EP3124683B1 - Wäschetrockner - Google Patents

Wäschetrockner Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3124683B1
EP3124683B1 EP15178415.4A EP15178415A EP3124683B1 EP 3124683 B1 EP3124683 B1 EP 3124683B1 EP 15178415 A EP15178415 A EP 15178415A EP 3124683 B1 EP3124683 B1 EP 3124683B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
basement
dryer
water
cover
collecting housing
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.)
Active
Application number
EP15178415.4A
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English (en)
French (fr)
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EP3124683A1 (de
Inventor
Alessandro Vian
Marco Santarossa
Andrea Giovannetti
Diego Dal Ben
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Electrolux Appliances AB
Original Assignee
Electrolux Appliances AB
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Publication date
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Priority to PL15178415T priority Critical patent/PL3124683T3/pl
Priority to EP15178415.4A priority patent/EP3124683B1/de
Publication of EP3124683A1 publication Critical patent/EP3124683A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP3124683B1 publication Critical patent/EP3124683B1/de
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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 
    • 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

Definitions

  • the present invention concerns the technical field of laundry drying machines.
  • the present invention refers to laundry drying machines of the condensing type.
  • the laundry machine of the invention has an improved construction so that the maintenance of the dryer is easier than in the dryers of the known types.
  • laundry drying machines both "simple” laundry drying machines (i.e. laundry machines which can only dry laundry) and laundry washing-drying machines (i.e. laundry washing machines which can also dry laundry), is widespread.
  • laundry drying machine or “dryer” will refer to both simple laundry drying machines as well as laundry washing-drying machines.
  • Dryers capable of carrying out a drying process on laundry generally comprise a casing that houses a laundry chamber, like a rotating drum, where laundry to be dried is received.
  • the dryer comprises a process air circuit for carrying out drying operation by circulating drying air through the laundry chamber.
  • the circulation of process air is obtained for example by means of a fan and preferably also heating means are provided in the air circuit for heating the process air.
  • condensing means are further provided in the process air circuit for removing moisture from drying air passing through the laundry thereby allowing said air to be recirculated cyclically in the chamber through the air circuit.
  • Condensing means of the known type are usually arranged in the lower part of the dryer.
  • said means for condensing the moist air coming from the laundry chamber are configured in many different ways.
  • the condensing means may comprise a heat exchanger - an embodiment of which is an air-to-air heat exchanger - arranged in a basement portion of the dryer. The moist air coming from the laundry chamber flows through the heat exchanger and condensation water is formed therein.
  • dryers belonging to the art may comprise a heat pump which both dehumidifies and heats the process air.
  • the heat pump typically comprises a closed circuit formed by an evaporator, a condenser and a compressor.
  • the heat pump is typically arranged in the basement portion of the dryer and the moist air coming from the laundry chamber passes the evaporator so that moisture of the process air is removed.
  • condensation water is formed therein.
  • Condensation water formed in the condensing means is typically collected in a collecting housing, preferably located in the basement.
  • the water in the collecting housing is then conveyed to a moisture tank arranged on the upper portion of the dryer so that it can be easily and periodically emptied by a user.
  • the moisture tank is preferably in the form of a drawer slidably arranged on said upper portion of the dryer.
  • a water-removing unit is provided at said collecting housing.
  • the water-removing unit preferably comprises pumping means which are advantageously activated on the base of the water level inside the collecting housing.
  • pumping means typically comprises an electric pump and a conveying pipe connecting the pump to the tank.
  • an overflow pipe is usually provided between the tank and the collecting housing which permits the water from the tank to be re-admit into the collecting housing when the tank is full.
  • a first drawback posed by this known technique is constituted by the fact that the housing collecting the condensed water is commonly positioned within the laundry dryer in a location where, in order to access the water collecting housing itself, the dismounting of many components of the dryer is required. This in turn involves a relatively long maintenance time in case of fault or breakage of the housing or of the pumping means in order to repair or substitute it.
  • a further drawback posed by this known technique is constituted by the fact that the condensed water which drips from the condensing unit might include fluff or lint which was present in the process air of the dryer.
  • This fluff or lint may block the flow of condensed water to the housing, for example blocking the passage in a channel connecting the process air circuit to the water collecting housing.
  • a complex and long dismounting of several components of the dryer is generally required.
  • EP2620541 discloses a laundry drying machine comprising a casing, a laundry container suitable for receiving the laundry to be dried, an air circulating device for circulating hot air through the laundry container, a condensing device for removing moisture of moist air coming from the laundry container, a water collecting housing for the collection of condensation water formed by the condensing device, a water-removing unit is associable to the water collecting housing for the removal of water therein comprising a supporting body suitable for receiving a pumping unit and a water level sensing device, the supporting body may comprise a cover obtained in a single piece construction with the supporting body, the supporting body may comprise at least a portion of the water level sensing device which is obtained in a single piece construction with the supporting body and/or a seat for receiving a pipe therein and comprises a fastening device which is obtained in a single piece construction with the supporting body for fixing the pipe in the seat.
  • EP2620540 relates to a laundry drying machine comprising a casing, a laundry container suitable for receiving the laundry to be dried, an air circulating device for circulating hot air through the laundry container, a condensing device for removing moisture of moist air coming from the laundry container and a basement portion comprising a water collecting housing for the collection of condensation water formed by the condensing device.
  • a water-removing unit is associable to the water collecting housing for the removal of water therein and comprises a supporting body suitable for receiving a pumping unit. The supporting body is obtained in a single piece construction with the basement.
  • the water collecting housing is located at the back of the drying machine, thus in case of repair repositioning of the machine is generally necessary because the machine back is commonly facing a wall or furniture. Further, the removal of the possible blockage of the flow of water to the housing by fluff or lint is not addressed.
