ES2374639T3 - CLOTHING DRYER UNDERSTANDING A LIQUID DEPOSIT. - Google Patents

Abstract

The drier, comprising a casing (2) with a front opening (3) giving access to a rotary drum (6) and fitted with a steam generator (8), has the water reservoir (9) located in the door (4) covering the front opening and connected to the steam generator by a hydraulic circuit with at least two valves and a suction unit. The valves operate by depression and each one has a joint, a spring and a piston.

Description

Clothes dryer comprising a liquid reservoir

[0001] The present invention relates to a clothes dryer.

[0002] The present invention relates in general to a clothes dryer equipped with a tank in the door.

[0003] On the one hand, deposits are known arranged on the top of the clothes dryer and on the front face. This deposit is usually placed on one side, right or left.

[0004] This type of tank needs pipes with an important length to connect the other organs and a lifting pump, so it is relatively expensive.

[0005] On the other hand, deposits placed on the bottom of the clothes dryer and on the front face are known. These deposits are arranged next to a condenser.

[0006] However, these types of deposits have the disadvantage of being close to the electrical organs of the clothes dryer. For this reason, it is necessary to apply means that guarantee the sealing and electrical safety of the apparatus, so they are relatively expensive. These tanks are placed inside the housing, so it is essential to have electrically controlled sealing and feeding means of the hydraulic circuit to avoid any liquid leakage.

[0007] In addition, these deposits are bulky and need significant space in areas of a clothes dryer in which the organs are numerous and take up a lot of space.

[0008] On the other hand, EP-A-0 767 268 describes a condensation washing machine that is loaded from the front through a closed loading opening with an ox-shaped loading door, housed in a frame joined by a hinge to the front of the machine.

[0009] The condensation washing machine of EP-A-0 767 268 comprises a collection chamber removably suspended in said frame and partially housed in a concave part of said outer porthole of said machine.

[0010] This chamber is equipped with a filling opening attached, when the door is closed, to a tube intended to return condensations by means of a normally closed safety valve that is open when the door is closed due to the presence of said camera at the door.

[0011] The present invention has the objective of solving the aforementioned drawbacks and of proposing a clothes dryer comprising a tank so that the unused volume of the door is used, and guaranteeing the safety of the user avoiding any liquid contact With the electric organs. The means of the hydraulic circuit associated with the tank do not need to be powered by electricity and allow it to be sealed when it is removed from the door and with said door. The means of the hydraulic circuit associated with the tank also guarantee the tightness between the door and the structure of the machine. In addition, the tank can be filled without opening the door of the machine and therefore avoid electrical hazards.

[0012] For this purpose, the present invention relates to a clothes dryer comprising a box with an access opening closed with a door, a rotating drum, a tank comprising a bottom, a top and peripheral walls and the less a hole, said deposit being located in the door of the clothes dryer and the removal and placement of said deposit being made at least with said door closed.

[0013] According to the invention, said tank is a water storage tank connected to a steam generator by means of a hydraulic circuit.

[0014] In this way, the tank is housed in the door of the machine without taking up useful space for the operating organs of said machine. Said tank serves to feed a steam generating device. The volume of the door is an unused space that allows the tank to be easily integrated without any impact on the thermal insulation of the machine. The necessary thermal insulation is housed in a thin space.

[0015] In addition, the tightness between the tank, the door and the inside of the machine is achieved with the means of the hydraulic circuit associated with said tank when using it, both when placing and removing the tank and when filling it.

[0016] The tank can be removed from the door to fill it with a water tap.

[0017] The placement of the tank in the door also allows the tank to be used as a liquid collector that can be used in a standard machine cycle.

[0018] According to a preferred feature of the invention, said at least two depression valves comprise an upper valve and a lower valve.

[0019] In this way, the tightness of the deposit is guaranteed at all times during use.

[0020] Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description.

[0021] In the annexed schemes, given by way of non-limiting examples:

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Figure 1 is a perspective and partial sectional view of a clothes dryer according to the invention;

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Figure 2 is a sectional view of the tank mounted on the door of the clothes dryer according to the invention;

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Figure 3 is a front view of the tank when placed on the door of the clothes dryer according to the invention;

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Figure 4 is a sectional view of Figure 3;

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Figure 5 is a front view of the tank when said tank is introduced into the housing of the door of the clothes dryer according to the invention;

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Figure 6 is a sectional view of Figure 5;

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Figure 7 is a front view of the tank placed in the clothes dryer door housing according to the invention;

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Figures 8 to 4 are views of the means for fixing the tank according to an embodiment of the invention;

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Figures 11 and 12 are views of the means of the hydraulic circuit of the tank according to an embodiment of the invention; Y

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Figures 13 and 14 are enlarged views of detail F of Figure 12.

