JP2019042217A - Clothes dryer - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a clothes dryer capable of maintaining a rotational speed of a circulation blower at the rotational speed higher than a normal speed, and capable of performing drying of clothes efficiently.SOLUTION: A clothes dryer includes: a drying chamber in which clothes are stored; a circulation air passage connected to the drying chamber; a circulation blower for circulating air in the drying chamber through the circulation air passage; and dehumidifying means provided in the circulation air passage and for dehumidifying the air flowing in the circulation air passage. A portion which generates heat out of the circulation blower is arranged further on the downstream side than the dehumidifying means in the circulation air passage.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  Embodiments of the present invention relate to a clothes dryer.

  For example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, the clothes drier includes a drying chamber in which the clothes are accommodated, a circulation air passage connected to the drying chamber, and a circulation blower circulating air in the drying chamber through the circulation air passage. And the dehumidifying means for dehumidifying the air flowing in the circulating air passage, and the heating means for heating the air flowing in the circulating air passage. The clothes dryer drives the circulation fan to circulate the air in the drying chamber through the circulation air passage, dehumidifies the air flowing in the circulation air passage in the process of the circulation, and then heats and dries it. By bringing it back into the room, the clothes in the drying room are dried.

JP 2004-201772 A

  In this type of clothes dryer, when it is intended to dry clothes efficiently, for example, when it is intended to dry in a shorter time, the rotational speed of the circulating blower is maintained at a higher rotational speed than usual. Thus, it is considered to increase the amount of circulating air. However, if the rotational speed of the circulation fan is maintained at a high rotation speed, for example, the fan motor of the circulation fan may generate heat and become high temperature. And when a circulation air blower becomes high temperature, the rotation speed has to be reduced, Therefore, the subject that a circulation air volume is made to fully increase and by extension, drying of clothing can not be performed efficiently occurs.

  So, this embodiment can maintain the rotational speed of a circulation fan at a rotational speed higher than normal, and provides the clothes dryer which can dry clothes efficiently.

  The clothes dryer according to the present embodiment includes a drying chamber, a circulating air passage, a circulating blower, and a dehumidifying unit. Clothes are accommodated in the drying chamber. A circulating air passage is connected to the drying chamber. The circulation fan circulates the air in the drying chamber through the circulation air passage. The dehumidifying means is provided in the circulation air passage and dehumidifies the air flowing in the circulation air passage. The portion of the circulation fan that generates heat is disposed downstream of the dehumidifying unit in the circulation air passage.

Longitudinal side view schematically showing a configuration example of a clothes dryer according to the present embodiment Longitudinal back view schematically showing a configuration example of the clothes dryer according to the present embodiment A diagram schematically showing a configuration example of a heat pump unit according to the present embodiment The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows roughly the structural example of the inside of the circulating air path which concerns on 1st Embodiment. The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows roughly the structural example of the inside of the circulation air path which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows roughly the structural example of the inside of the circulation air path which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. The figure which shows schematically the structural example inside the circulation air path which concerns on 3rd Embodiment seeing from the axial direction of a circulation fan. The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows roughly the structural example of the inside of the circulation air path which concerns on 4th Embodiment. The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows roughly the structural example of the inside of the circulation air path which concerns on 5th Embodiment. The perspective view which shows roughly the structural example of the inside of the circulation air path which concerns on 5th Embodiment. The figure which shows schematically the structural example of the front-end | tip part of the support leg part which concerns on 6th Embodiment, and its periphery part

  Hereinafter, a plurality of embodiments according to a clothes dryer will be described with reference to the drawings. In each embodiment, substantially the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

First Embodiment
The washing and drying machine 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a so-called drum type washing and drying machine provided with washing and drying functions of clothes, and also functions as a clothes dryer for drying clothes in the drying process. The casing 2 constituting the main body of the washing and drying machine 1 is in the form of a substantially rectangular box, and the front surface portion 2a is formed to be slightly inclined forward and downward. The laundry entrance which is not illustrated is formed in the front part 2a. Moreover, the door 3 which opens and closes a laundry entrance is rotatably provided in the front part 2a.

