U.S. patent application number 11/920714 was filed with the patent office on 2009-07-02 for clothes dryer door.
This patent application is currently assigned to BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerate GmbH. Invention is credited to Ahmet Kocak, Andreas Lange.
Application Number | 20090165391 11/920714 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36370860 |
Filed Date | 2009-07-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090165391 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kocak; Ahmet ; et
al. |
July 2, 2009 |
Clothes dryer door
Abstract
The invention relates to a door for closing off a loading
opening of a clothes dryer includes a holding device surrounding
the edge of a non-opaque pane in a door frame, via a fixing element
and/or a part of the holding element arranged on the housing side.
A moisture escape-preventing elastic sealing element is mounted in
the non-opaque pane area. In order to prevent fluff accumulation in
the connection points between the frame and the non-opaque pane,
the inventive sealing element is molded to the part of the holding
element placed on the housing side and fits the shape of the
internal surface of the non-opaque pane with the aid of a
lip-shaped ring.
Inventors: |
Kocak; Ahmet; (Berlin,
DE) ; Lange; Andreas; (Bad Salzuflen, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BSH HOME APPLIANCES CORPORATION;INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DEPARTMENT
100 BOSCH BOULEVARD
NEW BERN
NC
28562
US
|
Assignee: |
BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerate
GmbH
Munchen
DE
|
Family ID: |
36370860 |
Appl. No.: |
11/920714 |
Filed: |
February 23, 2006 |
PCT Filed: |
February 23, 2006 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2006/060227 |
371 Date: |
November 16, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
49/480.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 58/04 20130101;
D06F 39/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
49/480.1 |
International
Class: |
D06F 58/20 20060101
D06F058/20 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 20, 2005 |
DE |
10 2005 023 445.3 |
Claims
1-6. (canceled)
7. A door for a tumble dryer, the door comprising: a.) a non-opaque
pane; b.) a door frame, the door frame being movable between a
closed position in which the door closes off a loading opening of a
tumble dryer that is formed in a housing of the tumble dryer and
that delimits a substantially vertical plane and an open position
in which access can be had through the loading opening to an
interior volume of the tumble dryer; c.) a holding device for
engaging an edge portion of the non-opaque pane to thereby aid in
retaining the non-opaque pane at a predetermined location on the
door frame in which the non-opaque pane is centered on a pane axis
extending perpendicularly to the substantially vertical plane
delimited by the loading opening of the tumble dryer; and d.) a
sealing element, the sealing element being formed of elastic
material and performing a sealing function generally at the
location at which the holding device and the non-opaque pane are in
engagement with one another to resist thereat the outward passage
of humid air from an interior volume of the tumble dryer, the
sealing element having a radially outward section and a lip ring
that is radially inwardly of the radially outward section of the
sealing element as viewed relative to the pane axis and that
substantially conforms to contours of certain portions of the
non-opaque pane with which the lip ring is in sealing contact.
8. The door as claimed in claim 7, wherein the door frame has
exterior portions that face away from the housing of the tumble
dryer in the closed position of the door frame and the holding
device has a housing-facing portion that faces the housing of the
tumble dryer in the closed position of the door frame and the
radially outward section of the sealing element is compressively
engaged between the housing-facing portion of the holding device
and the edge portion of the non-opaque pane.
9. The door as claimed in claim 7, wherein the radially innermost
portion of the lip ring is defined by an annular edge formed at the
intersection of two surfaces of the lip ring that are at an acute
angle to each other such that a radial cross-section of the annular
edge of the lip ring of the sealing element resembles an
acute-angled triangle,
10. The door as claimed in claim 7, wherein the sealing element is
integrally connected to the housing-facing portion of the holding
device.
11. The door as claimed in claim 9, wherein the radially outward
section of the sealing element includes an annular step portion
that abuts a radially inward surface of the housing-facing portion
of the holding device.
