DRUM TYPE WASHING MACHINE WITH IMPROVED DRYING EFFICIENCY

Abstract

A drum type washing machine with improved drying efficiency, includes a tub, a drum rotatably provided inside the tub, a drying duct connected to at least one of the tub and the drum and configured to supply a hot air, and a condensing duct connected to the drying duct and configured to allow air with high humidity supplied from the tub or the drum to exchange heat with cooling water, dry the air with high humidity and then supply a dry air to the drying duct. The condensing duct includes a water chamber configured to accommodate the cooling water. The water chamber includes a condensing wall formed to make contact with the cooling water on one surface thereof and make contact with the air with high humidity on the other surface thereof and configured to cause heat exchange between the cooling water and the air with high humidity.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based on and claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2017-0092587, filed on Jul. 21, 2017, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference for all purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a drum type washing machine with improved drying efficiency.

BACKGROUND

In general, a washing machine is an apparatus that removes various contaminants adhering to laundry, e.g., clothes, beddings and the like, by utilizing the emulsifying action of a detergent, the frictional action of water flow generated by the rotation of a pulsator and the impact effect applied to washing items by a pulsator.

A conventional fully automated washing machine can automatically perform a series of processes including washing, rinsing and dewatering without requiring user intervention once the cycles are started.

Depending on the form of the washing tub containing washing items, washing machines are classified into a top-loading type washing machine in which a washing tub is installed upright (vertical) and a front-loading type washing machine in which a washing tub is laid horizontal. Among them, the front-loading type washing machine (hereinafter referred to as “drum type washing machine”) is smaller in total height than the top-loading type washing machine, larger in washing capacity than the top-loading type washing machine, and mostly avoids problems associated with fabric twisting or the like. Thus, the demand for the drum type washing machine has been increasing.

The drum type washing machine may include a tub configured to store washing water, and a drum installed inside the tub and configured to accommodate washing objects. The drum type washing machine can perform a washing process on washing items by the rotation of the drum and the friction of washing items by the washing water.

The drum type washing machine may include a drying device that can dry the washing items by supplying hot air into the drum accommodating the washing items. The air heated by the drying device passes through the washing items accommodated in the drum. Thereafter, the air, having high humidity, flows into the drying device again.

The humid air flowing into the drying device is brought into contact with cooling water in order to reduce the humidity thereof. At this time, the humid air is condensed by the cooling water having a relatively low temperature, whereby the moisture in the air can be removed. As a result, the humid air is converted into relatively dry air. The dry air is heated by a heating element of the drying device and is then re-supplied into the drum.

However, in the conventional drum type washing machine, the cooling water is scattered due to the high flow velocity when the humid air comes into contact with the cooling water. For that reason, there is a problem that the humidity of the humid air increases and the drying efficiency therefore becomes poor. In addition, a problem happens in that the scattered cooling water flowing into the drying device comes into contact with components of the drum type washing machine and causes corrosion thereof.

Prior Art Document

Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2015-0073395 (published on Jul. 1, 2015)

SUMMARY

One embodiment of the present disclosure provides a drum type washing machine with improved drying efficiency, which is capable of preventing humid air (with high humidity) passed through a tub or a drum from making direct contact with cooling water, reliably suppressing the scattering of cooling water, enhancing the drying efficiency of an air, and preventing components from being corroded by scattered cooling water.

Furthermore, one embodiment of the present disclosure provides a drum type washing machine with improved drying efficiency, which is capable of increasing the area of a surface contacting the humid air while separating cooling water from the humid air, and consequently enhancing the condensing efficiency.

In accordance with a first embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a drum type washing machine with improved drying efficiency, including: a tub; a drum rotatably provided inside the tub; a drying duct connected to at least one of the tub and the drum and configured to supply a hot air; and a condensing duct connected to the drying duct and configured to allow humid air (with high humidity) supplied from the tub or the drum to exchange heat with cooling water, dry the humid air and then supply dry air to the drying duct, wherein the condensing duct comprises a water chamber configured to accommodate the cooling water, and wherein further the water chamber comprises a condensing wall configured to make contact with the cooling water on one surface thereof and to make contact with the humid air on another surface thereof, the heat exchange between the cooling water and the humid air occurring through the condensing wall.

The condensing duct may further include a housing having an open surface and an air flow path formed therein, a water inlet provided to supply the cooling water into the water chamber, and a water outlet configured to discharge the cooling water passed through the water chamber to the outside of the housing.

