EP0480062B1 - Apparatus for drying clothes and the like and method thereof - Google Patents
Apparatus for drying clothes and the like and method thereof Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0480062B1 EP0480062B1 EP91908178A EP91908178A EP0480062B1 EP 0480062 B1 EP0480062 B1 EP 0480062B1 EP 91908178 A EP91908178 A EP 91908178A EP 91908178 A EP91908178 A EP 91908178A EP 0480062 B1 EP0480062 B1 EP 0480062B1
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- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- air
- cooling chamber
- drying
- solvent
- chamber
- 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.)
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- 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
- D06F43/00—Dry-cleaning apparatus or methods using volatile solvents
- D06F43/08—Associated apparatus for handling and recovering the solvents
- D06F43/086—Recovering the solvent from the drying air current
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a drying device for drying and at the same time removing cleaning solvent from clothes and other fabric which have been cleaned using petroleum-based dry-cleaning solvent.
- Conventional dryers for drying clothes and other fabric which have been cleaned using petroleum-based dry-cleaning solvent call for, as described in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid Open No. 73298/1984, recycling air by conveying air heated in a heating chamber into a drying chamber, cooling the air exhausted from the drying chamber in a cooling chamber, liquifying solvent vapor and moisture contained in the exhaust air, then heating the air again, from which solvent vapor has been removed, in the heating chamber and conveying it into the drying chamber in order to dry said items while recovering dry-cleaning solvent.
- dryers having a conventional structure as above are able to dilute the concentration of the solvent vapor in the drying chamber by intaking the outside air, thereby eliminating the danger of an explosion.
- they instead of recovering solvent vapor, they discharge it toghether with exhaust air into the outside atmoshpere, which presents the problem of releasing the disagreeable smell of the solvent vapor.
- An object of the present invention is the provision of a device and a method for drying clothes and other similar fabric which solves the above problems of conventional cloth dryers by means of cooling air passed through the drying chamber before exhausting it into the outside atmosphere, in order to recover as much solvent vapor from the exhaust air as possible and also reduce, by means of cooling, the smell of however little solvent vapor which might remain in the exhausted air.
- Another object of the present invention is the provision of a device for drying clothes and other similar fabric which recovers cleaning solvent from dry-cleaned items while drying them in the solvent recovery circulating process and, in case of drying laundered clothes and other fabric which do not use petroleum-based dry-cleaning solvent, makes exhaust air pass through a ventilation route with low ventilation resistance, thereby achieving high drying efficiency.
- a drying device for drying clothes and other such items including a solvent recovery circuit and comprising a drying chamber having a drying drum, an air discharge channel provided with a blower and connected to an exhaust port of said drying chamber, an air intake channel connected to an air intake port of said drying chamber, which air intake channel includes a heater, and a cooling chamber located between and connected by means of a first exhaust duct to the air intake channel and to the air discharge channel, which cooling chamber is a part of a solvent recovery circuit which includes said first exhaust duct and wherein:
- the cooling chamber of a clothes dryer according to the present invention can be provided with a condenser therein as well as a viewport formed at a side thereof, through which the inside of the cooling chamber can be seen from the outside.
- equipment of the cooling chamber such as the condenser can be easily maintained and checked.
- a clothes dryer according to the present invention can also be provided with a concentration sensor which detects concentration of solvent vapor in the solvent recovery channel and, when the concentration level is detected to be in a preset range, opens the said open air inlet port and switches the switching damper at the same time so that the outlet end of the cooling chamber becomes connected to the open air end of the exhaust vent.
- the open air inlet port is opened while the outlet end of the cooling chamber becomes connected to the open air end of the exhaust vent by means of switching the damper at the outlet end of the cooling chamber in order to lower the temperature in the drying chamber and reduce the concentration of solvent vapor, thereby preventing an explosion.
- a clothes dryer according to the present invention can further be provided with a temperature sensor which detects temperature in the solvent recovery channel and, when detecting temperature to exceed a specified degree, opens the open air inlet port and switches the switching damper in order to connect the outlet end of the cooling chamber to the open air end of the exhaust vent.
- the open air inlet port is opened while the outlet end of the cooling chamber becomes connected to the open air end of the exhaust vent by means of switching the damper at the outlet end of the cooling chamber in order to lower the temperature in the drying chamber and as well as the temperature of the solvent vapor, thereby preventing an explosion.
- a clothes dryer according to the present invention is provided with an exhaust vent which is formed parallel to the cooling chamber of the solvent recovery circuit and open to the outside atmosphere, an open air inlet port in the air intake channel of the solvent recovery circuit, said open air inlet port capable of opening and closing for introducing the outside air, and a switching damper selectively connecting the cooling chamber or the exhaust vent to the outlet end of the air discharge channel.
- the damper when drying clothes and other objects cleaned without using dry-cleaning solvent but other means such as laundry, the damper is switched to connect the exhaust vent to the outlet end of the air discharge channel while the open air inlet port is opened to introduce the outside atmosphere into the air intake channel; air heated by the heater is introduced into the drying chamber where moisture contained in the objects is vaporized; and the air containing the vapor is exhausted through the air discharge channel to the outside atmosphere, thus bypassing the cooling chamber.
- heated air efficiently moves through the drying chamber because of low ventilation resistance, thereby achieving effective drying performance.
