EP0463576A1 - Method and installation for the condensation of humidity in laundry washers - Google Patents
Method and installation for the condensation of humidity in laundry washers Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0463576A1 EP0463576A1 EP91110191A EP91110191A EP0463576A1 EP 0463576 A1 EP0463576 A1 EP 0463576A1 EP 91110191 A EP91110191 A EP 91110191A EP 91110191 A EP91110191 A EP 91110191A EP 0463576 A1 EP0463576 A1 EP 0463576A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- receptacle
- laundry
- liquid
- conduit
- humidity
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 11
- 238000009833 condensation Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 8
- 230000005494 condensation Effects 0.000 title claims abstract description 8
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 title description 6
- 238000011084 recovery Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 8
- 238000004900 laundering Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 6
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 claims description 23
- 230000005484 gravity Effects 0.000 claims 1
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 abstract description 9
- 238000001035 drying Methods 0.000 abstract description 7
- 239000004744 fabric Substances 0.000 abstract description 2
- 239000008237 rinsing water Substances 0.000 description 4
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000002826 coolant Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000007791 dehumidification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000007599 discharging Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005406 washing Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F29/00—Combinations of a washing machine with other separate apparatus in a common frame or the like, e.g. with rinsing apparatus
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00
- D06F39/006—Recovery arrangements, e.g. for the recovery of energy or water
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00
- D06F39/08—Liquid supply or discharge arrangements
- D06F39/083—Liquid discharge or recirculation arrangements
-
- D06F39/20—
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F58/00—Domestic laundry dryers
- D06F58/20—General details of domestic laundry dryers
- D06F58/24—Condensing arrangements
Definitions
- the invention relates to a method for the dehumidification of air in laundry washers, particularly of the domestic type, to be associated to laundry driers emitting to the exterior the warm and humid air used in the drying process.
- the present invention attains this object of removing the humidity from the drying air by directing the air through suitable conduit means into a rinsing water recovery receptacle installed in the laundry washer, and condensing the humidity contained in this air by making use of the temperature difference between the drying air and the recovered rinsing water.
- Fig. 2 illustrates an example of a piping system of a laundry washer provided with a receptacle for the recovery of the washing liquid (or rinsing water): the liquid drained from the bottom of a tub 12 is directed through a conduit 13 and a pump 14 to two separate conduits 15 and 16 controlled by respective shut-off valves 17 and 18.
- Conduit 15 leads to the exterior and acts as the conventional discharge conduit, while conduit 16 opens into the receptacle 5.
- the two shut-off valves 17 and 18 are controlled by a conventional program control unit not shown in the figure.
- pump 14 acts to draw the liquid from tub 12 and to deliver it through conduit 13.
- shut-off valve 17 is open and valve 18 closed. The liquid is therefore directed from conduit 13 to conduit 15 for discharge to the exterior.
- valve 17 is closed and valve 18 opened.
- the liquid is deviated from conduit 13 to conduit 16 to flow into receptacle 5.
- another conduit 20 is provided to connect the top portion of receptacle 5 to discharge conduit 15, this additional conduit 20 being equipped with a non-return valve 21 to prevent the liquid from flowing back into receptacle 5 during a normal discharge phase.
- This air conduit 3 directs the humid air into a condenser 4 disposed within receptacle 5 itself mounted in laundry washer 1.
- the outer wall surfaces of condenser 4 are thus in direct contact with the liquid contained in receptacle 5, and preferably provided with cooling ribs for improving the heat exchange effect.
- the air leaving condenser 4 is finally discharged to the exterior through a discharge conduit 6 and an outlet port 8.
- conduit 6 The liquid condensed on the walls of condenser 4 collects at the bottom and exits also through conduit 6, the latter being provided with a downwards directed branch 7 disposed at a level below that of outlet port 8 and opening into a condensate collecting receptacle 9.
- a pump 10 may be provided for directing the collected water through a conduit 11 into receptacle 5.
- This transfer of the collected liquid may advantageously be completely automatized by the provision of suitable control circuitry for pump 10 which may operate for instance under the direct control of the program control unit, or autonomously by the automatic detection of the liquid level in receptacle 9.
- the present invention will be recognized to offer a still further advantage: in view of the fact that the air discharged from a laundry drier of the condensation type is never completely dehumidified, the invention is also usefully applicable to the combination of a laundry washer and a laundry drier of the condensation type.
- a still further improvement and simplification of the described piping system can be obtained in the following manner: by the creation of a partial vacuum within receptacle 5, the condensate collected in receptacle 9 can be automatically transferred from the latter to the former.
- a partial vacuum of a desired magnitude can be created in a simple manner by the operation of a pump 22 acting to transfer a determined amount of liquid from receptacle 5 into tub 12 through a connecting pipe 23.
