Abstract:
An aeration apparatus for a combination drier and washer is disclosed, which comprises an air circulation duct connected from one portion of a tub to the other portion for circulating air in the tub; and an aeration means provided in the middle of the air circulation duct for preventing exterior air being introduced to the tub in a drying process, and for aerating exterior air in the tub in an opened state when the drying process is finished. Therefore, in a drying process, a drying space is closed, and when the drying process is finished, exterior air is introduced in a drum, thereby improving a drying efficiency and preventing accidents.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to a combination drier and washer which washes and dries laundry, and particularly, to a combination drier and washer and an aeration apparatus thereof in which a dry space is closed in a dry processing and exterior air is introduced in a drum when the dry processing is finished.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Background Art  
           [0004]    [0004]FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a drum- type combination drier and washer in accordance with the conventional art.  
           [0005]    The drum-type combination drier and washer in accordance with the conventional art comprises; a tub  21  located in a case  11  for storing washing water; a rotating drum  31  rotatably installed in the tub  21  centering a rotational shaft arranged along a horizontal direction in the tub  21  for washing and drying laundry; and a driving motor  33  located behind the tub  21  for driving the rotating drum  31 .  
           [0006]    An opening provided with a door  13  is formed in front of the case  11  to put in and take out laundry. The tub  21  is formed as a cylindrical shape to be connected to the opening of the case  11 .  
           [0007]    A spring member  23  and a damper  25  are respectively installed at upper and lower portions of the tub  21  for supporting the tub  21  in the case  11 . A detergent container  30  is provided at an upper portion of the tub  21  to supply detergent. The detergent container  30  is connected to a supplying tube  38  for supplying washing water.  
           [0008]    A drain tube  27  is engaged in a lower portion of the tub  21  for draining washing water, and provided with a drain pump  29 .  
           [0009]    The drum-type combination drier and washer is provided with a drying unit for drying laundry. The drying unit includes; an air circulation duct  32  connected from a rear bottom portion to a frontal portion of the tub  21 ; a blower  41  and a heater  43  arranged on the air circulation duct  32  for forcibly circulating air and for heating air, respectively; and a condensing water supply tube  37  connected to an entrance of the air circulation duct  32  for supplying condensing water so as to condense water in the air discharged from the tub  21 .  
           [0010]    The air circulation duct  32  consists of a condensing tube  35  and an air tube  39 . The condensing tube  35  has one end connected to a lower portion of the tub  21  and the other end prolonged upwardly in the case  11  and connected to the blower  41 . The air tube  39  has one end connected to the blower  41  and the other end connected to a frontal portion of the tub  21 .  
           [0011]    Herein, the condensing water supply tube  37  is connected to an upper portion of the condensing tube  35 .  
           [0012]    In the drum-type combination drier and washer in accordance with the conventional art, when a washing process is finished and a drying process starts, the blower  41  is driven, and air in the rotating drum  31  and the tub  21  flows towards the blower  41  through the condensing tube  35 .  
           [0013]    At this time, if condensing water is supplied in the condensing tube  35  through the condensing water supply tube  37 , whereas water in the air is condensed to be introduced at a lower portion of the tub  21 , dehumidified air passes the blower  41 , flows along the air tube  39  and is heated by the heater  43 , thereby circulating in the tub  21  and the rotating drum  31 .  
           [0014]    Dry air of high temperature introduced in the tub  21  and the rotating drum  31  dries laundry, flows along the condensing tube  35  and the air tube  39  from the tub  21 , and repeats the condensing and drying processes, thereby drying laundry.  
           [0015]    However, in the drum-type combination drier and washer in accordance with the conventional art, the tub  21  and the air circulation duct  32  have the closed structures so as to prevent air of high temperature from being leaked outward. Accordingly, when a child or a pet is confined in the rotating drum, a suffocation accident can be caused.  
           [0016]    Also, in case of that the inside of the tub  21  is communicated with the outside of the case  11 , dry air in the tub  21  is exhausted to degrade drying efficiency, and heated air of high temperature is leaked outward to cause accidents such as a burning.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0017]    Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a combination drier and washer, and an aeration apparatus thereof, wherein air of high temperature is prevented from being leaked by closing the inside from outside in a drying process, and inside and outside are communicated to aerate when the drying process is finished, thereby not degrading a drying process and reducing accidents.  
           [0018]    To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, there is provided a combination drier and washer, and an aeration apparatus thereof comprising an air circulation duct connected from one portion of a tub to the other portion for circulating air in the tub; and an aeration means provided in the middle of the air circulation duct for preventing exterior air being introduced in the tub in a drying process, and for aerating exterior air in the tub in an opened state when the drying process is not performed.  
           [0019]    The aeration means includes; an aeration tube connected from the air circulation duct to outside of a case for introducing exterior air; and an opening/closing means provided at a spot where the air circulation duct and the aeration tube meet for opening and closing the aeration tube.  
           [0020]    The air circulation duct is connected to a condensing water supply tube for supplying condensing water so as to condense water in the air. The opening/closing means is constructed to open and close the aeration tube by condensing water supplied by the condensing water supply tube.  
