EP2325381A1 - Générateur de vapeur pour un appareil pour l'entretien du linge et appareil le comportant - Google Patents

Générateur de vapeur pour un appareil pour l'entretien du linge et appareil le comportant Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2325381A1
EP2325381A1 EP09176428A EP09176428A EP2325381A1 EP 2325381 A1 EP2325381 A1 EP 2325381A1 EP 09176428 A EP09176428 A EP 09176428A EP 09176428 A EP09176428 A EP 09176428A EP 2325381 A1 EP2325381 A1 EP 2325381A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
tank
steam generator
valve
liquid
steam
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP09176428A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Tomasz Kaczmarek
Artur Salon
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Original Assignee
BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH filed Critical BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
Priority to EP09176428A priority Critical patent/EP2325381A1/fr
Priority to EP10773105.1A priority patent/EP2501849B1/fr
Priority to CN201710303626.3A priority patent/CN107254770A/zh
Priority to CN2010800427100A priority patent/CN102549209A/zh
Priority to PCT/EP2010/066866 priority patent/WO2011061066A1/fr
Priority to PL10773105T priority patent/PL2501849T3/pl
Publication of EP2325381A1 publication Critical patent/EP2325381A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • D06F75/00—Hand irons
    • D06F75/08—Hand irons internally heated by electricity
    • D06F75/10—Hand irons internally heated by electricity with means for supplying steam to the article being ironed
    • D06F75/12—Hand irons internally heated by electricity with means for supplying steam to the article being ironed the steam being produced from water supplied to the iron from an external source
    • 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 
    • D06F39/40—Steam generating 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
    • D06F33/00—Control of operations performed in washing machines or washer-dryers 
    • D06F33/50—Control of washer-dryers characterised by the purpose or target of the control
    • D06F33/52—Control of the operational steps, e.g. optimisation or improvement of operational steps depending on the condition of the laundry
    • D06F33/65—Control of the operational steps, e.g. optimisation or improvement of operational steps depending on the condition of the laundry of conditioning or finishing phases, e.g. for smoothing or removing creases

