JP4839748B2 - Clothes dryer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a clothes drying apparatus mounted on a washing machine with a drying function that performs washing and drying in the same tank used in general households or a clothes dryer that performs only drying.

  Conventionally, as this type of clothes drying apparatus, there are those using a heater as a heat source and those using a heat pump device as a heat source (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  Hereinafter, a washing / drying machine equipped with the conventional clothes drying apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of a conventional washing and drying machine described in the above-mentioned document. In FIG. 4, the washing / drying machine 1 has a casing 2, and a door 12 for attaching and removing clothes 6 is attached to the center of the casing 2, and a rotating drum 3 for storing the clothes 6 is accommodated therein. Has been. In a predetermined part of the rotating drum 3, a beater 5 for lifting and dropping the clothes 6 with the rotation of the rotating drum 3 and a number of punching holes 4 through which washing water 7 and circulating air 9 for drying are opened and closed are opened. is there. The shaft 11 of the rotating drum 3 receives power for rotation from a driving motor (not shown).

  Further, the rear surface of the rotating drum 3 in the casing 2 is partitioned by a partition wall 22 except for the air inlet 24 and the air outlet 23, and ducts 10 and 13 through which the circulating air 9 passes are formed. The lower part of the front surface of the partition wall 22 constitutes a washing tub 14, and the lower part of the rotating drum 3 faces the portion of the washing tub 14. Each of the air ducts 10 and 13 includes a compressor 19, a condenser (condenser) 18, a fan 17, an expansion valve 20, an evaporator (evaporator) 15 and the like, and a so-called heat pump cycle is formed. A part of the condenser 18 is extended to the outer back surface of the casing 2 to form a radiator 16. 21 is a drain drain pipe, and 8 is a washing drain pipe.

  Next, each process and operation of the conventional washing and drying machine having the above configuration will be described.

  In the washing and rinsing process, the door 12 is opened, the garment 6 and an appropriate amount of detergent are put in, the door 12 is closed, and the following processes are executed.

  A prescribed amount of water 7 is supplied from a water supply valve (not shown) to the washing tub 14 up to the position of the water level A. The rotating drum 3 rotates continuously or intermittently at the programmed number of rotations to perform cleaning. During this time, the garment 6 is lifted and dropped by the beater 5. After washing is completed, the water is drained from the washing drain pipe 8 of the washing tub 14 to the outside of the machine.

  Subsequently, the rinsing process is performed in the same process. Rinsing water is also drained out of the machine from the washing drain pipe 8 as washing drain.

  In the dehydration step, the rotating drum 3 rotates at a programmed number of rotations to dehydrate moisture in the clothing 6. The dewatered water is drained out of the machine from the washing drain pipe 8 as washing drain.

  In the drying process, the compressor 19, the fan 17 and the rotating drum 3 are operated, and the circulating air 9 circulates inside the ducts 10 and 13 and the rotating drum 3.

  The water vapor evaporated from the clothing 6 is brought into contact with the evaporator 15 through the air outlet 23 and the duct 10 together with the circulating air 9, and is cooled and dehumidified as condensed water (condensed water). The dehumidified circulating air 9 is sent to the condenser 18 by the fan 17, heated there to become hot air, flows into the rotary drum 3 through the duct 13 and the air inlet 24, and evaporates moisture from the clothing 6 again. Let The dehumidified condensed water is drained out of the machine through the drain drain pipe 21.

During this time, the rotating drum 3 rotates continuously or intermittently at a preset number of rotations as in the washing process. In the above, the process which performs continuously from washing to drying was explained.
Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 6-75628