           [0021]    The opening/closing means located at the spot where the aeration tube and the condensing water supply tube meet makes a constant amount of condensing water stay at the time of supplying condensing water. The opening/closing means includes a condensing water stay container for introducing the stayed condensing water into the aeration tube and for closing the aeration tube.  
           [0022]    According to one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the condensing water stay container is provided with a bulkhead for containing a constant amount of condensing water and supplying condensing water by way of flowing over the bulkhead. Also, a drain hole is formed at a lower portion of the bulkhead so as to drain the remained condensing water.  
           [0023]    The drain hole is formed to drain less amount than that of condensing water supplied by the condensing water supply tube.  
           [0024]    According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the condensing water stay container includes; a condensing water supply passage at a height where some amount of condensing water stays for supplying the condensing water into the air circulation duct; and a drain hole at a lower portion for draining remained condensing water when condensing water is not supplied.  
           [0025]    A lower portion of the aeration tube is arranged at a lower position than the condensing water supply passage.  
           [0026]    The drain hole is formed to drain less amount than that of condensing water supplied by the condensing water supply tube.  
           [0027]    To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, there is provided an aeration apparatus for a combination drier and washer comprising; an air circulation duct provided to circulate and heat air in a tub and dry laundry, and connected from one portion of the tube to the other portion for circulating air in the tub; a condensing water supply tube connected at an upper portion of the air circulation duct for condensing water in circulated air; a condensing water stay container connected between the air circulation duct and the condensing water supply tube for making a constant amount of condensing water stay when condensing water is supplied in the air circulation duct; and an aeration tube connected to the condensing water stay container towards outside of the case and closed by the condensing water in the condensing water stay container for preventing exterior air from being introduced in the tub.  
           [0028]    To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, there is provided a combination drier and washer that includes an aeration apparatus comprising; a tub located in a case for storing washing water therein; a drum located in the tub for washing and drying laundry; an air circulation duct connected from one portion of the tub to the other portion of the tub for circulating air in the drum; a blower provided in the air circulation duct; a heater provided in the air circulation duct for heating circulating air; and an aeration means provided at the air circulation duct for opening and closing the air circulation duct for preventing exterior air from being introduced into the tub in a drying process, and for aerating exterior air in the tub in an opened state when the drying process is not performed.  
           [0029]    The air circulation duct includes; a condensing tube having one end connected to a lower portion of the tub and the other end upwardly prolonged to an upper portion of the tub, thereby being connected to the blower; and an air tube having one end connected to the blower and the other end connected to a frontal portion of the tub and provided with a heater for heating the circulating air.  
           [0030]    A condensing water supply tube is formed to condense water in the circulating air at an upper portion of the condensing tube, and the aeration means is opened and closed by condensing water supplied through the condensing water supply tube.  
           [0031]    The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0032]    The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.  
         [0033]    In the drawings:  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a drum-type combination washer and dried in accordance with the conventional art;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a combination drier and washer according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0036]    [0036]FIGS. 3 and 4 are detailed views of FIG. 2, wherein FIG. 3 shows a state in a drying process, and FIG. 4 shows a state when the drying process is finished; and  
         [0037]    [0037]FIGS. 5 and 6 are sectional views showing a combination drier and washer according to another embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 5 shows a state in a drying process, and FIG. 6 shows a state when the drying process is finished. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0038]    Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.  
         [0039]    A drum-type combination drier and washer according to one embodiment of the present invention, referring to FIG. 2, comprises a tub  21  located in an case  11  for storing washing water therein; a rotating drum  31  installed to rotate a rotational shaft arranged horizontally in the tub  21  for washing and drying laundry; a driving motor  33  behind the tub  21  for driving the rotating drum  31 ; a drying unit for circulating air in the rotating drum  31 , heating and drying laundry which finishes washing; and an aeration unit  50  connected with the drying unit towards outside of the case  11  for introducing exterior air into the rotating drum  31  by being closed in a drying process and by being opened when the drying process is finished.  
         [0040]    The drying unit includes: an air circulation duct  32  connected from a rear bottom portion of the tub  21  to a frontal portion; a blower  41  arranged on the air circulation duct  32  for forcibly circulating air; a heater  43  arranged on the air circulation duct  32  for heating circulating air; and a condensing water supply tube connected to an opening of the air circulation duct  32  for supplying condensing water so as to condense water of air discharged from the tub  21 .  
         [0041]    The air circulation duct  32  includes a condensing tube  35  having one end connected to a lower portion of the tub  21  and the other end upwardly prolonged in the case  11  and connected to the blower  41 ; and an air tube  39  having one end connected to the blower  41  and the other end connected to a frontal portion of the tub  21 .  
         [0042]    Herein, the condensing water supply tube  37  is connected to an upper portion of the condensing water tube  35 , and the aeration unit  50  is formed at an interconnected spot between the condensing water supply tube  37  and the condensing water tube  35 .  
         [0043]    The aeration unit  50  includes: a condensing water stay container  51  located at an interconnected spot between the condensing tube  35  and the condensing water supply tube  37  for containing condensing water therein in a drying process; and an aeration tube  61  having one end exposed to outside of the case  11  and the other end connected to and communicated with the condensing water stay container  51  for introducing condensing water contained in the condensing water stay container  51  in a drying process.  
