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 
  • D06F39/08—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
  • D06F58/00—Domestic laundry dryers
  • D06F58/20—General details of domestic laundry dryers 
  • D06F58/22—Lint collecting 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
  • A47L15/4214—Water supply, recirculation or discharge arrangements; Devices therefor
  • A47L15/4219—Water recirculation
• • 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 
  • D06F58/24—Condensing arrangements

Definitions

• the invention relates to a home appliance, in particular to a laundry treatment apparatus, a dish washer, a dryer or a washing machine, comprising a liquid guiding device.
• WO 2009/077291 Al discloses a laundry treatment apparatus comprising a cleaning device for cleaning a component (e.g. a heat exchanger) of the laundry treatment apparatus from fluff (or lint).
• the cleaning unit has a rinsing unit by means of which rinsing fluid can be conducted to the component for removing fluff wherein the rinsing unit has a flow element which is disposed above the component and is configured for building up of dynamic pressure of the rinsing fluid in the flow element. It is an object of the invention to provide a cost-efficient home appliance which keeps a component of the appliance and/or a predefined location of the appliance free from fluff or lint.
• a home appliance in particular a laundry treatment apparatus, a dish washer, a dryer or a washing machine, comprises a liquid guiding device having an inlet and an outlet.
• the liquid guiding device is adapted to guide liquid from the inlet to the outlet wherein the outlet is adapted to direct the liquid to a component (e.g. a heat exchanger) of the appliance and/or to a predefined location of the appliance.
• the liquid guiding device defines a cross section area constituting a liquid passage area for guiding the liquid. This cross section area has an increasing first cross section dimension and a decreasing second cross section dimension along the flow direction from the inlet to the outlet in a way such that the cross section area is not decreasing from the inlet to the outlet, i.e.
• the cross section area can be configured constant or increasing or slightly increasing along the flow direction. Due to enlarging of the first cross section dimension and narrowing of the second cross section dimension it is possible to adapt the geometry of the outlet of the liquid guiding device to the geometry of the component or the predefined or dedicated location to be cleaned. Thus, the exiting liquid spray is distributable such that the component or the predefined location can be evenly cleaned. Furthermore, the enlarging and narrowing cross section dimensions support a simple and space-saving integration or arrangement of the liquid guiding device within the home appliance, particularly in or at a basement of the home appliance. The inventors have found that the specific shape of the conduit allows to minimize the liquid pressure drop thereby enhancing the liquid flow rate and the evenly distribution of the cleaning liquid at the outlet.
• the geometry of the cross section area along the flow direction is configured to avoid a build-up of dynamic pressure of the liquid within the liquid guiding device. Bottlenecks are also avoided between the inlet and outlet. Thus, manufacturing of a cost-saving simple geometric construction of the liquid guiding device is supported. Furthermore, such a geometry of the cross section area allows a reduced flow resistance of the liquid thus a lower pumping power is required. Since there is a reduced or no flow restriction, a higher/greater liquid flow rate is possible.
• the change of the cross section area between the inlet and outlet is designed such that the liquid dynamic pressure and/or the liquid velocity does not change or at least does not increase along the flow path from the inlet to the outlet. Since the dynamic pressure and the liquid velocity are in a physical relationship, also the liquid velocity is controlled advantageously.
• first and second cross section dimensions are mathematical perpendicular to the main or mean or center liquid flow, i.e. the first and second cross section dimensions are mathematical perpendicular to each other and perpendicular to a mathematical main axis of the liquid flow path.
• the cross section areas of the liquid channel can be defined as planes perpendicular to the main or mean liquid flow direction at each point along the course or line of the mean flow direction. These planes each is spanned by a first cross section dimension which is arranged orthogonal to the liquid flow direction and by a second cross section dimension which is arranged orthogonal to the liquid flow direction and simultaneously orthogonal to the first cross section dimension.
