DE102016110859B3 - Apparatus for washing and / or drying laundry - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device (1) for washing and / or drying laundry, in particular tumble dryer (1), washing machine (1) and / or washer-dryer (1), with a laundry drum (15) for washing and / or washing / or laundry to be dried. The device (1) is characterized by at least one first electrical unit (2) and at least one first electrical sensor element (30), which is arranged co-rotating with the laundry drum (15), wherein the first electrical unit (2) and the first electrical sensor element (30) are designed and arranged such that a temperature-dependent electrical interaction can take place between them.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for washing and / or drying laundry, in particular a tumble dryer, a washing machine and / or a washer-dryer, according to the preamble of claim 1 and a method for washing and / or drying laundry by means of a Such device according to claims 12 and 15.

For drying laundry laundry dryers are usually used. These heat the laundry to be dried and thus deprive it of moisture. For this purpose, various physical principles are known to perform the heating of the laundry to be dried.

On the one hand, it is known to directly heat the drum of a tumble dryer by means of an electrical resistance heating element. For example, this describes DE 43 13 538 A1 a device for drying textiles in tumble dryer drums. In order to effect the supply of heat from the heater to the textile material to be dried as directly as possible, one or more electrical resistance heating elements are arranged on the outer or inner surface of the drum shell. and firmly connected to it. This is intended to improve the efficiency of laundry drying.

The disadvantage here is that an electrical connection to the electrical resistance heating must be made, which rotate with the drum. This can e.g. be achieved by brush contacts, but this is expensive and therefore expensive. Furthermore, the brush contacts are subject to significant wear, so that the life of such solutions of the electrical contact between mutually moving contact partner is limited. This can lead to increased maintenance and repair costs of such clothes dryers.

A further disadvantage is that the heat generation takes place directly with electric current, which can lead to a high power consumption of such dryers with electric heating. This leads to an inefficient type of laundry drying, which today may be highly undesirable against the background of rising electricity costs and from the perspective of environmental impact.

Alternatively, heat pump tumble driers are known. These include a closed loop heat pump cycle with a compressor, an evaporator, a condenser and a restrictor (e.g., capillary tube or expansion valve). Through this heat pump cycle the process air moisture is removed, which was previously removed from the laundry. For this purpose, the previously heated by the heat pump cycle and dehumidified process air is passed through a fan through an air supply duct in a laundry drum of the clothes dryer. In the laundry drum, the laundry to be dried is usually moved by rotation, so that the process air can reach the laundry as completely and uniformly as possible.

The heated process air absorbs moisture from the laundry and dries it. The moist process air then returns via an air return channel to the heat pump cycle. Here, the moisture extracted from the laundry is condensed from the process air and discharged in liquid form to the outside. The energy extracted from the process air is returned to the process air so that the process air, once heated, leaves the heat pump cycle in the direction of the laundry drum. The cycle of process air is closed in this way. Examples of heat pump tumble dryer provide the EP 2 642 018 A2 and the DE 42 12 700 A1 represents.

In other words, a heat pump tumble dryer is a condensation dryer that heats the process air by convection. The process air heats the laundry by convection and evaporates the water. The moist warm air is then dehumidified and cooled in the air condenser (heat pump evaporator). It must be ensured that in the designed heat pump cycle before entering the compressor overheating is ensured, i. The compressor should only draw in dry steam and not a two-phase mixture as this would cause the compressor to fail.

The condition of the refrigerant is heavily dependent on pressure and temperature. These two parameters and thus the entire heat transfer process are decisively influenced by the enthalpy flow of the process air and the onset of condensation on the heat transfer surface of the air condenser. This means that process management is necessary for the shortest possible drying time, which increases the enthalpy flow of the process air, adapts it to the operating range of the heat pump, ensures overheating and allows as much water as possible to condense out of the process air.

Although heat pump tumble dryers are significantly more energy efficient than tumble dryers with electrical resistance heating elements, they have a much lower temperature range, which is achieved by means of the heat pump can be. This can lead to significantly longer drying times.

Furthermore, induction dryers are known. This type of heating uses the principle of the transformer. Flat copper coils are usually provided, through which an alternating current with frequencies between 20 kHz and 100 kHz can flow. The current flow creates a primary magnetic field around the tightly wound coil, which constantly changes direction in response to the changing sign of the current. If a ferromagnetic material is within the range of action of this magnetic field, the high-frequency primary alternating magnetic field passes through this material and induces surges and thus eddy currents. These enclose the magnetic field in a ring shape and in turn cause a secondary magnetic field.

