Air floatation roller structure and clothes dryer

Abstract

The utility model discloses an air floatation roller structure and a clothes dryer, the air floatation roller structure comprises a roller body, a mounting seat, a driving assembly, a rotating shaft and a bearing assembly, the roller body is provided with a first end and a second end, the first end is provided with an opening for putting clothes to be dried, the driving assembly is mounted in the mounting seat, and the rotating shaft is mounted in the mounting seat. The driving end of the driving assembly is connected with the rotating shaft, the rotating shaft is connected with the second end, the bearing assembly is installed in the installation base, the rotating shaft is arranged in the bearing assembly, the interior of the rotating shaft is hollow to form an air supply channel, a first throttling piece is arranged in the bearing assembly, and the first throttling piece is connected with the first throttling piece. And external gas supply equipment conveys gas to the first throttling element through a pipeline, so that a gas film is formed on the contact surface of the bearing assembly and the rotating shaft. The cylinder is driven to rotate in an air flotation driving mode, the bearing assembly does not make contact with the rotating shaft, and therefore stable and friction-free rotating motion of the cylinder is achieved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the technical field of clothes dryers, and more particularly to an air-floating drum structure and a clothes dryer. Background Technology

[0002] As a modern household appliance, the core function of a clothes dryer is to quickly dry clothes by heating the air and promoting the immediate evaporation of moisture inside the clothes. This feature is especially popular in humid or cold climates, such as northern winters, where clothes dry slowly due to low temperatures and weak air drying capabilities; and in the humid "return to spring" season in the south, clothes are even more difficult to dry due to extremely high humidity. Therefore, clothes dryers are particularly important in these environments, greatly improving the convenience of life.

[0003] In the structure of a clothes dryer, the drum is a crucial component. It is responsible for holding the clothes to be dried and distributing heat and air evenly through rotation to promote moisture evaporation. To achieve rapid drum rotation, existing clothes dryers typically employ two main drive methods: one is direct motor drive, which is simple in structure and responds quickly, but may place high demands on the motor's load capacity and stability; the other is belt-driven drum rotation, which can buffer the direct impact of the motor to some extent, but belt drive generates significant friction, increasing energy consumption and potentially accelerating belt wear, requiring regular replacement and increasing maintenance costs. Utility Model Content

[0004] The purpose of this application is to provide an air-floating drum structure and a clothes dryer, which drives the drum to rotate by air-floating drive, and there is no contact between the bearing assembly and the rotating shaft, thereby achieving a smooth and frictionless rotation of the drum.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, this application adopts the following technical solution:

[0006] On one hand, an air-floating drum structure is provided, including: a drum body, a mounting base, a drive assembly, a rotating shaft, and a bearing assembly. The drum body has a first end and a second end. The first end has an opening for placing clothes to be dried. The drive assembly is installed in the mounting base. The drive end of the drive assembly is connected to the rotating shaft. The rotating shaft is connected to the second end. The bearing assembly is installed in the mounting base. The rotating shaft is disposed inside the bearing assembly, and the interior of the rotating shaft is hollow to form an air supply channel. A first throttling element is provided inside the bearing assembly. An external air supply device supplies gas to the first throttling element through a pipe, so that an air film is formed at the contact surface between the bearing assembly and the rotating shaft.

[0007] Furthermore, the bearing assembly includes a first bearing and a second bearing. The first bearing is installed on the upper part of the mounting base, and the second bearing is installed on the lower part of the mounting base. The first throttling element is provided in both the first bearing and the second bearing. The end of the rotating shaft away from the cylinder can be rotatably connected to the heating device through the second bearing, so that the hot air generated by the heating device enters the interior of the cylinder through the air supply channel.

[0008] Furthermore, the lower end of the first bearing extends toward the rotating shaft to form a limiting portion, and the limiting portion is provided with the first throttling element so that an air film is formed at the contact surface between the limiting portion and the rotating shaft.

[0009] Furthermore, a sealing plate is provided at one end of the mounting base opposite to the cylinder body. The sealing plate abuts against the rotating shaft, thereby working in conjunction with the limiting part to restrict the axial displacement of the rotating shaft.

[0010] Furthermore, the second end is provided with a mounting ring seat, which is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft.

[0011] Furthermore, the driving component is a rotary motor.

[0012] Furthermore, the rotary motor includes a motor stator and a motor mover. The motor stator is fixedly connected to the mounting base, and the motor mover is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft. The motor stator and the motor mover cooperate to drive the rotating shaft to rotate relative to the mounting base.

