EP2471998A1 - Appliance for drying laundry - Google Patents
Appliance for drying laundry Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP2471998A1 EP2471998A1 EP11150055A EP11150055A EP2471998A1 EP 2471998 A1 EP2471998 A1 EP 2471998A1 EP 11150055 A EP11150055 A EP 11150055A EP 11150055 A EP11150055 A EP 11150055A EP 2471998 A1 EP2471998 A1 EP 2471998A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- drying air
- drying
- water
- appliance
- 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.)
- Granted
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Classifications
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- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F58/00—Domestic laundry dryers
- D06F58/20—General details of domestic laundry dryers
- D06F58/24—Condensing arrangements
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- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F25/00—Washing machines with receptacles, e.g. perforated, having a rotary movement, e.g. oscillatory movement, the receptacle serving both for washing and for centrifugally separating water from the laundry and having further drying means, e.g. using hot air
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- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F2103/00—Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
- D06F2103/70—Number of operational cycles
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- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F2105/00—Systems or parameters controlled or affected by the control systems of washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
- D06F2105/02—Water supply
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- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F2105/00—Systems or parameters controlled or affected by the control systems of washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
- D06F2105/36—Condensing arrangements, e.g. control of water injection therefor
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- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F2105/00—Systems or parameters controlled or affected by the control systems of washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
- D06F2105/58—Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user
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- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F2105/00—Systems or parameters controlled or affected by the control systems of washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
- D06F2105/58—Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user
- D06F2105/60—Audible signals
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- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F34/00—Details of control systems for washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
- D06F34/28—Arrangements for program selection, e.g. control panels therefor; Arrangements for indicating program parameters, e.g. the selected program or its progress
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- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00
- D06F39/08—Liquid supply or discharge arrangements
- D06F39/088—Liquid supply arrangements
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- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F58/00—Domestic laundry dryers
- D06F58/32—Control of operations performed in domestic laundry dryers
- D06F58/34—Control of operations performed in domestic laundry dryers characterised by the purpose or target of the control
- D06F58/45—Cleaning or disinfection of machine parts, e.g. of heat exchangers or filters
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Textile Engineering (AREA)
- Detail Structures Of Washing Machines And Dryers (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The present invention generally relates to the field of household appliances for laundry and garments treatment. In particular, the present invention relates to appliances for drying laundry, such as laundry dryers and combined washers/dryers.
- Appliances for drying laundry, are adapted to dry clothes, garments, laundry in general, by circulating hot, dry air within a tumbler or drum. The drum is rotatably accommodated within a machine cabinet, and is designed to contain the articles to be dried. The rotation of the drum causes agitation of the articles to be dried, while they are hit by the drying air flow.
- Combined laundry washer/dryer appliances combine the features of a washing machine with those of a dryer; in these appliances, the drum is rotatably accommodated within a washing tub.
- In a known type of laundry dryers and washers/dryers, also referred to as "condenser dryer", the drying air flow is typically caused to pass through the drum, exiting therefrom from the front access opening, then it passes through a moisture condensing system, where the humid air is at least partially dehydrated, dried, and the dried air flow is heated up by means of a heating arrangement, like an electrical resistance; the heated drying air flow then passes again through the drum, and repeats the cycle.
- The condensing system may be an air-air heat exchanger, exploiting air taken in from the outside. Examples of laundry dryers exploiting this type of condensing system are provided in
EP 254018 EP 1584734 ,EP 2039819 ,GB 2075559 - Other known dryers and washers/dryers exploit a heat pump to dehydrate the drying air flow; in these dryers, the function of the heating arrangement may be performed by the heat pump itself, and the electrical resistance may thus not be provided for. Examples of laundry dryers exploiting a heat pump condenser are provided in
JP2004135715 EP 1411163 ,EP 1634984 . - Other known solutions exploit a water spray condenser for cooling the drying air. For example,
EP 0552843 describes a washing and drying machine including, for the drying part, a steam condenser communicating with the inside of the washing container to receive the steam emanated by the washed laundry contained in the drum and with a nozzle for spraying cold water for the condensation of said steam, an aspirator associated with said condenser for the aspiration of the condensed steam formed in said condenser and for its conveyance to a drying area for the formation of dry hot air and a recirculation conduit of dry hot air inside said container. A water spray condenser is also described inGB2248920 - The moisture condensing system, e.g. the heat pump, may in use become clogged by fluff released by the laundry being dried, and if this occurs their performance is degraded, and the moisture-laden drying air is not effectively demoisturized; this as a consequence reduces the drying performance of the appliance.
- The Applicant has faced the problem of how to avoid clogging by fluff of the moisture condensing system.
- The Applicant has found that water taken in from water mains may be effectively exploited to wash the moisture condensing system. This solution is particularly easy to implement in laundry washers/dryers, wherein a connection to water mains is already provided, for taking in water to wash the laundry.
- According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a laundry drying appliance comprising a cabinet, a rotatable drum accommodated within the cabinet, and a laundry drying air circulation system for circulating drying air, the drying air circulation system comprising moisture condensing means operable for dehydrating moisture-laden drying air.
- Means operable for cleaning the moisture condensing means are provided, said means for cleaning comprising valve means operable to selectively enable a load of water from a water main to which the laundry drying appliance is connectable, and a water circuit for delivering the loaded water from the valve means to the moisture condensing means.
- The water circuit may comprise at least one nozzle for sprinkling water onto the moisture condensing means.
- Said moisture condensing means may comprise a first heat exchanger of a heat pump, said first heat exchanger being operable for cooling and dehydrating the moisture-laden drying air.
- When the laundry drying appliance is a laundry washer/dryer, said drum is rotatably accommodated within a washing tub housed within the cabinet, and said valve means are operable to either load laundry washing water or to load the moisture condensing means cleaning water.
- Control means of the appliance are adapted to selectively actuate the valve means for feeding water to the water circuit.
- Said control means actuate the valve during a laundry washing phase of the appliance, the laundry drying appliance being a laundry washer/dryer.
- Said control means actuate the valve during a laundry rinsing phase of the appliance, laundry drying appliance being a laundry washer/dryer
- Said control means can be commanded by a user, through a user interface of the appliance so that the actuation of a command button or the like enables the controller to actuate the valve means accordingly.
- The appliance comprises visual and/or acoustic means for informing the user that the moisture condensing means are to be cleaned.
- Control means of the appliance are adapted to calculate how many cycles have been performed from the last moisture condensing means cleaning and to operate the visual and/or acoustic means accordingly.
- Said water circuit preferaly comprises a water discharge circuit for discharging the water used to wash the moisture condensing means.
- Said water discharge circuit may be fluidly connected to a detergent dispensing arrangement of the appliance, or the water discharge circuit may be fluidly connected to the tub of the appliance, or the water discharge circuit may be fluidly connected to a pump for draining the tub of the appliance.
