EP0704569A1 - Laundry washer-driers - Google Patents
Laundry washer-driers Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0704569A1 EP0704569A1 EP94830457A EP94830457A EP0704569A1 EP 0704569 A1 EP0704569 A1 EP 0704569A1 EP 94830457 A EP94830457 A EP 94830457A EP 94830457 A EP94830457 A EP 94830457A EP 0704569 A1 EP0704569 A1 EP 0704569A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- air
- drum
- laundry
- cooling water
- duct
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
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Classifications
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F58/00—Domestic laundry dryers
- D06F58/20—General details of domestic laundry dryers
- D06F58/24—Condensing arrangements
Definitions
- the present invention relates to so-called laundry washer-driers for washing and drying laundry.
- air enters the drum containing the laundry is heated by a heating element, and after passing through the laundry and out through holes in the drum, enters drainage ducts of the machine and finally returns to a circulation fan which forces the air to enter the drum again.
- the air when passing through the hot laundry removes moisture therefrom.
- a recirculation duct leading back to the fan it comes into contact with water and is cooled, thereby causing moisture to be condensed out of the air. Circulation of air in this manner for 70-120 minutes allows the laundry to be dried completely.
- An arrangement is also known in which air is forced by a fan through a heating element and is then introduced into the drum where it contacts the wet laundry and takes up moisture.
- the moist air then passes into a recirculation duct where, suitably cooled with water, it gives up the moisture, after which the air is returned to the fan to repeat the cycle.
- the air cooling duct is generally referred to as a condenser.
- the condensed water, together with the cooling water, are removed from the machine via the water drainage duct of the machine.
- the condenser is normally formed by a duct with a substantially vertical section in which the current of hot and moist air, coming from the base of the machine, meet a countercurrent of water coming from the top to cool the air and condense moisture out of the air.
- the object of the invention is to provide a washer drier with an arrangement enabling relatively rapid cooling of the moist air flow, and allowing continual monitoring of the residual moisture by means of appropriate sensors.
- a laundry washer drier comprising a rotatable drum for holding the laundry and disposed in a surrounding enclosure, a substantially closed air circulation path including a duct leading from the enclosure to a device for causing circulation of air, and means for supplying cooling water for cooling moist air flowing in the air circulation path, characterised in that the means for supplying cooling water is arranged to deliver the water into the interspace between the drum and the surrounding enclosure.
- the collector functions of the duct leading from the drum enclosure and the circulation device are separated from the condenser functions of cooling and removing moisture from the air.
- the invention is based on the recognition that in order to condense the moisture in the air circulating in the drying system of the machine, it is not necessary to cool the air in the collector section of the circulation path and it is sufficient to cool the air with water at an appropriate point within the interspace between the drum and the enclosure, through which interspace the moist air passes upon leaving the drum. Water condensed in the interspace and the cooling water can be removed through the drain which is connected to the drum enclosure.
- the drum In order to prevent water, introduced to condense moisture, from wetting the laundry that it is wished to dry, it is preferable for the drum not to be perforated on the side at which the cooling water is introduced.
- Fig. 1 is a vertical cross-section through the washer-drier.
- the casing of the machine contains the main motor 2, and a perforated drum 3 for receiving the laundry and which is rotated by the motor 2.
- the drum is enclosed within a tank to a lower portion of which is connected a circulation duct 4 for the air circulated during a laundry drying cycle.
- An interspace 5 is defined between the drum and the surrounding tank and cooling water is introduced into this interspace through a water supply line 6 without coming into contact with the moist air having entered the duct 4.
- the duct 4 leads to a fan 7 which forces the air to flow back to the drum after passing over a resistance heater 8 which heats the air.
- the cooling water is introduced adjacent the rear wall of the drum 3 which, unlike its peripheral wall is not perforated.
- the cooling water may be introduced into the interspace 5 and also into contact with the drum 3, via the detergent drawer 9, as illustrated.
- the flow of cooling water can also serve to clean away fluff 10 deposited during the air drying cycle. This fluff passes with the cooling water and water condensed out of the air into the drain outlet of the machine leading from the tank, and is discharged externally by means of the pump 11 via the drainage hose 12.
