U.S. patent application number 15/368427 was filed with the patent office on 2017-06-08 for washing-drying machine.
The applicant listed for this patent is Wuxi Little Swan Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Guangfang LIN, Song LU, Yulai MIAO, Wei QIAN, Xubin SHI, Huiqin YOU, Chunyu ZHU.
Application Number | 20170159230 15/368427 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 57394457 |
Filed Date | 2017-06-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170159230 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
QIAN; Wei ; et al. |
June 8, 2017 |
WASHING-DRYING MACHINE
Abstract
The present disclosure provides a washing-drying machine. The
washing-drying machine includes: a cabinet; an inner drum rotatably
disposed in the cabinet and defines an accommodating cavity
therein, in which the inner drum has an air outlet communicated
with the accommodating cavity and a condensation air channel
disposed in a bottom wall thereof, the condensation air channel is
communicated with the accommodating cavity and the air outlet
respectively; and a heat exchanger disposed in the cabinet and
configured to exchange heat with wet air in the condensation air
channel.
Inventors: |
QIAN; Wei; (Wuxi, CN)
; LU; Song; (Wuxi, CN) ; ZHU; Chunyu;
(Wuxi, CN) ; YOU; Huiqin; (Wuxi, CN) ; LIN;
Guangfang; (Wuxi, CN) ; SHI; Xubin; (Wuxi,
CN) ; MIAO; Yulai; (Wuxi, CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Wuxi Little Swan Co., Ltd. |
Wuxi |
|
CN |
|
|
Family ID: |
57394457 |
Appl. No.: |
15/368427 |
Filed: |
December 2, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 58/24 20130101;
D06F 37/26 20130101; D06F 58/20 20130101; D06F 58/02 20130101; D06F
25/00 20130101; D06F 37/04 20130101 |
International
Class: |
D06F 58/24 20060101
D06F058/24; D06F 37/04 20060101 D06F037/04; D06F 58/02 20060101
D06F058/02; D06F 25/00 20060101 D06F025/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 4, 2015 |
CN |
201510885611.3 |
Dec 4, 2015 |
CN |
201520998733.9 |
Claims
1. A washing-drying machine, comprising: a cabinet; an inner drum
rotatably disposed in the cabinet and defines an accommodating
cavity therein, wherein the inner drum has an air outlet
communicated with the accommodating cavity and a condensation air
channel disposed in a bottom wall thereof, the condensation air
channel is communicated with the accommodating cavity and the air
outlet respectively; and a heat exchanger disposed in the cabinet
and configured to exchange heat with wet air in the condensation
air channel.
2. The washing-drying machine according to claim 1, further
comprising an air channel cover plate, wherein the air channel
cover plate is connected with the bottom wall of the inner drum to
define the condensation air channel.
3. The washing-drying machine according to claim 2, wherein the
bottom wall of the inner drum is provided with a relief groove
protruding outwards along an axial direction of the inner drum, the
relief groove is communicated with the air outlet, and the air
channel cover plate is fitted with the relief groove to define the
condensation air channel.
4. The washing-drying machine according to claim 3, wherein the
condensation air channel has an air channel inlet communicated with
the accommodating cavity and the condensation air channel
respectively.
5. The washing-drying machine according to claim 4, wherein the air
channel inlet is formed at an end of the condensation air
channel.
6. The washing-drying machine according to claim 5, wherein a
projected area of the air channel cover plate on a plane vertical
to the axial direction of the inner drum is smaller than a
projected area of the relief groove on the plane, so as to define
the air channel inlet.
7. The washing-drying machine according to claim 2, wherein the air
channel cover plate is connected with the inner drum by a bolt.
8. The washing-drying machine according to claim 2, wherein the air
channel cover plate is connected with the inner drum
adhesively.
9. The washing-drying machine according to claim 2, wherein the air
channel cover plate is flush with the bottom wall of the inner
drum.
