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EP 2 133 459 B1 |
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EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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Mention of the grant of the patent: |
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29.09.2010 Bulletin 2010/39 |
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Date of filing: 12.06.2008 |
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International Patent Classification (IPC):
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Laundry dryer
Wäschetrockner
Séchoir à linge
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Designated Contracting States: |
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AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL NO PL
PT RO SE SI SK TR |
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Date of publication of application: |
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16.12.2009 Bulletin 2009/51 |
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Proprietor: Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V. |
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1930 Zaventem (BE) |
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Inventors: |
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- Dal, Ben Diego
33080 Zoppola (PN) (IT)
- Castiglione, Massimo
33080 Fiume Veneto (PN) (IT)
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Representative: Nardoni, Andrea et al |
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Electrolux Italia S.p.A.
Corso Lino Zanussi, 30 33080 Porcia (PN) 33080 Porcia (PN) (IT) |
(56) |
References cited: :
EP-A- 1 584 733 GB-A- 787 942 US-A- 3 651 580
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WO-A-89/09303 GB-A- 2 063 441
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Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European
patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to
the European patent
granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall
not be deemed to
have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent
Convention).
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TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a laundry dryer according to the preamble of claim
1 and to a method according to the preamble of claim 10.
BACKGROUND TECHNOLOGY
[0002] Laundry dryers (or: tumble dryers, fabric dryer) are known in the current state of
the art. They normally comprise an outer casing provided with a loading door, a rotating
drum arranged in the interior space of said outer casing and receiving or holding
the laundry to be dried, a drying air circuit adapted to cause heated drying air to
be circulated through said rotating drum, heating means adapted to heat up the drying
air, usually supplied by electrical or gas combustion energy, and a condenser adapted
to remove moisture from the hot moisture-laden drying air exiting said rotating drum
after having flown trough the laundry contained therein. Moreover, blowing means are
provided in order to circulate the drying air through the drum and the drying air
circuit.
[0003] During the operation of such a laundry dryer, hot moisture-laden air leaving the
rotating drum through openings in the drum is delivered into and through the condenser,
where the air is cooled and the moisture is removed by means of a heat-exchange process.
Thereupon, the air is transmitted to the heating means in order to heat it up again.
[0004] Subsequently, the hot air is blown again through openings into the rotating drum,
where it receives again moisture of the laundry received therein.
[0005] WO 89/09303 A1 describes a laundry dryer having a perforated rotating drum with perforation for
entry of the drying air, wherein at the periphery of the drum next to the perforations
fins are formed in order to increase the air flow from outside into the interior of
the drum through the perforation. Therefore, a rotation of the drum by means of the
fins induces an air flow through the drum from the outside into the drum through the
perforation.
[0006] One drawback of such laundry dryers is, that the temperature of the interior space
of the tumble dryer cabinet between the outer casing and the drum wall may become
high. This requires, that components contained in this interior space of the laundry
dryer, in particular electronic and electrical components, must be specified for high
temperature levels. Normally this is accompanied by a cost increase for such components.
[0007] From
GB 2063441 A a tumble dryer is known comprising an outer casing which is substantially sealed,
an air inlet and an air outlet, a clothes drum mounted within the casing for rotation
about a horizontal axis, a motor mounted in the casing and a fan mounted on the motor
shaft, the fan having a moulded rotor affording two integral sets of blades, one set
of blades being arranged to pressurise the casing by causing a flow of air via the
inlet into the casing through the drum and from the casing via the outlet, and the
other set of blades being arranged to induce a flow of cooling air around and/or through
the motor.
[0008] Starting from the aforementioned prior art it is an object of the present invention
to at least partially eliminate or at least mitigate the aforementioned drawback caused
by high temperatures in the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] This object is solved by providing a laundry dryer having the features of claim 1
or by providing a method for cooling an interior space of a casing of a laundry dryer
according to claim 11 or by a laundry dryer or by a method having the features and
characteristics as defined and recited by any of the claims appended hereto. Dependent
claims refer to individual embodiments of the present invention.
