DE102015206117A1 - Vibration damping of a drive of a heat pump of a household appliance - Google Patents

Abstract

A domestic appliance 1 has a heat pump 2 with a drive 3, which is connected via a plurality of elastic vibration damping body 4 with a carrier 5, wherein the vibration damping body 4 are each connected via a first contact surface 18 with a bearing surface 17 of the drive 3 and a second contact surface 23 are connected flat to a bearing surface 22 of the carrier 5, and wherein with respect to a longitudinal axis L1 of the drive 3, the support surface 22 of the carrier 5 with respect to the drive 3 is further outwardly offset than the support surface 17 of the drive 3 and the two Support surfaces 17, 22 are tilted. The invention is particularly advantageously applicable to compressor heat pumps in laundry drying equipment.

Description

The invention relates to a domestic appliance, comprising a heat pump with a drive which is connected via a plurality of elastic vibration damping body with a support, which vibration damping body are each connected via a first contact surface with a bearing surface of the drive and a second contact surface with a bearing surface of the support are connected. The invention is particularly advantageously applicable to compressor heat pumps in laundry drying equipment.

The drive serves to keep working or refrigerant in circulation ("refrigerant circuit") of the heat pump in circulation. For example, if the drive is a compressor or compressor, the compressor typically compresses and heats the refrigerant. For this purpose, the refrigerant is compressed, for example, by a rotating piston until a valve opens and the compressed refrigerant can escape as a result. This rotational movement creates forces that cause a displacement of the compressor mainly on the plane of rotation of the compressor. The compressor thus moves mostly in the plane of rotation. The attachment of the compressor in the domestic appliance is an important factor influencing a strength of the deflection of the compressor and related components (such as a refrigerant line) as well as for a structure-borne sound transmission from the compressor to the rest of the household appliance.

It is known to put the compressor on three vertically mounted rubber feet (hereinafter also called "Grommets"). These rubber feet should have high rigidity to effectively cushion lateral movement of the compressor. At the same time, the rubber feet should also reduce structure-borne sound transmission to the rest of the household appliance, for which, however, a less rigid attachment is advantageous.

WO 2013/024127 A1 discloses a domestic appliance, in particular tumble dryer or washer-dryer, with a drive unit for a heat pump circuit, wherein the drive unit is connected by means of a mechanical fastening device to another component of the domestic appliance, wherein the mechanical fastening device has a first fastening part, which is attached to the drive unit, and a Second fastening part which is fixed to the other part of the household appliance, and an elastic grommet ("Grommet"), which connects the fasteners together. In addition, WO 2013/024127 A1 relates to a method for operating a drive unit in such a domestic appliance, in which a drive speed, in particular a compressor speed, is limited to being below a predetermined vibration threshold. Also, WO 2013/024127 A1 relates to a method for operating a drive unit in such a household appliance, wherein at least one speed range of the drive speed, in particular a compressor speed, is excluded.

It is the object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art at least partially, and in particular to provide an improved connection or attachment of a drive unit of a heat pump or a heat pump cycle, in particular a fastening which effectively suppresses a movement of the drive unit and an improved damping allows.

This object is achieved according to the features of the independent claims. Preferred embodiments are in particular the dependent claims.

The object is achieved by a domestic appliance, comprising a heat pump with a drive, which drive is connected via a plurality of elastic vibration damping body with a carrier, of which at least one vibration damping body are each connected via a first contact surface with a bearing surface of the drive and a second contact surface are connected flat with a support surface of the carrier, wherein with respect to a longitudinal axis of the drive, the support surface of the carrier is offset with respect to the drive to the outside than the support surface of the drive and the two support surfaces are inclined.