  However, in the configuration of the conventional clothes drying apparatus, there is no detection means when the refrigerant sealed in the heat pump cycle leaks to the outside, and when the refrigerant leaks, the pressure of the entire refrigerant circuit decreases. As a result, the capacity decreases, resulting in an excessive load on the compressor 19, shortening the life of the equipment, and the lubricating oil for the motor in the compressor 19 together with the refrigerant. It had the subject of leaking out and damaging the compressor 19.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a clothing drying apparatus that can detect that a refrigerant has leaked and protect a compressor.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, the clothes drying apparatus of the present invention is reduced in pressure by a compressor, a radiator that radiates heat of the compressed refrigerant, a throttle means that reduces the pressure of the high-pressure refrigerant, and the pressure is reduced. A heat pump device constructed by connecting the refrigerant with a heat absorber that takes heat from the surroundings with a pipe line so that the refrigerant circulates, a dryer for housing clothing, and a compressor driving means for driving the compressor, Compressor rotation speed detection means for detecting the rotation speed of the compressor, blower means for blowing drying air, and the drying air is led to the heat absorber via the radiator and the drying cabinet, and again the radiator. A circulating air passage returning to the compressor, a compressor inflow current value detecting means for detecting a current value flowing into the compressor, a rotational speed detecting means for detecting the rotational speed of the blower means, and the compressor having a predetermined rotational speed At the above time, the air blowing means is more than a predetermined number of revolutions. And a control means for controlling the compressor to stop when the value of the current flowing into the compressor falls below a predetermined value, from the amount of current flowing into the compressor and the rotational speed of the compressor While detecting that the refrigerant has leaked, the compressor can be protected even if the refrigerant leaks by stopping the compressor by the control means.

  When the clothes drying apparatus of the present invention detects that the refrigerant has leaked from the rotational speed of the blowing means, the amount of current flowing into the compressor, and the rotational speed of the compressor, the control means stops the compressor, The refrigerant leakage can be accurately detected with little influence from the state, and the compressor can be reliably protected even when the refrigerant leaks.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a compressor, a radiator that radiates heat of the compressed refrigerant, a throttle means that depressurizes the pressure of the high-pressure refrigerant, and a heat absorber that draws heat from the surroundings by the reduced-pressure refrigerant. A heat pump device configured to be connected by a pipe line so that the refrigerant circulates, a drying cabinet for storing clothes, a compressor driving means for driving the compressor, and a compressor rotation for detecting the rotational speed of the compressor A number detecting means, a blowing means for blowing drying air, a circulation air path for guiding the drying air to the heat absorber through the radiator and the drying cabinet, and returning the heat to the radiator again, and flowing into the compressor A compressor inflow current value detecting means for detecting a current value to be detected, a rotational speed detecting means for detecting the rotational speed of the air blowing means,
When the compressor is at a predetermined rotational speed or higher, the compressor is controlled to stop when the blower means is at a predetermined rotational speed or higher and the current value flowing into the compressor is lower than a predetermined value. When the control means is provided and the refrigerant is leaked from the rotational speed of the blower means, the amount of current flowing into the compressor, and the rotational speed of the compressor, the control means stops the compressor. The refrigerant leakage can be accurately detected with little influence from the state, and the compressor can be reliably protected even when the refrigerant leaks.

In the second aspect of the invention, in particular, the control means of the first aspect of the invention is characterized in that when the predetermined time has passed since the clothing drying apparatus started operation and the compressor is at a predetermined number of revolutions or more , the blower means has a predetermined rotation. The compressor is stopped when the current value flowing into the compressor is less than or equal to a predetermined value, and the compressor is operated after a predetermined time has elapsed since the clothing drying apparatus started operating. When detecting that the refrigerant has leaked from the value of the current flowing into the compressor and the rotation speed of the compressor, the control means stops the compressor, so that it is possible to accurately detect the refrigerant leak with little influence from the clothing and atmosphere conditions, When the refrigerant leaks, the compressor can be reliably protected.

According to a third aspect of the invention, in particular, the control means of the first or second aspect of the invention is configured such that when the compressor has a predetermined rotation speed or higher , the blower means has a predetermined rotation speed or higher and the current value flowing into the compressor is Is stopped for a predetermined time or longer, the compressor is stopped, and the state where the current value flowing into the compressor and the rotational speed of the compressor satisfy the predetermined condition is determined for a predetermined time. When it is detected that the refrigerant has leaked from the continuation, the compressor is stopped by the control means, so that it is possible to detect the refrigerant leak with high accuracy with little influence from the state of clothing and atmosphere, and if the refrigerant leaks, the compressor Can be reliably protected.

  In the fourth aspect of the invention, in particular, the compressor inflow current value detecting means according to any one of the first to third aspects of the invention is adapted to detect a current value flowing between the compressor driving means and the compressor. Thus, by directly detecting the current flowing into the compressor, more accurate refrigerant leakage detection can be performed.

  In the fifth aspect of the invention, in particular, the compressor inflow current value detecting means according to any one of the first to third aspects of the invention is adapted to detect a current value flowing between the power source and the compressor driving means. A current flowing into the compressor can be estimated from a current value flowing between a power source and the compressor driving means.

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

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a washing / drying machine equipped with a clothes drying apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention as seen from the back, and FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the washing / drying machine.

