CLOTHES DRYER INCLUDING CONDENSING APPARATUS

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a clothes dryer including a condensing apparatus, where the condensing apparatus includes a hot air channel, in communication with a drying chamber, and a water supply apparatus for feeding cooling water into the hot air channel.

[0002] Clothes dryers usually include machines purely having a function of a clothes dryer and machines integrated with clothes washing and clothes drying functions. A drying principle of a clothes dryer may be generally summarized as follows: under an effect of a heating apparatus, after being heated by the heating apparatus, dry air forms dry hot air, which then enters a drying drum to exchange heat with wet clothes and removes moisture from the clothes, and forms relatively damp hot air; upon condensation by a condensing apparatus, moisture of the damp hot air is condensed into water, which is then discharged through a drain pipe; after being condensed, the air becomes relatively dry cold air, and under an effect of a fan, is led into the heating apparatus again, and forms dry hot air after being heated to enter a next cycle; and such a process is repeated until a drying program ends.

[0003] The condensing apparatus may include a cooling water supply apparatus. After meeting with wet hot air, cooling water reduces the temperature of the hot air, to separate moisture from the hot air. After entering a hot air channel, the cooling water is likely to be blown about by a high-speed air flow, so that a condensing effect is unstable. Meanwhile, water droplets that are blown about may enter the fan and a heating channel that are downstream in a circulation direction of the hot air, resulting in reduction of drying efficiency.

[0004] CN 105 544 166 concerns a clothes dryer which comprises a condensing apparatus, wherein the condensing apparatus comprises a hot air channel in communication with a drying chamber and a water supply apparatus for feeding cooling water into the hot air channel. In particular, the dryer includes a rip element for forming a cooling water flowing area extending parallel to the hot air channel.

[0005] GB 2 172 978 A concerns a tumbler dryer or combination washing machine having a condenser duct, through which air is passed in an upward direction after leaving the drum of the machine, and in which a film of water is fed downwards over a surface of the duct to remove moisture from the air by condensation, wherein the duct includes means for sustaining an unbroken film of water throughout its passage through the duct so as to reduce the possibility of water pickup, thereby permitting the rate of flow of air to be increased to give more efficient drying.

[0006] An objective of the present invention is to improve condensing efficiency of a condensing apparatus of an existing clothes dryer.

[0007] For the foregoing objective, the present invention provides a clothes dryer including a condensing apparatus, where a condensing apparatus includes a hot air channel, in communication with a drying chamber, and a water supply apparatus, for feeding cooling water into the hot air channel, an inlet of the hot air channel being located at a lower location, an outlet of the hot air channel being located at a higher location, where at least one flow guide rib is formed on a wall of the hot air channel, an upper end of the flow guide rib is close to an outlet of the water supply apparatus, a lower end thereof is close to the inlet of hot air channel, and the flow guide rib and the wall of the hot air channel define a cooling water flowing area together. After entering the hot air channel, the cooling water subsequently enters the cooling water flowing area defined by the flow guide rib and the wall of the hot air channel together. In this area, a water flow flows downward along the wall. The flow guide rib also avoids transverse interference of hot air, so that the water flow is stable and would not be splashed randomly. Therefore, a condensing effect is more stable, and condensing efficiency is improved.

[0008] A further improvement of the present invention is that: the wall included by the hot air channel includes a first wall and a second wall that face each other and that are relatively broad and a third wall that connects the first wall and the second wall and that is relatively narrow, a first flow guide rib is located on the first wall according to the present invention, a second flow guide rib is located on the second wall according the present invention, and the cooling water flowing area is formed on the first wall, the second wall, and the third wall that use the first flow guide rib and the second flow guide rib as boundaries. In such a structure, both the wall of the hot air channel and the flow guide rib implement a flow guiding function, so that the water flow stably flows along a side of the hot air channel.

[0009] According to the present invention, the outlet of the water supply apparatus is higher than a horizontal centerline of the hot air channel, and is disposed toward the cooling water flowing area. Such deposition provides a longer heat exchange path for the cooling water, and meanwhile, ensures the water to flow into the cooling water flowing area.

[0010] A protruding structure that transversely extends out is disposed below the cooling water flowing area according to the present invention. On the one hand, the protruding structure blocks and changes a flowing path of the cooling water, so that the cooling water transversely is dispersed on a surface of the protruding structure; on the other hand, the protruding structure blocks hot air below, to cause turbulence of the hot air. Hence, the turbulent hot air meets the dispersed cooling water at a location of the protruding structure, and the two get in sufficient contact with each other, disturb each other, and perform heat exchange. In view of this, the protruding structure produces a significant positive effect. Meanwhile, because the protruding structure is disposed below the cooling water flowing area, when arriving at the protruding structure, the cooling water has accumulated a certain amount of potential energy, so that the cooling water is dispersed on the protruding structure.

