EP2189568B1 - Laundry washing and drying machine - Google Patents
Laundry washing and drying machine Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP2189568B1 EP2189568B1 EP20080169589 EP08169589A EP2189568B1 EP 2189568 B1 EP2189568 B1 EP 2189568B1 EP 20080169589 EP20080169589 EP 20080169589 EP 08169589 A EP08169589 A EP 08169589A EP 2189568 B1 EP2189568 B1 EP 2189568B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- refrigerant
- heat exchanger
- water
- air
- laundry
- 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.)
- Not-in-force
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00
- D06F39/04—Heating arrangements
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F58/00—Domestic laundry dryers
- D06F58/20—General details of domestic laundry dryers
- D06F58/206—Heat pump arrangements
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a laundry washing and drying machine.
- the present invention relates to a front-loading home laundry washing and drying machine, to which the following description refers purely by way of example.
- front-loading laundry washing and drying machines generally comprise a substantially parallelepiped-shaped outer box casing resting on the floor; a substantially bell-shaped washing tub which is suspended in floating manner inside the casing by means of a number of coil springs and shock-absorber, directly facing a laundry loading and unloading opening formed in the front face of the casing; a door hinged to the front face of the casing to rotate to and from a closing position in which the door closes the opening in the front face of the casing to seal the washing tub; a substantially bell-shaped cylindrical revolving drum for housing the laundry to be washed and dried, and which is housed substantially horizontally inside the washing tub to rotate about its longitudinal axis; and an electric motor for rotating the revolving drum about its longitudinal axis inside the washing tub.
- Front-loading laundry washing and drying machines of the above type also have a water supply and recirculating circuit for supplying a given amount of tap water into the washing tub, and for circulating said water into the washing tub during washing and rinsing phases of the washing cycle; and a closed-circuit, hot-air generator designed to circulate inside the washing tub a stream of hot air with a low moisture content, and which flows through the revolving drum and over the laundry inside the drum to rapidly dry the laundry.
- the closed-circuit, hot-air generator comprises an air recirculating conduit having its two ends connected to the washing tub, on opposite sides of the latter; an electric centrifugal fan located along the recirculating conduit to produce, inside the latter, an airflow which flows through the washing tub and the revolving drum; and finally a heat-pump assembly having its two heat exchangers located one after the other, along the air recirculating conduit.
- the first air/refrigerant heat exchanger of the heat-pump assembly provides for rapidly cooling the airflow arriving from the washing tub to condense the surplus moisture in the airflow; whereas the second air/refrigerant heat exchanger of the heat-pump assembly provides for rapidly heating the airflow arriving from the first heat exchanger and directed back to the washing tub, so that the airflow re-entering into the washing tub is heated rapidly to a temperature higher than or equal to that of the air flowing out of the washing tub.
- the heat-pump assembly of the hot-air generator comprises:
- first and second air/refrigerant heat exchangers of the heat-pump assembly are located along the air recirculating conduit, so as that the second air/refrigerant heat exchanger provides for rapidly cooling the airflow arriving from the washing tub to condense the surplus moisture in the airflow, and the first air/refrigerant heat exchanger provides for rapidly heating the airflow arriving from the second air/refrigerant heat exchanger and directed back to the washing tub, so that the airflow entering into the tub is heated rapidly to a temperature higher than or equal to that of the same air flowing out of the tub.
- the first air/refrigerant heat exchanger of the heat-pump assembly i.e. the heat exchanger which heats up the airflow directed back to the washing tub
- the first air/refrigerant heat exchanger of the heat-pump assembly is also used for heating up the tap water necessary for performing the washing and rinsing phases of the washing cycle.
- This heat exchanger in fact, is structured for performing an optimal heat exchange between two fluids in gaseous state (i.e. the dehumidified air directed back to the washing tub and the refrigerant in the gaseous state), and therefore it is unable to allow an optimal heat exchange between a fluid in liquid state and a fluid in gaseous state.
- the first heat exchanger of the heat-pump-type, hot-air generator is unable to speedy heat up the washing water stored in the washing tub.
- a laundry washing and drying machine as claimed in Claim 1 and preferably, though not necessarily, in any one of the Claims depending directly or indirectly on Claim 1.
- number 1 indicates as a whole a laundry washing and drying machine comprising a preferably, though not necessarily, parallelepiped-shaped outer box casing 2 resting on the floor; a substantially bell-shaped washing tub 3 suspended in floating manner inside casing 2 via a suspension system comprising a number of coil springs 4 (only one shown in Figure 1 ) preferably, though not necessarily, combined with one or more vibration dampers 5 (only one shown in Figure 1 ); a substantially bell-shaped cylindrical revolving drum 6 for housing the laundry to be washed and/or dried, and which is fixed in axially rotating manner inside washing tub 3 for rotating about its longitudinal axis L; and an electric motor assembly 7 for rotating, on command, revolving drum 6 about its longitudinal axis L inside washing tub 3.
- laundry washing and drying machine 1 is a front-loading home washing and drying machine, therefore washing tub 3 is suspended substantially horizontally inside casing 2, with the front opening of washing tub 3 directly faced to a laundry loading and unloading opening formed in a front face 2a of casing 2.
- Revolving drum 6, in turn, is housed into washing tub 3 so that its longitudinal axis L is oriented substantially horizontally, and coincides with the longitudinal axis of washing tub 3.
- laundry washing and drying machine 1 is also provided with a cylindrical elastic-deformable bellows 8 connecting the front opening of washing tub 3 to the laundry loading and unloading opening formed in front face 2a of casing 2, and with a door (not shown) hinged to front face 2a of casing 2 to rotate to and from a closing position in which the door closes the laundry loading and unloading opening in front face 2a to seal washing tub 3.
- laundry washing and drying machine 1 is also provided with a water supply and recirculating system 9 for supplying a given amount of tap water into washing tub 3, and for circulating said water into washing tub 3 during washing and rinsing phases of the washing cycle; and with a closed-circuit, hot-air generator 10 designed to circulate inside washing tub 3 a stream of hot air with a low moisture content, and which flows through revolving drum 6 and over the laundry inside the drum to rapidly dry the laundry.
- a water supply and recirculating system 9 for supplying a given amount of tap water into washing tub 3, and for circulating said water into washing tub 3 during washing and rinsing phases of the washing cycle
- a closed-circuit, hot-air generator 10 designed to circulate inside washing tub 3 a stream of hot air with a low moisture content, and which flows through revolving drum 6 and over the laundry inside the drum to rapidly dry the laundry.
- closed-circuit, hot-air generator 10 provides for gradually drawing air from washing tub 3; extracting surplus moisture from the air drawn from washing tub 3; heating the dehumidified air to a predetermined temperature, normally higher than the temperature of the air from washing tub 3; and feeding the heated, dehumidified air back into washing tub 3, where it flows over, to rapidly dry, the laundry inside the revolving drum 6.
- laundry washing and drying machine 1 is preferably, though not necessarily, provided with a detergent drawer (not shown) which is removably housed inside a seat on front face 2a of casing 2, and which has at least one compartment for a given amount of detergent and/or softener for use in the washing cycle.
- a detergent drawer (not shown) which is removably housed inside a seat on front face 2a of casing 2, and which has at least one compartment for a given amount of detergent and/or softener for use in the washing cycle.
- the seat communicates directly with washing tub 3, and the water supply and recirculating system 9 consists of a drawer flush circuit 11 which, on command, feeds a given amount of tap water into the compartments of the detergent drawer to flush the detergent and/or softener out of the compartments and down into washing tub 3; and of a washing water recirculating and draining circuit 12 which, on command, sucks the washing water from the bottom of washing tub 3 and feeds said water back into the revolving drum 6, or alternatively drains the water accumulated into the washing tub 3 into a waste-water exhaust duct (not shown) located out of the laundry washing and drying machine 1.
- a drawer flush circuit 11 which, on command, feeds a given amount of tap water into the compartments of the detergent drawer to flush the detergent and/or softener out of the compartments and down into washing tub 3
- a washing water recirculating and draining circuit 12 which, on command, sucks the washing water from the bottom of washing tub 3 and feeds said water back into the revolving drum 6,
- the drawer flush circuit 11 comprises at least one water supply pipe 13, which is connected to the external water supply main M of the building in which the washing machine is installed, and terminates directly over the detergent drawer; and at least one electrically controlled on-off valve 14 interposed between water supply pipe 13 and the water supply main M to regulate the pressurized-water flow to the end of water supply pipe 13, so as to sprinkle, on command, the compartment/s of the detergent drawer.
- electrically controlled on-off valve 14 is a conventional controlled-open-close solenoid valve 14.
