EP3162950A1

EP3162950A1 - Filter device for a household appliance adapted to perform at least a drying cycle and household appliance comprising said filter device

Info

Publication number: EP3162950A1
Application number: EP15192292.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: William PAOLINI
Original assignee: Whirlpool EMEA SpA
Current assignee: Whirlpool EMEA SpA
Priority date: 2015-10-30
Filing date: 2015-10-30
Publication date: 2017-05-03
Anticipated expiration: 2035-10-30
Also published as: EP3162950B1

Abstract

Filter device for a household appliance adapted to perform at least a drying cycle, said filter device (200) being adapted to be removably mounted to said household appliance (1), wherein said filter device (200) comprises: a filter portion (210) adapted to filter a flow of air coming from a tub (3) of said household appliance (1); a closing element (220) adapted close a main opening (W) formed in a condenser (4) of said household appliance (1); a connection structure (230) connecting said filter portion (210) and said closing element (220). Also discloses is a household appliance adapted to perform at least a drying cycle, comprising said filter device (200).

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention refers to filter device for a household appliance adapted to perform at least a drying cycle, such as a washing/drying machine or a drying machine.
The present invention also refers to a household appliance adapted to perform at least a drying cycle, such as a washing/drying machine or a drying machine, comprising said filter device.

PRIOR ART

Drying machines and washing/drying machines comprise a rotating drum in which the items to be dried are placed. The drum is rotatably mounted in a tub. To perform the drying through a recirculation line, the air is extracted from the tub, treated and reintroduced therein. The recirculation line includes:

a condenser that causes the condensation of the moisture contained in the air extracted from the tub (such moisture is transferred to the air by the linen whilst it is drying);
a blowing unit that moves the air along the recirculation line; the blowing unit typically comprises a fan (or impeller) and a casing, in which the fan is rotatably mounted; the fan is driven in rotation by a respective motor, mounted to the casing;
an element that heats the air before reintroducing it into the tub.

The recirculation line further comprises a fluff filter, usually arranged at the inlet of the condenser.
The filter needs to be periodically cleaned, in order to avoid malfunctioning of the machine.
Various techniques are known in order to clean the fluff filter; however, such techniques are complex, time consuming and sometimes non-effective.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a filter device for a household appliance adapted to perform at least a drying cycle, wherein said filter device can be cleaned easily, quickly and in an effective manner.
This and further objects are substantially achieved by a device filter and a household appliance as described in the appended claims.
The basic idea of the present invention is to provide a filter device that is removably mounted to the machine so that, when it is necessary to carry out a cleaning operation, the filter device can be removed, cleaned, and then mounted back in the operative position. According to one aspect, the invention refers to a filter device for a household appliance adapted to perform at least a drying cycle, said filter device being adapted to be removably mounted to said household appliance, wherein said filter device comprises:

a. a filter portion adapted to filter a flow of air coming from a tub of said household appliance;
b. a closing element adapted close a main opening formed in a condenser of said household appliance;
c. a connection structure connecting said filter portion and said closing element. Preferably, when the closing element closes said main opening, the filter portion is arranged at a rear opening of said tub.

Preferably, said connection structure connects perimetric portions of said filter portion with respective perimetric portions of said closing element.
Preferably, said connection structure has one or more openings so as to let the air flow passing through said filter portion advance through said condenser.
Preferably, said connection structure comprises a plurality of ribs, forming said openings.
Preferably, each of said ribs connects one of the perimetric portions of said filter portion with a respective one of the perimetric portions of said closing element.
Preferably, said filter device is adapted to receive an air flow according to a direction substantially perpendicular to said filter portion and to output a corresponding flow of filtered air in one or more directions substantially parallel to said filter portion.
Preferably, said filter portion is plate-like shaped, and has in particular a circular profile.
Preferably, said closing element comprises a disc element and an annular connection.
Preferably, said filter portion and said disc element are substantially parallel to each other.
Preferably, said ribs are substantially perpendicular to said filter portion and/or to said disc element.
Preferably, the perimetric portions of said closing element are defined on said annular connection.
According to another aspect, the invention refers to a household appliance adapted to perform at least a drying cycle, said appliance comprising:

a. a tub in which a drum is rotatably mounted;
b. a drying system, having an inlet for receiving wet air from said tub and an outlet for providing dried air to said tub, said drying system including a condenser adapted to receive a flow of wet air from said tub and to make it condense and obtain dried air,

