Embodiments of the disclosure provide a cleaner for cleaning a surface to be cleaned, by spraying water to the surface, and a mop brush head used therein.
A cleaner is a device that performs cleaning, and there are various types of cleaners such as a vacuum cleaner that performs cleaning using suction power, a mop cleaner that performs cleaning using water, and a cleaner that uses suction power and water simultaneously or selectively.
A cleaner that selectively uses suction power and water may be used by changing a brush head configured to contact the surface to be cleaned, depending on the cleaning purpose. For example, a suction brush head may be mounted on the cleaner to use suction power, or a mop brush head may be mounted on the cleaner to use water.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a cleaner may include a mop brush head, and the mop brush head may include a head body, a mop attachable to the mop brush head so as to be disposed below the head body to contact a surface to be cleaned, and being detachable from the mop brush head, a sprayer configured to spray water toward the surface to be cleaned, a water tank in the head body and configured to store water, a hot water tank having an inlet through which water stored in the water tank flows into the hot water tank, an outlet through which water in the hot water tank flows to the sprayer, and a channel structure having a plurality of channels inside the hot water tank so that water in the hot water tank moves along a preset path through the plurality of channels from the inlet to the outlet, and a heater configured to heat the water in the hot water tank.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the hot water tank, the channel structure, and the heater may be configured so that water in the hot water tank is heated by the heater as the water moves along the preset path through the plurality of channels of the channel structure, and a temperature difference in the water sprayed by the sprayer is within 10% of a maximum temperature of the sprayed water.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the plurality of channels may be parallel with each other, and adjacent channels of the plurality of channels may be connected to each other.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a width of each channel of the plurality of channels may be smaller than a width of the hot water tank.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the channel structure may include a channel wall extending in a vertical direction, and a lower end of the channel wall may be spaced apart from the heater.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, an upper surface of the channel structure may have a varying height in order to induce gas movement inside the hot water tank.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, heights of upper surfaces of the plurality of channels respectively may increase along at least a portion a flow path through which water moves in the hot water tank from the inlet to the outlet.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the mop brush head may further include a lower case supporting the heater, an upper case coupled to the lower case, with the heater and the hot water tank therebetween, and a gasket between the lower case and the upper case to provide a seal between the lower case and the upper case.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the heater may have a flat upper surface.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the mop brush head may further include at least one of a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of water in the hot water tank, a water level sensor configured to measure a level of water in the hot water tank, and a power cutoff portion configured to selectively adjust power supplied to the heater according to temperature of the heater.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the cleaner may further include a main body, a battery in the main body, an extension tube configured to connect the main body and the mop brush head to each other, and a wire having at least a portion disposed in the extension tube and configured to transmit power of the battery to the mop brush head to power the heater.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the extension tube may have a length-adjustable structure, and the wire may have an allowable current of 5 A (ampere) or less.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the cleaner may further include a pump configured to provide pressure to move water from the water tank to the sprayer, wherein the cleaner may be configured to operate the pump and the heater at different times.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the mop brush head may further include a filter structure inside the hot water tank and configured to block foreign substances generated during heating of water in the hot water tank from moving to the outlet.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a mop brush head is for use with a cleaner, and the mop brush head may include a head body, a mop attachable to the mop brush head so as to be disposed below the head body to contact a surface to be cleaned, and being detachable from the mop brush head, a sprayer configured to spray water toward the surface to be cleaned, a water tank in the head body and configured to store water, a hot water tank having an inlet through which water stored in the water tank flows into the hot water tank, an outlet through which water in the hot water tank flows to the sprayer, and a channel structure having a plurality of channels inside the hot water tank so that water in the hot water tank moves along a preset path through the plurality of channels from the inlet to the outlet, and a heater configured to heat the water in the hot water tank.
Hereinafter, embodiments according to the disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the contents depicted in the attached drawings. The same reference numbers or symbols shown in each drawing indicate parts or components that perform substantially the same function.
Terms containing ordinal numbers, such as “first,” “second,” etc., may be used to describe various components, but the components are not limited by the terms. Terms are used only to distinguish one component from another. For example, a first component may be named a second component, and similarly, the second component may also be named a first component without departing from the scope of the disclosure. The term “and/or” includes a combination of a plurality of related items or any one item among a plurality of related items.
The terms used in this application are used to describe embodiments and are not intended to limit and/or limit the disclosure. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In this application, terms such as “comprise” or “have” are intended to designate the presence of features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, but are not intended to indicate the presence of one or more other features. It should be understood that this does not exclude in advance the possibility of the existence or addition of elements, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof. The same reference numerals in each drawing indicate members that perform substantially the same function.
