Clothes treatment appliance with water container and downpipe

Abstract

A clothes treatment appliance includes a water container connected to a downpipe leading to a water-cleanable unit, in particular, a process air condenser, of the clothes treatment appliance. The clothes treatment appliance further includes a water accelerator.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A clothes treatment appliance, comprising:
 a water container connected to a downpipe leading to a process air condenser; and   a water accelerator.   
     
     
         2 . The clothes treatment appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the water accelerator comprises a pressure generator for generating pressure in the downpipe. 
     
     
         3 . The clothes treatment appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the pressure generator comprises an inlet for a pressurized medium. 
     
     
         4 . The clothes treatment appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the pressure generator comprises a compression chamber connected to the downpipe downstream from a valve that controls a water flow from the water container into the downpipe and wherein the compression chamber comprises a mechanical device that controllably changes a volume of the compression chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The clothes treatment appliance of  claim 4 , wherein the compression chamber is a section of the downpipe. 
     
     
         6 . The clothes treatment appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the pressure generator comprises a steam generator for generating steam as a pressurized medium, and wherein an outlet of the steam generator is connected to a downpipe downstream from a valve that controls a water flow from the water container into the downpipe. 
     
     
         7 . The clothes treatment appliance of  claim 1 , wherein an outlet of the downpipe is shaped as a Venturi nozzle that is connected to an inlet for a pressurized medium. 
     
     
         8 . The clothes treatment appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the water accelerator comprises an impeller within the downpipe. 
     
     
         9 . The clothes treatment appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the clothes treatment appliance is adapted to apply a water hammer effect on water in the downpipe. 
     
     
         10 . The clothes treatment appliance of  claim 9 , wherein the water hammer effect is achieved by modulating a pressure generated by a pressure generator. 
     
     
         11 . The clothes treatment appliance of  claim 9 , wherein the downpipe comprises a closing device downstream from the water accelerator for periodically opening and closing the downpipe. 
     
     
         12 . The clothes treatment appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the closing device comprises a rotating chopper. 
     
     
         13 . The clothes treatment appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the clothes treatment appliance is a clothes drying appliance. 
     
     
         14 . The clothes treatment appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the clothes treatment appliance is a household appliance.