JP2005052534A - Washing and drying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the reliability and durability by hindering a heat pump device from being affected by the vibration of a rotary tub in a washing/drying machine carrying the heat pump device. <P>SOLUTION: The washing and drying machine has an air path through which the air flows to a heat absorber 30 and a heat radiator 32 of the heat pump device, and an air blowing means 12 which supplies the air heated with the heat radiator 32 into the rotary tub 5 through an air passage provided in a water tank 3. The air path and the air passage are connected together by a freely stretchable connection means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a washing / drying machine that performs washing / dehydration and drying of clothes in the same rotating tank.

  A conventional drum-type washing and drying machine has a configuration as shown in FIG. Hereinafter, the configuration will be described. As shown in the drawing, a cylindrical water tank 3 elastically supported by a plurality of suspensions 2 is provided inside the housing 1 so that vibrations during washing and dehydration are absorbed by the suspension 2. Inside the water tank 3, a cylindrical, horizontal axis type rotating tank 5 that accommodates an object 4 to be washed or dried (hereinafter referred to as clothing) is rotatably arranged, and a rotating shaft 6 a is rotated by a drive motor 6. To rotate.

  A plurality of baffles (not shown) for stirring clothes are provided on the inner wall of the rotating tub 5, and a plurality of small holes 5 a are provided on the peripheral wall of the rotating tub 5. On the front surface of the housing 1, there are provided an opening 1a through which clothes 4 are taken in and out and a door 7 for opening and closing the opening 1a. Similar openings 3 a and 5 b are also provided on the front side of the water tank 3 and the rotating tank 5, and the opening 3 a of the water tank 3 is water-tightly connected to the opening 1 a of the housing 1 by a bellows 8. The bottom of the aquarium 3 has a drain port 9 for discharging washing water, and is connected to a drain hose 11 via a drain valve 10, and its tip is led out of the machine.

  The blower 12 blows and supplies the warm air heated by the heater 13 from the air supply port 14 into the rotary tank 5. The circulation duct 15 performs dehumidification of the damp drying air that has passed through the rotary tank 5 and the water tank 3, and has one end connected to the exhaust port 16 at the bottom of the water tank 3 and the other end connected to the blower 12. . The water supply valve 17 controls water supply from a water supply hose 18 connected to a tap or the like of a water supply.

  In the above configuration, when the washing operation is performed, the door 7 is opened, the clothes 4 and the detergent are put into the rotating tub 5, and the operation is started. First, when the water supply valve 17 opens the water supply port on the washing water side and a predetermined amount of water is supplied into the water tank 3 and the rotary tank 5, the drive motor 6 is activated and the rotary tank 5 is rotationally driven to perform a washing operation. . After a predetermined time, the drive motor 6 is stopped, the drain valve 10 is opened, and dirty water is drained from the rotary tank 5 and the water tank 3 and drained to a drainage place outside the machine via the drain hose 11. Next, water is supplied to the water tank 3 and the rotary tank 5 in the same manner as described above, and a rinsing operation is performed. When the rinsing is completed, the drain valve 10 is opened and drained, and then the rotating tub 5 is rotationally driven by the drive motor 6 at a high speed, whereby the clothes 4 are dehydrated.

  When the washing operation is completed as described above, the drying operation is started. In the drying process, the garment 4 is agitated by rotating the rotary tub 5 at a low speed by the drive motor 6. The air blown in the direction of the arrow 19 by the blower 12 is heated by the heater 13 to become warm air, and is sent into the rotary tank 5 from the air supply port 14. This hot air takes away moisture from the garment 4, then passes through the water tank 3 through the small hole 5 a of the rotating tub 5 and reaches the circulation duct 15 through the exhaust port 16.

  At this time, the water supply valve 17 opens the water supply port on the cooling water side, and cooling water is poured into the circulation duct 15. When the warm air containing moisture from the clothing 4 deprives moisture and passes through the circulation duct 15, the cooling water cools it to cause moisture condensation, and the moist warm air is dehumidified and again as shown by the arrow. Return to the blower 12. This cooling water and dew condensation water is drained out of the machine via the drain valve 10. The hot air is circulated through the circulation path from the blower 12 to the heater 13, the air supply port 14, the rotary tank 5, the water tank 3, the exhaust port 16, and the circulation duct 15, thereby drying the clothes 4 in the rotary tank 5. be able to.

  In the above-described conventional configuration, the heat used for drying the garment 4 is all discarded to the outside by the cooling water of the circulation duct 15 or the heat radiation from the housing 1, and is not reused.

