Cover for a laundry dryer and process for its assembly

The invention relates to a cover for a clothes dryer, by operating in the a gaseous material stream may be heated for drying damp laundry, wherein the cover as at least one portion of an outer wall, in particular a rear wall, the laundry dryer designed and flowed through by the cover from the gas stream Channel is at least partially formed.

Usually Dryer are prepared by a rotatable laundry drum with a drive, together with an air supply and heating elements for the air supply mounted on a base frame, and then the walls on the base frame to be assembled. From the air supply of the gas stream is for drying the laundry passed through a channel in which the gaseous material stream at the same time by the heating element is heated. This channel is located after the attachment of the walls inside the dryer and is at least in sections of a wall, typically the rear wall of the tumble dryer is limited.

Due to this arrangement, the installation of dryers is complicated and maintenance at the air inlet and the heater make often difficult.

In view of these problems, the object of the present invention is the reduce manufacturing costs and the ease of assembly of the tumble dryer improve.

This object is achieved in that the cover as a heating unit is configured in the at least one heating element from the gaseous material stream in operation is the clothes dryer flow around integrated.

This solution is structurally simple and has the advantage that the cover as a heating unit can be preassembled lighter and a comparison with the prior art Installation and removal of at least one heating element allows. can result the assembly effort and thus also the production costs of the dryer to reduce.

The inventive design of the cover as the heating unit Heating element is already mitausgebaut when removing the cover at the same time and thereby easily accessible.

Moreover, by the inventive solution to a separately Tumble no need to install heater housing, as in dryers is used in the prior art. In this way material is saved, whereby the manufacturing cost of the dryer further reduce. The Housing of the heating element also forms in known dryers separation edges, such as at the passages in the housing. Without the housing are the date in Purchase avoided taken off edges, thereby improving airflow. Furthermore, in the inventive solution is the dual function as a cover and heating the far inside of the clothes dryer for heating and the channels used space free so that eg a larger washing drum, which is usually disposed in front of the heating unit, may be used.

The cover of the invention can by different, independent, be developed separately, are advantageous embodiments. To this Embodiments and each connected to the embodiments benefits is in Below we briefly.

So may comprise fastening means in an advantageous embodiment of the cover, holding the cover to the outside of the dryer preferably releasably mountable. This has the advantage that the cover is easily and quickly to the laundry dryer mountable. Further, the fixing means of the cover as Pegs be designed that allow the cover to the dryer preferably can be releasably latched. In this embodiment, the cover may even faster be attached to the tumble dryer, thereby reducing the assembly time and thus significantly reduce the assembly costs, because of the covers from the prior mounted art of time and money with a variety of screw will.

In order not escape the gas flowing in the dryer gas stream outward to let the cover may comprise a sealing lip, through which the cover substantially gas-tight to the laundry dryer is attached. The sealing lip may be made of an elastic plastic material tolerances to both to compensate to the cover as well as on the tumble dryer. Further the cover may be sealed by a labyrinth seal. In the labyrinth seal a further seal of an additional sealing labyrinth arrangement be surrounded.

In an advantageous embodiment, the cover may form a flange, with which the cover to the laundry dryer is attachable. One flange has the advantage that it can be made relatively large area and the large area Flange can be used as a sealing surface for attachment or fastening means can. The flange can also as an adhesive surface for attaching the cover be used to the laundry dryer with an adhesive.

Further, the cover, in a further advantageous embodiment of a be made electrically insulating material. Thereby, the electrically operated Heating element is isolated and no current can flow to the outside. In addition, the Risk of electric shock when touching the cover of the dryer avoided and existing security policies are adhered to. These Refinement of the inventive covering also prevents unwanted electrical effects, such. as the possible spread of leakage. Regarding the thermal and electrical insulation for dryers from the state art, the heating unit separately taken in a housing with the addition: covered rear wall, which material as compared to the solution according to the invention is and costly.