The water chamber may include flow path ribs configured to increase a contact area between the cooling water and the condensing wall and to reduce a flow velocity of the cooling water flowing in the water chamber.

The flow path ribs may be alternately and consecutively formed on one side and the other side of the water chamber and are disposed inside the water chamber.

The flow path ribs may extend obliquely downward.

An introduction port for introducing the cooling water supplied via the water inlet into the water chamber may be formed on one side of the water chamber.

The housing may include a guide portion opened on one surface thereof and configured to guide the cooling water toward the introduction port and wherein the guide portion is formed inside the housing where the water inlet is positioned.

An end of the water inlet leading to the guide portion may incudes a shape of a nozzle for injecting the cooling water toward the guide portion.

A discharge port for discharging the cooling water existing in the water chamber may be formed on the other side of the water chamber.

The water chamber may be thermally fusion-bonded to one side surface of the housing.

The water chamber may include a metallic material.

In accordance with a second embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a drum type washing machine with improved drying efficiency, including: a tub; a drum disposed in the tub; a drying duct coupled to at least one of the tub and the drum and configured to supply hot air; and a condensing duct coupled to the drying duct and configured to exchange heat between cooling water and humid air, which has high humidity and is supplied from the tub or the drum, to dry the humid air and therefrom to supply dry air to the drying duct, wherein the condensing duct comprises: a housing having an open surface and an air flow path formed therein to accommodate humid air flowing through the air flow path; a water chamber having a condensing wall on one side surface thereof, coupled to the housing to cover the open surface of the housing and also configured to accommodate the cooling water therein; a water inlet configured to supply the cooling water into the water chamber; and a water outlet configured to discharge the cooling water passed through the water chamber to the outside of the housing.

The water chamber may include flow path ribs configured to increase a contact area between the cooling water and the condensing wall and to reduce a flow velocity of the cooling water flowing in the water chamber.

The flow path ribs may be alternately and consecutively disposed on one side and the other side of the water chamber inside the water chamber.

The flow path ribs may be formed to extend obliquely downward.

The water chamber may further include an introduction port, the introduction port being operable for introducing the cooling water supplied via the water inlet into the water chamber.

The condensing duct may further includes a guide portion, which is opened on one surface thereof, for guiding the cooling water toward the introduction port and wherein the guide portion is disposed inside the housing where the water inlet is positioned.

An end of the water inlet leading to the guide portion may be formed in a shape of a nozzle for injecting the cooling water toward the guide portion.

The water chamber may include a discharge port for discharging the cooling water existing in the water chamber.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, it is possible to prevent humid air passed through a tub or a drum from making direct contact with cooling water, reliably suppress the scattering of cooling water, enhance the drying efficiency of an air, and prevent components from being corroded by scattered cooling water.

Furthermore, it is possible to maximize the area of a surface contacting with the humid air while separating cooling water from the humid air, enhance the condensing efficiency, and improve the dying efficiency of the humid air.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a drum type washing machine according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a configuration view schematically showing the drum type washing machine shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a condensing duct provided in the drum type washing machine according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are exploded perspective views showing a housing and a water chamber of the condensing duct shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view taken along a vertical plane extending along and passing through the central axis of a water inlet 330 in FIG. 5

FIG. 7 is a front view showing the internal structure of the water chamber according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, configurations and operations of embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following description is one of various patentable aspects of the disclosure and may form a part of the detailed description of the disclosure.

However, in describing the disclosure, detailed descriptions of known configurations or functions that make the disclosure obscure may be omitted.

The disclosure may be variously modified and may include various embodiments. Specific embodiments will be exemplarily illustrated in the drawings and described in the detailed description of the embodiments. However, it should be understood that they are not intended to limit the disclosure to specific embodiments but rather to cover all modifications, similarities, and alternatives which are included in the spirit and scope of the disclosure.

The terms used herein, including ordinal numbers such as “first” and “second” may be used to describe, and not to limit, various components. The terms simply distinguish the components from one another. When it is said that a component is “connected” “coupled” or “linked” to another component, it should be understood that the former component may be directly connected or linked to the latter component or a third component may be interposed between the two components. Specific terms used in the present application are used simply to describe specific embodiments without limiting the disclosure. An expression used in the singular encompasses the expression of the plural, unless it has a clearly different meaning in the context.

Hereinafter, a drum type washing machine with improved drying efficiency according to one embodiment of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the drum type washing machine 10 with improved drying efficiency according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may include a tub 100, a drying duct 200 and a condensing duct 300. In this regard, the drying duct 200 and the condensing duct 300 may be components of a drying device provided in the drum type washing machine 10.

