Patent Abstract:
The present invention provides a drum type washer with dry function, by which a product cost is lowered and by which compatibility of a blower cover is enhanced. The present invention includes a first duct housing provided to a tub included in the drum type washer, a second duct housing provided to an upper side of the first duct housing, a blower cover provided to the upper side of the first duct housing adjacent to the second duct housing, the blower cover being formed of a synthetic resin based injection material, a heater provided between the first and second duct housings, a motor provided to the blower cover, and a blower provided under the blower being rotatably connected to the motor.

Full Description:
This application claims the benefit of the Korean Application No. P2004-13270; P2004-13271 and P2004-13266 filed on Feb. 27, 2004, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a drum type washer with dry function, and more particularly, to an apparatus for supplying hot air in a drum type washer with dry function, by which a laundry within a drum can be dried in a manner of forcibly blowing the generated hot air to the drum. 
   2. Discussion of the Related Art 
   Generally, a drum type washer with dry function is an apparatus for removing dirt or filth from a laundry inputted to a drum using a proper detergent and mechanical force through washing, rinsing, dewatering, and drying cycles. 
     FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional diagram of a drum type washer with dry function according to a related art, and  FIG. 2  is a perspective diagram of a hot air supplying device consisting of a drying duct and a blower according to a related art. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , a tub  4  is installed within a cabinet  2  to be horizontally supported by a spring and damper (not shown in the drawing). A cylindrical drum  5  is rotatably installed within the tub  4  to wash a laundry inputted thereto. A motor  7  is installed under the tub  7 . A drive pulley (not shown in the drawing) connected to the motor  7  via a belt  6  is provided in rear of the tub  4  to rotate the drum forward or reversely. A water supply hose  9  connected to a water supply source is provided to one side of an upper part of the cabinet  2  to supply a detergent to the tub  4  via a detergent box  8 . A drain hose  11  connected to a drain pump  10  is provided to one side of a lower part of the cabinet  2  to drain water within the tub  4  outside. And, a door (not shown in the drawing) opening/closing a front portion of the drum  5  is revolvably provided to a front portion of the cabinet  2 . 
   A drying duct  30 , in which a heater  36  and a blower  34  are built to blow out hot air into the tub, is provide over the tub  4 . A condensing duct  40  is provided to one side of the tub  4 . One end of the condensing duct  40  communicates with a lower lateral part of the tub  4  and the other end of the condensing duct  40  communicates with the drying duct  30 . Hence, the condensing duct  40  forms a circulation path together with the drying duct  30  and the tub  4 . A water supply nozzle  4  is provided to one side of the condensing duct  40  to remove humidity from air introduced from the tub  4  in a manner of flowing cooling water. 
   The drying duct  30 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , consists of a metallic upper housing  31 , a metallic lower housing  32 , and a blower cover  33  connected to one side of the upper housing  31 . Moreover, a motor  35  and the blower  34  are assembled to each other centering on the same axis by leaving the blower cover  33  in-between. 
   The heater  36  is attached within the drying duct  30  to heat air flowing within the duct. 
   A motor guide  37  is provided to the blower cover  33  to have a recess for receiving the motor  35  therein. A power cable guide slot is provided to the motor guide  37  to guide a power cable  39  of the motor  35 . A flange  33   a  is provided to an outer circumference of the blower cover  33  to be loaded on an outer circumference of the lower housing  32 , and a plurality of locking holes  33   b  are provided to both sides of the flange  33   a  for screw-coupling with the lower housing  32 . 
   The above-configured drying duct and blower  30  and  34  according to the related art are manufactured by iron-casting. 
   However, the related art drum type washer with dry function has the following problems or disadvantages. 
   First of all, a locking place of the lower housing configuring the drying duct is varied according to a washing capacity of the washer, and a size of the blower drive motor and an installation direction of the power cable  39  are changed as well. Hence, the blower cover  33  needs to be modified to correspond to the washing capacity of the washer. If the blower cover is applied to a specific washing capacity only, the product cost is raised as well as maintenance and management get difficult. 
   Secondly, the upper and lower housings  31  and  32  configuring the drying duct  30  of the related art drum type washer with dry function are manufactured by iron casting using steel. And, the blower  34  and the blower cover  33  are made of steel or stainless steel by casting or metallic processing. Hence, the corresponding product costs are high to raise the product cost of the washer/dryer. 
