EP0481187B1 - Laundry drier - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a tumble dryer with an interior accessible via a door, with an air-cooled condenser, into which, on the one hand, steam-laden warm circulating air from the interior and, on the other hand, cooling air can be introduced as a cooling medium, with a floor group located in the floor area of the tumble dryer, which provides a first air duct for the Recirculated air and a second air duct for the cooling air.

A tumble dryer of the aforementioned type is known from DE-OS 31 15 704.

Tumble dryers of the aforementioned type, which are also referred to as "circulating air dryers" or "condensation dryers", are distinguished by the fact that they have an internal closed circulating air circuit. In this circulating air circuit, heated air is passed through the wet laundry by means of a fan and then fed to a condenser. In this condenser, the warm, steam-laden air flows through a first cavity, which communicates with a second cavity in a heat-conducting manner via an intermediate wall. Air flows as a cooling medium through the second cavity. As a result of the cooling of the steam-laden air, a large part of the water vapor is condensed to water, which is collected in a collecting container. The cooled and condensate-free air is reheated and sent through the wet laundry again. In the tumble dryer of the type mentioned in the introduction, the condenser is arranged in the door. A floor assembly is arranged in a floor area of the tumble dryer and contains a first, channel-like air duct for the warm circulating air from the door to a heating register located at the rear area of the tumble dryer. During the flow through the channel-like first air duct, the cooled air coming from the condenser loses the moisture condensed out in the form of droplets in that the droplets fall due to gravity and are taken up in the condensate collection container. A circulating air blower ensures that the circulating air is extracted from the floor assembly and passed through the heating register, then fed back into the interior. A second duct-like air duct ensures the cooling air on the other hand for the fact that the cooling air sucked in from the surroundings by means of a cooling air blower flows through the base group after flowing through the condenser arranged in the door, after which the cooling air is released into the surroundings again at a rear end of the clothes dryer. It has also become known to direct the cooling air duct in exactly the opposite direction, ie to operate the cooling air fan in such a way that ambient air is sucked in from the rear side of the tumble dryer, and this is then passed through the base assembly to the condenser arranged in the door, and, after flowing through the condenser, is released into the environment again at the upper end of the door. There are thus two separate flow channels in the floor assembly, which are used for air circulation or cooling air in the floor area.

A disadvantage of a tumble dryer of the type mentioned at the outset is that the base assembly is made up of numerous parts, which make complex manufacture and assembly of the base assembly necessary. Furthermore, numerous holding and supporting devices must also be provided in order to fasten the blowers along with their drives. It has already become known to manufacture the individual components that build up the flow channels of the floor assembly from injection molded parts, which, however, makes at least three different parts necessary in the formation of two adjacent, separate channels, namely one partition and two on the Partition adjacent walls that form the separate channels. The assembly is still very complex and care must be taken that the individual channels are fluidically separated from each other. For this purpose, complex seals are necessary, which represent further additional components and furthermore complicate the assembly.

The object of the present invention is therefore to remedy the situation and to further develop a tumble dryer of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that a base assembly which is simple to produce and assemble is created.

According to the invention, the object is achieved in that the base group has two elements produced by blow molding, a first element containing the air duct for the cooling air and a second element the air duct for the circulating air.

The object is achieved completely according to the invention, since now only two components are necessary to assemble the floor assembly. By using blow molding technology, hollow bodies that are to serve as flow channels can be produced in a single operation. In a blow molding process, which is also referred to in German as a blow molding process, a tube-like preform is enclosed by a two-part tool and inflated with compressed air. The inside of the tool corresponds to the negative contour of the body to be formed, and very complicated bodies can also be produced, since the deformation, which is pressurized from the inside and is designed as a hollow body, can be suitably pressed into complicated shapes. In the manufacture of a channel-like body, a tubular preform which is open on both sides is used and inflated with a gaseous pressure medium. Two separate ducts are necessary in the bottom section of the tumble dryer, namely the duct for the air circulation of the circulating air and the duct for the air duct of the cooling air, so that then only two elements each containing these channels are sufficient to build up a floor assembly. The two elements can then be produced in a simple blow molding process which can be carried out very quickly and then joined to one another. This process is very simple to carry out, and corresponding assembly features can be provided which preclude incorrect assembly from the outset. It is then no longer necessary to provide additional sealing materials between the individual channels, since these are separated from one another due to their manufacture from a hollow body.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the two elements are shaped in such a way that they can be fitted into one another in a suitable manner and result in a compact, in particular an approximately cuboid, base group.