Terminology such as “at least one of A and B”, as used herein, includes any of the following: A, B, A and B. Similarly, terminology such as “at least one of A, B, and C”, as used herein, includes any of the following: A, B, C, A and B, A and C, B and C, A and B and C.
Referring to
The main body 20 may include a motor (not shown) that generates suction power and a dust collector 30 that accommodates foreign substances sucked in by the suction brush head 10.
The dust collector 30 may use a cyclone method, but this is only an example, and the type of method applied to the dust collector 30 is not limited. The dust collector 30 is provided in the form of a container in which centrifuged foreign substances are accommodated. The dust collector 30 may be detachably coupled to the main body 20.
The main body 20 may include a discharge portion 21 that discharges air sucked into the main body 20 to the outside. The discharge portion 21 includes a plurality of holes provided on the outside of the main body 20. The dust collector 30 is coupled to a lower portion of the discharge portion 21. When air is sucked into the main body 20 through a suction nozzle 50, dust contained in the air is collected and stored in the dust collector 30, and dust-filtered air is discharged out of the main body 20 through the discharge portion 21.
The suction brush head 10 may be provided to suck in foreign substances from the surface to be cleaned, for example, the floor, together with air, by using suction power. While moving in contact with the surface to be cleaned, the suction brush head 10 is provided to suck in various foreign substances such as dust, fine dust, and hair present on the surface to be cleaned. The suction brush head 10 may include a brush and a motor for rotating the brush.
The extension tube 40 transmits suction power generated by the main body 20 and transfers foreign substances sucked in from the suction brush head 10 to the main body 20.
Referring to
A wire 43 for electrical connection between the main body 20 and the suction brush head 10 may be arranged in the extension tube 40. The wire 43 may be used for electrical connection between the mop brush head 100 and the main body 20, which will be described later.
The wire 43 may be arranged such that it is not exposed to the outside of the extension tube 40. For example, a portion 431 of the wire 43 may be arranged inside a first receiving portion 411 of the first pipe 41, and another portion 432 of the wire 43 may be disposed inside a second receiving portion 421 of the second pipe 42.
In consideration of adjusting the length of the extension tube 40, the length of the other portion 432 of the wire 43 disposed in the second receiving portion 421 may be longer than the length of the second pipe 42. The wire 43 disposed in the second receiving portion 421 may be bent. For example, the other portion 432 of the wire 43 disposed in the second receiving portion 421 may be bent into a coil shape.
Considering the appearance of the product, the size of the second receiving portion 421 may be limited. Accordingly, in order for the wire 43 disposed in the second receiving portion 421 of a limited size to be bent, the size, diameter, or allowable current of the wire 43 may be limited. For example, the standard of the wire 43 may be AWG 19 or larger. For example, the diameter of the wire 43 may be 1 mm or less. For example, the allowable current of the wire 43 may be 5 A (ampere) or less.
Regarding the extension tube 40 according to the embodiment of the disclosure described above, the extension tube 40 having a length-adjustable structure is illustrated, but is not necessarily limited thereto. For example, the extension tube 40 may have a structure with a fixed length. For example, the extension tube 40 may be composed of a pipe of a fixed length and the wire 43 disposed inside the pipe. Here, because the wire 43 disposed in the extension tube 40 does not need to be bent, the wire 43 may be freely selected.
The main body 20 includes the suction nozzle 50 to which the extension tube 40 is connected. The suction nozzle 50 has a suction port formed therethrough so that the extension tube 40 may be inserted, and the air sucked in from the extension tube 40 is delivered to the inside of the main body 20 through this suction port. The suction nozzle 50 is formed by inserting and connecting the extension tube 40 in a longitudinal direction of the extension tube 40. The suction nozzle 50 includes a nozzle connector 60 to which the extension tube 40 may be detachably connected.
The main body 20 includes a handle 70 that may be held by a user. The user may hold the handle 70 and move the main body 20 and the suction brush head 10.
The main body 20 may include a battery 80 that supplies power to the cleaner 1. The cleaner 1 including the battery 80 may be used wirelessly without a wired connection. That is, the cleaner 1 may be a wireless cleaner.
Referring to
The suction brush head 10 may be replaceably coupled to a front end of the extension tube 40, for example, to a front end of the second pipe 42. In an embodiment of the disclosure, the suction brush head 10 may be separated from the front end of the extension tube 40, and the mop brush head 100, which will be described later, may be installed instead.