10. The washing-drying machine according to claim 3, wherein the
relief groove is formed integrally when the inner drum is molded.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority and benefits of Chinese
Patent Application No. 201520998733.9, filed with State
Intellectual Property Office on Dec. 4, 2015, and Chinese Patent
Application No. 201510885611.3, filed with State Intellectual
Property Office on Dec. 4, 2015. Each of the aforementioned
applications is incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety.
FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a technical field of
laundry machine, especially to a washing-drying machine.
BACKGROUND
[0003] A drying-condensing system of the front-loading
washing-drying machine in the art is designed with an external
condensation air channel, in which a condenser is fixed to the
outside of the rear tub by a bolt, the flowing air enters the
condensation air channel through air vents in the back of the rear
tub, and then a ventilation cycle is generated through other
components, thus realizing the function of drying clothes. But with
this kind of design, the components are large in amount and a
structure of the external condensation air channel occupies a
relatively large space, and when designing the structure, the
condenser occupies the position where a stiffener on the back of
the rear tub is located, thus making the stiffener on the back of
the rear tub complicated in design.
SUMMARY
[0004] The present disclosure aims to solve one of the technical
problems in the related art to at least some extent. Accordingly,
the present disclosure provides a washing-drying machine which has
a simple and compact structure, a high utilization ratio of space,
a small amount of components and a low cost.
[0005] The washing-drying machine according to embodiments of the
present disclosure includes: a cabinet; an inner drum rotatably
disposed in the cabinet and defines an accommodating cavity
therein, in which the inner drum has an air outlet communicated
with the accommodating cavity and a condensation air channel
disposed in a bottom wall thereof, the condensation air channel is
communicated with the accommodating cavity and the air outlet
respectively; and a heat exchanger disposed in the cabinet and
configured to exchange heat with wet air in the condensation air
channel.
[0006] In the washing-drying machine according to embodiments of
the present disclosure, by providing the condensation air channel
in the bottom wall of the inner drum 10, a space occupation of a
partial assembling of the washing-drying machine is reduced, a
utilization ratio of space in the cabinet is improved considerably,
the amount of components of the drying system of the washing-drying
machine is decreased and thus a corresponding cost is reduced.
Compared with a washing-drying machine in the related art, the
washing-drying machine according to embodiments of the present
disclosure does not need an external condensation air channel any
more, and thus has a simple and compact structure and a high
production efficiency.
[0007] In addition, the washing-drying machine according to
embodiments of the present disclosure may have the following
additional technical features.
[0008] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the
washing-drying machine further includes an air channel cover plate,
and the air channel cover plate is connected with the bottom wall
of the inner drum to define the condensation air channel.
[0009] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the
bottom wall of the inner drum is provided with a relief groove
protruding outwards along an axial direction of the inner drum, the
relief groove is communicated with the air outlet, and the air
channel cover plate is fitted with the relief groove to define the
condensation air channel.
[0010] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the
condensation air channel has an air channel inlet communicated with
the accommodating cavity and the condensation air channel
respectively.
[0011] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the
air channel inlet is formed at an end of the condensation air
channel.
[0012] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a
projected area of the air channel cover plate on a plane vertical
to the axial direction of the inner drum is smaller than a
projected area of the relief groove on the plane, so as to define
the air channel inlet.
[0013] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the
air channel cover plate is connected with the inner drum by a
bolt.
[0014] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the
air channel cover plate is connected with the inner drum
adhesively.
[0015] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the
air channel cover plate is flush with the bottom wall of the inner
drum.
[0016] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the
relief groove is formed integrally when the inner drum is
molded.
[0017] Additional aspects and advantages of the present disclosure
will be given in part in the following descriptions, become
apparent in part from the following descriptions, or be learned
from the practice of the present disclosure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an inner drum and an air
channel cover plate of a washing-drying machine according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure, in which the inner drum and
the air channel cover plate are assembled;
[0019] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the structure shown in FIG.
