Patent Application
20250098932
This application claims priority to and benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0126807 filed on Sep. 22, 2023, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
The present disclosure relates to a dish washer. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a dish washer that may efficiently heat a moisture absorbent and reduce electricity consumption of a heater.
Contents described in this Background section simply provides background information on the present disclosure and does not constitute prior art.
A dish washer is an apparatus that washes dishes and cooking utensils as washing targets stored therein by spraying washing water thereto. In this regard, the washing water may contain washing detergent.
A dish washer generally includes a washing tub having a washing space defined therein, a dish rack that accommodates therein a washing target inside the washing tub, a spraying arm that sprays the washing water into the dish rack, and a sump that stores therein water and supplies the washing water to the spraying arm.
Using this dish washer may allow a time and effort required to wash the dishes and other washing targets after a meal to be reduced, thereby contributing to user convenience.
The dish washer may be configured to perform a washing process of spraying washing water to the dish contained in the tub to wash the dish and a rinsing process of rinsing the dish. Furthermore, the dish washer may be configured to perform a drying process of spraying dry air onto the dish contained in the tub to dry the dish.
In this regard, in the dish washer using a moisture-absorption and drying device, during the drying process, the moisture absorbent received in the moisture-absorption and drying device may go through a moisture absorption process of absorbing the moisture and may become wet with water. Therefore, in order to dry the water-soaked moisture absorbent, the dish washer may be configured to perform a moisture absorbent regeneration process in which heated air is sprayed onto the moisture absorbent.
In order for the moisture absorption process and the moisture absorbent regeneration process to be performed efficiently, it is necessary to heat the moisture absorbent.
Generally, the moisture-absorption and drying device and a heating device are separated and arranged to be spaced apart from each other. The air heated by the heating device heats the moisture-absorption and drying device such that a temperature of the moisture absorbent received in the moisture-absorption and drying device may be increased.
However, in this approach, a space occupied by each of the moisture-absorption and drying device and the heating device should be provided, so that space efficiency of the dish washer may be reduced. Furthermore, since the air heated by the heating device heats the moisture absorbent of the moisture-absorption and drying device again, the heat transfer efficiency may be reduced. A solution to these problems is needed.
Related prior art is disclosed in European patent No. EP 1833353 B1.
A purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a dish washer with a structure that may efficiently heat the moisture absorbent.
Additionally, a purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a dish washer with a structure that may increase the space efficiency.
Additionally, a purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a dish washer with a structure that may uniformly heat an entirety of the moisture absorbent.
Purposes of the present disclosure are not limited to the above-mentioned purpose. Other purposes and advantages of the present disclosure that are not mentioned may be understood based on following descriptions, and may be more clearly understood based on embodiments of the present disclosure. Further, it will be easily understood that the purposes and advantages of the present disclosure may be realized using means shown in the claims and combinations thereof.
A dish washer according to one embodiment may include a moisture-absorption and drying device. The moisture-absorption and drying device may include a moisture absorbent that absorbs moisture contained in the air, a housing that accommodates therein the moisture absorbent, and a heater having at least a portion received in the housing and configured to heat the moisture absorbent.
The moisture-absorption and drying device operates in a direct heating scheme, and the moisture absorbent and the heater may be very close to each other. The heater may include a plurality of heaters spaced apart from each other while the moisture absorbent is disposed therebetween.
The moisture-absorption and drying device may be constructed such that the heater and the moisture absorbent are integrated into a single module.
Electrical power levels respectively applied to the plurality of heaters may be distributed so as to increase as the plurality of heaters are arranged sequentially in a direction from the heater adjacent to an air outlet to the heater adjacent to an air inlet.
The moisture absorbent may be heated to a temperature at which the moisture absorbent has the best moisture-absorption performance, and this temperature may be uniformly distributed throughout the moisture absorbent.
A dish washer according to one embodiment may include a tub having a washing space defined therein for accommodating therein a dish; and a moisture-absorption and drying device configured to absorb moisture from air discharged from the tub and supply moisture-free air to the tub, wherein the moisture-absorption and drying device may include: a moisture absorbent for absorbing the moisture contained in the air; a housing for accommodating therein the moisture absorbent; and a heater having at least a portion received in the housing and configured to heat the moisture absorbent.
A longitudinal direction of the heater may intersect an air flow direction in the housing, wherein the heater may include heat dissipation fins arranged in the longitudinal direction of the heater and protruding from the heater in a direction parallel to the air flow direction.
The moisture-absorption and drying device may include: an air inlet through which air flows into the moisture-absorption and drying device; and an air outlet through which air may be discharged out of the moisture-absorption and drying device.
The dish washer may further include: a first air pipe connecting the tub and the air inlet to each other; a second air pipe connecting the air outlet and the tub to each other; and a blower received in the first air pipe and configured to supply the air to the moisture-absorption and drying device.
The first air pipe may include: a (1-1)-st pipe extending through either a side plate or an upper plate constituting the tub; a (1-2)-nd pipe disposed under the (1-1)-st pipe and extending through the side plate constituting the tub; and a (1-3)-rd pipe having an inlet connected to the (1-1)-st pipe and the (1-2)-nd pipe and an outlet connected to the air inlet.
The dish washer may be configured such that: when the dish washer performs a moisture absorption process in which the moisture absorbent of the moisture-absorption and drying device absorbs moisture in the air, the air flows from the tub through the (1-1)-st pipe and the (1-3)-rd pipe into the moisture-absorption and drying device and may be discharged from the moisture-absorption and drying device through the air outlet into the tub.
The dish washer may be configured such that: when the dish washer performs a moisture absorbent regeneration process of drying the moisture absorbent of the moisture-absorption and drying device, the air flow may be inverted such that the air flows from the tub through the air outlet into the moisture-absorption and drying device and may be discharged from the moisture-absorption and drying device through the air inlet and through the (1-3)-rd pipe and the (1-2)-nd pipe into the tub.
