HEAT PUMP DRYING OR WASHING-DRYING MACHINE

The present disclosure provides a heat pump drying or washing-drying machine, including a drum for holding laundry, a heat pump module and a condensed water draining duct. The heat pump module includes a heat pump mounting box, a condenser, an evaporator, a fan and a compressor, the condenser and the evaporator are mounted in the heat pump mounting box, and the heat pump mounting box is provided with a draining port for draining a condensed water. An upper end of the condensed water draining duct is connected with the draining port, a lower end of the condensed water draining duct is communicated with the drum, and the condensed water draining duct extends along a gravity direction from the upper end to the lower end.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority and benefits of Chinese Patent Application No. 201610375589.2, filed with State Intellectual Property Office on May 31, 2016, and Chinese Patent Application No. 201620514674.8, filed with State Intellectual Property Office on May 31, 2016, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a technology field of washing equipment, and more particularly to a heat pump drying or washing-drying machine.

BACKGROUND

In the heat pump drying or washing-drying machine of the related art, the heat pump system generates much condensed water when condensing airflows, and the collected condensed water is drained away by a draining pump, thus resulting in a relatively complex structure.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure seeks to solve at least one of problems existing in the related art to at least some extent. For this purpose, the present disclosure provides a heat pump drying or washing-drying machine. A draining structure of a condensed water of the heat pump drying or washing-drying machine has few parts and a strong universality.

The heat pump drying or washing-drying machine according to embodiments of the present disclosure includes a drum for holding laundry; a heat pump module including a heat pump mounting box, a condenser, an evaporator, a fan and a compressor, in which the condenser and the evaporator are mounted in the heat pump mounting box, and the heat pump mounting box is provided with a draining port for draining away a condensed water; and a condensed water draining duct having an upper end connected with the draining port and a lower end communicated with the drum, and the condensed water draining duct extending along a gravity direction from the upper end to the lower end.

With the heat pump drying or washing-drying machine according to embodiments of the present disclosure, the condensed water generated in the heat pump module can automatically flow to the drum along the condensed water draining duct under effect of gravity, such that an additional draining pump doesn't need to be provided separately when discharging out the condensed water, thus reducing the number of parts in the heat pump module, improving the universality of the heat pump module and decreasing the cost of the heat pump drying or washing-drying machine.

In some embodiments, the heat pump mounting box includes a base, the base is provided with an air inlet, an evaporator-condenser mounting chamber, a fan mounting chamber, a fan adapting port and an air outlet, the air inlet is communicated with the evaporator-condenser mounting chamber and the drum respectively, the air outlet is communicated with the fan mounting chamber and the drum respectively, and the evaporator-condenser mounting chamber is communicated with the fan mounting chamber via the fan adapting port, in which the condenser and the evaporator are disposed in the evaporator-condenser mounting chamber, and the fan is disposed in the fan mounting chamber. Thus, the condenser, the evaporator and the fan can be integrally mounted in the base.

Specifically, the base is further provided with a condensed water gathering chamber communicated with the evaporator-condenser mounting chamber, and the draining port is formed in a bottom wall of the condensed water gathering chamber. Thereby, it is convenient to gather the condensed water in the evaporator-condenser mounting chamber by providing the condensed water gathering chamber.

Optionally, the condensed water gathering chamber is communicated with the evaporator-condenser mounting chamber via the fan adapting port. Thereby, a flowing direction of the condensed water is the same with a flowing direction of the air, and thus the discharge efficiency of the condensed water is improved.

Advantageously, the condensed water gathering chamber is disposed adjacent to the fan mounting chamber, and located under the evaporator-condenser mounting chamber. Thereby, the arrangement of each chamber in the base is reasonable and compact, so as to discharge out water and air conveniently.

Further, the heat pump mounting box further includes an air channel guiding plate, the air channel guiding plate is mounted on the base and defines an air guiding channel with the base, and the air guiding channel has a channel inlet communicated with the air inlet and a channel outlet communicated with the evaporator-condenser mounting chamber. Thereby, before the air condenses and is heated, the airflow can be introduced into the air guiding channel to receive a preprocessing so as to improve the laundry drying performance of the heat pump drying or washing-drying machine and prevent the condensed water from being generated in the air guiding channel.

In some embodiments, the base is provided with a compressor mounting area, and the compressor is disposed in the compressor mounting area. Thus, the heat pump module can be assembled into a modular structure, and when assembling the heat pump drying or washing-drying machine in a later period, it is very easy to assemble, detach and maintain the heat pump module.

Optionally, the condensed water draining duct is a rubber duct. Thus, it is ensured that the condensed water draining duct keeps in a reliable connection with the heat pump module and the drum.

