Air duct shell, heat pump drying system and washing electric appliance

Abstract

The utility model discloses an air duct shell, a heat pump drying system and a washing electric appliance, the air duct shell is used for the heat pump drying system of the washing electric appliance, an air duct is formed in the air duct shell, the air duct shell comprises a main body part and two interface parts, the two interface parts communicate with the main body part, and the two interface parts are connected to the same side of the main body part and arranged at intervals; wherein one connector part is used for air inlet, the other connector part is used for air outlet, and the main body part is used for containing the evaporator and the condenser. Thus, the main body part and the connector part are formed in the air duct shell according to different functions, so that the air duct shell can meet the requirements for installing an evaporator and a condenser, and the ventilation function can be achieved. Besides, the two connector parts are connected to the same side of the main body part, so that air inlet and air outlet of the air duct shell are located on the same side, assembly of the air duct shell and other parts is facilitated, interference between the air duct shell and surrounding parts is reduced, and the structure is simple.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of household appliances, and in particular to an air duct housing, a heat pump drying system and a washing appliance. Background Art

[0002] In the related art, a washing machine includes an inner tank and a heat pump drying system, and the washing machine has a drying mode for drying dishes. However, the components of the heat pump drying system are complicated to install, which is not conducive to reducing the manufacturing cost of the washing machine. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The present application provides an air duct housing, a heat pump drying system and a washing appliance, which at least solves the technical problem that the installation of various components of the heat pump drying system in the washing appliance is complicated, which is not conducive to reducing the manufacturing cost of the washing appliance.

[0004] The present application provides an air duct housing for a heat pump drying system of a washing appliance. The air duct housing is formed with a ventilation duct and includes a main body and two interface parts. Both of the interface parts are connected to the main body. Both of the interface parts are connected to the same side of the main body and are arranged at intervals. One of the interface parts is used for air intake and the other interface part is used for air outlet. The main body is used to accommodate an evaporator and a condenser.

[0005] In this way, the air duct housing is formed with a main body and an interface portion according to different functions, allowing the air duct housing to meet the requirements of installing an evaporator and condenser, while also achieving ventilation. In addition, both interface portions are connected to the same side of the main body, so that the air inlet and outlet of the air duct housing are located on the same side. This facilitates the assembly of the air duct housing with other components, reduces interference with surrounding components, and simplifies the structure.

[0006] In certain embodiments, the interface portion is formed with a vent, and the vents of the two interface portions face the same direction.

[0007] In some embodiments, the ventilation channel extends downward from one of the vents into the main body, and extends upward from the main body to the other interface portion.

[0008] In some embodiments, the main body includes a first shell and a second shell detachably connected to the first shell, and the two interface parts are an integral structure with the first shell.

[0009] In certain embodiments, one of the interface parts is provided with a fan installation position and is connected to the fan, and the other interface part is directly connected to the main body.

[0010] In some embodiments, a water receiving tray is provided in the air duct housing, the water receiving tray is located below the evaporator, and the air duct housing is provided with a drain port connected to the water receiving tray.

[0011] The present application provides a heat pump drying system, which comprises:

[0012] The air duct housing of any of the above embodiments;

[0013] An evaporator and a condenser are arranged at intervals in the ventilation duct. Along the flow direction of the ventilation duct, the evaporator is located upstream of the condenser. The evaporator is used to cool the gas flowing out of the inner tank of the washing appliance, and the condenser is used to heat the gas flowing into the inner tank. The heat pump drying system is configured to first cool and dehumidify the gas flowing out of the inner tank of the washing appliance by the evaporator, and then heat it by the condenser and return it to the inner tank of the washing appliance.

[0014] In certain embodiments, the evaporator and / or the condenser each includes a plurality of fins, an air flow channel is formed between the plurality of fins, and a flow guiding direction of the air flow channel is consistent with a flow guiding direction of the guide channel.

[0015] In some embodiments, the thickness direction of the fin is the same as the horizontal direction, and the height of the fin is greater than the width of the fin.

[0016] In some embodiments, the heat pump drying system includes an air inlet pipe and an exhaust pipe both connected to the air duct housing, and the air inlet pipe and the exhaust pipe are both connected to the inner tank. The heat pump drying system includes a first fan and a second fan, the first fan is used to form an airflow in the ventilation duct, the first fan is installed on the outside of the air duct housing, and the second fan is arranged at the air inlet end of the air inlet pipe, and is used to draw the gas in the inner tank into the air inlet pipe.

[0017] In some embodiments, the heat pump drying system further includes a tray, a compressor and a throttling device. The compressor, the condenser, the throttling device and the evaporator are connected in sequence to form a closed refrigerant circuit. The compressor and the air duct housing are both installed on the tray. Along the depth direction of the inner tank, the compressor and the air duct housing are spaced apart.

[0018] In some embodiments, the heat pump drying system includes an air inlet pipe and an exhaust pipe, and the air inlet pipe and the exhaust pipe are respectively connected to the two interface parts, and the two interface parts extend upward from the main body toward the side wall of the inner tank, and the two interface parts, the air inlet pipe and the exhaust pipe are located on the same side of the inner tank.