  In FIG. 1, a washing tub 26 is provided in a washing / drying machine main body 25 (hereinafter referred to as “main body 25”) in the present embodiment, and a motor 27 is attached. The washing tub 26 is attached to the main body 25 by being supported by suspensions 29 on both sides and an upper suspension 30.

  The main body 25 includes a compressor 35 that compresses the vaporized refrigerant, a radiator 36 that radiates heat of the compressed high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant, and an expansion valve or capillary tube for reducing the pressure of the high-pressure refrigerant. A heat pump device 51 configured by sequentially connecting a throttle means 37 and a heat absorber 38 that takes heat from the surroundings of the refrigerant that has been decompressed and reduced in pressure, and is connected to the compressor 35 through a conduit 39 so that the refrigerant circulates again. It has.

  The air path 40 is configured to connect the heat absorber 38 as a dehumidifying means for cooling the drying air and the radiator 36 as a heating means for heating the drying air. The washing tub 26 and the air passage 40 are connected by flexible hoses 41 and 42. The air passage 40 is provided with air blowing means 43. A duct 44 is provided on the outer wall of the washing tub 26 and communicates the inside of the washing tub 26 with the flexible hose 41. An arrow B indicates the flow of drying air in the duct 44 and the air passage 40.

  As described above, the circulation hose 53 in which the dry air circulates is formed by the flexible hose 42, the washing tub 26 that houses the rotating drum 28 described later, the duct 44, the flexible hose 41, and the air path 40.

  In FIG. 2, reference numeral 28 denotes a rotating drum serving as a drying cabinet for storing clothes, which is directly connected to the shaft of the motor 27 and attached in the washing tub 26. A door 32 for loading clothes 31 is provided at a position corresponding to the front opening of the washing tub 26 and the rotary drum 28. A gap between the main body 25 and the washing tub 26 is substantially sealed by a bellows 33 and a door packing 34 so that air does not leak into the main body 25 or outside the machine. A plurality of holes 45 and openings 46 through which washing water and drying air enter and exit are provided on the side wall and bottom of the rotating drum 28. The opening 56 is provided on the inner wall of the washing tub 26 and connects the air passage between the washing tub 26 and the duct 44.

  An arrow C indicates the flow of drying air in the washing tub 26 and the rotating drum 28.

  The washing drainage channel 47 is a channel for draining wastewater during washing. Condensed water generated in the heat absorber 38 during drying is received in a water reservoir 67. One end of a condensation drainage channel 48 having a pump 68 is connected to the bottom 69 of the water reservoir 67, and the other end of the condensation drainage channel 48 and the washing drainage channel 47 are connected to one drainage pipe 49. The tip 50 of the drain pipe 49 is open to the atmosphere outside the machine. There is one drain valve 60 at the junction of the washing drainage channel 47 and the condensation drainage channel 48, and the drainage treatment means is constituted by the washing drainage channel 47, the condensation drainage channel 48, the drainage pipe 49 and the drainage valve 60.

  Reference numeral 71 denotes a compressor rotation speed detection means for detecting the rotation speed of the compressor 35, and 72 denotes a control means for controlling the operation of the compressor 35. The compressor driving unit 73 is installed between a power source (not shown) and the compressor 35, and drives the compressor 35 by causing a current to flow through the compressor 35 in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 72. 74 is a compressor inflow current detecting means 74 for detecting a current value flowing from the compressor driving means 73 into the compressor 35, and 75 is a time measuring means for measuring time.

  The operation and action of the washing / drying machine configured as described above will be described below.

  In the washing process from washing, rinsing and dehydration, when water is stored in the washing tub 26, the drainage valve 60 closes the washing drainage channel 47 side and the condensation drainage channel 48 side opens, thereby supplying a water supply valve (not shown). ) Is supplied to the washing tub 26 and stored up to the level D in FIG. The rotating drum 26 rotates continuously or intermittently at a programmed number of rotations, and rinsing and rinsing are performed. During this time, the clothes 31 are lifted and dropped by the rotation of the rotating drum 26. When draining, the drainage valve 60 opens the washing drainage channel 47 side and closes the condensation drainage channel 48 side. The water in the washing tub 14 passes through the washing drain channel 47 and the drain valve 60 and is drained out of the machine from the drain pipe 49.