A dish washer according to another embodiment may include a tub having a washing space defined therein for accommodating therein a dish; a moisture-absorption and drying device configured to absorb moisture from air discharged from the tub and supply moisture-free air to the tub; a duct disposed out of and on a side of the tub and constructed to accommodate therein at least a portion of the moisture-absorption and drying device; a third air pipe connecting one end of the duct and the tub to each other; and a fourth air pipe connecting the other end of the duct and the tub to each other.
The moisture-absorption and drying device may include: a moisture absorbent received in the duct and absorbing moisture contain in the air; and a heater having at least portion received in the duct and configured to heat the moisture absorbent.
The dish washer may be configured such that: when the dish washer performs a moisture absorption process in which the moisture absorbent of the moisture-absorption and drying device absorbs moisture in the air, or when the dish washer performs a moisture absorbent regeneration process of drying the moisture absorbent of the moisture-absorption and drying device, the air flows from the tub through the third air pipe into the moisture-absorption and drying device and may be discharged from the moisture-absorption and drying device through the fourth air pipe into the tub.
The dish washer may be configured such that: during a moisture absorption process, air flows from the tub through the third air pipe into the moisture-absorption and drying device and may be discharged from the moisture-absorption and drying device through the fourth air pipe into the tub.
The dish washer may be configured such that: during the moisture absorbent regeneration process, the air flow may be inverted such that the air flows through the fourth air pipe into the moisture-absorption and drying device and may be discharged from the moisture-absorption and drying device through the third air pipe into the tub.
Compared to an indirect heating scheme in which the heater and the moisture absorbent are spaced from each other, the heater heats the air, and the heated air heats the moisture absorbent, the moisture-absorption and drying device according to an embodiment employs a direct heating scheme in which the heater and the moisture absorbent are at least partially in contact with each other, and the moisture absorbent and the heater are very close to each other.
Therefore, the moisture-absorption and drying device according to an embodiment has a very high heat transfer efficiency compared to the device employing the indirect heating scheme, and thus may efficiently heat the moisture absorbent and reduce the electricity consumption of the heater.
Furthermore, in the moisture-absorption and drying device in accordance with one embodiment, the heater and the moisture absorbent are integrated into a single module. Thus, the moisture-absorption and drying device in accordance with one embodiment may occupy a very small space compared to the device employing the indirect heating scheme, and thus may increase the volumetric efficiency of the dish washer.
The electrical power levels respectively applied to the plurality of heaters may be distributed so as to increase as the plurality of heaters are arranged sequentially in a direction from the heater adjacent to the air outlet to the heater adjacent to the air inlet.
Thus, the moisture absorbent may be heated to a temperature at which the moisture absorbent has the best moisture-absorption performance, and this temperature may be uniformly distributed throughout the moisture absorbent, such that the moisture-absorption effect of the moisture absorbent may be improved.
In addition to the above-mentioned effects, the specific effects of the present disclosure as not mentioned will be described below along with the descriptions of the specific details for carrying out the present disclosure.
The above-mentioned purposes, features, and advantages will be described in detail later with reference to the attached drawings, so that those skilled in the art in the technical field to which the present disclosure belongs may easily practice the technical ideas of the present disclosure. In describing the present disclosure, when it is determined that a detailed description of the publicly known technology related to the present disclosure may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present disclosure, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment according to the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. In the drawings, identical reference numerals are used to indicate identical or similar components.
Although first, second, etc. are used to describe various components, these components are not limited by these terms. These terms are merely used to distinguish one component from another component. Thus, unless specifically stated to the contrary, the first component may be the second component.
As used herein, the singular constitutes “a” and “an” are intended to include the plural constitutes as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
Further, the terms “comprise”, “comprising”, “include”, and “including” as used herein should not be construed as necessarily including all of various components or steps as described herein, and may be construed as excluding some components or some steps thereof. It will be further understood that the terms “comprise”, “comprising”, “include”, and “including” as used herein specify presence of a component or a step, but do not preclude the presence or addition of another component or step.
Throughout the present disclosure, “A and/or B” means A, B, or A and B, unless otherwise specified, and “C to D” means C inclusive to D inclusive unless otherwise specified.
Hereinafter, an overall structure of a dish washer 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.
As shown in
In this regard, the washing target received in the dish rack 50 may be, for example, dishes such as bowls, plates, spoons, and chopsticks, and other cooking utensils. Hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, the washing target will be referred to as a dish.
The tub 20 may be formed in a box shape with an entirely open front surface, and have a configuration of a so-called washing tub.
The washing space 21 may be defined inside the tub 20. The open front surface of the tub 20 may be opened/closing by the door 30.
The tub 20 may be formed via pressing of a metal plate resistant to high temperature and moisture, for example, a stainless steel plate.
Moreover, on an inner surface of the tub 20, a plurality of brackets may be disposed for the purpose of supporting and installing functional components such as the dish rack 50 and the water sprayer 60 which will be described later thereon within the tub 20.
In one example, the driver 40 may include a sump 41 that stores therein washing water, a sump cover 42 that distinguishes the sump 41 from the tub 20, a water supply 43 that supplies washing water from an external source to the sump 41, a water discharger 44 that discharges the washing water of the sump 41 to an outside, and a washing pump 45 and a supply flow path 46 that supply the washing water of the sump 41 to the water sprayer 60. The sump cover 42 may be disposed at a top of the sump 41 and may serve to distinguish the tub 20 and the sump 41 from each other. Moreover, the sump cover 42 may have a plurality of collecting holes defined therein for collecting washing water sprayed into the washing space 21 through the water sprayer 60 into the sump 41.
That is, the washing water sprayed from the water sprayer 60 toward the dish may fall down to a bottom of the washing space 21, and may be collected again through the sump cover 42 and into the sump 41.
The washing pump 45 may be disposed at a side or a bottom of the sump 41 and may serve to pressurize the washing water and supply the pressurized washing water to the water sprayer 60.
One end of the washing pump 45 may be connected to the sump 41 and the other end thereof may be connected to the supply flow path 46. The washing pump 45 may be equipped with an impeller 451 and a motor 453. When power is supplied to the motor 453, the impeller 451 may rotate, and thus the washing water in the sump 41 may be pressurized, and then may be supplied to the water sprayer 60 through the supply flow path 46.
