US2798307A - Revolving drum for a clothes drier - Google Patents

Description

July 9, 1957 A. L. REITER REVOLVING DRUM FOR A CLOTHES DRIER 5- Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 22, 1954 y 1957 A. L. REITER 2,798,307

REVOLVING DRUM FOR A CLOTHES DRIER Filed April 22, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 g I frzz/enl ar-x E 50 (ZZexancZerl. fizjir July 9, 1957 REITER 2,798,307

REVOLVING DRUM FOR-A CLOTHES DRIER Filed April 22, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 w mr """M' 7 y 7 A. L. REITER 2,798,307

REVOLVING DRUM FOR A CLOTHES DRIER Filed April 22, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 July 9, 1957 A. L. REITER REVOLVING DRUM FOR A CLOTHES DRIER Filed April 22, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent REVOLVING DRUM FOR A CLOTHES DRIER Alexander L. Reiter, Eifingham, IlL, assignor to Borg- Warner Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application April 22, 1954, Serial No. 424,878

4 Claims. (Cl. 34-133) This invention relates, in general, to laundry apparatus, and has particular reference to a revolving drum for a clothes drier advantageously applicable for domestic use in homes, apartment buildings and self-service laundries.

Otherwise stated, the instant invention is concerned with a revolving drum for a domestic or household machine which is completely automatic in its operation to effect water extraction of clothing and the like previously cleansed in a washing machine or by hand.

More specifically stated, this invention is embodied in a revolving drum for an automatic clothes drier of the type employing a revolving cylinder in which clothes are effectively tumbled and subjected to a large volume of air passing through said cylinder by mechanical means, whereby said clothes are dried to a degree ranging from the wet condition of the clothes when disposed in the drier to complete dryness, ready to wear, dependent upon the drying time selected by the operator.

Another important object and accomplishment of the invention is to provide a generally lightweight and compact clothes drier unit that may be readily employed in n domestic use or the like.

Another important object and accomplishment of the invention is to provide a clothes drier in which the drying air comprises a mixture of fresh air and heated air passed through a revolving drum of the drier by effective mechanical means advantageously supplying maximum air movement and utilization of the greatest moisture carrying capacity of the air.

A further important object and accomplishment of the invention is to provide a clothes drier in which cabinet surface temperatures are relatively low with the consequent elimination of a substantial amount of insulation heretofore required in driers of this general class.

In order to facilitate the drying of clothes and particularly clothes which have been washed by a conventional washing machine, it is desirable not only to remove the surplus water from the clothes such as may be done by a centrifugal extractor, but it is also desirable to further dry the clothes by circulating air thereover and therethrough, the air so circulated may be either warmed by a heater or may be air of room temperature under certain conditions to favorably effect drying of the clothes.

A further object and accomplishment of the invention is to provide, in a clohes drier of the type described, a driving arrangement which is simple in construction, foolproof in operation, and which provides relatively quiet operation effective to rotate the drum and drive the. mechanical air moving means to effect a relatively large volume of air movement through said cylinder and over and through the clothes contained therein.

Another important object and accomplishment of the invention is to provide a new and improved drum which is specifically designed to more effectively and advantageously tumble the clothes contained therein in a manner so as to provide more efficient wiping of the air with the clothes whereby to more effectively carry away moisture therefrom.

2,798,307 Patented July 9, 1957 ice In one of its aspects, the present invention contemplates a clothes drier having incorporated therein air moving means directly associated with the rotatable drum, the air moving means comprising a relatively large fan assembly driven by the same driving mechanism as that of the drum and effective to cause the passage of an unusually large amount of air through the drum for effective wiping of the clothes contained therein to more efficiently remove the moisture content therein, the relatively large volume of air passing through the drum assuring safe, fast, uniform drying for every fabric.

Heretofore, driers of the type contemplated by this invention employed relatively high temperatures (ranging between 160 F. to over 200 F.) with a relatively small amount of air flow to effectuate drying of fabrics contained in the drier. These relatively high temperatures provided not only dangers of fire during their operation, but damage to dainty fabrics and possible burning of the hands of the user during certain operations of the drier.

