Lint Filter With Integrated Cooling Coil For Laundry Applicance

Abstract

A combination washer and dryer appliance includes a cabinet, a drum housing and a drum with a drum wall that defines a laundry compartment. A drying air circulation path extends from an inlet positioned a drum wall to an outlet positioned in fluid communication with the laundry compartment. A filter coil is disposed adjacent to the drying air inlet. A condensing system includes the filter coil located on the drum wall at the drying air inlet and a second coil located in the cabinet and outside of the drying air circulation path. The filter coil and second coil are arranged in fluid communication and containing a heat-transfer fluid such that the filter coil acts as both a lint filter. A condenser dehumidifies drying air entering the drying air inlet and such that the second coil acts as a heat exchanger for transferring heat to ambient air located inside the cabinet.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A combination washer and dryer appliance, comprising:
 a cabinet;   a drum housing positioned within the cabinet;   a drum rotatably supported within the drum housing and including at least one drum wall that defines a laundry compartment within the drum;   a drying air circulation path that extends from a drying air inlet positioned in the at least one drum wall to a drying air outlet positioned in fluid communication with the laundry compartment in the drum; and   a filter coil disposed adjacent to the drying air inlet; and   a condensing system that includes the filter coil located on the at least one drum wall at the drying air inlet and a second coil located in the cabinet and outside of the drying air circulation path, the filter coil and second coil being arranged in fluid communication and containing a heat-transfer fluid such that the filter coil acts as both a lint filter and a condenser to dehumidify drying air entering the drying air inlet and such that the second coil acts as a heat exchanger for transferring heat to ambient air located inside the cabinet.   
     
     
         2 . The combination washer and dryer appliance of  claim 1  further comprising a heater positioned within the drying air circulation path. 
     
     
         3 . The combination washer and dryer appliance of  claim 1  wherein the filter coil comprises a spiral. 
     
     
         4 . The combination washer and dryer appliance of  claim 1  wherein the filter coil comprises a condenser coil. 
     
     
         5 . The combination washer and dryer appliance of  claim 1  wherein the second coil comprises an evaporator coil. 
     
     
         6 . The combination washer and dryer appliance of  claim 5  wherein the evaporator coil comprises an evaporator improvement device coupled thereto. 
     
     
         7 . The combination washer and dryer appliance of  claim 6  wherein the evaporator improvement device comprises fins or microchannels. 
     
     
         8 . The combination washer and dryer appliance of  claim 1  wherein the second coil is disposed in a secondary duct disposed outside the drying air circulation path. 
     
     
         9 . The combination washer and dryer appliance of  claim 8  wherein the secondary duct comprises a fan circulating air disposed therein. 
     
     
         10 . The combination washer and dryer appliance of  claim 1  wherein the filter coil is coupled to a drum wall. 
     
     
         11 . The combination washer and dryer appliance of  claim 1  wherein the filter coil is coupled to an air drying circulation duct in the air drying circulation path. 
     
     
         12 . The combination washer and dryer appliance of  claim 1  wherein further comprising an air drying circulation duct in the air drying circulation path, said drying air circulation path comprises a flap of ambient air introduction into the drying air circulation path. 
     
     
         13 . A combination washer and dryer appliance, comprising:
 a cabinet;   a drum housing positioned within the cabinet;   a drum rotatably positioned within the cabinet, said drum including an end wall, said drum defining a laundry compartment therein;   an air drying circulation duct that extends from a drying air inlet positioned in the end wall to a drying air outlet positioned in fluid communication with the laundry compartment in the drum;   a heater positioned within the air drying circulation duct; and   a condenser system comprising a condenser filter coil located proximate the end wall at the drying air inlet and a second coil located in the cabinet and outside of the air drying circulation duct, the condenser filter coil and the second coil being arranged in fluid communication and contain heat-transfer fluid such that the condense filter coil acts as both a lint filter and a condenser to dehumidify drying air entering the drying air inlet and such that the second coil acts as a heat exchanger for transferring heat to ambient air located inside the cabinet.   
     
     
         14 . The combination washer and dryer appliance of  claim 13  wherein the condenser filter coil comprises a spiral. 
     
     
         15 . The combination washer and dryer appliance of  claim 13  wherein the second coil comprises an evaporator coil. 
     
     
         16 . The combination washer and dryer appliance of  claim 15  wherein the evaporator coil comprises an evaporator improvement device coupled thereto, said evaporator improvement device comprises fins or microchannels. 
     
     
         17 . The combination washer and dryer appliance of  claim 13  wherein the second coil is disposed in a secondary duct disposed outside the air drying circulation duct. 
     
     
         18 . The combination washer and dryer appliance of  claim 17  wherein the secondary duct comprises a fan circulating air disposed therein. 
     
     
         19 . The combination washer and dryer appliance of  claim 13  wherein the filter coil is coupled to a drum wall or to the air drying circulation duct. 
     
     
         20 . The combination washer and dryer appliance of  claim 13  wherein the air drying circulation duct comprises a flap for receiving ambient air.