JP2017080009A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To acquire an excellent cooling effect of an electronic unit by a fan device.SOLUTION: A washing machine of the embodiment includes: a water tub provided in an outer case; a mechanism part for executing a washing operation for laundry in the water tub; and an electronic unit provided in the outer case and including a driving circuit for driving the mechanism part. The electronic unit includes, in a housing which has a case and a lid member for closing its opening part, a circuit board formed by mounting electronic components constituting the driving circuit on it, and a fan device which generates cooling air for cooling the electronic components. The housing is constituted in a shape in which one part is swollen, and at least one portion of the fan device is disposed inside the swollen part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to a washing machine.

  In recent years, many types of washing machines are equipped with high-output motors and compressors, and a large-capacity inverter device is used as a drive circuit for driving these motors and compressors. In this case, the drive circuit is generally incorporated in the washing machine as an electronic unit configured by accommodating a circuit board in a thin rectangular box-shaped housing, but there is a problem of heat generation of the power element constituting the inverter device. . For example, in patent document 1, in the structure of the electronic unit provided in the washing machine, the heat dissipation effect is enhanced while suppressing the intrusion of water by devising the arrangement of the heat sink.

Japanese Patent No. 4160785

  Generally, in an electronic device, in order to sufficiently cool an electronic component such as a heat generating component, a cooling fan device is provided. However, in the washing machine, when a fan device is provided for efficient cooling, there are restrictions on the installation space and the waterproof surface.

  Thus, a washing machine is provided that can obtain an excellent cooling effect of the electronic unit by the fan device.

  In order to achieve the above object, a washing machine according to an embodiment is provided in a water tub provided in an outer box, a mechanism unit for performing a washing operation on the laundry in the water tub, and in the outer box. An electronic unit having a drive circuit for driving the mechanism unit, and the electronic unit mounts an electronic component constituting the drive circuit in a casing having a case and a lid member for closing the opening of the case. And a fan device that generates cooling air that cools the electronic component, and the housing is configured to have a partially expanded shape, and the fan device is at least a part thereof. Is characterized in that it is disposed in the bulging portion.

1 is a longitudinal right side view schematically showing a configuration of a washing machine according to the first embodiment. Perspective view from the front right showing the appearance of the electronic unit Perspective view showing the electronic unit upside down Bottom view of the electronic unit with the lid removed Bottom view of electronic unit Vertical side view of the main part of the electronic unit in the upside down state The 2nd Embodiment shows the vertical side view of the principal part in the upside down state of the electronic unit. The perspective view which shows 3rd Embodiment and shows the external appearance of an electronic unit Cross-sectional top view showing the main components in the electronic unit

(1) 1st Embodiment Hereinafter, 1st Embodiment applied to the drum-type washing-drying machine provided with the drying function is described, referring FIGS. 1-6. FIG. 1 schematically shows the overall configuration of a washing machine (washing / drying machine) 1 according to the present embodiment. The outer box 2 constituting the main body of the washing machine 1 has a substantially rectangular box shape, and a front door 3 is formed with a laundry doorway (not shown), and a door 3 for opening and closing the doorway. Can be opened and closed. The bottom portion of the outer box 2 is composed of a bottom plate 2a.

  A water tank 4 is disposed in the outer box 2 in a state where it is elastically supported via a suspension (not shown). The water tank 4 has a bottomed cylindrical shape with an open front surface and a closed rear surface, and is disposed in a slightly upwardly inclined state with the axial direction oriented in the front-rear direction. The front opening of the water tub 4 is connected to the laundry entrance through a bellows bellows (not shown). In addition, an air supply port 8 is provided in the upper rear surface of the water tank 4, and an exhaust port 9 is provided in the upper front portion. The water tank 4 functions as a drying chamber during a drying operation for drying laundry (clothing).

  In the water tank 4, a drum 6 in which the laundry is stored is rotatably arranged. The drum 6 also has a bottomed cylindrical shape that is slightly smaller than the water tank 4 that has an opening on the front surface and the rear surface is closed, and the axial direction is directed in the front-rear direction, and is arranged in a slightly upwardly inclined state. Has been. A large number of holes 6 a are formed in the peripheral wall portion and the rear wall portion of the drum 6. These holes 6a function as water passage holes through which water passes during the washing operation, and function as ventilation holes through which dry air passes during the drying operation. A motor 7 is provided at the back of the water tank 4, and the drum 6 is configured to be rotationally driven by the motor 7 via a rotating shaft 7 a. Although not shown, a plurality of baffles are provided inside the peripheral wall portion of the drum 6.