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a steam generator for use in a laundry care appliance, particularly a refresher dryer, the steam generator comprising a heated tank having an inlet for filling the tank with liquid, a heater for heating the liquid, and a steam outlet.
  • the invention further relates to a laundry care appliance comprising such steam generator.
  • EP 0 821 096 B1 discloses a steam generator for clothes irons and the like, comprising: a water tank; a boiler; a water supply pipe which connects the tank to the boiler and which has inserted inside it a delivery pump and a non-return valve; electric heating means associated on the outside of the boiler and comprising at least one heating plate associated in a close-fitting manner with a bottom of the boiler; and a thermostatic switch for actuating said pump.
  • said boiler has an opening for connection to the water supply pipe; a steam delivery pipe which connects the boiler to the user apparatus and which has inserted inside it a controllable steam valve; wherein said bottom of the boiler has at least two portions including a lower portion and an upper portion, both arranged at different heights and both heated by the said heating plate. Said thermostatic switch and said opening of the boiler are arranged in the region of said upper portion.
  • the boiler has a discharge plug arranged in the vicinity of the lower portion for removal therefrom of the scale which inevitably forms inside it with time.
  • EP 1 026 306 B1 discloses an automatic-refill steam generator for use in conjunction with steam cleaning equipment, clothes irons, fan-assisted ironing boards with refill function, coffee brewing machines and similar, provided with at least an electric heating element attached to the outside of the steam generator and equipped with a control thermostat, said steam generator being connected on one side to a water reservoir via a pump and at least a pipe, and being further connected on the other side to the steam using apparatus via a pipe provided with an electromagnetic valve and a pressure switch, said steam generator being constituted by a hollow body formed by a first and a second half-shell, and wherein said first and second half-shells are joined to each other along the peripheral edge thereof according to a substantially vertical plane, said electric heating element being externally attached to a lateral face of said first half-shell, said hollow body being provided with a water inlet aperture situated in a lateral face of said second half-shell opposing the lateral face of said first half-shell carrying said electric heating element, such that a water jet let into the steam generator through
  • a steam generator for a large laundry care appliance like a clothes dryer typically does not comprise a discharge plug or bottom drain but comprises a "trash area" that provides capacity sufficient to store all the scale formed during a presumed lifetime of the steam generator or appliance.
  • Such steam generator needs to become relatively bulky since scale formation as expectable from very calciferous water and a heavy use of the clothes dryer during a presumed lifetime must be anticipated.
  • a steam generator for use in a laundry care appliance, comprising a heated tank, the heated tank at least comprising: an inlet for filling the tank with liquid; a heater for heating the liquid (to produce steam from the liquid); a steam outlet; and a controllable drain for draining the liquid from the tank wherein an opening and closing of the drain is controllable by a valve.
  • the scale By using a drain, the scale can be flushed out of the tank. Thus, there is no need to provide a trash area anymore and the steam generator can be of a very compact design.
  • the valve By providing the valve to be controllable, it can be operated automatically without direct user interference which makes its use practicable. Further, the controllable valve can provide additional safety measures.
  • the laundry care appliance considered is a refresher dryer, which is a laundry dryer that is equipped for treating laundry placed therein with steam in addition to drying laundry.
  • a treatment with steam may be applied to remove wrinkles or undesirable odours from clothes
  • a treatment with steam may include adding perfumes or fabric treating agents to clothes thus treated.
  • the liquid is water or mostly water, in particular condensate water obtained from a drying process applied within a laundry care appliance.
  • the steam outlet may lead to a clothes processing room of a related laundry care appliance, e.g. a clothes drum, to apply steam to clothes placed therein for treatment.
  • a clothes processing room of a related laundry care appliance e.g. a clothes drum
  • valve is freely controllable or operable, i.e. the valve can be operated (opened/closed) at any point of time, e.g. depending on a program of the laundry care appliance.
  • the valve is controllable by a level of the liquid (e.g. a water level) in the heated tank.
  • a level of the liquid e.g. a water level
  • the valve will open if the liquid level reaches or exceeds a certain threshold level within the tank.
  • the valve can thus act as an overflow protection means.
  • the valve comprises a mechanical spring-and-float mechanism.
  • the float can force open a mechanically operable valve via the spring if the float reaches a certain height associated with the liquid level.
  • the tank is equipped with a liquid level sensor that will detect if the liquid level reaches or exceeds a certain threshold level within the tank.
  • the liquid level sensor can be communicatively coupled to a control unit of the refresher dryer.
  • the control unit can operate (in particular open) the valve in response to the liquid level sensor detecting that the liquid level has reached or exceeded the threshold level.
  • the valve is selected to be a pressure-relief valve.
  • the valve is opened if a pressure value within the tank reaches or exceeds a certain pressure threshold value within the tank.
  • the drain is located at a bottom of the tank. This ensures removal of most of the scale through the drain.
  • the heater is placed inside the tank. This achieves an effective heat exchange between the heater and the liquid to be heated.
  • Removal is further improved if the bottom is inclined towards the drain in even another embodiment.
  • a laundry care appliance comprising the steam generator, wherein the valve is connected for operation or communicatively coupled to a control unit of the appliance.
  • the drain can be connected to a fluid outlet to transport the scale out of the appliance.
  • Fig.1 shows a steam generator 1 for use in a laundry care applianceD1 embodied as a refresher dryer D1, wherein the steam generator 1 comprises a heated tank 2 for storing liquid L to be heated.
  • the tank 2 consists of two "half" shells, namely a lower shell 2a and an upper shell 2b.
  • the upper shell 2b acts as a lid for the lower shell 2a and comprises a fluid inlet 3 and a steam outlet 4.
  • Attached to the upper shell 2b is a heating element 5 that projects into the tank 2. Terminals 6 to connect the heating element 5 to a current source lead through the upper shell 2b.
  • the lower shell 2a and the upper shell 2b are connected in a leak-proof manner.
  • At a bottom 7 of the tank 2 and the lower shell 2a is a drain for draining the liquid L from the tank 2.
  • the flow cross-section of the drain 8 is controllable by a valve 9.
