Device for cleaning a component, particularly of a vaporizer of a condenser device and a washer or washer/dryer comprising such a device

• US 10,145,056 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2008
• Issued: 12/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Inventors: Grunert, Klaus
• Primary Examiner(s): Cormier, David G
• Application Number:
  US12/532,203
• Publication Number:
  US 20100101606A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,926 Days
• Field of Search: 68 192, 68 20, 34595, 34596, 34604
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/22 Lint collecting arrangements

Abstract

A rinsing container is provided for use in a process air circuit of a washer or washer/dryer and receives condensation water from a condensation water tank that collects condensation water acquired in the process air circuit from the drying of wet laundry. The rinsing container is provided above the condenser and dispenses a gush of water to a selected component via the sudden opening of the rinsing container on its outlet side.

Claims

1. A washer/dryer or tumble dryer device comprising:

a process air circuit configured to circulate air in a first circulation direction to dry wet laundry;

an assembly for drying wet laundry, the assembly forming a portion of the process air circuit;

a component arranged within the process air circuit, the component having an inlet area and an outlet area oriented relative to the first circulation direction;

a water tank configured to collect water; and

a cleaning device for cleaning the component, the cleaning device including;

a rinsing container configured to receive the water from the water tank and a bottom of said rinsing container comprising an outlet;

a closure plate covering the outlet in a closed position; and

a downpipe located above the component and below the rinsing container, the downpipe comprising a nozzle,

wherein the outlet is fluidly joined with the downpipe by opening the closure plate,

wherein the rinsing container is configured to dispense the water contained in the rinsing container through the downpipe onto the component by opening the closure plate at a flow rate sufficient to clean accumulated contaminants off of the component,

wherein the flow rate is between 75 liters per minute and 150 liters per minute, and

wherein the nozzle and the downpipe are fixed at a predetermined distance relative to the component such that the water is dispensed onto only the component at a predefined distance from the inlet area, or the nozzle and the downpipe are movable relative to the component such that all of the water is dispensed onto the component from the inlet area to the outlet area.

2. The washer/dryer or tumble dryer device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the nozzle has a cross-sectional area less than a cross-sectional area of the outlet of the rinsing container.

3. The washer/dryer or tumble dryer device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a condenser arranged within the process air circuit, and

wherein the component comprises an evaporator.

4. The washer/dryer or tumble dryer device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the evaporator has a plurality of fins, each of the fins having a length in a first horizontal direction, a height in a vertical direction, and a thickness in a second horizontal direction, the thickness being smaller than the height and smaller than the length, and

wherein the downpipe is configured to guide the water over the fins in the vertical direction and into the water tank.

5. The washer/dryer or tumble dryer device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rinsing container is configured to contain about 2.5 liters of water, and

wherein the rinsing container is configured to dispense about 2.5 liters of the water contained in the rinsing container from the downpipe and onto the component.

6. The washer/dryer or tumble dryer device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rinsing container is configured to dispense the water contained in the rinsing container from the downpipe and onto the component within a duration of about 2 seconds or less.

7. The washer/dryer or tumble dryer device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the flow rate is substantially constant during the duration.

8. The washer/dryer or tumble dryer device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a support part extending from the closure plate, the support part extending through an opening in the bottom of said rinsing container in the closed position, and the opening being sealed.

9. The washer/dryer or tumble dryer device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the cleaning device further comprises a bistable spring configured to actuate the support part to open the closure plate.

10. The washer/dryer or tumble dryer device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the cleaning device further comprises an actuation device configured to actuate the bistable spring,

wherein the bistable spring comprises a long pivot part in contact with the support part and a short pivot part in contact with the actuation device.

11. The washer/dryer or tumble dryer device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the actuation device is configured to actuate the short pivot part of the bistable spring with a step function to open the outlet.