Therefore, a compressor that compresses the refrigerant, a radiator that dissipates the heat of the compressed refrigerant, throttle means for reducing the pressure of the high-pressure refrigerant, and the reduced-pressure and low-pressure refrigerant generate heat from the surroundings. It has been proposed to provide a clothes dryer with a heat pump device in which a refrigerant is circulated through a pipe line so that the refrigerant circulates (see, for example, Patent Document 1). According to this configuration, it has been found that the amount of heat released to the outside can be recovered and the clothes can be effectively dried using energy.
JP 7-178289 A

  However, as described above, the heat pump device circulates the high-pressure refrigerant by connecting the compressor, the radiator, the throttle means, and the heat absorber with a pipe such as a copper tube. There is a possibility that the connection part of the pipe line is loosened due to the influence, or the pipe line resonates to cause fatigue failure. Unlike a single-function clothes dryer, the washing and drying machine has a dehydration process with large vibration that rotates the rotating tub at a high speed. Further, in the case of the drum type washing and drying machine described above, it is a horizontal axis type. Compared with the vertical washer-dryer, the rotational vibration of the rotating tub was larger, and measures against this vibration were indispensable.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to realize a washing and drying machine with excellent reliability and durability by making the heat pump device less susceptible to the vibration of the rotating tub.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, the washing and drying machine of the present invention includes an air passage of a heat pump device that supplies heated air to a rotating tub in a water tank elastically supported in a housing and an air passage provided in the water tank. They are connected by an elastic connecting means.

  As a result, even in a dehydration process in which the rotational vibration of the rotating tank is particularly large, the vibration of the water tank is absorbed by the extendable connecting means and is not directly transmitted to the heat pump device, so that the heat pump device in the housing is affected by the vibration of the rotating tank. Therefore, reliability and durability can be improved.

  The washing / drying machine of the present invention can make it difficult for the rotation vibration of the rotating tub to be transmitted to the heat pump device, and can realize a washing / drying machine having excellent reliability and durability.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a water tank elastically supported in a casing, a rotary tank rotatably provided in the water tank and containing clothes, a radiator for radiating heat of a compressor and a compressed refrigerant, and a high pressure A heat pump device connected by a pipe line so that the refrigerant circulates through a throttle means for reducing the pressure of the refrigerant and a heat absorber in which the reduced pressure and low pressure refrigerant takes heat from the surroundings; and a heat absorber of the heat pump device And an air passage for flowing air to the radiator, and a blowing means for supplying air heated by the radiator into the rotating tank via an air passage provided in the water tank, the air path and the air passage Since the vibration of the water tank is not directly transmitted to the heat pump apparatus, the heat pump apparatus in the housing can be improved in reliability and durability without being affected by the vibration of the rotating tank.

  In the second invention, in particular, the expansion / contraction direction of the connecting means of the first invention is set in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis of the rotating tank. If the clothes in the rotating tank are offset when the rotating tank rotates, the water tank vibrates greatly in the direction orthogonal to the rotation axis due to the swinging of the rotating tank, so the expansion / contraction direction of the connecting means is orthogonal to the rotation axis of the rotating tank. By making the direction, this vibration can be absorbed efficiently. In addition, in a drum-type washer / dryer with the rotation axis of the rotating tank set in the horizontal direction, the vertical position of the water tank fluctuates depending on the weight of clothing and water entering the rotating tank. By making the direction orthogonal to the axis, it becomes easier to follow this positional variation.

  In the third invention, in particular, the expansion / contraction direction of the connecting means of the first invention is set in the same direction as the rotation axis of the rotating tub. In a washing / drying machine set with the rotation axis of the rotating tub standing from the horizontal to the vertical direction, vertical vibration occurs due to clothes stirring operation during washing or drying. This vibration can be absorbed efficiently by making it the same direction. In addition, in a vertical washer / dryer in which the rotation axis of the rotating tub is set in the vertical direction, the vertical position of the aquarium varies depending on the weight of clothes and water entering the rotating tub. By making it the same direction as the rotation axis, it becomes easier to follow this position variation.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in particular, in the first to third aspects of the present invention, the washing water supplied into the water tank during the washing operation does not remain in the heat absorber air passage or the radiator air passage of the heat pump device after the washing operation is completed. As a result, corrosion of the heat absorber and radiator can be prevented, and durability and reliability can be improved.

  In the fifth aspect of the invention, in particular, the air passage provided in the water tank connected to the heat absorber air passage or the radiator air passage of the heat pump device of the fourth invention is partly supplied to the water tank during the washing operation. It is constructed so that it is located above the water level, and by preventing the washing liquid from entering the heat sink air passage or radiator air passage, corrosion of the heat absorber and heat radiator can be prevented and durability is ensured. , Reliability can be improved.

