Heat pump system and washing machine

Abstract

A heat pump system and a washing machine, which solve the problem that the height of existing washing machines is increased due to the installation space of a heat pump system being limited. The heat pump system comprises: a housing (1), an air duct being formed inside of the housing (1); an evaporator (2) and a condenser (3), which are both arranged in the air duct; a fan (4), which is connected to one end of the housing (1), the fan (4) being arranged close to the condenser (3), and the fan (4) being in communication with the air duct; and a compressor (5), which is horizontally arranged, the compressor (5) being connected to the condenser (3), and the compressor (5) being arranged close to the fan (4), so that a clearance space (100) is formed between the compressor (5) and the housing (1). A relative position relationship between components such as the compressor (5), the evaporator (2), the condenser (3), and the fan (4) is adjusted to form the clearance space (100), so that a functional component of the washing machine is mounted in the clearance space (100), and when the heat pump system is mounted at the top of the washing machine, it can be ensured that the overall height of the washing machine is within a standard height, thereby improving user experience.

Description

Heat pump systems and washing machines

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese patent application No. 202311645453.5, filed on December 1, 2023, with the invention name “Heat Pump System and Washing Machine”. The entire contents of the above Chinese patent application are incorporated into this application by reference. Technical Field

[0002] The present application relates to the technical field of washing machines, and specifically provides a heat pump system and a washing machine. Background Art

[0003] As a cleaning appliance for washing clothes, washing machines play an increasingly important role in daily life. Nowadays, with the continuous improvement of people's requirements for quality of life, the simple washing function can no longer meet daily needs. Therefore, clothing processing equipment such as dryers and washer-dryers have emerged.

[0004] Washer-dryer machines are widely used because they can simultaneously perform washing and drying functions. A heat pump system is generally required in a washer-dryer. However, the heat pump system takes up a large space, and the space below the drum is difficult to accommodate the installation of the entire heat pump system. When the heat pump system is installed in whole or in part above the drum, the overall height of the washing machine will increase, occupying the user's indoor space.

[0005] Accordingly, this field requires a new technical solution to solve the above problems. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present application aims to solve the above technical problem, that is, to solve the problem that the height of the existing washing machine increases due to the limited installation space of the heat pump system.

[0007] In a first aspect, the present application provides a heat pump system, comprising:

[0008] a shell having an air duct formed therein;

[0009] an evaporator and a condenser, both of which are arranged in the air duct;

[0010] a fan connected to one end of the housing, the fan being disposed near the condenser and communicating with the air duct; and

[0011] The compressor is arranged horizontally, is connected to the condenser, and is arranged close to the fan so that an escape space is formed between the compressor and the shell.

[0012] When the above technical solution is adopted, when the heat pump system is installed above the drum, the shell can be arranged along the radial direction of the drum, so that the evaporator and condenser are arranged along the radial direction of the drum, and an avoidance space is formed along the axial direction of the drum. The heat pump system will not occupy the installation space of the washing machine control device and the self-feeding device, and the space above the drum is reasonably utilized, so that the heat pump system, the washing machine control device, the self-feeding device, etc. are located at the same vertical height, so there is no need to increase the height of the washing machine on its original basis, ensuring that the overall height of the washing machine is within the standard height, thereby improving the user experience. In addition, the heat pump system of the present application can be installed on the top of the washing machine as a whole. Compared with the method of arranging the various components of the heat pump system at the bottom and top of the washing machine in the related art, the heat exchange path is shortened, which is conducive to the rapid heating of the airflow and improves the drying effect.

[0013] In a technical solution of the above heat pump system, the housing, the evaporator, the condenser, the fan and the compressor are fixedly connected to form an integrated structure.

[0014] When the above technical solution is adopted, the heat pump system is connected into an integrated structure, thereby realizing modular production. That is, when the washing machine is produced and assembled, the heat pump system is regarded as a separate module, and an embedding space for installing the heat pump system is reserved on the top of the washing machine. After the pre-installation of the heat pump system is completed, the heat pump system is directly embedded and installed in the reserved space on the top of the washing machine. This not only simplifies the installation process, but also simplifies the industrial line process for the washing machine industrial line, and realizes the separate supply of the heat pump system, thereby improving the efficiency of the production and assembly of the washing machine.

