A washer-dryer

Abstract

The present application provides a kind of washer-dryer, including shell, outer tube being arranged in the shell, inner tube being rotatably arranged in the outer tube, further comprising: cooling passage, being arranged in the circumferential surface of the outer tube;First water inlet pipe, connected with the cooling passage, for the cooling water into the cooling passage;The cooling passage is used to make the cooling water in it and the circumferential surface of the outer tube heat exchange, to cool the steam in the outer tube.The washer-dryer of the present application can quickly cool the high-temperature steam in the washer-dryer drum before the user opens the door after drying, avoid the user being scalded or the user's lens being blurred by the high-temperature steam sprayed out when opening the washer-dryer door, improve the user's satisfaction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of household appliance technology, specifically to a washer-dryer. Background Technology

[0002] With the development of society and the economy and the improvement of people's living standards, drum washing machines have become a common part of daily life, bringing great convenience to people. To cope with rainy weather or when clothes need to be worn immediately, washer-dryers with drying functions have also become increasingly popular. However, during the drying process, a large amount of high-temperature steam is generated inside the drum, and users are easily scalded by the steam when opening the door after drying. Furthermore, it is wasteful to simply drain the relatively clean water from the final rinse cycle directly outside the drum; it should be reused. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of this invention is to provide a washer-dryer to solve the problem that high-temperature steam inside the drum of existing washer-dryers may scald users after the drying process is completed.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a washer-dryer, comprising a housing, an outer drum disposed within the housing, and an inner drum rotatably disposed within the outer drum, and further comprising:

[0005] Cooling channels are provided on the circumferential surface of the outer cylinder;

[0006] The first water inlet pipe is connected to the cooling channel and is used to supply cooling water into the cooling channel.

[0007] The cooling channel is used to allow the cooling water inside to exchange heat with the circumference of the outer cylinder in order to cool the steam inside the outer cylinder.

[0008] In some embodiments, the outer periphery of the outer cylinder is provided with a shell, and the inner peripheral surface of the shell and the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder enclose the cooling channel.

[0009] In some embodiments, the washer-dryer further includes:

[0010] A glass bowl is mounted on the door of the washer-dryer;

[0011] A spraying device is installed in the glass bowl for spraying water onto the surface of the glass bowl;

[0012] The second water inlet pipe is connected to the spray device and is used to supply cooling water to the spray device.

[0013] In some embodiments, the washer-dryer further includes:

[0014] A water storage tank is disposed in the housing and is connected to the outer cylinder to store the final rinse water of the outer cylinder;

[0015] Both the first water inlet pipe and the second water inlet pipe are connected to the water storage tank.

[0016] In some embodiments, the outer cylinder is equipped with a drain pipe, and a drain pump is installed on the drain pipe;

[0017] The water storage tank is equipped with a third water inlet pipe, which is connected to the drain pipe, and a water inlet pump is installed on the third water inlet pipe.

[0018] In some embodiments, the third inlet pipe is equipped with a third inlet valve, and the drain pipe is equipped with a drain valve.

[0019] In some embodiments, the water storage tank is positioned above the outer cylinder, a first water inlet valve is provided on the first water inlet pipe, and a second water inlet valve is provided on the second water inlet pipe.

[0020] In some embodiments, the washer-dryer further includes:

[0021] A fan, which is connected to the outer cylinder through a pipe, is used to blow air into the outer cylinder;

[0022] An exhaust port is located at the top of the outer cylinder. When the fan is turned on, the steam inside the outer cylinder can be discharged from the exhaust port.

[0023] In some embodiments, the washer-dryer further includes:

[0024] A fan circuit is used to control the operation of the fan, and a first capacitor is provided in the fan circuit;

[0025] The second capacitor is connected in parallel across the two ends of the first capacitor, and a switching element is connected in series with the second capacitor;

[0026] The control circuit is used to control the on / off state of the switching element. When the switching element is turned on, the first capacitor and the second capacitor are connected in parallel, which increases the speed of the fan.

[0027] In some implementations, the switching element is a relay.