[0013] Furthermore, two guide members are symmetrically arranged at the first end.

[0014] Furthermore, a second throttling element is provided inside the guide member, and the second throttling element is connected to a connector. An external air supply device is connected to the second throttling element through the connector, so that an air buoyancy surface is formed on the outer wall surface of the guide member.

[0015] On the other hand, a clothes dryer is also provided, including a body and an air-floating drum structure. The drum is installed inside the body, and two guide members are symmetrically arranged at the first end. The body is provided with a guide groove that cooperates with the guide members for guidance.

[0016] The beneficial effects of this application are as follows: The air-floating roller structure includes core components such as a cylinder, mounting base, drive assembly, rotating shaft, and bearing assembly. The cylinder is designed with an opening for easy loading of clothes, while the drive assembly is installed inside the mounting base and connected to the rotating shaft through its drive end, thereby driving the cylinder to rotate. The rotating shaft not only serves as a key component for transmission, but its interior is also cleverly designed with a hollow structure, forming an air supply channel. This air supply channel can be directly connected to a heating device to deliver heated air into the cylinder, thereby promoting the evaporation of moisture inside the clothes and achieving rapid drying.

[0017] Meanwhile, to achieve contactless rotation of the rotating shaft, a first throttling element is installed inside the bearing assembly. This first throttling element is connected to an external air supply device via a separately configured channel. When the air supply device delivers high-pressure gas to the throttling element, a stable gas film is formed between the contact surfaces of the bearing assembly and the rotating shaft. This gas film not only supports the weight of the rotating shaft but also enables contactless and smooth rotation of the shaft within the bearing assembly, significantly reducing friction loss and energy consumption.

[0018] The air-floating drum structure and dryer proposed in this application provide users with a more efficient, energy-saving, and comfortable drying experience through their unique frictionless rotation design and efficient heated air delivery system. Attached Figure Description

[0019] The present application will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0020] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the air flotation drum structure described in the embodiments of this application;

[0021] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the air flotation drum structure described in the embodiments of this application;

[0022] Figure 3 This is a perspective view of the clothes dryer described in the embodiments of this application.

[0023] In the diagram: 1. Cylinder; 101. Opening; 2. Mounting base; 3. Drive assembly; 301. Motor stator; 302. Motor mover; 4. Rotating shaft; 401. Air supply channel; 5. Bearing assembly; 501. First bearing; 502. Second bearing; 5011. Limiting part; 6. Sealing plate; 7. Mounting ring seat; 8. Guide component; 9. Connector; 10. Machine body. Detailed Implementation

[0024] To make the technical problems solved by this application, the technical solutions adopted, and the technical effects achieved clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application are further described in detail below. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments in this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0025] In the description of this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "connected," "linked," and "fixed" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; 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; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0026] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can include direct contact between the first and second features, or contact between the first and second features through another feature between them. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature includes the first feature being directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature includes the first feature being directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0027] like Figures 1-2 As shown, this embodiment provides an air-floating drum structure, including: a cylinder 1, a mounting base 2, a drive assembly 3, a rotating shaft 4, and a bearing assembly 5. The cylinder 1 has a first end and a second end. The first end has an opening 101 for placing clothes to be dried. The drive assembly 3 is installed in the mounting base 2. The drive end of the drive assembly 3 is connected to the rotating shaft 4. The rotating shaft 4 is connected to the second end. The bearing assembly 5 is installed in the mounting base 2. The rotating shaft 4 is disposed inside the bearing assembly 5, and the interior of the rotating shaft 4 is hollow to form an air supply channel 401. A first throttling element is provided inside the bearing assembly 5. An external air supply device supplies gas to the first throttling element through a pipe so that an air film is formed at the contact surface between the bearing assembly 5 and the rotating shaft 4.