• the cross section area is particularly increasing in the first cross section dimension and is decreasing in the second cross section dimension. This increasing and decreasing occurs in a manner such that the value of the cross section area or liquid passage area is not decreasing from the inlet to the outlet.
• the aforementioned dimensions are lying on a plane that is perpendicular to the main or mean or central liquid flow, and their variation is measured in the sense of the main or o mean or central liquid flow. If one dimension decreases, this variation has to be
• the liquid guiding device is manufactured of a material different from the material of the liquid supply line thus being a separate element from the liquid 5 supply line.
• the liquid guiding device is manufactured by separate molding.
• the process air channel is provided for circulating the process air to and from the treatment chamber in a closed loop.
• the process air channel is used which does not provide a closed circuit and the process air channel guides o the process air to and/or from the treatment chamber with an outlet or inlet of the treatment apparatus cabinet.
• the process air flow is usually driven by a process air blower.
• an outer end section of the outlet of the liquid guiding device is o formed as or at least comprises a deflecting element which is adapted to deflect the liquid at the outlet. This deflecting element even enhances an efficient directing or alignment of the liquid to the component or location to be cleaned by the liquid.
• the liquid guiding device is formed as or at least comprises an expanding 5 element for enabling a liquid flow spatial distribution at the outlet.
• the liquid guiding device is formed as or at least comprises an expanding 5 element for enabling a liquid flow spatial distribution at the outlet.
• the liquid guiding device comprises at least one deflector wall inside its o housing extending towards the outlet region of the liquid guiding device.
• the at least one deflector wall supports an even flow of the liquid towards the outlet region of the liquid guiding device.
• the at least one deflector wall is arranged perpendicular to a plane section of the liquid guiding device spanned by the liquid flow direction and the first cross section dimension.
• the at least one deflector wall is advantageously formed
• the liquid guiding device carries means for generating a whirl flow and turbulences within the liquid flowing towards the surface, component or location 0 to be cleaned.
• These whirl flow means are arranged at the outlet region outside the outlet itself. Liquid flowing out of the outlet passes these whirl flow means thus causing turbulences and whirling within the liquid for an enhanced removing of fluff from the surface, component or location to be cleaned.
• the whirl flow means comprise a row of outlet ribs extending essentially along the flow direction of the liquid after passing5 the outlet.
• at least some of the outlet ribs are arranged equidistant to each other.
• the liquid guiding device is planar or essentially planar from the end region at the inlet to or close to the end region at the outlet regarded in one or two cross-section planes along the main flow direction. In case of two cross-section planes these planes are regarded as perpendicular to each other.
• This planar or essentially 5 planar geometry of the liquid guiding device facilitates a cost-saving manufacturing of the liquid guiding device and its space-saving arrangement within the home appliance.
• the liquid guiding device is formed or is essentially formed of preferably two or of at least two guiding shells. This construction enhances a simple production of the o complete liquid guiding device.
• first and second guiding shells there is preferably foreseen one or more alignment elements which is or are arranged at the first guiding shell or at the second guiding shell or at both guiding shells.
• The5 alignment elements may be of an inter-alignment type and/or an external- alignment type.
• the external- alignment type provides an alignment of the liquid guiding device (before or after assembling the liquid guiding device) the alignment with respect to a component of the home appliance where the liquid guiding device is to be mounted to.
• This alignment offers a mounting guidance for a simple mounting of the liquid guiding device.
• Said o alignment element(s) ensure(s) a precise alignment of the liquid guiding device towards a defined position within the home appliance, e.g. in relationship to a battery channel or to a component to realize precise alignment of exhausted liquid towards said component to be cleaned.
• the inter- alignment type of alignment elements is used to adjust the two or more shells relative to each other during the assembling step for assembling the liquid guiding 5 device.