- the described washer-drier obtains the above-mentioned objects and in particular allows the cooling of the flow of moist air in short periods of time.
Abstract
In the air circulation path of a laundry washer-drier air is driven by a fan (7) to passover a heating element (8) and into the drum containing the laundry, and a duct (4) carries the air back to the fan from the interspace (5) between the drum and a tank enclosing the drum. For cooling the air to reduce its moisture content cooling water is delivered into the interspace (5) through a flow line (6) extending via the detergent dispenser (9) of the machine. Since the flow of air in the collector duct (4) does not come into contact with cooling water, it can be accelerated in order to improve the heat exchange and reduce drying times and accurate monitoring of the degree of residual moisture can be carried out in this duct.
Description
- The present invention relates to so-called laundry washer-driers for washing and drying laundry.
- There are known laundry washer-driers equipped for closed loop air circulation and having a device for causing recirculation of air at the end of the washing and spinning cycles for completely drying the laundry.
- In a known arrangement for air circulation, air enters the drum containing the laundry, is heated by a heating element, and after passing through the laundry and out through holes in the drum, enters drainage ducts of the machine and finally returns to a circulation fan which forces the air to enter the drum again. The air when passing through the hot laundry, removes moisture therefrom. As the air passes through a recirculation duct leading back to the fan it comes into contact with water and is cooled, thereby causing moisture to be condensed out of the air. Circulation of air in this manner for 70-120 minutes allows the laundry to be dried completely.
- An arrangement is also known in which air is forced by a fan through a heating element and is then introduced into the drum where it contacts the wet laundry and takes up moisture. The moist air then passes into a recirculation duct where, suitably cooled with water, it gives up the moisture, after which the air is returned to the fan to repeat the cycle. The air cooling duct is generally referred to as a condenser. The condensed water, together with the cooling water, are removed from the machine via the water drainage duct of the machine.
- Other known arrangements are substantially similar to those described above, entail the introduction of air and heat into the laundry which gives up moisture to the air which is then introduced into a condenser (cooled by water) where it gives up moisture. When the cycle is repeated for a certain period, the laundry is dried.
- An essential component of these drying arrangements is the condenser where the air makes direct contact with cold water and gives up moisture.
- The condenser is normally formed by a duct with a substantially vertical section in which the current of hot and moist air, coming from the base of the machine, meet a countercurrent of water coming from the top to cool the air and condense moisture out of the air.
- The main drawback of these known arrangements lies in the fact that the stream of cooling water prevents the effective drying of the air because water particles become entrained by the air flow. Moreover, the speed of the flow of air has to be kept low to prevent further water particles being entrained.
- Systems, known as dry collector systems, are also known in which cooling is obtained without the flow of moist air meeting the cooling water. This avoids need for devices adapted to trap the water droplets, which are always complex and therefore expensive. Moreover, the cooling fluid, as it does not contact the flow of moist air, can be much faster, thereby improving the heat exchange. Nonetheless the need for a separate cooling water path complicates the machine.
- The object of the invention is to provide a washer drier with an arrangement enabling relatively rapid cooling of the moist air flow, and allowing continual monitoring of the residual moisture by means of appropriate sensors.
- In accordance with the invention there is provided a laundry washer drier comprising a rotatable drum for holding the laundry and disposed in a surrounding enclosure, a substantially closed air circulation path including a duct leading from the enclosure to a device for causing circulation of air, and means for supplying cooling water for cooling moist air flowing in the air circulation path, characterised in that the means for supplying cooling water is arranged to deliver the water into the interspace between the drum and the surrounding enclosure.
- With a washer-drier according to the invention the collector functions of the duct leading from the drum enclosure and the circulation device are separated from the condenser functions of cooling and removing moisture from the air. The invention is based on the recognition that in order to condense the moisture in the air circulating in the drying system of the machine, it is not necessary to cool the air in the collector section of the circulation path and it is sufficient to cool the air with water at an appropriate point within the interspace between the drum and the enclosure, through which interspace the moist air passes upon leaving the drum. Water condensed in the interspace and the cooling water can be removed through the drain which is connected to the drum enclosure.
