Laundry dryer and impurity entry preventing structure for the same

Provided is a laundry dryer. The laundry dryer includes a drying drum for inserting laundry in, a base, and a cabinet enclosing the drying drum and the base. The base includes an outside air intake port that suctions indoor air, an air passage for moist air from the drying drum to pass through, and an impurity descending slot recessed a predetermined depth at a front of the outside air intake port for impurities to fall into.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a dryer, and more particularly, to a laundry dryer with a structure for preventing impurities such as lint from entering the drying drum together with outside air.

2. Description of the Related Art

A drum dryer is a home appliance that dries laundry by circulating hot, dry air within a drying drum to dry laundry inserted therein.

Drum dryers are divided into condenser dryers that circulate air between the drying drum and a heater to dry laundry inside the drum, and vented dryers that direct air heated by a heater into the drying drum to dry laundry, after which the air is exhausted from the drying drum to the outside.

In further detail, in a vented dryer, air that has been heated while passing through a heater flows into the drum, and then leaves the drum by passing through a lint filter installed at the front of the drum, removing it of lint. The air that passes through the lint filter then flows through an exhaust assembly formed at the bottom of the dryer, to be exhausted to the outside.

In a vented dryer, air from outside the dryer enters the drying drum through an intake, and after the air in the drying drum dries the laundry therein, it is exhausted to the outside. However, in the related art, where air is drawn into the drum from outside the dryer, there is a need to prevent dust and lint from entering the drum. In other words, impurities in the outside air that enters the drum through the intake can contaminate laundry in the drum.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a laundry dryer that substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

An object of the present invention is to provide a laundry dryer with an impurity entry preventing structure that blocks the entry of impurities such as lint and dust into the drying drum through an outside air intake connected to the rear of the drum.

To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, there is provided a laundry dryer including: a drying drum for inserting laundry in; a base including an outside air intake port for suctioning indoor air, an air passage for moist air from the drying drum to pass through, and an impurity descending slot recessed a predetermined depth at a front of the outside air intake port for impurities to fall into; and a cabinet enclosing the drying drum and the base.

In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a laundry dryer including: a cabinet; a drying drum disposed within the cabinet; a base disposed within the cabinet, and including: a lower base having an outside air intake port for suctioning indoor air and an impurity separating slot for separating impurities from air entering the outside air intake port; and an upper base coupled at a top of the lower base; and a lint cap formed in the outside air intake port, for filtering impurities in a second stage that have not been separated by the impurity separating slot.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a laundry dryer including: a cabinet; a drying drum disposed within the cabinet; a lower base installed below the drying drum, and including an outside air intake port for suctioning indoor air, a lint entry preventing member permanently or detachably installed to the outside air intake port, and an air passage for guiding a flow of moist air from the drying drum; and an upper base coupled at a top of the lower base, for covering the air passage.

In a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a laundry dryer including: a drying drum; a lower base installed below the drying drum, and including an outside air intake port for suctioning indoor air and a recessed portion for preventing comparatively heavy impurities contained in the indoor air from passing through the outside air intake port and accumulating the impurities; and an upper base coupled at a top of the lower base; and a lint blocking member permanently or detachably coupled to the outside air intake port, for preventing impurities from entering the drying drum through the outside air intake port.

In the laundry dryer having the above impurity entry preventing structure according to the present invention, the entry of impurities such as lint or dust (along with outer air) into the drying drum during a drying cycle can be prevented.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1is an exploded perspective view of a laundry dryer according to the present invention.

Referring toFIG. 1, a dryer10with a passage structure according to the present invention includes a drying drum14for putting laundry into, a cabinet11installed outside the drying drum14for protecting the drying drum14, a base20installed below the drying drum14and having an air exhaust duct formed within, and a motor15mounted on the upper portion of the base20for rotating the drying drum14.

In more detail, the cabinet11includes a front cover111for supporting the front portion of the drying drum14, a side cover112installed on the side of the drying drum14, and a back cover114supporting the rear of the drying drum14, and a top cover113at a top of the drum14.

The dryer10also includes a door12pivotably installed at the front of the front cover111to open and close the opening at the front of the drying drum14for inserting and extracting laundry, a control panel13installed above the door12and having buttons for inputting dryer settings and operation, a drying duct17installed at the rear of the back cover114to guide outside air into the drying drum, and a heater16installed inside the drying duct17to heat the outside air drawn in.

The operation of the above-described dryer10will now be explained.

First, a user opens the door12and inserts laundry into the drying drum14. Then, using the setting portion on the control panel13, the user inputs dryer settings. When the start button is pressed, the motor15and the heater16installed inside the drying duct17operate. A suctioning blower installed below the base20rotates to suction outside air into the dryer10.

