Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6415618
-
Patent Number
6,415,618
-
Date Filed
Wednesday, June 27, 200123 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, July 9, 200222 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
- Birch, Stewart, Kolasch & Birch, LLP
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 062 188
- 062 291
- 062 285
- 062 288
- 141 198
- 141 199
- 340 625
- 073 317
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
Dehumidifier including a water tank under a cabinet for storage of condensate dropped from a heat exchanger, a vertical barrier in front of the water tank for separating a space, a fixing guide fitted to a fitting hole on a top surface of the water tank, a floater rotatably fitted to the fixing guide for being rotated by buoyancy, and detection means fitted to one side of the barrier for detection of full water tank as the floater rotates, thereby detecting a full water tank more, accurately.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for detecting a full dehumidifier water tank, and more particularly, to a device for detecting a full dehumidifier water tank, which can detect a full water tank, more accurately.
2. Background of the Related Art
In general, the dehumidifier removes moist from room air during the room air passes through an evaporator by means of refrigerating cycle before the room air is discharged to a room, for maintaining the room comfortable. A related art dehumidifier will be explained with reference to
FIGS. 1 and 2
.
FIG. 1
illustrates a disassembled perspective view of a related art dehumidifier, and
FIG. 2
illustrates an inner structure of a related art dehumidifier schematically, provided with a cabinet
1
, a heat exchanger
4
in the cabinet
1
having an evaporator
2
and a condenser
3
for removing moist, and a fan
5
next to the heat exchanger
4
for forced circulation of the room air. The cabinet has an air inlet fitted with a filter for removing foreign matters in drawn air, and an air outlet fitted with a front grill
7
for discharging air having the moist removed therefrom. There are a base plate
8
fitted under a bottom of the cabinet
1
, and a barrier
9
standing on the base plate
8
, and, on both sides of the barrier
9
, there are a water tank
11
for collecting water removed from the heat exchanger
4
, and a compressor
10
for circulating refrigerant through the evaporator
2
and the condenser
3
. There is a drain hole
12
under the heat exchanger
4
for collecting condensate formed during dehumidification and discharging to the water tank
11
. The water tank
11
has grooves
11
a
in both sides of outer surfaces thereof for rotation of a preset angel when the water tank is full, and the barrier
9
has projections
9
a for being caught at the grooves
11
a.
The room air is drawn into the foregoing related art dehumidifier through the air inlet as the compressor
10
and the fan
5
are put into operation, has moist therein removed as the room air passes through the heat exchanger
4
having the evaporator
2
and the condenser
3
, and discharged to the room through the front grill
7
fitted to the air outlet. The condensate from the evaporator
2
flows to and collected in the water tank
11
through the drain hole
12
. Thus, as a water level of the water tank
11
becomes the higher gradually, the water tank
11
rotates in a clockwise direction on the drawing centered at the projections
9
a
on the barrier
9
as the compression spring
17
is compressed by the condensate, until the water tank
11
is full when the water tank
11
pushes a lower end of a plate spring
13
fitted to the barrier
9
, which actuates a microswitch
15
, that facilitates to detect the water tank
11
full.
However, the related art device for detecting a full dehumidifier water tank has the following drawbacks.
The related art dehumidifier is required to have nothing in a path of rotation of the water tank
11
because the full water tank is detected when the water tank
11
rotates by weight of the collected condensate. That is, since a space is required enough to avoid interference when the water tank
11
rotates and tilts backward, there is a limitation with respect to space in the installation of the dehumidifier. Moreover, as the device for detecting a full dehumidifier water tank is fitted at a lower part of the water tank
11
, there is a problem of reliability of detection because the water tank might rotate owing to washing of the condensate even if the water tank is not full, which causes an erratic detection of a full water tank. In the meantime, even though the tension of the compression spring
17
and the plate spring
13
required to be set exactly for rotation of the water tank
11
in proportion to a water level, there is a limitation of an exact detection of the full water tank because the setting is not easy. Furthermore, resetting of tension of the plate spring
13
is not easy when it is required to change the water level to be detected.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a device for detecting a full dehumidifier water tank that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
An object of the present invention is to provide a device for detecting a full dehumidifier water tank, which permits easy detection of a full water tank, and easy setting change of the water tank level.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.
To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, the dehumidifier includes a water tank under a cabinet for storage of condensate dropped from a heat exchanger, a vertical barrier in front of the water tank for separating a space, a fixing guide fitted to a fitting hole on a top surface of the water tank, a floater rotatably fitted to the fixing guide for being rotated by buoyancy, and detection means fitted to one side of the barrier for detection of full the floater rotates.
