JP2005118092A - Clothes drying apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a clothes drying apparatus capable of detecting air volume decline in the case of adopting a heat pump device including a compressor as a heat source. <P>SOLUTION: The clothes drying apparatus comprises: the heat pump device 8 including the compressor 9, a heat radiator 10 and a heat sink 12; an air path 15 for guiding drying air from the heat radiator 10 through a drying cabinet 16 to the heat sink 12; a blower 14 for sending the drying air to the air path 15; an air supply temperature detection means 17 for the drying air before supplying heat to clothes; a control means 18 for controlling the temperature of the drying air by controlling the number of rotation of the compressor 9; a storage means 19 storing the number of rotation of the compressor for maintaining the drying air at a prescribed temperature in prescribed air volume; and an air volume decline detection means 20 for comparing the number of rotation in the control means 18 and the number of rotation in the storage means 19 and judging the air volume decline. Thus, the air volume decline is detected. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a clothes drying apparatus for home use or business use.

Conventionally, this type of clothing drying apparatus uses a heating element as a heat source, and determines that the lint filter is clogged based on a change in current flowing through the heating element (see, for example, Patent Document 1). FIG. 8 shows a conventional clothes drying apparatus described in the above document. In FIG. 8, a heating element 1 for self-temperature control as a heat source, a rotating drum 2 for rotating and stirring clothes, a fan 3 for introducing hot air into the rotating drum by the heating element, and a lint provided in a ventilation path The filter 4 and the current detection means 5 for detecting the current flowing through the heating element are provided, and the current before the current value detected by the detection means is stabilized after the energization of the heating element is started by the start of operation. The rate of change of the value is calculated, the current rate of change is compared with the judgment reference set value to detect a decrease in the air volume, and the clogging state detection means 6 for detecting the clogging state of the lint filter detects the lint filter. When clogging is determined and a clogged state of the lint filter is detected, the clogged state is informed by the clogging state informing means 7 for notifying the state.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-79910

  However, the conventional configuration is effective when the heating element 1 having a proportional relationship between the heat generation amount and the flowing current amount is used as the heat source, but is compressed when a heat pump device including a compressor is used as the heat source. Since the amount of input current to the machine changes depending on the temperature and humidity of the atmosphere, the amount of heat generation and the amount of input current are not in a proportional relationship, and even if the amount of change in current is detected using the current detection means 5, the air volume is not lowered. It cannot be detected.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a clothing drying apparatus that can detect a decrease in air flow even when a heat pump device including a compressor is employed as a heat source.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, the clothes drying apparatus of the present invention is again provided with a heat pump apparatus including a compressor, and a drying air from a drying chamber in which clothes are put through a heat absorber and a radiator in the heat pump apparatus. An air passage leading to the heat absorber, a blower for sending drying air to the air passage, a supply air temperature detecting means for drying air before supplying heat to the clothing after passing through the radiator, and a compressor Control means for controlling the temperature of the drying air by varying the amount of heat in the radiator or the heat absorber by controlling the number of rotations to increase or decrease the amount of refrigerant circulation, and the drying air at a predetermined temperature with a predetermined temperature The storage means for storing the rotational speed of the compressor for maintaining the speed of the compressor, and the control means and the speed of the storage means are compared with each other to compare the rotational speed of the control means and the control rotational speed is lower than the rotational speed of the storage means. Airflow drop detection means for determining that the airflow has dropped It is obtained by a configuration having.

  This makes it possible to detect a decrease in air volume even when a heat pump device including a compressor is employed as a heat source.

  The clothes drying apparatus of the present invention can detect a decrease in air volume even when a heat pump apparatus including a compressor is employed as a heat source.