[0028] This solution aims to achieve smooth, frictionless rotation of the drum 1 using air flotation drive technology, while optimizing drying efficiency and reducing energy consumption. The air flotation drum structure includes core components such as the drum 1, mounting base 2, drive assembly 3, rotating shaft 4, and bearing assembly 5. The drum 1 is designed with an opening 101 for easy loading of clothes, while the drive assembly 3 is installed inside the mounting base 2 and connected to the rotating shaft 4 via its drive end, thereby driving the drum 1 to rotate. The rotating shaft 4 is hollow inside, forming an independent air supply channel 401. This channel is directly connected to a heating device to deliver heated air into the drum 1, promoting the evaporation of moisture inside the clothes. Meanwhile, the bearing assembly 5 is equipped with a throttling device that receives high-pressure gas from an external air supply device through a separately configured channel. Under the action of the throttling device, this gas forms a stable air film between the contact surface of the bearing assembly 5 and the rotating shaft 4. This air film not only supports the weight of the rotating shaft 4 but also enables the rotating shaft 4 to rotate smoothly and without contact within the bearing assembly 5, significantly reducing friction loss and energy consumption.

[0029] The significant advantages of this innovative design are as follows: First, the frictionless rotation characteristic reduces mechanical wear and extends the service life of the dryer and its key components. Second, the connection between the air supply channel 401 and the heating device ensures uniform distribution of heated air within the drum 1, improving drying efficiency. Third, the throttling element and the separately configured gas delivery channel ensure stable air film formation, further enhancing the rotational smoothness and energy efficiency of the rotating shaft 4. Finally, the low-noise operation and ease of maintenance allow users to enjoy a quieter and more comfortable drying experience while reducing maintenance costs. In summary, the air-floating drum structure and dryer solution proposed in this application, with its unique frictionless rotation design and optimized heated air delivery system, provides users with a more efficient, energy-saving, and comfortable drying experience.

[0030] Furthermore, the bearing assembly 5 includes a first bearing 501 and a second bearing 502, which are respectively mounted on the upper and lower parts of the mounting base 2. This dual-bearing design not only enhances the stability of the rotating shaft 4 but also provides it with more uniform support. More importantly, both the first bearing 501 and the second bearing 502 are equipped with first throttling elements, which are connected to the external air supply equipment through separately configured channels. When the external air supply equipment is activated and delivers high-pressure gas, the gas enters the first throttling elements in the first bearing 501 and the second bearing 502 respectively. By regulating the gas flow rate and pressure, the first throttling elements form a stable gas film between the contact surface of the bearing assembly 5 and the rotating shaft 4. This gas film not only supports the weight of the rotating shaft 4 but also enables the rotating shaft 4 to rotate smoothly and without contact within the bearing assembly 5.

[0031] Meanwhile, the end of the rotating shaft 4 away from the cylinder 1 is rotatably connected to the heating device through the second bearing 502. The main purpose is to ensure that the rotating shaft 4 can still rotate stably when the heating device is fixed, and also to ensure that the hot air generated by the heating device can smoothly enter the cylinder 1 through the air supply channel 401 inside the rotating shaft 4, thereby heating the clothes evenly and promoting the evaporation of moisture.

[0032] Furthermore, the lower end of the first bearing 501 extends towards the rotating shaft 4 to form a limiting portion 5011. The limiting portion 5011 contains the first throttling element, allowing an air film to form at the contact surface between the limiting portion 5011 and the rotating shaft 4. A sealing plate 6 is provided at one end of the mounting base 2 relative to the cylinder 1. The sealing plate 6 abuts against the rotating shaft 4, thereby working in conjunction with the limiting portion 5011 to restrict the axial displacement of the rotating shaft 4. The limiting portion 5011 cleverly incorporates a first throttling element. When an external gas supply device delivers high-pressure gas to the first throttling element through a separately configured channel, the first throttling element adjusts the gas flow rate and pressure, thereby forming a stable air film between the limiting portion 5011 and the rotating shaft 4. This air film not only supports the weight of the rotating shaft 4 but also ensures contactless and smooth rotation of the rotating shaft 4 within the bearing assembly 5, while reducing friction loss and energy consumption. In addition, a sealing plate 6 is added to one end of the mounting base 2 relative to the cylinder 1. The sealing plate 6 abuts tightly against the rotating shaft 4 and works in conjunction with the limiting part 5011 to effectively limit the axial displacement of the rotating shaft 4. This design not only enhances the stability of the rotating shaft 4 but also prevents noise and wear caused by axial displacement, further improving the operating efficiency and stability of the dryer.