The secondary magnetic field counteracts (flux displacement) the changes in the magnetic flux of the primary magnetic field, especially in the interior of the ferromagnetic material, such that the primary magnetic field can only penetrate into the surface of the ferromagnetic material. As a result, the eddy currents induced by the primary magnetic field do not uniformly pass through the ferromagnetic material, but merely flow in a thin boundary layer. The property of high-frequency eddy currents to flow only in the "skin" of a conductor (skin effect) means that the effectively used line cross-section is reduced. This increases the resistance of the conductor so that the eddy currents in the surface layer generate enough Joule heat to directly heat the ferromagnetic material.

In addition, another important phenomenon contributes to the heating of the ferromagnetic material. Because the magnetic field aligns the electron spins in the ferromagnetic material as elementary magnetic moments. However, this magnetization is not completely reversible when the external magnetic field changes direction in time with the AC frequency, i. the magnetization resists this rapid change. This creates friction in the material and some of the electromagnetic energy that must be expended during each magnetization reverses into heat (hysteresis losses). These heat losses in the ferromagnetic material can contribute about one third of the heating power of the induction.

The EP 2 400 052 A1 concerns, inter alia, a dryer in which an induction heating system is used to heat the air. The drum of the dryer has a heating coil of conductive material disposed around the drum. The heating coil is electrically contacted and supplied from the outside in such a way that the heating coil can generate an electromagnetic field which acts on the drum and can heat it inductively.

The disadvantage here is that even in this case an electrical connection to the electrical heating elements is to be made, which rotate with the drum, see above. This can lead to increased maintenance and repair costs of such clothes dryers.

The US 4,181,846 A relates to a rotary heating device which operates with induction. A rotating drum has at least partially a material which can be heated by means of magnetic induction. An induction heating coil is located close enough to this part of the rotating drum to heat that part of the drum during operation. The drum can be rotated by a motor. During operation, the interior of the drum can be heated by means of heat radiation and heat conduction emanating from the inductively heated drum. The JP 2004 135 998 A shows a comparable dryer.

The disadvantage here is that the heat within the drum only emanates from the heated drum. This can lead to a very uneven heat distribution within the drum. This may be the case in particular if a lot of laundry is applied to the inside of the drum and this shields thermally against the air inside the drum.

The JP H06-121898 A relates to a comparable induction dryer, but in which a fan is arranged on the axis of rotation of the drum to produce a flow of air centrally through the inductively heated drum. This air flow is simultaneously guided past the induction heating coil and its converter in order to use their waste heat to heat the air flow. As a result, a more uniform heating of the interior of the drum is to be achieved.

The disadvantage here is that only waste heat for heating the air can be used, which can not have much effect. Furthermore, this heat is available only after a certain period of operation of the induction dryer, if already the drying of the laundry was already at least partially carried out. Furthermore, the inductively generated heat and the waste air generated warm air are related because both are generated by the induction heating coil and its inverter.

In addition, it is known, for example on the part of Arcelik, Whirlpool and LG to provide an additional electrical resistance heating in a heat pump tumble dryer, which can increase the temperature of the process air and thereby shorten the drying times, at the same time the principle of heat pump drying with its advantages at least can be partially applied.

The disadvantage here, however, that the heat pump cycle can reach a non-permissible operating point due to high compressor pressures, which can lead to a total loss of the device. To prevent this, additional components such as e.g. a regulated expansion valve necessary, but this means an extra effort and additional costs, this is installed by the company Whirlpool and LG.

Another disadvantage is that the electrical resistance heater is an ignition source and can reach temperatures above 350 ° C. Thus, an electrical resistance heater can not be used in combination with alternative refrigerants, e.g. R270 (propane) without additional safety measures being taken in this case. However, this also means additional effort and additional costs.

To clean the laundry washing machines or washer-dryer are known. These usually heat water, which is used to wash the laundry to be cleaned. For heating the wash water, various physical principles are known:
Conventional washing machines have electrical resistance heating element which can be immersed in the washing water to be heated and heat it.

The EP 2 400 052 A1 relates to a washing machine in which an induction heating system can be used to heat the washing water. For this purpose, the same principle can be used as in a dryer, see here above. Here, the same disadvantages occur in a washing machine as in a dryer, see here above.

Also, the rotary heater of the US 4,181,846 A , which works with induction, be applied to a washing machine, albeit with the same disadvantages as previously described in a dryer, see here above.

The EP 1 914 339 B1 , the DE 10 2008 043 281 A1 as well as the DE 10 2009 026 646 A1 describe other washing machines, which heat the wash water inductive.

The DE 102 42 144 A1 describes a device for drying laundry. Part of this clothes dryer is a sensor device which is arranged to rotate with the laundry drum and over which the moisture content, a degree of contamination or the temperature of the laundry can be determined.

