CN108884624B

CN108884624B - Bottom die block for a household appliance for drying laundry and household appliance

Info

Publication number: CN108884624B
Application number: CN201780021960.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: M·鲍尔曼; A·德雷班特; R·埃迪格; F·亨切尔; F·科尔鲁施; M·科尔特; T·朔尔策; M·舒伯特; D·韦格纳
Original assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Current assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Priority date: 2016-04-14
Filing date: 2017-02-24
Publication date: 2020-11-10
Anticipated expiration: 2037-02-24
Also published as: CN108884624A; PL3443157T3; DE102016206229A1; EP3443157B1; WO2017178143A1; EP3443157A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a bottom module (1) for holding a heat pump (18) of a household appliance (15) for drying laundry, comprising: at least one heat exchanger receiving area (2, 19) for at least partially receiving at least one heat exchanger (20, 32) of a heat pump (18); at least one component receiving area (3, 21) for at least partially receiving a compressor and/or a throttle device of a heat pump (18); and at least one partition wall (7, 25) which separates the heat exchanger receiving region (2, 19) from the component receiving region (3, 21) at least in sections, on which at least one tube lead-through (8, 26) for a line (27) of a coolant circuit of the heat pump (18) is arranged. The separating wall (7, 25) is formed at least partially by at least one separately designed adapter element (9, 28) having a tube passage (8, 26). In order to reduce the complexity associated with the production of a household appliance (15) for drying laundry, the adapter element (9, 28) has a guide section made of flexible plastic with a tube guide (8, 26).

Description

Bottom die block for a household appliance for drying laundry and household appliance

Technical Field

The invention relates to a bottom module for holding a heat pump of a household appliance for drying laundry, comprising: at least one heat exchanger receiving area for at least partially receiving at least one heat exchanger of a heat pump; at least one component receiving area for at least partially receiving a compressor and/or a throttle of a heat pump; and at least one partition wall separating the heat exchanger receiving region at least partially from the component receiving region, on which at least one lead-through for a line of a coolant circuit of the heat pump to pass through is arranged, wherein the partition wall is formed at least partially by at least one separately designed adapter component having the lead-through.

The invention further relates to a household appliance for drying laundry, having at least one heat pump.

Background

A base module of this type and a domestic appliance of this type are known from DE 102014216485 a1 and WO 2016/026832 a 1.

In order to improve energy efficiency, heat pumps are installed in household appliances for drying laundry. According to the design of the household appliance, differently designed heat pumps are inserted, which are held in their respective predetermined insertion position by a bottom module of the household appliance. The heat exchangers (evaporator, condenser) of the heat pump are designed differently in terms of their overall size and/or the arrangement of the input and output connections of the heat exchanger, to which the lines of the coolant circuit of the heat pump can be connected. Furthermore, the heat exchanger can be arranged in different installation positions depending on the design of the household appliance.

The bottom module typically comprises a module housing having a heat exchanger receiving area for receiving a heat exchanger of a heat pump. The heat exchanger receiving region is connected to a process air circulation system of the household appliance and is sealed off from the surroundings. The heat exchanger receiving area is separated from a component receiving area of the base module, in particular by a partition wall, for receiving a compressor and/or a throttle device of a heat pump. In order to integrate the heat exchanger and the compressor or the throttle device into a common coolant circuit, the lines of the coolant circuit are passed through a partition wall, for which purpose a pipe lead-through is formed on the partition wall. The size and positioning of the tube leadthroughs are adapted to the size and positioning of the pipe sections through the partition wall. For this purpose, it is necessary in the case of a partition wall which is integrally connected to the module housing to produce a specific module housing for each configuration of the heat pump, the pipe leadthroughs of which are arranged in the appropriate positions. It would also be conventionally necessary to adapt the configuration of the heat pump or of its coolant circuit to a correspondingly given base module, which strongly limits the design latitude in designing the heat pump and, in addition, leads to inefficiencies.