[0019] In some embodiments, the main body includes a bottom plate and side plates connected to the main body, the bottom plate and the side plates are used to enclose the ventilation duct, the bottom plate is provided with a support member protruding toward the ventilation duct, and the evaporator and the condenser are both abutted against the support member.

[0020] The washing appliance of the embodiment of the present application includes an inner tank and the heat pump drying system described in any one of the above embodiments, and the air duct housing is connected to the inner tank.

[0021] Additional aspects and advantages of the present application will be given in part in the description below, and in part will become obvious from the description below, or will be learned through practice of the present application. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of the present application will become apparent and easily understood from the following description of the embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0023] Figure 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a washing appliance according to certain embodiments of the present application;

[0024] Figure 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a washing appliance according to certain embodiments of the present application;

[0025] Figure 3 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a heat pump drying system according to certain embodiments of the present application;

[0026] Figure 4 is a partial three-dimensional cross-sectional schematic diagram of a heat pump drying system according to certain embodiments of the present application;

[0027] Figure 5 is an exploded schematic diagram of a heat pump drying system according to certain embodiments of the present application;

[0028] Figure 6 is a partial cross-sectional schematic diagram of a heat pump drying system according to certain embodiments of the present application;

[0029] Figure 7 is another partial cross-sectional schematic diagram of a heat pump drying system according to certain embodiments of the present application;

[0030] Figure 8 is a schematic structural diagram of a fin in some embodiments of the present application;

[0031] Figure 9 It is a partial structural schematic diagram of the main body of certain embodiments of the present application.

[0032] Description of reference numerals:

[0033] 1000-washing appliance, 1100-inner tank, 1101-washing chamber, 1200-heat pump drying system, 1300-water cup, 1400-base, 10-air duct housing, 11-ventilation duct, 12-main body, 121-first shell, 122-second shell, 123-bottom plate, 124-side plate, 125-support member, 126 limiting rib, 13-interface, 131-vent, 14-water tray, 15-drain outlet, 20-evaporator, 21-fin, 22-air flow channel, 30-condenser, 40-first fan, 41-second fan, 50-tray, 60-compressor, 61-pipeline, 70-intake pipe, 80-exhaust pipe, 81-exhaust port, 82-first exhaust section, 83-second exhaust section, 90-throttling device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] The embodiments of the present application are described in detail below, and examples of the embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals represent the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions from beginning to end. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain the embodiments of the present application, and should not be understood as limiting the embodiments of the present application.

[0035] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "clockwise", "counterclockwise" and the like indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the embodiments of the present application and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as limiting the embodiments of the present application. In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the indicated technical features. Therefore, the features defined as "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the said features. In the description of the embodiments of the present application, the meaning of "multiple" is two or more, unless otherwise clearly and specifically defined.

[0036] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "connection" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they can refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; they can refer to mechanical connections, electrical connections, or mutual communication; they can refer to direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediate medium; they can refer to internal connectivity between two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meanings of the above terms in the embodiments of the present application based on specific circumstances.

[0037] In the embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, a first feature being "above" or "below" a second feature may include the first and second features being in direct contact, or may include the first and second features being in contact not directly but through another feature between them. Moreover, a first feature being "above," "above," and "above" a second feature includes the first feature being directly above and obliquely above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is higher in level than the second feature. A first feature being "below," "below," and "below" a second feature includes the first feature being directly below and obliquely below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is lower in level than the second feature.

[0038] The disclosure below provides many different embodiments or examples for realizing different structures of the embodiments of the present application. In order to simplify the disclosure of the embodiments of the present application, the components and settings of specific examples are described below. Of course, they are merely examples and are not intended to limit the present application. The embodiments of the present application may repeat reference numbers and / or reference letters in different examples, and such repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity, and does not itself indicate the relationship between the various embodiments and / or settings discussed. In addition, the embodiments of the present application provide examples of various specific processes and materials, but those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate the application of other processes and / or the use of other materials.

[0039] See also Figure 1 The washing appliance 1000 of the embodiment of the present application includes an inner tank 1100 and a heat pump drying system 1200, and the heat pump drying system 1200 is connected to the inner tank 1100. The washing appliance 1000 is mainly used for washing various types of tableware, wherein the inner tank 1100 can serve as the main structure of the washing appliance 1000, and the inner tank 1100 is formed with a washing chamber 1101 having an opening, and objects such as tableware can be placed into the washing chamber 1101 through the opening of the washing chamber 1101. The washing chamber 1101 can be provided with a bracket for carrying and fixing tableware, and a water cup 1300 placed under the bracket. The water cup 1300 is used to collect and discharge water generated during the washing and condensation processes. The washing appliance 1000 is, for example, a dishwasher.

