EP4530388A1 - Trommelstruktur für einen wäschetrockner und wäschetrockner - Google Patents

Trommelstruktur für einen wäschetrockner und wäschetrockner Download PDF

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Publication number
EP4530388A1
EP4530388A1 EP24201822.4A EP24201822A EP4530388A1 EP 4530388 A1 EP4530388 A1 EP 4530388A1 EP 24201822 A EP24201822 A EP 24201822A EP 4530388 A1 EP4530388 A1 EP 4530388A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
side wall
quadrant
drum structure
wall
perforation
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.)
Pending
Application number
EP24201822.4A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Fabio Roncati
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.)
Candy SpA
Original Assignee
Candy SpA
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Candy SpA filed Critical Candy SpA
Publication of EP4530388A1 publication Critical patent/EP4530388A1/de
Pending legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • D06F58/00—Domestic laundry dryers
    • D06F58/02—Domestic laundry dryers having dryer drums rotating about a horizontal axis
    • D06F58/04—Details 
    • 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
    • D06F58/02—Domestic laundry dryers having dryer drums rotating about a horizontal axis
    • D06F58/04—Details 
    • D06F58/06—Mountings for the rotating drums
    • 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
    • D06F58/02—Domestic laundry dryers having dryer drums rotating about a horizontal axis
    • D06F58/04—Details 
    • D06F58/08—Driving arrangements