- a method for dryingclothes and other objects with a device uses a solvent recovery circulating process which consists of supplying air heated in the heating chamber into the drying chamber in which the drying drum is installed, vaporizing solvent from the objects, introducing solvent vapor and air from the exhaust port of the drying chamber into the cooling chamber through the air discharge channel, recovering solvent from the solvent recovery channel by means of liquifying the solvent vapor, and reheating the air in the heating chamber and directing it into the drying chamber; and the open air introduction process which consists of opening an open/shut open air inlet port to supply the outside air into said drying chamber, introducing solvent vapor and the air in the drying chamber into the cooling chamber through the air discharge channel, recovering solvent from the solvent recovery channel by means of liquidifying solvent vapor, and discharging the air through an exhaust vent which is connected to the outlet end of said cooling chamber, said method selectively and alternatively performing said solvent recovery circulating process and said open air introduction process by turns.
- the device according to the present invention can also supply the outside air from an open air inlet port of the air intake channel into the drying chamber for the purpose of lowering the temperature in the drying chamber as well as reducing the concentration of solvent vapor, thereby preventing an explosion.
- the method for drying clothes and other objects can require switching and repeating, at predetermined regular intervals, the solvent recovery circulating process and the open air introduction process.
- the method for drying clothes and other objects may further provide for detecting the concentration of solvent vapor in the drying chamber in the solvent recovery circuit and switching the solvent recovery circulating process to the open air introduction process when detecting the concentration to be in a specified range.
- the method for drying clothes and other objects may further provide calls for detecting the temperature in the drying chamber in the solvent recovery circuit and switching the solvent recovery circulating process to the open air introduction process when detecting the temperature to be more than a specified degree.
- Figure 1 is a sectional view of a preferred embodiment of a clothes dryer according to the present invention.
- Numeral 1 denotes a drying chamber, in which generally cylindrical-shaped drying drum 2 made of punching metal or other similar materials and having numerous ventilation holes therearound is installed. Objects to be dried, such as clothes, can be put in and taken out of drying drum 2 through a door (not shown) on the front panel of said drying chamber 1. Stirring fan 3 for stirring objects to be dried is installed in drying drum 2.
- Exhaust port 4 is open at the bottom of drying chamber 1, and air discharge channel 6 provided with blower 5 is connected to said exhaust port 4.
- Air intake port 7 is open at the top of drying chamber 1, and heating chamber 11 provided with heater 10 which has steam pipe 9 is formed in air intake channel 8 connected to said air intake port 7.
- Exhaust vent 19 installed parallel to cooling chamber 14 is connected to the outlet end of air discharge channel 6, the outlet end of exhaust vent 19 opening to the outside air.
- Air discharge channel 6 is provided with Linton filter 20 which is installed at the intake side of blower 5.
- Open/shut open air intake port 21 for taking in the outside air is bored in air intake channel 8, open air intake port 21 being provided with the first damper 22 which can be opened and closed by such means as an air cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, an electromagnetic device, etc.
- a second damper 23 for the selective connection of air discharge channel 6 to cooling chamber 14 or exhaust vent 19 is installed at the outlet end of exhaust channel 6.
- a third damper 24 for switching connection of cooling chamber 14 to said air intake channel 8 or exhaust vent 19 is installed at the outlet end of cooling chamber 14, both dampers 23 and 24 capable of opening and closing by such means as an air cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, an electromagnetic device, etc.
- solvent recovery circuit 25 is formed with said drying chamber 1, air discharge channel 6 connected to exhaust port 4 of drying chamber 1, and cooling chamber 14 connected to the outelt end of exhaust channel 6, the outlet end of cooling chamber connected to air intake channel 8.
- Steam pipe 9 of said heater 10 is provided with adjusting valve 26, which can be adjusted, allowing heater 10 to heat the air to an appropriate temperature for objects to be dried.
- Drying chamber 1 is also provided with raw steam blowing nozzle 27.
- Cooling chamber 14, which has condenser 13, is also provided with open/shut viewport 28, through which the inside of the cooling chamber can be seen from the outside.
- Solvent recovery circuit 25 is formed by closing open air inlet port 21 of air intake channel 8 with the first damper 22, connecting the outlet end of air discharge channel 6 to cooling chamber 14 by means of the second damper 23, and connecting the outlet end of cooling chamber 14 to air intake channel 8 by means of the third damper 24.
- the liquefied solvent and moisture is discharged into solvent recovery channel 15, and solvent which is introduced from solvent recovery channel 15 into solvent/moisture separator 16 is separated due to the differences in specific gravities and recovered from solvent discharge port 17, and moisture is discharged from water discharge port 18 located below solvent discharge port 17.
- the air, divested of solvent and moisture, is introduced into air intake channel 8 and reheated by heater 10. As this process is sequentially repeated, the objects are dried, and the solvent is recovered.
- raw steam is injected from raw steam blowing nozzle 27 into drying chamber 1 at appropriate times in order to increase the humidity in drying chamber 1 and give some moisture to the objects in drying drum 2, thereby preventing generation of static electricity and, consequently, explosion of solvent vapor that might otherwise be caused by electrostatic discharge.
- open air inlet port 21 for continually introducing the outside air into air intake channel 8 is opened by the first damper 22 using a timer control, while the third damper 24 is switched to connect the outlet end of cooling chamber 14 to the open air through exhaust vent 19, in order to direct the outside air from open air inlet port 21 of air intake channel 8 into drying chamber 1, thereby lowering the temperature in drying chamber 1, reducing the concentration of the solvent vapor and, consequently, preventing an explosion.
