EP3155161B1 - Base assembly for a clothes dryer, and clothes dryer having a base assembly of this type - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a bottom group of a housing having a tumble dryer with at least one below a heat source and a heat sink of a heat pump of the tumble dryer separating shelf, on which the heat source and the heat sink stand up.

A known tumble dryer, in particular a condensation dryer, comprises a heat pump with two heat exchangers, namely a heat-emitting heat source and a heat-receiving heat sink, wherein process air used for drying laundry is heated by the heat source and supplied to the laundry for absorbing moisture therefrom, and the moisture absorbed during the drying of laundry is condensed by means of the heat sink to which the process air laden with the moisture is fed. A clothes dryer with heat pump has a much lower energy consumption than a clothes dryer without heat pump. The energy efficiency of a clothes dryer with heat pump increases with the volume of heat exchangers used in the heat pump, ie the volume of the heat source and the heat sink. For the arrangement of the heat exchanger of the heat pump but within the housing a limited installation space available, which is limited by adjacent to the heat pump assemblies, for example by a laundry drum driving belt or a self-cleaning system for cleaning a heat exchanger of the heat pump.

A heat pump often used in a tumble dryer contains a refrigerant which circulates in a self-contained cycle and thereby cyclically evaporates while absorbing heat and is condensed with the release of heat. The evaporation of the refrigerant takes place predominantly in the heat sink. This can therefore also be referred to as an evaporator or evaporator. It flows to the refrigerant as a mixture of liquid and gas. As a gas, the refrigerant then passes to a compressor, where it is compressed. The compressor is also the drive that drives the refrigerant through its circulation. From the compressor, the compressed refrigerant reaches the heat source, where it is liquefied with the release of heat. This heat source is therefore also to be referred to as a condenser or condenser. From the heat source, the liquefied refrigerant passes into a relaxation device, in particular a valve, a diaphragm or a capillary, in which its internal pressure is reduced and it already partly turned back into gas. The resulting mixture of liquid and gas gets back to the heat sink.

A corresponding dryer with a heat pump comprehensive floor group is for example off DE 10 2008 044 277 A1 known.

In a clothes dryer with heat pump, a liquid tank is usually arranged on the bottom side, in which condensing water can accumulate on the heat sink of the heat pump. If a tumble dryer additionally has a self-cleaning system for cleaning a heat exchanger of the heat pump, the liquid pool is also used to collect the flushing fluid used in this case. The heat exchangers of the heat pump are usually arranged above the liquid tank, for which purpose above the liquid tank a separating floor can be arranged, on which the heat exchangers stand up. The space below the heat exchanger or the separating tray is thus limited by the liquid pool.

The object of the invention is to increase the energy efficiency of a heat pump having a tumble dryer and to specify a corresponding floor group.

This object is solved by the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are given in the dependent claims, which each taken alone or in various combinations with each other can represent a further developing, in particular preferred or advantageous aspect of the invention.

The floor assembly according to the invention of a housing having a tumble dryer with at least one below a heat source and a heat sink of a heat pump of the tumble dryer separating shelf on which the heat source and the heat sink stand up, is characterized in that in the separating bottom at least a trough-like, waterproof and in the direction the heat source open formed recess is formed, wherein a bottom of the recess is completely below a maximum Flüssigkeitsfüllhöhe a bottom side disposed below the partition floor liquid tank and the heat source rests on the ground.

According to the invention, the bottom of the depression is located completely below the maximum liquid filling height of the liquid basin arranged below the bottom on the bottom side. Moreover, since the recess is trough-shaped and waterproof, a bottom-side portion of the heat source disposed in the recess can be positioned lower than is possible with a conventional partition floor which would be located entirely above a maximum liquid level of a liquid pool of the clothes dryer. When using the floor assembly according to the invention can thus be developed for the heat source additional space within the liquid pool. In this way, a heat source with a height that is greater than a height of a heat source that could be installed in the same tumble dryer without the floor assembly according to the invention can be installed in a tumble dryer. This is accompanied by an increase in the energy efficiency of a laundry dryer equipped with a floor assembly according to the invention. The possible size of the heat source depends inter alia on how far the bottom of the depression is located below the maximum liquid filling height of the liquid pool.

If the recess of the separating tray according to the invention were not trough-shaped and waterproof, the heat source could, at a high, in particular maximum, liquid level in the liquid tank, come into direct contact with a liquid present in the liquid tank. This would be even more likely in a tumble dryer equipped with a self-cleaning system for cleaning at least one heat exchanger of its heat pump, since such a dryer may produce a greater amount of liquid in the liquid pool at least during a corresponding self-cleaning. A corresponding immersion of the heat source in a liquid contained in the liquid pool would be associated with a loss of power of the heat source, since on the one hand, the liquid the heat source and thereby indirectly abküh the process air to be heated by her len and on the other hand, the relative humidity in the vicinity of the heat source would be increased. With the floor assembly according to the invention or its arrangement on a tumble dryer, a corresponding loss of power of the heat source, and thus of the heat pump as a whole, can be effectively avoided.

A clothes dryer of the aforementioned type is a household appliance, which is set up using condensation drying for drying wet and / or wet laundry. The tumble dryer may be formed, for example, as a drum dryer, drying oven, washer-dryer or the like.

According to an advantageous embodiment, at least one securing means for securing a positioning of the heat source relative to the bottom of the recess is arranged on a side of the bottom of the recess facing the heat source. This is particularly advantageous in a tumble dryer in the form of a drum dryer or a washer dryer because of the vibrations occurring during operation of a drum dryer or washer dryer. By means of the securing means, a proper positioning of the heat source relative to the bottom of the recess can be reliably achieved under such loads, which improves the robustness of a suitably equipped tumble dryer and prevents noise within the tumble dryer by abutting against each other not intentionally interconnected components. By means of the securing means, for example, a positive connection between the separating tray and the heat source can be produced. The securing means may be formed as a closed, substantially perpendicular from the bottom of the recess projecting wall. Alternatively, a plurality of separate securing means in the form of protruding perpendicularly from the bottom of the recess protrusions may be arranged at the bottom of the recess.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the bottom of the recess is formed supporting. As a result, the heat source can be placed on the bottom of the recess and carried by this and held. The bottom of the recess or the separating tray is to be provided for this purpose with a suitable dimensional stability. For this purpose, reinforcing ribs or the like can be arranged on the separating bottom, in particular on the bottom side.

A further advantageous embodiment provides that the separating tray is disposed below the heat source and the heat sink of the heat pump, wherein at least one open in the direction of the evaporator lowering is formed on the separating bottom, so that a bottom of the lowering completely below the maximum Flüssigkeitsfüllhöhe the bottom side located below the partition floor arranged liquid pool of the clothes dryer. Since the bottom of the lowering is arranged on the bottom side below the maximum liquid filling level of the liquid basin arranged below the separating bottom, a bottom-side portion of the heat sink or the heat sink arranged in the recess can be arranged lower overall than would be possible with a conventional separating tray completely above a maximum Flüssigkeitsfüllhöhe a liquid pool of a clothes dryer would be arranged. When using the floor assembly according to the invention can thus be developed for the heat sink additional space within the liquid pool. In this way, a heat sink with a height that is greater than a height of a heat sink, which could be installed in the same tumble dryer without the floor assembly according to this embodiment, can be installed in a tumble dryer. This is also accompanied by an increase in the energy efficiency of a laundry dryer equipped with a floor assembly according to the invention. The possible size of the heat sink depends among other things on how far the bottom of the sink is located below the maximum liquid level of the liquid pool.

The lowering does not have to be formed in a watertight and trough-like manner according to the recess, since physical contact between the heat sink and a liquid contained in the liquid tank or consequent cooling of the evaporator does not adversely affect the cooling performance of the heat sink. In addition, the relative humidity in the vicinity of the heat sink anyway relatively high, so that an increase in the relative humidity in their environment by the presence of existing in the liquid pool liquid can be almost excluded. However, the lowering may alternatively be formed trough-like and waterproof according to the depression.

Advantageously, at least one further securing means for securing a positioning of the heat sink relative to the bottom of the lowering is arranged on a side of a bottom of the depression facing the heat sink. This is particularly advantageous in a tumble dryer in the form of a drum dryer or a washer dryer because of the vibrations occurring during operation of a drum dryer or washer dryer. By means of the further securing means, a proper positioning of the portion of the heat sink relative to the bottom of the reduction can be reliably ensured under such loads, which improves the robustness of a suitably equipped tumble dryer and prevents noise within the tumble dryer by abutting each other not intentionally interconnected components. By means of the securing means, for example, a positive connection between the separating tray and the heat sink can be produced. The securing means may be formed as a closed, substantially perpendicular from the bottom of the lowering projecting wall. Alternatively, a plurality of separate securing means in the form of protruding perpendicularly from the bottom of the lowering protrusions may be arranged at the bottom of the lowering.

It is further considered advantageous if the bottom of the sink is designed to be load-bearing. As a result, the heat sink can be placed on the floor of the lowering and carried and held by this. The bottom of the lowering or the separating tray is to be provided for this purpose with a suitable dimensional stability. For this purpose, reinforcing ribs or the like can be arranged on the bottom of the lowering, in particular on the bottom side.

