U.S. patent application number 10/471509 was filed with the patent office on 2006-07-27 for washing machine and dryer having being improved duct structure thereof.
Invention is credited to Han Ki Cho, Young Hoon Ha, Yeon Su Jung, Jung Hoon Kang, Jong Seok Kim, Yang Hwan No, Myung Sik Park.
Application Number | 20060162394 10/471509 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36695252 |
Filed Date | 2006-07-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060162394 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kim; Jong Seok ; et
al. |
July 27, 2006 |
Washing machine and dryer having being improved duct structure
thereof
Abstract
The present invention relates to a washing machine and dryer
with an improved duct structure. A cabinet (100) form a an outer
shell of the washing machine and dryer, and a tub (200) is
installed within the cabinet (100). A drum (250) is rotatably
installed within the tub (200). Since a drying duct (300) is
installed in an upper portion of the tub (200) that is eccentric
toward one side when viewed from the front of the tub (200), an
internal space utilization of the cabinet (100) is enhanced and the
equipment can be compact. The drying duct (300) is manufactured
with two bodies that are a lower part (310) and an upper part (320)
formed by extending a discharge part (330) from one end portion of
the drying duct (300), so that the number of parts and the number
of assemble processes are reduced and the productivity is improved.
Since the discharge part (330) and the lower part (310) are formed
in one body, it can prevent the damage and the air leakage, caused
in a connection portion due to vibration, and the flowing noise
caused by them. The discharge part (330) is extended to be slant in
a rotation direction of the drum (250) and a guidance part is
extended in a tangential direction with respect to a rotation
direction of the drum (250) at one end portion of the discharge
part (330), thus smoothly supplying air to the drum (250). A
condensation duct (400) has one end connected to the drying duct
(300) and the other end connected to an inside of the tub (200). A
heater (800) is installed within the drying duct (300) and a
circulation fan (350) is installed in the other end of the drying
duct (300) to which the condensation duct is connected.
Inventors: |
Kim; Jong Seok;
(Changwon-shi, KR) ; No; Yang Hwan; (Changwon-shi,
KR) ; Cho; Han Ki; (Changwon-shi, JP) ; Jung;
Yeon Su; (Changwon-shi, KR) ; Kang; Jung Hoon;
(Changwon-shi, JP) ; Park; Myung Sik;
(Changwon-shi, KR) ; Ha; Young Hoon; (Masan-shi,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MCKENNA LONG & ALDRIDGE LLP
1900 K STREET, NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20006
US
|
Family ID: |
36695252 |
Appl. No.: |
10/471509 |
Filed: |
January 11, 2003 |
PCT Filed: |
January 11, 2003 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/KR03/00055 |
371 Date: |
February 5, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
68/20 ; 34/77;
68/24 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 25/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
068/020 ;
068/024; 034/077 |
International
Class: |
D06F 29/00 20060101
D06F029/00; D06F 35/00 20060101 D06F035/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 11, 2002 |
KR |
10-2002-0001733 |
Jan 17, 2002 |
KR |
10-2002-0002689 |
Claims
1. A washing machine and dryer comprising: a cabinet; a
cylinder-shaped tub installed within the cabinet; a drum, rotatably
installed within the tub; a drying duct having one end connected to
an inner side of the tub, the drying duct being installed in an
upper portion of the tub to be eccentric toward one side of the tub
when viewed from the front of the tub; a condensation duct having
one end connected to the drying duct and the other end connected to
an inner side of the tub; a circulation fan for circulating air
existing within the tub through the condensation duct and the
drying duct; and a heater for heating the air.
2. The washing machine and dryer of claim 1, wherein an upper face
of the drying duct is installed in a lower portion than that of the
tub.
3. The washing machine and dryer of claim 1, wherein a surface of
the drying duct, which is adjacent to the tub, is formed to be
slant.
4. The washing machine and dryer of claim 3, wherein the adjacent
surface of the drying duct is formed in a curved surface with the
same curvature as an outer surface of the tub.
5. The washing machine and dryer of claim 1, wherein the drying
duct includes: a lower part of which an upper portion is opened, in
which a discharge part connected to a front side of the tub is
downwardly extended from one end in one body and a communication
hole for connecting the lower part with the condensation duct is
formed in a lower portion of the other end; and an upper part
covering the opened upper portion of the lower part.
