KR102571333B1 - Apparatus for laundry treatment and fan of the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cabinet forming a laundry treatment room in which clothes are accommodated, an air inlet provided in the laundry treatment room and through which air inside the laundry treatment room is taken out, and the air introduced through the air inlet is re-supplyed into the laundry treatment room. an air discharge port, a circulation passage through which the air inlet and the air outlet communicate with each other, a heat pump device for heating air in the circulation passage, and a fan driven to circulate air in the laundry treatment room along the circulation passage. The fan includes a fan housing provided with an inlet and an exhaust port, a rotational shaft provided at the intake, and a plurality of blades provided rotatably around the rotational shaft and extending in an axial direction. Provided is a clothes treatment apparatus comprising at least one suffocation prevention device provided on one surface to introduce outside air into the inside.

Description

Apparatus for handling clothes and its fan {APPARATUS FOR LAUNDRY TREATMENT AND FAN OF THE SAME}

The present invention relates to a laundry treatment apparatus and a fan thereof, and more specifically, to a laundry treatment apparatus and a fan thereof capable of performing various treatments such as washing, drying, deodorizing, and wrinkle removal on clothes.

A clothes treatment device is a device for performing various treatments on clothes, such as washing clothes, drying wet clothes, removing odors from clothes, and improving wrinkles of clothes.

Recently, a laundry treatment device has been developed so that a washing machine for washing clothes, a dryer for drying clothes, a refresher for refreshing clothes, and a steamer for improving unnecessary wrinkles of clothes are realized in one device. there is a trend

Here, the refresher is a device for making clothes pleasant and fresh, and performs functions such as drying clothes, supplying fragrance to clothes, preventing static electricity generation of clothes, and improving wrinkles of clothes. Pointing to a device, a steamer is a device that removes wrinkles from clothes by supplying steam to clothes, and unlike an iron, it may refer to a device that performs a function of improving and removing wrinkles of clothes without directly applying heat to clothes. .

In addition, the clothes handling apparatus usually uses a heat pump device to dry clothes by supplying hot air to a space where clothes are accommodated. In this case, the bottom pump device is an evaporator that evaporates a refrigerant by exchanging heat with the surrounding air, and condenses the refrigerant to clean the surrounding air. A condenser for heating and a compressor for compressing and supplying the refrigerant discharged from the evaporator to the condenser may be included.

At this time, air is introduced into the clothes treatment room where clothes are accommodated, and air is dehumidified and heated to form an air flow that is supplied back to the clothes treatment room. Based on the flow, a fan may be provided at the upstream or downstream end.

Normally, the clothing processing room can have enough space for children or pets to enter, and since the interior of the clothing processing room is sealed when the door is closed, when children or pets are trapped inside the clothing processing room, As the concentration of carbon dioxide rises, there is a risk of suffocation due to lack of oxygen.

Therefore, there is an urgent need to propose a technique for solving the risk of suffocation.

KR 10-2010-0092764 A

An object of the present invention is to provide a clothes handling device and a fan for preventing suffocation due to lack of oxygen due to high carbon dioxide concentration in the clothes treatment room when children or companion animals are trapped in the clothes treatment room.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a cabinet forming a clothes processing room in which clothes are accommodated, an air inlet provided in the clothes processing room and through which air is drawn from the inside of the clothes processing room, and air introduced through the air inlet is provided in the clothes processing room. An air outlet re-supplied into the laundry treatment room, a circulation passage for communicating the air inlet and the air outlet, a heat pump device for heating air in the circulation passage, and circulation of air in the laundry treatment room along the circulation passage The fan includes a fan housing provided with an inlet and an exhaust port, a rotational shaft provided at the intake, and a plurality of blades provided rotatably around the rotational shaft and extending in an axial direction, The fan housing provides a laundry treatment apparatus characterized in that it includes at least one suffocation prevention device provided on one side of the fan housing to introduce outside air into the inside.

According to one embodiment, the suffocation prevention device may be provided in an opening in which a partial area is formed on one surface of the fan housing.

According to an embodiment, the suffocation prevention device includes an air intake plate and an air intake cover so as to block the opening at outer and inner sides of the opening, respectively, and an upper end of the air intake plate and the air intake cover. A free end may be spaced apart from the fan housing by a predetermined distance to form a gap through which outside air may be introduced into the fan housing.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the fan exhausts air introduced through the air inlet along the rotation shaft in a radial direction of the rotation shaft, rotates along the inner surface of the fan housing, and then exhausts the air through an exhaust port provided at an upper portion of the fan housing. The suffocation prevention device may be provided on one side of the fan housing, and may be provided on an airflow rising toward the exhaust port in the first flow passage.

According to one embodiment, the air intake cover provided inside the fan housing may have a streamlined appearance.

According to one embodiment, the height of the upper end of the air intake cover may be formed higher than the height of the upper end of the air intake plate.

According to one embodiment, the outside air introduction cover may include a drain hole perforated at one end of the lower end.

According to one embodiment, the lower surface of the opening may be an inclined surface formed to decrease in height toward the drain hole.

According to an embodiment, the air intake plate protrudes outward from the lower end of the opening of the fan housing by a predetermined height and extends upward, and the air intake cover is fastened on an inner surface of the fan housing to The opening can be covered.

According to one embodiment, a bottom edge of the fan housing forming the gap through which outside air is introduced may have an oblique inclined surface so that when outside air is introduced into the inside, it is introduced downward along the inclined surface.

In addition, according to the present invention, an air inlet provided in a laundry treatment room accommodating clothes, through which air is drawn from the inside of the laundry treatment room, and an air discharge port through which air introduced through the air inlet is re-supplied into the laundry treatment room are communicated with each other. In a fan driven to circulate air in the laundry treatment room along a circulation passage, the fan includes a fan housing provided with an inlet and an exhaust outlet, a rotational shaft provided in the inlet, and rotatable around the rotational shaft. It includes a plurality of blades formed elongated in the axial direction, and the fan housing includes at least one suffocation prevention device provided on one surface to introduce outside air into the fan. .

According to the present invention, when a child or a companion animal is trapped in the clothing processing room, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the clothing processing room increases, thereby preventing an accident of suffocation due to lack of oxygen.

