Basket for a dryer machine

Abstract

 A basket (2) for a laundry dryer machine (1) or washer dryer of the type comprising a basket or drum (2) suitable to house the laundry and provided with an inlet aperture (3) for a drying airflow (4), a system of ducts (7, 8) with associated ventilator means (9, 10) suitable to convey said airflow (4), through said inlet aperture (3) into said basket, heating means (11) arranged in the airflow (4) upstream from the inlet aperture (3) and suitable to heat the air (4) before it enters the basket (2). The basket (2) comprises deflector means (10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18) suitable to deviate in a permanent way at least a portion (11) of the airflow (4) against a side wall (12) of the basket (2), wherein said side wall (12) is suitable to reflect the portion (11) of the airflow (4) towards the inside of the basket (2).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for drying laundry, of the dryer or washer-dryer type providing the drying of laundry by means of an airflow.

[0002] It is known to provide a dryer machine for laundry with a basket/tank unit, a suction unit, a air-water or air-air heat exchanger and an electrical resistance heating unit, in which an airflow created by the suction unit is heated by the electrical resistances and conveyed into the basket or drum, where, by passing through the wet laundry, it causes the evaporation of the water contained in the fabrics. During the drying procedure, the basket is made to turn in one direction only or in alternating directions in order to toss and spin the laundry inside.

[0003] A heat exchanger cooling the moist air and condensing the vapour thereof is provided in the so-called closed circuit dryer machines. The thus dehumidified air is then sucked by the suction unit and made to re-circulate.

[0004] However, in the case of a drying circuit known as an open circuit, the drying air is sucked from the environment and once it has passed through the laundry and absorbed the moisture, it is released directly into the environment.

[0005] The prior art dryer devices, despite being satisfactory under many aspects, present a high consumption of electrical energy. This drawback becomes increasingly important as the need to save energy becomes evermore pressing.

[0006] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a drying device, having the characteristics such as to contribute to a reduction in the energy consumption necessary for drying the laundry.

[0007] This and other objects are achieved by a basket for dryer or washer-dryer machines according to claim 1 and by means of a laundry dryer machine according to claim 23.

[0008] It has in fact been demonstrated that the drying air, while passing through the basket containing the laundry, typically laps only one side of the pieces of laundry encountered on its way. Moreover, the relative humidity of the air discharged from the basket is still somewhat far from the value of saturation.

[0009] Within the scope of this invention, said margin between the saturation value of the air with water vapour and the relative humidity of the air discharged from the basket together with the fact that the airflow laps in an instant normally only one side of a piece of laundry, whereas the other remains "in the shade", were identified as starting points for improving the performance of the laundry washing machine, whilst reducing at the same time energy consumption.

[0010] In order to better understand the present invention and appreciate the advantages thereof, some embodiments thereof will be described below as nonlimiting examples, referring to the attached figures, wherein:

[0011] figure 1 is a partial sectional view of a dryer machine according to a first embodiment of the invention;

[0012] figure 1a is a partial front view of a detail of the machine in figure 1;

[0013] figure 2 is a partial section view of a drying machine in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention;

[0014] figure 2a is a partial front view of a detail of the machine in figure 2;

[0015] figure 3 is a partial section view of a dryer machine according to a third embodiment of the invention;

[0016] figure 3a is a partial front view of a detail of the machine in figure 3;

[0017] figure 4 is a partial sectional view of a dryer machine according to a fourth embodiment of the invention;

[0018] figure 4a is a partial front view of a detail of the machine in figure 4;

[0019] figure 5 is a partial sectional view of a dryer machine according to a fifth embodiment of the invention;

[0020] figure 6 is a partial sectional view of a dryer machine according to a sixth embodiment of the invention;

[0021] figure 7 is a partial sectional view of a dryer machine according to a seventh embodiment of the invention;

[0022] With reference to the figures, a laundry dryer machine 1 comprises a basket or drum 2 for housing the laundry. The basket 2 is provided with an inlet aperture 3 for a drying airflow 4 and an outlet aperture 5 for the moist air 6. A system of ducts 7, 8 with associated ventilator means (not shown in the figures), such as a ventilator rotor driven by an electric motor, are provided to convey the drying airflow 4, through the inlet aperture 3 in the basket 2.

[0023] Suitable heating means being in a heat exchange-relationship with the drying air 4, such as an electrical resistance 9, arranged in the airflow 4 upstream from the inlet aperture 3 are suitable to heat the air 4 before it enters the basket 2.

