EP3165663B1

EP3165663B1 - A washer/dryer where steam leakage is prevented

Info

Publication number: EP3165663B1
Application number: EP16196593.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Servet CATALTEPE; Irfan Celik; Ergin METIN; Recep Ayas; Selahattin CORAK
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2015-11-09
Filing date: 2016-10-31
Publication date: 2018-08-15
Anticipated expiration: 2036-10-31
Also published as: TR201514006A2; EP3165663A1

Description

The present invention relates to a washer/dryer where the steam forming during the washing and drying of the laundry is prevented from reaching the detergent dispenser.
In washer/dryers a hose is provided, in the form of a "U", so-called 'goose neck', between the detergent dispenser and the tub, which provides the transfer of the cleaning agents such as detergent, softener, etc. in the detergent dispenser to the tub. By means of this "U" form, water is enabled to remain within the hose and the steam forming within the tub during the washing, particularly the drying process is prevented from reaching the detergent dispenser through the hose.
The said hose is worn out by rubbing against the tub and the body over the time. Moreover, the bent section of the hose must be deeper in order to prevent the steam from reaching the detergent dispenser. This causes the hose to occupy a larger space within the body.
In the state of the art International Patent Application No. WO2005106101 , a lid in the section of the hose opening to the detergent dispenser is disclosed, that allows the transfer of the water and the cleaning agents from the detergent dispenser to the tub but that prevents the passage of the steam emanating from the tub to the detergent dispenser.
German Patent Application DE 10 2011 089390 A1 discloses a household device in which a detergent dispenser is connected via a bent hose to a tub. Korean Patent Application KR 2007 0015288 A discloses a control method for preventing steam reverse flow in a washing machine by supplying water to a steam reverse-flow preventing device.
The aim of the present invention is the realization of a washer/dryer wherein the steam emanating from the tub is prevented from reaching the detergent dispenser.
The washer/dryer realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises a chamber that is disposed between the detergent dispenser and the tub and wherein one end of the hose, the other end of which is connected to the detergent dispenser, opens and wherein the steam emanating from the tub enters first before the hose.
The chamber is preferably in the form of a triangle, the base of which has the same form with the tub. The outlet of the chamber is a protrusion in the form of a slit, disposed in the section where the base intersects with the ceiling.
The washer/dryer comprises a pipe that completely surrounds the inlet of the chamber and that extends almost up to half the length of the chamber. Thus, the hose connected to the inlet is enabled to extend into the chamber. In order to prevent the steam entering the chamber from passing through the pipe and reaching the hose and the detergent dispenser, a wall is provided, that covers the top of the opening from which the pipe opens into the chamber. Thus, the steam filling into the tub is enabled to hit the wall and the pipe and condense before reaching the hose, and thus is prevented from reaching the hose.
By means of the wall, the water remaining inside the chamber is enabled to close the opening of the pipe and the steam filling into the chamber is prevented from moving through the pipe and reaching the hose.
By means of the present invention, the steam emanating from the tub is prevented from reaching the hose and hence the detergent dispenser.
Moreover, by means of the present invention, instead of a hose with a complex structure, a simpler hose which is directly connected to the tub is used, thus providing cost reduction. Furthermore, the need for designing and using a new hose for each model is eliminated. The possibility of the steam reaching the detergent dispenser is minimized. The wearing problem in the hose is eliminated.
The washer/dryer realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures where

Figure 1 - is the perspective view of a tub, a detergent dispenser, a hose and a chamber.
Figure 2 - is the perspective view of the chamber and the pipe opening into the chamber.
Figure 3 - is the bottom cross-sectional perspective view of the chamber, the pipe and the wall.

The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Washer/dryer
2. Tub
3. Detergent dispenser
4. Hose
5. Chamber
6. Inlet
7. Outlet
8. Pipe
9. Wall
10. Opening

The washer/dryer (1) comprises a tub (2); a detergent dispenser (3) that has one or more than one compartment wherein different types of cleaning agents (detergent, softener, etc.) are placed; a hose (4) that is disposed between the detergent dispenser (3) and the tub (2), and a chamber (5)

wherein one end of the hose (4), the other end of which opens to the detergent dispenser (3), opens,
That is disposed between the hose (4) and the tub (2), and
wherein the steam emanating from the tub (2) enters before the hose (4)

(Figure 1).

