U.S. patent application number 11/361968 was filed with the patent office on 2006-11-23 for drum type washing and drying machine.
Invention is credited to Sang Tae Byun.
Application Number | 20060260367 11/361968 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36934042 |
Filed Date | 2006-11-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060260367 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Byun; Sang Tae |
November 23, 2006 |
Drum type washing and drying machine
Abstract
Drum type washing and drying machine including a tub having a
hot air inlet and a hot air outlet, a drying duct connected to the
hot air inlet, the drying duct having a heater and a fan built in a
flow passage therein for producing hot air, and a condensing duct
connected to the hot air outlet and the drying duct, for removing
moisture from the hot air, wherein the condensing duct includes a
cooling water supply portion for guiding cooling water to the
condensing duct, at least one water splashing projection in the
condensing duct for splashing the cooling water, and a guide flow
passage between the cooling water supply portion and the water
splashing projection for guiding the cooling water to the water
splashing projection.
Inventors: |
Byun; Sang Tae; (Dongnae-gu,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FLESHNER & KIM, LLP
P.O. BOX 221200
CHANTILLY
VA
20153
US
|
Family ID: |
36934042 |
Appl. No.: |
11/361968 |
Filed: |
February 27, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
68/20 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 25/00 20130101;
D06F 58/24 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
068/020 |
International
Class: |
D06F 29/00 20060101
D06F029/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 28, 2005 |
KR |
10-2005-0016925 |
Claims
1. A drum type washing and drying machine comprising: a tub having
a hot air inlet and a hot air outlet; a drying duct connected to
the hot air inlet, the drying duct having a heater and a fan built
in a flow passage therein for producing hot air; and a condensing
duct connected to the hot air outlet and the drying duct, for
removing moisture from the hot air, wherein the condensing duct
includes; a cooling water supply portion for guiding cooling water
to the condensing duct, at least one water splashing projection in
the condensing duct for splashing the cooling water, and a guide
flow passage between the cooling water supply portion and the water
splashing projection for guiding the cooling water to the water
splashing projection.
2. The drum type washing and drying machine as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the cooling water supply portion is projected from a top
side of the condensing duct.
3. The drum type washing and drying machine as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the guide flow passage is extended from a lower side of the
cooling water supply portion along one side of the condensing
duct.
4. The drum type washing and drying machine as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the guide flow passage has a semicircular section,
substantially.
5. The drum type washing and drying machine as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the condensing duct, the cooling water supply portion, the
guide flow passage, and the water splashing projections are molded
as one body.
6. The drum type washing and drying machine as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the water splashing projection is projected from one
portion of the guide flow passage.
7. The drum type washing and drying machine as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the water splashing projection is projected from an end of
the guide flow passage.
8. The drum type washing and drying machine as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the water splashing projection is projected in a direction
opposite to a direction of a depth of the guide flow passage.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Application
No. P2005-16925 filed on Feb. 28, 2005, which is hereby
incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to drum type washing machines,
and more particularly, to a drum type washing and drying machine
having a new flow structure applied thereto for improving drying
efficiency and performance, in which a structure of a condensing
device is improved for improving condensing efficiency.
[0004] 2. Discussion of the Related Art
[0005] In general, the drum type washing machine washes laundry by
rotating a drum by driving power of a motor in a state detergent,
washing water, and laundry is introduced into the drum. The drum
type washing machine is advantageous in that the laundry
experiences little damage, the laundry is not entangled, and a
washing effect of rubbing and pounding the laundry can be
provided.
[0006] A related art drum type washing and drying machine will be
described with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 illustrates a side
section of an exemplary related art drum type washing and drying
machine, schematically.
[0007] Referring to FIG. 1, the related art drum type washing and
drying machine is provided with a door 2 on a laundry opening in a
front of cabinet 1, and a tub 3 in the cabinet 1 for holding
washing water.