The foregoing device for detecting a full dehumidifier water tank of the present invention can make a stable and accurate detection of a full water tank because the floater is operative in proportion to a buoyancy by a water level.
By adjusting a length of the floating part, an amount of full water tank can be changed with easy.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention:
In the drawings:
FIG. 1
illustrates a disassembled perspective view of a related art dehumidifier;
FIG. 2
illustrates a section of an inner structure of a related art dehumidifier schematically;
FIG. 3
illustrates a section of a dehumidifier having a device for detecting a full dehumidifier water tank in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4
illustrates a perspective view of a dehumidifier water tank having a device for detecting a full dehumidifier water tank in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention fitted thereto;
FIG. 5
illustrates a disassembled perspective view of the device for detecting a full dehumidifier water tank in
FIGS. 3 and 4
;
FIG. 6
illustrates an assembled perspective view of
FIG. 5
;
FIG. 7
illustrates a section of key parts for explaining operation of the device for detecting a full dehumidifier water tank in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 8
illustrates a section of a dehumidifier having a device for detecting a full dehumidifier water tank in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 9
illustrates a section of key parts for explaining operation of the device for detecting a full dehumidifier water tank in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention; and,
FIG. 10
illustrates a disassembled perspective view of a dehumidifier water tank having the device for detecting a full dehumidifier water tank in
FIG. 8
provided thereto.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. A first embodiment device for detecting a full dehumidifier water tank will be explained with reference to FIGS.
3
˜
7
.
FIG. 3
illustrates a section of a dehumidifier having a device for detecting a full dehumidifier water tank in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to
FIG. 3
, the dehumidifier having a device for detecting a full dehumidifier water tank in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a cabinet
51
having an air inlet and an air outlet in a front and a rear surfaces respectively, a barrier
59
fitted to a central portion of an inside space of the cabinet
51
for dividing the inside space of the cabinet
51
to provide various components therein, a fan
56
for mounting above the barrier
59
for forced suction of the room air, a heat exchanger
54
having a condenser
53
and an evaporator
52
mounted inside of the air inlet for removing moist from the room air drawn by the fan
56
, a compressor
55
mounted in front of the barrier
59
for compressing the refrigerant circulating the heat exchanger
54
to high temperature and pressure to form a refrigerating cycle, a drain pan
60
under the heat exchanger
54
for collecting condensate on the heat exchanger
54
and making the condensate to flow one side, a water tank
57
under the drain pan
60
in rear of the barrier
59
for temporary storage of the condensate from the drain pan
60
and discharge to outside of the dehumidifier, a floater in an upper part of the water tank
57
for being rotated centered on a hinge as the floater is buoyant, and a micro switch fitted to one side of the barrier
59
for providing a full tank signal in association with the floater when the floater is rotated as the water tank is full.
FIG. 4
illustrates a perspective view of a dehumidifier water tank having the device for detecting a full dehumidifier water tank in
FIG. 3
fitted thereto, and
FIG. 5
illustrates a disassembled perspective view of the device for detecting a full dehumidifier water tank in
FIGS. 3 and 4
.
Referring to
FIGS. 4 and 5
, the water tank
57
is substantially hexahedral, and has a recess
57
a
extended from a center of a top surface to one side surface thereof for reducing a space required for the water tank
57
, and preventing interference with other members and suffering from damage during operation of the floater, and a fitting hole
57
b
in the recess
57
a.
Though the recess
57
a
extended from a center of a top surface to one side surface of the water tank is formed for fitting the floater in the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, the recess
57
a
may not be formed. There is a displaying means (not shown) connected to the microswitch
80
which is provided for detecting a full water tank and converting it into an electrical signal for presenting the signal from the microswitch to outside of the dehumidifier tank for a user to know. There is a fixing guide
90
fitted in a fitting hole
57
b
in the top surface of the water tank
57
for fitting the floater
70
thereto. The floater
70
includes a floating part
71
in the water tank
57
for providing buoyancy, and lever part
75
extended from the floating part
71
to position outside of the water tank
57
and bent toward the microswitch
80
for rotating in association with rotation of the floating part
71
, to come into contact with the microswitch
80
. The lever part
75
is in a “∩” form so that the lever part
75
can contact with the microswitch fitted to the barrier while the lever part
75
avoids interference with a front surface of the water tank. There are one pair of rotating center projections
76
coupled with the fixing guide
90
on an upper part of the floating part
71
for facilitating rotation of the floater
70
. The floating part
71
is a hollow bar in a “” form to be suitable for providing buoyancy, and has a partition wall
71
a
at a bent part of the floating part
71
for partitioning an inside space of the floating part
71
into an upper space and a lower space, for keeping the floater
70
buoyant even if air in the lower space is lost. That is, the partition wall
71
a
is a secondary safety means. In this instance, the upper space of the floating part
71
separated by the partition wall
71
a
has a semi-cylindrical section, and the lower space of the floating part
71
has a cylindrical section (see FIG.
