WO2007074124A1

WO2007074124A1 - A dryer

Info

Publication number: WO2007074124A1
Application number: PCT/EP2006/070049
Authority: WO
Inventors: Levent Cinar; Resul Kanlikuyu; Can Sar; Umit Gulbay
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2005-12-29
Filing date: 2006-12-21
Publication date: 2007-07-05
Also published as: EP1966428A1; EP1966428B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dryer comprising an attachable and detachable condenser (4). The dryer (1) comprises two insertion members (7) fastened onto the condenser (4). In the position, where the insertion member (7) extends parallel to the edge of the condenser (4) to which it is fastened, the extensions (8) are inserted into the housings (9) and provide for the secure mounting of the condenser (4) into the casing (5). In a second position, the two insertion members (7) extend almost perpendicular to their first position and serve as a handle used for carrying the condenser (4).

Description

Description A DRYER

[0001] The present invention relates to a dryer having an attachable and detachable condenser.

[0002] In state-of-the-art dryers, wet laundries loaded into a rotatable drum are brought into contact with hot air whereby drying is provided. Hot circulation air evaporates the moist contained in the laundry it passes through, removes the moist from the laundry and takes it away. While the hot air passes through a heat exchanger, preferably a condenser, the hot air gives heat to a fluid of lower temperature, preferably air, and leaves the moist condensed due to the temperature difference. This heat exchange causes the circulation air to dry and at the same time to cool. After the condenser, the circulation air is passed over a heater situated further down the air channel to be heated and is sent back to the drum.

[0003] The condensers used in dryers have such a configuration that from one end the hot circulation air enters and from the other the cooling air of a lower temperature enters without being mixed with the circulation air. Especially particles such as lint, fibers etc. carried by the circulation air may result in the clogging of the condenser in time or decrease the performance thereof. Therefore, the condenser is detachably attached in the dryer such that the user can take it out for cleaning and place it back to its place in the dryer. Furthermore, in order to prevent circulation air and cooling air from being mixed, condenser must be inserted in a leak proof manner. Therefore, condenser is provided with a handle enabling it to be attached and detached easily and a locking mechanism enabling it to be fitted into its place in a leak proof manner.

[0004] In the state of art, in the European Patent application no EP1548178, a condenser comprising two insertion members and a handle ring, is explained. The insertion members rotalably mounted on both sides of the condenser, enable the condenser to be fitted into the condenser housing in a leek-proof manner by being inserted into the grooves inside the condenser housing. The condenser is set free by rotating the insertion members until they are released from the grooves, and it is taken out using the handle.

[0005] The object of the present invention is the realization of a dryer having an easily attachable and detachable condenser.

[0006] The dryer realized in order to fulfill the objectives of the present invention is described in the attached claims. In the dryer, the length of the insertion members, po- sitioned on both sides of the condenser allows them to overlap when rotated towards each other. When they overlap at the middle section, the insertion members form a handle, which can be used for taking the condenser out of its casing and for its transportation. When the insertion members are separated, the projections positioned thereon are fitted tightly into the housings on the casing and thereby enable the condenser to be inserted into the casing in a leak proof manner. This position of the insertion members do not form a projection at the condenser inlet, which may interrupt the air stream.

[0007] In one embodiment of the invention, the insertion members can be locked to each other as they overlap at the middle section. Thus, the risk of disengaging the insertion members while carrying the condenser is eliminated.

[0008] In another embodiment of the present invention, there are stoppers on the condenser and projections on the insertion members wherein the projections on the insertion members rest on the said stoppers when they overlap at the middle section. Thus, undesired rotational movements of the insertion members are prevented and they are provided to maintain their second position and remain overlapped.