- a further improvement of the described piping system may be achieved by the provision of another connecting pipe 24 connecting condensate receptacle 9 to a top portion of tub 12 in place of pipe 11 discharging into receptacle 5.
Abstract
A laundry drier, preferably of the domestic type, operating according to the technique of expulsion to the exterior of the warm and humid air used for drying the fabrics, and provided moreover with an additional cold water container for the condensation and recovery of the humidity.
The machine is characterized by the fact that the mentioned container is connected to a household laundry washer associated to the laundry drier, and is in particular disposed, in the case of a machine of the front-loading type, between the rear wall of the laundering tub and the rear wall of the housing, and in the case of a machine of the top-loading type, between any of the walls of the laundering tub and the corresponding wall of the housing.
Description
- The invention relates to a method for the dehumidification of air in laundry washers, particularly of the domestic type, to be associated to laundry driers emitting to the exterior the warm and humid air used in the drying process.
- A steadily growing tendency in the market is the use of household laundry driers of increasingly prefectioned performance, including the consideration of the domestic environment in general.
- These tendencies have stimulated the marketing of so-called "condensation" drying systems, in which the humidity extracted from the fabrics is condensated by any suitable means internally of the laundry drier, and subsequently discharged by manual operation or any suitable automatic process.
- This permits the thus dehumidified air to be discharged towards the domestic environment without causing the usual problems well known to those skilled in the art, and of course to the user himself.
- Although these types of laundry driers are satisfactory and reliable in operation, they still suffer from certain short-comings as regards their operation, in view of the fact that the condensed water has to be manually discharged rather frequently, and that their operation involves a considerable consumption of mains water as the cooling medium in the condensation process.
- Due to their considerably more complex design, machines of this type are moreover more costly than laundry driers with direct discharge of the warm air to the environment.
- In an endeavour to reduce the water consumption while at least partially solving the problem of the release of humidity in the domestic environment, proposals have been made, for instance in DE-OS 2451339, to employ combined installations composed of a laundry washer, a laundry drier and a receptacle for the recovery of water discharged from the laundry washer, the receptacle being designed to feed cold water to a special type of condenser installed in the laundry drier.
- This solution requires the installation of a third element, namely, the receptacle, and of associated piping, and is therefore inacceptable for domestic use due to increased space requirements and for economic reasons.
- It would therefore be desirable to dispose of an installation which combines the operative advantages of a condensation-type laundry drier with the economic advantages of a laundry drier with direct discharge of the warm and humid air.
- The present invention attains this object of removing the humidity from the drying air by directing the air through suitable conduit means into a rinsing water recovery receptacle installed in the laundry washer, and condensing the humidity contained in this air by making use of the temperature difference between the drying air and the recovered rinsing water.
- The characteristics of the invention will become more clearly evident from the following description, given by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
- fig. 1 shows a diagrammatic illustration of a typical installation of a laundry drier supported on top of a laundry washer,
- fig. 2 shows the internal construction of a laundry washer as modified in accordance with the invention, and
- fig. 3 shows the internal construction of a further improved embodiment of the laundry washer shown in fig. 2.
- The characteristics of the invention are specified in the attached claims.
- For better understanding of the present invention, reference shall be made to an example in which the laundry washer is of the front-loading type, without, however, restricting the claimed protection to this configuration, inasmuch as one skilled in the art could readily apply the teaching of the invention to different installations and arrangements.
- At least from Italian Patent Application no. 45716 A/90 it is known to install within a laundry washer, particularly of the domestic type, one or several receptacles for the recovery of laundering liquids, particularly of the liquid used in the last ones of a number of rinsing cycles, the thus recovered liquid being then used in the course of subsequent laundering programs.
- It is also known that ever more widespread use is made of two appliances, namely, a laundry washer and a laundry drier, the two appliances being usually installed close to one another, particularly with the laundry drier being supported on top of the laundry washer.
- With this arrangement of the two appliances it would therefore be desirable and possible to make use of their complementarity as regards both their use and their technical functions for obtaining a novel drying performance offering particular advantages in the sense pointed out above.