[0028] Applying the technical solution of this invention, after the drying process is completed, the fan and exhaust port are turned on. The fan forces the steam inside the drum to be discharged through the exhaust port, thereby lowering the temperature inside the drum. The drain pump is turned on to promote the discharge of steam inside the drum through the drain pipe. Cooling water is introduced into the cooling channel to rapidly cool the outer drum wall, thereby rapidly cooling the steam inside the drum. Cooling water is sprayed onto the glass bowl to lower its temperature. The combination of multiple cooling measures can quickly reduce the temperature inside the drum, preventing scalding when the user opens the door. At the same time, the final rinse water is stored in a water tank as cooling water for the outer drum and glass bowl, which not only achieves cooling inside the drum but also allows for water reuse, achieving two benefits at once.

[0029] As can be seen, the washer-dryer of this application combines the reuse of rinsing water with the cooling of the washer-dryer after drying. It can quickly cool down the high-temperature steam in the washer-dryer drum before the user opens the door after drying, so as to prevent the user from being burned or having their glasses blurred by the high-temperature steam when opening the door, thus improving user satisfaction. It also realizes the reuse of rinsing water and saves resources. Attached Figure Description

[0030] The accompanying drawings, which form part of this application, are used to provide a further understanding of the invention. The illustrative embodiments of the invention and their descriptions are used to explain the invention and do not constitute an improper limitation of the invention.

[0031] Figure 1 This is a front structural diagram of a washer-dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the connection between the relay and the fan circuit in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 3 This is a logic diagram of relay control of fan speed according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating the workflow of a washer-dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] in:

[0036] 1-Casing; 2-Outer cylinder; 3-Inner cylinder; 4-Cooling channel; 5-First water inlet pipe; 6-First water inlet valve; 7-Outer shell; 8-Glass bowl; 9-Spray device; 10-Second water inlet pipe; 11-Second water inlet valve; 12-Water storage tank; 13-Third water inlet pipe; 14-Third water inlet valve; 15-Water inlet pump; 16-Drain pipe; 17-Drain valve; 18-Drain pump; 19-Exhaust port; 20-Relay. Detailed Implementation

[0037] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in the embodiments of this application can be combined with each other.

[0038] It should be noted that the following detailed descriptions are illustrative and intended to provide further explanation of this application. Unless otherwise specified, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application pertains.

[0039] It should be noted that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the exemplary embodiments according to this application. As used herein, the singular form is intended to include the plural form as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Furthermore, it should be understood that when the terms "comprising" and / or "including" are used in this specification, they indicate the presence of features, steps, operations, devices, components, and / or combinations thereof.

[0040] In existing washer-dryers, users are easily burned or have their glasses blurred by the high-temperature steam that comes out when they open the door after drying. To address this, the present invention proposes a washer-dryer with a burn prevention function after drying.

[0041] like Figure 1 As shown, the washer-dryer of this embodiment includes a housing 1, which forms the exterior of the washer-dryer; an outer tub 2, which is installed inside the housing 1 to hold washing water; an inner tub 3, which is rotatably disposed in the outer tub 2 to hold clothes; a cooling channel 4, which is installed on the circumference of the outer tub 2 to allow cooling water introduced from the outside to exchange heat with the circumference of the outer tub 2 to cool the high-temperature steam inside the outer tub 2; and a first water inlet pipe 5, which is connected to the cooling channel 4 to introduce cooling water into the cooling channel 4.

[0042] In this embodiment, the first water inlet pipe 5 can be part of the water supply device of the washer-dryer, such as a branch pipe that supplies water to the outer drum 2, or a separately installed water supply pipe.

[0043] In this embodiment, the cooling channel 4 can be set on the outer circumferential surface of the outer cylinder 2, or on the inner circumferential surface of the outer cylinder 2, or on both the outer and inner circumferential surfaces of the outer cylinder 2. In particular, when the cooling channel 4 is arranged on the inner circumferential surface of the outer cylinder 2, the cooling water in it can not only exchange heat with the outer cylinder 2, but also exchange heat with the high-temperature steam in the outer cylinder 2, thereby further improving the heat exchange efficiency.

[0044] In some embodiments, the cooling channel 4 can be a heat exchange tube laid on the circumference of the outer cylinder 2, or it can be a cavity structure directly formed on the circumference of the outer cylinder 2. Regardless of the form, the outlet of the cooling channel 4 can be connected to the drainage device of the outer cylinder 2 or the washer-dryer to facilitate the discharge of cooling water after heat exchange.

