JP2004358029A - Wash drier - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a wash drier in which while a heat pump is stabilized in safe conditions, shortening of drying time and energy saving are attained. <P>SOLUTION: A heat pump mechanism, an air conduit 40, an inlet port 51 which sucks the open air, and a draining section 37 are included, and in a drying process, air within the air conduit 40 is exhausted from the draining section 37. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a washer / dryer used in ordinary households.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The configuration and operation of the conventional example will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 illustrates a drum-type clothes dryer, in which a rotating drum 3 that rotates about a horizontal axis 2 as a center axis is disposed in a housing 1. A clothing input port 4 formed on the front surface of the rotary drum 3 is open on the front surface of the housing 1 and is opened and closed by a door 5.
[0003]
An air circulation path 7 including a drying chamber 6 set inside the rotating drum 3 is formed in the housing 1. The air circulation path 7 includes a drying chamber 6, a blowing chamber 8, a heat exchange chamber 9 and the like on the way, and the air in the drying chamber 6 flows from the rotating drum side exhaust port 10 on the back wall to the blowing chamber 8, and then heat The air is circulated again from the air supply port 11 provided in front of the drying chamber 6 through the exchange chamber 9 to the drying chamber 6.
[0004]
A fan 12 is arranged in the blower chamber 8, a heat absorber 13 is arranged in the heat exchange chamber 9 on the upstream side, and a radiator 14 is arranged in the downstream side. The heat absorber 13 and the heat radiator 14 constitute a heat pump including a compressor 15 and an expansion mechanism 16 such as a capillary tube. High-humidity air from the drying chamber 6 is cooled and dehumidified by the heat absorber 13 and thereafter. The air becomes dry air and reaches the radiator 14, where it is heated and becomes high-temperature air. Then, the high-temperature air is supplied from the air supply port 11 to the drying chamber 6 and is used for drying the clothes A therein. Reference numeral 17 denotes a motor whose rotation is transmitted to the rotating drum 3 and the fan 12 via belts 18 and 19.
[0005]
By the way, if the air in the air circulation path 7 is circulated as it is, the amount of heat of the whole air increases and the amount of heat of the refrigerant in the heat pump cycle increases, the pressure increases, and the compressor 15 is eventually overloaded. In order to avoid this, a part of the high-temperature air heated by the radiator 14 is discharged from the exhaust port 20 provided in the air circulation path 7 extending from the radiator 14 to the drying chamber 6 and out of the air circulation path 7. (See, for example, Patent Document 1).
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-7-178289
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described conventional configuration, a part of the high-temperature air heated by the radiator is exhausted from the exhaust port before contributing to drying of the clothes in the drying room, so that energy loss is caused for the purpose of drying the clothes. There was a problem of being big.
[0008]
The present invention is intended to solve such a problem of the conventional configuration, and has an object to stabilize a heat pump in a safe state, to shorten a drying time, and to save energy.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a heat pump device, an air supply path through which air is circulated in the order of the outer tank, the heat absorber, and the radiator; an air intake port that sucks outside air into the air supply path; And a drain section for draining the water, and in the drying step, the air in the ventilation path is discharged from the drain section.
[0010]
This makes it possible to stabilize the heat pump device in a safe state with a simple configuration without providing any special means for exhausting, and to shorten the drying time and save energy.
[0011]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention provides an outer tank supported in a housing, an inner tank supported in the outer tank, a radiator that radiates heat of the compressor and the compressed refrigerant, and a high-pressure refrigerant. A heat pump device, which is connected by a conduit so that the refrigerant circulates a throttling means for reducing the pressure and a heat absorber for removing the heat from the surroundings, and the outer tank, the heat absorber, and the radiator are circulated in this order. An air supply path, an air intake port for sucking outside air into the air supply path, and a drainage section for draining water in the outer tank, wherein in a drying process, air in the airflow path is discharged from the drainage section. After the high-temperature and low-humidity air heated by the radiator contributes to the drying of the clothes in the outer tub, the high-temperature and high-humidity air can be exhausted from the drainage section when it becomes high-temperature and high-humidity, and can be radiated. No need to provide special means for exhaust, simple Composed can stabilize the heat pump device in a safe condition, and can be shortened and energy saving of drying time. In addition, since high-temperature and high-humidity air is exhausted from the drainage section on the premise of getting wet with water, there is no problem even if dew condensation or the like occurs there.