   Specifically, in case of the blower  34 , a rim  34   a , a base  34   b , and a blade  34   c  need to be separately formed to be assembled. Hence, the corresponding manufacturing process is considerably complicated to further raise the product cost. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a drum type washer with dry function 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 drum type washer with dry function, by which a manufacturing process of a drying duct is simplified and by which a product cost is lowered. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a drum type washer with dry function, by which compatibility of a blower cover is enhanced to cope with variable sizes of a drying duct and motor according to washing capacity. 
   Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings. 
   To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, an apparatus for supplying hot air in a drum type washer according to the present invention includes a first duct housing provided to a tub included in the drum type washer with dry function, a second duct housing provided to an upper side of the first duct housing, a blower cover provided to the upper side of the first duct housing adjacent to the second duct housing, the blower cover being formed of a synthetic resin based injection material, a heater provided between the first and second duct housings, a motor provided to the blower cover, and a blower provided under the blower cover, the blower being rotatably connected to the motor. 
   In another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for supplying hot air in a drum type washer with dry function includes a first duct housing provided to a tub included in the drum type washer, a second duct housing provided to an upper side of the first duct housing, a blower cover provided to the upper side of the first duct housing adjacent to the second duct housing, the blower cover being formed of a synthetic resin based material, the blower cover having a recess, a heater provided between the first and second duct housings, a motor coupled with the recess of the blower cover, a blower under the blower cover, the blower being rotatably connected to the motor, and a motor guide protruding upward along an outer circumference of the recess of the blower cover, the motor guide including a plurality of bosses having screws locked therein for coupling with the motor, respectively and at least one escape recess for receiving a projected portion of a locking screw separately locked in the motor. 
   It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings: 
       FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional diagram of a drum type washer with dry function according to a related art; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective diagram of a hot air supplying device consisting of a drying duct and a blower according to a related art; 
       FIG. 3  is a projected perspective diagram of a hot air supplying apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a graph of temperature measurement results at major parts of a blower and drying duct on a drying operation; 
       FIG. 5  is a projected perspective diagram of a hot air supplying apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 6  is a projected perspective diagram of major parts of the hot air supplying apparatus of  FIG. 5 ; and 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective diagram of a lock hole comprising a square shape. 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective diagram of a lock hole comprising a square shape. 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective diagram of different exemplary representations of a lock hole comprising an oval shape. 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective diagram of different exemplary representations of a lock hole comprising a rectangular shape. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
     FIG. 3  is a projected perspective diagram of a hot air supplying apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , a hot air supplying apparatus  300  according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a lower housing  320  forming a air-flowing passage, an upper housing  310  assembled to a top portion of the lower housing  320 , and a blower cover  330  assembled to a top portion of the lower housing  320  at one side of the upper housing  310  to contact with the upper housing  310 . Additionally, the upper housing  320 , the lower housing  310 , and the blower cover  330  construct a drying duct for air-flowing. 
   The blower  340  is provided to one end of the lower housing  320 , and more specifically, to a portion of the lower housing  320  communicating with the condensing duct  40  in  FIG. 1 , and a heater  360  is provided to an opposite side to the lower housing  320  to heat air blown by the blower  340 . 
   The lower housing  320  can be formed by casting using steel. Moreover, the upper housing  310  can be formed by pressing using a zinc plate or preferably by injection molding using a synthetic resin material such as a plastic material. Alternatively, the upper housing  310  can be formed by casting using steel like the lower housing  320  as well. 
   Preferably, the blower  340  is formed by injection molding of a synthetic resin material having a high heat-resistant property. 
   Preferably, the blower cover  330  is formed by injection molding of a synthetic resin material having a high heat-resistant property. 
   A recess  331  for receiving a motor  350  driving the blower  340  therein is provided to the blower cover  330 . Moreover, a motor guide  370  protrudes from a circumference of the recess  331  to load the motor  350  therein and to fix the motor  350  thereto. A rotational shaft of the motor  350  penetrates into the blower cover  330  to be coupled to the blower  340  for shaft-coupling. 
   An operation of the hot air supplying apparatus according to the present invention is explained as follows. 