DE 102014216485 a1 and WO 2016/026832 a1 disclose a floor module in which the partition wall is formed at least in part by a separately designed adapter element having at least one tube passage. The bottom die block can be adapted to the configuration of the heat pump with a significantly lower effort by selecting an adaptation means adapted to the respective configuration of the heat pump to be assembled and connecting said adaptation means to the remaining partition walls. This adaptation of the base module to the respective configuration of the heat pump can be carried out shortly before the assembly of the base module or of the household appliance equipped with the base module by inserting an adaptation component adapted to the configuration of the heat pump. The bottom mold block can thus be adapted in a simple manner not only to the existing configuration of the heat pump but also to future configurations of the heat pump. In particular, the bottom die block can be adapted in a simple manner to a heat exchanger of wider and/or higher design or to the configuration of the respectively required coolant circulation system by selecting suitable adaptation means. In the case of the use of such bottom mold blocks, the transport, handling and storage of the entire bottom mold block can be dispensed with. Only significantly smaller adapter elements in the form of different variants have to be manufactured, stored and transported. The use of such a base module furthermore enables the manufacturer of the base module to react quickly to different market demands.

Disclosure of Invention

The aim of the invention is to reduce the costs associated with the production of a domestic appliance for drying laundry.

This object is achieved by the subject matter of the independent claims.

Advantageous alternative configurations are provided in particular in the dependent claims, which in each case can carry out a further improved, in particular also preferred or advantageous aspect of the invention, in their own right or in different combinations with one another.

A bottom die block according to the invention for holding a heat pump of a household appliance for drying laundry, the bottom die block comprising: at least one heat exchanger receiving area for at least partially receiving at least one heat exchanger of a heat pump; at least one component receiving area for at least partially receiving a compressor and/or a throttle of a heat pump; and at least one partition wall separating the heat exchanger receiving region at least partially from the component receiving region, on which at least one tube lead-through for a tube of a coolant circulation system of the heat pump to pass through is arranged. The partition wall is at least partially formed by at least one separately designed adapter element having a tube lead-through. The adapter element comprises a leadthrough section made of flexible plastic having a tube leadthrough.

According to the invention, the passage section of the adapter element surrounding the tube passage is configured in a flexible or elastically deformable manner, so that changes in the position and size of the line section of the line passing through the tube passage can be accepted by means of one and the same adapter element without structural changes to the adapter element being necessary. The flexibility of the lead-through section also makes it possible to receive the inclined position of the line section by means of one and the same adapter element. In order to be able to accept such a change, it is not necessary to manufacture and fit the entire module housing or the adapter element in a specific manner, as is conventional. The configuration of the partition wall is therefore largely independent of the corresponding configuration of the heat pump to be assembled. Instead of a special module housing or a special form-stable adapter element, only the adapter element according to the invention has to be manufactured, stored and transported as an identical component. This achieves an economically significant advantage. This is possible in particular because the external interface of the adapter member with respect to the module housing can always be of the same design.

By virtue of the flexibility of the leadthrough section surrounding the tube leadthrough, said leadthrough section, when being suitably matched between the cross section of the tube leadthrough and the cross section of the line section passing through the tube leadthrough, abuts radially outwardly against the line section and thereby seals the heat exchanger receiving region from the surroundings. For such a sealing, no additional separate sealing element and no assembly force to be applied are therefore required.

The term "flexible" within the framework of the invention means that the lead-through section of the adapter element is elastically deformed by physical contact with at least one line, so that positional deviations between the adapter element and the line can be compensated for. The lead-through section is thereby adapted to the position and shape of the line in a positively optimized manner, which is advantageous in particular in terms of the required sealing of the heat exchanger receiving region from the surroundings. The deflection compensation cannot be achieved by means of an adapter element which is not flexible overall or is completely dimensionally stable. In other words, in the case of positional deviations in such conventional adapter components, undesirable deformations of the line are more likely to result.

