JP2021023720A - Drum type washing and drying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a drum type washing and drying machine capable of preventing failure caused by a refrigerant circulation passage connecting a compressor and a heat exchanger arranged being separated in a heat pump.SOLUTION: A drum type washing and drying machine 1 includes: a housing 2; an outer tub 3 stored in the housing 2; a drum 7 stored in the outer tub; an air circulation passage 20 connected to the outer tub 3; a blower part 21 for taking out the air in the outer tub 3 to the inside of the air circulation passage 20 and returning it to the inside of the outer tub 3; a heat pump 25; and a holder 40. The heat pump 25 includes: a compressor 26 arranged at a position lower than an axis line J of the drum 7, and compressing a refrigerant; a heat exchanger 27 provided in the air circulation passage 20 at a position higher than the axis line J, and performing heat exchange between the refrigerant and the air in the air circulation passage 20; and a refrigerant circulation passage 28 for circulating the refrigerant between the compressor 26 and the heat exchanger 27. The holder 40 is fixed at the housing 2, and holds the refrigerant circulation passage 28.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a drum type washer / dryer.

The drum-type washer-dryer described in Patent Document 1 below includes a housing, an outer tub housed in the housing, a drum housed in the outer tub, a heat pump that generates dehumidified air during a drying operation, and a heat pump. Includes an air duct that guides the dehumidified air generated by the air to the laundry in the drum. The heat pump includes a compressor installed at the bottom of the housing, a heat exchanger installed in the air duct at the top of the housing, and a refrigerant pipe that circulates refrigerant between the compressor and the heat exchanger. Including.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2017-202071

When a heat pump in which a compressor and a heat exchanger are separately arranged vertically as in Patent Document 1 is put into practical use in a drum-type washer-dryer, a configuration of a refrigerant pipe connecting the compressor and the heat exchanger is configured. If you do not devise, various problems may occur due to the refrigerant piping.

The present invention has been made in such a background, and provides a drum-type washer-dryer capable of preventing a defect caused by a refrigerant circulation path connecting a compressor and a heat exchanger separately arranged in a heat pump. With the goal.

The present invention includes a housing, an outer tub housed in the housing and for storing water, and a drum housed in the outer tub and rotationally driven around a rotation axis extending in the front-rear direction to store laundry. An air circulation path having an outlet and a return port connected to the outer tank, and an air circulation path provided in the air circulation path, the air in the outer tank is taken out from the outlet into the air circulation path and returned. A blower that circulates by returning it from the mouth to the outer tank, a compressor that is arranged at a position lower than the rotation axis to compress the refrigerant, and a compressor that is provided in the air circulation path at a position higher than the rotation axis. A heat pump having a heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the refrigerant and the air in the air circulation path, and a refrigerant circulation path that circulates the refrigerant between the compressor and the heat exchanger, and the housing. A drum-type washer-dryer that includes a holder that is fixed to and holds the refrigerant circulation path.

Further, in the present invention, the drum-type washer-dryer further includes a fixing member for fixing a part of the holder to the housing, and a part other than the part of the holder is not attached to the housing. It is characterized by being in contact.

Further, in the present invention, the drum-type washer-dryer further includes an elastic member covering the refrigerant circulation path, the holder is a groove in which the refrigerant circulation path is fitted, and the refrigerant circulation path is in the groove. It is characterized by having an engaging portion that engages with the elastic member so that it can be displaced.

According to the present invention, in the drying operation of the drum-type washer-dryer, the air in the outer tub is circulated so as to be taken out into the air circulation path by the blower and then returned to the outer tub. The air in the air circulation path becomes hot air by heat exchange with the refrigerant flowing through the heat exchanger of the heat pump, and flows out from the air circulation path to the outer tub to dry the laundry in the drum. In the heat pump, the compressor that compresses the refrigerant and the heat exchanger are arranged vertically separately and connected by a refrigerant circulation path. The refrigerant circulation path is fixed to the housing by being held by a holder on the housing side that houses the outer tank. Therefore, as compared with the case where the refrigerant circulation path is fixed to the outer tank, the vibration of the outer tank is less likely to be transmitted to the refrigerant circulation path, so that it is possible to prevent a problem of damage to the refrigerant circulation path due to the vibration of the outer tank.

Further, according to the present invention, since only a part of the holder holding the refrigerant circulation path is fixed to the housing, even if the vibration of the compressor is transmitted to the holder via the refrigerant circulation path, this vibration is transmitted from the holder. It is difficult to convey to the housing. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a problem of vibration of the housing caused by the refrigerant circulation path.