- the washing water recirculating and draining circuit 12 comprises a water recirculating pipe 15 having a first end in communication with the bottom of washing tub 3, and a second end faced to, or connected in known manner to, the revolving drum 6; an electrically operated water circulating pump 16 located along water recirculating pipe 15 for sucking the washing water from the bottom of washing tub 3 and pumping said water towards revolving drum 6; water filtering means (not shown) located along water recirculating pipe 15, preferably, though not necessarily, upstream of pump 16; and an electrically controlled tree-way valve 17 which is located along water recirculating pipe 15, immediately downstream of pump 16, for channeling, on command, the water flowing along recirculating pipe 15 into a water draining pipe 18 which is in communication with the waste-water exhaust duct (not shown) located out of the laundry washing and drying machine 1.
- hot-air generator 10 is a heat-pump-type, hot-air generator and substantially comprises:
- Heat-pump assembly 21 operates in the same way as a traditional heat-pump - which is capable of transferring heat from one fluid to another using an intermediate gaseous refrigerant subjected to a closed thermodynamic cycle, the thermodynamic principles of which are widely known and therefore not described in detail - but, differently from known laundry washing and drying machines, heat-pump assembly 21 is a bi-directional device and it comprises:
- refrigerant heat exchanger 23 is located along air recirculating conduit 19, upstream of washing tub 3 - and preferably, thought not necessarily, downstream of centrifugal fan 20 -, and is designed so that the refrigerant arriving from the bi-directional closed-circuit refrigerant circulating means and the airflow f directed to washing tub 3 flow through it simultaneously, allowing the refrigerant to release or absorb heat to/from said airflow f, thus rapidly heating or cooling the airflow f.
- refrigerant heat exchanger 24 is located out of air recirculating conduit 19, and is designed so that the washing water arriving from revolving drum 3 and the refrigerant arriving from the bi-directional closed-circuit refrigerant circulating means flow through it simultaneously, allowing the refrigerant to release or absorb heat to/from said washing water, thus rapidly heating or cooling the washing water arriving from revolving drum 3; and hot-air generator 10 is also provided with:
- heat-pump assembly 21 comprises:
- Heat-pump assembly 21 also comprises a number of suitable connecting pipes which connect refrigerant compressing device 22, air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23, water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24 and refrigerant expansion device 27 one to the other, so as to form a closed circuit allowing the refrigerant coming out from the outlet of compressing device 22 to flow through, in sequence, air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23, refrigerant expansion device 27 and water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24, before returning to the inlet of compressing device 22; and an electrically controlled four-way hydraulic distributor 28 which connects compressing device 22 to both the air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23 and the water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24.
- the four-way hydraulic distributor 28 is structured for selectively putting the outlet of compressing device 22 in direct communication with the air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23 or, alternatively, the water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24, and the inlet of compressing device 22 in direct communication with the other refrigerant heat exchanger 23 or 24, so as to select, on command, the flowing direction of the refrigerant through the air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23, the water/ refrigerant heat exchanger 24 and the refrigerant expansion device 27.
- hydraulic distributor 28 is able to reverse, on command, the normal flowing direction of the refrigerant along, in sequence, the air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23, the refrigerant expansion device 27 and the water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24.
- the refrigerant releases heat to the water arriving from washing tub 3 when flowing through water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24, and absorbs heat from the air circulating into the air recirculating conduit 19 when flowing through air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23.
- the water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24 and the electrically controlled four-way hydraulic distributor 28 are commonly know parts in the heat-pump technical field, and therefore not described in detail.
- air/water heat exchanger 25 is a commonly know part in the washing machine technical field, and therefore not described in detail.
- the water circulation circuit 26 comprises a first pipe 29 connecting the bottom of washing tub 3 to the inlet of water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24; a second pipe 30 connecting the outlet of water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24 to the inlet of the air/water heat exchanger 25; a third pipe 31 connecting the outlet of air/water heat exchanger 25 to the bottom of washing tub 3; and an electrically powered water circulating pump 32 which is located along pipe 29 (or alternatively along pipe 30 or pipe 31) for sucking, on command, the washing water from the bottom of washing tub 3 and circulating said water through, in sequence, the water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24 and the air/water heat exchanger 25, or vice versa, before feeding said water back into washing tub 3.
- the electrically operated centrifugal fan 20 is preferably, though not necessarily, located between air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23 and air/water heat exchanger 25; and hot-air generator 10 also comprises electrically controlled air valves, air baffles or similar airflow control means, which are able to put, on command, the air recirculating conduit 19 in direct communication with the outside, for allowing external air to circulate through air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23.
- said airflow control means are preferably, though not necessarily, also able to prevent, at the same time, the external air from circulating through the air/water heat exchanger 25.
- hot-air generator 10 is provided with two three-way valves 33 and 34, which are located along air recirculating conduit 19, on both sides of air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23, so to divide air recirculating conduit 19 into two consecutive segments, each of which crosses a respective heat exchanger 23, 25.
- Both three-way valves 33 and 34 are designed to put the first segment of air recirculating conduit 19 that crosses air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23, in direct communication with the outside or, alternatively, in direct communication with the other segment of the air recirculating conduit 19, so to allow external air to circulate through air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23 while, at the same time, preventing said external air from circulating through the air/water heat exchanger 25.
- three-way valve 33 is preferably, though not necessarily, located between air/water heat exchanger 25 and centrifugal fan 20, whereas three-way valve 34 is preferably, though not necessarily, located between air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23 and washing tub 3.
- This arrangement of valves 33 and 34 allows the use of centrifugal fan 20 for generating the airflow f along the whole air recirculating conduit 19, or the airflow f' along the segment of air recirculating conduit 19 that crosses the air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23.
- the electronic central control unit 35 of the laundry washing and drying machine 1 opens the on-off valve 14 of drawer flush circuit 11 to fill up the bottom of washing tub 3 with an appropriate quantity of tap water.
- central control unit 35 when tap water reaches the predetermined level within washing tub 3, central control unit 35
- central control unit 35 switches on, respectively, centrifugal fan 20, compressing device 22, and pump 32 of the water circulation circuit 26, to enable heat-pump assembly 21 to transfer heat from the airflow f' circulating through air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23 and arriving from the outside of the household appliance, to the water circulating into water circulation circuit 26 and directed back to washing tub 3.
- the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant coming out from compressing device 22 passes through hydraulic distributor 28 and reaches the water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24, inside which the refrigerant releases heat to the tap water arriving from the bottom of washing tub 3 and directed back to washing tub 3.
- the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant arriving from compressing device 22 heats up the water circulating into water circulation circuit 26.
- the high-pressure refrigerant coming out from compressing device 22 then passes through the refrigerant expansion device 27, wherein the refrigerant is rapidly expanded so that pressure and temperature of the refrigerant entering in the air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23 are much lower than pressure and temperature of the refrigerant coming out from the water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24.
- the low-pressure and low-temperature refrigerant arriving from expansion device 27 and flowing back to compressing device 22 absorbs heat from the airflow f' circulating through air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23, thus rapidly cooling the airflow f' flowing along the segment of air recirculating conduit 19 that crosses the air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23.
- the air/water heat exchanger 25 Since no air flows through the air/water heat exchanger 25, the air/water heat exchanger 25 operates like a traditional water conduit, and the temperature of the water arriving from the water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24 and directed back to washing tub 3 remains unchanged. In other words, all heat absorbed from the airflow f' arriving from the outside is transferred to the tap water circulating into water circulation circuit 26.
- central control unit 35 may either switch off the hot-air generator 10 (i.e. centrifugal fan 20, compressing device 22 and pump 32) and start washing the laundry placed inside revolving drum 6 with the heated up tap water, or may open again on-off valve 14 to pour some more tap water into washing tub 3 and continue heating the water within the tub.
- the hot-air generator 10 i.e. centrifugal fan 20, compressing device 22 and pump 32
- central control unit 35 may either switch off the hot-air generator 10 (i.e. centrifugal fan 20, compressing device 22 and pump 32) and start washing the laundry placed inside revolving drum 6 with the heated up tap water, or may open again on-off valve 14 to pour some more tap water into washing tub 3 and continue heating the water within the tub.
- central control unit 35 switches again the hydraulic distributor 28 to put the outlet of compressing device 22 in direct communication with the air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23 and the inlet of compressing device 22 in direct communication with the water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24; and switches the three-way valves 33 and 34 back in their first operative configuration to isolate the air recirculating conduit 19 from the outside, and to let the airflow f flow along the whole air recirculating conduit 19.
- central control unit 35 switches on centrifugal fan 20, compressing device 22, and pump 32 of the water circulation circuit 26, to enable heat-pump assembly 21 to rapidly cool the airflow f coming out from washing tub 3 for condensing the surplus moisture in the airflow f, and then to rapidly heat the airflow f returning back into washing tub 3, so that the airflow f entering into washing tub 3 is heated rapidly to a temperature higher than or equal to that of the same air flowing out of the washing tub 3.
- the cold water flowing in the water circulation circuit 26 is used for transferring heat from the airflow f coming out from washing tub 3 to the refrigerant flowing through the water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24.