• an alignment element can be configured as a slot, rim, latch, snap-fit and/or bracket or as a similar element for designing a removable or non-removable connection between the guiding shells.
• the liquid guiding device is formed or is essentially formed of at least two guiding shells and one of the guiding shells is formed in and is a portion of the home appliance cabinet or a portion of a component housing or a portion of a home appliance basement shell.
• This geometric construction offers a space-saving reduced height of the5 liquid guiding device as it serves also as a common wall element of other portions within the home appliance.
• the number of components or the amount of material required is reduced due to double-usage of one of the shells.
• the home appliance comprises an articles treatment chamber and a process air channel for guiding the process air to or from the articles treatment chamber for treating the articles (e.g. laundry or dishes) using the process air.
• the liquid guiding device preferably forms a portion of said
• process air channel an external surface of the liquid guiding device forms a portion of said process air channel enabling a space-saving assembling of the home appliance despite integration of a liquid guiding device.
• process air channel the process air is particularly circulated process air or process air sucked in as o ambient air and exhausted from or to outside the home appliance or home appliance
• one guiding shell forms a portion of a process air channel section wherein said process air channel section is housing at least one heat exchanger and/or is part of a heat 5 pump battery channel and/or is part of a home appliance bottom shell and/or is part of a stationary articles treatment chamber.
• said one guiding shell formed at a process air channel section may be placed at the inside or the outside of the process air o channel such as to provide the liquid guiding device at the interior or the exterior of the process air channel, respectively.
• a portion or the substantial portion of the flow direction extension of the liquid guiding device is extending parallel to a process air channel of the 5 home appliance or parallel to the flow direction within a process air channel.
• the flow direction extension of the liquid guiding device is consistent with a longitudinal extension according to the (center) main liquid flow direction.
• at least X% of the longitudinal extension of the liquid guiding device is parallel to the process air channel, 0 whereby X is one of the values 50, 60, 70, 80 or 90.
• the home appliance is configured as a laundry treatment apparatus, particularly a dryer or a washing machine, wherein said laundry treatment apparatus comprises a laundry treatment chamber for treating laundry using process air, a process air channel5 (which may form a process air circuit for circulating the process air in a closed loop or the process air channel may guide the process air to and/or from the treatment chamber in a vented dryer), and a heat exchanger unit arranged within the process air channel.
• said heat exchanger unit comprises a first heat exchanger adapted to cool the process air and a second heat exchanger adapted to heat the process air.
• the first heat exchanger or the second heat exchanger or both (the first and second) heat exchangers are arranged in a channel section or a battery channel of the process air channel.
• the liquid 5 guiding device is partially formed in and by a section of the channel section or the battery channel thus allowing a compact construction of the laundry treatment apparatus.
• the said channel section is arranged at an upper shell of a basement of the laundry treatment device or the said channel section is formed in said o upper shell thus facilitating mounting the parts of the laundry treatment apparatus.
• the component to be cleaned is a heat exchanger or a fluff filter and the outlet of the liquid guiding device is designed to clean at least a portion of the heat exchanger or at least a portion of the fluff filter by directing the liquid or liquid spray5 thereto in its cleaning operation.
• the liquid or liquid spray is directed to the front side or process air entrance face of a heat exchanger or of a fluff filter to ensure an efficient cleaning of the component desired to be cleaned.
• the inlet and outlet of the liquid guiding device are arranged in alignment in o such a manner that the design of the liquid guiding device is made symmetrically with regard to a symmetry axis lying in a cross section plane along the mean or main liquid flow direction.
• the design of the liquid guiding device is configured asymmetrically with 5 regard to said cross section plane along the mean or main liquid flow direction.
