EP4617420A1

EP4617420A1 - Washing machine ventilation control module and washing machine

Info

Publication number: EP4617420A1
Application number: EP23890801.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Yanjuan NIU; Yunfeng He; Wenwei Li; Jun Wu; Jinsheng DONG; Jihui PAN; Kui Zhang
Original assignee: Haier Smart Home Co Ltd; Chongqing Haier Front Loading Washing Machine Co Ltd
Current assignee: Haier Smart Home Co Ltd; Chongqing Haier Front Loading Washing Machine Co Ltd
Priority date: 2022-11-16
Filing date: 2023-11-15
Publication date: 2025-09-17
Also published as: WO2024104369A1; EP4617420A4; CN118065101A; JP2025536066A; AU2023381517A1

Abstract

Disclosed in the present application are a ventilation control module for a washing machine and a washing machine. The ventilation control module for the washing machine comprises: a fan assembly for generating a flowing air; a housing, in which one side is a fan chamber for mounting the fan assembly, and another side is an air duct chamber for forming an air inlet path and an air outlet path for the fan assembly. The air duct chamber is provided with an air outlet duct and an air inlet duct connected with the fan assembly, and an air duct switch is disposed in at least one of an air outlet duct and an air inlet duct for opening and closing the air duct. Since the washing machine disclosed in the present application is provided with the ventilation control module, the ventilation control module can accelerate the drying of a working chamber in which a washing drum of the washing machine is located, thereby preventing the working chamber from growing a large amount of bacteria and generating unpleasant odors in a humid state for a long time.

Description

Field

The application belongs to the field of household appliances, and in particular relates to a ventilation control module for a washing machine and a washing machine.

Background

Washing machine has become an indispensable household appliance in modern families, which greatly facilitates our daily life. However, the various defects about the washing machine have also gradually revealed.
Chinese patent application CN110241545A discloses a washing machine, comprising a housing, a washing drum rotatably arranged in the housing, a water receiving device arranged in the housing for collecting water discharged from the washing drum, and a drainage channel. A first drainage port is formed at the lower of the peripheral wall of the washing drum, and the drainage channel is arranged on the outer peripheral wall of the washing drum and connected with the first drainage port to guide water discharged from the washing drum to a position below the washing drum. A water inlet is provided at upper of the drainage channel and a water outlet is provided at the lower. The drainage channel covers hermetically on the first drainage port on the peripheral wall of the washing drum, and the water inlet is in communication with the first drainage port. The water receiving device includes a water collecting chamber and at least one second drainage port. The water outlet of the drainage channel for downward discharging water is located in the water collecting chamber. In the present application, the drainage channel is arranged at the lower of the outer peripheral wall of the washing drum to guide water from the first drainage port to flow downward. So the water receiving device is prevented from extending upward to enlarge a capacity of the washing drum, and water is guided to be discharged to the water collecting chamber of the water receiving device to increase the drainage speed and prevented from splashing.
However, for the washing machine described by the above technical solution, the working chamber where the washing drum of the washing machine is located is relatively humid, and is prone to breed bacteria in a humid environment and also produces odor. The washing machine itself is a cylinder of which one side is an opening, so even if the door assembly of the washing machine is opened, it cannot be accelerated in drying the working chamber of the washing machine.
In view of this, the present application is provided.

Summary

The technical problem to be solved by the present application is the shortcoming of the prior art. On one aspect, the present application is to provide a ventilation control module for a washing machine. The ventilation control module can be used to accelerate the air flow in a working chamber of the washing machine, so that the humid air in the working chamber of the washing machine can be discharged from the working chamber as soon as possible, thereby reducing the time for drying the working chamber being in humid state after the washing machine runs.
On another aspect of the present application, a washing machine is equipped with the above ventilation control module. After washing laundry, the humid internal space of the washing machine can be dried faster by the ventilation control module to avoid generating more bacteria and odor.
In order to solve the above technical problems, the basic concept of the technical solutions of the present application is as the follows.

