KR20150094023A - water level sensor for washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a water level sensor assembly for a washing machine, capable of being easily installed in various parts of a washing machine while maintenance can be performed in a stable installation state, and being easily disassembled and replaced for assembly operation and maintenance as the overall structure is simplified. To achieve the objective of the present invention, the water level sensor assembly for a washing machine comprises: a piezoelectric sensor part including a head part having a piezoelectric element inside, and a port part protruding from the bottom surface of the head part to guide air to the inside of the head part; a sensor housing including an accommodating end whose upper surface is opened and in which the head part of the piezoelectric sensor part is accommodated and mounted, and an air inlet pipe protruding from the bottom surface of the accommodating end, in which the port part of the piezoelectric sensor part is embedded and in which air flows; a circuit board which is formed to cover the opened upper end of the accommodating end which composes the sensor housing, and has an embedded connector for supplying power and transmitting various signals; and a bracket housing where an accommodating groove, on which the accommodating end of the sensor housing and the connector of the circuit board are collectively concave and mounted, is concave and mounted in the rear surface, a passing groove is formed on the bottom surface to allow the air inlet pipe, which composes the sensor housing, to pass, and a fixing hook, which passes through a combination hole formed in the wall surface of a washing machine main body and fixed, protrudes and is formed on the front surface.

Description

Technical Field [0001] The present invention relates to a water level sensor for washing machine,

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a level sensor assembly for sensing the level of washing water supplied into a washing machine, and more particularly, to a level sensor assembly for a washing machine, The present invention relates to a water level sensor assembly for a washing machine.

Generally, a water level sensor used in a washing machine is used to control a water level stored in a washing tub constituting a washing machine and to control a supply amount of washing water supplied into the washing tub, thereby improving the washing performance and the consumption amount of washing water So that it can be minimized.

When the ferrite installed on the diaphragm rises due to the air pressure changed according to the water level in the washing tub as described in Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 10-2011-023939, the water level sensor applied to such a washing machine, And a method in which the piezoelectric sensor senses a change in the air pressure due to the variation of the water level as disclosed in the registered patent application No. 10-1258909 filed by the present applicant and confirms the water level And the like.

However, since the water level sensor according to the above-described related arts is constructed only on the top of the washing machine body, there is a disadvantage that the mounting site is inevitably limited.

In addition, since the water level sensor according to the related art has a complicated internal structure, it is difficult to assemble the water level sensor, and it is also difficult to disassemble or replace the water level sensor for maintenance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in order to solve various problems of the prior art described above, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a washing machine which can be installed in various places of a washing machine, The present invention provides a water level sensor assembly for a washing machine according to the present invention, which can simplify disassembly and replacement for assembling work and maintenance.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a water level sensor assembly for a washing machine, comprising: a piezoelectric sensor unit including a head unit having a piezoelectric element therein and a port portion protruding from a bottom surface of the head unit to guide air into the head unit; A sensor housing having a receiving end on which a head portion of the piezoelectric sensor portion is received and an air inlet tube on which a port portion of the piezoelectric sensor portion is embedded and air is introduced while protruding from a bottom surface of the receiving end, A circuit board formed to cover an opened upper end of the receiving end of the sensor housing and having a connector for transmitting various signals and supplying power; And a receiving groove in which the connector of the circuit board and the receiving end of the sensor housing are collectively inserted and inserted is formed in the rear surface of the sensor housing, a through groove is formed in the bottom surface of the sensor housing to allow the air inlet tube of the sensor housing to pass therethrough, And a bracket housing having a fixing hook formed to protrude through an engaging hole formed on a wall surface of the main body.

The passage groove formed in the bracket housing is formed to have a gradually narrower width toward the inside, and at the inner side wall surface of the passage groove, And a stopping jaw on which the stopper is caught is formed stepwise.

In addition, a cutout hole is formed in both sides of the bottom surface of the bracket housing for centering the passing groove for elastic deformation of a portion where the through-hole is formed.

The upper end of the bracket housing is further coupled with a mounting bracket fastened to the upper surface of the main body of the washing machine.

In addition, a coupling groove is formed on both sides of the upper surface of the bracket housing, the mounting bracket is coupled to the upper surface of the washing machine main body, and the coupling bracket is bent downward from both sides of the coupling end, And a coupling end, the lower end of which is coupled to the coupling grooves on both sides of the bracket housing, respectively.

The water level sensor assembly of the present invention as described above can be directly coupled to the wall surface of the washing machine body or coupled to the upper surface of the washing machine body according to the internal structure of the washing machine, the wiring structure, or the connection structure of the connecting hose, It has the effect that installation can be made.

