WO2019185257A1

WO2019185257A1 - A laundry washer-dryer

Info

Publication number: WO2019185257A1
Application number: PCT/EP2019/054600
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ahmet Burak TOP; Metin LALE; Umit ARICI
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2018-03-30
Filing date: 2019-02-25
Publication date: 2019-10-03

Abstract

The present invention relates to a laundry washer-dryer (1) comprising a tub (2) in which the washing and drying processes are performed, a drum (3) rotating in the tub (2), in which the laundry items are placed, an air circulation channel (4) in which process air is circulated which enables drying the laundry items during the drying process performed after the washing process, a fan (5) enabling circulating the process air, a condenser (6) preferably of the air-cooled type, condensing the humid and hot process air passed through the laundry items, a heater (7) placed in the air circulation channel (4), enabling the dehumidified process air coming from the condenser (6) to be heated before being sent on the laundry, and a main water inlet valve (10) enabling water for the washing process to be received from the water mains (8) and to be sent to the tub (2) via a detergent box (9).

Description

A LAUNDRY WASHER-DRYER

The present invention relates to a laundry washer-dryer comprising an air and/or water-cooled condenser.

In laundry washer-dryers, drying duration is longer compared to dryers whose sole function is drying. In washing machines with drying function, a drying air fan with a higher flow rate, a heater with higher power and a larger-sized condenser is required to accelerate the drying process, which obviously increase energy consumption and costs. When fan speed is increased to accelerate drying in laundry washer-dryers, the water sprayed into the condenser mixes with the process air, damping the laundry in the drum. This results in a prolonged drying process and a non-homogeneous drying, and may lead to the user complaints regarding non-drying. In addition, the area where the condenser channel sucks air shrinks due to water abruptly blocking the region once being sprayed, and a decrease may therefore be observed in fan flow rate in general. The temperatures instantaneously rise due to an abrupt decrease of the fan flow rate. Instantaneous temperature hikes may lead to deactivation of the heater in order not to damage laundry and increasing of humidity after drying. In laundry washer-dryers, air-cooled condensers are widely used which employ outer environment air for condensation during the drying process after washing. The humid air from the laundry items passing through the process air duct, is condensed in the condenser cooled by means of the outer environment air, and the air dried by being thus dehumidified is sent back on the laundry items through the process air duct. Condensation performed in an air-cooled condenser depends on the temperature of the air coming from the outer environment. The outer environment air should be below a certain temperature in order to enable sufficient condensation in the condenser and drying of the laundry items. When the outer environment temperature increases, the humidity condensing in the condenser decreases, and the drying process does not yield desired effects.

State of the art European patent no. EP2723928 (B1) relates to a laundry washer-dryer comprising an air-cooled condenser. The laundry washer-dryer comprises at least one heat sensor detecting the temperature of cooling air and/or process air, and a water spraying device with the function of cleaning the condenser from fibers and lint. The water spraying device sprays water on the condenser when environment temperature rises. The air-cooled condenser thus operates as air and water cooled when the outer air temperature increases.

The aim of the present invention is to realize a laundry washer-dryer enabling its tub to support the drying process by giving it condensation function when the capacity of its condenser falls short.

In the laundry washer-dryer realized to achieve the aim of the present invention, in cases when particularly the condenser capacity remains incapable during the drying process, the water received from water mains is sprayed by means of nozzles to the inner surface of the tub so as not to damp the laundry items. The cold water enables the inner surface of the tub to be cooled during the drying process, the hot and humid air passing through the laundry items to pass through the drum holes, to contact the inner surface of the tub and to be condensed, and tub thus acts as an auxiliary condenser.

In an embodiment of the invention, the condenser is of the air-cooled type, the outer environment air temperature is measured by means of a heat sensor, and if the environment air measured by the heat sensor exceeds a limit temperature value during the drying process, the control unit turns an auxiliary valve on and enables water to be sprayed through the nozzles on the inner surface of the tub.

The laundry washer-dryer realized to achieve the aims of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of a laundry washer-dryer.

Figure 2 is a schematic view of a laundry washer-dryer in an embodiment of the invention.

The elements in the figures are numbered individually and the correspondence of these numbers are given hereinafter.

Washer-dryer
Tub
Drum
Air circulation channel
Fan
Condenser
Heater
Water mains
Detergent box
Main water intake valve
Control unit
Auxiliary valve
Hose
Nozzle
Outer air line
Heat sensor

H: Height

The laundry washer-dryer (1) comprises a tub (2) in which the washing and drying processes are performed, a drum (3) rotating in the tub (2), in which the laundry items are placed, an air circulation channel (4) in which process air is circulated which enables drying the laundry items during the drying process performed after the washing process, a fan (5) enabling circulating the process air, a condenser (6) condensing the humid and hot process air passed through the laundry items, a heater (7) placed in the air circulation channel (4), enabling the dehumidified process air coming from the condenser (6) to be heated before being sent on the laundry items, a main water inlet valve (10) enabling water for the washing process to be received from the water mains (8) and to be sent to the tub (2) via a detergent box (9), and a control unit (11) controlling the washing and drying processes.

