RU2517009C2 - Washing machine with dryer where condensation device is embedded in washing unit - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: personal use articles.

SUBSTANCE: household combined washing machine contains a tank (1) with a rotary drum for laundry; a box (2) for washing agents and substances; the first water conduits (3) controlled by the corresponding solenoid-operated valves (4) and ensuring delivery of a water flow into the box (2) for washing agents; the second water conduits ensuring delivery of water from the box (2) for washing agents into the tank (1); a drying air channel (with the following elements serially connected: suction hole (5) for air and water intake, opening into the tank lower part, a condensation device (6), the channel (7) for air flow from the condensation device outlet to the corresponding blower (8) and from there - into the air heating device (9) positioned downstream), means for water inlet into the condensation device and circulation of drying air flow inside the drum. The second water conduits are designed in the form of a unified conduit (10) for water transfer from the box (2) for washing agents into the condensation device (6). The condensation device has a partly arched crescent shape, its lower end positioned close to the suction hole (5) with the upper end - in the tank upper part. The condensation device shape and dimensions match the external profile of the tank (1) rear side with the unified conduit (10) inlet hole positioned within the intermediate spot (11) of the condensation device upper part between the lower end and the upper end.

EFFECT: design improvement.

19 cl, 5 dwg

Description

The invention relates preferably to a household combined washing machine with dryer, equipped with a condensation device designed to condense moisture collected by the flow of hot air passing through the washing drum, removing moisture from the wet clothes contained in the drum.

It is widely known combination washing machines with dryer, equipped with a condensing device for drying air. In such machines, hot dehumidifying air circulates in a closed circuit through a drum in which the laundry to be washed and dried is located.

Such machines are described in documents EP 1302586 and EP 1199397. In general, they are made in the form of conventional washing machines containing a tank, a drum rotating inside it, a box for detergents, a pipe with a siphon for passing a stream of water transferring the detergent / substance from the box to tank, and additional well-known controls.

To carry out the drying function, such a machine also contains a channel of hot drying air containing a condensation device with an inlet in the side wall of the tank, and a fan that draws air from the condensation device and pumps it into the corresponding heating unit, from where the air stream again enters the drum essentially through hole for loading laundry.

It is known that the condensation of moisture contained in the flow of dehumidifying air coming from the inlet, which passes through the condensing device and is pumped by the fan, is carried out by injecting a jet of cold water, usually taken from the water supply devices of the machine connected to the water supply, the injection being regulated appropriate electrovalves.

A stream of cold water injected into the condensing device is directed opposite the flow of moist hot air supplied by the fan to the tank.

Due to the significant temperature difference between the injected water and the moist air stream, moisture condenses and falls with the injected water down to the bottom of the condensation device, from where it enters the tank through the hole.

Although machines of this type are quite efficient, they have the disadvantage that the fibers and other residues that have fallen out of the laundry during washing form deposits and remain on the inner walls of the condensation device during the subsequent drying cycle, causing clogging and also causing serious risk of fire if the fibers come out of the condensing device and the fan and fall on electrical heating resistances operating at high temperatures.

In any case, the extraction of such fibers or residues partially occurs during the washing process, when the level of the washing solution is higher than the level of the air inlet. In fact, in this case, part of the washing solution penetrates the lower part of the condensation device and washes it, while extracting fibers, which then go outside when the solution is drained.

However, this possibility of flushing the condensing device has two drawbacks:

- firstly, the amount of water used in recent years during washing is decreasing more and more due to the general requirement of saving energy and water, respectively, the level of the solution in the tank is decreasing, and it becomes insufficient for washing the condensation device, which is mainly located slightly above the bottom level a washing machine;

- secondly, even if the washing of the lower part of the condensing device is implemented as described above, the fibers located in the upper part of the condensing device will still not be removed, therefore, the disadvantages described above, albeit to a lesser extent, are retained.

In addition to these shortcomings, there remains a more general shortcoming of this type of machine, which consists in its high cost. In fact, in addition to the pipelines for the flow of drying air, it is necessary to add a special water supply circuit associated with a stream of condensing cold water.

Such an additional water circuit obviously requires at least an appropriate water supply pipe and a corresponding electrovalve with corresponding costs in man-hours for installation operations. Such additional costs, apparently, are significant, since in fact the specified machine should also contain devices that are used only in washing cycles, that is, a siphon pipeline through which water flows from the detergent drawer to the tank, and solenoid valves for regulating the water flow coming from the water supply to the detergent drawer.

The main objective of the present invention is to provide a combined washing machine with a condensation-type dryer containing a means for cleaning the fibers of the entire inner surface of the condensing device even with a very low level of solution at the bottom of the tank.

In addition, this machine must be manufactured according to well-known technologies, in particular, not only without additional costs or expenses, but also on the contrary, should have a lower cost compared to known machines.