6. The washing machine and dryer of claim 5, wherein the other end
of the lower part in which the communication hole is formed is
widely formed.
7. The washing machine and dryer of claim 6, wherein the
circulation fan is inserted into the other end of the lower
part.
8. The washing machine and dryer of claim 5, wherein a surface of
the lower part, which is adjacent to the outer surface of the tub,
is formed to be slant.
9. The washing machine and dryer of claim 5, wherein the adjacent
surface of the lower part is formed in a curved surface with the
same curvature as an outer surface of the tub.
10. The washing machine and dryer of claim 5, wherein a portion in
which the discharge part is extended from one end of the lower part
is formed roundly so as to smoothly guide air.
11. The washing machine and dryer of claim 5, wherein the discharge
part is extended to be slant from the lower part in a downward
direction.
12. The washing machine and dryer of claim 11, wherein the
discharge part is formed to be slant when viewed from the front of
the tub so as to discharge air in a rotation direction of the
drum.
13. The washing machine and dryer of claim 12, further comprising a
guidance part extended from one end portion of the discharge part
in a tangential direction with respect to the rotation direction of
the tub when viewed from the front of the tub so as to discharge
air in the tangential direction with respect to the rotation
direction of the drum.
14. The washing machine and dryer of claim 1, wherein the drying
duct has both ends fixed and supported to an inner surface of the
cabinet by a first fixing member and a second fixing member.
15. The washing machine and dryer of claim 14, wherein the first
fixing member includes: a plurality of brackets protruded at one
portion of an inner surface of the cabinet; and a fixing load
protruded at one end portion of the drying duct and fixedly
inserted between the plurality of brackets.
16. The washing machine and dryer of claim 15, wherein the brackets
and the fixing load are connected to each other by bolts and
nuts.
17. The washing machine and dryer of claim 15, further comprising a
plurality of reinforcement ribs for connecting a side surface of
the fixing load with the drying duct, thereby reinforcing the
fixing load.
18. The washing machine and dryer of claim 14, wherein the second
fixing member includes: a fixing projection protruded at the other
end of the drying duct; and a fixing angle protruded at other
portion of an inner surface of the cabinet, for supporting the
fixing projection at a lower portion.
19. The washing machine and dryer of claim 18, wherein the fixing
projection and the fixing angle are fixedly connected with each
other by a bolt and a nut.
20. The washing machine and dryer of claim 1, wherein the heater is
installed in an inside of the drying duct.
21. The washing machine and dryer of claim 1, wherein the
condensation duct has one end connected to the drying duct and the
other end connected to a rear lower portion of the tub.
22. The washing machine and dryer of claim 1, wherein the tub and
the drum are installed in parallel with a horizontal plane.
23. The washing machine and dryer of claim 1, wherein the tub and
the drum are installed to be slant, such that openings of the tub
and the drum are disposed at an upper portion with respect to a
horizontal plane.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a washing machine and dryer
with a drying function, and more particularly, to a washing machine
and dryer with an improved drying duct structure, which dried air
whose moisture is removed flows through.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Generally, a washing machine is an apparatus which performs
washing, rinsing and dewatering so as to separate dirt from clothes
by the interaction of detergent and water, and is classified into
agitator type, pulsator type and drum type washing machines.
[0003] Among them, In the drum type washing machine, water,
detergent and laundry are loaded into a drum with a plurality of
protruded tumbling ribs installed in an inner surface of the drum
and the drum is rotated at a low speed. Then, the laundry is washed
due to an impact caused when the laundry is lifted by the tumbling
ribs and then drops. The drum type washing machine has an advantage
in that the laundry is not damaged. In addition, a small amount of
water is consumed and the laundry is not tangled with each
other.
[0004] Meanwhile, a dryer is a machine for automatically drying a
wet laundry after completing a washing operation. In general, the
wet laundry is loaded into a drum installed in an inner side of a
cabinet and the drum is rotated. Then, a hot wind is supplied to an
inside of the drum to thereby dry the wet laundry.
[0005] Recently, a combination dryer and drum washing machine, in
which a dryer function as well as a washing function is added to
the drum type washing machine, is practically available and its use
increases gradually.
[0006] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing a duct
structure of a conventional washing machine and dryer, and FIG. 2
is a cross-sectional view showing an internal structure of the
conventional washing machine and dryer. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2,
the conventional washing machine and dryer includes a cabinet 10, a
tub 20, a drum 25, a condensation duct 40, a motor 5, a heater 50,
a circulation fan 35 and a drain pump 6.