- Fig. 2 illustrates an example of a piping system of a laundry washer provided with a receptacle for the recovery of the washing liquid (or rinsing water): the liquid drained from the bottom of a
tub 12 is directed through aconduit 13 and apump 14 to twoseparate conduits valves -
Conduit 15 leads to the exterior and acts as the conventional discharge conduit, whileconduit 16 opens into thereceptacle 5. - The two shut-
off valves - During the normal discharge operation,
pump 14 acts to draw the liquid fromtub 12 and to deliver it throughconduit 13. At this stage shut-offvalve 17 is open andvalve 18 closed. The liquid is therefore directed fromconduit 13 to conduit 15 for discharge to the exterior. - In the course of another phase, when it is desired to recover the discharged liquid,
valve 17 is closed andvalve 18 opened. As a result, the liquid is deviated fromconduit 13 to conduit 16 to flow intoreceptacle 5. - For avoiding pressurization of
receptacle 5 when the liquid supplied thereto exceeds its capacity, anotherconduit 20 is provided to connect the top portion ofreceptacle 5 todischarge conduit 15, thisadditional conduit 20 being equipped with anon-return valve 21 to prevent the liquid from flowing back intoreceptacle 5 during a normal discharge phase. - Since the water used for the rinsing operation is not hated, it remains at a relatively low temperature, particularly at the time of the last rinsing operation.
- When this liquid is collected in
receptacle 5, andlaundry drier 2 is subsequently activated, there will be a considerable temperature difference between the walls of thecondenser 4 immersed in this liquid and the humid air discharged from the laundry drier. - With reference to fig. 1, there are shown the
laundry washer 1, thelaundry drier 2, and ahot air conduit 3 extending between the two appliances. - This
air conduit 3 directs the humid air into acondenser 4 disposed withinreceptacle 5 itself mounted inlaundry washer 1. - The outer wall surfaces of
condenser 4 are thus in direct contact with the liquid contained inreceptacle 5, and preferably provided with cooling ribs for improving the heat exchange effect. - On the generally known "cold wall" principle, the described arangement results in the condensation of the humidity contained in the drying air and thus, as intended, in the final discharge to the exterior of relatively dry air.
- The
air leaving condenser 4 is finally discharged to the exterior through adischarge conduit 6 and an outlet port 8. - The liquid condensed on the walls of
condenser 4 collects at the bottom and exits also throughconduit 6, the latter being provided with a downwards directedbranch 7 disposed at a level below that of outlet port 8 and opening into acondensate collecting receptacle 9. - The water thus collected in
receptacle 9 may then be emptied manually in the conventional manner, or more advantageously still, apump 10 may be provided for directing the collected water through aconduit 11 intoreceptacle 5. - This transfer of the collected liquid may advantageously be completely automatized by the provision of suitable control circuitry for
pump 10 which may operate for instance under the direct control of the program control unit, or autonomously by the automatic detection of the liquid level inreceptacle 9. - At this point the present invention will be recognized to offer a still further advantage: in view of the fact that the air discharged from a laundry drier of the condensation type is never completely dehumidified, the invention is also usefully applicable to the combination of a laundry washer and a laundry drier of the condensation type.
- A still further improvement and simplification of the described piping system can be obtained in the following manner: by the creation of a partial vacuum within
receptacle 5, the condensate collected inreceptacle 9 can be automatically transferred from the latter to the former. - A partial vacuum of a desired magnitude can be created in a simple manner by the operation of a
pump 22 acting to transfer a determined amount of liquid fromreceptacle 5 intotub 12 through a connectingpipe 23. - As shown in fig. 3, a further improvement of the described piping system may be achieved by the provision of another connecting pipe 24 connecting
condensate receptacle 9 to a top portion oftub 12 in place ofpipe 11 discharging intoreceptacle 5. - In this manner it is possible to avoid that an excess amount of rinsing water supplied to receptacle 5 overflows by way of
pipe 11 andcentrifugal pump 10 intocondensate receptacle 9, and escapes to the exterior from there through outlet port 8.
Claims (6)
1. A method for the condensation of humidity contained in the discharge air of a laundry drier, particularly of the domestic type, comprising a phase in which said air is caused to sweep a cold wall, and a phase in which the humidity condensed on said cold wall is removed, characterized in that said cold wall (4) is located within a laundry washer (1) associated to said laundry drier (2).
2. A method acording to claim 1, characterized in that said cold wall (4) is located in a receptacle (5) for the recovery of laundering liquid, or preferably rinsing liquid, in said laundry washer (1).
3. A method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the obtained condensate is collected by gravity in a receptacle (9) which is periodically emptied.
4. A method according to claim 3, characterized in that said receptacle (9) is emptied by the transfer of the liquid contained therein into said recovery receptacle (5).
5. A method according to claim 4, characterized in that said transfer is carried out by creating a partial vacuum in said recovery receptacle (5), preferably by emptying it, and by the aspiration of the condensed liquid contained in said receptacle (9) by means of a conduit (23).
6. A method according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said receptacle (9) is emptied by the transfer of the liquid contained therein through a conduit (24) opening into a top portion of the laundering tub (12).