A disadvantage of all previously described apparatus for washing and / or for drying laundry such as dryers, washing machines and / or washer-dryer, that no detection of the temperature of the laundry drum takes place. This is disadvantageous on the one hand because this information is not available for a control and / or regulation of the washing or drying process, so that optimal process control can not be possible. On the other hand, this is disadvantageous because the temperature of the laundry drum can be safety-relevant. If the temperature of the laundry drum reaches inadmissibly high values, this can lead to damage and / or destruction of the laundry. Furthermore, the device itself can be damaged and, in the worst case, caught on fire. These disadvantages are particularly relevant for such device with electrical resistance heating elements and with inductive heating, because in such devices, a very fast and / or very strong heating of the laundry drum can be achieved.

The detection of the temperature of the laundry drum, however, is problematic because the laundry drum rotates during operation and then its temperature is to be detected.

Therefore, it is known to detect only the temperature of the process air. By this information, however, can be concluded only conditionally or with a time delay to the temperature of the laundry drum, because e.g. the laundry applied to the inside of the laundry drum can prevent and / or delay the transfer of the temperature of the laundry drum to the process air. Thus, the temperature of the process air can not be inferred from the detection of the temperature of the process air at all or not sufficiently or with a time delay to the temperature of the laundry drum, regardless of the type of heating of the laundry drum.

To detect the temperature of the rotating laundry drum of such devices infrared sensors can be used, which can be aligned for example from the housing of the device on the rotating laundry drum. This could be a non-contact and when using appropriate sensors also comparatively detecting the temperature of the laundry drum done.

The disadvantage here, however, that infrared sensors are relatively expensive, so that the cost of such a device can increase so much that the benefits that can be achieved by the possibility of detecting the temperature of the laundry drum during operation, for the user caused by this cost could not justify. This could be against a purchase of such a device. Furthermore, the detection of the drum temperature by means of infrared sensors by contamination such. Mud washed out of the laundry or fluff and lint produced during drying of the laundry may be impaired, so that no reliable and reliable temperature detection could be provided. Furthermore, infrared sensors may have a significantly shorter life than the device itself, which in the course of operation of the device may result in the need for repair and / or maintenance of the infrared sensors. This may also speak against a purchase of such a device by the user.

An object of the present invention is to provide a device for washing and / or drying laundry, in particular a tumble dryer, a washing machine and / or a washer-dryer, of the type described above, which provide a simple, inexpensive and / or or reliable detection of the temperature of the rotating laundry drum allows. In particular, such a device should be provided, which can perform heating of the laundry drum by means of induction.

The object is achieved by the features of the characterizing part of claim 1 and by the features of claims 12 and 15. Advantageous developments are described in the subclaims.

The present invention thus relates to a device for washing and / or drying laundry, in particular a tumble dryer, a washing machine and / or a washer-dryer with a laundry drum for receiving laundry to be washed and / or dried.

The device according to the invention is characterized by at least one first electrical unit and at least one first electrical sensor element, which is arranged co-rotating with the laundry drum. The first electrical sensor element may be a portion of the laundry drum, i. the first electrical sensor element may be an integral part of the laundry drum.

Alternatively and preferably, the first electrical sensor element is a separate element, such as e.g. a sheet metal, which is attached to the laundry drum. Preferably, the first electrical sensor element is arranged flat on the radial peripheral surface. In any case, the first electrical sensor element can be manufactured as a separate element independently of the laundry drum per se, so that it can be formed independently of the material of the laundry drum. Also, the first electrical sensor element can be flexibly positioned as a separate element on the laundry drum.

The device according to the invention is further characterized in that the first electrical unit and the first electrical sensor element are designed and arranged such that a temperature-dependent electrical interaction can take place between them. This electrical interaction may be an inductive electrical interaction in that the inductance between the first electrical unit and the first electrical sensor element can be detected. Now, if the first electrical unit and the first electrical sensor element are e.g. can be configured via the material of the first electrical sensor element such that the electrical inductance between the first electrical unit and the first electrical sensor element changes as a function of the temperature of the first electrical sensor element, it is possible to deduce the temperature of the first electrical sensor element via the detection of the inductance ,

In any case, according to the invention, the temperature of at least the first sensor element can be detected without contact. Since the first sensor element is arranged on the laundry drum and rotates with the laundry drum, the temperature of the laundry drum can be deduced from the temperature of the first sensor element. In this way, according to the invention, a simple, reliable and contactless possibility can be created to detect the temperature of a rotating laundry drum during its operation and to use this information for various tasks. From the temperature of the laundry drum can also be closed to the temperature of the laundry.

Preferably, the Curie temperature can be used for this purpose, upon reaching the ferromagnetic or ferroelectric properties of a material have completely disappeared, so that the material above the Curie temperature only acts paramagnetic or paraelectric. As a result, at least the achievement of a temperature threshold can be reliably detected by means of electrical interactions.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the first electrical unit is arranged fixed radially outside the laundry drum. In this case, the first electrical unit may be arranged, for example, at a radial distance from the laundry drum of preferably up to 2.5 cm in order to maintain a sufficient distance, so that even during operation safe touches can be avoided, but at the same time an electrical interaction between the first electrical Unit and the co-rotating with the laundry drum arranged first electrical sensor element can be done. The fixed arrangement of the first electrical unit, a simple electrical supply can be achieved. Furthermore, a secure and durable durable positioning and alignment of the first electrical unit relative to the rotary laundry drum can be achieved.