[0010] The present invention provides a laundry (or: fabrics) dryer comprising a casing
(or: housing, cabinet) and a rotatable or rotating laundry drum arranged (or: mounted)
in the interior space of said casing. The drum has a drum interior space for receiving
or holding the laundry to be dried. The drum interior space is enclosed (or: surrounded,
delimited) by a drum wall having a loading opening for loading and unloading the laundry
and at least one drying air passing region with opening(s), in particular perforations,
for passing drying air into the drum interior space or out of the drum interior space,
the direction of the drying air depending on the selected over-all direction of the
drying air stream through the drum interior space). Now, according to the invention,
the rotatable or rotating drum is provided with ventilation elements (or: venting
elements, forced-convection elements) at the outside of the drum wall (or in other
words: at the side of the drum wall facing away from the drum interior space). These
ventilation elements are arranged in a continuous ventilation region of the drum wall
(or: a closed region of the drum wall, a region of the drum wall which has no openings
or perforations) spaced apart (or: arranged at a distance) from each drying air passing
region. Alternatively or in addition the ventilation elements are configured and/or
arranged to generate, during rotation of the drum, a cooling air stream in an intermediate
interior space of the interior space of the casing lying outside of the outside wall
of the drum and/or being separated from the drum interior space by the drum wall
[0011] Thereby or in this manner the ventilation elements, during rotational operation of
the drum, generate a cooling air stream (or: flow) in an interior space of the casing
lying outside of the drum wall or in between the drum wall and the casing. The continuous
or closed drum wall in the ventilation region in the vicinity of the ventilation elements
serves as an air guiding wall preventing the ventilated air from entering or flowing
into the drum interior.
[0012] The method for cooling an interior space of a casing of a laundry dryer according
to the present invention comprises the steps of
- rotating a drum of the laundry dryer for receiving the laundry to be dried,
- generating a cooling air stream (or: flow) in the interior space of the casing lying
outside of an outside wall of the drum (or: intermediate interior space) by means
of ventilation elements provided at the outside wall of the drum and rotating with
the drum.
[0013] The invention is based on the idea that in order to reduce the temperature inside
the casing of the laundry dryer during its operation ventilation means or ventilation
are provided utilizing the rotation of the rotating drum for creating or generating
a cooling air stream within the casing and outside of the drum. Accordingly, the temperature
inside the laundry dryer can be lowered in such a manner, that components may be used,
which need not to be specified for high levels of temperatures as requested in prior
art technology.
[0014] Preferably, such electric and/or electronic components are arranged within the intermediate
interior space and/or within a region adjacent or connected to the intermediate interior
space, in particular at an operating panel.
[0015] In a preferred embodiment the ventilation elements, during rotation of the drum,
generate a cooling air stream or flow in the interior space of the casing outside
of the drum wall (or: intermediate interior space), the continuous drum wall in the
ventilation region preventing the cooling air ventilated by the ventilation elements
from entering the drum interior space and in particular serving as air guiding surface.
The cooling air ventilation or stream generated by means of the ventilation elements
rotating with the drum is preferably basically independent from the drying air circulation
through the drum or constitutes a separate air convection system. In particular the
cooling air stream does not or only to a negligible or minor part flow through the
drum interior and thus does not influence the drying air stream.
[0016] Preferably the ventilation elements are formed by appendixes (or: protrusions, juts)
arranged at the outside of the drum wall and protruding outwardly from the drum wall
or protruding into the interior space of the casing lying outside of the drum wall
(intermediate interior space). The appendixes are in particular formed as fins, flaps,
blades, paddles, vanes or ribs. The appendixes can be formed integrally, i.e. in a
single-piece construction, with the drum wall or the outer surface of the rotating
drum or can be formed as separate elements mounted at the drum wall.
[0017] The laundry dryer may usually also comprises a drying air circuit adapted to cause
heated drying air to be circulated through said rotating drum or its interior space
and heating means adapted to heat up the drying air. Preferably also a condenser is
comprised which is adapted to remove moisture from the hot moisture-laden drying air
exiting said rotating drum after having flown through the laundry contained therein.