  • JP2014030469 discloses an air conditioner and a drier including: a case having an intake port and an exhaust port; a heat pump device which is accommodated in the case and which is composed of a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator and the like; a drain channel which is a bottom part of the case and which is formed below the evaporator; a storage part which is formed downstream from the drain channel; and a communication channel which communicates the drain channel and the storage part 15. It has a configuration in which a channel cross sectional area of the communication channel is larger than a channel cross sectional area of the drain channel. Thereby, as the communication channel connecting from the drain channel to the storage part is broad, the dew condensation water is easy to flow to the storage part. Also, clogging of lint and the like can be suppressed.
  • US2014013616 discloses a clothing dryer including a water level sensing device capable of detecting a water level of condensed water, using a simple structure.
  • the clothing dryer includes a body, a drum rotatably installed in the body, the drum receiving objects to be dried, a base arranged beneath the body, a dehumidifying unit mounted to the base, to condense moisture contained in air discharged from the drum, a water container to collect condensed water formed in the dehumidifying unit, and a water level sensing device to detect a level of the condensed water collected in the water container.
  • the water level sensing device includes a floating unit movable in accordance with a variation in the level of the condensed water.
  • the water level sensing device also includes an electrode sensor to detect the level of the condensed water when electrically connected with the conductor of the floating unit.
  • US2014144035 discloses a laundry dryer having a casing accommodating therein a drying air circuit and operational devices for carrying out a drying treatment on laundry.
  • the dryer further includes a basement having a condensate draining path for conveying moisture condensed from drying air towards a reservoir.
  • At least one condensate retaining region is provided in the condensate draining path and/or on the reservoir thereby forming a liquid trap for preventing drying air dispersing along the path from entering the reservoir.
  • the aim of the present invention is therefore to solve the noted drawbacks and thus providing a dryer having an improved access to the water collecting housing, both for repair or to empty the latter. Further an additional goal is to allow access to duct(s) collecting condensation water from the process air circuit and bringing it towards the water collecting housing in order to remove fluff or lint collected in these duct(s) collecting water formed at the condensing unit towards the water collecting housing.
  • An additional further object of the present invention is to provide a dryer that makes it possible to simplify maintenance.
  • the optimal place to locate the water collecting housing is inside the basement itself.
  • the water collecting housing includes then a cover to avoid spill of the water it may contain.
  • the aperture could be used to remove fluff or lint, for example by a suitable tool.
  • the fluff or lint possibly present can be either removed or pushed/pulled by the tool introduced via the aperture in a non-blocking position.
  • the tool is introduced via the aperture into the housing in a position such that it can also reach the connecting duct between the housing and the condensing device.
  • the invention is relative to a dryer as defined in claim 1 comprising:
  • the dryer of the invention can be either a “single” drying machine or a “combined” washer-dryer machine, therefore including any appliance having laundry drying function. Further, it may be a front-loading dryer, which means that a laundry chamber in which the laundry is located has an axis which is positioned in a horizontal manner or slightly tilted with respect to the horizontal plane, or a top laundry dryer, where the axis of the laundry chamber is substantially vertical.
  • the laundry dryer is a front loading laundry dryer.
  • the laundry chamber is apt to rotate around its axis, e.g. it is a drum.
  • the laundry chamber is part of a process air circuit where process air to dry the laundry is flowing through the drum.
  • the moist process air exiting the drum is dehumidified and warmed up by the condensing device, which is also preferably part of the process air circuit.
  • the dryer comprises a casing preferably including a front wall, a rear wall, side walls and a base section or basement.
  • the front wall may comprise a front top panel to command the functioning of the machine by the user.
  • the casing includes a door hinged to the cabinet, e.g. to the front wall in case of a front loading dryer, which is openable in order to introduce the laundry in the laundry chamber.
  • the casing defines the limit between the internal or inner volume of the dryer and the exterior of the dryer.
  • the casing is thus a boundary element dividing the space in an inner volume where the various components of the dryer are placed and the rest.
  • the casing In order to access any component of the dryer located inside the inner volume defined by the casing, the casing itself need to be opened. For example, a component located inside the inner volume enclosed by the casing can be accessed by opening the door or dismounting one of the walls of the casing.
  • the basement is divided in an upper and a lower shell.
  • the upper and lower shells define the outer boundaries of the basement, dividing a volume "inside" of the basement and an "outside” to the basement, in an analog manner to the casing.
  • a component located inside the inner volume defined by the basement is also automatically inside the inner volume defined by the casing, being the basement part of the casing.
  • a front side, a back side and two lateral sides can be defined as well, which are contiguous to the front, rear and lateral walls of the casing, when the dryer is fully assembled.
  • a water collecting housing is realized in the basement and furthermore it is located inside the inner volume defined by the casing.
  • the water collecting housing can be realized in the upper shell, in the lower shell, in both (for example both shells forming superimposing bowl shape portions) or between the two. In the latter case, the water collecting housing is formed also inside the inner volume defined by the basement.
  • the water collecting housing is apt to collect the water which condenses due to the presence within the air process circuit of a condensing device. The condensed water is thus collected into the water collecting housing and preferably it needs to be regularly removed in order to avoid any overflow within the basement.
  • the condensing device of the present invention includes preferably a heat exchanger.
  • a heat exchanger includes an air-to-air heat exchanger.
  • the laundry dryer includes a heat pump and the condensing device includes the evaporator of the heat pump.
  • a suitable duct or a plurality of ducts connects the location where the condensed water is formed, for example a surface or basin located below the condensing device where water drips, to the water collecting housing.
  • the duct(s) extends from the basin or surface under the condensing device to the housing and defines an inlet to the housing, such as a hole in the housing's walls for the introduction of condensation water into the housing.
  • the duct and the inlet can have any preferred geometrical shape.
