EP3265603A1

EP3265603A1 - A laundry dryer

Info

Publication number: EP3265603A1
Application number: EP16707154.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mehmet MUTLUDOGAN; Celal Vatansever; Mehmet Kaya; Emre AYAROGLU; Ezgi GUNES
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2015-03-04
Filing date: 2016-03-02
Publication date: 2018-01-10
Also published as: WO2016139229A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a laundry dryer (1) comprising a body (2); a drum (3) wherein the laundry to be dried is placed; an air circulation duct (5) providing the delivery of the drying air onto the laundry in the drum (3); a heat exchanger (4) that is disposed on the air circulation duct (5) and that enables the temperature of the drying air to be changed; at least one filter (6) that holds the particles such as fiber, lint, etc. in the drying air; a tank (7) wherein the condensed water is stored; a discharge pump (8) that transfers to the tank (7) the water draining from the heat exchanger (4) and the filter (6) washed with the water taken from the tank (7) and a sump (10) wherein the suction port (S) of the discharge pump (8) opens.

Description

A LAUNDRY DRYER

The present invention relates to a laundry dryer wherein fiber, lint and dust accumulating on components such as heat exchanger, filter, etc. are removed.
While the laundry is being dried in the laundry dryer, particles such as fiber, lint, dust, etc. break off from the laundry particularly due to mechanical effects. In conventional laundry dryers, most of these particles are collected by means of one or more than one filter disposed on the dryer, thus preventing these particles from accumulating on the heat exchanger and other components. The water, that is evaporated from over the laundry and condensed in the heat exchanger during the drying cycle, is collected in a tank disposed on the dryer. In the state of the art, use of the water collected in the tank for the cleaning of components such as the filter, the heat exchanger, etc. is disclosed. In these embodiments, the water received from the tank removes undesired particles on the components being cleaned by it and continues its circulation. The water must be filtered again so that the pump used for the discharge of the water containing fiber, lint and dust is not clogged and that the water to be discharged by the pump does not cause the accumulation of particles inside the tank.
After the washing of the components such as filter, heat exchanger, etc., fiber, lint and dust accumulating thereon are removed and transferred to the tank together with water. These particles cannot be removed due to variable amount of the fiber, lint and dust and the erroneous positioning of the laundry dryer. In these cases, the particles that cannot be discharged to the tank accumulate inside the laundry dryer and after a period of time renders the laundry dryer inoperable.
In the state of the art, various methods are developed for facilitating the discharge of fiber, lint and dust accumulating on components such as filter, heat exchanger, etc. after the washing of these components.
The state of the art International Patent Applications No. WO2012146533 and WO2012146534 relate to a heat pump laundry dryer an evaporator that condenses the humid processing air; a condenser that is placed into the ventilation duct and that heats the processing air dehumidified at the evaporator; a pump that enables the condensate water to be discharged, and a drain channel that extends between the evaporator and the condenser and that enables the condensate water coming from the evaporator to be delivered to the pump in order to be discharged.
The aim of the present invention is the realization of a laundry dryer wherein lint, fluff and dust accumulating on components such as heat exchanger, filter, etc. after the washing of these components are easily discharged.
The laundry dryer realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises components such as filter, heat exchanger, etc. that are cleaned by washing and a base plate that is disposed at the lower part of the body, that is declined towards the discharge pump and wherein the water draining from the washed components and mixed with the fiber, lint and dust. Thus, the water draining from the washed components and mixed with fiber, lint and dust is enabled to be directed towards the sump wherein the suction port opens. Accordingly, the amount of water that cannot be discharged and sent to the tank after the washing of the components such as heat exchanger, filter, etc. is minimized. Moreover, even if the floor whereon the laundry dryer is installed is inclined, the water is enabled to be directed towards the discharge pump.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the outlet of the base plate is connected to the sump wherein the suction port of the discharge pump opens and the outlet is at a lower level than the other end of the base plate.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the outlet of the base plate is wide enough to meet the excessive amount of particles such as fiber, lint, dust, etc. Moreover, the suction force generated due to the operation of the discharge pump enables the particles such as fiber, lint, dust, etc. to be passed from the base plate outlet to the suction port of the discharge pump and to be removed.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the base plate is inclined in more than one axis. Thus, the particles such as fiber, lint, dust, etc. can be guided towards the desired direction. This inclination can also meet the inclinations that may arise from the erroneous installation of the laundry dryer, dust enabling the smooth operation of the laundry dryer.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the level of the outlet of the base plate is at the level where the discharge pump sucks minimum amount of water. In other words, the outlet of the base plate is connected to the sump so that the level of the outlet remains above the level of the suction port of the discharge pump. Thus, an amount of water remains in the sump after the discharge process and the pump is prevented from sucking air and thus from operating noisily.
By means of the present invention, lint, fluff and dust breaking off from components such as heat exchanger, filter, etc. are directed towards the discharge pump. Accordingly, the amount of water that cannot be discharged and sent to the tank after the washing of the components is minimized. Moreover, even if the floor whereon the laundry dryer is installed is inclined, the wash water is enabled to be directed towards the discharge pump.
A laundry dryer realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:
Figure 1 – is the sideways schematic view of the laundry dryer of the present invention.
Figure 2 - is the perspective view of the discharge pump, the sump and the base plate that are disposed in a laundry dryer.
Figure 3 - is the cross-sectional view of the discharge pump, the sump and the base plate that are disposed in a laundry dryer.
The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