[0009] The dryer realized in order to fulfill the objectives of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

[0010] Figure 1 - is a schematic view of the dryer

[0011] Figure 2 - is the detailed perspective view of the condenser wherein the insertion members are in locking position

[0012] Figure 3 - is the detailed perspective view of the condenser wherein the insertion members in carrying position

[0013] Figure 4 - is the perspective view of the insertion members in carrying position

[0014] Figure 5 - Ii the detailed perspective view of the dryer with the condenser inserted in the casing.

[0015] Figure 6 - is the detailed perspective view of the dryer while the condenser is being pulled out of the casing.

[0016] The elements shown in figures are numbered as follows:

1. Dryer

2. Body

3. Drum

4. Condenser

5. Casing

6. Inlet 7. Insertion member

8. Extension

9. Housing

10. Locking mechanism

11. Pin

12. Groove

13. Projection

14. Stopper

[0017] A dryer (1), the object of the present invention, comprises a body (2) and a drum (3) located inside the body (2) into which the laundries to be dried are loaded. The dryer (1) further comprises a casing (5) positioned inside the body (2), having an inlet (6) opening to the outer environment and a condenser (4) which can be attached to and detached from the casing (5) through the opening (6), absorbing the moist contained in the hot circulation air coming from the drum (3) by en bling it exchange heat with a fluid having a lower temperature. (Figure 1)

[0018] The dryer (1) further comprises two insertion members (7) fixed rotatdbly on opposing sides of the front part of the condenser. In the dryer of the present invention, the insertion members (7) can be moved by rotating and switched between two positions. In the first position, the insertion members (7) extend almost parallel to the edges whereby the condenser (4) is fastened and endble the condenser (4) to be fixed into the casing (5) (Figure 2 and Figure 5). In the second position, almost perpendicular to the first position, two insertion members (7) overlap on the front side of the condenser (4) and thereby serve as a handle for carrying purposes (Figure 3 and 6).

[0019] In this embodiment, the insertion members (7) have a length allowing the members to meet on the front side of the condenser (4) and preferably enabling them to overlap partially. In the second position, when holding the insertion members (7), the condenser (4) can be taken out of the casing (5) and transported.

[0020] In this embodiment of the invention, the dryer (1) further comprises extensions (8), each being positioned on the insertion members (7) and two housings (9) on the casing (5) into which the extensions (8) fit. In the first position of the insertion members (7), the extensions (8) are inserted in the housings (9) and thereby allow the condenser (4) to be fitted into the casing (5) securely (Figure 6).

[0021] In this embodiment, the user holds the condenser (4) by the insertion members (7) joined in the middle and inserts it into the casing (5) through the inlet (6). Thereafter, the insertion members (7) are rotated towards the housings (9) positioned on the inner surface of the casing (5) and brought back to the first position. In this position, the extensions (8) are fitted into the housings (9) securing the condenser (4) into the casing (5). When the user intends to detach the condenser (4) from the casing (5), rotates the insertion members (7) towards the front side of the condenser (4) and releases the extensions (8) from the housings (9). When the insertion members (7) are rotated approximately 90°, they meet one another in such a way that they extend side by side or tip to tip along a line on the front side of the condenser. When the insertion members (7) are joined in the middle like that, they are used for taking out the condenser (4) from the casing (5), for carrying it and inserting it back into the casing (5). Since the insertion members (7) can be separated only by rotating after inserting the condenser (4) into its place, they do not form an obstacle interrupting the flow of the circulation air.

[0022] In another embodiment of the invention, the dryer (1) further comprises a locking mechanism (10) which provides for connecting the insertion members (7) to each other in the second position. In the second position, the insertion members (7) connected by the locking mechanism (10) form a handle enabling the condenser (4) to be taken out of the casing (5) and carried (Figure 4).

[0023] In this embodiment, the user rotates the insertion members (7) and provides them to be side by side on the front side of the condenser (4). After they are (4) locked to each other using the locking mechanism (10), the insertion members (7) extending on the same line are used for pulling, pushing, carrying and moving the condenser.

