U.S. patent application number 11/229607 was filed with the patent office on 2006-05-18 for washing machine having a condensing duct.
This patent application is currently assigned to SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Hwang-mook Cho, Hyung-gyoon Kim, Jae-ryong Park, Sang-yeon Pyo, Byoung-yull Yang.
Application Number | 20060101870 11/229607 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35705315 |
Filed Date | 2006-05-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060101870 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cho; Hwang-mook ; et
al. |
May 18, 2006 |
Washing machine having a condensing duct
Abstract
A washing machine includes a drum and a condensing duct that
communicates with the drum. The condensing duct includes an air
inlet unit, a condensing unit and an air outlet unit which are
connected sequentially. A condensed water jetting member is
provided inside the condensing unit and a backward flow blocking
guide is provided inside the condensing unit. The condensing unit
has a flow width larger than the air inlet unit and the air outlet
unit.
Inventors: |
Cho; Hwang-mook; (Suwon-si,
KR) ; Yang; Byoung-yull; (Ansan-si, KR) ;
Park; Jae-ryong; (Suwon-si, KR) ; Kim;
Hyung-gyoon; (Suwon-si, KR) ; Pyo; Sang-yeon;
(Suwon-si, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SUGHRUE MION, PLLC
2100 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, N.W.
SUITE 800
WASHINGTON
DC
20037
US
|
Assignee: |
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO.,
LTD.
|
Family ID: |
35705315 |
Appl. No.: |
11/229607 |
Filed: |
September 20, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
68/19.2 ; 68/140;
68/20; 68/24; 68/58 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 58/24 20130101;
D06F 25/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
068/019.2 ;
068/020; 068/024; 068/058; 068/140 |
International
Class: |
D06F 39/04 20060101
D06F039/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 12, 2004 |
KR |
2004-0092507 |
Nov 17, 2004 |
KR |
2004-0093878 |
Claims
1. A washing machine comprising: a drum; a condensing duct that
communicates with the drum, comprising an air inlet unit, a
condensing unit and an air outlet unit which are connected
sequentially; a condensed water jetting member provided inside the
condensing unit; a backward flow blocking guide provided inside the
condensing unit; and the condensing unit has a flow width larger
than the air inlet unit and the air outlet unit.
2. The washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein a condensed
water scattering unit in which the condensed water is collected and
then scattered is formed on a lower portion of the condensing unit
and a condensed water collecting unit to block backward flowing of
the condensed water is formed on an upper portion of the condensing
unit.
3. The washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
condensing unit has an upper flow width larger than a lower flow
width thereof, and the backward flow blocking guide is projected on
an upper internal wall face of the condensing unit.
4. The washing machine as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a
backward flow blocking projection to block the condensed water
formed on an edge portion of the backward flow blocking guide from
being backward flown by internally circulated air.
5. The washing machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein a space
portion is formed between the backward flow blocking guide and the
backward flow blocking projection.
6. The washing machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein the backward
flow blocking guide and the backward flow blocking projection are
integrally connected, and a space portion is formed between the
backward flow blocking projection and an internal wall face of the
condensing duct.
7. The washing machine as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a
condensed water scattering plate supported by a lower internal wall
face of the condensing unit to be positioned on an upper part of
the condensed water scattering unit, having an air passing hole
communicating with the air inlet unit in a center region
thereof.
8. The washing machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein the air
passing hole is sized larger than the air inlet unit.
9. The washing machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein the condensed
water scattering plate is arranged perpendicularly to a flowing
direction of internally circulated air passing through the
condensing duct.
10. The washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the air
outlet unit has a bent flow path.
11. The washing machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein a backward
flow blocking projection is formed on a boundary region of the
condensed water collecting unit and the air outlet unit.
12. A dryer comprising: a drum; a condensing duct that communicates
with the drum, comprising an air inlet unit, a condensing unit and
an air outlet unit which are connected sequentially; a condensed
water jetting member provided inside the condensing unit; a
backward flow blocking guide provided inside the condensing unit;
and the condensing unit has a flow width larger than the air inlet
unit and the air outlet unit.
13. The dryer as claimed in claim 12, wherein the condensing duct
is formed with at least one condensed water collecting unit which
is protruded to collect condensed water backwardly flown by
internally circulated air.
14. The washing machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the
condensing duct is formed with an auxiliary condensed water
collecting unit which is protruded to collect condensed water
backwardly flowing after passing through the condensed water
collecting unit.