A ventilation control module for a washing machine, includes;
a fan assembly, for generating a flowing air;
a housing, in which one side is a fan chamber for mounting the fan assembly, and another side is an air duct chamber for forming an air inlet path and an air outlet path for the fan assembly; wherein, the air duct chamber is provided with an air outlet duct and an air inlet duct connected with the fan assembly, and an air duct switch is disposed in at least one of an air outlet duct and an air inlet duct for opening and closing the air duct.

In some embodiments, a partition plate is disposed in the air duct chamber, and the partition plate is configured to divide the air duct chamber into the air inlet duct and the air outlet duct.
In some embodiments, the air duct chamber has a first end plate, and a fan air inlet and an exhaust port are arranged on the first end plate, and the fan air inlet and the exhaust port are respectively located in both sides of the partition plate.
In some embodiments, the air duct chamber has a second end plate, and an air supply port and an air outlet are arranged on the second end plate, and the air supply port and the air outlet are respectively located in both sides of the partition plate.
In some embodiments, a first air duct switch is disposed in the air inlet duct, so when the first air duct switch is opened, air is configured to pass through the air inlet duct.
In some embodiments, the first air duct switch is a plate-shaped structure, and disposed at the air supply port. When the first air duct switch is engaged with a peripheral side of the air supply port, the first air duct switch is closed. When the first air duct switch is away from the air supply port, the first air duct switch is opened, so that the flowing air can pass through the air supply port.
In some embodiments, the first air duct switch is rotatably disposed in the air inlet duct.
In some embodiments, a position detection device is further arranged on the housing, and the position detection device is used to detect a position of the first air duct switch and judge the first air duct switch to be in an open state or a closed state.
In some embodiments, a second air duct switch is disposed in the air outlet duct, and the second air duct switch is linked to the first air duct switch, so both are capable of being opened/closed at the same time.
On another aspect, the present application provides a washing machine including the ventilation control module. One end of the air inlet duct is connected with a working chamber of the washing machine, and another end is connected with the fan chamber. One end of the air outlet duct is connected with the working chamber of the washing machine, and another end is connected with the outside of the washing machine.
After adopting the above technical solutions, the present application have the following advantages compared with the prior art.
According to the ventilation control module of the present application, the fan assembly can generate a flowing air, and then the flowing air enters the working chamber of the washing machine through the air inlet duct to drive air in the working chamber to flow. So the air in the working chamber is discharged from the working chamber of the washing machine through the air outlet duct of the ventilation control module with the flowing air. By accelerating air flow in the working chamber of the washing machine, air in the working chamber can be quickly replaced. After the washing machine is used, the humid air in the working chamber can be quickly discharged to the outside of the washing machine, to accelerate the drying of the working chamber. So it is avoided that the working chamber is in a humid state for a long time to breed more bacteria and produce odor.
On the other hand, the present application provides a washing machine including the ventilation control module described in the above embodiments.
The specific embodiments of the present application are further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Brief description of the drawings

The accompanying drawings are part of the present disclosure and are used to provide a further understanding of the present application. The exemplary embodiments of the present application and their descriptions are used to explain the present application, but do not constitute an improper limitation of the present application. The drawings described below are only some embodiments. For those skilled in art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative work. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an exploded structural diagram of a ventilation control module of the present application;
Figure 2 is a structural diagram of a fan assembly;
Figure 3 is a structural diagram of the air flow in a ventilation control module;
Figure 4 is a structural diagram of a housing;
Figure 5 is a structural diagram of a housing for mounting a fan assembly;
Figure 6 is a structural diagram of a top view of Figure 5;
Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view along the line E-E in Figure 6;
Figure 8 is an enlarged structural diagram of point F in Figure 6;
Figure 9 is a structural diagram of a first air duct switch and a second air duct switch.

