WO2016034220A1

WO2016034220A1 - Laundry drying machine with improved thermal efficiency as well as reduced noise profile

Info

Publication number: WO2016034220A1
Application number: PCT/EP2014/068719
Authority: WO
Inventors: Onur Ozdemir; Can Sar; Bora Abdik; Ahmet METIN; Bulent AKYUZ
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2014-09-03
Filing date: 2014-09-03
Publication date: 2016-03-10
Also published as: EP3189183A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a laundry drying machine (1) effecting drying of the laundry placed in a drum (2), comprising a front door (5) allowing access into the drum (2) being installed in a tub, an air circulation duct (18) by means of which circulation of processing air is effected for drying of the laundry in the drum (2), a processing air fan (3) providing circulation of the processing air and a closure device (10) provided along an intermediate section between the processing air fan (3) and at least one drum opening through which heated processing air is circulated into the drum (2).

Description

LAUNDRY DRYING MACHINE WITH IMPROVED THERMAL EFFICIENCY AS WELL AS REDUCED NOISE PROFILE

The present invention relates to a laundry drying machine comprising a processing air fan in air connection with the drum effecting drying of the laundry. The present invention more specifically relates to a closure arrangement helping eliminating heat losses and providing reduced noise operation during the operation of said processing air fan.

A heat pump laundry dryer having a condensing unit, typically has a closed cycle drying process. The heat pump used for drying the laundry is composed of the compressor that moves the refrigerant fluid and heat sinks named as evaporator and condenser.

The laundry-drying process is performed by passing hot and dry air over the laundry. The refrigerant condenser disposed in the heat pump functions as a heater and the refrigerant evaporator functions as a condenser. Humid air leaving the laundry leaves its moisture while passing over the refrigerant evaporator that works as a condenser and warms while passing over the refrigerant condenser that works as a heater. Therefore, the process air is heated while passing through the refrigerant condenser, delivered onto the laundry as being heated and after dehumidifying the laundry, leaves its humidity while passing over the refrigerant evaporator.

In the cycle wherein the refrigerant circulates in flow tubes, the refrigerant that is delivered from the compressor to the condenser with increased pressure and temperature enters the evaporator by passing through the capillary tube, i.e. the expansion valve with decreased pressure.

On the other hand, laundry drying machines with air-cooled condensers carry out the condensation process by using the ambient air in the drying process such that the thermal interaction between the cooling ambient air and the closed cycle air having separate cycles is in question. The cooling air is passed onto the condenser by means of a fan and thus, the moisture in the processing air is condensed by the condenser that is being cooled. In sum, air laden with moisture that comes from over the laundry passes through a processing air channel and is hereby condensed while the latter is being cooled by means of the outer environment air. Finally, after the closed cycle air is dehumidified on the condenser, it is heated by a heater and applied to the drum by being put again into the drying cycle with low relative humidity rate and at high temperature.

Irrespective of whether a heat-pump or air-cooled condenser laundry dryer is in question, the processing air fan circulates the processing air to the drum while heated either by the refrigerant condenser or by the heater. The present invention provides a closure assembly for covering an air path section extending from the processing air fan to the drum such that heat energy losses are reducible and an improved noise profile is obtainable.

A prior art publication in the technical field of the present invention may be referred to as WO2010063760A1 among others, the document disclosing a condensation dryer with a housing comprising a wall area forming a rear side and with a process air circuit for circulating process air, said circuit having a section outside the housing and running along the wall area and being otherwise located inside the housing, there being located in the circuit a fan for circulating the process air and a drying chamber for holding objects to be dried, wherein the section is covered by a hood that is placed in sealing fashion on the wall area. A heat pump with a heat sink thermally coupled to the process air circuit and with a heat source thermally coupled to the process air circuit is disposed in the housing, and the section located at the wall area is formed by a profile part placed on the wall area.

The present invention distinguishes over WO2010063760A1 in that the two-position closure assembly disclosed therein is structurally improved so as to further eliminate heat losses and reduce noise distribution, which is defined by the characterizing features as given in Claim 1.

Primary object of the present invention is hence to provide a laundry drying machine with a closure assembly so as to cover an air path between a processing fan and drum while eliminating heat losses and providing reduced noise operation.

The present invention proposes a laundry drying machine having a rear wall in the vicinity of which a processing air fan effectuates circulation of the heated air into the drum to accumulate moisture from the laundry. As turbulent airflow is present through the air circulation duct intermediate section extending between the processing air fan and the drum’s air inlets, heat insulation and generated noise become important issues to consider.

To this end, a closure device having first and second level closure means improves heat insulation and audible noise properties of the laundry drying machine such that the first level closure means being in direct contact with circulated air is fully covered by said second level closure means while the first level closure means has no connection with the rear wall of the machine. The second level closure means extends to cover a peripheral connection line enclosing inside said first closure means.

