U.S. patent application number 15/343531 was filed with the patent office on 2017-06-08 for washer-dryer.
This patent application is currently assigned to WUXI LITTLE SWAN CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is WUXI LITTLE SWAN CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Song Lu, Yulai Miao, Wei Qian, Chunyu Zhu.
Application Number | 20170159219 15/343531 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 57223593 |
Filed Date | 2017-06-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170159219 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Qian; Wei ; et al. |
June 8, 2017 |
WASHER-DRYER
Abstract
The present disclosure discloses a washer-dryer. The
washer-dryer includes a cabinet having an air supplement port; an
inner drum rotatably disposed in the cabinet, defining a containing
chamber therein, and having an air outlet communicating with the
containing chamber; a heat pump disposed to the cabinet and close
to the air supplement port; a first heat exchanger and a second
heat exchanger, wherein the first heat exchanger has a first end
communicating with a first end of the heat pump and a second end
communicating with a first end of the second heat exchanger, and a
second end of the second heat exchanger communicates with a second
end of the heat pump, the first heat exchanger and an internal wall
face of the cabinet define a condensation channel therebetween, the
second heat exchanger and the internal wall face of the cabinet
define a hot air channel therebetween, and the condensation channel
communicates with the air outlet and the hot air channel; and a fan
disposed in the cabinet to blow hot air in the hot air channel and
around the heat pump into the containing chamber. In the
washer-dryer according to embodiments of the present disclosure, a
temperature of air around the heat pump can be reduced to dissipate
heat, and a temperature of supplemented air can be raised to
further raise a drying efficiency of the washer-dryer.
Inventors: |
Qian; Wei; (Wuxi, CN)
; Zhu; Chunyu; (Wuxi, CN) ; Lu; Song;
(Wuxi, CN) ; Miao; Yulai; (Wuxi, CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
WUXI LITTLE SWAN CO., LTD. |
Wuxi |
|
CN |
|
|
Assignee: |
WUXI LITTLE SWAN CO., LTD.
Wuxi
CN
|
Family ID: |
57223593 |
Appl. No.: |
15/343531 |
Filed: |
November 4, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 29/02 20130101;
D06F 25/00 20130101; D06F 58/20 20130101; D06F 58/206 20130101 |
International
Class: |
D06F 29/02 20060101
D06F029/02; D06F 58/20 20060101 D06F058/20 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 4, 2015 |
CN |
201510884241.1 |
Dec 4, 2015 |
CN |
201520998545.6 |
Claims
1. A washer-dryer comprising: a cabinet having an air supplement
port; an inner drum rotatably disposed in the cabinet, defining a
containing chamber therein, and having an air outlet communicating
with the containing chamber; a heat pump disposed to the cabinet
and close to the air supplement port; a first heat exchanger and a
second heat exchanger, wherein the first heat exchanger has a first
end communicating with a first end of the heat pump and a second
end communicating with a first end of the second heat exchanger,
and a second end of the second heat exchanger communicates with a
second end of the heat pump, the first heat exchanger and an
internal wall face of the cabinet define a condensation channel
therebetween, the second heat exchanger and the internal wall face
of the cabinet define a hot air channel therebetween, and the
condensation channel communicates with the air outlet and the hot
air channel; and a fan disposed in the cabinet to blow hot air in
the hot air channel and around the heat pump into the containing
chamber.
2. The washer-dryer according to claim 1, wherein the cabinet has a
heat pump mounting chamber used for mounting the heat pump, and the
heat pump mounting chamber communicates with the air supplement
port and the hot air channel.
3. The washer-dryer according to claim 2, wherein the fan has an
air inlet and an air outlet, the air inlet communicates with the
hot air channel, and the air outlet communicates with the
containing chamber.
4. The washer-dryer according to claim 3, wherein the fan is
disposed below the second heat exchanger, and the air inlet is
located right under the second heat exchanger.
5. The washer-dryer according to claim 1, further comprising a
filter disposed between the air outlet and the first heat exchanger
to filter air entering the condensation channel.
6. The washer-dryer according to claim 5, wherein the filter has an
inlet and an outlet, the inlet communicates with the air outlet,
and the outlet communicates with the condensation channel.
7. The washer-dryer according to claim 6, further comprising a vent
pipe, wherein the vent pipe has two ends respectively communicating
with the inlet and the air outlet.
8. The washer-dryer according to claim 7, wherein the heat pump
mounting chamber is disposed close to and spaced apart from the hot
air channel.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to and benefits of Chinese
Patent Application Serial No. 201520998545.6 and Chinese Patent
Application Serial No. 201510884241.1, filed with the State
Intellectual Property Office of P. R. China on Dec. 4, 2015, the
entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a field of a washing
machine, and more particularly to a washer-dryer.