Referring back to
Referring to
The mop brush head 100 may include a head body 110, at least one mop 123 disposed to be in contact with the surface to be cleaned, under the head body 110, a sprayer 140 disposed in front of the head body 110, a water tank 150 configured to store water, and a pump 160 disposed between the sprayer 140 and the water tank 150 and providing pressure so that the sprayer 140 sprays water.
The head body 110 may include a brush body 120 and a brush connection portion 130 provided to be mounted at the front end of the extension tube 40. The brush connection portion 130 may be connected to the brush body 120 such that its angle is adjustable.
The brush body 120 may include a pair of rotating disks 121 provided on lower surfaces of both left and right sides thereof. The rotating disks 121 may include a mop attachment portion 122 for detachably attaching the mop 123 to a lower surface thereof facing the floor. Depending on the material of the mop 123, the mop attachment portion 122 may be implemented in various structures such as an adhesive pad or Velcro.
The mop 123 may include various fiber or plastic materials designed for cleaning. While being in contact with the surface to be cleaned, the mop 123 is rotated by the rotating disk 121, thereby performing cleaning by the mop 123 in the process. In the embodiment of the disclosure, a structure in which the mop 123 is rotated is illustrated, but the structure is not necessarily limited thereto. For example, although not shown, the mop 123 may be fixed to the brush body 120 without being rotated.
The brush body 120 may include a base frame 125 that supports the rotating disk 121 and an upper cover 126 that is detachably coupled to the base frame 125. The base frame 125 rotatably supports the rotating disk 121, and the heating module 200 to be described later may be installed on the base frame 125. The upper cover 126 has a function of covering components installed on the base frame 125, such as the heating module 200, so that the components are not exposed, and may form the upper exterior of the mop brush head 100. An edge frame 127 may be disposed between the base frame 125 and the upper cover 126, and a controller 273 may be supported on the edge frame 127. The shape and structure of the brush body 120 are an example and may be modified in various manners as needed.
The water tank 150 may be arranged in the head body 110. For example, the water tank 150 may be detachably coupled to the brush connection portion 130 of the head body 110. Water stored in the water tank 150 may be greater than a water spray amount sprayed once by the sprayer 140 (hereinafter referred to as ‘water spray amount’). For example, a storage capacity of water that may be stored in the water tank 150 may be 30 times or more the water spray amount. For example, the storage capacity of the water tank 150 may be 50 times or more the water spray amount. However, considering the size of the mop brush head 100, the storage capacity of the water tank 150 may be 100 times or less the water spray amount.
The sprayer 140 may be disposed in front of the brush body 120. The sprayer 140 may be arranged in front of the mop 123. The sprayer 140 may spray water directly to the surface to be cleaned. The sprayer 140 may spray water ahead of a movement path of the mop 123. The pump 160 that provides pressure to move water from the water tank 150 to the sprayer 140 may be disposed in the brush body 120.
A water supply pipe that provides at least a portion of a movement path of water from the water tank 150 to the sprayer 140 may be disposed in the brush body 120. The water supply pipe may include a first water supply pipe 171 connected between the water tank 150 and the pump 160, and a second water supply pipe 172 connected between the pump 160 and the sprayer 140.
The mop brush head 100 according to the embodiment of the disclosure may further include the heating module 200 that heats water supplied from the water tank 150. The heating module 200 may be disposed between the pump 160 and the sprayer 140 in the brush body 120. The heating module 200 is disposed between the water tank 150 and the sprayer 140 and may be configured to heat water supplied from the water tank 150. The heating module 200 may be configured to heat water before the water is sprayed by the sprayer 140.
As the mop brush head 100 includes the heating module 200, high-temperature water may be sprayed from the sprayer 140 onto the surface to be cleaned. High-temperature water sprayed on the surface to be cleaned may quickly soak foreign substances on the surface to be cleaned, and the soaked foreign substances may be easily removed using the mop 123.
The heating module 200 may be arranged close to the sprayer 140. For example, the heating module 200 may be disposed close to the sprayer 140 between the water tank 150 and the sprayer 140. The heating module 200 may be disposed between the pump 160 and the sprayer 140. The second water supply pipe 172 may include a third water supply pipe 173 connecting the pump 160 and the heating module 200 to each other, and a fourth water supply pipe 174 connecting the heating module 200 and the sprayer 140 to each other.