In more detail, outside air enters the drying duct17through an outside air intake port (described later) formed at the bottom of the back cover114, and is heated while passing through the drying duct17. The heated air enters the drying drum14through a rear wall of the drying drum14. The heated air that enters the drying drum14absorbs moisture imbued in laundry and becomes hot, moist air. The air that becomes hot and moist leaves the drying drum14by passing through a lint filter (not shown) formed on the front cover111, shedding impurities such as lint in the process.

The air that passes through the lint filter flows along the exhaust passage (described below) installed on the base20, and is ultimately exhausted out from the dryer10. Here, the base20forms a passage within for air to be exhausted, and exhaust ports are formed on the sides and rear of the base20. One of the exhaust ports may be open while the remaining ports may be sealed. The air passage formed within the base20will be described in further detail below with reference to the diagrams.

FIG. 2is a perspective view of a base installed in a dryer according to the present invention.

Referring toFIG. 2, the base20of the dryer according to the present invention includes a lower base21and an upper base22mounted on top of the lower base21.

In detail, the motor15is mounted on top of the lower base21, and the passage for exhausting air is formed within the upper part of the lower base21. The upper base22covers the air passage, so that the exhausting air is not dispelled but directed to flow in a predetermined direction.

In further detail, the lower base21and the upper base22are respectively plastic injection molded and coupled together in one piece by means of fasteners. However, the manufacturing method of the base20is not limited thereto, and may include being formed in a single piece. A drum connecting passage203is formed at the front upper portion of the base20, and a side exhaust port201is formed at the side and a rear exhaust port202is formed at the rear of the base20. The motor15is mounted to one side on top of the base20, and a blower is connected to the rotating motor shaft to suction air from inside the drum. The blower is protected by a blower cover23. Here, the blower is installed at the front of the motor15, as shown inFIG. 1. Moreover, a suctioning blower (installed at the rear of the base20and not depicted inFIG. 2) is attached to and operates by means of a separate motor.

In the above-described structure, the hot, moist discharged from the front of the drying drum14enters the drum connecting passage203and is exhausted back to the outside through the side exhaust port201and/or the rear exhaust port202. Below, a detailed description of the air passages formed within the base20will be given, with reference to the diagrams.

FIG. 3is a perspective view of a lower base according to the present invention.

Referring toFIG. 3, the base20according to the present invention, as described above, includes a lower base21and an upper base22mounted on top of the lower base21.

In detail, an air passage, through which air is exhausted from the drying drum14, is formed in the lower base. A complete air passage is formed by covering the bottom half of the air passage with the upper base22.

In more detail, a drum air descending passage205, for the air passing from the drying drum14to descend, is formed at the front of the lower base21. A blower entrance206is formed on one side of the drum air descending passage205for the descending air to be suctioned toward the blower. A blower compartment211is formed for mounting the blower at the blower entrance206. An expanded passage portion212that bends at a predetermined angle and expands in diameter is connected to an end of the blower compartment211. A main passage213that extends to the rear end of the base lower unit21is connected at the end of the expanded passage portion212.

A sub passage214is formed to intersect with the main passage213, forming the side exhaust ports201at either side of the lower base21. A condensation pan214ais respectively formed a predetermined depth into the floors at the rear exhaust port202and side exhaust ports201, to collect condensing moisture from the exhausting air. A passage intersection215of the main passage213and the sub passage214is biased toward the rear of the lower base21from its center. That is, the sub passage214is closer to the rear of the lower base21than its front.

At least one upper base guiding protrusion217is formed on the top surface of the lower base21, in order to guide the mounting position of the upper base22over the lower base21. A fastening hook219is formed to protrude a predetermined height from along the perimeters of the main and sub passages213and214, in order to tightly couple the upper base22to the lower base21. Also, a plurality of fastening holes216are formed in the upper surface of the lower base21, so that a fastening member (for fastening the upper base22) can insert through the fastening hole216. Specifically, the fastening holes216are formed symmetrically at the edges on either sides of the sub and main passages214and213.

An outside air intake port204is formed at the rear of the lower base21, to allow outside air to pass through the drying duct17into the drying drum. A lint entry preventing slot207, or impurity descending slot207, for collecting impurities such as lint in the outside air suctioned through the outside air intake port204, is recessed a predetermined depth at the front of the outside air intake port204. An intake blower for suctioning outside air is installed to the outside of the outside air intake port204. Here, the outside air suctioned through the outside air intake port204is air within the cabinet11of the dryer10. A lint entry preventing ledge218is formed to protrude from around the perimeter of the lint entry preventing slot207. A detailed description of the lint entry preventing structure will be given below with reference to the drawings.