[0018] In a further embodiment the laundry dryer is provided with a loading door mounted
at the casing for closing and opening the loading opening of the drum, wherein the
loading door in particular serves as an air channel for the drying air flowing in
or out of the drum interior space and in particular contains air passing openings
towards the loading opening and preferably also a filter for filtering the drying
air and/or wherein in particular the loading door is also part of the drying air circuit.
[0019] The drum or the drum wall may be made of plastics material. Furthermore, at least
one drying air passing region and its opening or openings for passing drying air are
arranged in a rear drum wall or rear region of the drum wall. Also, an opening or
several openings can be formed in a stationary rear bulkhead of the drum for passing
drying air.
EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0020] The detailed configuration, features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent in the course of the following description in particular with reference
to the accompanying drawings.
- FIG 1
- is a perspective view showing a laundry dryer according to a first embodiment of the
present invention, where a part of the outer casing is removed for better illustration;
- FIG 2
- is another perspective view of the laundry dryer shown in FIG 1, where a part of the
outer casing is removed for better illus- tration;
- FIG 3
- is yet another perspective view of the laundry dryer shown in FIG 1 and 2, where a
part of the outer casing is removed for better illustration;
- FIG 4
- is a perspective view showing a laundry dryer according to a second embodiment of
the present invention.
[0021] Below, two embodiments of the present will be described with reference to the figures.
In the figures, like parts or portions are denoted by like reference numerals, and
redundant descriptions will be omitted.
[0022] FIG 1 to 3 are perspective views of a laundry dryer 10 according to a first embodiment
of the present invention. The laundry dryer 10 comprises an outer casing 12 (partly
not illustrated in order to show the inside of the laundry dryer 10) having two side
walls 12A and 12B, a rear wall 12C, a bottom structure 12D and a front part 12E. All
these walls and parts 12A to 12E jointly enclose a casing interior space 13 within
the casing 12. The front part 12E is provided with a loading door 14 and an operating
panel 29.
[0023] A rotating drum 16 is rotatably or rotatingly mounted at the casing 12 within the
casing interior space 13. The rotating drum 16 has a drum interior space 15 to put
in laundry to be dried and a drum wall 17 enclosing the drum interior space 15. In
the rear region the drum 16, preferably with the edge of the drum wall 17, rotates
slidingly in or on a stationary rear bulkhead 22. In the drum wall 17 in the front
region a loading opening 25 is also provided for putting in or out the laundry. The
intermediate interior space of the whole casing interior space 13 which is arranged
between the drum wall 17 on one side and the casing 12 and its walls and parts 12A
to 12E on the other side is designated with 28.
[0024] The laundry dryer 10 is further provided with a drying air circuit for circulating
a flow of heated drying air DA indicated by arrows through the drum interior space
15 of the rotating drum 16, heating means (not shown) for heating up said drying air
DA, a condenser 18, which removes moisture from the hot moisture-laden drying air
DA exiting the rotating drum 16 after having flown through the laundry contained therein,
and blowing means in order to circulate the drying air DA through the rotating drum
16 and the drying air circuit.
[0025] During the operation of the laundry dryer 10, the drying air DA is circulated through
the drying air circuit by the blowing means. Accordingly, the drying air DA, which
was heated by the heating means, enters the drum interior space 15 of the rotating
drum 16 through openings 20 formed in the stationary rear bulkhead 22 of the drum
16 and then through the rear region of the drum wall 21, which is open to the back,
in one embodiment or through openings or perforations in a rear wall of the drum in
another embodiment.