  In the housing 2, the water tank 4 is elastically supported via the suspension 5. The water tank 4 has a bottomed cylindrical shape with an open front and a closed rear surface, with the axial direction oriented in the front-rear direction, and is disposed in a slightly upward sloping state. The front opening of the water tank 4 is connected to the laundry entrance through a bellows (not shown). The water tank 4 functions as an example of a drying room at the time of the drying process which dries laundry, such as clothing.

  In the water tank 4, the drum 6 which is an example of a rotation tank is rotatably arrange | positioned. Like the water tank 4, this drum 6 also has a bottomed cylindrical shape having an opening at the front and a closed rear surface, and the axial direction is directed in the front and back direction, and the inclination is slightly upward. It is arranged. A large number of holes 6 a are formed in the peripheral wall portion and the rear wall portion of the drum 6. These holes 6a function as water flow holes through which water passes during the washing process and the rinsing process, and function as vent holes through which the drying air passes during the drying process.

  A drum motor 7 is provided at the back of the water tank 4, and the drum 6 is rotationally driven by the drum motor 7 via a rotation shaft 7a. In the inside of the peripheral wall portion of the drum 6, a plurality of baffles (not shown) are provided. The laundry such as clothes is accommodated in the drum 6 so as to be able to be put in and out of the drum 6 through the laundry entrance, the opening of the water tank 4 and the opening of the drum 6.

  The water tank 4 is provided with an upward air outlet 8a at the top of the front of the peripheral wall portion, and an air inlet 8b at the top of the rear wall. A filter case 10 is connected to an upper portion of the air outlet 8 a via a connection duct 9 formed in a bellows shape so as to be able to absorb vibrations. In the filter case 10, a lint filter (not shown) is removably attached.

  The front end of the exhaust duct 11 is connected to the rear of the filter case 10. After the exhaust duct 11 extends rearward from the filter case 10, the exhaust duct 11 is turned downward, and the lower end portion thereof is provided in the housing 2 via the connection duct 18a formed in a bellows shape so as to be able to absorb vibration. The heat pump unit 12 is connected to the upstream side of a unit case 13 of the heat pump unit 12 provided below the water tank 4 at the rear lower portion. The unit case 13 constitutes the outer shell of the heat pump unit 12. The unit case 13 extends along the lateral direction of the washer / dryer 1 behind the suspension 5, that is, along the horizontal direction. Further, on the downstream side of the unit case 13, one end portion of the air supply duct 19 is connected via a connection duct 18b formed in a bellows shape so as to be capable of absorbing vibration. The other end of the air supply duct 19 extends upward and is connected to the air inlet 8 b of the water tank 4.

  Here, the washing and drying machine 1 includes the connection duct 9, the filter case 10, the exhaust duct 11, the connection duct 18 a, the unit case 13 of the heat pump unit 12, the connection duct 18 b, and the air supply duct 19. A circulation air passage 20 is connected to connect and communicate between 8a and the air inlet 8b. The circulation air passage 20 is connected to the air outlet 8a at the upstream end which is one end portion outside the water tank 4 and in the inside of the housing 2, and is connected to the air inlet 8b at the downstream end which is the other end. ing.

  As illustrated in FIG. 3, the heat pump 21 provided in the heat pump unit 12 forms a refrigeration cycle by cyclically connecting a compressor 22, a condenser 23, a throttling device 24, and an evaporator 25 by means of a refrigerant pipe 26. Among these, the condenser 23 and the evaporator 25 that constitute the heat exchanger are disposed inside the unit case 13 that constitutes a part of the circulation air passage 20. Although illustration is abbreviate | omitted in FIG. 3, in the circulation air path 20, the circulation fan 31 mentioned later in detail is equipped. The circulation fan 31 circulates the air in the water tank 4 through the circulation air passage 20. By driving the circulation fan 31, the air in the water tank 4 is introduced into the circulation air passage 20, and flows from the upstream side which is the air outlet 8a side to the downstream side which is the air inlet 8b side. It has become.

