Classifications

• • 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
  • D06F37/00—Details specific to washing machines covered by groups D06F21/00 - D06F25/00
  • D06F37/42—Safety arrangements, e.g. for stopping rotation of the receptacle upon opening of the casing door
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
  • A62C—FIRE-FIGHTING
  • A62C3/00—Fire prevention, containment or extinguishing specially adapted for particular objects or places
  • A62C3/16—Fire prevention, containment or extinguishing specially adapted for particular objects or places in electrical installations, e.g. cableways
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00 
  • D06F39/12—Casings; Tubs
• • 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
  • D06F37/00—Details specific to washing machines covered by groups D06F21/00 - D06F25/00
  • D06F37/02—Rotary receptacles, e.g. drums
  • D06F37/04—Rotary receptacles, e.g. drums adapted for rotation or oscillation about a horizontal or inclined axis
  • D06F37/06—Ribs, lifters, or rubbing means forming part of the receptacle
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00 
  • D06F39/12—Casings; Tubs
  • D06F39/14—Doors or covers; Securing means therefor

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a laundry drying and/or washing appliance equipped with an independent fire extinguishing or fire starting device.
• Patent application FR-A1-2 614 209 describes a fire-fighting device for electrical appliances containing flammable components and in particular for a washing machine or dryer.
• a laundry drying and/or washing appliance is a household appliance which comprises a rotating drum in which laundry is placed in order to wash it with water and a cleaning agent, or wet laundry in order to dry it by stirring .
• the drum is generally driven in rotation by a belt itself driven by an electric motor.
• a washing machine can have a dryer function. In both cases, the drum of the appliance can be crossed by a flow of hot air so as to facilitate the drying of the laundry during its brewing.
• the system for heating and generating the hot air flow of the device can include a gas burner or an electrical resistor, for example.
• This appliance is the cause of many home fires.
• the heating and stirring of the laundry in the drum generates flammable dust which accumulates inside the appliance and which is liable to ignite, in particular when it is deposited on very hot parts of the appliance. device such as the engine or the heating system.
• a fire starting caused by the ignition of the dust can cause a larger fire in the appliance, in particular by ignition of the drum drive belt.
• the patent application mentioned above proposes installing a reservoir in the form of a pressurized bomb in a washing machine, this reservoir being connected to pipes that are normally closed and liable to rupture at a determined temperature threshold. These lines extend to parts of the device that are prone to overheating or catching fire, such as electrical devices, heaters, motor, flammable components, etc.
• the fire-fighting substance contained in the tank is at least slightly under pressure and the distribution pipes are made of a material intended to melt in order to ensure the rupture or opening of these pipes when the latter are licked by flames or when the temperature of their environment exceeds a predetermined threshold. In this way, as soon as conditions of overheating or flammability appear which could give rise to a fire inside the appliance, the pipes break and automatically distribute the fire-fighting substance to immediately extinguish the development of a possible fire.
• the applicant's patent application FR-A1-3 1 10 608 describes an appliance for drying and/or washing laundry comprising an autonomous fire extinguishing device.
• This device is mounted in the casing and comprises a fusible thermoplastic pipe which is preformed and which contains an extinguishing fluid intended to be released by melting of the pipe under the effect of the heat provided by a fire or the start of a fire.
• the particular shape imposed on the pipe allows it to be mounted in the casing and to pass through areas presenting a significant risk of fire propagation.
• US-A1-213/139404 and EP-B1-2 360 310 propose that laundry stirring bosses be used in the drum as fire extinguishing devices.
• the quantity of this extinguishing material contained in the patch bosses is not always sufficient to extinguish a fire or the start of a fire in the drum.
• the release of the extinguishing material is not always automatic or sufficiently optimized insofar as the outlets of the mixing bosses through which the extinguishing material can pass to extinguish flames are very localized and predetermined from the design of the mixing bosses. brewing.
• the present invention provides a solution to at least some of the problems of the prior art, which is simple, efficient and economical.