BACKGROUND
[0003] To solve a heating problem of a compressor of a
heat-pump-drying product in the related art, a cooling fan is added
in most cases to generate airflow around the compressor, to enhance
a rate of heat exchange, thereby effectively cooling the compressor
and preventing the compressor from shutting down. However, a
product adopting the above manner needs an additional cooling fan
and a corresponding control unit, which means a lot of components
in the product, resulting in a high cost and more assembling
processes.
SUMMARY
[0004] The present disclosure seeks to solve at least one of the
problems existing in the related art to at least some extent.
Accordingly, the present disclosure provides a washer-dryer with a
simple structure, a high heat exchange efficiency and a high drying
efficiency.
[0005] The washer-dryer according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure includes: a cabinet having an air supplement port; an
inner drum rotatably disposed in the cabinet, defining a containing
chamber therein, and having an air outlet communicating with the
containing chamber; a heat pump disposed to the cabinet and close
to the air supplement port; a first heat exchanger and a second
heat exchanger, in which the first heat exchanger has a first end
communicating with a first end of the heat pump and a second end
communicating with a first end of the second heat exchanger, and a
second end of the second heat exchanger communicates with a second
end of the heat pump, the first heat exchanger and an internal wall
face of the cabinet define a condensation channel therebetween, the
second heat exchanger and the internal wall face of the cabinet
define a hot air channel therebetween, and the condensation channel
communicates with the air outlet and the hot air channel; and a fan
disposed in the cabinet to blow hot air in the hot air channel and
around the heat pump into the containing chamber.
[0006] In the washer-dryer according to the embodiments of the
present disclosure, air entering from the air supplement port can
take heat surrounding the heat pump away by disposing the air
supplement port in the cabinet, thus reducing a temperature of the
air around the heat pump, cooling the heat pump and raising a work
efficiency of the heat pump. Moreover, the heat around the heat
pump can enter the hot air channel to supplement heat for a drying
system, to raise a temperature of supplemented air, folly utilize
heat generated by the heat pump during its work and greatly raise a
work efficiency of the second heat exchanger, so as to further
raise a drying efficiency of the washer-dryer. The washer-dryer has
a simple and compact structure, a high working efficiency and a
high drying efficiency.
[0007] In addition the washer-dryer according to embodiments of the
present disclosure further has the follower additional
features:
[0008] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the
cabinet has a heat pump mounting chamber used for mounting the heat
pump, and the heat pump mounting chamber communicates with the air
supplement port and the hot air channel.
[0009] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the
fan has an air inlet and an air outlet, the air inlet communicates
with the hot air channel, and the air outlet communicates with the
containing chamber.
[0010] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the
fan is disposed below the second heat exchanger, and the air inlet
is located right under the second heat exchanger.
[0011] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the
washer-dryer further includes a filter, and the filter is disposed
between the air outlet and the first heat exchanger to filter air
entering the condensation channel.
[0012] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the
filter has an inlet and an outlet, the inlet communicates with the
air outlet, and the outlet communicates with the condensation
channel.
[0013] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the
washer-dryer further includes a vent pipe, and the vent pipe has
two ends respectively communicating with the inlet and the air
outlet.
[0014] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the
heat pump mounting chamber is disposed close to and spaced apart
from the hot air channel.
[0015] Additional aspects and advantages of embodiments of present
disclosure will be given in part in the following descriptions,
become apparent in part from the following descriptions, or he
learned from the practice of the embodiments of the present
disclosure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a partially assembling view of a washer-dryer
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a top view of the washer-dryer shown in FIG.
1.
REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0018] cabinet 10; air supplement port 11; heat pump mounting
chamber 12;
[0019] heat pump 20;
[0020] first heat exchanger 30;
[0021] second heat exchanger 40;
[0022] fan 50; air inlet 51; air outlet 52;
[0023] filter 60; inlet 61; outlet 62;
[0024] vent pipe 70.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0025] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in
detail and examples of the embodiments will be illustrated in the
drawings. The embodiments described herein with reference to
drawings are explanatory, which are used to illustrate the present
invention, but shall not he construed to limit the present
invention.
[0026] In the following, a washer-dryer according to embodiments of
the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1
and 2.