- Said drum is rotatably accommodated within a washing tub housed within the cabinet and said moisture condensing means are arranged between the tub and a top wall of the cabinet.
- The laundry drying appliance comprising a cabinet having a top, a rotatable drying drum accommodated within the cabinet, and a laundry drying air circulation system for circulating drying air, wherein the top is adapted to match and close from above the cabinet, the top being formed as a ready-to-mount part ready to be mounted to the cabinet and forming a moisture condensing module for dehydrating drying air used to dry laundry within the drying drum, the top having a drying air inlet for receiving moisture-laden drying air, a drying air outlet for delivering dehydrated drying air, fluid passageways defined thereinside from said drying air inlet to said drying air outlet for the passage of the drying air to be dehydrated and moisture condensing means arranged inside said fluid passageways, wherein the drying air circulation system comprises a drying air drum outlet connectable to the drying air inlet of the top, and a drying air drum inlet connectable to the drying air outlet of the top.
- These and other features and advantages of the present invention will better appear by reading the following detailed description of some embodiments thereof, provided merely by way of non-limitative examples, description that should be read in conjunction with the attached drawings, wherein:
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Figure 1 is a perspective from the front of an appliance for drying laundry according to an embodiment of the present invention, with a worktop forming a ready-to-mount moisture condensing module for dehydrating drying air used to dry laundry within a drying drum of the laundry drying appliance; -
Figure 2 shows in perspective the appliance ofFigure 1 with the worktop unmounted; -
Figure 3A shows in perspective from the rear the appliance ofFigure 2 , with lateral and rear walls of the cabinet removed; -
Figure 3B shows a detail ofFigure 3A from another point of view; -
Figure 4 shows in enlarged scale a detail of a part of the appliance ofFigure 3A ; -
Figure 5A shows in perspective exploded view a worktop of the appliance ofFigure 2 , in an embodiment of the present invention; -
Figure 5B shows the worktop ofFigure 5A from below; -
Figure 6 shows a detail of the worktop ofFigure 5A ; -
Figures 7A and 7B schematizes the path followed, within the worktop ofFigure 5A , by laundry drying air to be dehydrated, and by cooling air used to cool down the drying air so as to remove moisture therefrom; -
Figure 8 shows another detail of the worktop ofFigure 5A ; -
Figure 9 shows still another detail of the worktop ofFigure 5A , particularly an embodiment of mist separation means provided in the worktop; -
Figure 10 shows a condense water drainage arrangement for draining condense water from the worktop ofFigures 5A and5B ; -
Figure 11 schematically shows a detail of an alternative embodiment of the mist separation means ofFigure 9 ; -
Figure 12 shows still another alternative embodiment of the mist separation means; -
Figure 13 schematically shows an arrangement for exploiting condense water released by the drying air for generating steam used for refreshing the items to be dried; -
Figures 14A and 15 shows a solution for generating refreshing steam, in an embodiment of the present invention; in addition,Figure 14A also shown an alternative construction of a drying air circulation fan and drying air conduit for delivering drying air to the drum; -
Figure 14B shows a detail of the fixation of the drying air circulation fan ofFigure 14A to the machine cabinet; -
Figure 16 shows schematically an embodiment of the worktop ofFigure 5A adapted to define a drying surface for laying garments to be dried gently; -
Figures 17 and 18 show an alternative construction of the worktop ofFigure 5A ; -
Figures 19 and 20 show the implementation of the concept ofFigure 16 to the alternative worktop construction ofFigures 17 and 18 ; -
Figure 21 shows in exploded view a worktop according to another embodiment of the present invention, comprising a heat pump for dehydrating and then heating the drying air; -
Figure 22A shows the worktop ofFigure 21 partially mounted, and schematizes the path followed by the drying air; -
Figure 22B shows the worktop ofFigure 22A from below; -
Figure 23 shows the worktop ofFigure 21 partially sectioned, and also schematizes the path followed by the drying air; -
Figure 24A shows a variant of the solution ofFigure 22 , with a compressor accommodated in the basement of the machine; -
Figure 24B shows from below the worktop and compressor in the variant ofFigure 24A ; -
Figure 25 shows a detail of the worktop ofFigure 21 ; -
Figure 26 shows an arrangement for draining condense water from the worktop ofFigure 25 ; -
Figure 27 shows a variant of the solution ofFigures 21 to 26 , with the heat pump accommodated in the basement of the appliance; -
Figures 28-30 show in perspective and also in exploded views a worktop according to another embodiment of the present invention; -
Figures 31A and31 B shows in perspective view from below variants of the worktop ofFigures 1-27 , wherein part of a fan housing is integrally formed with the worktop; -
Figures 32-34 show in perspective views a worktop according to another embodiment of the present invention, wherein a seat for a detergent/softener container is also integrally formed in the worktop; -
Figures 35A and 35B show an alternative construction for a defluff filter; -
Figures 36-39 and 40 show schematically embodiments of the present invention which enable washing the evaporator exploiting water coming from a water main or condense water originating from the dehydration of the moisture-laden drying air; and -
Figures 41-45 show an embodiment of the present invention according to which the moisture condensing module for dehydrating drying air used to dry laundry is realized as a rear panel of the machine, instead of in the form of a worktop. - With reference to the drawings, a laundry drying appliance, particularly a washer/dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention is depicted in
Figure 1 in perspective. The washer/dryer, globally denoted as 100, comprises adrum 105 for the loading of the articles to be washed and/or dried, such as clothes, garments, linen, and similar articles. Thedrum 105 is a generically cylindrical body, for example made of stainless steel, and is rotatable within a tub housed in the machine casing orcabinet 110. - The
cabinet 110 is generically a parallelepiped in shape, and has afront wall 113, twoside walls 117, a rear wall, a basement and a worktop (top) 119. Thefront wall 113 is provided with an opening for accessing thedrum 105 and with an associateddoor 115 for closing the opening. In the upper part of thefront wall 113, amachine control panel 121 is located, and, aside thecontrol panel 121, adrawer 123, part of a washing treatment products dispensing arrangement, for loading laundry washing treatment products like detergents and softeners. The top 119 closes thecabinet 110 from above, and defines a worktop. - In the washer/
dryer 100, when operated in dryer mode, drying air is typically caused to flow through thedrum 105, where the items to be dried are contained. After exiting thedrum 105, the flow of moisture-laden drying air passes through a moisture condensing system, where the humid drying air is at least partially dried, dehydrated, and the dehydrated air flow is then heated and caused to pass again through thedrum 105, and repeats the cycle. - In the following, several solutions according to embodiments of the present invention and possible variants thereof will be presented; essentially, the solutions that will be presented belong to either one of two general classes, mainly differing from each other for the type of moisture condensing system, which in one case comprises an air-air heat exchanger, whereas in the other case the moisture condensing system comprises a heat pump.