[0015] In a technical solution of the above heat pump system, the axis of the compressor is perpendicular to the axis of the air duct.

[0016] When the above technical solution is adopted, the overall shape of the heat pump system is an L-shaped structure, which can maximize the range of the avoidance space, thereby ensuring the installation of functional components such as the washing machine control device and the automatic feeding device.

[0017] In one technical solution of the above heat pump system, the heat pump system further includes:

[0018] An air guide cover is connected between the housing and the input end of the fan, and the cross-sectional area of ​​the air guide cover gradually decreases along the direction from the housing to the fan.

[0019] When the above technical solution is adopted, the speed of the air flow in the air duct will be increased when it passes through the air guide cover, thereby guiding the air flow to flow toward the fan. The air pressure is greater after the air flow passes through the fan, so that the heated gas enters the drum in a high temperature and high pressure state, thereby improving its ability to penetrate clothes, quickly taking away moisture in clothes, and improving drying efficiency.

[0020] In one technical solution of the above heat pump system, the heat pump system further includes:

[0021] An exhaust duct has one end connected to the output end of the fan and the other end extending toward the avoidance space.

[0022] When the above technical solution is adopted, the exhaust duct is located on one side of the compressor and is within the same height range as the compressor, thereby avoiding increasing the overall height of the heat pump system due to the provision of the exhaust duct.

[0023] In one technical solution of the above heat pump system, the heat pump system further includes:

[0024] A lint filter assembly is arranged between the air inlet of the shell and the evaporator.

[0025] When the above technical solution is adopted, the lint filter assembly can filter clothing lint mixed in the air flow, preventing the lint from entering the air duct and the fan, causing blockage of the air duct or affecting the normal operation of the fan.

[0026] In one technical solution of the above heat pump system, the lint filter assembly includes:

[0027] an outer frame, located in the avoidance space, the outer frame being connected to the shell; and

[0028] The filter screen is movably arranged in the outer frame so that the filter screen can be inserted into the shell or drawn out from the outer frame.

[0029] When the above technical solution is adopted, the filter can be regularly removed from the housing and outer frame during use of the washing machine to clean the lint adhering to the filter. This prevents excessive lint from adhering to the filter, which increases air resistance and affects air circulation. Furthermore, the filter can be removed and installed by pulling it out, which improves the convenience of operation.

[0030] In a second aspect, the present application provides a washing machine, comprising:

[0031] body;

[0032] a drum assembly disposed in the machine body; and

[0033] The heat pump system according to any one of the first aspects is disposed in the machine body, and the heat pump system is located above the drum assembly.

[0034] The above technical solution not only fully utilizes the space above the washing machine, keeping the height within standard dimensions, but also shortens the heat exchange path during operation of the heat pump system, thereby improving drying efficiency. Furthermore, the components of the heat pump system are pre-assembled into a modular structure, achieving not only standardized washing machine dimensions but also direct installation of the heat pump system into the space above the washing machine, eliminating the need for separate assembly of the heat pump system. This simplifies the washing machine production line and improves production efficiency.

[0035] In one technical solution of the above-mentioned washing machine, the heat pump system includes an exhaust duct connected to the output end of the fan, the exhaust duct is connected to the front end of the drum assembly, and the air inlet of the shell is connected to the rear end of the drum assembly.

[0036] When the above technical solution is adopted, the air inlet of the shell extends directly downward to connect with the drum assembly, which can avoid the air guide section between the shell and the drum assembly occupying the area where the avoidance space is located, and reserve space for other functional components of the washing machine.

[0037] In one technical solution of the above washing machine, the heat pump system further includes:

[0038] A self-delivering device is arranged in the avoidance space.

[0039] When the above technical solution is adopted, a self-dispensing device is provided in the avoidance space, which ensures the diversity of the washing machine functions and improves user experience. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] The preferred embodiments of the present application are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0041] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a heat pump system provided in this application;

[0042] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of the heat pump system of the present application when installed on the top of a washing machine.