It is advantageous here that no changes in the guidance of the process air are required by the additional first electrical unit in this case, so that the first electrical unit in existing such devices can be easily supplemented. In particular, due to the additional first electrical unit, no bypasses or flow resistances result in the guidance of the process air, so that e.g. a heat pump unit as well as the guidance and use of the process air need not be changed.

The first electrical unit may e.g. be arranged above or below in one of the corners of the housing of the device, where usually next to the cylindrical laundry drum is sufficient space for an additional first electrical unit. However, the first electrical unit can also be arranged integrated, for example, on the condensation tank housing, on a side wall or in another component.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the device further comprises at least one second electrical sensor element, which is arranged co-rotating with the laundry drum, wherein the second electrical sensor element is designed and arranged such that a temperature-dependent electrical interaction takes place between it and the first electrical unit can, which differs from the temperature-dependent electrical interaction between the first electrical unit and the first electrical sensor element. For this purpose, the same electrical interaction as in the first electrical sensor element can be used, which can simplify the structure of the elements involved. But it is also possible to use different electrical interactions for the two electrical sensor elements.

It is advantageous when using a second electrical sensor element that two different temperature-dependent interactions can be detected. As a result, different temperatures can be detected and used for different tasks.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the first electrical unit is an induction unit, in particular an induction heating unit, and the first electrical sensor element is a first induction sensor element and / or the second electrical sensor element is a second induction sensor element. The induction unit can have one or more coils which can be supplied with a high-frequency alternating current in order to produce an inductive effect by means of a primary magnetic field in the first induction sensor element and / or in the second induction sensor element. The material of the first induction sensor element and / or of the second induction sensor element is designed to react to the inductive interaction as a function of its temperature.

If the induction unit is designed as an induction heating unit, this can cause inductive heating in the radially outer layer of the material of the laundry drum in addition to the inductive interaction with the first induction sensor element and / or with the second induction sensor element. In addition, the inductive effect on the first induction sensor element and / or on the second induction sensor element there can also cause inductive heating. The laundry drum is for this purpose preferably formed from a ferromagnetic material or has at least partially on a ferromagnetic material.

It is advantageous here that the use of inductive heating in such devices is basically known and tested in practice, so that here a safe technique can be applied, which can be extended to the additional use of the temperature detection of the laundry drum. This can lead to a high acceptance of the customer for this type of additional heating and the temperature detection of the laundry drum according to the invention.

It is also advantageous that the heating effect on ferromagnetic materials in the vicinity of the induction heating unit can be limited, so that unwanted effects on others Elements within the device can be avoided.

A further advantage is that a device with inductive heating of the laundry drum can be extended very simply and favorably by the inventive detection of the temperature by means of inductive interaction. If the detection of the inductive interaction takes place via a changing power output of the induction heating unit, the induction heating unit can optionally be used directly without further elements for implementing the present invention.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the first electrical sensor element and / or the second electrical sensor element has or consist of a ferromagnetic material, wherein the ferromagnetic property of the material is temperature-dependent. For this purpose, for example, the property of a ferromagnetic material can be used, on reaching a predetermined temperature, which is called Curie temperature, to lose its ferromagnetic properties, so that the material above the predetermined Curie temperature only acts paramagnetic. In this way, according to the invention, at least the achievement of the predetermined Curie temperature of the respective electrical sensor element can be detected as a threshold value and this information can be used. Alternatively, a ferromagnetic material whose ferromagnetic properties are e.g. Change linearly, so that not only a threshold but a temperature profile can be detected.

If two electrical sensor elements are used, they may comprise or consist of the same ferromagnetic material or different ferromagnetic materials. Preferably, different materials having different temperature dependencies, e.g. different Curie temperatures used to detect different thresholds or temperature gradients.

Suitable are ferromagnetic materials with Curie temperatures between 40 ° C and 150 ° C.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the first electrical sensor element is designed to lose its ferromagnetic property at least substantially, preferably completely, at a first predetermined temperature, and the second electrical sensor element is designed to have at least a second predetermined temperature of its ferromagnetic characteristic Substantially, preferably completely, to lose, wherein the first predetermined temperature and the second predetermined temperature are different.

