CN115667618A

CN115667618A - Washing and drying machine

Info

Publication number: CN115667618A
Application number: CN202180040655.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: 菅原道太; 藁谷二郎; 曾我丈; 北慎勇希
Original assignee: Hitachi Global Life Solutions Inc
Current assignee: Hitachi Global Life Solutions Inc
Priority date: 2020-09-18
Filing date: 2021-03-03
Publication date: 2023-01-31
Also published as: WO2022059230A1; JP2022051193A; JP7337768B2

Abstract

The invention provides a washing and drying machine, which is configured to properly cool a motor for driving an air supply fan. For this purpose, the washing and drying machine (1) comprises: a housing (2) provided with a handle (32); an outer tub mounted on the housing (2) and capable of storing liquid therein; an inner tub rotatably supported in the outer tub and receiving laundry as laundry; an air supply fan for supplying air into the outer barrel; a motor for driving the air supply fan; a heater for heating the air blown by the blower fan; a cooling fan (52) for cooling the motor; a ventilation section (36) provided in the handle (32) and configured to allow air outside the housing (2) to flow therethrough; and a duct (40) for circulating air between the ventilation unit (36) and the cooling fan (52).

Description

Washing and drying machine

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a washing and drying machine.

Background

In general, a vertical washing and drying machine is provided with a rotary blade at the bottom of an inner tub for storing laundry, and performs washing by rotating the rotary blade forward and backward in a state where water is stored in an outer tub for rotatably supporting the inner tub and the rotary blade. In the drying process after the inner tub is rotated at a high speed to perform dehydration, hot air heated by the heater is blown to the clothes by the air blowing fan. Moisture contained in the laundry is evaporated by hot air, and the air containing the moisture is guided to a circulation path, and the moisture is removed by a dehumidifying mechanism provided in the circulation path. As an example thereof, paragraph 0015 of the specification of patent document 1 below describes: "drying means for drying the clothes is constituted by the blower fan 19, the heater 20, the drying duct 22, and the dehumidifying means 22 b. The drying duct 22 connects the drying water ventilation port 10b and the hot air blow-out port 54. The drying duct 22 is provided with a blower fan 19, a heater 20, a lint filter (not shown), a dehumidifying mechanism 22b, and a temperature sensor 26 in the middle. … … ".

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open No. 2020-89405

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problems to be solved by the invention

It is preferable to rotate the air supply fan at a high speed in the washing and drying machine to stretch wrinkles of the laundry by subjecting the laundry to a high speed wind. However, when the blower fan is rotated at a high speed, it is difficult to appropriately cool the heat generated by the blower fan motor only by natural air cooling. Patent document 1 does not particularly describe that the motor is appropriately cooled in such a case.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a washing and drying machine capable of appropriately cooling a motor that drives a blower fan.

Means for solving the problems

In order to solve the above problem, a washing and drying machine according to the present invention includes: a housing provided with a handle; an outer tub mounted to the casing and capable of storing liquid therein; an inner tub rotatably supported in the outer tub and receiving laundry as laundry; an air supply fan for supplying air into the outer barrel; a motor for driving the air supply fan; a heater heating the air blown by the blower fan; a cooling fan that cools the motor; a ventilation portion provided in the handle and configured to allow air outside the housing to flow therethrough; and a duct that circulates air between the ventilation portion and the cooling fan.

Effects of the invention

According to the present invention, the motor that drives the blower fan can be appropriately cooled.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a washing and drying machine of a preferred first embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the washing and drying machine.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III of fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the rear part of the washing and drying machine with the upper cover and the outer cover removed.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the rear of the washing and drying machine with the upper cover, the outer lid, and the upper lid removed.

Detailed Description

[ first embodiment ]

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a washer dryer of a preferred first embodiment.

As shown in fig. 1, the washing and drying machine 1 is a vertical type washing and drying machine in which a rotation axis of a washing and dewatering tub 8 (inner tub) into which laundry is put is substantially vertical. An upper cover 3 is provided on an upper portion of the casing 2 of the washing and drying machine 1, and an outer cover 4 is provided on the upper cover 3. The outer cover 4 opens the opening 5 by being opened to the rear side, thereby enabling the clothes (laundry) to be taken out of and put into the washing and dehydrating tub 8.