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Figures 2 to 16 show, in different views, a solution according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which the moisture condensing system comprises, as mentioned, an air-air heat exchanger, described in detail in the following. - As visible in particular in
Figures 2 and3A, 3B , a drying air circulation system is provided in the washer/dryer 100. The drying air circulation system comprises afan 205, for example arranged at the rear of thecabinet 110, near the right-top corner thereof. Thefan 205, which is fixedly mounted to thecabinet 110, for example by means of abracket 340 so as to be rigidly connected to thecabinet 110, has anair intake 210 facing upwards and which opens towards the top 119. Thefan 205 has an outlet coupled to an inlet of anair duct 215 that runs at the top of thecabinet 110 from the rear to the front thereof, and, through a bellow (not visible in the drawings), conveys the drying air impelled by thefan 205 into thetub 303 and thedrum 105 accommodated therein. In particular, in the shown embodiment the drying air enters thetub 303 and thedrum 105 in correspondence of the front thereof (for this reason, since in the exemplary embodiment here considered thefan 205 is located at the rear of the appliance, theair duct 215 runs from the rear to the front of the cabinet 110); this however is just a matter of design and choice, and nothing prevents from having the drying air entrance into thetub 303 located in different positions, for example at the rear of the cabinet 110 (in which case, if thefan 205 is as well located at the rear, there is no need of having an air duct running from the rear to the front of the cabinet 110). - An air heater, for example an electrical resistor, is preferably accommodated within the
air duct 215 for heating up the drying air before it enters thedrum 105. The drying air circulation system further comprises areturn air duct 305, arranged at the rear of thecabinet 110, near the left-top corner thereof and fixedly mounted to thecabinet 110, for example by means of abracket 345, so as to be rigidly connected to thecabinet 110; thereturn air duct 305 receives the drying air exiting thedrum 105 and thetub 303, and has anoutlet 310 that faces upwards and opens towards the top 119; in particular, the drying air exits thedrum 105 at the rear thereof, after having passed through the drum so as to hit the items to be dried that are present therein. - As visible in
Figures 3A, 3B and4 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, thereturn air duct 305 receives the drying air exiting from thedrum 105 and thetub 303 through an opening in thetub 303 already provided for feeding thereto the laundry washing treatment products (detergents, softeners) and the clean water used to wash the laundry when the washer/dryer is operated in washing mode. In particular, a manifold 315 is provided, coupled to the opening in thetub 303. The manifold 315 has aninlet pipe 320 that is coupled, by means of a bellow and aduct 323, to anarrangement 325 for dispensing to thetub 303 the laundry washing treatment products (the dispensing arrangement comprising for example a detergent/softener container, one or possibly two electrovalves for intaking cold and possibly hot water from water mains, possibly a mixing chamber for mixing treatment products and water). The manifold 315 has an outlet opening to which, by means of abellow 316, thereturn air duct 305 is connected. Internally, the manifold 315 has abaffle 405 extending down from a top wall of the manifold 315 and defining a siphon: the siphon allows that part of the laundry washing treatment liquid (water mixed with the detergent of the softener, or, possibly, simply water) remains at the bottom of the manifold 315, thereby preventing that, when the appliance is operated in drying mode, the drying air exiting thetub 303 leaks into the treatmentproducts dispending arrangement 325, and that for this reason heat is lost, and, at the same time, that humid, moisture-laden air is released into the external environment (passing through the detergent container), which is regarded as undesired because the washer/dryer is installed in-house and humidity released in the environment may cause problems. - Part of the drying air circulation system is entirely accommodated within the top 119. As visible in the exploded view of
Figure 5A , the top 119 comprises abase element 505, visible from below inFigure 5B , having shape and size adapted to match and close from above thecabinet 110 when the top 119 is mounted thereto. Proximate to the two rear corners thereof, thebase element 505 has twoopenings cabinet 110, the opening 510 matches theoutlet 310 of thereturn air duct 305, whereas theopening 515 matches theair intake 210 of thefan 205. - As visible in
Figures 5A, 6 and7A, 7B , an air path for the drying air is defined in thebase element 505 by means of a series of walls rising from the bottom wall. In particular, moisten-laden drying air, indicated byarrow 520 inFigure 5A , which comes from thedrum 105 and thetub 303 through thereturn air duct 305, and enters into the top 119 through theopening 510, initially is caused to flow essentially parallel to theleft side 525 of the top 119, from the rear to the front, and to pass through an air defluff filter that is removably accommodated within arespective filter seat 530 formed in thebase element 505. Upon exiting the defluff filter, the drying air passes (arrow 533) through a moisture condenser comprising an air-air heat exchanger 535, so as to be cooled down and release moisture in the form of condense water. Advantageously, the air-air heat exchanger 535 is fully accommodated within the top 119, for example, as shown, in the central part thereof. - The air-
air heat exchanger 535 comprises a corrugatedsheet metal part 540, the undulations of which define channels for the passage of air. The corrugatedsheet metal part 540 rests, both at the front and at the rear edges thereof, on a pair of comb-like structures front wall 545 of thebase element 505, and along arear wall 550 of thebase element 505. When assembled, the corrugatedsheet metal part 540 is joined to thebase element 505, for example by means of glue in between the comb-like structures sheet metal part 540 rests on the comb-like structures sheet metal part 540, channels for the flow of the dryingair 533 to be cooled down, whereas on the upper side of thesheet metal part 540 the undulations define channels for the flow of coolingair 555 that, in the embodiment here considered, is taken in from the outside environment by means of atangential fan 560 mounted to therear wall 550 of thebase element 505. The glue used to attach the corrugatedsheet metal part 540 also seals the upper and lower channels for the cooling and drying air. In this way, the dryingair 533 that, after passing through the defluff filter, enters the air-air heat exchanger and flows under the corrugatedsheet metal part 540, releases heat to the coolingair 555 that flows above the corrugatedsheet metal part 540, and cools down, and the moisture present therein is condensed. The coolingair 555, after passing through the air-air heat exchanger, exits from the front thereof, and is then discharged into themachine cabinet 110 through anaperture 570 provided in thebase element 505. In alternative to thetangential fan 560, an axial fan might be provided in correspondence of theaperture 570 for circulating the cooling air. - After passing through the air-
air heat exchanger 535, the cooled dryingair 573 exits therefrom at the right rear corner thereof, and then flows along a convolutedair path portion 575 to theopening 515 that is connected to thefan intake 210. Along the convolutedair path portion 575, mist/condense water droplets separation means are provided, for ensuring that mist, condense water droplets are removed from the drying air before it reaches theair fan 205. - As visible in