In one example, the supply flow path 46 may serve to selectively supply the washing water supplied from the washing pump 45 to the water sprayer 60.
For example, the supply flow path 46 may include a first supply flow path 461 connected to a lower spraying arm 61, and a second supply flow path 463 connected to an upper spraying arm 62 and a top nozzle 63. The supply flow path 46 may be provided with a supply flow path switching valve 465 that selectively opens/closes the supply flow paths 461 and 463.
In this regard, the supply flow path switching valve 465 may be controlled so that the supply flow paths 461 and 463 are opened sequentially or simultaneously.
In one example, the water sprayer 60 may be constructed to spray the washing water to the dishes stored in the dish rack 50.
More specifically, the water sprayer 60 may include the lower spraying arm 61 located under the tub 20 to spray the washing water to a lower rack 51, the upper spraying arm 62 located between the lower rack 51 and an upper rack 52 to spray the washing water to the lower rack 51 and the upper rack 52, and the top nozzle 63 located on top of the tub 20 to spray the washing water to a top rack 53 or the upper rack 52.
In particular, the lower spraying arm 61 and the upper spraying arm 62 may be rotatably disposed in the washing space 21 of the tub 20 and may spray the washing water toward the dish of the dish rack 50 while being rotating.
The lower spraying arm 61 may be rotatably supported on a top of the sump cover 42 so as to spray the washing water toward the lower rack 51 while being rotating and being disposed under the lower rack 51.
Moreover, the upper spraying arm 62 may be rotatably supported by a spraying arm holder 467 so as to spray the washing water on the dish while being rotating and being disposed between the lower rack 51 and the upper rack 52.
In one example, although not shown, in order to increase washing efficiency, additional means for diverting the washing water sprayed from the lower spraying arm 61 into an upward direction (diverting in a U-direction) may be provided at a lower surface 25 of the tub 20.
Since a configuration already known in the art may be applied to a detailed configuration of the water sprayer 60, description of a specific configuration of the water sprayer 60 will be omitted below.
The dish rack 50 for storing the dish therein may be disposed in the washing space 21.
The dish rack 50 may be constructed to extend or retract from or into the inner space of the tub 20 through the open front surface of the tub 20.
For example, in
Each of the lower rack 51, the upper rack 52, and the top rack 53 may be constructed to extend or retract from or into the inner space of the tub 20 through the open front surface of the tub 20.
For this purpose, guide rails (not shown) may be respectively disposed on both opposing walls constituting an inner surface of the tub 20. By way of example, the guide rails 54 may include an upper rail, a lower rail, and a top rail.
Wheels may be disposed on a bottom of each of the lower rack 51, the upper rack 52, and the top rack 53. The user may extend the lower rack 51, the upper rack 52, and the top rack 53 from the inner space of the tub 20 through the open front surface of the tub 20 and may place the dishes thereon, or easily withdraw the dishes that have been washed out thereof.
The guide rail may be embodied as a simple rail-type fixed guide rail to guide the extending or the retracting of the rack 50, or a telescopic guide rail capable of guiding the extending or the retracting of the rack 50 and at the same time, increasing an extension distance thereof as the rack 50 further extends from the inner space of the tub.
In one example, the door 30 is configured for opening/closing the open front surface of the tub 20 as described above.
A hinge (not shown) around which the door 30 is closed or opened may be provided at a bottom of the open front surface. Thus, the door 30 may pivot around the hinge as a pivot axis.
In this regard, a handle 31 for opening the door 30 and a control panel 32 for controlling the dish washer 1 may be disposed on an outer side surface of the door 30.
As shown, the control panel 32 may include a display 33 that visually displays information regarding a current operating status of the dish washer, etc., and a button unit 34 including a selection button through which a user's selection manipulation is input and a power button through which a user's manipulation for turning the dish washer on and off is input.
In one example, an inner side surface of the door 30 may constitute one side surface of the tub 20 when the door 30 has been closed, and may constitute a seat surface on which the lower rack 51 of the dish rack 50 is supported when the door 30 is fully opened.
For this purpose, when the door 30 is fully opened downwardly, the inner side surface of the door 30 may constitute a horizontal plane extending in the same direction as a direction in which the guide rail guiding the displacement of the lower rack 51 extends.
In one example, under or in the tub 20, a moisture-absorption and drying device 80 may be disposed which absorbs moisture contained in the air discharged from the tub 20 during the drying cycle and then re-supplies the air back to the tub 20.
As shown, the moisture-absorption and drying device 80 may be configured to include an air intake duct 81 through which the air discharged from the tub 20 is sucked, a blower 82 that generates a flow of air, a heater 83 that heats the air sucked from the tub 20 and a moisture absorbent 85 that absorbs the moisture contained in the air.
In one example, the moisture-absorption and drying device 80 may have a structure different from the structure as described above. A detailed structure of the moisture-absorption and drying device 80 which has various types of structures will be described below with reference to
The dish washer 1 may be configured to perform a washing process of spraying washing water to the dish contained in the tub 20 to wash the dish and a rinsing process of rinsing the dish. Furthermore, the dish washer 1 may be configured to perform a drying process of spraying dry air onto the dish contained in the tub 20 to dry the dish.
In the dish washer 1 using the moisture-absorption and drying device 80, during the drying process, the moisture absorbent 810 may absorb moisture during the drying process and thus become wet with water. Therefore, in order to dry the water-soaked moisture absorbent 810, the dish washer may perform a moisture absorbent regeneration process by spraying heated air into the moisture absorbent 810.
During the drying process of the dish washer, relatively humid air may be sprayed onto the moisture absorbent 810 of the moisture-absorption and drying device 80, and thus the moisture absorbent 810 may absorb the moisture in the air. Therefore, the moisture absorbent 810 may be wetted with water.
During the drying process, the dish contained in the tub 20 may be dried, while the moisture-absorption and drying device 80 undergoes a moisture absorption process to absorb water. Hereinafter, to avoid confusion in terminology and to provide a clear description, a process in which the dish washer's drying process progresses such that the moisture-absorption and drying device 80 absorbs water is referred to as the moisture absorption process.