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a drum structure for a tumble dryer and to a tumble dryer, particularly for domestic use, which provides to dry laundry housed in a laundry drum, by rotating the laundry drum and generating a drying air flow through the laundry drum.
  • the hot, dry drying air is conveyed into the laundry drum, where, passing through the wet laundry, it causes the evaporation of the water contained in the fabrics.
  • the moisture-laden drying air passes through a heat exchanger where it is cooled in order to extract the moisture from it through condensation.
  • the dehumidified drying air is then suctioned again by the fan, heated and directed into the laundry drum.
  • Tumble dryers are known in which the laundry drum comprises a rear wall (sometimes called rear flange) perforated to allow the entry of drying air, a circumferential side wall (typically non-perforated) and a front edge or an annular front wall which delimits a front opening of the laundry drum for the insertion and extraction of the laundry into and from the laundry drum, and for the exiting of the drying air flow from the laundry drum after passing through and lapping the laundry, absorbing the moisture therefrom.
  • the rear, side and front walls of the drum together form a substantially rigid hollow body, with a rotating body geometry.
  • the pivoting support can be cantilevered by means of a drive hub rigidly connected to the rear wall of the laundry drum and by resting the laundry drum on a plurality of support rollers on a front side of the laundry drum.
  • an electric motor with a transmission, for example a belt transmission between the electric motor and the drive hub or between the motor and the side wall of the laundry drum or, alternatively, an electric motor whose rotor is directly coupled to the rear wall of the laundry drum to transmit the rotary motion thereto.
  • a transmission for example a belt transmission between the electric motor and the drive hub or between the motor and the side wall of the laundry drum or, alternatively, an electric motor whose rotor is directly coupled to the rear wall of the laundry drum to transmit the rotary motion thereto.
  • the laundry drum prefferably be made of stainless steel sheet and it has also been proposed for at least part of the laundry drum to be made of plastic material.
  • the ventilation duct that guides the drying air flow to the perforated rear wall extends from a radially external side of the laundry drum along a rear side of the laundry drum, and parallel to the rear wall, and opens in an axial direction towards the inside of the laundry drum.
  • the resulting air path thus has a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis of the laundry drum before being diverted by 90° through the perforation of the rear wall of the laundry drum inside it. This results in a non-uniform flow rate of the drying air flow as it enters the laundry drum.
  • the air accumulation pressure (and thus the inlet air flow rate) is greater than in the regions further upstream.
  • the rotation of the laundry drum and its rear wall generates a radial fan effect on the air flow, diverting part of it radially towards the outside, while ideally the laundry to be dried should spin inside the laundry drum and be lapped and crossed by an air flow that is as axial and uniform as possible.
  • Laundry drums made of sheet steel, both galvanized or stainless, manufactured by pressing operations, mechanical expansion and joining of components by bending the edges, are undesirably heavy, require expensive raw materials of uncertain supply, and complex and expensive manufacturing processes.
  • Plastic laundry drums made by injection molding and subsequent joining of components through gluing and ultrasonic welding, are made of a less expensive and lighter material.
  • the aim of the present invention is thus to provide a laundry drum structure for a tumble dryer and a tumble dryer, having characteristics such to overcome at least some of the drawbacks of the prior art.
  • a laundry drum structure for a tumble dryer of the type comprising a laundry compartment for containing the laundry to be dried and a drying circuit which conveys a drying air flow through the laundry compartment, in which the drum structure comprises:
  • the plastic side wall can be manufactured using a single injection or blow molding process, without additional joining, gluing or welding of components, significantly simplifying manufacturing and reducing the cost of the drum structure.
  • the perforation for the entry of the drying air into the laundry compartment remains stationary, eliminating the radial fan effect, reducing noise, and allowing configuration and distribution of the perforation openings aimed at directing the air flow and distributing the flow rate as desired.
  • the invention obviates the need to provide a cantilever support for the laundry drum (meaning the set of rear and lateral walls) via a support shaft or hub and the relative fastenings and reinforcements to the rear wall.
  • a cantilever support for the laundry drum meaning the set of rear and lateral walls
  • the absence of these components also allows perforation openings to be provided also in the central region (otherwise occupied) of the rear wall.
  • a tumble dryer 1 comprises a housing 2 which accommodates a laundry compartment 3 delimited by a drum structure 4, for containing the laundry to be dried, a motor 5 for moving the laundry in the laundry compartment 3, and a drying circuit 6 which conveys a drying air flow 15 through the laundry compartment 3.
  • the drum structure 4 comprises:
  • the plastic side wall 7 can be manufactured using a single injection or blow molding process, without additional joining, gluing or welding of components, significantly simplifying manufacturing and reducing the cost of the drum structure 4.
  • the perforation 22 for the entry of the drying air 15 into the laundry compartment 3 remains stationary, eliminating the radial fan effect and reducing noise and allowing a configuration and distribution of the perforation openings 22 aimed at directing the air flow 15 and distributing the flow rate as desired.
  • the invention obviates the need to provide a cantilever support for the laundry drum (meaning the set of rear 13 and lateral 7 walls) via a support shaft or hub and the relative fastenings and reinforcements to the rear wall.
  • the absence of these components also allows perforation openings 22 to be provided even in the central region (otherwise occupied) of the rear wall 13.
  • the rear wall 13 is made of plastic material, advantageously fiber-reinforced plastic material, and preferably formed by injection molding. This further reduces the material and manufacturing costs of the drum structure 4, allowing, for example, the rear wall to be made by a single injection molding process during which the perforation openings 22 are also made without wasting material and without any shearing or punching processes, as well as the annular receiving seat 14.
  • the rear wall 13 comprises a circular bottom portion 23, e.g., concave towards the inside of the laundry compartment 3 or substantially flat, delimited by the annular receiving seat 14 and in which bottom portion the entire perforation 22 is formed.
  • the bottom portion 23 is imaginarily divided by a first horizontal diameter 24 and a second vertical diameter 25, perpendicular to each other and radial with respect to the rotation axis 8, into:
  • a total "upper" opening area of the perforation 22 in the first quadrant 26_1 and second quadrant 26_2 put together is smaller than a total "lower” opening area of the perforation 22 in the third quadrant 26_3 and fourth quadrant 26_4 put together, in particular when the drying air 15 in the drying circuit 6 is conveyed from below underneath the side wall 7 upwards to the rear wall 13.
  • a total "upper" opening area of the perforation 22 in the first quadrant 26_1 and second quadrant 26_2 put together is greater than a total "lower” opening area of the perforation 22 in the third quadrant 26_3 and fourth quadrant 26_4 put together, in particular when the drying air 15 in the drying circuit 6 is conveyed from above over the side wall 7 downwards to the rear wall 13.
  • a total "left" opening area of the perforation 22 in the first quadrant 26_1 and third quadrant 26_3 put together is smaller than a total "right” opening area of the perforation 22 in the second quadrant 26_2 and fourth quadrant 26_4 put together, in particular when the drying air 15 in the drying circuit 6 is conveyed from the right side of the side wall 7 to the left (again seen from inside the laundry compartment 3) to the rear wall 13.
  • a total "left" opening area of the perforation 22 in the first quadrant 26_1 and third quadrant 26_3 put together is greater than a total "right” opening area of the perforation 22 in the second quadrant 26_2 and fourth quadrant 26_4 put together, in particular when the drying air 15 in the drying circuit 6 is conveyed from the left side of the side wall 7 to the right (seen from inside the laundry compartment 3) to the rear wall 13.