  • the condensing device is located inside the inner volume defined by the basement, that is, between the upper and lower shells.
  • the upper and lower shells define a housing or casing for the condensing device; advantageously this condensing device housing may be integral to the basement.
  • this condensing device housing may be integral to the basement.
  • such duct(s) to channel the condensed water to the water collecting housing are realized integral to said lower shell.
  • the surface or basin onto which the condensed water drips is also integral to the lower shell.
  • the water collecting housing includes a bottom and lateral walls, which are integral in this preferred embodiment to the lower shell.
  • they can be integral to the upper shell as well.
  • the terms "realized integral to” mean that the element discussed is realized as a single unit together with another element, without discontinuities.
  • a first element realized integral to a second element thus means that the two are a single piece, a unitary body.
  • the water collecting housing is closed by a cover, so that the condensed water possibly included therein cannot easily come out.
  • the cover is preferably a portion of the upper shell or of the lower shell and it is located substantially on top of the water collecting housing to close the same.
  • Preferably the cover is a portion of the upper shell.
  • the cover comprises a closable access aperture to access said water collecting housing.
  • the aperture can have any desired geometrical shape depending on the position of the same and on the shape of the cover itself. The access aperture can be therefore opened in order to access the water collecting housing, and closed when access is not desired.
  • the basement having the upper and lower shell, includes within these two shells substantially all elements of the water collecting housing and its cover. Therefore, no further element is needed in addition to the basement in order to form and mount the water collecting housing, simplifying the overall construction of the dryer as well as its assembly.
  • the provision in the cover of a closable access aperture allows an easy access to the water collecting housing when needed without having to dismount the basement. From the access aperture, the water collecting housing can be emptied. Further, from the access aperture the duct bringing water from the condensing device to the water collecting housing can be accessed as well. A tool can be inserted in the access aperture and it is preferably long enough to reach the duct in order to be used to move the fluff or lint that may cause a blockage inside such duct.
  • the access aperture is advantageously closed when access to the water collecting housing is not needed, so that no water can be accidentally spilled.
  • the simple access to the water collecting housing and/or duct from the upper shell of the basement allows an easy mounting and maintenance of the dryer of the invention.
  • the dryer of the invention may include in combination or alternatively any of the following characteristics.
  • said access aperture is realized at a distance shorter than 15 cm from said inlet.
  • the access aperture is located "in the neighborhood" of the inlet of the duct, that is within 15 cm from the inlet, so that with a finger or a pointed tool, such as a screw-driver, fluff or lint which possibly accumulates in a portion of the duct in proximity of the water collecting housing, e.g. at the inlet of the housing, can be removed or shifted.
  • said cover is integral in a single piece construction to said upper shell or to said lower shell.
  • the cover is an integral part of the upper shell or of the lower shell.
  • the cover is integral to the upper shell. Therefore, the water collecting housing is closed by the fastening of the upper and lower shell of the basement itself, when the upper and lower shells are coupled together during the dryer mounting, so that the cover faces a bottom wall of the water collecting housing.
  • said water collecting housing is integral in a single piece construction with said lower shell.
  • it is integral with said upper shell.
  • a further minimization of the number of dryer's component is preferably obtained using as a single "multipurpose" unit the lower (or upper) shell of the basement.
  • the water collecting housing where water is collected thus includes a basin directly formed in the lower shell, or in a different embodiment in the upper shell, without a further introduction of a detached/detachable water collecting housing to be inserted in the basement.
  • both bottom wall and lateral wall of the housing are integrally formed in a single piece construction with the lower (or upper) shell.
  • the cover is located substantially on top of the water collecting housing.
  • the dryer includes a shutter hinged on said cover to open and close said access aperture.
  • a simple mechanical construction including a shutter hinged on the cover itself.
  • the solution is simple and robust at the same time.
  • at least a portion of the hinge is integral to the cover again to minimize the number of parts of the dryer.
  • said duct includes a siphon - shaped section.
  • said syphon - shaped portion is located at said inlet.
  • a siphon - shaped section of the duct is formed, so that the water in the duct may flow upward above one of the lateral walls of the housing where it is collected. This allows an easy collection of the water in the water collecting housing minimizing the risk of blockage, because the flow of water "sucked in” by the siphon "flushes” any lint or fluff present in the duct.
  • the duct is slightly inclined towards the housing so that the water by gravity flows towards the siphon - shaped portion of the duct and thus towards the water collecting housing.
  • the dryer includes a water removing unit associated to said water collecting housing for the removal of water therein and the water removing unit comprises a pump unit coupled to said cover.
  • the water removing unit includes a pump unit which pumps the water out from the water collecting housing.
  • the water can be pumped from the water collecting housing for example to a tank positioned in an upper part of the dryer.
  • This tank in generally realized as a drawer, so that the excess water can be removed by the user sliding out the drawer.
  • the pump unit is at least for a portion introduced inside the water collecting housing.
  • the water removing unit is also preferably located inside the inner volume defined by the casing. Preferably, it is located for a portion on top of the basement and for a portion inside the inner volume defined by the basement.
  • the support body includes the cover used to close the water collecting housing and it is preferably realized integral to the upper or lower shell forming the basement.
  • the cover may support other elements in addition to the pump unit, for example tubing to connect the pump unit to the upper tank above described or a water level sensing device to detect the level of water in the water collecting housing and apt to activate the pump unit consequently.
  • said pump unit is removably connected to said cover by means of one or more coupling elements.
  • a coupling element is provided extending from the upper or lower shell.
  • the coupling element extends from the upper or lower shell in a direction outside the basement, e.g. towards the exterior of the basement, so that it can be reached easily.
  • the coupling is of a removable type, that is the coupling between the pump unit and the cover is made in such a way that the pump unit can be removed from the cover without breaking or dismounting of the latter in case there is any malfunctioning or breakage of the pump unit.
