U.S. patent application number 15/211520 was filed with the patent office on 2017-12-21 for clothes dryer.
This patent application is currently assigned to LG ELECTRONICS INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is LG ELECTRONICS INC.. Invention is credited to Haeyoon Je, Manseok LEE.
Application Number | 20170362769 15/211520 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56413560 |
Filed Date | 2017-12-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170362769 |
Kind Code |
A9 |
LEE; Manseok ; et
al. |
December 21, 2017 |
CLOTHES DRYER
Abstract
A clothes dryer includes a rotatable drum, a drum supporter for
supporting the drum, the drum supporter being provided with a
discharge port for discharging air from the drum, a circulation
channel for guiding air discharged through the discharge port into
the drum, and a filter cartridge for filtering air in the
circulation channel, wherein the filter cartridge includes an
inside filter cartridge for filtering air discharged from the drum
and an outside filter cartridge disposed in the circulation channel
in a state of being supported by the drum supporter, the outside
filter cartridge including a front filter for filtering air that
passes through the inside filter cartridge and flows forward, a
rear filter for filtering air that passes through the inside filter
cartridge and flows rearward, and a lateral filter for filtering
air that passes through the inside filter cartridge and flows in
the lateral direction.
Inventors: |
LEE; Manseok; (Seoul,
KR) ; Je; Haeyoon; (Seoul, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
LG ELECTRONICS INC. |
Seoul |
|
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
LG ELECTRONICS INC.
|
Prior
Publication: |
|
Document Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20170016172 A1 |
January 19, 2017 |
|
|
Family ID: |
56413560 |
Appl. No.: |
15/211520 |
Filed: |
July 15, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 58/206 20130101;
D06F 58/20 20130101; D06F 58/02 20130101; D06F 58/22 20130101 |
International
Class: |
D06F 58/22 20060101
D06F058/22; D06F 58/02 20060101 D06F058/02; D06F 58/20 20060101
D06F058/20 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 17, 2015 |
KR |
10-2015-0102000 |
Claims
1. A clothes dryer comprising: a rotatable drum; a drum support to
support the drum, the drum support including a discharge port to
discharge air from the drum; a circulation channel to guide, back
toward the drum, air discharged through the discharge port; and a
filter cartridge to filter air in the circulation channel, wherein
the filter cartridge comprises: an inside filter cartridge to
filter air discharged from the drum; and an outside filter
cartridge provided in the circulation channel when the outside
filter cartridge is supported by the drum support, the outside
filter cartridge having a front filter to filter air that passes
through the inside filter cartridge and flows forward, a rear
filter to filter air that passes through the inside filter
cartridge and flows rearward, and a lateral filter to filter air
that passes through the inside filter cartridge and flows in a
lateral direction.
2. The clothes dryer according to claim 1, wherein the lateral
filter is provided in a section of the circulation channel that
guides air in the lateral direction.
3. The clothes dryer according to claim 1, further comprising: a
blowing fan to blow air through the circulation channel, wherein
the blowing fan is spaced apart from the filter cartridge in the
lateral direction, the drum support comprises a discharge duct to
guide the air discharged through the discharge port in the lateral
direction such that the air flows to the blowing fan, and the
lateral filter is provided in the discharge duct.
4. The clothes dryer according to claim 3, wherein the lateral
filter is included in at least one of opposing lateral surfaces
located between the front filter and the rear filter.
5. The clothes dryer according to claim 4, wherein the lateral
filter is located in one of the opposing lateral surfaces
corresponding to a location of the blowing fan.
6. The clothes dryer according to claim 5, wherein the other
lateral surface is closed such that air does not flow through the
other lateral surface.
7. The clothes dryer according to claim 1, wherein the inside
filter cartridge comprises a front filter and a rear filter
corresponding to the front filter and the rear filter of the
outside filter cartridge, respectively.
8. The clothes dryer according to claim 1, wherein the outside
filter cartridge comprises: at least one mesh for filtering air;
and a filter frame to which the at least one mesh is affixed, the
filter frame including a front frame constituting the front filter,
a rear frame constituting the rear filter, a bottom frame connected
between the front filter and the rear filter, and a lateral frame
constituting the lateral filter, the front frame, the rear frame,
the bottom frame, and the lateral frame being formed as a single
member made of a synthetic resin.
9. The clothes dryer according to claim 8, wherein the front frame
and the rear frame are connected to the bottom frame in a foldable
fashion, and the lateral frame is hingedly connected to one of the
front frame and or the rear frame in a foldable fashion.
10. The clothes dryer according to claim 9, wherein the lateral
frame is separably coupled to another one of the front frame or the
rear frame.
11. The clothes dryer according to claim 10, wherein the other one
of the front frame or the rear frame includes a fixing holder
configured to be separably coupled to the lateral frame.
12. The clothes dryer according to claim 9, wherein: the filter
frame has an opening formed in a lateral surface thereof, and the
lateral frame is connected to one of the front frame or the rear
frame so as to selectively close the opening.
