clothes dryer

Abstract

To provide a clothes dryer including a heat pump unit which has improved workability at the time of inspection and maintenance, and airtightness of a heat exchange chamber.SOLUTION: A clothes dryer includes: a housing; a drying chamber provided in the housing, and having an outlet and an inlet of the air; a circulation air passage for connecting the outlet and the inlet of the drying chamber; and a heat pump unit provided in the middle of the circulation air passage. The heat pump unit includes: an evaporator for dehumidifying the air in the circulation air passage; a condenser provided on the downstream side of the evaporator in the circulation air passage, and for heating the air in the circulation air passage; a compressor for constituting a refrigeration cycle for circulating a refrigerator inside together with the evaporator and the condenser; a heat exchange part for constituting part of the air circulation air passage, and for storing the evaporator and the condenser; a case having a compressor storage part for storing the compressor inside; a heat exchange part cover for covering a heat exchange part; and a compressor cover for covering the compressor storage part. The heat exchange part cover and the compressor cover can be attached to / detached from the case individually.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention relates to a clothes dryer. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, clothes dryers have been provided that include a heat pump unit as a heat source for drying clothes, etc. The heat pump unit is typically located at the back or bottom of the housing, but it must be placed within a limited space, so the placement structure requires some ingenuity.

[0003] For example, when a heat pump unit is placed at the bottom of the housing, a clothes dryer has been proposed that includes a compressor cover that covers the compressor and a heat exchanger cover that covers the evaporator, and an air inlet for the air from the circulation air path to the heat pump unit is provided on the heat exchanger cover side, so that an increase in airflow resistance can be avoided without having to enlarge the case of the heat pump unit or change the installation position of the compressor.

[0004] However, the method of attaching the compressor cover and heat exchanger cover to the case has not been sufficiently considered, and there is room for improvement in terms of workability during inspection and maintenance, and airtightness of the heat exchange chamber. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-18915 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Therefore, a clothes dryer equipped with a heat pump unit that improves workability during inspection and maintenance and airtightness of the heat exchange chamber is provided. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A clothes dryer according to an embodiment includes a housing, a drying chamber provided within the housing and having an air outlet and an air inlet, a circulation air duct connecting the outlet and the inlet of the drying chamber, and a heat pump unit provided in the circulation air duct. The heat pump unit includes an evaporator that dehumidifies air in the circulation air duct, a condenser that is provided downstream of the evaporator in the circulation air duct and heats the air in the circulation air duct, a compressor that, together with the evaporator and the condenser, forms a refrigeration cycle that circulates a refrigerant therein, a case that forms part of the circulation air duct and includes a heat exchanger that houses the evaporator and the condenser and a compressor housing that houses the compressor, a heat exchanger cover that covers the heat exchanger, and a compressor cover that covers the compressor housing. The heat exchanger cover and the compressor cover are each configured to be individually detachable from the case. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating a schematic configuration of a washing / drying machine according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a rear view illustrating a schematic configuration of a washing / drying machine according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a refrigeration cycle of a washer / dryer according to an embodiment; [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a heat pump unit of a washer / dryer according to an embodiment; [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating a heat pump unit of a washer / dryer according to an embodiment; [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating a case of a washer / dryer according to an embodiment; [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a case and an auxiliary member of a washer / dryer according to an embodiment; [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a case with an auxiliary member attached, a heat exchanger cover, and a compressor cover in a washer / dryer according to an embodiment; [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a heat pump unit of a washer / dryer with a heat exchanger cover removed according to an embodiment; [Figure 10]FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a heat pump unit of a washer / dryer with a heat exchanger cover removed according to an embodiment; [Figure 11] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a heat pump unit of a washer / dryer with a compressor cover removed according to an embodiment; [Figure 12] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the heat pump unit of the washer / dryer according to the embodiment taken along line x12-x12 of FIG. 5. [Figure 13] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the heat pump unit of the washer / dryer according to the embodiment taken along line x13-x13 in FIG. 5. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of the heat pump unit of the washer / dryer according to the embodiment; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] A washer-dryer according to one embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, a schematic configuration of a washer-dryer 10 will be described with reference to FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the washer-dryer 10 includes a housing 11, a water tub 12, a rotating tub 13, a rotating tub motor 14, and a door 15. The washer-dryer 10 is also a clothes dryer equipped with a heat pump drying function, and is, for example, a so-called drum-type washer-dryer in which the rotation axis of the rotating tub 13 is horizontal or inclined relative to the ground. In this embodiment, the door 15 side of the housing 11 is defined as the front side of the washer-dryer 10, i.e., the user side. The direction of gravity, i.e., the vertical direction, is defined as the up-down direction of the washer-dryer 10, and the horizontal direction perpendicular to the front-to-back and up-to-down directions is defined as the left-to-right direction.

[0010] The housing 11 forms the outer shell of the washer / dryer 10 and is formed into a substantially rectangular box shape from, for example, a steel plate. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the housing 11 has a front surface 111, left and right side surfaces 112, a rear surface 113, a top surface 114, and a bottom surface 115. The front surface 111 forms the front surface of the housing 11, and an opening provided approximately in the center is opened and closed by a door 15. The left and right side surfaces 112 form the left and right surfaces of the housing 11. The rear surface 113 forms the rear surface of the housing 11. The top surface 114 forms the upper surface of the housing 11. The bottom surface 115 forms the lower surface of the housing 11.

[0011] Water tub 12 is resiliently supported and housed inside housing 11. Rotating tub 13 is rotatably housed inside water tub 12. Both water tub 12 and rotating tub 13 are cylindrical. Water tub 12 has an opening 121 formed at one end of the cylinder, and a water tub end plate 122 at the other end. Opening 121 is located above water tub end plate 122 on the inclined water tub 12. A drain port 123 is provided at the bottom of water tub 12, connecting the inside and outside of water tub 12.

[0012] Similarly, rotatable tub 13 has an opening 131 formed at one end of its cylindrical shape, and a rotatable tub end plate 132 at the other end. Opening 131 is located above rotatable tub end plate 132 on the inclined rotatable tub 13. Opening 131 of rotatable tub 13 is surrounded by opening 121 of water tub 12. Water tub 12 and rotatable tub 13 function as a washing chamber and a drying chamber for storing laundry.

[0013] Rotary tub motor 14 is mounted on water tub end plate 122 outside water tub 12. Rotary tub motor 14 is, for example, an outer rotor type DC brushless motor. Shaft 141 of rotary tub motor 14 penetrates water tub end plate 122, protrudes into water tub 12, and is fixed to the center of rotary tub end plate 132. Rotary tub motor 14 thus rotates rotary tub 13 relative to water tub 12. In this case, shaft 141, the rotation axis of rotary tub 13, and the central axis of water tub 12 are all aligned.

[0014] Door 15 is provided on the outer surface of housing 11 via a hinge (not shown). Door 15 rotates around the hinge as a fulcrum to open and close an opening (not shown) formed in front portion 111 of housing 11. Laundry such as clothes is placed in and taken out of rotating tub 13 through openings 121 and 131 with door 15 open.

[0015] Water tub 12 has an air outlet 16 and an air inlet 17. Air outlet 16 is provided, for example, in the upper front portion of the peripheral wall that forms the cylindrical portion of water tub 12. Air inlet 17 is provided in water tub end plate 122, slightly above the center of water tub end plate 122. Air outlet 16 and air inlet 17 communicate between the inside and outside of water tub 12. Air outlet 16 is an air outlet from water tub 12 and rotating tub 13, which serve as drying chambers. Air inlet 17 is an air inlet to water tub 12 and rotating tub 13, which serve as drying chambers.