A motor mount215afor mounting the motor15is formed in the space between the blower compartment211and the sub passage214, where a motor supporting insert slot215bis formed for supporting a motor supporter (not shown).

In the above structure, the hot, moist air that descends through the drum air descending passage205flows through the blower entrance206into the blower compartment211. The air that enters the blower compartment211flows through the expanded passage portion212to the main passage213. The air that flows to the main passage213branches at the passage intersection215and flows through at least one of the side exhaust ports201and/or the rear exhaust port202to the outside.

Here, a portion of the two side exhaust ports201and the rear exhaust port202may be sealed with caps. For example, if the dryer10is installed in a corner, one of the side exhaust ports201and the rear exhaust port202may sealed with caps, with only the remaining side exhaust port201opened. That is to say that caps can be used to selectively seal the exhaust ports, as mandated by the installed location of the dryer10.

The air that flows toward the sealed exhaust ports during the circulation through the passages condenses, and the condensed water accumulates in the condensation pans214a. Also, even when all the exhaust ports201and202are open, air that flows through the passages condenses, whereupon the condensed water accumulates in the condensation pans214a.

FIG. 4is a perspective view of an upper base according to the present invention, andFIG. 5is a plan view of the bottom of the upper base inFIG. 4.

Referring toFIGS. 4 and 5, the upper base22according to the present invention, as described above, is mounted on top of the lower base21.

Specifically, the upper base22is formed in a shape corresponding to that of the lower base21in terms of the passages, in order to seal the upper portion of the passages. A drum connecting passage203is formed at the front of the upper base22, to provide an entrance for hot, moist air exiting the drying drum14toward the passages.

In more detail, the drum connecting passage203extends a predetermined distance upward from the top of the upper base22to form the interior of a drum connecting duct221. A blower connecting portion221ais formed to extend from the side of the drum connecting duct221, so that air passes through the drum connecting passage203and flows into the blower entrance206formed in the lower base21.

A main passage cover222and a sub passage cover223are formed on the upper base22to cover the expanded passage portion212, the main passage213, and the sub passage214formed in the lower base21. The main passage cover222and the sub passage cover223also intersect with each other. A humidity sensor mount226is formed in a portion of the main passage cover222for installing a humidity sensor therein, in order to detect the level of humidity of air flowing through the main passage213.

Hook insert holes225are formed along the lower perimeter of the main passage cover222and the sub passage cover223, so that the fastening hooks219separated from one another by a predetermined distance on the lower base21can insert into the hook insert holes225. A fastening tab224, for tightly coupling the upper base22on the lower base21, is formed respectively on either side at both ends of the sub passage cover223and on either side of the main passage cover222. Specifically, a fastening hole224ais formed in each fastening tab224, so that a fastening member inserted through the fastening hole224ainserts into the fastening hole216formed in the lower base21. That is, the fastening member tightens the coupling of the upper base22to the lower base21, so that no gaps are formed between the base upper and lower portions22and21. In this way, the size of gaps formed between the base upper and lower portions22and21may be minimized, preventing leakage of air flowing within the passages and the possibility of it re-entering through the outside air intake port204. In other words, the air flowing through the inside of the passages is prevented from leaking into the interior space of the cabinet11holding the drying drum14and being suctioned into the outside air intake port204.

In the above structure, the hot, moist air that exits the drying drum14passes through the drum connecting passage203and descends to the drum air descending passage205. The air that descends to the drum air descending passage205flows to the blower entrance206. The air that descends to the drum connecting passage203flows along the blower connecting portion221aand into the blower entrance206. The air that enters the blower entrance206moves through the expanded passage portion212, the main passage213, and the sub passages214. The air that flows through the main and sub passages213and214condenses and is exhausted to the outside through the rear exhaust port202and/or the side exhaust port(s)201.

FIG. 6is a perspective view showing airflow within a base according to the present invention.

Referring toFIG. 6, as described above, the air that passes through the drying drum14passes through the lint filter installed in the front cover111to shed impurities in a first stage, and then descends through the drum connecting passage203. Then, the air that descends through the drum connecting passage203moves to the blower entrance206formed at the end of the blower connecting portion221a.