[0012]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a drain valve is provided in the drain portion, and the drain valve is opened and closed in a drying step. It is not necessary to provide a special switching valve, and it is possible to switch the exhaust from the air passage at any timing with a simple configuration, and to adjust the heat radiation from the air passage so that the heat pump device is in the optimum state. Thus, drying time can be reduced and energy can be saved.
[0013]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, there are provided a drainage path for guiding drainage from the drainage part to the outside of the housing, and an exhaustion path for guiding exhaustion from the drainage part to the outside of the housing. There is a drain trap etc. at the end of the drainage path, and even if it is not possible to exhaust from the drainage path, it is possible to reliably exhaust from the exhaust path, so that the heat pump device can be stabilized in a safe state. it can.
[0014]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the invention, the exhaust path is configured such that an outlet thereof is located at a position higher than a water level of water in an outer tub stored in a washing process. Yes, water does not overflow from the exhaust path when water is stored in the outer tank or when drainage is performed by opening the drain valve.
[0015]
The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to claim 1, further comprising an outside air introduction port that takes in outside air from outside the housing, and an intake path that guides outside air from the outside air introduction port to the intake port, It is provided with an intake filter that prevents intrusion of dust into the outside air inlet, and can prevent dust from adhering to the heat absorber and radiator in the air passage and deteriorating heat exchange performance, and Since the dust accumulated in the intake filter can be easily cleaned, a sufficient amount of outside air is always sucked in, thereby exhausting sufficiently and releasing heat from the air passage sufficiently. It can be stabilized to a safe state.
[0016]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect of the present invention, the intake path is formed of a telescopic tube, the intake port is formed at a vibrating portion, and the outside air introduction port is provided at a stationary portion. Even if it is formed, the vibration can be absorbed by the tube, so that the intake port, the intake path and the outside air introduction port are not damaged by the vibration.
[0017]
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect of the present invention, the intake filter is configured to be detachable, and the user can remove the intake filter, so that dust accumulated on the intake filter can be easily cleaned. be able to.
[0018]
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the first to seventh aspects of the present invention, a check valve is provided at the intake port. Can be prevented from leaking.
[0019]
【Example】
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0020]
(Example 1)
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a cylindrical outer tank 33 elastically supported by a plurality of suspensions 32 is arranged in a housing 31. Inside the outer tub 33, a cylindrical inner tub 35 for accommodating clothes 34 is rotatably provided, and is rotated by a motor 36. The inner tub 35 has a plurality of dehydration holes 35 a communicating with the outer tub 33. The outer tub 33 functions as a washing room during a washing operation and as a drying room during a drying operation. A drainage section 37 is provided at a lower portion of the outer tub 33, and by opening and closing a drainage valve 38, it is configured to switch between storage and drainage of the washing water supplied into the outer tub 33.
[0021]
On the front surface of the housing 31, an opening 31a for taking in and out the clothes 34 and a door 39 for opening and closing the opening 31a are provided. An air passage 40 including an outer tub 33 is formed in the housing 31. The air passage 40 includes an outer tank 33, an outward duct 41, a heat exchange unit 42, a return duct 43, and the like in the middle. The air in the outer tank 33 flows from the outward duct 41 to the heat exchange section 42 by the blowing means 44 provided in the middle of the blowing path 40, and is then guided to the front of the outer tank 33 by the return duct 43. It is configured to recirculate from the port 45 to the outer tank 33 again.
[0022]
In the air passage 40, a heat absorber 46 is arranged on the upstream side of the heat exchange section 42, and a radiator 47 is arranged on the downstream side. The heat absorber 46 and the radiator 47 are a heat pump device together with a compressor 48 for compressing the refrigerant, a throttling means 49 for reducing the pressure of the high-pressure refrigerant, and a pipe 50 connecting these so that the refrigerant circulates. Make up.
[0023]
In the drying process, after removing moisture from the wet clothes 34 in the inner tank 35, the high-temperature and high-humidity air that has passed through the outer tank 33 and the outward duct 41 is cooled and dehumidified by absorbing heat in the heat absorber 46. Thereafter, the heat reaches the radiator 47 and is heated by the radiator 47 to produce a high-temperature low-humidity air. Then, the high-temperature and low-humidity air passes through the return duct 43 and is supplied from the air supply port 45 into the inner tank 35 to contribute to drying of the clothes 34 therein. Arrow B indicates the flow of air, and arrow C indicates the flow of the refrigerant circulating in the pipeline.