In the figure: 1. Fan assembly; 101. Fan inlet; 102. Fan outlet; 2. Housing; 201. Sealing cover; 202. Air inlet duct; 2021. Air supply port; 2022. Fan air inlet; 2023. First air duct switch; 20231. First sealing member; 20232. Protrusion; 2024. Through hole; 203. Air outlet duct; 2031. Air outlet; 2032. Exhaust port; 2033. Second air duct switch; 20332. Second sealing member; 204. Fan chamber; 205. Partition plate; 2051. Notch; 3. Position detection device; 4. Motor; 5. Rotating shaft; 501. Connecting plate; 502. Shaft hole.
It should be noted that these drawings and descriptions are not intended to limit the scope of the present application in any way, but are intended to illustrate the concept of the present application for those skilled in the art by referring to specific embodiments.

Detailed description

In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present application clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments are clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application. The following embodiments are used to illustrate the present application but are not used to limit the scope of the present application.
In the description of the present application, it should be noted that the directions or positional relationships indicated by terms such as "upper", "lower", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "inside" and "outside" are based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific direction, be constructed and operated in a specific direction, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on the present application.
In the description of the present application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "installed", "connected", and "connected" should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present application can be understood according to specific circumstances.
A ventilation control module for a washing machine of the present application is described in detail in conjunction with Figure 1 to Figure 9.
As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a ventilation control module for a washing machine includes a fan assembly 1 and a housing 2. A fan chamber 204 for mounting the fan assembly 1 is provided in the housing 2, and the fan assembly 1 is mounted in the fan chamber 204.
Specifically, an air inlet duct 202 and an air outlet duct 203 are also provided in the housing 2. The air inlet duct 202 is arranged on one side of the fan chamber 204. That is, the fan assembly 1 is mounted in the fan chamber 204, and the air inlet duct 202 is located on one side of the fan assembly 1.
As shown in Figures 4 and 5, one end of the air inlet duct 202 is a fan air inlet 2022 connected with a fan outlet 102 of the fan assembly 1, and another end of the air inlet duct 202 is an air supply port 2021 connected with the working chamber of the washing machine. One end of the air outlet duct 203 is an air outlet 2031 connected with the working chamber of the washing machine; another end of the air outlet duct 203 is an exhaust port 2032 connected with the external space of the washing machine.
As shown in Figure 3, when the working chamber of the washing machine needs to be quickly dried, the fan assembly 1 is controlled to operate. Air flows in the fan assembly 1 from a fan inlet 101 of the fan assembly 1, and forms a flowing air after being accelerated in the fan assembly 1. The flowing air enters the air inlet duct 202 from the fan outlet 102 of the fan assembly 1 and the fan air inlet 2022, passes through the air inlet duct 202 along direction A, and then enters the working chamber of the washing machine along direction B through the air supply port 2021. The flowing air drives the original air in the working chamber of the washing machine to enter the air outlet duct 203 through the air outlet 2031 along direction C, and is discharged to the outside from the exhaust port 2032 along direction D in the air outlet duct 203.
It can be understood that the working chamber is a space for holding the washing water in performing a washing process in the washing machine. A washing tub is located in the space. The working chamber is used for holding the washing water in washing laundry. After the process of washing laundry is completed, the washing water is discharged from the washing machine. In this time, because there is water hung on the inner wall of the working chamber, as well as a tub wall of the washing tub and other parts being in contact with the washing water, it is relatively humid in the working chamber, which is easy to breed bacteria and produce odor. The outside is a space outside of the washing machine, that is, the space where the washing machine is located.
The above ventilation control module is used to generate the flowing air through a fan. The flowing air enters the working chamber of the washing machine through the air inlet duct 202, to drive air in the working chamber to flow, so that air in the working chamber is discharged from the working chamber of the washing machine through the air outlet duct 203 of the ventilation control module with the flowing air. By accelerating air flow in the working chamber of the washing machine, air in the working chamber can be quickly replaced. After the washing machine is used, the humid air in the working chamber can be quickly discharged to the outside of the washing machine, to accelerate the drying of the working chamber. So it is avoided that the working chamber is in a humid state for a long time to breed more bacteria and produce odor.
Further, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the housing 2 has an air duct chamber, which is composed of a first end plate, a second end plate, a first side plate, a second side plate, and a bottom plate. A partition plate 205 is disposed in the air duct chamber to divide the air duct chamber into the air inlet duct 202 and the air outlet duct 203. An upper of the air duct chamber is an opening, and the opening is sealed by a sealing cover 201, so that both the air inlet duct 202 and the air outlet duct 203 have a channel structure of which both ends are open.
