JP2004194942A - Drum type clothes dryer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a drum type clothes drier in which heat efficiency is improved as much as possible. <P>SOLUTION: The drum type clothes drier is provided with: a drum (2) into which garments to be dried are fed; an air outlet port (12) for supplying air into the drum; an air discharging port (11) for discharging the air in the drum; an airflow channel (16) connecting the air discharging port and the air outlet port and provided with vertical channels (17 and 56); a blower (21) for blowing air in the airflow channel from the air discharging port to the air outlet port; and a heater (22) for heating the air to be blown by the blower. In the neighborhood of the lowest end of the airflow channel, a drain channel (41) for draining drain water is connected. A heat exchange area (26) is provided at the vertical channels, a water feeding channel (32) is connected at the upper end of this heat exchange area, and a cooling water draining channel (36) is connected in the neighborhood of the lower end of the heat exchange area. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a drum-type clothes dryer for drying dehydrated clothes and the like after washing.
[0002]
[Prior art]
BACKGROUND ART A conventional drum-type clothes dryer dries clothes in a drum with warm air, and removes moisture from hot and humid air discharged from the drum. The removal of the water is performed by exchanging heat with hot and humid air by applying cooling water. Then, the air from which the moisture has been removed is heated again by the heater to become hot air and returns to the inside of the drum, and the air is circulating. The cooling water after the heat exchange is drained from the lowermost end of the air passage or the lowermost end of the outer tank.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, if the cooling water is in contact with air even after heat exchange with high-temperature and high-humidity air for removing moisture, the temperature of the air drops more than necessary. Therefore, the amount of heat required to heat the cooled air with a heater to produce hot air again increases. As a result, the thermal efficiency decreases.
[0004]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and has as its object to provide a drum-type clothes dryer capable of improving thermal efficiency as much as possible.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A drum-type clothes dryer according to claim 1 of the present application includes a rotatable drum (2) into which clothes to be dried are charged, an air discharge port (12) for supplying air to the drum, and a drum-type clothes dryer. An air outlet (11) for discharging air, and an air path (16) connecting the air outlet and the air outlet and having a vertical flow path (17, 56) extending vertically. ), A blower (21) for blowing air from the air path from an air discharge port to an air discharge port, and a heater (22) for heating the air blown by the blower. A drain flow path (41) for draining drain water is connected near the lower end, and a heat exchange area (26) is provided in the vertical flow path. The flow path (32) is connected, and near the lower end of the heat exchange area, The cooling water drain passage for draining the cooling water heat-exchanged in the exchange zone (36) is connected.
[0006]
The drum-type clothes dryer according to the second aspect is rotatably disposed inside the outer tub (51), and has a drum into which clothes to be dried are charged, and an air discharge port for discharging air to the drum. An air discharge port for discharging air from the drum, an air path connecting the air discharge port and the air discharge port, and having a vertical flow path extending vertically, A blower that blows air from the air discharge port toward the air discharge port, and a heater that heats the air blown by the blower, and the lower end portion of the air path is connected to an outer tank, A drain flow path for draining drain water is connected near the lowermost end of the outer tank, and a heat exchange area is provided in the vertical flow path, and a water supply flow path is connected to an upper end of the heat exchange area. And heat exchange near the lower end of the heat exchange area. The cooling water drain passage for draining the cooling water heat exchanger is connected in frequency.
[0007]
A drum-type clothes dryer according to a third aspect is characterized in that, in the drum-type clothes dryer according to the first or second aspect, a trap (37) is provided in the cooling water drain passage.
[0008]
A drum-type clothes dryer according to a fourth aspect is the drum-type clothes dryer according to the first, second or third aspect, wherein the drain flow path is a washing drain pipe through which washing water flows, and a cooling water drain path. And being connected to a drain main pipe (42) having an electromagnetic valve (43).
[0009]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Next, a first embodiment of a drum-type clothes dryer in the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining the flow of air and cooling water in a first embodiment of a drum-type clothes dryer according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, the flow of air is indicated by solid arrows, and the flow of cooling water is indicated by broken arrows.
[0010]
The outer periphery of the drum-type clothes dryer is constituted by a box 1, in which a cylindrical drum 2 into which laundry to be dried is put is rotatable with its axis substantially horizontal. Is provided. The drum 2 as this stirring device is driven to rotate by a drive motor (not shown). The front opening of the box 1 is closed by a door 6 so as to be freely opened and closed. The door 6 is opened, and the laundry is put into the drum 2.
[0011]
An air discharge port 11 for discharging air from the drum 2 and an air discharge port 12 for supplying air to the drum 2 are provided, and the air discharge port 11 and the air discharge port 12 are connected by an air path 16. I have. The air outlet 11 is provided with a filter 13. The air path 16 includes a rear vertical flow path 17 extending vertically from the air discharge port 11, a horizontal flow path 18 extending forward from a lower end of the vertical flow path 17, and a front end of the horizontal flow path 18. A vertical flow path 19 on the front side extending upward from the portion and reaching the air discharge port 12 is provided. Further, the air passage 16 is provided with a blower 21 for blowing air from the air discharge port 11 to the air discharge port 12 and a heater 22 for heating the air in the air path 16.