[0011] According to the present invention, the protruding structure extends out from the third wall toward an interior of the hot air channel and includes a free end extending out toward a central area of a cross section of the hot air channel in a suspended manner. The cooling water flows out from the free end, so that the cooling water is closer to the central area of the cross section of the hot air channel, and gets in sufficient contact with the hot air below.

[0012] Further, the protruding structure connects the first wall and the second wall. Hence, the cooling water only falls down on the free end of the protruding structure, and is more likely to enter the central area of the cross section of the hot air channel.

[0013] The hot air channel includes a bend proximal to the inlet, and the protruding structure is disposed at a bend joint. Air turbulence at the bend is stronger, and disposing the protruding structure at the bend more beneficially utilizes a design feature of the hot air channel and improves condensing efficiency.

[0014] The protruding structure is a plate integrally formed with the wall of the hot air channel.

[0015] The present invention is further described below by referring to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a drum and a condensing apparatus of a clothes dryer; and

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a cross section along an A-A line in FIG. 1.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, a clothes dryer includes a drum 2, forming a drying chamber from clothes, a hot air channel 4, in spatial communication with the drum 2, and a fan 6, enabling air to circulate between the drum 2 and the hot air channel 4. The hot air channel 4 includes an inlet 41, located at a lower location and connected to the drum 2, and an outlet 42, located at a higher location and connected to the fan 6. A water supply apparatus 8 for feeding cooling water into the hot air channel 4 is disposed at a suitable location on the hot air channel 4 and higher than a horizontal centerline a1 of the hot air channel 4. The hot air channel 4 and the water supply apparatus 8 are main elements for forming a condensing apparatus 10.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the hot air channel 4 includes a first wall 4a and a second wall 4b that face each other and that are relatively broad and a third wall 4c that connects the first wall 4a and the second wall 4b and that is relatively narrow. A first flow guide rib 11a is integrally formed on the first wall 4a, and a second flow guide rib 11b is integrally formed on the second wall 4b. The first flow guide rib 11a and the second flow guide rib 11b protrude toward an interior of the hot air channel 4 according to the present invention, and meanwhile, are close to the third wall 4c that connects the first wall 4a and the second wall 4b. Hence, a cooling water flowing area 12 is formed on the first wall 4a, the second wall 4b, and the third wall 4c that use the first flow guide rib 11a and the second flow guide rib 11b as boundaries. Upper ends 111a and 111b of the first flow guide rib 11a and the second flow guide rib 11b are close to an outlet 81 of the water supply apparatus 8, and lower ends 112a and 112b thereof are close to the inlet 41 of the hot air channel. To make the cooling water enter the cooling water flowing area 12 more stable, the outlet 81 of the water supply apparatus is disposed toward the cooling water flowing area 12.

[0018] A protruding structure 14 integrally manufactured with the third wall 4c is disposed below the cooling water flowing area 12 and transversely extends from the third wall 4c toward the interior of the hot air channel 4. A side opposite to a side, on which the protruding structure 14 is connected to the third wall 4c, is a free end 141 extending toward a central area of a cross section of the hot air channel 4 in a suspended manner. Two other sides of the protruding structure 14 may be connected to the first wall 4a and the second wall 4b. In a process of falling down along the cooling water flowing area 12, the cooling water is blocked by the protruding structure 14, then, changes a flowing path, is transversely dispersed on a surface of the protruding structure 14, and falls into the central area of the cross section of the hot air channel 4 from the free end 141. On the other hand, the protruding structure 14 blocks hot air below, to cause turbulence of the hot air. The turbulent hot air meets the dispersed cooling water at a location of the protruding structure 14, and the two get in sufficient contact with each other, disturb each other, and perform heat exchange. The hot air channel 4 includes bend 43 proximal to the inlet 41. The protruding structure 14 is disposed at a bend joint 44. Air turbulence at the bend is stronger, and disposing the protruding structure 14 at the bend more beneficially utilizes a design feature of the hot air channel 4 and improves condensing efficiency.

