Laundry Device

• US 20080168805A1
• Filed: 05/18/2006
• Published: 07/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Park, Chang Kwon, Kim, Dong An
• Application Number:
  US11/662,178
• Publication Number:
  US 20080168805A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 68/5C
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/008 Steam generating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/40 Steam generating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F22B 1/284 with water in reservoirs

Abstract

Disclosed is laundry device having a steam generator (200), which prevents water from being excessively supplied to a case and steam generated from the case from adversely flowing toward a water supply valve (104), and removes overpressure due to steam generated in the case. A water oversupply prevention unit (220) for preventing the water from being excessively supplied to the case is a hollow floater, which moves vertically according to the amount of the water supplied to the case to open and close a water supply hole (211a). A backflow prevention unit (230) for preventing steam generated from the case from adversely flowing toward the water supply hole (211a) is a check valve, which allows the water to be supplied only to the inside of the case, prevents the steam generated from the case from flowing toward the water supply valve (104), and in installed between a water supply hole (211a) and the water supply valve (104). An air exhauster (400) for removing overpressure due to steam generated in the case is a relief valve (420), which is opened to remove overpressure due to steam generated in the case and is installed in a sub-pipe (410) branched from a steam supply pipe (106). Thereby, the steam generator is effectively operated, thus lengthening the lifespan of the laundry device and improving the reliability of

Claims

1. A laundry device comprising:

a cabinet;

a drum rotatably installed in the cabinet;

a steam generator including a case provided with a water supply hole, a discharge hole, and a heater to heat water supplied through the water supply hole to generate steam; and

a backflow preventer to prevent the water or the steam from flowing toward the water supply hole;

a water supply pipe to supply the water into the case; and

a steam supply pipe to supply the steam into the drum.

2. The laundry device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the backflow preventer is disposed inside the case.

3. The laundry device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the backflow preventer comprises a floater to open and close the water supply hole.

4. The laundry device as set forth in claim 3, wherein the floater comprises:

a rib having a diaphragm shape, and vertically disposed in the case such that the rib is separated from an inner surface of the case; and

a switching member interposed between the rib and the inner surface of the case, and moves vertically according to a level of the water in the case, and thereby opening and closing the water supply hole.

5. The laundry device as set forth in claim 4, wherein the inner surface of the case facing the rib is stepped to prevent the switching member from excessively descending.

6. The laundry device as set forth in claim 4, wherein both side ends of the rib are bent to prevent the switching member from deviating from a movable range to open and close the water supply hole.

7. The laundry device as set forth in claim 4, wherein the rib is disposed perpendicularly from a top surface of the case such that a lower end of the rib is separated from a bottom surface of the case.

8. The laundry device as set forth in claim 3, wherein the floater comprises:

a switching member to open and close the water supply hole;

a hinge disposed on an inner surface of the case; and

a floater bar having one end rotatably installed on the hinge and the other end connected with the switching member.

9. The laundry device as set forth in claim 8, wherein the other end of the floater bar is hinged with the switching member.

10. The laundry device as set forth in claim 8, wherein the inner surface of the case facing the rib is stepped to prevent the switching member from excessively descending.

11. The laundry device as set forth in claim 4 or 8, wherein the switching member has a hollow structure.

12. The laundry device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a water supply valve and wherein the water supply pipe is disposed between the water supply hole and a water supply valve to supply the water into the case.

13. The laundry device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the backflow preventer is disposed outside the case.

14. The laundry device as set forth in claim 13, wherein the backflow preventer comprises a check valve.

15. The laundry device as set forth in claim 14, wherein the check valve is disposed between the water supply hole and a water supply pipe.

16. A laundry device comprising:

a cabinet;

a drum rotatable installed in the cabinet;

a steam generator including a case provided with a water supply hole and a discharge hole, and a heater to heat water supplied through the water supply hole to generate steam;

a water supply pipe to supply the water into the case;

a steam supply pipe to supply the steam into the drum; and

an air exhauster to remove overpressure due to steam generated in the case.

17. The laundry device as set forth in claim 16, wherein the air exhauster is disposed at the steam supply pipe.

18. The laundry device as set forth in claim 17, wherein the air exhauster comprises:

a sub pipe branched from the steam supply pipe; and

a relief valve disposed at the sub pipe.

19. The laundry device as set forth in claim 18, wherein the air exhauster further comprises an air exhaust pipe having one end connected with the relief valve and the other end connected with a drain channel of the laundry device.

20. The laundry device as set forth in claim 16, further comprising a backflow preventer to prevent the water or the steam in the case from flowing toward the water supply hole.