In this way, the achievement of two different temperature values of the two electrical sensor elements can be detected in order to be able to react differently to the respective detected temperature. For example, a first predetermined temperature of e.g. 90 ° C, the reaching of a temperature range are detected, from which further heating of the two sensor elements and thus the laundry drum and the laundry should be avoided. By the second predetermined temperature of e.g. 120 ° C can then be e.g. a complete shutdown of the heating can be effected.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the device is designed to control and / or regulate its heating power as a function of the electrical interaction between the first electrical unit and the first electrical sensor element and / or the second electrical sensor element. As a result, a variety of tasks for controlling and / or regulating the device can be realized, which require the detected temperature or the detected temperatures of the two sensor elements and thus the laundry drum and the laundry. In other words, possibilities for controlling and / or regulating the temperature of the laundry can be created, since their temperature can be detected at least indirectly via the temperature of the laundry drum.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the device is designed to reduce or adjust its heating power upon reaching the first predetermined temperature of the first electrical sensor element. In this way, on the one hand, a process management can be realized to the effect that the temperature of the laundry drum should be kept below the first predetermined temperature, because this may be desired for the drying or washing process. On the other hand, this also a safety function can be realized by the temperature of the laundry drum should be kept below the first predetermined temperature in order to prevent inadmissible heating of the laundry drum and thus the laundry and, if necessary. The device. In both cases, to achieve the respective purpose upon reaching the first predetermined temperature, a reduction such as a halving of the heating power of the device can be effected. For the same reasons, in this case, a shutdown of the heating power can be effected. This may in particular relate to heating, which be produced by means of electrical resistance heating elements and by means of inductive heating.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the device is further configured to further reduce or adjust its heating power upon reaching the second predetermined temperature of the second electrical sensor element. Preferably, the second predetermined temperature is greater than the first predetermined temperature. In this way, a reduction of the heating power can be done in several stages, e.g. upon reaching the first predetermined temperature, a reduction, e.g. halving the heating power of the device and, upon reaching the second predetermined temperature, further reducing, e.g. a further halving of the heating power of the device can be effected. As a result, it can be achieved that a further increase in the detected temperature is prevented, however, a certain heating power can be maintained for further heating or for keeping the laundry warm.

Alternatively, the achievement of the first predetermined temperature may also constitute a warning stage in which the heating power is e.g. is halved to counteract the rise of the detected temperature, and the achievement of the second predetermined temperature may result as the upper limit of the allowable temperature to a shutdown of the heating power to prevent overheating of the laundry and the device safely.

According to a further aspect of the present device, the first electrical sensor element and / or the second electrical sensor element is or are arranged radially on the outside of the laundry drum. In this way, the electrical sensor element or the electrical sensor elements can be arranged comparatively close to the first electrical unit, so that a better interaction between the first electrical sensor element and or or between the electrical sensor element and the first electrical unit can be achieved. As a result, for example, the effect of disturbances on this interaction can be reduced.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the first electrical sensor element and / or the second electrical sensor element is or are arranged in heat-conducting manner on the laundry drum. This can improve the propagation of the heat from the laundry drum to the electrical sensor element or the electrical sensor elements, so that the laundry drum and the electrical sensor element or the electrical sensor elements have an identical temperature as possible. In this way, by detecting the temperature of an electrical sensor element or both electrical sensor elements as accurately as possible be closed to the temperature of the laundry drum. Furthermore, this can also be a rapid propagation of heat from the laundry drum on the electrical sensor element or the electrical sensor elements are made possible, so that can be closed by the detection of the temperature of an electrical sensor element or both electrical sensor elements on the most current possible temperature of the laundry drum ,

• • Betreiben der Vorrichtung mit einer ersten Heizleistung,
• • zumindest zeitweise, zeitgleiches Erfassen der Temperatur der Wäschetrommel in Abhängigkeit einer elektrischen Wechselwirkung zwischen der ersten elektrischen Einheit und dem ersten elektrischen Sensorelement, und
• • im Ansprechen auf das Erfassen einer ersten vorbestimmten Temperatur, Reduzieren der ersten Heizleistung auf eine zweite geringere Heizleistung.

The present invention also relates to a method for washing and / or for drying laundry by means of a device as described above with the steps:

• Operating the device with a first heating power,
• • At least temporarily, simultaneously detecting the temperature of the laundry drum in response to an electrical interaction between the first electrical unit and the first electrical sensor element, and
• In response to detecting a first predetermined temperature, reducing the first heating power to a second lower heating power.

Under an at least temporally simultaneous detection of the temperature is to be understood that in principle the detection of the temperature during operation of the device with the first heating power, but this can be started delayed, because at the beginning of the operation of the heating power can be assumed that still no heating of the laundry drum took place, which would have to be recorded or monitored. Incidentally, the properties and advantages of these method steps result from the preceding explanations of the corresponding features of the device according to the invention, so that these should not be repeated here.