[0022] First, with reference to Figure 1, a clothes dryer according to the invention will be described.

[0023] This clothes dryer 1 is of the front loading type. In this way, this machine 1 is suitable for drying clothes.

[0024] This clothes dryer 1 comprises a housing 2 comprising an access opening 3 inside the housing 2. In the front loading machines, this access opening 3 is made in a front portion of the housing 2 and, in this example, in a vertical plane of the housing 2.

[0025] An access door 4 is adapted to plug this opening 3 of the housing 2 of the machine 1, in particular when it is in operation.

[0026] In particular, in a known manner, this access door 4 is associated with blocking means (not shown) whose operation is linked to the drying cycle of the machine 1. Thus, at the beginning of the drying cycle, the blocking means are actuated to prevent the opening of the access door 4. Similarly, at the end of the drying cycle, the blocking means are unlocked to allow the user to open the machine 1.

[0027] In this exemplary embodiment, in an absolutely non-limiting manner, the access door 4 is pivotally mounted around an axis of rotation integral to the housing 2 of the machine 1.

[0028] The casing 2 of the machine 1 is adapted to accommodate a drum 6 which is used in particular to contain clothes.

[0029] The drum 6 is therefore mounted in a known manner in the housing 2 and movable in rotation about an axis during the different drying cycles of the machine 1.

[0030] The drum 6 is therefore mounted in rotation about a substantially horizontal axis.

[0031] It should be noted that Figure 1 is schematic and that many organs necessary for the operation of the machine (eg engine, filters ...) have been omitted since it is not necessary to describe them here in detail.

[0032] Next, the operation of a clothes dryer comprising a reservoir for recovering condensations will be described.

[0033] In this embodiment of the invention, the tank 9 is arranged in the door 4 of the clothes dryer 1. Said tank 9 is connected to the air and water treatment circuit (not shown) of the clothes dryer. clothes 1. The tank 9 makes it possible in particular to recover the condensations generated by drying the clothes.

[0034] Said tank 9 comprises at least one hole 5 in the upper part 14. Said at least one hole 5 allows the condensation of the air and water treatment circuit to be recovered from the clothes dryer 1 in the tank 9.

[0035] For example, said at least one orifice 5 is a means of introducing and evacuating liquid to store the condensations.

[0036] In another embodiment of the invention, the reservoir 9 may comprise at least one introduction opening and at least one evacuation opening. In this way, the condensations recovered in the tank 9 can be reused in the air and water treatment circuit of the clothes dryer 1.

[0037] Next, the operation of a clothes dryer comprising a steam generating device using a tank according to the invention will be described.

[0038] In this embodiment of the invention, the steam generator 8 does not need to heat the water contained in the tank 9 of the door 4. The steam generator 8 comprises a chamber under which a heating element is placed and at the minus a thermostat. Therefore, the hot surface of the steam generator 8 is the bottom surface.

[0039] The steam generator 8 comprises at least two openings 10 and 11 in the upper part of said steam generator 8. A first opening 10 is an inlet duct connected to the tank 9 of the door 4 through which water can entering the steam generator chamber 8. A second opening 11 is an outlet pipe in which steam can escape into the hot circuit of the clothes dryer 1.

[0040] According to a thermodynamic principle, cold water introduced into the steam generator chamber 8 and on a hot element vaporizes. The vaporization of water inside the compression chamber causes an increase in pressure inside the steam generator chamber 8. This overpressure explains the presence of a pump 12 before the steam generator 8.

[0041] According to the experiences carried out by the Claimant, these have revealed that the pressure generated by the height difference between the tank 9 of the door 4 and the steam generator 8, measured for example in water column height , it is not enough to overcome the overpressure due to water vaporization in the steam generator chamber 8.

[0042] Therefore, a pump 12 is needed to feed the steam generator 8 with a constant flow.

[0043] In another embodiment of the invention, the steam generator 8 can be replaced by another type of generator, such as a heating tube. However, the use of a pump 12 is necessary regardless of the type of steam generator 8.