  • said access aperture is located in said cover between said inlet and said pump unit.
  • the access aperture is preferably located "in the neighborhood" of the duct so that access to the latter is possible as well. Therefore, according to the invention, the aperture is realized on a side of the pump unit closer to the inlet, when the basement is seen in a top view.
  • said basement defines a basement plane parallel to the ground on which the dryer rests and said cover is formed in a portion of said upper or lower shell which is substantially flat and has a major component parallel to said basement plane.
  • a dryer in a three-dimensional coordinate system defines a substantially horizontal plane which is the basement plane and a vertical axis, which is the vertical direction along which the dryer extend from a floor in which it is positioned.
  • the basement plane can be tilted as well with respect to the horizontal plane in case the ground on which the dryer rests is tilted as well.
  • the upper or lower shell includes a flat region, or a region which is for the majority substantially flat, which is substantially parallel to the basement plane itself and defines the cover.
  • substantially parallel means that a projection of the flat region onto the basement plane is the larger projection among the projections on the basement plane and on a plane perpendicular to it.
  • the cover includes a flat portion of the upper or lower shell which in turn includes a surface that "faces upwards" - at least for the most part of it. This adds simplicity in the mounting and dismounting of all elements attached/coupled to the cover because the latter can be more easily reached; reaching the access aperture and operating the same (e.g. opening and closing the same) is facilitated as well.
  • said basement includes a channel for said process air, part of said process air circuit, said channel channeling process air from said condensing device to an exit so that process air can exit said basement, said cover being formed in said upper or lower shell in a location between said casing and a wall of said channel.
  • the basement generally includes a portion of the air process circuit, so that the humidity contained in the process air coming from the laundry chamber is removed by the condensing device, preferably also heated and recirculated into the laundry chamber.
  • a channel is present, part of the air process circuit, so that the process air exiting the condensing device can be guided outside the basement in order to be transported back into the laundry chamber.
  • this channel is integral to the basement.
  • This channel together with the casing of the dryer, preferably delimits the volume where the cover is formed in the upper or lower shell.
  • the position of the cover is selected being both easily reachable from the exterior of the dryer (which means that it can be reached with a minimum number of dryer's components to be removed) and also in such a way that the outline of the basement does not have to be excessively modified. Indeed, in the basement generally a plurality of "bulky elements" are present and the repositioning of the same is often very complex and cumbersome.
  • the wall is an external wall of the channel.
  • said wall of said channel is integral in a single piece construction with said upper or lower shell.
  • the channel itself is formed by the basement's shells, and it is defined by joining together the upper and the lower shell.
  • an upper half of the channel including the external wall is formed integral to the upper shell and a lower half of the channel is formed integral to the lower shell.
  • a front side, a back side and two lateral sides can be identified, said duct to channel condensation water being realized substantially parallel to a lateral side of said basement.
  • the duct to bring condensed water to the water collecting housing is preferably realized so that it is as short as possible; in order to minimize trapping of water outside the collecting housing, trapping that may increase the humidity inside the basement. Therefore, due to the outline of the basement and the positioning of the usually bulky condensing unit and of the collecting housing, the shortest way is represented by a straight duct parallel to one of the side walls of the casing of the laundry or of the lateral side of the basement.
  • said duct to channel condensation water is realized at least for a portion between said lateral side of said basement and said condensing device.
  • said casing includes two lateral walls and a back wall, and said cover is located between said channel and said casing, in proximity of a corner formed by one of said lateral walls and said back wall.
  • the basement of the laundry dryer can be considered as divided in four quarters.
  • the quarters are defined by planes perpendicular to the basement plane and passing through two perpendicular centerlines in a top view of the basement itself.
  • the quarters are called first, second, third and fourth in a clockwise manner starting from a first quarter including a portion of the rear side of the basement, that is a side facing the rear wall of the casing, and a portion of the lateral side of the basement.
  • the channel is formed in the first and the second quarter, at least for the majority of its volume; thus the cover is also located in either the first or the second quarter.
  • it is located within the first quarter. This outline is again preferred so that the number of changes in the positions of the elements already present in the basement is minimized.
  • the channel is formed within the first and second quarter to channel air from the condensing unit, generally occupying the fourth quarter, to the exit located in the second quarter. Due to the shape of the channel, which is in a preferred embodiment curved with a concavity towards the center of the basement, some volume non yet occupied can remain between the channel external wall and the casing, substantially in proximity of a corner formed by the back wall and the side wall of the casing of the laundry dryer (this corner is also a corner of the basement).
  • said upper and lower shells are realized in polymeric material.
  • polymeric allows the molding of the shells and realization of many elements integral to the shells in a simple and relatively economical manner.
  • Polymeric materials are very versatile and easy to manufacture, therefore they are a very good candidate for the realization of the shells which preferably integrate different functionalities and components into themselves.
  • the upper and lower shells are molded, more preferably injection molded.
  • a dryer according to the invention is globally indicated with 1.
  • laundry drying machine or “dryer” will refer to both simple laundry drying machines and combined laundry washing and drying machines.
  • the preferred embodiment is relative to a heat pump laundry drying machine, however to any type of dryer including a condensing unit the invention can be applied.
  • the dryer 1 comprises a casing 10 formed advantageously by a front and a back wall 2a, 2b and a couple of side walls 2c-2d arranged perpendicularly one another.
  • An upper wall 2e closes the top end of the box-like structure formed by the walls 2a-2d.
  • some of the mentioned walls need not to be vertical, a one or more tilted wall are foreseen as well.
  • the lateral side wall 2c has been removed for showing some of the dryer parts accommodated within casing 10.
  • the casing 10 includes a basement 3, better detailed below, onto which the walls 2a-2d are connected and it represents the lower portion of the dryer 1.
