GB2105451A - Laundry dryer - Google Patents

Abstract

A laundry drier has a condensing unit which is connected by hose 10 to a changeover device 3 whereby condensate from the condensing unit can be connected either by way of hose 11 to a condensate receiver within the drier or, by way of a further hose to an external drain. Changeover device 3 is fitted to the rear wall 4 of the drier and has a horizontal extending blind bore 7 which communicates with hoses 10, 11 by means of passageways 8, 9 respectively. The open end of bore 7 incorporates screw-threads 15. To adapt device 3 for connection to a condensate receiver internally of the drier a closure cap 12 is fitted to threads 15. Alternatively, to adapt device 3 for connection to an external drain a sleevelike closure element 14 is fitted to bore 7 in place of cap 12, element 14 being arranged to seal passageway 9 and to direct condensate flow from passageway 8 internal of element 14 to the further hose. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Laundry drier The invention relates to a laundry drier.

German Auslegeschrift 2,219,889 describes a laundry drier in which condensate from a condensing unit is directed either to a receiver within the drier or to an external drain hose by means of a changeover device which is operated by a control lever in the control panel. This teaching presupposes the use of a three-way valve as the changeover device, but this valve is much too expensive in that it is only used once or twice during the service life of the drier.

Further to the above, the proposal is put forward according to which the condensate inflow-hose, coming from the condensing unit, is to be connected, in a one-off installation, either to the inlet line to the condensate receiver, or to the drain hose. Since an operation of this type must be carried out inside the drier, the customer cannot be expected to perform a changeover of this type of the spot, for which reason the further proposal is made, according to which the condensate inflow-hose is to be rendered accessible at the rear wall, from the outside, in order to enable this hose to be pushed, according to choice, onto the connection piece leading to the condensate receiver, or onto the connection piece leading to the drain hose, depending on the mode of condensate removal, these connection pieces likewise projecting to the outside beyond the rear wall The objective and object of the present invention is to provide a changeover device in a laundry drier with a condensing unit, in which device the condensate inflow-hose, and also the connection piece for the condensate receiver, are not led out of the rear wall, to the outside, but in which merely a means for the possible connection of a drain hose is provided on the rear wall, this means being accessible from the outside. At the same time, the waste-water hose should be attached, without tools, by means of a conventional threaded hose connection, and the changeover from the condensate receiver to the drain hose should be effected with the aid of the most simple means.

According to the present invention there is provided a laundry drier having a condensing unit connected via a hose-line and changeover device either to a condensate receiver located in the casing of the drier, or to a drain hose, characterised in that the changeover device is an injection-moulded plastic component which is inserted into an aperture in the rear wall of the laundry drier, and which possesses a horizontal blind bore, with an external thread into which bore two passages open at right angles, these passages being located, one behind the other axially with respect to said bore, inside the rear wall, the passage which is remote from said external thread being connected by said hose-line to said condensing unit and the passage which is adjacent said external thread being connected to said condensate receiver, and the.blind bore can, according to choice. be closed at its external thread by a cap nut, or can be fitted with a sleeve like closure part having an angled hose connection for connection to a said drain hose, which closure part closes off the passage adjacent the external thread and provides communication between the passage remote from the external thread and the drain hose.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:~ Figure 1 shows the changeover device according to the invention, in a sectioned representation, the device being installed in the rear wall of a laundry drier, with the drain-hose exit closed.

Figure 2 shows the changeover device according to Figure 1, with a closure-part inserted into the blind bore, and a drain hose connected.

The changeover device, marked 3 in its entirety, is formed by an injection-moulded plastic component, is inserted from the outside, in a recessed manner, into an aperture in the vertically-extending rear wall 4 of a laundy drier, which is not fully represented, and is secured, by means of screw-fasteners 6, at its edge 5, which 'overlaps the rear wall 4. The essential constituent of the changeover device 3, according to the invention, is the horizontally-located blind bore 7, which is provided with an external thread 1 from which bore 7 leads into two passages 8, 9, one for a water inflow-hose 10, coming from the condensate-removal pump, and one for a waterdiversion hose 11, leading to the condensate receiver, these passages 8, 9 being located at right angles to bore 7, one behind the other, inside the rear wall 4.As represented in Figure 1 , the blind bore 7 can be kept closed at its external thread 15, by means of a cap nut 12, with the interposition of a seal 13. The condensate, which is flowing into the blind bore 7 via the passage 8, is then led to the condensate receiver, via the passage 9 and the diversion hose 1 1. For the case in which the laundry drier is set up in a room which possesses a connection to the public waste-water system, the passage 9 is closed, inside the blind bore 7, by means of a closure-part 14, which can be inserted by hand, and an angled hose-connection 16, with union nut 17, is screwed onto the external thread 15 of the blind bore 7, with the interposition of a sealing ring 18, it then being possible to snap the waster-water hose 19 onto this angled hose-connection 16, as represented in Figure 2.In order to design the means for closing the passage 9 in the simplest possible manner, by pushing the closure-part 14 into the blind bore 7, the passage 8 of the inflowhose 10 is introduced at the bottom of the blind bore, at a distance ffom the passage 9, and the closure-part 14 is itself designed as a cylindrical sleeve, which can be inserted into the blind, bore, and extends as far as the vicinity of the mouth of the passage 8, this sleeve bearing against the blind bore 7, in the region separating the two passage mouths 8, 9, with the interposition of a sealing ring 20 and making a leakproof fit, and being provided, outside the blind bore 7, with a stop-shoulder 21. The condensate, which is flowing into the blind bore 7 via the passage 8, flows through the bore 22 of the closure-part 14 and, via the angled hose-connection 16, directly into the waste-water hose 19.The stop-shoulder 21 of the closure-part 14, which is designed as a cylindrical sleeve, is preferably located in a recess 23 at the entry to the blind bore 7. in a manner such that it is sunk so as to be flush with the end of the blind bore. In this arrangement, the sealing ring 18, between the blind bore 7 and the angled hose-connection 16, simultaneously assumes the function of making the seal with respect to the passage 9. The stop-shoulder 21 could, of course, also rest on the end surface of the external thread 15, in which case the sealing ring 18 would likewise ensure sealing both with respect to the outside and to the passage 9.