In addition, the level sensor assembly of the present invention is assembled by inserting the piezoelectric sensor unit into the sensor housing in an inserting manner in a state that the sensor housing is integrated with the sensor housing. Then, the assembly is completed, The entire assembling operation can be performed easily.

Further, the water level sensor assembly of the present invention has the effect of reducing the overall maintenance cost by replacing only the sensor housing in maintenance due to the failure of the piezoelectric sensor unit.

1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a water level sensor assembly for a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a perspective view illustrating a water level sensor assembly for a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a perspective view illustrating a front side structure of a water level sensor assembly for a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a bottom view illustrating a bottom structure of a water level sensor assembly for a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a main portion of a water level sensor assembly for a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention,
6 and 7 are perspective views illustrating a process of assembling the water level sensor assembly for a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
8 is a state diagram illustrating a state in which the water level sensor assembly for a washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention is installed in a washing machine body,
9 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a water level sensor assembly for a washing machine according to another embodiment of the present invention.
10 is a plan view illustrating a water level sensor assembly for a washing machine according to another embodiment of the present invention.
11 is a perspective view illustrating a water level sensor assembly for a washing machine according to another embodiment of the present invention.
12 is a side view illustrating a state in which the water level sensor assembly for a washing machine according to another embodiment of the present invention is installed in a washing machine body;

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a water level sensor assembly for a washing machine according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 12.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a water level sensor assembly for a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an assembled perspective view illustrating a water level sensor assembly for a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, 3 is a perspective view illustrating a front side structure of a water level sensor assembly for a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in these drawings, a water level sensor assembly for a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a piezoelectric sensor unit 100, a sensor housing 200, a circuit board 300, and a bracket housing 400 In particular, the bracket housing 400 is coupled to the wall surface of the washing machine main body (the peripheral side wall surface or the peripheral side wall surface of the various frames provided in the washing machine main body) 11 (see FIG. And the sensor housing 200 and the sensor housing 200 can be easily coupled with each other. [0053] As shown in FIG.

This will be described in more detail below for each configuration.

First, the piezoelectric sensor unit 100 is configured to measure a water level by outputting a change amount of a voltage according to a pressure change.

The piezoelectric sensor unit 100 includes a head unit 120 having a piezoelectric element 110 (see FIG. 5) and a port unit 130 for guiding air into the head unit 120 .

Here, the head part 120 is formed in a box-like shape with an empty hexahedron, and the upper surface is opened. At this time, a plurality of lead frames 121 for signal connection with the piezoelectric element 110 are formed on the circumferential surface of the head part 120, respectively.

In addition, the port portion 130 is formed in a pipe shape protruding downward from the bottom center of the head portion 120, and an upper end is formed to communicate with the inside of the head portion 120.

Next, the sensor housing 200 is a portion where the piezoelectric sensor unit 100 is received and mounted.

The sensor housing 200 has a receiving end 210 for receiving the head unit 120 constituting the piezoelectric sensor unit 100 and a receiving unit 210 for receiving the port unit 130 constituting the piezoelectric sensor unit 100. [ And an air inlet pipe 220.

Here, the receiving end 210 is formed as a box-shaped hollow body having an inner space so that the head part 120 is accommodated and received, and the upper surface is opened.

In addition, the air inlet pipe 220 is formed in a pipe shape in which the port portion 130 of the piezoelectric sensor unit 100 is embedded while air is introduced, while protruding from the bottom surface of the receiving end 210.

At this time, the air inlet pipe 220 is connected to a connecting hose (not shown) having an end located in a bottom space of the washing tub, so that air pressure in the connecting hose varying according to the washing water level in the washing tub is received do.

Next, the circuit board 300 receives a sensing signal sensed by the piezoelectric sensor unit 100 and supplies power to the piezoelectric sensor unit 100, and controls a controller (not shown) .

The circuit board 300 is formed to cover an open upper end of the receiving terminal 210 constituting the sensor housing 200 and a connector 310 for transmitting various signals and supplying power is mounted on the upper surface .

Next, the bracket housing 400 is coupled to the washing machine body.

The bracket housing 400 is formed in a block structure while a receiving groove 410 is formed on the back surface of the bracket housing 400. A passage groove 420 is formed on the bottom surface and a fixing hook 430 is protruded from the front surface.

The receiving groove 410 is a portion where the connector 310 of the circuit board 300 and the receiving end 210 of the sensor housing 200 are integrally recessed and mounted, And is formed so as to protrude forward from the rear center portion.

