U.S. patent application number 15/695035 was filed with the patent office on 2019-03-07 for combination washer dryer with convertible venting and condensing drying mode.
The applicant listed for this patent is ATUL VIR. Invention is credited to ATUL VIR.
Application Number | 20190071807 15/695035 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 65518543 |
Filed Date | 2019-03-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20190071807 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
VIR; ATUL |
March 7, 2019 |
COMBINATION WASHER DRYER WITH CONVERTIBLE VENTING AND CONDENSING
DRYING MODE
Abstract
The present invention relates to a combination washer dryer
system (100) with a convertible venting and condensing drying mode
which can be switched from a vented drying mode to a condenser
drying mode and vice versa facilitated by an electronically
controlled switch. The said combination washer dryer system (100)
comprises of an electronic control panel (101), a venting unit
(102), and a condensing unit (103).
Inventors: |
VIR; ATUL; (HOUSTON,
TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
VIR; ATUL |
HOUSTON |
TX |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
65518543 |
Appl. No.: |
15/695035 |
Filed: |
September 5, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 33/00 20130101;
D06F 2105/24 20200201; D06F 2103/36 20200201; D06F 58/24 20130101;
D06F 58/30 20200201; D06F 58/20 20130101; D06F 58/38 20200201; D06F
25/00 20130101; D06F 2103/08 20200201; D06F 2103/12 20200201 |
International
Class: |
D06F 25/00 20060101
D06F025/00; D06F 58/28 20060101 D06F058/28; D06F 33/02 20060101
D06F033/02 |
Claims
1. A combination washer dryer system (100) comprising of: i. an
electronic control panel (101), ii. a venting unit (102) includes a
fan motor (1), an impeller (2), a heating element (3), a heater
housing (4), a washing drying drum (5), an exhaust vent (6) with a
cover (7), and iii. a condensing unit (103) includes a fan motor
(1), an impeller (2), a heating element (3), a heater housing (4),
a washing drying drum (5), a faucet (8), a cold-water valve (9), a
condensing chamber (11), a drain pump (13), a drain hose (14), a
stand pipe (15) and flow valve (16).
2. The combination washer dryer system (100) of claim 1, wherein
the said electronic control panel facilitates easy switching
between the vented drying mode and the condensing drying mode and
vice versa.
3. The combination washer dryer system (100) of claim 1, wherein
the said exhaust vent cover (7) of the said venting unit (102) is
kept open during the vented drying mode.
4. The combination washer dryer system (100) of claim 1, wherein
the said exhaust vent cover (7) of the said venting unit (102) is
manually closed with screws and metal plate to prevent the hot air
exiting the said drum (5).
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a combination washer dryer
system with a convertible venting and condensing drying mode. More
particularly the present invention relates to a combination washer
dryer which can be switched from a vented drying mode to a
condenser drying mode and vice versa facilitated by an
electronically controlled switch.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Commercially available combination washer dryer systems
typically use a single washing drying drum arranged along the
horizontal axis such that the apparatus is front loading, and are
configured to sequentially wash and dry clothes placed in the drum.
The commercially available combination washer dryer systems either
utilize vented drying mode or condenser drying mode.
[0003] In the vented drying mode, air is drawn from the surrounding
area (i.e. the laundry room), then heated and blown through the
clothes as the drum tumbles the clothes about. The said hot air
evaporates some of the water in the damp fabrics, and the resultant
moisture-laden air is then exhausted through a vent duct to the
outside surrounding. The vented drying has the advantage of faster
and efficient drying cycles.
[0004] In the condenser or vent less drying mode humidity is
removed from the damp clothes by using two separate air flows. Air
is drawn from the surrounding area then heated and blown through
the damp clothes where it picks up moisture. Damp air is then
passed through the condenser in one direction while the room air is
passed through the condenser in the other direction. At the same
time, cold water is introduced in the condensing chamber thought
the cold water valve which causes the moisture in the Condensing
chamber to condense into warm water which is then pumped to the
water tank or out through the hose. The condensed water can be
either pumped away to a drain line e.g. into a standpipe shared
with the clothes washer. The condenser based combined washer dryer
has the advantage of lower cost of installation, space saver as no
need of dedicated laundry room having special provision of
vent/duct.
[0005] The commercially available combined washer dryer either
utilize vented drying mode or condenser drying mode, both having
its own advantages. There is no option of conversion of a combined
washer dryer having a vented drying to a condenser drying or vice
versa. Customers who wish to switch from vented drying combined
washer dryer to a condenser drying combined washer dryer or vice
versa need to buy new appliances according to the requirement.
