DE102022132520A1 - Laundry treatment device with heat pump - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a laundry treatment appliance (1) with the following features:- a housing (2);- a cylindrical tub (4);- a cylindrical drum (3) which is rotatably mounted in the tub (4) with a horizontal or inclined axis (33) and is designed to hold laundry;- a heat pump module (13) which is mounted in the housing (2) above the tub (4),- a fan (9) for conveying process air (PL) through the channel section (8) with the heat exchanger arrangement (15, 16), wherein the fan (9) is arranged at least partially behind the rear end face (48) of the tub (4).The heat pump module (13) is characterized in that the channel section (8) with the heat exchangers (15, 16) arranged therein lies in the direction of the process air (PL) at an angle (W) of less than 90° and greater than 0° to the axis (33) of the drum (3).

Description

• - ein Gehäuse;
• - einen zylinderförmigen Laugenbehälter;
• - eine im Laugenbehälter mit einer horizontalen oder geneigten Achse drehbar gelagerten, zylinderförmigen Trommel, die zum Aufnehmen von Wäsche ausgebildet ist;
• - wobei die Trommel in ihrer stirnseitigen Rückwand Öffnungen oder Perforationen, aufweist, um einen Luftstrom aus dem Laugenbehälter durch die Trommel zu ermöglichen;
• - wobei der Laugenbehälter einen Lufteinlass und einen Luftauslass aufweist;
• - ein Wärmepumpenmodul, welches im Gehäuse oberhalb des Laugenbehälters angebracht ist, mit
• - einem Modulgehäuse, umfassend einen Kanalabschnitt, in dem eine Wärmetauscheranordnung mit Verflüssiger als Heizeinrichtung und Verdampfer als Kondensationseinrichtung angeordnet ist;
• - einem Kompressor;
• - einem Lüfter zum Fördern von Prozessluft durch den Kanalabschnitt mit der Wärmetauscheranordnung;
• - einen erstes Rohr zur Verbindung des Kanalabschnitts mit dem Lufteinlass und ein zweites Rohr zur Verbindung des Kanalabschnitts mit dem Luftauslass des Laugenbehälters.

The invention relates to a laundry treatment appliance with the following features:

• - a housing;
• - a cylindrical suds container;
• - a cylindrical drum which is rotatably mounted in the tub with a horizontal or inclined axis and is designed to hold laundry;
• - wherein the drum has openings or perforations in its front rear wall to allow air to flow from the tub through the drum;
• - wherein the tub has an air inlet and an air outlet;
• - a heat pump module, which is mounted in the housing above the suds container, with
• - a module housing comprising a channel section in which a heat exchanger arrangement with a condenser as a heating device and an evaporator as a condensing device is arranged;
• - a compressor;
• - a fan for conveying process air through the duct section with the heat exchanger arrangement;
• - a first pipe for connecting the duct section to the air inlet and a second pipe for connecting the duct section to the air outlet of the tub.

The EP 3 190 224 A1 discloses a washer-dryer with a heat pump module for generating the drying air. The heat pump module is located above the suds container, with the compressor and the fan arranged in the side area above the suds container. The channel section with the heat exchangers is arranged at right angles to the drum axis.

The invention is based on the object of improving a compact laundry treatment machine with a suds container and heat pump module with regard to permanently reliable and effective operation.

According to the invention, this object is achieved, among other things, by a laundry treatment appliance having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention emerge from the dependent claims.

The approach presented here creates a compact laundry treatment device in a simple manner, which is equipped with a heat pump module for generating the process air. In addition to the components for washing, the heat pump module is housed in a so-called standard housing. This is achieved by placing the heat pump module in the free space above and to the side of the suds container. The air outlet from the suds container or drum can also be introduced into a bellows, which forms a tubular connecting channel from the loading opening in the front wall to the front loading opening in the drum or suds container. The bellows can therefore be assigned to the suds container with regard to the process air flow. The channel section with the heat exchangers arranged therein is located in the direction of the process air at an angle of less than 90° and greater than 0° to the axis of the drum. The channel section is designed as a flat, wide box, with the heat exchangers arranged therein being shaped accordingly. The channel section is thus inclined in plan view and aligned approximately horizontally above the suds container. This ensures good use of the space above the suds container and within the device housing.