Optionally, the lower end of the condensed water draining duct is connected to a rear end surface of the drum, so as to avoid a poor drainage resulted from interference of other parts. Additional aspects and advantages of embodiments of present disclosure will be given in part in the following descriptions, become apparent in part from the following descriptions, or be learned from the practice of the embodiments of the present disclosure.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A heat pump drying or washing-drying machine according to embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference toFIGS. 1-6in the following.

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the heat pump drying or washing-drying machine according to embodiments of the present disclosure includes a drum7for holding laundry, a heat pump module and a condensed water draining duct6.

The heat pump module includes a heat pump mounting box1, a condenser2, an evaporator3, a fan5and a compressor4. The condenser2and the evaporator3are mounted in the heat pump mounting box1, and the heat pump mounting box1is provided with a draining port104for draining away a condensed water. An upper end61of the condensed water draining duct6is connected with the draining port104, a lower end62of the condensed water draining duct6is connected with the drum7, and the condensed water draining duct6extends along a gravity direction from the upper end61to the lower end62.

Specifically, the compressor4, the condenser2and the evaporator3define a refrigeration cycle path of a refrigerant, and the fan5is used for driving an airflow flowing through laundry to pass through the evaporator3and the condenser2successively, and then to flow to the laundry again, so as to form a circulating air.

When the heat pump module operates, the compressor4compresses the refrigerant therein into a high temperature and high pressure gas refrigerant, then the high temperature and high pressure gas refrigerant is pumped into the condenser2to release heat and condense into a low temperature and high pressure refrigerant, subsequently the refrigerant turns into a low temperature and low pressure gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant after flowing through a dryer and throttled by a throttling device, and then the low temperature and low pressure refrigerant flows into the evaporator3to absorb heat and evaporate into a low temperature and low pressure gas refrigerant, eventually the refrigerant in the evaporator3returns to the compressor4to be compressed again, and thus a cycle is repeated in such way.

Due to the condensation and evaporation of the refrigerant in the condenser2and the evaporator3, the air flowing therethrough can be heated and cooled. Under the driving of the fan5, the air can flow circularly between the heat pump module and the drum7to form the circulating air, so as to dry the laundry in the drum7gradually.

Specifically, when the fan5is started, the laundry in the drum7can be flipped ceaselessly, the heat pump module can provide the drum7with a hot and dry air flow, and moisture of the laundry absorbs heat and evaporates into water vapor under the heating of the hot and dry air flow. The airflow mingled with the water vapor flows from the drum7into the heat pump module. The wet air in the heat pump module firstly flows through the evaporator3. Since the refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle path absorbs heat in the evaporator3, a temperature of the air flowing through the evaporator3in an air circulating path is reduced sharply. After the air is cooled, the water vapor in the air condenses into fluid drops or water mist, and the fluid drops or water mist adhered to the surface of the evaporator3can flow downwards along the evaporator3under a gravity effect.

The humidity of the air after being cooled is reduced, and then the air flows through the condenser2. Since the refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle path releases heat in the condenser2, the air flowing through the condenser2in the air circulating path is heated, so that the airflow turns into the hot and dry air and is blown back to the drum7again. The hot and dry air can dry the laundry in the drum7after entering the drum7. The hot and dry air absorbs the moisture of the laundry and then turns into a wet and hot air, and the wet and hot air is blown out again. In such way, the cycle is repeated. The refrigeration cycle of the refrigerant cooperates with the air circulation in the device so as to dry the laundry in the drum7quickly.

In the heat pump mounting box1, the condensed water gathers at the draining port104, so that the condensed water can flow into the drum7through the condensed water draining duct6, and then the condensed water can be discharged out from the heat pump drying or washing-drying machine, along with the water in the drum7.

For example, in some embodiments, after entering the drum7, the condensed water can be discharged to a draining pump through a lower portion of the drum, in which the draining pump can discharge the condensed water out. That is to say, the draining pump of the whole machine can discharge out the water used for washing the laundry or the water generated by spin drying, and also can discharge out the condensed water generated when drying the laundry, thus achieving the goal of using one pump for a dual function. An additional draining pump doesn't need to be provided separately when discharging out the condensed water, so as to reduce the number of parts in the heat pump module and improve the universality of the heat pump module.

In the heat pump drying or washing-drying machine according to embodiments of the present disclosure, the condensed water generated in the heat pump module can flow along the condensed water draining duct6to the drum7automatically under effect of gravity, so that the additional draining pump doesn't need to be provided separately when discharging out the condensed water, thus reducing the number of the parts in the heat pump module, improving the universality of the heat pump module and decreasing the cost of the heat pump drying or washing-drying machine.

Optionally, the condensed water draining duct6is a rubber duct, and thereby the condensed water draining duct6can resist a relatively big vibration when being used, so as to ensure that the condensed water draining duct6keeps in a good connection with the draining port104and the drum7.