[0024] Advantageously, the laundry dryer machine 1 also comprises means for moving the basket 2 in such a way to turn and spin the laundry, exposing it to the drying airflow 4. Such means comprise for example an electric motor (not shown) causing the basket 2 to rotate, preferably with an alternating sense of direction.

[0025] The laundry dryer machine 1 further comprises deflector means suitable to deviate permanently at least a portion 11 of the airflow 4 against a side wall 12 of the basket 2 which is substantially transverse to the wall delimiting the inlet aperture 3, in which said side wall 12 is adapted to reflect in a permanent way the portion 11 of the airflow 4 towards the inside of the basket 2.

[0026] In accordance with the embodiments shown in the figures, the side wall 12 is formed as the cylindrical wall of the basket 2, whilst one of its flat rear walls 13 delimits said inlet aperture 3.

[0027] In accordance with the embodiment shown in figure 1, the deflector means 10 comprise a deflector element 10 with a discoid form associated from the inside of the basket to its rear wall 13 at the inlet aperture 3.

[0028] The deflector element 10 has a greater extension than that of the inlet aperture 3 and is spaced away from the rear wall 13, such as to define between said wall 13 and said deflector element 10 a substantially discoid space in order to deviate the portion 11 of the airflow 4 towards the side wall 12.

[0029] The deflector element 10 comprises a ring-shaped peripheral portion 14 folded back towards the rear wall 13 and also connected thereto all around the deflector element itself. The peripheral portion 14 is provided with apertures or perforations 15 suitable to make air 11 pass into the basket 2 in the direction of the side wall 12.

[0030] Advantageously, the peripheral portion 14 has, in relation to the side wall 12, a bias of between 15° and 85°, preferably of from 30° to 60° and delimits, together with a central portion 16 of the deflector element 10 and the rear wall 13, a truncated cone space whose major base is formed by the wall 13 and whose smaller base is formed by the central portion 16. The central portion 16 is further preferably parallel to the rear wall 13 of the basket 2 or rather to the plane in which the inlet aperture 3 lies.

[0031] In accordance with the embodiment shown in figure 1, the central portion 16 is devoid of apertures for the air and is a barrier and deviation wall for the airflow 4.

[0032] In accordance with the embodiment shown in figure 2, the central portion 16 defines a number of apertures or holes 17 to cause a portion of the airflow 4 to pass into the basket 2 in a substantially axial direction, such that the laundry is struck, simultaneously, by both the axial, i.e. the main flow 4 and the portion 11 of the air reflected by the side wall 12.

[0033] In accordance with one embodiment, two or more towing blades 18 are further provided arranged on the wall 13 defining the inlet aperture 3. Advantageously, said towing blades 18 are radially connected to the outside of the deflector element 10 and define guide surfaces for the deviated airflow 11.

[0034] In accordance with a further embodiment (such as shown in figure 3), the deflector element 10 is connected to the wall 13 such as to define a circumferential slot 19 therewith extending radially around the outside of the inlet aperture 3.

[0035] This circumferential slot 19 provides a ring-shaped passage (optionally with interruptions), through which the portion of air 11 can be conveyed into the basket 2 towards the side wall 12. The deflector element 10 is, according to the embodiment, perforated either in its central portion 16 and/or in its peripheral portion 14 or, according to the embodiment shown in figure 3, it is devoid of passage apertures.

[0036] In accordance with a further embodiment, such as shown in figure 4, the deflector element 10 is arranged in a substantially parallel manner to the wall 13, it has said substantially flat central portion 16 and a peripheral portion 14 shaped such as to define one or more towing blades 18.

[0037] Said towing blades can be provided additionally to one or more conventional type blades or alone.

[0038] Once again, the deflector element 10 is connected to the wall 13 such as to delimit with the latter a circumferential slot 19 extending radially outside the inlet aperture 3 and the towing blades 18.

[0039] This circumferential slot 19 provides, as described previously, a ring-shaped passage (optionally with interruptions), through which the portion of air 11 can be conveyed into the basket 2 towards the side wall 12.

[0040] Advantageously, apertures 26 for the passage of air may also be provided, which are made directly in said towing blades 18.

[0041] In accordance with a further embodiment, the heating means, in the specific case the electrical resistance 9, is arranged at the inlet aperture 3, in a space delimited by said deflector element 10 and a screen 20, substantially parallel to the deflector element 10 such that the air flow 4, before entering the basket 2 bounces between the deflector element 10 and the screen 20, lapping the electrical resistance 9 several times.

