U.S. patent application number 15/348447 was filed with the patent office on 2017-11-30 for heat pump module for laundry treatment device and laundry treatment device.
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, Qiong Qin.
Application Number | 20170342636 15/348447 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 57421745 |
Filed Date | 2017-11-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170342636 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Miao; Yulai ; et
al. |
November 30, 2017 |
HEAT PUMP MODULE FOR LAUNDRY TREATMENT DEVICE AND LAUNDRY TREATMENT
DEVICE
Abstract
A heat pump module for a laundry treatment device and the
laundry treatment device are provided. The heat pump module
includes a base plate, a top cover and a compressor. The base plate
has a first side wall and a second side wall adjacent to the first
side wall; the top cover defines a mounting chamber together with
the base plate; the compressor is located in the mounting chamber;
and an extension line of an axis of the compressor intersects with
the first side wall and the second side wall separately. For the
heat pump module according to the present invention, the extension
line of the axis of the compressor intersects with the first side
wall and the second side wall, which facilitates the layout of
leads and pipes connected with the compressor and the arrangement
of other components on the base plate, thereby improving
utilization rate of installation space on the base plate and
optimizing the layout scheme of the heat pump module.
Inventors: |
Miao; Yulai; (Wuxi, CN)
; Lu; Song; (Wuxi, CN) ; Qian; Wei; (Wuxi,
CN) ; Qin; Qiong; (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: |
57421745 |
Appl. No.: |
15/348447 |
Filed: |
November 10, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 37/20 20130101;
D06F 39/04 20130101; D06F 58/206 20130101; D06F 25/00 20130101;
D06F 58/20 20130101; F25B 13/00 20130101 |
International
Class: |
D06F 39/04 20060101
D06F039/04; D06F 25/00 20060101 D06F025/00; D06F 37/20 20060101
D06F037/20; F25B 13/00 20060101 F25B013/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 31, 2016 |
CN |
201610378789.3 |
May 31, 2016 |
CN |
201620519264.2 |
Claims
1. A heat pump module for a laundry treatment device, comprising: a
base plate having a first side wall and a second side wall adjacent
to the first side wall; a top cover defining a mounting chamber
together with the base plate; and a compressor located in the
mounting chamber, wherein an extension line of an axis of the
compressor intersects with the first side wall and the second side
wall separately.
2. The heat pump module according to claim 1, wherein an included
angle .alpha. between the axis of the compressor and the first side
wall is greater than 0 degree and equal to or smaller than 30
degrees.
3. The heat pump module according to claim 2, wherein the included
angle .alpha. is greater than 0 degree and equal to or smaller than
20 degrees.
4. The heat pump module according to claim 1, wherein a starting
capacitor of the compressor is located in an area defined by the
first side wall, the second side wall and the axis together.
5. The heat pump module according to claim 1, wherein an upper
surface of the base plate is recessed downwards to form a first
receiving groove, and the compressor is embedded in the first
receiving groove.
6. The heat pump module according to claim 5, wherein part of an
outer peripheral wall of the first receiving groove protrudes
beyond a lower surface of the base plate.
7. The heat pump module according to claim 5, wherein the first
receiving groove is configured as a semi-circular groove.
8. The heat pump module according to claim 5, wherein a damping
sheath is fitted over the compressor, and at least part of an outer
peripheral wall of the damping sheath abuts against an inner
peripheral wall of the first receiving groove.
9. The heat pump module according to claim 8, wherein the outer
peripheral wall of the damping sheath is provided with a plurality
of ribs.
10. A laundry treatment device, comprising a housing provided with
an opening; a drum assembly disposed in the housing and having an
open end opposite the opening; and a heat pump module disposed in
the housing, wherein the heat pump module comprises: a base plate
having a first side wall and a second side wall adjacent to the
first side wall, a top cover defining a mounting chamber together
with the base plate, and a compressor located in the mounting
chamber, wherein an extension line of an axis of the compressor
intersects with the first side wall and the second side wall
separately.
11. The laundry treatment device according to claim 10, wherein an
included angle .alpha. between the axis of the compressor and the
first side wall is greater than 0 degree and equal to or smaller
than 30 degrees.
12. The laundry treatment device according to claim 11, wherein the
included angle .alpha. is greater than 0 degree and equal to or
smaller than 20 degrees.
13. The laundry treatment device according to claim 10, wherein a
starting capacitor of the compressor is located in an area defined
by the first side wall, the second side wall and the axis
together.