Referring to
The module case 210 may include a lower case 230, an upper case 220 coupled to the lower case 230, and a gasket 240 disposed between the lower case 230 and the upper case 220. The upper case 220 may be coupled to the lower case 230 with the heater 250 therebetween.
The heater 250 may be disposed in the lower case 230. The heater 250 may be fixed to the lower case 230 by using fixing members 2341 and 2342. As examples of the fixing members 2341 and 2342, bolts and nuts are described as examples, but are not limited thereto, and the structure for fixing the heater 250 to the lower case 230 may be modified in various manners.
In the lower case 230, a power connection portion 231 for supplying current to the heater 250 and a power cutoff portion 232, which will be described later, may be provided below the heater 250. The power connection portion 231 may be connected to the controller 273 (see
The heater 250 may form the bottom surface of the hot water tank 201. The hot water tank 201 may be defined by an upper surface of the heater 250, an inner surface of the gasket 240, and an inner peripheral surface of the upper case 220. However, the structure for forming the hot water tank 201 is not limited thereto, and may be modified in various manners as long as the structure is to provide a space for heating certain water inside the module case 210.
The module case 210 may be provided with an inlet 202 for supplying water to the hot water tank 201 and an outlet 203 for discharging water from the hot water tank 201. For example, the inlet 202 and the outlet 203 may be provided at a higher position than the heater 250. For example, the inlet 202 and the outlet 203 may be provided in the upper case 220. However, the arrangement of the inlet 202 and the outlet 203 is not limited thereto, and may be modified in various manners as long as the arrangement is for supplying and discharging water to the hot water tank 201. An end of the third water supply pipe 173 may be connected to the inlet 202, and an end of the fourth water supply pipe 174 may be connected to the outlet 203.
The hot water tank 201 stores water supplied from the water tank 150, and the water stored in the hot water tank 201 may be heated by the heater 250. A storage capacity of the hot water tank 201 may be designed to be smaller than that of the water tank 150 in consideration of the power usage of the heater 250. For example, the storage capacity of the hot water tank 201 may be 1/30 times or less the storage capacity of the water tank 150. For example, the storage capacity of the hot water tank 201 may be 1/50 times or less the storage capacity of the water tank 150.
The storage capacity of the hot water tank 201 may be equal to or greater than the spray amount of the sprayer 140. For example, the storage capacity of the hot water tank 201 may be twice or more the spray amount of the sprayer 140.
The heater 250 may be arranged below the hot water tank 201. The heater 250 may have a flat plate shape. For example, the heater 250 may have a flat upper surface. The heater 250 may have a relatively small thickness. For example, the thickness of the heater 250 may be 2 mm or less. For example, the thickness of the heater 250 may be 1.5 mm or less. For example, the thickness of the heater 250 may be about 0.5 mm to about 1.5 mm.
The heater 250 may include a heat source 251 and a conductive plate 252.
The heat source 251 may be in the form of a metal wire. The heat source 251 may include a metal material and may have a certain pattern. However, the heat source 251 is not limited thereto. For example, the heat source 251 may be a carbon nanotube film. The thickness of the heat source 251 may be 0.5 mm or less. The thickness of the heat source 251 may be smaller than the thickness of the conductive plate 252. The thickness of the heat source 251 may be equal to or less than ½ the thickness of the conductive plate 252.
The conductive plate 252 may perform a function of transferring heat generated from the heat source 251, to the hot water tank 201. The conductive plate 252 may block contact between water in the hot water tank 201 and the heat source 251. The conductive plate 252 may be disposed between the heat source 251 and the hot water tank 201.
The conductive plate 252 may have a flat upper surface. Because the conductive plate 252 is exposed to water, the conductive plate 252 may include a material that does not rust. For example, the conductive plate 252 may include stainless steel. The thickness of the conductive plate 252 may be 2 mm or less. The thickness of the conductive plate 252 may be about 0.5 mm to about 1.5 mm.
The heater 250 may be installed in the module case 210 such that the upper surface of the conductive plate 252 forms the bottom surface of the hot water tank 201.
The maximum temperature of the heater 250 may be 200° C. or less. The normal operating temperature of the heater 250 may be 120° C. or less. The normal operating temperature of the heater 250 may be 100° C. or less. However, when the heater 250 operates abnormally and overheats, the temperature of the heater 250 may rise to 200° C.