The adapter element can also be formed entirely from flexible plastic or from a leadthrough section. The adapter element can be connected to the remaining partition wall by at least one connection element that can be detached without damage. Two or more leadthroughs for the respective passage of the lines of the coolant circuit of the heat pump can also be formed on the leadthrough section or the adapter part.

The partition wall may be formed partially or completely by a separately constructed adapter element. The partition wall can also be formed at least partially from two or more adapter elements which are combined with one another to form an adapter assembly.

The heat exchanger receiving area may be configured to receive one or both heat exchangers of a heat pump. The component receiving area may extend along a portion of the length of the heat exchanger receiving area or over the entire length of the heat exchanger receiving area.

According to one advantageous configuration, the flexible plastic is a foam material. The lead-through section or the entire adapter element can thus be formed from a flexible foam material or a flexible foam material molded element.

According to an alternative advantageous configuration, the flexible plastic is an elastomer. The lead-through section or the entire adapter element can be designed in particular as a one-piece, two-piece or multi-piece rubber molded element.

According to a further alternative advantageous embodiment, the flexible plastic is an assembly foam encapsulated in a film. When the heat exchanger is mounted on the heat exchanger receiving region, a seal can be produced against the lead-through section by expansion of the mounting foam. The plastic composite, which is referred to as plastic for short in the framework of the invention, is formed by the film and the assembly foam.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the base module, the adapter component is formed by two adapter parts which are placed one on top of the other, wherein the tube lead-through is formed by the two adapter parts. The adapter part accordingly encloses the pipe to be passed through between them. It is further advantageous if, in this bottom module, the adapter part is provided with a slot at the tube lead-through. In particular when using a correspondingly flexible and deformable foam material for the adapter part, then the slots facilitate the deformation of the adapter part when the tube is threaded through and possibly do not necessitate a preforming of the tube leadthrough. This simplifies the production of the adapter parts and makes it possible to fit the tube more reliably and more easily into the leadthrough between the adapter parts.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, at least one flexible sealing element for sealing the heat exchanger receiving region from the surroundings is arranged on the adapter member. A flexible sealing element can be arranged circumferentially on the adapter member. The sealing element may for example be made of an elastomer. The sealing element may be manufactured separately or integrally with the section of the adapter member.

A further advantageous embodiment provides that the bottom mold block has a module housing with a receiving means on the bottom side and a heat exchanger cover closing off the heat exchanger receiving region facing away from the bottom side, the heat exchanger receiving region and the member receiving region being formed on the receiving means, wherein a first frame element is arranged on a wall section of the partition wall connected to the receiving means and a second frame element is arranged on the heat exchanger cover, wherein the frame elements form a frame for the form-fitting reception of the adapter means. The entire adapter element can be formed as a molded element from flexible plastic.

According to an alternative advantageous embodiment, the adapter element has a dimensionally stable frame element that can be connected to the remaining partition wall and a tube leadthrough element enclosed in the frame element, wherein the tube leadthrough element is made of a flexible plastic. The tube leadthrough member forms a leadthrough section of the adapter member. The frame member may be used to secure the adapting member to the module housing. The adapter element or the pipe leadthrough element can be designed flat and relatively large, thus providing a large surface for the pipe to pass through. The tube passing member may be made of a thermoplastic elastomer or similar 2K material. The adapter member can be manufactured as the same component without taking into account the tube lead-through.

Advantageously, the frame member is made of a thermoplastic material. The tube guide element can then be arranged on a frame element which is produced from hard plastic. The elastic material can be injection molded into the frame member when the frame member is manufactured, in order to constitute a flexible sealing element which is arranged between the frame member and the module housing to improve the sealing of the heat exchanger receiving area.

It is also advantageous if the frame element is connected to the remaining partition wall by at least one screw connection or at least one latching connection. This enables easy assembly and disassembly of the adapter member.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the tube leadthrough is produced by a stamping process. The adapter element can therefore be pre-stamped directly before it is mounted on the module housing and can thus be adapted to the corresponding configuration of the heat pump in a simple manner, which reduces the logistics expenditure. The stamping may be performed directly on the assembly line. The adapter or the pipe-through guide can then be pushed onto the pipe end of the pipeline. The displacement can be performed before the assembly of the heat exchanger on the module housing. The stamping is designed in such a way that a pipe section passing through the pipe leadthrough is securely enclosed. The line section passes through a pre-punched line lead-through similar to a membrane. The pipe leadthrough element bears radially on the outside circumferentially against the pipe section.