[0024]
By the way, the amount of heat by which the air is heated by the radiator 47 is substantially equal to the sum of the amount of power consumed by the compressor 48 and the amount of heat absorbed by the heat absorber 46 from the hot and humid air. Therefore, the radiator 47 obtains an output equal to or higher than the electric power input to the compressor 48 and can heat the air.
[0025]
However, when the air in the air passage 40 is circulated as it is, the amount of heat of the whole air continues to accumulate by the amount of power consumed by the compressor 48 minus the amount of heat naturally radiated. At the same time, the amount of heat of the refrigerant in the heat pump cycle continues to increase, and the temperature and pressure of the refrigerant increase excessively, and there is a possibility that the compressor 48 will be overloaded with time. In order to avoid this, an intake port 51 for sucking outside air into the air passage 40 is provided in the outward duct 41, and when the drain valve 38 is opened, outside air is sucked from the intake port 51 and the outside air is discharged from the drain portion 37. The high-temperature and high-humidity air after passing through the tank 33 is exhausted, and the heat can be radiated to the outside of the air passage 40.
[0026]
Although the intake port 51 is always open, there is no exhaust from the drain section 37 while the drain valve 38 is closed, so that no intake from the intake port 51 occurs. That is, by opening and closing the drain valve 38 in the drying step, the air passage 40 can be switched between the circulation path and the partially open path. Here, the drainage part 37 and the drainage valve 38 are essential mechanical parts in the washing function. However, since the drainage part 37 and the drainage valve 38 can be used also in the drying process, it is only necessary to provide the intake port 51 in the outward duct 41, It is not necessary to provide a special exhaust device or a special switching valve for the function.
[0027]
The operation of the above configuration will be described. In the washing process, the washing water is supplied into the outer tub 33 until a predetermined water level is reached, and by driving the motor 36, the clothes 34 and the inner tub 35 containing the washing water are rotated to wash the clothes 34. . At this time, the drain valve 38 is closed.
[0028]
After that, the clothes are rinsed in the same manner as in the washing step, and then, in the dehydration step, the drain valve 38 is opened to drain water from the drain section 37, and the inner tub 35 containing the clothes 34 is rotated at high speed. Due to the centrifugal force generated by this, the clothes 34 are pressed against the inner wall of the inner tub 35, and moisture is separated from the garments by this centrifugal force, flows out of the dewatering holes 35a to the outer tub 33, and is drained from the drain portion 37 to the outside. The dehydration step proceeds.
[0029]
In the drying step, by operating the compressor 48 of the heat pump device, the refrigerant is circulated in the order of the compressor 48, the radiator 47, the throttle means 49, and the heat absorber 46. Then, the blowing means 44 is driven to circulate the air in the blowing path 40. At the same time, by driving the motor 36, the inner tub 35 is rotated and the clothes 34 are stirred. As a result, the wet clothes 34 come into contact with the high-temperature and low-humidity air heated by the radiator 47 while being stirred, so that the moisture is deprived.
[0030]
The moist air after dewatering the clothes 34 in the inner tank 35 passes through the outer tank 33 through the dewatering hole 35a, reaches the heat absorber 46, and when passing through this, sensible heat and latent heat Is absorbed and cooled and dehumidified. The dehumidified air is heated again by the radiator 47. By repeating this, the drying of the clothes 34 in the inner tank 35 is advanced. At the beginning of the drying operation, the operation is performed with the drain valve 38 closed, and the amount of heat that is naturally radiated is subtracted from the amount of power consumed by the compressor 48, and the amount of heat is accumulated in the air passage 40, and the air temperature and the refrigerant temperature are reduced. Start up quickly.
[0031]
As shown in FIG. 4, when the refrigerant temperature reaches a predetermined temperature, the drain valve 38 is opened, the outside air is sucked from the intake port 51, and the hot and humid air after passing through the outer tank 33 is exhausted from the drain section 37. . In this way, the amount of heat radiation to the outside of the air passage 40 is increased, the refrigerant temperature is lowered, and the refrigerant temperature is prevented from rising excessively, thereby preventing the compressor 48 from being overloaded. When the refrigerant temperature falls to the predetermined temperature, the drain valve 38 is closed again, heat is accumulated in the air passage 40, and the air temperature and the refrigerant temperature are repeatedly increased. Open and close the drain valve so that
[0032]
Thus, the heat pump device can be operated so as to be in an optimum state, without the air temperature and the refrigerant temperature becoming too low and the drying time being prolonged, and preventing the refrigerant temperature from excessively rising. In order to avoid this, it is not necessary to operate the compressor 48 intermittently or to operate with reduced compression capacity, so that the drying time is not increased, so that the drying time can be shortened and energy can be saved.