In the moisture absorption process, the moisture-absorption efficiency of the moisture-absorption and drying device 80 may be improved at a temperature relatively higher than room temperature though the improvement may vary depending on a type of a material of the moisture absorbent 810. Therefore, in the moisture absorption process, a heating device needs to be provided to heat the air to be sprayed into the moisture absorbent 810 to increase the moisture-absorption efficiency.
During the moisture absorbent regeneration process, the moisture absorbent 810 may dry out due to the sprayed air thereto. The moisture absorbent 810 dries well at relatively higher temperatures than room temperature. Therefore, in order to properly dry the moisture absorbent 810 during the moisture absorbent regeneration process, it is necessary to provide the heating device to heat the air to be sprayed into the moisture absorbent 810.
In general, the moisture-absorption and drying device 80 and the heating device are separated and arranged to be spaced apart. The air heated by the heating device heats the moisture-absorption and drying device 80 such that the temperature of the moisture absorbent 810 received in the moisture-absorption and drying device 80 may be increased.
However, in this approach, the space occupied by each of the moisture-absorption and drying device 80 and the heating device should be provided, so that the space efficiency of the dish washer may be reduced. Furthermore, since the air heated by the heating device heats the moisture absorbent 810 of the moisture-absorption and drying device 80 again, such that the heat transfer efficiency may be reduced. A solution to these problems is needed.
Therefore, hereinafter, the present disclosure provides a detailed description of the dish washer equipped with the moisture-absorption and drying device 80, which may efficiently heat the moisture absorbent 810 and increase the space efficiency.
First, the moisture absorbent 810 received in the moisture-absorption and drying device 80 will be described. Under an operation of the moisture-absorption and drying device 80, the moisture absorbent 810 may absorb the moisture contained in the airflow discharged from the tub 20 during the drying process, and may discharge the moisture absorbed from the airflow into the airflow during the moisture absorbent regeneration process.
In other words, the moisture absorbent 810 may be made of a reversibly dehydratable material so that the moisture absorbent may absorb the moisture or discharge the absorbed moisture, depending on an operating temperature range.
The applicable reversibly dehydratable material may include one of aluminum oxide, silicon oxide, silica gel, alumina silica, or zeolite, or a composition having a combination of two or more selected therefrom.
The moisture absorbent 810 made of an alumina silica-based material including aluminum oxide and silicon oxide may be applied to the moisture-absorption and drying device 80 according to the present disclosure. However, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto. Hereinafter, an example in which the alumina silica-based moisture absorbent 810 is employed is described.
The moisture absorbent 810 which is made of the alumina silica-based material as described above may be provided in a form of particles having a predetermined particle size so that a contact area thereof with the air flow F may be secured as much as possible. Furthermore, the moisture absorbent 810 made of the alumina silica-based material as described above may perform moisture-absorption and regeneration actions at a lower temperature range, and, compared to the moisture absorbent 810 made only of the aluminum oxide or only of the silicon oxide.
The airflow may contact the moisture absorbent 810 while flowing through gaps between the plurality of particles constituting the moisture absorbent 810 such that the moisture contained in the airflow may be absorbed by the moisture absorbent 810 or the airflow may absorb the moisture discharged from the moisture absorbent 810.
Therefore, the moisture absorbent 810 cannot help but act as a flow resistance obstacle against the airflow. A particle size of the moisture absorbent 810 may be selected such that the gap is effectively formed to minimize such flow resistance, and optimal moisture-absorption efficiency is secured.
For this purpose, the moisture absorbent 810 having the particle size ranging from 2 mm to 6 mm may be employed.
Hereinafter, a structure of the dish washer according to each of various embodiments is described in detail. For clear description, a feature of each embodiment is schematically shown, and some components of the dish washer as described above may be omitted from the drawings.
The dish washer in accordance with one embodiment may include the tub 20 that has the washing space 21 defined therein for accommodating therein the dish. The moisture-absorption and drying device 80 may absorb the moisture from the air discharged from the tub 20 and supply the air free of the moisture to the tub 20. Therefore, the air that has passed through the moisture-absorption and drying device 80 may be discharged into the tub 20 and may dry the dish contained in the tub 20.
The moisture-absorption and drying device 80 in accordance with one embodiment may include the moisture absorbent 810, a housing 820, and a heater 83. The moisture absorbent 810 may absorb the moisture contained in the air, and the material thereof is the same as described above.
The housing 820 may accommodate therein the moisture absorbent 810. The moisture absorbent 810 may be disposed in an inner space of the housing 820. For example, the housing 820 may have a generally hollow hexahedron shape, and the moisture absorbent 810 and at least a portion of the heater 83 may be accommodated in the inner space of the housing.
The heater 83 may have the at least a portion disposed in the housing 820 and may heat the moisture absorbent 810. The heater 83 may be embodied as, for example, a heating device using an electrical resistance scheme. The heater 83 may extend through the housing 820 so that a heated portion thereof is received in the housing 820.
A portion of the heater 83 as disposed outside the housing 820 may be electrically connected to an external source and may receive electricity from the external source.
In an embodiment, the heater 83 and the moisture absorbent 810 may be accommodated in housing 820 and may be provided in an integrated module form with each other. The heater 83 and the moisture absorbent 810 may be arranged in the housing 820 so that the heater 83 and the moisture absorbent 810 are at least partially in contact with each other.
Due to this structure, the heat transfer efficiency between the heater 83 and the moisture absorbent 810 may be greatly improved.
Compared to an indirect heating scheme in which the heater 83 and the moisture absorbent 810 are spaced from each other, the heater 83 heats the air, and the heated air heats the moisture absorbent 810, the moisture-absorption and drying device 80 according to an embodiment employs a direct heating scheme in which the heater 83 and the moisture absorbent 810 are at least partially in contact with each other, and the moisture absorbent 810 and the heater 83 are very close to each other.
