EP3147404B1 - Laundry drier with water supply - Google Patents

Laundry drier with water supply Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3147404B1
EP3147404B1 EP17000073.1A EP17000073A EP3147404B1 EP 3147404 B1 EP3147404 B1 EP 3147404B1 EP 17000073 A EP17000073 A EP 17000073A EP 3147404 B1 EP3147404 B1 EP 3147404B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
water
condensate
lint
laundry dryer
cleaning
Prior art date
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Application number
EP17000073.1A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP3147404A1 (en
Inventor
Markus Kerschdorfer
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.)
V-Zug AG
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V-Zug AG
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Publication date
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Priority to SI201731026T priority Critical patent/SI3147404T1/en
Priority to EP17000073.1A priority patent/EP3147404B1/en
Publication of EP3147404A1 publication Critical patent/EP3147404A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP3147404B1 publication Critical patent/EP3147404B1/en
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    • 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
    • D06F58/00—Domestic laundry dryers
    • D06F58/20—General details of domestic laundry dryers 
    • D06F58/22—Lint collecting 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
    • D06F58/00—Domestic laundry dryers
    • D06F58/20—General details of domestic laundry dryers 
    • D06F58/24—Condensing arrangements

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a device combination comprising a tumble dryer, in particular a household tumble dryer, for drying laundry using process air, the tumble dryer having a water supply line for supplying external water for the purpose of removing lint separated from the process air from the tumble dryer, and wherein the device combination further includes a washing machine comprises, wherein the water supply line is connected to the washing machine for conveying washing machine waste water from the washing machine to the tumble dryer.
  • At least one lint filter should be provided in a tumble dryer to prevent soiling of the device.
  • a lint filter is arranged, for example, in the door of the device.
  • the lint filter In most known devices, the lint filter must be periodically cleaned or replaced by hand. Alternatively, the lint filter is automatically vacuumed and the lint is collected in a lint container.
  • US 2013/318813 describes a washer-dryer with a water supply line.
  • the water can be used to wash the laundry, cool the drum wall or clean the lint filter.
  • JP 2006 187449 a washer-dryer with a lint filter is shown, the lint filter being cleaned with externally supplied water.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide a device combination of the type mentioned at the beginning and a method for operating the device combination in which lint can be effectively removed.
  • the device combination comprises a tumble dryer, in particular a household tumble dryer, for drying laundry using process air, the tumble dryer having a water supply line for supplying external water for the purpose of removing lint separated from the process air from the tumble dryer, and a washing machine.
  • the water supply line is connected to the washing machine for conveying washing machine waste water from the washing machine to the tumble dryer.
  • the device combination is designed in such a way that the tumble dryer and the washing machine communicate with one another, the washing machine informing the tumble dryer whether the water supplied is clean.
  • the tumble dryer advantageously comprises a discharge collection device for collecting lint to be discharged.
  • the water supply line is connected to the discharge collection device. Water for cleaning the discharge collection device can be fed via the water supply line.
  • the tumble dryer can in particular be a household tumble dryer which in particular has a drum for receiving laundry to be dried.
  • a water supply line is to be understood as a line by means of which water from outside the tumble dryer, for example waste water from a washing machine or clean water from a common household water connection, can be fed to the tumble dryer.
  • the water supply line is connected to the drainage collecting device in such a way that the supplied water reaches the drainage collecting device.
  • the supply of external water enables the lint to be effectively removed from the tumble dryer.
  • the user does not need to regularly empty or replace any lint collecting container or a lint filter, but rather the lint is automatically rinsed out of the waste collection device and thus out of the tumble dryer by means of water.
  • the water contaminated with lint can be fed into the household's sewage system.
  • the discharge collection device can be cleaned clean by means of the supplied water and blockages in the sewage system can be avoided due to the supplied water.
  • the tumble dryer advantageously comprises a cleaning device with a condensate collecting container for collecting condensate water condensed from a process air flow on a heat exchanger.
  • the water supply line is connected to the condensate collecting tank for supplying external water to the condensate collecting tank.
  • the process air flow is that air flow which is passed through the drum to dry the laundry and which absorbs moisture from the laundry.
  • the process air condenses when it cools down on the heat exchanger and the condensate water reaches the condensate collecting tank.
  • the condensate water can be fed indirectly or directly from the condensate collection container into the discharge collection device.
  • the condensate water is already being used to remove the lint from the discharge collection device, less external water has to be fed to the discharge collection device. Furthermore, the condensate water can also be used to convey lint, for example from a lint filter, into the discharge collection device in order to collect it there until it is rinsed out of the tumble dryer.
  • the cleaning device is advantageously designed in such a way that the heat exchanger can be cleaned by means of the condensate water.
  • the heat exchanger can be, for example, that heat exchanger which extracts heat from the process air flow and / or that heat exchanger which supplies heat to the process air flow. Several heat exchangers can therefore be cleaned.
  • the heat-extracting heat exchanger can also be an air-to-air heat exchanger and heat can be supplied to the process air by means of an electrical resistance wire.
  • the cleaning device can have a cleaning supply line for supplying condensate water from the condensate collection container to the heat exchanger, and / or a return device for returning the water to the heat exchanger Cleaning of the heat exchanger have supplied condensate water to the condensate collecting tank.
  • the condensate water is supplied in such a way that the lint is removed from the heat exchanger by cleaning with the condensate water.
  • the lint floating in the process air stream is mainly filtered out of the process air stream by the lint filter.
  • the lint filter is arranged in the direction of flow as far as possible after it emerges from the drum or at least in front of the heat exchanger, so that other components in the process air flow circuit are not unnecessarily contaminated with lint.
  • the lint filter does not work absolutely perfectly, so that lint is occasionally carried along by the process air flow through the lint filter and settles in the front part of the heat exchanger. This reduces the efficiency of the heat exchanger because the lint that has deposited forms an obstacle to flow on the surface, in particular on an end face, of the heat exchanger.
  • the front side is also part of the surface of the heat exchanger.
  • the condensate water can be used to clean the heat exchanger in that the lint is washed down from the surface, in particular from the front side, of the heat exchanger.
  • the cleaning device can be designed in such a way that only a front part, in particular a front half, of the heat exchanger can be cleaned by means of the condensate water.
  • the front part is that part of the heat exchanger which the process air in the process air flow meets first.
  • contaminated waste water for example waste water from a washing machine
  • contaminated waste water for example waste water from a washing machine
  • the system is deliberately designed in such a way that the externally supplied, contaminated waste water is only used to remove the lint the waste collector is used.
  • the soiled wastewater from the washing machine does not come into contact with a component from the process air flow circuit, for example with the heat exchanger or the lint filter, so that the laundry to be dried cannot be soiled with residues from the wastewater.
  • the water supply line is only connected to the discharge collection device.
  • the external water can be fed not only to the discharge collection device, but also to the condensate collection container.
  • only clean external water is fed to the condensate collecting tank. This is possible by checking the contamination of the water supplied, for example using a turbidity sensor.
  • the polluted wastewater is only fed to the discharge collector and clean wastewater either to the condensate collector and / or to the discharge collector. Dirty water is fed to the tumble dryer, for example after the main wash cycle, and clean water, for example after the final rinse, from the washing machine.
  • the tumble dryer and the washing machine communicate with one another, the washing machine informing the tumble dryer whether the water supplied, for example the waste water from the final rinse, is clean.
  • the wastewater should advantageously not contain fabric softener.
  • the cleaning supply line advantageously has a pump for conveying the condensate water to the heat exchanger.
  • the condensate collection container can be arranged above the heat exchanger.
  • the cleaning device has a spray head to spray the heat exchanger with the condensate water.
  • the cleaning supply line in connection with the condensate collecting container is designed in such a way that the condensate water is sucked off at a location at a distance from the ground and at a distance from the water surface, in particular where the distance from the ground or from the water surface is at least 1/10 of a Height of the condensate collecting tank.
  • a float for example, can be arranged at the end of the cleaning feed line, which siphons off the condensate water below the surface of the condensate water.
  • condensate water is only skimmed off when there is a certain water level in the condensate collecting tank, so that condensate water is not skimmed off near the bottom.
  • the cleaning supply line can be arranged at a fixed position on the condensate collecting container at a distance from the floor, with a measuring device being able to measure a water level so that condensate water can only be discharged via the cleaning supply line if the water surface is at a distance above the cleaning supply line.
  • the condensate water can be drawn in the vertical direction from a central area, which occupies 90%, in particular 80%, in particular 65%, of a volume of the condensate collection container (17), or from an upper area, in particular from the upper half, of the condensate collection container (17 ) are discharged.
  • This embodiment also improves the cleaning of the heat exchanger and the effective removal of lint. After the heat exchanger has been cleaned by means of the condensate water and the condensate water has been returned to the condensate collecting tank, they sink the lint in the condensate collecting tank on its bottom, or floating on the surface of the condensate water. If the condensate water is now skimmed off for further cleaning of the heat exchanger in a central area of the condensate collecting tank or below, but not on the surface of the condensate water, it is ensured that the cleanest possible condensate water, freed from lint, is sprayed onto the heat exchanger. This improves the cleaning quality.
  • the condensate water can be discharged from an upper area is therefore to be understood as meaning that the condensate water is discharged at a location in the condensate collecting container at which as little lint as possible collects. This means that the condensate water can also be discharged relatively far down in the condensate collecting tank. An arrangement in which the cleaning supply line would be arranged at the bottom of the condensate collecting container would be unsuitable.
  • the tumble dryer can have a lint filter for filtering lint from the process air flow.
  • the lint filter is arranged in front of the entry into the heat exchanger. This means that the process air flow laden with lint first flows through the lint filter and only then past the heat exchanger. In other words, the lint filter is arranged along the course of the process air flow between the drum and the heat exchanger.
  • the tumble dryer advantageously has a filter supply line for supplying condensate water from the condensate collection container to the lint filter. This allows the lint filter to be cleaned using the condensate water.
  • the tumble dryer has a discharge line for discharging the condensate water and the lint from the lint filter into the discharge collecting device.
  • the filter supply line is connected to a lower region of the condensate collecting container.
  • the filter supply line is connected to a lower region of the condensate collecting container.
  • Lint has already been added to the condensate water because it was used to clean the heat exchanger. However, since there is relatively little lint in the condensate water compared to the lint that has settled on the lint filter, this does not matter and the lint filter can still be cleaned effectively with the condensate water.
  • the cleaning device is deliberately designed in such a way that the initially clean condensate water is first used to clean the heat exchanger, on which relatively little lint is deposited, and only then is used to clean the filter that is heavily soiled with lint. This means that dirt is not unnecessarily fed to the heat exchanger.
  • the lint filter is arranged at an angle to a vertical.
  • One suction side of the lint filter is directed downwards.
  • the lint filter can be arranged and designed in such a way that it can be cleaned with condensate water flowing from top to bottom.
  • the terms “vertical”, “above” and “below” are to be understood in the light of a conventional installation position of the tumble dryer.
  • the suction side of the lint filter is the side on which the process air flow flows and on which the lint is deposited accordingly.
  • the condensate water can be sprayed straight down onto the lint filter from above. This results in an effective application of the condensate water to the lint filter, which leads to a good cleaning result.
  • the discharge collection device and / or the condensate collection container can be arranged in a base area and / or on a rear side of the tumble dryer.
  • the base area is to be understood as an area which is arranged essentially below the drum of the tumble dryer.
  • the lint filter can advantageously be designed as a lamellar filter.
  • the lamellar filter has two lamellar sub-filters that are interlocked with one another.
  • a lamellar filter is in particular a filter which has a plurality of plates, between which a plurality of intermediate spaces is formed, through which air to be filtered flows.
  • a lamellar filter is particularly suitable for cleaning with water.
  • the lamellar filter can, for example, also be connected upstream of an additional line filter so that the process air flow is filtered twice.
  • the tumble dryer advantageously has at least one pressurized water connection for cleaning the tumble dryer.
  • the user or the service staff can flush the entire tumble dryer with high water pressure.
  • the invention also relates to a method for operating the device combination mentioned at the beginning.
  • the cleaning takes place in such a way that lint is collected in the discharge collection device and then rinsed out of the discharge collection device by means of supplied external water.
  • the waste collection device is advantageously rinsed out with the waste water, in particular during and / or directly after a wash cycle of the washing machine. This is also possible in particular when the dryer is in a standby mode and no drying process is in progress.
  • the wastewater from the washing machine is just available at this point in time.
  • the tumble dryer will be used after the washing process.
  • the discharge collection device can be rinsed out immediately before using the tumble dryer, so that the readiness for a new drying cycle is established.
  • the tumble dryer can also be operated if there is no waste water available from the washing machine. In this case, the discharge collection device is only flushed out by means of condensate water.
  • a water reservoir is connected upstream of the discharge collection device, so that the water supply into the discharge collection device can be better controlled.
  • the discharge collection device can advantageously also be emptied without externally supplied water.
  • a tumble dryer has a coolable lint filter and / or a humidifying device for moistening the lint filter, in particular wherein the lint filter is designed as a lamellar filter.
  • a damp lint filter has the advantage that lint from the process air flow adheres better to the lint filter and the filter effect is therefore improved.
  • Fig. 1 shows a device combination which has a tumble dryer 1 and a washing machine 2, each with a drum 4 and 5 for receiving the laundry to be washed or the laundry to be dried. Furthermore the washing machine 2 has a container 6 for holding detergent.
  • the washing machine 2 has a water connection 7, via which water is supplied from outside in order to wash the laundry.
  • the washing machine 2 and the tumble dryer 1 are connected to one another via a water supply line 8.
  • the waste water from the washing machine 2 is fed to the tumble dryer 1 via the water supply line 8.
  • the washing machine 2 would have to have an additional waste water connection (not shown) in order to drain the rather dirty waste water, e.g. after the pre-wash cycle, directly into the household waste water system via the additional waste water connection.
  • the wastewater flows from the washing machine 2 via the water supply line 8 into a discharge collecting device 9 arranged in the tumble dryer 1 and / or into a condensate collecting container 17 arranged in the tumble dryer 1 mixed condensate water was flushed out of the tumble dryer 1.
  • the flushing takes place via the sewer line 10, for example into the sewage system of a household.
  • Fig. 2 the essential components of the tumble dryer 1 are illustrated with a schematic representation, in particular with the essential components being arranged in the base area and / or on the rear and / or in the upper area of the tumble dryer.
  • a process air stream flows to dry the laundry through the drum 4, which removes moisture from the laundry to be dried.
  • numerous fluff is detached from the laundry and flows out of the drum 4 with the process air flow.
  • the process air flow (arrow 10) flows through a lint filter 11 and then on (arrow 12) through a heat exchanger 13, which extracts heat from the process air flow.
  • the heat exchanger 13 is an evaporator of a heat pump. The removal of heat causes the moisture to condense in the process air flow.
  • the process air flow is slightly offset with lint as it flows past the heat exchanger 13, even after passing through the lint filter 11, so that little lint is deposited on the surface of the heat exchanger 13.
  • This contamination leads to a loss of the performance of the heat exchanger 13 because the lint deposited on the surface of the heat exchanger 13 has a blocking effect on the process air. For this reason, the heat exchanger 13 must be cleaned.
  • a further heat exchanger 15 is arranged downstream in the process air flow and supplies heat to the process air flow so that process air that is as warm and dry as possible flows through the drum.
  • the further heat exchanger 15 is a condenser of the heat pump. Lint can also settle on the surface of the further heat exchanger 15, so that this should also be cleaned.
  • the cleaning of the heat exchangers 13 and 15 is described in more detail below.
  • the condensed Condensate water is passed through a return device 14, 16 into a condensate collecting container 17.
  • the return device has the aforementioned collecting trough 14 and a return line 16.
  • the condensate collection container 17 simultaneously serves as a collecting pan, in that the condensate collection container 17 is arranged directly below the heat exchanger (variant not shown in the figures).
  • the condensate water collects in the condensate collecting container 17, and over time the lint settles on the floor or floats on the surface of the condensate water.
  • condensate water is skimmed off. This is conveyed to the heat exchangers 13 and 15 via a cleaning supply line 18. Since the lint collects in the lower area of the condensate collecting container 17, relatively clean condensate water can be skimmed off in the upper area.
  • a float 19 can be provided which moves up and down with the water level within the condensate collecting container 17, so that condensate water can be skimmed off below the water level.
  • spray heads 20, 21, 22 are provided with which the condensate water is sprayed onto the heat exchangers 13 and 15. Most of the lint is deposited in the front area of the heat exchanger 13, which extracts heat from the process air, which is why a separate spray head 20 is provided there.
  • the heat exchangers are cleaned by the spray and the condensate water contaminated with lint flows back into the condensate collecting container 17.
  • the transport of the water can be supported by pumps. This is exemplified by a pump 23a arranged on the cleaning feed line 18, by a pump 23b arranged on the filter feed line 24, by a pump 23b arranged on the return line 16 arranged pump 23c and illustrated by a pump 23d arranged on the discharge line 28.
  • the condensate collection container 17 is emptied or at least partially emptied. This can be done, for example, as a function of the water level in the condensate collecting tank 17, as a function of time, as a function of the state of contamination, which can be detected, for example, from the temperature in the process air circuit or in the refrigerant circuit or from the pressure in the process air circuit or in the refrigerant circuit, or as a function of a combination of at least two of these criteria take place.
  • the condensate water is drained off in the lower area of the condensate collecting container 17 so that the lint that has settled on the floor is flushed out.
  • the condensate water Before the condensate water is definitely drained from the tumble dryer, it can still be used to clean the lint filter 11.
  • the drained condensate water is conveyed to the lint filter 11 via a filter supply line 24. This is sprayed with the condensate water via spray heads 25.
  • the lint filter 11 On the lint filter 11, the lint is mainly deposited on the suction side 26. For effective cleaning, the lint filter 11 is therefore arranged at an angle with respect to the vertical (v). The lint filter 11 is sprayed from above by means of the condensate water, so that the condensate water hits the side opposite the suction side 26, flows through the lint filter 11 and carries the lint downwards on the suction side 26.
  • a lint filter 11 is shown schematically, which is designed as a lamella filter.
  • the lamellar filter comprises two lamellar sub-filters 30 which are interlocked with one another. These each have a holding device 31 on which lamellae 32 are arranged.
  • the execution shown flows the process air flow, for example, perpendicular to the plane of the drawing.
  • the condensate water and the lint washed off the lint filter 11 are placed in a funnel 27 ( Fig. 2 ) and conveyed via a discharge line 28 to the discharge collecting device 9.
  • the condensate collection container 17 is thus indirectly connected to the discharge collection device 9 via the lint filter 11.
  • the cleaning of the lint filter by means of condensate water could also be dispensed with, so that the condensate water would be drained from the condensate collection container 17 directly into the discharge collection device 9.
  • the contaminated condensate water is collected in the discharge collection device 9. If now, during or after a wash cycle, waste water is fed from the washing machine 2 via the water supply line 8, in particular via the section 8a, to the discharge collection device 9, the contaminated condensate water is flushed out of the discharge collection device 9 via a waste water line 29 from the tumble dryer 1. To convey the water, a pump 34 is arranged on the water supply line 8 and a pump 35 is arranged on the waste water line 29.
  • the discharge collection device 9 can also be drained without external waste water. Lint is likely to remain in the discharge collection device 9, but this can be flushed out as soon as waste water is available again from the washing machine 2, so that the discharge collection device 9 is cleanly cleaned again.
  • the water supply line 8 is also connected to the condensate collection container 17 via the section 8b.
  • the external water is used to clean the heat exchangers 13 and 15 and the lint filter 11. So that the components arranged in the process air flow, i.e. the heat exchangers 13 and 15 and the lint filter 11 are not contaminated by the supplied water, only clean external water may be supplied to the condensate collecting tank 17 via the water supply line 8, in particular via the section 8b.
  • a foreign matter sensor 33 is arranged on the water supply line 8. This detects, for example, dirt, fibers or residues of a fabric softener in the water supplied. In particular, it can be designed as a turbidity sensor. If the water in the water supply line 8 has been mixed with foreign substances, it may only be fed into the discharge collection device 9. Clean water can either be fed into the discharge collection device 9 or into the condensate collection container 17.
  • the supply of the external water into the discharge collection device 9 and / or into the condensate collection container 17 is controlled via a three-way valve 36.
  • the tumble dryer 1 and the washing machine 2 communicate with one another, the washing machine notifying the tumble dryer whether the water supplied, for example the waste water from the Cycle is clean.
  • the foreign matter sensor 33 can be dispensed with.
  • a lint filter is to be understood in particular as a filter which is designed in such a way that hair, solid particles, down, fibers, mineral particles and / or zeolite are also filtered.

