EP2334865B1

EP2334865B1 - A dryer

Info

Publication number: EP2334865B1
Application number: EP09782734A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Kemal Sarioglu; Yusuf Can
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2008-09-09
Filing date: 2009-09-08
Publication date: 2012-10-31
Anticipated expiration: 2029-09-08
Also published as: WO2010029058A1; EP2334865A1

Description

The present invention relates to a dryer comprising a condenser, as known from WO89/04392 .
In the state of the art embodiments, in dryers with condenser, the drying process is based on the interaction of two air flows that do not directly contact each other; being cooling air and cycle air. The cycle air is heated by a heater and directed into the drum, which then contacts the damp laundry and removes the moisture on the laundry and which is finally transferred to a condenser to be dehumidified. Meanwhile, the cooling air is sent onto the condenser by means of a fan and thus, the moisture in the cycle air is provided to be condensed by the condenser being cooled. After the cycle air leaves the moisture therein on the condenser, the cycle air is heated by the heater and again put into the drying cycle. In washers/dryers comprising condenser, various embodiments are developed in order to improve the condensing efficiency and operating performance.
In the drying device explained in state of the art Korean Patent Application No KR20050012100 , the condensing efficiency is aimed to be improved by providing the air inserted into a condensing duct to flow up and down a few times.
In the Japanese Patent Application No JP2005344987 , a dryer is described wherein the air circulated in two different circuits is passed through different passages of a dehumidifier with two passages, partitioned by a humidity permeable membrane, and thus the moisture is enabled to move from one passage to the other passage due to the difference of pressure and moisture.
In these state of the art embodiments, the air entering the condenser, having a relatively low temperature value also causes the condensation potential to be low. On the other hand, the heat value of the air coming from the heater is limited in order to prevent the laundry from being damaged and hence air at very high temperature cannot be sent into the drum.
The aim of the present invention is the realization of a washer/dryer, the condensing efficiency and operating performance of which are improved.
The washer/dryer realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is explicated in the first claim and its other elements in the related claims.
The washer/dryer comprises a chamber wherein the cycle air at high temperature coming from the heater encounters the damp cycle air passed over the laundry located in the drum and a separator providing one part the mixture formed in the chamber to be sent to the drum and the other part to the condenser.
The chamber is located on the flow path between the drum and the heater. The warm air entering into the drum through the inlet on the drum removes the moisture of the laundry and passes into the chamber through the outlet that opens to the chamber. In the chamber, the humid air coming from the drum encounters the warm air coming from the heater. This mixture of cycle air formed in the chamber is then divided into two by means of the separator. One part of the cycle air is directed into the drum and the other part to the condenser. Thus, the air directed to the condenser is provided to be humid but at high temperature, thus, the dehumidifying potential of it is increased.
The chamber furthermore comprises an opening that enables at least one part of the cycle air mixture formed therein to exit the chamber.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the washer/dryer furthermore comprises a first channel that provides the air in the chamber to be carried to the inlet of the drum. In this embodiment, the separator is in the form of a sheet that is located in front of the inlet and that divides the incoming air into two and directs one part of it into the drum and the other part to the lower portion of the drum.
In a version of this embodiment, a cycle fan is disposed into the first channel. The cycle fan aspirates the cycle air from the first channel and blows it towards the inlet. Thus, the air in the chamber is prevented from flowing into the drum again and hence provided to be taken entirely into the first channel.
In another version of this embodiment, the washer/dryer comprises two cycle fans, one of which is disposed into the drum, preceding the outlet and the other between the condenser and the heater. Thus, the quantities of the cycle air sent into the drum or to the condenser can be adjusted at the desired rate according to the capacities of the cycle fans.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the separator is in the form of a hole which is located at the portion of the chamber that is near the condenser and which enables air passage through itself. In this embodiment, one part of the air located in the chamber exits through the opening and flows towards the drum and the other part exits through the separator and flows towards the condenser. The washer/dryer comprises preferably a second channel located under the drum and extending between the separator and the condenser. The air exiting the chamber by passing through the separator proceeds to the second channel and from here to the condenser.
In this embodiment, the washer/dryer comprises two cycle fans, one of which is disposed into the drum, preceding the outlet and the other into the second channel. Thus, by the adjustment of the cycle fan capacities, the rates of the cycle air transferred to the drum by passing through the outlet and of the cycle air transferred to the condenser by passing through the separator can be controlled.
In the washer/dryer of the present invention, the cycle air is provided to be at high heat, thus, its dehumidifying capacity is increased and the performance of the washer/dryer is enhanced.
The model embodiments relating to a washer/dryer realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention are illustrated in the attached figures, where:
Figure 1 - is the schematic view of a washer/dryer in the former technique.
Figure 2 - is the schematic view of an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 3 - is the schematic view of another embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 4 - is the schematic view of yet another embodiment of the present invention.
The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Washer/dryer
2. Drum
3. Heater
4. Condenser
5. Condenser fan
6. Chamber
7. Separator
8. Inlet
9. Outlet
10. Opening
11. First channel
12. Cycle fan
13. Second channel