In a practical design, the air inlet in the tub is located in the rear end wall in the lower area and the air outlet in or on the tub is located in the front, middle upper area of the front end wall. The flat box forming the duct section is located between the air inlet and air outlet and is aligned approximately horizontally, i.e. the wide sides are horizontal and the narrow sides are aligned approximately vertically. Overall, all position and direction information refers to the correct operating position of the device.

In an overall advantageous design or development, the air inlet is arranged below the height of the drum's axis of rotation. The air inlet is thus arranged in the rear front wall in the lower area, which ensures a good and straight air flow through the inlet to the drum and through the drum if the rear wall of the drum is designed with holes or as a grid in some areas. The air is not diverted within the tub.

The air outlet is located in the front, upper area of the front bulkhead, which ensures that the process air flows diagonally through the drum from the back to the front. The outlet is controlled by the The air cannot be reached by items of laundry moving in the drum and cannot become clogged by them because gravity always causes them to move downwards, away from the outlet. This ensures that the flow of process air is not obstructed.

Overall, it is advisable to arrange the box-shaped duct section in such a way that the central axis of the duct section flows into the fan from the center of the air outlet. This keeps the deflection of the process air in the duct section from the inlet opening to the outlet opening to the fan to a minimum, so that there is little or no flow resistance. Furthermore, the path of the process air duct is kept short, so that heat losses are also kept to a minimum.

Preferably, the vertical plane of the inlet opening and the vertical plane of the outlet opening on the channel section are aligned approximately parallel or parallel to each other.

In an overall advantageous embodiment, the channel section designed as a flat box is designed such that the angle around an imaginary vertical axis of rotation has a value in the range between 3° and 60°, preferably a value in the range between 5° and 45°, particularly preferably a value in the range between 8° and 20°.

In an overall practical embodiment, the heat pump module comprises a filter element which is provided in the channel section in the direction of flow in front of the heat exchanger. The filter element is preferably placed in the said channel section in a removable manner so that it can be cleaned.

In an overall advantageous design, the base element outside the duct section includes holding means for positioning or holding the compressor. This creates a compact heat pump module that contains all the components of the closed refrigerant circuit. This can be inserted into the device housing as a pre-assembled module, so that only the connections for the process air supply and electrical connections need to be created.

In an overall advantageous design or development, the compressor is arranged as a horizontal cylinder to the side and above the lye container. This allows the installation space in the upper side area of the device housing to be used optimally.

The fan is preferably arranged between the rear and the back wall of the housing because the installation space is particularly suitable for this. In the front area, the installation space is cramped because the front loading opening takes up a large proportion of the space between the front end wall and the front wall of the housing. The fan is preferably designed as a radial fan and comprises a flow housing with a fan wheel adapted therein. The flow housing has a diameter that corresponds to at least 4 times the axial extension of the fan, wherein the flow housing is located in an extension perpendicular to the axial extension partially between the rear end wall of the lye container and the housing rear wall. In other words, the fan is arranged in the rear area of the device housing in such a way that at least part of the flat flow housing is located between the rear end wall of the lye container and the inside of the housing rear wall. The flow housing can preferably be designed with a diameter that is more than 6 times or 8 times the axial extension. The fan wheel is designed to match the geometry of the flow housing. The axial extension is the length of the flow housing, excluding the drive motor on the shaft.