12. The door as claimed in claim 11, wherein the sealing element is
formed via spraying of elastic material onto the housing-facing
portion of the holding device.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a door for a tumble dryer, for
closing a loading opening which is arranged at least approximately
vertically in a housing, including a holding device which grips the
edge of a glass pane in a door frame, preferably by means of a
mounting and/or a housing-side part of the holding device, and a
seal of elastic material for preventing the escape of humidity in
the region of the holding device of the glass pane.
[0002] DE-GM 78 34 776 discloses a door for a washing machine, said
door being pivotably linked on one side, wherein the glass pane
which bulges in the form of a pot is held in a circular plastic
frame by means of a pressure fit. The groove-type connection point
between the plastic frame and the installed glass pane is sealed by
means of a circular rubber seal which is located in the groove of
the plastic frame and into which the glass pane is pressed.
[0003] The hermeticity of this clamped joint is essentially
dependent on the dimensional accuracy of the assembled components.
Compliance with the small tolerances required for this purpose can
only be achieved at considerable cost, in particular with regard to
the manufacture of the glass pane.
[0004] In commonly marketed drying machines, the glass pane is
mechanically fixed in a variety of embodiments by means of a
holding device which forms the inside of the door frame. The
holding ring or pressure ring is fitted into the externally visible
mounting ring of the door and is screwed onto this as an assembly.
In this case, the pot-like glass pane is positioned between the
outer mounting ring and the holding ring. The seal which prevents
an escape of humidity is installed between the holding ring and the
offset edge ridge of the glass pane; the screw connection of the
holding ring with the external frame part (the mounting ring)
effects the required press fit of the glass pane.
[0005] In the case of the described door, manufacturing-dependent
deviations from tolerance in terms of the thickness of the glass
pane and its roundness are admittedly compensated by realizing the
pressure that must be applied on the seal, in order to ensure the
hermeticity of the connection, by means of the screw connection of
holding device and mounting ring. However, definitive dimensional
accuracy of the assembled door frame is not satisfied in this
manner.
[0006] The known solution also has the disadvantage that, between
the inner edge region of the holding ring and the edge ridge of the
glass pane which is shaped inwards in the form of a pot, a niche is
formed in which fluff can accumulate over the course of time during
operation of the drying machine. The fluff accumulation at the edge
of the glass pane is clearly visible externally, thereby
considerably compromising the appearance of the transparent loading
opening for the observer. The visual impression is also worsened
because the fluff accumulation reveals the otherwise unnoticeable
manufacturing tolerances of the glass pane, since the volume of the
fluff accumulation is dependent on the width and depth of the niche
which is formed between the glass pane and the holding ring, and
irregularities in the accumulated fluff layer are particularly
noticeable to the human eye at the side edges. However, because
glass panes have not been used often previously in doors for
tumble-dryers, it follows that the described problem has only been
rarely visible.
[0007] The invention addresses the problem of designing the door of
a front-loading tumble-dryer such that the accumulation of fluff in
the region of the pressurized sealing of the pot-like glass pane is
avoided, while all requirements in terms of the air seal and
humidity seal are nonetheless satisfied.
[0008] According to the invention, this problem is solved by the
seal being molded onto the housing-side part of the holding device
and adapting to the contours of the inner surface of the glass pane
by virtue of a lip-type ring (claim 1). As a result of the seal
extending towards the center of the glass pane by means of a
lip-type ring and adapting to the contour of the glass by virtue of
its lip, the fluff is given no adhesion allowing it to settle in a
region--as it does e.g. in tumble-dryers in the prior art--where it
is undisturbed by washing passing over it.
[0009] In an embodiment of the invention, the seal features a ring
section which is clamped between the housing-side part of the
holding device and the edge of the glass pane in an axial direction
of the door (claim 2). It is thus possible to effect an improvement
of the seal between internal space and surroundings, going beyond
the sealing action of the lip-type ring as presented above.