14. The laundry treatment device according to claim 10, wherein an
upper surface of the base plate is recessed downwards to form a
first receiving groove, and the compressor is embedded in the first
receiving groove.
15. The laundry treatment device according to claim 14, wherein
part of an outer peripheral wall of the first receiving groove
protrudes beyond a lower surface of the base plate.
16. The laundry treatment device according to claim 14, wherein the
first receiving groove is configured as a semi-circular groove.
17. The laundry treatment device according to claim 14, wherein a
damping sheath is fitted over the compressor, and at least part of
an outer peripheral wall of the damping sheath abuts against an
inner peripheral wall of the first receiving groove.
18. The laundry treatment device according to claim 17, wherein the
outer peripheral wall of the damping sheath is provided with a
plurality of ribs.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to and benefits of Chinese
Patent Application Serial No. 201610378789.3 and Chinese Patent
Application Serial No. 201620519264.2, filed with the State
Intellectual Property Office of P. R. China on May 31, 2016, the
entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to a technical field of
household appliances, and more particularly to a heat pump module
for a laundry treatment device and the laundry treatment
device.
BACKGROUND
[0003] A washer-dryer is an intelligent novel washing machine,
provided with an additional drying function based on an automatic
washing machine, and thus combining many functions, such as
washing, spinning and drying, into a single machine in one. The
washer-dryer may have two types, namely, an air-vented washer-dryer
and a condensation-based washer-dryer. The air-vented washer-dryer
works in such a principle that air is heated by a heater to heat
clothes and then becomes wet hot air to be exhausted, thereby
carrying away moisture in the clothes in such a circulation and
achieving a purpose of drying the clothes. The condensation-based
washer-dryer works in such a principle that air enters a drum to
heat clothes after heated by a heater, the drum is filled with wet
hot air which is condensed into water by a condensation system and
then collected in a water storage box, and hence moisture in the
clothes is taken away in such a circulation, so as to achieve a
purpose of drying the clothes.
[0004] A heat pump washer-dryer belongs to the condensation-based
washer-dryer, but a heat pump module has layout difficulty due to
space limit, a compressor generates vibration and noise in
operation, and a service life of components of the heat pump
washer-dryer is shortened.
SUMMARY
[0005] The present invention aims to solve at least one of the
problems existing in the related art. Thus, embodiments of the
present invention provide a heat pump module for a laundry
treatment device that has advantages of simple structure and
convenient assembling.
[0006] Embodiments of the present invention further provide a
laundry treatment device having the heat pump module.
[0007] According to the embodiments of the present invention, the
heat pump module includes: a base plate having a first side wall
and a second side wall adjacent to the first side wall; a top cover
defining a mounting chamber together with the base plate; and a
compressor located in the mounting chamber, in which an extension
line of an axis of the compressor intersects with the first side
wall and the second side wall separately.
[0008] For the heat pump module according to the present invention,
the extension line of the axis of the compressor intersects with
the first side wall and the second side wall, which facilitates the
layout of leads and pipes connected with the compressor and the
arrangement of other components on the base plate, thereby
improving utilization rate of installation space on the base plate
and optimizing the layout scheme of the heat pump module.
[0009] According to an embodiment of the present invention, an
included angle .alpha. between the axis of the compressor and the
first side wall is greater than 0 degree and equal to or smaller
than 30 degrees.
[0010] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
included angle .alpha. is greater than 0 degree and equal to or
smaller than 20 degrees.
[0011] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a
starting capacitor of the compressor is located in an area defined
by the first side wall, the second side wall and the axis
together.
[0012] According to an embodiment of the present invention, an
upper surface of the base plate is recessed downwards to form a
first receiving groove, and the compressor is embedded in the first
receiving groove.
[0013] According to an embodiment of the present invention, part of
an outer peripheral wall of the first receiving groove protrudes
beyond a lower surface of the base plate.
[0014] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
first receiving groove is configured as a semi-circular groove.
[0015] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a
damping sheath is fitted over the compressor, and at least part of
an outer peripheral wall of the damping sheath abuts against an
inner peripheral wall of the first receiving groove.
[0016] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
outer peripheral wall of the damping sheath is provided with a
plurality of ribs.
[0017] The laundry treatment device according to the embodiments of
the present invention includes: a housing provided with an opening;
a drum assembly disposed in the housing and having an open end
opposite the opening; and the heat pump module mentioned above and
disposed in the housing.