In addition, the suffocation prevention device according to an embodiment of the present invention may introduce outside air into the fan housing, but prevent the air inside the fan housing from being discharged to the outside.

1 is a view showing the appearance of a laundry treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a view showing the inside of a clothes treatment room according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a view showing the appearance of a heat pump device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a diagram schematically showing a heat pump apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a heat pump device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a view specifically showing an air flow path in a heat pump device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
7A is a view showing an intermediate duct according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 7b is a view showing a state in which the water splash prevention cover according to an embodiment of the present invention is coupled.
8 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of FIG. 7A.
9 is a view for explaining the function of the water splash prevention cover according to an embodiment of the present invention.
10 and 11 are views showing the appearance of a fan according to an embodiment of the present invention.
12 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a fan according to an embodiment of the present invention.
13A and 13B are diagrams for explaining an air flow path of a fan according to an embodiment of the present invention.
14 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an anti-suffocation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
15 is a view showing an air intake cover according to an embodiment of the present invention.
16 is a view showing how an air intake cover according to an embodiment of the present invention is coupled to a fan housing.

Hereinafter, the embodiments disclosed in this specification will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the same or similar elements are given the same reference numerals regardless of reference numerals, and redundant description thereof will be omitted. The suffixes "unit" and "unit" for the constituent elements used in the following description are given or used interchangeably in consideration of ease of writing the specification, and do not themselves have a meaning or role distinct from each other. In addition, in describing the embodiments disclosed in this specification, if it is determined that a detailed description of a related known technology may obscure the gist of the embodiment disclosed in this specification, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. In addition, the accompanying drawings are only for easy understanding of the embodiments disclosed in this specification, the technical idea disclosed in this specification is not limited by the accompanying drawings, and all changes included in the spirit and technical scope of the present invention , it should be understood to include equivalents or substitutes.

Terms including ordinal numbers, such as first and second, may be used to describe various components, but the components are not limited by the terms.

These terms are only used for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another.

It is understood that when an element is referred to as being "connected" or "connected" to another element, it may be directly connected or connected to the other element, but other elements may exist in the middle. It should be. On the other hand, when an element is referred to as “directly connected” or “directly connected” to another element, it should be understood that no other element exists in the middle.

Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

In this specification, terms such as "comprise" or "having" are intended to indicate that there is a feature, number, step, operation, component, part, or combination thereof described in the specification, but one or more other features It should be understood that the presence or addition of numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof is not precluded.

1 is a view showing the appearance of a laundry treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the laundry treatment apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is separated from the laundry treatment room 11 in which clothes are accommodated, and is separated from the lower part of the laundry treatment room 11 and is installed inside the laundry treatment room 11. It may include a machine room 20 provided with various devices for dehumidifying, heating, or circulating air to remove dust, odor, wrinkles, or moisture remaining in clothes.

Although not particularly limited, the laundry treatment room 11 and the machine room 20 may be implemented in a form provided in one cabinet 10, and a door ( 140) may be provided.

An outer surface of the cabinet 10 or the door 40 may include a display unit for informing the operating state of each component of the laundry treatment apparatus 1 to the outside and/or an input unit for receiving various operation inputs from a user. .

The clothes treatment room 11 has a space for accommodating or holding clothes therein, and includes an air inlet 12a through which air inside the clothes treatment room 11 is sucked in to circulate air inside the clothes treatment room 11; An air discharge port 12b for resupplying air sucked through the air inlet 12a back to the inside of the laundry treatment room 11 may be provided in the laundry treatment room 11 .

At this time, the air inlet 12a and the air outlet 12b may be provided on the bottom surface of the laundry treatment room 11 adjacent to the machine room 20 . Here, the floor surface is a horizontal plane that divides the laundry treatment room 11 and the machine room 20, and does not necessarily indicate only a horizontal flat shape.

The positions of the air inlet 12a and the air outlet 12b in the laundry treatment room 11 are not particularly limited, but according to an embodiment, as shown in FIG. It may be located on the side of the front door 40, and the air outlet 12b may be located on the rear side of the laundry treatment room 11.

Meanwhile, a steam spraying unit 13 for spraying steam generated by a steam generating device (not shown) provided inside the machine room 20 is provided inside the laundry treatment room 11, specifically, at the inner rear surface of the laundry treatment room 11. Positioned, steam may be sprayed toward the clothes accommodated in the laundry treatment room 11 .

The steam generating device and the steam spraying unit 13 are connected to each other through a hose, and steam generated by the steam generating device may be supplied to the steam spraying unit 13 through a passage formed along the hose.

Meanwhile, a water supply container 31 accommodating water supplied to the steam generator so that the steam generator can generate steam may be provided below the clothes treatment room 11 and in front of the machine room 20 . At this time, the water tank 31 is implemented to be attachable to and detachable from the clothes handling device 1 in the shape of a substantially square box, and when a user informs the user of the water refill, the water tank 31 is detachable and detachable to replenish water, and then the casing It is desirable to be able to re-install it.

Although not shown in the drawing, the laundry treatment apparatus 1 may include a water supply pump device for supplying water from the water supply container 31 to the water supply inlet of the steam generating device, and the water supply pump device may include one surface of the water supply container 31. Water can be supplied to the steam generator through the water supply hose connected to the .

At this time, a water level sensor for detecting the water level is provided in the water tank 31, and the controller (not shown) uses the water level sensor provided in the water tank 31 to fill the water in the water tank 31 to a predetermined height or more. It is desirable to detect or determine whether there is a water level, and to output a water filling notification to the outside when the water level is low.

Meanwhile, in addition to the water supply container 31, a drain container 32 for collecting condensed water may be provided below the clothes treatment room 11 and in front of the machine room 20. Condensate generated by supplying steam in the laundry room 11 or machine room 20 is collected in the sump, and the condensate collected in the sump may be guided to the drain trough 32 by the condensate pump device.

Like the water supply container 31, the drain container 32 is implemented in a substantially rectangular box shape to be attachable to and detached from the laundry treatment device 1, so that the user can detach and detach the drain container 32 when the condensate discharge notification is received. It is desirable to be able to refit the casing after draining the water.

