AU2014415237B2

AU2014415237B2 - Laundry drying apparatus having a pump for draining liquid

Info

Publication number: AU2014415237B2
Application number: AU2014415237A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Gabriele Missio; Nicola Reid; Giuseppe Rossi
Original assignee: Electrolux Appliances AB
Current assignee: Electrolux Appliances AB
Priority date: 2014-12-23
Filing date: 2014-12-23
Publication date: 2020-05-21
Anticipated expiration: 2034-12-23
Also published as: EP3237674A1; EP3237674B1; AU2014415237A1; WO2016101993A1; CN107109766B; CN107109766A

Abstract

The invention relates to a laundry drying apparatus, in particular dryer (2), comprising a cabinet and a laundry storing compartment arranged within the cabinet for receiving laundry to be dried. An air channel is arranged within the cabinet and adapted to guide drying air from at least one air outlet of the laundry storing compartment to at least one air inlet of the laundry storing compartment. A lint collecting component is arranged in the air channel exposed to the drying air and being receptive for the deposition of lint carried by the drying air. A wet cleaning unit has a nozzle for supplying liquid for washing lint from the lint collecting component. A liquid collector is adapted to collect liquid supplied by the wet cleaning unit for washing the lint collecting component. A liquid pump (36) has a motor (68), a liquid conveying element (70) driven by the motor (68) and a conveying element housing (76) which is fluidly connected to the liquid collector, wherein the liquid pump (36) is adapted to drain the liquid collected in the liquid collector. The conveying element housing (76) of the liquid pump (36) comprises a removable unit (82) forming a section of the conveying element housing (76). The removable unit (82) is adapted to be manually removed by a user. When the removable unit (82) is removed from the liquid pump (36), at least a portion of the conveying element (70) or the inner volume (90) of the conveying element housing (76) is exposed for user maintenance.

Description

LAUNDRY DRYING APPARATUS HAVING A PUMP FOR DRAINING LIQUID

The invention relates to a laundry drying apparatus, in particular a dryer.

EP 2 341 183 Bl discloses a laundry drying apparatus having a condensation liquid (water) collector located in the lower part of the laundry drying apparatus. Two pumps are disposed within the liquid collector. A first pump is draining liquid (condensation water) from the liquid collector to a condensation water collection drawer disposed at an upper part of the laundry treatment apparatus. A second pump circulates liquid (condensation water) from the liquid collector to a cleaning device which is using the liquid for cleaning at least one heat exchanger positioned within a drying air circuit of the laundry treatment apparatus. After cleaning the at least one heat exchanger the liquid is loaded with laundry fibers and returns into the liquid collector. The laundry fibers and/or other particles contained in the liquid could affect the functionality and efficiency of the pump which is adapted to drain the liquid from the liquid collector.

The present invention seeks to provide a laundry drying apparatus allowing an efficient operation of the pump draining liquid from the liquid collector.

According to the invention, a laundry drying apparatus - in the following description also denoted in brief apparatus - comprises a cabinet and a laundry storing compartment arranged within the cabinet for receiving laundry to be dried. An air channel is arranged within the cabinet and adapted to guide drying air from at least one air outlet of the laundry storing compartment to at least one air inlet of the laundry storing compartment.

Further, the apparatus comprises a lint collecting component which is arranged in the air channel, thereby exposed to the drying air and receptive for the deposition of lint carried by the drying air. A wet cleaning unit is provided, having a nozzle for supplying liquid (e.g. water) for washing lint from the lint collecting component. After this washing

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PCT/EP2014/079114 by the drying air. A wet cleaning unit is provided, having a nozzle for supplying liquid (e.g. water) for washing lint from the lint collecting component. After this washing process, the liquid supplied for washing or cleaning the lint collecting component is collected by a liquid collector arranged within the apparatus. The wet cleaning unit is adapted to wash off the lint collected at the lint collecting component. Thus the liquid collected in the liquid is containing lint (at least under normal operation where lint has been collected at the lint collecting component and has been washed off by the washing liquid).

Further, the apparatus comprises a liquid pump having a motor, a liquid conveying element driven by the motor and a conveying element housing wherein the liquid pump is fluidly connected to the liquid collector. The liquid pump is adapted to drain the liquid collected in the liquid collector (e.g. to a condensate container disposed within the apparatus or to a wastewater system). As the liquid collected in the liquid collector (normally) contains lint, consequently the liquid pump is adapted to pump lint-containing liquid out of the liquid collector.

The conveying element housing comprises a removable unit forming a section or a part of the conveying element housing. The removable unit is adapted or configured such that it is manually removable, e.g. is manually removable by a user. When the removable unit is removed from the liquid pump or its conveying element housing, at least a portion of the conveying element and/or the inner volume of the conveying element housing are exposed for user and/or service personal maintenance.

Providing such a liquid pump having a conveying element housing with a removable unit allows easy access to the liquid pump, especially to its liquid conveying element, by a user. Thus, lint or foreign objects contained in the liquid to be drained by the liquid pump could be easily removed from the interior of the liquid pump by a user thereby avoiding to require a technically skilled user training or any external service assistance. Permanent blocking the liquid pump’s functionality by accumulated lint or other foreign particles/objects can be removed or resolved by providing the removable unit which allows accessibility to the liquid pump by a user in a facile manner. Of course simple maintenance is also provided to professional service.

The liquid for washing or cleaning the lint collecting component is preferably condensation water and/or a (specific) washing liquid. Accordingly, the liquid collector is preferably collecting condensation water and/or washing liquid. Preferably, the lint collecting

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PCT/EP2014/079114 component is designed or configured to collect lint (fluff) intentionally. This can be made for example by a filter unit which is filtering or catching lint and other particles from the drying air. Alternatively or additionally the lint collecting component is another (in relation to the intended collection) or an additional component that collects or catches lint or other particles unintentionally. Such an embodiment may be any component (e.g. a heat exchanger) within the apparatus whose efficiency is reduced by lint deposition or any particle deposition.

In a preferred embodiment the laundry storing compartment is a drum or a rotatable drum. The drum is particularly rotatable around a (or a substantially) horizontal axis.