1;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a front view of the structure shown in FIG. 1;
[0021] FIG. 4 is a rear view of the structure shown in FIG. 1;
and
[0022] FIG. 5 is a side view of the structure shown in FIG. 1;
REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0023] inner drum 10; accommodating cavity 11; air outlet 12;
relief groove 13; air channel inlet 14; air channel cover plate
20.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in
detail. Examples of the embodiments are shown in the drawings. The
embodiments described herein with reference to drawings are
explanatory, and used to generally understand the present
disclosure, and shall not be construed to limit the present
disclosure.
[0025] In the following, a washing-drying machine according to
embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with
reference to FIGS. 1-5.
[0026] As shown in FIG. 1, the washing-drying machine according to
embodiments of the present disclosure includes a cabinet (not
shown), an inner drum 10 and a heat exchanger (not shown).
Specifically, the inner drum 10 is rotatably disposed in the
cabinet and has an accommodating cavity 11 therein, in which the
inner drum 10 has an air outlet 12 communicated with the
accommodating cavity 11 and also has a condensation air channel
disposed in a bottom wall thereof. The condensation air channel is
communicated with the accommodating cavity 11 and the air outlet 12
respectively, and the heat exchanger is disposed in the cabinet and
configured to exchange heat with wet air in the condensation air
channel.
[0027] In other words, the washing-drying machine mainly includes
the cabinet, an outer tub (not shown), the inner drum 10 and the
heat exchanger. The cabinet extends along a vertical direction, the
outer tub is disposed fixedly in the cabinet, and the inner drum 10
is rotatably disposed in the outer tub, in which a gap is formed
between an external circumferential wall of the inner drum 10 and
an internal circumferential wall of the outer tub. The inner drum
10 has the accommodating cavity 11 configured to accommodate
clothes therein and also has an air inlet (not shown) and the air
outlet 12 communicated with the accommodating cavity 11
respectively.
[0028] Optionally, the inner drum 10 and the outer tub extend along
a front and rear direction respectively and disposed coaxially. The
bottom wall of the inner drum 10 is provided with the condensation
air channel, the condensation air channel is communicated with the
accommodating cavity 11 and the air outlet 12 respectively, and the
heat exchanger may be disposed adjacent to the condensation air
channel. When a drying program of the washing-drying machine starts
running, a drying system guides high-temperature air into the
accommodating cavity 11 through the air inlet so as to dry the
clothes in the accommodating cavity 11. Then, wet air of the
clothes is brought into the condensation air channel, and the heat
exchanger condenses the wet air in the condensation air channel.
Consequently, a condensed water is discharged out of the inner drum
10, and relatively dry air is obtained, discharged out of the air
outlet 12 and then enters subsequent components, and so on.
[0029] Thus, in the washing-drying machine according to embodiments
of the present disclosure, by providing the condensation air
channel in the bottom wall of the inner drum 10, a space occupation
of a partial assembling of the washing-drying machine is reduced, a
utilization ratio of space in the cabinet is improved considerably,
the amount of components of the drying system of the washing-drying
machine is decreased and thus a corresponding cost is reduced.
Compared with a washing-drying machine in the related art, the
washing-drying machine according to embodiments of the present
disclosure does not need an external condensation air channel any
more, and thus has a simple and compact structure and a high
production efficiency.
[0030] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the
washing-drying machine further includes an air channel cover plate
20, and the air channel cover plate 20 is connected with the bottom
wall of the inner drum 10 to define the condensation air channel.
Optionally, the air channel cover plate 20 may be detachably
connected or fixedly connected with the bottom wall of the inner
drum 10. The air channel cover plate 20 and the inner drum 10
define the condensation air channel therebetween, and the
condensation air channel is communicated with the air outlet 12 and
the accommodating cavity 11 respectively. Accordingly, the
condensation air channel is defined by the bottom wall of the inner
drum 10 and the air channel cover plate 20, which provides a simple
and compact structure, needs a small amount of components, and thus
facilitates assembling and disassembling.
[0031] As shown in FIG. 2, according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure, the bottom wall of the inner drum 10 is
provided with an relief groove 13 protruding outwards along an
axial direction of the inner drum 10, the relief groove 13 is
communicated with the air outlet 12, and the air channel cover
plate 20 is fitted with the relief groove 13 to define the
condensation air channel.