To regulate the temperature of the gas material flow to the heating element, can the heating unit designed as a cover comprising at least one sensor, with which the temperature of the gas material stream can be measured. This allows the gas stream be measured, for example, before or behind the heating element to the regulating power supply of the heating element and thus the gas stream optimally heat. A sensor can also be used as a thermostat of the heating element and so prevent overheating of the heating element. The probe can be arranged for example in the area of ​​the channel.

A problem with today's clothes dryer is that due to the limited Building space inside the clothes dryer, the heat energy of the heating element easily is passed to the outside. This leads firstly to a low efficiency in the Heating of the gas source stream. On the other hand there is a risk that the outer surfaces become so hot the dryer, that a user when touching can burn these areas.

In order not to direct the thermal energy generated by the heating element to the outside, the cover may be in an advantageous development of a thermally insulating Material be made of low thermal conductivity. This is no heat energy wasted and also the cover heated on its outside not so much to avoid the risk of burning when touching the cover consists. This contributes to that prescribed safety regulations regarding the permissible ambient temperature of the dryer are respected and in particular the energy consumption can be reduced. Furthermore, the cover may preferably be made of a temperature-resistant material. The thermal insulation can also be improved by additional areas at high temperature Protection zones are provided from heat-resistant materials.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the heating unit a heat protection body include surrounding the at least one heating element at least partially and the environment safeguards before the influence of heat. This has an advantage that Additional thermal protection of the heating unit consists outwardly to an undesired heating Near the cover both outward and as well to the interior the dryer to prevent. By this embodiment of the present Invention in a simple manner by current safety regulations governing Dryer permissible external temperature of the outer wall of about 85 ° C even with the ensures prevailing in the heating unit interior temperatures up to about 600 ° C will.

Furthermore, the heat protection body can in an advantageous development of one of the Gas stream flowed through the flow channel forming. Through the flow channel is the gas stream at least a targeted and low losses to the Heater passed, thus ensuring an effective heating of the gas source stream is. In addition, through the flow passage of the gas stream, after flowing through the heating unit under low flow losses in the washing drum of the Dryer into directed, whereby the heat energy generated lingerie is effective and energy-saving supplied. To a good heat transfer between the heating element and to reach the gas stream, the heating element can in the flow channel be arranged.

In order not to dissipate the heat energy of the heating element in the environment, the Heat protection body made of a heat-insulating and temperature-resistant material, be preferably a plastic.

The heat-protection body can also be made of a metal. The metallic Heat protection body has the advantage that it simply and inexpensively, for example, can be produced by deep drawing. In addition, the heat protection body , Be made of a corrosion-resistant material, eg. As a stainless steel, to corrosion of the heat protection body, for example in the clothes dryer Is exposed to water, to prevent.

Further, the cover may include other fastening means, at which the heat-protection body is removably attached. This has the advantage that the heat protection body be mounted on the cover easily and without additional fastening means can and thus reduce the assembly and production of the heating unit.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the cover is a least his contact element integrated with the heater of the machine side of a Counter-contact is electrically connected. This has the advantage that the heating unit before the attachment to the tumble dryer just be connected to a voltage source is. Further, the contact element can be designed as a part of a plug connection be, thereby ensuring a quick and easy connection of the contact element is. The connection of the heating unit can also be by a single, possibly standardized happen connector element, whereby the required connection time further reduced. Here are the different electrical lines of the least a heating element and the at least one probe in which a male member connected. The male member is in a corresponding mating connector element the tumble dryer inserted.

Further, the contact element in a further advantageous embodiment, in the Cover may be integrated to the attachment of the cover to the laundry dryer to further simplify.

To make the cover cost and with high dimensional accuracy can, the cover can be shaped as a container-like housing as an injection molded part is configured. Injection molded parts can with a high dimensional accuracy be prepared and, if they are produced in large quantities, very low cost. Through the container-shaped configuration of the housing, for example with a high border, is the cover despite the arranged items of the heating unit on a flat wall mountable and thereby forms the through by the gas stream Channel.