[0043] In the figures, the reference numerals are as follows:

[0044] 1. Housing; 11. Air guide cover; 2. Evaporator; 3. Condenser; 4. Fan; 41. Exhaust duct; 5. Compressor; 6. Filter assembly;

[0045] 100. Avoidance space; 200. Machine body; 300. Drum assembly; 400. Self-dispensing device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] The preferred embodiments of the present application are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art should understand that these embodiments are merely intended to illustrate the technical principles of the present application and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present application. Those skilled in the art may adjust these embodiments as needed to suit specific applications.

[0047] It should be noted that, in the description of this application, terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "inner," and "outer" indicating directions or positional relationships are based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. This is merely for ease of description and does not indicate or imply that the relevant devices or components must have a specific orientation, be constructed, or operate in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this application. Furthermore, ordinal numbers such as "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0048] Furthermore, it should be noted that, in the description of this application, unless otherwise specified or limited, the terms "installed" and "connected" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they can refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; mechanical connections, electrical connections; and direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediary. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0049] For a washing machine that combines a washer and dryer, a mechanical transmission and support device needs to be installed under the drum to support the drum and drive the drum to rotate. In addition, components such as a damper are also provided under the drum to reduce the shaking of the washing machine caused by the relative movement of the drum and the clothes inside during the washing process. Therefore, for the washing machine, the space inside for installing the heat pump system is very limited.

[0050] In some related technologies, the heat pump system is installed as a whole on the top of the washing machine, that is, above the drum. However, there are structures such as control devices and automatic feeding devices above the drum. Therefore, this will increase the overall height of the washing machine, causing the washing machine to occupy the user's indoor space, thereby reducing the user experience. In other related technologies, the heat pump system is split and laid out. For example, the compressor is placed below the drum, and the evaporator, condenser and other components are placed above the drum to fully utilize the space above and below the drum to meet the standard height of the washing machine. However, this approach will extend the transmission line between the compressor and the condenser, resulting in a decrease in the heating rate, thereby affecting the drying effect.

[0051] Therefore, the above methods all have major drawbacks.

[0052] 1 , which shows a heat pump system disclosed in the present application, including a housing 1 , an evaporator 2 , a condenser 3 , a fan 4 and a compressor 5 .

[0053] The shell 1 is a structure with openings at both ends. The cross section of the shell 1 can be rectangular, elliptical or other shapes, which is not limited in this application.

[0054] The interior of the housing 1 is formed with an air duct for airflow, and thus the housing 1 has opposing air inlets and outlets. The evaporator 2 and condenser 3 are both disposed within the housing 1 and connected to each other. The compressor 5 is located outside the housing 1 and connected to the condenser 3. Therefore, the side of the housing 1 on which the condenser 3 is located is the air outlet, and the side of the housing 1 on which the evaporator 2 is located is the air inlet.

[0055] The fan 4 is located at one side of the housing 1 and is close to the condenser 3 . The input end of the fan 4 is connected to the housing 1 , and the fan 4 is communicated with the air duct.

[0056] It should be noted that the compressor 5 is arranged horizontally. The horizontal arrangement described in this application means that when the heat pump system is installed in the washing machine, the axial direction of the compressor 5 is horizontal, thereby reducing the height of the compressor 5 in the vertical direction, and then reducing the overall height of the heat pump system.

[0057] In addition, it should be noted that the compressor 5 is arranged near the fan 4, that is, the compressor 5 is located on the air outlet side of the housing 1. In an optional embodiment, the axis of the compressor 5 is perpendicular to the axis of the air duct, where the axis direction of the air duct refers to the direction of movement of the air flow when flowing along the air duct. In this way, the housing 1, fan 4 and compressor 5 form an L-shaped structure as a whole, thereby forming an avoidance space 100 between the compressor 5 and the housing 1.