[0033] Generally, the second end is provided with a mounting ring seat 7, which is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft 4. The mounting ring seat 7 is designed in a circular shape, and its inner diameter matches the outer diameter of the rotating shaft 4. It is tightly connected to the rotating shaft 4 through a precise fixing connection method (such as welding, bolting, interference fit, etc.). At the same time, the outer diameter of the mounting ring seat 7 matches the inner wall of the cylinder 1 or a specially designed connecting component, ensuring that the cylinder 1 can be stably installed on the rotating shaft 4. When the drive assembly 3 starts and drives the rotating shaft 4 to rotate, the mounting ring seat 7 acts as a connecting bridge, smoothly transmitting the rotational motion of the rotating shaft 4 to the cylinder 1, thereby driving the cylinder 1 to rotate together. Due to the tight connection between the mounting ring seat 7, the rotating shaft 4, and the cylinder 1, their relative positions remain unchanged, ensuring the stability of the rotating shaft 4 and the smooth rotation of the cylinder 1. In addition, the design of the mounting ring seat 7 also takes into account the requirements of the gas delivery channel. Based on the air supply channel 401 formed inside the rotating shaft 4, the mounting ring seat 7 is usually provided with an opening 101 or channel communicating with the air supply channel 401, so as to ensure that the hot air generated by the heating device can smoothly enter the cylinder 1 through the rotating shaft 4 and the mounting ring seat 7, so as to achieve efficient hot air delivery and clothes drying.

[0034] Specifically, the drive assembly 3 is a rotary motor, which mainly consists of two parts: a motor stator 301 and a motor rotor 302. The motor stator 301 is securely mounted on the mounting base 2 using precise fixing methods, such as bolt connections or welding. The motor rotor 302 is tightly connected to the rotating shaft 4 using specific connection methods, such as key connections or interference fits. When the motor stator 301 is energized, a rotating magnetic field is generated around it. This rotating magnetic field interacts with the conductors (usually coils) in the motor rotor 302, thereby generating an electromagnetic force. This electromagnetic force acts as a driving force, causing the motor rotor 302 (and the tightly connected rotating shaft 4) to rotate smoothly relative to the motor stator 301.

[0035] Driven by the rotary motor, the rotating shaft 4 begins to rotate, and through the connecting bridge of the mounting ring seat 7, the rotational motion is smoothly transmitted to the cylinder 1, thereby driving the cylinder 1 to rotate together. Because the rotating shaft 4 and the bearing assembly 5 adopt a non-contact air-float design, the rotation process is more stable and efficient, and friction loss is greatly reduced.

[0036] In terms of beneficial effects, the application of rotary motors brings many significant advantages. First, their efficient and stable drive performance ensures that the rotating shaft 4 can rotate at a constant speed, thereby improving drying efficiency. Second, the smooth rotation process reduces noise and wear caused by vibration or imbalance, extending the dryer's lifespan. Third, the design of rotary motors results in low energy consumption, and the low friction loss further reduces the dryer's operating costs. Furthermore, the simple and compact structure of rotary motors makes them easy to install and maintain, reducing maintenance costs and improving reliability. Finally, rotary motors are highly adaptable and can be customized to different dryer models and sizes to meet diverse usage needs.

[0037] In some embodiments, to improve the rotational efficiency and stability of the rotating shaft 4, a symmetrical double guide member 8 structure is innovatively designed at the first end. These two guide members 8 not only guide the rotating shaft 4 to rotate smoothly, but also incorporate a second throttling element and are connected to an external air supply device via a connector 9, forming a closed air circuit system. When the external air supply device supplies air, the gas enters the interior of the guide member 8 through the second throttling element and is evenly sprayed out from the outer wall of the guide member 8, forming a thin air film, i.e., an air-floating surface. This air-floating surface can cooperate with the guide groove inside the body 10 for guidance, and the cooperation is non-contact and frictionless, improving rotational stability. Due to the symmetrical design of the double guide members 8 and the presence of the air-floating surface, the rotating shaft 4 is more stable during rotation, reducing noise caused by vibration and imbalance, and extending the service life of the dryer. At the same time, this design also reduces energy consumption, improves drying efficiency, and makes the dryer easier to maintain, reducing maintenance costs. Furthermore, this design of the double guide members 8 and the air-floating surface can be customized according to different dryer models and sizes to meet diverse usage needs.

[0038] On the other hand, a dryer is also provided, such as Figure 3 As shown, the dryer includes a body 10 and an air-floating drum structure. The drum 1 is installed inside the body 10, and a guide groove is provided inside the body 10 to guide the guide member 8. In this design, when the dryer starts working, an external air supply device supplies air to the second throttling device through a connector 9. The gas enters the interior of the guide member 8 through the second throttling device and is evenly sprayed out from the outer wall of the guide member 8, forming a thin air film, i.e., an air-floating surface. Due to the tight fit between the guide member 8 and the guide groove, the rotating shaft 4 can remain stable during rotation, avoiding vibration and noise caused by deviation from the track. This design not only improves the operating efficiency of the dryer but also extends its service life.