  The first invention includes a compressor, a radiator that dissipates heat of the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant after compression, a throttle means for reducing the pressure of the high-pressure refrigerant, and the reduced-pressure and low-pressure refrigerant generates heat from the surroundings. A heat pump device connected by a pipe line so that the refrigerant circulates the heat absorber to be taken away, and an air path that guides drying air from the drying chamber containing the clothing through the heat absorber and the radiator to the heat absorber again, A blower for sending drying air to the air passage is provided, and a supply air temperature detecting means for drying air before supplying heat to the clothing after passing through the radiator, and a refrigerant circulation amount by controlling the rotation speed of the compressor The control means for controlling the temperature of the drying air by varying the amount of heat in the radiator or the heat absorber by increasing or decreasing the value, and the rotation of the compressor for maintaining the drying air at a predetermined temperature with a predetermined air volume Storage means for storing the number, and the rotational speed of the control means; The air flow rate drop detecting means for comparing the rotation speed of the storage means and determining that the air volume has decreased when the control rotation speed is lower than the rotation speed of the storage means. Therefore, it is possible to detect a decrease in the air flow even when a heat pump device including a compressor is employed as a heat source.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, a compressor, a radiator that dissipates heat of the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant after compression, a throttle means for reducing the pressure of the high-pressure refrigerant, and the decompressed and low-pressure refrigerant generate heat from the surroundings. A heat pump device connected by a pipe line so that the refrigerant circulates the heat absorber to be taken away, and an air path that guides drying air from the drying chamber containing the clothing through the heat absorber and the radiator to the heat absorber again, Provided with a blower for sending drying air to the air passage, refrigerant temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the refrigerant, and the temperature of the refrigerant flowing through the radiator by controlling the number of revolutions of the compressor to increase or decrease the amount of refrigerant circulation Control means for controlling the engine, storage means for storing the rotation speed of the compressor for maintaining the refrigerant at a predetermined temperature with a predetermined air flow, and control by comparing the rotation speed of the control means with the rotation speed of the storage means The rotational speed is lower than the rotational speed of the storage means The air flow rate drop detecting means for determining that the air flow has decreased, the speed of the control means and the speed of the storage means are compared to determine the air flow state, and the compressor is included as a heat source. Even when the heat pump device is employed, a decrease in air volume can be detected.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, a compressor, a radiator that dissipates the heat of the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant after compression, a throttle means for reducing the pressure of the high-pressure refrigerant, and the decompressed and low-pressure refrigerant generate heat from the surroundings. A heat pump device connected by a pipe line so that the refrigerant circulates the heat absorber to be taken away, and an air path that guides drying air from the drying chamber containing the clothing through the heat absorber and the radiator to the heat absorber again, By providing a blower for sending drying air to the air passage, and by detecting the temperature of the refrigerant discharged from the compressor, discharge refrigerant temperature detection means, and controlling the number of rotations of the compressor to increase or decrease the refrigerant circulation amount Control means for controlling the temperature of the refrigerant discharged from the compressor; storage means for storing the rotation speed of the compressor for maintaining the refrigerant discharge temperature at a predetermined value at a predetermined air volume; and the rotation speed of the control means. The rotational speed of the storage means is compared and controlled. By having an air volume reduction detecting means for determining that the air volume has decreased when the rotational speed is lower than the rotational speed of the storage means, the rotational speed of the control means and the rotational speed of the storage means are compared to determine the state of the air volume. Therefore, even when a heat pump device including a compressor is employed as a heat source, a decrease in air volume can be detected.

  In the fourth aspect of the invention, in particular, in the case of any one of the first to third aspects of the invention, when the air volume reduction is detected by the air volume reduction detecting means, the air volume reduction notifying means for notifying the user of the air volume reduction is provided. It is possible to notify the user of the decrease, and it is possible to prompt inspection of the air passage including cleaning of the lint filter.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the present embodiment.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 shows a configuration diagram of a clothes drying apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a heat pump device 8 includes a compressor 9, a radiator 10 that radiates heat of the compressed high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant, a throttle means 11 for reducing the pressure of the high-pressure refrigerant, and a refrigerant that has been decompressed to a low pressure. Consists of a heat absorber 12 that takes heat away from the surroundings and a pipe line 13 that is arranged so that the refrigerant circulates. The blower 14 lowers the temperature of the drying air that circulates through the air path 15 to take moisture away and heat it again. Feed into the drying cabinet 16. The lint filter 4 is provided between the drying chamber 16 and the air passage 15 and captures dust in the drying air.