- the outlet end of air discharge channel 6 remains to be connected to cooling chamber 14 by means of the second damper 23.
- Solvent vapor and air discharged from drying chamber 1 is directed through air discharge channel 6 into cooling chamber 14, where vaporized solvent is liquified and recovered through the solvent recovery channel, and the cooled air is exhausted through exhaust vent 19.
- the open air introduction process and the exhausting process described above are conducted for a period of, for example, 5 seconds.
- the system is switched without a break to the previously described solvent recovery circulating process by closing, with the first damper 22, open air inlet port 21 for introducing the outside air into air intake channel 8, and connecting the outlet end of cooling chamber 14 to air intake channel 8 by means of switching the third damper 24 while maintaining the connection of the outlet end of air discharge channel 6 into cooling chamber 14 by means of the second damper 23, and the solvent recovery circulating process is conducted for the period of, for example, 30 seconds.
- These two processes i. e. the open air introduction process and the solvent recovery circulating process, are alternatively conducted for the period of, for example, 5 - 10 minutes.
- the solvent recovery ratio increases, and even if some amount of solvent vapor remains in the exhaust air, there will not be much smell.
- the circular cooling process is initiated, without halting the system, by means of the timer control; open air inlet port 21 for introducing the outside air into air intake channel 8 is closed by the first damper 22, the outlet end of air discharge channel 6 is connected to cooling chamber 14 by means of the second damper 23, the outlet end of cooling chamber 14 is connected to air intake channel 8 by means of switching the third damper 24, heater 10 of air intake channel 8 is stopped, and the air cooled in cooling chamber 14 is circulated to drying chamber 1, thereby cooling drying chamber as well 1 as the objects to be dried in drying drum 2.
- the timer control After conducting this circular cooling operation for a period of, for example, 5 - 10 minutes, and then without break, the timer control opens open air inlet port 21 to introduce the outside air into air intake channel 8 with the first damper 22 and switches the third damper 23 to connect the outlet end of cooling chamber 14 to the outside air through exhaust vent 19, while keeping the outlet end of air discharge channel 6 to be connected to cooling chamber 14 by means of the second damper 23.
- heater 10 is stopped, the outside air is supplied from open air inlet port 21 into air intake channel 8 to cool drying chamber 1 with its low temperature and is cooled in cooling chamber 14 and then exhausted to the outside form the open air end of exhaust vent 19.
- drying chamber 1 is deodorized, and the odor of the exhaust air is also reduced by cooling.
- this deodorizing process is conducted for the period of, for example, 1 minute, the entire drying process is completed.
- open air inlet port 21 for introducing the outside air into air intake channel 8 is opened by the first damper 22, the outlet end of air discharge channel 6 is connected to exhaust vent 19 by the second damper 23, and the inlet end of air intake channel 8 is closed by the third damper 24. Then, when steam is circulated through steam pipe 9 of heater 10 while blower 5 is driven, the air heated by heater 10 of air intake channel 8 is introduced into drying chamber 1, where moisture contained in the objects in drying drum 2, which is being rotated, is vaporized, and the vaporized moisture is then exhausted together with the air through air discharge channel 6 and exhaust vent 19 into the outside air. As the air thus exhausted to the outside does not pass through cooling chamber 14, it moves smoothly without receiving much ventilation resistance, and the drying efficiency is therefore improved.
- Air discharge channel 6 of drying chamber 1 is provided with temperature sensor 30 so that when temperature sensor 30 detects the temperature of the air discharged from drying chamber 1 to exceed a specified degree, signals from temperature sensor 30 cause the first damper 22 of open air inlet port 21 to open and switch the third damper 24 to connect the outlet end of cooling chamber 14 to the open-air end of exhaust vent 19.
- open air inlet port 21 is opened, while the third damper 24 at the outlet end of cooling chamber 14 is switched to connect the outlet end of cooling chamber 14 to the open air end of exhaust vent 19, thereby lowering the temperature of solvent vapor, as well as the temperature in drying chamber 1, and consequently preventing an explosion.
- open air inlet port 21 is closed while the third damper 24 at the outlet end of cooling chamber 14 is switched to connect the outlet end of cooling chamber 14 to air intake channel 8.
- the system switches to perform the open air introduction process again, and after alternatively repeating the open air introduction process and the solvent recovery circulating process, the entire drying process is completed with the aforementioned cooling process which is followed by the deodorizing process.
- a concentration sensor for detecting the concentration of solvent vapor instead of said temperature sensor 30 so that when the concentration sensor detects the concentration of solvent vapor to be in a specified range where there is the strong possibility of explosion of solvent vapor, signals from the concentration sensor cause said open air inlet port 21 to open and switch the third damper 24 at the outlet end of cooling chamber 14 to connect the outlet end of cooling chamber 14 to the open air end of exhaust vent 19.
- the system switches to perform the open air introduction process again, and after alternatively repeating the open air introduction process and the solvent recovery circulating process, the entire drying process is completed with the aforementioned cooling process which is followed by the deodorizing process.
- cooling chamber 14 can be easily observed from the outside through viewport 28
- equipment of the cooling chamber such as the condenser, can be easily maintained and checked.