  In the drying step, the drainage valve 60 closes the washing drainage channel 47 side and the condensation drainage channel 48 side opens, and the compressor 35, the blowing means 43, and the rotary drum 28 are operated.

By the operation of the blowing means 43, the drying air circulates inside the washing tub 26 and the duct 44, the flexible hose 41, the air path 40, and the flexible hose 42. The clothing 31 is agitated by the rotation of the rotating drum 28 continuously or intermittently performed at a preset number of rotations.

  By the operation of the compressor 35, the refrigerant circulates in the pipe 39, and the heat of the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant is radiated by the radiator 36 to heat the circulating drying air. The heated drying air is sent into the washing tub 26 as shown by an arrow C in FIG. 2, passes through the opening 46 in the bottom of the rotating drum 28 and hits the clothing 31, deprives the clothing 31 of moisture, and is humid. The air passes through the hole 45 on the side wall of the rotary drum 28, passes through the opening 56 of the washing tub 26, and is sent to the duct 44. The drying air that has passed through the duct 44 passes through the flexible hose 41 and is dehumidified by a heat absorber 38 as a dehumidifying means provided in the air passage 40 as indicated by an arrow B. The dehumidified drying air is sent again to the radiator 36 by the blowing means 43 and heated.

  Here, when the refrigerant leaks from the heat pump device 51, the heat exchange capability decreases due to the decrease in the refrigerant amount. For this reason, even if the rotation speed of the compressor 35 detected by the compressor rotation speed detection means 71 is about the same as the normal time, the load during compression decreases as the refrigerant amount decreases, so the current value is small. Become. Thereby, the leakage of the refrigerant can be detected by detecting the rotational speed of the compressor 35 and the current value flowing into the compressor 35.

  Specifically, the control means 72 determines the relationship between the current value Ic flowing into the compressor 35 when the compressor 35 is operated at the rotational speed Rn when a standard amount of refrigerant is sealed. One or a plurality of refrigerants are stored, and if the current value detected by the compressor inflow current detecting means 74 is smaller than Ith smaller than Ic by a predetermined amount ΔIc when the rotation speed is Rn or more during operation of the compressor 35, the refrigerant It is determined that there is a leak, and the compressor 35 is stopped by the control means 72. Thereby, even when the refrigerant leaks, the compressor 35 can be protected.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, refrigerant leakage is detected from the values detected by the compressor inflow current detection means 74 and the compressor rotation speed detection means 71, and the compressor 35 is stopped by the control means 73. Thus, it is possible to realize a clothes drying apparatus that can protect the compressor 35 even when the refrigerant leaks.

  In the present embodiment, the compressor inflow current detecting means 74 detects the value of the current flowing from the compressor driving means 73 into the compressor 35. However, the compressor inflow current detecting means 74 flows into the compressor 35 from the compressor driving means 73. The current value flowing between the power source and the compressor driving means 73 is correlated with the current value flowing between the power source and the compressor driving means 73 in the compressor inflow current value detecting means 74. Even if the value is detected, the same effect can be obtained.

  Further, in the above embodiment, it is determined that the refrigerant leaks immediately when a predetermined condition is satisfied. However, the time measuring means 75 determines that the refrigerant leaks after a predetermined time has elapsed since the clothing drying apparatus started operating. If it does, the influence by the state of clothing and the atmosphere can be reduced, and refrigerant leakage can be detected with higher accuracy.

  In addition, the timer 75 determines a refrigerant leak after a predetermined time has elapsed from a specific operation of the clothes drying apparatus, for example, a drying start instruction by a drying start instruction means (not shown), activation of the compressor 35, or the like. Even in this case, the same effect can be obtained.

  Further, if the time measuring means 75 determines that the refrigerant leaks when the state satisfying the predetermined condition continues for a predetermined time or longer, the influence of the state of the clothes and the atmosphere can be reduced, and the refrigerant can be accurately detected. Leakage can be detected.

Moreover, although the heat exchanger which forms the heat radiator 36 and the heat absorber 38 in the said embodiment has shown the tube type heat exchanger with a plate fin, the form is not specifically limited.

  In the present embodiment, the washing / drying machine is taken as an example, but the same effect can be obtained in a clothes drying machine capable of drying only.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of a washing / drying machine equipped with a clothes drying apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the thing same as the washing dryer in the said 1st Embodiment, and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, a rotational speed detecting means 76 for detecting the rotational speed of the blower means 43 is provided. Originally, the air blowing means 43 is controlled to operate at a predetermined rotational speed, and when the standard refrigerant amount is enclosed, the current value Ic when the compressor 35 is operated at the rotational speed Rn. The relationship is stored in the control means 72 on the assumption that the air blowing means 43 is operated at a predetermined rotational speed.