- In order to prevent water, introduced to condense moisture, from wetting the laundry that it is wished to dry, it is preferable for the drum not to be perforated on the side at which the cooling water is introduced.
- It is readily possible, in practice, to identify the locations at which the introduction of water for the cooling of the condensate is most efficient. The main condition is that these locations are selected in zones through which the air passes from the holes of the drum to the collector of the air circulation path.
- Excellent drying results can be obtained by supplying the water along the walls of the enclosure via the detergent dispenser of the washer-drier, which allows the invention to be embodied in existing machines without substantial modification.
- Other advantages of the invention lie in the fact that within the drum-enclosure interspace large cooling surfaces are available with an optimum heat exchange enabled by a high speed flow of the cooling fluid, and monitoring of the moisture present in the air flowing through the collector is not distorted by the presence of cooling water.
- Other objects and advantages are set out in the following description and the accompanying drawing which shows, in diagrammatic and exemplary form, a possible practical embodiment of the invention. In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a vertical cross-section through the washer-drier.
- The casing of the machine contains the
main motor 2, and aperforated drum 3 for receiving the laundry and which is rotated by themotor 2. The drum is enclosed within a tank to a lower portion of which is connected a circulation duct 4 for the air circulated during a laundry drying cycle. Aninterspace 5 is defined between the drum and the surrounding tank and cooling water is introduced into this interspace through a water supply line 6 without coming into contact with the moist air having entered the duct 4. The duct 4 leads to afan 7 which forces the air to flow back to the drum after passing over aresistance heater 8 which heats the air. - The cooling water is introduced adjacent the rear wall of the
drum 3 which, unlike its peripheral wall is not perforated. - The cooling water may be introduced into the
interspace 5 and also into contact with thedrum 3, via thedetergent drawer 9, as illustrated. The flow of cooling water can also serve to clean awayfluff 10 deposited during the air drying cycle. This fluff passes with the cooling water and water condensed out of the air into the drain outlet of the machine leading from the tank, and is discharged externally by means of thepump 11 via thedrainage hose 12. - Since only moist air flows in the duct 4, it is possible to provide in this duct moisture sensors, (of a known type and not therefore described in detail) which continually detect the degree of dryness of the air flowing in this duct.
- The described washer-drier obtains the above-mentioned objects and in particular allows the cooling of the flow of moist air in short periods of time.
- The present invention, described and illustrated in a diagrammatic and exemplary form, may be extended to those accessory variants which, as such, come within its scope.
Claims (4)
- A laundry washer drier comprising a rotatable drum (3) for holding the laundry and disposed in a surrounding enclosure, a substantially closed air circulation path including a duct (4) leading from the enclosure to a device (7) for causing circulation of air, and means (6) for supplying cooling water for cooling moist air flowing in the air circulation path, characterised in that the means (6) for supplying cooling water is arranged to deliver the water into the interspace (5) between the drum and the surrounding enclosure.
- A laundry washer-drier as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the introduction of cooling water into the drum enclosure interspace (5) is at a side where the drum has no perforations.
- A laundry washer-drier as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the cooling water is introduced via a detergent dispenser (9) of the washer-drier.