15. A washing machine comprising: a drum; a condensing duct that
communicates with the drum; a condensed water jetting member
provided inside of the condensing duct; and a backward flow
blocking guide provided inside of the condensing duct, wherein the
condensing duct comprises at least one condensed water collecting
unit which is protruded to collect condensed water backwardly flown
by internally circulated air.
16. The washing machine as claimed in claim 15, wherein the
condensed water collecting unit is provided on an upper portion of
the backward flow blocking guide.
17. The washing machine as claimed in claim 15, wherein the
condensing duct comprises an air inlet unit through which internal
air of the drum is flown, a condensing unit through which air flown
through the air inlet unit passes, and an air outlet unit through
which the air having passed through the condensing unit passes,
further comprising an auxiliary condensed water collecting unit
which is protruded to collect condensed water backwardly flowing
after passing through the condensed water collecting unit.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This invention is based on and claims priority from Korean
Patent Applications No. 2004-0092507 filed on Nov. 12, 2004, and
No. 2004-0093878 filed on Nov. 17, 2004, in the Korean Intellectual
Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in
its entirety by reference.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a washing machine, and more
particularly, to a washing machine having an improved structure of
a condensing duct.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Generally a washing machine is an appliance to wash the
laundry with the use of mechanical power, which is classified into
several kinds of washing machines according to washing mechanisms.
Especially, a drum-type washing machine refers to a kind of washing
machine, which washes the laundry with impacts generated when the
laundry is dropped downward by rotating a washing tank 360 degrees
while using a small amount of water. In addition to a washing
function, the drum-type washing machine has various functions such
as rinsing, dehydrating, and drying.
[0006] By the drying function of the drum-type washing machine,
heated air is supplied to the inside of a drum to thereby heat the
laundry therein and the air at high temperature and high humidity
generated in the course of heating the laundry passes a condensing
process to enhance a drying efficiency.
[0007] Most of the conventional drum-type washing machines
respectively comprise a drum, a condensing duct communicating with
the drum, and a condensed water jetting member provided inside the
condensing duct. Inside the condensing duct are mounted an
elevation limiting projection to block condensed water from being
flown backward according to internally circulated air being
elevated, and a condensed water collecting projection guiding
scattering of the condensed water is installed on the bottom of the
elevation limiting projection. A drum-type washing machine with
this configuration is disclosed in Korean Patent Application No.
10-2002-0054390.
[0008] However, the drum-type washing machine as described above
has a limitation in blocking the condensed water flowing backward
by the internally circulated air from being flown into the inside
of the drum, resorting only to the elevation limiting projection
provided on the internal wall face of the condensing duct.
[0009] In addition, the condensed water collecting projection is
partially mounted on a side of the condensing duct and scatters the
condensed water which is flowing down from the elevation limiting
projection, thereby failing to produce a relatively high scattering
effect of the condensed water.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] Illustrative, non-limiting embodiments of the present
invention overcome the above disadvantages, and other disadvantages
not described above.
[0011] Accordingly, an apparatus consistent with the present
invention provides a washing machine capable of blocking the
condensed water from being backward flown and enhancing a
scattering efficiency of the condensed water.
[0012] The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention
are also achieved by providing a washing machine comprising: a
drum; a condensing duct that communicates with the drum, comprising
an air inlet unit, a condensing unit and an air outlet unit which
are connected sequentially; a condensed water jetting member
provided inside the condensing unit; a backward flow blocking guide
provided inside the condensing unit; and the condensing unit being
provided with a flow width larger than the air inlet unit and the
air outlet unit.
[0013] According to the embodiment of the present invention, a
condensed water scattering unit in which the condensed water is
collected and then scattered is formed on a lower portion of the
condensing unit and a condensed water collecting unit to block
backward flowing of the condensed water is formed on an upper
portion of the condensing unit.
[0014] According to the embodiment of the present invention, the
condensing unit has an upper flow width larger than a lower flow
width thereof, and the backward flow blocking guide is projected on
an upper internal wall face of the condensing unit.
[0015] According to another embodiment of the present invention,
the washing machine further comprises a backward flow blocking
projection to block the condensed water formed on an edge portion
of the backward water blocking guide from being flown backward by
internally circulated air.
[0016] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a
space portion is formed between the backward flow blocking guide
and the backward flow blocking projection.
[0017] According to another embodiment of the present invention,
the backward flow blocking guide and the backward flow blocking
projection are integrally connected, and a space portion is formed
between the backward flow blocking projection and an internal wall
face of the condensing duct.