In an advantageous development, the container-shaped housing as a plastic part be designed, consisting of sections, with at least one scope another material, preferably a metal sheet, is provided. The composite of plastic with other materials, for example, the stability and Temperature resistance of the housing improves. Here, the other materials arranged both on the plastic part and layered in the plastic part be. Further, the at least one protective region may be arranged in a region in which in operation a high temperature occurs. This is the thermal insulation and temperature resistance of the housing improves.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the cover from the outside to the Tumble be attachable. This has the advantage that the so configured cover is particularly easy to mount on the dryer.

The invention relates in addition to the cover and its embodiments described above, also a dryer for drying damp laundry with a gas stream, wherein the dryer with walls, an air supply and with one of the gas stream through which channel is running. To the assembly of the tumble dryer facilitate, the dryer includes a cover for a the aforementioned embodiments and the channel is at least partially formed by the cover.

The invention relates in addition to the above-mentioned devices and their further Embodiments also a method for assembling a laundry dryer by the operation in a gas stream for drying damp laundry can be heated. To the to shorten installation time required of the clothes dryer, the invention provides, that a cover of a heating unit by attaching at least The heating element is pre-assembled, a channel is formed, the cover from the outside is attached to a wall of the laundry dryer and the channel to an air supply the clothes dryer is connected.

In an advantageous development, the cover by solvable or unsolvable Latch are attached to the wall to the assembly of the tumble dryer to simplify. For the same reason, a contact for power supply of the heating element When attaching the cover to the wall will be closed simultaneously. Furthermore, the channel can during the mounting of the cover on the wall of the tumble dryer be simultaneously sealed substantially gastight.

In the following the invention is exemplified with reference to the accompanying drawings explained. The various features can independently of one another be combined, as is already above in the individual advantageous were outlined.

Show it:<dl tsize="6"><dt>Fig. 1</dt><dd>a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention Cover schematically from above;</dd><dt>FIG. 2</dt><dd>an exploded perspective view of the cover according to the invention From Fig. 1 schematically from below; </dd><dt>Fig. 3</dt><dd>an exploded perspective view of the cover according to the invention . Of Figure 1 schematically from above;</dd><dt>Fig. 4</dt><dd>An embodiment of the cover according to the invention attached to the Rear wall of a clothes dryer;</dd><dt>Fig. 5</dt><dd>a detailed view of the cover of the invention from Fig. 4 prior to their attachment to the laundry dryer;</dd><dt>Fig. 6</dt><dd>a detailed view of the inventive cover of FIG. 4 according to attachment to the laundry dryer;</dd><dt>Fig. 7</dt><dd>a further embodiment of the cover according to the invention is mounted on the rear wall of a clothes dryer;</dd><dt>Fig. 8</dt><dd>a detailed view of the inventive cover of FIG. 7 before having been affixed to the laundry dryer;</dd><dt>Fig. 9</dt><dd>a detailed view of the inventive cover of FIG. 7 according to attachment to the laundry dryer;</dd></dl>

First, the general structure of the inventive covering 1 with respect is described to Figs. 1 to 3 and the therein illustrated example embodiment.

The heating unit designed as a cover 1 comprises a housing 2, a heat protective body 3 and a plurality of heating elements 4. The example shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 Embodiment of the inventive covering includes four adjacent and superposed heating elements 4. The heating elements 4 are two laterally arranged support plates 5 held together as an integral modular unit. The heating elements 4 are positioned relative to each other so that a flowing past Gas stream can be optimally heated.

The heating elements 4 are arranged within the heat protection body 3 of the Heating elements of the environment thermally insulated and simultaneously a flow channel forms to a gas stream, preferably an air stream, as well as possible by forwarding to the heating elements. 4 The insulation body 3 for this purpose has a Inlet opening 6 and an outlet 7. The flows to be heated airflow at the inlet opening in the heat-shielding member 3 in, and is determined by the shape of the Heat protection body 3 is passed through the heating elements 4 through or along them, whereby the air flow is heated. The heated air stream flows at the Outlet 7 from the heat protection body 3 addition.