Furthermore, it is proposed that at least one opening is formed at the bottom of the depression. Should it happen during operation of a tumble dryer, that the heat sink temporarily partially immersed in a liquid contained in the liquid tank, this configuration at falling liquid level in the liquid tank, a liquid located on the bottom of the sink drain through the opening again and into the liquid pool reach. In the opening means may be provided, which allow only a drainage of the liquid, but prevent the liquid from entering the area above the separating bottom. If the opening is made relatively large, can also ambient air between the bottom of the Heat sink and the top of the bottom of the sink pass, whereby these areas can be dried, which for example prevents odor or mold on these components of a tumble dryer.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the floor assembly according to the invention, it is provided that the heat source is a condenser and the heat sink is an evaporator for a refrigerant circulating in the heat pump.

The invention also provides a tumble dryer comprising the underbody of the invention or one of its described embodiments. This dryer is connected in accordance with the above mentioned floor covering groups of the invention. The underbody may be combined in the tumble dryer with a conventional housing or with a housing designed and manufactured specifically for that underbody.

The invention is not limited to the specified combination of the features of the independent claims and the dependent claims. In addition, there are further possibilities of combining individual features, in particular if they result from the claims, the following description of the exemplary embodiment or directly from the figures. In addition, the reference of the claims to the figures by the use of reference numerals to limit the scope of protection in any case, and in no way on the illustrated embodiment example.

Figur 1

eine schematische Schnittdarstellung eines herkömmlichen Wäschetrockners mit Wärmepumpe,

Figur 2

eine schematische Schnittdarstellung eines Ausführungsbeispiels für einen hier vorgestellten Wäschetrockner mit Wärmepumpe,

Figur 3

eine perspektivische Darstellung des in Figur 2 gezeigten Trennbodens,

Figur 4

eine weitere perspektivische Darstellung des in den Figuren 2 und 3 gezeigten Trennbodens, und

Figur 5:

eine Draufsicht auf den in den Figuren 2 bis 4 gezeigten Trennboden.

In the following, the invention will be explained by way of example with reference to the figures of the attached drawing with reference to a preferred exemplary embodiment, wherein the features explained below may represent an aspect of the invention both individually and in different combinations with each other. Show it:

FIG. 1

a schematic sectional view of a conventional clothes dryer with heat pump,

FIG. 2

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a laundry dryer with heat pump presented here, FIG.

FIG. 3

a perspective view of the in FIG. 2 shown partition,

FIG. 4

another perspective view of the in the Figures 2 and 3 shown dividing floor, and

FIG. 5:

a plan view of the in the FIGS. 2 to 4 shown separating bottom.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic sectional view of a conventional laundry dryer 1 with a heat pump 2. The heat pump 2 is of the type in which a cyclically vaporized refrigerant circulates, and thus comprises an evaporator 3 with the height h _E as a heat sink 3 and a capacitor 4 with the overall height h _K as a heat source 4. The evaporator 3 and the condenser 4 are placed on a separating tray 5 a bottom group 6, wherein the separating tray 5 is fixed to a housing 7 of the bottom group 6. Above the evaporator 3 and the condenser 4, a lid 8 is arranged with a diffuser 9 for a self-cleaning system not shown in detail for cleaning the evaporator 3 and / or the condenser 4, wherein the lid 8 via a sealing foam 10 with the evaporator 3 and the condenser 4 is connected. With h _B , the height of a between the dividing floor 5 and another component 11 of the tumble dryer 1 available space is characterized.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic sectional view of an embodiment of a tumble dryer 12 according to the above new teaching with a heat pump 13, which has a capacitor 14 with the height H _K as a heat source 14 and an evaporator 15 with the height H _E as a heat sink 15. It can be seen that the respective height H _K or H _E in comparison to the corresponding heights h _E and h _K of FIG. 1 is larger. The tumble dryer 12 further comprises a floor assembly 16 with a housing 17 and a partition floor 18 arranged on the housing 17 such that the partition floor 16 is arranged below the bottom of the condenser 14 and the evaporator 15. Above the evaporator 15 and the capacitor 14 is a cover 25th arranged with a diffuser 26 for a self-cleaning system not shown in detail for cleaning the evaporator 15 and / or the capacitor 14, wherein the lid 25 is connected to the evaporator 15 and the capacitor 14.

On the separating tray 18, a trough-like, waterproof and open in the direction of the capacitor 14 recess 19 is arranged and formed such that a bottom 20 of the recess 19 bottom completely below a maximum Flüssigkeitsfüllhöhe F of a bottom side below the separating tray 18 arranged liquid pool 21 of the clothes dryer 12th is arranged. The bottom 20 of the recess 19 is formed supporting, wherein the capacitor 14 is placed on the bottom 20 of the recess 19.