As shown in FIG. 2, the tub 100 may store washing water therein in order to perform washing. The tub 100 may be connected to the drying duct 200 so that hot air required for drying washing items can be supplied from the drying duct 200 to the tub 100 when drying the washing items.

Specifically, in the drum type washing machine 10, the tub 100 may be provided on the outer side, and a drum 110 having a plurality of flow paths for guiding the inflow and outflow of washing water stored in the tub 100 may be disposed inside the tub 100 to accommodate washing items.

The tub 100 is spaced apart from the outer circumferential surface of the drum 110. The tub 100 is configured to store the washing water discharged during a dewatering process and to drain the washing water to the outside. During a drying process, the tub 100 is configured to guide the hot air supplied from the drying duct 200 into the drum 110, thereby drying the washing items accommodated inside the drum 110.

Furthermore, the drying duct 200 may supply the hot air toward one of the tub 100 or the drum 110. A circulation means 210 and a heating means 220 may be provided in the drying duct 200.

The circulation means 210 may introduce ambient air existing outside the drum type washing machine 10 into the drying duct 200 and may circulate air existing inside the drum type washing machine 10. As an example, the circulation means 210 may be a blower fan.

The heating means 220 may heat the air passing through the drying duct 200. The heating means 220 may control the temperature of the air existing inside the drum type washing machine 10 in the process of drying the washing items. For example, the heating means 220 may be an electric heater. The drying duct 200 may supply hot air into at least one of the tub 100 and the drum 110.

The condensing duct 300 may receive the humid air (with high humidity) passed through the tub 100 or the drum 110 and may receive cooling water from the outside. The condensing duct 300 may cool the humid air through heat exchange between the cooling water and the humid air, thereby condensing the moisture contained in the humid air.

When the moisture contained in the humid air is condensed, the humid air is converted into dry air with relatively low humidity. The condensing duct 300 may supply the dry air to the drying duct 200. Condensed water generated by condensing the moisture may be discharged to the outside of the condensing duct 300.

When the dry air with relatively low humidity is sent from the condensing duct 300 to the drying duct 200, the humidity of the dry air is further reduced by the drying device of the drying duct 200. As a result, it is possible to further improve the drying efficiency of the air and to prevent components existing inside the drying duct 200 from being corroded.

In other words, the condensing duct 300 may cool the hot air with the high humidity using the cooling water so that the moisture contained in the hot air with the high humidity passed through the tub 100 or the drum 110 is condensed. The condensing duct 300 may drain the condensed air and may re-introduce the dry air into the drying duct 200. The air re-introduced into the drying duct 200 may be drier than the air introduced into the condensing duct 300. The condensing duct 300 may be disposed between the tub 100 and the drying duct 200.

Hereinafter, the condensing duct 300 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5.

The condensing duct 300 may be provided with a water chamber 320 that accommodates the cooling water separated from the humid air so that the cooling water does not make contact with the humid air. On one side surface of the water chamber 320, there may be provided a condensing wall 321 that makes contact with the humid air flowing through the condensing duct 300 and induces condensation of the humid air.

Specifically, one side surface of the condensing wall 321 makes contact with the humid air flowing through the condensing duct 300, and the other side surface of the condensing wall 321 makes contact with the cooling water existing inside the water chamber 320. Thus, the condensing wall 321 may serve as an interface for the cooling water and the humid air. Accordingly, heat exchange between the cooling water and the humid air, both of which have different temperatures, may occur through the condensing wall 321.

When the humid air makes contact with the condensing wall 321, the water vapor contained in the humid air is condensed into water droplets on the surface of the condensing wall 321. The water droplets flow down along the condensing wall 321. Thus, the humidity of the humid air is reduced so that dry air can be generated therefrom.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the condensing duct 300 may include a housing 310, a water chamber 320, a water inlet 330 and a water outlet 340.

The housing 310 is an element that forms an overall outer shell of the condensing duct 300. As shown in FIG. 4, the housing 310 may have a structure in which one side surface of the housing 310 is opened. An air flow path 311 may be formed inside the housing 310.

The air flow path 311 may be formed only when the water chamber 320 is combined with the housing 310. The humid air passed through the tub 100 or the drum 110 may be introduced to one side (e.g., the lower side) of the air flow path 311. The humid air is converted into dry air (with relatively low humidity) which may be discharged through the other side (e.g., the upper side) of the air flow path 311.

