Washing machine having drying function

Abstract

A washing machine having a drying function is disclosed. The washing machine having a drying function may include a tub to receive wash water therein, a drum rotatably provided in the tub, to receive drying objects therein, a heater and a ventilation fan to generate hot air, a dry duct to guide the hot air into the drum, and cooling water supply means to supply cooling water to an outer circumferential surface of the drum to form a condensation surface, on which condensate is generated, on a surface of the drum.

1 . A washing machine having a drying function comprising:
 a tub to receive wash water therein;   a drum rotatably provided in the tub, to receive drying objects therein;   a heater and a ventilation fan to generate hot air;   a dry duct to guide the hot air into the drum; and   cooling water supply means to supply cooling water to an outer circumferential surface of the drum to form a condensation surface, on which condensate is generated, on a surface of the drum.   
     
     
         2 . The washing machine having the drying function of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling water supplied by the cooling water supply means is supplied out of the wash water supplied to the tub. 
     
     
         3 . The washing machine having the drying function of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a water supply hose to supply wash water to the tub; and   a branched hose branched from the water supply hose, to supply the cooling water.   
     
     
         4 . The washing machine having the drying function of  claim 3 , wherein the branched hose is connected with an outer circumferential surface of the tub. 
     
     
         5 . The washing machine having the drying function of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a spray nozzle provided in an inner circumferential surface of the tub, to diffusively spray the cooling water supplied from the branched hose toward an outer circumferential surface of the drum.   
     
     
         6 . The washing machine having the drying function of  claim 5 , wherein the condensation surface is formed by a cooling surface where the cooling water is sprayed. 
     
     
         7 . The washing machine having the drying function of  claim 6 , wherein a plurality of through holes to discharge the wash water there through are formed in an outer circumferential surface of the drum, and the size of the through hole formed in the cooling surface is smaller than the size of the through hole formed in the other areas except the cooling surface. 
     
     
         8 . The washing machine having the drying function of  claim 6 , wherein a plurality of through holes to discharge the wash water there through are formed in the cooling surface, and each of the through holes has the size large enough not to pass the cooling water there through because of the weight of the cooling water. 
     
     
         9 . The washing machine having the drying function of  claim 6 , wherein a plurality of through holes to discharge the wash water there through are formed in the cooling surface, and each of the through holes has the size large enough not to pass the cooling water there through because of a wind pressure of the hot air. 
     
     
         10 . The washing machine having the drying function of  claim 6 , wherein a plurality of through holes to discharge the wash water there through are formed in the cooling surface, and each of the through holes has the size large enough not to pass the cooling water there through because of a centrifugal force of the drum. 
     
     
         11 . The washing machine having the drying function of  claim 1 , wherein the drum is rotated at a predetermined velocity to prevent the cooling water from being drawn into the drum, as soon as the cooling water is supplied. 
     
     
         12 . The washing machine having the drying function of  claim 11 , wherein the rotation velocity of the drum is a predetermined velocity before the drying objects are in close contact with an inner wall of the drum. 
     
     
         13 . The washing machine having the drying function of  claim 11 , wherein the rotation velocity of the drum is in a rage of 40˜110 rpm. 
     
     
         14 . The washing machine having the drying function of  claim 11 , wherein the cooling water falls to an outer circumferential surface of the drum, spaced apart a predetermine distance from a rotation center of the drum. 
     
     
         15 . The washing machine having the drying function of  claim 14 , wherein the drum is rotated in an opposite direction of the falling direction of the cooling water toward the drum. 
     
     
         16 . The washing machine having the drying function of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a hot air outlet provided in an outer circumferential surface of the tub, to re-supply the air of the tub in the dry duct.   
     
     
         17 . The washing machine having the drying function of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a filter provided in an inner circumferential surface of the tub, in communication with the hot air outlet.   
     
     
         18 . The washing machine having the drying function of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a filter cleaning member provided in the hot air outlet to spray cleaning water to the filter.   
     
     
         19 . The washing machine having the drying function of  claim 18 , wherein the cooling water supply means is the filter cleaning member which supplies the cleaning water. 
     
     
         20 . The washing machine having the drying function of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a shaft connected with the drum;   a bearing housing to rotatably support the shaft;   a motor to rotate the shaft; and   a suspension unit connected with the bearing housing, to suspend vibration of the drum.   
     
     
         21 . The washing machine having the drying function of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a driving unit comprising a shaft connected with the drum, a bearing housing to rotatably support the shaft and a motor to rotate the shaft; and   a sealing member which seals a rear of the tub to prevent water from leaking to the driving unit from the tub, the sealing member allowing the driving unit to relatively move with respect to the tub.   
     
     
         22 . The washing machine having the drying function of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a suspension unit which supports the drum, wherein the tub is supported more rigidly than the drum is supported by the suspension unit.