The laundry treatment appliance is preferably a washer-dryer, with the housing being 55 cm to 65 cm wide, 55 to 70 cm deep and 85 to 95 cm high. The heat pump module as defined in the examples given above is particularly suitable for the washer-dryer. The housing dimensions already known on the market do not have to be changed in order to provide such a washer-dryer. In particular, the appliance does not have to be designed to be higher than a comparable washer-dryer without a heat pump module arranged above the tub.

• 1: eine schematische Darstellung des Wäschebehandlungsgeräts mit Wärmepumpe;
• 2: das Wäschebehandlungsgerät in einer perspektivischen Frontansicht;
• 3: Teile der Aggregate des Wäschebehandlungsgerätes in einer perspektivischen Ansicht und
• 4: das Wäschebehandlungsgerät mit geöffnetem Wärmepumpenmodul in einer Ansicht von oben.

An embodiment of the invention is shown partly schematically in the drawings and is described in more detail below.

• 1 : a schematic representation of the heat pump laundry treatment appliance;
• 2 : the laundry treatment appliance in a perspective front view;
• 3 : Parts of the laundry treatment appliance units in a perspective view and
• 4 : the laundry treatment appliance with the heat pump module opened in a view from above.

1 shows the laundry treatment device 1 according to the invention in a schematic sectional view. The device 1 is a washer-dryer 1 with a housing 2 and the units arranged therein for carrying out treatment programs. Here, the unit with the suds container 4 and the drum 3 rotatably mounted therein can be seen. The interior of the drum 3 can be reached for loading and unloading through the tubular bellows 6 attached to the front. The bellows 6 seals the suds container 4 from the door 5 located on the front wall. An inlet line 41 and an inlet valve 42 are provided for guiding the washing water in order to supply water to the suds container 4 or the drum 3 during a washing phase. The water is guided to the detergent dispenser 43 by means of the inlet line 41 in order to guide detergent stored there into the suds container 4 with the water flowing through the box. The detergent dispenser 43 is connected to the tub 4 by means of the inlet pipe 44. The drain device 60 comprises a pump 61 and a drain line 62, wherein the pump 61 is activated as required when this is provided for in the course of an automatic washing process. The control device 90 is set up and programmed to activate and deactivate the actuators, i.e. the motor 70 for rotating the drum, the inlet valve 42 and the pump 61, in order to carry out a treatment program.

The washer-dryer 1 further comprises a heat pump module 13, which is mounted in the housing 2 above the tub 4 and serves to generate a process air flow PL. The module 13 comprises a refrigerant circuit in which refrigerant is circulated in a line system with an evaporator 15, a compressor 14 ( 2 ) for compressing the refrigerant, a condenser 16 and a throttle (not shown), the heat exchanger containing the evaporator 15 and the heater containing the condenser 16 of the heat pump 13. The module 13 comprises a housing 17 ( 2 ), in which a channel section 8 is incorporated and in which the evaporator 15 and the condenser 16 are mounted. The evaporator 15 and the condenser 16 are arranged in the channel section 8 such that the moist process air PL is led from the outlet 47 of the suds container 4 through the pipe 96 to the channel 8 and in the channel 8 first flows through the evaporator 15 so that it is dehumidified due to the cooling and the resulting condensation. It then flows through the downstream condenser 16, which acts as a heater and heats up the process air PL so that the heated process air PL is let into the suds container 4 through the air inlet 46 and into the drum 3 through openings 32 in the drum rear wall 31 and is thus fed to the textiles 10 to be treated. Any condensate that accumulates is collected in the collecting tray 81 and guided to the drain 60, 62 via the condensate line 82. The outlet 47 of the suds container 4 is preferably arranged in the area of the loading opening on the front end wall of the suds container 4 or in the tunnel-like bellows 6 of the loading opening. The outlet 47, which forms the inlet to the heat pump module 13, is connected to the heat pump unit 13, in particular to the channel section 8, via the line 96.