Therefore, the moisture-absorption and drying device 80 according to an embodiment has a very high heat transfer efficiency compared to the device employing the indirect heating scheme, and thus may efficiently heat the moisture absorbent 810 and reduce the electricity consumption of the heater 83.
Furthermore, in the moisture-absorption and drying device 80 in accordance with one embodiment, the heater 83 and the moisture absorbent 810 are integrated into a single module. Thus, the moisture-absorption and drying device 80 in accordance with one embodiment may occupy a very small space compared to the device employing the indirect heating scheme, and thus may increase the volumetric efficiency of the dish washer.
For example, the heater 83 may be provided so that the heated portion thereof has a generally rod shape, and this heated portion may be buried in the moisture absorbent 810.
The heater 83 may include a plurality of heaters spaced apart from each other while the moisture absorbent 810 is disposed between adjacent ones thereof. For example, a plurality of grooves/holes may be defined in the moisture absorbent 810 and may be spaced apart from each other. Each heater 83 may be inserted into the each of the plurality of grooves/hole to manufacture the moisture-absorption and drying device 80.
In another example, the moisture absorbent 810 may include a plurality of moisture absorbents. Each of the moisture absorbents may be formed in a plate shape. The plurality of moisture absorbents 810 and the plurality of heaters 83 may be arranged alternately with each other to provide the moisture-absorption and drying device 80.
The moisture-absorption and drying device 80 in accordance with one embodiment may include an air inlet 801 through which air flows into the device 80 and an air outlet 802 through which the air is discharged from the device 80. It should be noted in advance that in some embodiments of the moisture-absorption and drying device 80 as described later, the flow direction of the air may be opposite to that in
The air inlet 801 and the air outlet 802 may extend through the housing 820, and the air flowing into the air inlet 801 may be heated by the heater 83. The air heated during the moisture absorption process may be discharged into the tub 20 such that the dish contained in tub 20 may be dried better compared to using air at room temperature.
Furthermore, the air dried during the moisture absorbent regeneration process may further heat the moisture absorbent 810 to dry the moisture absorbent 810 better. Therefore, it is necessary to heat not only the moisture absorbent 810 but also the air flowing through the moisture absorbent 810 during the moisture absorption process and the moisture absorbent regeneration process.
In the moisture-absorption and drying device 80 according to one embodiment, the heater 83 may be oriented so that its longitudinal direction intersects the direction of the air flow in the housing 820. When the longitudinal direction of the heater 83 and the air flow direction intersect each other, a significant portion of the air flows through the heater 83, so that a contact area between the air and the heater 83 increases, thereby allowing the air to be heated efficiently.
However, according to this structure, the air may be subjected to relatively high flow resistance as the air flows through the heater 83. Therefore, a structure that may reduce the air flow resistance is needed. To this end, the heater 83 may include heat dissipation fins 831 which are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the heater and protrude in a direction parallel to the direction of the air flow.
The heat dissipation fin 831 may increase the heat transfer efficiency of the heater 83 by increasing the contact area between the air or the moisture absorbent 810 and the heater 83. Furthermore, in one embodiment, the heat dissipation fin 831 may be constructed to protrude in the direction parallel to the air flow direction, thereby reducing the air flow resistance to promote the flow of air.
Due to this structure, the air flowing in the inner space of the housing 820 may smoothly flow along a space between the protruding heat dissipation fins 831 and escape through the air outlet 802.
As shown in
In another embodiment, the protruding direction of the heat dissipation fin 831 may be perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the heater 83, and thus air may flow smoothly along the space between the protruding heat dissipation fins 831, thereby lowering the air flow resistance.
The air may flow into the housing 820, be heated while flowing through the plurality of heaters 83, and then may be discharged into the tub 20. The air flows as it is heated, so that a temperature of the air at a downstream position in the air flow direction may be higher than a temperature of the air at an upstream position in the air flow direction.
Furthermore, the heated air may heat the moisture absorbent 810 as it flows. Therefore, a temperature distribution of the moisture absorbent 810 may become non-uniform. In other words, since the heated air heats the moisture absorbent 810 as it flows, the air is relatively less heated at a position adjacent to the air inlet 801 and heats the moisture absorbent 810 at the position adjacent to the air inlet 801, such that the moisture absorbent 810 at the position adjacent to the air inlet 801 has a relatively lower temperature.
As the air sequentially flows through the plurality of heaters 83, the air becomes increasingly heated to heat the moisture absorbent 810. Thus, the temperature of the air may be relatively higher at a position adjacent to the air outlet. Therefore, the temperature of the moisture absorbent 810 may be relatively higher at the position adjacent to the air outlet 802.
Therefore, referring to
The moisture absorbent 810 may demonstrate the best moisture-absorption performance at an appropriate temperature depending on a material thereof. Therefore, in the moisture absorption process, the moisture absorbent 810 should be uniformly heated to an appropriate temperature to achieve a maximum moisture-absorption effect.
Therefore, in order to improve the performance of the moisture absorbent 810, an entirety of the moisture absorbent 810 needs to be heated to have a uniform temperature distribution. However, as described above, the moisture absorbent 810 may be heated unevenly.
Therefore, in one embodiment, electrical powers respectively applied to the plurality of heaters 83 may be distributed so as to increase as the plurality of heaters 83 are arranged sequentially in a direction from the heater 83 adjacent to the air outlet 802 to the heater 83 adjacent to the air inlet 801.
That is, in
Due to this structure, the heater 83 adjacent to the air outlet 802 has a relatively low heat transfer amount and heats the air and moisture absorbent 810 at a lower thermal amount, while the heater 83 adjacent to the air inlet 801 has a relatively high heat transfer amount and may heat the air and moisture absorbent 810 at a higher thermal amount.
Therefore, the heat transfer amount of the heater 83 is low in the {circle around (1)} portion and high in the {circle around (2)} portion, such that the temperature of the flowing air is high in the {circle around (1)} portion and low in the {circle around (2)} portion, and thus, the entirety of the moisture absorbent 810 may be heated uniformly and may have a uniform temperature distribution.
The temperature of the moisture absorbent 810 may be set to a temperature at which the moisture absorbent 810 exhibits the best moisture-absorption performance. This temperature may be achieved by appropriately controlling the power applied to the heater 83.
