KR100402069B1 - Washing machine for using system operated at low temperature and vacuum condition - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a washing machine using a low temperature vacuum drying system, and to a laundry bin (30, 32) into which laundry and washing water flow, a condenser (42) connected to the laundry bins (30, 32), and a condenser (42). The vacuum pump 44 for exhausting the water vapor of the washing tub (30, 32), the microwave generator 34 is installed at a distance radially equally along the outer periphery of the washing tub (30, 32), and the microwave generation It consists of a microwave blocking wall 36 provided between the device 34 and the frame 10 of the washing machine, so that the laundry after washing is easily dried at a low temperature.

Description

Washing machine for using system operated at low temperature and vacuum condition}

The present invention relates to a washing machine using a low temperature vacuum drying system, and after washing the laundry is finished using a microwave radiated from the microwave generator to condense water vapor contained in the laundry so that it can be easily dried at low temperatures It relates to a washing machine using a low temperature vacuum drying system.

It is common for household or commercial washing machines to have washing, rinsing, and dehydrating processes, and recently, washing machines that can perform a drying function in addition to these processes are equipped with separate devices. A washing machine having a drying function is provided with an energy supply means such as a heater, for example, to dry laundry, and is typically dried by supplying energy generated from the energy supply means to laundry which has been dehydrated. That is, the process of evaporating the water contained in the laundry under saturation to release hot and humid air as it is, or by installing a separate condenser to remove moisture and make it dry, then reheat and recycle this dry air. Repeat this to dry the laundry.

However, the washing machine having the above-described drying function wastes energy generated from a separate energy supply means more than necessary for drying, and the drying is performed at a high temperature, so that the quality of the laundry is not degraded, and is recycled. There is a problem that it takes a long time to dry.

The present invention has been made to solve the above drawbacks, to provide a washing machine using a low temperature vacuum drying system that can easily dry laundry in a low temperature state by condensing water vapor contained in the laundry after the dehydration process is completed The purpose is.

1 is a schematic front sectional view of a washing machine using a low temperature vacuum drying system according to the present invention,

2 is a plan view of FIG.

Figure 3 is a flow chart schematically showing the drying process of the washing machine using the low temperature vacuum drying system of the present invention.

<Description of Symbols for Main Parts of Drawings>

10 ----- frame, 20 ----- lid,

30,32 ----- Laundry Bin, 34 ----- Microwave Generator,

36 ----- microwave blocking wall, 40 ----- motor,

42 ----- condenser, 44 ----- vacuum pump,

52 ----- water supply valve, 56 ----- water supply passage,

58 ----- water line, 62 ----- drain valve,

64 ----- Washing drainage pipe, 66 ----- drainage passage,

70 ----- first exhaust pipe, 72 ----- second exhaust pipe,

74 ----- third exhaust pipe, 76 ----- exhaust passage,

82 ----- Chilled water supply line, 84 ----- Condensate water line.

Washing machine using a low-temperature vacuum drying system according to the present invention for achieving the above object is a laundry container into which the laundry and the washing water is introduced, a condenser connected to the laundry box, a vacuum pump connected to the condenser and exhausting the water vapor of the laundry box, The microwave generator is spaced apart at the same distance in the radial direction along the outer circumference of the laundry tub, and the microwave blocking wall is installed between the microwave generator and the frame of the washing machine.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a schematic front sectional view of a washing machine using a low temperature vacuum drying system according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a plan view of FIG. 1 and 2, the washing machine using the low temperature vacuum drying system according to the present invention is largely laundry tubs 30, 32, condenser 42, vacuum pump 44, microwave generator 34, and microwave Barrier wall 36, which is already well known description of the washing technique will be omitted in the present invention, the components associated with it will also be omitted in the drawings. The laundry tubs 30 and 32 are formed of an inner barrel 30 through which an actual washing process is performed and an outer barrel 32 having a waterproof wall while adjusting the amount of wash water, which may be formed as a single laundry tub.