In the washer/dryer (1), the hot air is blown into the tub (2) in the drying process. The said hot air evaporates the moisture on the laundry. The steam inside the tub (2) tends to leave the tub (2) due to the pressure. After leaving the tub (2), the said steam enters the chamber (5), which is colder than the tub (2) due to being located outside the tub (2), and condenses inside the chamber (5) before reaching the hose (4) and remains there.
The washer/dryer (1) comprises an inlet (6) by means of which the hose (4) is connected to the chamber (5), and an outlet (7) that enables the water, which is transferred together with the cleaning agents such as detergent, softener, etc. taken from the detergent dispenser (3) by means of the hose (4), to pass through the chamber (5) and to be delivered to the tub (2).
The washer/dryer (1) comprises a pipe (8) that is disposed on the periphery of the inlet (6) and that extends into the chamber (5); an opening (10) that enables the pipe (8) to open into the chamber (5), and a wall (9) that closes the opening (10). In an embodiment of the present invention, the wall (9) is in the form of a quarter sphere and is disposed on the opening (10) and covers the lower half of the pipe (8). In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the pipe (8) extends almost up to half the length of the chamber (5). By means of the wall (9), the steam entering from the tub (2) into the chamber (5) is prevented from directly reaching the hose (4) and the steam moving inside the chamber (5) toward the hose (4) first hits the wall (9) and condenses there, thus prevented from entering the hose (4) (Figure 2).
In another embodiment of the present invention, the chamber (5) comprises a base in the same form with the periphery of the tub (2) and a ceiling that joins two ends of the said base. The outlet (7) is in the form of a slit in the section where the base joins the ceiling (Figure 3).
In another embodiment of the present invention, the opening (10) faces downward, toward the base of the chamber (5).
In another embodiment of the present invention, part of the wash water filling into the chamber (5) is transferred to the tub (2), while the other part thereof remains in the chamber (5). The steam entering from the tub (2) into the chamber (5) cannot enter the pipe (8) due to the water remaining in the chamber (5) and closing the opening (10), and is prevented from reaching the hose (4).

Claims

A washer/dryer (1) comprising
a) a tub (2);

b) a detergent dispenser (3) that has one or more than one compartment wherein different types of cleaning agents (detergent, softener, etc.) are placed;

c) a hose (4) that is disposed between the detergent dispenser (3) and the tub (2),

d) a chamber (5) disposed between the hose (4) and the tub (2), wherein one end of the hose (4) is connected to the chamber (5) and the other end of the hose (4) is connected to the detergent dispenser (3), such that steam leaving the tub (2) enters said chamber (5) before entering the hose (4);

e) an inlet (6) by means of which the hose (4) is connected to the chamber (5),

f) an outlet (7) of the chamber (5) that enables the water, which is transferred together with the cleaning agents such as detergent, softener, etc. taken from the detergent dispenser (3) by means of the hose (4), to pass through the chamber (5) and to be delivered to the tub (2),

g) characterized in that, a pipe (8) is disposed on the periphery of the inlet (6) and extends into the chamber (5);

h) an opening (10) enables the pipe (8) to open into the chamber (5), and

i) a wall (9) covers the top of the opening (10).
A washer/dryer (1) as in Claim 1, characterized in that the chamber (5) is disposed outside the tub (2).
A washer/dryer (1) as in any of the above claims, characterized in that the wall (9) has a form of a quarter sphere.
A washer/dryer (1) as in any of the above claims, characterized in that the pipe (8) extends almost up to half the length of the chamber (5).
A washer/dryer (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized in that the chamber (5) comprises a base in the same form with the periphery of the tub (2) and a ceiling which joins the two ends of the base.
A washer/dryer (1) as in Claim 5, characterized in that the outlet (7) is formed as a slit in the section where the base meets the ceiling.
A washer/dryer (1) as in Claim 5, characterized in that the opening (10) is facing downwards, towards the base of the chamber (5).