Optionally, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the lower end62of the condensed water draining duct6is connected with a rear end surface of the drum7. Herein, an access71is formed in a front end surface of the drum7, and a door of the heat pump drying or washing-drying machine is provided at a front end thereof, in which the door is used for opening or closing the access71. The rear end surface of the drum7is located at a back surface of the heat pump drying or washing-drying machine. Since the lower end62of the condensed water draining duct6is connected to the rear end surface of the drum7, the condensed water draining duct6encounters few interferential parts, so that the condensed water draining duct6can hang down naturally along the gravity direction.

In a specific embodiment, the condensed water is exported from the heat pump module after being condensed by the evaporator3. Then, the condensed water is conveyed to a hole in the rear of the drum7through the condensed water draining duct6configured as the rubber duct, and further discharged to the draining pump of the whole machine through the lower portion of the drum. The draining pump discharges out the condensed water at intervals.

With a system structural arrangement of the heat pump drying or washing-drying machine designed based on an integrated top-set design, the condensed water is led from the heat pump module to the rear of the drum by the condensed water draining duct6, and then discharged out by the draining pump of the whole machine after flowing through the lower portion of the drum. Gravity is used for discharging out the condensed water, so that the additional draining pump for the condensed water is not needed and the universality of the parts is improved to the greatest extent.

In some embodiments, as shown inFIGS. 3, 4 and 6, the heat pump mounting box1includes a base100, and the base100is provided with an air inlet101, an evaporator-condenser mounting chamber110, a fan mounting chamber120, a fan adapting port103and an air outlet102. The air inlet101is communicated with the evaporator-condenser mounting chamber110and the drum7respectively, the air outlet102is communicated with the fan mounting chamber120and the drum7respectively, and the evaporator-condenser mounting chamber110is communicated with the fan mounting chamber120via the fan adapting port103, in which the condenser2and the evaporator3are disposed in the evaporator-condenser mounting chamber110, and the fan5is disposed in the fan mounting chamber120, such that the condenser2, the evaporator3and the fan5can be integrally mounted in the base100.

Specifically, as shown inFIG. 3, the evaporator-condenser mounting chamber110includes an evaporator mounting area111and a condenser mounting area112, the evaporator3of the heat pump module is disposed in the evaporator mounting area111, and the condenser2of the heat pump module is disposed in the condenser mounting area112.

Under the driving of the fan5, a wet and cold air in the drum7is sucked into the evaporator-condenser mounting chamber110through the air inlet101. The airflow in the evaporator-condenser mounting chamber110firstly flows through the evaporator3for dehumidification by condensation, and then flows through the condenser2to be heated. The hot and dry air obtained by heating the airflow is blown to the fan mounting chamber120and then to the drum7through the air outlet102. After entering the drum7, the hot and dry air is mixed with the wet and cold air in the drum7. Then, the wet and cold air in the drum7is blown to the base100again, and in such way, the circulating air between the base100and the drum7is formed.

Specifically, the base100is further provided with a condensed water gathering chamber. The condensed water gathering chamber is communicated with the evaporator-condenser mounting chamber110, the draining port104is formed in a bottom wall of the condensed water gathering chamber, such that the condensed water in the evaporator-condenser mounting chamber110can be discharged into the condensed water gathering chamber and then discharged out from the draining port104. The arrangement of the condensed water gathering chamber is convenient to gather the condensed water in the evaporator-condenser mounting chamber110, and after providing the condensed water gathering chamber separately, it is also convenient for the condensed water gathering chamber to be communicated with other chamber in the base100, so that more condensed water can be collected and the condensed water can be discharged more thoroughly.

Advantageously, the draining port104is located at a lowest site of the bottom wall of the base100, so that the condensed water in the base100can flow to the draining port104automatically, which is convenient to discharge out the condensed water completely.

In some embodiments, the condensed water gathering chamber is communicated with the evaporator-condenser mounting chamber110via the fan adapting port103, so that the condensed water in the evaporator-condenser mounting chamber110can flow to the condensed water gathering chamber through the fan adapting port103and further be discharged out therefrom.

Specifically, as shown inFIGS. 5 and 6, the fan mounting chamber120is located under the evaporator-condenser mounting chamber110, an air-out guiding duct400is connected to a side wall of the fan mounting chamber120, and an opening of the air-out guiding duct400is configured to be the air outlet102. A centrifugal wind wheel51is mounted in the fan mounting chamber120. When the fan5operates, the airflow in the evaporator-condenser mounting chamber110is blown to the fan mounting chamber120through the fan adapting port103, and then is blown to the air-out guiding duct400through the side of the fan mounting chamber120. That is to say, under effect of the blowing of the centrifugal wind wheel51, the airflow in the fan mounting chamber120is inhaled from top and blown out from the horizontal side.

