EP0522889A1 - Method and device for removing the lint in laundry washing and drying machines - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device for removing fluff deposits in the hot air production circuit of washing and drying machines. The discharge volute (211) of the blower (210) and the air heating chamber (230) are connected, from below, by a duct (220) which is like the discharge volute (211) and the heating chamber (230), filled with water up to a height (H) determined as a function of the delivery head (hm) of the blower so as to create a cyclical tornado effect peeling off the deposits of fluff, when the blower (210) is in operation. Application: household appliances <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a method and a device for removing fluff deposits in the hot air production circuit of washing and drying machines.

Washing machines and dryers, as well as dryers, currently on the market, are generally equipped with a fluff filter, intended to retain a very large proportion of the fragments of textile fibers released by the linen at during drying operations; this in order to delay the development of lint deposit in the drying air circuit, in order to avoid, for example, that these will ultimately reduce the flow sections and the aerodynamic efficiency of the blower, as well that the effectiveness of the probes by "padding" of their bulb.

However, these filters clog up very quickly, which creates a very significant pressure drop on the air circuit, which requires that this filter be cleaned after each use of the machine, using a special brush, combined with the filter, or a jet of air against the current.

These solutions complicate the machine and require a voluntary manual operation after each use which, if omitted, risks compromising the result of the next drying operation, or even the operation of the machine itself.

There are machines without filters on which, during the washing cycles, fluff particles are deposited on the elements of the drying circuit, in particular on the fan, the heating elements and the regulation devices of temperature ; which results in gradual performance reductions and creates the risk of fire.

There is already known a machine for drying and washing clothes, provided with a fluff filter requiring no cleaning or evacuation of the collected fluff (French patent application No. 2,646,444). The mesh of the filter allows small particles of linen to pass through and its protruding shape, towards the inside of the drum, promotes, during drying, continuous and voluntary contact with the linen moving in this drum, which causes cleaning. of the surface of the filter and a voluntary and repeated fragmentation of the fluff retained by it. However, if cleaning of the filter and clogging of the filter are thus avoided, the fact remains that the fluff deposits, at certain points in the hot air production circuit, still remain, given the recycling. induces exhaust air.

The present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks. This invention, as characterized, solves the problem of defining a method and creating a device allowing, on a washing machine and drying the laundry, to use certain stages of the washing cycle to remove deposits of fill, divide and evacuate them, so that the hot air production circuit is rid of them during the following drying operation, this without any manual intervention being necessary, by incorporating the operation (s) elimination of stuffing in the program managing the operation of the machine.

• a) établissement progressif, dans le circuit de production d'air chaud, d'un niveau de liquide correspondant à celui existant dans la cuve de lavage et de séchage,
• b) établissement du niveau de liquide, au-dessus de celui assurant le remplissage total du conduit mettant en communication la volute de refoulement de la soufflante avec la chambre de chauffage de l'air de séchage,
• c) mise en marche de la soufflante et maintien de celle-ci en fonctionnement pendant un temps déterminé par l'expérience, pour obtenir le décollage et le fonctionnement des dépôts de bourre, ainsi que leur dispersion dans la masse liquide retenue provisoirement dans le circuit de production d'air chaud,
• d) vidange totale du liquide et des particules de bourre en suspension retenus dans la cuve et dans le circuit de production d'air chaud,
• e) exécution des opérations (a) à (d) ci-dessus, au moins une fois par cycle de lavage.

The method of eliminating fluff in the hot air production circuit of washing machines and dryers for laundry, according to the invention is mainly characterized in that it consists in performing successively or simultaneously the following operations:

• a) gradual establishment, in the hot air production circuit, of a liquid level corresponding to that existing in the washing and drying tank,
• b) establishment of the liquid level, above that ensuring complete filling of the duct bringing the blower discharge volute into communication with the drying air heating chamber,
• c) starting the blower and keeping it in operation for a time determined by experience, to take off and operate the flock deposits, as well as their dispersion in the liquid mass temporarily retained in the circuit hot air production,
• d) total emptying of the liquid and suspended fluff particles retained in the tank and in the hot air production circuit,
• e) execution of operations (a) to (d) above, at least once per washing cycle.

Preferably, the level of liquid in the hot air production circuit, ensuring the complete filling of the duct connecting the discharge volute of the blower with the drying air heating chamber, is established at a determined height so that the difference in level with the upper wall of the communication duct is a little less than the delivery head of the blower, so that the conditions for the appearance and maintenance of a cyclic phenomenon are met. waterspout, from the blower discharge volute towards the heating chamber.

The device for applying the method, as explained above, is characterized in that the blower and its delivery volute, on the one hand, and the drying air heating chamber, on the other hand, are arranged vertically and parallel to form the two branches of a U, of which the duct, putting the blower discharge volute into communication with the drying air heating chamber, forms the base, with air intake and discharge at the ends of the branches.

The matching of the liquid levels in the washing and drying tank and in the hot air production circuit is obtained by means of a pipe connecting the lowest point of the tank to that of the hot air production.

The fluff is removed by means of a drain pipe connected to the lowest point of the pipe for placing the tank in communication with the hot air production circuit.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the pipe for placing the washing and drying tank in communication with the hot air production circuit can be closed at will by a piloted valve located between the connection point of the drain piping and the hot air production circuit; the closure of the valve being, in this case, controlled by a level detector in the said hot air production circuit, under the control of the programmer of the machine.

