U.S. patent application number 11/184287 was filed with the patent office on 2006-05-11 for washing machine combined with dryer.
This patent application is currently assigned to LG Electronics Inc.. Invention is credited to Kyung Seop Hong, Si Moon Jeon, Dae Yun Park, Young Hwan Park.
Application Number | 20060096335 11/184287 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35478631 |
Filed Date | 2006-05-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060096335 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Park; Young Hwan ; et
al. |
May 11, 2006 |
Washing machine combined with dryer
Abstract
There is provided a washing machine combined with a dryer. In
the washing machine, a cabinet is provided, a tub is installed in
the cabinet, an air-vent hose is installed at an outer surface of
the tub, a lint filter assembly has one end connected to the
air-vent hose to remove lint from air discharged from the tub, and
an air-vent duct is connected to the other end of the lint filter
assembly.
Inventors: |
Park; Young Hwan; (Seoul,
KR) ; Hong; Kyung Seop; (Incheon-si, KR) ;
Park; Dae Yun; (Gwangmyung-si, KR) ; Jeon; Si
Moon; (Seoul, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JONATHAN Y. KANG, ESQ.;LEE, HONG, DEGERMAN, KANG & SCHMADEKA
14th Floor
801 S. Figueroa Street
Los Angeles
CA
90017
US
|
Assignee: |
LG Electronics Inc.
|
Family ID: |
35478631 |
Appl. No.: |
11/184287 |
Filed: |
July 18, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
68/20 ;
68/13R |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 25/00 20130101;
D06F 58/22 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
068/020 ;
068/013.00R |
International
Class: |
D06F 35/00 20060101
D06F035/00; D06F 29/00 20060101 D06F029/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 5, 2004 |
KR |
89917/2004 |
Claims
1. A washing machine combined with a dryer, comprising: a cabinet;
a tub installed in the cabinet; an air-vent hose installed at an
outer surface of the tub; a lint filter assembly having one end
connected to the air-vent hose to remove lint from air discharged
from the tub; and an air-vent duct connected to the other end of
the lint filter assembly.
2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the lint
filter assembly includes: a filter housing connecting the air-vent
hose and the air-vent duct; and a lint filter detachably installed
in the filter housing.
3. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the lint
filter includes: a filter made of mesh having a plurality of fine
holes; a filter frame around the filter; and a handgrip extended
from a top of the filter frame.
4. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the lint
filter includes a seal fitted around an outer surface thereof.
5. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the filter
housing includes: a filter chamber to receive the lint filter; an
air inlet connected to the air-vent hose; and an air outlet
connected to the air-vent duct.
6. The washing machine according to claim 5, wherein the lint
filter assembly further includes a filter cover to cover a top of
the filter chamber.
7. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the filter
housing includes a guide rib at an inner surface with a
predetermined length to guide the installation of the lint
filter.
8. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the lint
filter defines a hooking groove in a lower end with a predetermined
depth, and the filter housing includes a protruded hooking tab for
coupling with the hooking groove.
9. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the filter
housing defines a mounting groove to receive a lower end of the
lint filter.
10. A washing machine combined with a dryer, comprising: a cabinet;
a top plate to cover a top of the cabinet; a tub installed in the
cabinet; a lint filter assembly including a lint filter to remove
lint from a moist air discharged from the tub, a filter housing to
receive the lint filter, and a seal fitted between the lint filter
and the filter housing to prevent air leakage; and a dryer duct
installed above the tub to supply a hot air to the tub during a
heat drying operation.
11. The washing machine according to claim 10, wherein the filter
housing includes: one side connected to an air-vent hose installed
at the tub; and the other side connected to an air-vent duct
installed in the cabinet.
12. The washing machine according to claim 10, wherein the lint
filter is a mesh type filter made of heat resistant material.
13. The washing machine according to claim 10, wherein the lint
filter has a portion protruded to an outside of the top plate or
the cabinet.
14. The washing machine according to claim 10, wherein the lint
filter is inserted in the filter housing at a predetermined angle
to the vertical.
15. The washing machine according to claim 10, wherein the lint
filer is inserted into the filter housing from the top plate or
from a side of the cabinet.
16. The washing machine according to claim 10, wherein the lint
filter includes a handgrip protruded to an outside of the top plate
or the cabinet, for a user to hold.
17. The washing machine according to claim 10, wherein the filter
housing includes: at least one side guide rib formed on an inner
side face with a predetermined length to guide a side of the lint
filter; and a bottom guide rib formed on an inner bottom to support
an end of the lint filter.
