WO2005100676A1

WO2005100676A1 - A washer / dryer

Info

Publication number: WO2005100676A1
Application number: PCT/IB2005/051217
Authority: WO
Inventors: Serap Dikmenli; Tunc Tuncel
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2004-04-15
Filing date: 2005-04-13
Publication date: 2005-10-27

Abstract

This invention relates to a washer / dryer (1) comprising transfer conduits (3,13) whereby it is achieved that the waste materials accumulated inside the condenser (2) are removed and that the surfaces of the condenser (2) are cooled by wetting.

Description

Description A WASHER / DRYER

[001] This invention relates to a washer / dryer comprising a condenser wherein means are provided to improve the condensing efficiency.

[002] In washers / dryers, the drying process may be performed in two different forms as open or closed, in relation to the cycle of the air circulated inside the tank to remove the humidity of the laundry. In the open cycle, the air heated by means of a heater is routed into the tank, as the air contacts with the moist laundry, it receives the moisture in the clothes and the mentioned moist air is then discharged to the outside of the washer / dryer from an aperture. From another aperture, fresh air is taken into the washer / dryer and after it is heated by means of the heater, the said fresh air is again transferred into the tank where the laundry is placed. Whereas in the closed cycle, the air that receives the moisture in the clothes is transferred to a condenser and then it is supplied back to the drying cycle after the humidity of it is removed by the said condenser. Various applications are developed in order to improve the condensing efficiency in washers / dryers which incorporate a condenser and wherein the drying process is performed in a closed cycle.

[003] One of those applications is disclosed in the European Patent Document EP 340403. In the mentioned document, a description is given of an application wherein water is transferred into the condenser by being sprayed in order both to clean and to cool the condenser.

[004] In another application of the current state of the art, in the German Patent Document DE 4237253, a description is given of an embodiment wherein cold water is sprayed onto the condenser body in order to improve the condensing efficiency.

[005] In another application of the current state of the art, in the European Patent Document EP 636732, a description is given of an embodiment wherein a surface is provided in front of the end of the conduit which is used to transfer the water to the condenser in order to cool the condenser surface effectively, end of which to the interior of the condenser. The water coming from the conduit is scattered by hitting the mentioned surface and thus it is achieved that the entire surface of the condenser is wet, thereby cooled.

[006] The object of the present invention is the realization of a washer / dryer comprising a condenser wherein condensing efficiency is improved by removing the waste material accumulated inside and by cooling its surface.

[007] The washer / dryer designed to fulfill the object of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures where:

[008] Fig.1 - is a schematic view of a washer / dryer. [009] Fig.2 - is a schematic view of transfer conduits.

[010] Fig.3 - is a schematic view of the fluid distribution of the structure illustrated in figure 2. [011] Fig.4 - is a schematic view of the alternative embodiment of the present invention.

[012] Fig.5 - is a schematic viewof the fluid distribution of the structure illustrated in figure 4. [013] Fig.6 - is a perspective view of a condenser and transfer conduits.

[014] Parts shown on figures are numbered as Follows: 1. Washer / dryer 2. Condenser 3. ,13. Transfer conduit 4. ,14. Outlet opening 5. Flow line

[015] The washer / dryer (1) according to the pxesent invention, comprises a condenser (2) ensuring that the condensing process is performed and at least two transfer conduits (3.13) having one of their ends connected to the same or different fluid source - preferably to the network - and their other ends opening to the interior of the condenser (2) and, each of which incorporates at least one outlet opening (4,14) positioned in opposite directions facing each other wherein between the said outlet openings (4,14), a collision area (A) is formed where fluids that exit the mentioned outlet openings (4.14) are scattered into the condenser (2) as a result of colliding with each other, in order to remove the waste material accumulated inside the condenser (2) and to cool the surfaces of the condenser (2) by wetting with a fluid - preferably with cold water - (Figure 1).

[016] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the washer / dryer (1) comprises a flow line (5) connected to a single fluid source. The said flow line (5) separates into two transfer conduits (3,13) (Figure 6).