  In particular, the sixth invention is provided with drainage means for discharging water in the heat absorber air passage or the radiator air passage of the heat pump device of the fourth invention, and the heat absorber air passage or the radiator air passage. By discharging the washing liquid that has entered the inside with the drainage means, corrosion of the heat absorber and radiator can be prevented, and durability and reliability can be improved.

  In the seventh invention, in particular, the rotation axis of the rotary tank of the first to sixth inventions is set in the horizontal direction. The drum type washing and drying machine of this configuration is capable of extending and contracting the air passage of the water tank and the heat pump device because the vibration direction due to the swinging when the rotating tank rotates and the direction of gravity are the same direction and the vibration of the water tank is particularly large. By connecting with the connecting means, a great effect can be obtained in reducing the vibration of the heat pump device, and the durability and reliability can be greatly improved.

  In the eighth invention, in particular, the rotation axis of the rotary tank of the first to sixth inventions is set in the vertical direction. In the vertical washer / dryer of this configuration, both the horizontal vibration caused by swinging when the rotating tub rotates and the vertical vibration caused by the weight of clothes and water entering the rotating tub act on the aquarium. Because the vibration of the water tank is large and complicated, connecting the air passage of the water tank and the heat pump device with an extendable connection means will have a great effect on reducing the vibration of the heat pump device, greatly improving durability and reliability. Can be improved.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Components having the same configurations as those of the conventional example are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof is omitted. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a washing / drying machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the housing 1 as viewed from the back 1b direction, and FIG. 3 is taken along the line AA in FIG. FIG. 4 is a system conceptual diagram showing the configuration of the heat pump device and the flow of drying air.

  As shown in the figure, a cylindrical water tank 3 elastically supported by a plurality of suspensions 2 is provided inside the housing 1, and vibrations during washing and dehydration are absorbed by the suspension 2. Inside the water tank 3, a cylindrical and horizontal axis type rotating tank 5 that accommodates the clothing 4 is rotatably provided and is driven to rotate by a drive motor 6. On the front surface of the housing 1, there are provided an opening 1a through which clothes 4 are taken in and out and a door 7 for opening and closing the opening 1a. Similar openings 3 a and 5 b are also provided on the front side of the water tank 3 and the rotating tank 5, and the opening 3 a of the water tank 3 is water-tightly connected to the opening 1 a of the housing 1 by a bellows 8. The bottom of the water tank 3 has a drain port 9 for discharging washing water and is connected to a drain valve 10.

  The blower 12 constituting the blowing means is provided on the upper part of the water tank 3 so as to be positioned in a corner space formed by the upper surface 1c and the side surface 1d of the housing 1. The blower 12 communicates with an air supply duct 20 provided on the outer surface of the water tank 3, and blows air in the direction of arrow c from the air supply duct inlet 21 of the air supply duct 20 to the inside of the rotary tank 5 from the air supply port 14. To supply. Further, an exhaust duct 22 communicating with the exhaust port 16 on the back surface of the water tank 3 is provided on the outer surface of the water tank 3, and the air that has passed through the rotary tank 5 and the water tank 3 and has exited the exhaust port 16 is indicated by an arrow d. To the exhaust duct outlet 23.

  In the lower part of the water tank 3, a heat absorber air passage 31 for flowing air in the direction of arrow a to a heat absorber 30 comprising a heat exchanger constituting the heat pump device, and a heat radiator 32 similarly comprising a heat exchanger indicated by arrow b A radiator air passage 33 for flowing air in a direction is arranged in a horizontal direction, and the heat absorber air passage 31 and the radiator air passage 33 communicate with each other through a circulation duct 34 and pass through the heat absorber 30 and the radiator 32. The air that flows is designed to flow linearly.

  The heat absorber air passage 31, the radiator air passage 33, and the circulation duct 34 are integrally formed and are fixed to an attachment base 35 in the housing 1. The inlet of the heat absorber air passage 31 and the exhaust duct outlet 23 communicate with each other via an exhaust port hose 36 made of a bellows-like stretchable flexible material. Similarly, the outlet of the radiator air passage 33 and the air supply duct inlet 21 communicate with each other via an air supply hose 37 made of a bellows-like stretchable flexible material. In addition, an air filter 38 made of a synthetic fiber net or the like is detachably provided as a filter means for removing foreign substances in the air at the inlet provided upstream of the heat absorber air passage 31. Further, a discharge port 39 for discharging the dehumidified water is provided in the lower part on the downstream side of the heat absorber air passage 31.

