Abstract:
The combination washer/dryer and method for operating a combination washer/dryer. The washer/dryer has a containment drum which receives wash water, and includes a perforated clothes drum which rotates within the containment drum. A heat plenum is provided in heat transfer relationship with the containment drum, and a source of heat coupled to the heat plenum supplies heat for water in the containment drum. During a drying cycle, hot air from the heat source supplied from the fire box to the containment drum for heating wash water during a washing cycle, and for supplying hot air during a drying cycle. A drying air plenum is connected to receive drying air from the source of heat, delivering the drying air to the top of the containment drum, where it enters the rotating basket. An exhaust plenum discharges hot air laden with moisture from the containment drum through a lint filter.

Description:
This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/428,994, filed May 5, 2003. 

   The present invention relates to laundry facilities. Specifically, a single device for both washing and drying clothes is disclosed using a common heat source for both washing and drying. 
   Commercial and home laundry facilities have typically required the use of separate appliances for washing and drying clothes, thereby dictating space requirements for the laundry facility. The machines are autonomous in that washing operations occur separate from drying operations, with independent washing and drying cycles and distinct operating controls of there own. A human operator must remove the clothes from the washer and load them in the dryer. 
   Commercial laundry facilities use larger capacity washing machines to wash clothes, linen and bedding. These facilities, including hospitals, nursing homes, hotels, etc., have a high volume of bedding, towels, and other common materials to wash and dry. Following the washing operation, an attendant must be available to transfer the washed materials to a separate large capacity dryer, and any delays in transferring the material results in a lower facility throughput. 
   The demands on commercial facilities for clean materials means that laundry facility throughput needs to be efficient and operating at a maximum level. The fact that washers and dryers are autonomous means that an attendant must promptly remove washed materials and load them in the dryer for maximum throughput efficiency, requiring the attention of at least one attendant who might otherwise be available for other tasks. 
   The high volume demands of these institutions typically means that a separate supply of hot water must be maintained on demand to meet the sanitary requirements for washing clothes which also impacts on space requirements. 
   The autonomous washing machine produces a load of centrifugally wrung materials which are transferred to a dryer at different times and at varying levels of moisture, depending on operator availability. In establishing an appropriate drying cycle, the beginning moisture level content of the wash load dictates, at least in part, the drying temperature and time for drying. In order to be certain that the drying temperature is at a safe level, so as not to scorch the dried materials, a lower, less than ideal temperature is set for the drying cycle. Accordingly, the drying cycle is longer and laundry throughput is lower than might otherwise be necessary due to each washed load having a different moisture content. 
   The present invention solves many of the foregoing problems which result from the use of separate autonomous washer and dryer appliances in a laundry facility. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides for a single appliance and method for washing and drying clothes, particularly useful in a commercial laundry setting. In accordance with the invention, a combination washer/dryer is provided which has a common heat source for heating wash water and providing drying air during a drying cycle for the machine. 
   A sealed containment drum includes a rotating perforated clothes basket for rotating the load to be washed and dried. A water supply plenum extends around the rotating clothes basket and is in heat transfer relationship with a burner unit. The water plenum includes an outlet for discharging wash water through a controllable valve, as well as an inlet for receiving washing water. A drying air chamber extends from an opening in the top of the water plenum for delivering drying air from the heat source to the clothes basket, which passes through the perforated clothes basket to an exhaust chamber which discharges the moisture laden air. 
   In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the clothes basket is operated during a spin cycle to centrifugally remove a major quantity of water in the washed materials. In order to avoid caking, or compression of the wash load during a spin cycle, the spin cycle is alternately operated at a plurality of speeds, separated by pauses, to permit the clothing to separate from the wall of the perforated clothes drum. 
   In accordance with the preferred embodiment, a lint filter is supported in the exhaust chamber. The lint filter is cleaned by a jet of water directed to the lint screen, preferably prior to beginning a washing cycle, so that lint is forced from the filter surface down to the drain in the containment drum assembly to the waste water drain connection. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a washer/dryer in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective drawing of the washer/dryer containment drum and burner for heating wash water and providing drying air. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of containment drum. 