[0026] Within the drum interior 16, which is rotated by a motor 23, the heated drying air
DA receives moisture from the laundry contained therein. Thereafter, the hot moisture-laden
drying air DA leaves the rotating drum 16 through its loading opening 25 and the front
bulkhead 24, passes through a lint-filter (not shown) in the loading door 14 and enters
the condenser 18. Within the condenser 18, the hot moisture-laden drying air undergoes
a heat-exchange process, in which heat is exchanged with a means lying at a lower
temperature (for example an air heat exchanger or an evaporator of a heat pump system),
to the purpose of removing from the air the moisture it took away from the laundry
in the drum 16. Subsequently, the drying air DA, which was cooled down and dehydrated
within the condenser 18, is heated up again passing through the heating means, whereupon
it anew enters the drum 16 through the openings 20 and the rear region of the drum
wall 17.
[0027] Within the intermediate interior space 28 and the casing interior space 13 or in
regions of the laundry dryer adjacent to these spaces 28 or 13 electric and/or electronic
components 31 are arranged. For instance electric and electronic components 31 can
be positioned behind the operating panel 29, including e.g. an electronic main board
as well as relays for controlling of the motor and the heater.
[0028] At least some, usually basically all, of these electric and/or electronic components
31 are sensitive for high temperatures. As the components 31 include electrically
conductive materials which are usually also good thermal conductors heat transfer
rate is high.
[0029] According to the present invention, an air ventilation of the intermediate interior
space 28 is provided for cooling and keeping the temperatures at the electric and/or
electronic components 31 low or below a certain threshold.
[0030] To this purpose, a plurality of ventilation elements 26 arranged in a ring configuration
in a first ventilation region 36 and a plurality of further ventilation elements 27
arranged in another ring configuration in a second ventilation region 37 are provided
at the outer surface of the drum wall 17 of the drum 16 in such a manner, that they
protrude outwards from the outer periphery of the drum 16.
[0031] In the embodiment shown the ventilation elements 26 and 27 are arranged at the side
wall 19 or shell of the drum wall 17 in the front region although ventilation elements
could also be provided at the rear region of the drum wall 21 and/or in the central
region of the side wall 19 of the drum wall 17.
[0032] The ventilation elements 26 and 27 may be formed integrally with the drum wall 17
or, alternatively, be fixed as separate elements to the periphery of the drum 16 at
the drum wall 17.
[0033] The ventilation elements 26 and 27 are formed as fins or blades or ribs or similar
shapes suitable for air convection or blowing and protrude outwardly in the radial
direction or tilted or curved in a direction forming an angle with the radial direction.
The ventilation elements 26 and the ventilation elements 27 respectively are arranged
one behind the other along the circumference of the drum wall 17 in the rotating direction
about the rotational axis of the drum 16.
[0034] When the drum 16 is rotated by means of the motor 23, the ventilation elements 26
and 27 swirl or force the air surrounding the outer periphery of the drum 16 in order
to create an airflow of cooling air CA within the intermediate interior space 28 in
particular in the front region, which leads to a reduction of the temperature within
the outer casing 12 of the laundry dryer.
[0035] In each ventilation region 36 and 37 the drum wall 17 or 19 is completely closed
or formed as a continuous wall or surface so that the ventilated cooling air CA does
not enter the drum interior space 15 but flows only through the intermediate interior
space 28 within the casing 12. Due to this cooling by the cooling air flow CA a lower
temperature is achieved and electronic or electric components, which are contained
inside the casing 12, in particular the components 31 in the front, need not to be
specified for high levels of temperature. Accordingly, the costs for such components
may be lowered.
[0036] The ventilation of the cooling air CA and cooling is achieved by the rotation of
the drum itself thereby rotating also the ventilation elements 26 and 27 without the
necessity to provide additional drives and motors for the cooling ventilation.
[0037] FIG 4 illustrates a second embodiment of a laundry dryer 30 according to the present
invention. The configuration of the laundry dryer 30 is almost the same as the one
of the laundry dryer 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention
explained above. However, here, ventilation elements 32 are formed on the outer surface
of the drum 16 in such a manner, that they extend almost over the whole width of the
drum 16 or, in other words, extend over the whole axial length of the side wall 19
as seen parallel to the rotational axis of the drum 16. Accordingly, the ventilation
function created by these ventilation elements 32 is more effective or covers more
space compared with the one realized by the ventilation elements 26 and 27 of the
first embodiment.