[0016] Water tub 12 has drain portion 18 at the rear end of the bottom, which is located downward in the direction of gravity. Drain portion 18 is located below air outlet 16 and air inlet 17. Drain portion 18 is configured with drain valve 181 and drain hose 182. Drain valve 181 is configured, for example, as an electromagnetic liquid on-off valve, and is provided between drain outlet 123 and drain hose 182. Drain hose 182 connects drain outlet 123 to the outside of the machine and functions as a drain path for draining water from water tub 12 to the outside. In this case, drain valve 181 opens and closes the drain path between drain outlet 123 and drain hose 182. In other words, when drain valve 181 is opened, water from water tub 12 is drained from drain outlet 123 to the outside of washer-dryer 10 via drain valve 181 and drain hose 182.

[0017] The rotatable tub 13 further has a plurality of holes 19 and a plurality of communication ports 20. The holes 19 and communication ports 20 connect the interior and exterior of the rotatable tub 13. The holes 19 are formed throughout the peripheral wall that constitutes the cylindrical portion of the rotatable tub 13. The communication ports 20 are formed throughout the rotatable tub end plate 132. The holes 19 and communication ports 20 function primarily as water passages through which water flows in and out during the washing operation, which includes the washing, draining, rinsing, and spin-drying steps, and as ventilation ports through which air flows in and out during the drying operation. Note that for simplicity, only some of the holes 19 and communication ports 20 are shown in FIG. 1.

[0018] The washer-dryer 10 is equipped with a water supply mechanism (details not shown). The water supply mechanism includes a water supply hose that forms a water supply path connecting an external water source and the water tub 12, and a water supply valve that opens and closes the water supply path.

[0019] 1 to 3, washer-dryer 10 includes circulation air duct 30 and heat pump unit 40. Circulation air duct 30 is provided outside water tub 12, and connects air outlet 16 and air inlet 17. Specifically, circulation air duct 30 includes exhaust duct 31, filter device 32, connection duct 33, heat exchanger 34, and intake air duct 35.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 1 , exhaust duct 31 connects air outlet 16 of water tub 12 to filter device 32. Exhaust duct 31 is formed, for example, by a bellows-shaped hose. Filter device 32 is located inside and at the top of housing 11, above water tub 12 and rotating tub 13. Filter device 32 contains filter 321. Filter device 32 removes foreign matter such as lint from the air exhausted from air outlet 16 by passing the air through filter 321. Filter device 32 is connected upstream of heat exchanger 34 via connecting duct 33. Heat exchanger 34 is located inside and at the bottom of housing 11, below water tub 12 and rotating tub 13.

[0021] The heat pump unit 40 has a function of generating dry warm air by dehumidifying and heating the air passing through the heat exchange section 34 in the circulation air passage 30. An evaporator 41 and a condenser 42, which constitute part of the heat pump unit 40, are provided inside the heat exchange section 34. The evaporator 41 is provided upstream of the condenser 42 with respect to the air flow inside the heat exchange section 34 during drying operation. The air passing through the heat exchange section 34 is cooled by the evaporator 41 and thereby dehumidified. The air dehumidified by the evaporator 41 is then heated by the condenser 42 to become warm air.

[0022] The downstream side of the heat exchanger 34 in the circulating air passage 30 is connected to the air inlet 17 of the aquarium 12 via an air supply duct 35. A blower 36 is provided at the connection between the heat exchanger 34 and the air supply duct 35. As shown in FIG. 2, the blower 36 is configured to include a fan motor 361 and a fan 362.

[0023] The air blower 36 draws in air from the heat exchanger 34 and discharges it toward the air intake duct 35. This creates a flow of air circulating through the water tank 12 and the air circulation path 30, as shown by arrow A in Figures 1, 2, and 3. In this case, with respect to the air flow in the air circulation path 30, the air outlet 16 is located at the most upstream side, and the air inlet 17 is located at the most downstream side.

[0024] In this configuration, when compressor 43 and blower 36 are driven, warm air dehumidified and heated in heat exchanger 34 is supplied from air inlet 17 through air supply duct 35 to water tub 12 by the blowing action of blower 36. The warm air then enters rotatable tub 13 primarily through communication port 20, raises the temperature of the laundry in rotatable tub 13, removes moisture from the laundry, and then exits rotatable tub 13 primarily through holes 19. The humid air is then drawn into circulating air duct 30 through air outlet 16. The air drawn into circulating air duct 30 first passes through exhaust duct 31 and filter device 32. The air then flows to heat exchanger 34 through connecting duct 33. In this manner, the air entering circulating air duct 30 from water tub 12 is dehumidified and heated in circulating air duct 30 and then supplied back into water tub 12.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 3 , the heat pump unit 40 includes an evaporator 41, a condenser 42, a compressor 43, a pressure reducing device 44, and piping 45. The compressor 43, the pressure reducing device 44, and the piping 45 are located outside the heat exchanger 34. The refrigerant circulates within the heat pump unit 40 as indicated by arrow B in FIG. 3 . The heat pump unit 40 is configured by connecting a condenser 42, a pressure reducing device 44, and an evaporator 41 in a ring shape in this order in the direction of refrigerant flow relative to the compressor 43. The evaporator 41 and the condenser 42 are configured, for example, as tubes with numerous fins spaced at close intervals. By passing the refrigerant through the tubes, heat exchange occurs between the refrigerant and the air passing between the fins. The evaporator 41 and the condenser 42 function as heat exchangers.

[0026] The compressor 43 supplies the refrigerant to the condenser 42 by pressure feeding. The compressor 43 is connected to a control device (not shown) and is driven and stopped under the control of the control device. The pressure reducing device 44 reduces the pressure of the high-pressure liquid refrigerant discharged from the condenser 42 to create a low-pressure gas-liquid mixed state. In this case, the pressure reducing device 44 is formed, for example, by a capillary tube or the like, but may also be an electromagnetic opening / closing expansion valve that can be opened and closed under the control of the control device. Piping 45 connects the compressor 43, condenser 42, pressure reducing device 44, and evaporator 41, and passes the refrigerant through it.

[0027] At least a portion of the housing 11 is detachably removable. For example, the left and right side portions 112 or the rear portion 113 can be removed in whole or in part. In this embodiment, although details are not shown, at least a portion including the lower portion of the rear portion 113 can be removed. The heat pump unit 40 is disposed inside the housing 11, near the lower rear portion 113. When part of the rear portion 113 is removed, the heat pump unit 40 is exposed outside the housing 11, in this case, toward the rear.

[0028] The configuration of the heat pump unit 40 will be further described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 14. As shown in FIGS. 4 to 8, the heat pump unit 40 includes a case 50, a heat exchanger cover 60, a compressor cover 70, and an auxiliary member 80. The case 50 is formed in the shape of a container with an open top and houses an evaporator 41, a condenser 42, a compressor 43, and piping 45 inside. The heat exchanger cover 60 partially closes the opening at the top of the case 50 and functions to cover the evaporator 41 and the condenser 42 while attached to the case 50 so as not to expose them to the outside. The compressor cover 70 partially closes the opening at the top of the case 50 and functions to cover the compressor 43 while attached to the case 50 so as not to expose them to the outside. The auxiliary member 80 is attached inside the case 50. The case 50, the heat exchanger cover 60, the compressor cover 70, and the auxiliary member 80 are formed of a synthetic resin such as plastic.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 6 , the case 50 has therein a heat exchanger 34, a compressor accommodating section 501, and a piping accommodating section 502. The compressor accommodating section 501 is a space that accommodates the compressor 43. The piping accommodating section 502 is a space that accommodates the pressure reducing device 44 and the piping 45. Within the space within the case 50, the heat exchanger 34 constitutes a part of the circulation air duct 30, and the compressor accommodating section 501 and the piping accommodating section 502 are provided in a space outside the circulation air duct 30. In this embodiment, the compressor accommodating section 501 is provided to the right of the heat exchanger 34, and the compressor 43 is disposed to the right of the evaporator 41 and the condenser 42. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the piping accommodating section 502 is provided to protrude forward of the heat exchanger 34 and the compressor accommodating section 501, and the pressure reducing device 44 and the piping 45 are disposed forward of the evaporator 41, the condenser 42, and the compressor 43.

