Heat pump laundry treating apparatus

Abstract

The invention relates to a laundry treatment device (1) with the following features: - a housing (2); - a cylindrical tub (4); - a cylindrical drum (3) rotatably mounted in the tub (4) with a horizontal or inclined axis (33), designed to hold laundry; - a heat pump module (13) mounted in the housing (2) above the tub (4); - a fan (9) for conveying process air (PL) through the channel section (8) with the heat exchanger arrangement (15, 16), wherein the fan (9) is arranged at least partially behind the rear end face (48) of the tub (4).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a laundry treatment device.

[0002] EP 3 190 224 A1 discloses a washer-dryer with a heat pump module for generating the drying air. The heat pump module is located above the tub, with the compressor and fan positioned laterally above the tub. The fan is located in front of the compressor in a space formed between the curved section of the tub's shell and the cuboid housing. This arrangement places the fan and compressor in a straight line, necessitating a certain depth in the housing. This configuration is not feasible with a compact washer-dryer design.

[0003] DE 10 2015 209113 A1 discloses a tumble dryer with a heat exchanger installed above the drum, wherein the process air flows from the front to the rear of the drum through the heat exchanger and a fan is arranged behind the rear end face of the drum. The heat exchanger includes an evaporator and a condenser, which can be arranged laterally above the drum within the heat exchanger, the evaporator being arranged at an angle and the condenser being arranged upright within the heat exchanger.

[0004] EP 2 281 934 B1 discloses a tumble dryer with a heat exchanger installed above the drum, wherein the process air flows from the front to the rear of the drum and a fan is arranged behind the rear end face of the drum.

[0005] The approach presented here aims to create a compact laundry treatment machine with a lye tank and heat pump module for generating the process air.

[0006] According to the invention, this problem is solved, among other things, by a laundry treatment device with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are described in the dependent claims.

[0007] The approach presented here provides a simple way to create a compact laundry treatment unit equipped with a heat pump module for generating the process air. The heat pump module is housed in a standard enclosure, in addition to the washing components. This is achieved by placing the heat pump module in the space above and to the side of the washing tub. The compressor is located to the side, and the blower is positioned behind the rear end wall of the washing tub. The blower is oriented so that at least part of its flat side extends along the end wall of the washing tub. This results in a compact design for the compressor assembly. Preferably, the blower is positioned between the rear and back walls of the enclosure, as this space is particularly suitable.The installation space is limited in the front area because the front loading opening occupies a large portion of the space between the front end wall and the front wall of the housing.

[0008] The laundry treatment device also includes a control unit (19) for activating and deactivating the actuators, i.e. at least the compressor and blower, for carrying out an automatic treatment sequence.

[0009] In an advantageous embodiment, the air inlet is located in the lower region of the rear end wall of the tub, either on or within the tub. This ensures good and straight airflow through the inlet to the drum and through the drum itself, provided the rear wall of the drum is perforated or partially constructed as a mesh. The air is not deflected within the tub. Preferably, the air inlet is positioned below the height of the drum's axis of rotation.

[0010] In a further advantageous embodiment, the air outlet is located on or in the tub at the front, upper end of the drum's front wall. This ensures that the process air flows diagonally from back to front through the drum, rising at an angle. The outlet is not reached by the laundry moving within the drum and cannot be blocked by it, because gravity always causes the laundry to move downwards, away from the outlet. This ensures that the flow of process air is not obstructed.

[0011] In a generally advantageous embodiment, the fan is designed as a radial fan and comprises a flow housing with a fan wheel adapted to it. The flow housing has a diameter that is at least four times the axial extent of the fan, with the flow housing extending partially between the rear end wall of the tub and the rear wall of the housing, perpendicular to the axial extent. In other words, the fan is arranged in the rear region of the device housing such that at least part of the flat flow housing is located between the rear end wall of the tub and the inside of the rear wall of the housing. Preferably, the flow housing can have a diameter that is more than six or eight times the axial extent. The fan wheel is adapted to the geometry of the flow housing.The axial extent is to be considered the length of the flow housing, excluding the drive motor located on the shaft.

[0012] According to the invention, the channel section of the module housing is designed to be flat, preferably having a rectangular cross-section, with the heat exchanger arrangement adapted to this cross-section and positioned within this channel section. The flat design is adapted so that the module housing with the heat pump does not protrude excessively above the detergent tank and does not exceed the installation space between the detergent tank and the housing cover. A box-shaped deflector pipe is attached downstream of the channel section to deflect the process airflow by approximately 70° to 100°, the deflector pipe having an approximately rectangular air inlet and a circular air outlet for connection to the fan.

[0013] The rectangular inlet preferably has approximately the same cross-section as the circular outlet of the box-shaped deflection tube. The box-shaped deflection tube is further preferably shaped such that a nearly uniform cross-section is achieved for the process air flowing through it. A preferred adaptation to the upper curvature of the lye container ensures that the largest possible cross-section is achieved. Overall, good flow characteristics are achieved through the module, the channels, and the drum.

[0014] The laundry appliance is preferably a washer-dryer, with a housing 55 to 65 cm wide, 55 to 70 cm deep, and 85 to 95 cm high. The heat pump module, as defined in the examples above, is particularly well-suited for use in this washer-dryer. The housing dimensions already available on the market do not need to be changed to provide such a washer-dryer. In particular, the appliance does not need to be taller than a comparable washer-dryer without a heat pump module positioned above the drum.

[0015] An embodiment of the invention is shown partially schematically in the drawings and is described in more detail below. The drawings show... Fig. 1: a schematic representation of the laundry treatment device with heat pump; Fig. 2: the laundry treatment device in a perspective front view and Fig. 3: a perspective detail view of the heat pump module.

[0016] Fig. 1 Figure 1 shows a schematic sectional view of the laundry treatment device 1 according to the invention. The device 1 is a washer-dryer 1 with a housing 2 and the components arranged therein for carrying out treatment programs. The component with the tub 4 and the drum 3 rotatably mounted therein is visible. An inlet line 41 and an inlet valve 42 are provided for supplying the wash water to the tub 4 and the drum 3, respectively, during a wash cycle. The water is conveyed via the inlet line 41 to the detergent dispenser 43, where it is mixed with the water flowing through the dispenser and into the tub 4. The detergent dispenser 43 is connected to the tub 4 by means of the inlet pipe 44. The drain device 60 comprises a pump 61 and a drain line 62, the pump 61 being activated as required, for example, during an automatic wash cycle.The control unit 90 is set up and programmed to activate and deactivate the actuators, i.e. the motor 70 for the rotary drive of the drum, the inlet valve 42 and the pump 61, in order to carry out a treatment program.

[0017] The washer-dryer 1 further comprises a heat pump module 13, which is installed in the housing 2 above the tub 4 and serves to generate a process airflow PL. The module 13 comprises a refrigerant circuit in which refrigerant is circulated in a piping system with an evaporator 15, a compressor 14 ( Fig. 2 ) for compressing the refrigerant, a condenser 16 and an expansion valve (not shown), wherein the heat exchanger includes the evaporator 15 and the heater the condenser 16 of the heat pump 13. The module 13 comprises a housing 17 ( Fig. 2 ), in which a channel section 8 is incorporated and in which the evaporator 15 and the condenser 16 are located. The evaporator 15 and the condenser 16 are arranged in the channel section 8 such that the moist process air PL from the outlet 47 of the tub 4 in the channel 8 first flows through the evaporator 15 so that it is dehumidified by cooling and subsequent condensation. It then flows through the downstream condenser 16, which acts as a heater and heats the process air PL so that the heated process air PL is admitted through the air inlet 46 into the tub 4 and through openings 32 in the drum rear wall 31 into the drum 3 and thus supplied to the textiles 10 to be treated. Any condensate that forms is collected in the drip tray 81 and conveyed to the drain 60, 62 via the condensate line 82.The outlet 47 of the lye container 4 is preferably arranged in the area of ​​the loading opening on the front end wall of the lye container 4 or in the tunnel-like passage area of ​​the loading opening. The outlet 47 is connected to the heat pump unit 13, in particular to the channel section 8, by means of the line 96.

[0018] The functional module 13, located above the washing tub 4, further comprises the blower 9, which is driven by the motor 91. The blower 9 includes a flow housing 93, inside of which the fan wheel 92 is located. The housing 93 is flat and has a diameter at least four times larger than its axial length. The fan 9 is positioned above the washing tub 4 in the device housing 2 such that part of the fan housing 93 extends into the gap between the rear wall 48 of the washing tub and the rear wall 21 of the housing. The blower can preferably be designed as a radial fan, preferably with curved blades, so that it generates a higher volume flow in one preferred direction than in the opposite direction of rotation.

[0019] Overall, all directional and positional information refers to the operating position of the treatment device 1.