     FIG. 4  is a graph of temperature measurement results at major parts of a blower and drying duct on a drying operation. 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , temperature sensors are attached to a portion A of the blower cover  300  having the blower  340  installed therein, a heater entrance B in the vicinity of a connecting part between the blower cover  330  and the upper housing  310 , and a portion C of the upper housing  310  provided over the heater  360 , respectively. A drying cycle is then carried out to measure temperature variations of the respective portions A, B, and C according to time. 
   As a result of the test, the vicinity A of the blower  340  has a maximum temperature of 75° C. and the entrance B of the heater  360  has a temperature of about 80° C. 
   Namely, the vicinity of the blower cover  330  in the vicinity of the blower  340  has a prescribed amount of heat dissipation and cooling effects attributed to a rotation of the blower  340 . Air that passes through the blower  340  and the blower cover  330  is further passed through the condensing duct  40  in  FIG. 1  to decrease in humidity and temperature. Hence, the temperature is not so high as to break down the synthetic resin material having high heat-resistant property. 
   Based on the measurement result, a synthetic resin having an excellent heat-resistant property such as PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride), POM (polyactal copoymer), and the like is preferably used as a material having excellent resistant properties against moisture, strong alkalinity, and oxidation. The POM can sustain excellent properties including mechanical strength, hardness, creep-proof, and the like as well as various kinds of mechanical feasibility by 100° C. Furthermore, the PVDF has a melting point of 170˜185° C. and a continuously usable temperature of 120° C. that is the lowest among fluoride resins. Yet, the PVDF has excellent processing features of injection molding, pressing forming, and the like as well as excellent mechanical and weathering properties. 
   Of course, other synthetic resins such as PC (polycarbonate), each of which has high heat-resistant property and good low-temperature characteristic and us usable between (−)100˜135° C., can be employed as well. 
   If the blower  340 , the blower cover  330 , and the upper housing  310  are formed by an injection process using a highly heat-resistant synthetic resin, they can be manufactured by a single process unlike the casting method which requires multiple steps. Hence, it is able to lower product cost, thus reducing overall product cost. 
   A hot air supplying apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention is explained with reference to  FIGS. 5 to 7  as follows. 
   First of all configurations and materials of a lower housing  1320 , an upper housing  1310 , and a blower  1340  of a hot air supplying apparatus  1300  according to another embodiment of the present invention are substantially identical to those of the former hot air supplying apparatus  300  according to one embodiment of the present invention. However, the hot air supplying apparatus  1300  according to another embodiment of the present invention differs from the apparatus  300  in configurations of a blower cover  1330  and a motor  1350  assembled to the blower cover  1330 . 
   Specifically, a recess  1331  is provided to the blower cover  1330  to receive the motor  1350  therein. A motor guide  1370  protrudes upward along a circumference of the recess  1331 . A plurality of bosses  1371  are built in one body of the motor guide  1370  to fix the motor  1350  and the motor guide  1370  to each other. A plurality of cable guide slots  1373  are provided to the motor guide  1370  to draw out a power cable  1352  of the motor  1350  that is loaded in the blower cover  1330 . Preferably, each top end of the cable guide slots  1373  is fully open. 
   A motor cover  1355  is fixed to a top portion of the motor  1350  via a plurality of locking screws  1356 . In doing so, each of the locking screws  1356  is slightly projected downward. Hence, it is preferable that a plurality of escape recesses  1372  are concavely provided to the motor guide  1370  to receive the corresponding locking screws  1356  therein, respectively. Each of the escape recesses  1372  plays a role in preventing a lower end of the projected locking screw  1356  from colliding with the motor guide  1370 , thereby smoothing the corresponding locking. 
   Meanwhile, the drum type washer with dry function is differently manufactured according to washing capacity such as 7.5 kg, 10 kg, and the like. Hence, a size and configuration of the motor  1350  driving the blower  1340  are designed differently to correspond to the washing capacity. The recess  1331  having the motor  1350  received therein has a depth enough for each of the various motors  1350  to be locked therein. 
   A position of the power cable  1352  for supplying power of the motor is varied according to the corresponding one of the various motors. Hence, a plurality of the cable guide slots  1373  are provided along a circumference of the motor guide  1370  not to interfere with the position of the power cable  1352  of the motor. 