Preferably, said condenser comprises a first structural component and a second structural component, wherein said tub comprises a plurality of structural components including a tub body and a rear component,
wherein said tub body and the first structural component of said condenser are made in one piece,
wherein said rear component and the second structural component of said condenser are made in one piece.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some examples of preferred and advantageous embodiments are described for purely illustrative and non limiting purposes, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

figure 1 shows a block diagram of a household appliance according to the invention;
figures 2-3 show perspective views of a portion of the household appliance of figure 1;
figures 4-5 show perspective views of a first component included in the portion of figures 2-3;
figures 6-7 show perspective views of a second component included in the portion of figures 2-3;
figure 8 shows an exploded perspective view of the portion of figures 2-3, wherein some parts have been deleted to better show others;
figures 9a-9b show perspective views of a detail of figures 2-3, 8;
figure 10 is an enlarged view of a part of 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the accompanying drawings, 1 indicates a household appliance adapted to perform at least a drying cycle.
The appliance 1 can be a drying machine, adapted to dry linen and/or clothes previously washed by a different machine.
The appliance 1 can also be a washer-drier, namely a machine capable of both washing and drying linen and/or clothes. In this case, the appliance 1 is also adapted to perform at least a washing cycle.
The appliance 1 (figure 1) comprises a drum 2 which can rotate and which is intended to house the items to be dried.
The appliance 1 comprises a tub 3, in which the drum 2 is rotatably mounted.
Advantageously the appliance 1 comprises a drying system 10 which has an inlet 10a for receiving wet air from the tub 3 and an outlet 10b for providing dried air to be inserted back into the tub 3. This allows the air rich in moisture (following contact with the items to be dried contained in the drum 2 placed in the tub 3) to be taken and reintroduced into the same tub 3 after being dried and heated.
Preferably the appliance 1 further comprises a connection conduit 6 adapted to guide the flow of dried air from the outlet 10b of the drying system 10 to the tub 3.
Preferably, the connection conduit 6 is associated to an annular shaped gasket 7, arranged around the loading opening 7a of the tub 3 and provided with a passage to let the dried air reach the inside of the same tub 3.
In a preferred embodiment, the connection conduit 6 is made of an elastomeric material, e.g. the same material as the annular gasket 7.
In a preferred embodiment, the connection conduit 6 and the annular gasket 7 are made in one piece.
The drying system 10 comprises a condenser 4 that receives a gaseous fluid containing particles of vapor from said tub 3 and that causes at least partial condensation thereof.
Preferably the inlet 10a of the drying system 10 coincides with the inlet of the condenser 4.
Preferably, the drying system 10 further comprises a blowing unit 5 to promote an air flow inside the same drying system 10.
Preferably, the condenser 4 is arranged upstream of the blowing unit 5 according to the direction of the air flow.
Preferably, the blowing unit 5 comprises a casing 51, in which an impeller or fan 59 is rotatably mounted; an electric motor 52' operates on the impeller 59 to drive the same in rotation.
Preferably the casing 51 comprises a scroll 511, which substantially surrounds the impeller 59, and a conduit 512, radially extending from the scroll 511.
Preferably the conduit 512 houses a heating element, e.g. a suitably powered electric element, which is employed to heat the air to be fed back into the tub 3.
In summary, the main components of the drying system 10 are arranged in the following order:

the condenser 4, which receives wet air from the tub 3 through the rear opening 301;
the blowing unit 5, which promotes the air flow in the drying system and in the tub 3; in particular, the blowing unit 5 withdraws dried air from the condenser 4 and makes it advance through the conduit 512 (where it is also heated).