[0020] Fig. 2 Figure 1 shows the washer-dryer 1 with its housing 2 partially open. The front panel 22 includes the loading opening, which is closed by means of the door 23. The tub 4 is suspended or supported inside the housing 2 so as to allow for oscillation. Inside the tub 4, the drum 3 (shown with dashed lines) is rotatably mounted on a horizontal axis 33. The unit 13 for generating the process air PL is located above the tub 4 and completely inside the housing 2. The unit 13 is attached to the housing 2 so that it does not oscillate with the tub 4 when the latter vibrates due to imbalance in the rotating drum 3. The unit 13 includes a housing 17, which serves to position and preferably fix the compressor 14, the heat exchangers 15, 16, the lines 18, and the throttle (not shown). The housing 17 includes, in approximately the central area, the channel section 8, in which the heat exchangers 15, 16 are accommodated.The channel section 8 is equipped downstream with the box-shaped deflector pipe 83 to redirect the laterally flowing process airflow to the rear. The blower 9 is connected to the circular outlet 83b of the deflector pipe 83 and is located behind the housing 17 of the unit 13. It can be seen that the flat blower outlet 94 points downwards and is connected to the rear air duct 95, which in turn opens into the air inlet 46 in or on the tub 4. The blower housing 93 extends, at least with its lower section and outlet 94, into the space between the rear end wall 48 of the tub 4 and the rear wall 21 of the unit housing 2.

[0021] Fig. 3Figure 1 shows an exploded view of the heat pump unit 13. The housing 17 of the unit 13 comprises a base part 17b in which the components 14, 15, 16, 18 of the heat pump are positioned and preferably fixed. The base part 17b is closed with a cover part 17a, thus providing a channel section 8 in which the heat exchangers 15, 16 are located. Downstream of the channel section 8 in the flow direction of the process air stream PL is the box-shaped deflector pipe 83. This pipe comprises an approximately rectangular or rectangular, flat inlet 83a and a circular outlet 83b. The outlet is designed or adapted for connecting the blower 9. In addition to deflecting the process air direction as already described, the deflector pipe 83 also serves to adapt the flat, rectangular outlet of the channel section 8 to the circular blower inlet.The rectangular inlet 83a has approximately the same cross-section as the circular outlet 83b. The deflecting pipe is shaped along its length between the inlet 83a and the outlet 83b such that the airflow has an approximately constant cross-section. As a result, the process air is deflected without significant flow resistance. Approximately the same or approximately constant cross-section means that the maximum difference is 20%, preferably 10%.

Claims

1. Laundry treatment appliance (1) comprising the following features: - a housing (2); - a cylindrical suds container (4); - a cylindrical drum (3) rotatably mounted in the suds container (4) at a horizontal or inclined axis (33), which drum is designed to receive laundry; - the drum (3) having openings (32) or perforations in the end rear wall (31) in order to enable an air flow (PL) from the suds container (4) through the drum (3); - the suds container (4) having an air inlet (46) and an air outlet (47); - a heat pump module (13) which is installed in the housing (2) above the suds container (4), - the heat pump module having a module housing (17) which has a duct portion (8) in which a heat exchanger arrangement which has a condenser (16) as a heating device and an evaporator (15) as a condensing device is arranged; - the heat pump module having a compressor (14); - and the heat pump module having a fan (9) for conveying process air (PL) through the duct portion (8) which has the heat exchanger arrangement (15, 16); - a first tube (95) for connecting the duct portion (8) to the air inlet (46) and a second tube (96) for connecting the duct portion (13) to the air outlet (47) of the suds container (4), - the compressor (14) being arranged laterally to and above the suds container (4), the fan (9) being arranged at least partially behind the rear end face (48) of the suds container (4), characterised in that the duct portion (8) is flat and preferably has a rectangular cross-section, the heat exchanger arrangement (15, 16) being adapted to the cross-section, and in that a box-shaped deflection tube (83) is installed downstream of the duct portion (8) in order to deflect the process air flow (PL) by approximately 70° to 100°, which deflection tube has an approximately rectangular air intake (83a) and a circular air discharge (83b) for connection to the fan (9).

2. Laundry treatment appliance according to claim 1, wherein in the suds container (4), the air inlet (46) is arranged in the rear end wall (48) in the lower region.

3. Laundry treatment appliance according to claim 2, wherein the air inlet (47) is arranged below the height of the axis of rotation (33) of the drum (3).

4. Laundry treatment appliance according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein in or on the suds container (4), the air outlet (47) is arranged in the front, upper region of the front end wall.

5. Laundry treatment appliance according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the fan (9) is designed as a radial fan and comprises a flow housing (93) having a fan wheel (92) fitted therein, wherein the flow housing (93) has a diameter which corresponds to at least 4 times the axial extension, wherein the flow housing (93) is located partly between the rear end wall (48) of the suds container (4) and the housing rear wall (21) in an extension perpendicular to the axial extension.

6. Laundry treatment appliance according to claim 1, characterised in that the air intake (83a) and the air discharge (83b) of the deflection tube (83) have approximately the same cross-section.

7. Laundry treatment appliance according to any of claims 1 to 6, which is a washer-dryer, wherein the housing is 55 cm to 65 cm wide, 55 to 70 cm deep and 85 to 95 cm high.

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