EP2634305A1

EP2634305A1 - Washer/dryer appliance with a ventilation assembly

Info

Publication number: EP2634305A1
Application number: EP12157422.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Alessandro Bruna; Mauro Cinello; Roberto Mazzocco
Original assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corp NV
Current assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corp NV
Priority date: 2012-02-29
Filing date: 2012-02-29
Publication date: 2013-09-04
Also published as: WO2013127794A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a washer/dryer appliance (22) with a ventilation assembly (1), whereby the ventilation assembly (1) comprises a ventilation duct (2) which forms a flow channel and a fan (4) with a fan motor for sucking air into the ventilation duct (2), and whereby the fan (4) is connected electrically to at least one first connecting cable (8). The ventilation assembly (1) comprises at least one supporting region (6) for supporting at least a first portion (8a) of the at least one first connecting cable (8).

Description

The present invention relates to a washer/dryer appliance with a ventilation assembly. The ventilation assembly comprises a ventilation duct which forms a flow channel and a fan with a fan motor for sucking air into the ventilation duct. The fan is connected electrically to at least one first connecting cable.
In known washer/dryer appliances, such a ventilation assembly is mounted to a cabinet of the appliance. The fan motor of the fan has to be supplied with electric power and therefore an electric connection has to be provided for the fan motor. Thus, electric cables or wires have to be laid. Usually these cables or wires are fixed on the cabinet.
An alternative possibility is disclosed in the document CN 1782210 A , which discloses a drum washing machine with drying function which comprises a ventilation duct for producing hot air. A cable is fixed to a fan motor of an air supply fan. Said cable is also fixed to the ventilation duct by means of a bracket portion in order to prevent damages of the cable or wire resulting from vibration from the drum washing machine.
However, all solutions as known in the prior art provide difficulties in the mounting process of the cables. A worker has to carry out a multitude of manual operations to fix the cable to the ventilation duct or the cabinet.
Additionally, the solutions as known in the prior art are not yet considered as satisfactory with respect to the vibrations coming from the appliance.
Furthermore, the risk of damaging the cables in the mounting process is rather high.
A further drawback of the known prior art is that replacement of damaged components, e.g. the fan motor or the cables is difficult.
It is an object of the present invention to facilitate the mounting of the cables and the make the electric connection of the cable easier.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a more secure fixation of the cable.
And it is a further object of the invention to reduce the risk of damages of the cable in the mounting process and during operation of the washer/dryer appliance.
These objects of the present invention are achieved by a washer/dryer appliance according to claim 1.
According to the present invention a washer/dryer appliance comprises a ventilation assembly. The ventilation assembly comprises a ventilation duct which forms a flow channel and a fan with a fan motor for sucking air into the ventilation duct. The fan is connected electrically to at least one first connecting cable. Furthermore, the ventilation assembly comprises at least one supporting region for supporting at least a first portion of the at least one first connecting cable.
One advantage of the invention is that the supporting region provides the basic structure for supporting the connecting cable and thus provides an electrical interface for the electrical connection of the fan motor. It is possible to install the complete fan with its fan motor and with its first connecting cable at the ventilation assembly, no additional installation at the cabinet or other parts of the washer/dryer appliance is necessary. The pre-assembled unit than can be built into the washer/dryer appliance. Thus, the mounting of the cables and the electric connection of the cables is facilitated.
Furthermore, the support of the cable by the supporting region of the ventilation assembly results in a more secure fixation of the cable, and the risk of damages of the cable in the mounting process and during operation of the washer/dryer appliance is reduced.
Preferably, the first portion of the first connecting cable is a free end of the first connecting cable.
Preferably a second portion of the first connecting cable, distanced from the first portion of the first connecting cable, is detachably held by a first holding construction of the supporting region.
Advantageously, the first holding construction comprises a first recess in the supporting region.
Preferably the first recess is arranged in such a way that it can retain the first connecting cable when the second portion of said first connecting cable is inserted into the recess. For example, this can be achieved by a suitable shape of the first recess, preferably by a shape comprising an undercut and/or by a drop like form of the first recess. A further example is the provision of one or two or more flaps, preferably flexible flaps, at an inlet or opening of the first recess. The advantage of these solutions is that the first connecting cable is not firmly fixed in the first recess, slight movements of the cable are allowed, but the cable cannot escape from the recess. Thus, the first connecting cable is secured against being detached by vibrations of the washer/dryer appliance.