18. The washing machine according to claim 17, wherein the at least
one side guide rib is two in number in an insertion direction of
the lint filter, and the side of the lint filter is inserted
between the two side guide ribs.
19. A washing machine combined with a dryer, comprising: a lint
filter including a mesh type filter, a filter frame around the mesh
type filter, and a handgrip formed on a top of the filter frame; a
seal fitted around the lint filter; a filter housing including a
filter chamber to receive the lint filter, an air inlet to
introduce a moist air discharged from a tub, and an air outlet to
discharge the moist air introduced through the air inlet; and a
filter cover mounted on an end of the filter chamber.
20. A washing machine combined with a dryer, comprising: a tub; an
air-vent hose connected to a rear of the tub; and a detachable lint
filter assembly connected with the air-vent hose to remove lint
from a moist air discharged through the air-vent hose.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a washing machine, and more
particularly, to a washing machine combined with a dryer, in which
a lint filter assembly is detachably installed to collect and
remove foreign substances such as lint generated during a heat
drying operation.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] A washing machine is a home appliance for washing clothes
automatically. A typical washing machine uses an electric motor as
a driving unit to agitate clothes together with water containing
detergent to remove dirt from the clothes. The washing process of
the washing machine generally includes washing, rinsing,
spin-drying, and/or heat-drying operations.
[0005] Washing machines can be classified into a drum type washing
machine, an agitator type washing machine, and a pulsator type
washing machine.
[0006] The drum type washing machine includes a plurality of
lifters inside of a drum to lift up and drop down clothes in the
drum as the drum is rotated about a horizontal axis at a low speed.
Therefore, the clothes can be cleaned by the collision with water
containing detergent.
[0007] Meanwhile, a washing machine combined with a dryer is
recently introduced to satisfy user's demand. In this washing
machine, clothes are heat dried after washed, rinsed, and spin
dried.
[0008] The washing machine combined with the dryer can be
classified into a condenser type and a vented type depending on a
drying method.
[0009] The washing machine combined with the condenser type dryer
removes residual moisture from clothes by circulating air through a
drum, a heat exchanger, and a heater without discharging the air
out of the washing machine until the heat drying operation is
completed. That is, the air becomes moist after passing through the
drum, the moist air cools down at the heat exchanger by exchanging
heat with a cooling water, the moisture in the air condenses and
drops down to the bottom of the tub as the moist air cools down,
and the air is heated again by the heater and then enters the drum
again.
[0010] In the washing machine combined with the vented type dryer,
on the contrary, a heated dry air is blew into a drum to take
moisture from clothes and then the air containing lots of moisture
is discharged out of the washing machine through a connecting pipe
connected between a tub and a vent duct.
[0011] However, the moist air, which is discharged from the washing
machine combined with the vented type dryer, contains lint such as
fluff, thereby contaminating the indoor air.
[0012] Further, the lint in the moist air, though it is light,
falls down and builds up while it is discharged from the tub to the
outside through the vent duct. Particularly, the lint builds up on
a pleated surface of the connecting pipe connected between the tub
and the vent duct. The build-up of the lint becomes bigger
according to the time of use, blocking the vent duct. Further, the
build-up of the lint increases the possibility of fire. Therefore,
there is an increasing need for a structure that can remove the
problems related to the lint.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a washing
machine combined with a dryer that substantially obviates one or
more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related
art.
[0014] An object of the present invention is to provide a washing
machine combined with a vented type dryer, in which an air-vent
line, including an air-vent hose connected between a tub and the
air-vent duct, is prevented from being plugged by lint generated
during a heat drying operation.
[0015] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
washing machine combined with a dryer, in which lint generated
during a heat drying operation is prevented from building up in an
air-vent line and therefore the possibility of fire reduces.
[0016] A further another object of the present invention is to
provide a washing machine combined with a dryer that has a lint
filter assembly to remove lint, the lint filter assembly being
designed such that a user can easily install and replace it.
[0017] Additional advantages, objects, and features of the
invention will be set forth in part in the description which
follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary
skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be
learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other
advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the
structure particularly pointed out in the written description and
claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.
[0018] To achieve these objects and other advantages and in
accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and
broadly described herein, there is provided a washing machine
combined with a dryer, including: a cabinet; a tub installed in the
cabinet; an air-vent hose installed at an outer surface of the tub;
a lint filter assembly having one end connected to the air-vent
hose to remove lint from air discharged from the tub; and an
air-vent duct connected to the other end of the lint filter
assembly.