Figure 9 , in an embodiment of the invention, the mist/condense water droplets separation means comprises a condensewater collecting tank 905 formed along the convolutedair path portion 575; droplets of condense water released by the drying air upon passing through the air-air heat exchanger are drawn by the aspiration effect of thefan 205 to the convolutedair path portion 575 and arrives at thetank 905, where they are separated from the drying air and accumulate. At the bottom of thetank 905, a condensewater discharge conduit 910 is fluidly connected to the manifold 315, by means of apiping 1005, visible inFigure 10 . In particular, the piping 1005 that connects the condensewater discharge conduit 910 to the manifold 315 opens into the latter at a point below the free surface of the water that remains in the siphon defined by thebaffle 405; in this way, it is ensured that the condense water is not aspirated by thefan 205. When, due to the discharged condense water, the level of water in the manifold 315 raises excessively, the excess water is discharged into thetub 303, in a position thereof such that the water does not enter the drum, but is instead directly conveyed, via the tub, to a liquid discharge circuit, comprising a water discharge pump (not shown), provided in the washer/dryer. - As an alternative to discharging the condense water into the manifold 315, the condense water that accumulates in the
tank 905 may be directly conveyed (through a piping not shown) to the water discharge pump of the machine. - Preferably, as schematically depicted in
Figure 11 , in order to avoid that the depression generated by thefan 205 may suck condense water that deposits in thetank 905, thedischarge conduit 910 of thetank 905 is fluidly connected, by aconduit 1105, to alower tank 1110, located at a suitable lower quota with respect to the top 119, for example at or near the basement of the washer/dryer. Thelower tank 1110 is further fluidly connected, through aconduit 1115, to a point of the convolutedair path portion 575 located downstream thetank 905, for example close to theair intake 210 of thefan 205. The bottom of thelower tank 1110 has a condensewater discharge outlet 1120 that is fluidly connected to the water discharge circuit of the washer/dryer, and thus to the discharge pump. - A
baffle 915 is preferably provided in thetank 905, thebaffle 915 defining a siphon; the presence of thebaffle 915, forming a barrier for the drying air flow, facilitates that water droplets that are transported by the flow of drying air fall into thetank 905, preventing them from reaching thefan 205. - As an alternative to the provision of the
baffle 915 shown inFigures 9 and11 , amist separator element 1205 may be accommodated in thetank 905, as depicted inFigure 12 , for promoting the removal of moist droplets from the drying air. Themist separator element 1205 may for example be formed of a plurality of metal or plastic plates bent to define a winding path. Also in this case, thelower tank 1110 may be provided. - The path followed in the top 119 by the moisten-laden drying air is also schematized in
Figure 7A , and indicated therein as 700. The drying air passes through the defluff filter vertically, from the top to the bottom filter surfaces, and exits the filter seat 530 (for then entering into the air-air heat exchanger) passing through anopening 701 formed along a bottom of a side wall of thefilter seat 530. InFigure 7B , there is instead schematized (reference 701) the path followed by the cooling air. - The condense water that accumulates in the
tank 905 may be exploited for generating steam used for refreshing the items to be dried during the drying cycle. As schematized inFigures 13 and 14A , thetank 905 may be shaped so as to have adeeper portion 1305, defining a reservoir for water used to generate steam. Apump 1310 has an inlet connected to the tankdeeper portion 1305; thepump 1310 has an outlet fluidly connected to anozzle 1405 arranged to spray inside theair duct 215, preferably in a point thereof where there is the electrical resistor provided for heating the drying air; in this way, the heat generated by the resistor cause the water sprayed by thepump 1305 to vaporize, and steam is generated that is useful for refreshing the items being dried. The resistor may be mounted internally or externally to theair duct 215; in case the resistor is mounted within theair duct 215, an armoured resistor should be used. For a more efficient operation, as depicted inFigure 15 , the dryingair heating resistor 1505 may be associated with a heat dissipater/radiator 1510 having fins, that is accommodated within theair duct 215. In this way, the effect of drying air heating and of vaporisation of the water sprayed by thepump 1310 is enhanced. - In
Figures 14A and14B there is also shown a variant of the construction of thefan 205 andair duct 215, in which theair duct 215 is shaped so as to also define a shell forming a housing for thefan 205, particularly for thefan rotor 1410; the air duct is made of two half-shells, and is fixedly, rigidly mounted to thecabinet 110 by means of thebracket 340, as visible inFigure 14 B. - Referring back to
Figure 5A , a pair ofpanels base element 505. The top 119 is completed by afurther panel 590, having also aesthetic function, that is superimposed to the twopanels sheet metal plate 540, and by a frame 595 (thepanel 590 and theframe 595 are not depicted inFigure 2 ). Thepanels base element 505 for example by means of screws. Acoustic absorbing material can be inserted in the top 119, for example between thepanels panel 590. - In an embodiment of the present invention, shown in
Figure 16 (and similarly inFigures 19 and 20 , although the latter drawings relate to a variant of the top here described, that will be described later on), thepanel 590 has an elongatedaperture 1605 extending parallel to the front of the top 119, from whichopening 1605 the coolingair 555, after having passed through the air-air heat exchanger 535, exits. Above thepanel 590, aperforated panel 1610 rests, slightly spaced apart from thepanel 590, so as to leave an air gap between the twopanels air 555, heated by the heat released by the dryingair 533, exits from the perforations in thepanel 1610. In this way, the top 119 may be exploited for laying thereon delicate garments to be dried that, due to their nature, cannot be dried within the tumbling drum without being damaged. The top 119 thus defines thereinside a path for the drying air to be cooled down, and another path for the cooling air which is also exploited for drying delicate garments by laying them on the perforated surface of thepanel 1610. - The top 119, once assembled, forms a unit that is ready to be mounted to the
cabinet 110, simply by placing it in the correct alignment, so that theopenings outlet 310 of thereturn air duct 305 and, respectively, theintake 210 of theair circulation fan 205. As mentioned in the foregoing, both thereturn air duct 305 and thefan 205 are fixed, rigidly connected to themachine cabinet 110; in this way, theoutlet 310 of thereturn air duct 305 and theair intake 210 of theair circulation fan 205 act as automatic positioning and centering means for the top 119, thereby greatly simplifying the mounting thereof. The operation of mounting of the top onto the cabinet simply consists in laying the top 119 on the cabinet properly positioning it with the help of the self-centering action achieved by the matching of theopenings outlet 310 andair intake 210; in this way, all the necessary connections for the drying air circulation circuit are completed, and there is no need to perform any additional connection (exception made for the connection of the condense water discharge piping 1005). The top 119 may then be secured to thecabinet 110 by conventional means (e.g., screws, or by snap-fit engagement). Thanks to the fact that several components of the drying air circulation system, particularly the moisture condensing system, are accommodated within the top 119, several problems of space within thecabinet 110 are overcome; essentially, only thefan 205, theair duct 215, and thereturn air duct 305 need to be accommodated within thecabinet 110. This reduces problems of space within thecabinet 110, and makes it easier to exploit an already existing design of a washing machine to transform it into a washer/dryer, without having to make substantial changes. - A top 119 according to a variant of the embodiment just described is depicted in