13. The clothes dryer according to claim 8, wherein the bottom
frame is coupled to a mesh to filter air that passes through the
inside filter cartridge and flows downward.
14. The clothes dryer according to claim 1, wherein the inside
filter cartridge is provided with an interference protrusion, and
the outside filter cartridge is provided with a restraint
protrusion that engages the the interference protrusion such that
the outside filter cartridge is removed from the drum support when
a pulling force is applied to the inside filter cartridge to
withdraw the inside filter cartridge from the opening in the
outside filter cartridge.
15. The clothes dryer according to claim 10, wherein the lateral
frame includes an opening tab that provides a handling surface for
a user to selectively release the lateral frame from the other one
of the front frame or the rear frame.
16. The clothes dryer according to claim 8, wherein one of the
front frame or the rear frame includes a coupling protrusion, and
another one of the front frame or the rear frame includes a
coupling recess to receive the coupling protrusion to couple the
front frame and the rear frame.
17. The clothes dryer according to claim 8, wherein a top surface
of the inside filter cartridge mates with a top surface of the
outside filter cartridge to prevent the air discharged from the
drum from being introduced into the outside filter cartridge
without first passing through the inside filter cartridge.
18. The clothes dryer according to claim 8, wherein the filter
frame includes one or more connection parts that connect the bottom
frame to the front frame and the back frame and the lateral frame
to at least one of the front frame or the rear frame.
19. The clothes dryer according to claim 1, wherein the inside
filter cartridge is removable from the outside filter cartridge
20. The clothes dryer according to claim 1, wherein the inside
filter cartridge is inserted into the outside filter cartridge
through an opening formed in a top surface of the outside filter
cartridge.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority benefit under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn.119 to Korean Application No. 10-2015-0102000, filed on Jul.
17, 2015, whose entire disclosure is hereby incorporated by
reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field
[0003] The present disclosure relates to a clothes dryer.
[0004] 2. Background
[0005] A clothes dryer is an apparatus that supplies dry air into a
drum in which clothes are placed in order to dry the clothes. The
clothes dryer may be classified as an exhaust type clothes dryer
that exhausts air discharged from a drum out of the clothes dryer
or a circulation type clothes dryer that circulates air discharged
from a drum and resupplies the circulated air into the drum.
[0006] In the circulation type clothes dryer, a filter cartridge is
provided in a circulation channel in order to prevent foreign
matter, such as lint or dust, floating in the air discharged from
the drum from being introduced into the drum again. The filter
cartridge is configured so as to be separable from the clothes
dryer such that a user separates the filter cartridge from the
clothes dryer and removes foreign matter from the filter
cartridge.
[0007] The filter cartridge may be configured to have a dual filter
structure in which an inside filter cartridge is received in an
outside filter cartridge such that air passes through the inside
filter cartridge, by which the air is primarily filtered, and then
the air passes through the outside filter cartridge, by which the
air is secondarily filtered.
[0008] Generally, the inside filter cartridge includes an inside
front filter for filtering air that is introduced into the
cartridge through an inlet port formed in the top surface thereof
and flows forward and an inside rear filter for filtering air that
is introduced into the cartridge through the inlet port and flows
rearward. In the same manner, the outside filter cartridge includes
an outside front filter and an outside rear filter provided at the
front surface and the rear surface thereof so as to be aligned with
the inside front filter and the inside rear filter,
respectively.
[0009] In the above structure, however, the filters are provided in
the circulation channel in the state in which the filters overlap
one another, with the result that the circulation channel may be
narrowed. In particular, even if the capacity of the drum is
increased, it is difficult to increase the width of the space, in
which the filter cartridges are mounted, in the forward and
rearward direction. In the conventional structure in which the
inside and outside filters are sequentially arranged in the forward
and rearward direction, therefore, a stream of air may not smoothly
pass through the filters.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The embodiments will be described in detail with reference
to the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to
like elements wherein:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance
of a clothes dryer according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a view showing the internal structure of the
clothes dryer of FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a view showing a drum supporter in the state in
which a filter cartridge is mounted in the drum supporter;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a view showing the state in which the filter
cartridge is separated from the drum supporter;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a view showing the state in which an inside filter
cartridge is received in an outside filter cartridge;
[0016] FIG. 6 is a view showing the state in which an interference
protrusion of the inside filter cartridge interferes with a
restraint protrusion of the outside filter cartridge;
[0017] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the inside filter
cartridge;
[0018] FIG. 8A is a view showing the inside surface of the inside
filter cartridge in the state in which the inside filter cartridge
is unfolded;
[0019] FIG. 8B is a view showing the outside surface of the inside
filter cartridge in the state in which the inside filter cartridge
is unfolded;
[0020] FIGS. 9A and 9B are perspective views of the outside filter
cartridge; and
[0021] FIG. 10 is a view showing the outside surface of the outside
filter cartridge in the state in which the outside filter cartridge
is unfolded.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0022] Advantages and features of the present disclosure and a
method of achieving the same will be more clearly understood from
embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying
drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the
following embodiments but may be implemented in various different
forms. The embodiments are provided merely to complete disclosure
of the present disclosure and to fully provide a person having
ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains
with the category of the disclosure. The disclosure is defined only
by the category of the claims. Wherever possible, the same
reference numbers will be used throughout the specification to
refer to the same or like elements.
