EP3266925A1

EP3266925A1 - Condensed water collecting and evaporating device for cloth drying machine, cloth drying machine and control method therefor

Info

Publication number: EP3266925A1
Application number: EP16767779.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Sheng Xu; Shujun TIAN; Huacheng SONG; Shiqiang SHAN
Original assignee: Qingdao Haier Washing Machine Co Ltd
Current assignee: Qingdao Haier Washing Machine Co Ltd
Priority date: 2015-03-25
Filing date: 2016-03-25
Publication date: 2018-01-10
Also published as: WO2016150402A1; EP3266925A4; US20180094377A1; CN106149329A; CN106149329B; JP2018509996A; KR20170130569A

Abstract

A condensed water collecting and evaporating device for a clothes dryer, a clothes dryer and a control method therefor are disclosed. The apparatus includes a water box unit configured to collect condensed water, a steam generator (3) configured to generate steam, and a first water source pipe (4) connected between the water box unit and the steam generator (3). The clothes dryer is equipped with the above condensed water collecting and evaporating device. The control method based on the above clothes dryer includes: collecting condensed water with a water box unit, turning on a first water source pipe (4) when steam needs to be sprayed to clothes in the clothes dryer, so that condensed water flows into a steam generator (3) from the water box unit to generate steam. The condensed water collecting and evaporating device for the clothes dryer, the clothes dryer and the control method therefor have simpler and more reasonable structure, low cost, more concise control process, and higher control precision.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates to a condensed water collecting and evaporating device for a clothes dryer, a clothes dryer equipped with the condensed water collecting and evaporating device, and a control method of the clothes dryer.

BACKGROUND

Since a clothes dryer dries clothes with heated air, the clothes are easy to wrinkle and smell bad. A steam generator is generally arranged in the clothes dryer, and steam generated by the steam generator acts on the clothes to remove wrinkle and bad smell.
Generally, a water storage apparatus is arranged below a condensed water recovery box of the clothes dryer, and connected to the steam generator. The steam is generated with condensed water to iron the clothes.
An independent water storage apparatus needs to be arranged in the clothes dryer, which causes that the clothes dryer is complicated in structure and tedious in installation process. In addition, limited by the structure, the water storage apparatus cannot be too big, which causes that a water storage capacity is low.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present invention propose a condensed water collecting and evaporating device for a clothes dryer with more reasonable structure, more convenient installation and lower cost.
Embodiments of the present invention further propose a clothes dryer which is simpler in structure and smoother in circulation of condensed water.
Embodiments of the present invention further propose a control method of a clothes dryer, which is more concise in control process and higher in control precision.
On an aspect, the following technical solution is adopted by embodiments of the present invention:

A condensed water collecting and evaporating device for a clothes dryer includes a water box unit configured to collect condensed water, a steam generator configured to generate steam, and a first water source pipe connected between the water box unit and the steam generator.

Especially, the water box unit includes a water box configured to store condensed water and a water box accommodation cavity configured to accommodate the water box. The water box accommodation cavity is connected to one end of the first water source pipe. A water level sensor is arranged in the water box, and is connected to a controller of the clothes dryer. A valve is arranged at a side wall or a bottom wall of the water box.
The water box can be of a hollow box-shaped structure; and a water supplementing hole is formed in a side wall of the water box, and is connected to an external water source through a connecting part.
Especially, the steam generator includes two water source pipes and one air injection pipe. The first water source pipe in the two water source pipes is connected to the water box unit, and a second water source pipe in the two water source pipes is connected to the external water source.
On another aspect, the following technical solution is adopted by embodiments of the present invention:
A clothes dryer is equipped with the above condensed water collecting and evaporating device.
On still another aspect, the following technical solution is adopted by embodiments of the present invention:

A control method based on the above clothes dryer includes: collecting condensed water with a water box unit; turning on a first water source pipe when steam needs to be sprayed to clothes in the clothes dryer, so that condensed water flows into a steam generator from the water box unit to generate steam; and stopping operating by the steam generator when steam is sprayed for a preset time T.