Furthermore, a depression 23 open in the direction of the evaporator 15 is arranged and formed at the separating bottom 18 such that a bottom 23 of the depression 22 is arranged completely below the maximum liquid filling height F of the liquid basin 21 of the tumble dryer 12 arranged below the separating bottom 18 on the bottom side is. The bottom 23 of the sink 22 is designed to be load-bearing, wherein the evaporator 15 is placed on the bottom 23 of the sink 22. The recess 19 is, as from FIG. 3 emerges, via a partition 30 watertight separated from the sink 22. Furthermore, the shows FIG. 2 in that openings 24 are formed on the bottom 23 of the depression 22, which better the FIGS. 3 to 7 can be removed. With H _B , the height of a between the bottom 20 of the recess 19 and the bottom 23 of the lowering 22 and a further component 27 of the tumble dryer 12 available space is characterized. It can be seen that the bottom 20 of the depression 19 and the bottom 23 of the depression 22 are deeper than the separating bottom 5 by the amount Δh ₁ FIG. 1 are arranged. In addition, the lid 25 by the amount .DELTA.h _{2 is} higher than the lid 8 FIG. 1 is arranged. The space available for the heat pump 13 in the tumble dryer 13 is thus a total of the amount .DELTA.h ₁ + .DELTA.h ₂ greater than that in the FIG. 1 shown conventional clothes dryer 1 is the case.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the in FIG. 2 On a side facing the condenser 14 of the bottom 20 of the recess 19 four securing means 28 are arranged, with which a desired positioning of the Capacitor 14 is securable relative to the bottom 20 of the recess 19. On a side facing the evaporator 12 of the bottom 23 of the reduction 22, two securing means 29 are arranged, with which a desired positioning of the evaporator 15 relative to the bottom 23 of the lowering 22 can be secured. Between the recess 19 and the lowering 22, the partition wall 30 is arranged, which separates the recess 19 waterproof from the lowering 22.

FIG. 4 shows a further perspective view of the in the Figures 2 and 3 shown partition 18.

FIG. 5 shows a plan view of the in the FIGS. 2 to 4 shown separating bottom 18th

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

clothes dryer

2

heat pump

3

Heat sink, evaporator

4

Heat source, condenser

5

separating base

6

underbody

7

casing

8th

cover

9

diffuser

10

sealing foam

11

module

12

clothes dryer

13

heat pump

14

Heat source, condenser

15

Heat sink, evaporator

16

underbody

17

casing

18

separating base

19

deepening

20

ground

21

liquid pool

22

lowering

23

ground

24

opening

25

cover

26

diffuser

27

module

28

securing means

29

securing means

h _K

height

h _E

height

h _B

height

H _K

height

H _E

height

H _B

height

Δh ₁

amount

Δh ₂

amount

F

maximum liquid level

Claims (9)

1. Base assembly (16) of a tumble dryer (12) having a housing, with at least one base partition (18) arranged below a heat source (14) and a heat sink (15) of a heat pump (13) of the tumble dryer (12), on which base partition the heat source (14) and the heat sink (15) stand, characterised in that at least one trough-like, watertight recess (19) that is open in the direction of the heat source (14) is formed in the base partition (18), wherein a base (20) of the recess (19) lies completely below a maximum liquid fill height (F) of a liquid tank (21) arranged on the base side below the base partition (18), and the heat source (14) stands on the base (20).
2. Base assembly (16) according to claim 1, characterised in that at least one securing means (28) for securing a positioning of the heat source (14) relative to the base (20) of the recess (19) is arranged on a side of the base (20) of the recess (19) facing the heat source (14).
3. Base assembly (16) according to claim 2, characterised in that the base (20) of the recess (19) is configured to bear a load.
4. Base assembly (16) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the base partition (18) is arranged below the heat source (14) and a heat sink (15) of the heat pump (13), wherein on the base partition (18) at least one drop (22) is configured that is configured to be open in the direction of the heat sink (15) such that a base (23) of the drop (22) lies completely below the maximum liquid fill height (F) of the liquid tank (21) arranged below the base partition (18).
5. Base assembly (16) according to claim 4, characterised in that at least one further securing means (29) for securing a positioning of the heat sink (15) relative to the base (23) of the drop (22) is arranged on a side of the base (23) of the drop (22) facing the heat sink (15).
6. Base assembly (16) according to claim 5, characterised in that the base (23) of the drop (22) is configured to bear a load.
7. Base assembly (16) according to claim 5 or 6, characterised in that at least one opening (24) is configured on the base (23) of the drop (22).
8. Base assembly (16) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the heat source (14) is a condenser (14) and the heat sink (15) is an evaporator (15) for a coolant circulating in the heat pump (13).
9. Tumble dryer (12) comprising a base assembly (16) according to one of the preceding claims.

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