These problems are solved in a combined washing machine with condensation-type dryer, the features of which are set forth in the attached claims, and which is described below as a non-limiting example with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 shows a diagram of the circuit for water and the channel for the flow of drying air of the known combined washing machine with dryer;

figure 2 is the same, but for the machine corresponding to the present invention;

figure 3 and 3A - tank of the machine corresponding to the invention, respectively, rear view and side view;

figure 4 shows a simplified diagram of the operation of the machine according to the invention.

Known combined washing machine with dryer, a diagram of which is shown in figure 1, contains:

- a rotating drum designed to accommodate, wash and dry laundry (not shown);

- tank 1, within which the specified drum;

- a drawer 2 for detergents having various compartments for detergents and other substances that are introduced into the tank during washing and drying;

- at least one pipe 3 for controlled by means of an electrovalve 4 water supply from the water supply to the box for detergents;

- a suction port 5 in the lower part of the side wall of the tank, through which separate streams of water and air can enter the condensation device 6, the condensation device 6 being configured to condense moisture from the air passing through it;

- channel 7, through which the air flow moves from the condensing device to the corresponding fan 8, from which the air flow is pumped into the container 9, containing one or more electric heating resistances (not shown);

- a means of moving circulating the flow of drying air through the drum and tank (not shown separately, since it is known and does not apply to the present invention).

In known machines, the pipeline connecting the detergent drawer to the tank and usually provided with a siphon and the pipe for supplying water to the condensation device are two separate elements. In the present invention, these elements are combined in one pipeline 10, which starts from the drawer 2 (similar to the known pipeline connecting the box to the tank) and enters the condensation device 6 in the corresponding intermediate location 11.

It is clear that through a single pipeline 10, a stream of water mixed with detergent and other substances can be supplied to the tank. The specified water flow is first supplied to the condensation device, from the lower part of which it passes through the suction hole 5 and enters the lower part of the tank.

In addition, during drying, a single pipe 10 also supplies water to the condensation device 6 for carrying out the condensation process controlled by the electrovalve 4.

The first and main advantage of such a solution is obvious: in fact, the flow of water into the condensation device at the washing or rinsing stage ensures washing of most of the inner wall of the condensation device, which leads to the removal of fibers. This is due to the fact that the intermediate place 11 is located in the condensing device so that the washing effect of the water flow flowing down under the action of gravity along the inner wall of the condensing device and washing and cleaning most of the specified wall is ensured.

The present invention also has a number of other advantages:

a) it is clear that simply pouring water into the condensing device, as a rule, is not enough to wash the entire condensing device, since it is obvious that the water flowing down washing only the lower part of the inner wall of the condensing device.

Nevertheless, a specific embodiment of the invention allows achieving the first and main advantage: in fact, during the washing cycle, the fan 8 draws in air at the proper speed, so that the flow of water that flows inside the condensing device, after exiting the single pipe 10, encounters flow resistance air moved by the fan, as a result of which the water flow turns due to the opposite direction of the downward flow of water and the upward flow of air a stream of very small droplets, washing the upper portion of the condensation device, which is disposed downstream relative to the intermediate space 11.

Thus, these small droplets essentially cover the entire inner wall of the condensation device, and therefore remove the fibers contained therein.

In addition, it is clear that it is possible to significantly reduce the cost of manufacturing the machine, since there are no: a pipeline supplying water to the condensation device during the drying process, a corresponding electrovalve, a corresponding air gap, and installation devices.

b) the second advantage is the location of the suction hole 5 in the lower part of the tank, in the vertical arrangement of the condensing device, and the location of the intermediate place 11 for the inlet of the pipe 10 in the upper part of the condensation device, so that the flow of water under the influence of gravity passes from the pipe 10 into the condensation device 6, washing and cleaning most of its inner wall.

c) the third advantage is in such a design and arrangement of a single pipeline 10 that it continuously descends towards the condensing device 6; as a result, there is no need for a siphon, since the steam obtained in the drying process, which in known machines exited the tank even through the path through the pipeline and the detergent drawer for water supply, is practically intercepted and condensed in the present invention, therefore, a small portion of the vapor that has not condensed is automatically sucked out by the fan.

As a result, the problem of steam escaping during drying is completely solved. In addition, the tank described above has only two openings that lead outward:

- a lower hole (not shown) for the release of a washing or rinsing solution;

- a suction port 5 that connects the tank to the condensation device 6.

