JP2014113185A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a washing machine capable of improving washing performance and rinsing performance by supplying warm water generated efficiently by a heat pump device into a water tub without adversely affecting a temperature environment of a room.SOLUTION: The washing machine includes: a water tub supported in a body; a rotary tub rotatably provided in the water tub; a heat pump device in which a compressor, a heat sink, a pressure reducing means, and a radiator are connected by a duct which a refrigerant passes through; a cold water generation means for generating cold water by exchanging heat between tap water and the heat sink; and a warm water supply means for supplying warm water generated by exchanging heat between tap water and the radiator to the water tub.

Description

  The present invention relates to a washing machine having a hot water generating function by a heat pump device.

  Some conventional washing machines heat water at the time of washing with a heat pump device (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 4 is a simplified diagram of a longitudinal section of a conventional washing machine. A water tank 3 is supported in the main body 1, and a rotating tank 5 is rotatably provided in the water tank 3. Further, in the main body 1, a heat pump device 17 in which a compressor 12, a heat absorber 15, a decompression unit 14, and a radiator 13 are connected by a pipe line 16 through which a refrigerant passes, and air in the rotating tub 5 is transferred from the heat absorber 15 to the radiator. 13 is provided with a circulation air passage 18 that is circulated to the rotary tank 5. The circulation air passage 18 is provided with a blowing means 19 for blowing the drying air. The radiator 13 is configured in the water tank 3, and an intake air passage 20 that communicates with the outside air is provided upstream of the heat absorber 15 in the circulation air passage 18, and an exhaust air passage 21 that communicates with the outside air is disposed downstream of the heat absorber 15. Is provided.

  As a result, when drying, the air passing through the circulation air passage 18 is dehumidified by the heat absorber 15, further heated by the heat radiator 13, and applied to the clothes in the rotating tub 5 to evaporate moisture of the clothes and perform drying. it can. At this time, the heat pump device 17 takes away the heat of condensation when the moisture in the air is condensed in the heat absorber 15, gives heat to the air dried in the radiator 13, greatly reduces the relative humidity of the air, and the air Since it is applied to clothing, it is not necessary to raise the temperature of the drying air to be higher than necessary, and drying can be performed with energy efficiency.

  Further, at the time of washing and rinsing, the heat of the air is taken by the heat absorber 15 from the air introduced from the intake air passage 20 by the heat pump device 17, and the heat is transferred to the radiator 13 to heat the washing water and the rinsing water. Accordingly, it is possible to generate hot water with energy saving rather than heating with a heater, and it is possible to improve the cleaning performance and the rinsing performance.

Japanese Patent No. 4631740

  However, in the conventional washing machine in Patent Document 1, when warm water is generated when washing is too easy, the heat absorber absorbs heat from the outside air sucked from the intake air passage, and the cool air after the heat absorption is transferred from the exhaust air passage to the outside air. However, there was a problem that the temperature of the room where the washing machine was installed continued to decrease.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and improves the cleaning performance and rinsing performance by efficiently generating hot water with a heat pump device and supplying it into the water tank without adversely affecting the temperature environment of the room. The purpose is to provide a washing machine.

In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, a washing machine of the present invention includes a water tub supported in a main body, a rotating tub rotatably provided in the water tub, a compressor, a heat absorber, a pressure reducing means, and heat dissipation. Heat pump device connected by a pipe line through which the refrigerant passes, cold water generating means for generating cold water by exchanging tap water with the heat absorber, and supplying hot water generated by exchanging tap water with a radiator to the water tank Having hot water supply means. Thereby, at the time of washing and rinsing, the heat absorber of the heat pump device can take heat from the tap water, carry the heat to the radiator, and heat the tap water supplied separately. As a result, warm water can be generated with less energy than heating with a heater without adversely affecting the temperature environment of the room. Can be increased.

  The washing machine of the present invention absorbs heat from tap water without adversely affecting the temperature environment of the room, efficiently generates warm water with a heat pump device, and supplies it into the aquarium, thereby performing washing operation with excellent energy saving performance. It can be carried out.

