Abstract:
A washing machine having a condensing duct with its internal space divided into a cooling water path and an air flow path. In a drying process, heated air is blown into the tub to dry the laundry and then becomes humidified. The humidified air is dried at the condensing duct and supplied back to the tub. In the condensing duct, cooling water causes condensation of the vapor in the humidified air and thereby dries the air. The condensing duct includes a partition member that isolates the cooling water path and air flow path and serves as a common wall between the two paths. With the two paths isolated from each other, the cooling water does not make direct contact with the humidified air, thereby improving air dry efficiency of the washing machine.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is based on and claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2016-0017567, filed on Feb. 16, 2016, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
       TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to washing machines, and, more particularly, to drying assemblies in drum type washing machines. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    A washing machine is an apparatus used for washing and cleaning laundry by friction between the laundry and washing water in combination with emulsification provided by detergent. Typically a pulsator rotates to produce a water flow which impacts on a washing object. A full automatic washing machine is capable of automatically performing a series of processes including washing, rinsing and dewatering responsive to a single user command. 
         [0004]    Washing machines may be classified into top-loading type and drum type washing machine. A top-loading washing machine has an upstanding washing tub with its opening generally facing the top of the washing machine. A drum type washing machine has a laid-down washing tub with its opening generally facing the front of the washing machine. As compared with the top-loading type, a drum type washing machine has reduced overall height and larger washing capacity, and rarely causes fabric twist problems. Thus, the market demand for drum type washing machines has been increasing. 
         [0005]    A drum type washing machine may include a tub which contains washing water and a drum inside the tub to accommodate laundry or other washing objects. The rotation of the drum causes the laundry to be lifted and dropped which generates friction between the laundry and the washing water, thereby cleaning the laundry. 
         [0006]    A drum type washing machine may include a drying assembly capable of drying the washed laundry by supplying hot air to the drum. The hot air is likely humidified once in contact with the laundry in the drum and thus becomes humidified air. The humidified air flowing through the drum and the laundry is then introduced back to the drying assembly. 
         [0007]    The humidified air flows into the drying assembly which contains cooling water. In the drying assembly, vapor in the humidified air is condensed and removed from the humidified air due to the cooling effect provided by the cooling water. Thereby the humidified air is dried. Dried air is then heated by a heating member and supplied back to the drum to dry the laundry. 
         [0008]    However, in a conventional drying assembly, cooling water makes direct contact with air flowing from the tub. Cooling water may be scattered by the air flow that typically flows at a high flow velocity and adds to the humidity of the air, which counteracts the drying efficiency. Moreover, water drops scattered onto the hardware components in the drying assembly may lead to corrosion of these components. 
       PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS 
     Patent Documents 
       [0000]    
       
         Patent Document: Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2015-0073395 (published on Jul. 1, 2015) 
       
     
       SUMMARY 
       [0010]    Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a drum type washing machine capable of increasing drying efficiency and preventing corrosion of washing machine components. 
         [0011]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, a drum type washing machine includes: a tub with a drum inside; a drying duct configured to supply hot air to the tub or the drum; and a condensing duct configured to receive a humidified air passing through the tub or the drum and to supply dry air to the drying duct after moisture contained in the humidified air is condensed by heat exchange of the humidified air with cooling water. The condensing duct includes a partition member configured to partition and divide an internal space of the condensing duct so that the cooling water does not make direct contact with the humidified air, the partition member configured to provide a cooling water flow path through which the cooling water may flow independently. 
         [0012]    Further, the condensing duct includes: a housing; an air flow path formed so that the air flows toward one side of the housing through the air flow path; a cooling water flow path formed so that the cooling water flows toward the other side of the housing through the cooling water flow path; a partition member installed inside the housing in order to partition and divide the air flow path and the cooling water flow path; a water inflow port formed in the housing so that the cooling water flows into the cooling water flow path through the water inflow port; and a water outflow port formed in the housing so that the cooling water passing through the cooling water flow path flows out through the water outflow port. 
         [0013]    Further, the partition member includes a first wave portion formed in a wavy shape in an air contact region in order to increase an air contact area. 
         [0014]    Further, the housing includes a second wave portion formed in the same shape as the first wave portion in a position facing the first wave portion in a region which defines the cooling water flow path. 
         [0015]    Further, the partition member has a lower end spaced apart from the housing so as to allow the cooling water to flow out. 
         [0016]    Further, a drain portion is formed in the lower end of the partition member so that the cooling water is drained through the drain portion. 
         [0017]    Further, the partition member is made of iron or copper having high heat conductivity. 