Specifically, the air duct chamber has the first end plate, on which the fan air inlet 2022 and the exhaust port 2032 are provided, and the fan air inlet 2022 and the exhaust port 2032 are respectively located in both sides of the partition plate 205. The other end of the air duct chamber has the second end plate, on which the air supply port 2021 and the air outlet 2031 are provided, and the air supply port 2021 and the air outlet 2031 are respectively located in both sides of the partition plate 205.
When the ventilation control module is working, the flowing air generated by the fan assembly 1 enters the air inlet duct 202 from the fan air inlet 2022, passes through the air inlet duct 202, and enters the working chamber from the air supply port 2021. In the working chamber, the flowing air drives the original air in the working chamber to enter the air outlet duct 203 from the air outlet 2031, and then passes through the air outlet duct 203 and is discharged to the outside from the exhaust port 2032.
Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6, a first air duct switch 2023 is provided in the air inlet duct 202. When the first air duct switch 2023 is opened, the flowing air can enter the working chamber from the air supply port 2021. When the first air duct switch 2023 is closed, air in the working chamber cannot pass through the air inlet duct 202 to enter in the fan assembly 1.
Specifically, the first air duct switch 2023 is disposed at the air supply port 2021.
When the first air duct switch 2023 is opened, the flowing air generated by the fan assembly 1 can enter the air inlet duct 202, and then enter the working chamber through the air supply port 2021 of the air inlet duct 202 to drive the original air in the working chamber to flow. By accelerating the air flow in the working chamber, the drying speed of the working chamber is accelerated, so the working chamber is prevented from being in a humid state for a long time, breeding excessive bacteria and generating odor.
When the first air duct switch 2023 is closed, the air inlet duct 202 and the working chamber are separated from each other to form two independent spaces. At this time, in performing the washing process in the washing machine, the washing water and the foam generated in the washing process in the internal space cannot enter the air inlet duct 202 through the air supply port 2021. There are also some washing machines with drying function in the prior art. When the washing machine executes the drying program, the first air duct switch 2023 is closed, so hot air is prevented from overflowing from the air inlet duct 202.
Similarly, a second air duct switch 2033 is provided in the air outlet duct 203. The second air duct switch 2033 is provided at the air outlet 2031 and is linked to the first air duct switch 2023. The first air duct switch 2023 and the second air duct switch 2033 can be opened or closed at the same time.
When the second air duct switch 2033 is opened, the flowing air generated by the fan assembly 1 enters the working chamber to drive the original air in the working chamber to enter the air outlet duct 203 from the air outlet 2031, and then passes through the air outlet duct 203 and is discharged to the outside from the exhaust port 2032. Thereby the humid air in the working chamber is quickly discharged to the outside to reduce the humidity in the working chamber; accordingly it is reduced in the time for drying the working chamber.
When the second air duct switch 2033 is closed, the fluids such as air, the washing water or foam in the working chamber cannot enter the air outlet duct 203 from the air outlet 2031. At this time, the working chamber is separated from the outside by the second air duct switch 2033, so that the working chamber can be relatively closed when the washing machine is running.
Furthermore, as shown in Figure 9, both the first air duct switch 2023 and the second air duct switch 2033 are a plate-shaped structure. Both the first air duct switch 2023 and the second air duct switch 2033 are rotatably mounted in the air inlet duct 202 and the air outlet duct 203 respectively.
Specifically, the first air duct switch 2023 and the second air duct switch 2033 are connected via a rotating shaft 5, and the rotating shaft 5 is circumferentially fixed to the first air duct switch 2023 and the second air duct switch 2033. When the rotating shaft 5 rotates, the first air duct switch 2023 and the second air duct switch 2033 are driven to rotate.
When the first air duct switch 2023 rotates toward the air supply outlet 2021 and is engaged with the peripheral side of the air supply outlet 2021, the first air duct switch 2023 is closed. At the same time, the second air duct switch 2033 also rotates toward the air outlet 2031 and engages with the peripheral side of the air outlet 2031, so that the second air duct switch 2033 is closed.
When the first air duct switch 2023 rotates in a direction away from the air supply port 2021, the first air duct switch 2023 is opened, and the flowing air generated by the fan assembly 1 can pass through the air supply port 2021 and enter the working chamber. At the same time, the second air duct switch 2033 rotates in a direction away from the air outlet 2031, and the second air duct switch 2033 is opened, so that air in the working chamber can enter the air outlet duct 203 from the air outlet 2031, and finally be discharged from the air outlet duct 203 to the outside of the washing machine.
