Patent Application
20150176195
This application is based on and claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2013-0161617, filed on Dec. 23, 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
The present disclosure relates to a washing machine, and more particularly, to a drum type washing machine having an improved drying function.
In general, a drum type washing machine washes laundry using a force generated when the laundry is raised by a lifter and then dropped as the drum rotates. The drum type washing machine advantageously minimizes damage to the clothing due to less friction generated during the washing process, and consumes a minimal amount of water due to the use of the water only at the bottom part of the drum.
The drum type washing machine includes a cabinet that forms the exterior of the washing machine; a tub in the cabinet that accommodates water therein; a rotary drum in the tub that accommodates the laundry therein; a motor in or under the tub that provides a motive power to the drum; a water supplying device that supplies water to the tub; and a drain device that drains water from the tub to the outside of the cabinet after completion of the washing process.
A detergent case may be at one side of the cabinet, and a water supply pipe may provide water to the tub through the detergent case. As the water is supplied through the water supply pipe by the water supplying device, detergent in the detergent case is also supplied to the tub along with the water.
A circulation duct for drying the laundry may be at one side of the tub. The circulation duct may have a fan configured to circulate air in the tub; a condensing device configured to condense moisture in the air; and a heating device configured to heat the air after the condensing process. Once a drying process starts, the fan draws the air in the tub into the circulation duct. The air in the circulation duct may be subjected to a condensing process for eliminating moisture from the air by the condensing device, and a heating process for heating the air using the heating device.
Conventionally, a nozzle is at an upper side of the circulation duct, and configured to jet or spray coolant directly to the inside of the circulation duct. The coolant jetted from the upper side of the circulation duct freely falls or runs down along the circulation duct while directly contacting the air, and lowers the temperature of the ambient air around the circulation duct and/or condenses the moisture in the air flowing in the circulation duct into water droplets. The water droplets may fall or run down along the circulation duct and be collected in a separate water tray.
In a conventional washing machine, moisture can be substantially condensed only for the time during which the coolant actually passes through and contacts the high-temperature and high-humidity air in the circulation duct. As a result, to effectively reduce moisture in the air, the coolant needs to be continuously supplied into the circulation duct. Thus, as compared to the amount of the moisture removed from the air, an excessive amount of coolant may be consumed.
A conventional drum type washing machine may be disclosed in Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2007-0064017
The present disclosure has been made in an effort to provide a drum type washing machine capable of effectively drying laundry by using a small amount of coolant.
In accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, a drum type washing machine may comprise a tub; a heating duct outside the tub to heat air that circulates back to the duct; a condensing duct having one end connected to the tub and another end connected to the heating duct, configured to reduce moisture in the air from the tub; and a coolant supplying unit configured to supply coolant into the condensing duct, wherein the condensing duct may comprise an inner tube in which the air from the tub flows, and an outer tube surrounding at least a part or section of the inner tube, and the coolant supplying unit may be configured to supply the coolant into a space between the inner tube and the outer tube.
In exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the condensing duct may extend vertically, and the outer tube and the inner tube may be engaged or connected to each other and seal a bottom of the space.
In exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the inner tube may comprise an insert having an outer diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the outer tube; and a connector extending from a lower end of the insert and having an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of the outer tube, wherein the outer tube and the inner tube may engage with or connect to each other, and a lower end of the outer tube contacts an upper end of the connector (e.g., while the insert is in the outer tube).
In exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, an upper end of the inner tube may be open and/or have a location below an upper end of the outer tube, and the coolant supplied in the space may overflow the space and enter the inner tube through the upper end of the inner tube.
In exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the coolant supplying unit may be connected to a lower side of the outer tube to provide the coolant into the space at a lower section thereof.
In exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the coolant supplying unit may be configured to supply additional coolant before the coolant in the space reaches a thermal equilibrium with the air in the inner tube.
In exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the condensing duct may further comprise a fluid guiding member provided within the space along a longitudinal direction of the condensing duct to form one or more coolant paths in the space.
In exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the fluid guiding member may include a protrusion or extension from an inner surface of the outer tube or an outer surface of the inner tube, which may spirally extend in the longitudinal direction of the condensing duct.
In accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, a drum type washing machine may comprise a tub; a heating duct outside the tub to heat air that circulates back to the duct; a condensing duct having one end connected to the tub and another end connected to the heating duct to reduce moisture in the air from the tub; and a coolant supplying unit configured to supply coolant into the condensing duct, wherein the condensing duct may comprise an air tube into which the air from the tub flows, and the coolant supplied from the coolant supplying unit may enter the air tube after contacting an outer surface of the air tube to exchange heat with the air in the air tube.
According to the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, it may be possible to achieve a more effective drying process by using a relatively small amount of coolant.
The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here.
Hereinafter, one or more exemplary embodiments according to the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Various configurations of the present disclosure, and operations and/or effects according to the configurations of the present disclosure, will be clearly understood by the detailed description below.
It should be noted that the drawings are schematically provided and not necessarily to scale. The relative dimensions and ratios of the parts illustrated in the drawings may be exaggerated or reduced in size for clarity and convenience in the drawings, and the dimensions are only examples, without limitation. In the following description, the same elements will be designated by the same reference numerals, although the elements are illustrated in different drawings, and a detailed explanation of known related constitutions may be omitted so as to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the subject matter of the present disclosure.
Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure show ideal examples of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings are expected to be changed in various ways. Therefore, the exemplary embodiments are not limited to specific configurations in the drawings, and may be changed to have various shapes and/or arrangements by manufacturing.
Hereinafter, a drum type washing machine 1 in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to
Referring to
When the drying operation begins, the air in the tub 10 may be circulated via the condensing duct 30 and the heating duct 20. Here, with the fan 21 operating, the air in the tub 10 may enter or be drawn into the condensing duct 30. In the condensing duct 30, moisture in the air from the tub 10 may be reduced by condensation. After passing the heating duct 10, air from which the moisture is removed in the condensing duct 30 may flow back into the tub 10. While passing through the heating duct 10, the air with reduced moisture may be heated by the heater 22 after passing the fan 21. Subsequently, the air returns back to the tub 10 as high-temperature dry air.
The heating duct 20 may be oriented horizontally above the tub 10, and the condensing duct 30 may extend in a vertical direction at a rear section of the tub 10. In such a configuration, the fan 21 may be adjacent to a joint, connector or connecting portion of the heating duct 20 and the condensing duct 30, and the heater 22 may be in the heating duct 20. A lower end of the vertically extending condensing duct 30 may be connected to a lower section of the tub 10, and an upper end of the condensing duct 30 may be connected to the heating duct 20.
The coolant supplying unit 40 is configured to supply coolant to the condensing duct 30. The condensation of the moisture in the air flowing in the condensing duct 30 may be enhanced by the coolant. In the present exemplary embodiments, the coolant supplying unit 40 may be configured as a pipe branching from the water supplying device 64. Thus, the coolant may comprise water (e.g., cold tap water). However, this configuration is merely an example, and the invention is not limited thereto. For example, the coolant supplying unit 40 may be separate from the water supplying device 64, and may include a driving unit configured to supply the coolant. Furthermore, a coolant valve 50 configured to control a supply or flow rate of the coolant may be in the coolant supplying unit 40.
The condensing duct 30 may include an outer tube 31 and an inner tube (or air tube) 32. The air discharged from the tub 10 may pass through the inner tube 32, and at least a part or section of the inner tube 32 may be in the outer tube 31. The entire inner tube 32 may be in the outer tube 31, or only a part or section of the inner tube 32 may be in the outer tube 31. An outer surface of the section of the inner tube 32 in the outer tube 31 may be spaced apart or separate from an inner surface of the outer tube 31, so that a space 33 exists between the outer tube 31 and the inner tube 32.