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
IT04573590A IT1246258B (en) | 1990-06-27 | 1990-06-27 | PROCEDURE AND SYSTEM FOR THE CONDENSATION OF HUMIDITY IN WASHING MACHINE MACHINES. |
IT4573590 | 1990-06-27 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0463576A1 true EP0463576A1 (en) | 1992-01-02 |
Family
ID=11257909
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP91110191A Withdrawn EP0463576A1 (en) | 1990-06-27 | 1991-06-20 | Method and installation for the condensation of humidity in laundry washers |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0463576A1 (en) |
IT (1) | IT1246258B (en) |
Cited By (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0607628A1 (en) * | 1993-01-19 | 1994-07-27 | CANDY S.p.A. | A washing machine or dishwasher with liquid storage |
FR2718162A1 (en) * | 1994-04-01 | 1995-10-06 | Zanussi Elettrodomestici | Washing machine with improved water recovery tank. |
EP0753282A1 (en) * | 1995-07-14 | 1997-01-15 | TECNOPLASTICA PREALPINA S.p.A. | A device for cooling and condensing the steam released from the washing drum of a dishwasher machine and the like |
EP1029961A2 (en) * | 1999-02-16 | 2000-08-23 | IAR-SILTAL S.p.A. | Combined washing machine |
EP1186697A2 (en) * | 2000-09-06 | 2002-03-13 | Miele & Cie. GmbH & Co. | Laundry drier with a condensing device |
KR20020085444A (en) * | 2001-05-08 | 2002-11-16 | 주식회사 엘지이아이 | Saturation water recycling system in home appliances |
CN103966819A (en) * | 2013-02-05 | 2014-08-06 | 苏州三星电子有限公司 | Box and shell integrated condenser structure |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2834121A (en) * | 1953-10-19 | 1958-05-13 | Whirlpool Co | Combined clothes washer and drier |
FR2249206A1 (en) * | 1973-10-26 | 1975-05-23 | Philips Nv | |
DE2451339A1 (en) * | 1974-10-25 | 1976-04-29 | Bosch Siemens Hausgeraete | COMBINATION OF A FULLY AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINE WITH A CONDENSATION DRYER |
DE2556629A1 (en) * | 1975-12-16 | 1977-06-23 | Lepper Gmbh Masch App | Cooling water storage tank for washing-drying machine - with condenser which is supplied with cooling water during drying |
-
1990
- 1990-06-27 IT IT04573590A patent/IT1246258B/en active IP Right Grant
-
1991
- 1991-06-20 EP EP91110191A patent/EP0463576A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2834121A (en) * | 1953-10-19 | 1958-05-13 | Whirlpool Co | Combined clothes washer and drier |
FR2249206A1 (en) * | 1973-10-26 | 1975-05-23 | Philips Nv | |
DE2451339A1 (en) * | 1974-10-25 | 1976-04-29 | Bosch Siemens Hausgeraete | COMBINATION OF A FULLY AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINE WITH A CONDENSATION DRYER |
DE2556629A1 (en) * | 1975-12-16 | 1977-06-23 | Lepper Gmbh Masch App | Cooling water storage tank for washing-drying machine - with condenser which is supplied with cooling water during drying |
Cited By (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0607628A1 (en) * | 1993-01-19 | 1994-07-27 | CANDY S.p.A. | A washing machine or dishwasher with liquid storage |
FR2718162A1 (en) * | 1994-04-01 | 1995-10-06 | Zanussi Elettrodomestici | Washing machine with improved water recovery tank. |
EP0753282A1 (en) * | 1995-07-14 | 1997-01-15 | TECNOPLASTICA PREALPINA S.p.A. | A device for cooling and condensing the steam released from the washing drum of a dishwasher machine and the like |
EP1029961A2 (en) * | 1999-02-16 | 2000-08-23 | IAR-SILTAL S.p.A. | Combined washing machine |
EP1029961A3 (en) * | 1999-02-16 | 2002-04-17 | IAR-SILTAL S.p.A. | Combined washing machine |
EP1186697A2 (en) * | 2000-09-06 | 2002-03-13 | Miele & Cie. GmbH & Co. | Laundry drier with a condensing device |
EP1186697A3 (en) * | 2000-09-06 | 2002-10-02 | Miele & Cie. GmbH & Co. | Laundry drier with a condensing device |
KR20020085444A (en) * | 2001-05-08 | 2002-11-16 | 주식회사 엘지이아이 | Saturation water recycling system in home appliances |
CN103966819A (en) * | 2013-02-05 | 2014-08-06 | 苏州三星电子有限公司 | Box and shell integrated condenser structure |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
IT9045735A0 (en) | 1990-06-27 |
IT1246258B (en) | 1994-11-17 |
IT9045735A1 (en) | 1991-12-27 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
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PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
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AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): DE FR GB IT SE |
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17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 19920630 |
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17Q | First examination report despatched |
Effective date: 19940228 |
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STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN |
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18D | Application deemed to be withdrawn |
Effective date: 19940711 |