To achieve a good thermal insulation, the thermal protector body 3 is made of a corrosion-resistant metal sheet, for example a stainless steel sheet manufactured. The heat-shielding effect of the heat insulation body 3 is particularly important because inside the insulation body in the area of ​​the heating elements 4 temperatures Up to 600 ° C occur. Here, the surface temperature on the outer side may an allowable value, for example after a VDE Guideline 85 ° C respectively. A complicating factor in the thermal insulation that the standing available Space is extremely limited. To enhance the thermal insulation, can Heat protection body be provided with a reflective surface. The heat protection body 9 also has a low thermal conductivity, so that the extremely high temperature from the area of ​​the heating elements 4 is not external to the surface can be transferred to the cover. 1 Thus, the outer surface of the cover 1 touched by an operator without risk of burning.

Thus the cover 1 slightly pre-assembled with the heating element 4 is preassembled may be, the heat protection body 3 is embodied in two parts. It consists of a lower part 9 and an upper part 10. The lower part 9 is in the example embodiment in FIGS. 1 to 3, a stamped sheet metal part on which by Turn the guide body 8 is formed. The upper part 10 of the heat insulation body 3 been manufactured in the embodiment in Fig. 1 to 3 by deep drawing. In the upper Part 10 of the heat insulation body 3 is adjacent to the inlet port 6 and the outlet 7 at least one recess 11 formed in the at least one temperature sensor 12 is attached.

By the temperature sensors 12 the heating of the air flow can be within the Cover 1 measured and the heat output of the heating elements 4 controlled. With the measured temperature or temperature difference of the air flow may in particular a control loop can be constructed, with which the heating elements 4 are driven and the temperature of the air flow is regulated. To improve the control loop can also be used more than two temperature sensors, the temperature to determine at different points of the air flow. For example, the temperature the air flow before and behind the heating element to be measured. 4 also An extra temperature sensor in the vicinity of the heating elements 4 as a protection thermostat be arranged to an excessive temperature rise of the heating elements 4 to recognize and thereby prevent overheating. The insulation body 3 with the heating elements 4 is attached to the housing second

The housing 2 is provided with fastening means 13 for releasable attachment of the cover 1 provided on a drying rack. The fasteners 13 are hereinafter described in more detail. The cover 1 further includes a sealing lip 14, through the cover 1 is substantially gas-tight attachable to the dryer is. This prevents that a portion of the heated air flow to the outside is discharged. The housing 2 of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 3 is made of a thermally insulating plastic. This is advantageous, so that the high temperature in the range of the heating elements 4 is not external to the surface of Cover 1 is transferred from the reasons mentioned above. Furthermore, the Housing 2 made of an electrically insulating plastic material to the heating elements 4 with respect to the remaining parts of the clothes dryer and to the outside electrically isolate. Furthermore, one by the design of the housing 2 from electrically insulating material a spreading of leakage counteracted.

At the locations of high temperature regions, a temperature-resistant material z. B. a sheet metal part can be attached to the housing 2, so that in this Scope, the housing 2 protected.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the housing 2 is designed and shaped container has a circumferential container wall 2a encloses an interior space 2b. hereby the cover 1 of the invention, in which the heat protection body 3 with the heating elements 4 are mounted in the interior 2b of the housing 2 and not over the container wall 2a protrude, against a wall 17 'of a tumble dryer 17 mountable. As illustrated, the wall can 'be 17 flat.

The housing 2 of the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3 Cover 1 is designed as an injection molded part. The preparation of the housing by injection has the advantage that a large quantity at low cost high dimensional accuracy can be produced.