[0045] In this embodiment, an outer shell 7 is provided on the outer periphery of the outer cylinder 2. The inner circumferential surface of the outer shell 7 and the outer circumferential surface of the outer cylinder 2 enclose a cooling channel 4. This structure is simple and easy to implement.

[0046] When the washer-dryer finishes drying, the drums (outer drum 3 and inner drum 2) are filled with high-temperature steam. At this time, cooling water is introduced into the cooling channel 4 through the first water inlet pipe 5. The cooling water flows in the cooling channel 4 and exchanges heat with the wall of the outer drum 3 to cool the outer drum 3 and the high-temperature steam inside it.

[0047] In this embodiment, a clothes inlet is formed on the front of the casing 1 of the washer-dryer. Clothes can be put into the inner drum 3 and taken out of the inner drum 3 through the clothes inlet. The casing 1 is also rotatably connected to a door for opening or closing the clothes inlet, and a glass bowl 8 is installed on the door.

[0048] To further reduce the high temperature inside the washer-dryer drum, in this embodiment, the glass bowl 8 is also cooled simultaneously. Specifically, a spray device 9 is installed in the glass bowl 8, and cooling water is supplied to the spray device 9 through the second water inlet pipe 10. The second water inlet pipe 10 is configured the same as the first water inlet pipe 5, and can be part of the water supply device of the washer-dryer or a separate water supply line. The spray device 9 can be a spray valve or a spray nozzle, which can spray water onto the surface of the glass bowl 8, thereby reducing the temperature of the glass bowl 8 and thus reducing the temperature inside the drum, and also rinsing away the residual foam on the glass bowl 8.

[0049] Typically, the final rinse water from a washer-dryer is quite clean, and it would be wasteful to discharge it directly out of the drum. Instead, it can be reused as cooling water for the aforementioned cooling channel 4 and spray device 9 to conserve water resources.

[0050] In this embodiment, a water storage tank 12 is provided on the upper part of the casing 1, which is connected to the drainage device of the washer-dryer through a pipe to store the last rinse water. Specifically, the drainage device of the washer-dryer includes a drain pipe 16 located at the bottom of the outer drum 2. A drain valve 17 is provided on the drain pipe 16 near the outer drum 2. A drain pump 18 is also provided on the drain pipe 16. The drain pump 18 can not only discharge the washing water in the outer drum 2, but also continue to run after drying to pump out the high-temperature steam in the outer drum 2. The water storage tank 12 is equipped with a third water inlet pipe 13, which is connected to the drain pipe 16 through a three-way valve. A third water inlet valve 14 and a water inlet pump 15 are provided on the third water inlet pipe 13.

[0051] After the clothes inside the drum are detected to be clean, the drain valve 17 and the third water inlet valve 14 are opened, and the water inlet pump 15 is turned on. The last rinse water is discharged from the drain port of the outer drum 2, and stored in the water storage tank 12 through the drain pipe 16 and the third water inlet pipe 13 until the water in the outer drum 2 is drained. Then the third water inlet valve 14 and the water inlet pump 15 are turned off, and the drying begins.

[0052] Meanwhile, the water storage tank 12 is provided with two water outlets, which are respectively connected to the first water inlet pipe 5 of the cooling channel 4 and the second water inlet pipe 10 of the spray device 9. Since the water storage tank 12 is located above the outer cylinder 2, only the first water inlet valve 6 is provided on the first water inlet pipe 5 and the second water inlet valve 11 is provided on the second water inlet pipe 10. By controlling the opening and closing of the first water inlet valve 6 and the second water inlet valve 11, the final rinsing water can be supplied to the cooling channel 4 and the spray device 9.

[0053] It should be noted that in this embodiment, the valves and water pumps on the pipeline are electrically connected to the control system of the washer-dryer and can be opened or closed under the control of the control system.

[0054] In this embodiment, in order to further improve the cooling rate of the drum of the washer-dryer, an exhaust port 19 is provided at the top of the outer drum 2, and a valve is provided to control its opening and closing. At the same time, the washer-dryer is also equipped with a fan, which is connected to the outer drum 2 through a pipe. The fan can blow air into the outer drum 2 so that the high-temperature steam in the outer drum 2 can be discharged from the exhaust port 19, thereby reducing the temperature inside the drum.

[0055] In this embodiment, the fan can be a component of the drying device of the washer-dryer, such as a circulating fan that supplies hot air to the outer cylinder 2, or a separate fan.