The laundry washer-dryer (1) of the invention comprises an auxiliary valve (12) enabling drawing water from the water mains (8) during the drying process, at least one hose (13) extending from the auxiliary valve (12) into the tub (2), enabling the water received from the water mains (8) to be sent directly into the tub (2), and at least one nozzle (14) connected to the end of the hose (13) extending into the tub (2), disposed adjacent to the inner surface of the tub (2), enabling the water received from the mains (8) to be sprayed on the inner surface of the tub (2) (Figure 1).

In the laundry washer-dryer (1), in cases when the condenser (6) falls short during the drying process, the control unit (11) turns the auxiliary valve (12) on, for receiving water from the mains (8) into the tub (2). The cold water received from the water mains (8) by means of the auxiliary valve (12) is sent through the hose (13) into the tub (2), and the nozzles (14) spray the water on the inner surface of the tub (2) enabling the inner surface of the tub (2) to be cooled during the drying process, the hot and humid air passing through the laundry items to pass through the drum (3) holes, to contact the inner surface of the tub (2) and to be condensed. The inner surface of the tub (2) acts as an auxiliary condenser.

In an embodiment of the invention, the nozzles (14) spraying water on the inner surface of the tub (2) are of the flat nozzle type, forming and sending a flat water beam on the inner surface of the tub (2), enabling water to be passed over a large surface on the inner surface of the tub (2), enhancing condensation efficiency of the tub (2).

In another embodiment of the invention, the laundry washer-dryer (1) comprises at least one hose (13) extending from the auxiliary valve (12) to the tub (2), connected to the tub (2) below a level corresponding to almost half of the height (H) of the tub (2), and at least one nozzle (14) enabling spraying water on the inner surface of the tub (2) downwards from above such that sprayed water remains below said horizontal level. In this embodiment, the water sent through the nozzles (14) on the inner surface of the tub (2) is prevented from damping by passing through the drum (3) holes, the laundry to be dried (Figure 2).

In an embodiment of the invention, the laundry washer-dryer (1) comprises an air-cooled type condenser (6) condensing the process air, an outer air line (15) enabling the condenser (6) to be cooled by transmitting the cooling air received from the outer environment to the condenser (6), and a heat sensor (16) placed on the outer air line (15), enabling measuring the outer environment air temperature. During the drying process, if the outer environment temperature measured by the heat sensor (16) exceeds a predetermined limit temperature value saved in the memory of the control unit (11), the control unit (11) turns the auxiliary valve (12) on and enables water to be sprayed from the nozzles (14) on the inner surface of the tub (2). Thus, when the outer environment temperature increases, the inner surface of the tub (2) cooled with water acts as an auxiliary condenser, supporting the present condenser (5) in the drying process (Figure 1, Figure 2).

In the laundry washer-dryer (1) of the invention, the inner surface of the tub (2) is cooled with water, enabling it to act as a condenser and to support the present condenser (6) in the drying process, thereby reducing drying duration, decreasing energy consumption and enhancing drying efficiency.

Claims

A laundry washer-dryer (1) comprising a tub (2) in which the washing and drying processes are performed, a drum (3) rotating in the tub (2), in which the laundry items are placed, an air circulation channel (4) in which process air is circulated during the drying process, a fan (5) enabling circulating the process air, a condenser (6) condensing the humid and hot process air passed through the laundry items, a heater (7) placed in the air circulation channel (4), a main water inlet valve (10) enabling water for the washing process to be received from the water mains (8) and to be sent to the tub (2) via the detergent box (9), and a control unit (11) controlling the washing and drying processes, characterized by an auxiliary valve (12) enabling drawing water from the water mains (8) during the drying process, at least one hose (13) extending from the auxiliary valve (12) into the tub (2), enabling the water received from the water mains (8) to be sent directly into the tub (2), and at least one nozzle (14) connected to the end of the hose (13) extending into the tub (2), enabling the water received from the mains (8) to be sprayed on the inner surface of the tub (2).
A laundry washer-dryer (1) according to claim 1, characterized by the nozzles (14) of the flat nozzle type, forming and sending a flat water beam on the inner surface of the tub (2).
A laundry washer-dryer (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by at least one hose (13) connected to the tub (2) below a level corresponding to almost half of the height (H) of the tub (2), and at least one nozzle (14) enabling spraying water on the inner surface of the tub (2) downwards from above such that sprayed water remains below said horizontal level.
A laundry washer-dryer (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by an air-cooled type condenser, an outer air line (15) enabling cooling the condenser (6), a heat sensor (16) and the control unit (11) turning the auxiliary valve (12) on and enabling water to be sprayed through the nozzles (14) on the inner surface of the tub (2) if the outer environment temperature measured during the drying process by the heat sensor (16) exceeds a predetermined limit temperature value saved in its memory.