[0019] In another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a washing machine combined with a dryer, including: a
cabinet; a top plate to cover a top of the cabinet; a tub installed
in the cabinet; a lint filter assembly including a lint filter to
remove lint from a moist air discharged from the tub, a filter
housing to receive the lint filter, and a seal fitted between the
lint filter and the filter housing to prevent air leakage; and a
dryer duct installed above the tub to supply a hot air to the tub
during a heat drying operation.
[0020] In a further another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a washing machine combined with a dryer, including: a
lint filter including a mesh type filter, a filter frame around the
mesh type filter, and a handgrip formed on a top of the filter
frame; a seal fitted around the lint filter; a filter housing
including a filter chamber to receive the lint filter, an air inlet
to introduce a moist air discharged from a tub, and an air outlet
to discharge the moist air introduced through the air inlet; and a
filter cover mounted on an end of the filter chamber.
[0021] In a still further another aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a washing machine combined with a dryer,
including: a tub; an air-vent hose connected to a rear of the tub;
and a detachable lint filter assembly connected with the air-vent
hose to remove lint from a moist air discharged through the
air-vent hose.
[0022] According to the present invention, the lint separated from
clothes during a heat drying operation can be collected and
regularly removed, such that the lint does not build up in the
air-vent duct.
[0023] Further, since the collected lint can be regularly removed
by a user, the possibility of fire in the washing machine due to
the build-up of the lint is reduced.
[0024] Further, since the lint filter can be easily detached from
the washing machine, the user does not need to call a repairman to
clean or replace the lint filter, thereby increasing user
convenience.
[0025] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description of the present
invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide
further explanation of the invention as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a
further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of
the invention and together with the description serve to explain
the principle of the invention. In the drawings:
[0027] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a washing machine combined
with a dryer in which a lint filter assembly is installed according
to the present invention;
[0028] FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the washing machine
combined with the dryer depicted in FIG. 1;
[0029] FIG. 3 is an exploded cut-away view of a lint filter
assembly according to the present invention;
[0030] FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view showing installation of
the lint filter assembly depicted in FIG. 3; and
[0031] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a washing machine combined
with a dryer in which a lint filter assembly is installed according
to another embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0032] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred
embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
[0033] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a washing machine combined
with a dryer in which a lint filter assembly is installed according
to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of
the washing machine combined with the dryer depicted in FIG. 1.
[0034] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a washing machine combined with
a dryer 100 includes: an enclosing cabinet 103; a top plate 101
mounted on a top of the cabinet 103; a base plate 102 installed on
a bottom of the cabinet 103; a front cover 105 mounted on a front
of the cabinet 103; a door 104 rotatably installed at a center of
the front cover 105; a control panel 500 installed at an upper
portion of the front cover 105, the control panel 500 having a
plurality of input buttons and a display; a detergent dispenser
drawer 510 inserted into a side of the control panel 500 to receive
detergent or fabric softener.
[0035] Further, the washing machine combined with the dryer 100
includes a tub 130 installed in the cabinet 103 to receive water
(or mixture of water and detergent), a drum 120 installed in the
tub 130 to receive clothes, and a driving motor 110 mounted on a
back of the tub 130 to rotate the drum 120. The driving motor 110
includes a shaft 111 connected to a rear of the drum 120.
[0036] Further, the washing machine combined with the dryer 100
includes a dryer duct 400 installed between the cabinet 103 and a
top of the tub 130 to introduce a surrounding air into the tub 130,
an air-vent hose 310 connected to a top rear of the tub 130 to vent
a moist air from the drum 120 to the outside, and a lint filter
assembly 200 removably installed in the air-vent hose 310 to remove
lint from the moist air passing therethrough during a heat drying
operation. Herein, the term "lint" is used to refer to little
pieces of thread and fluff, dust, and other particles that are
contained in the air passing through the lint filter assembly
200.
[0037] The lint filter assembly 200 has one end connected to the
tub 130 and the other end connected to an air-vent duct 300. The
dryer duct 400 includes a blower fan 420 installed therein to draw
air and a heater 410 to apply heat to the drawn air. Also, the
dryer duct 400 includes a fan motor 430 to drive the blower fan
420.
[0038] Further, the washing machine combined with the dryer 100
includes a water drain tube 141 of which one end is connected to a
bottom of the tub 130 to discharge water contaminated during a
washing operation or a rinsing operation, a water drain pump 140
connected to the other end of the water drain tube 141 to pump out
the contaminated water, and a water drain hose 142 to discharge the
contaminated water pumped by the water drain pump 140 to the
outside.