Then the connection conduit 6 received heated dried air from the blowing unit 5 and feeds it to the tub 3 through the opening provided in the annular gasket 7.
Advantageously, the drying system 10 further comprises a filter device 200.
The filter device 200 is adapted to filter fluff and similar materials, so as to prevent the same to flow into the drying system 10, and in particular in the blowing unit 5.
The filter device 200 comprises a filter portion 210 adapted to filter the air flow coming from the tub 3.
Preferably the filter portion 210 is plate-like shaped, and has preferably a circular profile.
It has to be noted that the filter portion 210 is preferably entirely made of filtering elements; in practice, the filter portion 210 can consist of a substantially circular mesh. In figures 9a-9b only a part of such mesh is represented for sake of simplicity; as said, such mesh structure preferably extends over the whole filter portion 210.
The filter device 200 further comprises a closing element 220 adapted to close a main opening W formed in the condenser 4.
Preferably the closing element 220 comprises a disc element 221 and an annular connection 222. The annular connection 222 is preferably substantially coaxial with respect to the disc element 221.
Preferably the filter portion 210 and the disc element 221 are substantially parallel to each other.
The filter device 200 further comprises a connection structure 230 which connects the filter portion 210 and the closing element 220.
Preferably, the connection structure 230 connects perimetric portions 210a-210c of the filter portion 210 with respective perimetric portions 220a-220c of said closing element 220.
Preferably, the perimetric portions 220a-220c of the closing element 220 are defined on said annular connection 222.
In practical terms, the connection structure 230 connects the filter portion 210 with the annular connection 222 of the closing element 220.
Preferably the connection structure 230 has one or more openings 230a-230c so as to let the air flow passing through the filter portion 210 advance through the condenser 4.
In general terms, the filter device 200 is adapted to receive an air flow according to a direction substantially perpendicular to the filter portion 210, and to output a corresponding flow of filtered air in one or more directions substantially parallel to the filter portion 210. Preferably the air flow provided in output flows through the one or more openings 230a-230c.
In a preferred embodiment, the connection structure 230 comprises a plurality of ribs 231-233.
Preferably the ribs 231-233 are substantially perpendicular to the filter portion 210 and/or to the disc element 221 of the closing element 220.
Advantageously the ribs 231-233 form said openings 230a-230c. In other terms, each one of said one or more openings 230a-230c is delimited by a portion of the filter portion 210, a couple of ribs 231, 232; 232, 233; 233, 231, and a portion of the closing element 220, in particular a portion of the annular connection 222.
Preferably each of said ribs 231-233 connects one of the perimetric portions 210a-210c of the filter portion 210 with a respective one of the perimetric portions 220a-220c of the closing element 220.
Advantageously, the filter device 200 is removably mounted to the household appliance 1, and in particular to the condenser 4.
As said, the condenser 4 is provided with a main opening W.
Preferably the main opening W substantially faces a rear opening 301, formed in a rear base RB of the tub 3.
The rear opening 301 provides a flow connection between the inside of the tub 3 and the condenser 4, so that the wet air coming from the items loaded into the drum 2, can reach the condenser 4 in order to be dried.
The filter device 200 is adapted to be removably coupled to the main opening W, so that the closing element 220 closes said main opening W.
Advantageously, when the closing element 220 closes the main opening W, the filter portion 210 is arranged at the rear opening 301. Accordingly, fluff and similar materials coming from the items loaded in the drum 2 are filtered and do not reach the condenser 4.
In practical terms, the connection structure 230 has an axial length such that, when the closing element 220 is coupled to the main opening W, the same connection structure 230 substantially crosses the condenser 4 so as to have the filter portion 210 arranged at the rear opening 301.
For example, the engagement between the closing element 220 and the main opening W can be of the threaded type. Accordingly the closing element 220, and preferably the disc element 221 can be screwed on / unscrewed from the main opening W.
It has to be noted that also other kinds of coupling can be employed, such as for example a bayonet coupling, without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Preferably, the condenser 4 comprises a first structural component 4A and a second structural component 4B.
Preferably, the tub 3 comprises a plurality of structural components including a tub body 3B and a rear component 3C.
Preferably the tub body 3B and the first structural component 4A of the condenser 4 are made in one piece,
Preferably the rear component 3C and the second structural component 4B of the condenser 4 are made in one piece.
Accordingly, when the tub body 3B is coupled to the rear component 3C to form part of the tub 3, also the condenser 4 is formed.
Preferably, the structural components 3A-3C of the tub 3 further comprise a front annular component 3A mounted on the tub body 3B at a front section 3B' of the same tub body 3B. Preferably, the rear component 3C is mounted on the tub body 3B at a rear section 3B" of the same tub body 3B, the front section 3B' and the rear section 3B" being preferably defined at opposite axial ends of the tub body 3B.
Preferably the aforementioned loading opening 7a is provided at the front section 3B' of the tub body 3B .
Preferably the rear section 3B" of the tub 3 is substantially closed by the aforementioned rear base RB.
In particular the rear base RB comprises a shared portion SP, that is part of both the tub body 3B and the condenser 4. Preferably the shared portion SP includes the rear opening 301