[0030] The case 50 has a bottom 51, a front wall 52, a left wall 53, a rear wall 54, an outer wall 55, and an inner wall 56. The bottom 51 is formed in a generally rectangular shape with a portion protruding forward in a plan view, and forms the lower surface of the container-shaped case 50. The bottom 51 supports the evaporator 41, the condenser 42, and the compressor 43 from below. The front wall 52, the left wall 53, the rear wall 54, the outer wall 55, and the inner wall 56 each form a surface that rises in a generally vertical direction from the bottom 51.

[0031] The front wall 52, the left wall 53, the rear wall 54, and the outer wall 55 rise generally vertically from the bottom 51 to form the outer peripheral surface of the case 50. The outer wall 55 forms the outer peripheral surfaces of the compressor accommodating section 501 and the piping accommodating section 502 of the case 50. The inner wall 56 forms the outer peripheral surfaces of the compressor accommodating section 501 and the piping accommodating section 502 inside the case 50, i.e., in the portion not exposed to the outside of the case 55. In other words, the inner wall 56 is provided between the compressor accommodating section 501 and the heat exchange section 34, between the compressor accommodating section 501 and the piping accommodating section 502, and between the heat exchange section 34 and the piping accommodating section 502.

[0032] The front wall 52 forms the front surface of the heat exchanger 34 of the case 50. The left wall 53 forms the left side of the case 50, in this case the left side of the heat exchanger 34. The blower 36 is provided facing the outside of the left wall 53. The rear wall 54 forms the rear surface of the case 50 of the heat exchanger 34. The front wall 52, the left wall 53, and the rear wall 54 form part of the outer periphery of the heat exchanger 34, and surround the heat exchanger 34 from the front, back, and left.

[0033] The outer wall portion 55 includes a front surface 551, a right side surface 552, a left side surface 553, and a rear surface 554. The front surface 551 forms the front surface of the outer wall portion 55. In this case, the front surface 551 is located forward of the front wall portion 52 and forms at least a portion of the front surface of the pipe accommodating portion 502. The right side surface 552 forms the right surface of the outer wall portion 55. The right side surface 552 forms the right surface of the outer wall portion 55 and extends rearward from the right end of the front surface 551 to the right end of the rear surface 554 to connect the front surface 551 and the rear surface 554. In this case, the right side surface 552 forms at least a portion of the right side surfaces of the compressor accommodating portion 501 and the pipe accommodating portion 502 in the up-down direction. In this embodiment, the right side surface 552 is bent midway through the pipe accommodating portion 502. The left side surface portion 553 forms the left surface of the outer wall portion 55, and extends forward from the front wall portion 52 to connect the front wall portion 52 and the front surface portion 551. In this case, the left side surface portion 553 forms at least a portion of the left surface of the pipe accommodating portion 502 in the up-down direction.

[0034] The inner wall portion 56 has a front inner wall portion 561, a right inner wall portion 562, and a rear inner wall portion 563. The front inner wall portion 561 forms the front surface of the inner wall portion 56. The front inner wall portion 561 extends from the rear end of the left side surface portion 553 toward the right (in this case, diagonally forward right) generally to near the upstream surface of the evaporator 41, connecting the left side surface portion 553 with the right inner wall portion 562 and the rear inner wall portion 563. The front inner wall portion 561 forms the rear side surface of the pipe accommodating portion 502, i.e., the surface facing the heat exchanger portion 34. The front inner wall portion 561 has a communication portion 561a that connects the heat exchanger portion 34 and the pipe accommodating portion 502.

[0035] The right inner wall portion 562 forms the right surface of the inner wall portion 56. The right inner wall portion 562 extends rightward, in this case diagonally forward, from the right end portion of the front inner wall portion 561, and connects the front inner wall portion 561 and the right side surface portion 552. The right inner wall portion 562 forms the front surface of the compressor accommodating portion 501, i.e., the surface facing the pipe accommodating portion 502.

[0036] The rear inner wall portion 563 forms the rear surface of the inner wall portion 56. The rear inner wall portion 563 extends rearward from the right end portion of the front inner wall portion 561, and connects the front inner wall portion 561 and the back surface portion 554. The rear inner wall portion 563 forms the left surface of the compressor accommodating portion 501, i.e., the surface facing the heat exchange portion 34.

[0037] The front wall 52, the left wall 53, and the rear wall 54 extend higher than the outer wall 55 and the inner wall 56. The front wall 52, the left wall 53, and the rear wall 54 extend to the upper ends or near the upper ends of the evaporator 41 and the condenser 42. In this embodiment, the front wall 52, the left wall 53, and the rear wall 54 extend to the upper ends of the evaporator 41 and the condenser 42. Therefore, when the heat exchanger cover 60 is removed, not more than half of the vertical height of the evaporator 41 and the condenser 42 is exposed to the outside of the case 50.

[0038] The heat exchanger cover 60 is formed in a generally rectangular shape in a plan view as shown in Fig. 8 etc., and covers the heat exchanger 34 from above. When attached to the case 50, the heat exchanger cover 60 is in direct or indirect contact with the upper ends of the front wall 52, left wall 53, rear wall 54, and auxiliary member 80 of the case 50. In this embodiment, when attached to the case 50, the heat exchanger cover 60 is in direct contact with the upper ends of the front wall 52, left wall 53, rear wall 54, and auxiliary member 80 of the case 50.

[0039] The compressor cover 70 covers the compressor 43 from above, preventing noise from the compressor 43 from leaking to the outside. The compressor cover 70 also covers the piping 45 and electrical wiring (not shown) from above, preventing them from being exposed to the outside of the case 50. In other words, the compressor cover 70 is disposed in the case 50 so as to cover the compressor accommodating portion 501 and the piping accommodating portion 502 from above. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 8 , the compressor cover 70 is generally L-shaped in a plan view and is formed like a container that is open downward. Therefore, the compressor cover 70 not only covers the compressor accommodating portion 501 and the piping accommodating portion 502 from above, but also at least partially covers them from the sides. That is, the outer wall 55 and inner wall 56 that laterally surround the compressor housing section 501 and the piping housing section 502 of the case 50 are set to have a lower vertical height dimension than the front wall 52, left wall 53, and rear wall 54 that surround the heat exchange section 34. In contrast, the position of the lower end of the compressor cover 70 is set lower than the position of the lower end of the heat exchange section cover 60, thereby preventing the compressor 43 and the piping 45 from being exposed to the outside of the case 50.

[0040] The heat exchanger 34 further includes an air inlet 341 and an air outlet 342. The air inlet 341 connects the connecting duct 33 to the interior of the heat exchanger 34 and guides the air in the connecting duct 33 into the heat exchanger 34. In this embodiment, the air inlet 341 is formed, for example, cylindrical and is provided in the heat exchanger cover 60. More specifically, the air inlet 341 is provided in a position on the heat exchanger cover 60 facing a portion of the heat exchanger 34 closer to the compressor housing 501, i.e., on the right rear side in this case. The air outlet 342 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the case 50 on a side facing the blower 36. In this case, the air outlet 342 is a circular opening formed in the left wall 53. The air outlet 342 connects the heat exchanger 34 and the air intake duct 35 via the air blower 36 and guides the air in the heat exchanger 34 to the air intake duct 35.