[0032] Specifically, at least a part of the bottom wall of the
inner drum 10 extends backwards along the axial direction of the
inner drum 10 (i.e. the front and rear direction shown in FIG. 2)
so as to form the relief groove 13 in the bottom wall of the inner
drum 10. The relief groove 13 is recessed downwards relative to an
inner surface of the bottom wall of the inner drum 10 and is
communicated with the accommodating cavity 11 and the air outlet 12
respectively. That is, a side (a front side shown in FIG. 2) of the
relief groove 13 is open, an inner wall of the relief groove 13 is
provided with the air outlet 12, and the air channel cover plate 20
is mounted on the bottom wall of the inner drum 10 and connected
with the bottom wall of the inner drum 10 to enclose at least a
part of an opening of the relief groove 13, thus defining the
condensation air channel. Optionally, a projected shape of the air
channel cover plate 20 on a plane vertical to the axial direction
of the inner drum 10 is substantially the same with a projected
shape of the relief groove 13 on the plane vertical to the axial
direction of the inner drum 10.
[0033] Accordingly, the relief groove 13 may be formed integrally
in the bottom wall of the inner drum 10 when the inner drum 10 is
molded, which provides a simple manufacturing procedure and a
convenient molding, and then the air channel cover plate 20 may be
directly mounted to the bottom wall of the inner drum 10 to form
the condensation air channel, so that a small amount of components
are needed, thus resulting in a low cost, a simple operation and a
high assembly efficiency.
[0034] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the
condensation air channel has an air channel inlet 14, and the air
channel inlet 14 is communicated with the accommodating cavity 11
and the condensation air channel respectively, i.e. the air channel
inlet 14 communicates the accommodating cavity 11 with the
condensation air channel. For example, an outer edge of the air
channel cover plate 20 is connected with the bottom wall of the
inner drum 10, and the air channel cover plate 20 is provided with
the air channel inlet 14 communicated with the accommodating cavity
11, so as to facilitate guiding the wet air in the accommodating
cavity 11 of the inner drum 10 to the condensation air channel. Of
course, the present disclosure is not limited to this, i.e., the
air channel inlet 14 may be provided in the air channel cover plate
20 or defined by the outer edge of the air channel cover plate 20
and the bottom wall of the inner drum 10.
[0035] When the drying program of the washing-drying machine starts
running, the drying system guides the high-temperature air into the
accommodating cavity 11 through the air inlet so as to dry the
clothes in the accommodating cavity 11, then the wet air of the
clothes is brought into the condensation air channel through the
air channel inlet 14, and the heat exchanger condenses the wet air
in the condensation air channel. The condensed water is discharged
out of the inner drum 10, and the relatively dry air is obtained
and discharged out of the air outlet 12.
[0036] Preferably, according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure, the air channel inlet is formed at an end of the
condensation air channel. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, a
length direction of the relief groove 13 extends along a
circumferential direction of the bottom wall of the inner drum 10,
i.e. an outer contour line of the relief groove 13 is configured to
have an arc shape. Correspondingly, an outer contour line of the
air channel cover plate 20 is also configured to have an arc shape
and a length of the air channel cover plate 20 in the
circumferential direction of the bottom wall of the inner drum 10
is smaller than a length of the relief groove 13. A first end of
the air channel cover plate 20 is connected with the bottom wall of
the inner drum 10 to enclose a side of the opening of the relief
groove 13, and a second end of the air channel cover plate 20 and
the bottom wall of the inner drum 10 define the air channel inlet
14. The air channel inlet 14 and the air outlet 12 are located at
two ends of the condensation air channel respectively.
[0037] Accordingly, by providing the air channel inlet 14 at the
end of the condensation air channel, a flowing time of the wet air
in the condensation air channel is increased, and thus the
heat-exchange time of the heat exchanger and the wet air is
prolonged, so that the wet air is condensed sufficiently, the heat
exchange effect is improved, and the drying efficiency of the
washing-drying machine is further enhanced.