The passage groove 420 is formed by cutting the central portion of the bottom surface of the bracket housing 400 as a portion through which the air inflow pipe 220 constituting the sensor housing 200 is horizontally passed. Particularly, the passage groove 420 is formed so that its width becomes gradually narrower toward the inside, so that the air inlet pipe 220 can be smoothly engaged. On both inner wall surfaces of the passage groove 420, And an engaging protrusion 221 protruding from the upper circumferential surface of the air inlet pipe 220 constituting the sensor housing 200 so as to be caught by the engaging protrusion 421, So that the sensor housing 200 is prevented from being unwantedly detached when the sensor housing 200 is coupled to the bracket housing 400.

In addition, a cutout hole 440 is formed at both sides of the through-hole 420 in the bottom surface of the bracket housing 400 for resilient deformation of a portion where the through-hole 420 is formed do. That is, by forming the cut-off hole 440, the portion where the through-hole 420 is formed has elasticity, so that the engaging protrusion 421 of the through- So that it is possible to stably maintain the fastened state of the fastener 221.

The fixed hook 430 is a portion fixed through the coupling hole 13 formed in the wall surface 11 of the washing machine main body and extends from the front end (the upper end when viewed from the perspective of FIG. 4) 4, the lower side is gradually expanded toward the both sides and the rear side ends thereof are bent inward again to form a step.

At this time, when the fixing hook 430 is coupled through the coupling hole 13 of the washing machine main body, both ends of the fixing hook 430 of the bracket housing 400 are coupled to both ends of the fixing hook 430, And the stopper plates 450 that are in contact with both sides are respectively extended and formed. That is, through the additional formation of the stopper plate 450, the fixing hook 430 of the bracket housing 400 is prevented from being excessively passed through the coupling hole 13 of the washing machine main body.

Hereinafter, the assembling process of the water level sensor assembly for a washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail.

First, the lead frames 121 of the piezoelectric sensor unit 100 are soldered together by being mounted on the bottom surface of the circuit board 300.

A connector 310 for transmitting various signals and supplying power is mounted on the upper surface of the circuit board 300. The head unit 120 of the piezoelectric sensor unit 100 is provided with a piezoelectric element (110).

When the connection between the circuit board 300 and the piezoelectric sensor unit 100 is completed, the piezoelectric sensor unit 100 is coupled to the sensor housing 200 as shown in FIG.

The port 130 forming the piezoelectric sensor unit 100 is inserted into the air inlet pipe 220 constituting the sensor housing 200 and the head unit 120 constituting the piezoelectric sensor unit 100, Is received in the receiving end 210 constituting the sensor housing 200.

When the piezoelectric sensor unit 100 is coupled to the sensor housing 200 as described above, the circuit board 300 integrated with the upper end of the piezoelectric sensor unit 100 is received in the receiving terminal 210 constituting the sensor housing 200, As shown in FIG.

Then, the portion of the sensor housing 200 on which the circuit board 300 is mounted, which is the upper surface of the receiving end 210, is coated with insulation by epoxy or the like.

Then, the assembled sensor housing 200 is coupled to the bracket housing 400 as shown in FIG.

That is, the receiving end 210 constituting the sensor housing 200 is received in the receiving groove 410 of the bracket housing 400, so that the sensor housing 200 and the bracket housing 400 are coupled.

At this time, the air inlet pipe 220 constituting the sensor housing 200 is inserted into the through hole 420 formed along the bottom surface of the bracket housing 400, so that the sensor housing 200 is smoothly coupled.

Particularly, during the passage of the air inflow pipe 220 through the through-hole 420 by the cut-off hole 440 formed at both sides of the through-hole 420, both sides of the through- And the receiving end 210 of the sensor housing 200 is completely received in the receiving groove 410 of the bracket housing 400, the sensor housing 200 can be smoothly inserted into the sensor housing 200 The engagement recess 221 formed in the air inlet pipe 220 of the sensor housing 200 can be retained in the engagement protrusion 421 formed in the passage groove 420 of the bracket housing 400, Is prevented from being undesirably detached from the bracket housing (400).

As a result, the water level sensor assembly according to the embodiment of the present invention is completed through each of the above-described processes, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 5.

The water level sensor assembly manufactured as described above allows the fixing hook 430 formed on the front surface of the bracket housing 400 to pass through the coupling hole 13 formed in the wall surface 11 of the washing machine body, Is completed.

8, the stopper plate 450 formed on the bracket housing 400 is in contact with both sides of the coupling hole 13 of the washing machine main body, And a portion of the wall surface 11 of the washing machine body where the engaging hole 13 is formed is interposed between the fixing hook 430 and the stopper plate 450 So that the level sensor assembly can be stably coupled to the washing machine main body.

Then, the connection hose connected to the washing tub of the washing machine is connected to the air inlet pipe 220 of the sensor housing 200 constituting the water level sensor assembly, thereby completing the installation of the water level sensor assembly.

