JP7401398B2 - clothes dryer - Google Patents

Description

Embodiments of the present invention relate to clothes dryers.

In clothes dryers equipped with heat pumps, due to growing concern about environmental issues, the use of flammable refrigerants with low ozone depletion potential and low global warming potential is being considered.

The amount of refrigerant sealed in the heat pump of a clothes dryer is small, so even if refrigerant leaks from the heat pump, it will be difficult to reach the ignition limit concentration inside the clothes dryer's casing, and there is little chance of a fire. However, various safety measures have been proposed in the past in the event that refrigerant leaks (for example, see Patent Document 1 below).

In Patent Document 1 listed below, a heat pump compressor and a diaphragm, as well as connection pipes connecting them to an evaporator and a condenser, are covered with a cover, and a refrigerant detector installed inside the cover detects leakage of flammable refrigerant. If detected, the compressor is stopped and an exhaust blower is activated to discharge the leaked refrigerant to the outside.

However, in Patent Document 1 listed below, when flammable refrigerant leaks from the heat pump, it accumulates inside the cover, so if the concentration of flammable refrigerant inside the cover cannot be detected correctly due to a failure or error in the refrigerant detector, the ignition limit concentration will be reached. There is a risk of reaching

JP2009-207673A

The embodiments of the present invention have been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and even if a flammable refrigerant leaks out of a clothes dryer equipped with a heat pump that uses a flammable refrigerant, To provide a highly safe clothes dryer capable of suppressing ignition.

A clothes dryer according to one embodiment includes: a drying chamber that stores clothes; a circulating air passage whose both ends are connected to the drying chamber; and a blower that circulates air between the drying chamber and the circulating air passage. A condenser that heats the air in the circulating air path, an evaporator that cools and dehumidifies the air in the circulating air path, a compressor that compresses a flammable refrigerant and supplies it to the condenser, and the condenser. A clothes dryer comprising: a heat pump connected by a refrigerant transport pipe to a pressure reducing means for reducing the pressure of the flammable refrigerant passing therethrough; and a casing that houses the drying chamber, the circulation air path, the blower, and the heat pump, The casing includes a base plate on which the condenser, the evaporator, and the compressor are mounted, an outer box that covers an upper part of the base plate, and a case that is provided on the outside of the circulation air path and provided on the base plate. The condenser and the evaporator each include a refrigerant pipe in which a refrigerant flows, and a fin attached to the refrigerant pipe, and the refrigerant The pipe has a plurality of straight parts, a first folded part provided to connect one end of the plurality of straight parts, and one end of the plurality of straight parts and the first folded part joined by brazing. It is formed in a meandering shape including a joint part and a second folded part integrally provided at the other end of the plurality of straight parts, and the joint part is located in the ventilation route, and the joint part is located in the ventilation path, and the plurality of straight parts The fins and the second folded portion are located within the circulation air path.

A front view of a clothes dryer according to an embodiment with a door removed. A longitudinal side view showing a schematic configuration of the clothes dryer in FIG. 1 AA sectional view in Figure 1 Rear view showing the appearance of the clothes dryer in Figure 1 BB sectional view in Figure 3 Cross-sectional view of the heat exchange section installed in the modified clothes dryer

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiments are merely examples, and the scope of the invention is not limited thereto. Various omissions, substitutions, and changes can be made to the following embodiments without departing from the gist of the invention. The following embodiments and their modifications are included within the scope of the invention described in the claims and its equivalents.

In addition, in the following description, the left-right direction, the front-back direction, and the up-down direction show the direction when the washer-dryer is seen from the front, and the left-right direction corresponds to the width direction of the washer-dryer. In addition, right, left, top, bottom, front, and rear refer to the position or side when the washer/dryer is viewed from the front, unless otherwise specified.

The present embodiment relates to a drum-type washer/dryer that serves as both a washing machine and a clothes dryer, and as shown in FIGS. The housing 1 is constituted by the base plate 1b.

A laundry entrance/exit 3 consisting of an opening is formed on the front surface of the outer box 1a at approximately the center thereof. The laundry entrance/exit 3 is opened/closed by a door 4 which is provided so as to be rotatable laterally via a hinge (see FIG. 2).