[0044] Next, the laundry dryer door tank will be described in detail.

[0045] In Figure 2 the tank 9 according to the invention equipped with means of the hydraulic circuit has been shown in isolation.

[0046] A clothes dryer comprises a box 2 having an access opening 3 closed with a door 4, a rotating drum 6, a tank 9 comprising a bottom 13, an upper part 14 and peripheral walls 15 and at least one hole 19.

[0047] The reservoir 9 comprises at least one liquid introduction orifice 5 and at least one liquid evacuation orifice 19.

[0048] Said tank 9 is arranged in the door 4 of the machine 1, the removal and placement of said tank 9 being possible at least with said door 4 closed.

[0049] The tank 9 is placed on the front face 17 of the clothes dryer 1. Said tank 9 is placed vertically on a front face 17 of the door 4. The tank 9 is arranged in the door 4 so that the wall front peripheral 21 of said tank 9 is aligned with the front face 17 of the door 4 of the clothes dryer

one.

[0050] The door 4 comprises a hole 18 for receiving the tank 9. The depth of the hole 18 of the door 4 is at least equal to the thickness of the tank 9.

[0051] The tank 9 can take at least two positions in the door 4 of the clothes dryer 1.

[0052] In a first position, the tank 9 is positioned so that it is interconnected with means of the hydraulic circuit 16 of the clothes dryer 1. Consequently, the tank 9 is completely inserted in the recess 18 of the door 4.

[0053] In a second position, the tank 9 is partially in the recess 18 of the door 4 of the clothes dryer 1. The door 4 comprises fixing means 20 cooperating with the tank 9. Said fixing means 20 allow particular to the tank 9 adopt a position in which the user can refill said tank 9 with a liquid without having to remove it from the door 4.

[0054] The extraction and placement of the tank 9 are carried out following at least one rotation movement. Said movement of rotation of the tank 9 allows in particular to place said tank 9 in said second position.

[0055] The reservoir 9 may comprise at least one sealing gasket 40 to prevent any leakage of liquid into an introduction and / or liquid evacuation orifice 19.

[0056] In one embodiment of the invention, said at least one seal 40 is placed on a lower face 29 of the gap 18.

[0057] When removing and placing the tank 9, said at least one rotation movement is not necessarily carried out around a single axis. The extraction and placement of the tank 9 are carried out following a simultaneous movement of rotation and translation.

[0058] Said rotational and translational movement makes it possible in particular to avoid damaging said at least one sealing gasket by placing and removing the tank 9 from the door 4.

[0059] In addition, the simultaneous rotation and translation movement makes it easy for the user to use the tank 9. The principle of using the tank 9 is ergonomic. Furthermore, said movement makes sure that the liquid cannot escape from the reservoir 9.

[0060] The reservoir 9 may comprise a stopper (not shown) that allows the reservoir to be closed 9. Said stopper is placed in an introduction and / or liquid evacuation orifice 5. Said stopper can be placed to close the inlet opening. and / or liquid evacuation 5 of the tank 9 when placing said tank 9 in the hole 18 of the door 4 of the machine 1 and when removing the tank 9 from the hole 18 of the door 4.

[0061] Next, the fixing means of the clothes dryer door reservoir will be described more precisely.

[0062] In Figures 3 to 4 the assembly of the tank 9 according to the invention has been shown in isolation.

[0063] The fixing means 20 of the door 4 cooperating with the tank 9 are elastic retaining elements.

[0064] The fixing means 20 of the door 4 cooperating with the tank 9 form at least one stop and the blockage of the tank 9.

[0065] The fixing means 20 of the door 4 comprise at least two elements 22 that allow at least the rotation of the tank 9.

[0066] The fixing means 22 of the door 9 comprises at least one hemispherically shaped area 23 that cooperates with at least one subsidence 24 made in the tank 9.

[0067] The tank 9 comprises a form 25 adapted to slide along said at least one hemispherical zone 23 fixing means 22 of the door 4 when placing and removing said tank 9.

[0068] The tank 9 comprises a form 26 adapted to slide along a wall 27 of the hole 18 disposed in the door 4 when placing and removing said tank 9.

[0069] The opening 18 of the door 4 comprises at least one stop 28 that cooperates with the tank 9.

[0070] The fixing means 20 comprise a device called "push push". Said "push push" device makes it easy for the user to use the reservoir 9. With a simple pressure on the front peripheral wall 21 of the reservoir 9, said reservoir 9 can be removed and inserted into its recess 18 of the door 4.