       FIG. 4  is a partial section view of the washing agent container and containment drum. 
       FIG. 5  is a top view of the washing agent container. 
       FIG. 6  is a side sectional view of washing agent container. 
       FIG. 7  is a sectional view of the containment drum and burner for heating wash water and supplying drying air. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates the washer/dryer cycle as a function of the clothes basket RPM. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of a washer/dryer in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. A housing  10  encloses a containment drum  11  which is open through the housing  10  and sealed by a door  14 . The containment drum  11  includes a rotating perforated basket  40  inside of a water plenum used for both washing and drying functions of fabrics which are loaded through the door  14 . Exhaust fan  15  provides a negative pressure to draw the moist drying air from containment drum  11 , and expelling the drying air through the exhaust  13  during the drying cycle. 
   A washing agent container  16  receives washing detergent, bleach, and other washing agents through door  17 , and as in a conventional washer, hose  18  carries the contents of the washing agent container  16  to the containment drum  11 . The plurality of water jets  20  are cyclically operated by controller  12  to wash the contents of each compartment of the washing agent container  16  through the outlet hose  18 . Jet  21  periodically flushes the washing agent container  16 . 
   Controller  12  provides commands to a motor drive for rotating the basket within containment drum  11  in both washing and drying cycles to produce the washing/drying cycle of  FIG. 8 . Additionally, the controller  12  commands an on-board heater to generate heat at the appropriate times during the washing and drying cycles. Temperature sensors within the exhaust  13  and containment drum  11  provide feedback to the controller  12  so that temperatures are maintained at predetermined levels which can sanitize the washing load, and which establish optimum drying temperatures while avoiding excessive temperatures which can damage clothing. 
     FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the washer/dryer with the housing  10  removed. The containment drum  11  is supported in a frame  29 . Frame  29  is supported via spring  26  to a base  25 . Vibrational forces produced by the rotating basket  40  within containment drum  11  are dampened by shock absorber  27 . Additionally, a front face plate  30  of the containment drum supports the sealed door  14 . 
   The burner assembly  22  is supported on a burner support  23  fixed to the base  25 . The burner assembly  22  includes burner tubes  21  which supply heat to the containment drum  11  during the washing and drying cycles. 
     FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of the containment drum  11 . The shaft  33  for supporting and driving the rotating basket is coupled to a motor (not shown) operated under control of controller  12 . The containment drum  11  has a drain  34  which is coupled via a flexible coupling  35  to a motor operated valve  36 . The motor operated valve  36  is also under control of the controller  12  for discharging wash water at the end of a wash cycle, rinse cycle and spin dry cycle. Also shown is flushing port  38  connected to a water supply valve (not shown) which operates under control of controller  12  for periodically providing a jet of water for ejecting the lint washed from the lint screen through the S shaped trap formed by drain  34 , flexible coupling  35  and valve  36 . 
   The exhaust fan  15  is shown with the exhaust outlet  13  removed. A drip channel  42  collects water during the spin cycle of the washer/dryer and returns the water back to the water plenum containing the rotating clothes basket. 
     FIGS. 4–6  are sectional views illustrating the washing agent dispenser compartment  16  with respect to the containment drum  11  and rotating basket  40 . A water inlet  24  supplies water through a solenoid valve under control of the controller  12  to the dispenser compartment  16  which drains due to gravity to the containment drum  11  through outlet  18 . The various washing agents are placed in each of the removable compartments  41   a ,  41   b ,  41   c ,  41   d , and  41   e . Rotation of the door  17  to pivot along the lower edge allows access to the washing agent compartments  41   a ,  41   b ,  41   c ,  41   d , and  41   e . Each individual washing agent compartment is arranged below the jets  20   a ,  20   b ,  20   c ,  20   d , and  20   e . The controller  12  controls a plurality of solenoid valves connected to the various jets  20  to rinse the compartments  41   a – 41   e  at the appropriate time where washing agents are dispensed through outlet  18  into the containment drum  11 . 