- the high temperature and pressure refrigerant coming out from compressing device 22 passes through hydraulic distributor 28 and reaches the air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23 inside which the refrigerant releases heat to the airflow f flowing into the air recirculating conduit 19, back to washing tub 3.
- the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant arriving from compressing device 22 heats up the airflow f directed back into washing tub 3.
- the high-pressure refrigerant coming out from compressing device 22 then passes through the refrigerant expansion device 27, wherein the refrigerant is rapidly expanded so that pressure and temperature of the refrigerant entering in the water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24 are much lower than pressure and temperature of the refrigerant coming out from the air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23.
- the low-pressure and low-temperature refrigerant arriving from expansion device 27 and flowing back to compressing device 22 absorbs heat from the water arriving from the bottom of washing tub 3 and directed back to washing tub 3, thus rapidly cooling the water circulating into the water circulation circuit 26 and directed to the air/water heat exchanger 25.
- the cold water circulating into the water circulation circuit 26 may consist in a given quantity of the rinsing water previously used in the rinsing phase of the washing and drying cycle, or may consist in a given quantity of fresh water provided by the water supply and recirculating system 9 (namely the drawer flush circuit 11).
- the cold water circulating into the water circulation circuit 26 consists preferably, though not necessarily, in a given quantity of fresh water provided by the water supply and recirculating system 9.
- the temperature of the washing water leaving the air/water heat exchanger 25 and directed back to the water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24 is slightly higher than the temperature of the washing water arriving from the water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24, and the increase in the water temperature is due to the heat amount absorbed from the airflow f arriving from washing tub 3. This heat amount is immediately transferred to the refrigerant flowing back to compressing device 22 within the water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24.
- the water flowing into the water circulation circuit 26 only transfers heat from the airflow f arriving from washing tub 3 to the low-pressure and low-temperature refrigerant flowing back to compressing device 22.
- the bottom of washing tub 3 is structured to contain a sufficient quantity of fresh or rinsing water to be used in the drying cycle, and, at the same time, to prevent said fresh or rinsing water to reach the revolving drum 6 and the laundry stored inside the drum.
- heat-pump assembly 21 has lots of advantages. Firstly the heat exchange taking place in heat exchanger 24 of heat-pump assembly 21 always involves a fluid in gaseous state (i.e. the refrigerant) and a fluid in liquid state (i.e. the washing water stored in washing tub 3), thus heat exchanger 24 assures optimal heat-exchange performances both when laundry is dried, and when washing water is heated up.
- a fluid in gaseous state i.e. the refrigerant
- a fluid in liquid state i.e. the washing water stored in washing tub 3
- the air/water heat exchanger 25 is a water spray condenser 25
- the washing water circulating in water circulation circuit 26 can be used for capturing fluff or lint particles in the airflow f arriving from washing tub 3.
- the water circulation circuit 26 may be integrated in the water recirculating and draining circuit 12, so as to reduce the number of water pumps.
- the tree-way valve 17 instead of selectively channeling into water draining pipe 18 the water flowing along recirculating pipe 15, the tree-way valve 17 channels, on command, the water flowing along recirculating pipe 15 directly into water pipe 29; and the water recirculating and draining circuit 12 is provided with a second electrically controlled tree-way valve 17' which is located along water pipe 29 for channeling, on command, the water flowing along pipe 29 into water draining pipe 18.
- pump 16 can suck the washing water from the bottom of washing tub 3 and feed said either towards revolving drum 6, or towards water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24.
- the bi-directional closed-circuit refrigerant circulating means of heat-pump assembly 21 may lack the electrically controlled four-way hydraulic distributor 28, and may comprise instead two refrigerant compressing devices 22 which are connected to heat exchanger 23 and heat exchanger 24 via two electrically controlled three-way valves 36.
- the two refrigerant compressing devices 22 are in anti-parallel one to the other, so that each three-way valves 36 communicates with the inlet of a first refrigerant compressing device 22, and with the outlet of a second refrigerant compressing device 22.
- the electronic central control unit 35 of the laundry washing and drying machine 1 controls both three-way valves 36 so to selectively connect only one of the two refrigerant compressing devices 22 to heat exchanger 23 and heat exchanger 24, while keeping the other refrigerant compressing device 22 isolated.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Textile Engineering (AREA)
- Detail Structures Of Washing Machines And Dryers (AREA)
- Drying Of Solid Materials (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to a laundry washing and drying machine.
- More specifically, the present invention relates to a front-loading home laundry washing and drying machine, to which the following description refers purely by way of example.
- As is known, front-loading laundry washing and drying machines generally comprise a substantially parallelepiped-shaped outer box casing resting on the floor; a substantially bell-shaped washing tub which is suspended in floating manner inside the casing by means of a number of coil springs and shock-absorber, directly facing a laundry loading and unloading opening formed in the front face of the casing; a door hinged to the front face of the casing to rotate to and from a closing position in which the door closes the opening in the front face of the casing to seal the washing tub; a substantially bell-shaped cylindrical revolving drum for housing the laundry to be washed and dried, and which is housed substantially horizontally inside the washing tub to rotate about its longitudinal axis; and an electric motor for rotating the revolving drum about its longitudinal axis inside the washing tub.
- Front-loading laundry washing and drying machines of the above type also have a water supply and recirculating circuit for supplying a given amount of tap water into the washing tub, and for circulating said water into the washing tub during washing and rinsing phases of the washing cycle; and a closed-circuit, hot-air generator designed to circulate inside the washing tub a stream of hot air with a low moisture content, and which flows through the revolving drum and over the laundry inside the drum to rapidly dry the laundry.
- In some laundry washing and drying machines, the closed-circuit, hot-air generator comprises an air recirculating conduit having its two ends connected to the washing tub, on opposite sides of the latter; an electric centrifugal fan located along the recirculating conduit to produce, inside the latter, an airflow which flows through the washing tub and the revolving drum; and finally a heat-pump assembly having its two heat exchangers located one after the other, along the air recirculating conduit. The first air/refrigerant heat exchanger of the heat-pump assembly provides for rapidly cooling the airflow arriving from the washing tub to condense the surplus moisture in the airflow; whereas the second air/refrigerant heat exchanger of the heat-pump assembly provides for rapidly heating the airflow arriving from the first heat exchanger and directed back to the washing tub, so that the airflow re-entering into the washing tub is heated rapidly to a temperature higher than or equal to that of the air flowing out of the washing tub.
- More specifically, the heat-pump assembly of the hot-air generator comprises:
- a refrigerant reciprocating compressor which subjects a refrigerant in the gaseous state to compression, so that refrigerant pressure and temperature are much higher at the outlet than at the inlet of the reciprocating compressor;
- a first air/refrigerant heat exchanger through which the refrigerant coming out from the compressor and the airflow entering into the washing tub flow simultaneously, and which is designed so that the refrigerant releases heat to the airflow entering into the washing tub, while at the same time condensing in the liquid state;
- a second air/refrigerant heat exchanger through which the refrigerant flowing to the compressor and the airflow coming out from the washing tub flow simultaneously, and which is designed so that the refrigerant absorbs heat from the airflow arriving from washing tub to cause condensation of the surplus moisture in the airflow, while at the same time completely turning back into the gaseous state; and
- a refrigerant expansion device which subjects the refrigerant flowing from the first to the second air/refrigerant heat exchanger to a rapid expansion, so that pressure and temperature of the refrigerant entering in the second air/refrigerant heat exchanger are much lower than pressure and temperature of the refrigerant coming out from the first air/refrigerant heat exchanger, thus turning the refrigerant back into the gaseous state and completing the closed thermodynamic cycle in opposition to the reciprocating compressor, which provides for rapidly compressing the refrigerant.
- Obviously, first and second air/refrigerant heat exchangers of the heat-pump assembly are located along the air recirculating conduit, so as that the second air/refrigerant heat exchanger provides for rapidly cooling the airflow arriving from the washing tub to condense the surplus moisture in the airflow, and the first air/refrigerant heat exchanger provides for rapidly heating the airflow arriving from the second air/refrigerant heat exchanger and directed back to the washing tub, so that the airflow entering into the tub is heated rapidly to a temperature higher than or equal to that of the same air flowing out of the tub.
- In addition to the above, in a few laundry washing and drying machines, the first air/refrigerant heat exchanger of the heat-pump assembly (i.e. the heat exchanger which heats up the airflow directed back to the washing tub) is also used for heating up the tap water necessary for performing the washing and rinsing phases of the washing cycle.
- Unluckily, this way of heating up the washing water is not highly efficient because of the structure of the first heat exchanger of the heat-pump-type, hot-air generator. This heat exchanger, in fact, is structured for performing an optimal heat exchange between two fluids in gaseous state (i.e. the dehumidified air directed back to the washing tub and the refrigerant in the gaseous state), and therefore it is unable to allow an optimal heat exchange between a fluid in liquid state and a fluid in gaseous state.
- In other words, the first heat exchanger of the heat-pump-type, hot-air generator is unable to speedy heat up the washing water stored in the washing tub.