[017] The fluids that pass through the transfer conduits (3,13) in the washer / dryer (1), oppositely exit the outlet openings (4,14) of both of the transfer conduits (3,13) and the fluids that exit both of the outlet openings (4,14) collide with each other at the collision area (A) between the said outlet openings (4-, 14) and, as a consequence of the said collision the fluid is scattered into the condenser (2).

[018] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the outlet openings (4,14) are preferably positioned perpendicular to each other. In that case, the scattered fluid spreads in a circular manner and, the collision area (A) is located at the center of the mentioned circular spread (Figure 2 and Figure 3).

[019] In another embodiment of the present invention, the outlet openings (4,14) of the transfer conduits (3,13) are positioned oppositely, at a certain angle to each other. In that case, the scattered fluid spreads in an elliptical manner and, the collision area (A) is located at one of the focus of trie mentioned elliptical spread (Figure 4 and Figure 5).

[020] The distance traveled by the fluid that passes through the transfer conduit (3,13) from the moment it exits the outlet opening (4,14) of the transfer conduit (3,13) until it collides with the fluid that exits the outlet opening (4,14) of the other transfer conduit (3,13) at the collision area, is so short that the velocity of the fluid at the instant it exits the outlet opening (4,14) is not reduced and, is so long that it is ensured that the fluid is scattered to the environment witfiout a large loss of pressure after the collision. The geometric shape of the spread of the fluid may change according to the cross-section of the outlet opening (4,14) of the transfer conduit (3,13), according to the velocity of the fluid at the instant it exits the outlet opening (4,14) and according to the angle between the outlet openings (4,14). The amount of fluid sent to a certain section can be increased by changing the cross-section, angle, positions of the outlet openings (4,14) and the velocity of the fluid.

[021] Furthermore, by means of the outlet openings (4,14) that are moved by being actuated externally or via the pressure of the fluid, the collision area (A) may be changed so that the fluid is spread to the environment more effectively.

[022] By means of the washer / dryer (1) according to the present invention, it is achieved that the waste materials accumulated inside the condenser (2) are removed and that the surfaces of the condenser (2) are cooled by wetting.

Claims

[001] A washer / dryer (1) comprising a condenser (2) ensuring that the condensing process is performed, and characterized by at least two transfer conduits (3,13) having one of their ends connected to the same or different fluid source and their other ends opening to the interior of the condenser (2) and, each of which incorporate at least one outlet opening (4,14) positioned in opposite directions facing each other wherein between the said outlet openings (4,14), a collision area (A) is formed where fluids that exit the mentioned outlet openings (4,14) are scattered into the condenser (2) as a result of colliding each other in order to remove the waste material accumulated inside the condenser (2) and to cool the surfaces of the condenser (2) by wetting with a fluid.

[002] A washer / dryer (1) as described in Claim 1, characterized by a flow line (5) connected to a single fluid source and, inside the condenser (2), connected to two transfer conduits (3,13) the outlet openings (4,14) of which are positioned opposite to each other.

[003] A washer / dryer (1) as described in any of the above Claims, characterized by transfer conduits (3,13) comprising outlet openings (4,14) positioned perpendicular to each other.

[004] A washer / dryer (1) as described in Claims 1 or 2, characterized by transfer conduits (3,13) comprising outlet openings (4,14) positioned at a certain angle to each other.

[005] A washer / dryer (1) as described in any of the above Claims, characterized by transfer conduits (3,13) positioned such that the distance traveled by the fluid that passes through the transfer conduit (3,13) from the moment it exits the outlet opening (4,14) of the transfer conduit (3,13) until it collides with the fluid that exits the outlet opening (4,14) of the other transfer conduit (3,13) at the collision area, is so short that the velocity of the fluid at the instant it exits the outlet opening (4,14) is not reduced and, is so long that it is ensured that the fluid is scattered to the environment without a large loss of pressure after the collision.

[006] A washer / dryer (1) as described in any of the above Claims, characterized by outlet openings (4,14) that are moved by being actuated externally or by the pressure of the fluid in order to change the collision area (A) providing that the fluid is spread to the environment more effectively.