[0056] While cooling the outer cylinder 2 with cooling water, the fan and exhaust port 19 are turned on to promote the discharge of high-temperature steam inside the outer cylinder 2, thereby accelerating the cooling of the high-temperature steam inside the washing and drying machine drum.

[0057] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 The diagram illustrates the fan speed adjustment method of this embodiment. A first capacitor C1 is provided in the fan circuit used to control the operation of the fan. A second capacitor C2 is connected in parallel across the two ends of the first capacitor C1. A relay 20 is connected in series in the circuit containing the second capacitor C2. The relay 20 is connected to the control circuit of the washer-dryer.

[0058] When relay 20 is energized, the second capacitor C2 is connected in parallel with the first capacitor C1 in the fan circuit, the fan speed increases, and the high-temperature steam in the cylinder is discharged faster. When the temperature in the cylinder drops to a safe temperature, the control motor controls relay 20 to de-energize, the parallel capacitor is disconnected, the fan decelerates, and after running for a period of time, the control circuit disconnects the fan circuit, and the fan stops rotating.

[0059] The following is combined with Figure 4 The workflow of the washer-dryer in this embodiment for rapid drum cooling after drying is described.

[0060] 1. After the clothes in the drum are detected to be clean, the drain valve 17, the third water inlet valve 14, and the water inlet pump 15 are opened to discharge the last rinse water from the outer drum 2. The water is then discharged into the water storage tank 12 through the drain pipe 16 and the third water inlet pipe 13 until the water in the outer drum 2 is drained. Then the third water inlet valve 14 and the water inlet pump 15 are closed, and the drying process begins.

[0061] 2. When the clothes inside the drum are detected as dry, the washer-dryer's temperature detection circuit detects the temperature inside the drum. When the temperature T inside the drum is higher than the first preset temperature T1 (indicating that the temperature inside the drum is too high and the high-temperature steam may scald the user), the first water inlet valve 6 and the second water inlet valve 11 open. Part of the rinse water stored in the water tank 12 enters between the outer drum 2 and the outer shell 7 through the first water inlet pipe 5, lowering the temperature of the outer drum 11 and thus cooling the high-temperature steam inside the outer drum 11. The other part of the rinse water enters the spray device 9 through the second water inlet pipe 10 and sprays onto the inner surface of the glass bowl 8, which can both lower the temperature of the glass bowl 8 and rinse away any residual foam on the glass bowl 8. At the same time, the washer-dryer's control circuit receives the high-temperature information and controls the relay 20 to be energized. The second capacitor C2 is connected in parallel with the first capacitor C1 in the fan circuit, increasing the fan speed. Simultaneously, the exhaust port 19 of the outer drum 2 opens, promoting the discharge of high-temperature steam inside the outer drum 2. When drain valve 17 and drain pump 18 are opened, the rinsing water between the outer drum 2 and the outer shell 7 exchanges heat with the outer drum 2 and its temperature rises. It is then discharged through drain pipe 16. The rinsing water sprayed onto the glass bowl 8 flows directly into the outer drum 2 and is discharged through drain pipe 16. At the same time, the water level between the outer drum 2 and the outer shell 7 and the water storage tank 12 is checked to see if it is lower than the preset water level. If so, the water has been drained. The check continues until the water is drained. Next, the temperature inside the drum is checked to see if it has reached the second preset temperature T2 (the second preset temperature is the safe temperature for opening the washer-dryer door, T2 < T1). If so, the control circuit controls relay 20 to de-energize, the parallel capacitor to disconnect, the fan to slow down until it stops, and the first water inlet valve 6, the second water inlet valve 11, drain valve 17, drain pump 18, and exhaust port 19 to close, reminding the user to take out the clothes. Otherwise, the fan continues to rotate at high speed to discharge high-temperature gas, exhaust port 19 remains open, drain valve 17 and drain pump 18 remain open, and drain pump 18 continues to operate to discharge high-temperature gas from inside the drum. After the rinsing water between the outer cylinder 2 and the outer shell 7 is drained, the drain pump 18 continues to work to accelerate the discharge of high-temperature steam from the cylinder.