Advantageously, the first portion of the first connecting cable is detachably connected with the supporting region.
Preferably at least one second connecting cable is provided, and an electrical interconnection between the free end of the first connecting cable and a first end of the second connecting cable is established with a connector, whereby a first part of the connector, which preferably is a female part, is provided at the free end of the first connecting cable and a second part of the connector, adapted to electrically connect with the first part (preferably the second part is a male part), is provided at the first end of the second connecting cable.
Advantageously, the first part and the second part of the connector are mechanically plugged together to establish the electrical interconnection between the first connecting cable and the second connecting cable. The advantage is that the connection of the cable and especially of the connector to the supporting region provides stability of the interconnection between the first and the second connecting cable; the interconnection is secured against being detached accidentally. A further advantage is that the interconnection between the first and the second connecting cable can be established in an easy way, the interconnection is firm and safe and, however, still detachable if desired.
Preferably the first part of the connector is provided in or at a second recess of the supporting region. Advantageously, the first part of the connector is detachably connected to the second recess of the supporting region. For example, the first part of the connector might comprise at least one snap element and at least one stop element which together define and fix the designated position of the first part of the connector in or at the second recess.
Advantageously, in such a configuration the first part, preferably a female part, of the connector is fixed to the supporting region and the second part, preferably a male part, of the connector can be plugged into the first part. Thus, the interconnection between the first and the second connecting cable can be established very easily, and it can be unplugged very easily, too.
Preferably, the first part of the connector can be detached from the supporting region, for example by releasing the snap elements mentioned above. Then the first connection cable and the fan can be removed in an easy way, for example to be replaced or to be repaired.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the second recess is a through hole and the first part and the second part of the connector are arranged in such a way that the first connecting cable and the second connecting cable reach the connector from opposite sides of the through hole. Advantageously, the second connecting cable reaches the connector from above, seen in a usual working position of the washing/drying appliance. The advantage of this solution is that the second part, which preferably is a male part, of the connector can be plugged to and unplugged from the first part, which preferably is a female part, of the connector from above, which is an easy position for attaching and detaching the second part of the connector by a worker, for example in a repair case of the washer/dryer appliance.
Advantageously, a second portion of the second connecting cable, distanced from the first end portion of the second connecting cable, is detachably hold by a second holding construction of the supporting region. Preferably the second holding construction is a clip element provided in or on the supporting region, for example in a third recess which preferably is a though hole.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the support region is or comprises a base plate. Advantageously, the first recess and/or the second recess and/or the third recess are formed in the base plate of the support region.
Preferably, the support region and advantageously its base plate can be reinforced by stiffening portions and/or wall structures. The advantage of this solution is the provision of structural rigidity of the support region and thus for the cables and connectors hold by and/or connected to the supporting region and/or its base plate. The hold of the cable and/or the connections between the cables and the supporting region are more resistive against mechanical force, in particular forces caused by vibrations of the washing/drying appliance.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the supporting region is integrally formed with at least one part of the ventilation duct. Advantageously, the ventilation duct comprises an upper shell and a lower shell which are connected with each other, preferably with the interposition of a gasket for ensuring airtight. Advantageously, the upper shell and/or the lower shell are made of aluminium. Preferably, the upper shell is made in one piece and/or the lower shell is made in one piece. But it is also an option that the upper shell comprises two parts, for example an air duct part and a fan part, and/or that the lower shell comprises two parts, for example an air duct part and a fan part.
Advantageously, the upper shell and/or the lower shell can be produced in one manufacturing step, together with the supporting region, e.g. in an injection moulding step or in a metal forming step.
The invention will be described in further detail with reference to the drawings, in which