[0023] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, a clothes dryer according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure may include a casing 1 having
an opening formed in the front thereof such that clothes can be
introduced through the opening, a door 2 for opening and closing
the opening, a drum 4 rotatably provided in the casing 1, and a
drum supporter 5 for supporting the drum 4.
[0024] The casing 1 may include a base 11 placed on the floor on
which the clothes dryer is installed, a cabinet 12 supported by the
base 11, the cabinet 12 having an open front surface and an open
top surface, a top plate 13 disposed on the open top surface of the
cabinet 12, and a front cover 14 disposed on the open front surface
of the cabinet 12, the front cover 14 having an opening through
which laundry is introduced.
[0025] The casing 1 may be provided at the upper part of the front
surface thereof with a control panel 32, which includes an input
unit for allowing various kinds of control commands for controlling
the operation of the clothes dryer to be input and a display unit
for displaying the state of operation of the clothes dryer.
[0026] The clothes dryer may further include a steam supply unit
(not shown) for supplying steam into the drum 4. In addition, a
water tank for storing water to be supplied to the steam supply
unit may be received in a drawer 31.
[0027] The drum supporter 5 may be provided with an introduction
port 5a, through which clothes are introduced into the drum 4. The
introduction port 5a communicates with the opening in the front
cover 14. The drum supporter 5 may be provided with a ring-shaped
support surface or a ring-shaped groove for supporting the front
end of the drum 4.
[0028] The drum supporter 5 may be provided with a discharge port
52h for discharging air from the drum 4, and a discharge duct 53
for guiding the air discharged through the discharge port 52h. The
air discharged from the drum 4 through the discharge port 52h is
guided along the discharge duct 53, is guided along a connection
duct 81, which is connected to the discharge duct 53, and reaches a
blowing fan 82. Reference symbol 53h shown in FIGS. 3 and 4
indicates the outlet of the discharge duct 53. The connection duct
81 is connected to the outlet of the discharge duct 53.
[0029] A stream of air that flows in the lateral direction may be
formed in the discharge duct 53 depending on the position of the
blowing fan 82 or the shape of the discharge duct 53. In this
embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the blowing fan 82 is
located so as to be spaced apart from the discharge port 52h in the
lateral direction. Consequently, the discharge duct 53 includes a
section 53s for guiding the air discharged through the discharge
port 52h in the lateral direction.
[0030] The drum supporter 5 may include an introduction surface 52,
which defines the introduction port 5h. The introduction surface 52
may extend from the front surface 51 of the drum supporter 5, in
which the introduction port 5h is formed, to the drum 4. The
introduction surface 52 may constitute a portion of a ring
extending around the introduction port 5h. The introduction surface
52 may be formed to have a ring shape that wholly defines the
introduction port 5h. In this embodiment, the introduction surface
52 may be formed to have a shape corresponding to a part in which a
filter cartridge 7 is mounted, i.e. a portion of the lower part of
the introduction port 5h. The discharge port 52h is formed in the
introduction surface 52 such that the discharge port 52h is open
upward.
[0031] A back panel 6 supports the rear end of the drum 4. The back
panel 6 is provided with an air supply port 6h for supplying dry
air into the drum 4. The back panel 6 may be provided with a
ring-shaped support surface or a ring-shaped groove for supporting
the rear end of the drum 4.
[0032] A motor 83 may be provided to rotate the drum 4. The drum 4
may be driven in a belt drive fashion. In this case, a belt (not
shown) wound around the outer circumferential surface of the drum 4
is moved by a pulley (not shown), which is rotated by the motor 83,
such that the drum 4 is rotated. A plurality of rollers 55 may be
provided at the drum supporter 5 and the back panel 6 so as to
support the outer circumferential surface of the drum 4 during the
rotation of the drum 4.
[0033] The clothes dryer includes a circulation channel for guiding
air, discharged from the drum 4 through the discharge port 52h,
into the drum. The circulation channel includes the discharge duct
53 and the connection duct 81. Although not shown, the circulation
channel may further include a channel for guiding the air, blown by
the blowing fan 82, to the air supply port 6h of the back panel 6.
The blowing fan 82 blows air such that the air flows along the
circulation channel. In this embodiment, the motor 83, which
rotates the drum 4, is also used to rotate the blowing fan 82.
Alternatively, an additional motor may be provided to drive the
blowing fan 82.
[0034] The clothes dryer may further include a heat generation unit
for heating air that flows along the circulation channel. The heat
generation unit may be realized by various kinds of well-known
means. In this embodiment, the clothes dryer heats air using a heat
pump. The heat pump is configured such that a refrigerant is
compressed, expanded, evaporated, and condensed while the
refrigerant is moved along the closed circulation channel. Heat
generated when the refrigerant is condensed is used to heat air.