Especially, the water box unit includes a water box configured to store condensed water. A water level sensor is arranged in the water box and is connected to a controller of the clothes dryer. Generating of steam is paused when a water level in the water box is detected to be lower than a low water level set value H1 in a process of generating steam. Water is supplemented to the water box through the water supplementing hole. Generating of steam is restarted when the water level is higher than or equal to the low water level set value H1. Water supplementation is stopped when the water level in the water box reaches a high water level set value H2. Or, the steam generator includes two water source pipes and one air injection pipe. The first water source pipe in the two water source pipes is connected to the water box unit, and a second water source pipe in the two water source pipes is connected to the external water source. The first water source pipe is turned off and the second water source pipe is turned on when the water level in the water box is detected to be lower than the low water level set value H1 in a process of generating steam. Water is supplemented to the water box through the water supplementing hole while the steam generator continues to generate steam. The first water source pipe is turned on and the second water source pipe is turned off when the water level in the water box is higher than or equal to the low water level set value H1, and the water in the water box unit is reused for generating steam.
A controller gives prompt information that the water box is full when the water level in the water box is higher than the high water level set value H2, and the clothes dryer stops operating.
Especially, water supplementation is stopped when the steam generator stops generating steam in a process of supplementing the water to the water box through the water supplementing hole.
Especially, generating of steam is stopped when the steam generator sprays the steam for the preset time T in a process of supplementing the water to the water box through the water supplementing hole, and meanwhile, water supplementation is stopped.
The water box unit of the condensed water collecting and evaporating device for the clothes dryer in embodiments of the present invention is directly connected to the steam generator through the first water source pipe, thereby realizing more reasonable structure, more convenient installation and lower cost.
The above condensed water collecting and evaporating device is arranged on the clothes dryer in embodiments of the present invention clothes dryer, so that the clothes dryer is simpler in structure and smoother in circulation of condensed water.
The control method of the clothes dryer in embodiments of the present invention includes supplying condensed water in the water box unit to the steam generator directly to generate the steam. After a water storage apparatus is omitted, the water level in the water box can be directly monitored, the water is supplemented in time, a control process is more concise, and control precision is higher.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a schematic structural diagram illustrating a water box provided by embodiment I of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a bottom view illustrating a water box provided by embodiment I of the present invention;
Fig. 3 is a front view illustrating a clothes dryer provided by embodiment III of the present invention; and
Fig. 4 is a schematic structural diagram illustrating a clothes dryer provided by embodiment III of the present invention.

A list of reference numerals:

1: Box body; 3: Steam generator; 4: First water source pipe; 11: Drum; 12: First fan; 13: Water storage tank; 14: Condenser; 15: Second fan; 16: Heater; 17: Door body; 21: Water box; 22: Water box accommodation cavity; 23: Connecting part; 25: Valve.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The technical solutions of the present invention are described below in combination with drawings and through embodiments.

Embodiment I

The present embodiment provides a condensed water collecting and evaporating device for a clothes dryer, including a water box unit configured to collect condensed water, a steam generator configured to generate steam, and a first water source pipe connected between the water box unit and the steam generator.
The water box unit is directly connected to the steam generator and configured to provide condensed water to the steam generator to generate steam, thereby realizing more reasonable structure, smaller occupied space and higher utilization rate of condensed water.
The water box unit includes a water box 21 configured to store condensed water and a water box accommodation cavity configured to accommodate the water box 21. The water box accommodation cavity is connected to one end of the first water source pipe.
As shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the water box 21 is of a hollow box-shaped structure; and a water supplementing hole is formed in a side wall of the water box 21, and a water inlet/outlet hole is formed in an upper wall. The water supplementing hole is connected to an external water source through a connecting part 23, and water is supplemented to the water box 21 through the water supplementing hole when the water level in the water box 21 is too low. The water inlet/outlet hole is configured to enable condensed water to flow into or out of the water box 21.
A water level sensor (not shown in figures) is arranged in the water box 21. The water level sensor is connected to a controller of the clothes dryer, and is configured to detect a water level value in the water box 21.
A valve 25 is arranged on a side wall or a bottom wall of the water box 21. The valve 25 is turned on when water needs to be supplied to the steam generator, and the valve 25 is turned off when there is no need to supply water. The valve 25 can be a solenoid valve.