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  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Detail Structures Of Washing Machines And Dryers (AREA)

Description

Gebiet der ErfindungField of invention

Die Erfindung betrifft eine Gerätekombination umfassend einen Wäschetrockner, insbesondere Haushaltswäschetrockner, zum Trocknen von Wäsche mittels Prozessluft, wobei der Wäschetrockner eine Wasserzuleitung aufweist, zur Zuführung von externem Wasser zwecks Entfernung von aus der Prozessluft abgeschiedenen Flusen aus dem Wäschetrockner, und wobei die Gerätekombination weiter eine Waschmaschine umfasst, wobei die Wasserzuleitung mit der Waschmaschine verbunden ist zur Beförderung von Waschmaschinenabwasser von der Waschmaschine zum Wäschetrockner.The invention relates to a device combination comprising a tumble dryer, in particular a household tumble dryer, for drying laundry using process air, the tumble dryer having a water supply line for supplying external water for the purpose of removing lint separated from the process air from the tumble dryer, and wherein the device combination further includes a washing machine comprises, wherein the water supply line is connected to the washing machine for conveying washing machine waste water from the washing machine to the tumble dryer.

Hintergrundbackground

In einem Wäschetrockner sollte zur Verhinderung einer Verschmutzung des Geräts mindestens ein Flusenfilter vorgesehen sein. In bekannten Geräten ist ein solcher Flusenfilter z.B. in der Türe des Geräts angeordnet.At least one lint filter should be provided in a tumble dryer to prevent soiling of the device. In known devices, such a lint filter is arranged, for example, in the door of the device.

Bei den meisten bekannten Geräten muss der Flusenfilter periodisch von Hand gereinigt oder ersetzt werden. Alternativ wird der Flusenfilter automatisch abgesaugt und die Flusen werden in einem Flusenbehälter gesammelt.In most known devices, the lint filter must be periodically cleaned or replaced by hand. Alternatively, the lint filter is automatically vacuumed and the lint is collected in a lint container.

In US 2010/287712 werden zwei aufeinander angeordnete Waschtrockner gemäß dem Oberbegriff von Anspruch 1 offenbart, welche durch eine gemeinsame Wasserleitung miteinander verbunden sind.In US 2010/287712 two washer-dryers arranged on top of one another according to the preamble of claim 1 are disclosed, which are connected to one another by a common water pipe.

In DE 10 2014 204299 wird ein Wäschetrockner mit einem Wasseranschluss gezeigt. Sowohl der Flusenfilter als auch ein Wärmetauscher werden mit einer Mischung von Leitungswasser und Kondensatwasser gereinigt.In DE 10 2014 204299 a tumble dryer with a water connection is shown. Both the lint filter and a heat exchanger are cleaned with a mixture of tap water and condensate water.

In DE 10 2014 118861 wird ein Wäschetrockner beschrieben, bei welchem der Verdampfer mit externem leitungsweisser gewaschen wird.In DE 10 2014 118861 describes a tumble dryer in which the evaporator is washed with an external pipe whitener.

In US 2013/318813 wird ein Waschtrockner mit einer Wasserzuleitung beschrieben. Mit dem zugeleiteten Wasser kann die Wäsche gewaschen, die Wand der Trommel gekühlt, oder der Flusenfilter gereinigt werden.In US 2013/318813 describes a washer-dryer with a water supply line. The water can be used to wash the laundry, cool the drum wall or clean the lint filter.