[0040] The heat pump drying system 1200 is used to dry the hot and humid air flowing out of the inner container 1100 and heat the dried air, allowing the heated, dry air to flow back into the inner container 1100. This cycle continues, effectively drying dishes and other items. For example, the washing appliance 1000 is a dishwasher. It should be noted that the dried air mentioned above refers to the hot and humid air in the inner container 1100 and does not mean that the air is completely free of moisture.

[0041] See also Figure 1-Figure 4 The air duct housing 10 of the embodiment of the present application is used for the heat pump drying system 1200 of the washing appliance 1000. The air duct housing 10 is formed with a ventilation duct and includes a main body 12 and two interface parts 13. The two interface parts 13 are both connected to the main body 12. The two interface parts 13 are both connected to the same side of the main body 12 and are arranged at intervals. One of the interface parts 13 is used for air intake and the other interface part 13 is used for air outlet. The main body 12 is used to accommodate the evaporator 20 and the condenser 30.

[0042] In this way, the air duct housing 10 is formed with a main body 12 and an interface portion 13 according to different functions, allowing the air duct housing 10 to meet the requirements of installing the evaporator 20 and the condenser 30, while also achieving ventilation. In addition, both interface portions 13 are connected to the same side of the main body 12, so that the air inlet and outlet of the air duct housing 10 are located on the same side. This facilitates the assembly of the air duct housing 10 with other components, reduces interference between the air duct housing 10 and surrounding components, and simplifies the structure.

[0043] Specifically, the air duct housing 10 is used for ventilation. The entire air duct housing 10 can be made of easily moldable materials such as plastic, making it easy to manufacture. The air duct 11 formed in the air duct housing 10 is used to achieve a ventilation effect, allowing air to circulate between the inner container 1100 of the washing appliance 1000 and the air duct 11, thereby drying items such as dishes.

[0044] The main body 12 is larger than the interface 13, allowing it to accommodate the evaporator 20 and condenser 30 and facilitating connection of the interface 13 with other pipes. The main body 12 is generally square in shape. The evaporator 20 and condenser 30 can be secured within the main body 12 via snap-fitting, threaded connections, or other methods.

[0045] The interface portion 13 protrudes from the surface of the main body 12. The interface portion 13 is similar to a flat tube. The interface portion 13 can be located on one side of the main body 12 in the length direction or the width direction. The shape, structure, and size of the two interface portions 13 can be identical, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost of the air duct housing 10.

[0046] It can be understood that the main body and the two interface parts 13 all form part of the ventilation duct 11. When the air duct housing 10 is ventilated, the gas passes through one of the interface parts 13, the main body 12 and the other interface part 13 in sequence.

[0047] See also Figure 5 and Figure 6 In some embodiments, the interface portion 13 is formed with a vent 131, and the vents 131 of the two interface portions 13 are oriented in the same direction. Thus, the vents 131 allow air to enter the air duct housing 10 or to flow out of the air duct housing 10. The same orientation of the two vents 131 allows other pipes connected to the interface portion 13 to extend in the same direction, facilitating assembly of the heat pump drying system 1200.

[0048] like Figure 6 In the embodiment of the present invention, the ventilation duct 11 extends downward from one of the vents 131 into the main body 12, and extends upward from the main body 12 to the other interface portion 13. In this way, the gas enters the air duct housing 10 from top to bottom, and then flows upward from the air duct housing 10.

[0049] See also Figure 5-Figure 7 In some embodiments, the main body 12 includes a first shell 121 and a second shell 122 detachably connected to the first shell 121. The two interface portions 13 are integrally formed with the first shell 121. This allows for detachable connection between the first shell 121 and the second shell 122, making it easier to install the evaporator 20 and condenser 30 within the main body 12, thereby improving the assembly efficiency of the heat pump drying system 1200. Furthermore, the integral structure of the interface portion 13 with the first shell 121 enhances the seal between the connecting pipe and the first shell 121, reducing the risk of air leakage in the ventilation duct 11.

[0050] Specifically, the first shell 121 is located above the second shell 122. Therefore, the first shell 121 can be referred to as the upper shell, and the second shell 122 can be referred to as the lower shell. The first shell 121 and the second shell 122 can be connected by means of snaps, screws, etc. The interface portion 13 and the first shell 121 can be formed into an integral structure through an injection molding process.

[0051] In some embodiments, one interface portion 13 is provided with a fan mounting position and communicates with the fan, while the other interface portion 13 is directly connected to the main body 12. This allows the fan to power the air flow in the ventilation duct 11. Specifically, the fan can be an axial flow fan or a centrifugal fan. The fan can be installed using screws at the connection between the main body 12 and one of the interface portions 13. This allows the fan to form an integral unit with the air duct housing 10, making the heat pump drying system 1200 easy to assemble.

[0052] See also Figure 6and Figure 7 In some embodiments, a water tray 14 is provided within the air duct housing 10 and is located below the evaporator 20. The evaporator 20 condenses moisture in the air into condensed water, which then drips under the action of gravity. Therefore, the water tray 14 can receive the condensed water formed by the evaporator 20, reducing the risk of the condensed water being deposited elsewhere and causing adverse effects.