[0008] There is a drum 4 having pass through holes in an outside
circumferential surface rotatably mounted in the tub 3, and on an
outside of the tub 3, there is a motor unit 5 for transmission of a
driving power to the drum 4.
[0009] The door 2 is provided with a door glass 2a convex toward an
opening of the tub 3.
[0010] Between an inside of an upper side of the cabinet 1 and an
upper side of an outside of the tub 3, there are hanging springs 6
for suspending the tub 3, and though not shown, there are dampers
between an inside of a lower side of the cabinet 1 and an underside
of an outside of the tub 3, for damping vibration of the tub 3
generated during operation of the drum type washing machine.
[0011] As the motor unit 5, mostly an indirect coupling type is
employed, in which a driving power is transmitted from a motor 5a
to the drum 4 through a washing shaft 5c, to rotate the drum 4.
[0012] In the meantime, at an inside of an upper side of the
cabinet 1, there is a drying duct 7. The drying duct 7 has a heater
7b and a fan 7a built therein for generating and blowing of hot
air.
[0013] The drying duct 7 has one end connected to a gasket 8
connected between a circumference of a front opening of the tub 3
and a circumference to door on a front of the cabinet 1.
[0014] That is, the gasket 8 is mounted along an inside
circumference of the front of the tub 3, and has bellows shape for
absorbing vibration from the tub 3, for preventing the hot air from
leaking through a connection portion between the drying duct 7 and
the tub 3.
[0015] The tub 3 has a condensing duct 9 mounted thereon so as to
be in communication with the drying duct 7. The condensing duct 9
has one end connected to a rear of the tub 3, and the other end
connected to the drying duct 7. The condensing duct 9 has a cooling
water supply pipe 9a for supplying cooling water thereto to
condense and remove moisture from air.
[0016] In the meantime, FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view
showing a state in which the cooling water supply pipe is mounted
to the related art condensing duct.
[0017] Referring to FIG. 2, the cooling water supply pipe 9a is
formed separate from the condensing duct 9, and is placed in, and
secured to, a fastening hole 9h in a top of the condensing duct 9.
A water supply hose 9b is connected to one side of the cooling
water supply pipe 9a.
[0018] The drum type washing and drying machine performs washing,
rinsing, spinning, and drying.
[0019] The drying of the drum type washing and drying machine will
be described.
[0020] Upon starting drying of the drum type washing and drying
machine, a power is supplied to the heater 7b on the drying duct 7,
when the fan 7a blows hot air as the fan 7a and the heater 7b are
put into operation.
[0021] The hot air hits a sloped portion of the door glass 2a
guided by the drying duct 7 so as to be directed toward an inside
of the drum 4.
[0022] The hot air directed toward an inside of the drum 4 heats
the laundry, to vaporize moisture in the laundry. In this instance,
as the drum 4 rotates slowly to turn over the laundry, making the
laundry exposed to the hot air uniformly, the drum 4 accelerates
vaporization of the moisture.
[0023] The moisture is discharged through the condensing duct 9 in
a state contained in the air. In this instance, by spraying water
from the cooling water supply pipe 9a on the condensing duct 9, the
moisture is removed from the air. The air having the moisture
removed thus is introduced into the drying duct 7 again, turned
into hot air by the heater 7b and the fan 7a, and re-introduced
into the drum 4, to perform drying of the laundry.
[0024] By repeating above series of steps, the drum type washing
and drying machine dries the laundry.
[0025] However, the related art drum type washing and drying
machine has problems in various aspects, such as limitations in
drying efficiency and performance coming from an air circulating
structure in which drying air is supplied to the drum 4 through a
portion where the drying duct 7 is connected to one side of an
upper side of the gasket 8, and discharged again through a side of
a front of the tub 3.
[0026] Because the air supplied to the drum 4 is discharged through
the side of the front of the tub 3 in a state the air is not
introduced deep into the inside of the drum 4 yet, the laundry deep
in the drum 4 is not dried, properly.