This measure has the advantage that the two elements can not only be simply put together by fitting them together, but they also nestle very close to one another and therefore result in a compact base group.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the two elements are releasably locked to one another, in particular by means of a clip connection.

This measure has the advantage that the two elements that make up the floor assembly can be joined very easily to one another, which elements can then also be easily detached from one another for repair or cleaning purposes. The corresponding elements used for locking can then molded in the blow molding step. The assembly of the floor assembly then only consists of the two elements locking together, which then only have to be inserted into the floor of the tumble dryer. This significantly shortens the installation time of a tumble dryer.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the floor assembly is designed as a load-bearing floor assembly.

This measure has the advantage that, owing to the blow molding technique, an extremely stable hollow body structure is obtained which can be subjected to considerable mechanical loads. As a result, the floor assembly can also serve as a supporting element for further components of the tumble dryer. This measure also considerably simplifies the construction of the floor assembly and also the number of components.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the two elements of the floor assembly are provided at the same time as carriers and as receivers of at least parts of fans for generating the circulating air flow or the cooling air flow.

This measure has the advantage that the number of components can be further reduced to the extent that the two elements that make up the base group serve at the same time to accommodate and also carry additional components, namely the blowers. It is then no longer necessary, for example, to hang up the side wall parts, which are used to hold the blowers. These can then simply be inserted into corresponding depressions or recesses in the elements, which in turn considerably simplifies assembly.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the first element has a housing for receiving the impeller of a cooling air blower, an open end of the housing forming the suction opening for the cooling air.

This measure has the advantage that the molded housing accommodates the component of the blower that sucks the cooling air from the environment and introduces it into the first element. There are then no more sealing measures between the blower and the first element of the floor assembly, since part of the first element is an integral part of the housing of the cooling air blower.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the housing merges at the conveying end of the impeller into a first channel element which opens into a cooling air outlet opening in the floor assembly.

This measure has the advantage that a fluidically favorable transfer of the cooling air sucked in by the fan and entering the interior of the housing is achieved through the channel element to the cooling air outlet opening. As a result, low-resistance cooling air guidance is possible in this first element, as a result of which a relatively small cooling air blower is then necessary for a specific delivery rate. This again reduces the dimensions of the floor assembly and contributes to its simplicity and compactness.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the housing is arranged on a corner region of the floor assembly and the suction opening faces a first side, whereas the first channel element opens on the second side opposite the first side.

This measure has the advantage that, by virtue of the fact that the suction or outlet opening is on opposite sides, a cooling air duct is possible from, for example, the back of the bottom of the dryer to the front through a single component. Because the housing is arranged in a corner region of the floor assembly, further components can then be arranged on the same side, such as the additional fan for the circulating air. This also contributes to the simple, compact design.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the first channel element widens from the housing to the cooling air outlet opening, the latter extending approximately over the entire width of the second side.

This measure has the advantage that the cooling air can be sucked in at a corner of the floor assembly with a simple construction and compact construction and can then be supplied to an outlet opening over approximately the entire width of the floor assembly. It is then possible, for example, to use a radial fan in the housing, which acts on the first channel in the manner of a cross-flow fan over its entire flow width with little resistance.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the first channel element has a vertical cross section in the form of a lying elongated hole.

This measure has the advantage that the first duct element can have a low overall height, but at the same time creates a cooling air outlet possibility over a relatively large flow cross section. This also makes a relative Large support possibility along an edge of the respective elongated hole cross-section, so that a stable fit on a surface is possible.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the second element is provided on an underside with a recess, via which the second element can be positively placed on areas of the first element.