• the invention proposes an appliance for drying and/or washing laundry, comprising:
• this drum located in said casing and rotatable around an axis, this drum comprising an internal cavity connected to the loading mouth and configured to receive laundry,
• this device comprising at least one element made, preferably entirely, of fusible thermoplastic material and an internal space containing a fluid extinguisher intended to be released by melting of the element under the effect of the heat supplied by a fire or the start of a fire, characterized in that the extinguishing device is located at least partly in the said cavity.
• One of the advantages of the extinguishing device is that it can be particularly designed and have a specific shape for its integration into a machine for drying and/or washing clothes. It can thus have a very small footprint.
• Another advantage of the device is that it is at least partly located directly in the laundry drying cavity and is therefore ideally located to put out a fire or a fire starting in this cavity.
• the apparatus according to the invention may comprise one or more of the following characteristics, taken separately from each other or in combination with each other:
• said element of the extinguishing device is a tubular ring or a portion of a tubular ring, which extends around said axis;
• the drum comprises an internal cylindrical surface and laundry stirring bosses which project from this internal cylindrical surface, at least one of these bosses forming said element;
• the bosses are part of the same extinguishing device and comprise internal spaces which are connected to each other to form the same storage volume of the extinguishing fluid; - The bosses are connected to each other by junction members ensuring the mechanical connection of the bosses between them, on the one hand, and the fluid communication of the internal spaces of the bosses, on the other hand;
• the bosses and the junction devices form a monobloc assembly formed from a single piece
• the device comprises a number of bosses comprised between 1 and 10, and preferably between 2 and 6;
• said element of the extinguishing device is in the form of a tubular ring or a portion of a tubular ring, which extends around said axis;
• said element forms a seal around the loading mouth or is located next to a seal around the loading mouth;
• the extinguishing device is carried by the envelope
• said element forms a seal around the loading mouth or is located next to a seal around the loading mouth;
• the door is or includes a porthole
• the extinguishing device comprises a first part which is located in said cavity and a second part which is located outside the cavity and in the envelope;
• the first part is located at the level of the loading opening and is in the form of a ring, a portion of a ring or a tubular loop;
• the first part forms a seal or is located next to a seal
• the second part is fixed to one of the walls of the envelope
• the device may be in the form of a single piece or of several pieces that are independent or connected to each other;
• the or each extinguishing device is equipped with at least one sensor which is connected to a control device;
• control unit is accessible by a user via for example a control panel of this device or any other means of information exchange (for example Wifi, Bluetooth®, IR, etc.);
• control device is a device control device
• the sensor is a sensor of pressure, temperature or one or more other parameter(s);
• said device can be configured to put the device in out-of-service mode when said sensor emits a particular signal; for example, said member is configured to put the device in out of service mode when said pressure sensor emits a signal corresponding to a pressure of said fluid below a predetermined threshold;
• said member is configured to emit a signal intended for a portable electronic device, such as a laptop computer or a mobile phone of the smartphone type, for example;
• said unit is configured to emit a signal intended for a computer network (for example home automation) or a computer database, such as a network or a database configured to ensure management of a park several devices for maintenance;
• a computer network for example home automation
• a computer database such as a network or a database configured to ensure management of a park several devices for maintenance
• said signal transmission is carried out remotely wirelessly, for example by Wi-Fi, Bluetooth®, IR, etc. ;
• the fluid is at a pressure greater than 1 bar and less than or equal to 30 bars, preferably between 1 and 20 bars and for example between 1 and 10 bars; the fluid is in the liquid or gaseous state at ambient temperature (for example between 15 and 25° C.);
• the appliance includes a heating and hot air flow generation system located under the drum or on one side of the drum;
• the device comprises a motor for driving the drum in rotation around its axis;
• the drum includes micro-perforations for the passage of air and/or water.
• Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a machine for drying and/or washing clothes
• FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of another laundry drying and/or washing apparatus
• FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of another laundry drying and/or washing apparatus
• FIG. 4 is a schematic view in perspective of a drum of a machine for drying and/or washing clothes
• FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of another drum for drying and/or laundry washing apparatus
• Figure 6 is a partial schematic perspective view of a laundry drying and/or washing appliance, the door of which is open,
• FIG. 7 is a very schematic view of a drum of a drying and/or laundry washing appliance, this drum comprising an extinguishing device according to a first embodiment of the invention
• FIG. 8 is a partial diagrammatic view in perspective of an appliance for drying and/or washing clothes, the drum of which includes an extinguishing device according to a second embodiment of the invention
• FIG. 9 is a partial diagrammatic view in perspective of an apparatus for drying and/or washing laundry, the door of which includes an extinguishing device according to a third embodiment of the invention
• FIG. 10 is a partial diagrammatic view in perspective of an appliance for drying and/or washing clothes, the loading mouth of which comprises an extinguishing device according to a fourth embodiment of the invention, and
• FIG. 1 1 Figure 11 is a partial schematic perspective view of a laundry drying and/or washing appliance, the casing of which carries an extinguishing device according to a fifth embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 1 schematically represents an appliance 10 for drying and/or washing laundry, such as a clothes dryer, that is to say a household appliance designed to dry laundry by stirring it and subjecting it to a stream of hot air.
• the device 10 can be intended for private or professional use
• the device 10 comprises an outer casing 12 of generally parallelepipedal shape which comprises walls, for example a front wall 12a, a rear wall 12b, two opposite side walls 12c, an upper wall 12d and a lower wall 12e.
• One of these walls 12a-12e comprises a mouth 14 for loading laundry into the appliance 10.
• This mouth 14 can be located on the front wall 12a as is the case in FIGS. 1 and 2, or on the wall upper 12d as is the case in Figure 3.
• the device 10 further comprises a drum 16 located in the casing 12 and rotatable around an axis A.
• This axis A is generally oriented horizontally but could alternatively be inclined. In the case of a device 10 with front loading as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, this axis A generally passes through the front 12a and rear 12b walls. In the case of a top-loading device 10 as illustrated in FIG. 3, this axis A generally passes through the side walls 12c.
• the drum 16 includes an internal cavity 18 connected to the loading mouth 14 and configured to receive laundry. Drum 16 defines any washing and/or drying volume which is suitable for its use (private or professional).
• the drum 16 is generally mainly made of sheet metal. It comprises a cylindrical wall 16a extending around the axis A and a circular wall 16b at one of its axial ends or at each of its axial ends.
• the drum 16 of Figure 4 is intended to equip a front loading device ( Figures 1 and 2) and comprises a single circular wall 16b, at the rear of the cylindrical wall 16b.
• the front face of the drum 16 is therefore open and is located on the side of the loading mouth 14.
• the drum 16 of Figure 5 is intended to equip a device 10 for top loading ( Figure 3) and comprises two circular walls 16b located at the axial ends of the cylindrical wall 16a. Both sides of the drum 16 are therefore closed. These walls 16b or faces of the drum are intended to be located opposite the side walls 12c of the casing 12 and are therefore side walls or faces.
• the cylindrical wall 16a includes a hatch 20 which communicates with the loading mouth 14. This hatch 20 must be located on the side of the upper wall 12d of the casing 12 to have access to the cavity 18 through the loading mouth 14.
• the drum 16 may include micro-perforations for the passage of air and/or water during the drying or spin-drying of the laundry, for example.
• the device 10 further comprises a door 22 for closing the loading mouth 14, this door 22 being movable between closed and open positions of the cavity 18 (FIG. 6).
• the door 22 is movable around a vertical axis, this axis being located on one side of the door 22.
• the door 22 is movable about a horizontal axis, this axis being located at the rear of the door.
• the door 22 can comprise or be formed by a porthole (FIGS. 1 and 6) or be solid (FIGS. 2 and 3).
• a device 10 of this type further comprises:
• the motor 24 for driving the drum 16 in rotation around its axis A, which is located inside the casing 12; the motor 24 comprises an output shaft which drives the drum 16 in rotation by means of a belt for example,
• the heating system 26 can be of any type and is for example of the type with heating resistor, gas burner, etc., and
• - other elements 28 such as in particular an electronic device for controlling and controlling the various electrical equipment of the device, a condenser or a duct for evacuating hot air laden with humidity, etc.
