WO2011080114A1

WO2011080114A1 - A laundry dryer

Info

Publication number: WO2011080114A1
Application number: PCT/EP2010/069998
Authority: WO
Inventors: Umit Gulbay; Levent Cinar; Remzi Can
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2009-12-31
Filing date: 2010-12-16
Publication date: 2011-07-07
Anticipated expiration: 2012-06-30
Also published as: EP2519682B1; EP2519682A1; ES2443317T3

Abstract

The present invention relates to a laundry dryer (1) comprising a drum (2) wherein the laundry desired to be dried are placed, that is rotated around the horizontal axis thereof, a loading port (3) disposed at the front side of the drum (2) and providing the laundry to be loaded, a bulkhead (4) surrounding the loading port (3) and providing the drum (2) to be borne from the front side and a base unit (5) produced from plastic in single piece, installed under the drum (2), supporting the motor, the fan, the condenser and the other components required for the drying process.

Description

A LAUNDRY DRYER

[0001] The present invention relates to a laundry dryer the production of which is provided to be facilitated.

[0002] In laundry dryers, a front bearing member providing the drum to be borne from the front side and a base unit produced as a single piece, installed under the drum and holding the motor, fan, condenser and the other elements required for drying are provided. The hot air used in the drying process enters into the drum through the holes disposed at the rear side of the drum, passes over the front bearing member towards the condenser inside the base unit and continues the circulation cycle. The front bearing member and the base unit are engaged with each other because of this closed cycle carried out by the drying air.

[0003] In the state of the art, the front bearing member (1 ') is first mounted on the front wall (2') forming the front surface of the body and then connection is established between the front bearing member (1 ') and the base unit (3'). This assembly type results in some shifting in the connections of the base unit (3') and the front bearing member (1 '). The shifting that occurs during assembly adversely affect the closed cycle of the drying air. Moreover, mounting the base unit (3') onto the front bearing member (1 ') mounted on the front wall (2') contains some difficulties in terms of labor cost.

[0004] In the state of the art United States Patent Applications No.

US2008189974 and US2008189973, a laundry dryer is described wherein the front bearing is connected to the base unit after mounted to the front wall.

[0005] The aim of the present invention is the realization of a laundry dryer the production of which is provided to be facilitated.

[0006] The laundry dryer realized in order to attain the aim of the present

invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises at least one first connection member and at least one second connection member in matching configuration with one another, and when fastened to each other, which provide the base unit and the bulkhead to be secured to each other. The first connection member is on the resting surface disposed on the base unit whereon the bulkhead is seated. The second connection member is disposed on the bulkhead. The base unit and the bulkhead can be easily mounted to each other by means of inserting the connection members into one another. During production, by firstly forming a sturdy structure by mounting the base unit and the bulkhead to each other, the assembly of the other components on this structure is facilitated.

[0007] The slide shaped second connection member is inserted into the rail

shaped first connection member. The bulkhead, mounted on the base unit in the vertical direction, is held such that the connection members face each other and the second connection member is seated by being slid in between the first connection member. Thus, the bulkhead and the base unit are provided to be positioned on one another, the possible shifting that may occur during the assembly is prevented.

[0008] A protrusion is disposed at the front of the first connection member and a housing at the front of the second connection member that is seated on the protrusion when the bulkhead is mounted to the base unit. When the protrusion is seated into the housing, the holes on the protrusion and the housing overlap with each other and the bulkhead is provided to be secured on the base unit by means of a fixing means such as a screw etc.

[0009] In another embodiment of the present invention, the laundry dryer

comprises an almost L shaped extension that extends from the rear surface of the bulkhead towards over the base unit and a support that is disposed on the base unit. The assembly of the bulkhead to the base unit is reinforced by the recess on the extension being seated on the support.

[0010] By means of the present invention, the assembly of the base unit and the bulkhead to each other is realized easily and the labor cost during production is decreased.

[001 1] The laundry dryer realized in order to attain the aim of the present

invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

[0012] Figure 1 - is the exploded view of the front wall, bulkhead and base unit in the state of the art.

[0013] Figure 2 - is the partial perspective view of a laundry dryer. [0014] Figure 3 - is the perspective view of a bulkhead and a base unit.

[0015] Figure 4 - is the perspective view of a bulkhead and a base unit before being secured to each other.

[0016] Figure 5 - is the perspective view of a bulkhead and a base unit before being secured to each other from another angle.

[0017] Figure 6 - is the partial perspective view of the first connection member and the base unit.

[0018] Figure 7 - is the partial perspective view of the second connection

member and the bulkhead.

[0019] Figure 8 - is the cross sectional view of the first connection member and the second connection member.

[0020] Figure 9 - is another cross sectional view of the first connection member and the second connection member.

[0021] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Laundry dryer

2. Drum

3. Loading port

4. Bulkhead

5. Base unit

6. First connection member

7. Second connection member

8. Protrusion

9. Housing

10. 1 10. Hole

1 1. Resting surface

12. Recess

13. Extension

14. Support

[0022] The laundry dryer (1) comprises a drum (2) wherein the laundry desired to be dried are placed, that is rotated around the horizontal axis thereof, a loading port (3) disposed at the front side of the drum (2), providing the laundry to be loaded, a bulkhead (4) surrounding the loading port (3) and providing the drum (2) to be borne from the front side and a base unit (5) produced from plastic in single piece, installed under the drum (2), supporting the motor, the fan, the condenser and the other components required for the drying process.

