Classifications

• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00 
  • D06F39/04—Heating arrangements
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L15/00—Washing or rinsing machines for crockery or tableware
  • A47L15/42—Details
  • A47L15/4291—Recovery arrangements, e.g. for the recovery of energy or water
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00 
  • D06F39/006—Recovery arrangements, e.g. for the recovery of energy or water
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00 
  • D06F39/08—Liquid supply or discharge arrangements
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00 
  • D06F39/08—Liquid supply or discharge arrangements
  • D06F39/088—Liquid supply arrangements
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00 
  • D06F39/30—Arrangements for energy recovery
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
  • Y02B40/00—Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a washing appliance and, in particular washing appliances which use heated water.
• the present invention aims to minimise the energy input from direct paid for energy sources for washing appliances, and in particular laundry appliances.
• the present invention is equally applicable, however, to other washing appliances, for example, dishwashers.
• [4] 1 the appliance takes in water (the washing water) from the water supply to which it is connected;
• the washing water is heated to a predetermined temperature by, for example, electrical heating elements
• steps 4 and 5 are repeated. Steps 1 to 3 may be repeated if a pre wash cycle is included in a particular washing cycle.
• a washing appliance comprising a dedicated reservoir for the washing appliance, the reservoir having an inlet to receive water and an outlet to enable flow of water therefrom, and at least one heat exchange means characterised in that at least one heat exchange means is adapted and configured to allow the transfer of ambient energy into the reservoir.
• the or a heat exchange is adapted to transfer ambient energy in the form of heat in the atmosphere within or around the washing appliance, light energy and in particular sunlight, and/or waste heat energy generated by any component in the washing appliance, for example any electric motor, or by a nearby appliance such as a refrigerator or a tumble dryer.
• At least two heat exchange means each adapted to transfer heat or energy from different sources into the reservoir.
• the construction of the washing appliance according to the present invention has the result that the water that is to be used in a wash cycle is not drawn straight from the water supply but has sat in the reservoir for a period before being used in a wash cycle.
• This has the advantage that the temperature of the water in the reservoir can be raised slowly by input of ambient heat energy without detriment to the usability of the washing appliance or the speed with which it washes once a user has inserted the items to be washed and started the wash cycle.
• the heat exchange means is comprised of a heat pump of known kind.
• a heat pump of known kind.
• One kind of known heat pump comprises a closed circuit around which a refrigerant flows including an evaporation zone in which the refrigerant absorbs heat energy and a condensation zone in which the refrigerant releases heat energy.
• the condensation zone is within the reservoir or in thermal contact with a wall of the reservoir.
• the heat pump is in one embodiment so configured that the evaporation zone may be located remotely from the washing appliance in a suitable location to harvest waste heat energy, for example adjacent the cooling grill of a refrigerator or above a domestic boiler.
• the appliance further comprises a heating element which may be activated to heat water passing from the reservoir to be used in a wash cycle if the temperature of the water has not been raised sufficiently by the heat exchange means.
• heating and warming up are terms describing the adding of heat energy to water, and do not indicate any particular temperature rise either in relative terms or bringing that water to an absolute temperature.
• heat exchange between the ambient atmosphere and the reservoir may occur simply by virtue of any temperature gradient between the ambient atmosphere surrounding the reservoir and water inside the reservoir.
• the transfer of heat energy from the ambient atmosphere to the water may be facilitated by one or more of a variety of means.
• Such means may include manufacture of the reservoir from an efficiently heat conductive material, configuring the walls of the reservoir to have a large surface area both inside and outside the reservoir, mounting suitably configured heat sinks, perhaps in the form of fins of a suitable material such as aluminium on both inside and outside faces of the reservoir, and or incorporation heat conductive elements in the structure of one or maor walls of the reservoir so that one face of the element is in contact with the ambient atmosphere and one face water inside the reservoir.
• a heat exchange means may comprise an energy conversion means, for example a photo voltaic cell, and a small heater located in the reservoir connected by electrical wires.
• the photo voltaic cell can be arranged to seat on, for example, a window to maximise the energy it gathers.