[0007] The cabinet 10 constitutes an outer shell of the washing
machine and dryer, and includes a loading portion 11 and a door 15
for opening/closing the loading portion 11, which are formed at one
portion thereof. The tub 20 is formed in a cylinder shape. The tub
20 is installed within the cabinet 10 and supported by a spring 3
and a damper 4. The drum 25 is rotatably installed within the tub
20 and the motor 5 is installed in order to enable the drum 25 to
be rotated.
[0008] The condensation duct 40 is connected with the tub 20, and a
drying duct 30 has one end connected to the tub 20 and the other
end connected to the condensation duct 40. Here, as shown in FIGS.
1 and 2, the drying duct 30 is disposed at a middle upper portion
of the tub 20. One end of the drying duct 30 is connected to a
discharge part 33 at a lower portion, in which the discharge part
33 is directly connected with an inside of the tub 20. The drying
duct 30 installed as above is fixedly connected to a support bar 35
using a fastener member such as a bolt, in which the support bar 35
crosses an upper portion of an inner space of the cabinet 10.
[0009] The heater 50 is installed within the drying duct 30, and
the circulation fan 35 is installed in a portion to which the
drying duct 30 and the condensation duct 40 are connected. In
addition, the drain pump 6 is installed so as to drain water
gathered in a lower portion of the tub 20. A reference numeral 9
denotes a cooling-water supplying unit for supplying cooling water
to an inside of the condensation duct 40.
[0010] Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 3, in the conventional washing
machine and dryer constructed as above, the drying duct 30 includes
a lower part 31 whose upper portion is opened, an upper part 32
covering the opened upper portion of the lower part 31, and the
discharge part 33 connected to a lower portion of one end of the
lower part 31. Further, a communication hole 31a is formed at a
lower portion of the other end of the lower part 31 in order to
connect the drying duct 30 with the condensation duct 40.
[0011] Hereinafter, a drying operation of the conventional washing
machine and dryer will be described in detail.
[0012] First, a wet laundry is loaded into the drum 25 and the drum
25 is rotated. Then, the circulation fan 35 is rotated to circulate
internal air of the drum 25 via the condensation duct 40 and the
drying duct 30. The heater is operated to heat air. The air heated
by the heater 50 dries the laundry within the drum 25. At this
time, moisture evaporated from the laundry is contained in air and
introduced into the condensation duct 40. In the condensation duct
40, a heat exchange happens between the cooling water supplied from
the cooling-water supplying unit 9 and air, so that moisture
contained in the air is condensed and removed. The dried air whose
moisture is removed is introduced into the drying duct 30. The air
introduced into the drying duct 30 is heated by the heater 50 and
then again introduced into the drum 25. By repeatedly performing
the above procedures, the conventional washing machine and dryer
removes the moisture of the wet laundry loaded into the drum 25,
thus drying the wet laundry.
[0013] However, the conventional washing machine and dryer with the
above-described duct structure has following problems.
[0014] First, because the drying duct is disposed at the middle
upper portion of the tub, the internal space utilization of the
cabinet is degraded and the equipment generally increases in
height.
[0015] Second, after the lower part, the upper part and the
discharge part contained in the drying duct are separately
manufactured, the respective parts are assembled so that the number
of parts increases. Further, the number of assembly processes also
increases, thereby causing a degradation of productivity.
[0016] Third, when the drum is rotated, the tub and the drying duct
connected thereto are vibrated together. In this case, the
connection portion between the lower part and the discharge part
perpendicularly connected thereto may be loose and a gap
therebetween may occur. In an excessive case, the connection
portion between the lower part and the discharge part may be
broken.
[0017] Fourth, because the vibration causes a gap in the connection
portion between the lower part and the discharge part, air flowing
in the drying duct may be leaked out and thus noise may occur.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0018] Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a washing
machine and dryer that substantially obviates one or more of the
problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related
art.
[0019] An object of the present invention is to provide a washing
machine and dryer with an improved drying duct structure, in which
an internal space utilization of a cabinet is enhanced and an
entire height of the equipment is reduced.
[0020] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
washing machine and dryer, in which the number of elements of a
drying duct is reduced and thus the productivity is improved.