In the illustrative embodiment shown, the passages 8, 9 are led into the blind bore 7, parallel to each other. Depending on the arrangement of the pump, and of the condensate receiver in the laundry drier, it is possible for both passages to be led into the blind bore at any desired angular position with respect to each other, in order to obtain the shortest possible hose-runs.

The laundry drier is preferably equipped, at the factory, in such a manner that the changeover device is closed, at its extenal thread 15, with a cap nut 12, as represented in Figure 1, the condensate thus being fed to the condensate receiver. In order to have the angled hoseconnection 16, with union nut 17, and the closure-part 14 ready in the event of conversion to discharge the condensate into the drainage system, it is arranged, in a further development of the invention, that a further blind bore 24, with an external thread 25, be located, in addition to the blind bore 7, in the injection-moulded plastic component, which serves to store these conversion parts, in a manner preventing them from being lost, as represented in Figure 1.

Following the conversion to use the waste-water hose 19, the cap nut 12 is screwed onto the thread 25 of the blind bore 24.

In order to ensure that the conversion requires as few parts as possible, the angled hoseconnecttion piece 16 and the closure-part 14, formed by the cylindrical sleeve with the stopshoulder 21, are designed, in a particularly advantageous manner, as one piece. A one-piece design of this type further facilitates the insertion of the closure-part 14 and, in particular. its removal from the blind bore 7.

A changeover device, designed in this manner, is reliable for every user. can be operated without having recourse tools, and can be manufactured from plastic, as a mass-produced, durable component, by means of the injection-moulding process.

Claims (7)

1. A laundry drier having a condensing unit connected via a hose-line and changeover device either to a condensate receiver located in the casing of the drier, or to a drain hose, characterised in that the changeover device is an injection-moulded plastic component which is inserted into an aperture in the rear wall of the laundry drier, and which possesses a horizontal blind bore, with an external thread, into which bore two passages open at right angles, these passages being located, one behind the other axially with respect to said bore, inside the rear wall, the passage which is remote from said external thread being connected by said hose-line to said condensing unit and the passage which is adjacent said external thread being connected to said condensate receiver, and the blind bore can, according to choice, be closed at its external thread by a cap nut, or can be fitted with a sleevelike closure part having an angled hoseconnection, for connection to a said drain hose, which closure part closes off the passage adjacent the external thread and provides communication between the passage remote from the external thread and the drain hose.

2. A laundry drier according to Claim 1, characterised in that the passage connected to the condensing unit opens into the blind bore, at the bottom thereof, at an axial distance from the passage connected to the condensate receiver, and the closure-part is a cylindrical sleeve, which, when located in the bore, extends to the vicinity of the mouth of the passage connected to the condensing unit and sealingly engages against the blind bore, in the region separating the two passage mouths, the closure part being provided at its other end with a stop-shoulder.

3. A laundry drier according to Claim 2, characterised in that the stop-shoulder of the cylindrical sleeve is located in a recess at the entry to the blind bore, in a manner such that it is sunk so as to be flush with the end of the blind bore.

4. A laundry drier according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that, a further blind bore, with an external thread, is located in the injection-moulded plastic component, this further blind bore being provided for storing either the closure-part or the cap nut, in a manner preventing them from being lost.

5. A laundry drier according to Claim 4, characterised in that the external threads of the blind bores, which are located at the rear wall, are arranged so that they are recessed within the rear wall.

6. A laundry drier according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the angled hose-connection piece and the closure-part are unitary.

7. A laundry drier as claimed in Claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.