US2555821A - Clothes drier - Google Patents

Description

June 5, 1951 M. M. SMITH 2,555,821

CLOTHES DRIER Filed April 22, 1950 l 4 IA 43 ZJ u If INVENTOR.

MARVlN M. SMITH 272 ATT'YS Patented June 5, 1951 UNITED STATE-S PAT 2,555,821

CLOTHES DRIER Marvin M. "Smith, Muncie, ind. Application April 22, 1950, Serial No. 154,543

2 *Claims. (01-. 34-46,

.1 This invention relates to the drying of fabrics,

and particularly to domestic clothes driers.

The main objects of this invention are to provide improved operating procedure and improved construction for use in clothes driers; to provide improved means 'for removing moisture from fabrics such as washed garments in a simple operation of relativelysho'rt duration; and to provide an improved construction for domestic clothes driers for operation in accordance with such method.

A specific embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a clothes drier constructed according to this invention, the

section being taken on the axis of rotation of the centrifugal clothes tumbler. 4

Fig. '2 is a diagrammatic layout showing the drier in relation to an appropriate form of operating mechanism.

In the form "shown Figure l, the container for the clothes to be dried is in the form of a centrifugal tumbler I carried by a shaft 2 j'o'u'rnaled on a horizontal axis and 'enelosed in an airtight housing '3 having a door 4 "opposed to the open end 5 of the tumbler I.

The peripheral portion 6 of the tumbler I is of perforated or other forai'riinou's form to permit of the free assage of moisture and vapor through it. The back wall 1 may be formed or unperio'rated metal and there is an inwardly curved marginal rim 8 around the open end of the container which tends to confine the contents and prevent them from shifting outward during the rotation of the tumbler. To facilitate tumbling there may be bafiles Ll on the conical rear portion thereof.

The housing 3 is in the form of an airtight cabinet, which in the form illustrated is made up of a rear part 9 and a front part H3 having registering rims II and [2 that are formed to interfit with each other with an interposed packing 13. The rims II and H! are embraced by an outer band l4 of such V-shaped cross section that the rims are pressed together by contraction of the band I4, which may be made up of a plurality of segments having flanged ends bolted together at IS, the number and shape of these band segments depending upon the shape of the cabinet walls in the plane of the rims II and 12. The external contour of the housing in this plane is preferably circular in order to reduce the waste space in its interior to a minimum but may, of course, be varied for external appearance.

The tubular member I! which houses the bearings for the shaft 2 is mounted between the rear wall l8 or the housing and an inwardly extending support 49 in the form of a conical shell. The bearing structure has an appropriate seal for confining the lubricant and preventing leakage of air through the bearings of the shaft 20.

The tumbler basket I is carried on the shaft 2 by a hub 21 and the rear wall 1 of the basket has a conical central portion, spaced from and in general conformity with the conical Wall I19.

In order to provide means to promote the condensation of vapor within the housing. that part of the rear wall that lies between the central bearing carrying structure and periphery of the housing comprises spaced walls 122 and 23 enclosing a coolant chamber :24 which is provided with an inlet duct 25 and an outlet duct :26 for the circulation of 'WfltGI'OI other cooling medium through the chamber 24, thus providing a cold surface '26 upon which vapor will condense. The resulting water will be direct d to a drain pipe 21 in the bottom Wall of the housing. A gutter 2B is formed at the inner margin of the wall 22 so as to conduct condensate forming on the wall 22 around the bearing supporting structure. The :drain pipe 21 has a check valve 211 normally closed against inflow of air and an intermediate reservoir 21. 2 is provided for collecting water while the vacuum prevents flow through the check valve 21.1

A tube 29 extends through the walls 2 2 and it appropr at po tion o rve a uc i i e through which air from within the housing may be exhausted by means of an appropriate pump, such as the ejector 30. This suction line is suitably arranged with a check valve 3|, so that air or water will not enter the housing through it.

A radiant heating device is located around the rim flange 36 of the door opening and opposite the upper part of the open end of the tumbler, and is provided with a highly polished reflector 31 for concentrating and directing radiant heat into the contents of the tumbler I. This heater may comprise coils 38 energized by an electric circuit indicated at 39. The heater is preferably of arcuate form concentric with the axis of the shaft 2 and its reflector is formed and positioned for most effective transmission of heat to the contents of the tumbler.

The door 4 is hinged at 40 and provided with a latch member 4| having camming engagement with the stud 42 for efiecting airtight closure of the door by means of the marginal packing member 43. A normally closed air valve 44, conveniently located in the door 4, controls a vent 3 opening for admitting air to break the vacuum and permits the door to be opened.

Power may be supplied to the shaft 2, either by an electric motor 45 belted to the pulley 46 or by other appropriate power, as for example a water motor receiving pressure from the city water supply.

In operation the moist clothes or other fabric materials that are to be dried are inserted through the door 4 into the centrifugal container l and the door'is closed and latched. Then the motor is turned on so as to rotate the tum- V bler at suitable speed.

The vacuum pump is operated so as to exhaust air from the housing and create a substantial partial vacuum. The electric current'is then turned on to the heating element 35, and, as the rays are directed onto the clothes as they are tumbled, the heat reaches all parts thereof vaporizing the moisture. content. The heat from the heating elements and the partial vacuum cause the moisture in theclothes to evaporate rapidly and the vapor is condensed on the cold walls 22 of the condenser and passes-off through the drain.

Because of the vacuum, the vaporizing point is lowered. With a vacuum of approximately 25 inches of mercury, there is a boiling point of about 133 F. and a somewhat lower vaporizing point. This produces an atmosphere up to 100% humidity in the housing. Under these conditions the vapor collects and condenses on the cold surface of the condenser and there is no need of mechanical means to direct the vapor to the condensing surface. The condensing process is blowing vapor and lint into the room or house.

Although but one specific embodiment of the invention is herein shown and described, it will be understood that numerous details may be altered or omitted without departing from the 4 spirit of the invention as claims.

I claim:

1. A clothes drier, comprising a tumbler for the clothes, said tumbler being journalled on a horizontal axis, being open at one axial end and having a foraminous periphery, a housing surrounding said tumbler, a door in said housing adjacent the open end of said tumbler, means for exhausting air from said housing, radiant heating means directed into the open end of said tumbler for vaporizing moisture therein, cooled condensing means in said housing positioned to drain its condensate away from the contents of said tumbler, and means for draining liquid from the lower part of said housing.

defined by the following 2. A clothes drier, comprising a tumbler for holding the clothes, being journalled on a horizontal axis, being open at one axial end and closed at the othe and having a foraminous peripheral wall, an airtight housin surrounding said tumbler, a door in said housing adjacent the open end of said tumbler, means for exhaustin air from said housing, radiant-heating means directed into the open end of said tumbler for vaporizing moisture in the contents thereof, means for continuously cooling a wall of said housing behind the closed end of said tumbler for condensing the vapor in saidhousing, a reservoir positioned to collect drainage from said .cooled wall Without exposing same to the heat of said heating means, and a normally closed air inlet for breaking the vacuum in said housing.

MARVIN M. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Morrison Jan. 24,

Images