Further, according to the present invention, the refrigerant circulation path is fitted into the groove portion of the holder in a state of being covered with the elastic member, and the engaging portion of the holder is engaged with the elastic member so that the refrigerant circulation path can be displaced in the groove portion. It fits. That is, since the refrigerant circulation path is loosely held by the holder while being covered with the elastic member, even if the vibration of the compressor is transmitted to the refrigerant circulation path, it is difficult for this vibration to be transmitted to the holder or the housing. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a problem of vibration of the housing caused by the refrigerant circulation path.

FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional left side view of a drum-type washer-dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the internal structure housed in the housing of the drum-type washer-dryer as viewed from the rear side. FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional front view of a housing and a main part of the heat pump. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a housing and a heat pump in a drum-type washer-dryer as viewed from the front side. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the holder holding the refrigerant circulation path of the heat pump as viewed from the rear side. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the holder as viewed from the front side. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a main part of a drum-type washer-dryer including a partially flat cross section. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a main part of a drum-type washer-dryer including a partially flat cross section.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional left side view of the drum type washer-dryer 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The direction orthogonal to the paper surface of FIG. 1 is referred to as the left-right direction X of the drum-type washer-dryer 1, the left-right direction in FIG. 1 is referred to as the front-rear direction Y of the drum-type washer-dryer 1, and the vertical direction in FIG. It is called the vertical direction Z of the dryer 1. Of the left-right directions X, the back side on the paper surface of FIG. 1 is referred to as the right side X1, and the front side on the paper surface of FIG. 1 is referred to as the left side X2. Of the front-rear direction Y, the left side in FIG. 1 is referred to as the front side Y1, and the right side in FIG. 1 is referred to as the rear side Y2. Of the vertical directions Z, the upper side is called the upper side Z1 and the lower side is called the lower side Z2. For convenience of explanation, the right side X1 and the left side X2 are defined with reference to the time when the drum type washer / dryer 1 is viewed from the rear side Y2.

The drum-type washer-dryer 1 passes through the housing 2, the outer tub 3 housed in the housing 2, the water supply channel 4 and the drainage channel 5 connected to the outer tub 3, and the drainage channel 5, and the outer tub. Includes a drainage filter 6 that captures foreign matter from the water discharged from 3. Further, the drum type washer-dryer 1 includes a drum 7 housed in the outer tub 3, a motor 8 for rotating the drum 7, and a drying unit 9 for drying the laundry L in the drum 7.

The housing 2 is formed in a box shape. Therefore, the housing 2 has a vertically extending front wall 2A, a rear wall 2B, a left wall 2C and a right wall 2D, and a horizontally extending top wall 2E and a bottom wall 2F. The front wall 2A is formed with an opening 2G that communicates the inside and outside of the housing 2. The front wall 2A is provided with a door 10 that opens and closes the opening 2G. A vertically long opening 2I covered by the cover 2H is formed in the center of the rear wall 2B (see also FIG. 4 described later). The bottom wall 2F is separated into a right bottom wall 2J extending from the lower end of the right wall 2D to the left side X2 and a left bottom wall 2K extending from the lower end of the left wall 2C to the right side X1 (see FIG. 2 described later). The lower ends of the two shock absorbers 11 extending to the upper side Z1 in a state of being arranged in the front-rear direction are connected to each of the right bottom wall 2J and the left bottom wall 2K (see also FIG. 2).

The outer tank 3 is connected to the upper end of each shock absorber 11. As a result, the outer tank 3 is elastically supported by the bottom wall 2F of the housing 2 via each shock absorber 11. The outer tank 3 includes a cylindrical circumferential wall 3A centered on an axis J extending in the front-rear direction Y along the horizontal direction H, and a disk-shaped back wall 3B in which the hollow portion of the circumferential wall 3A is closed from the rear side Y2. It has a ring-shaped front wall 3C connected to the front end edge of the circumferential wall 3A. The back wall 3B is vertically arranged and has an annular outer peripheral portion 3D and a cylindrical central portion 3E protruding one step to the rear side Y2 from the outer peripheral portion 3D. At the center of the central portion 3E, a through hole 3F is formed so as to pass through the central portion 3E in the front-rear direction Y along the axis J. The front wall 3C includes an annular first portion 3G protruding from the front end edge of the circumferential wall 3A toward the axis J side, a cylindrical second portion 3H protruding from the inner peripheral edge of the first portion 3G to the front side Y1, and a second portion. It has an annular third part 3I protruding from the front end edge of the second part 3H toward the axis J side. Inside the third part 3I, an entrance / exit 3J communicating from the front side Y1 is formed in a hollow portion of the circumferential wall 3A. The entrance / exit 3J faces the opening 2G of the housing 2 from the rear side Y2 and communicates with the opening 2G.