In JP 2006 187449 wird ein Waschtrockner mit einem Flusenfilter gezeigt, wobei der Flusenfilter mit extern zugeführtem Wasser gereinigt wird.In JP 2006 187449 a washer-dryer with a lint filter is shown, the lint filter being cleaned with externally supplied water.

In EP 3 015 593 wird ein Wäschetrockner gezeigt, bei welchem der Flusenfilter mit Wasser gereinigt wird.In EP 3,015,593 a tumble dryer is shown in which the lint filter is cleaned with water.

Darstellung der ErfindungPresentation of the invention

Die Aufgabe der vorliegenden Erfindung besteht darin, eine Gerätekombination der eingangs genannten Art und ein Verfahren zum Betrieb der Gerätekombination bereitzustellen, bei welcher Flusen effektiv abgeführt werden können.The object of the present invention is to provide a device combination of the type mentioned at the beginning and a method for operating the device combination in which lint can be effectively removed.

Diese Aufgabe wird von der Gerätekombination gemäss dem unabhängigen Vorrichtungsanspruch gelöst. Demgemäss umfasst die Gerätekombination einen Wäschetrockner, insbesondere Haushaltswäschetrockner, zum Trocknen von Wäsche mittels Prozessluft, wobei der Wäschetrockner eine Wasserzuleitung aufweist, zur Zuführung von externem Wasser zwecks Entfernung von aus der Prozessluft abgeschiedenen Flusen aus dem Wäschetrockner, und eine Waschmaschine. Die Wasserzuleitung ist mit der Waschmaschine verbunden zur Beförderung von Waschmaschinenabwasser von der Waschmaschine zum Wäschetrockner. Die Gerätekombination ist derart ausgestaltet, dass der Wäschetrockner und die Waschmaschine miteinander kommunizieren, wobei die Waschmaschine dem Wäschetrockner mitteilt, ob das zugeführte Wasser sauber ist.This task is solved by the device combination according to the independent device claim. Accordingly, the device combination comprises a tumble dryer, in particular a household tumble dryer, for drying laundry using process air, the tumble dryer having a water supply line for supplying external water for the purpose of removing lint separated from the process air from the tumble dryer, and a washing machine. The water supply line is connected to the washing machine for conveying washing machine waste water from the washing machine to the tumble dryer. The device combination is designed in such a way that the tumble dryer and the washing machine communicate with one another, the washing machine informing the tumble dryer whether the water supplied is clean.

Mit Vorteil umfasst der Wäschetrockner eine Abfuhrsammelvorrichtung zur Ansammlung von abzuführenden Flusen. Die Wasserzuleitung ist mit der Abfuhrsammelvorrichtung verbunden. Über die Wasserzuleitung kann Wasser zur Reinigung der Abfuhrsammelvorrichtung zugeführt werden.The tumble dryer advantageously comprises a discharge collection device for collecting lint to be discharged. The water supply line is connected to the discharge collection device. Water for cleaning the discharge collection device can be fed via the water supply line.

Der Wäschetrockner kann insbesondere ein Haushaltswäschetrockner sein, der insbesondere eine Trommel zur Aufnahme von zu trocknender Wäsche aufweist.The tumble dryer can in particular be a household tumble dryer which in particular has a drum for receiving laundry to be dried.

Unter einer Wasserzuleitung ist eine Leitung zu verstehen, mittels welcher Wasser von ausserhalb des Wäschetrockners, beispielsweise Abwasser von einer Waschmaschine oder sauberes Wasser von einem haushaltsüblichen Wasseranschluss, dem Wäschetrockner zugeleitet werden kann. Die Wasserzuleitung ist mit der Abfuhrsammelvorrichtung derart verbunden, dass das zugeleitete Wasser in die Abfuhrsammelvorrichtung gelangt.A water supply line is to be understood as a line by means of which water from outside the tumble dryer, for example waste water from a washing machine or clean water from a common household water connection, can be fed to the tumble dryer. The water supply line is connected to the drainage collecting device in such a way that the supplied water reaches the drainage collecting device.

Die Zuführung von externem Wasser ermöglicht ein effektives Abführen der Flusen aus dem Wäschetrockner. Der Benutzer braucht nicht irgendeinen Flusensammelbehälter oder ein Flusensieb regelmässig zu leeren oder auszuwechseln, sondern die Flusen werden mittels Wasser automatisch aus der Abfuhrsammelvorrichtung und damit aus dem Wäschetrockner ausgespült. Das mit Flusen verschmutzte Wasser kann dem Abwassersystem des Haushalts zugeführt werden. Im Weiteren kann die Abfuhrsammelvorrichtung mittels des zugeführten Wassers sauber gereinigt und aufgrund des zugeführten Wassers können Verstopfungen im Abwassersystem vermieden werden.The supply of external water enables the lint to be effectively removed from the tumble dryer. The user does not need to regularly empty or replace any lint collecting container or a lint filter, but rather the lint is automatically rinsed out of the waste collection device and thus out of the tumble dryer by means of water. The water contaminated with lint can be fed into the household's sewage system. Furthermore, the discharge collection device can be cleaned clean by means of the supplied water and blockages in the sewage system can be avoided due to the supplied water.

Mit Vorteil umfasst der Wäschetrockner eine Reinigungsvorrichtung mit einem Kondensatsammelbehälter zur Sammlung von aus einem Prozessluftstrom an einem Wärmetauscher auskondensierten Kondensatwasser. Insbesondere ist die Wasserzuleitung mit dem Kondensatsammelbehälter verbunden zur Zuführung von externem Wasser in den Kondensatsammelbehälter.The tumble dryer advantageously comprises a cleaning device with a condensate collecting container for collecting condensate water condensed from a process air flow on a heat exchanger. In particular, the water supply line is connected to the condensate collecting tank for supplying external water to the condensate collecting tank.

Beim Prozessluftstrom handelt es sich um denjenigen Luftstrom, welcher zur Trocknung der Wäsche durch die Trommel geführt wird und dabei Feuchtigkeit von der Wäsche aufnimmt. Durch Abkühlung am Wärmetauscher kondensiert die Prozessluft und das Kondensatwasser gelangt in den Kondensatsammelbehälter.The process air flow is that air flow which is passed through the drum to dry the laundry and which absorbs moisture from the laundry. The process air condenses when it cools down on the heat exchanger and the condensate water reaches the condensate collecting tank.

In einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform ist das Kondensatwasser aus dem Kondensatsammelbehälter in die Abfuhrsammelvorrichtung indirekt oder direkt zuleitbar.In a preferred embodiment, the condensate water can be fed indirectly or directly from the condensate collection container into the discharge collection device.

Hierdurch ergeben sich mehrere Vorteile. Weil bereits das Kondensatwasser zur Abführung der Flusen aus der Abfuhrsammelvorrichtung genutzt wird, muss weniger externes Wasser der Abfuhrsammelvorrichtung zugeführt werden. Im Weiteren kann das Kondensatwasser auch dazu genutzt werden, Flusen, beispielsweise von einem Flusenfilter, in die Abfuhrsammelvorrichtung zu befördern, um es dort zu sammeln, bis es aus dem Wäschetrockner ausgespült wird.This has several advantages. Because the condensate water is already being used to remove the lint from the discharge collection device, less external water has to be fed to the discharge collection device. Furthermore, the condensate water can also be used to convey lint, for example from a lint filter, into the discharge collection device in order to collect it there until it is rinsed out of the tumble dryer.

Mit Vorteil ist die Reinigungsvorrichtung derart ausgestaltet, dass der Wärmetauscher mittels des Kondensatwassers reinigbar ist.The cleaning device is advantageously designed in such a way that the heat exchanger can be cleaned by means of the condensate water.

Beim Wärmetauscher kann es sich beispielsweise um denjenigen Wärmetauscher, welcher dem Prozessluftstrom Wärme entzieht, und/oder um denjenigen Wärmetauscher, welcher dem Prozessluftstrom Wärme zuführt, handeln. Es können somit mehrere Wärmetauscher reinigbar sein.The heat exchanger can be, for example, that heat exchanger which extracts heat from the process air flow and / or that heat exchanger which supplies heat to the process air flow. Several heat exchangers can therefore be cleaned.

Insbesondere sind dies ein Verdampfer oder ein Kondensator einer Wärmepumpe. Beispielsweise kann es sich beim Wärme entziehenden Wärmetauscher auch um einen luft-Luft-Wärmetauscher handeln und Wärme kann der Prozessluft mittels eines elektrischen Widerstandsdrahtes zugeführt werden.In particular, these are an evaporator or a condenser of a heat pump. For example, the heat-extracting heat exchanger can also be an air-to-air heat exchanger and heat can be supplied to the process air by means of an electrical resistance wire.

Im Weiteren kann die Reinigungsvorrichtung eine Reinigungszufuhrleitung zur Zuführung von Kondensatwasser aus dem Kondensatsammelbehälter zum Wärmetauscher, und/oder eine Rückführvorrichtung zur Rückführung des zur Reinigung des Wärmetauschers zugeführten Kondensatwassers zum Kondensatsammelbehälter aufweisen. Die Zuführung des Kondensatwassers erfolgt dabei derart, dass der Wärmetauscher durch die Reinigung mit dem Kondensatwasser von den Flusen befreit wird.Furthermore, the cleaning device can have a cleaning supply line for supplying condensate water from the condensate collection container to the heat exchanger, and / or a return device for returning the water to the heat exchanger Cleaning of the heat exchanger have supplied condensate water to the condensate collecting tank. The condensate water is supplied in such a way that the lint is removed from the heat exchanger by cleaning with the condensate water.

Die im Prozessluftstrom schwebenden Flusen werden hauptsächlich durch den Flusenfilter aus dem Prozessluftstrom herausgefiltert. Der Flusenfilter ist dabei in Strömungsrichtung möglichst nach Austritt aus der Trommel oder zumindest vor dem Wärmetauscher angeordnet, sodass nicht unnötig weitere Komponenten im Prozessluftstromkreislauf mit Flusen verschmutzt werden. Der Flusenfilter arbeitet allerdings nicht absolut perfekt, sodass Flusen vereinzelt durch den Prozessluftstrom durch den Flusenfilter mitgerissen werden und sich im vorderen Teil des Wärmetauschers absetzen. Dadurch sinkt die Effizienz des Wärmetauschers, weil die sich abgesetzten Flusen ein Strömungshindernis auf der Oberfläche, insbesondere an einer Stirnseite, des Wärmetauschers bilden. Die Stirnseite ist ebenfalls Teil der Oberfläche des Wärmetauschers. Das Kondensatwasser kann genutzt werden, um den Wärmetauscher zu reinigen, indem die Flusen von der Oberfläche, insbesondere von der Stirnseite, des Wärmetauschers herabgespült werden.The lint floating in the process air stream is mainly filtered out of the process air stream by the lint filter. The lint filter is arranged in the direction of flow as far as possible after it emerges from the drum or at least in front of the heat exchanger, so that other components in the process air flow circuit are not unnecessarily contaminated with lint. However, the lint filter does not work absolutely perfectly, so that lint is occasionally carried along by the process air flow through the lint filter and settles in the front part of the heat exchanger. This reduces the efficiency of the heat exchanger because the lint that has deposited forms an obstacle to flow on the surface, in particular on an end face, of the heat exchanger. The front side is also part of the surface of the heat exchanger. The condensate water can be used to clean the heat exchanger in that the lint is washed down from the surface, in particular from the front side, of the heat exchanger.

Insbesondere kann die Reinigungsvorrichtung derart ausgestaltet sein, dass bloss ein vorderer Teil, insbesondere eine vordere Hälfte, des Wärmetauschers mittels des Kondensatwassers reinigbar ist. Beim vorderen Teil handelt es sich um denjenigen Teil des Wärmetauschers, auf welchen die Prozessluft im Prozessluftstrom zuerst trifft.In particular, the cleaning device can be designed in such a way that only a front part, in particular a front half, of the heat exchanger can be cleaned by means of the condensate water. The front part is that part of the heat exchanger which the process air in the process air flow meets first.