[0012]
A heat exchange region 26 is provided in the vertical channel 17 of the air passage 16. In the heat exchange area 26, a water supply pipe 32 as a water supply flow path having an electromagnetic valve 31 is connected to an upper end thereof, and a cooling water drainage pipe 36 as a cooling water discharge flow path is connected to a lower end thereof. ing. A trap 37 is provided in the cooling water drain pipe 36. A drain passage 41 is connected near the lowermost end of the air passage 16. The drain flow path 41 joins the cooling water drain pipe 36 and is connected to a drain main pipe 42. The drain main pipe 42 has an electromagnetic valve 43. The heat exchange area 26 is arranged upstream of the heater 22, and the inflow port 41 a of the drain flow path 41 is arranged at a position where the flow of air in the air passage 16 is difficult to enter.
[0013]
The door 6 of the drum-type clothes dryer of the first embodiment configured as described above is opened, laundry such as wet clothes after dehydration is put into the drum 2, and the door 6 is closed. Then, while the drum 2 is rotating, the blower 21 and the heater 22 are operated to dry the dehydrated clothes. At that time, the blower 21 sucks the air in the drum 2 from the air discharge port 11, supplies the sucked air from the air discharge port 12 to the drum 2 again through the air passage 16, and circulates the air. Let me. The heater 22 heats the air supplied to the drum 2. Therefore, the air heated by the heater 22 becomes warm air and flows into the drum 2 to absorb the moisture of the clothes. During drying, the electromagnetic valves 31 and 43 are opened, and the humid air that has absorbed moisture is cooled in the heat exchange area 26 while the moisture is removed by cooling water from the water supply pipe 32. The air from which the moisture has been removed is heated again by the heater 22 and supplied to the drum 2 from the air discharge port 12. On the other hand, the cooling water that has passed through the heat exchange area 26 immediately flows into the cooling water drain pipe 36, passes through the trap 37 and the drain main pipe 42, and is drained outside the dryer. Drain water collected in the air passage 16 is drained from the dryer through the drain flow path 41 and the drain main pipe 42.
[0014]
As described above, in the first embodiment, since the cooling water drain pipe 36 is provided separately from the drain flow path 41, the distance at which the cooling water from the water supply pipe 32 comes into contact with the air in the air passage 16 is reduced. An optimum distance for removing moisture from the air can be obtained. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the cooling water from cooling the air more than necessary. As a result, the amount of heat of the heater 22 required for reheating the circulating air can be reduced as much as possible, and the thermal efficiency can be improved.
[0015]
Although the air in the air passage 16 may flow into the cooling water drain pipe 36, since the trap 37 is provided, the air can be prevented from being exhausted to the outside of the dryer. As a result, loss of circulating warm air can be minimized.
[0016]
Next, a second embodiment of the drum-type clothes dryer according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a view of a main part of a second embodiment of the drum-type clothes dryer according to the present invention. In FIG. 2, the flow of air in the outer tub is indicated by a dashed arrow, the flow of air in the air path is indicated by a solid arrow, and the flow of cooling water is indicated by a dashed-dotted arrow. In the description of the second embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to components corresponding to the components of the first embodiment, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.
[0017]
The drum-type clothes dryer of the second embodiment is a drum-type clothes washer / dryer, in which an outer tub 51 is provided in a box 1, and a drum 2 is rotatably arranged in the outer tub 51. I have. A large number of holes are provided in the peripheral wall of the drum 2 according to the second embodiment to allow water to flow and air to flow. In addition, the air passage 16 of the second embodiment has a first vertical flow path 56 extending vertically from the air discharge port 11 provided in the outer tank 51, and substantially from the upper end of the vertical flow path 56. A horizontal flow path 57 extending horizontally and a second vertical flow path 58 extending downward from the other end of the horizontal flow path 57 and reaching the air discharge port 12 provided in the outer tank 51 are provided. ing.
[0018]
The first vertical flow path 56 is provided with a heat exchange area 26 shown in a substantially rectangular shape, a water supply pipe 32 is connected to an upper end of the heat exchange area 26, and a cooling pipe is connected to a lower end of the heat exchange area 26. A water drain pipe 36 is connected. The lower end of the first vertical channel 56 is connected to and communicates with the inside of the outer tank 51 at the air outlet 11, and the water in the first vertical channel 56 that has not been drained by the cooling water drain pipe 36 is Flows into the outer tank 51. A drain flow path 41 as a washing water drain flow path is connected near the lowermost end of the outer tub 51. The structure on the downstream side of the cooling water drain pipe 36 and the drain passage 41 is the same as that of the first embodiment. The solenoid valve 43 is controlled to be opened and closed by a control means such as a microcomputer, and is opened at the time of drying, dehydration and drainage, and is closed at the time of washing and rinsing.