[0019] The foregoing descriptions and various specific implementation manners shown in the accompanying drawings are merely used for describing the present invention rather than all of the present invention. Within the scope of the basic technical ideas of the present invention, a change made by a person of ordinary skill in related art to the present invention in any form shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A clothes dryer comprising a condensing apparatus, wherein a condensing apparatus (10) comprises a hot air channel (4), in communication with a drying chamber (2), and a water supply apparatus (8), for feeding cooling water into the hot air channel (4), an inlet (41) of the hot air channel (4) being located at a lower location, an outlet (42) of the hot air channel (4) being located at a higher location, wherein two flow guide ribs (11a, 11b) are formed on a wall (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) of the hot air channel (4), an upper end (111a, 111b) of the flow guide ribs (11a, 11b) is close to an outlet (81) of the water supply apparatus (8), wherein the outlet (81) of the water supply apparatus (8) is higher than a horizontal centerline (a1) of the hot air channel (4) and is disposed toward a cooling water flowing area (12), a lower end (112a, 112b) of the flow guide ribs (11a, 11b) is close to the inlet (41) of the hot air channel (4), and the flow guide ribs (11a, 11b) and the wall (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) of the hot air channel define the cooling water flowing area (12) together, wherein the hot air channel (4) includes a first wall (4a) and a second wall (4b) that face each other, and a third wall (4c) that connects the first wall (4a) and the second wall (4b), characterized in that the first flow guide rib (11a) is located on the first wall (4a), the second flow guide rib (11b) is located on the second wall (4b), wherein the first flow guide rib (11a) and the second flow guide rib (11b) protrude towards to the interior of the hot air channel (4), wherein the cooling water flowing area (12) is formed on the first wall (4a), the second wall (4b), and the third wall (4c) that use the first flow guide rib (11a) and the second flow guide rib (11b) as boundaries, wherein an opening, extending along the hot air channel (4), is realized between the first flow guide rib (11a) and the second flow guide rib (11b), and wherein a protruding structure (14) that transversely extends out is disposed below the cooling water flowing area (12) for performing a heat exchange between turbulent hot air and dispersed cooling water at the protruding structure (14).

2. The clothes dryer according to claim 1, characterized in that: the protruding structure (14) extends out from the third wall (4c) toward an interior of the hot air channel (4) and comprises a free end (141) extending out toward a central area of a cross section of the hot air channel (4) in a suspended manner.

3. The clothes dryer according to claim 2, characterized in that: the protruding structure (14) connects the first wall (4a) and the second wall (4b).

4. The clothes dryer according to claim 2, characterized in that: the hot air channel (4) comprises a bend (43) proximal to the inlet (41), and the protruding structure (14) is disposed at a bend joint (44).

5. The clothes dryer according to claim 1, characterized in that: the protruding structure is a plate (14) integrally formed with the wall (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) of the hot air channel (4).

Ansprüche

1. Wäschetrockner mit einer Verflüssigungsvorrichtung, wobei eine Verflüssigungsvorrichtung (10) einen mit einer Trockenkammer (2) verbundenen Heißluftkanal (4) und eine Wasserzufuhrvorrichtung (8) zum Zuführen von Kühlwasser in den Heißluftkanal (4) umfasst, wobei sich ein Einlass (41) des Heißluftkanals (4) an einer weiter unten gelegenen Stelle und ein Auslass (42) des Heißluftkanals (4) an einer weiter oben gelegenen Stelle befindet, wobei zwei Strömungsführungsrippen (11a, 11b) an einer Wand (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) des Heißluftkanals (4) ausgebildet sind, wobei sich ein oberes Ende (111a, 111b) der Strömungsführungsrippen (11a, 11b) in der Nähe eines Auslasses (81) der Wasserzufuhrvorrichtung (8) befindet, wobei der Auslass (81) der Wasserzufuhrvorrichtung (8) über einer horizontalen Mittellinie (al) des Heißluftkanals (4) liegt und zu einem Kühlwasserströmungsbereich (12) hin angeordnet ist, sich ein unteres Ende (112a, 112b) der Strömungsführungsrippen (11a, 11b) in der Nähe des Einlasses (41) des Heißluftkanals (4) befindet und die Strömungsführungsrippen (11a, 11b) und die Wand (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) des Heißluftkanals zusammen den Kühlwasserströmungsbereich (12) definieren, wobei der Heißluftkanal (4) eine erste Wand (4a) und eine zweite Wand (4b) aufweist, die einander zugewandt sind, und eine dritte Wand (4c), die die erste Wand (4a) mit der zweiten Wand (4b) verbindet,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass sich die erste Strömungsführungsrippe (11a) an der ersten Wand (4a) und die zweite Strömungsführungsrippe (11b) an der zweiten Wand (4b) befindet, wobei die erste Strömungsführungsrippe (11a) und die zweite Strömungsführungsrippe (11b) in den Innenraum des Heißluftkanals (4) vorstehen, wobei der Kühlwasserströmungsbereich (12) an der ersten Wand (4a), der zweiten Wand (4b) und der dritten Wand (4c) ausgebildet ist, die die erste Strömungsführungsrippe (11a) und die zweite Strömungsführungsrippe (11b) als Begrenzungen benutzen, wobei zwischen der ersten Strömungsführungsrippe (11a) und der zweiten Strömungsführungsrippe (11b) eine Öffnung, die den Heißluftkanal (4) entlang verläuft, vorgesehen ist und eine sich quer nach außen erstreckende, vorstehende Konstruktion (14) zum Durchführen eines Wärmeaustauschs zwischen verwirbelter Heißluft und verteiltem Kühlwasser an der vorstehenden Konstruktion (14) unterhalb des Kühlwasserströmungsbereichs (12) angeordnet ist.