  Although not shown, an operation panel is provided on the upper portion of the front portion of the outer box 2. In addition, a water supply mechanism for supplying water used during the washing operation to the water tank 4 is provided in the upper part of the outer box 2. This water supply mechanism includes a connection part to which a water supply source such as a water supply is connected, a water supply valve, a water injection case, a water supply hose, and the like. Further, a drainage mechanism for discharging the water in the water tank 4 to the outside of the machine is provided at the lower part in the outer box 2. This drainage mechanism includes a drainage hose, a drainage valve, and the like.

  Further, a drying mechanism 10 having a dehumidifying function is provided in the outer box 2. Although not shown in detail, the drying mechanism 10 includes a heat pump 11 disposed at the bottom of the outer box 2 and a circulation air passage 12. The circulation air passage 12 includes a ventilation duct 13 provided on the bottom back side below the water tank 4 in the outer box 2, an air supply duct 14 that connects one end of the air duct 13 and the air inlet 8, and the exhaust It is comprised from the exhaust duct 15 which connects the opening | mouth 9 and the other end part of the ventilation duct 13. FIG. A lint filter 16 for capturing lint is provided at the upper end of the exhaust duct 15.

  Although not shown in detail, the heat pump 11 is configured by connecting a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve as decompression means, and an evaporator 17 in a closed loop shape by a refrigerant pipe (pipe). In addition, a required amount of refrigerant is sealed inside the heat pump 11 and circulates through the refrigerant pipe. In the ventilation duct 13, the evaporator 17 and the condenser are disposed, and a drying fan, for example, a centrifugal fan is provided.

  In the heat pump 11, during the drying operation, when the compressor is driven, the gas refrigerant discharged from the compressor is condensed in the condenser to be liquid refrigerant, and the liquid refrigerant is expanded by the expansion valve. The mist-like refrigerant is vaporized by heat exchange with the outside air in the evaporator 17, and the gas refrigerant is compressed by the compressor and discharged at a high temperature and high pressure. At this time, as the heat pump 11 is driven and the blower fan is rotationally driven, the air in the water tank 4 (drum 6) reaches the ventilation duct 13 from the exhaust port 9 through the exhaust duct 15 and the evaporator 17. Then, after passing through the condenser in order, the air flows into the air supply duct 14 and is supplied into the drum 6 through the air supply port 8.

  As a result, due to the circulation of air accompanying the rotational drive of the blower fan, the air containing a large amount of steam from the clothing in the water tank 4 (drum 6) passes through the evaporator 17 portion in the ventilation duct 13. The steam is condensed or sublimated to dehumidify, and the dehumidified air is heated by passing through the condenser portion to become dry warm air, which is supplied again into the water tank 4 and used for drying clothes. It will be done.

  And as shown in FIG. 1, the electronic unit 20 provided with the drive circuit which drives the mechanism part of the washing machine 1, a control apparatus, etc. under the water tank 3 of the bottom part in the outer case 2 is provided. In this case, the drive circuit includes a drive circuit for the motor 7, a drive circuit for a compressor (compressor motor), and a drive circuit for a drying fan (fan motor). The control device is mainly composed of a microcomputer, and controls each mechanism in accordance with a control program stored in advance based on the setting contents of the operation panel to execute a washing operation and a drying operation. . Hereinafter, the electronic unit 20 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  The electronic unit 20 includes a circuit board 22 and a fan device 23 in a housing 21. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 6, the casing 21 has a thin rectangular box shape that is slightly longer in the front-rear direction as a whole. Specifically, the housing 21 is configured by connecting a case 24 having a thin rectangular box shape with an open lower surface and a lid member 25 arranged so as to close the lower surface opening of the case 24. The lid member 25 has a rectangular box shape with an upper surface opened and a peripheral portion rising, and is configured to be fitted inside the lower surface opening of the case 24.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the circuit board 22 is configured by mounting electronic components constituting the drive circuits and the control device on the surface of a printed wiring board. The circuit board 22 is provided on the ceiling surface in the case 24 so as to face downward (the component mounting surface is on the lower side). Each of the drive circuits includes, for example, a three-phase inverter circuit, and each inverter circuit is provided as a semiconductor module in which a plurality of switching elements and the like are integrally molded in a package. Here, the semiconductor module constituting each inverter circuit is mounted on the right side of the circuit board 22.