Embodiment II

The present embodiment provides a condensed water collecting and evaporating device for a clothes dryer. The condensed water collecting and evaporating device has basically the same structure as that of embodiment I and includes a water box unit configured to collect condensed water, a steam generator configured to generate steam, and a first water source pipe connected between the water box unit and the steam generator.
A difference is that: a structure of the water box unit is not limited, and can include a water box and a water box accommodation cavity which is connected to one end of the first water source pipe, and can only include a water box directly connected to a steam generator through the first water source pipe.
In addition to the first water source pipe connected to the water box accommodation cavity, the steam generator is equipped with a second water source pipe connected to an external water source. The steam generator can turn off the first water source pipe and turn on the second water source pipe when the water volume in the water box unit is too low, to generate steam with water supplied by the external water source, thereby ensuring that a process of generating the steam is not interrupted.

Embodiment III

The present embodiment provides a clothes dryer. As shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, the clothes dryer includes a box body 1; and a water box accommodation cavity 22 for accommodating a water box 21 is arranged on the box body 1. The water box accommodation cavity 22 is connected to one end of a first water source pipe 4, and the other end of the first water source pipe 4 is connected to a steam generator 3. Steam generated by the steam generator 3 is sprayed into a drum 11 through an air injection pipe, to remove wrinkle and smell of clothes.
A water level sensor (not shown in figures) is arranged in the water box 21, and is connected to a controller of the clothes dryer.
A control method of the clothes dryer includes: a first fan 12 drives air in a drum 11 to circulate after a clothes drying procedure is started, and air heated by a heater 16 enters the drum 11 to dry clothes. Air passing through wet clothes is changed into wet hot air, and the wet hot air flows out of the drum 11 from a lower part of a door body 17 through a filter screen.
The wet hot air which flows out of the drum 11 passes through a condenser 14. At this moment, cold air sucked by a second fan 15 from outside also passes through the condenser 14, so as to condense the wet hot air. Water vapor of the wet hot air is condensed and flows into a water storage tank 13, and then, condensed water is pumped by a water pump (not shown in figures) into a water box 21 located above the clothes dryer. Circulating air is changed into low-temperature dry air, and is heated by the heater 16 for a next circulation.
When smell or wrinkle needs to be removed from clothes in the drum 11, a solenoid valve at a lower wall of the water box 21 is turned on, and condensed water in the water box 21 enters the water box accommodation cavity 22. Condensed water flowing into the water box accommodation cavity 22 enters the steam generator 3 arranged at a bottom of the clothes dryer through the first water source pipe 4. The steam generator 3 starts to operate, and generates high-temperature water steam. The high-temperature water steam is sprayed into heated circulating wind (circulating air) through a nozzle apparatus of the air injection pipe, and the circulating wind carries the steam to enter the drum 11 and acts on the clothes, thereby realizing the smell or wrinkle removing from the clothes.
When the water level in the water box 21 is lower than a low water level set value H1, the steam generator 3 stops operating, the controller gives prompt information that water needs to be supplemented, and water is supplemented into the water box 21 through the water supplementing hole. The steam generator 3 restarts to generate steam when the level of water supplemented in the water box is higher than or equal to the low water level set value H1. The controller gives prompt information to inform a user to stop supplementing the water when the water level in the water box 21 is equal to or higher than a high water level set value H2. If steam is sprayed for a set time T in a water supplementing process or the user terminates a steam spray procedure in advance and the steam generator 3 stops operating, then the water supplementing operation is stopped immediately.
The water level sensor also needs to detect the water level in the water box 21 in a period that no steam is generated, and when the water level is equal to or higher than the high water level set value H2, the controller gives prompt information, stops the current operation of the clothes dryer, and waits for the user to draw out the water box 21 and pour out condensed water.