The first level closure means is only attached to the second level connection means and it defines outer wall of said intermediate section along which turbulent airflow is present. The fact that the second level closure means is attached to the rear wall of the laundry drying machine at peripheral portions spaced away from the first level closure means provides that no direct heat bridges are generated in the region where turbulent airflow is present, whereby heat losses are prevented. Further, a direct connection would also cause easier transmission of the sound vibrations to the outer environment.

To further enhance the insulation effect, a plurality of peripheral divisions is provided so as to laterally and radially cover the outer chamber between the first and second closure means.

Accompanying drawings are given solely for the purpose of exemplifying a laundry drying machine, whose advantages over prior art were outlined above and will be explained in brief hereinafter.

The drawings are not meant to delimit the scope of protection as identified in the claims nor should they be referred to alone in an effort to interpret the scope identified in said claims without recourse to the technical disclosure in the description of the present invention.

Fig. 1 demonstrates a general perspective view of the laundry drying machine drum and other components according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 demonstrates a general perspective view of the laundry drying machine drum and other components with the closure device being partially cut to show the inner side thereof according to the present invention.

Fig. 3 demonstrates a general perspective view of the laundry drying machine drum and other components cut along a vertical plane according to the present invention.

Fig. 4 demonstrates a general perspective view of the laundry drying machine drum and other components with the closure device being removed according to the present invention.

Fig. 5 demonstrates a general perspective view of the closure device with the first and second level closure means being separated according to the present invention.

The following numerals are assigned to different parts demonstrated in the drawings:

Laundry drying machine
Drum
Processing air fan
Refrigerant condenser
Front door
Refrigerant evaporator
First level closure means
Second level closure means
Air passage wall
Closure device
Rear wall
Outer chamber wall
Peripheralc connection line
Connection points
Outer chamber lateral wall
Peripheral divisions
Separation wall
Air circulation duct

The present invention relates to a laundry drying machine (1) comprising a front door (5) allowing access into a drum (2), installed in said laundry drying machine (1). The laundry drying machine (1) generally comprises a six-sided cabinet with said front door (5) by which one can put the laundry into the drum (2) to be treated.

The laundry drying machine (1) of the invention may comprises an air circulation duct (18) by means of which circulation of the processing air is effected for drying of the laundry in the drum (2). A processing air fan (3) provides circulation of the processing air such that the processing air is condensed by an air-cooled condenser. In this case, the cooling air is taken from an outer air circulation duct (18) by means of an open cycle fan. The cooling air is passed onto the air-cooled condenser to cool the same while a heater placed in the air circulation duct (18) provides the dehumidified processing air coming from the air-cooled condenser to be heated and sent onto the laundry.

Alternatively, the laundry drying machine (1) may comprises a compressor providing the refrigerant cycle in an air circulation duct (18) in a conventional manner meanwhile the processed air is circulated by means of the processing air fan (3). The compressor may typically move the refrigerant fluid such that heat sinks named as the refrigerant evaporator (6) and refrigerant condenser (4) disposed in the heat pump respectively function as a condenser and heater. Further, an expansion valve is conventionally provided between the refrigerant evaporator (6) and the refrigerant condenser (4), being disposed in fluid communication with the latter two in the refrigerant line.

According to the present invention, irrespective of whether a heat-pump or air-cooled condenser laundry drier is in question, a closure device (10) provides that the intermediate section between the processing air fan (3) and at least one drum opening through which heated processing air is circulated into the drum (2) is covered as delineated hereinafter.

The closure device (10) of the invention has a first level closure means (7) in the form of an air passage wall (9) which is in direct contact with the circulated air and a second level closure means (8) fully covering said first level closure means (7) as well as a peripheral surface portion surrounding the first level closure means (7). The first level closure means (7) being not connected to any rear wall (11) portion, it is directly attached to said second level closure means (8) such that it defines the outer wall of said intermediate section without any mechanical connection with the rear wall (11) or other parts of the laundry drying machine (1). The second level closure means (8), on the other hand, conventionally provides an outer chamber wall (12) defining an outer chamber acting as an insulation chamber. This outer chamber may be provided with an insulating layer for shielding against heat and/or sound.

The first level closure means (7) therefore provides an advantageous connection structure by which no direct thermal bridge is created between the laundry drying machine (1) and the first level closure means (7). This is important because the turbulent nature of the processing air in this intermediate section gives rise to heat losses and the first level closure means (7) being in direct contact with the processing air throughout the entire intermediate section would otherwise help creating thermal bridges to lose heat energy.

Therefore, as the first level closure means (7) itself is only attached to the second level closure means (8), and the latter is attached to the rear wall (11) at peripheral portions spaced away from the first level closure means (7), an improved connection structure is obtained in terms of avoiding thermal bridges. Therefore, the second level closure means (8) is fastened to the rear wall (11) at connection points (14) extending through a peripheral connection line (13) falling outside the area defined by the surface projection of the first level closure means (7) onto the rear wall (11).