[0053] In one example, the water receiving tray 14 can be formed on the inner surface of the air duct housing 10, or in other words, the water receiving tray 14 is an integral structure with the air duct housing 10. For example, the surface of the air duct housing 10 is recessed downward to form the water receiving tray 14.

[0054] In another example, the water receiving tray 14 and the air duct housing 10 are detachable structures, so that the air duct housing 10 and the water receiving tray 14 can be independently molded and then assembled together, making the shape of the air duct housing 10 simpler and reducing the manufacturing cost of the air duct housing 10. It is understood that when the water receiving tray 14 and the air duct housing 10 are detachably connected, the water receiving tray 14 can be removed from the air duct housing 10 to pour out the condensed water in the water receiving tray 14.

[0055] See also Figure 6 and Figure 7 In some embodiments, the air duct housing 10 is provided with a drain port 15 connected to the water receiving tray 14. In this way, the drain port 15 is conducive to draining the condensed water received by the water receiving tray 14. In one example, the drain port 15 can be connected to the water cup 1300 (such as the washing machine 1000) of the washing machine 1000. Figure 1 As shown, the condensed water in the water receiving tray 14 can be drained into the water cup 1300 of the washing machine 1000, and then drained out of the washing machine 1000 through the water cup 1300 of the washing machine 1000. For example, the drain port 15 can be connected to a drain pipe, and a drain pump can be installed on the drain pipe to pump out the condensed water in the water receiving tray 14 through the drain pipe.

[0056] In one example, in order to facilitate drainage through the drain port 15 , the drain port 15 may be disposed at a lower portion of the water receiving tray 14 .

[0057] See also Figure 1 and Figure 4The heat pump drying system 1200 of the embodiment of the present application includes the air duct housing 10, the evaporator 20 and the condenser 30 of any of the above-mentioned embodiments. The evaporator 20 and the condenser 30 are arranged at intervals in the ventilation duct 11. Along the guide direction of the ventilation duct 11, the evaporator 20 is located upstream of the condenser 30. The evaporator 20 is used to cool the gas flowing out of the inner tank 1100 of the washing appliance 1000, and the condenser 30 is used to heat the gas flowing into the inner tank 1100. The heat pump drying system 1200 is configured to first cool and dehumidify the air flowing out of the inner tank 1100 of the washing appliance 1000 by the evaporator 20, and then heat it by the condenser 30 and return it to the inner tank 1100 of the washing appliance 1000.

[0058] In the heat pump drying system 1200 of the embodiment of the present application, the evaporator 20 and the condenser 30 are arranged in the ventilation duct 11 of the air duct housing 10, so that the air duct housing 10, the evaporator 20 and the condenser 30 can form a whole, which is convenient for assembly to form the washing appliance 1000, and is conducive to reducing the manufacturing cost of the washing appliance 1000.

[0059] Specifically, the heat pump drying system 1200 is a module with heat exchange function. The heat pump drying system 1200 has at least some components of the heat pump drying system 1200 of the washing machine 1000, so that the washing machine 1000 can achieve the effect of drying items such as tableware through the heat pump drying system 1200.

[0060] The air duct housing 10 can be configured to have a specific external structure according to the installation location of the heat pump drying system 1200, so that the heat pump drying system 1200 and surrounding components can be more compactly matched. The air duct housing 10 is in communication with the inner container 1100.

[0061] The ventilation duct 11 can be configured in a curved shape or other shape to meet the flow requirements of the airflow. The cross-sectional area of each position of the ventilation duct 11 can be different. For example, the cross-sectional area of the ventilation duct 11 at the position where the evaporator 20 and the condenser 30 are located is larger, and the cross-sectional area of other positions is smaller.

[0062] The evaporator 20 is a heat exchanger in the heat pump drying system 1200. When the heat pump drying system 1200 is operating, the evaporator 20 generates cooling energy, thereby absorbing heat from the air surrounding the evaporator 20 to lower the temperature of the surrounding air. This allows the gas flowing through the evaporator 20 to condense into condensed water, thereby drying the air.

[0063] The evaporator 20 is generally flat and can be placed vertically, or in other words, the thickness of the evaporator 20 is arranged generally horizontally. The thickness of the evaporator 20 is generally parallel to the central axis of the ventilation duct 11, so that the contact area between the gas in the ventilation duct 11 and the evaporator 20 is increased, which is conducive to improving the drying effect of the air flowing through the evaporator 20.

[0064] The condenser 30 is also a heat exchanger in the heat pump drying system 1200. When the heat pump drying system 1200 is operating, the condenser 30 generates heat, thereby absorbing heat from the surrounding air to raise the temperature of the surrounding air. This allows the air flowing through the condenser 30 to re-enter the inner tank 1100 of the washing appliance 1000, thereby drying items such as dishes.

[0065] The condenser 30 is generally flat and can be placed vertically, or in other words, the thickness of the condenser 30 is arranged generally horizontally. The thickness of the condenser 30 is generally parallel to the central axis of the ventilation duct 11, so that the contact area between the gas in the ventilation duct 11 and the condenser 30 is increased, which is conducive to improving the heating effect of the air flowing through the condenser 30.