As described above, the water level sensor assembly installed in the washing machine senses the water level variation in the washing tub and transmits the signal to the controller so that the water level in the washing tub can be adjusted.

That is, if the air pressure inside the connection hose fluctuates due to the variation of the water level in the washing tub, the air pressure inside the air inlet pipe 220 also fluctuates in the same way. The output voltage from the piezoelectric element 110 is changed by changing the resistance of the piezoelectric element 110 and the controller can check the water level in the washing tub to thereby perform the operation control for adjusting the water level It will be.

9-12 illustrate a level sensor assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention.

That is, in another embodiment of the present invention, it is further provided that a mounting bracket 500 is provided to further diversify the application region of the level sensor assembly.

The mounting bracket 500 is configured to be fastened and fixed to the upper surface 12 of the washing machine body (or the upper surface of various frames provided in the washing machine main body) 12 (see FIG. 12) As shown in FIG.

The mounting bracket 500 is fixed to the upper surface 12 of the main body of the washing machine so as to be fastened and fixed to the upper surface 12 of the washing machine body. And a coupling end 520 which is bent downward from both sides of the coupling end 510 and whose lower ends are coupled to the coupling grooves 460 of the bracket housing 400, respectively, do.

At this time, a plurality of fastening holes 511 are formed in the fastening end 510 of the mounting bracket 500.

When the water level sensor assembly is difficult to install on the wall surface 11 of the washing machine main body, the mounting bracket 500 is fixed to the bracket housing 400 and then the mounting bracket 500 is mounted on the upper surface 12 of the washing machine body. It is necessary to bolt it in a state in which it is placed on the top.

As a result, the water level sensor assembly according to the embodiment of the present invention may be directly coupled to the wall surface 11 in the washing machine body or may be coupled to the upper surface 12 of the washing machine body depending on the connection structure of the connection hose, So that it can be stably installed in various areas.

In addition, the level sensor assembly according to the embodiment of the present invention is assembled by inserting the piezoelectric sensor unit 100 into the bracket housing 400 in a state in which the piezoelectric sensor unit 100 is integrated with the sensor housing 200, The entire assembly work can be easily performed as the installation is completed through the coupling through the fixing hook 430 to the wall surface 11 of the main body. Further, only the sensor housing 200 is replaced at maintenance, And the maintenance cost can be reduced.

11. Wall surface 12. Top surface
13. Bond hole 100. Piezoelectric sensor part
110. Piezoelectric element 120. Head part
121. Lead frame 130. Port portion
200. Sensor housing 210. Receiving end
220. Air inlet pipe 221. Stopper
300. Circuit board 310. Connector
400. Bracket housing 410. Retaining groove
420. Through groove 421. Jaw chin
430. Fixing hook 440. Cutter
450. Stopper plate 460. Coupling groove
500. Mounting bracket 510. Fastening end
511. Fasteners 520. Fasteners

Claims (5)

A piezoelectric sensor part comprising a head part having a piezoelectric element inside and a port part protruding from a bottom surface of the head part to guide air into the head part;
A sensor housing having a receiving end on which a head portion of the piezoelectric sensor portion is received and an air inlet tube on which a port portion of the piezoelectric sensor portion is embedded and air is introduced while protruding from a bottom surface of the receiving end,
A circuit board formed to cover an opened upper end of the receiving end of the sensor housing and having a connector for transmitting various signals and supplying power;
And a receiving groove in which the connector of the circuit board and the receiving end of the sensor housing are collectively inserted and inserted is formed in the rear surface of the sensor housing, a through groove is formed in the bottom surface of the sensor housing to allow the air inlet tube of the sensor housing to pass therethrough, And a bracket housing having a fixing hook formed to protrude through a coupling hole formed in a wall surface of the main body, the fixing hook being fixed to the main body. The method according to claim 1,
An engagement groove is formed on the upper circumferential surface of the air inlet pipe constituting the sensor housing,
Wherein the passage groove formed in the bracket housing is formed so that its width becomes gradually narrower toward the inside, and the inner side wall surface of the passage groove is formed with a stopping step for hooking the stopper portion. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein a cut-out hole is formed at both sides of the bottom surface of the bracket housing for centering the through-hole to allow elastic deformation of a portion where the through-hole is formed. The method according to claim 1,
And a mounting bracket fastened and fixed to an upper surface of the main body of the washing machine is further coupled to the upper end of the bracket housing. 5. The method of claim 4,
Wherein engaging grooves are respectively formed on both sides of the upper surface of the bracket housing,
Wherein the mounting bracket includes a plate-like fastening end which is fastened and fixed on the upper surface of the washing machine main body and a fastening end where the lower end of the fastening end is bent downward from both sides of the fastening end, And a water level sensor for detecting the water level of the washing machine.

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