This measure has the advantage, in particular in connection with the aforementioned slot cross section, that the two elements can be easily assembled into a compact group. Such a recess is very easy to manufacture in the blow molding process and also represents a simple assembly feature, so that the second element can be placed on the first element during assembly in a simple operation without special attention.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the second element has a housing for receiving the drive motor for the cooling air fan.

This measure has the advantage that the connection between the drive motor and the impeller, which is then to be produced during assembly, can then also be used to establish a fixed connection between the first and second elements.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the second element has a circulating air inlet opening which, in the case of assembled elements, comes to rest immediately above the cooling air outlet opening of the first element.

This measure has the advantage that, in the case of assembled elements, two openings lying next to one another and two separate channels are provided, so that air can be guided to and from the condenser on one side of the base assembly in a compact design.

In a further embodiment, the circulating air inlet opening is designed in the same way as the cooling air inlet opening.

This measure has the advantage that the same passage cross sections of adjacent openings can be achieved in a simple manner.

In a further embodiment of the invention, on the first side of the floor assembly opposite the air inlet opening, the second element is provided with a air outlet opening which is provided with a flange to which a air blower can be attached.

This measure has the advantage that the second element also serves as a holding part for the circulating air blower, which conveys the circulating air emerging from the second element in the direction of the heating register. A stable and tight connection between the second element and the circulating air blower can be established in a simple manner via the flange, which in turn reduces the components, increases the compactness and facilitates assembly.

In a further embodiment of the invention, a condensate collection container is formed in the second element between the air inlet opening and the air outlet opening and can be emptied via an outlet nozzle.

This measure has the advantage that the second element also serves as a collecting container, so that it is not required as a further additional component.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the collecting container takes up a space which is approximately triangular in cross-section next to the widening section of the first channel element, the bottom of the collecting container coming to rest at the level of a bottom of the first channel element.

This measure has the advantage that, when the second channel element is placed on the first channel element, the condensate collection container comes to rest in a space that is lower than the remaining body of the second element, so that the available space next to the tapering first channel element is used is. As a result, it is also easily possible to collect the water droplets entrained in the second element by the circulating air flow and sinking due to gravity at this lower point and to remove them from the tumble dryer. The use of the space next to the tapered first channel element then also makes a contribution to the compact design of the floor assembly.

In a further embodiment of the invention, a condensate separator tunnel is formed in the second element in the area between the air inlet opening and the condensate collection container, with a bottom sloping downwards in the direction of the condensate collection container.

This measure has the advantage that the entire liquid which is deposited in the second element is fed via the inclined bottom to the collecting container located in the corner.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the second element has a roughly cuboidal outline, the one corner region of which is recessed such that, in the case of assembled elements, this corner region is filled by the housing of the first element.

This measure has the advantage that the two assembled elements result in an approximately cuboid-shaped base group, which is extremely compact.

In a further embodiment of the invention, a fluff filter is arranged in the region of the outlet of the condensate collection container, which separates fluff present in the condensate from it.

This measure has the advantage that lint which has been entrained into the condensate collection container and accumulates in the condensate can be separated from it. It has been found that in the second element, into which the air cooled by the condenser flows and which is loaded with condensate droplets, fine fluff which has passed through a first coarse fluff filter between the interior of the tumble dryer and the condenser accumulates due to the fact that these fine fluff adhere to the surface of the second element moistened by the droplets and are gradually rinsed into the condensate collection container. The second element thus fulfills another function, namely as a fine lint separation tunnel. The lint filter now serves to separate the lint separated in the second element from the condensate. The separation of the fluff in the second element of the base group, seen in the air circulation immediately after the condenser, also has the advantage that no fine lint gets into the area of the fan, which feeds the cooled and condensate-free air to the heating register again. As a result, no fluff can settle on the fan blades of the blower, in the heating register, as well as on electrical control and safety devices, such as thermostats, which could lead to the failure of the device if the flow continues. It also prevents fine lint from being carried into the condenser and being deposited there on the heat exchange surfaces, which would impair the condensation effect.