         [0044]    The condensing water stay container  51 , referring to FIG. 3, includes: a container portion  53  having open portion connected to and communicated with the condensing tube  35 ; and a bulkhead portion  55  in the container portion  53  having a predetermined height difference with an upper portion of the container portion  53  so as to form a supply opening  57 .  
         [0045]    At a bottom of the bulkhead portion  55 , a drain hole  59  is formed for discharging the whole condensing water instead of containing the condensing water in the container portion  53  when the drying process is finished. Herein, the drain hole  59  is formed to have a sectional flow area comparatively smaller than the supply opening  57  and the condensing water supply tube  37 .  
         [0046]    Once a drying process starts and the blower  41  is driven, air discharged from the tub  21  is introduced upwardly in the condensing tube  35 , and air via the blower  41  flows along the air tube  39  is heated by the heater  43 , and returns to the tub  21 .  
         [0047]    If a drying process starts, condensing water is supplied from the condensing water supply tube  37  into the condensing water stay container  51 , and some of the supplied condensing water is discharged to the condensing tube  35  through the drain hole  59 . Since supply amount of the condensing water from the condensing water supply tube  37  is much larger than that discharged to the drain hole  59 , condensing water is filled in the condensing water stay space S formed by the bulkhead portion  55 .  
         [0048]    If the condensing water supplied from the condensing water supply tube  37  fills the condensing water stay space S, additionally-supplied condensing water is discharged to inside of the condensing tube  35  through the supply opening  57  and the drain hole  59  formed at an upper portion of the bulkhead portion  55 . Air absorbing water in the tub  21  flows upwardly along the condensing tube  35  containing water via the tub  21  is cooled by condensing water, and water in the air is condensed, introduced into a lower region of the tub  21  with the condensing water, discharged outward through the drain hole  27 , thereby making a dry processing.  
         [0049]    Meanwhile, if the dry processing is finished, as shown in FIG. 4, condensing water is not supplied from the condensing water supplying tube  37  any longer, and the condensing water remaining in the condensing water stay space S is discharged into the condensing tube  35  through the drain hole  59 . Also, if the remained condensing water contained in the condensing water stay space S and the aeration tube  61  is all drained, inside of the tub  21  is aerated with exterior air through the aeration tube  61 , the condensing tube  35 , and the air tube  39 .  
         [0050]    [0050]FIGS. 5 and 6 are sectional views illustrating a combination drier and washer according to another embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 5 shows a state in a dry processing, and FIG. 6 shows a state when the dry processing is finished.  
         [0051]    The combination drier and washer according to another embodiment of the present invention comprises: a container portion  63  arranged between the condensing water supply tube  37  and the condensing tube  35  and interconnected for containing condensing water therein; and an air tube  61  having one end connected to outside of the case  11  and the other end engaged in the container portion  63  so as to introduce condensing water in a dry processing without aeration from outside and so as to discharge the condensing water and then aerate when the dry processing is finished.  
         [0052]    Sectional areas of the lower region of the container portion  63  gradually decreases towards a down direction thereof. Also, a supply opening  64   a  is formed at an upper portion of the container portion  63 , and connected with the condensing water supply tube  37 . A drain hole  64   b  is formed at a lower portion to discharge condensing water. The drain hole  64   b  is connected to a connecting tube  65  of which one end is connected to inside of the condensing tube  35 . An aeration hole  64   c  is formed above the drain hole  64   b  for connecting the aeration tube  61 . Also, a supply opening  64   d  is formed above the aeration hole  64   c  with a predetermined height difference so as to discharge condensing water to the condensing tube  35  region.  
         [0053]    If a dry processing starts, as shown in FIG. 5, condensing water is supplied from the condensing water supply tube  37  to inside of the container portion  63 , and some of the supplied condensing water is discharged into the condensing tube  35  through the drain hole  64   b  and some is introduced into the aeration tube  61 , so that aeration is not generated between inside of the tub  21  and outside, thereby preventing air from being leaked.  
         [0054]    Condensing water is continuously supplied into the condensing portion  63  and then water level is reached to the supply opening  64   d , the condensing water is discharged into the condensing tube  35  through the supply opening  64   d . Then, the condensing water introduced to the condensing tube  35  condenses water in the air and is introduced into a lower region of the tub  21 , thereby being discharged outward through the drain tube  27 .  
         [0055]    In the meantime, if a drying process is finished and condensing water is not supplied any more, as shown in FIG. 6, the whole condensing water introduced in the container portion  63  and the aeration tube  61  is discharged through the drain hole  64   b . According to this, the aeration tube  61  is opened, and the tub  21  is aerated with exterior air through the aeration tub  61 , condensing tube  35 , and the aeration tube  39 .  
         [0056]    As aforementioned, according to the present invention, air of high temperature is not leaked outward in a drying process, and aerated with exterior air when the drying process is finished, thereby preventing a suffocation accident when a child or a pet is confined therein.  
         [0057]    As the present invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described embodiments are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalence of such metes and bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims.