Back wall enclosure for a drum within a laundry appliance that separates a processing space from a blower housing

A combination washing and drying appliance comprising:

• a tub disposed within a cabinet;
• a drum having a back wall, wherein the drum is rotationally operable within the tub about a rotational axis, wherein an airflow path is defined within an interstitial space between the drum and the tub;
• a drain disposed within a lower section of the tub, an outlet for the drain disposed within the airflow path;
• and
• a blower fan that delivers process air through the airflow path that is contained within the tub, the blower fan disposed between the back wall of the drum and a blower housing of the tub, wherein the back wall rotates with the drum and is slidably engaged with the blower housing to define a labyrinth seal, and wherein the blower fan rotationally operates within a blower enclosure defined between the back wall and the blower housing, and wherein moisture collected in the airflow path is directed to the outlet of the drain.

An air handling system for a laundry appliance, the air handling system comprising:

• a tub disposed within a cabinet;
• a drum having a back wall, wherein the drum is rotationally operable within the tub about a rotational axis, wherein an airflow path is defined within an interstitial space between the drum and the tub;
• and
• a blower fan that delivers process air through the airflow path that is contained within the tub, the blower fan disposed between the back wall of the drum and a blower housing of the tub, wherein the back wall rotates with the drum and is slidably engaged with the blower housing to define a labyrinth seal, and wherein the blower fan rotationally operates within a blower enclosure defined between the back wall and the blower housing.