  After the drying air blown by the blower 12 passes through the air supply duct 20 and enters the rotary tank 5 through the air supply port 14 and passes through the clothing 4 in the rotary tank 5, as indicated by an arrow 40 in FIG. 4. , Exits the exhaust port 16, passes through the exhaust duct 22, passes through the heat absorber 30 of the heat absorber air passage 31, passes through the circulation duct 34, passes through the radiator 32 of the radiator air passage 33, and returns to the blower 12. It is supposed to circulate.

  The heat pump device also includes a compressor 41, a radiator 32 that radiates the heat of the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 41, and a throttle means 42 that includes a throttle valve, a capillary tube, and the like for reducing the pressure of the high-pressure refrigerant. In addition, the refrigerant having a reduced pressure and a low pressure is connected by a pipe line 43 so that the refrigerant circulates through the heat absorber 30 that takes heat from the surroundings, and the refrigerant flows and circulates in the direction of the arrow 44, and the heat pump cycle. To realize.

  In the washing and drying machine configured as described above, the operation and action will be described below. In the washing process, water is supplied until the water level reaches a predetermined water level 45 in the water tank 3 with the drain valve 10 closed, and washing is performed by rotating the clothes 4 and the rotary tank 5 containing the washing water by the drive motor 6. At this time, a part of the cleaning water enters the exhaust duct 22, but the exhaust duct 22 has a shape in which the path is lifted upward so that the cleaning water does not enter the heat absorber 30.

  Further, in the rinsing process after washing, water is supplied into the water tank 3 as in the washing process, and the garment 4 is rinsed by rotating the rotating tank 5. In the dehydration step, the drain valve 10 is opened to drain water to the outside of the machine, and then the rotating tub 5 containing the clothing 4 is rotated at high speed by the drive motor 6 to dehydrate.

  During the washing and dehydration, the vibration of the water tank 3 is caused by the rotational vibration of the rotating tank 5. This vibration is absorbed by the suspension 2 and the vibration of the housing 1 is suppressed. Since the heat pump device is fixed to the mounting base 35, it is not affected by vibration from the housing 1. Further, the connection between the inlet of the heat absorber air passage 31 and the exhaust duct outlet 23 and the connection between the outlet of the heat radiator air passage 33 and the air supply duct inlet 21 are exhaust gas made of a flexible cylindrical member, respectively. Since the mouth hose 36 and the air inlet hose 37 are configured to be extendable and contractible, the vibration of the water tank 3 is not directly transmitted to the heat pump device, and the connection portion of the pipe line 43 of the heat pump device is affected by this vibration. It does not loosen and the pipe 43 does not resonate and cause fatigue failure. In addition, since the exhaust hose 36 and the air supply hose 37 are arranged on the lower surface of the water tank 3 and are led out in the same direction and in parallel, the exhaust hose 36 and the air supply hose 37 itself. Since the vibration loads applied to are substantially the same, they can be constituted by a flexible cylindrical member having the same shape and material.

  In the drying process, when the compressor 41 of the heat pump device is operated, the refrigerant is compressed and circulates through the radiator 31, the throttle means 42, and the heat absorber 30 by this pressure. In the radiator 32, heat is released by the compression of the refrigerant, and in the heat absorber 30, the heat is absorbed by the refrigerant that has been depressurized by the throttle means 42 to become a low pressure. At this time, the blower 12 is activated, and the warm air heated by the heat radiation of the radiator 32 is blown into the rotary tank 5 through the supply duct 20 from the supply port 14. The rotating tub 5 is rotationally driven by a driving motor 6, and the clothes 4 are lifted and dropped by the rotation of the rotating tub 5 and are stirred up and down.

  The warm air blown into the rotating tub 5 takes away moisture when passing through the gaps of the clothing 4, and in the moist state, the exhaust hose 36 from the exhaust duct 22 constituting the air passage through the exhaust port 16 of the water tub 3. Passing through the air filter 38, foreign matters such as lint are removed and the heat absorber air passage 31 is reached. When the wet warm air passes through the heat absorber 30, sensible heat and latent heat are taken away and dehumidified, and separated into dry air and dehumidified water. This dry air enters the radiator air passage 33 through the circulation duct 34 and is heated again by the radiator 32 to become warm air, which constitutes an air passage provided in the air inlet hose 37 and the water tank 3. It passes through the duct 20 and circulates to the blower 12. The dehumidified water dewed by the heat absorber 30 is discharged out of the machine from the bottom discharge port 39.

  Moreover, even if the water level 45 in the water tank 3 exceeds a predetermined value and the washing water enters the heat sink air passage 31 from the exhaust duct outlet 23, this water can also be drained from the outlet 39. There is no possibility that the heat absorber air passage 31 or the heat radiator air passage 33 is submerged in the air passage and becomes unusable and the heat absorber 30 or the heat radiator 32 is not corroded.