Due to the above-described structure, the moisture absorbent 810 may be heated to the temperature at which the moisture absorbent 810 exhibits the best moisture-absorption performance, and this temperature may be uniformly distributed throughout the moisture absorbent 810, so that the moisture-absorption effect of the moisture absorbent 810 may be improved.
Due to this structure, the air flows along the longitudinal direction of the heater 83. Thus, compared to a structure in which the longitudinal direction of the heater 83 intersects the air flow direction, the air may be subjected to less flow resistance of the heater 83, so that the air flow may become smooth.
However, when the aforementioned heat dissipation fin 831 is formed on the heater 83 of this structure, the heat dissipation fin 831 formed on the heater 83 may interfere with the flow of air and increase the air flow resistance. Therefore, in one embodiment as shown in
In each of embodiments of the dish washer as described Hereinafter, except for special cases, the moisture-absorption and drying device 80 according to each of the embodiments as shown in
The first air pipe 110 may connect the tub 20 and the air inlet 801 to each other. The second air pipe 120 may connect the air outlet 802 and the tub 20 to each other. The blower 82 may be received in the first air pipe 110 and may supply the air to the moisture-absorption and drying device 80.
The blower 82 may be received in the first air pipe 110 and at a position adjacent to an inlet through which air flows from the tub 20 to the moisture-absorption and drying device 80, and may operate so that the air may flow smoothly in the moisture-absorption and drying device 80.
When the blower 82 operates, the air may flow from the tub 20 into the first air pipe 110 and then flow through the first air pipe 110 into the moisture-absorption and drying device 80, and then may be discharged from the moisture-absorption and drying device 80 through the second air pipe 120 into the tub 20. Due to this structure, the air may continuously circulate through the tub 20 and the moisture-absorption and drying device 80.
In the moisture absorption process, the moisture-containing air in the tub 20 passes through the moisture-absorption and drying device 80 such that the air becomes dry, while the moisture absorbent 810 gets wet with water. Conversely, during the moisture absorbent regeneration process, as the dry air in the tub 20 passes through the dry air moisture-absorption and drying device 80, the moisture absorbent 810 may be dried using the dry air
In an embodiment, the moisture-absorption and drying device 80 may be disposed under the tub 20, and the second air pipe 120 may extend through a lower plate 201 of the tub 20. For example, the moisture-absorption and drying device 80 may be disposed in a machine room which is disposed under the tub 20 and in which various parts of the dish washer are accommodated.
Because the moisture-absorption and drying device 80 is disposed in the machine room, a larger space in the tub 20 may be secured to accommodate therein the dishes, compared to a case where the moisture-absorption and drying device 80 is received in the tub 20.
Furthermore, the moisture-absorption and drying device 80 is spaced away from the tub 20, so that the washing water sprayed into the tub 20 during the washing or rinsing process may be prevented from unnecessarily flowing into the moisture-absorption and drying device 80.
In addition, the moisture-absorption and drying device 80 is thermally insulated from the tub 20. Thus, when high-temperature water is sprayed into the tub 20, the moisture-absorption and drying device 80 may be prevented from receiving heat from the high-temperature water such that a lifespan thereof is prevented from being shortened due to exposure of the device 80 to the heat.
Hereinafter, various embodiments of the dish washer are described. In
As shown in
Therefore, during the moisture absorption process or the moisture absorbent regeneration process, while the air sucked into the first air pipe 110 passes through the fairly long first air pipe 110, the air releases heat to the surroundings such that the temperature of the air is lowered, and the moisture contained in the air condenses and thus the condensate may accumulate in the first air pipe 110.
Ultimately, the air flowing into the moisture-absorption and drying device 80 becomes drier air, and the moisture absorption process or the moisture absorbent regeneration process may proceed more smoothly.
However, in one embodiment, the first air pipe 110 is provided to extend through the side plate 202 of the tub 20. Thus, compared to the embodiment of
Compared to the dish washer as shown in
However, in one embodiment, the water sprayed into the tub 20 may fall into the first air pipe 110 and then may unnecessarily flow into the moisture-absorption and drying device 80. To prevent this situation, a cap structured to suppress the inflow of the water into the first air pipe while allowing air to pass therethrough may be mounted at an upper end of the first air pipe 110.
In an embodiment, the first air pipe 110 may include a (1-1)-st pipe 111, a (1-2)-nd pipe 112, and a (1-3)-rd pipe 113. The (1-1)-st pipe 111 may be constructed to extend through either the side plate 202 or the upper plate 203 of the tub 20. In
The (1-2)-nd pipe 112 may be disposed under the (1-1)-st pipe 111 and extend through the side plate 202 of the tub 20. An inlet of the (1-3)-rd pipe 113 may be connected to the (1-1)-st pipe 111 and the (1-2)-nd pipe 112, and an outlet thereof may be connected to the air inlet 801.
In an embodiment, when the dish washer performs the moisture absorption process in which the moisture absorbent 810 of the moisture-absorption and drying device 80 absorbs the moisture in the air, the air may flow from the tub 20 through the (1-1)-st pipe 111 and the (1-3)-rd pipe 113 into the moisture-absorption and drying device 80 and then may be discharged into the tub 20 through the air outlet 802.
Further, in an embodiment, when the dish washer performs the moisture absorbent regeneration process of drying the moisture absorbent 810 of the moisture-absorption and drying device 80, the air may flow back such that the air may flow from the tub 20 through the air outlet 802 into the moisture-absorption and drying device 80, and then may be discharged through the air inlet 801 into the (1-3)-rd pipe 113 and then may be discharged into the tub 20 through the (1-2)-nd pipe 112.
In the moisture absorption process, the air introduced into the moisture-absorption and drying device 80 may become increasingly dry as the air flows through the moisture absorbent 810. Thus, as the moisture amount in the air increasingly decreases as the air flows through the moisture absorbent 810, an amount of water absorbed by the moisture absorbent 810 may decrease as the air flows in a direction from the air inlet to the air outlet.