[0041] 9, the evaporator 41 and the condenser 42 are arranged parallel to each other, with the evaporator 41 located upstream in the air flow and the condenser 42 located downstream in the air flow. The inlet 341 faces the upstream surface of the evaporator 41 from the upstream side of the circulation air passage 30. The outlet 342 faces the downstream surface of the condenser 42 from the downstream side of the circulation air passage 30. In this case, the evaporator 41 and the condenser 42 are arranged in the heat exchange unit 34 at an angle with respect to the front-to-rear direction of the washer-dryer 10.

[0042] As shown in Figures 7 and 9, the auxiliary member 80 is provided between the heat exchanger 34 and the compressor-accommodating section 501. In this case, the auxiliary member 80 has a partition 81 and an airflow direction adjuster 82. When attached to the case 50, the partition 81 forms the side surface of the heat exchanger 34 that faces the compressor-accommodating section 501. As shown in Figure 7, the partition 81 is formed in the shape of a wall that extends in a substantially vertical direction. The partition 81 divides the interior of the case 50 into the heat exchanger 34 side, i.e., the inside side of the circulation air duct 30, and the outside side of the circulation air duct 30.

[0043] The airflow direction adjustment unit 82 directs the flow of air that has flowed into the compressor housing 501 from the inlet 341 toward the evaporator 41. The airflow direction adjustment unit 82 forms a slope that descends toward the upstream surface of the evaporator 41. As a result, the airflow direction adjustment unit 82 adjusts the flow direction of the air that has entered the heat exchange unit 34 from the inlet 341 so that it is directed toward the evaporator 41. In this case, the air flows downward from the connection duct 33 through the inlet 341 into the heat exchange unit 34. The air whose direction has been changed by the airflow direction adjustment unit 82 then travels in a direction generally perpendicular to the upstream surface of the evaporator 41, i.e., generally parallel to the direction in which the evaporator 41 and the condenser 42 are aligned. In this embodiment, the evaporator 41 and the condenser 42 are aligned horizontally, and therefore the air whose direction has been adjusted by the airflow direction adjustment unit 82 travels in a generally horizontal direction and passes through the evaporator 41 and the condenser 42. In this specification, the terms "approximately vertical", "approximately parallel" or "approximately horizontal" refer not only to the vertical, parallel or horizontal directions but also to directions that mainly include vector components in the vertical, parallel or horizontal directions.

[0044] In this case, the horizontal projection area of the airflow direction adjustment unit 82 is set to be larger than the cross-sectional area of the inlet 341. The inlet 341 overlaps with the airflow direction adjustment unit 82 in a plan view. Therefore, almost all of the air flowing vertically downward from the inlet 341 into the heat exchange unit 34 hits the airflow direction adjustment unit 82. In this case, as shown in FIG. 9 , a space S is formed in a part of the heat exchange unit 34. The space S is surrounded by the auxiliary member 80, the evaporator 41, and the rear wall portion 54. The space S is large enough for an operator to insert their fingers into and is exposed to the outside of the case 50 when the heat exchange unit cover 60 is removed from the case 50. This allows an operator to insert their fingers or cleaning tools into the space S by removing the heat exchange unit cover 60 from the case 50 to perform maintenance work, such as cleaning the upstream surface of the evaporator 41, where lint and the like tend to accumulate. This can be done.

[0045] The auxiliary member 80 is detachably fixed to the case 50. In this case, the auxiliary member 80 has a hole 83 as shown in FIGS. 7 and 12. The case 50 has a fixing portion 57 as shown in FIG. 12. The hole 83 and the fixing portion 57 are provided facing each other at corresponding positions, i.e., positions that overlap in the vertical direction, when the auxiliary member 80 is attached to the case 50. The hole 83 and the fixing portion 57 are fixed by a fastening member 100 shown in FIG. 7, and their relative movement with each other is restricted.

[0046] The hole 83 is located near the bottom end of the airflow direction adjustment unit 82, i.e., on the left edge, near the back edge, and is a through-hole that penetrates the thickness direction of the airflow direction adjustment unit 82, in this case, vertically. The fixing portion 57 is formed as a hollow cylinder with a bottom by recessing a portion of the bottom 51 of the heat exchange unit 34 downward. The auxiliary member 80 and the case 50 are fixed together by a fastening member 100, such as a male screw, that penetrates the hole 83 and is inserted into the fixing portion 57. In this case, when the auxiliary member 80 is attached to the case 50, the hole 83 and the fixing portion 57 are located at the bottom end of the auxiliary member 80, near the back edge in the front-to-back direction and near the left edge in the left-to-right direction. An operator can attach or detach the auxiliary member 80 to or from the case 50 by fastening or detaching the fastening member 100.

[0047] The auxiliary member 80 can be removed from the case 50 when the heat exchanger cover 60 is removed from the case 50. Furthermore, when the heat exchanger cover 60 is attached to the case 50, the auxiliary member 80 is pressed against the case 50 by the heat exchanger cover 60. This further restricts the movement of the auxiliary member 80.

[0048] The heat exchanger cover 60 and the compressor cover 70 can be attached to or detached from the case 50 independently. That is, the compressor cover 70 can be attached to or detached from the case 50 while the heat exchanger cover 60 is attached to the case 50, and the heat exchanger cover 60 can be attached to or detached from the case 50 while the compressor cover 70 is attached to the case 50. Furthermore, if the heat exchanger cover 60 and the compressor cover 70 are simply placed on top of the case 50, there is a risk that the heat exchanger cover 60 and the compressor cover 70 may float up from the case 50 or become deformed due to vibrations caused by the rotation of the rotating tub 13 or heat generated in the heat exchanger 34. For this reason, the heat exchanger cover 60 and the compressor cover 70 are each detachably fixed to the case 50.

[0049] A method for fastening the heat exchanger cover 60 to the case 50 will now be described. The heat exchanger cover 60 has an upwardly recessed groove (not shown in detail) formed on the edge of its underside. When the heat exchanger cover 60 is attached to the case 50, the groove receives the upper ends of the front wall 52, left wall 53, rear wall 54, and partition 81 of the auxiliary member 80. This restricts relative movement between the case 50 and the heat exchanger cover 60 in the front-to-back or left-to-right directions. However, if the grooves are used for the fitting alone, deformation may occur due to heat, humidity, vibration, etc. during drying operation, which could result in air leaking from the heat exchanger 34.

[0050] As shown in Figures 4, 5, and 8, the heat exchanger cover 60 has a plurality of holes 61, 62, and 63. As shown in Figures 7 to 9, the case 50 has a plurality of fixing portions 58 and 59. As shown in Figures 7 and 12, the auxiliary member 80 has one or more fixing portions 84, in this case one fixing portion 84.

[0051] The hole 61 of the heat exchanger cover 60 and the fixing portion 58 of the case 50 are provided facing each other at corresponding positions, i.e., positions that overlap in the vertical direction, when the heat exchanger cover 60 is attached to the case 50. The hole 61 of the heat exchanger cover 60 and the fixing portion 58 of the case 50 are fixed by a fastening member 100 shown in Fig. 9, and relative movement between them is restricted.