Preferably, the liquid conveying element comprises or is constituted by a pumping hydraulics, e.g. hydraulic parts of the liquid pump. Particularly, this pump hydraulics is separated from the motor and/or electrical parts of the liquid pump, e.g. by a sealing, to avoid liquid passing to the electrical parts. Thereby no additional measure is needed to prevent any unintended contact and damage with respect to the electrical parts, even if the pump hydraulics and/or the conveying element housing are accessible for a user due to the removed removable unit.

Preferably, the lint collecting component is designed or adapted according to at least one of the following:

- a heat exchanger is arranged within the air channel and is adapted to cool the drying air,

- a filter unit has an air filter and is arranged in or at the air channel between the laundry storing compartment and the heat exchanger, and

- an air guiding surface is arranged downstream the laundry storing compartment, wherein the air guiding surface is exposed to lint deposition.

Particularly, the filter unit is arranged within the air channel downstream the laundry storing compartment and upstream the heat exchanger in order to implement an efficient filter result. Preferably, the lint collecting component comprises only a filter unit. According to an embodiment, the filter unit is the only (intentional) fluff filtering device arranged within the apparatus such that in a cost-saving manner no additional lint filter is necessary at other positions in the apparatus. For example, no lint filter is needed in the region of the loading door or the outlet of the laundry storing compartment.

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In a preferred embodiment the liquid collector is arranged and adapted to collect the liquid after flowing over the lint collecting element and to guide the collected liquid towards the liquid pump in order to provide a facile fluid connection between the liquid collector and the liquid pump.

According to an embodiment the nozzle of the wet cleaning unit is arranged such that it directs the liquid flowing out of the nozzle towards the front surface of the filter unit or the front surface of the heat exchanger. The front surface is defined as the surface of the filter unit or the heat exchanger where the drying air flowing in the air channel passes first the filter unit or the heat exchanger, respectively. Particularly, the filter unit has more than one filter. In such a case the front surface is a or the surface of the first filter.

According to a space-saving embodiment the liquid pump has a rotatable conveying element. The axis of rotation of such a conveying element is particularly in a vertical or horizontal direction. Preferably, the liquid conveying element is a pump wheel or an impeller.

Preferably, the liquid pump and the removable unit are configured such that during removing or inserting the removable unit from or to the liquid pump the following features are implemented:

- the fluid (liquid) connection(s) and/or the electrical connection(s) from and to the liquid pump have not to be disconnected/connected, and/or

- the mounting position of the liquid pump within the apparatus remains unmodified. Consequently, there is no need for a user to remove the entire liquid pump from its operation position. Further, any risk of damaging or affecting the fluid and/or electrical connection(s) is avoided, thus ensuring a reliable operation of the liquid pump despite its accessibility.

As already mentioned, the removable unit is forming a section or part of the conveying element housing. Preferably, the removable unit comprises a bottom section or a sidewall section or a bottom and sidewall section of the conveying element housing.

Advantageously, the bottom section and/or sidewall section is acting as a partition wall in relation to a filter housing (see below) of the liquid pump filter or to the liquid collector.

Preferably a sealing surface or sealing element is provided at an abutment surface or abutment edge, which is arranged or formed between the removable unit and the surface or

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PCT/EP2014/079114 edge where the removable unit abuts at the conveying element housing, when the removable unit is positioned at the conveying element housing.

Preferably, the removable unit comprises at least a portion of an inflow or outflow opening of the conveying element housing. Thus the removable unit is able to provide a controlled liquid flow into or out of the conveying element housing and/or to provide a defined position for the liquid flow into or out of the housing. The inflow or outflow opening can be cost-saving realized in case the removable unit forms at least a part of a partition wall to a filter housing of the liquid pump or to a liquid collector. Then the inflow or outflow opening could be implemented by a hole or a hole-like geometry in the partition wall.

In a further embodiment the removable unit comprises a liquid filter element which is arranged at an inflow or outflow section or at an inflow or outflow opening of the liquid pump when the removable unit is located in its operational position at the liquid pump. Thus the liquid to be drained is automatically filtered (from lint or other particles) by the liquid filter. This may help to fulfill specific environmental requirements and/or to remove fluff and/or particles from the pumped liquid that could result in unwanted deposition in the liquid path downstream the filter.

Preferably, a or the liquid filter element is arranged at an inflow or outflow section (or opening) of the liquid pump. Further, This liquid filter element is exposed or accessible for maintenance by a user, when the removable unit is removed from the conveying element housing. Consequently, the liquid pump and its conveying element can be kept free from lint and other particles in a user-friendly manner thereby avoiding any professional service assistance.

A user-friendly maintenance of the liquid filter element is provided, if the liquid filter element is removably arranged, integrally arranged or mounted at the removable unit. Implementing such a design, the liquid filter element could be automatically removed from the liquid pump by removing the removable unit.

In a preferred embodiment the liquid pump comprises a liquid filter housing for receiving a or the liquid filter element. Particularly, the liquid filter housing and a or the liquid filter element are designed such that the respective liquid filter element is received removably or fixedly at or in the liquid filter housing. In embodiments, the filter housing is connected to the conveying element housing or integrally formed with the conveying element housing. These embodiments provide a stable construction of the entire liquid pump.

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Particularly, the liquid pump further comprises a separation wall which partially separates the inner volumes of the conveying element housing and the liquid filter housing. Preferably the separation wall is arranged at the liquid filter element or the removable unit. Alternatively, the separation wall is portion of the liquid filter element or of the removable unit thus providing a user-friendly maintenance of the liquid pump by handling only a low number of parts.

Preferably, the separation wall is configured and arranged such that it is removable when the removable unit is removed from its operational position. Thus the separation wall can be repaired or replaced in a facile manner, if there should happen any damage on this separation wall thereby avoiding a potential substitution of the whole removable unit.

In an embodiment the separation wall particularly comprises a passage between the conveying element housing and the liquid filter housing. Preferably, the separation wall provides an open passage between the conveying element housing and the liquid filter housing. Such a separation wall contributes to a defined flow path for the liquid into and/or a controlled flow of liquid through the liquid pump thereby providing its efficiency.

According to a further embodiment the removable unit comprises a handle or gripping element which is adapted to be griped by a user, when she/he intends to insert the removable unit to the liquid pump or to remove the removable unit from the liquid pump.

