Washing machine control panel base with function of automatically adding detergent

• US 10,465,327 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2014
• Issued: 11/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haier Group Corporation (Haier Group Company), Qingdao Haier Washing Machine Co., Ltd. (Haier Group Company)
• Original Assignee: Haier Group Corporation (Haier Group Company)
• Inventors: Lv, Peishi, Yang, Lin, Cheng, Baozhen, Wang, Xiumei, Liu, Zunan
• Primary Examiner(s): Cormier, David G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bucci, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US15/108,215
• Publication Number:
  US 20160326684A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,972 Days
• Field of Search: 68 17 R, 68207, 68 1218, 68 3 R, 68 13 R, 68 1219, 68200, 222 1, 222129, 222630, 222133, 222651, 222132, 2221451, 222173, 222192, 222 52, 134 93, 134 992, 1341001, 134 951
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 23/04 and rotating or oscillating about a vertical axis
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/28 Arrangements for program selection, e.g. control panels therefor; Arrangements for indicating program parameters, e.g. the selected program or its progress
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/022 in a liquid state D06F39/024 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/026 the powder or tablets being added directly, e.g. without the need of a flushing liquid
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/028 Arrangements for selectively supplying water to detergent compartments
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/14 Doors or covers; Securing means therefor

Abstract

A washing machine control panel base with function of automatically adding detergent is provided. At least one chamber configured to dispense solid detergents, at least one container configured to contain liquid detergents, and an automatic detergent dispensing apparatus which is in communication with both the chamber and the container are disposed in the control panel base; an upper end surface of the control panel base is provided with at least two detergent dispensing ports; and each of the detergent dispensing ports is respectively in communication with the chamber and the container correspondingly. An accommodation space formed by an outer circumferential wall, an upper end surface connected to the outer circumferential wall, and an inner circumferential wall that forms a clothing feeding port is below the control panel base, and the chamber, the container, and the automatic detergent dispensing apparatus are all disposed in the accommodation space.

Claims

1. A washing machine control panel base with function of automatically adding detergent, comprising:

at least one chamber configured to dispense solid detergents, at least one container configured to contain liquid detergents, and an automatic detergent dispensing apparatus which is in communication with both the at least one chamber and the at least one container;

wherein an upper end surface of the control panel base is provided with at least two detergent dispensing ports; and

each of the detergent dispensing ports is respectively in communication with the at least one chamber and the at least one container correspondingly, wherein;

the automatic detergent dispensing apparatus is an apparatus in which liquid detergents in the at least one container are pumped using a negative pressure caused by flowing of inlet water through a Venturi tube for quantitative delivery, wherein;

the automatic detergent dispensing apparatus comprises the Venturi tube through which flowing of water can generate a negative pressure, and a measurement apparatus in communication with a negative pressure area of the Venturi tube;

wherein the measurement apparatus is in communication with the at least one container; and

a detergent dispensing control valve is disposed between the measurement apparatus and the at least one container, the measurement apparatus being configured to detect a detergent dispensing amount;

wherein the control panel base comprises an outer circumferential wall and an inner circumferential wall separately connected to the upper end surface, wherein an accommodation space is formed by the outer circumferential wall, the upper end surface connected to the outer circumferential wall, and the inner circumferential wall that forms a clothing feeding port, wherein the at least one chamber, the at least one container, and the automatic detergent dispensing apparatus are all disposed in the accommodation space.

2. The washing machine control panel base with function of automatically adding detergent according to claim 1, wherein:

the automatic detergent dispensing apparatus further comprises a washing water path for the measurement apparatus;

wherein water is input through the washing water path into the measurement apparatus, and is then pumped by the negative pressure to a path, at which the Venturi tube is located, for discharging.

3. The washing machine control panel base with function of automatically adding detergent according to claim 1, wherein:

the at least one chamber is of a structure of a box with an opening at an upper portion;

wherein the opening is corresponding to a detergent dispensing port;

a partition plate is disposed in the box, and divides internal of the box into an upper-layer space and a lower-layer space;

the partition plate is provided with a water leaking port that is in communication with the upper-layer space and the lower-layer space;

the upper-layer space is provided with a water input and uniformization structure; and

the lower-layer space is provided with a water spraying port.

4. The washing machine control panel base with function of automatically adding detergent according to claim 3, wherein:

the at least one chamber comprises a box body and an annular buckle cover;

wherein the box body and the annular buckle cover engages on a periphery of the opening to form a water channel;

the water channel is provided with a water inlet;

an inner side wall of the water channel is further provided with a plurality of water uniformization through holes in communication with the upper-layer space;

water guiding plates are disposed in the water channel; and

the water uniformization through holes and the water guiding plates form the water input and uniformization structure.