[0021] Further another object of the present invention is to
provide a washing machine and dryer with an improved drying duct
structure, in which a damage and an air leakage, caused by
vibration of a tub, and a flowing noise caused by the air leakage
are prevented.
[0022] Additional features and advantages of the invention will be
set fourth in the description which follows, and in part will be
apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the
invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention
will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed
out in the written description and claims thereof as well as the
appended drawings.
[0023] To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with
the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly
described, a washing machine and dryer comprises: a cabinet; a
cylinder-shaped tub installed within the cabinet; a drum rotatably
installed within the tub; a drying duct having one end connected to
an inner side of the tub, the drying duct being installed in an
upper portion of the tub to be eccentric toward one side of the tub
when viewed from the front of the tub; a condensation duct having
one end connected to the drying duct and the other end connected to
an inner side of the tub; a circulation fan for circulating air
existing within the tub through the condensation duct and the
drying duct; and a heater for heating the air.
[0024] An upper face of the drying duct is installed in a lower
portion than that of the tub. A surface of the drying duct, which
is adjacent to the tub, is formed to be slant. For example, the
adjacent surface of the drying duct is formed in a curved surface
with the same curvature as an outer surface of the tub.
[0025] The drying duct includes: a lower part of which an upper
portion is opened, in which a discharge part connected to a front
side of the tub is downwardly extended from one end in one body and
a communication hole for connecting the lower part with the
condensation duct is formed in a lower portion of the other end;
and an upper part covering the opened upper portion of the lower
part. The other end of the lower part in which the communication
hole is formed is widely formed. The circulation fan is inserted
into the other end of the lower part. A surface of the lower part,
which is adjacent to the outer surface of the tub, is formed to be
slant. The adjacent surface of the lower part is formed in a curved
surface with the same curvature as an outer surface of the tub. A
portion in which the discharge part is extended from one end of the
lower part is formed roundly so as to smoothly guide air.
[0026] Meanwhile, the discharge part is extended to be slant from
the lower part in a downward direction. In this case, for example,
the discharge part is formed to be slant when viewed from the front
of the tub so as to discharge air in a rotation direction of the
drum.
[0027] The washing machine and dryer of the present invention can
further comprise a guidance part extended from one end portion of
the discharge part in a tangential direction with respect to the
rotation direction of the tub when viewed from the front of the tub
so as to discharge air in the tangential direction with respect to
the rotation direction of the drum.
[0028] The drying duct has both ends fixed and supported to an
inner surface of the cabinet by a first fixing member and a second
fixing member.
[0029] Here, the first fixing member includes: a plurality of
brackets protruded at one portion of an inner surface of the
cabinet; and a fixing load protruded at one end portion of the
drying duct and fixedly inserted between the plurality of brackets.
At this time, the brackets and the fixing load are connected with
each other by bolts and nuts. In addition, the washing machine and
dryer can further comprises a plurality of reinforcement ribs for
connecting a side surface of the fixing load with the drying duct,
thereby reinforcing the fixing load.
[0030] The second fixing member includes: a fixing projection
protruded at the other end of the drying duct; and a fixing angle
protruded at other portion of an inner surface of the cabinet, for
supporting the fixing projection at a lower portion. At this time,
the fixing projection and the fixing angle are fixedly connected
with each other by a bolt and a nut.
[0031] Meanwhile, in the washing machine and dryer of the present
invention, the heater is installed in an inside of the drying duct.
The condensation duct has one end connected to the drying duct and
the other end connected to a rear lower portion of the tub.
[0032] In the washing machine and dryer of the present invention,
the tub and the drum can be installed in parallel with a horizontal
plane or can be installed to be slant, such that openings of the
tub and the drum are disposed at an upper portion with respect to a
horizontal plane.
[0033] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description are exemplary
and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of
the invention as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0034] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a
further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of
the invention and together with the description serve to explain
the principles of the invention.
[0035] In the drawings:
[0036] FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view showing
a duct structure of a conventional washing machine and dryer;
[0037] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an internal
structure of the conventional washing machine and dryer;
[0038] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the drying
duct structure of the conventional washing machine and dryer;
[0039] FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view showing
a duct structure of a washing machine and dryer in accordance with
an embodiment of the present invention;
[0040] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing an internal
structure of the washing machine and dryer in accordance with the
present invention;
[0041] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the drying duct in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0042] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the drying
duct installed in accordance with the present invention;
[0043] FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view showing
a duct structure of a washing machine and dryer in accordance with
another embodiment of the present invention;
[0044] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the drying duct
fixed to the cabinet by the first fixing member; and
[0045] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the drying duct
fixed to the cabinet by the second fixing member.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0046] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred
embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
[0047] In embodiments of the present invention, the same reference
numerals and symbols denote the same elements and structures and
the duplicate descriptions will be omitted below.