Figures 17 - 20 . In this case, the drying air to be cooled down for releasing the moisture and be dehydrated passes through the air-air heat exchanger twice, once going from the front towards the rear, and then back towards the front, as schematized inFigure 18 . This double passage improves the action of cooling of the drying air by the cooling air, and thus improves the release of moisture. In particular, the drying air, entering into the top 119 through theopening 510, flows along a substantiallyrectilinear path 1705 defined in the base element along the left side thereof, from the back to the front, and then enters adefluff filter 1710, which in this alternative is accommodated along the front side of thebase element 505. The drying air passes through the defluff filter (from the top to the bottom thereof), and then enters the air-air heat exchanger. As in the previously described embodiment, the air-air heat exchanger comprises a corrugatedsheet metal part 1805, the undulations defining channels for the passage of the drying air (under the corrugated sheet metal part 1805) and for the cooling air (above the corrugated sheet metal part 1805). The region of thebase element 505 intended to accommodate the corrugatedsheet metal part 1805 is divided in twoparts wall 1815 extending parallel to the side walls of thebase element 505. The drying air passes from the filter to the air-air heat exchanger flowing through apassage 1820 formed at the bottom of awall 1825 that separates the filter lodging from the region of the air-air heat exchanger, said passage being located on the left side of the base element. The drying air flows under the corrugatedsheet metal part 1805 in thefirst part 1810a of thebase element 505, then, at the rear of thebase element 505, the drying air passes to thesecond part 1810b of the base element passing through apassage 1830 formed at the bottom of thewall 1815. The drying air then flows under the corrugatedsheet metal part 1805 in thesecond part 1810b of thebase element 505 to the front, and exits the air-air heat exchanger passing through anaperture 1835 below alateral wall 1840 of thebase element 505 that delimits the region thereof accommodating the corrugatedsheet metal part 1805. The cooled drying air thus exits the air-air heat exchanger from the front-right corner thereof, then the drying air flows along an essentiallystraight air path 1845 towards the opening 515, where there is theintake 210 of thefan 205. For the discharge of the condense water that is released by the drying air, solutions similar to those described above are exploitable. As shown inFigures 19 and 20 , thetop panel 1905 of the top 119 may also in this case be perforated, for the passage of the cooling air, so as to provide a working surface for lying delicate garments that are not suitable to be dried by putting them into the tumbling drum of the machine. The top 119 defines thereinside a path for the dryingair 1910 to be cooled down, and another path for thecooling air 2005 which is also exploited for drying delicate garments by laying them on the perforated surface of thepanel 1905. -
Figures 21 to 26 show, in different views, a solution according to another embodiment of the present invention, in which the condensing system is almost completely accommodated within the top 119 and comprises, as mentioned in the foregoing, a heat pump, instead of an air-air heat exchanger. - Also in this case, the top 119 comprises a
base element 2105, which has twoopenings former opening 2205 being located in correspondence of theoutlet 310 of thereturn air duct 305, thelatter opening 2210 being located in correspondence of theintake 210 of thefan 205. In the region of thebase element 2105 near the front-left corner thereof, adefluff filter arrangement 2110 is located, for example in the form of a drawer hinged at one end to thebase element 2105 and pivotable so as to allow its extraction for cleaning purposes. The defluff filter may comprises a pair of superimposed meshes that can be separated for being cleaned. - A moisture condensing system is accommodated in the central region of the
base element 2105, the moisture condensing system includes a heat pump circuit comprising afirst heat exchanger 2115, for cooling and dehydrating the moisture-laden drying air, and asecond heat exchanger 2120, downstream thefirst heat exchanger 2115, for heating the drying air. Depending on the refrigerating fluid used in the heat pump, thefirst heat exchanger 2115 may be an evaporator or a gas heater (the latter, in case the refrigerant operates at supercritical pressure), and thesecond heat exchanger 2120 may be a condenser or a gas cooler (the latter in case the refrigerant operates at supercritical pressure); in the following it will be assumed that the heat pump comprises an evaportator and a condenser, but this is not to be construed as a limitation. Theevaporator 2115 has the function of dehydrating the drying air, by cooling it down; thecondenser 2120 has instead the function of heating the dehydrated drying air. Acompressor 2125 for the heat pump is attached to the underside of thebase element 1405 in correspondence of the front-right corner thereof, the compressor body protruding from below thebase element 2105. In an alternative embodiment, shown inFigures 24A and24B , thecompressor 2125 may be located at the bottom of thecabinet 110, attached to the machine basement, and be fluidly connected to the moisture condensing system accommodated in the top 119 by means offlexible pipes 2405 than run along a rear corner of thecabinet 110. - The compressor may be a variable-speed compressor, allowing to trade off required power and available space.
- The
base element 2105 is covered by afirst panel 2130, that covers essentially just theevaporator 2115, and asecond panel 2135, that also covers thecondenser 2120 and thefilter 2110. The top 119 is completed by thetop panel 590 and theframe 595. Acoustic absorbing material can be inserted in the top 119, for example between thepanels - The
base element 2105 and the twopanels return air duct 305 to the defluff filter, preventing the drying air from entering the evaporator, and a second air path that, from the defluff filter, goes to the condenser passing through the evaporator. - The drying air passes through the
filter 2110 from the top to the bottom of it, and then enters theevaporator 2115. Thepanel 2130 has, along an edge thereof that runs along the border between thefilter 210 region and theevaporator 2115 region, a downwardly projectinglip 2135 that prevents the drying air to enter the evaporator region from above thefilter 2110. - In the region of the
base element 2105 under theevaporator 2115, there are provided mist/condense water droplets separation means; in particular, thebase element 2105 is slanted towards abaffle 2305 that separates the area of thebase element 2105 where theevaporator 2115 is accommodated, from the area where thecondenser 2120 is placed. Thebaffle 2305 forms a barrier for the condense water that drops from the drying air when it passes through theevaporator 2115. Preferably,transversal channels 2505 are formed in the bottom wall of thebase element 2105 in the area corresponding to theevaporator 2115, to facilitate the drainage of the condense water. A condensewater drainage hole 2510 is formed in the area of the base element bottom wall corresponding to theevaporator 2115; thedrainage hole 2510 is fluidly connected, through aconduit 2605, to the manifold 315, for discharging the condense water. Theconduit 2605 opens into the manifold 315 at a point below the surface of the water that remains in the manifold 315, for avoiding that, due to the depression created by thefan 205, the condense water is aspirated back. Also in this case, the excess condense water that accumulates in the manifold 315 discharges into the tub, in a manner such as not to enter into the drum, and then goes to the water discharge circuit of the machine. Alternatively thedrainage hole 2510 may be fluidly connected to the water discharge circuit (e.g., to the discharge pump) directly. - Also in this second embodiment, the top 119, once assembled, forms a unit that is ready to be mounted to the
cabinet 110, simply by placing it in the correct alignment, so that theopenings outlet 310 of thereturn air duct 305 and, respectively, theintake 210 of thefan 205. The top 119 may then be secured to thecabinet 110 by conventional means (e.g., screws or snap-fit engagement). No further connections need to be made, exception made for the connection of thedrainage hole 2510 to the manifold 315; in the variant having the compressor located in the basement, the top 119 may be preassembled with thepipes 2405 attached to the heat pump; after placing the top on the cabinet, thepipes 2405 are connected to the compressor. - The solution exploiting an air-air-heat exchanger as a condensing means for removing moisture from the drying air achieves a significant saving of water compared to the solutions known in the art exploiting a water spray condenser; in fact, water spray condensers waste several liters of waters, that is taken in from the water main.