[0052] Furthermore, the hole 62 and the fixing portion 59 are provided facing each other at corresponding positions, i.e., positions that overlap in the vertical direction, when the heat exchanger cover 60 is attached to the case 50. The hole 62 and the fixing portion 59 of the heat exchanger cover 60 are fixed by a fastening member 100 shown in Fig. 9, and relative movement between them is restricted.

[0053] Furthermore, the hole 63 and the fixing portion 84 of the auxiliary member 80 are provided facing each other at corresponding positions, i.e., positions that overlap in the vertical direction, when the auxiliary member 80 and the heat exchanger cover 60 are attached to the case 50. The hole 63 and the fixing portion 84 are fixed by a fastening member 100 shown in FIG. 9, and their relative movement with each other is restricted.

[0054] The holes 61, 62, and 63 are through-holes formed in the thickness direction of the heat exchanger cover 60 (in this case, the vertical direction). The holes 61, 62, and 63 are distributed around the periphery of the heat exchanger cover 60 in all directions.

[0055] One or more holes 61 (in this case, one hole) are provided near the front edge of the heat exchanger cover 60. In this case, the hole 61 is formed as a hollow cylinder protruding leftward near the front edge of the left edge of the heat exchanger cover 60. One or more holes 62 (in this case, three holes) are provided spaced apart from one another near the back edge of the heat exchanger cover 60. The leftmost of the three holes 62 is formed as a hollow cylinder protruding leftward near the back edge of the left edge of the heat exchanger cover 60. The remaining two holes 62 are formed as hollow cylinders protruding rearward from the back edge of the heat exchanger cover 60 near the center and right edge in the left-right direction, in this case, on either side of the inlet 341. One or more holes 63 (in this case, one hole) are provided near the back edge of the left edge of the heat exchanger cover 60. In this case, the hole 63 is provided in front of the inlet 341 and to the right of the evaporator 41 and the condenser .

[0056] The fixing portions 58, 59 are provided at positions corresponding to the holes 61, 62 of the heat exchanger cover 60 when the heat exchanger cover 60 is attached to the case 50. The fixing portions 58, 59 are through-holes formed vertically or holes that are open at the top and closed at the bottom. In this embodiment, the fixing portions 58, 59 are formed in the shape of a hollow cylinder with a bottom that is open at the top and closed at the bottom. The fixing portions 58, 59 are also distributed around the front, back, left, and right peripheral edges of the heat exchanger 34 at the top end of the case 50.

[0057] One or more fixing parts 58 (in this case, one fixing part) are provided at the left front part of case 50. In this case, fixing part 58 is provided on left wall part 53 near front wall part 52, protruding to the left, and is formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom that is recessed downward.

[0058] One or more (three in this case) fixing portions 59 are provided at intervals from one another at or near the upper end of the back wall portion 54. The leftmost fixing portion 59 is formed as a hollow, bottomed cylinder that is open at the top and closed at the bottom, and is provided so as to protrude leftward from the upper end of the left end of the back wall portion 54. The remaining two fixing portions 59 are formed as hollow, bottomed cylinders that are open at the top and closed at the bottom, and are provided at the center and right end in the left-right direction at the upper end of the back wall portion 54, and protrude rearward from the back wall portion 54.

[0059] The fixing portion 84 is provided at the upper end of the partition portion 81 of the auxiliary member 80, near the front end. In this case, the fixing portion 84 is formed in the shape of a hollow cylinder with an open top and a closed bottom, which protrudes from the partition portion 81 toward the center of the heat exchanger 34, i.e., toward the left in this case, from the partition portion 81. In this case, the hole 63 and the fixing portion 84 are located at the top and front right of the space S when the auxiliary member 80 and the heat exchanger cover 60 are attached to the case 50. In other words, the fixing portion 84 is located approximately diagonally with respect to the hole 83 in the up-down, front-back, and left-right directions of the auxiliary member 80.

[0060] The heat exchanger cover 60 and the case 50 are fixed together by fastening members 100, such as male screws, that are inserted through the holes 61 and the fixing portions 58, and through the holes 62 and the fixing portions 59. The heat exchanger cover 60 and the auxiliary member 80 are fixed together by fastening members 100, such as male screws, that are inserted through the holes 63 and the fixing portions 84. The relative movement of the heat exchanger cover 60 and the case 50 between the holes 63 and the fixing portions 84, and between the holes 83 and the fixing portions 57 is restricted by the fastening members 100, and thus the relative movement of the heat exchanger cover 60 and the case 50 is restricted via the auxiliary member 80. An operator can attach or detach the heat exchanger cover 60 to or from the case 50 by fastening or removing the fastening members 100.

[0061] Next, a method for fastening the compressor cover 70 to the case 50 will be described. As shown in Figures 5, 10, etc., the compressor cover 70 has a plurality of holes 71, 72, and 73. Furthermore, the case 50 has a plurality of fixing portions 91, 92, and 93, as shown in Figures 6, 7, etc. The hole portions 71, 72, and 73 of the compressor cover 70 and the fixing portions 91, 92, and 93 of the case 50 are provided facing each other in corresponding positions, i.e., positions that overlap in the vertical direction, when the compressor cover 70 is attached to the case 50. The hole portions 71, 72, and 73 and the fixing portions 91, 92, and 93 are fixed to each other with fastening members 100 shown in Figure 8, and relative movement between them is restricted, thereby fastening the compressor cover 70 to the case 50.

[0062] The holes 71, 72, and 73 are through-holes formed through the thickness direction of the compressor cover 70, in this case the up-and-down direction. The holes 71, 72, and 73 are distributed in the front-to-back and left-to-right directions along the periphery of the compressor cover 70. Furthermore, each of the holes 71, 72, and 73 is located near the bottom end of the compressor cover 70, i.e., near the opening of the container shape.

[0063] One or more holes 71 (in this case, one hole) are provided in the front edge of the compressor cover 70. Specifically, the hole 71 is located at approximately the center of the compressor cover 70 in the left-right direction at the front edge of the portion of the compressor cover 70 that covers the piping accommodating portion 502. In this case, the hole 71 is formed in a hollow cylindrical shape protruding forward from the front edge of the compressor cover 70. One or more holes 72 (in this case, one hole) are provided in the rear edge of the compressor cover 70. Specifically, the hole 72 is provided near the right edge of the rear edge of the portion of the compressor cover 70 that covers the compressor accommodating portion 501. In this case, the hole 72 is formed in a hollow cylindrical shape at a corner of the right rear of the compressor cover 70. One or more holes 73 (in this case, one hole) are provided in the left edge of the compressor cover 70. Specifically, the hole 73 is provided near the rear, that is, near the heat exchanger 34, on the left edge of the portion of the compressor cover 70 that covers the pipe housing portion 502, and is formed in a hollow cylindrical shape.

[0064] The fixing portions 91, 92, and 93 are through-holes formed vertically or holes that are open at the top and closed at the bottom. In this embodiment, each of the fixing portions 91, 92, and 93 is formed in the shape of a hollow cylinder with a bottom that is open at the top and closed at the bottom. The fixing portions 91, 92, and 93 are also distributed at the upper end of the case 50 along the front, rear, left, and right peripheral edges of the compressor accommodating portion 501 and the piping accommodating portion 502.