Laundry dryer
Body
Drum
Heat exchanger
Air circulation duct
Filter
Tank
Discharge pump
Base plate
Sump

S: Discharge pump suction port
B: Base plate outlet
E1, E2: Horizontal axes parallel to the floor
The laundry dryer (1) of the present invention comprises a body (2); a drum (3) wherein the laundry to be dried is placed; an air circulation duct (5) providing the delivery of the drying air onto the laundry in the drum (3); a heat exchanger (4), for example an evaporator, that is disposed on the air circulation duct (5) and that enables the temperature of the drying air to be changed; at least one filter (6) that holds the particles such as fiber, lint, etc. in the drying air; a tank (7) wherein the condensed water is stored and a discharge pump (8) that transfers to the tank (7) the water draining from the heat exchanger (4), the filter (6) and other components washed with the water taken from the tank (7) and mixed with fiber, lint and dust.
The laundry dryer (1) of the present invention comprises
- a sump (10) wherein the suction port (S) of the discharge pump (8) opens, and
- a base plate (9) that is disposed at the lower part of the body (2) parallel to the floor and in an inclined manner with respect to the horizontal plane and that guides to the sump (10) the water draining from the heat exchanger (4), the filter (6) and other components washed with the water taken from the tank (7) and mixed with fiber, lint and dust (Figure 1, Figure 2 and Figure 3).
In the laundry dryer (1) of the present invention, the water accumulated in the tank (7) is used for cleaning the fiber, lint and dust accumulated on the components such as the filter (6), the heat exchanger (4), etc. The filter (6), the heat exchanger (4) and the other components whereon fiber, lint and dust accumulate are washed with the water taken from the tank (7) and the water draining from the filter (6), the heat exchanger (4) and the other components is transferred to the base plate (9). Due to the inclined configuration of the base plate (9), the water and the fiber, lint and dust mixed with the water directed towards the discharge pump (8) are transferred to the discharge pump (8) and delivered to the tank (7) by means of the discharge pump (8).
By means of the present invention, it is facilitated to guide particles such as fiber, lint, dust, etc. to the discharge pump (8). Moreover, even in cases of the positioning errors originating from the floor whereon the laundry dryer (1) is installed, the fiber, lint and dust are enabled to reach the discharge pump (8) together with the water.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the base plate (9) is disposed at the lower part of the body (2) so as to be declined from the heat exchanger (4) towards the discharge pump (8). In this embodiment, the base plate (9) outlet (B) arranged at the side of the discharge pump (8) is at a lower level than the other end and the base plate (9) outlet (B) is connected to the sump (10) wherein the suction port (S) of the discharge pump (8) opens.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the outlet (B) of the base plate (9) is at the level where the discharge pump (8) sucks minimum amount of water. In other words, the outlet (B) of the base plate (9) is connected to the sump (10) so that the level of the outlet (B) remains above the level of the suction port (S) of the discharge pump (8). Thus, the water, that must be kept below a certain level due to the working conditions of the discharge pump (8), is enabled to be always in the sump (10) thanks to this inclined configuration of the base plate (9) and the discharge pump (8) is prevented from sucking air together with the water and from being operated in a noisy and inefficient manner.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the base plate (9) is inclined so as to enable the returning water when the discharge pump (8) stop operating to reach the filter (6), the heat exchanger (4) and other components.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the base plate (9) is inclined so that an angle of 3° to 15° remains between the horizontal axis (E1) parallel to the floor and the base plate (9).
In another embodiment of the present invention, the base plate (9) widens towards the outlet (B). Thus, in the case the particles such as fiber, lint, dust coming with the water are in an excessive amount, all these particles can be directed towards the discharge pump (8). Moreover, the suction force generated due to the operation of the discharge pump (8) during the washing process enables the fiber, the lint and the dust to easily pass through the outlet (B) so as to be removed.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the base plate (9) is inclined in both axes (E1, E2) that define the horizontal plane parallel to the floor, for example from left to right and from back to the front (Figure 3). By means of the base plate's (9) inclined configuration in two directions, the fiber, the lint and the dust are enabled to be directed with the water towards the desired direction. Moreover, by means of this inclined configuration of the base plate (9), reverse inclinations originating from the erroneous positioning of the laundry dryer (1) are compensated, thus providing the effective operation of the discharge pump (8).
By means of the present invention, the fiber, the lint and the dust accumulating on the heat exchanger (4), the filter (6) and other components of the laundry dryer (1), that are washed with the water taken from the tank (7), are enabled to be easily discharged without being affected from the positioning errors of the laundry dryer (1) and the discharge pump (8) is enabled to operate in an effective and noiseless manner.