• • zumindest zeitweise, zeitgleiches Erfassen der Temperatur der Wäschetrommel in Abhängigkeit einer elektrischen Wechselwirkung zwischen der ersten elektrischen Einheit und dem zweiten elektrischen Sensorelement, und
• • im Ansprechen auf das Erfassen einer zweiten vorbestimmten Temperatur, Reduzieren der zweiten Heizleistung auf eine dritte geringere Heizleistung.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the method comprises the further steps of:

• • At least temporarily, simultaneously detecting the temperature of the laundry drum in response to an electrical interaction between the first electrical unit and the second electrical sensor element, and
• In response to detecting a second predetermined temperature, reducing the second heating power to a third lower heating power.

The properties and advantages of these method steps also emerge from the preceding explanations of the corresponding Features of the device according to the invention, so that they should not be repeated here.

• • zumindest zeitweise, zeitgleiches Erfassen der Temperatur der Wäschetrommel in Abhängigkeit einer elektrischen Wechselwirkung zwischen der ersten elektrischen Einheit und dem zweiten elektrischen Sensorelement, und
• • im Ansprechen auf das Erfassen einer zweiten vorbestimmten Temperatur, Einstellen der zweiten Heizleistung.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the method comprises the further steps of:

• • At least temporarily, simultaneously detecting the temperature of the laundry drum in response to an electrical interaction between the first electrical unit and the second electrical sensor element, and
• In response to detecting a second predetermined temperature, adjusting the second heating power.

The properties and advantages of these method steps also emerge from the preceding explanations of the corresponding features of the device according to the invention, so that they should not be repeated here.

• • Betreiben der Vorrichtung mit einer ersten Heizleistung,
• • zumindest zeitweise, zeitgleiches Erfassen der Temperatur der Wäschetrommel in Abhängigkeit einer elektrischen Wechselwirkung zwischen der ersten elektrischen Einheit und dem ersten elektrischen Sensorelement, und
• • im Ansprechen auf das Erfassen einer ersten vorbestimmten Temperatur, Einstellen der zweiten Heizleistung.

The present invention also relates to a method for washing and / or for drying laundry by means of a device as described above with the steps:

• Operating the device with a first heating power,
• • At least temporarily, simultaneously detecting the temperature of the laundry drum in response to an electrical interaction between the first electrical unit and the first electrical sensor element, and
• In response to detecting a first predetermined temperature, adjusting the second heating power.

The properties and advantages of these method steps also emerge from the preceding explanations of the corresponding features of the device according to the invention, so that they should not be repeated here.

An embodiment and further advantages of the invention are explained below in connection with the following figures. It shows:

1 a perspective schematic representation of a device according to the invention in the form of a tumble dryer;

2 the representation of 1 in section from above;

3 the representation of 1 in partial section from the front;

4 a perspective schematic representation of a laundry drum of the tumble dryer the 1 ,

1 shows a perspective schematic representation of a device according to the invention in the form of a tumble dryer 1 , 2 shows the representation of 1 in section from above. 3 shows the representation of 1 in partial section from the front. 4 shows a perspective schematic representation of a laundry drum 15 of the tumble dryer 1 of the 1 , The laundry dryer 1 extends at a height Z, a depth X and a width Y.

The laundry dryer 1 has a front 10 , a right side 11 , a left side 12 , a back 13 as well as a top 14 on, in the representation of the 1 and 2 the top 14 is omitted to the inside of the tumble dryer 1 at least partially visible. Inside the tumble dryer 1 is a cylindrical laundry drum 15 arranged, which can rotate about a rotation axis A. From the axis of rotation A, the radial direction R shows away, see for example 2 and 4 , The laundry drum 15 can from the front 10 of the tumble dryer 1 through a laundry door 16 be filled with laundry to be dried.

The laundry dryer 1 has a heat pump unit which is below the laundry drum 15 is arranged (not shown). From the heat pump unit can heated process air via a process air inlet 17 , see eg 3 , in the laundry drum 15 be initiated to dry the laundry located there. The process air can then be via a process air outlet 18 , see eg 1 be returned to the heat pump unit again.

The laundry dryer 1 also has a first electrical unit 2 on, which is also the first induction unit 2 can be designated. As the induction unit 2 for additional inductive heating of the laundry drum 15 can be used, the induction unit 2 also as induction heating unit 2 be designated. The induction heating unit 2 has two induction coils 20 . 21 as induction heating elements 20 . 21 on. The laundry drum 15 is formed accordingly from a ferromagnetic material, so that an inductive heating of the laundry drum 15 through the induction heating unit 2 can be done.

The induction heating unit 2 is right up in the corner of the inside of the tumble dryer 1 arranged so that the space available there can be used. Further, the induction heating unit 2 at this position by removing the top cover 14 easily and quickly accessible both during assembly and for maintenance or repair.