5. The washing machine control panel base with function of automatically adding detergent according to claim 4, wherein:

the water channel is formed by at least three water slots connected in sequence and having different extension directions;

each of the water guiding plates is disposed in a respective one of the at least three water slots connected in sequence from a water slot in which the water inlet is located to a water slot adjacent to a last water slot;

each of the water guiding plates extends along a water flow direction in the respective one of the at least three water slots, and divides the respective one of the at least three water slots into inner and outer water paths by coordinating with inner and outer side walls of the respective one of the at least three water slots;

the inner water path discharges water through a corresponding water uniformization through hole;

an end of the inner water path extends from each of the water guiding plates to a starting end of a next water slot, and is closed at the starting end; and

the outer water path guides water into the next water slot.

6. The washing machine control panel base with function of automatically adding detergent according to claim 5, wherein:

the at least two water slots are formed by engaging, in a sealed manner, outwardly protruding bosses and an annular buckle cover that are at periphery of the opening of the box body.

7. The washing machine control panel base with function of automatically adding detergent according to claim 5, wherein:

a side wall of the box body is formed by four side plates comprising a front side plate, a rear side plate, a left side plate, and a right side plate;

wherein outer walls of the left side plate, the right side plate, and the front side plate are respectively provided with a left boss, a right boss, and a front boss that protrude outwardly;

a height of each boss is lower than that of a top end of a corresponding side plate;

top ends of the left side plate, the right side plate, and the front side plate are evenly provided with a plurality of notches forming the water uniformization through holes;

the bosses are provided with the water guiding plates;

the annular buckle cover is formed by an inner peripheral frame, an outer peripheral frame, and an annular top cover, and has a section of an h-shaped structure;

the inner peripheral frame is located in the opening of the box body;

there is a water leaking gap between a front frame of the inner peripheral frame and the front side plate, between a left frame of the inner peripheral frame and the left side plate, and between a right frame of the inner peripheral frame and the right side plate;

a front frame, a left frame, and a right frame of the outer peripheral frame are lap-connected to the front boss, the left boss, and the right boss respectively in a sealed manner, to coordinate to form the water channel; and

a rear frame of the outer peripheral frame is connected to the rear side plate in a sealed manner.

8. The washing machine control panel base with function of automatically adding detergent according to claim 1, wherein:

there are at least two containers; and

at least one container is formed by at least two sub-containers that are in communication with each other, and the at least one container is in communication with a detergent dispensing port through one of the at least two sub-containers.

9. The washing machine control panel base with function of automatically adding detergent according to claim 1, wherein:

the at least two detergent dispensing ports are each provided with a door cover that can be opened and closed.

10. The washing machine control panel base with function of automatically adding detergent according to claim 1, wherein:

a rear portion of the upper end surface of the control panel base is provided with three detergent dispensing ports;

a front portion of the upper end surface is provided with an operation display panel;

a first detergent dispensing port is in communication with the at least one chamber for dispensing solid detergents;

a second detergent dispensing port and a third detergent dispensing port are in communication with corresponding containers respectively; and

the second detergent dispensing port and the third detergent dispensing port are each provided with a door cover that can be opened and closed.

11. The washing machine control panel base with function of automatically adding detergent according to claim 10, wherein:

the second detergent dispensing port and the third detergent dispensing port are disposed on two sides of the first detergent dispensing port respectively;

there are two containers;

the two containers are in communication with the second detergent dispensing port and the third detergent dispensing port respectively; and

the containers and the at least one chamber are distributed in the accommodation space.

12. The washing machine control panel base with function of automatically adding detergent according to claim 11, wherein:

one of the two containers is formed by two sub-containers that are in communication with each other.

13. The washing machine control panel base with function of automatically adding detergent according to claim 1, wherein:

a rear portion of the upper end surface of the control panel base is provided with three detergent dispensing ports;

a front portion of the upper end surface is provided with an operation display panel;

a first detergent dispensing port is in communication with the at least one chamber for dispensing solid detergents;

a second detergent dispensing port and a third detergent dispensing port are in communication with corresponding containers respectively; and

the second detergent dispensing port and the third detergent dispensing port are each provided with a door cover that can be opened and closed.

14. The washing machine control panel base with function of automatically adding detergent according to claim 13, wherein:

the second detergent dispensing port and the third detergent dispensing port are disposed on two sides of the first detergent dispensing port respectively;

there are two containers;

the two containers are in communication with the second detergent dispensing port and the third detergent dispensing port respectively; and

the containers and the at least one chamber are distributed in the accommodation space.

15. The washing machine control panel base with function of automatically adding detergent according to claim 14, wherein:

one of the two containers is formed by two sub-containers that are in communication with each other.