[0027] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the washer-dryer according to
the embodiments of the present invention includes a cabinet 10, an
inner drum (not shown), a heat pump 20, a first heat exchanger 30,
a second heat-exchanger 40 and a fan 50. Specifically, the cabinet
10 has an air supplement port 11; the inner drum is rotatably
disposed in the cabinet 10, defines a containing chamber (not
shown) therein, and has an air outlet (not shown) communicating
with the containing chamber; the heat pump 20 is disposed to the
cabinet 10 and close to the air supplement port 11; the first heat
exchanger 30 has a first end communicating with a first end of the
heat pump 20 and a second end communicating with a first end of the
second heat exchanger 40, and a second end of the second heat
exchanger 40 communicates with a second end of the heat pump 20;
the first heat exchanger 30 and an internal wall face of the
cabinet 10 define a condensation channel (not shown) therebetween,
the second heat exchanger 40 and the internal wall face of the
cabinet 10 define a hot air channel (not shown) therebetween, and
the condensation channel communicates with the air outlet of the
inner drum and the hot air channel; and the fan 50 is disposed in
the cabinet 10 to blow hot air in the hot air channel and around
the heat pump 20 into the containing chamber.
[0028] In other words, the washer-dryer is mainly composed of the
cabinet 10, an outer drum (not shown), the inner drum, the heat
pump 20, the first heat exchanger 30, the second heat exchanger 40
and the fan 50. The cabinet 10 extends along a vertical direction
(an up-down direction shown in FIG. 1), and the outer drum is fixed
in the cabinet 10. The inner drum is rotatably disposed in the
outer drum, and an external circumferential wall of the inner drum
is spaced apart from an internal circumferential wall of the outer
drum. The inner drum defines the containing chamber for containing
clothes. The inner drum has an air inlet (not shown) and the air
outlet, both of which communicate with the containing chamber.
Optionally, axes of the outer drum and the inner drum respectively
extend along a front-back direction, that is, the inner drum has an
opening towards a front side.
[0029] Further, the heat pump 20, the first heat exchanger 30 and
the second heat exchanger 40 are fixedly disposed in the cabinet
10, the first end and the second end of the heat pump 20
communicate with the first end of the first heat exchanger 30 and
the second end of the second heat exchanger 40 respectively, and
the second end of the first heat exchanger 30 communicates with the
first end of the second heat exchanger 40. Therefore, the heat pump
20, the first heat exchanger 30 and the second heat exchanger 40
form a circulation path for a refrigerant. The cabinet 10 is
provided with the air supplement port 11, and the air supplement
port 11 communicates with air around the heat pump 20. The first
heat exchanger 30 and the cabinet 10 define the condensation
channel therebetween, and the condensation channel communicates
with the air outlet of the inner drum. The second heat exchanger 40
and the cabinet 10 define the hot air channel, and the hot air
channel communicates with the condensation channel. Therefore, an
air circulation path is formed.
[0030] The fan 50 is disposed in the cabinet 10. Optionally, the
fan 50 is disposed close to the hot air channel, When the
washer-dryer operates a drying procedure, wet air in the inner drum
enters the condensation channel, dry air is generated after
condensation and then enters the hot air channel, and
high-temperature dry air is obtained after being heated by the
second heat exchanger. The heat pump 20 generates a lot of heat
during its work, air entering from the air supplement port takes
away the heat around the heat pump 20 and enters the hot air
channel. High-temperature air in two parts enters the fan 50 under
a suction effect of the fan 50, and enters the inner drum to dry
the clothes in the inner drum, resulting in a gradually increased
humidity of the air, and the air is discharged from the air outlet,
and so on.
[0031] Accordingly, in the washer-dryer according to the
embodiments of the present disclosure, the air entering from the
air supplement port can take the heat around the heat pump away by
disposing the air supplement port 11 in the cabinet 10, thus
reducing a temperature of the air around the heat pump 20, cooling
the heat pump 20 and raising a work efficiency of the heat pump 20.
Moreover, the heat around the heat pump 20 can enter the hot air
channel to supplement heat for a drying system, to raise a
temperature of supplemented air, fully utilize the heat generated
by the heat pump during its work, and greatly raise a work
efficiency of the second heat exchanger 40, so as to further raise
a drying efficiency of the washer-dryer. The washer-dryer has a
simple and compact structure, a high working efficiency and a high
drying efficiency.
[0032] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the
cabinet 10 has a heat pump mounting chamber 12 used for mounting
the heat pump 20, and the heat pump mounting chamber 12
communicates with the air supplement port 11 and the hot air
channel.