In order to effectively eliminate the aforesaid dangers, this invention contemplates a drier having relatively low operating temperatures ranging from degrees to degrees, and further contemplates the provision of means to cause passage of a relatively large volume of air through the cylinder under pressure and constantly away from the heating means whereby to eliminate hazards and dangers of firing of the fabrics contained in the drum.

Additional objects, features and advantages of the invention disclosed herein will be apparent to persons skilled in the art after the construction and operation are understood from the within description.

It is preferred to accomplish the various objects of this invention and to practice the same in substantially the manner as hereinafter more fully described, and as more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a clothes drier embodying the features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the interior of the drier cabinet depicted in Fig. l with the front panel thereof removed and parts thereof being shown in section to more clearly illustrate the construction thereof;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the revolving drum contemplated by this invention and illustrating the relative disposition of the openings which permit entry of the air into the drum;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View of the drier depicted in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and being taken substantially on the plane of the line 44 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a plan sectional view of the drier contemplated herein and being taken substantially on the plane of the line 5-5 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view through the rotatable drum drive shaft and supporting means therefor and including mounting structure for the air fan contemplated by this invention;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of the cabinet adjacent the access opening to illustrate the relative disposition of the parts thereof, this view being taken substantially on the plane of the line 77 in Fig. 1.

The drawings are to be understood to be more or less of a schematic character for the purpose of illustrating and disclosing a typical or preferred form of the improvements contemplated herein, and in the drawings like reference characters identify the same parts in the several views.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention depicted in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, the drier may comprise, in general, the component part assemblies respectively indicated in their entirety by the letters as follows: A cabinet A eX- 3 emplifying the external appearance of the automatic drying machine as shown in Fig. 1 and being hereafter referred to simply as a clothes drier; a clothes drum B disposed within the cabinet A and revolvable on a substantially horizontal axis and effective to tumble the fabrics dis posed therein; an air moving fan assembly C axially disposed with respect to the drum B and effective to cause a relatively large volume of air to pass through said drum B for contact with the fabrics disposed therein for absorption of moisture whereupon said moisture is conveyed outwardly and away from the machine with said air; a driving mechanism assembly D effective to cause rotation of said drum B and said air moving fan assembly C; an air heating assembly F over and through which ambient air is drawn by said air moving fan assembly C effective to raise the temperature of said ambient air before entry thereof into said drum B whereby said air will be more effective to absorb moisture in the fabrics contained in said drum B; a lint trap assembly G effective to filter out lint contained in the air passing from said clothes drum before it is discharged from the drier to provide substantially lint free air at the discharge openings; air discharge ports H providing a 5-way vent system permitting flushto-wall installation in any location without special fittings and whereby said drier may be vented from left or right sides, from rear or bottom of the cabinet, or direct exhaust through the front of the machine by tipping the hinged base panel to a desired open position; a supporting structure I for the operating mechanism disposed within the cabinet and including support means for the driving mechanism assembly D; and a timer mechanism J adapted to regulate the operation of the drier with respect to a selected drying time and permitting selection by the user of drying only by air or by air with heat, the timer mechanism 1 including the selector switch cooperating with said static dry control means E whereby the user has finger-tip choice of drying fabrics (1) by employing heated air, or (2) air alone.

Attention is directed to Fig. 1 wherein there is illustrated the cabinet A which houses the entire mechanism and control system therefor and which comprises a cover 20, a front panel 21, side panels respectively indicated at 22 and 23, and a control panel 24 forming a part of and projecting upwardly from the cover as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 4.

In Figs. 1 and 4, it can be seen that the front panel 21 is provided with a hinged door 25 to form the closure member for an opening 26 through which clothes or other fabric articles to be dried may be introduced to the machine. The hinged door 25 is so disposed with respect to the opening 26 that it will be flush with the surface of the front panel 21 when it is in its closed position. One or more metal straps 27 pivotally disposed in mountings secured to the inside surface of the front panel 21 serve to provide a hinged mounting for the access door 25 with respect to the front panel 21.

On the left-hand side of the control panel 24 there is disposed a control switch knob 30 which provides a means for manually selectively controlling (1) air dry or (2) air dry with heat, as desired by the user. The construction and operation of the control switch 30 will be more fully described hereinafter. I

On the right-hand side of the control panel 24 there is disposed a control knob 33 which provides a means for manually regulating the timer J. The length of the drying cycle may thus be predetermined and set within certain limits by the manual adjustment of the control knob 33 in a manner to be described in detail hereinafter.