• the apparatus 10 further comprises an autonomous device 30 for extinguishing a fire or starting a fire.
• This device 30 is advantageously located in the cavity 18 of the drum 16 and can be carried by the door 22, the drum 16 and/or the casing 12.
• the device 30 comprises at least one element made of fusible thermoplastic material and comprising an internal space containing an extinguishing fluid intended to be released by melting of the element under the effect of the heat provided by a fire or the start of a fire.
• FIGS 7 to 11 illustrate several embodiments of an apparatus according to the invention.
• the drum 16 is schematically represented by dotted lines.
• the cylindrical wall 16a of the drum 16 comprises an internal cylindrical surface 16a1.
• the drum 16 comprises bosses 32 or laundry stirring vanes, which project from the surface 16a1 (cf. FIGS. 4 and 7). These bosses 32 are for example regularly distributed around the axis A. The number of these bosses 32 is between 1 and 10, and preferably between 2 and 6.
• the drum 16 which carries the extinguishing device 30. More precisely, the bosses 32 of the drum 16 carry or form one or more extinguishing devices 30.
• the bosses 32 form independent extinguishing devices 30. That is to say that the bosses 32 each form one of the aforementioned elements and each comprise an internal space 34 containing extinguishing fluid. The internal spaces 34 of the elements and bosses 32 are independent of each other.
• the bosses 32 form a single extinguishing device 30. That is to say that the bosses 32 form elements which include internal spaces 34 containing the extinguishing fluid.
• the internal spaces 34 of the elements and bosses 32 communicate with each other to form the same extinguishing fluid storage volume.
• the bosses 32 can be connected to each other by junction members 36 ensuring the mechanical connection of the bosses 32 between them, on the one hand, and also the fluid communication of the internal spaces 34 of the bosses 32, on the other hand. go.
• the bosses 32 and the junction members 36 can form a one-piece assembly, that is to say an assembly formed from a single piece.
• the drum 16 which carries the extinguishing device 30 which is in the form of a tubular ring or a portion of a tubular ring.
• the ring or the ring portion extends around the axis A and is located on the rear wall 16b of the drum 16 and for example on its periphery, at the level of its junction with the cylindrical wall 16a.
• the ring or ring portion comprises an internal space for storing the extinguishing fluid, which preferably extends over the entire length of the ring or ring portion.
• it is the door 22 which carries the extinguishing device 30.
• the device 30 is preferably located on the face, here rear, of the door 22, which is located in cavity 18 when door 22 is closed.
• the device 30 can also be in the form of a ring, ring portion or tubular loop for example.
• This element comprises an internal space for storing the extinguishing fluid, which preferably extends over the entire length of the ring or ring portion.
• the ring or the ring portion can for example form a seal around the loading mouth 14 or be located next to a seal around the loading mouth 14.
• the extinguishing device 30 is located at the level of the loading mouth 14 of the device 10.
• the device 30 can be carried by the drum 16, by the casing 12 , or both.
• the extinguishing device 30 is located partly at the level of the loading mouth 14 of the device 10 and partly outside the cavity 18 of the drum 16.
• the device 30 can be carried by the drum 16, by the casing 12, or both.
• the device 30 thus comprises a first part 30a which is located in the cavity 18, at the level of the loading mouth 14, and a second part 30b which is located outside the cavity 18 and in the envelope 12.
• the first part 30a of the device 30 can be in the form of a ring, ring portion or tubular loop for example.
• This element comprises an internal space for storing the extinguishing fluid, which preferably extends over the entire length of the ring or ring portion.
• the first part 30a can for example form a seal around the loading mouth 14 or be located next to a seal around the loading mouth 14.
• the second part 30b can extend into the envelope 12, as described in the prior application FR-A1 -3 1 10 608, and be fixed by suitable means to one of the walls, here Iatera12c, of the envelope. 12.
• the device 30 is advantageously equipped with a valve 38 for filling its internal space with extinguishing fluid, as described in application FR-A1 -3 088 215 (cf. figure 7).