[0066] In the embodiment of the present application, the evaporator 20 is located upstream of the condenser 30. In this way, the evaporator 20 and the condenser 30 cooperate with each other to first cool and dry the air in the ventilation duct 11 and then heat it, so that the washing appliance 1000 can use the heat pump drying system 1200 to achieve the effect of drying items such as tableware.

[0067] In the embodiment of the present application, the modular design of the heat pump drying system 1200 can reduce the number of parts that need to be assembled in the washing appliance 1000 during assembly, improve the assembly effect of the washing appliance 1000, and thus reduce the manufacturing cost of the washing appliance 1000.

[0068] See also Figure 4 and Figure 8 In some embodiments, the evaporator 20 and / or the condenser 30 includes a plurality of fins 21 , and an air flow channel 22 is formed between the plurality of fins 21 . The guide direction of the air flow channel 22 is consistent with the guide direction of the ventilation duct 11 .

[0069] In this way, the fins 21 can increase the contact area between the evaporator 20 and / or the condenser 30 and the air, so that the refrigerant can quickly absorb and release heat, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency.

[0070] Specifically, multiple fins 21 may be provided on the evaporator 20, the condenser 30, or both the evaporator 20 and the condenser 30. The multiple fins 21 are spaced apart and arranged perpendicular to the flow direction of the ventilation duct 11. The refrigerant is controlled by the throttling device 143 to reduce its temperature to below the ambient temperature. Therefore, when the airflow entering the evaporator 20 has a high humidity, water vapor in the airflow easily condenses on the evaporator 144 to form condensed water, which then flows down through the airflow channel 22.

[0071] The fins 21 may be in the shape of a square sheet, and the material of the fins 21 may be a metal material with high thermal conductivity, such as copper. It is understood that the fins 21 may also be in other shapes, which are not specifically limited.

[0072] In some embodiments, the thickness direction of the fin 21 is the same as the horizontal direction, and the height of the fin 21 is greater than the width of the fin 21 .

[0073] In this way, the width of the fin 21 is smaller, which can reduce the area occupied by the evaporator 20 and / or condenser 30 in the ventilation duct 11, and further reduce the area occupied by the air duct component 100 on the heat pump drying system 1200, thereby making the washing appliance 1000 compact.

[0074] Specifically, the width direction of the fin 21 is the guide direction of the ventilation duct 11, the thickness direction of the fin 21 is the horizontal direction perpendicular to the width direction of the fin 21, and the height direction of the fin 21 is the vertical direction perpendicular to the thickness and width directions of the fin 21.

[0075] See also Figure 3-Figure 6 In some embodiments, the heat pump drying system 1200 includes an air intake pipe 70 and an exhaust pipe 80 both connected to the air duct housing 10, and the air intake pipe 70 and the exhaust pipe 80 are both connected to the inner liner 1100. The heat pump drying system 1200 includes a first fan 40 and a second fan 41. The first fan 40 is used to form an airflow in the ventilation duct 11. The first fan 40 is installed on the outside of the air duct housing 10, and the second fan 41 is arranged at the air intake end of the air intake pipe 70 to draw the gas in the inner liner 1100 into the air intake pipe 70.

[0076] In this way, the first fan 40 and the second fan 41 can provide power for the flow of gas in the ventilation duct 11, and the first fan 40 can be connected to the air duct housing 10 to form a gas flow path.

[0077] Specifically, the first fan 40 can be an axial fan or a centrifugal fan. The first fan 40 can be installed on the outside of the air duct housing 10 using screws. In this way, the first fan 40 and the air duct housing 10 form an integral whole, making the heat pump drying system 1200 easy to assemble.

[0078] The first fan 40 is mounted on the main body 12 of the air duct housing 10, thereby providing more space within the air duct housing 10 for the installation of the first fan 40. For example, the first fan 40 can be mounted on the outside of the air duct housing 10, or in a mounting position within the air duct housing 10. For another example, the first fan 40 is partially located in the air duct 11, downstream of the condenser 30. When the first fan 40 is activated, it creates a negative pressure on the side facing the condenser 30, thereby drawing air around the condenser 30 and promoting gas flow.

[0079] Since the ventilation duct 11 between the main body 12 and the interface portion 13 is non-linear, in order to reduce the resistance to gas flow, the first fan 40 adopts a centrifugal fan, and the air outlet of the first fan 40 faces the interface portion 13, so that the gas can be discharged directly to the interface portion 13.

[0080] See also Figure 3-Figure 5 The second fan 41 is provided at the air inlet end of the air inlet pipe 70, and the second fan 41 can provide power for the air flow in the inner container 1100. The second fan 41 can be an axial flow fan or a centrifugal fan.

