Patent Description:
At present, along with the development of refrigerator technologies, many demands have arisen for diverse functions of refrigerators. As the demands for cold water increase, a user needs to frequently use a water vessel. The user usually fill the vessel with water and then put the vessel into a refrigerating chamber, and take out the vessel after a period of time to drink cold water. In this way, the user needs to notice the water amount in the vessel at any time and needs to wait for a period of time to drink the cold water. If he forgets to refill water into the vessel or wants to drink the cold water urgently, inconvenience will be caused to the user.

<CIT> describes a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a body which includes a storage compartment, a door which opens and closes the storage compartment and includes a dispenser, a water tank case disposed in the door, a water tank separably mounted in the water tank case, a water level sensor (not being defined as an inductive sensor) configured to sense a water level inside the water tank when the water tank is mounted in the water tank case, and a water tank valve configured to guide water supplied from a water supply source to the dispenser or the water tank and to prevent water from being supplied to the water tank when the water level sensor senses that a certain amount of water is stored in the water tank.

<CIT> describes a water storage device. A first sensing device and a second sensing device are mounted in the water storage cup and on the pedestal of water storage device respectively. A controller opens a magnetic valve when receiving a signal that one of the first sensing device and the second sensing device has sensed the other; and the controller closes the magnetic valve when not receiving a signal that one of the first sensing device and the second sensing device has sensed the other.

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

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention relates to an automatic water supply device according to claim <NUM>. Additional features of the automatic water supply device according to the invention are recited in claims <NUM> to <NUM>.

The invention also relates to a refrigerator according to claim <NUM>.

As compared with the prior art, the automatic water supply device disclosed in the present invention judges whether the water vessel is placed on the bracket according to the ON state and OFF state of the sensor, and then detects the liquid level in the water vessel through the cooperation of the sensor in the ON state and the inductive element. The automatic water supply device may simultaneously detect whether the water vessel is placed on the bracket as well as the liquid level in the water vessel by using the cooperation of the sensor and the inductive element, thereby controlling the water valve to open when the water vessel is placed on the bracket and the liquid level is low, to automatically fill water into the water vessel, so that the user may take the cold water conveniently at any time.

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 device <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> and <FIG>, the water vessel <NUM> comprises a water filling port <NUM>. The detection device comprises a sensing unit <NUM> and a switch movably connected to the bracket <NUM>. The sensing unit <NUM> comprises a sensor <NUM> fitted with the switch and an inductive element <NUM> disposed in the water vessel <NUM> and being capable of rising or falling along with the liquid level. The switch is disposed at a position on the bracket <NUM> corresponding to the top of the water vessel <NUM>. 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. The sensor <NUM> switches between an ON state and an OFF state based on the movement of the switch. The water vessel <NUM> is placed on the bracket <NUM> to touch the switch, thereby driving the sensor <NUM> to be in the ON state. The sensor <NUM> detects the position of the inductive element <NUM> in the ON state to output a detection signal indicating the liquid level in the water vessel <NUM>. The controller controls the water valve to open or close according to the detection signal received from the sensor <NUM>.

The automatic water supply device disclosed in the present invention judges whether the water vessel <NUM> is placed on the bracket <NUM> according to the ON state and OFF state of the sensor <NUM>, and then detects the liquid level in the water vessel <NUM> through the cooperation of the sensor <NUM> in the ON state and the inductive element <NUM>. The automatic water supply device may simultaneously detect whether the water vessel <NUM> is placed on the bracket <NUM> as well as the liquid level in the water vessel <NUM> by using the cooperation of the sensor <NUM> and the inductive element <NUM>, thereby controlling the water valve to open when the water vessel <NUM> is placed on the bracket <NUM> and the liquid level is low, to automatically fill water into the water vessel <NUM>, so that the user may take the cold water conveniently at any time.