The household appliance according to the invention for drying laundry comprises at least one heat pump and at least one counter module according to any one of the preceding configurations or according to any combination of at least two of the preceding configurations with one another.

The advantages mentioned above in relation to the bottom module relate accordingly to the household appliance. The household appliance can be configured, for example, as a laundry dryer or a washer dryer.

The invention is not limited to the given combinations of features of the independent and dependent claims. Furthermore, it is possible to combine the individual features with one another, in particular when the individual features are derived from the claims, the following description of an embodiment or directly from the illustrations of the figures. Furthermore, the claims, by using reference signs to the figures, shall in no way limit the scope of protection of the claims to the embodiments shown.

Drawings

The invention is exemplarily described below according to a preferred embodiment with reference to the drawings of the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

fig. 1 shows a schematic and perspective illustration of an embodiment of a base module;

fig. 2 shows a schematic and perspective detail view of the bottom module shown in fig. 1;

fig. 3 shows a further schematic and perspective detail view of the bottom module shown in fig. 1;

fig. 4 shows a further schematic and perspective detail view of the bottom module shown in fig. 1;

fig. 5 shows a schematic and perspective illustration of a further embodiment of a base module;

fig. 6 shows a schematic and perspective exploded view of the base module shown in fig. 5;

FIG. 7 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the base module shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the adapter member shown in FIG. 5;

fig. 9 shows a schematic and perspective illustration of the adapter member shown in fig. 5 before stamping;

fig. 10 shows a schematic and perspective illustration of the adapter member shown in fig. 5 after stamping; and

fig. 11 shows a further schematic and perspective illustration of the adapter element shown in fig. 5 after stamping.

In the figures, identical or functionally identical components are provided with the same reference symbols.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a schematic and perspective illustration of an embodiment of a bottom module 1 of a heat pump, not shown, for holding a household appliance 15 for drying laundry.

The bottom module 1 comprises a heat exchanger receiving area 2 for receiving a not shown heat exchanger of a heat pump and a component receiving area 3 for at least partially receiving a not shown compressor and/or a not shown throttle of the heat pump. The bottom module 1 comprises for this purpose a module housing 4 with a receiving component 5 on the bottom side, on which the heat exchanger receiving region 2 and the component receiving region 3 are formed, and a heat exchanger cover 6 which closes the heat exchanger receiving region 2 away from the bottom side, the structure of which is more clearly visible in fig. 2. The base module 1 further comprises a partition wall 7 separating the heat exchanger receiving region 2 from the component receiving region 3, on which four tube leadthroughs 8 are arranged for each being traversed by a not shown line of the coolant circulation system of the heat pump. The tube leadthrough 8 can be manufactured, for example, by a stamping process.

The partition wall 7 is formed in part by a separately constructed adapter element 9 with a tube lead-through 8. The adapter element 9 is made entirely of flexible plastic, i.e. it comprises a leadthrough section made of flexible plastic with the tube leadthrough 8. The flexible plastic may be a foam, an elastomer, or an assembled foam encapsulated in a film. The adapter component 9 is designed as a two-part molded body, wherein the two

adapter parts

10 and 11 are separated along a substantially horizontally extending separating plane 12. A first frame element 13 is arranged on the wall section of the partition wall 7 connected to the receiving member 5, and a second frame element 14 is arranged on the heat exchanger cover 6, wherein the

frame elements

13 and 14 form a frame for the form-fitting reception of the adapter member 9. The wall section of the partition wall 7 connected to the adapter element 9 is formed by a separate wall element 16, which is connected to the remaining partition wall 17 in a form-fitting manner. The wall member 16 may be separately constructed or injection molded onto the receiving member 5.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic and perspective detail of the bottom module 1 shown in fig. 1. Only the heat exchanger cover 6, the adapter member 9 and the wall member 16 are shown.