  • the liquid L for example condensate water
  • the heating element 5 may be activated by sending a current through it via the terminals 6.
  • the liquid L heats up and produces steam S.
  • the steam S may be pure steam or a mixture of steam and small water droplets.
  • the steam S can leave the tank 2 via the steam outlet 4.
  • the steam S can be transported to a clothes processing area, e.g. a clothes drum.
  • the heating of the liquid L produces a certain quantity of scale, mostly limestone.
  • This scale is heavier than the liquid L and settles on the bottom 7 of the tank 2.
  • the scale would be gathered in a 'trash area' for the lifetime of the steam generator 1 or the refresher dryer D1.
  • the steam generator 1 makes it possible to remove the scale by opening the valve 9 and with it the drain 8 so that the scale is flushed out together with the liquid L.
  • the use of the drain 8 to remove the scale gives the advantage that there is no need to provide the bulky trash area so that a very compact steam generator 1 can be achieved.
  • turbulences within the liquid during heating may stir up the scale which then might be transported outside the steam generator by attaching to the steam and which may get into a pipe system (or any other steam channel) leading to a clothes processing area and even onto the clothes.
  • a regular drainage of the scale according to the present steam generator 1 this may be prevented.
  • the scale may be flushed out at the end of a steam generating cycle.
  • operation of the refresher dryer D1 will include drying of clothes and collecting water extracted from the clothes in the form of condensate for later disposal.
  • Disposal of the scale flushed out of the steam generator 1 may be done in a preferred manner by concurrent disposal with such condensate, in particular by mixing the scale into the condensate or by providing a separate container for the scale which may be emptied concurrently with a container containing the condensate.
  • the bottom 7 of the tank is inclined towards the drain 8.
  • the valve 9 is generally not restricted to any kind of opening/closing mechanism and may constitute a general drain activator that is adapted to open and close the drain 8 by opening and closing the associated flow cross-section.
  • the valve 9 may be a mechanical and/or electrical valve 9, for example.
  • the valve may be operated by a mechanical means and/or an electromechanical driver.
  • the valves 9 may be operated by a mechanical spring-and-float mechanism, an electromechanically operated valve, a pressure driven slider, a flap etc.
  • the valve 9 may be a freely controllable valve, i.e. a valve that can be operated (opened/closed) at any given time, for example controlled by an external control unit C of the refresher dryer D1.
  • This control unit C may activate the valve 9 according to a certain drying/refreshing program and/or a predetermined maintenance program.
  • the valve 9 may be operated with reaching or exceeding a certain liquid level of the liquid L within the tank 2. In this case, if the liquid level reaches a predetermined threshold level, the valve 9 opens. The valve 9 therefore will act as an overflow protection means to prevent liquid L to flow through the steam outlet 4.
  • the correlation between reaching the fluid level and the opening of the drain 8 and valve 9, respectively, may be achieved by a fluid level sensor (not shown) that is connected to the control unit of the refresher dryer D1 which in turn activates the valve 9.
  • the sensor may be a Reed sensor.
  • valve 9 may be a mechanically controllable valve that is mechanically connected to a float (not shown), for example by a spring (not shown). If the float rises with the liquid level, so does the force acting upon the valve 9 via the spring. If this force reaches or exceeds a certain predetermined threshold value, the valve 9 opens.
  • the valve 9 may also act as a pressure-relief valve such that, if the pressure within the tank 2 exceeds a certain threshold value, the valve 9 opens. This may be the case if the steam outlet 4 or part of the following pipe system (or any other steam channel) and/or a steam opening into the clothes processing area is blocked. This opening of the valve 9 may be achieved by the pressure forcing open the valve 9 and/or by using a pressure sensor (not shown) that is connected to the control unit such that the control unit may open the valve 9, if the pressure level reaches or exceeds the predetermined pressure threshold value.
  • the liquid L going through the drain 8 may flow through a fluid outlet 10 of the refresher dryer D1.
  • Fig.2 shows a refresher dryer D2 comprising a steam generator 11 according to a second embodiment.
  • the tank 12 is now made out of one piece that comprises a window 13 in one of its sides.
  • the window 13 is filled and closed by a heating element 14 which comprises a heating plate 15 and a heating coil 16.
  • the heating plate 15 constitutes a part of a side wall of the tank 12 and contact the liquid L for good heat transfer.
  • the heating coil 16 is placed outside the tank 12.
  • liquid inlet 3 is still at the top of the tank 12 while the steam outlet 4 is positioned sideways.
  • the heating coil 16 heats up the heating plate 15 which in turn heats up the liquid L to generate the steam S.
  • the steam generator 11 has the advantage that the heating element 14 can be manufactured and tested separately of the tank 12. Also, no leakage can occur anymore between two or more shells of the tank.
  • drain 8 and its associated valve 9 is the same as with the steam generator 1 according to the first embodiment.
  • the steam generator as described and shown has a very high immunity to the presence of scale formed from limestone and other impurities. Scale formation is flushed out of the tank together with liquid.
  • the valve also provides additional operational safety against overpressure and/or overflow.
  • the heat generator can be designed to be very compact and may thus be placed flexibly within the laundry care appliance, e.g. fixed to a bearing shield.
  • the steam generator 1, 11 may comprise further elements like a temperature sensor to control a temperature of the liquid and/or steam and to prevent overheating.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Accessory Of Washing/Drying Machine, Commercial Washing/Drying Machine, Other Washing/Drying Machine (AREA)
  • Detail Structures Of Washing Machines And Dryers (AREA)
EP09176428A 2009-11-19 2009-11-19 Générateur de vapeur pour un appareil pour l'entretien du linge et appareil le comportant Withdrawn EP2325381A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP09176428A EP2325381A1 (fr) 2009-11-19 2009-11-19 Générateur de vapeur pour un appareil pour l'entretien du linge et appareil le comportant
EP10773105.1A EP2501849B1 (fr) 2009-11-19 2010-11-05 Générateur de vapeur pour un appareil pour l'entretien du linge et appareil le comportant
CN201710303626.3A CN107254770A (zh) 2009-11-19 2010-11-05 衣物护理设备中使用的蒸汽发生器及衣物护理设备
CN2010800427100A CN102549209A (zh) 2009-11-19 2010-11-05 衣物护理设备中使用的蒸汽发生器及衣物护理设备
PCT/EP2010/066866 WO2011061066A1 (fr) 2009-11-19 2010-11-05 Générateur de vapeur destiné à être utilisé dans un appareil d'entretien pour le linge, et appareil d'entretien pour le linge
PL10773105T PL2501849T3 (pl) 2009-11-19 2010-11-05 Generator pary do użytku w urządzeniu obsługującym pranie i urządzenie obsługujące pranie