The water chamber 320 is combined with one side surface of the housing 310 so that the condensing wall 321 can make contact with the air flow path 311. The water chamber 320 may accommodate cooling water therein. The water chamber 320 may be coupled to one side surface of the housing 310 by a fastening means such as screws or bolts.

In order to enhance the water tightness or the air tightness, the water chamber 320 may be coupled to one side surface of the housing 310 by a thermal fusion bonding method in which the water chamber 320 and the housing 310 are partially melted by high temperature heat and are bonded to each other.

In this case, in order to enhance the condensing efficiency of the humid air, the entire water chamber 320 may be made of a metallic material such as iron or copper which has a high heat transfer coefficient. Alternatively, only the condensing wall 321 may be made of a metallic material, such as iron or copper.

The water inlet 330 is an element provided to supply cooling water into the water chamber 320. The water outlet 340 is an element provided to discharge the cooling water passed through the water chamber 320 to the outside of the housing 310.

The water inlet 330 may be formed at a portion of the housing 310, and the water outlet 340 may be formed at another portion of the housing 310. Since water tends to flow downward, it is preferred that the water inlet 330 is disposed in the upper portion of the housing 310 and the water outlet 340 is disposed in the lower portion of the housing 310.

Inasmuch as the water inlet 330 is formed in the housing 310, as shown in FIG. 5, an introduction port 322 may be formed on one side of the water chamber 320 so that the cooling water flowing into the housing 310 through the water inlet 330 can enter the inside of the water chamber 320. That is to say, the introduction port 322 is an element formed at a portion of the water chamber 320 and is configured to allow the cooling water introduced into the housing 310 via the water inlet 330 to flow into the water chamber 320.

As shown in FIG. 5, a discharge port 323 may be formed at another portion of the water chamber 320 so that the cooling water flowing into the water chamber 320 can be discharged to the outside of the water chamber 320. Thus, the cooling water discharged to the outside of the water chamber 320 through the discharge port 323 may enter the inside of the housing 310 and may be discharged to the outside of the housing 310 through the water outlet 340.

Referring to FIG. 6, which is a partial sectional view taken along a vertical plane extending along and passing through the central axis of the water inlet 330, a guide portion 312 opened on one surface thereof may be formed inside the housing 310 where the water outlet 340 is positioned, so that the cooling water flowing into the housing 310 can be guided toward the introduction port 322 of the water chamber 320 (see the portion indicated by a circle in FIG. 4).

The guide portion 312 is closed on all the surfaces except one side surface facing the introduction port 322.

Therefore, the cooling water flowing into the housing 310 via the water inlet 330 may be temporarily stored in the guide portion 312 and may be guided to the introduction port 322 of the water chamber 320 through the open one surface of the guide portion 312.

The end 331 of the water inlet 330 leading to the guide portion 312 may be in the shape of a nozzle having a reduced diameter so that the cooling water supplied through the water inlet 330 can be injected into the guide portion 312.

As the end 331 of the water inlet 330 is formed in the form of a nozzle, the injection velocity of the cooling water is increased to rapidly cool the condensing wall 321 of the water chamber 320. As a result, it is possible to enhance the condensing efficiency of the humid air and also to enhance the drying efficiency.

As shown in FIG. 7, flow path ribs 324 may be formed inside the water chamber 320 to be inclined downward.

The flow path ribs 324 may increase the contact area between the cooling water flowing into the water chamber 320 and the condensing wall 321 so that the cooling water can cool the entire condensing wall 321 as far as possible. In addition, the flow path ribs 324 may reduce the flow velocity of the cooling water flowing through the water chamber 320, thereby increasing the time for heat exchange between the cooling water and the condensing wall 321. As a result, it is possible to efficiently cool the condensing wall 321 with a reduced amount of cooling water and to enhance the condensing efficiency of the humid air.

In this regard, the flow path ribs 324 may be alternately and consecutively formed on one side and the other side of the water chamber 320 so that the cooling water can make contact with the entire surface of the condensing wall 321. Thus, one of the flow path ribs 324 is formed to extend obliquely downward from one side of the water chamber 320 to the other side thereof and is spaced apart from the adjacent flow path rib 324 so that the end of one of the flow path ribs 324 does not make contact with the adjacent flow path rib 324. Thus, the cooling water can flow downward.

As described above, the flow path ribs 324 are consecutively formed in a zigzag structure inside the water chamber 320. Thus, the cooling water makes contact with the entire surface of the condensing wall 321 while flowing along the flow path ribs 324, whereby the flow velocity of the cooling water may be reduced.