[0010] In a further embodiment of the invention, provision is made
for the lip-type ring to feature a cross section which is shaped
like an acute-angled triangle and, in its acute-angled region,
adapts to the contours of the glass pane (claim 3). The tapering of
the material thickness in the acute-angled region of the seal ring
has the effect that the seal fits closely against the pot-like pane
with ease, without any new niches occurring or steps being formed
at the outer end where fluff could again accumulate. As a result of
using the seal which is designed thus, the intermediate space
between the pot-like glass pane and the holding device is
completely filled without forming a step at the transition points
to the compression ring and the glass pane. Consequently, the
accumulation of fluff in the edge region of the glass pane can be
permanently avoided, and therefore the glass pane remains clean
even in the case of long-term operation of the drying machine
(subsequently designated simply as "tumble-dryer"), and the visual
impression of someone seeing the loading opening from the front is
not negatively affected. The original function of the inventive
seal as a sealing element and as means for tolerance compensation
is in no way restricted in comparison with the described known
seals.
[0011] In a further advantageous development of the invention, the
seal is integrally connected to the housing-side part (claim 4). In
this case, the outer periphery of the ring section features a
circular step which abuts the inside of the housing-side part
(claim 5). As a result, it is possible both to create a
transition-free connection and to reduce the number of individual
parts which must be provided in the assembly, in particular if the
seal is sprayed onto the housing-side part (claim 6). Manual
insertion and positioning of the seal does not apply when
assembling the door.
[0012] The invention is explained below with reference to the
exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawing, in which:
[0013] FIG. 1 shows a frontal view of a tumble-dryer with a door
before loading,
[0014] FIG. 2 shows a cross section through the holding device
region for the glass pane along the intersection line II-II in FIG.
1,
[0015] FIG. 3 shows the housing-side part of the door frame
together with the seal in the section as per FIG. 2, and
[0016] FIG. 4 shows a cross section through the holding device
region of the glass pane in a further exemplary embodiment along
the intersection line IV-IV in FIG. 1.
[0017] A loading opening (not shown) which is closed by a door 3 is
located on the front side 2 of the housing 1 of a tumble-dryer as
per FIG. 1. For the purpose of opening, the door can be pivoted
about a hinge 5 by means of a handle 4. In order to clarify the
structure of the door frame 6, it is intersected on the upper side.
In the case of the reference sign II-II the intersection line
represents the structure illustrated in FIG. 2, and in the case of
the reference sign IV-IV the intersection line represents the
structure illustrated in FIG. 4.
[0018] In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 2, the door 3
of the tumble-dryer consists of a frame 6 into which is fitted a
glass pane 7 that bulges inwards in the form of a pot towards the
internal space of the tumble-dryer. The glass pane 7 can be
manufactured from a transparent plastic or from silicate glass. The
frame 6 of the door consists of two parts 8 and 9. The decorative
ring 8 is the externally visible part of the door frame 6 and is
configured according to current aesthetic demands (not indicated in
the diagram). A housing-side part 9 which is connected, e.g.
screwed, to the decorative ring 8 forms the inner part of the door
frame 6.
[0019] In order to increase the sturdiness of the door frame 6, the
housing-side part 9 and the decorative ring 8 are strengthened by
means of molded ribs 10, 11 and ridges. These make the assembled
frame 6 highly bend-resistant and warp-resistant. The external
dimensions of the frame parts 8, 9 and the molded strengthening
ribs 10, 11 in the housing-side part 9 and in the decorative ring 8
complement each other such that the assembly of the frame parts 8,
9 is facilitated and the assembled parts 8, 9 engage with each
other in a custom fit.
[0020] On the inside, the assembled parts of the frame 6 form a
circumferential reception space for the edge ridge 12 of the glass
pane 7 which bulges in the form of a pot. The reception space is
dimensioned such that sufficient play is present to reliably
compensate for manufacturing-dependent deviations from tolerance of
the glass pane 7 in terms of its thickness roundness.
[0021] A seal 13 preventing the escape of humidity is arranged
between the housing-side part 9 and the edge ridge 12 of the glass
pane 7. The seal according to the invention is sprayed onto the
housing-side part 9 in this embodiment. The technologies for
spraying elastic seals are known and will not be further explained
at this point.
[0022] In accordance with known sealing elements, the inventive
seal 13 features two circumferential unbroken bead-form sealing
ribs 14 on its side which is oriented towards the edge ridge 12,
wherein said sealing ribs 14 fit closely against the edge ridge 12
of the glass pane 7 under pressure in the assembled door frame 6.
The escape of humidity from the internal space of the tumble-dryer
into the installation space of the machine is reliably prevented by
the bead-form sealing ribs 14. The pressure which must be applied
for this purpose between the housing-side part 9 and the edge ridge
12 of the glass pane 7 can be generated by screws (not shown) that
connect the decorative ring 8 to the housing-side part 9.
[0023] Other connection techniques can also be used. For example,
the two individual plastic parts 8, 9 which form the door frame 6
can be connected in a positive manner by virtue of the snap-in
elements which are molded in the parts. The screw connection has
proven advantageous, however, in particular in order to compensate
for thickness tolerances of the edge ridge 12 of the glass pane
7.
[0024] The sprayed-on lip-type ring 15 grips the inside 17 of the
housing-side part 9 by means of a step 16, and has a flush
connection to the inside 17 of said housing-side part 9, such that
no projecting step is formed at this point. As shown in FIG. 3,
that part of the seal which extends inwards approximately
horizontally beyond the edge of the housing-side part 9 tails off
in an acute angle as a lip-type ring 15. By virtue of its
elasticity of material and shape, this acute-angled region 18 of
the seal 13 fits tightly against the outer wall of the glass pane 7
when this is assembled. The acute-angled region 18 of the seal 13
prevents the formation of a step, in whose groove-like cavity fluff
could settle in such a way that it cannot be reached, at the
placement position.
[0025] The seal 13 closes the space between the transparent glass
pane 7 and the housing-side part 9 and produces a smooth transition
between both components. Since the seal 13 does not leave any edges
or steps open, in particular at the points of vibration, any
long-term accumulation of fluff is impossible. Fluff which arrives
in this region with the dry air glides off the glass pane 7 and the
seal 13 and is transported with the dry air stream to a fluff
filter which is not shown in the drawing. The visual impression of
the glass pane at its edge region always remains equally pleasant
during continuous operation of the tumble-dryer.
[0026] In the case of a door as per FIG. 4, provision is made for a
protective pane 19, this being held together with the outer part
(decorative ring 8) of the frame 6, in order to further improve the
appearance and protect against contact with the pot-like glass pane
7 which can reach temperatures of 90.degree. C. during operation of
the tumble-dryer. For this, the decorative ring 8 is provided at
its inner edge with a slightly projecting rib 20 and, by means of a
ridge 21, supports itself on a spacer ring 22 which maintains a
distance between the decorative ring 8 on one side and the
housing-side part 9 of the frame 6 and the edge ridge 12 of the
glass pane 7 on the other side. A slightly offset edge of the
protective pane 19 is positioned in the intermediate space between
spacer ring 22 and rib 20. In this case, the decorative ring 8 is
held onto a rear section of the housing-side part 9 of the frame 6
by means of a snap-in rib 23.
REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0027] 1 Housing [0028] 2 Front side [0029] 3 Door [0030] 4 Handle
[0031] 5 Hinge [0032] 6 Frame [0033] 7 Glass pane [0034] 8
Decorative ring [0035] 9 Housing-side part (of the frame 6) [0036]
10 Ribs (of the decorative ring 8) [0037] 11 Ribs (of the
housing-side part 9) [0038] 12 Edge ridge [0039] 13 Seal [0040] 14
Seal ribs [0041] 15 Lip-type ring [0042] 16 Step of the seal [0043]
17 Inside (of the housing-side part) [0044] 18 Acute-angled region
[0045] 19 Protective pane [0046] 20 Rib (of the decorative ring)
[0047] 21 Ridge (of the decorative ring) [0048] 22 Spacer ring
[0049] 23 Snap-in rib [0050] 24 Ring section
* * * * *