The turbulent nature of the circulated processing air has also a prominent role in creating audible noise. The structural arrangement of the present invention is also effective in helping reducing noise distribution in the worked region. As explained above, the first level closure means (7) itself is not directly connected to the main body of the laundry drying machine containing the movable components as well as the processing air fan (3) and the noise generated in this region by the processing air and the processing air fan (3) as such does not directly vibrate the first level closure means (7) through a connectional line but is transmitted to the second level closure means (8) which is a certain distance away from the turbulent region.

To further limit heat loss and audible noise generation effect, the present invention proposes a plurality of peripheral divisions (16) in between said peripheral connection line (13) and outer chamber lateral walls (15) laterally enclosing said outer chamber. These peripheral divisions (16) separated by radially extending separation walls (17) are effective in enhancing insulation effect against heat loss and noise generation by laterally enclosing the outer chamber and the first level closure means (7) being in direct contact with the turbulent air. The separation walls (17) provide structural support for the second level closure means (8).

According to the present invention, the first and second level closure means (7, 8) are joined to each other by vibration welding or an interference-fit connection. Therefore, the connection of the two parts is of a continuous nature instead of having distinct connection axes.

In a nutshell, the present invention proposes a laundry drying machine (1) effecting drying of the laundry placed in a drum (2), the laundry drying machine (1) comprising a front door (5) allowing access into the drum (2) being installed in a tub or cabinet, an air circulation duct (18) by means of which circulation of processing air is effected for drying of the laundry in the drum (2), a processing air fan (3) providing circulation of the processing air and a closure device (10) provided along an intermediate section between the processing air fan (3) and at least one drum opening through which heated processing air is circulated into the drum (2).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the closure device (10) has a first level closure means (7) in the form of an air passage wall (9) in direct contact with the circulated air and a second level closure means (8) fully covering the first level closure means (7) as well as a peripheral surface portion of the rear wall (11) of the laundry drying machine (1) surrounding the first level closure means (7).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the first level closure means (7) is directly attached to the second level connection means (8) such that it defines the outer wall of the intermediate section.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the first level closure means (7) is in direct contact with the processing air to cover the entire intermediate section.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the second level connection means (8) constitutes an outer chamber wall (12) defining an outer chamber acting as an insulation chamber.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the second level closure means (8) is attached to the rear wall (11) of the laundry drying machine (1) at peripheral portions spaced away from the first level closure means (7).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the second level closure means (8) is fastened to the rear wall (11) at connection points (14) extending through a peripheral connection line (13) falling outside an area defined by a surface projection of the first level closure means (7) onto the rear wall (11).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of peripheral divisions (16) are provided in between the peripheral connection line (13) and outer chamber lateral walls (15), laterally enclosing said outer chamber and the first level closure means (7).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the first and second level closure means (7, 8) are joined to each other by vibration welding or an interference-fit connection.

The present invention therefore ensures that the two-position closure device of the prior art is further improved by means of the first and second level closure means (7, 8), the first level closure means (7) having no direct connection with the laundry drying machine (1) and as such not acting as a heat bridge or vibration transmission medium.

The insulation effect is further improved by means of peripheral divisions (16) laterally and radially enclosing the outer chamber.

Claims

A laundry drying machine (1) effecting drying of the laundry placed in a drum (2), comprising a front door (5) allowing access into said drum (2), an air circulation duct (18) by means of which circulation of processing air is effected for drying of the laundry in the drum (2), a processing air fan (3) providing circulation of the processing air and a closure device (10) provided along an intermediate section between the processing air fan (3) and at least one drum opening through which heated processing air is circulated into the drum (2) characterized in that,

the closure device (10) has a first level closure means (7) in the form of an air passage wall (9) in direct contact with circulated air and a second level closure means (8) fully covering the first level closure means (7) as well as a peripheral surface portion of the rear wall of the laundry drying machine (1) surrounding the first level closure means (7).
A laundry drying machine (1) as in Claim 1, characterized in that the first level closure means (7) is directly attached to the second level connection means (8) such that it defines outer wall of said intermediate section.
A laundry drying machine (1) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first level closure means (7) is in direct contact with the processing air to cover the entire intermediate section.
A laundry drying machine (1) as in Claim 3, characterized in that the second level connection means (8) constitutes an outer chamber wall (12) defining an outer chamber acting as an insulation chamber.
A laundry drying machine (1) as in Claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the second level closure means (8) is attached to the rear wall (11) of the laundry drying machine (1) at peripheral portions spaced away from the first level closure means (7).
A laundry drying machine (1) as in Claim 5, characterized in that the second level closure means (8) is fastened to the rear wall (11) at connection points (14) extending through a peripheral connection line (13) falling outside an area defined by a surface projection of the first level closure means (7) onto the rear wall (11).
A laundry drying machine (1) as in Claim 4 and 6, characterized in that a plurality of peripheral divisions (16) is provided in between said peripheral connection line (13) and outer chamber lateral walls (15), laterally enclosing said outer chamber and the first level closure means (7).
A laundry drying machine (1) as in any preceding Claims, characterized in that the first and second level closure means (7, 8) are joined to each other by vibration welding or an interference-fit connection.