  The semiconductor module packages are provided with metal radiating fins 26, 27, and 28 as heat radiating portions so as to be thermally connected to the surface thereof. These heat radiation fins 26, 27, and 28 extend in the front-rear direction, that is, are provided with the plate surface directed in the left-right direction. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the heat radiation fin 26 of the inverter circuit for the motor and the inverter circuit for the compressor motor are provided on the front surface portion (lower surface portion) of the circuit board 22 along the right side portion. The heat dissipating fins 27 and the heat dissipating fins 28 of the inverter circuit for the blower fan (fan motor) are arranged in series so as to be in a straight line in order from the front to the rear.

  A fan device 23 is provided in the housing 21 for cooling the electronic components in the form of the circuit board 22, particularly each semiconductor module constituting the inverter circuit. The fan device 23 is an axial fan configured by attaching a propeller-type fan to a rotating shaft of a motor. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the right end portion of the front side portion in the housing 21 is provided. It is arrange | positioned so that a cooling air may be ventilated in the direction of the arrow A toward the back part in the back direction, ie, sucking air from the front and facing back. In the present embodiment, the diameter dimension (height dimension) of the fan device 23 is configured to be equal to or slightly larger than the thickness dimension in the height direction of the casing 21 (thickness dimension of a portion excluding a bulging portion described later). ing.

  At this time, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 6, the lid member 25 of the casing 21 is provided with a bulging portion 29 bulging downward in a convex manner at a portion near the right end portion of the front portion. The fan device 23 is disposed in the bulging portion 29. Specifically, the lid member 25 is integrally provided with a rectangular frame-shaped mounting portion 25a for mounting the fan device 23 so that the bulging portion 29 is the bottom. As shown in FIG. 2 and the like, the attachment portion 25a has a thin rectangular tube shape before and after the front and rear surfaces are opened, and the front surface thereof is a suction port 30.

  Also, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6 and the like, the bottom wall portion of the lid member 25 is gently inclined so as to extend backward from the bulging portion 29 to the center portion in the front-rear direction, A guide wall portion 31 is provided integrally for guiding the cooling air in the housing 21 while gradually narrowing the air passage of the cooling air. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a plurality of slits extending in the front-rear and up-down directions from the bottom wall portion to the rear wall portion on the opposite side of the suction port 30 of the lid member 25, that is, the right end portion of the rear side portion An exhaust port 32 is formed which is made up of a plurality of holes.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 2, 6, etc., the casing 21 is provided with a cover portion 24 a that is located outside the suction port 30 of the fan device 23, in this case, on the front side and partially covers the suction port 30. It has been. In the present embodiment, a part of the front wall portion of the case 24 functions as a cover portion 24 a, and the cover portion 24 a is substantially above the suction port 30 with a slight gap in front of the suction port 30. It arrange | positions so that only the lower half part of the suction inlet 30 may be opened so that a half part may be covered. Further, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, etc., the case 24 is integrally provided with a rib 33 for preventing water droplet intrusion at an upper portion of the opening portion of the suction port 30. It extends in the left-right direction in a slightly wide range including the opening portion of the suction port 30, and is provided to project forward in an eaves shape.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the casing 21 of the electronic unit 20 configured as described above is lowered rearward with respect to the horizontal below the water tank 4 so as to match the inclination of the axis of the water tank 4. It is attached on the bottom plate 2a with an inclination in the front-rear direction. At this time, the bulging portion 29 of the housing 21 is disposed in a dead space between the bottom plate 2 a on the lower surface side of the front portion of the housing 21.

  Next, the operation and effect of the above configuration will be described. In the washing machine 1 having the above configuration, as shown in FIG. 6, when the fan device 23 of the electronic unit 20 is driven, air is sucked from the suction port 30 on the front surface side of the housing 21, and is cooled as cooling air. The air is blown in the direction of arrow A toward the air and is discharged from the exhaust port 32 at the rear of the housing 21. Thereby, the cooling air passes through the radiation fins 26, 27, and 28 on the circuit board 22, and the heat radiation from the semiconductor module constituting the drive circuit is achieved.

  According to this, by providing the cooling fan device 23 in the housing 21, the fan device 23 can be provided while ensuring waterproofness. In addition, by providing the bulging portion 29 partially in the housing 21 and disposing the fan device 23 in this portion, it is possible to provide a relatively large fan device 23. As a result, according to the present embodiment, the fan device 23 can be provided so as to be excellent in cooling effect while ensuring waterproofness.