Advantageously, since a flowing direction of the air is configured in such a manner that the airflow in the evaporator-condenser mounting chamber110is blown to the fan mounting chamber120through the fan adapting port103, and the condensed water gathering chamber is communicated with the evaporator-condenser mounting chamber110via the fan adapting port103, a flowing direction of the condensed water is the same with the flowing direction of the air, and thus the discharge efficiency of the condensed water is improved.

Advantageously, the condensed water gathering chamber is disposed adjacent to the fan mounting chamber120, and located under the evaporator-condenser mounting chamber110. More specifically, as shown inFIGS. 5 and 6, the fan mounting chamber120is located under the condenser mounting area112, and the condensed water gathering chamber is located under the evaporator mounting area111. In this way, the arrangement of each chamber in the base100is reasonable and compact, so as to discharge out water and air conveniently.

In some embodiments, as shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, the heat pump mounting box1further includes an air channel guiding plate200, and the air channel guiding plate200is mounted on the base100and defines an air guiding channel210with the base100. The air guiding channel210has a channel inlet211and a channel outlet212, the channel inlet211is communicated with the air inlet101, and the channel outlet212is communicated with the evaporator-condenser mounting chamber110. An outer top wall surface of the air channel guiding plate200is used to schematically indicate the air guiding channel210inFIGS. 3 and 4.

Thus, the air in the drum7enters the air guiding channel210through the channel inlet211and further enters the evaporator-condenser mounting chamber110through the channel outlet212. Before the air condenses and is heated, the airflow may be introduced into the air guiding channel210to receive a preprocessing, so as to improve the laundry drying performance of the heat pump drying or washing-drying machine.

It should be noted that, the air channel guiding plate200may be fixed on the base100by a fastener such as a screw, or be connected with the base100by a snap, or be hot melted on the base100.

Further, as shown inFIG. 4, the heat mounting box1includes a soft-flock filtering mesh assembly300. The soft-flock filtering mesh assembly300is drawably mounted to at least one of the base100and the air channel guiding plate200, thereby removing the soft flocks.

The soft-flock filtering mesh assembly300is drawably mounted to at least one of the base100and the air channel guiding plate200, which includes following three situations: the soft-flock filtering mesh assembly300is drawably mounted to the base100; the soft-flock filtering mesh assembly300is drawably mounted to the air channel guiding plate200; and the soft-flock filtering mesh assembly300is drawably mounted to the base100and the air channel guiding plate200.

Specifically, as shown inFIG. 4, the soft-flock filtering mesh assembly300is disposed at the channel outlet212, so as to intercept the soft flocks in the dried air blown to the evaporator-condenser mounting chamber110.

Thus, on one hand, since the air guiding channel210is communicated with the channel inlet211and the channel outlet212directly, the air flowing out from the drum can entirely enter the air guiding channel210through the air inlet101, then entirely enter the evaporator-condenser mounting chamber110through the channel outlet212after being intercepted and filtered by the soft-flock filtering mesh assembly300, and eventually exchange heat with the evaporator3and the condenser2in the evaporator-condenser mounting chamber110, thereby avoiding loss of the dried air and preventing the condensed water from being gathered in the air guiding channel210. On the other hand, since the soft-flock filtering mesh assembly300can be separately drawn out from the at least one of the base100and the air channel guiding plate200, the soft-flock filtering mesh assembly300can be drawn out to be cleaned easily, thereby avoiding accumulation or even leakage of the soft flocks.

From the above, the air channel guiding plate200is mounted on the base100and defines the air guiding channel210with the base100, and the air guiding channel210is communicated with the channel inlet211and the channel outlet212directly. On the other hand, the soft-flock filtering mesh assembly300is drawably mounted to the at least one of the base100and the air channel guiding plate200, such that the heat pump mounting box1has a good connection leakproofness and is easy to be cleaned, and thereby it is not easy for the air quantity loss and the soft flock accumulation to come about.

Further, as shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, the base100is further provided with a compressor mounting area117, the compressor4of the heat pump module is disposed in the compressor mounting area117, and other parts of the heat pump module (such as the dryer and the throttling device) are also mounted in the heat pump mounting box1, such that the heat pump module can be assembled into a modular structure. Thus, when assembling the heat pump drying or washing-drying machine in a later period, it is very easy to assemble, detach and maintain the heat pump module.

In the specification, it is to be understood that terms such as “central,” “longitudinal,” “lateral,” “length,” “width,” “thickness,” “upper,” “lower,” “front,” “rear,” “left,” “right,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” “top,” “bottom,” “inner,” “outer,” “clockwise,” and “counterclockwise” should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawings under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description and do not require that the present disclosure be constructed or operated in a particular orientation.