Although exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art will 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 exemplary in all respects. The scope of the present disclosure is expressed by claims below, not the detailed description, and it should be construed that all changes and modifications achieved from the meanings and scope of claims and equivalent concepts are included in the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A drum type washing machine comprising:

a tub;

a drum rotatably disposed in the tub;

a drying duct coupled to at least one of the tub and the drum and configured to supply hot air; and

a condensing duct coupled to the drying duct and configured to allow humid air supplied from the tub or the drum to exchange heat with cooling water, to dry the humid air and then to supply dry air to the drying duct,

wherein the condensing duct comprises a water chamber configured to accommodate the cooling water, and wherein further the water chamber comprises a condensing wall configured to make contact with the cooling water on one surface thereof and to make contact with the humid air on another surface thereof, the heat exchange between the cooling water and the humid air occurring through the condensing wall.

2. The drum type washing machine of claim 1, wherein the condensing duct further comprises: a housing having an open surface and an air flow path formed therein; a water inlet configured to supply the cooling water into the water chamber; and a water outlet configured to discharge the cooling water passed through the water chamber to the outside of the housing.

3. The drum type washing machine of claim 2, wherein the water chamber comprises flow path ribs configured to increase a contact area between the cooling water and the condensing wall and to reduce a flow velocity of the cooling water flowing in the water chamber.

4. The drum type washing machine of claim 3, wherein the flow path ribs are alternately and consecutively formed on one side and the other side of the water chamber and are disposed inside the water chamber.

5. The drum type washing machine of claim 3, wherein the flow path ribs extend obliquely downward.

6. The drum type washing machine of claim 2, wherein the water chamber further comprises an introduction port for introducing the cooling water supplied via the water inlet into the water chamber.

7. The drum type washing machine of claim 6, wherein the housing comprises a guide portion opened on one surface thereof and configured to guide the cooling water toward the introduction port and wherein the guide portion is formed inside the housing where the water inlet is positioned.

8. The drum type washing machine of claim 7, wherein an end of the water inlet leading to the guide portion comprises a shape of a nozzle for injecting the cooling water toward the guide portion.

9. The drum type washing machine of claim 2, wherein the water chamber further comprises a discharge port for discharging the cooling water existing in the water chamber to the outside of the water chamber.

10. The drum type washing machine of claim 2, wherein the water chamber is thermally fusion-bonded to one side surface of the housing.

11. The drum type washing machine of claim 2, wherein the water chamber comprises a metallic material.

12. A drum type washing machine, comprising:

a tub;

a drum disposed in the tub;

a drying duct coupled to at least one of the tub and the drum and configured to supply hot air; and

a condensing duct coupled to the drying duct and configured to exchange heat between cooling water and humid air, which has high humidity and is supplied from the tub or the drum, to dry the humid air and therefrom to supply dry air to the drying duct,

wherein the condensing duct comprises: a housing having an open surface and an air flow path formed therein to accommodate humid air flowing through the air flow path; a water chamber having a condensing wall on one side surface thereof, coupled to the housing to cover the open surface of the housing and also configured to accommodate the cooling water therein; a water inlet configured to supply the cooling water into the water chamber; and a water outlet configured to discharge the cooling water passed through the water chamber to the outside of the housing.

13. The drum type washing machine of claim 12, wherein the water chamber comprises flow path ribs configured to increase a contact area between the cooling water and the condensing wall and to reduce a flow velocity of the cooling water flowing in the water chamber.

14. The drum type washing machine of claim 13, wherein the flow path ribs are alternately and consecutively disposed on one side and the other side of the water chamber inside the water chamber.

15. The drum type washing machine of claim 13, wherein the flow path ribs extend obliquely downward.

16. The drum type washing machine of claim 12, wherein the water chamber further comprises an introduction port, the introduction port being operable for introducing the cooling water supplied via the water inlet into the water chamber.

17. The drum type washing machine of claim 16, wherein the condensing duct further comprises a guide portion, which is opened on one surface thereof, for guiding the cooling water toward the introduction port and wherein the guide portion is disposed inside the housing where the water inlet is positioned.

18. The drum type washing machine of claim 17, wherein an end of the water inlet leading to the guide portion is formed in a shape of a nozzle for injecting the cooling water toward the guide portion.

19. The drum type washing machine of claim 12, wherein the water chamber comprises a discharge port for discharging the cooling water existing in the water chamber.