Patent Publication Number: US-2022213631-A1

Title: Controlling process air bypass around the drum in combo wash-dry system

Description:
FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to combination washer/dryer machines and, more particularly, to a combination washer/dryer machine with a seal sealing a gap formed between the drum and tub during washing and drying operations. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In combination washers/dryers machines, it is difficult to provide a drying cycle without a lengthy finishing drying time. Several reasons exist for the lengthy drying time of the clothes within the drum. One such reason is a gap exists between the drum and the tub. The gap enables air to bypass the drum. Thus, the drying air exits the machine without providing its heated air to the clothes within the drum. Accordingly, the drying cycle is inefficient and necessitates a longer drying time. 
     It would be desirable to provide a combination washer/dryer machine with an efficient drying cycle time. It would also be desirable to utilize all of the created drying air and pass it into the drum for its intended drying purposes. Thus, it is desirable to eliminate bypasses around the drum. Drying air would be forced to enter into the drum. Accordingly, with all the drying air forced into the drum, this would, in turn, reduce the drying cycle time. 
     It is also desirable to provide a combination washer/dryer machine that overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art. It is desirable to provide a combination washer/dryer machine that provides a flow restriction to avoid air from bypassing the drum. Thus, it is desirable to move substantially all of the generated heated air to enter into the drum. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with the present disclosure, a combination washer/dryer machine comprises a rotatable drum inside a cabinet. The drum has an external surface. A tub is positioned inside the cabinet. The drum is rotatable in the tub. The tub has an inner surface. A seal extends between the exterior surface of the drum and the inner surface of the tub to form a desired gap between the seal and the drum or tub during both washing and drying operations and to minimize bypass of drying air during the drying operation. 
     The seal includes a securement portion and a flap portion. The flap portion is dynamic. The flap portion moves in response to the centrifugal force created by the RPM of the drum. The flap portion also may move in response to air entering the tub. The seal securement portion may be on the drum or the tub. A ring and seal may be positioned on the tub. The seal includes a flap covering openings on the ring. Air enters the ring lifting the flap and the flap reduces the gap between the drum and the tub. The seal is positioned on the tub and includes a channel facing the drum to provide an air flow path. 
     According to a second aspect of the disclosure, a combination washer/dryer machine comprises a cabinet with a door enabling access into the cabinet. Controls for operating the washer and dryer are mounted on the cabinet. A washing system, drying system and a rotatable drum and tub are positioned inside the cabinet. The drum has an external surface. The drum is rotatable in the tub. The tub has an inner surface. A seal extends between the exterior surface of the drum and the inner surface of the tub to form a desired gap between the seal and the drum or tub during both washing and drying operations and to minimize bypass of drying air during the drying operation. 
     The seal includes a securement portion and a flap portion. The flap portion is dynamic. The flap portion moves in response to the air force created by the RPM of the drum. The flap portion also may move in response to air entering the tub. The seal securement portion may be on the drum or the tub. A ring and seal may be positioned on the tub. The seal includes a flap covering openings on the ring. Air enters the ring lifting the flap and the flap reduces the gap between the drum and the tub. The seal is positioned on the tub and includes a channel facing the drum to provide an air flow path. 
     According to a third aspect of the disclosure, a combination washing/dryer machine drum and tub combination comprises a drum and a tub. The drum is positioned inside the tub. A seal extends between an exterior surface of the drum and an inner surface of the tub to form a desired gap between the seal and the drum or tub during both washing and drying operations and to minimize bypass of drying air during the drying operation. 
     The seal includes a securement portion and a flap portion. The flap portion is dynamic. The flap portion moves in response to the air force created by the RPM of the drum. The flap portion also may move in response to air entering the tub. The seal securement portion may be on the drum or the tub. A ring and seal may be positioned on the tub. The seal includes a flap covering openings on the ring. Air enters the ring lifting the flap and the flap reduces the gap between the drum and the tub. The seal is positioned on the tub and includes a channel facing the drum to provide an air flow path. 
     Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a combination washer/dryer machine in accordance with the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view in cross-section of the washer/dryer machine of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged cross-section view of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIGS. 4A-C  is a schematic cross-section view of the seal. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-section view like  FIG. 3  of an additional embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-section view like  FIG. 5  in a second position. 
         FIG. 7  is a view like  FIG. 5  in an additional position. 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-section view of an additional embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-section view like  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a ring on the tub. 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-section view of  FIG. 10  with the seal present. 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-section view like  FIG. 11  in a second position. 
         FIG. 13  is a cross-section view of another embodiment of the seal. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     Turning to the figures, a combination washer/dryer machine is illustrated and designated with the reference numeral  20 . The combination washer/dryer machine  20  includes a cabinet  24  with a plurality of panel  26 . The front panel  28  includes a door  30  to enable access into the combination washer/dryer machine  20 . Controls  32  are positioned on the front panel  28 . The control controls the operation of the combination washer/dryer machine. 