- The solution exploiting the heat pump, in addition to achieving a saving of water as that exploiting the air-air-heat exchanger, also allows saving electrical energy, because the electrical resistor for heating the drying air may be dispensed for (the heating of the drying air being carried out by the condenser); in any case, nothing prevents from providing also in this embodiment the resistor air heater: for example, it may be useful for the starting phases of the drying cycle, when the condenser in the heat pump has not yet reached the full working temperature, or for the generation of steam for refreshing the items being dried, as in the solution described above.
- In
Figure 27 there is shown a variant of the heat pump solution in which theheat pump 2705, instead of being accommodated within the top 119, is placed at the base of the cabinet (the compressor being in this accommodated at the bottom of the machine);air ducts air circulation fan 205. Also in this case, the heat pump may be realized in the form of an assembly ready to be mounted. - Several modifications to the embodiments described in the foregoing can be envisaged.
- For example, the rotary defluff filter described in connection with the second embodiment could be implemented as well in the first embodiment.
- In
Figures 28-30 another embodiment of the present invention is depicted. In this embodiment, instead of having the twoopenings top base element 505 like in the embodiment ofFigures 1-20 , or the twoopenings top base element 2105 like in the embodiment ofFigures 21-27 , whichopenings outlet 310 of thereturn air duct 305 and, respectively, theair intake 210 of thefan 205, the top 119 has abase element 2805 in which twoopenings rear wall 2820 of a frame that surrounds the bottom wall of thetop base element 2805. To theopening 2810, an end of aflexible hose 2825 is connected, whichhose 2825, at the other end, is connected to an opening in thetub 303, which may for example be the opening provided for feeding the laundry washing treatment products, or thehose 2825 may be connected to the manifold 315, like thereturn air duct 305 in the previously described embodiments. Theopening 2815 is connected, through aflexible hose 2905, to anair intake 3005 of afan 2910. Differently from the previously described embodiments, thefan air intake 3005 is formed at the rear of afan housing 3010. It is underlined that even ifFigures 28-30 relate to a moisture condensing system implemented by a heat pump, nothing prevents from adopting this same arrangement ofopenings base element 2805 also in connection with a moisture condensing system comprising an air-air heat exchanger. Also, noithing prevents that thehose 2825 is connected to thetub 303 at the front, instead of at the rear. - At least part of the fan housing may be formed integrally to the top (preferably, at least a part of the top and at least part of the fan housing form a single piece construction, for example made by injection moulding process); for example, as visible in
Figure 30 , an upper half-shell 3010 of the fan housing is formed integrally with thebase element 2805, below thebottom wall 2915 of thebase element 2805. Afan wheel 3015 is rotatably accommodated in a space delimited by the upper half-shell and a bottom half-shell 3020 of the fan housing, and afan motor 3023 is mounted outside the bottom half-shell 3020. In the embodiment shown inFigure 30 , anair delivery duct 3025 delivering the air impelled by the fan wheel to thetub 303 is formed integrally with the bottom half-shell 3015.Figure 31A shows that, identically toFigure 30 , the integration of at least part of the fan housing is possible as well in a top 119 according to the embodiments ofFigures 1-20 or of ofFigures 21-27 , with the twoopenings base element 3105a of the top.Figure 31B shows an embodiment in which theair delivery conduit 3125 is integral to the upper half-shell 3110, i.e. integral with thebase element 3105b; it is intended that the same solution can be applied to the top ofFigures 28-30 , with therear openings air delivery duct 3025 described above can be fluidly connected to a rear part of thetub 303 instead of being connected to a front part of thetub 303 as depicted inFigures 28-31B . -
Figures 32-34 show another embodiment of top 119 according to the present invention, in which aseat 3210 for a container of detergents/softener is also formed integrally to the top 119, particularly integrally to the base element 3205 (preferably, at least a part of the top and the seat form a single piece construction, for example made by injection moulding process). The detergent container (not shown in the drawings) may be in the usual form of a drawer, slidably accommodated within theseat 3210. Theseat 3210 projects below the bottom wall of thebase element 3205 and is open on the above, being closed by a removablewater delivery assembly 3215 comprising means for delivering water selectively into different compartments of the detergent drawer. Above theassembly 3215, a drying air line is arranged for conveying drying air from opening 2205 to the evaporator and the defluff filter is arranged along the drying air line upstream the evaporator as described for the embodiments ofFigure 21, 22A ,23 , the filter being extractable from the machine through theslot 3515 provided at the front wall of the top. - Advantageously, as shown in
Figure 34 , asupport 3405 for water inlet electrovalves 3410a, 3410b is also formed integrally to the base element 3205 (preferably, at least a part of the top and the support form a single piece construction, for example made by injection moulding process), withpipes 3413a, 3413b that fluidly connects the electrovalve outlets to thewater delivery assembly 3215. Also formed integrally to the base element may be abracket 3415 for supporting apipe union 3420 for the connection (through a conventional hose) to a socket of a water main. In an alternative embodiment, the water inlet electrovalves 3410a, 3410b can be supported by thebracket 3415. Preferably, at least a part of the top and the support form a single piece construction, for example made by injection moulding process. - Also visible in
Figures 32 and 33 is a variant of the solution shown inFigure 25 for facilitating the drainage of condense water dripping from the evaporator of the heat pump of the moisture condensing system. The area of thebase element 3205 under the evaporator is concave and has adrainage hole 3220 formed essentially at the center thereof;ribs 3225 departs approximately radially from thedrainage hole 3220, upon whichribs 3225 the evaporator lies. The area of thebase element 3205 under the evaporator, thedrainage hole 3220 and theribs 3225 are integrally provided to the top and preferably, at least a part of the top the area of thebase element 3205 under the evaporator and/or thedrainage hole 3220 and/or theribs 3225 form a single piece construction for example by injection moulding. - The
drainage hole 3220 is, as shown inFigure 34 , connected through ahose 3425 to theseat 3210 for the detergent container, so that the condense water can be discharged into the manifold 315 or directly into thetub 303 via theseat 3210 for the detergent container. -
Figures 35A and 35B show a variant of the defluff filter located upstream the evaporator and described in connection with the previous embodiments. Thedefluff filter 3500 has a foldable construction, with afirst wing 3505a connected to ahandle 3510 and asecond wing 3505b hinged to the first wing. Thedefluff filter 3500 can be extracted from its seat in the top 119 through aslot 3515 provided in a front wall of the base element of the top, and be unfolded for being cleaned. -