The water supply channel 4 has one end (not shown) connected to a faucet (not shown) and the other end 4A connected to, for example, the central portion 3E of the back wall 3B of the outer tank 3. At the time of water supply, water from the faucet is supplied from the water supply channel 4 into the outer tank 3. Water such as tap water or detergent water in which detergent is dissolved in tap water is stored in the outer tank 3. A water supply valve 12 that opens and closes to start and stop water supply is provided in the middle of the water supply channel 4.

The drainage channel 5 is connected to the lower end of the outer tank 3, for example, the lower end of the first portion 3G of the front wall 3C. The water in the outer tank 3 is discharged to the outside of the machine from the drainage channel 5. A drain valve 13 that opens and closes to start and stop drainage is provided in the middle of the drainage channel 5.

The drainage filter 6 is provided in the drainage channel 5 at an upstream portion closer to the outer tank 3 than the drain valve 13. Since the front end of the drainage filter 6 is exposed from the front wall 2A of the housing 2 to the front side Y1, the user can grasp the front end of the drainage filter 6 and attach / detach the drainage filter 6 to / from the housing 2. .. A known configuration can be used as the configuration of the drainage filter 6.

The drum 7 is one size smaller than the outer tank 3. The drum 7 includes a cylindrical circumferential wall 7A arranged coaxially with the circumferential wall 3A of the outer tank 3, a disk-shaped back wall 7B in which the hollow portion of the circumferential wall 7A is closed from the rear side Y2, and a circumferential wall 7A. It has an annular wall 7C protruding from the front end edge of the shaft toward the axis J side. A plurality of through holes 7D are formed in at least the circumferential wall 7A of the drum 7, and the water in the outer tub 3 travels between the outer tub 3 and the drum 7 through the through holes 7D. Therefore, the water level in the outer tank 3 and the water level in the drum 7 match. At the center of the back wall 7B of the drum 7, a support shaft 14 extending along the axis J to the rear side Y2 is provided. The rear end portion of the support shaft 14 is arranged on the rear side Y2 of the back wall 3B through the through hole 3F of the back wall 3B of the outer tank 3.

Inside the annular wall 7C, an entrance / exit 7E communicating with the front side Y1 is formed in a hollow portion of the circumferential wall 7A. The doorway 7E communicates with the doorway 3J of the outer tank 3 and the opening 2G of the housing 2 facing each other from the rear side Y2. The doorway 3J and the doorway 7E are collectively opened and closed by the door 10 together with the opening 2G. The user of the drum-type washer-dryer 1 puts the laundry L in and out of the drum 7 through the open opening 2G, the doorway 3J, and the doorway 7E.

The motor 8 has a disk shape having substantially the same outer diameter as the central portion 3E of the back wall 3B of the outer tank 3, and is arranged in the rear side Y2 of the central portion 3E and fixed to the central portion 3E in the housing 2. To. The motor 8 is connected to a support shaft 14 provided on the drum 7. The driving force generated by the motor 8 is transmitted to the support shaft 14, and the drum 7 is rotationally driven around the axis J together with the support shaft 14. A clutch mechanism (not shown) that transmits or shuts off the driving force of the motor 8 to the support shaft 14 may be provided between the motor 8 and the support shaft 14.

The drying unit 9 includes an air circulation path 20 and a blower 21 for circulating the air in the outer tank 3, a filter unit 22 for capturing foreign matter from the circulating air, and a branch for maintaining the filter unit 22. Includes road 23 and water injection valve 24. The drying unit 9 further includes a heat pump 25 as a heating unit for heating the circulating air.

The air circulation path 20 is a flow path arranged around the outer tank 3 in the housing 2. The air circulation passage 20 has an intermediate portion 20A extending in the front-rear direction Y at a position higher than the outer tank 3, a rear portion 20B extending from the rear end of the intermediate portion 20A to the lower Z2, and a rear portion 20B extending from the front end to the lower Z2 of the intermediate portion 20A. It has a front portion 20C extending to. An outlet 20D is formed at the front end of the lower end portion of the rear portion 20B. The outlet 20D is connected to a portion of the outer peripheral portion 3D of the back wall 3B of the outer tank 3 that is higher than the upper limit water level, and communicates with the outer tank 3 from the rear side Y2. A return port 20E is formed at the lower end of the front portion 20C. The return port 20E is connected to the upper end portion of the second portion 3H of the front wall 3C of the outer tank 3 and communicates with the outer tank 3 from the upper side Z1.

The blower portion 21 is a fan including a rotary blade 21A arranged in an area on the upstream side close to the outlet 20D in the intermediate portion 20A of the air circulation path 20 and an electric motor 21B for rotating the rotary blade 21A. When the rotary blade 21A rotates, the air in the outer tub 3, that is, the air in the outer tub 3 and the drum 7 is taken out from the outlet 20D into the air circulation path 20 as shown by the thick broken line arrow, and then. It is returned to the outer tank 3 from the return port 20E. As a result, the air in the outer tub 3 circulates in the outer tub 3 and the air circulation path 20 in order.