  • the basement also defines a front side, back side and lateral sides which represent the external boundaries of the basement 3 and correspond to the front, back and lateral walls, respectively, of casing 10.
  • the volume delimited by the walls 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d and 2e and the basement 3 is the inner volume of the casing.
  • the casing 10 defines in a three-dimensional coordinate system a horizontal plane (X,Y) also called basement plane, and a vertical axis Z, along which the dryer 1 extends from the floor on which is commonly positioned in an operative position.
  • X,Y horizontal plane
  • Z vertical axis
  • the rotatable drum is opportunely contained in a washing tub (not depicted in the attached drawings).
  • a lateral part of the drum 6 is visible in figure 1 .
  • the axis of rotation of the drum 6 is called R, and it can be vertical, horizontal or tilted depending on the type of dryer considered.
  • the rotational axis R is substantially horizontal or slightly tilted from the horizontal plane (X, Y).
  • Casing 10 preferably further includes a front door 8 pivotally coupled to the front upright side wall 2a for allowing access to the drum interior region to place laundry to be dried therein.
  • a user control interface 5 is preferably arranged on the top of the casing 10 for input of laundry drying programs and displaying machine working conditions.
  • the dryer 1 further comprises a process air circulating circuit 4, depicted as plurality of arrows in figure 1 , adapted to circulate a flow of process air in and out of the drum 6.
  • the process air circulating circuit advantageously comprises a fan, not illustrated, which blows a flow of drying air through the drum 6.
  • the air circulating circuit preferably comprises a heating device, adapted to heat up the air at a location upstream of the drum 6.
  • the heating device is included in a heat pump 40, shown in figure 5 , for example it includes a condenser 42 of the heat pump.
  • an electric heater can be used as well, when a heat pump is not present, or even in combination with the heat pump.
  • Circulation of the process drying air inside the drum 6 evaporates the moisture from the wetted laundry so as to form a moisture-laden process air, or moist process air.
  • the moist process air then exits the drum 6 preferably at the front side of the dryer 1, as depicted in figure 1 .
  • the moist process air enters into the basement 3 where the moisture included in the process air is at least partially removed by means of a condensing device, in this case the evaporator 41 of heat pump 40, or alternatively a heat exchanger, such as an air-to-air heat exchanger.
  • a heat exchanger casing 7 is shown apt to house the condensing device, in the depicted embodiment both heat exchangers (condenser 42 and evaporator 41) of heat pump 40.
  • the heat exchangers 41, 42 have been removed to show the casing's details.
  • moist air passes the evaporator 41 and is cooled by the evaporator itself.
  • the evaporator condenses the water vapor of the moist air and the water formed therein falls in a bottom surface 11, better detailed below.
  • the process air then exits the basement 3, preferably from the back of the basement, and the process air is fed again to the drum 6.
  • the basement 3 includes a lower shell 13 and an upper shell 14, which are coupled together defining the basement.
  • the upper shell 14 forms the upper portion of the basement, while the lower shell 13 forms the lower portion of the basement.
  • Both upper and lower shells form together the front, back and lateral sides of the basement.
  • the upper and the lower shell 14, 13 are realized in polymeric material and are preferably formed in a molding process. In the basement, thus as internal volume to the shells can be defined as the "interior" to the basement.
  • the process air conduit 4 includes a basement portion which is formed as a combination of the upper and lower shell 14, 13, that is the basement portion of the process air conduit is divided in two half, a lower half and an upper half, each half realized integral to with the respective shell, defining an air process duct basement portion.
  • the basement portion of the process air circuit includes the casing 7 for the heat pump 40 and a channel 30, located downstream of the casing 7 in the direction of flow of the process air, which channels the process air exiting the condenser 42 of the heat pump 40 outside the basement 3.
  • Channel 30 and casing 7 are visible for example in figure 8 and are better detailed below.
  • the casing 7 for the heat exchangers 41, 42 includes a bottom surface, which in turn comprises the bottom surface 11 on which the condensed water drips from the evaporator 41.
  • the bottom surface 11 is realized as an integral part of the lower shell 13.
  • dryer 1 includes a water collecting housing to collect the condensed water.
  • duct(s) or channel(s), such as duct 50 visible in figures 5 , 7 and 8 from the bottom surface 11 the condensed water is collected in the water collecting housing 12.
  • the collecting housing 12 is arranged in the interior of the basement 3 of the dryer 1, between upper 14 and lower shell 13.
  • the water collecting housing includes lateral walls 12a surrounding the housing and a bottom wall 12b.
  • Water collecting housing 12 is also preferably integral to the lower shell 13, that is bottom wall 12b and lateral walls 12a are a unitary single part with the lower shell 13. More preferably, the water collecting housing 12 is arranged at the rear side of the lower shell 13 of the dryer 1, as illustrated in Figure 1 .
  • two lateral walls 12a of the housing 12 are adjacent to a corner 16 formed in the basement 3.
  • the housing 12 is formed in a corner 16 of the basement 3, so that two lateral walls 12a of the housing 12 are two portions of the back side and of one of the two lateral sides of the basement 3.
  • duct 50 is located substantially parallel to one of the lateral sides of the basement. More preferably it is located in proximity of one of the lateral side of the basement 3, that is between the heat pump 40 and the boundary of the basement 3.
  • duct 50 ends in housing 12 defining an inlet 51 for the condensed water.
  • duct 50 is slightly vertically tilted, that is a point of a bottom surface 50a of duct 50 at surface 11 is higher in the vertical direction than a point at the inlet 51, so that water flows to water collecting housing 12 by gravity.
  • duct 50 includes a siphon - shaped section 52 which also allows a better channeling of the water inside the housing 12.