Claims

A laundry dryer (1) comprising a body (2); a drum (3) wherein the laundry to be dried is placed; an air circulation duct (5) providing the delivery of the drying air onto the laundry in the drum (3); a heat exchanger (4) that is disposed on the air circulation duct (5) and that enables the temperature of the drying air to be changed; at least one filter (6) that holds the particles such as fiber, lint, etc. in the drying air; a tank (7) wherein the condensed water is stored and a discharge pump (8) that transfers to the tank (7) the water draining from the heat exchanger (4) and the filter (6) washed with the water taken from the tank (7) and mixed with fiber, lint and dust, characterized in that

- a sump (10) wherein the suction port (S) of the discharge pump (8) opens, and

- a base plate (9) that is disposed at the lower part of the body (2) parallel to the floor and in an inclined manner with respect to the horizontal plane and that guides to the sump (10) the water draining from the heat exchanger (4) and the filter (6) washed with the water taken from the tank (7) and mixed with fiber, lint and dust.
A laundry dryer (1) as in Claim 1, characterized in that the base plate (9) that is declined from the heat exchanger (4) towards the discharge pump (8).
A laundry dryer (1) as in Claim 1, characterized in that the base plate (9) of which the outlet (B) arranged at the side of the discharge pump (8) is connected to the sump (10) and is at a lower level than the other end.
A laundry dryer (3) as in Claim 1, characterized in that the base plate (9) that has the outlet (B) that is connected to the sump (10) so as to remain above the level of the suction port (S) of the discharge pump (8).
A laundry dryer (1) as in Claim 1, characterized in that the base plate (9) that is inclined so as to prevent the water returning when the operation of the discharge pump (8) stops from reaching the filter (6) and the heat exchanger (4).
A laundry dryer (1) as in Claim 1 or 3, characterized in that the base plate (9) that widens towards the outlet (B).
A laundry dryer (1) as in Claim 1, characterized in that the base plate (9) that is inclined so that an angle of between 3° - 15° remains between the horizontal axis (E1) parallel to the floor and the base plate (9).
A laundry dryer (1) as in Claim 1, characterized in that the base plate (9) that is inclined in both axes (E1, E) that define the horizontal plane parallel to the floor.