In the embodiment of the present invention, a height nearby the top of the water vessel <NUM> is set as a preset liquid level. When the liquid level in the water vessel reaches the preset liquid level, water needn't be further filled and the controller will control the water valve to close; when the liquid level in the water vessel <NUM> does not reach the preset liquid level, water needs to be filled into the water vessel, and the controller will control the water valve to open.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the switch comprises a rotating member <NUM> rotatably connected to the bracket <NUM>, an electrical connection member <NUM> is provided on the bracket <NUM>, and the sensor <NUM> is provided in the rotating member <NUM>. When the switch is pressed, the sensor <NUM> contacts the electrical connection member <NUM>. A bump <NUM> is disposed at the top of the water vessel <NUM>. When the water vessel <NUM> is placed on the vessel <NUM>, the bump <NUM> on the top of the water vessel <NUM> will press the switch and cause the rotating member <NUM> to drive the sensor <NUM> to rotate, to energize the sensor <NUM>, so that whether the water vessel <NUM> is placed on the bracket <NUM> may be judged through the ON state of the sensor <NUM>. Therefore, it is unnecessary to provide an additional sensor, and only the sensor for detecting the liquid level can be used to detect whether the water vessel is placed on the bracket. In another embodiment, the electrical connection member may be provided on the rotating member, and the sensor may be provided on the bracket.

Specifically, the water supply pipe <NUM> can 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 can 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.

Further, the sensor <NUM> comprises at least three contacts. When the switch is pressed, all of the at least three contacts are in contact with the electrical connection member <NUM>. The at least three contacts comprise at least two electrical connection contacts and at least one signal connection contact. In the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in <FIG>, the sensor <NUM> comprises three contacts, wherein two contacts are electrical connection contacts, and the remaining one contact is a signal connection contact. Correspondingly, three electrical connection members <NUM> are provided on the bracket <NUM>. When the switch is pressed, the electrical connection contacts and the signal connection contact of the sensor <NUM> are respectively communicated with the electrical connection member <NUM>, thereby energizing the sensor. After the controller detects that the sensor is energized, it may determine that the water vessel <NUM> has been placed on the bracket <NUM>. The signal connection contact is used to send a detection signal indicating the liquid level in the water vessel <NUM> to the controller when the capacitance sensor <NUM> is in the ON state. Specifically, when the sensor is in the ON state, the sensor cooperates with the inductive element to detect the liquid level in the water vessel, and the detection signal generated by the sensor and indicating the liquid level in the water vessel <NUM> will be sent to the controller through the communication between the signal contact point and the electrical connection member.

Further, the electrical connection member <NUM> is an elastic member. When the water vessel <NUM> is placed on the bracket <NUM>, a side wall of the water vessel <NUM> presses the rotating member <NUM>, and the sensor <NUM> contacts the electrical connection member <NUM> to make the elastic electrical connection member <NUM> in a compressed state. When the water vessel <NUM> is removed from the bracket <NUM>, the electrical connection member <NUM> may release the elastic force to cause the rotating member <NUM> to rotate reversely, and the sensor <NUM> does not contact the electrical connection member <NUM> any longer and switches to the OFF state. The cooperation of the elastic electrical connection member <NUM> and the rotating member <NUM> may cause the water vessel <NUM> to be placed on the bracket to correspond to the ON state of the sensor, and cause the water vessel <NUM> not to be placed on the bracket to correspond to the OFF state of the sensor, so that the ON/OFF state of the sensor may be used to detect whether the water vessel <NUM> is placed on the bracket. The electrical connection member <NUM> may preferably be a compression spring. As shown in <FIG>, three compression springs extend from the bracket <NUM>, and correspond to the three contacts on the sensor, respectively.