In addition, the drain 32 is also provided with a water level sensor for detecting the water level, and the control unit uses the water level sensor provided in the drain 32 to detect whether the water in the drain 32 is filled at a predetermined height or higher. Alternatively, it is preferable to output a condensate discharge notification to the outside when the water level is high.

Meanwhile, a heat pump device 100 (or an air supply device) for supplying air or heated air to the laundry treatment room 11 may be included inside the machine room 20, and the control unit may include the heat pump device 100 You can control the operation of each component of

3 is a view showing the appearance of a heat pump device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing a heat pump device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the heat pump device 100 includes an evaporator 110, a condenser 120, a compressor 130, and a flow rate control valve ( 140), it is possible to dehumidify and heat the air drawn from the inside of the laundry treatment room 11 and re-supply it to the laundry treatment room 11.

The refrigerant circulates through the evaporator 110, the condenser 120, the compressor 130, and the flow control valve 140, and the air drawn from the inside of the clothes treatment room 11 passes through the evaporator 110 and the condenser 120. By circulating along the circulation passage that is re-supplied to the clothes treatment room 11, moisture in the air drawn from the inside of the clothes treatment room 11 can be removed and heated. At this time, the air around the evaporator 110 or condenser 120, specifically, the evaporator 110 as a heat exchange device, and The fan 105 may be provided at a front end or a rear end of the condenser 120, that is, at an upstream end or a downstream end based on air flow.

The evaporator 110 is a means for exchanging heat between air introduced into the circulation air flow path 101 and the refrigerant. The air passing through the evaporator 110 is cooled, and the refrigerant passing through the evaporator 110 absorbs heat from the air. It evaporates. Therefore, when the air passes through the evaporator 110, moisture contained in the air is removed.

The compressor 130 may be located between the evaporator 110 and the condenser 120 to pressurize the refrigerant so that the refrigerant circulates along the circulating refrigerant passage 102 . The compressor 130 may compress the refrigerant discharged from the evaporator 110 through the circulating refrigerant passage 102 and transfer it to the condenser 120 .

The condenser 120 is a means for heat exchange between air and refrigerant that has passed through the evaporator 110, the air that has passed through the condenser 120 is heated and the refrigerant that has passed through the condenser 120 can be condensed by releasing heat to the air. there is.

When the refrigerant is condensed in the condenser 120 via the compressor 130, the ambient air is heated by releasing latent heat toward the surrounding air. The evaporator 110 and the condenser 120 function as heat exchange devices for ambient air, and are drawn from the air inlet 12a of the clothing treatment room 11 and introduced into the air inlet 101a of the heat pump device 100 The air thus dehumidified and heated by passing through the evaporator 24 and the condenser 28 may be re-supplied into the laundry treatment room 11 through the air outlet 101b.

The flow control valve 140 is a means for controlling the flow rate of the refrigerant transferred from the condenser 120 to the evaporator 110 through the circulation refrigerant flow path 102, and controls the opening rate of the refrigerant transported. You can adjust the flow or pressure.

The heat pump device 100 may dry or refresh clothes in the laundry treatment room 11 by heating the air in the laundry treatment room 11 and simultaneously removing moisture from the air.

Specifically, the air in the laundry treatment room 11 is introduced into the air inlet 101a through the air inlet 12a located at the upper front end of the machine room 20 and through the suction duct 151 in the machine room 20, and the air inlet 101a. The air introduced through 101a may have a flow path discharged through the evaporator 110 and the condenser 120, and through the exhaust duct 153 to the air outlet 101b and the air outlet 12b communicating therewith. . This air flow may be formed by driving the fan 105 provided on the air flow path.

At least one filter (not shown) is disposed on the air passage drawn from the laundry treatment room 11 and supplied to the laundry treatment room 11, particularly on the suction duct 151 flowing from the laundry treatment room 11 to the machine room 20. is provided to filter various foreign substances contained in the air in the laundry treatment room 11 so that they do not flow into the machine room 20, so that the purified air is re-supplied to the laundry treatment room 11.

Eventually, when a user inputs a control command such as a drying course or an indoor dehumidifying course to the laundry treatment apparatus 1 through an input unit provided on a door or the like, the control unit drives the fan 105 to circulate the air in the laundry treatment room 11. It is circulated along the air passage 101 (or circulation passage), but at this time, the air flowing along the circulation air passage 101 can be dehumidified and heated by heat exchange through the evaporator 110 and the condenser 120.

Meanwhile, FIG. 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a heat pump device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a view specifically showing an air flow path in a heat pump device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the heat pump device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention has a suction duct 151 from the upstream side to the downstream side according to the air flow formed by driving the fan 105. ), a heat exchanger housing 115 including an evaporator 110 and a condenser 120, an intermediate duct 152, a fan 105, and an exhaust duct 153 may be sequentially provided.

In the heat pump device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, the fan 105 is located at the downstream end where the exhaust duct 153 is provided instead of at the upstream end where the suction duct 151 is provided, that is, the lower part of the exhaust duct 153. Provided in, it is possible to generate an air flow.

The suction duct 151 forms a conduit with both ends open, so that air introduced through the air inlet 101a provided at one end can be guided to the heat exchanger housing 115 connected to the other end so as to communicate.

The suction duct 151 is not particularly limited, but one end is connected so as to be able to communicate with the air inlet 12a on the bottom of the laundry treatment room 11, and has a shape bent toward the fan 105 so that the intake duct 151 The other end may be connected to the heat exchanger housing 115 to be in communication.

The heat exchanger housing 115 forms a conduit with both ends open, so that one end is communicatively connected to the other end of the suction duct 151 and the other end is communicatively connected to one end of the intermediate duct 152.

In this case, the heat exchanger housing 115 may have a conduit shape having a square cross section, but is not limited thereto.

An evaporator 110 and a condenser 120 may be provided inside the heat exchanger housing 115, and a protrusion is formed on the bottom surface 115b of the heat exchanger housing 115 to support the evaporator 110 spaced apart from the bottom. A first support protrusion 1151 and a second support protrusion 1152 protruding to support the condenser 12 spaced apart from the bottom may be provided.

