METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CLEANING A COMPONENT, PARTICULARY OF A VAPORIZER OF A CONDENSER DEVICE AND A WASHER OR WASHER/DRYER COMPRISING SUCH A DEVICE

• US 20100101606A1
• Filed: 03/05/2008
• Published: 04/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerã¤Te GmbH (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Inventors: Grunert, Klaus
• Granted Patent: US 10,145,056 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/11
• 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

1-15. -15. (canceled)

16. A method for cleaning a component arranged within a process air circuit of a washer/dryer or tumble dryer, especially a component in the form of an evaporator of a condenser device, the method comprising:

directing to a rinsing container condensation water that has been acquired in a process air circuit of a washer/dryer or tumble dryer via the drying of wet laundry in the washer/dryer or tumble dryer, the rinsing container being disposed at a higher elevation than a component of the washer/dryer or tumble dryer to be cleaned, especially a component in the form of an evaporator of a condenser device of the washer/dryer or tumble dryer, and the condensation water being directed to the rinsing container from a condensation water tank;

releasing water from an outlet side of the rinsing container in a manner that causes the released water to exit the rinsing container in a gush; and

guiding the gush of water released from the rinsing container onto the component to be cleaned, especially onto a component to be cleaned in the form of an evaporator of a condenser device of the washer/dryer or tumble dryer.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the gush of water to be dispensed onto the component is substantially largely equalized in its dispensed volume between the beginning and the end of the dispensing.

18. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein guiding the gush of water released from the rinsing container onto the component to be cleaned includes guiding the gush of water released from the rinsing container onto a component in the form of an evaporator of a condenser device of the washer/dryer or tumble dryer and the gush of water is guided onto an evaporator area located preferably only at a defined distance from an inlet area of process air into the evaporator.

19. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein guiding the gush of water released from the rinsing container onto the component to be cleaned includes guiding the gush of water released from the rinsing container onto a component in the form of an evaporator of a condenser device of the washer/dryer or tumble dryer and the gush of water is released from the rinsing container onto the evaporator via diversion of water mechanically or electromagnetically along a zone ranging from a starting area provided at a defined distance from an inlet area of process air into the evaporator to an end area lying at a distance from the starting area as viewed in the direction of an outlet area of process air from the evaporator.

20. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein directing to a rinsing container condensation water that has been acquired in a process air circuit of a washer/dryer or tumble dryer includes pumping condensation water via a pump out of a condensation water tank into the rinsing container.

21. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein releasing water from an outlet side of the rinsing container includes opening an outlet side of the rinsing container in a sudden manner via actuation of a bistable rinsing container closure.

22. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the actuation of the rinsing container closure is effected thermally or electromagnetically.

23. A device for cleaning a component arranged within a process air circuit of a washer/dryer or tumble dryer, especially a component in the form of an evaporator of a condenser device, the device comprising:

a rinsing container, the rinsing container being operable to receive, from a condensation water tank, condensation water that has been acquired in a process air circuit of the washer/dryer or tumble dryer via the drying of wet laundry in the washer/dryer or tumble dryer, the rinsing container being disposed at a higher elevation than a component of the washer/dryer or tumble dryer to be cleaned, especially a component in the form of an evaporator of a condenser device of the washer/dryer or tumble dryer, and the rinsing container having an outlet side and a closure component for selectively opening and closing the outlet side, the closure component being operable to release water from the outlet side of the rinsing container in a manner that causes the released water to exit the rinsing container in a gush; and

an element for guiding a gush of water released from the rinsing container onto the component to be cleaned, especially onto a component to be cleaned in the form of an evaporator of a condenser device of the washer/dryer or tumble dryer.

24. The device as claimed in claim 23, wherein the element for guiding a gush of water released from the rinsing container is in the form of a downpipe having an area that is narrower than the cross section of the outlet area of the rinsing container.

25. The device as claimed in claim 23, wherein the component to be cleaned, is in the form of an evaporator of a condenser device of the washer/dryer or tumble dryer and the element for guiding a gush of water released from the rinsing container includes a rinsing nozzle connected to the downpipe in a fixed position that guides the gush of water to an evaporator area preferably only located at an inlet area of process air into the evaporator.

26. The device as claimed in claim 25, wherein the element for guiding a gush of water released from the rinsing container is operable to guide the gush of water released from the rinsing container onto the evaporator via diversion of the water mechanically or electromagnetically along a zone ranging from a starting area provided at a defined distance from an inlet area of process air into the evaporator to an end area lying at a distance from the starting area as viewed in the direction of an outlet area of process air from the evaporator.

27. The device as claimed in claim 23, wherein the rinsing container is connected to the condensation water tank via a pump.

28. The device as claimed in claim 23 and further comprising a bistable spring arrangement and the closure component of the rinsing container is operably connected to the bistable spring arrangement such that the closure component is actuated by the bistable spring arrangement to open the outlet area of the rinsing container closed off by the closure component.

29. The device as claimed in claim 28 and further comprising a thermal or magnetic relay coupled to the bistable spring arrangement for the actuation of the bistable spring arrangement.

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

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

a condenser;

an evaporator;

a condensation water tank; and

a device for cleaning a component arranged within the process air circuit, the device including a rinsing container, the rinsing container being operable to receive, from a condensation water tank, condensation water that has been acquired in the process air circuit, the rinsing container being disposed at a higher elevation than the component of the washer/dryer or tumble dryer to be cleaned, especially a component in the form of an evaporator of a condenser device of the washer/dryer or tumble dryer, and the rinsing container having an outlet side and a closure component for selectively opening and closing the outlet side, the closure component being operable to release water from the outlet side of the rinsing container in a manner that causes the released water to exit the rinsing container in a gush, and an element for guiding a gush of water released from the rinsing container onto the component to be cleaned, especially onto a component to be cleaned in the form of an evaporator of a condenser device of the washer/dryer or tumble dryer.