Although a compressor 84 for compressing the refrigerant and a
condenser 85 for condensing the refrigerant are shown in FIG. 2, an
expansion valve for expanding the refrigerant and an evaporator for
evaporating the refrigerant may be further provided. In some
embodiments, an electric heater or a thermoelectric device may be
used as the heat generation unit.
[0035] Referring to FIGS. 3 to 10, a filter cartridge 7 for
filtering air is provided in the circulation channel. The filter
cartridge 7 is configured to have a dual filter structure including
an inside filter cartridge 71 and an outside filter cartridge 74.
Air discharged from the drum 4 sequentially passes through the
inside filter cartridge 71 and the outside filter cartridge 74, and
is then suctioned into the blowing fan 82.
[0036] More specifically, the outside filter cartridge 74 is
supported by the drum supporter 5 in the state in which the outside
filter cartridge 74 is inserted in the discharge port 52h.
Referring to FIG. 4, the drum supporter 50 may have a location
surface 54 defined in the discharge duct 53, and the outside filter
cartridge 74 may be located on the location surface 54.
Specifically, the upper end of the outside filter cartridge 74 (the
bottom surface, which is the surface opposite the top surface 745
shown in FIG. 9A) may be located on the location surface 54. In the
state in which the outside filter cartridge 74 is located on the
location surface 54, the outside filter cartridge 74 is disposed at
a lower position than the introduction surface 52. The outside
filter cartridge 74 may be completely received in the discharge
duct 53 such that the outside filter cartridge 74 is not exposed
through the discharge port 52h.
[0037] An opening 74h, through which the inside filter cartridge 71
passes, is formed in the top surface 745 (see FIG. 9A) of the
outside filter cartridge 74. The inside filter cartridge 71 may be
received in or separated from the outside filter cartridge 74
through the opening 74h.
[0038] The inside filter cartridge 71 is configured to have a
structure including a mesh M for filtering air and an inside filter
frame 710 for fixing the mesh M. The outside filter cartridge 74 is
configured to have a structure including a mesh M for filtering air
and an outside filter frame 740 for fixing the mesh M. The mesh M
may be located at various positions on each of the filter
cartridges 71 and 74. In the following description, a mesh located
at the front of each of the filter cartridges 71 and 74 will be
referred to as a front mesh, a mesh located at the side of each of
the filter cartridges 71 and 74 will be referred to as a side mesh,
and a mesh located at the rear of each of the filter cartridges 71
and 74 will be referred to as a rear mesh, as needed.
[0039] The inside filter cartridge 71 and the outside filter
cartridge 74 are separate members. The inside filter cartridge 71
and the outside filter cartridge 74 are mounted in the drum
supporter 5 in the state in which the inside filter cartridge 71 is
received in the outside filter cartridge 74.
[0040] The inside filter cartridge 71 may be provided with an
interference protrusion 715. The outside filter cartridge 74 may be
provided with a restraint protrusion 745. The restraint protrusion
745 restrains the interference protrusion 715 such that the outside
filter cartridge 74 is moved simultaneously with the inside filter
cartridge 71 when the inside filter cartridge 71 is pulled in the
direction in which the inside filter cartridge 71 is withdrawn
through the opening 74h in the state in which the outside filter
cartridge 74 is supported by the drum supporter 5.
[0041] In order to remove foreign matter, such as lint or dust,
from the filter cartridge 7, a user may directly remove the filter
cartridge 7 from the drum supporter 5. When the inside filter
cartridge 71 is withdrawn from the outside filter cartridge 74, the
interference protrusion 715 is caught by the restraint protrusion
745, with the result that the interference protrusion 715 is
restrained by the restraint protrusion 745, and the inside filter
cartridge 71 and the outside filter cartridge 74 are separated from
the drum supporter 5 while the inside filter cartridge 71 and the
outside filter cartridge 74 are moved simultaneously. Even when the
user lifts up only the inside filter cartridge 71 in the state in
which the user does not notice the outside filter cartridge 74,
therefore, both the inside filter cartridge 71 and the outside
filter cartridge 74 may be separated from the drum supporter 5.
Consequently, it is possible to fundamentally solve the problem of
the outside filter cartridge 74 remaining in the clothes dryer due
to the user's carelessness during the removal of foreign matter
from the filter cartridge 7 as in the conventional art.
[0042] In addition, the inside filter cartridge 71 may not be
exposed (i.e. it is not necessary for the user to notice the inside
filter cartridge 71) when the filter cartridge 7 is separated from
the drum supporter 5 as long as the inside filter cartridge 71 and
the outside filter cartridge 74 are connected to each other.
Consequently, the inside filter cartridge 71 may be completely
mounted in the discharge duct 53.
