Laundry appliance having an enclosed supplemental heat exchange space that surrounds a rotating drum

Abstract

A laundry appliance includes a tub that is positioned within a cabinet. A drum includes an imperforate outer wall that is rotationally positioned within the tub. A blower delivers process air through an airflow path that includes a processing space defined within the drum. A heat exchange system conditions the process air that is delivered at least into the processing space as heated process air for drying articles contained within the processing space. The imperforate outer wall of the drum and the tub define supplemental heat exchange space that delivers supplemental heat through the imperforate outer wall and into the processing space. The supplemental heat exchange space is in thermal communication with the heat exchange system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A laundry appliance comprising:
 a tub that is positioned within a cabinet;   a drum having an imperforate outer wall that is positioned within the tub;   a blower that delivers process air through an airflow path that includes a processing space defined within the drum; and   a heat exchange system that conditions the process air that is delivered at least into the processing space as heated process air for drying articles contained within the processing space, wherein the imperforate outer wall and the tub define supplemental heat exchange space that delivers supplemental heat through the imperforate outer wall and into the processing space, and wherein the supplemental heat exchange space is in thermal communication with the heat exchange system.   
     
     
         2 . The laundry appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchange system includes heat exchange media that is delivered through a heat exchange path that recirculates from a compressor and through a condenser that rejects heat and an evaporator that absorbs heat. 
     
     
         3 . The laundry appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the drum includes the imperforate outer wall and a perforated inner wall that rotationally operates within the tub. 
     
     
         4 . The laundry appliance of  claim 1 , wherein steam from the heat exchange system is delivered into the supplemental heat exchange space to form condensate at least on an outer surface of the imperforate outer wall, wherein condensation of the steam directs heat of condensation from the supplemental heat exchange space, through the imperforate outer wall and into the processing space. 
     
     
         5 . The laundry appliance of  claim 4 , wherein the tub includes a drain that collects the condensate from the steam, and wherein a sump pump delivers the condensate to a separate location outside of the tub. 
     
     
         6 . The laundry appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchange system includes a condenser having a primary condenser that is in communication with the airflow path, and a supplemental condenser that delivers the supplemental heat into the supplemental heat exchange space, wherein rotation of the drum produces a friction induced airflow within the supplemental heat exchange space that delivers the supplemental heat throughout the supplemental heat exchange space. 
     
     
         7 . The laundry appliance of  claim 6 , wherein the supplemental condenser is located within the supplemental heat exchange space. 
     
     
         8 . The laundry appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the airflow path includes a primary airflow path that delivers the process air through the processing space, and wherein the airflow path includes a supplemental airflow path that delivers a portion of the heated process air into the supplemental heat exchange space. 
     
     
         9 . The laundry appliance of  claim 8 , wherein the supplemental airflow path includes a baffle that directs a portion of the heated process air, as redirected process air into the supplemental airflow path, and wherein the redirected process air is delivered back into the airflow path down stream of an air filter assembly of the airflow path. 
     
     
         10 . The laundry appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a secondary airflow path that recirculates secondary process air between the heat exchange system and the supplemental heat exchange space, wherein the secondary airflow path is separated from the airflow path.   
     
     
         11 . The laundry appliance of  claim 10 , wherein rotation of the drum within the tub produces friction-induced airflow that recirculates the secondary process air between the heat exchange system and the supplemental heat exchange space. 
     
     
         12 . The laundry appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the compressor includes a multi-stage compressor having a first stage of compression and a second stage of compression, wherein an intercooler is disposed between the first and second stages of compression. 
     
     
         13 . The laundry appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the multi-stage compressor includes a single piston that operates within a single cylinder and first and second valves positioned at opposing ends of the cylinder and an oscillation seal disposed between the first and second valves. 
     
     
         14 . A laundry appliance comprising:
 a tub that is positioned within a cabinet;   a drum having an imperforate outer wall that is positioned within the tub and a perforated inner wall that rotationally operates within the tub;   a blower that delivers process air through an airflow path that includes a processing space defined within the drum; and   a heat exchange system that conditions the process air that is delivered into the processing space as heated process air for drying articles contained within the processing space, wherein the imperforate outer wall and the tub define a supplemental heat exchange space that delivers supplemental heat through the imperforate outer wall and into the processing space, and wherein a portion of the heat exchange system extends into the supplemental heat exchange space for heating the supplemental heat exchange space and producing the supplemental heat that is conducted through the imperforate outer wall and into the supplemental heat exchange space.   
     
     
         15 . The laundry appliance of  claim 14 , wherein the supplemental heat exchange space is enclosed, and wherein gas and the supplemental heat are circulated within the supplemental heat exchange space through a friction induced airflow produced by rotation of the imperforate outer wall and the perforated inner wall of the drum within the tub. 
     
     
         16 . The laundry appliance of  claim 14 , wherein the portion of the heat exchange system within the supplemental heat exchange space is attached to an inner surface of the tub. 
     
     
         17 . The laundry appliance of  claim 14 , wherein the portion of the heat exchange system within the supplemental heat exchange space is a supplemental heat exchange path that is separate from the heat exchange path in communication with the airflow path. 
     
     
         18 . A laundry appliance comprising:
 a tub that is positioned within a cabinet;   an imperforate outer wall that is positioned within the tub;   a drum having a perforated inner wall that is positioned within the imperforate outer wall;   a blower that delivers process air through an airflow path that includes a processing space defined within the drum;   a heat exchange system that conditions the process air that is delivered at least into the processing space as heated process air for drying articles contained within the processing space, wherein the imperforate outer wall and the tub define supplemental heat exchange space that delivers supplemental heat through the imperforate outer wall and into the processing space; and   a supplemental airflow path that extends through the supplemental heat exchange space, wherein the airflow path and the supplemental airflow path are each in thermal communication with the heat exchange system.   
     
     
         19 . The laundry appliance of  claim 18 , wherein the supplemental airflow path is separated from the blower and wherein rotation of the imperforate outer wall and the perforated inner wall of the drum within the tub generates a friction induced airflow that directs supplemental process air through the supplemental airflow path. 
     
     
         20 . The laundry appliance of  claim 18 , wherein the blower directs a portion of the process air through the supplemental airflow path, wherein the supplemental airflow path is diverted away from the airflow path at a baffle that is upstream of the processing space, and wherein the supplemental airflow path is diverted back into the airflow path downstream of a particulate filter of the airflow path.