A water supply hose connection port 6 for supplying water (liquid) from a faucet or the like and a water suction hose connection port (not shown) for sucking surplus bath water are provided on the depth side (rear side) of the upper surface cover 3. The washing and drying machine 1 includes a washing and dehydrating tub 8, an outer tub 9, a driving device 10, a detergent/softener feeding device 11, a water supply unit 7, a drying duct 12, and the like in a casing 2.

The washing and dehydrating tub 8 has a bottomed cylindrical shape and has a main body plate 8a formed of a stainless steel plate or the like. A large number of through holes 8a1 (only a part of which is shown) for water and air passage are formed in the main body plate 8a. The washing and dehydrating tub 8 has a rotary blade 8b at the inner bottom surface.

The outer tub 9 has a bottomed cylindrical shape, coaxially encloses the washing and dehydrating tub 8, and has a tub cover 9a at an upper portion thereof. The user of the washing and drying machine 1 can put in and take out laundry from the opening 5 into the washing and dehydrating tub 8 by opening the cover 4 and the lid member 9b of the tub cover 9a. The drive device 10 is disposed at the lower center of the bottom surface of the tub 9. The drive device 10 has an inner tub/rotary blade motor 10a and a coupling mechanism 10b. The rotation shaft 10c of the drive device 10 penetrates the outer tub 9 and is configured to be coupled to the washing and dehydrating tub 8 and the rotary blade 8b, and the coupling mechanism 10b has a function of transmitting the rotational power of the inner tub/rotary blade motor 10a to at least one of the washing and dehydrating tub 8 and the rotary blade 8b.

The water supply unit 7 is provided on the depth side of the upper cover 3. The water supply unit 7 supplies the tap water from the water supply hose connection port 6 to the input device 11 and the water-cooling dehumidification means (not shown). The water supply unit 7 can supply tap water or bath water from the water supply hose connection port 6 into the outer tub 9 through the water supply hose 13 from between the outer tub 9 and the washing and dehydrating tub 8. The water supply unit 7 can inject tap water from the water supply hose connection port 6 into the upper part of the washing and dehydrating tub 8 through the cleaning hose 14.

The recess 15 provided at the bottom surface of the outer tub 9 communicates with the lower communication pipe 16. The lower communication pipe 16 is connected to a wash water discharge path 18 via a drain valve 17. A drain hose, not shown, for sending the drained water to the outside of the apparatus is connected to the washing water drain path 18. In addition, by closing the drain valve 17, the washing water or the rinsing water can be stored in the tub 9. Further, by opening the drain valve 17, the water (wash water, rinse water) in the outer tub 9 can be drained to the outside of the washing and drying machine 1 through the wash water drainage path 18.

A drying duct 12 as an air blowing passage is integrally provided on the back of the outer tub 9. A water-cooling dehumidifying mechanism (not shown) is incorporated in the drying duct 12, and the water supply unit 7 supplies cooling water (tap water) to the water-cooling dehumidifying mechanism. The cooling water flows down along the wall surface (metal plate made of stainless steel or the like) of the drying duct 12, flows into the recessed portion 15, and is discharged to the outside of the machine through the lower communication pipe 16 and the washing water discharge passage 18.

An outlet of the drying duct 12 is connected to an intake port of an air blowing fan 20 as an air blowing unit via a drying filter (not shown), and an outlet of the air blowing fan 20 is connected to a heater 21. The outlet of the heater 21 is connected to a blow nozzle 24 via a blast duct 22 and a rubber bellows 23. That is, the air blowing fan 20 serving as the air blowing unit blows air from the blowing nozzle 24 toward the laundry put into the inner tub. Thus, when the blowing fan 20 is driven, the air in the outer tub 9 flows into the drying duct 12. The air cooled and dehumidified by the water in the drying duct 12 is discharged from the blower fan 20, heated by the heater 21, becomes high-temperature and low-humidity air, and is blown out into the washing and dehydrating tub 8 from the blow-out nozzle 24.

Although not shown, a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the washing water and the temperature of the air discharged from the washing water discharge path 18 to the outside of the machine during the drying operation is provided between the lower communication pipe 16 and the water discharge valve 17. The washing and dehydrating tub 8 is provided with a balance ring (also referred to as a fluid balancer) 8c made of synthetic resin or the like at an upper end edge portion of the main body plate 8a. The balance ring 8c is configured by enclosing a fluid having a large specific gravity therein, and has a function of maintaining the balance of rotation by eliminating eccentricity by the movement of the fluid in the balance ring 8c when the eccentricity is generated due to the offset of the laundry or the like at the time of rotation of the washing and dehydrating tub 8.

