Front load laundry washing machine with incorporated drying system

Abstract

Front load washing machine with incorporated drying system, with heat pump, still maintaining the advantage of performing the washing and drying within the size i.e. the standard overall size for the machines in question. Besides the washing system, the machine includes a drying system with a heat pump circuit adapted to condense the air extracted from the washing tub and subsequently reintroduced there into but heated by the heat pump circuit. The condensation and heating steps are actuated by special exchangers arranged centrally and above the washing tub and connected thereto through a series of mouthpieces or fittings, respectively for delivery and return, and front ventilator elements for the circulation of air and provided with an intermediate filter for collecting impurities. A collection tub diverts the condensate water towards the pump of the machine.

1 . Front load washing machine ( 1 ), serving as a laundry washer/dryer, of the type comprising a cabinet ( 2 ) for containing a washing tub ( 3 ) within which there is present, free to rotate through driving means ( 7 ), a laundry holder drum ( 4 ); of the type comprising, combined with the washing system, a heat pump drying system comprising:
 a. At least one rotary compressor ( 8 ), for the compression, with practically constant volume, of a gas which, once compressed, traverses   b. At least one heating group ( 10 ) in which the gas is at contact with the air drawn from the washing tub, transferring the stored air thereto, and, after lamination, the gas traverses   c. At least one condensation group ( 11 );   
       characterized in that said condensation and heating groups are arranged at the upper part with respect to the washing tub and connected to said washing tub through a series of mouthpieces and/or fittings respectively for delivery and return,
 d. At least one inspectionable filter ( 19 ) and integrated in the condensation/heating groups ( 10 ,  11 ) and before the condensation group; 
 e. Suctioning and re-introduction channels ( 14 ,  15 ) which connect said groups to corresponding openings on the drum ( 4 ), 
 f. One or more ventilator means ( 16 ) for the circulation of air from within the washing drum ( 4 ) to the condensation and heating groups and return; said ventilator means adapted to establish an air circulation which, from the basket, rises at the rear part, traverses both the rear cooling exchanger and the front heating exchanger, and then re-descend through the front channels, where it is re-introduced into the drum. 
 
     
     
         2 . Machine according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said condensation and heating groups ( 10 ,  11 ) are arranged centrally. 
     
     
         3 . Machine according to  claim 1 , characterized in that laterally with respect to said condensation and heating groups ( 10 ,  11 ) there are housed some upper counterweights ( 18 ) and shaped so as to be able to adapt to the new arrangement provided for. 
     
     
         4 . Machine according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said condensation and heating groups ( 10 ,  11 ) each comprise at least one heat exchanger, the first for cooling and condensing the moist air suctioned from the tub, the second for the heating the air thus condensed. 
     
     
         5 . Machine according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the channels for collecting the condensate water ( 17 ) are arranged below at least the condensation/evaporation group ( 10 ); a series of grooves divert the condensate water collecting it towards at least one discharge point where, due to gravity, the water drops in the lower part and it is then discharged by the pump of the laundry washing machine. 
     
     
         6 . Machine according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said rotary compressor comprises a motor inverter suitable to adapt the number of rotations of the compressor to the humidity present in the basket; said moisture being detected by a moisture detection electronic sensor. 
     
     
         7 . Machine according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said suctioning and re-introduction channels ( 14 ,  15 ) are connected to the internal of the drum through one or more respective connection openings or ports ( 12 ,  13 ) obtained in the washing tub. 
     
     
         8 . Machine according to  claim 1 , characterized in that several means for the circulation of air from inside the washing tub are arranged at the front. 
     
     
         9 . Machine according to  claim 1 , characterized in that it further comprises an at least partly tiltable upper plane so as to allow access to a detergent container, arranged on the area at the rear part of the top cover of the washer. 
     
     
         10 . Machine according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the condensation and heating groups comprise exchangers arranged in series with at least one filtering means present at the inlet of said exchangers for filtering the air suctioned from the tub and inspectionable from an opening of the top cover. 
     
     
         11 . Machine according to  claim 1 , characterized in that all components are arranged in a cabinet having standard size. 
     
     
         12 . Machine according to  claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises ducts ( 14 ,  15 ) which separate the airflow from and towards the basket; the flow is separated into two channels  14 , thus joined for passing in the exchangers, and thus once again separated in the two re-introduction channels  15 . 
     
     
         13 . Machine according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the filtering means ( 19 ) is in axis with said exchangers, it is arranged before the airflow—which rises at the rear part from the drum—is intercepted by the exchanger. 
     
     
         14 . Machine according to  claim 2 , characterized in that laterally with respect to said condensation and heating groups ( 10 ,  11 ) there are housed some upper counterweights ( 18 ) and shaped so as to be able to adapt to the new arrangement provided for.