Therefore, when the moisture absorption process has been completed, in
To this end, as described above, the electrical powers applied to the heaters 83 may be controlled to be different from each other. However, in one embodiment, the problem may be solved in a state in which the electrical powers applied to the heaters 83 are equal to each other.
In the moisture-absorption and drying device 80, the air may flow during the moisture absorbent regeneration process in the opposite direction to a direction in which the air flows during the moisture absorption process. During the moisture absorbent regeneration process, the air may flow into the moisture-absorption and drying device 80 from the air outlet 802 and then may be discharged out of the housing through the air inlet 801. In this regard, the air may be further heated while flowing through the plurality of heaters. The heated air may heat the moisture absorbent 810 together with the heater 83.
For this reason, during the moisture absorbent regeneration process, the moisture absorbent 810 may have a relatively low temperature in the {circle around (1)} portion and a relatively high temperature in the {circle around (2)} portion. The moisture absorbent 810 dries well in proportion to the temperature of the air. Thus, the moisture absorbent 810 dries in a poor manner in the {circle around (1)} portion where the temperature is low, and dries well in the {circle around (2)} portion where the temperature is high.
Therefore, even when the electrical powers respectively applied to the heaters 83 in the moisture-absorption and drying device 80 are equal to each other, as described above, the entirety of the moisture absorbent 810 may be dried uniformly and effectively during the moisture absorbent regeneration process by controlling the air flow direction such that the air flow direction in the moisture absorption process and the air flow direction in the moisture absorbent regeneration process are opposite to each other.
In an embodiment, a length of a combination of the (1-1)-st pipe 111 and the (1-3)-rd pipe 113 may be larger than a length of a combination of the (1-2)-nd pipe 112 and the (1-3)-rd pipe 113.
In the moisture absorption process, the air may flow into the moisture-absorption and drying device 80 through the (1-1)-st pipe 111 and the (1-3)-rd pipe 113, while in the moisture absorbent regeneration process, the air may be discharged to the tub 20 through the (1-3)-rd pipe 113 and the (1-2)-nd pipe 112. Thus, in the moisture absorption process, the air may flow through a flow path having a larger length than a length of a flow path through the air flows in the moisture absorbent regeneration process.
During the moisture absorption process, the air flows through a relatively longer flow path into the moisture-absorption and drying device 80. Thus, the air with a high water content flowing from the tub 20 transfers the heat to the outside air while flowing through the relative long flow path, such that the water may condense in the (1-1)-st pipe 111 or (1-3)-rd pipe 113, thereby lowering the humidity of the air.
In an embodiment, in the moisture absorption process, the air may flow through the relatively longer flow path into the moisture-absorption and drying device 80. Thus, while the air flows through the flow path, a portion of the water contained in the air may condense before flowing into the moisture-absorption and drying device 80 such that the air having the lowered humidity may flow into the moisture-absorption and drying device 80.
Accordingly, the air may be dried more effectively during the moisture absorption process. Further, the moisture absorbent 810 with a small amount of moisture-absorption may be used, such that a volume of the moisture-absorption and drying device 80 may be reduced.
Further, in the moisture absorbent regeneration process, there is no need to condense water of the air in the pipe. Thus, the air may be discharged into the tub 20 through a relatively shorter flow path, thereby reducing the air flow resistance and thus promoting smooth flow, and reducing the power consumption of the blower 82.
The dish washer may include the blower 82 that generate the air flow in the moisture-absorption and drying device 80. The blower 82 may include a first blowing fan 821 and a second blowing fan 822.
The first blowing fan 821 may be disposed in the (1-3)-rd pipe 113 and may be disposed at a position adjacent to the moisture-absorption and drying device 80. The second blowing fan 822 may be disposed in the second air pipe 120 and may be disposed at a position adjacent to the moisture-absorption and drying device 80.
During the moisture absorption process, the first blowing fan 821 may operate and the second blowing fan 822 may stops. Conversely, the second blowing fan 822 may operate and the first blowing fan 821 may stop during the moisture absorbent regeneration process.
The air flow direction during the moisture absorption process and the air flow direction during the moisture absorbent regeneration process may be opposite to each other. Therefore, the air flow direction may be smoothly changed by placing and selectively operating the two blowing fans that respectively operate in the moisture absorption process and the moisture absorbent regeneration process on both opposing sides of the moisture-absorption and drying device 80, respectively.
The dish washer may include a first damper 210 and 210′ and a second damper 220 and 220′. The first damper 210 and 210′ may be disposed at the (1-1)-st pipe 111 and may open and close the (1-1)-st pipe 111. The second damper 220 and 220′ may be disposed at the (1-2)-nd pipe 112 and may open and close the (1-2)-nd pipe 112. An operation of each of the dampers may be controlled by a controller provided in the dish washer.
In the moisture absorption process, the first damper 210 and 210′ may be opened and the second damper 220 and 220′ may be closed. In the moisture absorbent regeneration process, the second damper 220 and 220′ may be open and the first damper 210 and 210′ may be closed. Under the operation of each of the first damper 210 and 210′ and the second damper 220 and 220′, the air flow may be smoothly guided during each of the moisture absorbent regeneration process and the moisture absorption process.
The dish washer according to an embodiment may include the tub 20 that has the washing space 21 defined therein for accommodating therein the dish, and the moisture-absorption and drying device 80 that absorbs the moisture from the air discharged from the tub 20 and supplies the moisture-free air to the tub 20.
Additionally, the dish washer according to an embodiment may include a duct 300, a third air pipe 130, and a fourth air pipe 140. The duct 300 may be disposed out of the tub 20, and may accommodate therein at least a portion of the moisture-absorption and drying device 80.
Since the duct 300 is disposed out of the tub 20, the moisture-absorption and drying device 80 accommodated in the duct 300 may be disposed out of the tub 20 and may be spaced from the tub 20. The moisture-absorption and drying device 80 is disposed out of the tub 20 and is spaced therefrom, thereby preventing the washing water sprayed into the tub 20 during the washing or rinsing process from unnecessarily flowing into the moisture-absorption and drying device 80.
