Laundry Dryer

• US 20090260246A1
• Filed: 07/27/2007
• Published: 10/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Bae, Sang Hun, Kim, Dong Hyun, Son, Young Bok, Choi, Chul Jin
• Granted Patent: US 8,595,955 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 34/60
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/203 Laundry conditioning arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2815 Through liquid trap seal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2904 Siphon inlet movable to and from seat

Abstract

The present invention relates to a laundry dryer. The laundry dryer has a drum rotatably provided to a cabinet, a hot air heater heating air to supply hot air to the drum, a steam generator selectively supplying steam to the drum, and a water supply source provided to one side of the cabinet. And, the water supply source has an accommodating part for storing water supplied to the steam generator and a water supply means for supplying the water within the accommodating part to the steam generator.

Claims

1. A laundry dryer comprising:

a drum rotatably provided to a cabinet;

a hot air heater for heating air to supply hot air to the drum;

a steam generator selectively supplying steam to the drum; and

a water supply source provided to one side of the cabinet, the water supply source comprising;

an accommodating part for storing water supplied to the steam generator; and

a water supply means for supplying the water within the accommodating part to the steam generator.

2. The laundry dryer of claim 1, wherein the water supply means comprises a pressurizing part for supplying the water within the accommodating part to the steam generator by pressurizing the water.

3. The laundry dryer of claim 2, the pressurizing part comprising:

a pressurizing member moving along an open one side of the accommodating part to pressurize the water stored in the accommodating part; and

a sealing member provided along a surface of the pressurizing member.

4. The laundry dryer of claim 3, the pressurizing part further comprising a handle provided to one side of the pressurizing member.

5. The laundry dryer of claim 3, the accommodating part further comprising:

an inject hole for injecting the water into the accommodating part; and

a cap for opening and closing the injection hole.

6. The laundry dryer of claim 3, further comprising:

a water supply hose connecting the accommodating part and the steam generator together; and

a backward-flowing preventing means provided to the water supply hose.

7. The laundry dryer of claim 6, wherein the backward-flowing preventing means comprises a check valve.

8. The laundry dryer of claim 3, wherein the pressurizing member moves from the open one side of the accommodating part in a horizontal or vertical direction.

9. The laundry dryer of claim 3, further comprising a moving means for moving the pressurizing member.

10. The laundry dryer of claim 9, the moving means comprising:

a horizontal bar connected to the pressurizing member to make a horizontal movement; and

a rotatable member connected to one end of the horizontal bar to be rotatably installed.

11. The laundry dryer of claim 10, wherein the rotatable member is rotatably moved between a pressurizing position where the pressurizing member pressurizes the water and a releasing position where the pressurizing member does not pressurize the water.

12. The laundry dryer of claim 11, the moving means further comprising an elastic member for applying an elastic force to the releasing position if the rotatable member is rotatably moved to the pressurizing position.

13. The laundry dryer of claim 2, wherein the accommodating part comprises an expandable/contractible bellows part to have a space for storing the water therein, wherein the pressurizing part is provided to one end of the bellows part.

14. The laundry dryer of claim 13, further comprising:

an injection hole provided to the pressurizing part to inject the water into the bellows part; and

a supply passage connected to the injection hole.

15. The laundry dryer of claim 14, further comprising a cap for opening and closing the injection hole.

16. The laundry dryer of claim 14, further comprising a packing part configured to be rotatably moved to open and close the injection hole.

17. The laundry dryer of claim 14, further comprising a sealing member sealing the supply passage if the bellows part is contracted by the pressurizing part.

18. The laundry dryer of claim 17, further comprising a cover for covering the pressurizing part and the bellows part if the bellows part is contracted by the pressurizing part, wherein the sealing member is provided to a bottom of the cover.

19. The laundry dryer of claim 14, further comprising:

a water supply hose connecting the bellows part and the steam generator together; and

a backward-flowing preventing means provided to the water supply hose.

20. The laundry dryer of claim 14, further comprising:

a first damper provided along the supply passage; and

a second damper provided between the bellows part and the steam generator.

21. The laundry dryer of claim 14, firer comprising a filter provided along the supply passage.

22. The laundry dryer of claim 1, the water supply means comprising the accommodating part rotatably provided to the steam generator to supply the water to the steam generator by a water column difference.

23. The laundry dryer of claim 22, wherein the accommodating part is rotatably in a vertical direction.

24. The laundry dryer of claim 23, wherein a connecting portion for connecting the accommodating part and the steam generator comprises a rotatable flexible member.

25. The laundry dryer of claim 23, the accommodating part comprising:

a water supply port for supplying the water to the steam generator; and

a damper turning on/off the water supply port.

26. The laundry dryer of claim 25, wherein the damper is fixed to an inside of the accommodating part adjacent to the water supply port, wherein the damper turns on the water supply port if the accommodating part is rotatably turned to rise, and wherein the damper turns off the water supply port if the accommodating part is lowered.

27. The laundry dryer of claim 23, further comprising an auxiliary cover provided to the cabinet corresponding the accommodating part.

28. The laundry dryer of claim 1, wherein the water supply source is provided to a drawer capable of being pulled out or pushed in the cabinet.

29. The laundry dryer of claim 28, wherein the drawer is provided to a front side of the cabinet.