5
). The fixing guide
90
has a ring form substantially for fitting to the fitting hole
57
b
in the water tank, with an opening
93
at a central part of a surface thereof for fitting the floater
70
. The opening
93
is semi-circular, with a chord part
99
engaged with an outer surface of the lever part
75
of the floater
70
, for serving as a stopper that limits a rotation angle of the floater
70
before the buoyancy is acted thereto. The fixing guide
90
includes a flange part
92
projected to one side in a horizontal direction having a fastening hole
92
a
for fastening the fixing guide
90
to the water tank, one pair of upper supporting pieces
94
formed opposite to the flange part
92
spaced from each other, a lower supporting piece
98
between the one pair of upper supporting pieces
94
and below the one pair of upper supporting pieces
94
as much as a thickness of the water tank for holding an edge of the fitting hole
57
b
in association with the upper supporting pieces
94
when the fixing guide
90
is fitted to the fitting hole
57
b
in the water tank for setting the fixing guide
90
to the water tank, and fixing pieces
96
formed downward perpendicular to the upper supporting pieces
94
having inserting holes
96
a
to be coupled with the rotating center projections
76
on the floater
70
. (see FIG.
5
). The display means (not shown) presents a full water tank signal to outside of the dehumidifier for user's sensing by using a signal from the microswitch
80
in a form of a lamp fitted to an outside wall of the cabinet
51
or a sound emitter, to provide video and audio signals.
The operation of the foregoing device for detecting a full dehumidifier water tank in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention will be explained.
Referring to
FIG. 3
, when a water level of the water tank is low before an adequate buoyancy is provided to the floater, the lever part
75
is in contact with the microswitch
80
. When a power is supplied, to put the dehumidifier into operation, the room air is drawn forcibly, involved in removal of moist as the room air passes through the heat exchanger
54
, and discharged through the air outlet. The condensate formed by heat exchange of the heat exchanger
54
is collected at the drain pan
60
, and flows into the water tank
57
, and, when the water level in the water tank
57
rises owing to continued operation, the floater
70
rotates centered on the rotating center projections
76
in a counter clockwise direction on the drawing by the buoyancy to the floating part
71
. In this time, as shown in
FIG. 7
, the lever part
75
is also rotated in the counter clockwise direction, to move away from the microswitch
80
to generate a full tank signal, that is presented to the display means (not shown) so that the user discharges the condensate collected in the water tank
57
. When the air in the lower space of the floating part
71
is lost owing to washing of the condensate in the water tank, to cause a level of the condensate to rise more, detection of the full water level is still available as the buoyancy acts onto the upper space of the floater separated by the partition wall
71
a,
to rotate the floater, that in turn activates the microswitch. Accordingly, the upper space of the floater of the present invention acts as a secondary safety device.
In the meantime, in the foregoing embodiment, though a system is explained as an example, in which the full water tank signal is generated as the lever part
75
moves away from the microswitch, opposite to this, it is also possible that a system may be provided, in which the full water tank signal is generated as the lever part
75
is brought into contact with the microswitch
80
as the floater
70
rotates when the water tank is full, while the lever part
75
is kept away from the microswitch
80
when the water level is not full.
The forgoing first embodiment device for detecting a full dehumidifier water tank of the present invention has the following advantages.
As the floater is operative in proportion to the buoyancy coming from the water level, an accurate, and stable detection of a full water of the water tank is made available.
Easy change of full water tank level to be detected is made available by adjusting a length of the floating part
71
.
A device for detecting a full dehumidifier water tank in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention will be explained, with reference to the attached drawings.
FIG. 8
illustrates a section of a dehumidifier having a device for detecting a full dehumidifier water tank in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing a state before full water tank,
FIG. 9
illustrates a section of key parts for explaining operation of the device for detecting a full dehumidifier water tank in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention at a full water tank, and
FIG. 10
illustrates a disassembled perspective view of a dehumidifier water tank having the device for detecting a full dehumidifier water tank in
FIG. 8
provided thereto.