[0048] In FIGS. 4 and 5, there is shown an internal structure of a
washing machine and dryer in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention. Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the washing machine
and dryer of the present invention includes a cabinet 100, a tub
200, a drum 250, a motor 130, a condensation duct 400, a drying
duct 300, a heater 800 and a circulation fan 350.
[0049] The cabinet 100 forms an outer shell of the washing machine
and dryer and has a loading portion 110 formed on one side (e.g., a
predetermined front side). The laundry is loaded/unloaded through
the loading portion 110. A door 150 is installed near the loading
portion 110 and rotates around a hinge 160 to open/close the
loading portion 110.
[0050] The tub 200 is formed in a cylinder shape and installed in
an inner side of the cabinet 100. An opening of the tub 200 is
disposed corresponding to the loading portion 110. The tub 200
installed as above can be installed in parallel with a horizontal
plane. In addition, for the sake of user's convenience, the tub 200
can be installed to be slant with respect to the horizontal plane
such that its opening faces slightly upwardly.
[0051] Both ends of the tub 200 is supported by a plurality of
springs 115 and a damper 116, which are connected to an outer face
of the tub 200 and an inner face of the cabinet 100, respectively.
The springs 115 and the damper 116 attenuate a vibration
transferred from the drum 250.
[0052] The drum 250 is formed in a cylinder shape and disposed
corresponding to the loading portion 110 of the cabinet 100 so that
the drum 250 can be rotatable in an inner side of the cabinet 100.
As shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of tumbling ribs 251 are protruded
in an inner side of the drum 250. The tumbling ribs 251 functions
to lift and drop the laundry while the drum 250 is rotated.
Further, although not shown, a plurality of passage holes are
formed in a circumference face of the drum 250. By way of the
passage holes, washing water required for the washing operation or
water dropped from the laundry in the dehydrating and drying
operations moves between the drum 250 and the tub 200.
[0053] The motor 130 is installed to rotate the drum 250, and a
drain pump 120 is installed to drain water from the inside of the
tub 200 to the outside of the cabinet 100 via a drain hose 125.
[0054] In the washing machine and dryer of the present invention,
the drying duct 300 is installed to have one end connected to the
inside of the tub 200. As shown in FIG. 4, when viewed from the
front of the tub 200, the drying duct 300 is installed in an upper
portion of the tub 200 disposed to be eccentric toward one side
from left and right central lines of the tub 200. A more detailed
construction of the drying duct 300 installed as above will be
described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.
[0055] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention,
as shown in FIG. 6, the drying duct 300 is divided into two bodies,
i.e., a lower part 310 and an upper part 320
[0056] The lower part 310 is formed in a channel shape, in which an
upper portion of the lower part 310 is opened and both ends thereof
are closed. A discharge part 330 is downwardly extended in one body
at one end of the lower part 310. Here, as shown in FIG. 6, the
portion in which the discharge part 330 is extended, i.e., a
connection portion between the lower part 310 and the discharge
part 330 is formed roundly so as to reduce a fluid resistance and
smoothly guide air.
[0057] As shown in FIG. 4, the discharge part 330 constructed as
above can be formed extended downwardly in a vertical direction.
Meanwhile, it is desirable to form the discharge part 330 to be
slant toward one side thereof so as to smoothly guide air toward
the inside of the tub 200, as shown in FIG. 6. At this time, when
viewed from the front of the tub 200, the slant direction is formed
in a direction in which air can be discharged in the rotation
direction of the drum 250. If the discharge part 330 is formed to
be slant as above, it is possible to reduce a turbulent air and a
flowing noise, which are caused by a collision between air
discharged from the discharge part 330 and other air existing
within the rotating drum 250.
[0058] Meanwhile, disposed at an opposite side of the discharge
part 330, the other end of the lower part 310 is widely formed
roughly in a cylinder shape. A communication hole 311 is formed at
a lower bottom portion of the other end of the lower part 310 so as
to connect the drying duct 300 to the condensation duct 400. The
circulation fan 350 is installed in the other end of the lower part
310 formed widely as above.