Preferably, the cabinet of the apparatus comprises a cabinet opening through which the removable unit can be removed from the liquid pump or can be inserted to the liquid pump. In an embodiment the cabinet opening may be covered by a door-like element, e.g. a lid, cover, panel, flap or a similar part. This door-like element is arranged at the cabinet particularly as an element separate from other cabinet doors (e.g. dedicated for a filter unit or an air channel). The cabinet opening for receiving the removable unit is provided preferably in the basement of the cabinet. Even if the cabinet opening may be arranged at a front side or rear side of the cabinet, the opening for inserting the unit to the pump and taking it off therefrom is preferably provided at a lateral side (side wall) of the cabinet. The latter arrangement of the cabinet opening allows a user-friendly access to the removable unit and at the same time this cabinet opening does not affect the desired space-saving arrangement of additional cabinet openings and doors (e.g. for a filter unit or an air channel) in the basement region, particularly at its front side.

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In an embodiment the liquid pump is arranged in a base unit of the apparatus wherein this base unit provides a receptacle for receiving and mounting the liquid pump. The receptacle is open towards to exterior of the apparatus and the removable unit can be removed and inserted through the opening of the receptacle. Herein the 'the receptacle provides space for receiving and mounting the liquid pump does not necessarily mean that the pump is installed through the opening described here through which the removable unit is extracted from and re-inserted to the pump. Preferably, the receptacle opening is covered by a doorlike element (e.g. lid or panel), which forms a part of the apparatus cabinet. Particularly, the base unit comprises a bottom shell providing the receptacle. This bottom shell provides a stable arrangement for the liquid pump within the base region of the apparatus.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the liquid pump is arranged within the apparatus cabinet at a front or rear portion of the cabinet. Alternatively or additionally, the liquid pump is arranged at a bottom portion of the cabinet. Particularly, the bottom portion is provided by a base unit of the apparatus. The liquid pump is preferably arranged adjacent or proximate to an outer wall and/or a (lateral) side wall of the cabinet or of the base unit. Accordingly, the removable unit can be easily arranged adjacent to an outer or side wall of the cabinet thus providing a user-friendly access to the removable unit.

Preferably, the liquid pump is arranged adjacent or proximate to the air channel and the removable unit can be removed through the air channel. Preferably, additionally or alternatively, at least one filter unit is removably arranged within the air channel wherein the air channel has a filter unit opening towards the outside of the apparatus cabinet. The removable unit is preferably arranged in its operational position such that it can be removed through the filter unit opening of the air channel. Thus the removable unit is preferably removed when the filter unit is removed from the air channel. Therefore, handling of the filter unit and the removable unit with respect to maintain a filter unit and the liquid pump by the user is possible in a time-saving manner.

According to a further preferred embodiment the removable unit comprises a cover or lid section which is forming a closing cover or closing lid with respect to the conveying element housing and/or to at least one liquid filter housing at the liquid pump. The liquid filter housing is mechanically connected to the conveying element housing. Thus the removable unit is adapted to act as a protection element for the conveying element and/or the liquid filter without any additional measures.

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According to a further preferred embodiment the apparatus comprises a liquid draining member which is arranged in or at a lower portion of the apparatus and which is in fluid connection with the inner volume of the liquid collector or conveying element housing. The liquid draining member comprises a closing element, particularly a valve. The liquid draining member is adapted to be opened and closed by a user. This can be achieved preferably by a valve-function of the closing element (e.g. a valve). Liquid can be drained manually from the liquid collector or from the conveying element housing to the exterior of the apparatus cabinet. Performing such a manual draining of liquid before removing the removable unit for maintenance prevents potential liquid spilling during the maintenance measures.

Preferably, the liquid draining member is integrated with the removable unit. Particularly, it is integrated with a or the cover section or lid section of the removable unit.

According to a further embodiment the liquid draining member is at least partially formed in a or the handle element. This handle element is adapted for being gripped by a user when removing or inserting the removable unit. Thus the liquid draining member is able to have an additional function to handle the removable unit which simplifies a user-friendly handling of the whole liquid pump.

Particularly, the liquid draining member comprises a lever element which is pivotably supported and which is forming part of a valve. The lever element is pivotable between a first angular position and a second angular position which positions correspond with a closed state and an opened state of the valve. Thus the liquid draining member is provided to have a compact design.

According to a further preferred embodiment the removable unit comprises at least one connector element. The conveying element housing or a or the liquid filter housing comprises at least one mating connector element cooperating with the at least one connector element of the removable unit. By releasing the at least one connector element and at least one mating connector element the removable unit can be removed from the conveying element housing and/or a or the liquid filter housing. Accordingly, by connecting the at least one connector element and at least one mating connector element the removable unit can be connected to the conveying element housing and/or a or the liquid filter housing. Using such connector element(s) and corresponding mating connector element(s) provides a cost-saving measure to assist the user in handling the removable unit in a properly manner.

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The connector element(s) and the mating connector element(s) are configured in any suitable manner for providing a detachable connection between the removable unit and the conveying element housing (or optionally the liquid filter housing). Preferably, the connection is provided by at least one screw, clip, clamping element, latch or such like.

The connection is preferably simultaneously used for providing a bias force on a sealing element between the removable unit and the conveying element housing. Thus the desired sealing functionality is ensured automatically by providing the mechanical connection.

Particularly, the liquid filter housing is fixed or integral part of the conveying element housing in such a manner that connecting the removable unit to the liquid filter housing is realizing the connection between the removable unit and the conveying element housing.

In a preferred embodiment the at least one connector element is configured as a screw connector element or bayonet connector element. This element is mating with a corresponding screw connector element or bayonet connector element formed at the conveying element housing, or formed at the liquid filter housing which is in fluid connection to the conveying element housing. Thus the removable unit and the conveying element housing can be connected and released by screw connection or bayonet connection which provides a user-friendly and simple handling of the removable unit.