   The operation of the combination washer/dryer is now described with respect to  FIGS. 7 and 8 . Referring now to  FIG. 7 , a sectional view of the washer/dryer is shown. The containment drum  11  includes the rotating perforated basket  40  holding the wash load. During the washing cycle, the water level is established within a water plenum  46  in the containment drum as shown. The water plenum  46  is joined at an opening  49  at the top of the water plenum with the hot air supply plenum  47 . An opening in the bottom of the water supply plenum  46  is joined with an exhaust plenum  48 . During washing, the illustrated water level is confined in the water plenum  46  and the lower portion of the exhaust plenum  48 . 
   Burner assembly  22  is in heat transfer relationship with water plenum  46  within the containment drum  11 . The burner  22  is operated cyclically under control of the controller  21  to heat water within the water plenum  46  and lower portion of exhaust plenum  48  to a predetermined programmed temperature level, including a sanitizing level as set forth by various regulatory bodies. A temperature sensor  43  provides temperature feedback information to controller  12  so that the correct temperature is established for the washing solution. 
   The rotating basket  40  reciprocates as is common in most side loading washing machines for a period of time to efficiently clean the load. Once the wash time has timed out in controller  12 , the water is drained from the water plenum  46  through the drain  34 , and the washer/dryer enters the first spin drying mode. 
   As will be clearer with respect to  FIG. 8 , the rinse cycle re-establishes the water to a predetermined programmed level. Once the wash load is rinsed, the water is again drained, and the washer/dryer enters the final spin drying mode under the control of the controller  12 . The basket  40  is rotated at a multiplicity of speeds, coming to rest between each level of rotational velocity so as to prevent the wash load from adhering to the circumference of the clothes basket  40 . 
   The centrifugally wrung wash load has approximately 50% of the moisture removed from the wash load. During the centrifugal drying of the wash load, moisture spun from the clothes basket  40  may collect in channel  42  where it is returned by gravity to the water plenum  46  and to the drain  34 . 
   The drying cycle utilizes heat from burner  22  under control of the controller  12  to dry the moisture laden wash load. The hot air supply plenum  47  is formed between the outside wall  28  of the containment drum  11  and a wall  44  of the water plenum  46 . Hot air from the burner  22  rises through the hot air supply plenum  47  and enters the perforated clothes basket  40  at the top of the hot air supply plenum  47  through an opening  49  in the top of water supply plenum  46 . The hot moisture laden drying air is then withdrawn through the bottom of the clothes basket  40  through exhaust plenum  48 . The exhaust plenum  48  extends vertically from lower opening in water plenum  46  substantially diametrically opposite the end of the hot air supply plenum  47 . Fan  15  applies a negative pressure to the opposite end of the exhaust plenum  48  drawing moisture laden air from the perforated clothes basket  40  through the exhaust plenum  48 . The temperature of the drying air is monitored by sensor  45  which is connected to the controller  12  and is disposed at the top of the hot air supply plenum. The drying air temperature is regulated by controller  12  which cycles burner  22  in response to the measured air temperature so as not to exceed a predetermined programmed limit which will damage the wash load  7 . Since the initial conditions for drying including the moisture content of the load are fairly constant between loads, controller  12  may enter a drying routine with a drying temperature profile at its maximum drying efficiency and below a level which will damage the wash load. 
   A feature of the embodiment in accordance with  FIG. 7  includes a lint trap having a filter  51  supported on a tray  50  which can be removed via handle  52  from the exhaust plenum for periodic inspection. Additionally, prior to starting the wash cycle, a water jet  59  may be operated by controller  12  to direct water on the filter forcing lint from the underside of filter  51 . The lint collects in a water pool at the bottom of water compartment  46 . Drain valve  36  is opened by controller  12  and a solenoid operates water valve connected to nozzle  38  is opened forcing the lint load and water to be ejected through drain  36 . 
   The washer/dryer in accordance with  FIG. 7  maybe advantageously operated to provide for a wash/drying cycle under control of controller  12  as shown in  FIG. 8  where the wash/dry cycle for the washer/dryer is illustrated with respect to the clothes basket  40  RPM. 