Inside the housing 1, as shown in FIG. 2, there are a water tank 8, a circulation air passage 20 connected to the water tank 8, and a blower 27 that circulates air between the water tank 8 and the circulation air passage 20. A heat pump 35 for dehumidifying and heating the air in the circulating air path 20 and a ventilation path 50 are provided outside the circulating air path 20, as shown in FIG.

The water tank 8 has a substantially cylindrical shape with an open front face and a closed rear face, and the front opening communicates with the laundry entrance 3. The water tank 8 is elastically supported on the base plate 1b via an elastic support mechanism in a horizontal axis state with its axial direction facing in the front-rear direction. Water such as tap water is supplied from outside the machine to the water tank 8 from a water supply port provided at the top of the water tank 8 via a water supply valve, and water such as tap water is supplied from outside the machine through a water supply port provided at the bottom of the water tank 8 via a drain valve. It is configured so that the water in the water tank 8 can be drained out of the machine.

Inside the water tank 8, a cylindrical rotating drum 14 whose front side is open and its rear side is closed is rotatably disposed. The rotating drum 14 is disposed in the water tank 8 with its axial direction being a transverse axis in the front-rear direction. A large number of holes 15 through which water and ventilation can pass are formed in the peripheral wall of the rotating drum 14, and the inside of the rotating drum 14 communicates with the water tank 8 through these holes 15.

The front opening of the rotating drum 14 also communicates with the laundry opening 3, and the rotating drum 14 accommodates the laundry input from the laundry opening 3. The rotating drum 14 is rotationally driven by a drum motor 17 provided on the back surface of the water tank 8 . The rotating drum 14 having such a structure functions as a washing tub during a washing process, as a dehydrating tank during a dehydrating process, and further as a drying tank (drying chamber) during a drying operation.

As shown in FIG. 2, the aquarium 8 has an exhaust port 10 provided at the bottom of the front end of the aquarium 8, and an air supply port 11 provided at a position slightly above the center of the rear surface of the aquarium 8. A circulating air passage 20 is connected to the port 10 and the air supply port 11.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the circulation air passage 20 includes, in order from the upstream side in the air circulation direction, an exhaust duct 22, a heat exchange section 30, and an air supply duct 26, and is connected to the exhaust port 10. The air in the water tank 8 is exhausted from the exhaust duct 22, and the air flowing through the circulation air passage 20 is supplied into the water tank 8 from the air supply duct 26 connected to the air supply port 11.

The exhaust duct 22 extends downward from the lower front end of the water tank 8 from the exhaust port 10, and the tip (lower end) of the exhaust duct 22 is connected to an opening 42a provided on the upper surface of the heat exchange section 30.

The heat exchange unit 30 includes a housing 40 placed on the base plate 1b below the water tank 8, an evaporator 31 provided inside the housing 40, and an evaporator 31 provided inside the housing 40 at a distance downstream from the evaporator 31 in the air circulation direction. A condenser 32 is provided.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the evaporator 31 and condenser 32 provided in the heat exchange section 30 are both fin-tube-shaped, including a refrigerant pipe and fins 31b and 32b attached to the refrigerant pipe. It is a heat exchanger.

The refrigerant pipe is made of a material with high thermal conductivity such as copper, and includes a plurality of straight parts 31a1 and 32a1, and a first folded part 31a2 folded back in a U-shape so as to connect one end of the straight parts 31a1 and 32a1. 32a2, joint parts 31a3, 32a3 where one end of the straight parts 31a1, 32a1 and first folded parts 31a2, 32a2 are joined by brazing, and a straight part 31a1 which is folded back into a U-shape at the other end of the straight parts 31a1, 32a1. , 32a1 are integrally provided with second folded portions 31a4, 32a4.

A large number of fins 31b and 32b are attached to the straight portions 31a1 and 32a1 of the refrigerant pipes at a predetermined pitch.

The inlet 32a5 of the refrigerant pipe of the condenser 32 is inserted and fitted with the outlet of the refrigerant transport pipe 36 connected to the discharge side of the compressor 33 by making the diameter of each end into a size relationship, and then the refrigerant pipe is inserted and fitted to the outside. The exposed end portions are joined by brazing, and the outlet 32a6 of the refrigerant pipe of the condenser 32 is joined to one end of the refrigerant transport pipe 37 by brazing in the same manner as described above.

The refrigerant transport pipe 37 is a refrigerant transport pipe 37 that connects the condenser 32 and the evaporator 31, and includes a capillary tube, a solenoid valve whose opening degree can be adjusted, etc. in the middle, and reduces the pressure of the refrigerant that has passed through the condenser 32. A pressure reducing section 34 is provided.

The other end of the refrigerant transport pipe 37 is joined to the inlet 31a5 of the refrigerant pipe of the evaporator 31 by brazing in the same manner as described above. Further, the refrigerant transport pipe 38 connected to the suction side of the compressor 33 is also joined to the refrigerant pipe outlet 31a6 of the evaporator 31 by brazing as described above.

As described above, the evaporator 31 and the condenser 32 are connected in an annular manner to the compressor 33 and the pressure reduction section 34 through the refrigerant transport pipes 36, 37, and 38, thereby forming the heat pump 35.

The housing 40 includes a lower member 41 that opens upward, a lid 42 that closes the upper opening of the lower member 41, and a sealing member 43 that seals between the lower member 41 and the lid 42.

The lower member 41 is a container-shaped member that is flat in the vertical direction, and has a space inside thereof in which the evaporator 31 and the condenser 32 are provided. The lower member 41 defines an air path through which the air in the circulating air path 20 flows between the lower member 41 and the lid 42, and receives dehumidified water generated in the evaporator 31. The bottom surface 41a of the lower member 41 is gently sloped so as to become lower toward the rear, and guides the dehumidified water generated in the evaporator 31 to a drainage means 44 provided on the back surface 1c of the outer box 1a. It is supposed to be done.

Such a housing 40 is placed on the base plate 1b toward one side (for example, the left side) in the left-right direction of the space formed between the water tank 8 and the base plate 1b. An opening 42a connecting the lower end of the exhaust duct 22 is provided at the front end of the lid body 42, and an air supply duct 26 is connected to the rear end of the lower member 41, so that air flows backward inside the housing 40. It's flowing.

Although not shown in detail, the compressor 33 includes a compression mechanism section and a motor section, and the motor section is supplied with driving power at a set frequency by an inverter power source. Thereby, the motor section rotates at a rotational speed corresponding to the supplied frequency, and drives the compressor 33 at a desired set output.

The compressor 33 and the pressure reduction section 34 are arranged at a position away from the heat exchange section 30 in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which air flows in the heat exchange section 30. That is, the compressor 33 and the pressure reducing section 34 are located in a space formed between the water tank 8 and the base plate 1b, and on the side (right side) of the heat exchange section 30.

The heat pump 35 is filled with a hydrocarbon-based flammable refrigerant (hereinafter also referred to as refrigerant) such as isobutane, and as the refrigerant is circulated by the operation of the compressor 33, the evaporator 31 is moved inside the housing 40. The condenser 32 cools and dehumidifies the air flowing through the evaporator 31, and the condenser 32 heats the air dehumidified by the evaporator 31.

A sirocco fan 27a is connected to the air supply port 11 of the water tank 8 via the air supply duct 26 on the downstream side of the heat exchange section 30 in the air circulation direction, and a sirocco fan 27a is connected to the connection part between the heat exchange section 30 and the air supply duct 26. It is provided.

The sirocco fan 27a constitutes a blower 27 together with a fan motor 27b provided in a space formed between the water tank 8 and the base plate 1b. The fan motor 27b is arranged on the rear side (rear right side) of the heat exchange section 30 so that the rotating shaft 27c extends rearward. The rotating shaft 27c of the fan motor 27b passes through the back surface 1c of the outer case 1a, and the sirocco fan 27a is attached to the tip thereof. When the sirocco fan 27a receives power from the fan motor 27b and rotates, the sirocco fan 27a sucks air that has been dehumidified and heated in the heat exchanger 30 and discharges it to the air supply duct 26.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the air supply duct 26 is connected to a flow path extending in the vertical direction formed between the duct cover 28 attached to the back surface 1c of the outer box 1a and the back surface 1c of the outer box 1a. Become. Air discharged from the sirocco fan 27a flows upward in the air supply duct 26, passes through an inlet 29 provided on the back surface 1c of the outer box 1a, and is supplied to the water tank 8 and further into the rotating drum 14. Ru.

The ventilation path 50 is a space formed outside the water tank 8 and the circulation air path 20 inside the housing 1, and is a space between the circulation air path 20 and the circulation air path 20, in which air circulation is substantially blocked. It is a space independent from the

The ventilation path 50 is provided with a compressor 33 and a pressure reducing section 34 that constitute the heat pump 35, and a fan motor 27b of the blower 27. Further, the ventilation path 50 includes a first opening 51 provided vertically through the base plate 1b on the side (right side) of the heat exchange section 30 where the compressor 33 and the fan motor 27b are provided; A second opening 52 (see FIG. 4) provided above the first opening 51 on the back surface 1c of the outer box 1a, and the housing 1 is provided through the first opening 51 and the second opening 52. communicates with the external space.

In such a ventilation path 50, when the heat pump 35 and the blower 27 are operated, an upward air current is generated by the heat generated from the compressor 33 and the fan motor 27b, and air from outside the casing 1 is taken in from the first opening 51. Air taken in from outside the casing 1 flows through the ventilation path 50 so as to be discharged to the outside of the casing 1 from the second opening 52 .

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 53 is a motor driving capacitor provided in the ventilation path 50, which supplies driving power to the drum motor 17 that rotates the rotary drum 14. The capacitor 53 is housed in an explosion-proof case with the connection terminal to which a lead wire connected to the drum motor 17 is soldered, that is, the live part faces downward, and is placed on the base plate 1b on the side of the heat exchange part 30. Fixed. Between the connection terminal as a charging part of the capacitor 53, which is an electrical component provided on the base plate 1b, and the joint parts 31a3 and 32a3 of the evaporator 31 and condenser 32, there is a screen that rises upward from the base plate 1b. 54 is provided in the. The screen 54 projects upward from the capacitor 53 and partitions the capacitor 53 and the joints 31a3 and 32a3.

In the washer/dryer configured as above, the evaporator 31 and the condenser 32 have the first folded portions 31a2, 31a2 and the joint portions 31a3, 31a3 located in the ventilation path 50, and the straight portions 31a1, 32a1 and the second folded portions The portions 31a4, 32a4 and the fins 31b, 32b are provided so as to be located within the heat exchange portion 30 constituting the circulation air path 20.

Specifically, inside the housing 40 partitioned by the lower member 41 and the lid 42, of the evaporator 31 and the condenser 32, the straight parts 31a1, 32a1, the second folded parts 31a4, 32a4, the fins 31b, 32b is accommodated, and the first folded portions 31a2, 32a2 and joint portions 31a3, 32a3 are accommodated in a water receiving portion 45 provided adjacent to the outside of the housing 40.

As shown in FIG. 5, the water receiving portion 45 includes a bottom surface 45a provided below the first folded portions 31a2, 32a2 and the joint portions 31a3, 32a3, a peripheral wall 45b rising upward from the periphery thereof, and an opening at the top. 45c is formed in the shape of a container.

The water receiving section 45 is provided adjacent to one side of the heat exchange section 30 in which the compressor 33 and the pressure reduction section 34 are provided, so as to be located between the compressor 33 and the pressure reduction section 34 and the heat exchange section 30. It is separated from the inside of the housing 40 by a partition wall 46 extending parallel to the air circulation direction in the housing 40.

One end of the linear parts 31a1 and 32a1 penetrates the partition wall 46 that partitions the water receiving part 45 and the housing 40 in an airtight state, and the first folded parts 31a2 and 32a2 and the joint parts 31a3 and 32a3 are received from the partition wall 46. It protrudes into the water section 45 . Further, a lid body 42 is provided at the upper end of the partition wall 46 with a sealing member 43 interposed therebetween. As a result, the inside of the water receiving part 45 communicates with the ventilation path 50 through the opening 45c provided on the top surface, but a space is formed in which air circulation is substantially cut off from the inside of the housing 40. ing.

In this embodiment, in addition to the first folded parts 31a2, 32a2 and the joint parts 31a3, 32a3, the inlet 31a5 and outlet 31a6 of the refrigerant pipe of the evaporator 31 and the inlet 32a5 and outlet 32a6 of the refrigerant pipe of the condenser 32 are provided. , joint portions with the refrigerant transport pipes 36, 37, and 38 are also provided inside the water receiving portion 45.

In the washer/dryer of this embodiment as described above, the first folded parts 31a2, 31a2 and the joint parts 31a3, 31a3 are located in the ventilation path 50, and the straight parts 31a1, 32a1, the second folded parts 31a4, 32a4, and the fin 31b are located in the ventilation path 50. , 32b are located within the heat exchange section 30 constituting the circulating air path 20. Although the joint parts 31a3 and 32a3 joined by brazing have a higher possibility of refrigerant leakage than other parts of the refrigerant pipe and the refrigerant transport pipes 36, 37, and 38, in the washer/dryer of this embodiment, Even if flammable refrigerant leaks from the joints 31a3 and 32a3, it is difficult for the flammable refrigerant to enter the circulation air passage 20, where ignition sources such as static electricity are likely to occur, and ignition can be suppressed.

In this embodiment, since the first opening 51 is provided in the base plate 1b on which the heat exchange unit 30 and the compressor 33 are placed, if the flammable refrigerant has a higher specific gravity than air, leakage will occur. The refrigerant is discharged to the outside of the housing 1 through the first opening 51 along the base plate 1b.

Further, when the heat pump 35 and the blower 27 are in operation, the flammable refrigerant can be discharged to the outside of the housing 1 by the upward air current generated in the ventilation path 50 by the heat of the compressor 33 and the fan motor 27b.

In addition, in this embodiment, since the water receiving part 45 is provided so as to cover the lower part of the joint parts 31a3, 32a3 and the first folded parts 31a2, 32a2, the first folded part of the evaporator 31 when the heat pump 35 is operated. Even if the condensed water adhering to 31a2 and the joint 31a3 drips down, the condensed water can be prevented from reaching the fan motor 27b, compressor 33, condenser 53, etc. mounted on the base plate 1b. Moreover, since the water receiving part 45 is provided with the opening 45c on the upper side, even if flammable refrigerant leaks from the joints 31a3 and 32a3, it will pass through the ventilation path 50 from the opening 45c and Can be discharged to the outside.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the sealing member 43 for sealing the housing 40 and the water receiving part 45 is provided on the partition wall 46 that partitions the water receiving part 45 and the housing 40 of the heat exchange part 30. Air circulation can be blocked between the water receiving portion 40 and the water receiving portion 45. Therefore, when the blower 27 is operating, the heat exchange section 30 may become under negative pressure, but even in such a case, the flammable refrigerant leaking from the joints 31a3 and 32a3 is transferred from the water receiving section 45 to the heat exchange section. 30 can be prevented.

Further, in this embodiment, since a screen is provided between the condenser 53 placed on the base plate 1b and the joints 31a3, 32a3 of the evaporator 31 and condenser 32, leakage may occur from the joints 31a3, 32a3. Even if the discharged refrigerant flows along the base plate 1b, it is possible to prevent the flammable refrigerant from reaching the vicinity of the capacitor 53, which could become a source of ignition such as sparks, particularly the connection terminal of the capacitor 53, which is a charging part.

(Change example 1)
In the embodiment described above, a case has been described in which the joint parts 31a3, 32a3 and the first folded parts 31a2, 32a2 provided on the outside of the heat exchange part 30 in the evaporator 31 and the condenser 32 are exposed to the ventilation path 50. As shown in FIG. 6, the water receiving portion 45 may be filled with a porous material such as urethane foam, and the joint portions 31a3, 32a3 and the first folded portions 31a2, 32a2 may be covered with the porous material 55. In such a case, heat leakage from the joints 31a3, 32a3 and the first folded parts 31a2, 32a2 can be suppressed to improve thermal efficiency in the heat exchange section 30, and the refrigerant can be prevented from leaking from the joints 31a3, 32a3. Even so, the refrigerant is slowly released into the ventilation path 50, and it is possible to prevent the inside of the casing 1 from reaching the ignition limit concentration.