Simplified longitudinal cross-sectional view of the washing machine in the first embodiment of the present invention Simplified longitudinal cross-sectional view of the washing machine in the first embodiment of the present invention Simplified view of longitudinal section during washing process of washing machine in embodiment 2 of the present invention Simplified longitudinal section of a conventional washing machine

  1st invention is the heat pump which connected the water tank supported in the main body, the rotation tank rotatably provided in the said water tank, the compressor, the heat absorber, the pressure reduction means, and the heat radiator by the pipe line which a refrigerant | coolant passes. A cold water generating means for exchanging heat between the tap water and the heat absorber to generate cold water; and a hot water supply means for supplying hot water generated by exchanging heat between the tap water and the radiator to the water tank. At times, the heat sink of the heat pump device can remove heat from the tap water, carry the heat to the radiator, and heat the separately supplied tap water. Thereby, since hot water can be efficiently generated using the heat of tap water without adversely affecting the temperature environment of the room, a washing operation excellent in energy saving can be performed.

  In addition to the first invention, the second invention has cold water supply means for supplying cold water generated by exchanging heat with tap heat to the water tank in addition to the first invention. Since the cold water is not thrown away as it is, it can be supplied to the water tank and used when washing is too easy, so that a washing operation with excellent water saving can be performed.

  According to a third invention, the cold water supply means of the second invention has a cold water tank for storing cold water after heat exchange with the heat absorber and a cold water supply means for guiding the cold water from the cold water tank to the water tank, When washing, hot water after heat exchange with the radiator is supplied into the water tank, washing the laundry in the rotating tub with improved washing performance, and cold water after heat exchange with the heat absorber is stored in the cold water tank. In addition, by supplying cold water stored at the time of rinsing into the water tub and rinsing the laundry in the rotating tub, it is possible to perform a washing operation with excellent water saving while improving the cleaning performance.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the hot water supply means of the second invention has a hot water tank for storing hot water after heat exchange with the radiator and a hot water supply means for guiding the hot water from the hot water tank to the water tank. When washing, supply cold water after heat exchange with the heat absorber to the water tank to wash the laundry in the rotating tub, and store the hot water after heat exchange with the radiator in the hot water tank and store hot water at the time of rinsing. By supplying warm water in the water tank and rinsing the laundry in the rotating tub in a state where the rinsing performance is improved, it is possible to perform a washing operation excellent in water saving while improving the rinsing performance.

(Embodiment 1)
1 and 2 are simplified views of a longitudinal section of the washing machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, a cylindrical water tank 3 supported by a plurality of elastic bodies 2 is provided inside a main body 1 of the washing machine to absorb vibrations during washing and dehydration. Inside the water tank 3, a cylindrical rotating tank 5 that houses clothes 4 to be washed or dried is configured to be rotated by a drive motor 6, and a plurality of small holes 5 a are formed on the peripheral wall of the rotating tank 5. Is provided. On the front surface of the main body 1 is provided a door 7 for taking clothes 4 in and out. Openings 3 a and 5 b are provided on the front side of the water tank 3 and the rotating tank 5, and the opening 3 a of the water tank 3 is watertightly connected to the door 7 by a bellows 8. A drainage port 9 for discharging washing water is provided at the bottom of the water tank 3, and is connected to a drainage hose 11 via a drainage valve 10, and a leading end of the drainage hose 11 is led out of the main body 1.

  Further, in the main body 1, a compressor (not shown) that compresses the refrigerant, a radiator 13 that dissipates the heat of condensation of the compressed refrigerant, and a decompression unit (see FIG. 5) for reducing the pressure of the high-pressure refrigerant. (Not shown) and a heat pump device that connects a refrigerant (reduced pressure) and a heat absorber 15 that draws heat from the surroundings with a pipe (not shown) so that the refrigerant circulates.

  Further, the water comes out from the small hole 5 a of the rotating tank 5 and the exhaust port 3 b provided in the water tank 3, passes through the heat absorber 15 and the heat radiator 13, and again enters the water tank 3 and the rotating tank 5 from the air supply port 3 c of the water tank 3. A return circulation air passage 18 is formed, and a circulation air blow of drying air is performed by a blower (air blowing means) 19 provided in the circulation air passage 18. The radiator 13 and the heat absorber 15 are configured by fin-and-tube heat exchangers, and are configured such that heat is exchanged between the refrigerant in the tubes and the drying air via the fins. A mesh-like filter 38 is provided on the upstream side of the heat absorber 15 in the circulation air passage 18 so that dust contained in the drying air and lint generated from the clothes 4 can be collected.