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP09176428A EP2325381A1 (fr) 2009-11-19 2009-11-19 Générateur de vapeur pour un appareil pour l'entretien du linge et appareil le comportant

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2325381A1 true EP2325381A1 (fr) 2011-05-25

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Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP09176428A Withdrawn EP2325381A1 (fr) 2009-11-19 2009-11-19 Générateur de vapeur pour un appareil pour l'entretien du linge et appareil le comportant
EP10773105.1A Active EP2501849B1 (fr) 2009-11-19 2010-11-05 Générateur de vapeur pour un appareil pour l'entretien du linge et appareil le comportant

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP10773105.1A Active EP2501849B1 (fr) 2009-11-19 2010-11-05 Générateur de vapeur pour un appareil pour l'entretien du linge et appareil le comportant

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (2) EP2325381A1 (fr)
CN (2) CN107254770A (fr)
PL (1) PL2501849T3 (fr)
WO (1) WO2011061066A1 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2015078515A1 (fr) * 2013-11-29 2015-06-04 Arcelik Anonim Sirketi Sèche-linge à vapeur et son procédé de fonctionnement
GB2582781B (en) * 2019-04-02 2022-02-23 Otter Controls Ltd Steam generator

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102018111904A1 (de) * 2018-05-17 2019-11-21 Miele & Cie. Kg Reinigungs- und/oder Desinfektionsautomat
CN111411481A (zh) * 2018-12-18 2020-07-14 青岛海尔滚筒洗衣机有限公司 蒸汽发生器和包括该蒸汽发生器的衣物处理设备

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0821096B1 (fr) 1996-07-26 2001-08-16 ESSE85 S.r.l. Générateur de vapeur pour fers à repasser ou similaire
EP1026306B1 (fr) 1999-02-01 2003-11-05 Euro Star S.r.l. Générateur de vapeur pour machines de nettoyage, fers à repasser, machine à café et machines similaire
EP1544345A2 (fr) * 2003-12-16 2005-06-22 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Machine à laver
EP1813704A1 (fr) * 2006-01-26 2007-08-01 LG Electronics Inc. Générateur de vapeur pour une machine à laver
US20080189992A1 (en) * 2005-07-11 2008-08-14 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Boiler System for Use with a Steaming Device

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP3085848B2 (ja) * 1993-06-11 2000-09-11 三菱重工業株式会社 衣料の洗浄・乾燥方法及び装置

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0821096B1 (fr) 1996-07-26 2001-08-16 ESSE85 S.r.l. Générateur de vapeur pour fers à repasser ou similaire
EP1026306B1 (fr) 1999-02-01 2003-11-05 Euro Star S.r.l. Générateur de vapeur pour machines de nettoyage, fers à repasser, machine à café et machines similaire
EP1544345A2 (fr) * 2003-12-16 2005-06-22 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Machine à laver
US20080189992A1 (en) * 2005-07-11 2008-08-14 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Boiler System for Use with a Steaming Device
EP1813704A1 (fr) * 2006-01-26 2007-08-01 LG Electronics Inc. Générateur de vapeur pour une machine à laver

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2015078515A1 (fr) * 2013-11-29 2015-06-04 Arcelik Anonim Sirketi Sèche-linge à vapeur et son procédé de fonctionnement
GB2582781B (en) * 2019-04-02 2022-02-23 Otter Controls Ltd Steam generator

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP2501849A1 (fr) 2012-09-26
WO2011061066A1 (fr) 2011-05-26
EP2501849B1 (fr) 2015-07-29
CN102549209A (zh) 2012-07-04
CN107254770A (zh) 2017-10-17
PL2501849T3 (pl) 2015-11-30

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