  By using the heat pump device in this way, the heat absorbed by the heat absorber 30 can be recovered by the refrigerant and radiated again by the heat radiator 32 to give the garment 4 more heat than the energy input to the compressor 41. Therefore, it becomes possible to shorten the drying time and realize energy saving.

  As described above, the air supply duct 20 and the exhaust duct 22, which are air passages provided in the water tank 3, and the radiator air passage 33 and the heat absorber air passage 31 of the heat pump device are respectively connected to the air inlet hose 37 and the exhaust outlet hose. Since the vibration of the water tank 3 is not directly transmitted to the heat pump device by being connected in a telescopic manner using 36, the durability and reliability of the heat pump device are improved.

  In particular, in the drum-type washing and drying machine in which the rotation axis of the rotating tub 5 is set in the horizontal direction as in the present embodiment, if the clothes 4 in the rotating tub 5 are offset, the whirling at the time of rotation of the rotating tub 5 occurs. As a result, the water tank 3 vibrates greatly in the vertical direction, so that the air supply hose 37 and the exhaust hose 36 can absorb vibrations efficiently by being configured to easily expand and contract in the vertical direction.

  In the present embodiment, as a drainage means for draining the water in the heat sink air passage 31 and the radiator air passage 33, a discharge port 39 is provided to discharge water by gravity. It may be provided to discharge water.

(Embodiment 2)
5 to 7 show a washing / drying machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted. .

  A cylindrical water tank 3 elastically supported by a plurality of suspensions 2 inside the housing 1, and a cylindrical, horizontal-axis-type rotatable rotating tank 5 that houses clothes 4 provided in the water tank 3. The heat pump device is configured to connect a drive motor 6 that rotationally drives the rotating tub 5, a heat absorber 30, a heat radiator 32, a compressor 41, and a conduit 43 that circulates a refrigerant. The axis | shaft of the rotation tank 5 inclines 5 to 45 degree | times with respect to the horizontal high front. Accordingly, the water tank 3 is also inclined. In addition, the front surfaces of the housing 1, the water tank 3, and the rotating tub 5 have openings 1a, 3a, and 5a for putting clothes in and out 4 respectively, and the opening 1a of the housing 1 is provided with a door 7 for opening and closing the opening 1a. It has been. The opening 3 a of the water tank 3 is water-tightly connected by the opening 1 a of the housing 1 and the bellows 8 so that water does not leak. The bottom of the water tank 3 has a drain port 9 for discharging washing water, and is connected to a drain valve 10.

  The heat pump device is provided at a lower portion between the water tank 3 formed by tilting the water tank 3 forward and high, and the back surface 1b of the housing 1, and the heat absorber 30 and the radiator 32 are provided on the back surface 1b of the housing 1. Arranged side by side in the parallel direction, the compressor 41 is arranged near the side surface of the casing 1 at the bottom of the water tank 3. The blower 12 constituting the blowing means is disposed between the heat absorber 30 and the radiator 32, that is, in the circulation duct 34, and the hot air heated by the radiator 32 is an air passage provided in the water tank 3. The air is supplied from the air supply port 14 into the rotary tank 5 through a certain air supply duct 20.

  The connection between the inlet of the heat absorber air passage 31 and the exhaust duct outlet 23 and the connection between the outlet of the heat radiator air passage 33 and the air supply duct inlet 21 are a flexible bellows made of a flexible cylindrical member. An exhaust hose 36 and an air supply hose 37 constituted by a hose or the like are used. As shown in the figure, by arranging the heat pump device below the rear of the water tank 3 and arranging the exhaust hose 36 and the air supply hose 37 in the same direction on the rear surface side of the water tank 3, the length of the hose can be shortened. The entire body can be configured compactly.

  In the configuration as described above, as in the first embodiment, even if the water tank 3 vibrates due to the rotational vibration of the rotary tank 5, the air tank 3 and the exhaust hose 37 bend to cause the water tank 3 to vibrate. Without being directly transmitted to the apparatus, the connection part of the pipe line 43 of the heat pump apparatus is not loosened due to the influence of the vibration, and the pipe line 43 does not resonate and cause fatigue failure.

  In particular, when the rotation tank 5 is tilted to the front high level by tilting the rotation axis of the rotation tank 5 with respect to the horizontal as in the present embodiment, the rotation axis is orthogonal to the rotation axis due to the swinging of the rotation tank 5 during rotation. Since not only the vibration in the direction but also the vibration in the direction parallel to the rotation axis occurs due to the gravity, the air supply hose 37 and the exhaust hose 36 are configured to easily expand and contract not only in the vertical direction but also in the front-rear direction and efficiently absorb the vibration. I can do it.