It is notable that both the control switch 30 and the control knob 33 are shown as being disposed on the panelled surface 24 so that they provide no obstruction to the operator in the use of the top surface 20 or in the introduction of the articles to be dried to the machine, or their removal therefrom.

Particular attention is directed to Fig. 1, wherein there is clearly illustrated a recess 35 arranged adjacent the back portions of the drier cabinet, this recess being adaptable for convenient receipt of pipes, wiring cables and the like so that the rear portions 36 of the top of the cabinet A may be positioned so as to be in engagement with a wall or the like to provide continuity when the drier is disposed in kitchen and/ or laundry cabinet arrangements and yet provide, by means of the recess 35, for accommodation of obstructionsrunning horizontally along the wall which could be supply pipes and/or electrical conduits and the like.

An angularly disposed recessed toe plate 37 is provided in the lower front portions of the cabinet as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. This also is to provide obvious advantages of utility, and yet giving design considerations to uniformity when the drier is disposed in a kitchen and/or laundry cabinet arrangement. Moreover, the recessed toe plate 37 ishinged to the lower regions of the cabinet A and is movable between opened and closed positions respectively illustrated in dotted lines and in full lines in Fig. 4. The opening of said recessed toe plate and lint trap access door 37 provides one of five possible means for venting the drier and will be more fully described hereinafter.

Attention is now directed to Figs. 2, 4 and 5, wherein there is clearly disclosed the structural support I which comprises a base formed of sheet steel members indicated in their entirety by the numeral 40 and suitably formed. and interconnected by welding or the like to define a substantially box-like base having disposed at the four corners thereof suitable adjustable legs as at St) adaptable to provide a levelling means for the drier when placed in operative position on a floor or the like, and a superstructure formed of suitably bent sheet steel member 51 arranged vertically to provide a supporting structure for portions of the driving mechanism assembly D and the air heating assembly F.

It can be seen in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 that the lower portions of the cabinet A are secured to and supported by the members 40 of the base. Thus, it can be seen that the supporting structure I is a relatively self-contained unit, and is constructed so as to place the center of gravity'in the lower portions of the drier which is to provide advantageous stabilization of the drier in operation, thereby to reduce noise and objectionable vibration to the minimum.

Suffice it to say, since the invention is not particularly concerned with the precise construction of the complete automatic clothes drier herein described generally, and/ or its'associated parts, they will not be further described in detail, and-it is deemed sufficient for all intentions and pu-rposes'herein contained to show only portions thereof adjacent to and cooperating with the revolving drum With which the invention is particularly concerned. It is to be understood that details of construction of such automatic clothes drier, and/or its associated parts, may be modified to suit particular conditions or to satisfy the engineering genius of various competitive manufacturers, and I do not wish to be limited to the construction of-these elementsas set forth except Where such construction particularly concerns the invention contemplated herein.

Having thus described, by way of example, a possible adaptation of the revolving drum for a clothes drier and having described the general environment surrounding the adaptation, the specific construction and function of the parts of said revolving drum when disposed in an automatic clothes drier as herein disclosed, will now be described in detail.

T he clothes drum B An important feature of the present invention is the revolving drum B in which clothes are effectively tumbled and subjected to a large volume of air passing through said drum by operation of the air moving fan assembly C to be hereinafter described in detail;' whereby said clothes are dried to a degree ranging from the wet condition of the clothes when disposed in the drier to complete dryness, ready to wear, dependent upon the drying time selected by the operator.

It is important to note that it is highly desirable in clothes driers of the class contemplated herein to provide a drum effective to cause advantageous tumbling of the clothes so that the air passing through the drum advantageously wipes the clothes to more efliciently remove the moisture content therein, thereby providing and assuring safe, fast, uniform drying for every fabric.

