JPH044244Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] The present invention relates to an improvement in a water supply device for supplying water to a water tank such as a washing tub of a washing machine.

Conventionally, washing machines have been configured to supply water from the tap water source into the washing tub through a solenoid valve, and to control the water supply by turning off the solenoid valve using a control device such as a timer. . However,
In the above configuration, if the water pressure changes, the amount of water supplied will also change. For example, in the case of rinsing due to overflow, if the time is controlled by a control device, the amount of water supplied will increase when the water pressure is high. Water is wasted, and if the water pressure is low, the amount of water supplied decreases, causing a problem that the rinsing effect becomes poor.Also, when using a method that uses a control device to detect the degree of rinsing, if the water pressure is low and the amount of water supplied is low, there is a problem. There was a problem with the rinsing time being long.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a water supply device that can control the amount of water supplied to an aquarium to approximately a set amount.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, the general structure of a water supply device for a washing machine will be described with reference to FIG. 1 and 2 are first and second water supply pipes, which are two water channels, one end of which is commonly connected to the inflow pipe 3, the other end of which is commonly connected to the outflow pipe 4, and the inflow pipe 3 is It is connected to a water faucet (not shown) as a water source through a water supply hose, and the outflow pipe 4 faces into a washing tub (not shown) as a water tank. And the first water supply pipe 1
A first solenoid valve 5 is interposed between the second water supply pipe 2 and the second water supply pipe 2.
A second electromagnetic valve 6 is interposed in the outlet pipe 4, and a flow meter 7 is interposed in the outflow pipe 4. In this case, the flow rate when the first solenoid valve 5 is de-energized is set to be smaller than the flow rate when the second solenoid valve 6 is de-energized, and
The flowmeter 7 detects the flow rate flowing through the outflow pipe 4, that is, the amount of water supplied to the washing tub, and generates a detection pulse Pa every time the amount of water reaches a certain level.

Now, the electrical configuration will be described according to FIG. Reference numeral 8 denotes a one-shot multivibrator, the input terminal of which is supplied with the detection pulse Pa from the flowmeter 7, and a constant width T from the output terminal every time the detection pulse Pa is supplied.
A high level H output pulse Pb is generated. 9
is an integrating circuit, and its input terminal receives the output pulse from the one-shot multivibrator 8.
Pb is provided, and the output pulse Pb is integrated by a charging/discharging circuit or the like and output as an integrated output voltage V between the output terminals. Therefore, the integrated output voltage V changes according to the generation cycle of the output pulse Pb. And this integrating circuit 9
A variable resistor 1 serving as a flow rate setting means is connected between the output terminals of the
0 is connected, and a divided output voltage obtained by dividing the integrated output voltage V through this variable resistor 10 is applied to an input terminal I of an analog-to-digital conversion circuit (hereinafter referred to as AD conversion circuit) 11. It is becoming more and more popular. This AD conversion circuit 11 outputs an output signal from the output terminal Oa when the divided output voltage applied to the input terminal I is smaller than a predetermined reference voltage.
Both Sa and the output signal Sb of the output terminal Ob are set to low level L, and when they are equal to the reference voltage, the output signal
Sa is set to a high level H and the output signal Sb is set to a low level L, and when the voltage is higher than the reference voltage, the output signal Sa is set to a low level L and the output signal Sb is set to a high level H. 12 is a decoder;
The output signal Sa is given to the input terminal Ia,
The output signal Sb is given to the input terminal Ib, and the given output signals Sa and Sb
When both are at low level L, the output signal Sc of output terminal Oa and the output signal Sd of output terminal Ob are both high level H, and the output signal Sa is high level H.
When the output signal Sb is low level L, the output signal
Sc is low level L and output signal Sd is high level H, output signal Sa is low level L and output signal
When Sb is at a high level H, the output signal Sc is set at a high level H and the output signal Sd is set at a low level L. In addition, the input terminal Ic of the decoder 12
The decoder 12 receives a water supply command signal Se generated during the detergent washing process from a timer (not shown) serving as a control device, and when the decoder 12 receives the water supply command signal Se, it outputs the aforementioned output signals Sa and
Both output signals Sc and Sd are set to high level H, regardless of Sb. 13 is a drive circuit, which outputs an output signal given to an input terminal.
When Sc reaches a high level H, electricity is applied to the first electromagnetic valve 5 from the output terminal to open it. Reference numeral 14 denotes a drive circuit which, when the output signal Sd applied to the input terminal reaches a high level H, energizes the second electromagnetic valve 6 from the output terminal to open it.
Therefore, the variable resistor 10 and the AD conversion circuit 1
1, the decoder 12 and the drive circuits 13 and 14 constitute a control circuit 15. In addition, the flow meter 7
For example, the metering operation is started during a rinsing process using a timer.