[0033] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, a side wall of the cabinet
10 and a separating board (not shown) in the cabinet 10 define the
heat pump mounting chamber 12 therebetween used for mounting the
heat pump 20. The side wall of the cabinet 10 is provided with the
air supplement port 11 communicating with the heat pump mounting
chamber 12. The heat pump 20 can generate a great amount of heat
during its work, and the air entering from the air supplement port
11 takes the heat around the heat pump 20 away under the suction
effect of the fan 50 and then enters the hot air channel to
supplement drying hot air needed by the clothes in the inner drum
and to cool the heat pump 20 at the same time, which raises the
efficiency of the heat pump 20 and effectively utilize the heat
around the heat pump 2.
[0034] Accordingly, through a flow guidance structure, the
washer-dryer makes ambient air pass through a surface of the heat
pump 20 and then enter the hot air channel, thus accomplishing air
movement around the heat pump 20 without a cooling fan, enhancing a
heat exchange efficiency at the surface of the heat pump 20 and
facilitating cooling the heat pump 20. An additional cooling fan is
needless, which reduces a part count, simplifies an assembling
process, saves a cost and simplifies a control panel. At the same
time, the air entering from the air supplement port 11 absorbs the
heat from the heat pump 20, thereby raising its temperature.
Compared with a conventional heat pump system in which supplemented
air has an ambient temperature, the washer-dryer has an air
supplement structure which is capable of adding dry supplemented
air of a higher temperature to an outer circulation of the heat
pump system, thus further facilitating a drying efficiency of a
product.
[0035] Further, the fan 50 has the air inlet 51 and the air outlet
52, the air inlet 51 communicates with the hot air channel, and the
air outlet 52 communicates with the containing chamber. In other
words, the hot air in the hot air channel enters the fan 50 from
the air inlet 51 of the fan 50 under the suction effect of the fan
50, and then is exhausted into the inner drum from the air outlet
52 of the fan 50. Accordingly, the fan 50 disposed in the cabinet
10 can drive air to flow and change a direction of airflow.
[0036] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the fan 50 is disposed
below the second heat exchanger 40, and the air inlet 51 is located
right under the second heat exchanger 40. Accordingly, the fan 50
is disposed below the second heat exchanger 40, and the air inlet
51 of the fan 50 right corresponds to the second heat exchanger 40,
thereby reducing a travel path of the hot air, and effectively
transporting the hot air in the hot air channel into the inner drum
by the fan 50.
[0037] Advantageously, the washer-dryer further includes a filter
60, and the filter 60 is disposed between the air outlet of the
inner drum and the first heat exchanger 30 to filter air entering
the condensation channel.
[0038] That is the washer-dryer is mainly composed of the cabinet
10, the outer drum, the inner drum, the heat pump 20, the first
heat exchanger 30, the second heat exchanger 40, the fan 50 and the
filter 60. The filter 60 is located between the air outlet of the
inner drum and the condensation channel, i.e. between the air
outlet of the inner drum and the condensation channel in an air
intake direction, to filter out and prevent flocks of the clothes
from entering the condensation channel and the hot air channel, and
to avoid influence on the heat exchange efficiencies of the first
heat exchanger 30 and the second heat exchanger 40.
[0039] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the
filter 60 has an inlet 61 and an outlet 62, the inlet 61
communicates with the air outlet of the inner drum, and the outlet
communicates with the condensation channel.
[0040] Specifically, the filter 60 has the inlet 61 and the outlet
62, the inlet 61 communicates with the air outlet of the inner
drum, and the outlet 62 communicates with the condensation channel,
The filter 60 is further provided with a filtering member therein
to filter air before the air enters the condensation channel, so as
to filter out the flocks of the clothes.
[0041] In addition, according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure, the washer-dryer further comprises a vent pipe 70, and
the vent pipe 70 has two ends respectively communicating with the
inlet 61 and the air outlet of the inner drum.
[0042] In other words, the washer-dryer is mainly composed of the
cabinet 10, the outer drum, the inner drum, the heat pump 20, the
first heat exchanger 30, the second heat exchanger 40, the fan 50,
the filter 60, and the vent pipe 70. As shown in FIG. 2, the vent
pipe 70 has a first end communicating with the air outlet of the
inner drum and a second end communicating with the inlet 61 of the
filter 60, so as to transmit air. Optionally, the vent pipe 70 may
be configured as a thermoplastic pipe which, has high reliability
and long service life.
[0043] Preferably, according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure, the heat pump mounting chamber 12 is close to and
spaced apart from the hot air channel, Specifically, as shown in
Fig, 1 and FIG. 2, in the embodiment, the heat pump 20, the first
heat exchanger 30, the second heat exchanger 40, the fan 50, the
filter 60, and the vent pipe 70 all are arranged above the inner
drum and the outer drum. Optionally, the cabinet 10 has a
rectangular section and provided with a horizontally disposed
mounting board (not shown) therein, and all of the heat pump 20,
the first heat exchanger 30, the second heat exchanger 40, the fan
50 and the filter 60 are disposed on the mounting board.