As shown in Figures 7 and 9, the first air duct switch 2023 and the second air duct switch 2033 are further provided with a first sealing member 20231 and a second sealing member 20332 respectively. Both the first sealing member 20231 and the second sealing member 20332 are a bowl-shaped structure of which an opening side faces the air supply port 2021 and the air outlet 2031. When the first air duct switch 2023 is closed, the first sealing member 20231 is engaged with the peripheral side of the air supply port 2021. When the second air duct switch 2033 is closed, the second sealing member 20332 is engaged with the peripheral side of the air outlet 2031.
In particular, the first sealing member 20231 and the second sealing member 20332 are both made of rubber, so that the first air duct switch 2023 and the second air duct switch 2033 have better tightness when being closed.
In fact, the rotating shaft 5 can be fixedly connected with or integrated with the first air duct switch 2023 and the second air duct switch 2033, while the rotating shaft 5 is rotatably connected with the side plates of the ducts. As shown in Figure 8, a groove is also provided on the side plate, and a connecting plate 501 is provided at one end of the rotating shaft 5 close to the first air duct switch 2023. The connecting plate 501 is circular and can be inserted into the groove, so that the rotating shaft 5 can rotate relative to the side plate. A notch 2051 is also provided on the partition plate 205, and a middle part of the rotating shaft 5 is configured to pass through the notch 2051.
The ventilation control module also includes a motor 4 capable of controlling the first air duct switch 2023 and the second air duct switch 2033. The motor 4 is disposed on one side of the air inlet duct 202. An output shaft of the motor 4 is connected with the rotating shaft 5. The rotating shaft 5 is provided with a shaft hole 502 being in non-circular shape, and the output shaft of the motor 4 is configured to cooperate with the shaft hole 502. The rotating shaft 5 is controlled to rotate by the motor 4, thereby controlling the first air duct switch 2023 and the second air duct switch 2033.
Furthermore, in order to judge the open/closed state of the first air duct switch 2023 and the second air duct switch 2033, a position detection device 3 is also disposed on the housing 2 for detecting a position of the first air duct switch 2023 and judging the open/closed state of the first air duct switch 2023.
Specifically, the position detection device 3 is disposed at the second end plate, and a through hole 2024 is arranged on the second end plate at a position corresponding to the air inlet duct 202. A physical switch of the position detection device 3 is configured to pass through the through hole 2024 and enters the air inlet duct 202. The position detection device 3 can detect the position of the first air duct switch 2023. When the first air duct switch 2023 is closed, the position detection device 3 can be triggered. When the first air duct switch 2023 is opened, there is no contact between the first air duct switch 2023 and the position detection device 3; at this time, an electrical signal of the position detection device 3 is different from the electrical signal in a state being contact. Thereby it is judged whether the first air duct switch 2023 is closed.
Furthermore, in order to enable the first air duct switch 2023 to normally trigger the position detection device 3, a protrusion 20232 is provided on a side of the first air duct switch 2023 facing the air supply port 2021, and the protrusion 20232 is used to trigger the position detection switch.
In order to ensure the sealing of the air inlet duct 202, the sealing is treated at the through hole 2024 after the position detection device 3 is installed, so that air in the air inlet duct 202 cannot pass through the through hole 2024. The sealing is treated at the notch 2051 on the partition plate 205, so that air in the air inlet duct 202 and the air outlet duct 203 cannot flow to each other.
Another aspect of the present application, a washing machine is equipped with the above ventilation control module. The air supply port 2021 and the air outlet 2031 of the ventilation control module are respectively connected with the working chamber of the washing machine through pipelines.
The following control method for the washing machine is adopted in working.
During a washing process or a drying process:
detecting whether the air duct switch is in a closed state; controlling the air duct switch to be closed if the air duct switch is not closed; if a signal of the air duct switch being in closed state is not detected within a set time or a set number of closing times, the washing machine sending an alarm prompt.
During a drying process or a ventilation process:
detecting whether the air duct switch is in an open state; controlling the air duct switch to be opened if the air duct switch is not opened; if a signal of the air duct switch being in open state is not detected within a set time or a set number of opening times, the washing machine sending an alarm prompt.
The air duct switches in the control method correspond to the first air duct switch 2023 and the second air duct switch 2033 in the ventilation control module.
The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present application, and does not limit the present application. Although the present application has disclosed preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present application. Without departing from the scope of the technical solution of the present application, anyone in the field of the patent application can be hinted to make some changes or modifications as equivalent embodiments by the above technical content. Any simple modification, equivalent change and modification made to the above embodiments according to the substantive content of the present application still belong to the scope of the solution of the present application.