[0027] Consequently, the related art flow structure has poor drying
efficiency and performance.
[0028] Next, with regard to the drying duct 7 connected to the
gasket 8, since the drying duct 7 is fixed while the gasket 8 moves
when the tub 3 vibrates, the gasket 8 is liable to wear down and
tear off.
[0029] According to this, it is required to provide an expensive
gasket 8 having relatively small thermal deformation, a production
cost increases.
[0030] Since the drying air is discharged downward vertically
through the drying duct 7 and the gasket 8, crossing an axis
direction of the drum 4, to hit the door glass to give a resistance
to flow of the hot air, the hot air can not be introduced deep into
the drum 4.
[0031] Therefore, in order to overcome this problem, a larger
capacity fan is required.
[0032] Moreover, as described before, since the hot air from the
drying duct 7 is introduced into the drum 4 through the gasket 8
after being deflected at the sloped portion of the door glass 2a,
the door 2 is heated, unnecessarily.
[0033] In the meantime, the connection of the drying duct 7 to an
outside circumference of an upper side of the gasket 8, making an
upper side and a lower side of the gasket 8 non-symmetry, causes
the gasket 8 to fail in balanced holding of the front of the tub
3.
[0034] The cooling water is liable to leak from a junction point of
the cooling water supply pipe 9a and the condensing duct 90, and
the cooling water supply pipe 9a, formed separately, increases
assembly steps.
[0035] Moreover, the scattering of the cooling water in the
condensing duct 9 drops the condensing efficiency.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0036] Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a drum
type washing and drying machine that substantially obviates one or
more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related
art.
[0037] An object of the present invention is to provide a drum type
washing and drying machine having a new flow structure applied
thereto, of which drying efficiency and performance is improved
compared to the related art drum type washing and drying machine
having the related art flow structure applied thereto, and
particularly, having a condensing duct structure suitable to a
modified system.
[0038] 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.
[0039] To achieve these objects and other advantages and in
accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and
broadly described herein, a drum type washing and drying machine
includes a tub having a hot air inlet and a hot air outlet, a
drying duct connected to the hot air inlet, the drying duct having
a heater and a fan built in a flow passage therein for producing
hot air, and a condensing duct connected to the hot air outlet and
the drying duct, for removing moisture from the hot air, wherein
the condensing duct includes a cooling water supply portion for
guiding cooling water to the condensing duct, at least one water
splashing projection in the condensing duct for splashing the
cooling water, and a guide flow passage between the cooling water
supply portion and the water splashing projection for guiding the
cooling water to the water splashing projection.
[0040] Preferably, the cooling water supply portion is projected
from a top side of the condensing duct.
[0041] The guide flow passage may be extended from a lower side of
the cooling water supply portion along one side of the condensing
duct.
[0042] In this instance, preferably the guide flow passage has a
semicircular section, substantially.
[0043] In the meantime, preferably the condensing duct, the cooling
water supply portion, the guide flow passage, and the water
splashing projections are molded as one body.
[0044] The water splashing projection may be projected from one
portion of the guide flow passage.
[0045] In this instance, it is preferable that the water splashing
projection is projected from an end of the guide flow passage.
[0046] More preferably, the water splashing projection is projected
in a direction opposite to a direction of a depth of the guide flow
passage.
[0047] 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
[0048] 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;
[0049] FIG. 1 illustrates a side section of an exemplary related
art drum type washing and drying machine, schematically;
[0050] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view showing a state in
which the cooling water supply pipe is mounted to a related art
condensing duct;
[0051] FIG. 3 illustrates a side section of a drum type washing
machine in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
[0052] FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of a condensing duct
in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
[0053] FIG. 5 illustrates a section across a line I-I in FIG. 4;
and
[0054] FIG. 6 illustrates a section of a condensing duct in
accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0055] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred
embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the
same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to
refer to the same or like parts.
