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
  • D06F58/00—Domestic laundry dryers
  • D06F58/20—General details of domestic laundry dryers 
  • D06F58/22—Lint collecting arrangements

Definitions

• the invention relates to a clothes treatment appliance, including a process air condenser and a water container connected to a transfer pipe leading to a water-cleanable unit of the clothes treatment appliance.
• a typical clothes dryer (as such or as a washer-dryer in combination with a washing function) includes a laundry or clothes container (e.g. a rotatable clothes drum) that is con- nected to an air inlet and an air outlet of a process air channel.
• a laundry or clothes container e.g. a rotatable clothes drum
• Warm air entering the clothes container via the air inlet of the process channel dries the clothes or laundry.
• the resulting warm and wet process air leaves the clothes container through the air outlet of the process air channel and flows to a process air condenser that cools the process air.
• the humidity contained by the process air precipitates.
• the process air is cool and dry and flows to a heater that heats up the process air to be warm and dry. This warm and dry process air is then re-introduced into the clothes container via the air inlet.
• an air blower may be used to keep up the flow of the process air.
• solid residues, especially fluffs and hair are released by the clothes and are dragged along with the process air.
• the fluffs and hair etc. adhere to the precipitated drops of condensate water and at least partly stick to the condenser if the water drops drip from the condenser, typically into a condensate collector, the so called collection pan.
• the condensation unit is going to be rinsed in appropriate sequences.
• the removal of the agglomerations is realized by issuing a water gush where the water is released from a water container above the condenser and flows through a vertical transfer pipe that directs the water to the condenser.
• EP 2 134 896 B1 and WO 2010/102892 A1 both disclose a cleaning device as described with the water container in an upper region of the drying appliance and the condensation unit in a lower region of the drying appliance.
• the water container is supplied by condensate water collected from the condenser.
• the realization of the described set-ups above is complex. It affords several components and is associated with considerable cost for material and assembly.
• a clothes treatment appliance including a water container con- nected to a transfer pipe leading to a water-cleanable unit of the clothes treatment appliance wherein the clothes treatment appliance further includes a water accelerator.
• the water container is typically positioned above the water-cleanable unit such that water released into the transfer pipe can create a water gush at a lower outlet of the transfer pipe to clean the water-cleanable unit.
• the energy and momentum of the water is mainly dependent on the gravitational potential energy of the water and thus on the height of the water container relative to the condenser unit.
• the clothes treatment appliance further includes a water accelerator.
• the water accelerator also enables the application of a shorter transfer pipe in any geometrical arrangement and thus a more flexible design and/or a more compact set-up.
• the water-cleanable unit may be a process air condenser.
• the water-cleanable unit may e.g. be a process air filter, in particular if it is positioned between a clothes container (e.g. drum) of the clothes treatment appliance and the process air condenser.
• the filter may be a lint (fluff, hair etc.) filter.
• the water accelerator includes a pressure generator for generating pressure in the transfer pipe.
• the pressure increases the energy and momentum of the water leaving the transfer pipe.
• the pressure generator may have a particularly simple and rugged design or set-up. Also, use of the pressure generator enables a fast- responding build-up (and relaxation) in pressure of the water and thus a precise control of the water gush momentum and energy.
• the pressure generator includes an inlet for a pressurized medium.
• the pressurized medium may, e.g., be pressurized process air tapped or bypassed from a process air channel, pressurized air generated by a compressor, steam provided by a steam generator, main (tap) water and/or water output by a pump.
• the inlet is connected to the pressure generator to drive the pressure generator.
• the pressure generator could also be called a pressure transfer device.
• the inlet is directly connected to the transfer pipe to directly transfer the pressure to the transfer pipe.
• the pressure generator providing the pressurized medium may be part of the pressure generator, e.g. a valve connected to a tap or main water line, an air compressor, a steam generator and so on.
• an outlet of the transfer pipe is shaped as a Venturi noz- zle that is connected to the inlet for the pressurized medium.
• the Venturi nozzle may be integrated into the transfer pipe or may be an attachment to an existing transfer pipe.
• the transfer pipe may have a nozzle / nozzle-like means at another position, e.g. in a midsection.
• the Venturi nozzle may be regarded as a pressure generator.
