Method Of Heating The Clothes Load In A Tumbling Combination Washer/Dryer

Abstract

A combination washer/dryer machine has a cabinet with a tub and drum positioned in the cabinet. The drum is rotatably positioned in the tub. A heater is secured to the tub. The heater includes a duct to provide heated air from the heater. The duct is coupled with the tub to supply heated air to the drum.

Claims

1. A combination washer/dryer machine comprising: a cabinet; a tub positioned in the cabinet; a drum rotatably positioned in the tub; and a heater secured to the tub, the heater including a duct for providing heated air from the heater, the duct coupled with the tub for supplying heated air to the drum.

2. The combination washer/dryer machine of claim 1, wherein the duct is secured to the tub.

3. The combination washer/dryer machine of claim 1, wherein the tub includes at least one opening to receive heated air from the duct.

4. The combination washer/dryer machine of claim 1, wherein the drum includes apertures in its end portion providing at least 50 cm.sup.2 of open area of the area of the end portion.

5. The combination washer/dryer machine of claim 1, wherein the heater includes a metal housing to secure the heater with the tub.

6. The combination washer/dryer machine of claim 1, wherein the heater duct is metal.

7. The combination washer/dryer machine of claim 6, wherein the heater duct is an independent part separate from the heater.

8. A combination washer/dryer machine comprising: a cabinet; a door enabling access into the cabinet; controls for operating the washer/dryer machine; a washing circuit; a drying system; a tub positioned in the cabinet; a drum rotatably positioned in the tub; and a heater secured to the tub, the heater including a duct for providing heated air from the heater, the duct coupled with the tub for supplying heated air to the drum.

9. The combination washer/dryer machine of claim 8 wherein the duct is secured to the tub.

10. The combination washer/dryer machine of claim 8, wherein the tub includes at least one opening to receive heated air from the duct.

11. The combination washer/dryer machine of claim 8, wherein the drum includes apertures in its end portion providing at least 50 cm.sup.2 of open area of area of the end portion.

12. The combination washer/dryer machine of claim 8, wherein the heater includes a metal housing to secure the heater with the tub.

13. The combination washer/dryer machine of claim 8, wherein the heater duct is metal.

14. The combination washer/dryer machine of claim 13, wherein the heater duct is an independent part separate from the heater.

15. A combination washer/dryer machine drum and tub combination comprising: a tub; a drum rotatably positioned in the tub; and a heater secured to the tub, the heater including a duct for providing heated air from the heater, the duct coupled with the tub for supplying heated air to the drum.

16. The combination washer/dryer machine drum and tub combination of claim 15, wherein the duct is secured to the tub.

17. The combination washer/dryer machine drum and tub combination of claim 15, wherein the tub includes at one opening to receive heated air from the duct.

18. The combination washer/dryer machine drum and tub combination of claim 15, wherein the drum includes apertures in its end portion providing at least 50 cm.sup.2 of open area of the area of the end portion.

19. The combination washer/dryer machine drum and tub combination of claim 15, wherein the heater includes a metal housing to secure it with the tub.

20. The combination washer/dryer machine drum and tub combination of claim 19, wherein the heater duct is metal.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0012] The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a combination washer/dryer machine in accordance with the disclosure.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a rear breakaway perspective view of the combination washer/dryer machine of FIG. 1.

[0015] FIG. 3 is a breakaway perspective view of the washing machine of FIG. 1.

[0016] FIG. 4 is a view like FIG. 3 with duct work removed.

[0017] FIG. 5 is an elevation view of the drum rear surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0019] Turning to the figures, a combination washer/dryer machine is illustrated and designated with the reference numeral 10. The combination washer/dryer machine 10 includes a cabinet 12 with a plurality of panels 14. The front panel 16 includes a door 18 to enable access into the cabinet 12. A control panel 20 is illustrated on the front panel 16 of the cabinet 12. The combination washer/dryer machine 10 includes a tub 30 with a drum 32 rotatably positioned inside of the tub 30. A washing circuit 34 is illustrated coupled with the tub 30. Additionally, a drying circuit 36 is illustrated coupled with the tub 30. Thus, heated air is moved into the drum 32 and exited to the ambient surroundings through desired duct work.

[0020] A heating element 40 is positioned on the tub 30. The heating element 40 includes a housing 42 that is secured, via fasteners, to the tub 30. The heating element housing 42 is generally a metal housing surrounding a calrod heating element positioned within the housing 42. The heating element 40 includes a duct 44 that is coupled with the tub 30. The duct 44 enables the heated air to pass into the drum 32 through the tub 30. The duct 44 has a desired design and is generally manufactured from a metallic material. Also, the duct 44 is secured to the tub 32, via fasteners, to prohibit movement of the duct as well as the heating element 40. The rigid mounting of the heating element 40 and duct 44 to the tub enables the design to avoid high temperature flexible duct. Also, this eliminates movement of the heating element and duct caused by vibration.

[0021] The tub 30 includes an opening 50 to enable passage of the heated air into the drum 32. The opening 50 may be a single large opening. Alternatively, a plurality of smaller openings. may be present in a desired area to provide for structural integrity.

[0022] Additionally, the drum 32 includes an end portion 54. The end portion 54 has a plurality of apertures to enable the heated air to pass into the drum 32. The apertures providing at least 50 cm.sup.2 of open area of the total area of the end portion 54. The current design provides 180 cm.sup.2 of open area. Accordingly, this enables adequate heated airflow to travel through the apertures and into the tumbling clothes for drying purposes. Thus, the open area of the apertures provides for the desired flow into the drum 30 to dry the clothes within the drum 30.

[0023] In operation, drying is initiated. The control panel initiates heating of the heating element 40. As this occurs, the blower fan in the drying circuit is initiated. This blower draws the heated air from the heating element 40 through the duct 44 into and through the opening 50 in the tub 30. After this, the air is drawn into the drum 32 via the apertures on the end portion 54 of the drum 32. The air continues to exit the drum 32 into the tub 30. The air is moved to the blower and ultimately out of the cabinet via the exhaust tube.

[0024] Thus, the heated air is drawn through the drum 32 to efficiently dry the clothes within the drum 32. The drying time is thus substantially reduced.

[0025] The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.