JP2765089B2 - Clothes dryer - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a semiconductor heater using a positive temperature coefficient thermistor element having a positive temperature resistance characteristic and a radiating fin, and a clothes dryer using the semiconductor heater. .

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 7 shows a configuration of a conventional semiconductor heater. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a semiconductor heating element, which is connected in plurality in series. Reference numeral 2 denotes an electrode plate, 3 denotes a radiation fin, and 4 denotes a terminal plate. The electrode plate 2, the radiation fin 3, and the terminal plate 4 are made of aluminum, and they are integrally brazed. The semiconductor heating element 1 is conductively sandwiched by a radiator 5 in which the electrode plate 2, the radiation fins 3, and the terminal plate 4 are integrated.

By connecting a plurality of semiconductor heaters having such a configuration in parallel, a predetermined amount of heat has been obtained.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in this configuration, there has been a serious problem in obtaining a high calorific value. The air is blown by the semiconductor element 1 and the radiator 5
However, there is a limit in the area of A × B, and a means for increasing the amount of air blow is required, so that the blower generates noise and the semiconductor heater is inefficient. The wave-shaped heat radiation fins 3 are generally about 0.25 mm in thickness, about 10 mm in height, and about 15 mm in width.
Unless the amount of blown air is increased or the number of semiconductor heat generating elements 1 is increased, a high heat generated cannot be obtained.
Cost had risen.

In such a conventional semiconductor heater, since a high heat value cannot be obtained, the drying time cannot be shortened in the clothes dryer, or noise reduction cannot be achieved by obtaining a predetermined heat value by reducing the blowing amount. Was.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a semiconductor heater capable of obtaining a high calorific value with high efficiency, shortening a drying time in a clothes dryer or reducing noise by reducing an amount of air blow, and heat discoloration of heat-sensitive clothes. Is also prevented.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, a flat aluminum thin plate is brazed on both sides of a corrugated aluminum fin made of aluminum to form a radiator, and a radiator is formed on the flat portion of the radiator. A semiconductor heating element is adhered, and a pair of the heat radiator is fixed to both surfaces of the semiconductor heating element as a single semiconductor heater unit, and this semiconductor heater unit is a circle of a drum front plate that rotatably supports a drum front wall. While accommodating plural units in the peripheral recess, a hot air port is arranged on the drum front plate where these semiconductor heater units are arranged so as to face the lower part of the drum,
The plurality of semiconductor heaters are arranged in series in a circumferential concave portion of the drum front plate, and the unit of the semiconductor heater on the “weak” side when switching between “strong” and “weak” of the heater is changed to the semiconductor heater on the “strong” side. Are arranged above the unit.

In the present invention, a plurality of semiconductor heater units are accommodated in a circumferential recess of the drum front plate that rotatably supports the drum front wall, and a hot air port is provided on the drum front plate on which the semiconductor heater units are arranged. A plurality of semiconductor heaters are arranged so as to face a lower portion, and the plurality of semiconductor heaters are arranged in series in a circumferential concave portion of the drum front plate, and a unit of a semiconductor heater on a “weak” side when the heater is switched between “strong” and “weak” Is located above the semiconductor heater unit on the "strong" side,
When drying a small amount of clothing that is sensitive to heat when using "weak",
Even if the heat-sensitive clothing accumulates on the bottom side of the drum due to a temporary stop or the like, it is possible to prevent the semiconductor heater unit from affecting the heat due to the high-temperature radiant heat. In addition, since the heat radiator is fixedly attached to both sides of the semiconductor heat generating element as a single semiconductor heater unit, the heat radiating performance of the heat radiator can be improved. The number of heating elements can be reduced, and cost can be reduced. In addition, when the same number of semiconductor heating elements are incorporated as before,
The number of rotations of the blower fan can be reduced, and noise can be reduced.

Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In FIG. 1, a drum 7 is rotatably supported in an outer frame 6 of a clothes dryer, and a heat exchange type blower 8 having a heat exchange function and a blowing function is provided at the rear of the drum 7. In other words, the heat exchange type blower 8 blows the drying air a and the cooling air b, flows both airs on both sides, and performs heat exchange between the two airs. Reference numeral 9 denotes a motor for driving the heat exchange type blower 8 and the drum 7 to rotate. Reference numeral 10 denotes a heater case in which a semiconductor heater 11 for heating dry air after heat exchange is housed, and houses the heat exchange type blower 8. It is connected to the fan case 12 via a duct 13. During operation, the drying air “a” passes through the semiconductor heater 11 in the heater case 10 and becomes a hot air in the drum 7.
Sent inside. The semiconductor heater 11 is divided into two units in series in a circumferential recess 17 of a drum front plate 16 which forms the front wall of the drum 7 and supports the drum. 16
a is a hot air port provided on the drum front plate.