FIG 1: illustrates a perspective view of a washer/dryer according to the invention, comprising a ventilation assembly, in which some parts have been removed,
FIG 2: illustrates a perspective view of a ventilation assembly of a washer/dryer according to the invention,
FIG 3: illustrates a top view of the ventilation assembly shown in FIG 2,
FIG 4: illustrates a detailed top view of detail IV as indicated in FIG 3, showing a supporting region,
FIG 5: illustrates a bottom view of the ventilation assembly shown in FIG 2,
FIG 6: illustrates a detailed bottom view of detail VI as indicated in FIG 5, and
FIG 7: illustrates a detailed and exploded perspective view of the supporting region and a first part of a connector of the ventilation assembly shown in FIG 2.

FIG 1 illustrates a washer/dryer appliance 22 according to the invention, comprising a tub 23 and a ventilation assembly 1 mounted to the tub 23. Tub 23 and ventilation assembly 1 are placed inside a housing of the washer/dryer 22 advantageously comprising at least side walls 24, a front wall 25 having a front door 27 for providing access to a laundry treatment chamber and a rear wall 26. The ventilation assembly 1 is advantageously placed in a top region of the tub 23.
FIG 2 illustrates the ventilation assembly 1 which is mounted in a washer/dryer appliance according to the invention, e.g. in a washer/dryer appliance 22 according to FIG 1. The ventilation assembly 1 comprises a ventilation duct 2. The ventilation duct 2 forms a flow channel for air.
For sucking the air into the ventilation duct 2, a fan 4 comprising a fan housing and a fan motor is arranged. Inside the ventilation duct 2 and downstream to the fan 4 (with respect to air flow direction), one or more heating elements, not illustrated, are arranged for heating up the air sucked by the fan 4. The ventilation duct 2 advantageously comprises an upper shell 2a and a lower shell 2b which are connected with each other, preferably with the interposition of a gasket, not illustrated, for ensuring airtight, and which form the flow channel and enclose the heating element and the fan. Fixing means are advantageously provided to connect the shells 2a and 2b, e.g. screws 15. Preferably, the shells 2a and 2b may be made of aluminium.
The upper shell 2a advantageously comprises a fan flange 7 to which the housing of the fan 4 is fastened, advantageously by fastening means 5. Fastening flanges 3 are provided, preferably on the lower shell 2b, for fastening the ventilation assembly 1 to the washer/dryer appliance 22.
FIG 3 illustrates the ventilation assembly 2 in a top view. The ventilation duct 2 has advantageously a duct portion 16 and a fan portion 17. On the fan portion 17 the fan housing of the fan 4 and the fan flange 7 are advantageously arranged. The fan portion 17 has a partial circumferential side wall 18 as well as the duct portion 16 has a longitudinally extending side wall 19. Duct portion 16 and fan portion 17 merge in a transitional region. In the shown embodiment the duct portion 16 and the fan portion 17 are integrally formed, but it is also possible that duct portion 16 and fan portion 17 are separate part and thus the upper shell 2a comprises two parts, the duct portion 16 and the fan portion 17.
In the transitional region mentioned above a stiffening portion 20 is preferably formed which has wall structure 21 providing structural rigidity to the mechanical connection of duct portion 16 and fan portion 17. Cracks can result from alternating mechanical loads coming from vibrations of the washer/dryer appliance 22. The development of cracks in the transitional region can be reduced or avoided by the provision of the stiffening portion 20 with a wall structure 21, in particular when the wall structure 21 connects the side wall 19 of the duct portion 16 with the side wall 18 of the fan portion 17.
Preferably adjacent to the transitional, region a supporting region 6 is formed, preferably integrally with the side wall 19 of the duct portion 16 and with the side wall 18 of the fan portion 17.
A first connecting cable 8 and a second connecting cable 9 are held by the supporting region 6. The first connecting cable 8 extends from the supporting region 6 to the fan housing of the fan 4 onto the fan portion 17 and enters the fan housing to be firmly connected to a fan motor (not shown) for supplying the fan motor with electric power or data transfer or the like. The second connecting cable 9 can extend from the fixation component 6 to a control and/or power supply unit, e.g. a power board of the machine (not shown).
FIG 4 illustrates a detailed top view of the supporting region 6. The supporting region 6 advantageously comprises a base plate 6a which is advantageously attached to the side walls 18, 19 of duct portion 16 and fan portion 17.