According to a further embodiment the removable unit comprises at least one alignment element. A corresponding at least one mating alignment element is provided at the conveying element housing or at another component of the apparatus being positionally fixed or stationary connected to the conveying element housing. By cooperation of the at least one alignment element and the at least one mating alignment element the removable unit is positionally aligned with the conveying element housing when the removable unit is positioned at the conveying element housing or during a movement of the removable unit for inserting it at the conveying element housing. Thus the guiding function of the corresponding alignment element(s) and mating alignment element(s) provide an appropriate insertion and operational position of the removable unit. Preferably, the alignment element(s) of the removable unit is/are provided at a grip element or grip section of the removable unit in order to facilitate the handling and aligning of the removable unit.

Preferably, the draining outlet of the liquid pump is connected to

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- an inlet of a liquid collection drawer which is removably arranged within the apparatus cabinet, and/or

- a draining hose which is arranged at least partially outside the apparatus cabinet and wherein the draining hose is adapted to guide the liquid to a domestic liquid sink or to a wastewater system.

Particularly, the draining outlet is connected or connectable to the inlet and additionally to the draining hose such that there are provided two different draining directions out of the liquid pump. Preferably a manual or automatic switching between both draining directions is provided - depending on physical, operational or environmental circumstances.

Preferably, the apparatus has at least one of the following features:

- the laundry storing compartment being a rotatable drum that is driven by a motor and wherein the motor and drum are connected by a belt in contact with the circumference of the drum,

- the laundry storing compartment being a rotatable drum having the at least one air outlet at a loading opening of the drum,

- the laundry storing compartment being a rotatable drum having the at least one air inlet at a backside of the drum or a stationary back wall of the laundry storing compartment, and

- a removable liquid reservoir (which is particularly identical with the already mentioned removable liquid collection drawer) receiving the liquid drained by the liquid pump from the liquid collector.

Any feature of the laundry drying apparatus and/or liquid pump disclosed in the claims and/or of the exemplary embodiments of the detailed description and/or the figures may be applied to this apparatus according to the invention individually or in any arbitrary combination or sub-combination.

Individual features or sub-combinations of the several disclosed aspects of the invention can be mutually combined with any of the several aspects and any of these aspects can be combined with individual features or sub-combinations of features of any of the below detailed embodiments.

Reference is made in detail to preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying figures which show:

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Fig. 1 a schematic view of components of a laundry treatment apparatus,

Fig. 2 a side view of a liquid pump according to a first embodiment,

Fig. 3 a perspective view of the liquid pump of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 the side view of the liquid pump of Fig. 2 with a removable unit shifted away from the hydraulic pump body,

Fig. 5 a perspective view of the liquid pump of Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 a perspective view of a tumble dryer,

Fig. 7 a perspective view of the tumble dryer of Fig. 6 showing a cabinet opening at the front side for accessing the removable unit shown in Figs. 2 to 5,

Fig. 8 an enlarged perspective view of the detail VIII in Fig. 7,

Fig. 9 a perspective view of the basement region of the dryer of Fig. 8, showing the removable unit shifted aside from the hydraulic pump body and with the motor and rotor removed,

Fig. 10 a side view of the basement region of Fig. 9 with the motor and rotor in crosssection,

Fig. f f the side view of Fig. 10, showing the removable unit in its inserted operation position,

Fig. 12 a perspective view of the dryer, showing a further embodiment with respect to its basement region,

Fig. f3 the perspective view of the dryer of Fig. 12, showing an inserted removable unit,

Fig. 14 the perspective view of the dryer of Fig. 13, showing the removable unit in a removed position,

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Fig. 15 a perspective rear view of a dryer, showing the removable unit to be inserted and removed at the rear side of the basement region according to another embodiment,

Fig. 16 a perspective view of the liquid pump according to a further embodiment, having a liquid draining member in its closed state,

Fig. 17 the perspective view of the liquid pump of Fig. 16, having the liquid draining member in its opened state,

Fig. 18 a side sectional view of the liquid pump of Fig. 16 with a draining passage closed,

Fig. 19 a side sectional view of the liquid pump of Fig. 17 with a draining passage open,

Fig. 20 the perspective view of the liquid pump of Figs. 16 and 17, showing a removable unit in a removed position,

Fig. 21 a front view of the liquid pump in a viewing line shown by the arrow direction XXI in Fig. 20,

Fig. 22 a perspective view of the dryer’s basement region containing the liquid pump according to the embodiment of Fig. 16,

Fig. 23 a perspective view of a dryer showing the inserted removable unit of the liquid pump according to the embodiment of Fig. 16,

Fig. 24 an enlarged view of the detail XXIV in Fig. 23,

Fig. 25 the view of Fig. 24, showing the removable unit in a removed position, and

Fig. 26 a front view of the dryer of Fig. 23, showing the liquid pump accessible for user maintenance.

Fig. 1 shows a schematically depicted laundry drying apparatus 2 which in brief is denoted apparatus and in this embodiment is a heat pump tumble dryer. The tumble dryer 2 comprises a partly and schematically depicted cabinet 3 which supports or encloses several components and parts described hereinafter. The cabinet 3 encloses a heat pump system 4,

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PCT/EP2014/079114 including a closed refrigerant loop 6 which comprises in the following order of refrigerant flow B: a first heat exchanger 10 acting as evaporator for evaporating the refrigerant and cooling drying air, a compressor 14, a second heat exchanger 12 acting as condenser for cooling the refrigerant and heating the drying air, and an expansion device 16 from where the refrigerant is returned to the first heat exchanger 10. Together with the refrigerant pipes connecting the components of the heat pump system 4 in series, the heat pump system 4 forms the refrigerant loop 6 through which the refrigerant is circulated by the compressor 14 as indicated by arrow B.