[0058] Specifically, the heat pump system of the present application is installed on top of the washing machine, i.e., in the space above the drum. Referring to FIG2 , which is a schematic diagram of the heat pump system of the present application installed on top of the washing machine, the avoidance space 100 can be used to accommodate the washing machine's control device, automatic dispensing device, etc.

[0059] When the heat pump system of the present application is working, the air flow enters through the air inlet of the shell 1. At this time, the air flow is a humid and hot air flow passing through the clothes in the drum. After passing through the evaporator 2, the temperature is reduced and the moisture is removed, turning it into a dry low-temperature air flow and passing through the condenser 3 to become a dry high-temperature air flow. The heated air flow is sent into the drum through the fan 4, and this cycle is repeated to achieve drying of the clothes.

[0060] The present application adjusts the relative positional relationship between the compressor 5, the fan 4, and the shell 1. When the heat pump system is installed on the top of the washing machine, the shell 1 is located in the upper space of the rear end of the drum, and the shell 1 is arranged along the radial direction of the drum, and the compressor 5 is arranged along the axial direction of the drum. Specifically, the radial arrangement of the shell 1 makes the evaporator 2 and the condenser 3 arranged along the radial direction of the drum. Compared with the method in which the evaporator 2 and the condenser 3 are arranged side by side along the axial direction of the drum in the related art, an avoidance space 100 is formed along the axial direction of the drum. The avoidance space 100 can be used to install structures such as the washing machine control device and the self-dispensing device.

[0061] Therefore, through the above-mentioned arrangement, when the heat pump system is installed above the drum, the heat pump system will not occupy the installation space of the washing machine control device and the automatic feeding device, and the space above the drum is reasonably utilized, so that the heat pump system, the washing machine control device, the automatic feeding device, etc. are located at the same vertical height, so there is no need to increase the height of the washing machine on its original basis, ensuring that the overall height of the washing machine is within the standard height, thereby improving the user experience.

[0062] On the other hand, the heat pump system of the present application can be installed as a whole on the top of the washing machine. Compared with the method in the related art in which the various components of the heat pump system are respectively arranged at the bottom and top of the washing machine, the heat exchange path is shortened, which is conducive to the rapid heating of the airflow and improves the drying effect.

[0063] In one implementation of the present application, the housing 1, evaporator 2, condenser 3, fan 4, and compressor 5 are fixedly connected to form an integrated structure to achieve modularization. Specifically, during the pre-installation process of the heat pump system, after the compressor 5 is connected to the condenser 3 and evaporator 2, they can be welded to each other to enhance their integration. Similarly, the fan 4 can also be fixed to the housing 1 by welding after being connected. It should be noted that in some other methods, bolt connection, riveting, or the above methods combined with welding can also be used. This application does not make specific restrictions on this, as long as it can enhance the integration between the various components of the heat pump system.

[0064] In this way, when adopting the above method, modular production can be achieved by connecting the heat pump system into an integrated structure. That is, when producing and assembling the washing machine, the heat pump system is treated as a separate module, and an embedding space for installing the heat pump system is reserved on the top of the washing machine. After the pre-installation of the heat pump system is completed, the heat pump system is directly embedded and installed in the reserved space on the top of the washing machine. This not only simplifies the installation process, but also simplifies the industrial line process for the washing machine industrial line, and can realize the separate supply of the heat pump system, thereby improving the efficiency of washing machine production and assembly.

[0065] Furthermore, the present invention places the heat pump system on the top of the washing machine, which reduces installation difficulty compared to the method of reserving space at the bottom of the washing machine to install the heat pump system. It also does not occupy the installation space of the drive device and support device at the bottom of the washing machine, thereby ensuring the stability of the washing machine operation. On the other hand, if the heat pump system fails, the top cover of the washing machine can be directly opened to repair the heat pump system, thereby improving the convenience of maintenance.

[0066] 1 , in one implementation of the present application, an air guide 11 is further connected between the air outlet of the housing 1 and the input end of the fan 4. Specifically, the cross-sectional area of ​​the air guide 11 gradually decreases along the direction from the air outlet of the housing 1 to the input end of the fan 4. For example, the shape of the air guide 11 can be a truncated cone or a pyramid.