In this connection, particular attention is invited to Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 6, wherein the drum B contemplated by the present invention is set forth in detail and may comprise, in general, a cylindrical metal shell 60 made of a solid, imperforate piece of metal in contrast to the usual wire mesh screen heretofore employed, this imperforate construction preventing accumulation of lint which has always been present in perforated cylindrical drums, a forward drum end 61 suitably secured to the front end of the cylindrical shell 60 and a portion of which is bent over the cylindrical shell 60 to define a tire 62, and said front drum end 61 defining a curved ring 63 provided with a flange 64 extending radially inwardly towards the axis of the cylindrical shell 60.

The drum is provided with a rear wall 65 having a central opening 66 defined by an inturned flange 67. The rear wall 65 of the drum has secured thereto an imper= forate radial wall 68, said radial wall being spaced from said rear wall and being provided with a peripheral wall portion. The rear wall 65, the radial wall 68, and the peripheral wall portion forming a chamber 69 for housing the fan C. The peripheral wall portion is formed of a plurality of arcuate segmental surfaces 70, 71 and 72, said wall portions being eccentric with respect to the axis of rotation of said drum, each peripheral wall portion extending from radially outer portions 70a, 70b, and 70c, respectively, to radially inner portions 70d, 70c, and 70f, respectively, the inner portions being connected to the radially outer portions by radially extending walls 70g, 70h, and 717i, each having openings 73a, 73b, and 730 therein. Thus, the fan housing is a segmental charn- 'ber formed by the rear wall 65 and the radial wall 68 and a plurality of eccentric peripheral walls 70, 71 and 72. The cylinder 60 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction at about 45 R. P. M. and the fan C is rotated in a clockwise direction at about 600 R. P. M. It can thus be seen that the air being moved by the fan C is moving in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of the drum whereby it enters the openings 73a, 73b and 73c to be discharged into the drum 60. This action provides an effective air movement through the drum 60. A plurality of baffles 74 are provided on the interior of the drum 65 and these bafiles are placed immediately adjacent the openings 73a, 73b, and 730. Since the bafiles are placed adjacent the openings 73a, 73b and 730, when the drum is rotated in a counterclockwise direction as seen in Figure 3, the clothes do not interfere with or obstruct the air openings 73a, 73b, and 730.

In order to further reinforce the rear end of the drum, there is provided the conically-shaped depressed portions 78 providing a mounting means for a hub 79 which is secured to the conically-shaped portions 78 by means of bolts such as at 80. The hub 79 is provided with a central through aperture 81 adapted to receive a driven shaft 82 having an axially extending groove 83 disposed on the periphery thereof, said groove being adapted to receive end portions 84 of a set screw 85 received into a threaded aperture 86 in saidhub 79, thereby maintaining said shaft 82 in fixed relationship with respect to the hub 79 which is carried in fixed relationship with respect to the conicalshaped portions 78 forming a part of the rear wall of the drum B.

As may best be seen in Figs. 2 and 4, the flange 64 of the drum B has a plurality of apertures as at 90. in an annular array as shown, these apertures being in open 6 communication with an air chamber 91 which surrounds the access opening 26 to provide an air conduit directing moisture and lint laden air toward the lint screen G. The chamber 91 is formed of sheet metal plates to define a relatively air-tight conduit.

It is notable that the air chamber 91 remains stationary while the flange 64 rotates with the drum B. In order to effectively seal these relatively movable parts, there is provided a felt seal 94 fixedly secured to an outside surface of the air chamber 91 by means of a clamp 95 so that the projecting end of the annular felt seal 94 is in intimate engagement with portions of the curved ring 63, thereby providing an effective air seal between these movable parts.

In order to further seal the chamber 91, there is provided an annular felt seal 96 carried by an annular flange 97 integral with the flange 64 whereby said seal will remain stationary while the drum B rotates.

The opening 26 in the front panel 21 is formed to define a plurality of panels 100, 101 and 102. In Fig. 7 it can be seen that the access door 25 comprises inner and outer panels respectively indicated at 105 and 106, these panels being suitably bent to define flanges respectively indicated at 107 and 108 which are suitably welded or otherwise secured to provide an integral door. As may best be seen in Fig. 1, the door is of a substantially square shape. Accordingly, portions of the opening 26 adjacent the flanges 107 and 108 of the door 25 are of a substantially square shape in order to accommodate the door as shown in Fig. 7. The panels 100, 101 and 102 define parts of the opening 26 which are of a generally circular shape.