[0065] One or more fixing portions 91 (in this case, one fixing portion) are provided on the outer wall 55 of the case 50, specifically the front surface 551. The fixing portion 91 protrudes forward from the front surface 551 of the case 50 and is formed as a hollow, bottomed cylinder that is open at the top and closed at the bottom. One or more fixing portions 92 (in this case, one fixing portion) are provided on the outer wall of the case 50, specifically the right surface 552, near the back surface 554. The fixing portion 92 is provided on the right surface 552 at a corner that is the connection portion with the back surface 554, and is formed as a hollow, bottomed cylinder that is open at the top and closed at the bottom. One or more fixing portions 93 (in this case, one fixing portion) are provided on the outer wall 55 of the case 50, specifically the left surface 553. The fixing portion 93 protrudes leftward from the left surface 553 of the case 50 and is formed as a hollow, bottomed cylinder that is open at the top and closed at the bottom.

[0066] The compressor cover 70 and the case 50 are fixed together by fastening members 100 such as male screws that are inserted through the hole 71 and the fixing portion 91, the hole 72 and the fixing portion 92, and the hole 73 and the fixing portion 93, respectively. An operator can attach or detach the compressor cover 70 to or from the case 50 by fastening or removing the fastening members 100. The compressor cover 70 is not fixed to the heat exchanger unit cover 60 or the auxiliary member 80 by fastening members.

[0067] The heat exchanger cover 60 and the compressor cover 70 are not fixed by fastening members such as male screws, and can be attached and detached to the case 50 independently of each other. However, when the heat exchanger cover 60 and the compressor cover 70 are attached to the case 50, the compressor cover 70 restricts upward movement of the heat exchanger cover 60. As shown in FIGS. 8 , 13 , and 14 , the heat exchanger cover 60 has a restricted portion 64, and the compressor cover 70 has a restricting portion 74. When the heat exchanger cover 60 and the compressor cover 70 are attached to the case 50, the restricting portion 74 restricts forward or upward movement of the restricted portion 64. When the heat exchanger cover 60 and the compressor cover 70 are attached to the case 50, the restricting portion 74 contacts the restricted portion 64 from the front and above, thereby restricting forward or upward movement of the heat exchanger cover 60. The restricted portion 64 is molded integrally with the heat exchanger cover 60. The restricting portion 74 is integrally molded with the compressor cover 70 .

[0068] The regulated portion 64 is provided on the front edge of the heat exchanger cover 60. When the heat exchanger cover 60 is attached to the case 50, the regulated portion 64 is provided above the front inner wall portion 561 of the case 50, in an area extending rightward from the front wall portion 52 in a plan view. The regulated portion 64 protrudes upward from the front edge of the heat exchanger cover 60 and is formed, for example, in the shape of a plate perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction. A protrusion 641 is formed on the front surface of the regulated portion 64. The protrusion 641 protrudes forward from the surface formed by the regulated portion 64 and extends in the left-to-right direction. The regulating portion 74 is provided on a portion of the compressor cover 70 that covers the piping accommodating portion 502 and faces the heat exchanger 34. When the compressor cover 70 is attached to the case 50, the regulating portion 74 is located above the front inner wall portion 561 of the case 50. The restricting portion 74 forms a surface that is generally perpendicular to the front-rear direction and extends downward from the upper surface that forms the bottom of the container shape of the compressor cover 70.

[0069] The restricting portion 74 and the restricted portion 64 form surfaces parallel to each other, and when the heat exchanger cover 60 and the compressor cover 70 are attached to the case 50, the restricting portion 74 comes into surface contact with the restricted portion 64 from the front. This restricts the forward movement of the restricted portion 64. A tip portion 741, which is the free end, i.e., the lower end, of the restricting portion 74 comes into contact with the protrusion 641 from above when the heat exchanger cover 60 and the compressor cover 70 are attached to the case 50. This restricts the tip portion 741 of the restricting portion 74 from moving upward toward the protrusion 641 of the restricted portion 64. In this way, the heat exchanger cover 60 is further prevented from floating upward.

[0070] The rear corners of the tip portion 741 are chamfered. When the operator pulls the free end, i.e., the upper end, of the regulated portion 64 toward the rear, the regulated portion 64 is released from the regulation by the regulating portion 74 and becomes able to move upward. In this case, the tip portion 741 does not need to be chamfered, but if the corners of the tip portion 741 are chamfered, contact between the protrusion 641 and the tip portion 741 is more likely to be released. In other words, it becomes easier for the operator to release the regulation of the regulated portion 64.

[0071] Next, the assembly procedure for the heat pump unit 40 will be described. First, the evaporator 41, condenser 42, compressor 43, piping 45, etc. are assembled. Next, the assembled evaporator 41 and other components are placed in the case 50. Furthermore, the auxiliary member 80 is attached to the case 50 and secured together with the fastening members 100. Next, the heat exchanger cover 60 and the compressor cover 70 are attached to the case 50 in that order and secured with the fastening members 100. In this case, either the heat exchanger cover 60 or the compressor cover 70 may be attached and secured first. Note that if the compressor cover 70 is attached and secured first, the restricting member 74 facilitates positioning when attaching the heat exchanger cover 60. That is, the worker can confirm the installation position of the heat exchanger cover 60 by approaching the heat exchanger cover 60 from an upward and rearward diagonal position and listening to the sound and feel produced when the restricted member 64 comes into contact with the restricting member 74. The heat pump unit 40 assembled in this manner is inserted and fixed inside the housing 11 through an opening provided in part or all of the back surface 113 of the housing 11. In this manner, the heat pump unit 40 is assembled and installed inside the housing.

[0072] After the washer-dryer 10 is manufactured and before it is shipped from the factory, the compressor 43 may be inspected. In this case, an operator first opens the opening provided in part or all of the rear surface 113 to expose the heat pump unit 40 to the outside. Then, with the heat pump unit 40 still installed inside the housing 11, the operator removes the fastening members 100 and removes the compressor cover 70 from the case 50. After the inspection of the compressor 43 is completed, the operator reattaches the compressor cover 70 and fixes it to the case 50 with the fastening members 100. Then, after the opening in the rear surface 113 is closed, the washer-dryer 10 is shipped.

[0073] When the washer-dryer 10 is used for a long period of time or frequently, even if the lint is collected by the filter device 32, lint may still adhere to the upstream surface of the evaporator 41. In this case, an operator can perform maintenance on the washer-dryer 10 by the following procedure.

[0074] First, the worker removes part or all of the rear portion 113 from the housing 11. With part or all of the rear portion 113 removed, the heat pump unit 40 is exposed toward the rear. In other words, the worker can reach the heat pump unit 40 through an opening formed in the rear portion 113. Then, with the heat pump unit 40 stored in the housing 11, the worker can remove the fastening member 100 using a tool such as a screwdriver.

[0075] Here, the water tub 12 is located close to the heat pump unit 40 above. In other words, the heat pump unit 40 is positioned so that it overlaps the water tub 12 in a plan view. The distance between the compressor cover 70 and the bottom end of the water tub 12 is set to, for example, approximately 8 cm. For example, even a small tool such as a screwdriver has a length of, for example, approximately 12 cm, and therefore cannot be inserted above the compressor cover 70 inside the housing 11 when it is upright. Therefore, in this state, it is difficult to insert a tool, especially near the front edge of the compressor cover 70.

[0076] Here, because the water tub 12 is elastically supported, it can be moved approximately 5 cm in the forward and backward directions. Therefore, by pushing the water tub 12 forward against the elasticity, the worker can secure space above the compressor cover 70 for inserting the tool and insert the tool near the front edge of the compressor cover 70. This allows the worker to remove the fastening member 100 that secures the hole 61 and the fixing portion 58, or the fastening member 100 that secures the hole 63 and the fixing portion 84. In this case, the tool does not necessarily need to be inserted vertically inside the housing 11; it may be tilted relative to the vertical direction as long as it can remove the fastening member 100. The tool may be tilted, for example, at an angle of approximately 15° or less relative to the vertical direction.