In a further embodiment of the invention, a lint filter which is accessible from the outside of the tumble dryer can be removed and is arranged in the outlet connection or in the condensate collection container in front of the outlet connection.

This measure has the advantage that the lint accumulated in the second element and retained by the lint filter can be removed in a simple manner.

In a further embodiment of the invention, recesses are provided on the first and on the second element, via which further components, in particular side walls, can be attached.

This measure has the advantage that the further components that make up the tumble dryer can easily be attached via the cutouts, for example the side walls, so that after completion of the floor assembly the tumble dryer can be assembled very quickly and easily. Due to the compact and load-bearing design, the side panels can be carried by the floor assembly.

Further advantages result from the description and the attached drawing.

It goes without saying that the features mentioned above and those yet to be explained below can be used not only in the combination indicated in each case, but also in other combinations or on their own without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Fig. 1

schematisiert einen Vertikallängsschnitt eines erfindungsgemäßen Wäschetrockners;

Fig. 2

eine perspektivische Explosionsansicht der Bodengruppe des Wäschetrockners von Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

die in Fig. 2 dargestellte Bodengruppe im zusammengesetzten Zustand; und

Fig. 4

eine Unteransicht der zusammengesetzten Bodengruppe von Fig. 3.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawing and are explained in more detail in the following description. Show it:

Fig. 1

schematized a vertical longitudinal section of a clothes dryer according to the invention;

Fig. 2

an exploded perspective view of the bottom of the clothes dryer of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

the bottom group shown in Figure 2 in the assembled state. and

Fig. 4

a bottom view of the assembled floor assembly of FIG. 3rd

In Fig. 1, 10 designates as a whole a circulating air dryer with an approximately cuboid housing.

The clothes dryer 10 has a door 12 on its front side which can be pivoted about a vertical axis. An interior 14 is accessible via the door 12, in which laundry to be dried (not shown here) can be accommodated.

The clothes dryer 10 is provided with a base group 16.

The floor assembly 16 has a first element 18 and a second element 20.

The two elements 18 and 20 are designed as plastic hollow bodies, which are produced by a blow molding process (hollow body blowing process).

The first element 18 (see in particular FIGS. 2 to 4) has a housing 22 which takes the form of a hollow cylindrical body 24, one end 26 of which is open.

The open end 26 surrounds an approximately circular suction opening 28.

A hollow body-shaped extension 30 extends tangentially from the cylindrical lateral surface of the body 24 and merges into a first, widening channel element 32. The first channel element 32 has a flat bottom 33, the bottom surface of which extends tangentially to the cylindrical body 24 (see in particular FIG. 4).

The first channel element 32 opens into a cooling air outlet opening 34, which is surrounded by a flange 35.

The cooling air outlet opening 34 has a cross section in the form of a lying elongated hole.

The side of the cylindrical body 24 facing the cooling air outlet opening 34 is provided with a circular wall 36 in which an opening 38 is provided in the center.

Furthermore, a hook 40 is provided on the outside of the wall 36, the operation of which will be explained later.

Furthermore, a pin 42 projects from the top of the tangential extension 30, the operation of which will also be explained later.

The interior of the cylindrical housing 22 serves to receive an impeller 44 of a cooling air blower 45. An axle shaft 46 protruding from the impeller 44 is designed such that it can be pushed through the opening 38 in the wall 36 from the interior of the housing 22. The depth of the housing 22 is such that the impeller 44 can be completely accommodated therein (Fig. 3).

The cross-sectional area of the suction opening 28 runs approximately parallel to the outlet cross-sectional area of the cooling air outlet opening 34, these two openings 28, 34 being laterally offset from one another.

The suction opening 28 lies in a plane that represents a first rear side 48 of the floor assembly 16. The cooling air outlet opening 34, however, lies in a plane that forms a front second side 50 of the floor assembly 16.

The second element 20, which has a roughly cuboidal contour, is provided with a recess 54 on an underside 53. The recess 54 creates a trough on the closed underside.

The recess 54 is designed such that it corresponds to the negative shape of the first channel element 32.