- condenser 13 of cooling chamber 14 uses cooling water pipe 12
- the present invention is suitable for drying clothes and other objects cleaned with petroleum-based dry-cleaning solvent.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Textile Engineering (AREA)
- Drying Of Solid Materials (AREA)
- Control Of Washing Machine And Dryer (AREA)
- Accessory Of Washing/Drying Machine, Commercial Washing/Drying Machine, Other Washing/Drying Machine (AREA)
- Treatment Of Fiber Materials (AREA)
- Control And Other Processes For Unpacking Of Materials (AREA)
Abstract
Heated air is delivered into a drying chamber, a solvent contained in an article to be dried which is housed in a drying drum in the drying chamber is evaporated together with moisture, this air containing the vapor of solvent and the moisture is cooled and the moisture and the vapor of solvent are separated in liquefied conditions. An air blower (5) is provided in an exhaust path (6) of the drying chamber (1) provided with a drying drum (2). A heating chamber (11) is provided in an air intake path (8) of the drying chamber (1). A cooling chamber (14) communicating with a solvent recovery path (15) is allowed to communicate with the air intake path (8) and the exhaust path (6), to thereby form a solvent recovery circulating path (25). An openable outdoor air introducing opening (21) for introducing outdoor air is provided in the air intake path (8). A change-over damper (24) for selectively allowing the air intake path (8) to communicate with an air exhaust path on the side of the outdoor air is provided on the side of outlet of the cooling chamber. The vapor of solvent contained in the exhausted air can be recovered as much as possible to be released to the atmosphere in a low odor condition.
Description
The present invention relates to a
drying device for drying and at
the same time removing cleaning solvent from
clothes and other fabric which have been
cleaned using petroleum-based dry-cleaning
solvent.
Conventional dryers for drying clothes
and other fabric which have been cleaned
using petroleum-based dry-cleaning solvent
call for, as described in, for example,
Japanese Utility Model Laid Open No.
73298/1984, recycling air by conveying air
heated in a heating chamber into a drying
chamber, cooling the air exhausted from the
drying chamber in a cooling chamber,
liquifying solvent vapor and moisture
contained in the exhaust air, then heating
the air again, from which solvent vapor has
been removed, in the heating chamber and
conveying it into the drying chamber in order
to dry said items while recovering
dry-cleaning solvent.
Widely known among such dryers is a
mechanism for detecting the solvent
concentration inside the circulating route in
order to intake the outside atmosphere into
the drying chamber and exhausting the air
which has passed through the drying chamber
to the outside of the device when detecting
the concentration to be high enough to
present the danger of explosion of the
solvent vapor - a high concentration may be
caused by a stoppage or decrease in
ventilation - so that said explosion could be
prevented.
When solvent vapor becomes highly
concentrated, dryers having a conventional
structure as above are able to dilute the
concentration of the solvent vapor in the
drying chamber by intaking the outside air,
thereby eliminating the danger of an
explosion. On the other hand, instead of
recovering solvent vapor, they discharge it
toghether with exhaust air into the outside
atmoshpere, which presents the problem of
releasing the disagreeable smell of the
solvent vapor.
In case of drying laundered clothes, too,
conventional dryers pass air through a
cooling chamber equipped with a condenser in
the same manner as when drying dry-cleaned
items. As a result, when drying laundered
objects, the drying efficency is poor due to
high ventilation resistance.
For details of a drying device breadly according to the classifying portion of claim 1 herein, the reader is directed to the disclosure in US-A-4 281 465.
An object of the present invention is
the provision of a device and a method for
drying clothes and other similar fabric which
solves the above problems of conventional
cloth dryers by means of cooling air passed
through the drying chamber before exhausting
it into the outside atmosphere, in order to
recover as much solvent vapor from the
exhaust air as possible and also reduce, by
means of cooling, the smell of however little
solvent vapor which might remain in the
exhausted air.
Another object of the present invention
is the provision of a device for drying clothes and other
similar fabric which recovers cleaning solvent from dry-cleaned
items while drying them in the solvent recovery
circulating process and, in case of drying laundered clothes
and other fabric which do not use petroleum-based dry-cleaning
solvent, makes exhaust air pass through a
ventilation route with low ventilation resistance, thereby
achieving high drying efficiency.
According to the present invention there is provided
a drying device for drying clothes and other such items,
including a solvent recovery circuit and comprising a drying
chamber having a drying drum, an air discharge channel
provided with a blower and connected to an exhaust port of
said drying chamber, an air intake channel connected to an
air intake port of said drying chamber, which air intake
channel includes a heater, and a cooling chamber located
between and connected by means of a first exhaust duct to
the air intake channel and to the air discharge channel,
which cooling chamber is a part of a solvent recovery
circuit which includes said first exhaust duct and wherein:
a further switching damper between the air discharge channel, the inlet end of said first exhaust duct which includes the cooling chamber and between an inlet of said second exhaust duct which further damper is constructed and arranged to permit air discharged from the drying chamber to either pass through said first exhaust duct including the cooling chamber or to pass through said second exhaust duct.
When drying clothes or other objects to be dried in the
drying chamber, air heated in the heating chamber is
conveyed into the drying chamber to vaporize solvent and
moisture contained in the objects in the drying drum; air
containing the vaporized solvent and moisture is conveyed
into the cooling chamber to be cooled therein so that the
moisture and the solvent is liquified and thus separated
from the air; and the cooled air is heated again in the
heating chamber and then conveyed into the drying chamber.
Thus, air circulates in order from the heating chamber to
drying chamber and the
cooling chamber, recovering solvent in the
process. When the concentration level of
solvent vapor becomes too high or when
introducing the outside atmosphere in the
circulation process of solvent recovery or
discharging air in the drying chamber into
the outside air at the end of the drying
process, air is cooled before being exhausted.
