GB2269445A

GB2269445A - Tumble drier condensor retention

Info

Publication number: GB2269445A
Application number: GB9315273A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Reinhard Heyder
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-08-05
Filing date: 1993-07-23
Publication date: 1994-02-09
Anticipated expiration: 2013-07-23
Also published as: GB9315273D0; FR2694578A1; ITMI930619V0; ITMI931666A1; IT238153Y1; ITMI931666A0; FR2694578B1; DE9210477U1; GB2269445B; ITMI930619U1

Abstract

A laundry Tumble drier is provided with a condensor unit (12) removably arranged in a compartment with an inlet and an outlet (6) for air circulated through a drum (1) of the drier. The compartment is closed by a flap (14) provided with a projection (15) co-operable with a pressure contact surface (16) at an end of the unit (12). When the flap is in its closed setting, the pressurable interengagement of the projection and the surface causes the unit to be urged against a seal (13) around the outlet (6). <IMAGE>

Description

LAUNDRY DRIER The present invention relates to a laundry drier.

Commercially available laundry driers have a cooling block, which is inserted into a condenser housing and an entry end of which is equipped with handles by which the block can be gripped and pushed in or drawn out. The handles have detent hooks which, in the operative setting, each engage into a respective counter-detent in the housing.

The association of the handles with the detent hooks makes manipulation difficult because movements transversely to and longitudinally of the pushing direction of the block must be performed at the same time. Since manipulation is difficult, the force applied might not always be appropriate and damage of the handles or detent hooks frequently arises.

It would thus be desirable to so improve handling of such a block or unit that damage on the one hand and difficulties in manipulation on the other hand can be excluded or reduced.

According to the present inventidn there is improved a laundry drier with a cooling unit, which is inserted into a condenser housing and a process air channel of which in the inserted and latched position is sealed off against the outside at the housing outlet, and with a housing flap which is openable from the front, wherein the unit at an entry end thereof has at least one pressure contact surface, which is arranged transversely to the direction of insertion and which in operational setting co-operates with a projection, which is arranged at the inward side near a pivot axis of the flap and which in the latched position of the flap presses the unit against a seal at the housing outlet.

The structuring of the condenser housing and of the unit means that a special latching device at the unit is not needed.

Consequently, a special latching or unlatching operation during the manipulation of the unit is also not required and manipulation is simplified. In the absence of detent hooks at the unit, these cannot break off. An increase in the sealing force between the unit and the housing outlet may be possible in conjunction with the improved ease of manipulation.

For preference, the unit has at its entry end at least one handle, which carries the contact surface. Such a handle can be compactly and rigidly formed as an injection moulding integrally connected with the unit, so that relatively-high pressure forces from the projection at the flap can be transmitted to the seal at the outlet without risk of damage.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, the single figure of which is a schematic vertical sectional view of a laundry drier embodying the invention.

Referring now to the drawing there is shown a vertical section through a laundry drier comprising a laundry drum 1, which is mounted to be rotatable about a horizontal axis and which at its rear side has an air feed opening 2 connected with an air feed channel 3, in which heating equipment 4 is disposed. A blower 5, which inducts process air from an outlet 6 of a condenser housing 7, is connected to the channel 3. Air is exhausted from the interior of the drum by way of a loading door 9 thereof, which is pivoted into a loading opening 8 of the drum, and a lint filter 11 inserted into a front air exhaust channel 10.

A cooling block 12 is inserted in the housing 7 and is pressed by an end face thereof against a seal 13 around the outlet 6. The pressing is effected by a cam or dog 15 formed at the inner side of a housing flap 14. In the latched position, which is shown in solid lines, of the flap 14, the dog presses the block 12 against the seal 13 in the direction of insertion by way of a pressure transfer surface 16 at that end of the block 12 which is disposed at an air inlet of the housing 7. This surface 16 is provided on a handle 17, which has a grip depression 18 to allow the block 12 to be seized. The flap 14 is retained in its latched position by means of a rotary latch 19, which can be moved by a handle 20 into or out of a latching setting.

After the unlatching of the flap 14, this can be pivoted about a pivot bearing 21 thereof into an open position, which is shown in chain-dotted lines, so that the contact pressure of the dog 15 on the seal 13 by way of the surface 16 and the block 12 is relieved. The seal 13 then urges the block 12 out of the operative position and this can be gripped at the handle 17 and drawn out of the housing 7. No further action is needed for latching or unlatching. Constructional elements for this can be dispensed with and thus do not represent a source of damage.

Apart from the#illustrated embodiment, the housing flap can also be articulated at a pivot bearing arranged above the condenser housing or laterally at the housing, provided only that the principle of pressure transfer onto the seal 13 is maintained.

Claims

1. A laundry drier provided with a condenser unit, which is removably arranged in a compartment having an inlet and an outlet for air used in operation of the drier, and with a latchable closure element which is openable to permit removal of the unit from the compartment, the unit and the element being provided with co-operating means which in the closed setting of the element cause the unit to be urged into a position--in which it is sealed to the air outlet by sealing means.

2. - A drier as claimed in claim 1, the co-operating means comprising a projection on the element and a pressure contact surface on the unit, the surface extending transversely to a given direction of removal of the unit from the compartment.

3. A drier as claimed in claim 2, wherein the projection is disposed in the region of a pivot axis of the element.

4. A drier as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said surface is provided on a handle arranged at one end of the unit.

5. A laundry drier substantially as hereinbefore dscribed with reference to th accompanying drawing.