[0056] FIG. 3 illustrates a side section of a drum type washing
machine in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of a condensing
duct in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, FIG. 5 illustrates a section across a line I-I in FIG.
4, and FIG. 6 illustrates a section of a condensing duct in
accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0057] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the drum type washing and drying
machine includes a substantially cylindrical tub 20 in a cabinet 10
for holding washing water, having an hot air inlet 20a at an upper
side of a front, and a hot air outlet 20b at a lower side of a
rear, a drum 30 rotatably mounted in the tub 20, having hot air
pass through holes 30a in a front for introducing the hot air
passed through the hot air inlet 20a of the tub to an inner side of
the drum 30, a drying duct 40 secured to one side of an outside of
an upper side of the tub 20, having a heater 41 and a fan 42 built
therein for generating hot air, a condensing duct 100 for removing
moisture from the hot air discharged through the hot air outlet 20b
in the lower side of the rear of the tub 20, wherein the condensing
duct 100 includes a cooling water supply portion 111 formed as one
body with the condensing duct 100, for guiding the cooling water to
the condensing duct 100, at least one water splashing projection
130 for splashing the cooling water, a guide flow passage 112
between the cooling water supply portion 111 and the water
splashing projection 130 for guiding the cooling water to the water
splashing projection 130, and a water supply hose 120 for guiding
the cooling water from an external water pipe (not shown) to the
cooling water supply portion.
[0058] A drain hose H is connected to an underside of the tub 20,
and a drain pump P is mounted in the drain hose H.
[0059] Between the tub 20 and the drying duct 40, there is a heat
dissipation plate 43 for cutting off direct transmission of heat
from the drying duct 40 to the tub 20.
[0060] Though it is preferable that the heat dissipation plate 43
is constructed of metal, such as a steel plate, the heat
dissipation plate 43 may be constructed of plastic having no
thermal deformation, having a size to cover a range of radiation
heat transmission from the heater 41 in the drying duct 40.
[0061] In the meantime, it is preferable that the hot air pass
through holes 30a in the drum 30 has a radial pattern on the
whole.
[0062] Though it is preferable that the drum 30 is rotated coupled
directly to an outer rotor type motor having a shaft 61 passed
through the tub 20 and connected to the drum 30, a rotor 62 coupled
to a rear end of the shaft 61, and a stator 63 positioned on an
inner side of the rotor 62, the driving type of the drum 30 is not
limited to above.
[0063] Together with this, of course, heat dissipation means, such
as heat dissipation fins 44, may be provided to an upper surface of
the drying duct 40 for increasing a heat dissipation area, to
prevent the upper surface of the drying duct 40 from
overheating.
[0064] The embodiment suggests molding the condensing duct 100, the
cooling water supply portion 111, the guide flow passage 112, and
the water splashing projections 130 as one body.
[0065] For an example, the cooling water supply portion 111 is
projected from one side of a top side of the condensing duct 100,
and connected to the water supply hose 120, for receiving cooling
water from the water supply hose 120 and supplying the cooling
water to the guide flow passage 112 in the condensing duct 100.
[0066] Referring to FIG. 5, for an example, it is preferable that
the guide flow passage 112 has substantially semicircular section
extended downward from the cooling water supply portion 111 along
one side of an inside of the condensing duct 100, so that the
cooling water supplied through the cooling water supply portion 111
flows along the guide flow passage 112, thereby preventing the
cooling water from scattering in the condensing duct 100.
[0067] Referring to FIG. 6, as described before, the water
splashing projections 130 in the condensing duct 100 splashes the
cooling water flowing along the guide flow passage 112.
[0068] For an example, it is preferable that the water splashing
projections 130 are projected from an end of the guide flow passage
112 in a direction opposite to a depth direction of the guide flow
passage 112.
[0069] A drying process of the drum type washing and drying machine
will be described.
[0070] As power is supplied to the heater 41 in the drying duct 40
and the fan 42 is put into operation, hot air is produced.