Thus, the machine in which such a tank is installed is simpler, cheaper and, in particular, steam does not come out of such a machine.

d) as shown in figure 4, the fourth advantage is that during drying and when water is introduced into the condensation device 6, the fan 8 operates at two different speeds, while the first and slower speed, which can also be zero ( that is, the fan does not rotate), allows the sprayed water "A" to fall down into the condensation device 6, and at the second, higher speed, part "B" of the water enters the condensation device and is sucked in the opposite direction, so that the part located downstream of the seats 11 of the suction port of the condensation device, appropriately moves the air stream containing atomized water; as a result, this part is also neatly washed.

e) the fifth advantage is that the two speeds of rotation of the fan are used alternately, while they must change often enough so that the flow of air and water has little effect on the fan.

e) The sixth advantage relates to the initial period of the drying cycle. In fact, in the indicated initial period of time, the laundry is very wet and still quite cold, therefore, during this period of time, the moisture extracted from the laundry is still very small and, therefore, there is no need for a large amount of drying air to circulate.

The advantage is that during the initial period of time, the fan 8 operates at a correspondingly reduced speed, which obviously saves energy without significantly compromising the drying efficiency.

g) the seventh advantage is closely related to the previous one: in fact, the decrease in the rotation speed of the fan 8 at the initial stage of drying does not occur the same for any type of loaded laundry, but is regulated for each specific type of linen, which additionally saves energy.

Of course, the choice of duration, related to any initial stage, can be associated with a specific drying cycle using known and not considered here controls.

h) the eighth advantage is that in the machine to ensure the passage of water into the drawer 2, from where it falls under the influence of gravity into a single pipe 10, the same means are used that is used to fill the water into the drawer 2 during the washing cycle, and in particular, the same electrovalve 4 and the same water pipe 3 that runs from the water supply to valve 4 are used.

Obviously, such work is provided by a known control means, which allows for an additional reduction in manufacturing costs, since there is no need for a valve and an appropriate air gap for moving water into the condensation device during the drying step.

i) as shown in FIGS. 3 and 3A, the ninth advantage is based on the following simple considerations:

- the longer the condensation device, the more moisture condenses in it;

- the condensation device should start at the bottom and should end near the fan, that is, at the top;

- for the indicated location of the condensing device of sufficient length, its shape should be curved, it should be close to the tank and, therefore, correspond to the external contour of this tank.

In view of the foregoing, it is obvious that the sickle shape is the optimal shape of the condensation device, with the suction port 5 located at the bottom and the upper end of the condensation device at the top of the tank. In addition, the "crescent" shape and size of the condensation device must correspond to the outer round contour of the tank itself.

j) as shown in FIGS. 3 and 3A, in order to achieve the maximum useful length of the condensing device, it is preferable that the intermediate position 11 of the inlet of the pipe 10 is located at the top of the condensing device 6. In fact, the place 11 provides both the proper length of the working section of the condensing device, so and the possibility of vertical arrangement of the useful section of the condensing device, which is necessary to ensure the oppositely directed actual action of the sprayed stream water coming from the pipeline 10, and the flow of drying air, sucked in by the fan and coming from the tank through the suction hole 5.

k) Another advantage relates to the controls of the described machine. It has been experimentally established that it is desirable that during the washing cycle, or preferably during the rinsing cycle, the fan 8 has a high rotation speed. Since the bottom of the tank is covered with water, the suction port 5 is obviously closed by a water plug, so that the air flow cannot pass through it.

However, the decrease in pressure caused by the operation of the fan inside the condensation device leads to the movement of the solution from the bottom of the tank up to the condensation device and to movement along this device, which further cleans its walls.

In addition, it is advisable that the suction step is started during one of the rinsing steps, since in this case there is a larger amount of cleaner water.

In the best embodiment of the invention, which has the most important advantages, a fan is used, the rotation speed of which can be adjusted, even if this rotation speed is higher than the speed commonly used in the drying step in a known machine; however, these types of fans and associated controls are well known per se.

Another advantage relates to the specific operating mode of the machine. Most users value and prefer to use the car at night. In fact, at such a time, the cost of energy is less and, in addition, at this time the user is usually at home, which is not always possible for daytime.

However, a night-time machine can lead to a well-known noise problem that can be too loud and therefore annoying. To solve this problem, it is preferable that the fan operates with an adjustable, and therefore, very low rotation speed.

This possibility, preferably associated with a reduction in the consumption of electricity by heating resistances, leads to the operation of the machine as a whole with a reduced speed, in particular, with a reduced fan speed. It is known that when the machine operates as a tumble dryer, the noise mainly comes from the fan and the flow of drying air.

To achieve the possibility of the machine working at night, according to the present invention, a specific “night cycle” program has been developed, while the machine’s operation is generally slowed down, which implies not only a decrease in the fan speed, but also a decrease in the rotational speed of the drum and a decrease in the average quantity supplied to the heating resistances energy. This can be achieved either by reducing the applied voltage, or by intermittent supply of voltage, the value of which is not reduced.