  In the unit case 13, the evaporator 25 is disposed on the air outlet 8 a side of the water tank 4, that is, on the upstream side of the circulation air passage 20. On the other hand, the condenser 23 is disposed on the air inlet 8 b side of the water tank 4, that is, on the downstream side of the circulation air passage 20. That is, in the circulation air passage 20, the condenser 23 is disposed downstream of the evaporator 25. The evaporator 25 is an example of a dehumidifying means, and functions as a dehumidifying means for cooling and dehumidifying air flowing in the circulation air passage 20 from the air outlet 8a side to the air inlet 8b side, that is, from the upstream side to the downstream side. Do. On the other hand, the condenser 23 is an example of a heating means, and functions as a heating means for heating the air flowing in the circulation air passage 20 from the air outlet 8a side to the air inlet 8b side, that is, from the upstream side to the downstream side. .

  Next, a configuration example of the circulation fan 31 for circulating the air in the water tank 4 through the circulation air passage 20 will be described. That is, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the circulation fan 31 includes a fan 32 and a fan motor 33. The fan 32 is connected to a fan motor 33 via a fan shaft 34. The fan motor 33 rotationally drives the fan 32 via the fan shaft 34. The circulation blower 31 is configured as a blower along which the fan shaft 34 of the fan 32 follows in the flow direction of the air in the circulation air passage 20, that is, a so-called axial flow fan.

  Further, the fan motor 33 is configured by a molded motor molded by the resin 35, that is, a motor to which waterproof processing by the resin 35 is applied. Further, the fan motor 33 is supported by the plurality of support legs 36 in the circulation air passage 20. The support leg portion 36 is an example of a support means. In the present embodiment, the upper and lower portions of the fan motor 33 are supported by the support legs 36 so that the fan motor 33 is maintained substantially at the center of the circulation air passage 20. The unit case 13 is provided with a recess 13a that is recessed outward, and the tip of the support leg 36 is inserted into the recess 13a.

  The circulation fan 31 is configured to generate heat as the fan 32 is rotated by the fan motor 33. At this time, the amount of heat generation of the fan motor 33 increases as the rotational speed of the fan 32 increases. That is, the fan motor 33 that constitutes the circulation fan 31 can be defined as a portion of the circulation fan 31 that generates heat. When the fan motor 33 generates heat, the heat is also transmitted to other components of the circulation fan 31, for example, a fan 32, a fan shaft 34, and a support leg 36 which are made of a metal material such as aluminum. Therefore, the fans 32, the fan shaft 34, and the support legs 36 can also be defined as portions of the circulation fan 31 that generate heat, although they are indirect.

  When the circulation fan 31 is driven in the unit case 13, the air in the water tank 4 flows into the circulation air passage 20 from the air outlet 8 a and is returned to the water tank 4 from the air inlet 8 b through the circulation air passage 20. It circulates. In the process of this circulation, the air flowing in the circulation air passage 20 is dehumidified by the evaporator 25 and further heated by the condenser 23 and flows into the water tank 4 as warm air. That is, the heat pump unit 12 dehumidifies the air for drying the clothes in the drum 6 by the evaporator 25 and heats it by the condenser 23.