[0071] The hot air is guided by the drying duct 40, passed through
the hot air inlet 20a in the tub 20 and the hot air pass through
holes 30a in the drum 30 in succession, and introduced into the
drum 30.
[0072] Then, the hot air introduced into the drum 30 heat the
laundry to vaporize moisture in the laundry, carries the moisture
to the condensing duct 100 through the hot air outlet 20b in the
tub 20.
[0073] Then, the cooling water is supplied to the condensing duct
100 through the cooling water supply portion 111 connected to the
water supply hose 120, and flows toward the water splashing
projections 130 along the guide flow passage 112.
[0074] The cooling water is then splashed as the cooling water hits
the water splashing projections 130, when a temperature of the hot
air drops as splashed cooling water heat exchanges with the hot
air, to condense the moisture therein, actively.
[0075] That is, owing to the guide flow passage 112 and the water
splashing projections 130, a contact area between the hot air and
the cooling water increases, to increase condensing efficiency.
[0076] The condensed water is held on a bottom of the tub 20
connected to the condensing duct 100, and discharged to an outside
of the washing machine through the drain hose `H` by the drain pump
`P`.
[0077] The hot air having the moisture therein removed therefrom at
the condensing duct 100 is introduced to the drying duct 40.
[0078] By repeating above series of steps, the laundry is
dried.
[0079] The operation of the drum type washing and drying machine of
the present invention will be described.
[0080] The diagonal direction flow of the hot air from the hot air
inlet 20a in the upper side of the front of the tub 20 to the lower
side of the rear of the tub 20 enables the hot air to reach even to
a place deep in an inside of the drum 30 uniformly, thereby
permitting to dry the laundry, uniformly.
[0081] The hot air inlet 20a is in the upper side of the front of
the tub 20, and the hot air pass through holes 30a in the front of
the drum 30 is arranged concentrically, in straight lines, or
zigzag in a radial direction, for not dropping strength of the
front of the drum 30 while making a cross sectional area of the
flow passage maximum.
[0082] The effective arrangement of the hot air pass through holes
throughout the front of the drum 30, enabling the hot air inlet 20a
to be in communication with the hot air pass through holes 30a even
if the drum 30 rotates, permits smooth supply of the hot air
supplied to the tub 20 through the hot air inlet 20a to the drum 30
through the hot air pass through holes 30a in the front of the drum
30.
[0083] In the meantime, the heat dissipation plate 43 under the
drying duct 40 prevents transmission of heat from the drying duct
40 to the tub 20.
[0084] That is, because the tub 20 of plastic is liable to deform
by the heat from the heater 41 if the drying duct 40 having the
heater 41 built therein is mounted thereon directly, the direct
transmission of the heat from the drying duct 40 to the tub 20 is
cut off by using the heat dissipation plate 43 provided,
separately.
[0085] Moreover, the direct mounting of the condensing duct 100 to
the rear of the tub 20 enables to dispense with separate gasket at
a portion the condensing duct 100 is connected to the tub 20.
[0086] The molding of the condensing duct 100, the cooling water
supply portion 111, the guide flow passage 112, and the water
splashing projections 130 as one body makes a structure of the
condensing duct 100 simpler than the related art, and enables to
resolve the related art problem of cooling water leakage through a
portion where the condensing duct and the cooling water supply pipe
are connected.
[0087] The guide flow passage 112 in the condensing duct 100
permits to prevent the cooling water supplied thereto through the
water supply hose 120 from scattering.
[0088] Moreover, the water splashing projections 130 at a lower
side of the condensing duct 100 improves condensing efficiency as
the cooling water supplied through the water supply hose 120 flows
along the guide flow passage 112 until the cooling water hits the
water splashing projections 130, when the cooling water splashes,
resulting to increase a contact area between the humid air drawn
into the condensing duct 100 and the cooling water.
[0089] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variations can be made in the present invention
without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. 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.
* * * * *