Further, above the main body 1, there are provided a detergent case 25 for a user to put in detergent from the front of the main body 1 and a water supply device 26 connected to a faucet for supplying water into the washing machine. The water supply device 26 generates hot water in the radiator 13 and the cleaning water supply path 27 for supplying the cleaning water containing the detergent in the detergent case 25 into the water tank 3 after passing tap water through the detergent case 25. A hot water generating water supply path 28 for supplying tap water to the radiator 13, and a cold water generating water supply path 29 for supplying tap water to the heat absorber 15 to remove heat from the tap water (generate cold water) in the heat absorber 15. have. The tap water supplied from the water supply device 26 to the cleaning water supply path 27, the hot water generation water supply path 28, and the cold water generation water supply path 29 is respectively the cleaning water supply valve 26a, the hot water generation water supply valve 26b, and the cold water generation water supply valve. It is switched by turning ON / OFF 26c. The water spray nozzle 30 is provided at the radiator 13 side end of the water supply path 28 for generating hot water, and the tap water is sprayed from the water nozzle 30 toward the fins of the radiator 13 by tap pressure. Yes. Similarly, a water spray nozzle 31 is also provided at the end of the cold water generating water supply path 29 on the heat absorber 15 side so that tap water is sprinkled from the water spray nozzle 31 toward the fin of the heat absorber 15 by tap water pressure. It is composed. The tap water sprayed on the fins of the radiator 13 and the heat absorber 15 is heat-exchanged with the refrigerant in the tube via the fins. The tap water sprayed on the fins of the radiator 13 by the watering nozzle 30 is configured to be supplied into the water tank 3 by the hot water supply hose 32 after exchanging heat with the radiator 13. The tap water sprayed on the fins of the heat absorber 15 by the water spray nozzle 31 is exchanged with the heat absorber 15 and then supplied to a cold water tank 34 provided at the lower portion of the main body 1 by a cold water supply hose 33. It is composed. Thereby, the cold water after heat exchange with the heat absorber 15 can be stored in the cold water tank 34. As shown in FIG. 1, the hot water supply hose 32 and the cold water supply hose 33 are each provided with a trap. The cold water tank 34 is connected to the water tank 3 by a water supply hose 35. A chilled water pump 36 is provided below the chilled water tank 34, and the chilled water in the chilled water tank 34 is supplied into the water tank 3 through the water supply hose 35 by driving the chilled water pump 36. doing. A nozzle 37 is provided at the inner end of the water tank 3 of the water supply hose 35 so that the cold water fed by the cold water pump 36 can be sprinkled into the water tank 3 and the rotary tank 5 by the pump pressure. Yes. Thus, the cold water generating means is constituted by the water supply device 26, the cold water generating water supply valve 26c, the cold water generating water supply passage 29, the water spray nozzle 31, and the heat absorber 15, and the cold water generated by the cold water generating means is supplied to the water tank. The chilled water supply means includes a chilled water supply hose 33, a chilled water tank 34, and a chilled water supply means including a chilled water pump 36, a water supply hose 35, and a nozzle 37. The water supply device 26, the hot water generating water supply valve 26 b, the hot water generating water supply path 28, the water spray nozzle 30, the radiator 13, and the hot water supply hose 32 constitute hot water supply means.

  In the above configuration, in the washing process, the door 7 is opened, the clothes 4 are put into the rotating tub 5, the detergent is put into the detergent case 25, and the operation is started. First, the cleaning water supply valve 26 a of the water supply device 26 is turned on, tap water is supplied into the detergent case 25, and a small amount of cleaning water containing the detergent is supplied into the water tank 3 through the cleaning water supply path 27. Then, after turning off the washing water supply valve 26a, the hot water generating water supply valve 26b and the cold water generating water supply valve 26c are turned ON while driving the compressor of the heat pump device. As a result, the tap water sprayed from the water spray nozzle 31 to the heat absorber 15 through the water supply passage 29 for generating cold water is absorbed by the heat absorber 15 and cooled to become cold water, and then the cold water tank 34 through the cold water supply hose 33. Stored in the water. When considered from the refrigerant side of the heat pump device, the refrigerant depressurized by the depressurizing means becomes in a low temperature state, and heat is exchanged with tap water sprinkled in the heat absorber 15 to remove heat while evaporating. The heat deprived from the tap water by the refrigerant moves to the radiator 13 side through the conduit along with the refrigerant by driving the compressor. The refrigerant compressed to a high pressure by the compressor becomes a high temperature state, and in the radiator 13, heat is exchanged with the tap water sprayed from the spray nozzle 30 to the radiator 13 through the hot water generation water supply path 28 and is dissipated while being condensed. . As a result, the generated hot water is supplied into the water tank 3 through the hot water supply hose 32 and supplied into the rotary tank 5. When the hot water supplied into the water tank 3 reaches a predetermined amount, the drive motor 6 is actuated to rotate the rotary tank 5 and perform a washing operation.