At this time, the number or shape of the first and second support protrusions 1151 and 1152 is not particularly limited as long as they are capable of supporting the evaporator 110 and the condenser 120, respectively, but flows in through the suction duct 151. The first and second support protrusions 1151 and 1152 allow condensed water generated in the heat exchanger to flow to the downstream end of the heat exchanger housing 115 along the bottom surface 115b of the inclined heat exchanger housing 115. may have an opening (not shown) for securing a flow path.

As described above, the bottom surface of the heat exchanger housing 115 may be inclined so that its height decreases toward the other end, that is, the downstream end (see FIG. 6). Assuming that the top surface of the heat exchanger housing 115 having a square cross section is parallel to the horizontal line, the bottom surface of the heat exchanger housing 115 may be formed to be an inclined surface inclined at a predetermined angle with the horizontal line.

Accordingly, the condensate introduced through the air inlet 101a or generated in the heat exchanger housing 115 may flow toward the other end of the heat exchanger housing 115, that is, the downstream end along the inclined bottom surface 115b. there is.

Although not shown in the drawing, the bottom surface 115b of the heat exchanger housing 115 may have a perforated drain (not shown), and the condensate remaining on the bottom surface 115b of the heat exchanger housing 115 is disposed on the inclined bottom surface ( 115b) and can lead to the drain.

Here, the drain hole may be formed on the bottom surface 115b of the other end of the heat exchanger housing 115, that is, the downstream end. It may be an inclined plane with a central low point.

The condensed water guided to the drain formed on the bottom surface 115b of the heat exchanger housing 115 can escape through the drain and be collected in the sump, and the condensed water collected in the sump is guided to the drain trough 32 by the condensate pump device. It can be.

On the other hand, the intermediate duct 152 forms a conduit with both ends open, so that one end is communicatively connected to the other end of the heat exchanger housing 115, and the other end is communicatively connected to the intake port 160a of the fan 105. can

7A is a view showing an intermediate duct according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 7A , the intermediate duct 152 may have a shorter length than the heat exchanger housing 115, but may direct the airflow passing through the heat exchanger housing 115 downward. That is, the height of the middle duct inlet 152a formed at one end of the middle duct 152 and the height of the middle duct outlet 152b formed at the other end of the middle duct 152 may be different from each other.

As shown in FIG. 8, which is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of FIG. 7A, comparing the middle height (C1) of the middle duct inlet (152a) and the middle height (C2) of the middle duct outlet (152b) formed with the opening, the middle duct The middle height C1 of the inlet 152a may be higher than the middle height C2 of the middle duct outlet 152b by Δh.

Accordingly, the air flowing into the middle duct 152 through the middle duct inlet 152a can be directed downward so that the air is discharged through the middle duct outlet 152b located below the middle duct inlet 152a.

However, even if the airflow passing through the intermediate duct 152 is directed downward, the intermediate duct inlet 152a and the intermediate duct outlet 152b do not significantly affect the flow rate and/or flow rate of the entire circulation air flow path 101. ) is preferably formed such that portions face each other and overlap.

More preferably, as shown in FIG. 8, the middle duct outlet 152b is positioned so that the middle height C2 of the middle duct outlet 152b falls within the opened range of the middle duct inlet 152a, that is, on a cross-sectional basis. More than half of may be formed to overlap with the open portion of the middle duct inlet (152a).

In this way, the heat pump device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the intermediate duct 152 for directing the air flow downward, so that the installation position of the fan 105 or the fan housing 161 can be lowered as a whole, Accordingly, by lowering the height of the heat pump device 100 and the height of the entire machine room 20 in series, it is possible to additionally secure the space of the clothes treatment room 11 .

On the other hand, as described above, when the shape of the heat exchanger housing 115 is a conduit having a square cross section, one end of the intermediate duct 152 connected to the heat exchanger housing 115 is connected to the other end of the heat exchanger housing 115. An intermediate duct inlet 152a opening in a square shape may be provided for connection, and when the inlet 160a of the fan 105 is circular, the other end of the intermediate duct 152 is the inlet of the fan 105 ( 160a) may be provided with an intermediate duct discharge port 152b having a circular opening.

In this way, when the shape of the middle duct inlet (152a) and the middle duct outlet (152b) are different, in order to block some of the airflow passing through the middle duct 152 from leaking to the outside, one end of the middle duct 152 An air blocking plate 171 may be provided.

Here, the air blocking plate 171 is part of the circular middle duct outlet 152b at a position facing the middle duct outlet 152b having a relatively large cross-section among the middle duct inlet 152a and the middle duct outlet 152b. can block

Accordingly, the air blocking plate 171 is provided at one end of the middle duct 152, and as shown in FIG. It may be an approximately semicircular plate shape corresponding to some shapes.

As a result, the air introduced through the middle duct inlet 152a opened in a square shape is guided downward to be discharged through the middle duct outlet 152b opened in a circular shape, and in the process, the air blocking plate 171 faces, In the middle duct inlet (152a) and the middle duct outlet (152b), provided at one end of the middle duct (152) facing the middle duct outlet (152b) that does not overlap with each other, it blocks some of the air from leaking and directs the air flow downward. can induce

On the other hand, Figure 7b is a view showing a state in which the water splash prevention cover according to an embodiment of the present invention is coupled.

As shown in FIG. 7B, a coupling frame 172 formed along the edge of the middle duct inlet 152a opened in a square shape may be provided on the upper side of the air blocking plate 171. The intermediate duct 152 may be coupled to communicate with the heat exchanger housing 115 via a coupling frame 172 provided at one end of the intermediate duct 152 .

That is, the water splash prevention cover 170 may include an air blocking plate 171 and a coupling frame 172, and in this case, the air blocking plate 171 and the coupling frame 172 may be integrally formed.

In this water splash prevention cover 170, a coupling frame 172 is coupled between the heat exchanger housing 115 including the heat exchanger and the fan 160, specifically, at the downstream edge of the heat exchanger housing 115, so that the heat exchanger side It is possible to block condensed water from flowing into the fan 160 by driving the fan 160 .