The drying air flow A within the apparatus 2 is guided through a compartment 18 of the home appliance 2, i.e. through a compartment for receiving articles to be treated, e.g. a drum 18. In a preferred embodiment, not explicitly illustrated, the drum 18 is rotatable. In a further embodiment, not shown, the drum 18 is driven by a motor wherein the drum 18 and the motor are connected by a belt in contact with the circumference of the drum 18. The articles to be treated are laundry 19, textiles or the like. The drying air flow is indicated by arrows A in Fig. 1 and is driven by a drying air blower 8. A drying air channel 20 guides the drying air flow A outside the drum 18 and includes different sections, including the section forming a battery channel 20a in which the first and second heat exchangers 10, 12 are arranged. The drying air exiting the second heat exchanger 12 flows into a rear channel 20b in which the drying air blower 8 is arranged. The air conveyed by the blower 8 is guided upward in a rising channel 20c to the backside of the drum 18 which has a kind of drum inlet 26 or inlet for the drying air. The air exiting the drum 18 through the drum outlet 28 (which corresponds to the loading opening 21 of the drum 18 and wherein the loading opening 21 is covered by a loading door 24) is filtered by an optional lint filter 22 arranged close to the drum outlet 28 in or at the channel 20. The drum outlet 28 is acting as an air outlet of the drum 18. The optional lint filter 22 is arranged in a front channel 20d forming another section of channel 20 which is arranged behind and adjacent the front cover of the apparatus 2.

As shown in Fig. 1, a filter unit 52 having at least one air filter is arranged in the cabinet 3 of the apparatus 2 to catch lint, fluff and other particles from the drying air before this drying air enters the first heat exchanger 10. The filter unit 52 is removably arranged

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PCT/EP2014/079114 within the air channel 20 downstream the drum 18 and upstream the first heat exchanger

10. Particularly, the filter unit 52 is arranged in a basement or base unit 5 which is arranged in a bottom region of the apparatus 2. Particularly, the base unit 5 comprises a bottom shell which may be closed by an upper top shell. The air channel 20 has a channel opening towards a cabinet opening 56 which can be opened and closed by a cabinet door 58.

A wet cleaning unit 60 is arranged close to the first heat exchanger 10 and the filter unit 52. It has a nozzle 62 (only schematically depicted) for supplying liquid for washing lint and other particles from the first heat exchanger 10 and/or the filter unit 52.The nozzle 62 is arranged such that it directs the liquid flowing out of the nozzle 62 towards (not explicitly shown) the front surface of the filter unit 52 and/or the front surface of the first heat exchanger 10. The supplied liquid containing lint and possibly other particles is collected by a liquid collector 30 which is connected to an extractable liquid collection drawer 40 via a drain pipe 46, a liquid pump 36 and a drawer pipe 50. The liquid is collected after flowing over the filter unit 52 and/or the first heat exchanger 10 by the liquid collector 30. Further the liquid collector 30 is guiding the collected liquid towards the liquid pump 36. Then the collected liquid can be pumped from the liquid collector 30 to the drawer 40 which is arranged at an upper portion of the apparatus 2 from where it can be comfortably withdrawn and emptied by a user. The drain pipe 46 is connected to a pump inlet 37 whereas a draining outlet 38 of the liquid pump 36 is connected to an inlet of the liquid collection drawer 40.

In a further embodiment, not illustrated, the draining outlet 38 may be additionally or alternatively connected to a draining hose arranged at least partially outside the cabinet 3. Using such a draining hose, the drained liquid can be guided to a domestic liquid sink or to a wastewater system. In a further embodiment, the draining hose and/or the drawer 40 are provided to drain and/or receive the liquid from the liquid collector 30. Two different draining directions or sinks may be provided and - depending on the circumstances - one of these draining sinks is chosen automatically or manually by a user.

Condensate formed at the first heat exchanger 10 is optionally also collected and guided to the liquid collector 30. In a further embodiment the condensate of the first heat exchanger

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PCT/EP2014/079114 and the liquid supplied by the wet cleaning unit 60 are collected each by separate collectors. The filter unit 52 and the first heat exchanger 10 can be each regarded as a lint collecting component. The filter unit 52 is intentionally collecting lint and other particles, whereas the heat exchanger 10 is unintentionally collecting lint and other particles.

Arranging the liquid pump 36 can be made at any suitable location within the apparatus 2. For example, different from the schematic illustration in Fig. 1 and depending on the construction design of the liquid pump 36, a drain pipe 46 is not needed and/or the liquid pump 36 is arranged at least partially within the liquid collector 30. In general, it is preferred to arrange the liquid pump 36 in the region of the base unit 5.

Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of the liquid pump 36 which comprises an electrical part (section) 64 and a hydraulic part (section) 66. The electrical part 64 has a motor 68 which is driving a liquid conveying element configured as an impeller 70. The impeller 70 has a driven rotor 72 carrying a plurality of blades 74. The liquid conveying element or impeller 70 is surrounded by a conveying element housing 76 which is fluidly connected to the liquid collector 30. This fluid connection is made by a drainage (sucking) hole 78 provided at a disc-like first housing wall 80 of the hydraulic part 66. This drainage hole 78 is acting as the pump inlet 37 (Fig. 1) whereas the impeller 70 drains the liquid through the draining outlet 38.

The conveying element housing 76 comprises a removable unit 82 which forms a section or part of the conveying element housing 76. The first housing wall 80 is integral part of the removable unit 82. The removable unit 82 is adapted to be manually removed by a user along a direction orthogonally (horizontally) relative to a (vertical) rotation axis 84 (Fig. 2) of the motor 68. For this purpose, the removable unit 82 comprises a finger slot-like handle 86. Further the removable unit 82 is carrying as integral part an alignment element 88, which in this embodiment has a hexagonal cross section. The alignment element 88 cooperates with a mating alignment element 89 (Fig. 8) in order to positionally align and guide the removable unit 82 with the conveying element housing 76 and to keep the removable unit 82 in an appropriate operation position, when a user is inserting the removable unit 82 at the conveying element housing 76.

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The conveying element housing 76 comprises a semi-cylindrical receiving wall 94 having a receiving groove 96 at the pump inlet 37. By inserting the removable unit 82 to its operation position according to Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, the receiving groove 96 is receiving the first housing wall 80 in order to close and seal the inlet region of the conveying element housing 76. The first housing wall 80 is acting as a sealing surface or sealing element at the conveying element housing 76. The removable unit 82 comprises a part-cylindrical second housing wall 98 which is arranged between the first housing wall 80 and the handle 86. When the removable unit 82 is in its inserted operation position, the second housing wall 98 completes the desired closed and sealed state of the conveying element housing 76. Due to their design, the first and second housing walls 80, 98 are adapted to act as a bottom and sidewall section of the conveying element housing 76. At the same time, both housing walls 80, 98 work as a closing cover of the conveying element housing 76. Both housing walls 80, 98 are operative as a sealing element at an abutment edge 99 where the inserted removable unit 82 abuts at the conveying element housing 76.