• the pressure generator includes a compression chamber connected to the transfer pipe downstream a valve for controlling a water flow from the water container into the transfer pipe and wherein the compression chamber includes a mechanical device for controllably changing a volume of the compression chamber. This enables a particular high pressure.
• the mechanical device may, e.g., include a piston or a deformable membrane.
• the membrane may be made of rubber, etc.
• the piston may be pushed in the direction of the transfer pipe to reduce the volume available for the water e.g. by pressure (pressured air, steam or water).
• the compression chamber may be regarded as a pressure transfer device.
• the membrane may in particular be pushed in the direction of the transfer pipe by pressure to reduce the volume available for the water e.g. by pressure (pressured air, steam or water).
• the mechanical device may be moved or driven by a motor (electric motor, hydraulic motor and so on), in particular if the mechanical device is a piston.
• a motor electric motor, hydraulic motor and so on
• the compression chamber is a section of the transfer pipe. This enables an easy assembly and, particularly, a compact design. It is generally advantageous that the pressure generator is connected to the transfer pipe downstream (with respect to the water coming from the water container) a valve for controlling a water flow from the water container into the transfer pipe. This prevents a spill- back of the water into the water container and maintains the pressure in the transfer pipe if this valve is closed.
• the clothes treatment appliance may e.g. include a controller (for example a microcontroller) for controlling the valve and the water accelerator.
• the valve may be a controlled / active valve or be a passive valve like a flap or a back-pressure valve etc.
• the valve may, e.g., be integrated with an outlet of the water tank, be located between the water tank and the transfer pipe, or be integrated with the transfer pipe.
• the pressure generator includes a steam generator for generating steam as the pressurized medium and wherein a steam outlet of the steam generator is connected to the transfer pipe downstream a valve for controlling a water flow from the water container into the transfer pipe.
• the use of a steam generator may enable a particularly compact design.
• the steam generator may include an electric heater.
• the electric heater may be connected to the transfer pipe, in particular, at a position of the transfer pipe below the connection to its steam outlet.
• the water accelerator includes an impeller within the transfer pipe.
• the rotation of the impeller pushes the water in the direction of the outlet of the transfer pipe.
• the clothes treatment appliance is adapted to apply a water hammer effect (shock wave) on the water in the transfer pipe.
• the water hammer effect may in particular include a modulation of the pressure of the water leaving the transfer pipe.
• the modulation may, in particular, include a series of pressure pulses or spikes, in particular, a periodic series.
• the water hammer effect enhances the cleaning effectiveness even further.
• the water hammer effect is achieved by modulating a pressure generated by the pressure generator.
• the transfer pipe includes a closing device downstream of the water accelerator for periodically opening and closing the transfer pipe. Thus, the closing device may generate a series of pressure pulses or spikes in a simple manner.
• the closing device may include a rotating chopper.
• the rotating chopper may be operated by a motor.
• the rotating chopper has a cylinder-shaped body which has a through- hole perpendicular to its longitudinal axis.
• the through-hole is alternatingly aligned parallel to the transfer pipe (and then fully opens the transfer pipe) and perpendicular to the transfer pipe (and then closes the transfer pipe).
• the longitudinal axis of the chopper may in particular be oriented per- pendicular to a longitudinal axis of the transfer pipe, e.g. horizontally.
• the chopper may be fixed to the transfer pipe by a pivot bearing.
• the rotating chopper has a disc-shaped body ('rotor') which has one or more through-holes parallel to its longitudinal axis. If there is more than one through-hole, they are advantageously located concentrically around a longitudinal axis of the chopper.
• a distance between the through-holes is such that the transfer pipe is alternatingly opened and closed by the rotation rotor.
• the plane of the disc-shaped rotor (perpendicular to the longitudinal axis) is oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the transfer pipe, e.g. horizontally, and the longitudinal axis is oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the transfer pipe.
• the chopper has two disc-shaped bodies, both of which have one or more through-holes.
• the two disc-shaped bodies may in particular have the same or a very similar shape and a same location and size of the through-hole.
• At least one body is rotatable ('rotor'), or e.g. both bodies are rotatable but in a different direction.
• This chopper may be placed within the transfer pipe.
• the through-holes of the two discs alternatingly overlap or are misaligned and thus leave the transfer pipe open or close the transfer pipe , respectively.
• the clothes treatment appliance may in particular be a clothes drying appliance, e.g. a clothes dryer or a washer-dryer.
• the clothes treatment appliance may in particular be a household appliance.
• Fig.1 shows a sectional side view of a household drying appliance including a water accelerator
• Fig.2 shows a sectional side view of one embodiment of the water accelerator
• Fig.3 shows a sectional side view of another embodiment of the water accelerator
• Fig.4 shows a sectional side view of yet another embodiment of the water accelerator
• Fig.5 shows a sectional side view of even another embodiment of the water accelerator
• Fig.6 shows a sectional side view of a chopper for creating a water hammer effect
• Fig.7 shows a bottom view of another chopper 49 for creating a water hammer effect.
• FIG 1 shows a clothes treatment appliance realized as a household drying appliance 1 1 , in particular a clothes dryer.
• the drying appliance 1 1 includes a clothes container in form of a rotatable clothes drum 12.
• the drum 12 is connected to an air inlet section 13 and an air outlet section 14 of a process air channel 15.
• Warm air entering the drum 12 via the air inlet section 13 can dry the clothes contained in the drum 12.
• the resulting warm and wet process air P leaves the drum 12 through the air outlet section 14 and flows to a process air condenser 16 that cools the process air P.
• the condenser 16 typically has several plate-like cooling blades 17 that are arranged in a parallel fashion (which in the shown drawing are oriented in parallel to and are spaced apart perpendicular to the viewing plane).
• the condenser 16 and its cooling blades 17, respectively, may be cooled by a fluid medium, such as, for example, water.
• a fluid medium such as, for example, water.
• the condenser may be embodied as a water/air heat exchanger.
• the process air condenser 16 may be an evaporator of a heat pump, e.g. a com pressor- type heat pump.
• the process air P is cool and dry and is moved by an appropriate device (for example a fan) to a heater 18 that heats up the process air P to be warm and dry.
• the heater 18 may be, e.g., an electric heater, or a condenser of a heat pump.
• This warm and dry process air P is then re-introduced into the drum 12 via the air inlet section 13.
• an air blower 19 is used to keep up the flow of the process air P.
• a condensate collector 20 e.g. a pan.
• the condensate collector 20 may be integrated in the process air channel 15, e.g. as a bottom of a section of the process air channel 15. From the condensate collector 20, the condensate C is pumped by a pump 21 to a water container 22 located above the condenser 16. A bottom region of the water container 22 is connected to a transfer pipe 23 that leads to the condenser 16.
• a controllable valve 24 that, if opened, allows the condensate C stored in the water container 22 to enter an upper inlet of the transfer pipe 23, flow through the transfer pipe 23, and leave a lower outlet 25 of the transfer pipe 23 as a water gush.
• the transfer pipe 23 is directed such, and the outlet 25 is positioned such that the water gush can clean the condenser 16, in particular cooling blades 17 of the condenser 16.
• the condenser 16 is thus a water-cleanable unit.
• the water-cleanable unit may e.g. be a process air filter 26, in particular if positioned between the drum 12 and the condenser 16.
• the household drying appliance 1 1 also includes a water accelerator 27 to accelerate the water leaving the transfer pipe 23 and thus to increase to momentum / energy of the water gush and thus to enhance cleaning effectiveness.
• Figure 2 shows a sectional side view of one embodiment of the water accelerator 27.
• the water accelerator 27 includes a Venturi nozzle 28 at the outlet 25 of the transfer pipe 23.
• the Venturi nozzle 28 includes an inlet 29 for pressurized medium M, e.g. pressurized air, steam or water.
• the pressurized medium M is used in a well-known manner to create the Venturi effect and to accelerate the condensate C leaving the outlet 25.
• the Venturi noz- zle 28 may be integrated into the transfer pipe 23 or may be an attachment to the transfer pipe 23.
• FIG 3 shows a sectional side view of another embodiment of the water accelerator 27.
• the water accelerator 27 includes a pressure generator 30 for generating pressure in the transfer pipe 31 by a compression chamber 32.
• the compression chamber 32 is located downstream from the valve 24 and is realized as a section 33 of the transfer pipe 31.
• the compression chamber 32 is divided into two parts 32a, 32b, namely a first part 32a containing the condensate C coming from the water container 22 and a second part 32b not containing the condensate C.
• the compression chamber 32 further includes a mechanical device in the form of a movable piston 34 that acts as a partition means for the two parts 32a and 32b. Movement of the piston 34 controllably changes a volume of the compression chamber 32 (in particular its first part 32a).
• the second part 32b includes an inlet 35 for a pressure providing medium M that can be opened and closed by a valve 36.
• a spring 37 is located in the second part 32b that pushes the piston 34 in the direction of the first part 32a.
• the valve 24 opens and lets the condensate C flow into the transfer pipe 31 .
• the valve 36 opens such that the second part 32b is pressurized (e.g. by an influx of pressurized process air P or tap water) and moves the piston 34 in the direction of the first part 32a. This reduces a volume of the first part 32a and increases pressure of the condensate C.
• the transfer pipe 31 may have another valve 53 (see figure 4) downstream from the compression chamber 32.
• the valve 53 is closed when the valve 24 is open and may open after the valve 36 has opened and the piston 34 has been moved, or a little later or earlier. Therefore, the piston 34 acts on a contained condensate C that cannot leave the transfer pipe 31 during pressure build-up. After the gush the piston 34 can be removed to initial position. This can be realized by a pulling spiral spring 37 which contracts after pressure release.
• the piston 34 can be moved by a mechanical or electromechanical device (a linear motor for example).
• FIG 4 shows a sectional side view of yet another embodiment of the water accelerator 27 including a steam generator 38 as a pressure generator for generating steam as the pressurized or pressurizing medium.
• the steam generator 38 includes an electric heater 39, an outlet of which is connected to a steam inlet 40 for the steam.
• the steam inlet 40 is also located downstream the valve 24.
• the transfer pipe 31 also shows the valve 53 downstream the inlet 40 for the steam (here at the outlet 25 of pressure container 41 ).
• the valve 24 is open to feed the condensate C into the pressure container 41 while the valve 53 is closed.
• An opening duration of the valve 24 is such that a water level of the condensate C filling the pressure container 41 is lower than the inlet 40 for the steam.
• valve 24 is closed such that the pressure container 41 provides a pressure-tight container for the condensate.
• the electric heater 39 is activated and generates steam as the pressurizing medium M.
• a steam atmosphere builds up above the water level in the pressure container 41 and generates pressure.
• the valve 53 is opened, and the condensate C can leave the transfer pipe 41 with increased speed. After that, the process may be repeated.
• the electric heater 39 To feed the electric heater 39 with water, it is connected by a feed channel 54 to the transfer pipe 41 , at a position below the inlet 40 and below the water level.
• the steam generator 38 does not need to have a separate water feed and may only produce pressurized steam M if there is condensate C in the pressure container 41.
• Figure 5 shows a sectional side view of another embodiment of the water accelerator 27 including an impeller 43 within the transfer pipe 23.
• the rotation of impeller 43 pushes the water in the direction of the outlet 25 of the transfer pipe 23.
• Figure 6 shows a sectional side view of a rotating chopper 45 for creating a water hammer effect.
• the rotating chopper 45 is part of a closing device 44 for periodically opening and closing the transfer pipe 46.
• the closing device 44 may generate a series of pressure pulses or spikes of the pressure of the condensate C leaving the transfer pipe 46 in a simple manner.
• the rotating chopper 45 has a disc-shaped body ('rotor') which has at least one through- hole 47 perpendicular to its longitudinal axis L. If there is more than one through-hole 47, they can be located concentrically around the longitudinal axis L.
• the through- hole 47 is alternatingly placed within the transfer pipe 46 (and then opens the transfer pipe 46) or outside the transfer pipe 46 (such that the chopper 45 closes the transfer pipe 46).
• a diameter of the through-hole 47 may correspond to a diameter of the transfer pipe 46 at the cut-out 48, or may be slightly smaller to increase a sealing property.
• Figure 7 shows a bottom view of a closing device 42 including another chopper 49 for creating a water hammer effect.
• This chopper 49 has two disc-shaped bodies 50 and 51 .
• the bodies 50 and 51 are concentrically aligned and are only shown offset for easier description of the chopper 49.
• the bodies 50 and 51 are of the same shape and have several through-holes 52.
• the through-holes 52 are shaped like angular sectors of a ring. Of the two disc-shaped bodies 50 and 51 , only one body 50 or 51 is rotatable.
• This chopper 49 is placed within the transfer pipe .
• the through-holes 52 of the bodies 50 and 51 alternatingly overlap and are misaligned and thus open or close the transfer pipe, respectively.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Textile Engineering (AREA)
• Detail Structures Of Washing Machines And Dryers (AREA)
• Jet Pumps And Other Pumps (AREA)

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Cited By (11)

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Citations (3)

Family Cites Families (10)

• 2012
  • 2012-05-11 US US13/469,136 patent/US20130255094A1/en not_active Abandoned
• 2013
  • 2013-03-15 WO PCT/IB2013/052079 patent/WO2013144764A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2013-03-15 EP EP13721072.0A patent/EP2831332B1/en active Active
  • 2013-03-15 PL PL13721072.0T patent/PL2831332T3/pl unknown

Patent Citations (3)

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