[0042] In addition to an improved heat exchange between the resistance 9 and the air 4, the arrangement of the deflector element 10 opposite to the screen 20 with the resistance 9 therebetween further enables prolonged thermal irradiation of the air until the moment in which the latter enters the basket 2 (see for example fig. 5).

[0043] Advantageously a dynamic seal is provided between the fixed structure, i.e. the duct 7, and the mobile structure, i.e. the edge of the inlet aperture 3 of the basket 2.

[0044] In accordance with the embodiment shown in figures 6 and 7, the deflector element 10 with an advantageously flat discoid shape connects permanently the inlet aperture 3 with spaces 21 made in towing blades 22 of the side wall 12. The blades 22 are provided with suitable passage apertures 23, through which the air deviated from the deflector element 2 enters in the form of a continuous flow into the basket 2.

[0045] In accordance with one embodiment, the towing blades 22 run from the deflector element 10 preferably, but not necessarily, in an axial direction (in relation to an axis of rotation r of the basket 2) to the opposite wall, in other words to the anterior wall 27 of the basket 2.

[0046] According to a further embodiment, such as shown in figure 6, the towing blades 22, terminate before the anterior wall 27 and have a front wall 25 substantially facing said anterior wall 27, the front wall 25 is in turn provided with passage apertures 24 suitable to allow part of the air flow to pass, directing it against the anterior wall of the basket 2.

[0047] The front walls 25 of the towing blades 22 are inclined such that their radially outer ends are closer to the anterior wall of the basket than their radially inner ends.

[0048] Advantageously, said front walls 25 define with the side wall 12 an angle of between 15° and 85°, preferably between 30° and 60°.

[0049] As shown for example in figures 6 and 7, the invention described thus far is applicable both to front loading and top loading dryer machines.

[0050] The deflector element 10 is preferably made in plastic or metallic material and also applicable as an accessory to baskets of the conventional type, whereas the screen 20 is preferably made in sheet metal, advantageously heat insulated.

[0051] The operation of the laundry dryer machine according to the invention will be described below.

[0052] The airflow 4, heated by the heating means and conveyed through the inlet aperture by the ventilator means, encounters the deviator element 10 deviating at least a portion 11 of the air flow towards the side wall 12 of the basket 2 from which it is reflected towards the inside of the basket, so that the laundry inside the basket 2 is lapped from more than one side by the drying air, thus favouring a more efficient evaporation of the moisture contained in the laundry.

[0053] Moreover, the drying air, before entering the basket 2, circulates several times around the electric resistance, thus favouring a more efficient heat exchange between the resistance and the air.

[0054] According to a further advantageous aspect of the present invention, it is provided that the airflow through the basket is pressurized on the resistances and also on the laundry inside the basket and not, as occurs in state of the art devices, in suction.

[0055] The basket and the laundry dryer machine according to the invention have a number of advantages.

[0056] They enable laundry drying with a reduced consumption of energy, they are structurally simple and sound and the climatic impact on the laundry is particularly delicate, since the temperature inside the basket is substantially constant and uniform in the various areas of the basket.

[0057] This allows a prolonged life of both the laundry and the components of the dryer.

[0058] Naturally, the embodiment providing a screen 20 (fig. 5) can be combined with any type of deflector element 10 according to the present invention, such as those shown in figures 1 to 4.

[0059] Obviously, a man skilled in the art will be able to make further modifications and variants to the basket and dryer device of the present invention, all of which being contemplated within the scope of protection of this invention such as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. Basket (2) for a laundry dryer machine (1) or washer-dryer of the type comprising:

- a basket or drum (2) suitable to house the laundry and provided with an inlet aperture (3) for a drying airflow (4);

- a system of ducts (7, 8) with associated ventilator means (9, 10) suitable to convey said airflow (4), through said inlet aperture (3) in said basket (2),

- heating means (11), arranged in the airflow (4) upstream from the inlet aperture (3) and suitable to heat the air (4) before it enters the basket (2);

wherein said basket (2) also comprises deflector means (10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18) suitable to deviate permanently at least a portion (11) of the airflow (4) against a side wall (12) of the basket (2), which is substantially transverse to the wall (13) delimiting the inlet aperture (3), said side wall (12) being adapted to reflect the portion (11) of the airflow (4) towards the inside of the basket (2).

2. The basket (2) according to claim 1, wherein said side wall (12) is a cylindrical wall of the basket (2), whereas the inlet aperture (3) is delimited by a substantially flat rear wall (13) of the basket (2).

3. The basket (2) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the deflector means comprise a deflector element (10) of a substantially discoid form associated from the inside of the basket (2) to said wall (13) at the inlet aperture (3).