[0018] For the laundry treatment device according to the present
invention, the extension line of the axis of the compressor
intersects with the first side wall and the second side wall, which
facilitates the layout of leads and pipes connected with the
compressor and the arrangement of other components on the base
plate, thereby improving utilization rate of installation space on
the base plate and optimizing the layout scheme of the heat pump
module.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] These and/or additional aspects and advantages of
embodiments of the present invention will become apparent and more
readily appreciated from the following descriptions made with
reference to the drawings, in which:
[0020] FIG. 1 is a partially schematic view of a heat pump module
for a laundry treatment device according to an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0021] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the heat pump module according
to the embodiment of the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the heat pump module according
to the embodiment of the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a base plate of the heat pump
module according to the embodiment of the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the base plate of the heat
pump module according to the embodiment of the present
invention;
[0025] FIG. 6 is a partially schematic view of the heat pump module
according to the embodiment of the present invention.
REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0026] base plate 1, first side wall 11, second side wall 12, first
receiving groove 13, [0027] compressor 2, damping sheath 21, rib
210, [0028] starting capacitor 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0029] 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 should not be construed to limit the present
invention.
[0030] In the following, a heat pump module for a laundry treatment
device and the laundry treatment device according to embodiments of
the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1
to 6. It should be noted that the laundry treatment device may be a
clothes dryer, a washer-dryer, or a washing machine with a drying
function.
[0031] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the heat pump module according to
the embodiments of the present invention includes a base plate 1, a
top cover and a compressor 2.
[0032] Specifically, the top cover and the base plate 1 together
define a mounting chamber, and the compressor 2 is located in the
mounting chamber. The base plate 1 has a first side wall 11 and a
second side wall 12 adjacent to the first side wall 11, and an
extension line of an axis of the compressor 2 intersects with the
first side wall 11 and the second side wall 12 separately. That is,
the compressor 2 is obliquely mounted onto the base plate 1. For
example, as shown in FIGS. 1, 4, 5 and 6, the axis of the
compressor 2, the first side wall 11 and the second side wall 12
form a triangle on a horizontal plane. Accordingly, it is possible
to facilitate not only the layout of leads and pipes connected with
the compressor 2 but also the arrangement of other components, e.g.
a starting capacitor 3, on the base plate 1, so as to improve
utilization rate of installation space on the base plate 1 and
optimize the layout scheme of the heat pump module.
[0033] For the heat pump module according to the present invention,
the extension line of the axis of the compressor 2 intersects with
the first side wall 11 and the second side wall 12, which
facilitates the layout of the leads and the pipes connected with
the compressor 2 and the arrangement of other components on the
base plate 1, thereby improving utilization rate of the
installation space on the base plate 1 and optimizing the layout
scheme of the heat pump module.
[0034] According to an embodiment of the present invention, as
shown in FIGS. 1, 4, 5 and 6, an included angle .alpha. between the
axis of the compressor 2 and the first side wall 11 is greater than
0 degree and equal to or smaller than 30 degrees. Through tests, it
proves that it is more conductive to the layout of the heat pump
module if the included angle .alpha. between the axis of the
compressor 2 and the first side wall 1 is greater than 0 degree and
equal to or smaller than 30 degrees. Further, when the included
angle .alpha. is greater than 0 degree and equal to or smaller than
20 degrees, the layout scheme of the heat pump module is
preferable.
[0035] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
starting capacitor 3 of the compressor 2 is located in an area
defined by the first side wall 11, the second side wall 12 and the
axis together. Thus, on one hand, a connection distance between the
compressor 2 and the starting capacitor 3 is shortened, which saves
materials; on the other hand, the installation space is saved.
[0036] According to an embodiment of the present invention, an
upper surface of the base plate 1 is recessed downwards to form a
first receiving groove 13, and the compressor 2 is embedded in the
first receiving groove 13, so as to enhance stability of connecting
the compressor 2 and the base plate 1 to reduce vibration and noise
generated by the compressor 2 in operation. In some examples of the
present invention, the first receiving groove 13 may be configured
as a semi-circular groove, which can further improve stability of
assembling the compressor.
[0037] According to some embodiments of the present invention, part
of an outer peripheral wall of the first receiving groove 13
protrudes beyond a lower surface of the base plate 1, as shown in
FIGS. 2 and 3, so as to shorten a height by which the compressor 2
protrudes beyond the upper surface of the base plate 1. When the
heat pump module is assembled to the laundry treatment device, the
part of the outer peripheral wall of the first receiving groove 13
that protrudes beyond the lower surface of the base plate 1 may be
received in inner space of the laundry treatment device, so as to
reduce the overall height of the laundry treatment device to make
the structure of the laundry treatment device more compact and
reasonable, thereby improving appearance aesthetics of the laundry
treatment device.