  In this case, since the bulging portion 29 is provided so that a part of the thin rectangular box-shaped casing 21 extends in the vertical direction, in this case, downward, the overall thickness of the electronic unit 20 (housing 21) is large. It is possible to provide a relatively large fan device 23 at that portion without incurring the increase in the size. In the present embodiment, by providing the fan device 23 having a diameter dimension equal to or greater than the thickness dimension in the height direction of the casing 21, the fan apparatus 23 having a relatively large size and a large air volume can be obtained. High cooling performance can be obtained.

  In the present embodiment, the three radiating fins 26, 27, and 28 are arranged in series along the air path, and the cooling air flow is continuously provided in the casing 21 (the lid member 25) from the bulging portion 29. A guide wall portion 31 for guiding the cooling air while narrowing the path is provided. In this case, although the cooling air that has passed through the radiation fins 26 is warmed and reaches the rear, there is a situation in which the temperature rises. However, as indicated by the arrow A in FIG. Thus, relatively low-temperature cooling air can be supplied to the heat dissipating fins 27 and 28 located rearward. Thus, by arranging the radiation fins 26, 27, and 28 in series and providing the guide wall portion 31, more effective ventilation can be performed to the plurality of radiation fins 26, 27, and 28. It becomes possible. Since the guide wall portion 31 is provided using the wall portion of the lid member 25, the configuration is not complicated, such as an increase in parts.

  By the way, since the washing machine 1 uses water, in the case where the electronic unit 20 having electronic components is arranged in the outer box 2, particularly below the water tank 4, the waterproofness of the electronic unit 20 is ensured. It is necessary to prevent water from entering the inside. In the present embodiment, if the casing 21 is provided with a cover portion 24a that is located outside the suction port 30 of the fan device 23 and partially covers the suction port 30, if water drops fall from the water tank 4 or the like Even so, the water dripped onto the electronic unit is less likely to be sucked from the air inlet 30 and the waterproofness can be further enhanced. Since the cover portion 24a is provided integrally with the case 24, a simple configuration can be achieved. In addition, in the present embodiment, the casing 21 (case 24) is provided with the rib 33 for preventing water droplet intrusion at the upper portion of the suction port 30 of the fan device 23. Even if it falls, the rib 33 makes it difficult for it to drop near the air inlet 30, making it difficult for the air to be sucked from the air inlet 30 and preventing entry into the housing 21. Therefore, the effect of preventing the intrusion of water droplets from the suction port 30 can be further enhanced.

  In addition, in the thing in which the axial center of the water tank 4 is provided so as to be inclined downward, the casing 21 of the electronic unit 20 is provided below the water tank 4 so as to be inclined downward relative to the horizontal. Therefore, it can arrange | position rationally in terms of space, and since the bulging part 29 was provided in the lower surface part of the housing | casing 21, it becomes possible to utilize a dead space effectively.

(2) Second and Third Embodiments and Other Embodiments FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment. The difference from the first embodiment is that instead of the fan device 23, Is that a small fan device 41 is provided. In other words, in the second embodiment, the diameter of the fan device 41 is equal to or less than the thickness of the casing 21 in the height direction, and the center of the fan device 41 is that of the casing 21. They are arranged shifted downward (upward in FIG. 7) from the center in the thickness direction. About the structure of other parts, such as the housing | casing 21 and the bulging part 29, it is common in 1st Embodiment.

  At this time, by driving the fan device 41, air is sucked in from the suction port 30 on the front side of the housing 21 and is blown rearward as cooling air in the direction of the arrow B, and the radiation fins 26 on the circuit board 22, After the cooling air passes through the 27 and 28 portions, the air is discharged from the exhaust port 32. According to this configuration, the cooling air flowing along the guide wall portion 31 can also supply relatively low-temperature cooling air to the heat dissipating fins 27 and 28 located at the rear, so that effective ventilation can be performed. Can be done. Therefore, according to the second embodiment, in addition to the same effects as those of the first embodiment, the fan device 41 is not so large in size, but its axis is shifted from the center of the casing 21 to cool the fan device 41. By changing the wind blowing position, it is possible to blow to a more appropriate position.

  8 and 9 show the configuration of the electronic unit 51 according to the third embodiment. The electronic unit 51 of the third embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the arrangement of the bulging portion and the fan device. The electronic unit 51 includes a circuit board 53, a fan device 54, and the like in a thin rectangular box-shaped casing 52. On the circuit board 53, three heat radiating fins 55 as a plurality of heat radiating portions are arranged in series in the front-rear direction along the right side portion.