The water stored in the hot water tank 201 may be heated by the heater 250. The temperature of the water stored in the hot water tank 201 may be high. For example, the temperature of water stored in the hot water tank 201 may be higher than room temperature. For example, the temperature of water stored in the hot water tank 201 may be 40° C. or higher. For example, the temperature of water stored in the hot water tank 201 may be 50° C. or higher.
The temperature of the water stored in the hot water tank 201 may be equal to or lower than a certain temperature to prevent damage to the surface to be cleaned or burns to the human body due to the water sprayed by the sprayer 140. For example, the temperature of water stored in the hot water tank 201 may be 60° C. or lower. For example, the temperature of water stored in the hot water tank 201 may be about 50° C. to about 60° C.
The current used by the heater 250 may be determined by considering the allowable current of the wire 43. The current used by the heater 250 may be equal to or less than 70% of the allowable current of the wire 43. For example, when the allowable current of the wire 43 is 4.5 A, the current used by the heater 250 may be 3.0 A or less.
The heating module 200 may include a component to prevent overheating of the heater 250. For example, the heating module 200 may include at least one of a temperature sensor 271, a water level sensor 272, and the power cutoff portion 232.
For example, the heating module 200 may include the temperature sensor 271 that detects the internal temperature of the hot water tank 201. The temperature sensor 271 may detect the temperature of water stored in the hot water tank 201. The temperature sensor 271 may be provided at a higher position than the heater 250. The temperature sensor 271 may be provided in the upper case 220. However, the arrangement of the temperature sensor 271 is not limited thereto and may be provided in various locations.
The heating module 200 may further include the water level sensor 272 for detecting the water level of the hot water tank 201. The water level sensor 272 may be provided at a higher position than the heater 250. The water level sensor 272 may be provided in the upper case 220. However, the arrangement of the water level sensor 272 is not limited thereto, and may be provided in various locations.
The controller 273 (see
The controller 273 may control the operation of the heater 250 based on the water level of the hot water tank 201 detected by the water level sensor 272. For example, when the water level sensor 272 determines that the hot water tank 201 is not filled with water, the controller 273 may not operate the heater 250. Accordingly, overheating of the heater 250, which may occur when the heater 250 is operated while the hot water tank 201 is not filled with water, may be prevented.
The heating module 200 may further include the power cutoff portion 232 to prevent overheating of the heater 250. The power cutoff portion 232 may cut off power supplied to the heater 250 when the temperature of the heater 250 rises above a predetermined temperature. For example, the power cutoff portion 232 may include a bimetal having a shape that changes depending on the temperature of the heater 250. The shape of the bimetal of the power cutoff portion 232 may change according to the temperature of the heater 250, and thus, the power cutoff portion 232 may physically block power transmitted to the heater 250.
In the embodiment of the disclosure described above, the heating module 200 has been described as including all of the temperature sensor 271, the water level sensor 272, and the power cutoff portion 232, but is not limited thereto. For example, in the heating module 200, some of the temperature sensor 271, the water level sensor 272, and the power cutoff portion 232 may be omitted, when necessary.
As described above, the water stored in the hot water tank 201 of the heating module 200 is heated by the heater 250. As the pump 160 operates in this state, heated water may be sprayed by the sprayer 140 via the outlet 203 and the fourth water supply pipe 174.
However, in the process in which the water in the hot water tank 201 is sprayed by the sprayer 140, as the pump 160 is operated, a portion of heated water (hereinafter referred to as ‘high-temperature water HW’) flows out from the hot water tank 201 through the outlet 203, and at the same time, unheated water (hereinafter referred to as ‘low-temperature water LW’) flows through the inlet 202 in an equal amount to the amount of the water flowed out through the outlet 203. In this process, newly introduced low-temperature water LW is mixed with high-temperature water HW, and the temperature of the water stored in the hot water tank 201 may drop. Accordingly, in the process where the high-temperature water HW is sprayed from the sprayer 140, the temperature of the water sprayed at the end of the spraying process may be lower than the temperature of the water sprayed at the beginning of the spraying process. For example, in the process of spraying water once by the sprayer 140, the temperature difference in the water may be 10° C. or more.
In the mop brush head 100 according to the embodiment of the disclosure, in order to reduce the temperature difference in the sprayed water, the heating module 200 may include a channel structure 260 that guides a movement path of water inside the hot water tank 201.
Referring to
For example, the channel structure 260 may include a plurality of channels CH arranged in parallel with each other. Each of the plurality of channels CH may extend in a first direction and may be arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. For example, the plurality of channels CH may extend in a width direction of the hot water tank 201 and may be arranged in the longitudinal direction of the hot water tank 201. A width W1 of each of the plurality of channels CH may be smaller than a width W0 of the hot water tank 201.
