WO2007077093A1

WO2007077093A1 - A dryer

Info

Publication number: WO2007077093A1
Application number: PCT/EP2006/069486
Authority: WO
Inventors: Can Sar; Levent Cinar; Arif Zafer Ozarslan; Umit Gulbay
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2005-12-30
Filing date: 2006-12-08
Publication date: 2007-07-12
Also published as: TR200804208T1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dryer (1) comprising a detachable condenser (6). The dryer (1) comprises a handle (11) that is attached on the condenser (6). It is possible to take out the condenser (6) from the casing (7) by using the handle (11).

Description

Description A DRYER

[0001] The present invention relates to a dryer comprising a detachable condenser.

[0002] In state-of-the-art dryers the wet laundry placed in a rotating drum is dried by bringing them in contact with hot air. The hot circulation air evaporates the moisture of the laundry it passes over and removes it by dragging away from the laundry. 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, leaves the moisture condensed due to the temperature difference and exits the condenser. This heat exchange causes the circulation air to dry and at the same time to cool. Therefore, after the condenser, the circulation air is passed over a heater situated further down the air channel to be heated and is resent back to the drum. 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.

[0003] On the other hand, lint, fibers etc. that break away from the laundry during the contact of the circulation air with the laundry in the drum and be carried away by 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. A handle is provided on the detachable condenser to facilitate carrying.

[0004] The circulation air inlet of the detachable condensers is situated behind a lid on the body and the circulation air enters the condenser sweeping the inner face of the lid. Guides are situated in this region to provide the air enter the condenser. However, the guide should be made so as not to cover the opening in order not to prevent the attachment/detachment of the condenser. In this case, the guide that is not configured as required is not sufficient for directing the air to the condenser without loss. Furthermore, some of the circulation air can leak out of the body if the leak-proofing between the lid and the body is not good and/or the lid is not closed properly.

[0005] In state-of-the-art European patent application no. EP1548178, a condenser having a handle ring is described. The condenser can be held from the handle ring and pulled out. The condenser comprises a flat guide element that projects forward from below its front side.

[0006] The object of the present invention is the realization of a dryer comprising a condenser wherein the circulating air is effectively directed. [0007] The dryer realized in order to fulfill the objectives of the present invention is described in the attached claims. In the said dryer, a handle is provided on the condenser that is attached such that it can turn from its two ends. A guide is situated on the handle. The handle that can move between two positions by being turned, directs the circulating air into the condenser when in the first position. When in the second position, the handle is used for carrying the condenser.

[0008] In the dryer of the present invention, the lid of the casing can be closed only when the handle is in the first position. Therefore, the user has to insert the condenser into the casing properly and turn the handle to the appropriate position in order to close the lid. Accordingly the handle used in the dryer of the present invention also helps to insert the condenser into the casing properly.

[0009] Furthermore, since the guide is a part of the handle and can be taken out together with the condenser, it can be produced such that it projects towards the center of the casing inlet. Since the guide can be positioned on the casing inlet, it contributes in the directing to be done as required and delivering the circulating air into the condenser with as little loss as possible. On the other hand, even though the guide is positioned in the path of the condenser it is passed while being taken out of the casing, it does not prevent the condenser from being taken out. Consequently, the handle can be used effectively in carrying out more than one function.

[0010] The dryer realized in order to fulfill the objectives of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

[0011] Figure 1 - is the front schematic view of a dryer.

[0012] Figure 2 - is the detailed perspective view of the dryer.

[0013] Figure 3 - is the detailed perspective view of the dryer when the handle is in the first position.

[0014] Figure 4 - is the detailed perspective view of the dryer when the handle is in the second position.

[0015] Figure 5 - is the top view of the condenser, the fan and the casing when the handle is in the first position.

[0016] Elements shown in figures are numbered as follows:

1. Dryer

2. Body

3. Drum

4. Channel

5. Fan 6. Condenser

7. Casing

8. Inlet

9. Lid

10. Guide

11. Handle

12. Gripping portion

[0017] The dryer (1) of the present invention comprises a casing (7), an inlet (8) providing access to the casing (7) from outside and a condenser (6) that is emplaced into the casing (7) by being passed through the inlet (8), providing to dehumidify the hot circulating air by bringing into heat exchange with a fluid at a lower temperature (Rgure

1). [0018] The dryer (1) of the present invention furthermore comprises a handle (11) that is rotat±ily attached from its two ends on the front side of the condenser (Rgure 2). The handle (11) comprises a gripping portion (12) providing to carry the condenser (6) and a guide (10) that directs the hot air towards the condenser (6).