The filter unit 22 is arranged in the air circulation path 20 in a region on the outlet 20D side of the rotary blade 21A, specifically in the rear portion 20B. The filter unit 22 includes one or more filters F composed of, for example, a mesh sheet. The filter F is arranged in a vertically extended posture at a position where air flowing through the air circulation path 20 passes. When a plurality of filters F are provided, these filters F are arranged so as to overlap each other in the air flow direction in the air circulation path 20. When the air taken out from the outlet 20D for circulation and flowing in the air circulation path 20 passes through the filter F, foreign matter such as lint contained in the air is captured by the filter F.

The branch path 23 branches from the upstream portion closer to the faucet than the water supply valve 12 in the water supply channel 4 and is connected to the filter unit 22. The water injection valve 24 is provided in the branch passage 23, and is opened and closed to start and stop water injection into the filter F of the filter unit 22. When the water injection valve 24 is opened, water from the water supply channel 4 is supplied to the filter unit 22 through the branch passage 23, and is poured into the filter F from the upper side Z1. As a result, the foreign matter captured by the filter F is peeled off from the filter F, falls into the outer tank 3 from the outlet 20D of the air circulation path 20, and is captured by the drainage filter 6. The foreign matter captured by the drainage filter 6 is removed when the user removes and maintains the drainage filter 6 at an appropriate timing. The filter unit 22 may include an electric wiper (not shown) that rotates to remove foreign matter from the filter F.

The heat pump 25 circulates the refrigerant between the compressor 26 that compresses the refrigerant, the heat exchanger 27 that exchanges heat between the refrigerant and the air in the air circulation path 20, and the compressor 26 and the heat exchanger 27. It has a refrigerant circulation path 28.

As the compressor 26, a known electric compressor can be adopted. The compressor 26 is arranged at a position lower than the axis J, which is the rotation axis of the drum 7. Specifically, with reference to FIG. 2, the compressor 26 is arranged between the front and rear shock absorbers 11 in the lower region P between the bottom wall 2F of the housing 2 and the circumferential wall 3A of the outer tank 3. It is fixed to the right bottom wall 2J. The lower region P is a substantially triangular columnar space that is partitioned by the lower right outer peripheral surface of the circumferential wall 3A, the right wall 2D, and the right bottom wall 2J and extends in the front-rear direction Y.

The compressor 26 has a cylindrical casing 30 extending in the vertical direction Z and a plate-shaped bracket 31 provided at the lower end of the casing 30. The bracket 31 has a plurality of protrusions 31A protruding from the lower end of the casing 30. In this state form, the bracket 31 has three protrusions 31A, that is, a protrusion 31A protruding toward the front side Y1, a protrusion 31A protruding toward the rear side Y2, and a protrusion 31A protruding toward either the right side X1 or the left side X2. Has.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional front view of the right bottom wall 2J of the housing 2 and the bracket 31 when the bracket 31 is cut at a position where it passes through the protruding portion 31A protruding from the casing 30 to the front side Y1. Each protrusion 31A is formed with a through hole 31B that penetrates the protrusion 31A in the vertical direction Z, and the right bottom wall 2J penetrates the right bottom wall 2J in the vertical direction Z at a position directly below the through hole 31B. A through hole 2L is formed.

A vibration isolator 32 is arranged between each protrusion 31A and the right bottom wall 2J. The anti-vibration member 32 is a cylindrical grommet having a through hole 32A extending in the vertical direction Z, and is made of an elastic material such as rubber. A groove 32B extending along the circumferential direction is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the upper end portion of the vibration isolator member 32. The upper end portion of the vibration isolator 32 is inserted into the through hole 31B of the protrusion 31A from the lower side Z2, and the peripheral edge portion of the through hole 31B in the protrusion 31A is fitted into the groove 32B of the vibration isolator 32. The threaded portion 33A of the bolt 33 is inserted into the through hole 2L of the right bottom wall 2J and the through hole 32A of the vibration isolator 32 from the lower side Z2, and is arranged so as to protrude from the through hole 32A to the upper side Z1. A nut 34 is assembled to the screw portion 33A, and the vibration isolator member 32 is sandwiched between the head 33B located at the lower end of the bolt 33 and the nut 34. As a result, each of the protruding portions 31A of the bracket 31 is fixed to the right bottom wall 2J via the vibration isolator member 32, so that the entire compressor 26 having the bracket 31 is fixed to the right bottom wall 2J.

With reference to FIG. 4, the heat exchanger 27 is arranged in the intermediate portion 20A of the air circulation path 20 on the downstream side closer to the return port 20E than the rotary blade 21A of the blower portion 21, specifically, in the region of the front side Y1. (See also Figure 1). Since the intermediate portion 20A is arranged at a position higher than the outer tank 3 as described above, the heat exchanger 27 in the intermediate portion 20A is arranged at a position higher than the axis J of the outer tank 3. In FIG. 4, a part of the intermediate portion 20A is omitted so that the heat exchanger 27 can be seen. The heat exchanger 27 has a first heat exchanger 27A on the heating side, a second heat exchanger 27B on the cooling side, and a capillary tube 27C connecting the first heat exchanger 27A and the second heat exchanger 27B. ..

In the intermediate portion 20A, in this embodiment, the first heat exchanger 27A is arranged on the downstream side, that is, the front side Y1 of the rotary blade 21A, and the second heat exchanger 27B is located downstream of the first heat exchanger 27A. Placed on the side. The layout of the first heat exchanger 27A and the second heat exchanger 27B in the intermediate portion 20A can be arbitrarily changed. The first heat exchanger 27A is provided with a plurality of heat radiation fins 27D, and the second heat exchanger 27B is provided with a plurality of cooling fins 27E. A refrigerant flow path (not shown) is provided inside each of the first heat exchanger 27A and the second heat exchanger 27B. The capillary tube 27C connects the flow path in the first heat exchanger 27A and the flow path in the second heat exchanger 27B.

The refrigerant circulation path 28 is composed of a metal pipe such as copper, and connects the compressor 26 and the heat exchanger 27. The refrigerant circulation path 28 is a circulation flow path in which the refrigerant is taken out from the compressor 26 and then returned to the compressor 26 via the heat exchanger 27. The refrigerant circulation path 28 has a feed side flow path 28A that takes out the refrigerant from the compressor 26 and sends it to the flow path in the first heat exchanger 27A, and a second heat exchange from the first heat exchanger 27A via the capillary tube 27C. It has a return-side flow path 28B for returning the refrigerant flowing through the flow path in the vessel 27B to the compressor 26. The flow path in the first heat exchanger 27A may be regarded as a part of the feed side flow path 28A, and the flow path in the second heat exchanger 27B may be regarded as a part of the return side flow path 28B. Most of the outer peripheral surfaces of the feed-side flow path 28A and the return-side flow path 28B are covered with an elastic member 29 made of rubber or the like.

The drum-type washer-dryer 1 includes a control unit 35 (see FIG. 1) composed of a substrate on which a microcomputer is mounted. Electrical components such as a motor 8, a water supply valve 12, a drain valve 13, a blower unit 21, a water injection valve 24, and a heat pump 25 are electrically connected to the control unit 35. The control unit 35 executes the washing / drying operation by controlling the operation of these electric components. The washing / drying operation includes a washing step, a rinsing step, a dehydration step, and a drying step. The drying step may be performed separately from the washing / drying operation as a single drying operation.

Prior to the start of the washing process, detergent is poured into the drum 7. In the washing step, the control unit 35 opens the water supply valve 12 for a predetermined time to supply water to the outer tank 3 and the drum 7 with the drain valve 13 closed, and then rotates the drum 7 by the motor 8. As a result, the laundry L in the drum 7 is beaten and washed. In tapping, tumbling is repeated in which the laundry L is lifted to some extent and then naturally falls to the surface of the water. Dirt is removed from the laundry L by the impact of tumbling and the detergent component contained in the detergent water collected in the drum 7. When the control unit 35 opens the drain valve 13 to drain water after a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of tumbling, the washing process is completed.

In the rinsing step, the control unit 35 opens the water supply valve 12 for a predetermined time to supply water to the outer tank 3 and the drum 7 with the drain valve 13 closed, and then rotates the drum 7 by the motor 8. Then, since the above-mentioned tumbling is repeated, the laundry L is rinsed with tap water in the drum 7. When the control unit 35 drains water after a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of tumbling, the rinsing process ends. The rinsing process may be repeated multiple times. In the dehydration step, the control unit 35 dehydrates and rotates the drum 7 with the drain valve 13 open. The laundry L in the drum 7 is dehydrated by the centrifugal force generated by the dehydration rotation of the drum 7. The water exuded from the laundry L due to dehydration is discharged to the outside of the machine through the drainage channel 5. The dehydration step may be carried out not only after the rinsing step but also after the washing step.

In the drying step, the control unit 35 generates hot air by operating the blower unit 21 and the compressor 26 of the heat pump 25 to circulate the hot air between the drum 7 and the air circulation path 20, and the laundry L in the drum 7 is generated. Supply to. Specifically, in the heat pump 25, the refrigerant is compressed by the compressor 26 to become a high temperature and high pressure, and then dissipates heat when passing through the first heat exchanger 27A via the feed side flow path 28A. In the first heat exchanger 27A, the heat radiation fins 27D become hot due to the heat radiation of the refrigerant. The air flowing in the air circulation path 20 is heated when passing around the heat radiation fin 27D and becomes hot air. That is, the air in the air circulation path 20 becomes hot air by heat exchange with the refrigerant flowing through the first heat exchanger 27A. The hot air flows out to the outer tub 3 and is supplied to the laundry L in the drum 7, so that the laundry L is dried.

On the other hand, the refrigerant that has passed through the first heat exchanger 27A becomes cold due to being depressurized when passing through the capillary tube 27C, and then cools the cooling fins 27E when passing through the second heat exchanger 27B. .. Moisture-containing air evaporated from the laundry L due to drying is dehumidified as it passes around the cooling fins 27E in the air circulation path 20. The dehumidified air is turned into hot air by the first heat exchanger 27A and reused for drying the laundry L.

Foreign matter such as lint flows on the hot air during the drying process, but is captured by the filter F of the filter unit 22 as described above. As a maintenance process, the control unit 35 opens the water injection valve 24 to inject water into the filter F and removes foreign matter from the filter F at an appropriate timing during or after the drying process.

During the washing operation, particularly during the dehydration process, the outer tub 3 and the motor 8 vibrate as the drum 7 rotates. Further, during the drying process, vibration is generated according to the operation of the compressor 26 of the heat pump 25. In the heat pump 25, the refrigerant circulation path 28 is long due to the structure in which the compressor 26 and the heat exchanger 27 are arranged apart from each other in the vertical direction Z and connected by the refrigerant circulation path 28. In this case, it is assumed that the refrigerant circulation path 28 receives the vibration of the outer tank 3 and the motor 8 or transmits the vibration of the refrigerant circulation path 28 itself to the housing 2. In order to prevent such a problem, the drum type washer-dryer 1 includes a holder 40 which is fixed to the housing 2 and holds the refrigerant circulation path 28.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the holder 40 fixed to the housing 2 taken out and viewed from the rear side Y2. The holder 40 is made of resin, for example, and is formed in a curved rail shape. Based on the state fixed to the housing 2, the holder 40 has a lower end portion 40A extending obliquely to the upper left side, an upper end portion 40B extending to the upper side Z1, and a curved portion 40C connecting them. The curved portion 40C is curved from the lower end portion 40A to the upper side Z1 and then extends vertically to the upper side Z1, and then is curved to the left side X2 and then to the upper side Z1 to be connected to the upper end portion 40B. The direction from the lower end 40A to the upper end 40B or the direction from the upper end 40B to the lower end 40A is the longitudinal direction of the holder 40.

The holder 40 integrally includes a pair of left and right strip-shaped side plates 41 that are curved in the same manner as the overall shape of the holder 40, and a bottom plate 42 that is erected between these side plates and is curved in the same manner as each side plate 41 in the front view. Have. The holder 40 is arranged between these side plates 41 and integrally has a partition plate 43 that is curved like each side plate 41 while protruding from the bottom plate 42 to the front side Y1. The holder 40 is formed with a groove 40D sandwiched between these side plates 41 and closed from the rear side Y2 by the bottom plate 42. The groove portion 40D is opened to the front side Y1 in the entire area in the longitudinal direction of the holder 40, is opened to the lower right side at the lower end portion 40A, and is opened to the upper side Z1 at the upper end portion 40B. The groove portion 40D is divided into a first groove portion 40E on the left side X2 and a second groove portion 40F on the right side X1 by the partition plate 43. The first groove portion 40E and the second groove portion 40F are elongated groove-shaped spaces that are curved like the side plates 41 and the partition plate 43, and have substantially the same size as each other (see also FIG. 6 described later).

A single or a plurality of U-shaped notches 41A are formed at the front edge portion of each side plate 41. In each side plate 41, a plurality of reinforcing ribs 41D extending in the front-rear direction Y are provided at positions avoiding the notches 41A on the outer surface 41C opposite to the inner side surface 41B facing the groove 40D.

The bottom plate 42 is connected to the central portion of each side plate 41 in the front-rear direction Y. A plurality of reinforcing ribs 42A projecting to the rear side Y2 are provided on the rear surface of the bottom plate 42. Each rib 42A is erected between ribs 41D located at the same or substantially the same position in the longitudinal direction of the holder 40 on a pair of side plates 41. As a result, all the ribs 42A and the pair of side plates 41 are arranged in a ladder shape in the rear view.

A plurality of bosses 42B protruding toward the rear side Y2 are provided on the rear surface of the bottom plate 42. In this embodiment, a total of three bosses 42B are provided, one is arranged in the vicinity of each of the lower end 40A and the upper end 40B of the holder 40, and an intermediate position between the lower end 40A and the upper end 40B is provided. The holders 40 are provided side by side in the longitudinal direction so that one is arranged in the holder 40. Each boss 42B may be provided at a position overlapping the rib 42A, or may be provided at a position avoiding the rib 42A. A screw hole 42C extending to the front side Y1 is formed on the rear end surface of each boss 42B.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the holder 40 fixed to the housing 2 as viewed from the front side Y1 by pulling out only the holder 40. In the partition plate 43, a pair of notches 43A penetrating the partition plate 43 in the plate thickness direction are formed at each of the plurality of positions in the longitudinal direction thereof. The portion of the partition plate 43 between the pair of notches 43A constitutes an elastically deformable piece-shaped engaging portion 43B. A plurality of engaging portions 43B are provided side by side in the longitudinal direction of the partition plate 43. The front end portion forming the tip portion 43C of each engaging portion 43B has a T-shaped cross section by extending to both the first groove portion 40E and the second groove portion 40F (see also FIG. 8 described later). The rear end portion of each engaging portion 43B constitutes the root portion 43D. A lightening hole 42D penetrating the bottom plate 42 is formed around the root portion 43D of each engaging portion 43B in the bottom plate 42. The lightening holes 42D are provided on both sides of the root portion 43D of each engaging portion 43B at a position avoiding the rib 42A and the boss 42B (see FIG. 5).

The holder 40 is arranged between the rear wall 2B of the housing 2 and the back wall 3B of the outer tank 3 in a posture in which the first groove portion 40E and the second groove portion 40F are opened to the front side Y1. The entire holder 40 is arranged on the upper right side of the opening 2I so as to bypass the opening 2I of the rear wall 2B (see FIG. 4). In the holder 40, the curved portion 40C between the lower end portion 40A and the upper end portion 40B is separated from the outer tank 3 and the motor 8 along the right outer peripheral surfaces of the central portion 3E of the back wall 3B and the motor 8. (See Fig. 2).

As shown in FIG. 7, the rear end surface of each boss 42B, which is a part of the holder 40, is arranged in contact with the rear wall 2B from the front side Y1. A through hole 2M that penetrates the rear wall 2B in the front-rear direction Y is formed at a position of the rear wall 2B that overlaps with the screw hole 42C of each boss 42B. A bolt 45, which is an example of a fixing member, is assembled to the screw hole 42C from the rear side Y2 through the through hole 2M. As a result, each boss 42B is fixed to the rear wall 2B, so that the entire holder 40 is fixed to the housing 2.

As shown in FIG. 8, which shows a cross section at a position different from that of FIG. 7, in the holder 40, the portion other than the boss 42B is in a state of floating from the rear wall 2B to the front side Y1, so that the holder 40 is relative to the housing 2. It is non-contact. Further, in the holder 40, the feed side flow path 28A in the refrigerant circulation path 28 is fitted into the first groove portion 40E in the groove portion 40D from the front side Y1, and the return side flow path 28B in the refrigerant circulation path 28 is the second groove portion in the groove portion 40D. It is fitted into the 40F from the front side Y1. The portions fitted in the groove 40D in each of the feed side flow path 28A and the return side flow path 28B are arranged so as to be curved along the holder 40 (see FIG. 4). The tip portion 43C of each engaging portion 43B located between the first groove portion 40E and the second groove portion 40F in the holder 40 engages with the elastic member 29 that covers each of the feed side flow path 28A and the return side flow path 28B. It fits. Since each engaging portion 43B is elastically deformable, each of the sending side flow path 28A and the returning side flow path 28B engages with the elastic member 29 so that they can be displaced in the groove portion 40D.

The portions connected to the compressor 26 in each of the feed side flow path 28A and the return side flow path 28B are bent toward the rear side Y2 so as to approach the holder 40 (see FIG. 2). In each of the feed side flow path 28A and the return side flow path 28B, the portion protruding from the holder 40 to the upper side Z1 is bent toward the front side Y1 so as to approach the heat exchanger 27 (see FIG. 2). By accommodating each of the feed side flow path 28A and the return side flow path 28B in the groove 40D of the holder 40 or bending the outside of the groove 40D in this way, the refrigerant circulation path 28 can be routed in the shortest distance to the compressor 26. It can be connected to the heat exchanger 27.

As described above, the refrigerant circulation path 28 is fixed to the housing 2 by being held by the holder 40 on the housing 2 side that houses the outer tank 3. Therefore, as compared with the case where the refrigerant circulation path 28 is fixed to the outer tank 3, the vibration of the outer tank 3 and the motor 8 is transmitted to the refrigerant circulation path 28 by separating the refrigerant circulation path 28 from the outer tank 3 and the motor 8. Since it is difficult to transmit, it is possible to prevent a problem that the refrigerant circulation path 28 is damaged due to the vibration of the outer tank 3 and the motor 8.