[0043] Meanwhile, the interference protrusion 715 and the restraint
protrusion 745 may be spaced apart from each other in the direction
in which the inside filter cartridge 71 is moved such that the
inside filter cartridge 71 can be moved by a predetermined distance
in the outside filter cartridge 74. As shown in FIG. 6A, during the
withdrawal of the filter cartridge 7, the inside filter cartridge
71 is moved by a predetermined distance d, and then the
interference protrusion 715 interferes with the restraint
protrusion 745. As a result, the inside filter cartridge 71 and the
outside filter cartridge 74 are simultaneously separated from the
drum supporter 5.
[0044] The outside filter cartridge 74 includes an outside front
filter 75 and an outside rear filter 76, which are connected to
each other in an unfoldable or foldable fashion. The outside front
filter 75 and the outside rear filter 76 are mounted in the drum
supporter 5 in the state in which the outside front filter 75 and
the outside rear filter 76 are folded so as to be coupled to each
other. In the state in which the outside filter cartridge 74 is
separated from the drum supporter 5, the outside front filter 75
and the outside rear filter 76 may be unfolded such that the inside
filter cartridge 71 can be pulled out from the outside filter
cartridge 74.
[0045] According to the circumstances, however, the user may
forcibly pull the inside filter cartridge 71 in the state in which
the user does not unfold the outside filter cartridge 74. In order
to prevent the interference protrusion 715 or the restraint
protrusion 745 from breaking even in this case, at least one
selected from between the interference protrusion 715 and the
restraint protrusion 745 may be provided with a first inclined part
715a, the protruding height of which is gradually decreased in the
direction in which the inside filter cartridge 71 is separated from
the outside filter cartridge 74 (e.g. in the forward direction),
and a second inclined part 715b, the protruding height of which is
gradually decreased in the direction in which the inside filter
cartridge 71 is inserted into the outside filter cartridge 74 (e.g.
in the downward direction).
[0046] In the above structure, even when the inside filter
cartridge 71 is pulled in the state in which the outside filter
cartridge 74 is not unfolded, the inside filter cartridge 71 may be
somewhat deformed due to the characteristics of the material (e.g.
the synthetic resin) of the inside filter cartridge 71. When
sufficient force is applied to the inside filter cartridge 71,
therefore, the first inclined part 715a may overcome the
interference with the restraint protrusion 745, and may move over
the restraint protrusion 745. On the other hand, during the
insertion of the inside filter cartridge 71 into the outside filter
cartridge 74, the second inclined part 715b may overcome the
interference with the restraint protrusion 745, and may move over
the restraint protrusion 745.
[0047] Referring to FIGS. 6 to 8, the inside filter cartridge 71
includes an inside front filter 72 and an inside rear filter 73,
which are connected to each other in an unfoldable or foldable
fashion. The inside front filter 72 and the inside rear filter 73
are received in the outside filter cartridge 74 in the state in
which the inside front filter 72 and the inside rear filter 73 are
folded so as to be coupled to each other.
[0048] The inside front filter 72 may include a front surface, on
which is mounted a front mesh for filtering air that is introduced
through an inlet port formed in the top surface thereof and flows
forward. The inside rear filter 73 may include a rear surface, on
which is mounted a rear mesh for filtering air that is introduced
through the inlet port and flows rearward. The interference
protrusion 715 may be formed on at least one selected from between
the front surface of the inside front filter 72 and the rear
surface of the inside rear filter 73.
[0049] A plurality of interference protrusions 715 may be formed.
Referring to FIG. 8B, the interference protrusions 715 may include
a first interference protrusion 715a, which protrudes forward from
the front surface of the inside front filter 72, and a second
interference protrusion 715b, which protrudes rearward from the
rear surface of the inside rear filter 73.
[0050] A plurality of restraint protrusions 745 may also be formed.
The restraint protrusions 745 may include a first restraint
protrusion 745a, which protrudes toward the front surface (or an
inside front part 721) of the inside front filter 72 so as to
correspond to the first interference protrusion 715a, and a second
restraint protrusion 745b, which protrudes toward the rear surface
(or an inside rear part 731) of the inside front filter 72 so as to
correspond to the second interference protrusion 715b.
[0051] The inside filter cartridge 71 may have a top surface 745,
which is defined by at least one selected from between a top
surface 755 of the inside front filter 72 and a top surface 765 of
the inside rear filter 73. An inlet port 7h (see FIG. 5), through
which the air discharged from the drum 4 is introduced, may be
formed in the top surface 745.
[0052] The top surface of the inside filter cartridge 71 may
include lattice ribs 725 and 735 for dividing the inlet port 7h
into several small regions. The lattice ribs 725 and 735 are
advantageous in increasing the rigidity of the inside filter
cartridge 71. In addition, the lattice ribs 725 and 735 prevent
small objects, such as coins or lighters, from being introduced
into the inside filter cartridge 71 even when the small objects are
present in the drum 4.
[0053] The inside filter cartridge 71 includes a mesh M and an
inside filter frame 710 for fixing the mesh M. As shown in FIGS. 8A
and 8B, the inside filter cartridge 71 may be made of a synthetic
resin, which may be somewhat deformable. The inside filter
cartridge 71 may be formed as a single member by injection molding.