[0039] An operation of the washing machine combined with the dryer
100 will now be described.
[0040] First, a user opens the door 104, loads clothes in the drum
120 through the opened door 104, and closes the door 104. Next, the
user pulls out the detergent dispenser drawer 510 to fill it with
detergent and fabric softener. Then, the user selects operating
conditions using the control panel 500 and presses a start button
on the control panel 500.
[0041] Upon the pressing of the start button of the control panel
500, water is supplied to the detergent dispenser drawer 510
through a water inlet hose (not shown). The water mixed with the
detergent (washing water) enters the tub 130 through a bellows (not
shown) connected between the detergent dispenser drawer 510 and the
tub 130. The water is supplied until the tub 130 is filled with the
water to a predetermined level. After the water is filled, the
driving motor 110 drives the drum 120 to carry out a washing
operation.
[0042] During the washing operation, the clothes and the washing
water is lifted up by the rotation of the drum 120 and then dropped
down. By these up and down motions and the detergent, the dirt can
be removed from the clothes during the washing operation.
[0043] After the washing operation is carried out for a set time,
the washing water contaminated is discharged and fresh water is
supplied to the tub 130 to carry out a rinsing operation. In
detail, when the contaminated water is discharged, the driving
motor 110 is stopped and the water drain pump 140 is operated to
drain the contaminated water from the tub 130 through the water
drain tube 141 toward the water drain hose 142. After discharging
the contaminated water, the fresh water (rinsing water) is supplied
to the tub 130 for the rinsing operation.
[0044] Further, a spin drying operation is carried out after the
rinsing operation to remove residual water from the clothes, and
then a heat drying operation is optionally carried out.
[0045] In the heat drying operation, the blower fan 420 installed
in the dryer duct 400 is driven to draw in a surrounding air from
between the cabinet 103 and the tub 130. The heater 410 applies
heat to the drawn-in air, and the heated air is directed into the
tub 130 along the dryer duct 400. The heated air flows from the tub
130 into the drum 120 through the plurality of holes 141 defined in
the drum 120. The heated air, having a low humidity, takes moisture
from the clothes and therefore it becomes a moist air. Then, the
moist air is discharged to the outside of the washing machine 100
through air-vent hose 310, the lint filter assembly 200, and the
air-vent duct 300.
[0046] Here, the lint filter assembly 200 collects lint from the
moist air passing therethrough. The collected lint builds up on a
filter (as will be described later) of the lint filter assembly
200. A user can detach the filter from the washing machine 100 to
clean it.
[0047] FIG. 3 is an exploded cut-away view of a lint filter
assembly according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 is an
enlarged sectional view showing installation of the lint filter
assembly depicted in FIG. 3.
[0048] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the lint filter assembly 200 is
located between the tub 130 and the cabinet 103 to connect the
air-vent hose 310 and the air-vent duct 300.
[0049] In detail, the lint filter assembly 200 includes a lint
filter 210 to collect lint, a filter housing 230 in which the lint
filter 210 is detachably inserted, and a filter cover 220 coupled
to a top of the filter housing 230, and a seal 240 fitted around
the lint filter 210.
[0050] The lint filter 210 includes a mesh type filter 212, a
filter frame 211 around the filter 212 to hold the filter 212, a
handgrip 213 extended from a top of the filter frame 211 for a use
to hold it, and a seal groove 214 defined between the filter frame
211 and the handgrip 213 with a predetermine depth to receive the
seal 240. The handgrip 213 is sized such that it protrudes from the
top plate 101 by a predetermined length when the lint filter 210 is
completely inserted. Therefore, a use can easily detach the lint
filter 210 from the washing machine 100 by simply pulling the
handgrip 213 out. The filter frame 211 defines a hooking groove 215
at its lower end with a predetermined depth to couple with a
hooking tab (as will be described later) of the filter housing 230,
thereby preventing the lint filter 210 from shaking and moving out
from the installed position. Since a hot, moist air discharged from
the drum 120 is directed to the filter 212, the filter 212 may be
made of heat resistant material for durability against the
high-temperature air passing therethrough.