- It is the aim of the present invention to improve energy efficiency of the heat-pump-type, hot-air generator of the above cited home laundry washing and drying machines.
- According to the present invention, there is provided a laundry washing and drying machine as claimed in
Claim 1 and preferably, though not necessarily, in any one of the Claims depending directly or indirectly onClaim 1. - A non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
-
Figure 1 shows a perspective view, with parts in section and parts removed for clarity, of a front-loading laundry washing and drying machine in accordance with the teachings of the present invention; -
Figure 2 shows a schematic view of theFigure 1 laundry washing and drying machine in a first working configuration; -
Figure 3 shows a schematic view of theFigure 1 laundry washing and drying machine in a second working configuration; -
Figure 4 shows a schematic view of a second embodiment of theFigures 1-3 laundry washing and drying machine; and -
Figure 5 shows a schematic view of a third embodiment of theFigures 1-3 laundry washing and drying machine. - With reference to
Figure 1 ,number 1 indicates as a whole a laundry washing and drying machine comprising a preferably, though not necessarily, parallelepiped-shapedouter box casing 2 resting on the floor; a substantially bell-shaped washing tub 3 suspended in floating manner insidecasing 2 via a suspension system comprising a number of coil springs 4 (only one shown inFigure 1 ) preferably, though not necessarily, combined with one or more vibration dampers 5 (only one shown inFigure 1 ); a substantially bell-shaped cylindrical revolvingdrum 6 for housing the laundry to be washed and/or dried, and which is fixed in axially rotating manner inside washingtub 3 for rotating about its longitudinal axis L; and anelectric motor assembly 7 for rotating, on command, revolvingdrum 6 about its longitudinal axis L insidewashing tub 3. - In particular, in the example shown, laundry washing and
drying machine 1 is a front-loading home washing and drying machine, therefore washingtub 3 is suspended substantially horizontally insidecasing 2, with the front opening ofwashing tub 3 directly faced to a laundry loading and unloading opening formed in afront face 2a ofcasing 2. Revolvingdrum 6, in turn, is housed intowashing tub 3 so that its longitudinal axis L is oriented substantially horizontally, and coincides with the longitudinal axis ofwashing tub 3. - With reference to
Figure 1 , laundry washing anddrying machine 1 is also provided with a cylindrical elastic-deformable bellows 8 connecting the front opening ofwashing tub 3 to the laundry loading and unloading opening formed infront face 2a ofcasing 2, and with a door (not shown) hinged tofront face 2a ofcasing 2 to rotate to and from a closing position in which the door closes the laundry loading and unloading opening infront face 2a to sealwashing tub 3. -
Casing 2,washing tub 3, the suspension system, revolvingdrum 6,electric motor assembly 7 andbellows 8 are commonly know parts in the washing machine technical field, and therefore not described in detail. - With reference to
Figures 2 and3 , laundry washing anddrying machine 1 is also provided with a water supply and recirculatingsystem 9 for supplying a given amount of tap water intowashing tub 3, and for circulating said water intowashing tub 3 during washing and rinsing phases of the washing cycle; and with a closed-circuit, hot-air generator 10 designed to circulate inside washing tub 3 a stream of hot air with a low moisture content, and which flows through revolvingdrum 6 and over the laundry inside the drum to rapidly dry the laundry. - More specifically, closed-circuit, hot-
air generator 10 provides for gradually drawing air fromwashing tub 3; extracting surplus moisture from the air drawn fromwashing tub 3; heating the dehumidified air to a predetermined temperature, normally higher than the temperature of the air fromwashing tub 3; and feeding the heated, dehumidified air back intowashing tub 3, where it flows over, to rapidly dry, the laundry inside the revolvingdrum 6. - With reference to
Figures 2 and3 , in the example shown laundry washing anddrying machine 1 is preferably, though not necessarily, provided with a detergent drawer (not shown) which is removably housed inside a seat onfront face 2a ofcasing 2, and which has at least one compartment for a given amount of detergent and/or softener for use in the washing cycle. The seat communicates directly withwashing tub 3, and the water supply and recirculatingsystem 9 consists of adrawer flush circuit 11 which, on command, feeds a given amount of tap water into the compartments of the detergent drawer to flush the detergent and/or softener out of the compartments and down intowashing tub 3; and of a washing water recirculating and drainingcircuit 12 which, on command, sucks the washing water from the bottom ofwashing tub 3 and feeds said water back into the revolvingdrum 6, or alternatively drains the water accumulated into thewashing tub 3 into a waste-water exhaust duct (not shown) located out of the laundry washing anddrying machine 1. - With reference to
Figures 2 and3 , thedrawer flush circuit 11 comprises at least onewater supply pipe 13, which is connected to the external water supply main M of the building in which the washing machine is installed, and terminates directly over the detergent drawer; and at least one electrically controlled on-offvalve 14 interposed betweenwater supply pipe 13 and the water supply main M to regulate the pressurized-water flow to the end ofwater supply pipe 13, so as to sprinkle, on command, the compartment/s of the detergent drawer. - In the example shown, electrically controlled on-off
valve 14 is a conventional controlled-open-close solenoid valve 14. - As regards the washing water recirculating and draining
circuit 12, it comprises a water recirculatingpipe 15 having a first end in communication with the bottom ofwashing tub 3, and a second end faced to, or connected in known manner to, the revolvingdrum 6; an electrically operatedwater circulating pump 16 located along water recirculatingpipe 15 for sucking the washing water from the bottom ofwashing tub 3 and pumping said water towards revolvingdrum 6; water filtering means (not shown) located along water recirculatingpipe 15, preferably, though not necessarily, upstream ofpump 16; and an electrically controlled tree-way valve 17 which is located along water recirculatingpipe 15, immediately downstream ofpump 16, for channeling, on command, the water flowing along recirculatingpipe 15 into awater draining pipe 18 which is in communication with the waste-water exhaust duct (not shown) located out of the laundry washing anddrying machine 1. - With reference to
Figure 2 and3 , hot-air generator 10 is a heat-pump-type, hot-air generator and substantially comprises: - an air recirculating
conduit 19, the two ends of which are connected to washingtub 3 preferably, though not necessarily, on opposite sides of the latter; - an electrically operated
centrifugal fan 20, or other type of air circulating pump, located along recirculatingconduit 19 to produce, inside recirculatingconduit 19, an airflow f which flows intowashing tub 3 and over the laundry inside the revolvingdrum 6; and - a heat-
pump assembly 21 which is able to rapidly cool the airflow f coming out fromwashing tub 3 for condensing the surplus moisture in the airflow f, and then to rapidly heat the airflow f returning back intowashing tub 3, so that the airflow entering intowashing tub 3 is heated rapidly to a temperature higher than or equal to that of the same air flowing out of thewashing tub 3. - Heat-
pump assembly 21 operates in the same way as a traditional heat-pump - which is capable of transferring heat from one fluid to another using an intermediate gaseous refrigerant subjected to a closed thermodynamic cycle, the thermodynamic principles of which are widely known and therefore not described in detail - but, differently from known laundry washing and drying machines, heat-pump assembly 21 is a bi-directional device and it comprises: - two
refrigerant heat exchangers corresponding heat exchangers - bi-directional closed-circuit refrigerant circulating means able to circulate a gaseous refrigerant in succession through the two
refrigerant heat exchangers heat exchanger refrigerant heat exchangers - More specifically,
refrigerant heat exchanger 23 is located along air recirculatingconduit 19, upstream of washing tub 3 - and preferably, thought not necessarily, downstream of centrifugal fan 20 -, and is designed so that the refrigerant arriving from the bi-directional closed-circuit refrigerant circulating means and the airflow f directed to washingtub 3 flow through it simultaneously, allowing the refrigerant to release or absorb heat to/from said airflow f, thus rapidly heating or cooling the airflow f. - Instead, differently from known laundry washing and drying machines,
refrigerant heat exchanger 24 is located out of air recirculatingconduit 19, and is designed so that the washing water arriving from revolvingdrum 3 and the refrigerant arriving from the bi-directional closed-circuit refrigerant circulating means flow through it simultaneously, allowing the refrigerant to release or absorb heat to/from said washing water, thus rapidly heating or cooling the washing water arriving from revolvingdrum 3; and hot-air generator 10 is also provided with: - an air/
water heat exchanger 25 which is located along air recirculatingconduit 19, upstream ofheat exchanger 23, and is designed so that the airflow f arriving fromwashing tub 3 and the water arriving fromwashing tub 3 orrefrigerant heat exchanger 24 flow through it simultaneously, allowing the water having a temperature lower than that of the airflow f, to absorb heat from the airflow f thus causing condensation of the surplus moisture in the airflow f; and - a
water circulation circuit 26 which, on command, circulates the washing water stored intowashing tub 3 through, in sequence, therefrigerant heat exchanger 24 and the air/water heat exchanger 25. - More specifically, with reference to
Figure 2 and3 , heat-pump assembly 21 comprises: - an electrically powered refrigerant compressing
device 22 which subjects a gaseous refrigerant to compression (e.g. adiabatic compression) so that refrigerant pressure and temperature are much higher at the outlet than at the inlet ofcompressing device 22; - a first air/
refrigerant heat exchanger 23 which is located along air recirculatingconduit 19, upstream of washing tub 3 - and preferably, thought not necessarily, downstream of centrifugal fan 20 -, and is designed so that the refrigerant coming out from compressingdevice 22 and the airflow f entering intowashing tub 3 flow through it simultaneously, allowing the refrigerant having a temperature greater than that of the airflow f to release heat to the airflow f, thus rapidly heating the airflow f to a temperature preferably, thought not necessarily, higher or equal to the temperature of the airflow f coming out ofwashing tub 3; - a second water/
refrigerant heat exchanger 24 which is located out of air recirculatingconduit 19, and is designed so that the water arriving from revolvingdrum 3 and the refrigerant flowing to the inlet of compressingdevice 22 flow through it simultaneously, allowing the refrigerant having a temperature lower than that of the water, to absorb heat from the water thus causing the cooling of the water to a temperature preferably, thought not necessarily, lower or equal to the temperature of the airflow f coming out ofwashing tub 3; and - a throttling valve or similar
refrigerant expansion device 27 which subjects the refrigerant flowing from the air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23 to the water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24, or vice versa, to a rapid expansion so that pressure and temperature of the refrigerant entering in the water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24 (or the air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23) are much lower than pressure and temperature of the refrigerant coming out from the air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23 (or the water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24), thus completing the closed thermodynamic cycle in opposition to thecompressing device 22, which provides for rapidly compressing the refrigerant. - Heat-
pump assembly 21 also comprises a number of suitable connecting pipes which connectrefrigerant compressing device 22, air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23, water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24 andrefrigerant expansion device 27 one to the other, so as to form a closed circuit allowing the refrigerant coming out from the outlet ofcompressing device 22 to flow through, in sequence, air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23,refrigerant expansion device 27 and water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24, before returning to the inlet ofcompressing device 22; and an electrically controlled four-wayhydraulic distributor 28 which connectscompressing device 22 to both the air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23 and the water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24. - The four-way
hydraulic distributor 28 is structured for selectively putting the outlet ofcompressing device 22 in direct communication with the air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23 or, alternatively, the water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24, and the inlet of compressingdevice 22 in direct communication with the otherrefrigerant heat exchanger refrigerant heat exchanger 23, the water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24 and therefrigerant expansion device 27. - In other words,
hydraulic distributor 28 is able to reverse, on command, the normal flowing direction of the refrigerant along, in sequence, the air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23, therefrigerant expansion device 27 and the water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24. Thus, when the outlet of compressingdevice 22 is directly connected to water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24, the refrigerant releases heat to the water arriving fromwashing tub 3 when flowing through water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24, and absorbs heat from the air circulating into the air recirculatingconduit 19 when flowing through air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23. -
Refrigerant compressing device 22,refrigerant expansion device 27, the electrically controlled four-wayhydraulic distributor 28, and the connecting pipes which connect compressingdevice 22,heat exchanger 23,heat exchanger 24 andexpansion device 27 one to the other, define the bi-directional closed-circuit refrigerant circulating means of heat-pump assembly 21. - The water/
refrigerant heat exchanger 24 and the electrically controlled four-wayhydraulic distributor 28 are commonly know parts in the heat-pump technical field, and therefore not described in detail. - Similarly the air/
water heat exchanger 25 is a commonly know part in the washing machine technical field, and therefore not described in detail. - As regards the
water circulation circuit 26, in the example shown it comprises afirst pipe 29 connecting the bottom ofwashing tub 3 to the inlet of water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24; asecond pipe 30 connecting the outlet of water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24 to the inlet of the air/water heat exchanger 25; athird pipe 31 connecting the outlet of air/water heat exchanger 25 to the bottom ofwashing tub 3; and an electrically poweredwater circulating pump 32 which is located along pipe 29 (or alternatively alongpipe 30 or pipe 31) for sucking, on command, the washing water from the bottom ofwashing tub 3 and circulating said water through, in sequence, the water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24 and the air/water heat exchanger 25, or vice versa, before feeding said water back intowashing tub 3. - With reference to
Figures 2 and3 , in the example shown the electrically operatedcentrifugal fan 20 is preferably, though not necessarily, located between air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23 and air/water heat exchanger 25; and hot-air generator 10 also comprises electrically controlled air valves, air baffles or similar airflow control means, which are able to put, on command, the air recirculatingconduit 19 in direct communication with the outside, for allowing external air to circulate through air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23. In addition to the above, said airflow control means are preferably, though not necessarily, also able to prevent, at the same time, the external air from circulating through the air/water heat exchanger 25. - More specifically, in the example shown, hot-
air generator 10 is provided with two three-way valves conduit 19, on both sides of air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23, so to divide air recirculatingconduit 19 into two consecutive segments, each of which crosses arespective heat exchanger way valves conduit 19 that crosses air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23, in direct communication with the outside or, alternatively, in direct communication with the other segment of the air recirculatingconduit 19, so to allow external air to circulate through air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23 while, at the same time, preventing said external air from circulating through the air/water heat exchanger 25. - In particular, in the example shown, three-
way valve 33 is preferably, though not necessarily, located between air/water heat exchanger 25 andcentrifugal fan 20, whereas three-way valve 34 is preferably, though not necessarily, located between air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23 andwashing tub 3. This arrangement ofvalves centrifugal fan 20 for generating the airflow f along the wholeair recirculating conduit 19, or the airflow f' along the segment ofair recirculating conduit 19 that crosses the air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23. - Operation of the laundry washing and drying
machine 1 will now be described assuming that the bottom ofwashing tub 3 is empty of water; thathydraulic distributor 28 is configured to put the outlet of compressingdevice 22 in direct communication with the air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23, and the inlet of compressingdevice 22 in direct communication with the water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24; and that both three-way valves air recirculating conduit 19 isolated from the outside (i.e they connect the two segments of theair recirculating conduit 19 one another), and let the airflow f flow along the wholeair recirculating conduit 19. - At this point, when the user requests a combined washing and drying cycle to be performed, the electronic
central control unit 35 of the laundry washing and dryingmachine 1 opens the on-offvalve 14 of drawerflush circuit 11 to fill up the bottom ofwashing tub 3 with an appropriate quantity of tap water. - With reference to
Figure 3 , when tap water reaches the predetermined level withinwashing tub 3,central control unit 35 - closes
valve 14; - switches the
hydraulic distributor 28 so as to put the outlet of compressingdevice 22 in direct communication with the water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24, and the inlet of compressingdevice 22 in direct communication with the air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23; and finally - switches three-
way valves air recirculating conduit 19 that crosses air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23, into communication with the outside of the household appliance while, at the same time, preventing free air circulation along the second segment of theair recirculating conduit 19 that crosses air/water heat exchanger 25. - When hot-
air generator 10 is configured for heating up the water stored inwashing tub 3,central control unit 35 switches on, respectively,centrifugal fan 20, compressingdevice 22, and pump 32 of thewater circulation circuit 26, to enable heat-pump assembly 21 to transfer heat from the airflow f' circulating through air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23 and arriving from the outside of the household appliance, to the water circulating intowater circulation circuit 26 and directed back towashing tub 3. - Since at this moment no air flows through air/
water heat exchanger 25, all heat absorbed from the airflow f' arriving from the outside is used for quickly heating up the tap water inwashing tub 3. - More specifically, the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant coming out from compressing
device 22 passes throughhydraulic distributor 28 and reaches the water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24, inside which the refrigerant releases heat to the tap water arriving from the bottom ofwashing tub 3 and directed back towashing tub 3. Withinheat exchanger 24, therefore, the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant arriving from compressingdevice 22 heats up the water circulating intowater circulation circuit 26. - After leaving the water/
refrigerant heat exchanger 24, the high-pressure refrigerant coming out from compressingdevice 22 then passes through therefrigerant expansion device 27, wherein the refrigerant is rapidly expanded so that pressure and temperature of the refrigerant entering in the air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23 are much lower than pressure and temperature of the refrigerant coming out from the water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24. - Finally, when passing through the air/
refrigerant heat exchanger 23, the low-pressure and low-temperature refrigerant arriving fromexpansion device 27 and flowing back to compressingdevice 22 absorbs heat from the airflow f' circulating through air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23, thus rapidly cooling the airflow f' flowing along the segment ofair recirculating conduit 19 that crosses the air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23. - Since no air flows through the air/
water heat exchanger 25, the air/water heat exchanger 25 operates like a traditional water conduit, and the temperature of the water arriving from the water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24 and directed back towashing tub 3 remains unchanged. In other words, all heat absorbed from the airflow f' arriving from the outside is transferred to the tap water circulating intowater circulation circuit 26. - When the water inside