In addition, the moisture-absorption and drying device 80 is thermally insulated from the tub 20. Thus, when high-temperature water is sprayed into the tub 20, the moisture-absorption and drying device 80 may be prevented from receiving heat from the high-temperature water such that a lifespan thereof is prevented from being shortened due to exposure of the device 80 to the heat.
The third air pipe 130 may connect one end of the duct 300 to the tub 20. The fourth air pipe 140 may connect the other end of the duct 300 to the tub 20.
The moisture-absorption and drying device 80 may include the moisture absorbent 810 and the heater 83. The moisture absorbent 810 may be accommodated in the duct 300 and may absorb the moisture contained in the air. A specific structure of the moisture absorbent 810 is as described above. At least a portion of the heater 83 may be received in the duct 300 and may heat the moisture absorbent 810. A specific structure of the heater 83 is as described above.
When the dish washer performs a moisture absorption process in which the moisture absorbent 810 of the moisture-absorption and drying device 80 absorbs the moisture in the air, the air may flow from the tub 20 through the third air pipe 130 into the moisture-absorption and drying device 80, and may be discharged from the moisture-absorption and drying device 80 through the fourth air pipe 140 into the tub 20. When the dish washer performs the moisture absorbent regeneration process of drying the moisture absorbent 810 of the moisture-absorption and drying device 80, the air may flow from the tub 20 through the third air pipe 130 into the moisture-absorption and drying device 80, and may be discharged from the moisture-absorption and drying device 80 through the fourth air pipe 140 into the tub 20.
That is, in one embodiment, the air flow direction during the moisture absorbent regeneration process and the air flow direction in the moisture absorption process may be the same as each other. In this case, as described above, the temperature distribution of the moisture absorbent 810 may become non-uniform during the moisture absorbent regeneration process or the moisture absorption process.
In other words, referring to
The heater 83 may include a plurality of heaters spaced apart from each other while the moisture absorbent 810 is disposed between adjacent ones thereof. In this regard, the powers respectively applied to the plurality of heaters 83 may sequentially increase as the plurality of heaters 83 are sequentially arranged in a direction from the heater 83 adjacent to the fourth air pipe 140 to the heater 83 adjacent to the third air pipe 130.
The dish washer may include the blower 82 which is disposed in the third air pipe 130 and generate the air flow in the moisture-absorption and drying device 80. The blower 82 may be disposed in the third air pipe 130 and at a position adjacent to the inlet through which the air flows from the tub 20 to the moisture-absorption and drying device 80. Thus, the blower 82 may operate so that the air may smoothly flow in the moisture-absorption and drying device 80.
The dish washer according to an embodiment may include a bypass pipe 150 having one end connected to one end of the duct 300, and the other end connected to the other end of the duct 300. A portion of the air having flowed into the duct 300 may not be heated and may reach the outlet adjacent to the other end of the bypass pipe 150 through the bypass pipe 150.
Relatively cold air having flowed through the bypass pipe 150 may cool the {circle around (2)} portion to some extent. Therefore, the {circle around (1)} portion and the {circle around (2)} portion may have a substantially equal temperature, such that the entirety of the moisture absorbent 810 may have a uniform temperature distribution.
In the dish washer according to an embodiment, in the moisture absorption process, the air may flow from the tub 20 through the third air pipe 130 into the moisture-absorption and drying device 80 and may be discharged from the moisture-absorption and drying device 80 through the fourth air pipe 140 to the tub 20. In the moisture absorbent regeneration process, the air flow direction may be inverted such that the air may flow through the fourth air pipe 140 into the moisture-absorption and drying device 80 and be discharged from the moisture-absorption and drying device 80 through the third air pipe 130 into the tub 20.
As mentioned above, when the moisture absorption process has completed, in
Further, as mentioned above, during the moisture absorbent regeneration process, the moisture absorbent 810 may have a relatively lower temperature in the {circle around (2)} portion and a relatively higher temperature in the {circle around (1)} portion. The moisture absorbent 810 dries easily in proportion to the temperature of the air. Thus, the moisture absorbent 810 dries in a poor manner in the {circle around (2)} portion where the temperature is low and dries well in the {circle around (1)} portion where the temperature is high.
Therefore, as described above, even when the same electrical power level is applied to the heaters 83 of the moisture-absorption and drying device 80, the entirety of the moisture absorbent 810 may be dried uniformly and effectively in the moisture absorbent regeneration process by controlling the air flow such that the air flow direction during the moisture absorption process and the air flow direction during the moisture absorbent regeneration process are opposite to each other.
The moisture-absorption and drying device 80 may include the blower configured to generate the air flow in the moisture-absorption and drying device 80. The blower 82 may include a third blower fan 823, and a fourth blower fan 824.
The third blowing fan 823 may be disposed in the third air pipe 130 and may be disposed at position adjacent to the moisture-absorption and drying device 80. The fourth blowing fan 824 may be disposed in the fourth air pipe 140 and may be disposed at a position adjacent to the moisture-absorption and drying device 80.
During the moisture absorption process, the third blowing fan 823 may operate and the fourth blowing fan 824 may stop. Conversely, the fourth blowing fan 824 may operate and the third blowing fan 823 may stop during the moisture absorbent regeneration process.
Thus, the air flow direction may be controlled such that the air flow direction during the moisture absorption process and the air flow direction during the moisture absorbent regeneration process may be opposite to each other. Therefore, the air flow direction may be smoothly changed by placing and selectively operating the two blowing fans that respectively operate in the moisture absorption process and the moisture absorbent regeneration process on both opposing sides of the moisture-absorption and drying device 80, respectively.
As described above, the present disclosure has been described with reference to illustrative drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited by the embodiments and drawings as disclosed in the present disclosure. It is obvious that various modifications may be made thereto by technicians related to the present disclosure without departing from technical ideas of the present disclosure. In addition, it is appreciated that although the effect of the configuration of the present disclosure is not explicitly set forth while describing the embodiment of the present disclosure, effects predictable from the configuration should also be recognized.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-2023-0126807 | Sep 2023 | KR | national |