According to the invention, the induction heating unit serves 2 in addition to the inductive heating of the laundry drum 15 in addition, the detection of the temperature of the laundry drum 15 , For this purpose, on the radially outer surface of the laundry drum 15 a second electrical unit 3 as a second induction unit 3 arranged as an induction sensor unit 3 can work. The induction sensor unit 3 has a first electrical sensor element 30 as the first induction sensor element 30 and a second electrical sensor element 31 as a second induction sensor element 31 on, which are arranged in the longitudinal direction X next to each other.

The first induction sensor element 30 is arranged on a perimeter, making it through the rotation of the laundry drum 15 under the first induction heating coil 20 can be passed through. The second induction sensor element 31 is arranged on an adjacent perimeter, making it through the rotation of the laundry drum 15 under the second induction heating coil 21 can be passed through, cf. 2 and 4 , In this way are by the two induction heating coils 20 . 21 not just the radially outer surface of the laundry drum 15 inductively heated, but also the two induction sensor elements 30 . 31 ,

The induction sensor elements 30 . 31 are due to their ferromagnetic material designed such that they are comparable or less heated by the induction as the laundry drum 15 itself. At the same time, the two induction sensor elements 30 . 31 as good as possible heat transfer on the laundry drum 15 appropriate. In this way, the temperature of the two induction sensor elements corresponds 30 . 31 as closely as possible the temperature of the laundry drum 15 ,

According to the invention, the material of the two induction sensor elements 30 . 31 further formed such that the first induction sensor element 30 at a first predetermined temperature of about 90 ° C its Curie temperature at which the first induction sensor element 30 loses its ferromagnetic properties. The second induction sensor element 31 is formed accordingly, wherein the second predetermined Curie temperature is about 120 ° C here.

Will now be in operation the laundry drum 15 turned, the heat pump operated and in addition the laundry drum 15 Inductive by the two induction heating coils 20 . 21 heated, so heat the two induction sensor elements 30 . 31 with the laundry drum 15 With. The two induction sensor elements 30 . 31 Become additionally inductive by the two induction heating coils 20 . 21 heated. Preferably, in this case, the maximum inductive heating power of the two induction heating coils 20 . 21 chosen to achieve the fastest possible drying of the laundry.

Now reaches the temperature of the laundry drum 15 the first predetermined temperature of the first induction sensor element 30 at about 90 ° C, so its Curie temperature is reached and the ferromagnetic property of the first induction sensor element 30 gets lost. Accordingly, from this first predetermined temperature, no electrical inductive interaction between the first induction heating coil 20 and the first induction sensor element 30 occur. This leads to a feedback to the first induction heating coil 20 such that less power from the induction heating coil 20 on the laundry drum 15 is transmitted.

This may be from the induction heating unit 2 or whose control is detected, so that it can be detected in this way that the first induction sensor element 30 and with it the laundry drum 15 has reached the first predetermined temperature. In response, the inductive heating power can be reduced, for example, to one-half to further heat the laundry drum 15 to prevent. This can serve the safety eg of the laundry to be dried as well as the control of the drying process of the laundry. A reduction of the heating power of the parallel-working heat pump is not required because the heat output of a heat pump inherently can not reach such temperatures.

The second induction sensor element 31 can be used accordingly, but for example at a second predetermined temperature of about 120 ° C as the upper limit of the allowable heating of the laundry drum 15 , upon reaching the inductive heating power is completely off, to damage the laundry and the device 1 to avoid.

In this way can also be detected when the first induction sensor element 30 or the second induction sensor element 31 again fall below their respective predetermined temperatures, because then the ferromagnetic properties of the induction sensor elements 30 . 31 be restored. Thus, by means of the two induction sensor elements 30 . 31 both exceeding and falling below the respective Curie temperatures are detected.

This can be used, for example, by means of a two-point control to the effect, the heating power of the tumble dryer 1 to adjust so that the temperature of the laundry drum 15 can be kept within a predetermined temperature range. Namely, when the heating power is reduced upon reaching the second higher predetermined temperature, and the heating power is increased upon signing of the first lower predetermined temperature, the temperature of the laundry drum moves 15 always between the two predetermined temperatures. About the Curie temperatures of the two induction sensor elements 30 . 31 can then the desired temperature range of the laundry drum 15 be specified.

