Dehumidifier

• US 7,909,922 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2006
• Issued: 03/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Jang, Duck-Yong, Kim, Chi-Wao
• Primary Examiner(s): Greene; Jason M
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUI, DUNG H
• Application Number:
  US11/988,099
• Publication Number:
  US 20090158934A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,610 Days
• Field of Search: 554/23, 554/29, 554/67, 55471-473, 554342-4344, 96408-412, 964/17, 964/23, 95/24, 952/28, 621/15, 621/19, 621/28, 622/71
• US Class Current: 96/405
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/1406 characterised by sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/222 for evacuating condensate
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2003/1446 by condensing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/30 Condensation of water from cooled air

Abstract

A dehumidifier is provided. A dehumidifier includes a cabinet defining an outer appearance, a barrier installed in the cabinet to collect condensed water removed from air, a bucket assembly for storing the condensed water directed from the barrier, and a condensed water detecting unit for detecting an amount or level of the condensed water stored in the bucket assembly.

Claims

1. A dehumidifier comprising:

a cabinet defining an outer appearance;

a barrier installed in the cabinet to collect condensed water removed from air;

a bucket assembly for storing the condensed water directed from the barrier;

a condensed water detecting unit for detecting a level of the condensed water stored in the bucket assembly; and

a display unit for displaying the level of the condensed water,

wherein the condensed water detecting unit includes;

a floater connected to the bucket assembly by a hinge, wherein the floater rotates about the hinge; and

a detecting unit installed on the barrier, wherein the detecting unit detects a rotational angle of the floater, and wherein the detecting unit is provided with a plurality of electrodes for receiving a signal corresponding to the rotational angle of the floater, and an end of the floater contacts one of the plurality of electrodes, and

wherein the condensed water detecting unit can detect a plurality of levels of the condensed water.

2. The dehumidifier according to claim 1, wherein the condensed water detecting unit further includes a load cell for detecting the weight of the condensed water stored in the bucket assembly.

3. The dehumidifier according to claim 2, wherein the bucket assembly comprises a bucket for storing the condensed water and a bucket guide on which the bucket seats.

4. The dehumidifier according to claim 3, wherein the load cell is installed on the bucket guide and the bucket is provided with a protruding portion contacting the load cell.

5. The dehumidifier according to claim 4, wherein a flexible member supporting the bucket and bent by the load is installed on an upper portion of the load cell.

6. The dehumidifier according to claim 2, wherein the load cell is installed on a base defining a bottom of the cabinet and the bucket assembly is provided at a lower portion with a protruding portion contacting the load cell.

7. The dehumidifier according to claim 1, wherein the floater has a first end disposed in the bucket assembly and a second end disposed out of the bucket assembly.

8. The dehumidifier according to claim 1, wherein the bucket assembly is provided with a hole in which the floater is partly inserted and a holder to which the floater is connected by a hinge is coupled to the hole.

9. A dehumidifier comprising:

a base defining a bottom of the dehumidifier;

a barrier installed on the base to collect condensed water removed from air;

a bucket assembly for storing the condensed water directed from the barrier;

a weight detecting unit for detecting an amount of the condensed water stored in the bucket assembly; and

a display unit for displaying a level of the condensed water,

wherein the weight detecting unit includes a load cell and a control unit calculates a weight of the condensed water stored in the bucket assembly based on data from the load cell, and

wherein the level of the condensed water is calculated based on the calculated weight of the condensed water and the calculated level of the condensed water is displayed by the display unit.

10. The dehumidifier according to claim 9, wherein the load cell is installed on the base and the bucket assembly is provided at a lower portion with a protruding portion contacting the load cell.

11. The dehumidifier according to claim 9, wherein the bucket assembly comprises a bucket guide on which the load cell is installed and a bucket seating on the bucket guide, wherein the bucket stores the condensed water, and wherein the bucket is provided with a protruding portion.

12. The dehumidifier according to claim 11, further comprising a flexible member formed on the bucket guide and bent by the load transmitted by the protruding portion.

13. A dehumidifier comprising:

a base defining a bottom of the dehumidifier;

a barrier installed on the base to collect condensed water removed from air;

a bucket assembly for storing the condensed water directed from the barrier;

a water level detecting unit for detecting a water level of the bucket assembly by contacting the condensed water stored in the bucket assembly; and

a display unit for displaying the water level detected by the water level detecting unit,

wherein the water level detecting unit includes;

a floater connected to the bucket assembly by a hinge, wherein the floater rotates about the hinge; and

a detecting unit installed on the barrier, wherein the detecting unit detects a rotational angle of the floater, wherein a plurality of magnets are installed on the floater and a sensor for detecting the magnets is installed on the detecting unit,

wherein the water level detecting unit can detect a plurality of levels of the condensed water.