[0038] Although only two exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described
in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications
are possible with respect to the exemplary embodiments without materially departing
from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications
are intended to be included within the scope of this invention.
LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS
[0039]
- 10
- laundry dryer
- 12
- casing
- 12A
- side wall
- 12B
- side wall
- 12C
- rear wall
- 12D
- bottom structure
- 12E
- front part
- 13
- casing interior space
- 14
- loading door
- 15
- drum interior space
- 16
- rotating drum
- 17
- drum wall
- 18
- condenser
- 19
- drum side wall
- 20
- openings
- 21
- drum rear wall
- 22
- rear bulkhead
- 23
- motor
- 24
- front bulkhead
- 25
- loading opening
- 26, 27
- ventilation elements
- 28
- intermediate interior space
- 29
- operating panel
- 30
- laundry dryer
- 31
- electric and/or electronic components
- 32
- ventilation elements
- 36, 37
- ventilation region
- DA
- drying air
- CA
- cooling air
1. A laundry dryer (10; 30) comprising
a casing (12) and
a rotatable or rotating drum (16) arranged in an interior space of said casing (12)
the drum having a drum interior space for receiving the laundry to be dried,
the drum interior space being enclosed by a drum wall (17) having a loading opening
for loading and unloading the laundry and
at least one drying air passing region with at least one opening for passing drying
air into the drum interior space or out of the drum interior space,
wherein ventilation elements are provided,
characterised in that
the drum (16) is provided with the ventilation elements (26; 32) at the outside of
the drum wall (17, 19),
the ventilation elements being configured to generate, during rotation of the drum,
a cooling air stream (CA) in an intermediate interior space (28) of the interior space
of the casing lying outside of the outside wall of the drum and/or being separated
from the drum interior space by the drum wall (17, 19) and/or
the ventilation elements (26, 27, 32) being arranged in a continuous ventilation region
(36, 37) of the drum wall spaced apart from each drying air passing region.
2. A laundry dryer (10; 30) according to claim 1, wherein the ventilation elements are
formed by appendixes (26, 27, 32) arranged at the outside of the drum wall (16) and
protruding outwardly from the drum wall or protruding into the interior space of the
casing lying outside of the drum wall.
3. A laundry dryer (10; 30) according to claim 2, wherein said appendixes are formed
as fins, flaps, blades, paddles, vanes or ribs.
4. A laundry dryer (10; 30) according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the appendixes (26;
32) are formed integrally with the outer surface of the drum wall (16) of the drum
(16) or are formed as separate elements mounted at the drum wall (17).
5. A laundry dryer (10; 30) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the drum
(16) or the drum wall is made of plastics material and/or wherein the at least one
drying air passing region and its at least one opening for passing drying air into
the drum interior space or out of the drum interior space are arranged in a rear drum
wall or rear region of the drum wall and/or wherein at least one opening (20) is formed
in a stationary rear bulkhead (22) of the drum (16) for passing drying air.
6. A laundry dryer (10; 30) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein within
the intermediate interior space (28) and/or within a region adjacent or connected
to the intermediate interior space (28) electric and/or electronic components (31)
are arranged, in particular at an operating panel (29).
7. A laundry dryer (10; 30) according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a drying
air circuit adapted to cause heated drying air (DA) to be circulated through said
rotating drum (16) and heating means adapted to heat up the drying air.
8. A laundry dryer (10; 30) according to claim 7 further comprising a condenser (18)
adapted to remove moisture from the hot moisture-laden drying air exiting said rotating
drum (16) after having flown through the laundry contained therein,
9. A laundry dryer (10; 30) according to any of the preceding claims, further provided
with a loading door (14) mounted at the casing for closing and opening the loading
opening of the drum, wherein the loading door serves as an air channel for the drying
air flowing in or out of the drum interior space and/or contains air passing openings
towards the loading opening and/or contains a filter for filtering the drying air
and/or wherein the loading door is part of the drying air circuit.