[0006] Thus, there is a need for a combined washer dryer system
that can be easily switch from a vented drying mode to a condenser
drying mode in a press of a button.
PRIOR ARTS
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,146,693 discloses a steam condensation
device is provided in a dryer or combination washer/dryer for
condensing hot water vapor carried by hot air used to dry laundry
in the dryer or combination washer/dryer. The steam condensation
device includes a vertically extending tubular casing, at least one
condenser conduit extending vertically within and spaced from the
casing so as to define an annular space therebetween, and a spiral
wall disposed between respective internal and external surfaces of
the at least one condenser conduit and the casing. The spiral wall
extends spirally toward the lower end of the at least one condenser
conduit so as to define a spiral conveying path alongside the
external surface of the at least one condenser conduit. The
condensation device is arranged so that hot air circulating through
the interior of the rotating basket containing laundry in the
machine passes through the interior of the at least one condenser
conduit. Cold water is supplied onto the spiral wall whereas it is
conveyed spirally alongside the external surface of the at least
one condenser conduit so as to cool the same. Thus, water vapor
contained in the hot air passing through the interior of the at
least one condenser conduit is cooled and consequently
condensed.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 7,380,423 discloses a combined washer dryer is
provided The combined washer dryer comprises an outer drum; a
rotatable cylindrical variable size inner drum arranged coaxially
within the outer drum and movable from a first position to a second
position; a water handling system adapted to intake water into the
inner drum and to remove water from the outer drum; an air handling
system adapted to intake air into the inner drum and to remove air
from the outer drum; and a control system to control the movement
of the variable size inner drum.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 7,520,145 discloses a washing machine combined
with a dryer comprising of a tub, a dryer duct installed outside of
the said tub. A heater is installed in the dryer duct to apply heat
to the surrounding air. A temperature sensor is installed in the
dryer duct to measure the temperature inside the tub or the
temperature inside the dryer duct, and a dryer fan is installed in
the dryer duct to draw in the surrounding air.
[0010] The above prior art fails to provide a combined washer dryer
system that can be easily switched from a vented drying mode to a
condenser drying mode or vice versa
[0011] Thus, the present invention introduces a combination washer
dryer system that combines the drying mode of both a vented dryer
and a condenser dryer with switchable controls that allow
converting the combination washer dryer system from vented mode to
condenser mode and vice versa.
OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION
[0012] A primary object of the present invention is to provide a
combined washer and dryer capable of converting from a vented
drying mode to a condenser drying mode.
[0013] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
convertible drying from vented to condenser mode in a combination
washer dryer with an electronically controlled switch on the
control panel, facilitating easy switching between the two
modes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] Before the present invention is described, it is to be
understood that present invention is not limited to particular
methodologies and materials described, as these may vary as per the
person skilled in the art. It is also to be understood that the
terminology used in the description is for the purpose of
describing the particular embodiments only, and is not intended to
limit the scope of the present invention.
[0015] The present invention describes a combination washer dryer
system (100) with convertible venting and condensing drying mode.
The adaptable switching between the venting mode and the condensing
mode in the said combination washer dryer system (100) is
facilitated with an electronically controlled switch.
[0016] The said combination washer dryer system (100) comprises of
an electronic control panel (101), a venting unit (102), and a
condensing unit (103).
[0017] The said control panel (101) facilitates the easy switching
from the venting mode to the condensing mode or vice versa by press
of a button on the said control panel (101).
[0018] The said venting unit (102) comprises of a fan motor (1), an
impeller (2), a heating element (3), a heater housing (4), a
washing drying drum (5), an exhaust vent (6) with a cover (7). The
hot air generated by the said heating element (3) is blown into the
said drum (5) for dying the damp clothes and the moisture laden hot
air is then exhausted from the said exhaust vent (6) located on the
back side of the said combination washer dryer system (100).
[0019] The condensing unit comprises of a fan motor (1), an
impeller (2), a heating element (3), a heater housing (4), a
washing drying drum (5), a faucet (8), a cold-water valve (9), a
condensing chamber (11), a drain pump (13), a drain hose (14), and
a stand pipe (15). The hot air generated is blown into the said
drum (5) for dying the damp clothes. The moisture laden hot air is
then routed to the said condensing chamber (11), where the moisture
laden hot air is condensed into warm water, with the help of cold
water, which gets introduced in the condensing chamber through cold
water valve. The warm water is then drained out by the said drain
pump (13).