Next, the operation of this embodiment having the above configuration will be explained with reference to FIG.

When water is supplied in the detergent washing process by setting the timer to washing operation, the water supply command signal Se is applied to the input terminal Ic of the decoder 12, and the decoder 12 outputs a high level H signal from the output terminals Oa and Ob.
The output signals Sc and Sd of the solenoid valve 5 are generated via the drive circuits 13 and 14.
and 6 are energized and opened, and water from the tap passes through the water supply hose and inflow pipe 3, then is divided into the first water supply pipe 1 and the second water supply pipe 2, and then flows out through the solenoid valves 5 and 6. They join together at a pipe 4 and are supplied into the washing tub from this outflow pipe 4. Therefore, the amount of water supplied from the outflow pipe 4 into the washing tub becomes large due to the opening of both the solenoid valves 5 and 6.

On the other hand, when the timer shifts to a rinsing process, for example, by overflow rinsing, the second electromagnetic valve 6 is first energized and opened for a relatively short period of time by a rinsing signal or the like from the timer. As a result, water from the tap is transferred to the water supply hose, inflow pipe 3, and
The water is supplied into the washing tub through the water supply pipe 2, the second electromagnetic valve 6, and the outflow pipe 4. The flow rate of water flowing through the outflow pipe 4 is detected by a flow meter 7.

Therefore, when the water pressure is low and the amount of water supplied is small, the interval between the detection pulses Pa generated each time the flowmeter 7 detects a certain amount of water is relatively long, and the one-shot multimeter to which this detection pulse Pa is given is The generation period of the output pulse Pb of the vibrator 8 is shown in Figure 3a.
The integrated output voltage V of the integrating circuit 9 which integrates this is relatively large as ta shown in Fig. 3a.
It is relatively low as shown in Va. As a result, the AD conversion circuit 11 to which the integrated output voltage Va is applied as a divided output voltage via the variable resistor 10 outputs signals Sa and Sb at low level L as shown in FIG. 3a. In response, the output signals Sc and Sd of the decoder 12 both become high level H, and the solenoid valves 5 and 6 are energized and opened via the drive circuits 13 and 14, so that the outflow pipe 4 After that, the amount of water supplied into the washing tub becomes larger than the initial amount and reaches approximately the set value. Note that this set amount is adjusted and set by the voltage division ratio of the variable resistor 10.

Also, if the water pressure is appropriate and the amount of water supplied is appropriate,
The generation interval of the detection pulse Pa of the flowmeter 7 is shorter than when the water pressure is low as described above, and the generation period of the output pulse Pb of the one-shot multivibrator 8 is equal to the generation period ta as shown in tb in Fig. 3b. Therefore, the integrated output voltage V of the integrating circuit 9
is the integrated output voltage as Vb shown in Figure 3b.
Higher than Va. As a result, the AD conversion circuit 11 to which this integrated output voltage Vb is given as a divided output voltage via the variable resistor 10 is configured as shown in FIG.
As shown in , the output signal Sa becomes high level H and the output signal Sb becomes low level L, and accordingly, the output signal Sc of the decoder 12 becomes low level L and the output signal Sd becomes high level H. The second electromagnetic valve 6 is energized and continues to be opened, so that the amount of water supplied into the washing tub remains at the original proper amount, approximately the set amount.