[0051] The filter housing 230 includes a filter chamber 231 having
a substantially the same height as the filter frame 211 to receive
the lint filter 210, an air inlet 233 extended from one side of the
filter chamber 231 for connection with the air-vent hose 310, and
an air outlet 234 extendedly from the other side of the filter
chamber 231 for connection with the air-vent duct 300. Since the
air inlet 233 and the air outlet 234 are formed in opposite
directions to each other, air can smoothly flow from the air-vent
hose 310 to the air-vent duct 300 after passing through the lint
filter 210.
[0052] Further, the filter housing 230 includes a mounting groove
236 at an inner bottom to receive the lower end of the lint filter
210, a bottom guide rib 235 protruded along one side of the
mounting groove 236 with a predetermined height, a hooking tab 237
protruded from the other side of the mounting groove 236 toward the
bottom guide rib 235, and side guide ribs 232 at an inner side face
of the filter chamber 231.
[0053] The side guide ribs 232 are formed in the insertion
direction of the lint filter 210, i.e., in a vertical direction, to
guide the insertion of the lint filter 210.
[0054] In detail, the side guide ribs 232 are two in number and are
spaced apart from each other to receive the filter frame 211
therebetween. Therefore, air leakage can be prevented between the
filter frame 211 and the inner wall of the filter chamber 231. The
bottom guide rib 235 is formed on the inner bottom of the filter
housing 230 to exactly and tightly receive the lower end of the
lint filter 210. Also, since the lower end of the filter frame 211
is inserted into the mounting groove 236, air leakage can be
prevented between the lower end of the filter frame 211 and the
filter housing 230. Further, when the lower end of the filter frame
211 is inserted into the mounting groove 236, the hooking tab 237
of the filter housing 230 snaps into the hooking groove 215 of the
filter frame 211 to lock the filter frame 211, thereby preventing
separation of the lint filter 210.
[0055] The filter cover 220 covers the opened top of the filter
housing 230, i.e., the opened top of the filter chamber 231. The
filter cover 220 defines a filter inserting slot 221 to receive the
lint filter 210. When the lint filter 210 is inserted into the
filter inserting slot 221, the seal 240 fitted around the lint
filter 210 is brought into tight contact with the inner surface of
the filter inserting slot 221, thereby hermetically sealing the
gap.
[0056] An installation of the lint filter 210 will now be
described.
[0057] First, a user holds the handgrip 213 of the lint filter 210
with a hand and then he/she inserts the lint filter 210 into the
filter housing 230 with the lower end of the filter frame 211
pointing to the filter inserting slot 221. The inserted lint filter
210 is guided by the side guide ribs 232 until the lower end of the
filter frame 211 is completely inserted into the mounting groove
236 of the filter housing 230. Here, the bottom guide rib 235 of
the filter housing 230 exactly places the lower end of the filter
frame 211 into the mounting groove 236, and the hooking tab 237 of
the filter housing 230 snaps into the hooking groove 215 of the
filter frame 211. When the lint filter is completely inserted, the
seal 240 around the lint filter 210 hermetically seals the gap
between the lint filter 210 and the filter inserting slot 221 of
the filter cover 220. Therefore, the lint filter 210 can collect
lint from a moist air discharged from the tub 130 through the
air-vent hose 230, and it can be detached from the washing machine
100 to shake build-up of the lint off the filter 212.
[0058] Meanwhile, the side guide ribs 232 are inclined at a
predetermined angle to the vertical to receive the lint filter 210
at the predetermined angle, such that a user can easily insert and
detach the lint filter 210 by pushing and pulling the handgrip
213.
[0059] Further, the seal 240, fitted into the seal groove 214 of
the handgrip 213, may be made of rubber or the like to hermetically
seal the gap between the lint filter 210 and the filter cover
220.
[0060] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a washing machine combined
with a dryer in which a lint filter assembly is installed according
to another embodiment of the present invention.
[0061] Referring to FIG. 5, the lint filter assembly 200 is
installed at a side of the cabinet, such that a user can insert and
detach the lint filter 210 into and from the side.
[0062] That is, the filter chamber 231 of the filter housing 230 at
a side of the washing machine 100, and the cabinet 103 defines a
slot to receive the lint filter 210.
[0063] Therefore, other stuff such as a dish washer can be placed
on the top of the washing machine 100. That is, the top surface of
the washing machine can be more effectively used. Also, when the
lint filter 210 is inserted into the side of the washing machine
100, the handgrip 213 is protruded from the side surface and it is
tilted toward the front of the washing machine 100, such that a use
can easily insert and detach the lint filter 210.
[0064] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variations can be made in the present invention.
Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the
modifications and variations of this invention provided they come
within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *