Laundry dryer with steam function and related operating method

Abstract

A laundry dryer (1) having a steaming function, comprising: - a laundry treatment chamber (2), - a drying process air circuit (3), - a steam machine (20) comprising a steam generator (23), a steam injector (24) to inject steam into the treatment chamber (2), and a steam condensate conduit (40) to lead away any liquid condensed from the steam injected into the treatment chamber (2) by the steam injector (24), and - a siphon trap (41) arranged in the steam condensate conduit (40) to receive steam condensate from the steam condensate conduit (40). In addition to steam condensate, the dryer comprises an additional input (42) of liquid to the siphon trap (41). A method for operating a laundry dryer is also disclosed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a clothes dryer with a steam function, and related operating methods. For the sake of brevity, this machine will be referred to as a dryer in the following text. Background Technology

[0002] Clothes dryers, such as tumble dryers, typically include a box or housing containing a processing chamber where clothes to be processed can be loaded.

[0003] The garment handling chamber is typically a rotatable drum housed within a chamber and capable of rotating relative to an axis of rotation. This drum can be substantially horizontal or slightly inclined relative to a horizontal surface on which the clothes dryer is positioned (in so-called "horizontal axis" clothes dryers), or substantially vertical (in so-called "vertical axis" clothes dryers).

[0004] In known drum dryers, the drum is typically rotatably supported within a chamber by rollers that pivot to a support structure stationary relative to the chamber; further support may be provided by a shaft that defines the axis of rotation of the dryer and is rotatably connected to the chamber. In other known clothes dryers, the clothes handling chamber is stationary relative to the chamber; in this case, the clothes dryer is a heated chamber in which clothes can be suspended for drying.

[0005] To remove water and moisture from clothing, dryers typically use a condensation process, in which dry air is usually circulated through a treatment chamber and moisture is removed by condensation downstream of the treatment chamber, or a process in which air passes through the treatment chamber only once and is then discharged outside the dryer as humid air. More specifically, the present invention relates to dryers of the aforementioned type, sometimes referred to as condenser dryers.

[0006] The quality of garment handling in a dryer can be improved by using steam, which deodorizes and / or disinfects and / or (re)humidifies garments in a controlled manner, thereby providing anti-wrinkle / anti-crease effects and / or aiding in the subsequent ironing process.

[0007] For this purpose, dryers with steam functions are commonly known. A steam engine injects steam or water-based solution steam into the dryer's processing chamber during a steam program, which can be part of a drying process (usually the final part) or can represent the entire operating process on its own.

[0008] In this specification and the appended claims, under the term "steam," water or a water-based solution refers to a droplet-free vapor state, as opposed to atomized water or a water-based solution, which contains small liquid droplets in the air. Steam is typically hot or superheated water or a water-based solution vapor.

[0009] In this specification and the appended claims, unless otherwise stated, "liquid" generally refers to liquid water and / or liquid water-based solutions.

[0010] If the steam is not dry, saturated steam, some liquid may enter the processing chamber and wet the clothes. This can create halo-like marks on the clothes, thus impairing the drying process and creating other undesirable effects, such as giving the impression that the clothes dryer is defective.

[0011] A steam engine typically includes: a steam generator fluidly connected to a source of water and / or a water-based solution, the steam generator including a steam engine liquid tank; a steam injector for injecting steam into a processing chamber; and a steam delivery conduit connecting the steam generator to the steam injector.

[0012] In particular, if the steam delivery conduit connecting the steam generator and the steam injector is very long, the steam may become too cold along the conduit, causing some of the steam to condense at the injector, resulting in the aforementioned drawback of causing clothes to become mottled and damp.

[0013] Therefore, such vapor condensate is typically collected at the bottom of the vapor injector (e.g., through its proper configuration) and carried away through a vapor condensate conduit, possibly to a collection container.

[0014] Because the pressure in the garment processing chamber may be higher than the pressure downstream of the vapor condensate conduit, and especially higher than the pressure in the collection container where the vapor condensate may be collected, steam may escape along the vapor condensate conduit toward the collection container instead of fully reaching the volume of the processing chamber, thus preventing effective steam treatment of the garments.

[0015] To avoid the aforementioned drawbacks, it is well known, for example, according to EP1959048B1 and WO2017 / 036553A1, to insert siphon traps, such as U-shaped or S-shaped traps, into steam condensate conduits. The liquid seal formed within the trap prevents steam flow but still allows steam condensate flow.

[0016] The applicant has recognized that, also because the pressure inside the processing chamber may be higher than the pressure downstream of the vapor condensate duct, and particularly higher than the pressure in the collection container where the vapor condensate is driven and collected by the vapor condensate duct, another disadvantage is that during the drying process, the dry air circulating in the garment processing chamber may escape through the vapor condensate duct, causing the collection container to become contaminated with lint dispersed in the dry air circulating in the processing chamber. If the collection container is located in the same area as the heat exchanger of a dry air handling unit, such as a heat pump system used to dehumidify and heat the dry air, these units may gradually become clogged, thus losing their heat exchange performance. Furthermore, the lint entering the collection container can be transferred within the dryer via air circulation, and thus clog other components of the dryer, such as air ducts, fans used to drive the dry air, etc.; or if the vapor condensate is collected together with condensate removed from the filtered dry air leaving the processing chamber by condensation in the air circuit of the drying process and collected in a shared collection container, the lint can be transferred within the dryer via liquid flow, and the collected condensate can be further (re)circulated within the dryer.

[0017] The applicant has recognized that the aforementioned siphon trap also helps to overcome this drawback.

[0018] However, for it to function properly, the siphon trap needs to contain enough liquid to form a liquid plug, and this liquid plug should be available as soon as possible after the dryer's first run.