  Here, the hot water generated at this time is generated when heat absorbed by the heat absorber 15 from tap water moves through the refrigerant and is radiated to tap water separately supplied by the radiator 13. The For this reason, it is possible to effectively use the heat of tap water and to have high energy saving performance. And since the heat absorber 15 takes heat from tap water, it does not have a bad influence on the temperature environment of a room unlike what takes heat from outside air. In addition, since the clothes in the rotary tub 5 can be washed using hot water, the cleaning performance can be improved.

  When a predetermined amount of hot water of a predetermined temperature is stored in the water tank 3, the compressor is stopped and the hot water generating water supply valve 26b and the cold water generating water supply valve 26c are turned off. After washing for a predetermined time, the drive motor 6 is stopped, the drain valve 10 is opened, and dirty water is drained from the water tank 3 and the rotary tank 5 and drained to a drainage place outside the machine. Then, after rotating the rotating tub 5 at high speed and performing centrifugal dehydration to drain the water separated from the laundry by centrifugal force to the outside through the small holes 5a, the drain port 9 and the drain hose 11, the washing process is performed. finish.

  Next, in the rinsing step, first, the cold water pump 36 is driven with the drain valve 10 closed. As a result, as shown by the arrows in FIG. 2, the cold water stored in the washing process in the cold water tank 34 is sprinkled from the nozzle 37 into the water tank 3 and the rotary tank 5 through the water supply hose 35. Thereby, when the cold water for the rinsing supplied into the water tank 3 reaches a predetermined amount, the drive motor 6 is actuated and the rotary tank 5 is rotationally driven to perform the rinsing operation. In the same manner as described above, water is supplied to the water tank 3 and the rotary tank 5 to perform a rinsing operation. The cold water pump 36 operates until the cold water in the cold water tank 34 runs out. Here, since the cold water stored in the cold water tank 34 in the washing process can be supplied and used in the water tank 3 in the rinsing process, it absorbs heat by the heat absorber 15 to generate hot water in the washing process. The used tap water is not discarded as it is, and the amount of water used can be prevented from increasing unnecessarily. After performing the rinsing operation for a predetermined time, the rinsing process is completed.

Next, in the dehydration process, the drainage valve 10 is opened to drain water, and then the rotary tank 5 is driven by the drive motor 6.
The clothes 4 are dehydrated by being driven to rotate at a high speed.

  When the washing, rinsing, and dehydration steps are completed as described above, the drying operation is started next. In the drying process, air in the circulation air passage 18 is absorbed by the heat absorber 15 by the operation of the compressor of the heat pump device and the operation of the blower 19 while the clothes tank 4 is agitated by rotating the rotating tub 5 at a low speed by the drive motor 6. The heat is absorbed, cooled and dehumidified, heated by the radiator 13, and fed into the water tank 3 and the rotary tank 5 from the air supply port 3c. The dehumidified warm air takes away moisture from the clothing 4, and then passes through the small tank 5a of the rotating tank 5 through the water tank 3 and reaches the circulation air path 18 through the exhaust port 3b. The dehumidified water is drained out of the machine via the drain valve 10. As described above, the air is circulated between the circulation air passage 18 and the rotary tub 5 so that the clothes 4 are dried. Here, when the air is blown by the blower 19, the static pressure of the dry air near the radiator 13 and the heat absorber 15 is lower than the static pressure in the water tank 3 and the cold water tank 34 because it is closer to the suction side of the blower 19. For this reason, the air in the water tank 3 and the cold water tank 34 tries to flow to the radiator 13 and the heat absorber 15 through the hot water supply hose 32 and the cold water supply hose 33, and this is supplied to the hot water supply hose 32 and the cold water supply. It is prevented by the residual water head present in the trap portion provided in the hose 33. This makes it possible to save energy in the drying process with respect to the heater-type drying system by the heat pump device. For this reason, the heat pump device can be used not only for the purpose of generating cold water and hot water with energy saving, but also for the purpose of drying the laundry in the rotary tub 5 with energy saving.