  • the annular receiving seat 14 comprises an annular groove 27 facing the annular rear edge 9 and forming and accommodating a front gasket 28 in sliding contact (with low friction) with the rear annular edge 9.
  • the front gasket 28 has the function of sealing the rotating coupling of the air circuit, consisting of the side wall 7 and stationary wall 13, and may comprise an elastically yielding base (for generating an elastic contact preload and compensating for geometric tolerances), fastened to the stationary wall 13, and which supports a sealing gasket, in frontal contact with the side wall 7 and made of a low-friction material, for example wool-based felt or synthetic fibers.
  • the annular groove 27 is delimited by two walls 29 which flank the rear annular edge 9 and stabilize its circular shape in case of unwanted deformations due to uneven and unbalanced loads of laundry.
  • the rear support portion 17 is directly formed by the rear wall 13 and, thus the rear support rollers 16 are directly supported by the rear wall 13.
  • the rear support rollers 16 comprise two rollers arranged in the same rear support plane 30 orthogonal to the rotation axis 8 in a symmetrical lower-side position with respect to a vertical plane radial to the rotation axis 8.
  • the drum structure 4 comprises a rear cover 31 made of a plastic material, e.g. fiber-reinforced plastic material, connected to the rear wall 13 on a rear side of the drum structure 4, opposite to the side wall 7, and together with the rear wall 13 defining a rear air channel 32 of the drying circuit 6 in communication with the perforation 22 of the rear wall 13.
  • a plastic material e.g. fiber-reinforced plastic material
  • rear air channel 32 is made of plastic material further reduces the weight and costs for the material and for manufacturing the drum structure 4, reduces risks of corrosion and facilitates the assembly of the components exclusively made of synthetic material.
  • the rear cover 32 may be mounted on the rear wall by:
  • the rear cover 32 is formed in one piece with the rear wall, by injection molding.
  • the rear cover 32 has:
  • the side wall 7 forms one or more dragging paddles 35 protruding towards the inside of the laundry compartment 3 and formed in one piece with the side wall 7, e.g., by injection molding or blow molding. This reduces the number of individual components to be assembled and the manufacturing costs.
  • the one or more dragging paddles 35 are formed by local recesses of the side wall 7 which form concave cavities on the radially outer surface of the side wall 7 and corresponding convex protrusions on the radially inner surface of the side wall 7.
  • the one or more dragging paddles 35 do not extend up to the rear edge 9 and do not extend up to the front edge 11, so as not to negatively interfere with the closing function of the laundry compartment 3 on the rear and/or front sides of the side wall 7.
  • the one or more dragging paddles 35 extend into a central region of the axial extension of the side wall 7, between the front support track 21 and the rear support track 20, without however reaching the front 21 and rear 20 support tracks, so as not to negatively interfere with the rolling of the front 18 and rear 16 support rollers.
  • the dragging paddles 35 (and/or the entire inner surface of the side wall 7 in the extension region of the dragging paddles 35) have a shape that tapers (or has converging draft angles), going radially towards the rotation axis 8. This allows the side wall 7 to be manufactured particularly quickly and cheaply, by injection molding with the aid of an internal mold radially retractable towards the inside.
  • the dragging paddles (and/or the entire inner surface of the side wall 7 in the extension region of the dragging paddles 35) have a shape that widens (or has diverging draft angles), going radially outwards. This allows the side wall 7 to be manufactured particularly quickly and cheaply, by injection molding with the aid of an external mold that can be radially opened/retracted towards the outside.
  • the side wall 7 forms exactly two dragging paddles 37 in diametrically opposite positions with respect to a central radial plane 36 (preferably of symmetry) of the side wall 7. This makes it possible to use only two opposing external mold “cheeks” that are closable and openable in a direction orthogonal to the central radial plane 36.
  • the side wall 7 forms a cylindrical pulley seat 37, facing radially outwards and delimited bilaterally by two annular parallel ribs 38 for securely accommodating a belt 39 for the transmission of a rotary motion from the electric motor 5 to the side wall 7.
  • the pulley seat 37 and the two annular parallel ribs 38 are also made of plastic material and formed in one piece with the side wall 7. This reduces the number of individual components to be assembled and the manufacturing costs.
  • the side wall 7 can form a ring gear (not shown in the figures) adapted to be engaged by a gear for the transmission of a rotary motion from the electric motor 5 to the side wall 7.
  • the ring gear is also made of plastic material and formed in one piece with the side wall 7.
  • the rear support track 20 and the front support track 21 have a circular cylindrical shape
  • the side wall 7 has a non-cylindrical shape, e.g. a shape with one or more frustoconical segments and/or one or more steps formed between neighboring frustoconical and/or cylindrical segments.
  • the drum structure 4 or the tumble dryer 1 comprises a stationary front wall 40, transverse or orthogonal to the rotation axis 8 and forming an annular front receiving seat 41 which engages the front edge 11 of the side wall 7 pivotally about the rotation axis 8 without obstructing the front opening 12 of the pivoting side wall 7.
  • the front receiving seat 41 comprises an annular groove 42 facing the annular rear edge 11 and forming or accommodating a (further) front gasket 28 in sliding contact (with low friction) with the front annular edge 11.
  • the annular groove 42 is delimited by two walls 43 which flank the rear annular edge 11 and stabilize its circular shape in case of unwanted deformations due to uneven and unbalanced loads of laundry.
  • the front support portion 19 is directly formed by the stationary front wall 40 and, thus the front support rollers 18 are directly supported by the front wall 40.
  • the front support rollers 18 comprise two rollers arranged in the same front support plane 44 orthogonal to the rotation axis 8 in a symmetrical lower-side position with respect to a vertical plane radial to the rotation axis 8.
  • the front opening 12 is openable and closable by a front door 45 of the tumble dryer 1.
  • the drying air 15 is conveyed by means of a fan 46 (actuated by a motor 47), heated by means of an electric resistor 48 and directed into the laundry compartment 3, where, as it passes through the wet laundry, it causes the water contained in the fabrics to evaporate.
  • the drying air 15 laden with moisture passes through a heat exchanger 49, where it is cooled, for example, by means of a flow of cold water or fresh air 50 conveyed by means of a second fan (operated preferably but not necessarily by means of the same electric motor 47), so as to remove the moisture therefrom by means of condensation.
  • the condensate is collected in a removable condensation container or discharged by a discharge pump and/or together with the cooling water.
  • the dehumidified drying air 15 is then suctioned again by the fan 46, heated by means of the electrical resistor 48 and re-directed into the laundry compartment 3. Upstream of the heat exchanger 49 (in which the moisture is removed) a lint filter 51 is arranged.
  • the drying air 15 laden with moisture passes through a first (cold) heat exchanger 52 formed by an evaporator 52' of the heat pump, where the air 15 is cooled so as to remove the moisture therefrom by condensation.
  • the condensate may be collected in a removable condensation container or discharged, e.g. by a discharge pump.
  • the dehumidified and cooled drying air 15 is then directed into a second (hot) heat exchanger formed by a heat pump condenser 53, where the air is heated.
  • the dehumidified and heated air is suctioned by means of a fan 46 and directed again into the laundry compartment 3 so as to continue extracting moisture from the laundry.
  • the heat pump further comprises a compressor 54 which suctions a coolant fluid through the evaporator 52', where the fluid itself evaporates at low pressure (absorbing the heat of the drying air 15), compresses the coolant fluid and pushes it into the condenser 53 where the compressed and heated coolant fluid condenses and cools at high pressure (releasing its heat to the drying air 15).
  • the coolant fluid passes through an expansion valve 55 which reduces the pressure of the fluid with consequent lowering of the temperature and, then, returns again into the evaporator 52', restarting the cycle.
  • a lint filter 51 is arranged upstream of the first heat exchanger 52 (evaporator 52').
  • the tumble dryer 1 comprises an electronic control system 56 in signal connection with and controlling the electric power supply of the individual functional groups of the tumble dryer 1 ( Figures 8 and 9 ).

