JP2024012850A - Blower, and washer/dryer and dryer equipped with the same - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a blower equipped with a centrifugal impeller and a heater in which the flow of air to the heater becomes uniform and the increase of flow path resistance is suppressed.SOLUTION: A blower includes: an electric motor; a centrifugal impeller provided on a rotating shaft of the electric motor; a scroll passage provided around the centrifugal impeller; an enlarged passage provided at a downstream end of the scroll passage; and a heater provided at a downstream end of the enlarged flow path, where the enlarged passage is provided with a convex portion extending from a radially outer wall surface to a radially inner wall surface when viewed from the centrifugal impeller.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

The present disclosure relates to a blower, and a washer/dryer and dryer equipped with the same.

When drying clothes using a washer/dryer, which can perform the continuous process from washing to drying, a blower and heating device create high-temperature, low-humidity air, which is blown into the washing tub to raise the temperature of the clothes and remove moisture from them. This is done by evaporating the water and discharging the evaporated water outside the machine. At this time, in order to increase the heating efficiency in the heating means, it is desirable that the flow generated by the blower be applied to the heating means at a uniform flow rate.

Patent Document 1 discloses that in a hot air unit 22 built into a washer/dryer, in order to uniformly distribute the flow rate of air discharged from a discharge port 208 toward a heating heater 24 by rotation of a blower fan 202, a rear side On the end 209 side, there is a protrusion 211 that protrudes toward the nose 210 so as to narrow the discharge port 208 , and is located between the rear end 209 and one end of the heater 24 . It is disclosed that the opposing centers have a raised shape.

JP2009-285235A

The hot air unit described in Patent Document 1 has a configuration in which a raised portion is provided toward the nose portion (tongue portion) of the blower to make the flow uniform. However, in the configuration described in Patent Document 1, since the raised portion is provided toward the nose portion, the rising portion of the raised portion exists within the scroll, and the flow path cross-sectional area near the impeller where the flow velocity is high is becomes smaller. For this reason, friction loss between the fluid and the wall surface increases, and there is a concern that the blower efficiency will decrease.

The present disclosure aims to make the flow of air to the heater uniform in a blower including a centrifugal impeller and a heater, and to suppress an increase in flow path resistance.

The blower of the present disclosure includes an electric motor, a centrifugal impeller provided on the rotating shaft of the electric motor, a scroll flow path provided around the centrifugal impeller, and an enlarged flow path provided at the downstream end of the scroll flow path. and a heater provided at the downstream end of the expanded flow path, and the expanded flow path is provided with a convex portion from a radially outer wall surface toward a radially inner wall surface when viewed from the centrifugal impeller. .

According to the present disclosure, in a blower including a centrifugal impeller and a heater, the flow of air to the heater can be made uniform, and an increase in flow path resistance can be suppressed.

It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a washing machine provided with an air blower of an embodiment. It is an external perspective view showing the blower of an example. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the blower according to the embodiment, viewed from the fan cover side. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the blower according to the embodiment, viewed from the electric motor side. It is an exploded perspective view showing an electric heater of an example. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a state in which a fan cover is removed from the blower of the embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a washing machine including a blower according to an embodiment. Note that although a vertical washer/dryer will be described as an example below, the present invention can also be applied to a drum-type washer/dryer and a drum-type dryer in which a laundry loading/unloading port is formed on the front side.

As shown in FIG. 1, the washing machine S includes an outer frame 1, which is a housing, an outer tank 2 for storing washing water, a rotating tank 3, a drive motor 10, a blower 22, and the like. The outer tank 2 is built into the outer frame 1 and supported by the outer frame 1 in a vibration-proof manner. The rotating tub 3 is a washing tub and a dehydrating tub that accommodates laundry such as clothes to be washed and dried, and is provided inside the outer tub 2. Further, the rotating tank 3 is rotatably supported within the outer tank 2.

At the bottom of the rotating tub 3, a stirring blade 4 for stirring and washing the laundry is rotatably provided. The agitating blade 4 repeats forward and reverse rotation during washing operation and drying operation. Further, the stirring blade 4 rotates at high speed together with the rotating tank 3 during dehydration operation. Most of the moisture from the laundry in the rotating tub 3 is removed by dehydration.

