Heat pump laundry dryer with noise attenuation structure

Abstract

The present invention relates to a laundry dryer (1) comprising a drum wherein the laundry to be dried is placed, a compressor (3) providing refrigerant cycle, an intake air fan assembly in communication with ambient air and blowing the same over the compressor (3) in order for limiting maximum operational temperature of said compressor (3). Said intake air fan assembly comprises a fan (5) and a fan cover (2) provided within a plastic frame (6) of the laundry dryer (1). The fan cover (2) functioning as an air exchange and noise attenuation structure in between outside environment and the fan (5).

Claims

1. A laundry dryer comprising: a drum wherein a load of laundry to be dried is placed; a compressor providing refrigerant cycle; and an intake air fan assembly in communication with ambient air, wherein the intake air fan assembly is configured to blow the ambient air over the compressor in order to limit maximum operational temperature of said compressor, said intake air fan assembly comprising: a fan; and a fan cover provided within plastic frame of said laundry dryer, wherein said fan cover defines a recess with a cylindrical lateral surface extending in parallel with a longitudinal axis of the fan, and wherein the cylindrical lateral surface is at least partially covered by an acoustic absorption means extending radially out from said cylindrical lateral surface.

2. A laundry dryer as in claim 1, wherein the acoustic absorption means is a felt material fixedly disposed on the lateral surface.

3. A laundry dryer as in claim 2, wherein the acoustic absorption means is held in place by at least one protrusion of the fan cover.

4. A laundry dryer as in claim 1, wherein a perforated plate member is affixed to outer edge of the lateral surface such that communication of the fan with ambient air is realized by means of the perforated plate member alone.

5. A laundry dryer as in claim 1, wherein the fan cover is securable to the plastic frame by way of its at least one mounting catch engaging with at least one catch slot of the plastic frame.

6. A laundry dryer as in claim 1, wherein the acoustic absorption means is disposed within the slot extending between the lateral surface and an outer surface parallel to said lateral surface, said outer surface defining outermost portion of said fan cover.

7. A laundry dryer as in claim 2, wherein a perforated plate member is affixed to outer edge of the lateral surface such that communication of the fan with ambient air is realized by means of the perforated plate member alone.

8. A laundry dryer as in claim 2, wherein the fan cover is securable to the plastic frame by way of its at least one mounting catch engaging with at least one catch slot of the plastic frame.

9. A laundry dryer as in claim 2, wherein the acoustic absorption means is disposed within the slot extending between the lateral surface and an outer surface parallel to said lateral surface, said outer surface defining outermost portion of said fan cover.

Description

(1) The drawings are not meant to delimit the scope of protection as identified in the claims nor should they be referred to alone in an effort to interpret the scope identified in said claims without recourse to the technical disclosure in the description of the present invention.

(2) FIG. 1 demonstrates a general perspective view of the laundry dryer according to the present invention.

(3) FIG. 2 demonstrates a perspective view of the plastic frame portion of the laundry dryer in which the heat pump components are placed according to the present invention.

(4) FIG. 3 demonstrates a perspective view of the fan cover according to the present invention.

(5) FIG. 4 demonstrates a perspective view of the fan cover without the perforated plate member according to the present invention.

(6) FIG. 5 demonstrates a perspective view of the fan cover in disassembled manner according to the present invention.

(7) FIG. 6 demonstrates a cross-sectional cut-away view of the fan cover along a vertical surface, i.e. a surface perpendicular to the base of the laundry dryer being in parallel with the longitudinal axis of the fan according to the present invention.

(8) The following numerals are used in this detailed description:

(9) Laundry dryer (1)

(10) Fan cover (2)

(11) Compressor (3)

(12) Acoustic absorption means (4)

(13) Fan (5)

(14) Plastic frame (6)

(15) Recess (7)

(16) Catch slot (8)

(17) Perforated plate member (9)

(18) Mounting catch (10)

(19) Lateral surface (11)

(20) Protrusion (12)

(21) The present invention relates to a laundry dryer (1) comprising a drum wherein the laundry to be dried is placed and a compressor (3) providing refrigerant cycle in a conventional manner. The compressor (3) typically moves the refrigerant fluid and heat sinks named as evaporator and condenser disposed in the heat pump respectively function as a condenser and a heater for processing air.

(22) According to the present invention, an intake air fan assembly is provided to cool down the compressor (3) whose operation is prone to temperature rise and which needs to be cooled down continuously in this respect. Said intake air fan assembly is typically in communication with ambient air and blows air over the compressor (3) in order for limiting maximum operational temperature thereof.

(23) Said intake air fan assembly comprises a fan (5) and a fan cover (2) provided within a plastic frame (6) portion of said laundry dryer (1). Said fan cover (2) defines a recess (7) with a cylindrical lateral surface (11) extending in parallel with the longitudinal axis of said fan (5). The lateral surface (11) is at least partially covered by an acoustic absorption means (4) extending radially out from said lateral surface (11). The acoustic absorption means (4) is functional in reducing noise generated by a plurality of noise sources such as the fan (5) itself, the compressor (3) due to its internal mechanics and the pressure of the refrigerant fluid and the motor rotating the drum.

(24) In an embodiment of the present invention, the acoustic absorption means (4) is a felt-based material fixedly disposed on the lateral surface (11) and is held in place by at least one protrusion (12) of the fan cover (2).

(25) In another embodiment of the present invention, a perforated plate member (9) is affixed to the outer edge of the lateral surface (11) such that communication of said fan (5) with ambient air is realized by means of the perforated plate member (9) alone. Use of said perforated plate member (9) is advantageous in that it ensures that air is passed over the compressor (3) in a more homogenous manner, i.e. without involving air vortexes that may cause noise performance issues in that region.

(26) In another embodiment of the present invention, the fan cover (2) is securable to the plastic frame (6) by way of at least one mounting catch (10) engaging with at least one catch slot (8) of the plastic frame (6). A plurality of mounting catches (10) or click-and-pawls are provided on the fan cover (2) for this purpose.

(27) The present invention provides an arrangement as to the installation of an acoustic absorption means (4) within a fan cover (2), which is defined by the characterizing features as defined in Claim 1. The acoustic absorption means (4) is functional in reducing noise generated and said perforated plate member (9) is advantageous in that it eliminates vortexes in the region and ensures homogenous air flow.