[0077] Furthermore, in order to remove the heat exchanger cover 60, the worker needs to release the restriction of the regulated portion 64 by the restricting portion 74. The worker elastically deforms the regulated portion 64 by pulling the free end, i.e., the upper end, of the regulated portion 64 toward the rear side, i.e., toward the worker. This releases the contact between the protrusion 641 of the regulated portion 64 and the tip end 741 of the restricting portion 74, and the heat exchanger cover 60 becomes movable upward.

[0078] When the heat exchanger cover 60 is removed, the evaporator 41 is exposed through the upper end of the rear wall portion 54 of the case 50, as shown in FIG. 9 . An operator can insert their hand from outside the housing 11 into the space S between the upstream surface of the evaporator 41 and the case 50. In other words, with all or part of the rear portion 113 and the heat exchanger cover 60 removed, the evaporator 41 is positioned so that the operator can access it from outside the housing 11. If necessary, the operator can also remove the auxiliary member 80. In this case, the operator uses a tool to remove the fastening member 100 that fastens the hole portion 83 of the auxiliary member 80 to the fixing portion 57 of the case 50, and then removes the auxiliary member 80.

[0079] Then, an operator can insert his / her fingers or a cleaning tool from outside the housing 11 to remove the lint adhering to the upstream side of the evaporator 41. Specifically, the operator can scrape off the lint by rubbing the surface on the upstream side of the evaporator 41 with a brush or the like, and then remove the lint by sucking it up using a vacuum cleaner or the like.

[0080] After removing the lint, the worker returns the auxiliary member 80 to the case 50 and fastens the hole 83 and the fixing portion 57 with the fastening member 100. Next, the worker positions the heat exchanger cover 60 by engaging the restricting portion 74 with the restricted portion 64, and attaches it to the case 50 again. The worker then fastens the hole 61 to the fixing portion 58, the hole 62 to the fixing portion 59, and the hole 63 to the fixing portion 84 of the auxiliary member 80 with the fastening member 100, thereby fastening the heat exchanger cover 60 to the case 50. Thereafter, the worker closes the opening of the back portion 113. In this manner, lint and the like adhering to the evaporator 41 can be removed.

[0081] Here, heat pump unit 40 may be installed, for example, at the bottom rear of a clothes dryer. If case 50 cannot be easily disassembled, maintenance workers cannot easily perform cleaning or other maintenance in situations where work space is limited, such as in a user's home. Furthermore, evaporator 41 is connected to condenser 42, compressor 43, and other components via refrigerant piping 45. In this case, evaporator 41 must be removed from washer-dryer 10 by removing piping 45. However, the refrigerant must be properly disposed of during removal and installation, which is extremely time-consuming. Therefore, even if the washer-dryer can still be used if the lint can be removed, the entire heat pump unit 40 may have to be replaced, which is undesirable from the perspective of both the user's financial burden and global environmental protection.

[0082] Here, when the heat exchanger cover 60 and the compressor cover 70 are separated, it is preferable to fix the heat exchanger cover 60 by pressing it from above with the compressor cover 70 to increase the airtightness of the heat exchanger 34. However, foreign matter such as lint that was not completely captured by the filter device 32 may accumulate in the heat exchanger 34. For this reason, for example, at the installation site of the washer-dryer 10, a worker may perform maintenance work by opening part of the housing 11 to remove the lint. In this case, it would be inconvenient for the worker if the heat exchanger cover 60 could not be opened without removing the compressor cover 70. In this case, it is possible to fix the heat exchanger cover 60 to the case 50 by placing it on top of the compressor cover 70. Furthermore, for example, the performance of the compressor 43 may be inspected at a factory before shipment. In this case, if both the heat exchanger cover 60 and the compressor cover 70 must be removed to expose the compressor 43 to the outside of the housing 11, the workability during inspection would be reduced.

[0083] In contrast, according to the present embodiment described above, washer-dryer 10 as a clothes dryer includes housing 11, a drying chamber including water tub 12 and rotating tub 13, circulation air duct 30, and heat pump unit 40. The drying chamber is provided within housing 11 and has air outlet 16 and air inlet 17. Circulation air duct 30 connects air outlet 16 and air inlet 17. Heat pump unit 40 is provided midway along circulation air duct 30. Heat pump unit 40 includes an evaporator 41, a condenser 42, a compressor 43, a case 50, a heat exchanger cover 60, and a compressor cover 70. Evaporator 41 has a function of dehumidifying the air in circulation air duct 30. Condenser 42 is provided downstream of evaporator 41 in circulation air duct 30 and has a function of heating the air in circulation air duct 30. The compressor 43, together with the evaporator 41 and the condenser 42, constitutes a refrigeration cycle that circulates a refrigerant therein. The case 50 constitutes part of the circulation air passage 30, and has therein a heat exchanger 34 that houses the evaporator 41 and the condenser 42, and a compressor housing section 501 that houses the compressor 43. The heat exchanger cover 60 has a function of covering the heat exchanger 34. The compressor cover 70 has a function of covering the compressor housing section 501. The heat exchanger cover 60 and the compressor cover 70 are configured to be detachably attached to the case 50 individually.

[0084] This allows only heat exchanger cover 60 to be removed when it is necessary to access heat exchanger 34, for example, during maintenance work. Also, when it is necessary to access compressor housing 501, for example, during inspection before shipping, only compressor cover 70 can be removed. This provides a clothes dryer that reduces the burden on workers during inspection and maintenance.

[0085] Here, because the water tank 12 is located close above the heat pump unit 40, it is difficult to insert a tool from the rear side of the housing 11 to remove or fasten the fastening member 100. For this reason, it is conceivable to fasten the heat exchanger cover 60 to the case 50 by, for example, snap fitting or fitting without providing a hole for inserting the fastening member 100 in the front edge of the heat exchanger cover 60. However, in order to ensure the airtightness of the heat exchanger 34, it is desirable that the heat exchanger cover 60 be fastened to the case 50 by the fastening member 100 not only at the rear edge but also at the front edge.

[0086] In contrast, the drying chamber includes a water tub 12 that is elastically supported relative to the housing 11 and can move at least forward. The heat pump unit 40 is disposed near the rear of the housing 11, at a position that at least partially overlaps the water tub 12 in a plan view. The case 50 has multiple fixing portions 58, 59. The heat exchanger cover 60 has multiple holes 61, 62 that are fixed by fastening members 100 that are inserted through the multiple fixing portions 58, 59. Of the multiple holes, the hole 61 provided on the front edge of the heat exchanger cover 60 allows the fastening member 100 to be removed or fastened by moving the water tub 12 forward. In this embodiment, the fastening member 100 can be removed or fastened to the hole 61 by moving the water tub 12, for example, forward against the elasticity.

[0087] With this, heat exchanger cover 60 and case 50 are fastened and fixed with fastening member 100, ensuring airtightness of heat exchanger 34. Meanwhile, an operator can open heat exchanger cover 60 without removing heat pump unit 40 from housing 11. This provides a clothes dryer equipped with heat pump unit 40 that improves workability during inspection and maintenance and airtightness of heat exchanger 34.

[0088] In this embodiment, the number of holes 61 in the front edge of the heat exchanger cover 60 is set to one, which is fewer than the number of holes 62 in the back edge, which is three. Therefore, for example, if the housing 11 vibrates due to the rotation of the rotating tub 13, the heat exchanger cover 60 may be lifted up due to the vibration, particularly on the front edge side.