  The supply air temperature detecting means 17 is installed between the radiator 10 in the air passage 15 and the drying cabinet 16, and detects the temperature of the drying air before supplying heat to the clothes. The control means 1 controls the temperature of the drying air by varying the amount of heat of the radiator 10 and the heat absorber 12 by controlling the number of revolutions of the compressor 9 to increase or decrease the refrigerant circulation amount.

  The storage means 19 stores the number of rotations of the compressor for maintaining the drying air at a predetermined temperature with a predetermined air volume. The air flow rate drop detection means 20 compares the rotation speed of the control means 18 with the rotation speed of the storage means 19, and the air flow rate is lowered when the control rotation speed is lower than the rotation speed of the storage means so that the supply air temperature does not rise. It is determined that the rotation speed of the compressor is controlled.

  About the clothing drying apparatus comprised as mentioned above, the operation | movement and an effect | action are demonstrated below. When the drying operation is started by pressing an operation start button (not shown), the drying air heated by the radiator 10 is supplied to the drying cabinet 16 via the air passage 15 by the blower 14. The drying air supplied to the rotating drum 2 absorbs moisture from the clothing, passes through the lint filter 4, returns to the air passage 15, releases heat and moisture at the heat absorber 12, and again at the radiator 10. Heated and supplied to the drying cabinet 16.

  The temperature of the drying air is initially the same as the outside air temperature, but is gradually heated as the drying operation proceeds, and is controlled by the control unit 18 so that the temperature detected by the supply air temperature detection unit 17 becomes constant.

  FIG. 2 is a graph showing the correlation between the supply air temperature and the compressor speed at a predetermined air volume. This value is stored in the storage means 19, and the air flow rate drop detection means 20 takes in the supply air temperature detected by the supply air temperature detection means 17 at a certain interval and the rotation speed of the compressor by the control means 18. Compared with the rotational speed of the compressor in the storage means 19 at the supply air temperature, when the control rotational speed is lower than the rotational speed of the storage means 19, the rotation of the compressor is prevented so that the supply air temperature does not rise because the air volume has decreased. Judge that the number is controlled.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the rotation speed of the control means 18 and the rotation speed of the storage means 19 are compared, and the air flow is reduced when the control rotation speed is lower than the rotation speed of the storage means 19. By having the air volume drop detecting means 20 for judging that the rotation speed of the compressor 9 is controlled so that the air temperature does not rise, the rotation speed of the control means and the rotation speed of the storage means are compared to reduce the air volume. Therefore, even when a heat pump device including a compressor is employed as a heat source, a decrease in air volume can be detected.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 3 shows a configuration diagram of a clothes drying apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Portions common to the first embodiment are given the same numbers, and detailed description thereof is omitted. The refrigerant temperature detection means 21 detects the temperature of the refrigerant in the vicinity of the radiator 10. Since the temperature of the refrigerant in the vicinity of the radiator 10 has a high correlation with the supply air temperature, the supply air temperature can be controlled by controlling the refrigerant temperature. The control means 18 is configured to control the temperature of the refrigerant flowing through the radiator 10 by increasing or decreasing the refrigerant circulation amount by controlling the rotation speed of the compressor.

  About the clothing drying apparatus comprised as mentioned above, the operation | movement and an effect | action are demonstrated below. The operation is the same as in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 4 is a graph showing the correlation between the refrigerant temperature and the compressor speed at a predetermined air volume. This value is stored in the storage means 19, and the refrigerant temperature detected by the refrigerant temperature detection means 21 at a certain interval in the air volume drop detection means 20 and the rotation speed of the compressor by the control means 18 are taken in, and the refrigerant temperature When the control rotational speed is lower than the rotational speed of the storage means 19 as compared with the rotational speed of the compressor in the storage means 19, the rotational speed of the compressor is controlled so that the refrigerant temperature does not rise because the air volume has decreased. Judge that