At a rear left corner region 52, the second element 20 is provided with a recess, the recess being of such dimensions that if the second element 20 is placed on the first element 32 from above (in the illustration in FIG. 2), this is the case 3, the corner area 52 is occupied by the housing 22 of the first element 18.

2, the second element 20, seen to the left of the cutout 54, is provided with a housing 56 for receiving a drive motor 58 of the cooling air blower 54. The housing 56 is designed as an upwardly open bearing trough, in which half of the approximately cylindrical drive motor 58 can be accommodated. A bearing recess 59 serves to support the drive shaft 60.

A central longitudinal axis 62 of the drive shaft 60, when the drive motor 58 is inserted into the housing 56, comes into alignment with a central longitudinal axis 64 of the axis shaft 46 of the fan wheel 44. When the first and second elements 18, 20 are stacked on one another, as shown in FIG Connection between the drive shaft 60 of the drive motor 58 and the impeller 44 are made.

On the side opposite the bearing trough 59, the housing 56 is further provided with a further bearing 66, which is provided with a pivotable bracket, not shown here, which, after the drive motor 58 has been inserted, is attached to the latter fixed holder in the housing 56 is placed over the area accommodated in the bearing 66. A firm and captive connection is then created between the first element 18 and the second element 20 by means of the cooling air blower 45.

The approximately cuboidal body 68 of the second element 20 has on its upper side a trough 70 which corresponds approximately to the radius of curvature of the drum (not shown here) of the clothes dryer 10, which is arranged in the interior 14.

Immediately above the recess 54, the second element 20 is provided with a circulating air inlet opening 72 which is surrounded by a flange 73.

The cross section of the air inlet opening 72 corresponds to a lying elongated hole, the cross section of which corresponds to that of the cooling air outlet opening 34 of the first element 18.

As can be seen in particular from FIG. 3, the air inlet opening 72 and the cooling air outlet opening 34 lie one above the other and are aligned in the vertical direction on the front second side 50 of the base group 16.

On the rear first side 48 opposite the air inlet opening 72, the second element 20 is provided with a circular air outlet opening 75 which is surrounded by a flange 76.

The air outlet opening 75 is, as seen in the illustration of FIGS. 2 and 3, arranged in a rear right area of the second element 20.

The air outlet opening 75 comes to lie next to the suction opening 28 at the rear end of the first element 18, viewed in the transverse direction.

The flange 76 encircling the circulating air outlet opening 75 serves to allow a circulating air blower 78 to be attached to it, as can be seen from FIG. 1.

As seen from the air inlet opening 72 in the direction of the air outlet opening 75, a condensate separator tunnel 80 (see in particular FIG. 1) extends in the interior of the second element 20, which is formed as a hollow body except for the openings 72 and 75 and which is in the area in front of and below the air outlet opening 75 is provided on the bottom with a condensate collector 84. The bottom 85 of the condensate collector 84 is lower than the bottom 82 of the condensate separator tunnel 80, which drops in the direction of the condensate collector 84.

The condensate collector 84 is shaped in such a way that when the first and second elements 18, 20 are assembled, it fills approximately the triangular free corner area which is located to the side of the first channel element 32, on the side opposite the housing 22, i.e. on the side opposite the housing 22. in the illustration of FIG. 2 in the upper right free area (in the illustration of FIG. 4 this corresponds to the upper left corner area).

The condensate collection container 84 is provided with a connector 88 projecting from the rear first side 48, via which the condensate 86 accommodated in the condensate collection container 84 can be removed. For this purpose, the connector 88 with one here Provided pump, not shown, which empties the condensate collector 84 after reaching a certain level.

As can be seen in particular from FIG. 2, the recess 54 is provided in its circumferential side edge region with a protruding molded-on bead 90 which, after the first and second elements 18, 20 have been put together, partially closes the rounded side region of the first channel element 32 reach around, as can be seen in particular from FIG. 4.

In the area of the bearing trough 59, a tab 92 projects from the rear side 48 of the second element 20 and interacts with the hook 40 of the first element 18. In the second element 20 there is also an opening 94 which cooperates with the pin 42 projecting from the upper side of the first channel element 32, i.e. the pin 42 can be inserted into the opening 94.