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Detail Structures Of Washing Machines And Dryers (AREA)
EP24201822.4A 2023-09-29 2024-09-23 Trommelstruktur für einen wäschetrockner und wäschetrockner Pending EP4530388A1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT102023000020109A IT202300020109A1 (it) 2023-09-29 2023-09-29 Struttura di tamburo per macchina asciugabiancheria e macchina asciugabiancheria

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP4530388A1 true EP4530388A1 (de) 2025-04-02

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ID=89158064

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP24201822.4A Pending EP4530388A1 (de) 2023-09-29 2024-09-23 Trommelstruktur für einen wäschetrockner und wäschetrockner

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP4530388A1 (de)
CN (1) CN119736780A (de)
IT (1) IT202300020109A1 (de)

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH03212295A (ja) * 1990-01-18 1991-09-17 Sanyo Electric Co Ltd 乾燥機
EP2499290A1 (de) * 2009-11-09 2012-09-19 Indesit Company S.p.A. Haushaltswäschetrockner
EP2990521A1 (de) * 2014-08-29 2016-03-02 Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag Wäschetrockner

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH03212295A (ja) * 1990-01-18 1991-09-17 Sanyo Electric Co Ltd 乾燥機
EP2499290A1 (de) * 2009-11-09 2012-09-19 Indesit Company S.p.A. Haushaltswäschetrockner
EP2990521A1 (de) * 2014-08-29 2016-03-02 Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag Wäschetrockner

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
IT202300020109A1 (it) 2025-03-29
CN119736780A (zh) 2025-04-01

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