Washing machine, conductivity sensor in washing machine, and controlling method of the same

• US 20050081572A1
• Filed: 11/27/2003
• Published: 04/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Park, Yong Suck, Song, Young Han
• Granted Patent: US 8,424,345 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 68/12.20
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/18 Washing liquid level
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/20 Washing liquid condition, e.g. turbidity
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/52 Changing sequence of operational steps; Carrying out additional operational steps; Modifying operational steps, e.g. by extending duration of steps
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/32 Control of operational steps, e.g. optimisation or improvement of operational steps depending on the condition of the laundry
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/22 Condition of the washing liquid, e.g. turbidity
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/10 Investigation or analysis specially adapted for controlling or monitoring operations or for signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/521 Sealing between contact members and housing, e.g. sealing insert

Abstract

There are provided a conductivity sensor of a washing water, an installation construction of the conductivity sensor, and a method for controlling the washing machine, which are capable of controlling the washing machine by calculating a hardness of a washing water from a measured conductivity of the washing water.

Claims

1. A washing machine comprising:

a pair of electrodes formed inside an outer tub containing a washing water, the pair of electrodes contacting with the washing water to measure a conductivity of the washing water; and

a controller for controlling the washing machine according to the measured conductivity of the washing water.

2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the electrodes are formed inside a pneumatic chamber, the pneumatic chamber communicating with the outer tub through an inlet/outlet port formed at a lower portion of the outer tub.

3. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the electrodes are sealed in a lower portion of the pneumatic chamber sensing a water level.

4. The washing machine according to claim 1, further comprising:

a protection member for supporting upper and lower portions of the electrodes; and

a sealing member formed inside the protection member.

5. The washing machine according to claim 1, further comprising:

a protection member through which the electrodes pass;

a housing in which the protection member is sealed; and

a sealing member formed inside the protection member.

6. A conductivity sensor of a washing machine, comprising:

a pair of electrodes formed at one side of an outer tub, the pair of electrodes contacting with a washing water to measure a conductivity of the washing water;

a protection member for protecting the electrodes, the electrodes passing through the protection member;

a housing in which one side of the protection member is sealed; and

a sealing member formed in at least a contact surface between the protection member and the electrodes.

7. The conductivity sensor according to claim 6, wherein the protection member includes:

an upper protection part for supporting an upper portion of the electrodes; and

a lower protection part for supporting a lower portion of the electrodes.

8. The conductivity sensor according to claim 6, wherein the protection member and the housing are fused with each other.

9. The conductivity sensor according to claim 6, wherein the housing is a chamber housing forming a pneumatic chamber.

10. The conductivity sensor according to claim 6, wherein the sealing member is made of rubber resin or epoxy resin.

11. The conductivity sensor according to claim 6, wherein the sealing member is formed by injecting and solidifying a liquid resin.

12. The conductivity sensor according to claim 6, wherein the housing is a chamber housing of a pneumatic chamber for measuring a water level.

13. The conductivity sensor according to claim 6, wherein an upper surface of the protection member is formed convexly.

14. The conductivity sensor according to claim 6, further comprising a receptacle connected to a lower end portion of the electrodes.

15. The conductivity sensor according to claim 6, further comprising a shield member for preventing an erroneous operation due to foreign substance between the electrodes.

16. The conductivity sensor according to claim 6, further comprising a shield member formed between the electrodes by convexly forming the sealing member.

17. The conductivity sensor according to claim 6, further comprising a shield member formed between the electrodes to prevent an erroneous operation due to foreign substance, a thickness of the shield member being reduced in an upward direction.

18. The conductivity sensor according to claim 6, further comprising a circular shield member formed on each outer periphery of the electrodes, an upper portion of the shield member being inclined narrowly.

19. The conductivity sensor according to claim 18, wherein the shield member and the protection member are formed as one body.

20. The conductivity sensor according to claim 18, wherein the shield member is separately inserted into an outer periphery of the electrodes.

21. The conductivity sensor according to claim 6, further comprising an inlet/outlet port formed at the outer tub, a lower end portion of the inlet/outlet port being lower than an upper end portion of the protection member.

22. The conductivity sensor according to claim 6, wherein the protection member includes an upper protection part and a lower protection part, the upper and lower protection parts being provisionally assembled with each other by means of a latch structure.

23. The conductivity sensor according to claim 6, wherein the protection member and the housing are threadedly connected to each other.

24. The conductivity sensor according to claim 6, further comprising a guide structure formed on one side surface of the protection member and a surface corresponding to the housing.

25. The conductivity sensor according to claim 6, wherein the electrodes are formed in a flat shape.

26. The conductivity sensor according to claim 6, further comprising an electrode support rib extended to an inner side of the protection member and formed at a spaced-apart outer side of the electrodes.

27. The conductivity sensor according to claim 6, further comprising an electrode protrusion formed protrudedly on an outer periphery of the electrodes to support positions of the electrodes.

28. The conductivity sensor according to claim 6, further comprising an electrode protrusion for supporting the electrodes, the electrode protrusion being formed protrudedly from an outer periphery of the electrodes and contacting with the protection member and/or the extended portion of the protection member.

29. The conductivity sensor according to claim 28, further comprising a fitting groove into which the electrode protrusion is fitted, the fitting groove being formed at the extended portion of the protection member.

30. The conductivity sensor according to claim 6, further comprising an electrode support rib having a predetermined injection groove through which the sealing member is introduced between the electrodes.

31. The conductivity sensor according to claim 6, wherein a deformation portion in which a sealing member is introduced is formed on the electrodes.

32. A conductivity sensor of a washing machine, comprising:

a pair of electrodes formed at one side of an outer tub, the pair of electrodes contacting with a washing water to measure a conductivity of the washing water;

a connector extended from the electrodes to act as a terminal for outputting an electrical signal; and

a receptacle fitted into the connector to transmit the electrical signal.

33. The conductivity sensor according to claim 32, further comprising:

a latch protrusion formed on an outer periphery of the connector; and

a fixing protrusion formed on an outer periphery of the connector and fixed to the latch protrusion.

34. The conductivity sensor according to claim 32, further comprising:

a guide hole formed at a lower portion of the electrodes; and

a receptacle having a fitting protrusion arranged with and fitted into the guide hole.

35. The conductivity sensor according to claim 32, further comprising a stopper formed protrudedly at a predetermined position of the receptacle, the stopper contacting with a lower end portion of the electrodes.

36. The conductivity sensor according to claim 32, wherein the receptacle includes an inserting part electrically connected to an outer periphery of the electrodes.

37. The conductivity sensor according to claim 32, wherein the connector and the receptacle includes four connecting terminals, respectively.

38. The conductivity sensor according to claim 32, wherein each sectioned surface of the connector and the receptacle is a rectangular shape.

39. The conductivity sensor according to claim 32, wherein two conductivity terminals and one or more water temperature terminal are connected to the connector and the receptacle.

40. The conductivity sensor according to claim 32, further comprising a position manipulating part extended from the receptacle and contacting with a side surface of the connector.

41. The conductivity sensor according to claim 32, further comprising:

a connector guide formed on one side surface of the connector; and

a receptacle guide formed on one side surface of the receptacle in a shape corresponding to the connector guide.

42. A method for controlling a washing machine, comprising the steps of:

measuring a conductivity of a washing water;

determining a hardness of the washing water by using the measured conductivity; and

performing a washing operation according to the determined hardness.

43. The method according to claim 42, wherein the hardness is calculated from the conductivity by using a predetermined function.

44. The method according to claim 42, wherein the hardness is read out from a table according to the conductivity.