When the removable unit 82 is removed from the liquid pump 36, the impeller 70, particularly its blades 74, and the inner volume 90 of the conveying element housing 76 are accessible and exposed for user or service maintenance (Fig. 4, Fig. 5). Thus the impeller 70 and the inner volume 90 can be easily cleaned from lint, fluff and other particles. Due to the simplicity of removing the removable unit 82 and due to simple access thereto (see below), professional service assistance for maintaining an impeller blocked by fluff or other particles is not mandatory and user servicing may be sufficient.

Since the liquid pump 36 is installed permanently in a pre-defined mounting position within the apparatus 2, the electrical part 64 is not accessible for a user during removing/inserting the removable unit 82 from/to the liquid pump 36. The electrical part 64 comprises an electrical quick connector 100 which is part of an electrical plug connection (not shown) within the apparatus 2. During removing/inserting the removable unit 82, the electrical connection from and to the liquid pump 36 has not to be disconnected/connected and the mounting position of the liquid pump 36 remains

WO 2016/101993

PCT/EP2014/079114 unmodified. Insofar any potential damages of the liquid pump 36 by user maintenance are avoided.

The embodiment of the liquid pump 36 according to Figs. 2 to 5 is preferably used in case the accessibility to the conveying element 70 and the inner volume 90 has to be obtained along a horizontal or lateral direction due to a vertical extension of the liquid pump 36 and/or its arrangement close to a collector bottom 31 of the liquid collector 30 (Fig. 11).

As shown in Fig. 6, the dryer 2 comprises a maintenance opening 102 in the region of its base unit 5. The maintenance opening 102 is arranged at a front side 104 of the dryer 2 and closed by a maintenance panel or cover 106. According to Fig. 7, the maintenance cover 106 is pivoted to allow access to the maintenance opening 102 and subsequently to the removable unit 82. Then the removable unit 82 can be removed in lateral horizontal direction from the liquid pump 36 and can be re-inserted to the liquid pump 36 in a lateral movement (Figs. 8, 9). When the removable unit 82 is removed as shown in Fig. 10, the conveying element or impeller 70 and the inner volume 90 are accessible and exposed for maintenance by fingers or another elongate tool by a lateral movement along the bottom 31 of the collector 30. Particularly the impeller 70 and the inner volume 90 are accessible for removing lint and other particles. When the removable unit 82 is reinserted to the liquid pump 36, the hydraulic part 66 of the liquid pump 36 is closed and no longer accessible (Fig. Π).

In an embodiment not shown, but applicable for all embodiments herein, a position switch or position detector element may be provided at the apparatus which detects whether the removable element has been correctly returned to its operational position. Such signal is provided to the control unit of the apparatus which in turn may block the operation of the apparatus and/or may indicate the missing or incorrectly aligned removable unit 82.

Fig. 8 shows the mating alignment element 89 provided at an interior wall 92 which is essentially extended in a vertical direction. This interior wall 92 is positionally fixed at the base unit 5 and consequently stationary connected to the conveying element housing 76. In a further embodiment, not illustrated, the mating alignment element 89 is arranged directly

WO 2016/101993

PCT/EP2014/079114 at the conveying element housing 76 or the interior wall 92 is part of the conveying element housing 76.

Fig. 12 and Fig. 13 show a further embodiment of arranging the liquid pump 36 in the region of the base unit 5 at the bottom shell 33. In this embodiment it is not necessary to open the maintenance cover 106 for maintaining the condensate/washing liquid pump (as in the previous embodiment), instead the cover 106 is preferably provided for allowing access to the liquid collector 30 and/or the heat exchanger 10 front side and/or the filter unit 52. In this embodiment the base unit 5 shown in Figs. 12 to 14 provides a receptacle 108 for removing and re-inserting the removable unit 82 to the liquid pump 36. The receptacle 108 is covered by a pivotable receptacle cover 110 such that the removable unit 82 can be removed/inserted from/to the liquid pump 36 through a receptacle opening 112 (Fig. 13, Fig. 14).

Fig. 15 shows the same principle of handling the removable unit 82 as it is shown in Figs. 12 to 14. In the embodiment of Fig. 12 to Fig. 14 the liquid pump 36 is arranged within the cabinet 3 at the front side f04 of the base unit 5, whereas Fig. f5 shows an embodiment in which the receptacle 108 is at least partially arranged outside the cabinet 3 at the rear side 114 of the base unit 5. Again, the removable unit 82 can be taken off from the pump 36 and re-inserted thereto through the opening 112 when the cover f 10 is opened.

Fig. 16 to Fig. 26 show a second embodiment of a liquid pump 36. Elements of this second embodiment corresponding at least in their function to elements of the first embodiment are indicated by identical reference numerals.

This embodiment of a liquid pump 36 according to Fig. 16 is preferred when the liquid pump 36 is arranged in a horizontal-axis configuration, i.e. when the rotation axis 84 of the motor 68 extends in horizontal direction. In comparison to the first embodiment the second embodiment of the liquid pump 36 has an additional intermediate section, i.e. a liquid filter housing 116. This filter housing 116 is solidly connected to the conveying element housing 76 and provides a lateral inlet pipe (section) 39 having the pump inlet 37. The pump inlet 37 is in fluid connection to the liquid collector 30. The filter housing 116 is connected to a

WO 2016/101993

PCT/EP2014/079114 conveying element housing 76 which provides an outlet pipe 41 having the draining outlet

38.

The removable unit 82 comprises a cap 118 which has a liquid draining member 120. The cap 118 is operative as a closing cover of the liquid filter housing 116 (Fig. 16, Fig. 18). The liquid draining member 120 is adapted to be closed (Fig. 16, Fig. 18) and opened (Fig. 17, Fig. 19) by a user for manually draining liquid from the liquid collector 30 or the conveying element housing 76 to the exterior of the cabinet 3. Thus residual liquid can be drained manually before removing the removable unit 82 in order to avoid liquid spilling during maintaining the liquid pump 36. The liquid draining member 120 comprises a valve 122 for closing and opening the liquid draining member 120.