The inside filter cartridge 71 may have at least one opening P1,
P2, P3, and P4, on which the mesh M is mounted.
[0054] The top surface of the inside filter cartridge 71 may be
configured to have a shape corresponding to the shape of the
introduction surface 52, i.e. a curved shape, such as an
approximate arc shape. The top surface of the inside filter
cartridge 71 and the introduction surface 52 provide a sense of
unity, thereby providing an aesthetically pleasing appearance to
the inside filter cartridge 71 and reducing interference between
the clothes in the drum and the inside filter cartridge 71.
[0055] The inside filter frame 710 may include an inside front
frame 720 and an inside rear frame 730, which are connected to each
other in an unfoldable or foldable fashion. The inside front frame
720 may be provided with openings P1 and P2, on which a front mesh
is mounted, and the inside rear frame 730 may be provided with
openings P3 and P4, on which a rear mesh is mounted. The inside
filter frame 710 may be made of a synthetic resin. The inside front
frame 720 and the inside rear frame 730 may be formed as a single
member.
[0056] The inside front filter 72 includes an inside front frame
720 and a front mesh M, and the inside rear filter 73 includes an
inside rear frame 730 and a rear mesh M.
[0057] Referring to FIGS. 8A and 8B, the inside filter frame 710
may include an inside front part 721, in which the openings P1 and
P2, on which the front mesh is mounted, are formed, an inside rear
part 731, in which the openings P3 and P4, on which the rear mesh
is mounted, are formed, and a pair of inside lateral parts 712 and
713, which extend from the opposite sides of the inside front part
721 toward the inside rear part 731.
[0058] The inside front part 721 may be formed at the inside front
frame 720, the inside rear part 731 may be formed at the inside
rear frame 730, and the inside lateral parts 712 and 713 may be
formed by at least one selected from between the inside front frame
720 and the inside rear frame 730. For example, the inside lateral
part 712 may be formed by a front lateral part 722, which extends
rearward from the inside front part 721, and a rear lateral part
732, which extends forward from the inside rear part 731. The
inside lateral part 713 may be formed in the same manner as the
inside lateral part 712.
[0059] Referring to FIG. 7, the upper part 721a of the inside front
part 721 protrudes further forward than the lower part of the
inside front part 721, in which the openings P1 and P2 are formed,
so as to define a surface 721b that faces downward, and the upper
part of the inside rear part 731 protrudes further rearward than
the lower part of the inside rear part 731, in which the openings
P3 and P4 are formed, so as to define a surface 731b that faces
downward. The surfaces 721b and 731b are formed so as to correspond
to the top surface 745 (see FIG. 9A) of the outside filter
cartridge 74 such that the surfaces 721b and 731b are located on
the top surface 745.
[0060] The inside front frame 720 and the inside rear frame 730 may
be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance. The
inside front frame 720 and the inside rear frame 730 may be
connected to each other via a connection part 711. A plurality of
connection parts 711 may be arranged at intervals. The inside front
frame 720 and the inside rear frame 730 may be turned about the
connection part 711 such that the inside front frame 720 and the
inside rear frame 730 are unfolded or folded.
[0061] The inside front filter 72 and the inside rear filter 73 may
be separably coupled to each other. Such coupling between the
inside front filter 72 and the inside rear filter 73 may be
achieved using only the elasticity of the material for the inside
front filter 72 and the inside rear filter 73 without an additional
fastening member. To this end, a hook 736 may be formed on any one
selected from between the inside front frame 720 and the inside
rear frame 730, and an appropriate coupling part, to which the hook
736 is coupled, may be formed in the other selected from between
the inside front frame 720 and the inside rear frame 730.
[0062] A stopper protrusion 728 may be formed on any one selected
from between the inside front frame 720 and the inside rear frame
730 such that the stopper protrusion 728 prevents the other
selected from between the inside front frame 720 and the inside
rear frame 730 from being unfolded at more than a predetermined
angle. In addition, a unfolding limit protrusion 738 may be formed
on the other selected from between the inside front frame 720 and
the inside rear frame 730 such that the unfolding limit protrusion
738 interferes with the stopper protrusion 728 when the other
selected from between the inside front frame 720 and the inside
rear frame 730 is unfolded at the predetermined angle. As a result,
the unfolding angle of the inside filter cartridge 71 is limited so
as not to exceed the predetermined angle (for example, 180
degrees), thereby preventing damage to the connection part 711.
[0063] The inside filter frame 710 may be provided at the top
surface thereof with a mark 727 that indicates the direction in
which the inside filter cartridge 71 is mounted. In this
embodiment, the mark 727 is formed in the shape of an arrow. The
direction indicated by the arrow corresponds to the front of the
drum 4.
[0064] Referring to FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 10, the outside filter
cartridge 74 may include an outside front filter 75 for filtering
air that passes through the inside filter cartridge 71 and flows
forward, an outside rear filter 76 for filtering air that passes
through the inside filter cartridge 71 and flows rearward, and a
lateral filter 78 for filtering air that passes through the inside
filter cartridge 71 and flows in the lateral direction. In
particular, since the blowing fan 82 is located so as to be spaced
apart from the discharge port 52h in the lateral direction, a
section for guiding air in the lateral direction is formed in the
discharge duct 53. The lateral filter 78 filters air that flows in
the lateral direction.