Specifically, in the embodiment of the present invention, 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>. Inside the water vessel <NUM>, an inner box <NUM> extends downward from the water vessel lid <NUM>, and a plurality of water holes communicated with the water storage space are provided on a peripheral wall of the inner box <NUM>, so that the water in the water vessel <NUM> may flow into the inner box <NUM>. A float box <NUM> is disposed in the inner box <NUM>, and the inductive element <NUM> is disposed in the float box <NUM>. Specifically, the inner box <NUM> is snap-fitted on the water vessel lid <NUM>, and the inner box <NUM> does not rise or fall along with the liquid level, whereas the float box <NUM> may move up and down inside the inner box <NUM> as the liquid level changes. In this way, with the inner box <NUM> that does not move along with the liquid level being provided in the water vessel <NUM>, the moving range and moving direction of the float box may be restricted, and it may be ensured that a magnet can only move within a desired height range and only move in a height direction of the water vessel. The inductive element <NUM> is fixedly disposed in the float box <NUM> and moves up and down along with the float box <NUM>. The float box <NUM> seals the inductive element <NUM> inside to ensure that the inductive element <NUM> can float up and down.

Specifically, an outer diameter of the float box <NUM> matches an inner diameter of the inner box <NUM> so that the float box <NUM> can only move up and down along the height direction of the inner box <NUM>. A plurality of guide ribs <NUM> extending from top to bottom are provided on an inner wall of the inner box <NUM>, and may prevent the float box <NUM> from getting stuck when it moves up and down. An upper surface of the float box <NUM> is provided with a plurality of protrusions <NUM>, and air outlets <NUM> are provided at positions of the water vessel lid <NUM> corresponding to the protrusions <NUM>. Specifically, when the liquid level in the water vessel <NUM> rises and the upper surface of the float box <NUM> contacts the bottom surface of the water vessel lid <NUM>, the float box <NUM> might not fall down when the liquid level drops due to a siphon effect. With the protrusions <NUM> being provided on the upper surface of the float box <NUM> and air outlets <NUM> being provided on the water vessel lid <NUM>, a gap is present between the upper surface of the float box <NUM> and the water vessel lid <NUM> to avoid the occurrence of the siphon effect therebetween, so that the float box <NUM> moves up and down more smoothly.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the sensor <NUM> is a Hall switch, and the Hall switch is disposed at a position on the bracket <NUM> corresponding to the top of the water vessel <NUM>; the inductive element <NUM> is a magnet. The Hall switch is disposed on the bracket <NUM> and may 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. When the Hall switch is in the ON state, the controller receives the signal and determines that the water vessel <NUM> has been placed on the bracket <NUM>. If the liquid level in the water vessel <NUM> does not reach the preset liquid level, the magnet is far away from the Hall switch and the magnetic flux induced by the Hall switch cannot make the trigger inside the Hall switch flip, the controller will control the water valve to open and fill the water vessel <NUM> with water. During the water filling process, the liquid level will rise and drive the float box <NUM> to move upward, and the magnet will also approach the Hall switch until the magnetic flux induced by the Hall switch also reaches a preset value when the liquid level in the water vessel <NUM> reaches the preset liquid level. At this time, the trigger inside the Hall switch flips to invert the output level state of the Hall switch, and the controller will control the water valve to close and stop water filling. As such, the Hall switch determines the liquid level in the water vessel by detecting the position of the magnet, and the controller may control the opening and closing of the water valve according to the detection signal sent by the Hall switch, to automatically fill the water vessel with water when needed.

As shown in <FIG>, 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>.

Further, a water spout <NUM> is disposed on the water vessel body <NUM>, and a water baffle <NUM> is provided at a position adjacent to the water spout <NUM> in the water storage space. 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. In addition, 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 passage 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 passage <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 passage 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 be used 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.

Another embodiment of the present invention further discloses an automatic water supply method. The method comprises the following steps: S1: receiving a signal indicating that the sensing unit is in an ON state. S2: determining whether a first detection signal indicating that the liquid level in the water vessel reaches a preset level is received. S3, if YES, turning to step S4; if NO, turning to step S5. S4: controlling the water valve to close. S5: controlling the water valve to open, and meanwhile executing step S3.