[0019] In a position of the handle (11) (Rgure 3 and Rgure 5), the gripping portion (12) is entirely bearing on the front side of the condenser (6) and the guide (10) is in the position of projecting towards the center of the inlet (8), receiving the incoming circulating air, directing it towards the orifice of the condenser (6). When in this position, the handle (11) only serves the function of directing the air and is not used in holding and carrying.

[0020] In the second position of the handle (11) brought by rotating from the first position (Rgure 4), the gripping portion (12) projects towards the inlet (8). The guide (10) turns together with the handle (11) and leaves the air directing position. In this second position, the handle (11) is only used in carrying and cannot perform the directing function.

[0021] The dryer (1) furthermore comprises a body (2), a drum (3) situated inside the body (2) into which the laundry to be dried is emplaced, a channel (4) through which the hot air circulates, a fan (5) situated in the channel (4) that activates the air and a lid (9) that closes the inlet (8).

[0022] In this embodiment of the present invention, the condenser (6) is emplaced in the casing (7), the handle (11) stands such that it can receive the circulating air to direct into the orifice of the condenser (6). Since the gripping portion (12) bears on the side of the condenser (6), does not allow the incoming circulating air to leak. As the cir- cuMng air activated by the fan (5) approaches the orifice of the condenser (6), it impinges on the guide (10) that projects towards the center of the inlet (8) and is directed towards the condenser (6) without leaking out of the body (2) from the lid (9). When the condenser (6) is required to be detached from the body (2) for cleaning or maintenance purposes, the user opens the lid (9), provides the gripping portion (12) to extend towards the inlet (8) by turning the handle (11). Afterwards, the condenser (6) is held by the gripping portion (12), passed through the inlet (8) and pulled out of the casing (7). The user emplaces the condenser (6) into the casing (7) again by holding from the gripping portion (12) and the handle (11) is brought to its initial position, providing the guide (10) to be in the position of receiving the incoming circulating air.

[0023] In an embodiment of the present invention, the surface of the guide (10) receiving the air has a curvilinear configuration. By this means, the circulating air is provided to be directed to the condenser (6) with the least loss.

[0024] In another embodiment of the present invention, the gripping portion (12) and the guide (10) are integrated. The user can also grasp the guide (10) when holding the gripping portion (12). In this embodiment, the gripping portion (12) and the guide (10) are preferably positioned back to back. Thus, in the first position of the handle (11), the gripping portion (12) is behind the guide (10) in a position not disrupting the air flow.

[0025] In another embodiment of the present invention, the handle (11) has such a dimension that it projects out from the inlet (8) in its second position and allows the lid (9) to be closed only after it is brought to its first position and the condenser (6) is emplaced in the casing (7) properly. Accordingly, the condenser (6) is ensured to be properly emplaced in the casing (7).

[0026] By way of the dryer (1) of the present invention, the handle (11) performs directing and carrying functions both and accordingly, using separate gripping portions and guides becomes unnecessary. Furthermore, a guide (10) is provided that does not prevent the condenser (6) from being detached out of the casing (7) even though it projects towards the center of the inlet (8).

Claims

[0001] A dryer (1) comprising - a casing (7), an inlet (8) providing access into the casing (7) from the outside, a condenser (6) that is emplaced into the casing (7) by being passed through the inlet (8) providing to dehumidify the hot circulating air by bringing it into contact with a fluid at a lower temperature to provide heat exchange, and characterized by a handle (11) that, is rotatably attached to the front section of the condenser (6) from ite two ends, comprising a gripping portion (12) that provides to carry the condenser (6) and a guide (10) that directe the hot air towards the condenser (6).

[0002] A dryer (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by a gripping portion (12) that entirely bears on the front side of the condenser (6) in the first position of the handle (11) and a guide (10) that stands in a position of projecting towards the center of the inlet (8), receiving the incoming circulating air and directing it towards the orifice of the condenser (6).

[0003] A dryer (1) as in Claim 2 and 3, characterized by a lid (9) that covers the inlet

(8) and a handle (11) with such a dimension that it projects out from the inlet (8) in ite second position and allows the lid (9) to be closed only after it is brought to its first position and the condenser (6) is emplaced in the casing (7) properly.

[0004] A dryer (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a guide (10) having a curvilinearly configured surface that receives the incoming air.

[0005] A dryer (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a gripping portion (12) and a guide (10) that are integrated to one another.