4. The basket (2) according to claim 3, wherein the deflector element (10) has a greater extension than that of the inlet aperture (3) and it is spaced apart from the wall (13), in order to define a substantially discoid space (14) between the wall (13) and the deflector element (10) in order to deviate the portion (11) of the airflow (4) towards the side wall (12).

5. The basket (2) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the deflector element(10)comprises a ring-shaped peripheral portion (14) which is folded back towards the wall (13) and connected thereto all around the deflector element (10).

6. The basket (2) according to claim 5, wherein the peripheral portion (14) is provided with apertures (15) which are suitable to allow the portion of air (11) to pass into the basket (2) in the direction of the side wall (12).

7. The basket (2) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the peripheral portion (14) has, in relation to the side wall (12) an inclination of between 15° and 85° and delimits together with a central portion (16) of the deflector element (10) and the rear wall (13) a truncated cone shape whose major base is formed by the wall (13) and the smaller base is formed by the central portion (16).

8. The basket (2) according to claim 7, wherein the central portion (16) is parallel to the rear wall (13) of the basket (2).

9. The basket (2) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the central portion (16) is devoid of apertures for the air and constitutes a barrier and deviation wall for the airflow (4).

10. The basket (2) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the central portion (16) delimits a number of holes (17) to allow a portion of the airflow (4) to pass into the basket (2) in a substantially axial direction, so that the laundry is struck, simultaneously, by said axial flow and the portion of air (11), reflected by the side wall (12).

11. The basket (2) according to any of the previous claims, wherein two or more towing blades (18) are arranged on the wall (13).

12. The basket (2) according to claim 11, wherein said towing blades (18) are located radially outside the deflector element (10) and define guide surfaces for the deviated portion of air (11).

13. The basket (2) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the deflector element (10) is connected to the wall (13), thus delimiting therewith a ring-shaped passage (19) extending radially outside the inlet aperture.

14. The basket (2) according to claim 13, wherein the deflector element (10) is perforated in its central portion (16).

15. The basket (2) according to claim 13 or 14, wherein said deflector element (10) is perforated in its peripheral portion (14).

16. The basket (2) according to claim 13, wherein the deflector element (10) is devoid of passage apertures.

17. The basket (2) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the deflector element (10) is arranged in a substantially parallel way to the wall (13) and presents a peripheral portion (14) which is shaped to define one or more towing blades (18).

18. The basket (2) according to claim 17, wherein the deflector element (10) is connected to the wall (13) to delimit therewith a circumferential ring-shaped air passage (19) extending radially outside the inlet aperture (3) and the towing blades (18).

19. The basket (2) according to claim 17 or 18, comprising passage apertures (26) for the air, made in said towing blades (18).

20. The basket (2) according to any of the previous claims, wherein said deflector element (10) connects in a permanent manner the inlet aperture (3) with spaces (21) made in the towing blades (22) of the lateral wall (12), said blades (22) being provided with passage apertures (23) through which the airflow (4, 11) can enter the basket (2) in the form of a continuous flow.

21. The basket (2) according to claim 20, wherein said towing blades (22) extend from the deflector element (10) in a substantially axial direction in relation to an axis of rotation (r) of the basket (2) up to a front wall of the basket (2).

22. The basket (2) according to claim 20, wherein said towing blades (22) terminate before an anterior wall of the basket (2) opposite the deflector element (10) and have a front wall (25) substantially facing said anterior wall, said front wall (25) being provided with passage apertures (24) to allow part of the air flow to pass, by directing it onto said anterior wall of the basket (2).

23. Laundry dryer machine (1) comprising:

- a basket or drum (2) suitable to house laundry and provided with an inlet aperture (3) for a drying airflow (4);

- a system of ducts (7, 8) with associated ventilator means (9, 10) suitable to convey said airflow (4), through said inlet aperture (3) in said basket (2);

- heating means (11), arranged in the airflow (4) upstream from the inlet aperture (3) and suitable to heat the air (4) before it enters the basket (2),

characterised in that said basket (2) is a basket according to any of the previous claims.

24. The laundry dryer machine (1) according to claim 23, wherein the heating means comprise an electric resistance (9), arranged at the inlet aperture (3) of the basket (2), in a space delimited by said deflector element (10) and a screen (20) substantially parallel to the deflector element (10), such that the airflow (4), bounces between the deflector element (10) and the screen (20) before entering the basket (2), thus lapping the electrical resistance (9) a number of times.

Drawing