EP2798118B1

EP2798118B1 - A condensation type laundry dryer

Info

Publication number: EP2798118B1
Application number: EP12812279.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Can Sar; Levent Cinar; Veysel Ertan Cetinkaya; Umit Gulbay
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2011-12-30
Filing date: 2012-12-27
Publication date: 2017-06-21
Anticipated expiration: 2032-12-27
Also published as: EP2798118A1; WO2013098358A1

Description

The present invention relates to a condensation type laundry dryer comprising a water tank wherein the condensate water is collected.
In condensation type laundry dryers, the process air is heated by a heater and directed into the drum, which then contacts the damp laundry and removes the moisture on the laundry and which is finally delivered to a condenser to be dehumidified. The condensate water forming in the condenser is collected by means of a transfer means in a mobile water tank disposed in the body of the laundry dryer.
In the European Patent Application No. EP2341183 , an embodiment is explained related to the usage of the condensate water for washing the condenser in a laundry dryer. In this embodiment, the water is cleaned by being passed through a filter before being used for washing the condenser.
DE 10 2009 047155 A1 discloses a laundry dryer with a drum and a condenser that dehumidifies drying air, wherein condensate water leaving the condenser is fed via a filter into a tank from which it can be led back to the condenser for cleaning the latter.
JP 2007 330439 A discloses a washing and drying machine in which a filter is used to catch foreign matter in the dehumidified water produced by an evaporator.
The aim of the present invention is the realization of a laundry dryer wherein the transfer means, which provides the condensate water to be transferred to the water tank in which the condensate water is collected, is prevented from being clogged by the foreign materials in the water.
The laundry dryer realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective dependent claims thereof comprises a tank into which the condensate water, collected as a result of the removal of the moisture in the drying process air in the condenser, is delivered through a transfer means. The transfer means has a filter which provides the condensate water to be cleaned before being delivered to the tank. By the water being cleaned before being delivered to the tank, the risk that the foreign materials block the transfer means and prevent water passage to the tank is eliminated.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the filter comprises a first retainer and a second retainer situated successively with respect to the water flow. Large holes are disposed on the first retainer and smaller holes with respect to those on the first retainer are disposed on the second retainer. Thus, large foreign materials are provided to be held by getting caught on the first retainer and smaller foreign materials are provided to be held by getting caught on the second retainer.
In different embodiments of the present invention, the filter is of cloth or knitted metal type.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the transfer means comprises a chamber wherein the water condensed in the condenser fills. The condensate water is received into the chamber by means of an inlet opening arranged thereon. A guide extending into the chamber is disposed at the inlet opening in the chamber. The filter is disposed at the outlet of the guide. Thus, the controlled flow of the water inside the transfer means is provided and all of the water received into the chamber is provided to pass through the filter.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the guide comprises one vertical arm and one horizontal arm, extending almost vertically to each other on the chamber side wall and the chamber base. Thus, the water received into the chamber through the inlet opening is provided to be directly guided to the chamber base.
In an embodiment of the present invention, an outlet opening is disposed on the chamber wall facing the tank. A valve is placed at the outlet opening, which provides the one-way flow of the water that passes from the chamber to the tank. Thus, the water passing to the tank is prevented from returning to the chamber. Since the water is cleansed from foreign materials by being passed through the filter before entering the valve, the risk of the clogging of the valve is eliminated.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the filter is shaped as a closed box and the condensate water is provided to enter into the filter by means of an orifice arranged thereon. In this embodiment, furthermore a safety passage is disposed on the filter, which allows the discharge of the water received into the filter in case the filter is clogged by being completely filled with foreign materials but does not allow the water outflow during normal filtering.
In a derivative of this embodiment the safety passage is disposed at the top of the filter. Hence during filtering, the filtering process can be realized without the water accessing the safety passage when water does not fill in the filter. However, in case the filter is clogged and filled with water, the water is discharged through the safety passage.
The laundry dryer realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

Figure 1 - is the schematic view of a laundry dryer.
Figure 2 - is the partial cross-sectional view of the condenser, the tank and the transfer means.
Figure 3 - is the schematic view of the transfer means.
Figure 4 - is the view of the guide and the filter.

The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Laundry dryer
2. Drum
3. Condenser
4. Tank
5. Transfer means
6. Filter
7. First retainer
8. Second retainer
9. Chamber
10. Inlet opening
11. Guide
12. Vertical arm
13. Horizontal arm
14. Outlet opening
15. Valve
16. Orifice
17. Safety passage