[0024] In this embodiment of the invention, the locking mechanism comprises a pin (11) preferably located on one of the insertion members (7) and a groove (12) located on the other insertion member (7) into which the pin (11) fits. In this embodiment, the pin (11) and the groove (12) are positioned on the opposite side of the insertion members (7) with respect to the extension (8). When the insertion members (7) are brought to the second position, the pin (11) is inserted into the groove (12). Since the force applied on the insertion members (7) by the user while carrying the condenser (4) is perpendicular to the pin (11) axis, the pin (11) cannot be released from the groove (12). (Figure 4)

[0025] In another embodiment of the present invention, the dryer (1) comprises a stopper (14) located on the edge of the condenser (4) and a projection (13) which rests thereon when the insertion members (7) are brought to the second position (Figure 2, Figure 3 and Figure 4). The insertion members (7) are thereby prevented from the undesired rotational movements and their overlapped state in the second position is maintained. [0026] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the front side of the condenser (4) is rectangular (Figure 2 and Figure 3). The insertion members (7) are prefer bly fastened onto the long sides of the condenser (4). Thus, a wider space is thereby provided for the insertion members (7) when they are brought to the first position.

[0027] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the insertion members (7) are rotated in opposite directions while being brought from the first position to the second position. Convenience in use is thereby provided.

[0028] In the dryer (1), the object of the present invention, the insertion members (7) may have equal or different lengths. However, in either case, the sum of the lengths of the insertion members (7) is either equal to or greater than the distance between the rotational axes of the insertion members (7).

[0029] In the dryer (1) of the present invention, the insertion members (7) serve both for securing the condenser (4) into the casing and for carrying it and thus, eliminate the need for an extra handle on the condenser (4). Furthermore, insertion members (7) do not form an obstacle interrupting the flow of circulation air since they can be separated and positioned on the sides of the condenser (4) after securing the condenser (4) into the casing (5).

Claims

[0001] A dryer comprising - a body

(2), - a drum

(3) located inside the body (2) into which the laundries to be dried are loaded - a casing (5) located inside the body (2) having an inlet (6) opening outeide -a condenser

(4) which can be attached to and detached from the casing

(5) through the inlet

(6), removing the moist contained in the hot circulation air coming from the drum (3) by enabling it to exchange heat with a fluid having a lower temperature, - and characterized by two insertion members (7) - fastened to opposite edges of the front surface of the condenser, -rotatably movable between the first position wherein they extend parallel to the said edges and the second position wherein they extend almost perpendicular to their first position - allowing the condenser (4) to be secured into the casing (5) in the first position and by conjoining on the front side of the condenser (4) in the second position, serving as a handle used for carrying the condenser (4).

[0002] A dryer (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the insertion members

(7), having lengths allowing them to conjoin on the front side of the condenser (4) and preferably overlap partially.

[0003] A dryer (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by two extensions

(8) each located on one of the insertion members (7) and two housings (9) located on the casing (5) into which the extensions (8) fit.

[0004] A dryer (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by a locking mechanism (10) allowing the insertion members (7) to be fixed in the second position.

[0005] A dryer (1) as in Claim 4, characterized by a locking mechanism (10) comprising a pin (11) located on one of the insertion members (7) and a groove (12) located on the other insertion member into which the pin (11) is fitted.

[0006] A dryer (1) as in Claim 5, characterized by the pin (11) and the groove (12) located on the opposite side of the insertion members (7) with respect to the extensions (8).

[0007] A dryer (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by a stopper (14) located on the edge of the condenser (4) and a projection (13) located on the insertion member (7) which reste on the said stoppers (14) when the insertion members (7) are brought to second position.

[0008] A dryer (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by a rectangular condenser (4) and insertion members (7) fixed to the long sides of the condenser

(4). [0009] A dryer (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by the insertion members (7) equal in length. [0010] A dryer as in any one of claims 1 or 8 characterized by the insertion members

(7) having different lengths.