  Here, in the present embodiment, the circulation fan 31, in other words, the fan motor 33 which is a portion generating heat during driving of the circulation fan 31, is disposed downstream of the evaporator 25 in the circulation air passage 20. ing. According to this configuration, the heat generating portion of the circulation fan 31 can be cooled by the air cooled by the evaporator 25. Therefore, even if the circulation fan 31 is rotated at a rotational speed higher than normal, the circulation is performed. It is possible to suppress the temperature rise due to the heat generation from the portion that generates heat with the driving of the blower 31. Therefore, the rotation speed of the circulation fan 31 can be maintained at a rotation speed higher than normal, the circulation air volume can be increased, and the clothes can be dried efficiently.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the fan motor 33 is disposed upstream of the condenser 23 in the circulation air passage 20. According to this configuration, the air flowing in the circulation air passage 20 can be heated not only by the condenser 23 but also by the fan motor 33. Therefore, the air returned into the water tank 4 through the circulation air passage 20 can be efficiently heated, and the clothes can be dried more efficiently. Further, according to the present embodiment, the air flowing in the circulation air passage 20 is heated by the fan motor 33 on the near side of the condenser 23. Therefore, the air flowing in the circulation air passage 20 can be so-called preheated in a stage before reaching the condenser 23, and the circulation air can be efficiently heated while reducing the load of the condenser 23.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the fan motor 33 which is a portion that generates heat in the circulation fan 31 is configured by a molded motor to which waterproof processing by the resin 35 is performed. Therefore, even if the air passing through the evaporator 25 contains moisture, the adverse effect of the moisture on the circulation fan 31 can be suppressed.

Second Embodiment
In the configuration example illustrated in FIG. 5, the heat generating part of the circulation fan 31, in this case, the distance D 2 between the fan motor 33 and the condenser 23 is from the distance D 1 between the fan motor 33 and the evaporator 25. Is also getting longer. According to this configuration, a sufficient air passage space can be secured between the fan motor 33 and the condenser 23, which are relatively large components constituting the main body of the circulation blower 31. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of a portion where air is difficult to be supplied due to the presence of the fan motor 33 in the condenser 23, and it is possible to suppress the decrease in heat exchange efficiency in the condenser 23.

Third Embodiment
In the configuration examples illustrated in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the condenser 40 has the low air resistance portion 41 in the portion that generates heat in the circulation fan 31, in this case, the portion facing the fan motor 33. The low air resistance portion 41 is a portion configured to have a lower air resistance than the other portions of the condenser 40. In the present embodiment, the condenser 40 is configured as a so-called multi-flow condenser. That is, the condenser 40 has a configuration in which the plurality of flat tubes 42 are sandwiched by the upper and lower headers 43 and 44 and the radiation fins 45 are provided between the plurality of flat tubes 42. The flat tube 42 is formed in a flat shape, and has a flow path through which the refrigerant flows. The header 43 constitutes an inlet of the refrigerant to the flat tube 42. The header 44 constitutes an outlet of the refrigerant from the flat tube 42. The heat dissipating fins 45 are made of, for example, a metal material such as aluminum, and are provided in a wave shape so that the apexes of the plurality of flat tubes 42 are in contact with the flat tube 42.

  The low air resistance portion 41 is provided in the multi-flow type condenser 40 described above by making the pitch of the heat radiation fins 45 larger than the other portions. That is, in the present embodiment, in the condenser 40, the pitch of the radiation fins 45 in the portion other than the low air resistance portion 41 is dense, while the pitch of the radiation fins 45 in the low air resistance portion 41 is the same. It has a coarse pitch such that only one or a few heat radiation fins 45 exist in the portion.

  According to the present embodiment, a so-called multi-flow type condenser 40 having excellent heat exchange efficiency is provided as a heating means for heating the air flowing in the circulation air passage 20. Therefore, the air circulating in the circulation air passage 20 can be efficiently heated, and the clothes can be dried more efficiently. Moreover, according to the multi-flow type condenser 40, it is possible to easily change the pitch of the radiation fins 45 partially, and to form the low air resistance portion 41 without requiring complicated design or the like. Can.

  Although not shown, the condenser 40 has a configuration in which the heat dissipating fins 45 are not provided at all in the low air resistance portion 41, that is, a low air resistance through holes penetrating the condenser 40 from the upstream side toward the downstream side. It is good also as composition of making it a part. In addition, in the case of mounting a condenser comprising a plurality of heat dissipating fins and a refrigerant pipe provided so as to meander through these heat dissipating fins, so-called fin tube type condenser, for example, the number of heat dissipating fins The low air resistance portion may be configured by reducing the density of the refrigerant tube more than the other portions, or by reducing the density of the refrigerant pipe more than the other portions.