The connection of hook 40 and tab 92 or pin 42 and opening 94 is only exemplary and is intended to indicate that means are provided to lock the elements 18 and 20 together. Corresponding latching lugs and recesses can also be provided on the outer sides, via which the two elements 18 and 20 latch together when they are joined together.

When installing the clothes dryer 10, the second element 20 is pressed onto the first element 18 from above, as can be seen in the exploded view in FIG. 2. The bead 90, which surrounds the recess 54, is spread slightly until it reaches the extreme apex of the Curve slides over in the side region of the first channel element 32 and then partially engages around it. This can also be done very easily mechanically using an assembly robot. The gear motor 58 is then inserted and, after the impeller 44 has been pushed into the housing 22, the axle shaft 46 is connected to the drive shaft 60.

A seal can then be placed around the flange 73 or the flange 76. The floor assembly 16 preassembled in this way is then installed in the clothes dryer 10, it being possible, for example, for the corresponding four side walls to be simply placed on the floor assembly 16 from the outside. For this purpose, recesses 96, 97, 98 are provided in the corner areas of the first and second element 18 and 20, respectively, at which protruding lugs on the inner sides of the wall parts can then be inserted or engaged.

A final bottom plate of the clothes dryer 10 can also be provided, which is not shown in FIG. 1.

The door 12 of the clothes dryer 10 is provided with a condenser 100 which is accommodated in a condenser space 110.

The capacitor 100 consists of a battery of tubes 102. The tubes 102 each have an elongated, cylindrical section which merges into a widened end piece at each of its ends via a conical widening. As can be seen from Fig. 1, the end pieces are approximately hexagonal in radial section, so that the battery of tubes 102 arises from the fact that the tubes 102 are put together with their end pieces in the manner of honeycombs.

Since the cylindrical sections of the tubes 102 have a smaller diameter than the end pieces, spaces are created between the tubes 102. Below the condenser space 110, a box-like air supply 104 is provided, which is provided with an inlet 105 on the side facing the interior 14.

The inlet 105 is designed as a horizontal elongated hole and is congruent with the cooling air outlet opening 34. The aforementioned seal encircling the flange 35 then provides an outwardly tight fluidic connection between the cooling air outlet opening 34 of the first element 18 and the inlet 105 of the air supply 104 . The top of the air supply 104 is in fluidic connection with the condenser 100 such that cooling air can flow from the air supply 104 into the interior of the tubes 102.

The air outlet 106 arranged at the upper end of the condenser 110 serves to feed the cooling air 108 flowing out of the tubes 102 of the condenser 100 back into the environment via an outlet 107 in the outside of the door 12.

The condenser chamber 110 is provided on the inside of the door 12, which faces the interior 14 of the clothes dryer 10, with a rear wall 111, which is provided with a conical attachment 112 in its upper region.

As can be seen in particular from FIG. 1, the conical attachment 112 projects into the interior 14 and preferably serves as a deflector for the laundry whirled around by the drum.

At its end facing the interior 14, the conical attachment 112 is provided with openings 113, as a result of which a fluidic connection is established between the interior 14 and the interior of the condenser space 110. The interior of the condenser space is the space that is arranged around the tubes 102.

In the conical attachment 112, a lint filter 114 is received, as is known per se, which serves to remove the lint from the air flowing from the interior 14 into the condenser space 110.

At the lower end, the rear wall 111 is provided with an outflow opening 115, via which a fluidic connection is created between the interior of the condenser chamber 110 and the second element 20 of the floor assembly 16.

The outflow opening 115 has the shape of a horizontal elongated hole in cross-section and is aligned with the air inlet opening 72. A seal placed around the flange 73 then ensures an outwardly tight flow connection between the inside of the condenser space 110 and the condensate separator tunnel 80 of the second element 20 .

The operation of the clothes dryer shown in Fig. 1 is as follows.