[0038] As shown in FIG. 3, according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure, a projected area of the air channel cover plate
20 on a plane vertical to the axial direction of the inner drum 10
is smaller than a projected area of the relief groove 13 on the
plane so as to define the air channel inlet. Accordingly, the inner
drum 10 and the air channel cover plate 20 of the washing-drying
machine define the condensation air channel and the air channel
inlet 14 through a structural fit therebetween, which thus provides
the simple and compact structure, the convenient assembling and
disassembling, the easy manufacturing and the low cost.
[0039] In some specific embodiments of the present disclosure, the
air channel cover plate 20 is connected with the inner drum 10 by a
bolt. Specifically, the air channel cover plate 20 is provided with
a plurality of threaded holes arranged in a circumferential
direction of the air channel cover plate 20 and spaced apart from
one another, which thus can guarantee the air channel cover plate
20 to be fixedly connected with the bottom wall of the inner drum
10, and ensure the sealing property of the condensation air channel
as well. Correspondingly, multiple bolts are provided and fitted in
the plurality of threaded holes respectively. It is to be noted
that, the sealing property of the condensation air channel is a
relative term, i.e. the condensation air channel has the sealing
property in other positions expect where the air channel inlet 14
and the air outlet 12 are. Accordingly, the air channel cover plate
20 is connected with the inner drum 10 by the bolts, thus causing
the convenient assembling and disassembling and the easy repair
thereof.
[0040] In some other specific embodiments of the present
disclosure, the air channel cover plate 20 is connected with the
inner drum 10 adhesively. Thus, the outer edge of the air channel
cover plate 20 is closely fitted with the bottom wall of the inner
drum 10, which can guarantee a great sealing property of the
condensation air channel, therefore improving the heat exchange
effect on the wet air and further increasing the drying efficiency
of the washing-drying machine.
[0041] Preferably, according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure, the air channel cover plate 20 is flush with the bottom
wall of the inner drum 10. In other words, when the air channel
cover plate 20 is assembled together with the inner drum 10, a side
of the air channel cover plate 20 facing towards an opening of the
inner drum 10 is flush with the inner surface of the bottom wall of
the inner drum 10, so that the inner surface of the bottom wall of
the inner drum 10 is beautiful and smooth, and also the outer edge
of the air channel cover plate 20 is prevented from lacerating
clothes, thus providing a good user experience.
[0042] In addition, according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure, the relief groove 13 is formed integrally when the
inner drum 10 is molded. For example, the relief groove 13 may be
formed in the bottom wall of the inner drum 10 when the inner drum
10 is molded by injection molding. Accordingly, the integrally
formed structure guarantees the structural stability and the
performance stability of the washing-drying machine, and also is
convenient to mold and easy to manufacture, so that redundant
assembling components and connection procedures are omitted, thus
improving the assembling efficiency of the washing-drying machine
considerably and ensuring the connection reliability of the inner
drum 10. Furthermore, the integrally formed structure has high
overall strength and stability along with a long service life, and
is more convenient to assemble.
[0043] Other configurations and operations of the washing-drying
machine according to embodiments of the present disclosure are
known for those skilled in the art, and thus will not be described
in detail herein.
[0044] In the specification, it is to be understood that terms such
as "central," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width,"
"thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right,"
"vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer,"
"clockwise," "counterclockwise," "an axial direction," "a radical
direction," and "a circumferential direction," 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 be
constructed or operated in a particular orientation.
[0045] 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 comprise one or more of this feature. In
the description of the present disclosure, "a plurality of" means
two or more than two, unless specified otherwise.
[0046] 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 be communicated
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.
[0047] 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 intervening structures. 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.
[0048] 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. Furthermore, different embodiments or
examples in thus specification can be jointed and combined by those
skilled in the art without mutual contradiction.
[0049] Although embodiments have been shown and described, it would
be appreciated that the embodiments above are explanatory and
cannot be construed to limit the present disclosure, and changes,
alternatives, transformation and modifications to the embodiments
above can be made by those skilled in the art in the scope of the
present disclosure.
* * * * *