  The connection between the inlet of the heat sink air passage 31 and the exhaust duct outlet 23 and the connection between the outlet of the heat radiator air passage 33 and the air supply duct inlet 21 are extendable and retractable made of a flexible cylindrical member. Although the exhaust hose 36 and the air supply hose 37 of the shape which bent the right bellows hose at right angles are used, it is not limited to this structure. For example, as shown in FIG. 7A, if the air supply hose 37 is led downward with respect to the rear surface of the water tank 3 and is connected to the outlet of the radiator air passage 33 linearly, the air supply port The length of the hose 37 can be shortened and can be expanded and contracted not only in the vertical direction but also in the front-rear direction.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7B, the air supply hose 37 is led out at a right angle to the rear surface of the water tank 3, and the outlet of the radiator air passage 33 is provided in parallel with the rear surface of the water tank 3. The mouth hose 37 can be connected almost linearly. Even in this configuration, the length of the air supply hose 37 can be shortened in the same manner as described above, and can be expanded and contracted in the vertical direction and the front-rear direction.

(Embodiment 3)
8 and 9 show a washing / drying machine according to the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is an external perspective view of the washing / drying machine according to the third embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing cut | disconnected along the AA line of FIG.

  As shown in the figure, the casing 101 is provided with a water tank 103 that is elastically suspended by a plurality of suspensions 102 therein, and the suspension 102 absorbs vibration during dehydration. Inside the water tub 103, a rotating tub 104 that accommodates laundry and a drying object 114 (hereinafter referred to as clothing) is disposed so as to be rotatable around a washing / dehydrating shaft 105, and clothing is provided at the inner bottom of the rotating tub 104. A rotating blade 106 that agitates 114 is rotatably arranged. A fluid balancer 107 is provided above the rotary tank 104.

  The driving means 108 comprising a motor is attached to the bottom of the water tank 103, and the rotational force is transmitted to the washing / dehydrating shaft 105 by switching the clutch 109. The rotary blade 106 has a substantially pan-shaped shape that rises in the outer peripheral direction at the outer peripheral portion, and the clothes are lifted upward by the rotational force during the drying process. A heat absorber 130 and a heat radiator 131 that are heat exchangers constituting the heat pump device are disposed between the water tank 103 and the back surface 101 b of the housing 101.

  The air supplied from the air supply port 113 into the rotary tank 104 through the air supply hose 112 made of a bellows hose by the blower 110 constituting the air supply means passes through the clothing 114 in the rotary tank 104 and passes through the clothing 114 in the bottom of the water tank 103. The air is exhausted out of the water tank 103 through the exhaust port 115 and communicates with the heat absorber air passage 135 through which air flows from the upper side to the lower side of the heat absorber 130 via the exhaust air hose 116 and the exhaust air passage 134 connected to this. . As shown in the figure, the exhaust air passage 134 has an air passage from the lower part to the upper part of the water tank 103 and is connected to the heat absorber air passage 135 above the water level poured into the tank during washing. An air filter 136 made of a synthetic fiber net or the like is detachably provided as a filter means for removing foreign substances in the air at a connection portion between the exhaust air passage 134 and the heat absorber air passage 135.

  In the heat absorber 130, the upper end of the heat absorber 130 is closer to the water tank 103 side than the lower end in the heat absorber air passage 135, that is, the upstream side of the air flowing through the heat absorber air passage 135 is closer to the water tank 103 side. It is installed at an angle. This makes it possible to reduce the pressure loss of the air more than arranging it vertically without tilting, and even if foreign matter that could not be removed by the air filter 136 enters the heat absorber air passage 135 and adheres to the surface of the heat absorber 130, This is because the surface on which the foreign matter adheres is on the rear surface 132 side of the housing 101, so that subsequent maintenance is easy. A discharge port 137 for discharging dehumidified water is provided below the heat absorber air passage 135.

  The air that has flowed through the heat absorber air passage 135 from the upper side to the lower side of the heat absorber 130 communicates with the heat radiator air passage 138 through which air flows from the lower side to the upper side of the heat radiator 131 via the circulation duct 139. The outlet of the radiator air passage 138 is connected to the blower 110, and the air that has flowed upward from the lower side of the radiator 131 is supplied again from the air supply port 113 into the rotary tank 104 by the blower 110 and circulates. .