A channel CH may be connected to an adjacent channel CH thereto. Adjacent channels CH may be connected to each other to allow water to move in a certain direction. An end of the channel CH may be connected to an adjacent channel CH. In other words, the channel structure 260 may have channels CH that meander from the inlet 202 toward the outlet 203.
The channel structure 260 may be provided in the upper case 220. The channel structure 260 may have a shape that protrudes from the inner surface of the upper case 220.
The channel structure 260 may include at least one channel wall 261 forming the channel CH through which water flowing in through the inlet 202 moves toward the outlet 203. The channel wall 261 may extend in a vertical direction. The channel wall 261 may extend toward the heater 250. The channel wall 261 may extend from an upper portion of the inner surface of the upper case 220 toward a lower portion thereof.
There may be a plurality of channel walls 261. The plurality of channel walls 261 may be arranged in parallel in the longitudinal direction of the hot water tank 201. As another example, the plurality of channel walls 261 may be arranged in parallel in a width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the hot water tank 201. The plurality of channel walls 261 may be arranged in a staggered pattern with respect to each other. However, the number of channel walls 261 is not limited to a plurality, and there may be a single channel wall 261.
The process in which water flows into the hot water tank 201 and is heated and the process in which water flows out of the hot water tank 201 in the heating module 200 having the channel structure 260 as described above will be described.
Referring back to
Referring to
In this state, as the pump 160 operates, the high-temperature water HW filled in the hot water tank 201 is discharged through the outlet 203, as illustrated in
As described above, as the channel structure 260 is formed in the heating module 200, the temperature of the water sprayed by the sprayer 140 may be kept constant at a high temperature. For example, the temperature difference of the water sprayed by the sprayer 140 may be within 10% of the maximum temperature. For example, in the process of one-time spraying by the sprayer 140, when the initial temperature is 60° C., the latter temperature may be 55° C. When the initial temperature is the maximum temperature of 60° C., the temperature deviation is 5° C., which may be within 10% of 60° C.
Referring to
For example, the filter structure 221 may have a structure surrounding the outlet 203. For example, the filter structure 221 may include a plurality of ribs 2210 arranged at certain intervals. The plurality of ribs 2210 may be spaced apart from each other along a circumferential direction. However, the shape of the filter structure 221 is not limited thereto, and may be modified in various manners depending on the location of the outlet 203, the flow of fluid, etc. For example, as illustrated in
Referring to
A gap G between the channel structure 260 and the heater 250 may be relatively small. For example, the gap G between the channel structure 260 and the heater 250 may be about 0.5 mm to about 1 mm. By reducing the gap G between the channel structure 260 and the heater 250, the movement of water between the channel structure 260 and the heater 250 may be reduced. Accordingly, most of the water in the hot water tank 201 may move along the longitudinal direction of the channel CH.
Meanwhile, air bubbles may exist in the hot water tank 201. For example, as water flows into the hot water tank 201, bubbles may be introduced, or as the water is heated, gas contained in the water may rise and form bubbles. Air bubbles may be located in an upper portion of the hot water tank 201. When these bubbles are around the temperature sensor 271, they may cause measurement errors in the temperature sensor 271. In addition, when these bubbles intermittently move to the outlet 203, water may not be continuously sprayed from the sprayer 140, which may deteriorate spray quality.
In the heating module 200 according to the embodiment of the disclosure, the height of at least a portion of an upper surface 2601 of the channel structure 260 may vary in order to induce gas movement inside the hot water tank 201. For example, the upper surface 2601 of the channel structure 260 may increase in height along the flow path through which water moves. For example, the upper surface 2601 of the channel structure 260 may have a certain inclination θ with respect to a horizontal direction. For example, the upper surface 2601 of the channel structure 260 may be inclined toward the outlet 203. For example, the upper surface 2601 of the channel structure 260 may increase in height toward the outlet 203. In other words, the height of upper surfaces of the plurality of channels CH may increase along the flow path through which water moves. The upper surface 2601 of the channel structure 260 may be entirely inclined toward the outlet 203, but is not limited thereto, and may be partially inclined toward the outlet 203.
