Front Assembly for a Tumble Dryer

• US 20080163510A1
• Filed: 01/26/2006
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerã¤Te GmbH (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Inventors: Loffler, Holger, Dittmar, Lothar
• Granted Patent: US 7,946,054 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 34/108
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/12 Casings; Tubs
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/04 Details controlling or regulating devices D06F34/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5106 External catch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/515 Sliding sash
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7723 Cylinder rings

Abstract

An assembly which is a composite including an end shield and a front wall. The size and shape of the end shield are adapted to the inner face of the front wall. Both parts are dimensioned and formed in such a way that they can be interconnected in a fixed manner to form a stable composite resembling a sandwich assembly. The joint surfaces between the front wall and the end shield lie on perpendicular planes and extend for some distance. The construction and connection of the individual parts and of the composite give the front region of the tumble dryer a high degree of rigidity, which obviates the need for additional reinforcement measures. The assembly thus saves material and mounting costs and resources.

Claims

1-9. -9. (canceled)

10. A front assembly for a clothes dryer comprising

an electrically-driven drum being rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis for accommodating items to be dried an end shield for front-side support of the drum;

a floor-side base module for accommodating a drive motor and functional parts for conveying and guiding air flows;

a machine front wall with loading opening for loading items to be dried into the drum and removing them from it; and

wherein the front side of the end shield is adapted as regards its shape and size to the inner surface of the front wall and that the end shield and the front wall are permanently connected to each other such that they form a composite resembling a sandwich assembly.

11. The front assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein the end shield and the front wall are screwed to each other and the screw points are distributed over all inner and outer edge areas.

12. The front assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein the end shield is a plastic part.

13. The front assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein the composite comprising front wall and end shield has at least a one perpendicular joint surface to the base module, which extends over substantially the entire width of the tumble dryer.

14. The front assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein the composite comprising front wall and end shield is connected to the base module such that the two parts form a stable L-shaped body.

15. The front assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein the composite is latched to the base module.

16. The front assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein the composite is screwed to the base module.

17. The front assembly as claimed in claim 16, wherein the screws are inserted in a horizontal direction through the front wall and the end shield to engage the base module.

18. The front assembly as claimed in claim 15, wherein the joint surface of the base module facing the composite is made of plastic and that the composite is welded to the base module.

19. The front assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein the clothes dryer includes a condensation dryer.