The circulating air blower 78 arranged on the rear of the tumble dryer 10 supplies the circulating air 116 to a heating register 118, in which it is heated. Coming from the heating register 118, the heated circulating air 116 flows into the interior 14 and takes moisture from the damp laundry. The warm steam-laden circulating air 116 then flows through the openings 113 into the conical attachment 112, through the fluff filter 114 and then into the interior of the condenser 110. There, the moist, steam-laden circulating air 116 hits the outside of the pipes 102, is deflected downward and can exit the door 12 again via the outflow opening 115.

While the circulating air 116 flows around the outside of the tubes 102 from top to bottom, the latter cools down since the cold cooling air 108 flows from bottom to top in the interior of the tubes 102. The heat exchange therefore takes place via the walls of the tubes 102.

As a result, the recirculated air 116 enters the condensate separator tunnel 80 as cooled recirculated air 116 with condensate droplets. As the condensate trap tunnel 80 flows through, the condensate droplets fall due to gravity, hit the sloping bottom 82 of the condensate trap tunnel 80 and flow in the direction of the condensate collection container 84, where they are collected as condensate 86. The circulating air 116 freed from the condensate 86 then flows out again at the rear circulating air outlet opening 75 of the second element 20 due to the action of the circulating air blower 78 and is fed again to the heating register 118.

The cooling air blower 45 draws in cooling air 108 from the surroundings on the rear side of the clothes dryer 10 via the suction opening 28 and feeds it via the first channel element 32 to the air supply 104 on the underside of the door 12. After flowing through the interior of the tubes 102 of the condenser 100, this then flows back to the environment as heated cooling air 108 via the outlet 107.

A fine fluff filter 89 is arranged in the condensate collecting container 84 immediately before the connection 88. The fine fluff filter 89 serves to retain fine fluff that is present in the condensate 86 if the condensate 86 is emptied via the nozzle 88. The fluff filter 114 in the conical attachment 112 is relatively coarse-meshed, so that it is possible for fine fluff to pass through the fluff filter 114 and be entrained into the second element 20. In the interior of the second element 20, in particular in the condensate separator tunnel 80, these fine lint are caught by the moist water droplets and transported to the condensate collecting container 84. There, the fine fluff gradually accumulates and, as previously mentioned, is retained by the fine fluff filter 89. The fine fluff filter 89 is accessible from the outside of the dryer 12, in such a way that it can be removed from the condensate collecting container 84 and cleaned. Care is taken to ensure that this can only take place if the condensate collection container 86 is empty. The necessary lateral opening in the second element 20 can then already be provided in the blow molding step.

In Fig. 1, reference number 89 'indicates a further possibility of arranging a fine fluff filter, namely directly between the end of the nozzle 88 and a drain line attached to it. The fine fluff filter 89 'can also be removed from the outside. Again, it can be provided that this is only possible if the condensate collection container 86 is empty. Provision can also be made to trigger an emptying of the condensate collection container 86 when the fine fluff filter 89 'is removed.

Claims (22)