  In the present embodiment, the refrigerant temperature detecting means 21 is used. However, since the refrigerant pressure in the pipe 13 passing through the radiator 10 has a correlation with the refrigerant temperature, the refrigerant pressure detecting means may be used. Similar effects can be obtained.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the rotational speed of the control means 18 and the rotational speed of the storage means 19 are compared, and the air volume is reduced when the control rotational speed is lower than the rotational speed of the storage means 19. Air flow rate reduction detecting means 20 for determining that the rotational speed of the compressor 9 is controlled so that the temperature of the compressor 9 does not rise, the rotational speed of the control means and the rotational speed of the storage means are compared to reduce the air volume. Therefore, even when a heat pump device including a compressor is employed as a heat source, a decrease in air volume can be detected.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of a clothes drying apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Portions common to the first or second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The discharged refrigerant temperature detecting means 22 detects the temperature of the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 9. Although the discharge refrigerant temperature has a correlation with the supply air temperature and the atmospheric temperature of the compressor 9, the atmospheric temperature does not change greatly in a normal use state. Therefore, the supply air temperature can be controlled by controlling the discharge refrigerant temperature. Is possible. The control means 18 is configured to control the temperature of the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 9 by controlling the rotational speed of the compressor 9 to increase or decrease the refrigerant circulation amount.

  About the clothing drying apparatus comprised as mentioned above, the operation | movement and an effect | action are demonstrated below. FIG. 6 is a graph showing the correlation between the discharged refrigerant temperature and the compressor rotational speed at a predetermined air volume. This value is stored in the storage means 19, and the air flow rate drop detection means 20 takes in the refrigerant temperature detected by the discharged refrigerant temperature detection means 22 at a certain interval and the rotation speed of the compressor by the control means 18. Compared with the rotational speed of the compressor in the storage means 19 at the temperature, when the control rotational speed is lower than the rotational speed of the storage means 19, the rotational speed of the compressor is controlled so that the refrigerant temperature does not rise because the air volume has decreased. Judge that it has been.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the rotational speed of the control means 18 and the rotational speed of the storage means 19 are compared, and the air volume decreases when the control rotational speed is lower than the rotational speed of the storage means 19. By having the air flow rate drop detecting means 20 that judges that the rotational speed of the compressor 9 is controlled so that the temperature of the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 9 does not rise, the rotational speed of the control means and the rotation of the storage means The reduction of the air volume is determined by comparing the numbers, and it is possible to detect the reduction of the air volume even when a heat pump device including a compressor is employed as the heat source.

(Embodiment 4)
FIG. 7 shows a block diagram of a clothes drying apparatus in the fourth embodiment of the present invention. Portions common to any of the first to third embodiments are assigned the same numbers, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  When the air volume drop detecting means 20 detects the air volume drop, the air volume drop notifying means 23 notifies the user that the air volume has dropped.

  About the clothing drying apparatus comprised as mentioned above, the operation | movement and an effect | action are demonstrated below. When any of the first to third embodiments detects that the air flow rate reduction means 20 has detected a decrease in the air flow rate, the control means 18 temporarily stops its operation and the air volume reduction notification means 23 emits a warning sound to the user. Notify that the air volume has decreased. When the user opens the door 24, the warning sound is stopped, and when the door 24 is closed and the operation start button is pressed, the operation is started again.

  In the present embodiment, the warning sound is generated by the air flow reduction notification means, but the notification may be made by vibration, screen display, lamp lighting or flashing.

  In addition, in this embodiment, it is reported that the air volume has been reduced, but specific causes of the air volume estimated from the structure, for example, items such as clogging of the lint filter and abnormalities in the blower are displayed by voice or screen display. You may notify.

  In addition, the operation is temporarily stopped when a decrease in the air flow is detected, but if it is determined that the operation can be safely performed by reducing the rotation speed of the compressor according to the degree of the air flow decrease, the drying operation is completed. You may notify a user.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, when the air volume reduction detecting means 20 detects the air volume reduction, the air volume reduction informing means for notifying the user that the air volume has been reduced is provided to the user. It is possible to notify the user and prompt the inspection of the air passage including the cleaning of the lint filter.

  As described above, the clothes drying apparatus according to the present invention can detect a decrease in air flow even when a heat pump apparatus including a compressor is employed as a heat source. It can also be applied to uses such as body-type washing and drying machines and drum-type washing and drying machines.