The functional module 13 mounted above the lye container 4 also includes the fan 9, which is driven by the motor 91. The fan 9 includes a flow housing 93, inside of which the fan wheel 92 is located. The housing 93 is flat and has a diameter that is at least 4 times larger than the axial length. The fan 9 is placed above the lye container 4 in the device housing 2 in such a way that part of the fan housing 93 extends into the gap between the lye container rear wall 48 and the housing rear wall 21. The fan can preferably be designed as a radial fan, preferably with curved blades, so that it causes a higher volume flow in a preferred direction than in the opposite direction of rotation.

Overall, all direction and position information refers to the normal operating position of the treatment device 1.

2 shows the washer-dryer 1 with the housing 2 partially open. The front wall 22 includes the loading opening, which is closed by the door 23. The suds container 4 is suspended or supported in the interior of the housing 2 so that it can swing. Inside the suds container 4, the drum 3 (shown in dashed lines) is rotatably mounted on a horizontal axis 33. The unit 13 for generating the process air PL is arranged above the suds container 4 and completely inside the housing 2. The unit 13 is attached to the housing 2 so that it does not swing with the suds container 4 when the latter swings due to imbalance in the rotating drum 3. The unit 13 includes a housing 17, which serves to position and preferably fix the compressor 14, the heat exchangers 15, 16, the lines 18 and the throttle 18a. In the situation shown, the housing 17 is closed and in normal operating condition. The housing 17 comprises the channel section 8 in the approximately central area, in which the heat exchangers 15, 16 are accommodated. The channel section 8 is provided downstream with the box-shaped deflection pipe 83 in order to deflect the laterally running process air flow towards the fan 9. The fan 9 is connected to the circular outlet 83b of the deflection pipe 83 and is located behind the Housing 17 of the unit 13. It can be seen that the flat blower outlet 94 points downwards and is connected to the rear air line 95, which in turn opens into the air inlet 46 in or on the tub 4. The blower housing 93 extends at least with the lower area and the outlet 94 in the space between the rear end wall 48 of the tub 4 and the rear wall 21 of the device housing 2.

3 shows the washer-dryer 1 in a partially assembled state. Here, the unit with tub 4 and drum 3 and the module housing 17 with fan 9 arranged above it can be seen. The feed pipe 96 is open on the inlet side and is arranged in the upper area of the bellows 6. The pipe 96 opens into the channel section 8b of the housing 17. In the channel section 8b, which is located in front of the heat exchanger 15 ( 4 ), the lint filter 100 or the filter screen 100 is arranged to guide the process air PL free of lint to the heat exchangers 15, 16. The duct section 8 is shown here without the heat exchangers 15, 16. The plane EE of the inlet opening to the box-shaped duct section 8 is arranged essentially parallel or exactly parallel to the plane EA of the outlet opening on the duct section 8 or the deflection pipe 82. The intermediate duct section 8 is inclined with respect to the planes EA, EE. The air outlet 47 is arranged in the bellows 6. The connecting pipe 96 is attached between the outlet opening 47 and the inlet opening on or in the duct section 8. The bellows 6 forms the tubular connection of the housing-side loading opening with the front access opening of the lye container 4.

4 shows the laundry treatment device 1 with heat pump module 13 with the lid open in a top view. The housing 17 of the module or unit 13 comprises a base part 17b in which the components 14, 15, 16, 18 of the heat pump are positioned and preferably fixed. The base part 17b is closed with a cover part 17a so that a channel section 8 is provided in which the heat exchangers 15, 16 are located. The box-shaped deflection pipe 83 is attached downstream of the channel section 8 in the flow direction of the process air flow PL in order to guide the process air 8 to the blower 9. In addition to the already explained deflection of the process air direction, the deflection pipe 83 also serves to adapt the flat, rectangular outlet of the channel section 8 to the circular blower inlet. As a result, the process air PL is deflected without any significant flow resistance. The base part 17b further comprises holding means 14b, by means of which the compressor 14 is held. The compressor 14 is located outside the channel 8. In the channel section 8b, which is located in front of the heat exchanger 15 ( 4 ), the lint filter 100 or the filter screen 100 is arranged to guide the process air PL free of lint to the heat exchangers 15, 16. The duct section 8 is shown here without the heat exchangers 15, 16.

