Laundry Dryer and Method of Operating a Laundry Dryer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016115643-A1
Application number	US-201314892775-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 24, 2013
Priority date	May 24, 2013
Publication date	Apr 28, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The invention relates to a laundry dryer ( 2 ) and a method of operating a dryer ( 2 ). The dryer ( 2 ) comprises a casing, a laundry storing compartment ( 18 ) arranged within the casing for receiving laundry ( 19 ) to be dried by passing process air (A) through the laundry storing compartment ( 18 ), and a heat exchanger ( 10 ) for dehumidifying the process air (A) after passing the laundry storing compartment ( 18 ). Furthermore, the dryer ( 2 ) comprises a condensate collecting device ( 30 ) for collecting condensate formed at the heat exchanger ( 10 ), and a removable condensate reservoir ( 40 ) for storing condensed water formed at the heat exchanger ( 10 ). Moreover, the dryer comprises a control unit ( 42 ) for controlling the operation of the laundry dryer ( 2 ), and a pumping and feeding arrangement ( 36 ) for pumping condensate collected in the condensate collecting device ( 30 ) through an internal line ( 38 ) to the removable condensate reservoir ( 40 ). The pumping and feeding arrangement ( 36 ) is fluidly connected to a draining line ( 39 ) for pumping condensate collected in the condensate collecting device ( 30 ) selectively through said internal line ( 38 ) and/or through said draining line ( 39 ). The draining line ( 39 ) is adapted to be selectively connected to an external sink for discharging the condensate outside the dryer casing or to the removable condensate reservoir ( 40 ) to supply the condensate pumped through the draining line ( 39 ) to the removable condensate reservoir ( 40 ).

First claim

1 . Laundry dryer ( 2 ) comprising:
a casing, a laundry storing compartment ( 18 ) arranged within the casing for receiving laundry ( 19 ) to be dried by passing process air (A) through the laundry storing compartment ( 18 ), a heat exchanger ( 10 ) for dehumidifying the process air (A) after passing the laundry storing compartment ( 18 ), a condensate collecting device ( 30 ) for collecting condensate formed at the heat exchanger ( 10 ), a removable condensate reservoir ( 40 ) for storing condensed water formed at the heat exchanger ( 10 ), a control unit ( 42 ) for controlling the operation of the laundry dryer ( 2 ), and a pumping and feeding arrangement ( 36 ) for pumping condensate collected in the condensate collecting device ( 30 ) selectively through an internal line ( 38 ) to the removable condensate reservoir ( 40 ) and/or through a draining line ( 39 ), characterized in that the draining line ( 39 ) is adapted to be selectively connected to an external sink for discharging the condensate outside the dryer casing ( 50 ) or to the removable condensate reservoir ( 40 ) to supply the condensate pumped through the draining line ( 39 ) to the removable condensate reservoir ( 40 ).

2 . Laundry dryer according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit ( 42 ) is adapted to control the pumping and feeding arrangement ( 36 ) such that during a single drying operation a portion of the condensate is pumped through the internal line ( 38 ) and a portion of the condensate is pumped through the draining line ( 39 ).

3 . Laundry dryer according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit ( 42 ) is adapted to control the pumping and feeding arrangement ( 36 ) such that at the end of a single drying operation or during or at the end of a rinsing sequence for rinsing a component ( 90 ) of the dryer ( 2 ) the condensate is pumped through the draining line ( 39 ).

4 . Laundry dryer according to claim 1 , wherein the removable condensate reservoir ( 40 ) is fluidly connected to a cleaning arrangement ( 88 ) adapted to supply condensate to a component ( 90 ) of the laundry dryer ( 2 ) for removing fluff.

5 . Laundry dryer according to claim 1 , comprising a re-feed connecting element ( 58 ) adapted for being connected to an outlet ( 57 ) of the draining line ( 39 ) for guiding the condensate pumped through the draining line ( 39 ) into the removable condensate reservoir ( 40 ) of the dryer ( 2 ).

6 . Laundry dryer according to claim 5 , wherein the re-feed connecting element ( 58 ) comprises a manifold ( 59 ) having a first inlet ( 60 ) connected to the outlet ( 56 ) of the internal line ( 38 ) and a second inlet ( 61 ) selectively connectable to the outlet ( 57 ) of the draining line ( 39 ).

7 . Laundry dryer according to claim 5 , wherein a non-return valve ( 92 ) or a valve is arranged between
the outlet ( 56 ) of the internal line ( 38 ) and the first inlet ( 60 ), or the outlet ( 57 ) of the draining line ( 39 ) and the second inlet ( 62 ).

8 . Laundry dryer according to claim 1 , wherein the outlet ( 56 ) of the internal line ( 38 ) is connected to a valve and the outlet ( 57 ) of the draining line ( 39 ) is selectively connectable to the valve, wherein the outlet of the valve is connected to the removable condensate reservoir ( 40 ).