10. A method for cooling at least a part of an interior space of a casing of a laundry
dryer comprising the steps of rotating a drum of the laundry dryer for receiving the
laundry to be dried,
generating a cooling air stream by means of ventilation elements, characterised by
generating the cooling air stream in an intermediate interior space (28), which is
a part of the interior space (13) of the casing lying outside of an outside wall of
the drum, by means of ventilation elements (26, 27, 32) being provided at the outside
wall of the drum and rotating with the drum.
11. The method according to claim 10, wherein a stream of drying air is forced through
the drum interior space for drying the laundry said stream of drying air being distinct
and separated and/or flowing independently from the cooling air stream and/or not
being influenced by the cooling air stream.
1. Wäschetrockner (10; 30), welcher folgendes aufweist:
ein Gehäuse (12) und
eine drehbare bzw. umlaufende Trommel (16), die in einem Innenraum des Gehäuses (12)
angeordnet ist, wobei die Trommel einen Trommelinnenraum zur Aufnahme der zu trocknenden
Wäsche besitzt,
wobei der Trommelinnenraum von einer Trommelwandung (17) umschlossen ist, die eine
Ladeöffnung zum Einladen und Ausladen der Wäsche aufweist, sowie mindestens einen
Bereich zum Durchleiten von Trockenluft mit mindestens einer Öffnung zum Einleiten
von Trockenluft in den Trommelinnenraum bzw. zum Ausleiten von Trockenluft aus dem
Trommelinnenraum,
bei welchem Belüftungselemente vorgesehen sind,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
die Trommel (16) mit den Belüftungselementen (26; 32) auf der Außenseite der Trommelwandung
(17, 19) versehen ist,
die Belüftungselemente dabei so ausgelegt sind, dass während der Drehbewegung der
Trommel in einem Zwischeninnenraum (28) des Innenraums des Gehäuses, der außerhalb
der Außenwandung der Trommel liegt und/oder durch die Trommelwandung (17, 10) vom
Trommelinnenraum getrennt ist, ein Kühlluftstrom (CA) erzeugt wird, und/oder dass
die Belüftungselemente (26, 27, 32) dabei in einem durchgehenden Belüftungsbereich
(36, 37) der Trommelwandung angeordnet sind,
der von jedem Bereich zum Durchleiten von Trockenluft getrennt ist.
2. Wäschetrockner (10; 30) nach Anspruch 1, bei welchem die Belüftungselemente von Ansätzen
(26, 27, 32) gebildet sind, die auf der Außenseite der Trommelwandung (16) angeordnet
sind und sich von der Trommelwandung nach außen oder in den Innenraum des Gehäuses
vorstehen, der außerhalb der Trommelwandung liegt.
3. Wäschetrockner (10; 30) nach Anspruch 2, bei welchem die Ansätze als Stege, Klappen,
Lamellen, Radschaufeln, Flügel oder Rippen ausgebildet sind.
4. Wäschetrockner (10; 30) nach Anspruch 2 oder 3, bei welchem die Ansätze (26; 32) einstückig
mit der Außenfläche der Trommelwandung (16) der Trommel (16) oder als separate Elemente
ausgebildet sind, die auf der Trommelwandung (17) angebracht sind.
5. Wäschetrockner (10; 30) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, bei welchem die Trommel
(16) bzw. die Trommelwandung aus Kunststoff hergestellt ist und/oder bei welchem der
mindestens eine Bereich zum Durchleiten von Trockenluft und dessen mindestens eine
Öffnung zum Einleiten von Trockenluft in den Trommelinnenraum bzw. zum Ausleiten der
Trockenluft aus dem Trommelinnenraum in einer rückwärtigen Trommelwandung oder einem
rückwärtigen Bereich der Trommelwandung angeordnet sind, und/oder bei welchem mindestens
eine Öffnung (230) in einer ortsfesten rückwärtigen Trennwand (22) der Trommel (16)
zum Durchleiten von Trockenluft ausgebildet ist.