The solvent vapor in the air is liquified and
separated from the air by cooling and is thus
recovered. Therefore, recovery efficiency is
improved, and even if some solvent still
remains in the air discharged into the open
air, its odor is relatively low because it
has been cooled.
The cooling chamber of a clothes dryer
according to the present invention can be
provided with a condenser therein as well as
a viewport formed at a side thereof, through
which the inside of the cooling chamber can
be seen from the outside.
As the inside of the cooling chamber can
be easily observed from the outside through
the viewport, equipment of the cooling
chamber, such as the condenser can be easily
maintained and checked.
A clothes dryer according to the present
invention can also be provided with a
concentration sensor which detects
concentration of solvent vapor in the solvent
recovery channel and, when the concentration
level is detected to be in a preset range,
opens the said open air inlet port and
switches the switching damper at the same
time so that the outlet end of the cooling
chamber becomes connected to the open air end
of the exhaust vent.
With the configuration as above, when
the concentration sensor detects during the
solvent recovery circulating process that
concentration of solvent vapor is in a
specified range, the open air inlet port is
opened while the outlet end of the cooling
chamber becomes connected to the open air end
of the exhaust vent by means of switching the
damper at the outlet end of the cooling
chamber in order to lower the temperature in
the drying chamber and reduce the
concentration of solvent vapor, thereby
preventing an explosion.
A clothes dryer according to the present
invention can further be provided with a
temperature sensor which detects temperature
in the solvent recovery channel and, when
detecting temperature to exceed a specified
degree, opens the open air inlet port and
switches the switching damper in order to
connect the outlet end of the cooling chamber
to the open air end of the exhaust vent.
With the configuration as above, when
the temperature sensor detects during the
circular process of solvent recovery that the
temperature has been increased to exceed a
specified degree, the open air inlet port is
opened while the outlet end of the cooling
chamber becomes connected to the open air end
of the exhaust vent by means of switching the
damper at the outlet end of the cooling
chamber in order to lower the temperature in
the drying chamber and as well as the
temperature of the solvent vapor, thereby
preventing an explosion.
A clothes dryer according to the present
invention is provided with an exhaust
vent which is formed parallel to the cooling
chamber of the solvent recovery circuit and
open to the outside atmosphere, an open air
inlet port in the air intake channel of the
solvent recovery circuit, said open air inlet
port capable of opening and closing for
introducing the outside air, and a switching
damper selectively connecting the cooling
chamber or the exhaust vent to the outlet end
of the air discharge channel.
With the configuration as above, when
drying clothes and other objects cleaned
without using dry-cleaning solvent but other
means such as laundry, the damper is switched
to connect the exhaust vent to the outlet end
of the air discharge channel while the open
air inlet port is opened to introduce the
outside atmosphere into the air intake
channel; air heated by the heater is
introduced into the drying chamber where
moisture contained in the objects is
vaporized; and the air containing the vapor
is exhausted through the air discharge
channel to the outside atmosphere, thus
bypassing the cooling chamber. As the air
does not go through the cooling chamber,
heated air efficiently moves through the
drying chamber because of low ventilation
resistance, thereby achieving effective
drying performance.
A method for dryingclothes and other
objects with a device according to the present invention
uses a solvent recovery circulating process
which consists of supplying air heated in the
heating chamber into the drying chamber in
which the drying drum is installed, vaporizing
solvent from the objects, introducing solvent
vapor and air from the exhaust port of the
drying chamber into the cooling chamber
through the air discharge channel, recovering
solvent from the solvent recovery channel by
means of liquifying the solvent vapor, and
reheating the air in the heating chamber and
directing it into the drying chamber; and the
open air introduction process which consists
of opening an open/shut open air inlet port
to supply the outside air into said drying
chamber, introducing solvent vapor and the
air in the drying chamber into the cooling
chamber through the air discharge channel,
recovering solvent from the solvent recovery
channel by means of liquidifying solvent
vapor, and discharging the air through an
exhaust vent which is connected to the outlet
end of said cooling chamber, said method
selectively and alternatively performing said
solvent recovery circulating process and said
open air introduction process by turns.
The device according to the present
invention can also supply the
outside air from an open air inlet port of
the air intake channel into the drying
chamber for the purpose of lowering the
temperature in the drying chamber as well as
reducing the concentration of solvent vapor,
thereby preventing an explosion.
The method for drying clothes and other
objects
can require switching and repeating, at
predetermined regular intervals, the solvent
recovery circulating process and the open air
introduction process.
The method for drying clothes and other
objects may
further provide for detecting the concentration
of solvent vapor in the drying chamber in the
solvent recovery circuit and switching the
solvent recovery circulating process to the
open air introduction process when detecting
the concentration to be in a specified range.
The method for drying clothes and other
objects may
further provide calls for detecting the temperature
in the drying chamber in the solvent recovery
circuit and switching the solvent recovery
circulating process to the open air
introduction process when detecting the
temperature to be more than a specified
degree.
Figure 1 is a sectional view of a
preferred embodiment of a clothes dryer
according to the present invention.
For the sake of better understanding the
present invention, explanation is given
hereunder, referring to the attached drawing.
Numeral 1 denotes a drying chamber, in
which generally cylindrical-shaped drying
drum 2 made of punching metal or other
similar materials and having numerous
ventilation holes therearound is installed.