Figures 36-39 schematically show some variants of a solution for automatically cleaning the evaporator of the heat pump of the moisture condensing system, in order to remove possible fluff that is not retained by the defluff filter, or to allow dispensing for the need of providing the defluff filter. InFigures 36-39 , the parts within the dashedrectangle 3600 are intended to be accommodated within the ready-to-mount top 119 or to be mounted thereto;reference numerals evaporator 3605, thecondenser 3610, thecompressor 3615 and a lamination valve 3620 (however, the compressor may in some embodiments be external the top). - In the variant of
Figure 36 , a three-way valve 3625 (for example) can be provided, which is operable to divert the water entering the appliance from the water main to either the detergent container 3630 (which, in the non-limitative example herein considered, may be for example a drawer slidably accommodated in a seat integrally formed in the top 119, like for example shown inFigures 32-34 ) or to anozzle 3635 arranged in the area of the top 119 where theevaporator 3605 is accommodated, in order to sprinkle water onto it; the three-way valve 3625 may be mounted directly to the top 119. Thenozzle 3635, as shown inFigure 40 , may be a hole formed in awall 4005 of the top base element where the evaporator is accommodated, and the evaporator can be covered by aperforated panel 4010, so that a space is provided above the evaporator to contain and dispense the water intended to flush the evaporator. The water used to wash theevaporator 3605 then returns, through adischarge duct 3640, to thedetergent container 3630. In this case, the pressure of the water in the water main is exploited. It is to be noted that to remove efficiently the fluff from the evaporator it is possible to wash with water only the end portion of the evaporator that first meets the drying air stream, which portion tends obviously to collect most of the fluff present in the drying air. - The variant of
Figure 37 differs from that ofFigure 36 mainly in that the discharge of the water used to wash the evaporator is made directly into thewashing tub 303, through adischarge duct 3740; inFigure 37 thedetergent container 3630 and the three-way valve 3725 are depicted as not integrally formed with the top 119, but nothing prevents from having one or both of them integrated. - The variants of
Figures 38 and 39 differ from those ofFigures 36 and 37 in that the water used to wash the evaporator is condense water that is collected in abasin 3805 properly arranged in the top 119 so as to collect condense water dropping from theevaporator 3605. Condense water collected in thebasin 3805 is recirculated, by apump 3810, from thebasin 3805 to thenozzle 3635, from where it is sprinkled onto theevaporator 3605, and then is collected back in thebasin 3805. The condense water in thebasin 3805 may be discharged either into the detergent container 3630 (Figure 38 ) or directly into the tub 303 (Figure 39 ), in any case avalve 3815 being provided for selectively enabling the discharge of the condense water present in thebasin 3805. The presence of thepump 3810 is in this case preferable because no advantage can be taken of the pressure of the water of the water main. Preferably, a filter may be provided to retain the fluff contained in the condensed water and preferably the filter is arranged upstream thepump 3810. - Preferably the
basin 3805 is formed integrally to the ready-to-mount top, preferably, at least a part of the top and the basin form a single piece construction, for example made by injection moulding process) - In an alternative embodiment the
basin 3805 can be fluidly connected directly either to theseat 3210 of the detergent container or to thetub 303 by means of a siphon-like system without the need of thevalve 3815 so that when the level of the condensed water in thebasin 3805 is higher than a predetermined level the excess of water flow by gravity towards theseat 3210 of the detergent container or thetub 303. Thebasin 3805 is shaped and sized so as to guarantee that the amount of condensed water to be contained in it is appropriate to clean/wash the evaporator. - Essentially, the variants of
Figures 36-39 share the common feature that at least part of a water circuit for providing water to clean/wash the evaporator is arranged/integrated in the top, preferably, at least a part of the top and at least a part of the water circuit form a single piece construction, for example made by injection moulding process. The seat for thedetergent container 3630 can be not integrally formed in the top 119. Further thevalve 3625 or thepump 3810 can be simply connected or connectable to the water circuit for cleaning the evaporator but not provided integrally with the top (i.e. arranged inside or at the top like thevalves Figures 34 ), which means that once the top is coupled to the cabinet of laundry drying appliance, the water circuit is to be connected to thevalve 3625 or to thepump 3810 already present in the cabinet of laundry drying appliance or, as an alternative, thevalve 3625 or thepump 3810 are connected to the water circuit of the top and when the top is to be coupled to the cabinet of laundry drying appliance, thevalve 3625 and thepump 3810 are to be arranged at appropriate seats provided in the cabinet of laundry drying appliance. - It is pointed out that the underlying principle of the solutions shown in
Figures 36-39 of automatically washing the evaporator exploiting water coming from the water main or the condense water dripping from the evaporator itself, is not necessarily linked to the fact that the heat pump (as well as other components of the dryer) is integrated in a ready-to-mount worktop. - The washing of the evaporator may take place automatically at any time, or during a washing phase of the appliance, for example during the rinsing. For this purpose the laundry appliance comprises a controller adapted to selectively actuate at least a valve (for example the
valve 3625 described above) for feeding water to a water circuit, which conveys water to the evaporator to remove the fluff. Preferably, the controller actuates the valve during a laundry washing phase of the appliance and still preferably, during a rinsing phase. Alternatively or additionally the washing of the evaporator may also be commanded by a user, through the user interface of the appliance, for example the evaporator cleaning can be activated by means of a button or the like provided on the user interface. The actuation of the button enables the controller to actuate the valve accordingly. Further, the appliance can comprise visual and/or acoustic means (display, loudspeaker and similar) for informing the user that the evaporator needs to be cleaned and that the evaporator cleaning mode shall be carried out. Preferably the electronic circuit of the appliance is adapted to calculate how many cycles have been performed from the last evaporator cleaning (i.e. last actuation of the valve for feeding the water to the water circuit) and to operate the visual and/or acoustic means accordingly. The water used to clean the evaporator can be directed to the seat of the detergent container, or to the tub, or to a drain pump - Finally,
Figures 41-45 show an embodiment wherein the moisture condensing module of the dryer, instead of being formed as a ready-to-mount top, is formed as a ready-to-mount lateral panel of theappliance cabinet 110, for example arear panel 4110, as in the example shown. In particular, inFigures 41-45 the moisture condensing module is assumed to comprise, as moisture condensing means, a heat pump, which, in a way totally similar to what shown inFigures 21-26 , includes anevaporator 4405, acondenser 4410, acompressor 4415; however, nothing prevents from integrating in the lateral (e.g. rear) panel a moisture condensing module like that ofFigures 1-20 , including as moisture condensing means an air-air heat exchanger.Openings panel 4110, which, similarly to theopenings compressor 4415 may, in a variant, be attached to thepanel 4410. - It is underlined that the various embodiments and variants here described are independent one from the other and may also be implemented in various combinations.