[0023] The laundry dryer (1) of the present invention furthermore comprises a resting surface (1 1) disposed on the base unit (5), whereon the bulkhead (4) is placed, at least one first connection member (6) disposed on the resting surface (1 1) and at least one second connection member (7) disposed on the bulkhead (4), matching in configuration to the first connection member (6), and when installed to the first connection member (6) providing the base unit (5) and the bulkhead (4) to be secured to each other. Accordingly, the assembly of the base unit (5) and the bulkhead (4) to each other is realized. A sturdy structure is formed by mounting the base unit (5) and the bulkhead (4) to each other. Thus, the assembly of the other components to be mounted on this structure in the production line is facilitated. Accordingly, labor cost is decreased and cost advantage is provided.

[0024] The first connection member (6) is rail shaped and the slide shaped

second connection member (7) is seated into the first connection member (6) by being slid during the movement made from the top downwards while the bulkhead (4) is placed on the base unit (5). The bulkhead (4) is prevented from moving in the horizontal plane by inserting the second connection member (7) into the first connection member (6). When the second connection member (7) is seated into the first connection member

(6) , the base of the bulkhead (4) is seated on the resting surface (1 1 ). The first connection member (6) and the second connection member (7) together provide the bulkhead (4) to be guided on the base unit (5).

Moreover, the base unit (5) and the bulkhead (4) are provided to remain together rigidly by means of the intertwining structure of the first connection member (6) and the second connection member (7).

[0025] In an embodiment of the present invention, the cross section of the second connection member (7) is almost "T" shaped and the first connection member (6) at least partially surrounds the second connection member

(7) . Consequently, the bulkhead (4) is provided to be positioned on the base unit (5) easily and accurately.

[0026] The laundry dryer (1) comprises a protrusion (8) disposed in front of the first connection member (6) having at least one hole (10) thereon and a housing (9) disposed in front of the second connection member (7) having at least one hole (1 10) thereon, that is seated on the protrusion (8). When the second connection member (7) is inserted into the first connection member (6), the housing (9) is seated on the protrusion (8). The housing (9) and the protrusion (8) together prevent the bulkhead (4) from moving in the vertical plane. When the protrusion (8) is seated in the housing (9), the holes (10, 1 10) overlap over one another and the bulkhead (4) is provided to be secured on the base unit (5) by means of a fixing means such as screw etc.

[0027] In another embodiment of the present invention, the laundry dryer (1) comprises an extension (13) that extends from the rear surface of the bulkhead (4) towards over the base unit (5), having a recess (12) disposed thereon and a support (14) disposed on the base unit (5) whereon the recess (12) is seated. The extension (13) is positioned so as to be close to the lower end of the bulkhead (4) surface facing the drum (2). While some portion of the "L" shaped extension (13) extends parallel to the vertical plane of the bulkhead (4), some portion thereof extends parallel to the horizontal plane of the base unit (5). The recess (12) is disposed on the portion of the extension (13) extending over the base unit (5). The assembly of the bulkhead (4) to the base unit (5) is reinforced by seating the recess (12) on the support (14).

[0028] In a version of this embodiment, two screw holes are arranged one each on the surfaces of the recess (12) and the support (14) that overlap when the recess (12) is seated on the support (14).

[0029] By means of the present invention, the base unit (5) is provided to be

mounted easily on the bulkhead (4). Consequently, while labor cost is decreased on the one hand, the speed of production is increased on the other hand.

[0030] It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited by the

embodiments disclosed above and a person skilled in the art can easily introduce different embodiments. These should be considered within the scope of the protection postulated by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A laundry dryer (1 ) that comprises

- a drum (2) wherein the laundry desired to be dried are placed, that is rotated around the horizontal axis thereof,

- a loading port (3) disposed at the front side of the drum (2) providing the laundry to be loaded,

- a bulkhead (4) surrounding the loading port (3) and providing the drum (2) to be borne from the front side and

- a base unit (5) produced from plastic in single piece, installed under the drum (2) that supports the motor, the fan, the condenser and the other components required for the drying process,

characterized by

- a resting surface (1 1 ) disposed on the base unit (5), whereon the bulkhead (4) is placed,

- at least one first connection member (6) disposed on the resting surface (1 1 ) and

- at least one second connection member (7) disposed on the bulkhead (4), matching in configuration with the first connection member (6), and when installed to the first connection member (6) providing the base unit (5) and the bulkhead (4) to be secured to each other.

2. A laundry dryer (1 ) as in Claim 1 , characterized by the rail shaped first

connection member (6) and the slide shaped second connection member (7) that is seated into the first connection member (6) by being slid during the movement made from the top downwards while the bulkhead (4) is placed on the base unit (5).

3. A laundry dryer (1 ) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by the second connection member (7) with almost "T" shaped cross section and the first connection member (6) that at least partially surrounds the second connection member (7).

4. A laundry dryer (1 ) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by a protrusion (8) disposed in front of the first connection member (6) having at least one hole (10) thereon and a housing (9) disposed in front of the second connection member (7) having at least one hole (1 10) thereon, that is seated on the protrusion (8).

5. A laundry dryer (1 ) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by an extension (13) that extends from the rear surface of the bulkhead (4) towards over the base unit (5), having a recess (12) disposed thereon and a support (14) disposed on the base unit (5) whereon the recess (12) is seated.