[0065] The outside front filter 75, the outside rear filter 76, and
the lateral filter 78 may each include a mesh M. The meshes M may
be mounted on openings P1', P2', P3', P4', P7', and P8', which are
formed in the respective filters 75, 76, and 78.
[0066] The lateral filter 78 may be formed in least one of the
opposite lateral surfaces of the outside filter cartridge 74. For
example, the lateral filter 78 may be formed in one of the lateral
surfaces of the outside filter cartridge 74 at which the blowing
fan 82 is located, and the other of the lateral surfaces may be
closed. Consequently, air that flows toward the blowing fan 82 in
the circulation channel passes through the lateral filter 78, by
which the air is filtered.
[0067] The outside filter cartridge 74 may include a mesh M for
filtering air and an outside filter frame 740 for fixing the mesh
M. The outside filter frame 740 may include an outside front frame
750, an outside rear frame 760, and a lateral frame 780, which
connects the outside front frame 750 and the outside rear frame 760
to each other in an unfoldable or foldable fashion. Referring to
FIG. 10, the outside front frame 750 may be provided with openings
P1' and P2', on which a front mesh is mounted, the outside rear
frame 760 may be provided with openings P3' and P4', on which a
rear mesh is mounted, and the lateral frame 780 may be provided
with openings P7' and P8', on which a lateral mesh is mounted. The
openings P1', P2', P3', and P4' in the outside filter frame 740
correspond to the openings P1, P2, P3, and P4 in the inside filter
frame 710, respectively.
[0068] The outside front filter 75 includes an outside front frame
750 and a front mesh M, the outside rear filter 76 includes an
outside rear frame 760 and a rear mesh M, and the lateral filter 78
includes a lateral frame 780 and a lateral mesh M.
[0069] A lateral opening 78h is formed between the outside front
frame 750 and the outside rear frame 760. The lateral frame 780 is
coupled to any one selected from between the outside front frame
750 and the outside rear frame 760, for example the outside rear
frame 760, in an unfoldable or foldable fashion, and is coupled to
the other selected from between the outside front frame 750 and the
outside rear frame 760, for example the outside front frame 750, in
the state in which the lateral frame 780 and the outside rear frame
760 are folded. The outside front frame 750, to which the lateral
frame 780 is coupled, is provided with a fixing holder 758 for
fixing the lateral frame 780. In this embodiment, two fixing
holders 758 protrude from the lateral surface of the outside front
frame 750 in the lateral direction such that the lateral frame 780
is fixed by the fixing holders 758 in the state in which the
opening 78h is closed by the lateral frame 780.
[0070] The lateral frame 780 may be provided with an opening tab
781. When the opening tab 781 is pulled in the state in which the
lateral frame 780 is fixed by the fixing holder 758, the coupling
between the lateral frame 780 and the fixing holder 758 is
released, and the lateral frame 780 is unfolded. At this time, the
uncoupling between the lateral frame 780 and the fixing holder 758
is achieved as the result of elastic deformation of the fixing
holder 758, which is made of a synthetic resin material.
[0071] Hereinafter, the connection of the lateral frame 780 to the
outside rear frame 760 in an unfoldable fashion and the coupling of
the lateral frame 780 to the outside front frame 750 in the state
of being folded about the connection part 741 will be described by
way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0072] The outside filter frame 740 may be made of a synthetic
resin. The outside front frame 750, the outside rear frame 760, and
a bottom frame 770 and the lateral frame 780, which connect the
outside front frame 750 and the outside rear frame 760 to each
other, may be formed as a single member. Meanwhile, the connection
part 741 (see FIG. 10) for connecting the respective frames 750,
760, 770, and 780, which constitute the outside filter frame 740,
to each other in an unfoldable or foldable fashion substantially
has the same structure as the connection part 711 for connecting
the frames constituting the inside filter frame 710 to each
other.
[0073] Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, the outside filter frame 740
may include an outside front part 751, in which the openings P1'
and P2', on which the front mesh is mounted, is formed, an outside
rear part 761, in which the openings P3' and P4', on which the rear
mesh is mounted, is formed, and a pair of outside lateral parts 742
and 743, which extend from the opposite sides of the outside front
part 751 toward the outside rear part 761.
[0074] The outside front part 751 may be formed at the outside
front frame 750, the outside rear part 761 may be formed at the
outside rear frame 760, and the outside lateral parts 742 and 743
may be formed by at least one selected from between the outside
front frame 750 and the outside rear frame 760. For example, the
outside lateral part 743 may be formed by a front lateral part 753,
which extends rearward from the outside front part 751, and a rear
lateral part 763, which extends forward from the outside rear part
761. The outside lateral part 742 may be formed in the same manner
as the outside lateral part 743.