   The temperature for drying may be optimized for the finished wash load. Since the moisture content is at a known predetermined level, the drying temperature can be safely raised to a higher level than was previously utilized without incurring unacceptable risks of a fire or damage to a wash load. 
   The sequence of washing and drying begins by activating jet  59  for 5–10 seconds thereby forcing any lint collected on the lint filter  51  into the water plenum  46  and into the drain  34 . The drain valve  36  is opened by controller  12 , and the ejection nozzle  38  supplies a high velocity stream of water for 5–8 seconds flushing any collected residue through the drain  34 . 
   Following the cleansing of the lint filter  51  and operation of the drain valve, the containment compartment water plenum  46  is filled with wash water to the level shown in  FIG. 7  by controller  12  to a predetermined programmed level. The controller  12  then enters a heating mode and enables burner assembly  22  to heat the water in water compartment  46  until the desired temperature is reached. 
   A wash cycle is entered and the basket is alternately rotated in each direction for a period of time selected by the user through controller  12 . Following the wash cycle, the drain valve  36  is opened and water drains from the water compartment  46 . The machine may then enter a spin cycle to centrifugally force water from the clothes into the drain  34 . 
   A rinse cycle commences for a period of time set in controller  12 . The water plenum  46  is refilled and the water is heated to an appropriately selected temperature set by controller  12 . The clothes basket  40  is then rotated in alternate directions for the duration of the rinse cycle. Following the rinse cycle, the drain valve  36  is reopened to drain the rinse water. 
   The spin cycle centrifugally removes 50% of the moisture in the load by initially rotating the clothes basket  40  at about 450 RPM. In order to prevent caking of the laundry load along the surface of the rotating basket  40 , a first pause is entered in the spin cycle for 5–10 seconds, wherein, in the preferred embodiment, the clothes basket  40  stops rotating. At this time, the clothes will drop from the exterior surface of the clothes basket  40  due to the force of gravity. The clothes basket is then operated at a second RPM, at least as high as the initial RPM of 450 RPM, but preferably at a higher RPM of about 750 RPM, to continue centrifugally drying the clothes. The spin cycle is again paused, to permit the clothing to drop from the surface of the clothes basket  40  preventing caking of the clothes to the surface of clothes basket and clumping together in a compact mass. Following a second pause of 5–10 seconds, the clothes basket is rotated through multiple steps to a final spin RPM. The final spin interval, being longer than the first two spin intervals, lasts approximately 4–5 minutes. 
   The foregoing sequence produces a load of an approximate known moisture content. The beginning of the final heated drying cycle therefore represents moisture conditions which are predetermined and constant from load-to-load. Accordingly, from the known starting point of moisture content, it is possible to select a final optimum drying temperature profile to minimize the time for drying, while maintaining a safe temperature margin for the wash load. 
   The heated drying cycle begins by actuating valve  36  by closing the drain. The drying cycle may be of the reversing type, wherein the clothes basket  40  is rotated in alternate directions for a predetermined period of time. Following a drying cycle of 30–60 minutes, a cool down cycle is begun wherein the temperature profile of the load is decreased for 3–5 minutes to reduce the possibilities of spontaneous combustion of line lints. 
   The completion of the drying cycle is signaled by the controller  12  to the facilities operator. From the beginning to end, operator intervention was unnecessary, and personnel involved in the laundry facility are permitted to engage in other tasks. Since the complete washing/drying cycle is automated, maximum throughput efficiency for the facility may be obtained. 
   The foregoing description of the invention illustrates and describes the present invention. Additionally, the disclosure shows and describes only the preferred embodiments of the invention in the context of a combination washer/dryer having common heat source, but, as mentioned above, it is to be understood that the invention is capable of use in various other combinations, modifications, and environments and is capable of changes or modifications within the scope of the inventive concept as expressed herein, commensurate with the above teachings and/or the skill or knowledge of the relevant art. The embodiments described hereinabove are further intended to explain best modes known of practicing the invention and to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention in such, or other, embodiments and with the various modifications required by the particular applications or uses of the invention. Accordingly, the description is not intended to limit the invention to the form or application disclosed herein. Also, it is intended that the appended claims be construed to include alternative embodiments.