The air that moves to the blower entrance206is redirected by the blower installed in the blower compartment211. The air that is redirected by the blower flows to the expanded passage portion212. The flow direction of the air is redirected again at the expanded passage portion212to the main passage213, and the air flows to the rear of the base20. A portion of the air flowing through the main passage213branches off at the passage intersection215(where the main and sub passages213and214intersect) to the sub passages214. The air flowing through the main and sub passages213and214flow through the rear exhaust port202and/or side exhaust port(s)201to be exhausted back to the outside. Here, the hot, moist air that exits the drying drum14cools (and a portion of the moisture in the air condenses) during the time it takes to flow from the drum connecting passage203to the exhaust ports201and202. The condensed moisture accumulates in the condensation pans214arecessed in the floors of the main and sub passages213and214.

The outside air that flows into the rear of drying drum14, that is, outside air with the same temperature and humidity of inside air, re-enters the drying drum14through the drying duct17through the outside air intake port204formed at the rear of the base20.

FIG. 7is an enlarged perspective view of an impurity entry preventing structure in a dryer according to the present invention.

Referring toFIG. 7, as briefly addressed above, a lint entry preventing ledge218and a lint entry preventing slot207are formed to prevent impurities from entering through the outside air intake port204.

More specifically, the air suctioned through the outside air intake port204is inner air inside the cabinet11of the dryer10. However, the inner air entering through the outside air intake port204may mix with small quantities of hot, moist air that leaks through small gaps in the coupling regions between the base upper and lower portions22and21. Also, lint that may escape from the drying drum14may mix with the air moving through the passages. However, due to the lint entry preventing ledge218that protrudes a predetermined height along the perimeter of the lint entry preventing slot207, impurities escaping from a gap formed between the upper base22and the lower base21is prevented in a first stage. The air that is filtered in the first stage by the lint entry preventing ledge218is filtered again by the lint entry preventing slot207.

In detail, impurities contained in outside air that enters through the outside air intake port204accumulates in the lint entry preventing slot207, to reduce the impurities entering into the drying duct17.

In further detail, the outside air that is suctioned through the outside air intake port204swirls in the lint entry preventing slot207, so that the lint and other impurities contained in the air is deposited on the floor of the lint entry preventing slot207. The outside air intake port204is formed to be higher than the floor of the lint entry preventing slot207, to prevent the impurities deposited on the floor of the lint entry preventing slot207from easily entering through the outside air intake port204.

FIG. 8is a perspective view of a base with an impurity entry preventing device installed on its outside air intake port according to the present invention.

Referring toFIG. 8, a grated grill300window with a predetermined diameter is installed on the outside air intake port204, to partition the latter into a plurality of small slots. Here, the bars of the grill300may be formed in a vertical or a horizontal direction. The distances between the grill300bars may be adjusted to effectively filter impurities. However, if the gaps between the bars are excessively narrow, suctioning force can decrease, and a load on the motor15can increase so that more energy is consumed. Therefore, an adequate gap should be formed.

In another embodiment of the grill300, a net may be formed on the grill. Specifically, a grill that intersects in vertical and horizontal directions may be formed to filter small lint particles and other impurities in air suctioned through the outside air intake port204.

The grill300may be integrally formed with the lower base21through plastic injection molding for the sake of favorable manufacturing process and cost.

In the above structure, air that is suctioned through the outside air intake port204is filtered of impurities in a first stage by the lint entry preventing ledge218and in a second stage by the lint entry preventing slot207. The impurities are filtered in yet another stage by the grill300, so that a filtering in three stages occurs.

FIGS. 9 and 10are perspective views of a lower base with an impurity entry preventing device installed on its outside air intake port according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIG. 9, a base20, of a dryer having an impurity entry preventing structure according to the present invention, includes an installed lint cap320for preventing impurities from passing through the outside air intake port204.

Specifically, the lint cap320has a cap body321that is inserted into the outside air intake port204, and a mesh322installed-within the cap body321.

More specifically, the mesh322forms fine holes that filter lint and other impurities, preventing them from entering the outside air intake port204. To remove impurities from the mesh322, the lint cap320may be detached from the outside air intake port204, and the impurities imbedded in the mesh322may be shaken or washed off with water. Also, in order to minimize deformation of the mesh322and increase its durability, it may be formed of a metal material.

Here, the cap body321and the mesh322may be integrally formed through insert injection molding. That is, the metal mesh322may be covered around its edge with a mold in the shape of the cap body321, into which a plastic material is injected, thus forming the lint cap320.

Referring toFIG. 10, the mesh322may be permanently fixed on the outside air intake port204.

In other words, the mesh322may be fixed to the outside air intake port204during the injection molding of the lower base21so that it is integrally formed with the lower base21.

In the above structure, the outside air entering the outside air intake port204can be effectively removed of small-sized impurities by the mesh322.