  For this reason, it is possible to increase the reliability of the determination by determining the refrigerant leakage only when the rotational speed detection unit 76 uses the rotational speed of the blower unit 43 to be equal to or larger than the predetermined rotational speed.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, refrigerant leakage is detected from the values detected by the rotation speed detection means 76, the compressor inflow current detection means 74, and the compressor rotation speed detection means 72, and the control means 73 By stopping the compressor 35, it is possible to realize a clothes drying apparatus that can protect the compressor 35 even when the refrigerant leaks.

  In the present embodiment, it is determined that the refrigerant leaks immediately when a predetermined condition is satisfied. However, the time measuring means 75 determines that the refrigerant leaks after a predetermined time has elapsed since the clothing drying apparatus started operating. By doing so, it is possible to reduce the influence due to the state of clothing and atmosphere, and it is possible to detect refrigerant leakage with higher accuracy.

  In addition, the timer 75 determines a refrigerant leak after a predetermined time has elapsed from a specific operation of the clothes drying apparatus, for example, a drying start instruction by a drying start instruction means (not shown), activation of the compressor 35, or the like. Even if it does, the same effect can be acquired.

  Further, if the time measuring means 75 determines that the refrigerant leaks when the state satisfying the predetermined condition continues for a predetermined time or longer, the influence of the state of the clothes and the atmosphere can be reduced, and the refrigerant can be accurately detected. Leakage can be detected.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the laundry dryer has been described as an example, but the same effect can be obtained even in a clothes dryer capable of only drying.

  As described above, the clothes drying apparatus according to the present invention can reliably detect the leakage of the refrigerant and protect the compressor, and performs washing and drying used in a general household in the same tank. It can be widely applied to washing machines with a drying function or clothes dryers that only dry.

The perspective view which looked at the washing-drying machine carrying the clothing drying apparatus in the 1st Embodiment of this invention from the back Side sectional view of the washer / dryer Side sectional view of a washing and drying machine equipped with a clothes drying apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention Side sectional view of a washing dryer equipped with a conventional clothes dryer

26 Laundry tub 28 Rotating drum (dryer)
35 Compressor 36 Radiator 37 Throttling means 38 Heat absorber 39 Pipe line 40 Air path 43 Blower means 51 Heat pump device 53 Circulating air path 71 Compressor rotation speed detection means 72 Control means 73 Compressor drive means 74 Compressor inflow current value detection Means 76 Rotational speed detection means

Claims (5)

The refrigerant circulates between the compressor and the radiator that radiates the heat of the compressed refrigerant, the throttle means that depressurizes the pressure of the high-pressure refrigerant, and the heat absorber that draws heat from the surroundings with the reduced-pressure and low-pressure refrigerant. A heat pump device configured to be connected by a pipe, a drying cabinet for storing clothes, a compressor driving means for driving the compressor, a compressor rotational speed detecting means for detecting the rotational speed of the compressor, and drying Detecting the current value flowing into the compressor, the air supply means for blowing the air, the circulation air path for guiding the drying air to the heat absorber through the radiator and the drying cabinet, and returning it to the heat radiator again Compressor inflow current value detection means, rotation speed detection means for detecting the rotation speed of the blower means, and when the compressor is at a predetermined rotation speed or higher, the blower means is at a predetermined rotation speed or higher and the compression When the current value flowing into the machine falls below the specified value Clothes drying apparatus provided with control means for controlling to stop the compressor. The control means is configured such that when a predetermined time or more elapses after the clothes drying apparatus starts operating and the compressor is at a predetermined rotation speed or higher , the blowing means is at a predetermined rotation speed or higher and the current value flowing into the compressor is The clothes drying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the compressor is stopped when the value becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value. The control means, when the compressor is more than a predetermined number of rotations , when the state where the air blowing means is greater than or equal to the predetermined number of rotations and the current value flowing into the compressor is less than or equal to a predetermined value continues for a predetermined time or more, The clothes drying apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the compressor is stopped. The clothes drying apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a current value flowing between the compressor driving means and the compressor is detected by the compressor inflow current value detecting means. The clothes drying apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the compressor inflow current value detecting means detects a current value flowing between the power source and the compressor driving means.