More generally, the supporting region 6 is advantageously formed integrally to the side walls 18, 19. The supporting region 6 preferably comprises a lateral side wall 6d which is arranged perpendicular to the base plate 6a and, thus, provides structural rigidity for the supporting region 6 and its base plate 6a.
The base plate 6a advantageously comprises a first recess 6b which is preferably formed drop-like. The first connecting cable 8 has a first portion 8a (being preferably an end portion 8a), and a second portion 8b which is distanced from the first portion 8a. The second portion 8b is advantageously inserted into the first recess 6b, whereby the flexibility of the sheath of the first connecting cable 8 advantageously allows a passage of the second portion 8b through a gap of the preferably drop-like recess 6b having a reduced width into an area of the drop-like recess 6b having a gap with an enlarged width. In the example of enclosed figures, the second portion 8b of the first connecting cable 8 is hold in its final position within the enlarged gap of the drop-like recess 6b because the gap with reduced width impedes the first connecting cable 8 to leave the gap with enlarged width when vibrations are generated during operation of the washer/dryer appliance 22 in which the ventilation assembly 1 is installed.
Further the base plate 6a comprises a second recess 6c, and a plug-in connector 10 is advantageously provided within this second recess 6c for electrically interconnecting the first connecting cable 8 and the second connecting cable 9. Further details of the plug-in connector 10 and its arrangement in the second recess 6c are described below.
The plug-in connector 10 is advantageously provided as a two part connector having a first part 10b which is preferably a female part and a second part 10a which is preferably a male part, whereby the end portion 8a of the first connecting cable 8 is connected to the first part 10b and a first end of the second connecting cable 9 to connected to the second part 10a. Thus, first connecting cable 8 and second connecting cable 9 can be plugged together and electrically interconnected by plugging together the first part 10b and the second part 10a of the connector 10.
Furthermore, a clip element 11 is advantageously fixed to the base plate 6a of the supporting region 6 to hold the second cable 9.
FIG 5 illustrates a bottom view of the ventilation assembly 1. A fan wheel 12 of the fan 4 is arranged advantageously in a central position of the fan portion 17. The lower side of supporting region 6 is preferably arranged laterally to a region where fan portion 17 and duct portion 16 merge. The fan motor (not shown) of the fan 4 is arranged adjacent to the fan wheel 12.
FIG 6 illustrates a detailed bottom view of the supporting region 6. The base plate 6a of the supporting region 6 comprises a third recess 6e which is a hole, whereby the clip element 11 is seated and fastened e.g. by snapping means. Furthermore, the second recess 6c with the plug-in connector 10 and its first part 10b can be seen. The first connecting cable 8 is connected to the first part 10b of the plug-in connector 10 and wound in a semi-circle to pass through the first recess 6b.
Preferably, the length of the first connecting cable 8 is adapted to the dimensions of the ventilation assembly 1 in such a way that, on the one hand, it is possible to separate the first part 10b of the plug-in connector 10 from the second part 10a and from the second recess 6c, and, on the other hand, the first connecting cable 8 is firmly arranged between the fan 4 and the supporting region 6.
FIG 7 illustrates the supporting region 6 and the first part 10b of plug-in connector 10 in an exploded view. First and second connecting cables 8, 9 are removed in this view. The first part 10b of the plug-in connector 10 advantageously comprises snap elements 13, one on each lateral side. Preferably, two stop elements 14 are arranged on the first part 10b. The first part 10b is advantageously inserted with a forward movement from below into the second recess 6c, which is a through hole, whereby the forward movement is stopped in a final position by the stop elements 14. In this final position the snap elements 13 snap into locking position and fix the first part 10b within the second recess 10c. Thus, the first part 10a of the plug-in connector 10 is connected to the second recess 6c.
As shown in FIG 4, the second part 10a of the plug-in connector 10 is then plugged into the first part 10b at a side of the first part 10b which is opposite to the first connecting cable 8. This opposite side of the first part 10b protrudes form the base plate 6a in a region above the second recess 6c to enable an easy plugging in of the second part 10a. In FIG 4, laterally to the plug-in connector 10, the snap elements 13 of the first part 10b can be seen in their locking position.

