Heat Pump Laundry Dryer

Abstract

A heat pump laundry dryer has a casing ( 1 ) accommodating therein a heat pump system having a refrigerant fluid evaporating unit and a refrigerant fluid condensing unit for carrying out a drying treatment on laundry. The dryer further includes a basement ( 8 ) having a condensate draining path ( 21 ) for conveying moisture condensed from a drying air flow towards a reservoir ( 24 ). The condensing unit lays over a basement surface ( 14 ) which is provided with a condensate guide ( 26 ) for driving water condensed onto the condensing unit to the condensate draining path ( 21 ).

1 . A laundry dryer comprising a casing accommodating therein a heat pump system having a refrigerant fluid evaporating unit and a refrigerant fluid condensing unit for carrying out a drying treatment on laundry, said dryer further comprising a basement having a condensate draining path for conveying moisture condensed from a drying air flow towards a reservoir, wherein said condensing unit lays over a basement surface which is provided with a condensate guide for driving water condensed onto the condensing unit to the condensate draining path. 
     
     
         2 . A laundry dryer according to  claim 1  wherein said basement surface comprises a first portion supporting the condensing unit and a second portion, outside of said first portion, the condensate draining path being formed in said second portion. 
     
     
         3 . A laundry dryer according to  claim 1  wherein said first portion is placed on a level that is higher than levels on which condensate path extends, with respect to a common reference surface. 
     
     
         4 . A laundry dryer according to  claim 1  wherein said first and second portions form an angle therebetween and said second portion being sloped towards a first cabinet rear wall which is opposite to a second cabinet front wall on which a laundry loading opening is formed. 
     
     
         5 . A laundry dryer according to  claim 1  wherein the condensate guide comprises one or more sloping walls integrally formed with the basement and sloping towards the condensate draining path. 
     
     
         6 . A laundry dryer according to  claim 5  wherein the condensate guide comprises a plurality of conveyors configured and arranged for directing condensate towards said one or more sloping walls. 
     
     
         7 . A laundry dryer according to  claim 1  wherein the condensate draining path integrally formed with the basement. 
     
     
         8 . A laundry dryer according to  claim 1  wherein said condensate draining path comprises at least one condensate retaining region thereby forming a liquid trap for preventing drying air dispersing along the path from entering the reservoir. 
     
     
         9 . A laundry dryer according to  claim 8  wherein said at least one condensate retaining region comprises a filter. 
     
     
         10 . A laundry dryer according to  claim 8  wherein said at least one condensate retaining region comprises a siphon-shaped surface. 
     
     
         11 . A laundry dryer according to  claim 8  wherein a said condensate retaining region is placed in proximity of the basement surface between the reservoir and a basement surface portion which is outside of a portion supporting the condensing unit. 
     
     
         12 . A laundry dryer according to  claim 1  wherein the reservoir is arranged in proximity of a first cabinet rear wall which is opposite to a second cabinet front wall on which a laundry loading opening is formed. 
     
     
         13 . A laundry dryer according to  claim 1  wherein said evaporating unit lays over a further basement surface which is provided with a further condensate guide for driving water condensed onto the evaporating unit to the condensate draining path. 
     
     
         14 . A laundry dryer according to  claim 1  wherein the condensate draining path extends on an edge region of the basement from a region where drying air exiting a laundry container changes its flow direction from a substantially vertical plane to a substantially horizontal plane before entering a drying air moisture removing unit, towards said reservoir. 
     
     
         15 . A laundry dryer according to  claim 1  wherein the reservoir is in fluid communication with a main container placed on a top region of the cabinet, a pumping device being provided for transferring condensate from the reservoir to the main container. 
     
     
         16 . A laundry dryer according to  claim 2  wherein said first portion is placed on a level that is higher than levels on which condensate path extends, with respect to a common reference surface. 
     
     
         17 . A laundry dryer according to  claim 2  wherein said first and second portions form an angle therebetween and said second portion being sloped towards a first cabinet rear wall which is opposite to a second cabinet front wall on which a laundry loading opening is formed. 
     
     
         18 . A laundry dryer according to  claim 3  wherein said first and second portions form an angle therebetween and said second portion being sloped towards a first cabinet rear wall which is opposite to a second cabinet front wall on which a laundry loading opening is formed. 
     
     
         19 . A laundry dryer according to  claim 2  wherein the condensate guide comprises one or more sloping walls integrally formed with the basement and sloping towards the condensate draining path. 
     
     
         20 . A laundry dryer according to  claim 3  wherein the condensate guide comprises one or more sloping walls integrally formed with the basement and sloping towards the condensate draining path.