The lateral offset and the inclination of the support surfaces and thus also of the at least one vibration damping body provide lateral support of the drive unit and thus allow their selective rigid storage, without having to access rigid vibration damping body. More precisely, this alignment of a lateral deflection of the drive unit is counteracted by a compression and / or elongation of the at least one vibration damping body, which allows a stiffer deformation behavior than in the previously known vertical attachment, in which the vibration damping body bend more. The lower lateral deflection of the drive unit - eg including a connected piping - in turn causes an increase in the life of the refrigeration cycle thanks to a lower mechanical stress. The stiffer deformation behavior also allows the use of softer vibration damping bodies, the Better absorption of structure-borne noise and thus reduce structure-borne sound transmission to the rest of the household appliance. In addition, the carrier can be designed weaker when using softer vibration damping body, which allows a potential savings in construction.

In other words, the object is achieved by a household appliance which has a heat pump with a drive, which is connected via a plurality of elastic vibration damping body to a carrier, of which at least one vibration damping body is inclined to the drive or its longitudinal axis. In particular, their longitudinal axes can then be inclined to one another.

It is a further development that the household appliance is a kitchen appliance (for example a refrigerator and / or a freezer) or a laundry care appliance. The laundry care appliance in one embodiment is a laundry drying appliance, e.g. a tumble dryer or a washer-dryer.

The heat pump may e.g. a Stirling heat pump or a Vuilleumier heat pump. It is still another embodiment that the heat pump is a compressor heat pump and thus the drive is a compressor. Among other things, a compressor heat pump has the advantages of being already on the market, effective and durable.

The drive of the heat pump is in particular also a drive for a coolant circuit. The drive may also be referred to as a "drive device" or as a "drive unit".

In particular, the vibration damping body has an elastic material or material volume, in particular a non-metallic material, for example rubber. The vibration damping body consists in a development entirely of the elastic material. In another development, the vibration damping body has at least one rigid fastening element which is firmly connected to the elastic material (for example, positive, non-positive and / or materially bonded) and provides a contact surface to the drive or to the carrier. The fastening element can furthermore have at least one ("fixing") region designed for attachment to the drive or to the carrier, for example a screw hole, a threaded pin, etc.

It is a further development that the vibration damping body has two rigid fastening elements which are each firmly connected to the elastic material and provides a contact surface to the drive or to the carrier. The two rigid fastening elements are in particular connected to one another only via the elastic material.

The fasteners may be made of metal, e.g. made of steel, or made of rigid plastic.

The vibration damping body can in particular one to WO 2013/024127 A1 have analog structure.

The fact that a contact surface of the vibration damping body is connected in a planar manner to a support surface may include, in particular, that these two surfaces are not pivotable relative to one another. This provides the advantage that a lateral deflection of the drive unit is particularly effectively damped.

The fact that the bearing surface of the carrier is offset further outward with respect to the drive unit comprises, in particular, that the bearing surface of the carrier is displaced outwards (in the direction of the carrier) when viewed from above, in particular radially outward from a longitudinal axis of the drive is offset.

It is a further embodiment that the two bearing surfaces are at least approximately parallel to each other, since so elastic bends of the vibration damping body can be particularly effectively avoided. The bearing surfaces are in particular inclined with an accuracy of +/- 2 ° to each other.

It is a particularly advantageous for avoiding bending of the vibration damping body development that the two bearing surfaces for fixing a vibration damping body are directly opposite each other, so their central normal axes are superimposed and not laterally offset from each other. The bearing surfaces can thus be arranged in particular concentric to each other.

It is yet another embodiment that the two bearing surfaces - and thus also the first contact surface and the second contact surface - are inclined by at least approximately 45 °, in particular with respect to a vertical or to a longitudinal axis of the drive. This results in a particularly good balance between a damping of lateral movement of the drive and a sufficient vertical support on the carrier.

It is yet another embodiment that the support surface of the support and / or the support surface of the drive unit are at least gradually planar. So can a multi-faceted bearing surface be achieved with rectified force application. This embodiment comprises that at least one of the bearing surfaces is completely flat, that is not stepped. It is an alternative or an additional development that at least one of the contact surfaces is stepped, for example, is annular. This may comprise a form in which annular regions arranged concentrically to one another have a different height level, that is, are stepped to one another. This can for example bring about the advantage that a lateral displacement of the bearing surface to a complementary shaped contact surface of the vibration damping body is prevented by positive locking. It is generally a development that a support surface and an associated contact surface are complementary shaped, in particular free of play or with only a small amount of play can be engaged with each other.