Objects to be dried, such as clothes, can be
put in and taken out of drying drum 2 through
a door (not shown) on the front panel of said
drying chamber 1. Stirring fan 3 for stirring
objects to be dried is installed in drying
drum 2.
Exhaust port 4 is open at the bottom of
drying chamber 1, and air discharge channel 6
provided with blower 5 is connected to said
exhaust port 4. Air intake port 7 is open at
the top of drying chamber 1, and heating
chamber 11 provided with heater 10 which has
steam pipe 9 is formed in air intake channel
8 connected to said air intake port 7.
Open/shut open air intake port 21 for
taking in the outside air is bored in air
intake channel 8, open air intake port 21
being provided with the first damper 22 which
can be opened and closed by such means as an
air cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, an
electromagnetic device, etc.
A second damper 23 for the selective
connection of air discharge channel 6 to
cooling chamber 14 or exhaust vent 19 is
installed at the outlet end of exhaust
channel 6. A third damper 24 for switching
connection of cooling chamber 14 to said air
intake channel 8 or exhaust vent 19 is
installed at the outlet end of cooling
chamber 14, both dampers 23 and 24 capable of
opening and closing by such means as an air
cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, an
electromagnetic device, etc.
With the configuration as above, solvent
recovery circuit 25 is formed with said
drying chamber 1, air discharge channel 6
connected to exhaust port 4 of drying chamber
1, and cooling chamber 14 connected to the
outelt end of exhaust channel 6, the outlet
end of cooling chamber connected to air
intake channel 8.
Drying chamber 1 is also provided with
raw steam blowing nozzle 27.
With the configuration as above, clothes
and other objects to be dried which have been
cleaned with petroleum-based dry-cleaning
solvent are put in drying drum 2 of drying
chamber 1. Solvent recovery circuit 25 is
formed by closing open air inlet port 21 of
air intake channel 8 with the first damper 22,
connecting the outlet end of air discharge
channel 6 to cooling chamber 14 by means of
the second damper 23, and connecting the
outlet end of cooling chamber 14 to air
intake channel 8 by means of the third damper
24.
Then, by means of circulating steam
through steam pipe 9 of heater 10 and driving
blower 5, air heated by heater 10 of air
intake channel 8 is introduced into drying
chamber 1, petroleum-based dry-cleaning
solvent and moisture contained in the drying
objects in drying drum 2, which is being
rotated, is vaporized and directed through
air discharge channel 6 into cooling chamber
14 to be liquified therein by cooling.
The liquefied solvent and moisture is
discharged into solvent recovery channel 15,
and solvent which is introduced from solvent
recovery channel 15 into solvent/moisture
separator 16 is separated due to the
differences in specific gravities and
recovered from solvent discharge port 17, and
moisture is discharged from water discharge
port 18 located below solvent discharge port
17. The air, divested of solvent and moisture,
is introduced into air intake channel 8 and
reheated by heater 10. As this process is
sequentially repeated, the objects are dried,
and the solvent is recovered.
During this solvent recovery circulating
process, raw steam is injected from raw steam
blowing nozzle 27 into drying chamber 1 at
appropriate times in order to increase the
humidity in drying chamber 1 and give some
moisture to the objects in drying drum 2,
thereby preventing generation of static
electricity and, consequently, explosion of
solvent vapor that might otherwise be caused
by electrostatic discharge.
When the above solvent recovery
circulating process has continued for a
period of, for example, 15 minutes, open air
inlet port 21 for continually introducing the
outside air into air intake channel 8 is
opened by the first damper 22 using a timer
control, while the third damper 24 is
switched to connect the outlet end of cooling
chamber 14 to the open air through exhaust
vent 19, in order to direct the outside air
from open air inlet port 21 of air intake
channel 8 into drying chamber 1, thereby
lowering the temperature in drying chamber 1,
reducing the concentration of the solvent
vapor and, consequently, preventing an
explosion. At that time, the outlet end of
air discharge channel 6 remains to be
connected to cooling chamber 14 by means of
the second damper 23.
Solvent vapor and air discharged from
drying chamber 1 is directed through air
discharge channel 6 into cooling chamber 14,
where vaporized solvent is liquified and
recovered through the solvent recovery
channel, and the cooled air is exhausted
through exhaust vent 19. Thus, the open air
introduction process and the exhausting
process described above are conducted for a
period of, for example, 5 seconds. Then, the
system is switched without a break to the
previously described solvent recovery
circulating process by closing, with the
first damper 22, open air inlet port 21 for
introducing the outside air into air intake
channel 8, and connecting the outlet end of
cooling chamber 14 to air intake channel 8 by
means of switching the third damper 24 while
maintaining the connection of the outlet end
of air discharge channel 6 into cooling
chamber 14 by means of the second damper 23,
and the solvent recovery circulating process
is conducted for the period of, for example,
30 seconds. These two processes, i. e. the
open air introduction process and the solvent
recovery circulating process, are
alternatively conducted for the period of,
for example, 5 - 10 minutes. As the air
exhausted during the open air introduction
process is chilled, the solvent recovery
ratio increases, and even if some amount of
solvent vapor remains in the exhaust air,
there will not be much smell.