[0033]
Further, since the air temperature can be quickly raised, the drying time can be shortened and energy can be saved. Further, since the high-temperature, high-humidity air after contributing to drying of the clothes 34 is exhausted from the drainage section 37, energy loss is reduced for the purpose of drying the clothes 34 as compared with the case where the air is exhausted before contributing to drying. In addition, drying time can be reduced and energy can be saved. Here, since high-temperature and high-humidity air is exhausted from the drainage section 37, dew condensation may occur. However, since the drainage section 37 and the drainage valve 38 are mechanical parts required for washing and draining, they may be wet. It is designed on the assumption that there is no problem.
[0034]
As described above, a heat pump device, an outer tank, a heat absorber, an air supply path through which air circulates in the order of the radiator, and an intake port that suctions outside air formed in an air supply path from the outer tank to the radiator, A drain section for draining water in the outer tub in the washing step, and in the drying step, discharging the air in the air passage from the drain section, so that the high-temperature and low-humidity air heated by the radiator is supplied to the outer tub. After contributing to the drying of the clothes inside, it can be exhausted from the drainage section and radiated heat when it becomes hot and humid air, so there is no need to provide special means for exhausting, and with a simple configuration The heat pump device can be stabilized in a safe state, and the drying time can be reduced and energy can be saved. In addition, since high-temperature and high-humidity air is exhausted from a drain port on the premise that it is wet with water, there is no problem even if dew condensation occurs there.
[0035]
Also, since the drain valve is configured to be opened and closed in the drying process, there is no need to newly provide a special switching valve in addition to the drain valve that switches the ventilation path between the circulation path and the partially open path, and the configuration is simple. Air can be exhausted from the air passage at any time or exhaust can be stopped, heat radiation from the air passage can be adjusted so that the heat pump device is in an optimal state, and drying time is reduced and energy is saved. Can be.
[0036]
In this embodiment, the intake port 48 is formed in the outward duct 41 from the outer tub 33 to the heat absorber 46, but is not limited to this. The same effect can be obtained no matter where it is formed in the middle of the air passage 40.
[0037]
(Example 2)
The configuration characterized in FIG. 5 is that the drainage path 52 that guides the drainage from the drainage part 37 generated in the washing process to the outside of the housing 31 and the exhaust from the drainage part 37 generated in the drying process is guided to the outside of the housing 31. That is, the exhaust path 53 is provided. The outlet of the exhaust gas guided from the exhaust path 53 to the outside of the housing 31 is configured to be at a position higher than the maximum water level line 58 of the water stored in the outer tub 33 in the washing process. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.
[0038]
With the above configuration, a drain trap or the like is provided at the end of the drain path 52, and even if the drain cannot be exhausted from the drain path 52, the exhaust can be reliably exhausted from the exhaust path 53. Therefore, the heat pump device can be stabilized in a safe state. Can be. Further, when the drain valve 38 is opened to drain the water, the head of the water is caught in the exhaust path 53, so that the water does not overflow from the exhaust outlet of the exhaust path 53.
[0039]
In FIG. 5 illustrating the present embodiment, the drain valve 38 is provided in front of the exhaust path 53, and if the drain valve 38 is closed when water is stored in the outer tank 33, the exhaust path 53 is closed. Although the configuration is such that water does not enter the inside, the present invention is not limited to this, and the same effect can be obtained even if the configuration is such that water accumulates in the exhaust path 53.
[0040]
(Example 3)
6 is provided with an outside air inlet 54 that takes in outside air from outside the housing 31 in front of the housing 31 and is configured by a telescopic tube that guides outside air from the outside air introduction port 54 to the air inlet 51. And a removable intake filter 56 is provided at the outside air inlet 54. The intake filter 56 is for preventing dust in the outside air from entering from the outside air introduction port 54, passing through the intake path 55, and attaching the dust to the heat absorber 46 and the radiator 47 in the air passage 40. This has an effect of preventing the heat exchange performance of the heat absorber 46 and the radiator 47 from being deteriorated. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.