[0089] In contrast, the heat exchanger cover 60 has an elastically deformable regulated portion 64. The compressor cover 70 has a regulating portion 74 that comes into contact with the regulated portion 64 and regulates upward movement of the heat exchanger cover 60 when the compressor cover 70 and the heat exchanger cover 60 are attached to the case 50. When the regulated portion 64 is elastically deformed by an operator while the compressor cover 70 is attached to the case 50, the heat exchanger cover 60 is no longer regulated by the regulating portion 74, and can now move upward.

[0090] This prevents the heat exchanger cover 60 from floating up due to the restricting portion 74, thereby ensuring the airtightness of the heat exchanger 34. Furthermore, when the heat exchanger cover 60 is attached with the compressor cover 70 attached, the restricting portion 74 and the restricted portion 64 come into contact, causing a feel and contact sound to be perceived by the worker, making positioning easier. This simplifies assembly work during manufacturing or maintenance of the clothes dryer.

[0091] In the case 50 of this embodiment, the inner wall 56 (in this case, the rear inner wall 563) does not rise up to near the upper end of the evaporator 41 at the boundary between the heat exchanger 34 and the compressor housing 501, in order to facilitate formability and effectively utilize the space below the auxiliary member 80. Instead, the partition 81 of the auxiliary member 80 forms the side of the heat exchanger 34 that faces the compressor housing 501. Therefore, the heat exchanger cover 60 cannot be directly fixed to the case 50 in the area adjacent to the compressor housing 501.

[0092] In contrast, the heat pump unit 40 has an auxiliary member 80 that forms the heat exchanger side surface of the heat exchanger 34 facing the compressor housing section 501. The heat exchanger cover 60 and the auxiliary member 80 are fixed to each other by fastening members 100, and the auxiliary member 80 and the case 50 are fixed to each other by fastening members 100.

[0093] This allows the heat exchanger cover 60 and the case 50 to be indirectly fixed together via the auxiliary member 80 in the region where the heat exchanger unit 34 and the compressor-accommodating unit 501 are adjacent, where the heat exchanger unit cover 60 and the case 50 cannot be directly fixed together. This allows the heat exchanger unit cover 60 to be fixed to the case 50 more reliably overall, improving the airtightness of the heat exchanger unit 34.

[0094] Here, since piping 45 may condense due to the low-temperature refrigerant passing through it, it is desirable to house it inside case 50 and collect the condensed water. Furthermore, if piping 45 were exposed to the outside, it could come into contact with other components and be damaged. On the other hand, in order to efficiently dehumidify and heat the circulating air, it is undesirable to house unnecessary components in heat exchange unit 34 and obstruct the flow of the circulating air.

[0095] In contrast, heat pump unit 40 has piping 45 that connects compressor 43, evaporator 41, and condenser 42 and through which a refrigerant passes. Case 50 has piping housing 502 that houses piping 45. Compressor cover 70 is configured to cover piping housing 502 when attached to case 50.

[0096] This allows the piping 45 to be housed outside the heat exchange unit 34 and inside the case 50. Therefore, condensed water can be collected from the piping 45 while maintaining the efficiency of dehumidifying and heating the circulating air, and damage to the piping 45 can be suppressed.

[0097] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, this embodiment is presented by way of example and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be embodied in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, and are also included in the inventions and their equivalents as defined in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0098] 10... washer-dryer (clothes dryer), 11... housing, 12... water tub (drying chamber), 13... rotating tub (drying chamber), 16... air outlet, 17... air inlet, 30... circulation air duct, 34... heat exchange section, 40... heat pump unit, 41... evaporator, 42... condenser, 43... compressor, 45... piping, 50... case, 501... compressor housing section, 502... piping housing section, 57, 58, 59... fixing section, 60... heat exchange section cover, 61, 62, 63... hole section, 64... restricted section, 641... convex section, 70... compressor cover, 74... restricting section, 741... tip section, 80... auxiliary member, 81... partition section, 82... air direction adjustment section, 100... fastening member

Claims

1. The housing and a drying chamber provided within the housing and having an air outlet and an air inlet; a circulation air duct connecting an outlet and an inlet of the drying chamber; a heat pump unit provided in the middle of the circulation air duct, the drying chamber is configured to include a water tank that is elastically supported so as to be movable at least forward relative to the housing, the heat pump unit is disposed near the rear surface of the housing and at a position where at least a portion of the heat pump unit overlaps with the water tank in a plan view, The heat pump unit comprises: an evaporator that dehumidifies the air in the circulating air duct; a condenser that is provided downstream of the evaporator in the circulation air passage and heats the air in the circulation air passage; a compressor that configures a refrigeration cycle in which a refrigerant circulates together with the evaporator and the condenser; a case that forms a part of the circulation air passage and has therein a heat exchange section that houses the evaporator and the condenser, and a compressor housing section that houses the compressor; a heat exchanger cover that covers the heat exchanger; a compressor cover that covers the compressor accommodating portion, The heat exchanger cover and the compressor cover are configured to be individually detachable from the case, the case has a plurality of fixing portions, the heat exchanger cover has a plurality of holes that are fixed by fastening members inserted through the plurality of fixing portions, Among the plurality of holes, the hole provided in the front edge portion of the heat exchanger cover allows the fastening member to be removed or fastened by moving the water tank against elasticity. Clothes dryer.

2. the heat exchanger cover has an elastically deformable restricted portion, the compressor cover has a restricting portion that contacts the restricted portion and restricts upward movement of the heat exchanger cover when the compressor cover and the heat exchanger cover are attached to the case, When the restricted portion is elastically deformed by an operator in a state in which the compressor cover is attached to the case, the restriction by the restricting portion of the heat exchanger cover is released, and the heat exchanger cover can move upward. The clothes dryer according to claim 1.

3. the heat pump unit has an auxiliary member that forms a side surface of the heat exchanger that faces the compressor housing portion, The heat exchanger cover and the auxiliary member are fixed to each other by a fastening member, The auxiliary member and the case are fixed to each other by a fastening member. The clothes dryer according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The heat pump unit has a pipe that connects the compressor, the evaporator, and the condenser and passes the refrigerant therethrough, the case has a pipe housing portion that houses the pipe therein, The compressor cover is configured to cover the piping housing portion when attached to the case. The clothes dryer according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The housing and a drying chamber provided within the housing and having an air outlet and an air inlet; a circulation air duct connecting an outlet and an inlet of the drying chamber; A maintenance method for a clothes dryer including a heat pump unit provided in the circulation air duct, the drying chamber is configured to include a water tank that is elastically supported so as to be movable at least forward relative to the housing, the heat pump unit is disposed near the rear surface of the housing and at a position where at least a portion of the heat pump unit overlaps with the water tank in a plan view, The heat pump unit comprises: an evaporator that dehumidifies the air in the circulating air duct; a condenser that is provided downstream of the evaporator in the circulation air passage and heats the air in the circulation air passage; a compressor that configures a refrigeration cycle in which a refrigerant circulates together with the evaporator and the condenser; a case that forms a part of the circulation air passage and has therein a heat exchange section that houses the evaporator and the condenser, and a compressor housing section that houses the compressor; a heat exchanger cover that covers the heat exchanger; a compressor cover that covers the compressor accommodating portion, The heat exchanger cover and the compressor cover are configured to be individually detachable from the case, the case has a plurality of fixing portions, the heat exchanger cover has a plurality of holes that are fixed by fastening members inserted through the plurality of fixing portions, moving the water tank against elasticity; and fastening or removing the fastening member from a hole provided in a front edge portion of the heat exchanger cover among the plurality of hole portions. How to maintain a clothes dryer.

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