[0019] However, considering that the siphon trap is not filled with liquid by the dryer manufacturer, in dryers according to the prior art, due to the arrangement of hydraulic lines for discharging steam condensate, the liquid plug is only available when a drying program including a steam program or a separate steam program is running. When a steam program has not been performed or has not been performed for a long time, the siphon trap is empty or becomes empty due to the evaporation of the liquid plug, and then, when the drying program is running, the drying air leaves the treatment chamber through the steam condensate duct, and lint may circulate within the dryer. In addition to the fact that there may be steam and / or steam pressure losses as described above, at least during the initial stage of steam treatment of the clothes, there are also associated disadvantages. Summary of the Invention

[0020] The purpose of this invention is to provide a reliable way to ensure that the siphon trap always works quickly and effectively.

[0021] Another object of the present invention is to provide frequent replacement of the liquid plug in a siphon trap so as to keep the liquid plug as clean as possible.

[0022] Another objective of this invention is to simplify the use and operation of clothes dryers with steam function by eliminating the need for special requirements on the liquid plug in the formed siphon trap.

[0023] The applicant discovered that in a steam-functional clothes dryer including a siphon trap arranged in a steam condensate duct, the aforementioned objective is achieved by additionally introducing liquid water (or a liquid water-based solution) into the siphon trap during the steam process—potentially as part of the drying process—rather than relying solely on the amount of liquid condensed from steam at the steam injector. The liquid water flows along the steam condensate duct in which the siphon trap is formed. With this configuration, the siphon trap is quickly filled and refurbished, and thus ensures that the siphon trap will function properly to prevent any airflow into the steam condensate duct, thereby inhibiting the spread of lint from the processing chamber within the clothes dryer. Furthermore, steam and / or steam pressure loss is reduced.

[0024] In addition, the applicant has found a method for operating a clothes dryer with a steam function to achieve the above purpose.

[0025] In a first aspect, the present invention relates to a clothes dryer with a steam function, comprising:

[0026] -Clothing processing room

[0027] A drying process air circuit, having a first air opening and a second air opening, wherein the first air opening guides the process airflow into the processing chamber, and the second air opening discharges the process airflow from the processing chamber; the drying process air circuit also includes a heater, a fan, and a condenser; the heater heats the process air, the fan moves the process airflow along the drying process air circuit, and the condenser removes moisture from the process airflow leaving the chamber.

[0028] - A steam engine comprising a steam generator, a steam injector, and a steam condensate conduit. The steam injector injects steam into a processing chamber, and the steam condensate conduit removes any liquid condensed from the steam stream injected into the processing chamber by the steam injector.

[0029] - A siphon trap, which is arranged in the steam condensate conduit to receive steam condensate from the steam condensate conduit.

[0030] The dryer is characterized by including, in addition to steam condensate, an additional liquid input to a siphon trap.

[0031] Additional input settings are used to fill the siphon trap and form and / or retain a liquid plug that can be refurbished, even when no vapor condensate is available.

[0032] Additional inputs can be fluidly connected, for example, via conduits to a water source or a water-based solution source.

[0033] Additional inputs can be fluidly connected to accommodate at least one of the following:

[0034] ●Recirculate condensed water

[0035] ●Recirculate steam condensate

[0036] ● Overflow liquid from the steam engine's liquid tank and / or the steam engine's manual loading unit.

[0037] ● Liquids provided by the user.

[0038] Preferably, the additional input is configured such that the percentage of liquid input to the additional input that helps form a liquid plug in the siphon trap is up to 50%, preferably up to 20%.

[0039] Preferably, the additional input to the siphon trap is connected to a recirculation loop, which is fluidly supplied with condensate from the process air in the drying process air loop. This arrangement helps ensure rapid formation of a liquid plug.

[0040] More preferably, the recirculation loop also recirculates the steam condensate.

[0041] More specifically, preferably, an additional inlet fluid to the siphon-type steam trap is connected to a hopper, which is positioned such that:

[0042] ● Accepts liquid fed into the hopper by the user, and / or

[0043] ● Collect any spilled liquid from at least one of the following:

[0044] ○ Steam engine liquid tank,

[0045] ○ The manual loading unit for the steam engine liquid tank, and

[0046] ○ Removable box for recirculation loop.

[0047] Advantageously, this arrangement minimizes disruption to other components of the dryer's liquid circuit, particularly to the liquid level in the steam engine's liquid tank, caused by the siphon trap drawing in liquid. This arrangement also helps ensure rapid liquid plug formation.

[0048] More specifically, preferably, the additional input of the siphon trap is connected to a recirculation liquid conduit that guides the recirculation liquid from the hopper to a collection container for collecting condensate from the air circuit of the drying process and / or steam condensate from the steam engine. Preferably, the collection container is used to collect at least condensate from the air circuit of the drying process.

[0049] Therefore, the downstream end of the siphon trap can be connected to a collection container, or it can be connected to a recirculation loop downstream of the collection container, or it can be connected to a second dedicated collection container in the recirculation loop, so that the steam condensate can also be recirculated in the clothes dryer.

[0050] In contrast to the above-mentioned alternatives or additions, the additional input to the siphon trap can be located partially within the outlet region of the siphon trap, such that only the amount of liquid required to form or maintain the liquid plug enters the U-shaped portion of the siphon trap.

[0051] Preferably, the additional input to the siphon trap is located at the uppermost region on the downstream side of the siphon trap, particularly at the convex surface of the inverted U-shaped portion of the S-shaped siphon trap.

[0052] In this way, the incoming liquid, especially the recirculated liquid, will be split into two streams, one of which can fill the siphon trap itself, while the other can be recirculated or removed.

[0053] Preferably, the siphon trap is an S-shaped siphon trap, with the additional input to the siphon trap located on the middle surface of the inverted U-shaped portion of the siphon trap, but asymmetrical about the middle surface of the inverted U-shaped portion. In this way, the input liquid can be easily divided into two streams that can have a flow ratio different from the desired 50:50.

[0054] More preferably, the additional input of the siphon trap is shifted toward the outlet branch of the siphon trap, such that the percentage of liquid flowing into the siphon trap is up to 50% but not 50%, and preferably up to 20%.

[0055] In this way, when the input liquid rate is relatively high, if this is possible when the input liquid is recirculated liquid, only the amount of liquid required to form the liquid plug enters the U-shaped part of the siphon trap. However, the recirculated liquid is mainly delivered directly to, for example, a collection container in the recirculation loop.

[0056] Rather than alternatives or additions to the features described above, the connector for connecting the conduit to the additional input is preferably integrated with the siphon trap as a single piece. This eliminates the need for external connectors, such as T-joints, and greatly simplifies the assembly and installation process.

[0057] Alternatively or additionally, preferably, the dryer includes a self-supporting body and optionally includes a connector, the self-supporting body containing a siphon trap, the connector being used to connect a conduit to an additional input.

[0058] In this specification and the appended claims, "self-supporting body" refers to a body having sufficient rigidity to maintain its shape under normal use conditions, and in particular, it is used as the opposite of a siphon trap formed by a hose.

[0059] More preferably, the self-supporting integral body is a blow-molded component made of polymer material.

[0060] Additionally or alternatively, the self-standing one-piece body preferably also includes a flange for mounting to a dryer.

[0061] In a second aspect, the present invention relates to a method for operating a clothes dryer with a steam function as described above, comprising forming a liquid plug in the siphon trap by means of the following steps:

[0062] a1) Perform the drying procedure.

[0063] a2) Collect condensate from the clothes being dried during the drying process, and

[0064] a3) Input a portion of the collected condensate into a siphon trap.

[0065] And / or through:

[0066] b1) Preferably, liquid, particularly water or a water-based solution, is manually fed into the steam engine's liquid tank via a manual loading unit of the steam engine's liquid tank.

[0067] b2) Deflect a portion of the manually entered liquid into the siphon trap.

[0068] The method may also include recirculating condensate formed during the clothes drying process within the dryer, as well as steam condensate that may form during the steam process.

[0069] The method may also include deflecting a portion of the recirculated liquid toward the siphon trap to form a liquid plug in the siphon trap.

[0070] Alternatively or additionally, the method may also include obtaining a liquid for forming a liquid plug through the following steps:

[0071] ● Accepts liquids manually entered by the user, and / or

[0072] ● Collect spilled liquid from one or more of the following:

[0073] ○ Steam engine liquid tank,

[0074] ○ The manual loading unit for the steam engine liquid tank, and

[0075] ○ Removable box for recirculation loop. Attached Figure Description

[0076] Other features and advantages of the invention will become more clearly and readily understood from the following detailed disclosure of some embodiments of the invention, in which:

[0077] - Figure 1 This is a block diagram of a condenser clothes dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0078] - Figure 2 This is a schematic view illustrating components of a clothes dryer according to several options of the invention.

[0079] - Figure 3 This is a perspective view of a condenser clothes dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein some walls and some components of the chamber have been removed.

[0080] - Figure 4 yes Figure 3 A side view of a clothes dryer, in which some walls of the compartment have been removed.

[0081] - Figure 5 yes Figure 3 Different 3D images of the details of the clothes dryer, and

[0082] - Figure 6 and Figure 7 yes Figure 3 Two different perspective views of the components of a clothes dryer. Detailed Implementation

[0083] exist Figure 1 A block diagram of a condenser-type clothes dryer 1 according to the present invention is shown. Figure 1 In the diagram, air paths are schematically represented by hollow solid arrows, and liquid paths are schematically represented by solid arrows. Those skilled in the art will understand that such paths can be achieved by any suitable means, such as pipes, hoses, tubes, conduits, guides, etc., although conduits will be mentioned by way of example below. Furthermore, hollow dashed arrows schematically represent liquid manually fed into / removed from the dryer.

[0084] The dryer 1, not fully shown in the figure but including the front and rear walls, comprises two side walls and a top wall, both of which rest on a base (see figure). Figures 3 to 5 The base 60 of the container; a processing chamber 2, which is accessible from the outside, such as through an opening in the front wall of the container, can be tightly closed by a pivot door, and is intended to temporarily store garments to be processed (not shown) during one or more processing procedures. The chamber 2 may be, for example, a fixed compartment, or a roller pivoted to a fixed support structure and / or rotatably supported, for example, by rollers as discussed in the introduction of this disclosure.

[0085] Dryer 1 includes an air circuit 3 for the drying process.

[0086] The drying process air circuit 3 includes a heater 4 (which may be, for example, an electric heater, a condenser of a heat pump system, or a gas burner) and a fan 5 or other air-forcing device for generating a forced hot drying process airflow 6 through the first air opening 6a to pass through the chamber 2. The hot drying process airflow 6 dries and cools the clothes in the chamber 2, and exits through the second air opening 7a as a moisture-containing process airflow 7, which is fed to the condenser 8 of the drying circuit 3, also referred to herein as the dryer condenser 8. In the closed process air loop, the condenser 8 (which may be, for example, an evaporator of a heat pump system, or an air-to-air exchanger) removes moisture from the moisture-containing process airflow 7, and the dry and cooled process airflow 9 leaving the condenser 8 is again heated by the heater 4 and the fan 5 and forced through the chamber 2.

[0087] The filter 10 is located downstream of the chamber 2 and upstream of the condenser 8 to retain lint released by the dried clothing.

[0088] It should be noted that the aforementioned components 4, 5, 8, and 10 of the air circuit 3 in the drying process can be arranged differently along the air circuit 3 in the drying process.

[0089] Furthermore, the air circuit 3 in the drying process does not necessarily need to include... Figure 1 The closed process air loop shown; instead, the dry and cooled process airflow 9 can be set into the environment, and ambient air can be fed to the heater 4 and fan 5 to form a forced thermal drying process airflow 6.

[0090] Condensate from the dryer condenser 8 is collected in the collection container 11 via the condensate conduit 12.

[0091] As shown in the figure, the collection container 11 is preferably located at the bottom of the dryer 1 and is integrated with its base 60 (see figure). Figures 3 to 5 In the case where chamber 2 is a rotatable roller, the base also carries a motor (not shown).

[0092] The heat exchanger (heater 4 and condenser 8) and fan 5 are typically housed in the same space as the collection container 11. Therefore, the base 60 (see...) Figures 3 to 5 It is usually part of the air circuit 3 in the drying process.

[0093] Pump 13 is configured to pump condensate and vapor condensate (as described below) out of collection container 11 and into a removable box 14, which is typically easily accessible from the top and / or front of dryer 1 and is preferably constructed as a drawer. The removable box 14 is intended to be emptied by the user, as schematically shown by the hollow dashed arrow 14a. The location of the removable box 14 at the top of dryer 1 makes the emptying operation more comfortable for the user.

[0094] The liquid conduit output from pump 13 is referred to herein as riser conduit 15.

[0095] A hopper 16 is provided below the removable box 14 to collect any spilled liquid (as schematically shown by orifice 14b) when the user needs it and / or fails to empty the removable box 14 during removal. Liquid falling into the hopper 16 is also collected in the collection container 11 via the recirculation liquid conduit 17.

[0096] Therefore, the liquid recirculation loop of the dryer 1 includes a collection container 11, a pump 13, a removable box 14, and a hopper 16.

[0097] During the drying process, a variable amount of condensate is removed from the garment and stored in a removable box 14, with the collection container 11 acting as a buffer container.

[0098] Note that pump 13 is switched on and off by a controller (not shown) based on the liquid level in collection container 11, and pump 13 will remain on as long as the user fails to empty removable tank 14. The controller can be configured to disconnect the drying process air circuit 3 and / or issue an alarm after a time interval when pump 13 is continuously on, indicating that removable tank 14 is full.

[0099] The dryer 1 also includes a steam engine 20.

[0100] The steam engine 20 includes a steam engine liquid tank 21, a steam engine pump 22, and a steam injector 24. The steam engine pump 22 delivers liquid (liquid water and / or liquid water-based solutions) from the steam engine liquid tank 21 to the steam generator 23. The steam injector 24 is suitably located in the processing chamber 2 for injecting steam into the processing chamber 2. Alternatively, the steam engine liquid tank 21 and the steam engine pump 22 may be absent and replaced by a direct supply of liquid, such as water from a tap, to the steam generator 23 via a valve.

[0101] Also shown is an optional drain duct 25, also known as a “winter duct,” for emptying the steam engine liquid tank 21 when needed or desired. The drain duct 25—if installed—can branch off from the intake duct 26 of the steam engine delivery pump 22, for example, via a T-joint 27, and be closed at its other end by a removable plug (not shown).

[0102] Steam generator 23 may include, for example, a water heater or pipe section or container, wherein the resistor is immersed in a layer of liquid. Steam is supplied by steam generator 23, and when the steam reaches steam injector 24 through steam delivery conduit 28, the steam diffuses into chamber 2 to treat clothes.

[0103] The steam engine liquid tank 21 can be replenished by the user, for example, via a manual loading unit 29, which is typically easily accessible from the top and / or front of the dryer 1. The hollow dashed arrow 29a schematically indicates manual supply of liquid to the manual loading unit 29. The actual configuration of this manual loading unit 29 is irrelevant to the present invention and therefore will not be described in detail. The manual loading unit 29 is fluidly connected to the steam engine liquid tank 21, for example, via a conduit 30.

[0104] The amount of liquid used by the steam engine 20 during the steam process is variable, but not negligible. To avoid the need for frequent replenishment of the steam engine liquid tank 21 by the user, the steam engine liquid tank can also accept recirculated liquid, preferably connected in the same recirculation loop used for recirculating condensate.

[0105] Therefore, the conduit referred to herein as steam engine replenishment conduit 31 may, for example, branch off from the riser conduit 15 (delivered from pump 13) via a T-joint 32, thereby leading to the manual loading unit 29 as shown. Alternatively, steam engine replenishment conduit 31 may lead directly to the steam engine liquid tank 21.

[0106] It should be noted that the steam engine liquid tank 21 is typically sealed to prevent liquid from overflowing when it is full—for example, when the pump 13 is still running and / or during user replenishment—into the manual loading unit 29 (via conduit 30) and then out of the manual loading unit 29 (as schematically shown by orifice 29b).

[0107] Hopper 16 is preferably positioned to also collect the overflowing liquid from manual loading unit 29. As described above, the liquid falling into hopper 16 is collected in collection container 11 via recirculation liquid conduit 17. Alternatively, a second hopper (not shown) may be present, dedicated to manual loading unit 29 and suitably connected to collection container 11 or another location within the recirculation loop.

[0108] As discussed in the introductory section of this specification, the steam injector 24 is suitably constructed in a manner known per se to prevent liquid from entering chamber 2, in which liquid may undesirably wet clothing, thus causing a disadvantage.

[0109] This liquid is mainly (besides due to possible malfunction of the steam generator 23) produced by the cooling of steam along its delivery conduit 28, and the longer the delivery conduit 28 is, the greater the amount of liquid that condenses at the steam injector 24, and thus it is removed before entering the chamber 2.

[0110] Liquid or steam condensate removed from the steam stream at the steam injector 24 upstream of the processing chamber 2 is received and diverted by the steam condensate conduit 40.

[0111] The steam condensate conduit 40 is advantageously fluidly connected to the same collection container 11, which also collects moisture condensed during the drying process and / or liquid collected by hopper 16 (and possibly a second hopper dedicated to liquid overflowing from the steam engine liquid tank 21 and / or the manual loading unit 29) for pumping to the removable tank 14 and / or the steam engine liquid tank 21 in question. Alternatively, the steam condensate conduit 40 may be fluidly connected at the inlet of pump 13 to a recirculation loop downstream of collection container 11, or to a second collection container (not shown) that is appropriately fluidly connected to pump 13 or to a second pump (not shown). In this way, liquid removed from the steam flow before the steam flow reaches chamber 2 can be advantageously recovered.

[0112] Therefore, the liquid recirculation loop of the dryer 1 preferably additionally includes a manual loading unit 29, a steam engine liquid tank 21 and a steam condensate conduit 40 (as well as a second hopper, a second collection container and / or a second pump, if provided).

[0113] However, it is worth noting that the vapor condensate may also be removed.

[0114] It should be understood that a liquid separator, which is different from and closely upstream of the steam injector 24, can be installed, and the steam condensate line 40 is fluidly connected to the liquid separator instead of the steam injector 24.

[0115] As discussed in the introduction of this specification, because the pressure in the garment processing chamber 2 may be higher than the pressure downstream of the steam condensate conduit 40, particularly higher than the pressure inside the collection container 11 that collects the steam condensate and / or condensed moisture, air and entrained lint from the drying process may escape along the steam condensate conduit 40 toward the collection container 11. Furthermore, during the steaming process, steam may escape instead of fully reaching the volume of the processing chamber 2, thus preventing effective steam treatment of the garments contained therein. Similar disadvantages also arise when the steam condensate conduit 40 is fluidly connected to the recirculation loop according to any of the alternatives described above, and even when the steam condensate is removed, similar disadvantages are partially present.

[0116] To overcome this drawback, a siphon trap 41 is formed in the steam condensate conduit 40 to receive steam condensate from the siphon trap. For the sake of simplicity, the following will only refer to the case where the steam condensate conduit 40 is fluidly connected to the collection container 11; other alternatives may be applied where necessary, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art based on this disclosure.

[0117] The siphon trap 41 can be an S-shaped trap as shown in the figure, or a U-shaped trap.

[0118] The liquid plug formed in this siphon trap 41 prevents any process air from entering the steam condensate conduit 40 from the steam injector 24 from leaving downstream of the siphon trap 41, and in particular prevents it from reaching the collection container 11.

[0119] Advantageously, the liquid plug also prevents any lint that may form in chamber 2 during the drying process from reaching the collection container 11 and its downstream components, which may also circulate as airborne and / or liquid-borne lint. If lint propagation is allowed, it may undesirably soil the collection container 11, clog the heater 4, the dryer condenser 8, pumps 13 and 22, the fan 5, and / or reduce the performance of the steam generator 23, and / or re-soil the clothes.

[0120] Furthermore, the liquid plug also limits the amount of steam leaking from the processing chamber 2 to the amount contained in the steam condensate conduit 40 upstream of the siphon trap 41. Therefore, the steam flow rate entering the chamber 2 will not be adversely reduced.

[0121] Conversely, the siphon trap 41 appropriately allows condensed liquid (i.e., vapor condensate) to flow through the siphon trap 41.

[0122] However, for it to be effective, such a liquid plug must actually be present in the siphon trap 41. On the other hand, when the dryer 1 is first operated in a steam program after leaving the factory, and / or after, for example, the steam liquid tank 21 is emptied in winter to prevent ice formation, the steam condensate collected at the steam injector 24 will not be sufficient to form the necessary liquid plug in the siphon trap 41. Furthermore, even after a liquid plug has been properly formed in the siphon trap 41, it is possible that if the steam program—which is usually an optional program during the drying process and rarely performed as a standalone program—is not performed for a period of time, the liquid plug may naturally evaporate to the point of no longer being effective.

[0123] In the dryer 1 according to the invention, in addition to the steam condensate from the steam injector 24 along the steam condensate conduit 40 (or from a different liquid separator upstream therefrom) in which a siphon trap 41 is formed, an additional liquid input 42 is provided to the siphon trap 41.

[0124] Additional input 42 is used to fill the siphon trap 41 and form and / or retain a liquid plug that can be restored, even when no steam condensate is available.

[0125] Such additional input 42 can obtain liquid from any suitable liquid (water or water-based solution) source, either outside or inside the dryer 1.

[0126] In a particularly advantageous manner, such as Figure 1 As shown, the additional input 42 to the siphon trap 41 is connected to the recirculation loop of the dryer 1, and in particular to the recirculation liquid conduit 17 which is fluidly connected to the hopper 16 as shown.

[0127] Preferably, the hopper 16 can also be accessed from the outside so that liquid can be received directly from the user, as schematically shown by the hollow dashed arrow 16a.

[0128] In this way, the siphon trap 41 is supplied with liquid from the hopper 16, which in turn is supplied with the following liquid, as discussed further below:

[0129] ●Utilizes the air program recirculated to the removable box 14 through the drying process, but condensate overflowing from the removable box 14, and / or

[0130] ●Utilize the steam condensate that is recycled to the removable tank 14 via a steam process, but overflows from the removable tank 14, and / or

[0131] ●Utilize the liquid overflowing from the steam engine liquid tank 21 and / or its manual loading unit 29, and / or

[0132] ●Utilize liquid that is directly fed into hopper 16 by the user.

[0133] It is immediately apparent that the risk of the siphon trap 41 remaining empty or becoming empty—if not completely empty—becomes very low. Even if the user fails to directly input liquid and / or replenish the steam engine liquid tank 21 (via manual loading unit 29), a liquid plug will provide that condensed liquid from any clothes drying program that does not necessarily include a steam program is retained or very quickly formed in the siphon trap 41. No new liquid, such as water drawn from a tap, needs to be input into the siphon trap 41, although new liquid can be input, for example, when installing the clothes dryer 1, to immediately form a liquid plug within the siphon trap 41, thereby immediately preventing any lint spread and even allowing the dryer 1 to initially operate on a pure steam program.

[0134] Furthermore, even if the steam generated by the steam generator 23—whose pressure is significantly higher than the atmospheric pressure at the collection container 11—is not fully injected into the processing chamber 2 at the steam injector 24 and thus does not reach the siphon trap 41 for some reason, and the liquid plug is pushed out of the siphon trap 41, the liquid plug can quickly recover.