The washer/dryer (1) comprises

a drum (2) wherein the laundry desired to be dried is emplaced, an inlet (8) enabling the cycle air to enter into the drum (2),
an outlet (9) enabling the cycle air to exit the drum (2),
a condenser (4) providing the cycle air to be dehumidified by being condensed,
a heater (3) providing the dehumidified cycle air exiting the condenser (4) to be heated and
at least one cycle fan (12) providing the cycle air to proceed

(Figure 1 and Figure 3).
The washer/dryer (1) furthermore comprises a chamber (6) wherein the cycle air with low moisture and at high temperature heated by means of the heater (3) and the damp cycle air exiting the drum (2) are encountered and mixed, and a separator (7) providing the cycle air mixture formed in the chamber (6) to be divided into two lines in order that one part of it will be sent to the drum (2), onto the laundry that will be dried and the other part to the condenser (4) for dehumidifying (Figure 3, Figure 4 and Figure 5). Thus, both the heat of the air sent to the condenser (4) for dehumidifying and hence its dehumidifying potential is increased, and the air coming from the heater (3) is provided to be at a higher temperature compared to the conventional embodiments without damage to the laundry. As a result, the washer/dryer (1) is provided to operate more efficiently.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the washer/dryer (1) comprises a condenser fan (5) providing the cooling air aspirated from the ambient to be blown onto the condenser (4) in order that the condenser (4) can be cooled.
The chamber (6) is located on the flow path of the cycle air, between the drum (2) and the heater (3). The warm air entering into the drum (2) through the inlet (8) on the drum (2) removes the moisture of the laundry and exits through the outlet (9) that opens to the chamber (6). The humid air coming from the drum (2) encounters the warm air coming from the heater (3) in the chamber (6).
The air mixed in the chamber (6) is divided into two lines by means of the separator (7) and one part of it is sent into the drum (2) for the laundry to be dried and the other part is directed to the condenser (4) for dehumidifying.
The chamber (6) furthermore comprises an opening (10) that enables at least one part of the mixture formed by the humid air coming from the drum (2) and the warm air coming from the heater (3) to exit the chamber (6).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the washer/dryer (1) furthermore comprises a first channel (11) located on the flow path of the cycle air, between the drum (2) and the chamber (6). In this embodiment, all of the air in the chamber (6) passes to the first channel (11) through the opening (10) and proceeds through the first channel (11) towards the inlet (8) located at the front side of the drum (2). In this embodiment, the separator (7) is in the form of an L-shaped sheet that is located in front of the inlet (8). One part of the air proceeding to the inlet (8) follows the L-shape of the separator (7) and proceeds through the inlet (8) into the drum (2) and here contacts the laundry, hence removes the moisture of the laundry. The other part of the air passes from the outside of the L-shape of the separator (7) and proceeds towards the condenser (4) located under the drum (2) (Figure 3 and Figure 4).
In a version of this embodiment, the cycle fan (12) is disposed into the first channel (11) such that the cycle fan (12) will aspirate the cycle air from the first channel (11) and blow it towards the inlet (8) (Figure 3). Thus, the air in the chamber (6) is provided to flow towards the opening (10) and to be taken into the first channel (11) and prevented from flowing from the chamber (6) into the drum (2) again.
In another version of this embodiment, the washer/dryer (1) comprises two cycle fans (12), one of which is disposed into the drum (2), preceding the outlet (9) and the other between the condenser (4) and the heater (3) (Figure 4). Thus, the control of how much of the cycle air being divided into two lines by means of the separator (7) will be directed into the drum (2) and how much of it to the condenser (4) can be determined by an appropriate adjustment of the capacities of the cycle fans (12).
In another embodiment of the present invention, the separator (7) is in the form of a hole which is located at the side of the chamber (6) facing the condenser (4). In this embodiment, one part of the air located in the chamber (6) exits through the opening (10) and flows towards the drum (2) in order to remove the moisture of the laundry and the other part exits the chamber (6) through the separator (7) and flows towards the condenser (4). In this embodiment, the washer/dryer (1) comprises preferably a second channel (13) located under the drum (2) and extending between the separator (7) and the condenser (4). The air exiting the chamber (6) by passing through the separator (7) proceeds to the second channel (13) and from here to the condenser (4) (Figure 5).
In this embodiment, the washer/dryer (1) comprises two cycle fans (12), one of which is disposed into the drum (2), preceding the outlet (9) and the other into the second channel (13) (Figure 5). Thus, by the adjustment of the cycle fan (12) capacities, the rates of the cycle air transferred to the drum (2) by passing through the outlet (9) and of the cycle air transferred to the condenser (4) by passing through the separator (7) can be controlled.
In the washer/dryer (1) of the present invention, before being sent to the condenser (4) for dehumidifying, the cycle air which exits the drum (2) and which removed moisture from the laundry is encountered with the warm cycle air exiting the heater (3), thus, the humid air flowing to the condenser (4) is provided to be warm. Since the dehumidifying capacity of the warm humid air in the condenser (4) is higher, the condensation efficiency is provided to be improved and hence the washer/dryer (1) is provided to operate more efficiently.