6. Wäschetrockner (10; 30) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, bei welchem innerhalb
des Zwischeninnenraums (28) und/oder innerhalb eines dem Zwischeninnenraum (28) benachbarten
bzw. mit diesem verbundenen Bereichs elektrische und/oder elektronische Bauelemente
(31) insbesondere an einem Bedienfeld (29) angeordnet sind.
7. Wäschetrockner (10; 30) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche , welcher einen Trockenluft-Kreislauf
aufweist, welcher so ausgebildet ist, dass er den Umlauf erwärmter Trockenluft (DA)
durch die umlaufende Trommel (16) hindurch herbeiführt, sowie eine Heizeinrichtung,
die zum Erwärmen der Trockenluft ausgelegt ist.
8. Wäschetrockner (10; 30) nach Anspruch 7, welcher des Weiteren einen Kondensator (18)
aufweist, der zum Entfernen von Feuchtigkeit aus der mit heißer Feuchtigkeit beladenen
Trockenluft ausgelegt ist, die aus der umlaufenden Trommel (16) austritt, nachdem
sie durch die darin enthaltene Wäsche geströmt ist.
9. Wäschetrockner (10; 30) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, der des Weiteren
mit einer Beschickungstür (14) versehen ist, die an dem Gehäuse zum Schließen und
Öffnen der Ladeöffnung der Trommel angebracht ist, und bei welchem die Beschickungstür
als Luftströmungskanal für die Trockenluft dient, die in den Trommelinnenraum oder
aus diesem heraus strömt und/oder Luftdurchlassöffnungen zur Beschickungsöffnung hin
aufweist und/oder einen Filter zum Filtern der Trockenluft enthält, und/oder bei welchem
die Beschickungstür einen Teil des Trockenluft-Kreislaufs darstellt.
10. Verfahren zum Kühlen von mindestens einem Teil eines Innenraums eines Gehäuses eines
Wäschetrockners, welches die Schritte umfasst, bei denen eine Trommel des Wäschetrockners
zum Aufnehmen der zu trocknenden Wäsche gedreht wird, und mittels Belüftungselementen
ein Kühlluftstrom erzeugt wird,
gekennzeichnet durch
die Erzeugung eines Kühlluftstroms in einem Zwischeninnenraum (28), der einen Teil
des Innenraums (13) des Gehäuses darstellt, welcher außerhalb einer Außenwandung der
Trommel liegt, mittels Belüftungselementen (26, 27, 32), die an der Außenwandung der
Trommel vorgesehen sind und sich mit der Trommel drehen.
11. Verfahren nach Anspruch 10, bei welchem zum Trocknen der Wäsche ein Strom von Trockenluft
zwangsweise durch den Trommelinnenraum geleitet wird, wobei der Trockenluftstrom ausgeprägt
und von dem Kühlluftstrom getrennt ist und/oder unabhängig von dem Kühlluftstrom fließt
und/oder von dem Kühlluftstrom nicht beeinflusst wird.
1. Séchoir à linge (10; 30) comprenant
une carcasse (12) et
un tambour apte à tourner ou tournant (16) agencé dans l'espace intérieur de ladite
carcasse (12), le tambour ayant un espace intérieur de tambour pour recevoir le linge
à sécher, l'espace intérieur du tambour étant renfermé par une paroi de tambour (17)
ayant une ouverture de chargement pour charger et décharger le linge et au moins une
région de passage d'air de séchage avec au moins une ouverture pour faire passer l'air
de séchage dans l'espace intérieur du tambour ou hors de l'espace intérieur du tambour,
où des éléments de ventilation sont réalisés,
caractérisé en ce que le tambour (16) présente les éléments de ventilation (26; 32) à l'extérieur de la
paroi de tambour (17, 19), les éléments de ventilation étant configurés pour produire,
durant la rotation du tambour, un flux d'air de refroidissement (CA) dans un espace
intérieur intermédiaire (28) de l'espace intérieur de la carcasse situé à l'extérieur
de la paroi extérieure du tambour et/ou étant séparé de l'espace intérieur du tambour
par la paroi de tambour (17, 19) et/ou
les éléments de ventilation (26, 27, 32) étant agencés dans une région de ventilation
continue (36, 37) de la paroi de tambour espacée de chaque région de passage d'air
de séchage.