The tub cover 9a has a substantially semicircular inlet and is attached to the upper end edge of the tub 9. A cover member 9b is provided at the inlet port to be attached so as to be openable and closable. Although not shown, a connection port to which the bellows 23 is connected and a connection port to which the tub cleaning hose 14 is connected are provided on the depth side (rear side) of the outer tub cover 9a.

In the outer tub cover 9a, the sprinkler 25 is fixed to a lower surface of the outer tub cover 9a via a plurality of screws (e.g., screws). The water sprayer 25 is formed in a substantially annular shape and is disposed so as to surround along the peripheral edge of the tub cover 9a. The washing and drying machine 1 further includes a dust collecting device 26 in the vicinity of a connection portion between the drying duct 12 and the suction bellows 28, and collects a part of the cleaning water flowing through the drying duct 12 as an air blowing passage, and causes the collected dust to flow into the air blowing passage to clean the collected dust. The dust collecting device 26 in the present embodiment is formed of resin, but is not limited thereto, and may be formed of other materials such as metal as long as predetermined mechanical strength and workability can be obtained.

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the washing and drying machine 1.

The rear surface of the housing 2 is covered with a rear plate 2b formed of a metal plate, for example. In the back plate 2b, substantially rectangular through holes (not shown) are formed at 2, and the

handles

32 and 34 are attached to these through holes in a resin frame shape. When carrying the washing and drying machine 1, fingertips of both hands of the carrier are inserted into the

handles

32 and 34, and the washing and drying machine 1 can be lifted up.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III of fig. 2.

In fig. 3, the handle 32 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape with the rear side open, and a ventilation portion 36 formed of resin in a mesh shape is provided at the upper end portion thereof. The ventilation portion 36 allows air to flow through the gaps of the net. A duct 40 is disposed obliquely above the front of the handle 32. The duct 40 has a cylindrical portion 42, a duct body portion 44, and an upper cover 46. The cylindrical portion 42 is formed in a cylindrical shape extending upward so as to surround the periphery of the ventilation portion 36. The duct body 44 has a shape extending substantially horizontally forward from the front end of the tubular portion 42 and then rising upward.

The upper cover 46 is formed in a cover shape covering the upper surfaces of the tubular portion 42 and the duct body portion 44. Further, a fitting portion 37 to be fitted to the lower end of the cylindrical portion 42 is formed in the handle 32. A cooling fan 52 is attached to the duct body 44. Cooling fan 52 incorporates a motor (not shown). When the cooling fan 52 rotates, an air flow along the path AR indicated by the hollow arrow is generated. That is, air flows from the handle 32 to the cooling fan 52 via the ventilation portion 36 of the handle 32 and the duct 40.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the rear part of the washing and drying machine 1 in a state where the upper cover 3 (see fig. 1) and the outer cover 4 are removed.

The upper surface cover 46 of the duct 40 is formed in a substantially flat plate shape, and covers the upper surface of the duct main body 44. The motor 50 is a motor that rotationally drives the blower fan 20 (see fig. 1), and is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape. When the motor 50 is driven to rotate, the blower fan 20 sucks up air (air water-cooled and dehumidified by cooling water) from below through the drying duct 12 (see fig. 1), and discharges the sucked air in the lateral direction (side direction).

The air discharged from the blower fan 20 is heated by the heater 21 connected to the outlet of the blower fan 20 as described above to become hot air for drying. Then, the washing and dehydrating tub 8 (see fig. 2) is discharged through the air blowing duct 22, the bellows 23, and the blow nozzle 24. The cooling fan 52 is a fan for cooling the motor 50. As shown, the upper cover 46 of the duct 40 also covers above the motor 50 and above the cooling fan 52. The upper cover 46 is mounted to the housing 2 with a plurality of screws (no reference numeral).

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the rear part of the washing and drying machine 1 with the upper cover 3, the outer lid 4 (see fig. 1), and the upper lid 46 (see fig. 4) removed.

The duct 40 has a cylindrical portion 48 formed in a substantially cylindrical shape surrounding the circumferential surface of the motor 50. The cooling fan 52 is connected to the left end portion of the cylindrical portion 48, and the cooling air flowing into the cylindrical portion 48 through the cooling fan 52 is branched into the rear and front paths AR (see the hollow arrows) after contacting the motor 50.