  Here, a large amount of lint is generated from the garment 4 during the drying step. Most of the lint is recovered by the filter 38 provided on the upstream side of the heat absorber 15, but the lint that has partially passed through the mesh is caught by the fins of the heat absorber 15 and the radiator 13 and adheres. However, in this embodiment, since the tap water is sprayed from the water spray nozzles 31 and 32 to the fins of the heat absorber 15 and the heat radiator 13 in the washing process, the attached lint can be washed away. For this reason, the lint attached to the fins of the heat absorber 15 and the heat radiator 13 accumulates steadily, the air volume of the dry air blown by the blower 19 can be prevented, and the drying performance can be prevented from deteriorating, A highly reliable heat pump device can be provided.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 3 is a simplified cross-sectional view of a washing machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Since the basic configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, the description is omitted, and different points will be mainly described. The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the tap water sprayed on the fins of the heat absorber 15 by the water spray nozzle 31 is configured to be supplied into the aquarium 3 by the cold water supply hose 33 after exchanging heat with the heat absorber 15. Yes. Further, the tap water sprayed on the fins of the radiator 13 by the watering nozzle 30 is exchanged with the radiator 13 and then supplied to the hot water tank 39 provided at the lower portion of the main body 1 by the hot water supply hose 32. It is composed. Thereby, the hot water after heat exchange with the radiator 13 can be stored in the hot water tank 39. The hot water tank 39 is connected to the water tank 3 by a water supply hose 35. A hot water pump 40 is provided below the hot water tank 39, and the hot water pump 40 is driven so that the hot water in the hot water tank 39 is supplied into the water tank 3 through the water supply hose 35. doing. A nozzle 37 is provided at the inner end of the water tank 3 of the water supply hose 35 so that the hot water fed by the hot water pump 40 can be sprinkled into the water tank 3 and the rotary tank 5 by the pump pressure. Yes.

Thus, the hot water generating means is constituted by the water supply device 26, the hot water generating water supply valve 26b, the hot water generating water supply path 28, the watering nozzle 30, and the radiator 13, and the hot water generated by the hot water generating means is supplied to the water tank. The hot water supply means is composed of a hot water supply hose 32, a hot water tank 39, and a hot water supply means comprising a hot water pump 40, a water supply hose 35, and a nozzle 37. Further, the water supply device 26, the cold water generation water supply valve 26 c, the cold water generation water supply path 29, the water spray nozzle 31, the heat absorber 15, and the cold water supply hose 33 constitute a cold water supply means. Thus, the hot water supply means has a hot water tank 39 for storing hot water after heat exchange with the radiator 13 and a hot water supply means for guiding the hot water tank 39 to the water tank 3 so that the heat absorber can be used at the time of washing. The cold water after heat exchange with 15 is supplied into the water tub 3 to wash the laundry in the rotating tub 5, and the hot water after heat exchange with the radiator 13 is stored in the hot water tank 39 to store hot water during rinsing. By supplying the warm water previously supplied into the water tub 3 and rinsing the laundry in the rotating tub 5 in a state where the rinsing performance is improved, it is possible to prevent the amount of water used from being increased unnecessarily while improving the rinsing performance.

  Note that this embodiment can be combined with Embodiment 1.

  As described above, the washing machine according to the present invention improves the cleaning performance and the rinsing performance by efficiently generating hot water with the heat pump device and supplying it into the aquarium without adversely affecting the temperature environment of the room. It can also be applied to devices such as dishwashers that require hot water in other fields.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body 3 Water tank 5 Rotating tank 13 Radiator 15 Heat absorber 26 Water supply device 26b Water supply valve for hot water generation 26c Water supply valve for cold water generation 28 Water supply path for hot water generation 29 Water supply path for cold water generation 30 Water spray nozzle 31 Water spray nozzle 32 Hot water supply hose 33 Cold water supply hose 34 Cold water tank 35 Water supply hose 36 Cold water pump 37 Nozzle 39 Hot water tank 40 Hot water pump

Claims (4)

An aquarium supported within the body,
A rotating tank provided rotatably in the water tank;
A heat pump device in which a compressor, a heat absorber, a pressure reducing means, and a radiator are connected by a pipe line through which the refrigerant passes;
Cold water generating means for generating water by exchanging heat with the heat absorber;
A washing machine having hot water supply means for supplying water to a water tank by exchanging heat with a heat radiator. The washing machine according to claim 1, further comprising cold water supply means for supplying cold water generated by heat exchange with the heat absorber to the water tank. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the cold water supply means includes a cold water tank for storing cold water after heat exchange with the heat absorber, and a cold water supply means for guiding the cold water from the cold water tank to the water tank. . The washing machine according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the hot water supply means includes a hot water tank for storing hot water after heat exchange with the radiator and hot water water supply means for guiding the hot water from the hot water tank to the water tank. .