Claims

A ventilation control module for a washing machine, including,
a fan assembly, for generating a flowing air;

a housing, in which one side is a fan chamber for mounting the fan assembly, and another side is an air duct chamber for forming an air inlet path and an air outlet path for the fan assembly;

wherein, the air duct chamber is provided with an air outlet duct and an air inlet duct connected with the fan assembly, and an air duct switch is disposed in at least one of the air outlet duct and the air inlet duct for opening and closing the air duct.
The ventilation control module for the washing machine according to claim 1, wherein, a partition plate is disposed in the air duct chamber, and the partition plate is configured to divide the air duct chamber into the air inlet duct and the air outlet duct.
The ventilation control module for the washing machine according to claim 2, wherein, the air duct chamber has a first end plate, and a fan air inlet and an exhaust port are arranged on the first end plate, and the fan air inlet and the exhaust port are respectively located in both sides of the partition plate.
The ventilation control module for the washing machine according to claim 2 or 3, wherein, the air duct chamber has a second end plate, and an air supply port and an air outlet are arranged on the second end plate, and the air supply port and the air outlet are respectively located in both sides of the partition plate.
The ventilation control module for the washing machine according to claim 4, wherein, a first air duct switch is disposed in the air inlet duct, so when the first air duct switch is opened, air is configured to pass through the air inlet duct.
The ventilation control module for the washing machine according to claim 5, wherein, the first air duct switch is a plate-shaped structure, and disposed at the air supply port;
when the first air duct switch is engaged with a peripheral side of the air supply port, the first air duct switch is closed;

when the first air duct switch is away from the air supply port, the first air duct switch is opened, so that the flowing air is configured to pass through the air supply port.
The ventilation control module for the washing machine according to claim 6, wherein, the first air duct switch is rotatably disposed in the air inlet duct.
The ventilation control module for the washing machine according to claim 7, wherein, a position detection device is further arranged on the housing;
the position detection device is used to detect a position of the first air duct switch and to judge the first air duct switch to be in an open state or a closed state.
The ventilation control module for the washing machine according to claim 7 or 8, wherein, a second air duct switch is disposed in the air outlet duct, and the second air duct switch is linked to the first air duct switch, so both are capable of being opened/closed simultaneously.
A washing machine, including the ventilation control module for the washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein,
one end of the air inlet duct is connected with a working chamber of the washing machine, and another end is connected with the fan chamber; and

one end of the air outlet duct is connected with the working chamber of the washing machine, and another end is connected with the outside of the washing machine.