(Change example 2)
In the above-described embodiment, a washer/dryer that is not provided with a refrigerant detection sensor has been described, but for example, a gas sensor may be provided in the ventilation path 50 or the circulation air path 20 to detect the refrigerant leaking from the heat pump 35. .

1... Housing, 1a... Outer box, 1b... Base plate, 8... Water tank, 10... Exhaust port, 11... Air supply port, 17... Drum motor, 20... Circulation air path, 22... Exhaust duct, 26... Air supply Duct, 27...Blower, 27a...Sirocco fan, 27b...Fan motor, 30...Heat exchange section, 31...Evaporator, 31a1...Straight section, 31a2...First folded section, 31a3...Joint section, 31a4...Second folded section , 31b... Fin, 32... Condenser, 32a1... Straight part, 32a2... First folded part, 32a3... Joint part, 32a4... Second folded part, 32b... Fin, 33... Compressor, 35... Heat pump, 36... Refrigerant Transport pipe, 37... Refrigerant transport pipe, 38... Refrigerant transport pipe, 40... Housing, 41... Lower member, 42... Lid, 43... Sealing member, 45... Water receiving chamber, 45c... Opening, 46... Partition wall, 50... Ventilation path, 51... First opening, 52... Second opening, 53... Condenser, 54... Screen, 55... Porous body

Claims (6)

a drying room for storing clothes;
a circulation air passage whose both ends are connected to the drying chamber;
a blower that circulates air between the drying chamber and the circulation air path;
A condenser that heats the air in the circulating air path, an evaporator that cools and dehumidifies the air in the circulating air path, a compressor that compresses a flammable refrigerant and supplies it to the condenser, and the condenser. A heat pump that is connected to a depressurizing means for decompressing the flammable refrigerant that has passed through it through a refrigerant transport pipe;
A clothes dryer comprising the drying chamber, the circulation air path, the blower, and a casing that houses the heat pump,
The casing includes a base plate on which the condenser, the evaporator, and the compressor are mounted, an outer box that covers an upper part of the base plate, and a case that is provided on the outside of the circulation air path and provided on the base plate. a ventilation path that communicates with the outside through a first opening;
The condenser and the evaporator include a refrigerant pipe in which a refrigerant flows, and fins attached to the refrigerant pipe,
The refrigerant pipe includes a plurality of straight parts, a first folded part provided to connect one end of the plurality of straight parts, and one end of the plurality of straight parts and the first folded part by brazing. formed in a meandering shape including a joined joint part and a second folded part integrally provided at the other end of the plurality of straight parts,
The clothes dryer wherein the joint part is located in the ventilation path, and the plurality of straight parts, the fins, and the second folded part are located in the circulation air path. The clothes dryer according to claim 1, further comprising a water receiving part that covers the lower part of the joint part and has an opening that communicates with the ventilation path above. The circulation air passage includes a heat exchange section in which the plurality of linear sections, the fins, and the second folded section are housed, a partition wall that partitions the heat exchange section and the water receiving section, and a partition wall that is provided on the partition wall and that allows the heat exchanger to pass through the heat exchange section. The clothes dryer according to claim 2, further comprising a sealing member that seals the exchange section and the water receiving section. Any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a screen provided on the base plate to partition between a charging part of an electrical component placed on the base plate and a joint between the evaporator and the condenser. Clothes dryer described in. The clothes dryer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the joint portion is covered with a porous material. The circulating air path includes a heat exchange part in which the plurality of straight parts, the fins, and the second folded part are housed,
The casing includes a second opening provided at a higher position than the first opening of the outer box,
The ventilation path according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the ventilation path is provided on one side of the heat exchange section, and the joint portion, the compressor, and the first opening are provided in the ventilation path. Clothes dryer.

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