Claims

Filter device for a household appliance adapted to perform at least a drying cycle, said filter device (200) being adapted to be removably mounted to said household appliance (1), wherein said filter device (200) comprises:
a. a filter portion (210) adapted to filter a flow of air coming from a tub (3) of said household appliance (1);

b. a closing element (220) adapted close a main opening (W) formed in a condenser (4) of said household appliance (1);

c. a connection structure (230) connecting said filter portion (210) and said closing element (220).
Filter device according to claim 1 wherein, when said closing element (220) closes said main opening (W), the filter portion (210) is arranged at a rear opening (301) of said tub (3).
Filter device according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said connection structure (230) connects perimetric portions (210a-210c) of said filter portion (210) with respective perimetric portions (220a-220c) of said closing element (220).
Filter device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said connection structure (230) has one or more openings (230a-230c) so as to let the air flow passing through said filter portion (210) advance through said condenser (4).
Filter device according to claim 4 wherein said connection structure (230) comprises a plurality of ribs (231-233), forming a said openings (230a-230c).
Filter device according to claims 3 and 5 wherein each of said ribs (231-233) connects one of the perimetric portions (210a-210c) of said filter portion (210) with a respective one of the perimetric portions (220a-220c) of said closing element (220).
Filter device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said filter device (200) is adapted to receive an air flow according to a direction substantially perpendicular to said filter portion (210) and to output a corresponding flow of filtered air in one or more directions substantially parallel to said filter portion (210).
Filter device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said filter portion (210) is plate-like shaped, and has preferably a circular profile.
Filter device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said closing element (220) comprises a disc element (221) and an annular connection (222).
Filter device according to claims 8 and 9 wherein said filter portion (210) and said disc element (221) are substantially parallel to each other.
Filter device according to anyone of claims 8 to 11 when depending on claim 5 wherein said ribs (231-233) are substantially perpendicular to said filter portion (210) and/or to said disc element (221).
Filter device according to claims 3 and 9, or according to anyone of claims 10-11 when depending on claims 3 and 9, wherein the perimetric portions (220a-220c) of said closing element (220) are defined on said annular connection (222).
Household appliance adapted to perform at least a drying cycle, said appliance (1) comprising:
a. a tub (3) in which a drum (2) is rotatably mounted;

b. a drying system (10), having an inlet (10a) for receiving wet air from said tub (3) and an outlet (10b) for providing dried air to said tub (3), said drying system (10) including a condenser (4) adapted to receive a flow of wet air from said tub (3) and to make it condense and obtain dried air,
wherein said condenser has a main opening (W);
said household appliance (1) further comprising a filter device (200) according to anyone of the preceding claims.
Household appliance according to claim 13 wherein said condenser (4) comprises a first structural component (4A) and a second structural component (4B), wherein said tub (3) comprises a plurality of structural components including a tub body (3B) and a rear component (3C),
wherein said tub body (3B) and the first structural component (4A) of said condenser (4) are made in one piece,
wherein said rear component (3C) and the second structural component (4B) of said condenser (4) are made in one piece.