Arranged to fit and be attached to the annular circularshaped portions of the opening 26 is a seal 110 formed of rubber or the like and having portions 111 adapted to engage the inner panel 105 of the door 25. Secured to the upper regions of the annular seal 110 is an illuminating lamp fixture 113 adapted to provide suitable illumination in the drum B so that the user can readily identify the fabrics disposed therein. The lamp is controlled by a door switch 114 (Fig. l) which is spring pressed to a normally closed position and upper left-hand portions of the door 25 are adapted to engage a plunger of the switch 114 upon closing of the door which will cause said switch to be opened and the current to the lamp 113 will be interrupted to shut off the lamp. Upon opening the door 25, the switch will be closed by virtue of the spring means disposed therein, thereby to light the lamp 113 so that the user may conveniently view the inside of the drum.

As may best be seen in Figs. 2 and 3, the air openings 73 each is provided with a U-shaped wire 115 secured to the wall 68 by means of screws or rivets as at 116 to provide an obstruction preventing clothes or fabrics disposed in the drum from entering into the opening 73.

Thus, it can be seen that the drum B is cylindrical in form defined by the imperforate cylindrical wall 60 and which is provided with new and improved air entry means comprising the openings 73 and the elliptically shaped air chambers 71), 71, and 72 which effectively cooperate with the cylindrical wall 60 to efliciently distribute the air throughout the cylinder for advantageous contact with the clothes disposed therein, whereby to more rapidly and efiiciently cause absorption of moisture by the air to assure rapid, safe and effective drying of the fabrics.

Driving mechanism assembly D The improved driving mechanism assembly D is operable to cause rotation of the drum B and to drive the air moving fan assembly C to be hereinafter more fully described, the drive arrangement contemplated herein does not require the use of internal gear segments, gears and racks or shafts having special cranks formed thereon, or other complicated or expensive mechanical parts, but which is made up of parts simply and cheaply manufactured and assembled and adapted to be applied to and used with straight shafts to accomplish smooth, quiet and efiicient operation. 1 i

It is important to note that it is highly desirable in clothes driers of the class contemplated herein to provide a drive mechanism which is quiet in operation and has a minimum of vibration.

In this connection, particular attention is invited to Figs. 2, 4, and 6, wherein the driving mechanism assembly D contemplated by the present invention is set forth in .detail and may comprise, in general, an idler wheel 120 having a shaft 121 suitably journalled in and carried by the support plate 40 of the supporting structure I and so arranged that the periphery of the wheel 120 is in intimate engagement with the tire 62, the driven shaft 82 as hereinbefore described, a drive pulley 130 mounted on the shaft 125 remotely from the wheel 124, a drive pulley 132 rotatably mounted on the driven shaft 82 (Fig. 6) for relative rotation therebetween, a drive pulley 133 mounted on a drive shaft 134 of an electric motor 135, and'an endless V-belt 138 suitably mounted on the drive pulleys 130, 132 and 133 as shown in Fig. 4.

The motor 135 is carried by a bracket 136 which is hinged to a supporting bracket (not shown) secured to the lower frame structure of the drier. A spring 139, one end 140 of which being attached to portions of the bracket 136 and the other end 141 of which is secured to the lower frame assembly of the clothes drier, provides a resilient force urging pivotal movement of the motor in a generally downwardly direction in order to facilitate at all times proper tension of the V-belt 138 in its driving contact with the drive pulleys 130, 132 and 133.

Attention is invited to Fig. 6 which is an enlarged view of portions of the driving mechanism assembly D. It can be seen that the shaft 82 is fixedly secured to the drum B and is rotatable therewith by means of the set screws 85 disposed in the hub 79 which is carried by portions of the rear wall of the drum B. Carried by the vertical support 51 is a bracket 145 adapted to support a sintered powdered metal bearing 146 in which outer end portions 147 of the shaft 82 are effectively journalled. In order to prevent relative axial movement of the shaft 82 with respect to the bearing 146 there is provided a washer 148, and a snap ring 149 disposed in a groove 150 in the shaft 82.