After the cycle operation of the open
air introduction process and the solvent
recovery circulating process, the circular
cooling process is initiated, without halting
the system, by means of the timer control;
open air inlet port 21 for introducing the
outside air into air intake channel 8 is
closed by the first damper 22, the outlet end
of air discharge channel 6 is connected to
cooling chamber 14 by means of the second
damper 23, the outlet end of cooling chamber
14 is connected to air intake channel 8 by
means of switching the third damper 24,
heater 10 of air intake channel 8 is stopped,
and the air cooled in cooling chamber 14 is
circulated to drying chamber 1, thereby
cooling drying chamber as well 1 as the
objects to be dried in drying drum 2. After
conducting this circular cooling operation
for a period of, for example, 5 - 10 minutes,
and then without break, the timer control
opens open air inlet port 21 to introduce the
outside air into air intake channel 8 with
the first damper 22 and switches the third
damper 23 to connect the outlet end of
cooling chamber 14 to the outside air through
exhaust vent 19, while keeping the outlet end
of air discharge channel 6 to be connected to
cooling chamber 14 by means of the second
damper 23. In this state, heater 10 is
stopped, the outside air is supplied from
open air inlet port 21 into air intake
channel 8 to cool drying chamber 1 with its
low temperature and is cooled in cooling
chamber 14 and then exhausted to the outside
form the open air end of exhaust vent 19.
Thus, drying chamber 1 is deodorized, and the
odor of the exhaust air is also reduced by
cooling. After this deodorizing process is
conducted for the period of, for example, 1
minute, the entire drying process is
completed.
In case of drying objects laundered
without using petroleum-based dry-cleaning
solvent, open air inlet port 21 for
introducing the outside air into air intake
channel 8 is opened by the first damper 22,
the outlet end of air discharge channel 6 is
connected to exhaust vent 19 by the second
damper 23, and the inlet end of air intake
channel 8 is closed by the third damper 24.
Then, when steam is circulated through steam
pipe 9 of heater 10 while blower 5 is driven,
the air heated by heater 10 of air intake
channel 8 is introduced into drying chamber 1,
where moisture contained in the objects in
drying drum 2, which is being rotated, is
vaporized, and the vaporized moisture is then
exhausted together with the air through air
discharge channel 6 and exhaust vent 19 into
the outside air. As the air thus exhausted to
the outside does not pass through cooling
chamber 14, it moves smoothly without
receiving much ventilation resistance, and
the drying efficiency is therefore improved.
With the configuration as above, when
temperature sensor 30 detects the temperature
to exceed a specified degree during the
solvent recovery circulating process, open
air inlet port 21 is opened, while the third
damper 24 at the outlet end of cooling
chamber 14 is switched to connect the outlet
end of cooling chamber 14 to the open air end
of exhaust vent 19, thereby lowering the
temperature of solvent vapor, as well as the
temperature in drying chamber 1, and
consequently preventing an explosion. After
conducting the open air introduction process
for a specified time period, open air inlet
port 21 is closed while the third damper 24
at the outlet end of cooling chamber 14 is
switched to connect the outlet end of cooling
chamber 14 to air intake channel 8. After
conducting this solvent recovery circulating
process for a specified time period, the
system switches to perform the open air
introduction process again, and after
alternatively repeating the open air
introduction process and the solvent recovery
circulating process, the entire drying
process is completed with the aforementioned
cooling process which is followed by the
deodorizing process.
Further, it is possible to install a
concentration sensor for detecting the
concentration of solvent vapor instead of
said temperature sensor 30 so that when the
concentration sensor detects the
concentration of solvent vapor to be in a
specified range where there is the strong
possibility of explosion of solvent vapor,
signals from the concentration sensor cause
said open air inlet port 21 to open and
switch the third damper 24 at the outlet end
of cooling chamber 14 to connect the outlet
end of cooling chamber 14 to the open air end
of exhaust vent 19.
With the configuration as above, when
concentration sensor 30 detects the
concentration of solvent vapor to be in a
specified range, e. g. 1% - 6%, during the
solvent recovery circulating process, open
air inlet port 21 is opened, while the third
damper 24 at the outlet end of cooling
chamber 14 is switched to connect the outlet
end of cooling chamber 14 to the open air end
of discharged air duct 19, thereby reducing
the concentration of the solvent vapor, as
well as lowering the temperature of the
temperature in drying chamber 1, and
consequently preventing an explosion. After
conducting the open air introduction process
for a specified time period, open air inlet
port 21 is closed while the third damper 24
at the outlet end of cooling chamber 14 is
switched to connect the outlet end of cooling
chamber 14 to air intake channel 8.
After conducting this solvent recovery
circulating process for a specified time
period, the system switches to perform the
open air introduction process again, and
after alternatively repeating the open air
introduction process and the solvent recovery
circulating process, the entire drying
process is completed with the aforementioned
cooling process which is followed by the
deodorizing process.
Furthermore, as the inside of cooling
chamber 14 can be easily observed from the
outside through viewport 28, equipment of the
cooling chamber, such as the condenser, can
be easily maintained and checked.
Although the above embodiment is
explained assuming that condenser 13 of
cooling chamber 14 uses cooling water pipe 12,
it is possible to use circulated water or
other cooling agent chilled by a cooling
device.
The present invention is suitable for
drying clothes and other objects cleaned with
petroleum-based dry-cleaning solvent.