[0019]
Further, a blower 21 and a heater 22 are also provided in the air passage 16 of the second embodiment, and a motor (not shown) drives the drum 2 to rotate in the same manner as in the first embodiment. The blower 21 and the heater 22 are operated to dry the dehydrated clothes. At this time, the blower 21 sucks the air in the drum 2 from the air discharge port 11 through the outer tank 51, and supplies the sucked air from the air discharge port 12 to the drum 2 again through the air path 16. The air in the drum 2 passes through the hole in the peripheral wall of the drum 2 and enters the outer tub 51, and returns to the blower 21 from the air discharge port 11 again. In this way, the blower 21 circulates air. Then, similarly to the first embodiment, the humid air that has absorbed the moisture is removed by the cooling water from the water supply pipe 32 in the heat exchange area 26, and the heater 22 is supplied to the drum 2. Heating air. In addition, the cooling water from the water supply pipe 32 flows into the outer tank 51 from the air discharge port 11 through the heat exchange area 26, and is discharged from the drain channel 41 to the outside of the dryer.
[0020]
As described above, in the second embodiment as well, similarly to the first embodiment, the cooling water drain pipe 36 is provided separately from the drain flow path 41 which is a washing water drain flow path. The distance at which the cooling water from the air comes into contact with the air in the air passage 16 can be set to an optimum distance for removing moisture from the air. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the cooling water from cooling the air more than necessary. As a result, the amount of heat of the heater 22 required for reheating the circulating air can be reduced as much as possible, and the thermal efficiency can be improved.
[0021]
As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention described in the appended claims. It is possible to do. Modification examples of the present invention are exemplified below.
(1) The structure and type of the heater 22 can be appropriately selected. For example, an electric heater, a heat pump condenser, a heater using combustion gas, or the like can be used.
(2) The term “drum-type clothes dryer” used herein includes not only a drying function but also a washing function (a so-called drum-type clothes washer / dryer). (3) In the case of a drum-type clothes dryer having no washing function, the solenoid valve 43 of the drain main pipe 42 is not necessarily required.
[0022]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, apart from the drain flow path, the cooling water drain flow path is connected near the lower end of the heat exchange area, so that the cooling water that has undergone heat exchange with hot air flows in the air path. Contact with air can be reduced as much as possible. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the cooling water from cooling the air more than necessary. As a result, the amount of heat of the heater required for reheating the circulating air can be reduced as much as possible, and the thermal efficiency can be improved.
[0023]
Further, since a trap is provided in the cooling water drain passage, air can be prevented from being exhausted outside the dryer through the cooling water drain passage as much as possible. As a result, loss of circulating warm air can be minimized. In particular, when the cooling water and the air flow in the same direction, there is a high possibility that the air flows into the cooling water drain passage. Can be.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the flow of air and cooling water in a first embodiment of a drum-type clothes dryer according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a view of a main part of a second embodiment of the drum-type clothes dryer according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
2 Drum 11 Air discharge port 12 Air discharge port 16 Air path 17 Vertical flow path 21 Blower 22 Heater 26 Heat exchange area 32 Water supply pipe (water supply flow path)
36 Cooling water drainage pipe (cooling water drainage channel)
37 Trap 41 Drain flow path 42 Drain main pipe 43 Solenoid valve 51 Outer tank 56 Vertical flow path

Claims (4)

A rotatable drum into which the clothes to be dried are loaded,
An air outlet for supplying air to the drum,
An air outlet for discharging air from the drum;
An air passage connecting the air discharge port and the air discharge port, and having a vertical flow path extending in a vertical direction;
A blower that blows air in the air passage from an air discharge port toward an air discharge port,
A heater for heating the air blown by the blower,
In the vicinity of the lowermost end of the air path, a drain flow path for draining drain water is connected,
In addition, a heat exchange area is provided in the vertical flow path, a water supply flow path is connected to an upper end of the heat exchange area, and a heat exchange area is provided near the lower end of the heat exchange area. A drum-type clothes dryer, wherein a cooling water drain passage for draining the cooled water is connected. A drum that is rotatably arranged inside the outer tub and into which clothes to be dried are put,
An air discharge port for discharging air to the drum,
An air outlet for discharging air from the drum,
An air passage connecting the air discharge port and the air discharge port, and having a vertical flow path extending in a vertical direction;
A blower that blows air in the air passage from an air discharge port toward an air discharge port,
A heater for heating the air blown by the blower,
Around the lowermost end of the air path is connected to the outer tank, and a drain flow path for draining drain water is connected near the lowermost end of the outer tank,
In addition, a heat exchange area is provided in the vertical flow path, a water supply flow path is connected to an upper end of the heat exchange area, and a heat exchange area is provided near the lower end of the heat exchange area. A drum-type clothes dryer, wherein a cooling water drain passage for draining the cooled water is connected. The drum-type clothes dryer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a trap is provided in the cooling water drain passage. The drain channel for washing is a washing drain pipe for flowing washing water, is joined to a cooling water drain channel, and is connected to a drain main pipe having an electromagnetic valve. 3. The clothes dryer of claim 3.

Images