[0135] As discussed and Figure 1 As shown, the recirculated liquid circuit 17 extends between the hopper 16 and the siphon trap 41 at the additional input 42. Therefore, it is advantageous that the recirculated liquid from the hopper 16 reaches the collection container 11 via the siphon trap 41 itself. Furthermore, the liquid entering through the siphon trap 41 causes minimal disturbance to other components of the dryer 1's liquid circuit, particularly the liquid level in the steam engine liquid tank 21.

[0136] In practice, it should be noted that the flow rate of liquid from hopper 16 (or typically from a liquid source) can be quite high, so it may not be desirable for all such flow rates to involve the siphon trap 41. This can be achieved by ensuring that only a portion, for example up to 50%, preferably up to 20%, of the recirculated liquid from hopper 16 reaches the siphon trap 41. More generally, the additional input 42 is preferably configured such that the percentage of liquid input that contributes to the formation of a liquid plug in the siphon trap 41 is up to 50%, preferably up to 20%.

[0137] The following reference Figure 2 Further discussion will be held on the optimal settings for achieving the above objectives.

[0138] Figure 2A portion of a steam condensate conduit 40, including an S-shaped siphon trap 41, is schematically shown. Empty arrows indicate the flow of steam condensate, while dashed arrows indicate the flow of additional liquid input to the siphon trap 41 according to several possible input points 42 (schematically indicated as orifices) along the siphon trap 41, and the flow exiting from the input points 42 after forming a liquid plug 44 (also indicating another comparative input 53 along the steam condensate conduit 40).

[0139] The additional input 50 is located in a preferred position on the convex surface of the inverted U-shaped portion of the siphon trap 41, that is, in the uppermost region on the downstream side of the siphon trap 41.

[0140] exist Figure 2 In the diagram, the liquid plug 44 is shown in an intermediate state during its formation or evaporation. It should be understood that when the liquid plug 44 is fully formed, the free surface of the liquid will reach the uppermost region and then begin to exit from the siphon trap 41 along the outlet branch 46.

[0141] More preferably, the additional input 50 is located on the middle surface 45 of the inverted U-shaped portion, and thus partially within the outlet region 54 of the siphon trap 41. By placing the additional input 50 in this way, the liquid flow from an additional source, such as from the hopper 16, will be diverted into two branches of the inverted U-shaped portion, namely in the outlet branch 46 to reach, for example, the collection container 11, and in the middle branch 47 to form a liquid plug 44.

[0142] More preferably, the additional input 50 is positioned asymmetrically around the intermediate surface 45, such that the liquid flow entering the additional input 50 will be deflected into the two branches 46, 48 by different percentages, so as to easily adapt to different flow requirements.

[0143] More preferably, as shown, the additional input 50 is shifted toward the outlet branch 46 of the siphon trap 41, such that the percentage of liquid flowing into the siphon trap 41 and contributing to the formation of the liquid plug 44 is lower than the percentage of liquid flowing directly into the collection container 11 or typically flowing more into the recycling loop.

[0144] Preferably, if the additional input 50 is configured such that liquid is injected therein in a direction parallel to the intermediate surface 45, the ratio of the area of ​​the additional input 50 located on the outlet branch side of the intermediate surface 45 to the area of ​​the additional input 50 located on the intermediate branch side of the intermediate surface 45 is in the range of about 50:50 (i.e., the additional input does not shift toward the outlet branch 46) to about 80:20, such that the percentage of liquid flowing toward the siphon trap 41 to form the liquid plug 44 is as high as 50%, preferably as high as 20%.

[0145] When the auxiliary input 50 deviates from the direction parallel to the intermediate surface 45, the position of the auxiliary input 50 can also be appropriately considered in relation to the liquid injection direction. As understood, the more liquid is injected toward the outlet branch 46, the lower the percentage of liquid that contributes to the formation of the liquid plug 44. Conversely, it will be understood that the liquid injection direction can be adjusted by adjusting the mutual inclination of the conduits connected to the auxiliary input 50 (and thus, by properly configuring the auxiliary input) and / or by providing a baffle or other deflection device at the auxiliary input 50.

[0146] Other locations for the additional input 42 are also possible when it is not desired to provide only a portion of the additional input liquid to help form the liquid plug 44.

[0147] An additional input 51 at the input branch 48 of the siphon trap 41 (shown on the outside only as an example) is an option.

[0148] An additional input 52 at the middle branch 47 of the siphon trap 41 (shown on the inside for example only) is also an option, but in order to reach the outlet branch 46, the liquid should flow in the counter-current direction.

[0149] For the sake of completeness, Figure 1 Another input 53 upstream of the siphon trap 41 is shown—which would be an indirect input to the siphon trap 41—located at the maximum level of the free surface of the liquid plug in the input branch 48 of the siphon trap 41 along the steam condensate conduit 40; conversely, such an additional input is not an option for the additional input 42 of the siphon trap 41, as it will not be sealed by the liquid plug during operation of the clothes dryer and will provide a path for the escape of lint-filled process air and / or steam.

[0150] It should be understood that, in the case where the siphon trap 41 is a U-trap, the preferred location of the additional inlet 42 will still be in its outlet region at the uppermost area on the downstream side of the siphon trap 41, where the free surface of the liquid plug is at its maximum level. Those skilled in the art will understand that the specific location and / or inclination and / or other flow separation configurations of the additional inlet described above will apply where necessary.

[0151] As a complement or alternative to the above configuration of the additional input 42, the recirculating liquid conduit 17 (or any other conduit leading to the additional input 42) may be branched, for example with a T-joint, thereby including a branch leading to the siphon trap 41 and a branch directly reaching the collection container 11 (or any other point in the recirculation loop of the dryer 1), the two branches being appropriately sized relative to each other to achieve the desired flow separation.

[0152] exist Figure 3 and Figure 4 The image shows a condenser-type clothes dryer 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein some walls and some parts of the chamber have been removed. The components of the dryer 1 have been used in the above... Figure 1 The same reference numerals are used in the figures.

[0153] Further shown is the base 60, in which the collection container 11 is integrally formed, making them a single unit.