Through the structure of the upper surface 2601 of the channel structure 260, air bubbles in the hot water tank 201 may be induced to move toward the outlet 203, and the air bubbles moved toward the outlet 203 may be induced to be collected around the outlet 203. As described above, by controlling the direction of movement of the air bubbles, the air bubbles may be prevented from unintentionally being located around the temperature sensor 271, and accordingly, measurement errors in the temperature sensor 271 due to the air bubbles may be reduced. Additionally, when air bubbles gather around the outlet 203, the sprayer 140 may discharge the air bubbles at once, thereby reducing the phenomenon of intermittent spraying of air bubbles from the sprayer 140.
Referring to
The wire 43 disposed within the extension tube 40 may have a diameter of a certain size or less such that the wire 43 may be bent, in consideration of adjusting the length of the extension tube 40. Depending on the diameter of the wire 43, the current or power that may flow through the wire 43 may vary. For example, the wire 43 according to the embodiment of the disclosure may have an allowable current of 4.5 A or less.
The current or power consumption of the heating module 200 of the mop brush head 100 may be less than or equal to a certain amount. For example, the current used by the mop brush head 100 according to the embodiment of the disclosure may be 4.5 A or less.
The current used by the mop brush head 100 may include at least one of a current for rotating the mop 123, a current for operating the heater 250, and a current for operating the pump 160. For example, the sum of the current for rotating the mop 123, the current for operating the heater 250, and the current for operating the pump 160 may be greater than the current used by the mop brush head 100. For example, when the current for rotating the mop 123 is 1.5 A or less, the current for operating the heater 250 is 3 A or less, and the current for operating the pump 160 is 0.5 A or less, the maximum value of the sum of the currents may be 5 A. In order to make the current used by the mop brush head 100 smaller than the allowable current of the electric wire 43, the heater 250 and the pump 160 may be operated at different times. In other words, the heater 250 and pump 160 may be operated sequentially.
For example, the controller 273 first operates the heater 250 to heat the water in the hot water tank 201. Then, the controller 273 may stop the operation of the heater 250 and operate the pump 160 to spray heated high-temperature water. When water is sprayed, heated high-temperature water is discharged from the hot water tank 201, and unheated low-temperature water is introduced. Even when low-temperature water flows into the hot water tank 201, the temperature of the water in the hot water tank 201 may be prevented from rapidly decreasing because the width of the channel CH is narrow. Accordingly, the water sprayed by the sprayer 140 may have little temperature difference between the beginning and the end of spraying.
In regard to the heating module 200 according to the above-described embodiment of the disclosure, an example in which the channel CH of the channel structure 260 extends in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the hot water tank 201 and the plurality of channels CH are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the hot water tank 201 is described. However, the shape of the channel structure 260 is not limited thereto and may be modified in various manners.
Referring to
The channel structure 260A may include a plurality of channels CH extending in the longitudinal direction of the hot water tank 201, and the plurality of channels CH may be arranged in the width direction of the hot water tank 201. The plurality of channels CH may be connected to each other so that water flowing in through the inlet 202 moves toward the outlet 203.
Referring to
The shape of the upper surface 2601A of the channel structure 260A is not limited thereto and may vary according to the arrangement of the outlet 203 and the inlet 202. Referring to
In the above-described embodiment of the disclosure, a structure in which the cleaner 1 is used by selectively mounting the suction brush head 10 or the mop brush head 100 is illustrated. However, the cleaner according to the embodiment of the disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the cleaner 1 according to the embodiment of the disclosure may be a mop cleaner from which the mop brush head 100 is not detachable. For example, the cleaner 1 according to the embodiment of the disclosure may include the mop brush head 100, and the main body 20 may be in a form that does not provide suction power.
For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the disclosure, reference has been made to the preferred embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language has been used to describe these embodiments. However, no limitation of the scope of the disclosure is intended by this specific language, and the disclosure should be construed to encompass all embodiments that would normally occur to one of ordinary skill in the art.
The particular implementations shown and described herein are illustrative examples of the disclosure and are not intended to otherwise limit the scope of the disclosure in any way. For the sake of brevity, conventional electronics, control systems, software development and other functional aspects of the systems may not be described in detail. Furthermore, the connecting lines, or connectors shown in the various figures presented are intended to represent exemplary functional relationships and/or physical or logical couplings between the various elements. It should be noted that many alternative or additional functional relationships, physical connections or logical connections may be present in a practical device. Moreover, no item or component is essential to the practice of the disclosure unless the element is specifically described as “essential” or “critical”. Expressions such as “comprising,” “including,” etc. used herein are used to be understood as terms of the open end of the technology.