To this end, the coupling frame 172 may be provided with a water shield plate 173 to block condensed water from flowing in through the middle duct inlet 152a at an inner lower end of the coupling frame 172 .

In the heat pump device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, since the fan 105 is provided at the downstream end of the air flow, not at the upstream end, condensate stored on the bottom surface of the heat exchanger housing 115 is removed from the rear end. There is a problem that air may flow into the intermediate duct 152 and the fan 105 together with air due to negative pressure formed by driving the fan 105 .

When condensed water flows into the fan 105 in this way, noise and odor may be generated by the driving of the fan 105, and furthermore, the condensed water may be discharged into the laundry treatment room 11 through the air discharge port 12b. It is preferable that the water blocking plate 173 blocks condensed water from entering the intermediate duct 152 and the fan 105.

9 is a view for explaining the function of the water splash prevention cover according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 9, a water blocking plate 173 having a predetermined height is provided at the inner lower end of the coupling frame 172 formed along the edge of the middle duct inlet 152a, and the water stored on the bottom surface of the heat exchanger housing 115 It is possible to prevent condensate from splashing or flowing into the intermediate duct 152 and the fan 105 .

However, in order to prevent airflow from being blocked by the blocking plate 173, it is preferable that the blocking plate 173 has a mesh shape in which a plurality of holes are perforated in a predetermined size. That is, it is preferable that the water blocking plate 173 according to this has a water blocking function for condensed water and has air permeability.

Holes perforated in the shield plate 173 according to the present invention are not particularly limited in shape, size or number.

Meanwhile, the other end of the middle duct 152 may be connected to a fan 105 for generating an air flow, specifically, an intake port 160a so as to communicate with it.

10 and 11 are views showing the appearance of a fan according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 12 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the fan according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. It is a drawing for explaining the air flow path of the fan according to FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 10 to 13B , the fan 160 according to an embodiment of the present invention may be a centrifugal fan. Specifically, the fan 160 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a fan housing 161 provided with an intake port 160a and an exhaust port 160b, a rotating shaft 165 provided at the intake port 160a, and a rotating shaft 165. It may include a plurality of blades 166 formed long in an axial direction spaced apart by a predetermined distance and rotatably provided around the rotation shaft 165 .

At this time, the plurality of blades 166 have a curved shape inclined in one direction of rotation of the rotational shaft 165, but the length of the chord may be short and the width of the feather may be wide.

The plurality of blades 166 rotate about the rotating shaft 165 so that centrifugal force acts on the air introduced in the axial direction of the rotating shaft 165 through the inlet 160a, so that the air introduced by the centrifugal force moves toward the rotating shaft. By being discharged in the radial direction of 165 and flowing along the inner surface (or inner circumferential surface) of the fan housing 161, it can be exhausted through the exhaust port 160b.

The driving shaft of the driving device 167, such as a motor, is coupled to the rotating shaft 165 through the driving shaft insertion hole 161a of the fan 160, so that the rotating shaft 165 and the plurality of blades ( 166 rotates around the rotating shaft 165 to discharge the air introduced through the intake port 160a provided on the front surface of the rotating shaft 165 in the radial direction of the rotating shaft 165, and to the top of the fan housing 161. It can be discharged through the opening formed exhaust port (160b).

Here, the fan housing 161 has the shape of a flat disk, and at this time, the rotating shaft 165 may be eccentric in a direction toward the front of the fan housing 161, that is, the intermediate duct 152. That is, the rotating shaft 165 is eccentric so that the width of the flow path of the air flowing in the fan housing 161 is gradually widened by the rotation of the rotating shaft 165, and the air subjected to the centrifugal force rotates along the inner circumferential surface of the fan housing 161. It can be gradually decelerated, and accordingly, a larger flow rate (or wind volume) of air discharged through the exhaust port 160b can be secured and noise and vibration can be reduced.

Here, the fan housing 161 secures a wide open area of the exhaust port 160b provided at the top and rotates the air introduced from the front intake port 160a along the inner circumferential surface of the fan housing 161, A vortex guide plate 1611 may be included on an inner wall of the fan housing 161 so that the width of the airflow narrows from the distal end of the exhaust port 160b toward the upstream side.

As a result, as shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B, the open cross-sectional area of the exhaust port 160b at the lower end of the inclined vortex induction plate 1611 may gradually widen toward the upper side of the vortex induction plate 1611.

Meanwhile, the fan housing 161 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a condensed water receiving chamber 162 having a predetermined space 1621 in which condensed water can be accommodated.

The condensed water receiving chamber 162 may have a separate space other than the inner space of the fan housing 161 to store the condensed water. The condensate receiving chamber 162 may be provided at the lower part of the fan housing 161, and thus, the lower part of the fan housing 161 has a generally rounded appearance to rotate the air subjected to the centrifugal force, but condensate The box-shaped condensate receiving chamber 162 for storing water may protrude.

In addition, a condensate receiving chamber 162 is provided at the lower part of the fan housing 161, and an exhaust port 160b is provided at the upper part of the fan housing 161 opposite to the condensed water receiving chamber 162, so that the air outlet 12b of the laundry treatment room 11 When condensed water flows into the clothes treatment room 11 from the laundry room 11 or due to a user's mistake, the condensed water can be stored in the condensed water storage space 1621 inside the condensate receiving chamber 162 along the inner wall of the fan housing 161. can do. Of course, condensed water formed from moisture in the air may be stored in the condensed water storage space 1621 in the process of heat exchange between the refrigerant and the air by driving the heat pump device 100 .

As shown in FIG. 13B, the condensed water stored in the condensed water receiving chamber 162 is naturally caused by air flowing along the first, second, and third flow passages f2 and f3 driven by the fan l60. It can evaporate and be removed. The air sucked in through the intake port 160a is heated and dehumidified air, and flows through the condensate receiving chamber 162 along the second and third passages f2 and f3, thereby storing stored water in the condensate receiving chamber 162. Condensate may evaporate spontaneously.