  • the siphon - shaped section 52 is realized at inlet 51, so that water can easily enter housing 12 passing lateral walls 12a.
  • the basement 3 in addition to the condensing device - heat pump 40 -, on the basement 3 other operational devices of the dryer are preferably arranged, like air pumping means or electric motors.
  • the upper and lower shells 14, 13 of basement 3 are opportunely shaped so as to create air paths wherein the air is opportunely conveyed.
  • the basement 3 in case of a heat pump dryer, the basement 3 also hosts a compressor 43 of the heat pump.
  • These operational devices or components preferably are arranged in a specific outline within the basement 3, as depicted for example in figure 5 .
  • the basement 3 can be divided in four quarters by two substantially parallel centerlines R and H of the basement 3.
  • the centerline R is preferably substantially parallel to the rotational axis (centerline and rotation axis are named with the same reference number due to the fact that in such top view they overlap) of the laundry chamber or drum 6 in case of a front loading washing machine, and is also parallel to the side walls 2c, 2d of the casing 10.
  • Centerline H is preferably substantially perpendicular to centerline R and it is substantially parallel to the front and back wall 2a, 2b of casing 10.
  • the four quarters so visualized are counted in a clockwise manner from the first quarter which includes a portion of the back side of the basement and a portion of one of the lateral sides (the left side when the drying machine is viewed in a front view) and includes corner 16, the second quarter includes the second portion of the back wall and a portion of the opposite lateral side wall to the one included in the first quarter, and so on.
  • the condensing device - heat pump 40 - is located in the fourth quarter of the basement, or at least for the majority of its volume in such fourth quarter, as visible from figure 5 .
  • Heat pump 40 might also occupy part of the first quarter.
  • the exit 31 is preferably formed in the second quarter and more preferably at the back side of the basement 3 in the second quarter.
  • the channel 30, part of the process air circuit 4 and above mentioned is formed in the basement 3, half of which is preferably integral to the upper shell 14 (the upper portion of the channel 30) and the other half (the lower portion) integral to the lower shell 13.
  • This channel 30 is disposed preferably for the majority of its volume in the first and second quarter of the basement, as depicted in figure 3 , so that it can channel the process air exiting the heat pump 40 to the exit 31.
  • the channel 30 has advantageously a concave shape in a top view, the concavity of which is directed towards the center of the basement.
  • the channel 30 includes an external wall 32 which is the wall in top view closer to the boundaries of the basement 3.
  • external wall 32 is integral to the upper shell 14.
  • the water collecting housing 12 is realized in the first quarter of basement 3 and even more preferably it includes corner 16 of the lower shell 13. More preferably, the water collecting housing 12 is located between the external wall 32 of the channel 30 and the boundary of the basement 3. Therefore, in this preferred embodiment, the form of the water collecting unit 12 is substantially that of a solid the base of which, i.e. the bottom wall 12b, includes two substantially perpendicular lines, the boundaries of the lower shell at corner 16, and a curved line joining the two perpendicular line, which follows the shape in a top view of the external wall 32 of channel 30. From this base, delimiting the bottom wall 12b, the lateral walls 12a extends substantially orthogonal to bottom wall 12b.
  • the water collecting housing is closed by a cover 21 which is preferably part of the upper shell 14.
  • Cover 21 is positioned in such a way that it substantially faces bottom wall 12b with one of its surfaces.
  • the cover 21 preferably includes a flat-shaped member which is more preferably formed substantially parallel to the horizontal (X, Y) plane.
  • Cover 21 is advantageously integral in a single piece construction to upper shell 14, for example is fabricated during the same plastic molding process. Therefore, cover 21 is an integral portion of upper shell 14.
  • cover 21 is located above water collecting housing 12 and it engages with lateral walls 12a forming the upper closure of the same.
  • the flat shaped member defining the cover 21 thus has a first surface facing the interior of the basement 3 - preferably facing the housing 12 - and a second surface, opposite to the first, facing the exterior to the basement and substantially facing upwards.
  • ribs 19 are provided on the external wall 32 of the channel 30 and reaching the flat element defining the cover 21.
  • the flat element or flap defining the cover 21 includes advantageously two substantially perpendicular sides which correspond to the two substantially perpendicular lateral walls 12a of the housing 12 forming corner 16 and a curved side which follows the contour of the external wall 32 of the channel 30, also integral to the upper shell 14.
  • external wall 32 of channel 30 and flat element are contiguous one to the other, the cover 21 thus representing substantially a flap departing horizontally from the external wall 32 of channel 30 and defining the boundary of the upper shell 14 in the corner 16.
  • Condensation water from the collecting housing 12 is preferably conveyed to an extractable moisture tank 17 (see figure 1 ) located at the upper portion of the dryer 1.
  • the moisture tank 17 is preferably in the form of a drawer slidably arranged in a box-shaped housing (not visible) on said upper portion of the dryer 1 so that it can be easily and periodically emptied by a user.
  • Condensation water from the collecting housing 12 is conveyed to the extractable moisture tank 17 by means of a water-removing unit 18 associated to the collecting housing 12.
  • the water-removing unit 18 comprises a pumping unit 22 and preferably a water level sensing device 23.
  • the pumping unit 22 and the sensing device 23 are preferably associated to the cover 21, which acts as a support body, in a removable way so that they can be easily mounted or removed during either manufacturing or maintenance.
  • the cover 21 in this embodiment comprises a first receiving seat for the pumping unit 22 and a second receiving seat for the sensing device 23.
  • the first and second receiving seats are apertures realized in the cover 21, so that both the pump unit 22 and the water level sensing device 23 can be introduced, at least for a portion, inside the water collecting housing 12 and can come into contact with condensed water which might be present into the housing 12.
  • a conveying pipe connects the pump unit 22 to the tank 17.