Claims (4)
- A drying device for drying clothes and other such items, including a solvent recovery circuit (25) and comprising a drying chamber (1) having a drying drum (2), an air discharge channel (6) provided with a blower (5) and connected to an exhaust port (4) of said drying chamber (1), an air intake channel (8) connected to an air intake port(7) of said drying chamber (1), which air intake channel (8) includes a heater (10), and a cooling chamber (14) located between and connected by means of a first exhaust duct to the air intake channel (8) and to the air discharge channel (6), which cooling chamber (14) is a part of a solvent recovery circuit (25) which includes said first exhaust duct and wherein:characterized by a second exhaust duct (19) being arranged in parallel with said first exhaust duct including the cooling chamber (14), to permit selective bypassing of the cooling chamber (14) by air discharged from the drum (2); andthe air intake channel (8) of the solvent recovery circuit (25) has an open air inlet port (21) for introducing outside air into the air intake channel (8), said open air inlet port (21) being capable of easily opening and closing;a switching damper (24) at the outlet end of said cooling chamber (14) and an atmospheric air vent for the said first exhaust duct which damper (24) is constructed and arranged to selectively connect the outlet of the cooling chamber (14) to that atmospheric air vent or to said solvent recovery circuit (25),
a further switching damper (23) between the air discharge channel (6), the inlet end of said first exhaust duct which includes the cooling chamber (14) and between an inlet of said second exhaust duct (19) which further damper (23) is constructed and arranged to permit air discharged from the drying chamber (1) to either pass through said first exhaust duct including the cooling chamber (14) or to pass through said second exhaust duct (19). - A drying device as claimed in Claim 1, which is provided with a concentration sensor for detecting the concentration of solvent vapour in the solvent recovery channel, wherein, when detecting the solvent vapour concentration to be in a specified range, said concentration sensor can cause the open air inlet port (21) to be opened and the switching damper (24) to be switched to connect the outlet end of the cooling chamber (14) to the open air end of the first exhaust duct.
- A drying device as claimed in Claim 1 further including a temperature sensor (30) for detecting the temperature in the solvent recovery circuit (25), wherein, upon detecting a temperature above a specified temperature, said sensor (30) causes the open air inlet port (21) to be opened and the said switching damper (24) to be switched to connect the outlet end of the cooling chamber (14) to the open air end of the first exhaust duct.
- A drying device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the outlet of the second exhaust duct (19) is connected to the outlet end of the first exhaust duct including the cooling chamber (14), and the outlet of the cooling chamber (14) is connected to the air intake channel (8) in the region of the damper (24).
Applications Claiming Priority (5)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP111428/90 | 1990-04-26 | ||
| JP2111428A JPH0749077B2 (en) | 1990-04-26 | 1990-04-26 | Drying device for clothes |
| JP111429/90 | 1990-04-26 | ||
| JP2111429A JPH0753197B2 (en) | 1990-04-26 | 1990-04-26 | Drying device for clothes |
| PCT/JP1991/000564 WO1991016489A1 (en) | 1990-04-26 | 1991-04-25 | Apparatus for drying clothes and the like and method thereof |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| EP0480062A1 EP0480062A1 (en) | 1992-04-15 |
| EP0480062A4 EP0480062A4 (en) | 1992-10-28 |
| EP0480062B1 true EP0480062B1 (en) | 1998-01-28 |
Family
ID=26450818
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP91908178A Expired - Lifetime EP0480062B1 (en) | 1990-04-26 | 1991-04-25 | Apparatus for drying clothes and the like and method thereof |
Country Status (4)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0480062B1 (en) |
| AT (1) | ATE162865T1 (en) |
| DE (1) | DE69128825T2 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1991016489A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN107815835B (en) * | 2016-09-13 | 2020-04-03 | 青岛海尔滚筒洗衣机有限公司 | High-efficiency condenser and washing machine with same |
| CN107815812B (en) * | 2016-09-13 | 2020-06-09 | 青岛海尔滚筒洗衣机有限公司 | High-efficiency condenser and washing machine with same |
Family Cites Families (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR1092058A (en) * | 1953-12-12 | 1955-04-18 | Perma Maschinen A G | Cleaning machine |
| DE1121014B (en) * | 1959-02-06 | 1962-01-04 | Boehler & Weber K G | Method and device for improving the condensation of the volatile solvent constituent contained in an air stream within a dry-cleaning machine |
| JPS4949426B1 (en) * | 1970-08-25 | 1974-12-27 | ||
| US3831294A (en) * | 1972-09-11 | 1974-08-27 | Challenge Cook Bros Inc | Means for controlling the drying of textiles and reclaiming the liquid therefrom |
| US4281465A (en) * | 1978-07-17 | 1981-08-04 | Ameg Verfahrens-Und Umweltschutz-Technik Ag | Method and apparatus for the recovering of solvents in dry cleaning units |
| JPS5924319Y2 (en) * | 1979-10-13 | 1984-07-18 | 三洋電機株式会社 | Solvent recovery type drying equipment |
| JPS5944572A (en) * | 1982-09-06 | 1984-03-13 | 旭化成株式会社 | Method and device for heating circulating air for drying |
| JPS59160099U (en) * | 1983-04-12 | 1984-10-26 | 三洋電機株式会社 | dry cleaner |
-
1991
- 1991-04-25 DE DE69128825T patent/DE69128825T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1991-04-25 EP EP91908178A patent/EP0480062B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1991-04-25 WO PCT/JP1991/000564 patent/WO1991016489A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 1991-04-25 AT AT91908178T patent/ATE162865T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| DE69128825D1 (en) | 1998-03-05 |
| EP0480062A1 (en) | 1992-04-15 |
| ATE162865T1 (en) | 1998-02-15 |
| EP0480062A4 (en) | 1992-10-28 |
| DE69128825T2 (en) | 1998-05-14 |
| WO1991016489A1 (en) | 1991-10-31 |
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