[0038] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a
damping sheath 21 is fitted over the compressor 2, and at least
part of an outer peripheral wall of the damping sheath 21 abuts
against an inner peripheral wall of the first receiving groove 13,
so as to absorb the vibration generated by the compressor 2 in
operation and hence lower the noise of the compressor 2. As shown
in FIG. 3, the outer peripheral wall of the damping sheath 21 is
provided with a plurality of ribs 210. Thus, on one hand, the
compressor 2 may be fixed more stably, and on the other hand, the
vibration of the compressor 2 in operation may be damped to prolong
the service life of the compressor 2.
[0039] The heat pump module 1 according to a specific embodiment of
the present invention will be described in detail with reference to
FIGS. 1 to 6. It should be appreciated that the following
description is only explanatory and should not be construed to
limit the present invention.
[0040] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the heat pump module includes the
base plate 1, the top cover and the compressor 2.
[0041] As shown in FIG. 1, the top cover and the base plate 1
together define the mounting chamber, and the compressor 2 is
located in the mounting chamber. The base plate 1 has the first
side wall 11 and the second side wall 12 adjacent to the first side
wall 11, and the extension line of the axis of the compressor 2
intersects with the first side wall 11I and the second side wall 12
separately. The starting capacitor 3 of the compressor 2 is located
in the area defined by the first side wall 11, the second side wall
12 and the axis together, that is, the compressor 2 is obliquely
mounted in the mounting chamber of the base plate 1. Therefore, the
layout structure of the heat pump module may be optimized
conveniently.
[0042] The included angle .alpha. between the axis of the
compressor 2 and the first side wall 11 is greater than 0 degree
and equal to or smaller than 30 degrees. Thus, the compressor 2
forms a triangular corner with the first side wall 11 and the
second side wall 12, which provides an installation position for
the starting capacitor 3 of the compressor 2.
[0043] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the upper surface of the base
plate 1 is recessed downwards to form the first receiving groove
13, and the compressor 2 is embedded in the first receiving groove
13. Part of the outer peripheral wall of the first receiving groove
13 protrudes beyond the lower surface of the base plate 1, and the
first receiving groove 13 is configured as a semi-circular groove,
as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Therefore, on one hand, the compressor 2
may be fixed stably, and on the other hand, the overall height of
the laundry treatment device may be reduced.
[0044] The laundry treatment device according to the embodiments of
the present invention includes: a housing, a drum assembly, and the
heat pump module mentioned in the above embodiments.
[0045] Specifically, the housing is provided with an opening; the
drum assembly is disposed in the housing and has an open end
opposite the opening; and the heat pump module is used for the
laundry treatment device and disposed in the housing.
[0046] For the laundry treatment device according to the present
invention, the extension line of the axis of the compressor 2
intersects with the first side wall 11 and the second side wall 12,
which facilitates the layout of the leads and the pipes connected
with the compressor 2 and the arrangement of the other components
on the base plate 1, thereby improving utilization rate of
installation space on the base plate 1 and optimizing the layout
scheme of the heat pump module.
[0047] In an embodiment of the present invention, the opening is
provided in a front side of the housing; the drum assembly is
disposed in the housing and has a front end configured as the open
end; the open end of the drum assembly is opposite the opening; and
the heat pump module is disposed in the housing and located at the
top of the housing. Preferably, the heat pump module is configured
as a top wall of the housing.
[0048] In the specification, it is to be understood that terms such
as "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "horizontal," "top," "Inner,"
and "outer" 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 invention be constructed or operated in a
particular orientation.
[0049] 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 invention, "a plurality of" means
two or more than two, unless specified otherwise.
[0050] In the present invention, 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; may also be direct
connections or indirect connections via intervening structures; may
also be inner communications of two elements, which can be
understood by those skilled in the art according to specific
situations.
[0051] Reference throughout this specification to "an embodiment,"
"some embodiments," "an example," "specific examples," 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 invention. Thus, the appearances of the above phrases
throughout this specification are not necessarily referring to the
same embodiment or example of the present invention. 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 under circumstance
without contradiction.
[0052] Although embodiments of the present invention have been
shown and illustrated, it should be understood by those skilled in
the art that various changes, modifications, alternatives and
variants without departing from the principle and spirit of the
present invention are acceptable. The scope of the present
invention is defined by the claims or the like.
* * * * *