[0081] The second fan 41 can be screwed onto the air inlet end of the air inlet duct 70. This allows the second fan 41 to form an integral unit with the air inlet duct 70, simplifying assembly of the heat pump drying system 1200. At least a portion of the second fan 41 is located within the air inlet duct 70, upstream of the evaporator 20. When activated, the second fan 41 creates a negative pressure on the side facing the inner liner 1100, thereby driving the air within the inner liner 1100 and promoting gas flow.

[0082] See also Figure 1-Figure 5 In some embodiments, the heat pump drying system 1200 further includes a tray 50, a compressor 60, and a throttling device 90. The compressor 60, condenser 30, throttling device 90, and evaporator 20 are sequentially connected to form a closed refrigerant circuit. The compressor 60 and the air duct housing 10 are both mounted on the tray 50, and are spaced apart along the depth direction X of the inner tank 1100. Thus, the compressor 60 and the air duct housing 10 are formed into a single unit by the tray 50, facilitating the integrated installation of the heat pump drying system 1200 and improving the assembly efficiency of the washing appliance 1000.

[0083] Specifically, the condenser 30 and the evaporator 20 can be connected to the compressor 60 via a pipe 61. The compressor 60, condenser 30, throttling device 90, and evaporator 20 are the main components of the heat pump drying system 1200 of the washing appliance 1000. They are connected in sequence to form a closed refrigerant circuit, allowing the refrigerant, serving as a refrigerant, to circulate in the sealed refrigerant circuit formed by the compressor 60, condenser 30, throttling device 90, and evaporator 20. The four components work together to enable the heat pump drying system 1200 to achieve the effect of drying objects such as dishes. When the heat pump drying system 1200 is in the drying phase, the compressor 60 operates, pumping high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant to the condenser 30 to heat the air. After the refrigerant and the air complete heat exchange, they flow out of the condenser 30, are throttled by the throttling device 90, and then become low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant before flowing into the evaporator 20 to exchange heat with the air and evaporate. The refrigerant then returns to the compressor 60 to complete the entire heat pump heating cycle. The dried air is heated by the condenser 30 and then reenters the inner tank 1100 of the washing appliance 1000. The throttling device 90 may be an expansion valve, and further, the throttling device 90 may be an electronic expansion valve.

[0084] The tray 50 can be mounted on the base 1400 of the washing appliance 1000. Because the depth direction X of the inner container 1100 provides more installation space, spacing the compressor 60 and the air duct housing 10 along the depth direction X of the inner container 1100 allows for efficient utilization of the space within the washing appliance 1000 and reduces interference between the compressor 60 and the air duct housing 10 and other components. The depth direction X of the inner container 1100 is the direction inward from which the opening of the washing chamber 1101 extends.

[0085] See also Figure 2-Figure 5 In some embodiments, the heat pump drying system 1200 includes an air inlet pipe 70 and an exhaust pipe 80, both of which are connected to two interface portions 13. The two interface portions 13 extend upward from the main body 12 toward the side wall of the inner liner 1100. The two interface portions 13, the air inlet pipe 70, and the exhaust pipe 80 are located on the same side of the inner liner 1100.

[0086] In this way, the air inlet pipe 70 can direct the gas in the inner liner 1100 into the air duct housing 10, and the exhaust pipe 80 can direct the gas after passing through the evaporator 20 and condenser 30 into the inner liner 1100. The air inlet pipe 70, the air duct housing 10, and the exhaust pipe 80 together form the air duct component, allowing the gas to circulate between the air duct housing 10 and the inner liner 1100. At the same time, two interface portions 13 extend upward from the main body 12 toward the sidewalls of the inner liner 1100, facilitating the entry of gas from the inner liner 1100 into the main body 12 from top to bottom. The two interface portions 13, the air inlet pipe 70, and the exhaust pipe 80 are located on the same side of the inner liner 1100, which can reduce interference between the inner liner 1100 and surrounding components and facilitate assembly.

[0087] Specifically, both the air inlet pipe 70 and the exhaust pipe 80 are connected to the inner container 1100 of the washing appliance 1000. One end of the air inlet pipe 70 is connected to one of the interface portions 13, and the other end is connected to the inner container 1100. One end of the exhaust pipe 80 is connected to the other interface portion 13, and the other end is connected to the inner container 1100. Both the air inlet pipe 70 and the exhaust pipe 80 can be flat tubes to facilitate installation in close contact with the outer wall of the inner container 1100.

[0088] The air inlet pipe 70 and the air duct housing 10 can be an integrally formed structure or a split and detachable structure. Similarly, the exhaust pipe 80 and the air duct housing 10 can be an integrally formed structure or a split and detachable structure.

[0089] Optionally, the interface portion 13 is formed with a vent 131, with the vents 131 of both interface portions 13 facing upward. The lower ends of the intake pipe 70 and the exhaust pipe 80 are respectively connected to the two interface portions 13 through the two vents 131. In this way, the vents 131 allow air to enter the air duct housing 10 from top to bottom through the intake pipe 70, and then flow upward from the air duct housing 10 to the exhaust pipe 80.