   Meanwhile, a pump (not shown in the drawing) is provided to a lower part of the drum type washer with dry function. Moreover, a hose connected to the pump may traverse over the drying duct due to a configurational reason. Thus, if a hose or cable of an external device traverses over the drying duct, a guide part  1338  and a support recess  1339  are preferably provided to one side of the motor guide  1370  to support the hose or cable. In this case, the support recess  1339  having an open top is provided to the guide part  1338 . 
   A flange  1335  is provided to a circumference of the blower cover  1330  except the portion connected to the upper housing  1310  to be loaded on an outer circumference of the lower housing  1320 . A plurality of locking holes  1336  are provided to the flange  1335 . A plurality of the locking holes  1336  are preferably provided to leave a prescribed distance from each other to secure compatibility of the lower housing  1320  of which locking position through the locking holes  1336  varies according to capacity of the washer/dryer. Optionally, each of the locking holes  1336  may be a long hole  1337 . 
   Also, a shape of the locking hole comprises at least one of a circular, square, oval, or rectangular shape. Exemplary and non-limiting perspective views and representations of locking holes comprising a square, oval and a rectangular shape are respectively illustrated in  FIGS. 8–10 . 
   Preferably, the blower  1340  and the blower cover  1330  are formed by injection molding using a synthetic resin material having an excellent heat-resistant property such as plastic. Preferably, the motor guide  1370  is formed by injection molding together with the blower cover  1330 . Alternatively, the motor guide  1370  can be separately formed by injection molding and assembled to the blower cover  1330 . 
   An assembling process of the above-configured hot air supplying apparatus according to the present invention is explained as follows. 
   First of all, the motor cover  1355  is assembled to the top portion of the motor  1350  using the locking screws  1356 . In doing so, the locking screws  1356  are slightly projected downward. 
   Subsequently, the motor  1350  is inserted inside the recess  1331  of the blower cover  1331  to be loaded in the motor guide  1370 . In doing so, the power cable  1352  of the motor  1350  is drawn out via the guide slot  1373 . Furthermore, the locking screws  1356  are inserted in the escape recesses  1372  of the motor guide  1370  to prevent interference with a surface of the motor guide  1370 , respectively. 
   Screws  1358  are then locked via the locking holes  1357  of the motor  1350  and the bosses  1371  of the motor guide  1370 , respectively to fixedly assemble the motor  1350  to the motor guide  1370 . 
   Once the motor  1350  is fixed to the blower cover  1330 , the blower cover  1330 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , is loaded on the lower housing  1320 . Subsequently, screws  1380  are locked via the locking holes  1336  and long holes  1337  of the flange  1335  and the locking holes  1322  of the lower housing  1320 , respectively to assemble the blower cover  1330  to the lower housing  1320 . 
   As mentioned in the above explanation, if positions of the locking holes  1322  of the lower housing are changed according to the capacity of the washer, the screws  1358  can be locked in another adjacent locking holes  1336  among the locking holes  1336 , respectively. Moreover, since the long holes  1336  are provided for another screw locking, it is able to cope with a slight position variation of the corresponding locking hole  1322  of the lower housing  1320 . Hence, without changing the structure and size of the blower cover and the locking hole position, and the like despite the variation of the applicable model according to the washing capacity, it is able to configure the hot air supplying apparatus using the same blower cover. 
   Moreover, even if the size of the motor  1350  is changed, the locking screw  1356  projected from the motor  1350  avoids contacting with the motor guide  1370  and the power cable  1352  of the motor  1350  can be easily drawn out via one of the cable guide slots  1373  provided to various locations of the motor guide  1370 . Hence, it is able to fix the motor  1350  variously differing in size thereto using the same blower cover  1330  without modifying the structure of the blower cover  1330 . 
   Accordingly, by forming the upper housing with the zinc plate and by forming the blower and blower cover with the synthetic resin material by injection molding, the present invention simplifies the manufacturing process and lowers the product cost, thereby enhancing user&#39;s economical advantage and reliability on the product and manufacturer. 
   Moreover, the same blower cover is applicable despite modifications of the structures and sizes of the lower housing and motor according to the capacity of the washer, whereby the present invention enhances compatibility, lowers the product cost, and facilitates maintenance and management thereof. 
   It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Technology Classification (CPC): 3