• the device 30 can be equipped with a pressure sensor 40 which is configured to measure the pressure of the fluid 29 and which is connected to a device 42 for controlling and controlling the device 10 (see FIGS. 1 and 7).
• This member 42 is configured to put the device 10 out of service when the pressure sensor 40 emits a signal corresponding to a pressure of the fluid below a predetermined threshold.
• the member 42 can also be configured to emit a signal intended for a portable electronic device such as a mobile phone of the smartphone type, in order to warn the user or the owner of the device in the event of a malfunction of this last.
• the device 30 could be equipped with a sensor for measuring parameters other than pressure, such as temperature for example.
• the wall of the element or of the device 30 can be of the monolayer or multilayer type. It may for example comprise two layers, respectively internal and external.
• the inner layer can be made of a material with low permeability relative to the extinguishing fluid 29, that is to say a permeability less than or equal to 1 cm 3 .25pm/m 2 .atm.24h. It is for example made of fluorinated thermoplastic material or EVOH.
• the outer layer is made of a polyamide thermoplastic material, which generally has a higher permeability than that of the inner layer, and for example greater than or equal to 1 cm 3 .25 pm/m 2 .atm.24h.
• the low permeability layer be located inside the higher permeability layer. Indeed, otherwise, there would be a risk of migration of the gas through the inner layer with higher permeability and of stagnation of this gas at the interface between the two layers, liable to lead to delamination of the layers.
• a single-layer element should have a significant thickness of the low-permeability layer. In the context of a two-layer or multi-layer element, this resistance is ensured by the layer or layers with the highest permeability, and the low permeability layer may have a relatively small thickness sufficient to ensure the desired impermeability function.
• the low permeability layer could be placed between two layers. This configuration would improve the mechanical strength of the layer during the shaping step of the element (and thus avoid any risk of tearing of this layer), while guaranteeing optimal sealing of the element.
• At least one has a fusible property under the effect of the heat generated by a fire or the start of a fire, and in particular under the effect of a temperature greater than or equal to 70°C, even 120°C.
• both layers have such a fusible property.
• the ring or the ring portion of the element has an external diameter of between 10 and 30mm, and preferably between 10 and 20mm.
• the wall has a thickness comprised between 1 and 3mm, and preferably between 1 and 2mm.
• the extinguishing fluid can be stored in the aforementioned space at a pressure greater than 1 bar and which can reach 10 bars, 20 bars, or even 30 bars.
• the extinguishing fluid preferably does not include HFC gas of the R236Fa type because this gas has a very high GWP or GWP of the order of 9400.
• the extinguishing fluid preferably has a GWP or GWP of less than or equal to 5000.
• the fluid may comprise at least one HFC gas and/or C6F12O, and/or CO2.
• the R227ea and R125 gases are preferred because they have a GWP or GWP of the order of 3400-3500.
• DuPont® for example, markets gases of this type under the names FE-25 and FM-200.
• CO2 is advantageous because it has a GWP or GWP of 1.
• C6F12O is also advantageous because it has a PRP or PRG of 1.
• 3M in particular markets this type of gas under the name Novec® 1230 (FK-5-1-12).

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Textile Engineering (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
• Emergency Management (AREA)
• Detail Structures Of Washing Machines And Dryers (AREA)
• Main Body Construction Of Washing Machines And Laundry Dryers (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=81328062

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Families Citing this family (2)

Family Cites Families (8)

• 2022
  • 2022-02-10 FR FR2201160A patent/FR3132529B1/fr active Active
• 2023
  • 2023-02-09 MX MX2024009664A patent/MX2024009664A/es unknown
  • 2023-02-09 EP EP23703464.0A patent/EP4476394A1/de active Pending
  • 2023-02-09 US US18/836,402 patent/US20250179716A1/en active Pending
  • 2023-02-09 CN CN202380020136.6A patent/CN118647762A/zh active Pending
  • 2023-02-09 WO PCT/EP2023/053188 patent/WO2023152219A1/fr not_active Ceased

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