Für den Fall, dass von extern dem Wäschetrockner auch verschmutztes Abwasser, beispielsweise das Abwasser aus einer Waschmaschine, zugeführt wird, ergibt sich noch ein weiterer Vorteil. Das System ist bewusst derart ausgestaltet, dass das von extern zugeführte, verschmutzte Abwasser lediglich zur Abführung der Flusen aus der Abfuhrsammelvorrichtung verwendet wird. Das verschmutzte Abwasser aus der Waschmaschine gelangt dabei nicht in Kontakt mit einer Komponente aus dem Prozessluftstromkreislauf, beispielsweise mit dem Wärmetauscher oder dem Flusenfilter, sodass die zu trocknende Wäsche nicht mit Rückständen aus dem Abwasser verschmutzt werden kann.In the event that contaminated waste water, for example waste water from a washing machine, is also supplied to the tumble dryer from outside, there is still another advantage. The system is deliberately designed in such a way that the externally supplied, contaminated waste water is only used to remove the lint the waste collector is used. The soiled wastewater from the washing machine does not come into contact with a component from the process air flow circuit, for example with the heat exchanger or the lint filter, so that the laundry to be dried cannot be soiled with residues from the wastewater.

Um die Verschmutzung der Komponenten aus dem Prozessluftstromkreislauf zu verhindern, ist in einer ersten Ausführungsform die Wasserzuleitung lediglich mit der Abfuhrsammelvorrichtung verbunden. In einer zweiten Ausführungsform kann das externe Wasser nicht nur der Abfuhrsammelvorrichtung, sondern auch dem Kondensatsammelbehälter zugeführt werden. Bei dieser Variante wird allerdings nur sauberes externes Wasser dem Kondensatsammelbehälter zugeführt. Dies ist möglich, indem die Verschmutzung des zugeführten Wassers beispielsweise über einen Trübungssensor kontrolliert wird. Das verschmutzte Abwasser wird nur der Abfuhrsammelvorrichtung und sauberes Abwasser entweder dem Kondensatsammelbehälter und/oder der Abfuhrsammelvorrichtung zugeführt. Dabei wird verschmutztes Wasser beispielsweise nach dem Hauptwaschgang und sauberes Wasser beispielsweise nach dem Endspülgang vom Waschautomaten dem Wäschetrockner zugeführt.In order to prevent contamination of the components from the process air flow circuit, in a first embodiment the water supply line is only connected to the discharge collection device. In a second embodiment, the external water can be fed not only to the discharge collection device, but also to the condensate collection container. With this variant, however, only clean external water is fed to the condensate collecting tank. This is possible by checking the contamination of the water supplied, for example using a turbidity sensor. The polluted wastewater is only fed to the discharge collector and clean wastewater either to the condensate collector and / or to the discharge collector. Dirty water is fed to the tumble dryer, for example after the main wash cycle, and clean water, for example after the final rinse, from the washing machine.

Falls es sich um Abwasser aus einem Waschautomaten handelt, so ist es denkbar, dass der Wäschetrockner und der Waschautomat miteinander kommunizieren, wobei der Waschautomat dem Wäschetrockner mitteilt, ob das zugeführte Wasser, beispielsweise das Abwasser aus dem Endspülgang, sauber ist. Vorteilhaft sollte das Abwasser nicht mit Weichspülmittel versetzt sein.If it is waste water from a washing machine, it is conceivable that the tumble dryer and the washing machine communicate with one another, the washing machine informing the tumble dryer whether the water supplied, for example the waste water from the final rinse, is clean. The wastewater should advantageously not contain fabric softener.

Mit Vorteil weist die Reinigungszufuhrleitung eine Pumpe auf zur Beförderung des Kondensatwassers zum Wärmetauscher. Alternativ kann der Kondensatsammelbehälter oberhalb des Wärmetauschers angeordnet sein. Insbesondere weist die Reinigungsvorrichtung einen Sprühkopf auf zur Besprühung des Wärmetauschers mittels des Kondensatwassers.The cleaning supply line advantageously has a pump for conveying the condensate water to the heat exchanger. Alternatively, the condensate collection container can be arranged above the heat exchanger. In particular, the cleaning device has a spray head to spray the heat exchanger with the condensate water.

In einer weiteren Ausführungsform ist die Reinigungszufuhrleitung in Verbindung mit dem Kondensatsammelbehälter derart ausgestaltet, dass das Kondensatwasser an einem Ort mit Beabstandung vom Boden und mit Beabstandung von der Wasseroberfläche abgesaugt wird, insbesondere wobei die Beabstandung vom Boden oder von der Wasseroberfläche mindestens 1/10 von einer Kondensatsammelbehälterhöhe beträgt.In a further embodiment, the cleaning supply line in connection with the condensate collecting container is designed in such a way that the condensate water is sucked off at a location at a distance from the ground and at a distance from the water surface, in particular where the distance from the ground or from the water surface is at least 1/10 of a Height of the condensate collecting tank.

Um das Kondensatwasser in dieser Form aus dem Kondensatsammelbehälter abzuführen, kann am Ende der Reinigungszufuhrleitung beispielsweise ein Schwimmer angeordnet sein, der unterhalb der Kondensatwasseroberfläche das Kondensatwasser abschöpft. Kondensatwasser wird allerdings nur dann abgeschöpft, wenn ein bestimmtes Wasserniveau im Kondensatsammelbehälter vorhanden ist, sodass Kondensatwasser nicht in der Nähe des Bodens abgeschöpft wird.In order to discharge the condensate water in this form from the condensate collecting tank, a float, for example, can be arranged at the end of the cleaning feed line, which siphons off the condensate water below the surface of the condensate water. However, condensate water is only skimmed off when there is a certain water level in the condensate collecting tank, so that condensate water is not skimmed off near the bottom.

Alternativ kann die Reinigungszufuhrleitung an einer festen Position am Kondensatsammelbehälter mit Beabstandung vom Boden angeordnet sein, wobei mit einer Messvorrichtung ein Wasserfüllstand messbar ist, sodass Kondensatwasser über die Reinigungszufuhrleitung nur dann abführbar ist, wenn die Wasseroberfläche mit Beabstandung oberhalb der Reinigungszufuhrleitung liegt.Alternatively, the cleaning supply line can be arranged at a fixed position on the condensate collecting container at a distance from the floor, with a measuring device being able to measure a water level so that condensate water can only be discharged via the cleaning supply line if the water surface is at a distance above the cleaning supply line.

Im Weiteren kann das Kondensatwasser in vertikaler Richtung aus einem mittleren Bereich, welcher 90%, insbesondere 80%, insbesondere 65%, eines Volumens des Kondensatsammelbehälters (17) einnimmt, oder aus einem oberen Bereich, insbesondere aus der oberen Hälfte, des Kondensatsammelbehälters (17) abgeführt werden.In addition, the condensate water can be drawn in the vertical direction from a central area, which occupies 90%, in particular 80%, in particular 65%, of a volume of the condensate collection container (17), or from an upper area, in particular from the upper half, of the condensate collection container (17 ) are discharged.

Diese Ausführungsform verbessert die Reinigung des Wärmetauschers bzw. die effektive Abführung von Flusen zusätzlich. Nachdem der Wärmetauscher mittels des Kondensatwassers gereinigt und das Kondensatwasser in den Kondensatsammelbehälter zurückgeführt wurde, senken sich die Flusen im Kondensatsammelbehälter auf dessen Boden ab, oder schwimmen an der Oberfläche des Kondensatwassers. Wenn nun das Kondensatwasser zur weiteren Reinigung des Wärmetauschers in einem mittleren Bereich des Kondensatsammelbehälters oder unterhalb, aber nicht auf der Kondensatwasseroberfläche abgeschöpft wird, so wird sichergestellt, dass möglichst sauberes, von Flusen befreites Kondensatwasser auf den Wärmetauscher gesprüht wird. Die Reinigungsqualität verbessert sich dadurch.This embodiment also improves the cleaning of the heat exchanger and the effective removal of lint. After the heat exchanger has been cleaned by means of the condensate water and the condensate water has been returned to the condensate collecting tank, they sink the lint in the condensate collecting tank on its bottom, or floating on the surface of the condensate water. If the condensate water is now skimmed off for further cleaning of the heat exchanger in a central area of the condensate collecting tank or below, but not on the surface of the condensate water, it is ensured that the cleanest possible condensate water, freed from lint, is sprayed onto the heat exchanger. This improves the cleaning quality.

Dass das Kondensatwasser aus einem oberen Bereich abführbar ist, ist demnach so zu verstehen, dass das Kondensatwasser an einem Ort im Kondensatsammelbehälter abgeführt wird, an welchem sich möglichst wenige Flusen ansammeln. D.h., dass das Kondensatwasser auch relativ weit unten im Kondensatsammelbehälter abgeführt werden kann. Ungeeignet wäre eine Anordnung bei welcher die Reinigungszufuhrleitung am Boden des Kondensatsammelbehälters angeordnet wäre.The fact that the condensate water can be discharged from an upper area is therefore to be understood as meaning that the condensate water is discharged at a location in the condensate collecting container at which as little lint as possible collects. This means that the condensate water can also be discharged relatively far down in the condensate collecting tank. An arrangement in which the cleaning supply line would be arranged at the bottom of the condensate collecting container would be unsuitable.

Im Weiteren kann der Wäschetrockner einen Flusenfilter aufweisen zur Filterung von Flusen aus dem Prozessluftstrom. Der Flusenfilter ist dabei vor Eintritt in den Wärmetauscher angeordnet. Dies bedeutet, dass der mit Flusen beladene Prozessluftstrom zuerst durch den Flusenfilter und erst anschliessend am Wärmetauscher vorbeiströmt. Mit anderen Worten ist der Flusenfilter entlang des Verlaufs des Prozessluftstroms zwischen der Trommel und dem Wärmetauscher angeordnet.Furthermore, the tumble dryer can have a lint filter for filtering lint from the process air flow. The lint filter is arranged in front of the entry into the heat exchanger. This means that the process air flow laden with lint first flows through the lint filter and only then past the heat exchanger. In other words, the lint filter is arranged along the course of the process air flow between the drum and the heat exchanger.

Durch diese Anordnung wird der grösste Teil der Flusen aus dem Prozessluftstrom durch den Flusenfilter herausgefiltert, sodass sich am Wärmetauscher möglichst wenige Flusen ablagern.With this arrangement, most of the lint is filtered out of the process air flow by the lint filter, so that as little lint as possible is deposited on the heat exchanger.

Mit Vorteil weist der Wäschetrockner eine Filterzufuhrleitung zur Zuführung von Kondensatwasser aus dem Kondensatsammelbehälter zum Flusenfilter auf. Damit kann der Flusenfilter mittels des Kondensatwassers gereinigt werden.The tumble dryer advantageously has a filter supply line for supplying condensate water from the condensate collection container to the lint filter. This allows the lint filter to be cleaned using the condensate water.

Im Weiteren weist der Wäschetrockner eine Abfuhrleitung zur Abführung des Kondensatwassers und der Flusen vom Flusenfilter in die Abfuhrsammelvorrichtung auf.Furthermore, the tumble dryer has a discharge line for discharging the condensate water and the lint from the lint filter into the discharge collecting device.

Insbesondere ist die Filterzufuhrleitung mit einem unteren Bereich des Kondensatsammelbehälters verbunden. Dadurch werden die sich am Boden des Kondensatsammelbehälters abgesetzten Flusen über die Filterzufuhrleitung herausgespült.In particular, the filter supply line is connected to a lower region of the condensate collecting container. As a result, the lint that has settled on the bottom of the condensate collection container is flushed out via the filter supply line.