• the center of the inlet and outlet of the liquid guiding device are not in alignment along the mean or main liquid flow direction.
• the home appliance comprises more than one liquid 0 guiding device each having an inlet and outlet. Arranging at least two liquid guiding
• control valves upstream the inlets of the liquid guiding devices. Controlling the at least one control valve allows a cleaning of a partial portion of a component or predefined location by only one liquid guiding device if desired or necessary.
• Fig. 2 a perspective view of a liquid guiding device according to a first embodiment
• Fig. 3 a perspective view of a liquid guiding device according to a second embodiment
• Fig. 4 a sectional side view of the liquid guiding device according to Fig. 2,
• Fig. 5 a sectional side view of the liquid guiding device according to Fig. 3,
• Fig. 6 a detail of Fig. 5, showing the outlet region
• Fig. 9 a sectional side view of the outlet region according to a further embodiment
• Fig. 10 a sectional side view of the outlet region according to a further embodiment
• Fig. 12 a sectional side view of the outlet region comprising a deflecting element
• Fig. 13 a sectional side view of the outlet region comprising a deflecting element according to a second embodiment
• Fig. 14 a bottom view of the liquid guiding device according to a further embodiment
• Fig. 21 a sectional side view of the upper shell according to Fig. 20,
• the liquid guiding device 41 guides liquid through a liquid channel 57 from the inlet 52 to the outlet 54.
• a mean or main flow of liquid along the device 41 is indicated.
• the liquid guiding device 41 can be denoted or considered as liquid channel.
• the liquid guiding device has an inner hollow space which - in operation - is filled by the flowing liquid from the inlet 52 to the outlet 54. The inner space is restricted by the inner surfaces of the walls formed by the device 41.
• the cross section areas C (CI..5) - which constitute a liquid passage area respectively - of the liquid channel 57 can be defined as planes perpendicular to the main or mean liquid flow direction 56 at each point along the course or line of the mean flow direction. These planes each is spanned by a first cross section dimension Dl which is arranged orthogonal to the liquid flow direction 56 and by a second cross section dimension D2 which is arranged orthogonal to the liquid flow direction 56 and
• the outlet region 54 comprises a slit 58 with preferably or substantially rectangular cross section (Fig. 2, Fig. 5).
• the slit 58 conforms to a nozzle outlet 60 of a nozzle 62.
• the nozzle 62 comprises a nozzle inlet 64.
• the nozzle 62 is part of the whole liquid guiding device 41. It can be constituted monolithic or unitary with the liquid guiding device 41. Alternatively, nozzle 62 is connectable as an originally separate part to the rest of the liquid guiding device 41 during the assembly of the apparatus 2.
• Fig. 13 shows a wall-like or roof-like deflecting element 66 according to a further embodiment.
• the deflecting element 66 is again directed in a plane approximately perpendicular to the origin liquid flow direction 56. It extends downwards beyond the outlet region 54 of the liquid guiding device 41 and is arranged at the end of an outlet bar 68 extending along the original liquid flow direction 56.
• this nozzle 62 forms an outlet 54 with liquid flow expanding and deflecting function.
• a liquid guiding device 41 forms a closing or wall element when inserting the assembled (complete) liquid guiding device 41 (Fig. 25) in a further assembling step in a wall opening 82 of the battery channel 20a.
• the process air channel 20 is automatically closed, covered and particularly sealed at the wall opening 82 during assembling the liquid guiding device 41.
• the opening 82 is closed by the device 41.
• the process air flow B through the battery channel 20a is parallel but opposite to the main flow 56 of the liquid through the extended or most part of the liquid guiding device 41.

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

Priority Applications (4)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=46939584

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Cited By (14)

Families Citing this family (10)

Citations (8)

Family Cites Families (1)

• 2012
  • 2012-09-14 EP EP12184363.5A patent/EP2708636A1/en not_active Withdrawn
• 2013
  • 2013-09-06 CN CN201380047595.XA patent/CN104704158B/zh active Active
  • 2013-09-06 AU AU2013314455A patent/AU2013314455A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2013-09-06 PL PL13758895T patent/PL2895650T3/pl unknown
  • 2013-09-06 EP EP13758895.0A patent/EP2895650B1/en active Active
  • 2013-09-06 WO PCT/EP2013/068494 patent/WO2014040923A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (8)

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