Specifically, the first air introduced through the intake port 160a along the rotation shaft 165 is discharged in the radial direction of the rotation shaft 165, rotates along the inner surface of the fan housing 161, and is then exhausted through the exhaust port 160b. A flow path f1 may be formed.

The air flowing along the first flow path f1 at high pressure and high speed within the fan housing 161 maintains the pressure and speed even if the condensate receiving chamber 162 is additionally provided at the bottom, and a part of the condensate receiving chamber 162 is provided. In order to branch into the condensed water storage space 1621 of 162, a rounded branch plate 1612 may be further included on the top of the condensed water receiving chamber 162.

The branch plate 1612 covers the upper opening surface of the condensate receiving chamber 162, has a convex downward rounded shape, and rotates along the first flow path f1 on the inner surface of the condensate receiving chamber 162. It is preferable to guide the flow direction so that the condensate receiving chamber 162 can move continuously without changing the airflow regardless of the presence or absence of the condensate receiving chamber 162 .

Accordingly, condensed water may be stored on the upper surface of the branch plate 1612 for reasons such as falling through the exhaust port 160b, and the condensed water stored on the upper surface of the branch plate 1612 flows along the first flow path f1. It can be evaporated spontaneously by air.

That is, the branch plate 1612 according to an embodiment of the present invention provides another space in which condensate can be stored in addition to the condensate receiving chamber 162, but flows the collected condensate along the first flow path f1. It can be allowed to evaporate spontaneously by air.

On the other hand, the branch plate 1612 is spaced apart from the upper part of the condensate receiving chamber 162 in the form of a thin plate, so that the branch plates 1612 are spaced apart from each other at the top of both sides of the condensate receiving chamber 162. An inlet 162a and a branch outlet 162b may be formed (see FIG. 13a). In other words, each of the upstream and downstream ends of the branch plate 1612 based on the first flow path f1 is spaced apart from the lower inner surface of the fan housing 161, so that the branch inlet 162a and the branch outlet 162b are formed. can be formed.

Accordingly, the air flowing at high pressure and high speed along the first flow path f1 faces one end of the branch plate 1612, so that some of them are diverged to the condensate receiving chamber 162 through the branch inlet port 162a. can be introduced into

At this time, both ends of the branch plate 1612 have a tapered shape so that the thickness becomes thinner toward the distal end, so that part of the air flowing along the first flow path f1 branches to the second flow path f2 Air resistance is reduced, and at the same time, the upper surface of the diverter 1612 forms a natural continuous surface with the inner surface of the fan housing 161 at each end of both ends, so that the airflow of the first flow path f1, which is the main stream, is formed. direction may not change. That is, the branch inlet 162a is formed to have a narrow width, so that the effect on the flow of air flowing along the first flow path f1 can be minimized.

Specifically, the width of the second passage f2 passing through the branch inlet 162a is formed to be relatively narrower than the width of the first passage f1, but flows into the condensate receiving chamber 162 through the branch inlet 162a. It is preferable to allow the air to be stored in the condensed water receiving chamber 162 without being discharged to the branch outlet 162b by itself.

As a result, the air diverged from the first flow path f1 at the upstream end of the branch plate 1612 forms a second flow path f2 flowing into the condensate receiving chamber 162 through the branch inlet 162a. The flow rate of the air flowing along the flow path f2 is relatively slower than the flow rate of the air flowing along the first flow path f1, so the heated and dehumidified air flows along the second flow path f2 into the condensate receiving chamber 162. can be supplied with

The air in the condensate receiving chamber 162 may be sucked in through the branch outlet 162b by the air flowing at high speed along the first flow path f1 at the downstream end of the branch plate 1612, 3 flow paths f3 may be formed. That is, the air in the condensate receiving chamber 162 is sucked into the first flow path f1 by the negative pressure formed around the branch outlet 162, so that the third flow path f3 can be formed.

On the other hand, with the condensate receiving chamber 162 as the center, the second flow path f2 formed by the air introduced through the branch inlet 162a and the third flow path f2 formed by the air discharged through the branch outlet 162b When the flow path f3 diverges from or joins the first flow path f1, which is the mainstream, in order to maintain the direction of the rotating air flow and facilitate the flow of air, an air flow is provided on the bottom of the condensate receiving chamber 162. It may include a plurality of second guide blades 1622 protruding along the flow direction of the second and third flow passages f2 and f3 so as to be guiding (see FIG. 12).

In addition, the branch plate 1612 may include a plurality of first guide blades 1613 protruding along the longitudinal direction on the upper surface to induce air flow (see FIG. 12). At this time, the present invention is not particularly limited, but as shown in FIG. 12, the length of the first guide blades 1613 may be formed shorter than the length of the branch plate 1612.

The first and second guide blades 1613 and 1622 may be in the form of a plurality of plates formed long in the same direction on the upper surface of the branch plate 1612 and the lower surface of the condensate receiving chamber 162, respectively, and the first and second guides. The blades 1613 and 1622 align the flow of air along the first and second guide blades 1613 and 1622 to facilitate the flow of air flowing in the rotational direction within the fan housing 161. .

Meanwhile, the fan 160 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include at least one suffocation prevention device 163 or 164 in the fan housing 161 .

As shown in FIG. 11 and the like, at least one anti-suffocation device 163, 164 is provided on the front, rear and/or one side of the fan 160, and the external airway formed by the anti-suffocation device 163, 164 Outside air introduced through the inlets 163a and 164a flows into the fan housing 161, and sequentially passes through the exhaust port 160b, the exhaust duct 153, and the air outlet 12b to the inside of the laundry room 11. can be provided.

Preferably, as will be described later, the suffocation prevention devices 163 and 164 are provided on one side of the fan housing 161, and are provided on the airflow rising toward the exhaust port 160b in the first flow path f1. good night.

Normally, since the inside of the clothing processing room 11 with the door 40 closed is airtight, when a child or companion animal is trapped inside the clothing processing room 11, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the narrow clothing processing room 11 increases, resulting in a lack of oxygen. There is a risk that an accident may occur.

Therefore, in order to solve this problem, as one way to provide outside air to the inside of the laundry treatment room 11, the fan housing 161 of the fan 160 according to an embodiment of the present invention is a suffocation prevention device. (163, 164).