[0090] Optionally, the air inlet pipe 70 and the exhaust pipe 80 are located above the two interface parts 13. In this way, the interface part 13 can avoid the connection between the inner liner 1100 and the air inlet pipe 70 and the exhaust pipe 80, which is conducive to the assembly of the inner liner 1100 with other components, reduces the interference between the inner liner 1100 and surrounding components, and simplifies the structure.

[0091] Since the hot and humid air in the inner liner 1100 flows upward, and objects such as tableware are located below the top of the inner liner 1100, in order to achieve just the right drying effect, in some embodiments, the end where the air inlet pipe 70 is connected to the inner liner 1100 is higher than the end where the exhaust pipe 80 is connected to the inner liner 1100, so that the air inlet pipe 70 can more easily extract the hot and humid air in the inner liner 1100, and the exhaust pipe 80 can discharge the dry hot air to a position below the top of the inner liner 1100, thereby better drying objects such as tableware.

[0092] In some embodiments, the air inlet pipe 70 and the exhaust pipe 80 can both be connected to the side walls of the inner tank 1100. For example, the air inlet pipe 70 and the exhaust pipe 80 can both be connected to the left side wall, right side wall or rear side wall of the inner tank 1100, thereby reducing the interference between the air inlet pipe 70 and the exhaust pipe 80 and other components of the washing appliance 1000 and improving the reliability of the washing appliance 1000.

[0093] In some embodiments, the air inlet pipe 70 may be connected to the top wall of the inner liner 1100 , while the air outlet pipe 80 is connected to the side wall of the inner liner 1100 .

[0094] See also Figure 4 In some embodiments, the main body 12 includes a bottom plate 123 and side plates 124 connected to the main body 12. The bottom plate 123 and the side plates 124 are used to enclose the ventilation duct 11. The bottom plate 123 is provided with a support member 125 that protrudes toward the ventilation duct 11. The evaporator 20 and the condenser 30 both abut against the support member 125. In this way, the support member 125 provides support for the evaporator 20 and the condenser 30. The bottom plate 123, the side plates 124, and the support member 125 form a space around the evaporator 20 and the condenser 30 for air circulation, which facilitates smooth airflow in the ventilation duct 11.

[0095] Specifically, the bottom plate 123 and the side plates 124 can be flat or curved, with the curvature of the plates matching the direction of the airflow. The bottom plate 123 is located at the bottom of the main body 12, i.e., on the side opposite the interface 13. The side plates 124 can surround the bottom plate 123 and form an angle with it, forming a space capable of accommodating components such as the evaporator 20 and the condenser 30.

[0096] The support member 125 can be a strip-shaped rib, a scattered point-shaped bump or other structure. The support member 125 can be integrally formed with the bottom plate 123 to improve the support stability. For example, Figure 4 In the illustrated embodiment, the support member 125 is in the shape of a straight plate, and the top of the support member 125 abuts against the evaporator 20 and the condenser 30, lifting the evaporator 20 and the condenser 30 so that a gap is formed between the bottom of the evaporator 20 and the condenser 30 and the bottom plate 123.

[0097] See also Figure 5 and Figure 9 In some embodiments, the main body 12 includes retaining ribs 126 that abut the evaporator 20 and / or condenser 30. The first shell 121 is positioned over the second shell 122, with the bottom plate 123 forming the bottom of the second shell 122. The retaining ribs 126 can be disposed on the side panels 124, with one end of the retaining rib 126 connected to the bottom plate 123 and extending from the bottom plate 123 toward the first shell 121. In this way, the retaining ribs 126 and the first shell 121 jointly limit the freedom of movement of the evaporator 20 and condenser 30, preventing them from shaking within the main body 12 to a certain extent.

[0098] Optionally, there are multiple limiting ribs 126, and the multiple limiting ribs 126 abut against the evaporator 20 and / or the condenser 30 from multiple directions. Exemplarily, the side panel 124 surrounds and roughly forms a square frame, the bottom panel 123 covers the bottom of the square frame-shaped side panel 124, and the multiple limiting ribs 126 are respectively provided at the four corners of the side panel 124.

[0099] See also Figure 5In some embodiments, the exhaust duct 80 has a plurality of exhaust ports 81, which are arranged at intervals along the height direction of the inner container 1100. Thus, the plurality of exhaust ports 81 of the exhaust duct 80 are arranged at intervals along the height direction of the inner container 1100, so that the exhaust ports 81 can discharge the dried hot air to different positions of the inner container 1100, thereby achieving a better drying effect.

[0100] The number of the exhaust ports 81 can be two, three, four, etc., and the present application does not limit the specific number of the exhaust ports 81.

[0101] See also Figure 4 and Figure 5 In some embodiments, the exhaust duct 80 includes a first exhaust section 82 and multiple second exhaust sections 83. Each second exhaust section 83 has an exhaust port 81 formed at its end. The middle portion of each second exhaust section 83 is curved and arched upward. This allows the first exhaust section 82 to direct air into the second exhaust sections 83. The upward curvature of the middle portion of the second exhaust sections 83 prevents condensed water from re-entering the inner tank 1100, thereby improving the drying efficiency of the washing machine 1000. Furthermore, the upward curvature of the middle portion of the second exhaust section 83 prevents water in the inner tank 1100 from directly entering the exhaust duct 80, thereby enhancing the reliability of the heat pump drying system 1200.