Fig. 3 shows a further schematic and perspective detail of the bottom module 1 shown in fig. 1. Only the adapter member 9 and the wall member 16 are shown.

Fig. 4 shows a further schematic and perspective detail of the bottom module 1 shown in fig. 1. Only the cuboid-shaped adaptation member 9 is shown. The adapter element 9 is formed from two

adapter parts

10 and 11 placed one above the other, wherein the tube lead-through 8 is formed by two

adapter parts

10 and 11, in each case half of the latter. Each

adapter part

10 or 11 is provided with a slot 38 at each pipe lead-through 8. Each

adapter part

10 or 11 can thereby be brought into better abutment against the tube passing through the tube lead-through 8. In particular, if the

adapter parts

10 and 11 are made of a respectively flexible and deformable foam material, the preformed tube leadthrough 8 can be omitted except for the slots if necessary.

Fig. 5 shows a schematic and perspective illustration of a further embodiment of a bottom module 1 for holding a heat pump 18 of a household appliance 15 for drying laundry.

The bottom module 1 comprises a heat exchanger receiving region 19 for receiving a heat exchanger 20 of the heat pump 18, of which only one heat exchanger 20 is shown in fig. 5, and a component receiving region 21 for at least partially receiving a not shown compressor and/or a not shown throttle device of the heat pump 18. The bottom module 1 comprises for this purpose a module housing 22 with a receiving component 23 on the bottom side, on which the heat exchanger receiving region 19 and the component receiving region 21 are formed, and a heat exchanger cover 24 which closes the heat exchanger receiving region 19 away from the bottom side. The base module 1 further comprises a partition wall 25 separating the heat exchanger receiving region 19 from the component receiving region 21, on which four tube leadthroughs 26 are arranged for the respective passage of a line 27 of the coolant circulation system of the heat pump 18. The tube leadthrough 26 may be manufactured, for example, by a stamping process.

The partition wall 25 is formed in part by a separately constructed adapter element 28 with a tube lead-through 26. The adapter element 28 comprises a dimensionally stable frame element 29 made of thermoplastic material, which is connected to the remaining partition 37, and a tube leadthrough element 30 enclosed in the frame element 29, wherein the tube leadthrough element 30 is made of a flexible plastic. The adapter element 28 thus comprises a leadthrough section of flexible plastic with the tube leadthrough 26. The frame element 29 can be connected to the remaining partition wall 37 by at least one screw connection, not shown, or at least one latching connection, not shown, for which purpose four outwardly facing fastening tabs 31 are arranged on the frame element 29. The flexible plastic may be a foam or an elastomer.

Fig. 6 shows a schematic and perspective exploded view of the bottom module 1 shown in fig. 5. In particular, the two

heat exchangers

20 and 32 of the heat pump 18 can be seen. It can also be seen that a

flange section

33 or 34, to which the adapter element 28 or its frame element 29 can be fastened, is arranged on the heat exchanger cover 24 and the bottom-side receiving element 23, respectively.

Fig. 7 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the bottom module 1 shown in fig. 5. It can be seen that a flexible sealing element 35 made of an elastomer is arranged on the adapter member 28 or on its frame member 29, which sealing element serves to seal the heat exchanger receiving region 19 from the surroundings. The sealing element 35, which is constituted by a sealing lip, is partially received in a receiving portion 36 on the frame member 29. If the adapter element 28 as shown in fig. 7 is fixed on the

flange sections

33 and 34, the sealing element 35 is in contact with the

flange sections

33 and 34 for the sealing described.

Fig. 8 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the adaptation member 28 shown in fig. 5. The arrangement surrounded by the sealing element 35 can be seen in particular.