Referring to
FIG. 8
, the dehumidifier having a device for detecting a full dehumidifier water tank in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a heat exchanger
54
having an evaporator
52
and a condenser
53
in a cabinet
51
for removing moist, and a fan
56
next to the heat exchanger
54
for forced circulation of room air. There are a compressor
55
in a lower part of the cabinet
51
for circulating refrigerant through the evaporator
52
and the condenser
53
, a water tank
57
for storage of water formed by dehumidification action of the heat exchanger
54
, and a vertical barrier
59
fitted between the compressor
55
and the water tank
57
for separating two spaces. There is a drain pan
60
between the heat exchanger
54
and the water tank
57
for discharging condensate dropped from the evaporator
52
to the water tank
57
. Particularly, there are a stick type floater
70
of a hollow stick with an opened lower part fitted to an upper surface of the water tank
57
and inserted in the water tank
57
for rotating along with a water level, and a microswitch
80
fitted to the barrier
59
for detecting the full of the water tank
57
as the stick type floater
70
is brought into contact with, or moves away from the microswitch
80
when the stick type floater
70
is rotated. The stick type floater
70
of a hollow stick with an opened lower part includes a floating part
71
for inserting in the water tank
57
downward, a lever part
75
sealing a top part of the floating part
71
and extended toward a microswitch direction and bent, and a rotating center
77
projected from the lever part
75
and fitted to a top part of the water tank
57
for being a rotation center as the water level varies. As shown in
FIG. 5
, the rotating center
77
includes two spaced semi-circular rotating parts
77
a
projected from a bottom of the contact lever part
75
, and two catches
77
b
extended from lower ends of the rotating parts
77
a
and opened to each other for insertion in an inside of the water tank
57
for preventing the floater from falling off the water tank
57
. The water tank
57
has two “T” formed fitting holes
57
c,
and an elongated hole
57
d
between the two fitting holes
57
c
for free rotation of the floater
70
when the floating part
71
is provided with buoyancy in a state the floater
70
is fitted to the water tank. Accordingly, when the floater
70
is assembled to the water tank, the two catches
77
b
are pressed inward to bring the catches
77
b
closer, inserted into the “T” formed fitting holes
57
c,
and released, to be caught at catch holes
57
c
-l of the fitting holes
57
c
as the catches
77
b
are opened by an elastic restoration force.
The operation of the second embodiment device for detecting a full dehumidifier water tank of the present invention will be explained.
Referring to
FIG. 3
, under a state the water tank
57
is not full, the stick type floater
70
is not rotated, when the lever part
75
is in contact with a terminal
81
of the microswitch
80
. As shown in
FIG. 4
, under this state, if a water level in the water tank
57
rises, the water level also rises in the floating part
71
, to compress the air inside of the floating part
71
and provide buoyancy to the entire stick type floater
70
, such that the stick type floater
70
rotates centered on the rotating center part
77
, when the lever part
75
moves away from the terminal
81
of the microswitch
80
, that generates a full water tank detection signal. Of course, opposite to this, the system may be made such that the lever part
75
is disposed away from the terminal
81
of the microswitch
80
when the water level is not full, and brought into contact with the terminal
81
when the water level is full to rotate the stick type floater
70
.
The second embodiment of the present invention has the following advantages.
The hollow stick type floater
70
permits a stable, and accurate detection of the full water tank, and a full water tank level can be adjusted with easy by adjusting a length of the floating part
71
. Since the device has a simple structure, fabrication of the device is easy, and, since the floater has a small width, the device can be employed even if a width of the water tank is narrow.
Though a microswitch is employed in the first or second embodiment for detection of full water tank, a photo sensor having a light receiver and a light emitter may be employed instead of the microswitch. That is, the lever part of the floater is made either to cut off a light path to the light receiver, or open a light path to the receiver for detection of full water tank, when the floater is rotated by buoyancy.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the device for detecting a full dehumidifier water tank of the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
Claims
- 1. A dehumidifier comprising:a water tank under a cabinet for storage of condensate dropped from a heat exchanger; a vertical barrier in front of the water tank for separating a space; a fixing guide fitted to a fitting hole on a top surface of the water tank; a floater rotatably fitted to the fixing guide for being rotated by buoyancy; and, detection means fitted to one side of the barrier for detection of full water tank as the floater rotates.
- 2. A dehumidifier as claimed in claim 1, wherein the floater includes;a floating part in the water tank for providing buoyancy, and a lever part extended from the floating part for activating the detecting means when a buoyancy is provided to the floating part.
- 3. A dehumidifier as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detecting means is a microswitch.
- 4. A dehumidifier as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detecting means is a photo sensor having a light receiver and a light emitter.