Bei dieser Ausgestaltung des Wäschetrockners ergeben sich mehrere Vorteile. Eine Reinigung des Flusenfilters mittels Wasser führt zu einem sehr guten Reinigungsergebnis des Flusenfilters. Wiederum wird für die Reinigung Kondensatwasser und kein von extern zugeführtes Abwasser benutzt, sodass kein zusätzlicher Schmutz in den Prozessluftstrom zugeführt wird.With this configuration of the clothes dryer there are several advantages. Cleaning the lint filter with water leads to a very good cleaning result for the lint filter. Again, condensate water and no externally supplied waste water is used for cleaning, so that no additional dirt is fed into the process air flow.

Das Kondensatwasser ist bereits mit Flusen versetzt, da es zur Reinigung des Wärmetauschers verwendet wurde. Da allerdings im Kondensatwasser relativ wenig Flusen im Vergleich zu den Flusen, welche sich am Flusenfilter abgesetzt haben, vorhanden sind, spielt dies keine Rolle und der Flusenfilter kann trotzdem mit dem Kondensatwasser effektiv gereinigt werden.Lint has already been added to the condensate water because it was used to clean the heat exchanger. However, since there is relatively little lint in the condensate water compared to the lint that has settled on the lint filter, this does not matter and the lint filter can still be cleaned effectively with the condensate water.

Im Weiteren ist die Reinigungsvorrichtung bewusst derart ausgestaltet, dass das anfänglich saubere Kondensatwasser zuerst zur Reinigung des Wärmetauschers, an welchem sich relativ wenige Flusen ablagern, und erst anschliessend zur Reinigung des mit Flusen stark verschmutzten Filters verwendet wird. Somit wird dem Wärmetauscher nicht unnötig Schmutz zugeführt.Furthermore, the cleaning device is deliberately designed in such a way that the initially clean condensate water is first used to clean the heat exchanger, on which relatively little lint is deposited, and only then is used to clean the filter that is heavily soiled with lint. This means that dirt is not unnecessarily fed to the heat exchanger.

In einer vorteilhaften Ausführung ist der Flusenfilter schräg zu einer Vertikalen angeordnet. Dabei ist eine Ansaugseite des Flusenfilters gegen unten gerichtet.In an advantageous embodiment, the lint filter is arranged at an angle to a vertical. One suction side of the lint filter is directed downwards.

Im Weiteren kann der Flusenfilter derart angeordnet und ausgestaltet sein, dass er mit von oben nach unten strömendem Kondensatwasser reinigbar ist.Furthermore, the lint filter can be arranged and designed in such a way that it can be cleaned with condensate water flowing from top to bottom.

Die Begriffe "vertikal", "oben" und "unten" sind dabei im Lichte einer üblichen Montageposition des Wäschetrockners zu verstehen. Die Ansaugseite des Flusenfilters ist diejenige Seite, auf welche der Prozessluftstrom zuströmt und auf welcher sich die Flusen entsprechend ablagern.The terms "vertical", "above" and "below" are to be understood in the light of a conventional installation position of the tumble dryer. The suction side of the lint filter is the side on which the process air flow flows and on which the lint is deposited accordingly.

Durch eine nicht vertikale, schräge Ausrichtung des Flusenfilters kann das Kondensatwasser von oben in gerader Richtung nach unten auf den Flusenfilter gesprüht werden. Dadurch ergibt sich eine effektive Beaufschlagung des Flusenfilters mit dem Kondensatwasser, was zu einem guten Reinigungsergebnis führt.If the lint filter is not vertical and inclined, the condensate water can be sprayed straight down onto the lint filter from above. This results in an effective application of the condensate water to the lint filter, which leads to a good cleaning result.

Im Weiteren können die Abfuhrsammelvorrichtung und/oder der Kondensatsammelbehälter in einem Sockelbereich und/oder an einer Rückseite des Wäschetrockners angeordnet sein. Unter dem Sockelbereich ist dabei ein Bereich zu verstehen, welcher im Wesentlichen unterhalb der Trommel des Wäschetrockners angeordnet ist.Furthermore, the discharge collection device and / or the condensate collection container can be arranged in a base area and / or on a rear side of the tumble dryer. The base area is to be understood as an area which is arranged essentially below the drum of the tumble dryer.

Mit Vorteil kann der Flusenfilter als ein Lamellenfilter ausgestaltet sein. Insbesondere weist der Lamellenfilter zwei ineinander verzahnte Lamellenteilfilter auf.The lint filter can advantageously be designed as a lamellar filter. In particular, the lamellar filter has two lamellar sub-filters that are interlocked with one another.

Ein Lamellenfilter ist insbesondere ein Filter, der eine Mehrzahl von Platten aufweist, zwischen denen eine Mehrzahl von Zwischenräumen gebildet ist, durch welche zu filternde Luft strömt.A lamellar filter is in particular a filter which has a plurality of plates, between which a plurality of intermediate spaces is formed, through which air to be filtered flows.

Ein Lamellenfilter ist besonders geeignet, um mit Wasser gereinigt zu werden. Der Lamellenfilter kann beispielsweise auch einem zusätzlichen Netzfilter vorgeschaltet sein, sodass der Prozessluftstrom zweifach gefiltert wird.A lamellar filter is particularly suitable for cleaning with water. The lamellar filter can, for example, also be connected upstream of an additional line filter so that the process air flow is filtered twice.

Mit Vorteil weist der Wäschetrockner mindestens einen Druckwasseranschluss zur Reinigung des Wäschetrockners auf. Damit kann beispielsweise der Benutzer oder das Servicepersonal den gesamten Wäschetrockner mit einem hohen Wasserdruck durchspülen.The tumble dryer advantageously has at least one pressurized water connection for cleaning the tumble dryer. In this way, for example, the user or the service staff can flush the entire tumble dryer with high water pressure.

Im Weiteren kann der Wäschetrockner eine Steuerung und einen Wärmetauscher um der Prozessluft Wärme zuzuführen und/oder um der Prozessluft Wärme zu entziehen aufweisen, wobei

  • die Steuerung derart ausgestaltet ist, dass die Reinigung des der Prozessluft Wärme zuführenden Wärmetauschers nach einem Trocknungsprozess während eines Abkühlens des der Prozessluft Wärme zuführenden Wärmetauschers erfolgt, und/oder
  • die Steuerung derart ausgestaltet ist, dass die Reinigung des der Prozessluft Wärme entziehenden Wärmetauschers nach der Reinigung des der Prozessluft Wärme zuführenden Wärmetauschers erfolgt, und/oder
  • die Steuerung derart ausgestaltet ist, dass der Wärmetauscher vor dem Flusenfilter gereinigt wird, und/oder
  • die Steuerung derart ausgestaltet ist, dass der Flusenfilter während eines Trocknungsprozesses gereinigt wird, und/oder
  • die Steuerung derart ausgestaltet ist, dass die Reinigung des der Prozessluft Wärme entziehenden Wärmetauschers während einer Anfangsphase eines Trocknungsprozesses erfolgt, und/oder
  • die Steuerung derart ausgestaltet ist, dass die Reinigung des Wärmetauschers erfolgt, während kein Trocknungsprozess im Gange ist.
Furthermore, the tumble dryer can have a controller and a heat exchanger to supply heat to the process air and / or to remove heat from the process air, wherein
  • the control is designed such that the cleaning of the heat exchanger supplying heat to the process air takes place after a drying process while the heat exchanger supplying heat to the process air is being cooled, and / or
  • the control is designed in such a way that the cleaning of the heat exchanger which extracts heat from the process air takes place after the cleaning of the heat exchanger which supplies heat to the process air, and / or
  • the control is designed in such a way that the heat exchanger is cleaned upstream of the lint filter, and / or
  • the control is designed such that the lint filter is cleaned during a drying process, and / or
  • the control is designed in such a way that the cleaning of the heat exchanger, which removes heat from the process air, takes place during an initial phase of a drying process, and / or
  • the control is designed in such a way that the cleaning of the heat exchanger takes place while no drying process is in progress.

Dass der Wärmetauscher "vor" dem Flusenfilter zu reinigen ist, ist zeitlich zu verstehen, wobei der Wärmetauscher innerhalb eines Trocknungsprozesses vor dem Flusenfilter gereinigt wird.The fact that the heat exchanger is to be cleaned “before” the lint filter is to be understood in terms of time, with the heat exchanger being cleaned within a drying process in front of the lint filter.

Ebenso betrifft die Erfindung ein Verfahren zum Betrieb der eingangs erwähnten Gerätekombination. Die Reinigung erfolgt dabei derart, dass Flusen in der Abfuhrsammelvorrichtung gesammelt und anschliessend mittels zugeleitetem externen Wasser aus der Abfuhrsammelvorrichtung ausgespült werden.The invention also relates to a method for operating the device combination mentioned at the beginning. The cleaning takes place in such a way that lint is collected in the discharge collection device and then rinsed out of the discharge collection device by means of supplied external water.

Mit Vorteil wird die Abfuhrsammelvorrichtung, insbesondere während und/oder direkt nach einem Waschgang der Waschmaschine, mit dem Abwasser ausgespült. Dies ist insbesondere auch möglich, wenn sich der Trockner in einem Bereitschaftsmodus befindet und kein Trocknungsprozess im Gange ist.The waste collection device is advantageously rinsed out with the waste water, in particular during and / or directly after a wash cycle of the washing machine. This is also possible in particular when the dryer is in a standby mode and no drying process is in progress.

Zum einen steht zu diesem Zeitpunkt das Abwasser aus der Waschmaschine gerade zur Verfügung. Zum anderen ist davon auszugehen, dass bei üblicher Benutzung der Wäschetrockner im Anschluss an den Waschvorgang benutzt wird. Somit kann die Abfuhrsammelvorrichtung unmittelbar vor Benutzung des Wäschetrockners ausgespült werden, sodass die Bereitschaft für einen neuen Trocknungsgang hergestellt wird.On the one hand, the wastewater from the washing machine is just available at this point in time. On the other hand, it can be assumed that, with normal use, the tumble dryer will be used after the washing process. Thus, the discharge collection device can be rinsed out immediately before using the tumble dryer, so that the readiness for a new drying cycle is established.

Auch wenn aus der Waschmaschine kein Abwasser zur Verfügung steht, kann der Wäschetrockner betrieben werden. In diesem Fall wird die Abfuhrsammelvorrichtung lediglich mittels Kondensatwasser ausgespült.The tumble dryer can also be operated if there is no waste water available from the washing machine. In this case, the discharge collection device is only flushed out by means of condensate water.

Im Weitern kann auch vorgesehen sein, dass der Abfuhrsammelvorrichtung ein Wasserspeicher vorgeschaltet ist, sodass die Wasserzufuhr in die Abfuhrsammelvorrichtung besser kontrolliert werden kann.Furthermore, it can also be provided that a water reservoir is connected upstream of the discharge collection device, so that the water supply into the discharge collection device can be better controlled.

Vorteilhaft kann die Abfuhrsammelvorrichtung auch ohne extern zugeführtes Wasser entleert werden.The discharge collection device can advantageously also be emptied without externally supplied water.