The cover 1 further comprises at least one contact element 15, through which the Cover 1 with its heating elements 4 and temperature sensors 12 electrically connectable is. The contact element 15 shown in Figs. 1 to 3 is, for example, designed as a standardized plug and integrated into the housing second A corresponding Mating connector located on the dryer, so that in the mounting position the cover 1 makes a plug connection by itself. About the contact element 15, both the heater elements 4 and the temperature sensors 12 electrically connectable. This has the advantage that only a contact element for electrically Connecting all parts of the cover 1 is necessary.

The housing 2 has further fixing means 16, where the heat protection body 3 is removably attached. When assembling the cover 1, the lower part 9 of the Heat protection body 3 in the running as locking means further fasteners 16 engaged. Thereafter, the pre-assembled modular unit of heating elements 4 and support plates 5 fitted to the lower part of the ninth Finally, the upper part 10 of the heat insulation body 3 is placed and also to the other fastening means 16 engaged. The insulation body 3 may fastening means for fixing the heating elements 4 contained within the heat protection body. 3 In the in Figs. 1 to 3 illustrated embodiment, the additional fastening means 16 are at the same time configured in the form of ribs for enhancing the stability of the housing second

Fig. 4 shows the back panel of a laundry dryer 17 according to the invention with the attached Cover 1 of Figs. 1 to 3. In Fig. 5 and Fig. 8 is the detail A from FIG. 4 in perspective. Here, the cover 1 is not yet mounted and the dryer 17 spaced. In the dryer 17 is at least one Hole 18 for receiving the fastening means 13 of the cover 1 is executed. Fig. 6 and Fig. 9 show the detail A of FIG. 4 with a mounted cover 1. The wedge-like as Clips or catch running fastener 13 is shown in Fig. 5 in the hole 18 as an opposite catch is executed snapped. The sealing lip 14 is in the assembled state compressed and seals the cover 1 is substantially air tight or gas-tight from. In addition, the compressed sealing lip 14 produces a tensioning force that the cover 1 pushes away from the dryer 17, whereby, in operation of the clothes dryer rattling of the fastener 13 is prevented in the hole 18th The cover 1 is thereby attached so firmly to the Drier 17th

Fig. 7 shows a further embodiment of the cover according to the invention 1 is mounted on a drying rack 17. Fig. 8 shows a detail B from Fig. 7, wherein the cover 1 is shown prior to assembly with the tumble 17th Compared to the Embodiment of the cover of Figs. 4 to 6, the embodiment of the cover 1 of Figs. 7-9 by differently designed fixing means 13 and a correspondingly different hole 18. The fastening means illustrated in Fig. 8 13 is executed dowel-shaped. The hole 18 is circular and the opposite catch configured for the fastener. 13 Fig. 9 shows the embodiment of according to the invention cover 1 of Figs. 7 and 8 in the assembled state. Similar as in the embodiment in FIGS. 4 to 6, the sealing lip 14 is in the mounted state compressed with the characteristics already described above.

In the in Fig. 5 and 7, driers according to the invention exemplified 17 is mounted on a wall 17 ', the cover 1 from the outside. Inside the dryer 17 is an air supply, such as a fan, for generating a gas material stream, with the damp laundry is dried. The walls 17 'are mounted for example on a base frame. The cover 1 forms with the wall 17 'a flow-through during operation of the clothes dryer 17 of the gas stream Channel through which the gas stream can be conducted in the direction of the laundry to be dried is.

Figs. 1 - 3 show a possible embodiment of the cover according to the invention 1. The cover 1 may alternatively with a flange in place of the sealing lip be executed 14th This flange, both the attachment of the cover 1 on a drying rack, as well as a sealing surface against the dryer serve. For attachment of the cover 1 z. B. can bores in the flange be executed. In the bores z. B. screws or rivets can to fix be the cover 1 arranged on the dryer. To seal this embodiment the cover according to the invention is on the flange in the Mounting the cover to the laundry dryer 1 a sealing means on the flange surface applied. When using an adhesive sealant, the cover can 1 attached through the sealing means to the dryer and sealed simultaneously will.

The sealing of the cover of the invention over the tumble dryer may alternatively also be designed as a labyrinth seal.