[0018] According to another embodiment of the present invention,
the washing machine further comprising a condensed water scattering
plate supported by a lower internal wall face of the condensing
unit to be positioned on an upper part of the condensed water
scattering unit, having an air passing hole communicating with the
air inlet unit in a center region thereof.
[0019] According to another embodiment of the present invention,
the air passing hole is sized larger than the air inlet unit.
[0020] Further, according to the present invention, the condensed
water scattering plate is arranged perpendicularly to a flowing
direction of internally circulated air passing through the
condensing duct.
[0021] According to another embodiment of the present invention,
the air outlet unit has a bent flow path.
[0022] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a
backward flow blocking projection is formed on a boundary region of
the condensed water collecting unit and the air outlet unit.
[0023] According to another embodiment of the present invention,
the condensing duct is formed with an auxiliary condensed water
collecting unit which is protruded to collect condensed water
backwardly flowing after passing through the condensed water
collecting unit.
[0024] The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention
are also achieved by providing a washing machine comprising a drum;
a condensing duct that communicates with the drum; a condensed
water jetting member provided inside of the condensing duct; and a
backward flow blocking guide provided inside the condensing duct,
wherein the condensing duct comprises at least one condensed water
collecting unit which is protruded to collect condensed water
backwardly flowing by internally circulated air.
[0025] According to another embodiment of the present invention,
the condensed water collecting unit is provided on top of the
backward flow blocking guide.
[0026] According to another embodiment of the present invention,
the condensing duct comprises an air inlet unit through which
internal air of the drum is flown, a condensing unit through which
air flown through the air inlet unit passes, and an air outlet unit
through which the air having passed through the condensing unit
passes, further comprising an auxiliary condensed water collecting
unit which is protruded to collect condensed water backwardly
flowing after passing through the condensed water collecting
unit.
[0027] The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention
are also achieved by providing a dryer comprising: a drum; a
condensing duct that communicates with the drum, comprising an air
inlet unit, a condensing unit and an air outlet unit which are
connected sequentially; a condensed water jetting member provided
inside the condensing unit; a backward flow blocking guide provided
inside the condensing unit; and the condensing unit being provided
with a flow width larger than the air inlet unit and the air outlet
unit.
[0028] According to another embodiment of the present invention,
the condensing duct comprises at least one condensed water
collecting unit which is protruded to collect condensed water
backwardly flown by internally circulated air.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] The above and other objects and features of the present
invention will become apparent from the following description of
exemplary embodiments given in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0030] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a washing machine
according to the present invention;
[0031] FIG. 2 is a sectional view illustrating the washing machine
according to the present invention;
[0032] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a condensing duct
of the washing machine according to the present invention;
[0033] FIGS. 4A and 4B are perspective views illustrating a
condensed water scattering plate provided inside the condensing
duct of the washing machine according to the present invention;
[0034] FIG. 5 is a sectional view partially illustrating a backward
flow blocking guide and a backward flow blocking projection,
provided inside the condensing duct of the washing machine
according to the present invention; and
[0035] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating flows of
internally circulated air passing through the condensing duct of
the washing machine according to the present invention and the
condensed water backward flown.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0036] The above and/or other aspects and advantages of the present
invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from
the following description of the exemplary embodiments, taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:
[0037] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a drum-type washing machine
according to the present invention comprises a main casing 10, a
cylinder-type drum 20 installed inside the main casing 10 in which
the laundry is put, a cylinder-type washing tank 22 having
dehydrating holes on the wall face thereof, a driving motor 23
provided below a lower part of the drum 20, rotating the washing
tank 22 forwardly or backwardly, to thereby perform operations to
wash, rinse and dehydrate the laundry, and a door 24 installed in
front of the main casing 10, for opening and closing the body
casing 10.
[0038] Over the top of the drum 20 are provided water supplying
units such as water supplying valves 25, water supply tubes 26, a
detergent dissolving unit 27, which supply water for washing and
also dissolve the detergent in the course of supplying the
water.
[0039] On the top of the drum 20 is also provided a drying unit to
dry the laundry after the dehydrating operation has been
completed.