Configuration diagram of clothing drying apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention A graph showing the correlation between the supply air temperature and the compressor speed at a given air volume The block diagram of the clothing drying apparatus in Embodiment 2 of this invention Graph showing the correlation between the refrigerant temperature and the compressor speed at a given air volume The block diagram of the clothing drying apparatus in Embodiment 3 of this invention Graph showing the correlation between the refrigerant temperature discharged and the compressor speed at a given air volume The block diagram of the clothing drying apparatus in Embodiment 4 of this invention Configuration diagram of conventional clothing drying equipment

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 8 Heat pump apparatus 9 Compressor 10 Radiator 11 Restriction means 12 Heat absorber 13 Pipe line 14 Blower 15 Air path 16 Drying chamber 17 Supply air temperature detection means 18 Control means 19 Storage means 20 Air volume fall detection means 21 Refrigerant temperature detection means 22 Discharge Refrigerant temperature detection means 23 Air volume drop notification means

Claims (4)

A compressor, a radiator that dissipates the heat of the compressed high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant, a throttling means for reducing the pressure of the high-pressure refrigerant, and a heat absorber that takes the heat from the surroundings when the decompressed and low-pressure refrigerant takes the refrigerant. A heat pump device connected by a pipe line so as to circulate, an air path for leading the drying air from the drying cabinet containing the clothing through the heat absorber and the heat radiator to the heat absorber, and for drying to the air path By providing a blower for sending air, supplying air temperature detecting means for drying air before supplying heat to the clothing after passing through the radiator, and controlling the number of rotations of the compressor to increase or decrease the refrigerant circulation amount Control means for controlling the temperature of the drying air by varying the amount of heat in the radiator or the heat absorber, and storage means for storing the rotational speed of the compressor for maintaining the drying air at a predetermined temperature with a predetermined air volume And the rotational speed of the control means and the storage means Clothes drying apparatus controlling rotational speed by comparing the rolling speed is the air volume is lower than the rotational speed of the storage means having a flow rate decrease detecting means for determining the decreased. A compressor, a radiator that dissipates the heat of the compressed high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant, a throttling means for reducing the pressure of the high-pressure refrigerant, and a heat absorber that takes the heat from the surroundings when the decompressed and low-pressure refrigerant takes the refrigerant. A heat pump device connected by a pipe line so as to circulate, an air path for leading the drying air from the drying cabinet containing the clothing through the heat absorber and the heat radiator to the heat absorber, and for drying to the air path A refrigerant temperature detection means for providing a blower for sending air and detecting the temperature of the refrigerant; and a control means for controlling the temperature of the refrigerant flowing through the radiator by controlling the number of rotations of the compressor to increase or decrease the refrigerant circulation amount; The storage means for storing the rotation speed of the compressor for maintaining the refrigerant at a predetermined temperature with a predetermined air volume, and the control rotation speed of the storage means by comparing the rotation speed of the control means and the rotation speed of the storage means. Low air flow when the speed is lower Cloth dryer having a flow rate decrease detecting means for determining that the. A compressor, a radiator that dissipates the heat of the compressed high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant, a throttling means for reducing the pressure of the high-pressure refrigerant, and a heat absorber that takes the heat from the surroundings when the decompressed and low-pressure refrigerant takes the refrigerant. A heat pump device connected by a pipe line so as to circulate, an air path for leading the drying air from the drying cabinet containing the clothing through the heat absorber and the heat radiator to the heat absorber, and for drying to the air path A blower for sending air is provided, discharge refrigerant temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of refrigerant discharged from the compressor, and discharge from the compressor by controlling the number of revolutions of the compressor to increase or decrease the amount of refrigerant circulation Control means for controlling the temperature of the refrigerant, storage means for storing the rotation speed of the compressor for maintaining the refrigerant discharge temperature at a predetermined value at a predetermined air volume, the rotation speed of the control means, and the rotation speed of the storage means Control rotation speed is memorized Clothes drying device having to be lower than the rotational speed of the stage and the air flow decrease detection means for determining the air flow rate is decreased. The clothing drying apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising an air volume reduction notifying unit that notifies the user of the air volume reduction when the air volume reduction detecting unit detects the air volume reduction.

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