washing tub 3 reaches the requested temperature,central control unit 35 may either switch off the hot-air generator 10 (i.e.centrifugal fan 20, compressingdevice 22 and pump 32) and start washing the laundry placed inside revolvingdrum 6 with the heated up tap water, or may open again on-offvalve 14 to pour some more tap water intowashing tub 3 and continue heating the water within the tub. - With reference to
Figure 2 , when the rising phase of the combined washing and drying cycle is completed,central control unit 35 switches again thehydraulic distributor 28 to put the outlet of compressingdevice 22 in direct communication with the air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23 and the inlet of compressingdevice 22 in direct communication with the water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24; and switches the three-way valves air recirculating conduit 19 from the outside, and to let the airflow f flow along the wholeair recirculating conduit 19. - When hot-
air generator 10 is configured for drying the laundry inside revolvingdrum 6,central control unit 35 switches oncentrifugal fan 20, compressingdevice 22, and pump 32 of thewater circulation circuit 26, to enable heat-pump assembly 21 to rapidly cool the airflow f coming out from washingtub 3 for condensing the surplus moisture in the airflow f, and then to rapidly heat the airflow f returning back intowashing tub 3, so that the airflow f entering intowashing tub 3 is heated rapidly to a temperature higher than or equal to that of the same air flowing out of thewashing tub 3. - In which case, the cold water flowing in the
water circulation circuit 26 is used for transferring heat from the airflow f coming out from washingtub 3 to the refrigerant flowing through the water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24. - More specifically, the high temperature and pressure refrigerant coming out from compressing
device 22 passes throughhydraulic distributor 28 and reaches the air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23 inside which the refrigerant releases heat to the airflow f flowing into theair recirculating conduit 19, back towashing tub 3. Withinheat exchanger 23, therefore, the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant arriving from compressingdevice 22 heats up the airflow f directed back intowashing tub 3. - After leaving the air/
refrigerant heat exchanger 23, the high-pressure refrigerant coming out from compressingdevice 22 then passes through therefrigerant expansion device 27, wherein the refrigerant is rapidly expanded so that pressure and temperature of the refrigerant entering in the water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24 are much lower than pressure and temperature of the refrigerant coming out from the air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23. - Finally, when passing through the water/
refrigerant heat exchanger 24, the low-pressure and low-temperature refrigerant arriving fromexpansion device 27 and flowing back to compressingdevice 22 absorbs heat from the water arriving from the bottom ofwashing tub 3 and directed back towashing tub 3, thus rapidly cooling the water circulating into thewater circulation circuit 26 and directed to the air/water heat exchanger 25. - The cold water circulating into the
water circulation circuit 26 may consist in a given quantity of the rinsing water previously used in the rinsing phase of the washing and drying cycle, or may consist in a given quantity of fresh water provided by the water supply and recirculating system 9 (namely the drawer flush circuit 11). - Obviously, if the laundry washing and drying
machine 1 is requested to perform a sole drying cycle, the cold water circulating into thewater circulation circuit 26 consists preferably, though not necessarily, in a given quantity of fresh water provided by the water supply andrecirculating system 9. - Since now the airflow f arriving from washing
tub 3 flows through the air/water heat exchanger 25, the cold water circulating into thewater circulation circuit 26 absorbs heat from the airflow f arriving from washingtub 3, thus rapidly cooling the airflow f to condense the surplus moisture in the airflow. - Obviously, the temperature of the washing water leaving the air/
water heat exchanger 25 and directed back to the water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24 is slightly higher than the temperature of the washing water arriving from the water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24, and the increase in the water temperature is due to the heat amount absorbed from the airflow f arriving from washingtub 3. This heat amount is immediately transferred to the refrigerant flowing back to compressingdevice 22 within the water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24. - In other words, during the drying cycle, the water flowing into the
water circulation circuit 26 only transfers heat from the airflow f arriving from washingtub 3 to the low-pressure and low-temperature refrigerant flowing back to compressingdevice 22. - In addition to the above, it is finally evident that the bottom of
washing tub 3 is structured to contain a sufficient quantity of fresh or rinsing water to be used in the drying cycle, and, at the same time, to prevent said fresh or rinsing water to reach the revolvingdrum 6 and the laundry stored inside the drum. - The particular structure of heat-
pump assembly 21 has lots of advantages. Firstly the heat exchange taking place inheat exchanger 24 of heat-pump assembly 21 always involves a fluid in gaseous state (i.e. the refrigerant) and a fluid in liquid state (i.e. the washing water stored in washing tub 3), thusheat exchanger 24 assures optimal heat-exchange performances both when laundry is dried, and when washing water is heated up. - In addition to the above, if the air/
water heat exchanger 25 is awater spray condenser 25, the washing water circulating inwater circulation circuit 26 can be used for capturing fluff or lint particles in the airflow f arriving from washingtub 3. - Clearly, changes may be made to laundry washing and drying
machine 1 as described herein without, however, departing from the scope of the present invention. - For example, with reference to
Figure 4 , thewater circulation circuit 26 may be integrated in the water recirculating and drainingcircuit 12, so as to reduce the number of water pumps. - More specifically, instead of selectively channeling into
water draining pipe 18 the water flowing along recirculatingpipe 15, the tree-way valve 17 channels, on command, the water flowing along recirculatingpipe 15 directly intowater pipe 29; and the water recirculating and drainingcircuit 12 is provided with a second electrically controlled tree-way valve 17' which is located alongwater pipe 29 for channeling, on command, the water flowing alongpipe 29 intowater draining pipe 18. In which case, therefore, pump 16 can suck the washing water from the bottom ofwashing tub 3 and feed said either towards revolvingdrum 6, or towards water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24. - With reference to
Figure 5 , in a further different embodiment, the bi-directional closed-circuit refrigerant circulating means of heat-pump assembly 21 may lack the electrically controlled four-wayhydraulic distributor 28, and may comprise instead tworefrigerant compressing devices 22 which are connected toheat exchanger 23 andheat exchanger 24 via two electrically controlled three-way valves 36. The tworefrigerant compressing devices 22 are in anti-parallel one to the other, so that each three-way valves 36 communicates with the inlet of a firstrefrigerant compressing device 22, and with the outlet of a secondrefrigerant compressing device 22. - In this embodiment, the electronic
central control unit 35 of the laundry washing and dryingmachine 1 controls both three-way valves 36 so to selectively connect only one of the tworefrigerant compressing devices 22 toheat exchanger 23 andheat exchanger 24, while keeping the otherrefrigerant compressing device 22 isolated.
Claims (10)
- A laundry washing and drying machine (1) comprising a casing (2) and, inside the casing, a laundry container (3, 6) for housing the laundry to be washed and dried, and a hot-air generator (10) able to circulate a stream of hot air inside said laundry container (3, 6), and to heat up the washing water stored into the laundry container (3, 6); said hot-air generator (10) comprising- an air recirculating conduit (19) connected at both ends to said laundry container (3, 6);- ventilating means (20) able to produce, along the recirculating conduit (8), an airflow (f) which flows through the laundry container (3, 6); and- a heat-pump assembly (21) which is able to rapidly cool the airflow (f) coming out from the laundry container (3, 6) for condensing the surplus moisture in said airflow (f), and then to rapidly heat the airflow (f) returning back into said laundry container (3, 6);said heat-pump assembly (21) being a bi-directional device comprising:- a first (23) and a second refrigerant heat exchanger (24) designed so that the refrigerant flowing through them can alternatively release or absorb heat from other fluids simultaneously flowing through said first (23) and second heat exchanger (24); and- bi-directional refrigerant circulating means (22, 27, 28, 36) able to circulate a refrigerant in succession through said first (23) and second heat exchanger (24) while subjecting said refrigerant in succession to a compression and an expansion in the passing from a refrigerant heat exchanger (23, 24) to the other, so that alternatively the first (23) or the second refrigerant heat exchanger (24) can receive a high-pressure and high-temperature refrigerant while the other refrigerant heat exchanger receives a low-pressure and low-temperature refrigerant;said laundry washing and drying machine (1) being characterized in that said first refrigerant heat exchanger (23) being is located along the air recirculating conduit (19), and is designed so that the refrigerant arriving from the bi-directional refrigerant circulating means (22, 27, 28, 36) and the airflow (f, f') directed to the laundry container (3, 6) flow through it simultaneously, allowing the refrigerant to release or absorb heat to/from said airflow (f, f'); said second refrigerant heat exchanger (24) being instead located out of the air recirculating conduit (19), and being designed so that the washing water arriving from the laundry container (3, 6) and the refrigerant arriving from the bi-directional closed-circuit refrigerant circulating means (22, 27, 28, 36) flow through it simultaneously, allowing the refrigerant to release or absorb heat to/from said washing water; the hot-air generator (10) being also provided with:- an air/water heat exchanger (25) which is located along the air recirculating conduit (19), upstream of the first refrigerant heat exchanger (23), and is designed so that the airflow (f) arriving from the laundry container (3, 6) and the water arriving from said second refrigerant heat exchanger (24) flow through it simultaneously, allowing the water to absorb heat from the airflow (f); and- with a water circulation circuit (26) for circulating the water stored into the laundry container (3, 6) through the second refrigerant heat exchanger (24) and the air/water heat exchanger (25).