The advantages obtained, thanks to this invention essentially consist in the fact that the fluff produced during the previous drying operation is systematically eliminated during the following washing operations, without this calling on the initiative of the user, and without that this requires the addition of expensive devices.

• la figure 1 représente une vue de l'arrière, en coupe, du circuit de production d'air chaud équipé du dispositif d'élimination de bourre,
• la figure 2 représente une vue de côté schématique, en coupe, de la machine équipée du dispositif d'élimination de bourre.

Other characteristics and advantages will appear in the description which follows of a fluff elimination device, produced according to the invention for the needs of a washing machine and of drying the linen, with introduction of air and water by the drum drive shaft, as described in French patent application No. 9013819 given by way of non-limiting example with regard to the appended drawings in which:

• FIG. 1 represents a rear view, in section, of the hot air production circuit equipped with the fluff elimination device,
• 2 shows a schematic side view, in section, of the machine equipped with the fluff removal device.

The figures represent a washing machine and dryer, introducing air and water through the hollow drive shaft 110 of the drum 120 mounted in the tank 100, comprising, on the rear, a double partition 200, containing a volute blower 210 connected by a conduit 220 to a heating chamber 230 provided with heating elements 231, a temperature probe 232, supplying, via a casing 240, the shaft drive recess 110 of the drum 120; the duct 220 connecting the volute 211 of the fan 210 to the heating chamber 230 being connected by a pipe 30 to the tank 100, with connection to the drain pipe 40.

By examining Figures 1 and 2 in more detail, we note that it suffices to fill the tank 100 to a height (H) determined as a function of the manometric height (hm) of the blower 210 and of the drop (D ) of the upper wall 221 of the conduit 220 relative to the bottom of the tank 100, in order to obtain, according to the principle of communicating vessels, a corresponding level of liquid in the heating circuit located in the double partition 200.

Provided that the level has been established to have (H - D <hm), we obtain, as soon as the blower 210 is put into operation, a flush of the liquid contained in the heating circuit, from the discharge volute 211 towards the heating chamber 230, accompanied by a tornado effect, as soon as air arrives along the upper wall 221 to open out under the heating chamber 230, projecting inside it and towards the inlet of the housing 240, packets of liquid, which come, by impact, to peel off and split the previous fluff deposits. The siphon being then defused, the displacement of the liquid is reversed to penetrate, with a certain inertia, in the volute of delivery 211, from where it is again driven out according to the same process to, finally, generate a cyclic phenomenon translating by repeated actions on the most stubborn fluff deposits, leading to their complete elimination, provided that the blower 210 is kept in operation for a sufficient time.

Note that this operation can be carried out, in masked time, during spinning, provided that water from the last rinsing bath has been held captive in the heating circuit, via a pilot valve, as soon as the water level in the tank has dropped below the optimal level (H), as defined above. The blower then being put into operation, the fluff removal operation can be completed at the same time as the spinning operation, the fluffing liquid then being removed at the same time as the water resulting from the spin linen.

It will then be understood that the method and the device according to the invention are not limited to this example of application to a loading machine front, and that they can be used on other washing and drying machines, especially top-loading, provided that the blower and the heating chamber are joined by a pipe to form a U, of which they would occupy, respectively, the end of each branch.

Claims (3)

A method of eliminating fluff in the hot air production circuit of washing and drying machines, characterized in that it consists in performing, successively or simultaneously, the following operations: a) establishment in the hot air production circuit, of a liquid level corresponding to that existing in the washing and drying tank, b) establishment of the liquid level above that ensuring complete filling of the duct putting the blower discharge volute into communication with the drying air heating chamber, c) starting the blower and keeping it in operation, for a time determined by experience, to take off and operate the deposits of fluff, as well as their dispersion in the liquid mass retained in the circuit hot air production, d) Emptying the liquid and suspended fluff particles retained in the tank and in the hot air production circuit, e) carrying out the operations (a) to (d) above, at least once per washing cycle. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the level of liquid in the hot air production circuit, ensuring the complete filling of the duct putting the blower discharge volute in communication with the air heating chamber drying, is established at a height (H) determined so that the difference in level (HD) with respect to the upper wall of the communication conduit is one louse less than the delivery head (hm) of the blower (210), in order that the conditions for the appearance and maintenance of a cyclical phenomenon of waterspout are met, from the discharge volute (211) of the blower (210) to the heating chamber (230). Device for applying the method according to the claims above, characterized in that the blower (210) and its discharge volute (211), on the one hand, and the drying air heating chamber (230) , on the other hand, are arranged vertically and parallel along the two branches of a (U), including the conduit (220), putting in communication the discharge volute (211) of the blower (210) with the heating chamber drying air (230) forms the base, with suction and discharge of air at the ends of branches; in that the alignment of the liquid levels in the washing and drying tank (100) and in the hot air production circuit is obtained by means of a pipe (30) connecting the most bottom of the tank (100) to that of the hot air production circuit, and in that the elimination of the fluff is effected by means of a drain pipe (40) connected to the lowest point of the pipe (30) for communicating the tank (100) with the hot air production circuit.

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