  In the radiator 131, the lower end of the radiator 131 approaches the water tank 103 side from the upper end, that is, the upstream side of the air flowing through the radiator air path 138 approaches the water tank 103 side. It is installed at an angle. This effect is the same as in the case of the heat absorber 130, and the pressure loss of air can be reduced. Even when foreign matter adheres to the surface of the radiator 131, the surface on which the foreign matter adheres is on the back surface 101b side of the housing 101. Therefore, maintenance becomes easy.

  In the above configuration, this operation will be described. First, in the washing process, water is supplied until the water level reaches a predetermined water level in the water tank 103 with the drain valve 117 closed, and the rotating means 104 containing the clothes 114 and the washing water is rotated by the driving means 108. The washing water between the rotary tank 104 and the water tank 103 rises along the inner wall of the water tank 103 by the centrifugal force accompanying this rotation, and then sprinkles and circulates from the upper part of the rotary tank 104 into the rotary tank 104. Thereby, the washing water passes through the clothes 114 and is washed.

  At this time, the washing water enters the exhaust air passage 134, but the exhaust air passage 134 is connected to the heat absorber air passage 135 above the upper end of the water tank 103, so that the washing water enters the heat absorber air passage 135. The cleaning water does not enter the heat absorber 130 and cause corrosion, and the lint in the cleaning water does not clog the heat absorber 130. That is, the exhaust air passage 134 and the heat absorber air passage 135 are connected above the water level of water injected during washing. In the rinsing process after cleaning, water is supplied into the water tank 103 and the garment 114 is rinsed by rotating the rotating tub 104 as in the cleaning process, but the rinsing water does not enter the heat absorber 130. In the dehydration step, the drain valve 117 is opened and water is drained from the drain hose 119 to the outside of the machine, and then the rotating tank 104 containing the clothes 114 is rotated at high speed by the driving means 108 to dehydrate.

  In the drying process, when the compressor 141 of the heat pump device is operated, the refrigerant is compressed, and this pressure circulates through the radiator 131, the throttle means (not shown), and the heat absorber 130. In the radiator 131, heat is released by the compression of the refrigerant, and in the heat absorber 130, the heat is absorbed by the refrigerant which has been decompressed by the throttle means and becomes a low pressure. At this time, the blower 110 is also operated, and the warm air heated by the heat radiation of the radiator 131 is blown into the rotary tank 104 from the air supply port 113 through the intake port hose 112. In the rotating tub 104, the rotary blade 106 is rotated by the driving means 108, and the clothes 114 are stirred up and down.

  The warm air blown into the rotating tub 104 deprives moisture when passing through the gap between the clothes 114 and passes through the exhaust port 115, the exhaust port hose 116, and the exhaust air channel 134 at the bottom of the water tub 103 in a wet state. Foreign matter such as lint is removed by the air filter 136 and reaches the heat sink air passage 135. When the wet warm air passes through the heat absorber 130, the sensible heat and latent heat are taken away and the dehumidified air is separated into dry air and dehumidified water. This dry air enters the radiator air passage 138 through the circulation duct 139 and is heated again by the radiator 131 to be circulated to the blower 110 as warm air.

  On the other hand, the dehumidified water dewed by the heat absorber 130 is forcibly carried downward by the air flow in the heat absorber air passage 135 and is discharged from the bottom outlet 137 through the drain hose 119 to the outside of the apparatus. By using the heat pump device in this way, the heat absorbed by the heat absorber 130 can be recovered by the refrigerant and radiated again by the heat radiator 131, and the amount of heat greater than the energy input to the compressor 141 can be given to the clothing 114. Therefore, it becomes possible to shorten the drying time and realize energy saving.

  With the configuration as described above, even if the water tank 103 vibrates due to the rotational vibration of the rotating tank 104, the air supply hose 112 and the exhaust hose 116 bend, so that the vibration of the water tank 103 is not directly transmitted to the heat pump device. As a result, the pipe connection part of the heat pump device is not loosened, and the pipe line does not resonate and cause fatigue failure.

  In particular, the vertical washer / dryer in which the rotation axis of the rotating tub 104 is set in the vertical direction as in the present embodiment, the horizontal vibration caused by the swirling when the rotating tub 104 rotates, Since both the clothes 114 entering and the vertical vibration due to the weight of the water act on the water tank 103 and the vibration of the water tank 103 is large and complicated, the connection of the air path between the water tank 104 and the heat pump device can be expanded and contracted. By connecting with the hose 112 and the exhaust hose 116, a great effect can be obtained in reducing the vibration of the heat pump device, and the durability and reliability can be greatly improved.

(Embodiment 4)
FIG. 10 shows a washing / drying machine according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The same components as those of the third embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in the figure, the exhaust air passage 134 of the present embodiment is fixed to the outside of the water tank 103 and is configured integrally with the water tank 103. The outlet of the exhaust air passage 134 communicates with the inlet of the heat absorber air passage 135 through an exhaust hose 134a formed of a bellows hose.