[0071] Next, the development of the placement of the tank in the hole arranged in the door of the clothes dryer will be described.

[0072] According to Figures 3 and 4, the placement of the tank 9 in the door 4 is carried out by approaching the tank 9 slightly inclined with respect to the door 4.

[0073] According to Figures 5 and 6, the tank 9 is placed by applying the bottom and front part 31 of the tank 9 on a bottom wall 29 of the hole 18 disposed in the door 4. Then, the shape 26 suitable for sliding along of a wall 27 of the recess 8 disposed in the door 4 comes into contact with the rear wall 27 of the recess 18 of the door 4.

[0074] According to Figures 7 to 10, the tank 9 is fitted in the recess 18 disposed in the door 4 of the clothes dryer 1. The tank 9 slides along the rear wall 27 of the recess 18 of the door 4. The reservoir 9 comprises a positioning element 31 that rests against said at least one stop 28 disposed in the lower wall 29 of the recess 18 of the door 4. Next, the zone 25 of the reservoir 9 slides along said at least two elements 22 that allow the rotation of the tank 9. The sinking 24 disposed at the bottom 13 of the tank 9 comes into contact with said at least one hemispherically shaped area 23 of the fixing means 22. The tank 9 pivots around said at least one hemispherical shaped area 23. The sinking 24 disposed at the bottom 13 of the reservoir 9 is positioned with said at least one hemispherical shaped area 23 of the fixing means

22. Tank 9 is locked.

[0075] Next, the operation of the hydraulic circuit means associated with the tank is described.

[0076] Figures 11 to 14 show in isolation, the means of the hydraulic circuit associated with the tank according to the invention.

[0077] The tank 9 is in the door 4, the means of the hydraulic circuit 16 being associated with said tank 9, and said means of the hydraulic circuit 16 comprising at least two valves 34 and a suction means, being at least one of the valves 34 a depression valve 39.

[0078] The suction means is a pump 12.

[0079] As described above, a pump 12 is required for the operation of the steam generator 8. In this way, the operation of this hydraulic device allows at least one depression valve 34 to be used.

[0080] Said at least one depression valve 39 does not need male and female sealing parts that fit together. Therefore, the means of the hydraulic circuit 16 associated with the reservoir 9 need less precision and less effort than exerting.

[0081] Said at least one depression valve 39 needs a minimum precision for positioning it with the elements that form the hydraulic device of the machine 1.

[0082] In one embodiment of the invention, the means of the hydraulic circuit 16 may comprise a single depression valve 39. The means of the hydraulic circuit 16 comprising at least two valves 34 may comprise a second classic valve.

[0083] In another embodiment of the invention, the means of the hydraulic circuit 16 may comprise two depression valves 35 and 39

[0084] The hydraulic circuit means 16 associated with the reservoir 9 comprise an upper valve 35 placed in the reservoir 9 comprising at least one gasket 36, a spring 37 and a piston 38. The hydraulic circuit means associated with the reservoir 9 also comprise a lower valve 39 comprising at least one gasket 40, a spring 41 and a piston 42.

[0085] The means of the hydraulic circuit 16 associated with the tank 9 are thus provided with a connecting piece 43 that extends from a recess 18 of the door 4 to a part of the structure of the clothes dryer 1.

[0086] The upper valve 35 is integrated in the reservoir 9 of the door 4. Said upper valve 35 allows the liquid to be contained in the reservoir 9 without leakage occurring when the reservoir 9 is removed from the gate 4. In this way, You can refill the tank 9 in a tap.

[0087] The lower valve 39 is integrated in the connection piece 43 disposed in the door 4 of the clothes dryer 1. Thus, when opening the door 4 containing the tank 9, no leakage of liquid from the connecting piece 43.

[0088] The means of the hydraulic circuit 16 also comprise a membrane 44 to ensure a correct connection between the door 4 and a tube 45 that feeds the pump 12.

[0089] Said membrane 44 makes it possible to position the connection piece 43 with a less important horizontal and vertical precision with respect to the feeding tube 45 of the pump 12 to ensure the tightness.

[0090] The inside diameter of an opening disposed in the connection piece 43 is smaller than the diameter of the opening made in the membrane 44.

[0091] In addition, the membrane 44 is flexible so that the effort to introduce the connection piece 43 into said membrane 44 is small.