As may best be seen in Fig. 6, the air moving fan assembly C is mounted upon the shaft '82 for relative rotation therebetween. It is notable that the shaft 82 will rotate in one direction while the fan assembly C will rotate in the opposite direction. In order to accomplish this there is provided a bronze bearing 155 having a rubber sleeve 156 encased in a suitable cover or case 157. In like manner, there is also provided a second bronze bearing 160 having a rubber sleeve 161 encased in a cover or case 162. It is notable that the bearings 155 and 160 are disposed in spaced relationship. Surrounding the shaft 82 in the space between the bearings 155 and 160 there is disposed an oil soaked wick felt 165 arranged to cooperate with the oil grooves 166 and 168 in the shaft 82 so that lubrication is effectively provided to the bronze bearings 155 and 160. Adjacent the end portions of the bearings 160 there is disposed a felt seal 167 maintained in its proper position as shown by a snap ring 169 encased in a housing 170 and operable to effectively prevent lubrication from running axially along and outwardly of said shaft 82.

The drive pulley 132 is mounted on a hub 175 by means of bolts as at 176 which also secure to the hub 175 an annular fan blade support 177 having attached thereto adjacent the periphery thereof projecting blades as at 178, 179, 180, 181. It is notable that the hub 175 'is suitably journalled on the shaft 82 by means of the bearings 155 and 160. 7

'Attention is invited to Figs. 2, 4 mil wherein it can be seen that the drum B is supported for rotation on the wheels and 124, the peripheries of which are in engagement with the tire 62 so that the drum B may efliectively rotate thereon. In Fig. 2 it can be seen that the wheel 120 is an idler wheel and is not driven by the driving means but merely acts as a support for the drum B. However, the wheel 124 is driven through the shaft by means of the V-belt 138 (Fig. 4) which in turn is rotated by the drive pulley 133 attached to the motor shaft 134. Accordingly, because the drier drum B rests upon the wheel 124, the drum will be caused to rotate by rotation of the wheel 124, thereby to drive the drum to effectively tumble the fabrics contained therein.

In Figs. 4 and 5, it can be seen that the rear end of the drum is supported by the centrally disposed shaft 82 which is journalled in the sintered powdered metal bearing 146. Because the shaft 82 is fixedly secured to the drum B, it will rotate therewith and act as a driven shaft, the rotation of the drum being accomplished by rotation of the wheel 124.

Because the driving mechanism for the drum B is interrelated with the driving mechanism of the air moving fan assembly C, it can be seen that when the drum rotates the air moving fan assembly will also be operative. Movement of the endless V-belt 138 will cause rotative movement of the pulley 132 and because the pulley 132 is secured to the hub 175 which in turn carries annular fan blade support 177, the air moving fan assembly C will be caused to rotate.

Air heating assembly F Attention is invited to Fig. 4, wherein it can be seen that the air heating assembly F comprises, in general, a housing 200 formed of metal plates to define the shape as shown and to provide a baffle 201, whereby to control the flow of ambient air for passage over and through an electric heating element 202 suitably carried in a sheet metal frame 203 which is attached to the vertical support 51, the sheet metal frame 203 being formed to define a tunnel-like shape with the electric heating elements as at 202 disposed therein. Ambient air is drawn by the air moving fan assembly C through a plurality of apertures as at 205 disposed in the rear enclosure panel 206 in the direction indicated by the arrows, and through the opening 207 in the upper regions of the cabinet for passage into the housing 201 and through the tunnellike shaped enclosure 203 for contact with the heating elements 202 and thereafter through an aperture 208 in the vertical support 51.

Thus, the ambient air coming in contact with the heating elements 202 will be raised in temperature for more effective absorption of the moisture contained in the fabrics disposed in the drum.

Although an electric heating element 202 is disclosed herein, it is obvious that other means may be employed for air heating such as, for example, gas or the like.

It is important to note that this invention contemplates a drier having relatively low operating temperatures ranging from 110 F., to F., the moisture in the fabrics when first deposited in the clothes drier being effective to maintain the operating temperature at 110 F. and as the moisture is withdrawn from the fabrics to a point where 90 percent of the moisture has been removed from the fabrics, the temperature range will rise to approximately 140 F. and a control means to be hereinafter described will be effective to cause inoperation of the heating means while the drum continues to rotate to tumble the clothes for effective flufiing thereof and the air continues to pass thereover and therethrough to effectively aerate for whatever length of time to which the timer has been set.