[0040] The drying unit comprises a blowing fan 70 mounted on the
top of the drum 20, a discharging duct 80 mounted between the
blowing fan 70 and an air inlet 21a of the drum 20 to communicate
with them, a heater 60 mounted inside the discharge duct 80, a
condensing duct 30 mounted between an air outlet 21b of the drum 20
and the blowing fan 70 to communicate with them, a condensed water
jetting member 40 jetting the condensed water, and a condensed
water supplying tube 42 connected to the condensed water jetting
member 40, supplying the condensed water to the condensed water
jetting member 40. With this configuration, air blown through the
blowing fan 70 is heated by the heater 60 while having passed the
discharging duct 80 and is then supplied to the inside of the drum
20 through the air inlet 21a, thereby drying the laundry.
[0041] The air at high temperature and high humidity generated in
the course of drying the laundry is flown into the inside of the
condensing duct 30 through the air outlet 21b of the drum 20, and
water contained in the air at high temperature and high humidity
flown inside the condensing duct 30 is condensed by the condensed
water jetted downward through the condensed water jetting member 40
in the course of being flown into the blowing fan 70.
[0042] Below the lower part of the drum 20 is provided a draining
unit such as a draining tube 28 and a draining pump 29, which drain
the water externally.
[0043] Inside the condensing duct 30 is provided a backward flow
blocking guide 50 to block the condensed water jetted through the
condensed water jetting member 40 from being backward flown inside
the drum 20 due to the speed of internally circulated air passing
through the condensing duct 30. Backward flowing of the condensed
water may be caused by increasing relatively the speed of the
internally circulated air to enhance the drying efficiency of the
washing machine.
[0044] As illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 6, the condensing duct 30 of
the washing machine according to the present invention comprises an
air inlet unit 32 through which internal air of the drum 20 (refer
to FIG. 2) is flown, a condensing unit 34 through which air flown
through the air inlet unit 32 passes, and an air outlet unit 36
through which the air having passed through the condensing unit 34
passes. The air inlet unit 32, the condensing unit 34 and the air
outlet unit 36 are interconnected sequentially.
[0045] The condensing unit 34 has a flow width larger than the air
inlet unit 32 and the air outlet unit 36 so as to block the
condensed water from being backward flown and to guide the dropping
condensed water to be scattered. Namely, a condensed water
scattering unit 34a in which the condensed water is collected and
then scattered is formed on the bottom of the condensing unit 34
and a condensed water collecting unit 34b to block backward flowing
of the condensed water is formed on the top of the condensing unit
34.
[0046] According to this, the condensed water jetted through the
condensed water jetting member 40 and scattered by the internally
circulated water is primarily blocked from being backward flown by
the backward flow blocking guide 50. Also, the condensed water that
has been backward flown, which has not been blocked by the backward
flow blocking guide 50, collides with the condensed water
collecting unit 34b formed on the condensing duct 30, and is led to
be dropped downward when the internally circulated air is changed
in its flow direction.
[0047] The shape of the condensed water collecting unit 34b may be
modified in a various manner as necessary so as to enhance an
efficiency of blocking backward flow of the condensed water, by
extending a region where the condensed water collides with an
internal wall face of the condensing unit 34 or the number thereof
to be formed may also be adjusted as appropriate.
[0048] The condensing unit 34 has an upper flow width larger than a
lower flow width thereof so as to cause the flow path of the
internally circulated air to be changed, and the backward flow
blocking guide 50 is projected from the upper internal wall face of
the condensing unit 34.
[0049] The backward flow blocking guide 50 is sufficiently sized to
cover the size of the air outlet unit 36 so as to minimize backward
flow of the condensed water jetted through the condensed water
jetting member 40, and is installed on an incline, so as to allow
the condensed water collected in the top face thereof to be easily
flown.
[0050] On the top of the backward flow blocking guide 50 is
provided a backward flow blocking projection 52 to block the
condensed water formed on an edge portion of the backward flow
blocking guide 50 from being backward flown by the internally
circulated air passing through the condensing duct 30.
[0051] The backward flow blocking projection 52 is sufficiently
sized to cover the edge portion of the backward flow blocking guide
50, and the size and the shape of the backward flow blocking
projection 52 may also be modified in a various manner to the
extent that the condensed water formed on the edge portion of the
backward flow blocking guide 50 can be blocked from being backward
flown by the internally circulated air passing through the
condensing duct 30. The backward flow blocking projection 52 is
preferably arranged perpendicularly to the backward flow blocking
guide 50.