The semiconductor heater 11 is, as shown in FIGS.
A radiator 14 is formed by brazing a flat aluminum thin plate 12a to both sides of a corrugated aluminum fin 12 made of aluminum. A plurality of semiconductor heating elements formed on the flat plate portion
The two surfaces of the semiconductor heat-generating element 15 are fixed to a pair of both surfaces of a plurality of semiconductor heat-generating elements 15 to form one unit, and each of the heat-radiating elements 14 is provided on the outer aluminum thin plate 12a side. The terminal 18 is fixed and power is applied.

The relationship between the thickness t of the aluminum fins 12 and the peak height h of the wave shape is t ≧ 0.022 h, and the peak height h ≒ the width W of the thermistor element.

In FIG. 4, the plate thickness of the aluminum fins 12 and the amount of heat transfer per fin are shown, and the average value of the experimental values is shown (note that the calculated values are also at the same level and are omitted). Here, when the height h of the aluminum fins 12 is h = 10, the amount of heat transfer is saturated when the plate thickness is about 0.25 mm (this point is x), and when the height h = 15, the amount of heat transfer is saturated from about 0.33 mm ( This point is assumed to be y), and any further increase in the thickness becomes almost ineffective, and the optimum setting for the highly efficient use range is around 0.33 mm at h = 15. The amount of heat transfer from the x point to the y point is improved by about 30%. As shown in FIG. 5, the fin height of 15 mm is the highest rate of heat transfer. In this condition, aluminum fins
Twelve peak pitches were determined under a constant condition of 2.2 mm.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the amount of heat transfer is
The cost can be reduced by reducing the number of semiconductor heating elements and minimizing the amount of aluminum fins used, thereby achieving a significant cost reduction. In addition, the cost can be increased without increasing the number of semiconductor heating elements. An efficient calorific value is obtained.

That is, as a semiconductor heater with high efficiency overall, the peak height h is 15 mm, the thickness of the aluminum fin plate is t0.33 mm or more, and h ≒ the width W of the semiconductor heating element. Therefore, t ≧ 0.022h, h ≒ the width W of the semiconductor heating element, and the present invention is applied to a similar shape.

In FIG. 6, the details of the embodiment used for the clothes dryer are shown, and the units of the semiconductor heater 11 are substantially connected in series as a plurality of units in the concave portion 17 in the circumference of the drum front plate 16 which rotatably supports the front wall of the drum 7. It is divided and arranged.

In the clothes dryer using the semiconductor heater 11, the semiconductor heating elements 1 are arranged substantially in series, so that a plurality of units can be housed in the space inside the concave portion 17 of the drum front plate 16 in a space-saving manner. Expand the opening area of the balloon,
Slow warm air can be supplied to the inside of the drum 7 and a large amount of heat can be generated, so that the drying time can be reduced. On the other hand, since a large amount of heat can be generated, the number of revolutions of the heat exchange type blower 8 can be reduced, and noise can be reduced.

By disposing the "weak" side of the heater at the time of switching between "strong" and "weak" at the position z above the drum front plate 16, it is possible to temporarily stop the drying in a small amount which is weak to heat such as lingerie when using the "weak". For example, since the object to be dried is left at the lower portion of the drum, discoloration or the like due to heat can be prevented without being affected by the high-temperature radiation heat of the heater.

As is clear from the above embodiments, according to the present invention, an efficient semiconductor heater can be provided by reducing the number of semiconductor heating elements, and a highly efficient semiconductor heater that can be manufactured with an inexpensive configuration can be obtained. In addition, it is possible to reduce the drying time in the clothes dryer and the amount of air blow, thus reducing noise. In addition, when using the "weak" heater, the heat is radiated at a high temperature, such as when drying a small amount of lingerie with weak heat. Discoloration and the like due to the above can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a clothes dryer in an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of a semiconductor heater of the embodiment, FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the semiconductor heater of the main part, and FIG. Is a graph showing the thickness of the aluminum fins and the amount of heat transfer, FIG. 5 is a graph showing the fin height and the amount of heat transfer, FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the incorporation of the semiconductor heater and the front plate of the drum, and FIG. It is an external appearance perspective view of a heater. 6 ... dryer outer frame, 7 ... drum, 8 ... heat exchange blower, 10 ... heater case, 11 ... semiconductor heater, 12 ...
… Aluminum fin, 12a …… Aluminum thin plate, 14 …… Heat radiator, 1
5: semiconductor heating element, 16: drum front plate, 17: recess in the circumference of the drum front plate.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A radiator is formed by brazing a flat aluminum thin plate on both sides of a corrugated aluminum fin made of aluminum to form a radiator, and a semiconductor heating element is bonded to the flat portion of the radiator. A pair of semiconductor heater elements fixed to both sides of the semiconductor heating element to form a single semiconductor heater unit, and a plurality of such semiconductor heater units are accommodated in a circumferential recess of a drum front plate that rotatably supports the drum front wall, A hot air port is arranged on the drum front plate on which these semiconductor heater units are arranged so as to face the lower portion of the drum, and the plurality of semiconductor heaters are arranged in series in a circumferential concave portion of the drum front plate, and the heater “ A clothes dryer in which the semiconductor heater unit on the "weak" side when switching between "strong" and "weak" is arranged above the "strong" side of the semiconductor heater unit.