When the water vessel is placed on the bracket, the side wall of the water vessel will press the rotating member to energize the sensing unit to be the ON state. At this time, the controller will receive the signal indicating that the sensing unit is in the ON state. The sensing unit will detect the liquid level in the water vessel. If the liquid level in the water vessel reaches the preset level, the sensing unit will send the first detection signal to the controller; otherwise, the sensing unit will not send a signal to the controller or sends a second detection signal to the controller. When the controller does not receive the first signal or receives the second detection signal, it will control the water valve to be in an open state, and the water supply pipe will automatically fill the water vessel with water at this time. When the liquid level in the water vessel gradually rises to the preset level, the controller receives the first signal and controls the water valve to close to end automatic water filling. In this way, one sensor is used to achieve the detection of whether the water vessel <NUM> is placed on the bracket <NUM> and the detection of the liquid level in the water vessel <NUM> at the same time, so that the water vessel <NUM> may be automatically filled with water, and the user may conveniently take a sufficient amount of cold water at any time.

The automatic water supply device disclosed in the present invention judges whether the water vessel is placed on the bracket according to the ON state and OFF state of the sensor, and then detects the liquid level in the water vessel through the cooperation of the sensor in the ON state and the inductive element. The automatic water supply device may simultaneously detect whether the water vessel is placed on the bracket as well as the liquid level in the water vessel by using the cooperation of the sensor and the inductive element, thereby controlling the water valve to open when the water vessel is placed on the bracket and the liquid level is low, to automatically fill water into the water vessel, so that the user may take the cold water conveniently at any time. With the inner box that does not move along with the liquid level being provided in the water vessel, the moving range and moving direction of the float box may be restricted, and it may be ensured that a magnet can only move within a desired height range and only move in a height direction of the water vessel. With the protrusions being provided on the upper surface of the float box and air outlets being provided on the water vessel lid, a gap is present between the upper surface of the float box and the water vessel lid to avoid the occurrence of the siphon effect therebetween, so that the float box moves up and down more smoothly. The water filling cup disposed in the water vessel 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. The upward protrusion of the bottom wall of the water filling cup may further prevent the water in the water filling cup from gathering and enable the water to flow out through the water outlets. The water baffle is provided to prevent the water from flowing rapidly and splashing out of the water vessel when the user pours water.

Claim 1:
An automatic water supply device, wherein the device comprises a water vessel (<NUM>), a bracket (<NUM>) for placing the water vessel (<NUM>), a detection device (<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 device (<NUM>) comprises a sensing unit (<NUM>) and a switch movably connected to the bracket (<NUM>), and the sensing unit (<NUM>) comprises a sensor (<NUM>) fitted with the switch and an inductive element (<NUM>) disposed in the water vessel (<NUM>) and being capable of rising or falling along with a liquid level;
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, the sensor (<NUM>) switches between an ON state and an OFF state based on the movement of the switch, and the water vessel (<NUM>) is placed on the bracket (<NUM>) to touch the switch, thereby driving the sensor (<NUM>) to be in the ON state;
the sensor (<NUM>) detects a position of the inductive element (<NUM>) in the ON state to output a detection signal indicating the liquid level in the water vessel (<NUM>); the controller controls the water valve to open or close according to the detection signal received from the sensor (<NUM>);
characterized in that
the switch comprises a rotating member (<NUM>) rotatably connected to the bracket (<NUM>), an electrical connection member (<NUM>) is provided on the bracket (<NUM>), and the sensor (<NUM>)is provided in the rotating member (<NUM>); when the switch is pressed, the sensor (<NUM>) contacts the electrical connection member (<NUM>);
the sensor (<NUM>) comprises at least three contacts; when the switch is pressed, all of the at least three contacts are in contact with the electrical connection member (<NUM>); the at least three contacts comprise at least two electrical connection contacts and at least one signal connection contact.