[0059] The upper part 320 is formed in a channel shape whose lower
portion is opened. The upper part 320 is connected to an upper
portion of the lower part 310 to cover the opened upper portion of
the lower part 310. At this time, the lower part 310 and the upper
part 320 are connected to each other with a screw or a bolt and
nut.
[0060] The drying duct 300 assembled with the separately
manufactured lower and upper parts 310 and 320 is disposed at a
position that is eccentric from the left and right center of the
tub 200, and the drying duct 300 is installed in the upper portion
of the tub 200. At this time, the drying duct 300 enhances the
space utilization of the cabinet in the washing machine and dryer,
and the upper face of the drying duct 300 is installed in a lower
portion than that of the tub 200 so as to reduce an entire height
of the equipment. However, in case of designing the above structure
in consideration of a correlation between the condensation duct 400
and all other components, it is desirable to design the arrangement
to have a small difference in height between the upper face of the
tub 200 and that of the drying duct 300 if it is not easy to make
the above arrangement, as shown in FIG. 5.
[0061] Meanwhile, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, in order to reduce an
interference between the drying duct 300 and the circumference
surface of the tub 200 and enhance the space utilization, the
drying duct 300 disposed eccentrically to one side from the left
and right center of the tub 200 is formed to have a surface, which
is adjacent to the circumference surface of the tub 200 (e.g., a
surface adjacent to the circumference surface of the lower part
310), to be slant. At this time, for example, the slant surface 315
is formed to have a curved surface and it is desirable that the
curved surface should have the same curvature as the outer surface
of the tub 200.
[0062] A drying duct 300 in accordance with another embodiment of
the present invention further includes a guidance part 340 and the
guidance part 340 will be described with reference to FIG. 8. When
the drying duct 300 in accordance with another embodiment of the
present invention is described, the same description as FIGS. 6 and
7 will be omitted and only the description related to the guidance
part 340 will be made below.
[0063] As shown in FIG. 8, the guidance part 340 is extended from
one end portion of the discharge part 330. When viewed from the
front of tub 200, it is desirable that the guidance part 340 be
extended in a tangential direction with respect to the rotation
direction of the drum 250. The reason is that the flowing
resistance and the flowing noise can be effectively reduced because
air is discharged via the guidance part 340 in the tangential
direction with respect to the rotation direction of the drum 250
and thus its direction is more similar to the flowing direction of
air existing within the drum 250.
[0064] Meanwhile, the drying duct 300 of the washing machine nd
dryer in accordance with the present invention has oth ends fixed
and supported to the inner surface of the cabinet 100 by a first
fixing member 600 and a second fixing member 700. The first and
second fixing members 600 and 700 will be described below in detail
with reference to the drawings.
[0065] Referring to FIGS. 5, 8 and 9, the first fixing member 600
fixes one end of the drying duct 300, in which the discharge part
330 is formed, to the inner side of the cabinet 100. The first
fixing member 600 includes a plurality of brackets 620 and a fixing
load 610. Here, a plurality of the brackets 620 are protruded at
one portion of the inner surface of the cabinet 100. As shown in
FIG. 8, the fixing load 610 is protruded at one end of the drying
duct 300 in which the discharge duct 330 is formed. As shown in
FIG. 9, the loading load 610 is inserted between the plurality of
brackets 620 and rigidly fixed to the brackets 620 by a screw or a
bolt and nut. Meanwhile, in order to reinforce the strength of the
prolongedly protruded fixing load 610, a plurality of reinforcement
ribs 615 are formed to connect a side surface of the fixing load
610 with an outer surface of the drying duct 300, as shown in FIG.
9.
[0066] Meanwhile, referring to FIGS. 5, 8 and 10, the second fixing
member 700 includes a fixing projection 710 and a fixing angle 720.
Here, the fixing projection 710 is protruded at the other end of
the drying duct 300, which is disposed at an opposite side of the
discharge part 330. The fixing angle 720 is protruded at other
portions of the inner surface of the cabinet 100 such that the
fixing projection 710 can be supported at a lower portion. As shown
in FIG. 10, the fixing projection 710 and the fixing angle 720 can
be fixed by a bolt 730 and a nut 735 or can be fixed to each other
by a screw and so on.