Claims (19)

1. Combined washing machine with dryer, in particular household, containing a tank (1), inside which there is a rotating drum for placing, washing and drying clothes; a box (2) for detergents and substances introduced into the tank during the washing and drying cycle; the first pipelines (3) for water, controlled by the corresponding electrovalves (4) and providing a flow of water into the drawer (2) for detergents, preferably from the water supply; second pipelines for water supplying water from the drawer (2) for detergents to the tank (1); a channel for dehumidifying air, containing a suction port (5) open sequentially connected to the bottom of the tank and providing water and air, a condensation device (6) for condensing moisture from the air entering it, a channel (7) for moving the air flow from the outlet a condensation device to the corresponding fan (8), and from there to the next device (9) for heating the air; water inlet means configured to supply water to the condensation device, which is a cooling means for condensation; ventilation means circulating the flow of drying air in the drum, while the second water pipelines are made in the form of a single pipeline (10), providing movement of water from the drawer (2) for detergents to a condensation device (6), characterized in that the condensation device has a partially arcuate crescent shape, with its lower end located next to the suction hole (5), and the upper end in the upper part of the tank, while the shape and dimensions of the condensing device correspond externally the profile of the rear side of the tank (1), while the inlet for a single pipe (10) is located in the intermediate place (11) of the upper part of the condensation device between the lower end and the upper end. 2. The machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the single pipe (10) is continuously lowered from the drawer (2) for detergents towards the condensing device (6). 3. The machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the fan (8) is configured to operate at at least two different speeds during the drying cycle, and at one of these speeds the part (“B”) of the water entering the condensing device from a single pipeline (10), towards the part of the condensing device located downstream from the intermediate place (11) of the condensing device. 4. The machine according to claim 2, characterized in that the fan (8) is configured to operate at at least two different speeds during the drying cycle, and at one of these speeds the part (“B”) of the water entering the condensing device from a single pipeline (10), towards the part of the condensing device located downstream from the intermediate place (11) of the condensing device. 5. The machine according to claim 3, characterized in that the various rotation speeds alternate many times. 6. The machine according to claim 4, characterized in that the various rotational speeds alternate many times. 7. The machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it contains control means configured to reduce the fan speed during the initial stage of drying. 8. The machine according to claim 7, characterized in that the control means is configured to automatically reduce the fan speed during the initial stage of drying according to the stored instructions associated with the corresponding selected drying cycle. 9. Machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, 8, characterized in that it comprises control means configured to control, by means of an electrovalve (4), the flow of water in the first pipe (3) to ensure the flow of water from the first pipe (3) into box (2), then into a single pipeline (10), and then into a condensation device according to the stored instructions associated with the corresponding selected drying cycle. 10. The machine according to claim 7, characterized in that it contains control means configured to control, by means of an electrovalve (4), the flow of water in the first pipeline (3) to ensure the flow of water from the first pipeline (3) into the box (2), then - into a single pipeline (10), and then into a condensation device, according to the stored instructions associated with the corresponding selected drying cycle. 11. Machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, 8, 10, characterized in that it comprises control means configured to selectively actuate the fan (8) during a pre-selected time interval of the washing cycle and preferably during a pre-selected time rinse stage interval. 12. The machine according to claim 7, characterized in that it contains control means configured to selectively actuate the fan (8) during a pre-selected time interval of the washing cycle and preferably during a pre-selected time interval of the rinsing step. 13. The machine according to claim 9, characterized in that it contains control means configured to selectively actuate the fan (8) during a pre-selected time interval of the washing cycle and preferably during a pre-selected time interval of the rinsing step. 14. Machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, characterized in that it contains control means configured to drive the fan at a reduced speed, preferably simultaneously with a decrease in the average amount of energy supplied to the resistance heating the air. 15. The machine according to claim 7, characterized in that it contains control means configured to actuate the fan at a reduced speed, preferably simultaneously with a decrease in the average amount of energy supplied to the resistors that heat the air. 16. The machine according to claim 9, characterized in that it contains control means configured to actuate the fan at a reduced speed, preferably simultaneously with a decrease in the average amount of energy supplied to the resistors that heat the air. 17. The machine according to claim 11, characterized in that it contains control means configured to actuate the fan at a reduced speed, preferably simultaneously with a decrease in the average amount of energy supplied to the resistors that heat the air. 18. The machine according to claim 11, characterized in that during the washing cycle or rinse cycle, the fan (8) is configured to operate at a high speed so that the pressure reduction caused by the operation of the fan (8) inside the condensing device leads to displacement solution from the bottom of the tank up to the condensation device (6) and to move along this device, providing additional cleaning of its walls. 19. Machine according to any one of paragraphs.12 or 13, characterized in that during the washing cycle or rinse cycle, the fan (8) is configured to operate at a high rotation speed so that the pressure reduction caused by the operation of the fan (8) inside the condensing device , led to the movement of the solution from the bottom of the tank up to the condensation device (6) and to the movement of this device, providing for the cleaning of its walls.

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