[0041]
During dehydration, the outer tub 33 undergoes dehydration vibration, and the suction port 51 fixed to the outer tub 33 also vibrates in synchronism therewith. At this time, since the outside air introduction port 54 is formed in the housing 31, it is in a stationary state. However, the intake path 55 connecting the intake port 51 and the outside air introduction port 54 has flexibility and expands and contracts. With this configuration, vibration can be absorbed, and the intake port 51, the intake path 55, and the outside air introduction port 54 are not damaged. Since the intake filter 56 is detachably provided in the outside air inlet 54 provided in front of the housing 31 near the user's standing position, the user can easily remove the intake filter 56 and remove accumulated dust. Can be easily cleaned.
[0042]
As described above, an external air inlet that takes in external air from outside the housing, an air intake path that guides external air from the external air inlet to the air inlet, and an air intake filter that prevents dust from entering the external air inlet are provided. As a result, it is possible to prevent dust from adhering to the heat absorber and radiator in the air passage, thereby preventing heat exchange performance from deteriorating, and to easily remove dust accumulated on the intake filter. A sufficient amount of outside air is sucked in, whereby exhaust is sufficiently performed, heat can be sufficiently released from the air passage, and the heat pump device can be stabilized in a safe state.
[0043]
In addition, since the intake path is formed of a telescopic tube, the intake port is formed at a location where the intake port vibrates, and even if the outside air introduction port is formed at a stationary location, the vibration can be absorbed by the tube. In addition, the intake path and the outside air inlet are not damaged by vibration.
[0044]
Further, since the intake filter is detachable, the user can remove the intake filter, so that dust accumulated on the intake filter can be easily cleaned.
[0045]
(Example 4)
A characteristic feature in FIG. 7 is that a check valve 57 is provided in the intake port 51. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.
[0046]
Accordingly, even when it is desired to increase the air temperature and the refrigerant temperature by accumulating heat in the air passage 40 and increasing the air temperature and the refrigerant temperature in a state where the drain valve 38 is closed, the air passage 40 is used as a circulation path. It is possible to prevent air from being generated from a location where the air does not leak from the intake port 51 and the air in the air passage 40.
[0047]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, after the high-temperature and low-humidity air heated by the radiator contributes to drying of the clothes in the outer tub, the air can be exhausted from the drainage portion and radiated when the high-temperature and high-humidity air becomes the high-temperature and high-humidity air. Therefore, the heat pump device can be stabilized in a safe state with a simple configuration, and the drying time can be reduced and energy can be saved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a washing and drying machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a main part of the washing and drying machine; FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a drying cycle of the washing and drying machine; FIG. 4 is a time chart showing a control state of a drain valve of the washing and drying machine. FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a main part of a washing and drying machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a washing and drying machine according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a partial cutaway rear perspective view of FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a washing / drying machine according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional clothes dryer.
31 Housing 33 Outer tub 35 Inner tub 37 Drainage part 38 Drainage valve 40 Ventilation path 46 Heat sink 47 Radiator 48 Compressor 49 Throttling means 50 Pipe line 51 Inlet port 52 Drain path 53 Exhaust path 54 External air inlet 55 Inlet path 56 Intake filter 57 Check valve

Claims (8)

An outer tank supported in the housing; an inner tank supported in the outer tank; a radiator for radiating heat of the compressor and the compressed refrigerant; A heat pump device in which a refrigerant is circulated to a heat absorber that takes heat from the heat pump device, an air circulating passage in which air circulates in the order of the outer tank, the heat absorber, and the radiator, and sucks outside air into the air blast passage. A washing / drying machine comprising: an intake port; and a drainage unit configured to drain water in the outer tub, and configured to discharge air in an air passage from the drainage unit in a drying process. The washing / drying machine according to claim 1, wherein a drain valve is provided in the drain unit, and the drain valve is opened and closed in a drying step. The washing / drying machine according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: a drain path for guiding drain water from the drain section to the outside of the housing; and an exhaust path for guiding exhaust air from the drain section to the outside of the housing. The washing / drying machine according to claim 3, wherein the exhaust path is configured such that an outlet thereof is located at a position higher than a water level of water in an outer tub stored in a washing process. 5. The air intake system according to claim 1, further comprising an outside air inlet for taking in outside air from outside the housing, and an air intake path for guiding outside air from the outside air inlet to the air inlet, wherein an air intake filter for preventing dust from entering the outside air inlet is provided. The washing / drying machine according to any one of the preceding claims. The washing / drying machine according to claim 5, wherein the suction path is constituted by a telescopic tube. The washing and drying machine according to claim 5, wherein the suction filter is detachably configured. The washer / dryer according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a check valve is provided at the intake port.

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