The laundry dryer (1) comprises a drum (2) wherein the laundry is placed, a condenser (3) that provides the drying process air to be dehumidified, a tank (4) wherein the condensate water leaving the condenser (3) is collected and a transfer means (5) which provides the condensate water received from the condenser (3) to be delivered to the tank (4).
The transfer means (5) used in the laundry dryer (1) of the present invention comprises a filter (6) that provides the water delivered to the tank (4) to be cleansed from foreign materials such as fluff or the like. Thus, the transfer means (5) is prevented from being clogged due to foreign materials and the condensate water is provided to be safely delivered to the tank (4).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the filter (6) comprises a first retainer (7) and a second retainer (8) disposed successively in the direction of the water passage, which provide the foreign materials in different sizes to be held by means of the holes in different sizes arranged thereon. Thus, a two-stage filtering is provided.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the filter (6) is produced from a cloth that allows the passage of the water but not the passage of foreign materials.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the filter (6) is produced from metal material and is of knitted structure.
According to the the present invention, the transfer means (5) comprises a chamber (9) wherein the condensate water is collected, an inlet opening (10) arranged on the chamber (9) wall, which provides the condensate water received from the condenser (3) to be delivered to the chamber (9) and a guide (11) situated in the chamber (9), which extends from the inlet opening (10) into the chamber (9), wherein the filter (6) is disposed at the end of the guide (11). Thus, all of the water delivered to the tank (4) is provided to be passed through the filter (6).
The condensate water coming from the condenser (3), passing through the inlet opening (10) and filling into the chamber (9) before reaching the tank (4) is guided by the guide (11) and reaches the filter (6). The water cleansed from the foreign materials therein by being passed through the filter (6) is delivered to the tank (4).
According to the the present invention, the guide (11) is L-shaped and comprises a vertical arm (12) which extends from the inlet opening (10) towards the chamber (9) base and bears against the chamber (9) side wall whereon the inlet opening (10) is arranged and a horizontal arm (13) which extends in a direction parallel to the chamber (9) base. In this embodiment, the filter (6) is disposed at the end of the horizontal arm (13). The water entering through the inlet opening (10) reaches the filter (6) by passing through the vertical arm (12) and the horizontal arm (13) of the L-shaped guide (11) respectively.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the transfer means (5) comprises an outlet opening (14) arranged on the chamber (9) wall, which provides the condensate water that fills in the chamber (9) to be delivered to the tank (4) and a valve (15) disposed on the outlet opening (14) and which allows the one-way flow of the water from the chamber (9) towards the tank (4). In this embodiment, while the one-way flow of the water from the chamber (9) towards the tank (4) is provided, the valve (15) is prevented from being clogged by the water being passed through the filter (6) before the valve (15).
According to the the present invention, the filter (6) is shaped as a box having an orifice (16) in which the water enters and comprises at least one safety passage (17) which provides the passage of the water in case foreign materials accumulate therein. Thus, safe operating conditions are provided by enabling the passage of the water from the chamber (9) to the tank (4) even in case of the long time usage of the filter (6), wherein the safety passage (17) is disposed on the ceiling of the filter (6). Thus, the foreign materials accumulated in the filter (6) are prevented from coming out even in case the filter (6) is clogged and water flows out through the safety passage (17).
By means of the filter (6) used in the laundry dryer (1) of the present invention, problems such as the delivery of the foreign materials in the condensate water to the tank (4) or the prevention of the passage of the condensate water to the tank (4) due to the transfer means (5) being clogged by foreign materials are prevented.
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited by the embodiments disclosed above and a person skilled in the art can easily introduce different embodiments. These should be considered within the scope of the protection postulated by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

A laundry dryer (1) comprising a drum (2) wherein the laundry is placed, a condenser (3) that provides the drying process air to be dehumidified, a tank (4) wherein the condensate water leaving the condenser (3) is collected and a transfer means (5) which provides the condensate water received from the condenser (3) to be delivered to the tank (4), the transfer means (5) having a filter (6) that provides the water delivered to the tank (4) to be cleansed from the foreign materials therein, wherein the transfer means (5) comprises a chamber (9) wherein the condensate water is collected, and wherein an opening (10) is arranged on the chamber (9) wall, which provides the condensate water received from the condenser (3) to be delivered to the chamber (9), and wherein a guide (11) is situated in the chamber (9), which extends from the inlet opening (10) into the chamber (9) and wherein the filter (6) is disposed at the end of the guide (11), characterized by
- the guide (11) that is L-shaped and that comprises a vertical arm (12) which extends from the inlet opening (10) towards the chamber (9) base and bears against the chamber (9) side wall whereon the inlet opening (10) is arranged and a horizontal arm (13) which extends in a direction parallel to the chamber (9) base, such that the water entering through the inlet opening (10) reaches the filter (6) by passing through said vertical arm (12) and said horizontal arm (13), respectively,

- the filter (6) shaped as a box having an orifice (16) in which the water enters and which comprises at least one safety passage (17) which provides the passage of the water in case foreign materials accumulate therein by enabling the passage of water from the chamber (9) to the tank (4) even in case of long time usage of the filter (6) and which safety passage (17) is disposed on the ceiling of the filter (6).
A laundry dryer (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the filter (6) comprising a first retainer (7) and a second retainer (8) disposed successively in the direction of the water passage, which provide the foreign materials in different sizes to be held by means of the holes in different sizes arranged thereon.
A laundry dryer (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the filter (6) produced from a cloth that allows the passage of the water but not the passage of foreign materials.
A laundry dryer (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the filter (6) that is produced from metal material and is of knitted structure.
A laundry dryer (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the transfer means (5) comprising an outlet opening (14) arranged on the chamber (9) wall, which provides the condensate water that fills in the chamber (9) to be delivered to the tank (4) and a valve (15) disposed on the outlet opening (14) and which allows the one-way flow of the water from the chamber (9) towards the tank (4).