  The casing 52 is provided with a bulging portion 56 on the front side of the right side surface portion so as to bulge to the side, that is, to the right. The fan device 54 is disposed in the bulging portion 56. It is arranged. In addition, a guide wall portion 57 is provided integrally with the right side wall portion of the housing 52 so as to guide the cooling air in the housing 52 while gradually narrowing the cooling air passage. . At this time, by driving the fan device 54, air is sucked in from the suction port 58 on the front side of the housing 52, and is blown rearward as cooling air in the direction of arrow C, and the heat radiation fin 55 portion on the circuit board 53 After the cooling air passes through, it is discharged from the exhaust port.

  According to the third embodiment, it is possible to provide a relatively large fan device 54 at a part of the casing 52 so that the part of the casing 52 is expanded laterally. Thereby, the fan apparatus 54 can be provided so that it may be excellent in a cooling effect, ensuring waterproofness similarly to the said 1st Embodiment. Further, by arranging the heat radiating fins 55 in series and providing the guide wall portions 57, more effective air blowing to the plurality of heat radiating fins 55 without causing complication of the configuration such as an increase in parts. Can be performed.

  In the first embodiment, the bulging portion 29 is provided to bulge downward, and in the third embodiment, the bulging portion 56 is provided to bulge rightward. As a part, you may make it provide so that it may bulge above a housing | casing, or may be provided so that it may bulge in the front-back direction or the left direction. Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the electronic unit is disposed in the lower part in the outer box, but may be configured to be disposed in the upper part (above the water tank) in the outer box. In the case where the electronic unit is disposed in a place where there is no possibility of being splashed with water, a configuration in which the rib and the cover portion are omitted may be employed.

  In addition, the washing machine is not limited to the one provided with a heat pump as a drying function, and may be one equipped with a heater, or a washing machine not equipped with a drying function. Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the drum type washing machine, and can be applied to a so-called vertical type washing machine in which the central axis of the water tub and the rotating tub is directed in the vertical direction. In addition, the overall configuration of the washing machine, the specific configuration of the electronic unit such as the shape of the housing, and the like can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the invention, such as various modifications. .

  In the drawings, 1 is a washing machine, 2 is an outer box, 4 is a water tank, 7 is a motor, 20 and 51 are electronic units, 21 and 52 are housings, 22 and 53 are circuit boards, and 23, 41 and 54 are fan devices. , 24 is a case, 24a is a cover part, 25 is a lid member, 25a is an attachment part, 26, 27, 28 and 55 are radiating fins (heat radiating part), 29 and 56 are bulging parts, 30 and 58 are suction ports, 31 and 57 are guide wall parts, 32 is an exhaust port, 33 shows a rib.

Claims (10)

A water tank provided in the outer box;
A mechanism for performing a washing operation on the laundry in the aquarium;
An electronic unit provided in the outer box and provided with a drive circuit for driving the mechanism unit;
The electronic unit generates a circuit board on which an electronic component constituting the drive circuit is mounted and a cooling air for cooling the electronic component in a casing having a case and a lid member that closes the opening. And a fan device,
The casing is configured in a partially bulged shape, and the fan device is a washing machine in which at least a part thereof is disposed in the bulged portion.   The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the bulging portion of the housing bulges above or below the housing.   The diameter of the said fan apparatus is a washing machine of Claim 1 or 2 comprised more than equivalent compared with the thickness dimension of the height direction of the said housing | casing.   The diameter of the fan device is configured to be equal to or less than the thickness in the height direction of the casing, and the fan device is arranged with its center shifted upward or downward from the thickness direction center of the casing. The washing machine according to claim 1 or 2.   The housing of the electronic unit is disposed in the outer box with an inclination in the front-rear direction so as to descend rearward with respect to the horizontal, and the bulging portion is located at the front portion of the housing and extends downward. The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the washing machine is provided bulging.   The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the bulging portion of the housing bulges to the side of the housing.   The said housing | casing is provided with the guide wall part which guides this cooling air, narrowing the air path of the said cooling air continuously from the said bulging part. Washing machine.   The circuit board is provided with a plurality of heat radiating portions, and the heat radiating portions are arranged in series along an air path of cooling air from the fan device. The washing machine according to item.   The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the casing is provided with a cover portion that is located outside the suction port of the fan device and partially covers the suction port.   The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the casing is provided with a rib for preventing water droplet intrusion at an upper portion of the suction port of the fan device.

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