The space 33 may be sealed at the bottom, and the coolant may fill the space 33 when supplied thereto. By way of example, as shown in
For example, the outer tube 31 may be configured to have a predetermined inner diameter and a predetermined outer diameter. Meanwhile, the inner tube 32 may include an insert 321 having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the outer tube 31; and a connector 322 having an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of the outer tube 31. The connector 322 is provided below the insert 321 and may extend downward from a lower end of the insert 321. As depicted in
The inner tube 32 may be forcibly inserted into the outer tube 31. Furthermore, a stepped section 323 may be at the joint section of the insert 321 and the connector 322. The stepped section 323 may have an outer diameter that allows the stepped section 323 to make an interference fit with the outer tube 31. As the stepped section 323 is forcibly fitted into the outer tube 31, the inner tube 32 and the outer tube 31 can tightly engage with or connect to each other. For example, the inner tube 32 may have a lip or ring-like projection around the part that contacts the outer tube 31, and the outer tube 31 may have a matching groove or indentation on the part that contacts the inner tube 32.
The connector 322 may be connected to the draining device 63 to allow condensed water produced during the condensation of the air, or overflowing coolant (which is described later) to be discharged out of the washing machine 1.
The coolant supplying unit 40 may be configured to supply the coolant to the space 33. For example, a coolant inlet 311 may be at or on the outer tube 31 of the condensing duct 30, and the coolant inlet 311 may be connected to the coolant supplying unit 40 that may branch from the water supplying device 64. The coolant valve 50 in the coolant supplying unit 40 (or a tube thereof) controls the flow rate of the coolant supplied to the coolant inlet 311, thus adjusting the amount and/or rate of the coolant filling in the space 33.
An upper end of the inner tube 32 may be open and the upper end is below an upper end of the outer tube 31. When the bottom of the space 33 is sealed, the top of the space 33 may be open. In such a configuration, when the coolant is continuously supplied into the space 33, the coolant may fill the entire space 33, and then may flow over the open top of the space 33. The overflowing coolant may enter the inner tube 32 via the open upper end of the inner tube 32. After reaching the inner tube 32, the coolant may fall or run down along the inner surface of the inner tube 32 and be drained in the lower section thereof by the draining device 63.
As discussed above, before the coolant supplied to the space 33 overflows into the inner tube 32 after filling the space 33, the coolant may first come into contact with the outer surface of the inner tube 32 within the space 33. As a result, a preliminary heat exchange may first occur between the coolant and the air in the inner tube 32. Thereafter, when the coolant in the inner tube 32 comes into direct contact with the air in the inner tube, a secondary heat exchange may occur between the coolant and the air. Accordingly, the moisture in the air may be reduced effectively with a smaller amount of coolant.
When the coolant is supplied to the space 33, the condensed water drops produced during the condensation of the air may form on and/or cling to the inner surface of the inner tube 32. These condensed water drops may be effectively removed from the inner surface of the inner tube 32 by the coolant in the inner tube 32 flowing down along the inner surface of the inner tube 32.
The coolant supplying unit 40 may be connected to a lower side of the outer tube 31. In such a configuration, the coolant may fill the space 33, starting from a bottom section of the space 33. Since the bottom of the space 33 is tightly sealed, the coolant may fill from the bottom of the space 33. As the coolant is supplied from the bottom of the space 33, the coolant may be prevented from reaching the heating duct 20 even with the fan 21 operating.
An operation and an effect of the drum type washing machine 1 having the above-described configuration in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be explained in further detail.
When the fan 21 operates, the air in the tub 10 may move into the condensing duct 30. The condensing duct 30 has a double-tube structure and a space 33 that is filled with the coolant supplied from the coolant supplying unit, as discussed above. The air from the tub 10 may move into the heating duct 20 through the inner tube 32 that forms the inner sidewall of the space 33. In
When the coolant passes through the space 33, there may be an exchange of heat between the coolant and the air passing through the inner tube 32. As a result, the temperature of the air may decrease. Accordingly, a dew point may also decrease, and moisture in the air can condense (e.g., on the inner surface of the inner tube 32).
The air may come into indirect contact (e.g., the coolant with the sidewall of the inner tube 32). The indirect contact may be made throughout the entire side surface area of the inner tube 32. Since the coolant is in the condensing duct 30 as it fills the space 33, the coolant in the space 33 is capable of reducing the temperature of the air passing through the inner tube 32 continuously until the coolant and the air reach a thermal equilibrium state (e.g., at or near the top of the inner tube 32). In such a case, the flow rate of the coolant can be relatively low. Thus, an efficient heat exchange may be performed between the coolant and the air, so that the moisture in the air can be effectively reduced with a relatively small amount of coolant.