• At least two heat exchange means and at least one heat exchange means comprises an inlet or input arranged to receive an energy-conveying medium which carries waste heat energy from an energy-emitting apparatus and an outlet arranged to release the energy-conveying medium once heat has been extracted therefrom.
• waste heat energy may be transferred from other appliances or heat sources, such as a tumble drier, a dishwasher, the waste bath or shower water, or any other appliance or source that emits waste heat energy.
• the energy-conveying medium may be a liquid, such as, for example, in the case of a waste bath water or waste water from the washing appliance, or alternatively may be a gas such as in the case of hot air emitted from a dishwasher outlet during the drying cycle.
• the heat exchange means of such an embodiment of the present invention preferably comprises a channel arranged to direct the energy-conveying medium into or adjacent to the reservoir.
• the channel is beneficially arranged to pass through the reservoir.
• the heat exchange means is merely a wall of the reservoir.
• the aim is to maximise the surface area between the wall of the channel which conveys the energy-conveying medium and that of water in the reservoir. A minimal resistance to flow is preferred.
• the channel is arranged to pass through the reservoir.
• the reservoir is shaped and configured to extend into the channel for conveying the energy-conveying medium.
• the heat exchange means may be arranged to transfer heat from a remote heat source to water in the reservoir.
• a remote heat source could, for example, as described above, be another appliance.
• the heat energy is beneficially transferred from the remote heat source to water in the reservoir.
• the remote heat source may be a white goods appliance.
• the heat exchange means may be arranged to transfer heat from a source internal of the washing appliance to water in the reservoir. In such an embodiment, the heat exchange means may extend between a motor case and the reservoir, or may transfer heat energy from the waste water of the washing appliance to water in the reservoir.
• the reservoir may be arranged and configured to act as a ballast to the washing appliance.
• the reservoir may be located within the casing of the washing appliance or, alternatively, may be attached in some way to the appliance to have the effect of acting as a ballast.
• the use of the reservoir as a ballast is particularly important when the appliance according to the present invention is a laundry appliance such as a washing machine.
• the present invention extends to a water supply system for a washing appliance comprising:
• the present invention also extends to a method of preheating water for a washing appliance comprising the steps of:
• the reservoir should either be re-filled as soon as possible after use of the water in order that there is maximum time to heat the water ready for subsequent use, or that the reservoir is so configured that when water is drawn out of the reservoir via the outlet therein, water enters the reservoir from a water supply via the inlet.
• the reservoir includes one or more internal baffles or flow regulation or flow directing devices to ensure that the flow path between the inlet and outlet of the reservoir is circuitous.
• the method may also comprise the step of directing a flow of energy- conveying medium to the reservoir from an appliance.
• the heat exchange means may be integral or remote from the appliance and the energy-conveying medium may be a liquid or a gas.
• the washing apparatus may further comprise a control means to enable the apparatus to monitor the temperature of water in the reservoir, such that when the temperature reaches a predetermined temperature, the wash cycle starts.
• This control means or a second control means may be provided to link at least two appliances, such as a tumble dryer/dishwasher/washing machine. This is arranged to act intelligently to ensure waste heat generated by one appliance is transferred to a second appliance.
• the washing appliance in which the apparatus of the present invention is employed is a laundry apparatus comprising an outer casing with a base, at least one side wall, and a top, within which are located a receptacle for items to be laundered, a means for agitation of said items and control means;
• the receptacle is a drum with a curved side wall and first and second end walls, a side wall of the outer casing is provided with a port through which an end portion of the drum may reversibly travel between a first withdrawn position and a second extended position, the distance of travel of the drum out of the side wall to the extended position being sufficient to allow access to at least one aperture in the curved side wall of the drum that is substantially parallel to the direction of travel of the drum, said aperture is configured and dimensioned to allow insertion and removal of the items to be laundered, and the direction of travel of the drum is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the drum.
• the laundry apparatus further comprises a liquid retention means at least partially surrounding the receptacle and the liquid retention means is provided with a port through which an end portion of the drum may reversibly travel between a first withdrawn position and a second extended position, that port being aligned with the corresponding port in the side wall.
• FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a washing appliance according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a washing appliance according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 3 is a schematic side view of a heat exchanger for use in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 4 is a schematic side view of a reservoir and motor of a washing appliance according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
• a washing apparatus 2 (generally referred to hereafter in this embodiment as a washing machine although it will be appreciated that the apparatus may equally be an alternative washing apparatus that uses heated water, such as a dishwasher) has a drum 4 for washing laundry and a reservoir 6 located proximal to the washing machine 2.
• the reservoir 6 is arranged to receive and retain water ready for a subsequent washing cycle of the washing machine 2.
• Water in the reservoir 6 may, in its simplest form, be heated by the ambient temperature when the walls of the reservoir 6 act as a heat exchanger.
• a heat exchange means 10 having an inlet for receiving a fluid flow, such as liquid or gas from one or more of a solar panel or collector 9, a second appliance, such as a tumble dryer, fridge, dishwasher or bath 11, and/or thirdly a means to receive waste energy from the motor 13 of the washing machine 2.
• a fluid flow such as liquid or gas from one or more of a solar panel or collector 9, a second appliance, such as a tumble dryer, fridge, dishwasher or bath 11, and/or thirdly a means to receive waste energy from the motor 13 of the washing machine 2.
• a fluid flow such as liquid or gas from one or more of a solar panel or collector 9
• a second appliance such as a tumble dryer, fridge, dishwasher or bath 11
• a heat exchange means 10 may be beneficially provided which is arranged to receive energy from, for example, a solar panel 9, the outlet of an appliance such as a dishwasher 11, or the heat energy from the motor 13 of the washing machine 2.
• the appliance such as the dishwasher 11
• waste hot air from the drying cycle of the dishwasher or the waste warm water from the dishwasher is transferred through conduit 15 and through inlet 12 into the heat exchange means 10.
• the heat exchange means is simply the wall of the reservoir 6 and the warm waste water or gas from, for example, the dishwasher passes across the wall of the reservoir and through the outlet 17, thereby having a heating effect of the water within the reservoir 6.
• More complex arrangements are envisaged, such as a conduit extending into the reservoir through which the warm water or gas passes, as described in more detail below.
• the aim of a heat exchanger is to maximise the surface area between the wall of the flowing gas or warm fluid and the water in the reservoir. Resistance to flow should be minimised.
• Alternative heat exchangers are envisaged, such as a plate heat exchanger which comprises a plurality of thin slightly separated plates having a very large surface area and fluid flow passage for heat transfer through which the gas or warm waste liquid can pass. It would be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that numerous alternative embodiments of heat exchanges suitable for heating the liquid in the reservoir can be envisaged.
• a separate reservoir 6 is provided which may therefore be retrofit to appliances, such as dishwashers or washing machines that presently heat water for use.
• This reservoir could be provided to fit within, adjacent to or remote from, the washing appliance.
• FIG. 2 there is a simplified exemplary embodiment of the present invention comprising a washing machine 2 having a drum 4 for washing laundry and a reservoir 6, the tank 6 being arranged to additionally act as ballasting means for the washing machine, which may be provided with one or more interconnecting hollow containers of a strong, light material (not shown).
• the reservoir in the embodiment as indicated in Figure 2 acts as a ballast to a washing machine thereby assisting in stabilisation during rotation of the drum which especially occurs at high speeds or when the load is out of balance.
• the water ballast may be, in addition to or in place of, a traditional steel or concrete ballast.
• the ballast reservoir 6 is filled on installation and this water, either partially or fully, is pumped out into the drum and used in the washing sequence.
• This quantity of water is then automatically replenished to the reservoir 6 once the wash fill has taken place.
• the reservoir 6 is therefore always full before the washing sequence takes place to give maximum stability and also enables the maximum temperature rise to occur.
• This water ballast (in reservoir 6) can negate the requirement for steel or concrete ballasts.
• a heating means (not shown) which may be provided in or adjacent to reservoir 6 which is arranged to heat cold water for use during a wash cycle.
• a channel 8 enabling fluid flow between the reservoir 6 and drum 4.
• a heat exchanger 10 which is arranged and configured to be in fluid communication with the reservoir 6 and arranged to enable heat transfer between a remote apparatus and the water within the reservoir 6.
• the heat exchanger 10 comprises an inlet 12.
• the inlet 12 may be connected to any apparatus, and the present invention is not limited in this regard.
• suitable apparatus may be a bath, an air-conditioning unit, a tumble dryer etc.
• Such apparatus are commonly found in a home and, as such, may easily be linked to the heat exchanger 10.
• the invention is also not limited to this environment and may also be used on a commercial basis.
• hot waste water from the wash cycle may be channelled through inlet 12 to heat exchanger 10. Eventually, this heated bath water will flow directly into the drainage system. However, if this water flows to the heat exchanger and thereby conducts heat energy to water in the reservoir 6, some of the heat energy that otherwise would be wasted is extracted from the waste flow. Once the heat energy has been extracted, the waste water is then allowed to either flow to the drain or, alternatively, may be filtered and cleaned for other purposes. Alternatively, if the waste energy received from the other apparatus is in the form of hot vapour from a tumble dryer, heat may be extracted from this vapour in the same way.
• the laundry apparatus may be controlled such that laundry is placed in the drum 4 and, when the water within the reservoir 6 has reached sufficient temperature, the laundry apparatus may start automatically. This would provide a significant energy benefit over prior art arrangements, as significant energy must be used to heat the water for washing the laundry.
• a second embodiment of the present invention may remove the requirement for the reservoir 6 and simply enable heat exchange between the cold water inlet to the drum 4 and waste energy from another appliance. It will be appreciated, however, that such a system is not as efficient as defined above by utilising a reservoir 6.
• the heat exchanger is arranged to extend between a motor of the laundry appliance and the reservoir for holding the water for use in the washing appliance.
• the heat exchanger may be constructed of any suitable heat conducting material, such as a metal and, beneficially, an aluminium alloy.
• the heat exchanger may be a solid piece of metal, or alternatively may comprise a fluid therein for effective heat transfer.
• the water in the reservoir may access into the heat exchanger and flow to the motor casing for effective heat transfer.
• the heat exchanger can be arranged such that the exchanger extends between the motor and the water inlet into the laundry appliance, it will be appreciated, however, that the heating effects associated with heating water in a reservoir is likely to be more effective than heating water as it flows from a mains tap to the appliance.
• the heat exchanger 20 having a first end 22 arranged to communicate with a motor (not shown) such that the maximum amount of heat energy is extracted from the motor as it runs.
• the heat exchanger 20 may be connected to the motor by any means including screw type mechanisms or a conductive adhesive material 24, for example.
• the heat exchanger 20 further comprises a neck portion 26 arranged to extend through an aperture located through a wall of a reservoir which may be arranged to act as a ballast for the appliance.
• the neck portion 26 may not extend through the wall of the reservoir.
• the second portion 28 of the heat exchanger may simply contact the outer wall of the reservoir.
• the second portion 28 extends into the reservoir and comprises a plurality of protrusions thereon arranged to conduct the greatest possible amount of heat energy to the water in the reservoir. It will be appreciated that any number of heat exchangers may be used as necessary to act to transfer the greatest degree of heat energy available from the motor.
• FIG. 4 an exemplary embodiment of part of a laundry appliance is schematically shown including the motor 40 and tank 6.
• the motor 40 is arranged to power the action of the drum 4 during the wash cycle.
• the heat exchangers 20 as schematically shown and arranged to provide a heat sink for transferring the heat energy from the motor into the first portion 22, through the neck portion 26 and into the second portion 28 in which water is located such that heat energy can be conducted from a second portion 28 to the water, thereby raising the associated temperature.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Textile Engineering (AREA)
• Detail Structures Of Washing Machines And Dryers (AREA)
• Washing And Drying Of Tableware (AREA)
• Heat-Exchange Devices With Radiators And Conduit Assemblies (AREA)
• Heat-Pump Type And Storage Water Heaters (AREA)

Priority Applications (8)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=40019893

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (11)

Cited By (1)

Families Citing this family (3)

Citations (4)

Family Cites Families (3)

• 2008
  • 2008-10-02 GB GBGB0817992.1A patent/GB0817992D0/en not_active Ceased
• 2009
  • 2009-10-01 KR KR1020117009861A patent/KR20110084889A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2009-10-01 EA EA201100573A patent/EA201100573A1/ru unknown
  • 2009-10-01 JP JP2011529633A patent/JP2012504447A/ja active Pending
  • 2009-10-01 US US13/122,224 patent/US20110179830A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2009-10-01 EP EP09785717A patent/EP2350373A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2009-10-01 CN CN200980143440XA patent/CN102203339A/zh active Pending
  • 2009-10-01 WO PCT/GB2009/051289 patent/WO2010038074A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2009-10-01 AU AU2009299613A patent/AU2009299613A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2009-10-01 BR BRPI0920774A patent/BRPI0920774A2/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2011
  • 2011-05-05 ZA ZA2011/03242A patent/ZA201103242B/en unknown

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