- A laundry washer-drier as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that moisture detection sensing means are provided to monitor the drying cycle.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP94830457A EP0704569A1 (en) | 1994-09-27 | 1994-09-27 | Laundry washer-driers |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP94830457A EP0704569A1 (en) | 1994-09-27 | 1994-09-27 | Laundry washer-driers |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0704569A1 true EP0704569A1 (en) | 1996-04-03 |
Family
ID=8218539
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP94830457A Withdrawn EP0704569A1 (en) | 1994-09-27 | 1994-09-27 | Laundry washer-driers |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0704569A1 (en) |
Cited By (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0942093A1 (en) * | 1998-03-12 | 1999-09-15 | Matsushita Electronics Corporation | Electric washer-dryer |
EP1229160A1 (en) * | 2001-02-01 | 2002-08-07 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Pulsator type washing machine with drying function |
WO2003057967A1 (en) * | 2002-01-11 | 2003-07-17 | Lg Electronics Inc. | A washing machine and dryer having being improved duct structure thereof |
KR100471428B1 (en) * | 2002-01-17 | 2005-02-22 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | drum wash and dry machine |
EP1544342A2 (en) * | 2003-12-18 | 2005-06-22 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Washing machine with drying function and method of controlling the same |
EP1849911A1 (en) * | 2006-04-26 | 2007-10-31 | Bonferraro S.p.A. | Condensing unit for washer/dryer |
WO2012053746A3 (en) * | 2010-10-19 | 2013-10-31 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Washing machine having drying function |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE1585675A1 (en) * | 1967-12-29 | 1970-12-03 | Constructa Werke Gmbh | Drum washing machine with drying device |
DE2107313A1 (en) * | 1971-02-11 | 1972-08-31 | Siemens Elektrogeraete Gmbh | Tumble dryer working according to the drum principle |
DE2545795A1 (en) * | 1975-07-02 | 1977-04-21 | Lepper Gmbh Masch App | COMBINED DRUM WASHING AND DRYING DEVICE |
-
1994
- 1994-09-27 EP EP94830457A patent/EP0704569A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE1585675A1 (en) * | 1967-12-29 | 1970-12-03 | Constructa Werke Gmbh | Drum washing machine with drying device |
DE2107313A1 (en) * | 1971-02-11 | 1972-08-31 | Siemens Elektrogeraete Gmbh | Tumble dryer working according to the drum principle |
DE2545795A1 (en) * | 1975-07-02 | 1977-04-21 | Lepper Gmbh Masch App | COMBINED DRUM WASHING AND DRYING DEVICE |
Cited By (16)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6282928B1 (en) | 1998-03-12 | 2001-09-04 | Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. | Electric washer-dryer |
US6378342B1 (en) | 1998-03-12 | 2002-04-30 | Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. | Electric washer-dryer |
EP0942093A1 (en) * | 1998-03-12 | 1999-09-15 | Matsushita Electronics Corporation | Electric washer-dryer |
EP1229160A1 (en) * | 2001-02-01 | 2002-08-07 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Pulsator type washing machine with drying function |
US7415848B2 (en) | 2001-02-01 | 2008-08-26 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Pulsator type washing machine with drying function |
WO2003057967A1 (en) * | 2002-01-11 | 2003-07-17 | Lg Electronics Inc. | A washing machine and dryer having being improved duct structure thereof |
AU2003235780B2 (en) * | 2002-01-11 | 2006-05-04 | Lg Electronics Inc. | A washing machine and dryer having being improved duct structure thereof |
KR100471428B1 (en) * | 2002-01-17 | 2005-02-22 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | drum wash and dry machine |
US7421865B2 (en) | 2003-12-18 | 2008-09-09 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Washing machine with drying function and method of controlling the same |
EP1544342A2 (en) * | 2003-12-18 | 2005-06-22 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Washing machine with drying function and method of controlling the same |
EP1544342A3 (en) * | 2003-12-18 | 2007-11-14 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Washing machine with drying function and method of controlling the same |
EP1849911A1 (en) * | 2006-04-26 | 2007-10-31 | Bonferraro S.p.A. | Condensing unit for washer/dryer |
WO2012053746A3 (en) * | 2010-10-19 | 2013-10-31 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Washing machine having drying function |
CN103608508A (en) * | 2010-10-19 | 2014-02-26 | Lg电子株式会社 | Washing machine having drying function |
AU2011318847B2 (en) * | 2010-10-19 | 2015-07-09 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Washing machine having drying function |
EP2655717A4 (en) * | 2010-10-19 | 2017-12-27 | LG Electronics Inc. | Washing machine having drying function |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
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PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
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17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 19960201 |
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AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE DK ES FR GB GR IT LI NL PT SE |
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17Q | First examination report despatched |
Effective date: 19970620 |
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STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN |
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18D | Application deemed to be withdrawn |
Effective date: 19971031 |