[0102] In summary, please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 4 In one embodiment, after the washing appliance 1000 completes washing and enters the drying mode, the heat pump drying system 1200 starts working, and the first fan 40 and the second fan 41 cause the gas to circulate in the inner tank 1100, the air inlet pipe 70, the air duct housing 10 and the exhaust pipe 80. After the hot and humid gas passes through the evaporator 20, the evaporator 20 can cool the hot and humid air and form condensed water, which drips into the water receiving tray 14; the air dried by the evaporator 20 passes through the condenser 30 and is heated, and then enters the inner tank 1100 again to dry the dishes. This cycle achieves the effect of drying the dishes.

[0103] Throughout this specification, reference to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "illustrative embodiments," "examples," "specific examples," or "some examples" means that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in conjunction with an embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present application. In this specification, the schematic representations of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples.

[0104] Although the embodiments of the present application have been shown and described above, it can be understood that the above embodiments are illustrative and cannot be understood as limitations on the present application. Ordinary technicians in this field can change, modify, replace and modify the above implementation methods within the scope of the present application.

Claims

1. An air duct housing for a heat pump drying system of a washing appliance, characterized in that: The air duct shell forms a ventilation duct and includes a main body and two interface parts, both of which are connected to the main body, and both of which are connected to the same side of the main body and are arranged at intervals, one of which is used for air intake and the other is used for air outlet, and the main body is used to accommodate an evaporator and a condenser.

2. The air duct housing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The interface portion is formed with a vent, and the vents of the two interface portions face the same direction.

3. The air duct housing according to claim 2, characterized in that: The ventilation channel extends downward from one of the vents into the main body, and extends upward from the main body to the other interface.

4. The air duct housing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The main body includes a first shell and a second shell detachably connected to the first shell, and the two interface parts are an integral structure with the first shell.

5. The air duct housing according to claim 1, characterized in that: One of the interface parts is provided with a fan installation position and is connected to the fan, and the other interface part is directly connected to the main body.

6. The air duct housing according to claim 1, characterized in that: A water receiving tray is provided in the air duct housing, and the water receiving tray is located below the evaporator. The air duct housing is provided with a drain port connected to the water receiving tray.

7. A heat pump drying system for washing appliances, characterized in that: The heat pump drying system comprises: The air duct housing according to any one of claims 1 to 6; An evaporator and a condenser are arranged at intervals in the ventilation duct. Along the flow direction of the ventilation duct, the evaporator is located upstream of the condenser. The evaporator is used to cool the gas flowing out of the inner tank of the washing appliance, and the condenser is used to heat the gas flowing into the inner tank. The heat pump drying system is configured to first cool and dehumidify the gas flowing out of the inner tank of the washing appliance by the evaporator, and then heat it by the condenser and return it to the inner tank of the washing appliance.

8. The heat pump drying system according to claim 7, characterized in that: The evaporator and / or the condenser each include a plurality of fins, an air flow channel is formed between the plurality of fins, the guide direction of the air flow channel is consistent with the guide direction of the ventilation duct, the thickness direction of the fin is the same as the horizontal direction, and the height of the fin is greater than the width of the fin.

9. The heat pump drying system according to claim 7, characterized in that: The heat pump drying system includes an air intake pipe and an exhaust pipe, both of which are connected to the air duct housing. The air intake pipe and the exhaust pipe are both connected to the inner tank. The heat pump drying system includes a first fan and a second fan. The first fan is used to form an airflow in the ventilation duct. The first fan is installed on the air duct housing. The second fan is arranged at the air intake end of the air intake pipe and is used to draw the gas in the inner tank into the air intake pipe.

10. The heat pump drying system according to claim 7, characterized in that: The heat pump drying system also includes a tray, a compressor and a throttling device. The compressor, the condenser, the throttling device and the evaporator are connected in sequence to form a closed refrigerant circuit. The compressor and the air duct housing are both installed on the tray. Along the depth direction of the inner tank, the compressor and the air duct housing are arranged at intervals.

11. The heat pump drying system according to claim 7, characterized in that: The heat pump drying system includes an air inlet pipe and an exhaust pipe, which are respectively connected to the two interface parts. The two interface parts extend upward from the main body toward the side wall of the inner tank. The two interface parts, the air inlet pipe and the exhaust pipe are located on the same side of the inner tank.

12. The heat pump drying system according to claim 7, characterized in that: The main body includes a bottom plate and side plates connected to the main body, the bottom plate and the side plates are used to enclose the ventilation duct, the bottom plate is provided with a support member protruding toward the ventilation duct, and the evaporator and the condenser are both in contact with the support member.

13. A washing appliance, characterized in that: include: liner; In the heat pump drying system according to any one of claims 7 to 12, the air duct housing is connected to the inner tank.

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