[0154] The rear wall 61 of the box is shown, and the first air opening 6a is formed within the rear wall 61 (although in Figure 3 Zhongzhi Figure 5 The first air opening 6a is not visible in the middle, and a cover (not shown) is applied to the rear wall 61 to form part of the drying process air circuit 3 upstream of the first air opening 6a.

[0155] Also shown is a column 62 extending from the base 60, the column 62 having a hollow portion that contains a portion of the drying process air circuit 3 downstream of the second air opening 7a.

[0156] Specific reference Figures 5 to 7 Preferably, the siphon trap 41 can be integrally formed with the connector 70 at its additional input 42, which, in the case shown, is located at a preferred position as described with reference to additional input 50, for connection to a conduit supplying liquid to the additional input 42, particularly a recirculation liquid conduit 17. As shown, the connector 70 can be a short-length conduit with a tapered free end.

[0157] As shown in the figure, connectors or tapered free ends can also be provided at the input branch 48 and / or the output branch 46 to facilitate connection with corresponding connecting components. The integral connector 70 (and other integral connectors) eliminates the need for connectors such as T-joints and greatly facilitates the assembly and installation process.

[0158] As shown in the figure, for the reasons detailed above, connector 70 may also have an appropriate inclination relative to siphon trap 41. Specifically, connector 70 is tilted to facilitate the injection of more liquid toward outlet branch 46 relative to intermediate branch 47 toward siphon trap 41.

[0159] Additionally or alternatively, the siphon trap 41 can preferably be formed as a self-supporting body 71. Preferably, the self-supporting body 71 is obtained by a blow molding process from a suitable plastic material such as HDPE (high-density polyethylene).

[0160] As shown in the figure, in addition to the siphon trap 41 and the preferred connector 70, the self-supporting body 71 preferably also includes at least one of the following:

[0161] ● Thin member 72, which extends between a portion of the input branch 48 and a portion of the intermediate branch 47.

[0162] ●Thin member 73, which extends between a portion of the outlet branch 46 and a portion of the intermediate branch 47.

[0163] ● A thin folding member 74, which extends laterally from a portion of the input branch 48.

[0164] The thin folding member 74 is preferably sized and shaped to match its upright 62 when properly installed in the clothes dryer 1, so as to allow the siphon trap 41 to be stably attached to the dryer 1. The thin folding member 74 may, for example, include in its folded edge 77 a screw 76 ( Figure 5 The folding member 74 includes a mounting flange for the self-supporting body 71.

[0165] Preferably, as shown, the outlet branch 46 and the intermediate branch 47, as well as the thin member 73 extending therebetween, are bent to be spaced apart relative to the middle surface of the thin member 72, so as to allow easy access to the hole 75 by a tool such as a screwdriver to act on the screw 76.

[0166] It should be understood that it can also be different from Figures 3 to 5 The dryer shown is provided as a self-standing body 71 and / or a siphon trap 41 with an integral connector 70, as described above, and / or when the conduit supplying liquid to its additional inlet 42 is different from the recirculating liquid conduit 17, for example, a conduit connected to the steam engine liquid tank 21. Therefore, the overall shape of the siphon trap 41 and / or the self-standing body 71 including the siphon trap 41 may differ from... Figures 5 to 7 The shapes shown are different.

[0167] It should be understood that a method for operating the aforementioned condenser dryer 1 with steam function has been disclosed above, the method comprising forming a liquid plug 44 in the siphon trap 41 by means of the following steps:

[0168] a1) Perform the drying procedure.

[0169] a2) Collect condensate from the clothes being dried during the drying process, and

[0170] a3) Input a portion of the collected condensate into the siphon trap 41.

[0171] Additionally and / or alternatively, the method for operating the above-described condenser clothes dryer 1 with steam function may include forming a liquid plug 44 in the siphon trap 41 by means of the following steps:

[0172] b1) Preferably, liquid, particularly water or a water-based solution, is manually fed into the steam engine liquid tank 21 of the steam engine 20 via the manual loading unit 29 of the steam engine liquid tank 21.

[0173] b2) Deflect a portion of the manually input liquid into the siphon trap 41.

[0174] The operating method may also include condensate formed during the recirculation drying process within the dryer 1 and steam condensate that may form during the steam process.

[0175] The method of operation may also include deflecting a portion of the recirculated liquid toward the siphon trap 41 to form a liquid plug 44 in the siphon trap 41.

[0176] Alternatively or additionally, the method of operation may also include obtaining a liquid for forming the liquid plug 44 by means of the following steps:

[0177] ● Accepts liquids manually entered by the user, and / or

[0178] ● Collect spilled liquid from one or more of the following:

[0179] ○ Steam engine liquid tank 21,

[0180] ○ The manual loading unit 29 of the steam engine liquid tank 21, and

[0181] ○Removable box 14 for the recirculation loop.

[0182] As used herein, the term "about" means that the stated numerical value is an approximation and that small variations will not significantly affect the implementation of the invention. When using numerical limitations, unless the context otherwise indicates, "about" means that the numerical value may vary by ±10% but still remain within the scope of the disclosed subject matter.

[0183] Unless the context requires, throughout the specification and claims: the verb “comprising” should be interpreted in an open, inclusive sense as “including, but not limited to”; the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” should be interpreted in an open, inclusive sense, not limited to “single”; the term “or” is generally used in its broadest sense, such as “and / or”.

[0184] The above describes various embodiments of various aspects of the present invention, and other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The shape and / or size and / or position and / or orientation of various components and / or the order of various steps may be changed. The function of an element or module may be performed by two or more components or modules, or vice versa. Components shown that are directly connected or in contact with each other may have intermediate structures arranged between them. The steps immediately following those shown may be intermediate steps performed between them. Details shown in and / or described with reference to the drawings or embodiments may be applied to other drawings or embodiments. All details shown in the figures or described in the same context need not appear in the same embodiment. Features or aspects that prove innovative relative to the prior art, alone or in combination with other features, should be considered as descriptions in themselves, regardless of what is explicitly described as innovative.