The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the disclosure (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural. Furthermore, recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. Finally, the steps of all methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The disclosure is not necessarily limited by the order of description of the above steps. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the disclosure and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the disclosure unless otherwise claimed. Also, numerous modifications and adaptations will be readily apparent to those skilled in this art without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a cleaner and a mop brush head that can quickly clean a surface to be cleaned, by spraying high-temperature water on the surface to be cleaned may be provided.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a cleaner and a mop brush head that can quickly clean a surface to be cleaned, by spraying high-temperature water with a small temperature difference may be provided.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a cleaner and a mop brush head, which are supplied with power from a battery and can quickly clean a surface to be cleaned, with water may be provided.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a cleaner may include a mop brush head, and the mop brush head may include a head body, a mop attachable to the mop brush head so as to be disposed below the head body to contact a surface to be cleaned, and being detachable from the mop brush head, a sprayer configured to spray water toward the surface to be cleaned, a water tank in the head body and configured to store water, a hot water tank having an inlet through which water stored in the water tank flows into the hot water tank, an outlet through which water in the hot water tank flows to the sprayer, and a channel structure having a plurality of channels inside the hot water tank so that water in the hot water tank moves along a preset path through the plurality of channels from the inlet to the outlet, and a heater configured to heat the water in the hot water tank.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the hot water tank, the channel structure, and the heater may be configured so that water in the hot water tank is heated by the heater as the water moves along the preset path through the plurality of channels of the channel structure, and a temperature difference in the water sprayed by the sprayer is within 10% of a maximum temperature of the sprayed water.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the plurality of channels may be parallel with each other, and adjacent channels of the plurality of channels may be connected to each other.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a width of each channel of the plurality of channels may be smaller than a width of the hot water tank.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the channel structure may include a channel wall extending in a vertical direction, and a lower end of the channel wall may be spaced apart from the heater.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, an upper surface of the channel structure may have a varying height in order to induce gas movement inside the hot water tank.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, heights of upper surfaces of the plurality of channels respectively may increase along at least a portion a flow path through which water moves in the hot water tank from the inlet to the outlet.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the mop brush head may further include a lower case supporting the heater, an upper case coupled to the lower case, with the heater and the hot water tank therebetween, and a gasket between the lower case and the upper case to provide a seal between the lower case and the upper case.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the heater may have a flat upper surface.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the mop brush head may further include at least one of a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of water in the hot water tank, a water level sensor configured to measure a level of water in the hot water tank, and a power cutoff portion configured to selectively adjust power supplied to the heater according to temperature of the heater.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the cleaner may further include a main body, a battery in the main body, an extension tube configured to connect the main body and the mop brush head to each other, and a wire having at least a portion disposed in the extension tube and configured to transmit power of the battery to the mop brush head to power the heater.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the extension tube may have a length-adjustable structure, and the wire may have an allowable current of 5 A (ampere) or less.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the cleaner may further include a pump configured to provide pressure to move water from the water tank to the sprayer, wherein the cleaner may be configured to operate the pump and the heater at different times.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the mop brush head may further include a filter structure inside the hot water tank and configured to block foreign substances generated during heating of water in the hot water tank from moving to the outlet.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a mop brush head is for use with a cleaner, and the mop brush head may include a head body, a mop attachable to the mop brush head so as to be disposed below the head body to contact a surface to be cleaned, and being detachable from the mop brush head, a sprayer configured to spray water toward the surface to be cleaned, a water tank in the head body and configured to store water, a hot water tank having an inlet through which water stored in the water tank flows into the hot water tank, an outlet through which water in the hot water tank flows to the sprayer, and a channel structure having a plurality of channels inside the hot water tank so that water in the hot water tank moves along a preset path through the plurality of channels from the inlet to the outlet, and a heater configured to heat the water in the hot water tank.
The cleaner and mop brush head according to the embodiment of the disclosure can quickly clean the surface to be cleaned by spraying high-temperature water on the surface.
The cleaner and mop brush head according to the embodiment of the disclosure can quickly clean the surface to be cleaned by spraying high-temperature water with a small temperature difference.
The cleaner and the mop brush head according to the embodiment of the disclosure are supplied with power from a battery and can quickly clean, with water, the surface to be cleaned.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10-2023-0039301 | Mar 2023 | KR | national |
10-2023-0049576 | Apr 2023 | KR | national |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | PCT/KR2024/001133 | Jan 2024 | WO |
Child | 18435163 | US |