[0052] As illustrated in FIG. 4A, a space portion 53a is formed
between the backward flow blocking guide 50 and the backward flow
blocking projection 52. This formation is designed to allow the
condensed water flown downward along the top face of the backward
flow blocking guide 50 to be dropped to the lower part of the
condensing duct 30 through the space portion 53a between the
backward flow blocking guide 50 and the backward flow blocking
projection 52. At this time, the condensed water collected to a
predetermined amount in the edge portion of the backward flow
blocking guide 50 is flown out through the space portion 53a
between the backward flow blocking guide 50 and the backward flow
blocking projection 52 when it has a larger tension that that of
the backward flow blocking guide 50.
[0053] As illustrated in FIG. 4B, the backward flow blocking guide
50 and the backward flow blocking projection 52 may be constructed
so that they are integrally connected and a space portion 53b is
formed between the backward flow blocking projection 52 and the
internal wall face of the condensing duct 30. This construction is
designed to allow the condensed water flown downward along the top
face of the backward flow blocking guide 50 to be dropped to the
lower part of the condensing duct 30 through the space portion 53b
between the backward flow blocking projection 52 and the internal
wall face of the condensing duct 30.
[0054] Where the space portion 53b to allow the condensed water
between the backward flow blocking projection 52 and the internal
wall face of the condensing duct 30 is formed, the backward flow
blocking guide 50 is preferably installed on an incline in lateral
and longitudinal directions.
[0055] On a lower internal wall face of the condensing unit 34 is
mounted a condensed water scattering plate 90 to extend scattering
of the condensed water. An outer circumference of the condensed
water scattering plate 90 needs to maintain a close contact with
the internal wall face of the condensing unit 34 so that the
condensed water jetted through the condensed water jetting member
40 can be collected on the top face of the plate 90.
[0056] On the central region of the condensed water scattering
plate 90 is formed an air passing hole 94 that communicates with
the air inlet unit 32. The internally circulated air flown through
the air inlet unit 32 passes through the air passing hole 94,
during which the condensed water collected in the condensed water
scattering plate 90 is allowed to be scattered. The condensed water
scattered in this way is restricted from being elevated by the
backward flow blocking guide 50, thereby blocking the condensed
water from being flown into the air outlet unit 36.
[0057] Preferably, the air passing hole 94 of the condensed water
scattering plate 90 is sized larger than the air inlet unit 32 of
the condensing duct 30, and it is installed perpendicularly to a
flowing direction of the internally circulated air passing through
the condensing duct 30.
[0058] The air outlet unit 36 has a bent flow path whereby the
condensed water partially flown thereinto, not eliminated through
the backward flow blocking guide 50 and a condensed water
collecting unit 34b, can be completely eliminated. As necessary, an
auxiliary condensed water collecting unit 36b may be formed with
the air outlet unit 36 on top of the condensing unit 34.
[0059] On the boundary region of the auxiliary condensed water
collecting unit 36b and the air outlet unit 36 is formed another
backward flow blocking projection 37 to block the condensed water
from being flown into the air outlet unit 36 through the auxiliary
condensed water collecting unit 36b.
[0060] A condensing operation of the washing machine as described
above will be briefly described with reference to FIG. 6.
[0061] The condensed water jetted through the condensed water
jetting member 40 and scattered by the internally circulated air is
primarily blocked by the backward flow blocking guide 50, and the
condensed water backward flown, which is not blocked by the
backward flow blocking guide 50, is secondarily blocked by the
condensed water collecting unit 34b on the upper portion of the
condensing unit 34.
[0062] A part of the condensed water flown into the air outlet unit
36, which is not blocked by the condensed water collecting unit
34b, is completely blocked by the bent flow path of the air outlet
unit 36 and the auxiliary condensed water collecting unit 36b
formed on the bent flow path, thereby minimizing a possibility that
the condensed water is flown into the inside of the drum 20.
[0063] In FIG. 6, solid-lined arrows represent a direction of the
condensed water backward flown by the internally circulated air and
dotted arrows represent a flowing direction of the internally
circulated air.
[0064] According to the present invention as described above, a
drying efficiency of a washing machine can be enhanced by
efficiently blocking backward flow of the condensed water and also
extending scattering of the condensed water.
[0065] Although the present invention has been described in
connection with a drum-type washing machine having a drying unit by
way of example, it may be applicable by those in the art to other
apparatuses such as a dryer to dry the laundry. In this case, the
drums of the drum-type washing machine and of the dryer receiving
the laundry therein perform the same function, and other
construction elements may be identical.
[0066] Further, it should be understood that the present invention
is not limited to any exemplary embodiment described above and
those skilled in the art may make various modifications and changes
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the
scope of which is defined by the claims attached hereto and their
equivalents.
* * * * *