Washing machine with steam washing function and control method

Abstract

A washing machine with a steam washing function and a control method are provided. The washing machine includes an outer drum, wherein a heater is arranged inside the outer drum; the washing machine further includes a spray thrower used for spraying water to the heater, and the heater heats and vaporizes the water sprayed onto the surface to form high-temperature steam. When the heater is provided with a spray thrower which sprays water to the heater, the heater in a heating state can rapidly heat and vaporize the sprayed water to form a large amount of steam, then the steam generated in the outer drum can be utilized to heat and wet the clothes in the inner drum, such that the washing machine has the functions of steam washing, clothes drying, sterilization and disinfection, deodorization and ironing.

1 . A washing machine with a steam washing function, comprising an outer drum, a heater being arranged inside the outer drum, wherein the washing machine further comprises a spray thrower for spraying water to the heater, the heater vaporizes the water sprayed to a surface of the heater by heating to generate high-temperature steam. 
     
     
         2 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the spray thrower and the heater are arranged jointly or at a distance, a corresponding side to the heater of the spray thrower is distributed with multiple spray holes for spraying water to the heater;
 the spray thrower is constituted by a pipeline which is of a same shape as the heater, and the spray holes are distributed at intervals along an axial direction of the pipeline.   
     
     
         3 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the heater is capable of heating air or respectively heating water and air. 
     
     
         4 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the heater is arranged at a bottom of the outer drum, and the spray thrower is arranged above the heater. 
     
     
         5 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the spray thrower is communicated with a water inlet structure of the washing machine via a connecting pipe, and the connecting pipe is provided with a control valve for controlling a flow rate of the sprayed water. 
     
     
         6 . A control method of a washing machine with a steam washing function, comprising,
 spraying water to a heater in an outer drum,   the heater vaporizing the sprayed water by heating,   generating vaporized steam in the outer drum, and the steam heating and wetting clothes in an inner drum.   
     
     
         7 . The control method according to  claim 6 , wherein before the washing machine executes a normal washing procedure, firstly water is sprayed to the heater which is in a heating state, then high-temperature steam is generated in the outer drum,
 after the clothes are heated and wetted for a certain time, then the washing machine executes the normal washing procedure.   
     
     
         8 . The control method according to  claim 6 , wherein in a process of spraying water to the heater and generating high-temperature steam, the inner drum rotates simultaneously at a certain rotation halt ratio. 
     
     
         9 . The control method according to  claim 6 , wherein in the process of spraying water to the heater and generating high-temperature steam, the heater stops working for a time t2 after working for a time t1. 
     
     
         10 . The control method according to  claim 6 , wherein in the process of spraying water to the heater and generating high-temperature steam, a water inlet pipe and a water outlet pipe of the outer drum are both in a disconnected state, to enable the high-temperature steam to be filled into an airtight inner space of the outer drum. 
     
     
         11 . The control method according to  claim 6 , wherein before water is sprayed to the heater, water is filled into the outer drum firstly, and a height of an inlet water level is lower than the heater. 
     
     
         12 . The washing machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the heater is capable of heating air or respectively heating water and air. 
     
     
         13 . The washing machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the heater is arranged at a bottom of the outer drum, and the spray thrower is arranged above the heater. 
     
     
         14 . The washing machine according to  claim 3 , wherein the heater is arranged at a bottom of the outer drum, and the spray thrower is arranged above the heater. 
     
     
         15 . The washing machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the spray thrower is communicated with a water inlet structure of the washing machine via a connecting pipe, and the connecting pipe is provided with a control valve for controlling a flow rate of the sprayed water. 
     
     
         16 . The washing machine according to  claim 3 , wherein the spray thrower is communicated with a water inlet structure of the washing machine via a connecting pipe, and the connecting pipe is provided with a control valve for controlling a flow rate of the sprayed water. 
     
     
         17 . The control method according to  claim 7 , wherein in a process of spraying water to the heater and generating high-temperature steam, the inner drum rotates simultaneously at a certain rotation halt ratio. 
     
     
         18 . The control method according to  claim 7 , wherein in the process of spraying water to the heater and generating high-temperature steam, the heater stops working for a time t2 after working for a time t1. 
     
     
         19 . The control method according to  claim 7 , wherein in the process of spraying water to the heater and generating high-temperature steam, a water inlet pipe and a water outlet pipe of the outer drum are both in a disconnected state, to enable the high-temperature steam to be filled into an airtight inner space of the outer drum. 
     
     
         20 . The control method according to  claim 7 , wherein before water is sprayed to the heater, water is filled into the outer drum firstly, and a height of an inlet water level is lower than the heater.