Further, in the holder 40, since only the boss 42B, which is a part thereof, is fixed to the housing 2, even if the vibration of the compressor 26 is transmitted to the holder 40 via the refrigerant circulation path 28, this vibration is transmitted from the holder 40. It is difficult to transmit to the housing 2. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a problem of vibration of the housing 2 caused by the refrigerant circulation path 28.

Further, the refrigerant circulation passage 28 is fitted into the groove portion 40D of the holder 40 in a state of being covered with the elastic member 29, and each engaging portion 43B of the holder 40 is elastic so that the refrigerant circulation passage 28 can be displaced in the groove portion 40D. Engage with member 29. That is, the refrigerant circulation path 28 is loosely held by the holder 40 in a state of being covered with the elastic member 29. Therefore, the refrigerant circulation path 28 is fitted into the groove portion 40D with play according to the thickness of the elastic member 29 and the amount of elastic deformation of the engaging portion 43B. Therefore, even if the vibration of the compressor 26 is transmitted to the refrigerant circulation path 28, this vibration is absorbed by the displacement of the refrigerant circulation path 28 due to the elastic deformation of the elastic member 29 and the engaging portion 43B, so that the holder from the refrigerant circulation path 28 It is difficult to transmit to 40 and the housing 2. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a problem of vibration of the housing 2 caused by the refrigerant circulation path 28. In addition to the function of preventing vibration, the elastic member 29 also has a function of a heat insulating material. Therefore, for example, in the feed side flow path 28A of the refrigerant circulation path 28, the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 26 and becomes hot. Can be delivered to the heat exchanger 27 while maintaining that temperature.

Further, as described above, the compressor 26 is arranged at a position lower than the axis J, while the heat exchanger 27 is arranged at a position higher than the axis J. Therefore, the compressor 26 and the heat exchanger 27 are arranged separately in the vertical direction Z. With this configuration, the height dimension of the housing 2 can be suppressed and the volume of the housing 2 can be reduced as compared with the conventional configuration in which the compressor 26 and the heat exchanger 27 are integrated.

Further, when the compressor 26 and the heat exchanger 27 are arranged separately, the compressor 26 is less likely to be affected by the heat of the heat exchanger 27, and the compressor 26 and the heat exchanger are as in the conventional configuration. Since it is not necessary to house the 27 in the case, heat is less likely to be trapped around the compressor 26. Therefore, after the operation of the compressor 26 is stopped, it becomes easy to promote the natural cooling of the compressor 26, so that the cooling performance of the compressor 26 can be improved. Further, when a case accommodating the heat exchanger 27 is used, it is not necessary to form a vent for cooling the compressor 26 in the case or to provide an on-off valve for opening and closing the vent. Therefore, the airtightness in the outer tank 3 and the air circulation passage 20 can be improved to prevent the outflow of moisture.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims.

For example, in the drum type washer-dryer 1, instead of the configuration in which the drum 7 is arranged so that the axis J is along the horizontal direction H, the drum 7 may be arranged so that the axis J is inclined in the horizontal direction H. ..

1 Drum type washer / dryer 2 Housing 3 Outer tank 7 Drum 20 Air circulation path 20D Outlet 20E Return port 21 Blower 25 Heat pump 26 Compressor 27 Heat exchanger 28 Refrigerant circulation path 29 Elastic member 40 Holder 40D Groove 43B Engagement 45 Volt L Laundry J Axis

Claims (3)

With the housing
An outer tank that is housed in the housing and stores water,
A drum that is housed in the outer tub and is rotationally driven around a rotation axis extending in the front-rear direction to store laundry.
An air circulation path having an outlet and a return port connected to the outer tank,
A blower unit provided in the air circulation passage, which circulates the air in the outer tank by taking it out from the outlet into the air circulation passage and returning it to the outer tank from the return port.
A compressor arranged at a position lower than the rotation axis to compress the refrigerant and a compressor provided in the air circulation path at a position higher than the rotation axis to exchange heat between the refrigerant and the air in the air circulation path. A heat pump having a heat exchanger for performing the above and a refrigerant circulation path for circulating a refrigerant between the compressor and the heat exchanger.
A drum-type washer-dryer including a holder fixed to the housing and holding the refrigerant circulation path. Further including a fixing member for fixing a part of the holder to the housing.
The drum-type washer-dryer according to claim 1, wherein a part of the holder other than the part is not in contact with the housing. Further including an elastic member covering the refrigerant circulation path,
The drum according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the holder has a groove in which the refrigerant circulation path is fitted and an engaging portion that engages with the elastic member so that the refrigerant circulation path can be displaced in the groove. Type washer / dryer.

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