It is also an embodiment that the vibration damping body are symmetrical body whose opposite end faces form the first contact surface and the second contact surface. This allows a particularly uniform compression and elongation of the elastic material and prevents bending of the elastic material.

The vibration damping body is in particular a symmetrical body, wherein the contact surfaces advantageously correspond to the end faces of the vibration damping body in the region of an axis of symmetry. The end faces of the vibration damping body are preferably aligned parallel to each other and centered with respect to the axis of symmetry.

It is a development that at least the elastic material, but in particular also the vibration damping body as a whole, has a circular cross-sectionally circular or rotationally symmetrical polygonal outer contour. Thus, at least the elastic material may have a general cylindrical basic shape, in particular with a vertical cylindrical basic shape (with a circular cylindrical basic shape in the case of a circular lateral surface and a prismatic basic shape in the case of an angular lateral surface, for example).

The vibration damping body is in particular a longitudinal body (that is to say that it has a length which is greater than its extent perpendicular thereto), wherein an axis of symmetry may correspond in particular to a longitudinal axis.

It is also an embodiment that at least the elastic material of the vibration damping body is sleeve-shaped. As a result, a particularly lightweight vibration damping body is provided. Also, such a connector may be laid by the elastic material, which is e.g. connects the fasteners directly. This can make their attachment even safer. The connecting element can, for example, have telescoping rods or a telescopic connection. The sleeve-like shape may in particular be a hollow cylindrical shape.

It is also an embodiment that at least one vibration damping body is formed as a compact solid body (and thus not as a hollow body). This allows a particularly simple structure and a particularly large elastic restoring force and thus a particularly high rigidity against deflections of the drive.

It is also an embodiment that the bearing surfaces of the drive unit are located on a support portion which is arranged on a side surface of the drive unit. As a result, leverage forces on the vibration damping body can be kept particularly low, which are triggered by a - also lateral - movement of the drive.

It is also an embodiment that the carrier is a stiffening plate. This is particularly stable and effectively prevents damage to the carrier, in particular by a long-term load due to a cyclical transmission of the vibration damping bodies. The stiffening plate may e.g. be attached to a housing or a floor assembly of the household appliance, e.g. be bolted and / or welded.

It is also an embodiment that the carrier is a floor assembly. This can be dispensed with the provision of a stiffening plate, which reduces material and manufacturing costs. This embodiment is made possible in particular by the fact that a particularly soft material can be used as the elastic material of the vibration damping body, which dampens vibrations particularly effectively and thereby appreciably reduces a mechanical load on the carrier during operation of the drive.

It is a particularly material-saving and manufacturing technology favorable configuration that the bearing surfaces of the carrier are formed on manifestations of the carrier, as such a desired arrangement of the vibration damping body without position elements such as Unterlegblöcke, welded mounting straps, etc. can be achieved. Expressions can be easily implemented in the production of the carrier.

The above-described characteristics, features and advantages of this invention as well as the art The manner in which these are achieved will become clearer and more clearly understood in connection with the following schematic description of an embodiment which will be described in detail in connection with the figures of the accompanying drawing.

1 shows in a view obliquely from above parts of a household appliance with several vibration damping bodies;

2 shows a sectional side view of a vibration damping body; and

3 shows the parts 1 in plan view.