- A laundry washing and drying machine as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the hot-air generator (10) is also provided with airflow control means (33, 34) which are located along the air recirculating conduit (19) for putting, on command, said air recirculating conduit (19) in communication with the outside, for allowing the external air (f') to circulate through the first refrigerant heat exchanger (23).
- A laundry washing and drying machine as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said airflow control means (33, 34) are also able to prevent air circulation through the air/water heat exchanger (25), when the air recirculating conduit (19) is in communication with the outside.
- A laundry washing and drying machine as claimed in anyone of the foregoing Claims, wherein said ventilating means (20) are located along the air recirculating conduit (19), between the air/water heat exchanger (25) and the first refrigerant heat exchanger (23).
- A laundry washing and drying machine as claimed in Claim 4, wherein said airflow control means (33, 34) comprise two three-way valves (33, 34) or similar, which are located along the air recirculating conduit (19), on both sides of the first refrigerant heat exchanger (23), so to divide the air recirculating conduit (19) into two consecutive segments each of which crosses a respective heat exchanger (23, 24); both three-way valves (33, 34) or similar being designed to put the segment of the air recirculating conduit (19) that crosses the first refrigerant heat exchanger (23), in direct communication, alternatively, with the outside or with the other segment of the air recirculating conduit (19).
- A laundry washing and drying machine as claimed in Claim 5, wherein a first three-way valve (33) or similar is located between the air/water heat exchanger (25) and the ventilating means (20), and a second three-way valve (34) or similar is located between the first refrigerant heat exchanger (23) and the laundry container (3, 6).
- A laundry washing and drying machine as claimed in anyone of the foregoing Claims, wherein said water circulation circuit (26) comprises a first pipe (15; 29) connecting the bottom of the laundry container (3, 6) to the inlet of the second refrigerant heat exchanger (24); a second pipe (30) connecting the outlet of the second refrigerant heat exchanger (24) to the inlet of the air/water heat exchanger (25); a third pipe (31) connecting the outlet of the air/water heat exchanger (25) to the laundry container (3, 6); and a water circulating pump (16; 32) which is located along said first (15; 29), said second (30) or said third pipe (31) for sucking, on command, the washing water from the bottom of the laundry container (3, 6) and circulating said water through the second refrigerant heat exchanger (24) and the air/water heat exchanger (25), before feeding said water back into the laundry container (3, 6).
- A laundry washing and drying machine as claimed in anyone of the foregoing Claims, wherein said laundry container (3, 6) comprises a washing tub (3) suspended in floating manner inside the casing (2), and a revolving drum (6) for housing the laundry to be washed and/or dried, and which is fixed in axially rotating manner inside the washing tub (3).
- A laundry washing and drying machine as claimed in Claim 7 and 8, wherein said laundry washing and drying machine (1) also comprises a washing-water recirculating and draining circuit (12) for sucking the washing water from the bottom of the washing tub (3) and feeding said water back into the revolving drum (6), or alternatively feeding said water into an external waste-water exhaust duct; said water circulation circuit (26) being integrated into said washing-water recirculating and draining circuit (12).
- A laundry washing and drying machine as claimed in anyone of the foregoing Claims, wherein said bi-directional refrigerant circulating means (22, 27, 28) comprise:- refrigerant compressing means (22) form compressing a gaseous refrigerant so that refrigerant pressure and temperature are much higher at the outlet than at the inlet of the refrigerant compressing means (22);- a refrigerant expansion device (27) which subjects the refrigerant flowing from the first refrigerant heat exchanger (23) to the second refrigerant heat exchanger (24) or vice versa, to a rapid expansion for reducing pressure and temperature of said refrigerant; and- an hydraulic distributor (28) which connects the refrigerant compressing means (22) to both the first (23) and the second refrigerant heat exchanger (24), and is structured for selectively putting the outlet of the refrigerant compressing means (22) in communication with the first (23) or, alternatively, the second refrigerant heat exchanger (24), and the inlet of the refrigerant compressing means (22) in communication with the other refrigerant heat exchanger (23, 24), for selecting, on command, the flow of the refrigerant along the first refrigerant heat exchanger (23), the refrigerant expansion device (27) and the second refrigerant heat exchanger (24).
Priority Applications (6)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AT08169589T ATE540154T1 (en) | 2008-11-21 | 2008-11-21 | WASHER AND DRYER |
EP20080169589 EP2189568B1 (en) | 2008-11-21 | 2008-11-21 | Laundry washing and drying machine |
BRPI0920911A BRPI0920911A2 (en) | 2008-11-21 | 2009-09-03 | washing and drying machine. |
US13/130,334 US20120272689A1 (en) | 2008-11-21 | 2009-09-03 | Laundry Washing and Drying Machine |
PCT/EP2009/006394 WO2010057547A1 (en) | 2008-11-21 | 2009-09-03 | Laundry washing and drying machine |
CN2009801532154A CN102272373B (en) | 2008-11-21 | 2009-09-03 | Laundry washing and drying machine |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP20080169589 EP2189568B1 (en) | 2008-11-21 | 2008-11-21 | Laundry washing and drying machine |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP2189568A1 EP2189568A1 (en) | 2010-05-26 |
EP2189568B1 true EP2189568B1 (en) | 2012-01-04 |
Family
ID=40548703
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP20080169589 Not-in-force EP2189568B1 (en) | 2008-11-21 | 2008-11-21 | Laundry washing and drying machine |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20120272689A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP2189568B1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN102272373B (en) |
AT (1) | ATE540154T1 (en) |
BR (1) | BRPI0920911A2 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2010057547A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN103339314A (en) * | 2010-12-02 | 2013-10-02 | 伊莱克斯家用产品股份有限公司 | Method of operating a heat pump dryer and heat pump dryer |
DE102015201864A1 (en) * | 2015-02-03 | 2016-08-04 | BSH Hausgeräte GmbH | Household appliance for treating laundry and method for operating such a household appliance |
Families Citing this family (30)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US8353114B2 (en) | 2010-07-26 | 2013-01-15 | General Electric Company | Apparatus and method for refrigeration cycle with auxiliary heating |
US8528227B2 (en) | 2010-07-26 | 2013-09-10 | General Electric Company | Apparatus and method for refrigerant cycle capacity acceleration |
US8601717B2 (en) * | 2010-07-26 | 2013-12-10 | General Electric Company | Apparatus and method for refrigeration cycle capacity enhancement |
KR101716821B1 (en) * | 2010-10-12 | 2017-03-15 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Clothes dryer and lint cleaning device thereof |
US8533975B2 (en) * | 2010-10-29 | 2013-09-17 | General Electric Company | Apparatus and method for refrigeration cycle elevation by modification of cycle start condition |
EP2460926A1 (en) * | 2010-12-02 | 2012-06-06 | Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V. | Heat pump dryer |
ITTO20101018A1 (en) * | 2010-12-20 | 2012-06-21 | Indesit Co Spa | MACHINE FOR DRYING OF LINEN FOR HOME USE |
DE102011078922A1 (en) * | 2011-07-11 | 2013-01-17 | BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH | Exhaust air drying with additional heating and heat exchanger unit |
US8490439B2 (en) | 2011-09-30 | 2013-07-23 | Electrolux Home Products, Inc. | Water recirculation and drum rotation control in a laundry washer |
PL2831330T3 (en) * | 2012-03-30 | 2016-09-30 | Heat pump for a clothes treatment appliance, and clothes treatment appliance comprising such heat pump | |
EP2644768A1 (en) * | 2012-03-30 | 2013-10-02 | BSH Electrodomésticos España, S.A. | Heat pump for a clothes treatment appliance |
US8769840B2 (en) * | 2012-05-14 | 2014-07-08 | King Fahd University Of Petroleum And Minerals | Recirculating dryer |
US20140318166A1 (en) * | 2013-04-26 | 2014-10-30 | Daivd R. Loebach | Moisture removal system |
US10174997B2 (en) | 2013-04-26 | 2019-01-08 | David R Loebach | Crop drying system |
KR102127383B1 (en) * | 2013-08-01 | 2020-06-26 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | Laundry Machine |
CN105463762B (en) * | 2014-08-08 | 2019-07-23 | 博西华电器(江苏)有限公司 | Clothes treatment device and its control method |
KR102364673B1 (en) * | 2014-10-28 | 2022-02-18 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | Laundry Machine and Control Method of the Laundry Machine |
CN104846586A (en) * | 2015-05-28 | 2015-08-19 | 天津商业大学 | Multifunctional trans-critical carbon dioxide heat pump type washing machine |
CH709537A2 (en) * | 2015-08-25 | 2015-10-15 | V Zug Ag | Washing machine with cooling operation. |
EP3173009A1 (en) * | 2015-11-24 | 2017-05-31 | BSH Hausgeräte GmbH | Household appliance with a heat pump and method for operating a household appliance |
EP3379992B1 (en) * | 2015-11-24 | 2019-11-06 | BSH Hausgeräte GmbH | Household appliance with a heat pump and method for operating a household appliance |
US10087569B2 (en) | 2016-08-10 | 2018-10-02 | Whirlpool Corporation | Maintenance free dryer having multiple self-cleaning lint filters |
US10519591B2 (en) * | 2016-10-14 | 2019-12-31 | Whirlpool Corporation | Combination washing/drying laundry appliance having a heat pump system with reversible condensing and evaporating heat exchangers |
US10738411B2 (en) | 2016-10-14 | 2020-08-11 | Whirlpool Corporation | Filterless air-handling system for a heat pump laundry appliance |
US10502478B2 (en) | 2016-12-20 | 2019-12-10 | Whirlpool Corporation | Heat rejection system for a condenser of a refrigerant loop within an appliance |
US10514194B2 (en) | 2017-06-01 | 2019-12-24 | Whirlpool Corporation | Multi-evaporator appliance having a multi-directional valve for delivering refrigerant to the evaporators |