Im Weiteren sind folgende Varianten und/oder Konkretisierungen denkbar:

  • der Wärmetauscher und der Flusenfilter können während oder nach dem Prozess des Wäschetrocknens gleichzeitig gereinigt werden, insbesondere wobei über die Wasserzuleitung externes Wasser sowohl der Abfuhrsammelvorrichtung als auch dem Kondensatsammelbehälter zugeführt wird; und/oder
  • der Wäschetrockner weist eine Kondensatabfuhrleitung auf, zur Leitung von Wasser aus dem Kondensatsammelbehälter direkt in die Abfuhrsammelvorrichtung,
    • insbesondere wobei der Kondensatsammelbehälter eine Trennvorrichtung aufweist, welche derart ausgestaltet ist, dass schmutziges Wasser über die Kondensatabfuhrleitung direkt der Abfuhrsammelvorrichtung zugeführt und sauberes Wasser zur Reinigung des Flusenfilters benutzt wird,
    • insbesondere ist die Kondensatabfuhrleitung in einem unteren Bereich des Kondensatsammelbehälters und die Filterzufuhrleitung in einem oberen Bereich des Kondensatsammelbehälters angeordnet, wobei die Trennvorrichtung derart ausgestaltet ist, dass in einem ersten Schritt durch die Kondensatabfuhrleitung schmutziges Kondensatwasser nach unten abgelassen wird, und in einem zweiten Schritt das verbleibende saubere Kondensatwasser über die Filterzufuhrleitung zur Reinigung dem Flusenfilter zugeführt wird; und/oder
  • auf das Waschen des Flusenfilters mittels Kondensatwasser wird vollständig verzichtet. Der Kondensatsammelbehälter wird ausschliesslich über die Kondensatabfuhrleitung direkt in die Abfuhrsammelvorrichtung entleert; und/oder
  • die Gerätekombination weist eine Kommunikationsvorrichtung auf zur Kommunikation zwischen Wäschetrockner und Waschautomat,
    • insbesondere ist die Kommunikationsvorrichtung derart ausgestaltet, dass der Wäschetrockner dem Waschautomaten den externen Wasserbedarf kommuniziert,
    • insbesondere ist die Gerätekombination derart ausgestaltet, dass wenn der Wäschetrockner externes Wasser benötigt, der Waschautomat aber kein Abwasser aus einem Waschvorgang zur Verfügung stellen kann, der Waschautomat unbenutztes Frischwasser durchleitet und dem Wäschetrockner zuführt; und/oder
  • der Flusenfilter kann zur Reinigung durch den Benutzer entnehmbar ausgestaltet sein; und/oder
  • der Wäschetrockner ist derart ausgestaltet, dass bei Entleerung des Kondensatsammelbehälters das Kondensatwasser über den Wärmetauscher gesprüht und anschliessend direkt der Abfuhrsammelvorrichtung zugeführt wird.
Furthermore, the following variants and / or specifications are conceivable:
  • the heat exchanger and the lint filter can be cleaned at the same time during or after the laundry drying process, in particular with external water being fed to both the discharge collection device and the condensate collection container via the water supply line; and or
  • the tumble dryer has a condensate discharge line for directing water from the condensate collection container directly into the discharge collection device,
    • in particular wherein the condensate collection container has a separating device which is designed in such a way that dirty water is fed directly to the drainage collection device via the condensate discharge line and clean water is used to clean the lint filter,
    • In particular, the condensate discharge line is arranged in a lower area of the condensate collection container and the filter supply line is arranged in an upper area of the condensate collection container, the separating device being designed such that dirty condensate water is drained downwards through the condensate discharge line in a first step, and the remaining condensate water is discharged in a second step clean condensate water is fed to the lint filter via the filter feed line for cleaning; and or
  • There is no need to wash the lint filter with condensate water. The condensate collection container is emptied directly into the discharge collection device exclusively via the condensate discharge line; and or
  • The device combination has a communication device for communication between the tumble dryer and the washing machine,
    • In particular, the communication device is designed in such a way that the tumble dryer communicates the external water requirement to the washing machine,
    • In particular, the device combination is designed in such a way that if the tumble dryer requires external water, but the washing machine cannot provide waste water from a washing process, the washing machine passes through unused fresh water and feeds it to the tumble dryer; and or
  • the lint filter can be designed to be removable for cleaning by the user; and or
  • the tumble dryer is designed in such a way that when the condensate collection container is emptied, the condensate water is sprayed over the heat exchanger and then fed directly to the discharge collection device.

Unabhängig vom bisher Gesagten ist denkbar, dass ein Wäschetrockner einen kühlbaren Flusenfilter und/oder eine Befeuchtungsvorrichtung zur Befeuchtung des Flusenfilters aufweist, insbesondere wobei der Flusenfilter als ein Lamellenfilter ausgestaltet ist.Regardless of what has been said above, it is conceivable that a tumble dryer has a coolable lint filter and / or a humidifying device for moistening the lint filter, in particular wherein the lint filter is designed as a lamellar filter.

Wird der Flusenfilter gekühlt, so kondensiert Wasser aus dem Prozessluftstrom am Flusenfilter geringfügig, sodass der Flusenfilter befeuchtet wird. Ein feuchter Flusenfilter hat den Vorteil, dass Flusen aus dem Prozessluftstrom am Flusenfilter besser haften bleiben und deshalb die Filterwirkung verbessert wird.If the lint filter is cooled, water from the process air flow condenses slightly on the lint filter, so that the lint filter is moistened. A damp lint filter has the advantage that lint from the process air flow adheres better to the lint filter and the filter effect is therefore improved.

Kurze Beschreibung der ZeichnungenBrief description of the drawings

Weitere Ausgestaltungen, Vorteile und Anwendungen der Erfindung ergeben sich aus den abhängigen Ansprüchen und aus der nun folgenden Beschreibung anhand der Figuren. Dabei zeigen:

  • Fig. 1 eine Gerätekombination mit einem Wäschetrockner und einer Waschmaschine;
  • Fig. 2 eine schematische Darstellung des im Wäschetrockner angeordneten Systems zur Abführung der Flusen, und
  • Fig. 3 eine schematische Darstellung eines Lamellenfilters mit Blick auf die Ansaugseite.
Further refinements, advantages and applications of the invention emerge from the dependent claims and from the description that now follows with reference to the figures. Show:
  • Fig. 1 a device combination with a tumble dryer and a washing machine;
  • Fig. 2 a schematic representation of the system arranged in the tumble dryer for removing the lint, and
  • Fig. 3 a schematic representation of a lamellar filter with a view of the suction side.

Weg zur Ausführung der ErfindungWay of carrying out the invention

Fig. 1 zeigt eine Gerätekombination, welche einen Wäschetrockner 1 und eine Waschmaschine 2 mit jeweils einer Trommel 4 bzw. 5 zur Aufnahme der zu waschenden bzw. der zu trocknenden Wäsche aufweist. Im Weiteren weist die Waschmaschine 2 einen Behälter 6 zur Aufnahme von Waschmittel auf. Fig. 1 shows a device combination which has a tumble dryer 1 and a washing machine 2, each with a drum 4 and 5 for receiving the laundry to be washed or the laundry to be dried. Furthermore the washing machine 2 has a container 6 for holding detergent.

Die Waschmaschine 2 weist einen Wasseranschluss 7 auf, über welchen Wasser von extern zugeleitet wird, um die Wäsche zu waschen. Die Waschmaschine 2 und der Wäschetrockner 1 sind über eine Wasserzuleitung 8 miteinander verbunden. Nach Beendigung einer Waschphase, z.B. nach dem Vorwaschen, nach dem Hauptwaschgang, nach dem Spülgang oder nach Beendigung des vollständigen Waschgangs, wird das Abwasser der Waschmaschine 2 über die Wasserzuleitung 8 zum Wäschetrockner 1 zugeleitet. Alternativ könnte auch nur das Abwasser nach bestimmten Waschphasen, z.B. nach dem Spülgang an den Wäschetrockner 1 zugeleitet werden, damit lediglich möglichst sauberes Wasser dem Wäschetrockner 1 zugeleitet wird. Hierfür müsste die Waschmaschine 2 einen zusätzlichen Abwasseranschluss (nicht gezeigt) aufweisen, um das eher dreckige Abwasser, z.B. nach dem Vorwaschgang, direkt über den zusätzlichen Abwasseranschluss ins Abwassersystem des Haushalts abzulassen.The washing machine 2 has a water connection 7, via which water is supplied from outside in order to wash the laundry. The washing machine 2 and the tumble dryer 1 are connected to one another via a water supply line 8. After the end of a washing phase, e.g. after the pre-wash, after the main wash, after the rinse or after the end of the complete wash, the waste water from the washing machine 2 is fed to the tumble dryer 1 via the water supply line 8. Alternatively, only the waste water could be fed to the tumble dryer 1 after certain washing phases, e.g. after the rinse cycle, so that only the cleanest possible water is fed to the tumble dryer 1. For this, the washing machine 2 would have to have an additional waste water connection (not shown) in order to drain the rather dirty waste water, e.g. after the pre-wash cycle, directly into the household waste water system via the additional waste water connection.

Wie weiter unten noch detaillierter beschrieben werden wird, fliesst das Abwasser aus der Waschmaschine 2 über die Wasserzuleitung 8 in eine im Wäschetrockner 1 angeordnete Abfuhrsammelvorrichtung 9 und/oder in einen im Wäschetrockner 1 angeordneten Kondensatsammelbehälter 17. Mittels des Abwassers wird aus der Abfuhrsammelvorrichtung 9 mit Flusen versetztes Kondensatwasser aus dem Wäschetrockner 1 hinausgespült. Die Ausspülung erfolgt dabei über die Abwasserleitung 10 beispielsweise in das Abwassersystem eines Haushalts.As will be described in more detail below, the wastewater flows from the washing machine 2 via the water supply line 8 into a discharge collecting device 9 arranged in the tumble dryer 1 and / or into a condensate collecting container 17 arranged in the tumble dryer 1 mixed condensate water was flushed out of the tumble dryer 1. The flushing takes place via the sewer line 10, for example into the sewage system of a household.

In Fig. 2 werden die wesentlichen Bestandteile des Wäschetrockners 1 mit einer schematischen Darstellung illustriert, insbesondere wobei die wesentlichen Bestandteile im Sockelbereich und/oder an der Rückseite und/oder im oberen Bereich des Wäschetrockners angeordnet sind. Zur Trocknung der Wäsche strömt ein Prozessluftstrom durch die Trommel 4, welcher der zu trocknenden Wäsche Feuchtigkeit entzieht. Dabei lösen sich von der Wäsche zahlreiche Flusen ab, welche mit dem Prozessluftstrom aus der Trommel 4 hinausströmen. Nach Austritt aus der Trommel 4 strömt der Prozessluftstrom (Pfeil 10) durch einen Flusenfilter 11 und anschliessend weiter (Pfeil 12) durch einen Wärmetauscher 13, welcher dem Prozessluftstrom Wärme entzieht. Der Wärmetauscher 13 ist ein Verdampfer einer Wärmepumpe. Durch den Entzug von Wärme kondensiert die Feuchtigkeit im Prozessluftstrom. Der Prozessluft wird dadurch Wasser entzogen und sie kann nach dem Erwärmen im Kondensator 15 erneut durch die Trommel 4 für die Trocknung der Wäsche befördert werden. Das Kondensatwasser, welches aus dem abgekühlten Prozessluftstrom kondensiert, setzt sich an der Oberfläche des Wärmetauschers 13 ab und wird durch eine Auffangwanne 14 aufgefangen.In Fig. 2 the essential components of the tumble dryer 1 are illustrated with a schematic representation, in particular with the essential components being arranged in the base area and / or on the rear and / or in the upper area of the tumble dryer. A process air stream flows to dry the laundry through the drum 4, which removes moisture from the laundry to be dried. In the process, numerous fluff is detached from the laundry and flows out of the drum 4 with the process air flow. After exiting the drum 4, the process air flow (arrow 10) flows through a lint filter 11 and then on (arrow 12) through a heat exchanger 13, which extracts heat from the process air flow. The heat exchanger 13 is an evaporator of a heat pump. The removal of heat causes the moisture to condense in the process air flow. Water is thereby withdrawn from the process air and, after being heated in the condenser 15, it can be conveyed again through the drum 4 for drying the laundry. The condensate water, which condenses from the cooled process air flow, is deposited on the surface of the heat exchanger 13 and is collected in a collecting pan 14.

Da der Flusenfilter 11 nicht perfekt arbeitet, ist der Prozessluftstrom auch noch nach Durchtritt durch den Flusenfilter 11 beim Vorbeiströmen am Wärmetauscher 13 mit Flusen leicht versetzt, sodass sich wenige Flusen auf der Oberfläche des Wärmetauschers 13 absetzen. Diese Verschmutzung führt zu einer Einbusse der Leistung des Wärmetauschers 13, weil die sich an der Oberfläche des Wärmetauschers 13 abgesetzten Flusen für die Prozessluft blockierend wirken. Aus diesem Grund muss der Wärmetauscher 13 gereinigt werden.Since the lint filter 11 does not work perfectly, the process air flow is slightly offset with lint as it flows past the heat exchanger 13, even after passing through the lint filter 11, so that little lint is deposited on the surface of the heat exchanger 13. This contamination leads to a loss of the performance of the heat exchanger 13 because the lint deposited on the surface of the heat exchanger 13 has a blocking effect on the process air. For this reason, the heat exchanger 13 must be cleaned.