In detail, the valve 122 has a ball head 124 and a valve seat 126 adapted to selectively close or open a drain passage 128 of the cap 118. The ball head 124 is formed at a lever element 130 which is pivotably supported by a pivot bearing 132 providing a pivot axis 134 (Fig. 16, Fig. 17). The lever element 130 is part of the valve 122. By pivoting the lever element 130 between a first and second angular position, the valve 122 of the liquid draining member 120 is closed and opened. The ball head 124 has a through hole which is part of a drain channel 136 at the lever element 130 for guiding residual liquid away from the liquid pump 36. When the valve 122 is open as shown in Fig. 19, the drain channel 136 aligns with the drain passage 128 for draining residual liquid.

As shown in Fig. 18 and Fig. 19, the liquid filter housing 116 is surrounding or receiving a liquid filter element 138. When the removable unit 82 is not removed from the liquid pump 36, the filter element 138 is arranged close to the pump inlet 37. When the removable unit 82 is removed from the liquid pump 36, the filter element 138 is exposed for user maintenance and can be cleaned from collected lint, fluff etc. (Fig. 20). For this purpose the filter element 138 preferably is (particularly integrally) arranged or mounted at the removable unit 82 and preferably is a portion thereof. In Fig. 20, the filter element 138 has a semi-cylindrical tube-like wall which is perforated by a filter grid 140 in order to catch lint, fluff and other particles when liquid is guided and pumped from the pump inlet 37 to the draining outlet 38.

WO 2016/101993

PCT/EP2014/079114

As shown in Fig. 18 and Fig. 19, the first housing wall 80 of the removable unit 82 is operative as a separation wall which partially separates the inner volume 90 of the conveying element housing 76 and the inner volume of the liquid filter 116. The first housing wall 80 is arranged at an axial end of the tube-like filter element 138. Preferably, the first housing wall 80 is portion of the filter element 138 and of the removable unit 82. As can be seen from the cross section in Fig. 18 and Fig. 19, the first housing wall 80 is formed of two structures or has a double layer material. The material is preferably elastic to provide an elastic membrane as a kind of sealing element between the conveying element housing 76 and the liquid filter housing 116. This is realized by causing automatically a bias force along axial direction towards the first housing wall 80, when the removable unit 82 is in its inserted to its operational position at the liquid pump 36. Thus liquid flowing into the pump inlet 37 is prevented from bypassing the filter grid 140 before flowing to the inner volume 90 of the conveying element housing 76. Thereby it is ensured that the only passage between the two housings 76, 116 is the drainage hole 78. The first housing wall 80 is forming a closing cover of the conveying element housing 76.

The lever element 130 is additionally operative as a handle or gripping element to grip the cap 118 by a user. In its closed position (Fig. 16, Fig. 18), the lever element 130 can be gripped to turn the cap 118 and to remove the removable unit 82 from the liquid pump 36 (Fig. 20). Accordingly, the lever element 130 can be gripped to insert the removable unit 82 to the liquid pump 36 and to mechanically connect the removable unit 82 and the liquid filter housing 116 in order to ensure appropriate insertion and operational position of the removable unit 82 at the liquid pump 36. In order to realize the mechanical connection, the removable unit 82 comprises a screw-like, thread-like or bayonet-like connector element 142 which is corresponding with a mating connector element 144. The latter element 144 is formed at an axial end region of the liquid filter housing 116 such that the removable unit 82 and the conveying element housing 76 can be connected and released by a screwlike or bayonet-like connection.

Fig. 21 shows the front axial view of the pump, when the removable unit 82 is removed from the liquid pump 36. In Fig. 23, the receptacle cover 110 is opened to allow access to pivoting the lever element 130 in order to drain manually residual liquid from the liquid pump 36 (Fig. 24) before removing the removable unit 82 from the liquid pump 36 (Fig. 25). According to Fig. 26, the removable unit 82 is removed and subsequently the liquid pump 36 is accessible for cleaning the impeller 70 and the inner volume 90 of the conveying element housing 76 and, if necessary, the inner volume of the liquid filter housing 116.

Arranging and mounting the liquid pump 36 according to Fig. 22 to Fig. 26 is - apart from different design and dimensions of the liquid pump 36 - comparable to the embodiment according to Fig. 12 to Fig. 14. I.e. the liquid pump 36 is mounted at a pre-determined of the bottom shell 33 where the receptacle 108 is provided for receiving the liquid pump 36.

In a further embodiment, not shown, the liquid pump 36 is arranged proximate to the drying air channel 20 and the removable unit 82 can be removed through the drying air channel 20 towards the outside of the cabinet 3. Particularly, the liquid pump 36 and its removable unit 82 are designed and arranged such that in case the filter unit 52 is removed from the channel opening 54 and the cabinet opening 56, the removable unit 82 can be removed through the channel opening 54 and the cabinet opening 56.

While particular embodiments of this invention have been described, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments and examples are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all modifications which would be obvious to those skilled in the art are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

Where ever it is used, the word “comprising” is to be understood in its “open” sense, that is, in the sense of “including”, and thus not limited to its “closed” sense, that is the sense of “consisting only of’. A corresponding meaning is to be attributed to the corresponding words “comprise”, “comprised” and “comprises” where they appear

2014415237 17 Apr 2020

Reference Numeral List:

5 2	tumble dryer	54	channel opening
	3	cabinet	40	56	cabinet opening
	4	heat pump system		58	cabinet door
	5	base unit		60	wet cleaning unit
	6	refrigerant loop		62	nozzle
10	8	blower		64	electrical part
	10	first heat exchanger	45	66	hydraulic part
	12	second heat exchanger		68	motor
	14	compressor		70	impeller
	16	expansion device		72	rotor
15	18	drum		74	blade
	19	laundry	50	76	conveying element housing
	20	drying air channel		78	drainage/sucking hole
	20a	battery channel		80	first housing wall
	20b	rear channel		82	removable unit
20	20c	rising channel		84	rotation axis
	20d	front channel	55	86	handle
	21	loading opening		88	alignment element
	22	lint filter		89	mating alignment element
	24	loading door		90	inner volume
25	26	drum inlet		92	interior wall
	28	drum outlet	60	94	receiving wall
	30	liquid collector		96	receiving groove
	31	collector bottom		98	second housing wall
	33	bottom shell		99	abutment edge
30	36	liquid pump		100	electrical connector
	37	pump inlet	65	102	maintenance opening
	38	draining outlet		104	front side
	39	inlet pipe		106	maintenance cover
	40	liquid collection drawer		108	receptacle
35	41	outlet pipe		110	receptacle cover
	46	drain pipe	70	112	receptacle opening
	50	drawer pipe		114	rear side
	52	filter unit		116	liquid filter housing