[0067] If both ends of the drying duct 300 is fixed and supported
to the cabinet 100 by the first and second fixing members 600 and
700, a height of the washing machine and dryer can be reduced much
more.
[0068] Meanwhile, in the washing machine and dryer of the present
invention, a heater 800 is formed in an inner side of the drying
duct 300.
[0069] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the condensation duct 400 has one
end connected to the drying duct 300 and the other end connected to
a rear lower portion of the tub 200. A cooling-water supplying unit
160 is provided to supply a cooling water to an inside of the
condensation duct 400 installed as above.
[0070] Hereinafter, a drying operation of the washing machine and
dryer constructed as above in accordance with the present invention
will be described in detail, in which the wet laundry is loaded
into the drum 250.
[0071] First, the wet laundry is loaded into the drum 250 and the
motor 130 is operated to rotate the drum 250. Simultaneously, the
circulation fan 350 is rotated and the heater 800 is operated.
[0072] Then, air existing within the drum 250 sequentially passes
through the condensation duct 400 and the drying duct 300 and is
again introduced into the inside of the drum 250. At this time, air
passing through the drying duct 300 is hotly heated by the heater
800 and the heated air dries the laundry loaded into the drum 250.
In addition, moisture contained in the laundry is evaporated in an
internal air of the drum 250.
[0073] Moist air containing moisture evaporated from the laundry is
introduced into the condensation duct 400. Meanwhile, the
cooling-water supplying unit 160 keeps on supplying a cooling water
to the inside of the condensation duct 400. Thus, a heat exchange
occurs between the moist air passing through the condensation duct
400 and the cooling water. At this time, moisture contained in air
is condensed and removed, so that the air becomes dry.
[0074] The dried air passing through the condensation duct 400
passes through the circulation fan 350 and then is introduced into
the drying duct 300. The dried air introduced into the drying duct
300 is again heated hotly by the heater 800 and supplied to the
drum 250.
[0075] Meanwhile, the drying duct 300 of the present invention has
a structure in which the discharge part 330 is extended from the
lower part 310 in one body. Therefore, even when vibration occurs
in the rotation of the drum 250, air is not leaked out and a loud
flowing noise does not occur.
[0076] In addition, since air passing through the drying duct 300
of the present invention is exhausted in a tangential direction
with respect to the rotation direction of the drum 250 while
passing through the discharge part 330 and the guidance part 340,
it is possible to prevent a turbulent air and a flowing noise,
which are caused by a collision with air existing within the
rotating drum 250.
[0077] Meanwhile, the washing machine and dryer in accordance with
the present invention repeatedly performs the above procedures to
dry the laundry loaded into the drum 250.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0078] The washing machine and dryer in accordance with the present
invention has following advantages.
[0079] First, unlike the related art in which the conventional
drying duct is installed in the middle upper portion of the tub,
the drying duct of the present invention is installed to be
eccentric from the left and right center, so that the internal
space utilization of the cabinet is improved and the washing
machine and dryer becomes compact. Meanwhile, it is much more
effective if the structure in which the drying duct is installed to
be eccentric toward one side of the tub is applied to a washing
machine and dryer in which the tub and the drum are installed to be
slant.
[0080] Second, since the surface of the drying duct, which is
adjacent to the tub, is formed to be slant, it is possible to
minimize interference between the drying duct and the tub and
effectively guide the surface through which air flows into the
drying duct.
[0081] Third, unlike the related art in which the drying duct is
separately manufactured and assembled with three bodies, the drying
duct of the present invention is manufactured with two bodies, so
that the number of parts and the number of assemble processes are
reduced and the productivity is improved.
[0082] Fourth, since the discharge part and the lower part are
formed in one body, it can fundamentally prevent the damage and the
air leakage, caused in the connection portion due to vibration, and
the flowing noise caused by them. Accordingly, the life of the
equipment is prolonged.
[0083] Fifth, since the discharge part is formed to be slant and
the guidance part is extended in the tangential direction with
respect to the rotation direction of the drum, collision between
air exhausted into the drum via the drying duct and air existing
within the drum can be minimized, so that the occurrence of the
turbulent air and the flowing noise is minimized.
[0084] While the present invention has been described and
illustrated herein with reference to the preferred embodiments
thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that
various modifications and variations can be made therein without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, it is
intended that the present invention covers the modifications and
variations of this invention that come within the scope of the
appended claims and their equivalents.
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