2. Wäschetrockner nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass: sich die vorstehende Konstruktion (14) aus der dritten Wand (4c) in einen Innenraum des Heißluftkanals (4) erstreckt und ein freies Ende (141) umfasst, das sich hängend zu einem mittleren Bereich eines Querschnitts des Heißluftkanals (4) erstreckt.

3. Wäschetrockner nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass: die vorstehende Konstruktion (14) die erste Wand (4a) mit der zweiten Wand (4b) verbindet.

4. Wäschetrockner nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass: der Heißluftkanal (4) in der Nähe des Einlasses (41) eine Krümmung (43) umfasst und die vorstehende Konstruktion (14) an einer Krümmungsverbindung (44) angeordnet ist.

5. Wäschetrockner nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass: es sich bei der vorstehenden Konstruktion um eine Platte (14) handelt, die einstückig mit der Wand (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) des Heißluftkanals (4) ausgebildet ist.

Revendications

1. Sèche-linge comprenant un appareil de condensation, dans lequel un appareil de condensation (10) comprend un canal d'air chaud (4), en communication avec une chambre de séchage (2), et un appareil d'alimentation en eau (8), permettant d'alimenter de l'eau de refroidissement dans le canal d'air chaud (4), une entrée (41) du canal d'air chaud (4) étant située en un emplacement plus bas, une sortie (42) du canal d'air chaud (4) étant située en un emplacement plus haut, dans lequel deux nervures de guidage d'écoulement (11a, 11b) sont formées sur une paroi (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) du canal d'air chaud (4), une extrémité supérieure (111a, 111b) des nervures de guidage d'écoulement (11a, 11b) est proche d'une sortie (81) de l'appareil d'alimentation en eau (8), dans lequel la sortie (81) de l'appareil d'alimentation en eau (8) est plus haute qu'une ligne centrale horizontale (a1) du canal d'air chaud (4) et est disposée vers une zone d'écoulement de l'eau de refroidissement (12),
une extrémité inférieure (112a, 112b) des nervures de guidage d'écoulement (11a, 11b) est proche de l'entrée (41) du canal d'air chaud (4), et les nervures de guidage d'écoulement (11a, 11b) et la paroi (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) du canal d'air chaud définissent la zone d'écoulement de l'eau de refroidissement (12) ensemble, dans lequel le canal d'air chaud (4) inclut une première paroi (4a) et une deuxième paroi (4b) situées l'une en face de l'autre, et une troisième paroi (4c) qui relie la première paroi (4a) et la deuxième paroi (4b), caractérisé en ce que la première nervure de guidage d'écoulement (11a) est située sur la première paroi (4a), la seconde nervure de guidage d'écoulement (11b) est située sur la deuxième paroi (4b), dans lequel la première nervure de guidage d'écoulement (11a) et la seconde nervure de guidage d'écoulement (11b) ressortent vers l'intérieur du canal d'air chaud (4), dans lequel la zone d'écoulement de l'eau de refroidissement (12) est formée sur la première paroi (4a), la deuxième paroi (4b), et la troisième paroi (4c) qui utilisent la première nervure de guidage d'écoulement (11a) et la seconde nervure de guidage d'écoulement (11b) comme limites,
dans lequel une ouverture, s'étendant le long du canal d'air chaud (4), est réalisée entre la première nervure de guidage d'écoulement (11a) et la seconde nervure de guidage d'écoulement (11b), et dans lequel une structure saillante (14) qui ressort de manière transversale est disposée sous la zone d'écoulement d'eau de refroidissement (12) afin de réaliser un échange de chaleur entre de l'air chaud turbulent et de l'eau de refroidissement dispersée au niveau de la structure saillante (14).

2. Sèche-linge selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que la structure saillante (14) sort de la troisième paroi (4c) vers un intérieur du canal d'air chaud (4) et comprend une extrémité libre (141) ressortant vers une zone centrale d'une section transversale du canal d'air chaud (4) de manière suspendue.

3. Sèche-linge selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que la structure saillante (14) relie la première paroi (4a) et la deuxième paroi (4b).

4. Sèche-linge selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que le canal d'air chaud (4) comprend une pliure (43) proche de l'entrée (41), et la structure saillante (14) est disposée au niveau de la jonction de pliure (44).

5. Sèche-linge selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que la structure saillante est une plaque (14) formée d'un seul tenant avec la paroi (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) du canal d'air chaud (4).

Drawing