[0044] A rear side wall and a right side wall of the cabinet 10,
the mounting board and the separating hoard define the heat pump
mounting chamber 12, and the right side wall and a front side wall
of the cabinet 10, the mounting board and the separating board
define the condensation channel and the hot air channel which are
spaced apart. That is, the heat pump 20 is disposed on the mounting
board and located at a right rear position of the mounting board,
the first heat exchanger 30 and the second heat exchanger 40 are
disposed on the mounting board and located at a right front
position of the mounting board, the filter 60 is disposed on the
mounting board and located at a left front position of the mounting
board, at least a portion of the vent pipe 70 is disposed on the
mounting board and located at a left rear position of the mounting
board, and the fan 50 is disposed under the first heat exchanger 30
and the second heat exchanger 40.
[0045] Accordingly, the washer-dryer is simple and compact in
structure, convenient to mount and dismount. Through the flow
guidance structure, the washer-dryer makes ambient air enter the
heat pump mounting chamber 12 from the air supplement 11 in the
cabinet 10, and makes heat at the surface of and around the heat
pump 20 taken into the hot air channel, thus accomplishing air
movement around the heat pump 20 without a cooling fan, enhancing
the heat exchange efficiency around the heat pump 20 and
facilitating cooling the heat pump 20. At the same time,
supplemented air having a high temperature enters the hot air
channel with no need to be heated by the second heat exchanger 40,
thus raising the work efficiency of the second heat exchanger 40
and raising the drying efficiency of the washer-dryer.
[0046] Other configurations and operation of the washer-dryer
according to embodiments of the present disclosure are known for
those skilled in the art, which will not be described in detail
herein.
[0047] In the specification, it is to be understood that terms such
as "central," "longitudinal," "transverse," "length," "width,"
"thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right.,"
"vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer,"
"clockwise," "counterclockwise," "axial," "radial," and
"circumferential" should be construed to refer to the orientation
as then described or as shown in the drawings under discussion.
These relative terms are for convenience of description and do not
require that the present disclosure he constructed or operated in a
particular orientation.
[0048] In addition, terms such as "first" and "second" are used
herein for purposes of description and are not intended to indicate
or imply relative importance or significance or to imply the number
of indicated technical features. Thus, the feature defined with
"first" and "second" may include one or more of this feature. In
the description of the present disclosure, "a plurality of" means
at least two, e.g. two or three and etc., unless specified
otherwise.
[0049] In the present disclosure, unless specified or limited
otherwise, the terms "mounted," "connected," "coupled," "fixed" and
the like are used broadly, and may be, for example, fixed
connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; may
also be mechanical, or electrical connections, or communicate with
each other; may also be direct connections or indirect connections
via intervening structures; may also be inner communications or
interaction of two elements, which can be understood by those
skilled in the art according to specific situations.
[0050] In the present disclosure, unless specified or limited
otherwise, a structure in which a first feature is "on" or "below"
a second feature may include an embodiment in which the first
feature is in direct contact with the second feature, and may also
include an embodiment in which the first feature and the second
feature are not in direct contact with each other, but are
contacted via an additional feature formed therebetween.
Furthermore, a first feature "on," "above," or "on top of" a second
feature may include an embodiment in which the first feature is
right or obliquely "on," "above," or "on top of" the second
feature, or just means that the first feature is at a height higher
than that of the second feature; while a first feature "below,"
"under," or "on bottom of" a second feature may include an
embodiment in which the first feature is right or obliquely
"below," "under," or "on bottom of" the second feature, or just
means that the first feature is at a height lower than that of the
second feature.
[0051] Reference throughout this specification to "an embodiment,"
"some embodiments," "an example," "a specific example," or "some
examples," means that a particular feature, structure, material, or
characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or
example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the
present disclosure. Thus, the appearances of the phrases in various
places throughout this specification are not necessarily referring
to the same embodiment or example of the present disclosure.
Furthermore, the particular features, structures, materials, or
characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or
more embodiments or examples. Those skilled in the art can
integrate and combine different embodiments or examples and the
features in different embodiments or examples in the specification,
in the condition without mutual contradiction.
[0052] Although explanatory embodiments have been shown and
described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that
the above embodiments cannot be construed to limit the present
disclosure, and changes, alternatives, and modifications can be
made in the embodiments without departing from spirit, principles
and scope of the present disclosure.
* * * * *