9 . Laundry dryer according to claim 5 , wherein a or the re-feed connecting element ( 58 ) comprises a connector or a stub ( 66 ) configured for mounting the outlet ( 57 ) of the draining line ( 39 ) thereto.

10 . Laundry dryer according to claim 5 , wherein a or the re-feed connecting element ( 58 ) or a portion thereof is arranged at an outside wall ( 49 ) or at the backside ( 48 ) of the casing ( 50 ) or is arranged in a receptacle of the casing ( 50 ) or is arranged behind a removable cover arranged at an outside wall ( 49 ) of the casing ( 50 ).

11 . Laundry dryer according to claim 5 , wherein a or the re-feed connecting element ( 58 ) comprises a through-hole adapted to receive an end section of the draining line ( 39 ).

12 . Laundry dryer according to claim 11 , wherein the through-hole ends at a liquid guide for guiding the condensate pumped through the draining line ( 39 ) to the removable condensate reservoir ( 40 ).

13 . Laundry dryer according to claim 5 , wherein a or the re-feed connecting element ( 58 ) comprises one or more mounting elements for selectively or removably fixing the draining line ( 39 ) in a predefined position for guiding the condensate pumped through the draining line ( 39 ) into or towards the removable condensate reservoir ( 40 ).

14 . Laundry dryer according to claim 5 , wherein a or the re-feed connecting element ( 58 ) comprises a feeding line ( 75 )
having an inlet ( 61 ) at or adjacent to a casing outer wall ( 49 ) for being connected to the outlet ( 57 ) of the draining line ( 39 ), and having an outlet ( 79 ) in fluid connection with an inlet ( 80 ) of the removable condensate reservoir ( 40 ).

15 . Laundry dryer according to claim 5 , wherein, when the outlet ( 57 ) of the draining line ( 39 ) is connected to a or the re-feed connecting element ( 58 ), the flow path of the draining line ( 39 ) and the flow path of the internal line ( 38 ) are guided in parallel or fluidly in parallel to an inlet ( 80 ) of the removable condensate reservoir ( 40 ).

16 . Laundry dryer ( 2 ) comprising:
a casing ( 50 ), a laundry storing compartment ( 18 ) arranged within the casing ( 50 ) for receiving laundry ( 19 ) to be dried by passing process air (A) through the laundry storing compartment ( 18 ), a heat exchanger ( 10 ) for dehumidifying the process air (A) after passing the laundry storing compartment ( 18 ), a condensate collecting device ( 30 ) for collecting condensate formed at the heat exchanger ( 10 ), a draining line ( 39 ) for discharging condensate to the exterior of the dryer casing ( 50 ), an internal line ( 38 , 86 ) fluidly connected to a cleaning arrangement ( 88 ) adapted to supply condensate to a component ( 90 ) of the dryer ( 2 ) for removing fluff, a pumping and feeding arrangement ( 36 ) for pumping condensate collected in the condensate collecting device ( 30 ) selectively through the draining line ( 39 ) and/or through the internal line ( 38 , 86 ), and a control unit ( 42 ) for controlling the operation of the laundry dryer ( 2 ), characterized in that the control unit ( 42 ) is adapted to control the pumping and feeding arrangement ( 36 ) such that during a single drying operation a portion of the condensate is pumped through the internal line ( 38 , 86 ) and a portion of the condensate is pumped through the draining line ( 39 ).

17 . Laundry dryer according to claim 16 ,
wherein the cleaning arrangement ( 88 ) comprises a condensate receiving element for temporarily storing condensate to be used in a component cleaning cycle for cleaning the component ( 90 ), or wherein the internal line ( 38 , 86 ) guides the condensate to the component ( 90 ) to be cleaned without temporary storing the condensate or without providing a temporary condensate storage in the flow-path from the pumping and feeding arrangement ( 36 ) to the component ( 90 ) to be cleaned.

18 . Laundry dryer according to claim 4 , wherein the dryer component ( 90 ) to be cleaned by the condensate is one or more of: a heat exchanger ( 10 , 12 ), an evaporator ( 10 ), a fluff filter, and a process air channel section ( 20 ).

19 . Laundry dryer according to claim 1 ,
wherein the internal line ( 38 ) comprises a valve ( 37 ) or a non-return valve ( 92 ),

Assignees

• Electrolux Appliances AB

Inventors

• Bison Alberto
• Reid Nicola
• Rossi Giuseppe

Classifications

• D06F58/24 Primary

  Condensing arrangements · CPC title

• D06F2103/58

  related to condensation, e.g. condensate water level · CPC title

• D06F58/45

  Cleaning or disinfection of machine parts, e.g. of heat exchangers or filters · CPC title