  • the condensed water which comes from the condensing device and reaches the water condensing housing 12 is conveyed from the housing 12 to the tank 17 through the conveying pipe by means of the pump unit 22.
  • an overflow pipe might be present, also not shown, which preferably connects the tank 17 to the housing 12.
  • a "full tank” warning alarm is then advantageously emitted for the user, for example an acoustic and/or a visual alarm, so that he/she can remove the excess water from tank 17.
  • the condensed water from the housing 12 may be conveyed by the pump unit 22 outside through a pipe connected to an external waste water drain. In this case, only the conveying pipe is provided and no further overflow pipes.
  • pump unit 22 is connected to the cover 12 by a plurality of coupling elements 27, preferably a first and a second coupling element 27 realized on opposite sides of the first seat.
  • the two coupling elements are preferably of the snap-in type, in order to elastically couple the pump unit 22 and at the same allowing an easy removal of the same.
  • coupling elements 27 are obtained in a single piece construction with the cover 21 therefore define an integral, unitary member with cover 21 and thus with upper shell 14.
  • the coupling elements 27 and the cover 21 are preferably made of a polymeric material and are preferably obtained in a single step by molding, more preferably by injection molding.
  • the coupling elements 27 project from the cover 21 substantially in a vertical manner when the dryer 1 is in a standard operative position towards the exterior of the basement 3. This means that these coupling elements extend for their major components along the Z axis.
  • similar coupling elements can be employed as well, for example also integral to the cover 21.
  • such coupling elements are also substantially vertical.
  • Cover 21 further includes an access aperture 60, for example realized as a through hole in cover 21, which renders the inside of the housing 12, normally closed by cover 21, accessible.
  • Access aperture 60 is advantageously openable and closable by means of a shutter 61, which is preferably hinged on cover 21.
  • the hinge in the depicted embodiment is formed by a line of thinner material.
  • the access aperture 60 is shown in an open operative configuration (see figure 4a ) where the shatter 61 is distant from the access aperture 60, rotated along an hinging axis L, so that the interior of the housing can be reached; and in a closed operative configuration ( figure 4b ) where the shutter 61 is lying on the cover 21 and closes the aperture 60.
  • an elastic lock member which for example includes a hook 62 protruding from the cover 21 engaging a corresponding seat or tooth 63 protruding or formed in shutter 61, so that the shutter is blocked in the closed configuration.
  • Hook 62 is advantageously elastically disengageable from seat 63.
  • Access aperture 60 is preferably located on cover 21 in proximity of the inlet 51, that is, on an area of the cover 21 which is located adjacent to inlet 51. As the pump unit 22 is also located on cover 21, in a projection onto the basement plane (X, Y) access aperture 60 is located between pump unit 22 and inlet 21. Preferably, a distance between the access aperture 60 and the inlet 51 is less than 15 cm. The distance is preferably calculated between a rim of the access aperture 60 and a rim of the inlet 51.
  • the two are combined in order to form the complete basement 3.
  • the various dryer components are positioned, for example heat pump 40, as well as engine to rotate the drum (not shown) and a fan (also not shown), as depicted in figure 5 .
  • the two shells 13, 14 are assembled, for example by means of screws or a snap-fit connection, reaching the configuration of figures 2 and 3 .
  • the cover 21, covering the housing 12 and preferably integral to upper shell 14, is preferably substantially flat and, when the basement 3 is positioned in a standard operative position, is substantially horizontal and faces with one of its surfaces upwardly as an integral part of the upper shell (e.g. as a single unit with the upper shell, for example formed in the same molding process) and with its opposite surface the bottom wall 12b of water collecting housing 12.
  • the cover 21 closes the housing 12 where water condensed from the condensing device 40 can be collected.
  • the water removing unit 18 installation is, due to the outline of the basement 3, particularly simple. Due to the fact that the cover 21 is already integrated in the basement 3, e.g. in its upper shell 14, no mounting of a support body for the components of the water removing unit is necessary. Further, in a preferred embodiment, also the coupling elements 27 of the pump unit 22, as well as more preferably also the coupling elements of the water level sensor 23 are also integral to the cover 21. No additional elements to be mounted are thus present - everything being already integrated in the basement - reducing the assembly time and costs.
  • the provision of a completed, integral, unitary member of the cover 21 and of the upper shell 14 makes it possible to reduce manufacturing time and costs of the water-removing unit 18 and, eventually, of the dryer 1. Installation of the water-removing unit 18 is therefore simplified with respect to the known art where the two or more separated elements, namely the cover and the coupling elements, are handled separately.
  • the access of the housing 12, the water removal or cleaning of any component are simple and reliable. Due to the location of the access aperture 60 on the cover 12 of the upper shell 14, a simple removal of one of the side walls 2c or 2d of the casing 10 is required in order to operate the shutter 61, which can be easily opened, disengaging hook 62 from seat 63, so that the inside of the water collecting housing 12 is reachable.