2. Séchoir à linge (10; 30) selon la revendication 1, dans lequel les éléments de ventilation
sont formés par des appendices (26, 27, 32) agencés à l'extérieur de la paroi de tambour
(16) et faisant saillie vers l'extérieur depuis la paroi de tambour ou faisant saillie
dans l'espace intérieur de la carcasse située à l'extérieur de la paroi de tambour.
3. Séchoir à linge (10; 30) selon la revendication 2, dans lequel lesdits appendices
sont formés comme des ailettes, volets, lames, palettes, aubes ou nervures.
4. Séchoir à linge (10; 30) selon la revendication 2 ou la revendication 3, dans lequel
les appendices (26, 32) sont réalisés intégralement avec la surface extérieure de
la paroi de tambour (16) du tambour (16) ou sont formés comme des éléments séparés
montés sur la paroi de tambour (17).
5. Séchoir à linge (10; 30) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans
lequel le tambour (16) ou la paroi de tambour est réalisé en matériau plastique et/ou
où la au moins une région de passage d'air de séchage et sa au moins une ouverture
pour faire passer l'air de séchage dans l'espace intérieur du tambour ou hors de l'espace
intérieur du tambour sont agencées dans une paroi de tambour arrière ou région arrière
de la paroi de tambour et/ou où au moins une ouverture (20) est formée dans une cloison
arrière stationnaire (22) du tambour (16) pour le passage de l'air de séchage.
6. Séchoir à linge (10; 30) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans
lequel dans l'espace intérieur intermédiaire (28) et/ou dans une région adjacente
ou connectée à l'espace intérieur intermédiaire (28), des composants électriques et/ou
électroniques (31) sont agencés, en particulier à un tableau de commande (29).
7. Séchoir à linge (10; 30) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, comprenant
un circuit d'air de séchage apte à amener l'air de séchage chauffé (DA) à circuler
à travers ledit tambour tournant (16) et des moyens de chauffage aptes à chauffer
l'air de séchage.
8. Séchoir à linge (10; 30) selon la revendication 7, comprenant en outre un condenseur
(18) conçu pour retirer l'humidité de l'air de séchage chaud chargé d'humidité sortant
du tambour tournant (16) après son écoulement à travers le linge se trouvant dans
celui-ci.
9. Séchoir à linge (10; 30) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, muni
en outre d'une porte de chargement (14) montée sur la carcasse pour fermer et ouvrir
l'ouverture de changement du tambour, où la porte de chargement sert de canal d'air
pour l'air de séchage s'écoulant dans ou hors de l'espace intérieur du tambour et/ou
contient des ouvertures de passage d'air vers l'ouverture de chargement et/ou contient
un filtre pour filtrer l'air de séchage et/ou où la porte de chargement fait partie
du circuit d'air de séchage.
10. Procédé de refroidissement d'au moins une partie d'un espace intérieur d'une carcasse
d'un séchoir à linge comprenant les étapes consistant à faire tourner un tambour du
séchoir à linge pour recevoir le linge à sécher,
produire un flux d'air de refroidissement au moyen d'éléments de ventilation,
caractérisé en produisant le flux d'air de refroidissement dans un espace intérieur intermédiaire
(28) qui est une partie de l'espace intérieur (13) de la carcasse situé à l'extérieur
d'une paroi extérieure du tambour, au moyen d'éléments de ventilation (26, 27, 32)
réalisés à la paroi extérieure du tambour et tournant avec le tambour.
11. Procédé selon la revendication 10, dans lequel un flux d'air de séchage est forcé
à travers l'espace intérieur du tambour pour sécher le linge, ledit flux d'air de
séchage étant distinct et séparé et/ou s'écoulant indépendamment du flux d'air de
refroidissement et/ou ne subissant pas l'influence du flux d'air de refroidissement.
REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only.
It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has
been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and
the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.
Patent documents cited in the description