The air branched rearward inside the cylindrical portion 48 flows clockwise about half of the way through a space between the cylindrical portion 48 and the motor 50 as indicated by the hollow arrow in a plan view. On the other hand, the air branched forward flows counterclockwise through a space between the cylindrical portion 48 and the motor 50 for about half a cycle as indicated by a hollow arrow in a plan view. A vent hole (not shown) is formed in the right end of the cylindrical portion 48, and air that has reached the right end of the cylindrical portion 48 is released from the vent hole into the inside of the case 2.

[ Effect of the embodiment ]

As described above, according to a suitable embodiment, the washer-dryer 1 has: a ventilation portion 36 provided in the handle 32 and configured to allow air outside the housing 2 to flow therethrough; and a duct 40 for circulating air between the ventilation portion 36 and the cooling fan 52. This enables the motor 50 that drives the blower fan 20 to be appropriately cooled.

Further, it is preferable that the motor 50 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and the duct 40 has a cylindrical portion 48 formed in a substantially cylindrical shape and surrounding the circumferential surface of the motor 50. This allows the cooling air to flow smoothly along the circumferential surface of the motor 50.

Further, it is preferable that the duct 40 further includes a duct body 44 covering a lower side and a side of the cooling fan 52, and an upper cover 46 covering the cylindrical portion 48 and an upper surface of the duct body 44. Thus, when the upper cover 46 is removed, both the motor 50 and the cooling fan 52 can be exposed, and maintenance of both can be performed efficiently.

Further, the cooling fan 52 is preferably connected to the cylindrical portion 48 so as to form an airflow along the clockwise direction of the cylindrical portion 48 and an airflow along the counterclockwise direction of the cylindrical portion 48 in a plan view between the cylindrical portion 48 and the motor 50. This enables the cooling air to flow more smoothly along the circumferential surface of the motor 50.

[ modified examples ]

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible. The above-described embodiments are merely illustrative embodiments for easily understanding the present invention, and are not limited to having all the configurations described. Further, other configurations may be added to the configuration of the above embodiment, or a part of the configuration may be replaced with another configuration. The following embodiments are examples of modifications that can be made to the above embodiments.

(1) In the above embodiment, the example in which the present invention is applied to the vertical type washing and drying machine in which the rotation axis of the washing and dehydrating tub 8 is substantially vertical has been described, but the present invention may be applied to a drum type washing and drying machine in which the rotation axis of the washing and dehydrating tub is inclined.

(2) In the above embodiment, the cooling fan 52 discharges the air sucked from the handle 32 to the inside of the casing 2 via the cylindrical portion 48. However, the direction of air circulation may be reversed. That is, the cooling fan 52 may be driven so that the air inside the casing 2 is discharged from the handle 32 through the cylindrical portion 48.

Description of reference numerals

1. Washing and drying machine

2. Shell body

8 washing and dewatering barrel (inner barrel)

9. Outer barrel

20. Air supply fan

21. Heating apparatus

32. Handle bar

36. Ventilation part

40. Pipeline

44. Duct body

46. Upper cover

48. Cylindrical part

50. Electric motor

52. And a cooling fan.

Claims

1. A washer-dryer, characterized by comprising:

a housing provided with a handle;

an outer tub mounted to the casing and capable of storing liquid therein;

an inner tub rotatably supported in the outer tub and receiving laundry as laundry;

an air supply fan for supplying air into the outer barrel;

a motor for driving the air supply fan;

a heater heating the air blown by the blower fan;

a cooling fan that cools the motor;

a ventilation portion provided in the handle and configured to allow air outside the housing to flow therethrough; and

and a duct for circulating air between the ventilation part and the cooling fan.

2. The washer-dryer as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the motor has a substantially cylindrical shape,

the duct has a cylindrical portion formed in a substantially cylindrical shape and surrounding a circumferential surface of the motor.

3. The washer-dryer as recited in claim 2, wherein:

the pipe further has:

a duct main body portion covering a lower portion and a side portion of the cooling fan; and

and an upper cover covering upper surfaces of the cylindrical portion and the duct body portion.

4. A washer-dryer as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that:

the cooling fan is connected to the cylindrical portion so as to form an airflow along the clockwise direction of the cylindrical portion and an airflow along the counterclockwise direction of the cylindrical portion in a plan view between the cylindrical portion and the motor.