Fourth Embodiment
In the configuration example illustrated in FIG. 8, the circulation fan 31, in other words, the fan motor 33 that generates heat during driving of the circulation fan 31, is disposed downstream of the condenser 23 in the circulation air passage 20. It is done. According to this configuration, the air heated by the condenser 23 can be further heated by the fan motor 33, that is, the air heated by the condenser 23 is kept warm by the heat of the fan motor 33. Can. Therefore, the air heated by the condenser 23 can be returned to the water tank 4 in the high temperature state, and the clothes can be dried more efficiently. And since it is not necessary to provide the low air resistance part provided in the heat exchanger of the above-mentioned 3rd Embodiment in this embodiment, a general purpose thing can be utilized as a heat exchanger used for the condenser 23.

Fifth Embodiment
In the configuration example illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, in the circulation air passage 20, the flow passage in the portion where the evaporator 25 is disposed is a flow passage having a rectangular cross section, and a portion of the circulation blower 31 that generates heat. In this case, the flow passage in the portion where the fan motor 33 is disposed is a flow passage having a circular cross section. Then, in the circulating air passage 20, the flow passage between the flow passage having a rectangular cross section in which the evaporator 25 is disposed and the flow passage having a circular cross section in which the fan motor 33 is disposed is from the upstream side to the downstream side The flow path is gradually and gradually changed from a rectangular cross section to a circular cross section.

  According to the present embodiment, it is possible to form a flow path that gently connects the respective shapes from the substantially rectangular evaporator 25 toward the generally circular circulation fan 31. According to such a flow path, air can be efficiently flowed from the evaporator 25 toward the circulation fan 31. Thereby, the flow of the air in the circulation air passage 20 can be smoothed, and the circulation of the air in the water tank 4 and the drying of the clothes in the water tank 4 can be performed more efficiently.

  Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the circulation air passage 20 is a portion of the circulation blower 31 that generates heat, in this case, the flow passage in the portion where the fan motor 33 is disposed becomes a circular passage in cross section. The flow passage in the portion where the condenser 23 is disposed is a flow passage having a rectangular cross section. Then, in the circulating air passage 20, the flow passage between the circular flow passage in which the fan motor 33 is disposed and the flow passage in which the condenser 23 is disposed is a flow passage from the upstream side to the downstream side. The flow path is gradually and gradually changed from a circular cross-section toward a rectangular cross-section.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to form a flow path that gently connects the respective shapes from the circulation fan 31 having a substantially circular shape toward the condenser 23 having a substantially rectangular shape. Air can be efficiently flowed toward the vessel 23. Thereby, the flow of the air in the circulation air passage 20 can be smoothed, and the circulation of the air in the water tank 4 and the drying of the clothes in the water tank 4 can be performed more efficiently.

Sixth Embodiment
In the configuration example illustrated in FIG. 11, the support leg portion 36 is inserted into the recess portion 13 a of the unit case 13 via the thermal insulator 50. The heat insulator 50 is made of, for example, a resin material, a rubber material, a glass material or the like having heat insulation. According to the present embodiment, even if the heat generating portion of the circulation fan 31, for example, the fan motor 33 generates heat, the heat is prevented from being transmitted to the unit case 13 through the support leg portion 36. it can. Therefore, the heat generation of the fan motor 33 can be utilized for heating the air flowing in the circulation air passage 20 without being dissipated to the outside, and, for example, the unit case 13 made of a resin material can be prevented from being deformed by heat. Can.

(Other embodiments)
The present embodiment is not limited to the plurality of embodiments described above, and can be expanded or modified as follows, for example. For example, the plurality of embodiments described above can be implemented in combination as appropriate. Moreover, the whole of the circulation fan 31 may not be accommodated in the circulation air passage 20, as long as a portion that generates heat with driving which is a part of the circulation blower 31 is accommodated in the circulation air passage 20. .