Embodiment IV

The present embodiment provides a clothes dryer which has basically the same structure and control method as those of embodiment III. The control method includes: condensed water is collected with a water box unit, and a first water source pipe is turned on when steam needs to be sprayed to clothes in the clothes dryer, so that condensed water flows into a steam generator from the water box unit and the steam is generated.
A difference is that: the steam generator is equipped with a second water source pipe connected to an external water source, in addition to the first water source pipe connected to a water box accommodation cavity. When condensed water in the water box unit is too little, then the first water source pipe is turned off and the second water source pipe is turned on; the steam generator continues to generate steam, and meanwhile, water is supplemented to a water box through a water supplementing hole; the first water source pipe is turned on and the second water source pipe is turned off after water supplementation reaches a requirement; and water in the water box unit is reused for generating steam.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present application discloses a condensed water collecting and evaporating device for a clothes dryer, a clothes dryer and a control method therefor. The apparatus includes a water box unit configured to collect condensed water, a steam generator configured to generate steam, and a first water source pipe connected between the water box unit and the steam generator. The clothes dryer is equipped with the above condensed water collecting and evaporating device. Based on the above control method of the clothes dryer, condensed water is collected with the water box unit, and the first water source pipe is turned on when steam needs to be sprayed to clothes in the clothes dryer, so that condensed water flows into the steam generator from the water box unit, and steam is generated. The condensed water collecting and evaporating device for the clothes dryer, the clothes dryer and the control method therefor have simpler and more reasonable structure, low cost, more concise control process, and higher control precision.

Claims

A condensed water collecting and evaporating device for a clothes dryer, comprising a water box unit configured to collect condensed water, a steam generator (3) configured to generate steam, and a first water source pipe (4) connected between the water box unit and the steam generator (3).
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the water box unit comprises a water box (21) configured to store condensed water and a water box accommodation cavity (22) configured to accommodate the water box (21); the water box accommodation cavity (22) is connected to one end of the first water source pipe (4); a water level sensor is arranged in the water box (21), and is connected to a controller of the clothes dryer; and a valve (25) is arranged at a side wall or a bottom wall of the water box (21).
The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the water box (21) is of a hollow box-shaped structure; and a water supplementing hole is formed in a side wall of the water box (21), and is connected to an external water source through a connecting part (23).
The apparatus according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the steam generator (3) comprises two water source pipes and one air injection pipe, a first water source pipe (4) in the two water source pipes is connected to the water box unit, and a second water source pipe in the two water source pipes is connected to the external water source.
A clothes dryer, equipped with the condensed water collecting and evaporating device according to any one of claims 1-4.
A control method based on the clothes dryer of claim 5, comprising: collecting condensed water with a water box unit; turning on a first water source pipe (4) when steam needs to be sprayed to clothes in the clothes dryer, so that condensed water flows into a steam generator (3) from the water box unit to generate steam; and stopping operating by the steam generator when steam is sprayed for a preset time T.
The method according to claim 6, wherein the water box unit comprises a water box (21) configured to store condensed water, wherein a water level sensor is arranged in the water box (21) and is connected to a controller of the clothes dryer;
wherein, generating of steam is paused when a water level in the water box (21) is detected to be lower than a low water level set value H1 in a process of generating steam; water is supplemented to the water box (21) through the water supplementing hole; generating of steam is restarted when the water level is higher than or equal to the low water level set value H1; and water supplementation is stopped when the water level in the water box (21) reaches a high water level set value H2;
or, the steam generator (3) comprises two water source pipes and one air injection pipe; a first water source pipe (4) in the two water source pipes is connected to the water box unit, and a second water source pipe in the two water source pipes is connected to the external water source; the first water source pipe is turned off and the second water source pipe is turned on when the water level in the water box (21) is detected to be lower than the low water level set value H1 in a process of generating steam, and water is supplemented to the water box (21) through the water supplementing hole while the steam generator (3) continues to generate steam; and the first water source pipe is turned on and the second water source pipe is turned off when the water level in the water box (21) is higher than or equal to the low water level set value H1, and water in the water box unit is reused for generating steam.
The method according to claim 7, wherein a controller gives prompt information that the water box (21) is full when the water level in the water box (21) is higher than the high water level set value H2, and the clothes dryer stops operating.
The method according to claim 7, wherein water supplementation is stopped when the steam generator (3) stops generating steam in a process of supplementing water to the water box (21) through the water supplementing hole.
The method according to claim 7, wherein generating of steam is stopped when the steam generator (3) sprays the steam for the preset time T in a process of supplementing water to the water box (21) through the water supplementing hole, and meanwhile, water supplementation is stopped.