Further, an outer lid 5 is provided on the upper part of the outer frame 1. This outer lid 5 is provided on a top cover 6 provided on the upper part of the outer frame 1 so as to be openable and closable. An inner lid 34 is provided on the upper part of the outer tank 2 so as to be openable and closable. By opening the outer lid 5 and the inner lid 34, laundry can be taken in and out of the rotating tub 3. Note that the left side in the figure is the front side of the washing machine S.

Further, the washing machine S is equipped with a drying mechanism. This drying mechanism performs circulation and dehumidification of drying air for drying the laundry in the rotary tub 3. Further, the drying mechanism mainly includes a drying air circulation path 9 and a blower 22. The drying air circulation path 9 includes a bottom circulation path 20 connected to the bottom of the outer tank 2 so as to communicate therewith, and a dehumidification vertical path 21 extending upward from the bottom circulation path 20.

The suction side of the blower 22 is connected to the upper side of the dehumidifying vertical passage 21. A discharge side of the blower 22 is connected to communicate with a return connection circulation path 25 . Further, a drying filter 45 is arranged between the blower 22 and the vertical dehumidifying passage 21 to prevent foreign matter from flowing into the blower 22. The blower 22 has a built-in electric heater.

The return connection circulation path 25 has an upper bellows hose 23 and is connected to communicate with the upper part of the outer tank 2 via the upper bellows hose 23 . The bottom circulation path 20 also has a lower bellows hose 26, and is connected to the bottom of the outer tank 2 via the lower bellows hose 26 so as to communicate therewith.

The lower bellows hose 26 is connected to the bottom drop part 31 of the outer tank 2. This bottom drop portion 31 communicates with a washing water drainage channel 42 and a washing water circulation channel 43 via a lower communication pipe 41. A drain valve 44 is provided in the washing water drain channel 42. A foreign matter removal trap 32 is provided in the washing water circulation channel 43.

To summarize, in the drying mechanism, the drying air sent from the blower 22 passes through the return connection circulation path 25, the outer tank 2, the bottom depression 31, the lower bellows hose 26, and the drying air circulation path 9 in this order. , and is configured to return to the blower 22.

The drain valve 44 is closed during a washing operation or a drying operation. Further, the drain valve 44 opens when washing water is drained, and drains the washing water accumulated in the outer tub 2 from the washing water drain path 42 to the outside of the washing machine S (outside the machine).

Further, in the washing machine S, the centrifugal impeller 300 (see FIG. 2) of the blower 22 rotates, so that drying air flows through the rotating tub 3 and dries the laundry in the rotating tub 3. Furthermore, the drying air in which moisture has been condensed in the dehumidifying area is reheated by the electric heater 24 (see FIG. 3) of the blower 22 and flows through the rotating tub 3, thereby further evaporating moisture from the laundry. The laundry is dried by repeating this water removal with circulation of drying air.

Hereinafter, the blower of the example will be described in detail.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing the blower of the embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 2, the blower 22 includes a fan cover 51, a fan casing 52, an electric motor 100, and a centrifugal impeller 300. Note that the fan cover 51 and the fan casing 52 constitute a casing 500. The blower 22 is installed within the outer frame 1 (see FIG. 1) of the washing machine S (see FIG. 1), for example, with the fan cover 51 of the blower 22 facing substantially downward. However, the method of attaching the blower 22 is not limited to this.

A suction port 57 and a discharge port 58 are formed in the fan cover 51 . The suction port 57 is connected to the dehumidifying vertical passage 21 (see FIG. 1) via the dry filter 45 (see FIG. 1). The outlet 58 is connected to the return connection circuit 25 (see FIG. 1) of the drying air circuit.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the blower of this embodiment, viewed from the fan cover side.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the blower of this embodiment, viewed from the motor side.

As shown in FIG. 3, the fan cover 51 has an elongated shape in one direction, with a suction port 57 formed in one longitudinal direction, and an exhaust port 58 formed in the other longitudinal direction. The suction port 57 is a circular through hole, and faces the center of the suction opening 302 (suction portion) of the centrifugal impeller 300.

The discharge port 58 is a circular through hole and is located downstream of the electric heater 24. Further, the diameter of the discharge port 58 is larger than the diameter of the suction port 57. Further, the suction port 57 and the discharge port 58 are arranged in substantially the same direction.

Furthermore, screw fixing portions 91 that are screwed to the fan casing 52 are formed at a plurality of locations on the peripheral edge of the fan cover 51 .

The fan casing 52 has a shape corresponding to the fan cover 51. When the fan casing 52 and the fan cover 51 are combined, a space is formed between the fan cover 51 and the fan casing 52 in which the centrifugal impeller 300 and the electric heater 24 are arranged.

Further, the fan casing 52 is formed with a shaft insertion hole 80 into which the rotating shaft 101 of the electric motor 100 is inserted. Further, a screw insertion portion 92 into which a screw (not shown) is inserted is formed on the outer peripheral edge of the fan casing 52 at a position corresponding to the screw fixing portion 91 of the fan cover 51.

Further, the fan casing 52 and the fan cover 51 form a scroll passage 70 around the outer periphery (radially outside) of the centrifugal impeller 300. The scroll flow path 70 is configured such that the flow path width on the tongue portion 71 side is narrow, and the flow path width gradually increases from the tongue portion 71 in a clockwise direction. Note that the tongue portion 71 is the starting point of the scroll flow path 70. Further, the outlet of the scroll flow path 70 is a scroll discharge port 72.

Further, an enlarged flow path 73 is provided between the scroll discharge port 72 and the electric heater 24. Note that the enlarged channel 73 is provided such that the enlarged channel outlet 74 has a larger cross-sectional area than the inlet (scroll discharge port 72) of the enlarged channel 73.

Further, the enlarged flow path 73 has a convex portion 75 that protrudes from a radially outer wall surface 76 toward a radially inner wall surface 77 when viewed from the centrifugal impeller 300 . If a surface passing through the apex A of the convex portion 75 and parallel to the enlarged channel outlet 74 is defined as a convex channel cross section 78, the area of the convex channel cross section 78 is smaller than the scroll discharge port 72. Note that the scroll discharge port 72, the enlarged channel outlet 74, and the convex channel cross section 78 are planes parallel to the front surface (considered as a plane) of the electric heater 24. Here, the normal line of the scroll discharge port 72 (channel cross section) does not intersect with the rotation axis 101 (rotation center axis) of the centrifugal impeller 300. Therefore, it can be said that the radially outer wall surface 76 is located at a position radially farther away from the rotating shaft 101 than the radially inner wall surface 77 . Therefore, in this specification, the terms "radially outer" and "radially inner" are used.

Further, the flow path length L1 from the apex A of the convex portion 75 to the enlarged flow path outlet 74 is set to be larger than the width L2 of the heating portion 201 of the electric heater 24.

The electric motor 100 has a rotating shaft 101 coupled to the centrifugal impeller 300 at its radial center, and is attached to the fan casing 52 . Further, the electric motor 100 includes a rotor (rotor) fixed to the rotating shaft 101, a stator (stator) provided around the rotor, and a bearing that rotatably supports the rotating shaft 101. Further, the electric motor 100 has a substantially cylindrical case 102 that accommodates a rotor, a stator, and a bearing.

The centrifugal impeller 300 is configured by combining a shroud plate 301, a hub plate 311, and blades 321. The shroud plate 301 has a circular suction opening 302 formed in the center in the radial direction. The hub plate 311 is formed with a shaft hole (not shown) for fixing the rotating shaft 101. The blade 321 is constructed by sandwiching the shroud plate 301 and the hub plate 311 from both sides in the axial direction Ax.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the electric heater of this embodiment.

As shown in this figure, the electric heater 24 includes a large number of fins, a rectangular heating part 201 that is a heat generating part, a terminal part 202 that connects the heating part 201 to an electric circuit, and a heating part 202 that fixes the heating part 201. The terminal portion fixing device 203 includes a terminal portion fixing device 203 and a terminal portion fixing device 204 that fixes the terminal portion 202.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the blower 22, when the centrifugal impeller 300 rotates in the W direction, air (fluid) is sucked in from the suction opening 302 through the suction port 57, and the air is transferred to the centrifugal impeller 300. flows out from the outer periphery. The outflowing air passes through the scroll flow path 70 and flows into the enlarged flow path 73. The air then passes through the electric heater 24, is heated, and flows to the outlet 58. The heated air flowing out from the outlet 58 passes through the return connection circuit 25 and flows into the outer tank 2 (see FIG. 1).

Next, the features and effects of this embodiment will be explained.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a state in which the fan cover is removed from the blower of this embodiment.

In FIG. 6, the flow exiting the centrifugal impeller 300 flows into the scroll channel 70 and then into the enlarged channel 73. At this time, at the inlet of the enlarged flow path 73 (scroll discharge port 72), the flow velocity on the radially outer wall surface 76 side becomes higher than on the radially inner wall surface 77 side due to the influence of centrifugal force, resulting in a biased flow. . If the enlarged flow path 73 does not have the convex portion 75, the flow reaches the electric heater 24 with the same flow velocity distribution, and a uniform flow cannot be provided to the electric heater 24.

Here, the scroll discharge port 72 is defined as a plane that passes through the tongue portion 71 and is parallel to the front surface of the electric heater 24. In this figure, this corresponds to the position of the rising portion (upstream end) of the convex portion 75. However, the rising portion of the convex portion 75 is not limited to this position, and may be arranged downstream from this position. The flow path upstream of the scroll discharge port 72 is included in the scroll flow path 70. The scroll flow path 70 is intentionally provided with neither convex portions nor concave portions. Therefore, the flow path wall of the scroll flow path 70 has a shape close to the theoretically appropriate shape for the scroll flow path 70.

As shown in FIG. 6, when the enlarged flow path 73 has a convex portion 75, the direction of the flow on the radially outer side is changed by the convex portion 75, and a part of the flow flows radially inward. Thereby, the deviation of the flow in the enlarged flow path 73 is reduced, and the flow velocity of the air flowing into the electric heater 24 can be made almost uniform.

At this time, if the flow path length L1 cannot be secured to a sufficient length, the flow is changed by the convex portion 75 and reaches the electric heater 24 before being diffused, causing a uniform flow to the electric heater 24. may not be able to give.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the convex portion 75 is provided so that at least the flow path length L1 is larger than the width L2 of the heating portion of the electric heater 24. Thereby, the flow changed by the convex portion 75 can be sufficiently diffused before reaching the electric heater 24, and a more uniform flow can be provided to the electric heater 24.

Also, when a line B (indicated by a dotted line in the figure) passing through the apex A of the convex portion 75 and perpendicular to the upstream surface of the electric heater 24 is drawn, the line B is It is desirable that it passes closer to the radially outer wall surface 76 than the center of FIG. 5). Thereby, the flow changed by the convex portion 75 reaches the electric heater 24 without being biased too much toward the radially inner wall surface 77, so that a more uniform flow can be provided to the heater.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the convex portion 75 is provided not within the scroll flow path 70 but within the enlarged flow path 73 downstream thereof. As a result, the convex portion 75 can be provided without narrowing the flow passage cross-sectional area around the centrifugal impeller 300 where the flow velocity is high, and the friction loss between the fluid and the wall surface forming the scroll flow passage 70 can be greatly increased. This makes it possible to provide a uniform flow to the electric heater 24.

As described above, the blower 22 of this embodiment includes the electric motor 100, the rotating shaft 101 rotatably provided on the electric motor 100, the centrifugal impeller 300 provided on the rotating shaft 101, and the surroundings of the centrifugal impeller 300. A scroll flow path 70 provided, an enlarged flow path 73 provided downstream of the scroll flow path 70, a convex portion 75 provided within the enlarged flow path 73, and an electric heater 24 provided downstream of the enlarged flow path. Be prepared.

The convex portion 75 in the enlarged flow path 73 allows a part of the flow biased toward the outside in the radial direction to be guided toward the inside in the radial direction, thereby making it possible to provide a uniform flow to the electric heater 24 .

In addition, since the convex portion 75 is provided so that the flow path length L1 is larger than the width L2 of the heating part of the electric heater 24, the flow changed by the convex portion 75 is sufficiently diffused before reaching the electric heater 24. However, the electric heater 24 can provide a uniform flow.

Furthermore, when a line B is drawn that passes through the apex A of the convex portion 75 and is perpendicular to the upstream side surface of the electric heater 24, the line B extends from the center of the heating portion 201 of the electric heater 24 on the radially outer wall surface 76 side. By providing the convex portion 75 so as to pass through the convex portion 75, the changed flow reaches the electric heater 24 without being biased too much toward the radially inner wall surface 77, and a more uniform flow can be provided to the electric heater 24.

Furthermore, by providing the convex portion 75 not in the scroll flow path 70 but in the enlarged flow path 73 downstream thereof, the convex portion 75 can be provided without narrowing the flow path cross-sectional area around the centrifugal impeller 300 where the flow velocity is high. It is possible to provide a uniform flow to the electric heater 24 without significantly increasing the friction loss between the fluid and the wall surface forming the scroll flow path 70.

Further, regarding the slope of the curve of the convex portion 75 shown in FIG. 6, the slope is gentler on the downstream side than on the upstream side of the apex A of the convex portion 75. With such a configuration, separation of the air flow passing near the convex portion 75 can be suppressed. Thereby, the efficiency of the blower can be improved and noise can be suppressed.

Further, the blower 22 of this embodiment is included in the washing machine S. Since the blower 22 can improve the heating efficiency of the electric heater 24 while suppressing performance deterioration, it is possible to reduce the power consumption of the washing machine S.

In addition, in the hot air unit described in Patent Document 1, a rising portion of the protrusion is provided on the upstream side of the scroll discharge port as defined above. Therefore, the flow resistance in the scroll flow path on the upstream side of the scroll discharge port is large. Further, the distance from the apex of the protrusion to the heater is very short compared to the width of the heater. Therefore, the air that has passed through the scroll discharge port reaches the heater before its flow velocity distribution becomes uniform.

In the embodiment of the present disclosure, these problems of Patent Document 1 can be solved.

Desirable embodiments according to the present disclosure will be collectively described below.

In the blower, the enlarged channel extends from the scroll outlet, which is the downstream end of the scroll channel, to the front surface of the heating section of the heater, and the scroll outlet is parallel to the front surface of the heating section.

The length of the flow path from the apex of the convex portion to the front surface of the heating section of the heater is longer than the width of the heating section of the heater.

The convex portion is provided such that a perpendicular to the front surface of the heating portion of the heater, which passes through the apex of the convex portion, passes closer to the radially outer wall surface of the enlarged channel than the center of the heating portion.

The washer/dryer includes the above blower.

The dryer includes the above blower.

1: Outer frame, 2: Outer tank, 3: Rotating tank, 9: Drying air circulation path, 20: Bottom circulation path, 21: Dehumidification vertical path, 22: Air blower, 23: Upper bellows hose, 24: Electric heater , 25: Return connection circulation path, 26: Lower bellows hose, 31: Bottom drop, 45: Drying filter, 51: Fan cover, 52: Fan casing, 57: Suction port, 58: Discharge port, 70: Scroll channel , 71: Tongue, 72: Scroll discharge port, 73: Enlarged channel, 74: Enlarged channel outlet, 75: Convex portion, 76: Radial outer wall surface, 77: Radial inner wall surface, 78: Convex channel Cross section, 100: electric motor, 101: rotating shaft, 201: heating section, 300: centrifugal impeller, 301: shroud plate, 302: suction opening, 311: hub plate, 321: blade, S: washing machine.

Claims (6)

electric motor and
a centrifugal impeller provided on the rotating shaft of the electric motor;
a scroll flow path provided around the centrifugal impeller;
an enlarged flow path provided at the downstream end of the scroll flow path;
a heater provided at the downstream end of the expanded flow path,
The enlarged flow path is provided with a convex portion extending from a radially outer wall surface toward a radially inner wall surface when viewed from the centrifugal impeller. The enlarged flow path extends from the scroll outlet, which is the downstream end of the scroll flow path, to the front surface of the heating section of the heater,
The blower according to claim 1, wherein the scroll discharge port is parallel to the front surface of the heating section. The blower according to claim 1, wherein a flow path length from the apex of the convex portion to the front surface of the heating section of the heater is longer than the width of the heating section of the heater. The convex portion is provided such that a perpendicular to the front surface of the heating portion of the heater, which passes through the apex of the convex portion, passes closer to the radially outer wall surface of the enlarged flow path than the center of the heating portion. The blower according to claim 1, wherein: A washer/dryer comprising the blower according to any one of claims 1 to 4. A dryer comprising the blower according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

Images