  • fluff present in the duct 50 which generally accumulate in the syphon - shaped section 52, can be easily removed either with a finger of the user or service personnel, or with a suitable tool, which can be inserted in the aperture and suitably angled and inserted into inlet 51.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Detail Structures Of Washing Machines And Dryers (AREA)

Claims (14)

  1. Trockner (1), umfassend:
    ∘ ein Gehäuse (10) mit einem Sockel (3), der eine obere Schale (14) und eine untere Schale (13) aufweist, wobei die obere und die untere Schale dazu geeignet sind, miteinander verbunden zu sein, um den Sockel auszubilden, wobei das Gehäuse ein Innenvolumen begrenzt;
    ∘ eine Wäschekammer (6), die dazu geeignet ist, zu trocknende Wäsche aufzunehmen;
    ∘ einen Prozessluftkreislauf (4) zum Zirkulieren von Prozessluft in die Wäschekammer (6);
    ∘ eine Kondensationsvorrichtung (40) zum Entfernen von Feuchtigkeit aus der Prozessluft, die aus der Wäschekammer (6) kommt;
    ∘ ein Wassersammelgehäuse (12), das im Sockel (3) ausgebildet ist und sich innerhalb des Innenvolumens befindet, zum Sammeln von Kondenswasser, das durch die Kondensationsvorrichtung (40) gebildet wird;
    ∘ eine Leitung (50) zum Leiten von an der Kondensationsvorrichtung (40) ausgebildetem Kondenswasser zum Wassersammelgehäuse, die einen Einlass (51) in das Wassersammelgehäuse (12) definiert;
    ∘ wobei die obere Schale (14) oder die untere Schale (13) eine Abdeckung (21) zum Schließen des Wassersammelgehäuses (12) beinhalten und die Abdeckung (21) eine verschließbare Zugangsöffnung (60) zum Zugang zum Wassersammelgehäuse (12) umfasst;
    ∘ eine Wasserentfernungseinheit (18), die mit dem Wassersammelgehäuse (12) verbunden ist, zum Entfernen von darin befindlichem Wasser, umfassend eine Pumpeneinheit (22), die mit der Abdeckung gekoppelt ist;
    dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
    sich in einer Draufsicht auf den Sockel (3) die Zugangsöffnung (60) in der Abdeckung (21) zwischen dem Einlass (51) und der Pumpeneinheit (22) befindet.
  2. Trockner (1) nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Zugangsöffnung (60) in einem Abstand zum Einlass (51) von weniger als 15 cm ausgeführt ist.
  3. Trockner (1) nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Abdeckung (21) integral in einer einstückigen Konstruktion mit der oberen Schale (14) oder der unteren Schale (13) ausgebildet ist.
  4. Trockner (1) nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, wobei das Wassersammelgehäuse (12) integral in einer einstückigen Konstruktion mit der unteren Schale (13) oder der oberen Schale (14) ausgebildet ist.
  5. Trockner (1) nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, einschließlich eines an der Abdeckung (21) angelenkten Verschlusses (61) zum Öffnen und Schließen der Zugangsöffnung (60).
  6. Trockner (1) nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Leitung (50) einen siphonförmigen Abschnitt (52) beinhaltet.
  7. Trockner (1) nach Anspruch 6, wobei sich der siphonförmige Abschnitt (52) am Einlass (51) befindet.
  8. Trockner nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Pumpeneinheit (22) mittels eines oder mehrerer Kopplungselemente (27) lösbar mit der Abdeckung (12) verbunden ist.
  9. Trockner (1) nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, wobei der Sockel (3) eine Sockelebene (X, Y) parallel zum Boden definiert, auf der der Trockner aufliegt, und wobei die Abdeckung (21) in einem Abschnitt der oberen Schale (14) oder der unteren Schale (13) ausgebildet ist, der im Wesentlichen flach ist und eine Hauptkomponente parallel zur Sockelebene aufweist.
  10. Trockner (1) nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, wobei der Sockel (3) einen Kanal (30) für die Prozessluft beinhaltet, der Teil des Prozessluftkreislaufs (4) ist, wobei der Kanal (30) die Prozessluft von der Kondensationsvorrichtung (40) zu einem Ausgang (31) leitet, so dass Prozessluft aus dem Sockel (3) austreten kann, wobei die Abdeckung (21) in der oberen Schale (14) oder in der unteren Schale (13) an einer Position zwischen dem Gehäuse (10) und einer Wand (32) des Kanals (30) ausgebildet ist.
  11. Trockner (1) nach Anspruch 10, wobei die Wand (32) des Kanals (30) integral in einer einstückigen Konstruktion mit der oberen Schale (14) oder mit der unteren Schale (13) ausgebildet ist.
  12. Trockner (1) nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, wobei im Sockel eine Vorderseite, eine Rückseite und zwei seitliche Seiten identifizierbar sind, wobei die Leitung (50) zum Leiten von Kondenswasser im Wesentlichen parallel zu einer seitlichen Seite des Sockels (3) ausgeführt ist.
  13. Trockner (1) nach Anspruch 12, wobei die Leitung (50) zum Leiten von Kondenswasser zumindest für einen Abschnitt zwischen der seitlichen Seite des Sockels (3) und der Kondensationsvorrichtung (40) ausgeführt ist.
  14. Trockner (1) nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, wobei die obere (14) und die untere Schale (13) aus Polymermaterial hergestellt sind.
EP15178415.4A 2015-07-27 2015-07-27 Wäschetrockner Active EP3124683B1 (de)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PL15178415T PL3124683T3 (pl) 2015-07-27 2015-07-27 Suszarka do materiałów pranych
EP15178415.4A EP3124683B1 (de) 2015-07-27 2015-07-27 Wäschetrockner

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP15178415.4A EP3124683B1 (de) 2015-07-27 2015-07-27 Wäschetrockner

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EP3124683B1 true EP3124683B1 (de) 2020-11-25

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KR20220114284A (ko) * 2021-02-08 2022-08-17 엘지전자 주식회사 의류처리장치

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2458072A1 (de) * 2010-11-29 2012-05-30 Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V. Wäschetrockner
EP2620540B1 (de) 2012-01-26 2016-01-20 Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V. Wäschetrocknermaschine
EP2620541A1 (de) 2012-01-27 2013-07-31 Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V. Wäschetrocknermaschine
KR101980900B1 (ko) * 2012-07-13 2019-05-22 삼성전자주식회사 수위감지장치 및 이를 가지는 의류건조기
JP2014030469A (ja) * 2012-08-01 2014-02-20 Panasonic Corp 空調装置およびこれを備えた衣類乾燥機

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EP3124683A1 (de) 2017-02-01

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