- 5. A dehumidifier as claimed in claim 2, wherein the floating part includes;a hollow bar in a vertically elongated form to be suitable for providing buoyancy, and a partition wall at a bent part of the floating part for partitioning an inside space of the floating part into an upper space and a lower space, for keeping the floater buoyant in proportion to a rise of a water level even if air in the lower space is lost.
- 6. A dehumidifier as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fixing guide has a form of a ring substantially for fitting to a fitting hole in the water tank, and an opening at a central portion of the fixing guide for fitting the floater thereto.
- 7. A dehumidifier comprising:a water tank under a cabinet for storage of condensate dropped from a heat exchanger; a vertical barrier in front of the water tank for separating a space; a fixing guide fitted to a fitting hole on a top surface of the water tank; a floater rotatably fitted to the fixing guide for being rotated by buoyancy; and, a microswitch fitted to one side of the barrier for generating a full water tank signal in association with the floater as the floater rotates following the full water tank.
- 8. A dehumidifier as claimed in claim 7, wherein the floater includes;a floating part in the water tank for providing buoyancy, and a lever part extended from the floating part to be located outside of the water tank and bent toward the microswitch, for moving along with the floating part so as to be brought into contact with the microswitch.
- 9. A dehumidifier as claimed in claim 8, wherein the lever part is in an inverted U-shaped form so that the lever part can contact with the microswitch fitted to the barrier while the lever part avoids interference with a front surface of the water tank.
- 10. A dehumidifier as claimed in claim 8, wherein the floating part includes one pair of rotating center projections on an upper part thereof for coupling with the fixing guide to facilitate rotation of the floater.
- 11. A dehumidifier as claimed in claim 8, wherein the floating part includes;a hollow bar in a vertically elongated form to be suitable for providing buoyancy, and a partition wall at a bent part for partitioning an inside space of the floating part into an upper space and a lower space, for keeping the floater buoyant in proportion to a rise of a water level even if air in the lower space is lost.
- 12. A dehumidifier as claimed in claim 11, wherein the upper space of the floating part separated by the partition wall has a semicircular section, and the lower space of the floating part has a circular section.
- 13. A dehumidifier as claimed in claim 12, wherein the upper space of the floating part separated by the partition wall has an opened lower part.
- 14. A dehumidifier as claimed in claim 7, wherein the fixing guide has a form of a ring substantially for fitting to a fitting hole in the water tank, and an opening at a central portion of the fixing guide for fitting the floater thereto.
- 15. A dehumidifier as claimed in claim 14, wherein the opening is semi-circular, with a chord part engaged with an outer surface of the lever part of the floater, for serving as a stopper that limits a rotation angle of the floater before the buoyancy is exerted thereto.
- 16. A dehumidifier as claimed in claim 14, wherein the fixing guide includes;a flange part projected to one side in a horizontal direction having a fastening hole for fastening the fixing guide to the water tank, one pair of upper supporting pieces formed opposite to the flange part spaced from each other, a lower supporting piece between the one pair of upper supporting pieces and below the one pair of upper supporting pieces as much as a thickness of the water tank for holding an edge of the fitting hole in association with the upper supporting pieces when the fixing guide is fitted to the fitting hole in the water tank for setting the fixing guide to the water tank, and fixing pieces formed downward perpendicular to the upper supporting pieces having inserting holes to be coupled with the rotating center projections on the floater.
- 17. A dehumidifier as claimed in claim 7, wherein the floater includes;a floating part of a hollow stick with an opened lower part for inserting in the water tank downward, a lever part sealing a top part of the floating part and extended toward a microswitch direction and bent, and a rotating center projected downward from both sides of the lever part and fitted to a top part of the water tank for being a rotation center as the water level varies.
- 18. A dehumidifier as claimed in claim 17, wherein the rotating center includes;two rotating parts projected in semicircular forms apart from each other from both sides of a bottom surface of the contact lever part, and two catches for inserting from lower ends of the rotating parts to inside of the water tank for preventing falling off.
- 19. A dehumidifier as claimed in claim 18, further comprising:two “T” formed fitting holes in the top surface thereof for inserting the catches; and, an elongated hole between the two “T” holes for free rotation of the floater when a buoyancy is provided to the floating part.
- 20. A dehumidifier as claimed in claim 7, further comprising:displaying means fitted either to an outside wall or to an inside of the cabinet for presenting a signal from the microswitch to outside of the dehumidifier.
- 21. A dehumidifier as claimed in claim 2, wherein the detecting means is a microswitch.
- 22. A dehumidifier as claimed in claim 2, wherein the detecting
Priority Claims (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
2000-50799 |
Aug 2000 |
KR |
|
2000-71707 |
Nov 2000 |
KR |
|
US Referenced Citations (5)