14 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an anti-suffocation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 14, the suffocation prevention devices 163 and 164 may be provided in an opening in which a partial area of the fan housing 161 is formed. The suffocation prevention devices 163 and 164 having sizes corresponding to the openings are provided so that outside air can be introduced into the fan housing 161, but the air flowing inside the fan housing 161 is outside the fan housing 161. can be prevented from being discharged.

Accordingly, the suffocation prevention devices 163 and 164 use the air intake plates 1631 and 1641 and the air intake covers 1632 and 1642 to block the openings at the outer and inner sides of the fan housing 161, respectively. can include

Specifically, the air intake plates 1631 and 1641 and the air intake covers 1632 and 1642 extend upward from the lower end of the opening of the fan housing 161 to block the front and rear surfaces of the opening, but at this time, the air intake The upper ends of the plates 1631 and 1641 and the air intake covers 1632 and 1642 are free ends and are spaced apart from the fan housing 161 by a predetermined distance to form a gap through which outside air can be introduced into the fan housing 161. It is desirable to do

Outside air may be introduced into the fan housing 161 through the outside air inlets 163a and 164a thus formed. That is, outside air is introduced into the gap between the fan housing 161 and the upper ends of the air introduction plates 1631 and 1641, and the introduced outside air is introduced into the fan housing 161 and the outside air through the opening of the fan housing 161. It may flow into the fan housing 161 through the gap between the upper ends of the covers 1632 and 1642 .

Here, the present invention is not particularly limited, but the lower edge of the fan housing 161 and/or the upper edge of the outdoor air introduction plates 1631 and 1641 forming a gap through which outside air is introduced are formed obliquely, so that along the oblique slope It is preferable to guide so that outside air introduced from the outside to the inside can be introduced downward.

The outside air introduced into the outside airway inlets 163a and 164a is sucked by the air flowing at high speed inside the fan housing 161, that is, the air flowing at high speed along the first flow path f1 which is the main stream. It may join the flow path f1. In other words, the air flowing at high speed along the first flow path f1, specifically along the inner outer surface of the air intake covers 1632 and 1642, generates a positive pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure outside the fan housing 161, and accordingly A relatively negative pressure is formed around the upper ends of the air intake covers 1632 and 1642, and the air introduced into the air intake ports 163a and 164a may be sucked into the fan housing 161 by the formed negative pressure.

Here, the air intake covers 1632 and 1642 provided inside the fan housing 161 have a streamlined appearance, so that air flowing along the first flow path f1 passes through the inner and outer surfaces of the air intake covers 1632 and 1642. It is preferable to minimize the air resistance of the air flow by the air intake covers 1632 and 1642 when flowing along the airflow.

Specifically, the air intake covers 1632 and 1642 may have convex outer surfaces in the inward direction of the fan housing 161 at a predetermined height, and the upper and lower ends of the air intake covers 1632 and 1642 are centered around the convex portion. It is concave as it goes to , and the upper end of the air intake cover (1632, 1642) into which outside air is introduced may have a sharp appearance and become thinner toward the end.

The air flowing along the first flow path f1 flows upward at high speed along the inner and outer surfaces of the streamlined air intake covers 1632 and 1642, thereby passing through the air intake inlets 163a and 164a to the air intake covers 1632, 1642) can be sucked in the outside air introduced into the outer surface.

Meanwhile, it is preferable that the height h1 of the upper ends of the air intake covers 1632 and 1642 is higher than the height h2 of the upper ends of the air intake plates 1631 and 1641 . This is to prevent air flowing upward from the air intake covers 1632 and 1642 along the first flow path f1 from being discharged to the outside through the air intake ports 163a and 164a.

In addition, as described above, condensed water may exist inside the fan housing 161 for various reasons, and the condensed water flowing downward along the inner wall of the fan housing 161 is separated from the upper side of the air intake covers 1632 and 1642. It may fall into the gap formed between the steps and be stored between the air intake plates 1631 and 1641 and the air intake covers 1632 and 1642.

Since the condensate stored between the air intake plates 1631 and 1641 and the air intake covers 1632 and 1642 does not come into contact with the air flowing inside the fan housing 161 and cannot be spontaneously evaporated, the air intake plates 1631, 1641) and the air intake covers 1632 and 1642, as one way to remove the condensed water stored in the fan housing 161 through the drain holes 1644 formed in the air intake covers 1632 and 1642, specifically condensed water It can be guided to the storage room 162.

As shown in FIG. 15, the air intake covers 1632 and 1642 may include a drain hole 1644 perforated at lower ends, preferably at one end of the lower ends.

Accordingly, the condensed water stored between the air intake plates 1631 and 1641 and the air intake covers 1632 and 1642 flows into the fan housing 161 through the drain hole 1644, and the inner wall of the round fan housing 161 It flows along and can be stored in the condensate storage space 1621 of the condensate receiving chamber 162, and the condensate stored in the condensate storage space 1621 is directed to the air flowing along the second and third flow paths f2 and f3. may be spontaneously evaporated.

On the other hand, in order to guide the condensed water stored between the air intake plates 1631 and 1641 and the air intake covers 1632 and 1642 to the drain 1644, the fan housing 161 in which the suffocation prevention devices 163 and 164 are provided The lower surface of the opening may have an inclined surface t2 formed such that its height decreases toward the drain 1644 (see FIG. 16).

Of course, corresponding to the bottom surface of the opening of the fan housing 161, the air intake covers 1632 and 1642 having the drain hole 1644 also have their lower end portions t3 inclined toward the drain hole 1644 so that their height decreases. can have a shape.

16 is a view showing how an air intake cover according to an embodiment of the present invention is coupled to a fan housing.

The present invention is not particularly limited, but as shown in FIG. 16, the air intake covers 1632 and 1642 according to an embodiment of the present invention are part of the fan housing 161 on the inner surface of the fan housing 161. It can be combined to cover the opening formed in.

In the air inlet covers 1632 and 1642 coupled to the inner surface of the fan housing 161, only the upper ends are spaced apart from the inner wall of the fan housing 161, and both side ends and lower ends of the remaining air inlet covers 1632 and 1642 are formed. is coupled to the inner wall of the fan housing 161 so as to be in close contact with the fan housing 161, it is preferable to maintain airtightness.