[0067] When the heat pump system is in working state, since the cross-sectional area of ​​the air guide cover 11 gradually decreases along the direction of air flow movement, the air flow speed in the air duct will be increased when passing through the air guide cover 11, thereby guiding the air flow to flow toward the fan 4. After the air flow passes through the fan 4, the air pressure is greater, so that the heated gas enters the drum in a high temperature and high pressure state, thereby improving its ability to penetrate clothes, quickly taking away moisture in clothes, and improving drying efficiency.

[0068] As a possible implementation of the present application, the air inlet of the housing 1 is further provided with a lint filter assembly 6. The air inlet of the housing 1 extends downward and communicates with the drum. The lint filter assembly 6 is arranged between the air guide hood 11 of the housing 1 and the evaporator 2. When the airflow in the drum enters the housing 1, the lint filter assembly 6 can filter out clothing lint entrained in the airflow, preventing the lint from entering the air duct and the fan 4, causing blockage of the air duct or affecting the normal operation of the fan 4.

[0069] Optionally, the filter assembly 6 includes an outer frame and a filter screen. The outer frame is fixedly connected to the housing 1 and communicates with the housing 1. The filter screen is movably disposed within the outer frame. For example, the filter screen is slidably connected to the outer frame, and the filter screen can be inserted into the housing 1 along the outer frame and can be withdrawn outward along the outer frame. During use of the washing machine, the filter screen can be periodically removed from the housing 1 and the outer frame to clean any lint adhering to the filter screen, thereby preventing excessive lint adhering to the filter screen from increasing air resistance and affecting air circulation.

[0070] In an optional method, the outer frame can be integrated into the front panel of the washing machine, located on one side of the washing machine control panel, that is, the filter is set to a front pull-out form, so that the filter is more convenient to disassemble and replace, and will not affect the surrounding control devices and other structures.

[0071] Referring to Figure 1 , the output end of fan 4 is also connected to an exhaust duct 41. Exhaust duct 41 extends toward the escape space 100, then curves downward. Alternatively, a curved section of duct is connected to the end of exhaust duct 41 away from fan 4, allowing the hot air in exhaust duct 41 to flow downward into the washing machine drum. In this way, exhaust duct 41 is located to one side of compressor 5, at the same height as compressor 5, avoiding increasing the overall height of the heat pump system due to the installation of exhaust duct 41.

[0072] It should be understood that although a schematic form of the exhaust duct 41 is given in FIG1 , in practice the specific size of the exhaust duct 41 may be adjusted accordingly according to the functional components surrounding it. For example, when the control device of the washing machine needs to occupy a specific area within the avoidance space 100, the size of the exhaust duct 41 may be appropriately reduced, or the exhaust duct 41 may be set to a special-shaped structure according to the position of the surrounding space to avoid interference with the surrounding functional components.

[0073] The present application also discloses a washing machine, which includes a body 200, a drum assembly 300, and a heat pump system according to any of the above embodiments. Referring to FIG2 , a schematic diagram illustrating the relative positional relationship between the body 200, the drum assembly 300, and the heat pump system is provided. Specifically, the figure is a top view of the washing machine, with the lower portion of the figure representing the front end of the drum assembly 300 and the upper portion representing the rear end of the drum assembly 300. The housing 1 and the evaporator 2 and condenser 3 therein are located above the rear end of the drum assembly 300, and the compressor 5 is located to the upper right of the drum assembly 300. Therefore, the heat pump system defines a clearance space 100 at its lower left for mounting other functional components of the washing machine.

[0074] In this way, the exhaust duct 41 extends forward and communicates with the front end of the drum assembly 300, and the air inlet of the shell 1 is connected to the rear end of the drum assembly 300, so that the hot air moves from front to back in the drum assembly 300.

[0075] The air inlet of the shell 1 is located at the rear end of the drum assembly 300, so extending it directly downward to connect with the drum assembly 300 can avoid the air guide section between the shell 1 and the drum assembly 300 occupying the area where the avoidance space 100 is located, reserving space for other functional components of the washing machine.