1 shows in a view obliquely from above parts of a household appliance in the form of a tumble dryer 1 namely a drive of a heat pump 2 in the form of a compressor 3 that has three vibration damping bodies 4 with a support in the form of a floor assembly 5 connected is. The vibration damping body 4 thus support the compressor 3 from. The compressor 3 So is not in direct contact with the floor group 5 ,

The compressor 3 has a cylindrical basic shape with a longitudinal axis L1. The compressor 3 is perpendicular, that is, that its longitudinal axis L1 points in the direction of gravity, which may also be referred to as vertical alignment. From its upper face 6 go a connection 7 for connection to a first coolant line (not shown) of the heat pump 2 off, and from its lateral lateral surface 8th go another connection 9 for connection to a second coolant line (not shown) of the heat pump 2 from.

During operation of the compressor 3 rotates a piston (not shown.) In a plane of rotation perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, so that the compressor 3 thereby deflects laterally. This is disadvantageous, inter alia, because of the lateral deflection of the compressor 3 the associated parts of the heat pump 2 , For example, the coolant line, experience a cyclic continuous load, which can reduce their life. In particular, so can a life of joints of the heat pump 2 such as welds, etc. are reduced.

On the lateral surface 8th of the compressor 3 are also three serving as mounting areas mounting bracket 10 attached, which are arranged at the same height with respect to the longitudinal axis L1 and are distributed equidistantly in the circumferential direction about the longitudinal axis L1. The mounting bracket 10 can be sheet metal parts or cast metal parts etc. The mounting bracket 10 can on the lateral surface 8th be welded. The mounting bracket 10 are with a respective vibration damping body 4 connected.

The vibration damping body 4 on the other hand are upwards (in the direction of the compressor 3 ), "podium-like" expressions 11 the floor group 5 attached. The characteristics 11 have a triangular cross-section.

The vibration damping body 4 have a circular cylindrical basic shape.

2 shows a sectional view in side view one at an associated mounting bracket 10 and at an associated expression 11 attached vibration damping body 4 , The vibration damping body 4 has an elastic material in the form of rubber 12 on, which occupies a volume with a circular cylindrical basic shape and thus forms a compact elastic solid body.

At a first end face of the rubber 12 is located - with the rubber 12 in particular firmly connected - a first fastener 13 made of metal. The fastener 13 has a plate-shaped base 14 on, the flat on the first face of the rubber 12 rests. At her from the gum 12 facing away from the base 14 vertically a threaded pin 15 from. The grub screw 15 can through a corresponding hole in the mounting bracket 10 be guided and by means of a mother 16 and a washer 16a to the mounting bracket 10 be attracted. This forms a press contact between a support surface 17 of the mounting bracket 10 and a first, "upper" contact surface 18 the vibration damping body 4 at the of the gum 12 opposite side of the plate-shaped base 14 ,

At a second end face of the rubber 12 is - also with the rubber 12 firmly connected - a second fastener 19 , eg made of metal. At his from the gum 12 remote, flat side protrudes a threaded hole 20 perpendicular to the second fastener 19 , Into the threaded hole 20 can - through a corresponding hole in the expression 11 - a screw 21 be screwed. This forms a press contact between a support surface 22 the expression 11 and a second, "lower" contact surface 23 the vibration damping body 4 at the of the gum 12 remote, flat side of the second fastener 19 ,

The eraser 12 and the fasteners 13 and 19 are concentric with a body axis L2 of the vibration damping body 4 , The body axis L2 is in the tumble dryer 1 not vertically aligned, but stands diagonally to the Longitudinal axis L1 of the compressor 3 , as well as out 1 recognizable.

Return to again 1 and additionally with reference to 3 is recognizable that the bearing surface 22 the expression 11 with respect to the longitudinal axis L1 of the compressor 3 further offset outwards than the support surface 17 of the compressor 3 , This is equivalent to saying that a distance d1 of a center of the bearing surface 17 of the compressor 3 from the longitudinal axis L1 is less than a distance d2 of a center of the support surface 22 the expression 11 from the longitudinal axis L1. The center may be, for example, by the intersection of the body axis L2 with the respective bearing surface 17 respectively. 22 be given.