Fig. 9 shows a schematic and perspective illustration of the adapter element 28 shown in fig. 5 before the stamping, by means of which the tube leadthrough can be formed on the tube leadthrough element 30.

Fig. 10 shows a schematic and perspective illustration of the adapter element 28 shown in fig. 5 after stamping, whereby a circular tube lead-through 26 is formed on the tube lead-through element 30.

Fig. 11 shows a further schematic and three-dimensional representation of the adapter element 28 shown in fig. 5 after stamping, whereby a star-shaped tube leadthrough 26 is formed on the tube leadthrough element 30.

List of reference numerals

1 bottom die block

2 heat exchanger receiving area

3 component receiving area

4 Module housing

5 receiving member at bottom side

6 Heat exchanger cover

7 partition wall

8 pipe penetrating part

9 adapting component

10 adapter part

11 adapting component

12 interface surface

13 frame element

14 frame element

15 household appliance

16-wall component

17 remaining partition walls

18 heat pump

19 heat exchanger receiving area

20 heat exchanger

21 component receiving area

22 Module housing

23 receiving member

24 heat exchanger cover

25 partition wall

26 pipe penetrating part

27 pipeline

28 adapting member

29 frame member

30 pipe threading member

31 fixing tab

32 heat exchanger

33 flange section

34 flange section

35 sealing element

36 receiving portion of frame member 29

37 remaining partition walls

38 slots.

Claims

1. Bottom module (1) for holding a heat pump (18) of a household appliance (15) for drying laundry, having:

-at least one heat exchanger receiving area (2, 19) for at least partially receiving at least one heat exchanger (20, 32) of the heat pump (18),

-at least one component receiving area (3, 21) for at least partially receiving a compressor and/or a throttle of the heat pump (18), and

-at least one partition wall (7, 25) separating the heat exchanger receiving region (2, 19) at least partially from the component receiving region (3, 21), on which at least one tube lead-through (8, 26) for leading through a line (27) of a coolant circulation system of the heat pump (18) is arranged,

-wherein the partition wall (7, 25) is at least partially constituted by at least one separately constructed adaptation member (9, 28) having the tube lead-through (8, 26),

-wherein the adaptation member (9, 28) has a lead-through section with the tube lead-through (8, 26) consisting of a flexible plastic in the form of a foam or elastomer or an assembly foam enveloped in a film,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

wherein the adapter member (9, 28) is formed by two adapter parts (10, 11) placed on top of each other, wherein the tube lead-through (8, 26) is formed by the two adapter parts (10, 11),

wherein the adapter part (10, 11) is provided with a slot (38) at the tube lead-through (8, 26).

2. Bottom module (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one flexible sealing element (35) for sealing the heat exchanger receiving area (19) from the surroundings is arranged on the adapter member (28).

3. Floor module (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it has a module housing (4, 22) with a receiving means (5, 23) on the bottom side and a heat exchanger cover (6, 24) closing the heat exchanger receiving region (2, 19) away from the bottom side, on which receiving means the heat exchanger receiving region (2, 19) and the component receiving region (3, 21) are constructed, wherein a first frame element (13) is arranged on a wall section of the partition wall (7) which is connected to the receiving means (5) and a second frame element (14) is arranged on the heat exchanger cover (6), wherein the frame elements (13, 14) form a frame for the form-fitting reception of the adapter means (9).

4. A floor module (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the adapter member has a form-stable frame member (29) connectable with the remaining partition walls (37) and a tube lead-through member (30) enclosed in the frame member (29), wherein the tube lead-through member (30) is manufactured from a flexible plastic.

5. A bottom module (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the frame member (29) is manufactured from a thermoplastic plastic.

6. A bottom module (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the frame member (29) is connected with the remaining partition wall (37) by at least one screw connection or at least one snap connection.

7. Bottom die block (1) according to any one of claims 1, 2, 5, 6, characterized in that the tube lead-through (8, 26) is manufactured by a stamping process.

8. Household appliance (15) for drying laundry, having at least one heat pump (18), characterized in that it has at least one bottom module (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7.