[0076] In one implementation of the present application, the washing machine also includes a self-dispensing device 400, which is located in the left area of ​​the avoidance space 100. Optionally, when a lint filter assembly 6 is connected to the heat pump system, the self-dispensing device 400 is located on the left side of the lint filter assembly 6, and the right area of ​​the lint filter assembly 6 is used to set the control device, control panel, etc. of the washing machine, thereby realizing the rational use of space.

[0077] Thus, in one implementation, the front panel of the washing machine is, from left to right, the self-dispensing device 400, the lint filter assembly 6, and the control panel of the washing machine. The lint filter assembly 6 is similar to the self-dispensing device 400, and both use a front-mounted pull-out method to achieve their working purpose.

[0078] This application, by configuring the heat pump system to have an L-shaped overall shape and installing it on top of the washing machine, can fully utilize the space on top of the washing machine, keeping the height of the washing machine within standard dimensions. It can also shorten the heat exchange path during operation of the heat pump system, thereby improving drying efficiency. Furthermore, the various components within the heat pump system are pre-assembled into an integrated structure, achieving modularization. This not only standardizes the size of the washing machine, but also allows the heat pump system to be directly embedded in the top space of the washing machine, eliminating the need for separate assembly of the heat pump system. This simplifies the washing machine production line and improves production efficiency.

[0079] It should be noted that although the present application uses the scenario of the heat pump system being applied to a washing machine as an example, it does not constitute a limitation on the application environment of the heat pump system of the present application. For example, the heat pump system can also be applied to other clothing processing equipment such as dryers. Therefore, equivalent or similar replacements made to the application scenarios of the heat pump system are all within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0080] Thus far, the technical solutions of the present application have been described in conjunction with the preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. However, it is readily understood by those skilled in the art that the scope of protection of the present application is obviously not limited to these specific embodiments. Without departing from the principles of the present application, those skilled in the art may make equivalent changes or substitutions to the relevant technical features, and the technical solutions after such changes or substitutions will fall within the scope of protection of the present application.

Claims

1. A heat pump system, characterized in that: The heat pump system comprises: A shell body having an air duct formed therein; an evaporator and a condenser, both of which are arranged in the air duct; a fan connected to one end of the housing, the fan being disposed close to the condenser and being in communication with the air duct; and The compressor is arranged horizontally, connected to the condenser, and arranged close to the fan so that an escape space is formed between the compressor and the shell.

2. The heat pump system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The shell, the evaporator, the condenser, the fan and the compressor are fixedly connected to form an integrated structure.

3. The heat pump system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The axis of the compressor is perpendicular to the axis of the air duct.

4. The heat pump system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The heat pump system further comprises: An air guide cover is connected between the shell and the input end of the fan, and the cross-sectional area of ​​the air guide cover gradually decreases along the direction from the shell to the fan.

5. The heat pump system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The heat pump system further comprises: An exhaust duct has one end connected to the output end of the fan and the other end extending toward the avoidance space.

6. The heat pump system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The heat pump system further comprises: A lint filter assembly is arranged between the air inlet of the shell and the evaporator.

7. The heat pump system according to claim 6, characterized in that: The wire dust filtering assembly comprises: an outer frame, which is located in the avoidance space, and the outer frame is connected to the shell; and The filter screen is movably arranged in the outer frame so that the filter screen can be inserted into the shell or drawn out from the outer frame.

8. A washing machine, characterized in that: The washing machine comprises: Body; A drum assembly is disposed in the machine body; and The heat pump system according to any one of claims 1 to 7 is arranged in the machine body, and the heat pump system is located above the drum assembly.

9. The washing machine according to claim 8, characterized in that: The heat pump system comprises an exhaust duct connected to the output end of the fan, the exhaust duct is communicated with the front end of the drum assembly, and the air inlet of the shell is communicated with the rear end of the drum assembly.

10. The washing machine according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that: The heat pump system further comprises: A self-delivery device is arranged in the avoidance space.

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