Furthermore, when the coolant remains in the space 33 statically (i.e., without new coolant continuously flowing into the space 33), before the coolant and the air passing through the inner tube 32 reach thermal equilibrium, the temperature of the coolant may become close to thermal equilibrium. When a predetermined time has elapsed after the coolant is supplied, the coolant supplying unit 40 may replenish the space 33 with new coolant. Accordingly, the coolant can be provided to the condensing duct 30 intermittently, and reduction of condensing efficiency from relatively warm coolant may be prevented.
If additional coolant is supplied from the coolant supplying unit 40, the coolant previously supplied in the space 33 may overflow into the inner tube 32 through the top opening of the space 33. This overflowing coolant may fall or run down, while effectively removing condensed water drops clinging to the inner surface of the inner tube 32, and absorbing moisture in the air. Then, the coolant may be discharged through the draining device 63.
Hereinafter, a condensing duct 30a included in a drum type washing machine in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be discussed with reference to
As depicted in
In the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the fluid guiding member 34 may be a protrusion or extension on an inner surface of the outer tube 31 having a preset height. The protrusion or extension may be spiral, extending more in the longitudinal direction than vertical direction of the outer tube 31. Further, the height of the protrusion or extension may be equal to or smaller than a gap between the outer surface of the inner tube 32 and the inner surface of the outer tube, and an end of the protrusion or extension may be in contact with the outer surface of the inner tube 32. By the presence of such a protrusion or extension, a spiral fluid path may be formed. In
Alternatively, the fluid guiding member 34 may be a protrusion or extension on the outer surface of the inner tube 32 having a preset height. The protrusion or extension may be spirally extended in the longitudinal direction of the inner tube 32. As in the above example, the height of this protrusion or extension may be equal to or smaller than the gap between the outer surface of the inner tube 32 and the inner surface of the outer tube 31, and an end of this protrusion or extension may be in contact with the inner surface of the outer tube 31. By the presence of such a protrusion or extension, a spiral flow path may be formed.
The coolant supplied into the space 33 may flow along the fluid path defined by the fluid guiding member 34 in the space 33. For example, when the spiral fluid path is in the longitudinal direction of the condensing duct 30, the coolant may flow spirally up the inner tube 32. Accordingly, the fluid path through which the coolant flows in the space 33 may be lengthened, thus a time period during which the air and the coolant are in indirect contact with each other can be lengthened. As a result, the moisture in the air can be more effectively reduced with a relatively small amount of coolant.
Furthermore, the fluid guiding member 34 may also prevent the occurrence of convection of the coolant within the space 33. Accordingly, coolant having an increased temperature due to the heat transferred from the air can be prevented from mixing with newly supplied, low-temperature coolant. Accordingly, the newly supplied coolant can effectively maintain a low temperature. Particularly, when an inlet through which the new low-temperature coolant is provided in the inner tube 32 at an upstream side of the air, the newly introduced or provided coolant may be allowed to come into contact with the air before experiencing a temperature rise by heat exchange. As a result, the air with the highest temperature indirectly contacts the newly introduced coolant with the lowest temperature, and thus, the temperature of the air can be lowered more effectively.
Furthermore, as set forth above, the fluid guiding member 34 may protrude from the outer tube 31 and be in contact with the inner tube 32, or may protrude from the inner tube 32 and be in contact with the outer tube 32. With this configuration, the fluid guiding member 34 is capable of connecting the outer tube 31 and the inner tube 32 across the space 33, and thus is capable of supporting the inner tube 32 effectively within the outer tube 31. Thus, the double-tube structure of the condensing duct 30a may be stronger.
Although exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art would understand that the present disclosure may be implemented in various ways without changing the necessary features or the spirit of the present disclosure.
Therefore, it should be understood that the exemplary embodiments described above are not limiting, but only an example in all respects. The scope of the present disclosure is expressed by claims described below, not the detailed description, and it should be construed that all of changes and modifications achieved from the meanings and scope of claims and equivalent concepts are included in the scope of the present disclosure.
From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described herein for purposes of illustration, and that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the various embodiments disclosed herein are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-2013-0161617 | Dec 2013 | KR | national |