Claims

1. A clothes dryer with a steam function (1), comprising: - Clothing processing room (2) - A drying process air circuit (3) having a first air opening (6a) and a second opening (7a), the first air opening (6a) being used to guide the process airflow (6, 7, 9) into the garment processing chamber (2), and the second opening (7a) being used to discharge the process airflow (6, 7, 9) from the garment processing chamber (2). The drying process air circuit (3) also includes a heater (4), a fan (5), and a condenser (8). The heater (4) is used to heat the process air, the fan (5) is used to move the process airflow (6, 7, 9) along the drying process air circuit (3), and the condenser (8) is used to remove moisture from the process airflow (6, 7, 9) leaving the garment processing chamber (2). - A steam generator (20), the steam generator (20) comprising a steam generator (23), a steam injector (24), and a steam condensate conduit (40), the steam injector (24) for injecting steam into the garment processing chamber (2), and the steam condensate conduit (40) for removing any liquid condensed from the steam stream injected into the garment processing chamber (2) by the steam injector (24), and - A siphon trap (41), the siphon trap (41) being arranged in the steam condensate conduit (40) to receive steam condensate from the steam condensate conduit (40), The feature is that, in addition to the steam condensate, it also includes an additional liquid input to a siphon trap (41), wherein the additional input to the siphon trap (41) is connected to a recirculation loop, which is fluidly supplied with condensate from the process air in the drying process air loop (3).

2. The clothes dryer (1) according to claim 1, wherein, The additional input is fluidly connected to receive at least one of the following: Recirculated steam condensate, Overflow liquid from the steam engine liquid tank (21) of the steam engine (20) and / or the manual loading unit (29) of the steam engine liquid tank (21), Liquid provided by the user.

3. The clothes dryer (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The additional input is configured such that the percentage of liquid input to the additional input that helps to form a liquid plug (44) in the siphon trap (41) is up to 50%.

4. The clothes dryer (1) according to claim 1, wherein, The recirculation loop also recirculates the steam condensate.

5. The clothes dryer (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The additional input fluid of the siphon trap (41) is connected to the hopper (16), which is positioned such that: Accepts liquid input by the user into the hopper (16), and / or Collect any spilled liquid from at least one of the following: ○ Steam engine liquid tank (21), ○ The manual loading unit (29) of the steam engine liquid tank (21), and ○ The removable box (14) of the recirculation loop.

6. The clothes dryer (1) according to claim 5 further includes a recirculating liquid conduit (17) and a collection container (11), the collection container (11) being used to collect condensate from the air circuit (3) of the drying process and / or steam condensate from the steam engine (20), wherein, The additional input of the siphon trap (41) is connected to the recirculation liquid conduit (17), which is configured to guide recirculated liquid from the hopper (16) to the collection container (11).

7. The clothes dryer (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The additional input to the siphon trap (41) is located at the uppermost region on the downstream side of the siphon trap (41).

8. The clothes dryer (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The siphon trap (41) is an S-shaped siphon trap (41), and the additional input to the siphon trap (41) is located on the middle surface (45) of the inverted U-shaped portion of the siphon trap (41), but the middle surface (45) of the inverted U-shaped portion of the siphon trap (41) is asymmetrical.

9. The clothes dryer (1) according to claim 8, wherein, The additional input of the siphon trap (41) is shifted toward the outlet branch (46) of the siphon trap (41) such that the percentage of liquid flowing into the siphon trap (41) is up to 50% but not 50%.

10. The clothes dryer (1) according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a conduit (17) and a connector (70) for connecting the conduit (17) to the additional input, wherein, The connector (70) and the siphon trap (41) are formed as a single piece.

11. The clothes dryer (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The dryer (1) includes a self-supporting body (71), which is a body with sufficient rigidity to maintain its shape under normal use conditions, and the self-supporting body (71) includes the siphon trap (41).

12. The clothes dryer (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The additional input is configured such that the percentage of liquid input to the additional input that helps to form a liquid plug (44) in the siphon trap (41) is up to 20%.

13. The clothes dryer (1) according to claim 7, wherein, The additional input to the siphon trap (41) is located on the convex surface of the inverted U-shaped portion of the S-shaped siphon trap (41).

14. The clothes dryer (1) according to claim 8, wherein, The additional input of the siphon trap (41) is shifted toward the outlet branch (46) of the siphon trap (41), such that the percentage of liquid flowing into the siphon trap (41) is as high as 20%.

15. The clothes dryer (1) according to claim 11, wherein, The dryer (1) includes a connector (70) for connecting a conduit (17) to the additional input.

16. A method for operating a clothes dryer (1) with a steam function according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising forming a liquid plug (44) in the siphon trap (41) by means of the following steps: a1) Perform the drying procedure. a2) Collecting condensate from the clothes being dried during the drying process, recirculating the condensate formed during the clothes drying process and any steam condensate that may be formed during the steam process within the dryer (1), and further including deflecting a portion of the recirculated liquid toward the siphon trap (41) to form a liquid plug (44) within the siphon trap (41), and a3) Input a portion of the collected condensate into the siphon trap (41).

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising forming a liquid plug (44) in the siphon trap (41) by the following step: b1) Manually feed the liquid into the steam engine liquid tank (21) of the steam engine (20), and b2) Deflect a portion of the manually input liquid into the siphon trap (41).

18. The method of claim 16 or 17, further comprising obtaining a liquid for forming the liquid plug (44) by means of the following steps: Accepts liquids manually input by the user, and / or Collect overflow fluid from one or more of the following: ○ Steam engine liquid tank (21), ○ The manual loading unit (29) of the steam engine liquid tank (21), and ○ The removable box (14) of the recirculation loop.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein, The liquid is manually fed into the steam engine liquid tank (21) of the steam engine (20) via the manual loading unit (29) of the steam engine liquid tank (21).

20. The method of claim 17, wherein, The liquid is water or an aqueous solution.

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