  Further, the number of support legs 36 is not limited to two, and may be three or more. Further, the number of circulation blowers 31 provided in the circulation air passage 20 is not limited to one, and, for example, according to the required air volume, etc., two or more circulation blowers 31 are provided. It is also good. In the configuration including the plurality of circulation blowers 31, the plurality of circulation blowers 31 may be arranged in a direction orthogonal to the flow direction of the air in the circulation air passage 20, or the air flows in the circulation air passage 20 It may be arranged along the direction.

  Further, the dehumidifying means is not limited to the evaporator, and may be, for example, a so-called water-cooled dehumidifying means that dehumidifies by dropping water on air. Moreover, a heating means is not restricted to a condenser, For example, a heater may be sufficient. Further, the present embodiment is not limited to a so-called drum-type washing and drying machine in which the rotation axis of the rotation tank extends in the horizontal direction or the inclination direction, and so-called vertical axis type washing in which the rotation axis of the rotation tank is in the vertical direction. It can be applied to a dryer. Moreover, this embodiment can be applied to a pure clothes dryer having no washing function.

  According to the clothes dryer according to the plurality of embodiments described above, the heat generating portion of the circulation fan is disposed downstream of the dehumidifying unit in the circulation air passage. According to this configuration, the heat generating portion of the circulation fan can be cooled by the air that has passed through the dehumidifying unit. Therefore, the rotational speed of the circulation fan can be maintained at a higher rotational speed than usual, and clothes can be efficiently dried.

  Note that the present embodiment is presented as an example, and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The present embodiment and the modifications thereof are included in the scope and the gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

  In the drawings, 1 is a washing / drying machine (clothing dryer), 4 is a water tank (drying chamber), 20 is a circulating air path, 23 is a condenser (heating means), 25 is an evaporator (dehumidifying means), 31 is a circulation fan , 32 is a fan (heat generating portion of the circulation fan), 33 is a fan motor (heat generating portion of the circulation fan), 34 is a fan shaft (heat generating portion of the circulation fan), 36 is a support leg (circulation fan Among them, the heat generating portion, support means), 40 is a condenser (multi-flow type condenser, heating means), 41 is a low air resistance portion, and 50 is a thermal insulator.

Claims (9)

A drying room in which clothes are stored,
A circulating air passage connected to the drying chamber;
A circulation fan for circulating the air in the drying chamber through the circulation air path;
A dehumidifying unit provided in the circulation air passage for dehumidifying the air flowing in the circulation air passage;
Equipped with
The clothes dryer, wherein the heat generating portion of the circulation fan is disposed downstream of the dehumidifying unit in the circulation air passage. It further comprises a heating means provided downstream of the dehumidifying means in the circulating air passage and heating the air flowing in the circulating air passage.
The clothes dryer according to claim 1, wherein the heat generating portion of the circulation fan is disposed upstream of the heating unit in the circulation air passage.   The clothes dryer according to claim 2, wherein a distance between the heat generating part of the circulation fan and the heating means is longer than a distance between the heat generating part of the circulation fan and the dehumidifying means.   The clothes dryer according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the heating means has a low air resistance portion lower in air resistance than other portions in a portion facing the heat generating portion of the circulation fan. It further comprises a heating means provided downstream of the dehumidifying means in the circulating air passage and heating the air flowing in the circulating air passage.
The clothes dryer according to claim 1, wherein the heat generating portion of the circulation fan is disposed downstream of the heating unit in the circulation air passage.   The clothes dryer according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the heating means is a multi-flow type condenser including a flat tube having a flow path through which a refrigerant flows.   In the circulation air passage, the flow passage in the portion where the dehumidifying means is disposed is a rectangular flow passage, and the flow passage in a portion where the heat generating portion of the circulation fan is disposed is a circular flow passage. The clothes dryer according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the flow passage between the rectangular flow passage and the circular flow passage is a flow passage that changes from rectangular to circular. .   The clothes dryer according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a waterproofed motor as a heat generating portion of the circulation fan. It further comprises supporting means for supporting the heat generating part of the circulation fan in the circulation air passage,
The clothes dryer according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the support means has a thermal insulator which insulates the transfer of heat to the circulation air path side.

Images