Claims

Washer/dryer appliance (22) with a ventilation assembly (1), whereby the ventilation assembly (1) comprises a ventilation duct (2) which forms a flow channel and a fan (4) with a fan motor for sucking air into the ventilation duct (2), and whereby the fan (4) is connected electrically to at least one first connecting cable (8),
characterized in that
the ventilation assembly (1) comprises at least one supporting region (6) for supporting at least a first portion (8a) of said at least one first connecting cable (8).
Washer/dryer appliance (22) according to claim 1, wherein said at least a first portion (8a) is a free end (8a) of the at least one first connecting cable (8).
Washer/dryer appliance (22) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a second portion (8b) of the first connecting cable (8), distanced from said first portion (8a), is detachably held by a first holding construction (6b) of said supporting region (6).
Washer/dryer appliance (22) according to claim 3, wherein the first holding construction (6b) comprises a first recess (6b) in the supporting region (6).
Washer/dryer appliance (22) according to claim 4, wherein said first recess (6b) is arranged in such a way that it can retain the first connecting cable (8) when the second portion (8b) of said first connecting cable (8) is inserted into the recess (6b).
Washer/dryer appliance (22) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said first portion (8a) of said first connecting cable (8) is detachably connected with said supporting region (6).
Washer/dryer appliance (22) according to claim 6, wherein at least one second connecting cable (9) is provided, and wherein an electrical interconnection between the free end (8a) of the first connecting cable (8) and a first end of the second connecting cable (9) is established with a connector (10), whereby a first part (10b) of said connector (10) is provided at the free end (8a) of the first connecting cable (8) and a second part (10a) of the connector (10), adapted to electrically connect with said first part (10b), is provided at the first end of the second connecting cable (9).
Washer/dryer appliance (22) according to claim 7, wherein the first part (10b) and the second part (10a) of the connector (10) are mechanically plugged together to establish the electrical interconnection between the first connecting cable (8) and the second connecting cable (9).
Washer/dryer appliance (22) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the first part (10b) of the connector (10) is provided in or at a second recess (6c) of the supporting region (6).
Washer/dryer appliance (22) according to claim 9, wherein the first part (10b) of the connector (10) is detachably connected to the second recess (6c) of the supporting region (6).
Washer/dryer appliance (22) according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the second recess (6c) is a through hole and wherein the first part (10b) and the second part (10b) of the connector (10) are arranged in such a way that the first connecting cable (8) and the second connecting cable (9) reach the connector (10) from opposite sides of said through hole.
Washer/dryer appliance (22) according to one of claims 7 to 11, wherein a second portion of the second connecting cable (9), distanced from the first end of the second connecting cable (9), is detachably hold by a second holding construction (11) of the supporting region (6).
Washer/dryer appliance (22) according to claim 12, wherein the second holding construction (11) is a clip element provided in or on the supporting region (6).
Washer/dryer appliance (22) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the support region (6) is or comprises a base plate (6a).
Washer/dryer appliance (22) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the support region (6) is integrally formed with at least one part of the ventilation duct (2).