The air moving fan assembly C An air moving fan assembly indicated in its entirety by the letter C is disposed axially of the drum and is of a relatively large size to provide an unusually large vol- 9 ume of air for passage-through the drum B for contact with the moisture laden clothes disposed therein, whereby to absorb the moisture contained in the clothes and to carry the same outwardly of the drum through the lint trap G where any lint in the air is filtered therefrom, and outwardly of the cabinet through one of five possible vent openings H.

As may best be seen in Fig. 4, the air moving fan assembly C comprises the annular support 177 having fixedly disposed adjacent the periphery thereof a plurality of fan blades 178, 179, 180 and 181, these fan blades being arranged in equally spaced relationship and disposed in the chamber 69 defined by the rear end wall assembly of the drum B.

It is notable that the drum B will rotate in one direction while the fan assembly C will rotate in a direction opposite to that of the drum. Thus, rotation of the fan assembly C effected by rotation of the pulley 132 by means of the endless V-belt 138 through the motor drive pulley 133 will cause ambient air to be drawn through the aperture 205 in the back panel 206 and through the opening 207 in the upper regions of the cabinet for passage through the housing 201 and in the tunnel-like shaped enclosure 203 for contact with the air heating elements 202, through the opening 208 in the vertical support 51 and through the annular opening 66 in the rear wall 65 of the drum B for passage through the openings 73 and into contact with the fabrics in the drum B where the air will absorb moisture contained in the fabrics and will be forced outwardly from the drum through the openings 90 in the flange 64 at the forward end of the drum for discharge into the air chamber 91 for transmittal to the lint trap assembly G disposed in the lower regions of the cabinet and thereafter outwardly from the cabinet via one of five possible vent openings H.

It is important to note that the vertical support 51 is provided with an annular opening 222 (Fig. 4) through which the shaft 82 and the assembly disposed thereupon projects, this opening permitting ambient air of room temperature to be drawn into the chamber 69 by the fan where the ambient air is mixed and co-mingled with the heated air entering into the chamber 69 via the opening 208. The passage of ambient air of room temperature around and adjacent the driving assembly and the bearings disposed adjacent the opening 222 provides an effective means for cooling the bearings hereinbefore described and located in this general region.

Moreover, it is of particular importance to note that the air flow is constantly away from the heating elements 202 which advantageously provides safety in operation and substantially eliminates any questions of fire hazards. Moreover, the relatively large volume of air afforded by the operation of the air moving fan assembly C slightly pressurizes the drum B, whereby contact of the air with the fabrics contained in the drum is effected more efficiently and more completely whereby moisture from the fabrics is more rapidly absorbed to effect drying of the fabrics quickly but at a relatively low temperature which is safe for even the most dainty fabrics.

Summary of operation The clothes drier contemplated herein is an indoor clothes drier advantageously applicable for domestic use in homes, apartment buildings and self-service laundries. It will damp dry an average eight to nine pound load of clothes (dry weight) ready for ironing in approximately thirty minutes. It will completely dry an average washer load of clothes in approximately forty-five minutes.

The wet clothes are placed into the solid, smooth drum B which revolves at 45 R. P. M., gently tumbling the clothes by means of three smooth bafiles as at 74 disposed within the drum B.

The clothes are dried by air which is drawn through a number of openings 205 in the back panel 206 and through other openings to come in contact with the air heating element 202. The heated air is then forced by pressure from the fan assembly C through the three ducts as at 73 provided in the rear wall of the drum B, into the drum B proper and circulated over and through the clothes contained therein. The heated moisture laden air is then expelled through the relatively small openings in the drum front wall where it is directed down through an air duct 91, through the lint screen 281 of the lint trap means G and into the exhaust duct H. This type of circulation allows the use of a relatively high volume of air, resulting in an over-all cooler unit and increased efificiency due to less heat leakage.