[0039] In the description herein, it should be understood that the terms "upper," "lower," "left," "right," and other orientations or positional relationships are used only for ease of description and simplification of operation, and 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 a limitation of this application. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used merely for descriptive distinction and have no special meaning.

[0040] In the description of this specification, references to terms such as "an embodiment," "example," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of this application. In this specification, illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example.

[0041] Furthermore, it should be understood that although this specification describes embodiments, not every embodiment contains only one independent technical solution. This narrative style of the specification is merely for clarity. Those skilled in the art should consider the specification as a whole, and the technical solutions in each embodiment can also be appropriately combined to form other embodiments that can be understood by those skilled in the art.

[0042] The technical principles of this application have been described above with reference to specific embodiments. These descriptions are merely for explaining the principles of this application and should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of this application in any way. Based on this explanation, those skilled in the art can readily conceive of other specific embodiments of this application without inventive effort, and these embodiments will all fall within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. An air-floating drum structure, characterized in that, include: The assembly comprises a cylinder (1), a mounting base (2), a drive assembly (3), a rotating shaft (4), and a bearing assembly (5). The cylinder (1) has a first end and a second end. The first end has an opening (101) for placing clothes to be dried. The drive assembly (3) is installed in the mounting base (2). The drive end of the drive assembly (3) is connected to the rotating shaft (4). The rotating shaft (4) is connected to the second end. The bearing assembly (5) is installed in the mounting base (2). The rotating shaft (4) is located inside the bearing assembly (5), and the interior of the rotating shaft (4) is hollow to form an air supply channel (401). A first throttling device is provided inside the bearing assembly (5). An external air supply device supplies gas to the first throttling device through a pipe so that an air film is formed at the contact surface between the bearing assembly (5) and the rotating shaft (4).

2. The air-floating drum structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bearing assembly (5) includes a first bearing (501) and a second bearing (502). The first bearing (501) is installed on the upper part of the mounting base (2), and the second bearing (502) is installed on the lower part of the mounting base (2). The first throttling element is provided in both the first bearing (501) and the second bearing (502). The end of the rotating shaft (4) away from the cylinder (1) can be rotatably connected to the heating device through the second bearing (502) so that the hot air generated by the heating device enters the interior of the cylinder (1) through the air supply channel (401).

3. The air-floating drum structure according to claim 2, characterized in that, The lower end of the first bearing (501) extends toward the rotating shaft (4) to form a limiting part (5011), and the first throttling element is provided in the limiting part (5011) so that an air film is formed at the contact surface between the limiting part (5011) and the rotating shaft (4).

4. The air-floating drum structure according to claim 3, characterized in that, The mounting base (2) is provided with a sealing plate (6) at one end relative to the cylinder (1). The sealing plate (6) abuts against the rotating shaft (4) and thus works with the limiting part (5011) to restrict the axial displacement of the rotating shaft (4).

5. The air-floating drum structure according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The second end is provided with a mounting ring seat (7), which is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft (4).

6. The air-floating drum structure according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The drive component (3) is a rotary motor.

7. The air-floating drum structure according to claim 6, characterized in that, The rotary motor includes a motor stator (301) and a motor mover (302). The motor stator (301) is fixedly connected to the mounting base (2), and the motor mover (302) is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft (4). The motor stator (301) and the motor mover (302) cooperate to drive the rotating shaft (4) to rotate relative to the mounting base (2).

8. The air-floating drum structure according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, Two guide members (8) are symmetrically arranged at the first end.

9. The air-floating drum structure according to claim 8, characterized in that, The guide (8) is provided with a second throttling device, which is connected to a connector (9). An external air supply device is connected to the second throttling device through the connector (9) so that the outer wall surface of the guide (8) forms an air flotation surface.

10. A clothes dryer, characterized in that, Includes a body (10) and an air flotation drum structure as described in any one of claims 1-9, wherein the drum body (1) is installed inside the body (10), and two guide members (8) are symmetrically arranged at the first end, and a guide groove is provided inside the body (10) to guide in cooperation with the guide members (8).

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