel <NUM> than the second height, that is, the inductive element <NUM> is at the lowest point in the water vessel <NUM>. It may be believed that when the inductive element <NUM> is at the first height, there is little or no water in the water vessel <NUM>, whereupon the water valve needs to be opened to fill water; the second height is a height closer to the top of the water vessel <NUM>. It may be appreciated that when the inductive element <NUM> is at the second height, the water vessel <NUM> contains a large amount of water or is in a full state, whereupon the water valve needs to be closed to stop the water filling. When the liquid level in the water vessel <NUM> is lower than the first height, the liquid level in the water vessel <NUM> must be lower than or equal to the first height, and the first sensor <NUM> will detect the inductive element and output the first detection signal, and the controller will control the water valve to open to fill the water vessel <NUM> with water. During the water filling process, the inductive element <NUM> will move upward with the liquid level, and when it reaches the second height, the liquid level in the water vessel <NUM> also reaches the second height. At this time, the second sensor <NUM> will detect the inductive element <NUM> and output the second detection signal, the controller will control the water valve to close, thereby completing the process of automatic water filling.

Specifically, the water supply pipe <NUM> may be externally connected to the user's water source, and extends along the cabinet of the refrigerator into the door body <NUM>. When the water valve is opened, the external water source may fill the water vessel <NUM> with water through the water supply pipe <NUM>. Specifically, in the embodiment of the present invention, the water supply pipe extends from a compressor compartment at a lower part of the cabinet along the cabinet into the inner side of the door body, and the water valve may be provided on the water supply pipe in the compressor compartment. Certainly, in other embodiments, the water valve may also be disposed on other parts of the water supply pipe.

As shown in <FIG>, in the embodiment of the present invention, a float box <NUM> is provided in the water vessel, the inductive element <NUM> is fixedly disposed in the float box <NUM>, and the float box <NUM> rises and falls as the liquid level changes. The float box <NUM> seals the inductive element <NUM> inside to ensure that it may float up and down.

Specifically, a side wall of the water vessel <NUM> is provided with a rail <NUM> extending in the height direction, the float box <NUM> is located in the rail <NUM>, and the rail <NUM> is provided with a water hole <NUM> through which water flows. Specifically, along the height direction of the water vessel <NUM>, an inner side wall of the water vessel <NUM> is provided with the rail <NUM>. The rail includes a housing <NUM> protruding into the interior of the water vessel and an internal channel <NUM> surrounded by the housing <NUM>. The float box <NUM> is provided in the internal channel <NUM>, and the water hole <NUM> communicated with the internal channel <NUM> is provided in the lengthwise direction of the side wall of the housing <NUM>, so that the liquid in the water vessel <NUM> may flow into the internal channel <NUM>. The size of the internal channel <NUM> is adapted to the size of the float box <NUM> so that the float box <NUM> can only move in the vertical direction with the liquid level. In addition, the bottom wall of the housing <NUM> is also provided with a water hole to facilitate the liquid to enter the internal channel <NUM>. The top of the housing <NUM> is provided with an opening <NUM> and a seal <NUM> for sealing the opening <NUM>. When the user cleans the water vessel, the seal <NUM> may be taken out, and the float box <NUM> may also be taken out for cleaning.

In another example not forming part of this invention, an inner box fixedly connected to the water vessel lid and extending downward from the lid may also be provided, and the float box is disposed inside the inner box so that the liquid in the water vessel may flow into the interior of the inner box such that the float may float up and down with the liquid level.

In the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in <FIG>, the first sensor <NUM> and the second sensor <NUM> are both a Hall switch, and the inductive element <NUM> is a magnet. The two Hall switches are disposed on the bracket <NUM> in the height direction, and may respectively detect the approach of the magnet. Specifically, the Hall switch is an active electromagnetic conversion device fabricated by an integrated packaging and assembling process based on the principle of the Hall effect. The Hall switch may induce a magnitude of the magnetic flux. When the magnetic flux reaches a preset value, a trigger in the Hall switch flips, and an output level state of the Hall switch is also inverted accordingly, so that the magnetic input signal may be converted into an electrical signal. The magnet in the float box will move up and down along with the liquid level, and the magnetic flux detected by the Hall switch will also change accordingly.