[0062] As can be seen from the above description, the washer-dryer of this application adds an anti-scalding function after drying. It uses the last rinse water as condensate to cool the outer drum and glass bowl, monitors the temperature inside the drum and controls the fan speed using a parallel capacitor, opens an exhaust port on the outer drum, and turns on the drain pump to cool the high-temperature steam inside the washing drum, preventing users from being scalded by high-temperature steam when opening the door to take out clothes. It not only realizes the reuse of washing water, but also protects the user's safety, saves energy, improves user satisfaction, and enhances the user's quality of life, contributing to the user's comfortable life.

[0063] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the orientations or positional relationships indicated by terms such as "center," "front," "back," "up," "down," "left," "right," "horizontal," "vertical," "horizontal," and "top," "bottom," etc., are generally based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings and are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description. Unless otherwise stated, these directional terms do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of this invention; the directional terms "inner" and "outer" refer to the inner and outer contours relative to the outline of each component itself.

[0064] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal communication between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0065] Furthermore, it should be noted that the use of terms such as "first" and "second" to define components is merely for the purpose of distinguishing the corresponding components. Unless otherwise stated, the above terms have no special meaning and therefore should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of this invention.

[0066] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the invention. Various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A washer-dryer, comprising a housing (1), an outer drum (2) disposed within the housing (1), and an inner drum (3) rotatably disposed within the outer drum (2), characterized in that, Also includes: Cooling channels (4) are provided on the circumferential surface of the outer cylinder (2); The first water inlet pipe (5) is connected to the cooling channel (4) and is used to supply cooling water to the cooling channel (4); The cooling channel (4) is used to allow the cooling water inside to exchange heat with the circumferential surface of the outer cylinder (2) in order to cool the steam inside the outer cylinder (2); A fan, which is connected to the outer cylinder (2) through a pipe, is used to blow air into the outer cylinder (2); An exhaust port (19) is provided at the top of the outer cylinder (2). When the fan is turned on, the steam inside the outer cylinder (2) can be discharged from the exhaust port (19). A fan circuit is used to control the operation of the fan, and a first capacitor is provided in the fan circuit; The second capacitor is connected in parallel across the two ends of the first capacitor, and a switching element is connected in series with the second capacitor; A control circuit is used to control the on / off state of the switching element. When the switching element is turned on, the first capacitor and the second capacitor are connected in parallel, which increases the speed of the fan. When the temperature inside the drum exceeds the first preset temperature, the control circuit of the washer-dryer receives a high-temperature signal, controls the relay to be energized, and connects the second capacitor in parallel with the first capacitor in the fan circuit, causing the fan speed to increase. At the same time, the exhaust port of the outer drum opens to facilitate the discharge of high-temperature steam from the outer drum. When the temperature inside the drum reaches the second preset temperature, the control circuit controls the relay to be de-energized, the parallel capacitor to be disconnected, and the fan to decelerate until it stops. A water storage tank (12) is installed in the housing (1). The water storage tank (12) is connected to the outer cylinder (2) to store the last rinse water of the outer cylinder (2). The first water inlet pipe (5) is connected to the water storage tank (12).

2. The washer-dryer according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outer cylinder (2) is provided with a shell (7) on its outer periphery, and the inner circumferential surface of the shell (7) and the outer circumferential surface of the outer cylinder (2) enclose the cooling channel (4).

3. The washer-dryer according to claim 2, characterized in that: The washer-dryer also includes: A glass bowl (8) is installed on the door of the washer-dryer; A spraying device (9) is provided in the glass bowl (8) for spraying water onto the surface of the glass bowl (8); The second water inlet pipe (10) is connected to the spray device (9) and is used to supply cooling water to the spray device (9).

4. The washer-dryer according to claim 3, characterized in that: The outer cylinder (2) is equipped with a drain pipe (16), and a drain pump (18) is installed on the drain pipe (16). The water storage tank (12) is equipped with a third water inlet pipe (13), which is connected to the drain pipe (16), and a water inlet pump (15) is installed on the third water inlet pipe (13).

5. The washer-dryer according to claim 4, characterized in that: The third water inlet pipe (13) is equipped with a third water inlet valve (14), and the drain pipe (16) is equipped with a drain valve (17).

6. The washer-dryer according to claim 3, characterized in that: The water storage tank (12) is located above the outer cylinder (2), and a first water inlet valve (6) is provided on the first water inlet pipe (5), and a second water inlet valve (11) is provided on the second water inlet pipe (10).

7. The washer-dryer according to claim 1, characterized in that: The switching element is a relay (20).

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