[0092] In this embodiment of the invention represented in Figures 11 to 14, the two depression valves 35 and 39 operate by depression.

[0093] Each depression valve 35 and 39 respectively comprise a spring 37 and 41 disposed on a face opposite a seal 36 and 40.

[0094] To allow the opening of a depression valve 39, the piston 42 is displaced by a force of opposite direction and of greater force than that exerted by the spring 41.

[0095] When operating the steam generator feed pump 12, said pump 12 tends to suck the water containing an inlet pipe 43 to the lower valve 39 through a flexible fitting 45 that joins the fixed part of the machine 1 with the door 4. The suction generated by the pump 12 allows to create the depression necessary to move the piston 42 of the lower valve 39.

[0096] The piston 42 of the lower valve 39 moves first. The pressure above the piston 42 of the lower valve 39 tends to be greater than or equal to the pressure inside the inlet tube 43 of the lower valve 39. In this way, a depression is created and allows the piston 38 to move from the upper valve 35. The operation of the upper valve 35 is similar to the operation of the lower valve 39.

[0097] Therefore, the water contained in the reservoir 9 is first drawn between the two depression valves 35 and 39 and then in the connecting tube 45 leading to the pump 12.

[0098] By stopping the operation of the pump 12, the pressures at the different points of the hydraulic circuit associated with the tank 9 are balanced and the depression valves 35 and 39 return respectively to their initial positions.

[0099] Springs 37 and 41 of the depression valves 35 and 39 have dimensions in accordance with the height of the maximum water column that can support said springs 37 and 41. In the case of the lower valve 39, the height of Maximum water column corresponds to the length of the fitting 45 that joins said lower valve 39 with the fixed part in the machine 1 which allows water to be contained when the door 4 is open. With respect to the upper valve 35, the maximum water column height corresponds to the water column height contained in the tank 9. The stiffness of the spring 37 is calculated in particular for a tank 9 outside the hollow 18 of the door 4 and with said tank 9 full.

[0100] Next, the means for displaying the liquid level in the tank according to the invention are described.

[0101] The reservoir 9 comprises at least one liquid level indicator means 46.

[0102] Deposit 9 is at least partly transparent.

[0103] In one embodiment of the invention, the transparent area of the tank 9 can be extended from the bottom up of the tank 9 with a width of the order of about 2 centimeters.

[0104] In another embodiment of the invention, the transparent area of the reservoir 9 can be extended over the entire width of said reservoir 9 so that the overall content can be displayed.

[0105] The liquid level indicator means may comprise at least one pilot light.

[0106] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above.

Claims (10)

one.

 Clothes dryer comprising a box (2) with an access opening (3) closed by a door (4), a rotating drum (6), a tank (9) comprising a bottom (13), an upper part ( 14) and peripheral walls (15), and at least one hole (5), the tank (9) being placed in the door (4) and the removal and placement of said tank (9) being carried out at least with said door ( 4) closed, characterized in that the tank (9) is a water storage tank connected to a steam generator (8) by means of a hydraulic circuit.

2.

 Clothes dryer according to claim 1, characterized in that the hydraulic circuit has at least two valves (34) and a suction means that aspirates water from the tank (9) to the steam generator (8).

3.

 Clothes dryer according to claim 2, characterized in that said at least two valves (34) are depression and comprise an upper valve (35) and a lower valve (39).

Four.

 Clothes dryer according to claim 3, characterized in that the upper valve (35) comprises at least one gasket (36), a spring (37) and a piston (38).

5.

 Clothes dryer according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the lower valve (39) comprises at least one gasket (40), a spring (41) and a piston (42).

6.

 Clothes dryer according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the hydraulic circuit means (16) associated with the tank (9) are also provided with a connecting piece (43) extending from a recess (18) of the door (4) to a part of the structure of the clothes dryer (1).

7.

 Clothes dryer according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the upper valve (35) is integrated in the tank (9) of the door (4).

8.

 Clothes dryer according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the lower valve (39) is integrated in the connection piece (43) arranged in the door (4) of the clothes dryer (1).

9.

 Clothes dryer according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the means of the hydraulic circuit (16) comprise a membrane (44) to ensure a correct connection between the door (4) and a tube

(45) that feeds the pump (12). 10. Clothes dryer according to any of claims 2 to 9, characterized in that the suction means is a pump (12).