That is, it is preferable to allow outside air to be introduced only through the upper ends of the air introduction covers 1632 and 1642, but to prevent air inside the fan housing 161 from escaping to the outside.

Coupling pieces having coupling holes 1643a and 1643b on at least one side of the air intake covers 1632 and 1642 so that the air intake covers 1632 and 1642 can be coupled to the opening formed in a partial region of the fan housing 161 ( 1642a, 1642b) may be provided. That is, by fastening the fastening means to the inner surface of the fan housing 161 through the coupling holes 1643a and 1643b, the air intake covers 1632 and 1642 may cover the openings formed in some regions of the fan housing 161. .

On the other hand, the air intake plates 1631 and 1641 facing the air intake covers 1632 and 1642 extend upward from the lower end of the opening formed in a partial area of the fan housing 161, and outward by a predetermined height. It is preferable to protrude to form a gap through which outside air can be introduced, that is, to form air conduction inlets 163a and 164a between the upper end portions of the air conduction plates 1631 and 1641 and the fan housing 161 .

The left and right ends and the lower end of the air intake plates 1631 and 1641 are also formed so that outside air can be introduced only through the upper ends, so that they are not spaced apart from the outer surface of the fan housing 161. desirable.

In the above, preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the drawings. The description of the present invention is for illustrative purposes, and those skilled in the art will understand that it can be easily modified into other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features of the present invention.

Therefore, the scope of the present invention is indicated by the following claims rather than the above detailed description, and all changes or modifications derived from the meaning, scope and equivalent concept of the claims are included in the scope of the present invention. should be interpreted

1: clothes handling device 10: cabinet
11: clothing processing room 12a: air inlet
12b: air outlet 13: steam spraying unit
20: machine room 31: water bottle
32: drain 40: door
100: heat pump device 101: circulating air flow path
101a: air inlet 101b: air outlet
102: circulation refrigerant flow path 105: fan
110: evaporator 115: heat exchanger housing
120: condenser 130: compressor
140: flow control valve 151: suction duct
152: middle duct 152a: middle duct inlet
152b: middle duct outlet 153: exhaust duct
160: fan 160a: inlet
160b: exhaust port 161: fan housing
161a: Drive shaft insertion port 161b: Upstream side of exhaust port
1611: vortex induction plate 1612: branch plate
1613: first guide wing 162: condensate receiving chamber
162a: branch inlet 162b: branch outlet
1621: condensate water storage space 1622: second guide wing
163, 164: suffocation prevention device 163a, 164a: outdoor airway inlet
1631, 1641: air intake plate 1632, 1642: air intake cover
1642a, 1642b: Coupling piece 1643a, 1643b: Coupling hole
1644: drain 165: rotation shaft
166: blade 170: water splash prevention cover
171: air blocking plate 172: coupling frame
173: water level plate f1: first flow path
f2: 2nd Euro f3: 3rd Euro

Claims (11)

a cabinet forming a clothes processing room in which clothes are accommodated;
an air inlet provided in the laundry treatment room, through which air from inside the laundry treatment room is taken out, and an air discharge port through which the air introduced through the air inlet is re-supplied into the laundry treatment room;
a circulation passage through which the air inlet and the air outlet communicate with each other; and
a fan driven to circulate air in the laundry treatment room along the circulation passage;
including,
The fan includes a fan housing provided with an intake port and an exhaust port,
The fan housing includes at least one suffocation prevention device provided in an opening in which a partial area is formed on one side of the fan housing to introduce outside air into the inside,
The suffocation prevention device covers the opening from the outside of the fan housing, and protrudes outward from the lower end of the opening by a predetermined height and is provided by extending upward, and the opening from the inside of the fan housing. Including an air intake cover provided to cover,
The air intake plate and the upper end of the air intake cover are free ends, and the free ends of the air intake plate and the air intake cover are spaced apart from the fan housing by a predetermined distance so that outside air is introduced into the fan housing. A clothes handling device characterized in that it forms a gap that can be. delete delete According to claim 1,
the fan,
A first flow path through which air introduced through the intake port along the rotation shaft is discharged in a radial direction of the rotation shaft, rotates along the inner surface of the fan housing, and then exhausted through an exhaust port provided on an upper part of the fan housing;
The clothes handling apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the suffocation prevention device is provided on one side of the fan housing, and is provided on an airflow rising toward the exhaust port in the first passage. According to claim 1,
The air intake cover provided inside the fan housing has a streamlined appearance. According to claim 1,
The clothes handling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a height of an upper end of the air intake cover is higher than a height of an upper end of the air intake plate. According to claim 1,
The clothes handling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the outside air introduction cover includes a drain hole perforated at one end of the lower end. According to claim 7,
The clothes handling apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the lower surface of the opening is an inclined surface formed to decrease in height toward the drain hole. delete According to claim 1,
The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a bottom edge of the fan housing forming the gap through which outside air is introduced has an inclined surface so that when outside air is introduced into the inside, it is introduced downward along the inclined surface. An air inlet provided in a laundry treatment room accommodating clothes, through which air is taken out of the laundry treatment room, and an air outlet through which air introduced through the air inlet is re-supplied into the laundry treatment room are connected to each other along a circulation passage. In the fan driven to circulate air in the clothes treatment room,
The fan includes a fan housing provided with an intake port and an exhaust port,
The fan housing includes at least one suffocation prevention device provided in an opening in which a partial area is formed on one side of the fan housing to introduce outside air into the inside,
The suffocation prevention device covers the opening from the outside of the fan housing, and protrudes outward from the lower end of the opening by a predetermined height and is provided by extending upward, and the opening from the inside of the fan housing. Including an air intake cover provided to cover,
The air intake plate and the upper end of the air intake cover are free ends, and the free ends of the air intake plate and the air intake cover are spaced apart from the fan housing by a predetermined distance so that outside air is introduced into the fan housing. A fan of a clothes handling apparatus characterized in that it forms a gap that can be.

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