US10718082B2 (en) | 2017-08-11 | 2020-07-21 | Whirlpool Corporation | Acoustic heat exchanger treatment for a laundry appliance having a heat pump system |
ES2702469A1 (en) * | 2017-09-01 | 2019-03-01 | Bsh Electrodomesticos Espana Sa | DOMESTIC DISHWASHER MACHINE WITH HEAT PUMP DISPOSITION (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) |
ES2702471A1 (en) * | 2017-09-01 | 2019-03-01 | Bsh Electrodomesticos Espana Sa | DOMESTIC DISHWASHER MACHINE WITH HEAT PUMP DISPOSITION (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) |
CN111270467B (en) * | 2020-02-29 | 2021-03-02 | 珠海格力电器股份有限公司 | Clothes treatment equipment and control method |
Family Cites Families (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE3216315A1 (en) * | 1982-05-03 | 1983-11-03 | Dieter 4619 Bergkamen Pomplun | Washing machine or dishwasher having a thermally controlled air-water heat exchanger |
US4665628A (en) * | 1986-03-31 | 1987-05-19 | Raytheon Company | Recuperative clothes dryer with enhanced recirculation and air flow |
DE10255575C1 (en) * | 2002-11-28 | 2003-12-11 | Miele & Cie | Condensation laundry dryer has heat pump device having evaporator incorporated in heat exchanger of warm air process loop |
JP2005024113A (en) * | 2003-06-30 | 2005-01-27 | Sanyo Electric Co Ltd | Dryer |
JP4521297B2 (en) * | 2005-02-22 | 2010-08-11 | 株式会社東芝 | Drum type washer / dryer |
JP4880982B2 (en) * | 2005-11-18 | 2012-02-22 | 株式会社東芝 | Washing and drying machine |
JP4679352B2 (en) * | 2005-11-25 | 2011-04-27 | 株式会社東芝 | Clothes dryer |
-
2008
- 2008-11-21 AT AT08169589T patent/ATE540154T1/en active
- 2008-11-21 EP EP20080169589 patent/EP2189568B1/en not_active Not-in-force
-
2009
- 2009-09-03 BR BRPI0920911A patent/BRPI0920911A2/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2009-09-03 CN CN2009801532154A patent/CN102272373B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2009-09-03 US US13/130,334 patent/US20120272689A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2009-09-03 WO PCT/EP2009/006394 patent/WO2010057547A1/en active Application Filing
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN103339314A (en) * | 2010-12-02 | 2013-10-02 | 伊莱克斯家用产品股份有限公司 | Method of operating a heat pump dryer and heat pump dryer |
DE102015201864A1 (en) * | 2015-02-03 | 2016-08-04 | BSH Hausgeräte GmbH | Household appliance for treating laundry and method for operating such a household appliance |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2010057547A1 (en) | 2010-05-27 |
CN102272373A (en) | 2011-12-07 |
CN102272373B (en) | 2013-03-27 |
US20120272689A1 (en) | 2012-11-01 |
EP2189568A1 (en) | 2010-05-26 |
ATE540154T1 (en) | 2012-01-15 |
BRPI0920911A2 (en) | 2015-12-29 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
EP2189568B1 (en) | Laundry washing and drying machine | |
CN106968079B (en) | Washer-dryer with cooling water circuit | |
US20100307018A1 (en) | Heat-Pump Clothes Drying Machine | |
KR102009278B1 (en) | A clothes dryer having a expansion valve which is variable according to the driving mode | |
JP2005024113A (en) | Dryer | |
JP2007175528A (en) | Washing and drying machine | |
CN108289589B (en) | Household appliance having a heat pump and method for operating a household appliance | |
JP6486197B2 (en) | Clothes dryer | |
EP3015591B1 (en) | Clothes treating apparatus and control method thereof | |
EP2935684B1 (en) | Washer-dryer machine | |
WO2018123845A1 (en) | Clothes drying machine | |
JPH01212599A (en) | Washer-dryer | |
EP3056600B1 (en) | Washing machine with heat pump system | |
JP2007143712A (en) | Washing/drying machine | |
JP4876695B2 (en) | Washing and drying machine | |
JP2006087484A (en) | Washing/drying machine | |
JP4507966B2 (en) | Washing and drying machine | |
CN111270467B (en) | Clothes treatment equipment and control method | |
WO2014082970A1 (en) | Laundry washer-dryer | |
RU2496935C2 (en) | Household drying machine for linen | |
CN107022866B (en) | Washing and drying integrated machine and control method thereof | |
JP2008183335A (en) | Washing and drying system | |
JP4525463B2 (en) | Washing and drying machine | |
KR102348960B1 (en) | A Laundry treating apparatus comprising a heat pump and control method of the same. | |
JP2006218067A (en) | Washing and drying machine |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK TR |
|
AX | Request for extension of the european patent |
Extension state: AL BA MK RS |
|
17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 20101116 |
|
17Q | First examination report despatched |
Effective date: 20110103 |
|
AKX | Designation fees paid |
Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK TR |
|
RAP1 | Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred) |
Owner name: ELECTROLUX HOME PRODUCTS CORPORATION N.V. |
|
RAP1 | Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred) |
Owner name: ELECTROLUX HOME PRODUCTS CORPORATION N.V. |
|
GRAP | Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1 |
|
GRAS | Grant fee paid |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3 |
|
GRAA | (expected) grant |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: B1 Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK TR |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: GB Ref legal event code: FG4D |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: CH Ref legal event code: EP |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: AT Ref legal event code: REF Ref document number: 540154 Country of ref document: AT Kind code of ref document: T Effective date: 20120115 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: IE Ref legal event code: FG4D |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: R096 Ref document number: 602008012466 Country of ref document: DE Effective date: 20120301 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: NL Ref legal event code: VDEP Effective date: 20120104 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: SI Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20120104 |
|
LTIE | Lt: invalidation of european patent or patent extension |
Effective date: 20120104 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: BG Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20120404 Ref country code: LT Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20120104 Ref country code: IS Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20120504 Ref country code: NO Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20120404 Ref country code: BE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20120104 Ref country code: HR Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20120104 Ref country code: NL Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20120104 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: PL Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20120104 Ref country code: LV Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20120104 Ref country code: GR Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20120405 Ref country code: PT Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20120504 Ref country code: FI Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20120104 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: AT Ref legal event code: MK05 Ref document number: 540154 Country of ref document: AT Kind code of ref document: T Effective date: 20120104 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: CY Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20120104 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: RO Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20120104 Ref country code: EE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20120104 Ref country code: DK Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20120104 Ref country code: CZ Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20120104 Ref country code: SE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20120104 |
|
PLBE | No opposition filed within time limit |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: SK Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20120104 |
|
26N | No opposition filed |
Effective date: 20121005 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: AT Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20120104 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: R097 Ref document number: 602008012466 Country of ref document: DE Effective date: 20121005 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: ES Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20120415 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: CH Ref legal event code: PL |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: LI Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20121130 Ref country code: CH Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20121130 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: IE Ref legal event code: MM4A |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: IE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20121121 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: MT Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20120104 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: DE Payment date: 20131121 Year of fee payment: 6 Ref country code: GB Payment date: 20131120 Year of fee payment: 6 Ref country code: FR Payment date: 20131120 Year of fee payment: 6 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: IT Payment date: 20131122 Year of fee payment: 6 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: TR Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20120104 Ref country code: MC Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20121130 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: LU Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20121121 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: HU Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20081121 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: R119 Ref document number: 602008012466 Country of ref document: DE |
|
GBPC | Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 20141121 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: FR Ref legal event code: ST Effective date: 20150731 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: GB Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20141121 Ref country code: DE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20150602 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: FR Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20141201 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: IT Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20141121 |