The drying process of the washing machine according to the present invention is immediately started by dehydration or by pressing a button (not shown) separately installed on the upper part of the washing machine lid 20, and the vacuum pump 44 installed on the lower part of the washing machine is operated. The movement occurs to take out the water vapor contained in the laundry tub (30, 32) to the outside. That is, the laundry that has been washed, rinsed, and dehydrated in the laundry tubs 30 and 32 includes a lot of water vapor, and the microwaves are spaced radially spaced apart along the outer circumference of the laundry tubs 30 and 32. The laundry is heated by operating the device 34. Microwaves generated from the microwave generator 34 are first consumed to raise the water vapor contained in the laundry to the saturation temperature at which evaporation occurs through the washing tubs 30 and 32 formed of a plastic material, Once reached, it is consumed to evaporate this water vapor. The laundry tubs 30 and 32 are continuously rotated while changing the speed and direction during the drying process, and the steam is evenly discharged while the laundry is mixed with each other such as washing or rinsing. Accordingly, the heated water vapor of the laundry is moved to the condenser 42 through the first exhaust pipe 70 to condense, and the uncondensed dry air is moved to the vacuum pump 44 through the second exhaust pipe 72. As it is exhausted to the outside through the third exhaust pipe 74, the arrow shown shows the flow of this steam. In addition, a separate pipe may be connected to the exhaust passage 76 to exhaust the non-condensed dry air to the outside of the building where the washing machine is installed. The condenser 42 is supplied with cooling water to the cooling water supply pipe 82 having a long flow path therein, and active condensation is generated. Is drained to the outside. The vacuum pump 44 is slightly different depending on its capacity, but, for example, at a pressure of 15 to 30 mmHg to exhaust the air contained in the laundry to the outside at a low temperature and low pressure of about 15 to 30 ℃, as described above As described above, since a large amount of water vapor is removed through the condenser 42, the pumping load of the vacuum pump 44 may be reduced. On the other hand, the microwave generator 34 is installed for heating the laundry, by providing a separate microwave blocking wall 36 in the washing machine frame 10 to prevent the harmful microwaves to radiate to the outside. Since the washing tubs 30 and 32 are continuously evaporated at a saturation temperature corresponding to the vacuum pressure during the drying process and the temperature is no longer raised, the inside of the washing tubs 30 and 32 are kept in a low temperature vacuum state.

In the embodiment shown in the figure, the lid 20 and the microwave generator 34 are shown in hatched for convenience, the installation position of the condenser 42 and the vacuum pump 44 is in the pipes inside the motor 40 and the washing machine. It can be changed accordingly. The first exhaust pipe 70 is shown briefly, but may be installed between the lid 20 and the laundry bins 30 and 32 using a flexible and airtight member such as a bellows, and the lid 20 and the laundry tub ( The sealing of the rotating rod in 30, 32 may be made of a conventional sealing material, but the vacuum is gradually formed as the lid 20 is closed and the vacuum pump 44 is operated. In addition, three microwave generators 34 are installed at intervals of 120 degrees between the frame 10 and the laundry bins 30 and 32 with respect to the centers of the laundry bins 30 and 32, but the number, installation height, and arrangement form are provided. Regardless, it can be installed in a structure that can evenly radiate microwaves in the laundry. The microwave blocking wall 36 is installed between the microwave generator 34 and the frame 10 of the washing machine, and completely surrounds the laundry tubs 30 and 32 and the microwave generator 34. In addition, the water flowing in from the water supply passage 56 branches into the water supply pipe 58 communicating with the washing tubs 30 and 32 via the water supply valve 52 and the cooling water supply pipe 82 flowing into the condenser 42. , Drainage is combined with the wash water drain pipe 64 to be drained through the opening and closing of the drain valve 62 installed in the lower portion of the washing tub (30, 32), and the condensate drain pipe (84) drained from the condenser 42, the drain passage 66 ) Is discharged out of the washing machine, but any structure can be used as long as water supply and drainage are easy and simple.

Figure 3 is a flow chart schematically showing the drying process of the washing machine using the low temperature vacuum drying system of the present invention, the drying process according to the present invention is initiated while the microwave is generated from the microwave generator 34, the laundry is microwave radiation immediately Heated. At this time, if the amount of steam generated in the washing tub (30,32) is rapidly increased due to vigorous evaporation and the degree of vacuum is excessively increased, the predetermined vacuum pressure cannot be maintained and the temperature of the laundry is raised above the saturation temperature. In some cases, since the pressure in the washing tubs 30 and 32 does not reach the vacuum pressure, the washing tubs 30 and 32 are easily deformed, so that the operation of the microwave generator 34 is paused. On the other hand, when the drying process proceeds smoothly, the steam generated from the laundry condenses as it passes through the condenser 42, and the condensate is drained out of the washing machine and the dry air passing through the condenser 42 is atmospheric through the vacuum pump 44. Is released. After such a process is repeated, when a certain dryness is reached, the operation of the microwave generator 34, the condenser 42, and the vacuum pump 44 is automatically stopped to stop drying. In addition, the dryness of the laundry is displayed on the upper part of the lid 20 of the washing machine in a numerical value, and can be stopped by manual operation of the user when the desired degree is reached.

The present invention described above is not limited only to the above embodiment, but can be practiced through various applications and modifications within the scope of the invention disclosed by the appended claims.

According to the present invention as described above, by heating and radiating the microwave to the laundry after the dehydration process is condensed water vapor contained in the laundry while drying at a low temperature and low pressure, to shorten the drying time and improve the quality of the laundry and the user Can improve the convenience.

Claims (1)

Laundry bins 30 and 32 into which laundry and washing water flow, a condenser 42 connected to the laundry bins 30 and 32, and a vacuum connected to the condenser 42 to evacuate the water vapor of the laundry bins 30 and 32. The pump 44, the microwave generator 34, which is spaced apart at the same distance in the radial direction along the outer periphery of the washing tub (30, 32), and between the microwave generator 34 and the frame 10 of the washing machine Washing machine using a low-temperature vacuum drying system consisting of a microwave blocking wall (36) which is installed so as to completely surround the washing tub (30, 32) and the microwave generator (34).