     Turning to  FIG. 2 , a cross-section of the washer/dryer machine  20  is illustrated. The combination washer/dryer machine  20  includes a drum  40  rotationally positioned within a tub  42 . The drum  40  is rotated via a motor  44  and a shaft  46 . A conventional washing circuit  50  provides for washing of clothes within the drum  40 . A conventional heating circuit  60  provides heat for drying the clothes within the drum  40 . The heating circuit  60  includes a heater  62  with a conduit  64  passing heated air into the tub  42 . The drum  40  includes apertures  43  and its end plate  84  that enables the heated air to enter into the drum  40 . Also, the drum  40  includes apertures  45  in the cylindrical wall  82 . The heated air exits the drum  40  through gap G as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . An outlet  48  of the tub  42  enables exit of the air. Piping or conduit  66  connects with outlet  48  to exit the air, via a blower or fan  68 , to an exhaust tube  70 . Thus, the used air is exhausted from the combination washer/dryer machine  20 . The exhaust tube  70  is connected with piping in the building to exit the air to ambient. 
     A gap  80  is formed between the drum  40  and tub  42 . The gap  80  provides for the recovery of water or the like between the drum  40  and tub  42 . The drum  42  has a cylindrical sidewall  82  and an end plate surface  84 . Likewise, the tub  42  has a cylindrical wall  86  and an end wall  88 . The external surface of the sidewall  82  and end wall  88  face an inner surface of the tub  42 . 
     A seal  90  may be connected to the drum  40  or tub  42 . The seal  90  includes a securement portion  92  and a dynamic flap  94 . The attachment portion  92  may secure to the drum  40  or tub  42 . The flap  94  is manufactured from a desired material to enable the flap to deflect as needed at various RPM speeds of the drum. This enables the appropriate gap for the washing/drying operation. 
     Turning to  FIG. 4A , the flap is illustrated at a first height with the drum in a non-rotating position of 0 RPM.  FIG. 4B  illustrates the seal flap  34  deflection at a drum rotation rotation speed of about 55 RPM. This closes the gap and enables approximately less than 20% of the air to bypass around the drum  40 . The speed during drying of the clothes within the drum is about 55 RPM. 
       FIG. 4C  illustrates the flap  94  deflected even further at a drum RPM speed of approximately 1160. This is during the washing cycle to enable a larger gap to be present when the combination machine is in a washing mode. 
     Turning to  FIGS. 5-7 , an additional embodiment is illustrated. Here, the seal  90  includes an attachment portion  92  and a flap  94 . The attachment portion  92  is secured to the tub via rivets or the like. The seal  90  in  FIG. 5  is in a rest position of the drum.  FIG. 6  illustrates the seal  90  in a washing mode with the flap  94  in a default position. As seen in  FIG. 6 , the flap as well as the attachment portion are positioned against the tub  42  enabling the gap between the drum and tub. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates the seal  90  in a drying operation. Here, the air flowing out of the tub into the drum forces the flap  94  towards the drum. This movement of the dynamic flap  94  by the drying air flow closes the gap between the tub  42  and drum  40 . 
       FIGS. 8 and 9  illustrate an additional embodiment. Here, the seal  90  is like that of  FIGS. 5-7 , however the attachment portion  92  and flap  94  are positioned in a different angular direction. However as illustrated in the rest position in  FIG. 8 , the flap  94  is moved down on the tub during the washing operation.  FIG. 9  illustrates the flap  94  when drying air is formed into the tub  42  and then into the drum. Here, the flap  94  closes the gap as illustrated. 
     Turning to  FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 , an additional embodiment is illustrated. Here the tub includes a ring  100  positioned about the drum. The ring  100  includes a plurality of apertures  102  that enable the heating air to exit the ring. Thus, as heating air is passed into the ring  100 , it passes through the apertures  102 . A seal  110  is positioned over the ring  100 . The seal  110  includes a securement portion  112  and a flap portion  114 . The securement portion  112  is fitted about the circumferential surfaces of the ring  100  so that the flap  114  can cover the ring apertures  102 . In  FIG. 11 , the seal  110  is illustrated in a drum 0 RPM position. The flap  114  would move to cover the seal as the washing cycle is affected.  FIG. 12  illustrates the flap  114  moving away from the ring  100  during the drying cycle. As air enters the apertures  102 , the flap  114  is moved toward the drum  40  to close the gap. 
     Turning to  FIG. 13 , an additional embodiment is illustrated. Here, the seal  120  is positioned on the tub  42 . The seal includes a channel  122  that directs the air flow around the drum to provide a labyrinth seal. Here, the seal includes a first step portion  124  and a second step portion  126  and a third step portion  128 . The step portion  126  is at a smaller height than the other two and is positioned adjacent to the edge of the drum  40 . The steps  124 ,  128  have a larger height such that they project closer to the drum  40 . Thus, the steps  124 ,  126 ,  128  form the channel  122  that provides for the labyrinth flow of air passing around the seal  120 . 
     The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.