The first sensor <NUM> is disposed on the bracket <NUM> at a position corresponding to the first height, and the second sensor <NUM> is disposed on the bracket <NUM> at a position corresponding to the second height. After the water vessel <NUM> is placed on the bracket <NUM>, if the user forgets to put the float box <NUM> back into the water vessel <NUM>, the first sensor <NUM> can never detect the inductive element <NUM>, and the water valve will remain closed and water will not be automatically filled into the water vessel <NUM> regardless of whether there is water in the water vessel <NUM>. If the water vessel <NUM> is placed on the bracket <NUM> and the float box <NUM> is in the water vessel <NUM>, the height of the inductive element <NUM> varies with the liquid level. If the liquid level in the water vessel <NUM> is equal to or lower than the first height, the inductive element <NUM> is located at the first height. At this time, the inductive element <NUM> is the closest to the first sensor <NUM>, the magnetic flux sensed by the first sensor <NUM> reaches a preset value, the trigger inside the first sensor <NUM> flips to cause the output level state of the first sensor <NUM> to switch (the Hall switch switches an ON state to an OFF state), and the controller receives the first detection signal and opens the water valve to automatically fill water into the water vessel <NUM>. During the water filling process, the liquid level will rise to drive the float box <NUM> to move upward, and the inductive element <NUM>, namely, the magnet, will also approach the second sensor <NUM> until the liquid level in the water vessel <NUM> reaches the second height. At this time, the magnetic flux sensed by the second sensor <NUM> also reaches the preset value, the trigger inside the second sensor <NUM> flips to cause the output level state of the second sensor <NUM> to switch (the Hall switch switches from the OFF state to the ON state), and the controller will receive the second detection signal and close the water valve to stop the automatic water filling. In this way, the position of the magnet is detected and the liquid level in the water vessel is judged through the two Hall switches, respectively, and the controller controls the water valve to open or close according to different detection signals sent by different Hall switches, to automatically fill water into the water vessel if necessary. Furthermore, setting the water valve to be opened only when the first detection signal indicating that the inductive element is at the first height is received can ensure that the inductive element <NUM> is already inside the water vessel <NUM> at this time, and the problem of water overflow will not occur.

Similarly, the detection means <NUM> may also detect whether the water vessel <NUM> is placed on the bracket <NUM>. When the controller receives the first detection signal, it may be determined that the water vessel <NUM> is already placed on the bracket <NUM> at this time, and the liquid level is low and water needs to be automatically filled.

In other embodiments, the second sensor may also be other sensors such as a photoelectric sensor, a capacitive liquid level sensor, etc., which is not limited in the present invention. A sensor such as a photoelectric sensor or a capacitive liquid level sensor may directly detect the liquid level in the water vessel. When the real-time liquid level reaches a preset liquid level, it will trigger the aforementioned sensor to output a detection signal to the controller to cause the controller to close the water valve.

In another embodiment, the detection element may also be a timer, and the first sensor may be a Hall switch. During the water filling process, the inductive element will gradually move upwards with the liquid level, and the magnetic flux sensed by the first sensor will be less than the preset value at a certain liquid level, the output level state of the first sensor will switch again (the Hall switch switches from the ON state to the OFF state), and the controller will receive an OFF signal output by the first sensor and control the timer to start timing. When the water filling time reaches a preset time (which may be <NUM>, <NUM>, or the like), the controller may control to close the water valve. Thus, the second sensor may be omitted, and only the first sensor may be used to cooperate with the inductive element and the timer to control the opening and closing of the water valve and the automatic water filling process. Specifically, the preset time may be calculated in advance according to the height of the first sensor, the speed of automatic water filling and the volume of the water vessel.

As shown in <FIG>, the water vessel <NUM> further comprises a water vessel lid <NUM>, a water vessel body <NUM>, and a water storage space defined by the water vessel lid <NUM> and the water vessel body <NUM>. The water filling port <NUM> is disposed on the water vessel lid <NUM>. The water vessel <NUM> further comprises a water filling cup <NUM> extending from the water filling port <NUM> to the bottom of the water vessel <NUM>. A plurality of water outlets <NUM> communicated with the water storage space are provided on a peripheral wall of the water filling cup <NUM>. The water filling cup <NUM> may slow down the flow rate of the water upon water filling, reduce the noise upon water filling, and prevent the water flow from splashing around.

Preferably, the water filling cup <NUM> comprises an upwardly-protruding bottom wall <NUM>, and the water outlets <NUM> extend from top to bottom on the peripheral wall to a position connected to the bottom wall <NUM>. Specifically, a plurality of elongated water outlets <NUM> are provided at an interval on the peripheral wall of the water filling cup <NUM>, and the water outlets <NUM> extend on the peripheral wall of the water filling cup <NUM> so that water can flow into the water storage space quickly without gathering in the water filling cup <NUM>. The upward protrusion of the bottom wall <NUM> may further prevent the water in the water filling cup <NUM> from gathering and enable the water to flow out through the water outlets <NUM>.

A water spout <NUM> is disposed on the water vessel body <NUM>, a water baffle <NUM> is provided at a position adjacent to the water spout <NUM> in the water storage space, and a water passageway <NUM> communicated with the water spout <NUM> is formed between the water baffle <NUM> and the inner wall of the water vessel <NUM>. When the user takes water, he may pour out water through the water spout <NUM>. The water baffle <NUM> is provided to prevent the water from flowing rapidly and splashing out of the water vessel <NUM> when the user pours water.

Preferably, the water baffle <NUM> is preferably arc-shaped. Furthermore, the arc top of the water baffle <NUM> protrudes toward the side wall of the water vessel <NUM> opposite to the water spout <NUM>. The arc-shaped water baffle <NUM> has a good water blocking effect, and its arc top protrudes toward the side wall of the water vessel <NUM> opposite to the water spout <NUM>, so that an effective water passageway is formed between the water baffle <NUM> and the side wall of the water vessel <NUM>, and further enhances the splash-preventing effect.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the water baffle <NUM> extends from the water vessel lid <NUM> to the bottom of the water vessel <NUM>, and the water passageway <NUM> is formed on both sides and the bottom of the water baffle <NUM>. The water baffle <NUM> extending to the bottom of the water vessel <NUM> may guide water into the water passageway from a lower position of the water vessel <NUM>, thereby further reducing the flow rate of water when poured.

As shown in <FIG>, the door <NUM> is provided with a bottle seat <NUM>, and the bracket <NUM> is additionally disposed on the bottle seat <NUM>. The bracket <NUM> is pre-assembled with the bottle seat <NUM> through a connecting piece. The connecting piece may be specifically a hook structure to facilitate mounting the bracket <NUM> to or demounting the bracket <NUM> from the bottle seat <NUM>. When the user does not need to use the water vessel, he may remove the water vessel <NUM> and the bracket <NUM>, and the original position where the bracket is placed may continue to serve as the bottle seat. The outlet of the water supply pipe <NUM> is fixed at an upper half of the bracket <NUM> to align with the water filling port <NUM> on the water vessel lid <NUM> of the water vessel <NUM>. The water vessel <NUM> is located below the bottle seat <NUM> and on a side close to the door handle. The water vessel <NUM> may be drawn out transversely along the width direction of the door body, so it occupies a small space in the refrigerator without affecting the storage space of the shelves in the refrigerating compartment.

As shown in <FIG>, another example not forming part of the present invention discloses an automatic water supply method for supplying water to a water vessel disposed on a refrigerator door, the method comprising:
S100: detecting a real-time height of the inductive element <NUM> provided in the water vessel <NUM>.

The inductive element <NUM> is mounted in the float box <NUM> and may move up and down with the liquid level. Specifically, the first sensor <NUM> disposed on the bracket is used to detect the real-time height of the inductive element. The first sensor <NUM> is a Hall switch, and the inductive element <NUM> is a magnet.

S200: outputting a first detection signal when the inductive element <NUM> is located at a first height.

When the inductive element <NUM> is located at the first height and closest to the first sensor <NUM>, the magnetic flux sensed by the first sensor <NUM> reaches a preset value and makes a trigger in the first sensor <NUM> flip so that the first sensor <NUM> outputs the first detection signal to the controller.

S300: the controller opens the water valve upon receiving the first detection signal.

When the controller receives the first detection signal, this means that the liquid level in the water vessel <NUM> is low at this time and water needs to be filled, and then the controller will open the water valve.

S400: the controller closes the water valve upon receiving a second detection signal.

The second detection signal is a signal output by the second sensor <NUM> provided on the bracket <NUM>. The second sensor <NUM> may detect the liquid level in the water vessel <NUM>. When the liquid level reaches the preset liquid level, the water in the water vessel is already enough and the water filling may be stopped. Therefore, the second sensor <NUM> outputs a second detection signal, and the controller closes the water valve upon receiving the second detection signal.

Further, as shown in <FIG>, after step S300, the method further comprises:.

S310: When the inductive element <NUM> is located at a second height, output the second detection signal, the second height being greater than the first height.

The second sensor <NUM> is a Hall switch, and its height is higher than that of the first sensor <NUM>. Therefore, when the inductive element <NUM> is close to the second sensor <NUM>, the magnetic flux sensed by the second sensor <NUM> reaches the preset value and makes the trigger inside the second sensor <NUM> flip, so that the second sensor <NUM> outputs the second detection signal to the controller.

Further, the method further comprises:
S500: the controller closes the water valve upon receiving a water overflow signal or a refrigerator door opening signal.

The automatic water supply device is further provided with an overflow detection means and a refrigerator door opening and closing detection means. The overflow detection means is configured to detect whether the water in the water vessel overflows. The refrigerator door opening and closing means is configured to detect whether the refrigerator door is in an open state or a closed state. Specifically, if the controller receives the overflow signal, it means that the water in the water vessel is already full, so the controller needs to close the water valve. If the controller receives the refrigerator door opening signal, the user might take out the water vessel, whereupon water filling needn't be continued, so the controller also needs to close the water valve.

Further, as shown in <FIG>, after the step S300, the method further comprises:
S320: A timer records an opening time period of the water valve.

After the controller opens the water valve, the timer will start to record the opening time period of the water valve.

S321: When the opening time period exceeds a preset time period, the timer outputs a timeout signal.

Generally speaking, the flow rate of filled water is constant. An amount of the filled water may be calculated by multiplying the flow rate by a water filing time period. In order to prevent the failure of the detection means and the overflow detection means, the automatic water supply device is further provided with water filling timeout protection. When the water filling time period exceeds a preset time period, overflow phenomenon might occur, and the timer will output a timeout signal to the controller. Specifically, a specific value of the preset time period may be designed based on parameters such as the flow rate of filled water, the volume of the water vessel, and the like. In the embodiment of the present invention, the preset time period may be set to <NUM> seconds.

S322: the controller closes the water valve upon receiving the timeout signal.

When the controller receives the timeout signal which indicates that water overflow might occur, the controller will close the water valve to avoid excessive water overflow.

Claim 1:
An automatic water supply device for a refrigerator, wherein the device comprises a water vessel (<NUM>), a bracket (<NUM>) for placing the water vessel (<NUM>), a detection means (<NUM>), and a water supply mechanism (<NUM>) for supplying water to the water vessel (<NUM>), the water vessel (<NUM>) comprising a water filling port (<NUM>);
the detection means (<NUM>) comprises an inductive element (<NUM>) and a first sensor (<NUM>) disposed on the bracket (<NUM>), the inductive element (<NUM>) is disposed in the water vessel (<NUM>) and capable of rising or falling along with the liquid level, and the first sensor (<NUM>) outputs a first detection signal upon detecting that the inductive element (<NUM>) is located at a first height;
the water supply mechanism (<NUM>) comprises a water supply pipe (<NUM>) and a water valve provided on the water supply pipe (<NUM>), and an outlet of the water supply pipe (<NUM>) corresponds to the water filling port (<NUM>) of the water vessel (<NUM>);
the automatic water supply device further comprises a controller controlling the water valve to open upon receiving the first detection signal;
the detection means (<NUM>) further comprises a detection element capable of outputting a second detection signal characterizing the liquid level in the water vessel (<NUM>), and the controller controls the water valve to close upon receiving the second detection signal;
a float box (<NUM>) is provided in the water vessel (<NUM>), the inductive element (<NUM>) is fixedly disposed in the float box (<NUM>), and the float box (<NUM>) rises and falls as the liquid level changes;
wherein a side wall of the water vessel (<NUM>) is provided with a rail (<NUM>) extending in a height direction, the float box (<NUM>) is located in the rail (<NUM>), and the rail (<NUM>) is provided with a water hole (<NUM>),
characterized in that the rail (<NUM>) includes a housing (<NUM>) protruding into the interior of the water vessel (<NUM>) and an internal channel (<NUM>) surrounded by the housing (<NUM>), the water hole (<NUM>) communicated with the internal channel (<NUM>) is provided in the lengthwise direction of the side wall of the housing (<NUM>), the top of the housing (<NUM>) is provided with an opening (<NUM>) and a seal (<NUM>) for sealing the opening (<NUM>).