1. A laundry drier having an interior space (14) accessible via a door (12), an air-cooled condenser (100), into which, on the one hand, steamed hot recirculating air (116) from said interior space (14) and, on the other, cooling air (108) as the cooling medium are introduceable, a base assembly (16) located in the base area of the laundry drier (10), said base assembly being provided with a first air guide for the recirculating air (116) and a second air guide for the cooling air (108), characterized in that said base assembly is formed by two members (18, 20) produced by a blow-moulding method, a first member (18) containing the air guide for the cooling air (108) and a second member (20) containing the air guide for the recirculating air (116).
2. The laundry drier as set forth in claim 1,
   characterized in that said two members (18, 20) are formed in such a way that they are insertable one in the other to result in a compact, particularly an approximately cuboidal base assembly (16).
3. The laundry drier as set forth in claim 1 or 2,
   characterized in that said two members (18, 20) are releasably interlockable, particularly by means of a clip connection.
4. The laundry drier as set forth in claims 1 to 3,
   characterized in that said base assembly (16) is formed as a supporting base assembly.
5. The laundry drier as set forth in any of the claims 1 to 4,
   characterized in that said members (18, 20) simultaneously serve as carrier and support for at least parts of blowers (45, 78) to generate the recirculating air flow and cooling air flow respectively.
6. The laundry drier as set forth in any of the claims 1 to 5,
   characterized in that said first member (18) is provided with a housing (22) to accommodate a blower impeller (44) of a cooling air blower (45), one open end (26) of said housing (22) forming an intake opening (28) for the cooling air (108).
7. The laundry drier as set forth in claim 6,
   characterized in that at the delivery end of said blower impeller (44) said housing (22) translates into a first ducting member (32) which merges in a cooling air outlet opening (34) of said base assembly (16).
8. The laundry drier as set forth in claim 6 or 7,
   characterized in that said housing (22) is arranged at a corner region (52) of said base assembly (16), that said intake opening (28) faces a first side (48) of said base assembly (16), and that said first ducting member (32) merges at the second side (50) opposing said first side (48).
9. The laundry drier as set forth in claim 7 or 8,
   characterized in that said ducting member (32) is flared from said housing (22) to said cooling air outlet opening (34), said cooling air outlet opening (34) extending approximately over the full width of said second side (50).
10. The laundry drier as set forth in claims 7 to 9,
    characterized in that said ducting member (32) has the shape of a horizontal slot in vertical section.
11. The laundry drier as set forth in any of the claims 1 to 10,
    characterized in that said second member (20) is provided on an underside (53) with a recess (54), via which said second member (20) is mountable with positive interlock on areas of said first member (18).
12. The laundry drier as set forth in claim 11,
    characterized in that said second member (20) includes a housing (56) to accommodate the drive motor (58) for said cooling air blower (45).
13. The laundry drier as set forth in claim 11 or 12,
    characterized in that said second member (20) includes a recirculating air inlet opening (72) which when said members (18, 20) are assembled together, is directly located above said cooling air outlet opening (34).
14. The laundry drier as set forth in claim 13,
    characterized in that said recirculating air inlet opening (72) is formed to have the same shape as said cooling air outlet opening (34).
15. The laundry drier as set forth in claim 13 or 14,
    characterized in that at said first side (48) of said base assembly (16) opposing said recirculating air inlet opening (72) said second member (20) is provided with a recirculating air outlet opening (75) which is provided with a flange (76) at which said recirculating air blower (78) is fittable.
16. The laundry drier as set forth in any of the claims 11 to 15,
    characterized in that in said second member (20) between a recircirculating air inlet opening (72) and a recirculating air outlet opening (75) a condensate collecting vessel (84) is formed which is drainable via an outlet port (88).
17. The laundry drier as set forth in claim 16,
    characterized in that at said condensate collection vessel (84) fills out an approximately three-cornered shaped space alongside said flared section of said first ducting member (32), the base (85) of said condensate collection vessel (84) contacting level with a base (33) of said first ducting member (32).
18. The laundry drier as set forth in claims 16 to 17,
    characterized in that said second member (20) is provided in the region between said recirculating air inlet opening (72) and said condensate collection vessel (84) with a condensate interceptor tunnel (80) including a base (82) inclined downwards in the direction of said condensate collection vessel (84).
19. The laundry drier as set forth in any of the claims 11 to 18,
    characterized in that in said second member (20) includes a roughly cuboid contour which is recessed in a corner region (52) such that when members (18, 20) are assembled together, said corner region (52) is filled out by said housing (22) of said first member (18).
20. The laundry drier as set forth in any of the claims 16 to 19,
    characterized in that in the region of the outlet of said condensate collection vessel (84) a fluff filter (89, 89½) is arranged, which intercepts fluff present in condensate (86).
21. The laundry drier as set forth in claim 20,
    characterized in that said fluff filter (89, 89½) accessible from outside of said laundry drier is arranged removable in said outlet port (88) or in said condensate collection vessel (84) upstream of said outlet port (88).
22. The laundry drier as set forth in any of the claims 1 to 21,
    characterized in that recesses (96, 97, 98) are provided distributed at said first and said second member (18, 20) via which the side walls are fittable.

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