While I have illustrated preferred embodiments of my invention, many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth but wish to avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A clothes drier comprising an imperforate cylinder mounted on a support for rotation about a horizontal axis, said cylinder having a front wall provided with an opening therein and a rear wall provided with an opening therein, a chamber in the rear portion of said cylinder, said chamber being formed by said rear wall and an inwardly spaced imperforate radial wall, and a peripheral wall portion, said peripheral wall portion being formed by a plurality of arcuate, segmental surfaces and having openings therein between each spaced segmental surface, a fan adapted to be rotatably mounted on said support and contained within said chamber, means for rotating said cylinder in one direction and means for rotating said fan in the opposite direction whereby air passes through said opening in said rear wall and through said openings in said peripheral wall portion into said cylinder and out of the opening in the front wall of the cylinder.

2. A clothes drier comprising an imperforate cylinder mounted on a support for rotation about a horizontal axis, said cylinder having a front wall provided with an opening therein and a rear wall provided with an opening therein, a chamber in the rear portion of said cylinder, said chamber being formed by said rear wall and an inwardly spaced imperforate radial wall and a peripheral wall portion, said peripheral wall portion being formed by a plurality of arcuate, segmental surfaces, each of said surfaces being eccentric with respect to the axis of rotation of said drum and extending from a radially outer portion to a radially inner portion, the inner portion of each segment being connected to the outer portion of the next arcuate surface by a radially extending wall having an opening therein, a fan adapted to be rotatably mounted on said support and contained within said chamber, means for rotating said cylinder in one direction and means for rotating said fan in the opposite direction whereby air passes through said opening in said rear wall and through said openings in said peripheral wall portion into said cylinder and out of the openings in the front wall of the cylinder.

3. A clothes drier comprising an irnperforate cylinder mounted on a support for rotation about a horizontal axis, said cylinder having a front wall provided with an opening therein and a rear wall provided with an opening therein, a chamber in the rear portion of said cylinder, said chamber being formed by said rear wall and an inwardly spaced imperforate radial wall and a peripheral wall portion, said peripheral wall portion being formed by a plurality of arcuate, segmental surfaces and having openings therein between each spaced segmental surface, a plurality of bafiles extending radially inward from the interior periphery of said cylinder and extending axially for substantially the length of the cylinder from the front wall to said radial wall, the ends of said baffles adjacent said radial wall being placed in front of the openings in the peripheral wall in the direction of rotation of said cylinder whereby when the cylinder is rotated, the clothes therein" will be'moved' away from said peripheral openings by said baflles,1a fanadapted to be rotatably mountedjon said support and contained within said chamber, means for rotating said cylinder in one direction and means for rotating said fan in the opposite direction whereby air passes through said opening in said rear wall and through said openings in said peripheral wall portion into said cylinder and out of the opening in the front Wall of the cylinder.

4. A clothes drier comprising an imperforate cylinder mounted on a support for rotation about a horizontal axis, said cylinder having a front wall provided with an opening therein and a rear wall provided with an opening therein, a chamber in the rear portion of said cylinder, said chamber being formed by said rear wall and an inwardly spaced imperforate radial wall and a peripheral wall portion, said peripheral wall portion being formed by a plurality of arcuate, segmental surfaces, each of said surfaces being eccentric with respect to the axis of rotation of said drum and extending from a radially outer portion to a radially inner portion, the inner portion of each segment being connected to the outer portion of the next arcuate surface by a radially extending Wall having an opening therein, a plurality of baflles extending radially inward from the interior periphery of said cylinder and extending axially for'substantially the length of the cylinder from the'front wall ,tofsaid radial wall, the ends of said vbaffies adjacent said-radial wall being placed in front of the openings inthe peripheral wall in the direction of rotation of said cylinder whereby when the cylinder is rotated, the clothes therein will be moved away from said peripheral openings by said bafiles, a fan adapted to be rotatably mounted on said support and contained within said chamber, means for rotating said cylinder in one direction and means for rotating said fan in the op posite direction whereby air passes through said opening in said rear wall and through said openings in said peripheral wall portion into said cylinder and out of the openings in the front wall of the cylinder.

References Citedin the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,372,790 Morgenstern Apr. 3, 1945 2,434,886 Pugh Jan. 20, 1948 7 2,486,058 Patterson et al. Oct. 25, 1949 2,500,062 Clark Mar. 7, 1950 2,503,329 Geldhof et al. Apr. 11, 1950 2,608,769 ONeil Sept. 2, 1952 2,670,549 ONeil Mar. 2, 1954

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