It can also be seen that the channel section 8 is aligned obliquely to the axis 33 of the drum 3. The included angle W of the central axis 38 of the channel section 8 in the flow direction to the drum axis 33 has a value in the range between 3° and 60°, preferably a value in the range between 5° and 45°, particularly preferably a value in the range between 8° and 25°. In the preferred example shown, the angle has a value in the range from 12° to 22°.

All directions and position information refer to the correct operating position of the laundry treatment appliance 1.

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant was 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 accepts no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• EP 3190224 A1 [0002]

Claims (11)

Laundry treatment appliance (1) with the following features: - a housing (2); - a cylindrical tub (4); - a cylindrical drum (3) which is rotatably mounted in the tub (4) with a horizontal or inclined axis (33) and is designed to hold laundry; - the drum (3) has openings (32) or perforations in its front rear wall (31) to enable an air flow (PL) from the tub (4) through the drum (3); - the tub (4) has an air inlet (46) and an air outlet (47); - a heat pump module (13) which is mounted in the housing (2) above the tub (4), with - a module housing (17) comprising a channel section (8) in which a heat exchanger arrangement with a condenser (16) as a heating device and an evaporator (15) as a condensing device is arranged; - a compressor (14); - a fan (9) for conveying process air (PL) through the channel section (8) with the heat exchanger arrangement (15, 16); - a first pipe (95) for connecting the channel section (8) to the air inlet (6) and a second pipe (96) for connecting the channel section (8b) to the air outlet (47) of the lye container (4, 6), characterized in that the channel section (8) with the heat exchangers (15, 16) arranged therein is located in the direction of the process air (PL) at an angle (W) of less than 90° and greater than 0° to the axis (33) of the drum (3). (in plan view from above) Laundry treatment device according to Claim 1 , wherein in the lye container (4) the air inlet (46) is arranged in the rear end wall (48) in the lower region and wherein in or on the lye container (4) the air outlet (47) is arranged in the front, middle upper region of the front end wall. Laundry treatment appliance according to one of the Claims 1 until 2 , wherein the air inlet (46) is arranged below the height of the axis of rotation (33) of the drum (3). Laundry treatment appliance according to one of the Claims 1 until 3 , wherein the central axis (38) of the duct section (8) opens into the fan (9) starting from the center of the air outlet (47). Laundry treatment appliance according to one of the Claims 1 until 4 , wherein the vertical plane (EE) of the channel inlet at the channel section (8) and the vertical plane (EA) of the channel outlet are aligned approximately parallel or parallel. Laundry treatment appliance according to one of the Claims 1 until 5 , wherein the angle (W) has a value in the range between 3° and 60°, preferably a value in the range between 5° and 45°, particularly preferably a value in the range between 8° and 25°. Laundry treatment appliance according to one of the Claims 1 until 6 , further comprising a filter element (100) which is provided in the channel section (8a) in the flow direction upstream of the heat exchanger (15), preferably in the region of the channel inlet. Laundry treatment appliance according to one of the Claims 1 until 7 , wherein the base element (17b) outside the channel section (8) comprises holding means (14b) and a compressor (14) attached thereto. Laundry treatment device according to Claim 8 , wherein the compressor (14) is arranged as a horizontal cylinder laterally and above the lye container (4). Laundry treatment appliance according to one of the Claims 1 until 9 , wherein the fan (9) is arranged at least partially behind the rear end face (48) of the tub (4). Laundry treatment appliance according to one of the Claims 1 until 10 , which is a washer-dryer, with the housing being 55 cm to 65 cm wide, 55 to 70 cm deep and 85 to 95 cm high.

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