2014415237 17 Apr 2020

118	cap	10 136	drain channel
120	liquid draining member	138	liquid filter element
122	valve	140	filter grid
124	ball head	142	connector element
5 126	valve seat	144	mating connector element
128	drain passage	15
130	lever element	A	drying air flow
132	pivot bearing	B	refrigerant flow
134	pivot axis

Claims

Claims:

1. Laundry drying apparatus, in particular dryer, comprising:

a cabinet, a laundry storing compartment arranged within the cabinet for receiving laundry to be dried, an air channel arranged within the cabinet and adapted to guide drying air from at least one air outlet of the laundry storing compartment to at least one air inlet of the laundry storing compartment, a lint collecting component arranged in the air channel exposed to the drying air and being receptive for the deposition of lint carried by the drying air, a wet cleaning unit having a nozzle for supply liquid for washing lint from the lint collecting component, a liquid collector adapted to collect liquid supplied by the wet cleaning unit for washing the lint collecting component, and a liquid pump having a motor, a liquid conveying element driven by the motor and a conveying element housing which is fluidly connected to the liquid collector, wherein the liquid pump is adapted to drain lint-containing liquid collected in the liquid collector, wherein, the conveying element housing of the liquid pump comprises a removable unit forming a section of the conveying element housing, the removable unit is adapted to be manually removed by a user, when the removable unit is removed from the liquid pump, at least a portion of the conveying element or the inner volume of the conveying element housing is exposed for user maintenance, and a filter unit is removably arranged with in the air channel, wherein the air channel has a filter unit opening towards the outside of the apparatus cabinet, and wherein the removable unit can be removed through the filter unit opening.
2. Laundry drying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lint collecting component is at least one of:

a heat exchanger arranged within the air channel and being adapted to cool the drying air, a filter unit having an air filter and being arranged in or at the air channel between the laundry storing compartment and the heat exchanger, and an air guiding surface arranged downstream the laundry storing compartment and which is exposed to lint deposition.
3. Laundry drying apparatus according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the liquid collector is arranged and adapted to collect the liquid after flowing over the lint collecting element and to guide the collected liquid towards the liquid pump.
4. Laundry drying apparatus according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the liquid pump and the removable unit are configured such that during removing or inserting of the removable unit from/to the liquid pump:

the liquid or electrical connections from and to the liquid pump have not to be disconnected/connected, or the mounting position of the liquid pump within the apparatus remains unmodified.
5. Laundry drying apparatus according to any of the previous claims, wherein the removable unit comprises a bottom section, a sidewall section, or a bottom and sidewall section of the conveying element housing.
6. Laundry drying apparatus according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the removable unit comprises at least a portion of an inflow or outflow opening of the conveying element housing.
7. Laundry drying apparatus according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the removable unit comprises a liquid filter element, which, when the removable unit is located at its operational position at the liquid pump, is arranged at an inflow or outflow section or opening of the liquid pump, and/or wherein, when the removable unit is removed from the conveying element housing, a or the liquid filter element, which is arranged at an inflow or outflow section of the liquid pump, is exposed for user maintenance.
8. Laundry drying apparatus according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the liquid pump further comprises a liquid filter housing for removably or fixedly receiving a or the liquid filter element.
9. Laundry drying apparatus according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the apparatus cabinet comprises a cabinet opening through which the removable unit can be removed from or inserted to the liquid pump.
10. Laundry drying apparatus according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the liquid pump is arranged in a base unit of the apparatus and the base unit provides a receptacle for receiving and mounting the liquid pump, wherein the receptacle is open towards the exterior of the apparatus and wherein the removable unit can be removed and inserted through the opening of the receptacle.
11. Laundry drying apparatus according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the liquid pump is arranged proximate to the air channel and the removable unit can be removed through the air channel.
12. Laundry drying apparatus according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the removable unit comprises a cover or lid section that is forming a closing cover or lid of the conveying element housing or a or the liquid filter housing connected to the conveying element housing.
13. Laundry drying apparatus according to any one of the previous claims, comprising a liquid draining member which is arranged in or at a lower portion of the apparatus, is in fluid connection with the inner volume of the liquid collector or conveying element housing, and comprises a closing element or valve, wherein the liquid draining member is adapted to be opened and closed by a user for manually draining liquid from the liquid collector or the conveying element housing to the exterior of the apparatus cabinet.
14. Laundry drying apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the liquid draining member is integrated with the removable unit or with a or the cover or lid section of the removable unit, and/or wherein the liquid draining member is at least partially formed in or by a or the handle element, wherein the handle element is adapted for being gripped by a user when removing or inserting the removable unit, and/or wherein the liquid draining member comprises a lever element which is pivotably supported and which is forming part of a valve, wherein by swinging the lever element between a first and second angular position, the valve of the liquid draining member is closed and opened.
15. Laundry drying apparatus according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the removable unit comprises at least one connector element and the conveying element housing or a or the liquid filter housing comprises at least one mating connector element cooperating with the at least one connector element of the removable unit, wherein by releasing or by connecting the at least one connector element and the at least one mating connector element the removable unit can be removed from or connected to the conveying element housing, wherein the removable unit comprises a screw connector element or bayonet connector element mating with a corresponding screw connector element or bayonet connector element formed at the conveying element housing or the liquid filter housing in fluid connection to the conveying element housing such that the removable unit and the conveying element housing can be connected and released by screw connection or bayonet connection.
16. Laundry drying apparatus according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the draining outlet of the liquid pump is connected to an inlet of a liquid collection drawer removably arranged within the apparatus cabinet, or a draining hose at least partially arranged outside the apparatus cabinet, wherein the draining hose is adapted to guide the liquid to a domestic liquid sink or to a wastewater system.