[0075] In the state in which the outside filter frame 740 is
assembled, the front lateral part 753 and the rear lateral part 763
may partially overlap each other. In the overlapping region, a
coupling protrusion 769 may be formed on any one selected from
between the front lateral part 753 and the rear lateral part 763,
and a coupling recess (not shown), into which the coupling
protrusion 769 is inserted, may be formed in the other selected
from between the front lateral part 753 and the rear lateral part
763. In the state in which the outside front frame 750 and the
outside rear frame 760 are folded, the coupling protrusion 769 is
inserted into the coupling recess.
[0076] In the state in which the outside filter frame 740 is
unfolded, the outside filter frame 740 is assembled as follows. The
outside front frame 750 and the outside rear frame 760 are turned
upward with respect to the bottom frame 770, and then the outside
front frame 750 and the outside rear frame 760 are coupled to each
other using the coupling protrusion 769. Subsequently, the lateral
frame 780 is turned with respect to the outside rear frame 760, and
then the outside front frame 750 and the lateral frame 780 are
coupled to each other using the holder 758.
[0077] The outside filter cartridge 74 may further include a bottom
filter 77 for filtering air that passes through the inside filter
cartridge 71 and flows downward. The bottom frame 770 may be
provided with openings P5' and P6', on which a bottom mesh M is
mounted. In this case, the bottom filter 77 may include the bottom
frame 770 and the bottom mesh M.
[0078] As is apparent from the above description, the clothes dryer
according to the present disclosure includes a filter cartridge
configured to have a dual filter structure in which an inside
filter cartridge is received in an outside filter cartridge,
wherein filters are provided at the front surface, the rear
surface, and the lateral surface of the outside filter cartridge.
Consequently, the clothes dryer according to the present disclosure
has the effect of improving filtering performance.
[0079] In particular, the flow of air that passes through the
inside filter cartridge and is discharged through the lateral
surface of the outside filter cartridge is improved. Consequently,
the clothes dryer according to the present disclosure has the
effect of achieving the smooth flow of air in a duct (or a channel)
having a small width in the forward and rearward direction even
when the filter cartridges are disposed in the duct.
[0080] In addition, the clothes dryer according to the present
disclosure has the effect of improving the flow of air such that
the air flows to the blowing fan even in a structure in which the
blowing fan is off-center due to the limited space defined in a
casing.
[0081] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a
clothes dryer including a filter cartridge configured to have a
dual filter structure in which an inside filter cartridge is
received in an outside filter cartridge, wherein filters are
provided at the front surface, the rear surface, and the lateral
surface of the outside filter cartridge in order to improve the
filtering performance of the outside filter cartridge, and, in
particular, to improve the flow of air that passes through the
inside filter cartridge and is discharged through the lateral
surface of the outside filter cartridge.
[0082] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a
clothes dryer including a duct for guiding the flow of air in the
lateral direction such that the air flows to a blowing fan even in
a structure in which the blowing fan is off-center due to the
limited space defined in a casing, wherein a filter cartridge
having a lateral filter is mounted in the duct.
[0083] It is a further object of the present disclosure to provide
a clothes dryer configured to have a structure in which a discharge
duct for guiding the air discharged from a drum is provided in
front of the drum in order to solve a conventional problem, for
example the turbulent flow of air in the discharge duct, caused as
the result of the gap between the filters and the inside surface of
the discharge duct being further narrowed in a conventional dual
filter structure in which the filters are sequentially disposed in
the forward and rearward direction in the state in which the width
of the discharge duct in the forward and rearward direction is
narrow.
[0084] In accordance with the present disclosure, the above and
other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a clothes
dryer including a rotatable drum, a drum supporter for supporting
the drum, the drum supporter being provided with a discharge port
for discharging air from the drum, a circulation channel for
guiding air discharged through the discharge port into the drum,
and a filter cartridge for filtering air in the circulation
channel, wherein the filter cartridge includes an inside filter
cartridge for filtering air discharged from the drum and an outside
filter cartridge disposed in the circulation channel in a state of
being supported by the drum supporter, the inside filter cartridge
being separably received in the outside filter cartridge through an
opening formed in the top surface of the outside filter cartridge,
the outside filter cartridge including a front filter for filtering
air that passes through the inside filter cartridge and flows
forward, a rear filter for filtering air that passes through the
inside filter cartridge and flows rearward, and a lateral filter
for filtering air that passes through the inside filter cartridge
and flows in the lateral direction
[0085] Any reference in this specification to "one embodiment," "an
embodiment," "example embodiment," etc., means that a particular
feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with
the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the
disclosure. The appearances of such phrases in various places in
the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same
embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or
characteristic is described in connection with any embodiment, it
is submitted that it is within the purview of one skilled in the
art to effect such feature, structure, or characteristic in
connection with other ones of the embodiments.
[0086] Although embodiments have been described with reference to a
number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood
that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by
those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope
of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various
variations and modifications are possible in the component parts
and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within
the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims.
In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts
and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to
those skilled in the art.
* * * * *