Stromabwärts im Prozessluftstrom ist ein weiterer Wärmetauscher 15 angeordnet, welcher dem Prozessluftstrom Wärme zuführt, damit durch die Trommel möglichst warme und trockene Prozessluft strömt. Der weitere Wärmetauscher 15 ist ein Kondensator der Wärmepumpe. Auch auf der Oberfläche des weiteren Wärmetauschers 15 können sich Flusen absetzen, sodass auch dieser gereinigt werden sollte.A further heat exchanger 15 is arranged downstream in the process air flow and supplies heat to the process air flow so that process air that is as warm and dry as possible flows through the drum. The further heat exchanger 15 is a condenser of the heat pump. Lint can also settle on the surface of the further heat exchanger 15, so that this should also be cleaned.

Im Folgenden wird die Reinigung der Wärmetauscher 13 und 15 näher beschrieben. Das auskondensierte Kondensatwasser wird durch eine Rückführvorrichtung 14, 16 in einen Kondensatsammelbehälter 17 geleitet. Die Rückführvorrichtung weist dabei die bereits erwähnte Auffangwanne 14 und eine Rückführleitung 16 auf.The cleaning of the heat exchangers 13 and 15 is described in more detail below. The condensed Condensate water is passed through a return device 14, 16 into a condensate collecting container 17. The return device has the aforementioned collecting trough 14 and a return line 16.

Es ist auch möglich, dass der Kondensatsammelbehälter 17 gleichzeitig als Auffangwanne dient, indem der Kondensatsammelbehälter 17 direkt unterhalb der Wärmetauscher angeordnet ist (nicht in den Figuren gezeigte Variante).It is also possible that the condensate collection container 17 simultaneously serves as a collecting pan, in that the condensate collection container 17 is arranged directly below the heat exchanger (variant not shown in the figures).

Im Kondensatsammelbehälter 17 sammelt sich das Kondensatwasser, wobei sich mit der Zeit die Flusen am Boden absetzen oder an der Kondensatwasseroberfläche schwimmen. In einem oberen Bereich des Kondensatsammelbehälters 17 wird Kondensatwasser abgeschöpft. Dieses wird über eine Reinigungszufuhrleitung 18 zu den Wärmetauschern 13 und 15 befördert. Da sich die Flusen im unteren Bereich des Kondensatsammelbehälters 17 ansammeln, kann im oberen Bereich relativ sauberes Kondensatwasser abgeschöpft werden. Beispielsweise kann ein Schwimmer 19 vorgesehen sein, welcher sich innerhalb des Kondensatsammelbehälters 17 mit dem Wasserspiegel herauf und herab bewegt, sodass Kondensatwasser unterhalb des Wasserspiegels abgeschöpft werden kann.The condensate water collects in the condensate collecting container 17, and over time the lint settles on the floor or floats on the surface of the condensate water. In an upper area of the condensate collecting container 17, condensate water is skimmed off. This is conveyed to the heat exchangers 13 and 15 via a cleaning supply line 18. Since the lint collects in the lower area of the condensate collecting container 17, relatively clean condensate water can be skimmed off in the upper area. For example, a float 19 can be provided which moves up and down with the water level within the condensate collecting container 17, so that condensate water can be skimmed off below the water level.

Am anderen Ende der Reinigungszufuhrleitung 18 sind Sprühköpfe 20, 21, 22 vorgesehen, mit welchen das Kondensatwasser auf die Wärmetauscher 13 und 15 gesprüht wird. Am meisten Flusen setzen sich im vorderen Bereich des der Prozessluft Wärme entziehenden Wärmetauschers 13 ab, weshalb dort ein separater Sprühkopf 20 vorgesehen ist. Durch die Besprühung werden die Wärmetauscher gereinigt und das mit Flusen verschmutzte Kondensatwasser fliesst zurück in den Kondensatsammelbehälter 17.At the other end of the cleaning supply line 18, spray heads 20, 21, 22 are provided with which the condensate water is sprayed onto the heat exchangers 13 and 15. Most of the lint is deposited in the front area of the heat exchanger 13, which extracts heat from the process air, which is why a separate spray head 20 is provided there. The heat exchangers are cleaned by the spray and the condensate water contaminated with lint flows back into the condensate collecting container 17.

Die Beförderung des Wassers kann jeweils durch Pumpen unterstützt werden. Dies wird beispielhaft durch eine an der Reinigungszufuhrleitung 18 angeordnete Pumpe 23a, durch eine an der Filterzufuhrleitung 24 angeordnete Pumpe 23b, durch eine an der Rückführleitung 16 angeordnete Pumpe 23c und durch eine an der Abfuhrleitung 28 angeordnete Pumpe 23d illustriert.The transport of the water can be supported by pumps. This is exemplified by a pump 23a arranged on the cleaning feed line 18, by a pump 23b arranged on the filter feed line 24, by a pump 23b arranged on the return line 16 arranged pump 23c and illustrated by a pump 23d arranged on the discharge line 28.

Von Zeit zu Zeit wird der Kondensatsammelbehälter 17 geleert oder zumindest teilweise geleert. Dies kann beispielsweise in Abhängigkeit des Wasserstandes im Kondensatsammelbehälter 17, in Abhängigkeit der Zeit, in Abhängigkeit des Verschmutzungszustands, was z.B. aus der Temperatur im Prozessluftkreislauf oder im Kältemittelkreislauf oder aus dem Druck im Prozessluftkreislauf oder im Kältemittelkreislauf detektierbar ist, oder in Abhängigkeit einer Kombination von mindestens zwei dieser Kriterien erfolgen. Das Kondensatwasser wird im unteren Bereich des Kondensatsammelbehälters 17 abgelassen, sodass die sich am Boden abgesetzten Flusen herausgespült werden.From time to time the condensate collection container 17 is emptied or at least partially emptied. This can be done, for example, as a function of the water level in the condensate collecting tank 17, as a function of time, as a function of the state of contamination, which can be detected, for example, from the temperature in the process air circuit or in the refrigerant circuit or from the pressure in the process air circuit or in the refrigerant circuit, or as a function of a combination of at least two of these criteria take place. The condensate water is drained off in the lower area of the condensate collecting container 17 so that the lint that has settled on the floor is flushed out.

Bevor das Kondensatwasser aus dem Wäschetrockner definitiv abgelassen wird, kann es noch zur Reinigung des Flusenfilters 11 verwendet werden. Das abgelassene Kondensatwasser wird über eine Filterzufuhrleitung 24 zum Flusenfilter 11 befördert. Dieser wird über Sprühköpfe 25 mit dem Kondensatwasser besprüht.Before the condensate water is definitely drained from the tumble dryer, it can still be used to clean the lint filter 11. The drained condensate water is conveyed to the lint filter 11 via a filter supply line 24. This is sprayed with the condensate water via spray heads 25.

Am Flusenfilter 11 setzen sich die Flusen hauptsächlich auf der Ansaugseite 26 ab. Für eine effektive Reinigung ist der Flusenfilter 11 deshalb gegenüber der Vertikalen (v) schräg angeordnet. Der Flusenfilter 11 wird dabei von oben mittels des Kondensatwassers besprüht, sodass das Kondensatwasser auf die der Ansaugseite 26 gegenüberliegende Seite trifft, durch den Flusenfilter 11 hindurchströmt und die Flusen auf der Ansaugseite 26 nach unten mitreisst.On the lint filter 11, the lint is mainly deposited on the suction side 26. For effective cleaning, the lint filter 11 is therefore arranged at an angle with respect to the vertical (v). The lint filter 11 is sprayed from above by means of the condensate water, so that the condensate water hits the side opposite the suction side 26, flows through the lint filter 11 and carries the lint downwards on the suction side 26.

In Fig. 3 wird schematisch ein Flusenfilter 11 dargestellt, welcher als Lamellenfilter ausgestaltet ist. Der Lamellenfilter umfasst zwei ineinander verzahnte Lamellenteilfilter 30. Diese weisen jeweils eine Haltevorrichtung 31 auf, an welchen Lamellen 32 angeordnet sind. In der in Fig. 3 dargestellten Ausführung strömt der Prozessluftstrom beispielsweise senkrecht zur Zeichenebene.In Fig. 3 a lint filter 11 is shown schematically, which is designed as a lamella filter. The lamellar filter comprises two lamellar sub-filters 30 which are interlocked with one another. These each have a holding device 31 on which lamellae 32 are arranged. In the in Fig. 3 The execution shown flows the process air flow, for example, perpendicular to the plane of the drawing.

Das Kondensatwasser und die vom Flusenfilter 11 abgewaschenen Flusen werden in einem Trichter 27 (Fig. 2) aufgefangen und über eine Abfuhrleitung 28 zur Abfuhrsammelvorrichtung 9 befördert.The condensate water and the lint washed off the lint filter 11 are placed in a funnel 27 ( Fig. 2 ) and conveyed via a discharge line 28 to the discharge collecting device 9.

Bei dieser Ausführungsform ist der Kondensatsammelbehälter 17 somit indirekt über den Flusenfilter 11 mit der Abfuhrsammelvorrichtung 9 verbunden. Alternativ könnte auch auf die Reinigung des Flusenfilters mittels Kondensatwasser verzichtet werden, sodass das Kondensatwasser aus dem Kondensatsammelbehälter 17 direkt in die Abfuhrsammelvorrichtung 9 abgelassen würde.In this embodiment, the condensate collection container 17 is thus indirectly connected to the discharge collection device 9 via the lint filter 11. Alternatively, the cleaning of the lint filter by means of condensate water could also be dispensed with, so that the condensate water would be drained from the condensate collection container 17 directly into the discharge collection device 9.

In der Abfuhrsammelvorrichtung 9 wird das verschmutzte Kondensatwasser gesammelt. Wird nun während oder im Anschluss eines Waschgangs von der Waschmaschine 2 Abwasser über die Wasserzuleitung 8, insbesondere über den Abschnitt 8a, der Abfuhrsammelvorrichtung 9 zugeführt, so wird das verschmutzte Kondensatwasser aus der Abfuhrsammelvorrichtung 9 über eine Abwasserleitung 29 aus dem Wäschetrockner 1 herausgespült. Zur Förderung des Wassers sind an der Wasserzuleitung 8 eine Pumpe 34 und an der Abwasserleitung 29 eine Pumpe 35 angeordnet.The contaminated condensate water is collected in the discharge collection device 9. If now, during or after a wash cycle, waste water is fed from the washing machine 2 via the water supply line 8, in particular via the section 8a, to the discharge collection device 9, the contaminated condensate water is flushed out of the discharge collection device 9 via a waste water line 29 from the tumble dryer 1. To convey the water, a pump 34 is arranged on the water supply line 8 and a pump 35 is arranged on the waste water line 29.

Falls die Abfuhrsammelvorrichtung 9 voll ist, aber nicht genügend Abwasser aus der Waschmaschine 2 zur Verfügung steht, kann die Abfuhrsammelvorrichtung 9 auch ohne externes Abwasser abgelassen werden. Dabei dürften zwar Flusen in der Abfuhrsammelvorrichtung 9 zurückbleiben, doch diese können, sobald von der Waschmaschine 2 wieder Abwasser zur Verfügung steht, herausgespült werden, sodass die Abfuhrsammelvorrichtung 9 wieder sauber gereinigt ist.If the discharge collection device 9 is full, but there is not enough waste water available from the washing machine 2, the discharge collection device 9 can also be drained without external waste water. Lint is likely to remain in the discharge collection device 9, but this can be flushed out as soon as waste water is available again from the washing machine 2, so that the discharge collection device 9 is cleanly cleaned again.