[0020] The said combination washer dryer system (100) when set on
the vented drying mode the said vent exhaust cover (7) is kept open
for the moisture laden hot air to dissipate into the surrounding.
And when the said combination washer dryer system (100) is set on
condenser drying mode the said vent exhaust cover (7) is manually
closed with screws and metal plate to prevent the hot air exiting
the said drum (5).
[0021] These and other objects, features and advantages of the
present invention will become apparent from the following
description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, wherein like characters of reference designate
corresponding parts throughout the several views.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] A complete understanding of the present invention may be by
reference to the following detailed description which taken in
conjugation with the accompanying drawing. The accompanying
drawing, which is incorporated into and constitutes a part of the
specification, illustrates one or more embodiments of the present
invention and, together with the detailed description, it serves to
explain the principles and implementations of the invention.
[0023] FIG. 1: illustrates the perspective view of a combination
washer dryer system with a vented drying mode;
[0024] FIG. 2: illustrates the perspective view of a combination
washer dryer system with a condenser drying mode.
[0025] FIG. 3: illustrates the perspective view of a combination
washer dryer system with convertible vented drying mode and
condenser drying mode.
[0026] FIG. 4: illustrates the outer front view of the combination
washer dryer, showing the display panel on the front side of the
machine.
[0027] The table attached below defines the labels of each
component in the figures in accordance with embodiments of the
present invention:
TABLE-US-00001 Component Labels Fan motor 1 Impeller 2 Heating
element 3 Heater housing 4 Washing drying drum 5 Exhaust vent 6
Exhaust vent cover 7 Faucet 8 Cold water valve 9 Cold water 10
Condensing chamber 11 Water condensate 12 Drain pump 13 Drain hose
14 Stand pipe 15 Flow Valve 16
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0028] Before the present invention is described, it is to be
understood that this invention is not limited to particular
methodologies described, as these may vary as per the person
skilled in the art. It is also to be understood that the
terminology used in the description is for the purpose of
describing the particular embodiments only, and is not intended to
limit the scope of the present invention. Throughout this
specification, the word "comprise", or variations such as
"comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the
inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of
elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other
element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.
The use of the expression "at least" or "at least one" suggests the
use of one or more elements or ingredients or quantities, as the
use may be in the embodiment of the invention to achieve one or
more of the desired objects or results.
[0029] FIG. 3 of the accompanying drawings illustrates the said
combination washer dryer system (100) with convertible venting and
condensing drying mode. The said washer dryer system (100) is
easily switched from the vented mode to the condenser mode with an
electronically controlled switch on the said control panel
(101).
[0030] As illustrated in FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings, when
the said combination washer dryer system (100) is switched on to
the vented drying mode the surrounding air is blown in and heated
by the said heating element (3) and introduced into the said
washing drying drum (5) where the hot air evaporates some of the
water in the damp clothes, and the resultant moisture-laden hot air
is then exhausted through the said exhaust vent (6) to the outside
surrounding. During the vented drying mode, the condenser is
nonfunctional. The said vent exhaust cover (7) is kept open for the
moisture laden hot air to dissipate into the surrounding.
[0031] As illustrated in FIG. 2 of the accompanying drawings, when
the said combination washer dryer system (100) is switched on to
the condenser drying mode the said exhaust vent cover (7) provided
on the back side of the said combination washer dryer system (100)
is manually closed with screws and metal plate During the condenser
drying the surrounding air is heated by the said heating element
(3) and is introduced into the drying chamber where the hot air
evaporates some of the water in the damp clothes, and the resultant
moisture-laden hot air is directed towards the said condensing
chamber (11). A cold-water inlet valve (9) adapted for operating in
the drying cycle draws cold water (10) into the said system (100).
The Flow Valve (16) converts cold water to a fine mist in the said
condensing chamber (11). The said moisture laden hot air is then
passed through the said condensing chamber (11) where it mixes with
the fine mist causing the moisture in the air to condense into warm
water. The water condensate is then drained by the said drain pump
(13) located at the base of the said washer dryer system (100).
[0032] It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many
variations may be made in the embodiment herein chosen for the
purpose of illustrating the present invention, and for result may
be had to the doctrine of equivalence without departing from the
scope of the present invention as defined by the appended
claims.
[0033] While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the
specific elements of the preferred embodiment, it will be
appreciated that many alterations can be made and that many
modifications can be made in preferred embodiment without departing
from the principles of the invention. These and other changes in
the preferred embodiments of the invention will be apparent to
those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is
to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter
is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the invention and
not as a limitation.
* * * * *