These two bearing surfaces 17 and 22 are tilted, parallel to each other. This closes the longitudinal axis L1 of the compressor 3 and the body axis L2 of the vibration damping body 4 an angle α to each other, which corresponds to the inclination, namely here of 45 °. Consequently, the vibration damping body 4 inclined by 45 ° to a vertical or vertical.

This inclination can cause a rash of the compressor 3 be damped more effectively in its plane of rotation perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L1 than in a vertical orientation of the vibration damping body 4 as they are in WO 2013/024127 A1 is shown. This allows the rashes of the compressor 3 be kept lower and / or it may be a softer rubber 12 (or any other suitable elastic material) for improved cushioning in the underbody 5 be transmitted into vibrations used. The improved vibration damping allows the vibration damping body 4 directly at the bottom group 5 to fix. On an attachment to a reinforcing plate o.ä. can be dispensed with.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment shown.

Generally, "on", "an", etc. may be taken to mean a singular or a plurality, in particular in the sense of "at least one" or "one or more" etc., unless this is explicitly excluded, e.g. by the expression "exactly one", etc.

Also, a number may include exactly the specified number as well as a usual tolerance range, as long as this is not explicitly excluded.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

 clothes dryer

2

 heat pump

3

 Drive / compressor

4

 Vibration damping body

5

 underbody

6

 Upper face

7

 Connection for connection to a first coolant line

8th

 lateral surface

9

 Connection for connection to a second coolant line

10

 mounting brackets

11

 shaping

12

 rubber

13

 First fastening element

14

 Base

15

 Set screw

16

 mother

16a

 washer

17

 Support surface of the mounting bracket

18

 First contact surface of the vibration damping body

19

 Second fastening element

20

 threaded hole

21

 screw

22

 Bearing surface of the expression

23

 Second contact surface of the vibration damping body

d1

 distance

d2

 distance

L1

 Longitudinal axis of the drive / compressor

L2

 Body axis of the vibration damping body

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• WO 2013/024127 A1 [0004, 0016, 0049]

Claims (12)

Household appliance ( 1 ), comprising - a heat pump ( 2 ) with a drive ( 3 ), which has a plurality of elastic vibration damping bodies ( 4 ) with a carrier ( 5 ), - which vibration damping body ( 4 ) each have a first contact surface ( 18 ) flat with a bearing surface ( 17 ) of the drive ( 3 ) and via a second contact surface ( 23 ) flat with a bearing surface ( 22 ) of the carrier ( 5 ), wherein with respect to a longitudinal axis (L1) of the drive ( 3 ): - the bearing surface ( 22 ) of the carrier ( 5 ) in relation to the drive ( 3 ) is offset further outward than the bearing surface ( 17 ) of the drive ( 3 ) and - the two bearing surfaces ( 17 . 22 ) are tilted. Household appliance ( 1 ) according to claim 1, wherein both bearing surfaces ( 17 . 22 ) are at least approximately parallel to each other. Household appliance ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the two contact surfaces ( 17 . 22 ) are inclined at least approximately 45 °. Household appliance ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the support surface ( 22 ) of the carrier ( 5 ) and / or the bearing surface ( 17 ) of the drive ( 3 ) are at least gradually level. Household appliance ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the vibration damping bodies ( 4 ) are symmetrical bodies whose opposite end faces are the first contact surface ( 18 ) and the second contact surface ( 23 ) form. Household appliance ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one vibration damping body ( 4 ) is formed as a compact solid body. Household appliance ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the bearing surfaces ( 17 ) of the drive unit ( 3 ) at a respective mounting area ( 10 ) located on a side surface ( 8th ) of the drive unit ( 3 ) is arranged. Household appliance ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the carrier is a stiffening plate. Household appliance ( 1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the carrier ( 5 ) is a floor group. Household appliance ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the bearing surfaces ( 22 ) of the carrier ( 5 ) on characteristics ( 11 ) of the carrier ( 5 ) are formed. Household appliance ( 1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the household appliance ( 1 ) is a clothes dryer. Household appliance ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the drive ( 3 ) is a compressor.

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