Even if the present invention of a device 1 for washing and / or for drying laundry in this embodiment using a tumble dryer 1 is explained in more detail, the present invention is by no means for use in dryers 1 , in particular with induction heating, limited, but also eg on washing machines 1 and / or on washer-dryer 1 and other types of heating applicable.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

A

Rotation axis of the laundry drum 15

R

radial direction

X

Longitudinal direction, depth

Y

Transverse direction, width

Z

height

1

Device for washing and / or drying laundry, tumble dryer, washing machine, washer-dryer

10

front

11

right side

12

left side

13

back

14

top

15

washing drum

16

Washing drum door

17

Process air inlet of the laundry drum 15

18

Process air outlet of the laundry drum 15

2

first electrical unit, first induction unit, induction heating unit

20

first induction coil, first induction heating coil

21

second induction coil, second induction heating coil

3

second electrical unit, second induction unit, induction sensor unit

30

first electrical sensor element, first induction sensor element

31

second electrical sensor element, second induction sensor element

Claims (15)

Contraption ( 1 ) for washing and / or drying laundry, in particular clothes dryers ( 1 ), Washing machine ( 1 ) and / or washer-dryer ( 1 ), with a laundry drum ( 15 ) for receiving laundry to be washed and / or dried, characterized by at least one first electrical unit ( 2 ), and at least one first electrical sensor element ( 30 ), which with the laundry drum ( 15 ) is arranged co-rotating, wherein the first electrical unit ( 2 ) and the first electrical sensor element ( 30 ) are designed and arranged such that a temperature-dependent electrical interaction can take place between them. Contraption ( 1 ) according to claim 1, wherein the first electrical unit ( 2 ) radially outside the laundry drum ( 15 ) is fixed. Contraption ( 1 ) according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising at least one second electrical sensor element ( 31 ), which with the laundry drum ( 15 ) is arranged co-rotating, wherein the second electrical sensor element ( 31 ) is designed and arranged such that between it and the first electrical unit ( 2 ) a temperature-dependent electrical interaction can take place, which depends on the temperature-dependent electrical interaction between the first electrical unit ( 2 ) and the first electrical sensor element ( 30 ) is different. Contraption ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first electrical unit ( 2 ) an induction unit ( 2 ), in particular an induction heating unit ( 2 ), and wherein the first electrical sensor element ( 30 ) a first induction sensor element ( 30 ) and / or the second electrical sensor element ( 31 ) a second induction sensor element ( 31 ). Contraption ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first electrical sensor element ( 30 ) and / or the second electrical sensor element ( 31 ) comprises / consist of / consist of a ferromagnetic material, wherein the ferromagnetic property of the material is temperature dependent. Contraption ( 1 ) according to claim 5, wherein the first electrical sensor element ( 30 ) is formed, its ferromagnetic property at a first predetermined temperature at least substantially. preferably completely, and wherein the second electrical sensor element ( 31 ) is formed, its ferromagnetic property at a second predetermined temperature at least substantially, preferably completely, to lose, wherein the first predetermined temperature and the second predetermined temperature is different. Contraption ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the device ( 1 ) is designed, its heating power in dependence of the electrical interaction between the first electrical unit ( 2 ) and the first electrical sensor element ( 30 ) and / or the second electrical sensor element ( 31 ) to control / or regulate. Contraption ( 1 ) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the device ( 1 ) is formed, its heat output upon reaching the first predetermined temperature of the first electrical sensor element ( 30 ) to reduce or adjust. Contraption ( 1 ) according to claim 8, wherein the device ( 1 ) is further configured, its heating power upon reaching the second predetermined temperature of the second electrical sensor element ( 31 ) continue to reduce or adjust. Contraption ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first electrical sensor element ( 30 ) and / or the second electrical sensor element ( 31 ) radially on the outside of the laundry drum ( 15 ) is / are arranged. Contraption ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first electrical sensor element ( 30 ) and / or the second electrical sensor element ( 31 ) thermally conductive on the laundry drum ( 15 ) is / are arranged. Method for washing and / or drying laundry by means of a device ( 1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 11, comprising the steps of: operating the device ( 1 ) with a first heating power, at least temporarily, simultaneous detection of the temperature of the laundry drum ( 15 ) in response to an electrical interaction between the first electrical unit ( 2 ) and the first electrical sensor element ( 30 ), and in response to detecting a first predetermined temperature, reducing the first heating power to a second lower heating power. A method according to claim 12, further comprising the steps of: at least temporarily detecting the temperature of the laundry drum at the same time ( 15 ) in response to an electrical interaction between the first electrical unit ( 2 ) and the second electrical sensor element ( 31 ), and in response to detecting a second predetermined temperature, reducing the second heating power to a third lower heating power. A method according to claim 12, further comprising the steps of: at least temporarily detecting the temperature of the laundry drum at the same time ( 15 ) in response to an electrical interaction between the first electrical unit ( 2 ) and the second electrical sensor element ( 31 ), and in response to detecting a second predetermined temperature, adjusting the second heating power. Method for washing and / or drying laundry by means of a device ( 1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 11, comprising the steps of: operating the device ( 1 ) with a first heating power, at least temporarily, simultaneous detection of the temperature of the laundry drum ( 15 ) in response to an electrical interaction between the first electrical unit ( 2 ) and the first electrical sensor element ( 30 ), and in response to detecting a first predetermined temperature, adjusting the second heating power.

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