  According to this configuration, since the outer surface of the water tank 103 can be used as a constituent wall of the exhaust air passage 134, the space occupied by the exhaust air passage 134 can be minimized, the structure is simplified, and the internal capacity of the exhaust air passage 134 is also increased. Since it becomes smaller, the amount of water that accumulates during washing can be reduced.

  In the above embodiment, the radiator 131 and the heat absorber 130 are provided between the water tank 103 and the back surface 101b of the casing 101. For example, the heat sink 103 and the left or right side surface of the casing 101 are provided. The heat radiator 131 and the heat absorber 130 of the heat pump apparatus can be efficiently accommodated in the housing.

  With the above configuration, even if the water tank 103 vibrates due to the rotational vibration of the rotating tank 104, the air supply hose 112 and the exhaust hose 134a bend, so that the vibration of the water tank 103 is not directly transmitted to the heat pump device. The influence of this vibration does not loosen the connection part of the pipe line of the heat pump device or cause the fatigue breakage due to resonance of the pipe line.

  In particular, the vertical washer / dryer in which the rotation axis of the rotating tub 104 is set in the vertical direction as in the present embodiment, the horizontal vibration caused by the swirling when the rotating tub 104 rotates, Both the clothes 114 entering and the vertical vibration due to the weight of water act on the water tank 103, and the vibration of the water tank 103 is large and complicated. Therefore, the connection of the air path between the water tank 104 and the heat pump device can be expanded and contracted. By connecting with the vent hose 112 and the exhaust hose 134a, a great effect can be obtained in reducing the vibration of the heat pump device, and the durability and reliability can be greatly improved.

  As described above, the washing / drying machine according to the present invention can improve the reliability and durability by suppressing the influence of vibration of the rotating tub with respect to the heat pump apparatus, and performs drying and dehumidification by mounting the heat pump apparatus. Useful for washing machines.

1 is an external perspective view of the washing / drying machine according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Cross section of the main part of the washing and drying machine Cross section of the main part of the washing and drying machine System concept of the washer / dryer Partially cutaway perspective view of a washing and drying machine according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention Cross section of the main part of the washing and drying machine (A) Main part sectional view of another example of the washing / drying machine (b) Main part sectional view of another example of the washing / drying machine Partially cutaway perspective view of a washing and drying machine according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention Cross section of the main part of the washing and drying machine Partially cutaway perspective view of a washing and drying machine according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention Cross-sectional view of a conventional washing and drying machine

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Case 2 Suspension 3 Water tank 5 Rotating tank 12 Blower 20 Air supply duct 22 Exhaust duct 30 Heat absorber 31 Heat absorber air path 32 Radiator 33 Radiator air path 36 Exhaust port hose 37 Air inlet hose 38 Air filter 39 Exhaust port 41 Compressor 42 Throttling means 43 Pipe line

Claims (8)

A water tank elastically supported in the housing, a rotary tank that is rotatably provided in the water tank and accommodates clothing, a radiator that dissipates heat from the compressor and the compressed refrigerant, and a high pressure refrigerant. A heat pump device connected by a pipe line so that the refrigerant circulates through a throttle means for reducing the pressure of the refrigerant that has been decompressed and reduced in pressure from the surroundings, and air to the heat absorber and radiator of the heat pump device An air passage for flowing, and a blowing means for supplying air heated by the radiator to the inside of the rotating tank through an air passage provided in the water tank, and a connecting means for expanding and contracting the air path and the air passage Washing and drying machine connected by. The washing / drying machine according to claim 1, wherein the connecting means sets the expansion / contraction direction in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis of the rotating tub. The washing / drying machine according to claim 1, wherein the connecting means sets the expansion / contraction direction in the same direction as the rotation axis of the rotating tub. The washing according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the washing water supplied into the water tank during the washing operation does not remain in the heat absorber air passage or the radiator air passage of the heat pump device after the washing operation is finished. Dryer. The air passage provided in the water tank connected to the heat absorber air path or the radiator air path of the heat pump device is configured such that a part thereof is positioned above the water level of the washing water supplied into the water tank during the washing operation. Item 4. A washing and drying machine according to Item 4. The washing and drying machine according to claim 4, further comprising a drainage means for discharging water in the heat absorber air passage or the radiator air passage of the heat pump device. The washing / drying machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a rotation axis of the rotating tub is set in a horizontal direction. The washing / drying machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a rotation axis of the rotating tub is set in a vertical direction.

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