Claims (15)
- A laundry drying appliance (100) comprising a cabinet (110), a rotatable drum (105) accommodated within the cabinet, and a laundry drying air circulation system for circulating drying air, the drying air circulation system comprising moisture condensing means (3605) operable for dehydrating moisture-laden drying air, characterized in that means (3625,3725,3635,4010,3640,3740) operable for cleaning the moisture condensing means are provided, said means for cleaning comprising valve means (3625;3725) operable to selectively enable a load of water from a water main to which the laundry drying appliance is connectable, and a water circuit for delivering the loaded water from the valve means to the moisture condensing means.
- The laundry drying appliance of claim 1, wherein the water circuit comprises at least one nozzle (3635) for sprinkling water onto the moisture condensing means.
- The laundry drying appliance of claim 1 or 2, wherein said moisture condensing means comprises a first heat exchanger of a heat pump, said first heat exchanger being operable for cooling and dehydrating the moisture-laden drying air.
- The laundry drying appliance according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the laundry drying appliance is a laundry washer/dryer, said drum being rotatably accommodated within a washing tub housed within the cabinet, and wherein said valve means (3625;3725) are operable to either load laundry washing water or to load the moisture condensing means cleaning water.
- The laundry drying appliance according to any of the preceding claims, wherein control means are adapted to selectively actuate the valve means (3625;3725) for feeding water to the water circuit.
- The laundry drying appliance according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the control means actuate the valve means (3625;3725) during a laundry washing phase of the appliance.
- The laundry drying appliance according to claim 6, wherein the control means actuate the valve means (3625;3725) during a laundry rinsing phase of the appliance.
- The laundry drying appliance according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the control means can be commanded by a user, through a user interface of the appliance so that the actuation of a command button or the like enables the controller to actuate the valve means (3625;3725) accordingly.
- The laundry drying appliance according to claim 8, wherein the appliance comprises visual and/or acoustic means for informing the user that the moisture condensing means are to be cleaned.
- The laundry drying appliance according to claim 9, wherein the control means of the appliance are adapted to calculate how many cycles have been performed from the last moisture condensing means cleaning and to operate the visual and/or acoustic means accordingly.
- The laundry drying appliance according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said water circuit comprises a water discharge circuit (3640;3740) for discharging the water used to wash the moisture condensing means.
- The laundry drying appliance of claim 11, wherein said water discharge circuit is fluidly connected to a detergent dispensing arrangement of the appliance.
- The laundry drying appliance of claim 11, wherein said water discharge circuit is fluidly connected to a tub of the appliance or to a pump for draining the tub of the appliance.
- The laundry drying appliance according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said drum is rotatably accommodated within a washing tub housed within the cabinet and said moisture condensing means are arranged between the tub and a top wall of the cabinet.
- The laundry drying appliance (100) according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a cabinet (110) having a top (119), a rotatable drying drum (105) accommodated within the cabinet, and a laundry drying air circulation system for circulating drying air, wherein the top (119) is adapted to match and close from above the cabinet (110), the top being formed as a ready-to-mount part ready to be mounted to the cabinet and forming a moisture condensing module for dehydrating drying air used to dry laundry within the drying drum, the top having a drying air inlet (510;2810) for receiving moisture-laden drying air, a drying air outlet (515;2815) for delivering dehydrated drying air, fluid passageways defined thereinside from said drying air inlet to said drying air outlet for the passage of the drying air to be dehydrated and moisture condensing means arranged inside said fluid passageways, wherein the drying air circulation system comprises a drying air drum outlet connectable to the drying air inlet of the top, and a drying air drum inlet connectable to the drying air outlet of the top.
Priority Applications (1)
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EP11150055.9A EP2471998B1 (en) | 2011-01-04 | 2011-01-04 | Appliance for drying laundry |
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EP11150055.9A EP2471998B1 (en) | 2011-01-04 | 2011-01-04 | Appliance for drying laundry |
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EP2471998B1 EP2471998B1 (en) | 2019-04-10 |
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CN104603350A (en) * | 2012-09-04 | 2015-05-06 | 松下知识产权经营株式会社 | Clothes dryer |
EP3170936A1 (en) * | 2012-04-06 | 2017-05-24 | LG Electronics Inc. | Method of controlling a laundry treating machine |
WO2019214807A1 (en) * | 2018-05-08 | 2019-11-14 | V-Zug Ag | Method for operating a washer-dryer |
WO2019214805A1 (en) * | 2018-05-08 | 2019-11-14 | V-Zug Ag | Laundry dryer |
CN112899986A (en) * | 2019-11-19 | 2021-06-04 | 博西华电器(江苏)有限公司 | Washing and drying machine |
DE102015209113B4 (en) * | 2014-05-30 | 2021-06-10 | Hangzhou Sanhua Research Institute Co., Ltd. | DRYING SYSTEM AND USING THE DRYING SYSTEM IN A LAUNDRY DRYER |
WO2021164863A1 (en) * | 2020-02-19 | 2021-08-26 | V-Zug Ag | Dryer with self-cleaning program |
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US11186943B2 (en) | 2017-10-09 | 2021-11-30 | Whirlpool Corporation | Filter configured for being used in a machine for drying laundry and machine for drying laundry equipped with such a filter |
US11761141B2 (en) | 2017-10-09 | 2023-09-19 | Whirlpool Corporation | Filter configured for being used in a machine for drying laundry and machine for drying laundry equipped with such a filter |
WO2019214807A1 (en) * | 2018-05-08 | 2019-11-14 | V-Zug Ag | Method for operating a washer-dryer |
WO2019214805A1 (en) * | 2018-05-08 | 2019-11-14 | V-Zug Ag | Laundry dryer |
CN112899986A (en) * | 2019-11-19 | 2021-06-04 | 博西华电器(江苏)有限公司 | Washing and drying machine |
WO2021164863A1 (en) * | 2020-02-19 | 2021-08-26 | V-Zug Ag | Dryer with self-cleaning program |
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