Im Weiteren ist im gezeigten Ausführungsbeispiel die Wasserzuleitung 8 über den Abschnitt 8b auch mit dem Kondensatsammelbehälter 17 verbunden.Furthermore, in the exemplary embodiment shown, the water supply line 8 is also connected to the condensate collection container 17 via the section 8b.

Das externe Wasser wird dadurch zur Reinigung der Wärmetauscher 13 und 15 und des Flusenfilters 11 verwendet. Damit die im Prozessluftstrom angeordneten Komponenten, d.h. die Wärmetauscher 13 und 15 und der Flusenfilter 11 nicht durch das zugeführte Wasser verunreinigt werden, darf in den Kondensatsammelbehälter 17 nur sauberes externes Wasser über die Wasserzuleitung 8, insbesondere über den Abschnitt 8b, zugeführt werden. Hierfür ist ein Fremdstoffsensor 33 an der Wasserzuleitung 8 angeordnet. Dieser detektiert beispielsweise Dreck, Fasern oder Reste eines Weichspülers im zugeführten Wasser. Er kann insbesondere als Trübungssensor ausgestaltet sein. Ist das Wasser in der Wasserzuleitung 8 mit Fremdstoffen versetzt, so darf es nur in die Abfuhrsammelvorrichtung 9 zugeführt werden. Sauberes Wasser kann entweder in die Abfuhrsammelvorrichtung 9 oder in den Kondensatsammelbehälter 17 zugeführt werden. Die Zuführung des externen Wassers in die Abfuhrsammelvorrichtung 9 und/oder in den Kondensatsammelbehälter 17 wird über ein Dreiwege-Ventil 36 gesteuert.The external water is used to clean the heat exchangers 13 and 15 and the lint filter 11. So that the components arranged in the process air flow, i.e. the heat exchangers 13 and 15 and the lint filter 11 are not contaminated by the supplied water, only clean external water may be supplied to the condensate collecting tank 17 via the water supply line 8, in particular via the section 8b. For this purpose, a foreign matter sensor 33 is arranged on the water supply line 8. This detects, for example, dirt, fibers or residues of a fabric softener in the water supplied. In particular, it can be designed as a turbidity sensor. If the water in the water supply line 8 has been mixed with foreign substances, it may only be fed into the discharge collection device 9. Clean water can either be fed into the discharge collection device 9 or into the condensate collection container 17. The supply of the external water into the discharge collection device 9 and / or into the condensate collection container 17 is controlled via a three-way valve 36.

Im Weiteren ist mindestens ein Druckwasseranschluss 37 vorgesehen, über welchen ein Benutzer Wasser unter Hochdruck ins System einspeisen kann, insbesondere zur Reinigung der Abfuhrsammelvorrichtung 9, des Kondensatsammelbehälters 17, der Wärmetauscher 13 und 15 und des Flusenfilters 26, wobei

  • einer des mindestens einen Druckwasseranschlusses an der Wasserzuleitung 8 angeordnet ist, und/oder
  • einer des mindestens einen Druckwasseranschlusses an der Reinigungszufuhrleitung 18 angeordnet ist, und/oder
  • einer des mindestens einen Druckwasseranschlusses an der Filterzufuhrleitung 24 angeordnet ist.
Furthermore, at least one pressurized water connection 37 is provided, via which a user can feed water under high pressure into the system, in particular for cleaning the discharge collecting device 9, the condensate collecting container 17, the heat exchangers 13 and 15 and the lint filter 26, whereby
  • one of the at least one pressurized water connection is arranged on the water supply line 8, and / or
  • one of the at least one pressurized water connection is arranged on the cleaning supply line 18, and / or
  • one of the at least one pressurized water connection is arranged on the filter supply line 24.

Es ist auch denkbar, dass der Wäschetrockner 1 und der Waschautomat 2 miteinander kommunizieren, wobei der Waschautomat dem Wäschetrockner mitteilt, ob das zugeführte Wasser, beispielsweise das Abwasser aus dem Spülgang sauber ist. In diesem Fall kann auf den Fremdstoffsensor 33 verzichtet werden.It is also conceivable that the tumble dryer 1 and the washing machine 2 communicate with one another, the washing machine notifying the tumble dryer whether the water supplied, for example the waste water from the Cycle is clean. In this case, the foreign matter sensor 33 can be dispensed with.

Unter einem Flusenfilter ist insbesondere ein Filter zu verstehen, welcher derart ausgestaltet ist, dass auch Haare, Feststoffpartikel, Daunen, Fasern, Mineralische Partikel und/oder Zeolith gefiltert werden.A lint filter is to be understood in particular as a filter which is designed in such a way that hair, solid particles, down, fibers, mineral particles and / or zeolite are also filtered.

Während in der vorliegenden Anmeldung bevorzugte Ausführungen der Erfindung beschrieben sind, ist klar darauf hinzuweisen, dass die Erfindung nicht auf diese beschränkt ist und in auch anderer Weise innerhalb des Umfangs der folgenden Ansprüche ausgeführt werden kann.While preferred embodiments of the invention are described in the present application, it should be clearly pointed out that the invention is not restricted to these and can also be carried out in other ways within the scope of the following claims.

Claims (18)

  1. Device combination, comprising
    - a laundry dryer (1), in particular a household laundry dryer, for drying laundry by process air, the laundry dryer (1) having a water supply line (8) for the supply of external water for the purpose of removing lint separated from the process air from the laundry dryer, and
    - a washing machine (2), the water supply line (8) being connected to the washing machine (2) for conveying washing machine waste water from the washing machine (2) to the laundry dryer (1), characterized in that the device combination is adapted such that the laundry dryer and the washing machine communicate with each other, the washing machine informing the laundry dryer whether the supplied water is clean.
  2. Device combination according to claim 1, wherein the device combination is adapted such that the laundry dryer (1) communicates the external water demand to the washing machine (2).
  3. Device combination according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the device combination is adapted such that if the laundry dryer (1) requires external water but the washing machine (2) cannot provide waste water from a washing operation, the washing machine (2) passes unused fresh water through and supplies it to the laundry dryer (1).
  4. Device combination according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the laundry dryer (1) comprises a discharge collection device (9) for collecting lint to be discharged, wherein the water supply line (8) is connected to the discharge collection device (9), for cleaning the discharge collection device (9) by means of water supplied via the water supply line (8).
  5. Device combination according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the laundry dryer (1) comprises a cleaning device with a condensate collection container (17) for collecting condensate water condensed out from a process air flow at a heat exchanger (13, 15),
    in particular wherein the water supply line (8) is connected to the condensate collection container (17), for supplying external water to the condensate collection container (17).
  6. Device combination according to claim 4 and 5, wherein the laundry dryer (1) is adapted such that the condensate water can be fed indirectly or directly from the condensate collection container (17) into the discharge collection device (9).
  7. Device combination according to claim 5 or according to claims 4, 5 and 6, wherein the laundry dryer (1) comprises a heat exchanger for supplying and/or removing heat to or from the process air, wherein the cleaning device is designed in such a way that the heat exchanger (13, 15) can be cleaned by means of the condensate water,
    in particular the cleaning device copmrises a cleaning supply line (18) for supplying condensate water from the condensate collection tank (17) to the heat exchanger (13, 15), and/or
    in particular wherein the cleaning device comprises a return device (14, 16) for returning the condensate water supplied for cleaning the heat exchanger (13, 15) to the condensate collection tank (17).
  8. Device combination according to claim 7, wherein the cleaning supply line (18) comprises a pump (23) for conveying the condensate water to the heat exchanger (13, 15), or
    wherein the condensate collecting tank (17) is arranged above the heat exchanger (13, 15).
  9. Device combination according to one of claims 7 or 8,
    - wherein a float (19) is arranged at one end of the cleaning supply line (18), which float (19) moves up and down within the condensate collecting tank (17) with the water level, for skimming condensate water from below the water level, or
    wherein the cleaning supply line (18) in connection with the condensate collecting tank (17) is adapted such that the condensate water
    - can be discharged in the vertical direction from a central region which occupies 90%, in particular 80%, in particular 65%, of a volume of the condensate collecting tank (17), or
    - can be discharged from the upper half of the condensate collecting tank (17).
  10. Device combination according to one of claims 5 to 9, wherein the laundry dryer (1) comprises a lint filter (11) for filtering lint from the process air flow prior to entry into the heat exchanger (13, 15), and
    a filter supply line (24) for supplying condensate water from the condensate collection container (17) to the lint filter (11) for cleaning the lint filter (11) by means of the condensate water,
    in particular wherein the laundry dryer (1) has a discharge line (28) for discharging the condensate water and the lint from the lint filter (11) into the discharge collection device (9),
    in particular wherein the filter supply line (24) is connected to a lower region of the condensate collection container (17).
  11. Device combination according to claim 10, wherein the lint filter (11) is arranged obliquely to a vertical line (v) and wherein an suction side (26) of the lint filter (11) is directed downward, and in particular is arranged and configured such that the lint filter (11) can be cleaned with condensate water flowing downward from above.
  12. Device combination according to one of claims 10 or 11, wherein the lint filter (11) is adapted as a lamellar filter, in particular wherein the lamellar filter has two lamellar subfilters (30), in particular separate from one another and interlocked with one another.
  13. Device combination according to claim 4 and according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the discharge collecting device (9) is arranged in a base region or on a rear side of the laundry dryer or in an upper region of the laundry dryer.
  14. Device combination according to claim 5 and according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the condensate collection container (17) are arranged in a base area or at a rear side of the laundry dryer or in an upper area of the laundry dryer.
  15. Device combination according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the laundry dryer has at least one pressurized water connection for cleaning the laundry dryer (1).
  16. Method of operating the device combination according to claim 4, comprising the following cleaning steps:
    - collecting lint in the discharge collection device (9),
    - supplying external water for rinsing the discharge collection device (9).
  17. Method according to claim 16, wherein the lint is conveyed into the discharge collecting device (9) by means of condensate water and/or by means of externally supplied water,
    in particular wherein a heat exchanger (13, 15) and/or a lint filter (11) are cleaned by means of condensate water and/or by means of externally supplied water.
  18. Method according to one of claims 16 or 17 for operating an appliance combination according to claim 14, wherein the discharge collection device (9) is rinsed out with waste water from the washing machine (2), in particular during and/or directly after a washing cycle.
EP17000073.1A 2017-01-16 2017-01-16 Laundry drier with water supply Active EP3147404B1 (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SI201731026T SI3147404T1 (en) 2017-01-16 2017-01-16 Laundry drier with water supply
EP17000073.1A EP3147404B1 (en) 2017-01-16 2017-01-16 Laundry drier with water supply

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP17000073.1A EP3147404B1 (en) 2017-01-16 2017-01-16 Laundry drier with water supply

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EP3147404A1 EP3147404A1 (en) 2017-03-29
EP3147404B1 true EP3147404B1 (en) 2021-10-20

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Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP4141163A1 (en) * 2021-08-23 2023-03-01 V-Zug AG Laundry dryer with a heat exchanger cleaning system

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2451339C2 (en) * 1974-10-25 1982-02-18 Bosch-Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH, 7000 Stuttgart Combination of a washing machine with a condensation dryer
JP2006187449A (en) * 2005-01-06 2006-07-20 Toshiba Corp Washing/drying machine
KR101599854B1 (en) * 2009-05-12 2016-03-08 삼성전자 주식회사 Washing machine and control method the same
WO2012138136A2 (en) * 2011-04-05 2012-10-11 엘지전자 주식회사 Laundry machine and method for cleaning lint filter of laundry machine
DE102014204299A1 (en) * 2014-03-10 2015-09-10 BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH Dryer with flusend depot and adaptive detection of the Flusendepot filling level and method for its operation
KR102300343B1 (en) * 2014-10-28 2021-09-09 엘지전자 주식회사 Laundry Treating Apparatus
DE102014118861A1 (en) * 2014-12-17 2016-06-23 Miele & Cie. Kg Apparatus and process for process air treatment and laundry treatment appliance

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SI3147404T1 (en) 2022-02-28

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