Furthermore, if the water pressure is high and the amount of water supplied is large,
The generation interval of the detection pulses Pa of the flowmeter 7 is shorter than when the above-mentioned water pressure is appropriate, and the generation period of the output pulse Pb of the one-shot multivibrator 8 is as shown in tc shown in Fig. 3c. tb
Therefore, the integrated output voltage V of the integrating circuit 9 becomes higher than the integrated output voltage Vb as shown in FIG. 3c. As a result, the AD conversion circuit 11, to which this integrated output voltage Vc is given as a divided output voltage via the variable resistor 10, outputs the output signal Sa at a low level L and output signal Sb at a high level, as shown in FIG. 3c. It became level H,
In response, the output signal Sc of the decoder 12 becomes high level H and the output signal Sd becomes low level L, the first solenoid valve 5 is energized and opened, and the second solenoid valve 6 is closed. Therefore, the amount of water supplied into the washing tub becomes smaller than the initial amount and becomes approximately the set amount.

Incidentally, the above-mentioned rinsing process is performed for a certain period of time set by a timer.

According to this embodiment, the flow rate of the outflow pipe 4, that is, the amount of water supplied to the washing tub is detected by the flow meter 7, and one or two of the solenoid valves 5 and 6 are selectively activated in accordance with the detected flow rate. Since I made it open to operate,
Even if the water pressure fluctuates, the amount of water supplied to the washing tub can always be controlled to approximately the set amount. Therefore, even if the rinsing process due to overflow rinsing is time-controlled by a timer, water will not be supplied due to excess or insufficient amount of water supplied. It is possible to eliminate waste and poor rinsing effect. Further, according to this embodiment, both the solenoid valves 5 and 6 are opened and operated independently of the flow meter 7 when water is supplied during the detergent washing process, so there is an advantage that water can be supplied in a short time even when the water pressure is low. There is. Furthermore, according to this embodiment, since the variable resistor 10 is interposed between the integrating circuit 9 and the AD conversion circuit 11, the water supply amount can be set by adjusting the dividing voltage ratio of the variable resistor 10. can be performed as desired.

In the above embodiment, the case where the rinsing process is time-controlled by a timer has been described, but for example, the rinsing process can be controlled according to the rinsing degree by detecting the turbidity of water in the washing tub with a rinsing degree detection device serving as a control device. It may be controlled, and in this case, problems such as a long rinsing time even when the water pressure is low will be eliminated.

In addition, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings, but can be applied not only to water supply devices for washing machines, but also to any water supply device in which it is necessary to control the amount of water supplied to approximately a set amount. It goes without saying that the present invention may be modified and implemented as appropriate without departing from the scope of the invention.

As explained above, in the present invention, a solenoid valve is interposed in each of the two water channels that separate water from a water source such as tap water and then supply it to a water tank, detect the amount of water supplied to the water tank, and then A flowmeter that generates a detection pulse is provided, a one-shot multivibrator is provided that generates an output pulse of a fixed width each time a detection pulse is given from the flowmeter, and an integration circuit is provided that integrates the output pulse from the one-shot multivibrator. and a flow rate setting means for dividing the integral output of the integrating circuit, and when the partial pressure output of the flow rate setting means is higher than a predetermined reference voltage, one of the two electromagnetic valves is activated. When the partial pressure output is lower than the reference voltage, both of the two electromagnetic valves are operated to adjust the amount of water supplied to the water tank to an approximately set amount set by the partial pressure ratio of the flow rate setting means. Since the configuration includes a control circuit for controlling the amount of water, a practical effect is achieved in that the amount of water supplied to the aquarium can be controlled to approximately the set amount.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention, with FIG. 1 being a schematic longitudinal sectional view, FIG. 2 being a block diagram showing the electrical configuration, and FIG. 3 being an explanatory diagram of the operation. In the drawing, 1 and 2 are water supply pipes (waterways), 5 and 6
1 is a solenoid valve, 7 is a flow meter, 8 is a one-shot multivibrator, 9 is an integrating circuit, 10 is a variable resistor (flow rate setting means), and 15 is a control circuit.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] Two electromagnetic valves are interposed in two water channels that separate water from a water source such as tap water and then supply it to the aquarium, and a flow rate that detects the amount of water supplied to the aquarium and generates a detection pulse every fixed amount of water. a one-shot multivibrator that generates an output pulse of a constant width each time a detection pulse is given from this flowmeter, an integrating circuit that integrates the output pulse from this one-shot multivibrator, and an integral output of this integrating circuit. a flow rate setting means for dividing the pressure of If lower, the above 2
a control circuit that controls the amount of water supplied to the water tank to approximately a set amount set by the partial pressure ratio of the flow rate setting means by operating two solenoid valves.