         [0018]    Also in one embodiment, a drum type washing machine includes a drying duct configured to supply hot air to a tub or a drum; and a condensing duct configured to receive humidified air passing through the tub or the drum and to supply dry air to the drying duct after moisture contained in the humidified air is condensed by heat exchange of the humidified air with cooling water. The condensing duct includes a housing; an air flow path formed so that the air flows toward one side of the housing through the air flow path; a cooling water flow path formed so that the cooling water flows toward the other side of the housing through the cooling water flow path; a partition member installed inside the housing in order to partition and divide the air flow path and the cooling water flow path; a water inflow port formed in the housing so that the cooling water flows into the cooling water flow path through the water inflow port; and a water outflow port formed in the housing so that the cooling water passing through the cooling water flow path flows out through the water outflow port. 
         [0019]    Further, the partition member includes a first wave portion formed in a substantially wavy shape in an air contact region in order to increase an air contact area. 
         [0020]    Further, the housing includes a second wave portion formed in an analogous shape as the first wave portion in a position facing the first wave portion in a region which defines the cooling water flow path. 
         [0021]    Further, the partition member has a lower end spaced apart from the housing so as to allow the cooling water to flow out. 
         [0022]    Further, the drain portion is formed in the lower end of the partition member so that the cooling water is drained through the drain portion. 
         [0023]    Embodiments of the present disclosure provide increased air drying efficiency by keeping humidified air from making direct contact with cooling water. Embodiments of the present disclosure also prevent cooling water from scattering onto hardware components in the air flow path, thereby preventing corrosion of these components. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0024]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating an exemplary drum type washing machine according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  is a configuration diagram illustrating a drum type washing machine installed with an exemplary drying assembly according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view illustrating an exemplary condensing duct as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  is an assembled perspective view illustrating an assembled state of the exemplary condensing duct illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
           [0028]      FIG. 5  is a side view illustrating a structure of an exemplary partition member according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0029]    In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here. 
         [0030]    One or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which one or more exemplary embodiments of the disclosure can be easily determined by those skilled in the art. As those skilled in the art will realize, the described exemplary embodiments may be modified in various different ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure, which is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described herein. 
         [0031]    It is noted that the drawings are schematic and are not necessarily dimensionally illustrated. Relative sizes and proportions of parts in the drawings may be exaggerated or reduced in their sizes, and a predetermined size is just exemplificative and not limitative. The same reference numerals designate the same structures, elements, or parts illustrated in two or more drawings in order to exhibit similar characteristics. 
         [0032]    The exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure illustrate ideal exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure in more detail. As a result, various modifications of the drawings are expected. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments are not limited to a specific form of the illustrated region, and for example, include a modification of a form by manufacturing. 
         [0033]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating an exemplary drum type washing machine  10  according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 2  illustrates the configuration of a drum type washing machine having an exemplary drying assembly with a condensing duct according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view illustrating an exemplary condensing duct that is also illustrated in  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating an assembled state of the exemplary condensing duct that is also illustrated in  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 5  is a side view illustrating the structure of an exemplary partition member according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the drum type washing machine  10  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  are components of a drying assembly in the drum type washing machine  10 . 
         [0035]    The tub  100  can contain washing water. The tub  100  is coupled to the drying duct  200 . In a drying process, hot air flows to the tub  100  through the drying duct  200 . 
         [0036]    More specifically, the drum type washing machine  10  may include a tub  100  located on the outer circumferential surface of the machine  10  and a drum  110  having a plurality of water flow paths for guiding water flow in the tub  100 . The drum  110  is installed inside the tub  100  for holding washing objects (e.g., laundry). 
         [0037]    The tub  100  is spaced apart from the outer circumferential surface of the drum  110 . After a washing process, washing water is discharged from the tub  100  to the outside in a dewater process. In a drying process, hot air supplied from the drying duct  200  enters the tub  100  and the drum  110  to dry the washing object inside the drum  110 . 
         [0038]    The drying duct  200  may include a circulation member  210  and a heating member  220 . The circulation member  210  can drive air from the outside into the washing machine through the drying duct  200  and can circulate air inside the drum type washing machine  10 . For example, the circulation member  210  may be a fan. 
         [0039]    The heating member  220  may heat the air passing through the drying duct  200 . In a drying process, the heating member  220  may also heat the air inside the drum type washing machine  10 . For example, the heating member  220  may be an electric heater with temperature control. Heated air is supplied to the tub  100  or the drum  110  through the drying duct  200 . 
         [0040]    The condensing duct  300  may receive humidified air from the tub  100  or the drum  110  and transport the humidified air to the drying duct  200 . The condensing duct  300  contains cooling water supplied from an external source. The cooling water dries the humidifier air by causing condensation of vapor in the humidified air. The condensing duct  300  supplies dried air to the drying duct  200 . In addition, the condensing duct  300  may drain condensed water to the outside of the condensing duct  300 . 
         [0041]    In other words, the condensing duct  300  uses the cooling water to cool down the hot humidified air to condense the moisture contained in the hot humidified air coming from the tub  100  or the drum  110 . The condensing duct  300  may drain the condensed water and re-introduce the dried air into the drying duct  200 . Thus, the air re-introduced into the drying duct  200  is drier than the air entering the condensing duct  300 . The condensing duct  300  may be disposed between the tub  100  and the drying duct  200 . 
         [0042]    The condensing duct  300  according to the present embodiment may include a partition member  340  as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 to 5 . The partition member  340  may partition the internal space of the condensing duct  300  so that the cooling water supplied into the condensing duct  300  does not make direct contact with the air discharged from the tub  100  or the drum  110 . 
         [0043]    Furthermore, the partition member  340  may provide a cooling water flow path  330  so that the cooling water can flow within the condensing duct  300  without making direct contact with air discharged from the tub  100  or the drum  110 . 
         [0044]    The condensing duct  300  may include a housing  310 , an air flow path  320 , a cooling water flow path  330 , a partition member  340 , a water inflow port  350  and a water outflow port  360 . 
         [0045]    The housing  310  forms an overall outer shell of the condensing duct  300 . The humidified air passing through the tub  100  or the drum  110  may flow into the housing  310 . The cooling water may flow into the housing  310  from an external water source. 
         [0046]    The air flow path  320  is configured for air exiting the tub  100  or the drum  110  to flow toward one side of the housing  310 . The air flow path  320  is enclosed except the top and the bottom portion. 
         [0047]    The cooling water flow path  330  is configured such that the cooling water can travel across the housing  310 . The cooling water flow path  330  contains the cooling water flowing into the housing  310  so that the cooling water does not directly contact the air flowing through the air flow path  320 . 
         [0048]    The partition member  340  separates the air flow path  320  from the cooling water flow path  330 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the partition member  340  may be installed between the air flow path  320  and the cooling water flow path  330  and inside the housing  310 . 
         [0049]    Cooling water flows into the cooling water flow path  330  through the water inflow port  350  in the housing  310 . The water inflow port  350  receives the cooling water supplied from the outside. More specifically the cooling water flow path  330  is located inside the housing  310 . For example, the water inflow port  350  may be located at the top portion of the housing  310 . 
         [0050]    The water outflow port  360  in the housing  310  allows cooling water passing through the cooling water flow path  330  to be discharged to the outside of the housing  310 . For example, the water outflow port  360  may be located at the bottom portion of the housing  310 . 
         [0051]    More specifically, as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , the partition member  340  may include a first wave portion  341  having a substantially wavy shape in the air contact region in order to increase the contact area with the air flow. 
         [0052]    One side of the partition member  340  directly contacts with the air, and the other side contacts the cooling water. The partition member  340  may cool and condense vapor in hot humidified air through heat transfer, thereby reducing the humidity of the air and producing dry air. Due to the wavy shape, the first wave portion  341  of the partition member  340  provides adequate contact area between the air and the cooling water inside the housing  310  despite the limited volume of the housing. This significantly and advantageously enhances the drying efficiency of the humidified air coming from the tub  100  or the drum  110 . 
         [0053]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the housing  310  may also include a wavy portion, shown as a second wave portion  311  which is formed in a predetermined position in a region that defines the cooling water flow path  330 . The second wave portion  311  may be formed in the housing  310  in a position which faces the first wave portion  341 . The second wave portion  311  may be substantially identical in shape with the first wave portion  341 . 
         [0054]    As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the lower end of the partition member  340  may be spaced apart by a predetermined height from the housing  310  so that the cooling water flowing through the cooling water flow path  330  can be discharged. As an alternative example, a separate drain portion  342  may be formed at the lower end of the partition member  340  so that the cooling water can be drained through the drain portion  342 . 
         [0055]    In this regard, the partition member  340  may be made of a material having high heat conductivity, such as iron or copper, so that the air and the cooling water can exchange heat with high efficiency. In this case, the iron may be plated with zinc in order to prevent corrosion. 
         [0056]    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. 
         [0057]    Therefore, it should be understood that the exemplary embodiments described above are not limiting, but only an example in all respects. The scope of the present disclosure is expressed by claims 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. 
         [0058]    From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described herein for purposes of illustration, and that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. The exemplary embodiments disclosed in the specification of the present disclosure do not limit the present disclosure. The scope of the present disclosure will be interpreted by the claims below, and it will be construed that all techniques within the scope equivalent thereto belong to the scope of the present disclosure.