Claims

A washer/dryer (1) comprising
a drum (2) wherein the laundry desired to be dried is emplaced,
an inlet (8) enabling the cycle air to enter into the drum (2),
an outlet (9) enabling the cycle air to exit the drum (2),
a condenser (4) providing the cycle air to be dehumidified by being condensed,
a heater (3) providing the dehumidified cycle air exiting the condenser (4) to be heated,
at least one cycle fan (12) providing the cycle air to proceed,
wherein
a chamber (6) is provided wherein the cycle air with low moisture and at high temperature heated by means of the heater (3) and the damp cycle air exiting through the outlet (9) are mixed, and
a separator (7) provides the cycle air mixture formed in the chamber (6) to be divided into two lines in order that
- one part of the cycle air mixture will be sent through the inlet (8) into the drum (2) along the first line, and

- the other part of the cycle air mixture will be sent via the condenser (4) to the heater (3) along the second line.
A washer/dryer (1) as in Claim 1 , characterized in that the chamber (6) is located on the flow path of the cycle air, between the drum (2) and the heater (3).
A washer/dryer (1) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by the chamber (6) comprising an opening (10) that enables at least one part of the mixture formed by the humid air coming from the drum (2) and the warm air coming from the heater (3) to exit the chamber (6).
A washer/dryer (1) as in Claim 3, characterized by a first channel (11) which is located on the flow path of the cycle air, between the drum (2) and the chamber (6), and whereto all of the air in the chamber (6) proceeds by passing through the opening (10) and from here towards the inlet (8) located at the front side of the drum (2), and a separator (7) which is in the form of an L-shaped sheet located in front of the inlet (8) and which provides one part of the air proceeding to the inlet (8) to follow its L-shape and to proceed through the inlet (8) into the drum (2) and the other part to pass from the outside of itself and to proceed towards the condenser (4) located under the drum (2).
A washer/dryer (1) as in Claim 4, characterized in that the cycle fan (12) is disposed into the first channel (11) such that the cycle fan (12) will aspirate the cycle air from the first channel (11) and blow it towards the inlet (8).
A washer/dryer (1) as in Claim 4, characterized by two cycle fans (12), one of which is disposed into the drum (2), preceding the outlet (9) and the other between the condenser (4) and the heater (3).
A washer/dryer (1) as in any one of the Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the separator (7) is in the form of a hole and is located at the side of the chamber (6) facing the condenser (4).
A washer/dryer (1) as in Claim 7, characterized by a second channel (13) that extends between the separator (7) and the condenser (4) and that provides the air exiting the chamber (6) by passing through the separator (7) to proceed into itself and from here to the condenser (4).
A washer/dryer (1) as in Claim 8, characterized by two cycle fans (12), one of which is disposed into the drum (2), preceding the outlet (9) and the other into the second channel (13).